History of Freeborn County, including explorers and pioneers of Minnesota, and outline history of the state of Minnesota, Part 77

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 77

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Early in the summer of 1856, H. T. Sims and D. C. Davis had made their way into the town and secured homes. Sims located upon a tract of land in section ten, and lived there for a number of years; finally, in 1881, he quietly passed away, in the city of Albert Lea. Davis located upon a place in section two, which he improved and occu- pied for a time, and then removed to Waseca county.

October of 1856 witnessel the ingress of John Bostwick and William Purdie, from La Crosse county, Wisconsin, who took claims and settled to pioneer life. But two weeks of it, however, seemed to be sufficient, as they sold their provisions to the other settlers and left in disgust, for Wis- consin.

These are about all the pioneers who arrived and wintered this year. A few others had come, but they were merely transient, who staked a claim, now and then, and moved on to find their ideal spot elsewhere. The winter following, 1856-57, was very severe, and the settlers, not having had sufficient time to prepare for it, even had they imagined what they should have to pass through, necessarily fared badly. They were obliged to haul their provisions on hand sleds from Wilton, eighteen miles distant, through the deep snow and piercing cold, many of them not more than half clad, and slim shelter when the . trip was over.

The year, or spring and summer following, wit- nessed many accessions to the meagerly settled township, and the greater part of the government land was claimed and settled by actual residents.

The winter of 1857-58 was not so severe as the preceding one, and the residents fared very well. Mr. L. T. Scott, on one occasion, about this time, made a trip to St. Nicholas, where he purchased a sack of flour for $5, of the hotel keeper. This season there had been no crops raised, and settlers depended mainly upon people coming in for sup plies.

THE HONORED DEAD.

EZRA STEARNS. - A settler who came in 1861, ' and converted a wild waste prairie into a bloom- ing, cultivated, and prolific farm. He was in- jured two years before his death, which was on the 7th of February, 1879, at the age of 79 years. Mr. Stearns was from the old New England stock, his ancestors having come to Boston on the ship Arbella, with Gov. Winthrop, in 1630.

SQUIRE DUNN, on the 7th of September, 1874, at the mellow age of 80, was at last confronted by by the grim messenger that had already visited almost the last one of his early companions. Claiming New Jersey for his nativity, at an early day he went to Albany, New York, and in 1841, to Wisconsin, and to Minnesota in 1854, making the first halt in Faribault, Rice county, and when this county was opened up came here. He had

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been married 55 years, and left quite a family. Mrs. George Whitman and Mrs. Dr. Bareck among them.

NATHAN MOQINNEY was born in Williston, Ver- mont, in 1820, and lived in the Green Mountain State until the year 1850, and then pushed ou west as far as Dane county, Wisconsin. There he engaged in farming up to the year 1860, when he came to Minnesota and secured a place in Free- born, but after a time took up his residence in the village and went into business, at one time with O. S. Gilmore. He was a kindhearted man, much respected. His last removal was from his earthly tenement on the 19th of April, 1879.

MRS CHARLOTTE GOWARD was born in Easton, Bristol county, Massachusetts, and was a daughter of William and Keziah Dean, who was married to Jason Goward in 1849, and has lived here since 1859. She was highly esteemed and was a woman of fine qualities, a devoted wife and mother, and a sincere friend. A very large concourse of people expressed their devotion by following her remains to their last resting place.

H. T. Siss was called hence on the 26th of February, 1881, at the age of 69. Hle was born in Salem county, New York, and lived forty-two years in that State. In 1854, he came west and stopped two years in Wisconsin, and then, in 1856, come over the Mississippi and located in the northern part of Freeborn township. After living there sixteen years he went to Itasca, and for a year or two lived in Albert Lea with his daughter, Mrs. Batchelder. At 30 years of age he was mar- ried to Miss Anna B. Moore. They had three children, two of whom are still living. He was noted for his purity of character, faithfulness to his engagements, and the generosity of his im- pulses, His house, in early days, was headquarters for ministers for preaching and religious services.

MATTERS OF INTEREST.

It is claimed that the first birth in the township occurred on the 12th of February, 1857, and ush- ered into the light of this work, George, a son of Mr. and Mrs. L. T. Scott.

The first marriage took place in August, 1858, and united the destinies of Mr. John Wood and Miss Emily Allen.

Early in the spring of the same year the grim and sorrow laden messenger of death lowered itself in the midst of sparsely settled Freeborn and car-

ried away its first victim in the person of George C. Snyder.

FREEBORN GRANGE No. 206 .. - The organization of this society took place in the latter part of May, 1874, at the schoolhouse in the village of Free -. born by Deputy I' A. Elder, of the State Grange, with twenty-eight charter members. The officers were as foll. Master, S. S. Challis; Lecturer, E. D. Rodgers, Overseer, L. T. Scott; Treasurer, P. M. Coon; Secretary, Ole. O. Simonsen; Chap- lain, S. P. Purdie; Steward, J. Goward; Assistant Steward, D. A. Scoville; Gate Keeper, John A. Scoville; Lady Assistant Steward, Serena M. Cram: Flora. Caroline Scheen; Ceres, Amanda C. Purdie; and Pomona, Maggie A. Scoville. The Grange met once in two weeks in the schoolhonse until March, 1881, when it consolidated with the Carlston Grange, which is still in existence.

TRENTON POST-OFERE .- This office was estab- lished as early as 1858 and still continues, sup- plying quite an area with mail. John W. Ayers was the first and is the present Postmaster, with the office at his house in section three, near Tren- ton Lake, in the northern part of the township. The mail arrives once each week from Alden, by way of Freeborn.

RELIGIOUS.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH-This edifice was erected in 1879, by the Baptist society, at a cost of $1,000, its size being about 26x40 fect. In 1880 the building was purchased by the Congre- galionalists, who now own it, and moved to its present location, about eighty rods east of the old site. The first pastor here was the Rev. Mr. Luce, the present is Rev. Wilbur Fisk.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH .-- This building was erected in 1878, at a cost of $1,000, its size being 21x36 feet. The first pastor was the Rev. S. B. Smith.

FREEBORN CEMETERY ASSOCIATION Was origin- ally organized in June, 1872, when the grounds were laid out containing six acres, just north of the village of Freeborn, in section thirty-five, the land being donated to the projeet by L. G. Pierce; it is well adapted by nature for a "last resting place," and the natural beauty has been enhanced by improvements, fencing, etc. The first buried here was of the remains of Mrs. E. S. Dunn, in 1858, some twelve years prior to the organization of the association.

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FREEBORN TOWNSHIP.

There is also a cemetery located in the northern part of the town, in section eleven; which was set apart for burial purposes in 1862. The first per- son buried hero was Norman Olin, and since the advent of his remains, a number, who have yield- ed to the irresistable call of death, have found their last earthly abode by his side, while many gleaming monuments rear their heads in perpetu- ation of the memory and virtues of the departed ones.

HISTORICAL SKETCH.

As a matter alike interesting to all who are at all concerned in what has, or is to be said of their home, we herewith present a short historical sketch of the township, prepared by D. G. Parker, President of the old settlers' Association, and read by him at their annual re-union in the spring of 1877. It is only proper to state that the mat- ter was obtained by correspondence, and it is not improbable that errors have creptin. The sketch is published in the county papers as follows:

"FREEBORN was settled by T. K. Page and William Montgomery, in July, 1856. The for- mer built a house of logs and opened a farm. The same season, being in advance of any other, Clark and West opened a small store in the win- ter of 1857-8, in the village, but left in the follow- ing spring. E. D. Rogers, a blacksmith, was the first mechanic. J. R. Giddings was the first law- yer, and located in 1860. In 1861 J. K. Moore offered his services as the first doctor. The first school was taught at the village in 'Squire Dunn's log house by Miss Emeline Allen, in the summer of 1857. The first schoolhouse was built by distriet No. 13, in the fall of 1858. In the same year L. T. Scott opened the ball-room of his hotel to Rev. Isaac Ling for the first religions service. In 1859 the Methodists perfected the firs i ruch organiza- tion, and in 1867 the Baptists bunt l' arst house of worship. The first title to land, according to the land offico abstracts, was acquired by Nelson Ever- est, on section twenty-two, as early as the 9th of January, 1855, but as this was eighteen months before there was any settlement. it is believed to bo an error of record. JJohn Wood and Emeline Allen were the first parties married, and the core- mony was performed by E. S. Dunn, Esq., in 1858. The first child born was George F. Scott, February 14th, 1857. The first death was that of Emily Dunn, in the fall of 1858. L. T. Scott opened the first hotel and was the first Postmaster,

the latter in the winter of 1857-58. C. D. Gid- dings. J, W. Ayers, and E. D. Rogers constituted the first board of Supervisors, and were elected, May 25th, 1858. John Wood, Clerk. The first board of schoor officers were J. S. Rickard, L. T. Scott, and C. D. Giddings."

GOVERNMENTAL.

The township of Freeborn came into existence as an official subdivision of the county, at a meeting held for the purpose of organization at tho house of E. S. Dunn on the 11th of May, 1858. The meeting came to order and Charles D. Gid- dings was chosen moderator, and John Wood, clerk. After the usual preliminaries the polls were declared open for the election of officers for the ensuing year, which election resulted as fol- lows: Supervisors, Charles D. Giddings, Chair- man, E. D. Rogers, and John W. Ayers; Clerk, John Wood; Assessor, Thomas W. Purdie; Collec- tor, John B. Purdie; Overseer of the poor, Joseph S. Rickard; Constables, John B. Purdie, and S. B. McGuire; Justices of the Peace, Edward Dunn and Henry Olin.

Public matters have progressed quietly and without interuption, the voters having been suffi- ciently careful to keep good, honest, and capable officers at the helm of the town affairs, and there- fore there has been no useless waste of public money, or extravagance.

In 1865, during the rebellion. a special town meeting was help at which the sum of $1,800 was voted to pay men who should volunteer to enlist in the service and fill the quota assigned the town, the amount to bo issued in bonds as directed by a committee for the purpose.

At the twenty-fourth annual town meeting, held in the spring of 1882, the following officers wore elected, and are now in charge of the public busi- ness: Supervisors, L. T. Scott, Chairman, J. W. Ayers, and HI. Stensrud; Clerk, J. Goward; Treas- urer, O. S. Gilmore; Justices of the Peace, Geo. Miller and H. S. Olin; Assessor, J. B. Purdie; Constables, A. Andrews and C. Ayers.

It will be observed that some of the present officers were members of the first board elected in the town, at the meeting on the 11th of May, 1858.

STATISTICS.

FOR THE YEAR 1881 .- Showing the acreage and

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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.

yield in the township of Freeborn, for the year named:

Wheat-3,214 acres, yielding 27,267 bushels. Oats-595 acres. yielding 19,806 bushels. Corn-495 acres, yielding 18,394 bushels. Barley-122 acres, yielding 2,111 bushels. Buckwheat-4 acres, yielding 35 bushels. Potatoes-31 acres, yielding 2,856 bushels. Beans-2 acres, yielding 13 bushels.

Sugar cane-17 acres, yielding 1,943 gallons. Cultivated hay- 18 acres, yielding 28 tons. Flax-seed-233 acres, yielding 1,611 bushels. Other produce-34 acres.

Total acreage cultivated in 1881, 4,763. Wild hay-2.400 tons.

Timothy seed-172 busliels.

Apples-number of trees growing, 1,904; num- ber bearing, 732; yielding 585 bushels.

Grapes-83 vines, yielding 123 youuds.

Sheep-189 slieared, yielding 1,009 pounds of wool.

Dairy-202 cows, yielding 15,950 pounds of butter.

Hives of Bees-17, yielding 120 pounds of honey. .

FOR THE YEAR 1882 .- It being two early in the season, at this writing, to procure the returns of threshing, we can only give the acreage sown this year in Freeborn :

Wheat, 2,039 acres; oats, 629; corn, 835; bar- ley, 220; buckwheat, 5; potatoes, 33; beans, 14; sugar cane, 41: cultivated hay, 112; flax, 175; other produce, 42.

Total acreage cultivated in 1882, 4,145.

Apple trees growing, 2,076; bearing, 1,037; grave vines bearing, 106; milch cows, 206; sheep, 208, yielding 1,171 pounds of wool.

Farms cultivated in 1881, 69.

Forest trees planted and growing, 22 acres.

POPULATION .- The census of 1870 gave Free- born a population of 362. The last census, taken in 1880, reports 480 for this town; showing an in- crease of 118.

FREEBORN VILLAGE.

This is the only villago in the township, and may be said to be the only one in this portion of the county ; and, although as yet not large, it may, at almost any time, get a railroad which will con- nect it with the outer world, and commence an ex- pansion which will bring it into prominent notice, as it has an excellent location for a village, and is

surrounded by some of the most productive farm- ing lands in the county. It is located in the south- eastern part of the town, in sections thirty-four and thirty-five, on the north bank of Freeborn Lake.

The land upon which the village stands was claimed for fown site purposes in June, 1857, by E. S. Dunn, who had arrived in the township the year previous and located in the northern part, and the village was platted the same year.

It is claimed that the first store was started in the winter of 1857-58, by Clark & West, and in the spring following were succeeded by Jason Goward, who may be said to have opened the first substantial store, as he put in a fair stock of gen- eral merchandise, which he continued to manage for about ten years. In 1861, another store was opened, by the Southwick Brothers, which is still in active operation.

FREEBORN POST-OFFICE .- This office was origi- nally established in 1857, with L. T. Scott as Post- master, on the site of the village of Freeborn. In 1858, Mr. J. Goward was commissioned Post- master, and the mail was received once each week, rin the Mankato and Otronto, Iowa, mail route, Henry Lacy being the mail carrier. In 1867 J. Goward resigned and David Southwick received the appointment, holding the same for about three years, when A. Munn took the mail pouch keys and continued in the capacity of Postmaster until the year 1876 rolled around, when he relieved the usual monotony of affairs by committing suicide. His principal bondsman, J. Goward, took charge of the office, and removed it to the store of T. A. Southwick, who received the appointment of deputy, and in a few weeks was made Postmaster, which position he still occupies. Mail arrives daily from Alden, and supplies the Trenton Post- office with mail matter.

At the present writing a resume of what the vil- lage contains, would read something like this :- two general stores by M. A. Southwick and O. S. Gillmore; a black-smith shop by D. A. Scoville; a wagon repair shop, by J. H. Clarke; broom fac- tory by L. T. Scott; shoemaking shop by A. An- drews. And a population, it is said, of about one hundred.

MEDIUMS OF EDUCATION.

The territory of Freeboru is divided, for educa- tional purposes, into five school districts, with | numbers and locations of houses as follows; No.

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FREEBORN TOWNSHIP.

11, with schoolhouse in section four; No. 12, in section twenty-three; No. 13, in Freeborn village ;. No. 98, in section one; No. 101, in section twenty- eight. The districts are all in good condition, and under careful management, having good buildings and moderate attendance. A short sketch of the various districts is herewith pre- sented :

DISTRICT No. 11 .- Effected the first organiza- tion in the township in 1857, and school was first held in a house 12x14, in section three, taught by Miss Normand Olin, to an attendance of about twelve scholars. In 1860 a schoolhouse was con- structed in section three, size 20x24 feet, at a cost of $350, and in this school is still held, although in 1874 it was removed to the eastern part of sec- tion four, remodeled and partly rebuilt at a cost of $400.

DISTRICT No. 12 .- It is claimed that this edn- cational subdivision did not arrive to the dignity of an organization until 1865, and'soon afterward a building was purchased for $50 to be used for school purposes. The first school was taught by Miss Minnie Caswell with an attendance of twelve pupils. In 1870, the school edifice now in use was constructed at a cost of about $400, size 16x20 feet. The last term of school was instructed by Miss Nellie Scott, there being an attendance of twenty-eight pupils. The schoolhouse is located in the northeastern corner of section twenty- three.

DISTRICT No. 13 .- This is the district embrac- ing the village of Freeborn and immediately sur- rounding country. The organization was effected in 1858, and the first term of school was held at the private residence of E. S. Dunn, on the site of the present village, shortly afterward being taught by Mr. Joel Southwick, with an attendance of ten scholars. The school was held in private houses for about two years when a little shanty twelve feet square was erected, costing about $20, and three years later another school building was sub- stituted, size 20x30 feet, at a cost of $700. In 1876, the latter structure was dispensed with and the present neat and commodious schoolhouse was built at a cost of $1,500, size 30x40 feet, two stories high, and the finest schoolhouse in the township. The district has lately been organized into a graded school, employing two teachers, and is one of the most effectual educational mediums in the county. George Latin was the last princi-

pal, and the average attendance amounted to abont sixty.

DISTRICT No. 98 .- Effected an organization in 1872. The first school was taught by Mrs. Mattie B. Frisby in the residence of R. D. Burdick in section one, with an attendance of twelve pupils. In 1873, the schoolhouse was erected in the south- western part of section one, size 16x24 feet, at a cost of $350. The last term was taught by Miss Ellen Roland.

DISTRICT No. 101 .- This district effected an organization in the spring of 1876, and the same year erected their schoolhouse in section twenty - eight, size 18x22 feet, at a cost of $450. The first teacher was Miss Emily Blighton, with an attend- ance of ten scholars. The last teacher was Miss Abby Chase, to an attendance of nine.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

RUSSELL D. BURDICK was born in New York on the 27th of January, 1830. He attended the com- mon schools near his home, and afterward an academy in Madison county. In 1855, he came West to Dane county, Wisconsin, and two years later married Miss Luransa Champlin, also a native of New York. They have had four children, one of whom died on the 4th of May, 1876. In 1865, Mr. Burdick brought his family to this place and has since made it his home, his farm being located in section one of this township. He was one of the organizers of his school district and has since been one of its officers. In religions belief he is a Seventh Day Baptist.

ALFRED CRANDALL is a native of Rhode Island, born on the 14th of April, 1814. When an infant he removed with his parents to a farm in Madison county, New York, and at the early age of twelve years left home and began working for his own support. When twenty-two years of age he moved to Massachusetts and found employment in wagon shops. In 1840, he married Miss Almira Day, a native of New York. They came to Dane county, Wisconsin, in 1846, and to this place in 1863. For ten years Mr. Crandall had charge of different mail routes from Freeborn, going to Geneva, to Owatonna, to Albert Lea, and from the latter place to Waseca. He is one of the old and respected citizens, and has been instrumental in the organization and growth of the place. His farm contains two hundred acres. Mr. and Mrs. Crandall have a family of eleven children.

FRANCIS D. DRAKE was born in Cortland county,

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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.

New York, on the 2d of November. 1833. When thirteen years old he came with his parents to Dane county, Wisconsin, where they lived on a farm. He was married in 1858, to Miss Alma Richmond, and they have a family of seven chil- dren. At the outbreak of the war Mr. Drake enlisted in the Seventh Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, Company C; in March, 1862, joined the Army of the Potomac under General Grant, and took part in the battles of Pittsburg Landing, Shiloh, and several other important ones. He was honorably discharged in 1864, and returned to his home in Wisconsin. In 1867, he came to this township and bought a farm of two hundred and eighty acres, to which he has since added, and it is now well improved. He is the father of seven children.

CHARLES H. DERBY, another native of the Em- pire State, was born in Otsego county on the 7th of October, 1832. When ten years old he re- moved with his parents to Pennsylvania, where they resided until 1854, then came to La Crosse county, Wisconsin, but the same year went to Virginia. In the latter year Mr. Derby was uni- ted in wedlock with Miss Harriet E. St. John, a native of New York. They have been blessed with three children. In 1857, he returned with his wife to Wisconsin, and soon after moved to St. Paul. He has been a prominent resident of this place since 1863, owning a well enltivated farm of two hundred and forty acres.

STEPHEN FULLER, one of the pioneers of this place, is a native of Orange county, Vermont, born on the 2d of May, 1828. He attended the common schools in Vershire, his native town, com- pleting his edneation at the Thetford Academy, and afterward taught school for several years in Vermont and New Hampshire. In 1852 he mar- ried Miss Luvia M. Carpenter, also a native of that State, by whom he had three children. They came west in 1859, and located a farm in sections fourteen and twenty-three, where Mr. Fuller has since devoted his time. His wife died in 1861, and he has since married Miss Elizabeth M. Anghenbangh, of Freeborn. They have a family of four children.

SAMUEL J. FULLER was also born in Vershire, Orange county, Vermont, his birth dating the 15th of July, 1834. He assisted his father on the farm until twenty years old when he entered the academy known as the New London Literary and

Scientifie Institution, at New London, New Hamp- shire, where he took a scientific course, learning the theory of surveying and civil engineering, which, however, he never practiced. In the fall of 1856, he emigrated to Keokuk, Iowa; the win- ter following tanght school in the old Mormon town of Nauvoo, Illinois. The following spring he became one of the pioneers of Freeborn, and staked out a claim in sections twenty-three and twenty-four which has since been his home, divid- ing his attention between farming and school teaching. He was married in 1865, to Miss Sarah A. Turner, a native of New York, and they have been blessed with two children, both boys. Mr. Fuller served three years in the army. He has been a member of the board of Supervisors several terms and Clerk of his school district for the past twelve years.

REV. WILBUR FISK was born in Sharon, Wind- sor county, Vermont, on the 7th of June, 1839. He is the son of a farmer and arrived at manhood in his native place. In 1861, he enlisted for three years in the Second Regimeut Vermont Volunteer Infantry, Company E; went South, joined the army of the Potomac, and re-enlisted as a veteran before his first term had expired; was in active service with that army till the close of the war. In July, 1865, he received an honorable discharge, having served nearly four years, inchiding six months off duty on account of sickness. He was married to Miss Angelina S. Drew, of Tunbridge. Vermont, and in September, 1865, they removed to a farm he had purchased in Kansas. Mr. Fisk was here led to commence ministerial labors in his own and contiguous neighborhoods. In 1875, he received an invitation to come to this place and devote his whole time to the work of the ministry, which call he accepted. He was ordained and installed pastor of the Congregational Church of Freeborn on the 13th of June, 1876. His labor is under the auspices of the American Home Mis- sionary Society of the Congregational denomina- tion, and his tield includes, with Freeborn, places in Hartland, New Richland, and Lemond. HIe has four children living and one buried in Kansas.

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