USA > Minnesota > Freeborn County > History of Freeborn County, including explorers and pioneers of Minnesota, and outline history of the state of Minnesota > Part 82
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THOMAS WILEY was born in Boston Massachu- setts, on the 21st of November, 1820. At the age of thirteen years he was apprenticed to a manu- 'acturer of printing presses, where he remained several years, subsequently learning the trade of piano forte maker in his native city. In 1840, he engaged with a firm of book publishers and deal- ers, remaining some six years. He was married in 1846, to Miss Emily A. Johnson, of Worcester, Massachusetts. A few years later they removed
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.
to Detroit, Michigan, where he was employed in the Superintendent's office of the M. C. Railroad, subsequently moved to Chicago, Illinois, afterward to Central Illinois, and in 1856, was elected Clerk of the Circuit Court and Recorder of Deeds in McHenry county, which office he held four years. He enlisted in the One llundred and Twelfth flli- nois Volunteer Infantry, but was rejected on account of physical disability. He was engaged in the dry goods business in Chicago for several years. In 1857, his wife died, leaving four chil-
dren. He was afterward married to Miss Harriet E. Soule in Cambridge, Illinois. Three children survive their mother, who died in Albert Lea in June, 1882. Mr. Wiley moved to this place in 1873, and purchased a farm in section thirty-three. He has been forward in promoting agricultural enterprises. successfully managing the county fairs and introducing improved machinery. In 1874, he was elected Justice of the Peace, and has since filled the office.
HARTLAND.
CHAPTER LXIII.
DESCRIPTIVE-EARLY DAYS-MATTERS OF INTER- EST-OFFICIAL RECORD-VILLAGE OF HARTLAND -STATISTICS- SCHOOLS-BIOGRAPHICAL.
The town bearing this name is one of the northern tier of townships in Freeborn county, and in the second tier from the west. It is bounded on the north by Waseca county; on the south by the township of Manchester; on the east by Bath; and on the west by Freeborn. It is constituted as originally surveyed, of thirty-six sections, but the survey correction line passing through it cuts off 278.85 acres, making it so much less than the usual congressional township, and leaving about 22,861.15 acres.
It is almost entirely a prairie town, and the ex- panse of undulating prairie presents a pleasing and beautiful contrast to the usual broken and sparsely timbered sections throughout this part of Minnesota. There are yet, however, traces of timber in the town, most of it about Mule Lake, in sections thirteen, fourteen, twenty-three, and twenty-four; and in the western part, in and about sections seven and twenty, although the latter has long since been converted into fertile and valua- ble farms.
The entire area of the town is well adapted to the modes of agriculture and crops of the day, and the farmers are, as a rule, in moderate cir- cumstances, with fair farm buildings and moderate conveniences. The soil is of a dark loam, from eighteen to twenty-four inches in depth, underlaid with a sub-soil of clay. Rocks or stone of any kind are scarce, and there is no limestone what- ever. The soil in the burr oak region of Mule Lake is more of a sandy nature.
There are two water courses in the town and one lake. Mule Lake is situated in the four cor- ners of sections thirteen, fourteen, twenty-three and twenty-four, and constitutes the head waters of the LeSueur River, which takes a northiward course, bearing a little to the east, until it leaves the township, when it bears westwardly. Boot Creek rises in section ten and flows northwesterly to enter Waseca county.
The Minneapolis & St. Lonis railroad crosses the township from north to south, and on it is lo- cated the village bearing the same name as the township.
A few words as to the lake will not be out of place. The Indians named it Le Sueur, and it went by this name through the early settlement; but,
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n 1857, a fine span of mules belonging to B. J. Boardman were drowned in it, and the settlers hegan designating it as Mule Lake, until it was as generally known under this caption as the other. The lake finally got upon the map as Le Sueur or Mule Lake, and thus both will be perpetuated.
IN EARLY DAYS.
There seems to be a preponderating amount of testimony that the first settlers in this town- ship were the Boardman brothers, who came in the spring of 1857, and located about Le Sueur or Mule Lake, one taking on the south and the other to the east of that body of water. Both had families and at once commenced the erec- tion of. houses. They remained for about one year and then left for parts unknown.
About the same time, two others, whose names have been forgotten, made their appearance and took claims on the north and west sides of Mule Lake; thus surrounding it. But little is known of the actions of any of these; as they left shortly for other scenes.
Uncle Charles Sheldon joined this settlement at about the period of its starting, coming from Rochester and taking a place just north of Mule Lake, in section thirteen, where he yet remains.
Levi Jones next put in an appearance, having come from Geneva, and jumped a claim from a Norwegian named Wunj, and during the sum- mer he was joined by a Mr. Montgomery, who took a place just west of Uncle Sheldon's, built a house and remained until the next spring. when he left. Jens Thorson also came early this summer, and took the place he now occu- pies.
In October, 1857, George McColley, of New York, accompanied by his family and brother- in-law, Charles Morehouse, came with a yoke of cattle, a cow, and his household furniture, and located in section twenty-nine. Mr. McColley still lives on his place, although his estimable wife has passed away. He is one of Freehorn county's most public-spirited men. Charles Morehouse settled in section twenty, but hat since moved away.
About the same time came the Motson family, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Motson, and the five boys, Ole, Erick, Mot, John, and Andrew, who all settled about George MeColley's place. They were Norwegians, and all are yet living in the
town except the old gentleman, who died several years ago, and Mot Motson, who hung himself in Hartland.
In the fall of 1858, a pair from Wisconsin, in the personnel of John P. Duncan and John P. Huggins, drifted in and secured homes. Dun- can dropped anchor in section twenty, and remained a citizen of the town until within two years, when matters became too torrid for him and he left between two days, as the saying goes. Huggins was a true man, and settling in section twenty-eight remained until the war broke out, when he enlisted and heroically died in defense of his native land.
The same year witnessed the arrival of Sandy Purdie, William C. Cram, Hat. Pierce, and Jonathan Pickard, who all took places and are yet on them, except the last named, Jonathan Pickard, who now resides in Freeborn town- ship.
In 1859, Seth. S. Challis, of the New Eng- land States, made his arrival and commenced a sojourn in section thirty-one, which he still con- tinues.
Speculators, after this, took most of the land, and if early settlers wanted it they must pur- chase at a good round figure. At this time the town had no name, more than Town 104, Range 22.
MATTERS OF INTEREST.
The first birth in Hartland township was Mary A. McColley, on the 9th of August, 1858. She is now Mrs. Charles Doty, and yet resides in the town. Freeman Beede was another early birth.
The first marriage ceremony performed within the limits of the town, took place in May, 1859, the high contracting parties being Mr. J. Seely and Miss Frances Farris.
Death, that insatiable enemy to immortality, soon hovered over the little community, and took as its first victim, Martha, a daughter of William and Judith Wrangham, aged nine years, on the 18th of June, 1859.
The township was named Hartland by Mrs. O. Sheldon, in 1858, and she also bestowed the same name upon the Post-office, which was established at the same time, with O. Sheldon as Postmaster. What the name was in honor of, or what had suggested it, we are unable to say.
During the late war of the rebellion bonds were
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.
voted to the amount of $1,700, to secure volan- teers, but it seems that it was ineffectual, for two drafts were made, notwithstanding nine volun- teers were furnished. John McCartney, John McClelland, and Perry Haugen, of this town- ship, never returned, the second named leaving a wife and child to mourn his loss.
Bonds to the amount of $10,000 were voted to the Minneapolis & St. Louis railroad, as bonus.
RELIGIOUS .- The first sermon preached in the township was by the Rev. Mr. McReynolds, an itinerant Methodist preacher, in the fall of 1858, at B. J. Boardman's house in section twenty- four. The Methodist church was organized in 1859, at William Wrangham's house, with Rev. Mr. Corey officiating and six members. The society finally merged with other denominations.
The Congregational society was organized in 1877, at the schoolhouse of district No. 8, by Elder Cobb, with twelve members. A store building was afterward purchased in the village of Hartland and converted into a church. The present pastor is Rev. Wilbur Fisk, with a mem- bership of thirty-five.
The Presbyterian denomination first held ser- vices in the old log schoolhouse in 1869, with Rev. William Wrallson as minister, and for several years thereafter services were held regularly once in three weeks.
OFFICIAL RECORD.
The early town records of this township are a curious set of documents, and should be preserved as a curiosity, if not for otlicial purposes. They consist of a small book made of foolscap, con- taining ten or fifteen pages, and from the center of the document some one has eut about the same number of pages, for some reason best known to the cutter. The school districts, oaths of officers, roads, and all matters pertaining to the town are promiscuously thrown together, and the legal terms such as "to wit," "whereas," " therefore," etc., are indiscriminately mixed in without regard to their appropriateness in connection with the subject; but calculated to inspire the sturdy pio- neer officers with the full and fearful responsible ity of their positions.
The first town meeting was held at the house of O. Sheldon on the 11th of May, 1858, and the following officers were elected for the ensning year: Supervisors, B. J. Boardman, Chairman, J. L. Reynolds, and J. C. Seeley : Clerk, E. Boardman;
Assessor, T. W. Calkins; Collector. B. J. Board- man; Constables. Alexander Spencer and James Sheehan; Justices of the Peace, T. W. Calkins and O. Sheldon; Overseer of the Poor, Jacob Heath; Overseers of Roads, E. A. Calkins and B. Cromwell.
The first meeting of Supervisors was held at the Town Clerk's office on the 14th of June, 1858, at which the town was divided into three road districts, and the following gentlemen were made overseers of them: First, E. A. Calkins: second, B Cromwell; third, Charles Morehouse.
The officers for 1882 are: Supervisors, Olaf Lee, Chairman, Sandy Purdie, and Peter Mace; Clerk, Peter Grinager; Treasurer, C. Hendrickson: Justices of the Peace, E. Wieks and S. S. Challis: Assessor, Frank l'hipps; Constable, Peter Peterson.
VILLAGE OF HARTLAND.
This is the only village in the township. It is located on a fine village site, on a high portion of the town, and at every hand lies a fine view of prairie, dotted with the modest homes of thrifty farmers and artificial groves, and to the north farm houses can be seen at a distance of seven miles. The sight is all that can be desired, ex- cept the absence of a water course or lake: as one inhabitant suggested, "it is a boss site in summer but-in winter," as its elevation serves as an "estoppel," so to speak. of the wind. To the stranger the burg presents rather a dreary ap- pearance, with the "butt ends" of the buildings pointed towards the railroad, and the absence of shade trees: but the last objection is fast being remedied by the citizens who are planting trees.
ITS EARLY DAYS .- The land upon which the village was started was originally the property of Torger Samuelson; but in 1877, when the rail- road was started, twenty acres in the northwestern corner of section twenty-one, were purchased by A. E. Johnson, then of Albert Lea, and it was at once platted and the sale of lots begun. At this time William Morin platted a few acres of his land east of the railroad track, and for a time con- siderablo strife existed, a few buildings being erec- ted upon both sections. But finally a settlement was arrived at and Mr. Morin platted twenty acres into lots and blocks, just north of Johnson's in the southwest corner of section sixteen, and the whole forty and the small portion east of the
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track became the village site. This was at the time of the arrival of the railroad.
The first business opencd in the town took place in September, 1877. A small frame build - ing was moved from the town of Manchester to this place by Andrew J. Anderson, and opened for a boarding house. In a few months he sold it to Mots Motson, who enlarged and remodeled it, carrying it on for a year or so when he commit- ted suicide by hanging himself, and the building is now occupied as a residence by his widow.
In September of the same year, 1877, J. P. Grinager and C. K. Hovland put up a frame building 20x80, one story high, and in November put in their stock of general merchandise. About two years later Mr. Hovland retired from the firm and Mr. Grinager continues it alone.
About the same time Scarseth and Lee com- menced building and opened their $4,000 stock of general merchandise to customers late in October, in a building 50x22 and two stories high. In 1879 Mr. Scarseth died and Mr. Olof Lee has since managed the business.
In a few weeks after the above advent, E. S. Dunn moved a building, 22x50 feet, from Free- born village to Hartland, and with it brought and opened a limited stock of drugs. Mr. Dunn afterwards sold to Hovland & Nelson, and they in turu rented to the present proprietor, Dr. M. Torkelson.
The same fall, Hoff & Seim moved a small building, 18x24 feet, to the village, bringing also a stock of goods, and locating their building east of the track, opened a general merchandise store. This store was formerly located on the farm of Louis Knudson in section fifteen, where the Post- office was originally established. In July, 1878, the goods were moved to the main part of the village, where the business is still continued, now under the firm of Seim & Hutland.
Thus the growth of the village went on, and new stores and saloons, and various other shops were started, and a number of buildings erected, many of which, however, are now vacant.
In 1881 a building was erected east of the rail- road track, size 50x55 feet, for a hay press, by Tunell & Harper, in which the necessary machin- ery was put into operation by a twelve horse- power steam engine. This is quite an enterprise, and makes a ready market for all the hay put up in the neighborhood, baling it for shipment to the !
cities and distant markets. Lately W. P. Ser- geant purchased Tunell's interest, and the busi- ness is continued under the new firm.
WAREHOUSES .- The first warehouse erected in the village was put up about the middle of Sep- tember, 1877, by C. D. White, being a frame building, one story, size 32x40 feet. This was pretty well filled with grain by the time the rail- road got here.
The next warehouse was put up by C. W. Whiton, in November, 1877, size 40x80, one story high, and was run by A. McDermid in the interest of the Millers' Association. The latter gentle- man purchased it, and in 1881 it was increased in size and changed into an elevator with a capacity of about 9,000 bushels, using a ten horse-power steam engine. This elevator was entirely destroyed by fire in the winter of 1881-82.
In the winter of 1877 Grinager & Fitzgerald erected a warehouse 30x60 feet, which was operated for three years and then torn down.
P. Olson erected a warehouse, 30x50 feet, one story high, in 1878, which is still on the ground.
HARTLAND POST-OFFICE.
Before the village was thought of this Post- office was established and held in various parts of the township. In December, 1876, J. C. Hoff was appointed Postmaster, and moved the office to his store in section fifteen. In the fall of 1877 it was removed with the store to the village, and in 1879, when he sold out his interest in the store to his partner, Ole A. Seim, the latter gentleman became, and still is, Postmaster, with the office at the store. Mail now arrives daily on the railroad.
STATISTICS.
THE YEAR 1881 .- Showing the acreage and yield in the township of Hartland for the year named.
Wheat-4,939 acres, yielding 58,651 bushels. Oats-1,000 acres, yielding 33,353 bushels. Corn-735 acres, yielding 29,615 bushels. Barley-7712 acres, yielding 1,882 bushels. Buckwheat-7 acres, yieldliug 90 bushels. Potatoes-37 acres, yielding 4.494 bushels. Beans-5g of an acre yielding 9 bushels. Sugarcane, -- 21g acres, yielding 369 gallons. Cultivated hay-14 acres, yielding 91 tons. Total acreage cultivated in 1881,-6,833. Wild hay-2,799 tons.
Timothy seed-4112 bushels.
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.
Apples-number of trees growing, 1,987, num- ber bearing. 307, yielding 14031 bushels.
Grapes-23 vines, yielding 28512 pounds.
Sheep-690 sheared, yielding 2,979 pounds of wool.
Dairy-409 cows, yielding 33,955 pounds of butter.
Hives of bees-2, yielding 20 pounds of honey.
THE YEAR 1882-Wheat, 4.434 acres; oats, 1,109; corn, 1,203; barley, 122: buckwheat, 24; po- tatoes, 43; beans, 18 ; sugar-eane, 2; cultivated hay, 52; flax, 1; other products, 551g; total acreage cultivated in 1887,05014.
Apple trees-growing, 1,881; bearing, 349; grapevines bearing, 31.
Milch cows-416.
Sheep-644, yielding 2,880 pounds of wool.
Farms cultivated in 1881-101.
Forest trees planted and growing-209.
POPULATION .- The census of 1870 gave Hart- land a population of 485. The last census, taken in 1880, reports 699 for this town. Showing an increase of 214.
EDUCATIONAL.
DISTRICT No. 8-The organization of this dis- triet was effected in the spring of 1863, at a meet- ing held at the house of Aaron Carr in section ten. The first officers were: Director, W. J. Mc- Clelland; Treasurer, William Wrangham; Clerk, William Beede. A log schoolhouse was bought for $9, and located in section eleven. The first school was taught by Miss Mary Bliss with eight scholars enrolled; the last term in this building was taught by Miss Maggie MeClelland to an attendance of forty pupils. The present house is located near the center of section eleven, size 18x24, and cost $400. The present officers are Messrs. Hendrickson, Peterson, and Phipps.
DISTRICT No. 9 .- This district embraces the territory in the southwestern part of the town- ship, with a sehoolhouse located in section thirty- five, and was among the first districts organized in the county, although the records only extend back to 1869, prior to that having, by some means, been lost. The district is in a flourishing condi- tion, fully up to the average schools in attendance and efficiency.
DISTRICT No. 10 .- It is claimed that this dis- triet was organized in the summer of 1858, and / the first sehool was taught the same year by Mrs. Charles Morehouse at her residence, with six pu- , of the schools.
pils present. The first school meeting was held in the fall of 1858, at the residence of C. Morehouse, six voters present, and the following officers were elected : Clerk, George MeColley; Director, J. P. Duncan: Treasurer. Charles Morehouse. In 1863, a schoolhouse was erected near the center of the distriet, size 26x30, frame, at a cost of $800, which is still in use. The schoolhouse is located in the northern part of section thirty-two.
DISTRICT No. 62 .- The first school held within the boundaries of this district was called in the summer of 1860, with twelve pupils present, and Elizabeth Sibbey as instrnetor. In the spring of 1862 the district etlected an organization, the officers being L. Knudson, O. Sheldon, and Levi Jones, and the first school after organization was taught by Miss C. Reynolds in a private house. In 1868 the school structure was erected in the center of section fourteen at a cost of $415. The present clerk is Henry Hanson.
DISTRICT No. 109 .- This is the Hartland vil- lage school, and, as will be inferred from the number, is the youngest school district in the township. Prior to its organization the children attended in, and the territory was annexed to, other districts. At the time of platting the vil- lage, or shortly after, the district was brought into existence, and in the fall of 1878 the schoolhouse was erected, being a frame building, size 24x36 feet, two stories, with a bel- fry, well painted and furnished, and cost about $1,800. The lower story is used for church services, lectures, town meetings, and all publie purposes. The school has had as many as fifty- five scholars enrolled and is in a flourishing condition now, having about thirty average attendance.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
WILLIAM BEEDE, one of the pioneers of this place, is a native of Vermont, born on the 9th of April, 1824. He was raised on a farm, and in 1845, married Miss Cynthia Sleeper, who was born in New Hampshire. In 1856, they came west and settled first in Wisconsin and two years later started with an ox team for this place. They pre-empted land in section four, which has sines been their home. They have a family of three children. Mr. Beede in an early day took an active part in the organization and support
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HARTLAND TOWNSHIP.
S. S. CHALLIS was born in Corinth, Orange county, Vermont, on the 7th of April, 1822. In 1847 he removed to New Hampshire, and in 1850 to Massachusetts. He was married on the 22d of November, 1852, to Miss N. Julia Orr, who bas borne him four children. In 1857 Mr. Challis went to California where he remained three years, then returned to Vermont, and in June, 1862, came to Hartland which has since been his home, his farm being in section thirty-one. He was Chair- man of the Board of Supervisors in 1864, and the year following elected Justice of the Peace, which office he now holds. In 1863 he was chosen and served as captain of a military company raised in this county.
GULL GUTTORMSEN, one of the okl residents of Hartland, is a native of Norway, born on the 16th of June, 1822. He sailed for America in 1850, landing in New York on the 4th of July, and came directly to Columbia county, Wisconsin. On the 10th of February, 1855, he was united in marriage with Miss Engelburt Tearksendatter, who has borne him two children, only one of whom is living. In 1856 they removed to Min- nesota, and resided in Steele county for two years, then came to Hartland. He served in the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry from the 16th of March, 1865, until the close of the war.
WALTER L. HANSEN, a native of the Empire State, was born in Oswego connty on the 25th of May, 1845. When he was ten years old he moved with his parents to Illinois where, on the Ist of August, 1864, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Company E, was on garrison duty all the time until dis- charged on the 10th of July, 1865. In 1867 he moved to McGregor, Iowa, and a year later to Wisconsin, where he married on the 18th of March, 1870, Miss Margaret Ramsey. She died on the 9th of June, 1872, leaving one child, Margaret Irene. In 1875 Mr. Hansen came to Hartland and purchased a farm in section three, which has since been his home. His present wife was for- merly Miss Emma Challis, whom he married on the 26th of October, 1876. This union has been blessed with one child, Mand Lillie.
CARL HENDRICKSON was born in Norway on the 12th of May, 1838, and when ten years old emi- grated with his parents to America. They settled in Wisconsin where he married, in 1860, Miss Esther Madison. They have had eleven children,
nine of wom are living. He came here in 1865, and purchased his present farm. Since 1877 he has been Town Treasurer, and has held other local and school offices.
OLE T. JOHNSON was born in Norway on the 6th of August, 1856, and when an infant came with his parents to America. The family first located in Columbia county, Wisconsin, nntil 1867, then came to this township and have since made it their home, their farm being in section two.
LEWIS KNUDSON, one of the early residents here, is a native of Norway, and dates his birth the 5th of August, 1830. He was married in April, 1853, to Miss Isabel Kittleson, and the same year they came to America. In 1858, they moved from Wisconsin to this township, and secured a farm in section fifteen. Mrs. Knud- son died on the 28th of April, 1871, having borne seven ehildren, only one of whom is now living. His present wife, Miss Isabel Torgenson, he married on the 20th of May, 1872, and of six children born to this union, four are living.
THOMAS S. LEE was born near Bergen, Nor- way, on the 3d of January, 1834. When he was twenty-two years of age he came to America and first settled in Racine county, Wisconsin. He was married in 1861, to Miss Sarah Johnson, also a native of Norway. They resided in different parts of the latter State until 1873, when they came to Minnesota and located in Freeborn township until 1880, then came to Hartland. They have a family of ten children.
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