USA > Minnesota > Freeborn County > History of Freeborn County, including explorers and pioneers of Minnesota, and outline history of the state of Minnesota > Part 83
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96
OLUF LEE was born in Norway, about twenty- five miles from Christiania, on the 21st of April, 1849. His father died when he was twelve years old, and after finishing his schooling he clerked in a store. When he was seventeen years of age he went to sea, and in 1870, spent one summer traveling in England. He emigrated to America in 1871, and located in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, and clerked in a dry goods store for ten months, thence to LaCrosse in the same occupation. He was subsequently employed as book-keeper for J. C. Easton, of Chatfield, and later filled the same position in the First National Bank in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, also for a lumbering company. In 1877, he came to Hartland and bought an interest in the first store in this place, and is now sole pro- prietor. He is at present Chairman of the board of Supervisors, and has held other local offices.
470
HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.
GEORGE McCOLLEY, one of the pioneers of Hart- land, was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, on the 24th of March, 1831. When he was young his parents moved to Ohio, and in 1845, to Port- age City, Wisconsin. On the 6th of March, 1853, George was joined in wedlock with Miss Eleeta Morehouse and they have six children. In 1857, Mr. MeColley started with an ox team to this place and for two months camped in his wagon, in the meantime putting up a slab house in section twenty-nine which has since been his home. He served for a time in Company E, of the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. His wife died on the 19th of July, 1881.
FRANCIS E. PHIPPS, a native of New Hampshire, was born on the 14th of April, 1833. When young he learned engineering, and in 1854, came to Green Lake county, Wisconsin, where he was engaged in running stationary engines in a steam mill. In 1860, he came to Minnesota and took a claim in this place, seetions ten and fifteen, where he has since lived. He was married in 1862, to Miss Mary Samson, a native of Canada. After a linger- ing illness of several years Mrs. Phipps died in 188I, leaving three children. Mr. Phipps has taken an active part in the support and organiza- tioh of the schools and has held several local offices.
O. A. SEIMI was born in Norway on the 25th of December, 1840, and when fifteen years old emi- grated to America. He was engaged in farming in Wisconsin until 1857, then came to Steele county, Minnesota, and worked his father's farm until buying one of his own. At the same time he carried on a general mereantile store in the southeastern part of Waseca county. In 1876, he came to Hartland township and opened the first atore in the place with John C. Hotf as partner, but a year later moved to the village and is now carrying on a merchandise business in company with Oluf Hufland. Mr. Scim has been Postmas- ter since 1879, besides holding other otlices.
PETER P. SHAGER, one of the early settlers of this county, is a native of Norway, born on the 16th of January, 1819. He came to America in 1849, and resided in Dane county, Wisconsin, one year, afterward in Columbia county until 1854, then went to Winneshiek county, Iowa. In the spring of 1857, he came to this county and settled in Manchester until enlisting on the 15th of August, 1862, in the Tenth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, Company E, and served twenty-one months. After his discharge he located on a farm in section thirty-four. Hartland. and has since devoted his time to its cultivation.
LONDON.
-
CHAPTER LXIV.
TOPOGRAPHY AND LOCATION-EARLY SETTLERS --- STATISTICS - MEDIUMS OF EDUCATION - BIO- GRAPHICAL.
-
This is the southeastern sub-division of Frec- born county, with Mower county bounding it on the east; the state of Iowa on the south; the township of Oakland on the north; and Shell Rock on the west. It is a complete con- gressional township of 36 sections or square miles, and comprising the territory, technically speak- ing, of Township IOI, Range 19.
The greater part of the township is prairie land, and is well adapted to tillage and profitable agri- culture. Toward the central and northern part there is considerable small timber; such as burr, red, and sernb oak, interspersed with natural meadows and small patches of prairie, and is known as "oak-opening land." The general in- clination of the surface is rolling, although it may be said to be more level than any township in Free- born county, In and about seetions fifteen and sixteen is the most broken, although not enough so to be impractical for cultivation. The soil is a dark loam, rich and productive, and is underlain with a subsoil of clay. The best farming land in
471
LONDON TOWNSHIP.
the town is the eastern part, while the balance is moderate or up to the average.
There are few streams and only one lake to water the surface of London. This body of water lies near the center of the town, and is known as Elk Lake, covering the greater part of 160 acres in section twenty-one. Two streams flow across the northeastern part of the town, and one traverses he southwest corner.
EARLY SETTLERS.
The early steps leading to the founding and subsequent development of this thriving town. ship, began at about the same period as did most of the towns in Freeborn county, and in none of them has the growth been more substantial, or progress more marked than in London. The early pioneers of this locatity were not of a class that were indolent; but they were thriving, energetic, and high spirited. They were good neighbors, and so good neighborhoods were created, and this was one of the great comforts, and in fact, blessings, for which the pioneers had cause to be thankful; for without the few good companions to each, which formed neighborhoods, and the unanimity of good fellowship and purpose, pioneeer life on the then barren frontier must have been unendur- able.
About the first settlement made in the town- ship was by a party of various nationalities from Wisconsin, who settled in sections eight, nine, and ten, in what was termed the burr oak opening land. This party was made up of Edward E. Bnd- long, who now lives in Shell Rock township; John T. Asher from Wisconsin, who is now dead; Asa Bullock and family, and a Mr. Carpenter, the last two mentioned, after a year's residence in London, pulled up stakes and removed to Oakland town- ship, where friends and relatives had preceded them. In the article upon that town they are treated more at length. During the ensuing winter the young folks who were matrimonially in- clined decided to have the conjugal knot tied in the everlasting and let-no-man-put-asunder way; so the ox teams were "corraled" and yoked, and away the parties hied themselves on a rapid ox walk for Osage, Iowa, 25 miles distant, where the ceremony was performed making the four, tico, and uniting Lemuel Bullock to Miss Carpenter, and Willard L. Carpenter to Miss Bullock.
This was about all who arrived in London in the year 1855, and they passed the winter as best
they could, depending upon each other for enter- tainment and keeping off despondency. During the following year, however, the beauties of this region began to be heralded abroad, and many who had come to realize the inequality of the contest between labor and capital in the older and eastern States, thronged in to find a new home, where, for the first years, at least, equality would reign supreme and merit must be ranked side by with capital. Among those who arrived in 1856, as many of the most prominent ones as can be remembered, will be given.
William N. Goslee, a native of Connecticut, who had stopped for a time in Iowa, came from the latter place with an ox team, and in May, 1856, secured the place he now occupies in section thirteen. Timothy F. Goslee came about the same time; but located just over the line in Mower county.
Benjamin Stanton joined this party by securing a slice from Uncle Sam's domain in section twelve. In October, 1857, while engaged in building a log house his earthly career was abruptly terminated by a stroke of lightning.
Just north of Stanton, in section one. the same year, B. R. P. Gibson, a native of Connecticut, succeeded in making his anchor take firm hold and his moorings still remain intact. H. B. Riggs, late of Michigan, joined this party and made himself a home in section eleven, where he re- mained for a number of years, and then removed to Shell Rock, where he finally paid the debt of mortality.
These parties had scarcely got nicely settled when the tranquility of their reign was disturbed by the arrival of a native of Wisconsin in the person of D. B. German, who located in section twelve, where he remained until 1880, when he removed to Mower county, and now lives there.
Avery Strong, a native of New York State, was another of the arrivals in 1856, who secured a habitation in this settlement by installing himself in section thirteen. He soon left, however, and is now living in his native State.
Silon Williams came from Vermont at about the same time, and planted his stakes in section eleven, where be still continues to thrive.
Edward Thomas, also abont the same time, commenced a sojourn which be still perpetuates in this settlement.
-
472
HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.
William Davis and a Mr. Lunt also arrived in 1865.
Section twenty-one received a settler this year in the person of Ole Lewis, who remained a year or two and then left the country.
In the spring of 1857 James H. Goslee left his home in Connecticut and pushed toward the set- ting sun, coming as far as Dubuque by rail, from there taking the stage route to St. Paul, where he was engaged for a couple of weeks, and then came on as far as West Union with a man who had horses for sale. The snow was very deep and he was delayed for several days; but finally found a man who was on a milling trip from Chickasaw county, Iowa, and with him rode to the latter place. Here he was detained for three days by a severe blizzard, and was finally carried on to Otronto, Iowa, from whence he walked to his brother's place in Lyle, Mower county, who is mentioned above as having settled there the year previous. Bring favorably impressed by the country, bought a place in sections twelve and thirteen in this township, of Sylvester West, which he still occupies.
In 1858 James H. Stewart, a native of the Empire State, made his appearance in London, and became an inhabitant by placing his sign manual upon papers for a claim in section twenty- four, where he now tills the soil.
The same year Joseph Chmelik and A. Ray- mond, Bohemians, arrived and took claims in section five where they are still plodding.
After this the immigration was more gradual, yet this is enough to indicate the class with which London began its civilization.
MATTERS OF INTEREST.
The first birth in the township occurred late in the fall of 1856, and brought into existence George Adkins.
The second made its appearance in February, 1857, and this time a. child of Horace Lamb became a living creature.
The first death was that of Benjamin F. Stan- ton, who died by a stroke of lightning on October 6th, 1857. His remains were deposited in their last resting place near Otronto, Iowa.
For political purposes this township was origin- ally merged with Oakland, and subsequently for a time a part of Shell Rock; but finally it was set off from these and is now a separate organization under the head of London.
From the records we learn that the first title to land was acquired by William Clatworthy and W. A. Pierce, on the 15th of August, 1856, these parties taking their claims on sections eight and nine.
LONDON POST-OFFICE .- This office was estab- lished in September, 1876, with Henry Lang as Postmaster, and shortly afterward Mrs. Meadow- croft was appointed as deputy, with the office in section fourteen. Mail arrives once each week from Austin, the mail carrier being John Connor. The office remained in section fourteen until April, 1880, when Mr. James Lacy was commis- sioned Postmaster and Marion Connor deputy, and again, in the spring of 1882 the Postmasters changed, this time John Manning took the mail pouch keys and still fills the position of Postmas- ter, the office being kept in section fifteen at his residence.
STATISTICS.
THE YEAR 1881 .- Showing the acreage and yield in the township of London for the year named :
Wheat- 2,365 acres, yielding 25,723 bushels. Oats-753 acres, yielding 22,321 bushels.
Corn-710 acres, yielding 26,895 bushels. Barley-169 acres, yielding 4,491 bushels. Rye-1 acre, yielding 6 bushels.
Buckwheat-5 acres, yielding 22 bushels.
Potatoes-2814 acres, yielding 3,049 bushels. Sugar cane-314 acres, yiciding 300 gallons. Cultivated hay-56 acres, yielding 42 tons.
Total acrcage cultivated in 1881-4,13212. Wild hay -- 569 tons.
Apples-number of trees growing, 704; number bearing, 111, yielding 2512 bushels.
Tobacco-19 pounds.
Sheep-31 shearcd :
Dairy-129 cows, yielding 5,275 pounds of butter.
THE YEAR 1882. - Wheat, 995 acres; oats, 758; corn, 1,059; barley, 224; rye, 10; buckwheat, 2; potatoes, 34; sugar cane, 234; cultivated hay, 99; flax, 3.
Total acreage cultivated in 1882-3,188 34.
Apple trees-growing, 668; bearing, 93.
Grape vines-bearing, 1.
Milch cows-150.
Sheep-31.
Whole number of farms cultivated in 1882 -55. Forest trecs planted and growing, 314 acres.
473
LONDON TOWNSHIP.
POPULATION .- The census of 1870 gave London a population of 311. The last censns, taken in 1880, reports 614 for this town; showing an increase of 303.
MEDIUMS OF EDUCATION.
DISTRICT No. 51 .- Effected an organization in 1862, and the following year the first term of school was held at the residence of H. B. Riggs, in section eleven, by Miss Orpha Skinner, with an attendance of about twelve scholars. Then, in 1867, the schoolhouse was erected in the western part of section twelve, which has since been greatly improved. The last term of school was taught by Miss Belle Cheadle with an average attendance of twenty-five scholars.
DISTRICT No. 59 .- Embraces territory in the southwestern part of the town, and has a school- house located in the northern part of section tilirty-two.
DISTRICT No. 71 .- This district came into exist- ence by organization in 1865, the first school being held in Morgan Eckert's granary, in section eighteen, taught by Miss Dora Sabin with an attendance of about six pupils. After this school was continued in private houses and granaries until the summer of 1869, when a schoolhouse, 16×20, was completed in section eight at a cost of $220, and Carrie Harrison taught a school with an attendance of eighteen. The house has since been remodeled and improved to the extent of $500. The last teacher was John D. Murphy; attendance thirty-two.
DISTRICT No. 94 .- Effected an organization in 1874, and the school building was erected the same year, in the southern part of section twenty- three, size 20x20, with an ante-room 12x16 feet, and cost $1,025. The first teacher was Mr. John Bewick with an attendance of fifteen scholars. Ella Meadowcroft was the last instructor of the young idea and had an average attendance of abont twenty pupils.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
PERSONS BUMP was born in Wyoming county, New York, on the 29th of March, 1844. When he was seven years old his parents came west and settled in Wisconsin. Persons enlisted in 1862, in the Twenty-second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, Company E, was in considerable active service in the South and spent four months in Libby prison, receiving an honorable discharge in 1865, having
attained the rank of Frst Lieutenant. Ile returned to his home and the same year married Miss Mar- inette Colson, a native of Ohio. In 1868 they came to London township, and bought a farm of two hundred and forty acres, in sections twenty- two and twenty-seven and have since made it their home. They have five children.
THOMAS BONNALLIE, one of the early settlers of this place, is a native of Scotland, born on the 5th of Apil, 1819, His parents came to America when he was an infant, and located in Canada. He remained with an uncle in Scotland until four years old, then joined his parents in Canada. In 1851 he was united in marriage with Miss Charlotte Philips and two years later they came to Wisconsin. Since 1856 Mr. Bonnallie has been a resident of this place. His first wife died, and in 1873, he married his present, Mrs. Janette Campbell, a native of Philadelphia, Penn. The issue of this union is seven children.
JAMES H. GOSLEE, one of the old and respected citizens of this section of the country, is a native of Connecticut, born in Hartford county, on the 31st of January, 1831. The early part of his life was spent in farming and learning the carpenter trade, and in 1857, he came to this township. His farm now contains over seven hundred acres and is well improved, he devoting his time principally to stock raising. In 1860 he was united in wedlock to Miss Zillah T. Beach, a native of New York. They have had two children; Henry A., born on the 2d of July, 1861; and Dwight W., born on the 8th of April, 1866. The latter died on the 12th of January, 1882.
WILLIAM N. GOSLEE, another pioneer of London township, was born in Hartford county, Connecti- cut, on the 12th of May, 1826. He was married before leaving his native State, in 1850, to Miss Sarah E. Ellis. They came west in 1855 and located in Iowa, but the following year came to this place, staking out a farm in section thirteen where he has since made his home. Mrs. Goslee died in 1862. His present wife was formerly Mary A. Cheadle, a native of Indiana, and they have two children. Mr. Goslee owns a fine farm, and since his residence here has served the town and county in different capacities.
ROGER P. GIBSON was born in Connecticut on the 17th of August, 1817. He grew to manhood on a farm and in 1840, married Miss Colista Gos- iee, who died three years later. Some years after
474
HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.
he was again married to a Connecticut lady, who came west with him to Iowa in 1855, and to this township the following year. Death again entered his home in 1861, and took away his partner in life, whose remains rest in the cemetery at this place. In 1863, he was wedded to Miss Emma M. Bolton, who was born in Ohio. This union has been blessed with six children. Mr. Gibson's farm has the appearance of a careful and exper- ienced manager. He is one of the pioneers here and has filled offices of trust in the town.
ARTHUR E. JOHNSTON, a New Yorker, was born on the 6th of June, 1850. When he was sixteen years old he came with his parents to Butler county, Iowa. They resided there until 1879, then came to this place and located in section twenty- four, which is still their home. Mr. Johnston is at present Treasurer of the school board.
HENRY LANG, a native of Scotland, was born on the 10th of January, 1842. He came with his parents to America when an infant, first settled in New York City and afterward lived in Missouri. After a residence of five years in the latter place the family came to Wisconsin and in 1862 to this township. Henry was joined in matrimony to Miss Jane Meadowcroft, also a native of Scotland. They have a family of seven children. Mr. Lang owns a well improved farm of two hundred and forty acres.
JOHN W. MANNING, the present Postmaster of London, was born in New Jersey on the 31st of October. 1845. He remained in his native place until twenty years old, then came to Rock county, Wisconsin, and in 1867, married Miss Sylvia Mosher, a Canadian lady. The issue of the union is five children. In 1872, Mr. Manning moved to Iowa and in 1879 came to this place. He has a good farm in section fifteen.
JOHN ROBERTSON was born near Glasgow, Scot- land, on the 15th of May, 1836. He came with his parents to America in 1844, and resided for some time in Rock county, Wisconsin. In 1858 he married Miss Margaret Campbell, also a native of Scotland. They came to Minnesota in 1866, and settled in section twelve of this township, which has since been their home, the farm con-
taining three hundred and twenty acres. Mr. and Mrs. Robertson have a family of three children.
JAMES H. STEWART, one of the carly settlers of London township, is a native of New York, born on the 19th of August, 1832. In 1853 he came to Wisconsin, where he married, in 1856, Miss Clarissa H. Hubbard, a native of Vermont. The same year they moved to Illinois, and a year later came to this place, taking land in section twenty- four, which is now a well cultivated farm. Mr. Stewart has filled offices of trust since coming here. He is the father of three children.
EDWARD T. THOMAS, a native of Wales, was born in March, 1835, and when very young came with his parents to America. They located in Utica, New York, and several years later moved to Ohio, finally coming west to Rock county, Wis- consin. In 1860 Edward married Anna Thomp- son, of Ohio. The following year he came to Minnesota and took a claim in London, section twenty-two. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have a family of three children.
JAMES VAN WINKLE, deceased, was born in Illinois on the 9th of September, 1825. He was married in 1853 to Miss Nancy Sutherland, also a native of Illinois. They came to Minnesota in 1858, but only remained a year and a half, and returned to their native State. In 1861 they came again to this State and bought a farm in London, where Mr. Van Winkle died on the 4th of Feb- rnary, 1876. He left a widow and six children to monrn his loss.
SILON WILLIAMS, one of the pioneers of this place, was born in Derby, Vermont, on the 23d of July, 1832. When twenty-two years old lie moved to Osage, Iowa, and a year later came to this place, settling in section eleven. He was joined in wedlock in 1860 with Miss Mary A. Phelps, a Canadian lady. They have ten chiil- dren. In 1862 Mr. Williams enlisted in the Ninth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, Company C, spent one year on the frontier, and then went south and participated in considerable active service, receiv- ing his discharge in 1865. He has since made his farm his home.
475
MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP.
MANCHESTER.
CHAPTER LXV.
LOCATION AND TOPOGRAPHY-EARLY SETTLEMENT
ORGANIZATION-STATISTICS -- EVENTS OF INTEREST
-- MANCHESTER VILLAGE -- SCHOOLS -- BIOGRAPHICAL.
Whatever the population of this town, it is cer- tain it bears an English name. It lies in the second tier from the north and also second from the western line of Freeborn county. Its contigu- ons surroundings are, Hartland on the north; Bancroft on the east; Pickerel Lake on the south; and Carlston on the west. It contains 11,689 acres less than a full congressional township, because of the "correction line" of the survey, and has thirty-six sections, comprising the territory of Town 103, Range 22, in all about 22,923 acres.
Originally the greater part of the town was covered with timber of small varieties, such as burr and black oak, maple, basswood, black wal- nut, butternut, ash, and elm, interspersed with natural meadows and prairie land. The south- western part of the town was principally burr oak opening land, except in sections twenty-eight and twenty-nine, where is found the sugar maple which is still, to a considerable extent, intact. The greater part of what was originally timber land is now under a high state of cultivation. The prin- cipal parcel of timber now in the town is black and burr oak, the latter being the mnost plentiful. The entire northwest portion of the town is a roll- ing prairie, and is among the best of farming land.
The soil, as a rule, is a dark rich loam of from two to three feet in depth, and underlaid with a subsoil of clay ; but this is particularly applicable to the timber land, as on the prairie a lighter ten- dency is apparent, while the subsoil is of clay and sand. All the land is very productive and well adapted to the mode of cultivation and crops of the latitude. The prairie land is made picturesque by groves of domestic poplar, which have been
planted and well cared for by the thrifty settlers.
The township is well watered and has its full complement of small lakes and water courses. A cluster of small lakes is found in the southwestern part of the town, and on the map appear the names of Lake Peterson, Sugar Lake, Silver Lake, and Lake Whitney, which are all near together on sec- tions twenty, twenty-one, twenty-eight, twenty- nine, and thirty. The only one of these having an outlet is Lake Peterson, from which a small stream taking a sontheasterly course finally leaves the town cia section thirty-six, and enters Ban- croft township. South of this cluster of lakes, in section thirty-two, Spring Lake infringes upon and covers a few acres of land. A small body of water known as Gun Lake is located in the eastern part of section nine. School Section Lake is loca- ted in the southeastern portion of the town, in section thirty-six.
There is but one village in the township, Man- chester, located in section fifteen, on the Minneap- olis & St. Louis Railroad, which crosses the township from north to south, bearing a little southeasterly.
The surface of the town is rolling, and although, in places, inclined to be rather abrupt in its mod- ulations, is not hilly, or in any place broken sufficiently to be detrimental to agriculture. The town is well adapted to agricultural purposes, and has a large cultivated area yielding good crops of the cereals.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.