USA > Minnesota > Freeborn County > History of Freeborn County, including explorers and pioneers of Minnesota, and outline history of the state of Minnesota > Part 85
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CHARLES M. JOHNSON was born in Norway on the 20th of Angust, 1829. He left his native country in 1841, and came to America with his parents, settling in Boone county, Illinois. In - 1852, he went to the gold mines of California, but four years later returned to Boone county, where, on the 20th of March, 1856, he married Miss
Adeline Olson. On the 2d of July, 1857, he started for this State, and located a claim in sec- . tion twelve, Manchester township. He has been road Overseer two years, and Treasurer of his school district two terms. He is the father of six children, two boys and-four girls.
SIVERT JOHNSON, one of the pioneers of this place, was born in Norway on the 12th of August, 1807. He was united in matrimony on the 13th of January, 1829, to Miss Anna Peterson, who bore bim eight children, three of whom are still living. She died on the 4th of August, 1848, and the following year he came to America with five of his children, two having died since coming here. He married his present wife, formerly Annie Panl- son, on the 1st of Jannary, 1849. This union has been blessed with four children, three of whom are living. When first coming to this country Mr. Johnson settled in McHenry county, Illinois; in 1855, moved to Butler county, Iowa, and two years later came to Manchester, taking a farm in section twelve, which has since been his bome. His eldest son, Lewis Johnson, was born on the 12th of March, 1838, in Norway, and resided with his father until 1861. He was married on the 8th of May in that year, and moved to his farm in section two. He has been a member of the board of Supervisors several terms. He is the father of six children.
JENS O. JENSON was born in Norway on the 16th of November, 1813. He was married on the 25th of December, 1832, to Miss Martha Olsdatter. In 1851, he came with his family to America, first located in Dodge county, Wisconsin, remaining in that State until coming here, in 1860. He imme- diately selected bis present farm in section twen- ty-four, to which he has since devoted his time. Mr. and Mrs. Jenson have had ten children, three of whom are living, one girl and two boys; three of their sons were killed in the army.
KNUT KNUTSON MORRUM, a native of Wisconsin, was born in Waukesha county, on the 1st of Octo- ber, 1844. In 1855 he moved with his parents to Goodhue county where they remained one year, and in 1856, became pioneers of this township. Knute was married on the 25th of December, 1873, to Miss Inglebert Oleson, who has borne him four children. His farm is located in section four- teen and is well cultivated.
OLE K. MORRUM was born in Norway on the 14th of September, 1835, He emigrated to Amer-
31
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.
iea in 1843, and settled in Wisconsin, thence in 1857, to Manchester, where he married his wife. Miss Ingeborg Peterson, on the 2d of October. 1858. They have had ten children, eight of whom are living. Mr. Morrum's farm is in section thir- teen, and he is one of the Directors of school dis- trict No. 19.
LEWIS L. OLSON, one of the pioneers of this place, was born in Norway on the 15th of Oeto- bers, 1824. He was drafted and served in the army in his native country for five years. On the 5th of December, 1846, he married Miss Annie Helguesdatter. In the spring of 1832 they came America, and on the 10th of September of the same year, Mrs. Olson died. Of three children, the result of the union, one is living. Mr. Olson first settled in Racine county, Wisconsin, and there married Miss Rangle Deisledatter on the 4th of July, 1834. In 1857 they removed to this township and located their present farm in section thirteen. While in Wisconsin Mr. Olson learned the blacksmith trade, at which he was engaged until quite recently, he has devoted his entire time to the cultivation of his farm. Mr. and Mrs. Olson have been blessed with seven children.
OLE PETERSON, one of the earliest settlers and a leading man of this township, is a native of Nor- way, born on the 16th of February, 1832. He emigrated to America in 1851, and settled in Illinois, first in Boone and afterward in Rock county. On the 20th of December. 1852. he mar- ried Miss Eliza Gulbrandson, and they have had six children, five of whom are living. In 1856 Mr. Petersou came to this county and selected a home in section fifteen, Manchester. He was a member of the first board of Supervisors, and afterward elected Justice of the Peace, taking an interest in all local' matters. He is President of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company, of which he was also the organizer. In 1862 Mr. Peterson enlisted in the Fifteenth Wisconsin Vol- nuteer Infantry, Company K, was promoted to First Lieutenant, and served one year when his health failed, on account of which he was dis- charged and returned to his family, having since made this place his home.
IVER A. RODSATER was born in Norway on the 18th of September. 1845. He received a good education in his native place, and in 1856 emi- grated to America, first settling in Wisconsin. In the spring of 1857 he moved to Worth county,
Iowa, and the same summer came to this place. He was married on the 27th of October, 1867, to Miss Ingeborg Anderson, and have since made their home in section ten. Mr. Rodsater was elected Town Treasurer in 1869, served till 1871. and was then elected Town Clerk, having since held the offices. He has been a member of the board of County Commissioners since 1877, and has held school offices; has also been Secretary of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company of Man- chester since its organisation. Mr. and Mrs. Rodsater have had seven children, six of whom are living.
S. B. SMITH, more familiarly known as Uncle Sam, is one of the earliest settlers and organizers of Manchester. He was born in Renville. Lick- ing county, Ohio, on the 16th of July, 1818, and moved with his parents to Portage county in the same State in 1832. When twenty-one years old he was united in marriage with Miss Sabra S. Dewey, the ceremony taking place on the 16th of June, 1839. She was born on the 16th of December, 1819, in Westfield, Hampden conuty, Massaclin- setts. In 1844 they moved from Ohio to Indiana. and remainad until 1850, then resided in Illinois for several years. In the summer of 1857 Mr. Smith came to Manchester, and has since been in- terested in the improvement of the town and of his own home. His wife died on the 27thi of March, 1869. She bore him two children; Will- iam A., and Helen J., both of whom are now dead. The son enlisted on the 18th of August. 1862, in the Sixth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. Company E, and served his country until 1865; and the daughter died on the 12th of November, 1876. On the 27th of August, 1870, Mr. Smith was joined in wedlock to his present wife, Mrs. Sarah J. Gray. This union has been blessed with two children, both girls.
PAUL J. SPILDE, youngest son of Sivert and Annie Johnson, was born in Norway on the 24th of December, 1849. He came with his parents to America at the age of eight months, and has . always lived with them, they now making their home on his farm in section twelve. He was joined in matrimony on the 29th of January. 1874, to Syneva Guttormson, who has borne him four children, three boys and one girl. Mr. Spilde is one of the Directors of his school district.
JOHN SIPPEL, deceased, was a native of Ger- many, born on the 28th of September, 1807. He
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MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP.
was married on the 26th of June, 1838, to Miss Margaret Wenzel. The result of the union was ten children, eight of whom are still living. Mr. Sippel brought his family to America in 1855, lived for three years in Wisconsin and in June, 1858, became one of the pioneers of this place, staking out a claim in section twenty-seven. He died on the 27th of May, 1871. His son Dennes Sippel was born in Germany on the 27th of July. 1845, and now resides on the old homestead. He was joined in matrimony on the 4th of May, 1871, to Miss Ida Tida and they have had six children, four of whom are living.
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GUNNE THYKESON, who built the first log house in this place, was born in Norway on the 22d of March, 1832. He was united in marriage on the Ist of May, 1853, with Miss Siuga Olson, and the same year they came to America. They resided in Winneshiek county, Iowa, until coming to this place in 1856, taking a claim in section nine, which is still their home. They have had eight children, six of whom are living.
ROLLOF THYKESON, one of the pioneers of this place, was born in Norway on the 27th of Feb- ruary, 1837. In 1852, he came to America and directly to Dane county, Wisconsin, where he remained until 1854, then moved to Winneshiek county, Iowa. In 1856, he came to Manchester and staked ont a claim in section fifteen upon which he lived several years, then moved to his present home in section sixteen. On the 20th of Jannary, 1862, he enlisted in the Fifteenth Wis- consin Volunteer Infantry, Company K, and served till the close of the war, having partici- pated in four battles. After his discharge he returned to his farm in this place, and on the 25th
of July, 1866, married Miss Annie Ellingson. Of nine children born to this union, eight are living. Mr. Thykeson has been a member of the board of Supervisors several times and has held school offices.
O. J. TAYLOR, a native of New York, was born in Hamburgh, Erie county, on the 2Ist of March, 1832. In 1845, he moved with his parents to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he grew to manhood, and on the 15th of Angust, 1862, enlisted in the Twenty-second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, Company C. He was in several important engagements and returned to his home at the close of the war, without a scratch, having received an honorable discharge. Before entering the army, on the 6th of February, 1860, he was mar- ried to Miss Emily A. Gibson and they have been blessed with one child, Ervin O. Mr. Taylor has been a resident of this place several years, his farm being located in section thirty-five.
SEVERT THORESON, a native of Norway, was born on the 14th of November, 1849. He came with his parents to America when five years old and settled on Jefferson prairie in Boone county, Illinois. On the 12th of August, 1862, he enlisted in Company M, of the Twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infantry and served till the close of the war, par- ticipating in a few small skirmishes. In 1866, he removed to Iowa, which State he made his home two years, then came to Manchester and selected a farm in section nine. He was married on the 30th of May, 1869, to Betsy, widow of Halver Peterson, and the mother of four children. Mr. and Mrs. Thoreson have had six children. He is at present Postmaster and has held other local offices.
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.
MANSFIELD.
CHAPLER LXVI.
DESCRIPTIVE-EARLY SETTLEMENT-EVENTS OF IN-
TEREST - POLITICAL~ STATISTICAL-SCHOOLS- BIOGRAPHICAL.
The township bearing this old, time honored name, receiving it, as did so many towns through- out the United Kingdom, in honor of Lord Mans- field, is a full congressional township embracing the territory of Town 101, Range 23. It is the southwestern subdivision of Freeborn county, its contiguous surroundings being, Alden on the north; Nunda on the east; Faribault county ou the west; and the state of Iowa on the south.
As to the surface and physical features, not much can be said of this that would not readily apply to almost any other prairie town, and this is one in the full sense of the word. However, there are a few patches of timber here, the most of which is domestic, and located mostly in sec- tions seven, eight, ten, and thirty-six. The north- western part of the town is high and rolling, furn- ishing some of the finest farming land immagin- able; but, as you go southward and to the east it becomes more level and low, with numerous marshes and sloughs, which makes the locality less valuable for farming and agricultural pur- poses, although there are many fine farms in this as well as other portions of the town. In the ex- treme southeastern corner, a ridge of high land abruptly pushes its way through the surface of the prairie, which inaugurates the area of the tableland, commencing here and extendling east- ward through Nuuda and other towns.
The soil is a dark loam, with a subsoil of sand and gravel, as a rule; but this is not invariable. for in places a marked tendency to a lighter na- ture is visible, with a clayey subsoil.
Mansfield has no lakes within its borders, nor has it any streams of much importance. The largest in the township is Steward's Creek, which
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rises in Allen and crossing a corner of section two passes through the center of section one and twelve, forming a miniature lake in section one. touches a corner of thirteen and leaves the town on its way to Bear Lake, in Nunda. Lime Creek crosses the southeastern corner of the township. Another small stream, not as yet dignified with a name upon the map, rises in section eight, and flowing northward through section five. leaves the town and enters Alden.
The geological and natural history survey of county of Freeborn, by N. H. Winchell, State Geologist, published in 1875, says of Mansfield :- "This town is nearly all prairie. a small patch of oak openings occuring in sections three, ten, and fifteen. The northwestern part of the township is rolling, and the southeastern is level and wet with marshes.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The earliest steps leadings to the founding and subsequent development of this thriving town- ship commenced early in 1856, which was about the time that the western fever actually set in, and found root in the minds of the eastern people.
The first settlers in Mansfield were the Tunell brothers, John and Henry, who came from Illinois by the way of Iowa, with their families, and with teams, arriving on the 23d of June, 1856, and lo- cating on section eight. Here John remained until 1873, when he went to Oregon, where he now resides with his family; while Henry still occupies the place he originally secured in section eight, and is one of the prominent men of both town and county. These brothers brought with them about one hundred head of cattle, and shortly after their arrival commenced putting up hay, securing enough to carry them safely through the winter; but a prairie fire came rolling along and destroyed all the fruits of their labor. For a time the prospect looked seriously dubious, but
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they finally managed to purchase enough hay from parties in Iowa to tide them over the winter, without a loss of more than half their stock, as the poor brutes suffered considerable from the severe cold and deep snow.
Shortly after these parties made their appear- ance, Henry Schmidt and Henry Jahnke arrived and secured tracts of the government domain; Henry Schmidt located on section ten, where he remained until that insatiable enemy of immortal- ity, Death, called him hence. Mr. Jalinke made himself at home in section ten, and still holds forth there, a prosperous and prominent farmer.
After this there were no arrivals for some time, but gradually the attention of incomers was turned this way, and the government land began to disappear. Messrs. Stenvaldson and Kittleson, natives of Norway, came in and located where they still live, on valuable farms in section fifteen, Shortly after this we notice the arrivals of a num- ber of additions to this littlement of Norwegians; H. Knutson, Nels Nelson, John Kraus Haar, and others who are yet occupying their places.
VARIOUS MATTERS OF INTEREST.
It is claimed that the first birth in the township was the minor arrival of Louisa Schmidt, on the 10th of October, 1856.
Among, if not the very first marriages in the township, occurred in 1864, and united Angust Heintz and Miss Louisa Yost in the holy bonds of matrimony.
The first death of a matured person was the demise of Mrs. Henry Schmidt, who was called away on the 20th day of December, 1862. She was first buried on the farm, but her remains were subsequently removed to the Mansfield cemetery.
The first religious services in the township were held in 1859, by Rev. Mr. Smith, an itiner- ant preacher from New Ulm.
MANSFIELD POST-OFFICE.
This luxury was established about 1875, the first Postmaster being Mr. James M. Emerson, who held the office until the 8th of March, 1878, when the present Postmaster, Henry J. Smith, was commissioned to handle the mail, and still acts in that capacity. The location of the office is at the Postmaster's house in section ten, and it supplies a good area of country with its postal matter, proving a great convenience to the far-
mers, who would otherwise be obliged to go out of the township for the news from friends.
LUTHERAN CHURCH. - This society effected an organization as early as 1874, and in that year they erected a neat and commodions church edi- fice in the southeastern corner of section thirty- six, at a cost of about $3,300. The denomination belongs to the conference of Minnesota. Their first pastor was Rev. B. B. Geldager, who was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Nelson, and next came the present otliciating clergyman, Rev. Mr. Ostrop. It is one of the strongest societies iu Freeborn county, having about three hundred members.
There is a cemetery in connection with this church, located just south of it, on a high spot of land. which contains about thirty graves. This was laid out about the time of the organization of the society, and is one of the most beautiful grounds for the purpose in Mansfield.
MANSFIELD CEMETERY .- This burial ground is located in the northeastern part of section sixteen, containing one acre, which is neatly fenced and well improved. This "village of the dead" con- tains many members of the earliest settlers in Mansfield, and among the gleaming head boards we see the epitaph of the father of Henry Tunell, one of the first and most honored settlers.
POLITICAL.
In earlier days Mansfield was merged into sur- rounding towns for local government, and the records of it as a separate organization do not commence until 1866, when they state that the first meeting was held in Henry Schmidt's house.
The first officers elected were: Supervisors, Henry Tunell, Chairman, John Kraus Haar, and John B. Oleson; Clerk, John Tunell; Assessor, Nicholas Stenoldson; Treasurer, John Tunell. At present, meetings are held in the schoolhouses throughout the town.
Mansfield has always been in good hands, so far as its officials are concerned, and public mat- ters have been attended to with a zeal and honesty that is indeed commendable; it is ont of debt, has voted $400 for road and bridge fund, and has never voted any railroad bonds to beggar the people and enrich monopolists.
STATISTICAL.
We will say, as an introductory remark to this article, that, as a rule, statistics are rather dry reading to one who is merely perusing a work for 1
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.
pastime, as they go too much into fine detail to suit mere fancy; but to one who is searching for facts concerning a locality which he has in con- templation for a future home, they are everything and all important. They determine for him with accuracy the resources of a country; the class of people with which it is settled, giving the amount of their productions, and they are indisputable. In fact, all vital matters eoneerning the wealthı, prosperity, and welfare of a locality are embodied in a careful summing up of the statistics of values, cultivation. and production. We have, therefore, compiled a statement of such for this township, taken from the County Auditor's report to the commissioner of statistics of Minnesota for 1882. and elsewhere, which we herewith present. It must be remembered that although the report was made in the year 1882, the acreage and num- ber of bushels raised was in the year 1881.
Wheat-1,844 aeres, yielding 22,611 bushels; average 12.25 bushels per acre.
Oats-399 acres, yielding 12,162 bushels; about 33 bushels per acre.
Corn-534 acres, yielding 19,480 bushels; 3612 bushels per acre.
Barley-33 acres, yielding 740 bushels: 2212 per acre.
Potatoes-29 acres, yielding 3,075 bushels; 106 per acre.
Sugar cane-514 acres, yielding 670 gallons of syrup: 127 gallons per acre. No sugar reported.
Hay-30 acres, yielding 60 tons; per acre, two tons. Wild hay, 1,230 tons.
Other products, about five aeres.
Total number of acres cultivated in 1881, 2,879.
Apples-867 growing trees, 141 bearing; yield- ing 20 bushels.
Sheep-82 sheared, yielding 292 pounds of wool; over three pounds and a half per head.
Dairy-210 cows, yielding 10,800 pounds; averaging over fifty pounds each. No cheese reported.
Bees and honey-3 hives, yielding 12 pounds of lioney.
This closes the report for the year 1881. From the report of Assessors, for the present year, 1882, we have gleaned the following which will be of interest:
THE YEAR 1882. Acreage sown to wheat, 1,861; oats, 423; corn, 834; barley, 22; rye, 1; potatoes, 3512; sugar cane, 332; cultivated hay, 30: other
produce, 3. Total acreage cultivated in 1882- 3,213.
Other items for the same year: growing apple trees, 1.162; bearing apple trees, 406; grape vines in bearing, 13; milch cows, 205; sheep, 229; wool, 807; whole number of farms reported, 35.
POPULATION .- In the year 1860, the population of Mansfield may be said to be almost nothing. In 1870, the ecnsus report gives it 379, and at the last census, in 1880, we find the population to be 552; showing an increase in ten years of 173.
SCHOOLS.
Educational facilities in Mansfield arc up to the average of towns in the county, having six dis- tricts, all in good condition and well managed. If the territory were equally divided in the town- ship. this would give an arca of six square miles to each educational sub-division. The districts, with numbers and location of schoolhouses, are as follows: No. 41, building in section thirty- two; No. 74. in section two; No. 84, in section twenty-six; No. 86, in section thirty-five: No. 87, in section eight: No. 92, in section ten. Below is given a short sketch of the organization, growth, and present condition of the various districts.
DISTRICT No. 41 .- Embraces the territory lying in the southwestern part of the township. It was organized at an early day. but as to the actual date there are many conflicting reports, and as we have failed in seeing the records we cannot here decide the question; but, it is certain, however, that about the year 1872 their schoolhouse was erected in the northern part of section thirty-two, at a cost of abont $100, the size of it being 12x16. The first school was instructed by Miss Hattie Coblett, to nine scholars. The attendance at the present time is sixteen.
DISTRICT No. 74 .- Effeeted an organization about 1870, and held school in the private resi- dence of John Kraus Haar in section two, with Miss Rhoda Gripman as teacher and twelve pupils to answer the roll call. In 1872 their schoolhouse was erected in the southwestern corner of seetion two at a cost of 8400, the size of which is 18x30. The school has not increased much in numerical strength.
DISTRICT No. 84 .- This district commeneed its existence by erecting a school edifice in section twenty-six, the size of which is 16x24 and cost $300. The first teacher was C. H. Emmons with an attendance of about twenty-five, which has
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MANSFIELD TOWNSHIP.
increased to about thirty-five pupils. This dis- triet embraces the territory southwest of the center of the township.
DISTRICT No. 86 .- Effected an organization in 1872, the first school being taught in Mr. Hellek Knudson's house in section thirty-six, the teacher being Miss Jennie L. Romanson, with twenty- five students present. In the year 1874, two years after organization, the school building now in use was erected in the southeastern cornet of sec- tion thirty-five, at a cost of about $200, the size being 18x24. This district is really a union one, as it embraces as part of its territory several sec- tions in the state of Iowa.
DISTRICT No 87 .- It is claimed by some that this educational subdivision came into existence in the year 1867; and the first school was taught by Miss Ivey Thomas in John Tunnell's residence with fourteen pupils present. The following year their school edifice was erected in the sonthwestern part of section eight, size 16x24 at a cost of $400. The lumber from this house was hauled from Austin.
DISTRICT No. 92 .- This district is presumed to have been organized about 1875, for in that year we find their school house was erected in the southwestern part of section ten, at a cost of $400, size 18x24. Mr. Ambrus Morey was the first teacher, to an enrollment of twenty-one scholars. The district is in good condition and now has an attendance of about twenty-five.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
BENJAMIN H. DILLINGHAM was born in Maine on the 27th of December, 1841. He was raised on a farm and attended the Friends' Seminary, lo- cated in Providence, Rhode Island. In 1862, he was joined in marriage to Miss Emma J. Mc- Curdy, who was born in his native State. They came to Iowa in 1866, and engaged in farming three years, since which time Mansfield has been their home, taking a quarter in section thirty-two. Their children are, Henry E., James S., Charles H., Oliver E., George A., Mary F., Millard F., Lilian, and an infant not named. Mr. Dillingham takes a deep interest in educational matters, was one of the leading men in starting the public schools in this place and has been Clerk of the school board eight successive years.
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