History of Freeborn County, including explorers and pioneers of Minnesota, and outline history of the state of Minnesota, Part 87

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 87

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During the winter of 1856-57, Daniel Ingra- ham, an itinerant exhorter not identified with any denomination; but, as he said, "anything to beat the devil," preached in private houses, among them George Bolton's and William l'anl's. A class was organized at Bolton's house in 1857, with George Bolton as leader, and the same year Elder Mapes held services in varions places, and also held a series of protracted meetings, the result of which was an organization. In 1865, when Elder Tice was preaching here he started the project of building a church, which was accordingly erected in section twenty-two. This was the Methodist Episcopal society, and for a + time religious matters prospered and the church grew; but finally, interest began to wane, the members, many of them, moved away, preaching became irregular, and then discontinued, and the organization was declared moribund.

faith, took the religious training of the community in charge, and continued preaching once every two weeks for about one year.

In 1858, Theophus Lowry organized a Sunday school at the schoolhouse in section thirty-one, and acted in the capacity of superintendent. This school continned in active work until 1878.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH .- The first minister of the gospel following this faith, to hold services in this township, was Rev. Stephen Cook, of Aus- tin. He preached in the schoolhouse of district No. 31 in 1859, and on the 8th of April. 1860, a society was organized at the same schoolhouse with eleven members. The second preacher was a brother of the first, Rev. Nelson Cook. As most of the original members have either died or moved away, no services have bee i held since 1875. Rev. A. Morse, of Austin, was the last pastor.

A Union Sunday School was organized at the house of William Pace, in March, 1857. which was abont the first school of this kind formed iu the township. Money was very liberally sub- scribed and a good supply of books procured. The organization started its good work under the most favorable auspices, with S. N. Frisbie as superintendent, and continued its efficiency for many years.

FAIRVIEW CEMETERY .- Was platted and re- corded on the 4th of June, 1875. It is in the southeast corner of the sontheast quarter of sec- tion twenty-nine. The trustees were J. S. Harris, T. B. Morgan, S. W. Pitts, N. F. Earle, W. Mann, and N. B. Vansthonse. A. C. Spicer was the sur- veyor.

VILLAGE OF MOSCOW.

In June, 1857, this little burg was conceived, and was laid out in lots and blocks by Daniel Johnson, surveyor, for the proprietors, Nathan Owens, Benjamin Lindsey, and David M. Farr. It is located near the center of section twenty- two. or, to be technical, the northeast of the southwest of section twenty-two, on the bank of Turtle Creek.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH .- The first services by this denomination were held during the fall of 1857, at the house of the reverend gentleman who A Post-office under the name of Moscow was established at the village in 1858, with John G. Dunning as Post-master, and office at David Farr's house, in section twenty-two. In 1860 David M. Farr was commissioned, and held the office for two years, when the present incumbent, officiated, S. G. Lowry. The society effected an organization soon after, under the name of the Sumner and Moscow Presbyterian church. Mr. Lowry continued to preach at his house and in school buildings for about two years, when the Rev. Mr. Morse, a follower of the Congregational , Evan Morgan, was appointed to handle the mail,

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which arrives twice each week from Oakland. The office is kept at the house of the Postmaster.

In 1866, Joseph James, John Chandler, and James Dyrlyn, put in machinery and commenced operating a steam saw-mill near the main part of the village. They continued to pile up saw-dust for about four years, when timber began to get scarce and they sold the concern, which was fin- ally removed to Waseca county.

In 1879, Arthur Sanderson and his son, George, erected a two story frame building for a store and tenement, and in January. 1880, put in a good stock of general merchandise, which they still continue to manage. This is what has long been needed by the village and surrounding country, and it is to be hoped the farmers will sufficiently appreciate the enterprise to make it a financial success to the projectors.

SUMNER VILLAGE.

In 1857, a village was laid out into lots in sec- tion thirty-one by Rufus K. Crum, and recorded under this caption. A Post-otlice was also es- tablished the same year, with George Watson as Postmaster, which was continued until 1876. Aaron Mckune being the last mail-handler. In 1858, Mr. Crum, the projector of the embryo city, erected a house on the village site, and used to entertain travelers. But all of no avail: grad- ually the interest, even of the town proprietors, weakened, and the village of Sumner became a thing of the past. and the fond hopes for lots, blocks, stores, schools, and Churches, were aband- oned, and the surer and more practical plan of making money, by transforming the imaginary lots and blocks into fields of corn and wheat, was resorted to.

VARIOUS MATTERS OF INTEREST.

It is claimed, and upon good authority, that the first birth in the township took place on the 26th of December, 1855, and nshered into existence Sophia Matilda, a daughter of Evan and Sarah Morgan. The little girl grew to womanhood; and on the 12th of May, 1879, married A. M. Lee, and now resides in Sibley, in the northwestern part of Iowa.

About the next minor arrival was the birth of Eva Maria, daughter of Robert and Mary Speer. She was married in 1875 to DeForest Lincoln, and in 1881 died at Alexandria, leaving one child.

Alfred Silas, a son of Henry amd Mary A.

Fero, was also among the carly births, in Moscow, his natal existence dating back to the 29th of October, 1856. He now lives in Dakota.

The earliest marriage occurring within the lines of Moscow and of residents of the town, took place in October, 1856, and united the future for- tunes of George Bridle to Miss Galpin. Rev. Stephen Cook. of Austin, performed the ceremony at the house of the bride's parents in section thirty-two. In 1877 the happy couple returned to Illinois.

Another early marriage took place on the 17th of May. 1859, the high contracting parties being George W. Dearmin and Miss Lucia Campbell, the knot being tied by Rev. Theophus Lowry. The parties still live in section twenty-eight of Moscow.

Nathan S. Hardy and Amelia A. Pace were united in the holy bonds of matrimony on the 10th of August, 1859, by the Rev. Stephen Cook, at the residence of the bride's parents in section thirty- four.

FIRST DEATH .- This sad event made its impress on the minds of the members of the scanty com- munity, and long it will be ere it will be etfaced from their memories. A child of an Englishman named Galpin, living in section thirty-two, was the first victim, and quietly passed away in 1856.

Anotherearly event of this kind was the demise of Harriet, wife of James Bush, at the age of thirty-five, on the 25th of December, 1858.

FIRST STORE. - In 1856, Elbridge Gerry, a Yankee from the Green Mountain State, opened a general store in section twenty-eight, in a little log house. The building had been erected by the neighbors as an inducement to business men, and during its erection Gerry furnished whisky to keep the populace in a good humor. When the store was completed Gerry put in a limited stock of dry goods, boots and shoes, and groceries, and an unlimited stock of poor whisky, which was his staple article. He did a very brisk business for about one year; but finally left and returned to his former home in Vermont. The building he used is now in the village of Hayward, used as a barn, and belongs to Mrs. E. J. Campbell.

FIRST MILL .- In 1857, Messrs. Lindsey & Owens put up a steam saw-mill in section twenty- one, equipping it with a circular saw and power sufficient to cut 3,500 feet per day. In 1858 a burr for the purchase of grinding feed was at-

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tached and the mill run for both a saw-mill and feed grinding. Thus the industry continued until about 1866, when the machinery was removed to Wisconsin.

FIRST BLACKSMITH SHOP. This enterprise originated through the energy of Robert Speer. who in the fall of 1855 erected a small shanty, put in tools, and during the winter following did considerable blacksmithing. In 1856 he put up a substantial log building in which to carry on his business, and the pioneers came all the way from Blue Earth county for plow-sharpening. Mr. Speer carried on the business until 1877.

SORGHUM MILL-J. H. McIntire, in 1877, put in machinery and commenced operating a mill of this description for the manufacture of syrup, and since its construction, as regularly as the season rolls round, this mill is found to be in operation. A good article is manufactured and the enter- prise is of great benefit to the neighboring com- munity.

WOODLAWN GRANGE .- This society of the Pat- rons of Husbandry, effected an organization in 1873 or '74, with about twenty charter members, among whom were George King. Samuel Degood, Abijah Webster, and James H. MeIntire, and Abner Vanderwurker was chosen Worthy Master. The organization continued in active existence for about two years, and in fact, the charter has never been formerly surrendered; but one by one, the original and enterprising members moved away, or lost interest, until the lodge finally died from inappetency for success. Meetings of the order, while it was in force, were held at the houses of Mr. Vanderwurker and George King.

Moscow GRANGE .- This lodge effected an or- ganization a few weeks after the Woodlawn society, and among the charter members we notice the names of Henry Fero, Evan Morgan, James Bush, Robert Speer, John Ruh, Joseph James, and James Dunning. The first Master was Mr. John Ruh. Meetings were held at the schoolhouse in section twenty-two. It is said that this Grange broke up in a quarrel after a brief existence of about two years.

Fero. The society flourished for a time but is now defunct.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

WILLIAM L. BLISS was born in Montpelier, Vermont, on the 19th of September, 1818. He learned the shoemaker trade and when twenty- two years old moved to Lowell, Massachusetts, where he bought an interest in a restaurant and conducted the same two years. He then went to New York City and engaged in the wholesale and retail liquor traffic. In 1848, he was married to Miss Almina O. Spaulding. They have four children; Gilbert R., Almina O., (George S., and Ida May. Previous to his marriage he traveled through New York, Vermont and Canada, selling jewelry and dry goods and afterwards settled in Clinton county, New York ; but in 1856, went to California, and engaged in mining, remaining sixteen months. On his return he traveled along the Pacific slope selling honey-bees and introduc- ed the first ones in Oregon and Washington terri- tories. After an absence of two and a half years he returned to New York, and in 1859, again start- ed for California, but upon reaching this county stopped at Moscow and concluded to settle, taking a claim in section thirteen where he still lives.

JAMES BUSH, one of the earliest settlers of this place, was born in New York on the 5th of Sep- tember, 1828. When young he worked for a time at the shoemaker's trade and before leaving his native State married, in 1844, Miss Harriet Gates. In 1855, they came to Dodge county, Wisconsin, and the following year to Moscow, taking a claim in section twenty-seven. In February, 1857, his wife died at the age of thirty-two years. She bore him four children, two of whom are living. In 1859, he married his second wife, a sister of the former, and she died on the 30th of Angust, 1881, leaving a family of nine children. In 1874, Mr. Bush built a fine frame residence in which he now lives.

GEORGE W. DEARMIN, one of the pioneers of this place, was born in North Carolina, on the 30th of October, 1828. When he was a small child his parents became pioneers of Indiana, where George resided until 1847, when he en- listed in the Fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Company E, participating in the Mexican war, and serving till its lose. After his discharge he came to Indiana, and in 1855 came to lowa; resided in

I. O. OF G. T .- This society was organized at Henry Fero's house in April, 1876, with seventeen charter members, among whom were Henry Fero, Evan Morgan, G. W. Edwards, H. C. Lee, Mary Fero, R. G. Speer, William Rogers, and L. M. , Mitchell county until the spring of 1856, when

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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.

he came to this township and took a claim in sec- tion eight, but soon after sold and bought in sec- tion twenty-eight. In March, 1865, he enlisted in Company F, of the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry; was sent to Washington and remained in service until the following July. He was united in marriage in May, 1859, with Miss Lu- cia Campbell. Of eight children born to this union, only three are living: Jessie F., Orra A., and Mary E.

STEPHEN N. FRISBIE, one of the pioneers of this place, was born in Guilford, New Haven county, Connecticut. His mother, Miss Amada Scranton, was a descendant of John Scranton, who came with twenty-five other families from Eng- land, and settled in the latter town in 1639. His father was a sea faring man; and when Stephen was ten years of age he went to live with his unele on a farm, with whom he remained until twenty-one, then removed to Genesee, Waukesha county, Wisconsin. On the 30th of August, 1848, lie was married to Miss Theresa M. Castle, formerly of Colesville, New York, and the issne of the un- ion was five children- - three sons and two daugh- ters. In 1850, they moved to Beaver Dam, Dodge county, and resided there until 1853, thence to Leeds, Columbia county. In June, 1856, he and his family started with ox teams, and on the 23d of July, arrived in this township and staked ont the elaim upon which he now lives. Mr. Frisbie enjoys the esteem and confidence of his towns- men in a large degree, having been repeatedly elected to fill offices of trust and honor. In 1857, he was appointed one of the commissioners to organize Freeborn county, and that fall, at the first general election, was made one of the County Commissioners, and again in 1877 elected to the same office. He has been Chairman of the board of Supervisors, Assessor, Town Treasurer, and Jus- tiee of the Peace, in which latter capacity he now officiates. In 1878. he was honored with a seat in the House of Representatives. Although his business has been farming, he has engaged to some extent in other oecapations; from the fall of 1869 till 1875 he handled grain, first for Bassett, Hunting & Co., and afterwards for other parties; subsequently kept a lumber yard on his own ac- count. In religions views he is a Congregational- ist, and when the Union Sabbath School was or- ganized in this place he was appointed its Super- intendent. A Congregational church was organ-

ized here in 1859. of which he was a member; but meetings in it have since been discontinned, and he joined the church at Austin. He is a staunch Republican, and has always been a zeal- ous advocate of its principles. ile was appointed Postmaster in 1858. the office being kept at his house until August. 1877, when it was re- moved to the railroad station. and its name changed to Oakland. Mr. Frisbie's first wife died on the 25th of June, 1875, after a long and painful illness, and he married his present wife on the 9th of August. 1877. She was formerly Miss Sophie A. Little, of Oberlin, Ohio.

JOHN GUY, a native of Ireland, was born in Don- egal in 1845. In 1869, he left his birth place and emigrated to America. landed in New York. and came directly to Minnesota. He resided for a year and a half with his unele in Oakland, and in 1871 bought land in this place in company with his brother. Mrs. Guy was formerly Miss Mary Taylor. Mr. Guy has been a member of the Presbyterian church since quite young; is a Republican and takes an active interest in poli- tics.

NATHAN S. HARDY, one of the old settlers of Moscow, was born in Essex county, New York, on the 10th of January, 1833. After teaching school for a time in his native State in the spring of 1854, he moved to Illinois, engaged in farming during the sunaner and in the fall clerked in the store of L. S. Felt, in Galena. In the autumn of 1855, he returned to New York, and in the spring of '56, again started west. locating in this township the 1st of July. He was married on the 10th of August, 1859, to Annette, a daughter of William Pace, and the union has resulted in four children; Lovina S., Adda F., Louis E., and Milton J.

REV. THEOPHU'S LOWRY, deceased, the eldest son of Rev. Samuel G. Lowry, was born in Nicholas county, Kentucky, on the 9th of September, 1821. His father, after preaching for some time in Lew- is county, Kentucky, moved to New Richmond. Clermont county, Ohio, in 1823, thence, two years later, to Decatur county, Indiana. and afterward. in 1832, to Putnam county. In 1835, he went to Crawfordsville, the location of Wabash College, where Theophus gradnated in 1843, and in 1846, graduated from Lane Seminery, in Cincinnati, Ohio. In the latter year he was married to Miss Naney T. Elsey, of Parker county. He was or- dained by the Presbytery of Crawfordsville.

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MOSCOW TOWNSHIP.

After preaching two years at Danville and other points in Hendricks county, he was compelled to retire to a farm for a year. At the end of that time he took charge of the Bethany church, Owen county, but after a year, was obliged to give up the ministry and engaged in farming for some five or six years. In the spring of 1857, in com- pany with his father and other friends, he came to Minnesota and located a claim in section twenty- nine, Moscow, where he died, on the 23d of April, 1874. For some eight years before his death, he was able to preach again, and supplied the church- es of Sumner and Woodbury. His wife survives him and resides on the old homestead, with her adopted son, Eugene Lowry.

EDWARD LUGG, a native of England, was born in the parish of St. Martin, county of Cornwall, on the 14th of August, 1834. He was brought up as a farmer, attended school in his youth, and at the age of nineteen joined the Wesleyan Metho- dist church. On the IIth of April, 1858, he left his birth place and sailed for America, landed in Quebec, Canada, and came directly toRacine coun- ty, Wisconsin. He came to Freeborn county in 1859 and settled on a claim in Bath township, which was afterward jumped. In January, 1862. lie married Miss Almira Williams. They soon after moved to Riceland and rented a farm for a year, thence to Brush Creek, Fairbault coun'y In Au- gust, 1864, Mr. Lugg enlisted in Company E, Tenth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, went South and joined the army of the Cumberland at Memphis and remained in service until the close of the war. Oh his return he settled on railroad land in Rice- land. In 1874, le came to Moscow, and rented a farm for three years, then purchased his present in section twenty-eight. Mr. and Mrs. Lugg have had six children, four of whom are living ; Charles H., James E,, Samuel R., and Laura Z. Maggie, born on the 8th of November, 1863, died on the 6th of October, 1870, and Zelda, born on the 15th of December 1867, died on the IIth of September, 1870.

MICHAEL McCOURT, one of the early settlers of Mower county, was born in county Down, Ireland, in October, 1830. In 1847, he came to America and settled in Rochester, New York, where he was employed in agricultural pursuits eight years. He married, in 1855, Miss Ellen White, and they spent a short time in Canada, then came to Clinton county, Iowa, and the following spring to Minne-

sota, locating in Nevada, Mower county. He lived there until 1868, when he sold and came to this place which has since been his home. Mr. Mc- Court is the largest individual landholder in the place. In the spring of 1881, his stable was burned with six head of horses, a colt, all the har- nesses, and considerable farm machinery. He has a family of six children; John, Michael, Thomas, Stephen, Mary, and Daniel.

EVAN MORGAN, one of the pioneers of this county, is a native of Wales, born on the 10th of March, 1805. He was married before leaving Wales to Miss Winifield Reese, and they emigrated to America in 1838. They located on a farm in Portage county, Ohio, and remained until 1848, when they moved to Rock county, Wisconsin. In 1855, they sold their interest in the latter place and came to this township. Mr. Morgan bought land in the town site and also some adjoining, all of which he still owns. His wife died leaving six children, three of whom are now living. His present wife was formerly Sarah L. Thomas and the marriage took place in 1862. Of seven chil- dren born to this union, five are living. Mr. Morgan has held offices of trust since his residence here; in 1866, was sent to the State Legislature and is at present Town Clerk.

WILLIAM PACE, deceased, one of the oldest set- tlers of this place, was born in Sussex county, England, on the 10th of March, 1803. He learned the miller trade in his native place; emigrated to America and for years worked at his trade in New York. He was married in 1831, to Miss Amelia Ridge and they had two children, one of whom is living, a son. Mrs. Pace died in 1834, and in 1836, Mr. Pace married Miss Lavina Castle. In 1842, they came to Waukesha county, Wisconsin, and after a residence of nine years moved to Dodge county. In 1856, Mr. Pace became a pio- meer of this county, taking a claim in section thirty-four, Moscow, which was his home until his death which occurred on the 6th of September, 1882. He left a widow and five grown children. He was a member of the Congregational church at Austin; was a good citizen and neighbor and respected by all who knew him.

PHILO PACE, a native of Genesee county, New York, was born on the 2d of August, 1843. When he was thirteen years old his parents moved to this place which Philo has ever since made his home. In 1863, he was engaged in selling farm

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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.

machinery, afterward in carpentering and now divides his time between mercantile and farming pursuits. He was joined in marriage in 1874, with Miss Mary Seullin and they have four chil- dren; Clara Nellie, Hattie Lou, Genevieve, and Ivy B.

ROBERT G. SPEER, one of the pioneers of this county, was born in Seneca county, New York, on the 12th of April, 1826. When he was five years old his parents moved to Washtenaw county, Michigan, where Robert learned the blacksmith

trade when quite young. He was married in 1847. to Miss Mary E. Hutchinson. In 1850, they moved to a farm in Dane county, Wisconsin, and tive years later settled in this place. Mr. Speer erected a blacksmith shop, the first in the place, and followed that occupation until 1862, when he enlisted in the Second Minnesota Cavalry and served as blacksmith for the regiment eleven months when he was discharged for disability. Mr. and Mrs. Speer have had seven children, five of whom are living; Mary E., Dewitt C., George W .. Generva, and Amanda.

NUNDA.

CHAPTER LXVIII.

LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION-EARLY SETTLEMENT -EVENTS OF INTEREST-STATISTICS -- BUSINESS AND OTHER MATTERS-RELIGIOUS-TWIN LAKE VILLAGE --- MEDIUMS OF EDUCATION-BIOGRAPHI- ICAL.

The sul-division of Freeborn county bearing this name lies in the southern tier of towns, and within one of the western boundary of the county. Its contiguous surroundings are, Pickerel Lake on the north; Freeman on the east; Mansfield on the west, and the state of Iowa on the sonth. It is constituted as originally surveyed, of 36 sec- tions, or 23,040 acres.

Nunda is, locally speaking, a prairie town; al- though the eastern part was formerly what is called "oak opening" land,and there were some fine groves of maple, butternut, bass, iron wood, and occasion- ally walnut, about the lakes; but this has all or nearly all been long since removed. The north and west parts of the town are made up of roll- ing prairie, with a soil of dark loam, underlaid with a sub-soil of elay. The southern and cast- ern part of the township is more given to soil of clayey nature. and quite rocky in places. There has been considerable lime-stone, of the variety

known as "Floating," picked up and burned to a limited extent by B. H. Carter; but there has never been any ledges discovered.

This town is well watered by numerous brooks, rivers, and lakes, which diversify the scenery, and make of Nunda a picturesque and beautiful town- ship. Bear Lake, the largest in the township, is a beautiful sheet of water, covering about 1,500 acres in the western portion of the town, while a stream known as Lime Creek is its outlet, and takes a southwesterly course to finally empty into the Shell Rock River. Lower Twin Lake is a body of water lying in the northwestern part of the town, containing several islands of a few acres each. This is connected by a stream called " The Inlet," with the Upper Twin Lake, which infringes on this township to the extent of about 220 acres in section two. We suppose the lakes received the names of Upper and Lower Twin Lakes from the fact of their similarity in size. Goose Creek constitutes the outlet of these lakes, and flows through seetions twelve and thirteen on its way eastward to Freeman township, eventually to help swell the Shell Rock. State Line Lake, which name was suggested by the fact that the extreme southern point of the lake touches the

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