History of Freeborn County, including explorers and pioneers of Minnesota, and outline history of the state of Minnesota, Part 89

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 89

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DISTRICT No. 45 .- Effected an organization in the fall of 1861, and embraced the territory now included in district No. 76. The first officers were Messrs Rupson, Donahue, and Berry; but as nothing was accomplished by this board, the fol- lowing year Patrick Kelly and John McQuire took their places, and in the fall of 1862 a log schoolhouse was erected in the northeastern part of section fourteen by contribution of labor, and and school was taught in the following summer by Eliza Eaton with twenty scholars enrolled. This building was used until 1871- the district having been divided in the meantime-and a new frame house was constructed at a cost of $400 in the western part of section twenty-four. This building served its purpose until the 9th day of June, 1881, when it was destroyed by fire, and in the fall of the same year the present neat frame building was erected on the old site at a cost of $770, in which Miss Leda Hewett first ealled school to order, with an attendance of forty-six juveniles. Matters have ran along pleasantly and the present school officers are: Patrick Kelly, Martin Forbes, and Patrict Honan, respectively Clerk, Treasurer, and Director.

Since the above was written the Albert Lca Standard of September 7th 1882, says :-- "School district 45 beld their annual meeting last Satur- day and elected M. Conors director, and H. Dona- hue clerk. Also voted $78 tax for current expen- ses and also to have seven months school-four in the winter with a man teacher, and three in the summer."

DISTRICT No. 76 .- The territory now comprised under this number was formerly embraced in Dis

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trict No. 45. In 1863 this district was set off and organized by the election of Mr. B. H. Carter, Clerk; Elof Knudtson, Director; J. M. Tanner, Treasurer. In 1865 a schoolhouse was erected in the village of Twin Lake at a cost of $500, in which the first school was taught by Isabella Wilson to an attendance of forty scholars. This house was used until March, 1881, when a pass- ing engine set it on fire and it was destroyed. The railroad company refused to pay any dam- ages, and upon being sued by the district the courts rendered a judgment in favor of the district of about $450 for the building, and $110 for the lot, making a total of $560 and costs.

In the spring of 1881 a new schoolhouse was erected on a lot purchased of William Wilson, for $60, and is a neat frame building having cost $1,000. The school has at present an attendance of about forty scholars, the officers being Jolin Donahue, Clerk; Henry Eaton, Treasurer; B. H. Carter, Director.

DISTRICT No. 99 .- This district effected an or- ganization in 1875, the first officers elected being : Clerk, W. J. Morey; Director, Fernando Fessen- den; and Treasurer, E. T. Yeadon. In the spring of 1876 the present neat schoolhouse was erected in the southwestern part of section six, at a cost of $475, in which the first school was instructed by Miss Louisa Rodgers, with eighteen scholars enrolled. At the present time the school officers are: Clerk, Loren Fessenden; Director, William Barnes; Treasurer, F. Reimen.

DISTRICT No. 105 .- Effected an organization in 1864, and the first school was taught in the house of Peter Knutson in the spring of this year. In the spring of 1866 a small building was erected in section thirty-five at a cost of about $100, the labor being donated by the residents. This building was used until 1879, when the present house was erected upon the same site at a cost of $300, in which the first school was tanght by Priscilla V. Hemon, with an attendance of thirty scholars. The first officers were: Clerk, Silas White; Treasurer, Peter Knutson; Director, Helga Larson. The present officers are: Ole N. Gvephvim, Helga Larson, and J. Sorenson.

DISTRICT No. 108 .- This district is really a division of, or it might be called a reorganization of No. 84, coming into existence as a separate organization in 1879 by electing John Larson, Clerk; Knute Hovland, Director, and Hogen Ras-

musson, Treasurer. In 1881 a neat sehool build- ing was erected in the southern part of section nineteen, at a cost of $350, and in which knowl- edge is still dispensed. The first school in this house was taught by a lady teacher named Eslen Nerverson.

BIOGRAPHIICAL.

B. H. CARTER was born in Cayuga county, New York on the 9th of January, 1823. He resided at home and attended school until 1842, when he began to learn the wheelwright trade,and finished in 1845. On the 22d of October in the latter year, he was married to Miss Helen Eaton. The same year they moved to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, where he was engaged at his trade two years, then came west to Dodge county, Wisconsin. In 1859 they removed to this county, purchased a farm in Freeman, and resided there until 1861, when they came to Nunda, taking a claim in section one. In 1863 Mr. Carter was commissioned Second Lieu- tenant, and enrolled a large portion of the men of Nunda and Freeman for a draft; he served in the Fifth Minnesota Regiment trom 1864 till the close of the war. After his return he engaged in farming three years and then built a wagon shop in the village of Twin Lake, but in 1879 returned to his farm, which has since been his home. He has held several offices of trust, and was Court Commissioner three years. Mr. and Mrs. Carter have had fifteen children, those living are: Henrietta, Eva, Theda, Daisy, Jerome, Clide, Lillis, James, Ada, Anna, and Asa. Three died in infancy.

JERRY CALLAGHAN was born in the North Parish Chapel in the city of Cork, Ireland, in September, 1829. He attended North Manestry School ten years, after which he engaged in delivering milk, and in five years was employed as a waiter. In 1848, he emigrated to America, located in Schen- ectady county, New York, where he farmed one year, and came to Racine county, Wisconsin. In 1856, he removed to Freeborn county, and pur- chased a farm near Albert Lea, resided there until 1864, and bought his present farm in Nunda, sec- tion twenty-three. He was married on the 14th of October, 1859, to Miss Mary Honan, and in 1864, enlisted in the army, served nine months and returned home. On the 20th of December, 1870, as he was returning home from Albert Lea, he lost his way, was out all night and was so badly frozen as to necessitate the amputation of the left leg six

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inches above the ankle, the toes from the right foot and the fingers from both hands. Mr. Callag- han has eight children: Joseph, Mary, Ann, Cath- arine, John, William, Bridget, and Jennic.

H. H. EDWIN was born in Norway on the 7th of January, 1841. When fifteen years old he com- menced to learn the blacksmith trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years. He then went to Denmark ; two years later to Germany, and in one year returned to Norway, working at his trade in both places. In 1865, he emigrated to America, first located in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, engaged in the blacksmith shop of Devon, Smith & Co. until 1867. On the 6th of October in the latter year, he married Miss Martha Thompson, and they removed to Jackson, where Mr. Edwin was em- ployed at his trade until 1874. He then removed to Nunda and purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section thirty. where he still resides. lle has a family of seven children; Car- oline, Theodore, Martinis, Amelia, Dorothy, Nels. and Hannah.

H. G. EMMONS, one of the early settlers of Free- born county, was born in Norway, on the 16th of October, 1828. He emigrated to America in 1850, directly to Rock county, Wisconsin, where he engaged in farming and railroading. In 1854, he married Miss Christina Larson, and two years later they removed to Minnesota, driving the dis- tance with a yoke of oxen. They located in Nunda, where Mr. Emmons now owns five hun- dred acres of land. They lived in their wagon two months when a shanty was completed, and in 1861 built a portion of their present dwelling. He has held local offices, being a member of the board of County Commissioners six years, four years of which he was chairman, and in 1877 and 1878, was in the State Legislature. His farm is supplied with good outbuildings, barn, granary, etc. Mr. and Mrs. Emmons have had eight chil- dren, five of whom are living. Two children died at the age of two years, and Charles while attend- ing school at Carlton College, on the 12th of April, 1882, at the age of twenty-three years. Mr. Em- mons has filled the office of Postmaster fifteen years and Justice of the Peace fourteen years.

ELLEF EVENSON, a native of Norway, was born the 9th of September, 1847, and reared on a farm. When nineteen years old he served an apprentice- ship at the carpenter trade, at which he worked until 1868, in his native country. In the latter

year he came to America, direct to Watonwan county, this State, and located a claim. In 1872, he sold his farm and engaged on the Winona and St. Peter railroad for one year, and at the end of that time went to Winnebago county, Iowa: followed farming until 1874, then came to this place, and in 1878, purchased his present farm of one hundred and seventy-three acres, in section thirty-three. He was married to Mrs. Sarah Ever- son, on the 14th of February, 1878.

ALEXANDER FREEMOTT is a native of Germany. born on the 9th of December, 1822. At the age of fifteen years he commenced to learn the trade of carriage painting, serving as an apprentice four years. In August, 1853, he came to America, and on the 31st of January, 1854, was joined in marriage with Miss Minnie Hundredmark, in Chi- cago, Illinios. In 1865, they moved to Batavia in the latter State, and he was engaged at his trade, as foreman, until 1876. Then he came to Nunda ana purchased his present farm of one hundred and forty acres, and built a large frame dwelling. Mr. and Mrs. Freemott have had eleven children, two of whom died in infancy : those living are; Al- bert, Amelia, Henry, Edward, Alexander, Lucy, Edith, Anna, and Lena.

GEORGE HALL is a native of Licking county, Ohio, born on the 21st of July, 1837. In 1848, he moved with his parents to Green county, Wiscon- sin, and thence to Winneshiek county, Iowa. He came to Nunda in the spring of 1857, located a claim in section four and remained one season, then returned to Winneshiek county and settled on a farm. He was married on the 11th of Au- gnst, 1858, to Miss Eliza A. Stockdale. In 1864. Mr. Hall sold his farm in the latter place, and again came to Nunda, taking land in section three, which is still his home. He has a family of nine children; William, Ruth, James, Lenora, Mary, Rosa, Burt. Flora, and Flossa.

J. R. JONES, a native of England, was born in March, 1824. He resided at home, assisting in the farm labor and attending school until the age of fourteen years, when he began farming for himself. In 1848, he was employed by an En- glish nobleman as groomsman, and remained with him until ho emigrated to America in 1852. lle was married the previous year to Miss Elizabeth Hughes. They first settled in Green county, Wis- consin, where he carried on a farm a number of years. On the 18th of May, 1854. Mrs. Jones

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died leaving one son, who is now a doctor living in Iowa. Mr. Jones was married to his second wife in 1857. She was formerly Savilla Kelley. and bore him six children; Charles, David, Lau- ren, Mary, Clarence, and William. In 1866, they moved to this county, and after residing in Free- man for a short time, came to Nnnda in the spring of 1870, and located on his present farm. His wife died on the 25th of September, 1874.

HELGE LARSON is a native of Norway, born on the 9th of June, 1834, and remained at home un- til twenty years of age. He then engaged in farming on neighboring farms, and in 1860, emi- grated to America, coming direct to Nunda and locating in section thirty-six, where he now owns two hundred acres of land. He was married on the 11th of April, 1861, to Miss Barbara Esselson, and in 1874, erected his present frame house, hav- ing previously lived in a log shanty. Mr. and Mrs. Larson have been blessed with ten children.

LOUIS MARPE, a pioneer of Freeborn county, was horn in Germany in 1832, and after finishing school was engaged in a wholesale grocery house five years. In 1854, he emigrated to America, located on a farm in Genesee county, New York, and in the fall of 1856, removed to this county, settling in Pickerel Lake township. He was mar- ried in 1857, to Miss Caroline Yeost, and in 1863 they came to this place, first erecting a log house, but now has a fine frame house in the process of construction. He had eight children, two of whom are dead. His wife also died on the 17th of January, 1875. On the 15th of October 1876, he was again married, his bride being Miss May Fulton, who bore him two children, and died on the 7thi of Ssptember, 1881.

TOSTEN NELSON was born in Norway in the 26th of November, 1816. When fourteen years old he learned the shoemaker's trade and was engaged at the same four years. He then, in company with his father, started a tan yard and carried it on until the death of his father. Tosten then took charge of the homestead until coming to America. He married when twenty-six years years old Miss Susan Johnson, and in 1850 they emigrated to this country, locating in Columbia county, Wis- consin. They purchased a farm there but in 1858, sold and removed to Mitchell county, Iowa. In 1863, they removed to Nunda, and bought a farm in section thirty-one which is still their home. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson had eight children; Nels,

the eldest died in the army in 1863, aged twenty- two years; Martha, the second; Johanes died when two years old; John, Mary, Martin, Carlin, and Andrew. Mrs Nelson died on the 11th of May, 1866, at the age of fifty-one years. On the 2d of June, 1869, Mr. Nelson again married, his bride being Miss Betsey Peterson. He has held num- erous offices of trust in the town.

IVER O. OPDAL, a native of Norway, dates lis birth the 10th of August, 1825. He spent ten years in the army in his native country, and in November, 1851, married Miss Isabelle Dahlen. In 1864, they emigrated to America, came to Dane county, Wisconsin, and in a short time removed to Winnebago county, Iowa. He came to Nunda in 1865, and purchased land in sections thirty and nineteen which is still his home. Mr. and Mrs. Opdal have had two children.

KNUDT OLSEN was born in Norway, on the 7tli of August, 1829. His father died when Knudt was but eight years old, and he remained on the farm with his mother until 1860, when he came to America and directly to this township, buying eighty acres of land in section nincteen, where he now owns one hundred and twenty acres. He was joined in matrimony with Miss O. Thompson in January, 1872, and the issue of the union is two children.

WILLIAM PICKLE was born in New York, on the 31st of December, 1834. His younger days were spent on a farm and in school, finishing his edu- cation at a select school in Wisconsin. At the age of eighteen years he was apprenticed to the blacksmith trade in what is now known as the "Upton Manufacturing Works" at Battle Creek, Michigan. In 1855, he was engaged in a shop at Marshall in the same State and in 1857, went to the Rocky Mountains, where he found employ- ment at his trade and mining, remaining until 1859. In that year he came to Freeborn county, locating in Freeman township, and in 1862 en- listed in the Twenty-first Iowa Volunteer Infantry, served three years and two months, being muster- ed out the 7th of April, 1865, and returned to his farm. He sold bis farm in Freeman and purchas- ed one hundred and sixty acres of land in this township on section four, and has his farm sup- plied with a fine frame dwelling and numerous out-buildings. On the 27th of May, 1865, he was joined in matrimony with Miss Mary Kranshoor, and they five children; Lillian, Walter. Martin, Etta, and Ralph.

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HOGAN RASMUSSON, one of the old settlers of this township, was born in Norway, on the 29th of March, 1835, and came to this country with his parents in 1857. They located in Columbia county, Wisconsin, and in 1858, Hogan eame to this township and staked out a claim in section thirty, where he now owns two hundred and forty- six acres of land. He was married on the 10th of October, 1858, to Miss Isabelle Anderson, and they had three children. Mrs. Rasmusson died on the 24th of May, 1865, and our subject was again married on the 21st of April, 1867, his bride being Miss Christina Nelson. This latter union has been blessed with seven children, one of whom is dead. Mr. Rasmusson has held many local oflices in the place.

OLE TARALDSON is a native of Norway and dates his birth the 8th of May, 1827. He was married in 1859, to Miss Alena Mikkelson, the ceremony taking place the 25th of December. In 1862, he learned the carpenter trade, and in 1867, came to America, directly to Nunda, where he has a farm of one hundred and sixty-six acres. Mr. and Mrs. Taraldson have a family of six children; Theodore, Martin, Alena, Ole, Christina, and Tena.

ANDREW A. TOMPSON was born in Norway in 1836, and remained at home until eighteen years old, then went to work for himself on a farm. He was married in 1864, to Miss Martha Oleson, and the same year they emigrated to America locating in Spring Prairie, Wisconsin; a year later they re- moved to Mitehell county, Iowa, being engaged in farming in both States. In 1868, he came to this township, purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty aeres in section nineteen, where he still resides. He has four children: Ole, Mary, Amy, and Betta.

N. N. WALAKER is a native of Norway, born on the 16th of April, 1830, and when seventeen years old learned the shoemaker's trade. In November, 1854, he was married to Miss Carrie Lewis, and two years later they came to America. For sev- eral years they lived in Dane county, Wisconsin, where he farmed during summer months and worked at his trade in the winter. In 1860, he removed to Nunda. section twenty-nine, buikling first a log house, and in 1874, erected his present commodious dwelling. He has a family of four children; Anna. George, Nicholas, and Louis, Mr.

Walaker has held many offices of trust in the place since his residence here.

JOHN V. WOHLHUTER, a pioneer of this county. was born in France, on the 29th of September, 1827. In the spring of 1847, he emigrated to America, went to Buffalo, New York, where, for seven months, he was engaged on the Erie Canal; from there went to l'ern, Indiana, and thence, in 1849, to Chicago, Illinois, and found employment at teaming. On the 28th of February, 1853, he married Miss F. Fortman and the same year removed to Fayette county. Iowa; remained until the fall of 1857, and then came to this place. locating in section sixteen, where he has two hun- dred and seventeen acres of land. He was one of the first officers here and has held many offices since. He has four children.

R. A. WHITE, one of the oldest settlers of this place. was born in Tioga county, New York, on the 11th of January, 1840. He came here with hif parents in 1857, and on the 11th of October, 1861, he enlisted and was appointed Sergeant of the Fourth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, Com- pany F, serving until the 22d of December, 1864, when he received an honorable discharge. He returned to Nunda and has since been engaged in farming, owning four hundred and twenty-eight acres of land, which is all well improved. He was married on the 26th of March, 1873, to Miss Jen- nie M. Rudler, and the result of the union is four children; Belle M., William M., Allen R., and Ferris L.

CHRIST. YOST was born in Germany on the 15th of September, 1837. He attended school seven years, and afterward engaged in teaming until 1857. In the latter year he emigrated to America, located near Chicago on a farm, and in one year removed to that city where he again engaged in teaming. On the 11th of May, 1862, he married Miss Elizabeth Lucas, who was born in Germany on the 17th of July, 1843. Later, Mr. Yost was a street car conduetor, and in 1866, purchased a farm in Nunda, and brought his family here. In 1875, be sold his land in section twenty-two, and bought his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section sixteen. His children are; Fred- erick W., Mary L., Katie A., Margaret A., and Louis J.

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NEWRY.

CHAPTER LXIX.

DESCRIPTIVE-EARLY SETTLEMENT-TOWN ORGANI- ZATION-STATISTICAL-MATTERS OF INTEREST- RELIGIOUS-SCHOOLS-BIOGRAPHICAL.

This is the northeast corner township of Free- born county, and is therefore one of the most prominent towns as to the location. Its boundaries are as follows: Steele county on the north; Mower county on the east; Moscow township on the south; and Geneva on the west. It is a full con- gressional township of 36 sections or square miles, embracing the territory of township 104, Range 19.

The surface of the town is quite rolling and is made up mostly of oak opening land. The greater part of the prairie land is found in the northern part of the town, while the southern part is chiefly covered with timber of the varieties of black, red, and burr oak, poplar and black wal- nut, although the latter has now been mostly removed.

The soil is different as you change localities ; the west, north, and eastern parts being mostly a dark loam of from two to three feet in thickness, and underlaid with a subsoil of blue clay ; and the southern and central part is more of a sandy nature or, as it is called, "black sandy loam," with a subsoil of gravel.

There are not so many water courses or lakes in this town as in a majority of its neighbors, yet it is not altogether devoid of them. A small body of water lying in section two is known as Newry Lake Oak, or Johnson's Lake, lies in section twenty-six, and from it flows a substantial little stream which empties into Deer creek in the northern part of section thirty-four. The popula- tion is almost entirely Irish and Norwegian, there being no Americans and only three German fami- lies in the township.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The early settlement of this township com- menced in 1854, and was about the second settle- ment started in Freeborn county. Ellof Kinet- son and family, natives of Norway, were the first to arrive, making their appearance in 1854, and claiming a place in section twenty-five, where they remained until 1874, when Mr. Kinetson dicd and was buried in Mower county. The family, with the exception of the youngest son, Halver Ellofson, removed in 1876 to Otter Tail county where they yet reside. The young man still remains in the township, living on section twenty-six. These were abont the only actual settlers in this year.

In 1855 quite a number of emigrants thronged in. Christian Erick Rukke and family, natives of Norway, who had stopped for a time in Illi- nois, were among the number to arrive this year, and they took a claim in section thirty-six, where they remained until 1868, when they secured the place they now occupy in section twenty-six. Helge Oleson came at the same time from the same place, and planted his stakes in section ten, where he has since been living.

In the spring of 1856 a colony of Irishmen came from Illinois and secured homes. The party consisted of Thomas Fitzsimmons, William and John Bell, John Brennan, an 1 Patrick Creegan, and all of the party settled on land near the cen- ter of the town where they yet remain, with the exception of Thomas Fitzsimmons, who died upon the 11th of April, 1867.

About the same time, or probably a little later than the above arrivals, Ole O. Thorson, a native of Norway, came from Dane county, Wisconsin, and secured a home in section thirty-sis, where he remained until 1857, when he removed to Olmsted county and still lives there.

The year following the settlers came in so rap-

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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.

idly that it is impossible to trace them in se- quence, and by 1860 all of the government land in the township that was really valuable had been taken, and elaims must be purchased according to the amount of improvements that had been made, instead of getting them free from Uncle Sam.

TOWN ORGANIZATION.

When this locality first began to be colonized, by common consent or usage, it took the name of Dover, mere as the name of the locality than the township. Thus it was at the time of the first town meeting on the 11th of May, 1858, at the house of William Bell, in section twenty-one, and the first matter upon the program was to take into consideration the propriety of changing the former order of things and give the township a permanent appellation. It had been proposed by some one to eall it "Liberty" instead of Dover, and there was quite a following to this idea; but all of this was dispelled by Thomas Fitzsimmons, who stated that he was in favor of the name of Newry, in remembrance of a little town in Ireland from whenee a number of the pioneers hailed, and so that name was bestowed by vote.

The first officers elected were as follows: Sup- ervisors, John Brennan, Chairman, Daniel Holly- wood, and William Bell; Clerk, Thomas Fitzsim- mons; Treasurer, C. E. Johnson; Assessor, Patrick Creegan; Justice of the Peace, Thomas Holly- wood.

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