USA > Minnesota > Freeborn County > History of Freeborn County, including explorers and pioneers of Minnesota, and outline history of the state of Minnesota > Part 91
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.
largest body of water in the township, lying in the southeastern part, mostly in section thirty- five, and extending sonthward to make connection with its twin, the Lower Lake, which lies in Nunda township. A number of other small bodies of water are scattered through the town, which are sometimes called lakes, but more properly known as ponds. The lakes of this town are the headwa- ter of the Shell Rock River.
FIRST SETTLEMENT.
Charles and William Wilder (or as many spell it, Weilder, ) and A. D. Pinkerton, made their ap- pearance and located on and about section twelve in 1855. Charles Wilder at once commenced and completed the first dwelling shanty in the town- ship. They remained on the places for some years but have now all gone to other parts.
In the following spring, 1856, John Ruble, a native of Pennsylvania who had stopped for a time in Rock county, Wisconsin, make his appear- ance and was the next settler in the township. He brought bis family with him and settled upon 160 aeres in section twelve, where he opened the first farm in the township and still remains a prominent man in Freeborn eounty.
In the fall of the same year another settler erowded into this section. This was A. W. White after whom the lake was named. He was a native of the Empire State, and remained upon bis farm until 1861, when he removed to the village of Albert Lea, where he still resides. Section twenty-nine received a settler the same fall, in the person of Louis Marplee, of the German Fader- land, who settled in the section mentioned and re- mained there until 1866 - when he removed to Nunda. Several of his countrymen eame in this fall, and were the vanguard of that determined band which subsequently followed and now about monopolize the township.
Henry Schneider and Frederick Fink, Germans, both came this fall and settled. The former drop- ped anchor in section fifteen where his moorings still remain fast, and Mr. Fink also placed him- self on a place in the same seetion, where he re- mained until 1876 and then moved to his present place in section twenty-nine. He is a prominent man in publie matters,
Christian Bolle, of the same nationality, eame about the same time as Fink and settled in section fifteen where he yet remains. All of these parties
had just come from the state of New York, where they had sojourned for a time.
Seetion eleven , in the Ruble settlement, received an additional settler also about the same time as the last named, in the fall of 1856, in the person of Frederick Woodward, fresh from the "Badger State," who seenred a habitation there and re- mained until 1861, when he enlisted in the army, and upon his return settled in Iowa, where he lived up to the time of his death.
Early in the following spring, 1857, Charles and A. K. Norton, natives of the "Green Moun- tain" State, who had been whiling away a short time in Racine county, Wisconsin, drifted into this township. Charles planted his stakes on a pleas- ant farm in sections thirteen and fourteen, while" his brother, A. K. Norton, bought land in sections thirteen and twenty-three, where he remained un- til 1861 when he enlisted in the army, and npon his return settled in Freeborn township, where he still lives.
Luther Smith also arrived this spring. He was a native of New York and settled in section three, where he lived until the war broke out when he also enlisted, but never returned, finding a lonely grave in the sunny south. His family have gone.
After 1857 the ingress upon the government land of the town was so rapid and ineessant that it is impossible to note them all, but we will try and give a few of the most important.
E. Jennings, a native of New York, first made his appearance in this township in the spring of 1862, but returned to Illinois for his family which he had left there, and did not re-arrive here until 1865, when be settled ou the place where he now lives, in seetions two and three.
The settlement in the western portion of the township did not commence until about 1860, when L. L. Lovell made his appearance and took a farm in or adjoining what was afterwards known as Lovell's grove in section eight. W. G. Bloe came with Lovell from the eastern States and took a place in seetion eighteen. He remained here until 1872 when he left the county.
In 1863, Mortimer Whitney came and took a a place in section seven where he remained until 1871, when he removed to Owatonna, and still holds forth in the latter place.
N. Il. Stone, a native of Pennsylvania, was another early settler, arriving in 1864, and still
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PICKEREL LAKE TOWNSHIP.
lives in the town. Also Knudt Knudtson, a na- tive of Norway, arrived during the same year and still remains; it is said he is the only representa- rive of the Norwegian race in the township.
ITEMS OF INTEREST.
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The first death to occur in the township, was the demise of Mrs. Christian Bohle in January, 1859; she had been living on section fifteen.
The first marriage in the town took place on the 6th of July, 1859, and united the destinies of Frederick Fink and Miss Frederica Weiser; the ceremony being performed by B. McCarty, Esq. The bridegroomi went to Mitchell county, Iowa, and from there brought his bride to John Ruble's place in section twelve, on foot, where the cere- mony took place. They still reside in the town- ship.
The first birth within the limits of the town, was on the night of the 14th of September, 1857, and ushered into existence, Amelia, a daughter of John and Harrietta Ruble, in the old log house in section twelve. She still lives with her parents in the township, and at her birth-place.
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COUNTY SEAT .- It is claimed that when the matter of where the county seat should be located, was being agitated, a meeting was held in John Ruble's barn yard, for the purpose of feeling the public pulse on the matter, and it was found that there were only seven legal voters in the town; but after the election was over, counting the polls dis- closed that forty-five cotes had been cast. We can- not explain.
INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISES.
Some years ago John Ruble erected a shop on his place in section twelve, and hired a brawny son of vnlean to manipulate the bellows.
In the year 1868, Anson Hanf erected on sec- tion eleven, a 16x20 frame shop in which he did blacksmithing until 1876, when he made it a part of his barn, and in 1878 erected the building he now ocenpies in section eleven, the size 16x18, and does his own work.
Several parties, in the latter part of the sixties, burned lime in section twelve with moderate suc- cess.
OFFICIAL RECORD.
Pickerel Lake was first annexed for local gov- ernment purposes to the township of Manchester, in its organization in 1858, and thus remained until 1860, when the County Commissioners, in
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answer to a petition, annulled its connection to Manchester and made it a part of Albert Lea township. Finally, at the annual meeting of the board of County Commissioners, held at Albert Lea the 8th of September, 1865, a petition was presented signed by William C. Pentecost and twenty-four other legal voters and residents of Pickerel Lake, asking to be separated from Albert Lea and made a separate political organization. The request was granted, and on motion of Com- missioner Andrews, it was ordered by the board that $400 of a special tax of $1,500, voted for roads and bridges, and for finishing the county buildings, be granted Pickerel Lake for roads and bridges. The board then selected the following as township officers until the time of the annual election : Supervisors, John Ruble, Chairman, J. France, and J. H. Converse; Clerk, A. W. White; Treasurer, E. Jennings; Justices of the Peace, R. C. Cady and William Schneider; Constables, O. Kenfield and Peter Lampman. The Clerk refused to qualify, but his place was readily filled by the appointment of R. C. Cady.
The first annual election was held at the house of John Ruble on the 3d of April, 1866, and the following officers were elected: Supervisors, John Ruble, Chairman, Joseph France, and J. H. Con- verse; Justices of the Peace, R. C. Cady and Wil- liam Schneider; Assessor, John Ruble; Treasurer, E. Jennings; Constables, William Weiser and O. Kemfield; Clerk, R. C. Cady; Overseer of High- ways, A. C. Howe, W. C. Whitney, J. Smith, E. Ames, and A. C. Davis. A couple of these parties also refused to qualify, but their places were filled by the appointment of Peter Lampman.
At the last annual town meeting, held in the spring of 1882, the following officers were elected : Supervisors, J. George Widmann, Chairman, Charles Schneider, and Charles Kreuger: Clerk, Charles H. Ruble; Treasurer, Henry Ruethe; As- sessor, H. S. Holt; Justices of the Peace, B. A. Cady and S. A. Foster. The Judges of this elec- tion were Charles Martin, George Widmann, and Charles Schneider. The sum of $700 was voted for the roads and bridges.
The public matters pertaining to the town have always been in good hands and ably managed; there never having been any extravagance or use- less expenditure of public money.
ARMSTRONG VILLAGE.
This is the only village in the township of Pick-
520
HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.
erel Lake, and is the youngest village in Freeborn county, if it can be called a village, for probably the name of Station would be more appropriate. It is located in the eastern part of section four, on the Southern Minnesota railroad, about five miles from Albert Lea, the county seat.
It came into existence in 1878, at the instiga- tion of T. H. Armstrong, who that year erected an elevator, and a store building was also built the same spring by Jason T. Goward. A Post-office was established in 1882, and G. H. Kenerson was appointed Postmaster, and still holds the office.
In 1879, a Mr. Dewey erected a blacksmith shop, and commenced hammering the anvil; but he left in 1880.
The railroad company erected the depot in 1879, and it was opened with P. D. Bartiens, sta- tion agent. The present agent is F. D. Babcock.
This is about all that can be said of the village; it may have a future and it undoubtedly has; bnt as to what that future will be, time must deter- mine.
STATISTICS.
We have gathered from the report of tbe County Auditor to the Commissioner of Statistics, and elsewhere, a number of items which we pre- sent in this connection, to give an idea of the agricultural resources of the township, and from which the reader can determine the wealth and productiveness of the town.
THE YEAR 1881 .- Showing the acreage and yield of the various crops:
Wheat-2,340 acres, yielding 29,550 bushels. Oats-460 acres, yielding 16,300 bushels. Corn-517 acres, yielding 18,850 bushels. Barley-50 acres, yielding 1,300 bushels. Potatoes-46 acres, yielding 4,925 bushels. Cultivated Hay-6 acres, yielding 10 tons. Other products-40 acres.
Total acreage cultivated in the year 1881- 3,459.
Wild Hay gathered-2,445 tons.
Apple trees-growing, 300.
Sheep-31 sheared; yielding 489 pounds of wool.
Cows-223, yielding 14,200 pounds of butter. Bees-Five hives.
THE YEAR 1882. - Wheat, 2,030 acres; oats, 484; corn, 827; barley, 85; potatoes, 50; cultivated hay, 27; tlax, 20; total acreage cultivated in 1882, 3,523.
Apple trees growing-300; apple trees bearing, 100.
Milch cows-346.
Sheep-220, yielding 1,440 pounds of wool.
Whole number of farms reported in 1881-50.
Forest trees-Whole number of acres planted and growing, 20.
POPULATION .- The census of 1870 gave Pickerel Lake township a population of 337. The last census, taken in 1880, reports it as having 533.
RELIGIOUS.
The first religious services were held at the resi- dence of Mr. John Ruble, in section twelve, in the year 1861, by a German Lutheran divine, the Rev. Mr. Charles Bucholz. Since that time ser- vices have been continued at various pla es in the township, and two church organizations have come into existence, a sketch of each of which will be given. It is stated that a Rev. Mr. Smith held services in the town at an early day; also in Mr. John Ruble's house.
GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH .- This denomina- tion held services at an early day, and in 1874 an organization was effected in the schoolhouse of District No. 57, with fourteen members, Rev. H. Kretzchmer being the officiating minister. In 1878, the need of an edifice in which to worship God became too apparent, and the present church building used by the Society was erected. It is a frame building about 20x30, 12 foot posts, and cost $1,200, being nicely furnished. The present minister is Rev. J. Kettle, and the Society is now composed of about thirty members. The church is located in section eleven.
GERMAN M. E. SOCIETY .- There are conflicting statements as to the organization of this society, and sutlice it to say that it was effected prior to 1873; for, in that year we find the church edifice now in use by this denomination, being erected by subscription on section twenty-tree, size 24x36, with 14 foot posts. The first preaching was done by Rev. A. Bibighansen, with twenty members constituting his audience. The present minister is Rev. A. H. Koemer, of Albert Lea.
In connection with this church the society have laid out a cemetery adjoining, containing four acres, which is neatly fenced, well kept, and splendidly located. The first burial here was Fritz Brantz, in the winter of 1876, and now there are about thirty headstones marking the last rest- ing places of those departed.
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PICKEREL LAAKE TOWNSHIP.
MEDIUMS OF EDUCATION.
As to the facilities for the gaining of knowledge, Pickerel Lake township is supplied with five dis- tricts, which are all in good running order, with a good attendance of scholars. Their numbers and the location of their buildings are as follows: No. 39, schoolhouse in section 12; No. 56, in section 7; No. 57, in section 22; No. 69, in section 19; No. 102, in section 24. A short sketch of each of the districts is below given, showing the organiza- tion, and history of their progress.
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DISTRICT No. 39 .- Was the first district to come into official existence in the township, effecting an organization in 1862, with the following as its offi- cers; Director, John Murphy; Clerk, Charles Nor- ton; Treasurer, John Ruble. The first school was taught in John Ruble's log house, by Miss Bassett, with ten scholars present, and school was held here until 1855, when a frame house was erected on land owned by George S. Ruble, in section eleven, at a cost of $700, which is still in use. The last teacher was Miss Norton, with an attendance of twelve scholars. The present officers are: W. C. Norton, Charles H. Ruble, and John Ruble, re- spectively Clerk, Director, and Treasurer.
DISTRICT No. 56 .- Effected an organization in 1864 by the election of: Director, Frederick Rick - ard; Clerk, L. L. Lovell; and Treasurer, N. H. Spoon. The next year a school building was constructed, 14x16 feet, at a cost of $150, which occupied a site in section eight until 1868, when it was moved to the present site in the southeast- ern part of section seven, of which the district as yet has no title. In 1879, the present school structure was erected on the same location, size, 16x22 feet, at a cost of $300. The first school in this district was taught in the fall of 1864, in Mr. Lovell's house, in section eight, by Kate Nichols, with seven scholars present. The present officers are : Clerk, R. Hanf: Director, Benjamin Randall; Treasurer, Knute Knuteson; Malon Howe was the last teacher, with twenty-three pupils.
DISTRICT No. 57 .-- Was the next district to effect on organization, which it did in April, 1869, with Messss. Fred Fink, Henry Weisser, and Hen- ry Eberhart, as its officers. The schoolhouse was constructed the same year, in the southeastern part of section twenty-three, Henry Weisser do- nating the land. The size is 16x20 and cost $300. The first teacher was Miss Nancy Ruble, and there were twelve juveniles upon the hardwood
benches. The last board consisted of: Director, H. Drommerhausen; Clerk, William Schneider; Treasurer, William Weisser, ( now deceased). The The last teacher was Miss Hannah Daniels. This house has been used a great deal for religious purposes.
DISTRICT No. 69 .- A special meeting was held at August Yost's house in section nineteen, on the 16th of April, 1881, at which bonds were vot- ed to the amount of $300 to build a schoolhouse, and organization was effected by the election of the following officers: Director, Fred Fink ; Clerk, August Yost; Treasurer, H. Schulenburg; there were ten votes cast. In the same year the house was erected on land belonging to C. M. McKee, size 16x24, at a cost of $316. The first school was tanght by Katie Everhardt, to an attendance of ' twelve; the last was taught by Miss Ella Ruble, with thirteen, The same officers still manage the affairs of the district.
DISTRICT NO. 102 .- The first taught was in the summer of 1876, in a carpenter shop on Mr. Widman's land, by Katie Eberhart, with eight- een or twenty scholars. The following year, 1877, a neat frame house was erected in the southwest- ern corner of section twenty-four, at a cost of $300. The district was organized by the elec- tion of the following officers: Clerk, George Widman; Treasurer, Mr. Jeklin; Director, F. Schneider. The present officers are, Messrs. L. Jeklin, Director; George Widman, Clerk; and John Kaemmer, Treasurer. Miss Carrie Norton was the last instructor, to an attendance of about thirty scholars.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
F. D. BABCOCK, is a native of Iowa, born in Bradford, Chickasaw county. He attended school there until eighteen years old,then removed to Herseyville, Wisconsin, and completed his edu- cation, residing with his grand-parents for a year and a half. He returned to his native State, but in a year returned to Wisconsin and remained six years. He then came to Minnesota, resided in Hokah, Houston county, Hayward, and Arm- strong, in this county, returned to Whalen, Hous- ton county, and in July, 1882, came again to Armstrong, where he now resides. He is station agent and telegraph operator, having learned tel- egraphy in Wisconsin. He was married in the latter State, in Herseyville, in December, 1880, to Miss Frankie C. Palmer, a native of Virginia, in
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
that State. Her father was killed in the army and her mother still resides in Wisconsin. Mr. Babeoek's father died in South Carolina in 1881, aged fifty years, and his mother resides in Wis- consin, aged forty-nine. He and his wife are members of the M. E. Church.
B. A. CADY, was born in Saratoga county, New York, in 1849, and removed from his native State when two years old, coming to Omro, Wisconsin. He attended school in the latter State and finished his education in Minnesota, having come to Pick- erel Lake in 1861. He was married in Albert Lea on the 7th of February, 1875, to Mary A. Richards, a native of New York. When a child she came with her parents to Fox Lake, Dodge county, Wisconsin, and resided until 1872, then moved to Albert Lea, and remained until her mar- riage. She is a member of the Catholic church. Her parents still live in the latter place. Mr. Cady's father is a native of New York, and now lives in Kansas. His mother was born in Ver- mont, and died in Pickerel Lake in 1878, aged fifty-nine years. He has a brother living in Al- bert Lea, who has been employed in the Post- office there for several years.
BARBARA EBERHARDT is a native of Germany, born in 1838, and emigrated with her parents to America when seven years old. They located in Wisconsin where Barbara received a common school edneation, and at the age of twenty-two years was married to Henry Eberhardt. He was born in Germany in 1838, and came with his par- ents to America when ten years old. At the age of nineteen years he entered the ministry, preach- ing for three years in a German Methodist church in Wisconsin. He was then married and moved to Des Moines county, Iowa, where he preached five years and in 1865, returned to Wisconsin: but two years later, his health failing, he came to Pickerel Lake, in section twenty-three, and en- gaged in farming. After a time his health was restored and he returned to the ministry, removed to Hokalı and was pastor of the M. E. church three years when his health again became impair- ed and he returned to his farm where he died in 1875, aged thirty-seven years, and is buried in the cemetery near bis home. He left a widow and five children; Anvie K., twenty-one years of age; Ed- ward H., eighteen years; Emma E., fifteen; Amelia, twelve; and Alfred, aged seven years. Mrs. Eberhardt has kept her children all together,
educated them and carried on the farm. She is a member of the M. E. church in this place.
ANSON HANF, ODC of the old settlers of the county and the first to open a black- smith shop in Albert Lea. was born in Ger- many on the 5th of June, 1833. When ten years old he came with his parents to America and first resided in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a short time, then moved to Racine county. and in 1848, to Dodge county. He was married there on the 17th of June, 1856, to Miss Verletti Ferry, and in Sep- tember following they went to Kansas. That State not suiting them for a home they returned to Dodge county, and in May, 1858, came to Min- nesota, locating in Mower county, but in less than a year moved to Oakland in this county. In March, 1860, Mr. Hanf removed to Albert Lea, and as previously stated opened a blacksmith shop where he continued to hammer until 1864, then purchased a farm in section eleven, Pickerel Lake township, moved to it and has since made it his home. In 1870, he was Chairman of the board of Supervisors, but since that has taken no part in politics. He is the father of six children, three boys and three girls.
ROBERT HANF was born in Dodge county, Wis- consin, on the 22d of March, 1852. He resided with his parents until March, 1874, when he made a trip to Nebraska; remained during the summer, and in October eame to this township, buying land in section seven. For several years he spent the summers on his farm and in the fall returned to his home in Wisconsin, where, on the 18th of July, 1879, he married Amelia Suenther. They have since made this place their home, and have been blessed with one child, Minnie. Mr. Hanf is Clerk of his school district.
EUMENES JENNINGS was born in Jefferson county, New York, on the 6th of July, 1819. He grew to manhood and was married in his native State to Miss L. C. Haskins, the ceremony dating the 24th of October, 1842. In July, 1858, they re- moved to Illinois, locating in Antioch, Lake county, where they remained until coming to Min- nesota in the spring of 1861. They first lived in Olmsted county one year, then came to Piekerel Lake and settled in section two. The following September they returned to Illinois, but in the spring of 1865 again sought a home in this township where they have sinee remained. Of a family of nine children, seven are living. Mr.
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PICKEREL LAKE TOWNSHIP.
Jennings was elected Town Treasurer at the first town meeting, which was in the fall of 1865, and re-elected the following year. He now devotes his entire time to the improvement of his home.
G. H. KENERSON was born in New Hampshire in 1841, and lived in his native State, attending school until seven years old. He then removed with his parents to Troy, New York, and six years after to Galesville, Washington county, in both of which places he attended school. In 1859, he came to Fall River, Columbia county, Wisconsin, and completed his education. In the fall of 1860 he removed to Mower county, Minnesota, and followed farming until 1875, then engaged in the grain business, buying and shipping. He was married on the 1st of January, 1868, to Martha Williams. She was born in Branch county, Mich- igan, and when fourteen years of age removed with her parents to Mower county, where she was married. Mr. and Mrs. Kenerson have had five children, of whom three are living; Era A., aged thirteen years; Roy and Ray, twins, aged seven years; Jessie died in infancy, and Daniel at the age of two years and five months. Mr. Kener- son's mother died in Troy, New York, at the age of thirty, and his father in Rochester, in this State, in 1878, when seventy-five years old. Mrs Kenerson's parents reside in Dexter, Mower coun- ty, and she is the eldest of their ten children. Mr. Kenerson came to Armstrong in the fall of 1881, and is engaged in the grain business, and also owns a grocery store. He was appointed Post- master in June, 1882.
FREDRICK LEONHARDI is a native of Illinois, born in Palos, Cook county, in 1856. When he was three years old his parents removed to Chica- go, and ten years after, a short distance from there, to Lake View, where Frederick attended school six years, then clerked in the Post-office two years, and afterwards in a grocery store. In 1876, the family came to this connty and settled in Nunda. The subject of this sketch was joined in marriage on the 16th of July, 1882, to Henri- etta Eikhorst. She was born in Wheaton, Du Page county, Illinois, in 1864, and resided in her native place nntil twelve years of age, then came with her parents to Mansfield where the marriage ceremony took place. She attended school in Illinois and also in Minnesota. Mr. Leonhardi moved to Pickerel Lake and settled on a farm in the spring of 1882. His mother died in Nunda ,
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