USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I > Part 27
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76
Digitized by Google
248
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
.
lake and eventually into the Red river, while on the west it is drained through Lakes Lida and Lizzie to the Pelican river. Thus this township is drained in three directions and into two different streams, although they all form part of the Red river drainage system. This township is rather sparsely settled and the farms are large. There has never been a town platted within the limits of this township. For a number of years there were two postoffices located in this township for the accommodation of the settlers so remote from any trading center, but with the advent of the rural routes these have long since been abandoned. These were Dora and Spirit Lake.
The present township officers are as follow: Supervisors, William Diller, William Albright and Fred Wendt; clerk, Charles Stender; treasurer, Bud Hoffman; assessor, Charles Hoffman; justice, Fred Wendt; constable, William Albright.
EVERTS TOWNSHIP.
The township of Everts (township 133, range 40) was created by the county commissioners on July 22, 1879, in response to a petition signed by George Gould and others. George Gould was evidently one of the leading citizens of the newly organized township, since the commissioners designated his house as the first voting place. With the selection of the township officers on the ninth of the following August, Everts began its official career as a political entity.
The petition brought before the commissioners was signed by nine- teen of the legal voters of the township, to wit: George Gould, Andrew Glende, Erick Glende, Anthon Glende. Thorer Glende, August Nordenmalm, Ole A. Dahl, C. G. Gould, Andrew H. Rostad, Nels O. Inande, Ole Tweten, Alick Tweten, P. P. Jackson, Evan A. Glende, Joseph Norman, E. A. Everts, Rezin Everts, W. W. Gould and William Oaks.
It is interesting to note that the petitioners gave the commissioners a choice of three names for the township, but that the board refused to con- sider any of them. The three names suggested were Silver Lake, Clinton and Sweet Home, but it is evident that none of them appealed to the fancy of the board, since they called it Everts on the same day they granted the petition.
Everts township comes very near being surrounded by water. No less than eleven lakes lie on or just within its boundary limits, to-wit: Otter Tail, Blanche, Annie Battle, Mollie Stark, Battle, Silver, Elbow, South Turtle, North Turtle, Lost and Middle. This leaves six sections wholly untouched by lakes and a few others with only a very small amount of water acreage.
The only villages in the township are Inglewood and Battle Lake. the
Digitized by Google
1
249
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
latter being a thriving trading center before the Northern Pacific branch was built through it in the fore part of the eighties.
The present township officers are as follow: Supervisors, J. E. Wold, A. G. Myhre and Frank Anderson; clerk, Lawrence Rowe; treasurer. And Dahl; assessor, And Tweten; justices, O. S. Mickelson and A. Tweten; constables, J. H. Rostad and M. J. Askerooth.
Battle Lake.
The village of Battle Lake was platted October 31, 1881, for Torger O. and Bertie O. Holdt (his wife). It is located in sections 3 and 4, town- ship 132, range 40, on the western end of West Battle Lake in Everts and Clitherall townships. On March 25, 1891, a number of citizens of the vil- lage petitioned the county commissioners for the privilege of incorporation. The following legal voters signed the petition: Martin Anderson. E. A. Everts, O. C. Olson, Orris Albertson, Fred Evander, D. R. Hill, J. A. Cole- hour, C. Crogan, I. P. Gellerman, Peter Olson, C. Deich, Ole Bondy, J. O. Tweten. E. F. Wimer, Lars Sorenson, W. H. Bullock, T. Olson, B. B. War- field, Comfort Barns. Bronson Strain, I .. J. Crooks. W. W. Crooks, Hans O. Larson, C. H. Pierce, Albert C. Jorgenson. F. K. Evenson. G. Evander, A. C. Hatch, A. S. Wimer, George Willie, Edward Hart. G. H. Wimer, E. W. Hinkston, Sywert Johnson, C. Retallick, H. G. Kerr, M. S. Jones.
The petition represented that the territory asking to be incorporated included about four hundred and twenty acres, and that a census taken on March 20, 1891. showed that there were two hundred and thirty-one inhabit- ants in this territory. The commissioners granted the petition and ordered an election held on Tuesday, April 28. 1891, at the store of Orris Albertson. On the appointed day fifty votes were cast: thirty-six for incorporation, thirteen against, and one vote which was marked both yes and no.
The present village officers are as follow: President, A. C. Hatch; trustees, John Becker, Gust Ramberg and Frank Osterlund; clerk, E. J. Rudh; treasurer, G. H. Hopkins; assessor, Frank Willie; justices, Carl J. Teller and Gust Ramberg: constables, Thomas Noble and Cash Sherman.
Inglewood was platted July 1, 1904. by Martin Aalberg for the fol- lowing proprietors : John and Nora A. Knight. C. J. and Louise Mont- gomery, Jacob H. and Minnie Montgomery. W. H. and Nellie Harris, L. L. and Lizzie A. Benedict, W. L .. and Bertha M. Northfoss, Theodore and Anna E. Northfoss, John and Rose Dower. Edwin and Pearl Wiswell, John W. and Bell F. Woods and George and Harriet L. Kobler. It is located in section I on the shores of Otter Tail lake.
Sand Beach Park was platted by Martin Aalberg for C. D. and Almeda A. Baker and recorded in the office of the register of deeds May 27, 1913. It is located in Everts township, section 5, township 133, range 40.
Digitized by Google
250
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
LEAF LAKE TOWNSHIP.
The first effort of the citizens of Leaf Lake township (township 134, range 38) to organize a civil township was made March 19, 1879. At that date C. D). C. Williams and others presented a petition before the county commissioners asking for the organization of a civil township with the above described limits. It was refused by the board because the signatures all appeared in the same handwriting. Williams appeared before the board on July 22, 1879, with a petition properly signed, and, upon the representation that there were at least twenty-five legal voters in the township. the com- missioners granted the petition. The first election was at the house of C. I). C. Williams on the ninth of the following month.
The petition asking for the organization of the township carried the following names: C. D. C. Williams, Joseph Dickerson, William Hostetler, Daniel Hochstetler, Edward F. Curry, John W. Dickerson, John McCool, W. C. Curry, Thomas Elliott, William Elliott, Frank Elliott, Knud Ander- son, Christian Haugen, Edward C. Oppegaard, Erick O. Haukedahl, Nils Rino, Martin Erickson, Joseph Hart, I'. Brown and Frederic Clayton.
This township has two large lakes, East and West Leaf lakes, which extend nearly across the township from east to west about the center of the township. Other lakes to be found are Grass, Gaard and Portage, all three lying in the central western part of the township. Two streams, Leaf river and Willow creek, flow into East Leaf lake from the north and south respec- tively. The greater portion of the township is a level prairie with enough slope to admit of drainage and accordingly most of the land is rendered tillable.
The history of this township, if more or less obscure records are to be relied upon, antedates that of any other part of the county. An article in the Fergus Falls Journal, June 21, 1878, tells of the ruins on the shores of Leaf Lake of a British trading post established about one hundred years ago. This trading post was maintained by the British Northwest Trading Com- pany in what is now known as Otter Tail county, and dates back as far as 1812. The writer of the article says: "In our recent trip to Deer Creek there was pointed out to us in the thick woods along the north shore of Leaf Lake some overgrown mounds, partially covering tolerably well preserved chimney stacks, which marked the site of this former trading post. On the spot where once stood houses now stand trees eight to ten inches in diameter.
"Our first definite information in regard to this post was obtained from Donald McDonald of Otter Tail City. He says that about 1812 Colonel Dixon of the British Army had charge of this trading post at Leaf Lake. The portage from Otter Tail lake to Leaf lake is only about half a mile,
Digitized by Google
.
251
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
and was one of the favorite portages from the waters of the Red river to those of the Mississippi."
It is known that the Otter Tail and Crow Wing trail was first opened for the passage of Red River carts some eighty years ago. This led east from Otter Tail City past the site of the old post on the north side of Leaf lake, on through the present townships of Deer Creek, Compton and Wadena to Crow Wing. There are reasons for the conjecture that a trail for carts may have extended to the Leaf lake post from Selcurk's in Dixon's time.
McDonald also speaks in this article of a division line which was estab- lished in the early day, known by Indians then living, which led up to Crow Wing and Leaf river, thence by the Leaf lakes to Otter Tail.
These were the days when the Sioux and Chippewas disputed the occu- pancy of the region. Beautiful Battle lake took its name from a desperate contest in which twenty-six Ojibways, all that were engaged, were cut down by a much larger party of Sioux.
McDonald, the authority quoted above, says that he subsequently knew Colonel Dixon at Montreal. He describes him as a large man of full face, tall and commanding. It is also recorded of him that although engaged in inciting the northwestern Indians against the United States in the War of 1812, he was humane to prisoners and rescued many from the Indians. In connection with the article referred to, Rev. E. D. Neill, who was regarded as the best historical authority on early events in Minnesota, has the follow- ing to say of Col. Robert Dixon and the Leaf lake trading post :
"At the commencement of the last century the leading spirit of the fur traders of the region west of Lake Superior was an Englishman named Robert Dixon. He came to this region about 1790, and had supervision of the trading posts at Cass, or Red Cedar, and Leach lakes. In December. 1805, Lieutenant Pike of the United States army, while in camp at the rapids below Swan River, was visited by Dixon, who assured him that no liquor was sold to the Indians at any of the trading posts under his direction and Pike in his report writes, "he seemed to be a gentleman of general knowl- edge and in possession of much geographical information of the western county, of open frank manners.
"In 1811 Dixon was the British agent and superintendent of the west- ern Indians, and was active in his opposition to the United States in the War of 1812. In February, 1814, he was at Green Bay influencing the Indians to support the British flag, and in the summer of that year he was at Fort Mckay, the British post at Prairie du Chien."
On February 16, 1818, the United States Indian agent at Prairie du Chien wrote to the governor of Illinois :
"A courier who arrived a few days since confirmed the belief that Dixon
Digitized by Google
252
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
is endeavoring to secure to the British government the affection of the Sioux. Dixon, as I have before observed, is situated near the head of the St. Peters, to which place he transports his goods from Selcurk's Red river establish- ment in carts made for the purpose. The trip is performed in five days, sometimes less. He is directed to build a fort in the highest land between Lac du Travers and Red river (perhaps Otter Tail lake), which he supposes will be the established . line between the two countries. This fort will be defended by twenty men with two small pieces of artillery."
Early in January, 1822, Dixon arrived from Seleurk's settlement at Fort Snelling, accompanied by Alex Bailley, who in subsequent years lived at Wabshaw shore, below Lake Pepin and was a member of the Minnesota Legislature.
In 1824 Major Talliaferro went from Fort Snelling to Washington with a delegation of Chippewas and Dakotas. On their return they visited New York City and William Dixon, a half-breed son of Robert Dixon, took the Dakotas to see the Rev. Samuel Peters. The latter gave to Little Crow, the grandfather of the Sioux Chief who led the Indians in the massacre of the whites of the Minnesota valley, a new gun in consideration of the sign- ing of a certain paper by which the heirs of Jonathan Carger hoped to attain from Congress the land upon which St. Paul and Minneapolis is built.
The next year there arrived in a keel boat at Fort Snelling a box marked "Col. Robert Dixon," which was found to contain a few presents from Bishop Peters to Dixon's Indian wife, and a long letter and a copy of Car- ter's alleged grant of land from the Sioux, written on parchment.
Colonel Dixon died at Queenstown, Canada. The wife of Joseph LaFramboise, an old settler of the Minnesota valley, was a granddaughter of Dixon.
Leaf Lake township was without a railroad until 1902, when the Min- neapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie railroad was built through the county. This road crosses the southwestern corner of the township, but so far there is not a station in the township. In fact. there has never been a village within the limits of the township, although a summer resort was platted in section 25 in 1906. This plat, known as Leaf Side, is located on the south side of East Leaf lake and was laid out by O. H. Molden for A. D. and Mary F. Peck.
The present township officers are as follows: Supervisors, Olaf Ter- vola, D. Grefe and John Sume; clerk, G. H. Miller; treasurer, Ole Haugan ; assessor, H. Anderson; justices, H. Anderson and Nels Ring; constables, P. Jaijala and H. Matti.
Digitized by Google
CHAPTER XIV. TOWNSHIPS OF OTTER TAIL COUNTY, 1880-81.
CANDOR TOWNSHIP.
There were two townships organized on January 8, 1880, by the county commissioners-Candor and Star Lake. Candor was one of the first town- ships organized in the northern tier township and came into existence as a result of the satisfactory petition of twenty-five legal voters residing in town- ship 137, range 41. On the 26th of the same month the first election for county officers was held at the house of A. Bradberry.
The names of the legal voters of said township who contributed to its organization were as follows: H. P. Johnson, Samuel Burgner, Charles French, Herbert Kinkle, George B. Grass, John Morneval, T. A. Blem, C. Drake, John Wallace, Isaac M. Spike, Iver Reynolds, H. C. Cook, F. Klug, H. A. Bradburg, Carl Glanex, Robert Schram, William Furnold, F. A. Blos- som, Fred Green, A. A. Drake, Daniel M. Still, Frank S. Biekle, Andrew Becke, William Glanex and M. B. Bradburg.
This township was the forty-fifth to be organized in the county and this may be accounted for by the fact that it was so far distant from the county seat. Located in the northern tier of townships it is nearly forty miles from Fergus Falls, while its nearest trading center for many years was Pelican Rapids, more than twelve miles distant. The building of the Soo line through the township in 1903 put it in touch with the outside world and has been the means of appreciably raising the value of land in the township.
Several lakes are to be found within the confines of the township, the chief ones being Leek, Hand, Loon, Hook, Otter, Cooks, Schrams, Ida and part of Sauer, the latter being mostly in Becker county. In addition to these there are a number of smaller bodies of water scattered over the township. The general elevation of the township is above a thousand feet and the many lakes do not prevent the farmers from having well drained and productive farms.
There have been two town sites platted in the township, Vergas and Elmwood. Elmwood was platted by Martin Aalberg for James and Etta M. Nesbitt and recorded in the office of the register.of deeds.' July 14, 1911. It is located in the southern part of Candor township, sections 34 and 35, township 137, range 43.
Vergas.
The present village of Vergas was platted and later incorporated under the name of Altona. This thriving little trading center is located on the Soo
Digitized by Google
254
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
line in the southeastern part of the township. It was platted for the Min- nesota and Loan Trust Company in the fall of 1903, the plat being recorded on October 30. This company platted a number of villages along the Soo line through Otter Tail county, and each plat bears the signature of Eugene A. Merrill, president of the company.
The village was incorporated as a result of an election held on February 21, 1905, at which time all of the twenty-six voters of the village expressed their desire by ballot for incorporation. A petition had been presented to the commissioners on the 4th of the preceding January asking for such an election, the petition being signed by thirty-three voters, as follow: Veeder G. Buck, E. S. Ferguson, Edmund Pausch, Charles A. Peterson, A. Eich- miller, F. B. Wilson, John G .. Rieman, G. H. Brooks, Adam Dey, Henry Schultz, Arthur Fankhanel, C. H. Cummings, Edward Sunnenberg, H. Schattschneider, F. G. Smith, E. L. Norton, W. L. Taylor, A. H. Wilcox, Bernhard Stangenes, M. Popplar, James Nesbitt, Albert Ament, John Zeig- ler, J. O. Brass, Ralph Hunter, Alvin Herting, Oscar Walde, Philip Eich- miller. J. E. King. William Sauer, Edward Marks, T. J. Randall and Her- man Lenke. At this time a census showed one hundred and forty-four people living in the village.
The name of the village was changed from Altona to Vergas as a result of an election held November 6. 1906, at which time thirty-one votes were cast, twenty-seven being for the change and only four against it. Vergas has a population at present of two hundred and seventy-five. The village contains a German Lutheran church, a bank, hotel, creamery, planning mill. feed mill and grain elevator. It is on the extreme end of the Soo line in this county and accommodates a large section in the northern part of the county which otherwise would have to travel many miles to another town The present postmaster is Bernard Staughes.
The present village officers are as follow: President, John Bruhn; trustees, E. L. Brooks, John G. Rieman and Phil Eichmiller ; clerk, Charles A. Peterson ; treasurer. W. F. Ladwig: assessor, Nick Ebersviller ; justices, A. Priske and A. H. Wetmur : constables, H. F. Hinze and Fred Kraus.
STAR LAKE TOWNSHIP.
The township of Star Lake was organized by the commissioners on Jan- uary 18, 1880. in response to a petition signed by twenty-five legal voters living in township 135, range 41. Its name and territorial limits have never been changed since its organization. The first election for township officers was held on the 24th of January at the house of Minder Born. The petition, bearing the signatures of the twenty-five legal voters, was dated June 2. 1879. Their names follow : Sylas Mansfield. Newton Jenne. Dayton W. Jenne, August Bon, Jasper Jones,. Leemon Loop, H. C. Jenne, Niel A. Perry,
Digitized by Google
1
255
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
Charles C. Perry, Mahlon M. Morris, Leonard Jenne, William Doyle, Mor- ris Fullberton, Herman Biersdorff, Asa Phelps, Frederik Vogel. Montgomery Berfield, T. W. Aldrich, C. W. Jenne, R. S. Miles, B. F. Berry. C. Farrand, D. Barly, F. Hodge, Jefferson Durman, D. Corey. William Dalton, Jacob Ott and M. A. Boen.
The township was named from the lake which in shape bears a striking resemblance to a star fish. This lake is spread out over the northeastern por- tion of the township and touches fourteen sections. Dead lake is partly in the township and it covers two more sections of land. A dozen or more smaller lakes are to be found scattered over the township, so that, in all, over one-third of the land is covered by water. Notwithstanding the large water area there is considerable valuable farming land in the township. The sur- face of the township is decidedly rugged, with sharp hills and deep valleys in many parts.
There has never been a platted village in the township and only one store. At this one store was maintained a postoffice for many years which went by the name of Star Lake. It was located in the northern part of sec- tion 34.
The present township officers are as follow: Supervisors. F. J. Vogel, M. H. Hart and O. H. Chapman : clerk. A. L. Vogel; treasurer, H. Mader ; assessor, George Sherwood: justices. F. J. Vogel and Victor Drake; con- stables, E. Collins and C. Halstead.
ELMO TOWNSHIP.
The county commissioners received a petition on March 16. 1880, signed by a majority of the legal voters living in township 132, range 37, and on the same date granted the request of the petitioners for the organization of a township to be known as Elmo. The petition was dated March 13, 1880. and bore the following names: John Murray, Richard J. West, Benjamin Stewart, Henry Wolhart, L. I .. Livemora. James Murray, Michael Murray. Philip H. West, Leddouk Miner, William Murray, Frank Henderson, Bengt Nilsjon, David Orr. O. Olson. Julius Chafanear, Emerson Farr, John Shools. J. Harst, G. Stanley and Taque
In accordance with the desire of the citizens of the township was called Elmo, and started its official career with its first election on the fifth of the following month. The election was held at the house of L. S. Levorsen. who was a substantial citizen living in section 32.
This was one of the two townships organized by the commissioners at their March meeting of that year. It is located in the southeastern part of the county and is bounded by Inman on the north. Folden on the west. Parkers Prairie on the south, Woodside on the east. This township is almost out of the lake region, as there are only six small lakes within its limits.
Digitized by Google
256
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
Wing River lake is the largest of these and forms the head waters of Wing river. The water shed of Wing and Leaf rivers runs northeast and south- west through this township. The southern half is drained by two small streams which are tributaries of Wing river and empty into it at the north- western corner of section twenty-four. The northern part of the township is drained into three small lakes in sections 9 and 4, which are the head waters of Leaf river. The farms in this section are under good cultivation and farmers are very prosperous. The Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie railroad runs northwest through the entire length of the township, entering in section 33 and leaving at section 6. There is only one station on this road, Almora, "which is the only town platted within the limits of the township. Its plat, made by Martin Aalberg for Cyrus .A. and Ada B. Camp- bell, was recorded October 3, 1903.
DUNN TOWNSHIP.
Dunn township was the forty-eighth township organized in the county. The first specific mention of the township dates back to September 4, 1873, at which time the commissioners attached it to Scambler for township pur- poses, but it was not until seven years later that the population was such as to warrant its organization as an independent civil township. The law pro- vided that a congressional township must have at least twenty-five legal voters before it could petition for organization as a civil township and it took a majority of the voters to effect the organization. One of the most promi- nent of the early settlers of Dunn township was George W. Dunn and his standing in the community is shown by the fact that when the congressional township in which he lived was organized on March 16, 1880, the commis- sioners named it in his honor. The petition asking for the organization of the township was dated March 9, 1880, and carried the following names: O. A. Burdick, D. Burbank, H. C. Jordon, L. T. Cornish, W. G. Burbank, G. W. Dunn, Reuben Page, J. A. Page, Samuel Dunn, Phillip Lapp, Lemuel H. Baker, William Page, William H. Moon, William E. Dunn, Charles Baker, I. N. Hubbard, Albert Miggdorff, Isaac Johnson, Orrin Cowles, Pay- son E. Epham, Eli O'Neilly and Charles Hyatt. The petitioners had asked that the new township be called Blaine, but the commissioners refused their request and honored Dunn by calling it after him. The board fixed April 5, 1880, for the first election and ordered it held at the house of George W. Dunn.
This is one of the many townships of the county which has experienced difficulty in getting a satisfactory name. A petition dated July 26, 1882, and signed by O. A. Burdick, Reuben Page, C. Hyatt, W. H. Wood, Joseph Kranick, George W. Dunn, S. W. Baker, J. A. Page, William A. Dunn, Hollis Peirce and D. Burbank was presented to the county commissioners on
Digitized by Google
---
257
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
January 5, 1883, asking that the township be named Marysville. However, the board did not grant their request and as a result a second petition was at once circulated throughout the township asking that the name be changed either to Brighton or Mobile. This second petition, dated March 13, 1883, and presented to the board on the 26th of the following July, bore the fol- lowing signatures : O. A. Burdick, P. E. Upham, O. Bonnell, J. A. Page, H. C. Jordan, I. N. Hubbard, Peter Danielson, John Drews, Henry Will- iams, John W. Cody, Milan Crocher, Christ Matzdorf, Edwin Richter, Joseph Kranick, William H. Woal, William E. Dunn, Jacob Johnson, M. H. Gore, O. S. Johnson, G. W. Derwin, E. M. Hardin, S. H. Dunn, P. Page, Cyrus Dana, Chas. Hyatt, F. W. Dickrey, George Cornish, W. S. Young, Orvin Cowles, W. E. Page, Isaac Johnson, Isaac D. Johnson, Simund H. Baker, Hollis Peirce, G. F. Gorr and H. G. Bragg. Again the commission- ers refused to change the name of the township and thus came to an end the efforts on the part of the citizens to have their township rechristened.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.