USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice County, including explorers and pioneers of Minnesota and outline history of the state of Minnesota > Part 81
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FRED SHANDORF was born in France in 1842, and removed with his parents to America when two years old. They located in New York, where he received his education and was raised on a farm. He was married in 1868, to Miss Susan Deshan, also a native of France. The same year they came to Dundss, where Mr. Shandorf was
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engaged in farming until 1875, then engaged as a butcher, and in 1879, commenced to deal in gen- eral merchandise, which business he still follows. He occupies a double brick store, and is building a large frame warehouse. He has been Council- man three terms. They were blessed with five children, only one of whom is living; three died of diphtheria inside of three weeks, and the other of the same disease.
EDWARD STRANGE was born near Danville, Hen- dricks county, Indiana, on the 4th of January, 1842. In October, 1855, his parents came to Goodhue county, Minnesota, where Edward at- tended school and learned the wagon maker trade of his father, with whom he was afterward in part- nership for two years in Cannon Falls. In 1866, the famlly moved to Millersburg, where the father and his son James engaged in business, Ed. work- ing at the carpenter trade most of the time. He was married in November, 1867, and moved to Dundas the following year. He immediately opened a wagon shop, the first of the kind in the place, and continued in the business until 1881, when he was elected village Justice.
C. C. STETSON was born in Maine in 1823, where he remained until twenty-one years old, finished his education and learned the blacksmith and machinist trade. He went to Massachusetts and worked at his trade one year, then to . Providence, Rhode Island, where he re- mained two years, thence to New Orleans, and six months later to Texas. In the spring of 1850 Mr. Stetson went to California, remained there three years engaged in mining and at his trade, then returned to Maine, and in 1854, came to Bridgewater. Three years after coming here he married Miss Amelia Howe, a native of Ohio. Of five children born of this union four are living, one
dying in infancy. Mr. Stetson was the first Town Clerk in this place and has since held many other local offices. They are members of the Congre- gational church.
WILLIAM TEW was born in New York in 1841, and removed with his parents to Wisconsin two years later. In the latter State he was educated and reared as a farmer. In 1864, he was married, and the result of the union is two children. Three years after they came to Minnesota and pre- empted a claim in Bridgewater in section nine, where he still resides. He has been a member of the board of Supervisors three terms. Mrs. Tew died in 1881, at the age of thirty-five years.
H. F. THIELBAR, a native of Germany, was born in 1834, reared to farming pursuits, and received his education in his native country. In 1853, he emi- grated to America, located in New York City, where he engaged in the grocery business until 1857, then came to this county, where he carried on a farm. He was married at Dundas in 1861, to Miss Loesia Buclioern, also a native of Ger- many. In 1863, he enlisted in the army, served one year, then returned to his farm and in 1867, came to Dundas, where he engaged in clerking. In 1872, he commenced business for himself, and has since carried a stock of general merchandise. He has been Councilman one term and a member of the school board several terms. Mr. and Mrs. Thielbar have had eleven children, all of whom are living at home.
A. WOOLERY was born in Canada in 1844, came to the United States with his parents and located in Minnesota. In 1866, Mr. Woolery came to Dundas and engaged in the Archibald Mill, wbere he is now foreman. He was married since coming to this place.
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HISTORY OF RICE COUNTY.
WHEELING.
CHAPTER LV.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION - EARLY SETTLEMENT -- EVENTS OF INTEREST-MANUFACTURING --- MERCAN- TILE-INSURANCE COMPANY - RELIGIOUS-EDU- CATIONAL-BIOGRAPHICAL.
The subdivison of Rice county bearing this re- volving appellation is in the eastern tier of towns. It is composed, as originally surveyed, of thirty-six sections or square miles, in all 23,040 acres. The contiguous surroundings are Northfield on the north, Richland on the south, Cannon City town- ship on the west, and Goodhue county on the east.
Wheeling may be called one of the prairie towns of the county, as almost all of the area is made up of prairie land. The southern portion is quite level, but as you approach the north the surface is more rolling, and the northwest corner, hilly. The soil is variable, the southern part being a rich dark loam, while in the north, where the prairie is more rolling, the soil is of a lighter color, in some places having a clay mixture, and in others it is of a sandy character. The town is well suited for all kinds of agricultural pursuits, and also makes excellent grazing land, as the fine natural meadows are covered with all species of indigenous grasses.
There are no large streams and but few small ones in the town. Prairie Creek touches the north- west quarter section as it passes on its way from Cannon City township to Northfield. A branch of Prairie Creek starts from a spring on Henry C. Kolling's land, on section twenty-one, passing north to section sixteen, then northwest to section seventeen, thence north to section eight where it takes an easterly course across section nine to sec- tion ten; from there it runs in a northerly course through section three to the town of Northfield, where it joins Prairie Creek. This stream passes thrugh quite a deep ravine, and on the way is joined by several small rivulets. The head waters of this stream never fail, but in some places the
bed is dry at times, and it is probable that there is a subterranean passage through which it passes in dry seasons. A stream called Little Cannon rises ou section thirteen, and passes in an easterly direction to Goodhue county where it soon be- comes quite a river and empties into Cannon River near the falls.
There are two limestone quarries in the town, from which considerable stone has been taken for building purposes. There are two churches and a number of private houses that have been built from this stone. One of these quarries, located on section three, is owned by S. Aslakson.
The town contains about two thousand acres of timber land, the most of which is on sections six- teen, nine, and ten, and the northeast quarter of section six. When it was first settled the timber . was quite heavy, but the greater portion of the original stock has been cut, and a flourishing young growth taken its place.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The actual settlement of this town commenced in June, 1854, when a party of Germans, who had stopped for a short time in Illinois, made their ap- pearance, having come with ox teams and been four weeks on the road. The party consisted of Heury Bultmann and family, Jacob Blank and family, Louis Helberg, Friederich Hogrefe, and John George Veeh. They arrived on the 15th of June, 1854.
Jacob Blank was the first to make a claim, and drove his stakes in sections fifteen and twenty- two, immediately commencing improvements. He had brought with him a pair of steers and two cows that he used in the yoke, and he at once put up a little hay shanty to live in; in this same little hay hut the first child horn in the township first saw the light. In the fall Blank built a log house into which he moved that winter. As he could not buy any Inmber he had to manufacture it him-
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self. With his axe he split shakes from Oak with which to cover the roof, and for flooring he split the boards from bass wood, making them about two inches thick. He cut small trees in the woods which he converted into laths, nailing them inside and then plastering with clay. He lived in this house until 1864, when he built another log house. Mr. Blank improved his farm and lived there until October, 1878, when he sold out and retired to Faribault, where he is now enjoying the fruits of his labor.
Mr. Veeh made the second claim on section twenty-one. He was a widower with no family, and improved a small part of the laud. In about three years he sold and made his home with his son-in-law, Jacob Blank, until his death which oc- curred on the 22d of February, 1873.
Louis Helberg was the third to select a home, which he did on section twenty-one. He was a single man but soon found a partner. They were the first couple married in the town. He improved the land and built a good set of buildings and made his home there until the time of his death which occurred in August, 1879. His family now occupy the homestead.
Henry Bultmann was the fourth man to make a claim which he did on section seventeen. He also built a hay shanty in which he lived a short time, then built a log house, using fence rails for the floor. He lived in that but a few years then built a frame house in which he now lives.
Mr. Hogrefe made the fifth claim, on sections seventeen and eight. He was a single man but married soon after coming here. He carried on his farm a few years then engaged in the ministry, and is now a Methodist preacher at Rochester, Olmsted county, Minnesota.
In August these colonists were joined by an- other of their countrymen, named Henry C. Kol- ling, who also came from Illinois where he had been living a few years. He selected land on sec- tion twenty-one, then went back to Illinois and re- turned with his family, living the first winter in his brother-in-law's log house, Louis Helberg. In the spring of 1855, he built a log house, sawing the lumber with a whip-saw, and lived in that a few years; then built the neat frame house in which he now lives surrounded by the comforts of a pleasant home.
Henry Grote, another German, came from Illi- nois about the same time and settled on section seventeen where he now lives.
About this time the settlement of this town be- gan in earnest, and a number of Scandinavian families came from Wisconsin where they had made a temporary stop when first coming from Norway. Those who remained here were Truls Earlandson, John Olson, Andrew Olson, Seaver Halgrimson, and Elef Trulson. They performed the tedious journey with ox teams, bringing their families. They at once improvised log residences with bark roofs, and split bass wood logs for floors.
Earlandson took a claim in section six where he yet lives.
Trulson made a claim on section three where he opened a blacksmith shop; he remained there until 1872, when he sold out and moved to Kandiyohi county where he may still be found.
John Olson planted himself in section six where he still is.
Andrew Olson claimed a place in section five. In 1879, he went to Dakota.
Hans Anderson came from Wisconsin where he had been sojourning, and settled in section seven. His wife was burned to death by a kerosene acci- dent. He afterwards married Elling Johnson's widow, and now lives in Grant county.
Seaver Halgrimson, another of the party of Norwegians, arrived in July of the same year, and after drifting about a short time anchored on sec- tion five, where he remained steadfast until the gale of death unmoored and carried him off in 1870. His widow married again and still lives on the original homestead.
Elling Johnson, of Norway nativity, came from Iowa and stationed himself on section eight, where he stood guard until that insatiable enemy of im- mortality removed him some seven years ago.
In 1855, the arrivals were quite numerous, and most of them will be mentioned.
Ever Bonde, of Norway, came here from Iowa, where he had been for a year, and settled on sec- tion eleven, where he spent the remainder of his days.
Ole Sherven, who first settled in Wisconsin, came to this place from Iowa, where he had lived five years, and secured a place in section eighteen, where he is yet.
Adam Knopf, P. Wolf, and Christian Erb, natives of Germany, came here from Cook county, Illinois.
Wolf took his claim in section fourteen. He
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HISTORY OF RICE COUNTY.
was killed by an accident in the timber on the 21st of February, 1857.
Erb took his farm in section twenty-three. He improved the land and built a house. In 1870, he sold out, and now lives in Cannon City.
Knopf surrounded a claim in section twenty- two and another in section twenty-three, which he improved, and where he still lives.
Truls Halgrimson came during this year and set- tled in section three.
Ole Olson Broden was another of the "fifty- fivers."
Another settler about this time was Augustus Meyer with his family, who had been here but about two weeks, when one Sunday morning he shaved himself, lighted his pipe, and proposed to go to the timber to look out a road on which he could haul some wood to the prairie, but he never re- turned. Several days were spent by the whole settlement in hunting for him withont avail, and it was not until eighteen months afterward that his bones were found bleaching near his shoes, pipe, and other articles, on section sixteen, on the land now owned by Henry Bultmann. The man- ner of his death is a profound mystery. His children still live in the county.
Ole Benson made a claim in section ten, where he is still at work.
Jacob J. Bosshart came here from Iowa, and his lot fell in section twenty-seven.
John Hanson found a place that suited him in section four, where he died in a few years, but his widow yet occupies the homestead.
Watts A. Pye, an Englishman, came from Illi- nois and took a place in section eighteen, where he still remains.
Hugh McDurland, a native of Pennsylvania, came from there and halted and went to work in section thirty, and he is still bustling around there.
The accessions to the town settlement in 1856 were valuable, and will be mentioned as far as re- membered.
Ole Fingalson at first aliglited in section two, to which he devoted himself up to 1878, when he sold his place and moved to Becker county.
Truls Fingalson was stationed for some years in section two.
Erick Erickson Roc? was another comer this year. His place was in sections five and six. He removed to Kandiyohi county in 1866.
Syver Aslackson came up from Houston county, where he first lived a while after crossing the Mis- sissippi; his place was in section ten, and there he still remains.
Hans O. Stenbakken, a native of Norway, settled . in section twelve, where he still has a home.
Mark Bosshart, of Switzerland, cultivated a farm in section twenty-two, but in 1872 he was called hence.
William Frederick came from Illinois and drifted into section twenty-eight, where he is still an- chored.
William Grote took a claim on sections twenty- six and twenty-seven. A house was put up and he lived there to the time of his death in 1871, his widow lives in a house he was building when over- taken by the "grim messenger."
Frederick Knaus built his castle in section twenty-three, which he still holds.
Osmund Osmundson came here from California, and at first built a timber residence in section fourteen, but he now has a brick house in section eleven.
John Thompson came here from Rock county, Wisconsin, and transplanted himself in section two where he is still thriving.
In 1857, William Boltman, from Germany, came and found an unoccupied spot in section twenty- five which he has since cultivated.
Christian Deike, also a German, arrived in 1859, and his place is in section thirty-two. He is a prominent citizen of the county.
EVENTS OF INTEREST.
The first birth in the township occurred on the 2d of October, 1854, in a little hay shanty put up for temporary shelter by the father. The parents were Jacob and Elizabeth Blank, the child being christened Caroline. She now lives with her parents in Faribault.
Another early birth was the bringing into exist- ence of Halgrim son of Seaver and Christine Hal- grimson, on the 20th of Jannary, 1855.
In the fall of this year, Julia, daughter of Truls and Annie Earlandson, was born, and now lives in Minneapolis.
The first marriage in the township, that there is any record of, took place on the 5th of November, 1855, the high contracting parties being Lonis Helberg and Wilhelmina Meyer. The groom died in 1879.
The next marriage was Friedrick Hogrefe to
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WHEELING TOWNSHIP.
Miss Dorothy Fischer, in December, 1855. They are now living in Rochester, where Mr. Hogrefe is a Methodist minister.
Jacob Johnson and Cecelia Evanson were made one by mutual consent in the spring of 1856. They are now living on section four in Wheeling, and have been blessed with six children.
The first town meeting was in a schoolhouse in district No. 27, on the 11th of May, 1858. The officers elected were: Supervisors, Watts A. Pye, Chairman, Christian Erb, and Lewis Everson; Clerk, Augustus Sickler; Assessor, Ole Sherven; Collector, Lewis Helberg; Justices of the Peace, Joseph Covert and Henry C. Kolling; Overseer of the Poor, John Brown; Constables, George Fogg and Jacob J. Bosshart. The town government thus started has wended the even tenor of its way ever since.
The Town Hall was built in 1870. It is a frame building costing $600. Its location is on the northeast quarter of section twenty-one. Before its completion meetings were held in private houses and in shoolhouses.
At the spring election in 1882, the following officers were elected: Supervisors, Christian Deike, Chairman, William L. T. Meyer, and O. H. Sten- bakken; Clerk, H. C. Kolling; Assessor, Henry Bultmann; Treasurer, Christian Deike; Justices of the Peace, Michael Knopf and Tosten E. Bonde; Constable, George Knopf.
The town paid in bounties $7,200, and sent thirty-two men into the army.
SYRUP MANUFACTORY.
The firm of Roth & Lips erected and commenced operating a syrup mill in 1880, on Roth's place, on section twenty-two, and during the first year manufactured 966 gallons of syrup. In 1881, the mill changed hands and became the property of the Lips Brothers, who at once moved it to their farm on section fifteen where it is still located. In the fall of 1881, this company manufactured 1,300 gallons of syrup.
KNOPF'S MILL.
In 1879, Michael Knopf started a like mill at his place on section twenty-three, and this is the largest mill in the township, having manufactured in 1881, 2,400 gallons of syrup.
STORES IN WHEELING.
In 1877, Osmund Osmundson put up a store building on section fourteen, which he rented to
Evans Brothers, who at once placed a stock of goods on the shelves and commenced doing busi- ness; they, however, only remained four months when they removed to Owatonna. It was after- wards rented to various parties who continued the business until it finally became the property of the present proprietors, Osmund Osmundson and Mr. Hegnes. A large stock of general merchandise is kept, and the store is of great convenience to the surrounding neighborhood, as they keep good articles and sell at reasonable prices.
Another store was erected in 1880, on the north- east quarter of section twenty-three, by Henry Knopf. It was well stocked, and opened on the 7th of July the same year, being still run by the original proprietor.
BLACKSMITHING.
The first blacksmith shop in the town was in 1854, on the northeastern part of section three, by Elef Trulson, who also carried on a farm in con- nection with his shop until 1872, when he sold out and moved to Kandiyohi county.
The town was then without a blacksmith until 1880, when George Knopf erected a shop in sec- tion thirteen and hired a man to run it, but in 1881, sold to William Friday, who is conducting it at the present time.
WHEELING MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY.
This is a local institution, the membership being made up of farmers, that was organized on the 13th of May, 1876, by the prominent men of the town. The following were the initial officers of the company: Trustees, Christian Deike, H. H. Kvi, M. Knopf, T. E. Bonde, Jolm J. Hamra, G. W. Grote, and Henry Bultmann; President, Chris- tian Deike; Treasurer, Michael Knopf; Secretary, T. E. Bonde. The amount of capital subscribed was $32,400. The rate of premium was fixed at three mills on a dollar, this, however, was raised in 1881 to five mills. No losses have yet been met, and the funds are drawing interest at six per cent.
Only farmers' risks are taken, and the territory embraced includes Wheeling, Northfield, Rich- land, Cannon City, and Holden, in Goodhue county. The secretary reports, in 1882, that there are sixty-five policies in force, insuring $112,592. The officers receive $1.50 per day for actual work. The experiment thus far has been a great suc- cess.
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HISTORY OF RICE COUNTY.
POST-OFFICES.
WHEELING P. O .- This office was establishad in 1860, or '61, and named Wheeling in honor of the town. Rev. Sebastian Weiss was first ap- poiuted Postmaster, and kept the office at the par- sonage. Jacob J. Bosshart was the mail carrier, coming once a week from Faribault, and he suc- ceeded the former Postmaster. John B. Berges is the present mail distributor, with office at the parsonage. Mail arrives three times a week, from Faribault.
NESTRAND P. O .- Was established in 1878, and Augen S. Brokke appointed Postmaster, the office being kept at the store on section fourteen. The office was named by Osmund Osmundson, in honor of his Post-office in Norway. Henry N. Hegnes is the present Postmaster, the office being kept at the same place. Mail arrives three times per week from Faribault.
RELIGIOUS.
Below we give a short sketch of the various church organizations in Wheeling township, and as nothing can be said in preface to them in re- gard to their condition and growth that would not be a duplicate of what should be said of all the religious departments of the various subdivisions of Rice county, it is best it should remain unsaid here and the reader allowed to judge for himself
LUTHERAN EVANGELICAL DENOMINATION .- The first services by the followers of this faith were held at the residence of John Oleson, on section six, the minister being Rev. Nils Brandt, and he, also held services in various places throughout the town. In 1856, a society was organized just over the line in Goodhue county, and the members in Wheeling attended there. On one occasion, on June 18th, 1858, a meeting was held by the above mentioned Reverend in Captain John Hanson's grove, on the southwest quarter of section eight, and thirty-three children were baptized. In 1866, the society erected a neat and commodious stone building on section three, in Wheeling. Rev. B. J. Mnus was the first minister, and Rev. N. A. Quammen the present pastor.
GERMAN METHODIST CHURCH .- The first meet- ings by this denomination were held in Jacob Blank's house on section twenty-two, Rev. Mr. Zollman being the first preacher. They organized in 1856, with F. Grochtenmire as preacher; he also organized a Sabbath school at Jacob Blank's house,
where it was held through the year 1856, and Mr. Grochtenmire preached one year. In 1857, he was succeeded by G. Siebrasse, and Rev. William Pagenhart is the present pastor. They held meet- ings in private houses until 1862, when they built their church on the northeast quarter of section twenty-five. The congregation is made up partly from Goodhue county. There are about fifty members and quite a large congregation.
GERMAN UNITED CHURCH. This was organized in 1856, as a part of the Northwestern Conference, and in the spring of 1857, they erected a small log church on the northeastern part of section twenty-eight. At the conference held that fall, Rev. August Bremer was appointed as pastor. He retained the charge for about two years, and then for a like period they were without a ministerial agent. At this time Rev. Sebastian Weiss took the charge and remained about six years when he was succeeded by Rev. Samuel Lang, who held until the present pastor, Rev. John D. Berges, took the pulpit. When first organized there were about eighteen members, which has increased to sixty- five. In the fall of 1869, the log church was burned, and in 1870, a stone edifice was erected on the old site, at a cost of about $5,000.
SALEM CHURCH .-- This congregation belongs to the Evangelical Association of North America. The first services by this society were held in Paul Wolf's house on section fourteen, in 1856, with Rev. Andreas Turnutzer as the officiating minister. The preacher came from St. Paul on horseback. The society continued to hold meetings in private houses until 1861, when they erected their neat and substantial edifice on section twenty-four. Rev. Mr. Hammetter, was the first preacher to ex- pound the sacred word in the church. There are now ninety members, many being from the ad- joining county of Goodhne, and Rev. Julius J. Manthay is the present pastor.
EDUCATIONAL.
DISTRICT No. 61 .- This district was organized in 1860, and a schoolhouse put up the same year on section fourteen. This was a frame build- ing and served a good purpose until 1876, when a brick building was constructed on the old site.
DISTRICT No. 72 .- An organization was effected in 1867, and a schoolhouse erected on section thirty-one. This is a union district extending into Richland.
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