USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. I > Part 72
USA > Minnesota > Steele County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. I > Part 72
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By the apportionment of 1872, the state was divided into three congressional districts. The first district contained the counties of Winona, Houston, Olmsted, Fillmore, Dodge, Steele, Mower, Freeborn, Waseca, Faribault, Blue Earth, Watonwan, Martin, Jackson, Cottonwood, Murray, Nobles, Pipeatone and Rock.
By the apportionment of 1881, the state was divided into five congressional districts. The first district contained the counties of Houston, Fillmore, Mower, Freeborn, Steele, Dodge, Olmsted, Winona and Wabasha.
By the apportionment of 1891, the state was divided into seven congressional districts. The first district contained the counties of Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Mower, Olm- sted, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca and Winona.
By the apportionment of 1901, the state was divided into nine congressional districts. This apportionment has continued to the present day. The first district now consists of the counties of Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Steele. Wabasha, Waseca and Winona.
CHAPTER VI.
TOWNSHIP HISTORY.
Organization and Original Boundaries of Steele County Town- ships-Medford Township-Clinton Falls Township-Owa- tonna Township-Havana Township-Somerset Township -Merton Township-Deerfield Township-Meriden Town- ship - Lemond Township - Berlin Township - Summit Township-Blooming Prairie Township-Aurora Township -First Settlement and Early Events-Present Officers.
When Steele county was organized in August, 1855, as has already been stated, it embraced all of the territory now forming Waseca county and the two western tiers of townships now included in Steele. On the first day of August, 1855, the board of county commissioners met for the first time, and their first work was to divide the county into townships, or precincts, as they were then called. The territory which now comprises Waseca county was divided into two townships-Swavesey and Le Sueur. Only one township was created in what is now Steele county. This was named Owatonna. It embraced all of the county as it was then formed, or all of the present county except the east tier of townships-Merton, Havana, Aurora and Bloom- ing Prairie, which then formed a part of Dodge county. In Owatonna township it was ordered that the first township meet- ing should be held at the schoolhouse in Owatonna, and Dexter Carlton, Obed Gaines and Leonard F. Case were appointed judges of the first election.
On August 25, 1855, Medford township was created, com- prising the territory now included in the townships of Medford, Clinton Falls and Deerfield (town 108, ranges 20 and 21), which had been included up to that time in Owatonna township. The first meeting was to be held at the house of William Colling, "on the west side of the road leading to Owatonna," and F. F. Adams, William Allen and Orlando Bartholomew were appointed judges of the first election.
In this shape the county remained until the meeting of the board on April 7, 1856, when, in addition to several changes being made in the territory now comprising Waseca county, Franklin township was created, embracing township 108, range 19, and the east half of township 108, range 20-thus taking
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eighteen sections from Medford township. It was also ordered that Owatonna township should comprise all of the county south from the township line between townships 107 and 108-the south three-fourths of the county. Officers were appointed as follows: Owatonna township, Hiram Robinson, constable, and Philo Sanford, Parker Carlton and Luther Huntly, judges of election. Franklin township, Sylvester McNitt, justice of the peace ; F. Newland, constable; William Allen and G. O. Hanker- son, judges of election-first election to be held at the house of Sylvester McNitt. In Medford township, Rev. O. A. Thomas, Isaac Sanborn and Smith Johnson were selected as judges of the first clection, which it was provided should be held at the house of William Finch.
Thus the county remained for about one year, or until April 6, 1857, when a general rearrangement was made and every con- gressional or government township in the county was set off and given a name as a civil township. In the meantime, in February, 1856, the eastern tier of townships (range 19) had been set off from Dodge and annexed to Steele; and, on February 27, 1857, the legislature passed an act creating Waseca county of the west half of what then formed Stecle county. These changes arranged county lines as they are at the present time. The following is a list of the townships created at that time, and the officers appointed to attend to the organization of each.
Owatonna embraced township 107, range 20. George W. Green, P. P. Carlton and James F. Hall were made judges of election and J. W. Burch and Hiram Robinson, constables.
Medford was organized of township 108, range 20. W. W. Wilkins, Smith Johnson, Jr., and W. W. Finch were appointed judges of election; Charles Jones, constable, and Orlando Bar- tholomew, supervisor of roads. The house of Smith Johnson, at Medford, was designated as the place for holding the first election.
Union Prairie embraced township 108, range 19. John Col- burn, C. WV. Curtis and M. J. Kimball were appointed judges of election ; C. W. Curtis, justice of the peace, and John A. Pierce, road supervisor. The first town meeting was ordered held at the house of C. W. Curtis.
Somerset was comprised of township 106, range 20. The house of Thomas Kenyon was designated as the place for hold- ing the first township meeting, and T. C. S. Minthorn, Orlando Lebarr and T. J. Clark were appointed judges of the first election.
Meriden embraced township 107, range 21, as at the present day. Ashley C. Harris, E. Ash and H. S. Clement were ap- pointed judges of election; William Webster and M. T. C. Flowers to some office not mentioned in the records; Danicl
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Poole and J. L. Greene, constables; William Webster, Christo- pher Walker and Ashley C. Harris, road supervisors. The house of William Webster was selected as the place for holding the first election.
Deerfield was formed of township 108, range 21. Washing- ton Morse's house was designated as the place for holding the first township election. The officers appointed were as follows : D. H. McQuestion, Isaac Coe and Washington Morse, judges of election ; Washington Morse and Charles Burch, justices of the peace; Elias F. Hobough and Benjamin Gypson, constables, and D. H. McQuestion, road supervisor.
Township 107, range 19, now known as Havana, was then given the name of Lafayette. Robert Adair, Charles McCarty and George Dennis were appointed judges of election; Elisha Eldred and Newton Parker, justices of the peace; WV. Hammond and Hugh Burns, constables, and James M. Soper, road super- visor.
Aurora embraced township 106, range 19. Amos Coggswell, George W. Grimshaw and Stephen Sargent were appointed judges of election, and George W. Grimshaw, road supervisor. The house of A. B. Clark was selected as the place for holding the first township election.
Berlin was organized embracing township 105, range 21. M. Warren, Charles Brown and Ashbell Ingerson were appointed judges of election; M. B. Winchell, constable, and Lewis B. Tilden, road supervisor. The house of Hiram Pitcher was des- ignated as the place for holding the first election.
Summit embraced township 105, range 20. The place for holding the first election was designated as the house of George WV. Knapp. Thomas Bennett, George W. Knapp and John Aldrich were appointed judges of election; George W. Knapp, justice of the peace, and Thomas Bennett, road supervisor.
Lemond township was formed of township 106, range 21. William Parcher, Sandford Kinney and C. B. Coon were ap- pointed judges of the first election; William Parcher, justice of the peace; Jerome B. Coon, constable, and E. D. Teed, road supervisor. Twiford Mills was the place designated for holding the first election.
Township 105, range 19, was set off at this time as Oak Glen, but this was not organized until some time later.
It seems as though this division of townships was. from some cause, incomplete or illegal, for in April, 1858, the board of county commissioners again took up the matter. The record states that "an act of the legislature, directing the division of counties into townships, and for the purpose of township organi- zation, having been brought to the notice of the board, it is
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ordered that Steele county be reorganized into townships." By their action at that time Oak Glen township was attached to Aurora, and Medford township was divided by the organization of the south half of township 108, range 20, under the name of Clinton Falls, leaving both Medford and Clinton Falls townships as they remain today. This, it was stated, "was in accordance with the unanimous request of the legal voters of Clinton Falls by petition, verified by the affidavit of George W. Green." Aside from these alterations, the townships remained as they had been previously set off.
In September, 1858, the name of Lafayette township was changed to Freeman. At the same time the state auditor noti- fied the board of county commissioners that the name of Berlin should be changed, as there was another township of that name in the state, but the board answered that it was the unanimous wish of the citizens to retain the name on account of having a postoffice of the same name, and it was therefore allowed to stand. On September 11, the name of Union Prairie township was changed to Orion in accordance with the vote of the citizens.
On October 13, 1858, the name of Freeman township was changed to Dover, as there was already a township of that name in the state.
No further change in the townships took place until January, 1862, when the name of Orion was changed to Lyon and almost immediately changed to Merton, which it still bears.
In March, 1867, authority was given for the organization of Oak Glen, which had been connected with Aurora.
In 1869 the name of Dover township was changed to Havana, under which name it has since remained.
In January, 1873, the name of township 105, range 19, was changed from Oak Glen to Blooming Prairie.
This completes the history of the changes of boundaries of the townships in Steele county. In the various township his- tories will be found the detailed history of their organization. All these changes have finally brought the townships of the county to the shape in which we now find them. The follow- ing table will show the territory embraced by the various town- ships, summing up the changes traced above: Merton, town- ship 108, range 19; Medford, north half of township 108, range 20; Clinton Falls, south half of township 108, range 20: Deer- field, township 108, range 21; Meriden, township 107, range 21 ; Owatonna, township 107, range 20; Havana, township 107, range 19; Aurora, township 106, range 19; Somerset, township 106, range 20; Lemond, township 106, range 21; Berlin, township 105, range 21: Summit, township 105, range 20: Blooming Prairie, township 105, range 19.
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The following summary contains the history of the town- ship boundaries and names in Steele county :
Owatonna township. As organized, August 1, 1855, this county contained the present townships of Medford, Clinton Falls, Deerfield, Meriden, Somerset, Lemond, Berlin, Summit, Blooming Prairie and Owatonna. As changed, August 7, 1856, the boundaries included the present townships of Owatonna, Somerset, Summit, Meriden, Lemond, Berlin, Havana, Aurora and Blooming Prairie. February 27, 1857, the township assumed its present boundaries.
Medford township. As organized August 25, 1855, this town- ship contained the present townships of Medford, Clinton Falls and Deerfield. With the creation of Franklin county all of the present township of Deerfield and the west half of the present townships of Medford and Clinton Falls remained in this town- ship. As defined February 27, 1857, Medford included all the present townships of Medford and Clinton Falls. In April, 1858, Clinton Falls was set off, and Medford assumed its present boundaries.
Franklin county was created August 7, 1856, and included the present township of Merton and the west half of the present townships of Medford and Clinton Falls. At the reorganization of the townships February 27, 1857, Franklin, as a township name in this county, passed into oblivion.
Oak Glen township was set off February 27, 1857, but not organized. In April, 1858, it was attached to Aurora township. In March, 1867, the township was organized and in January, 1873, the name was changed to Blooming Prairie township.
Blooming Prairie township. See above.
Clinton Falls was organized in April, 1858, with its present boundaries.
Lemond township was organized with its present boun- daries February 27, 1857.
Union Prairie township, with the present boundaries of Mer- ton, was organized February 27, 1857. September 11, 1858, the name was changed to Orion. In January. 1862, the name was changed to Lyon and soon afterward to Merton.
Merton township. See above.
Orion township, now Merton. See above.
Lyon township, now Merton. See above.
Lafayette township was organized with the present boun- daries of Havana February 27, 1857. In September, 1858, the name was changed to Freeman ; October 13, 1858, to Dover, and in 1869 to Havana.
Freeman, now Havana. See above.
Dover, now Havana. See above.
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Aurora township was organized with its present boundaries February 17, 1857. In April, 1858, Oak Glen, now Blooming Prairie, was attached to Aurora, but in March, 1867, was set off and organized.
Somerset township was organized February 27, 1857.
Meriden township was organized February 27, 1857.
Deerfield township was organized February 27, 1857.
Berlin township was organized February 27, 1857. Summit township was organized February 27, 1857.
MEDFORD TOWNSHIP.
Medford township is one of the smallest in the county, con- taining only eighteen sections of land, the north half of town- ship 108, range 20. It is bounded on the north by Rice county ; on the east by Merton township; on the south by Clinton Falls, and on the west by Deerfield. The Straight river passes through the township, just west of the center, on its way northward, and several tributary creeks join it in this township. About one-half of the surface of the township was originally covered with tim- ber, nearly all of the land on the east side of the river having been covered with a heavy growth of fine timber for lumber or fuel. Many fine farms have replaced much of the timber, and the prairie lands are dotted with the fine buildings of the many thrifty farmers. The soil of the original timber land is of a black sandy loam, very deep, with a clay subsoil, adapted to all kinds of cereals or vegetables. On the west side of the river the soil is of a lighter loam, but is also very productive.
The first settlement within the present limits of Steele county was made in Medford township. The first claims were made in the summer of 1853 by A. L. Wright, Chauncey Lull, Smith and Orlando Johnson, and L. M. Howard, who staked off claims, and in September Mr. Howard turned over the first sod in what is now Stcele county. The Messrs. Johnson commenced breaking on their claims that fall, but did not build their house or remove their families to this place until the following spring.
A. L. Wright took a claim on what afterward became section 5, in Medford township, and then returned to St. Paul. In Scp- tember of the same year he hired a team and came back, accom- panied by Chauncey Lull, and then erected a cabin on the claim. This was undoubtedly the first house put up within the limits of the county. In this cabin Messrs. Wright and Lull spent the winter, keeping "batch." There were no other whites in the county, but a band of Indians were in winter quarters within 160 rods of the cabin. This was the extent of the settlement during the year 1853.
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During the year 1854 a number of additions were made to the settlement. Those who came were: W. W. Wilkins, William Allen, John Sanborn, William K. Colling, Edwin Drake, Orlando Bartholomew and David Sanborn.
William Allen settled on section 10. He remained there for nearly twenty years, then removed to St. Paul. John Sanborn came with his family early in the spring of 1854 and located on section 16, Mrs. Sanborn, it is claimed, being the first white woman resident of the county. Mr. Sanborn remained for about fourteen years and finally removed to Missouri, where he died. William K. Colling was an Englishman. He located and selected government land, building a house near where the elevator was later erected in the village of Medford. He remained here for seven or eight years and finally returned to England. Edwin Drake located upon what was afterward a portion of the village plat, where he lived until the time of his death, which occurred in 1886. Sylvester Gillman, in April of this year (1854), settled upon section 33 of Walcott township, Rice county, just over the county line, where he lived for over twenty years. Orlando Bar- tholomew made a claim on section 8. He remained there until the time of his death in 1878. David Sanborn came this year, but first located in what is now the town of Clinton Falls. About fif- teen years later he settled in Medford, finally removing to Owa- tonna, where he died in March, 1885.
In 1855 the settlement continued rapidly. The following were the arrivals during that year: G. O. Hankerson, Isaac and Jacob Heath, S. M. Freeman, A. Ring, L. Muckey, William Reynolds, Charles Jones, Joel Pound, F. B. Davis, J. Shaw, George Strong, Benjamin Freeman, James McDonald, Charles Jones, A. L. Kinyon, Mr. Cotton, Robert McDonald, Charles Strong and Luther Lane.
Lorenzo Muckey settled on section 14, where he remained until 1885, when he sold out and removed to Montana. William Reynolds located on section 11 and remained there for about sixteen years, when he removed to St. Paul, then to Alma City, and finally settled in Owatonna.
Charles Jones made his home on section 10. After living there until 1883, he removed to the Mouse river country, in Dakota. Joel Pound selected his piece of land on section 11, and remained there until the time of his death in 1865. F. B. Davis also located on section 12. After a residence of some fif- teen years here he removed to Meriden, and from there went to Watertown, Dakota. J. Shaw settled upon a claim on section 12. When the war broke out he enlisted and remained in the service until his death in 1864. George Strong selected a claim on section 11 and remained there for nearly twenty years, when
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he removed to Merton. Later he returned to Medford town- ship and died in March, 1880. S. M. Freeman first settled on section 13, and remained there some ten years. In the meantime, when the war broke out, he enlisted in the 10th Minnesota Vol- unteer Infantry, and was discharged in 1864. After coming back he farmed it one season and then moved to Medford village. James McDonald located on section 12. About ten years later he sold to J. Pike and removed to Merton township. Charles Jones settled on section 10. He remained there for about twenty years, then sold his place and rented farms until 1883, when he removed to the Mouse river country, in Dakota. A. L. Kinyon settled on section 2. A few years later he sold out and went to Iowa. Mr. Cotton selected a claim in the northern part of the town, but only remained a few years. Robert McDonald lived with his brother on section 12, and later removed to Merton township. Charles Strong took a claim on section 14. Luther Lake settled on section 4, remained there till 1880, and then located in Medford village.
In 1856 the settlement was again increased by a large num- ber of arrivals, and about all the remaining government land was taken. Among those who came this year were: Samuel Ring, William Robinson, W. N. Abbott, W. L. Abbott, Joseph Sawyer, Zacharias Scribner, Charles Scribner, Benjamin Livingstone, B. F. Melvin, W. P. Bissell, R. G. Lincoln and Richard and Clancy Carpenter.
Samuel Ring settled on section 12 and remained there until the time of his death in 1885. The Richardsons located on sec- tion 1. W. N. and M. L. Abbott settled on section 9. W. N. remained there until the spring of 1887, when he moved to Lin- coln, Neb. M. L. Abbott remained here until the fall of 1869, when he removed to Tennessee. Joseph Sawyer first located on section 17. He died at Owatonna in August, 1886. Zacharias Scribner located on sections 8 and 9, and lived there until 1863, when he moved to Faribault, and in 1866 to Waterville, Minn. Charles Scribner remained here until the time of his death in 1867. Benjamin Livingston remained here until 1866, when hic went to Faribault. B. F. Melvin settled on section 9. He was later clected county treasurer and removed to Owatonna, where he remained until the time of his death in 1880. W. P. Bissell located on section 9.
The first house in the township was that erected by A. L. Wright and Chauncey Lull in the fall of 1853. The first birth in the township was that of William Colling, a son of Mr. and Mrs. W. K. Colling. The first marriage of residents of the town- ship was that of A. L. Wright and Phoebe Hayes. The ceremony was performed in Rice county. The first death was that of
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William Wohlford, which occurred July 29, 1859. The remains were buried in what is now known as Wolcott and Medford Union cemetery.
When Steele county was organized, August 1, 1855, all the territory in the west two-thirds of the county was organized as Owatonna township, which included what is now Medford. On the twenty-ninth of the same month, however, Medford town- ship was created by the board of county commissioners and then included what is now known as Medford, Clinton Falls and Deerfield townships. It was ordered that the first town meeting be held at the house of William Colling, and F. F. Adams, Orlando Bartholomew and William Allen were appointed judges of the first election. On April 7, 1856, the records state that Franklin township was organized of township 108, range 19, and the east half of township 108, range 20-which would take off the east half of what is now Medford and Clinton Falls town- ship. Many of the old settlers claim that this is a mistake, yet it so appears in the records of the board of county commissioners. On April 6, 1857, a change of boundaries was made, and Med- ford was made to include the territory now forming Medford and Clinton Falls townships. Thus it remained until April 6, 1858, when Clinton Falls township was set off, leaving the boundaries of Medford township as they still remain. The organization of the township as it is now formed was not fully perfected May 11, 1858, when a complete list of township officers was elected, as follows: F. B. Davis, J. D. Sanborn and O. Bartholomew, super- visors; A. O. Francis, clerk; W. P. Francis, assessor; Edwin Drake, treasurer ; E. Sanborn, overseer of the poor; K. Prescott and Joel L. Pound, justices of the peace.
Among others who were prominent in township affairs in early days and who held leading offices were : B. F. Melvin, W. F. Lewis, Orrin Lee, W. P. Bissell, W. W. Wilkins, R. Miles and Charles Pomeroy.
Religious services were held here as early as 1854. William Colling, a man of real practical piety, though not an ordained minister, frequently gathered his neighbors together and ex- plained the Scriptures. Bishop Whipple held services at Mr. Colling's house in 1857, when a child was christened.
The Walcott and Medford Union cemetery was first used for burial purposes in 1855, but was not platted until about the close of the war.
In 1863 a special town meeting was called to vote on the proposition to purchase the schoolhouse on the west side of the river for a "town hall," but the project failed, and in 1867 the building was bought by the Free Will Baptist society and
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removed to the cast side of the river and fitted up for a church, which, by arrangement with other denominations, was afterward used as a union church.
In 1862, at the time of the Indian massacres on the frontier, the people of Medford became somewhat excited in regard to their own safety, and the town appropriated $5 to buy powder. For some time pickets were stationed about the town, but as the Indians never came the powder was finally burned to celebrate the fall of Richmond or the capture of Jeff Davis.
Medford village is treated of elsewhere.
CLINTON FALLS TOWNSHIP.
Clinton Falls township embraces the south half of township 108, range 20 west of the fifth principal meridian. Medford town- ship lies contiguous on the north, Merton joins it on the east. while on the south and west it is bounded, respectively, by Owa- tonna and Deerfield townships. Straight river crosses the town- ship from south to north, passing through very near the center east and west, while Crane creek touches the northwest corner of the township on its way to its junction with the Straight river at Medford. The river is skirted by a moderately heavy growth of timber-an abundance to supply the township with material for fuel and fencing for centuries. Back from the river the surface varies, occasionally oak openings and again beautifully rolling prairie. The soil is rich and productive, and Clinton Falls town- ship is the home of many of the wealthy and most prosperous citizens of the county.
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