USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. I > Part 73
USA > Minnesota > Steele County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. I > Part 73
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The first settlement within the present limits of Clinton Falls township was made by A. W. and F. F. Adams, in 1854, on sections 28 and 33, where, in November of that year, A. W. Adams erected the first log cabin in the township. In the pre- ceding spring (1854) Dr. Finch, W. W. Arnold and James Huginan had been here and selected claims, but they at once returned to St. Paul. Messrs. Adams first came in August, but returned to St. Paul and did not get back here until in November. Section lines were surveyed in September of that year.
The other settlers who came during the same fall (1854) were as follows: Francis F. Adams settled on section 28, where he lived for three or four years, and then returned to Massachu- setts. W. W. Arnold came and selected a claim. D. Sanborn took a claim on section 21, and lived there for a number of years, taking an active part in public matters. He moved from this township to Medford, and from there to Owatonna, where he lived until the time of his death in 1885. F. Wilbur Fisk also
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came in 1854 and claimed government land on sections 23 and 24, where he laid out a village called "Elwood," platting the south- west quarter of the northwest quarter of section 24. Mr. Fisk was a well known character in carly times. He remained in the county until the time of his death, which occurred at Medford.
In the spring of 1855 there were a number of arrivals, among them being the following: F. L. Judd selected a claim on sec- tion 33, built his cabin and returned to Ohio in the fall of 1855; there he was married and the following year he brought his wife to his Minnesota home. He remained in the township until the fall of 1859, when he returned to Ohio.
Fletcher Du Bois selected a claim in the timber on section 27, but afterward traded with Judd for a prairie farm on section 32, where he lived until the time of his death, which occurred three or four years later. His remains were taken back to his former home in the state of New York.
Samuel and Isaac Morrison took up their claims in the west- ern part of the township. Their father, Daniel Morrison, came in the fall of the same year with his wife and family. He died the following spring (1856), this being the first death in the township. His remains were interred in the cemetery at Clinton Falls.
Sylvester McNitt came in 1855, and located on section 24. He remained here for many years and finally removed to Owatonna. R. R. Stout settled on section 24 in 1855, and remained there until the fall of 1885, when he returned to his former home in Indiana. In May, 1856, Rev. O. A. Thomas took a claim and settled on section 29. He remained there some eight or nine years and then returned to Michigan, but later went to the Pa- cific coast. He was a Congregational preacher, and an able and prominent man in early days. The settlement was rapid all through 1856. Among others who came were: James Finch and family, William, Samuel and Nathan Williamson, Charles Dem- ing and Moses Hutchinson.
The first building in the township was A. W. Adams' log cabin, erected in November, 1854. The first frame building was erected by William Williamson in 1856.
The first birth in this township was also one of the first births in Steele county. It occurred April 7, 1885, and was that of Frank W. Adams, son of A. W. Adams, the first settler of the township. The first marriage in the township-and in the county -- was that of William Williamson to Lucretia Finch. The cere- mony was performed by Elder O. A. Thomas, at the house of James Finch, the event taking place in the fall of 1856. The first death in the township was that of Daniel Morrison, which occurred in March, 1856. He was buried in the cemetery at
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Clinton Falls. A. W. Adams broke the first ground in the township.
When Steele county was organized, in the summer of 1855, the territory which now forms Clinton Falls township became a part of Owatonna township, which then embraced all of town- ships 105, 106, 107, 108, in ranges 20 and 21. This arrangement was made on August 1, 1855. On the 25th of the same month, however, Medford township was created, including township 108, ranges 20 and 21, thus including what is now Clinton Falls. On April 7, 1856, the township of Franklin was created, and it appears from the records that this embraced the east half of what is now Medford and Clinton Falls. This is claimed to be a mistake, yet the records so show it.
On April 6, 1857, a rearrangement of the county took place, and township 108, range 21, was set off as Medford. It remained in this shape until April 6, 1858, when Clinton Falls township was created, embracing the south half of township 108, range 20, the same territory which it now includes.
The organization of the township was perfected on May 11, 1858, when the first town meeting was held at the "Clinton House," and a full list of township officers was elected as fol- lows: Supervisors, George W. Green, chairman, R. R. Stout and A. W. Adams; clerk, George E. Rex; assessor, B. L. Deming ; collector, Charles M. Williamson; overseer of the poor, S. Mc- Nitt ; justices of the peace, D. Sanborn and F. W. Fisk ; constable, W. Barnhardt.
Among others who in early days were prominent in town- ship matters were: W. W. Finch, J. W. Morrison, N. Parker, D. S. Kimball, J. M. Finch, G. W. Knapp, C. M. Houston, David Howe, T. B. Chase and A. C. Finch.
The first school at Clinton Falls was taught in the summer of 1856, in a board shanty on the farm of Dr. Finch, by Mary Morrison, afterward Mrs. Charles Williamson.
The first frame schoolhouse in the township was erected in the village in the spring of 1857, and was built by subscription. The lot which it occupied was donated by Dr. Finch, on condi- tion that it was always to be open for religious services and moral entertainments. In the spring of 1865 an addition was made to the schoolhouse in Clinton Falls village, and O. T. Otis, of Wisconsin, was engaged to teach a high school here. It was very successful; scholars attended from all parts of the county, and for several years it was the most advanced and thor- ough educational institution in the county ; but after the high schools in Owatonna were established this again became a com- mon school.
Clinton Falls village receives attention elsewhere in this work.
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OWATONNA TOWNSHIP.
To a great extent the carly history of Owatonna township is identical with that of the city The township includes ter- ritory in township 107, range 20, but the incorporate limits of the city embrace nine sections of land in this congressional township, leaving only twenty-seven sections for the civil town- ship. Straight river traverses the township from south to north, and is skirted by a moderately heavy body of timber. The land, away from the region of the river, is made up generally of oak openings and rolling prairie, dotted with schools and residences, and diversified by the many groves which have been grown by the thrifty settlers.
The first settlement within the present limits of this town- ship was made in the fall of 1854, by A. B. Cornell and W. F. Pettit, who located within the present limits of Owatonna city. G. W. Green, J. W. Park and S. B. Smith also came the same fall and winter. All these parties receive extended notice else- where.
During the year 1855 the following named came and made homes in this township, or near by: Addison Phelps, Nelson Morehouse, E. M. Morehouse, Alson Selleck, Joel Wilson, B. L. Arnold, Dexter and Parker Carlton, N. Winship, John Wilcox, two of the Schimeks, David Lindersmith, Leonard and Simeon Case, Bazil Meek, Obed Gaines, Miner Prisbey, Adolphus Gown, E. Reed. Lucius Lewis, Philo Sanford, Charles Ellison, John Hand. Ezra Abbott, C. G. Hayes, John Hoon and a man named Ward. Many of these parties brought their families with them, and at once selected claims and began making homes. The city history in another chapter details the growth in business matters.
In 1856 the following named all came and settled in this township: J. W. Morford, J. G. Morford, G. W. Morford, Dr. Harsha and John Odell. Besides these, a few others located in the southern portion of the township. After this the settle- ment continued gradually until all of the government land in the township was taken.
The first white child born in this township was also the first born in Steele county. It was a son of Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Green, born April 6, 1855, and was named George K. Dr. W. W. Finch was the attending physician. The first death in the town- ship occurred in August, or September, 1855, and was a child of Miner Prisbey's. The remains were interred in the cemetery north of town. The first marriage took place in the summer of 1855, the parties being John Wilcox and Clara Brooks. They were married at Faribault, by Elder Town. The event was heartily celebrated by the young people in the settlement. The
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first building erected in the township was A. B. Cornell's log cabin.
When Steele county was organized, in the summer of 1855, it included all of the present county of Waseca and the two western tiers of townships now forming Steele. On August 1, 1855, the board of county commissioners organized Owatonna township, embracing all of the west two-thirds of Steele county, as it is now formed. August 25, 1855, Medford township was organized, leaving Owatonna six congressional townships. April 6, 1857, the balance of the government townships were organized civily, and Owatonna was left in the shape in which it has since remained. In the spring of 1858 the matter was readjusted to make it conform to a change in the law.
Owatonna City receives attention elsewhere in this work.
HAVANA TOWNSHIP.
Havana Township forms one of Steele county's eastern tier of townships. It is bounded on the east by Dodge county, on the north by Merton township, on the west by Owatonna, and on the south by Aurora. Rice lake covers a considerable area of land in the northwestern part of the township, and Maple creek flows from the lake to the Straight river, crossing the northern tier of sections. Quite a body of timber is found in the region of the lake and stream; but, aside from this, the township is made up of prairie and oak openings. Havana is among the wealthiest and most prosperous localities in Steele county, and is the home of many substantial and well-to-do farmers. The surface of the township is diversified by the many groves which have been set out by the thrifty settlers, and is dotted with fine buildings, schools and churches.
The first settlement within the limits now comprising Havana township was made during the year 1855. John and Robert Adair located in the northwestern portion of this township in July, 1855. Among others who settled here during the same year were Charles McCarty, William Burns, Robert Page, George Squires, George Baird and Mr. Johnson.
In 1856 the following named arrived and selected homes in this township: Mr. Sherman. George Dennis, William Ellis, Agrim Johnson, Andrew Thompson, Ole Johnson, L. K. John- son, Newton Parker, James Soper, Mr. McCaslin, N. Easton, Silas Enston, J. and Elisha Eldridge, Ole Hoggenson, Daniel Potter. J. Nelson and others. Among many others who came at an early day and should be mentioned are the following, who settled here in 1857 and 1858, although it has been impossible to learn their initials, or how their names were spelled: Messrs.
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Conway, Bloom, Ewer, Brehmer, McNary, Hammond, Jones and D. C. Tiffany.
The first death in the township was that of Mrs. Newton Parker, which occurred in November, 1856. The funeral ser- mon was preached by Rev. Mr. Wetzel, and it is believed that this was the first religious service held in the township. The first birth that occurred in the township was that of Esther Adair, a daughter of Robert Adair. This took place in October, 1855. The first marriage was that of Frank Hickok to Eliza- beth McCaslin, in the fall of 1857. D. C. Tiffany, a justice of the peace, performed the ceremony. The first school in the township was taught in the summer of 1857 by Elizabeth Mc- Caslin.
When Steele county was organized, in August, 1855, all of the territory which now comprises the eastern tier of townships belonged to Dodge county. Early in 1856 a change was made in county lines and this tier of townships became a portion of Steele county. On April 6, 1857, the territory which now com- prises Havana (township 107, range 19) was set off and named Lafayette township by the board of county commissioners, and its organization was authorized. In September, 1858, the name of the township was changed to Freeman, but in October of the same year the name was again changed, this time to Dover. Thus it remained until 1869, when the present name, "Havana," was given to supersede Dover.
SOMERSET TOWNSHIP.
Somerset Township embraces congressional township 106, range 20. It is bounded on the north by the township of Owa- tonna, on the east by Aurora, on the south by Summit and on the west by Lemond. Straight river traverses the western por- tion of the township and Turtle creek flows across the northern portion. The river is fringed by a moderately heavy belt of timber, and heavy timber extends from Turtle creek northward. Originally about all of the township was made up of timber and oak openings. The timber is composed mainly of oak, poplar, black oak, and a little black walnut. The soil is generally a black loam, which is rich and fertile and very productive, being well adapted for raising all the cereals common to this latitude.
The earliest settlement in Somerset of which we can find any trace was made in 1855 by Thomas Thompson, who located on section 1. He remained here until 1881, when he removed to near Fargo. He erected the first log cabin in the township, and was the only settler who came that year.
In 1856-on May 27-three brothers, Levi, William and
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Albert Bailey, came, and Levi took his claim on June 1. Dur- ing the same year the following named all came: Jesse Healey, William B. Higgins, Jacob J. Harris, Thomas Kenyon, E. Lagro, Joseph Irvin, Dexter Smith, O. Fisher, Charles Dunster, J. Leslie, Cornelius Dunham, Mr. Hartshorn, Samuel Greenwood, C. Bor- chart, Phelps Case, William Case, George Vincent, Gilbert Gross, Calvin Gross, Oscar Gross, Daniel Gross, Elias Hahn, T. J. Clark, O. A. Barnes, David Barnes, Henry and John Catlin, Charles Ellison, Charles R. Knowlton, John A. Knowlton, War- ren Fisher, James E. Hughes, T. C. Minthorn and others.
Nearly all the settlers of that year in Somerset were natives of New York, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin or the New England states. The township filled up very rapidly and nearly all of the choice government land was taken during 1856.
The first marriage in the township occurred in July, 1858. The parties were Alexander Hissam and Rachel Bill. The first birth in the township was a daughter, Ellen, born to Mr. and Mrs. T. Jefferson Clark, in 1856. The second birth in the town- ship occurred on April 11, 1857, when John J. Healey, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Healey, was born. The first death in the township was that of Manna Case, which occurred in July, 1858. The first school was taught in the summer of 1856 by Phoebe Kenyon, in the attic of the residence of Dr. Thomas Kenyon, and by virtue of the elevated position of the room it was denomi- nated the "high school."
The first schoolhouse was erected in 1857, and Eliza Sawyer taught the first school in the house. The first postoffice in the township was established in 1857, with Dr. Thomas Kenyon as postmaster. It was then called Somerset postoffice. Many years ago the name of the office was changed to River Point, which it retained at the time it was discontinued by reason of the extension of the rural free delivery.
A postoffice was established a number of years ago under the name of Steele Center. This office was also abolished by the extension of the rural free delivery routes.
The former villages of Somerset and Elmira are noted else- where.
When Steele county was organized, in August, 1855, the ter- ritory which now forms Somerset became a part of Owatonna township. It remained in this connection until April 6, 1857, when the board of county commissioners set off and authorized the organization of Somerset. The aet was repeated in the spring of 1858. A complete organization was not effected until May 11, 1858, when a full list of officers was elected, including T. C. Minthorn, chairman of supervisors, and W. H. Sherman, town clerk. Among others who, in early days, were prominent
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in township affairs and held important township offices, were: Thomas Thompson, W. H. Sherman, J. W. Doolittle, Seth Hotchkiss, Thomas Kenyon, H. M. Bill, F. B. Doolittle, Augus- tus Theile, Dexter Smith, Phelps Case, Manley Curtis, Charles Ellison and John Anderson.
Dexter Smith, Esq., in 1868, wrote the following in regard to the history of this township: "The prevailing characteristics of the inhabitants are honesty, industry and independence in thought and deed. The medical profession was at one time represented by Drs. Thomas Kenyon and W. H. Twiford, but, owing to the 'alarming healthfulness' of this locality, their pill bags' were early consigned to the cabinet of antediluvian curiosities, and they took to farming as a more lucrative busi- ness. Dr. Twiford, however, afterward resumed practice. The legal profession has no representative ; the people have too much sense to spend their substance in litigation for the benefit of that fraternity.
"The pioneers in this town were without exception poor men, and suffered all the privations incident to the opening up of a new country. For several years our wardrobes and larders seldom contained anything but the absolute necessaries of life ; and I miglit cite you more than one case where, to 'keep the wolf from the door,' we subsisted ourselves and our little ones on forage only suited to the cattle on the hills. But in hope and faith and trust in the promises, and the vigorous strokes of our good right arms, we struggled on, and the seasons as they came and went never wholly failed to leave some token for the encouragement of renewed effort."
MERTON TOWNSHIP.
Merton Township forms the northeastern corner of Steele county, being composed of township 108, range 19. It is bounded on the north by Rice county, on the east by Dodge county, on the south by Havana township, and on the west by Medford and Clinton Falls. The soil is a rather light loam, with a clay subsoil on the low lands, and on the higher or rolling prairie a gravel or sandy subsoil. The suruface is mostly prairie, al- though there is a small patch of timber in the northern part. In the southern portion is a small amount of oak openings. Natural meadows are found on nearly every quarter-section, though the principal part of the land is entirely suited to agri- culture and produces the best quality of crops of all kinds, and the township is not surpassed by any other portion of the county in productiveness.
It is claimed that the first settlement in this township was
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made in 1855, by G. W. Dresser, who located in the southwestern portion of the township. Among others who came during the same year were the following: William and David Deets, Paul Williams, John Coburn, William Miller, J. W. Adams, David Casper, T. B. H. Brown, Thomas Hortop, Frederick Irwin, Andrew Reed and Lewmon G. Reed.
A number of additions were made to the settlement in 1856, among them being A. Wilson, Charles Baker, James Clark, Hugh Mooney, Mr. Andrew McAndrew, George Norton, E. P. Taylor, Thomas Stockwell, John Pierce, M. J. Kendall, L. E. Thompson, James Hurst, the Naylors, Oscar Searle, Mr. Deffenbacher, Daniel McNitt, Sydney Smith, Jr., Mr. Curtis and others. Among others who came at an early day were R. A. McDonald, Charles Wilson, Herman Purfeest, the Lane family, Henry Maw, John Trask and others.
The first birth in the township was that of Harriet Elizabeth, a daughter of Lewmon G. Reed and wife, who was born May 3, 1856. The first death was that of Sarah Jane (Reed) Irwin, who died November 1, 1856. Her remains were interred at what has since been known as Rice Lake cemetery. In 1862 that dreaded scourge of children, diphtheria, visited this township. The first death from it occurred in February, in the family of Oscar Searle, and two daughters, Alice and Marion, were taken away. A number of children soon followed, among them being Adelaide and Bertie, children of Henry Maw, and three from the family of Daniel McNitt.
The first school in the northern part of the township was taught in what was afterward known as the Rock schoolhouse. The first lady teacher in the eastern part of the township was Margaret Hunter. The school was held in Edward Naylor's house on section 26. Andrew J. Stickles was the second teacher in that district. In the summer of 1859-some time in June- considerable excitement was created in the settlement by the appearance of a large brown bear, which had made its way from the timber in the northwest part of the town and was probably on an exploring expedition. The settlers turned out en masse to give him a reception, and greeted him with pitch- forks and such other implements of warfare as could most readily be found, and after a weary march, in which the people under- took to keep up with his bearship, one sturdy farmer got a fair shot and killed him. In 1856 a Mr. Coburn opened a store in the northwest corner of the township and christened the village Dodge City, but the country was so sparsely settled he con- cluded that it would not pay and sold his stock to O. T. Jones. Mr. Jones kept the store but a short time and then closed it up.
When Steele county was organized in 1855, the eastern tier
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of townships as it is now formed was connected with Dodge county. It remained in this shape until February, 1856, when the legislature changed the county lines and Steele county was made to include this tier of townships. On April 6, 1857, the board of county commissioners set off township 108, range 19, and authorized its organization, giving it the name of Union Prairie. The organization, however, was not fully perfected until the spring of 1858. On September 11, 1857, the name was changed to Orion, and it thus remained until January, 1862, when it was given the name of Lyon; this, however, was almost immediately changed to Merton, which it still bears.
DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP.
Deerfield Township forms the northwest corner of Steele county, with Rice county on the north and Waseca on the west, while on the east it is bounded by the townships of Medford and Clinton Falls, and on the south by Meriden. It embraces all of congressional township 108, range 21, west, a total acreage of about 23,040 acres. Its location is very favorable in an agri- cultural point of view, being ten miles from the city of Faribault and only seven from Owatonna, with the village of Medford within three miles, which affords a market and freighting facili- ties. The southwest portion of the town finds an easy and con- venient market at Waseca, so that in almost any direction the people may find a market for all their grain and produce at a very short distance from their doors. The soil for the most part is a deep clay loam, rich and very fertile in the production of all the small grains. There is a good supply of timber for fuel and fencing purposes. In the south part of the town is a belt of timber, bordering on Crane creek, of about two miles in width, while it is but a short distance to the large timber belt of the Cannon and Straight rivers on the east and north.
The first settlement in Deerfield township was made about May 12, 1855, by Edward McCartney, who came from Elgin, Ill., with his family of wife and three children and a brother of his wife. He located on the northwest quarter of section 8 and remained for about two years, when he sold out and returned to Illinois. He soon came back to Minnesota and located at Morristown, in Rice county, but becoming discontented went to California, and after spending a time in the land of gold returned to Minnesota, sold his property and emigrated to Cass county, Nebraska. Other settlers soon followed Mr. McCartney into the town and a neighborhood was soon established. Within a year or so later, the following named all came and selected homes : Andrew Wertzler, Nicholas Stearns, Conrad Reineke, E. Cran-
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dall, John and James Condoh. E. J. Lilly, H. Hodgson, Arthur McMillen, John H. Morse, Washington Morse, Charles Birch, Mr. Austin, L. Anderson, E. I. Stocker, Shephard Moses and others.
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