USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. I > Part 74
USA > Minnesota > Steele County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. I > Part 74
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During the Indian outbreak in 1862 nearly all the citizens left the township for safety, but returned within a few days.
The first birth in the township was a daughter in the family of Mr. Hobaugh, who lived on section 26. This occurred in September, 1856. She was christened Caroline Hobaugh. The first death was that of a Miss Austin, a young lady of some seventeen or eighteen years of age. The first marriage in Deer- field township was that of Stephen Birch to Precilla Coe. The ceremony was performed in June, 1858, at the residence of the bride's father, by Washington Morse, a justice of the peace. Another early marriage was that of W. B. Evans to Frederica C. Williams, June 16, 1859, by 'Squire Morse.
The first school in the town was taught in the summer of 1857 by Elizabeth Hodgson. The first religious service in the township was held at the funeral of Mrs. Anderson and was conducted by Rev. Washington Morse, a minister of the Seventh- Day Advent creed.
The territory which now comprises Deerfield, when first as- sociated with an organized township, became a part of Owatonna township, which was created August 1, 1855, embracing all of the west two-thirds of Steele county as it is now formed. August 25. 1855, a change was made, creating Medford township, which included all of the present townships of Dcerfield. Clinton Falls and Medford. Thus it remained, so far as Deerfield was con- cerned, until April 6, 1857, when Deerfield township was created of township 108, range 21. It was reorganized, however, in the spring of 1858, and the organization has since been maintained.
MERIDEN TOWNSHIP.
Meriden Township is composed of township 107. range 21, forming one of the western tier of townships. It is bounded on the north by Deerfield township, on the south by Lemond town- ship, on the east by Owatonna township, and on the west by Waseca county. The surface of this township is wholly made up of a rolling prairie, interspersed with oak openings. Crane creek flows through the northern part, on its way to Straight river. The southern portion of the township was originally covered to some extent with oak openings, while the north and central portions are made up of as fine prairie land as can be found in the state.
The first settlement in this township, it is claimed, was made
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in June, 1855, by A. M. Fitzsimmons, who located on section 36. A. C. Harris also came during the same year and settled in the northeastern part of the township, where he still lives. Among others who came during that year and the year or two immediately following were: C. H. Wilker and family, including his sons, John H. and Conrad H. Wilker; Lysander House, Anton Shultz, William Shultz, Henry Abbe, William Mundt, John Drinking, F. J. Stevens, John Wuamett, Thomas Andrews, David House, A. F. Tracy and others. The settlement pro- gressed rapidly until all of the government land in the township was taken, and the early settlers here, as in other portions of the county, underwent many hardships and disadvantages.
The first birth in the township was that of a daughter of C. H. Wilker and wife, which occurred in March, 1856. The child grew up to womanhood, and is now Mrs. John Scholl- jerdes, of Lemond township. The first marriage in this neigh- borhood was that of W. T. Drum to Roxie Henshaw, which took place at the residence of Austin Vinton, just across the line in Waseca county, September 24, 1856, Rev. H. Chapin, of Owa- tonna, performing the ceremony. Oxen were used in conveying the guests to and from the party. Another early marriage, and probably the first within the limits of the township, was that of Daniel Root to Rebecca Williams.
The first death was that of Edwin House, which occurred May 3, 1858. It is thought that the next was that of Mr. Sim- mons, a son-in-law of Mr. Fitzsimmons, the first settler of the township. He was killed by lightning while sitting in his house, in the summer of 1858. Another early death was that of Andrew Cook. The first school in the township was taught in the sum- mer of 1857, by Miss Leroy, a daughter of Henry Leroy. One of the first schoolhouses in the township was erected in 1857 by the citizens on the northeast corner of section 10. At about the same time a log schoolhouse was built on section 30. The first religious service was held at the house of Mr. Wilker, in the sum- mer of 1857, by a German Methodist preacher.
When Steele county was organized in August, 1855, the terri- tory of which Meriden is now formed became a part of Owa- tonna township. It remained thus until April 6, 1857, when the board of county commissioners set off and authorized the organi- zation of township 107, range 21, as Meriden. The organiza- tion, however, was not fully perfected until the spring of 1858. Among those who were prominent in official matters in early days and who filled the most important of the township offices were: F. J. Stevens, A. F. Tracy, Samuel Reemsnyder, J. O. Waumett, T. P. Jackson. E. L. Scoville, W. F. Drum, W. T.
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Drown, Joseph Grandprey, Henry Leroy, E. L. Crosby, Robert Stevenson, L. G. Green.
LEMOND TOWNSHIP.
Lemond township is composed of township 106, range 21. It forms one of the western tier of Steele county's townships, being bounded on the west by Waseca county ; on the north by Meriden township; on the cast by Somerset, and on the south by Berlin. The soil here is about the same as characterizes the balance of the county-rich and fertile, and produces excellent crops. The surface of the township is well watered by numerous creeks and runs, and there are many fine farms here.
The first settlement in this township was made in 1856. During this year Samuel Thompson, John Thompson, W. F. Manson, Sandford Kinney, E. Teed and E. J., J. B. and E. B. Coon all selected homes. Messrs. Kinney and Coon sowed the first wheat in the township, in the spring of this year, on section 2. In 1857 a number of pioneers arrived and located in this township, among the number being Martin Hanson, Cornelius Moran, Henry Ludkins, Henry Mondt, Alvin Bragg, Neils John- son, Oscar Murphy, Samuel Hastings, James Reynolds, Peter Nelson, Mr. Brandenburg, E. Dampier, Mortimer Gould, Mr. Ketchum, J. M. Gibbons, Thomas Hughes, Mr. Hobbs, William Manson (who died here), Rnel Wilcox, William Parcher and Thomas Houston. In 1858 among those who came were Aaron S. Bragg, William Stover, Mr. Deffenbacher, Ira Richardson, Benjamin Wollet and others.
A man named Kipp came at about this time and bought one of the Coon claims on section 1 and remained a short time. In the year 1859 a few more came, but about all the government land had been taken, and the settlement from this time on pro- gressed slowly until after the close of the civil war. In 1857 Thomas Twiford put up a log building on section 12. put a dam across the river and set a sawmill to operating. He ran it about a year, when Mr. Hughes operated it for some time. Finally it ran down and the machinery was sold and moved away. A his- tory of Elmira village, which was laid out in this neighborhood. will be found elsewhere.
The first school in the township was taught by Stillman Kin- ney, in 1858, on section 2. HI. G. Mosher, who then lived in Waseca county, was one of the next teachers. The first marriage in the township was that of Daniel Tasker and Cornelia Davis. The ceremony was performed in May, 1859, by Sanford Kinney, a justice of the peace. The first birth occurred in the family of Thomas Hughes. The first death in the township of which we
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can learn occurred in November, 1860, when William Manson died. The first religious services were held in January, 1858, Rev. Mr. Moses being the officiating clergyman.
When Steele county was organized, in the summer of 1855, the territory which now forms Lemond became a portion of Owa- tonna township. In April, 1857, the board of county commis- sioners set off township 106, range 21, and authorized its organi- zation as a civil township, naming it Lemond. The organization, however, was not fully perfected until April, 1858, when the fol- lowing officers were elected : Supervisors, S. M. Hastings, chair- man; E. D. Tweed and Sanford Kinney; clerk, E. Dampier ; assessor, J. E. Hughes ; collector, Jerome Coon ; overseer of the poor, E. J. Coon ; justices of the peace, S. M. Hastings and San- ford Kinney. The following named were all prominent in town- ship matters in early days and filled the most important offices : S. M. Hastings, S. G. Townsend, S. M. Kinney, Hugh Murray, C. G. Hersey, Charles Knowlton, Oscar Murphy, E. Dumpier, S. F. Gould and Sanford Kinney, Jr. The first town meeting was held at Twiford's Mills.
BERLIN TOWNSHIP.
Berlin township is in the southwest corner of Steele county, composed of township 105, range 21. It is bounded on the north by Lemond township; on the east by Summit; on the west by Waseca county, and on the south by Freeborn county. It is one of the finest agricultural townships in the state, and is not excelled by any for the beauty of its natural scenery. Near the center of the township is Beaver lake, a perfect gem of beauty, with a sandy beach and bottom and water clear as crystal. The soil here is a dark loam, rich in the production of the cereals and indigenous grasses. Many fine farms are located here, and, as a whole, the citizens are today, and have been in the past, as prosperous as any community in this part of the state.
The first settlement within the present limits of Berlin town- ship was made in 1856. In this connection we make brief men- tion of most of the early settlers. Hiram Pitcher came in 1856 and located on section 15. He remained about nine years, when hie removed to Fond du Lac, Wis. He was a prominent man in early days, and was the first justice of the peace in the township. Nathan Cheeney, another settler of 1856, located on section 2, where he remained until the war broke out, when he enlisted and went into the service. Upon his return he located on section 9, and lived there until about 1880, when he moved to the then Dakota territory.
Charles W. Gardner came in 1856 and settled upon section 13.
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In 1863 he went into the army and after the close of the war settled in Blooming Prairie. He later went to the western states. James S. King came here in 1856 and located on section 13. He remained here until 1880, when he left for Dakota. Mr. Warren also came to this township in 1856 and settled on section 12. After remaining here for two or three years he removed to California.
S. Ilull came in 1856 and located on section 11. He left here about 1865 for the northern part of the state. Joseph Gordon came in the spring of 1856 and located on section 28, where he lived until his death in 1868. His wife died November 30, 1859. John Dock came in the fall of the same year and settled on section 21. About three years later he removed to California. Barney Banks was another of the settlers of 1856. He located on section 21. He was frozen to death in a terrible blizzard while on his way from Geneva to his home. His oxen returned home without him, and his body was soon afterward discovered. William Shea came the same year and located on section 30. He was in his one hundred and fifth year at the time of his death. Thomas Brick was a son-in-law of Mr. Shea. He located on the same section and remained there until 1877, when he removed to section 14.
Halver Howen came in 1856 and located on section 23. In 1868 he was frozen to death while on his way home from Fari- bault. Enfin Enfinson came in 1856 and settled on section 27. M. Wright came during the same year and located on section 32. E. Johnson came in 1856. Philo Sawyer, in company with M. Warren and J. O. Colver, came to Steele county, Minnesota, and took up government land in Berlin township in 1856.
John Culver settled on section 11, in 1856. He remained there until 1877, when he removed to New Richland. In 1885 he went to Nebraska. J. Winchell came in 1856 and selected a claim on section 24. This continued to be his home until 1879, when he "pulled up stakes" and removed to Wisconsin. Levi Chase was another of the arrivals in 1856. The tract which he chose for a home was on section 21, and he remained here until 1866, when he removed to Owatonna and in 1880 went to Madison, Wis. A. Ingerson came in 1857 and settled on section 27. He held the office of county surveyor while living here. Morris O. Sullivan came either in 1856 or 1857 and located on section 30. William Lonergan, Sr., came in 1857, settled on section 17, and remained there until the time of his death in 1877. A. Miller came in 1857 and located on section 18. J. B. Smith settled on section 11 in 1857. In 1864 he enlisted in the Eleventh Minnesota Volunteer Infantry and went into the service. After the close of the war he settled in Owatonna. In 1877 he removed to the north-
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western part of the state. George W. Goodrich also came in 1857. In 1872 he removed to Dakota, where he died in 1885.
When Steele county was organized in August, 1855, the ter- ritory which now comprises Berlin township (and, for that matter, the whole of the county) became a part of Owatonna township. It remained in this shape until April 6, 1857, when the board of county commissioners set off township 105, range 21, and authorized its organization as a civil township, to be called Berlin. The name was derived from the town of that name in Wisconsin. The proper spelling of the name is "Berlin," as it is commonly used at this day, although in the earlier county records the name appears Burlin.
The organization of the township was not fully perfected until the spring of 1858, when, on May 11, a full set of township officers was elected, as follows: Supervisors, C. V. Brown, Thomas McCormick and M. Warren ; assessor, Otis Bathrick ; clerk, H. Lawson; justices of the peace, Michael Wright and George Goodrich ; collector, John O. Shea.
The first marriage in the township was that of Jolin O. Culver to Miss Gordon. The ceremony was performed by Hiram Pitcher, Esq., a justice of the peace in 1857. This being the first time the justice had performed the ceremony, he varied a little from the usual form, and the groom was made to promise to obey the bride instead of the bride obeying the groom. The first birth was that of Fred Brown, who now lives in Waseca county. It occurred in January, 1857. The first death was that of Mrs. J. V. Gordon, which occurred November 30, 1859. The remains were buried in Berlin cemetery.
The first ground broken for a crop was done by Levi Chase in the summer of 1856. The second marriage in the township was that of Ashbel Ingerson to Sarah A. Chase. The ceremony was performed by Rev. H. Chapin in August, 1875. About the first fatal accident which occurred in the township was the drowning of John Brown, a lad of eighteen or nineteen years of age, in Beaver lake. His body was secured a few hours after death had claimed him.
The first religious services in the township were held at the residence of Levi Chase in the fall of 1856, when prayer meetings and a Sabbath school were established. In the fall of 1857 Rev. Mr. Kirkpatrick and Rev. S. N. Phelps commenced preaching on alternate Sabbaths. A Methodist organization was effected in 1858 by Elder Phelps. August 27, 1859, a Baptist church was organized by Elder Town, of Owatonna.
The first school in the township was taught in the winter of 1857-58 by D. T. Gordon, in an old log blacksmith shop, which stood on the edge of Beaver lake, on section 16. The following
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year a log schoolhouse was erected by the citizens. The same party taught the first school in the house. That was the only school building in the township at that time.
The first postoffice in the township was established in 1856, under the name of Adamsville, with Hiram Pitcher as post- master. He also carried the mail from Owatonna, many times going on foot, and in the winter using snow-shoes. In 1857 the name of the office was changed to Berlin.
In 1871 a cheese factory was started on section 12, at a cost of some $5,000, by a company formed for that purpose, composed of citizens of the township. After being in operation for a time the plant was sold to Mr. Sloan, and later Mr. Miller became interested. After a few years the enterprise was abandoned, as it had not proved a profitable investment. About 1875 a store was started by Miller & Sloan in a part of the cheese factory building, and the postoffice was also kept there. L. Barrett also started a store on section 13, but both concerns were closed out by their creditors after running a few years. W. R. Ellis started a black- smith shop on section 22 in April, 1875.
SUMMIT TOWNSHIP.
Summit township forms the center of the southern tier of townships, embracing congressional township 105. range 20. On the north it is bounded by Somerset township ; on the east by Blooming Prairie township ; on the west by Berlin township, and on the south by Freeborn county. The northwest corner of the township has some timber. A branch of the Straight river runs across the northwest corner in a northeasterly direction, while another branch, taking its rise in a little lake lying partly in the town of Blooming Prairie, flows in a northwesterly course across the entire township, furnishing an abundant supply of water. The surface here is somewhat rolling and the prairie is diversified by the many groves which have been set out by the settlers. The soil here is of a light but productive nature-of about the same character as is found in the other portions of the county.
The first settlement within the limits now comprising Summit township was made in the summer of 1856 by John Bennett and a man named Dribilius, both single men. Bennett selected a claim on section 9 and his companion on section 4. The former remained for several years, then removed to Dakota. Dribilibus, after a year or two, sold out and left.
Later in the same season (1856) Hiram Fredenburg, H. W. Ruliffson and D. A. Loomis came with their families and also a man named Heath, and all selected claims. Mr. Fredenburg was a native of New York and a man of prominence in early days.
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He selected a claim on section 20 and remained in the township until 1880, when he removed to Owatonna. Mr. Ruliffson located on section 30, where he lived until 1880, when he removed to Dakota. Mr. Loomis settled on the same section and remained until late in the seventies, when he removed to Dakota territory. G. W. Knapp located here in June, 1856. William Cooley came in 1856. C. A. Colquhoun came here in 1856 and located on sec- tion 24, where he remained until the death of his wife, which occurred three or four years later. After this he spent some time in Wisconsin, and then returned to his old home. A few years later he removed to Blooming Prairie township, where he still lives. Mr. Dunlavey came in 1857 and settled on section 14. After a few years he sold out his interests here and left. John W. Smith was also among the pioneers of 1857. William Goolsby settled in Summit township in 1858, selecting his share of govern- ment land on section 14. He remained here until a few years ago, when he removed to Dakota territory.
The first birth in the township was that of Adelbert Heath, son of Roswell Heath, who was born in 1857. The first marriage took place in December, 1858, the parties being Benjamin Wheeler and Delia Fredenburg. The first death was that of Mrs. Delora Fredenburg, wife of Jeremiah Fredenburg, which occurred in 1860. A postoffice called Cooleyville was established in 1858. Williaw Cooley was the first postmaster.
Like all other townships in the two western tiers, the territory which now forms Summit became a part of Owatonna township when the county was organized in 1855. It remained in this shape until April 6, 1857, when the board of commissioners set off township 105, range 20, and authorized its organization, under the name of Summit township. The organization, however, was not perfected until May 10, 1858, when a town meeting was hield at the house of Hiram Fredenburg, and the following township officers were elected: Supervisors, Hiram Fredenburg, chair- man; H. M. Davis and G. W. Knapp; clerk, N. S. Kingsley ; assessor, William Cooley; constables, Daniel Loomis and George Mitchell; justices of the peace, Hiram Fredenburg and G. W. Knapp.
BLOOMING PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP.
Blooming Prairie township forms the southeastern corner of Steele county and embraces township 105, range 19. The township was originally called Oak Glen, a name derived from a glen in the northern part, in which is a little lake, surrounded by a heavy growth of oak. There are three of these lakes, one covering somewhat over a section of land, and each of the other
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two about 100 acres. The soil here is about the same as is found in other portions of the county, rich and productive.
The first settlement within the limits now comprising Bloom- ing Prairie township was made in July, 1856, by John Blythe, who selected 160 acres of government land on sections 19 and 30 and put up a log cabin. In October of the same year Dennis Moran arrived with his family, consisting of wife and two sons and a sister-in-law. Mr. Moran located on section 29. He died on the same section. Thomas Bray came in January, 1857, and it is thought that Mr. Whaley and his son-in-law, Mr. Ewers, settled in the northern part of the township at about the same time. These were the only families who settled in the township that winter, although many passed through.
After this the township settled up very slowly. The financial panic of 1857 coming, as it did, checked travel very much, and times became very hard. Early in the sixties the number of settlers became more numerous, although the outbreak of the rebellion prevented the town from filling up very rapidly. Among others who came at an early day and settled here are the follow- ing named: J. H. McDaniels, James Carey, Joseph Branning, George Topliff, Andrew Cole, Thomas Sweeney, Miles Flanna- gan, G. Stoddard, S. Roberts, C. E. Hancock, Patrick Fallon, John Anderson, P. P. Thimsen, N. P. Thimsen and T. Feeney.
The first birth in the township was that of Walter John Blythe, a son of Mr. and Mrs. John Blythe, which occurred on August 22, 1858. Another early birth was that of James, a son of Thomas Bray, who was born in 1859. It is thought the first marriage was celebrated in 1860, the parties being Ira Foster and Mrs. Scott, a widow lady. The first school in the township was taught in 1861 by Hattie Layton, afterward Mrs. Joseph Carey.
The territory which now comprises Blooming Prairie town- ship was a portion of Dodge county until February, 1856, when it was separated from Dodge and annexed to Steele county. This was the case with the entire eastern tier of townships. On April 6, 1857, the board of county commissioners set off town- ship 105, range 19, and named it Oak Glen. It was attached to Aurora township and was not organized as a township until March 1867, when the county board authorized a separate organi- zation. The name was changed to Blooming Prairie in January, 1873. The organization of the township was perfected on April 2, 1867, when the first township meeting was held and a full set of officers elected for Oak Glen township, as follows: Super- visors, C. B. Pettie, P. Haley and G. M. Topliff : assessor. A. Colquhoun ; clerk, A. J. Snyder ; treasurer, A. J. Pettie : justices of the peace, Giddon Stoddard and Aaron Pettie ; constables. Andrew Magoon and John Eastman.
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The first officers for Blooming Prairie township were elected on March 11, 1873, and were as follows: Supervisors, W. Bow- man, chairman; G. A. Peterson and F. Carey; clerk, Lewis Ellington ; assessor, H. A. Gleason ; treasurer, C. Whitten ; justice of the peace, C. W. Gardner.
The following article was prepared for a previous work by C. B. Pettie :
Blooming Prairie township was first named Oak Glen, and was known by that name from 1856 to 1863, when it was changed to Blooming Prairie, as that name was given to the village by the general superintendent of the railroad company. John Blythe was the first to settle in the township, soon followed by Mr. Moran, Ira Foster, Thomas Bray, Levi Annis, William Greene and David Bagley. They remained some three years, when another colony came along, in which were Joseph Branning, C. B. Pettie, A. J. Pettie, D. P. Pettie and C. E. Hancock, all of whom settled on section 24. In 1861-62 there came quite a number of settlers from Wisconsin, including R. T. Carey, J. C. Carey, James Carey, George M. Topliff, Andrew Meehan, Patrick Fallon, Michael Fallon, John Anderson and Thomas Feeney, and all took claims and went to farming.
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