USA > Minnesota > Faribault County > The history of Faribault County, Minnesota : from its first settlement to the close of the year 1879 : the story of the pioneers > Part 63
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TOWN OFFICERS.
The following named citizens of the town, were the township officers for 1879. Supervisor, W. P. Strong, chairman, A. Hanson and C. Johnson; town clerk, D. McLeod, who had held the office during four previous years; treasurer, E. Howley; assessor, J. Wilson, Jr .; justices, M. Donovan and D. Buggy.
A list of residents of the town prior to the closing year of this sketch, 1879, some of whom have not been named heretofore in this record of the town. All cannot now be given.
R. J. Atkins, H. Baldwin, Wm. Baldwin, Denis Buggy, A. Cardell, Jas. Cardell, Jas. Cardell, Jr., J. Connor, Patrick Carr, Jno. Carr, J. Cook, S. Cory, S. M. Demaree, Dan. Donovon, Dennis Donovon, M. Donovon, J. H. Deline, W. T. Deline. Win. Dunn, Dan. Dunn, Thos. Dunn, C. Decker, M. Dullard, S. Everson, B. Everson, J. Gee. Ed. Howley, Pat. Hamil, M. Hanson, Win. Hunter, J. C. Hill, C. Jenson, Chris. S. Johnson, A. R. More, Robt. More, Jas. More, G. D. Moore, R. Mackey, Ed. Moon, O. McLaughlin, Daniel McLeod, Gilbert McClure, Hugh McClure, A. Nelson, David Ogilvie, James Ogilvie, R. A. Ogilvie, G. W. Pugsley, David Pugsley, Jasper Pugsley, Hans. Peterson, Levi Shabins, P. Simser, L. Stiles, F. Schilling, Wm. F. Strong, Hogh Scott, Jackson Scott, Wm. Scott, W. B. Silliman, Justus Sawvain, W. Shaver, P. Shaver, P. Wiekwire, Thomas Wilson, Win. Wilson, Robt. Wilson, John Wilson, C. F. Wallace, Pitt Wilson, L. F. Wingett, Norm. Woolery, Milo Woolery, Jas Wilson, T. R. Wilson, J. N. Woolery, M. Wooley.
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CHAPTER XVII.
ELMORE TOWNSHIP.
This township is comprised of congressional town one hundred and one (101) north, of range twenty-seven (27) west. It is bounded on the north by Blue Earth City township, on the east by Rome town- ship, on the south by the state of Iowa, and on the west by the town of Pilot Grove.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS.
The mean elevation of this town above sea level, is eleven hun- dred and sixty feet, but there is a rise of ground near the south line of the town which is twelve hundred and fifty feet. The depth of the drift here to bed rock. is doubtless considerably over one hundred feet. A well of eighty-one feet in depth, showed soil, two feet; yellow till. eighteen feet; harder blue till, sixty feet: coarse gravel. one foot, from which water rose eighty feet, reaching to within one foot of the surface. Along the south side of the town, a width of territory from one to one and a half miles, is hilly. or prominently rolling drift. The general surface of the town is rolling prairie, easily drained. Its water courses are the west branch of the Blue Earth river, the middle branch of Coon creek and Otter creek, and these
streams are mainly well timbered, and owing to the peculiar distri- bution of the streams, living water and timber are convenient to most parts of the town. Most of the lands are tillable and of the best quality, for general cultivation. Good water is easily obtained everywhere by digging or boring to a very moderate depth. This town. in its general physical features, is a highly favored one, and it is becoming still better from year to year, as the fine groves and lines of forest trees planted by the people and appearing every- where, grow to maturity.
THE EARLY SETTLEMENT.
Crawford W. Wilson, was the first actual settler of this town. He first came to this county in August, 1855. In November of that year, he brought in his family, and on the seventeenth of the month settled upon and claimed the northwest quarter of section eight. Mr. Wilson was born in Wayne county, Ohio. July 27th, 1535. In
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the spring of 1850 he emigrated to Iowa, and from thence to Minne- sota, as above stated. He was a farmer by occupation, but engaged at various times in merchandising, dealing in cattle and other occu- pations. He was for many years quite a prominent citizen of the county, and at one time one of its wealthiest. For a considerable time he was a justice of the peace, and was one of our county com- missioners in the early years of the county. In 1872 he removed with his family into Iowa.
The following list comprises the names of all the residents of this town in June, 1860, when the national census was taken. A hasty glance over the list, reveals the fact that but few of those who were inhabitants of the town at that time, are to be found there now. "Dead, or removed," are the words echoed back to the question, "where are they now?"
Adams-Alonzo, Mrs. Irene and Amanda, Emily, Lucy. Bowen-Abijah, Mrs. Ruth. Chesley-Philip, Mrs. Eudoxsia and Esther, Hiram, William, Amanda, Milton, Mrs. Magdalene. Cowing -William. Cowing - Thomas. Campbell-James, Mrs. Catharine and William. Hill-Uri, Mrs. Renette and Idella. Haygin-Greenberry, Mrs. Sarah and Richard, Elvira, Greenberry. Harrington-Phebe. Harrington-Charles. Little-Alonzo, Mrs. Jane and Albert, Emeline. Lampman-Casper, Mrs. Caroline and David, Freeland, Elizabeth, Fos- ter, Jordan. McArthur-Geo. D., Mrs. Anna. McIntyre-John, Morris-Archibald, Mrs. Electa and William, Charles, Robert, Lewis, Harriet, Mary, George. Pres- ton-Amos. Mrs. Maria and Sheridan, Alida, Cleora, Wayland, Augustus, Augusta. Schneider-Sarah, Mrs. Freeman, Lorenzo, Rhoda, Mary, Franklin, Harriet. Shultis-Allen, Mrs. Elizabeth and Alida. Way-Marshall, Mrs. Georgiana and Hugh, Norwood, Charles. Woolery-Henry, Mrs. Mary and Reuben, Robert, Lucinda, Sarah. Wickwire -Philander. Wheeler-Michael. Webster-Orlow, Mrs. Leanner and Monroe, Iuez, Izora, William, John. Wilson -Crawford W., Mrs. Susan and Mary, Elizabeth.
There were several other old settlers, of this town, who, although their names do not appear on the foregoing lists, should not be forgotten. Among those are the names of Jacob L. Schneider, John Haggin, Zac Haggin, Dubois Tooker.
The following table exhibits the wealth of the town, as appears by the census of 1860. It has vastly improved since that day.
Acres of improved land, 377; value of farms, $10,100; value of farm imple- ments and machinery, $890; number of horses, 34; milch cows, 34; working oxen, 20; other cattle, 40; swine, 49; value of live stock, $5,203.
THE NAME.
This town was first named "Dobson," in honor of one James Dobson, by the special commissioners, in 1858.
Mr. Dobson was born in Indiana, emigrated to Iowa in 1855, and from thence to Minnesota, in April, 1856, and took his "claim" in this town, a few days afterward. He was a farmer by occupa- tion, and continued to reside in the town for many years, but lately removed from the town to a new locality.
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The name of the town was changed to "Elmore" by act of the legislature of 1862. The town was so named in honor of Andrew E. Elmore. a distinguished citizen of the state of Wisconsin, and a life long friend of several early settlers and prominent citizens of the town.
ANDREW E. ELMORE.
Mr. Elmore was born in Ulster county, New York, May 8th, 1814, and came West in the year 1839, and settled at Mukwonago, Waukesha county, then a part of Milwaukee county, Wisconsin.
lle married Miss Mary Field, daughter of Hon. Stephen Field, of Walworth connly, Wisconsin, in 1841, and they have had four children.
At Mukwonago, Mr. Elmore engaged, for many years, in the mercantile business, and was, for some years, postmaster of that place. Mr. Wm. S. Drake, now a resident of this county, was for some time a partner with Mr. Elmore, in business of merchandising. In 1842 he was elected to the Wisconsin territorial lesislature, for Milwaukee and Washlogton counties, and served two years as such member. He was also a member of the first constitutional convention, in in 1846, and was a member of the assembly in the sessions of 1859 and 1860 ile was, for twelve years, chairman of the board of county supervisors of Wau- kesha county.
In 1864 he removed to Green Bay, Brown county, Wisconsin. From this place he removed to Fort Howard, Wisconsin, in 1968, where ne has since resided Mr. Elmore has been a member of the State board of charities and reform, from its organization, in April, 1871, and is now, and has been for the past ten years, its president, a highly honorable office. Mr. Elmore received a good common school and business education, but is essentially a self-made man. He is a diligent reader, and a close observer of public affairs, and has always taken a large interest in public enterprises. He is a man of positive convic- tions and opinions, energetic and prompt, and is one whose influence is felt in the community. He has long been known, among his friends, as "The Sage of Mukwonago," at which place he resided twenty-five years.
There is a county, in the state of Alabama, named Elmore, and there are seven post offices in the United States of this name.
ORGANIZATION.
The town was organized for civil purposes in 1858, Amos Pres- ton being elected the first chairman of the board of supervisors. At the time of the organization, the town of Campbell, now Rome, was attached to this town, and so remained until January, 1868, when the latter town was set off by the county commissioners. The town officers for 1878-9 were: supervisors, A. Shultis, chairman, M. Nau- man and J. McCoy; town clerk, H. A. Woolery. Mr. Woolery had been· clerk for nine preceding years. Treasurer, S. N. Cahoon; assessor, S. H. Norton; justices of the peace. Jas. Hardie and S. H. Norion; constable, H. Pratt.
EDUCATIONAL.
The first school-house in the town was erected in the spring of 1558, on the southwest quarter of section seventeen, and was known
A. E. ELMORE.
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FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
as the "Dobson School-house." It was built of logs, and was not completed for about two years, so as to be fit for use. It served a good. purpose for many years, not only for schools, but as a conven- ient place in which to hold elections and religious and other meet- ings. A new and more commodious house, being a substantial frame building, has since been erected near the site of the old house, which is known as the Shultis school-house. There are now seven substantial frame school-houses in the town, all well furnished.
RELIGIOUS.
The Methodist Episcopal church established regular religious services in the town at a very early day, probably in 1857, or 1858, when a class was formed.
The Rev. A. R. Brockett, long a respected resident of this town, who died in 1878, and who has long been kindly remembered by many, gave the writer this minute: "The Free Will Baptist church was first instituted in this county, June 23d, 1863, and the first quar- terly meeting was organized the second Sunday in June, 1866." This denomination organized a society in this town, in March, 1869.
The Wesleyan Methodists had an organized society for some years.
OTHER SOCIETIES.
A Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry, named "Rising Sun Grange," was organized here in 1873. or 1874, and flourished suc- cessfully for some years.
BOUNTIES TO SOLDIERS.
On the fifteenth of December, 1863, the supervisors of the town determined, by resolution, that, as there was then a draft pending. to give a bounty of fifty dollars, in town bonds, to all such as should enlist in the military service of the United States, prior to January 1st, 1864, and be credited to this town. On August 27th, 1864, the board raised this bounty to three hundred dollars, and on January 5th, 1865, they re-resolved to give this bounty, and employed George D. McArthur, a citizen of the town, as a recruiting agent, to secure volunteers to fill up the quota of the town. Mr. McArthur was paid five dollars per day, in town orders, for his services. Town orders were then somewhat below par. At the same time, the board ein- ployed Judge Amos Preston, also an old resident of the town, at an expense of five dollars per day, in town orders, to seek out such persons in the town, who, because of disabilities, might be exempt from service, or draft, and conduct them before the enrolling board. at Mankato, for examination and discharge. On January 11th, 1865, the board met again, and raised the bounty to five hundred dollars, and on the twentieth of the same month, they determined, by reso-
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lution, that such bounty bonds should bear no interest, and be made payable June 1st, 1866. The object of these bounties, as the reader will doubtless perceive, was to encourage enlistments, and save the town from draft, or conscription.
RAILROAD AID).
This town not only manifested a commendable spirit of patriot- ism, but has given substantial encouragement to publie enterprises, especially railroad building, having often voted aid in the form of "bonuses," but no road was procured, as a result, except under the last vote (1878).
A LAWSUIT.
In April, 1870, an action was brought by one A. B. Webber, against the two towns of Elmore and Rome to recover on certain military bounty bonds which he held. These were some of the bounty bonds given to encourage enlistments above referred to. At the time of the issue of the bonds, the two towns were attached. These actions were instituted, not because these towns repudiated the in- debtedness, but were permitted, mainly, to determine the actual lia- bilities in this behalf of the several towns, grave questions as to which had arisen. After a closely contested law suit, judgment was rendered against the town for $1.421.39. At the time of commenc- ing the above action. another action, by the same plaintiff and for the same purpose, was begun against the town of Elmore alone, on other like bonds, and judgment was rendered against the town for $809.55. The reason of the two suits was, that the town board, when issuing the bonds, made some of them in the name of both towns, and others in the name of Elmore alone; yet, when all the bonds were issued, the towns were attached and constituted but one town district.
On the second day of July. 1873, Rome being then only a separate town, a joint meeting of the boards of the two towns was held for the purpose of adjusting their war bounty difficulties, at which it was resolved that each town should pay its proportionate share of the judgment of $1,421.39, and that the same should be lev- ied by a direct tax on all the taxable property of the twotowns. The other judgment was also subsequently adjusted.
VARIOUS INCIDENTS.
The first death in the town was that of a Mr. Wickwire, who died in the winter of 1856-7.
The first person born in this town was Ellen Miller, daughter of Henry and Charlotte Miller. She was born on the fifth or sixth of April, 1857.
GEO. D. MCARTHUR.
MRS. G. D. MCARTHUR.
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The first marriage which occurred here was that of Jacob E. Shirk to Catharine Schneider, March 1st, 1858.
The people of this town were injured, to some extent, especially in that portion of the town west of the river, by the grasshopper in- vasions of 1873 and 1874, but this town did not suffer as much from these pests as did several others. The people here also suffered severely from the hard, close times of 1875 and 1876, and the town, during these years, made but little, if any, progress in wealth, and lost many in population.
There was, for some years, a post-office kept at a farm house on section 20, on the route from Blue Earth City to Algona, known as Elmore P. O., but it was subsequently removed to the village of Elmore, a village which had not yet put in an appearance, at the close of this historical sketch.
GEO. D. MCARTHUR.
Geo. D. McArthur, for many years a resident, and always a large land owner in this town, was born in Columbia county, N. Y., in August, 1834. His father, Duncan McArthur, was a farmer, and an old resident of that region. He re- moved, in 1849, with his family to Waukesha county, Wis. George obtained his education in the district schools, and attended for some time at Waukesha college.
In 1853 he went to New York City, where he resided a year, when he came west and spent some six months in Tennessee, and then came to Minnesota, in 1855, and resided in Winona county for about a year. His next move was to this county. He located in this town in June, 1856. Here he engaged in farming and stock raising extensively.
In the fall of 1858 he was elected representative in the State legislature, but no session was held in 1858-9, and his services were not required. He was also, subsequently elected court commissioner, but did not qualify.
Mr. McArthur was married in 1859, to Miss Annie S. Drake, of Waukesha county, Wis.
In 1864 he removed to Blue Earth City and engaged, in company with Mr. Uri Hill, in the mercantile business. In 1869 be engaged in the sale of agricul- tural machinery at Blue Earth City until 1871; when the railroad was completed to Winnebago City he removed to that place and resided there about seven years,still engaged in selling agricultural implements, and this has been, largely, his principal business during life, yet, still always interested in farming opera- tions in Elmore. In 1878 he returned to Blue Earth City, where he has since resided, engaged in his former occupations and banking. In 1894, he was elected State senator, for this district.
Mr. McArthur and his wife have, since 1862, been members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
His political affiliations have always been with the republican party, and for many years he has taken a large interest in our local politics.
ALLEN SHULTIS.
Allen Shultis came to this town in company with Mr. McArthur. They were brothers-in-law, and, like McArthur, Mr. Shultis has been closely identi- fied with the town and all its interests, from that day to this. He was born in New York State, January 20, 1832, and came to Waukesha county, Wisconsin,
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HISTORY OF
with his father, In 1842. Allen came to Winona county in 1855, and to this county In 1856. Mr. Shultls also became a large landholder in the town. He was mar- ried, in 1857, to Miss Ellzabeth McArthur. He was often a member of the town and school boards of Elmore township. He was elected a representative in the State legislature, In 1859, and attended the session of 1859-60. He was a member of the board of county commissioners, in 1864, 1865, and 1866, and was two years chairman of the board. In 1893 he was appointed postmaster of El- more. For a number of years after coming to this county, Mr. Shultis adhered to the republican party, but, subsequently antillated with the democrats. He and his famlly are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Shultis has always been engaged In farming and stock raising.
A FEW FIGURES.
By the census of 1860, the population of the town was 95; in 1865 there were 295, including the residents of Rome township. In 1870 there were 470, Rome having then been set off. In 1875 we find 404: in 1880, 442. A large majority of the population are American born.
Stock and other property in 1879: Ilorses, 244: cows, 372: other cattle, 404; mules, 6: sheep, 2.264; hogs, 624; wagons and carriages, 66; sewing machines, 22; organs, 1. Agricultural productions (estimated) for 1879: Wheat, 16,500 bushels: oats, 10,500 bushels; corn, 15,000 bushels; barley, 800 bushels: potatoes, 1,600 bushels; wild hay, 3,100 tons. There were 500 apple trees growing. But- ter produced, 29,000 Its. The report of products is quite indetinite for this year. Assessed value of real estate for 1879, $144,052; assessed value of personal estate for 1879, $31,610; total, $175,662; total tax assessed on same, $3,687.25.
THE ELMORE "BAR."
We cannot close this historical sketch of Elmore township without giving a brief account of the once noted "Elmore Bar."
In the early days of the town there was considerable litigation among some of the people who resided near the Iowa line, and who had but little respect for either divine or human laws. Their fre- quent lawsuits give rise to what was known as the Elmore Bar. a merely local and unprofessional institution. This bar was composed of Allen Shultis, Geo. D. McArthur. W. W. Knapp, Zac. Haggin and DuBois Tooker, who, for a small consideration. acted as attorneys of litigants before the justices' court. When heavier cases than or- dinary ones, arose, a regular attorney from the villages was brought in to manage affairs, but generally went out badly beaten. The court was composed of Mr. Philip Chesley, a highly respected and old time resident of the town, who was justice of the peace, and Hiram Chesley, constable. Many amusing incidents occurred in these trials, but we can give but one of them here. In a certain suit. Mr. Shultis was attorney for the plaintiff, and Messrs. Tooker and McArthur for the defendant. As the suit enlisted considerable local interest, the attorneys were quite earnest in behalf of their several clients. Mr. Shultis prepared an elaborately written argu- ment and laid it up between the logs of the cabin, in which they lived, for safe keeping, until the momentous day, and calmly and
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confidently awaited the hour of victory over the combination of legal talent arrayed against him. But the opposing counsel, who resided in the same cabin with Mr. S., quietly purloined the argu- ment, and when the day of trial came, Mr. S. found it gone, but where, he could not imagine. He said nothing, but gallantly went into the contest. When the proceedings before the court, reached the argument, lo, and behold! one of the defendant's counsel read, with great energy and emphasis, the lost argument, and won the case. Mr. Shultis was afterwards heard to say that he considered the cabbaging of his argument a very mean trick, as he was thus com- pelled to furnish brains for both sides, while he could only charge for one and for that had to take his client's note, which was never paid.
OFFICIAL.
Prior to the closing year of this historical sketch, this township had contributed to the public services, three county commissioners, Wilson, Preston and Shultis, each of whom was chairman of the board; two members of the State legislature, McArthur and Shultis; a judge of probate, Preston; two court commissioners elect, Preston and McArthur (neither of whom qualified, however), and a coroner, W. A. Way.
The following is a list of the names of a number of residents of the town prior to the close of 1879. It is impossible now to give the names of all who have been residents:
Chas. Aling, Dan Ackerman, F. Albright. A. D. Adams, P. H. Austin, A.S. Anderson, A. R. Brockett, Daniel Boon, Abija Bowen, C. Bartz, H. Benson, H. Barkley, A. Beckwith, A. Cook, John Coppernoll, Enos Coppernoll, H. Copper- noll, S. N. Cahoon, J. A. Cahoon, J. Allison Cahoon, R. Collison, Phillip Chesley, Hiram Chesley, Wm. Chesley, J. E. Chase, C. Collison, A. Collison, R. M. Cordill, W. S. Drake, Sr., W. S. Drake, Jr., F. Goodrich, J Hardie, A. G. Hardie, F. L. Howland, H. P. Hanson, P. B. Hanyhurst, J. Haggin, A. T. Ire- land, A. C. Ingalls, E. C. Ingalls, John Ingalls, A. Krosch, W. Krosch, G. Krosch, J. Klatt, J. A. LaPoint, G. D. McArthur, C. McArthur, A. D. Mason, Elliot Mason, John McCoy, Sam'l Monroe, J. F. Mclaughlin, W. C. Middleton, C. Mathews, Orin Motfitt, M. Nauman, S. H. Norton, Wm. B. Page, Amos Pres- ton, J. M. Purdie, Harrison Pratt, Jas. Pratt, A. Russell, J. C. Russell, Roenus Robbins, Al. Robbins, Russell Richardson, J. Richardson, Benj. Stanton, W. M. Saxton, D. Schneider, Simon Schneider, Charles Stockman, Ralph Stock- man, R. R. Stockman, F. Smith, Jas. Sullivan, Martin Shultis, L. K. Sharpe, C. Sharpe, Du. B. Tooker, Geo. A. Taylor, R. Taylor, Alfred E. Taylor, Allen Taylor, A. Taylor, C. Taylor, Sherman Taylor, J. VanSlyke, W. H. Vining, J. J. Vrooman, Geo. Vrooman, John H. VanBuren, A. J. Wilcox, C. Whittoun, O. Webster, P. Welden, Marshall Way, Henry Woolery, H. A. Woolery.
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CHAPTER XVIH.
ROME TOWNSHIP.
The United States government in its official land surveys, num- bers this township one hundred and one (101) north, of range twenty-six (26) west, of the principal meridian.
The surface of the town has an average elevation of eleven hun- dred and sixty feet above the level of tide water, and the depth of the drift here is doubtless over one hundred feet to bed rock. Yet this fact has never been determined accurately, either by deep wells or otherwise. The surface is slightly undulating. or rolling prairie. well adapted to farming, grazing and stock raising. The soil is very fertile and all crops which can be raised in the northwest, can be successfully grown here. There is no native timber in the town, but there are many and large artificial groves of forest trees, and more being constantly added. Coon creek heads in this town, and this with several slough rivulets, are the only water courses in the town. Good well water is obtained in abundance, at moderate depths.
THE FIRST SETTLEMENT.
The first permanent settler of this township was Ole Nelson (Hauge) who settled upon and claimed the northeast quarter of sec- tion three (3) early in March, 1863. Mr. Nelson was born in Nor- way. He emigrated to the United States and first settled in Dane county, Wisconsin. He subsequently removed to this county, loca- cating in the town of Emerald, where he resided several years, and then removed to Rome, as above stated. Mr. Nelson has always been a farmer by occupation.
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