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 64
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Owing to the fact that Rome is a prairie town, it was among the towns last settled.
Among those who are entitled to the name of old settlers of Rome, and who were residents of the town in 1868 or prior thereto, we record the names of Fred Everton, T. J. Everton, L. Rogers, H. Cordell, J. 11. Stubbs, D. Coyle, A. Bart- lett, L. Il. Ames, K. Peterson, Nels Thompson, George Bartlett, L. Kallostadt, L. Edson, John Emerson, C. King, W. D. Clark, Win. Sterrett, Jolin Sterrett, W. G. Clark, L. K. Woodwick, C. Nelson, II. Thompson, O. E. Legwold, Ste- phenson Iverson, Flo. Simeon Hess, J. Klareweter, W. Tolliver, Eric Amundson, 11. Ilalverson, P. Larson, A. Mickelson, A. Rasmusson, L. Sieverson, Jas. Pat- terson, Wm. Oelke, (). II. Littlefield, Philip Maglouglin.
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FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
THE NAME.
This town was first called "Campbell," by the special commis- sioners, in 1858, in honor of one James Campbell, who, by the way, was never a resident of this town, but was one of the first settlers in Elmore township. The writer has been unable to learn that "Old Jimmy," as Mr. Campbell was usually called, was ever distinguished for anything special, except that he was a smooth talking, plaus- ible, old Scotch-Irishman, and was skilled in "swappin' hoses," and turned an honest penny in that way, occasionally. He left this country many years ago, and his present place of residence is un- known to the writer.
The town was attached, by the special commissioners, to El- more, for civil purposes, and so remained until the January session of the county board, in 1868, when it was detached, and the name of the town was changed to "Grant," in honor of Gen. U. S. Grant. But it soon appeared that there was another town in the State, of the same name, and the State auditor directed the name to be changed again, which was done at the session of the county board, in March, 1868, and the town named "Rome," its present name.
Some persons have said that the town was named in honor of old Pagan Rome, once the mistress of the world, others that ec- clesiastical Rome, the head of the church, was intended to be hon- ored, but, the fact is, that the town was named for the city of Rome, in the state of New York, and the name was suggested by Fred Everton, who, though not the first, was the second settler in the town, and for many consecutive years, from its organization, was chairman of the town board.
The name Rome, as a designation of a locality, is undoubtedly more universally known, among men, than any other name in use at present, or any other to be found in history. There are some twenty cities. villages and post-offices, in the United States, of this name, and then there is the never to be forgotten, old Rome, on the Tiber-"The Eternal City."
ORGANIC.
When the town was set off as a separate town, the county board directed an election for town officers to be held on the twenty- eighth day of January, 1868, but a severe storm prevented the hold- ing of this election. The first election was held on the second day of March, of that year, at which officers were chosen, but there was another election held for town officers, which occurred on the eighth day of April. following, at which most of the same persons were chosen, as at the prior election. The second election was rendered necessary because of some irregularities in the first.
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HISTORY OF
The town has kept up its organization and self government from that day to this.
The roster of town officers was made up of the following named residents of the township, in 1868. when the town was organized:
Supervisors, Fred Everton, chairman, T. J. Everton and Geo. Bartlett; town clerk, W. J. Cordill; treasurer, S. H. Stubbs; assessor, D. Coyle; justices of the peace, Win. Burton and K. Peterson; constables. L. Edson and J. Enarson.
The officers for the years 1578.9, were: for supervisors, H. E. Legvold, chalr- man, W. G. Clark and T. Mikkleson: town clerk, S. O. Nortoo: treasurer, Ole Nelson: assessor, C. A. Erdahl; justice of the peace, W. J. Cordill: con- table, Il. Tennessen.
EDUCATIONAL.
The first school house erected in this town was built in 1870 near the farm of Wm. Sterrett. ] It is a good substantial frame build- ing and is known as "the Sterrett school house." The Hess school house is over the line, and in Elmore, and was erected by a joint school district, composed of territory taken from both Rome and Elmore. This house was erected before the Sterrett school house. There are now three school houses in the town. It is said that a Miss Tolliver taught the first school.
RELIGIOUS.
The United Presbyterians established a society here at a very early day, and have had. for many years, a resident minister. This congregation worshiped, for many years, at the Sterrett school house. The Norwegian Lutherans have also had public worship in this town for many years past.
SUNDRY INCIDENTS.
An act was passed by the State Legislature in 1868, to provide for the payment of certain taxes by the town of Grant, in Faribault county, which enacted that the said town "which was detached from the town of Elmore * shall be and is hereby declared to be liable to pay the same proportion of the tax thereafter neces- sary to be levied for the payment of the bounties offered by the said town to the volunteers of the late war, as would have been the case had the said town of Grant remained without a separate and independent organization." The town had been set off in January 1868, and the purport of this act is plain.
In 1870. the town. together with Elmore, was sued on military bounty bonds, issued when the town was attached to Elmore. Judgment was entered against the two towns for $1,421. and costs, a proportionate share of which was paid by this town. and also of another judgment against Elmore alone, for 8809. The matter is more fully recited in the history of Elmore township.
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FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
The people of Rome have suffered severely, many times, from destructive prairie fires, which have swept over the country. Ref- erences thereto will be found in the general history of the county. That of August, 1874, was very disastrous to many.
The town has frequently voted to aid in the building of rail- roads, but without effect, until the last vote taken, which secured a road to Blue Earth City, and thence southward.
In 1870, the town voted $8,000 in bonds to the Burlington, C. R. and M. R. R. Company, to build a road from Mason City, Iowa, to Blue Earth City, which, if it had been built, would have given the town a depot, but the project proved a failure.
Up to the close of this history, the town has furnished to the public service a member of the board of county commissioners, L. K. Woodwick.
A FEW FIGURES.
When the census of 1860 was taken, there were no inhabitants in Rome township. At the census of 1865 the town was attached to Elmore, and its inhabitants were enumerated with that town.
By the census of 1870 there were 396 souls in the town, and in 1875, 458; in 1880, 504. The residents of this town are Americans, Germans, Scotch and Nor- wegians, the latter nationality largely predominating.
In 1879, there were in the town 214 horses, 436 cows, 485 other cattle, 12 mules, 362 sheep, 188 hogs, 69 wagons and carriages, 21 sewing machines, and 2 organs.
The assessed value of real estate that year was, $117,787. The assessed value of personal property that year was, $22,015. Total, $139,802. The total tax as- sessed thereon was $1,584.32.
The agricultural products of the same year were as follows: Wheat, 27,000 bushels; oats, 26,000 bushels; corn, 12,000 bushels; barley, 1,300 bushels; pota- toes, 1,700 bushels: sorgum syrup, 700 gallons; flax seed, 590 bushels; wool 1,482 pounds: butter, 31,000 pounds. Total acreage cultivated, 3,400.
In addition to the names of early settlers in this town, already given, there is here added a further list of residents, prior to the close of 1879. All, however, may not be named:
J. Anderson, A. Amundson, T. Atlakson, E. Amundson, P. Berg, A. L. Brakke, A. B. Balcom, E. A. Brownlee, W. J. Cordell, Curtis Dolliver, Fones Dolliver, C. Dalsing, S. Erdahal, L. Erdahl, R. M. Erdahl, C. A. Erdahl, A. O. Egness, Iver K. Floe, J. C. Foster, J. A. Fibelstad, S. Gerke, O. Hemmingson, J. Hlemmingson, H. Halverson, E. Halverson, A. Ingebretson, O. Jacobson, K. Johnson, A. Johnson, L. A. Kallestadt, C. A. Kallestadt, P. Knudtson, P. Lar- son, C. IT. Littlefield, S. Lovass, H. E. Legvold, O. J. Legrid, A. Mikkleson, T. Mikkleson, A. Markesan, O. M. Mehl, C. O. Mehl, P. F. Mundale, Philip Mag- louglin, S. O. Norton, O. Nilson, J. Nilson, G. Nilson, L. Oelke, Wm. Oelke, O. Oleson, L. A. Olson, Ole Olson, A. Oleson, Ole Peterson, C. W. Quiggle, O. J. Quam, R. M. Robertson, A. Rasmusson, L. Seivertson, O. Sjorson, J. R. Starrett, H. Simanson, O. O. Steene, T. Thorson, T. Torgerson, Neils G. Thompson, H. Thompson, R. J. Underdahl, O. J. Weberg, Ludwig Willmert, G. Willmert, W. Willmert,
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HISTORY OF
CHAPTER XIX.
SEELY TOWNSHIP.
The town of Seely is Congressional township one hundred and one (101) north, of range twenty-five (25) west. The surroundings of this town are as follows: On the north is Brush Creek township, on the east is the town of Kiester. on the south is the Iowa State line. and on the west is the town of Rome. The mean elevation of this town above sea level is eleven hundred and seventy-five feet. A well bored on the southwest quarter of section four, to a depth of one hundred and twenty three feet, proves the drift here to be about ninety-five feet in depth, to bed-rock. The bed-rock is a bluish- gray limestone. This is a prairie township, and the surface is mod- erately rolling. The soil is deep and fertile. Tillable and pasture lands are well proportioned. Brush Creek runs through the north- east corner of the town, and the east branch of the Blue Earth river through the northwest, and these, besides several slough runs, are the living streams of the town. Most of the lands are easily drained. There is no native timber in this town, except what is found on the Blue Earth River. Many thousands of trees have been set out by farmers, and there are now many fine groves of forest trees, well advanced, which dot the wide, green prairies on every hand.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The first white man to locate in this town was Jacob E. Shirk. He settled upon the northwest quarter of section four, about the twelfth day of June, 1856, and made the first improvements in the town in breaking up the land and erecting buildings.
Mr. Shirk was born in Lancaster county, Penn. He served four years in the United States Marine corps, was present in Japan at the signing of the treaty in 1854, between the United States and Japan, being a member of Commodore Perry's expedition. During this expedition, Mr. Shirk circumnavigated the globe. He was dis- charged from the service in November, 1855, at Washington, D. C., and immediately emigrated to Clarksville, Iowa, and from thence to Minnesota in 1856, as above stated. He was married in 1858 to Miss Catharine Schneider.
P. C. SEELY.
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FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
Early in 1865, he enlisted in a Minnesota regiment of heavy artillery, and was ordered south, but the rebellion closing. he was, after seven months' service, discharged, after which time he engaged in farming on his old homestead in this town. Mr. Shirk died July 15th, 1895.
The following list embraces the names of all persons residing in the town in June, 1860, according to the United States census of that year.
Foster-Abraham. Pratt-David, Mrs. Asenath, James, Parizade, Harri- son, Ellen. Pratt-Samuel, Mrs. Helen, Ida. Shirk-Jacob E., Mrs. Catharine, Jefferson. Seely-Philander C., Mrs. Harriet, Clement. Seely-Willard.
But there are others whose names should be added to this list of the early settlers of the town, among whom were David Shirk, William Foster, Wm. B. Taylor, and Chester Eddy.
The following table exhibits the appraised wealth of the people of this town, as set forth in the census schedules of 1860:
Acres of land improved. 85
Value of farms.
$2,000
No. of horses 5
No. of milch cows.
16
No. of working oxen 16
No. of other cattle 13
No. of swine 20
Value of live stock.
985
Value of farm implements and machinery. 363
The first company of immigrants who located in this town, was that of David Pratt and his large family, accompanied by P. C. Seely and family, and a number of other persons who all located here in the year 1857. They took up considerable land, and proceeded to make large improvements. Deacon David Pratt, the patriarch of this company, was a man of more than ordinary intelligence and force of character, and was possessed of some considerable means and with all, and over all, was an earnest, christian man, who illustrated his pro- fession in his every day life and conduct. For many years the house of Mr. Pratt was the headquarters of the town, and the stopping place of the traveler, the immigrant and the missionary, all of whom found here, at all times, the most generous hospitality. Mr. Pratt died in August, 1877.
THE NAME OF THE TOWN.
The town was named Seely, by the special commissioners, in in 1858, in honor of Philander C. Seely, one of the earliest settlers of the town.
PHILANDER C. SEELY.
Mr. Seely was horn in Cayuga county, state of New York, in 1823. He emi- grated to Wisconsin in 1846, and from thence to this county in 1857.
He married Miss Harriet Pratt, a daughter of David Pratt. They have one child living, Clement W. Seely, now a resident of the town. Mr. Seely was the
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HISTORY OF
first chairman of the board of supervisors, of this town, and the first justice of the peace, being chosen to both offices the same year. He was also a member of the board of county supervisors (now commissioners) one term. Ile was elected to the office of sheriff, of this county, in the fall of 1861, receiving every vote polled in the county. lle served one term. When elected sheriff he re- mnoved to Blue Earth City, where he resided some years, but subsequently returned to his farm in Seely, and engaged In farming. He was in the military service of the United States, and went south near the close of the rebellion .
Mr. Seely, In his younger days, took mnuch interest in politics, and early allied himself with the republican party. He was a delegate to the first free- soil convention, which assembled in Wisconsin, and which was held in 1848, when the free-soil party was organized in that state, and he supported Mr. Van Buren, the free-soil candidate for president that year.
Since writing the above sketch Mr. Seely returned again to Blue Earth City to reside, accompanied by his son and his family, and there he expects to spend the remainder of his days.
There are five post offices in the United States named Seely. and two named Seelyville.
ORGANIZATION.
This town was organized for civil purposes in 1858. and has kept up its organization to this day. The town of Kiester, then "Lake," was attached to Seely by the special commissioners in 1858 for town purposes, and so remained until set off as a separate town by the county commissioners, January 4th, 1892. On the sixth of March. 1860, the two town districts of "Seely and Kiester" and "Brush Creek and Foster." were consolidated as one town district, by the county board, but this arrangement did not continue a great while.
The first board of town officers, elected in 1858, were: P. C. Seely, chairman of the supervisors and Abraham Foster and Samuel Pratt, side supervisors; town clerk. Willard Seely; assessor. David Pratt; justice of the peace, P. C. Seely; constable, James Pratt; treasurer, David Pratt.
The town officers in 1879, the last year of this sketch, were the following named persons: supervisors, P. J. Glasted. chairman. O. Reed and C. Sheldon: town clerk, G. B. Bates: assessor, C. W. Seely; treasurer. R. C. Haaland; justices of the peace. P. C. Seely and D. Salley; constables, Fred Williams and J. Reed.
EDUCATIONAL.
The first school house was built on the lines between the towns of Seely and Brush Creek, in the year 1858. the district then compris- ing the two towns. The house was built of logs, and was sixteen feet by twenty-four feet in size, and one story high. The first school was taught by Miss Parizade Pratt (afterwards Mrs. H. Raymond) in the above house, in the summer of 1858. There are now tive sub- stantial, well furnished school houses in the town, and a very com-
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FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
mendable spirit has always been manifested on the subject of edu- cation.
RELIGIOUS AND OTHER SOCIETIES.
The first sermon preached in this township, was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Judd ( Methodist), of the Winnebago Indian Agency, in the old log house of Deacon David Pratt, in February, 1858. The Baptist church was organized here, December 19th, 1858. The Nor wegian Evangelical Lutheran church was organized about 1870, and this society erected a church edifice in the northwestern portion of the town, in 1872, on section 7. The Methodists organized in De- cember, 1871. A Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry was insti- tuted here in the days when that society flourished in this county.
VARIOUS EVENTS.
The first person born in Seely township was Ida M. Pratt, daughter of Samuel Pratt. She was born in August, 1858.
The first marriage was that of Abraham Foster, to Miss Emily M. C. Murray, which occurred on the fourth day of May, 1859, and the ceremony was performed by Mr. Seely, justice of the peace.
The first death was that of Samuel Pratt, which took place January 5th, 1863.
A postoffice was established in this town named "Clayton," about the year 1859, on section four. Clayton is now known as something more than a post-office. It may be designated as a ham- let, and the headquarters of the town. For many years there has been a store here, and a hotel, blacksmith shop, school house, etc.
There are two other post offices in the town, one named Homedahl, on section 30; and one named Seely, on section twenty- two.
Prior to the close of this history, this town has furnished the following public officers: two county commissioners, Seely and Sis- son; a sheriff, Seely; a county surveyor, Sisson.
Prior to the close of 1879, there were many settlers who came into this town, the names of some of whom, not already mentioned, are recorded here.
K. Anderson, A. Armstrong, J. Anderson, L. T. Batland, C. Bloom, A. B. Brant, G. D. Bassett, G. B. Bates, John Cushing, R. Derickson, C. E. Everett, F. S. Everette. A. Foster, Ole Gudall, T. N. Gestie, P. J. Glasted, M. O. Hogue, D. L. Hogue, J. G. Hogue, J. O. Hove, C. O. Haaland, T. O. Haaland, R. O. Haa- land, F. Hulbert, M. Halsett, A. Halsett, L. Johnson, C. Johnson, J. O. John- son, D. Johnson, Otten Iverson, Henry Kamrar, S. P. Langsav, S. Larson, L. Lewison, A. W. Langworthy, B. H. Langworthy, W. F. Lawrence, O. W. Lee, N. Nelson, O. N. Oleson, J. Peterson, P. Peterson, A. Peterson, S. Peterson, F. Pet- erson, J. Pratt. G. Pratt, W. W. Reed, E. R. Reed, J. Reed, O. Reed. John Reed, S. L. Rugg, T. T. Rosdale, Ira M. Riker, A. L. Rake, J. Raymond, J. R Sisson, Jeff. Shirk, J. M. Showalter, Daniel Salley, O. Sannon, T. D. Stodland, T. Sher- man, C. Scholden, T. L. Sherman, W. Seely, C. W. Seely, A. Torkleson, O. B. Thompson, E. J. Torquine, Geo. Venim, H. Wing, Fred. Williams.
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HISTORY OF
STATISTICS.
The reports for the year 1879, show In this town, 210 horses; 442 cows: 399 other cattle; 8 mules; 170 sheep; 39 hogs; 30 wagons and carriages; 11 sewing machines; 6 organs. The assessed value of real property for that year was $101,735; personal, 824,561; total, $126,296. Total assessment on the same for 1879, was $1,873.88. Of agricultural products, there were, for 1879, of wheat 30,000 bushels; oats, 17,000 bushels; corn, 11,000 bushels; barley, 1,200 bushels: potatoes, 1,900 bushels, syrup, 1,200 gallons; flax seed, 225 bushels; wool, 1.100 pounds; butter, 45,000 pounds; cheese, 1,800 pounds.
The population of the town in 1860, was 17, in 1865, it was 88, in 1870 it was 266, in 1875 it was 36, and in 1880 it was 441. A large proportion of the inhabi- tants are of Norwegian nationality.
Her er lidt Historie, oldtidens og nutidens Historie. Efter old- tidens sagaer, der fortæller os om, at Erik den Röde, "en Nord- mand.“ i Aaret 983, besögte den söndre Kyst af Grönland og grund- lagde der en Koloni, og at hans sön, Leif Eriksen, med et fölge af modige sömænd i Aaret 1000, næsten fem hundrede Aar för Colum- bus var födt, opdagede og landede paa Kysten af Nord Amerika, hvor de plantede det gamle Norges flag. og grundlagde en Koloni. Det nye land blev af dem kaldet Vinland. Nordmændene kunde saaledes have gjort fordring paa Amerika. som opdagere af landet; men deres Koloni döde snart ud og opdagelsen glemtes; kun erind- ret i Aarhundredernes löb gjennem gamle Fortællinger og upaalide- lige Optegnelser. Men i det siste Aarhundrede har mange hun- drede tusinde af Norske folk kommet over til Amerika, og af disse har Minnesota i de siste firti Aar faaet en meget stor part. De, og deres Efterkommere udgjör en stor del of vor stats og county's be- folkning. Mange af de allerførste settlere i Emerald, Brush Creek. Seely, Rome. Delavan og forskellige andre townships var Nord- mænd. Amerikas frie Institutioner falder meget naturlige for Skandinaverne, og de blive snart forligte med dem; paa grund af at Skandinaverne i Aarhundreder har været stadige Forkjæmpere for hvert enkelt individs tanke og handle frihed. De har været en ud- holdende race og vanskelige at tvinge under en vilkaarlig og despo- tisk övrigheds Herredømme, og sandheden er, at dette har endnu aldrig været gjort i det mindste for nogen længere tid i de gamle lande. Deres Fædres lande med sine höie fjelde og dybe dale, sin frie luft. sin nærhed til den aabne sö, det oplivende klima. de gamle, ofte gjentagne sagaer om frihed og om Fædrenes uforfærdede og heltemodige gjerninger, har alt tilsammen forenet sig til at frem- bringe et friheds elskende folk; og idag er der ikke et land i Europa. som ikke allerede er en republik, der er mere skikket for frie Insti- tutioner end Norge. Ikke engang England. For i det sidste land fortryller og behersker glandsen af en arvelig Adelsstilling og rig- dom endnu alt formeget det engelske sind. Hele Amerika, og især- deleshed dets folk af Norsk herkomst, vil naar Norge opnaar, hvad dets statsmænd haaber paa. en uafhængig republiks stilling, hilse den dag velkommen med saa höie jubel raab, at deres ekko skal gjenlyde over hele jorden.
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FARIBAULT COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
CHAPTER XX.
KIESTER TOWNSHIP.
This is the southeast township of the county and is numbered on the government surveys, as town one hundred and one (101) north, of range twenty-four (24) west. It is bounded on the north by Foster township, on the east by the town of Mansfield, in Freeborn county, on the south by the State line, and on the west by Seely township.
The average elevation, above sea level, of this town is, twelve hundred and fifty feet, but there is one elevation, or point of land which is fourteen hundred feet. There is a range of morainic or drift hills in this town designated by the State geologist, as the "Kiester Hills," and which extend, in a northwestern direction, some twenty miles to the southwest part of Lura township. We quote here from Vol. I, "Geology of Minnesota:"
"The most hilly portions of Kiester are its south side, for a width of one mile, and a helt through its northeast part, from section 13 to sections 3 and 4, in which are the most prominent of these hills, visible fifteen miles to the north and west.
Their height is from 100 to 200 feet above the lowlands, the highest points, which are in the S. W. } of section 3, being about 1,400 feet above the sea. These are massive hills of till, of irregular outlines." * * *
These hills, on section 3, are not only the highest lands in the town, but constitutes the summit, or crowuing elevation, of the county, and of a large scope of country, in every direction, surrounding them. And considering the general elevation of this town above sea level, the people of the town, going anywhere in the county, outside of their town, may be said tobe 'going down' to the place visited, and persons going to this town, from any part of the county, are 'going up' to the town. .
"Between the hill ranges of the north and south parts of this township, its central portion, for a width of two or three miles, is moderately undulating till. *
* * In sections 8, 17, 20 and 29, through the west part of Kiester, a series of hills of till, 60 to 75 feet high, connects the west ends of these ranges, and forms the west border of the lower tract between them, except at the gap through which Brush creek flows."
The general surface of the town, as indicated, is quite high, dry and rolling. The soil generally is deep and as fertile as any in the State. There are numerous gravel beds in the town, which, at no distant day, will prove of considerable value for various purposes. The township is entirely prairie, there being no native timber in it whatever, but numerous groves of forest trees have been planted by
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