USA > Minnesota > Mower County > The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated > Part 51
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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
souls, eighty-three communicants, twenty voting members. Offi- cials : C. A. Affeldt, pastor; A. Zander and F. Lange, elders; Carl Kerchner, Otto Goetsch, Albert Biel, trustees.
SARGEANT VILLAGE.
Sargeant village is a flourishing trading point in section 18, near the west line of the township, and is located on the Chicago Great Western. The railroad came through in 1887, established a station here, and thus made the village possible. It is in the midst of a good farming country and has a population of about one hundred persons. It has several business houses, a bank, a hotel, an elevator, a schoolhouse and Baptist and German Evan- gelical churches. The village is incorporated. The village was platted September 7, 1894, in section 18, township 104, range 16, by John Pfuhl.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
AUSTIN TOWNSHIP.
Location and Natural Advantages-First Settlement-First Events - Organization - Religious History - Mill Sites - Cemetery.
Austin comprises congressional township 102 north, range 18 west, except that part included in the city of Austin. It has for its neighbors Lansing on the north, Windom on the east, Lyle south, and the town of Oakland, in Freeborn county, joins it on the west. The township is drained by the Red Cedar river and its tributaries. The river traverses the town from north to south, entering section 3 from the town of Lansing, it takes a southward course, leaving the town from section 33. The principal tribu- taries of the river are Rose, Dobbins and Turtle creeks. When this locality was first settled the banks of Cedar river were skirted with a heavy growth of timber, while on either side back from the timber was a beautiful stretch of prairie land. The land west from the river is quite level, while on the east it is gently undulating. The soil is a rich dark loam, in some places slightly mixed with sand, in all parts very productive and well adapted to the different cereals and grasses grown in this locality.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
It is impossible to state who was the first to make a settle- ment within the present limits of Austin township outside of the
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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
present city. As early as 1854 Jackson Wilder laid claim to a large tract of land east of the Red Cedar river, including what was known as the Sweetwater claim, so called from a beautiful spring of clear water. He, however, did not stop here, but pushed on to Mitchell county, Iowa. He hired a man to build a log house on the claim, which was done, but no roof was put on. In Sep- tember, 1854, C. H. Huntington, A. S. Lott, Calvin Powers and Moses Rolph came from Rock county, Wisconsin, seeking a loca- tion. They discovered the Sweetwater claim located in sections 27 and 34. They also discovered that Jackson Wilder and his son Nelson living in Mitchell county, Iowa, had made a claim of the land which they wanted. As the Wilders were not living on their claim, it would have been an easy matter to have jumped the claim. But Huntington and Lott thought they would rather buy the claim at reasonable figures than to have trouble. They accordingly went to Iowa and bought the claim. The party, be- fore returning to Wisconsin, went up the river as far as Lansing, where they selected a claim for A. B. Vaughan, on which he after- ward settled. They visited the present site of the city of Austin, where they met Chauncey Leverich, who offered to sell his claim for $500. They offered him $450, which he refused. After this the party returned to Wisconsin. Mr. Huntington felt uneasy lest some one should jump the claim during his absence in the winter. He accordingly employed his brother-in-law, Calvin Powers, to come with his family and spend the winter. Mr. Huntington accompanied Mr. Powers on his return trip. They arrived at the Sweetwater claim November 18. They had made the trip of 250 miles with a pair of horses and a wagon and brought Mr. Powers's household goods along, as well as a stock of provisions to last through the winter. They also drove a cow along with them. Huntington employed one Foster to assist Powers to build a log house, after which he returned to Wiscon- sin. Powers soon had his house ready for occupancy. It was built of round logs. The building, which was twelve feet wide by fifteen feet in length, contained one window and a door. The cracks he chinked with chips and plastered with mud. He made oak shacks with which to cover the roof. Here Mr. Powers, with his wife and four small children, spent the winter. One day in February, while Mr. Powers and his family were away from home, some Indians broke into their cabin and stole their pro- visions. They were, however, kindly cared for and supplied with a new stock by their neighbors, the Wilders, in Iowa, and the winter was passed with little suffering.
April 15, 1855, Huntington and Lott (the latter in the mean- time having married Huntington's wife's sister) started on their return to their new home, where they arrived May 6, having made
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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
the trip overland with eight pairs of oxen and two wagons. They brought their household goods along and drove forty-eight head of young eattle and forty-four hogs. In Howard county they were joined by George Bemis and John Osborne, who made the latter part of the journey with them. Huntington and Lott brought a cast iron mill with them which was the first in use in Mower county. It was used by the people far and near for some time.
They afterward sold this mill to Quiney A. Truesdell, who oper- ated it for a time by water power on Dobbins ereek. Lott set. tled in seetion 27. Huntington settled on the Sweetwater elaim. Bemis settled on the present site of the eity of Austin. Osborne settled on seetion 33. In the fall of 1855 Powers settled on sec- tion 25, where he resided until the time of his death. During this same year there were other settlers, but none that were per- manent. There were three men named Avery, a father and two sons, that made settlements in section 4. They remained but about two years, then moved away.
In 1855 the following named eame: Robert Audis, Alexander Nigus, Ruben and Levi Watrous, Widow Loekwood, George Phelps and Thomas Phelps, Clem Smith, Daniel MePherson and M. J. Woodson. Audis eame from Fayette county, Iowa, and settled on seetion 10. He opened his house as a hotel. He erected quite a good sized building for a dance hall, and there the people often gathered for a good time. Audis remained a resident of the town a few years, then returned to Iowa. Nigus settled in sec- tion 2. He was here but a little more than a year, when he sold ont and moved away. The Watrous brothers and Widow Loek- wood had elaims in section 12. They sold out and returned to Iowa about two years later. Smith and the Phelps brothers were from Canada. Smith settled in section 23, where he bought the west half of the southeast quarter. He went to war and died in the service. Thomas Phelps pre-empted the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of seetion 32. He lived here until war times, when he sold out and moved to Vinton, Iowa, from thenee he went to the war and died in the service. George Phelps pre- empted the north half of the northeast quarter of section 32. In 1858 he traded for an interest in the mill property at Cedar City. About a year later he sold and went to California. McPherson was from Canada. He settled on the northwest of seetion 14, where he died. Woodson was a native of Kentucky. He settled on seetion 14.
In 1856 there were quite a number of arrivals, among which were the following: Jacob S. Deeker, W. A. Woodson, D. L. Chandler and II. Van Winkle, John Watkins, Caleb Stock, Al- fred Cressy, Thomas Bonnellie, John Rose and H. E. Case, Thomas
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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
Varco, Harry G. Prouty and Welcome Osborne. Decker was a native of New Jersey; settled on the northwest of section 1. Woodson and Van Winkle were from Illinois; had been here the previous fall and selected a claim in section 13. Watkins was a native of Wales. He settled on the northwest of section 33.
Stock was a native of England. He settled on the north one- half of the southeast quarter of section 32. Cressy was also a native of England. He settled on the southeast quarter of sec- tion 31. He afterward became a preacher. Bonnellie was a Scotchman. He preempted land in sections 32-33, and lived there until after the war. Rose was an eastern man, and settled in the northeast of seetion 25. Case was a speculator from New Britain, Connecticut. He claimed the southeast quarter of sec- tion 5. He moved a shanty from the village to the claim, and lived there long enough to preempt, when he returned to his native state. Varco was a native of England. He settled on see- tion 26. Prouty was a native of York state, and came from Wis- consin. He settled in the southeast of section 26, which place was his home until the time of his death. Welcome Osborne was a native of Canada. His settlement was on the southwest of section 32.
FIRST EVENTS.
The first marriage ceremony in Austin township celebrated the nuptials of Caleb Stock and Mary Walkins. The ceremony took place at the home of the bride's parents, in section 33; Sylvester Smith, justice of the peace, officiated. The first white child born within the present limits of the town of Austin, was Annette Powers, daughter of Calvin and Merey (Beebe) Powers, September 22, 1855. The first white male child born in the town was Colbert, son of A. S. and Jane (Beebe) Lott, October 10, 1855.
MILL SITES.
Quaint Old Mill. The first mill in the neighborhood known as Cedar City, was a novel affair, constructed by Welcome Chan- dler in 1857. He took a hollow log, which he sunk a short distance into the ground, resting the end on a solid foundation. Over this mortar, as it might be called, he suspended a pole balanced on a post with a weight on one end and a pestle of hard wood swing- ing over the mortar. The corn, after having first been dried in an oven, was put into this mortar and crushed to meal. This mill served a good purpose and was resorted to by the neighbors, who had previously been grating the corn. The grater used by them was of their own make, usually an old tin pan with holes in it made by driving a nail through.
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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
Mower County Mills. This mill was first built by Jonathan Gregson and William Gutherless, in 1862-63. They put in a dam of stone and logs, and seeured eight feet head of water. They ereeted a stone building 30x30, two stories in height with base- ment. The first flour was made in September, 1863. In April, 1865, the building fell and Mr. Gutherless was buried in the ruins. He was severely injured, but no bones were broken. That same year Mr. Gregson erected a frame building on the old site. The building was 28x40 feet. In 1869 General Rusk, of Wisconsin, purchased the mill. W. H. Officer was associated with General Rusk in the purchase of the mill, and took charge at that time. The old Officer mill was burned some years ago and a grist mill now occupies the old site.
Red Cedar Mills. These mills were built in 1867 and 1868, by Jonathan Gregson. As first built the building was 22x40 feet, with a shed attached. In 1875 the building was enlarged. In 1879 the building was again enlarged. Mr. Gregson was the first to introduce the roller system into Mower county, he having put one set of rollers in as early as 1878. These mills have been rebuilt and remodeled and are now conducted by A. S. Campbell.
The Warner Mill. This mill was erected by one Warner, on Dobbins ereek. It passed through various hands and was after- ward removed. The dam is now in ruins.
Another Old Mill. In 1859, John Fake and Alonzo Fairbanks, purchased the steam saw mill, located east of the Cedar river, on the southwest quarter of section 2. In the spring of 1860 they put in one set of buhrs, and prepared to make flour. In 1861, Fake & Fairbanks sold the mill to Joseph Beauregard, who operated it for a time. The saw mill and engine were afterward moved to Freeborn county, while the flour machinery was put into Gregson's mill.
EARLY RELIGIOUS SERVICES.
Religious meetings were held in an early day at the house of Jeremiah Phelps, in the town of Lyle. Rev. Phelps, an itinerant Methodist preacher, was the first to hold forth. As soon as the log schoolhouse was built on section 32 the meetings were held there. Among the early preachers were Elders Mapes, Beach, Loomis and John Dyer. The latter was an evangelist, or exhorter. Ile held a series of protracted meetings at the log schoolhouse, assisted by Rev. Alanson Beach. A number were converted and a class organized. The following were among the members: W. Means, Welcome Osborne and wife, John Osborne and wife, Wel- come Chandler and wife, Thomas Phelps and wife, Jeremiah and Diadæna Phelps, Jacob Eppler and wife, Joshua Welch and wife,
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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
Jolın Chandler and Joshua Eppler. The first pastor of this class was Rev. Mapes. He was followed by Rev. Willis Tieknor.
In 1867, Rev. Carver, a Methodist preacher, then stationed at Austin, preached in the schoolhouse, in distriet No. 55, and organ- ized a class there. Among the members were W. Hall and wife, R. H. Densmore and wife, G. W. Clough and wife, J. N. Patter- son and wife and John King and wife. J. N. Patterson was elected class leader. Meetings were held once in two weeks for a few years.
Rose Creek Cemetery. This cemetery, which is located in the southern part of section 24, Austin township, was laid out in June, 1862, and the first officials were Thomas Varco, Harvey Proudy and Ezra Ames. The first burial was that of Harvey Pratt, son of D. O. and A. L. Pratt, in 1862. The cemetery society was incorporated in 1862. The present officers are: President, F. H. Pike; secretary, J. W. Varco; treasurer, C. H. Lott; superin- tendent, C. O. Brownell; director, F. M. Dufty. The cemetery presents an excellent appearance, and is well kept. The Happy Thought Club has done much to improve its appearance.
The Happy Thought Club. On June 22, 1905, Mrs. Frank H. Pike invited the ladies interested in general township improve- ments to meet at her home for the purpose of organizing a society for the improvement and beautifying of the Rose Creek cemetery at Varco station. The organization was afterward named the Happy Thought Club. The officers are: President, Mrs. Frank H. Pike; vice president, Mrs. E. V. Hart; secretary, Mrs. W. H. Aultfather ; treasurer, Mrs. J. W. Varco. The club is in a flour- ishing condition, has eighty-five members, and has raised $369.45 for improvements.
Cedar City Cemetery. This cemetery is pleasantly located on the south one-half of section 32, and contains three-fourths of an acre of land. It was surveyed in 1879, by G. H. Clough, and contained at that time forty-two lots, 18x20. This was used as a burial place a number of years before it was platted. The first burial here was that of a man named Robinson, assistant editor of the Mower County Mirror.
The Evergreen Stock Farm. The Ellis Evergreen stock farm is located within fifteen minutes walk of the C., M. & St. P. depot at Austin, and is but a mile from the heart of the city. The farm consists of a section of land, about one-fifth being timber and pasturage, the balance being under cultivation. The 120 acres where the house is located was the original farin and was added to piecemeal. It was not counted a valuable aequisi- tion when Mr. Ellis seenred it over half a century ago. It was covered with hazel brush and a low growth of burr oaks. Mr
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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
and Mrs. Ellis moved onto the farm in 1859 and in common with other early settlers, suffered privations and hardships which the present generation ean scareely comprehend.
After the wheat failure in 1877, Mr. Ellis realized the need of more and better stock, and was the first farmer in Mower county to purchase thoroughbred eattle. He selected the Hol- steins and placed them upon his farm in 1878, and this fine stoek soon advertised the farm all over the northwest. There are thou- sands of evergreens upon the farm, some of them over forty years old. They were all planted and eared for by Mr. Ellis himself. The storm of June 20, 1908, destroyed hundreds of them, as well as hundreds of the trees of native timber. The farm is now owned and operated by Mrs. A. V. Ellis, Joseph Helebrant, the foreman, having been on the farm for the past seventeen years. It is one of the largest dairy farms in the county. Holstein cattle, both registered and grades, are kept. The name "Ever- green Farms" was registered in 1909, and was the last paper Mr. Ellis signed.
Two Rivers was laid out and platted June 11, 1857, by Robert Audis and George B. Hayes, in seetion 10, township 102, range 18. It existed only on paper.
Varco station consists of a railroad station and an elevator. It is situated in the southern part of Austin township on both the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul and the Chicago Great West- ern. It was platted in seetion 26, township 102, range 18, Novem- ber 17, 1875, by Thomas Vareo.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
LANSING TOWNSHIP.
Location and Area-Early Settlement-Organization-Bounty- Churches - Railroads - First Events - Mills-Cemeteries- Lansing Village-Early Interests-Masonic Lodge-Ramsey Junction-Corning Village.
Lansing is bounded on the north by Udolpho, east by Red Rock, south by Austin city and township, west by Freeborn county, and comprises all of township 103, range 13. The town is well provided with water and timber. The Red Cedar river enters the township in section 2, flowing through sections 11, 14, 23, 26 and 34, thence entering Austin city. This river is noted for
LANSING LANDMARK.
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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
its valuable water powers. Spring creek rises in section 4, flows in a southeasterly direction through section 3, and enters the Red Cedar in section 11. Well's creek rises in section 16, passes in a southeasterly direction through sections 15, 14, and empties into the Red Cedar in section 23. Dobins creek enters the town in section 36, from where it passes into Austin township. Turtle creek enters the township at the northwest corner of section 31, through which section it flows ; leaving the town at the southeast corner. Timber was quite plenty along the Red Cedar river when the county was first settled, but was largely cut off for building purposes. There is still considerable second growth timber in the township.
On either side of the Red Cedar the country is comparatively level, generally with sufficient drainage. The western portion of the town has more of a rolling tendency, with groves of small oaks and grubs. Otherwise the township is a rolling prairie.
The prairie along the Red Cedar is composed of a rich soil of clay and vegetable mould, with a sprinkling of sand, making a natural corn soil. In the western part of the town, with excep- tion of the prairie, yellow clay predominates. The prairie is composed of a black loam, underneath which is a clay subsoil.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The first to make a' settlement in the township was HI. O. Clark, known as "Hunter Clark," a name given him from his being an expert hunter. He came to the township in. the fall of 1853. He took a claim and settled on the northeast quarter of section 34. He built a log cabin a short distance northeast of where Oakwood cemetery is now located. Clark was of the true pioneer stamp, ever seeking a newer country. He sold his claim to William Baudler, who took possession May 8, 1855. Clark went west, where he could have room. The last seen of him was in Idalıo.
Samuel Clayton settled in sections 26 and 27, in the spring of 1854. He built his log house in section 26. He had a wife and several children. Mr. Clayton was a member of the M. E. church. The first religions services were held at his house. He built a shop and worked at his trade of blacksmith. He was one of the first, if not the first, to work at blacksmithing in the county. He worked at his trade, in connection with farming, until 1865, when he sold out to Michael Teeter and went to Kansas.
N. G. Perry settled in the township in the fall of 1854. He was accompanied by Samuel Dixon. They were formerly from New York state, and had their families with them. Mr. Perry sold his farm to C. P. Bell. He afterwards purchased another
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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
farm in the western part of the township. He sold out a few years later and went to Nebraska and to Knox county, Kansas.
John Pettibone, a bachelor, entered three eighties in section 11, in 1854. He remained here until 1857, when he sold out to A. B. Vaughan and D. M. V. Stewart and returned to Ohio.
Alanson B. Vaughan came to Mower county, in company with two sons, in the fall of 1854. They were from Rock county, Wis- consin, where Mr. Vaughan had been engaged in the mercantile trade. They took claims in section 10 in this township. After letting the contract for building a house returned to Wisconsin, where they remained through the winter. In the spring of 1855 Mr. Vaughan, with his family, accompanied by his five grown sons, two of whom were married, came with teams to their new homes in Mower county. The sons of A. B. Vaughan are Phineas D., John G., Enoch G., Herman B., Benjamin K. Phineas D. located on the southeast quarter of section 3; John G. the south- east quarter of section 2; Enoch G. the northeast quarter of section 10; Herman B. the southeast of section 10.
There came in 1856, Thomas Gibson, William Rutherford, John P. and Harcar Lyons, J. H. Watkins, H. C. Aldrich, Jos. Gillen, Martin McNally, Jos. Smith, James MeLaughlin, A. Bart- lett, John Dignan, James N. Cook, A. H. Chapin, Lewis Thompson, William Litchfield, Jonas Haney, George Baird and others. Among those who came in later and have been prominent in town affairs are George Wood, John Mathieson, A. C. Boynton, E. H. Wells, G. W. Grimshaw, Robert Lewis, C. C. Bell, M. Gregson, M. Teeter and Ole G. Anderson.
FIRST EVENTS.
The first couple to be joined in the holy bonds of wedlock was Silas Dutcher and Mary R. Perry, which notable event took place August 27, 1856, Sylvester Smith, of Austin, presiding. Another early marriage in the township was Nelson M. Wilder and Maria H. Vaughan, which occurred January 4, 1861, Rev. H. I. Parker, a Baptist minister, officiating. Mr. Wilder died in Nebraska, where he had gone for his health, in 1880.
The first child born in Lansing township was Adeline Ruth, daughter of P. D. and Elizabeth Vaughan, which event occurred August 8, 1856. She was married December 6, 1877, to George Russell.
The first death was that of Daniel McPherson, a Scotchman from Canada: He was a single man and made his home with Mr. Dobbins in section 22. While at work on the old log school- house Mr. MePherson fell, by which he sustained injuries that caused his death. He died in the autumn of 1857 and was buried
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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
in section 27, the exact location being lost, owing to the road passing over the grave.
ORGANIZATION.
A warrant was issued April 18, 1858, calling upon the citizens of Lansing township to meet and organize. Pursuant to said notice the legal voters met in the old log schoolhouse in section 27 and elected the following officers : Supervisors, A. B. Vaughan, chairman, Jonas Haney, E. A. Snow; clerk, P. D. Vaughan; as- sessor, James MeLaughlin ; collector, Enoch Vaughan; overseer, J. H. Watkins; justices of the peace, A. B. Vaughan and Emery Snow; constable, John P. Lyons; overseer of highways, John P. Lyons.
SOLDIERS' BOUNTY.
At a special meeting of the voters of Lansing, held at the village of Lansing, September 5, 1862, A. Sprague was elected chairman, P. G. Lamoreaux clerk pro tem. The following reso- lutions were unanimously passed: "Resolved, That we raise by tax on the property of the town of Lansing, one hundred and fifty dollars. That we pay twenty-five dollars to each of the following named persons who enlisted into the service of the United States, after August 20, 1862, and prior to August 26, 1862, or as many of these as may be accredited to this town in making up the quota for the call of the president for 600,000 troops, and the filling up of the old regiments : John Harlley, Benjamin Vaughan, Augustus Whitney, - Phillips, William M. Lent, D. B. Vaughan."
RELIGIOUS.
Methodist Episcopal. The first religious services held in Lan- sing township were at the house of Samuel Clayton, in 1855, by Rev. W. E. Holbrook, a Methodist minister from Iowa. Occa- sional services were held by him at houses in the neighborhood until 1857, when the Pettibone house was fixed up for school pur- poses, in which meetings were afterwards held. Rev. Mr. Phelps also held services at different houses in the neighborhood in 1856. A class of the Methodist denomination was formed about 1855 and meetings held at houses in the neighborhood. Meetings were afterwards held at the old Pettibone schoolhouse in District No. 43. The organization was kept up until about 1857-58, when the class was divided, a part going to Austin and a part to Lansing village. This class was organized by Rev. W. E. Holbrook. Rev. Mr. Mapes also held services in the township at an early day. The first services of the Lansing branch were held at the school- house, the building later used by George Wood as a residence. There was a membership of about twelve. In 1856 the founda-
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