The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated, Part 53

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago : H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co.
Number of Pages: 1246

USA > Minnesota > Mower County > The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated > Part 53

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Alice, second daughter of Mathew Rooney, was frozen to death in the winter of 1872, the circumstances of which are as follows: It seems that Frank, a son, and Alice had gone to the village of Adams to trade, as Alice was to commence school at Austin the next Monday. The two left the village for home, with sleigh and horses about dark. It was storming very hard from the northwest. As the team had to face the storm, it was impos- sible to drive them, and in turning around broke the sleigh tongue. They wandered around all night. They were found the next morning just over in Iowa. Alice died; Frank lost his feet.

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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

JOHNSBURG.

Johnsburg, or Johansburg, as it was formerly called, is an old settlement in section 32, containing a Catholic church, a general store and several residenees.

St. John's Church, R. C. The first religious services in Adams township were held at the house of John Fagans, in 1858. The next year (1859) the inhabitants erected a log church 16x20, ten feet high. In 1860 an addition 12x14 was built on to the old building. The building was used for church purposes until 1868, when it was replaced by a substantial frame structure. The building was provided with steeple and bell, which cost $300. The building complete cost $4,000. This was the first Catholic church in the county. Rev. B. Bowman was the first permanent priest ; he came in 1875, remaining with the church six years. The church was commenced by Father Keller, collecting by subscription. The ten acres on which the church stands was given to the church by John Heinner. The church was incorpo- rated in 1883.

VILLAGE OF ADAMS.

The village of Adams originated in a elnster of buildings about the center stake of section 11. The first business building was erected by W. E. Davis & Bros. in the fall of 1867. They put in a general stock of goods. They remained in business here until 1871, when they sold out to M. Krebsbach. A. D. Harris engaged in the mercantile trade here in 1882. The first saloon was opened by one Beacher, who came here in the summer of 1867. The village was platted January 30, 1868, by Selah Chamberlain.

ADAMS IN 1873.

As early as 1873 Adams was a flourishing trading point. There was a good school and railroad station, with J. R. Millinan as agent. Mathias Krebsbach was a grain buyer and a partner in the firm of Krebsbach & Corbitt, general merchants, in whose store the postoffice was kept. I. W. Miner dealt in produce and farm machinery, and had three warehouses filled with wheat. Barnhart & O'Brien did general blacksmithing and repairing. John Carr kept the Shamrock House.

MODERN ADAMS.

Adams is one of the larger villages of the county and has a population of nearly six hundred people. It is progressive in every respect, has Catholic and Lutheran churches, a bank, a creamery, a telephone system, cement sidewalks, waterworks, gas

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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

plant, newspaper, public school, parochial school, fire department, telephone service and the like. Among its business activities may be mentioned: Two elevators, one creamery, two general stores, one hotel, two hardware stores, one drug store, one harness shop, one meat market, four saloons, one physician, one dentist, one garage, one livery, one brewery warehouse, one photographer, two blacksmith shops, one lumber yard. Among the leading citizens may be mentioned: Mathias Krebsbach, John II. Krebs- bach, Michael Krebsbach, Wm. W. Dean, John Gilligan, H. Carey, J. H. Carey, P. H. Carr, J. W. Carr, J. W. Heimer, A. Torgerson, E. L. Slindee, W. H. Cavanaugh, Rev. F. B. Reichel, Rev. O. C. Myhre, Paul C. Keith, N. M. Smith, E. V. Smith, C. E. Bennett.

MUNICIPAL HISTORY.

The village of Adams was incorporated March 2, 1887. The first officers were: President, Mathias Krebsbach; recorder, H. Carey ; J. W. Carr, E. A. Knutson and Michael Krebsbach. At present the officers are : President, N. M. Smith; recorder, A. J. Krebsbach; John Steichen, Anton Schneider, C. E. Bennett. In its municipal government the village of Adams has shown true progress. In the summer of 1897 a water works system was put in, with full equipment of well, tower, tank, pumping station, and sufficient mains to practically cover the village. In 1902 a complete sewerage system was installed. A year later came the gas plant, which keeps the streets well lighted, and also supplies illumination.for residences and business places. In 1906 a new village hall was erected to replace the old one built in 1889. This hall is, the pride of the village. Its upper floor contains the council chambers, while the lower floor is given to the fire appa- ratus and the jail. The fire apparatus is manned by a competent volunteer fire department, and is admirably suited to the purpose for which it was intended.

RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL.

Adams village has two churches and two schools. The story of the Little Cedar Lutheran Congregation is given elsewhere.

Church and School of the Sacred Heart. These institutions occupy an important place in the life of the village. The present church which is a beautiful brick structure was erected in 1902. Rev. F. B. Reichel is the pastor, and the trustees are Fred King and August Rooney. The school is a substantial frame building, the rear rooms being used as a convent for the five sisters of the order of St. Francis who teach the parochial school and perform the other Christian duties to which their vow calls them. A parsonage has also been erected.

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School. The Adams village school is district 8. The first school was erected in 1858. In 1873 another building was put up. The present four-room structure was erected in the early nineties. The board is: A. Torgerson, secretary; O. I. Thon, treasurer ; A. O. Sjobakken, trustee.

ORGANIZATIONS.

The village of Adams has three fraternities. The Commercial Club is also in a flourishing condition, and the Adams Co-oper- ative Creamery Company has been an important factor in bring- ing the farmers into the village.

Sacred Heart Court, No. 1196, Catholic Order of Foresters. This lodge was instituted March 4, 1901. The chief ranger was J. HI. Krebsbach. The present officers are: Chief ranger, Joseph See; past chief ranger, J. II. Krebsbach ; vice chief ranger, J. P. Krebsbach; recording secretary, Michael Schneider; financial secretary, A. J. Krebsbach ; treasurer, Michael Krebsbach ; trus- tees, M. P. Smith, John Loecher and Joseph Schaefer.

Adams Lodge, No. 203, A. O. U. W., was instituted December 12, 1895, the officers at that time being: Past master workman, G. W. Dahlquist; master workman, J. W. Carr; foreman, Charles Starksen ; overseer, P. H. Carr; recorder, John Griffin ; financier, Hubbard Carey; receiver, William Noonan; guide, O. N. Wiste; inside watchman, James Burkey ; outside watchman, James Nel- son ; trustees, Thomas Madden, J. HI. Carey and Fred Zwickey. The present officers are: Past master workman, Michael Rooney ; master workman, August Rooney; foreman, Joseph Carey; finaneier, P. H. Carr; receiver, George Rooney; guide, W. J. Carr; inside watchman, Ed. Gurvin; outside watchman, J. M. Keeper. J. W. Carr is delegate to the grand lodge and M. J. Rooney is his alternate.

Adams Court, No. 9313, Modern Woodmen of America. This camp was organized something like a decade ago. The present. officers are : Couneil, M. A. Neus ; assistant council, C. E. Bennett ; banker, D. V. Smith; elerk, Louie Klima; sentry, M. Epland ; watchman, Lars Peterson ; escort, E. E. Anderson.

The Commercial Club was organized in 1908 and the present officers are: President, John Gilligan; secretary, William W. Dean; treasurer, J. W. Heimer. The elub has a membership of some sixty business men, and has been an important feature in the progress of the village in both a business and a social way.

The Adams Co-operative Creamery Company was organized February 25, 1898, and at once erected a new building. It suc- ceeded a private creamery which had been established several years earlier. The first officers were: President, I. E. Tiegen;

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vice president, John Gilligan; secretary, A. R. Anderson; treas- urer, James Olson; directors, Ole K. Olson, Anton Kramer and T. Madden. The present officers are : President, P. O. Anderson ; vice president, Anton Kramer; secretary, Michael Krebsbach ; treasurer, Gus. Jacobson ; directors, Lewis Lewison, J. C. Mullen- bach and Erick Hanson.

CHAPTER XLI.

FRANKFORD TOWNSHIP.

Location and Soil-Early Settlement-Frankford Village-Bear Creek-Norwegian Settlement-History of Township and Village by Mrs. Ralph E. Crane.

Frankford township includes congressional township 103 north, range 14 west, except the northern tier of sections, which belong to Racine township. It is bounded on the north by Racine, west by Grand Meadow, south by Bennington, and east by Spring Valley, Fillmore county. The surface is rolling, the soil is a dark loam, underlaid with a clay subsoil. It is one of the most fertile and productive townships of Mower county. About one-third of the surface of the township was originally covered with natural timber, while the remainder was prairie. The township is drained by Deer and Bear creeks.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

Many interesting facts cluster around the first and early set- tiement of this township, which will vividly be brought to mind by the mere mention of those pioneer days. The difficulties attending the first settlement of a county cannot be fully realized, or the hardship and privations that one must pass through to secure a home. The first settler to cast his lot within the borders of this township was Lewis Patchen, who settled on section 13, township 103, range 14, May 30, 1854. He was born in New York state, and came to Iowa in the spring of 1353; remained one year, then moved to Frankford township and preëmpted 160 acres of land. The second pioneer was Byron Woodworth, of New York. He and his family settled on section 22, where he lived for three years, then moved to Nebraska. The third settler was Bartlett Leathers. He settled on section 21. He lived on this place until his death in 1874.

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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

There came in 1855 Samuel Scribner. In 1856 came Charles Lamb, Naaman Goodsell, Philip Howell, Francis Tebout, Griffin Fryer, T. M. Chapman, Samuel Metcalf, James Gorman, John and George Rymal. In 1857 came the Donaldsons, S. Bostwick and W. F. Grummons. Among the other early settlers were S. A. Sherman, D. D. Frazier, Aldrew P. MeCabe and George Anchor. Among the prominent citizens of the eighties were S. E. Boyes, G. W. Dean, D. L. Quackenbush, O. O. Finhart, H. L. Lockwood, D. L. Bush and G. W. Wood. The story of the Norwegian settle- ment is told elsewhere.

FRANKFORD VILLAGE.

The village of Frankford was situated on the northeast of Frankford township, on sections 13 and 24. It was laid out by Jacob Oleson in 1856. Francis Teabout built the first house and store. Samuel Metcalf built the first wagon shop, and James Gorman the first blacksmith shop. Charles Hanson was the first shoemaker. John and George Rymal built the first grist mill. This was located on Deer creek. This mill property passed from the Rymal Bros. hands to Charles Lamb, who ran it until 1861, when it burned down.

Nothing remains of Frankford village but history. The story of the location of the county seat here and its removal to Austin is told elsewhere.

NORWEGIAN SETTLEMENT.

One of the first buildings erected in the northeastern part of the county is still standing, and is used as a corn crib on the farm of Sever Temanson, in section 5, in Racine township. July 1, 1854, there began arriving in this county a party of Nor- wegians, numbering thirty-seven in all, who had left the old country to seek their homes in America. In this party were Hans Anderson, Ole O. Finhart, Knud (Hougestven) Nelson, Sever Olson, Ellen Olson, Ole Simonson, Ole O. Hovda, Andrew Ander- son Lybeck, Amond Johnson Lindelin, Ole O. Severeud, Amond Johnson Klastole, Hans Julson, Nels Severson Moen and their families. Ole Simpson, the oldest member of the company with a family, was given the first choice of location, and selected the southeast quarter of section 5, once a part of Frankford, now a part of Racine. Mr. Simonson was known as "The Blacksmith," and he it was who erected the building mentioned above. He was assisted in constructing the building by Nels Severson, Andrew Lybeck and Ole Severson. The building was started in July and was finished in time for two other families beside the Simonsons to spend the first winter in it. The shingles were made of bark

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and a large fireplace was erected. In 1860 this building was moved to a location thirty rods further south and G. H. Hanson Modahlen moved into this building. November 2, 1854, a baby girl was born to Mr. and Mrs. Nels Severson, the first birth in the neighborhood. This girl, whose name was Julia, died at the age of eighteen, and is buried in the Bear Creek cemetery. June 2, 1856, the Bear Creek Norwegian Lutheran Church was organized in this building, and the first baptismal service was held here, this ordinance being received by six children. In the years 1857-58 three terms of school were held here and also the services of the congregation as well as the prosperous Sunday school for a time.

BEAR CREEK NORWEGIAN LUTHERAN CHURCH.

(By Pastor A. H. Gjevre.)

The Bear Creek Norwegian Lutheran Congregation is at present connected with "The United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America." This congregation was organized by the Rev. C. L Clausen, of St. Ansgar, Iowa, in June, 1856. The first members had two years before moved to Bear Creek from Dane county, Wisconsin, having in the years 1850-1852 emigrated to that coun- try from northern and southern Aurdal, in Valdres, Norway. They had in the year 1854 settled down in the eastern part of Mower county, Minnesota, and their first religious meeting here was conducted by Rev. Clausen in a log house on the northern bank of Bear creek, on Syver Temanson's farm. Here follow the names of these old pioneers who at the meeting united themselves together as a Christian congregation for the purpose of having the word of God preached and His holy sacraments administered to them in accordance with the ceremonies and regulations which they had been accustomed to in their old mother church of Norway. They were: Hans Andersen Gamlemeen, Ole O. Fin- hart, Knut Nilsen Haugstuen, Syver O. Skarshaugen, Ellen O. Skarshaugen, Ole S. Jobraaten, Ole O. Hovda, Anders A. Lybek, Amund J. Lindelien, Ole O. Syverud, Amund J. Klastole, Nils S. Moen, Ole Julsen, Gulik E. Dalen, Jonas Nilsen, Halvor O. Klas- tole, Aslak Aamot, Christen Tuv. After they were organized they had for a while services by Rev. Fredriksen. Later Rev. Jensen, of Highland Prairie, Minnesota, served them temporarily. Then they had temporary services by Rev. A. C. Preus, of St. Olaf congregation, Olmsted county, Minnesota, and boys and girls reading for confirmation had to go to the St. Olaf congrega- tion to become confirmed, fifty young persons from the whole charge at one time repeating their baptismal covenant at a divine service held under a venerable oak tree in said congregation. In

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the year 1861 Rev. Steen, of St. Olaf, became their pastor. He preached to them every seventh Sunday and continued till 1869, when he resigned, and Rev. J. A. Thorsen became his successor and served them every fifth Sunday till 1875. In that same year Rev. O. A. Bu, of Bloomfield congregation, Ostrander, Minnesota, accepted a call from Bear Creek and served them every third Sunday and continued till 1893, when he resigned, and Rev. S. O. Rondestvedt became their first settled pastor, and served them till 1901. Now they had more services than before. In 1901 Rev. Rondestvedt resigned, and Rev. O. G. Belsheim became his successor and served them till 1907, when Rev. A. H. Gjevre was installed as their pastor and spiritual adviser, November 10, 1907. In the year 1870 they decided to build a church edifice for their divine services. The following were chosen as building com- mittee : Ole O. Finhart, secretary; Aslak K. Aamot, treasurer; Amund A. Finhart, Amund J. Lindelien and Lars G. Hansen, directors. In the same year a large and commodious church was erected close by a beautiful grove on the northern side of Bear creek, where they also have a fine and well-kept cemetery. On the twelfth of June, 1887, the church was brought to such a state of perfection that it could be dedicated, and on the day men- tioned the dedication service was held with great joy for old and young, the dedicatory sermon being delivered by Prof. M. O. Boekman, assisted by Prof. F. A. Schmidt and Rev. O. A. Bu. After the arrival of Rev. Rondestvedt a fine and stately building was erected as the parsonage close by the church for the pastor and his family. In 1906 a jubilee service was held in commemo- ration of the organization of the congregation fifty years ago with gratitude and thanksgiving to the Lord for his mercy and gracious guidance. Following the initiative of Lars G. Hanson, the congre- gation in 1909 bought one and three-quarters of an acre of land lying close by the burial ground to enlarge its size, so that they now have one of the finest cemeteries to be seen out in the coun- try. This congregation is situated in one of the finest and most fertile regions of Mower county, the people are progressive and thrifty, and the Lord has blessed them bodily and spiritually. They have regular services two consecutive Sundays; every third Sunday the pastor has services in Grand Meadow congregation. Bear Creek congregation has a flourishing Sunday school, with able teachers, and besides they have every summer several months of parochial school in order to give the children a thorough knowledge of the principles of the Christian religion, to make them good, pions church members and faithful, loyal citizens of the state. In order to reach this glorious goal the pastor gives all the young people a profound and many-sided instruction in Chris- tianity when they are preparing for confirmation and full mem-

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bership in the congregation. There are three Ladies' Aid societies in this congregation, with enterprising members working for the welfare of people at home and abroad. There are many able men and women in this congregation, too numerous to mention. As members worthy of special note are the two brothers, H. O. Hanson and Lars G. Hanson, who have done this congregation valuable services. Bear Creek congregation has 375 souls, 258 confirmed and 107 voting members.

Grand Meadow Norwegian Lutheran Congregation. This little congregation is to a great extent a daughter congregation of the Bear Creek congregation, because the majority of the members have formerly belonged to Bear Creek church and moved to Grand Meadow. But they have still part in the cemetery of Bear Creek church and bury their departed dear ones there. They have a fine, commodious church edifice, with regular services every third Sunday, as well as a flourishing Sunday school and parochial school. The members are enterprising, intelligent people, com- prising some of the leading business men in Grand Meadow. The ladies have an Aid society working for the welfare of their fellow men at home and abroad. The number of souls is 153; confirmed, 84; voting members, 23.

Anders H. Gjevre was born June 9, 1852, in Vang, in Valdres, Norway; emigrated to America in the year 1871 and settled in Goodhue county, Minnesota, where he went to the English com- mon school the first winter in order to learn the language of this country. He came to this country for the purpose of acquiring a good education, and therefore in the fall of the next year, 1872, he entered Luther College, at Decorah, Iowa. Having finished the classical course he graduated from that institution in the spring of 1878 with the degree of B. A. In the fall of the same year he entered the theoretical or scientific department of a Lutheran theological seminary in Madison, Wisconsin, and grad- uated as candidate of theology from that institution in the spring of' 1881. November 10 of the same year he was ordained a pastor on a call from two congregations in Swift and Big Stone counties in Minnesota and one congregation at Wilmot, South Dakota; served the last one one year and the two first three years. He resigned on account of weak health and moved to Renville county, Minnesota, where he served a congregation one year. In the year 1886 he accepted a eall from three congregations in Deer county, Wisconsin. While there he desired to make more advancement in the Hebrew language, and therefore he entered a correspond- enee course of Hebrew under the guidance of the great specialist, Prof. Dr. W. R. Harper, president of the University of Chicago, and wrote a dissertation on the prophet Haggai for which he later received the degree of M. A. from his alma mater, Luther

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College, Decorah, Iowa. In the year 1889 he made a visit to his fatherland, Norway, and while there he also found his partner for life, Berit H. Leine, born April 11, 1864. In the same majestic old church where they both had been baptized and confirmed they became united in the holy bonds of matrimony on April 8, 1890, and some weeks later they left the fatherland to enter upon their duties in the congregations in Wisconsin. Mr. Gjevre continued his work in Wisconsin till 1893, when he accepted a call from four congregations in and around Fertile, Minnesota, where he served for seven and one-half years with the exception of a few months in the winter of 1897-1898, when he served as instructor in Hebrew exegesis and Old Testament interpretation at the theo- logieal seminary of the United Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota Being a lover of the Jewish people and their language and of the Semitic languages generally, he in the year 1900 accepted a call as missionary to the Jews in Greater New York and worked directly for the salvation of the Jews for two and one-half years, testifying early and late about Jesus as the true Messiah. To qualify himself still more for efficient work among the Jews he took a postgraduate course at Columbia University in Rabbinical Hebrew and studied also Syriac and Arabie and Oriental history under the guidance of the eminent specialists Dr. Richard Gott- heil, Dr. John Dynely Prince and Dr. Abraham Yohannan, a learned Syrian from Persia. At the request of these doctors he wrote a dissertation on "Analogy in the Semitie Languages," a scientifie production which the professors recognized as being of a high order and required to be printed and made accessible to the scientific world, but which the author has not been able to print for lack of means. He liked the work among the Jews but on account of sickness in his family he had to give up his direct mission work in New York and accepted a call as pastor for three congregations in Palo Alto county, Iowa, where he began his work in April, 1903, and continued there till October, 1907, when he accepted a call from Bear Creek and Grand Meadow congrega- tions in Mower county, Minnesota, and moved there and was installed as pastor in those churches, his present field of labor, November 10, 1907. Of his literary printed work may be men- tioned the following: In 1906 he translated from the ancient Syriae language "The Doctrine of the Apostle Addai," with introduction and explanatory notes, a very interesting and val- uable work from the earliest days of Christianity. In 1910 he revised a great historical work, "History of the Syrian Nation and the Old Evangelical- Apostolie Church of the East from Remote Antiquity to the Present Time," a work likewise trans- lated from the Syriae. And besides he has been a prolific writer for several periodicals on doetrinal and missionary subjeets. The

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marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Gjevre has been blessed with nine chil- dren, of whom three died in their infancy and six are living, namely : Maria Gjevre, born January 28, 1891, in Tanun parson- age, Door county, Wisconsin ; Theodore Gjevre, born October 9, 1893, in Fertile, Minnesota; Anna Gjevre, born April 26, 1895, in Fertile, Minnesota ; Hulda Gjevre, born April 13, 1898, in Fertile, Minnesota; Gottfried Gjevre, born July 30, 1900, in Fertile, Min- nesota; Bertha Gjevre, born June 18, 1905, in Lost Island par- sonage, Palo Alto county, Iowa.

FRANKFORD TOWNSHIP.

(By Mrs. Ralph E. Crane.)

Frankford township is bounded on the north by Racine, on the east by Spring Valley, Fillmore county, on the south by Ben- nington, and on the west by Grand Meadow. It ineludes con- gressional township 103 north, range 14 west, except the northern tier of sections which belong to Racine. Some political move is responsible for this transaction, as well as the removal of sections from the north of Racine and Pleasant Valley townships. A small portion of Frankford township has also been annexed to Grand Meadow village. But notwithstanding the loss of county seat and territory, Frankford township is one of the most pros- perous and progressive townships in Mower county. Nowhere else is the sky so blue, the grass so green, the water so pure, as just right here. The soil is the best in the world, a dark rich loam underlaid with clay subsoil and limestone rock. It is drained by Deer and Bear creeks. About one-third of the surface was orig- inally covered with natural timber, the remainder being prairie land. A state road divides Frankford township into two equal parts, passing through from west to east. This road was selected by the county commissioners at Austin in the fall of 1910.

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The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated, Part 53

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Chicago : H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co. Number of Pages: 1246

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago : H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co.
Number of Pages: 1246