The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated, Part 54

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 54

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In the summer of 1870 the Southern Minnesota division of the C., M. & St. Paul R. R. was built through this township. From Grand Meadow its direction is south of east, leaving the township one and one-half miles south of state road. The Chicago Great Western railroad passes through a small portion of the northeast corner of section 12. Two rural mail routes traverse this town- ship. Route No. 1 out of Grand Meadow was platted in the spring of 1900. A. J. Stewart made his first trip June 2 of that year, having been appointed first carrier on this route. This position he filled until a short time before his death, a few years later. Mr. Stewart was taken to Hamilton for burial. Along the route over which his body was borne mail boxes were draped in mourning, as a silent tribute of the esteem in which he was held by the patrons he so ably and kindly served. Mr. Stewart was

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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

succeeded by Wm. Riee, who is still carrier on this route. In replatting routes a year or so later rural route No. 2 out of Raeine was established. Bert Thoma is the present efficient and obliging carrier. These two routes meet and separate at Frankford Center. There are three telephone lines in this township. The Tri-State line follows the main route between Spring Valley and Grand Meadow. It was rushed through the summer of 1905. The People's Telephone Company, of Fillmore county, connecting Spring Valley with Raeine, serves patrons along its route living in the east part of the township. The first line out of Grand Meadow connected the homes of C. F. Greening, of Grand Meadow, and W. D. Loekwood, of Frankford. C. F. Greening was first owner and manager of the Home Telephone Company. The present organization was effeeted through the untiring efforts of Martin Axness, who has ever since served as its general man- ager. W. H. Goodsell is president of this company. The first publie telephone was installed in the residence of R. E. Crane, December 26, 1898, and later that same day one in the home of S. E. Boyes. L. C. Lindsley was the third subseriber, followed by W. H. Goodsell, and later by others until today there is seareely a residence in this township but contains this useful means of quick and satisfactory communication, not only with our neighbors but with the outside world as well. Hot water plants are being installed into our homes and wires laid for eleetrie lighting. Auto ears are no longer a curiosity. We can seareely realize that our fathers were making weary journeys to Winona and MeGregor, Iowa, with ox teams to market their produce, at priees that would not have met expenses on the way had they not carried their rations with them. There are still witnesses who ean testify to having hauled wheat to these mar- kets and sold the same for fifty or sixty eents per bushel. This same wheat, be it remembered, was eradled and bound by hand. Wages paid per day for harvest help was very high, at least $3.50 being paid. Reapers and mowers were unknown here until about the year 1867. The MeCormiek self-raking reaper and the John P. Manny reaper and mower combined with dropper were first in use.

The township organization was effeeted on the eleventh day of May, 1858, and the following officers elected: Board of super- visors, S. Bostwick, chairman; Manoah Delling, J. J. Rymal, associates ; town clerk, Stephen A. Sherman ; justiees of the peace, Philip Howell, B. F. Langworthy ; assessor, Naaman Goodsell ; collector, George Rymal; constables, George Rymal, Andrew P. MeCabe; overseer of the poor, George Anker. The first eleetion held in Frankford was at the store of Franeis Teabout. Within memory of the present generation it had always been in the bar-

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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

room of Lewis Patchen's tavern, until the erection of a town hall on section 21 in the center of the township in 1890. The present officers are: Board of supervisors, S. P. Hambleton, chairman ; Carl Skogstad, George Loueks, associates; town clerk, Otto Stenseth ; treasurer, W. II. Goodsell; assessor, S. H. Simonson. Ralph E. Crane and L. G. Hanson are justices of the peace. L. Y. Tebay and John Hovda are constables. W. H. Goodsell is county commissioner from the second district of Mower county. R. E. Crane is state representative for the north district of Mower county.

Historical. The village of Frankford (little more than a memory now) is situated on the northeast of Frankford township, on sections 13 and 24. It was laid out by Jacob Olson in 1856. Francis Teabout built the first house and store. Francis Teabout went by the name of Frank Teabout; it was for him that the township was named. Samuel Metcalf built the first wagon shop and James Gorman the first blacksmith shop. Charles Hanson was the first shoemaker. George and John Rymal built the first grist mill. This was located on Deer creek, that runs through the village. The mill property passed from the Rymal Bros. to Charles Lamb, who ran it until 1861, when it burned down. The first settler to cast his lot within the borders of Frankford town- ship was Lewis Patchen, a native of New York state. He settled on section 13, township 103, range 14, the thirtieth day of May, 1854. He built the first hotel, which remained occupied until a few years ago, when it was torn down. A postoffice was estab- lished in 1856. Lewis Patchen was postmaster nearly the whole time of its existence. His widow served in this capacity until the advent of the rural routes, when it was discontinued. T. M. Chapman and Charles Lamb each held the position for short periods. The first lawyer was Wm. Covill. The first physician was Erastus Belden, who remained there until his death, in 1865. The first death in the township was in the family of Mr. Howell. The first marriage in the township was performed by Squire Howell at the house of D. D. Frazier. The parties were Cyrus Titus and Miss Mary Beadle. The first birth in the township was Marion, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Patchen, born March 13, 1855.

The first religious society organized was the Free Will Baptist. They built a church on section 24 in the fall of 1857, which they continued to use until it burned down in 1871. Elder Reeves was a well known preacher in this denomination. Meetings were held in this church also by other denominations. Elder Soule was one of the best beloved pastors of the Methodist denomination. The first religions services held were in Lewis Patchen's house in 1856. The village and township cemetery is located on section 24.

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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

It contains two acres and was platted in 1856. This silent city of the dead contains so many of our early pioneers that it is easier to enumerate the living than the dead. Many have lived their lives here, others have been brought baek by loving hands and buried near their loved ones who had preceded them to the great beyond from whence no traveler ever returns. One of the last of this number was G. W. Wood, who died in Pennsylvania, August 29, 1910. Mrs. Wood was brought baek from Indiana in 1905. They settled in Frankford village in 1857.

CHAPTER XLII.

PLEASANT VALLEY TOWNSHIP.

Location and Area - Early Settlement - Organization - First Events-Religious-Town Hall and Cemetery.

With the exception of the northern tier of sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, the township above named comprises the territory of con- gressional township 104 north, range 15. The greater part of this district is prairie land. There was, however, plenty of timber at an early day to furnish building material for the first settlers. Sections 7,.18 and 19 in the west part of the town, and sections 11 and 12 in the northeast, may be said to have been well wooded. The surface in the eastern part is undulating and affords good drainage; the soil there is a darkish loam, with a substratum of clay. The western part is gently rolling, the soil is a dark alluvial deposit, slightly sprinkled with elay. All parts are well adapted to farming purposes. The town is drained by branches of Root river, one of which having its source in section 22 flows in a north by east direction through sections 14 and 11, leaving the county in the last named seetion. The other ents across the northwestern corner of the township, leaving it in the center of the northern boundary line of section 7.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The title of pioneer of Pleasant Valley may well be accorded to Sylvester Hills, who arrived here with his son Byron in 1854, when as yet the land was unbroken, and made a claim on seetion 11, going back, however, to spend the winter in Wisconsin. In the spring of 1855 he returned to Minnesota, bringing his family, and accompanied by a party of three men, named Robinson,

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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

Leavitt and Sherwin, who settled in Olmsted county. The journey was made with ox teams, wearily plodding by day, camping by night. Mr. Hills soon built a good log house, 22x32 feet, and 14 feet high, on his claim, which remained his home until the time of his death, in March, 1862. Pleasant Valley was named by him from a village in the eastern part of New York, in which he had formerly lived.

The second settlement within the present limits of the town- ship was made in June, 1857, by John Rowley, Robert Reed and Russell Hoag. Rowley settled on section 30, living in his emigrant wagon till November, when he had completed his house. Reed settled on section 7, and lived to see the county well developed. He died in 1884. Hoag first settled on section 12, remaining but a short time, and removed to an adjoining section in Olmsted county. Soon afterward came David Wells, D. S. Ketchum, R. C. Penny, A. HI. Bogart, James Grogger, D. M. Wells and Andrew Howard. T. F. Wallace and the Hoppins came in 1860. A. E. Peck, Luther S. Bates, W. L. Stiles, W. J. Drake, A. W. Thornhill and A. J. Johnson were among the prominent late settlers.

ORGANIZATION.

The town was organized at a meeting held at the house of David Wells, May 11, 1858. R. C. Penny was elected chairman of the meeting, and Sylvester Hills moderator. The following officers were elected: Supervisors, Delazon S. Ketchum, chair- man ; Byron Hills and John Rowley ; clerk, A. H. Bogart ; assessor, Robert Reed; collector, James Grogger; overseer of the poor, R. C. Penny ; constables, D. M. Wells and James Grogger ; justices of the peace, Andrew Howard and Sylvester Hills. At a meeting of the board June 18, 1858, Byron Hills was appointed collector and constable in place of James Grogger, who failed to give bonds. At the second annual meeting, April 5, 1859, at the house of David Wells, John Rowley was elected moderator. After a few preliminary remarks by the town clerk, A. H. Bogart, the follow- ing resolutions were presented and unanimously carried: Re- solved, That section 2, of article 11, of the states of Minnesota. amended so as to read "one dollar and fifty cents per day" for services of the town clerk, assessor and overseer of the poor; also any other officer of town, instead of one dollar, as it now reads ; also eighteen cents for copying 100 words, instead of six cents, as it now reads.

FIRST EVENTS.

The first marriage in Pleasant Valley was that of Lydia Hills and Albert Barlow, in the spring of 1856. The ceremony was performed at the home of the bride's parents by Los Dutton.

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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

The first death was that of Nettie Hills, daughter of a Mr. Hills, in the winter of 1860, at the age of two years.

RELIGIOUS.

The German Lutheran church of Pleasant Valley was organ- ized in 1879. A church edifice 22x32 feet and 16 feet high was crected the same year on the southwest quarter of section 13. Rev. Mr. Nichols, of Rochester, was the first pastor.

The Hoppin church, so called, of the Methodist denomination, is located in this township and is an important feature in the life of the town.

TOWN HALL AND CEMETERY.

In June, 1870, five aeres of land, situated in the southeast quarter of section 15, the property of L. S. Bates, was purchased by the town, at $10 per acre, for a burial ground. It is now known as the Pleasant Valley cemetery. A town hall was built in 1867, being accepted July 16 of that year. It stands on the northwest quarter of section 22. In size the building is 22x40 feet and 14 feet high. Its cost was $465. The site was presented to the town by Thomas H. Armstrong, of High Forest.

CHAPTER XLIII.

CLAYTON TOWNSHIP.

Location and Advantages - Early Settlement - Organization - Name - Cemetery.

Clayton township comprises congressional township 102 north, and range 15. It is bounded on the north by Grand Meadow township, east by Bennington township, south and west by Lodi and Marshall townships. The soil is a dark rich loam, which is adapted to all kinds of grasses and cereals. Deer creek takes its rise in section 9, running in a northerly direction to seetion 2, from which section it enters Grand Meadow township.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

John Johnson settled in the southwestern part of the township in 1864. Hle was then followed by IIiram Thompson. This was one of the townships whose lands were thrown onto the market at

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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

an early day and bought by speculators, the result of which was that the settlement was greatly retarded, and but few settled in the town until about the year 1870, when a good share of the land owned by speculators was bought up and placed under cultivation, but many buying land on time failed (owing to fail- ure of crops) to pay, when the lands again fell into the hands of the speculator.

ORGANIZATION.

The township was organized June 20, 1873, and the following officers elected : Supervisors, W. Z. Clayton, chairman; W. F. Mathews, John O. Wold; clerk, Charles B. Kennedy ; treasurer, Sever O. Quom; justices of the peace, J. B. Miller, S. Harolson; constables, J. W. Powers, O. C. Lather.

NAME.

The township derived its name from W. Z. Clayton, owner of a large tract of land in the township. He was a native of Maine. He had lived a few years in Winona, and for several years spent the summer months in the township.

CEMETERY.

There is but one cemetery in the township, which is under the management of the Norwegian Lutheran society, the location of which is in the northwest quarter of section 31, and contains one acre.

CHAPTER XLIV.

MARSHALL TOWNSHIP.

Location and Area-Early Settlement-Organization.

Marshall township comprises congressional township 102 north, range 16 west. It is bounded on the north by Dexter. east by Clayton, south by Adams and west by the town of Windom. The surface is generally quite level and almost the entire township is composed of prairie. The only natural grasses were found in sections 3, 4, 34, 35 and 36. The town is truly rural, there being no village or hamlet within its borders. The town is drained by Rose creek and the Little Cedar river. One branch of Rose creek heads in section 11 of this town. One branch of the Little Cedar has its source in the northwest quarter

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of section 16; another branch in sections 26 and 27; another braneh comes from the town of Clayton, cuts across the corner of seetion 36. There are some small lakes in the township that cover from one-eighth to one-half an acre of ground. Two of these lakes are to be found on section 16, another on section 2.1. The soil is a rich dark loam.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The first settlement in the town was made in the spring of 1856, by Helge Erriekson, a native of Norway, who came here from Wisconsin, and settled on the west half of the southwest quarter of section 36. Here he built the first house in the town. It was of logs, covered with shaeks, and had a puncheon floor. He made his home here until 1871, when he sold his farm and moved to Otter Tail county. In 1857 John Osmunsen, also a native of Norway, came from Wisconsin and settled on the east half of the southeast quarter of seetion 36. He also built a log house. It was in this humble abode that the first white child in the town was born. About 1860 Ole Tollefson and Gilbert Ander- son came and settled on section 36. They were both natives of Norway and improved farms here. Tollefson made this his home until the time of his death. Stark Peterson came in 1865.

The first settlement in the north part of the town was made in 1857 by Mahlon Parritt and his son Dexter. They located on the northwest quarter of section 3. Dexter preempted 160 acres of land in that section. In the fall of that year they removed to section 33, town 103 north, range 15 west, now known as the town of Dexter. The father made his home there until the time of his death. The son, Dexter, in whose honor the town was named, lived there until 1882, when he returned to his original settlement in Marshall. The second settler in the north part of the town was Michael Luney, a native of Ireland, who came here from Ottumwa, Iowa, in 1861. He had previously preëmpted the northwest quar- ter of section 5, and the north half of the southwest quarter of the same seetion. He remained here but two years, when he returned to Iowa. Amasa N. Converse, a native of Jefferson county, York State, came after the war and settled on the northeast quarter of section 3. He was an enterprising man and started a cheese fac- tory here. He afterward bought grain at Dexter. While living here he was married to a daughter of D. G. Pearce. In 1875 he moved to Jackson county, where he died a short time later. William Godard came with Mr. Converse and settled on the north- west quarter of section 2, where he lived but a few years, then sold and moved to the lumber regions, and later to central Iowa. This was one of the townships of land that were thrown onto the

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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

market in an early day, and was bought by speculators, who held the land at a high figure, and thus retarded the settlement. Governor Marshall purchased four large tracts of land in the township. In 1868 he commenced improvements on this land. He sold it a few years later to W. H. Dean.

The first white child born was Hannah, daughter of John and Syrena Osmunsen. She afterward married Andrew Wiste.

ORGANIZATION.

This was organized as a separate township in 1870. At a meeting held June 6 of that year, at the house of M. L. Corbitt, the following officers were elected: Supervisors, W. L. Godard (chairman), W. M. Corbitt and Gilbert Anderson; clerk, A. N. Converse; treasurer, A. M. Converse; assessor, G. W. Corbitt : justices of the peace, G. W. Corbitt and Stark Peterson; con- stables, Henry Stockwell and John O. Wold.

At the annual election held in March, 1871, the following resolutions were presented and adopted: First, That we regard our town as in its infancy, being the youngest of her sisters in this county. Second, That we approve of the law changing the time of holding the annual meeting from April to March. Third, That we are in favor of and approve of changing the name from Beach to Marshall. Fourth, That the interest of education, churches, schoolhouses and publie highways shall not be neg- lected or overlooked in our town. Fifth, That we favor moral, temperance men for office. Sixth, That we know of no organiza- tion that would do more, or as much, to advance the welfare of and prosperity of this county, as the organization of a monthly fair. Wherefore, we would suggest, recommend and promise to aid in establishing a monthly fair, to be organized and held at Anstin-once in each month. Eighth, That we do not approve of woman suffrage yet for a while. Resolved, in regard to state affairs : First, That we are sick and tired of so much state legisla- tion on the bond question. Second, That while we look upon insolvency and poverty as misfortunes, we look upon repudiation as wicked and shameful. Third, That if the bonds of the state were intended to be good when made, they should be paid to the letter."

The following named held office in the early days: M. L. Corbitt, W. M. Corbitt, G. W. Phillips, J. M. Ray, James O. Wold, Fred Ray, J. A. Olson, Ole T. Throveson, Ole Anderson, Samson Hanson, Asher Herick, Knud Olson, John Osmunsen, James Ever- son, E. F. Nelson, IIans Anderson, A. G. Anderson, Swan Ander- son, Peter Johnson, J. K. Johnson, August Anderson, Ole S.

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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

Forde, John Peterson, B. G. Haugen, L. G. Phillips, Anton Asper, James Olson, Fred Rolf, Stark Peterson.

Churches and church cemeteries are located in sections 4 and 8.

ELKTON.

Elkton is an incorporated village of some one hundred inhab- itants, and is located in Marshall township. It has a creamery, a · hotel, public school, stores and other industries. The village was platted in section 1, township 102, range 16, January 25, 1887, by W. E. Richardson and Frank A. Day.

CHAPTER XLV.

UDOLPHO TOWNSHIP.

Location and Area-Early Settlement-First Events-Religious- Accidental Deaths-Origin of Name-Cemetery-Madison Village-Red Oak Grove Settlement and Church.

Udolpho comprises township 104, range 18, and is bounded by Dodge county on the north, by Waltham on the east, Lansing and Freeborn county on the south and west, being the northwest corner township in the county. The Red Cedar river enters the town from Dodge county, in section 4, runs in a southerly and southeasterly direction through sections 8, 16, 21, 22, 27, 26, and makes its exit from section 35. Timber in an early day was quite plentiful on either side of the river, which was mostly eut by the carly settlers for building purposes. There is, at the present time, some second growth timber in the township. East and west of the Cedar is a fine prairie, with a black loam, underneath which is a clay subsoil.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

William Tullis is said to be the first settler in Udolpho town- ship. He settled on the northeast quarter of seetion 21, in Feb- ruary, 1855. He built a log cabin 14x14, and covered it with sods. llis family consisted of wife and four children. They remained on the claim during that summer, but returned to lowa, from: whenee they came, to winter. They afterwards returned to the township, remaining a few years, when they returned to Indiana. The next to settle in the township were Thomas Richardson and Richard and William Green, brothers. Thomas Richardson set . tled in section 16. He was from St. Lawrence county, New York.

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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY

He is now dead. Richard Green settled in section 9, William Green in section 15. Richard lived in the town until the breaking out of the rebellion, when he enlisted, went south, and was killed at the battle of Nashville. William enlisted, went south, served three years, and returned to the township, remaining until about 1874, when he removed to Todd county, Minnesota.

In June, 1855, an addition was made to the little settlement, by several families of Norwegians. They were mostly well to do farmers from Rock and Dane counties, Wisconsin. They brought with them quite a stock. Knute Olson settled in section 31. Andrew Anderson settled in seetion 9. The story of the Red Oak Grove settlement is told elsewhere. Solomon Wilcox settled in the township in the spring of 1855. Ole and Bennett Christianson and their parents also came in 1855.

Ole Christianson was born in Norway, September 8, 1835. He came to America with his parents in 1846, and settled in Wis- consin, where they remained until the spring of 1855, when they removed to Mower county and settled on seetion 19 in the town of Udolpho, where Ole Christianson still lives. Bennett Christian- son was born in Norway November 11, 1843. His parents emi- grated to America in 1846, and settled in Dane county, Wisconsin, where they remained until 1855, when they came to Mower county and settled on seetion 19, where the father died in 1874. Bennett is still living on the same place. Andrew Anderson, one of the pioneers of Mower county, settled in seetion 9 in 1855. He ereeted a small log cabin on his claim, which he covered with prairie sods. IIe lived in this house about two years, when he moved the cabin a short distance, which he rebuilt and covered with a shingle roof, making it more comfortable for a dwelling. They lived in this house until 1878, when the old house gave way to a commodious frame house. He is now dead. Guttorm Olson also settled in section 19 in 1855.

John Day settled in section 22, in August, 1856. He was from Iowa here. He lived in the township until 1877, when he sold out to B. E. Stimson and returned to Iowa. Orasmus D. Rhoades came in Angust, 1856, and settled in section 22, town of Udolpho, where he entered land and built a house. He en- listed in 1863 in Company C, Ninth Minnesota Infantry Volun- teers. He went south with his regiment and was taken prisoner at the battle of Guntown, Tenn. He was first sent to Anderson- ville, and from there to Milan, where he died of starvation, Octo- ber 20, 1864. O. J. Rhoades eame to Mower county with his parents. Milton McCall came to Mower county in 1856 and pre- empted a claim in seetion 34, in Udolpho township, on which he commenced the ereetion of a log house, getting it up as high as the windows. It, however, was burned by prairie fires that fall.

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The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated, Part 54

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