USA > Minnesota > Redwood County > The history of Redwood County, Minnesota, Volume I > Part 39
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HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
The story of the Lower Sioux Agency established in this town- ship in 1853 is told elsewhere in this work, as is the story of the Massacre. The old stone house erected by the government is still standing, and various markers and monuments mark historic sites in the township.
The History of the Minnesota Valley published in 1884 says: "Of the settlers who came after the Massacre J. J. Light was the first; he came in the spring of 1866. Claims were taken later by James and John Arnold, Cassius Frazier and George Cary. The first death was that of Mrs. John Wall, in the spring of 1868. The first marriage was that of M. S. Hamblen and Clara J. Bailey. The latter taught the first school in the town in the summer of 1870, in an old log building on section 8; there were eight scholars. There are now two frame school houses in the town. Lower Sioux Agency postoffice was established about 1868 at the house of James Arnold. The office has had several changes and is now in charge of R. H. Warren at his house.
"The first town meeting was ordered by the Commissioners to be held at the home of Joseph Poppet, but it was actually held at the house of A. E. Kneipple in section 8, October 4, 1869. The name was given in honor of Gen. William T. Sherman, the famous hero. The officers for that year were: J. J. Light, chairman, A. E. McCarty and M. C. Tower, supervisors; M. S. Hamblen, clerk; James Stephens, treasurer; J. M. Little, justice; J. F. Deitzmann and O. C. Dwyer, constables. No assessor elected until the following spring, when O. W. Newton assumed the office."
WESTLINE TOWNSHIP.
Westline township is located in the northwest part of Red- wood county bordering on the west side, and embraces Congres- sional township 111-39. It is bounded on the north by Underwood, on the east by Granite Rock, on the south by Gales townships, and on the west by Lyon county. The surface is generally roll- ing, but marshy in some places. The Evan-Marshall division of the Chicago and Northwestern passes through it in a northwest direction in the central part. Its only village is Milroy. The trading centers are Milroy, Lucan and Redwood Falls, in Red- wood county, and Marshall in Lyon county. There are five school houses. The predominating nationality is German, Scandinavian and American.
The orginal survey of this township was begun July 15, 1867, and finished July 30, 1867. The work was done by Richard H. L. Jewett and George G. Howe, U. S. deputy surveyors. They described the soil as of the first quality in two-thirds of the township; the remainder being light and sandy. Most of the marshes were full of water although the surface was generally
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HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
rolling. No streams were found. Three small lakes required meandering. There was no timber in the township.
Beginning with Sept. 4, 1866, Westline was included in Yellow Medicine township, and after Yellow Medicine county was or- ganized, March 6, 1871, was considered a part of Redwood Falls township. Westline was created by the county commissioners, Sept. 25, 1878, with its present boundaries.
The History of the Minnesota Valley published in 1882, says: "Settlement began in 1872. In May, of that year, Michael Mur- ray and his sons, Thomas and Garrett, with families, came in and located in section 14, where they still remain excepting Thomas, who went to Colorado in 1877. John Cole came in 1873. The town was organized Oct. 14, 1878, at the house of H. N. Eggleston. The following officers were elected: C. West, chairman; Garrett Murray and James Shaw, supervisors; Benjamin C. Frost, clerk; Hugh Curry, treasurer; H. N. Eggleston and N. B. Weymouth, justices; and William Arnold, constable. There are three frame school houses in the town. The first school was taught by Ada Chamberlain during the spring of 1879. West Line postoffice was established in the fall of 1878, N. B. Weymouth was appointed postmaster and the office located at his house in section 26. The office was discontinued in the summer of 1880. A Mr. Webster and Jane Shaw were married at the house of G. M. Shaw in the spring of 1879. This was the first marriage in the town. The first birth was that of Patrick Murray, in February, 1875. He was a son of Thomas and Honora Murray. The first death was that of Oscar Eggleston, a son of H. N. Eggleston. He died December 13, 1881, and was buried at Marshall, in Lyon county."
GRANITE ROCK TOWNSHIP.
Granite Rock township is located in the west central part of Redwood county, and embraces Congressional township 111-38. It is bounded on the north by Vesta, on the east by Vail, on the south by Johnsonville, and on the west by Westline. A branch of the Redwood river crosses it on the northern side, flowing in a northeasterly direction. The Evan-Marshall branch of the Chicago and Northwestern passes due east and west through its. center. The surface is generally rolling. Its only village is Lucan. The trading centers are Lucan, Vesta, Wabasso, and Redwood Falls. There are five school houses. The predominating nationality is German.
The original survey of this township was done by Mahlon Black, U. S. deputy surveyor, being begun January 4, 1859, and finished July 12, 1859. He described the land as generally rolling and the soil as first class, although some of the western portion of this township was of an inferior quality. There were no roads
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HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
and no timber. He found a small lake in sections 17 and 20; also one in sections 13 and 18.
Beginning with Sept. 4, 1866, Granite Rock was a part of Yellow Medicine township, and after Yellow Medicine county was organized March 6, 1871, was considered a part of Redwood Falls township. Granite Rock township was created by the commis- sioners between July, 1889, and July, 1900.
The History of the Minnesota Valley published in 1884 says : "Although settlement began in 1872, this township remains un- organized, being the only one in the county in that condition. The first settler was J. C. Vining, who came in the spring of 1871, and located in section 2, where he lived until 1876; W. W. Howe came the following fall, and took a claim also in section 2; his family came out in the spring of 1872, and is still living on his original claim. No other settlers came until 1874, when a few came in and took claims, but moved away after a short stay, on account of the grasshoppers. Settlers began to move in again in 1877. The first marriage in the town occurred in December, 1881. The contracting parties were Charles Noah and Sarah Comstock. The first birth was that of Abbie F. Howe, a daughter of W. W. and Sarah Howe, born July 2, 1872."
Even as late as June 2, 1885, there were only seven families in Granite Rock township. The families were those of Henry Gohrman, Angus Currie, Joseph McGeough, Alexander McLeod, W. W. Howe, Nelson Comstock, and William Comstock. The Gohrmans were from Germany, the Curries from Canada, the McGeoughs from Ireland, the McLeods from Scotland, the Howes from Michigan and the Comstocks from Iowa and New York.
VAIL TOWNSHIP.
Vail township is located in the central part of Redwood county, and embraces Congressional township 111-37. It is bounded on the north by Sheridan, on the east by New Avon, on the south by Waterbury and on the west by Granite Rock. A small branch of the Redwood river passes across the northwest corner of it. The Vesta-Sanborn branch of the Chicago and Northwestern crosses it from north to south and the Evan-Marshall branch of the same road passes across it from east to west. The surface is rolling, but marshy in the central part. The only village is Wabasso. The trading centers are Wabasso and Redwood Falls. There are four school houses. The predominating nationality is German.
The original survey of this township was made during 1859, work having been begun by M. Black, U. S. deputy surveyor, on June 23, 1859. The soil was generally first class and rolling, except in the marshy places toward the center. There were no
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HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
trees worth mentioning. A small stream ran through the north- west corner of section 6.
Beginning with March 2, 1868, the western part of the town- ship was included in Yellow Medicine township, and after Yel- low Medicine county was organized March 6, 1871, was considered a part of Redwood Falls township, together with the eastern part which had been considered a part of Redwood Falls township since the organization of Redwood county. Vail was created by the commissioners July 30, 1879, and given the name of Center. It was found, however, that another township in the county bore that name, and on August 29, 1879, the name was changed to Vail in honor of Fred Vail Hotchkiss, a member of the county board.
The History of the Minnesota Valley published in 1882 says: "John Tabor was the first settler; he came in the spring of 1869 and located in section 4. James Longbottom came in October and settled in section 8. The next settlers were A. Milloy, M. McMillan and Henry Meyer. The first town meeting was held at James Longbottom's house, Sept. 16, 1879, and the following officers were elected: James Longbottom, chairman, David Weaver and Archibald Milloy, supervisors; John Longbottom, clerk; Chauncey Bunday, assessor ; Henry Meyer, treasurer ; Theo- dore Daub and John Tabor, justices; Henry Meyer and James Longbottom, constables. The first marriage was that of John A. Peterson and Elizabeth Longbotton. They were married in January, 1875, at the residence of James Longbottom in section 8, by the Rev. Chamberlain."
NEW AVON TOWNSHIP.
New Avon township is located in the central part of Red- wood county, and embraces Congressional township 111-36. It is bounded on the north by Redwood Falls, on the east by Three Lakes, on the south by Willow Lake, and on the west by Vail. The surface is level or gently rolling. The Evan-Marshall branch of the Chicago and Northwestern crosses it from east to west in the southern part. Its only station is Rowena, consisting of an elevator, a store, a school house, and several homes. The trading centers are Morgan and Redwood Falls. There are four school houses. The predominating nationality is German.
The original survey was begun July 7, 1858, by James L. Now- lin, U. S. deputy surveyor. It was finished Sept. 2, 1858. This township had some marshes and ponds and one small lake in sec- tion 6. The surface was found to be quite level but rolling in some places, and the soil was first rate, generally speaking. There were no roads and no timber.
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HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
Beginning with the organization of the county, this township was considered a part of Redwood Falls township. Avon town- ship was created with the present boundaries of New Avon, Sept. 4, 1872. There being another township of this name in the state, the name was changed to New Avon on Jan. 7, 1873.
A number of claims were filed in 1868-69, but the first actual settlements were made in 1870. George I. Davis, at present a resident of the township, passed through this region in 1870, but did not remain. Later John Turnbull, Henry Blanchard, James Johnson, and Ira Holliday settled in the township. These people were all there when J. S. Towle arrived with his wife and three children, May 15, 1871. He had spent the previous winter in Redwood Falls. April 20, 1871, George I. Davis arrived. Other settlers this year were D. L. Scriven, Daniel McPhee, John MePhee, J. L. Duncan, and Thomas Wolverton, all of these people were of Scotch, English and American ancestry. Jacob Werder, who arrived in 1872, was the first of the Germans who have since so thickly settled in the township. Mr. Johnson had a log house, the others were of board, though the house of Mr. Davis and several of the others was reinforced with sod. The roof of Mr. Towle's house was one which he took with him from Redwood Falls, where he had roofed over a cabin for winter habitation.
In 1873, on the afternoon of the great blizzard, Mr. Towle and his young son, William, and Mr. Davis were getting rails on the Minnesota bottoms some three miles from Redwood Falls. The day was unusually warm and the men were working without their coats. Suddenly the snow began to fall so thickly that the tops of the trees were obscured. The three took refuge in Red- wood Falls, where the Towles stayed for two days. Mr. Davis, after spending the night in the village became so worried about his family and his stock that he set our during the terrible storm and reached his home in safety.
The first town meeting in New Avon was held Sept. 5, 1872, at the home of J. S. Towle with some ten or twelve voters in attendance. The following officers were elected: Supervisors, J. S. Towle (chairman), James Johnson and Ira Holliday; clerk, John Turnbull; treasurer, Henry Blanchard; assessor, David Worst; justice of the peace, J. P. Towle. Of the men who at- tended this meeting, only Mr. Davis and Mr. Towle are now living.
The New Avon postoffice with J. S. Towle as postmaster flour- ished some twelve years. It was not on the regular stage route and the mail was supposed to be brought in a sack from Redwood Falls twice a week. There was often, however, considerable ir- regularity, as whoever was driving to the village usually brought out the mail.
There is a town cemetery in the southeast quarter of the north- east quarter of section 8. The first burial was that of Henry
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HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
Blanchard, the pioneer. There is a church cemetery in the north- east quarter of the southeast quarter of section 22.
The first religious services were conducted by Rev. Taylor, a Presbyterian, in the summer of 1873. In September, 1879, the Methodist society was organized; services are conducted by Rev. Pemberton. The first meetings were held in 1874, under the leadership of Rev. Smith. The first school was taught by Flora McNiven, in 1872; there are now three frame school houses in the town. The first marriage was George Davis and Ellen Winslow, Dec. 24, 1872, by J. S. Towle. The first birth was John, son of James Johnson, in 1872. The first death was that of Isabella, daughter of D. M. Scriven, Jan. 21, 1874. For a time a creamery flourished in the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 28.
THREE LAKES TOWNSHIP.
Three Lakes township is located in the east-central part of Redwood county, and embraces Congressional township 111-35. It is bounded on the north by Paxton, on the east by Morgan, on the south by Sundown and on the west by New Avon. The Evan-Marshall branch of the Chicago and Northwestern crosses it in the southern part; and the Sleepy Eye-Redwood Falls branch of the same road passes through the northeast corner. The surface is smooth prairie land. There are two lakes of fairly good size in this township. The only village is Clements. The trading centers are Morgan and Redwood Falls, in Redwood county, and Springfield in Brown county. There are four school houses. The predominating nationality is German, with quite a few Bohemians.
The original survey of this township was made during 1858, work being started by James L. Nowlin, U. S. deputy surveyor, on July 7, 1858. This township was mostly rich, smooth prairie. The timber was scarce. There was one lake in parts of sections 4 and 9 and another in parts of sections 8 and 9. There were quite a good many low marshy places all through the township.
Beginning with the organization of the county, this township was considered a part of Redwood Falls township. Three Lakes was created by the county commissioners with its present boun- daries March 16, 1876.
The History of the Minnesota Valley published in 1882 says : "The first claim was made in the spring of 1868 by David Wat- son ; the claim was jumped by two men, Hunt and Walker; they put up a shanty and lived there for a time. but in 1869 Watson regained possession. Settlers of 1869 were David Parker, Henry Blanchard, Ora A. and Oland Sisson, Mike Mahoney and A. J. Welch. Mary Tenney taught the first school in 1874; a frame school house was built in 1876. Three Lakes postoffice was estab-
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HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
lished in 1875, and discontinued in two years. The first town meeting was held at the house of David Watson, April 4, 1876. Officers elected : James Watson, chairman, Robert Parker and Abel Leighton, supervisors; Daniel Watson, clerk ; Robert Parker, assessor ; Robert Montgomery, treasurer; James and David Wat- son, justices ; David Parker and Albert Dahms, constables; Robert Montgomery, poundmaster."
According to the records now in the possession of H. N. Redig, town clerk, the above information regarding the first meeting is incorrect. Mr. Redig's transcript of the minutes of the first meeting is as follows: "The first town meeting was held at the home of David Watson, April 4, 1876. Robert Parker was ap- pointed clerk of the meeting, James Watson, moderator, and David Watson and Thomas Moore, judges of election. Ballots were then cast for town officers as follows: Chairman, James Watson, 8 votes; supervisors, Robert Parker 7 votes, Louis White 6 votes; Justices, David Watson 7 votes, Thomas Moore 7 votes ; clerk, Louis White 6 votes; treasurer, Robert Montgomery 5 votes ; assessor, Robert Parker 5 votes; constable, Albert Dahms 9 votes: overseer of the poor, Albert Leighton 3 votes; overseer of roads, James Watson 5 votes; poundmaster, Robert Parker."
MORGAN TOWNSHIP.
Morgan township is located in the east central part of Red- wood county, and embraces Congressional township 111-34. It is bounded on the north by Sherman, on the east by Brown county, on the south by Brookville, and on the west by Three Lakes. The Sleepy Eye-Redwood Falls branch of the Chicago and North- western crosses it diagonally from the southeast to the northwest corner. The surface is low and rolling in some places and high level prairie in others. Its only village is Morgan. There are five school houses. The predominating nationality is German.
The original survey was made in 1858, work being begun on July 8, by James L. Nowlin, U. S. deputy surveyor, and finished July 13. He described the land as low and marshy in some places, and rolling or high level prairie in others. The soil was first rate all through with one or two exceptions. There are many marshes. He found an Indian trail in section 22. There was a small lake in parts of sections 32 and 33. The U. S. Territorial road extends northwest and southeast through the center of the township. He found the agency road between sections 3 and 4 in the northern part of the township. There was no timber, neither was there any stones or minerals worthy of note, and there were no springs.
Beginning with the organization of the county this township was considered a part of Redwood Falls township. Morgan town- ship was created by the county commissioners May 11, 1880, and
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HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
an election ordered held at the "Railroad Station House" on May 26, 1880. The History of the Minnesota Valley published in 1882 says: "Owing to insufficiency of notice, this meeting was not held. The county commissioners being notified of the fact, appointed the following officers: Thomas Butcher, chairman, L. C. Ketcham and William McGinnis, supervisors; James Butcher, clerk; C. Christianson, treasurer ; Peter Madsen and Knud Peter- son constables. The first settlement was made by the tenants on the farms of the large land-owners, who own over two-thirds of the town. They began to open up these farms about eight years ago, and built a number of houses for their tenants. Settlement by men on their own land began a couple of years later. The village of Morgan was laid out in August, 1878, and contains one general store, one blacksmith shop, one lumber yard, one elevator and one hotel. The postoffice was established the same year, and the present incumbent, George Knudsen, appointed postmaster."
According to the transcript of the minutes made by F. W. Zaske, the town clerk, the first town meeting was held at Morgan Station on March 8, 1881. Ten votes were cast, and officers were elected as follows: Supervisors, C. R. Kundall (chairman), Wil- liam McGinnis and G. M. Kurd; clerk, James Butcher ; treasurer, George Knudsen ; justices, F. S. Hollan and C. Christianson ; con- stable, W. Behnkie.
GALES TOWNSHIP.
Gales township is located in the southwest part of Redwood county, bordering the west side, and embraces Congressional township 110-39. It is bounded on the north by Westline, on the east by Johnsonville, on the south by Springdale, and on the west by Lyon county. The Cottonwood river flows in a south- easterly direction through the central part of it, and two small creeks flow in a northeasterly direction through the east part. The surface is a high rolling prairie. There are no railroads nor villages in Gales township. The trading centers are Tracy in Lyon county, Walnut Grove, Milroy and Redwood Falls in Red . wood county. There are four school houses. The predominating nationality is American.
The original survey of this township was begun July 10, 1867, and finished July 15, 1867, by Richard H. L. Jewett and George G. Howe, U. S. deputy surveyors. The surface was described as high, rolling prairie, and the soil was not all first class, but quite light and sandy in some places. The banks of the Big Cottonwood had an occasional clump of willow and box elder trees. A small lake was found in sections 5, 8 and 9.
Beginning with September 4, 1866, Gales was included in Yel- low Medicine township, and after Yellow Medicine county was
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HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
organized March 6, 1871, was considered a part of Redwood Falls township. Gales was created by the commissioners June 19, 1876.
The History of the Minnesota Valley published in 1884 says : "This town was named for the early settlers, A. L. and S. S. Gale, who came in May, 1872; at about the same time C. H. and C. W. Piper located. A. J. and C. E. Porter came during the same summer. July 18, 1876, the first town meeting was held at the house of A. J. Porter; officers elected : A. J. Porter, chairman ; C. J. Nelson and J. J. Kelsey, supervisors; C. E. Porter, clerk ; S. S. Gale, assessor ; C. J. Nelson, treasurer ; A. L. Gale and A. P. Langnest, justices; Hans Peterson, constable. The first school was taught by Ada Thrall in the summer of 1879, using O. W. Ellis' granary. There are now three frame school houses in the town."
A. M. Grunden, the present town clerk, has devoted consider- able time to research concerning the early days of Gales town- ship, and has written for this history the following article.
The first settler in township 110, range 39, was a Swedish family, consisting of A. P. Lanquest, his wife and baby daughter. They came about 1871 and settled on the northeast quarter of section 24. Next came S. S. Gale and wife; A. L. Gale, a single man; A. J. Porter and wife, and Charles F. Porter and wife. These families arrived in 1872. The Porters settled on the south half of section 8, and the Gales on the east half of section 10.
The same year (1872) a number of other settlers came, among whom should be mentioned Jacob Johnson and wife; Ch. Gulick Johnson (or Jacobson), a single man ; Lars Peterson and wife and child ; his father, Peder Pederson, a widower; and Hans Pederson, a single man. Jacob Johnson settled on the southwest quarter of section 32; Christian Gulick Johnson (or Jacobson) on the south- east quarter of section 30; Hans Pederson on the northwest quarter of section 32; Pars and Peder Pederson on the northeast quarter of section 32.
In 1874 A. M. Grunden settled on the west half of the south- west quarter, and the north half of the southwest quarter of section 14.
Taxes were low. Property was assessed by O. C. Martin of Redwood Falls in 1876. But there was not much to assess, Messrs. Grasshoppers did the harvesting in 1873, 1874, 1875, 1876 and 1877, and Mr. Prairie Fire did the threshing.
The first town meeting in Gales township was held at the home of A. James Porter, in the southeast quarter of section 8, on July 18, 1876. The meeting was called to order by C. F. Porter, who was elected clerk. A. L. Gale was made moderator, and S. S. Gale and C. J. Nelson, judges. The judges and the clerk swore each other into service. The next town meeting was or- dered held at the home of C. J. Nelson, north half of section 28.
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HISTORY OF REDWOOD COUNTY
The officers elected were: Supervisors, A. James Porter (chair- man), C. J. Nelson and J. J. Kelsey ; clerk, C. E. Porter ; treasurer, C. J. Nelson; assessor, S. S. Gale; justices, A. L. Gale and A. P. Languest ; constable, Hans Pederson. Nine votes were cast.
A special meeting to consider the issuing of railroad bonds was called Aug. 8, 1876. The meeting was called to order by A. L. Gale, acting clerk. S. S. Gale was moderator, and explained the object of the meeting. The question was then put, "Shall the County of Redwood issue bonds to the amount of $50,000 to aid in the construction of a railroad between Sleepy Eye in Brown county and Redwood Falls in Redwood county." Eleven votes were cast, every one being against the proposition.
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