USA > Minnesota > Renville County > The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume II > Part 79
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Bandon township was organized January
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4, 1871, and an election held a few months later at Jeremiah Farrell's house, section 18. The first officers elected were: Super- visors. Timothy Carline (chairman), James Hurley and Jacob Anderson Volen; treas- urer, John Reagan; assessor. Jeremiah Farrell; clerk, Jeremiah Desmond: justice of the peace, Timothy Carline. Gunerus Peterson was elected clerk the second year. He did not qualify and was again elected the third year, after which he served some twenty years. Iver Brandjor was also an early officer.
The town hall was erected in May, 1885, in the southeast corner of the southeast quarter of section 16.
The present board is constituted as fol- lows: Supervisors, James C. Cronin (chair- man). Gilbert Torgerson and C. P. Sather: clerk, Henry Frickson; treasurer, O. M. Hage; assessor, C. H. Frickson (resigned).
The first real estate assessment of Ban- don 113-33. was made in 1874. Those as- ressed were: Jeremiah Farrell, section 18: Louis Hanson, 32; Syvert Kelly. 30. In 1875 there was added to this list: Anton Hesse, section 8; Dennis Farrell, 20; Jacob Anderson (Volen), 28; Martin Johnson, 28. In 1876 there were added to this list: James llurley, section 18; Lars Hanson, 18: Nels Hanson, 26: John O'Brien, 20; Iver Jeremiason, 22; Tollef Peterson, 22: Iver Weiklee, 22; John P. Nestande, 26; Peter Olson, 26; Lars Olson, 26: Martin Johansen, 28: Jacob Volen, 28; Iver Brand- jord, 32: Peter P. Sather. 34; A. G. Nel- son. 34.
The first personal property assessment made in Bandon (township 113, range 33), was in 1871. Those assessed were: John Anderson, John Anderson (two of them given ), Ben Anderson, Aug. Anderson, Iver Brangard, John Collins, Tim Carline, Cor- nelius Desmond, J. Desmond, Con. Des- mond, And. Dahlquist, John Erickson, Louis Erickson, Dennis Farrell, A. J. Franklin. J. Farrell, D. S. Green. Lewis Hanson. Nels Hanson, Ole Halvorson, Halvor Halvorson, James Hurley. Daniel Hanlon. Catherine lago, Michael lago, Iver Iverson, Ole John- son, Martin Johnson, J. B. Johnson, Iver Jeremiahson. Elenson Kelly, Ole Knuder- son, Michael Kelly, Anthony Kelly, John Kelly, Paul Knudson, And. Lawson, Ga- briel Nelson, Patrick Nolan, Jeremiah O'Shea. Lewis Olson, Peter Olson. John Olson, Edwin H. Olson, Karl Olson, John Peterson, Tom Powell, Peter Peterson, Gunerns Peterson. Tolf Peterson. John Reagan, Con. Reagan, Cornelius Ryan, Peter Sotter, Lars Tolfson.
Gunerus Peterson's Reminiscences. In the spring of 1871 my brother (now de- ceased ), Peter Hornseth and 1 set out from Fillmore county to Renville county with a yoke of oxen which we owned in partnership. In our company were also Ole Knutson, Lars Tollefson, Hans Carlson (all now deceased ). all driving oxen. We came to this wild prairie July 16, 1871, and
settled in the wilderness about ten miles from the Minnesota river in Bandon town- ship, which had then just been organized. We chose this location on account of being near timber land. As soon as we were set- tled the grasshoppers came and stayed with us for four years, destroying every- thing, and we had to work hard for a sub- sistence. The first money I borrowed after I had proved up on my eighty I secured at twelve per cent, being obliged to pay in advance and was glad to get it at that. Our nearest markets were New Ulm. Glen- coe and Willmar. Beaver Falls was then the county seat but had no railway and only a few stores and a blacksmith shop.
During the first years of our settlement it was a very rare thing to see a span of horses. If we saw a team of horses and buggy coming across the prairie we were sure that it was either a machine agent, a collector or a constable. Many of us were heavily in debt on account of the bad years caused by the devastation of the grasshoppers and rather dreaded to see such visitors.
CAMP TOWNSHIP.
Camp township embraces the greater part of township 112-33. It is bounded on the north by Bandon township, on the east by Cairo township, on the south and south- West by Brown county and the Minnesota river. and on the west by Birch Cooley township.
Camp township was settled before the Massacre. Their story has been told earlier in this work. The first arrivals after the Massacre were Halleck Peterson. John Halvorson and A. J. Anderson. Peterson and Halvorson had been here before the Massacre. The Anderson family located in the northwest quarter of section 18; Hal- vorson on the southeast quarter of the same section. and Peterson on the southeast quarter of section 20. Gradually other set- tlers came in. Their story is told elsewhere in this volume by Nels O. Berge.
Camp township was organized April 2, 1867. Henry Graff, Halleck Peterson and John Anderson were appointed judges of the election to be held at the home of llenry Graff. This town having failed to hold an election, Halleck Peterson, on May 21, 1867, was appointed assessor. lle also seems to have served in Mud Lake town- ship. In 1904 a town hall was erected in the northwest corner of the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 15. The supervisors are: A. J. Anderson (chairman), Henry Rieke and A. E. Lar- son. The clerk is N. J. Olson.
The first real estate assessment of Camp township ( 112-33) was made in 186S. Those assessed were: Werner Baesch, sections 22, 27; Henry Graff, 19; Peter Hartman. 28, 33: Thomas Hill. 21, 28; Peter Isackson, 20; Peter Lahti, 20; William R. Lafram- boise, 22; Peter Nelson, 27: Nels Olson, 22, 23. 33.
By 1871 quite a number of people had
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acquired property in Camp (112-33), the real estate assessment that year being as follows: George Hodgdon. section 6; Thos. Tweet, 17; Louis Garstmaner, 12: Eliza- beth Graff, 18, 19: Thor L. Rudy, 18; John Halverson, IS; Peter Lahti, 20; Carl Nelson, 20: Magnus Johnson, 20; Hallek Peterson, 20: Andras Schott. 21; Karnes & Koesmo, 21, 28; Ellen Smith, 22; Peter Nelson, 27; William Pless, 27; Sylvester Olson, 22, 27; Ole E. Berge, 22, 23; An- draes Olson, 28; Jens Olson, 28; Daniel O'Neil, 28: Severt Kelley, 28; Hans Peter- son. 28, 33; Martha Anderson, 18; Samuel Hodgdon. 34.
The first personal property assessment of Camp township (112-33) was made in 1869. Those assessed were: Louis Ander- son, Jacob Anderson, John Anderson, An- dres Anderson, Iver Branford, Patrick Campbell, Thomas Daveney, John Galliher, John Ganon, John Gleason, John Gilbert- son, Thomas Hill, Lewis Hanson, John Hal- verson, Mathias Johnson, Ole Johnson, Hans Johnson, Mathias Johnson, Oliver S. Johnson, Patrick Jordan, Henry Knawf, H. Klingenberg, M. O. Lee, Andrew Laren- son. Evek J. Locken, James Maxwell, Bern- hard Marchner, Charles Mooney, Anders L. Nas, Peter Nelson, Ole O. Nesberg, An- drew M. Nelson, Sivert Nelson, Harel Nel- son, Daniel O'Neil, Gens Oleson, L. Ole- son, G. Oleson, Andrew Oleson, Sylvester Olson, Ole Obendale, Haflek Peterson, Ole Peterson, Hans Peterson. Christopher Peterson, Thomas Rudy, Ellen Smith, An- dreas Shott, James Smith, John Sampson, Andres Schott. Thomas Tweet. John T. Tweet, John Tweet, Mariah Tesrow, Peter Pericks, Frank Young, John Jens, Ole Ellickson.
A. J. Anderson's Reminiscences. We came to Renville county the first part of June, 1865, in company with Halleck Peter- son and John Halvorson and settled in the Minnesota valley. We planted some corn, built a house of logs with a sod roof and built a stable of logs covered with coarse hay for roofing. for the cattle and sheep which he had brought with us. All the teaming was done by oxen. All the hay was cut with a scythe and the mosquitoes were so troublesonie that one had to wear mosquito netting over the face in order to be able to handle the scythe. The first wheat raised was threshed out by the oxen treading around the stack and was then fanned to separate it from the straw.
All of our clothing was home made. Our stockings and mittens were made of home- spun yarn and the spinning wheel was kept very busy during the winter months. A tin lamp filled with burning lard fur. nished light. My father made our shoes and moccasins out of cow hide, using the skin from the leg in such a way that the knees and hocks became the heels of the moccasins, the fur being turned to the out- side, and a little hay was put in the bot- tom, making a fine piece of footgear at
that time. Our trousers were made of grain sacks, cut so that the stripes of the sack were on the outside of the leg. Our furniture was all home made. The food consisted mostly of cornmeal, potatoes, but- ter, pork, sheep, mutton, some fish and other game.
The cattle had free range over the prai- rie, but came home of their own arcord in the evening and stood near the smudge, which was built to protect them from the mosquitoes.
In 1867 school district No. I was or- ganized and our first teacher. Clemens Treatbar, who is still living, taught a term of three months the same year. board shanty had been rented. which was used as a school house. In 1868 logs were cut and hewn and a school house was built. Sod was used for roofing. In the spring of 1880 a contract for $800 was given for the building of an np-to-date school house.
CAIRO TOWNSHIP.
Cairo township embraces township 112- 22. It is bounded on the north by Welling- ton township, on the east by Sibley county, on the south by Nicollet county and on the west by Camp township. The (., M. & St. L. crosses the township in the north- ern part. Fairfax village is in the north- western part.
The first settler was John Buehro, who located on the east side of Mud lake in June, 1859, and was killed by the Indians in 1862. George and Victor Rieke also settled on the banks of Mud lako in 1859, and in 1860 came their parents, Mr. and. Mrs. Frederick Rieke, and other members of the family. The Riekes found shelter in Fort Ridgely during the Indian outbreak and took part in its heroic defense. As soon as the immediate danger was over they returned to their home and resumed farming.
The story of the Riekes, by Adam Rieke. the story of the Military Reservation and incidents of the early days by Col. Charles Hopkins are related elsewhere in these volumes, while a complete history of the township and its surroundings appears in the reminiscences of Nels O. Berge else- where in this work.
The cyclone of 1881 did considerable damage in this town. Joseph Halloway, wife and three children were killed; one of his boys escaped death but had both arms broken. John Finley, a boy aged fourteen. was killed while herding cattle; many of the cattle were killed outright or died from injuries received. In addition to loss of life a large amount of property was destroyed.
A sad event in the history of Cairo was the burning of the two little children of John Liebl, on September 29, 1898. These children. Martin, aged four, and Elizabeth. aged 2. were playing in the barn when the structure caught fire. The father was away at the time. Attention was turned to
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saving the house, and the children were not missed. When the father returned he plunged into the flames at the risk of liis life. The dead bodies of the children were found in the ruins of the barn.
Cairo township was organized as Mud Lake April 2. 1867. At that time twenty- nine votes were cast and the officers elect- ed were: Supervisors, William Emmick (chairman), August Rieke and J. H. Phelps; clerk, J. H. Phelps: assessor, M. J. Haines; treasurer, George Rieke; justices, R. Barton and Joseph Labarron: cousta- bles. S. Turner and H. W. Dodge. The town was called Mud Lake until July S, 1869, when the name was changed to Cairo. The earliest records of this township have not been preserved. The clerk has the min- utes of all the meetings since March 10, 874. The present officers are: Super- visors, Joseph Julius, Jr. (chairman), Charles Firle. Nels E. Nelson; treasurer, G. A. Boemmels; clerk, Theo. R. Reinke.
The first real estate assessment of Mud Lake township (112-32), now Cairo, was made in 1868. Those assessed that year were: Baptiste Frenier, section 31; Jane Laframboise, 25; Peter La Belle, 30; Eliza- beth Muller, 22; William Mills, 24; Mary Mumford, 31.
By 1871 quite a number of people had ac- quired property in Cairo township, 112-32 ( Mud Lake). the real estate assessment that year being as follows: Edmond O'Hara, section 9; Gardner Tibbitts, 10; Frank Shields, 10: Hanna C. Hains, 10: M. J. Hains, 10; Abram Culver, 14; R. Barton. 20: Elizabeth Muller, 22, 23, 27; J. Laframbois, 25; George Rieke, 26; James B. Harper. 27: Joseph Lebarron, 28; Sam- uel Marsh, 28; Amos G. Root, 29, 32; Michael Igo, 30, 31: B. H. Randall, 31; Mary Mumford. 31, 32; Frederick V. Ilaas. 32; F. G. Carter. 34, 35: Adam Rieke, 35.
The first personal property assessment of Cairo township (112-32) was made in 1869. Those assessed were: Renseller Barton. Charles Bird, M. M. Burk, Henry Berhns, S. Bengson, William Barnett, N. Christman, John Carson. W. Carver. Abram Culver, F. Dinkemire, James Drake, C. Dieter, Philo T. Dodge, Ralph K. Dodge, Henry Dodge, William Emerick, Torkeld Evenson, H. Evenson, A. R. Gleason, Thomas Greer, L. D. Griffin, Amelia Good- win, Charles A. Grow, James B. Hupper, H. Hauler. Charles E. Haight, Miranda Haight, M. J. Haines, M. Hopkins, Squire Lamphire, Joseph La Banon, Wilson La Banon. Bradford Lauderback, Samuel Marsh. (. H. Nixon, James O'Hara, Ed- mond O'Hara, J. W. Palmer, J. H. Phelps, M. W. Phelps, Z. B. Pierce, N. Peterson, Victor Rieke, August Rieke, George Rieke, William Rieke, F. Rieke, Adam Rieke, C. L. Ruggles, L. W. Root, A. G. Root, Nelson S. Read, Datis Rector, H. Reinke, William Root. Will Sell. F. Shields, Samuel Ste- vens, Gardner Tibbets, Edgar F. Tibbets,
Urial Tibbets, M. Tool, John Tyler, S. Tur- ner, Worthington. Williams,
CROOKS TOWNSHIP.
Crooks township embraces township 116- 36. It is bounded on the north by Kandi- yohi county, on the east by Winfield town- ship, on the south by Emmet township, and on the west by Ericson township.
John Smith was the first settler in Crooks township. He and his good wife. Maria, came to Crooks township, June 1, 1870, and did not settle here permanently until July 2, 1870, when they filed on the northwest quarter of section 32. At the same time C. G. Bell filed on the southwest quarter, and H. S. Crooks, from whom the town is named, on the southeast quarter of the same section. During the same year Lars Otness filed on the southeast quarter of section 34. and Hans Stromerson on the northwest quarter of the same section. Then came Ed. Bakken. James Madison, Esten Bakken and A. E. Kinney. These were practically all the early settlers of the township. But a few years later the settlers began to come in more rapidly.
The first birth in the town was that of Ellen, a daughter of C. G. and Phoebe Bell. born in the spring of 1872. The first death was in December, 1875, when John Jolinson was frozen to death. The first school was taught in the summer of 1874 by Nettie Spicer in a building erected for that pur- pose on section 30. Religious services were held by the Methodists at private houses as early as 1874.
Crooks towuship was organized as Au- rora township in November, 1884, and an election was held December 9, 1884. In March. 1885, the board was notified by the state auditor that another township in the state had been given the name Aurora, therefore named it Crooks. The first super- visors of Crooks were H. L. Otos (chair- man), C. A. Bakken and J. F. Smith. The records of the township have been pre- served since March 28, 1885. On that date the supervisors held a meeting and as- sessed two days' labor on the highways against every adult male, and a road tax of fifty cents against every hundred dol- lars' worth of real estate and personal property as valued in the assessment rolls of the preceding year. The present offi- cers of the township are: Supervisors. Henry Haen (chairman). P. J. Wigdahl and Gurin Kverness: clerk, E. J. Wilson. Town meetings are held in the school houses.
The first real estate assessment in Crooks township, 116-36. then a part of Emmet, was made in 1874. Those assessed were: Jolin Johnson, section 18: John Gist. 30. In 1875 there was added to this list: Esten Bakken, section S. In 1878 there were added to this list: A. E. Ken- ney, section 18; J. J. Pratt, 30; Ambry M. Knight. 2. 6; John B. Sanborn. 7. In 1882, the following names had been added: Charles B. Gordon, section 20; Knight &
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
Dean, 2, 10; J. A. Latta, 6; Ward & Bru- man, 21; James Matheson, 2S; Peter Lar- son, 28; T. O. Larson, 26; Tollof Olson, 26; A. McFarlane, 30; Jacob Olson, 32; John Smith. 32: E. C. Bakken, 28: Jessie Bean, 32; Peter Eberlanderson, 18: John S. De- lano, 19, 21; isaac C. Stearns, 17; Albert Dagen, 24; Claus A. Bakken, 18; Lars S. Otnes. 34; Hans S. Andraa, 34; Martin J. Martinson, 26; F. A. Gorden, 20.
The personal tax list of Crooks for 1915 embraces the following names: George Ahrenholz, Johu Aalderks, C. Aalderks, Dirk Beckman, Gustav Butenhoff, Bert Bruins.
John G. Wordes, one of the leading citi- zens of the township, settled here in the spring of 1887, and has thus lived in Crooks for nearly thirty years. Mr. Wordes has furnished some interesting information for this history of the county. His reminis- cences appear elsewhere. According to Mr. Wordes, the others who came that spring were Henry Blattner, Henry Haen and William Loock.
Those living here at that time were: John Gest, section 32; Peter Ufkes, 31; John F. Smith. 32; Henry Crooks, 32; Jacob O. Dahil, 32; A. E. Kinne, 18: C. A. Bakken, 18; Eston Bakken, S; James Mat- son, 28; Samming Carlson, 28: E. C. Bak. ken, 28; Gustof Herman, 34: Ole Erickson, 26; Martin Peterson. 22: Fred Shaller, 22; Ole Tolfson, 24; G. Welch, 29; L. P. Larson, 28: S. A. Wilcox, 20; F. C. Greene, 20; N. F. Sherman, 20; John O. Colsrud; Hans Stumeson, 34: A. McFarlane, 33; Hotsean Otos, 24; Carl Hennemann, 2; Lars Otnes, 27; Albert Strey; 26; Adolph Zockor, 36. Of these thirty-three families only four are now living in the township: Johu G. Wordes, 29; Gustof Hermann, 34; Martiu Peterson, 22: Albert Strey, 14, all the rest having died or moved to other places.
Those who came later in 1887 were Henry Haen, who later moved to Emmet township; Henry Blattner, William Loock and Lubbert Ahrenholz.
The men who have lived in Crooks township a quarter of a century or more are: Dirk Beekman, F. O. Berg, P. and D. Eeikhoff, Gustof Herman, L. M. Johnson, S. F. Larson, Olson & Johnson, John G. Wordes, Martin Peterson and Albert Strey.
John G. Wordes, of Crooks township, has lived in the county some thirty years, and in that time has undergone many interest- ing experiences. His story is an excellent lesson to the younger generations of what the people endured who helped to make the county. His story is as follows:
I was born in the town of Lima, Sheboy- gan county, Wisconsin; was reared to agri- cultural pursuits, and remained on my father's farm until March, 1887. On the twenty-third of that month I married Jane Christian Brummels. On April 6. 1887, she and I arrived in Renville and roomed at the home of Peter Haan until April 11. 1887. Then Mr. Vanakkeru a
younger brother of mine arrived at Ren- ville, with a car of horses, machinery and household goods. The next day we moved out on the prairie in a small house known as the Stearn's place. A few days later James Minderhout and Isaac Wolfert, two young men from Sheboygan county, Wis- consin, came and stayed with us for some time.
Then a few days later William Orlebeke and family, also of Sheboygan county, Wis- consin, came and stayed with us until the men could haul out lumber to build a small house and sheds for their horses. The above named Wisconsin people had bought land in Chippewa county, Minnesota, near where Clara City is now situated. When those families moved on their land, I can tell you we commenced to get lonesome. But we soon got acquainted with the neigh- bors, and I will say right here that I shall never forget what those kind neighbors did for us in time of need. Now, to tell the story, will say the first thought came to me to break the prairie land that I had bought the year previous in section 7, township 116, range 36-160 acres rail- road land-at $9 per acrs. I broke 40 acres in the spring of 1887, sowed 20 acres of it into flax and reaped five bushels per acre. Everything went well until the win- ter of ISSS. January 12 two young men, friends of ours, got lost in a snow storm. One froze to death, the other froze his teet. The worst came on February 4, 1888, when our first baby was born. A blinding blizzard made it impossible for a neighbor or a doctor to come to our assistance, and there was no telephone to call a neighbor. It nearly made my hair stand on end. But thanks to God, everything went well. The years 1887 and 1888 were rather poor crop years and low prices, and the severe win- ter made us somewhat discouraged and all the earthly possession we had. I had made one small payment on my land. One team of horses and harness and wagon and a few pieces of furniture was all we had.
The first two years we were so poor that we could not buy wood or coal. So we were obliged to burn hay and flax straw to cook and keep warm with. We tried to sell out, but could not get a buyer, even at the price we had paid for our land. Then in the fall of ISSS my father came to see us. He found us well, but discour- aged. After telling father of our plans of selling out and going back to Wisconsin, father said: "Son, my advice to you is this: Stick it out a few years and every- thing will turn out right." And father's advice came in time, and did turn out well. So my advice to any young man that starts in a new country-stick out a few years and everything will turn out well. In the year 1892 I bought 80 acres joining mine at $11 per acre. And in 1892 sold my 240 acres at $20 per acre and also sold my personal property for a good price. After
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paying all our debts we had a nice little sim to our name.
In the spring of 1893 we decided to see our old home and friends in Wisconsin. On June 5, 1893, myself and family left for Wisconsin, thinking to locate there, and while there also took in the World's Fair at Chicago, Ill. We also looked at some land in Wisconsin and Illinois. After taking prices of land into consideration in those states, I saw that I could do better in Minnesota, so in August of 1893, we re- turned to the town of Crooks and bought the northwest quarter of section 29 at $29 per acre, the same quarter where we still live.
In 1908 } bought the southwest quarter of section 20 at $48.50 per acre, so now } have a farm of 320 acres, which I would not trade for any farm of similar size in Wis- consin or Illinois.
ERICSON TOWNSHIP.
Ericson township embraces township 116, range 37. It is bounded on the north by Chippewa county, on the east by Crooks township. on the south by Sacred Heart township and on the west by Wang town- ship.
The first settler in Ericson township was James H. Wilson, who came in about 1870 and erected a cabin on section S. He lived alone and was at his cabin for a short period only. He left soon after the influx of 1871. In the days of the early settle- ment large game was not plentiful in the prairie region of Renville county, but it is related that a certain large moose often came to Mr. Wilson's haystack.
In 1871 Ericson received many settlers, all of whom arrived within a few days of each other. about June. and rapidly filled the township. Peter P. Dustrud, who is still living in Sacred Heart, was one of these. A short time ago Mr. Dustrud pre- pared a list of this colony, which is as fol- lows: Peter P. Dustrud, wife and mother (Dorothea Sanderson), section 28. Ole S. Lanning, wife and one son, section 28. Mar- tin Jacobson, wife and two children, ser- tion 22. Johannes Siverson Lanning. sin- gle, section 28. Mr. Lanning is still on the farm where he originally settled. Halvor Skonberg, wife and three children, section 32. Skonberg had been a tailor at St. Peter. He worked at that trade here for the early settlers and then went to Minne- sota Falls. Ole Gilbertson Knestang, sin- gle, section 26. Anders Gilbertson Knes- tang, wife and three children, section 26. Gabriel Osmundson, wife and three chil- dren, section 26. His father and mother settled in the same section. Eberhart Louasen, wife and two children. section 34. Ole Berget Skomager, wife and one child. section 34. Ole was a cobbler and took his name from his occupation. Olaf Kort- gaarden, wife and three children, section 34. Johannes Wee (Wood) and wife. sec- tion 22. Johannes Hanson, wife and three
children, section 26. His original home was on the present site of the school house. Simon Christenson Engen, wife and one child, section 30. Hans Hanson Roli, wife and three children, section 22. Ella Olson, a widow with one son, Iver. section 20. Peter Christianson Engen, sin- gle, section 30. Paul Killi and wife, section 20: John Trostal and wife and four chil- dren. section 20. Ole Hanson Tunde, an old soldier and single, section 32. Peter (Gulbrandson) Fieldhammer, wife and three children, section 32. Mr. Fieldham- mer is the only one of the early settlers who is still actively operating his farm. Lars Hanson, wife and family, section 19. An interesting story is told of Mr. Han- son's adventure with a deer. This deer lingered about the place in the fall and did considerable damage to the hay stacks. One day the dog chased it out onto the ice and Mr. Hanson followed it. After a terrific battle the deer escaped.
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