USA > Minnesota > Renville County > The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume II > Part 80
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All these people came as already noted in May, 1871. A few people came that fall. among whom may be mentioned Peter Gerde and Ole Helgeson. Early in the spring of 1872 came Peter O. Doseth and family. now living in Sacred Heart.
Others who arrived at about the same time as these earliest pioneers are: Ole Wolstad, Hans Rosaasen, Carl Gerde, Fin- ger Hoff and Iver Olson.
Among other early settlers may be men- tioned: Ole O. Reiten, Jorgen Voldeng. Ole El. Agre, Tosten Walstach, A. A. Skjefte, S. S. Lanning, (. H. Rolie, Ole K. Holien. Emil E. Erickson, O. H. Docken, Jolın P. Lien, Hans H. Sagness. Hans S. Lanning, Lars Milsten, 1. (. Barnaal, Ole C. Stavig, Berger Ingebretson, Christ Evenson and Per Kolberg.
When the township was organized the whole town constituted one school dis- trict. The first school was taught in 1874. at Iver Walstad's house, by Mary Bovee. Peter P. Dustrud drove to Beaver Falls and persuaded her to take charge of the school. All the books used the first term were books which Mr. Dustrud had owned as a boy. In 1875 a school house was built on the Dustrud farm. Mr. Dustrud and others going to Willmar after the boards which were used in putting up a shack. which did service as school house and church.
The township was named in honor of Eric Ericson, prominent pioneer of Ren- ville county, who served in the early days as county auditor and was for many years county superintendent of schools. It was he who drew up the petitions for the or- ganization of the township and school dis- trict. These petitions were circulated by Peter P. Dustrud and by him and others presented to the county commissioners. The name of Ericson was suggested and the citizens consented.
There are two churches in Ericson, the Dutch Reformed and the synod church of
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the Norwegian Lutheran Evangelical faith.
Ericson township at one time had a post- office bearing its name. It was kept by Frederick Walstad at his mother's home, in section 32. He also kept a small stock of goods.
The first marriage was that of Lars H. Milsten and Ingebor Hanson in 1875. The Norwegian Lutherans began holding meet- ings as early as 1873. The first death was that of Emma H. Walstad, in 1873. The first cemetery was on the farm of Peter P. Dustrud and a number of bodies are still interred there.
Ericson township was organized January 27, 1874. The following officers were elect- ed: Supervisors, Henry Paulson (chairman and constable). Peter Gerde and E. H. Walstad; clerk and justice, Henry Paul- son: treasurer, assessor and constable, Peter P. Dustrud. This meeting was held in the dugout of Peter P. Dustrud in sec- tion 2S. A heavy storm was raging and only about seven men were present. There is a town hall in the center of the town- ship.
The first personal property assessment in Ericson township. 116-37, was made in 1874. Those assessed were: Ragnild Alertson, Ole H. Agre, Ole H. Berg. Peter Christianson, Simon Christianson. Peter P. Dustrud. Peter O. Dosseth, Eli Erickson. Christian Evenson, Ole Gilbertson. Peter Gilbertson, Carl O. Gerde, Peter O. Gerde. Anders Gilbertson. Hans Hanson, Ole John- son, Martin Jacobson, Anders Knesting, Paul Killi. Olof C. Kortgaarden, Franz Fagerlie, Ole S. Lanning, Hans Larson Pernille Larson, E. P. Louasen. Lars H. Milsten, Ole Olson, Gabriel Osmundson, Iver Olson, Henry Paulson, S. Peterson, Magloire Robideaux. Osmund Rierson, Jo- hannes Severson, Hans H. Sagnes. Halvor Skjonberg. Iver Thompson. Johan Traastal, Ole H. Tande, John Breli.
The first real estate assessment in Eric- son (116-37) was made in 1874. Those as- sessed were: Hans S. Sagnes, section 18; Paul Killi, 20; John Thompson. 22; Marthea Dustrud, 28; Anton Olson, 28: Hans Lar- son, 30; Peter Hanson, 32 (a note made gives Peter Hanson's property as having been transferred to Peter Lundberg). In 1877 there were added to this list: James H. Wilson, section 8: M. Robideaux. 24; P. Gerde. 28: Hans Hanson, 30; Ole Hen- drickson, 32; Jorgen P. Flagstad, 32. In 1878 there was added to this list: Halvor Hanson. 30.
The first child born in Ericson was Carl, the son of Halvor Gundberg, in the summer of 1871. Bernt Siverson, the son of Ole Siverson Lanning, was the second. These children were baptized at the home of Peter Erickson in section 24.
Peter P. Dustrud's Reminiscences. "111 the spring of 1872. 1 took a load of people from the town of Ericson to the home of the aged Hans Roli, on the southeast quar- ter of the southwest quarter of section 8.
The home was a log house, which had been erected but not finished. The members of the party I took to this meeting place were Marthea Dustrud, my wife and our baby, Severin Julius Dustrud; Mrs. Mar- tin Jacobson and her daughter, Maria Jacobson; Mrs. Halvor Ogaarden and her daughter, Berthe Ogaarden; Mrs. Ole Sy- verson Lanning, with her son, and Mrs. Andrew Knestand, whom we took along as a witness. Religious services were held, for this was on a Sunday, by the Rev. John Bergh. This is the first time that I ever met the reverend gentleman. There were so many children to be baptized that Pas- tor Bergh himself had to be one of the wit- nesses for our son. Bernt Larson and his wife were the others.
"I shall never forget that trip. The com- pany of women and children filled my wagon box. The ground was still moist and the wheels otten sunk deep in the earth. It was slow going. The men had to stay at home and take care of the fields to see that the cattle did not get into the props. No fences had been built and when the crops were growing it required con- stant care to prevent the cattle destroy- ing them."
In the fall of 1871 Mr. Dustrud had an interesting experience with a prairie fire. Early one morning he started for the mill at New London with grain for Ole Siver- son Lanning. intending. on the way back, to purchase supplies at Willmar. When he was some ten miles from home a great prairie fire swept toward him, coming from the northwest and sweeping toward the southeast. The fire had started near Breck- enridge and at a rate of sixty miles an hour had swept toward Benson and then to the Minnesota river, even in places jumping that river. Mr. Dustrud had only a few seconds in which to act. He started a back fire and by leading the plunging and fright- ened horses into the very flames of this back fire he managed to save them and the wagon. His whiskers and eyebrows were singed and he was nearly strangled with the smoke and flames. But he kept on and reached New London at 11 o'clock at night. There he found men who had been waiting three or four days to get their wheat ground. When the kind hearted miller learned the distance Mr. Dustrud had come he took pity on him and agreed to grind the wheat at once. So after mid- night, with his flour, Mr. Dustrud started toward Willmar and camped five miles from the village he had just left. Early in the morning he continued on his way, and at about 8 o'clock reached Willmar. where he purchased some lumber, salt and provisions. He did not get started for home until 4 o'clock in the afternoon. The prairies had been burned as far as the eye could reach and all evidences of the trail had been obliterated. So Mr. Dustrud was not able to reach a hotel at which he had planned to stop, just over the line in
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Kandiyohi county, and was forced to again camp on the blackened prairie. The next day he reached the liome of Ole Siverson Lanning and heard the story of how the neighborhood had fared during his absence.
Mr. Lanning was away from home when the fire came and Mrs. Lanning was alone. She started toward the Dustrud home and nearly perished on the way before she was helped into the cabin by Mrs. Martin Jacob- son, Mrs. Dustrud and Mrs. Dustrud's mother, Mrs. Dorthea Sanderson. In order to provide against fire, Mr. Dustrud had plowed two large circles around his home, and had several times burned off the grass between the two circles, thus leaving a protected area of some ten acres about his home. The cattle for miles around sought refuge in this circle, and when Mr. Dustrud got home all the cattle in his neighborhood were grazing on his place.
EMMET TOWNSHIP
Emmet township embraces township 115, range 36. It is bounded on the north by Crooks, on the east by Troy, on the south by Flora and on the west by Sacred Heart. It is crossed by the C. M. & St. Paul Ry. It has one city, Renville, located in the northwestern part.
Emmet township was first settled in 1869. In 1868 Sylvester Brooks, and son, Nelson W. Brooks, from River Falls, Wis., came to the vicinity of Sacred Heart creek, and after living with Samuel Bernell for a while, erected a cabin of their own. In the same neighborhood there was living a Ger- man named Holstein. Mr. Brooks was joined in June, 1869, by his son-in-law and daugliter, Mr. and Mrs. G. L. Dodge, and their two children, who took up their homes with Mr. Holstein. With them came Loren A. Brooks and H. E. Wadsworth. Dodge, Brooks and Wadsworth had all lived at River Falls, Wis., and all were veterans of the Thirtieth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. After taking their clainis, Wadsworth and Brooks in section 32, Emmet and Dodge in section 30, in the same township, Wads- worth and Brooks returned to Wisconsin, while Dodge continued to live with his family in Sacred Heart township.
The first permanent settler was William Powers, who arrived in the latter part of June, 1869. At that time no one was living in the township. The story of the Powers settlement is a most interesting one. Wil- liam Powers, James Daly and John Warner had been friends in Pennsylvania, where Daly and Warner were born and where Powers had come from Ireland as a young man. From Pennsylvania all there men liad come to Blue Earth county in this state.
In June, 1869, William Powers and his family, and James Daly, started overland for Renville county. With their wagon as their headquarters they camped on the northeast quarter of section 32, in Emmet township, while Powers and Daly drew
logs from the Minnesota river bottoms and erected a cabin.
After the cabin was completed and the Powers family comfortably located, Daly went back to Blue Earth county after his own family and John Warner and family. Daly located on the northwest quarter of section 2S, and Warner on the southwest quarter of section 22. These three fami- lies were the only people who spent the winter of 1869-70 in Emmet township.
In April, 1870, Wadsworth and Brooks brought their families from Wisconsin, and Dodge came up from Sacred Heart with his family, and all three families located on their claims.
The next group of settlers to arrive were the members of the David Benson party. David Benson and James Jacobson were college mates in Norway. Among their friends were Espen Hanson and Ole Quam- soe. In the spring of 1870 they set out from Dodge county, Minnesota, for Ren- ville county. Benson and Hanson brought their families, the other two were single men. All took land in section 6 and moved into a cabin which had been erected for the Hanson family.
Benson, Quamsoe and Jacobson then went to Mankato on foot and from there to Rochester, where they worked in the harvest fields. In November, Benson came back to Emmet, leaving Quamsoe and Jacobson at Rochester. When he reached Emmet he found that his family had left the Espen Hanson cabin and were living with Peter Johnson, who had brought his family to Emmet late in the summer and put up a shack ou section 4.
John G. Lee and family, and Ole Hanson and Ole Simonson, arrived at the home of Haakon Andraa in Sacred Heart, June 24, 1870. A son, Gunder J. Lee, with Hanson and Simonson, looked about for land, and finally selected a site in section 4, on the banks of what was afterward known as Lee Lake, which has since been drained. A cabin was erected and there tlie Lee family spent the Winter, while the young men returned to Wisconsin. They too, later located in Emmet township.
Carl Carlson and family settled in sec- tion 4, in the fall of 1870.
Others who came in 1870 were Patrick (oulahan, Timothy Muldowney, Timothy Daly, Charles Pickthorn and Cornelius Crowley. Coulahan and Muldowney set- tled on section 28. Crowley settled in section 32. All brought their families ex- cept Daly, who took up his residence with his brother.
Joseph Brammick canie to Emmet town- ship in 1870, but it was not until two years later that he settled here.
Among the other early settlers may be mentioned Wesley Wiley, Hoppley Tib- bitts, Howard Tibbitts, Julius Myer, Bartel Brummer, Julius Brummer, Charles McEl- rath and Hans Ness.
The first death in the township was that
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of a child of Peter Jobnson. In choosing a place for the burial of this child, Johnson selected the site for the present Renville Union cemetery. now known as the Fair- view cemetery. "The living," said Mr. Johnson, as he stood on the swell of land overlooking the ideal spot where the dead now sleep, "can always choose a desirable location so for the dead who cannot choose we should give our best." He therefore wrote to Land Commissioner Skinner of the railroad company, and as a result the railroad deeded five acres to be held in trust forever for those who await the Judgment.
The first child born in the township was William, a son of James and Eliza Daley, born February 20, 1870. The first adult to die was Christian Nacke, who was frozen to death January 7, 1873. His dead body was found near section 14.
The first school was taught in the winter of 1870-71 by Charles Peneman in the home of L. A. Brooks. In 1871-72 Mr. Peneman taught in the home of Charles Elrath. The schoolhouse was erected on the present site in 1875. The district is known as district 37.
The early history of district 33 is well worth recording. In 1873 the school board was organized with David Benson as direc- tor, John Cole as treasurer and Howard Tibbetts as clerk. At the very beginning there was a serious contention as to who should be the first teacher for the three months' school which they planned to hold. Treasurer Cole had promised John Larkin, who lived on the Minnesota river, in Flora township, that his daughter, Daisy, should be the teacher provided that Director Ben- son and Clerk Tibbetts would consent. A meeting was called, and the honorable board was informed by Clerk Tibbetts that he had corresponded with a young lady in Wisconsin and had engaged her as the teacher. After some highly impolite lan- guage between Cole and Tibbetts, the meeting adjonrned at about 3 o'clock in the morning.
Cole then called on Benson and told him that if the Wisconsin lady were engaged Larkin would sue the district. "Tell Lar- kin," said Mr. Benson, "that if he will behave himself and stop this foolish talk about suing the district, that his girl will get the school. for you and I make a ma- jority." So Miss Larkin became the first teacher in the district and Tibbetts and the Wisconsin lady were left to nurse their wrath. The first school was held in the corn crib of Wen. Werden.
Emmet township was organized Sep- tember 7, 1870, and the first election held September 21, 1870, and the following offi- cers elected : Supervisors, Loren
A. Brooks (chairman), John Warner and Wil- liam Powers: clerk, Patrick Conlahan; treasurer, H. E. Wadsworth; justices, Wil- liam Powers and L. A. Brooks; constables, C. Pickthorn and James Daley. William
Powers was moderator of the meeting, II. E. Wadsworth was clerk, while John Warner and L. A. Brooks were judges of election. Each of the candidates received twelve votes except L. A. Brooks, who for justice of the peace received eleven votes. The present officers are: Supervisors, A. F. Bratsch (chairman), Fred Kramin and Henry Gens; clerk, Louis Grunert; treas- urer, Gust. Stern; assessor, John Gens, The township elections are held in the city of Renville.
Emmet was named from Robert Emmet, the Irish patriot. The petition for this name was fathered by William Powers, and the name was chosen in spite of the fact that H. E. Wadsworth wished the town named in honor of his wife.
The first personal property assessment made in Emmet township was made in 1871. Those assessed were: George Benni- son, L. A. Brooks, Barthold Brumner, Pat- rick Conlahan, G. L. Dodge, James Daly, Timothy Daly, B. McElrath, Thomas Fos- ter, Julius Meyer, Timothy Muldavney, Chas. Pickthorn, Wm. Powers. John Smith. Alfred Symes, H. E. Wadsworth, John Warner, Wesley Wiley.
The first real estate assessment of Em- met township, 115-36, was made in 1874. Those assessed were: George Ott, section 30; Everett Wadsworth, section 32; Loren A. Brooks, section 32; B. McElrath, section 32: G. L. Dodge, section 30; Wm. Powers. section 32; Cornelius Crowley, section 28 (note to effect that this was transferred to Gotfried Grabow): James Daly, section 28; John Warner, section 22; Howard Tib- betts, section 18: Peter Paqueth, section 20; L. D. Worden, section 18; John John- son, section IS (116-36), now Crooks: John Gist, section 30; J. W. Lowery, section 24 (note to effect that this was transferred to John Brettin).
FLORA TOWNSHIP.
(By ('rystal l. C. Shoemaker. )
Flora township embraces the greater part of Congressional township 114, range 36, and a fraction part of township 113-36. It is bounded on the north by Emmet town- ship, on the east by Henryville and Beaver Falls townships, on the southwest by the Minnesota river, and on the west by Sacred Heart township. Across the river is Red- wood county. It is included in the reserva- tion strip which remained in the posses- sion of the Indians until 1858, shortly after which the settlement of the bottom lands in the township was started.
The soil is black sandy loam with clay subsoil and is very fertile. The northern portion consists of rolling prairie. while the soutliern portion consists of the beau- tiful Minnesota Valley and a range of hills or bluffs extending back of the river from one-fourth of a mile to one mile in width. The river and creeks are bounded by natural forests. At present there are no villages in the township. The settlements
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are composed almost entirely of German people.
There are three churches. The German Evangelical church is situated in section 35. township 114, range 36. A new edifice was built in 1911 at a cost of $8,000. The German Lutheran church is located in sec- tion 27, township 114. range 36. This church accommodates a large congregation. And the German Methodist Episcopal church, located in section 22, township 114. range 36. This church at one time accom- modated a flourishing congregation, but at present it has a very small one and the church is not used to any extent. All three churches have well kept cemeteries in connection. There is also a Catholic ceme- tery situated in section 5, township 114. range 36. but there is no church in con- nection.
There are five large public schools. School district No. S is located in section 35: school district No. 18 is located in section 20; school district No. 22 is located in section 14: school district No. 80 is located in section 11: and school district No. 97 is located in section S.
The first settler in Flora township was Charles Patterson, a trader from the north of Ireland. who about 1783 established a trading nost at the rapids in section 29, at the bend of the river. On all the early maps this locality appears as Patterson's Rapids. It is now known as the Falls, and is a widely-favored picnic spot. It was from the hat worn by Patterson that Sacred Heart is believed to have received its name.
In 1859. a number of white people set- tled npon unsurveyed territory in this township. Their story is told elsewhere. These people experienced the terrible In- dian massacre of August 18, 1862, and only a few survived. Among them may be mentioned Gottlieb Mannweiler, Louis Thiele. John Lettow. John and Michael Boelter. Gottlieb Buce, John Kochendorfer. John Schwandt. William Schmidt, - Ross- ler, - Lummis, and their families.
In 1865. Francis Shoemaker, in company with four or five others from LeSueur county, took claims in the town of Flora. Mr. Shoemaker being the only one of the company who settled on his claim in sec- tion 1, township 113, range 36, moving here with his family in January. 1866. John Schlueter and F. M. Shoemaker were mem- bers of this family and the only members now residing in Flora.
Late in November, 1865. James Gaffney, moving westward. settled for the winter in an old log house on the banks of the Sacred Heart creek. The next spring they located in section 3. township 113, range 36, this farm now being owned by Edmund F. Gaffney.
John Schlueter, F. M. Shoemaker and Edmund F. Gaffney are the three oldest settlers in the township, often being re- ferred to as the three Patriarchs of Flora.
In April. 1866, Lonis Thiele moved his family back to this township on section 12. township 113. range 36. he being the only one of the former settlers who returned to reside in his old home. In the spring of 1866 John Smith settled in section 2. Two years later he moved to section 12.
In October. 1866, Henry Dreyer and fam- ily moved into the town and settled on section 35-114-36.
In the summer of 1867 several other families moved in. among them being Henry Timms on section 33. Albert Nichols, section 34; Christian Sperber, section 34; John Schafer, section 1; James Stewart, section 19; R. W. Davis. section 19: Samuel Brown, section 18: Philip Williams, section 15: Conrad Becker, section 18.
The following year ( 1868), Ancen Brad- burn on section 2, Bartlett Quigley on sec- tion 34, William Sperber on section 34. Christian Schafer on section 28. Joseph Fischer on section 28. Louis Schater on section 28. Leopold Wohlman on section 28. John Miller on section 28, Peter Binger on section 20, Simon Burch on section 19. John Larkin. Sr., on section 18. Griffeth Williams on section 28, Harry Thompson on section 19. John and Charles Becken- dorf on section 19. Carl Kordt on section 22, Charles Heinikie on section 22, Herman Hackman on section 22. Fred Steinkamp on section 22. Thaddeus Hathway on sec- tion 22. August Uhlig on section 22. Theo. Shoening on section 23. John Arndt on section 24. Joseph Arndt on section 24. James Christie on section 26. N. S. Satter- lie on section 26, H. S. Braly on section 26, and Jacob Fitz on section 26.
The township was organized in 1867. The election being held in the house of James Gaffney. that venerable gentleman's cap serving as a ballot box. The judges of election were James Gaffney, James Graves and H. Ames. The first officers elected were Henry Dreyer (chairman). John Schafer and Henry Timms, supervisors: Francis Shoemaker, clerk and justice of the peace: Louis Thiele. constable. No other officers qualified. The town was named Flora, deriving its name from the first horse brought here after the mas- sacre by Francis Shoemaker.
The present officers are: William John- son (chairman). Herman Breitkreutz and F. M. Shoemaker. supervisors: Gust. A. Schafer, clerk: Bernhardt Binger, treas- urer. For fifteen years there has been no constable or justice of the peace.
F. M. Shoemaker tells an interesting story of how he learned, as the slang phrase is, how "not to butt in." The first wheat crop raised in the town was scat- tered about on the different farms and the threshing proposition presented many diffi- culties. Finally Judge Henry Ahrens and Diedrich Wichmann consented to thresh the grain, providing it should be brought to one place. Francis Shoemaker's place was centrally located. To this place Henry
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Dreyer hauled his grain, and Louis Thiele was also to bring in his. F. M. Shoemaker was then about ten years old. He was sent to help Mr. Thiele. The snow being deep, they several times upset the load, and at each accident Mr. Thiele in disgust would exclaim: "If I had a match I would burn it." About the third time, young Shoemaker, innocently, after a diligent search in his clothes, found a match and offered it to the erratic Mr. Thiele, where- upon the youngster was seized by the nape of the neck and given a severe spank- ing with a fork handle wielded by the indignant man.
Mr. Shoemaker tells another story of early days. In 1867, still a young lad. he started out on the back of the horse, "Flora." from which the township received its name, with the purpose of going to New Ulm to get a plow-share sharpened. He stopped a while at Fort Ridgely, and there the kind-hearted military blacksmith of- tered to do the work for him, so the boy reached home the same day instead of having to make a two-day trip.
The first real estate assessment of Flora township (113-36 and 114-36) was made in 1868. Those assessed that year were: (113-36) John Blair, section 11; Catherine Folkel, 2: John A. Haack, 13: Charles Klemer, 2, 3; Bernhard Kenzel, 11, 12: Jacob Krell, 4: Robert Nicholson, 4: James, O'Neil, 4; Adam Puffer, 1. 12; Wenzel Swoboda. 4; John Swoboda, 4; Carl Simon- det, 13; Henry Smith. 2: John Shafer, 1; Louis Thiele. 4: Ulrich Van Walt, 3; Con- rad Becker, 18: Simon Burch, 19: Henry Dreyer, 35; Wm. H. Ingalls, 22: John Lar- kin, 7. 18: Christian Shafer and C. Detloff, 33; Fred Stoltz, 35: Norman Satterlee, 33: Abner Tibbets, 18.
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