USA > Mississippi > History of the upper Mississippi Valley, pt 2 > Part 12
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Randolph Holding, whose name the town beurs, Ims the honor of being the first permanent settler, having made a claim at what is now called Hokl-
421
HOLDING TOWNSHIP.
ingsford, as early as May, 1868. He was soon followed by Casper Fox, I. Moch, Isam Hall, S. A. Blood, Jacob Hoffer, and Henry Young, who set- tled near Mr. Holding. The following year wit- nessed quite an immigration, prominent among whom were, James Hall, G. W. Bolton, Alexander Stewart, Joseph E. Fugate, and Henry and John Sand. Nearly all of the old settlers yet remain.
The first school was kept by S. A. Blood in the winter of 1872-73. There are now five schools in the town, in which sehool is kept during the usual terms.
The first religions service was held at the resi- denee of Isam Hall, in 1872, by Rev. Mr. Nellis.
The first ehild born was Virginia Hall, in 1870.
The first death was Mary F. Farrell, aged six years, in 1871.
The first marriage was in 1872, the parties being William Branham and Miss Ama Baker.
Holding has an area of 26,880 aeres, of which 1,157 are under eultivation, and the population, according to the last eensus, was 603.
It was a part of Broekway until 1870, when a separate organization was effeeted, and the town named in honor of its founder.
HOLDINGSFORD-This place derives its name from the first settler, and the faet of this being a fording point on the Two River before any bridges were built. In 1874, Mr. Holding surveyed and platted about twenty acres, and gave to the village the above appropriate name. Two years before this he had opened a store here, and soon after was appointed Postmaster, which position he still holds, and also carries on his merenntile business.
A. C. Smith opened a general store in 1877, but discontinued it after six months.
William Murphy also opened a general store, in 1878, but abandoned the enterprise at the end of two years.
In 1875, R. B. Young & Son built a lumber and a flouring mill which they run till 1877. The flour- ing mill was then moved to Morrison county, and the humber mill sold to R. Holding, who in turn sold it to Ward Brothers, the present owners, in 1878. They have recently enlarged and improved it, adding a Hlouring mill with three run of stones.
A steam saw-mill was built by William Murphy in 1879, which is now being successfully operated.
A Stave factory was built on seetion twenty-nine, about the same time, by Clark, Waite, and Mont- gomery, which is also in snecessful operation.
The following products are reported from Hold-
ing for the year 1880; wheat, 11,832 bushels; oats, 7,204 bushels; eorn, 1,490 bushels; barley, 25 bushels; potatoes, 2,117 bushels; beans, 25 bush- els; cultivated hay, 64 tons; wild hay, 576 tons; timothy seed, 3 bushels; tobaceo, 45 pounds; wool, 563 pounds; butter, 5,220 pounds; and honey, 225 pounds.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
SAMUEL A. BLOOD, of Cuyahoga eounty, Ohio, was born on the 7th of June, 1837. He left the home of his ehildhood at the age of twenty-one years, and eame to Minnesota, loeating at St. Cloud, which was then but a rude hamlet. After remaining about nine years, he removed to the unorganized township of Holding, and located on seetion eight. He has a farm of 160 aeres in a good state of enltivation. Mr. Blood has always taken an active part in town and school atfairs, has been Chairman of the board of Supervisors, for three years and held other minor offiees. He was married on the 19th of October, 1859, to Miss Mary A. Lane, of New York State. They have had eight children, six of whom are living; William A., Clifton A., Nettie, Nora, Calvin, and Edith. Mr. Blood was in the Fourth Minnesota Vulnnteer Infantry during the Indian war. He was accompanied by two of his brothers, one of whom was killed and the other severely wounded while fighting the Indians. He was one of the detailed number to adjust the ropes around the neeks of the thirty-eight Indians who were executed at Mankato in the year 1863.
JAMES HALL was born in Scioto county, Ohio, on the 3d of March, 1846. His father moved to Virginia soon after James' birth, and the subject of this sketeh resided on a farm until the breaking out of the eivil war. On the 14th of September, 1862, he enlisted in Company 1, of the 39th Ken- theky Mounted Infantry, participated in a nmmn- ber of closely contested battles, and was mustered ont at Louisville, in September, 1865. He then returned to his old home in Virginia, but eame to Minnesota in 1869. After remaining a few months in Meeker county, he eame to Holding township and seleeted his present farm on seetion ten. Mr. Hall was married in 1863, to Miss Catharine Payne, who is a native of Virginia. They have had eight ehildren, seven of whom are living, five daughters and two sons.
JOSEPH E. FUGATE dates his birth in Pendleton county, Kentucky, on the 7th of April, 1847. When a lad, he removed with his parents to Ver-
422
HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
million county, Illinois, where he grew to man- hood. Mr. Fagate enme to Minnesota in 1868, and located on seetion thirty-two, where he now has a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in a fine state of cultivation. When he eame to this township it was in a wild state, the only white man to be seen being an occasional hunter. In 1875, he lost his right leg from a wound inflicted by a ball from n gun in the hands of one John Bolton. He married Eliza J. Chesney, of Morrison coun- ty, Minnesota, on the 24th of November, 1875. They have two children; Lethe M. and Alanson.
RANDOLPH HOLDING, the founder of the town- ship which bears his name, was born in McHenry county, Illinois, on the 27th of July, 1844. He removed with his parents, in 1854, to the state of Michigan, where he remained until 1861, when he eame to Minnesota and located at Clearwater. In Angust, 1862, he enlisted in Company E, of the Eighth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, in which he served three years. On his return from the army, in 1865, he visted his old home in Michigan, re- maining eight months, then came west and until 1868, was engaged in freighting on the Red River road from St. Cloud to Red River. In May, 1868, he first visited this, then a wild region, and lo- cated on section eight of what is now Holding township, being the first white man to locate in the town. He has five hundred acres of choice farming land, including the only prairie in this section, of which about one hundred and forty aeres are in a good state of cultivation. The rapid development of the township is largely due to his untiring energy. Because of this early start, and its peenliar advantages, this town bids fair to be one of the best agricultural towns in the State. At the organization of the town he was elected Clerk, which office he has filled ever since, with the exception of one year. In 1872, he effected the organization of school district number ninety-three, and the same year was instrumental in establish- ing a Post-office, of which he has been the Post- master ever since. In 1878, he platted a town site which also bears his name. He has been No-
. tary Publie for the last six years, the only one in the town, and was a member of the House of Representatives in the State Legislature in 1872. Mr. Holding married Miss Lavinia L. Trask, of Morrison county, Minnesota, on the 6th day of July, 1870. Their children are, Albert C., Wil- liam R., and Adelbert E.
HARVEY MORGAN, one of the early settlers of
Holding township, was born in Letcher eounty, Kentucky, on the 3d of December, 1843. In early childhood, he removed with his parents to Scioto county, Olio. In 1869, he moved to Mce- ker county, Minnesota, where he remained till the spring of 1870, when he removed to Holding town, taking a homestead of eighty acres, to which he has recently added by purchasing eighty acres, and now has one of the best developed farms in this part of the town. He served three years in the Union army. Married Miss Jennie Adams, of Scioto county, Ohio, in October, 1861. They have had five children, Thomas, Sherman, Rilda, Lizzie, and Isam. His wife died in March, 1872, and in October, 1873, he married Miss Rosic Watson, of Meeker county, who is his present wife.
GEORGE W. MILNER was born in Vermillion county, Illinois, on the 24th of July, 1855. Came to Minnesota in 1866 with his parents, who settled in Maine Prairie. His father was killed by high- waymen near Indianapolis, Indiana, while on a visit to a brother in that locality. Mr. Milner lo- eated on section thirty-two, in 1879, and now re- sides there. He married Miss Martha Chesney on the 4th of July, 1877. They have two children, Sarah A. and Thomas W.
KRAIN.
Krain is situated in the northeast portion of the county, and adjoins Holding on the west. It has an area of about 28,800 acres, of which 569 are under cultivation. The surface is chiefly covered with timber, there being a few sections of prairie, with a light growth of brush in the western part. There are a number of small lakes, and a consid- erable acreage of swamp land, the latter being covered with a good growth of tamarack.
William Henry Helspor was, undoubtedly, the first settler in this town. He is a native of Prus- sia, and settled on section eighteen in 1868, and still resides on the old homestead. James Graham followed Mr. Helsper the same year, and settled near him; he also resides there still. James Gasperlin came the following year, and settled on section twenty-eight. The population has con- timed to increase, slowly, but steadily, until the last census showed a population of 214 persons.
Krain was organized in 1872, and the first offi- cers elected were: Supervisors, W. H. Helsper,
423
KRAIN TOWNSHIP.
Chairman, Mathias Pogatschnik, and Jolm Muyres; Clerk, Joseph Gasperlin; Justice of the Peace, James Graham; and Assessor, Ulrich Schelesnik.
The first school was taught by Joseph Gasper- lin, at his residence, the term commencing on the 12th of January, 1874.
The town is divided into two school districts. Number ninety eight was organized in 1874, and the school house is located on section thirty-two.
District number one hundred and fourteen was organized in the fall of 1878, and the first school kept by Cyrus S Brock. The building is situated in section twenty.
There is a German Catholic church on section twenty-two. Father Bernard is Pastor, visiting the town once a month.
The report of 1880 shows the following pro- ducts: wheat, 7,232 bushels; oats, 1,035 bushels; corn, 655 bushels; rye, 25 bushels; potatoes, 994 bushels; wild hay, 552 tons; apples, 5 bushels; wool, 199 pounds; and butter, 4,920 pounds.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
JAMES GRAHAM was born in the year 1844, in Tipperary county, Ireland, where he lived till seven years of age, when the family emigrated to Amer- ica. Soon after reaching this country, the family located in Vinton county, Ohio, where they re- mained for about four years. Here the subject of this sketch attended school for a mumber of years. He came to Minnesota in 1857, and located on a farm near Monticello, Wright county, and eame to section eighteen, Krain township, in 1868, wlicre he still resides, and gives his attention to farming. He secured his land under the homestead law; has one hundred and sixty acres, one half of which is under enltivation. He is the worthy Justice of the Peace in his part of the town. Mr. Graham was married in 1873, to Miss Katie Brown, who was born in St. Panl, on the 5th of January, 1857. They have five children.
WILLIAM HENRY HELSPER was born on the 11th of September, 1824, in Alsatia, Germany. When he was about one year old his father died, after which he was taken to Nassau, on the Rhine river, where he lived till fourteen years of age, then re- turned to his native place, remaining about two yours. Up to this period in life he had uftended school most of the timo. In 1846, he entered the army, serving seven years. At the expiration of his term of service, he emigrated to America, land- ing in New York, in the spring of 1852. Here lic followed shoemaking for some time, but came to
St. Paul in 1856, and engaged in the bakery bus- iness, until 1862, when he enlisted in Company K, of the Eighth Minnesota Voluntcer Infantry, and soon after was made Second Lieutenant. He was in several engagements with the Indians, and par_ ticipated in some of the severe battles of the Re- bellion. He was mustered out at Fort Snelling on the 11th of July, 1865. Came to Stearns county, and located at New Munich, where he kept a hotel till 1869, when he moved to his farm in section eighteen, Krain township. He was mar- ried in 1862, to Miss Hannah O'Donnell. who was born in Ireland. His wife died February 21st, 1875. They have had eight children, five of whom arc living.
LAKE GEORGE.
This town is situated in the southwestern por- tiou of the county, and is chiefly a rolling prairie. The exception is in the southeast corner, around Lake George, where several sections of timber land are found. It is contained in township 124 north, range 34 west. The lake from which the town de- rives its name is located in the southeast part; it is about two miles long, and varies from sixty to one hundred and sixty rods in width. The soil of the township is a black loam with a elay sub-soil, and is very productive. Its arca is 23,040 acres, 2,719 being under cultivation.
The honor of being the first settler in this town- ship belongs to Gerhard Stalboerger. He is a native of Germany, came to America in 1852, and after remaining a short time in Iowa, eame to Minnesota, and settled on his present farm in 1856. John Felling followed the same summer and took a claim on seetion twenty-four, where he now resides. Others soon followed, but the popu- . lation has not increasod as fast as some of the adjoining towns; the census of 1880 showing bnt 185 persons.
The territory now embraced in Lake George township was a part of Verdale on its organiza- tion in 1858. It subsequently became u part of St. Martin, and Inter, of Spring Hill; its present organization was effected in 1877, and the first. election held at the house of Michael Collins on section eleven. The first officers were: Supervi- sors, Gerhard Stalboerger, Chairman, Mathias Schneider, and Thomas Wilson; Clerk, Michael
424
HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
Collins; Treasurer, Mathias Weber ; and Con- stable, Peter Kuffler; thirteen votes were cast.
The first marriage in the town was in 1857, the parties being Gerhard Stalboerger and Miss Anna Mayer. Their eldest child was the first birth in the town, in the fall of 1859, and was also the first death, the infant dying at the age of three months.
The first school was taught by Miss Katie Mary Frank about 1868.
There is but one school, district number sixty- two, organized in 1869, the school-house is situ- ated in section twenty-four.
The products of Lake George in 1880 were: wheat, 20,838 bushels; oats, 8,353 bushels; corn, 820 busliels; barley, 754 bushels; potatoes, 632 bushels; wild hay, 983 tons; apples, 22 bushels; wool, 322 pounds; and butter, 7,010 pounds.
LAKE HENRY.
CHAPTER C.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION - EARLY SETTLEMENT-OR- GANIZATION -SCHOOLS - RELIGIOUS - AGRICUL- TURAL STATISTICS-BIOGRAPHICAL.
Lake Henry lies in the southwest part of the county, and has an arca of abont 23,000 acres, of which 4,420 are under cultivation, embracing the whote of township 123 north, range 33 west. With the exception of some light timber along the banks of Lake Henry, the town is a smooth prairie, somewhat undulating. The soil is chietly a rich black loam with a clay subsoil. The only lake of any importanee is Lake Henry, lying on sections ten and fifteen. It is abont one and a halt miles long with an average width of about one quarter of a mile.
The first man to make a elaim in this town was Xavier Popping, a native of Prussia. He came to this then uninhabited region in 1855, and se- lected a home on sections ten and eleven, where the family still reside. Mr. Popping died on the 220 of September, 1872.
Michael Kraemer came in 1856, and settled near the south end of Lake Henry, where he still lives. These are undoubtedly the first two settlers.
The population, for a number of years, increased very slowly, owing to the distance from market, and the open prairie country which was objected
to by many on account of the frequent severe storms in winter. During late years, however, the railroad has been extended west through the coun- ty, thus atfording better facilities for the ship- ment of grain, and the winter storms have become less frequent and severe, and as a result, the popu- lation is now increasing quite rapidly, the census of 1880 showing 346 persons.
This town was a part of Verdale, and afterwards, of several other towns, until 1869, when its own organization was completed.
The first election was held at the residence of Xavier Popping, but the records are not to be found, and consequently a full list of the town ofli- cials elected at that meeting cannot be obtained. Xavier Popping was the first Chairman of Super- visors, and Mathias Gross was the first Justice of the Peace and Town Clerk.
The town is divided into two school districts. The first school was kept by Frederick Rupp in 1869. He conducted the school about three years, and the scholars were gathered from every settled portiou of the township.
The second district, was organized in- 1880, and a good school building erected in section twenty- seven.
The first organized district was number twenty- four. The school house was situated on section two, where it still remains.
Lake Henry, with the cxeeption of one or two American families, is inhabited by Germans, nearly all of whom are Catholics. The first mass held in the town was at the residence of Mr. Popping, by the well known German missionary, Father Pierz, in 1855. There is a substantial frame church now being completed in section fourteen.
According to the agricultural report of 1880, the products of Lake Henry were: wheat, 51,730 bushels; oats, 24,590 bushels; corn, 2,275 bushels; barley, 940 bushels; potatoes, 2,810 bushels; wild hay, 1,468 tons; apples, 26 bushels; wool, 183 pounds; and butter, 13,290 pounds.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
WALTER LOREN GRAY, a native of Wesley, Maine, was born on the 15th of February, 1854. His . parents moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1861, where he attended school for about four years. In the spring of 1865, came to Stearns county, and lived with Mr. John E. Hayward in St. Cloud for five years, and at the age of sixteen years went to work in the pineries. He followed hunbering and log- ging until about 1879, when he came to his pres-
425
LE SAUK TOWNSHIP.
ent farm in section twenty-eight, Lake Henry town- ship. He has one hundred and sixty acres, thirty- five of which are under cultivation. He was mar- ried on the 19th of August, 1874, to Miss Ella Ady, who was born at Elk River, Sherburne county, Minnesota. They have three children.
PETER HENRY SCHOMER, a native of Luxem- burg, Holland, was born on the 24th of July, 1849, where he lived and attended school until he was eighteen years of age. Mr. Sehomer is a graduate of Luxemburg College, both of the collegiate and commercial departments. He grad- nated in 1866, going the same year to a college at Bristol, England, from which institution he gradu- ated as a Professor of Languages. In 1868, he came to America, finding his way to Dakota county, Minnesota, and was engaged in teaching school in that and Ramsey counties for the next six years. He came to Stearns county in 1874, and with the exeeption of one year's absence in the South, has taught school here ever since. Dur- ing his southern trip, his family suffered from that dreadful disease, Yellow Fever, at Chatta- nooga, Tennessee. Mr. Schomer is now teaching school in Distriet twenty-four, Lake Henry town- ship. He was married in 1876, to Miss Katie Fuchs, who was born in Stearus conty, in 1854. They have been blessed with four children.
LE SAUK.
CHAPTER CI.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION - EARLY SETTLEMENT -- ORGANIZATION -- SCHOOLS . - MANUFACTURING --- AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS BIOGRAPHICAL.
Lo Sank is situated in the northeastern part of the county, having the Mississippi river for its eastern boundary, and lying between Broekway and St. Cloud townships.
The surface is undulating, and generally cov- ered with timber and light brush.
There is a small prairie in the south part con- .
taining about two thousand acres, and also a small one in the northeast.
The Watab river crosses the town in an easterly direction a little south of the center, and fur- nishes some good meadow and grazing land. "The Sauk river crosses the extreme southeastern part, in a northerly direction.
The area of Le Sauk is about 12,160 acres, of which 2,366 are under cultivation.
Following the Indian traders already mentioned in this work, was Philip Beaupre, now a resident of Sauk Rapids, who made the first clann with a view to improvement, as early as 1850. He did not remain long, however, and in fact, lived at Sank Rapids a great portion of the time until 1852, when he went to Pembina, but returned in 1855, and lived on his old claim four years. . In 1855, Samuel Cox Johnston settled on section five, and still resides there. William Connell, Adam Langer, Joseph B. Sartell, and others, settled here in 1856, and the three former have occupied the old homesteads ever since. The population in 1880 was 293.
The territory comprising Le Sauk was formerly embraced in the townships of Brockway and St. Cloud, but separately organized in 1860, and the first election held at the house of Harvey Sawyer, on the 1st of October. The first officials elected were: Supervisors, Harvey Sawyer, Chairman, Joseph B. Sartell, and Joel Bailey; Clerk, Joel Bailey; Treasurer, Appleton Webb; and Justices of the Peace, S. Putnam and Philip Beaupre. Joel Bailey was also elected School Superintendent of the township, in accordance with the school system of that day.
The first school taught was by Elbert Hodgden, in the government blacksmith shop at the Wine- bago Ageney, but the exact date cannot be ob- tained. The town is now divided into four school districts, in three of which the regular terms are kept, but no school has been held in the other for several years.
Do Sauk contains two flouring mills, one saw mill, one cheese factory, and ono cooper shop.
'The flouring mill situated on the Sank river, near its junction with the Mississippi, and owned by F. Arnold, was crected in 1876, and commeneed running the following season. It is 50x60 feet and four stories high; contains seven run of stones, and has a capacity of one hundred and fifty bar- rels per day. Twelve men are employed in and about the mill.
The other mills are on the Watab river, and are not steadily operated.
The cheese factory is on the stock farm of N. P. Clarke. This farm is known as the " Meadow Lawn Farm," and is the finest stock farm in the State; contains 4,000 acres, 400 head of cattle, and
426
HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
100 horses, and is operated by the owner, who re- sides in St. Cloud.
The products of Lo Sunk, according to the ngri- cultural report of 1880, were: wheat, 20,963 bush- els; oats, 18,583 Imshels; corn, 7,260 bushels; bar- ley, 78 bushels; rye, 150 bushels; potatoes, 2,250 bushels; beans, 9 bushels; sugar cane, 45 gallons; cultivated hay, 150 tons; wild hay, 1,054 tons; ap- ples, 39 bushels; tobacco, 5 pounds; wool, 435 pounds; butter, 9,875 pounds; cheese, 2,160 pounds; and honey, 3,815 pounds.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
FRANCIS ARNOLD was born in Germany, on the 20th of January, 1821. He enjoyed the priv- ileges of the common school in his native land. In 1850, eame to the United States, and spent the first year in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Chieago, Illinois. In 1851, moved to La Porte, Indiana, where he was engaged in the milling business. Came to Minnesota in 1857, principally for his health, spending three years in the western por- tion of the State. In 1860, he came to Stearns county, and bought an interest in the flouring mill of Hayes and Mrs. Fletcher. In the spring of 1864, he bonght ont Hayes' interest, and the following year, a Mr. Simms bought Mrs. Fletcher's interest, and the firm was known as Arnold and Simms. In 1868, Mr. Stanton bought Mr. Simms' inter- est, when the firm was changed to Arnold and Stanton. In 1875, Mr. Stanton withdrew, since which time Arnold has been the sole proprietor. We married Miss Hattie Koutz, of Pennsylvania, in 1855. They have six children living; Huttie, Gertrude, Doru, Francis J., Henry, und Saruh.
MRS. CATHARINE A. Cox, the widow of William P. Cox, was born at Shippensville, Clarion county, Pennsylvania, on the 25th of March, 1830. She obtained u common school education in her youth, and married W. P. Cox, at the age of sixteen. lle was born in Centre connty, Pennsylvania, on the 21st of February, 1821. Mr. Cox was a forge- man by trade. He came with his family to St. Cloud, Minnesota, in 1866, and soon after took a homestead in section twenty-six, in the town of Brockway, where the family lived from the spring of 1867 to the fall of 1879, when they moved to the farm on which they now live, in the town of Le Sauk. Mr. Cox was in the service of his conutry nearly the entire period of the war, and Ward- master nearly four years of the time. He died in the fall of 1880, leaving a family of three chil- dren. The oldest, n daughter, is married und
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