USA > Mississippi > History of the upper Mississippi Valley, pt 2 > Part 16
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443
OAK TOWNSHIP.
good he has already accomplished by this "new departure," which is destined to become a popular system of education at no distant day. Young men whose prido and timidity hinder them from entering classes, here find the instruction they so much need, free from tho mortification and annoy- anee of class recitation.
KITTLE HALVERSON, a native of Norway, was born on the 15th of December, 1846. He eame with his parents to the United States in 1848, lo- eating near Whitewater, Wisconsin. From thenee they removed to Lodi, Wisconsin, then to Winne- bago where his father died, his mother having died four years prior to that time. In November, 1865, Mr. Halverson came to Minnesota and took a soldier's claim of one hundred and sixty aeres in the township of North Fork. This privilege was ob- tained for two years' service rendered in Battery C, of the Second Wiseonsin Heavy Artillery. He par- ticipated in the battle of Chattanooga, which was one of the most remarkable battles of the war, owing to the almost impregnable position held by the Con- federate army upon a lofty mountain. Mr. Halver- son has held office in the town sinee he attained the age of elective franchise, and is one of the most influential men in the town, in ehureh and town affairs. He married Miss Geoline Anderson, daughter of the late John U. Anderson, on the 28th of November, 1870. They have five children living; Henry J., Nora A., Hannah J., Samuel A., and Clara J.
OAK.
Oak township lies near the center of the county, and has an area of 23,040 acres, of which 2,388 are under cultivation.
This town is mostly covered with timber, except in the western part, where there are a few sections of prairie. The soil is a rich dark loam, with a elay sub-soil. A number of marshies are found in the eastern part of the township.
The first man to make a claim within the present limits of Oak township, was Henry Over, who set- tled on section thirty-one about 1856. He now lives in Anoka county. Henry Hoppe was prob- ably the second settler, in 1859. Ahnon Sutton came the same year and settled on section thirty, where he still resides.
Hobart and Antony Rieland eame to Stearns county in 1856, and to this township in 1859. Antony Le Vogt settled here in 1861, and still re- sides in the town. The growth in population has been steady, the census of 1880 showing 682 persons.
The little village of New Munich is situated in the western part of the township, and has two general stores, one blacksmith shop, one brewery, a school, and a church.
There is also a little village at Freeport Station, containing two general stores, one hotel, one blacksmith shop, etc.
This town was organized in 1860, and the first elcetion held at the residence of Almon Sutton. The records were not preserved, but the following is a partial list of the first town officers: Super- visors, Almon Sutton, Chairman, and John T. Pe- terson; Mr. Sutton was also Justiee of the Peace and Assessor.
The town is divided into four sehool districts, with the separate buildings situated on sections eigliteen, two, twenty-three, and thirty-three. The first school was kept by Miss Nettie Sutton in 1861.
There is a German Catholic church at New Mn- nich, and a parish school taught by the Sisters of Charity. Father Augustine has charge of the congregation.
The first white ehild born in the town, was Mary Over, in 1858.
The first marriage was that of Mathias West and Miss Saralı Over.
The first death was Herman Uhlenkott, whose body was the first to be interred in New Munich Cemetery.
The products of Oak in 1880 were: wheat, 25,890 bushels; oats, 12,809 bushels; eorn, 3,137 bushels; barley, 20 bushels; potatoes, 2,300 bushels; wild hay, 1,165 tons; wool, 544 pounds; butter, 14,625 pounds; and cheese, 150 pounds.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
ANTONY RIELAND was born in Germany, on the 28th of October, 1848, and lived in his native land, attending school, until fourteen years of age, when the family emigrated to the United States, coming to Stearns county, Minnesota. llis father located on section thirty-two, in Oak township, where An- tony spont a few pleasant years, and then began lifo for himself. He engaged in drawing freight to different parts of the country for a few years; then was employed by the Minnesota Stage Com- pany for a time, after which he drove stage for a
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444
HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
while from St. Cloud to Fort Abercrombie. He bought a farm in section twenty-nine, in the town of Oak, in 1872, where he lived fonr years. In the fall of 1880, he removed to Freeport Station, where he erected a fine, commodious frame build- ing, in which he keeps n general store. In 1862, he enlisted in the Home Guards, and was in the service about six months. His mother died in 1872, and his father in 1881. Mr. Rieland was married in 1871, to Miss Barbara Metzger, who was born in Bavaria, Germany. They have fonr children.
FRANK BENOLKEN was born in the year 1846, in McHenry county, Illinois, where he lived with his parents until thirteen years of age; then began to work at the carpenter business, which he fol- lowed about seven years, and then spent about one year on a farm, before leaving his native State. He came to Oak township in January, 1869, and located on section two, where he has spent most of his time since. He was traveling salesman for the St. Paul Harvester Works for about three years. Mr. Benolken has held various town offices since his residence in the town, and is now Justice of the Peace, which office he has held for six years, and is also Clerk of school district number one hundred and two. He was a soldier in Company A, of the Thirteenth Illinois Cavalry. He was married in October, 1867, to Miss Annie Molitor, who was born in Illinois. Their children are, Peter F., Herman, John, and Lizzie.
WILLIAM F. OLMSTEAD was born on the 6th of June, 1859, in Danbury, Conneetient, an old rev- ohtionary town, which was burned during the revolutionary war. He attended school in his native town until 1873, when the family moved to Lynchburg, Virginia, but after one year, removed to Bridgeport, Connecticut, where his father worked nt his trade, that of a hntter. Here William F. attended school, also a commercial and military academy, after which he was engaged in a ship- ping office. He was also employed in the shipping department of Wheeler & Wilson's Sewing Machine Mamifactory. Came, in 1880, to Minnesota, and was employed as a bill clerk at Springfield, on the Winona & St. Peter Railroad. Then he went to Anoka, where he was telegraph operator for some time, and is now employed as Agent at the Freeport Station.
ALMON SUTTON, a native of Steuben connty, New York, was born on the 15th of February, 1820, where he lived till 1843, when he went to Wash-
ington county, Ohio. He learned the trade of marble cutter, which he followed mmtil he came to Minnesota in 1859, and located on his present farm. Ho enlisted on the 19th of Angust, 1862, in Company G, of the Ninth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry; went first to Fort Abercrombie, then south, until May, 1864, when he was mastered out of service on account of ill-health. He married Miss Martha J. Hook in March, 1844, who was born at Zanesville, Ohio, in 1822. They have five children living.
PAYNESVILLE.
CHAPTER CVIII.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION -- EARLY SETTLEMENT -- STOCK- ADE-PAYNESVILLE VILLAGE -- SCHOOLS -- CHURCH- . ES-SOCIETIES-AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS-BIO- GRAPHICAL.
Paynesville lies in the southern part of the county, and has an area of 23,040 acres, of which about 2,900 are contained in Koronis Lake, a large body of water lying in the southern part of the town, and extending into Meeker county.
The surface is undulating, and in the south and east, covered with timber and brush. The northwestern part is rolling prairie. The soil varies from n light sandy to a dark loam, with a clay sub-soil.
The North Fork of Crow river enters the town in section eighteen, and flows in an easterly und southerly direction, entering Koronis Lake in section thirty-five.
The first settlement was made in 1857. The honor of making the first claim in the town be- longs to Edwin E. Payne, who settled on section seventeen. He was followed during the same summer, by George Lincoln, who settled on the same section, W. P. Bennett, who took a claim on section fifteen, Richard Porter, and Dwight Twitch- ell, the two latter settling on section nine. T. C. McClure also made a claim adjoining the town site, but soon moved to St. Cloud. The Post- office was established the same summer, and Mr. Payne appointed Postmaster. The first child born was Grace Lincoln, daughter of George Lin- coln, in the fall of 1857. The first marriage was that of Olson S. Freeman and Victoria Richard- son. The first denth wns Luther Brown, in 1859.
445
PAYNESVILLE TOWNSHIP.
During the Sioux outbreak in 1862, the women and children were removed to Richmond, and a fort erected for the protection of the men who re- mained. The desire to remain, however, was not very great, and all but nine men accompanied their wives and children.
Everything was quiet for a time, until one night when they awoke surprised to find the Indians actually inside the fort. It is unnecessary to state that they evacuated the fort at once, and re- treated to Richmond, where they all arrived in safety, with the exception of John Boylan, who was wounded, though not seriously.
Formerly, what is now included in the towns of Zion, Lake Henry, Crow River, Crow Lake, North Fork, Lake George, half of St. Martin, and Paynesville, was embraced in the town of Verdale, organized in 1858. Paynesville was organized in 1867, and the first election held at the house of John Phipps, on the 23d of September, when the following officers were chosen: Supervisors, L. Elliott, Chairman, R. P. Gilbert, and John Bai- tenger; Justices of the Peace, J. B. Pease and H. H. Randolph; Town Clerk, J. B. Peasc; Treas- urer, R. P. Gilbert; Constable, Alfred Harris; Overseers of Highways, A. Chisholm, Alfred Harris, and A. Wartonburgh. Twenty-nine votes were cast.
The population, according to the last census, was 405.
The cultivated acreage of Paynesville is 2,697, and the agricultural report of 1880 shows the fol- lowing as the products of the township: wheat, 20,- 907 bushels; oats, 10,349 bushels; corn, 3,375 bush- els; rye, 250 bushels; potatocs, 720 bushels; beans, 5 bushels; sugar-cane, 623 gallons; culti- vated hay, 9 tons; wild hay, 869 tons; timothy seed, 30 bushels; apples, 44 bushels; wool, 504 pounds; butter, 7,050 pounds; cheese, 6,870 pounds; and honey, 260 pounds.
VILLAGE.
The village of Paynesville was surveyed and platted by Edwin E. Payne in 1857, and named in honor of the proprietor. At the land sale of 1880, the site was purchased by Waite and Mc- Clure, who still own a considerable property there. This is a thriving little town, situated on section seventeen and on the North Fork of the Crow river. It contains two general stores, two blacksmith shops, two flonring mills, one school, three churches, etc.
The first store was opened by White & MeChire
in the winter of 1862-63. The two mercantile establishments are now kept by J. C. Haynes and James Tuttle. Edward H. Bates settled here in 1861, and opened the first blacksmith shop soon after, which he continues to operate.
The first mill was commenced in 1867, by Eg- bert Ostrander, who, before its completion, sold it to a Mr. Webb, and he to Mitchell and Caswell. The water-power was owned by Waite and Me- Clure, who transferred it to the latter on the com- pletion of the mill. It was removed to the south side of the river in 1875, and is now owned by John P. Appelgreen.
Crow River Mill was built by Beckley and Ferry in 1875. These mills have each three run of stones.
The first school was taught by Dr. R. Hoover in 1863. It was kept in a log school-house, which occupied the site of the present school building in the village.
The first religious services were held by the Methodists, in private houses until the erection of the school-house, and then in that building until 1870, when their present church was built. The Congregational Church was organized in 1869, and a house of worship erected the same year.
Zion's Church, Evangelical Association, was organized in 1861, by Rev. Conrad Lahr, with Christian Brill as assistant. The first services were held in the schoolhouse until the erection of their present church in 1874.
Paynesville Lodge, A. F. and A. M., No. 71, was instituted in the fall of 1869, the charter bearing date of December 14th. Among the first officers were: Charles Griswold, W. M .; Noah Lathrop, S. W .; and John Moore, J. W.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
WILLIAM H. BLASDELL, a native of Canada, was born in the year 1816. He grew to manhood on a farm, and in 1833, emigrated to Ohio, where he served as clerk in a store one year, after which, for three years, he was purchasing agent for the Huron Iron works, at Vermillion, Ohio. He then went south for a time, but returned to Ohio, in 1838, settling on a farm near Brownsville. In 1842, he moved to Frankfort, Ilinois, where he resided for twenty years, with the exception of four years that he was Sheriff of Will county, and lived in the city of Joliet. During this time he was engaged in farming, Inmbering, and hotel business. In 1862, he came to Paynesville and
446
HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
located on seetion seventeen, where his family joined him the following your. Since coming to the State, he has farmed and kept hotel. He mar- ried Miss Harriet Bardsley in 1838, who died in 1842. They had three children, but one of whom is living-Ellen, now the wife of A. E. White, of Michigan City, Indiana. His present wife was Miss Sarah Abby, to whom he was married in 1849. They have six children living; Irene, Ge- neva, Theda, Ida, William P., and George A.
JOHN BLAKELY, a native of Ireland, was born in the year 1821. He came with his parents to Canada while he was young. In 1851, he came to Point Douglas, Minnesota, and the following year, to Hastings, where he resided till 1858, when he removed to Roseville, Kandiyohi county, about one half mile west of his present farm, which is on section thirty, in the town of Paynes- ville, to which he removed in 1862. He was one of the nine who were in the Fort at Paynesville when they were surprised by the Indians in 1862. He married Miss Jane Mooney in 1842. Their living children are, Robert, John M., Mary, Nancy, El- len, Crawford, Frank, and Moses.
DANIEL CHISHOLM, a native of Nova Scotia, was born in the year 1831. He came to Beaver Dam, Dodge county, Wisconsin, in 1847, where he lived twelve years, and removed to Paynesville in 1859, taking a claim on section eight, where he and his family lived till driven away by the Indians in 1862. During those troubles, he moved to St. Cloud and remained about one year, then returned to his farm. In the spring of 1864, he enlisted in the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, but after serving six months, was discharged. After re- turning to Paynesville, took a homestead on see- tion twenty-one, where he still resides. Ho mar- ried Miss Marietta Reed, November 25th, 1855. They have seven living children; William, Hattie, Alexander, George, Archibald, Franklin, and Edith.
JOHN W. DARBY was born in Cambridge, Wash- ington county, New York, on the 18th of Angust, 1835. At the age of seventeen, he went to Law- renee, Essex county, Massachusetts, where he learned the machinist trade, remaining two years. Then went to Hoosick Falls, New York, and worked five years for Walter A. Wood, agricul- tural implement mannfacturer; thence to Worces- ter, Massachusetts. and worked in a machine shop for one year. He then enlisted as a private sol- dier and served two years; was in General J. J.
Bartlett's Division, to which General Lee stacked arms at his surrender. After receiving his dis- charge, went to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, for a short time, and then to the Hoosac Tunnel Ma- chine Shops, at North Adams, Massachusetts. Then his health began to decline, and he engaged in no business for a time. He visited Chicago in the winter of 1866, and in the spring following came to Paynesville, where he has been engaged in the merchandise trade ever since. He is Post- master, Notary Public, Real Estate Agent, etc., which positions he has filled with eredit to him- self, and to the entire satisfaction of his fellow citizens. He married Miss Emma Elliott, of Can- ton, Pennsylvania, on the 15th of January, 1870. They have one child, Bennett L., born on the 22d of July, 1875.
HIENRY TURNER, a native of Pennsylvania, was born on the 7th of July, 1857. His father being a blacksmith, the subject of this sketch learned the trade during his growing years. . When he was sixteen years of age, came west, remaining one year at Grafton, then at Hutchinson, McLeod county, Minnesota, for three years, thenee to Man- nannah, Mecker county, where he lived till he came to Paynesville in 1881. He has a black- smith shop in this village, in partnership with a Mr. Blakely, the firm name being Turner & Blakely.
JAMES C. HAINES, a native of Canada, was born in the year 1840. He came to Kankakee, Illinois, in 1861, where he farmed until coming to Paynes- ville, Minnesota, in 1866. Worked at the earpen- ter business and farming for ten years, then went into the mercantile business, including agricultural implements, which still ocenpics his attention. He has filled the offices of Supervisor, Justice of the Peace, School Treasurer, and is now Treasurer of the township. He married Miss Harriet J. Star- key, of Illinois, in 1862. They have two children living, Herbert M. and Clement M.
ROBERT HOOVER was born in the year 1828, in Pennsylvania. He received his education at Alle- gheny College, Meadville, Pennsylvania. In 1854, he located at Chillicothe, Illinois, as a Methodist clergyman, for two years. He was then trans- ferred to the Conference of Wisconsin, which body sent him to Anoka, Minnesota, for three years, after which he preached at Little Falls, Cannon Falls, Owatonna, and Paynesville. Then, after 1862, he preached and formed for several years,
447
RAYMOND TOWNSHIP.
and for the last eight years, has practiced medi- cine.
EGBERT OSTRANDER, (deccased ) a native of the state of New York, was born in the year 1815. He came to Illinois in 1837, locating in Kaukakee, and thence to Paynesville, Minnesota, in 1866, where he opened the Ostrander House on the 4th of July, 1873. He married Miss Delila J. Sar- gent, of Indiana, in 1839. Their children are, Henry M., Marietta, John Q., James E., Enoch M., Royal C., Hannah A., Elizabeth J., and William H. Mr. Ostrander died in September, 1878. Mrs. Os- trander has kept the Ostrander House since the death of her husband.
LYMAN REED, a native of Vermont, was born in the year 1809. He was raised on a farm. At the age of twenty-one years, went to the state of New York, where he followed farming till 1855, theu came to the state of Wisconsin, and farmed five years, and in 1860, removed to Paynesville, and located on section seven. Married Miss Harriet Brundridge, of Vermont, on the 7th of December, 1834. They have four children living; Mariett, Frances, Joseph I., and Elvenal.
RAYMOND.
CHAPTER CIX.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION -- EARLY SETTLEMENT- OR-
GANIZATION -- FIRST THINGS -- SCHOOLS-CHURCHES -- CYCLONES - AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS - BIO- GRAPHICAL.
Raymond lies in the northwestern part of the connty. It embraces township 125 north, range 35 wost. It has an area of 23,010 neres, of which 3,984 are under cultivation. The population, ac- cording to the last census, was 389.
The surface is gently undulating, being mostly prairie with a large aren of marsh land. There is some light timber along the western border, and also on the east, where Getty's grove extends into . tlic town.
There are a number of small lakes, prominent among which are, Sand Lake, in the southeast part, and Silver Basin, in the north. The soil is a dark clay loam with a clay sub-soil, exeept in the southwest corner, where it is more sandy.
In 1860, Frank H. Kranz took a claim on see- tion eighteen, and about the same time, n few un-
married men made claims in the vicinity, but lived with Kranz.
In the early autumn of 1862, two of these young men, named William Lamont and John Dolson, not having heard of the Indian ontbreak, started west on a hunting and trapping expedition, but never returned. It is supposed they perished nt the hands of the murderous Sioux.
At this time there had arrived quite a number of settlers, but all left during the Indian troubles of that year.
The second venture was not made till the spring of 1866, when L. H. Decker, Thomas Bolles, D. P. Marshall, C. S. Boss, aud others settled in the town. Several more arrived during the season, among whom were the Lyman brothers, William Smith and sons, and Liberty B. Raymond.
The first child born was Josephine M. Marshall, on the 4th of September, 1860.
The first death was Daniel B. Lyman, son of A. G. Lyman. His remains were interred on the farm of Henry Lyman, but removed to the eeme- tery on section five about six years ago.
The first school was taught in the summer of 1867, by Miss Eliza Richardson in an nnoccupied dwelling house belonging to P. Smith.
The first religious services were held in the fall of 1866, by the Rev. Mr. Cady, a Baptist min- ister.
There is a Methodist Episcopal Church organ- ization, which was perfected in 1868. Also, a Seventh Day Advent church was organized in 1873, and a small elmreh erected on section thirty the following year.
On the night of the 9th of July, 1869, a eyelone passed over the northern part of the town, carry- ing death and destruction in its course. The resi- dence of Richard Richardson was destroyed, killing a little son three years old. Another son, twenty- two years of age, ocenpied a bed with Liberty B. Raymond, Jr., the former was carried about forty rods, and remained unconscious for a number of days, but finally recovered, but the latter was killed. A uumber of others in the neighborhood were seriously injured. Another passed over nearly the same course, in June 1877, destroying the res- idences of William Smith and Alonzo Morris. A son of Smith was carried about fifty rods. fle was struck on the head by a piece of flying debris, while in mid-air, and fell in a marsh, but strange to say, was not seriously injured.
Raymond was organized in 1867, and named in
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448
HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
honor of Liberty B. Raymond, one of the early settlers, but now deceased. The first offiecrs were: Supervisors, L. B. Raymond, Chairman, C. S. Boss, and William F. Smith; Clerk, V. C. Lyman; As- sessor, D. P. Marshall; and Treasurer, L. Worth- ington.
The following were the prodnets of Raymond in 1880: wheat, 26,014 bushels; oats, 20,120 bush- els; corn, 935 bushels; barley, 2,544 bushels; rye, 309 bushels; potatoes, 3,045 bushels; beans, 8 bush- els; cultivated hay, 46 tons; wild hay, 1,492 tons; timothy seed, 7 bushels; apples, 5 bushels; wool, 266 pounds; and butter, 19,700 pounds.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
EDWARD P. HOUSE, a native of Somerset, Eng- land, was born on the 26th of August, 1830. He came to Canada in 1845, and soon after, to New York City. In 1847, he entered the United States Secret Service, in the Post-office Department, and crossed the ocean several times to London and Liverpool. After quitting the service, spent some time with his parents in Canada, . then came west and spent a year in looking after timber land on the upper Wiseonsin river, after which, he located in McLeod county, Minnesota, for a time, coming to liis present farm in seetion twenty-nine, Ray- mond township, in 1879. He was married in Wyoming county, New York, on the 7th of Feb- ruary, 1865, to Miss Catharine Hollway. Their children are, Francis J., Charles W., Joseph P., Thomas, and Moses.
OSHEA G. LYMAN, a native of Lorraine, Jeffer- son county, New York, was born on the 5th of October, 1830. He lived there till twenty-five years of age, engaged in farming, except ubont two years spent nt the carpenter business. In 1855, ho moved to Adams county, Wisconsin, and farmed for eight years, then went back to New York und engaged in the merchandise business for about two years. In June, 1865, he moved to Filmore county, Minnesota, and the following spring took a claim on section nine, Raymond township, where he still resides. He was one, of the organizers of the town, and was Justice of the Peace for three years. Mr. Lyman was married on the 17th of February, 1853, to Miss Sarah C. Wheeler, of New York, who died on the 12th of June, 1873. The result of this union was seven children, tour of whom are living; Theda S., now Mrs. E. Smith; Emma G., now Mrs. M. A. Smith; Ellen D., now Mrs. J. W. Lennington, of Sauk
Centre; and Amelia A., residing at home. Those deceased were, Daniel B., who died in 1867, aged two years and three months; Sarah S., and Bertie O., both dying in 1875, the former aged twelve years, and the latter, three years and six months.
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