History of Goodhue Co Minnesota, 1909
Transcribed by Janice Rice
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PINE ISLAND TOWNSHIP Pine Island is in the southeast corner of Goodhue county, comprises township 109. range 15, and is hounded on the north by Zumbrota, on the east by Wabasha county, on the south by Olmsted county and on the west by Roseoe. The valley of the Zumbro, in the southern part, is a mile wide. In the early days the northern and southwestern portions were heavily limbered, and much of this timber has been allowed to remain standing. The geologic formations of this township differ materially from the rest of the county, but like its neighboring Goodhue county townships, its soil is rich, and its farmers consequently prosperous. The superior advantages of wood and running water, combined with rich rolling prairie land, naturally attracted a large number of settlers in the early days, and even previous to this, the place had been a favorite resort of the Indians. J. T. Mitchell, who came in 1856, assisted in starting a pioneer school on the southeast corner of section 11, later known as McCoy's district. This school was first taught by Sophia Blanchard, in the spring of 1858. Miss Blanchard afterward became Mrs. John Gove. The Indian name was so appropriate that it was retained, but ' Wa-zu-wee-ta, " or Island of Pines, was too large a mouthful for the taciturn pioneers and the name speedily became Pine Island. A pretty story is told of Chief Wacoota. then at the head of the Red Wing band of Dakotah Indians, that when he was asked by the United States commissioners to sign the treaty that would require his people to relinquish their homes on the Mississippi river, replied that he would willingly sign if he could have his future home at Pine Island. The town is located on sections 31 and 32 of township 109, range 15, and is as above indicated, the early settlers found a country heavily wooded, for the most part with hardwood timber and watered by the middle branch of the Zumbro, which divides in what is now the eastern part of the village, the north branch flowing directly through the town and the south branch passing the south. It is generally understood that H. B. Powers was the first man who came and built his cabin in This town in the year 1854. A close second was Josiah Haggard, a youth of nineteen or twenty years, who came the same spring, located a claim and built his cabin about where the residence of Dr. Charles Hill now stands. This claim was jumped by a man named Howard, and Haggard crossed the Zumbro and made his second claim of land now covered by business blocks and residences. Hoses Jewell and his son, Solomon, came the next fall and the former pre-empted the Haggard claim, the owner having made but a half-hearted at- tempt to fulfill the conditions of the law. .Moses Jewell returned to Wisconsin for the wilder, leaving here his son. Solomon, who has been a resident of the community almost continuously since that time and still owns a large tract of the original Moses Jewell pre-emption. Nelson Denison, another pioneer, pre-empted a claim farther east the same season and a large number of settlers arrived in that and the following seasons. Among these Giles and George Hayward, W. S. Newton, J. A. Tarbox, Philip and Henry Tome. John Lee, John ('lance. Sylvester Dickey. C. R. White and others. Moses Jewell and family occupied a log house about where White street now crosses Main street, and there the first marriage took place between his daughter, Sarah, and A. B. Cron, July 13, 1856. although another marriage was solemnized at about the same time between II. B. Powers, the young settler, and Mary E. Miller. At about this time 'autumn of 1856 the first school was organized in a log building about where the Citizens State Bank now stands, with Annette Seek as teacher. Other schools were established in the vicinity shortly afterward, among which was one taught by Thomas McManus. The first school building was erected the following year near the Geo. Paige residence on the north side of the river. John Salmon was the first preacher and held services at the homes of the settlers. The first child born in the community was Martha Cron now Mrs. S. P. Collins. The first death was that of Michael Horn in the winter of 1856. In 1856 Haggard & Hayward began the erection of a saw mill under the supervision of Rice Hamlin, a young Pennsylvania millwright, and the father of Charles and Henry Hamlin, who later became prominent in the affairs of the village. Tins mill was run in the early years by Dowry & Powers and about 200,000 feet of lumber was manufactured. In 1858, the mill was sold to A. J. Tarbox, and later passed into the possession of W. W. Cutshall. who continued to operate it until about 1902. when it was dismantled on account of the scarcity of saw timber. In the late sixties a steam Hour mill was erected on the bank of the river below the saw mill by Tarbox & Jewell, but several years ago, after a checkered history, it was pulled down and the machinery and lumber was sold. Another flour mill was built on the water power just below the confluence of the two branches of the Zumbro by a man named Jacobs and for a number of years did a flourishing business, but in 1876 it was burned and was never rebuilt. The dam was shortly afterward carried out and the land formerly covered by the waters of the mill pond have since become valuable for pasturage. The first hotel was built by E. Denison in 1857 and old settlers still remember how the ladies of the village plied their needles for days to supply the new hotel with the necessary bed and table linen. John Lee had previously built a hotel on the old St. Paul- Dubuque road near where Poplar Grove church now stands and the landlord was also postmaster of the place, but the fact of the existence of the hotel or postoffice is now scarcely remembered. The early settlers received their scanty mail from Oronoco, where a settlement had existed for a number of years, but in 1856 a postoffice was established with John Clance as postmaster. J. A. Tarbox. las. McManus, S. S. Worthing, Fletcher Hagler, Chas. Parker, Henry Hamlin, Henry Tome and George H. Tome have since held this responsible position, the last named gentleman being the present incumbent.
Roscoe Center was founded in 1858. At that time it was known as Sunapee, and Truman Parker was appointed postmaster. The name was changed to Roscoe Center in 1863. At this point is now a small settlement, and here also is the Norwegian Lutheran church, a. commodious structure capable of seating 500 people. Roscoe village is also a hustling little settlement. The postoffice is now discontinued and mail is received by the Zumbrota , R. F. D. No. 4. The village is thirty-two miles southwest of Red "Wing and eight miles southwest from Zumbrota. James Haggard and W Wilson came in 1854. Their claims were on section five where they erected cabins for a permanent settlement. Wilson after some time left for his old home back east, and Haggard discouraged after the burning of his cabin went to Brown County, and became a prominent citizen. Shortly after the coming of Haggard and Wilson there came Simon Sackett, D F Stevens, and H D Devoe. They were followed the next year by Fletcher Hagler, J R Good, David Coleman, J Rutherford, W Farman, Aleander Long, P G Wilson, William Fry, T D Hall, and J J Hagler. Fletcher Haglar above built his cabin where the village of Roscoe now stands. He built the first frame dwelling in the township, and afterwards served as the post master but, afterwards became one of the pioneers of Pine Island. The township settled up rapidly. The predominating people in the town are now Americans of Norwegian descent or birth. There are also many residents of Swedish and German birth or descent, and there still remain a few of the descendants of the old eastern families, but these latter for the most part have moved away. The town is pre-eminently one of prosperity, rich land, beautiful homes, and a progressive, contented people. The second generation is for the most part well educated, and the third generation is making rapid strides in the public schools. Two calamities which occurred in the early days have fixed themselves firmly in the minds of the people. The first happened in 1860. Jeremiah Kay, one of the pioneers, had followed the rush of the gold seekers to Pike's Peak, leaving his wife and children. He prospered in his new location and was contemplating sending for his family, when occurred the sad accident which robbed him of his recently-born twins. In the month of June the family residence was struck by lightning, and at once burst into flames. Mary Jane Shields, a girl living in the household, succeeded in getting Mrs. Ray and the two older children out of the house. Mrs. Ray, however, although still ill, saw that her twins had not been saved and rushed back into the house. Blinded by smoke and weak as she was, she was unable to rescue the babies, and they perished in the flames. George Lantz, after escaping the murderous rain of shot and shell on the battlefields of the Civil War, perished in the following manner: In the winter of 1865-66 he went to Mantorville, Dodge county, about twelve miles from his home, on horseback, and returning in the evening a blizzard met him. While passing through a grove of timber he was warned of his danger and told that it was practically impossible for him to reach home. He persevered, however, and was found frozen to death the next morning within a few rods of his own home. He had reached a fence. and in endeavoring to climb over made a misstep and fell back, to rise no more. The horse was found at a neighbor's barn. It is supposed that he let the horse go, hoping that by walking he might induce sufficient circulation to keep warmth and life in his body until he could reach his house. Stanton consists of that portion of township 112, range 18, lying in Goodhue county. It is divided into river terrace and upland, the greater portion of it being the former. There are two, and in some places three, distinct ten-acres, which are practically level, extending along both sides of Prairie creek and the Cannon river. The latter valley is frequently more than a mile wide, and embraces Large and valuable farms. The upland is undulating and has a soil similar to that of the terraces, although its sub-soil is usually clayey rather than gravelly. There is timber along some portions of the Little Cannon and sparsely along the hanks of Prairie creek. The section along this creek is broad and beautiful, bordered by the higher prairie lands, which venders il picturesque and charming to all who behold it. The township is bounded on the north by Cannon river, which separates it from Dakota county, on the east by Cannon Falls, on the south by Warsaw and on the west by Dakota county. Stanton was the original name applied to this township, but at its organization it was changed to Lillian, Stanton not having proved acceptable to the state authorities. It was later, however, changed back to Stanton, the name being given in honor of William Stanton, Sr., one of the earliest settlers. The township was originally a New England settlement, most of the pioneers being natives of Vermont and of Puritan ancestry. Some moved further west, but many of them remained, and their descendants still live on the original farms. Late in the fall of 1854 John and George Seasons made claims on the Little Cannon in the eastern part of the township. Soon after, Jonathan and Alonzo Dibble and William Thomas settled near them. In 1855 came the real influx of immigration, when a party of New Englanders arrived from Wisconsin, where they had previously made a settlement. The party consisted of Nor- man Daniels, William Stanton. Sr., William Stanton, Jr., Robert Deakin, Samuel Daniels and George Gould. There were also a number of others in the party, as well as the families of those mentioned. In the fall of the same year Peter Fagen and Hugh Wooden, with the father and two sisters of the latter, settled here, but one by one the entire family of the Woodens died, leaving no survivors. The first death was that of Mrs. George Seasons. The marriage rites were performed for the first time for George Gould and Experience Daniels, in October, 1855. The first religious services in the town were held in the w r inter of 1855-56, at the house of William Stanton, Sr., Rev. J. W. Hancock, of Red Wing, officiating. William Cleveland taught the first school. Rev. Hancock says: "The log house built by William Stanton, Sr., near the road leading to Faribault from the nearest Mississippi towns, was for several years the only place for tin entertainment of travelers between Cannon Falls and the further West. Mr. Stanton's latch string was always hanging out. and every civil appearing stranger was welcome to such accommodation as he had. He frequently entertained fifty persons the same night. Not many of those who came to settle at that time were able to have good sized log houses. Sod houses and board shanties were common. The years which have passed since then have brought great changes." In the early days there were two flouring mills, one owned by Messrs. Bailey and Collins on the Big Cannon, and the other by Messrs. Wilcox and Archibald on the Little Cannon. The latter, known as the Oxford flouring mill, was burned several years ago. The Methodist Episcopal church was built in 1871 on section 32. It is 28x44 and cost $2,000. The Oxford Methodist church was completed in June, 1873, size 26x40. These churches were the first in the township.
Zumbrota comprises township 110. range 15, and originally included Minneola, which was set off in June, 1860. It is bounded on the north by Goodhue, east by "Wabasha county, south by Pine Island and west by Minneola. Through a larger part of the southern tier of sections runs one of the branches of the Zumbro, and from this river the name of the township is derived. The surface is largely rolling prairie, with higher, undulating land .in the northwestern portions. The first settler was "William Fiske, who came in 1854 and took a claim on Dry Run, in the southeastern part. Fiske was a man of strong personality. He was born in Maine and for some years was a sailor. Of hermit tendencies, he tried to get as far from civilization as possible. He died in 1878 and is buried in the cemetery at Mazeppa, Wabasha county. Aaron Doty and C. W. Smith were also early settlers, as was C. P. Bonney, who arrived .May 26, 1856, and built a cabin. It is related that for the first six weeks Mrs. Bonney saw the face of no white man but her husband. In the fall of 1855 Rev. H N. Gates, a missionary who had been laboring in Iowa, returned to Stafford, Connecticut, where he had formerly lived, and proposed organizing an emigration company to establish a colony in the AY est. The first meeting was held in Stafford, at which time the company was organized, under the name of Stafford Western Emigration Company, with Albert Barrett, of Stafford, as president and Charles Ward, of Lowell, Mass., as secretary. The following members constituted the board: T. P. Kellett, Josiah Thompson, Joseph Bailey, D. B. Goddard, Dr. Ira Perry, James Elwell, Milton Bonner, Samuel Chaffee, Ruben A. Smith and C. ('. Webster. At a meeting held in Palmer, Mass.. January, 1856, they adjourned to meet at Lowell in February, 1856. One hundred and sixty persons joined the association at the time of the adjourned meeting in Lowell and the capital stock paid in at that time was $30,000. At this meeting Rev. H. N. Gates, Albert Barrett and Mr. Sherwood were appointed a committee to go to Iowa or Minnesota and purchase a township of land. The funds of the association were placed at the disposal of Rev. H. N. Gates, chairman of the committee. Nothing was heard from the committee after their departure until the latter part of May. 1856, when a call for a meeting was issued by the secretary, Charles Ward, stating that the committee had returned and would report.. Gates and Sherwood both made reports but disagreed, and the company disbanded. A smaller company was formed soon after. There were certain transportation concessions that had been made to the old company and the company wished to secure these and at the same time not have the name of the old company, a thing which was accomplished by the insertion of the letter "r" in the old name, the new designation being the Strafford Western Emigration Company. The members were Josiah Thompson, Ira Perry, Joseph Bailey, D. B. Goddard, T. P. Kellett and Samuel Chaffee. Zumbrota has been considered by many competent judges to be an ideal home town. Near enough to several cities to make city attractions and lectures possible, it combines all the best features of village and country life, with none of the temptations of the city and none of the squalor of city slums. Its schools give the children exceptional advantages, and the social features furnish recreation after busy days of business, professional or agricultural endeavor. Modern Zumbrota has a beautiful high school building, affording excellent educational facilities which takes the pupil from primary grades through a college preparatory or normal course; a Carnegie library; a city and three private halls; a Congregational. Methodist. Synod, Norwegian Lutheran, United Norwegian Lutheran, German Lutheran. English Lutheran, Catholic and Episcopal churches, connected with which are the various auxiliaries; a Lutheran hospital; several literary societies; an annual Lyceum course; a large number of fraternities, and- three fraternity halls: a weekly newspaper; a beautiful park; a band, and a company of state militia. It also has a large clay manufacturing company: three elevators; a mill; a bank with a capital stock of $45,000; two hotels; two lumber yards; one creamery; a cement block plant; six general stores; two clothing and dry goods stores; two furniture stores: two photograph galleries; three barber shops; one horse and auto livery; one garage and machine shop; four blacksmith shops; two jewelry stores; one fur factory; one meat market; two drug stores; one laundry; one bakery; three restaurants; one pool room; one wagon shop: two hardware stores; one cigar factory; two harness shops; one shoe store: real estate and collection agency; five saloons; four millinery stores and one tailor shop. Among the advantages which makes Zumbrota a valuable place of residence are a perfect sys- tem of water works and sewerage; excellent streets and drive- ways extending into well kept country roads ; five miles of cement sidewalks; good volunteer fire protection; electric lighting plant; local and rural telephone system; three telegraph lines, and two express companies. The professions, aside from the clergy, are represented by one lawyer, two dentists, three physicians, one veterinary surgeon and one optician. The Zumbrota House was built in October, 1856, consisting at that time of only a small wing. It was erected and kept by Ezra Wilder. The hotel building was then 20x60, two stories. Mr. Wilder sold the place to G. R. Slosson, who in turn sold it to Fred George in 1872. In the spring of 1872, Mr. George built, a two- story front, 20x70. The present proprietor is E. Molke. Cannon Falls Township received its name from the Big Cannon river, and its branch, the Little Cannon, whose sudden change of level forms a falls in the western part of the township, at the point where the city of Cannon Falls is now located. The Big Cannon flows through the northern part of the township, from west to east, and its valley is marked by many changes in topography. The outer bluffs of the river are frequently more than a mile apart and over two hundred feet above the water in the river. In this valley are broad terraces and beautiful farms, and in addition to this the township has considerable timber. Along some of the valleys there is a sandy lightness to the soil, which has the effect of making the roads rather poor at some seasons of the year. For agricultural purposes, however, the soil is excellent and large crops are raised, although dairying is an important industry. The river bottom, from one-half to a mile in width, has a gravelly soil. It is probable that Dr. AY. W. Sweney and Richard and William Freeborn, who made the trip afoot from Peel Wing, were the first white men to behold the falls. The first settler was Elway Stoughton, who came early in 1854. Others were Charles Parks, who settled at the falls, and James H. Payton and James McGinnis. Mrs. Charles Parks was the first while woman at the Falls. The first death in the township was in August. 1855, when an infant son of David McKune passed to the Great Beyond. The first child was Ellen Hartry, now Mrs. Ellen French, of Dennison, born in October, 1855. The first marriage was that of Robert Fotherby and Sarah Strange, who were united before Charles Parks, justice of the peace. E. L. Clark taught the first school in 1856-57. the sessions being held in a building which he had erected for the purpose, principally of basswood logs; and which, for this reason, he named Basswood Seminary. This building was also used for a house of worship, on Sabbath days for some time thereafter. Cannon Falls township is bounded on the north by Dakota county, on the west by Dakota county and Stanton, on the south by Leon, and on the east by Vasa. It comprises one entire government township, No. 112, range 17, and its area has remained unchanged since the township act of 1858. Among the early supervisors of the township were: William Barton. W. P. Scofield, Lewis Engberg, J. D. Wheat, Abram Mallet, D. H. Knox, George West, J. D. Jennings. H. A. Tanner, D. L. Davis. F. Pentz, C. W. Gillet. James McGinnis, E. E. Chase, W. P. Tanner and G. Slocum. The first town clerks were : J. T. Moss, Eli Ellsworth. George L. Baker, W. H. Scofield, J. D. Jennings, A. J. Phelps, John Jennings, Frank Slocum. W. P. Tanner served as town treasurer for eleven years, and was then followed by Frank Slocum. The early justices of the peace were J. A. Wilson. Park Tucker, G. Westman. W. H. Scofield and W. P. Tanner. The first constables were James H. Peyton, E. H. Klock, George McKenzie, E. R. Steel and George Kinder. The village of Zumbrota was platted on the northwest and southwest quarters of section 31, in September, 1856, on land that had previously been entered by Aaron Doty. Doty was a bachelor, and in the employ of O W. Smith, who was the practical owner, but who could not preempt land because he was a land speculator. The owners of the townsite were the members of the Strafford Emigration Company. Bailey and Thompson made an addition which is called North Zumbrota, in 1857. The west addition was made by Josiah Thompson, on section 36, Minneola township. The first house was built by C. AY. Smith. It was a log structure, 14x18, and was erected on the south bank of the Zumbrota river. In 1857, Smith moved away, and was last heard of in Bay City, Michigan. The first store building was erected in October, 1856, by Thomas P. Kellett, in which he kept the first store. Lizzie Shedd taught the first school in the fall of 1857. A public school building, erected in 1866. 30x42. was burned in 1870. A two-story frame structure, partitioned into four rooms, was erected the same year. The ad incorporating the village of Zumbrota passed the state legislature February 11, 1877, the petitioners being J. A. Thacher, T. P. Kellett and George Person. The first meeting of the voters in the village was held February 27, 1877, in Parker's hall. The judges of election were I. C. Stearns and E. T. Halbert. The clerk was S. G. Cady. The returns were sworn to before D.. B. Scofield as justice of the peace. The first meeting of the village council was held in April, 1877. J. A. Thacher was the first president of the village; John Anderson, George Person and T. P. Kellett were the first trustees; A. C. Rostad was recorder, William Dorman was treasurer, D. B. Scofield was justice and L. Summers was constable. In 1886 the village was separated from the township. Welch was organized March 23, 1864. when the board of commissioners divided Burnside by setting off the east fractional half of township 114. north, range 16, west, and all of township 113. north, range 16, west, lying north of Cannon river, into a separate township, and called it Grant, which on January 3,1872, was changed to Welch, in honor of the late Major Abram Edwards Welch, of Red Wing. William F. Bevers is one of the well known men of the comity, having in succession been a prominent citizen of Welch, Red Wing and Znmbrota. He was born in Jacksonville, 111., March 31, 1845. son of Benjamin and Jane (Hall) Bevers, natives of old Yorkshire, England. After leaving their home land, their first location was in Illinois, where they farmed on the fertile prairie lands of that state from sometime in the early forties until the spring of 1855. They then came up the river to Red Wing. bringing with them their son, William F. The father, after landing here, .May 10, 1855, secured employment in the stone quarries, in the meantime looking about for a suitable farm location. The valleys of Welch, which were not settled as soon as the other townships, attracted his attention, and in 1857 he took his family there and staked out a claim on section 10, where he broke 280 acres, built a home and carried on general farming on a large scale. Later he rented his farm, and purchasing ten acres of land near Red Wing, lived a life of comparative retirement until his death in 1877. The mother died in November, 1855. William F., brought up on a. farm, received his education in the public schools and at Hamline University, at that time located in Red Wing. He then continued fanning with his parents until reaching his majority, at which time he purchased 120 acres on section 10, Welch township. Of this tract Mr. Bevers broke every foot, and carried on general farming with much success until 1881, when he moved to Red Wing and associated himself with the II. S. Rich & Co. hardware concern, for whom he handled farm implements and machinery. After five years of residence in Red Wing, he came to Zumbrota and acted as general manager of the branch store which the Rich company established here. So greatly did his accommodating spirit and honest dealings commend themselves to the people of the village and township, that after nine years with the Zumbrota branch of the Rich company, his friends persuaded him to make a venture on his own account. This he did, succeeding the company of which he had for so many years been the general manager. The firm was continued until 1908 under the firm name of W. F. Bevers & Son. A branch under the same title has been established at Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, with the son, William A., as genera] manager. Mr. Bevers has now practically retired from active business life, still retaining his extensive interests in the Red Wing Manufacturing Company, the Red Wing Union Stone- ware Company, the First State Bank of Zumbrota and the Security Bank of Zumbrota. His political career, which has been both distinguished and honorable, includes two years as president of the village council of Zumbrota, three years as an alderman in Red Wing, and four years as president of the Zumbrota hoard of education. For two years he was second lieutenant I'M h Regiment, State Militia. William F. Bevers was married February 28, 1872. at Lake City. Minn., to Sarah Linn, daughter of John and Catherine Linn, natives of Ohio and early settlers of Welch. They afterward removed to Marshall, Minn., and finally went east to Maryland, where they both died. To Mr. and Mrs. Bevers were born two children. William A., born December 4, 1874, married Luella Grover. Mary E., born October 9, 1879, is the wife of Roy Sigmond, of Zumbrota. Mr. Bevers is a Republican in politics and a communicant of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Bevers died in the summer of 1909, and her death was a severe blow to her family and friends. Vasa the center of the Swedish settlement in Goodhue county. The township comprises all of township 112, range 16, and all of that part of township 113, range 16, that lies south of the Cannon river. It is bounded on the north by the Cannon river, which separates it from the town of Welch, on the east by Featherstone, on the south by Belle Creek and on the west by Cannon Falls. Belle creek crosses the township from south to north and flows into the Cannon river. The surface is some what broken or rolling, but the soil is excellent. Sections 19, 30 and 31 constitute a high table land. To this rich land, in 1853, came S. J. Willard, Colonel Hans Mattson, Charles Roos, Gustaf Kemp and Peter Green. They all made claims and Roos and Kemp stayed through the winter, the other returning to Red Wing to find work until the spring of 1851, when they began in earnest to build homes and to break the soil. A few accessions were made to the colony that year, and one of them, whose name is now forgotten, died soon after his arrival. This was the first death, and his mortal remains were tenderly and reverently conveyed to their last resting place in the land he had crossed the ocean to look upon but which he did not live to enjoy. The first marriage celebrated was that of Hans Mattson and Cherstie Peterson, November 21, 1855. A school was taught here in the fall of 1856 by a Mr. Button. Another was taught in the Swedish language by James Engberg. Meetings were held on the Sabbath and Lutheran church services read by Hans Mattson until the minister arrived. Vasa is named from Gustavus Vasa, the Christian king of Sweden, who established the Lutheran religion in his kingdom. Since the first settlement, Vasa has been famed far and near, and its reputation is nationwide as the home of Dr. E. Norelius. the venerable patriarch of the Swedish Lutheran Evangelical church. The story of the early days of Vasa is told by Dr. Norelius. Colonel Hans Mattson and S. J. Willard in another chapter of this history. Vasa township was organized in 1858, and its area has remained unchanged since that date. The first officers were : Supervisors, Charles Himmelman (chairman), Charles Charleson, Nils Peterson ; clerk, Swante J. Willard ; assessor, Nils Swanson ; collector, John Sundell ; overseer of the poor, Matts Mattson ; constables. Nils Johnson Erick Anderson; justices of the peace, T. Granvill Person, Franklin Morrison; overseers of roads. Swan P. Peterson, Gustus Carlson and William F. Fessenden. Among the early officers of the township were : Chairmen of supervisors — 1858, Charles Himmelman; 1850. William F. Fessenden; 1860, 1861, 1862, T. G. Pearson; 1863, A. P. Wilson; 1864, Lars Mattson; 1865, A. G. Anderson; 1866, John Hakanson; 1867. 1868, 1869, A. G. Anderson. Town clerks— 1858, S. J. Willard: 1859, John Norelius; 1860, S. J. Willard ; 1861, 1862, A. P. Lester; 1863, Charles Himmelman; 1864, 1865, John Wickey; 1866, 1867, 1868, T. G. Pearson; 1869, J. W. Peterson. Cherry Grove is one of the southern tier of the townships in the county. It is bounded by the north by Wannamingo, on the west by Kenyon, and on the south by Dodge County and one the east by Roscoe. The territory comprised of the township remained practically an unbroken wilderness until 1854, when in the spring of that year Madison Brown located a claim on section 31. In the fall of the following year however, he sold his claim to Silas Merriman and went to Iowa. Of his subsequent career nothing is to be learned although it is supposed that he died in the Civil War. In the fall of 1854 Reading and Benjamin Woodward selected claims adjoining that of Brown. Benjamin soon after went to Iowa where he died, while Reading remained a permanent settler. In the following year came Silas Merriman, already mentioned, Samuel and William Shields, Joseph Seymour, William Kelsey, Thomas Haggard, and John and Charles Hart. In the spring came E G Comstock, Israel T and Taft Comstock, Samuel Winston, John Nicholls and J A Ray and others. It will be noted that the majority of the settlers were eastern people and a number of their descendants still maintain the New England and New York traditions of their ancestors. These settlers in the earliest days were made the subject of considerable annoyance. Marauding bands of Ruffians created acute apprehension and the choicest claims were constantly being jumped. In the winter of 1855-1856 a claim meeting was called and a organization was effected for the protection of the settlers. T B Haggard was captain. A log cabin school house was built in 1857, on the edge of a Cherry Grove in the central part of the Township, and the first school session was taught by E G Comstock that winter. In 1861 a stone school house was erected on the site of the old log cabin structure. The first church organization was effected in 1856, with the Christian Disciples met at the home of James Haggards and listened to a sermon by David Haggard. The first service by a regularly ordained clergyman was by Rev. J. M. Gates at his own residence in the spring of 1857. The first marriage in the township was between Elizabeth, daughter of T B Haggard, and John Hart in August of 1857. The first death was of Eliza Jane, daughter of T B Haggard on December 14, 1857. The first town meeting was called May 11, 1856 at which time officers were elected as follows. Supervisors; Benjamin Woodward, chairman, Cyrus H Burt, and David Simpson, town clerk, E G Comstock, Assessor; Frances A Crebb, constables, James Haggard and Peter Stack, Justices of the peace, James Haggard and F A Crebb, road overseers, Israel T Comstock and Reading Woodward. Warsaw lies on the eastern border of Goodhue County, and comprises township 11 and range 18. It is bounded on the north by Stanton, and on the east by Leon, south by Holden and west by Rice County. In June of 1855, the northern part of this township, was settled by a party of Americans consisting of the brothers, Moses, William, Edwin, George and Robert McCorkle (sometimes given as McCoskel) E H Summer, Washington King, R B Wilson, J E Wright, and Francis McKee. These men at once started farming and while enduring the hardships incident to pioneer life their first crops were good, and some of the worst privations they were spared. In 1856 a child was born to Washington King, a truly important event and duly celebrated by the pioneers who all wanted to take a peek at the little stranger. The following year, 1857 , John Chambers and the funeral was attended by the entire population of the settlement. In the summer of 1858 the Rev. Isaac Waldron, conducted the first religious service in a room owned by Alex McKee. In the same room Emma Babcock kept the first school, in the summer of 1859. Mr. Johnson built the first blacksmith shop in 1864 and later others were added. Wangen's Prairie is a congregation located in Warsaw township. Reverend Hauge is pastor. It was organized and incorporated January 9, 1908. Its members belonged formerly to the Urland congregation. The first trustees were : John Lillskov, Hans Loven, and John P. Wangen. Its church building was dedicated in 1902. It is in connection with Vang and Urland congregations as one call, the present pastor being Rev. A. Hauge. The church maintains a parochial school and two auxiliaries. The present membership is over eighty. The congregation belongs to the United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America. The treasurer is John Lillskov, and the secretary is Oliver Fretten. Urland Congregation originally belonged to Holden congregation. In 1868 it was decided to organize Urland as a "Sogan," and in 1872 it was incorporated as a congregation. Articles of incorporation were signed by E. L. Otterness, Ragnald Johnson and William Olson. The trustees were Lars Flom, Torsten A. Melhouse, Ole A. Melhouse. Ragnald J. Ohnstad and Johannes Ingebritsen.
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