Brown County MN Archives History - Books .....Township Organization And History 1916 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 19, 2014, 3:30 pm Book Title: History Of Brown County, See Below CHAPTER VIII TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION AND HISTORY. Townships are classed as congressional and civil townships. The former are the six-mile-square tracts as shown by government survey, while the latter are sub-divisions in the county, and may, or may not, conform to the six-mile-square tract of land included in the government surveyed township, and are termed "towns," or "civil townships " Brown county has sixteen civil townships, with the territory included in the city of New Ulm, which really constitutes another civil sub-division of the county. These civil townships are: Albin, Bashaw, Burnstown, Cottonwood, Eden, Home. Lake Hanska, Leavenworth, Linden, Milford, Mulligan, North Star, Prairieville, Sigel, Stark and Stately townships. TOWNSHIPS ORGANIZED. At a meeting of the county commissioners held on April 12, 1858, the matter of township organization came up, as required by on Act of the Legislature, and it was resolved that "Whereas, Minnesota has not been admitted to the Union as a state, and the said Legislature had acted under the authority of the state of Minnesota, which not being in existence yet, and, whereas, the organization of townships as proposed is very expensive for a new country, the following resolution was adopted by the board: 'Not to take any steps in regard to the township organization until Minnesota is admitted as a state and the benefit of Brown county will require it.' " On June 28, 1858, notwithstanding the above resolution, a session was held for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the township organization act. There were only two of the commissioners present, Jacob Brust and P. Roebbecke. It was resolved "that the board has now a legal right to organize the county into towns, whereas Minnesota is admitted into the union as a state." The following towns were established, which shows that Brown county township history has all been within and under the state and not under the territorial form of government, as many Minnesota counties were. The civil townships formed by the board at the last named meeting were: New Ulm, Ludwigs, Lower Sioux Agency, Yellow Medicine, Leavenworth and Cottonwood. The remaining portion of this county was attached to Leavenworth. Elections were ordered held the second Tuesday in July, 1858. The clerk was ordered to make out a record of the proceedings of the board concerning the township organization and to give notice to the different townships, and also to cause the proceedings to be published in the New Ulm Pioneer. The elections were duly held and the first meeting of the board of what was then known as the county supervisors was held on November 8, 1858. Those present were Jacob Barbier, representing New Ulm; Jacob Brust, Cottonwood; John Poster, Milford; John Armstrong; Linden; Mr. Rutledge, Medelia; the other townships had not yet been perfected, but the board went ahead and commenced the business of the county, electing Jacob Brust as their chairman. The original townships have all changed in form and size and many in name. ALBIN TOWNSHIP. Albin township is formed of congressional township 108, range 32 west. On June 23, 1870, a primary meeting was held to organize a township, which was finally effected by the election of officers as follow: E. J. Root, chairman; Charles Armstrong and John Teas, supervisors; E. T. Jones, clerk; W. H. Sweet, treasurer; O. I Owens and John Egbert, justices of the peace. By appointment, the offices of assessor and constable were filled by Caleb Foot and E. Hammond, respectively. The first township meeting was held at the house of Mrs. S. Rima, and when a name for the township could not easily be agreed upon she was allowed to name it, and called it Albin. This township is without railroad and has no villages within its borders. The long, narrow lake known as Lake Hanska extends from the east over into this township almost four miles, touching parts of six sections of land. The population of Albin township has been for the last thirty or more years as follow: In 1890 it was six hundred; in 1900 it was six hundred and twenty-nine, and in 1910, according to government reports, it was six hundred and sixty-two. The pioneer settler here was S. G. Edsell, who located in 1866, in section 2, and was followed in 1867 by William Harrison and Anton Katen. Other early settlers included these: Burton Armstrong, C. E. Armstrong, Frederick Koenig, W. W. Minor, of Vermont; L. D. Rice, of Massachusetts; Solomon Rima, of New York; Wiliam Rossbach, of Prussia; Lorens Schneider, of Indiana; A, E. Somerville, of Pennsylvania; William Sweet, of Vermont; John Teas, of Indiana; George Troxel, of Pennsylvania. EARLY EVENTS. Gunder, a son of Martin Johnson and wife, was born on August 19, 1869, and was the first to see the light of day in this township. The first to die was Mr. Upson, in 1868. E. J. Root and Mary Armstrong were the first to unite by marriage in this township. BASHAW TOWNSHIP, Next to the east of Stately and on the southern line of Brown county is Bashaw township; at its north is Burnstown township and to the east is Mulligan township. Bashaw comprises congressional township 108, range 34 west. Among the lakes in the township is Reed lake, in section 6, which once covered nearly half of that section. A branch of the Chicago & Northwestern railroad runs through the southwestern portion of the township, with a station point at the village of Comfrey, in section 34. The population of the township has been as follow: In 1890 it was four hundred and ten; in 1900 it reached seven hundred and fifteen, and in 1910, as shown by census reports, it had fallen back to five hundred and eighty-five. The township was named for the first settler, though incorrectly spelled. The settler was Joseph Baschor, who came in the spring of 1869, settling in section 2. The following year several families arrived and located. Those who aided in developing and opening up to civilized life here were J. H. Barber, of Delaware; G. L. Grek, of Sweden; H. C. Mallette, of Ohio; Christine Pedersen, of Denmark; and H. C. Pedersen, of the same country. The first township meeting was held in April, 1874; officers elected: John Johnson, chairman of board of supervisors, of which John Quick was a member; William Lampen, clerk; Henry Kimmelie, assessor; Charles Krause, treasurer; O. H. Alback, justice of the peace; Ira Bonner, constable. The first school was taught by Maggie Keegan in 1877, in section 26. A postoffice known as Comfrey was established in 1877, with A. W. Pedersen as postmaster. VILLAGE OF COMFREY. In 1910 Comfrey had a population of two hundred and thirty-eight. It was incorporated in March, 1900, and its first officers were; Eugene Fernholtz, mayor; Charles A. Nelson, recorder; C. H. Bradbury, treasurer. The following have served as mayors to present date: Eugene Fernholtz, O. W. Cooley, Oscar Erickson, F. W. Renner, Martin Windschill. The 1916 officials are: Martin Windschill, mayor; G. W. Schaffer, recorder; C. E. Armstrong, C. H. Bradbury and A. M. Johnson, councilmen. The village installed a waterworks system in August, 1907, costing six thousand dollars. There are now about twelve hundred feet of water mains, conveniently located. In 1914 an electric lighting plant was installed here, costing nine thousand dollars. A volunteer fire brigade guards well the village fire interests, with the aid of six hundred feet of hose and a cart. Water is furnished from the fifty-thousand-gallon tank surmounting the one-hundred-foot tower. The Catholic church bell is used for fire alarm purposes. Aside from the eight-thousand-dollar electric-light bonds issued by the village, it is out of debt. BUSINESS INTERESTS IN 1916. Auto garage, E. Valentine; barber shop, Michael Hamilton; banks, State Bank and Farmers State Bank; attorney, August G. Erickson; blacksmith, Wenzel Schoedl; creamery, Comfrey Farmers Creamery Association, finishing an eight-thousand-dollar building at this time; drugs, A J. Yackel; dentist, F. M. Robinson, D. D. S.; elevator, Comfrey Farmers Elevator Company; feed store, Comfrey Elevator Company; grocer, E. P. Lilia; general dealers, F. W. Renner, Erickson & Kisro, E. W. Arndt, Mrs. M. G. Simmer, C. E. Armstrong; jewelry, A. W. Mueller; lumber, Youmans Lumber Company; livery, Peterson & Norell; millinery, Mrs. P. J. Miller; meat market, H. G. Schotzko; newspaper, Comfrey Times, W. A. Brooks, proprietor; physician, A. W. Eckstein, M. D.; restaurant, A. R. Furch; real estate, August G. Erickson; stock buyer, Bean & Carlson; photographer, George Roe; harness, P. J. Lilla; cement worker, Schutt & Hurst; tiling, T. F. Kelley, general contractor; hotel, Hotel Comfrey, C. A. Wall, proprietor; hardware and furniture, Adams & Redding; hardware, stoves and tinware, with a stock of groceries and shoes, C. H. Bradbury; implements, Frank Schwerzler; produce, Comfrey Produce Company. The postoffice transacted a business of eighteen hundred dollars during the last fiscal year, under postmaster A. J. Yackel. There are two rural routes out from Comfrey. BURNSTOWN TOWNSHIP. Burnstown is located in the western part of Brown county. It is bounded on the north by Redwood county, on the east by Leavenworth township, on the south by Bashaw township, on the west by North Star township. Its population in 1890 was five hundred and seventeen; in 1900 it was five hundred and ninety-one, and in 1910 it was five hundred and ninety-six. It embraces all of township 109, range 34 west. The Chicago & Northwestern railway traverses the township from northeast to southwest, with Springfield as the only station in the township. Boy's lake is found in the northeastern part of this township This township is in the heart of a thickly settled and well cultivated portion of Brown county, having a thrifty, happy and contented population. The history of this township dates from the first meeting which was held at the house of pioneer J. F. Burns, October 14, 1871; officers elected were: E. L. Cady, chairman; J. A. Potter and R. M. Johnson, supervisors; John Boyes, clerk; David Eshbaugh, assessor; Tedman Gullick, treasurer; A. B. Hubbard and Peter Moe, justices of the peace; P. Cutland and Peter Sist, constables. THE FIRST COMERS. The band of settlers which first dared to brave the hardships in this wild, undeveloped section of Brown county, in 1857, included the family of Jonathan P. Brown, who made a claim in section 22. The family was killed by the Indians in 1862, while trying to escape from the township. In the spring of 1858, J. P. Burns, for whom the township was named, P. Otto and a Mr. Webb arrived. J. F. Burns and his brother, Daniel, were the only ones of the early settlers who returned after the Indian War of 1862; they returned the fall of the same year. Other pioneers included A. E. Aarans, of Norway; P. P. Altermatt, from Wisconsin; James Arnold, of Ohio; John Bagen, a son of the Emerald Isle; H. Bendixen, of Prussia; Thomas Brophy, of Ireland; Anton Crone, of Chicago; Lucas Fecker, a German; Charles Gamble, of Wisconsin; Walter Henderson, of England; Dr. H. A. Hitchcock, of New York state; M. Howard, an Irishman; Adam Kalzenberger, a German; H. Knudson, a Dane; L. A. Larson, of Norway; John Lau, a German; Orlin Laughlin, of Wisconsin; Peter McKeever, an Irishman; J. Paule Nuessle, a German; J. J. Ray, of Canada; John Roth, a German; Chris Schewe, a German; Wolfgang Schmid, a German; A. Wangerin, born in Milwaukee; H. C. Warnke, of Wisconsin; G. C. Wellmer, of Prussia; A. E. West, of Wisconsin, and J. D. Yaund, of Pennsylvania. These include several in Springfield. The first birth recorded in the township was that of Henry Hughes, born in 1869. The first marriage was that uniting Ida J. Scott and J. E. Burns, October 20, 1870. VILLAGE OF SPRINGFIELD. Springfield was originally known as the village of Burns. It was surveyed into lots in 1877 at a station point along the new railway then called the Winona & St. Peter, but now the Northwestern line. It is in sections 18 and 19, township 109, range 34 west. The first business house was erected in 1872 by H. M. Gamble. In 1881 the village lad a population of three hundred; in 1890 it had reached seven hundred and sixteen; in 1900 it was placed at fifteen hundred and eleven, and in 1910 it stood fourteen hundred and eighty-two. Springfield was incorporated as a village in 1881. The first village records were all destroyed by fire. It is known, however, that J. S. Colomy was the first president of the village. The officers for 1916 are: Fred Bott, president; A. G. Anderson, J. F. Bauch, Herman Birkemeyer, trustees; Edward J. Fernholz, recorder; C. H. Asch, treasurer; John Schultz, assessor; J. J. Ray and J. Farrell, justices of the peace; Jack Foster and August Bigot, constables. The village owns a fine waterworks plant. It is of the gravity type and is supplied with water from three flowing wells which flow into an eighteen hundred barrel reservoir at the pumping station, and is then pumped to an elevation of one hundred and ten feet to a tank holding seventy-five thousand gallons. This gives a total height from the main business section of the town of about one hundred and fifty feet. There are now in use about three miles of water mains and thirty-six fire plugs or street hydrants. Of the lighting of Springfield it may be stated that electricity lights the place. It has a two-unit system- one directed to a fourteen by twenty-one Lentz engine generator 100-kw., and the other unit belted to an Ideal engine generator 50-kw., giving a continuous service. In 1890 a city hall was erected costing six thousand dollars. The protection against fire is safeguarded by a volunteer fire company of twenty-five members. The postoffice was established here in 1873, with M. H. Gamble as postmaster. The amount of business transacted there in the last year was five thousand six hundred and forty dollars. Five rural routes extend out from Springfield. COMMERCIAL INTERESTS IN 1916. Auto-garages—William Mueller & Schmid. John Schmelz, E. F. Mowry and Louis Kreitinger; attorneys— A. G. Erickson, E. J. Fernholz, Adolph Frederickson; banks—State Bank of Springfield, First National Bank; barber shops—William Anderson, Otto Block; bakery—D. Galle; blacksmiths shops—August Neismann, Ed. Boelter; clothing stores—F. E. Schotzks; creameries— Springfield Farmers Association; drug stores—P. W. Kuske, Olsen Schlick; dray lines—Eckholt & Johnson, W. N Anderson; elevators—Farmers Elevator Company, David Grain and Fuel Company; furniture dealer—George P. Forster; feed store—I. E. Hier; grocers—H. Neumann, Emil Swanbach; general dealers—H. F. Dirks, A. G. Nuessler, Kamolz & Winkelmann Department Store, Adolph Altermatt Mercantile Company, Bauck Brothers; hotels—The Exchange; harness shops—Henry Lischefska, John Berg; hardware—W. E. Runk, Schmid & Lehrer Company, Henry Longneck; implement dealers—W. F. Runk, Springfield Implement Company; lumber- Schmid & Lehrer Company, Steinke-Seidl Lumber Company; livery —Albert Knadel; mills—Springfield Milling Company; millinery—Edna Stafford, Grace M. Clark; meat markets —Joseph Feckner, A. E. Bigot; newspapers—Advance and the Free Press; opera halls—H. Bloenke; photograph gallery—F. H. Kranz; restaurant—E. S. Henry; real estate dealers-Paffrath-Schmid Company; stock dealers —Springfield Elevator Company, Theodore Kroening; jewelry—Olson Schlick, George Bockman; veterinary—T. E. West; merchant tailor—George F. Taner, Fred Hansen; physicians—Drs. W. A. Meierding, Rothenberg & Schroeder; dentists—J. S. Lommen, J. L. Fritsche; produce—Springfield Produce Company; brick and tile works —Springfield Brick & Tile Company; cement works— Henry Schworzrock; cigar factory—F. K. Reasoner; chiropractor—F. C. Hinkley; auctioneer—J. J. Ray, B F. Mowry; exclusive dry goods—H. F. Mierding; Standard Oil Company—P. M. Bott, agent; St. John's Hospital— Church property, hut managed by Drs. Rothenberg and Schroeder; telephone companies—Farmers & Citizens Mutual, Tri-State and Northwestern companies; parks— Riverside, Brown's and Martha Anderson Memorial Park. The Springfield Milling Company, an incorporated concern, does a splendid flourishing business and has a capacity of over six hundred barrels a day. They usually sell the product in the states of Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa and Pennsylvania. St. John's Hospital was founded on money raised by subscription a number of years ago. It is situated on the south side of the river on a beautiful hillside—an ideal location for such an institution. COTTONWOOD TOWNSHIP. Cottonwood township is in the extreme eastern part of the county, and when first established included a part of Si gel; the latter was set apart in 1862. Its eastern border is the county line, its southern is Linden township. Its west is Sigel township and a portion of Milford township, while at its north is found a small section of Milford township and New Ulm and its northeastern portion is bounded by the Minnesota river. Both the Minneapolis & St. Louis and the Chicago & Northwestern railway lines traverse the territory including in Cottonwood township. Its only village is Searles. Its population in 1910 was six hundred and ninety-seven. Its first settlement was effected by Peyton Nichols and S. A. Vanpatten, who arrived in the summer of 1855, locating in section 13; other immigrants came in that year, including Jacob Brust, William Wilkelmann, John Sturm, Jacob Pfenninger, Joseph Schafer and Alexander Waibel. About one mile above the mouth of the Big Cottonwood there was an Indian village, and Charles Michael, a Frenchman, was in charge of a lime-kiln owned by N. Myrick, of Traverse des Sioux; a Mr. Winkelmann jumped this claim and made his adventure win, for he secured title to the land. A water power grist-mill was constructed by the Kuck Brothers near the Big Cottonwood, in section 32, but was soon burned. In 1879 a woolen-mill was erected in its place by Mr. Marsch and continued a number of years till that industry went with many other local concerns, to the larger centers of other sections of the country. This township held its first township meeting on October 24, 1858. The first officers were: Jacob Brust, chairman, Nichols Gulden and Ulrich Lipp; A. S. Valentine was chosen clerk. In 1857 a party of Indians who had been engaged in the Spirit Lake massacre in the spring before were forced to leave the township. Later it was discovered that they had killed Mr. Brandt, who was living on the south side of the Cottonwood river. During the massacre in 1862 but two were killed in this township—Mr. Jones and Charles Lauer, the latter at the Upper Agency. The first birth was John Schenler, in the fall of 1856. VILLAGE OF SEARLES. This small village of Cottonwood township, is situated in section 21, and was platted on October 10, 1899, by Harry L. Jenkins and wife. It is a station on the Minneapolis & St. Louis railway and a prosperous, small trading point, in the midst of a fine farming community. Its population in 1910 was less than one hundred. EDEN TOWNSHIP. The extreme northwestern township in Brown county is called Eden. It contains all in this county of fractional townships 111 and 112, range 33. Up to 1863 it formed a part of the Sioux Reservation. It is south of Renville and Nicollet counties, west of Home township, north of Prairieville township, and is bounded on the west by Redwood county. It is without villages or railroad lines. In 1910 its population was seven hundred and nine. Its lakes include Tree Lake and a small lake in sections 25 and 36. In 1866 this township was attached to Home for official purposes and in 1867 became a separate civil township. The first township meeting was held at the house of W. O. Hewitt, April 2, 1867; the officers then elected were: H. S. Eldred, chairman; D. P. Winchel and Hiram Jones, supervisors; Isaac Johnson, treasurer; H. M. Munsell and William Brown, justices; Amos Root and 0. A. Dresser, constables. FIRST TO LOCATE. The first to locate in Eden township were Isaac Johnson, W. O. Hewitt, O. A. Dresser, Samuel Tate and Abner Franklin, who came in with their families in December, 1864, and located in the northwestern part of the township. When the township was organized there were but thirteen voters. The first school was taught in the summer of 1867, by Ellen Eldred. The first birth was Caroline, daughter of Isaac and Elmira Johnson. The earliest death was that of John, son of Amos Root, in January, 1866. The first marriage in the township was Leslie Hillyer and Jane Tate, on July 4, 1868. Lonetree Lake postoffice was established in 1869, with Ferdinand Hartwick in charge. The postoffice was kept in a store in section 5, and a hotel was at the same point. A store was opened in 1868 by Louis Erstman, near the old government ferry, which was operated but a short time. Charles Fletcher built a steam saw-mill in the late seventies in section 34; it was run by a forty-horse-power steam engine, and was later owned by Charles Ritz. Other settlers who developed this part of Brown county were: E. M. Ball, Henry W. Chase, James Clancy, Walter Doheny, Oscar A. Dresser, Rev. L. C. Gilbert, George Hart, Jerome Hewitt, Eugene Leatherman, Rev. V. E. Loba, Wesley Luddington, G. W. Robinson, David Sherman and Henry Winter. HOME TOWNSHIP. Home is the largest township in Brown county, including in its limits fifty-three square miles. It is the central northern township and is bounded on the north by the county line and Minnesota river, on the east by Nicollet county and Milford township, on the south by Stark township, and on the west by Prairieville and Eden townships. The Chicago & Northwestern railway runs through the southern part of its territory, with Sleepy Eye as its only station point. Rose lake, George and Sleepy Eye lake are all found in this township, the former in section 14, George lake in section 4 and Sleepy Eye lake in sections 19, 20, 29 and 30. The population of Home township in 1910 was eight hundred and sixty-nine. The first claims were taken in 1857 by Hyacinth St. Couturier, Matthew and William Tubbs. The two latter located on the south side of the Big Cottonwood, in the southeastern part of the township. Mr. Ryan and Mary Schmitz went to Mankato and were married in February, 1858. Their daughter, Catherine, born on April 20, 1861, was the first to be born in this township. Mr. Tubbs was killed by the Indians in 1859. On April 28, 1859, J. P. Schmitz was murdered while digging a cellar; an Indian was arrested on suspicion, but escaped before his time for trial. The first settlers after the Indian War of 1862 were Edward Taylor, Philander Lee, John Pickle, John Roberts, Daniel Middleton and the Current brothers who came in 1864. The earliest marriage was that uniting W. H. Hawk and Mary Middleton, August 27, 1866. The first religious services in the township were held in December, 1864, at the house of Current brothers, by Rev O. L. Howard, a United Brethren preacher. It is related for a truth that at one time, the minister failing to arrive on time, the assembled audience not wishing any time to go to waste, organized a dance. A violinist was secured and they were in the midst of a "good time" when, about nine o'clock, the minister appeared; the dance ceased and in a few minutes they were all earnestly engaged in worship. The first school was taught in 1866, by Miss Hattie Wright in a log building in section 13. Home postoffice was established in October, 1868, with Joseph Libert as postmaster, with the "office" at his house. He was succeeded in 1869 by J. P. Current. Golden Gate postoffice was established about the same date, with Ebenezer Fuller in charge. The village of Golden Gate took its name from the postoffice. The village was situated in section 30, township 111. A store was started there by R. B. Sommons; Horatio Werring had the first store at that place. In the eighties, John Pickle had a blacksmith shop there, or not over a quarter of a mile from the store. What was styled the Golden Gate mills were situated north from the village and were owned by John Heimerdinger & Sons. The father built the first mill in 1869 making all the machinery himself; in 1872 a better mill was erected and was run by both steam and water power, and contained two run of mill-stones. At the time of the New Ulm massacre there were no people residing in the township, but there was a blockhouse located south of Sleepy Eye lake. Of the organization of Home township all that can now be learned is that the first town meeting was held on June 30, 1866, at the house of Current brothers. W. H. Hawk was chairman; D. Bertrand and John Nicklin were the first board of township supervisors. CITY OF SLEEPY EYE. This place was first known as "Sleepy Eye" and was platted by Thomas Allison and Walter Breckenridge, September 18, 1872, in sections 29 and 30, of township 110, range 32 west, and was incorporated as a city in 1903. It is at the junction of the Redwood Falls branch and the main line of the old Winona & St. Peter railroad, now controlled by the Chicago & Northwestern system. The growth of the place was slow until 1877 when the Redwood branch of railway was constructed, and the company located their round house and machine shops here in 1878, since which time the town has grown rapidly. In 1880 it had reached a population of thirteen hundred, and is now supposed to contain about twenty-four hundred. The place was destined to become a great flour-making center, and the excellent brands of flour that were put up and shipped to all parts of the country, really put the town commercially on the maps of the state. A postoffice was established in 1873, with A. W. Williamson as postmaster. The Indian word for Sleepy Eye is "Ish-Tak-Ha-Ba," and a chief friendly to the whites, here, died in 1860. MUNICIPAL HISTORY. In February, 1878, the village was incorporated as "Sleepy Eye," named from the old Indian chief of early-day fame. The name was subsequently changed to "Loreno," and later changed to "Sleepy Eye Lake," but when it was incorporated as a city was again changed to "Sleepy Eye." As incorporated in 1878 the town comprised about two and one-half square miles of territory. The first election was held on March 19. 1878. The officers then elected were: Francis Ibberson, president of the council; Louis Hanson, T. F. Talbot and T. J. Murfin, trustees; R. H. Bingham, recorder; Peter Runitz, treasurer, and M. C. Burnside, justice of the peace. L. Pease was appointed constable, on account of a tie vote for such office. Sleepy Eye was incorporated as a city in 1903, the first city officials were: I. M. Olsen, mayor; J. L. Keifer, recorder; C. Overson, treasurer. The officers today (1916) are: Dr. J. B. Wellcome, mayor; A. D. Bertrand, recorder; H. C. Domeir, treasurer. The persons serving as mayor since the place was incorporated have been I. W. Olsen, C. P. Cutting, William C. Steinke, C. P. Block. Albert Hansen, J. W. B. Wellcome. The city has its own electric lighting plant and waterworks, combined in one, and under the same roof is the city hall. The cost to the city was about thirty thousand dollars. The waterworks department consists of two electric pumps; deep wells are used and excellent water is obtained. The water is forced to an elevated tank. The electric lighting department consists of an A-C lighting system, eleven hundred volts, seventy-five and one hundred and twenty generators; two Corliss engines run by steam power—one is a seventy-five horse power and the other one hundred and fifty horse power. There is a very well trained volunteer fire company in Sleepy Eye, with a membership of twenty-six. BUSINESS INTERESTS. The first store in the village of Sleepy Eye was built during the autumn of 1872, by William Robinson. The first hotel was that built by Chris Emery, the Lake House. Hyacinth St. Couturier, a Canadian Frenchman, came here in the fall of 1857, locating on the east side of the lake from which the village derives its name. It was formerly called by the Indians "Big Wood Lake." He was the first settler in what is now the city of Sleepy Eye. He kept his claim during the 1862 Indian uprising, and remained away three years; returned, located on his old claim and remained a permanent citizen. His daughter, Mary, born on December 6, 1857, was the first birth in the present city. By 1882 the place supported the following lines of business and professions: One bank, five hotels, eight general stores, two drug stores, two hardwares, two furniture stores, one boot and shoe store, one merchant tailor, four millinery establishments, two harness shops, two shoe shops, six farm implement dealers, two wagon shops, six blacksmiths shops, one bakery, three restaurants, two meat markets, two liveries, one feed store, one cigar store, one news stand, one grain elevator (capacity of one hundred thousand bushels), two warehouses, three lumber yards, two barber shops, two photograph galleries, one brewery and twelve saloons. There were also two good weekly newspapers, two law firms and four physicians; also a circulating1 library and reading room. All this showing had been made in the first decade of the town's history. The list of business and professional men of today— May, 1916—is as follows: Auto-garages—S. A. Wooldrick, P. Fischer, Knause & Larrabee, Grimes & Wiedman; attorneys—Albert Hauser, L. G. Davis, A. M. Berg; banks —First National, State Bank, and Farmers & Merchants; barber shops—J. L. Keifer, A. H. McMaster, Ed. Weigel; bakery— Richard Moll, Joseph Haas, H. P. Peterson; blacksmiths—John Ebenhol, E. C. Remmele, George Schloegee; creameries—Sleepy Eye Creamery Company and the Sleep Eye Farmers Creamery; clothing—Glotzbach & Claused, Nelson & Reide Clothing Company, Gehrke & Evans; drugs—A. F. Kuske, H. H. Meyer; dray lines—C. C. Hanson, W. A. Davey; hotels—Hotel Berg (Berg Brothers), Leona hotel (Fred Laudskon), Sleepy Eye hotel; general dealers—Fred Seifert, C. A. Fierke, Zell Brothers, Berkner Brothers, Standard Company, August Schroeder, Jenson Mercantile Company; milliners—Mrs. M. E. Beckenbauer, Mrs. Hans Stockstead, Mrs. H. Schmeltz; elevators—Farmers Elevator Company; furniture—L. E. Wheeler, A. G. Jenson; feed mill and store— A. J. Pietrus; groceries—F. E. Palmer; harness shops— H. C. Hanson, J. P. Bertrand & Son, A. J. Spellbrink; hardware—R. H. Bingham, Robert Hose, J. B. McNeill, A. Z. Jenson, W. A. Murphy & Company; implements—A. R. Kehn, John M. Schropfer; lumber dealers—Lampert Lumber Company, Steinke-Seidl Lumber Company; livery —Crumlett Brothers; meat markets—F. W. Meyer, J. A. Glassman; marble works—Sleepy Eye Marble and Granite Company; newspaper—Herald Dispatch; photographs— H. H. Hinker, Frank Scobie; restaurants—Depot Lunch Room, H. P. Peterson, Roy Stockstead; real estate dealers —Edward F. Berkner, Hugh McPhee; stock dealers— Farmers Co-operative Company, Stock Buyers Association, Foster & Hose, F. W. Meyer; veterinary—Dr. A. W. Anderson; merchant tailor—H. L. Daniels; physicians— Drs. A. M. Keifer, George Schmidt, F. A. Strickler; dentists—James & Rounds, J. R. Hollister; produce—Sleepy Eye Produce Company; brick and tile—Sleepy Eye Paving Works; telephone—Sleepy Eye Telephone Company and Northwestern Telephone Company. The city has two good public parks. The present postal business of Sleepy Eye includes seven rural free delivery routes and business for the last fiscal year amounting to nine thousand eight hundred and ninety-one dollars. The amount of deposits in the postal savings department is one thousand dollars. DYCKMAN FREE LIBRARY. The city has a splendid free library, the gift of the late Frank H. Dyckman, who established the first bank in Sleepy Eye. It was founded on the same plan as the Andrew Carnegie libraries—the donor gave the building, provided the people would annually tax themselves for the books and maintenance of the property. The building was dedicated in May, 1901. It cost, with the five lots, ten thousand dollars. It now contains three thousand volumes and is well patronized. Miss Lydia Sasse is the present librarian. MONUMENT TO CHIEF SLEEPY EYE. The flour milling company of the city erected a fine monument in honor to chief Sleepy Eye, whose bones are buried beneath the monument. He was a friend of the white race. The brand of "Sleepy Eye Flour" is known from coast to coast. WOMAN'S CLUBS. Sleepy Eye has numerous woman's clubs, including the following: The Woman's Club and the Qui Vive Club. The former is the older of the two and was organized in 1888, with seventeen members. Mrs. W. W. Smith was the first president and is now the only charter member living who belongs to the club. The membership is limited to twenty. During its history there have been more than seventy-five ladies enter and depart from its circle. The club holds membership in the district, state and general federation. Meetings are held at the public library every other Friday. The present officers are: Mrs. E. P. James, president; Mrs. W. W. Smith, vice-president; Mrs. W. R. Hodges, secretary; Mrs. Julius Hansen, treasurer. The Qui Vive Club was organized in 1905 and has sixteen members, the number not being limited. Their motto is "Forward till you see the highest." The club is of a literary order. They also meet at the library building. The officers in the spring of 1916 were: Mrs. F. Riedl, president; Mrs. Morris Christensen, vice-president; Mrs. Frank Meyer, corresponding secretary; Mrs. J. A. Fialka, financial secretary; Mrs. George Cutting, treasurer. THE MILLING INDUSTRY. Until recently the flouring-mills of Sleepy Eye have been rated about second or third in the way of flour production of any in the great flour state of Minnesota. By all odds the flour industry has done more for the city than any other and possibly all other industries combined. These mills have paid out millions of dollars annually for wheat and have shipped far and near their choice brands of family flour. There are two of these gigantic milling plants at Sleepy Eye, one having a capacity of a thousand barrels daily, while the larger concern can easily turn out into the freight cars at the mill's doorways five thousand barrels every twenty-four hours. These mills were established about 1882 and have run successfully ever since until recently, through some unfortunate circumstances they have been closed down. But ere long it is believed that their doors will again open for business, under a new organization and management of affairs. LAKE HANSKA TOWNSHIP. On the southern border of Brown county and the second from the eastern line is Lake Hanska township, which comprises congressional township 108, range 31 west. It was named for the lake of that name, more than one-half of which is in this township. Watonwan county is at the south, Linden township at the east, Sigel township at the north and Albin is west from this township. Its population has been at various dates as follows: In 1890 it was seven hundred and forty-two; in 1900 it had reached nine hundred and forty-two, but had fallen off by 1910 to six hundred and ninety-two. Besides Lake Hanska here are also found Lake Omsrud and Broome lake. The first township meeting was held on June 21, 1870, at the house of A. W. Peterson. The officers then and there elected were as follow: Christian Ahlness, chairman, G. Christenson and Ole Thordson, supervisors; A. W. Peterson, clerk; C. Ahlness, assessor and justice of the peace; G. Thordson, treasurer; O. C. and C. H. Grore. constables; T. Torgrimson, pound-master. No schools were taught here until after the Indian outbreak in 1862. The first settlers in this township were probably Patrick and Edward Casey, and J. E. Devine, who located as early as 1857. A month later came in T. O. Ormstrud and sons, Ole Guttorm, Iver and T. Torgrimson. Those of a much later date who settled in this township, and yet early enough to be known as pioneers were: Andrew M. Anderson, Jacob Bakke, Nils Olson, Paul Olson, Knudt C. Olstaad, Thore O. Roan, T. E. Shelley, Ole Stone, Ole Synsteby and Tore Tundewold, all of Norway. During the Indian War this township suffered no loss of property. A stockade was built at the end of Lake Hanska and for a time occupied by a squad of soldiers. VILLAGE OF HANSKA. Hanska is situated in Lake Hanska township, in the northeast corner of section 24. It is a station on the Minneapolis & St. Louis railway, between New Ulm and St. James. In 1910 it had a population of three hundred and ten. Hanska was incorporated as a village in May, 1901, and its first officers were as follow: Fred C. Chambard, president; J. E. Johnson, recorder; Edward Carlson, N. J. Ouren, E. E. Nelson, trustees; G. W. Chambard and Dr. D F. Woods, justices of the peace; Carl Peterson, constable; G. P. Severtson, treasurer. This village obtains its lighting from electric current supplied by the Madelia Electric Light Company, from the Rapidan dam power house. There is a volunteer fire company in the village made up of thirty members. There is no regular waterworks system in Hanska, but street cisterns are used in case of fires. The following have served as presidents since the village was incorporated: F. G. Chambard, Ole Synstby, Nels J. Ouren, Fred Christianson, Alfred B. Ouren and M. B. Erickson. In the spring of 1916 the village officers were: President, M. B. Erickson; recorder, Theo. Torgimson; trustees, Christian Hanson, John A. Johnson, Iver E. Haugen; treasurer, Henry Anderson; constables, Bert Lind, H. C. Bradford; justices of the peace, P. J. Blion; assessor, Hans Jlen. December 3, 1904, will long be remembered in the village of Hanska, for on that day a sweeping fire destroyed much of the village, including the main business portion. The heaviest losses were sustained by Messrs. Nelson, Grothe, Kjorlaug & Company, J. H. Haemze, the latter owning the printing plant of the Herald office. The total loss in the village was about twenty-five thousand dollars. COMMERCIAL INTERESTS IN 1916. In the month of May, 1916, the business interests of Hanska were in the hands of the following men: Auto garage and dealers—Alex. C. Eckle, Hanska Auto Company; banks, Security and State Banks; barber—Theo. Greenholz; blacksmiths—Andrew Johnson; creameries— Hanska and Linden, and the Linden and Cottonwood; drugs, John A. Ringnell; elevators—New Ulm Roller Mill Company and the Eagle Milling Company; furniture— Ever E. Nelson; general stores—Hanska-Linden Store Company, Erickson Brothers, S. Hanson Company; harness—Peter O. Haughdohl, Fred C. Jenson; hardware— Peter J. Blein, Hanska Hardware and Implement Company; hall—The Liberal Union; jeweler—Fred Joramo; lumber—S. Hage Lumber Company (Hilmer Elagstad, agent), Lampert Lumber Company; livery—Benjamin Kjelshus; meat market—Midtbruget & Hangen; newspaper—The Hanska Herald; photographer—Andrew P. Lien; restaurants—George W. Chambard, Wayne Nagel; telephones—State Long Distance and Hanska Rural Telephone Company; veterinary—Arthur Hanson, D. V. S. The town hall, known as Liberal Union Hall, is a brick structure one story in height, erected by public subscription, both from the village and country. In this is held all public meetings and the library is also here under the charge of Reverend Norman. It was built in 1914-15. POSTOFFICE. Hanska postoffice was established in June, 1890. The amount of postal business transacted during the last fiscal year was one thousand eight hundred and forty-two dollars and fifty-three cents. There are now three rural delivery routes extending out from Hanska. The amount in the postal savings department was only ten dollars at the last accounting. During postmaster Carlson's administration there was a small robbery in this postoffice. LEAVENWORTH TOWNSHIP. Leavenworth township is in range 33 west and congressional township 109, and is six miles square. It is situated south of Prairieville township, west of Stark, north of Mulligan and east of Burnstown townships. It was established on June 28, 1858, by the county board of commissioners, and at the time contained all that portion of the county outside the Indian reservation west of Lake Hanska. From time to time new towns have been organized from its original territory until it finally assumed its present size. In the fall of 1858 the first election held in this part of the county was held at the house of Dr. J. B. Calkins There were but seven white men present, one of them a minor and there was one Indian present, yet there were forty votes returned from the precinct. The township was legally organized on April 16, 1859, at pioneer Maffett's house. The officers there and then elected were as follow: Luther Whiton, chairman; Isaac Bandy and Seth Henshaw, supervisors; George Charnock, clerk; Peter Kelly, assessor; G. W. Maffett and C. F. Putnam, constables; Peter Kelly and George Charnock were elected pound-masters, and the pounds were located at J. B. Calkin's claim shanty and at Luther Whiton's smokehouse. At this election there were thirty-two votes cast. From 1863 to 1866 the township had no organization, as all had fled on account of the Indian outbreak. An assessor, however, had been appointed by the commissioners to assess the property of the township from year to year. SETTLEMENT. In October, 1857, a company of speculators and townsite schemers laid out the village of Leavenworth, covering a half section of land on the west side of the Big Cottonwood river. They put up a log cabin and left Dr. J. B. Calkins to hold the claim down for them. He remained about two years and left for all time and the "townsite of Leavenworth" was no more, save in the memory of a few pioneers. During the same autumn—1857—came into this township, W. B. Carroll and G. W. Maffett, members of a government surveying party who were laying out a government road. They made claims the next spring. Carroll married Mary D. Loomis, in 1860, and was the first to marry in the township. He was killed by the Sioux Indians during the 1862 outbreak. Other settlers, of various and later dates, who came in and bore well their part in the development of this township were: J. B. Altermatt, from Switzerland; George W. Brown, of New York; George B. Ebilsiser, from Indiana; Benard Frey, a German; George W. Harrington, of York state; Frederick W. Hormann, a German; Charles A. Hughes, of New York City; Edward Larson, of Norway; Joseph Ott, born in Chicago; John M. Sanderson, a Canadian; Peter Schlitz, of Luxemberg; J. J. Schumacher, a German. FIRST EVENTS. Among the earliest events in the township were these: First birth was Matilda, daughter of John Schneider and wife, born in the winter of 1857-58. The first death was that of Mr. Buck, who was killed by a fall from his wagon. The first preaching was in the winter of 1859-60, by a minister of the United Brethren faith, who chanced to be visiting in the township. The Catholics organized and built a church, under the leadership of Father Alexander Berghold, in 1868. The first school was taught by Mrs. Wylie, in 1866. The first mill was the one built by John Jackson and J. G. Davison, about as soon as the township was settled. Later it was owned by Peter Schields, who in 1872 converted it into a two-run of stone milling plant, with a capacity of twenty-five barrels a day. Leavenworth post office was established in 1858, with Doctor Calkins as postmaster; during the Indian War it was abandoned, but re-established in the township of Stark, but still later it was moved to Leavenworth township and was kept by postmaster J. B. Altermatt. It has long since been discontinued and mail is received by rural delivery from the Sleepy Eye postoffice. Lake Altermatt, the largest sheet of water in the township, in sections 31 and 32, was named for J. B. Altermatt, just mentioned. The population of Leavenworth township in 1910 was five hundred and forty-six. The Northwestern railway line just touches the corner of section 6 of this township. The people who reside in this township usually trade at either Sleepy Eye or Cobden. LINDEN TOWNSHIP. This is the extreme southeastern corner sub-division of Brown county, and comprises congressional township 108, range 30 west. It is bounded by Blue Earth county on the east, by Watonwan county on the south, Lake Hanska township on the west and Cottonwood on the north. It has several lakes of considerable importance and size. Among such may be mentioned Banc lake in the northeast part of the township; a part of Lake Emerson along the south line and Linden lake in the central west portion. The Minneapolis & St. Louis railroad runs through the northwest corner of the township, but its nearest station is at the village of Hanska, just over the township line. The township has had a population of late years as follows: In 1890 it had seven hundred and sixty-two; in 1900 it was seven hundred and fifty-three, and in 1910 it was reported to be six hundred and ninety-one. At one time this embraced all the present territory of Lake Hanska township. The township was set apart for organization on June 28, 1858, but it failed to perfect its organization until 1859. The first meeting was held at the house of John Armstrong and he was elected chairman and justice of the peace; Andrew Levig was elected assessor; Peter Levig, clerk; Peter Thormodson, collector. Upon the death of Mr. Armstrong the township records were all lost, hence the remainder of early day transactions cannot here be given. The first settlement was effected here in 1856 by John Armstrong, Peter Thormodson, G. Paulson, Thore Oleson, Andrew Levig and Jens Harbo. At the time of the Indian outbreak, Mr. Armstrong sent his fa nr v away, but remained with his brothers on his farm. In September, following the outbreak, he was shot with an arrow while his brother was absent. P. H. Dahl, a Norwegian, settled in 1866; C. Halvorson, of Norway, came in 1869; H. Halvorson, of Norway, settled here in 1868; Lewis N. Halvorson, born in Wisconsin, came here in 1869; K. H. Helling, a Norwegian, settled here after his discharge from the army. Another pioneer was John R. Johnson, of Norway. MILFORD TOWNSHIP. Milford was among the first townships to transact business in the county. It was made a civil organization in 1858, and derived its name from the mill built at the fording place over the Minnesota river. The earlier records of the town have been lost—due partly to the confusion at the time of the Indian outbreak; more than fifty were massacred within this township in 1862. It was in this township that Brown county had its first settlement. The first white settler either in this township or Brown county was Edward McCole, who came in from Nicollet county in 1853; his cabin was burned and his claim was "jumped" by Anton Kaus. This land later formed a part of the Col. William Pfaender farm. The next settlers were the first lot of German colonists from Chicago, in the fall of 1854; an account of their wanderings and final settlement is presented in another chapter. The early history of New Ulm and Milford township are almost one and the same story. Among those hardy pioneers are easily recalled the names of Ludwig Meyer, Anton and Athanasius Henle, Peter Mack and David Haeberle. This township is bounded on the north by the Minnesota river, on the west by Home township, on the south by Sigel township. It was adjoining the Indian reservation, and suffered great loss during the Indian outbreak in the summer of 1862, when more persons were killed than in any other part of Brown county. The population of Milford in 1910 was four hundred and eighty. The first postoffice in the county was established here, with Anton Kaus as postmaster; but in 1857 it was removed to New Ulm. Milford postoffice, proper, was established in 1860, with Anton Henle as postmaster; he held it many years. In 1857 he opened a country hotel, or inn, which he conducted until about 1880. The first death was Martin Wiedemann, of consumption, in February, 1855. The first birth in the township was in the spring of 1855, a daughter born to Benedict Drexler and wife. The earliest religious services were those conducted by Father Winninger in 1856. The first school was taught at the house of Anton Henle in the spring of 1857. Milford is among the wealthy townships in the county, and has a history interwoven with that of the city of New Ulm. Many of the older farmers have retired in the city and make the best of citizens and believe in improvement, whether in country or city. VILLAGE OF ESSIG. Essig is the only hamlet within the township. It is situated in the western part of the township in section 19. It is a station on the Chicago & Northwestern railway, and has schools, churches and limited commercial interests, and is a great convenience to the surrounding country. The population is about one hundred. The postal business in the last fiscal year was only three hundred and thirty-eight dollars. There are two Indian monuments— one within two and another in three miles of Essig, erected by the community, commemorating the Indian War of 1862. The public school is a half mile out of the village. The German Lutheran people have a society here and now hold services every other Sunday. The business interests of Essig in May, 1916, are: A general merchandise store by W. C. Heiman, who is also psotmaster; the Eagle Roller Mills, by Herman Elbrecht; a grain elevator with Herman Schroeder as manager; produce and stock buyer, Herman Schroeder; hardware store by Andrew Wagner; the bank with Emil Hage, president; the Essig Creamery Company; lumber by the Lampert Lumber Company, William Merto, manager; coal, Herman Schroeder; implements, J. J. Kemkes. MULLIGAN TOWNSHIP. Mulligan township is located in congressional township 108, range 33. It is on the southern border of Brown county, the third township from the western line of the county. It has no towns or villages, neither a railroad, but is valuable as an agricultural section. At its north is Leavenworth township, at the east is Albin, on the south the county line and on the west is Bashaw township. The population at various times has been as follows: In 1890 it had three hundred and ninety-three; in 1900 it was five hundred and seven, and in 1910 it was four hundred and eighty. The great cyclone in 1881, that so nearly destroyed New Ulm, visited this township, too, and destroyed the houses of Andrew Zwrashka and Philip Kauffenberg; the wife and children of the latter were badly injured, and the other family escaped by going into their cellar in time. Mulligan township was organized at the town meeting on April 26, 1871. At that time the following were elected to hold the various township offices: John Torey, Patrick Stack and Nicholas Schmidt, supervisors; A. E. West, clerk; E. J. Collins, assessor; J. P. Savage, treasurer; Patrick Stack and A. E. West, justices of the peace; Nicholas Laux, overseer of highways; John Williams and J. P. Savage, constables. The election was at the house of Patrick Stack. The first settlement here was made in 1865, by J P. Savage, John and Thomas Kelly. Others who came in and aided in developing this section of the county were: Chauncy Beal, of Pennsylvania; Monroe Cordill, from Indiana; Peter Enhlond, a native of Sweden; John Frasch, of Germany; Thomas Gibbons, of Canada; Byron Green, from New York state; Paul Jauss, of Germany; John P. Savage, of Ireland, and John Smith, of Germany. The first school was taught in 1877. NORTH STAR TOWNSHIP. North Star township is on the west line of Brown county in township 109, range 35 west. It is bounded in the north and west by Redwood county, on the east by Burnstown township, and on the south by Statley township. It is six miles square, is a prairie township of wonderful fertility and is well improved with a thrifty and highly intelligent class of citizens of mixed nationality, but now thoroughly Americanized. The population of this township since 1890 has been at the three enumeration periods as follows: In 1890 it had three hundred and sixty-six; in 1900 it had five hundred and twenty-four, and in 1910 it was placed at five hundred and two. It has two railroad lines, both of the Chicago & Northwestern system, traversing its territory, yet has no station within its borders. Springfield is just over the township line to the east and is really the trading and market place most frequented by the people living within North Star township. This township was set apart and organized into a civil sub-division of Brown county, January 9, 1873, and the first election was held at the house of Henry Hewett, who was elected chairman of the board of supervisors. The first to locate here with the intention of becoming permanent settlers were: C. C. Davis, the first settler, who came in 1858 and remained only one year; John McCowan, who located in section 24, in May, 1870; Henry Hewett and John Young came the same year and commenced improvements on claims they had taken. Others who were early in the township were Ambrose Persons, of Jones county, Iowa; Matthew Ryan, from Ireland; there were many came in and soon the wild land was all taken up by actual settlers. PRAIRIEVILLE TOWNSHIP. This township is in congressional township 110, range 33 west. It is situated south of Eden, west of Home, north of Leavenworth and is on the western line of the county. This township is crossed by the main line, as well as the Redwood Falls branch of the Chicago & Northwestern railway, the two forming a junction in section 36. This is a prairie township and has many fine farms. Its villages are Cobden and Evan. The population of the township in 1890 was seven hundred and thirty; in 1900 it was about fifty more, but in 1910 had fallen off to five hundred and sixty-nine. It once belonged to Leavenworth township, but many years ago was made a separate township. While it was not entirely embraced within the Indian reservation, no settlers found their way into its borders until 1866- after the Indian and Civil Wars had ended. During that year came Rev. Andrew Johnson and Nels Alexandersen, who claimed a part of section 1. They were members of a party of Danes, most of whom settled in Eden township. Mr. Johnson was a Baptist preacher, and held services soon after his arrival. Ann, a daughter of his, was born in the fall of 1867, the first in the township. The first marriage in the township was that uniting James Johnson and Anna Knudson, in November, 1869. The pioneer school was taught by Miss M. L. Lang in the summer of 1871. In 1881 the Danish Lutherans were holding services once each month in a house of worship owned by them in section 16. The township held its first meeting at the house of Rasmus Nelson, on section 15, in March, 1870. The first officers elected to attend to the township's business were as follow: G. N. Dayton, chairman; Gustav Plath and Julius Krueger, supervisors; J. F. Barton, clerk; C. H. Christenson. assessor; John Liddell, treasurer; C. H. Christensen and J. F. Barton, justices of the peace; H. J. Knudson and Edwin Ricker, constables. Among settlers who have not already been named may be recalled these: Oliver Cole, a Vermonter; Lars Frederickson, a Dane; Fred Kissner, a German; Louis Lamp, a Dane; Alexander McBain, a Canadian; Alexander McIlreavie, Sr., a Scotchman, and his nine children, and Daniel Stage, a native of Prussia. VILLAGE OF EVAN. Evan is a small station point on the Redwood branch of the Northwestern railway system, in section 8, township 110, range 33. It was platted as Hanson Station in May, 1887, by Nels Hanson, and became an incorporated village in 1904. While it is a new village and not very large, it is growing and serves a well-to-do farming section as a handy trading place and market town for many things produced on the farms surrounding it. Peter Hanson, of Sleepy Eye, erected a grain warehouse here in 1885, and the same year the first store was opened by Mr. Norseth, of Stillwater, who was soon made postmaster. A creamery association was formed in 1895 and a large creamery plant installed. Evan had a population of one hundred and twelve in 1910, but has made material growth since that date. It was incorporated as a village on March 22, 1904, with first officers elected as follow: H. P. Thorkilsen, president; Jens Mickelsen, Lars Lamp and H. L. Hanson, committeemen; Jens D. Hansen, recorder. Since then the presidents of the village have been Christ Jensen and Wallace Hageman. The present officials of the village are: Wallace Hageman, president; G. L. Hansen, J. C. Foster, A. L. Madsen, councilmen; A. C. L. Christensen, recorder. The village supports a private electric lighting plant, known as the Evan Electric Light Company. It has a volunteer fire company consisting of thirty members. A gasoline pumping system is used for securing water for fire uses. On April 1, 1916, it was stated the village only owed the sum of twenty-five dollars. The postoffice was established in 1885 in Prairieville township. The amount of business transacted in this office during the last year was five hundred and fifty dollars. In 1908 the office was robbed and a. small amount of money taken, the safe injured materially, hut no conviction followed. The postmasters have been: N. A. Norsett, 1885-87; George Knudson, 1887-91; Emil Rasmussen, 1891-1916. BUSINESS DIRECTORY IN 1916. Hardware and lumber, C. Jenson; garage, A. L. Madsen; general dealers, Mogensen store, J. C. Foster; blacksmith, A. C. Anderson; implement dealer, Hansen Brothers; stock dealer, Lars Paulsen; restaurant. C. B. Nelson. The Light and Power Company furnishes the village with lights. There is what is known as the Evan Co-operative Creamery Company located here. VILLAGE OF COBDEN. Cobden is situated in Prairieville township, section 31, township 130, range 33 west, and was platted on February 16, 1901, by Thomas Peterson and S. C. Frederickson. Its population in 1910 was given as eighty-five. It is the first station west of Sleepy Eye, on the Chicago & Northwestern railway. Cobden became an incorporated village in 1905. The first set of village officers included these: Thomas Peterson, president; A. Newdoll, A. C. Klein, Herman Altermatt, councilmen; J. F. Brodish, recorder. During the present year a contract will be let for the erection of a village hall. The village now has a debt of six hundred dollars. The place has an excellent set of gas street lamps and is tile drained throughout. There is a very efficient volunteer company for the fighting of any fire that may occur in the village; it has sixteen members, and is aided materially by use of a chemical engine. The following have served as presidents of the village since its incorporation: Thomas Peterson, 1905; S. C. Fredericksen, 1906 to 1911; D, N. Jenkins, from 1911 to 1912; A. Newdoll, from 1912 to 1914; S. C. Fredericksen, 1914 to present date. The 1916 village officers are: S. C. Fredericksen, president; R. A. Apperman, R. Jorgensen, Nels Nelson, councilmen; J. P. Ed Bertrand, recorder. COMMERCIAL INTERESTS IN 1916. Garage, I. N. Davis; restaurant, J. S. Schweringer; barber, J. S. Schweringer; general store, H. J. Zieske; grain and feed, E. Blackenburg; implements, Ed. Burtrand, Walter Davis, H. J. Zieske; lumber and hardware, Steinke & Seidl. The postoffice did business during the last fiscal year amounting to three hundred and ninety-six dollars. The postmaster is H. J. Zieske. I. N. Davis is the village blacksmith. SIGEL TOWNSHIP. Sigel township was originally a part of Cottonwood township and was named after Gen. Franz Sigel, who won distinction during the Civil War as an officer in the Union army, and later as a statesman. The northern boundary has been changed numerous times on account of crossing the Big Cottonwood river; in 1861 the boundary was made to follow the course of the river as far as possible. Sigel, as now constituted, is bounded on the north by Milford township, on the east by Cottonwood, on the south by Lake Hanska and on the west by Stark township. It is somewhat cut up by rough land and numerous little lakes. Among the larger of these lakes may be named Clear lake, in the northeastern part; School lake, in the center of the township; Lake Juni, in section 26. There are no villages or railroads in this township, but it is well cultivated as a rich agricultural section. Its population for the last three enumeration periods has been: In 1890 it was six hundred and eighty; in 1900 it was twenty-five less, and in 1910 it was six hundred and forty-five. The first township meeting was held here on April 28, 1862; Ernst Brandt was selected moderator and William Bruggert, clerk. Officers elected: Ernst Brandt, chairman; Herman Plath and G. Guggesberg, supervisors; A. Loomis, assessor; H. Hillesheim, treasurer; Fred Frank and H. Manderfeld, justices of the peace, and J. Scheisser, constable. Several citizens from this township lost their lives in the Sioux outbreak of 1862. The first settler in this township, as now constituted, was Almond Loomis, who located in section 3, in 1856. In 1862 he, with his brother, Uriah, William Tuttle and seven others were killed by the Indians while trying to reach New Ulm. Several others settled in 1856, among the number C. C. Brandt, who, during the winter of 1856-57, erected a wind-power grist-mill; this was the first mill in Brown county. The buhrs were made from limestone out of the river bed and the timbers were sawed by hand from logs; later it was removed to New Ulm. The township was created into one school district in 1864, known as No. 4. Among other settlers who might justly be numbered among the pioneer band in this part of Brown county are these: John Berg, a German; Christian J. Engel, a German; Capt. Sylvester A. George, of Maine; Christian Krambeer, a German; John Lisenfeld, a native of Prussia; Almond Loomis, of New York, who was murdered by the Indians at New Ulm; Anthony Manderfeld, of Prussia, who served in the wars in his native land and was in the Union cause in this country and was at the New Ulm massacre; Christian Niedegger, a German; Matthias Penning, a German; and Conrad Schweppe, a German. STARK TOWNSHIP. The second township from the south line of Brown county, and the third from the eastern line of the county is Stark, which is in congressional township 109, range 32 west. At its north is Home township, at the east is Sigel, at the south, Albin and at the west is Leavenworth township. It is without a railroad or a town or village, save the mere hamlet of Ibera in its center. It has numerous lakes, including these: Bachelor lake, in the northeastern part of the territory; a smaller sheet of water to the southeast of this, and Rice lake, in the southwestern portion of the township. Others have been drained out with the township's settlement and development. The soil here is fertile and wonderfully productive of crops common to this latitude. The last three United States census periods show this township to have a population in 1890 of six hundred and twenty-three, the most that it ever has had; in 1900 it had fallen to six hundred and four, and by 1910 it had only five hundred and eighty. Stark township was organized in the spring of 1868; the first township election was held with results as follow John Moore, chairman; Russell Ives and Joseph Hillesheim, supervisors; Samuel Auger, clerk; John Wiggins, assessor; G. Bickelhaupt, treasurer; Eli Benham and Jacob Duncan, justices of the peace; A. Slocum and L. Birch, constables. The first settlers were as follow: In 1858, Luther Whiton, George Richard, Edwin and John Charnock, Seth Henshaw and John Blum all located in the township. Henshaw was killed by the Indians while trying to reach New Ulm in 1862 with Mrs. Harrington, Mrs. James Hill and two children. The women and children escaped. Mr. Blum and family, with the exception of one boy, were ruthlessly murdered by the savage foe en route to New Ulm. A number more were killed and wounded from this township, but the names are not now at hand. Other pioneers of this township, whose names should never be forgotten in making up the annals of this county were: C. W. Smith, Andrew J. Bangs, of Delaware; Samuel Bellig, of Switzerland; Frederick Benham, a Vermonter; Henry Berg, a native of Prussia; John Callahan, an Irishman; Jacob Duncan, Jr., of Indiana; W. J. Dungan, of Adams county, Illinois; Andrew J. Gilman, of Vermont; John F. Grubby, a German; T. H. Humphrey, of Vermont; Luther C. Ives, of Michigan; George Kroy, a Bohemian; F. W. Kuehn, a German; William Miner, a Vermonter; William Otrwein, a German; Herman Plath, a German; August Schwerdtfeger, a German; Lorenzo Slocum, of New York; Charles W. Smith, of New York; John Van Kaufenberg, of Luxemburg; H. Zander, of Prussia. EARLY HAPPENINGS. Among the first and always interesting events in this township may be recorded: The first birth was that of a son born to Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Smith, May 10, 1861. The first death was that of Daniel Tuttle, in the spring of 1858. The earliest religious services in the township were held at the house of C. W. Smith, in the spring of 1860, by Rev. Jones, a United Brethren minister. The pioneer school was taught in the summer of 1865. IBERA POSTOFFICE. Ibera postoffice was established in 1870, and had for its earlier postmasters F. F. Benham, Judson Bangs and William Kuehn. This office was about the center of the township, and at one time there was a steam saw-mill, several general stores, blacksmith's shops, cabinet shop, a shoe repair shop and a farm implement agency. There was later a water power grist-mill with three run of stones, built by Plath & Schwerdtfeger, about 1872. Henry S. Back built a steam saw-mill in the northern part of the township, which later was washed away by a big flood. With the coming of railroads and the further development of the county, most of the former business interests of the little hamlet moved to other parts, leaving simply a small store. STATELY TOWNSHIP. In the extreme southwestern corner of Brown county is Stately township, and it was the last one to be organized in the county. In January, 1879, a petition was presented to the county commissioners for the formation of another township. It was approved of by the board and an election was held, but declared illegal on account of short notice. On April 7, 1879, a meeting was held and officers duly elected, as follow: D. H. Semans, chairman; C. H. Crawford and Conrad Balbach, supervisors; A. W. Henderson, clerk; M. L. Haggard, assessor; James Haggard, treasurer; R. A. Allen and D. M. Haggard, justices of the peace; A. B. Dickerson and F. M. Scott, constables. Stately township had population as follows at various census-taking periods: In 1890 it had two hundred and eleven; in 1900 it had three hundred and ninety-five, and in 1910 it had five hundred and fourteen. The first to effect settlement in the township was C. H. Crawford, a New York man, who came here from Wisconsin, after having served in the Union cause during the days of Civil War. He arrived here with others in 1873 and at once began his operations. Among the persons coming with Mr. Crawford were Joseph Chamberlain, John Wilson, John Tyson, W. H. Fox and Conrad Balbach. The first school was taught in the summer of 1878 by Huldah Cornish, in what was later district No. 61. BEDFORD VILLAGE This is merely a siding and small station on the Northwestern railway, situated in section 12. It is but a few years old and has not yet risen to the dignity of an incorporated place. Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY MINNESOTA ITS PEOPLE, INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS L. A. FRITSCHE. M. D. Editor With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families VOLUME I B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY, Inc. Indianapolis, Indiana File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mn/brown/history/1916/historyo/township50gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mnfiles/ File size: 69.3 Kb