Nicollet County MN Archives History - Books .....Lake Prairie, Traverse, Oshawa, Belgrade 1882
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Book Title: History Of The Minnesota Valley

CHAPTER LXXVI.

LAKE PRAIRIE-TRAVERSE-OSHAWA—BELGRADE-RIDGELY-BERNADOTTE — NEW
SWEDEN—GRANBY-BRIGHTON.

  The town of Lake Prairie is in the northeastern part of the county, and
embraces township 111, range 27, and that part of township 111, range 26, west
of the Minnesota river. April 27, 1858, it was set apart by the county
commissioners, and an election was held soon after at Patrick Cronan's house;
the judges of election were Peter Brady and Patrick Cronan. George Briggs was
the first chairman of town board.

   Probably the first settler was James Lamm, who came in the summer of 1853; in
August of that year, Louis Hanson arrived; in July, 1854, Nelson Norman, Elias
Larson, Brinnell Nelson and Mr. Ludliff came with families. In June, 1858, the
Norwegian Lutherans organized a society, the first of this denomination in
Nicollet county. Rev. L. Larson was the first pastor. Rev. Thomas Johnson has
been in charge since August, 1863. A frame church was built in 1866, on section
twenty, at a cost of $1,800. The lumber was hauled by teams from Minneapolis.
The Swedish Evangelical Lutherans held services in 1857, and organized the
following year with Rev. Cedarstam, as pastor. The society now has over 230
members, presided over by Rev. John Pehrson. In 1862 a church was built which
cost $1,500, including organ and bell.

   The first school was taught by James Lamm, in the fall of 1856, in a claim
shanty on section 29. There are now seven school-houses in the town.

   The first birth was Agnes, daughter of Peter and Mary Brady, born in May,
1854. The wife of L. Hanson, who died in the fall of 1853, was the first death.

   Norseland postoffice was established about 1860, in the western part of the
town. Elias Larson was the first postmaster. John Burke now holds the office,
and keeps it at his store on section 19.

   Peter Brady was born in county Cavan, Ireland. When nine years of age he came
to America, and for a few years lived in New York. He came to St. Paul in 1851,
and to Nicollet county the following year. In 1854 he located the farm in Lake
Prairie where he now lives, consisting of 280 acres. Married in 1849 Miss Mary
Skelley. They have had twelve children, of whom six boys and five girls are living.

   M. P. Chilgren, native of Sweden, was born December 11, 1828. He learned the
trade of blacksmith, and came to America in 1853. Lived in Illinois, working at
his trade until 1857, then came to Minnesota and located on the farm where he
now lives. Has 200 acres, about one-half of which is cultivated. Married in 1864
Mary Stark, who was born in Sweden. They have six children. Mr. Chilgren has
been elected chairman of supervisors, treasurer and county commissioner.

   Nels. P. Chilgren was born September 2, 1832, in Sweden. He learned the
blacksmith's trade, and in 1852 came to Illinois, where he worked at his trade
and also attended school. In 1856 he came to Minnesota, and has since lived on
the farm now occupied, consisting of 240 acres. Was married in 1861 to Caroline
Samuelson, who was born in Sweden. They have two girls and three hoys. Mr.
Chilgren has held several town offices, and is now a member of the hoard of
county commissioners.

   John Cronen, native of Ireland, was horn in county Cork, and is about
seventy-four years old. He was raised on a farm, and at the age of fifteen was
thrown upon his own resources. In 1840 he went to New Brunswick, and one year
after to Boston, Massachusetts. A few years later moved to Wisconsin, and for
twelve years lived on a farm near Milwaukee. In July, 1856, he located in the
town of Lake Prairie, where he has since lived. Has a farm of 160 acres on
section 30. Was married in 1845 to Miss Bridget Ferry, who was born in Ireland.
They have seven children. His son, Cornelius Cronen, owns part of an adjoining
farm, and assists his father on his.

   Zenus A. Gault was born at Traverse des Sioux, Minnesota, April 21,1854. His
parents remained in the village until 1865, when they removed to a farm. His
father came to Nicollet county in 1852. He remained with parents until 1877,
then located in Lake Prairie on a farm. Married Ida W. Hill in 1872. Frank,
Victor James, Edwin and Irving are their children.

   Clarence G. Hanscome, a life-long resident of Nicollet county, was born in
St. Peter, January 28, 1861. His father, Judge Hanscome, came from the New
England States to Minnesota in 1856, and was judge of the 9th district for eight
years. Clarence received his education in the schools of St. Peter, and for the
past year has been teaching in Lake Prairie.

   Lars Hanson was born in Norway, August 30, 1814. Learned the trade of ship
carpenter, which he followed until coming to America. His first trip to this
country was on a ship as carpenter, in 1848, and two years later he came to
settle permanently. He went to California, and in 1853 returned to New York; the
following year came to his present farm in Lake Prairie. Mr. Hanson has been
married three times; first in 1843. The last time in 1872 to Mrs. C. M. Larson,
who is now living with him. Two children are living: Theodore Albert and Peter
Ferdinand. The latter has charge of his father's farm.

   M. Hokanson was born in the southern part of Sweden, February 21, 1828. He
learned the trade of shoemaker, which he followed about fifteen years. He came
to Illinois in 1852, and after living at Princeton four years, came to the town
of Lake Prairie; has been on his farm since 1867. He was a volunteer during the
Indian trouble of 1862. Married in 1856 Miss Johannah Samuelson, native of
Sweden. Of five children, four are living: William, Emma, Ellen Ann and
Albertina. The son William is a teacher, and two daughters are attending school
at St. Peter.

   Rev. E. S. Johnson, native of Norway, was born September 19, 1832. He learned
the tailor's trade, at which he worked about ten years; he was for two years in
the regular ministry, and in 1864 came to Minnesota and to his present farm. Has
devoted some time to missionary work in this state and Wisconsin. Married in
1862 Mrs. Johannah M. Lintner; she died in 1874. He was married in 1876 to Cora
Olsen. He has seven children living.

   Syver H. Johnson was born in Norway, in 1823, at the village of Ness. He made
mining his vocation until coming to America in 1857. He soon after settled on
his farm in Lake Prairie, where he has since lived. He was married in 1854 to
Julia Skaro, who was born in Norway. They have twelve children, six boys and six
girls. All are living at home with the exception of the eldest son, who is
married and lives in the town of New Sweden. His son, Erick S. H. Johnson, has,
for a number of years, been traveling salesman for a St. Peter hardware firm.

   Rev. Thomas Johnson was born in Norway, in 1837. At the age of fourteen he
came with his parents to America. They engaged in farming in Houston county,
Minnesota. In 1858 he went to St. Louis and entered Concordia College. In 1863
was ordained minister in the Lutheran church, and for a number of years after
was engaged in missionary work throughout Minnesota. He now has charge of a
church at Norseland, where he resides, one at Brighton and one in Sibley county.
He was married in Iowa to Miss M. E. C. Sahlgaard, who has borne him nine
children, six are living.

   A. Nelson was born near the city of Christiansen, Sweden, July 12, 1837. He,
with his parents, came to America in 1855 and settled on a farm on section 21,
of Lake Prairie, and has been in the town since. Came to his present farm on
section 27, in 1872. Has about 700 acres under cultivation, a fine brick
residence and well stocked farm. Was married in 1863 to Carolina Pehrson. They
have had nine children; eight are living, three girls and five boys. His father,
Nels Andersen, died in 1874.

   Ole Nelson was born near Bergen, Norway, October 8, 1807. He came to this
country in 1853, first to Wisconsin, and in July, 1854, to the farm where he now
lives. He remained through the Indian war of 1862. Hus youngest son, Brinnerd
Nelson, now owns the farm, which consists of 180 acres. Mr. Nelson, Sr. married
in 1837, Anna Sterker. Of six children, five are living. All are married and
living in Minnesota.

   John W. Pehearson was born at Christiansen, Sweden, April 12, 1850. Came with
parents to America in 1861. They settled in the town of New Sweden. He came to
his present farm in Lake Prairie in 1874; has 320 acres, 140 under cultivation.
He was married in 1873 to Christina Nelson, who was born in Sweden. They have
four children living and have lost one. Henry, Amanda, Herman E. and an infant.

   John Pehrson, native of Sweden, was born July 13, 1821. He received a good
education and taught four years. In 1854 he came to the United States, and in
1858 entered the department of theology in the university at Springfield,
Illinois. After graduating, was ordained a Lutheran minister, and preached at
Jamestown, New York. In 1862 he came to Minnesota and for a time preached at
Marine, Washington county, then came to his present place, where he has since
been pastor. Married in 1863, Issia Pehrson, who has borne him four children.

   A. Thorson was born in Sweden, February 13, 1823. For eleven years after he
reached the age of fourteen, he was a clerk and book-keeper. He came to this
country in 1847, and went to the California gold mines. Went back to New York in
1851, and then returned to Sweden on a visit. In 1855 he came to Minnesota with
several others from Sweden. He married in his native country, in 1852, Anna
Anderson. Of eleven children, seven are living. Mr. Thorson has been justice of
the peace seventeen years; was first town clerk; was register of deeds for
Nicollet county, four years; and is at present one of the board of county
commissioners.

TRAVERSE.

   Traverse township is in the eastern part of the county, with Lake Prairie on
the north and Oshawa on the south. The first settlers of the town are mentioned
in the chapter of county history. The village of Traverse des Sioux was surveyed
on land owned by S. K. Biggs, A. G. Huggins, and Mrs. Hopkins, and comprised
about 320 acres. When the county was organized the town had about 300
inhabitants, but as soon as the county seat was moved to St. Peter they all
followed, taking their buildings with them. The old Presbyterian church built of
concrete, by Rev. M. N. Adams, still stands.

   A town site was laid out in 1855, on section 9, by Joseph Robinette and
called Sioux City; Louis Roberts, of St. Paul had a trading post there in 1853,
which was burned; he rebuilt further north and maintained the post some time.
The first permanent settlement was in 1852; William Huey made a claim on section
13, in August; he was appointed sheriff by Governor Gorman. Other early settlers
were, Gibson S. Patch, George H. Spencer, Jonas Pettijohn, Peter M. Teed.

   The first town meeting was held May 11, 1858. First town officers: William
Huey, chairman, J. P. Smith and Jacob Schmahl, supervisors; Sidney Pardee,
clerk; L. D. Holden, assessor; R. B. Pierce, collector; Philip Stelzer, overseer
of poor; Alfred Vallient and Augustus Reihm, overseers of roads; R. J.
Billingsby, and J. M. Pettijohn, justices; Lewis Hatcher and C. M. Woodward,
constables.

   Henri Hemes was born in 1834, and lived, until coming to America, in 1854, in
Germany, his birth place. He worked for a time in the pineries of Michigan, then
stopped in Chicago until 1856, at which date he removed to New Ulm and resided
until the fall of 1862. During the Indian troubles of that year he lost
everything. Since 1865 his home has been on section 12. In 1860 he married Mary
Keltgen, who has borne him eleven children.

   John Lindill, a native of Sweden, was born in 1828, and while living there
worked at wagon making. In 1859 he immigrated to St. Peter, Minnesota. He did
carpentering and farming until 1862, when he enlisted in Company B, First
Minnesota mounted rangers, but was discharged six months after because of
injuries received by being thrown from a horse. Until 1864 he remained in St.
Peter, then came to his present home. Christina Peterson was married to Mr.
Lindill in Sweden and died on the journey to America. In 1866 he married Miss C.
Nelson. The living children are Joseph, Matilda, Amanda, Adolph, Charley, John,
Frederick, Peter, Helena, Anna and August.

    George A. McLeod, deceased, was born in 1820, in Upper Canada. After leaving
school he was for a time employed as clerk and subsequently engaged in the
mercantile and lumber business until 1852, at which time he removed to
Minnesota, and until 1858 was trading with the Indians. His brother was in
charge of a trading post at Lac qui Parle. In 1852 he made a claim of 160 acres,
also purchased land at different times, and owned a part of the town plat of
Traverse. In 1854 he was appointed county superintendent and again chosen to
that office in 1879. Mr. McLeod was aide de camp to General Sibley and was also
first lieutenant. On account of being so well posted he often volunteered to act
as scout, and had many narrow escapes. General Sibley wished on one occasion to
get information to Little Crow's camp, but no one was willing to make the
hazardous attempt; finally Mr. McLeod and a man named Quinn volunteered, and
accomplished the journey in safety. He was with General Sully, having charge of
scouts and guides, and was connected with Indians until 1872. At that date he
returned to Traverse and resided on his original claim until his death, which
occurred in 1881. In 1842, Miss Lorinda Dunning became the wife of Mr. McLeod.
Georgiana M. is the only child.

    William P. McMaster, a native of Massachusetts, was born in 1811, in Hampden
county. After the age of sixteen he worked at farming summers and taught winters
for ten years, then was employed about seven years as mail carrier. In 1853 he
migrated to St. Paul, and in the spring of the same year took a claim in Kasota.
Afterward took land in Traverse where he now owns 300 acres. When he came here
there was not a fence or a house to be seen. In 1853 he was united in marriage
with Harriet Elder, who died in 1848. Lucinda Rice became his wife in April,
1851. William B., Edward W. and Susan W., are the children.

    P. Miesen was born in 1837, and lived in his native country, Germany, until
1856 when he immigrated to Wisconsin. He went to California in 1859 and remained
five years; was also for a time in Idaho and Montana, after which he returned to
Wisconsin for four years; in the spring of 1872 he came to his home in Traverse.
Gertrude Kolte, a native of Wisconsin, was married to Mr. Miesen in 1867. They
are the parents of seven children; Helen, Jacob, Joseph, John Mattie, Lizzie and
Charley.

   C. Poncin was born in 1836, and in 1856 came from his native land, Belgium,
to America. In June, 1857, he located at his present home; now has 400 acres of
land with good buildings. Mr. Poncin has been in the office of supervisor about
nine years. Lena Gamey, horn in 1835, became his wife in 1858, and has home him
nine children; the living are Celestina, Joseph, John, Mary, Elizabeth, Charles
and Emma.

   Daniel T. Rounseville, a native of New York, was born in 1817 in Tompkins
county. In 1853, the date of his arrival in Traverse, there had been no
settlements and not a house was to be seen. He made a claim of 160 acres, which
is the farm he yet owns, and moved his family there, after residing about two
years in Traverse des Sioux. When the alarm was raised of the fight at New Ulm,
he with others, hurriedly organized a company and assisted in repulsing the
Indians; was afterward with General Sibley. Mr. Rounseville married Annie
Snyder. Their children are William H., Mary H., Sallie E. and Edith E.

   James Tammany was born in 1847 in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania. At the age of nine
years he went to Indiana with his parents and lived on a farm in that state. He
enlisted in Company I, 52d Indiana infantry, in 1862, and served three years,
after which he returned to Indiana where he worked at farming about four years.
Since 1869 he has been a resident of Traverse township. He owns 160 acres of
land, which he took in 1873, as a soldier's claim. Mr. Tammany was united in
marriage in 1873 with Martha Jenkins.

OSHAWA.

   So named from town of the same name in Canada. It is situated in the eastern
part of the county, and borders on the Minnesota river. The town at first
included St. Peter within its limits. The city, becoming incorporated, took off
over two square miles. No other changes in the original boundaries have occurred
save the adding of two square miles on the west, taken from Granby.

   The first settlement was made in 1852, by Berthoine Bartroche, a Canadian
Frenchman, and Joseph Campbell. Mr. B. married Martha Harmon, daughter of Jacob
Harmon, of Conrtland, at St. Peter, in the summer of 1855, the first resident of
the town to marry. No other settlers came till 1854-5; among the earlier ones
were Michael Knief, James Mitchell, Israel Puller, Jason Raymond, John Lambert
and two Wagners.

   The first school was taught by Miss J. Mattice about 1861. There are now five
school houses. There are no church organizations, though services have been held
occasionally.

   Oshawa station was established in 1873 when the railroad company put in a
side track. The post-office was established about the same time, with the
present postmaster, Thomas McOuat, in charge.

   The first town meeting was held at St. Peter. Officers elected: A. P. Howes,
chairman, Spencer Sutherland and G. W. Piper, supervisors; J. B. Sackett, clerk;
Samuel Dunning, assessor; Peter Morrison, collector; William Schimmel, overseer
of poor; J. P. Miner, overseer of roads; George Hezlep, justice; William Parrish
and Henry Gerrish constables.

   E. J. Boys was born March 27, 1829, in Trumbull county, Ohio. In 1851 he
graduated at Hartford, Ohio, after which he engaged in teaching. He came to
Minnesota in 1856 and located on a farm in Nicollet county, but in 1860 went to
Colorado and New Mexico; he returned, however, and taught in the winter seasons
from 1863 to 1868. For four years he was sheriff of Nicollet county, and lived
in St. Peter, but came in 1876 to his present farm. Married in 1859, Miss A. C.
Kennedy. Their children are Ralph and Frank, twins, and Mary E.

   Thomas Burch was born in 1843, in Franklin county, New York, but when only
four years of age went with his parents to Canada. In 1861 he removed to
Illinois and four years later came to his home in Oshawa. For the past four
years he has been clerk of this town. The marriage of Mr. Burch and Miss Alice
Smart took place in 1873 in New York. They have four children: Mary L.,
Charlotte, Effie and Warren.

   Samuel Coffin was born April 15, 1809, in Guilford county, North Carolina. He
worked at his trade of mill-wright in that state, ten years and the same length
of time in Indiana; also did some carpenter work. In 1845, and again in 1847, he
was elected to the Indiana legislature. He removed in 1856, to Courtland,
Minnesota, and in 1864 came to Oshawa. He was elected to the legislature from
Nicollet county in 1863; has served about fifteen years as county commissioner,
and at various times has held town offices. In 1830 he married, and in 1837 his
wife died; the second wife, married in 1840, died in 1842; Rachel Powers became
his wife in 1845. The children are Frederick P., William J., Marcus R., Rufus A.
and Newton K. Mr. Coffin was at the siege of New Ulm.

   Louis Filler, a native of France, was born in 1835. When a child he
accompanied his parents to Illinois where he lived until coming, in 1857, to
Oshawa. In the autumn of 1859 he returned, and in August, 1862, enlisted in
Company D, 117th Illinois infantry. Upon being discharged in August, 1865, he
returned to his home in Minnesota. Mr. Filler married Catherine Shank March 2,
1878, at St. Peter. They have one child, Margaret A., and one is deceased.

   J. M. Johnson was born in Sweden in 1817, and upon coming to America in 1854
located in Moline, Illinois. In June, 1856, he located in Oshawa and the next
year moved to the farm of 560 acres, where he is living now. The wife of Mr.
Johnson died in 1854; he remarried in 1857, and the second wife died in 1861.
His children are J. P., Thilda and Anna; the former by his first marriage.

   Edmund Kennedy is a native of Ireland, but has been a resident of the United
States since the year 1854. After passing two years in Maryland he removed in
June, 1856, to this state and located in Oshawa, which is still his home. The
marriage of Mr. Kennedy and Catherine Dougherty occurred in Ireland. The
children are Michael, John, Bridget, Margaret, Mary and Catherine. Mrs. Kennedy
died on the 4th day of May, 1880.

   William Lange, born in 1830, is a native of Germany, where after leaving
school he learned the trade of book binder. In 1854 he emigrated to America;
lived at Chicago one year, and in the spring of 1855 removed to Belgrade,
Nicollet county, where he took a piece of land, but sold it after one year, and
bought the farm which is his present home; he owns in all 425 acres. In 1853
Miss Mary Hager was married to Mr. Lange. They have two children: Charles and
Fred, who are twins.

   John E. Lind was born in 1820 in Sweden. His marriage with Miss Caroline
Dahlberg took place in his native country in the year 1846. They immigrated to
the United States in 1854, and after living in Indiana, Michigan and Illinois
they arrived in August, 1860, at St. Peter, Minnesota. In the fall of that year
he bought the farm which has since been their home. They have four children
living: Andrew, Josephine, Charles and Annie.

   J. G. Linstrom, a native of Sweden was born in 1835, and in 1858 came to the
United States. He visited Illinois and Missouri, after which in June, 1859, he
located permanently in Oshawa where he has served the town in different offices.
Christine Johnson became the wife of Mr. Linstrom on the 26th day of April,
1861. George, Emma and Lillie M. are their children.

   John Magner was born in 1830 in Ireland. In 1850 he came to America. Lived in
Connecticut until 1856 at which date he engaged in farming in the town of
Nicollet, Minnesota, but since 1873 has resided one and one-half miles west of
St. Peter. He was united in marriage with Mary Donahue in Connecticut, in the
spring of 1856. Their children are Nellie, Mary, James, John, Agnes, Catharine,
Ann, William, Adelaide, Henry and Francis. Mr. Magner's brothers, James and
Michael came to St. Peter in 1852. The former was in charge of the Indian farms
at Redwood Agency from 1854 until 1861. He was captain in the 28th Massachusetts
and was shot August 16, 1864 in the battle of the Wilderness, while leading his
company to charge a battery.

   William McFadden, a native of Ireland, was born in 1847. He immigrated to
America in 1864 and after farming near Philadelphia until 1868, removed to St.
Paul; he then passed about eighteen months in various parts of this state, and
since the spring of 1870 has held the position of superintendent of the farm
connected with the state insane asylum at St. Peter. Annie J. Dallas was married
to him March 13, 1871 and has borne him five children: William, Nettie, Lillie,
Esther, and Edward.

   Bowthel Miller was born May 26, 1837 in Germany. From his arrival in America
in 1857 until 1861, he worked at shoemaking in St. Louis. He served three months
in Company D, Third Missouri, and afterwards about eighteen months in Company A,
Second regiment of that state. Returned to St. Louis and remained until coming
in 1865, to Oshawa, his present home. Married April 12, 1864, Francis Filler.
The children are Henry, Maggie, Louis, Andrew, George F., Frank and Albert.

   Fred. Ort, son of Conard and Margaret Ort, is a native of Illinois; he was
born in 1846, in Madison county, and in 1857 removed with his parents to Oshawa,
Minnesota. In 1875 he was united in marriage with Maggie Canada who was born in
1855, in Maryland. Mr. and Mrs. Ort are the parents of three children:
Katherine, Henry and Mary.

   Charles Revier was born in 1844, in St. Lawrence county, New York. From 1863
until 1865 he lived in Rice county, Minnesota; then for two years he was in the
lumber business at Minneapolis, after which he was employed in farming in
Washington county until 1868, when he located in Oshawa. He married Emma Lequiea
in 1877; she was born in 1860 in Canada. The names of their children are
Marietta, Charles E. and Frederick H.

   George H. Simmons, a native of New York, was born in 1843, in Cortland
county. In 1856 the family moved to Oshawa. His wife was Miss Mary Quane; they
were married in 1873 in St. Peter. Alice, Nellie and Herbert are their children.
His father, Caleb M. Simmons, was born in 1807 in Oneida county, New York, and
in 1837 married Ruth Bartoo, who was born in 1804. They had two sons, George H.
and Harrison.

BELGRADE.

   Belgrade is in the south-eastern part of the county, in the big south bend of
the Minnesota river. Le Rue P. Parsons, who came in the winter of 1853-4, was
the first-settler; his daughter Lucretia, born July 27, 1856, was the first
birth in the town. S. D. Parsons and Frank Mason came during the same winter.
There were two villages started in the town, but neither reached any size. North
Mankato was laid out in 1857, opposite Mankato proper. The other was an addition
to Le Hillier city, laid out in January, 1858.

   The town was set apart by the county board April 27, 1858, but failed to
organize on account of short notice. The board appointed officers as follows: J.
N. Wollingford, chairman, Archibald Law and Le Rue Parsons, supervisors; Henry
Trask, clerk; D. K. F. Trask, assessor; Milford Richardson, collector; Robert
Sharp, overseer of poor. The first marriage was that of George Robers and
Catherine Hodson in 1862. The first death was James Sharp, who died in the fall
of 1858.

   The first religious services were conducted by Robert Sharp and Archibald Law
in 1857. The Catholics built a frame church in 1861, on section 8; it cost about
$800. Services were conducted by Father Somereisen in 1860 at the house of John
Keltzen. The society has increased from sixteen to forty-five members. Father
Meier, of St. Peter, holds services monthly. Congregationalists held services at
an early date. A Sunday-school has been maintained for some years; there are
about fifty pupils. Rev. Freeman, of Mankato, is pastor; the school-house in
district No. 8 is used. The Methodists have held services under Rev. Solomon
Gleason since 1870. The Evangelical Lutherans had their first services conducted
by Rev. John Youngberg. In 1876 they built a church on section 34, at a cost of
about $600. The society organized with about twenty-eight members. Their pastor
is Rev. C. J. Anderson.

   The first school in the town was taught by Jane Parsons about 1861, with
fifteen scholars attending. There are now five school buildings in the town; one
brick, two frame and two log.

   Alva Curtiss, a native of Connecticut, was born on the 12th day of June,
1839, in Litchfield county, and in 1853 moved with his parents to Eond du Lac
county, Wisconsin. He enlisted August 14, 1862, in Company B, Thirty-second
Wisconsin Infantry, and received injuries for which he was discharged February,
1863. Sadia Fuller was born May 5, 1846, in St. Lawrence county, New York; moved
with her parents to Michigan, and thence to Wisconsin, where she married Mr.
Alva Curtiss. In 1874 they came to Nicollet county, Minnesota. Their children
are Glen, Inez M. and Ida M.

   Abram Farrer, deceased, was born January 27, 1820, in Holdam, England. For a
time he worked as spinner in a factory. In 1846 he immigrated to Rhode Island,
where he was united in marriage with Ann Andrews. She was also a native of
England. At the age of twenty-three years, she came to the United States, and
removed from Philadelphia to Rhode Island. They resided at Ashton two years and
the same length of time at Albany, New York, then went to Hebron, Massachusetts,
where Mr. Farrer's death occurred on the 22d day of May, 1858. Mrs. Farrer
remained there until April, 1870, when she came to Belgrade. The names of their
children are William, David, Edwin A., Charles E., Herbert A. and Ida M. Abbe.
The son Edwin conducts the farm.

   Joseph Hodgson, a native of Canada, was born January 18, 1837, at Montreal.
Removed to Clinton county, New York, where he remained until 1859, at which time
he came to Belgrade; one year later went to Houghton county, Michigan, and
worked at mining. In 1876 he returned to Belgrade, his present home.

   George A. Roberts was born February 24, 1833, in Steuben county, New York. He
migrated to Minnesota, and worked at lumbering in Le Sueur county, until 1862,
when he went to Madelia, Watonwan county. The Indian trouble caused him to
abandon his intention of commencing mercantile business at that place. He joined
the militia and came very near losing his life in the second battle at New Ulm.
Until the spring of 1866 he lived at Mankato; since that time his home has been
in Belgrade. Mr. Roberts has filled various town offices. Married, September 22,
1852, Ann Wright, who died January 29, 1861. Their children are Ellen, Mary E.,
Thomas F. and Ann. July 13, 1862, he married Catharine Hodgson. The children
born to them are Albert, Sarah G., John C., May, Birdie and Joseph. Mrs. Roberts
died March 27, 1881.

   Benton Severance was born March 14, 1835, in Clinton county, New York. After
leaving the common schools he spent three years in a Massachusetts Academy, and
graduated. He worked in machine shops and at blacksmithing with his father until
the fall of 1857, when he came to Belgrade. In 1859 he went to Houghton county,
Michigan, and three years later to Clinton county, New York, where he stayed one
year. After living about eighteen months in Wisconsin and two years more in the
state of New York, he came to Belgrade, and here does both blacksmithing and
farming. Mr. Severance has been justice of the peace and for eleven years has
held the office of town clerk. February 17, 1862, he married Julia Hodgson.
Charles A., Anna E. and David are their children.

NICOLLET.

   This town is in the southern part of the county. In the winter of 1853, P. K.
Johnson came from Mankato and staked a claim for Noah Armstrong, on section 33
at the mouth of Swan creek. Armstrong and Evans Goodrich moved up the next
spring and built a shanty on the claim; it was a town site speculation. Others
came in and an association of nine members formed under the name of Swan Creek
Claim Company. The village of Eureka, covering about 500 acres was laid out and
a few improvements made; a saw-mill was started, but the company failed. Hiram
Caywood jumped the claim and laid out Eureka anew; this too, failed, and all
that remains is the house built by Caywood and a grist-mill built in 1871, not
in operation. Other settlers who came about the same time were Joshua Post and
Jack Hamilton.

   Several villages have been laid out; Swan City, in 1856, on section 5; Dakota
City the same year opposite Judson; at both places a store was kept for a time,
and at the latter a saw-mill was built by W. H. McNutt. A steam saw-mill was
erected in 1865 by A. Keene, which is still run; it has a grinding attachment;
this with two dwellings, constitutes the town.

   In the spring of 1857 Nicollet was laid out on section 17, by E. J. Boys, P.
H. McDermid, J. B. Kennedy and Amos S. Post. Kennedy built a hotel, others a
saw-mill, blacksmith shop, etc. The village was at one time a large stage
center, but in 1860 was vacated by foreclosure of mortgage against the proprietors.

   When the Winona & St. Peter railroad was completed another village called
Nicollet was laid out on section 3, and is now the best town in the county,
excepting St. Peter. There are two general stores, two hardware stores, one
furniture and two wagon shops, two blacksmith and two harness 'shops, two shoe
shops, one meat market, one steam flour mill and one steam feed mill, two
hotels, three saloons, one lumber yard and an elevator. The German Methodists
have a church.

   The village was incorporated by an act approved November 17, 1881 and the
first election held January 3, 1882; the officers elected were: A. P. Babe,
president; J. M. Olson, William Mayers and H. Stege, trustees; W. J. Hughs,
recorder; S. Girvin, treasurer; J. B. Kennedy, justice; J. Summers, constable.

   The first religious services in the town were held at the house of W. H.
McNutt in 1856, by Robert Sharp. In 1858, Rev. McClary, a Methodist preached in
J. B. Kennedy's barn; a church was formed a church edifice was begun, but not
completed. In 1881 the society purchased the Grange hall; services are held
monthly by Rev. Levi Gleason. The Baptist church organized in 1858. The
Evangelical Lutherans began holding services in 1863, under Rev. John Smith; the
society organized in 1866; in 1878 a church was built in the village of
Nicollet, at a cost $1,500. Rev. William Oehler has charge, and the church has
some thirty-five members. The German Lutherans held their first services in
1864, Rev. Reinega as pastor. They united with members in the town of Courtland,
but later a separate organization was effected. A frame church costing $2,400
was built on section 17. Rev. H. Dagerferde is pastor. The Congregational
society was organized with twelve members in 1864, by Rev. Thompson of Mankato;
the first local preacher was Rev. J. Ladd; this church united with the one in
Belgrade.

   In 1857 a school-house was built but no school was held, owing to differences
among the people and the building was sold to a settler who never paid for it.
There are now four public school-houses in the town; two parish schools are also
maintained.

   The first post-office was Eureka, established about 1855, with Hiram Caywood
in charge; in 1858 the name was changed to Nicollet and the office placed in
charge of Amos F. Post. It was kept in the Western Hotel, at Nicollet, with
various postmasters, till 1873, when it was moved to the new village, with J. M.
Olson, postmaster. Hebron post-office was established in 1856, at Dakota City,
in charge of W. H. McNutt; it has passed through several changes and is now held
by J. H. Vroman, on section 27. Swan City postoffice was established in 1859;
George Wolf was postmaster; it was discontinued in 1861.

   The first town meeting was held at Hebron school-house, May 11, 1858, and the
following officers elected: T. M. Richardson, chairman, E. D. Post, and G. W.
Wolf, supervisors; C. S. Terry, clerk; E. Bowin, assessor; P. S. Carson,
collector; W. A. Mills, overseer of poor; D. B. Turner, justice; P. S. Carson
and E. J. Boys, constables.

   John Asher was born in March, 1844, in Guernsey county, Ohio. When five years
old he went with his parents to Porter county, Indiana, and in 1862 entered
Company I, 73d infantry, of that state; served seven months; re-enlisted in 1864
and served through the remainder of the war in company E, 29th Indiana infantry.
Removed in 1868 to section 27, Nicollet township, Minnesota. In 1871 he married
Augusta Tidland, a native of Massachusetts. Of their five children, four are
living.

   John Barthels was born November 25, 1831, and learned the trade of carpenter
and cabinetmaker before leaving Germany, his birthplace. Came to America in
1854, and after working at gilding one year in New York city, removed to Cook
county, Illinois, where he did carpenter work one year; followed his trade six
years at Winona, then did wagon-making about eighteen months, after which he was
one year in mercantile trade. Now has eighty acres in Nicollet. Married in 1850
Margaret Pahling.

   Henry Bode, who is a native of Germany, was born May 3, 1836. In the autumn
of 1852 the family immigrated to Will county, Illinois. He came to Minnesota in
1858, and the year following located on section 18, Nicollet, where he now owns
420 acres. Beside holding other town offices, Mr. Bode has been treasurer for
seventeen years. On the 25th of April, 1859, he was united in marriage with
Sophia Fiene. They have nine children living.

   William Bode is a native of Germany. He was born March 11, 1842, and came in
1852 with his parents to the United States. Until 1867 he resided in Illinois;
at that date he removed to Minnesota, having in 1863 purchased a quarter section
of land in Nicollet. In 1877 he erected his present dwelling. Mary Pehling, who
became his wife in April, 1867, was born October 24, 1842, in Germany. Six of
their seven children are living.

   N. Burrill, a native of Maine, was born April 16, 1821, in Waterville. He
migrated to Mankato in 1856, and after working there three years in a saw-mill,
removed to Nicollet, where he took a claim. Mr. Burrill took an active part in
the defense of New Ulm, and was one of the guards to escort the Indians who were
executed at Mankato. His wife was Miss Maria Keene, of Maine. She has borne him
five children; one is deceased.

   Peter Chilgren was born in April, 1845. He learned blacksmithing while living
in his native country, Sweden. Soon after arriving in America in 1868, he went
to St. Peter for a short time, then spent one summer in Minneapolis, after which
he went to Cresco, Iowa, from there to Princeton, Illinois, and thence to St.
Peter. In 1873 he, in company with C. F. Berg, opened a blacksmith shop in
Nicollet; since 1877 he has been in business alone. Anna Vroaman, born in St.
Lawrence county, New York, became his wife in 1877. Their children are Myrtie,
Florence La Pearl and an infant.

   John C. Clark, who is a native of New York, was born in 1815 at Crown Point.
While quite young he moved with his parents to Oswego county and remained until
1836; from that date until 1862 he lived in Cook county, Illinois, and then
settled permanently on section 28, Nicollet, Minnesota, where he owns a farm of
240 acres. The maiden name of his wife was Mary Meacham; they were married in
1849. One child is dead and three are living.

   William Fiene, Jr., is a native of Illinois; he was born in the year 1862, in
Will county, and when two years of age accompanied his parents to Nicollet
county, Minnesota, where he lived sixteen years. He went to Mankato and learned
harness making, and in 1881 started in that business at Nicollet.

   Albert Freitag was born August 28, 1844, in Prussia. In 1861 the family
immigrated to Nicollet, Minnesota. From October, 1862, until November, 1863, he
served in Company E, First Minnesota cavalry; re-enlisted January, 1864, in
First Minnesota, artillery, Company F, was discharged at Nashville. With the
exception of two years in Mankato and two years in Chicago, he has lived since
1867 at his farm in Nicollet. Minnie Meyer, who was married to him in 1866, died
in 1875, leaving him four children. Married Bertha Metzke in 1879; they have two
living children.

   Frederick Freitag is a native of Prussia, where he was born in the year 1850.
He accompanied his parents to the United States in 1861 and settled in Nicollet,
Minnesota, which town has since been his home. Mr. Freitag's marriage occurred
in 1869; his wife, Louisa Rumja, was born in Germany. They are the parents of
seven children, only three are living: Hulda, Fred and Matilda.

   Herman Freitag was born September 14, 1846, in Prussia. The family moved in
1861 to Nicollet county, Minnesota, and the next year he enlisted in the First
Minnesota mounted rangers; served about nine months; re-enlisted in 1864 in
Company F, First regiment heavy artillery, and was mustered out at the close of
the war. Soon after returning he bought 160 acres of section 14, Nicollet. Has
been supervisor seven years. Married in 1867, Wilhelmena Kieson, who died
November 3, 1873. Three children were born to them. In 1874 he married Minnie
Brand, who has borne two children.

   Jonathan Gill, a native of England, was born May 15, 1819, in Yorkshire, and
removed when young with his parents to Derbyshire. In 1841 he came to America;
lived in Cass county, Illinois, until 1855, when he came here and bought a farm
on the Minnesota river. Mr. Gill is a member of the Congregational church; in
politics he is a staunch republican. Married in 1846, Ruth A. McClure. Only one
child is living, Anna E. Three have died.

   Samuel Girvin, who is a native of Ireland, was born March 20, 1848, in
Belfast. Came with his parents to America in 1851, and after living sixteen
years at Cincinnati he removed to New Ulm, thence to Mankato, where he learned
the printer's trade. He worked at the tinner's trade in Madelia, also at Peoria,
Illinois, after which he located in Lake Crystal, but in June, 1878, began the
hardware business in Nicollet. Matilda P. Laumann was married to him in May, 1881.

   William P. Goodell was born August 29, 1832, at Schenectady, New York.
Resided at Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, from the time he reached his tenth year until
1855 at which date he came to Minnesota. He lived one year at Rice Lake and
three years in South Bend, then because of Indian troubles he returned to
Wisconsin for nine months. In 1859 moved to Judson, and in 1863 enlisted in
Company E, Second cavalry, served until 1866. Married September 25, 1854, Thirza
L. Chafey. Seven of their nine children are living. He now has 160 acres on
section 29, Nicollet.

   A. H. Hackerott was born in Du Page county, Illinois, April 2, 1856. The
family moved to Cedar Falls, Iowa, and when he was seven years old, returned to
Du Page county for three years. After living one year at Cedar City, Iowa, he
settled in Courtland township, Minnesota. He learned harness making at St.
Peter, and opened a shop in 1876 at Nicollet.

   James Hendley, a native of Illinois, was born February 22, 1829, at Galena.
When about eight years, of age he moved with his parents to Jackson county,
Iowa, but twelve years later returned to Illinois and lived six years. In 1853
he married Miss Mary Copeland, of Iowa, and in 1855 they came to Minnesota.
4fter residing in Courtland fourteen years he removed in 1869 to Nicollet and
owns a farm of 144 acres.

   John Hendley was born July 12, 1827, at Richmond, Virginia. The family moved
to Galena, Illinois when he was young, and nine years later to Jackson county,
Iowa, where he remained until 1849 when he came to Minnesota, and until 1853
followed lumbering. After spending two years more in Iowa he made a claim in
Courtland, this state, in 1855, which he sold in 1866, and the next year bought
200 acres in Nicollet. Mr. Hendley was appointed Indian commissioner for the
Sioux. January 22, 1855, he married Sarah Cobb. They have nine children living.

   James Hodson, who is a native of England, was born July 12, 1850. In 1860 he
came to the United States with his parents, who settled on section 9, Nicollet,
Minnesota. In 1871 he bought forty acres of land, and since 1876 has also
conducted his father's farm. Miss Minerva A. Trask, born in Illinois, became his
wife in 1871, and has borne him six children.

   William J. Hughes, a native of Illinois, was born July 31, 1857, at Rock
Island. The family settled on section 9, Nicollet, when he was about two years
old. In 1876 he went to Davenport, Iowa, to engage in teaching, but returned to
Nicollet and in the spring of 1880 opened a lumber yard here. Miss Frankie E.
Burch, who was born in New York, was united in marriage in 1879 with Mr. Hughes.
They have one child: Libbie V.

   Fred Hastens is a native of Germany. The date of his birth is March 22, 1834.
In the year 1851 he came to the United States and settled in Cook county,
Illinois, where he remained eleven years, after which he migrated to this state
and bought a farm of 160 acres in section 9, Nicollet. In May, 1859, his
marriage took place. His wife was Elizabeth Pahling, also born in Germany. They
have had eleven children; one is deceased.

   Lorenzo D. Keene was born May 23, 1826, in Kennebec county, Maine. Took a
claim in 1854, in Belgrade, Minnesota, but removed the next year to his present
home in Nicollet. The summer of 1859 he was in Maine, and from that fall until
September, 1864 was engaged in mining in California, after which he returned to
his native state, but came again in the fall, to his home in this town. Lorinda
Goodrich became his wife August 29, 1864. Of their five children, two are living
Jessie L. and John A.

   E. R. Kennedy, born May 20, 1835, is a native of Milton, Vermont, and was
given an academical education at Georgia, that state. In 1857 he went to Lowell,
Massachusetts, where he worked in cotton factories. Enlisted in Company F, 33d
Massachusetts, and served from 1862 until the war ceased. In 1869 he removed to
Chicago, where he worked about three months, and then lived five years in Medo,
Minnesota. After passing six months in Mankato, he came to Nicollet, and this
town has been his home since. He was united in marriage in 1860, with Lydia E.
Holmes; They have three children.

   Joel B. Kennedy was born July 25, 1831, in Warren, Ohio, where he learned
printing, and remained until twenty-three years old, then worked at his trade in
Marion, Iowa, until 1856, at which date he settled in Nicollet, and soon after
built the Half-way House, of which he was proprietor till 1880, with the
exception of four years spent in Colorado and New Mexico. Has been justice of
the peace twenty-two years and post-master of Nicollet eight years. Married in
1854 Maggie E. Boys, who has borne him six children. Three are living: Lauson
J., Ed. M. and Clarence D. Mr. Kennedy is proprietor of the State Seal hotel,
which he built in 1880.

   J. B. Mans, born November 2, 1842, is a native of Germany. Came to America
with his parents in 1852, and lived in Wisconsin until twenty-three years of
age, when he spent one year in Reeds Landing, Minnesota. After running on the
river three years, he came to Nicollet in 1872, and kept a saloon five years.
Passed some time in Kansas, Washington territory and Oregon, but in the fall of
1881, resumed his business in Nicollet. Married in 1866, Christina Brass. Six of
their seven children are living.

   Peter H. McDermid was born of Scotch parentage, June 12, 1827, in Ontario.
His grand-parents settled in western Canada during the seventeenth century.
After attending the Normal school at Toronto, he taught for some time and in the
spring of 1852, settled in La Crescent, Minnesota, hut since 1855 has been a
resident of Nicollet, and since 1862, has been town clerk. In 1874 and again in
1875, he was elected to the state legislature. Adeline Wise became his wife in
1858, on the 31st of January, and died September 9, 1881. She was the mother of
five children.

   C. F. Oberg was born October 20, 1844. He learned blacksmithing with his
father and remained in his native land, Sweden, until 1870, at which date he
emigrated for America. After being employed in different portions of this state
he, in 1873, located at Nicollet, and was in partnership with Peter Children
four years, but since then has carried his business alone. Mr. Oberg was married
in 1878. His wife was Josephine Laumann, of St. Peter.

   J. M. Olson was born May 11, 1834, in Norway. In 1854 the family immigrated
to Carver, Minnesota. He went to St. Paul and ran on a steamboat until enlisting
in Company K, 2nd regiment. He served through the entire war, after which he
resumed steamboating for one year. In 1867 he started at St. Paul, the
Scandinavian house, which was burned in 1869, and the same year he opened the
St. Thomas hotel, but sold in 1871. After keeping a general store in Isanti
county two years he opened the first store in Nicollet. Married in 1859, Anna
Johnson, who died September 18, 1867. One child living. In 1868 he married Emily
Richardson; five children living. Since 1867 he has been post-master here.

   Dr. E. C. Putman, a native of Illinois, was born June 18, 1853, at Mount
Sterling, where he received his early education. Afterward studied medicine at
Louisville, Kentucky, and in 1875 graduated from the medical college of that
city. He first practiced his profession at Cooperstown, Illinois, one year, then
two years in Kansas, and since August, 1881, has been at Nicollet.

   A. F. Rabe is a native of Illinois; he was born November 2, 1853, in Du Page
county, and after leaving the common school, he studied five years in the
Concordia College, Indiana. At seventeen years of age he began clerking at St.
Peter; went to Minneapolis three years later and from there to Chicago where he
remained nearly two years. Since 1875 he has kept a general store in Nicollet.
In 1875 his marriage took place; his wife was Rebecca Rengstorf. John and Rosa
are their children.

   A. W. Rood was born in April, 1833, in Cortland county, New York, and in 1851
graduated from Homer Academy, that county. Came in 1861 to Nicollet county and
located on a farm in Court-land, where he held town offices for several years.
Until 1875 he engaged in farming, then took charge of Van Dusen's elevator at
Nicollet. Mr. Rood was united in marriage in 1875, with Melissa A. Ronseville, a
native of New York; Edward J. is their only son.

   Joseph Smith was born August 24, 1828, is a native of Germany. In 1861 he
came to America and lived nine years in Will county, Illinois; was afterwards in
Cook county six years; passed one summer in Grinnell, Iowa, and then opened his
saloon in Nicollet. In 1873 he married Mary Schleiker who was born November 11,
1854, in Germany. Seven children are living: Anna, Lena, Henry, Lizzie, Emma,
John and Charles.

   Hermann Stege is a native of Illinois; he was born October 3, 1854 in Cook
county, and made that place his home until 1879, when he came to Nicollet. He
kept a saloon here one year and in the spring of 1881 bought the Nicollet mill
in company with A. F. Rabe. In 1880 his marriage took place with Mary Metzkey.
They have one child: William.

   Christian Stolt, born November 6, 1842, is a native of Prussia. Moved, in
1857, with his parents to Cook county, Illinois. He enlisted July 23, 1861, in
Company C, Second Illinois cavalry, was wounded and discharged in 1864. Came to
Nicollet in October, of that year but soon removed to Arkansas where he was in
the employ of the government until October, 1865. Returned to Nicollet and
bought a farm which he sold in 1866, and in 1868 bought his present home. Mr.
Stolt has held several town offices and was county commissioner three years.
Married December 17, 1868, Hannah Otto, who has borne him seven children, six
are living. Minnie, Emma, Mary, Christian, Martha, and Bertha.

   C. H. Struckmann, who is a native of Germany, was born in 1849. Upon
immigrating to the United States in 1865, he settled in Louisville, Kentucky,
where he learned the cabinet makers' and carpenters' trades, serving three years
at each. He removed to Minnesota and located in 1878, at Nicollet, where in the
autumn of 1881 he opened a furniture store.

   C. W. Swanson was born in 1847. He learned the trade of carpenter in Sweden,
his native land. Since 1869 he has been a resident of the United States. After
living ten years at Cannon Falls he migrated to Nicollet, and in the spring of
the year following, started a feed mill. Miss Matilda Johnson became his wife in
1879 and has borne him three children: Charles B., Constance and Amanda J.

   P. L. Swenson, a native of Norway, was born January 26, 1853 and in 1857
accompanied his parents to the United States. They settled in New Sweden,
Nicollet county, and he lived there until 1878, at which time he came to
Nicollet and opened the first hardware store in the place. In 1878 he was united
in marriage with Miss Sarah Lee, who was born in Norway. They have one child:
Estella Lorena.

   C. H. Thingestad was born in Norway in 1852 and in 1866 came with his parents
to America. He was employed in clerking at Winona five years, then went to
Yellow Medicine county; he was postmaster two years at Lisbon, that county, and
was engaged in the drug trade at Minnesota about eighteen months. For three
years he was a member of the Montevideo home guards, and rose to the rank of
lieutenant. In 1880 he came to Nicollet and the next year entered the employ of
J. M. Olson. Married in 1876, Mary Erickson. Clara and Helma are their children.

   Frederick O. Torrey, born August 20, 1815 in Jefferson county, New York,
removed in 1854 to Big Bend, Waukesha county, Wisconsin, and resided there seven
years. In August, 1861 he migrated to Minnesota and took a claim on section 36,
Nicollet; he has a farm of 120 acres. At the time of the massacre he belonged to
a company of soldiers organized at Mankato. Miss L. E. Whitcomb was married to
Mr. Torrey in December, 1843. They have lost three children.

   James H. Vrooman was born in Schenectady county, New York, July 21, 1817, and
from the age of fourteen until the year 1864, his home was in St. Lawrence
county. At that date he removed to Joliet, Illinois, and in 1865 bought 100
acres in Nicollet. Since January 1879 he has held the position of postmaster at
Hebron, Minnesota. Miss Betsy A. Chase became his wife in 1839; she was a native
of New York. Only seven of their children are living.

   George H. Whitcomb was horn October 4, 1838, in Somerset county Maine. In
1856 he came to Minnesota; lived one year in Mankato, then a short time in
Winnebago Agency after which he worked at lumbering in Wisconsin, hut returned
to Mankato, and subsequently engaged in freighting three years between St. Cloud
and Georgetown; he afterward spent the same length of time mining in Washington
Territory and Montana. Returned to Maine for a few months, then after a short
stay in Mankato he started a saw-mill, but left it three years later and began
farming. Married in 1866 Cornelia Vrooman. Five children.

   E. A. White is a native of Wisconsin, born November 15, 1858, at Watertown,
and studied at the Northwestern University of that place. He learned telegraphy
on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad and then was employed hy the
Winona & St. Peter company as operator at Kasota. June 1, 1880, he took charge
of the office at Nicollet and has since been agent here.

COURTLAND.

   This town is situated in the southern part of the county and borders on the
Minnesota river; it includes the south half of township 110, range 30, and all
in the county of township 109, ranges 29 and thirty. April 27, 1858 it was set
apart for organization and the town meeting held at the Hilo post-office soon
after, at which Antoine La Chapelle, Luther Morton and Samuel Coffin were judges
of election; the latter was chosen chairman of the town board. The town was
first called Hilo, but changed to Courtland, after a town in New York, though
not spelled the same.

   The first settlers were Jacob Harmon, Mr. Haresine, John Sidel and Jacob
Gfeller, who came in the spring of 1855; they were followed in June by E.
Hendley, and sons J. L. and James.

   The Evangelical society held religious services in 1858, with Rev. M. Shaw
presiding; in 1878 a frame church was built, which cost $1,100. Rev. John Simon
dedicated the church and is still pastor; there are about seventy members.

   The Lutherans have a church on section 11, built in 1881, at a cost of
$8,000. The first services were held in the winter of 1859-60, by Rev. Ruprecht;
in 1867 the society was organized and now has about seventy members.

   The first school was taught in the spring of 1858, in Mr. Kelly's house, by
Matilda Enfield. There are now five public schools and two private German schools.

   In 1856, Hilo, post-office was established; William Duprey was appointed
postmaster and kept the office at his house. In 1865 the name was changed to
Courtland and John Ahlenstorf made postmaster; since 1873 O. Bobsen has held the
office in his store at the station.

   Courtland station is on the line of the Winona & St. Peter railroad, on
section 8. The first building erected was a warehouse, in 1872. In 1873 C.
Bobsen opened a general store. There are now three general stores, two
blacksmith and wagon shops, a harness shop, a shoe shop, hotel and saloon, about
eight dwellings a depot and an elevator.

   The village of Red Stone was surveyed on land owned by M. B. Stone, on
section 35, in 1856; additions were made and Red Stone City was also laid out;
only a few buildings were put up, and the town was soon used for farming lands.

   During the Indian outbreak, nine residents of this town were killed; among
them Gotlieb Gerboth, William Sonnenburg, Mr. Richter and son.

   Gotlep Arndt was born in 1848, and came with his parents in 1856 from his
native land, Germany, to America. They located in Wisconsin, but in 1866 removed
to Nicollet county, Minnesota, where he engaged in farming, and now owns 187
acres of land about one and one-half miles from Courtland village. Shortly after
coming here, Mr. Arndt lost his right arm, and has since taught school much of
the time. In 1880 he was appointed census enumerator of Courtland township.
Hattie, daughter of August Zellmer, of Wisconsin, was married in 1877 to Mr. Arndt.

   Fred Baumgarth, a native of Germany, was born in 1852. He came to the United
States in 1877, and after farming six months in Wisconsin, he worked at his
trade, harness-maker, one year at Sauk City and the same length of time in
Milwaukee. In 1879 he migrated to this state, and after working in Mankato about
one year he came to Courtland village and established the only harness shop in
the place.

   Fred. Becker was born in 1854 in Germany, and accompanied his parents to
America in the year 1856. Resided in Illinois until 1862, at which date he came
to Minnesota, and now owns a farm of 160 acres on section 30, Courtland. During
the Indian raids he went with the family to St. Peter for safety, but remained
only about four weeks. Married in 1875 Minnie Duhofter. Their children are
Minnie, Fred, and Sopha.

   Henry Becker, born in 1853, is a native of Germany. When about three years of
age his father's family immigrated to Illinois, and in the year 1862 removed to
Minnesota. He lived with his parents until twenty-six years old, then settled on
his farm of 120 acres, section 25 of Courtland. In 1878 Miss Sopha Buck became
his wife, and has borne him one child: Henry.

   John C. Becker was born in 1842, and lived in Germany, his native land, until
coming to this country in 1856 with his parents. After living in the state of
Illinois seven years the family settled permanently on a farm in Courtland. He
was in the Second Minnesota cavalry, under Captain Nix, at the time of the
Indian war in the valley. Dora Spearing became his wife in 1869. Of the seven
children born to them, the living are Mary, Henry, Fred., Emma and Minnie.

   Henry Block, a native of Germany, was born in 1852; but since the age of two
and one-half years he has been a resident of the United States. He lived
twenty-six years in Illinois employed in farming, carpenter work and the
butcher's trade. Since July, 1880, he has lived on a farm in Courtland, Nicollet
county. Mr. Block's marriage occurred in Illinois, in October, 1877, with Bertha
Precht. Their children are Emelina and Edward.

   Charles H. Braun is a native of Illinois, where he was born in 1855, and
resided until coming in 1874 to Nicollet, Minnesota. About four years later he
removed to his present farm of 160 acres, section 29, Courtland. In 1878 he
married Miss Minnie, daughter of John Dahns. Mr. and Mrs. Braun are the parents
of three children: Anna, and the twins, Louis and John.

   J. H. Doty was born in 1846 in New York, and in 1857 the family migrated to
the town of Court-land Minnesota. He remained at the farm with his father during
the Indian troubles, but his mother and sister were in St. Peter. Since leaving
home at the age of twenty-five he has been engaged in wheat buying at different
places, and about four years ago located in Courtland; he also deals quite
extensively in lumber and feed. At present he is station and express agent here.
Has held the office of town clerk for a number of years. Married in 1871 Sarah
Piper. Olive M., Wilber E. and Grace L. are their children.

   Michael Georgius was born in 1835, and lived in his native country, Germany,
until the age of thirty-one years, when he immigrated to Wisconsin. In the year
1869 he removed to Minnesota, and to his present home on section 1, Courtland.
He was united in marriage in 1861 with Mena Matz. Their children are Ernstena,
William, Herman, Augusta, Emma and Helena.

   Charles W. Gerboth, a native of Pennsylvania, was born in 1850 at Pittsburg.
In 1859 he accompanied his parents to Courtland, Minnesota, where in 1862 his
father was murdered by Indians; his mother still resides on the farm where they
first settled. In the spring of 1881 he moved to his farm about two and one-half
miles from the old homestead. Mr. Gerboth has held different town offices. He
married in 1874 Adolpha Schutze, who was born in 1854 in Prussia. Of the four
children born to them, three are living: Otto, Martha and Albert.

   F. G. Hall was born in 1838 in New York. When eighteen years old he began
learning the trade of machinist. He was afterward in charge of a spoke factory
in Chenango county two years, and eighteen months in a saw-mill. After living
one year in Wisconsin he came in 1862 to Minnesota. He enlisted in Company L,
Second regiment of cavalry, and served until the war ceased, after which he
returned to this state. Mr. Hall lived a number of years at Hastings, also in
Olmsted county and Minneapolis; at present he has charge of J. H. Doty's
elevator engine. Married in 1864 Frances Barrows. They have two sons: Llewellyn
and Willie.

   John Heymann, a native of Prussia, was born in 1837. He immigrated to Brown
county, Minnesota, in 1862, and engaged in the war with the Indians at New Ulm
that year. After living about seven years in Brown county he located in
Courtland, on his farm of 185 acres; has also been in the lime burning business
since living in the county. He married in 1861, Caroline Ruhnorr. Seven of their
ten children are living: Minnie; Emma, Eda, Otto, Bertha, Tillie and Johnnie.

   Ferdinand Kohn is a native of Germany, where he was born in 1851. He
accompanied his parents to the United States in 1863 and located in Wisconsin.
In 1871 he removed to this state and settled on his 120 acre farm in section 36,
Courtland. Mr. Kohn's marriage took place in the year 1874, in Wisconsin; his
wife was Amelia Lambreght; they have two children: Albert and Ida.

   John Melzer, born in 1823, is a native of Germany. In 1854 he moved to
Chicago, Illinois, and the next year to Cottonwood, Brown county, Minnesota. He
lived there about nine years and has since then been a resident of Courtland;
his farm consists of 220 acres on section 7. Miss Minnie Thorne was married to
Mr. Melzer in 1851; their four children, Charles, Julius, Bertha and Henry were
all born in the town of Cottonwood.

   John Nelson, born in 1860, is a native of Courtland, Nicollet county,
Minnesota. Since his mother was left a widow he conducts the farm which contains
240 acres, and borders on Swan lake. His father, Ole Nelson, born in Sweden
April 2, 1814, came to America in 1850 and in 1855 settled in Courtland. His
death was occasioned by a fall from a buggy on the 17th day of September, 1881.
Margaret Erickson, also a native of Sweden, was born February 5, 1816, and in
1838 became the wife of Mr. Ole Nelson; the children are John, Lizzie, Christina
and Annie.

   H. Poehler was born in 1828 in Germany, where he worked several years at
blacksmithing. In 1848 he immigrated to New York; was there employed at his
trade and in a store. He removed to Illinois in 1851 and lived fifteen years on
a farm near Chicago, after which he located in Courtland where he owns 530 acres
of land. His marriage occurred in Illinois, with Louisa Hack, who has borne him
seven children. The living are Amelia, Louisa, Gustave, Anna, Paulina and Otto.

   Herman Schroeder, a native of Germany, was born in 1840. From 1857 until 1863
he lived on a farm in Wisconsin, then enlisted in Company C, 37th cavalry, of
that state, and served until the close of the war. After farming one year more
in Wisconsin he removed to Courtland and now owns 160 acres on section 36. Mr.
Schroeder has for a number of years held town offices. Married in Wisconsin in
1865, Ernstine Roehl. They have lost one child; the living are Matilda, Amelia,
Anna, Ferdinand, Albert and Henry.

   Rev. K. T. Schulze was born in 1812, in Germany, where he attained an
education and graduated in 1864. He came to America that year; went directly
from New York to St. Louis and studied in college one year. In 1866 he removed
to Sibley county, Minnesota, and for six years labored there as pastor of a
Lutheran church. Since 1873 he has been in charge of the church at Courtland,
and under his supervision a good house of worship has been erected. Miss Mary
Hill became his wife in 1866. Of the seven children born to them three are
living: John, Mary and Anna.

   Frederick Zieske was born in Germany in 1845, and in 1855 immigrated with his
parents to Wisconsin. He enlisted in 1862 in Company D, 32d Wisconsin infantry
and served until June, 1865. In the autumn of that year he settled on his 150
acre farm, section 36, Courtland. His marriage with Augusta Richter took place
in this town. Charles, Pauline, Sarah, Adolph, Helena and Anna are their
children. About two miles from the residence of Mr. Zieske his wife, uncle and
son were murdered by Indians.

   Fred. Zimmermann was born in 1856 and lived in Germany, his native land,
until the year 1864, when he accompanied his father's family to the United
States. After residing about nine years in Wisconsin he came in 1873 to
Minnesota, and to his home in Courtland. In 1874 he was united in marriage with
Matilda Schroeder. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Zimmermann are Eda, Anna, Emma
and Henry.

LAFAYETTE.

   The town embraces all of township 111, range 30 and so much of 110, range 30,
as lies north of the Minnesota river. The first election was held at the house
of John Bush, May 11, 1858, with A. Kissling and D. Jones as judges; J. Cohen,
clerk. Charles Newman, chairman; Henry Lillie and Adolph Stimley, supervisors;
David Jones, clerk; Frederick Boock, assessor; Lorenz Enderle, treasurer; August
Kiesling, justice; Jacob Klossner, Jacob Durhahn, road supervisors; F. Diepolder
and Peter Simmath, constables, were the officers chosen.

   The first settler was Louis Sharro who located on section 4, in 1853. John
Bush and family came in 1854; they kept a stopping place for travelers. Early in
1855 came Fred Boock, Henry Lillie, David Jones, H. Klingler, and a few others.

   The first religious meeting was at John Bush's house in 1857, and conducted
by Rev. H. Singerstre, a German Methodist; a society was organized with eight or
nine members, and now numbers sixty. They built a log church on section 5 in
1859; in 1875 it was replaced by a fine brick church which cost $3,350. Rev. E.
C. John is pastor. The Evangelical society have held meetings since 1872.

   In 1859 a school was taught by Charles Brims, in a building erected for the
purpose on section 32; he taught half the term here and the remainder at Mr.
Lauer's house, to accommodate the eastern part of the town. There are now six
public schools.

   Lafayette post-office was established in 1859 in charge of John Bush; the
office was discontinued in 1870.

   Adolph Anderson was born in 1825, and lived in his native country, Sweden,
until 1867, at which time he emigrated to America. He stopped in Quebec a short
time, then went to Milwaukee and St. Paul. After living one year in Carver he
came to Lafayette and is here engaged in farming. In 1856 he married Johanna
Johnson, who died in 1879. The names of the children are, John, Johanna,
Charlie, Claus and Matilda. June 17, 1881, he married Anna Larson.

   Claus Anthony, born in 1840, is a native of Germany. In 1858 he immigrated to
Minnesota and settled in the town of Lafayette. Since living here he has been on
the town board several times. Miss Lisette Rieke was married in the year 1870 to
Mr. Anthony. They have five living children: Matilda, Herman, Henrietta, George
and Ernst.

   Wilfred Bushard was born in 1842 and lived in his native state, New York,
until removing to St. Peter, Minnesota, in 1802. He served nine months in
Company K, First Minnesota heavy artillery, then returned and settled in
Lafayette, where he has held the offices of supervisor, and justice. Mr. Bushard
owns about 600 acres of land. He married in 1871, Gertrude Matsch who has borne
him six children.

   William Dannheim was born in 1852 in Germany. He came with his parents to the
United States in 1856 and resided the first year in Indiana but has ever since
resided in this state. After staying in Le Sueur county eighteen months he
removed to St. Peter for about the same length of time and subsequently resided
three years in Courtland; then in 1864 he removed to New Ulm and since 1866 his
home has been in Lafayette. Married in 1876, Lizzie Rethwell. Anna, Rosa and
Lydia are their children.

   Jacob Durbahn was born in Germany in 1829. He was for a time in the army of
that country. In 1854 he emigrated to Canada and five months later removed to
Chicago, but went into the pineries to work during the winter; returned and for
a time was engaged on a farm near Chicago. He came to Minnesota in 1856 and has
lived in Lafayette with the exception of eight months that he was at Yellow
Medicine in the employ of the government. Married in 1858 Dora Anthony who was
born October 12, 1834. They have lost five children; the living are Frederick,
George, Jacob, Emma and Dorathea.

   Otto Lohmann was born in 1824 and lived until thirty years of age in Germany,
his native land, where for five years he served in the army. He has been a
resident of the United States since the year 1854, and his home has been in
Lafayette, Nicollet county, with the exception of one year spent in Cleveland,
Ohio. In 1876 he married Mrs. Augusta Albricht, who had three children; Lizzie,
Hugo and Herman. Mr. Lohmann is the father of two children; Augusta and Anna.

   John Peterson is a native of Sweden, where he was born in the year 1854. At
the age of eighteen years he came to America and resided in St. Paul five years;
he worked there two years as shipping clerk in the wholesale house of G. B.
Braden. Mr. Peterson is now engaged in farming on section 12, Lafayette. In 1880
Minnie Nelson became his wife.

   Henry Schrader was born in 1839. His native land is Germany, and he made that
country his home until twenty-nine years of age, when he emigrated to the United
States. Mr. Schrader is a wagon maker by trade. In 1868 he came to Minnesota and
settled on his farm the year following. He married in 1860, Dora Meyer. They
have seven living children: Henry, Caroline, William, Dora, Bertha, Otto and
Louise.

WEST NEWTON.

   When set apart for organization, April 27, 1858, West Newton contained also
the territory of the town of Ridgely. The first election was held at the house
of James Ryan, May 11, 1858; the early records having been destroyed during the
Indian outbreak a list of the first officers is not to be obtained. The first
settlers were Martin Walser, Alexander Harkins, John and James Robinson, who
came in the spring of 1856.

   In 1857, Father Somereisen held services at George Green's house, resulting
in the organization of a church with eighteen families; in 1858 a log church was
built on section 26, replaced in 1870 by a frame building, costing $1,500.
Father Mohn is in charge. Other denominations have held services in the town.

   A private school was taught by Elizabeth Robinson in the spring of 1858; in
November, 1859 she taught the first public school.

   A post-office was established at West Newton, about 1860, located on section
30; Frank Diepolder was first postmaster. In 1862 Alexander Harkins was
appointed, and has since held the office at his store on section 30.

   The first birth in the town was Catharine, daughter of Alexander Harkins,
born February 21, 1857.

   A steam flour and saw-mill was built by William Bliss in 1861; after various
changes in ownership and being twice destroyed hy fire, it was abandoned in
1875. A steam mill with one run of stone was built by William Koke in 1870, but
only run two years.

   The cyclone that demolished New Ulm was more severely felt in this town than
any other part of Nicollet county. John Kushnick, Martin Frank, Ida Lamish and
two children of Fritz Loomis were killed; a number were badly wounded and a
large amount of personal property consisting of horses, cattle, farm machinery
and buildings, was destroyed.

   Anthony Blessing was born in Ohio, June 14, 1853, near Bellevue. The family
moved to Sandusky, thence to Dubuque, Iowa, and in 1857 located on a farm in
Freeborn county, Minnesota, but removed in 1863 to West Newton, where his father
died January 14, 1875. Mr. Blessing owns 120 acres on section 13. In 1877 he
married Katie Daschbach, native of Kentucky. Their children are Mary E. and Frank
J.

   Nic. Bohnen was born June 1, 1843, in Germany. After graduating in 1864 he
engaged in teaching; was also in the Prussian army one year and was promoted to
second lieutenant. In 1869 he came to America and taught in Pennsylvania until
removing in 1875 to Scott county, Minnesota, where he continued teaching; has
also been employed in the same profession since coming to West Newton in 1877.
Mr. Bohnen held the office of notary public two years. Married in 1870, Mary
Jozhem. They have five children.

   Henry Diepolder was born August 25, 1822. While living in his native land,
Bavaria, he learned cabinet making, also served in the army two and one-half
years. In 1852 he immigrated to New York; removed in 1853 to Illinois, thence in
1855 to Minnesota; was one of the first settlers in Milford and erected the
first saw-mill in town. Game to West Newton in 1862 and was at Fort Ridgely
during the Indian massacre. Mr. Diepolder has been town treasurer and
postmaster. Married in 1867, Miss O. Stoos, who died in January, 1879. His
present wife was Miss Sutliff; there are two sons: Joseph and Frank.

   Wenzel Frank, native of Bohemia, was born February 4, 1849. After the age of
thirteen he was dependent upon his own exertions, and when seventeen years old
came to America with a younger brother. He engaged in the butcher's business at
Milwaukee, but removed in 1868 to Winona, and in 1872 opened a meat market in
St. Paul. In 1879 he bought a farm in West Newton and one year later came to his
present business, hotel and saloon. Miss Mary Brigger was married to him in
1872, and has borne him five children; four are living.

   John Howard, native of Ireland, was born June 15, 1819. After leaving school
he served ten years in the British army and soon after receiving his discharge
immigrated to Boston; removed thence to New York, where for a time he was in
charge of a distillery. In 1864 he came to his present home on section 18 of
West Newton, and since living here has been town clerk, assessor and supervisor.
Married Margaret Cannon in 1850, and she is the mother of sixteen children;
three were born at one birth; seven are living.

   Charles Lippmann was born March 2, 1819, in Germany. By trade he is a cooper.
In 1849 he came to America; located in Rice county, Minnesota, and lived there
from 1856 until coming to his present home, excepting the time he was in the
army; his farm contains 172 acres with residence on section 6. He was united in
marriage in 1861 with Miss Mary A. Hashold, native of Germany. Of seven children
four are living.

   Patrick Murnan, deceased, was born March 17, 1800, in Ireland; moved to
Pennsylvania in 1840, and worked at gardening there until 1850, after which he
served five years in the regular army. In 1855 he migrated to Minnesota, and in
the spring of 1857 located in West Newton. In 1842 he married Miss Mary
Flanigan, also a native of Ireland. Five children were born to them, two are
deceased; John resides in Renville county; the mother and the two younger sons,
William and Patrick, live at the old farm. Mr. Murnan died May 18, 1873.

   James Newton was born October 15, 1829, in Union county, Kentucky. Before he
was twelve years of age his parents died, and he was compelled to do for
himself. Moved to Illinois in 1844 and in 1850 to Minnesota; lived near Cottage
Grove until 1856, at which time he took his present farm, and the year following
moved his family here. Mr. Newton is the oldest settler now living in the town
named in honor of him. He served one year in Company E, Second Minnesota, was
then discharged because of disability. Married in 1862 Miss Ena Anderson. Five
of their seven children are living.

   Patrick Quinn was born about 1836 in Ireland. He emigrated to the United
States and lived the greater part of the time in Wisconsin until November, 1864,
when he enlisted at Prairie du Chien and served through the remainder of the
war. Since 1866 he has been a resident of Minnesota; lived two years at St.
Peter, then came to section 18, West Newton, which is still his home. Ellen
Ledden became his wife in 1850, and has home him thirteen children; eleven are
living.

   August Schaffer was born August 30, 1859, in New Orleans. The family came to
Minnesota and settled on a farm near Le Sueur; since 1865 he has been on section
32, West Newton; the farm contains 160 acres. He married in April, 1881, Emma
Guth, native of Kentucky. His father, Lewis Schaffer, was born in Germany, and
in 1858 came to America. While living on the farm near Le Sueur he enlisted in
the Union army and was killed.

   Christian Schlumpberger was born January 6, 1834, in Germany, where he lived
with his parents until coming in 1854 to America. He worked at carpentering in
Syracuse, New York, and in 1858 migrated to Minnesota; was stationed at Fort
Ridgely during the Indian war, after which he was engaged in freighting from St.
Paul to St. Peter and New Ulm. In 1867 he came to his present farm in West
Newton. Married in 1863 Christiana Madge. Their children are William, George,
Anna, Rosa, Albert and Lena.

   Joseph Stutz was born March 4, 1847, in Germany. Immigrated to Sandusky,
Ohio, in 1853, and a few years later removed to Michigan, where on the 11th of
November, 1857, his father died. He worked eight or nine years at the mason's
trade. Came with an uncle in 1857 to Freeborn county, Minnesota, and since 1860
has lived in West Newton. He was engaged in the fight with Indians at New Ulm,
and after the troubles ceased returned to his farm; since 1876 has lived at his
present home. He has held different town offices, and also been county
commissioner. Married in 1872 Mary Catcenberger. Five children are living, one
is deceased.

   Gotlib L. Wager, native of Germany, was born April 19, 1849. He immigrated to
the United States in 1852 and lived in Illinois until 1857, at which date he
came to Minnesota, and soon after located permanently in West Newton, where he
has held various offices. In 1854 he married Mrs. Lang, whose maiden name was
Francisca Matsch. She had one child by her first marriage and nine by second;
seven are living. Mr. Wager was at New Ulm during the fight with Indians.

   Meinrad Wall was born February 4, 1827, and after leaving school learned the
miller's trade. In 1852 he emigrated from Germany, the land of his birth, to New
York; removed in 1854 to Illinois, and in the fall of the same year came to his
home in West Newton. Enlisted at St. Peter, in December, 1862, under Captain
Nix, and served one year. Married in 1862 Miss Catherine Brazimger. Mr. Wall was
assessor three years.

RIDGELY.

   This town is the extreme western part of Nicollet county. From 1858 to 1871,
it was a part of West Newton. The first town meeting was held September 26,
1871; officers elected: H. Simmons, chairman; James Smith and Smith Benham,
supervisors; O. H. Clark, clerk; H. Simmons, treasurer; W. I. Dresser and Smith
Benham, justices; G. W. Norton and Chas. Tewksbury, constables.

   The first man that settled here was Hazen Mooers, who had a trading post at
Little Rock about 1834. Joseph La Framboise was placed in charge of this post
about three years after; he had been at the mouth of the Cottonwood river in
Brown county for two years previous. His wife was a daughter of the chief,
Walking Day; his second and third wives were daughters of Sleepy Eye. In 1845 he
married Jane Dickson at Traverse des Sioux, the first marriage in Nicollet
county. He died in 1856. His son William is now living in the town on the old
homestead. In 1853 when Fort Ridgely was begun, several settlers came in and
located in the western part of the county.

  Fort Ridgely post-office was established in 1853 and B. H. Randall, then
sutler, was made postmaster; in 1870 he resigned. Hans Carlson has the office at
the store of Carlson Brothers.

  The early religious services were held at the fort. The German Lutherans have
a small church in the north-eastern part of the town. There are three
school-houses, two frame and one log.

  Fort Ridgely was completed in 1854. The first troops stationed there were
three companies of the Sixth infantry, under Major Samuel Woods, and arrived in
1853; N.J. T. Dana was quartermaster. Fort Ridgely was a prominent post during
the Indian outbreak; a description of the attack and siege may be found on page
222. The post has not been occupied since 1868, and the buildings have been
allowed to decay and go to ruin. At the present time the place is without
interest, save to those who visit the cemetery which contains two monuments one
in honor of Captain Marsh, and the brave men of his command; the other is
dedicated to Mrs. Eliza Mueller who devoted herself to care of the wounded at
the time of the Indian war.

  James Blake, Jr., was born in Ireland in 1845 and in 1848 accompanied his
parents to Maine, where they resided until coming, in 1858, to Washington
county, Minnesota. He enlisted in the fall of 1863, but was under age and only
served a few months. Since 1875 his home has been in Ridgely. Married in 1873,
Justine, daughter of Joseph La Framboise, who was an early settler and trader
here. Mr. and Mrs. Blake have two children.

  John Blake is a native of Maine, where he was born in the year 1853. He
migrated with his parents to the state of Minnesota in 1858 and removed in 1874
to Big Stone lake, where he made a claim and engaged in farming. Mr. Blake's
marriage occurred in 1873, with Miss Eliza J. La Framboise. She has borne him
four children; all are living.

  Theodore Grams, a native of Germany, was born in 1843 and while living in that
country served four years in the army. He immigrated to Wisconsin in 1867, but
removed in 1869 to Olmsted county, Minnesota. Since 1871 he has been employed in
farming in the town of Ridgely. Minnie Brese was married to Mr. Grams in 1867.
They are the parents of six children. He has served the town in various offices.

  D. M. Hall was born in Vermont in 1832. His early life, after leaving school,
was spent in farming and teaching. In 1855 he moved to Wisconsin, and in August,
1861, enlisted in the 42d infantry of that state and served until January of the
year following. He came to Minnesota in 1871; since that date has lived in this
state and Wisconsin. Mr. Hall has been engaged in farming in Ridgely since 1878
and has held various offices. Married May 1, 1871, Miss Adeline Stevens. Their
children are Lina M., Casper A. and Rose E.

  Ernst Hinderman, a native of Minnesota, was born in 1860 in Brown county. He
has attained a common school education and is now engaged in farming. His father
came from France in 1856, and in 1859 located in Brown county, this state. There
were five children in the family, four boys and one girl.

  Jacob Hinderman was born in France, in 1847, and when ten years old came with
his parents to America. After living a few years in Illinois, they removed in
1855 to Brown county, Minnesota. In 1861 he settled in Nicollet county, where he
has since worked at farming, but has been about twelve months in the government
service at Fort Wadsworth. In 1862 he and a younger brother fled to New Ulm,
alone, to seek refuge from the Indians. They had for company a dog, but were
obliged to strangle him, as they feared his barking would attract their enemies.
Married in 1871, Sobia McDermot, who has borne him five children.

  William La Framboise, son of Joseph La Framboise, a French trader on the
Minnesota river, was born in 1849 in Ridgely, Nicollet county. From 1863 until
1867 he served as a scout on the frontier, and was once wounded by an Indian.
The past few years he has been engaged in farming on the land his father bought
of the government. The farm comprises about 400 acres. On the 22d of September,
1875, he married Hattie Nixon. Their children are Alice, William and Fred.

  E. L. Martindale, born in 1835, is a native of Canada. He accompanied his
parents to New York, and thence to Illinois, but in 1858 he removed to Nicollet
county, Minnesota. Mr. Martindale enlisted in the fall of 1863, in Company G,
Second Minnesota cavalry, and served two years. Since 1868 his home has been in
Ridgely, and he has here held various town offices. In 1856 Maria Thomlinson, a
native of New York, became his wife. They are the parents of two children.

   Luther Morton is a native of New York, where he was born in 1826. He removed
with his parents to Wisconsin and to Ohio, and then migrated in 1855 to St.
Peter, Minnesota. In 1864 he entered Company I, 177th Ohio, and served about one
year. Was also member of a company that in 1862 went to the rescue of New Ulm.
In 1872 he located at his home in Bidgely. He was united in marriage in 1850,
with Minerva B. Wood, who has borne him five children. One is deceased.

   John Smith, born in the year 1852, is a native of Wisconsin. He lived on a
farm and acquired his education in the common schools. In 1856 he moved to the
state of Minnesota, and since 1876 he has engaged in farming and stock-raising
at his home in Ridgely. Elizabeth Hill became the wife of Mr. Smith. Sidney J.
is their only child.

   Joseph Smith was born in 1844, in Vermont. In 1850 he went with his parents
to Wisconsin. Removed to Olmsted county, Minnesota, in 1856, and in 1858 to his
present home, Ridgely. Mr. Smith enlisted June, 1861, in Company E, Second
Minnesota, and served four years. Engaged in skirmishes, marches and severe
battles, and was once wounded. In 1867 he married Caroline Thomas. They have
five children. Mr. Smith has served his town in various offices.

   Thomas Smith was born in Vermont in 1848, and accompanied his father's family
to Wisconsin in 1850; thence in 1856 to Minnesota. His father was killed by
Indians in 1862. Mr. Smith resided in Baltimore, Maryland from 1861 until 1864,
but since 1870 has lived in Nicollet county, and in 1880 settled in Ridgely.
Ella Lamphere, a native of New York, was married to him in 1874. They have one
child, Fred W.

   S. J, Tewksbury, a native of Maine, was born in 1847, and brought up on a
farm. He enlisted in September, 1864, in Company A, Forty-fourth Wisconsin
Infantry, and was mustered out in Kentucky, eleven months later. In 1869 he came
to Nicollet county, where he has since been employed in farming. He was united
in marriage in 1868 with Miss Amanda Tyler, whose native state is Illinois. They
have one child, Edea G.

BERNADOTTE.

   This town was until 1864, a part of Granby; from that date till, 1869 it was
a part of New Sweden; January 5, of that year, Bernadotte was organized of
township 111, range 29. The first election was held at the school-house on
section 2, January 23, 1869; thirty-two votes were cast and the officers elected
were Andrew Halvorson, chairman, Ole Ellingson and John Frederickson,
supervisors; L. Anderson, clerk; Andrew Wass, treasurer; Andrew Turnborn,
assessor; A. G. Wilson and L. Anderson, justices; H. Iverson and A. Lilljengren,
constables. The name Calmar was chosen but was referred back by the state
auditor and Bernadotte was chosen at a special election, in honor of the king of
Sweden and Norway.

   The first settler was Swan Benson, who located on section 12, in 1859. The
next came in 1864, and were G. P. Hall, I. Johnson, Andrew Wass, Charles
Bondison and John Peterson.

   The first church services were held by the Swedish Lutherans, in 1864. Rev.
John Pehrson was the first pastor and the church organized in 1869, and built a
church in 1872, which cost $1,000; Rev. C. M. Ryden is pastor.

   In the fall of 1866 a school was taught in G. P. Hall's house, by John
Melgren and eighteen scholars attended; no school-house was built till 1868.
There are now three school-houses.

   The first marriage was that of Jonas Olson and Johanna Haight, in March 1864.
The first death was Mrs. Swan Benson, June 22, 1862. The first birth was
Cecilia, daughter of Swan and Emma Benson, October 24, 1864.

   Bernadotte post-office was established in 1868, with L. Anderson as
postmaster; it has passed through several changes and is now kept by Mrs. Swan
Benson on section 12. A store was opened on section 11, in 1873, which continued
until 1881, when the goods were moved to Winthrop, Sibley county.

   Emma Anderson, now Mrs. Benson, was born in 1848, in Sweden, and upon coming
to the United States in 1855, settled in Illinois, where she lived until 1859.
She came to Minnesota at that date and settled in the town of Bernadotte, where
she now fills the office of postmistress. In 1864 she became the wife of Mr.
Benson, who is also a native of Sweden, born in 1806. He was reared on a farm
and in 1856 immigrated to Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Benson have five children.

   A. W. Bergstrom was born in 1835, and remained in Sweden, his birth place,
until 1872, when he came to America. After stopping a short time in St. Paul he
went to work on the Winona & St. Peter railroad; after following that business
one summer he went to St. Peter. In 1880 he moved to his farm on section 33,
Bernadotte, where he is serving his town as justice of the peace. Miss Carrie
Halverson was married in 1878 to Mr. Bergstrom.

   Andrew Challstrom was born in 1835 in Sweden. Upon coming to the United
States in 1862 he settled in Carver county, where he was employed in farm work.
He removed Washington county in 1863, and the next year enlisted in Company B,
First Minnesota heavy artillery; served until the war closed. In 1865 he moved
to section 10, Bernadotte, owns 160 acres. His marriage took place in 1866 and
he has ten children.

   Swen Eckberg, born in 1835, is a native of Sweden. He immigrated to Minnesota
in 1869, and settled on the farm that is still his home, section 16, Bernadotte,
where he has held town offices. Mr. Eckberg married in 1860, Mary Johnson. They
have seven children. One son, P. A. Eckberg, is now teaching in Sibley county.

   Ole Olson Esvig was born in 1829, in Norway. In 1864 he came to the United
States and worked nearly three years in the copper mines of Michigan. He came to
Minnesota in 1867 and took a claim on section 30, Bernadotte. Paulina Peterson
became the wife of Mr. Esvig in 1858 and has borne him three children.

   John Frederickson was born in Sweden in 1832, and in 1862 came to America.
Worked in Carver county until 1864, when he took a claim on section 4,
Bernadotte. He took an active part in the organization of this town. In 1856 he
was united in marriage with Casa Anderson. They have three living children and
three died on ship board when coming to this country.

   E. D. Grussendorf, a native of Germany, was born in 1854 in Hanover. In 1872
he came with his parents to this country and located in Nicollet county,
Minnesota. When a young man he worked in Washington county, and in 1880 bought a
farm on section 19, Bernadotte. Miss Louisa Schackel was married in 1880 to Mr.
Grussendorf; they have one child.

   G. P. Hall, born in Sweden in 1835, has been a resident of the United States
since 1861. For a time his home was at Bock Island, Illinois, and in 1863 he
removed to Shakopee, Minnesota. The next year he enlisted in Company B, First
Minnesota heavy artillery. At the close of the war he came to his homestead and
took part in the organization of the town of Bernadotte. In 1866 he married
Betsy Cahrlson. They have five children living.

   H. I. Holter was born in 1837. After leaving school he learned blacksmithing,
at which he worked in his native country, Norway. In 1861 he immigrated to
Wisconsin, but in 1864 removed to this state and settled at his present home,
section 32, Bernadotte. Since living in this town he has held different offices.
In 1858 he married Anna Peterson, who has borne him six children: Emma, Iver,
Bena, Susan, Gurena and Mattia.

   Christian Hendrickson, a native of Norway, was born in 1816, and attained a
common school education in the language of that country. He immigrated in 1869
to America and located in Bernadotte, Minnesota, where he owns a farm of eighty
acres. In 1845 he married Sophia Nelson; their children are Nellie, Hendrick,
Nels C., Roekel C., Nicoline and Oleana.

   Michael Jenson was born in 1835. While living in Norway, his birth place, he
learned cabinet making. He immigrated to La Crosse, Wisconsin, in 1861 and
worked at his trade there until 1864, at which date he removed to St. Peter,
where he engaged in cabinet business. Mr. Jenson came in 1867 to his homestead
in Bernadotte, where he has held the office of supervisor four years. He was
married in 1864, but his wife died in 1875, and his second marriage took place
in 1877. He is the father of eight children.

   John A. Johnson, horn in 1853, is a native of Sweden. At the age of five
years he accompanied his parents to Illinois, and three years later to Goodhue
county, Minnesota. When eighteen years old he began work for himself. In 1878 he
was united in marriage with Emma C. Gustrofson, and they settled on a farm which
he had bought, located on section 10, Bernadotte. He is serving his town as
justice of the peace. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have two children.

   Olof Jonason is a native of Sweden, where he was born in 1825, and lived on a
farm. In 1865 he emigrated to the United States; upon coming to Minnesota he
located at his present home, section 4, Bernadotte; when he arrived there were
but four other families in the town. Christina Floherg was married in 1851 to
Mr. Jonason; they have two living children.

   Christian Larsen was born in 1827, in Norway. He came in 1866 to America and
settled in Brighton, Nicollet county, but in 1868 removed to Bernadotte, and
took a homestead on section 26, where he still lives; has been treasurer of the
town three years. In 1855 he married Miss Olina O. Solen. Their children are
Lars K., Bertel, Ola, John and Henry.

   August Lilljengren was born in 1828. He worked at the mason's trade while
living in Sweden, his birth place. In 1854 he came to America; after stopping in
Chicago a short time he went to Indiana, where he dealt in wood two years, then
returned to Illinois and continued in the same business ten years. He removed in
1866 to St. Peter, and thence in 1868 to his present farm in Bernadotte; since
living here he has filled various town offices. Married in 1850, Mary Dolback.
They have a family of nine children.

   John Malmborg, born in 1845, is a native of Sweden, but since 1866 has been a
resident of the United States. Since coming to this country he has resided
almost continuously at his home on section 6, Bernadotte. Besides conducting his
farm he operates a threshing machine a part of each year. Mr. Malmborg has
served his town in different offices. Lotte Swanson became his wife in 1868. Of
the five children born to them three are living.

   Andreas Olson was born in 1816, and learned harness-making while living in
his native country, Norway. Upon coming to the United States in 1861 he settled
at La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he was in a harness shop three years. He removed
in 1864 to this state, and has since lived in his home at Bernadotte. Mr. Olson
married Carrie Anderson in 1844. Ole, Allie, Andrew, Ellen, Christine, Carrie
and Louis are their children.

   Ole Olson, a native of Sweden, was born in 1833, and upon coming in 1857 to
the United States he lived in Red Wing, Minnesota, a short time, then settled in
St. Peter. From 1861 until the close of the war he served in the Union army;
enlisted in Company E, Second Minnesota. After his discharge he stayed one
winter in Illinois, then came to the homestead which he had taken in 1864 in
Bernadotte. Married January 2, 1869, to Betsy Erickson.

   Ole Peterson was born in 1853; his native country is Sweden. In 1870 he came
to the United States, and was at first employed on a farm eighteen months. He
settled permanently on his farm on section 33, Bernadotte, in 1875. Since 1879
he has been clerk of the town, and has held the office of justice three years.
Mr. Peterson was married in 1873; his wife's maiden name was Betsy Halverson.
Their children are Theodore, Henry E. and Clarence E.

   Ole Sakariasen, born in Norway in 1836, has lived since 1869 in America.
Until 1875 he lived on a rented farm in Granby, Minnesota, then removed to
section 27, Bernadotte, where he now owns 160 acres. In 1855 he was united in
marriage with Miss Inger Olstead, who has home him eight children, two of whom
are deceased.

   John Smedberg, a native of Sweden, was born in 1835. He came to this country
in 1861, and worked at farming in Carver county, Minnesota, three years. From
1864 until 1878 he lived on a homestead in Bernadotte, then sold and bought 160
acres on section 3 of the same town. Married Anna Larson in 1867 and has four
children: John, Abel, Albertine and Emilt.

   A. P. Swenson was born in Sweden in 1835, and was there reared on a farm. In
the year 1864 he immigrated to Illinois, but in 1865 removed to Minnesota and
located on section 10, Bernadotte, where he now owns a farm of 240 acres. He has
been treasurer of the town and of the school district. He married in 1860 Miss
J. G. Parson. Children: Charles S., Adolph, Hilda and Manda.

   Gustaf Swenson, who is a native of Sweden, was born in the year 1818. He left
the old country in 1866 and became a resident of the United States. Until 1871
he lived on a farm in Goodhue county, Minnesota, and at that date he located on
section 18, Bernadotte; his farm contains 160 acres. In 1851 he was married, and
now has two children: John and Christena.

   A. G. Wilson was born in 1840 in Sweden, and in 1854 came to America and
settled on a farm in Illinois. He enlisted in 1861 in the 23d Illinois infantry,
Company D; six months afterward he was taken prisoner, but paroled the next day
and returned to Illinois; nine months later he came to Minnesota, enlisted in
Company D, Ninth regiment, and served through the remainder of the war. After
the war he came to Bernadotte; was at the organization of the town, and was one
of the first supervisors; has since been justice of the peace. Married Anna
Johnson in 1869. Of their five children, three are living.

NEW SWEDEN.

   From 1858 to 1864, this town was a part of Granby. A petition for separate
organization was granted by the county commissioners, January 18, 1864. The
boundaries included all of congressional townships, 111, 28 and 29. They
remained thus until 1869, when township 111, 29 was detached and organized as
Bernadotte. The first election was ordered to be held at the house of Martin
Peterson, January 23, 1864. The officials necessary to the formation of a
meeting, were chosen, but no person being present qualified to administer the
oath of office, they adjourned to two o'clock p. m. For the same reason they
again adjourned to January 25th following. Upon that day an organization was
effected. Thirty votes were cast and the following officers elected: C. G.
Stark, chairman; Sebjon Larson and Martin Peterson, supervisors; C. P. Stark,
clerk and Stone Olson, treasurer. No other officers were elected at that time.
In April following the first regular town meeting was held. Officers elected: C.
G. Stark, chairman; Nels Liljengren and Gunder Nereson, supervisors; C. P.
Stark, clerk; A. Webster, assessor; L. O. Ringdahl, treasurer; Svan Svenson and
Carl Nelson, justices; Charles Johnson and Steve Olson, constables.

   As early as 1855 a party of Norwegians, Ole Aestenson, Gunder Nereson and
Swenke Torgerson settled near a grove in the northern part of the town, naming
the locality Norwegian Grove. In July, 1857, Charles Johnson, Andrew Webster and
John Abrahamson settled in sections 13, 14 and 24. Nels Nelson and Swan Swanson
soon followed.

   Rev. P. A. Cedarstam performed the first marriage ceremony at the house of
Andrew Webster, January 1, 1859, Martin Peterson and Judith Webster being the
contracting parties.

   The first death was that of Julia, a daughter of Andrew and Ingrid C.
Webster, in August, 1858.

   In the spring of 1863 a school was opened in a private house on section 14,
and taught by Miss Johanna Peterson. There were about fifteen scholars in
attendance; there are now five school-houses in the town.

   Religious services were conducted by Rev. P. A. Cedarstam at private houses
as early as 1858. Rev. Toedland also held meetings at different places, but no
organization was ever effected in this town, the people joining with the Lake
Prairie societies in the erection of the churches in the western part of that town.

   A. D. Abraham, a native of Sweden, was born in 1860, and in 1865 accompanied
his parents to the United States. The family lived six years in Ford county,
Illinois, then migrated in 1870 to New Sweden, Minnesota, and he is now residing
on section 30 of this town.

  N. H. Anderson was born in 1830 in Sweden. He immigrated to Illinois in 1854,
and after living at Princeton, Galesburg and Knoxville, he removed in 1858 to
New Sweden, and lives here still on section 12. His marriage with Elsie
Mortenson took place in Sweden in 1851, and in 1873 they returned to their
native land for a visit. Two children have been born to them, but both are
deceased.

  Carl J. Ekber was born in 1839. He lived until twenty-eight years of age in
Sweden, his birth place, and in 1870 came to America. After living two years at
Princeton, Illinois, he removed to St. Peter, Minnesota, and since 1878 has
lived at his farm on section 3, New Sweden. Eva C. Johnson was married to him
November 7, 1861. Their children are Alfred S., Jennie M., Noah, William, Alma,
Victor and Luther.

  Andrew Felt was born in 1836, in Sweden. He moved to St. Paul in June, 1861;
worked three years on a farm, and then for seven years, rented land. In 1868 he
bought 160 acres in New Sweden, and since living here has held different town
offices. Mr. Felt had an arm broken in 1879; it was set, but a gristle formed
over the ends of the bone and prevented their uniting; it seemed necessary to
have another operation performed, so the bones were laid hare, the ends cut off
about an inch, and small holes bored, through which silver wire was passed and
the bones bound firmly together. The operation, though a difficult one, has
proved entirely successful. Married in 1858, Anna M. Anderson. Their children
are Anna S., Elsie, Emma, Charlotte and Oscar.

  John Hegstrum was born in Sweden in 1837. In the year 1852 he immigrated to
Illinois, and after living at Princeton one year he removed to Galesburg and
engaged in blacksmithing. In 1867 he settled in Lake Prairie, Minnesota, but two
years later removed to New Sweden. Mr. Hegstrum's wife was Miss Ellen Larson;
they were married in 1866 and are the parents of six children: Gustaf B., Emma,
Nils, Amanda, Ida and August.

  Lewis Hermanson is a native of Norway; he was born in 1852, and upon coming to
this country in 1861 located on section 35 of New Sweden, Minnesota, where he
has a farm of 140 acres. He worked one summer in a Minneapolis saw-mill, and for
three years was railroad contractor. In 1879 he married Miss O. M. Anderson, who
died on the 9th day of May, 1880.

   Swen A. Hobert, a native of Sweden, was born in 1824. For about eleven years
he was employed as clerk in large dry goods houses, previous to emigrating in
1853 to America. After landing in New York he for some time did railroad and
farm work, also attended school a short time. He removed to Illinois and was
five years engaged in cutting and delivering timber to a railroad company. Mr.
Hobert owns a farm of 200 acres on section 7, New Sweden. He enlisted July 8,
1868, in Company E, Second Minnesota, and served three years; was wounded at
Mill Springs.

   John Holmquis was born in 1839 in Sweden, where he learned the trades of
miller and carpenter. In 1862 he moved to St. Paul; worked at carpentering nine
years there and one year in St. Peter, then in 1872 bought a farm on section 3
of New Sweden. Mr. Holmquis was united in marriage in 1868 with Christine
Hegstrum. Of the four children horn to them, three are living: Ida C., Gustaf A.
and Clarence L.

   I. C. Hovland was born in 1827. He learned shoemaking, and lived in Norway,
the land of his birth, until 1857, at which date he moved to Clayton county,
Iowa. Three years after he came to Minnesota, and from Lake Prairie removed to
his home in section 26, New Sweden. Since coming here he has at different times
worked at his trade in St. Peter. Married in 1857 Mary Scheie. Nine of their ten
children are living. Anna, Anton, August, Laura, Christian, Martin, Ole, Ellen
and Henry.

   Charles Johnson, a native of Sweden, was born in 1835. In 1854 he went to
Kane county, Illinois, where he worked until 1857, at which time he took a
homestead in New Sweden. He and Andrew Webster were the first settlers in the
town. Mr. Johnson has given considerable attention to stock raising since living
here. Ever since the organization of the town he has held the office of
constable. Married in 1856 Mary Johnson. Swen J., Emma, Anton, Gustof E. and
Inez are their children.

   S. J. Johnson was born in 1843 in Sweden. Came to America in 1869, and in
1871 located on section 19, New Sweden. In 1865 he married Caroline Anderson,
since deceased. The children are Mary A. and Jonas H. Mr. Johnson married in
1878 Anna, widow of John J. Salstrom, who was born in Sweden in 1840. He moved
to Chicago in 1856, and after working at shoemaking there one year, settled on a
farm near St. Peter. In 1861 he enlisted in Company H, Fourth Minnesota, and
during his service of four years contracted consumption, from which he died in
1874. Anna Lilliquist became his wife in 1866, and bore him two children: Emma
and Eva.

   Gunder Nereson, who was born in 1830, came to America in 1845 from Norway,
his native country. He lived a short time in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and nine
years in Dodge county. In 1855 he removed to Mower county, Minnesota, and the
next year located in New Sweden. Married in 1861 Miss T. Olson, who died in
1870. She was the mother of five children; the living are Julia and Anna. In
1871 Mr. Nereson married Miss J. P. Hilstad, who died in 1878; she had also
borne him four children; David and Tenline are living.

   Nels Nelson is a native of Sweden, born in 1825. In 1857 he immigrated to
Minnesota and settled permanently in New Sweden, where he owns a farm of 280
acres. Miss Nellie Pehrson was married to Mr. Nelson in 1852, and they are the
parents of seven children: Ellen, Annette, Matilda, Nels, Anton, Christine and
Minnie M.

   Nels N. Ostrom was born in 1834 in Sweden. Came to America in 1858; after
living eight months in Carver county, Minnesota, he went to Washington county,
where he worked as farmer and stone mason until the spring of 1869, when he
bought his farm of 320 acres in New Sweden. He has a license and preached for
some time to the Swedish Methodist church. He was united in marriage in 1859
with Mary A. Anderson. The names of their children are John A., Matilda,
Theodore, Charles, Amanda, Oscar, Walter, Pauline and Hattie.

   Bernt Pederson was born in 1841, and while living in Norway, his native
country, learned blacksmithing. Came to America in 1869 and worked at his trade
in St. Peter two years, after which he built a shop in Scandinavian Grove, where
he remained until 1880, at which date he bought a farm in New Sweden. Married in
1865 Lena Johnson. Their two children died. In 1873 Mrs. O. Peterson was married
to him; she had one child, Pettra. They now have four others: Mary, Dena,
Josephine and Peter.

   Martin Peterson, a native of Sweden, was born in 1829. He immigrated in 1854
to Winnebago county, Illinois, and in 1858 removed to Minnesota; he now owns a
farm of 360 acres. Mr. Peterson is by trade a bricklayer and stone mason. He has
for a number of years filled the offices of supervisor, assessor and treasurer;
was also county commissioner three years. In 1859 Julia Webster became his wife,
and has borne him seven children: Joseph, Samuel, Elias, Anna, Mary, Inez and
Benjamin.

   Martin P. Quist was born in 1858, but lived only seven years in Sweden, the
land of his birth. He accompanied his father to America in 1865, and they
located in Lake Prairie, Minnesota. His home was there about seven years, then
he removed to New Sweden, section 20. On the 17th day of January, 1879, Mr.
Quist married Nellie Swenson. . They have one child, George L.

   O. P. Quist, who was born in 1844, came to America in 1864, from Sweden, his
native country. He learned the trades of miller and carpenter, and worked five
years in Lake Prairie, Minnesota. Mr. Quist went to Illinois but returned to
this state and settled in New Sweden where he has been supervisor and justice.
Married in 1870, Matilda Olson. Eli T., Ansel, Otto, Hannah and Agnes are the
children.

   Nels Rosenquist lived in Sweden from the time of his birth, 1835, until
coming to America in 1857. For two years he worked at his trade, that of mason,
in Rock Island county, Illinois, then in Chisago county, Minnesota. In 1862 he
took a claim in Lake Prairie, but in 1870 removed to New Sweden. Here he has
filled the office of supervisor, justice and assessor. Married in 1859, Ingra
Nelson. Their children are Frank, Albert, Matilda, Nels E., Ellen E., Henry E.,
Henry S., Eli N., and Hannah.

   John P. Shonbeck was born April 16, 1825, in Sweden. In 1853 he immigrated to
St. Paul, but soon went to Washington county. Afterward kept hotel in St. Paul,
but returned to Washington county and engaged in farming. April 29, 1861, he
enlisted in Company B, 1st Minnesota; engaged in a great many severe battles and
was honorably discharged February 16, 1864. He was wounded three times, and
receives a pension. Upon leaving the army he resumed farming, in Lakeland; now
owns 160 acres in Nicollet county. Mr. Shonbeck was state senator in 1876-7.

   C. G. Stark was born in 1813, in Sweden, where he was given a collegiate
education. In 1847 he moved to Wisconsin, thence to Minnesota in 1862, and
brought his family the next year; He assisted in the organization of New Sweden
where he has since held various offices; was county commissioner three years;
was chosen register of deeds in 1868 and re-elected in 1876; he was also
appointed railroad commissioner. Married in 1839 Miss M. B. Hafstrom, who died
February 1, 1875. The children living are Charles P., Mary S., Hugo L., Inez C.
and Matilda G. The deceased are Gustof and Herman. The former served in Company
K, Second Minnesota, and later he was on the frontier with General Sibley; was
shot July 24, 1863, by Indians.

   Swen Swenson is a native of Norway, where he was born in 1836. He came with
his parents to America in 1857 and settled on section 22, New Sweden; besides
conducting the farm he taught parish school three years. Mr. Swenson has been
county commissioner, supervisor, justice, assessor and town clerk. Christie
Knutson became his wife in 1862, and is the mother of nine living children:
Laures S., Albert T., Nels O., Carl L., Gerhard S., Oscar R., Juliana R.,
Christine G. and Soren C.

   Andrew Webster, who was born in 1825, lived in Sweden, his birth place, until
1853, at which date he emigrated to this country, and for several years was
employed in teaming and farming in Illinois. Since locating on his farm of 430
acres in the town of New Sweden, in 1857, he has held the offices of treasurer,
assessor, and supervisor. His wife was Ingra C. Swenson. They were married in
1848, and are the parents of eight children. The living are John, Mary, William,
Theodora, Elizabeth, Simon and Judith.

   John Webster, a native of Sweden, was born December 20, 1848, and when four
years of age accompanied his parents to Kane county, Illinois, hut removed to
New Sweden about four years later. He taught several terms after attending St.
Ansgar College and the State Normal school for a short time. He has been town
clerk since 1870, with the exception of one year that he was visiting in Europe,
and is now justice of the peace. Married in 1874, Emily Larson, since deceased.
One child, Edward A. Also has one child, Alma M., by his second marriage, which
occurred in 1879 with Emma Johnson.

GRANBY.

   This town was set apart for organization, April 27, 1858, and included all of
congressional townships 110, range 28, and 111, ranges 28 and 29, and the north
half of 110, range 29. In 1864 the two north towns became New Sweden and in 1877
the north half of township 110, range 29, became Brighton. Sections 24 and 25,
township 110, range 28, were detached from the town in January, 1860, and added
to Oshawa. Lot 1, of section 23, township 110, range 28, was taxed in Oshawa a
number of years, though it was never legally set off; in 1872 the county
commissioners took action on it and had it taxed where it belonged, in Granby.

   The first election was held at Mark Grey's house, section 12, township 110,
range 28, May 11, 1858. Owing to the destruction of the town clerk's house by
fire a few years since, we are unable to give a full list of the first officers;
O. H. Huddleston was chairman; J. W. Horner, supervisor; C. H. Huddleston,
clerk; Isaac McCullum, assessor; C. E. Smith, collector; J. W. Horner and Mark
Grey, justices.

   The first settlers in the town were James Door, Sr. and family, coming in
May, 1855. His two oldest boys, Simon and Almond C., located near Swan Lake.
Joseph Searles and the Anderson brothers arrived soon after. In 1856 and '57
settlers came in rapidly, the location of the town, between two lakes, making
land very desirable.

   The Methodists held religous services at private houses early in 1857,
conducted by Rev. Theophilus Drew. In 1858 an organization was effected.

   The first couple married were Isaac McCullum and Annie Searles. The ceremony
was performed by Mark Grey, a justice of the peace, April 1, 1858. The first
white child born in the town was John, a son of David and Electa A. Currier,
born July 18, 1856. The first death was that of the wife of James Door, Sr., who
died in April, 1857.

   The first school was taught in a building erected for that purpose on section
18, iu the spring of 1859, by Miss Maggie Wolf. At present there are four
district schools, and the attendance during the sessions is good.

   Granby post-office was established about 1860, and located at John
Carriston's house, he being postmaster. It was discontinued in 1881 after having
been in continuous operation, except during the Indian troubles in 1862, under
various postmasters.

   A general store was opened on section 7 in the spring of 1871 and in
operation a few years, then discontinued. In 1873 a blacksmith shop was started
at the cross road, section 7, but only continued in operation a few years.

   James E. Adams was born at Portland, Maine, in 1819. At the age of sixteen he
went to Boston and learned the trade of coach trimming; worked at it twenty
years, twelve of which was for himself. In 1855 he moved to Chicago and engaged
in produce and commission business. In 1857 he located in Granby, where he has
since lived. He has held the office of justice of the peace for fifteen years
and has also been town clerk. He was married in Massachusetts in 1840 to Minerva
Adams, who died in Granby in 1867. He married for his second wife Sigrel Fields
in 1881. He has one son, James L.

   James L. Adams, native of Massachusetts, was born at Boston in 1841. At the
age of fifteen he moved with his parents to Chicago, and two years later came
with them to Minnesota; settled in Granby where he now lives. He has been
assessor three years and town clerk eight years. Married Adelaide Carson at St.
Peter; she came with her parents to Minnesota in 1856. They have four children:
Herbert E., Mabel M., Stella and Willie.

   Andrew Anderson, native of Norway, was born in 1835. He came to the United
States in 1852 and settled in Dane county, Wisconsin; four years later he came
to Minnesota and located in Granby, where he has since lived. He enlisted in the
Fourth regiment, Minnesota infantry, in 1861 and served until the close of the
war. He has been county commissioner four years, town supervisor two years, and
treasurer. Married Olivia Oppegaare in 1866, who has borne five children. The
living are: Christopher, Ole, Edward and Louise.

   John Anderson, born in Norway in 1833, came to the United States in 1852, and
located in Dane county, Wisconsin. In the spring of 1856 he came to Granby and
has since resided in this town. He has held the office of supervisor several
years. Was married in August, 1857, to Betsey Johnson who was born in Norway in
1831 and died in Granby in 1872. Of seven children born to them three are
living. Albert, Emma and Josephina.

   William J. Bean was born in Indiana in 1831. In 1856 went to Missouri, and
after farming there one year came to Minnesota and to his farm in Granby, on
section 33. He was a member of the state legislature in 1877 and '79; has also
been justice of the peace. Married in 1852 to Mary Shuck. Two children are
living. Jessie B and Walter C. Four have died.

   John Burk, native of Germany, was born in 1837. He came to the United States
in 1857, and settled in the town of Granby, where he still resides. In addition
to farming he is engaged in buying and shipping stock to eastern markets. Mr.
Burk married in 1869, Catherine Keltgen. Have had seven children; six are now
living: Mat., Anton, Annie, William, Joseph and Edie.

   Anton Burk was born in Germany in 1802. He grew to manhood on a farm and in
1822 married Catherine Chauchin who died in Granby in 1880. The children are
Jacob, Batzberg, John, Albert and Mathias. The latter was born in Germany in
1850 and is now living on the old homestead, engaged in farming and running a
threshing machine. He has held the office of town supervisor and constable.
Anton Burk brought his family to America in 1856 and settled in section 22, town
of Granby.

   L. Compart was born in Germany in 1835. He worked at farming and in hotels
until he came in 1863, to America. He settled on Long Island, and in December,
1863, enlisted in the 54th New York infantry; served until mustered out in
April, 1866. He went to Illinois where he farmed until 1868, then came to
Minnesota and located in Granby, where he now lives. Was married in Illinois in
1866, to Fredericka Rick. They have one son, Rudolph. Mr. Compart has been
chairman of the board of supervisors three times.

   David Carrier was born in Canada East in 1832. In 1855 he went to Illinois
but soon returned to Canada. In April, 1856, he came to Granby, Minnesota and
settled on the farm he still occupies on section 18. He was married in Illinois
in 1855 to Electa A. Moses who was born in New York in 1833. They have six
children. John, Martha, Benjamin T., Franklin, Rosetta C. and Hattie. Mr.
Currier was the first clerk elected in Granby and has also been supervisor,
justice and school director.

   Frank Currier was born in the town of Granby, Nicollet county, Minnesota, in
1861. He received the advantages of a common school and the high school of St.
Peter, and began teaching in 1879, which vocation he has since followed. During
the winter of 1881-82 he taught in district number 26 Bernadotte township.

   Simon Door was born in Canada East in 1829. He came to Minnesota in 1855, and
located on section 18, town of Granby, where he still resides. He has 200 acres
of choice land with good buildings. His wife was Sarah Moses, who was born in
New York in 1831 and married in 1853, at St. Johns, Vermont; four children,
James H., Harlow W., William and Addie S.

   Martha Erickson was born in Sweden in 1829. In 1851 she was married to Ole
Erickson and they came to America in 1861; he died at Traverse, Minnesota, in
1869. They first lived in the town of New Sweden, then in Traverse, and then
moved to Wisconsin. Returned to Minnesota and settled in Granby on section 12
where she still resides. She is the mother of seven children; five are living:
Hans, Edward, Augusta, Isaac and Oscar.

   Simon D. Horner was born in the town of Granby, Canada East, in 1834. He
learned the trade of miller and worked at it sixteen years. In the spring of
1856 he came to Minnesota and settled in Nicollet county. He first followed
trapping for eleven years, then began farming. He acted as scout for General
Sibley six months during the Indian war of 1862. Was married in this town in
1866 to Anice Carson, who has borne him two children: Oscar and Arthur S.

   Mrs. Sarah Horner was born in Ireland in 1828. At the age of nine years she
came with parents to Canada. She was married in the town of Granby in 1844 to
Josiah Horner, who was a farmer in Canada. They came to Minnesota in 1857 and
settled in Granby, where he died in 1873. They had one son, John, who married
Susanna Shoeville, who has borne him one child, Sarah. They own a farm of 595
acres. In 1862 the dwelling and household goods were burned by the Indians.

   John Kroplin was born in Germany in 1816. He came to this country in 1858,
and lived in Illinois until the spring of 1866, then came to Granby, Minnesota,
and located on section 10, where he now lives. His first wife, whom he married
in Germany in 1847, died in 1875. He married for second wife Mary Smith in 1877.
She was a widow and had two children, Mary and Henry Smith. Mr. Kroplin had two
children when married the second time, Sophia and Villernica.

   Andrew North was born in 1815 in Sweden, and in 1850 emigrated to the United
States. He worked at farming in Illinois, but in 1859 removed to Granby, and has
since lived on section 11, where he has 125 acres of land. His marriage took
place in 1839 in Sweden; his wife; Anna Christian, was born in 1811. Mr. and
Mrs. North are the parents of six children: Sigrid, Erech, Mary, Christian and
Andrew are living.

   Gilbert Peterson was born in 1816 in Norway; his first marriage also occurred
in that country in 1841. They came to America in 1866, and stayed in Wisconsin
until the summer of the next year, when they located in Granby, where his wife
died in 1861. His farm consists of 280 acres of fine land. In 1862 he married
Julia Knutson; he is the father of eight children; seven are living.

   Peter G. Peterson was born in 1841, and remained in Norway, his birthplace,
until twelve years of age, when he located in Wisconsin; two years later the
family removed to Minnesota, and he has since lived in Granby. In October, 1861,
he enlisted in the 12th Minnesota; served until the war closed. He has served
several years as county commissioner, town clerk, treasurer and assessor.
Married in 1868 Cora Christopher. Six children have been born to them; the
living are Anna M., Theodore and Oscar.

   George Picker, deceased, was born in the year 1815. He was reared on a farm
in Germany, which was his native county, and he there learned the trade of
blacksmith. In 1857 he immigrated to the United States, and located on section
15, town of Granby, Minnesota. Mary Smith, born in 1816, became his wife in
1837, and bore him twelve children; Katherine, Mary, John, Nicholas, Peter, J.
M., Jacob and Elizabeth are living. August 28, 1869, Mr. Picker died.

   Andreo Ritz was born in 1822 in Germany, where he worked at carpentering. In
1853 he moved to Canada; after being employed there eight months on a railroad,
he went to Lake Superior and worked over two years at mining. Since 1856 his
home has been at Granby, Minnesota; his farm contains 284 acres. He was second
lieutenant in the 26th regiment in 1863, and held that position until they
disbanded; also served in Company D, First Minnesota battalion; was discharged
July 14, 1865. Married in 1852 Anna Ackl. They had twelve children; the living
are Andrew, Mary, Joseph, John, Anna, Theresa and Francis.

   Joseph Searles, native of New York, was born in 1833, and at the age of five
years moved with his parents to Indiana, where, after leaving school, he engaged
in farming. He was married in that state in 1856 to Miss A. E. Doe, and the same
year came to Granby, which is still his home. Mr. Searles has held a number of
town offices, and has been postmaster eleven years. He is the father of eight
children: William, Edward, Minnie, Scott, Ella, Lulu M., George and Grace.

   J. Adam Zins was born in 1835. He was brought up in a village and after
leaving the common schools was employed in farming and stone cutting in Germany,
his native land. Since 1857 he has been a resident of the United States; his
home is on section 8, of Granby, Minnesota. His marriage with Johannah Stacken
took place in this town; his wife was born in 1837 in Germany. John C., Mary,
Johannah and William are their living children; one is deceased.

   Wilhelm Zins, native of Germany, was born in 1834. He attained a common
school education and worked at the trade of stone cutter. In 1857 he came to
this country and located at his present place on section 8, town of Granby,
Minnesota. Elizabeth Stocken who was born in 1843 in Germany, became his wife in
1866 and has borne him nine children; the living are Catharine, Cornelius,
Joseph, Peter, Nicholas and Adam.

BRIGHTON.

   The town of Brighton was formed in 1877, out of territory taken from the town
of Granby, and consists of the north half of township 110, range 29. The first
election was held October 16, 1877. First officers; J. H. Dorn, chairman, Andrew
Jenson and Leonard Boor, supervisors; Adam Epper, clerk; C. Peterson, treasurer;
Otto Peterson and Andrew Jacobson, justices; John Hauberick and Charles
Stolzenberg, constables.

   The first claim was taken by Bruce Pierce in the winter of 1854-5; he built a
shanty, but did not settle until the fall of 1855. Christian Anderson and his
brothers, John and Andrew came in the summer of 1855; Christian and Torger
Peterson, and Mr. Jenson in the spring of 1856.

   As early as 1857, the Norwegian Methodists began holding services, conducted
by Rev. Berg; in 1860 they organized with about five members, since increased to
thirty; they have a frame church on section 10, built at a cost of $1,200.

   The Norwegian Lutherans, presided over by Rev. Thomas Johnson, and numbering
about ninety members, have a church on section 10. The first meetings were held
in 1858 and the society formed in 1866.

   The Catholic church was built in 1874 at a cost of $1,700; the society was
organized by Father Somereisen in 1859, and used a small building moved from
Swan Lake City, and placed on section 1. There are about twenty members and
monthly services are held by Father Mohn.

   The first school was taught by Maggie Wolf, in 1858, in a building on section
12; there are now two schools, one public and one private German school.

   The first marriage was in 1863, between A. Johnson and Johanna Peterson.
Anna, daughter of Christian and Christina Anderson, was born April 2, 1856, the
first birth. Lewis Peterson, struck by lightning in 1861, was the first death.

   Brighton post-office was established in the spring of 1879, with S. Otto
Peterson as postmaster; the office is at the general store of Peterson & Jenson,
which was opened in December, 1879.

   The Apfelbaum farm, located on section 4, was a rendezvous for fugitives
during the Indian outbreak; old man Schmotz, wife and daughter were attacked
here and died from wounds while being taken to St Peter by a rescuing party. The
Apfelbaum boys were found seven miles west of St. Peter, the bodies over one
mile apart, the following winter. Considerable damage was inflicted by the
Indians to property in this town.

   Svend Aadsen was born in 1821 in Norway. His marriage also occurred in that
country in 1848, with Miss B. Knudtstatter. In 1857 he came to the United States
and after a short stay in Illinois he located in Dane county, Wisconsin. He
enlisted in Company C, 16th regiment of that state and served until honorably
discharged in June 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Aadsen are the parents of eleven children;
three are deceased; the living are Edward, Julia, Isabelle, Martha, Betsy,
Annie, Caroline J. and Louis C. Mrs. Aadsen died in the autumn of 1877.

   Christian Anderson is a native of Norway where he was born in 1827, and after
leaving school learned the cooper's trade. When twenty-six years of age he came
to this country and after farming two years in Dane county, Wisconsin, he
located in 1855 at his present home in Brighton. Mr. Anderson is the oldest
settler in the town and his daughter Anna was the first child born here. His
other children are Olena, Andrew, Charles, Henry, Emma and Edward. Christina
Sorenson became the wife of Christian Anderson in 1855; the marriage occurred in
Wisconsin.

   Leonard Boor was born in 1829, and learned shoemaking in Prussia, his native
country, previous to emigrating to America in 1854. After working at his trade
at New York and Chicago until 1857, he located on government land in what is now
Brighton township. He and a son possess 280 acres of land in this town. Mr. Boor
has held several town offices. In 1857 he married Lucy Hack, who died April 26,
1858. On the 20th of January, 1860 he married Anna Giefer.

   Henry Bruer, Jr., a native of Michigan, was born July 4, 1855, in Ottawa
county, and now owns a farm in Brighton, Minnesota. At Courtland, on the 26th
day of November, 1880, he married Caroline Windhorn, who was born May 6, 1862.
They have one child, Martin. Mr. Bruer's father was born in 1822, in Germany,
and in 1849, came to America. He served in the army during the late civil war,
and then in 1865, came to his present home in this county.

   Ben. C. Dahl was born in the year 1855. He now owns a farm in the town of
Bernadotte, and a part of each year is engaged in operating a steam threshing
machine. His father, Christian Dahl, was born in 1824, in Norway, but since 1866
has been a resident of Brighton township, Minnesota. The mother, whose maiden
name was Swenson, born in 1833, was also a native of Norway. The family consists
of eight living children: Ben. C., John S., Ole A., Louisa M., Peter G., Moren
J., Christopher O. and Carl W.

   Peter Giefer, eldest son of E. and M. Giefer, was born in 1859, in Brighton,
Nicollet county, Minnesota. Since his father's death he has conducted the farm.
He has one brother, Leonard, and eight sisters. Mr. Giefer's father was frozen
to death while returning home from Nicollet in one of the severe storms of the
winter 1872-3.

   Philip Hack, a native of Wisconsin, was born in 1856. His father, John Hack,
was born in Germany, in 1810, and was married there in 1833. In 1853 he came to
America and for thirteen years worked at farming in Wisconsin. His wife died in
that state, November 26, 1855. Susie Seam became his wife in 1856. The family
came to what is now Brighton, in 1857, but returned to Wisconsin during the
Indian massacre, and stayed there eight years. Mr. Hack is the father of five
children by first marriage, and four by second. The four boys, Peter, Henry,
Joseph and John, served in the army during the rebellion.

   Andrew Jacobson, a native of Sweden, was born in 1821. He settled in Chicago,
Illinois, in 1853, and worked there at shoemaking four years; then, in 1857,
removed to this state. After following his trade in Minneiska ten years and in
St. Peter two years, he1 came to Brighton, where he has since engaged in
farming. Mr. Jacobson has been assessor, justice of the peace and supervisor.
Married in 1842, Miss I. Nichols. Benjamin, John, Betsy, Ellen and Charles, are
their children. The two oldest served in the Union army.

   Christian Jenson was born in 1846, in Norway, but in 1853 immigrated, in
company with his parents, to Dane county, Wisconsin. In June, 1856, the family
removed to Nicollet county, and in 1869 he bought a farm in Brighton, hut
afterward sold, and since the fall of 1879, he has had a general store in this
town, in company with S. O. Peterson. Mr. Jenson was one of the party that found
and conveyed to St. Peter the three people murdered by Indians, at the Apfelbaum
farm.

   Nels Nelson, Sr. was born April 22, 1829, in Sweden, and in 1858 located
permanently in Brighton township, Minnesota. During the Indian massacre, he with
other took to St. Peter, the bodies of three persons murdered within sight of
his home. They were living when found, but expired before they could get them to
St. Peter. Miss Anna Olson was married to Mr. Nelson in 1853, in Sweden. They
have a son, Nels.

   S. Otto Peterson, a native of Wisconsin, was born in 1853. The family moved
to what is now Brighton, Nicollet county, in 1856, and here he has resided to
the present time. Until the fall of 1879 he worked on his father's farm, then
embark-in the mercantile business. Mr. Peterson is serving his town as clerk. In
January, 1880, he was united in marriage with Johanna Peterson.

   Mathias Sondag, deceased, was born in Germany. Elizaheth Nei became his wife,
and in 1853 they came to the United States. After living in Illinois four years
they migrated to Minnesota and settled in Brighton, which was Mr. Sondag's home
until his death, which occurred August 4, 1872. The family still reside here,
and the son William conducts the farm of 208 acres, located on the shore of Swan
lake. The other children are Margaret, Charles, Susie, Clara, Nicholas, Sophia,
Katie and Olena.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from 

History of the Minnesota Valley
Minneapolis: North Star Publishing Co. (1882)


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mn/nicollet/history/1882/historyo/lakeprai89gms.txt

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