A History of Brookfield, Renville Co., MN
Bios Included
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Excerpted from:
"HISTORY OF THE MINNESOTA VALLEY,
INCLUDING THE EXPLORERS AND PIONEERS OF MINNESOTA"
BY REV. EDWARD D. NEILL,

-AND —

"HISTORY OF THE SIOUX MASSACRE"
BY CHARLES S. BRYANT.

MINNEAPOLIS: NORTH STAR PUBLISHING COMPANY, 1882.

RENVILLE COUNTY.
CHAPTER LXXXIII.

BROOKFIELD

   Brookfield was organized in 1874 and the first election held April 7 
of that year: First officers E. K. Pellett, chairman; John Booth and 
Alexander Camp, supervisors; C. E. Porter, clerk; George Taylor, 
assessor; John Wilt, treasurer; Henry Girard and Diton Grindal, 
justices; A. Camp and W. C. Fleet, constables. The first settlers, who 
came in 1871, were Wm. Simmons, E. K. Pellet, and A. Camp; W. C. Fleet, 
D. Grindal, J. Wilt and C. E. Porter came in 1872. The Methodists began 
holding meetings in 1877, with Rev. N. Tainter as leader and soon 
organized a society, which is now in charge of Rev. George Geer. The 
first school was taught in 1875 by E. K. Pellett in a building erected 
for the purpose. The first marriage was that of Albert Brown and Franc 
Booth in November, 1881. The first birth was May, daughter of John 
Porter, born May 1, 1874. July 21, 1874, occurred the first death, that 
of Wilder, son of John Wilt.

BENSON
   T. S. Benson was born in Massachusetts in 1841. In 1862 enlisted in 
the 46th Massachusetts and served one year. In 1873 he came to Renville 
county and located on his present farm in Brookfield; has been 
supervisor, town clerk, constable and deputy sheriff. Married Mary C. 
Pellett: three children living. Cora, Edward A. and Jessie E.

FLEET
   Wm. C. Fleet was born in Pennsylvania in 1852 and at the age of 
three years his parents took him to Illinois. In 1866 they came to 
Minnesota, and for two years lived in McLeod county. He then moved to 
Meeker county and from there to this county and located in Brookfield. 
In 1875 he married Hettie Grindal; their children are Cora A., Clara B. 
and Hattie A.

GRAHAM
   W. B. Graham was born in Green Lake county, Wisconsin, July 4, 1857. 
Came with parents to Olmsted county, Minnesota, in 1863: he attended 
school in Rochester for two years; his father was among the early 
settlers of Hector. In 1877 he located his farm in Brookfield: he is at 
present engaged in teaching school.