Watonwan County Minnesota Genealogy and History (2024)

CHAPTER IV. ORGANIZATION AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

Source: History of Cottonwood and Watonwan Counties, Minnesota; Volume I, Illustrated; B. F. Bowen & Co.. (1916) transcribed by Richard Ramos

Watonwan county was organized in April, 1861, but it had really been created by act of the Minnesota Legislature, dated February 25, 1860, which act also fixed the county seat at Madelia. It is situated in the center of the second tier of counties north of the Iowa line. The first county commissioners were: J. F. Ferber, C. M. Pomeroy and Ole Jargenson; these were by appointment, and at the election held in the fall of 1861, the following officers were duly elected, the election being held at Madelia: John Travis, probate judge; John Chase, sheriff; Charles G. Mullen, auditor; C. M. Pomeroy, treasurer; Joseph Flanders, recorder of deeds; Daniel Bush, county attorney; Notts Jenson, coroner; Salvor Torgenson, Lewis Varwick and Thomas Rutledge, county commissioners.

The county derived its name from a civil township by that name, in Blue Earth county, when that county and Watonwan were all in one, thus, “Watonwan township, Blue Earth county, Minnesota,” became Watonwan county, Minnesota. This whole territory at one time belonged to Brown county, and extended as far south as the mouth of the Big Sioux river, at Sioux City, Iowa, and west bounds without limit, almost. But with the settling of southern Minnesota, county after county was cut off and made separate sub-divisions of the state. The name Watonwan is Indian dialect. The Watonwan river was perhaps the first natural object within this county that was known by the word.

The area of the county is four hundred and thirty-five and forty-five one hundredths square miles, or two hundred and seventy-eight thousand six hundred and eighty-nine acres, of which two hundred and seventy-seven thousand are land and sixteen hundred and thirty-eight acres are water. The land surface is divided into twelve hundred and sixty-nine farms.

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' PROCEEDINGS.

On February 13, 1861, appears the first entry in Book “A” of commissioner's records for Watonwan county: “The commissioners met at the house of J. F. Furber at ten o'clock in the forenoon the thirteenth day of February, 1861, for the purpose of electing county officers for Watonwan county, whereupon J. F. Furber was elected chairman and N. Jensen, clerk, pro tem; after being duly qualified they proceeded to ballot for county auditor.

H. P. Gilbert received a majority and was declared elected auditor.

“For recorder of deeds J. L. Taylor received a majority and was declared elected. For county treasurer, B. O. Rampfer received a majority and was declared elected treasurer. For judge of probate, J. Flanders, having received a majority of the votes, was duly declared elected. For sheriff, C. G. Mullen, receiving the largest number of votes, was declared elected. For coroner, Caleb Leavitt received a majority of the votes cast and was declared elected. For county surveyor, J. Leavitt having received a majority of the votes cast, was declared elected.

“On motion of C. M. Pomeroy the board adjourned to meet at the house of H. P. Gilbert, on Saturday, the 16th day of February, 1861.

“(Signed) NOTTO JENSEN, Clerk, pro tem.

“I hereby certify that this is an exact copy of the original minutes.

“C. G. MULLEN, County Auditor.”

The commissioners failed to meet on the 16th of February, but did assemble on March 26th at the house of H. P. Gilbert. The first act in a business sense was to fix the salary of the county auditor, the same being placed at thirty-five dollars per year.

H. P. Gilbert was called in pursuance of his appointment and qualified as county auditor. At the afternoon session Joseph Flanders and B. O. Rempfer failing to appear and qualify, the board proceeded to fill the vacancies for the offices of probate judge and county treasurer, respectively. The first ballot for county treasurer resulted unanimously in the choice of C. G. Mullen, and his appointment for the office of sheriff was then changed for that of treasurer of the county and he duly qualified according to law.

Notto Jensen was then balloted for as judge of probate and received every vote of the commissioners, and was declared elected that office. He then came in and was qualified according to law.

Jonathan Leavitt was ballotted for as sheriff and received a unanimous vote of the commissioners present and was declared elected and immediately qualified according to law.

These minutes were taken down on loose slips of paper, but were certified to later in book form and signed as follows:

”I hereby certify that this is an exact copy of the original as recorded by Auditor Gilbert of that date.

“(Signed) C. G. MULLEN, County Auditor.”

Session of September 3, 1861: On motion of J. T. Furber, C. M. Pomeroy was chosen chairman of the commissioner's board. The following oaths were then administered by the clerk of the board, H. P. Gilbert: “To J. T. Furber, C. M. Pomeroy and Ole Jorgensen, you solemnly swear that you will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of the board of equalization of taxes in and for the county of Watonwan county, according to the best of your ability - so help you, God.”

The above oath was then administered to the clerk (H. P. Gilbert) by C. M. Pomeroy (justice of the peace), whereupon the board then proceeded to regular business.

FIRST BUSINESS OF COUNTY COMMISIONERS.

The first business of the county commissioners, after having fully perfected the organization of the board, was to look into the merits of an application of C. Leavitt & Company, who wanted the assessment on their mill property cut from nineteen hundred to twelve hundred dollars, and this was finally allowed. It was at this meeting that David Wilcox was appointed county attorney. Also in the matter of tax levy the board, on motion of C. M. Pomeroy, voted to raise three mills on the dollar to defray county expenses. On motion of Ole Jorgensen, a mill and three-fourths on the dollar was levied for township purposes.

In January, 1862, the chairman of the commissioners' board was Thomas Rutledge, who was nominated by Louis Vorweek. auditor was ordered to send for all the books belonging to Watonwan county. It will be observed that the county had a small business to transact at that early date, for at the January meeting that year the commissioners issued an order to pay the county's expenses, which only amounted to thirty-five dollars and twenty-four cents. The auditor's salary was then to pay for the needed books in which to record the business transactions, the fixed for the ensuing year at thirty-five dollars. It was resolved to appropriate the first twenty-five dollars that came into the treasury of the county register of deeds needing the most of the books required. This became nec essary, as the records of this county had to be transcribed from the books in Brown county, of which this county had formerly been a part. It appears from the record that in January, 1862, the board authorized the county auditor to purchase two hundred dollars worth of record books for use of the auditor and treasurer. At the meeting held on January 15, 1862, the auditor was ordered to purchase a seal for the county. Up to this time the proceedings of the county commissioner had been kept on loose sheets of paper for want of record books, but when the new books arrived these commissioners' records were carefully recorded as sworn to, being transcripts from such loose sheets.

May, 1863. - The members of the board present were, H. P. Gilbert, H. Schwarble, Jens Torsen, with C. M. Mullen, clerk. Mr. Gilbert was chosen chairman. They proceeded to appoint a school superintendent for Madelia township in the person of C. G. Mullen. John Flanders was appointed probate judge in place of J. Travis, who failed to qualify after he had been elected. The county auditor was authorized to write to the county auditor of Brown county to come and settle, as there was money belonging to Brown county here.

MILITIA OFFICERS APPOINTED.

On May 19, 1863, the county commissioners met for the purpose of appointing officers for the state militia. In balloting for captain, P. D. Rutledge received a majority of the votes. For first lieutenant, W. C. Farnesworth received the entire vote and was declared elected. For second lieutenant, Jens Torson was elected. Jens Torson and H. P. Gilbert were authorized to go after the guns, ammunition and accouterments for the military company. The day fixed for the meeting of the company was Thursday, June 4, 1863.

October 5, 1863. - At the meeting of the county commissioners on this date, there was a large amount of business relating to school and road districts; much of these items were in a tangled and unsatisfactory condition and had to be adjusted as best they could be by the board. The payment for county record books was brought up but laid over for the reason that no taxes had been levied for that special purpose and the record says it was deferred until “a more convenient season.”

At the same meeting claims against the county were audited as follows: May 5, 1863, Jens Torson, services as county commissioner, $2; May 29, 1863, one-half day organizing Watonwan county, $1; May 30, 1863, going after arms for state militia, $4; May 31, 1863, team for carrying arms, $2; June 19, one-half day presiding at election, $1; total, $10.

Similar bills were presented and allowed to Henry Schwrables, C. G. Mullen and H. P. Gilbert. At this session the county auditor handed in his resignation, but it was not accepted by the county commissioners.

February 25, 1864 - This seems to have been the next board meeting after the one noted above. This time they met at the house of John Travis. J. L. Stark was appointed to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of the county auditor, and H. P. Gilbert was elected chairman of the commissioners.

A motion was made to allow a bounty of fifty dollars be paid to volunteers who had enlisted in the services of the United States since the 15th of December, 1863, in Watonwan county. Another motion was made to give a bounty of seventy-five dollars to volunteers who may enlist in the services of the United States and be credited to Watonwan county, Minnesota, on or before March 5, 1864.

Josiah L. Stark was appointed school examiner for that year at this session of the board of commissioners. The resignation of County Commissioner Joseph Flanders was accepted and it was ordered that he be ap pointed as county auditor until the next annual election.

On August 13, 1864, a motion was made and passed as follows: “That provided enough would enlist to the credit of Watonwan county to free the county from the draft to be made on September 5, 1864, that a bounty of one hundred and fifty dollars be given.”

August 25, 1864 - Present, H. P. Gilbert and William Busser, and they passed an act striking out the conditions in an act passed August 13th and amending the act so as to read as follows: “That a bounty of one hundred and fifty dollars be paid anyone entering the service credited to Watonwan county.”

September, 1864 - Commissioners met at office of county auditor. Members present, H. P. Gilbert, J. T. Furber. At this session it was ordered that the salary of the county auditor be fixed at fifty dollars per year. Ordered that a mill and a half tax be levied to pay for books purchased for the use of the county. Ordered to raise $650 to pay the county orders issued to the United States volunteers.

February, 1865 - Members of the board present, H. P. Gilbert, J. T. Furber and Chandler Farnsworth. Not having the funds with which to pay for the county record books purchased in 1862, the bill had run until 1865 at ten per cent. interest, making the bill when paid $99.19 instead of $ 77.25, as originally invoiced at. The county auditor's salary was raised at this meeting to $175 per year, he to furnish his own stationery and postage.

May 6, 1865 - Board of commissioners met and consisted of the following members: Gilbert, Furber and Farnsworth. At this session Hart Montgomery was elected judge of probate.

September, 1865 - At this session E. M. Sprague was appointed school examiner. A two-mill tax was levied at this meeting for county school purposes. Also a tax sufficient to raise $200 was levied with which to purchase bloodhounds for the county's use.

January, 1866 - Members present: Bernard O. Kempfer (chairman), John C. Sprague and Torson C. Levey. Bonds were furnished by P. D. Rutledge, county surveyor. Hart Montgomery furnished his bonds as judge of probate and one from E. M. Sprague, as sheriff. Ordered that the bloodhounds belonging to the county be sold for whatever they will bring and the proceeds applied to the special dog tax. Ordered that the auditor's salary be raised to $200 per year, he to find all postage and stationery.

June 26, 1866 - The county commissioners were still meeting at Madelia. Members present: Bernard O. Kempfer and John C. Sprague. They appointed Chancelor Farnsworth and A. J. Nicholson as appraisers of the school lands for and on behalf of the people of the county of Watonwan.

January, 1867 - The commissioners resolved to look into the poor question of the county, and finally appointed the county auditor as a committee to handle the relief for this class of citizens.

At another meeting that month the members present were: Commissioners Kempfer, Levey and J. K. Webster. A petition was presented the board for the organization of a new civil township; also á remonstrance against such new organization. It was asked that such proposed township be named Bloomington. The board agreed to leave this to Joseph Flanders and B. O. Kempfer. The township was ordered organized and the name was fixed as “ York.” This subsequently became Antrim township.

January, 1868 - The commissioners who met were A. J. Nicholson, Ole Howe and John K. Webster. Bonds of the various county officials were presented and accepted by the commissioners at this session.

March, 1868 - The board met and gave out the following financial statement of Watonwan county as follows: Total amount of county fund, $214.12; special county fund, $88.69; county poor fund, $131.63; total, $434.44. Liabilities, $232.25. Balance in favor of county, $202.19.

In March, 1868, township 105, ranges 32 and 33, was created into Long Lake civil township; also township 106, range 30, was created into Wakefield township.

TROUBLES OF A TREASURER.

March, 1868 - In session the commissioners passed this resolution: “Resolved that the interests of the county require that the office of county treasurer shall be removed to the Yates building. Therefore, be it resolved that the county treasurer be instructed to remove his said office to the above mentioned place, and that the auditor serve a copy of the above resolution on the said county treasurer.” At this meeting of the board it was ordered that eight copies of the Minnesota. code be purchased for the use of Watonwan county.

April 15, 1868 - The proceedings show that County Treasurer G. W. Yates, who had been elected, failed to qualify in the legal time limit provided, so the old county treasurer, Thomas Rutledge, refused to give up the office. The minutes show the following concerning this affair: “Resolved, that the interests of the county require that Thomas Rutledge, county treasurer, should give additional bonds and that the auditor be instructed to serve a copy of these resolutions on said county treasurer.” On motion this resolution was adopted at a special session on April 15, 1868: “Be it resolved that we recognize George W. Yates as the rightful and legally qualified treasurer of Watonwan county. And furthermore, that we denounce and disapprove of the willful attempt of Thomas Rutledge, late treasurer, to retain possession of the books and papers and moneys pertaining to said office, against the express will of the people of Watonwan county, and the manifest injury of said George W. Yates and in opposition to law and justice. And furthermore, to save time and expenses convening another special session of the board to appoint to fill vacancy, be it resolved, that if, by any technical construction of law, the said G. W. Yates be not entitled to such office of county treasurer - then the office is vacant and to fill such vacancy we do hereby by the power vested in us by the statutes in such cases provided, as board of county commissioners of Watonwan county, appoint G. W. Yates to fill such vacancy and that Thomas Rutledge be requested to immediately transfer to him all books, papers and moneys, etc., belonging to this county of Watonwan as pertaining to the office of county treasurer.”

September, 1868 - At the session of the board of county commissioners, the name of “Wakefield” township be changed to “Fieldon.” At this meeting, under a new state law, the county commissioners organized three commissioners' districts in this county. Madelia township was to be district No. 1; Antrim and Fieldon in district No. 2; and Long Lake township in district No. 3.

January, 1869 - A new civil township, known as “Drewsville,” was created out of congressional township 105, range 31. This was later changed to South Branch. At this session of the board the commissioners ordered the construction of a home-wood ferry-boat for the Watonwan river at the village of Madelia. The same was not to exceed in cost two hundred dollars. A seven-mill tax was levied at this time, to be payable in 1870, for the purpose of building county offices.

November, 1869 - The board organized a new civil township out of congressional township 107, range 33, and on petition of George A. Bradford it was called “Riverdale.” Bonds of the various county officers were approved at this session.

January, 1870 - The commissioners fixed the ferry-boat fees at Madelia at: Passengers on foot, five cents each way; teams, ten cents each way, if living in the county; teams outside the county to be charged twenty-five cents.

March, 1870 - The board of commissioners created the civil township of “St. James.” It constituted congressional township 106, ranges 32 and 33. At the same session of the board of commissioners, the register of deeds was authorized to procure of the St. Paul Pioneer Press Company, a deed record book at a cost not exceeding twenty dollars. The county auditor was also given authority by the commissioners to procure a fire proof safe for the county, providing the expense did not exceed four hundred and fifty dollars. At this session the board made the following public statement of the county's finnaces:

RESOURCES.
Cash on hand March 8, 1869 . . . $ 223.73
Amount collected for year . . . $ 920.09
_____
Total . . . $ 1,143.82

DISBURsem*nTS.
Abatements of tax collections . . . $ 1.60
Redeemed county orders . . . $791.72
County treasurer's fees . . . $ 41.88
Tax receipts . . . $ 2.50
_____
Total . . . $ 837.70

ASSETS.
Cash on hand . . . $ 306.12
Amount due on duplicates of 1869 . . . $ 631.68
Amount due on duplicates of 1868 . . . $ 129.57
Amount due on duplicates of 1867 . . . $ 15.02
mount due on duplicates of 1866 . . . $2.60
_____Total . . . $ 984.99

Liabilities in outstanding orders . . . $ 794.92
_____
Assets over liabilities . . . $ 190.07

At the August term in 1870, the bill of Doctor Stoddard for medical fees for the month of July was twenty dollars and it was ordered paid from the poor fund.

September, 1870 - The commissioners created the civil township of North Branch, out of congressional township 107, ranges 32 and 33, from the west portion of Riverdale township. Later in the same month the name was changed by the commissioners to “Dexter.” It was at this meeting that the official bonds of the various newly elected county officers were approved by the board.

March, 1871 -The board present consisted of the following members: H. Morrill, William S. Addsmond and Morris Bradford. At this session the commissioners made a new civil township, “Springfield,” out of congressional township 106, range 31, and in April, that year, it was changed to “Rosendale.”

June, 1871 - The commissioners made Adrian township out of congressional township 107, range 33, and the first election was to be held on July 13, 1871, at the house of Volney DeWitt. County officers' bonds that had not already been approved by the county board, were attended to at this session.

January, 1872 - Other county officers' bonds were approved by the board at this meeting and a new township created out of congressional township 106, range 33, the same being named Butterfield. Also another made out of township 105, range 33, and styled Odin.

The commissioners that year were Messrs. Morrill, Bradford and Pickler. The records disclose but little of general interest in the business transacted that year, outside the usual routine of school and road affairs. The same was true of the year 1873.

January, 1874 - With the meeting of the county board in 1874 we find Commissioners Morrill, Lambert, Toothaker, Marvin and Pona present. They proceeded to approve of the bonds furnished by the various newly elected county officers. A resolution regarding mixing in the “county seat fight” reads as follows: “Resolved, We will not defend the county seat contest at the expense of the county.” They also ordered a supply of wood for county use, not to exceed twenty -five dollars in value. The exhibit made at that date of the county's financial condition showed cash on hand, February 28, 1873, $55.51; county orders redeemed during the year ending March 1, 1874, $2,662.01; cash on hand, February 28, 1874, $14.76; assets for that date, $5,174.61; liabilities, at that date, over assets, $3,065.74.

In 1874 the valuation of assessed property was given out by the board to amount to $582,518. The total number of persons assessed in the county was eight hundred and forty-five. Six mills on the dollar on all property was levied for general county purposes. In the autumn of 1874 the board of county commissioners appropriated money with which to purchase two hundred bushels of corn, or its equivalent in corn meal, for the unfortunate poor of Watonwan county.

January, 1875 - At the commissioners' meeting in the first week of this year, the commissioners were Messrs. Morrill, Lambert, Toothaker, Corbin, Mellgren. The county treasurer gave bonds amounting to twelve thousand dollars. Another resolution of this month's session was as follows: “Whereas, we have reason to believe that there will be a small amount of business liable to come before the district court at the term to be held in Watonwan county next February; therefore, in view of the destitution of the people by reason of the grasshopper raid, be it resolved that the judge of the said court adjourn the term for one year.
“(Signed) JOSEPH FLANDERS, County Auditor.”

March, 1875 - The minute book of the commissioners and county auditor has this entry about the date just given: “The annual session of the board of county commissioners, which should have been held this day, went by default in consequence of a fearful snow storm, so much so that there was no one of the commissioners present.”

July, 1875 - The commissioners sitting as a board of equalization in this session gave out the following as the assessed valuations to obtain during that year: Class No. 1 - Horses under three years of age, twenty dollars; horses over three years of age, fifty dollars. Class No. 2 - Cattle under two years of age, five dollars; cows over two years of age, twelve dollars; other cattle, eighteen dollars. Class No. 3 - Mules, fifty dollars. Class No. 4 - Sheep, per head, one dollar. Class No. 5 - Hogs, per head, two dollars and sixty cents. Class No. 6 - Wagons and carriages, twenty dollars. Class No. 7 - Sewing or knitting machines, twenty-five dollars. Class No. 8 - Watches and clocks, three and a half dollars. Class No. 9 - Organs and melodians, fifty dollars. Class No. 10 - Pianos, one hundred dollars. Class No. 30 - “Homestead property.” in Long Lake, South Branch, St. James, Riverdale, Rosendale, Antrim and Fieldon, at $1.75 per acre; in Odin, Butterfield, Adrian and Nelson, at $1.50 per acre.

At a further meeting, July, 1875, the board of county commissioners offered a reward of fifty dollars for the detection and final conviction of any person who should set a prairie fire between July, 1875, and July, 1876.

January, 1876 - At a meeting of the board at this date the members were as follow: Messrs. Corbin, Toothaker, Mellgren, John Burns and Theodore Lambert. They approved the bonds of newly-elected county officials and selected a “county paper,” in which contest the Record was successful. But it is found that in June this act was rescinded and the Madelia Times was made the official newspaper of Watonwan county. That year the delinquent tax list was published in the Madelia Times at five cents a description, and this made the amount of fifty-three dollars for the year.

The general county fund called for four thousand dollars in 1876; also one mill per dollar for general school fund purposes. The proceedings show that there was a balance on hand December 25, 1876, of $ 1,303.07, and assets and liabilities amounting to $8,320.97.

March, 1877 - This was the period in which state and county aid had to be rendered those who lost everything by reason of the grasshopper scourge. The minutes of the commissioners show that seventy odd persons received seed grain under a special act of the Minnesota Legislature.

COUNTY EXPENSES.

The published list of county expenses in this county in 1877 was as follows: Salaries, $2,400; fees, $60; grand jury, $88; petit jury, $250; justice of peace expense, $50; report of births and deaths, $48; blank books and blanks, $200; miscellaneous items, $364. The total was $4,000. The general school fund was covered by a one-mill tax on the dollar, levied that year.

That year this county received from the state, under the act of February, 1877, cash for the purchase of seed grain for the grasshopper sufferers to the amount of $798. The bill reads: “Bought five hundred and fifty five bushels of wheat at $1.35 per bushel, equal to $749.25; freight on same to St. James, $16.65; loading car, $1.50; cash on hand not used, $3.00. The fees collected by the clerk of the district court in 1877 was $719; by the register of deeds, $424; by the sheriff, $426.

MORE AID TO FARMERS.

In February, 1878, the Minnesota Legislature passed an act for the immediate relief of farmers who were unable to secure seed grain in consequence of the grasshopper raid of 1877 through this section of the state. On March 5 the county commissioners of Watonwan county met to apportion out the seed grain purchased by the state for the farmers in this county. They each had to personally make a formal application and show their absolute needs before they could receive the coveted seed grain. This list of persons receiving seed is here inserted in the annals of the county, showing, as it does, to what straits the early settlers were put in the seventies. Many of the men and their descendants still live within the county and large numbers became well circ*mstanced after the county had settled up, after railroads had made their advent and after drought and grasshopper raids were things of the past. It should be understood that both wheat and oats were provided in amounts agreed upon by the destitute and the county board:

APPLICANTS. . . . BUSHELS OF WHEAT. . . . OATS.
J. B. Backes . . . 25 . . . 25
Martha Halvorson . . . 30 . . . 5
Ole Hanson . . . 50 . . . 15
John Carlson . . . 25 . . . 4
T. A. Johnson . . . 15 . . . - - -
Nels Halvorson . . . 30 . . . - - -
Cal. Halvorson . . . 30 . . . - - -
Paul Halvorson . . . 25 . . . - - -
John Olson . . . 25 . . . - - -
John Paulson . . . 20 . . . 4
Martin Jargenson . . . 15 . . . 5
John Cole . . . 22 . . . 10
S. Johnson . . . 10 . . . 10
John Sjoquest . . . 15 . . . - - -
John Swanson . . . 15 . . . 5
Jonas Lindquist . . . 30 . . . 15
Hans Oleson . . . 60 . . . 20
John Johnson . . . 20 . . . - - -
Peter Peterson, Sr. . . . 40 . . . 50
Lewis Nelson . . . 25 . . . 5
Thorston Thorston . . . 30 . . . 50
Andrew Anderson . . . 20 . . . - - -
August Carlson . . . 16 . . . - - -
A. P. Anderson . . . 10 . . . - - -
Erick Calson . . . 30 . . . - - -
Andrew Erickson . . . 30 . . . 15
Martin Halvorson . . . - - - . . . 50
Peter Freeman . . . 15 . . . - - -
Casper Anderson . . . 20 . . . - - -
Swan Martin . . . 20 . . . 10
Swan Anderson . . . 20 . . . 2
Siver Oleson . . . 30 . . . - - -
Andrew Knudson . . . 10 . . . - - -
Christ Hanson . . . 10 . . . 5
Chaney Beal . . . - - - . . . 25
Andrew Larson . . . 30 . . . 6
D. H. Forsyth . . . 45 . . . 37
Nels Anderson . . . 10 . . . - - -
Andrew Johnson . . . 15 . . . - - -
J. M. Swanson . . . 30 . . . 15
Joel Parker . . . 24 . . . 14
W. H. Jenkins . . . 18 . . . - - -
Conrad Shafer . . . 15 . . . - - -
William Arnd . . . - - - . . . 30
P. A. Gustavson . . . 15 . . . 15
E. Lofgren . . . 15 . . . - - -
P. A. Kinney . . . 30 . . . 20
Swan Englin . . . 30 . . . 15
John Herneman . . . 120 . . . 40
Charles Warner . . . 10 . . . - - -
J. A. Peterson . . . 20 . . . - - -
Jonas Nelson . . . 15 . . . - - -
M. B. Foster . . . 40 . . . 15
Hans Anderson . . . 20 . . . - - -
Pat Currey . . . 45 . . . - - -
Fred Shumas . . . 25 . . . 30
Swan Nelson . . . 20 . . . - - -
Lewis Nelson . . . 18 . . . 5
Martin Peterson . . . 20 . . . - - -
Andrew Currey . . . 28 . . . - - -
Andrew Swanson . . . 15 . . . - - -
Rasmus Johnson . . . 20 . . . - - -
A. E. Loper . . . 37 . . . - - -
J. A. Lee . . . 15 . . . - - -
James Hammil . . . 50 . . . - - -
Tim Tirney . . . 45 . . . - - -
P. D. Rutledge . . . 45 . . . 45
Elif Ebror . . . 15 . . . - - -
N. A. Melick . . . 30 . . . 35
Andrew Anderson . . . 40 . . . 20
Nels Nelson . . . 75 . . . 30
Andrew Ordson . . . 30 . . . - - -
Daniel Pedoin . . . 20 . . . 25
Martin Cain . . . 25 . . . - - -
H. J. Juveland . . . 25 . . . - - -
John Skarpohl . . . 30 . . . 10
O. F. Birchard . . . 40 . . . - - -
William Birchard . . . 60 . . . - - -
Thomas McNamara . . . 40 . . . - - -
C. C. Fisher . . . 40 . . . 12
Stephen Carney . . . 25 . . . - - -
William Hackney . . . 20 . . . - - -
J. D. Johnston . . . 25 . . . 25
L. S. Lewis . . . 20 . . . - - -
Allen Rice . . . 6 . . . 30
J. Davison . . . 25 . . . 15
Joseph Rice . . . 15 . . . - - -
C. C. Waste . . . - - - . . . 25
F. Peits . . . 30 . . . - - -
James Gelaspie . . . 75 . . . - - -
J. M. Travis . . . 50 . . . - - -
William McMullen . . . 20 . . . - - -
E. D. Miller . . . 20 . . . 20
Tim Larkins . . . 30 . . . - - -
John Sullivan . . . 20 . . . - - -
William S. James . . . 20 . . . - - -
Henry Struss . . . 40 . . . 40
Robert Duvar . . . 10 . . . 25
William Sloan . . . 20 . . . - - -
J. B. Rhoades . . . 22 . . . 22
B. A. Town . . . 15 . . . 15
Herman Halvorson . . . 13 . . . - - -
Mike Gall . . . 15 . . . - - -
John Folley . . . 15 . . . - - -
Peter Rock . . . 15 . . . - - -
H. H. Thompson . . . 10 . . . - - -
Thor Thorson . . . 20 . . . 20
Ed Hewitt . . . 20 . . . 40
John Colman . . . 25 . . . 10
Myron Curtis . . . - - - . . . 30
William Barge . . . 35 . . . - - -
Abner Denman . . . 37 . . . 30
Arthur Hart . . . 20 . . . 25
Hans Johnson . . . 40 . . . - - -
Andrew Peterson . . . 18 . . . - - -
A. A. Hovde . . . 15 . . . 15
H. J. Halvorson . . . 15 . . . 10
J. P. Anderson . . . 15 . . . 10
Swan Anderson . . . 25 . . . - - -
J. F. Oleson . . . 20 . . . - - -
N. T. Wethal . . . 25 . . . - - -
H. L. Rud . . . 10 . . . 18
Peter Carlson . . . 20 . . . 12
A. A. Nass . . . 13 . . . - - -
Fred Peterson . . . 30 . . . 10
O. S. Stenburg . . . 20 . . . - - -
M. M. Munson . . . 12 . . . - - -
C. O. Wagner . . . 15 . . . 10
Halvor Halvorson . . . 18 . . . - - -
J. G. Butterfield . . . 225 . . . 90

The amount appropriated by the state of Minnesota for this county was $2,453.50, and this purchased 2,067 bushels of wheat and 860 bushels of oats. The average paid for wheat was $1.05, and for oats, 35 cents. The seed grain was all delivered at either St. James or Madelia stations.

This donation on the part of the commonwealth enabled the farmers to sow and reap an abundant harvest in most cases.

In 1895 this county donated grain, goods and cash to the sufferers in the Dakotas, Nebraska and Kansas, thus reciprocating for favors as above mentioned - they were only too glad to thus donate.

RELOCATING THE COUNTY SEAT.

After enjoying the county seat for thirteen years, Madelia commenced to fear that the seat of justice was to be taken from them to St. James. The following is a copy of the legislative bill enacted in 1874:

Be it enacted by the Legislature of Minnesota:

Section 1. That the county seat of the county of Watonwan, in the state of Minnesota, be and the same is hereby removed from the village and town of Madelia, where it is now located in said county, to the village of St. James, in said county.

Section 2. At the time of giving notice of the next general election it shall be the duty of the officers of said county of Watonwan required by law to give notice of said election, to give notice in like manner that at said election a vote will be taken on the question of adopting this act removing the county seat from the village and town of Madelia to the said village of St. James, as provided in section I of this act; but no failure or irregularity in such notice or in giving of such notice shall in any way vitiate the vote on such question.

Section 3. At said election the electors of said county in favor of the removal of said county seat, as provided in the act shall have distinctly written or printed, or partly written and partly printed, on their ballots, “For removal of county seat,” and those opposed to such removal, “Against removal of county seat,” and such ballots shall be received by the judges of election and canvassed at the same time and in the same manner and returned to the same office as votes for county officers.

Section 4. The county canvassing board of said county to whom said election returns are made, shall canvass the votes on said question at the same time and in the same manner as returns of votes for county officers, and if upon such canvass being made it shall appear that a majority of the electors of said county of Watonwan voted in favor of the adoption of this act and the removal of said county seat, an abstract of the canvass of said votes shall be made on one sheet signed and certified in the same manner as in case of abstracts of votes for the county officers and shall be deposited in the office of the county auditor of said county and said county auditor shall immediately thereafter transmit to the secretary of state a copy of said abstracts duly certified by said auditor.

Section 5. If the act shall be adopted by a majority of the electors of said county of Watonwan, the governor shall forth with make proclamation as provided by law in such cases and it is hereby made the duty of all officers who are required by law to hold their offices at the county seat to remove their offices, books and records to the new county seat at St. James within thirty days after the removal of said county seat as in this act pro vided, without further notice, and any failure to remove said office shall operate as a forfeiture of their said offices.

Section 6. Chapter 193 of special laws of 1873 and all acts or parts of acts inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed.

Section 7. It shall be lawful for the village authorities of said Madelia and St. James, and they are respectively hereby authorized, to appoint by certificate under their hand a proper person to attend such of the township and village boards and judges of election thereof in said county as they may deem necessary, who shall have authority and whose duty it shall be to witness the action of said township and village boards or judges of election in receiving and preparing the register of legal voters in either of the election districts of said county for the next general election and in concluding the next general election in either of said election districts, said person or persons appointed shall be sworn, and it shall be their duty to see that none but legal voters of said county are registered and allowed to vote at any of the several election districts of said county, and to use all lawful means in their power to prevent fraud or deceit thereat and cause to be prosecuted any and all persons found guilty of any fraud or deceit at any of the election districts; and it is hereby made the duty of the officers or judges of election of said election district to allow such persons so appointed to be present at the making of such registration lists or holding of such elections and to afford to them proper facilities to freely witness the same, and the canvass of the votes cast thereat and the preparation and sealing of the official returns thereof and to make an abstract of the same if so desired, and the fact that any said persons so appointed shall be refused the rights and privileges herein granted by any board or judges of election shall be deemed prima facia evidence that the votes cast thereat upon the removal of said county seat are fraudulent and void.

Section 8. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage, except as to section I, which is to take effect from and after adoption of the same as provided herein.

The following is a record of the votes cast by townships at the general election held in 1873 for the removal of the county seat:

TOWNSHIP . . . FOR . . . AGAINST

Adrian . . . 42 . . . - - -
Butterfield . . . 33 . . . - - -
Fieldon . . . 2 . . . 153
Long Lake . . . 86 . . . - - -
Madelia . . . - - - . . . 795
Odin . . . 72 . . . - - -
Riverdale. . . 19 . . . 39
Rosendale . . . 37 . . . 2
St. James . . . 312 . . . 1
South Branch . . . - - - . . . 5
_____
Total . . . 603 . . . 995

VOTE ON THE SAME QUESTION, 1878.

TOWNSHIP . . . FOR . . . AGAINST

Adrian . . . 56 . . . - - -
Antrim . . . 4 . . . 65
Butterfield . . . 23 . . . - - -
Fieldon . . . 3 . . . 57
Long Lake . . . 78 . . . - - -
Madelia . . . 11 . . . 214
Nelson . . . 83 . . . 11
Odin . . . 78 . . . - - -
Riverdale. . . 11 . . . 22
Rosendale . . . 27 . . . 1
St. James . . . 172 . . . - - -
South Branch . . . 48 . . . 1
_____
Total . . . 594 . . . 371

At the board meeting of the county commissioners in October, 1878, the following proceedings were dealt with:

“Whereas, the St. Paul & Sioux City Railroad Company has given a warranty deed in fee simple to the county commissioners of Watonwan county, Minnesota, of lots Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, in block 25, in the village of St. James, for the use and purpose of said county, whenever the county seat is removed to St. James. Therefore, be it resolved that said deed be and is hereby accepted and the sum of one dollar hereby appropriated out of the county fund to pay said railroad company as a consideration of said deed;

“And, whereas, the trustees of the village of St. James have executed and delivered to the county commissioners of Watonwan county, Minnesota, a lease of a certain building, situate on lots 5 and 6, in block 25, in the village of St. James, known as the “court house,” for the use of the county for county purposes for the term of ninety-nine years, or as long as used by the county for the amount of one dollar, as rent for the same;

“Therefore, be it resolved, that said lease be accepted and ratified, and the sum of one dollar is hereby appropriated out of the general fund, to be paid to the trustees of the village of St. James, as a consideration for said lease.”

THE COUNTY OFFICIAL PAPER.

January session of 1879 - At this session of the board of county commissioners they selected the Madelia Times as the official paper of Watonwan county for the ensuing year. At the same meeting the commissioners appointed William R. Marvin as a committeeman to prepare plans and make estimates for a vault at the court house and report same at the next meeting of the board. The forty-first school district was set off at this meeting. The county auditor was instructed to insure the court house in the sum of one thousand dollars for one year.

Parties at Madelia were granted a saloon license for twenty-five dollars at the same meeting. The school superintendent's salary was fixed at four hundred dollars a year. The St. James Journal and Madelia Times put in their bids for the county printing for the ensuing year. Sheriff James Glispin was allowed his bill for extra expense incurred in the capture of the famous bandits, the Younger brothers, of the Northfield bank robbery episode. The bill was $54.55, and was vouched for by the county attorney. The official fees collected in this county in 1879 were: Clerk of the district court, $763; register of deeds, $613; sheriff, $722.

March, 1881, session - The county commissioners appointed a committee to superintend the construction of a fire - proof vault for the county's It was also ordered at that session that the block containing the courthouse in St. James be fenced; that the contract be awarded to James Faren at sixty dollars, he to furnish all material.

County Treasurer M. K. Armstrong was on hand and gave bond in the sum of fifteen thousand dollars. He was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the death of former Treasurer James Torson. Nothing of much note transpired during the year 1882. In 1883 the county board was composed of these gentlemen: Shillitto, Gove, Olson, Stenburg and Uhlhorn. In July, 1883, County Treasurer M. E. Dunn was suspended by the order of the governor of Minnesota, after which the county commissioners appointed Andrew S. Mellgren as county treasurer. Treasurer Dunn was a defaulter and was exposed by the public examination of his records. The story of the record is about as follows: The bondsmen of M. E. Dunn, by their attorney, J. W. Seager, appeared before the board and offered to pay fifty per cent. of the actual defalcation of the said Dunn as county treasurer.

The following resolution was offered: “Whereas, it appears that M. E. Dunn, late treasurer of Watonwan county, is a defaulter on the general bond as treasurer to the amount of $5,889.37, and, whereas, the sureties on such bond have made a proposition to pay fifty per cent. of the actual defalcation, in consideration of being released from further liability on said bond;

“Therefore, be it resolved, that such proposition be accepted and said bondsmen released from said bond on the payment of such fifty per cent. into the treasury of said county within thirty days from date, but such re lease is not to prevent in any manner, the collection of the balance of such defalcation from said M. E. Dunn as such principal.”

The following resolution was then passed by the board:

“Whereas, it appears that Martin E. Dunn, late treasurer of Watonwan county, is charged with the sum of $5,889.37 in funds collected by him, as taxes as such treasurer, and that he has failed to make return and settle therefor as provided by law, and that he has absconded with said money so collected;

“Therefore, it is hereby ordered that the county auditor shall cause action to be instituted against said Martin E. Dunn, on the bond as such treasurer, to recover any sum that may be due thereon to said county.” This resolution was unanimously adopted by the members of the board of county commissioners.

SALARIES AND BONDS.

At the meeting of the county commissioners, January 2, 1884, the members were: Messrs. Shillitto, Olson, Stenburg, Uhlhorn and Fanning. At this meeting the following record appears concerning salaries and bonds for the several county officers of Watonwan county: The county treasurer was to give bonds in the sum of fifteen thousand dollars; the auditor of the county in the sum of five thousand dollars; the register of deeds in the sum of five thousand dollars; the county attorney in the sum of one thousand dollars; clerk of the district court bonds in the sum of one thousand dollars; the coroner in the sum of one thousand dollars.

The county attorney was to have a salary of three hundred dollars a year and the county superintendent of schools was to have four hundred and ten dollars, but this was changed in 1885 to ten dollars per school district in the county.

In 1886 the commissioners raised the liquor license in this county to seventy-five dollars.

At the board meeting, March, 1887, the county commissioners appointed a committee to re-shingle the court house and to make needed repairs about the buildings. Thad. Kirk was appointed coroner by the board, July, 1887, and at his death, in July, the same year, they appointed Dr. James M. Smith to fill the vacancy caused by his death.

Nothing of general public interest transpired on the board of county commissioners during the years intervening between 1887 and 1891.

HISTORY OF THE COURT HOUSES.

The first court house in Watonwan county was located in the village of Madelia, on the lot just east of the Mutual Insurance building. The building was a frame structure and rather pretentious for that time. The local attorneys had their offices in this building. Fire destroyed this building. No sooner had the building burned than the citizens of Madelia were planning for another, because already they had fears lest in the near future the question of removal might come up. Joseph Flanders came to the rescue and built the brick building, now occupied by C. J. Eide, Lodes' Ideal Restaurant, McGovern's electrical shop and the Independent Order of Odd Fellow's, to be used for court house purposes. The text of the lease given by Mr. Flanders to the county commissioners is here produced in part: “I do hereby certify that on the 14th day of October, 1873, J. Flanders and Mary, his wife, made and executed and delivered to the commissioners of Watonwan county, Minnesota, a lease, in due and proper form wherein and whereby the said Flanders and wife conveyed to said commissioners and to their successors in office for the use of said county, the following described premises: One room on the lower floor of the brick building, now owned by said lessors and situated on lot 5, in block 3, in Flanders’ Addition, town of Madelia, together with fireproof vault adjacent to and connected with said room; also the main hall in second story of said building, together with approaches, fixtures and privileges thereunto belonging, or in any wise appertaining; to have and to hold the same unto the said commissioners and their successors in office for and during the full term of ten (10) years from and after the first day of November, 1873, or so long as the same may be needed for county purposes, not exceeding said term of ten years.”

An editorial that appeared in the Madelia Times, 1875, says: “One of the evidences of the dictatorial spirit with which J. Flanders attempts to run this county, subservient to his arbitrary will, is evidenced by the manner in which he put the county offices out of possession of the rooms, whose use belongs to the county, and to no one else, for county purposes under a lease of ten years, or so long as it may be needed for said purposes, by the county seat remaining at this place. It is a shame and a disgrace that our county officers should be even asked to vacate the apartments provided for them by the said lease, which was accepted by the county board and put on record, and be moved into another room, which is not well lighted, to suit the caprice of one dictating official, simply that he may use the room which rightfully belongs to the county, to accomplish selfish ends. Still worse than this, however, a part of the officers were not even requested to move, but without being consulted and in their absence, their desks, books and papers were removed.”'

THE PRESENT COURT HOUSE.

On February 2, 1891, the first mention in the records of the county, concerning a new court house was made when the following resolution was passed by the county board:

“Whereas, the building now used as a court house is inadequate and unsuitable for the transaction of the county's business and the safe keeping of the county records; Therefore, Resolved, by the board of county commissioners of Watonwan county, Minnesota, that by virtue of the power con ferred upon us by sections 86 and 110, chapter 8, of the General Assembly of 1878, we proceed to build a new court house for said Watonwan county.

“Resolved, that our members in the Legislature are hereby requested to secure the passage of a law authorizing the issue of bonds of said county in the sum of thirty thousand dollars for the purpose of building a new court house. The question of such bonds to be submitted to a vote of the quali fied electors of said county at the annual election of the towns and villages to be held March 10th, 1891. The first of said bonds to become due five years after its issue and to be paid at the rate of three thousand dollars per annum until all said bonds are paid off.”

The county commissioners in 1895 were as follow: Messrs. Crowley, Busser, Lindley, Swanson and Melheim. On March 4, 1895, this board of commissioners advertised for bids for the sale of thirty thousand dollars worth of county bonds for the erection of the new court house and ordered bonds, the same inserted in the newspapers, said bids to be opened on April 15, that year.

At the April session of the board in 1895, the following resolution was passed: Resolved, that we issue bonds as commissioners of Watonwan county in the sum of thirty thousand dollars, bearing five per cent. Interest, payable as follows: Ten thousand dollars, five years from date of issue; ten thousand, ten years from date of issue; and ten thousand, fifteen years from date of issue. Bonds to be issued in denominations of one thousand dollars each and for the purpose of erecting and finishing a court house for the said county of Watonwan, Minnesota, under authority of chapter 476, of the special laws of the state of Minnesota, for the year 1891.

The board then proceeded to open and consider bids, as secured for the purchase of thirty thousand dollars in court house bonds, to be issued July 1, 1895. Bids came in from all quarters of the country, as will be seen by the list of bidders given: Marion Lewis & Company, Chicago, $30,463; W. J. Hayes & Son, Cleveland, Ohio, $29,705; Campbell, Wild & Company, Anderson, Indiana, $30,000; E. W. Peet & Company, St. Paul, $ 30,000; Z. T. Lewis, Dayton, Ohio, $30,325; Seymour Barto & Company, New York City, $30,431.51; George H. Marsh, Mankato, Minnesota, $10,210, for the fifteen-year bonds, $10,150 for the ten-year bonds; Farson Leach & Company, Chicago, $30,150; Farmers' and Merchants' Savings Bank, Minneapolis, $31,261; J. D. Cleghorn & Company, Minneapolis, $30,947; N. W. Harris & Company, Chicago, $30,790; First National Bank, St. Paul, $30,000; First National Bank, Chicago, $30,790; Trobridge & Company, Chicago, $30,456. The board accepted the bid of the Farmers' and Merchants' Bank of Minneapolis, at $31,261. They then began the erec tion of the new court house, as presented by fifteen or more architects and building firms.

April 16, 1895 - The board met again to go over the plans and hear from various architects their explanation of specifications. They continued meeting and adjourning until April 19, when it was moved and carried unanimously that the plans and specifications of H. C. Gerlock, of Mankato, be accepted, and that he be engaged to draw complete plans and specifications for the new court house. About this date the commissioners selected five banks in the county as depositories for the county's funds.

May 22, 1895 - Bids for building the court house opened. There were five firms from Mankato, one at St. James, seven from St. Paul and Minnesota, one from Blue Earth City, one from Stillwater.. These fifteen bids ranged from $ 30,700 to $ 43.700.

May 23, 1895 - Resolved, That we, as the board of county commissioners of Watonwan county, do and hereby accept the bid of Klemschmidt Brothers, of Mankato, Minnesota, in the sum of $30,700, for the erection and construction of the new court house to be erected in the village of St. James, according to plans and specifications prepared by H. C. Gerlock, architect. The same day the county commissioners viewed the nineteen bids for furnishing the steam -heating plant, and finally selected the bid of the Pond and Hasey Company, of Minneapolis, which firm agreed to execute the work for the sum of $2,390. At the same session the board instructed the county auditor to notify different manufacturers that contracts would be let for the vault and steel work of the court house to be built, and that the bids would be viewed at the July session of the board, at St. James.

July 11, 1895 - The board of commissioners let the contract for vaults to the new court house. They had four bidders and accepted the one made by the Specialty Manufacturing Company, of Rochester, New York, in the sum of $ 1,218.65, and this was to include all metal and steel fixtures, as per plans and specifications submitted. The bids for all office furniture and fixtures were opened from many companies. The board of commissioners took the bid at $2,029 of a Minneapolis firm, known as the Office and School Furniture Company. Thus far the contracts let for the building and fix tures amounted to $36,337, and early in 1896 the commissioners provided electric lights for the court house at an expense of $500.

VOTE ON COURT HOUSE BOND ISSUE IN 1892.

When the people of this county voted for the issuing of bonds with which to erect a new court house in 1892, the sentiment was against such measure, as is seen by the following vote in the several townships:

VOTE ON THE SAME QUESTION, 1878.

TOWNSHIP . . . FOR . . . AGAINST

Rosendale . . . - - . . . 41
Antrim . . . - - . . . 85
Fieldon . . . - - . . . 51
Madelia . . . - - . . . 56
Riverdale . . . 2 . . . 43
Nelson . . . 6 . . . 58
Odin . . . 6 . . . 58
Adrian . . . 5 . . . 32
Long Lake . . . 25 . . . 35
South Branch . . . 44 . . . 9
St. James . . . 35 . . . 15
Butterfield . . . 10 . . . 49
St. James Village . . . 236 . . . 02
_____
Totals . . . 396 . . . 516

COURT HOUSE BOND ISSUE, 1895.

By townships the vote on the bond issue which resulted in the erection of the present magnificent temple of justice, was as follows, the same being voted on at the March election, 1895:

TOWNSHIP . . . FOR . . . AGAINST

St. James village . . . 414 . . . - -
St. James township . . . 60 . . . 12
Madelia village . . . 56 . . . 241
Madelia township . . . 3 . . . 63
Odin township . . . 8 . . . 43
South Branch township . . . 51 . . . 3
RIverdale township . . . 72 . . . 12
Adrian township . . . 34 . . . 17
Butterfield village . . . 11 . . . 16
Butterfield township . . . 18 . . . 32
Rosendale township . . . 44 . . . 14
Nelson township . . . 43 . . . 19
Long Lake township . . . 39 . . . 20
Atrim township . . . - - . . . 54
Majority for bonds . . . 222

THE JAIL AND CARING FOR THE POOR.

Formerly this county used the city jail for keeping its few prisoners in, but when the present court house was built a few cells or steel cages were constructed in the basem*nt of the building, for county jail purposes, but long ago this arrangement was declared unsanitary and by the authorities condemned, since which time this has not been used, but prisoners have been taken to Mankato for safe keeping, until tried. It is thought now that the county commissioners made a mistake when building the present court house that they did not seek to purchase some of the adjoining property on which a suitable jail and sheriff's house could have been erected at some later date. Now the property is materially advanced in value.

Watonwan county has never had a “poor farm ” or poor house, as so many of the sister counties have. It being a smaller county, the authorities have believed it less expensive to care for the few unfortunate poor in other ways, each township, in a way paying for this item. A few of the poor are kept at the St. James hospital, as they are ailing bodily and can be better cared for there than in private homes.

FINANCES IN JULY, 1897.

The following appears of record in the minutes of the proceedings of the county commissioners in July, 1897:

County Treasurer Dr.
To balance shown by auditor's books, July 10, 1897 - - - $18,399.43
To taxes collected since July, 1897 - - - $6.81
_____
Total - - - $ 18,406.24

County Treasurer Cr.
By deposits in First National Bank, St. James - - - $3,774.61
By deposits in Old Bank, St. James - - - $3,810.64
By deposits in Citizens Bank, St. James - - - $2,575.28
By deposits in State Watonwan County Bank, Madelia - - - $4,165.62
By school warrants paid - - - $96.98
By school warrants on hand - - - $63.50
By town warrants on hand - - - $75.50
By cash on hand - - - $6.82
_____
Total - - - $18,406.24

In July, 1902, the commissioners caused cement sidewalks to be laid around the court house, at sixteen and one- third cents per square foot. This contract was awarded to Joseph Schmidt.

In 1903 the county school superintendent's salary was raised to twelve dollars for each school district within the county; prior to that date the salary had been only ten dollars per school district.

June, 1907. - At a meeting of the county commissioners they voted to borrow thirty-five thousand dollars of the state of Minnesota by giving five bonds of seven thousand dollars each, drawing three per cent. This loan was for the purpose of constructing “Ditch No. 4,” of Watonwan county.

The salary of the county superintendent of schools was raised again in 1913 to fifteen dollars per school district, payable monthly.

At the January meeting in 1913 the board passed the following resolution: “Moved and seconded, that the board of county commissioners of Watonwan county extend to George Busser a vote of thanks for his faithful services as county commissioner for the last twenty years.

LAST FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

The county auditor's financial statement for July, 1915, is as follows:
Cash in treasury, $26,352.98, and in bridge and road fund, $ 5,669. 12.
Total resources, $32,022.10, is divided in following funds:
Tax collection fund - - - $2,179.12
County revenue fund - - - $3,775.25
County poor fund - - - $1,695.25
County ditch fund - - - $18,383.34
School district fund - - - $1,088.11
Town and village fund - - - $3,241.13
State lands fund - - - $40.80
State loan fund - - - $1,068.93
Contingent fund - - - $298.84
State revenue and school fund - - - $113.48
Sundries - - - $137.85
_____
Total - - - $32,022.10

CASH DEPOSITS.

The county had cash deposited in July, 1915, in banks as follows:
In the First National Bank of St. James - - - $2,902.31
In the Security Bank of St. James - - - $1,469.10
In Citizens National Bank, St. James - - - $1,563.44
In Citizens National Bank (time deposits) - - - $4,000.00
In First National Bank, Madelia - - - $1,761.71
In State Bank of Butterfield - - - $1,367.15
In State Bank of Butterfield (time deposits) - - - $3,000.00
In Peoples State Bank, Butterfield - - - $837.97
In State Bank of Darfur - - - $764.30
In Merchants State Bank, Lewisville - - - $1,303.79
In State Bank, Madelia - - - $1,778.23
In Odin State Bank - - - $1,031.38
In Odin State Bank (time deposits) - - - $3,000.00
In State Bank of La Salle - - - $1,411.74

ASSESSED VALUATIONS IN 1880 AND 1890.

The assessed valuation of real estate in Watonwan county in 1880 was $756,000; in 1890 it was $1,715,000.

The personal property valuation was in 1880, $362,000 and in 1890 it was $449,000.

NUMBER OF BUILDINGS ASSESSED IN 1894.

The number of buildings assessed in 1894 in the various precincts of this county were as follows: In Madelia township ninety-nine; Fieldon township, ninety-eight; Antrim township, one hundred and six; South Branch, township, ninety-nine; Rosendale township, ninety-seven; Riverdale township, one hundred and twenty-five; Nelson, one hundred and twenty-four; St. James, eighty-seven; Long Lake township, ninety-nine; Odin township, ninety-four; Butterfield township, sixty-eight; Adrian township, ninety; Madelia village, two hundred and twenty-five; St. James village, three hundred and twenty-seven. This was a total of seventeen hundred and sixty-nine buildings assessed in this county at the date named above.

ASSESSED VALUATIONS IN 1915-16.

The records in the county auditor's office show the assessed valuations in Watonwan county in 1915-16 to have been as follows by townships and corporations:

Madelia township - - - $592,863
Adrian township - - - $600,767
Fieldon township - - - $584,207
Madelia village - - - $461,494
Antrim township - - - $607,726
Lewisville village - - - $71,176
South Branch township - - - $655,516
Ormsby village - - - $25,803
Rosendale township - - - $672,131
Buterfield village - - - $88,141
Riverdale township - - - $704,297
Odin village - - - $54,203
Nelson township - - - $628,181
Darfus village - - - $28,579
St. James township - - - $581,068 St.
James City - - - $735,189
Long Lake township - - - $597,797
Odin township - - - $544,660
Butterfield township - - - $630,170
_____
Total - - - $8,863,968

Out of the above total valuation, as per assessment, $1,282,845 was for personal property. Land is usually assessed at about one-third of its actual value in this county. Cash is taxed at three dollars on a thousand dollars.

In comparison the following is appended: In 1881 the total valuation of the county was $1,134,000; in 1885 it was $1,406,000; in 1890 it was $2,349,000; in 1894 it had reached $ 2,979,000; and in 1900 it was placed at $ 3,719,000.TREASURY BURGLARIZED.

The county treasury was broken into in November, 1893, when the safe was kept in the old frame court house, and the sum of five dollars in small change was all that was obtained by the thief. This was under County Treasurer Mellgren's administration.

BONDS PAID OFF.

The last of the county's bonds were paid off in July, 1910, the amount being ten thousand dollars.

DRAINAGE.

Watonwan county, for the most part, is quite flat and has much wet, swampy land within its borders. This land is composed of the richest, most fertile soil of almost any in the world, when once properly drained of its surplus surface water. The soil is deep, black loam which has no superior for production of crops of any grain or grass plant that is known to this country. It is only since 1905 that much attention has been paid to the proper drainage of these lands. Owing to the thousands of lakes and hun dreds of thousands of marshes found in the state of Minnesota, a system of state-wide systematic drainage was set on foot a few years ago by both state and county authorities. As it now stands, boards of county commissioners and district courts have the power to construct ditches for the purpose of draining swamps, or for the changing the course of any natural or other water course. In certain cases they may also drain meandered lakes and in all cases may drain the overflow water from any meandered lake. Petition is made to the board of county commissioners and district court, which together with a bond is filed with auditor of clerk of the district court, whereupon the board through the auditor of the county and the district court through the clerk thereof gives notice of the filing of a petition and of a time and a place where a hearing may be had thereon. The board or district court also appoints an engineer who gives a bond and who makes a survey of the proposed ditch and reports the same to the board. Such engineer makes an estimate of the cost of such ditch; the board or district court appoints three disinterested freeholders who view the same and determine benefits and damages to each person whose land is affected thereby. Notice of the same is given to all parties interested and on the hearing of the board of county commissioners or district court, determine whether such ditch shall be established. An appeal lies only by an order of the board determining the amount of benefits to any tract of land, or the amount of damages or refusing to establish such ditch. On appeal. the question of damages or benefits is tried in the district court of the county wherein the ditch lies, as actions for the recovery of money. Upon the filing of the order to establish the ditch the county auditor is required to let a contract for the construction thereof. Such contractor is required to give a bond and the cost of such ditch and expenses is assessed against the lands benefited thereby. In order to defray the cost of constructing the same in counties not financially able to pay for the same, each county in the state is authorized to issue bonds therefor at a rate of interest not exceeding six per cent. and which become due and payable not later than twenty years from the date of their issue. A statement of benefits assessed made by the auditor is filed in the office of the register of deeds and thereby a lien is filed against each tract of land mentioned therein. Payments may be made in ten equal annual installments with six per cent. added on those deferred.

The lands of the state may be drained, and an appropriation has been made by the Legislature for paying the benefits assessed against the state thereunder.

Where a ditch will affect lands in more than one county a judicial ditch may be established. The same may be done on order of the district court after procedure similar to that provided for the establishment of county ditches. The law also provides for the establishment of town ditches in certain cases.

Municipal incorporations may be assessed for drainage, but not railroad corporations. The state of Minnesota is authorized to purchase the bonds to counties issued for the construction of ditches and when sold to the state such bonds bear four per cent. interest. A board composed of the governor, secretary of state and the auditor constitute a state drainage board. This has charge of state lands. Under the law of 1915 the county commissioners are authorized to construct bridges across state ditches where they cross town wards.

There are now many large ditches in operation within this county, all having been constructed on some one or other of the plans above described. When all parts of the county are drained by this system of ditches and properly tiled by the land-owners, this county will certainly present a beautiful appearance as one views the rural landscape. Large amounts of county and township drainage are being done at this time and miles of heavy cement tiles are taking the place of the old- fashioned wooden culverts and plank bridges.

CHAPTER V. COUNTY AND STATE REPRESENTATION.

Source: History of Cottonwood and Watonwan Counties, Minnesota; Volume I, Illustrated; B. F. Bowen & Co.. (1916) transcribed by Richard Ramos

PRESIDENTIAL VOTE FOR WATONWAN COUNTY.

When President Lincoln ran the first time, 1860, this county had no votes, but in 1864 the county took part in the campaign, and with that election the results have been to the present time as follows, as shown by the state records:

1864 - Abraham Lincoln, Republican, 38 ballots; Gen. George B. McClellan, Democrat, 5 ballots.

1868 - U. S. Grant, Republican, 199; Horatio Seymour, Democrat, 57.

1872 - U. S. Grant, Republican, 573; Horace Greeley, Liberal Democrat, 233.

1876 - Rutherford B. Hayes, Republican, 549; Samuel J. Tilden, Democrat, 195.

1880 - (No record).

1884 - James G. Blaine, Republican, 626; Grover Cleveland, Democrat, 192; St. John, Prohibition, 8.

1888 - Benjamin Harrison, Republican, 928; Grover Cleveland, Democrat, 326.

1892 - Benjamin Harrison, Republican, 934; Grover Cleveland, Democrat, 388; James B. Weaver, Populist, 410.

1896 - William McKinley, Republican, 1,622; W. J. Bryan, Democrat, 586; Joshua Levering, Prohibition, 33.

CHAPTER VI. TOWNSHIPS OF WATONWAN COUNTY.

Source: History of Cottonwood and Watonwan Counties, Minnesota; Volume I, Illustrated; by John A. Brown & Co. (1916); tr. by mkk

ADRIAN TOWNSHIP.

Adrian township is the extreme northwestern sub-division in Watonwan county, and comprises congressional township No. 107, range 33 west. It is bounded on the north by Brown county, on the east by Nelson township, Watonwan county, on the south by Butterfield township and on the west by Cottonwood county. A branch of the Chicago & Northwestern system of railway enters the township in section 18 and leaves it, going south ward from section 33. On this is situated the village and station point of Darfur, in section 20. Adrian has several good-sized lakes, including Wood Lake, in the northeastern corner of the territory, and Cottonwood Lake, along the eastern line in section 25. The north fork of the Watonwan river courses through the township from west to east, entering from the west in section 7 and leaving it from section 12 on the east line. Another branch of the same stream flows almost parallel with the one just named. but through the lower tier of sections of the township.

ORGANIZATION.

In June, 1871, the county commissioners created the civil township known as Adrian, the same being designated as the whole of the territory embraced in congressional township 107, range 33 west, and the first election was ordered to be held at the house of Volney DeWitt. The township has always been well governed by its local officers, and is today one of the well-improved sections of the county. With railroad, market town, schools and churches the people are a happy and contented lot of good citizens. The United States census for 1910 gave the population as four hundred and eighty-one, which was a decrease from the census of 1900, which gave it as having five hundred and fifty-nine.

SETTLEMENT.

The settlement in this township was effected in about the following order: In section 2, Jonas Samuelson, Jonas Gustafson, John Wanerstrom, P. O. Swanson. In section 4, John P. Prahl, William Prahl, John Rathman and F. W. Uhlhorn. In section 6, William Arndt, Conrad Schaper, Martius Rathman and John Bratchner. In section 8, Frank Rathman, Charles Krueger, August Selzman, John Krieser and Rudolph Steinke. In section 10, Swan Englin, Charles Warner, John Johnson, D. Heppner and A. Englin. In section 12, Alex. Swanson, Swan Nelson, C. G. Samuelson. In section 14, P. Heppner, John Stoez and E. Lofgaren. In section 18, S. W. Burns, Gust Hagglund and Christian Hanson. In section 20, Fred Kline, Fred Schuman and John Rask. In section 22, J. L. Parker, W. Jenkins. In section 24, M. B. Foster, Jonas Nelson, P. Malm, John Hernaman. In section 26, E. Davis, Swen Swensen, V. Lebarre and Adrian Davis. In section 28, H. Jenzen, William Stalk, D. C. Atwell, D. Simmons. In section 30, George Irving, R. Haulse, Jerry Barrett and P. Fleming. In section 32, James McDonough, D. Anns and Ed. Sweeney. In section 34, David Ennis and M. Tarball.

HOMESTEAD ENTRIES IN ADRIAN TOWNSHIP.

Under the Homestead act, approved by Congress on May 20, 1862, the following homesteads were taken up in what is now Adrian township:

P. A. Gustafson, on certificate No. 4,237, at the land office at Tracy, lot No. 4, in section 2, township 107, range 33 west; issued by President Chester A. Arthur, November 1, 1881.

M. Heppner, certificate No. 5,081, at Tracy land office, on the south east quarter of section 22, township 107, range 33 west; issued by President Chester A. Arthur, May 15, 1884.

Ellen Bohman, certificate No. 2,667, at the New Ulm land office, the northeast half of the southeast quarter of section 12, township 107, range 33 west; issued by President U. S. Grant.

Certificate No. 5,568, to Gustaf Haglund, at the Tracy land office, the southeast quarter of section 18, township 107, range 33 west, by President Grover Cleveland, April 10, 1886.

Margareta Swanson, at the Tracy land office, the north half of the northwest quarter of section 10, township 107, range 33 west, by Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, signed January 9, 1886.

S. J. Wannerstram, on certificate No. 3,756, at the New Ulm land office, the north half of the northeast quarter of section 2, township 107, range 33 west, was homesteaded by President Rutherford B. Hayes, and by him signed on January 20, 1881.

Charles Hull, certificate No. 2,428, at the New Ulm land office, the southeast quarter of section 10, township 107, range 33 west, by President Chester A. Arthur, signed on June 20, 1882.

Gotleib Schade, certificate No. 4,469, at the Tracy land office, the south west quarter of section 8, township 107, range 33 west, by President Chester A. Arthur, signed on February 10, 1883.

Jacob Jacobson, by certificate No. 2,405, at the New Ulm land office, the southwest half of the northwest quarter of section 34, township 107, range 33 west; issued by President Rutherford B. Hayes, signed by him on February 20, 1880.

Hans Marquirson, certificate No. 2,404, on the north half of the northwest quarter of section 34, range 33 west; issued by President Ruther ford B. Hayes, signed on February 12, 1880.

Peter Newfeldt, No. 348, Tracy land office, the east half of the south west quarter of section 20, township 107, range 33 west; issued by President Chester A. Arthur, November 1, 1881. Joel Parker, certificate No. 3,929, at the New Ulm land office; issued by President Rutherford B. Hayes, signed on February 10, 1881; land in section 26, township 107, range 33 west.

Peter Falk, certificate No. 5,133, at the Tracy land office; issued by President Chester A. Arthur, signed on January 15, 1885; land in section 6, township 107, range 33 west.

Eugen Salzman, certificate No. 3,776, at the New Ulm land office; issued by President Rutherford B. Hayes, signed on January 20, 1881; land - the south half of the northwest quarter of section 8, township 107, range 33 west.

P. F. Malm, certificate No. 2,501, at the New Ulm land office, the south half of the southeast quarter of section 24, township 107, range 33 west; issued by President U. S. Grant, signed November 23, 1875.

Wesley D. Pond, south half of the southeast quarter, section 26, township 107, range 33 west; issued by President U. S. Grant, signed on October 15, 1873.

Jerry Barrett, the south half of the southeast quarter of section 30, township 107, range 33 west; issued by President Rutherford B. Hayes, signed September 10, 1880.

Ephraim Lofgren, New Ulm land office, east half of the northeast quarter of section 14, township 107, range 33 west; issued by President James A. Garfield, signed on May 3, 1881.

August Schade, New Ulm land office, the north half of the northwest quarter of section 14, township 107, range 33 west; issued by President Arthur, signed February 10, 1883.

THE VILLAGE OF DARFUR.

This village was platted in section 20, township 107, range 33 west, by the officers of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company, April 20, 1899. The platting was signed by Marvin Huhgett, president of the rail road company.

INCORPORATION.

Darfur was incorporated as a village in 1904. Its first village officers were: E. J. Wilson, president; C. F. Klein, treasurer; W. H. Hochert, recorder. The officers now serving are as follow: Thomas Englin, president; John A. Gustafson, Ed. A. Goring and A. J. Samuelson, trustees; W. Schulte, clerk.

The village now has a half mile of cement sidewalks; a fire engine and a volunteer fire company of eighteen men. So far it has needed no jail or police. The corporation has debts only to the amount of three hundred dollars. The following have served as presidents of the village: E. J. Wilson, 1904 to 1907; Theo. Kintzi, 1907 to 1910; A. Jaeger, 1910 to 1914; 0. F. Langhoff, 1914-15; Theo. Englin, 1915, and present president of Darfur village.

PRESENT BUSINESS INTERESTS.

Very little can be said of the postoffice history of the village. The amount of business is about the average of all fourth-class offices. To date there have been only two postmasters, Jacob Heppner and A. A. Jaeger, the present incumbent.

The following business interests were represented in 1916:
Auto garage - John Gustafson.
Bank - State Bank.
Barber - L. Stoutenberg.
Blacksmith - W. Buche.
Creamery - Darfur Co-operative Creamery Company.
Dray - S. Weast.
Elevator - Farmers' Co-operative Elevator Company.
General Dealer - Edward Goring, A. Jaeger.
Hardware and Implements - Englin & Samuelson.
Hotel Darfur - S. Weast, proprietor.
Lumber - C. M. Youngman Lumber Company.
Livery - S. Weast.
Stock Buyer - Darfur Stock Buyers' Association.

ANTRIM TOWNSHIP.

Antrim township is the southeastern civil township of Watonwan county. At its north is Fieldon township, at the east is Blue Earth county, at its south is Martin county and at the west is South Branch township. It is a full congressional township and hence is six miles square with thirty-six full sections. There are a few small streams, or prairie “runs” and very few lakes or ponds as compared to other sub-divisions of this county. The Minneapolis & St. Louis railroad runs on the half-section line from section 33 to section 4, and has for a station point in the township the little hamlet of Lewisville, located in section 4.

The population of the township in 1890 was 573; in 1900 it was 591, and in 1910 it was 582.

TOWNSHIP'S ORGANIZATION.

Antrim township was formed by the county commissioners in January, 1867, when the commissioners were Messrs. Kempfer, Levey and Webster. There was a petition and also a remonstrance presented the board - one asking that a new township be formed and the other in opposition thereto. It was asked in the petition for the new township that it be named “Bloomington.” It was finally agreed to form the new township and the matter of naming it was left to Joseph Flanders and B. O. Kempfer, who called it “York," but the records show that in the spring of 1868 it was being called Antrim.

FIRST SETTLEMENT.

There were several settlers in this part of the county before the days of “homesteaders.” Some remained, and many more left at the date of the Indian troubles in August, 1862, never to return. The following is a true transcript of many of the early land entries:

William S. Jones, certificate No. 4,985, at the Worthington land office, was laid on the northwest quarter of section 6, township 195, range 30 west; issued by President Rutherford B. Hayes, signed on June 15, 1880.

Alva Curtis, certificate No. 2,992, at the Jackson land office, was for a homestead in the south half of the northeast quarter of section 14, township 105, range 30 west; issued by President U. S. Grant, signed on April 15, 1874.

David Davies, certificate No. 7,272, at the Worthington land office, on the northeast quarter of section 14, township 105, range 30 west; issued by President U. S. Grant, signed on September 20, 1870.

Abbie Paine, certificate No. 6,187, at the Worthington land office, on the north half of the southwest quarter and the north half of the southeast quarter of section 4, township 105, range 30 west; issued by President Chester A. Arthur, signed on March 10, 1883.

A. D. Carnwell, certificate No. 7,427, at the Jackson land office, on the south half of the northwest quarter of section 20, township 105, range 30 west; issued by President U. S. Grant, signed on February 1, 1872.

G. A. Manston, certificate No. 4,867, at the Worthington land office, on the north half of the southeast quarter of section 6, township 105, range 30 west; issued by President Rutherford B. Hayes, signed on November 5, 1878.

W. Zinke, certificate No. 5,611, at the Worthingon land office, on the west half of the northwest quarter of section 34, township 105, range 30 west; issued by President Chester A. Arthur, signed on December 20, 1881.

W. Davis, certificate No. 2,265, at the Jackson land office, on the north west quarter of section 14, township 105, range 30 west; issued by President U. S. Grant, signed on February 1, 1873.

Karl Sexaner, certificate No. 5,616, at the Worthington land office, on the north half of the northeast quarter of section 2, township 105, range 30 west; issued by President Chester A. Arthur, signed on December 12, 1881.

K. Comstock, certificate No. 3,908, at the Worthington land office, on the west half of the northwest quarter of section 22, township 105, range 30 west; issued by President U. S. Grant, signed on March 12, 1876.

Stephen I. Comstock, certificate No. 7,781, at the Worthington land office, on the southwest quarter of section 22, township 105, range 30 west; issued by President Chester A. Arthur, signed on January 12, 1885.

Charles C. Waste, certificate No. 4,330, at the Worthington land office, on the south half of the southeast quarter of section 6, township 105, range 30 west; issued by President U. S. Grant, signed on March 1, 1877.

Carl Brasinske, certificate No. 4,620, at the Worthington land office, on the south half of the southeast quarter of section 28, township 105, range 30 west; issued by President Rutherford B. Hayes, signed on December 12, 1877.

Eli H. Richwood, No. 6,109, at the Worthington land office, the south half of the northeast quarter of section 6, township 105, range 30 west; issued by President Chester A. Arthur, signed on March 15, 1882.

Marshall Donley, certificate No. 6,202, at the Worthington land office, the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter and the northwest of the northeast quarter of section 18, township 105, range 30 west; issued by President Chester A. Arthur, signed on June 5, 1884.

Tobert Dewars, certificate No. 6,965, on the southwest quarter of section 10, township 105, range 30 west; issued by President Grover Cleveland, signed on June 31, 1885.

VILLAGE OF LEWISVILLE.

Lewisville was platted by the Interstate Land Company, May 3, 1899, in section 4, township 105, range 30 west, through the company's president, P. H. Peavey. It is situated on the north and south branch of the Omaha railroad, and is among the later villages within the county. Lewisville be came an incorporated village in 1902. The presidents of the village, in order of serving, are as follow: C. O. Nicholson, Adolph Sucker, John Mutsch, John E. Moore and C. E. Anderson.

The first officers were as follow: President, C. O. Nicholson; trustees, R. Lewis, Charles Johns, A. J. McLain; recorder, S. Taylor; treasurer, Adolph Sucker. The present officers are: President, C. Anderson; trustees, Gustav Bethke, E. G. Bethke, A. R. Grieger; recorder, A. W. Alb; treasurer, Adolph Sucker.

The town has about twenty-three blocks of cement sidewalks, a small fire engine and hose, a small jail, which is seldom used. In laying out the town an eight-acre park was arranged for, but little use has ever been made of it.

The receipts of this postoffice are double and even treble those of some other postoffices of the county, where the population of the village is approximately the same. The past year's business amounted to one thousand one hundred fifty-five dollars and eighty- two cents, exclusive of money orders. The postmasters to date are as follow: Richard Lewis, Ethel H. Moore and John E. Moore. There is one rural free delivery route.

In the summer of 1916 the business interests were represented by the following:
Auto Garage - Henry Ikier.
Bank--Merchants' State Bank.
Blacksmith - A. Albaugh, Robert Schoneck.
Barber - Elmer Olson.
Clothing - Hodapp-Nelson.
Drugs and Jewelry - John E. Moore, Lewisville Drug & Jewelry Company.
Elevator - Farmers' Elevator Company.
Furniture - Gust Bethke.
Grocer - E. E. Anderson.
General Dealer - Hillesheim & Company.
Hardware and Implements - H. C. Flitter, Greiger & Reiter.
Harness - Lewis Nagel.
Hotel - Mrs. B. Mueller.
Livery - August Sonnabend.
Lumber - Weyerhaeuser & Company.
Meat Market - Henry Keehn.
Millinery - May E. Ross Dewar.
Restaurant - Mrs. R. Albaugh.
Stock Dealers - Lewis & Dewar.
Telephone - Tri-State.
Variety Store - F. B. Mellen.

Lewisville has a population of only three hundred and fifty and is one of the real progressive towns of the county. Every citizen is in the true sense of the word a “booster.” There is complete harmony among its business men and all work to make Lewisville a real commercial center. The town is perhaps the only one in the entire county that is free from debt, a fact which does credit to the town officers.

BUTTERFIELD TOWNSHIP.

Butterfield township is on the west line of Watonwan county and is the second from the northern line of the county, with Adrian at the north, St. James at the east and Odin township at the south. It comprises congressional township 106, range 33 west. It is a well- settled township and in it is the sprightly village of Butterfield, a station on the main line of the Omaha line and the crossing of that road and the branch of the Chicago & North western line. The township is an even congressional township of thirty-six sections of land, of most excellent quality. The central branch of the Watonwan river flows to the eastward through this township, and there are a few pretty little lakes within the township, notably the ones in section 1, the one in section 28, and one in section 7. There are many beautiful farms in Butterfield township and stockraising and other branches of farming are carried on extensively.

The population of the township, exclusive of the village of Butterfield, in 1890 was 366; in 1900 it was 489 and in 1910 it was 602, according to the United States census returns.

ORGANIZATION.

Butterfield township was formed by the county commissioners at their regular meeting held in January, 1872, out of congressional township 106, range 33, and another on the same date called Odin, formed to the south of Butterfield township.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

Many of the early settlers of the central-west part of Watonwan county located on government and railroad lands in what is now Butterfield township. No memorandum has been left of the first few who claimed land in this township, but the following will give the reader a partial account of the homesteaders there:

Abraham Friesen, on the north half of the northeast quarter of section 2, township 106, range 33 west; the certificate was signed by President Chester A. Arthur, January 15, 1885.

George Bland homesteaded by certificate No. 2,310 at the New Ulm land office, the northwest of section 6, township 106, range 33 west, the same being signed by President U. S. Grant, September 15, 1874.

From the land office at Tracy the east half of the northeast quarter of section 10, township 106, range 33 west, was homesteaded on March 10, 1883, signed by President Chester A. Arthur.

Certificate No. 4,558, to Henry Bartel, was homesteaded for the southeast quarter of section 8, township 106, range 33 west, was signed by President Chester A. Arthur, February 10, 1883.

Peter Rempel, on his certificate No. 5,392, homesteaded at the Tracy land office, the southeast half of the northeast quarter of section 2, township 106, range 33 west. It was issued by President Grover Cleveland, April 27, 1885.

VILLAGE OF BUTTERFIELD.

Butterfield was platted in section 27, township 106; range 33 west, on September 13, 1880, by E. F. Drake, president of the railroad company, then styled the St. Paul & Sioux City, now the Omaha system.

The postoffice at Butterfield is the third largest in the county. The postal receipts for the last fiscal year amounted to two thousand dollars. Four rural routes serve the community from this office. The following is a list of all postmasters to date: John Remple, Ed. Woenike, John F. Enns, Alice M. Anderson and J. P. Anderson.

COMMERCIAL INTERESTS IN 1916.

The business interests of Butterfield at June, 1916, were in the hands of the following:
Auto Garage - Butterfield Auto Company.
Banks - Peoples State Bank, State Bank.
Barber - John O. Ness.
Blacksmith - Ole A. Ulvestad.
Creamery - Butterfield Creamery Company, N. C. Norensen, manager.
Drugs - J. W. Hollenitsch.
Dentist - V. V. Bele.
Elevator - Hubbard & Palmer Company, Farmers Elevator Company.
Furniture - Kintzi & Ewy.
General Dealers - Gust Miller, S. J. Sulen, P. W. Rempel.
Hotel - Butterfield.
Harness - Frank Loews.
Hardware - Kintzi & Ewy, Friesen & Holte, W. W. Rempel.
Implements - Claus Melheim, Farmers Elevator Company.
Jeweler - J. W. Hollenitsch.
Lumber - J. H. Queal and Company.
Livery - Hans E. Staaling, Carl Kramer.
Mills - St. James Milling Company, Halberson & Skjie.
Millinery - Mrs. P. W. Rempel.
Meat Market - Otto F. Langhoff.
Newspaper - The Butterfield Advocate, John W. Hubin, proprietor.
Opera House - The Butterfield.
Physician - Dr. Ole E. Hagen.
Produce Dealer - Butterfield Mercantile Company.
Restaurants - S. C. Johnston, Mrs. W. Abel.
Wagonmaker - Aug. B. Schwietert.

Although Butterfield has a population of only four hundred and twenty five, yet her progress and volume of business are equal to that of towns several times her size. Credit for these things belong almost entirely to the Commercial Club, organized in 1907 for civic and industrial purposes. Perhaps one of the most important things accomplished by the club is the securing of electric lights for the town. The present officers of the Commercial Club are as follow: President, D. E. Raney; vice-president, J. Brogger; secretary, J. O. Ness; treasurer, S. J. Sulem.

In November, 1903, Butterfield had a fire which destroyed over twenty thousand dollars worth of village property.

In 1904 there was a fire in the village which destroyed a hardware and furniture store belonging to Kintzi Brothers, and a confectionery belonging to Edw. Bergthold.

In 1916 the house of E. Brogger was partly burned and the loss was assessed at seven hundred dollars.

INCORPORATION HISTORY.

Butterfield was incorporated as a village on April 5, 1895. The following have served as presidents of the board: B. Rempel, G. A. Kintzi, J. J. Harder, A. Syverson, R. M. Kintzi, O. A. Ulvestad, S. J. Sulem.

The first village officers were as follow: B. Rempel, president; G. A. Kintzi, recorder. Those of 1916 are: S. J. Sulem, president; J. W. Hubin, recorder; E. Brogger, Frank Toews and P. W. Rempel, trustees; John Kintzi, treasurer.

The village has four miles of cement walks, two fire engines, two hose cars, a volunteer fire company of nineteen men, two cells for jail purposes in village hall, which building was erected in 1905. In 1916 there was installed by the Northern States Power Company, under a twenty- five year franchise, a complete electric lighting system for both light and power.

FIELDON TOWNSHIP.

Fieldon civil township is comprised of congressional township 106, range 30 west, and is on the eastern line of the county with Madelia township at the north, Blue Earth county at the east, Antrim township at the south and Rosendale township at the west. There are no towns or hamlets within its borders. The Fairmont and Madelia branch of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha railroad runs through sections 4, 9, 15, 21, 28 and 33, the same running directly on the half section line from north to south. The surface is mostly a level prairie plane, with a few small streams, but void of any lakes of any considerable size.

This township had a population in 1890 of 487; in 1900 it had 547 and according to the census in 1910 it had a population of 535.

ORGANIZATION HISTORY.

In September, 1868, at the meeting of the board of county commissioners that body changed the name of Wakefield township to that of Fieldon. Wakefield had been organized by the commissioners at the March, 1868, meeting from township 106, range 30 west, but for some reason was in September of that year changed to Fieldon, by which it is still known.

FIRST SETTLERS.

Among the very earliest settlers in this township were these: Nick McNamara, Dan Griffen, Charles McLaughlin, Martin Burk, Herman Madson, John Madson, Thomas Yeagen, who was burned to death in a prairie fire.

HOMESTEAD ENTRIES IN FIELDON TOWNSHIP.

Charles Clawman, by certificate held by him and presented at the land office in New Ulm, homesteaded the northeast quarter of section 28, township 106, range 30 west, the same being signed by President U. S. Grant July 10, 1871.

Joseph Lehner, at the New Ulm land office, homesteaded the east half of the southwest quarter of section 8, township 106, range 30 west, the same being issued by U. S. Grant, President of the United States, March 1, 1876.

Peter Hoffelt, by certificate No. 1,932, at the New Ulm land office, secured a homestead right to the west half of the northwest quarter of sec tion 4, township 106, range 30 west, the same being signed by President Grover Cleveland, April 27, 1885.

Under the same act of Congress, warrant No. 94,881, for a quarter of section 14, township 106, range 30, was received at St. Peter land office and signed by President Abraham Lincoln. It was issued to Josephus Weter, private in Captain Davis's company, New York militiamen, in the War of 1812. This land is in Fieldon township.

LONG LAKE TOWNSHIP.

Long Lake township is comprised of congressional township 105, range 32 west. It is on the southern border line of the county, with Odin township at the west, St. James at the north and South Branch township at the east. It is six miles square and contains thirty-six full sections. It is a prairie township, but has three good-sized lakes and several smaller water sheets, or prairie ponds, which, with the cultivation and improvement of the country, are fast disappearing from view. The lakes referred to are Kansas Lake, Long Lake, Mary Lake. These are all in the northern half of the township, the former being situated in the northwest part, while the other two are in the northeastern portion. These prairie lakes abound in fish and have considerable improvement around their shores and afford a nice, summer resort for the citizens of St. James and surrounding country. In the exact center of the township is found a good town hall. The villages of the township are Echols and Ormsby, the former in the northern part and the latter on the county line south and extends over into Martin county.

The population of the township in 1890 was 538; in 1900 it was 650 and in the United States census reports for 1910 it was given as 583.

The Minneapolis & St. Louis railroad traverses the township from north to south, through sections 3, 9, 10, 16, 21, 28 and 33, with stations at Ormsby and Echols.

ORGANIZATION.

Long Lake township was organized in March, 1868, from township 105, ranges 32 and 33 west. At the same meeting old “Wakefield” township was created at the same meeting, but is now known as Fieldon.

FIRST SETTLEMENT.

The first settlement here was effected by Hans Johnson, who was born in 1821 in Norway, and settled in this township in 1858. Another very early settler was George Johnson.

In 1857 Gabriel Ellingson and Iver Sole settled in Long Lake. Hans Olson Hegg also took a claim, but left soon after, selling to Hans Thompson. Mr. Hegg returned after the close of the Indian troubles.

In 1857 arrived Jacob Tharal and wife, Jens and Thor Torsen, with their mother, Marie Torsen Overig; Hans Pedersen and wife, Rand; Sivert Nicolai and Nils Fjelstad. Salra Torgenson and wife; Lars Havlorson Longmeyer came in 1861; John and Simon Poland came in 1862.

HOMESTEAD ENTRIES IN LONG LAKE TOWNSHIP.

Under the act of congress approved on May 20, 1862, the following homesteads were taken up and proved up on at the end of the five years required by that act:

Peter P. Moe, certificate No. 6,974, at the Worthington land office, was laid on the west half of the northwest quarter of section 12, township 105, range 32 west, issued by President Grover Cleveland, and signed on July 27, 1885.

Nels Gunderson, certificate No. 2,600 at the Jackson land office, was laid on the northeast quarter of section 20, township 105, range 32, west, issued by President Chester A. Arthur, signed on June 5, 1884.

Peter Lee, certificate No. 6,718, at the Worthington land office, on the east half of the southeast quarter of section 2, township 105, range 32 west, issued by President Chester A. Arthur, signed on June 5, 1884.

John Turton, certificate No. 4,832, at the Worthington land office was land on the west half of the northeast quarter of section 12, township 105, range 32 west, issued by President Rutherford B. Hayes, signed on November 5, 1878.

INDIAN ATROCITIES.

Simon Poland was wounded and his step-son, Christian, killed by the Indians in 1863. His wife and son Tosten were also severely wounded and left for dead, but recovered and fled with other settlers to Butternut Valley. Others who settled here in the early sixties were Mads Olson Boxrud, Herman Madson, John and Haakon Martin and Ole Palune. To give an idea of the hardships which the settlers of that time had to endure, it is only necessary to say that there was not a foot of railroad in Minnesota in the early fifties. The nearest flouring-mills were at Kasota. Mankato and South Bend were the nearest trading points. When it was necessary to make a long journey, several would go together so that when any bad place had to be crossed, three or four ox teams could be hitched to one wagon and thus pull it through. There were no bridges over the Blue Earth or Waton wan rivers, and scarcely a ford; and as for roads, the people chose the lines of least resistance. There was a mail route between Mankato and Sioux City, and a postoffice was established in the Rosendale settlement, Nils Torsen being the first postmaster. Jens Torsen was the first mail carrier; afterwards Hans Johnson Berdell and Jacob Thorvaldson acted in the same capacity. In the summer time the mail carrier rode a pony. When the water was too deep to wade, he fastened the mail sack over his head, drove the horse into the water, clinging to his neck with one hand and paddling with the other, and thus swimming across. In winter the carriers generally used snow shoes or skis, for the weather was too uncertain to permit the use of horses, and there were long stretches of country where no shelter was to be found. When the mail carrier was overtaken by a snowstorm he burrowed in a snow bank and stayed there until the storm was over. There was a settlement at Jackson and another at Spirit Lake. At these two stations the carriers stopped to leave and to receive mail. Between stations they stopped at Indian encampments for food and rest.

In the spring of 1857 news came from Spirit Lake and Jackson that the Indians had risen and killed many people. A great many people living in the vicinity of Long Lake fled to Isaac Slocum's place and took refuge in his log house. However, no Indians appeared at this time. This was called the Impadutahs war, as that chief led the Indians. In the fall of 1862 came the time of trial for the settlers, as the Indians under the leader ship of Little Crow began to attack the frontier settlements in Minnesota and Iowa, murdering and plundering and committing frightful outrages. News of the attack on New Ulm reached the settlers and their thoughts were turned to defense or flight. The Indians were sulking in the woods and in the tall prairie grass, ready to shoot down any defenseless settlers whom they might see. At Nils Torsen's place there were gathered Jacob Thorvaldsen, George Knudson and Maria Torsen Overig. Two Indians emerged from the woods nearby and opened fire, wounding Knudson in the arm. While the Indians were reloading, Knudson and Mrs. Overig ran for a cornfield and hid there until it became dark. Under cover of the night they made their way to Madelia and took refuge with Ole Jorgenson. Thorvaldsen ran for the timber and followed the river to Madelia expecting to be shot by the Indians at any moment. Ole Jorgenson and Knud Knudson went to Knud Larson's after horses and on the way were shot at by two Indians, Jorgenson receiv ing a bullet in his left shoulder and a slight wound in the left cheek.

While the Indians were reloading Ole and Knud ran behind a knoll and succeeded in concealing themselves so that the savages passed by without seeing them. Jorgenson ran to a slough where there was tall grass and lay on his back in the water with only his head sticking out. Knudson hid in another patch of grass and reached Madelia the next day. Jorgenson remained longer in hiding and was picked up by some soldiers on their way to Madelia to aid the settlers in defense against the Indians. When he first saw the soldiers he took them for Indians and fled, but, perceiving his mistake, returned and went with them to Madelia. The Indians stole four horses from Knud Larsen and one from Ole Jorgenson.

STOCKADES ERECTED.

Afterwards more soldiers were sent and more stockades were built at Madelia, Lake Hanska, North Branch; Ole Jorgenson's house was used as a fort by the soldiers and another stockade was built in Long Lake, on the south side of the river. The troops having established posts and patrols through the country, the settlers took courage and returned to their homes, believing that the Indians would not venture to renew their attack in the face of so formidable a force. This was, however, a mistaken notion; for quite unexpectedly the redskins made a raid on Long Lake in 1863, killing five men and wounding several others and taking whatever property was of value to them. Ole Palme and Gabriel Ellingson had ventured to Mink Lake to trap and fish and on their return were attacked by the Indians near Kansas Lake and slain. Ole Palme's head was severed from his body and set on a pole. Troops afterwards found the head and buried it with the mangled body. Guldorand Palmeson was killed near Long Lake. He had a fish spear with him at the time and the savages took it and ran it through his body. His wife took their three children and fled to the stockades. In order to reach it she was obliged to cross the river on a fallen log, carrying a child under each arm and one clinging about her neck and shoulders. The Indians saw her, but forbore to pursue. They laughed at the sight and let the fugitives go unharmed.

Ole Palme's children, Petera, Taar and four-year-old Inga came crying to Lars Halvorson Langemyers early one morning and reported that the Indians were coming. Lars ran to the stable for a horse, but found that all his horses had been taken. He with his wife and the Palme children then started on foot for the fort. The Indians met them on the way, but did not harm them, although they plundered the house and destroyed all the property.

Salve Torgenson had gone away from home, but left two soldiers, one of whom was named Monson, to protect his family. Some Indians came to the place early on the morning of April 19, before anyone was out of bed and fired through the windows, severely wounding Mrs. Torgenson. The soldiers sprang from their beds to get their weapons, but before they could make any resistance Monson was shot dead and the other man wounded. The wounded soldier, however, got his musket and succeeded in frightening the skulking redskins away. Mrs. Torgerson's wound was dangerous and she came near bleeding to death before she could reach the fort, a quarter of a mile away. With the aid of the soldier, himself wounded, she succeeded in reaching the fort, and it was not long before she was strong and well again.

EARLY CONDITIONS DESCRIBED.
By George M. Johnson.

Away back in the years of 1857 and 1858, while the territory now included in Watonwan county was still a part of Brown county, these beautiful prairies lay waving with green grass and wild flowers, without a human habitation, save an occasional Indian tepee. There was nothing to indicate the advent of the white man except the stakes and mounds erected by the government surveyors to mark the divisions of the land, which was then being divided into sections and quarter sections by a party of men among whom was M. K. Armstrong.

The state had just been admitted to the union and there was at that time a prevailing spirit of adventure and speculation. Early in 1858 there came to these parts a colony of young Englishmen who claimed all the timbered lands and proposed to found a great city at the end of Long Lake and call it New London, or New Glory, or some other high-sounding name, to attract more settlers. They proposed to build a canal from the lake to the river and provide it with locks to conserve the water and use the lake as a huge dam to run a saw-mill, a grist-mill and other machinery.

There were at this time a few settlers around the present site of Madelia and also along the river in Rosendale and Riverdale townships. The rest of the territory was practically a wilderness. And as the Indians only made periodic visits each spring and fall for the purpose of hunting and fishing, the colonists were for the most part “monarchs of all they surveyed.” One of these colonists, whose name was John Kensie, was a scholarly gentleman and of a well-to-do family in England. He had a wife and three or four children and built a log hut on the south side of the grove, by the lake, which still bears his name, though in a distorted form, “Kansas Lake.” The original and historic name is Kensie's Lake.

The other English colonists, who were nearly all unmarried men, with out property and quite unwilling to work, were soon reduced to the necessity of subsisting on corn bread and gopher soup, and as these substances became luxuries, the colonists were soon compelled to seek “other fields and pastures green ” and the contemplated city - which was never built-with its high sounding name, fell flat.

John Kensie, who remained at Kensie's Lake long enough to make many friends among the sturdy Norwegian settlers, who soon occupied the lands vacated by his English comrades, was the last to vacate his claim - about 1860. During the winter of 1859 and 1860 this venerable gentleman was employed as teacher among the settlers, and was the first teacher in this part of the county.

NORWEGIAN SETTLERS.

The Norwegian settlers did not come in a colony, but in families, one at a time. Hans Johnson's family being the first, in 1858, was permitted by the colonists to settle on section 21, where there was timber enough for one family. Other settlers soon moved in and took up the vacated claims of the colonists along the river. They brought with them a yoke of oxen, a cow or two, a wagon and some household goods. They built log huts and log stables and proceeded to till the soil on a small scale, as best they could, They raised sod corn and potatoes, and in later years wheat and garden truck, including the famous “homestead tobacco,” whose flavor was only to be experienced to be remembered. The settlers had no knowledge of the method of curing the tobacco leaves and although they grew both long and broad and looked very fine, they had a raw, pungent flavor that was abominable.

Fish and wild game such as geese, ducks and prairie chickens were more abundant than now, and formed a considerable part of the food supply for the settlers. The rabbit which is now so common, was entirely unknown. Lack of ammunition was a great drawback. The settlers had nothing to sell except a few raw furs. Mankato was the nearest place where supplies could be bought, and it took from five to seven days with an ox team to make the round trip. These trips had to be limited to about two in a year and the strictest economy had to be practiced in everything. Tea was substituted by native herbs and coffee by roasted wheat, rye, corn, etc. Twenty-five cents worth of sugar was often a year's supply for a family.

Tallow dips for candles and a cotton wick with a little lard in a shallow dish for a lamp, were the only means of lighting. The men wore home made shoes, shirts and pantaloons, while calico dresses were “all in style” among the women. Yet, the settlers, under these conditions, were quite happy, for they were all equal and free. They visited and loved one another, as good neighbors should. They had no rent to pay, no burdensome taxes and no mortgages to worry over. They were not held up by the coal trust and had no high tariff to pay on anything. They certainly had good reasons for being happy, which the present generation does not possess.

In 1860 the settlers caught the spirit of the national campaign and songs of “Old Abe” and Stephen A. Douglas were heard in every hut. “Old Abe” was the hero and Stephen A. Douglas was the butt of all the jokes.

Lincoln was elected President, the Southern states seceded and the Civil War broke out. At the first call for troops John Peterson, a young bachelor, who had settled on section 28, enlisted and went south never to return. But the great disaster of the little settlement came in 1862, when the Indian massacre broke out at New Ulm. One August morning, at six o'clock, a messenger brought the news of the Indian outbreak. As there was no means of defense against a possible attack of the Indians, the settlers moved in a body to the settlement in Rosendale township. Here they scattered; some families moved eastward to get settled for the winter, while others remained to await developments.

After a few weeks there was a lull in the Indian trouble. A company of soldiers was stationed in this township and proceeded to build a fort and a stockade on section 23. Relying on the protection of the fort and its soldiers, some of the settlers moved back to their homes in the fall of 1862. But in the spring of 1863, early in April, they were surprised by a band of Indians who raided the settlement from east to west, killing five persons, including one of the soldiers, and wounding six persons. After this tragedy the settlement was wholly abandoned until 1866, when peace and safety were completely restored. Only two families of the original settlers ever returned to make their homes in this township after the restoration of peace - Hans Johnson with his family in August, 1866, and R. Danielson, in the spring of 1868.

DR. HAYNES' RECOLLECTIONS.

A few years since, Dr. Haynes, of St. James, wrote as follows: Rasmus Danielson, one of the early settlers of Long Lake, had some interesting experiences in the Indian outbreak in 1862. He lived on a farm near the river and says that one evening in August, 1862, two men came to his house and told him to leave as soon as he could, as the Indians were on the war path. His wagon was standing in the yard with some hay on it. He got his team out and started off in a northerly direction, toward Ole Jorgenson's place. When they got there, everyone was gone. There was nothing to stop for, so Mr. Danielson drove cross country to Shelbyville. They stayed there about two weeks, along with other refugees, who had fled from the wrath of the red men. They afterwards went to Iowa, remained about a year.

In the spring a stockade was constructed by the soldiers on the spot where Cereal postoffice afterward stood, and the house and buildings in the surrounding country were taken by the troops for material for the “fort.” When Mr. Danielson returned from the army in which he entered in 1863, he brought in a claim against the state of Minnesota for the loss of his property, but it was not paid until the last session of the Legislature, when attorney J. L. Lobben presented it and got six hundred dollars by a special act for Mr. Danielson.

THE VILLAGE OF ORMSBY.

This village is partly in Martin and partly in Watonwan counties. It is an incorporated village of about one hundred and fifty people. It was platted in section 32, township 105, range 32 west, by Harry L. and Anna L. Jenkins, October 14, 1899. It is a station on the Minneapolis & St. Louis railroad and was probably named after Colonel Ormsby, of Emmetsburg, Iowa.

In 1916 the following business interests were represented:
Bank - Farmers State.
Barber - W. A. Urhback.
Elevator - Stockdale and Dietz Elevator Company.
General Dealer - Christian Jensen.
Hardware - A. G. Dushinske.
Implements - Hans M. Vagstad.
Telephone - Tri-state.

The above includes only those doing business in Watonwan county. One of the commendable organizations of this village and community is the Farmers Club, of which Mr. S. P. Stoffer is president. The club meets every two weeks in the village, usually at the school building. A definite program is usually given by members of the club, followed by a lunch and social hour.

MUNICIPAL HISTORY.

Ormsby became an incorporated town in 1902. The first elective officers were as follow: President, Sam. Farver; trustees, H. M. Vagstad, J. F. Northdurft, A. Ingold; recorder, F. H. Clark.

The present elective officers are as follow: President, R. H. Mueller; trustees, T. A. Parsons, C. Jensen, W. F. Leniberg; recorder, H. M. Vagstad.

A pressing need of fire protection caused the town to seek an unlimited supply of water. Consequently in 1902 a well was driven just north of town to a depth of three hundred feet at which point an unlimited flow of water was found. The cost was about four hundred dollars. Reservoirs, five in number, were placed beneath the surface of the ground at various places in the town and connected by pipes. Each reservoir contains one hundred gallons. A hand engine and five hundred feet of fire hose were bought at a cost of five hundred dollars. The fire company is composed of men who volunteer their services. The town has about six blocks of well improved cement sidewalks.

MADELIA TOWNSHIP.

This is one of the original civil townships of Watonwan county, and now comprises congressional township No. 107, range 30 west. It is the northeast township in the county and is six miles square in extent. It is the seat of the old county seat, the village by the same name having been chosen such by the state authorities in organizing this county in 1860. At first it embraced all the territory in Watonwan county, but year after year, as the county was settled up, other sub -divisions were cut out of its territory, until at last it came to embrace only its present thirty- six sections, same as all others of the county. From section 30, to section 13, runs the main line of the old St. Paul & Sioux City railroad, now the property of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha railroad. The station point on this road, within this township, as now described, is the village of Madelia, in sections 22 and 27. Among the numerous lakes and lakelets in Madelia township are School Lake, in sections 9, 16 and 17; Hopkins Lake, in sections 13 and 14; Lau Lake, in sections 13 and 25, and Bedje Lake, in sections 12, 13 and 14.

The principal stream of the township is Watonwan river, flowing from west to east, entering section 19 and leaving the township and county from section 36. This has smaller streams as its tributaries, and this causes the topography of the township to be somewhat more broken than other parts of Watonwan county.

Of recent years the township has a small mileage of a branch of the railroad system above mentioned, which is a feeder running from the village of Madelia to Fairmont, which line is almost an air line running north and south. It leaves the main line at the west of Madelia and runs directly south and out of the township from section 33 over into Fieldon township. Between two and three miles of this railroad are in Madelia township.

In 1890 this township had a population of 541; in 1900 it had 651, and in 1910 the last United States census gave it as having a population of 574, exclusive of the village of Madelia.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The following list of the very earliest settlers at Madelia and in Madelia township is as follows, as recalled by Mr. Estes: S. B. Estes, William Estes, J. Flanders, James Glispen, C. N. Pomeroy, section 2, Madelia; Messrs. Hartshorn, Sheppard and Haire, Jonathan and Caleb Leavitt, William Gilbert, H. Hoge, M. Olson, John C. Sprague, C. I. Ash, D. R. Bill, J. S. Benear, J. N. Cheney, J. A. Clark, James H. Cornwell, J. T. Furber, H. J. Gilbert, J. A. Gieriet, W. Golden, William H. Witham, James Hopkins, H. D. Joy, H. C. King, B. O. Kempfer, section 28; A. Kinzzell, M. E. Mullen, Charles Mullen, Helge Polmeson, section 19; John M. Robb, Thomas Rutledge, B. C. Sanborn, T. C. Serving, section 2; T. L. Vought (Flanders Hotel), H. B. Wadsworth, A. J. Nickolson, O. F. Winnestrand, John Chase (an army veteran), J. T. Mitchell, Samuel Driggers, J. Travis, James P. Haycraft and Siver N. Fjelsta.

LANDS ENTERED RY WARRANTS.

Among the interesting land entries found in the books of the register of deeds in the court house at St. James are the following:

Patent No. 1 is issued on a soldier's script warrant to Lydia Russell, widow of Stephen Russell, seaman gunboat No. 128, flotilla service, War of 1812, and is warrant No. 70,036, and was laid on the northwest quarter of section 28, township 107, range 30 west, at the St. Peter land office. It was by her assigned to Bernard O. Kempffer, and the document is signed by President James Buchanan, who caused the seal of the general land office to be attached to the same, and states that it was given at the City of Washington, D. C., November 10, 1859. This appears as the first warrant for lands taken up in Watonwan county.

Land warrant No. 80,708 - Bounty lands to soldiers of the United States military service, for one hundred and sixty acres in the west half of the northwest quarter of section 26, township 107, range 30, on account of services had in the Seminole Indian War. It was issued to H. P. Gilbert by Abraham Lincoln, President, June 1st, 1861, and signed by him, as well as by secretary, W. F. Stoddard. Mr. Gilbert secured it from the guardian of an Indian girl, whose father was a loyal warrior in war in Florida. This is in Madelia township.

Land warrant No. 93,147, for a quarter of section 22, township 107, range 30, in favor of Joseph B. Brown, a private in Captain Candee's company, New York militia, in the War of 1812, was patented by President Abraham Lincoln, June 1, 1861. This is within Madelia township.

Patent No. 49,011, for a quarter of sections 20 and 21, township 107, range 30, was granted to Richard Russel, a private in Captain Jeffry's company, Ohio militia, in the War of 1812, and is signed by President A. Lincoln, June 1, 1861.

A pre-emption claim was filed as No. 6,175, by James H. Hazer, at the St. Peter land office, and is described as being the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 14, township 107, range 30, and is signed by President Andrew Johnson. This is situated in Madelia township.

Land patent No. 55,455, for a hundred and sixty acres, was in favor of Elizabeth F. Cummings, widow of Stephen Murphet, private in Captain Holt's company, Massachusetts militia, in the War of 1812. It was laid on the northwest quarter of section 32, township 107, range 30 west, and issued from the St. Peter land office and signed by President James Buchanan.

Military warrant, under the act of Congress approved in 1855, giving land warrant to soldiers and sailors in the various wars of this country, and bearing the number of 69,664, is on a quarter section, granted to John England, teamster in the quartermaster's department, War of 1812, and is described as lots one, two and seven in section in, township 107, range 30, in Madelia township, the same being signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862.

Another warrant, under the above act, was laid on a hundred acres in the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 25, township 107, range 30 west, and is numbered 49,216, and signed by President James Buchanan, March 15, 1860. It was in favor of Thomas Platt, ensign in Captain McComb's company of Pennsylvania militiamen, in the War of 1812.

Mexican War scrip was held by Sarah McKenzie, mother of George McKenzie, private in Captain Duff's company, Third regiment, United States dragoons, and was in shape of a warrant No. 80,168, and bears date of October, 1847, and the land was secured in this county.

Another warrant for a quarter section of land was laid on the north west quarter of section 27, township 107, range 30, Madelia township, in favor of Henry G. Hammond, private in Captain Vaughn's company, Massachusetts militia, in the War of 1812. It is signed by President James Buchanan and is numbered 36,573.

HOMESTEAD ENTRIES.

By an act of Congress in May, 1862, any citizen of this country upon the payment of a filing fee of fourteen dollars, might obtain free of charge a quarter section of land outside railroad limits and eighty acres inside, by residing on it five years and making the common farm improvements on In this township the following, with possibly a few such homestead entries were made, and today the tracts of land thus secured are among the most valuable in the county.

No. 1 was made by Halvor Erickson, at the land office at St. Peter, March 1, 1870, and was signed by President U. S. Grant, and it was for the southeast half of the northeast quarter of section 10, township 107, range 30 west. One granted to Wilson Winters, a certificate No. 1,614, for the west half of the southeast quarter of section 10, township 107, range 30 west. This was signed by President U. S. Grant, August 10, 1872.

The east half of the southeast quarter of section 6, township 107, range 30 west, was homesteaded to Else Nilsson by President U. S. Grant, May 20, 1874.

Certificate No. 7,369, at the New Ulm land office, was granted to Jacob B. K. McCurdy, on the northwest quarter of section 30, township 107, range 30. This was signed by President U. S. Grant, November 1, 1875.

Certificate No. 5,387, at the Tracy land office, was issued to J. Sawartzky, on the north half of the southwest quarter of section 30, township 107, range 30 west, and was signed by Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, April 27, 1885.

On February 22, 1865, application No. 1,957, for a homestead in this county, was filed by William H. Pickett, after paying the filing fee of four teen dollars, for the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter and the north east quarter of the southwest quarter of section 18, township 107, range 30 west. This was effected at the St. Peter land office.

On February 1, 1865, a homestead claim was filed by Thomas Clark in the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 14, township 107, range 30 west, and its number was 1,918. This was in Madelia township.

On February 22, 1865, at St. Peter land office, a homestead was laid on the west half of the southeast quarter of section 10, township 107, range 30 west, by Robert M. Gist.

Wilson Winters homesteaded at the St. Peter land office, August 13, 1866, the west half of the southeast quarter of section 10, township 107, range 30 west.

Daniel Winters took, on May 20, 1862, pre-emption claim No. 3,198, in the northwest of the northeast of section 18, township 107, range 30, in Madelia township.

United States to Ole W. Martin, from the New Ulm land office, patent filed on September 23, 1885, on the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter, section 2, township 107, range 30 west, including eighty acres. This homestead entry was made and signed by President U. S. Grant, January 27, 1873.

VILLAGE OF MADELIA.

Madelia was platted in 1857 in the northeast portion of the county. It is one hundred and ten miles from St. Paul and one hundred and fifty-nine miles from Sioux City, Iowa. It is on the Watonwan river, in sections 22 and 27, township 107, range 30 west. Its proprietors were Messrs. Harts horn, Shepard and Haire, and it derived its name from that of the daughter “Madelia” of General Hartshorn and wife. Here, three log and one small frame house were erected; also a steam saw-mill by Jonathan and Caleb Leavitt.

In 1862, during the Sioux uprising, all of the settlers fled to Mankato for refuge and some never returned to be permanent settlers again. But after the massacre was ended and quiet was again restored in southern Minnesota, many returned and went to work. These families who returned were for a time protected by a company of cavalry under Captain E. St. Julian Cox, whose men built an improvised fort for the settlement's protection.

POSTOFFICE.

This office is one among the first to be established in this section of the state. At the present time it is a second-class office, with five rural routes. Among the postmasters that have served are the following: G. Yates, C. W. Kendall, Carl Scot, C. W. Mullen, T. F. Goor, J. E. Haycraft, Julia Holly and E. L. Goor.

EARLY BUSINESS FACTORS.

There were two or three efforts to establish stores in Madelia previous to the one opened by Yates Brothers. Of one of these Mr. Louis Roberts, of St. Paul, was the proprietor. These were temporary efforts, however, and did not last even by succession.

In the fall of 1867 Mr. C. L. Richardson erected a store building and put in a stock of goods. This he continued to occupy until the summer of 1870, when Boyton & Cheney, who were in business at Garden City, purchased his stock and established a branch store. This firm continued in business until the spring of 1872, when it was dissolved, Mr. Cheney taking the store and moved his family to Madelia. At the same time he enlarged his building and put in an excellent assortment of general merchandise. Mr. Ransom, who was engaged in blacksmithing, remodeled his shop into a store in the summer of 1868 and put in a small stock of hardware and other goods. In March, 1869, he sold to Estes & Hopkins, who continued in the business until the next September, when Hopkins sold his interest to Christian Heigum. The firm continued under this name until the spring of 1872, when Christian disposed of his interests to H. C. King and John M. Robb, forming the firm of Estes, King & Company. This firm removed their stock to Mr. Estes' building in the fall and in the following spring Estes retired, leaving the firm as King & Robb.

With the approach of the railroad the prospects of the town began to improve fast and when the iron horse reached there in the summer of 1870 the town was all astir putting up places for business. One of those who came at this time was M. E. Dunn, from Lake Crystal. He opened a store, consisting of general merchandise, in the block just erected by H. S. Willson, where he soon built up a good trade, part of the time having two clerks besides himself. In connection with his store he received the appointment of local agent for the express company, a position that he held for a long time. He was also a grain buyer, but this business did not keep him very busy because there was very little grain grown at that date. He identified himself fully with the town by purchasing the store building and stock of Howes & Lamper, corner of Main and St. Paul streets. This was about the same time that Eckstorm Brothers & Brown removed their business from South Bend to Madelia. They erected a building on Main street and kept it well filled with a stock of merchandise. At the same time came O. H. Davis, who had formerly been in business at Mankato, and built his store for hardware on the corner of Main and Willson streets.

The first regular drug store in Madelia was opened by Bill & Barton, who came from Garden City and purchased a building on Main street, near St. Paul street, which place they fitted up for the purpose. Later, the firm became known as Bill & Moore.

Dr. G. H. Overholt had a good stock of drugs and medicines next door to the “Pioneer” store. His store was established by the firm of Adams & Langdon about 1856.

In 1870 Jerome Patterson came from Mankato to open a jewelry store. His store was on the corner of Main and St. Paul streets. Next door to him was the first harness shop, started by William Seeger, who came from Lake Crystal. He sold his interests in a few years to G. A. Gieriet.

Mrs. Frizzell opened a millinery store, first occupying rooms in the building of Mr. Wickersham used as a drug store. In a few years she became so prosperous that she purchased the building and continued in the same business on a more extensive scale.

In 1873 Mrs. D. Brayton opened a shop of the same kind, adding dress making as a side line. Almost at the same time, Mrs. Scoville opened a dressmaking shop, but was soon succeeded by the Misses Williams and Hamill.

The first restaurant was opened by J. G. Jefts in 1870. It was not many months until he sold out to A. S. Davis, he in turn selling to S. P. Driggers.

Among the larger mercantile firms of the early period was that of Bisbee & Olson. Because of the fact that both men were so well and favor ably known they built up a trade that extended far and wide, thus becoming one of the most stable and prosperous firms in this section of the state. The firm remained intact for several years, until Mr. Bisbee retired from business.

With the increase in population and in the number of homes came a demand for house furnishings, which led to the establishment of a furniture store by James Smith, who sold to W. R. Marvin.

At an early date Joseph Flanders erected a hotel and in 1870 improved and enlarged it. In 1873 he sold the building to T. L. Vought, who continued the business. In 1870 a company built the Northern Hotel, which was purchased in 1872 by H. Delling, who changed the name to the Delling House.

The early implement dealers were George Yates, A. Frizzell and H. T. Odegaid. The first shoe shop was conducted by A. Knudson. The first tailor was A. M. Anderson.

The first lumber yard was that of J. Dean & Company, established about 1874. About the same time a grain elevator was built with a capacity of thirty thousand bushels. T. C. Peart was the manager.

In 1888 Warren Golden erected a flour -mill on the river and for many years this mill supplied not only Watonwan county, but many surrounding counties with flour and corn meal.

In the early days there was great need of a blacksmith shop, and in the fall of 1865 J. Flanders gave a lot to S. P. Driggers, who at once erected a shop sixteen feet square and rented it to E. D. Miller for one year. The time expiring, Mr. Driggers sold the property to G. R. Ransom, who built a small addition for a wagon shop and continued in that business about a year, when he decided to start a hardware store. He enlarged the building to sixteen by thirty and added a story above. He started business under the name of G. R. Ransom & Company, and continued until 1869, when the goods and premises were sold to William Estes and J. Hopkins. This firm continued until the following September, when Mr. Hopkins retired and C. Tergum bought his interest. Finally, Tergum sold his interest to H. C. King and John Robb.

Among the early physicians were Dr. Overholt, Dr. W. H. Woods and Dr. Christopherson.

The early lawyers were T. Rutledge, H. S. Willson, F. D. Jay and W. H. H. Johnson.

The first resident clergy were Rev. N. A. Trobridge, of the Methodist church, Rev. J. W. Van Eman, of the Presbyterian church, and Father Cunningham, of the Catholic church.

In 1871 the amount of improvements for the year amounted to ten thousand dollars; in 1872 to twenty-one thousand seven hundred and five dollars, thus showing how rapidly the town improved in its infancy.

The first Indian fort was down in the “flat,” but this was soon dis carded and another built on the lot just north of where the Methodist church now stands, so that the occupants might have a better view of the prairie and thereby ward off attacks from the Indians. These forts, built of logs, were small and acted merely as a refuge for the settlers. The main fort was known as Fort Hill, and was located near Hanska, on the farm now owned by Ole Sonsteby. Government troops were stationed in and around the forts for nearly two years, but fortunately very little trouble took place with the Indians.

VILLAGE OF MADELIA IN 1885-6.

From an old directory it is learned that the following were in trade and professional life at Madelia in 1885-6:

Ash, George H. - Capitalist.

Bank of Madelia - Joseph Flanke, banker; transacted a general banking and exchange business.

Benton, A. H. - Dealer in general merchandise and farm machinery of all kinds.
Bill, Brothers - Dealers in drugs, medicines, books and fancy goods.

Bisbee, Olson & Boynton - Dealers in general merchandise and farm implements, and buyers of all kinds of grain.

Brenneis, P. A. - Proprietor of Madelia Brewery.

Cheney, J. N.-Dealer in general merchandise, groceries, crockery, dry goods, clothing, etc, and breeder of short-horn cattle, Norman horses and Berkshire hogs.

Cook & Holmes - Contractors and builders.

Cooley, Dr. C. O. - Physician and surgeon.

Cooley, Charles - Attorney-at-law; loans, insurance and real estate.

Delling, George W. - Photographer.

Estes Brothers - Dealers in farm machinery, wagons, etc.; also Short horn cattle and Berkshire swine.

Evenson, C.-Dealer in wines, liquors and cigars.

Flanders Hotel - A. E. Fisher, proprietor.

Gieriet, J. A. - Manufacturer of and dealer in harness, collars, whips, trunks and buffalo robes.

Gilbert, H. P. - Proprietor to Gilbert's Addition to Madelia.

Gleason, F. C.-Assistant railroad agent and operator.

Gove & Kendrick - Lumber, sash, doors, etc.; also wood, coal, lime and farm implements.

Hage, Siver - Dealer in lumber, sash, doors, coal and wood.

Haycraft, S. P. - Dray line.

Hopkins, D. C. - Attorney-at-law; real estate.

Mitchell Brothers - Proprietors of the Madelia flouring-mills.

Mullen, C. G. - Dealer in stationery, confectionery, etc.

Rohe, Adolph - Dealer in wines, liquors, beer, etc.

Sidler, H. C. - Dealer in watches, clocks, jewelry and plated ware.

Times, Madelia - D. C. Sanborn, proprietor and publisher.

Wadsworth, H. B. - Capitalist.

Witham, W. H. - Dealer in furniture and undertakers' goods.

LARGE FLOURING MILL.

Madelia can easily boast of having the largest flour-mill in the county. The mill was founded by its present owner, Mr. C. S. Christensen, and under his management “Madelia's Best” has become known far and wide. The products are marketed throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa and the central states. The daily capacity of the mill is seven hundred barrels of flour. Seven grain elevators, scattered throughout the country, belong to the same firm. In all, thirty-five people are given employment.

MUNCIPAL HISTORY.

Madelia was incorporated early in the seventies, and in 1873 the officers were as follow: William R. Marvin, president of the board of trustees; Joseph Flanders, Henry C. King, trustees; Jens Thorson, treasurer; F. D. Jay, clerk.

The 1916 municipal officers were: William Schaloben, president; J. P. Garber, Nils Fjelsta, Theodore A. Tollerson, trustees; M. S. Dossett, treasurer; F. H. Hillesheim, clerk.

The village has an indebtedness of sixteen thousand dollars and has made many substantial improvements in the last few years to show for this indebtedness. They have a fine water-works system, costing nine thousand dollars; two deep wells; water is pumped by electricity to a ninety-thousand gallon steel tank. The electric lighting is had by a private corporation, known as the Madelia Electric Company. The volunteer fire department consists of thirty volunteers. The public park is a full block of ground covered with fine artificial trees. The village jail is twenty foot square and has two cells.

BIG CONFLAGRATION.

Probably one of the worst fires that Madelia ever experienced occurred on the night of October 31, 1877. The fire had its origin in the rear of Eskstorm Brothers & Brown's store, and was thought by some to be of incendiary origin. The fire destroyed the building occupied by the milliner, Mrs. Frizzell, the building west of Eckstrom's owned by Mr. Brayton, the H. S. Willson block and with it the valuable library of Attorney Willson; the building occupied by George P. Johnson and the store of M. E. Mullen. The loss was estimated at five to six thousand dollars, with no insurance. All those who were burned out were fortunate enough to secure places in which to continue their business.

COMMERCIAL INTERESTS IN 1916.

Auto Garage - Forster Brothers, Madelia Motor Company, W. W. Cole & Son.

Attorney - C. J. Eide. Banks State Bank, First National Bank.

Barber Shops - Howard L. Driggers, Frank Kitchen.

Blacksmith Shops - Axel Hanson, R. H. Thomas, Toffef Paterson.

Bakery - Hale & Sons.

Brick and Tile Plant - Madelia Cement and Tile Company.

Clothing - Hodapp-Nelson Company.

Creamery - Madelia Creamery Company.

Druggist - Madelia Drug and Jewelry Company.

Dray - L. L. Hall, V. E. Tate.

Dentist - L. T. Austin, Edwin A. Hagaman, W. H. Shaver.

Elevator - C. S. Christensen Company, Hubbard & Palmer.

Electric Light Plant - T. J. McGovern.

Furniture Dealers - McDowell & Company, Schuletz Brothers.

Feed Store - C. S. Christensen Company.

Grocers - J. P. Hale & Sons, W. A. Mullen.

General Dealers - Sever Larson, Mathias Olson, Frank Mullen.

Hotels - The Noonan, The Madelia.

Hardware - Charles B. Cooley, Charles R. Klatt, Parr & Bork Hardware Company.

Harness - J. A. Gierist, H. Joerg & Son.

Ice Dealers - Rockwood & Austin.

Implements - Parr & Bork Hardware Company, Charles R. Klatt, Charles H. Cooley.

Lumber Dealers - S. Hage Lumber Company, Henry Simmons Lumber Company.

Livery - William U. Montgomery.

Mill - C. S. Christensen Company.

Millinery - Marie A. Hillesheim.

Meat Markets - C. J. Hammond, Hodapp & Lamm.

Marble Works - James J. Tighe.

Merchant Tailor - Cornelius Blomenkamper.

Newspapers - Madelia Times-Messenger, Madelia News.

Notions-George A. Kline.

Physicians - William J. McCarthy, Henry B. Grimes.

Picture Show - The Wonderland.

Photographic Gallery - Wilson Sisters.

Produce Dealers - E. England, George Rohe.

Restaurants - A. F. Lodes, Hale & Sons.

Real Estate Dealers - M. C. Solensten, C. E. Brown Land Company, William Schaleben & Company.

Shoe Store - August Simonett.

Stock Buyers - F. Moses, Madelia Farmers' Shipping Association, C. J. Hammond.

Telephones - Tri-State, Madelia Telephone Company, North Western Telephone Company.

Veterinary - Francis P. Burke, Clayton Butler, Homer C. Butler.

Madelia is one of the few towns in the county that is really on a boom. Not a dwelling or store building in the town is vacant and new buildings of all kinds are being constructed as fast as carpenters can get them up. The best booster of the town is the Commercial Club, composed of all the enterprising and wide-awake business men. The officers are as follow: President, Henry Hillesheim; vice-president, L. T. Austin; secretary, F. Morris; treasurer, C. T. Dahl. There is also a Business Men's Association, the purpose of which is the safeguarding and protecting of the merchants' interests. Madelia is the only town in the county that has an annual chautauqua for its citizens and the surrounding community.

BUSINESS MEN'S ASSOCIATION.

The Business Men's Association of Madelia was organized on November 2, 1915, with the following officers: C. S. Christensen, president; Frank Hodapp, vice-president; George Hage, treasurer; C. J. Eide, secretary. The motive that led to the organization was the desire to meet in a satisfactory way the destructful competition of mail order houses, to make fairer prices for the consumer, to overcome ruinous competition, to welcome all newcomers, to investigate the financial standing of people, for the purpose of extending credit when necessary.

MADELIA FARMERS' MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY.

This insurance company was organized on June 14, 1887, and its present officers are as follows: George Busser, president; Charles Tiegren, vice president; James T. Reynolds, secretary; O. M. Howe, treasurer. The company now carries risks to the total amount of five million dollars. There are at present two thousand policy-holders. The territory covered by the company is all of Watonwan county and twenty-seven townships in the surrounding counties. The rate per thousand dollars of insured property is two dollars. This company is operated purely on the mutual plan. Only farm risks are taken, and the farmers in five counties take great interest in it.

NELSON TOWNSHIP.

On the north line of the county and second from the western border is Nelson township, which comprises all of congressional township 107, range 32 west. It is situated south of Brown county, west of Riverdale township, north of St. James township and east of Adrian township. It is six miles square and contains thirty-six full sections of beautiful prairie land, well watered and drained by numerous small prairie streams. These watercourses include tributaries to the main stream known as the Watonwan river, which courses from west to east through this part of the county. There are no villages or railroads within this township, but public school buildings are found in sections 8, 12, 20 and 26. The population of this township in 1900 was eight hundred and six, but the census of 1910 gives it at six hundred and eighty-four, owing to great migration to other parts during that decade.

ORGANIZATION.

Nelson township was organized by the board of county commissioners in September, 1870, out of the territory embraced in congressional township 107, ranges 32 and 33. thus including present Adrian township, which was organized the next spring. This whole part of the county had previously been included in Riverdale civil township. Later in the same month in which this new township was created, the commissioners gave it at first the name of North Branch, subsequently changing its name to “Dexter.” Some time later it was changed to Nelson. The county commissioners in 1902 caused a re-survey of the lands within this township, at the expense of owners.

SETTLEMENT.

Swan Beck and Ole Blackstad were among the first pioneers in this township.

Jacob Harder, certificate No. 5,381, at the land office at Tracy, the south half of the northeast quarter of section 30, township 107, range 32 west, issued by President Grover Cleveland, signed on April 27, 1885.

John Earlson, No. 2,888, at the New Ulm land office, the east half of the southwest quarter of section 26, township 107, range 32 west, issued by President Chester A. Arthur, signed on June 20, 1882.

Charles Verner, certificate No. 2,494, at the New Ulm land office, the north half of the northwest quarter of section 30, township 107, range 32 west, issued by President U. S. Grant, signed on January 5, 1875.

Robert Rowland, certificate No. 2,507, at the New Ulm land office. This was issued by President U. S. Grant, signed on January 15, 1875.

Anders A. Hestlekrantz, the west half of the northwest quarter of section 6, township 107, range 32 west, signed by President Chester A. Arthur, 1883.

Anders Swenson, at the New Ulm land office, the east half of the northwest quarter of section 8, township 107, range 32 west, signed by President U. S. Grant, August 15, 1876.

Gustaf Sjoquest, the north half of the southwest quarter of section 20, township 107, range 32 west, issued by President U. S. Grant, signed March 1, 1876.

Syver O. Tonde, certificate No. 5,330, at the Tracy land office, the east half of the southeast quarter of section 1o, township 107, range 32 west, issued by President Grover Cleveland, January 9, 1886.

ODIN TOWNSHIP.

Odin is the extreme southwestern sub-division of Watonwan county and comprises all of congressional township 105, range 33, hence is six miles square, having thirty-six full sections of land. Odin is bounded on the west by Cottonwood county, on the north by Butterfield township, on the east by Long Lake township and on the south by Martin county.

This portion of Watonwan county has numerous lakes and large ponds, some of which are fed by springs and others are largely surface water, which, with the settling of the county and scientific drainage and tiling enterprises, are fast becoming extinct and are used for pasture and other agricultural purposes. Among the larger of these natural water sheets may be named in this connection: School Lake, Irish Lake and Sulem Lake. A few small prairie creeks or “runs” are found in various parts of the township. The soil is about the same quality for richness and fertility as the sister townships of Watonwan county. When thoroughly drained and properly tiled it will make one of the most valuable sections in southern Minnesota for both farming and dairying. The only village within this township is Odin, in section 29, a station on the branch line of the Chicago & North western railroad, running between Sanborn and Welcome, Minnesota, and which extends down into central Iowa. The railroad already mentioned runs through sections Nos. 2, 11, 14, 13, 24, 25 and 35.

The population of Odin township for the last three United States census enumeration periods has been: In 1890, 543; in 1900, 594, and in 1910, 604.

ORGANIZATION.

This township was organized by the board of county commissioners at their session in January, 1872, and was described as congressional township range 33 west. Butterfield township was also made at the same meeting of the board of commissioners.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

E. Z. Rasey, a veteran of the Civil War, a member of the Thirty second Wisconsin Regiment, who participated in twenty- one battles and skirmishes, but was fortunate in never being wounded, took a homestead in the east half of the northwest quarter and the east half of the southwest quarter of section 4, this township, in 1871. He has served as vice-commander of the Minnesota department of the Grand Army of the Republic. In 1896 he sold his farm in Odin township and later moved to St. James, where he still resides. He was one of three to establish the present Farmers' Grain Company of St. James.

When interviewed concerning the early pioneers of Odin township, Mr. E. Z. Rasey gave the following as about the first to locate in the township:

Two brothers, Engbert and Sylvester Sulem, from Sweden, located here in 1868 in lots about the lake, and on lands in section 6. Sylvester was a well-educated man and was never married. He soon returned to his native country, while his brother remained.

John Arneson, a Norwegian, settled in 1869-70 in this township, and died many years ago in the township. Halvor Halvorson located in section 8, taking as a homestead the southwest quarter of that section. Later he moved from the county.

Ole Ormbeck settled on a homestead in the east half of the northeast quarter of section 8. Later he sold and removed to the state of Washington. Hans Munson settled in the north half of the northwest quarter of section 20 in 1868. He was from Norway and later retired at Butterfield.

John A. Johnson, a Swede, located in the west half of the southwest quarter of section 2. John Swanson located in the northwest quarter of section 2. John Olson, a Swede, settled in section 2.

Alfred Eckstrom located in the east half of the southwest quarter of section 2. John Lantz settled in the west half of the southeast quarter of section 2; he was from Sweden.

In 1870 came Eben Newell, located in the west half of the northwest quarter of section 4, and had land also in the west half of the southwest quarter of that section. He came from York state and moved to the state of Washington, where he subsequently died.

Another son of Norway located in Odin township in 1871 – Andrew Gilbertson, in the southwest quarter of section 18. Ira W. Bowen claimed a homestead in 1870, in the northwest quarter of section 18. He came from Wisconsin, remained until about 1885, then moved to the state of Washing ton, locating near Spokane. Samuel Rasey claimed the south half of the northeast quarter of section 4. He came from Wisconsin and later re moved to Washington.

HOMESTEAD ENTRIES IN ODIN TOWNSHIP.

August Erickson, certificate No. 8,571, at the Worthington land office, the north half of the northwest quarter of section 22, township 105, range 33 west, issued by President Chester A. Arthur, signed on May 20, 1884.

Hans Ameson, certificate No. 6,531, at the Worthington land office, on the east half of the northwest quarter of section 14, township 105, range 33 west, issued by President Chester A. Arthur, signed on August 1, 1883.

Martin Siverson, certificate No. 5,373, at the Worthington land office, on the east half of the southwest quarter of section 34, township 105, range 33 west, issued by President Rutherford B. Hayes, signed on June 15, 1878.

Kasen Bentsen, certificate No. 8,656, on the south half of the north east quarter of section 30, township 105, range 33, issued by President Rutherford B. Hayes, signed on November 5, 1878.

H. Olson, certificate No. 6,678, at the Worthington land office, the north half of the northeast quarter of section 30, township 105, range 33 west, issued by President Rutherford B. Hayes, signed on November 5, 1878.

Torkel Torkelson, at the Worthington land office, the south half of the northeast quarter of section 22, township 105, range 33 west, issued by President U. S. Grant, signed on March 1, 1877.

A. A. Nass, certificate No. 5,802, at the Worthington land office, the west half of the northeast quarter of section 8, township 105, range 33 west, issued by President James A. Garfield, signed on April 9, 1881.

ITEMS OF INTEREST.

The first school house in Odin township was erected in 1873 in the center of section 8, and the first teacher was a Miss Josephine Doolittle, who later became the wife of Arthur Higgins, who lived on land purchased in the southeast quarter of section 4.

So great was the number of wild geese and cranes near the lakes of this and adjoining townships at an early day that at times it was safely esti mated that tens of thousands of these birds of passage, made their way from the south in springtime to the northern lakes and in the autumn time wended their way southward, stopping in fields of grain in the stack and in fields of ripening corn, both of which in many instances they totally destroyed. At early dawn it was an easy matter for the farmer to stand in his door yard and shoot several geese as they passed over the claim shanty. In the season of geese the farmers had all the game they could make use of, and that at little trouble or expense.

The sand-hill cranes were so thick that at times in their fight over a farm house, the noise they made with their wings reminded one of rolling thunders in the far distance. These birds were also eaten when geese could not be easily shot. The meat is good but has a stronger wild game taste than the goose or duck. Mr. Rasey relates of an incident where he prided himself on having the finest five acres of corn in the township. He was absent threshing in the neighborhood for almost a week, and upon his re turn, he found the cranes devouring his corn crop. He repeatedly tried to drive and frighten them away, but did not succeed and as a result his entire choice field was devoured, save a part of a wagon-box full of nubbins and half-eaten corn. He would frighten them in one part of the field and they would alight at a distant spot and commence eating again. In some in stances they showed fight and would not yield to him. Geese, cranes and ducks were in immense flocks in this part of the country for many years after the first settlers came in. One seldom sees any of these birds or prairie chickens. The burning of the prairies and plowing of the land resulted in their extinction.

THE VILLAGE OF ODIN.

This village was platted by the Western Town Lot Company, March 29, 1899, in section 25, township 105, range 33 west. It now has a population of about one hundred and fifty, and was incorporated in 1902. The records fail to show the first officers, so only the present ones are given. They are as follow: President, C. L. Olson; trustees, John H. Berdell, Lars Larson, P. M. Olson; recorder, G. Krogen; treasurer, P. T. Laingen.

In 1909 a town hall was erected at a cost of three thousand dollars. This hall is used not only for town meetings, but lodge purposes and all public gatherings. In the way of fire protection the town has a public cistern, a hand pump and two hundred feet of fire hose. The present indebtedness is approximately one thousand dollars.

POSTOFFICE AND BUSINESS HISTORY TODAY.

The postoffice history of Odin is rather brief. The office was started about 1900, since which time the following postmasters have served: William Oleson, J. O. Querna, O. A. Call and O. A. Kabrick. The receipts of the office for the last fiscal year were approximately four hundred dollars. The business interests of the village in 1916 were in the hands of the following:

Auto Garage - P. M. Olson.

Bank - Odin State Bank.

Barber - Otto Rohn.

Blacksmith - Edward H. Bott.

Creamery - Odin Co-operative Creamery Association.

Druggist - Dr. O. A. Kabrick.

Elevator - Bingham Brothers, Great Western Grain Company.

General Dealers - P. C. Hanson, Peak & Company.

Harness and Furniture - O. A. Call.

Hardware - Edward W. Thompson.

Jeweler - O. A. Kabrick.

Lumber - J. H. Queal and Company, John H. Bardell, manager.

Livery - N. S. Nixon.

Meat Market - Nixon & Son.

Opera House - Odin Opera House.

Restaurant - Ole Hanson.

Real Estate - Odin Real Estate Company.

Stock Buyers - S. H. Nixon, Farmers' Stock Buyers' Association.

Telephone - Odin Farmers' Telephone Company.

Woodmaker - Lars Larson.

Every town or village has some distinctive feature, and Odin is no exception. The village is beautifully laid out and everyone seems to take pride in keeping the streets and business houses spotlessly clean. It is doubtful if any village in the county of its size can proudly boast of as many up -to -date and modern homes. The Odin Farmers' Creamery Association has just moved into their new brick building, constructed at a cost of about three thousand five hundred dollars. This is one of the most thriving institutions of its kind in the county, having over one hundred patrons and a capacity of over fifteen thousand pounds of butter per month.

RIVERDALE TOWNSHIP.

Riverdale township is on the north line of Watonwan county and the second sub -division from the eastern line of the county. It is south of Brown county, west of Madelia township, north of Rosendale township and to the east of Nelson township. It comprises all of congressional township No. 107, range 31 west, hence is six miles square and contains thirty-two full sections and four over-size sections - these being to the west. The Minneapolis & St. Louis railroad line runs from northeast to southwest diagonally through the township, entering the township and county in section 3, and leaving the township from section 31. It has for a station in this township the little hamlet of LaSalle, situated in sections 16 and 17. The main line of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha railway runs through the southeastern corner of Riverdale township, entering it in section 36 and leaving it from section 35, en route between St. Paul and Sioux City and Omaha.

The population of Riverdale township in 1890 was 509; in 1900 it was placed at 716, and in 1910, it is given by the United States census books as being 727.

ORGANIZATION.

Originally, this civil township belonged to a much larger territory than it now embraces. It included what is now Riverdale, Nelson and Adrian townships. In November, 1869, the county commissioners made it into a civil township on the petition of George A. Bradford and others. This, like all of the townships in Watonwan county, is purely a prairie country, and is now well settled and has many handsome farms with artificial groves scattered here and there over its surface.

HOMESTEAD ENTRIES IN RIVERDALE TOWNSHIP.

Under the congressional act approved on May 20, 1862, the following homesteads were granted in this township:

Thomas George, No. 2,347, New Ulm land office, the south half of the northwest quarter of section 26, township 107, range 31 west, issued by U. S. Grant, President of the United States, signed on September 15, 1874.

Jens Johannesen, certificate No. 3,083, at the New Ulm land office, the west half of the southwest quarter of section 4, township 107, range 31, issued by President U. S. Grant, February 12, 1877.

Nils B. Johansan, certificate No. 2,831, at the New Ulm land office, the west half of the northwest quarter of section 2, township 107, range 31 west, issued by President U. S. Grant, signed on March 1, 1876.

John Doolittle, Tracy land office, the northwest quarter of section 20, township 107, range 31, issued by President Chester A. Arthur, signed on December 10, 1883.

Military warrant No. 10,835, issued to Private Willis Baker, in Captain Clark's company of New York militiamen in the War of 1812. This land is situated in the southeast quarter of section 23, township 107, range 31, is signed by President Abraham Lincoln, and was laid in the St. Peter land office. This is in Riverdale township.

THE VILLAGE OF LASALLE.

LaSalle was platted on October 12, 1899, by Harry L. and Anna L. Jenkins as a part of section 17, township 107, range 31. It is a station on the Minneapolis & St. Louis railroad and had the following business interests in 1916:

Bank - State Bank.

Blacksmith - L. C. Carlson.

Creamery - LaSalle Co-operative Creamery Association.

Elevator - Eagle Roller Milling Company, Great Western Grain Company.

General Dealers - Alfred Sletta, Watonwan County Co-operative Association.

Hardware and Implements - LaSalle Hardware and Implement Company.

Hotel - The LaSalle, J. Benson, proprietor.

Lumber - S. Hage Lumber Company.

Although the village is not incorporated, yet there seems to be the same public spirit among its citizens that is found in most incorporated towns. No greater evidence of this fact is necessary than to mention the construction of the town hall, which was built entirely by donation, but under the auspices of the LaSalle Band. The hall is used for all public gatherings and has thus become the center of community life.

The postoffice at the village of LaSalle has had postmasters as follow: J. E. Sundt, Anon Halvorson and Alfred Slotta. The office transacted business during the last fiscal year to the sum of four hundred and thirty-eight dollars and fifty-four cents. This postoffice has been twice robbed - once on April 3, 1904, when there was a loss of postal funds of one hundred and thirty-six dollars, and in money order funds, forty dollars and three cents, and again on November 13, 1909, with a loss of thirty dollars and five cents postal stamps, etc., and one hundred and nineteen dollars and forty-seven cents, money order funds.

The bank at LaSalle was blown open Sunday, January 12, 1908; the loss was not heavy, however.

ROSENDALE TOWNSHIP.

Rosendale township, comprising congressional township 106, range 31 west, is one of the central sub-divisions in Watonwan county, and is south of Riverdale, west of Fieldon, north of South Branch and east of St. James township. The western sections overrun, hence the township is a little over regular size. The City of St. James, the county seat, comes up to the western line of this township. The only hamlet within Rosendale is Grogan, a station on the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha railway line, in section 3. The township was named from a town in Wisconsin, by Mrs. S. W. Sargeant, that being her old home.

The railroad just named enters this township in section 18, and crosses parts of 8, 9, 4, 3 and leaves the township from section 2 over into River dale township. The Minneapolis & St. Louis railroad touches the north west corner of the township.

There are a number of pretty lakes and lakelets in the township, including these: One in section 3, section 5, sections 19 and 20 and in sections 28 and 29. There are a few small streams running to the north and east. Bullhead is the largest lake in this township.

The population of Rosendale township in 1890 was 369; in 1900 it was placed at 516, and in the last census it was placed at 571. It is within a rich agricultural district and land sells as high as one hundred and fifty dollars per acre.

ORGANIZATION.

In March, 1871, the county commissioners' board then consisting of Morrill, Addsmond and Bradford, made a new civil township out of congressional township 106, range 31, west, and gave it the name of Springfield, but at their meeting in April of the same year, changed it to Rosendale, as it is known today.

THE FIRST SETTLERS.

Among the earliest to locate here was Michael Gall, a native of Austria, born in 1822, came to America and settled in this township in 1868; was township treasurer for eight years and died in 1906.

A STORY OF PIONEER DAYS.

The following is from the pen of George A. Bradford, who wrote in the St. James Plaindealer a few years since, after the following fashion: The following account of the settlement of Rosendale township is translated from the archives of the Rosendale Norwegian Lutheran church, which were compiled by George Herbitz, secretary of the congregation. Mr. Herbitz is himself one of the oldest settlers of this township, and his information is undoubtedly accurate. Of course these notes refer entirely to the early Norwegian settlers and members of the Rosendale congregation, and comprise the period from 1856 to 1864, inclusive.

In 1854 Notto Jensen, then a boy of eighteen years, came from the parish of Evje Tordilen, in the bishopric of Christiansand, Norway, to America. He lived for a time in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and afterward worked for two winters in the lumber camp along the Wisconsin river. In the spring of 1856, he started for Minnesota, riding by stage coach to La Crosse. When they reached the highlands of Dividing Ridge, both he and the driver were forced to make the rest of the journey on foot, as the horses were not able to pull more than the empty wagon over the long grades. He made the journey from La Crosse to St. Paul on a Mississippi steamboat. There was not sufficient water in the Minnesota river for steamboat navigation, so he took passage in a freight boat, which was propelled up stream by means of long poles by which the crew of six men punted the craft, one steering. In this manner they reached Mankato. From there Mr. Jensen traveled in a southwesterly direction to look for land, which had timber, water and prairie, and finally settled on the south branch of the Watonwan river, in the region now known as Rosendale township, where he was the first white settler. His first dwelling was a sod house. Provisions had to be brought from Mankato. Wishing to get some butter, he went around among the neighbors to buy some. There was very little to be had, but he succeeded in obtaining four and a half pounds, paying therefor forty cents a pound.

In 1856 there arrived in Rosendale township Palme Olsen and his wife; Running and his wife and three children, Helge, Cecil and Gari. Mr. Olsen took a homestead on the north branch. This family emigrated in 1852 from Viker Annex in Odalen, Norway, and settled in Rock county, Wisconsin, coming from there to Minnesota. Upon a trip to Mankato for the purpose of making various purchases Mr. Jensen fell in with a party of homeseekers from Pierce county, Wisconsin. They were intent upon getting homesteads along the South Branch river. The party consisted of Knud Larson Overing, his wife, Inger, and grown up daughter, Maren; Ole Jorgenson and wife Maren, and four children, Knud, Joegen, Maria and Lise; Halvor Knudson Barland and wife, Tarau, and five children, Maria, Gunhild, Knud, Jorgen and Asper; Eli Aadne and wife and their son and Nils Torson Overig, and Ole Jostesen. All of these took lands along South Branch, with the exception of Ole Jostesen, who returned to Wisconsin, and enlisted in the army. Upon his return to this county he bought land.

In 1857 Hans Johnson Berdal, with his wife, Synneve, and five children, Sivert, Ole, A., Jorgen and Ingeborg, arrived here. Mr. Berdal built a sod house on some land which he intended to file on but the government had already granted the right thereto to Bedo and Tip Nelson as payment for carrying the mails, so he took a claim further to the southwest, in the settlement later known as Long Lake.

VILLAGE OF GROGAN.

Grogan was platted by B. R. Grogan and Moses K. Armstrong, in section 3, township 106, range 31 west, September 6, 1891. It is five miles east of St. James on the line of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha rail road, in the center of a flourishing farming section. A number of years ago it had stores, elevators, lumber yards, creamery, hotel and many pleasant homes.

SOUTH BRANCH TOWNSHIP.

South Branch township was formed out of congressional township 105, range 31 west. It is bounded on the north by Rosendale township, on the east by Antrim township, on the south by Martin county and on the west by Long Lake township. It contains thirty-four full and four overrun sections of prairie land. It has no towns or villages, nor any railroad through its borders. There are a few small lakes, the larger of which is the one situated in section 20. The South Branch of the Watonwan river courses through this township flowing toward the northeast. The land here is the equal of other Watonwan townships, rich, black soil of the most productive quality.

The population of the township at the last three census periods of the United States have been as follows: In 1890 it was 380; in 1900 it was only 552 and in 1910 it was placed at 617.

ORGANIZATION.

South Branch was formed by the board of county commissioners at their meeting in March, 1869, when the members of the county board were Messrs. Nickerson, Haycroft and Addsmond. It was to constitute congressional township 105, range 31 west. It was named Drewsville, but soon changed to South Branch.

PIONEER SETTLERS.

It is uncertain who the first actual settlers in this township were. It is known that Charles H. Locke was among the pioneers here. Under the Homestead act approved on May 20, 1862, the following homesteads were taken up in this township and proved up on in the required time - five years:

Robert Sexaner, certificate No. 8,192, at the Worthington land office, the northeast quarter of section 2, township 105, range 31 west, issued by President U. S. Grant, and signed on November 3, 1876.

David Clark, certificate No. 8,414, at the Worthington land office, the west half of the northeast quarter of section 34, township 105, range 31 west, issued by President Rutherford B. Hayes, signed on November 5, 1878.

Edwin Fuller, certificate No. 2,511, at the Jackson land office, the east half of the southeast quarter of section 4, township 105, range 31 west, issued by President U. S. Grant, signed on April 10, 1873.

ST. JAMES TOWNSHIP.

St. James township comprises all of congressional township 106, range 32 west. It is bounded on the north by Nelson township, on the east by Rosendale, on the south by Long Lake and on the west by Butterfield township. Its only municipality, town or village is the county seat of Watonwan county - St. James. The railroads that cross the township are the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha and the Minneapolis & St. Louis, the one crossing the other at the city of St. James. The former bears to the south west and the latter to the south of the city.

The lakes and ponds of this township are numerous, but of recent years many of these lakelets are being drained and utilized for agricultural purposes. The larger of these lakes is St. James Lake, to the southwest of the city of St. James. The others are mere ponds, where water stands in wet seasons of the year and are gradually lowering and being drained.

The population of the township according to the United States census returns of 1890 was 473; in 1900 it was 614 and in 1910, it was placed at 575. For the most part this six -mile square tract of land is flat prairie, with a few prairie creeks to break the otherwise flat appearance. The soil is a rich, black loam of the real drift deposit type and very productive of all the grains and grasses common to this latitude.

TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION.

St. James township was organized by the board of county commissioners at their meeting in March, 1870, when congressional township 106, ranges 32 and 33, was set off as a separate civil township of the county. This so remained until the board session in January, 1872, when the commissioners through a well-signed petition, formed a new township known as Butterfield, out of the western half of St. James, of that portion within congressional township 106, range 33 west.

PIONEERS OF THE TOWNSHIP.

The first actual settler in this township was Hans Olson, in section 14, at the north side of the lake. He pre-empted a quarter section in October, 1868, and is still living in St. James, engaged in the farm implement business.

Hans Olson was the first man to settle in the vicinity of St. James. He came to this county in the spring of 1869. About a month or two later John W. Somers, at present one of the county commissioners, settled in the same vicinity. Among the other early settlers were, George Spetzler, Joseph Parsh, Henry Baranson, Abraham Strommen, M. Strommen, John and Andrew Swanson. The latter two men settled in section four. At present all the above mentioned live in St. James. Most of them took homesteads or pre-emptions, or both. The land cost them on an average of two and one half dollars per acre, but at these figures the land was very high priced, not in terms of money but in hard times. Every fall their crops were in danger of the deadly prairie fires, which continued annually until the land became broken up. Then the grasshoppers remained with them for nearly five years, hardly leaving enough grain each year to winter what little stock they had. It is rather interesting to know that the grasshoppers had an unusual liking for onions, but cared little for potatoes.

For two years the settlers did all their farming with oxen. In fact they used oxen for everything. A good pair of oxen cost from one hundred to one hundred and thirty dollars. The average one-year-old, when sold for beef, usually brought about eight dollars; a two-year-old, thirteen dollars; a three-year-old, eighteen dollars and a four-year-old, thirty dollars. On one occasion a farmer killed a four-hundred-pound sow and was glad to dispose of the meat at two and one-half cents a pound.

Most of the first settlers built a small shanty of about fourteen by sixteen, which was enlarged as they could afford it. But at first they had to economize in every way possible. The average family used not more than one hundred pounds of meat during a winter. Coffee was so scarce and so high priced that carrots were baked and ground and used as a substitute.

HOMESTEAD ENTRIES.

H. D. Hall homesteaded at the New Ulm land office the northwest quarter of section 20, township 106, range 32 west, and it was signed by President U. S. Grant, April 1, 1872.

James Curry homesteaded by certificate No. 3,847, the west half of the southwest quarter of section 8, township 106, range 32. This was signed by President Rutherford B. Hayes, February 10, 1881.

Andrew Curry homesteaded with certificate No. 3,846, at the New Ulm land office, the southwest quarter of section 8, township 106, range 32, which was signed by President Rutherford B. Hayes, February 10, 1881.

It was Peter Zender, on certificate No. 3,981, homesteaded the west half of the northeast quarter of section 30, township 106, range 32 west. issued and signed by President Rutherford B. Hayes, February 10, 1881.

Joseph Pasch, at the Tracy land office, was granted a homestead on the east half of the northeast quarter of section 32, township 106, range 32 west, October, 1883, signed by President Chester A. Arthur.

BANKS AND BANKING IN WATONWAN COUNTY.

Source: History of Cottonwood and Watonwan Counties, Minnesota; Volume I, Illustrated; by John A. Brown & Co. (1916); tr. by mkk

A bank is an institution, under public control, having a place of business where credits are opened by the deposit of money and currency, subject to be paid upon check or order, and where money is advanced and loaned on stocks and commercial paper and where the same are received for discount or sale. Any person so operating, whether incorporated or not, is a banker. No person may use the name “bank” in connection with his business, unless the same be under the supervision of the superintendent of banks. Banks are now of three kinds: State banks, organized under the laws of the commonwealth; savings banks, organized by special charter, or under the general savings bank law; national banks, organized under the national banking laws.

The superintendent of banks, at least annually, and as much oftener as he deems necessary, has the right to visit and examine the business and officers of any such corporation, except a national bank, and ascertain its financial condition. Whenever he finds a state or savings bank in such condition that its further operation is hazardous to the public interest, he may take possession of the same and report to the governor. A state bank may commence the transaction of business only when it has the certificate of such superintendent of banks, authorizing it to do so. State banks are prohibited from indicating in any way that they are authorized to transact the business which a savings bank usually does, but a national bank, being an institution incorporated under the national banking laws, is not subject to state law in so far, and such banks may create and maintain a savings bank department.

National banks are such as are organized under the government's banking act, and must have a capital of not less than twenty-five thousand dollars. Each stockholder is not only liable for the amount of his stock, but is liable in an additional amount of such stock. Any person engaged in banking who receives deposits after a bank has become insolvent, is guilty of a criminal offense.

THE FIRST BANK IN WATONWAN COUNTY.

The first bank in Watonwan county was the Watonwan County Bank, established at the village of Madelia in the seventies, probably first owned by Joseph Flanders, who later sold his interest, at any rate, to Judge Cooley, and sometime in 1880, he sold to A. H. Benton, who sold his interest to the present First National Bank of Madelia, and became cashier of the latter institution, continuing for two years, when he resigned. The original bank was taken over by the First National Bank in 1904. It was in January, 1904, that the doors of the new bank were thrown open to the public. Its organization was perfected by C. S. Christensen, Sr., E. L. Gove, A. H. Benton, J. E. Haycraft, C. T. Dahl and F. H. Wellcome. The officers at first were: F. H. Wellcome, president; C. S. Christensen, Sr., vice-president; C. T. Dahl, vice-president; A. H. Benton, cashier, and L. J. Olson, assistant cashier. The 1916 officers are as follow: C. B. Christensen, Sr., president; Charles Russell, vice-president; C. T. Dahl, cashier and F. H. Hillesheim, assistant cashier.

The first (and present) capital was twenty-five thousand dollars. The resources and liabilities are now three hundred and forty-eight thousand dollars, with surplus and profits amounting to five thousand seven hundred dollars. The recent deposits are named in the report as being three hundred thousand dollars. This bank is a member of the Federal Reserve Bank, ninth district.

The comparative statement of total resources of this concern is as follows: At the close of the years from 1904 to 1916 the resources were: In 1904, $98,302; in 1905, $106,906; in 1906, $111,921; in 1907, $110,654; in 1908, $115,564; in 1909, $152,606; in 1910, $184,179; in 1911, $196,872; in 1912, $222,995; in 1913, $255,458; in 1914, $296,223; in 1915, $335,245. This bank now pays five per cent on its deposits, and still manages to make profits for the stockholders. They write insurance and make many farm loans.

THE FIRST BANK AT ST. JAMES.

The pioneer banking concern at St. James was what was legally named the “Bank of St. James,” but usually in latter days known as “The Old Bank.” Its last quarters were in the present Sanitarium building - the old Park Hotel. It was established in 1878 and in 1903 it had a capital of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, but during that year was forced into the hands of a receiver and a set of trustees closed up its business at a loss to its depositors. It was established by Moses K. Armstrong and was counted the strongest banking house in all southern Minnesota. For many years it had the confidence of everyone in this county and seemed to be conducted along good business lines, and at one time boasted of its two-hundred-thousand-dollar capital, with a backing of much greater amount. It handled much real estate, as Armstrong was one of the largest landowners in Watonwan county, having farms, wild land and a great amount of village and city property in this and adjoining counties. In 1901 the officers serving were: Moses K. Armstrong, president; W. T. Bordeno, cashier; T. Kolstad, bookkeeper.

In three months of the year 1890 this bank issued drafts and checks to the amount of over one million dollars and grain checks paid to farmers who sold grain at the three St. James elevators amounting to $327,416.

It was wound up after several years of hard work on the part of the trustees. The community in general never believed Mr. Armstrong dishonest, but rather that his methods were not good business policy and the manner of keeping his accounts was not of the correct kind for good banking. To the date of his failure he was accounted a model man in every particular and did much for the county and for the county seat, in liberal donations, in way of grounds for industries and public buildings, including the school grounds, where stands the beautiful Armstrong school.

CITIZENS NATIONAL BANK, ST. JAMES.

The Citizens National Bank at St. James, was organized in 1904 by T. K. Haugen and H. M. Serkland, with officers as follow: T. K. Haugen, president; H. M. Serkland, cashier. The 1916 officials are: C. R. Manwaring, president; Thomas Offerdal, vice-president; A. M. Hanson, cashier; V. A. Malmrose, assistant cashier. The directors' board is composed of the following gentlemen: C. R. Manwaring, Thomas Oferdal, A. M. Hanson, J. C. Ranseen and Albert Johnson. A bank building was constructed in 1899 of solid brick walls.

The capital is the same as when organized-twenty-five thousand dollars; the surplus and profits amounts to thirty thousand dollars, and the amount of deposits at June, 1916, was two hundred and forty thousand dollars. Its officers are well-known men in southern Minnesota.

FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF ST. JAMES.

The first National Bank of St. James, was established March 31, 1893, by Frank O'Meara. The officers at first were Thomas Veltum, president; Clinton Ellsworth, vice-president; Frank O'Meara, cashier. This bank succeeded the old State Bank of St. James, organized in 1890. During the panic of 1893-4, the First National Bank went through unscathed. It commenced on the same capital it now works under fifty thousand dollars. It has a surplus and profits amounting to $36,550, and deposits on May 1, 1916, amounting to $347,531.74. The statement on the date just given showed that the resources and liabilities amounted to $520,132.91. Among the items therein enumerated are these: Loans and discounts, $ 368,756.35; coin and certificates, $25,573.20; real estate owned by the bank, $ 11,495.60; individual deposits which are subject to check, $98,924.21; certificates due in less than thirty days, $21,647.80; certificates of deposit, $234,191.28. In 1892 their solid brick building was erected at a cost of thirty-two thousand dollars, and it has all of the modern improvements for the successful transaction of a large banking business. The 1916 officers are: J. S. Sonnesyn, president; Clinton Ellsworth, vice-president; Thomas Tennessen, cashier; W. F. Schoffman and E. C. Veltum, assistant.

SECURITY STATE BANK OF ST. JAMES.

This bank was organized August 1, 1903, by W. P. Rempel, W. S. Hammond, F. E. Veltum, C. J. Wenstrom and William Oetting. The first capital was the same as carried today - fifty thousand dollars. Its surplus and profits are now ten thousand dollars, while its recent deposits are one hundred and ninety-nine thousand dollars. At the close of business, March 7, 1916, the statement shows the following: Resources - Loans and discounts, $239,261.01; overdrafts, $515.63; bank and fixtures, $1,500.00; checks and cash due from other banks, $32,813.85; bonds and securities, $2,000.00; sundry expenses, $754.44. Total, $276,844.93. Liabilities Capital and surplus, $6,000.00; undivided profits, net, none; deposits, $216,844.93. Total, $276,844.93.

The first officers of this bank were as follow: W. P. Rempel, president; C. J. Wenstrom, vice-president; F. E. Veltum, cashier; William Oetting and W. S. Hammond, directors. The 1916 officers are: W. P. Rempel, president; William Oetting, vice-president; M. H. Hammond, cashier; Marion Clark, assistant cashier; W. P. Rempel, William Oetting, M. H. Hammond, Marion Clark and David Rempel, directors.

ODIN STATE BANK.

The Odin State Bank was organized June 9, 1904, with first officers as follow: W. M. Jacobson, president; N. J. Lervick, vice-president; J. C. Jensen, cashier. The present officers are: J. C. Lensen, president; W. M. Jacobson, vice-president; P. T. Laingen, cashier; T. P. Laingen, assistant cashier. The board of directors are Messrs. W. M. Jacobson, J. C. Jensen, A. Jacobson, M. Jensen, T. P. Laingen, C. S. Hammer and O. H. Fossum. The capital is ten thousand dollars, same as when established. It now has a surplus of thirty thousand dollars, and a recent report shows deposits to the amount of one hundred and one thousand nine hundred and ninety-four dollars.

This bank succeeded to the Odin Bank, a private concern, established in 1901. The present brick building was erected in 1914, at a cost of thirty five hundred dollars. A general banking business is transacted; also real estate, farm loans and general insurance business is carried on. The sub-joined is part of their March, 1916, statement: Resources: Loans and discounts, $98,664.42; overdrafts, $103.15; bank and fixtures, $4,650.00; total cash assets, $14,036.00; checks and cash items, $551.47. Total, $118,005.75. Liabilities: Total deposits, $100,994.91. Capital stock, $10,000.00; surplus fund, $2,000.00; undivided profits, net, $2,010.84; bills payable, etc., $3,000.00. Total liabilities, $118,005.75.

MERCHANTS STATE BANK, LEWISVILLE.

The Merchants State Bank at Lewisville was organized on January 22, 1902, by Adolph Sucker. Its first officers were: William F. Sucker, president; T. M. Lewis, vice -president; Adolph Sucker, cashier, and F. M. Gillett, assistant cashier. The 1916 officers are as follow: James Lewis, president; T. N. Marsden, vice- president; Adolph Sucker, cashier and Percy E. Lewis, assistant cashier.

The first capital was ten thousand dollars, which has been increased to twenty thousand dollars. Its present resources and liabilities amount to one hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars, with surplus and profits amounting to three thousand five hundred dollars. The recent statements show the amount in deposits to be one hundred and forty-eight thousand dollars. This bank is owned solely by citizens of Lewisville and it has doubled its stock by its earnings, since 1902, a record seldom achieved by any bank in so short a time. It owns its bank building, which is a brick stone structure erected in 1903.

PEOPLES STATE BANK, BUTTERFIELD.

The Peoples State Bank, of Butterfield, was organized May 18, 1903, by B. Rempel, A. V. High, J. Koller and John Rempel, with a capital of were ten thousand dollars, same as it operates under today. The first officers as follow: B. Rempel, president; A. V. High, vice -president; J. Koller, cashier, and they are the same today except that John Heppne is vice -president in place of Mr. High. This bank now has deposits amounting to seventy thousand dollars, with a surplus and profit of four thousand dollars. A general commercial banking business is transacted in this institution.

THE STATE BANK OF BUTTERFIELD.

The State Bank of Butterfield was organized in 1904, by J. K. Sonnesyn and Thomas Thompson, of St. James, G. A. Kintzi, A. Syverson, J. F. Enns, and J. Brogger of Butterfield. The capital stock is same as when organized - twelve thousand dollars. At first the officers were as follow: G. A. Kintzi, president; J. F. Enns, vice-president and E. Brogger, cashier. They are the same now except that J. Brogger is president and E. Brogger, cashier. In 1915 a splendid bank building was erected by this corporation. The lot on which it stands cost fifteen hundred dollars, and the structure itself cost ten thousand dollars, with fixtures amounting to thirty-five hundred dollars.

The present (June, 1916) resources and liabilities are one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The surplus and profits are eight thousand seven hundred dollars and they have deposits at the last accounting, one hundred and thirty-five thousand dollars.

FARMERS STATE BANK, ORMSBY.

The Farmers State Bank at Ornisby, was organized July 1, 1901. Its first officers were: E. S. Ormsby, president; Christ Struck, vice-president; A. H. Peterson, cashier. In 1916 the officers are: A. C. Brown, president; John Toedt, vice-president; F. D. Klocow, cashier. The capital is ten thousand dollars, same as when organized. A general banking business is transacted here in a building owned by the stockholders. The surplus and undivided profits in May, 1916, were twenty-four hundred dollars, with deposits amounting to forty-five thousand dollars.

THE STATE BANK OF LA SALLE.

The State Bank of LaSalle, Minnesota, was organized July 24, 1906,by M. S. Dossett, C. Evanson, Silver Hage, T. C. Hovde and Hans Sigurdson, with possibly a few others. The first and present officers are: T. C. Hovde, president; Hans Sigurdson, vice-president; O. E. Sundt, cashier. The present assistant cashier is Sig. Skarphol. The capital stock of this bank is ten thousand dollars. They do business in a building which they erected in 1906 - a frame structure costing fifteen hundred dollars. Here a general banking business is conducted. The resources and liabilities in June, 1916, were one hundred and fifty thousand dollars; surplus and undivided profits at that date were seven thousand four hundred dollars. The deposits are now one hundred and thirty thousand dollars. The present board of directors is made up as follows: Hans Sigurdson, M. S. Dossett, A. H. Shellum, T. C. Hovde and O. E. Sundt.

STATE BANK OF DARFUR.

The State Bank of Darfur was organized June 10, 1903, by W. P. Rempel, D. D. Hiebert, Theo. Kintzi, Charles W. Stark, Frank Balzer, J. H. Dickman and Diedrich Heppner. Ten thousand dollars was the first and is the present capital stock. The first officers were: J. H. Dickman, president; D. D. Hiebert, vice-president; Carl Klein, cashier. Those serving today (1916) are: W. P. Hempel, president; Diedrich Heppner, vice-president; Theo. Englin, cashier; Paul Connor, assistant cashier.

A frame bank building was erected in 1900 at an expense of one thousand dollars. In June, 1916, they had resources and liabilities to match, amounting to one hundred and forty-two thousand seven hundred and thirty-one dollars. The surplus and profits amounted to five thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven dollars, with a showing of deposits of one hundred and twenty-four thousand four hundred and seventy-nine dollars. In March, 1916, they had in the reserve fund over twenty thousand dollars, whereas they were only required to have on hand eighty-seven hundred and thirty dollars.

The board of directors who manage this bank is composed of M. H. Hammond, Frank Balzer, W. P. Rempel, Theo. Englin, C. W. Stark, D. Heppner and C. Elg.

CHAPTER XVII. AGRICULTURE, STOCK-RAISING, ETC.

Source: History of Cottonwood and Watonwan Counties, Minnesota; Volume I, Illustrated; by John A. Brown & Co. (1916); tr. by mkk

Watonwan is purely an agricultural district; here “corn is king,” and small grains and stock-raising, with dairying next in importance. The early settlers did not suppose that this was a corn country, hence devoted all of their energy to raising wheat, oats, barley and flax, and this in the very nature of things was of a lasting benefit, as the tough prairie sod had first to be pulverized by constant and annual cultivation, before the production of corn would have been a great success; but as the farmer saw the price of grains kept low and no signs of ever making much money out of the laborious work of raising grain, they commenced to experiment in seed corn and after years of trying, succeeded in producing a very early and hardy variety of corn which now grows as well here as in Iowa, which is one of the leading corn states in the Union. The same conditions obtained in northern Iowa for a decade or more after that section of the West was settled. The soil here is ideal for corn growing and with the proper variety of seed the crop seldom fails. Then the soil is very suitable for dairying, there being much low, moist land, where all kinds of common grasses grow luxuriantly. Many have come to believe, in more recent years, that with the modern system of creamery and butter-making facilities, this whole country will ere long be one vast dairy region. The pastures of the county are now covered with cows, whose milk is fast paying off the debts that stood against the farms of the county a few years ago.

There are now paying creameries at various points, including those located at Butterfield, St. James, Odin, Darfur, the Nelson and Albin creamery, the Long Lake creamery, the Sveadahl creamery, the South Branch creamery, and others. In 1913 the county had eight creameries, the output of which was one million and a quarter pounds of butter; also, one cheese factory with an output of one hundred and twenty-seven thousand pounds of cheese. The live stock of the county in 1913 was as follow: Horses, 8,433; cattle, 20,459; sheep, 1,754; swine, 13,599.

There are numerous large stock farms here and fancy stock is raised. Hundreds of cars of fat cattle and other stock are shipped annually from the markets of Watonwan county. Nearly all the farmers own an orchard for the production of apples, as well as berries, which yield a splendid crop.

Nearly every farm home in this county is supplied with United States rural free delivery of mail and parcels, daily, and long-distance telephones, which, together with the excellent transportation facilities to the markets of the Twin Cities, Winona and Mankato, make an ideal home for the agriculturist.

STOCK - RAISING METHODS IMPROVED.

Complete success at farming and stock-raising in this county did not crown the efforts of the Watonwan husbandmen until they had first learned the lesson of corn growing and breeding fancy stock, coupled with the kindred industry of butter-making and the sale of cream. For many years after this county had been settled the cattle were of a poor grade, and after getting half their growth were sold to stockmen from Iowa, who drove large herds annually from southern Minnesota to Iowa, where they were fattened and enriched the men who brought them from this state. But, later, through the foresight of such men as the late M. K. Armstrong and a score more men, better grades of stock were imported and since then none but the best will satisfy the farmer here. The horses also have been bred up till the horse buyers of today say this county produces almost as good a grade of horses as does that fine horse-breeding section of Brown county on the north, whose German population have a name at home and abroad for raising the best horses in Minnesota.

As this county is being drained, the land is becoming better adapted successful farming and stock-raising, and the rural scene of today, splendid as it is to the eye of the passerby, is only a faint shadow of what the real county will be in the near future.

The farmer who used to be known only as the “homesteader,” the “grasshopper sufferer,” and had to be materially aided by the outside world, has now come to be in good circ*mstances and supports his automobile, telephone connection, has his daily paper and educates his children in the high schools of the county and at the State University. Pioneering is always hard on every member of the family, but this was especially true in this part of the state, before railroad days and before the soil had been subdued. Those who remained faithful to the trust imposed upon them as fathers and mothers in this county have lived to see their families well educated and holding places of importance in the busy world.

FARM NAMES.

Through a provision of the law enacted a few years since, landowners within the state of Minnesota may select a name for their improved farm land (not already taken by another and so recorded with the register of deeds), by the payment of a fee of from fifty cents to one dollar. This was a wise provision, and has been in vogue many years in other countries. The farm name - no matter how many times the land changes owners always has an individuality that otherwise it could not have. But in Watonwan county not many farmers have taken advantage of this provision of the Legislature, as the record book only presents the names of sixteen farms, and they are as follow:

No. 1 - June 25, 1909, “East Bank Farm,” in section 12, township 106, range 31 west, by J. C. Jensen.

No. 2 - October 16, 1909, “Oak Dale Stock Farm,” in section 15, township 105, range 32 west, by Otto M. Howe.

No. 3 - “Brook Side Stock Farm,” December 20, 1910, in section 33 and section 34, by D. O'Keefe.

No. 4 - October 21, 1911, “Brook Valley,” in section 20, township 107, range 32 west, by John A. Sjorquist.

No. 5 - May 6, 1912, “Northwood Farm,” by Nels Nelson, in section 24, township 105, range 32 west.

No. 6 - June 15, 1912, “Fertile Valley Farm,” in section 16, township 105, range 32 west, by Mangus Ronsdahl.

No. 7 - “Elmwood Farm,” August 31, 1912, in sections 19 and 30, township 105, range 31 west, by Soren Cook.

No. 8 - April 16, 1914, “City View Farm,” in section 18, township 106, range 31 west, by W. G. Manning and Francis T. Desmond.

No. 9 - “Cloverdale Farm,” August 10, 1915, in section 9, township 106, range 32 west, by R. E. Hagen.

No. 10 - “Sunnyside Farm,” September 8, 1915, in sections 20 and 29, township 107, range 33 west, by Albert A. Uhlhorn.

No. 11 - “Park Dale Farm,” September 27, 1915, in section 2, township, 106, range 31 west, by Hans A. Haygen.

No. 12 - October 8, 1915, “East View Farm,” in sections 20, 29 and 30, township 106, range 32, by N. L. Zender.

No. 13 - “Clover Leaf Farm,” January 8, 1916, in section 7, township 107, range 33 west, by Oscar Wallin.

No. 14 - March 28, 1916, “Cloverdell Farm,” in section 20, and section 21, township 105, range 30 west, by William F. Poppe.

No. 15 - “Fairview Stock Farm,” March 29, 1916, in section 18, township 106, range 32 west, by Henry J. Meyer.

No. 16 - “Hage,” April 6, 1916, by Siver Hage in section 2, township 107, range 30.

THE GREAT ELGIN COLONY.

Among the greatest single colonies that ever came to this county was the one induced to settle here by Mr. Voss. Many of these Illinois farmers purchased lands at ten dollars an acre and sowed the raw breaking to flax, and so great was the yield for a number of seasons that many paid for their land from the proceeds of one year's crop of flax. Besides this the land was thoroughly subdued, suitable for the easy cultivation of other crops, including corn. After a few crops of flax, it was found that this plant was a detriment to the soil and its growth was lessened until none was sown. This colony furnished many thrifty agriculturists in the vicinity of St. James.

COUNTY FAIR SOCIETIES, ETC.

Here, as has been the case in many of the counties in Minnesota the keeping up a successful county annual fair for the exhibit of farm, live stock and fruits produced in the county, has been no small task. The earliest society went down about the date of the Indian massacre in 1862 and was not reorganized for a number of years. It is profitless to the reader to trace the coming and falling by the wayside of all of these societies, but it may be briefly stated that in 1890 the business men of St. James started a monthly “stock sale,” which was highly successful and pleased the farmers very much.

In November, 1891, the Watonwan County Board of Trade decided to organize a regular county fair, again. On February 26, 1892, they met and elected the following officers: H. W. Wadsworth, president; the township vice-presidents were, David Sharp, South Branch; P. H. Grogan, Riverdale; C. M. Malmrose, Nelson; W. W. Gibbs, Rosendale; Gilbert Swensen, Long Lake; E. Z. Rasey, St. James; James McDonaugh, Adrian; J. D. McBroom, Butterfield; A. A. Nass, Odin; Thomas Veltum, St. James village; John Hammond, Antrim. A constitution was prepared, read and adopted, and the name given the society was the “Watonwan County Agricultural Society.”

Several successful fairs were held under the auspices of this society, but interest was not kept up. A meeting was called and other men desired to organize a stock company and purchase the old fair grounds. This meeting was held in 1910. In February, 1913, a new or really a re-organized society was formed and stock was placed at five dollars per share. The last officers of the old association became the first officers in the newly formed society. C. T. Crowley, E. A. Gibbs, Rev. Knowlton and C. E. Fuller were made a committee to prepare and submit plans for the grounds and buildings.

Thus the old fair grounds went from the hands of a county agricultural society of the old type into the hands of a stock company, which incorporation made the present improvements on the grounds, which are just to the southeast of the city. The half-mile track, amphitheatre, judges' stand, the long rows of stock pens and other improvements, make it a permanent and desirable property. The buildings, for the most part, are covered with metal sheeting.

The present officers of the association are: Oliver C. Peterson, president; E. Corliss, vice-president; Thomas Offerdahl, secretary; Milton Hammond, treasurer. There is a board of directors made up of the stock holders, scattered throughout the county. Shares are now ten dollars each and there are about seventy-five at this date.

The grounds comprise about twenty acres, which was bought from W. W. Gibbs at one hundred dollars an acre in 1905. It contains two good wells, and all the improvements before mentioned, all of which have cost more than five thousand dollars. Electric lights make all beautiful at night, and every township in the county now makes a special effort to attend the annual fair, bringing with them the finest of stock, grain and fruits the county can produce. In the year 1915 the association paid out for premiums $ 1,082; for races, $920; for amusem*nts, $875, a total of $2,877. They now have an indebtedness of $ 1,722.27.

The Farmers Clubs are doing much toward exciting interest in the enterprise, as are also the rural school districts, which under the county school superintendent, have collected six hundred dollars and to this has been added two hundred more for a school exhibition building.

AN EARLY HORSE AND CATTLE FAIR.

At a meeting held in the village of St. James early in July, 1875, by its enterprising citizens, it was decided that a monthly horse and cattle fair should be held in that village on the third Saturday of each month, commencing with September 18. The farmers and citizens saw the need of choosing a certain day when they could go and sell, buy or trade and where the butchers could also be accommodated. The first fair was a sort of an experiment, but was so much of a success that others followed. At the first fair seven yoke of oxen, several cows and a great many young cattle were sold, amounting to nearly one thousand five hundred dollars. As the country settled up, and markets changed in the community this fair was done away with.

THE CREAMERIES OF WATONWAN COUNTY.

Of recent years the flat lands of this county have been profitably utilized for pasture purposes and the amount of butter made has been remarkable. The farmers have found that their debts could be paid off and a nice bank account started through keeping as many cows as possible.

A report of the Sveadahl Cream Company, published in February, 1911, shows that during the year ending in that month, this creamery had produced one hundred and five thousand pounds of butter and received for the same thirty-two thousand two hundred and twenty-two dollars. They had paid out for butter-fat twenty-eight thousand five hundred dollars. The expenses, including salaries, amounted to twenty-five hundred and fifty dollars. They had on hand, in the sinking fund, thirteen hundred dollars. The average price per pound for butter-fat that year, was thirty-one cents; average overrun twenty per cent. Total, three thousand dollars business more than the previous year.

At Madelia the Co-operative Creamery opened up for business in 1890, and in the first season received ninety thousand pounds of milk. In September they sold the butter on track at twenty cents per pound and raised the price of milk to the farmers. This was the first creamery in the county.

There are now eight or ten successful creameries and many cream stations in operation within Watonwan county. In 1903 the State Butter makers Association convened at St. James.

DAIRY STATISTICS.

The recent state reports show that there are now eight active creameries within this county; that these creameries produced last year nine hundred and sixty-two thousand, five hundred and forty-seven pounds of butter and that the patrons were paid two hundred and thirty-eight thousand, four hundred and thirty-two dollars therefor.

MADELIA CREAMERY COMPANY.

The Madelia Creamery Company, which was organized on January 1, 1915, are the successors to the Madelia Butter and Cheese Company organized in 1890. The old company held a charter from the state that expired on August 1, 1915. On February 21, 1916, the creamery was sold at public auction, the highest bidders being the present Madelia Creamery Company. The present company is a stock concern, composed of the leading farmers and business men in and around Madelia. The men connected with the organization are as follow: A. U. McLaughlin, president; Clark Penny, vice-president; George E. Gjertson, secretary; Henry Madson, treasurer; George E. Gjertson, John Hermanson, S. A. Peterson, C. L. Sorensen and Clark Penny, directors; C. L. Sorensen, manager. Mr. C. L. Sorensen belongs to a family of butter-makers, he being one of six brothers now in the business. Perhaps no other family in the United States can boast of having as many brothers managing co-operative creameries as the Sorensen family. Another fact that recommends them to their many patrons is that no one of them has ever failed. Therefore, there is a very logical reason why the Madelia Creamery Company is among the leaders in the creamery business of the county. Their patrons are always satisfied and their prosperity never questioned.

During May, 1916, the company had about two hundred patrons, whose checks for that month amounted to a total of four thousand seven hundred and two dollars and ninety-nine cents. The amount of business done by the company amounted to five thousand dollars. Their principal market is in Brooklyn, New York. The farmers are careful to deliver their cream on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, for which they receive three cents above the regular price of butter- fat. They may get their checks whenever needed, but regular payment is made at the end of every month.

The company is perhaps the most completely equipped of any concern of its kind in the county. It has a capacity of thirty, thousand pounds of butter- fat per month, and is equipped with all the latest machinery, at a cost of three thousand dollars. A brick building erected especially for the purpose, was constructed in 1902 at a cost of five thousand dollars. The plant is equipped with a chemical refrigerator, a four-ton ice plant and a ten-horse-power electric motor.

ST. JAMES CREAMERY ASSOCIATION.

The St. James Creamery Association was organized in 1901 and has had a steady growth ever since. It is the largest institution of its kind in the county, has about two hundred and twenty patrons and a capacity at the present time of thirty thousand pounds of butter-fat per month. The output is marketed in St. James and New York City.

This establishment is a stock concern, composed of a number of the leading farmers and business men of Watonwan county, and represents another industrial enterprise which goes to demonstrate that St. James will ultimately be a manufacturing point of importance on the two trunk lines of railways which girth the city.

This creamery was originally conceived and founded for the purpose of affording an accessible and profitable market for the farmers in this vicinity. How well it has fulfilled its mission and materialized on the financial end and compensated its stockholders, is evidenced by reports and returns which the concern can exhibit. The creamery being under the direction of responsible men interested in the welfare of the county, naturally, as a matter of self-pride as well, produces naught but the acme of purity and wholesomeness.

They have a capacity of large proportions, even though the demands made upon them are as much, if not more, than they are able to satisfy. They have installed the latest machinery; their product is chemically pure, and the public need have no fear of bacteria or bacilli or disease germs when they consume the dairy products turned out by this creamery. The published report of this association in July, 1914, stated that there were then two hundred and thirty patrons, who received twenty-nine cents per pound for the butter-fat for that month and that the same amounted to a total of seven thousand two hundred and twenty-six dollars.