Fillmore County, Minnesota - Hul Carimona and Bristor, 1912

Hul Carimona and Bristor

Carimona Township is bonnded on the north hy Fountain, on the east by Preston, on the south by Bristol, and on the west by Forestville. Its form and size is identical with the original United States survey. The surface is rolling, and the soil on the higher portions is a clay loam from six to ten inches deep, with a yellow clay subsoil, and on the low lands the soil is a black loam from eighteen to twenty-four inches deep, with a blue clay subsoil. The south branch of Root river flows across the town from section 18 in quite a direct channel to section 1, where it leaves for Preston. Willow creek comes from Bristol and flows through the eastern tier of sections to join the south braneh in section 1. There are also numerous springs to assist in watering the town. The northern and eastern parts are particularily adapted to stock raising, while the central, south and southwestern sections are well adapted to tillage.

Early Settlement. The summer or fall of 1852 is supposed to be the time of the first entry of the vanguard of civilization which so rapidly encompassed this whole region. Edwin, Joseph and W. C. Pickett, with their father, David, natives of New York, came here from Indiana. Martin Kingsbury and brothers, also from New York, came direct from there, and the same year Sylvester Benson, another New Yorker, and William Carpenter, with J. Howel, who located in this town. Some of them came with teams drawn by oxen, in which they encamped until a log cabin could be put up, which was 14x16 feet.

The earliest settlement in town, outside of the village, was that of Martin Kingsbury and brothers, William Carpenter aud Sylvester Benson, who came in the spring of 1853, and camped on Willow creek, in section 25. William Wilbur bought one of their claims afterwards. John B. Palmer arrived in the fall of 1853, and seeured a claim. i pher Fritzsomimers, a native of Ireland, Samuel R. Ayer, of Canada, Peter Young and Martin Young, of New York, and others eame in. W. H. Strong, who arrived in the spring of 1854, at once became a prominent citizen and built a hotel the next year, which did an immense business. William Chalfant came at the same time. The Picketts lad two younger brothers, Philo and Alonzo, and their father, as already mentioned, who afterwards died. William Sitler was here a short time and then returned to Pennsylvania. William Holton came as a lad about the same period. Aikin Miner came in the fall of 1853 and setiled on section 24. In the fall of 1854 he moved io Jorden, in this county.

In 1855, J. W. Brockett came here and engaged in trade, but did nof remain Jong. W. H. Roberts was a settler this year in the village. Jacob Diley was another, who came about this time. Robert Broadwater and family also arvived this year. George Babcock and Ehenezer Newcomb, from New England, are also remembered as comers this year. This village was on the great stage route, and when navigation on the river closed there were regular lines of stages, the most prominent of which was M. O. Walker's.

Abraham Rexford eaine from Loraine county, Ohio, in 1856, ind settled on section 23. His wife, Susan. who came with him, is now in her eighty-third year and lives with her son, Samuel, on the original homestead.

Land Office Records. The first titles to land in Carimona township were issued by the government in 1854. Those who obtained land that year were as follows, the date of the issuance of the warrant bemg given first, then the name of ihe owner and then the section in which the Jand was largely located. August 17, Martin Kingsbury, 23; August 17, Robert 8. Warren, 23; August 17, William Reynolds, 13; August 24, Daniel Hurl. bunt, 24; September 5, Joseph Pickett, 5; September 5, William C. Pickett, 4; September 8, Martin Henderson, 10; September 8, Edwin Pickett, 4; September 9, John Ingbrightsen, 18; November 1, Sylvester Benson, 25.

Early Events. In 1856 Wm. Rendals took a claim in seetion 31 and engaged in business in section 24, in Bulfalo Grove. In 1858 My. and Mrs. Rendals both died of typhoid fever, and a supposed partner in the business in which they were engaged, which was the manufaeture of coin, came up from Iowa and secured the machinery, molds and a certain amount of fifty and twenty-five eent pieces. For the eonvenience of the mill an ostensible blacksmith shop was erected, and in this place the counterfeiting was carried on, but how extensively will never he known, as, if any of the spurious coin was passed, it was taken into a neighboring state and never issued near home. It is said that a case was being tried hefore a justice in town at one time, and the tnagistrate was found to be fast asleep when J. R. Jones, one of the attorneys, adjourned the ease until the court should awake. Orissa C. Kingsbury, a daughter of Martin and Caroline Kingsbury, was born June 19, 1854. In the spring of 1856 John Warner and Lizzie Rendals were united in marriage by Rev. John L. Dyer, at the residence of the bride's parents. In the spring of 1855, John Woolsley died of overheat while at work. At the time of the Indian panic, about September 1, 1862, E. MeGowan snddenly started off with the rest of the people for Preston, leaving his pocket book, containing $800 in eash, and on his return he tound that some one had taken care of it so effectually that he never saw it again.

Township Organization. The first town meeting was held May 11, 1858. The officers of the election were: Chairman II. R. Wells; clerk, J. T. Niekerson; judges, Samuel Hull, Abraham Anderson and W. T. Little. The offiecrs elected were: Supervisors, William H. Strong (chairman), J. If. Kegan and Daniel Garrison; justices of the peace, E. Pickett, J. W. Brackett and W. AH. Wilbur; clerk, Abram Kalder; assessor, 8. R. Ellis; constable, B. B. Strong; collector, B. B. Strong; overseers of the poor, W. C. Pickett and Joseph Bishey. The first meeting of the board of supervisors was on May 28, when the road business reecived attention, the districts having been at that meeting designated and the overseers appointed.

In the War of the Rebellion, It is said that almost every able bodied man in town enlisted to serve their country in its hour of peril, and that the Union sentiment was well nigh universal.

The Indian Seare. On that terrible ocexsion the panic in town was almost universal. The fighting material being away at the front, those that were at home felt that they were at the mercy of the bloodthirsty savages, and.every soul left, as is reported, for Preston, to escape impending destruction.

Carimona Village. The location of this historie spot is on the south branch of the Root river, ou the southern line of section 4. It was first indieated as a village in 1853, but was not platted until the following spring. Edwin aud William C. Pickett were the proprietors. Carimona heing one of the four center towns of the county, it was judged that if a village could be created there, that it would be an object for the county to establish it as a county seat, and the idea was reinforeed by the subsequent action of the voters.

In the summer of 1854 William H. Strong built a two-story frame building, the lower part he used as a dry goods and grocery store and the upper part for a residence. In 1855 he built a two and one-half story hotel, and oeeupied it as such for a year or so, until he built the brick huilding, the second story of whieh was intended for county purposes. This building is still standing.

In 1856 Gilbert & Piekett started a hardware and tinsmith shop. <A shoe shop was opened in 1857 by William Taft. D. Holton built a wheelwright shop in 1858, and it was oceupied by Mr. Chamberlain.

Some time in 1857 William Holton opened a sample room in Mr. Taft's building, and different parties engaged in the business up to the year 1864, when it was closed out.

Postoffice. In 1854 a post-office was established in the village with William C. Pickett as pdéstmaster, and he was succeeded by the following gentlemen: William H. Strong, E. T. Nelson, J. M. Howe, A. King, and Wiliam K. Read. The last postmaster was OQ. L. King. Mail is now received by rural route from Preston.

Wankokee Village. This is a locality on section 25 in the Willow creek valley, and the land was at first pre-empted by Daniel Hulburt and others. The name was derived from an Indian chief, who used to have a fishing and hunting camp at this place. Milton West built the first house, in 1853, and opened a small grocery store, and mm 1857 there were seven houses in the village, and a post-office was established, with Mr. West as postmaster, but he was soon succeeded by Mr. Wilbur. In 1868 the office was discontinued and about that time B. Larkins opened a dry goods store, which was soon transferred to Joseph Colburn, but the business did not continue for a great length of time. <As early as 1855, Martin Kingsbury organized a Sunday-school in the house of Sylvester Bensun. On October 7, 1855, Rev. John L. Dyer preached the first sermon, as is supposed, in the Willow ereek valley. His well remembered text was, ''I Am hath sent me unto you.' On Jannary 27, 1856, Mr. Dyer organized ua Methodist Episcopal society with six members. Services were held from time to time in the schoolhouse. The village now exists only as a recollection. Oren West built a hotel in Waukokee in an early day. He and his wife died on their first Jocation in section 25.

Bristol was an original government township, and is one of the southern row of towns bordering on Towa, and is the fourth from Houston county on the east, and third from the western boundary. It is contiguous to Carimona, Harmony, York and Towa state, on the north, east, west and south, respectively. On the margin of the upper Towa river, which impinges upon the southern part of the town, there is considerable bottom land, and baek of this it becomes more broken and hilly, At first along the river there was a fine growth of timber. Back from the river is Bristol prairie with its rich dark loam. At the west of this prairie is Bristol grove, or ''Verpe'' grove as the Norwegians call it. The land in the northern and eastern part is somewhat uneven. The south branch of Willow creek arises from the north center of the town, and fiows east and north into the town of Carimona. The middle braneh of Root river is another stream with like characteristics. In the northern part of the town there were some fine groves of timber at an early day, but most of it has fallen before the woodman's ax, while new woods are springing up in the vicinity. In the sontheastern part, where the first claim was laid, there was at first some fine timber land.

In July, 1853, M. C. and L. G. St. John, the first actual settlers, put in a personal appearance and bought Mr. Drake's claim, which was timber. M. C. located in section 36 and his brother, L. G., in section 35. These young men were natives of New York, but had been living for eight or nine years in Wisgonsin, from whenee they came here. William A. Nelson, another young man, was along at the same time, and he selected & quarter in sections 34 and 35, whieh he afterwards sold to Granger & Lewis as a part of Granger village. Mr. Drake was from Iowa, and did not remain. During the same year D.

B46 History Of Fillmore County

Crowell, a native of Boston, came up from Illinois, and he staked out a farm in section 32. It is thought that there were no more settlers that vear.

During the year 1854 there were quite a number of acquisitions, among them James Springsteel, a native of the Buekeve state, arrived from Illinois and jiook his land in section 38. Torger Tollefson and Ole Flatastal eame from Wisconsin and secured farms in sections 1 and 11. Thomas Drury and Charles Bellingham, Englishmen, located in seetions 3 and 11. Mr. Bellingham moved to Lyon county in 1871, and in 1878 Mr. Drury died. With them came two other English families. Ole Skrabeck aud Gunder Jurgenson settled ou sections 1 and 12. Knut Halverson Verpe claimed large traets in seetions 18 and 20 and lived on a tract in se¢tion 17 until he sold his home in 1870. On June 7, 1878, he died at the residence of H. Halverson at the age of ninety-five years. Samuel Bowden, from England, who had been living in Wisconsin, secured a homestead in seetion 1, where he surrendered his life in 1862. William B. Hutchison, James Sprinesteel and George Drury also came this year.

The year 1855 brought quite a number. John Rice, a Canadian, e#ine bere direet from Miehigan and planted a homestead in section 13. 0. Chase, from Ohio, stopped a short time in seetion 25. N. Boice came from New York State to section 25 and remained a few years. Thomas Arnnstrong, also from New York, secured a claim in section 34, which, the next year, he disposed of to Jason Damon. Jolm and R. Sims eame from England and procured farms in sections 29 and 32.

Edward Burnham, a native of Franklin county, Massachusetts, arrived here on June 9, 1856, and selected land in sections 14 and 23. Henry Mark came from Pennsylvania and his place was in seetion 11, but he went to Guthrie connty, Iowa. Halver Halverson found a stopping place in seetion 18. In 1857, while attempting to cross the Root river in a boat, he lost his life. In 1856, a few other settlers arrived. Henry Achatz, a Prussian, fonnd a resting place in section 24. Orson Thacher, of the Green Mountain state, made a sojourn on section 2 until 1871, when he died. William MeGowen, from Scotland, settled on a place in section 18. Isaae Camphell was on section 33 and Widow Myers on section 34. W. E. Adams and Michael O'Conner also caine this year.

John Black, a native of Scotland, came in 1857, from Wisconsin. where he had been living, and found a place that met bis requirements in section 30, where he lived and wrought up to the time of his death, May 1, 1874. James Arnst came with Mr. Black, and from that time the filling-up process was rapid.

Mr. And Mrs. D. R. Ogg And Family

Land Office Records. The first titles to land in Bristol township were issued by the government in 1855. The one who obtained land that vear was as follows, ihe date of the issuance of the warrant being given first, then the name of the owner and then the section in whieh the land was largely located: November 30, Nelson Boyer, 13.

Early Events. Eimuina and Effie Rice, twin daughters of John and Matilda Riec, were born April 18, 1856. Effie died in infaney, Fmina married M. N. Bradley. Charlie Vail, son of John Vail, was born on May 31, 1855. The very earliest birth must have been Rose, daughter of L. G. and Annie St. John, in September, 1853. Aaron Ludden and Sarah Nelson were united in marriage in August, 1854, by Elder Bly. In 1855, by the same gentleman, John MeQuary and Catharine Nelson were married. George Drury and Catharine Phfremmer were married in July 1898. Samuel R. Thacher and Mehitable D. Page, in January, 1859.

Political, The organization of the town whieh, while under a territorial form of government was merely a part of a voting precinet, took place May 11, 1858, when the first town meeting was held at the house of J. P. Howe. The town officers elected were: Supervisors, M. C. St. John (chairman) and George Horton; J. J. Jones was subsequently appointed to fill the vacancy; town elerk, Charles Lewis; assessor, Charles Roberts; collector, Daniel Thacher; constable, L. G. St. John; justices of the peace, George Knox and M. C. St. John; overseer of the poor, E. Burnham. The judges at this election were William E. Adams, J. P.

Postoffices. The first postoffice in town was established in 1855, and was named Alxhridge. Daniel Crowell was postmaster and mail carrier, going to Elliota, twelve miles, once a week. The office was at his house in section 32. In 1857 it went to Granger. Vailville postoffice was established late in the fifties on the southeast quarter of section 15. T. P. Chase was the first to handle the mail key, then Alanson Andrews, who moved the office to his house in section 24. He kept it for about three years when he was superceded by Edwin Teel, who moved the office to his house on the northeast quarter of section 21, and it was ealled ''Bristol Centre.'? Sometime in the middle of the sixties it was discontinued and the citizens procured their mail matter from the most convenient office for the several parts of the town. In October, 1876, a postoffice for the town was established with Owen KR. Morris as postmaster, and it was opened at his residence in section 8. Bristol postoffice also flourished for a while, James Berning being the last postmaster. For a while after the office was discontinued the patrons received their mail from Greenleafton, but they are now served by rural route from Preston. Prairie Queen postoffice Hourished for a number of vears in section 4. E. N. W. Shook was the last postmaster. The patrons now receive their mail by rural route from Preston.

Granger Village

Granger is a hamlet in the southern part of Bristol township. While not enjoying the benefits of a railroad it is a flourishing trading place, and has the business and professional activities usually found at such points. Florenceville, which is really a part of Granger, is jusi over the line in Iowa.

Early History. The village of Granger was surveyed in 1857 by Brown L. Granger and C. H. Lewis, both being engineers, and the former a graduate of West Point. They came from Boston and were agents for a firm of capitalists under the name of Burgess & Greenleaf. The plat contained all but eighty aeres of section 34, and eighty acres were in section 35. It was divided into 166 lots, 50 by 100 feet, except those made fractional by the Upper Iowa river, that sweeps up into the village. The streets are from 60 to 80 feet wide, and the alleys 12 feet, and the whole village was laid out in accordance with metropolitan ideas. Granger & Lewis opened a store and a postoffice was established. The same firm began the erection of a fiourishing flouring mill of stone, but when nearly completed the west end fell out. Discouragement settled on the project and there it stood until

1864, when W. H. Wayman took it in hand, and during the winter got it In operation. The material for the building was taken from a quarry near by. In the fall of 1857 Ed. Slawson opened a hotel and kept it for about four years; then, for a time, there was no public house here, but in 1865 Dr. Lewis Reynolds built the State Line House and sold it to H. Slawson, who, in 1870, transferred it to §S. Brightman. Dr. Reynolds was the first resident physician. <A distillery was started by Mr. Wyman in 1865 in a building 32x80 feet, hut in a few months it was closed by the internal revenue officers. He also started a vinegar factory. In 1859 Hiram Beebe started a blacksmith shop. In a few years he sold to S. Van Loan, who continued it but a short time. In 1864 John Finekh started a blacksmith shop. In 1865 John Hebeg opened a wagon shop. Haskins & Halstad introdueed a drug store in 1870, but in a year or two it was closed. In 1872 Dr. D. J. Lathrop opened a drug store.