Fillmore County, Minnesota - Arendanl and Pilot Mound, 1912

Avendahl Township - Story of the Early Days - Land Office Records - An Indian Village - Wassonia - Arendahl Village - Pilot Mound Township - Political Matters - Karly Events - - Pekin Village. ,

Arendahl Township is on the northern tier in Fillmore county, the second from the eastern boundary and separated from it by Rushford. The town of Holt is on the south, Pilot Mound on the west and Winona county on the north. In size and form it is ideutieal with the original government survey. Root river cuts aeross the southeast corner of the town, involving sections 25, 26, 34 and 35. Along this river extends its valley and back at varying distanees are the bluffs. The town is diversified with prairie, timber, hill and dale in picturesque variety. It is quite well settled with a thrifty class of farmers. There are two prineipal branches of Root river coming in from the northwest. A little stream from Winona county dips down into sections 2, 3 and 4.

Early Settlement. Asleck Anderson seeins to be entitled to the distinction of heing the first Caucasian 1o locate within the territory of Arendahl. Flis birth was in Norway and he came to Ilimois in 1835, and the next vear removed to within about fifteen miles southeast of Beloit, Wis. In the spring of 1854 he came to this town and seeured a loeal habitation in section 12. A part of his farm was sold to P. P. Peterson and a part to Even Olson, his sons-in-law, and about 1873 he removed to Peterson. Knud Thorwaldson, another early settler, was born in Norway in 1828, eame to Dane county, Wisconsin, in 1852, and in 1854 took 160 aeres in the town of Norway in this county, remaining one year, when he secured a claim in this town. in section 5.

1855 - Among those who came this year may be mentioned: Andrew Olson (Olnestad), Andrew Olson (Lodahl), Lars Olson (Lodah!), Wans Augundson and Andrew Ericson, Osmund Rolutsou.

Those who came through in 1855 and came here to remain the next year were: Svend Thompson (IIustoft) and son Lars, Christian Johnson, Nels A. Gullickson and Flarold Olson.

1856 - Those who came this year were: Isaac Jackson (who named the town and was first postmaster), John C. Ferguson, Thore K. Jutland, Dunean MeConochie.

Land Office Records. The first titles to land in Arendahl township were issued by the government in 1855. Those who obtained land that year were as follows - the date of the issuance of the warrant being given first, then the name of the owner and then the seetion in which the land was largely located: April 30, Timothy MeCarthy. 34; May 2, Aslack Anderson, 12; May 8, Aslack Anderson, 12; July 3, Aslack Anderson, 12; May 2, Knud Halvorsen, +; June 16, Knud Halvorsen, 4; June 8, Annon Olson, 3-10. June 15, Annon Olson, 10; June 11, Louis Peterson, 2; June 12, Elisa Ann Smith, 15; June 12, Rebkah Smith. 8-30; June 12, Daniel B. Smith, 17-33; June 12, Washington Wendell, 8-30; June 20, Knud Thorwaldson, 4-5; October 19, Knnd Thorwaldson, 45; July 2, John Montgomery, 2; July 7, John Montgomery, 11-14; July 3, Aslack Anderson, 11; July 3, Peter Peterson, 13; July 7, Simeon Crittenden, 1-11-14; July 13, Bjorgen Gunderson, 22; July 18, Lars Sorenson, 22; August 30, John Currie, 8; October 11, John W. Tlenry, 2; October 13, John Hodgdon, 10-15; October 13, James ©. Madigan, 15; Oetober 13, Evan Olson, 1; Oetober 18, Evan Olson, 11; October 15, William H. Ennis, 9; October 15, Donald Ferguson, 7; Oetober 17, Walter 8. Booth, 9-21-29-31-32; October 17, Joseph A. Ennis, 4-7-9-10-30; October 17, Stark G. Thompson, - ; October 19, Christian Thorenson, 2; October 20, Frederick S. Barlow, 5-6; November 5, Frederick 8. Barlow, 6; November 15, Frederick §. Barlow, 6; October 20, James A. Fraser, 28-29; October 20, Samuel Hauk, 12; November 5, Eugene M. Wilson, 5-7-18; November 6, Eugene M. Wilson, 5-7-15-20; November 26, Eugene M. Wilson, 6-19-20; November 6, Nelson A. Gullick, 2-11; November 6, John Desmond, 25-26-27 ; November 6, Ifarol Olson, 3; November 6, Christopher G. Ripley, 1; November 8, John Gordon, 8; November 8, Christian Johan 13; November 8, Michael Meid, 26; November 8, Dunean MeConochie, 18; November 8, Benjamin B. Richards, 25; November 8, Thomas Robertson, 18; Novemher 8, John Thompson, 25-26: November 8, Lars Thompson, 14; November 8, Swend Thompson, 13; November 24, Knud Halverson, 4; November 24, Osmund Rollifson, 5; Decemher 14, Delos Higbie, 2-10: December 10, Delos Highie, 14-19-35; October 15, Delos Highie, 14-35; Decemher 10, William Tlighie, 19.

An Indian Village. When the white settlers arvived they found a deserted Indian village made up of about forty houses, quite well and comfortably constructed of elm bark and secured by cords made of the inner part of the same material. Some of them were as large as 60x40 feet and some 20x20 feet. It was located in section 35 on a table near the river on the north half of the southeast quarter. Some of the settlers utilized the best of the bark of which these lodges were composed to construct their own dwellings.

Political. This town started on ils career as an independent organization on April 1, 1860, having previously been a part of Rushford. The meeting was at the residence of Isaae Jackson. The name of the town was given by Mr. Jackson in honor of a Norway locality. At the first meeting there were twenty-seven votes cast. Lewis Peterson was clerk of the election and Lars Thompson, Nels Gullickson and Knud Thorwaldson were the judges. Lars Thompson, Even Olson and Halver Olson were elected supervisors; Lewis Peterson was the first elerk; D, MeConochie, superintendent of schools; Isaac Jackson and Dunean MeConochie, justices of the peace; Nels Gullickson and Andrew O. Olnestad, constables; Knud Thorwaldson, assessor, and Christian Johnson, treasurer. The better class of men have filled the town offices from time to time, and its affairs have been well managed. %s

Wassonia. During the carly days of colonizing the Root river valley, when there was a steady oncoming tide of people, mostly from the East, the mania for surveying and platting eitics was epidemic all along this fronticr, and so a city was projected in sections 25 and 26, on the banks of the Root river. Jt was laid out and given the name of Wassonia. The charts that were issued to secure the sale of lots were in a high style of art, the streets and square, avenues and parks, boulevards and public grounds were magnificently portrayed. Mills, schoolhouses, churches and hotels were loeated at eligible points. A steamboat landing was represented with a steamer at the wharf and the concomitants of metropolitan life and splendor were exhibited. Of course the lots were sold to eastern men and the title duly conveyed, but they have long since been sold for taxes.

Arendahl Village. The first store in Arendahl was opened by John Jackson in 1865 at his father's residence. He kept a small stock of goods but had considerable patronage. In about one year the store was closed out. J. Jackson began merchandising with a small stock of goods, about $600 worth. In 1871 he took N. W. Jager as a partner and they bought out R. K. Rolefson, who had just opened a stock of goods near the Lutheran ehureh, The building was then moved to section 9. In March, 1874, Mr. Jager sold his interest to Jackson, who sold to his father, Isaac Jackson, some time during the year. In 1881 J. Jackson again secured possession.

The postoffice was established in Mareh, 1861. Isaac Jackson was the postmaster and the office was opened at his house in section 10. In 1872 it was removed to the store kept by his son, J. Jackson, and N. W. Jager was appointed postmaster. In March, 1874, when Mr. Jager sold his interest in the store to his partner, Mr. Jackson became postmaster. Among more recent postmasters have been O. A. Ness and Idward E. Sandli, the latter being in charge when the office was discontinued by reason of the extension of the rural service from Rushford.

Pilot Mound adjoins the northern boundary of the county and is the third from the eastern line. Its immediate surroundibgs are Winona county on the north, Arendahl on the east, Carrolton on the south and Chatfield on the west. The town contains 22,995.57 acres. Pilot Mound is made up of ravines and ridges. In the northern part there is prairie land with dark rich loam, further south the ridges are more narrow and the soil is of a lighter clay, but is very productive. When first settled there was considerable tine timber in the township. There is plenty of water in the town. The north, or larger branch of the Root river goes through the lower part of ile town in a toriuous course, working toward the east, and its course will be briefly deseribed. It first crosses the western line of the town into section 7 and flows south and west into section 18 and back into Chatfield, returning into town in seetion 19, thence through section 20 it swings round into section 29 and then into 28, then into 33 and back into 28 and 27, and there forms a loop involving sections 27, 22, 23, 26 and 35, where it runs southwest through 34 into Carrolion, to re-enter the town in section 35 and doubling on itself in section 86, leaves the town. This town corresponds with a government survey, except that one-half each of sections 33, 34 and 35 are in Carrolton. It is said that some political purpose was to be subserved in transferring this territory to the latter {own some years ago, The next most important stream is Trout run, which cones into town in section 5 and, with few deflections to the right or lett. flows south to make a confluence with Root river in section 20. Money creek is the next largest stream. It rises in section 3 and, flowing nearly parallel with Trout run, discharges into the Root river in section 27. The elevation from which the township takes its name is in the southwestern part of section 11. Ii is a mound containing thirty-five acres at the base and ahout twenty-five at the top, abont twelve aeres of which is tillable, the rest is limestone and ledgey. - It forms a prominent and striking object in the landseape and formerly guided many a weary traveler as he wended his way toward the West.

broad seres of Unele Sam in Pilot Mound was Arthur B. Towe, from the Green Mountain state, who had been living in ithe adjoining county of Jlouston and had stopped a while in Rushford. In 1854 he came over on this virgin soil and staked out a lai in seetion 7, and in fact laid claim to all the land unoceupied in southern Alinnesota, whenever a prospector imade his appearance. He would show a new comer an eligible location and offer to sell his right, title anc interest for as much as he eould get, and it is said that he actually sold the sume lot a sccond time and thus got into trouble and had to leave for a more desirable county. Of course the purehaser would have to enter his land at the land office and pay $200 for every 160 acres. The next man to place himsel! north of Root river in this town was Nelson Trost, also from Vermont. He at first bought a claim of Bowe, consisting of 160 acres in sections 7 and 8, for which he paid #75. Afterwards he bargained for another claim of Bowe on Trout run in seetion 9, where he put up an unhewn timber ahode, the first house in this part of the town. The same year Erick Torkelson and Elling Miller, from Norway, loeated in the south part of the town. They had previously lived a few years in Wisconsin. Torkelson took his land in section 32 and Miller in section 31.

In 1855 James Martin, an Englishman, settled in sections 4 aud 9. Henry Jones, the same year, from IJllinois, took a claim in section 9. G. W. Hammer, from Illinois, secured a site for a farm in section 22. John Ellshurg seeured a place in section 22. Isaae Dickinson, of New Jersey, found a home in section 6.

In 1856 Terrenee Dolan, a native of Ireland, came here from Chatfield and loeated in section 7. Peter and Seger Berg came from Norway the same year and took land in sections 24 and 26. James McKeown, of the Emerald Isle, secured a place in section 10. He had lived one year in Jordan in this connty.

Land Office Records. The first titles to land in Pilot Mound iownship were issued by the government in 1854. Those who obtained land that year were as !ollows - the date of issuance of the warrant being given first, then the name of the owner and then the section in which the land was largely located: Septemher 23, Arthur Bowe, 7; October 21, Havans Newman, 19; October 31, Nelson Frost, 7.

Those who secured land in 1855 were as follows: May 11, Christian Olson, 31; June 23, George W, Hammer, 21; June 23, Jaeol) Oleson, 30; July 17, Cornelius Crowley, 26; November 7, Isaac Dickisson, 6; November 7, Thomas Doland, 6; November 7, Eben C. Richards, 9; November 13, David J. Newman, 21;

General Remarks. The first white child known to be horn here was William Henry Martin, Mareh 26, 1856. The first death was that of Marie Anna Frost, danghter of Nelson and Anna Frost, in May, 1855. Under the territorial government Henry Rouse was justice of the peace, and a ease was once tried before hin where both parties were so obviously at fault that he fined both, the complainant and the defendant dividing the eosts. The popular verdict approved the sentence and tlhe men went home satisfied. .

to order. The moderator was Charles E. Rockwell; Clerk, J. H. Roberts; judges, E. C. Degrush and H. A. Rouse. It was decided to call the township Pilot Mound by a vote of 36 in favor to 22 for the name of Clinton. The whole number of votes east at that election was 58.

The result of the election was as follows: Supervisors, C. N. French (chairman), E. C. Degrush, a vaeaney; clerk, J. 11. Roberts; assessor, S. A. Wooleott; collector, T. J. Hammer; overseer of the poor, Nelson Frost; constables, James A. Newman and Lafayette Allen; justices, H. R. Rouse and W. Wendall. This year $200 was raised to defray expenses for the ensuing year, On May 29, 1858, it was decided to divide the township into four districts and appoint a road overseer for each district.

At an election held Mareh 12, 1912, there was voted for eurrent expenses $1,600. Oificers were elected as follows: Supervisors, Alex. McConochie, M. O. Skrukrud, E- A. Moen; town elerk, Edwin P. Thompson; assessor, Elias A. Mess; treasurer, Henry P. Christopherson; constable, Christ Hermanson; justice, Jd. M. Houghtelin. The town is very prosperous and las done much in building and caring for roads. Within the past few years two large bridges have been built aeross the Root river under a plan whereby the county pays for half and the township for half. The town hall is located in section 10.

Early Events, About the year 1855 there were two blacksmith shops started In town, one by Elling Miller, in the southwest part of the town in section 32 and the other by John Ellsbury in section 2. The first sawmill-in town was built in 1858 in section 4 by Charles Rockwell on Trout run. It was a vertieal saw, aud was driven by water with a head of eight feet. In 1864 Mr. Rockwell sold to Lewis Foss and Brother for $1,000. They eonducted it two years and then transferred the property to A. Currie for a like sum. After a lime the mill went into disuse and the dam washed away. In 1874 the mill blew down, and this. passed away this relie of early days.

Pekin Village. The first attempt at keeping a store was hy William Van Buren, a shoemaker, who kept a small stock of goods in the shop where he worked at his trade. This was in section 10. He kept this running for about two years and then removed to Troy. The next to go into merchandising was the firm of Jones & Hitcheoek in May, 1867, starting at first with a stock of 4600, in section 10, at the ''Four Corners.'' In 1869 the business was transferred to Tlammer & Newman. It changed hands several times previous to 1881, when it was secured by Isaac Jackson. <A postotlice was established in 1856, with David

Billings Smith as postmaster. It was kept in section 12 at first, and afterwards, about 1860, removed to Pekin. In 1861 E. D. Hammer was postmaster, serving till 1867. George Gould was the next, and then Spencer Hiteheock was appointed. Several others followed and the office is now discontinued, the last postmuster being H. Christopherson. The office was known as Pilot Mound. The patrons now receive their mail in Chatfield.