Meeker County, Minnesota - Litchfield Township, 1888

Litchfield Township

^HE territory known as Litchfield township is in the third tier from y the north line of the county, and the second from the western bounelary. It embraces all of congressional township 118 north of range 31 west, and contains about

Meeker Couatty, Minnesota

24,407 acres, 2,895 of which are covered with water, and about a like extent with timber. The prairie land is mostly higli and sufficiently undulating and rolling to afford ample drainage, and add to its picturesqueness and adaptability for tlie uses of agriculture. There are several beautiful lakes within the limits of this subdivision of the county, the largest and most important of which is Lake Kipley, on the edge of the corporate village of Litchfield. This lovely sheet of water was named in honor of Dr. Frederick N. Ripley, one of the earliest settlers of the county, who was frozen to death near its banlcs in the winter of lS55-'56, as detailed elsewhere.

The first settlement of this township was made in Jul}^ 1850, by a party of Norwegian emigrants, who had moved hither from Rock county, Wis. Their names were Ole Halverson Ness, Henry Ilalverson, Ole Halverson Thon, Amos Nelson Fosen, Nels Hanson Colberg- and Gunder Olson. Ness, Halverson and Thon had families, which they brought with them ; the others were, at the time, single men. The entire party took up claims and settled in the southwest part of the township, one of the most picturesque localities in the county.

Among the other settlers of the year 1856 may be named the following : William Benson, Swen and Nels Swenson, Michael Lenhardt, Ferdinand, Christian, Frederick and Wilham Cook.

In 1857 quite a number found homes in this town. Some are here still, a portion have moved away, and others have been called away by death. The names of the settlers of this year are - Bengt Hanson, John Larson, and his four sons, Nels, Andrew, Peter E. and Lewis ; Hogen Peterson, Thorlson J. Cornelius, Ole Amundson, Nels Danielson, Kittel Haroldson, Henry J. Johnson, Ole Kittelson, Jesse V. Branham, Sr., and his sons, Jesse V., Jr., William and Edward;

Among the settlers of 1858 were the following named - Iver Jackson, Bengt Nelson, John and Thomas McGannon. No more can be named b\' the old settlers, \vho were interviewed, but there possibly may have been one or two more. Times were hard during these years, and all suffered many privations, and nearly all were glad of any shelter, even if no better than a "dugout." Money was almost an unknown quantity, at the time, but in spite of the drawbacks and discouragements of those early days those who have remained have reaped their reward in their fine farms and elegant homes. The town now has a population of 1,100 people, outside of the village of Litchfield, which is situated within its borders.

The pioneer church services were held at the residence of Ole H. Ness, in the fall of 1858, by Rev. AYm. Frederickson, a minister of the Norwegian Church, from Goodhue county, this State.

The first school meeting was held at the house of Mr. Ness, December 7, 1861, at which Amos Nelson Fosen was chairman, and John Blackwell, clerk. The first direc-

The Imihliiigof the first school-house was commenced in the summer of 1862, on the farm of (). II. Ness, but on account of the Indian troubles was not finished until some time after the war. A substantial brick edifice, used for the same ]iurpose, marks the site of the original l)uil(ling.

This to\v)i was originally a portion of Hound Lake townshiji, but seems to have been known also as liipley, from the lake of that name; but no record of such exists. On the .5th of April, 1858, the board of County Commissioners ordered its organization under the name of Ness, after O. H. Ness, one of its oldest settlers. It continued to bear that name until 1869, when, on a petition of its citizens, the name was changed to its present form. The officers of the town in 1888, are the following named : Supervisors, John Rodange, Bengt Hanson, and G. B. Strobeck ; town clerk, Aaron Liedholm ; treasurer, A. J. Kevell ; justice of the peace, J. II. Bacon ; assessor, AV. II. Dart ; constable, G. S. Sholes ; road ovei'seers, Andrew Mattson, Peter II. Petei'son, John Chilstrom, Peter Mortenson, Swan Swanson ; poundmaster, H. M. Angler.