Mower County, Minnesota - Chapter 36: Racine Township and Village, 1911

Chapter 36: Racine Township and Village

Racine is the northeast corner town of IMower county. It is bounded on the north by Olmsted county, east by Fillmore county, south by Frankford townsliip, and west by Pleasant Valley. The soil is a rich, dark loam, underlaid with a clay subsoil. The surface is rolling, and the scenery diversified by occasional natural groves.

Bear Creek cuts across the southeast corner of the town. There are other streams in the town that arise from the beautiful springs, which are numerous.

Early Settlement

It seems that the first scttlemeut within the present limits of Mower county, was made in what is now Racine township, by Jacob McQuillan. The story of the settlement of the McQuillans in 1852 is told elsewhere. In April, 1853, Thomas Cory, a native of Massachusetts, settled on the McQuillan place, and there entertained travelers two years, after which he settled in Fillmore county. He is now dead. His son Henry, former sheriff, still lives in the state. Adam Zedecker, a son-in-law of McQuillan, earae with him. He first made a claim in Fillmore county, b\it afterward traded places with McQuillan. In 1855 he sold to "William Campfield, and returned to Fillmore county. Campficld was a native of Pennsylvania. He lived here about six years, then went to Kansas, later to Iowa. It is said that G. I. Covell came in 1854 also. He settled on the northwest quarter of section 8. In 1855 he went to Frankford, then the county seat, and paid the first personal tax in Mower county. Joseph Robb, Zedekiah Tomlinson, and J. D. Gregory, all natives of Pennsylvania, came here April 15, 1855. Robb and Gregory both made claims, which they sold soon after to C. J. Felch, and moved to FiUinore county. Robert Campfield came that year, and stayed until 1873, when he removed to Kansas, and settled in Ellsworth county. Others that came in 1855 were Benjamin Campfield, John R. Campfield, and C. J. Felch. Benjamin Campfield was a native of Pennsylvania. He preempted land in both Fillmore and Mower counties. He lived at Hamilton a few years. He is dead. John R. Campfield, also a native of Pennsylvania, first settled in Fillmore county. In 1858 he moved to section 25 of Racine township. Felch was a native of York state. He settled on the southwest quarter of section 1.

In 1856 the following named came : William Harper, John W. Harper, Lewis Skyhawk, William Trend, Loren Dutton, Jonathan Stewart, Zara Frisbee. John W. Harper vs^as a native of York state. He settled on section 27, where he lived some years, then sold and moved to section 33. He is now dead. William Harper preempted the northwest quarter of section 34. In October, 1858, he sold and moved to Frankford and settled on the northeast quarter of section 12 of that township. Skyhawk settled on section 27, Mdiere he died in 1866. The Buttons were natives of Pennsylvania and came in the spring of the year. Loren preempted the northwest quarter of section 7. The following spring AVilliam preempted forty acres in section 7. Stewart was a native of York state. He preempted the southwest of section 27. Frisbee settled on section 19. During the war of the rebellion he answered his country's call. He was taken prisoner and died in Andersonville prison.

In 1857, William Chreviston, John Burton, William Dutton, L. G. Odeil and John R. Vail came. The former settled in section 28. In 1865, he sold and moved to Hamilton. Odell remained a resident of the town aboiit ten years, when he removed to Fillmore county. Vail was a native of Canada ; he settled in section 17.

Among others who might be mentioned as early settlers are: H. S. Bailey, John ^Martin, T. J. Lake, J. R. Dayton, Eli Leonard, O. B. Morse, E. Kenyon, AV. E. Harris, George L. Grannis, Mat hew Russell, Roswell E. Stewart, George D. Knox, John Sehroeder, Frank Pew and William Vannatta.

Organization

This township was organized in 1858. It compi-ises eongrer.- sional township 104 north, range 14 west, with the exception of llie northern tier of sections. The nortliern tier of sections of township 103, range 14, are included in tliis township, making it a town of thirtv-six sections. The first meeting for llie election of officers was held at the Methodist church at Hainiltou, May 11, 1858. Charles J. Felch was elected moderator; H. S. Bailey, Johu Mfirtiu and C. .1. Felch, judges of election; Thomas I. Lake and J. R. Dayton, clerks of election. The officers elected for the year ensuing were: Supervisors, C. J. Felch (chairman), Eli Leonard and William Campfield : town clerk, O. B. ^lorse ; assessor, Jonathan Stewart ; treasurer, John ^Martin : justices of the peace, IL S. Bailey and Lorcn Dutton : overseer of poor, E. Kenyon.

Religious

Racine Center Methodist Episcopal Church. This denomination erected a church in 1874. The trustees were T. P. Lyman, D. Eastman, R. E. Stewart, E. Stagg, James F. Carson. The contract for building was awarded to R. E. Stewart. The chui'ch was dedicated June 6, 1874, Rev. R. Forbes, of Kasson, officiating. The class was organized the year previous, and formerly met for worsliip in the school house at Racine Centre. The following named Avere early pastors: Rev. A. Folansbee, under whose pastorate the church was built ; Rev. Charles jMatthews, "W. H. Barke.low, T. R. Hall, E. AV. Young, Noah Lathrop.

The Evangelical Association. This is the name under which the German Church Society was organized about 1866. It Avas incorporated under the above name about 1873. In 1878 a substantial church edifice was erected in the northeast corner of section 33.

Free Will Baptist Church. Tlieie was a Free AVill Baptist church organized at Hamilton in 1858, with eight members. Jonathan Stewart was the first deacon; Elder Reeves, from Pleasant Grove, Olmsted county, was the first pastor. Meetings were held once in two weeks, and well kept up with more or less regularity, until 1882.

Norwegian Settlement

The population of Racine toAvnship is nearly one-third Norwegian. In 1854 a party of about nine families came from Dane county, Wisconsin, and settled on sections 4, 5 and 6, township 103, and sections 32 and 33, township 104, this portion of the town being covered with natural grove timber and lying adjacent to Bear creek. Among those who came in this company were Nelse Severson, Ole Simonson Jobraaten, Gulick Dalen, Hans Anderson, Jonas Nelson, Holivcr Olson, Ole Syvrud, Amond Johnson and Andrew Leybeek. On arrival in the locality the settlers at first formed a camp together. Ole Simonson Jobraaten being a blacksmitli, was given first choice of land. He chose the soutli- east quarter of section 5, township 103, it being covered with oak timber, from which Ole burned coal to use in the forge. For long years he served the settlement as blacksmith. Ole Syvrud was au ingenious man, a gunsmith. Soon after their arrival Syvrud killed a bear, hence the name Bear creek. After making temporary homes for themselves, the settlers turned their attention to the building of a schoolhouse, which site was located near the southwest corner of the southeast quarter of section 5. Here in the log schoolhouse, long known as district 36, the children who are now the men and women of the settlement, received their education. The sons and daughters here learned the common English language and religious insti'uction was also given. On Sundays the building served as church for a number of years. The descendants of these settlers have always played an important part in making Eaeiue the leading agricultural town in the county. Under the head of Frankford township, more is said of the settlement.

Hamilton Village

This village was platted, partly in Mower and partly in Fillmore counties, and started out with good prospects. A store was started, and business began in earnest. In 1857 and 1858 a seminary was started here with T. J. Lake as teacher. The business .of the village is now across the line in Fillmore county.

Racine Village

L'acine is a village on the Chicago, Great "Western railroad, on the southwest quarter of section 26. It has an intelligent and progressive population of some two hundred people, and supports a fine Cooperative creamery, a hotel and several comfortable residences There is a depot, two elevators, one warehouse, two general stores, one hardware store, a drug store, a meat market, a blacksmith and general repair shop, and a feed mill. The village was plaited October 3, 1S90. The Winona and Southwestern railroad was built through Racine to\inship in the summer and I'all of 1890. J. B. Foley was the first telegraph operator located here. He had his office in a box ear for some time, until th? present depot was built. S. H. Sleeper erected the firs't dwelling in the village, in the fall of 1890. F. E. Gahringer moved a stori> building from Hamilton to Racine in the early winter of 1891. Robert Eichhorn and his brother, Ed. Eichhorn, rented the building and put in a stock of general merchandise. Robert Eichhoiii was a])poinred postmaster and opeus'd an oftiee in the same Imilding. Later he erected a building of his own on the south side of .Main street. During tlie winter of IS!)]. Silas I'tzinger ere,-ted a handsome store, and Silas Utzinger and Charles Burkliart started in the hardware business. This business is now operated by Christian and Lewis H. Sohwarz. Eli Leonard started a lumber J' ird and biiilt an office on the west side of the railroad tracks in the spring of 1901, and there did business until he sold to James A. Smith, of Osage, Towa, at which time the yard was moved to its present location. The Olson brothers, Ole, Andrew and Knudt, built a small blacksmith shop, where tliey did some I'epairing, blacksmith work and tlie like, for about a year. 11. C. Christoflferson came to Racine from High Forest, built a good residence and blacksmith shoji, and commenced business in 1892. He is still in business here. In the summer of 1892, S. J. Sanborn erected a store building just east of the hardware store and rented it to M. W. Moulsted, of Spring Valley, for a general store. Mr. Sanborn enlarged the building, making it a double store, and continued in business for himself until he sold to F. E. Miland, the present owner, who is enjoying a large and successful business. A. F. Stiles purchased a lot on the north side of ]\Iain street in May, 1901. A. W. Brown, son of William Brown, formed a partnership with A. F. Stiles in the firm of Stiles & Brown, and did a good business in general merchandise, drugs, hotel, etc., until May. 1902, when by mutual consent the firm dissolved and A. F. Stiles built on the south side of Main street, where he now does a large business. A. W. Brown continued at the old stand for a few years. In its twenty-one years of existence the growth of the village has been steady and satisfactory, and the community has a prosperous future.

Village School. The village of Racine has a semi-graded school Avith three teachers. The early history of this school has not been preserved. S. Utzinger, who has investigated tlie matter, writes as follows: "I find minutes of a regular school meeting held March 27, 1869, and from then on every year, but no record previous to that. I find the school register for 1868. The schoolhouse at that time was about three-quarters of a mile east of where it now stands. I find the record of a special meeting held January 20, 1875. At this meeting it was decided to move the school building to the present location. In later years the schoolhouse has been repaired and enlarged. Martha ]\I. Mead is given as teacher in 1868 and Sally B. Gove in 1869, but I do not lliink that these were the first teachers as tlie district was probably organized previous to tliat date."