Mower County, Minnesota - Austin Township, 1911

Austin Township

Austin comprises congressional township 102 north, range 18 west, except that part included in the city of Austin. It has for its neighbors Lansing on the north, Windom on the east, Lyle south, and the town of Oakland, in Freeborn county, joins it on the west. The township is drained by the Red Cedar river and its tributaries. The river traverses the town from north to south, entering section 3 from the town of Lansing, it takes a southward course, leaving the town from section 33. The principal tributaries of the river are Rose, Dobbins and Turtle creeks. When this locality was first settled the banks of Cedar river were skirted with a heavy growth of timber, while on either side back from the timber was a beautiful stretch of prairie land. The land west from the river is quite level, while on the east it is gently undulating. The soil is a rich dark loam, in some places sliglitly mixed with sand, in all parts very productive and well adapted to the different cereals and grasses grown in this locality.

Early Settlement

present eity. As earlj^ as 1854 Jackson Wilder laid claim to a larg-e tract of land east of the Ked Cedar river, including what was known as the Sweetwater claim, so called from a beautiful spring of clear water. He, however, did not stop here, but pushed on to Mitchell county, Iowa. He hired a man to build a log house on the claim, which was done, but no roof was put on. In September, 1854, C. H. Huntington, A. S. Lott, Calvin Powers and Moses Eolph came from Rock county, "Wisconsin, seeking a location. They discovered the Sweetwater claim located in sections 27 and 34. They also discovered that Jackson "Wilder and his son Nelson living in Mitchell county, Iowa, had made a claim of the land which they wanted. As the "Wilders were not living on their claim, it Avould have been an easy matter to have jumped the claim. But Huntington and Lott thought they would rather buy the claim at reasonable figures than to have trouble. They accordingly went to Iowa and bought the claim. The party, before returning to Wisconsin, went up the river as far as Lansing, where they selected a claim for A. B. Vaughan, on which he afterward settled. They visited the present site of the city of Austin, Avhere they met Chauncey Leverich, who offered to sell his claim for $500. They offered him $450, which he refused. After this the party returned to Wisconsin. Mr. Huntington felt uneasy lest some one should jump the claim during his absence in the winter. He accordingly employed his brother-in-law, Calvin Powers, to come with his family and spend the winter. Mr. Huntington accompanied Mr. Powers on his return trip. They arrived at the Sweetwater claim November 18. They had made the trip of 250 miles with a pair of horses and a wagon and brought Mr. Powers 's household goods along, as well as a stock of provisions to last through the winter. They also drove a cow nlong with them. Huntington employed one Foster to assist Powers to build a log house, after which he returned to AVisconsin. Powers soon had his house ready for occupancy. It was built of round logs. The building, which was twelve feet wide by fifteen feet in length, contained one window and a door. The cracks he chinked with chips and plastered with mud. He made oak shacks with which to cover the roof. Here Mr. Powers, with his wife and four small children, spent the winter. One day in February, while Mr. Powers and his family were away from home, some Indians broke into their cabin and stole their provisions. They were, however, kindly cared for and supplied with a new stock by their neighbors, the Wilders, in Iowa, and the winter wa,s passed with little suffering.

April 15, 1855. Huntington and Lott (the latter in the meantime having married Huntington's wife's sister) started on their return to their new home, where thev arrived INfav fi. having made the trip overland Avith eight pairs of oxen aud two wagons. They brought their household goods along and drove forty-eight head of young cattle aud forty-four hogs. In Howard coimty they were joined by George Bemis and John Osborne, who made the latter part of the journey with them. Huntington and Lott brought a cast iron mill with them which was the first in use in Mower county. It was used by the people far and near for some time.

They afterward sold this mill to Quincy A. Truesdell, who operated it for a time by water power on Dobbins creek. Lott set« tied in section 27. Huntington settled on the Sweetwater claim. Bemis settled on the present site of the city of Austin. Osborne settled on section 33. In the fall of 1855 Powers settled on section 25, where he resided until the time of his death. During this same year there were other settlers, but none that were permanent. There were three men named Avery, a father and two sons,- that made settlements in section 4. They remained but about two years, then moved away.

In 1855 the folloAving named came : Robert Audis, Alexander Nigus, Ruben and Levi Watrous, Widow Lockwood, George Phelps and Thomas Phelps, Clem Smith, Daniel McPherson and M. J. Woodson. Audis came from Fayette county, Iowa, and settled on section 10. He opened his house as a hotel. He erected quite a good sized building for a dance hall, and there the people often gathered for a good time. Audis remained a resident of the town a few years, then returned to Iowa. Nigus settled in section 2. He was here but a little more than a year, when he sold out and moved away. The Watrous brothers and Widow Lockwood had claims in section 12. They sold out and returned to Iowa about two years later. Smith and the Phelps brothers were from Canada. Smith settled in section 23, where he bought the west half of the southeast quarter. He went to war and died in the service. Thomas Phelps pre-empted the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 32. He lived here until war times, when he sold out and moved to Vinton, Iowa, from thence he went to the war and died in the service. George Phelps preempted the north half of the northeast quarter of section 32. In 1858 he traded for an interest in the mill property at Cedar City. About a year later he sold and went to California. McPherson was from Canada. He settled on tlie northwest of section 14, wlicrc lie (lied. Wdodson Was a native of Kcniucky. He settled on sc.-lioii U.

In 1S5() there were quite a numl)er of arrivals, among which wcic tbc following: Jacob S. Decker, W. A. Woodson, D. L. CliiiiKilcr and II. Van Winkle. John Watkins, Caleb Stock, Alt'lcd Cicssv, Thomas Bonuellie. John Rose and II. E. Case, Thomas

Varco, Harry G. Prouty and Welcome Osborne. Decker was a native of New Jersey; settled on the northwest of section 1. Woodson and Van Winkle were from Illinois ; had been here the previous fall and selected a claim in section 13. Watkins was a native of Wales. He settled on the northwest of section 33.

Stock was a native of England. He settled on the north onehalf of the southeast quarter of section 32. Cressy was also a native of England. He settled on the southeast quarter of section 31. He afterward became a preacher. Bonnellie was a Scotchraan. He preempted land in sections 32-33, and lived there until after the war. Rose was an eastern man, and settled in the northeast of section 25. Case was a speculator from New Britain, Connecticut. He claimed the southeast quarter of section 5. He moved a shanty from the village to the claim, and lived there long enough to preempt, when he returned to his native state. Varco was a native of England. He settled on section 26. Prouty was a native of York state, and came from Wisconsin. He settled in the southeast of section 26, which place was his home until the time of his death. AVelcome Osborne was a native of Canada. His settlement was on the southwest of section 32.

First Events

The first marriage ceremony in Austin township celebrated the nuptials of Caleb Stock and Mary Walkins. The ceremony took place at the home of the bride 's parents, in section 33 ; Sylvester Smith, justice of the peace, officiated. The first white child born within the present limits of the town of Austin, was Annette Powers, daughter of Calvin and Mercy (Beebe) Powers, September 22, 1855. The first white male child born in the town was Colbert, son of A. S. and Jane (Beebe) Lott, October 10, 1855.

Mill Sites

Quaint Old Mill. The first mill in the neighborhood known as Cedar City, was a novel affair, constructed by Welcome Chandler in 1857. He took a hollow log, which he sunk a short distance into the ground, resting the end on a solid foundation. Over this mortar, as it might be called, he suspended a pole balanced on a post with a weight on one end and a pestle of hard wood swinging over the mortar. The corn, after having first been dried in an oven, Avas put into this mortar and crushed to meal. This mill served a good purpose and was resorted to by the neighbors, who had previouslj^ been grating tlie corn. Tlie grater used by them Avas of their oAvn make, usually an old tin pan with holes in it made by driving a nail through.

Mower County Blills. This mill was first built by Jonathan Gi-pgsou and William Gutherless, in 1862-63. They put in a dam of stone and logs, and secured eight feet head of water. They erected a stone building 30x30, two stories in height with basement. The first fiour was made in September, 1863. In April, 1865, the building fell and Mr. Gutherless was buried in the ruins. He was severely injured, but no bones were broken. That same year Mr. Gregson erected a frame building on the old site. The building was 28x40 feet. In 1869 General Rusk, of Wisconsin, purchased the mill. W. H. Officer was associated with General Rusk in the purchase of the mill, and took charge at that time. The old Officer mill was burned some years ago and a grist mill now occupies the old site.

Red Cedar Mills. These mills were built in 1867 and 1868, by Jonathan Gregson. As first built the building was 22x40 feet, with a shed attached. In 1875 the building was enlarged. In 1879 the building was again enlarged. Mr. Gregson was the first to introduce the roller system into Mower county, he having put one set of rollers in as early as 1878. These mills have been rebuilt and remodeled and are now conducted by A. S. Campbell.

The Warner Mill. This mill was erected by one Warner, on Dobbins creek. It passed through various hands and was afterward removed. The dam is now in ruins.

Another Old Mill. In 1859, John Fake and Alonzo Fairbanks, purchased the steam saw mill, located east of the Cedar river, on the southwest quarter of section 2. In the spring of 1860 they put in one set of buhrs, and prepared to make flour. In 1861, Fake & Fairbanks sold the mill to Joseph Beauregard, who operated ft for a time. The saw mill and engine were afterward moved to Freeborn county, while the fiour machinery was put into Gregson 's mill.

Early Religious Services

Religious meetings were held in an early day at the house of Jeremiah Phelps, in the town of Lyle. Rev. Phelps, an itinerant Methodist preacher, was the first to hold forth. As soon as the log schoolhouse was built on section 32 the meetings were held there. Among the early preachers were Elders ilapes. Beach, Loomis and John Dyer. The latter was an evangelist, or exhorter. He held a series of protracted meetings at the log schoolhouse, assisted by Rev. Alanson Beacli. A number were converted and a class organized. The following were among the members: W. Means, Welcome Osborne and wife, John Osborne and wife, Welcome Chandler and wife, Thomas Phdps and wife, Jeremiah and Diada?na Phelps, J.-icol. Kpplcr iiiid wilV, Joshua Wrldi and wife,

In 1867, Rev. Carver, a Methodist preacher, then stationed at Austin, preached in the schoolliouse, in district No. 55, and organized a class there. Among the members were W. Hall and wife, R. H. Densmore and wife, G. W. Clough and wife, J. N. Patterson and wife and John King and wife. J. N. Patterson was elected class leader. IMeetings were held once in two weeks for a few years.

Rose Creek Cemetery. This cemetery, which is located in the southern pa it of section 24, Austin township, was laid out in June, 1862, and the first officials were Thomas Varco, Harvey Proudy and Ezra Ames. The first burial was that of Harvey Pratt, son of D. 0. and A. L. Pratt, in 1862. The cemetery society v\-as incorporated in 1862. The present officers are : President, F. H. Pike ; secretary, J. W. Varco ; treasin-er, C. H. Lott ; superintendent, C. 0. Brownell; director, F. M. Dufty. The cemetery presents an excellent appearance, and is well kept. The Happy Thought Club has done much to improve its appearance.

The Happy Thought Club. On June 22, 1905, Mrs. Frank H. Pike invited the ladies interested in general township improvements to meet at her home for the purpose of organizing a society for the improvement and beautifying of the Rose Creek cemetery at Varco station. The organization was afterward named the Happy Thought Club. The officers are : President, Mrs. Frank H. Pike ; vice president, Mrs. E. V. Hart ; secretary, Mrs. W. H. Aultfather; treasurer, Mrs. J. W. Varco. The club is in a flourishing condition, has eighty-five members, and has raised $369.45 for improvements.

Cedar City Cemetery. This cemetery is pleasantly located on the soutli one-lialf of section 32, and contains three-fourths of an acre of land. It was surveyed in 1879, by G. H. Clough, and contained at that time forty-two lots, 18x20. This was used as a burial place a number of years before it was platted. The first burial here was that of a man named Robinson, assistant editor of the ]\Iower Countv Mirror.

The Evergreen Stock Farm. The Ellis Evergreen stock farm is located within fifteen minutes walk of the C, ^I. & St. P. depot at Austin, and is but a mile from the heart of the city. The farm consists of a section of land, about one-fifth being timber and pasturage, the balance being under cultivation. The 120 acres where the house is located was tlie original farm and was added to piecemeal. It was not counted a vaUiable acquisition Avhen "S\v. Ellis secured it over half a century ago. It was covered with liazel l)rush and a low growth of burr oaks. Mr and Mrs. Ellis moved onto the farm in 1859 and in common Avith other early settlers, suffered privations and hardships which the present generation can scarcely comprehend.

After the wheat failure in 1877, Mr. Ellis realized the need of more and better stock, and was the tirst farmer in Mower county to purchase thoroughbred cattle. He selected the Holsteins and placed them upon his farm in 1878, and this fine stock soon advertised the farm all over the northwest. There are thousands of evergreens upon the farm, some of them over forty years old. They were all planted and eared for by Mr. Ellis himself. The storm of June 20, 1908, destroyed hundreds of them, as well as hundreds of the trees of native timber. The farm is now owned and operated by IMrs. A. V. Ellis, Joseph Helebrant, the foreman, having been on the farm for the past seventeen years. It is one of the largest dairy farms in the county. Holstein cattle, both registered and grades, are kept. The name "Evergreen Farms" was registered in 1909, and was the last paper Mr. Ellis signed.

Two Rivers was laid out and platted June 11, 1857, by Eobert Audis and George B. Hayes, in section 10, township 102, range 18. It existed only on paper.

Varco station consists of a railroad station and an elevator. It is situated in the southern part of Austin toAvnship on both the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul and the Chicago Great Western. It was platted in section 26, township 102, range 18, November 17, 1875, by Thomas Varco.