Albert Lea Township

Chaptek Liv

The township bearing this name is the southern of the two center towns of the county, Bancroft being its comrade on the north, with Kiceland impinging on the northeast, Hayward on the east, Shell Rook to the southeast, Freeman on the south, Nunda to the southwest. Pickerel Lake on the west, and Manchester to the northwest. It coincides with the original government survey, having thirty-sis sections.

It may be said to be a prairie town, with numerous oak groves; and when first visited presented a most inviting prospect, which will be described further on.

The principal river is the Shell Eock, which flows in an average direction toward the southeast, diagonally through the township. Lake Albert Lea is the largest body of water in town, and is a magnificent sheet, with its irregular but gently curving outline and undulating surrounding meadows and hillside. Most of it lays in the town, but its length is about eight miles. Pickerel Lake also laps over into its territory, as does White's Lake, which Col. Lea at first called Lake Ohapeau. Goose Lake, a compact little body of water, may be found in section three. Fountain Lake is an artificial pond created by the mill dam erected by Mr. Kuble on his first coming here. It hugs around the northern side of the city in a curviUnear way, and with its graceful foliage, at various points coming down to the water's edge, presents one of the most pleasing views to be found in all Southern Minnesota.

The early settlement of this township has, of necessity, been given in the history of Albert Lea City, so that very little remains to be said here. A few pioneer notes, however, will be given.

Mr. and Mrs. Blaekmer were early settlers, but both are dead. Two sons, Loren and Heman, live on the homestead, and other sons reside in Albert Lea and vicinity. Dr. F. Blaekmer, residing in the city, is a son.

The old town of St. Nicholas, which, at one time, had lofty aspirations, was located in this township, but as its history is fully depicted in the sketch of the city, no further reference to it will be made here.

It would be monotonous to furnish the names of the various town officers from year to year, as many of them have been re-elected from time to time. But it will be sufficient to name the various gentlemen who have been prominent in the town government up to the time of the organization of the city government. Among the men who have been town officers we notice: A. C. Wedge, D. G. Parker, John Brownsill, Bernard McCarthy, Luther Parker, H. T. Smith, T. J. Sheehan, F. Blakely, Chauncy Conley, Thomas Smith, Eeuben Williams, H. D. Brown, A. B. Webber, Joseph France, E. C. Stacy, F. D. Dudley, John Kuble, L. Eaton, George Thompson, Francis Hall, John Wood, A. Armstrong, Charles T. Knapp, James E. Smith, William Morin, Reuben C. Cady, Reuben Williams, O. P. Kenfield, J. G. Godley, H. M. Manley, W. J. Martin, A. W. St. John, George Whitman, D. K. Stacy, A. M.

Tyrer, John Ross, F. B. Frost, Charles Kittleson, William Hazelton, Ole J. EUiugsoii, Joseph Green, G. D. Ball,' Lewis Hager, M. M. Luce, A. E. Johnson, W. C. Lincoln, M. W. Greene, D. N. Gates, C. G. Jonsrud, and 1). IJ. P. Hibbs. As to the business of the officers of the town, it was of course mostly of an executive character, but legislative within certain limits.

In 18(il, a pound was ordered to be built. In 18G3, a petition was considered in relation to a bridge at Ruble's. In 1868, the Southern Minnesota railroad made a proposition to several towns in the county to vote aid to the company. Albert Lea was requested to vote $40,000, while six of the towns were asked for S15,000 each, and seven of them were invited to contribute SI 0,000 each.

At one time in the hi.story of the town; tlie powers of the town board were enlarged by the legislature, and numerous ordinances were adopted to be in force in the village.

The government has been iu accordance with the wishes of the town, the powers delegated to the Supervisors and other officers never having been abused iu any notable instance.

On the 8th of October, 1864, the town vot^d t;25 to each volunteer duly credited, and S225 was paid on that account. During that year thirteen enlistments were credited on the quota of tlie town.

Educational

School is kept in these buildings a great portion of the year, and the standard of both teachers and scholars is up to that of any other portion of Freeborn county.

The First Marriage

January 13th, 1857, was an eventful day in Albert Lea. for then occun-ed the first marriage in the townsliip, and it was none of your time affairs; it was a double wedding, and the people began to feel that the semi-civilization of pioneer life was fast giving way to a condition of enlightment. C. C. Colby and Ellen Frost, David Hard and Mary A. Colby were the especially interested and interesting parties. The event happened at the house of John Colby. Squire Clark was employed to secure the nuptial knot.

Tlie old settlers will remember that the squire was not noted for his literary genius, for his delicacy or polish, but he was the only available authority vested Ijy the infantile commonwealth of Minnesota, to declare the banns indissolubly fixed, and so he consented to do the best he could under the circumstances.

The guests were assembled and the parties stood up in the magisterial presence, to be legally united, as they already were heart to heart, with a single ceremony for both couples.

Here was a perspiration ]jrovoking predicament for this lugubrious limb of the law. In his perplexity ho glanced over a marriage ceremony he had picked up somewhere, but there was no double attachment, either "back action"' or otherwise, and he was totally lacking iu the ability to improvise the requisite amendment, or to modify the document to meet the present emergency. So, after reading it over to himself, and seeing no possible way to make the ceremony appear ritualistic, in his desperation he blurted out, '-! pronounce you husbands and wives, and yon may now go where you please, by Gosh!"

This constituted the nuptial ceremony, no one gave the brides away, no questions were asked, no rings were presented, no prayers were offered, and it may be added, no expensive bridal trosseau was provided in either case.

Of course whatever else was dispensed with, the bridal tour could not be omitted, and so the only pair of horses in town was called into requisition, and tlie outfit went to Shell Rock where an im- ])rom])tu dance was got up at George Gardner's, and "they chased the hours with flying feet" until morning, when the jaded party started for home; but a snow storm had so blocked the road that when three miles away, the team had to be abandoned, and the rest of the way was made on foot.

They were a jolly party, ami all enjoyed themselves except 'Mrs. B,' whoever she was, whose prodigious weight carried her down through the snow at every step.

Notwithstanding the informality ot the technical joining, the marriage "took" as they say about vaccination, and twenty -five years afterwards the silver wedding of one of the couples was celebrated here, as is recorded in the proper place.

Biographical

John Buegland, one of the ^jrominent men of this county, is a native of Sweden, born on the 29th of November, 1834. He remained at his birth place until 1854, when he married Miss Anna M. Johnson and the same year bought a farm which he carried on until 186^, then engaged in the lumber business. In 1868, they emigrated to America, came directly to Albert Lea and bought a farm in section twenty -seven, which now contains over two hundred acres. He has a family of nine children.

Martin Caret was born in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, on the 28th of August, 1850. When fifteen years old he commenced going to the pineries during winter seasons, and in 1871, came with his parents to this county and settled on a farm ici this township. In 1874, he bought land for himself and has since made it his home. He was married on the 30th of June, 1875, to Miss Mary Tracy, who has borne him five children, four of whom are living. Mr. Carey has held several local offices.

Owen Doyle, one of the early settlers of Freeborn county, was born in Carlow county, Michigan, on the 1st of March, 1820. His father died when he was eight years old, and when fifteen he emigrated to America, settling near Kingston, in Canada, where he was engaged in farming for eight years. In 1850, he married Miss Bridget Murphy. Prom 1843 to 1853, he had no settled home, but in the latter year located in Columbus, Ohio, and resided there three years. He then came to Burlington, Iowa, and three years later to this township, having since made his home in section eleven. Mr. and Mrs. Doyle have had eight children, three of whom died in infancy, and five are living.

Ogden Edwards was bom in Jefferson county, New York, on the 5th of May, 1826. He assisted his father on the farm until 1854, when he bought land of his own. On the 28tli of February, in the latter year, he was married to Miss Prudence Doughkuse. In 1859, Mr. Edwards _went to California and engaged in mining two years, then returned to his native State and again carried on a farm. In 1866, he came to this place and bought a farm in section one, where he now lives. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards have had four children; Charles D., John, Fi'ederick J., and Ada. John died at the age of two years and six months.

Ole J. Ellingson is a native of Norway, born on the 26th of January, 1825. When twentythree years of age he enlisted in the Norwegian army; spent one year in Germany, and remained in the service until the 16th of April, 1853. The following day he started fur America, having the year before married Miss Engel C. Erickson. They first located in Allamakee county, Iowa, but in 1856, became pioneers of this county, settling in Bancroft. In 1859, Mr. Ellingson was elected County Treasurer and moved to Albert Lea; held the office two years and in 1861, enlisted in the Fourth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, Comj:)any F, serving till 1864. He then returned to this place, and has since devoted his time to agricultural pursuits. He is the father of eight children.

Andrew O. Feosager is a native of Norway, and dates his birth on the 26th of October, 1846. He resided with his parents until the spring of 1871, when he came to America and settled in Lafayette county, Wisconsin. In 1874, he removed to Marquette county, Michigan, where he engaged in mining and railroading one year; thence to Jo Daviess county, Illinois, and in 1876, came to this county. He bought a farm in Albert Lea two years later, and has since devoted his time to its cultivation. He was married on the 24th of December, 1877, to Miss Ellen Torgenson.

John G. Godlbt, one of the early settlers of Freeborn county, was born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1837. He was engaged as book-keeper for two and a half years in his native place, and in 1854 came to America, settling on Long Island. He moved from there to Chemung county. New York, and a year later came to Richland City, Wisconsin. In 1857, he moved to this township, and claimed land in section eighteen, where he '-batched" it six months and returned to Wisconsin. In 1860, he came again to his claim, and in February, 1862, enlisted in the Fifth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry; was Chief Clerk in the Quar- termaster's departmeat tor two years and sis months, and returned homo in 1866. The same year he sold his former farm and bought his present, which contains two hundred and forty acres. On the 15th of April, 1868, he was married to Miss Maggie Slater, who has borne him one child, Anna M.

S. C. .T.i^spEKSON was born in Denmark on the 18th of April, 1838. When he was twenty-one years old he enlisted in the Danish army and served three years, then returned home and engaged in farming. He was married on the 7th of April, 1860, to Miss Johanna M. Jostenson The result of the union is seven children. Mr Jasperson came to America in 1867, settled in Chicago, where he learned the carpenter trade and worked at the same tour years. He then went to Tennessee and engaged in the construction of railroads one winter, and in the spring of 1871, came to this county and bought a farm in Bath township. Since 1875, he has been a resident of Albert Lea, his farm being in section ten. He is the father of seven children.

Ole A. Johnson is a native of Norway, born on the 17th of December, 1831. He was married before leaving his birthplace, to Miss Elizabeth Goegerson. They emigrated to America in 1859, and settled in Waupaca county, Wisconsin; three years later moved to a farm in Winnebago coianty, and in 1868, came to this township. They have a family of eight children.

William Kellab, one of the pioneers of this county, was bom in Jefferson county, Kentucky, on the 24th of December, 1820. At the age of ten years he removed with his parents to Edgar county, Illinois, where he resided until 1842, when, through public excitement, he was attracted to the lead mines of Wisconsin. In 1844, he , returned to his old home in Illinois, where, on the 15th of February, he was married to Miss Elizabeth C. Kies, which union has been blessed with three children. He immediately took up his residence in Grant county, where he remained until the spring of 1856, when he took a claim in section seventeen in this township, erecting a log dwelling. The first religious meeting ever held in this vicinity took place in his house in May, 1857, conducted by Rev. Mr. Phelps, a Methodist. In 1864, Mr. Kellar enlisted in Company C, of the

W. H. Lowe, one of the early settlers of this county, is a native of the Empire State, bom in the city of New York on the 16th of October, 1832. When he was tour years old he moved with his parents to Huron county, Ohio, and in 1851 went to Lawrence, Kansas. He soon returned to his home, and in a short time came to Ha8ting8,where he learned the carpenter's trade and resided two years. In 1854 he settled in this place and workat his trade. He was united in marraige on the 4th of November, 1860, to Miss Rhoda A. Baker, and the result of the union is five children. Mr. Lowe enlisted in 1862, in the Tenth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, Company E, and served three years, the two latter as First Sergeant. After his discharge he returned to Albert Lea, and worked at his trade until 1867, then bought a farm and has since devoted his time to its cultivation.

Isaac W. McKbynolds, one of the pioneers of the county, is a native of North Carolina, born on the 4th of February, 1806. In 1816 he moved with his parents to Jefferson county, Indiana, where they resided on a farm three j'ears, then went to Bond county, Illinois. In 1827 Isaac came to Grant county, Wisconsin, and was engaged in farming and mining there until coming to this place in 1856. He took a claim in section seven, and has since made it his home. The maiden name of his wife was Nancy Sparks, who has borne him seven children, four of whom are living.

Ole O. Stive was born in Norway on the 7th of May, 1842. He came with his parents to America in 1850, settled in Dane County, Wisconsin, until 1853, then moved to Winineshiek county, Iowa. They came to this county in 1857, and located in Bancroft, where Ole resided with his parents until 1859, when he returned to Wisconsin and worked in the pineries. On the 13th of May, 1861, he enlisted in the Fifth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry and served four years and three months. He then returned to his home and lived with his parents until 1868, when he married Miss Ingeborg G. Bottolfson on the 20th of December. They have had seven children, gix of whom are living. In 1873 they bought a farm in Albert Lea township, and have since made it their home