Boon Lake Township

Boon Lake Township

Boon Lake township is located in the northwestern part of Renville county. It embraces township 116-31, and is bounded on the north by Meeker county, on the east by McLeod county, on the south by Preston Lake township and on the west by Brookfield township. It is rolling prairie, beautified by cultivated groves. Boon Lake, from which the township takes its name, is in the northwestern part. Hodgdon lake is in sections 20 and 21, and Phare lake is in sections 28 and 29. Allie lake comes into sections 33 and 34 from Freston Lake township.

The first claim was filed in 1856 by George M. Michael in section 34. In 1S61 V. P. Ki nnedy and M. B. Ridsill took claims in sections 7 and S. The first claim after the Massacre was taken in 1S64 by William I'remming, in section 13. In 1865 those who tiled on claims were Francis R. Maxwell. Augustus T. Perkins, William E. Merrill, E. U. Russell and Ira S. Shephard.

While claims were taken in the township before the Massacre, nothing is now known as to whether any of the claimants actually lived here. The first settler who came after the Massacre was E. U. Russell, who came in 1865. Isa S. Sheppard secured

Boon Lake was created September 6, 1S70, and then included Brookfield. It has had its present boundaries since 1874. It is said that an election was held in the fall of 1870. There is no record of the supervisors elected. The other officers elected are said to have been: Clerk, J. \V. Post; treasurer, M. T. Cornish; assessor,

Orrin Hodgdon was one of the early settlers of Boon Lake township. In regard to his early experiences he says, "In 1S71 1 took a homestead in township 16, section in. range 32 and built a frame house 14 by 22. 1 broke a piece of prairie with four oxen that same year. December 21, 1871. I was married to Louisa Potter and we r oved onto my homestead in April, 1S72. fra L. Gleason. M. T. Cornish, James C. Hodgdon, Albert W. Potter and George D. Potter were living in the neighborhood at that time. The grasshoppers came upon us July 5, 1 ST*;, nearly destroying the crops and the eggs hatched out in the' spring of 1S77 destroying the entire crop for that season. But the grasshoppers were hardly any worse than the blizzards and the prairie fires, which rolled unhindered over the prairies and sometimes burned not only crops but also farm buildings. After the grasshopper plague of 1S77 and 1S7S quite a few settlers moved in. I will mention some of the names of people within a mile or two of us: John Merrill, George Frieze, John Mitchell, Charles Mitchell, Byron Woodard, - Palms and John Booth.

"In 1S71 school district No. 25 was organized with James Hodgdon, Jonas Post and William Phare as school board and Belle Jewel taught the first public school held in Boon Lake township during the summer of 1S70. in one room of a private house. The following spring a shanty roof school house was built, 12 by 16 feet in size, and Louisa Potter (now Mrs. Orrin Hodgdon) taught a four months' school during the summer of 1871. Lucy Pellet, who had just come from Massachusetts and with her father and brother William Pellet settled in Brookfleld township, taught the Boon Lake school in the summer of 1872

"During the year 1S73 the school was taught in a large log house known to all old settlers as the old 'Russell house,' a building which had been erected in a very .atiy day. Abbie N. Potter taught this school and the same summer married John H. Tyson, an early settler of the district. They lived together on their homestead for twenty-five years and the district became known as the Tyson district.

"The school of 1S74 was taught in the i building by Flora Willson and Julia Graham taught school there during the summer of 1S75. In the spring of 1N7S a new school building was erected and Katie Washburn taught the school. Some of the pupils of those early schools were: John and Clyde Post. William, Jane and James Phare, Ida, May and Ernest Hodgdon, Ptola and Alice Jones. Nathan C, George D., Charlotte and Eliza Potter. Minerva, Ida May and Libbie Greene. Emma and Hattie Chapman and Olive Ridout. Some of these have since become prominent citizens, some have moved away, while others e long since gone to the great beyond. On account of the sparse settlements and blizzards no winter schools were held during those early years.

often as possible and meetings and Sunday school were held in the school house and often in the private houses. Those who opened their homes for regular religious worship were: James Hodgdon, Rev. George D. Potter, David Graham and Smith Pierce. Rev. George D. Potter and Rev. Alva Kenedy, both local Methodist preachers, conducted those services. Rev. N. Tainter preached on the circuit in 1S75 and 1876, followed by Rev. John McDonald in 1S77 and 1S7S. Rev. Nelson Shafer, a local Methodist preacher, settled here in Boon Lake in 1S7S and did much religious work in the community."

John Borden's Reminiscences. James Borden trapped in the vicinity of Bird Island before the Indian Massacre. In 1S66 he came again to the county and he and his brother Benjamin trapped here, making their camp in a crude log shack in the timbers of the island from which the township and village of Bird Island derive their names. The vicinity then abounded in mink, otter, muskrat, fox and other furbearing animals.

In the fall of 1S66, John Borden came i rem Ft. Wayne. Ind.. and on October 27, 1S66, saw Renville county for the first time. He was unable to reach Bird Island that night as he had intended, so he wandered about on the prairie and finally decided to sleep. The weather was cold and he was unable to get much rest. But in the morning he found a hay stack and by burning some hay managed to get himself a breakfast, after which, with new courage, he made another attempt to get on to the Island. After trying until eleven o'clock in the forenoon to get across the sloughs, he became discouraged and decided that his brothers were not there. He therelore was convinced that he would have to return to Indiana without seeing his brothers. A mile and a half he had gone on his weary return journey, when, meditating on various Bible stories, he thought of the tale of Lot's wife and her great inclination to look back. So like her. though with somewhat different results, he turned about and looked backward. Over the tops of the trees of the island floated the smoke of a camp fire. The brothers had been out attending to their traps and had thereforebeen away from their camp. Joyfully John Borden went back toward the Island and fired his revolver. One of his brothers answered with a shot. But even then it was an hour and a half before one of the brothers ventured to come to the spot where John Borden stood. He had not been recognized, the fear of the Indians was still strong, and the trappers had thought that the man whom they afterward found to be their brother had been brought there as a decoy. After long and watchful waiting, however, one of the brothers came through the reeds and brakes with an old dug-out canoe, his gun in his hand, on the alert and ready to shoot at the least indication of danger. When the stranger was recognized, the trappers could scarcely believe their eyes, as they did not know that John had come from Indiana. They speedily made him welcome and he spent a week with them in camp. When he left he traded them a watch, valued at $30. for 200 muskrat skins, valued at 15 cents each. He took these skins on his shoulder to Carver county, and in due time reached St. Paul with them. That winter he returned to Indiana, but the next year located permanently in Minnesota.

He made his home for several years at the old Plato postoffice, three miles from the present village of Plato, in the meantime doing considerable trapping in Ren ville county and elsewhere.

One year he secured 1.600 muskrat skins, mostly if not all in Renville county. He took these to Willmar and shipped thein t<> St. Paul. The price at Willmar when he shipped them was fifteen cents and he hoped to secure more in St. Paul. But before his furs reached that city the price had dropped two cents. The dealer, however, paid him thirteen and a half cents, so he received $214.14 for the season's muskrat trapping.

In 1S71 John Borden, his brother-in-law. Frank Maddock. and the latter's brother; George Maddock, came to Renville county looking for a suitable place to locate. They stopped at the shack of William Burgess, an eccentric character then living in the heavy timber near Buffalo lake. Burgess, who made much of his living by trapping, did not desire that the wilderness should he settled. He therefore discouraged the three men in every way. his clinching argument being that no railroad would ever be built anywhere near the region. Mr. Borden, however, showed the other two the farm produce around the place as an evidence of the fertility of the soil, and he finally pursuaded the men that the township was a desirable place in which to live. Accordingly they went on their way, determined to come back and settle. At Fort Ridgely one of their horses died as the result of having been fed too much corn. The Maddocks settled in Preston Lake township that year. John Borden brought his wife to the township and settled in the northeast quarter of section 20 the following year.

The Borden house was built from an old house which originally stood at Plato postoffice, three miles from the present village of Plato. The home in Preston Lake was <«n the main traveled road, and the home was noted for its hospitality. One night no less than eighteen guests slept in the little shack.

Mrs. John Borden, who was the daughter of John Burton, of Carver county, has manyinteresting stories to tell of the Indian Massacre. Before the Massacre, when she was a little girl, an Indian known to the whites as Indian Charlie often visited their home and professed a great friendship for her father. In August, 1862, Indian Charlie put in his appearance, though it was' not his custom to visit the place in the summer. He aroused the suspicions of the people by asking how many white people were at home, how many had gone to the Civil war, how the war was coining on. and how much ammunition there was in the settlement. Naturally the people were somewhat frightened at these inquiries, knowing, as they did, their defenseless position, and also having heard something of the dissatisfaction of the Indians.

Indian Charlie had scarcely departed and the family was eating supper, when a physician from Glencoe came through on horseback, urging everyone to flee, and declaring that the Indians had risen and, were only eleven miles away. The family jumped up from the supper table, hitched up their oxen and joined a fleeing throng.

Mrs. Borden says: "We first started for Carver, but when about half way there we met a crowd of people coming from that village. They had been told that the In- Stens w:ere coming from the direction of St. Paul. So it was decided that we would seek shelter on Waconia island. A few days later we found that there were no hostile Indians in Carver county, so after leaving the island we stayed a while in , Carver village and then went back to the farm." For protection the neighbors banded together, all staying together, but going from cabin to cabin. In this way the harvesting in the neighborhood was finished. When the next scare came the following year, Mr. Burton sent his wife and children to Wisconsin, while he stayed with neighbors. When they finally returned they found that no unfriendly Indians had been within eleven miles, but the white refugees had almost wrecked the home. Everything of value had been stolen, and while the family did not object to the fact that those in need had helped themselves, nevertheless that had been a wanton waste which seemed without excuse, such as turning over the bee hives and letting a large keg of maple syrup run to waste.- Some of the neighbors had buried some of their possessions, but the Burton family did not have time for this.

Bandon township embraces township 113, range MM. It is bounded on the north by Palmyra township, on the east by Wellington township, on the south by Camp township, and on the east by Birch Cooley township.

It has been said that straggling settlers entered Bandon from Birch Cooley as early as 1865. However, no permanent settlers located in that township until late in that decade. The story of the early days in this township is told elsewhere by Nels O. Berge.

4, 1871, and an election held a few months later at Jeremiah Parrell's house, section IN. The first officers elected were: Supervisors, Timothy Carline (chairman). James Hurley and Jacob Anderson Volen; treasurer, John Reagan; assessor, Jeremiah Parrell; clerk. Jeremiah Desmond; justice of the peace, Timothy Carline. Gunerus Peterson was elected clerk the second year. He did not qualify and was again elected the third year, after which he served some twenty years. Iver Brandjor was also an early officer.

The present board is constituted as follows: Supervisors. James C. Cronin (chairman), Gilbert Torgerson and C. P. Sather; clerk, Henry Frickson; treasurer, O. M. Hage; assessor, C. H. Frickson (resigned).

The first real estate assessment of Bandon 113-33, was made in 1874. Those assessed were: Jeremiah Farrell, section IS: Louis Hanson. 32; Syvert Kelly. 30. In 1875 there was added to this list: Anton Hesse, section 8; Dennis Farrell, 20; Jacob Anderson ( Volen I, 28; Martin Johnson, 28. In 1876 there were added to this list: James Hurley, section IS; Lars Hanson, is; Nels Hanson, 26; John O'Brien, 20; lver Jeremiason, 22; Toilet Peterson. 22; Iver Weiklee, 22; John P. Nestande, 28; Peter Olson, 26; Lars Olson. 26; Martin Johansen,'2S; Jacob Volen, 28; lver Brandjord, 32; Peter P. Sather. 34; A. G. Nelson, 34.

The first personal property assessment made in Bandon (township 11:;. ranee :::',), was in 1S71. Those assessed were: John Anderson. John Anderson (two of them given), Ben Anderson, Aug. Anderson, Iver Brangard, John Collins, Tim Carline. Cornelius Desmond, J. Desmond. Con. Desmond, And. Dahlquist, John Erickson, Louis Erickson, Dennis Farrell, A. J. Franklin. J. Farrell, D. S. Green. Lewis Hanson. Nels Hanson. Ole Halvorson, Halvor Halvorson,

Gunerus Peterson's Reminiscences. In the sprint.' of 1 s 71 my brother (now deceased), Peter Hornseth and I set out from Fillmore county to Renville county with a yoke of oxen which we owned in partnership. In our company were also Ole Knutson, Lars Tollefson. Hans Carlson i all now deceased), all driving oxen. We i ami to this wild prairie July 16. 1871. and settled in the wilderness about ten miles from the Minnesota river in Bandon township, which had then just been organized. We chose this location on account of being near timber land. As soon as we were settled the grasshoppers came and stayed with us for four years, destroying everything, and we had to work hard for a subsistence. The first money I borrowed after I had proved up on my eighty I secured at twelve per cent, being obliged to pay in advance and was glad to get it at that. Our nearest markets were New TJlm, Glencoe and Willmar. Beaver Falls was then the county seat but had no railway and only a few stores and a blacksmith shop.

During the first years of our settlement it was a very rare thing to see a span of horses. If ,\ e saw a team of horses and buggy coming across the prairie we were sure that it was either a machine agent, a collector or a constable. Many of us were heavily in debt on account of the bad years caused by the devastation of the grasshoppers and rather dreaded to see such visitors.

Camp township embraces the greater part of township 112-:;:;. It is bounded on the north by Bandon township, on the east by Cairo township, on the south and southwest by Brown county and the Minnesota river, and on the west by Birch Cooley township.

Camp township was settled before the Massacre. Their story has been told earlier in this work. The first arrivals after the Massacre were Halleck Peterson, John Halvorson and A. J. Anderson. Peterson and Halvorson had been here before the Massacre. The Anderson family located in the northwest quarter of section IS; Halvorson on the southeast quarter of the same section, and Peterson on the southeast quarter of section 20. Gradually other settlers came in. Their story is told elsewhere in this volume by Nels O. Berge.

Camp township was organized April 2, 1S67. Henry Graff, Halleck Peterson and John Anderson were appointed judges of the election to be held at the home of Henry Graff. This town having failed to hold an election. Halleck Peterson, on May

21, 1867, was appointed assessor. He also sei ins to have served in Mud Lake township. In 1904 a town hall was erected in the northwest corner of the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 15. The supervisors are: A. J. Anderson (chairman). Henry Rieke and A. E. Larson. The clerk is N. J. Olson.

A. J. Anderson's Reminiscences. We came to Renville county the first part of June, 1S65, in company with Halleck Peterson and John Halvorson and settled in the Minnesota valley. We planted some corn, built a house of logs with a sod roof and built a stable of logs covered with coarse hay for roofing, for the cattle and sheep which he had brought with us. All the teaming was done by oxen. All the hay was cut with a scythe and the mosquitoes were so troublesome that one had to wear mosquito netting over the face in order to be able to handle the scythe. The first wheat raised was threshed out by the oxen treading around the stack and was then fanned to separate it from the straw.

All of our clothing was home made. Our stockings and mittens were made of homespun yarn and the spinning wheel was kept very busy during the winter months. A tin lamp filled with burning lard furnished light. My father made our shoes and moccasins out of cow hide, using the skin from the leg in such a way that the knees and hocks became the heels of the moccasins, the fur being turned to the outside, and a little hay was put in the bottom, making a fine piece of footgear at that time. Our trousers were made of grain sacks, cut SO that the stripes of the sack were on the outside of the leg. Our furniture was all home made. The food consisted mostly of cornmeal, potatoes, butter, pork, sheep, mutton, some fish and other game.

The cattle had free range over the prairie, but came home of their own accord in the evening and stood near the smudge, which was built to protect them from the mosquitoes.

In 1867 school district No. 1 was organized and our first teacher. Clemens Treatbar, who is still living, taught a term of three months the same year. A board shanty had been rented, which was used as a school house. In 186S logs were cut and hewn and a school house was built. Sod was used for roofing. In tiie spring of 1880 a contract for $800 was given for the building of an up-to-date school house.

Cairo township embraces township 112- 32. It is bounded on the north by Wellington township, on the east by Sibley county, on the south by Nicollet county and on the west by Camp township. The ('.. M. & St. L. crosses the township in the northern part. Fairfax village is in the northwestern part.

The first settler was John Buehro. who located on the east side of Mud lake in June. 1859. and was killed by the Indians in 1862. George and Victor Rieke also settled on the banks of Mud lake in 1S59. and in I860 came their parents, Mr. and- Mrs. Frederick Rieke, and other members of the family. The Riekes found shelter in Fort Ridgely during the Indian outbreak and took part in its heroic defense. As soon as the immediate danger was over they returned to their home and resumed farming.

The story of the Riekes. by Adam Rieke. the story of the .Military Reservation and incidents of the early days by Col. Charles Hopkins are related elsewhere in these volumes, while a complete history of the township and its surroundings appears in tlie reminiscences of Nels O. Berge elsewhere in this work.

The cyclone of 1881 did considerable damage in this town. Joseph Halloway, wife and three children were killed; one of his boys escaped death but had both arms broken. John Finley, a boy aged fourteen, was killed while herding cattle; many of the cattle were killed outright or died from injuries received. In addition to loss of life a large amount of property was destroyed.

A sad event in the history of Cairo was the burning of the two little children of John Liebl. on September 29, 1898, These children. Martin, aged four, and Elizabeth, aged 2. were playing in the barn when the structure caught fire. The father was away at the time. Attention was turned to saving the house, and the children were not missed. When the father returned he plunged into the flames at the risk of his life. The dead bodies of the children were found in the ruins of the barn.

Cairo township was organized as Mud Lake April 2, 1S67. At that time twentynine votes were cast and the officers elected were: Supervisors, William Emmick (chairman), August Rieke and J. H. Phelps; clerk, J. H. Phelps; assessor, M. J. Haines; treasurer, George Rieke; justices, R. Barton and Joseph Labarron; constables, S. Turner and H. W. Dodge. The town was called Mud Lake until July 8, 1869, when the name was changed to Cairo. The earliest records of this township have not been preserved. The clerk has the minutes of all the meetings since March 10, -NT4. The present officers are: Supervisors, Joseph Julius, Jr. (chairman), Charles Firle, Nels E. Nelson; treasurer, G. A. Boemmels; clerk. Theo. R. Reinke.

The first real estate assessment of Mud Lake township (112-32), now Cairo, was made in 1S6S. Those assessed that year were: Baptiste Frenier, section 31; June Laframboise. 25; Peter La Belle, 30; Elizabeth Muller, 22; William Mills, 24; Mary Mumford, 31.

By 1S71 quite a number of people had acquired property in Cairo township, 112-32 (Mud Lake), the real estate assessment that year being as follows: Edmond O'Hara, section 9; Gardner Tibbitts, 10; Frank Shields, 10; Hanna C. Hains, 10; M. J. Hains. 10; Abram Culver, 14; II. Barton, 20; Elizabeth Muller, 22, 23, 27; J. Laframbois, 25; George Rieke, 26; James B. Harper, 27; Joseph Lebarron, 28; Samuel Marsh. 28: Amos G. Root. 29, 32; Michael Igo, 30, 31; B. H. Randall. 31; Mary Mumford, 31. 32; Frederick V. Haas. 32; F. G Carter, 34, 35; Adam Rieke. 35.

Crooks township embraces township 116- 36. It is bounded on the north by Kandiyohi county, on the east by Winfie"ld township, on the south by Emmet township, and on the west by Ericson township.

John Smith was the first settler in Crooks township. He and his good wife, Maria, came to Crooks township, June 1, 1S70, and did not settle here permanently until July 2, 1870, when they filed on the northwest quarter of section 32. At the same time C. G Bell filed on the southwest quarter, and H. S. Crooks, from whom the town is named, on the southeast quarter of the same section. During the same year Lars Otness filed on the southeast quarter of section 34. and Hans Stromerson on the' northwest quarter of the same section. Then came Ed. Bakken, James Madison, Esten Bakken and A. E. Kinney. These were practically all the early settlers of the township. But a few years later the settlers began to come in more rapidly.

The first birth in the town was that of Ellen, a daughter of C. G. and Phoebe Bell, born in the spring of 1S72. The first death was in December, 1S75, when John Johnson was frozen to death. The first school was taught in the summer of 1874 by Nettie Spicer in a building erected for that purpose on section 30. Religious services were held by the Methodists at private houses as early as 1874.

Crooks township was organized as Aurora township in November, 1SS4, and an election was held December 9, 18S4. In March. 1SS5, the board was notified by the state auditor that another township in the state had been given the name Aurora, therefore named it Crooks. The first supervisors of Crooks were H. L. Otos (chairman), C. A. Bakken and J. F. Smith. The records of the township have been preserved since March 2S, 1885. On that date the supervisors held a meeting and assessed two days' labor on the highways against every adult male, and a road tax of fifty cents against every hundred dollars' worth of real estate and personal property as valued in the assessment rolls of the preceding year. The present officers of the township are: Supervisors, Henry Haen (chairman), P. J. Wigdahl and Gurin Kverness; clerk, E. J. Wilson. Town meetings are held in the school houses.

The first real estate assessment in Crooks township, 116-36, then a part of Emmet, was made in 1S74. Those assessed were: John Johnson, section IS; John Gist. 30. In 1875 there was added to this list: Esten Bakken, section S. In 1878 there were added to this list: A. E. Kenney. section 18; J. J. Pratt, 30; Ambry M. Knight. 2. 6: John B. Sanborn. 7. In 1SS2, the following names had been added: Charles B. Gordon, section 20; Knight &

The personal tax list of Crooks for 1915 embraces the following names: George Ahrenholz, John Aalderks, C. Aalderks, Dirk Beckman, Gustav Butenhoff, Bert Bruins.

John G. Wordes, one of the leading citizens of the township, settled here in the spring of 1SS7, and has thus lived in Crooks for nearly thirty years. Mr. Wordes has furnished some interesting information for this history of the county. His reminiscences appear elsewhere. According to Mr. Wordes, the others who came that spring were Henry Blattner, Henry Haen and William Loock.

Those living here at that time were: John Gest, section 32; Peter Ufkes, 31; John F. Smith, 32; Henry Crooks, 32; Jacob O. Dahl, 32; A. E. Kinne, IS; C. A. Bakken, IS; Eston Bakken, 8; James Matson, 2S; Samming Carlson, 2S; E. C. Bakken, 28; Gustof Herman, 34; Ole Erickson, 26; Martin Peterson, 22; Fred Shaller. 22; ole Tolfson, 24; G. Welch, 29; L. P. Larson. 28; S. A. Wilcox, 20; F. C. Greene, 20; N. K. Sherman, 20; John O. Colsrud; Hans Stumeson, 34; A. McFarlane, 33; Hotsean Otos, 24; Carl Hennemann, 2; Lars Otnes, 27; Albert Strey, 26; Adolph Zockor, 36. Of these thirty-three families only four are now living in the township: John G. Wordes, 29; Gustof Hermann, 34; Martin Peterson, 22; Albert Strey, 14, all the | rest having died or moved to other places. Those who came later in 1887 were Henry Haen. who later moved to Emmet township; Henry Blattner, William Loock and Lubbert Alirenholz.

The men who have lived in Crooks township a quarter of a century or more are: Dirk Beekman. F. O. Berg, P. and D. Eeikhoff. Gustof Herman. L. M. Johnson, S. F. Larson, Olson & Johnson, John G. Wordes, Martin Peterson and Albert Strey. John G. Wordes, of Crooks township, has lived in the county some thirty years, and in that time has undergone many interesting experiences. His story is an excellent lesson to the younger generations of what the people endured who helped to make the county. His story is as follows:

I was born in the town of Lima, Sheboygan county, Wisconsin; was reared to agricultural pursuits, and remained on my father's farm until March, 1SS7. On the twenty-third of that month I married Jane Christian Brummels. On April 6. 1887, she and I arrived in Renville and roomed at the home of Peter Haan until April 11, 1887. Then a Mr. Vanakkern and a younger brother of mine arrived at Renville, with a car of horses, machinery and household goods. The next day we moved out on the prairie in a small house known as the Steam's place. A few days later James Minderhout and Isaac Wolfert, two young men from Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, came and stayed with us for some time.

Then a few days later William Orlebeke and family, also of Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, came and stayed with us until the men could haul out lumber to build a small house and sheds for their horses. The above named Wisconsin people had bought land in Chippewa county, Minnesota, near where Clara City is now situated. When those families moved on their land, I can tell you we commenced to get lonesome. But we soon got acquainted with the neighbors, and I will say right here that I shall never forget what those kind neighbors did for us in time of need. Now, to tell the story, will say the first thought came to me to break the prairie land that I had bought the year previous in section 7. township 116, range 36 - 160 acres railroad land - at $9 per acrs. I broke 40 acres in the spring of 1SS7, sowed 20 acres of it into flax and reaped five bushels per acre. Everything went well until the winter of 1SSS. January 12 two young men, friends of ours, got lost in a snow storm. One froze to death, the other froze his feet. The worst came on February 4, 1888. when our first baby was born. A blinding blizzard made it impossible for a neighbor or a doctor to come to our assistance, and there was no telephone to call a neighbor. It nearly made my hair stand on end. But thanks to God, everything went well. The years 1887 and 1888 were rather poor crop years and low prices, and the severe winter made us somewhat discouraged and all the earthly possession we had. I had made one small payment on my land. One team of horses and harness and wagon and a few pieces of furniture was all we had.

The first two years we were so poor that we could not buy wood or coal. So we were obliged to burn hay and flax straw to cook and keep warm with. We tried to sell out, but could not get a buyer, even at the price we had paid for our land. Then in the fall of 188S my father came to see us. He found us well, but discouraged. After telling father of our plans of selling out and going back to Wisconsin, father said: "Son, my advice to you is this: Stick it out a few years and everything will turn out right." And father's advice came in time, and did turn out well. So my advice to any young man that starts in a new country - stick out a few years and everything will turn out well. In the year 1892 I bought 80 acres joining mine at $11 per acre. And in 1S92 sold my 240 acres at $20 per acre and also sold my personal property for a good price. After

In the spring of 1893 we decided to see our old home and friends in Wisconsin. On June 5, 1893. myself and family left for Wisconsin, thinking to locate there, and while there also took in the World's Fair at Chicago, 111. We also looked at some land in Wisconsin and Illinois. After taking prices of land into consideration in those states, I saw that I could do better in Minnesota, so in August of 1893, we returned to the town of Crooks and bought the northwest quarter of section 29 at $29 per acre, the same quarter where we still live.

In 1908 I bought the southwest quarter of section 20 at $48.50 per acre, so now I have a farm of 320 acres, which I would not trade for any farm of similar size in Wisconsin or Illinois.

Ericson township embraces township 116, range 37. It is bounded on the north by Chippewa county, on the east by Crooks township, on the south by Sacred Heart township and on the west by Wang township.

The first settler in Ericson township was James H. Wilson, who came in about 1870 and erected a cabin on section S. He lived alone and was at his cabin for a short period only. He left soon after the influx of 1871. In the days of the early settlement large game was not plentiful in the prairie region of Renville county, but it is related that a certain large moose often came to Mr. Wilson's haystack.

In 1871 Ericson received many settlers, all of whom arrived within a few days of each other, about June, and rapidly filled the township. Peter P. Dustrud. who is still living in Sacred Heart, was one of these. A short time ago Mr. Dustrud prepared a list of this colony, which is as follows: Peter P. Dustrud. wife and mother (Dorothea Sanderson), section 28. Ole S. Lanning. wife and one son, section 2S. Martin Jacobson, wife and two children, section 22. Johannes Siverson Lanning. single, section 28. Mr. Lanning is still on the farm where he originally settled. Halvor Skonberg, wife and three children, section 32. Skonberg had been a tailor at St. Peter. He worked at that trade here for the early settlers and then went to Minnesota Falls. Ole Gilbertson Knestang, single, section 26. Anders Gilbertson Knestang, wife and three children, section 26. Gabriel Osmundson, wife and three children, section 26. His father and mother settled in the same section. Eberliart Louasen, wife and two children, section 34. Ole Berget Skomager. wife and one child, section 34. Ole was a cobbler and took his name from his occupation, (ilaf Kortgaarden. wife and three children, section 34. Johannes Wee (Wood) and wife, section 22. Johannes Hanson, wife and three children, section 26. His original home was on the present site of the school house. Simon Christenson Engen. wife and one child, section 30. Hans Hanson Roli, wife and three children, section 22. Ella Olson, a widow with one son, Iver, section 20. Peter Christianson Engen, single, section 30. Paul Killi and wife, section 20; John Trostal and wife and four children, section 20. Ole Hanson Tunde, an old soldier and single, section 32. Peter (Gulbrandson) Fieldhammer, wife and three children, section 32. Mr. Fieldhammer is the only one of the early settlers who is still actively operating "his farm. Lars Hanson, wife and family, section 19. An interesting story is told of Mr. Hanson's adventure with a deer. This deer lingered about the place in the fall and did considerable damage to the hay stacks. One day the dog chased it out onto the ice and Mr. Hanson followed it. After a terrific battle the deer escaped.

All these people came as already noted in May. 1871. A few people came that fall, among whom may be mentioned Peter Gerde and Ole Helgeson. Early in the spring of 1S72 came Peter O. Do'seth and family, now living in Sacred Heart.

Others who arrived at about the same time as these earliest pioneers are: Ole Wolstad, Hans Rosaasen, Carl Gerde. Finger Hoff and Iver Olson.

When the township was organized the whole town constituted one school district. The first school was taught in 1N74. at Iver Walstad's house, by Mary Bovee. Peter P. Dustrud drove to Beaver Falls and persuaded her to take rharge of the school. All the books used the first term were books which Mr. Dustrud had owned as a boy. In 1S75 a school house was built on the Dustrud farm. Mr. Dustrud and others going to Willmar after the boards which were used in putting up a shack, which did service as school house and church.

The township was named in honor of Eric Ericson, prominent pioneer of Renrilli county, who served in the early days as county auditor and was for many years county superintendent of schools. It was he who drew up the petitions for the organization of the township and school district. These petitions were circulated by Peter P. Dustrud and by him and other's [resented to the county commissioners. The name of Eric son was suggested and the citizens consented.

Ericson township at one time had a post office bearing its name. It was kept by Frederick Walstad at his mother's home, in section 32. He also kept a small stock of goods.

The first marriage was that of Lars H. Milsten and Ingebor Hanson in 1875. The Norwegian Lutherans began holding meetings as early as 1S73. The first death was that of Emma H. Walstad, in 1873. The first cemetery was on the farm of Peter P. Dustrud and a number of bodies are still interred there.

Ericson township was organized January 27, 1874. The following officers were elected: Supervisors, Henry Paulson (chairman and constable), Peter Gerde and E. H. Walstad; clerk and justice, Henry Paulson; treasurer, assessor and constable, Peter P. Dustrud. This meeting was held in the dugout of Peter P. Dustrud in section 28. A heavy storm was raging and only about seven men were present. There is a town hall in the center of the township.

The first real estate assessment in Ericson (116-37) was made in 1S74. Those assessed were: Hans S. Sagnes. section IS; Paul Killi. 2ii: John Thompson. 22; Marthea Dustrud. 28; Anton Olson. 2S; Hans Larson, 30: Peter Hanson, 32 (a note made gives Peter Hanson's property as having been transferred to Peter Lundberg). In

1877 there were added to this list: James H. Wilson, section 8; M. Robideaux, 24; P. Gerde. 28; Hans Hanson, 30; Ole Hendrickson, 32: Jorgen P. Flagstad, 32. In

The first child born in Ericson was Carl, the son of Halvor Gundberg, in the summer of 1871. Bernt Siverson, the son of Ole Siverson Lanning. was the second. These children were baptized at the home of Peter Erickson in section 24.

Peter P. Dustrud's Reminiscences. "In the spring of 1S72, I took a load of people from the town of Ericson to the home of the aged Hans Roli, on the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section S.

The home was a log house, which had been erected but not finished. The members of the party 1 took to this meeting place were Marthea Dustrud, my wife and our baby, Severin Julius Dustrud; Mrs. Martin Jacobson and her daughter. Maria Jacobson; Mrs. Halvor Ogaarden and her daughter, Berthe Ogaarden; Mrs. Ole Syverson Lanning, with her son. and Mrs. Andrew Knesfand, whom we took along as a witness. Religious services were held, for this was on a Sunday, by the Rev. John Bergh. This is t lie first time that I ever met the reverend gentleman. There were so many children to be baptized that Pastor Bergh himself had to be one of the witnesses for our son. Bernt Larson and his wife were the others.

"I shall never forget that trip. The company of women and children filled my wagon box. The ground was still moist and the wheels often sunk deep in the earth. It was slow going. The men had to stay at home and lake care of the fields to see that the cattle did not get into the crops. No fences had been built and when the crops were growing it required constant care to prevent the cattle destroying them."

In the fall of 1871 Mr. Dustrud had an interesting experience with a prairie fire. Early one morning he started for the mill at New London with grain for Ole Siverson Lanning. intending, on the way back, to purchase supplies at Willmar. When he was some ten miles from home a great prairie fire swept toward him, coming from the northwest and sweeping toward the southeast. The fire had started near Breckenridge and at a rate of sixty miles an hour had swept toward Benson and then to the Minnesota river, even in places jumping that river. Mr. Dustrud had only a few seconds in which to act. He started a back fire and by leading the plunging and frightened horses into the very flames of this back lire he managed to save them and the wagon. His whiskers and eyebrows were singed and he was nearly strangled with the smoke and flames. But he kept on and reached New London at 11 o'clock at night. There he found men who had been waiting three or four days to get their wheat ground. When the kind hearted miller learned the distance Mr. Dustrud had come he took pity on him and agreed to grind the wheat at once. So after midnight, with his flour, Mr. Dustrud started toward Willmar and camped five miles from the village he had just left. Early in the morning he continued on his way, and at about 8 o'clock reached Willmar. where he purchased some lumber, salt and provisions. He did not get started for home until 4 o'clock in the afternoon. The prairies had been burned as far as the eye could reach and all evidences of the trail had been obliterated. So Mr. Dustrud was not able to reach a hotel at which he had planned to stop, just over the line in

Kandiyohi county, and was forced to again camp on the blackened prairie. The next day he reached the home of Ole Siverson Lanning and heard the story of how the neighborhood had fared during his absence. Mr. Lanning was away from home when the fire came and Mrs. Lanning was alone; She started toward the Dustrud home and nearly perished on the way before she was helped into the cabin by Mrs. Martin Jacobson, Mrs. Dustrud and Mrs. Dustrud's mother, Mrs. Dorthea Sanderson. In order to provide against fire, Mr. Dustrud had plowed two large circles around his home, and had several times burned off the grass between the two circles, thus leaving a protected area of some ten acres about his home. The cattle for miles around sought refuge in this circle, and when Mr. Dustrud got home all the cattle in his neighborhood were grazing on his place.