Brush Creek Township

Brush Creek Township

The town bearing the above name, is congressional township one hundred and two (102) north, of range twenty-five (25) west. It is bounded on the north by the town of Walnut Lake, on the east is Foster township, south is the town of Seely.and west is the township of Emerald.

The estimated average height of this town above sea level is 1,125 feet. The depth of the drift to bed-rock has not been ascertained in this town, but it is probably that of the surrounding country, varying from 100 to 150 feet. The surface of the land is rolling prairie, easily drained. On section twenty-three are certain short "ridges, and round, or conical knolls, steep sided, about twenty feet high, composed of coarse gravel and sand, and form a series, three-fourths of a mile long."

Nearly half of Walnut lake, one of the most beautiful sheets of water in the county, is in this town, near the northeast corner. There are. also, two other small lakes in the town, known as Swan Lake and Goose Lake. The east branch of the Blue Earth river runs from the northeast corner, in a southerly and southwesterly direction through the town, and a small stream, known as Brush Creek, enters the town about a mile from the southeast corner and empties into the Blue Earth river.

There is considerable native timber in the town, which is confined to the banks of the lakes and the river. Many fine groves of forest trees, the result of the labor and foresight of the people, are scattered throughout the town. The soil is deep and fertile - the wild grasses luxuriant and nutritious.

First Settlement

James Prior was the first permanent settler of this town. He located on the southeast quarter of section thirty-three, on the twenty-sixth day of May, 1856. Mr. Prior was born in 1814, in England, and came to the United States in 1850, and stopped for awhile in Massachusetts. In April, 1854, he emigrated to Miama county,

Ohio, but the country not being healthy, he returned to Massachusetts in November following. In 1855. he emigrated to Iowa, and from thence to this town at the time above stated.

He has always been a farmer by occupation. Since living here, and at an early day, he was twice burned out of house and home and household goods. Both fires occurred within one year, and both were undoubtedly the work of an incendiary. For a number of .years he acted as town treasurer. He was married July Gth, 18G9, to Mrs. Fannie M. Whitney. He died in 1887.

Acres of land, improved, 222: value of farms $6,900; value of farm Implenients and machinery, $558: number of horses, 10: railch cows, 26; working cattle, 24; other cattle, 36: swine, 55; value of live stock, S2, 107.

The Name

The town was named Brush Creek by the special commissioners in 1858, after the small stream of that name in the town, and the stream received this name because of the thick growth of small trees, thickets and brush along its banks. The name is not a common one, yet there are some six or eight post-offices and villages in the United States, bearing the name of Brush Creek.

Organization

The township of Foster was attached to this town for civil purposes, by the special commissioners, in 1858, and an election for town officers was noticed to be held on the twentieth day of October, 1858.

It appears from the county records, that on the sixth of March, 1860, the county commissioners consolidated into one town district, the two town districts of Brush Creek and Foster, and Seely and Kiester, for town purposes. The town of Foster was detached from Brush Creek township by the county commissioners, September Gth 1664. In separating these towns, the strange circumstance hap pened, that Brush Creek, the principal town, became disorganized as all the officers of the town district resided at the time, in Foster the attached, or ancillary town, and the commissioners, therefore ordered an election for town officers to be held at the house of Lu cius S. Raymond, on the twenty-fifth day of October, 1864.

Items Op Interest

About the years 1863-4-5, a locality of some importance grew up on section one, where one, Milton Morey had a saw mill in the timber on the banks of Walnut lake. He had also a small store here, which did quite a business, being patronized by the people of the surrounding country for many miles.

About the year 1869, Charles Fletcher erected a small grist mill (water power), on the Blue Earth, on section 33. The mill was subsequently purchased by Hiram Raymond, and greatly im^Droved, and for some time did a good business, but Avas finally abandoned.

Educational

Schools were held in the town as early as 1861, but it was several years before a school house was erected. There are now (1879) three very good school houses in this town, and schools are regularly kept.

Religious

Public religious services were held here soon after the first settlement, the people assembling in private houses for some years, ' until the erection of school houses. It appears that the Baptists were the first to have regular services. Other religious denominations have held services here also, especially the Lutherans.

Statistical

The assessor's reports for 1879, show that there were In the town at that time, 268 horses, 425 cows, 501 other cattle, 5 mules, 474 sheep, 196 hogs, 14 sewing machines, etc.

We should have but an imperfect idea of the importance of this town, without a statement of the names of a number more of the people who were residents of the town prior to the close of this sketch, and helped in the work of building up the town. Here are some of them.