Crow River Township

Crow River Township

Crow River is located in the southwestern portion of the county, and it contained in township 123 north, range 34 west. The surface is a gently rolling prairie interspersed with marsh land. The creek which is the outlet of Crow Lake, crosses the southwest corner of the town in a southeasterly direction. Spunk river and the North Fork of Crow river cross the northern and eastern portions of the town, the former running in an easterly, and the latter in a southerly direction. I

In 1860, the first settlers arrived. They consisted of Gilbert Anfinson, T. Wronson, and H. Jorgenson. They settled in the southwest part of the town, but left their claims during the Indian outbreak of 1862, and fled. In 1864, quite a settlement was formed, prominent among whom were Peter Knudson and Gilbert Anfinson, the latter being one of the first settlers in I860.

The first child born in the township was a daughter of Gilbert Anfinson. Hers was also the first death. The first marriage was in 1871, the contracting parties being Nels Halland and R. Matiason. The first public school was held in the summer of 1870, by Emma Morgan, in the house of C. H. Johnson. The first religious services were held in the house of Peter Knudson, in 1866, by Rev. Johnson.

Crow River was organized in 1877. eighteen sections being detached from the west side of Lake Henry, and a similar number from the eastern portion of Crow Lake, for the formation of the new town. The first officers were: Supervisors, Daniel Peterson (chairman), John Henrikson, and Nels Halland; clerk, Knut P. Knutson; assessor, Daniel Peterson; and treasurer, G. Larson.

Belgrade Village

Belgrade village with a population of about six hundred is located on the "Soo" line, fifteen miles northwest of Paynesville. It has Methodist, Catholic and German Lutheran churches, a commercial club, a bank, a hotel, a creamery, a fiour mill, two grain elevators and a municipal electric light and water plants. A weekly newspaper, the Tribune, is published. The shipments are wheat and live stock. Land is worth $20 to $50 an acre. W. P. Lemmer is postmaster.

Before the year 1880 this township was u part of the township of St. Joseph and Farming, each of which comprised 54 sections; but in January, 1880, the western cne-third of the former and the eastern one-third of the latter were organized into ? distinct township, which took its name from St. John's College in section one. According to the government survey it is township 124, north, range 30, west, containing 36 sections or 23,040 acres. It is bounded on the north by the town of Avon, on the east by St. Joseph, on the south by Wakefield, and on the west by Farming. No railroad line crosses it and the station of Collegeville is not in the township bearing that name.

The soil is not the best for agricultural purposes. The surface is very uneven and hilly, largely covered with forests of maple, poplar and oak, while the lower places are marshy. Among its dozen lakes, the largest are St. John's and Watab Lakes. The latter has for its outlet the

South fork of the Watab river, which flows northward through the western part of St. Joseph and eventually finds its way into the Mississippi about three miles north of St. Cloud; a group of small lakes in section 11 has an outlet in what is called the North fork of the Watab, which joins the South fork one mile above the village of St. Joseph. Some of the smaller lakes have been drained in recent years.

There are no villages or settlements in the town. The only church is that of St. John's Abbey, where most of the settlers attend service. The largest educational institution is St. John's University, an account of which will be found elsewhere. There are three District Schools: School district No. 120 was organized August 22, 1881; it included sections 35 and 36 and one-half of section 34 in the town of Avon. At present the school house is located in section one of the town of Collegeville. District 140 is in the northwestern part of the town; its school house is in section 6. District 144 is in the southern part of the town; its school in section 27.

The first settlers were two Germans, George Scherer and Joseph Jonas, who took up claims in section 26 about 1858. About the same time John Obermiller settled on section 2. Peter Eich, the oldest surviving settler, made his home in the same section in 1866. Some of the first township officers were: Supervisors, Mathias Sauer, Peter Eich and Mathias Fandel; clerk, George Sauer. The present officials are: Supervisors, L. Hartig (chairman), B. Scherer and J. Jonas; clerk, N. J. Klein.

Eden Lake is situated on the south line of the county, and nearly midway between the east and west lines. It has an area of 23,040 acres, and embraces township 122 north, range 31 west. The surface is undulating, with some swamp and low land. The town contains a large number of lakes, the largest of which is Rice Lake, in the western portion of the town. Prominent among the smaller lakes, are: Pirz, Long, Brown's, Eden, and Vail's lakes.

probably the first settler. He made a claim on section four. He was followed during the same year by Ferdinand Zaczkobski, who settled on section five, and B. Pirz, who took land on sections five and six. Others also settled in that portion of the town about the same time. David J. Hanscom came in 1859, and located on section twenty-five. In 1860, Haley Clark settled in section twenty-four, and in 1864, Thomas A. Allen also became a resident of the town.

The territory now included in Eden Lake, was formerly a part of Richmond township, afterwards Munson, organized in 1858, but formed into a separate organization in 1867, and the first election held on February 16. The first officers were: Supervisors, W. T. Mills (chairman), T. R. McGuire, and Ernst Holifer; clerk, D. J. Hanscom; assessor, C. P. Russell; treasurer, Thomas Allyn; justices of the peace. James Jones and B. Pirz; and constables, George Hamilton and William Marquette.

The first school taught in this town was in the German settlement, in 1864. In 1870, district number sixty-three was organized in the American settlement, a school house erected on section twenty-three, and the first school taught by Lizzie C. Allyn.

An organization of Campbellites was formed by the Rev. Isaac Cameron in 1869. The Church of God was formed in 1875. The first minister was the Rev. C. Scott.