Delhi Township

Delhi Township

Delhi township is located on the north-central border of Redwood county, and comprises Congressional fractional townships 113-36 and 114-36. It is bounded on the north by the Minnesota river, on the east by Honner, on the west by Kintire, and on the south by Redwood Palls, and half a mile of Sheridan, due to the irregularity of half a mile in the survey. Ramsey creek crosses it on the southern side, and Rice creek flows northeast in the northwest part of this township. The surface is rolling and well-watered. The Pacific division of the Minneapolis and St. Louis passes through the center from east to west. The only village is Delhi with a population in 1910 of 174. The trading centers are Delhi and Redwood Falls. There are three schoolhouses. The predominating nationality is American and Scotch, the township being the center of the Scotch settlement in Redwood comity.

The original survey of 113-36 was begun Jan. 10, 1858, and finished Oct. 10, 1858, by W. R. McMahan, U. S. deputy surveyor. He described the surface as rolling and well-watered, and the soil, generally, first rate. He found some fine groves of timber along the river bluffs and bottom. Among the kinds of trees were cottonwood, bur oak, willow, timber oak, ash and elm. The road to Yellow Medicine entered this township near the southeast corner and passed out at the northwest corner. An Indian trail passed across the southern part of this township. A lake was found in the southwest corner in sections 29, 30, 31 and 32.

The original survey of 114-36 this township, was begun Oct. 20, 1858, and finished Oct. 24, 1858, by W. R. McMahan, U. S. deputy surveyor. He described the surface as high and rolling. The Minnesota river bottoms and bluffs were covered with small groves of timber including maple, hackberry, elm, willow, red cedar, bur oak, cottonwood, and white oak. The soil was first rate.

Beginning with the organization of the county, Delhi was considered a part of Redwood Falls. Delhi township was created February 1, 1878, and consisted of all of township 113-36 in this county. Fractional township 114-36 (which since September 4, 1872, had been a part of Swedes Forest) was added to Delhi, May 11, 1880, thus giving it its present boundaries.

The History of the Minnesota Valley published in 1881 says: "The first town meeting was held at "Word en & Ruter's mill in section 36, February 19, 1876. Officers elected : Thomas H. King, chairman, George Stronach and John Anderson, supervisors; James Anderson, clerk; Daniel McLean, treasurer; Alex Mc- Corquodale, assessor; Isaac Leslie and Exra Ticknor, justices; George Gaffney and John Whittet, constables, and David Whittet, overseer of highways. The first settler was Carl Simondet, who came in 1865 and settled on section 13, where he lived until 1880, when he died. His son, who also took a claim in 1865, now lives on the old homestead. There appeared no settlers until 1868, when John and James Anderson and Alex. McCorquodale came in. The first birth was that of Christina, a daughter of Isaac and Margaret Leslie, January 18, 1873. The first marriage was that of Andrew Stewart and Miss Kate McLean in December, 1872. John McLean died June 20, 1877, and was buried in the cemetery at Redwood Falls; the first death in the town. The first school was taught by Miss Thora McNiven, with seven pupils, in section 20, during the summer of 1873; there are three organized dis- triets in the town and but two school houses. In the summer of 1870 religious services were held at the home of John McLean by Rev. R. G. Wallace, Presbyterian minister. During the winter of 1870-1871, an organization was effected by the Rev. J. L. Whitta, with thirteen members. They now have a membership of twenty-eight."

Honner township is located on the north side of Redwood county and embraces the Congressional fractional township 113-35 and fractional section 31, township 113-34 and east by the Minnesota river on the west by Delhi, and on the south by Paxton, also Redwood Falls there being a variation of half a mile made in the survey. Little Crow creek crosses it on the eastern side and empties into the Minnesota river. The Redwood river crosses the northwest corner of it and also empties into the Minnesota river. The Pacific division of the Minneapolis and St. Louis crosses this township passing in a northwesterly direction. The surface is partly rolling and partly level. The northeast part of Redwood Falls city is located in this township. The village of North Redwood is located near the place where the Redwood river joins the Minnesota. The trading centers are Redwood Falls, in Redwood county, and Morton in Renville county. There is one school house. The predominating nationality is German and American.

The original survey of this township was started September 15, 1858, by W. R. McMahan, U. S. deputy sheriff. All of the survey was done during 1858. The land was rolling and level, about the same amount of each. The soil was first rate. The Minnesota river extending along the north and east boundary of this township. There was quite a good deal of timber and many kinds of trees such as burr oak, ash, elm, boxelders, and hackberry. Toward the west and south were a few trails and Indian fields. A stony ridge was found in parts of sections 33 and 28.

Beginning with the organization of the county, Honner was considered a part of Redwood Falls township. Before Honner was organized several attempts were made to organize Blackwood. On petition, May 3, 1872, the commissioners created Blackwood, consisting of township 112-35 and all of 113-35 in this county. But the action was reconsidered and laid on the table until a future meeting. June 4, 1872, Blackwood was created, consisting of township 112-35 and all of township 113-35 in this county except sections 18, 19, 20, 29, 30, 31 and 32. Paxton was created July 30, 1879. Honner was created by the county commissioners, Jan. 10, 1880. It then consisted of all of township 113-35 in this county, and was named Baldwin. Feb.

The first settler in Honner township was George Johnson and his son, Marion, who came to Redwood county in 1864, and settled on the south shore of Tiger lake. The next year, Hugh Curry took a claim in the township. J. S. G. Honner, for whom the township was named, was one of the first settlers of Redwood Palls, and later took a claim on the Minnesota river in what is now Honner township.

"A village was laid out partly in each of sections 20 and 29, on land owned by E. B. Daniels, about 1876, and called Riverside. A store, an elevator, a hotel, a blacksmith shop and a few other buildings were put up ; a post-office was also established. The town was not a success ; the hotel and elevator were moved into Redwood Falls, and there remain but two small buildings on the site. In 1869, E. Birum & Brother built a water-power saw-mill in section 30 on the Redwood river. It continued in operation as such until 1879, when it was changed to a grist-mill. It now has two run of stone, and is operated by E. Birum, the present proprietor. The German Evangelical congregation held services at the house of Bernhard Kunzli in section 29, in 1867, conducted by the Rev. Hillscher. An organization was effected by the Rev. Schmidt in 1880, with seventeen members.

"A school was taught in 1876, in an old building in section 21, by Alice Patton; she had about twelve pupils. This was the only school taught in town as it was divided into joint districts, one part going to Redwood Palls, and the other to District 2, in Paxton township. The first birth was that of Frederick, a son of J. S. G. Honner and wife. He was born Oct. 24, 1868. The first death was that of a little daughter of George and Mary E. Johnson, who died in October, 1868. The first marriage was that of William Davis and Mahala Johnson in the spring of 1867.

"The first town meeting was held at the house of David Watson, in section 31, Jan. 24, 1881. The officers elected were : Supervisors, Henry Birum (chairman), Marion Johnson, Stephen Russell; Clerk, J. K. Deming; assessor, J. S. G. Honner; treasurer, R. W. Rockwell; justice, David Watson; constable, G. B. Dove."

Honner township now has from 28 to 32 voters. Shoemaker's hall is the voting place. The supervisors are M. Anderson, A. H. Seebeck and F. J. Hoepner. H. R. Simondet is the clerk. The justice of the peace and the constable have not qualified. The early records of the township have not been preserved, the present records in the possession of the clerk dating back only to 1905.

Underwood township is located in the northwest corner of Redwood county, and embraces Congressional township 112-39. It is bounded on the north by Yellow Medicine county, on the east by Vesta township and on the south by Westline township, and on the west by Lyon county. The Redwood river flows in an easterly direction through the central part. The surface is high rolling prairie. There are no railroads passing through the township and the township has no villages. The trading centers are Vesta, Milroy and Redwood Falls in Redwood county and Marshall and Cottonwood in Lyon county. There are four school houses. The predominating nationalies are German, Scotch and American.

The original survey of this township was begun July 20, and completed August 16, 1867. The work was done by Richard H. L. Jewett and George C. Home, U. S. deputy surveyors. They described the land as high, rolling prairie with soil of the first quality growing lighter and more sandy as approaching the river while along the line between the prairie and bottom land the soil became gravelly and second rate. There were two small lakes in the northwest part. There was but little timber. A road was found running through the central part of the township in a westerly direction.

Beginning with September 4, 1876, Underwood township was a part of Yellow Medicine township, and after Yellow Medicine county was organized March 6, 1871, was considered a part of Redwood Falls township. Underwood was created with its present boundaries April 13, 1876, and an election ordered to be held at the home of Levi Ten Eyck, May 2, 1876.

The History of the Minnesota Valley published in 1882 says: "Levi Ten Eyck, who located on section 20, in August, 1869, was the first actual settler. George and Charles Mead, Archie and William Stewart, John Noble, Archie McLean and R. H. Mc- Kittrick came the next year. May 2, 1876, the town was organized ; the first officers were : William Cahoon, chairman, Malcom McNiven and A. H. Morgan, supervisors ; Daniel McNiven, clerk ; R. H. McKittrick, assessor; Levi Ten Eyck, treasurer; Archie Noble and James McKay, justices; Collin Mattheson and James Gilkey, constables. There was no school till the winter of 1879, when Mrs. William Simmons taught at home. Box Elder postoffice was established in 1879, and Eben Martin appointed postmaster. The first marriage was James McKay and Anna Monroe, by Rev. Mr. Simmons, 1877. The first birth was Van Dyke, son of Levi Ten Eyck, born March 20, 1870. A son of Henry Johnson died in 1877, the first death."

Delhi is one of the older villages of Redwood county, having been started in 1884, soon after the railroad came through. The land was principally owned by A. Y. Felton of Plainview, who gave every other lot in the village to the railroad, as well as an extensive right-of-way. At that time the Felton farmhouse, located on about lot 4, block 1, was occupied by John McKellhier.

In the summer of 1884, A. H. Anderson, afterwards county auditor, and J. L. Borg, now a prominent resident of Delhi, reached the site of the future village. These young men had previously been farming in Carver county, and had fixed upon Delhi as the scene of their future operations.

No survey had then been made, but the two partners purchased a granary standing south of the Felton farmhouse, and, after hauling goods from Redwood Falls, opened a small store. This granary, rebuilt and remodelled, is still standing north of Mr. Borg's present residence, and east of its original location.

J. L. Borg returned to his home in Carver county, while his brother, C. 0. Borg, now of Redwood Falls, and A. H. Anderson, conducted the store. The elevator and the depot were built that fall.

The residents of Delhi during the winter of 1884-85 were C. 0. Borg and A. H. Anderson, living over their store; H. J. Heath, the grain buyer, living in the Felton farm house ; R. R. Hurlbut, the station agent, living over the railroad station ; and John Mc- Guire, the section boss, living in the section house. Some of these gentlemen had their families with them.

The town grew slowly. The Northwestern Gazetteer gives the following business activities for Delhi in 1886: Atkinson & Hurlbut, general store and drugs; Borg & Anderson, general store ; Boehm, Edward, hotel ; Heath, H. J., agent for the Pacific Elevator Co.; Hurlbut, R. R., express, telegraph and railroad agent, dealer in lumber and builders' materials. The village then had a population of thirty people. It is now noted as a grain center and is widely known for its beautiful residence section.

The business directory for 1888 is as follows: Atkinson & Hurlbut, general store ; Boehm, Edward, hotel ; Borg & Anderson, general store; Borg, C. 0., hardware; Chollar, H. D., lumber; Heath, H. J., agent Pacific Elevator Co.; Hurlbut, R. R., postmaster, lumber, general store and express, telegraph and railroad agent ; Knutson, Ole, blacksmith ; M. & St. L. Elevator Co., grain ; Mulford, A. D., & Co., grain; Pacific Elevator Co., H. J. Heath, agent.

In 1890 the business had increased to considerable proportions : Anderson, A. H., justice ; Atkinson, E., general store ; Balis, Rev. W. E. (Presbyterian) ; Boehen, Edward, hotel and feed mill (steam power) ; Borg, C. 0., hardware ; Borg & Anderson, general store ; Cumming, J. 0., coal and wood ; Cumming & Co., farm im- plements; Goody, P., carpenter; Interstate Grain Co., C. Alexander agent; Knutson, Ole, blacksmith; Lagerstrom, C, carpenter; Lagerstorm, J. A., hotel; McCorquodale, D., postmaster; McLean Bros., lumber ; M. & St. L. Elevator Co., A. H. Anderson, agent, grain; Mulford, A. D. & Co., grain; Pacific Elevator Co., H. J. Heath, agent ; Pierson, C. A., railroad, express and telegraph agent ; Sherwin, E. W., principal public school.

The original plat of Delhi was surveyed for Charles F. Hatch, Asa Y. Felton and Lizzie L. Felton, on Sept. 1, 1884, by W. S. Dawley, in the northwest quarter of section 17, town 113, range 36. All the streets are 66 feet wide, except Railroad avenue, running parallel with the track, which is 40 feet wide. The north and south streets, beginning at the east are : East, First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and "West. The east and west streets, beginning at the north are : North avenue, Vanderburg avenue, Franklin avenue and Cass avenue. Railroad avenue, bounding the village on the south, runs northwest and southeast. All the alleys are 20 feet wide.

A petition for the incorporation of Delhi village was drawn up on Oct. 6, 1902, and was signed by the following leading citizens : E. L. Chubb, H. N. Rivers, E. D. House, T. W. McKeen,- George Sehumm, H. Floyd, D. 0. Schooley, Ed. Boehm, Thos. Steele, M. Christenson, Ole Gustafson, Ole L. Flore, A. D. McLean, H. C. Engeman, Alden J. Laidlaw, F. J. Tibbetts, J. L. Borg, Emil Borg, E. Atkinson, Henry T. Helgeson, Ole Knudson, Henry Anderson, Willis W. Creswell, Isaac Leslie, Geo. Leslie, P. H. Olson, W. H. Daylor, Knut Knutson, Charles S. Kramm and Daniel McLean.

The census taken on Oct. 4, 1902, showed a population of 176. The petition was duly granted, and election on the proposition ordered held at the hall of the Delhi Cornet Band, in charge of Daniel McLean, E. D. House and Edwin Atkinson. Of the twentyeight votes cast every one was favorable to the incorporation.

The first election was held in the band hall, Nov. 25, 1902, with Isaac Leslie and P. H. Olson as judges and H. T. Helgeson as clerk. Twenty-three votes were cast, the officers elected being : President, Edwin Atkinson; trustees, E. L. Chubb, A. D. McLean and Ole L. Flore; recorder, Daniel McLean; treasurer, John L. Borg; justice, D. O. Schooley; constable, E. D. House and H. C. Engeman. The first meeting of the new council was held Dec. 2, 1902.

The present officers are: President, D. R. McCorquodale; trustees, Mad Christiansen, John L. Borg and A. L. Leonard; recorder, M. D. Woolstencroft ; treasurer, H. C. Engeman ; justice, H. T. Helgeson ; constable, M. C. de Graff. The village has an excellent public hall, which was purchased and remodelled for its present purpose. It furnishes an ideal meeting place and is also used as an opera house.

Gilfillan is a neat station in section 36, Paxton township, established to provide shipping facilities for the extensive Gilfillan estate. The station and its surroundings are neatly kept, and everything in the vicinity reflects the spirit of the splendid estate from whose founder it takes its name.

Gilfillan Station consists of depot, elevator, and the home of Chas. 0. Gilfillan and his manager, Casper B. Buschke. Gilfillan is the result of the labors of C. D. Gilfillan, the well-known and energetic citizen of St. Paul, Minn., who upon deciding to leave the city and establish a farm, where he could carry on farming after his advanced ideas, purchased 8,200 acres of land lying in Morgan, Sherman, Paxton and Three Lakes townships, Redwood county. It has been reduced since his death to about 7,000 acres. He enclosed the place with miles of barbed wire fence, and on this land Gilfillan annually fatted six to eight hundred head of cattle. He gradually made the improvements contemplated in his plan until today there are thirty-five rented farms where a few years ago there was but a feeding station. When C. D. Gilfillan passed away his property was taken over by his heirs, and eventually the remainder of the tract of 7,000 acres came under the control of his son, Chas. O. Gilfillan who resides on the place. Gilfillan station is beautifully situated in an artificial grove of trees four and one-half miles northwest of Morgan. The land, like all the rest around the village, is a black loam from three to six feet deep, resting on a clay subsoil, which holds the moisture. The Gilfillan ideas of farming are being introduced on the thirty -five farms of the district as fast as it can be done. Cattle, hogs, corn, clover and alfalfa are the five keys that unlock the combination. The farmers of Morgan and other townships are catching the idea and stock raising with this combination is coming in fast.

Thousands of bushels of grain, and a number of carloads of stock are annually shipped from Gilfillan station, adding materially to the output of the county.