Elmore City

Elmore City

This township is comprised of congressional town one hundred and one (101) north, of range twenty-seven (L'7) west. It is bounded on the north by Blue Earth City township.on the east by Rome township, on the south by the state of Iowa, and on the west by the town of Pilot Grove.

Physical Chauacteristics

The mean elevation of this town above sea level, is eleven hundred and sixty feet, but there is a rise of ground near the south line of the town which is twelve hundred and fifty feet. The depth of the drift here to bed rock, is doubtless considerably over one hundred feet. A well of eighty-one feet in depth, showed soil, two feet; yellow till, eighteen feet; harder blue till, sixty feet; coarse gravel, one foot, from which water rose eighty feet, reaching to within one foot of the surface. Along the south side of the town, a width of territory from one to one and a half miles, is hilly, or prominently rolling drift. The general surface of the town is rolling prairie,easily drained. Its water courses are the west branch of the Blue Earth river, the middle branch of Coon creek and Otter creek, and these streams are mainly well timbered, and owing to the peculiar distribution of the sti'eams. living water and timber are convenient to most parts of the town. Most of the lands are tillable and of the best quality, for general cultivation. Good water is easily obtained everywhere by digging or boring to a very moderate depth. This town, in its general physical features, is a highly favored one, and it is becoming still better from year to year, as the fine groves and lines of forest trees planted by the people and appearing everywhere, grow to maturity.

The Early Settlement

Crawfoi-d W. Wilson, was the first actual settler of this town. He first came to this county in August, 185.'). In November of that year, he brought in his family, and on the seventeenth of the month settled upon and claimed the northwest quarter of section eight. Mr. Wilson was born in Wayne county, Ohio. .July 27th. 1835. In the spring of 1850 he emigrated to Iowa, and from thence to Minnesota, as above stated. He was a farmer by occupation, but engaged at various times in merchandising, dealing in cattle and other occupations. He was for many years quite a prominent citizen of the county, and at one time one of its wealthiest. For a considerable time he was a justice of the peace, and was one of our county commissioners in the early years of the county. In 1872 he removed with his family into Iowa.

The following list comprises the names of all the residents of this town in June, 1860, when the national census was taken. A hasty glance over the list, reveals the fact that but few of those who were inhabitants of the town at that time, are to be found there now. "Dead, or I'emoved," are the words echoed back to the question, '-where are they now?"

^rffUHs - AloDzo, Mr.s. Irene and Amanda, Emily, Lucy. iJowcn - A bij ah, Mrs. Ruth. C/icstei/ - Philip, Mrs. Eudoxsia and Esther, Hiram, William, Amanda, Milton, Mrs. Magdalene. Cmuiru/ - William. Cowing - Thomas. Campbell - J nvaes, Mrs. Catharine and William. HiU - Un, Mrs. Renette and Idella. ifayyiii - Greenberry, Mrs. Sarah and Richard, Elvira, Greenberry. Hamaijton - Phehe. Harrington - Charles. Little - Ahmzo, Mrs. Jane and Albert, Emeline. if(mp?)!a)i - Casper, Mrs. Caroline and David, Freeland, Elizabeth, Foster, Jordan. McArthur - Geo. D., Mrs. Anna. Mclnty re - John. lfon-i.s - Archibald, Mrs. Electa and William, Charles, Robert, Lewis, Harriet, Mary, George. Preston - Amos. Mrs. Maria and Sheridan, Alida, Cieora, Wayland, Augustus, Augusta. ^'cftneicZer - Sarah, Mrs. Freeman, Lorenzo, Rhoda, Mary, Franklin, Harriet. 67(u;Us - Allen, Mrs. Elizabeth and Alida. Wa?/ - Marshall, Mrs. Georgiana and Hugh, Norwood, Charles. IFooto-y - Henry, Mrs. Mary and Reuben, Robert, Lucinda, Sarah. Wickwire - Philander. Wheeler - Michael. Wehster - Or]nvf, Mrs. Leanner and Monroe, Inez, Izora, William, John. Wilson - Crawford W., Mrs. Susan and Mary, Elizabeth.

There were several other old settlers, of this town, who, although their names do not appear on the foregoing lists, should not be forgotten. Among those are the names of Jacob L. Schneider, John Haggin, Zac Haggin, Dubois Tooker.

Acres of improved land, 377; value of farms, $10,100; value of farm implements and machinery, $890; number of horses, 34; milch cows, 34; working oxen, 20; other cattle, 40; swine, 49; value of live stock, $5,203.

The Name

Mr. Dobson was born in Indiana, emigrated to Iowa in 1855, and from thence to Minnesota, in April, 1856, and took his "claim" in this town, a few days afterward. He was a farmer by occupation, and continued to reside in the town for many years, but lately removed from the town to a new locality.

The name of the town was changed to -Elmore" by act of the legislature of 1B62. The town was so named in honor of Andrew E. Elmore, a distinguished citizen of the state of Wisconsin, and a life long friend of several early settlers and prominent citizens of the town.

Andrew E. Elmore

Mr. Elmore was boni in UIsUt county, New York, May 8th, 1814, and came west in iho yHarl8.«i, and settled at Mukwonago, Waukesha county, then a part of Milwaukee county, Wiscon.sin.

At Mukwonago, Mr. Elmore engaged, for many years, in the mercantile business, and was. for some years, postmaster of that, place. Mr. Wm. S. Drake, now a resident of this county, was for some time a partner with Mr. Elmore, in business of merchandising. In 1842 hi' was elected to the Wisconsin territorial lesislalure, for Milwaukee and Washington counties, and served two years as such meralier. He was also a member of the llrst constitutional convention, in in 184e, and was a member of the assembly in the sessions of 1869 and I8C0 He was, for twelve years, chairman of the board of county supervisors of Waukesha county.

In 1864 he removed to Green Bay. Brown county, Wisconsin. From this place he removed to Fort Howard, Wisconsin, in 1868, where he has since resided Mr. Elmore has been a member of the State board of charities and reform, from its organization, in Aiiril, 1871, and is now, and has been for the past ten years, its president, a highly honorable ollice. Mr. Elmore received a good common school and busini.'ss education, but is essentially a self-made man. He is a diligent reader, and a close observer of public affairs, and has always taken a large interest in public enterprises. He is a man of positive convictions and opinions, energetic and prompt, and is one whose intluence is felt in the community. He has long been known, among his friends, as "The Sage of Mukwonago,"' at which place he resided twenty-tlve years.

Organization

The town was organized for civil purposes in 1858, Amos Prestoa being elected the first chairman of the board of supervisors. At the time of the organization, the town of Campbell, now Rome, was attached to this town, and so remained until Januaiy. 1868. when the latter town was set off by the county commissioners. The town officers for 1878-9 were: supervisors, A. Shultis. chairman, M. Nauman and J. McCoy; town clerk, H. A. Woolery. Mr. Woolory had been clerk for nine preceding years. Treasurer. S. N. Cahoon; assessor, S. H. Norton; justices of the peace. Jas. Hardie and S. H. Norton; constable, H. Pratt.

Educational

as the "Dobson School-house." It was built of logs, and was not completed for about two years, so as to be fit for use. It served a good.purpose for many years, not only for schools, but as a convenient place in which to hold elections and religious and other meetings. A new and more commodious house, being a substantial frame building, has since been erected near the site of the old house, which is known as the Shultis school-house. There are now seven substantial frame school-houses in the town, all well furnished.

Religious

The Methodist Episcopal church established regular religious services in the town at a very early day, probably in 1857, or 1858, when a class was formed.

The Rev. A. R. Brockett, long a respected resident of this town, who died in 1878, and who has long been kindly remembered by many, gave the writer this minute: "The Free Will Baptist church was first instituted in this county, June 23d, 1863, and the first quarterly meeting was organized the second Sunday in June, 1866." This denomination organized a society in this town, in March, 1869.

Other Societies

A Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry, named "Rising Sua Grange," was organized here in 1873, or 1874, and flourished successfully for some years.

Bounties To Soldiers

On the fifteenth of December, 1863, the supervisors of the town determined, by resolution, that, as there was then a draft pending, to give a bounty of fifty dollars, in town bonds, to all such as should enlist in the military service of the United States, prior to January 1st, 1864, and be credited to this town. On August 27th, 1864, the board raised this bounty to three hundred dollars, and on January 5th, 1865, they re-resolved to give this bounty, and employed George D. McArthur, a citizen of the town, as a recruiting agent, to secure volunteers to till up the quota of the town. Mr. McArthur was paid five dollars per day, in town orders, for his services. Town ordei'S were then somewhat below par. At the same time, the board employed Judge Amos Preston, also an old resident of the town, at an expense of five dollars per day, in town orders, to seek out such persons in the town, who, because of disabilities, might be exempt from service, or draft, and conduct them before the enrolling board, at Mankato, for examination and discharge. On January 11th. 1865, the board met again, and raised the bounty to five hundred dollars, and on the twentieth of the same month, they determined, by reso- lution, that such bounty bonds should bear no interest, and be made payable June Ist, 1806. The object of these bounties, as the reader will doubtless perceive, was to encourage enlistments, and save the town from draft, or conscription.

This town not only manifested a commendable spirit of patriotism, but has given substantial encouragement to public enterprises, especially railroad building, having often voted aid in the form of "bonuses," but no road was procured, as a result, except under the last vote (1878).

A Lawsuit

In April, 1870, an action was brought by one A. B. Webber, against the two towns of Elmore and Rome to recover on certain militarybounty bonds which he held. These were some of the bounty bonds given to encourage enlistments above referred to. At the time of the issue of the bonds, the two towns were attached. These actions were instituted, not because these towns repudiated the indebtedness, but were permitted, mainly, to determine the actual liabilities in this behalf of the several towns, grave questions as to which had arisen. After a closely contested law suit, judgment was rendered against the town for ><l,4lll.39. At the time of commencing the above action, another action, by the same plaintiff and for the same purpose, was begun against the town of Elmore alone, on other like bonds, and judgment was rendered against the town for )?809. 55. The reason of the two suits was, that the town board, when issuing the bonds, made some of them in the name of both towns, and others in the name of Elmore alone; yet, when all the bonds were issued, the towns were attached and constituted but one town district.

On the second day of July, 1873, Rome l?eing then only a separate town, a joint meeting of the boards of the two towns was held for the purpose of adjusting their war bounty difficulties, at which it was resolved that each town should pay its proportionate share of the judgment of $1,421.39, and that the same should be levied by a direct tax on all the taxable property of the two towns. The other judgment was also subsequently adjusted.

Various Incidents

The first person born in this town was Ellen Miller, daughter of Henry and Charlotte Miller. She was born on the fifth or sixth of April, 1857.

Geo. U. Mcakthur

Tlie people of this town were injured, to some extent, especially in that portion of the town west of the river, by the grasshopper invasions of 1873 and 1874, but this town did not suffer as much from these pests as did several others. The people here also suffered severely from the hard, close times of 1875 and 1876, and the town, during these years, made but little, if any, progress in wealth, and lost many in population.

There was, for some years, a post-office kept at a farm house on section 20, on the route from Blue Earth City to Algona, known as Elmore P. O., but it was subsequently removed to the village of Elmore, a village which had not yet put in an appearance, at the close of this historical sketch.

Geo. D. Mcarthur

Geo. D. McArthur, for many years a resident.and always a large land owner in this town, was born in Columbia county, N. Y., in August, 1834. His father, Duncan McArthur, was a farmer, and an old resident of that region. He removed, in 1849, with his family to Wauliesha county, Wis. George obtained his education in the district schools, and attended for some time at Waukesha college.

In 1853 be went to New Yorl< City, where he resided a year, when he came west and spent some six months in Tennessee, and then came to Minnesota, in 1855, and resided in Winona county for about a year. His next move was to this county. He located in this town in June, 1856. Here he engaged in farming and stock raising extensively.

In the fall of 1858 he was elected representative in the State legislature, but no session was held in 1858-9, and his services were not required. He was also, subsequently elected court commissioner, but did not qualify.

In 1864 he removed to Blue Earth City and engaged, in company with Mr. Uri Hill, in the mercantile business. In 18(i9 be engaged in the sale of agricultural machineryat Blue Earth City until 1871; when the railroad was completed to Winnebago City he removed to that place and resided there about seven years.still engaged in sellingagricultural implements, and this has been, largely, his principal business during life, yet, still always interested in farming operations in Elmore. In 1878 he returned to Blue Earth City, where he has since resided, engaged in his former occupations and banking. In 1894, he was elected State senator, for this district.

His political affiliations have always been with the republican party, and for many years he has taken a large interest in our local politics.

Allen Shultis

Allen Sbultis came to this town in company with Mr. McArthur. They were brothers-in-law, and, like McArthur, Mr. Shultis has been closely identified with the town and all its interests, from that day to this. He was born in New York State, January 20, 1832, and came to Waukesha county, Wisconsin, with his father, in 1842. Allen came to Winona county in 1855, and to thiscounty in 185(). Mr. Sliiiltis also hecaiue a lari^e landholder in the town, lie was u>arrled, in 1857, to Miss Elizabeth McArthur. He was often a meniher of the town and school boards of Elmore township. He was elected a representative in the State loKlslature, In 1859, and attended the sessioo of 1859-60. He was a meniher of the board of county commissioners, in 1804, 1865, and 1866, and was two years chairman of the board. In 1893 he was appointed postmaster of Elmore. For a number of years after cominy lo this county, Mr. Shultis adhered to the republican party, but, subseiiuenlly allilialed with the democrats. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Shultis has always been engaged in farming and stock raising.

A Few Figures

By the census of 1860, the population of the town was 95; in 1865 there were 295, including the residents of Rtmie township. In 1870 there were 470, Rome having thi'nbeen setoff. In 1875 we And 404: in 18s:),442. A large majority of the population are American born.

In the early days of the town there was considerable litigation among some of the people who resided near the Iowa line, and who had but little respect for either divine or human laws. Their frequent lawsuits give rise to what was known as the Elmore Bar. a merely local and unprofessional institution. This bar was composed of Allen Shultis, Geo. D. McArthur, W. W. Knapp. Zac. Haggiu and DuBois Tooker, who, for a small consideration, acted as attornej's of litigants before the justices' court. When heavier cases than ordinary ones, arose, a regular attorney from the villages was brought in to manage affairs, but generally went out badly beaten. The court was composed of Mr. Philip Chesley, a highly respected and old time resident of the town, who was justice of the peace, and Hiram Chesley, constable. Many amusing incidents occurred in these trials, but we can give but one of them here. In a certain suit, Mr. Shultis was attorney for the plaintiff, and Messrs. Tooker and McArthur for the defendant. As the suit enlisted considerable local interest, the attorneys were quite earnest in behalf of their several clients. Mr. Shultis prepared an elaborately written argument and laid it up between the logs of the cabin, in which they lived, for safe keeping, until the momentous day, and calmly and confidently awaited the hour of victory over the combination of legal talent arrayed against him. But the opposing counsel, who resided in the same cabin with Mr. S., quietly purloined the argument, and when the day of trial came, Mr. S. found it gone, but where, he could not imagine. He said nothing, but gallantly went into the contest. When the proceedings before the court, reached the argument, lo, and behold! one of the defendant's counsel read, with great energy and emphasis, the lost argument, and won the case. Mr. Shultis was afterwards heard to say that he considered the cabbaging of his argument a very mean trick, as he was thus compelled to furnish brains for both sides, while he could only charge for one and for that had to take his client's note, which was never paid.

Official

Prior to the closing year of this historical sketch, this township had contributed to the public services, three county commissioners, Wilson, Preston and Shultis, each of whom was chairman of the board; two members of the State legislature, McArthur and Shultis; a judge of probate, Preston; two court commissioners elect, Preston and McArthur (neither of whom qualified, however), and a coroner, W. A. Way. _

The following is a list of the names of a number of residents of the town prior to the close of 1879. It is impossible now to give the names of all who have been residents: