Farming Township

Farming Township

Farming is situated not far from the geographical center of the county, and embraces townships 124 north, range 31 west. The surface is undulating, and in some places hilly. The Sauk river crosses the. southwest corner, running in a southeasterly direction. There are a number of small lakes, the largest of which are the Big Rice Lakes in the eastern part.

The first settler was Nicholas Evans, v/ho came about 1858, and settled on section thirty-one. The next spring, John H. Terfear, William Korte, and his brother settled in the town, but very little improvement was made till after the war.

Farming was organized in 1873, and the first election held on March 11, at which the following officers were elected: Supervisors, Gerhard Brunner (chairman), Patrick Cavanagh, and Mathias Thelen; clerk, Valentine Garding; and Assessor and Treasurer, Christ Nichaus.

A German Catholic church on section thirty-two was built in 1880, and the first service held on June 6, 1881. Christ Meyer taught the first school in the town.

Getty is situated in the northwestern portion of the county, and was originally a rolling prairie, the exceptions being Getty's Grove in the western part, which extends into the town of Raymond, and Pesheck's Grove in the eastern part. Its area is 23,040 acres and is contained In township 125 north, range 34 west. The soil is principally a rich black loam with a clay subsoil, except in the northeast cor- ner, where a light sandy loam is found, caused by the Sauk river, which crosses this portion of the town in a southeasterly direction. There are also a number of small lakes and some good hay meadows.

John J. Getty, in honor of whom the town is named, was undoubtedly the first permanent settler. He came July 6, 1857, and settled on section 19, in what has since been known as Getty's Grove. John H. Layman accompanied Mr. Getty, and took land in sections 18, 19 and 20. A. J. Bennett settled in section one, about 1858. Franz Pesheck lived on Mr. Getty's farm in 1862, and the following year, made a claim in section fourteen. Jacob Hurley settled on section nineteen, about 1863. The town was but sparsely settled prior to the Indian outbreak, but after the war the population has steadily increased.

This town was organized in 1865, and embraced all of the present territory of Raymond, but was reduced to its present limits on the organization of the latter town in 1867. The first officers were: Supervisors, Jacob Hurley (chairman), Robert Watson, and Newton Sanders; clerk, Jacob Church; treasurer, F. Pesheck; assessor, A. J. Bennett; and justices of the peace, M. H. Palmer and Samuel Haulenberry.

On September 6, 1875, a postoffice was established at the residence of G. Gilbertson, on section nineteen, but was discontinued after an existence of about four years.

The town is divided into several school districts. The first school was established mainly through the efforts of J. J. Getty and was held in a log cabin house on section nineteen, by Mrs. Hattie Biele. This district was organized in 1867, and numbered fifty-three. The old log school house was burned down in 1876, and a neat frame building was erected on the same site. District number fifty-four was organized the same year, and the first school held in B. A. Veeder's residence. In a few years a log school house was built on section fourteen, which was removed, some years later, to section ten, where a frame building was erected in 1880. District number sixty-one was organized about 1868, and the school house located on section twenty-six. District number eighty-two was organized in 1871,