Fremont Township

Fremont Township

Fremont township lies in T. 105 N., R. 9 W. Its boundaries are, on the north LTtica, on J:he east Hart, on the west Saratoga, and on the south Fillmore county. The surface of Fremont township is diversified. In the eastern and southern portions the land is mucli broken, while in the central and western parts it is almost level. Rush creek flows through the northeastern corner, cutting Sees. 1, 2 and 12, while Pine creek flows through the southeastern portion, cutting Sees. 25 and 35.

The town was organized May 11, 1858, and E. B. Wells appointed town clerk. The first house built in FrenKjnt township was erected by Isaac Arnold, in the fall of 1854, on what is now Sec. 2. It was a small log-house, perhaps 14x16 feet in dimensions. In 1856 L. C. Rice built a small store on what is now Sec. 2. This was the first store known to have been kept in Fremont. In the same year (1856) "Captain" Hinkley started a blacksmith shop on Sec. 22. The first postoffice was established in 1857, on Sec. 2, at a village known as Neoca (long since abandoned), with L. C. Rice as postmaster.

In 1856 a sawmill was built by John Henry and John Du Bois, on Sec. 26, on Pine creek. Although a very crude afl'air, it was capable of sawing 1,000 feet of lumber per day. The water-power was not very good at this point. In 1870 this was converted into a gristmill. Since then it has been very much improved. It is now 36x20 feet, is two stories in height, has two run of burrs, and a capacity- of grinding fifteen bushels of wheat per hour.

Edward Porter was the first person that died in the township. He died in the winter of 1856, and was buried on what is now Sec. 5. The' first birth was that of Charles Gates, born some time in 1856, on Sec. 11. The first marriage was that of Ann R. Arnold to John Du Bois, in the year 1856.

In 1857 the first schoolhouse was built. It stood on Sec. 8, and was 24x16 feet. Malinda Joy was the first teacher. There were on an average forty pupils in attendance. Fremont has been honored by the presence of one doctor. Dr. W. S. Morrison came in 1867, and has been practicing in the vicinity ever since. The first hotel was kept by Isaac Arnold on Sec. 2 as early as 1855. The first road was built under the supervision of Phineas Gates in 1856. It was known as the Gates road, and led from the Du Bois mill on Sec. 26 to the territorial road in the center of the township. There are two churches in Fremont, - Scotch Presbyterian on Sec. 20 and the Methodist Episcopal church on Sec. 10. The Presbyterian church was built in 1865. It is 38 X 26 feet, with a spire seventy-one feet from the ground. The first minister was Rev. Craven, fi-om St. Charles. The congregation, which is composed entirely of

Scotch, number about Hfty members. A cemetery, the only one in tlie township, is connected with the church. Rev. S. D. Westfall, the present minister, came in 1870. The Methodist Episcopal church stands on Sec. 10, and was built in 1874. It is 26x40 feet, with a belfry fifteen feet. The congregation is very small at present, although it was once quite a flourishing body. The first meetings were held in the schoolhouse as early as 18.57. The first minister was Rev. Wm. Poling. There are two stores in Fremont, one on Sec. 10, kept by Kelley & Bro., at a place known as the " Corners," or Fremont postoftice, and another on Sec. 29, kept by H, Sennis. The three postoffices are: "Fremont," on Sec. 10, J. A. Kelley, postmaster, established in 1876 ; Argo postoffice, on Sec. 16, with John Henry as postmaster, established in 1866, and Clyde postoffice on Sec. 19, with Martin Schultz as postmaster, and establislied in 1873. There are six district schools, namely, District 104 on Sec. 29, dist. 67 on Sec. 26, dist. 68 on Sec. 20, dist. 66 on Sec. 14, dist. 96 on Sec. 10, dist. 64 on Sec. 3. The poll list at the election of 1882 numbered 210.

Old Settlers

The following came in 1854 : Isaac Arnold, Phineas Gates and Phineas Gates, Jr. Isaac Arnold made a claim on what is now Sec. 2, while Phineas Gates, Sr., and Phineas Gates, Jr., settled on what is now Sec. 14. In 1855 the following named cairA : Noah Gates, Edward Porter, Samuel Arnold, E. Kelley, Mathew Ferguson, John Ferguson, John Jarman, Orsmus Joy, Lemuel Bartholomew, Porter Richards, John Henry, Duncan Ferguson, Donald Ferguson, John DuBois, Thomas Robertson, Reason Evaretts, John Dobbs and Geo. Johnson. Noah Gates settled on Sec. 2, Edward Porter on Sees. 6 and 7, Samuel Arnold on Sec. 9, E. Kelley on Sec. 9, Mathew Ferguson on Sec. 15, John Ferguson on the same section. John Jarman on Sec. 17, Orsmus Joy on Sec. 4, Lemuel Bartholomew on Sec. 9, Porter Richards on Sec. 4, John Henry on Sec. 21, Duncan and Donald Ferguson on Sec. 17, John DuBois on Sec. 26, Thomas Robertson on Sec. 20, Reason Evaretts on Sec. 28, John Dobbs on Sec. 5 and Geo. Johnson on Sec. 8.

A party ot young men came to this locality in tlie spring of 1855 and camped on what is now Sec. 4. Among these were ''Jack" Earle, W. H. Joy and John Draper. The population is composed mostly of Scotch at present, while most of the early pioneers have disappeared.