Goodhue Township

Goodhue Township

This township was first settled in 1854 by Francis Yergens and John Mann. In 1855 David Hickock, John Ingerbretson, Harry Danielson, Oliver Knutson and Knut Knutson, came in, and selected lands and made claim. David Hickock and John Mann each built houses and opened them as hotels, and though the population in their immediate vicinity was small, travel was quite brisk, and the hotels were considered a success, so much so that when P. Easterly came the next year (1856) he also built a hotel, which he kept in operation for a number of years.

The first birth in Goodhue was in 1855, when a child was born to Mrs. Frances Yergens, which was christened Henry. The wife of Mr. David Hickock died in 1856, which was the first death in town. The funeral sermon preached on that occasion was the first religious service. Rev. Jabez Brooks officiated. The first school was taught by Miss Georgiette Easterly, in the summer of 1857.

In 1858 H. H. Oleson opened a blacksmith shop, which was the only one in the township, till 1868, when a man named Mutz built a shop near Easterly's hotel.

There are five good school houses. Goodhue is one of the finest agricultural towns in the county, and all the farmers seem to think they cannot do better than to stick to their farms, some of whom have very large ones.

The business of the town being entirely agricultural, events have not transpired to make a very exciting history, and interesting only so far as all are interested to know that material wealth is being gathered

The township is rich in those material elements that constitute the temporal blessings of a people, and put beyond a reasonable possibility the chances of a lack of the necessaries of life ever clouding their bright future.

Grace Church, German Lutheran

This church was organized in the spring of 1868 by the Rev. Christian Bender. It had but eight members at that time, as follows: A. Seeback, Gotlieb Seeback, R. Haas, Charles Semke, William Betcher, G. Betcher, Herman Kempe and Peter Tipke.

The church was built that year at a cost of about $500, including grounds. Rev. Mr. Bender delivered the dedicatory service the last Sunday in August. A new church is now nearly completed, 36x50 feet, which will cost about $2,500. There are now forty-two members, with William Kempe, Peter Tipke, Elder Charles Sempke and Elder Fred. Wing, trustees. Services are held every third Sabbath.

Other Churches

On section 17 the Methodists have a church, and on section 22 stands a Presbyterian edifice. There are two Lutheran churches in the township - one located on section 18 and the other on section 34. All the churches are prosperous, and the people take a deep interest in their educational and religious institutions.

BAILEY, J. V. Hm farmer, sec. 11. P. 0. Goodhue Center. Born in Canada West, Jan. 11, 1833. Came to Minnesota, landing at Red Rock, May 25, 1850. 1852 went to Lac qui Parle. 1851 went to Traverse des Sioux (now St. Peter,) where he was married July 31, 1856, to Isabella Kennedy. She was born in Canada in 1831. Moved to Hastings in 1859, and to this farm in 1860. Owns 160 acres of land. Have six children - Anna J., E. Bell, Maggie, Mary, Minnie and John Vincent. Mr. B. has held important offices for the last 15 years, and is one of the solid men of this town. He enlisted Feb. 14, 1865, in company I, 1st Minn, heavy artillery. Was on garrison duty at .Chattanooga, Tenn., until in Sept., when they were ordered to Nashville, Tenn., and mustered out Sept. 27, 1865; disbanded at Fort Snelling. Family attend the Presbyterian Church, of which Mr. and Mrs. B. and eldest daughter are members.

Source changes here: from Goodhue County, Minnesota, Past and Present, by [Hancock, Joseph Woods], published 1893; 743 words in this source stream.

Goodhue Township

TIlis town takes its name from the county. It is bounded nortli by Featherstone, east by Belvidere, south by Zumbrota, and west by Belle Creek. The surface is rolling prairie, excepting a small grove of burr oak in the northwest coruer. The soil is generally of excellent quality.

The iirst settlers came in 1854, Francis Yergens and John Mann. The year following, David Hickock, John Ingerbretson, Henry Danielson, Oliver Knutson and Kuute Knutson, selected claims here. Travel through this township to regions beyond being quite brisk in the early days, several of the first settlers kept hotels. Mann and Hickock opened their houses for the entertainment of travelers for several years. Peter Easterly came in 185(5 and built a hotel which he kept open as such, for about fifteen years. The only hotel now in tlie town is at the railroad station, on the Dulutli, Red Wing it Southern railroad. An extensive bed of superior clay is found a little below the soil in a large portion of this town. From this clay the raw material is furnished for the stoneware factories in Eed Wing.

The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in farming. The celebrated stock farm of Francis Davis S: Son, consisting of several hundred acres, is situated in the western part. The condition of farms in this town generally indicates that farming pays.

The first child born in Goodhue was Henry Yergens in 1855. The first death among the white settlers, was that of Mrs. David Hickock who died in 1856. The first school was taught in the summer of 1857, by Miss Georgiette Easterly.

Religious services were held here in school houses and private dwellings till about the year 1866 when the Lutherans built the first church.

There are now five neat church buildings in the town, to-wit : German Lutheran and Methodist, Swedish Lutheran and Methodist and Presbyterian.

Near the center is a town hall. Not far from this is the principal railroad station where, within a few years, a busy village has sprung up, containing stores for retailing all kinds of merchandise, a post-office, hotel, several warehouses, two elevators, a number of neat private houses, mechanic shops, etc. A large amount of grain, beef, pork and livestock is annually shipped from this station.

At a meeting held Jaly 5, 1858, in the town of York, composed of township No. Ill, north of range 14 and 15, at the house of Peter Easterly, the following officers were elected : Supervisors, Cyrus Crouch, chairman, G. W. Post, Henry Danielson ; town clerk, Oliver Knutson ; assessor, B. F. Chase ; justices, Peter Easterly, J. W. Finch ; constables, James Lane, H. B. Patterson ; overseer of poor. Nelson Gaylord ; collector, J. S. Thompson.

On the twenty-first day of January, 1859, the following named were appointed to fill vacancies : Supervisors, Sylvester Cranson, chairman, Chas. M. Lee, Ezra Bennett ; town clerk, John Stowe ; justices, Hans. H. Olson, F. Cranson.

The name for this town was undecided for a number of years after its settlement as appears from the following record : At the annual town meeting of York,

Elmira and Belvidere, held April 5, 1851), at the house of P. Easterly, the following were elected town officers : P. Easterly, chairman of supervisors ; Ezra Bennett, Sylvester Cranson, supervisors ; John Stowe, town clerk ; F. Cranson, collector ; Sylvester Cranson, assessor ; H. B. Patterson, overseer of poor. At the same meeting it was voted to call the town Goodhue.

September 13, 1851), a petition to divide the town having been granted, making town 111, range 15, a separate municipality to be called either Lime or Goodhue, the following officers were appointed by J. Going, county clerk ; Supervisors, Chas. H. Mclntire, chairman, L. C. Burke, H. B. Patterson ; town clerk, John Stowe ; justices, Samuel Parker, Sylvester Cranson ; constables, H. Olson, S. W. Carney ; assessor, George Spicer ; collector, F. Cranson ; overseer of roads, John Gleasou ; overseer of poor, H. Danielson. The town from that time has been called Goodhue. Since the year 18(50 and up to the year 181K), the following named have served as chairman of town supervisors and town clerks : Chairman, Charles H. Mclntire, T. M, Lowater, Samuel Parker, A. A, Anderson, David Purdy, F. Tether, J. Finney, W. H. H. Bruce, R. Kolbe ; clerks, L. C. Burke, S. S. Gibson, Isaac Gallagher, Lewis Johnson, John McHugh.

Source changes here: from History of Dakota and Goodhue Counties, Minnesota /, by Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn, published 1910; 2,633 words in this source stream.

Goodhue Township

Goodhue comprises township No. Ill, range 15, and was originally a part of Belvidere, the combined township having been known as Elmira, York and Belvidere, successively, the latter name being retained by the half included in section 14 to the present day. Goodhue is bounded on the north by Featherstone, on the east by Belvidere, on the south by Zumbrota and on the west by Belle Creek. In the western part there is an outrunning of Trenton limestone, making a high table land. The remainder of the township is lower, with broad valleys and some ridges. There are no big streams, and the soil throughout the township is of good quality and ivell adapted for the usual crops.

The first, settlement in the township was in 1854, when Francis Yergens and John Mann came in and staked out claims, built cabins and started to establish their homes in the wilderness. The succeeding year these two were followed by David Hickock, John Ingerbretson, Harry Danielson, Oliver Knutson and Knut Knutson. David Hickock and John Mann opened their houses for the accommodation of travelers. Peter Easterly came in 1856 and finding that Hickock and Mann each had more business than they could attend to, opened another hotel, which also had its full share of business for many years. Some time later Hickock and Mann both abandoned the business, and for a considerable period Easterly kept the only public house in the place.

The first birth in Goodhue was in 1855, when a child was born to Mrs. Francis Yergens, which was christened Henry. The wife of Daniel Hickock died in 1856, this being the first death in the township. The Rev. Jabez Brooks officiated at this service, and the sermon lie preached on the occasion was the first religious observance of a public nature in the town. The first school was taught by Georgiette Easterly in the summer of 1857. In 1858 H. H. Oleson opened a blacksmith shop, which was the only one in the township until 1868, when a man named Mutz built a shop near Easterly's hotel. In the spring of 1867 the Goodhue Seed Association was organized for the purpose of receiving the advantages of a combination which would procure seeds and other articles at wholesale instead of retail prices. The officers of the association were : President, Samuel Parker ; secretary, Harrison Lowater ; treasurer, T. M. Lowater.

In the earlier days church services were held at the homes of the settlers ; sometimes in charge of a clergyman, but more often conducted by some of the pioneers themselves. An early church was the German Lutheran church, organized in the spring of 1868 by the Rev. Christian Bender. At that time it had but seven members: A. Seeback, Gotlieb Seeback, R. Haas, Charles Semke, William Betcher, Herman Kempe and Peter Tipke. A church was built the same year at a cost of $500. Rev. Mr. Bender preached the dedicatory service the last Sunday in August. Later a new church, 36x50, was erected at a cost of about $2,500.

At a meeting held at the home of Peter Easterly, April 5, 1859, of the voters of that part of Belvidere lying in section 15, the matter of a separate township was favorably acted upon and the following officers were elected tentatively: Supervisors, P. Easterly (chairman), Ezra Bennett, Sylvester Cranson; town clerk, John Stowe; collector, F. Cranson; assessor, Sylvester Cranson ; overseer of the poor, II. B. Patterson. At the same meeting it was voted to call the neAV town Goodhue, after the county. A petition was prepared and this having been granted, September 13, 1859, township 111, range 14, was constituted a separate body, with the proviso that the name be either Lime or Goodhue. For a short time the township was known as Lime. J. Going, then county clerk, appointed in 1859 the following provisional officers: Supervisors, Charles LI. Mclntire (chairman),

L. C. Burke, II. B. Patterson; town clerk, John Stowe; justices, Samuel Parker, Sylvester Cranson ; constables, II. Olson and S. AY. Carney; assessor, George Spicer; collector, F. Cranson; overseer of roads, John Gleason; overseer of the poor, II. Danielson. The following year a regular board was elected. The name Goodhue, which from the beginning had been the choice of the people, became the official title in January, 1860. Among the early chairmen of the township were Charles II. Mclntire, T.

An extensive area of this town is underlaid, a short distance below the surface, by a large bed of clay of a superior quality, which has been extensively used by the stoneware works at Red Wing.

Goodhue Village

Situated almost in the very center of the county of the same name we find the village of Goodhue, a place of 500 souls, who in a sense regard themselves as farmers, in view of the fact that as you look out upon the country in any direction the eye beholds farms, beautiful farms, consisting of 160 up to 400 acres, studded with fine houses and large barns, a source of great comfort and convenience to the landlords who have selected agriculture as their occupation.

When the Duluth, Red Wing & Southern railroad from Red Wing to Zumbrota was in course of construction during the year 1888 it was then that the village of Goodhue came into existence, at first consisting of the railroad camps which were here located during the building of several miles of the road up and down the line, the road being completed in the spring and early summer of 1889. When there was no longer any use for the railroad camps at this place and the tents and so forth had all been removed, there was still a. mission for the little burg to perform, and from that time the place has always been regarded as an important trading point, keeping pace with the demands of a large and wealthy agricultural community, which borders on every side, until now there are fifteen stores of various kinds, to say nothing of the numerous business houses, including the newspaper office of the "Goodhue Enterprise." and west, some years before this village was known, and before the farmers had taken up diversified farming to a great degree, wheat raising being their principal avocation, had much to do in the making of Goodhue county responsible for Red Wing's reputation of being the greatest inland wheat market in the world, which at first sounds boastful, however, is true, the city of Red Wing at that time receiving more wheat from farmers' wagons than any other place in the world. While very much of this wheat was necessarily brought from territory as far away as Owatonna, ox teams usually making the long "caravans" that brought in the bread stuff which was shipped from this (then) small place to the eastern markets. Therefore it is not hard for the reader to place a value upon the section of country around us which then figured so prominently in making Red Wing's great grain market and which today borders on this village and whose farmers in the main market their grain at one of the three elevators here found and who buy their goods in the town which affords so good a market place. In addition to the elevators, the village for a number of years boasted of a fine, up-to-date 250-barrel flouring mill, which, according to the way of misfortune, however, about a year ago was burned to the ground. It is almost necessary that a point of this kind have a mill, and today there is talk of one, though not so large as the old one, being founded by the Farmers' Co-operating Company.

The business men of Goodhue generally have made good, and their reputation, from a financial point of view, is an enviable one, although it is not possible for one in a place no larger than this to accumulate the money that can be done in cities, yet there are many features surrounding this particular place that spell fascination to the person looking for a good place in which to locate, the death rate, in the first place, being the smallest of any place in the country, good schools, adequate fire protection, a supply of the most beautiful city water that was ever drawn into a glass, and those who believe that the religious sects have much to do with the advancement of any place here have the opportunity of attending the Methodist, Catholic, or English Lutheran church, while only a short way east of the village there are found German Lutheran churches and parochial schools.

Before passing, it seems only fitting to make some special mention of the First National Bank of Goodhue, which began business in a small way in 1900. as a private institution. Business increased so rapidly that a $12,000 brick block for its accommodation was soon erected, and the banking house was made over into a national bank and today its deposits are $190,000. Figures won't lie, and figures of this kind cannot help but

One of the best creameries in the state (we say "best in the state" because of its ability in most cases to pay such prices and do business in such a way as to make it apparent to the farmer that this is the place where he can sell the dairy product to the greatest advantage) is the Goodhue Creamery. Thus the consolidated butter factory of the city gets from this community only a smattering of business, while all who know the value of a home creamery rejoice daily at the business tactics here adopted, making it possible to point with pride to this enterprise.

Since the reputation of this section as a grain raising country has so long been established, it would hardly be fair to the stockmen to pass without saying that the horse buyers and cattlemen of the cities, when they want something choice, find Goodhue about the best place along the line to make their headquarters, where the owners of fine horses and fine cattle can be seen daily as they come in from the garden spot of Goodhue county.

"The Goodhue Enterprise," which is published on Thursday of each week, claims for its special aim in life the furnishing of a large grist of local and neighborhood news to its TOO subscribers, at the same time carrying to the average farmer of this part of the county, in the form of neatly displayed advertisements, the store news which the merchants of the village furnish, telling the buyers what they have for sale and urging them to come here whenever it is possible for them to do so. "The Enterprise" was established in 1896, the first issue being gotten out on Christmas day of that year, by what was known as the Goodhue Printing Company; however, D. C. Pierce, who continues to publish the paper, became its sole owner, and although Goodhue is a place of less than a thousand people, this publication has ever enjoyed a lucrative patronage, built up a nice business and established a reputation for reliability and punctuality. In politics it is Republican.

The village of Goodhue was incorporated at. a special election held April 26. 1897 : President, P. I). Kelly; eouncilmen. 0. Parker, F. Holtz, C. L. Parkin ; recorder, C. E. Rucker. The fire department was organized in 1898. Fire protection at present is furnished by water system from tank on a high elevation in the southwestern part of town, known as Cranson Heights. This tank was put up in 1903, capacity 80,000 gallons. The former protection was furnished by chemical system. Goodhue is noted for its supply of excellent pure water, from a deep city well, the same being furnished nearly every house in town by means of faucets. The village marshal is William A. O'Reilly. The present village officers are: President, PI. M. Scovell ; councilmen,

The leading business men are: First National Bank, with H. M. Scovell, president, and C. A. Arpke, cashier. Goodhue County Telephone Company - Pardiu & Meyer, proprietors. Hardware and machinery - Nelson & Johnson, proprietors. Goodhue Hardware and Implement Company - Lally & McNamara, proprietors. Clothing and men's furnishing goods - Adler, Schacht & Co., proprietors ; A. E. Adler, manager. Jewelry, watches, etc., with pianos - H. II. Buck, proprietor. General merchandise - J. N. Banitt, proprietor; J. H. Quast. Goodhue Co-operative Company - - C. Rucker, manager; John Meyer, proprietor. Goodhue Cash Store - 0. E. Ivyllo, manager. Drugs, medicine, etc. - Ploward & Co., G. W. Robinson, manager. Newspaper - Goodhue "Enterprise," D. C. Pierce, publisher and proprietor. Meat market - Heaney Bros. Hotels - Merchants, Mrs. Frank P. Ahern, proprietor; the Goodhue Hotel, J. P. Ahern, proprietor. Lumber - - North Star Lumber Company, John McHugh, manager. Millinery - Mrs. J. S. Davis, proprietor. Cigar factory - Holst & Vieths, proprietors. Harness shop - F. W. Prahl, proprietor. Furniture and undertaking - Zorn & Co., proprietors. Restaurant and confections - L. N. Schinnert, proprietor.

The Modern Samaritans, organized February 21, 1901, with the following officers: G. F., O. F. Nelson; scribe, C. E. Rucker; treasurer, Fred Eppen. The present officers are the same.

The Red Men, organized April 3, 1901. The officers were,: S., C. II. Rehder ; sr. sag., D. J. McHugh; jr. sag., A. D. Medlmrst; prophet, James Chalmers; chief of records, Thomas Heaney; keeper of wampum, Thomas Lally. The present officers are : S., Francis Barry; sr. sag., C. J. A. Hanson; jr. sag., John Richter; prophet, D. C. Bell; chief of records, Thomas Lally; keeper of wampum, John McNamara.

The Modern Woodmen of America, organized March, 1895. The officers were: Council, John McHugh; advisor, Elmer Catlin; banker, 0. Parker; clerk, William Richtman. Charter members: John McHugh, Elmer Catlin, 0. Parker, William Richtman, James Chalmers, Thomas Maley, Eugene Crowell, P. D. Kelly, Joseph Heaney, F. E. Davis, Dr. S. E. Howard. The present officers are: Council, D. M. Franklin; advisor, C. S. Hodsdon; banker, II. M. Scovell ; clerk, C. E. Rucker.

chancellor, Mrs. John 0. Davis ; marshal, Mary Holst ; inner sentinel, Mrs. John O'Connell; outer sentinel, Mrs. Ella Ahern; managers, Ida Holst, Rose Edwards and Tillie Casey.

The Ancient Order of United Workmen, organized in 1905, with the following officers: P. M. AY., John Richter; M. AY., C. H. Relider ; foreman, R. C. Kellogg ; overseer, M. Id. Gregoire ; recorder, D. C. Pierce; financier, T. AY. Dally; receiver, Hein Prigge ; guide, C. Raasch. The present officers are : P. M. AY., C. Raasch; M. AY., M. II. Gregoire; foreman, A. D. Haas; overseer, C. F. Raasch ; recorder, C. S. IJodsdon ; financier, T. M_ Lally; receiver, Claus IT. Holst; guide, John Richter.

Heaney, F. L. Kempf, A. C. Kempf, AY. IT. H. Kempf, AYilliam Hope, A. AT. Peterson, F. P. Ahern, Emma Dahlstrom, C. AY. Sherwin, A. P. Johnson, M. J. Scovell, Hattie M. Prahl, F. T. O'Gorman, Mary Heaney, Ella J. Heaney, Nellie D. Kempf, William H. Kempf, Elmer Kempf, Minnie C. Hope, Annie M. Peterson, Rose Ahern, O. F. Nelson, A. E. Osgood, John Richter, Alary J. Tetcher, J. C. 0 'Reilly. The officers were : Foreman, 0. F.

Nelson; master of ceremonies, A. E. Osgood; master of accounts, Mary Heaney; correspondent, AYilliam Hope; chaplain, Mrs. H. Al. Scovell; overseer, A. P. Johnson. The present officers are : Foreman, 0. F. Nelson ; master of ceremonies, F. L. Kempf ; master of accounts, Mary Heaney; correspondent, William Hope; chaplain, Nellie D. Kempf; overseer. Elmer Kempf.

For the above article on the village of Goodhue the editors of this work are indebted to Dwight C. Pierce, of the Goodhue "Enterprise." The history of the churches is found elsewhere.