Hartland Township

Hartland Township

west. It is bounded on the north by Waseca county, on the south by the township of Manchester, on the east by Bath, and on the west by Freeborn. It is constituted as originally surveyed, of thirty-six sections, but the survey correction line passing through it cuts off 278.85 acres, making it so much less than the usual congressional township, and leaving about 22,861.15 acres. It is almost entirely a prairie township. The entire area of the town is well adapted to the modes of agriculture and crops of the day, and the farmers are, as a rule, in moderate circum¬ stances, with good farm buildings and modern conveniences. The soil is a dark loam, from eighteen to twenty-four inches deep, underlaid with a sub-soil of clay. Rocks or stone of any kind are scarce, and there is no limestone whatever. The soil in the burr oak region of Mule lake is more of a sandy nature. Three are two water courses in the town and one lake. Mule lake is situated in the four corners of sections 13, 14, 23 and 24, and constitutes the headwaters of the LeSueur river, which takes a northward course, bearing a little to the east, until it leaves the township, when it bears westwardly. Boot creek rises in sec¬ tion 10 and flows northwesterly to enter Waseca county. A few words as to the lake will not be out of place. The Indians named it Le Sueur, and it went by this name through the early settle¬ ment ; but, in 1857, a fine span of mules belonging to B. J. Boardman were drowned in it and the settlers began designating it as Mule lake until it was as generally known under this caption as the other. The township has one village, known as Hartland.

Early Days. It is said that the first settlers in this township were the Boarclman brothers, who came in the spring of 1857, and located about Le Sueur or Mule lake, one taking on the south and the other to the east of that body of water. Both had families and at once commenced the erection of houses. They remained for about one year and then left.

About the same time two others whose names have been for¬ gotten made their appearance and took claims on the north and west sides of Mule lake, thus surrounding it. But little is known of the actions of any of these. Charles Sheldon joined this settle¬ ment at about the period of its starting, coming from Rochester and taking a place just north of Mule lake, in section 13. Levi Jones next put in an appearance, having come from Geneva, and jumped a claim, and during the summer he was joined by Will¬ iam Montgomery, who took a place just west of Uncle Sheldon's, built a house and remained until the next spring, when he left. Jens Thorson also came early that summer. In October, 1857, George McColley, of New York, accompanied by his family and brother-in-law, Charles Morehouse, came with a yoke of cattle, a cow and his household furniture, and located in section 29.

It has also been said that a Goley family came this year. Charles Morehouse settled in section 20. About the same time came the Motson family, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Motson (Madsen) and the five boys, Ole, Erick, Mot, John and Andrew, who all settled about George McColley's place. In 1858 Michael Fitzgerald and wife and Thomas Donovan arrived, having driven overland from Edgerton, Wis. In 1858 other settlers who came were Gull Guttormsen, Lewis Knudson and William Beede, and during the fall of that year John P. Duncan and John Huggins came from Wis¬ consin. Duncan located in section 20 and Huggins in section 28, where he remained until the war broke out, when he enlisted and later lost his life fighting for the preservation of the Union. The same year witnessed the arrival of Sandy Purdie, William C. Cram, Hat. Pierce and Jonathan Pickard.

Early Events. The first birth in Hartland township was that of Mary A. McColley, August 9, 1858. Freeman Beede was another early birth. The first marriage ceremony performed within the limits of the town took place in May, 1859, the con¬ tracting parties being J. Seely and Frances Farris. The first death was that of Martha, a daughter of William and Judith Wrangham, on June 18, 1859. The township was named Hartland by Mrs. 0. Sheldon in 1858, and she also bestowed the same name upon the postoffice, which was established at the same time, with O. Sheldon as postmaster. During the late war of the rebel¬ lion bonds were voted to the amount of $1,700 to secure volun¬ teers. John McCartney, John McClelland and Perry Haugen, of this township, never returned, the second named leaving a wife and child to mourn his loss. Bonds to the amount of $10,000 were voted to the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad as a bonus. Michael Sheehan relates some interesting incidents of the pioneer days, among which is the story of his employment as the first mail carrier in the township in 1858. He was employed by O. Sheldon, the first postmaster, to carry the mail from Geneva to Hartland postoffice. Judge E. C. Stacy was postmaster at Geneva at that time. Mike made the trip on foot every Monday, carry¬ ing the mail on his back, and received the handsome salary of a dollar a week. The first postoffice in the township is still stand- ing on the John Donahue farm. The first school taught in the township was by Mrs. Charles Morehouse at her home in 1858. She had six pupils. The next school was in the winter of 1858, taught by James Seeley at his home. Among his pupils were Michael Fitzgerald, three Wrangham children, Peter Peterson and August Peterson.

In 1858 Rev. Isaac McReynolds, of Albert Lea, organized a Methodist class at the home of B. J. Boardman and held regular services for over a year. A church was organized in 1859 at William Wrangham 's home, with six members. Rev. Corey was the pastor. A Congregational church was started in the schoolhouse in district No. 8 by Elder Cobb. There were twelve mem¬ bers, and later a store building was purchased in Hartland and used for a church. Rev. Wilbur Fisk, later of Freeborn, was pastor at one time. A Presbyterian organization was effected in 1869 by Rev. William Wrallson and meetings were held regu¬ larly every three weeks for several years. The history of the Lutheran denomination is given on another page.

Official Record. The first town meeting was held at the house of 0. Sheldon on May 11. 1858, and the following officers were elected for the ensuing year : Supervisors, B. J. Boardman, chair¬ man, J. L. Reynolds and J. C. Seeley; clerk, E. Boardman; as¬ sessor, T. AY. Calkins ; collector, B. J. Boardman ; constables, Alex¬ ander Spencer and James Sheehan; justices of the peace, T. W. Calkins and 0. Sheldon; overseer of the poor, Jacob Heath; over¬ seers of roads, E. A. Calkins and B. Cromwell.

The first meeting of supervisors was held at the town clerk's office, June 14, 1858, at which the town was divided into three road districts and the following gentlemen were made overseers of them : First, E. A. Calkins ; second. B. Cromwell ; third, Charles Morehouse. The early records of the township are curiosities. They consist of foolscap paper fastened together, about half the pages missing, having been destroyed by someone in the early days.