Holding Township

Holding Township

the east by Brockway, on the south by Avon, on the west by Krain. It embraces township 126 north of range 30 west and contains the south six sections of township 127 north of range 30 west.

The surface was formerly covered with a heavy timber of oak, maple, basswood, elm, ash, etc., principally deciduous trees, except for a small tract of about one hundred acres where the village of Holding is now situated, which was prairie, or had been cleared away by the Indians for lields. The surface is in general quite rolling, showing plainly the work of prehistoric glaciers. There are quite a few swamps, which, when drained and cleared, make excellent meadows.

The principal drainage stream is the Two river which crosses the western portion in a northerly direction passes through Two River Lake, which lies in the southwestern corner of the town, and empties into the Mississippi river near Royalton. Another good drainage stream is Spunk brook, which crosses the southeastern part of the town flowing in a northeasterly direction and furnishing an excellent stream for drainage purposes. Besides these are several small streams flowing through a natural waterway into those already described, thus naturally draining swamps and meadows.. The soil is a rich black loam with a clay subsoil which is well adapted to all kinds of farming and grasses being particularly good for clover and alfalfa.

Randolph Holding, whose name the town bears, has the honor of being its first permanent white settler, having taken a claim at the present site of the village of Holding, as early as May, 1868. He was soon followed by Casper Fuchs, Inglebert Muck, Isham Hall, S. A. Blood and Henry Young, Sr., who settled near him. The following year witnessed quite an emigration, prominent among them being James Hall, G. W. Bolton, Alexander Stewart, Joseph E. Fugate, and Henry and John Sand. Only a few of these still remain.

The first town meeting was held at the residence of H. Young, Sr., in 1870 for the purpose of organizing the town. Randolph Holding was elected as town clerk; S. A. Blood, chairman of the town board and H. Young and Isham Hall as supervisors, and Henry Sand as treasurer. No trace can

The first church was built at Arban settlement as early as 1872, and was known as the Sacred Heart church. They had for its pastor Rev. Cornelius, O. S. B. The church structure was of logs and lasted for nearly twenty years.

The St. Hedwig's Polish church was organized and erected in the village of Holding in 1911, its first pastor being Rev. Brenny. The structure was of red pressed brick with sandstone trimmings.

There are, besides the three Catholic churches, two denominational churches, viz: the Greek and Presbyterian churches. The first schoolhouse was located a little west of the village bridge across Two River Creek. The first school was taught hy S. A. Blood during the winter of 1872-73, having an attendance of about 12 children. This old building was replaced by a two-room frame building several rods further west where the hospital is now located but was destroyed by a fire. It was then that the lower part of the present school was built in the village. It vas found to be too small in 1911 and was then made into a modern four-room school.

About the year 1872-73 witnessed quite a growth in population. Among those who arrived at that time were: Mike Hartung, Chas. Warner, Henry Strotman, Anton Rolfus, Wm. Luckeroth, Frank Young, Denois Widman, Sebastian Widman, John Widman, Joe Fischer, Harve Morgan, Thos. Planty, Mike Hanigan, Anton Hunoff, Wolfgang Voigt, Carl Reinke. The first ten and the last three of the above were German and two of the others Americans and one Irish.

The Farmers Co-operative Creamery. The first creamery was built in Holding in 1895 by Val Batz and then sold to Merkling & Baumberger, later again to Batz & Wardian. The creamery was then located just east of the village bridge. The last named owners sold to Bridgeman Russell Co. of Duluth, who built where it IS now located. This building was destroyed by fire and it was then that the Farmers Co-operative Creamery Co. was organized. An appeal for information and assistance was made to the State Dairy Department and a meeting was held in the fall of 1911 with the following result: President, John Batz; vice-president, Reinhard Vos; secretary, William Schneider; treasurer, Charles Eiden; directors, Wm. Becker, John Hadrich and F. W. Reinke. The board of directors made Wm. Schneider manager and secured August Leiter as butter maker. The creamery began to do business on January 16, 1912. On May 20th the board made a change and employed Geo. Meller as butter maker with Henry Schneider as assistant, both being still at the post. The creamery board with its manager and officers and loyal patrons have worked up the business to a high standard. The creamery now has 95 shareholders and 354 patrons. The following is a report of last year's business: Milk received, 199,211 pounds; cream received, 638,264 pounds; butterfat from milk, 73,164 pounds; butterfat from cream, 167,809.7 pounds; butter shipped, 208,285 pounds; butter sold to patrons, 1,402 pounds; butter sold in town, 1,852 pounds; total butter made, 212,455 pounds; total amount paid to patrons for butter fat during the year, $51,347.51. The present officers are: Frank Dobis, president; R. Vos, vice-president; Wm. Schneider, secretary; Chas. Eiden, treasurer; directors, John Hadrich, Wm. Becker and F. W. Reinke. The corporate title of the creamery is The Farmer's Cooperative Creamery of Holdingford.

Holding Village

Holding village has a population of 450 persons, and is located on the "Soo" line. It has a Catholic, Lutheran and Methodist church, two banks, a grain elevator, a creamery, a hotel, flour, planing and heading mills and a municipal water works system. A weekly newspaper, the Advertiser, is published.

Wm. E. Murphy, postmaster; G. Abeln & Sons, flour mill; Ernest A. Anderson, physician; J. Bieganek & Co., harness; Bielejeski Bros., farm implements; Thos. Bielejeski, general store; J. Borgerding & Co., lumber; C. Brenney & Co., general Store; Mrs. Louise Diedrich, milliner; G.