Homer Township

Homer Township

Homer township was organized May 11, 1858. It lies in T. 106 and 107 W. and R. 6 IST. It is bounded on the west b}' Wilson and Winona townships, on the south by Pleasant Hill township, on the east by Richmond township, and on the north by the Mississippi river. It comprises thirty-three complete sections and five fractional ones. The Mississippi river strikes the township on N, W. J of Sec. 31, and flows southeast through Sees. 1, 2 and 3. The surface is very much broken ; the soil on the ridge land is clay, while in the valleys it is a black loam. The products are wheat, corn, oats and barley. The average per acre for the present year (1882) is as follows : Wheat, per acre, 12 bushels ; corn, per acre, 60 bushels ; oats, per acre, 35 bushels. Stone quarries may be found all along the river, but they are only worked occasionally.

The number of votes cast at the first election in the township was eight^'-eight. The names of the first township ofiicers are as follows : Charles Griswold, town clerk ; S. Britton, collector ; Samuel Britton, overseer of the poor ; Jarard Baldwin, chairman of supervisors ; Daniel Daugherty, G, W. Grant, supervisors ; J. C. Norton, Ferdinand Cox, justices of the peace ; J. C. Crane, Albert Preston, constables ; Samuel Ailing, assessor.

was that of a servant girl of Willard Bunnell named Racliil to Harry Herrick. This was in 1856. The population of Homer at present is sixty-four. There is one store, owned by Robert Norton, a blacksmith shop, run by Jacob Myres, and a doctor, J. Q. A. Yale. Robert Norton is the postmaster.

The township is traversed by two creeks, Cedar creek and Big Trout run. Cedar creek rises in the southwestern part of the township, flows northeast, and empties into the Mississippi river on Sec. 1. Big Trout run is formed by numerous springs in the southern part of the township ; at Pickwick it broadens into a small lake, and furnishes water-power for a large flour-mill ; from Pickwick the stream flows northeast, and leaves the township on Sec. 13. It finally terminates in the Mississippi on Sec. 8, in Richmond township.

The first settler in Homer township, and also the first in the county, was Willard Bunnell, who came in 1849, and settled on the present site of the village of Homer; he was an Indian trader. C. F. Buck followed soon after and settled near by. This place was then called "Bunnell's Landing." Leonard Johnson came in 1852 and started up a wood-yard on a place just below Bunnell's landing called Johnson's point. John Lavine made his appearance at Minneoah, then a mushroom village just above Bunnell's landing, in 1853. In 1855 he settled on Sec. 11, in Cedar Creek valley, and remained there ever since. Peter Gorr came to the township in 1853, and settled on Sec. 18, in Gorr's valley, now known as Pleasant valley. In 1881 Peter Gorr removed to the old site of Minneoah, on the bank of the Mississippi. R. F. Norton came to Minneoah in 1854 ; he keeps a store at present writing in the village of Homer. Wm. Lamson, another old settler, reached the township in 1855. The first road in the township reached from Willard Bunnell's place westward to the township line. It was begun in 1853 by private enterprise and completed in 1854. The first house in the town- gliip was owned by Willard Bunnell and stood at BunnelFs landing. Willard Bunnell also kept the lirst postoHice in his own house as early as 1853. The first birth in the township was that of Louisa Bunnell - born February 22, 1850. This was also the first birth in the county.

There are but two churches in the township, the Free Baptists in Pickwick village, built in 1881, and the Norwegian in Sec. 32, built 1870. Divine service is held in many of the schoolhouses, however, by circuit pastors. There are eight district schools in the township, viz : District 14 in Sec. 30, dist. 15 in Sec. 12, dist. 12 in Sec. 33, dist. .19 in Sec. 24, dist. 13 in Sec. 18, dist. 94 in Sec. 29, dist. 18 in Sec. 16, dist. 103 in Sec. 8.

Pickwick village, and indeed all Homer township, was very much agitated over news received in 1862 that the Indians were planning an attack upon the settlement. People came flocking from all parts of the township to the stone-mill in Pickwick, intending to use it as a fort. It was a false alarm, however, caused by untrue statements and exaggerated reports. The Indians were at the time on the war-path at Mankato, but Pickwick had no cause for alarm.

Homer village was laid out in 1855, by Willard Bunnell. It lies on Sec. 33, T. 107, K. 6. Willard Bunnell, who came in 1849, and C. F. Buck, were the first settlers in the village.

The first house was owned by W. Bunnell. Frank Wilson built the first store in 1855. Before the town was laid out this place was called Bunnell's landing, and a postoffice was kept in Mr. Bunnell's house. Another village, called Minneoah, was laid out just above Bunnell's landing in 1852. This place was abandoned at the laying out of Homer, but for a time there existed quite a small community. Among the merchants in Minneoah were Thomas J. Hough, who kept a store there in 1854. He was bought out by John Torry. Charles and Royal Lovell also kept a store in 1854. A hotel existed, owned by Myron Toms. One doctor, J, C. Norton, had his ofiice in the village. At the laying out of Homer this village was deserted. At the present writing nothing remains of it but two dwelling-houses.

Among the early settlers in Homer were Woodruff Griswold and Norton, who built a store in 1857. The same year they put up a warehouse. Ferdinand Cox had a small store in 1857. He sold drugs and liquors. These stores were torn down and abandoned in 1860, In 185Y Jacob Myers built a blacksinitli shop, which he has kept up until the present day. A sawmill was erected in 1868 by R. F. Norton, but was deserted in 1874. There was, however, a sawmill previous to this, owned and built by Hoxie Abel in 1860. A shoeshop was kept by a Mr. Ganes as early as 1859. A private school was in existence in the village from 1858 until 1860, but the first district school was buih in 1857 on Sec. 33. The first teacher was Charles Smith.

Pickwick Village

Pickwick was laid out in 1857. It stands on Sec. 13 of Homer township, at the head of a tiny lake formed by the expansion of Big Trout Run. It is almost surrounded by high blufis, and is widely known for its picturesque situation. Big Trout Run flows 'northeast from the village, and its zigzag course can be traced for miles down the valley by the willows growing on its banks. The village was named after ''Pickwick Papers," by Charles Dickens. Thomson Grant, who came in 1853, was the first settler in the village. The first store was owned by Ferdinand Cox, who came in 1855.

Thomson Grant and Wilson Davis were the principal landowners in the village. Wilson Davis came in 1856. Thomson Grant owned the first house. There was at that time one wagon shop and one blacksmith shop. The blacksmith sho]) was owned and built by John Cripps in 1858. The wagon shop was worked by Joel Morrison. A sawmill and gristmill combined was erected in 1854 by Thomson Grant. The present flourmill was commenced in 1856 by Thomson Grant and Wilson Davis. A small building owned by the mill company was used as a school as early as 1858. Miss Lou Grant was the teacher. In 1861 a school was put up by the district. Miss Sarah Shorey was tlie teacher for several years. The present school, a frame building 24x44 feet, was built by the district in 1863. Charles Sufi'erins kept the first postoffice in 1858. At present writing Pickwick has two stores, a flourmill, one blacksmith -shop, a hotel and a church. The stores are owned by Charles Sufferins and J. W. King respectively. John Cripps works the blacksmith shop. The hotel, quite a large building, is three stories high, and owned by George Outhouse. The mill is built of stone, is 45 X 60 feet, six stories high, and has a capacity of 100 bbls. of flour

Services have been held occasionally in the schoolhouse since it was bnilt, and a Sunday school has been in existence since 1868. The present church was built through the instrumentality of Judson B. Palmei*, state missionary of the Free Baptist church. It was erected in 188]. The dimensions are 30x50 feet, and has a spire about fifty feet tall. The first pastor was Rev. Given, who came in 1881 and remained six months. The church was then without a minister until Rev. L. Kerr came in 1882. The congregation now numbers 100 members. The average attendance of the Sunday school is thirty-five, with five teachers. They are in possession ol a small library of about ^ity volumes.

Pleasant Hill township, commonly described as No. 105 N., R. 6 W,, contains thirty-six full sections of 640 acres each. It is situated on the ridge between the Mississippi and Root rivers. The old territorial road between La Crosse, Wisconsin, and Mankato, Minnesota, runs upon this ridge, entering the township at tlie southeast corner of section 36 ; thence pursuing a winding diagonal course it leaves the township about eighty rods south of the north line of section 7. The northeastern part of the township is drained by Trout creek, the northwestern part by bi-anches of Cedar creek ; both of these streams flow into the Mississippi river. The western part is drained by three branches of Money creek. The principal one is called Corey Valley creek, in honor of H. A. Corey, who settled just over the line in the edge ot Wiscoy township. The southwestern and southern portions are drained by branches of Silver creek. The principal one of these streams is called Loony Valley Run. These streams flow into Root river. The eastern part is drained by the branches of Pine creek, known as north branch and south branch. They unite about one hundred rods east of Pleasant Hill township, at New Hartford postoffice, and flow into the Mississippi river. This tovmship was named by Joseph Cooper, wIk^ came here in December, 1854, and made a chiim. Some time in the springy of 1856 Mr. Cooper made application to the postoffice department at Washington for a postoffice, to be called Pleasant Hill. While awaitino; the return from Washing:- ton, he and others organized a school district, and when asked by the county registrar of deeds at Winona for the name of the township, he turned to a neighbor, Mr. Reynolds, and asked what they should call the town. Mr. Reynolds said, "Call it the same as the postoffice." So he told the recorder it was Pleasant Hill.

The surface of the township is very uneven, the bluffs varying in height from 200 to 300 feet. Upon the crest of nearly every bluff can be found the well improved farms of the inhabitants, who are happy in the possession of their homes, and surrounded by all the comforts of industry, and the beneficence of an ever-merciful God. But it is by the views in the valleys that the eye is held as if by enchantment. Here upon the foot of the hills is seen the cozy farmhouse, built near some cool spring of water, surrounded by fruit and ornamental trees ; while in the background are waving fields of golden grain, flanked with the deep green fields of maize, or still deeper shades of the woody heights covered with all the varieties of oak, ehn, maple and hickory, interspersed with white birch and poplar, and clumps of shrub oaks, plum and crab-apple, draped with the heavily laden grape-vine, and beyond this the steep slopes covered with hazel-brush, while at every fence corner is found black or raspberry bushes,* loaded with their ripening fruits. Turning the eye from the hillside to the dale, a more beautiful picture meets the view. Here is seen the babbling brook, sparkling in the sunshine as it pursues its winding course down the valley, rippling over its pebbly bottom at some steep descent, or tranquilly resting in some small eddy under a clump of alders or dogwood, inviting the spotted trout to a safe retreat from the pleasure-seeking angler, who, with jointed rod and horsehair line, is seen tossing his tempting bait into every available portion of the stream. While upon one side may be seen the beautiful pasture land, extending from the stream to midway of the hillside, covered with a smooth sod of bluegrass mixed with red and white clover, with here and there a stout old burr-oak or a magnificent elm affording ample shade to the white fleeced ewes as they quietly ruminate, suri'ounded by their sportive lambs, frisking about through sunlight and shadow, yet ever careful to keep away from that part of the enclosure where tlie great, sleepy looking cows are cropping the juicy grasses, or stand chewing the cud. in the shade of some of tlie little groves of alder, willow or plum-trees. Upon the other side the eye is chai-med by the waving fields of redtop and timothy falling over the sickle of the mowing machine, while the spring-toothed horserake gathers it into large windrows, ready to be put into the mow for winter use. The farmhouse and barns, orchard and woodland, golden grain and waving maize, stream, pasture and meadow hind, all unite in the sunshine to form a picture which no brush can paint and no pen describe. And although the township was (juite properly named Pleasant Hill, it will always exist in the mind of the writer as the township of Pleasant Valleys.

The history of Pleasant Hill township since the first white man settled in it is one that will undoubtedly interest the majority of its present inhabitants, and will also be of general interest to the people of Winona county. The first man to build a house inside of the present limits of Pleasant Hill township, was Mr. John Hooper, who is frequently spoken of as "High-low" Hooper, from the fact that he could not converse in an even tone of voice, but would start a sentence in a low, gruff tone and change to a high key and back to a low one without apparently noticing it himself.

Mr. Hooper came to Pleasant Hill township by way of the north branch of Pine creek, in the summer of 1854, and selected a site near a fine spring of water. Here he built a log house and erected a blacksmith shop. He made a lot of ox-shoes during the autumn, and in December he started down Pine Creek valley with his tools and ropes for shoeing oxen, and wherever he met a man who wanted his oxen shod, he would cast the oxen, put on the shoes and go on his way rejoicing. He soon sold out his claim and followed blacksmithing in various places in Winona and Houston counties.

The first man to make a permanent home in the township was Mr. Joseph Cooper, who came to the "ridge" at the head of the south branch of Pine creek in December, 1854. Here he exclaimed, " What a pleasant hill ! " and immediately made a claim of 160 acres of land, lying on the ridge and embracing the heads of South Branch and Money Creek valleys.

He at once commenced to chop and hew logs for a house, and on March 20, 1855, he had completed and moved into a log house 22 X 24 feet and one and one-half stories high. He was followed the

Soon the sound of the woodman's ax was heard resounding throughout the length of the ridge, and what once had been the hunting grounds of the red-man now began to assume the appearance of white habitation. The pioneers had nothing to fear from wild animals, as there were none more ferocious than the timber or large grey wolf, which never attacked any of the settlers, though it would frequently follow them when out at night.

There was an abundance of wild game in the woods, and the unerring aim of the chopper (who always carried his rifle with him) often brought down a fine buck as it bounded through his small clearing. As an instance, showing the plenitude of deer in the early days, it is stated on authority that two young men named Armstrong killed 360 deer in the winters of 1855-6.

This township was better provided for with roads than most adjoining ones. The territorial road was "blazed," and had been traveled a few times with wagons. The first road ever laid out by the township was from the center of the east side of section eight (8) due east through sections nine (9) and ten (10), thence north about eighty (SO) rods, thence east and northeast in a winding course to the line of New Hartford township. The topography of the country is such that it is almost impossible to build the roads in any direct line ; but such is the energy and determination of the people that they spare neither labor nor expense, but excavate roads in the steep hillsides at a cost of from $500 to $800 per mile.

The people showed an early determination to supply their children with an opportunity to obtain an education; and as early as the spring of 1856 an application was made to form a school district in Pleasant Hill township, to be located near the center of the township, and a plot for the same was drawn by Mr. Joseph Cooi)er. The plot included the majority of the inhabitants on the ridge at that time. The logs for the schoolhouse were cut early in the summer of 1856, but owing to some misunderstanding the house was not built till the spring of 1857.

The only pine about the building was a blackboard and teachers' desk. To accommodate the pupils a row of holes was bored ai'ound the inside of the room, and hardwood pins were driven into these and oak boards laid on the pins. In this rather discouraging looking room Mr. Wm. D. Murray taught the tirst school, and there are many young men in the township at this time (1882) to testify to his ability and kindness. He is invariably spoken of as " Uncle Billy," and no 'one holds any grudge against liim on account of misuse or ill-treatment, but all proclaim him as the man who was invincible in mathematics. It is pleasing to state that the old log house has been replaced with a very comfortable frame building, and although ''Uncle Billy " has ceased to teach, he is still living in the township, and still interested in mathematics.

Religious Organizations

The people who left the more prosperous parts of the east soon felt a need of spiritual as well as physical food. In the early part of March, 1856, several families in the northeast part of the towi^iship gathered at the house of Alexander Stedman for divine worship. Here TIev. Joseph F. Hamblen, a Free Will Baptist preacher, preached to them, and, assisted by his brother, Mr. Wm. B. Hamblen, an eccentric, self-styled missionary, he soon had a cliurch oi'ganized, and regular services were held afterward. Soon after this a Methodist organization was formed in the northwest part of the township, but it soon united with members in Wiscoy township, and services were lield at the joint schoolhouse, situated a few rods west of Pleasant Plill, in the town of Wiscoy.

In 1872 the people of Catliolic persuasion decided to build a church in Pleasant Hill, and during the winter of 1872-3 a very neat building was erected on the N.E. ^ of N.E. ^ Sec. 21. The land was owned by Mr. Cooper, who at first gave one acre for church site. The congregation afterward purchased one acre, and now have a fine cemetery in the grounds adjoining tlie church. The church was dedicated in the winter of 1873-4 and styled St. Patrick's church. The first person buried in the cemetery was John McCaffrey, of Pleasant Hill.

There are also two Protestant cemeteries in Pleasant Hill ; one situated on the N.E. ^ of Sec. 11 is by far the finest one in the town. It contains two acres, and is pleasantly situated on the southeast slope of a beautiful hill and contiiins some very fine slabs andmonu- ments, designating the resting-places of the beloved departed. The tirst person that died in Pleasant Hill was a child of Geo. B. Nicholson. It died in the early part of December, 1856. Mr. Alexander Stedman took the coffin upon his horse, and followed by a few neighbors, also on horseback, carried it via of an old Indian trail, down the valley to Pickwick, where it was buried. It was afterward removed to this cemetery.

The other cemetery is in Sec. 22, but it is not so well cared for as the others, and is almost obscured by the small oak bushes whicli are allowed to grow in it. The first person buried here was Mr. Eddy, who immigrated to this country in 1855.

The first and only store ever kept in this township was in a frame building 18x24 ft.; moved in sections from Richmond, Minnesota, to the northwest corner of the southwest quarter of section nine (9), where it was filled with dry goods and groceries by Martin & Banks in the summer of 1859, and was profitably run till the early spring of 1864, when the store and contents were consumed by fire, since which no attemj)t has been made to open another store.