Mansfield Township

Mansfield Township

The township bearing this name is a full congressional town¬ ship, embracing the territory of town 101, range 23. It is the southwestern subdivision of Freeborn county, its contiguous sur- roundings being Alden on the north, Nunda on the east, Faribault county on the west and the state of Iowa on the south. As to the surface and physical features, not much can be said of this that would not readily apply to almost any other prairie town, and this is one in the full sense of the word. The northwestern part of the town is high and rolling, furnishing some of the finest farming land imaginable; but toward the south and east it be¬ comes more level and Ioav. In the extreme southeastern corner a ridge of high land abruptly pushes its way through the surface of the prairie, which inaugurates the area of the tableland, com¬ mencing here and extending eastward through Nunda and other towns. The soil is a dark loam, with a subsoil of sand and gravel, as a rule; but this is not invariable, for in places a marked tendency to a lighter nature is visible with a clay subsoil. Mans¬ field has no lakes within its borders, nor has it any streams of much importance. The largest in the township is Steward's creek, which rises in Alden and, crossing a corner of section 2, passes through the center of sections 1 and 12, forming a minia¬ ture lake in section 1, touches a corner of 13 and leaves the town on its way to Bear lake, in Nunda. Lime creek crosses the south¬ eastern corner of the township. Another small stream rises in sec¬ tion 8 and, flowing northward through section 5, leaves the town and enters Alden. The geological and natural history survey of the county of Freeborn, by N. H. Winchell, state geologist, pub¬ lished in 1875, says of Mansfield : "This town is nearly all prairie, a small patch of oak openings occurring in sections 3, 10 and 15. The northwestern part of the township is rolling, and the south¬ eastern is level and wet with marshes."

Mansfield township has one small hamlet, also known as Mans¬ field, situated in the northern part of section 9. There is a cemetery located in the northeastern part of section 16. The United Brethren church and cemetery are located in the southern part of section 7. The German Lutheran church and cemetery are in the northeastern part of section 8. The Swedish Lutheran church and cemetery are in the southern part of section 20. The Norwegian Lutheran church and cemetery are in the southeastern part of section 36.

Early Settlement. The earliest steps leading to the founding and subsequent development of this thriving township commenced early in 1856. The first settlers in Mansfield were the Tunell brothers, John and Henry, who came from Illinois by the way of Iowa with their families and with teams, arriving June 23, 1856. and locating on section 8. Here John remained until 1873, when he went to Oregon, while Henry remained on the farm which he originally secured in section 8. These brothers brought with them about one hundred head of cattle, and shortly after their arrival commenced putting up hay, securing enough to carry them safely through the winter ; but a prairie fire destroyed it. For a time the prospect looked dubious, but they finally managed to purchase enough hay from parties in Iowa to tide them over the winter, without a loss of more than half their stock. Shortly after these parties made their appearance Henry Schmidt and Henry Jahnke arrived and secured tracts of the government domain ; Henry Schmidt located on section 10 ; Mr. Jahnke located in section 10. After this there were no arrivals for some time, but gradually the attention of incomers was turned this way and. the government land began to disappear. Messrs. Stenaldson and Kittleson, natives of Norway, came in and located on valuable farms in section 15. Shortly after this H. Knutson, Nels Nelson, and John Kraus Haar arrived and located in the township.

Among others of the early settlers in this township were : William Jost and Hiram Pettit, who came in 1864; Alexander Peterson came in 1867 ; David La Yalle, in 1868; Hiram J. Stew¬ ard, in 1869; Benjamin H. Dillingham, in 1870; John Niebuhr, in 1872; Ole I. Opdahl, in 1874; Rev. P. G. Ostby, in 1878.

Early Events. It is said that the first birth in the township was that of Louisa Schmidt, on October 10, 1856. Among the first marriages in the township was one which occurred in 1864 and united August Heintz and Louisa Yost in the bonds of matrimony. The first death of a matured person was that of Mrs. Henry Schmidt, December 20, 1862. She was first buried on the farm, but her remains were subsequently removed to the Mansfield cemetery. The first religious services in the township were held in 1859 by Rev. Smith, an itinerant preacher from New Ulm.

Political. In earlier days Mansfield was merged into sur¬ rounding towns for local government, and the records of it as a separate organization do not commence until 1866, when they state that the first meeting was held in Henry Schmidt's house. The first officers elected were: Supervisors, Henry Tunell (chair¬ man), John Kraus Haar and John B. Oleson; clerk, John Tunell; assessor, Nicholas Stenoldson ; treasurer, John Tunell.

Cemeteries. German cemetery in Mansfield is located in sec¬ tion 16, township 101, range 23. The first trustees were : Henry Tunell, William Yost, August Hintz, Henry Seedorf. It was sur¬ veyed by John M. Marty and the plat was filed for record Feb¬ ruary 20, 1886^ The various churches are also provided with

This is one of the eastern towns in Freeborn county, one lying between it and the northern boundary. Its contiguous surround¬ ings are as follows : Mower county on the east, Oakland on the south, Riceland on the west, and Newry on the north. Moscow is a full congressional township of thirty-six sections or square miles, containing 23,040 acres. Turtle creek is the principal water course in the town, entering from Riceland by way of sections 7 and 18, and taking a southeasterly course crosses the town and leaves through section 36 to enter Mower county. This stream furnishes an excellent water-power in section 22, which has been improved to some extent. Deer creek is a small stream which rises in Newry, and taking a southerly course makes a confluence with the Turtle in section 18. The soil is a clay loam, dark in places and again of a lighter nature, with a tendency to sandiness in many places. It is well adapted to agricultural purposes.

Moscow village is located in section 22. Oakland is located in section 35. Corning, in Mower county, also corners in the north¬ eastern part of this township. There is a Baptist church in the eastern part of section 34. Cemeteries are located in sections 13, 23 and 29.

Early Settlement. It has been stated that the first claim in the township was taken in May, 1855, by a man named Nathan Hunt, who located in section 26 and remained for about one year and sold to Alexander Schutt, who in turn sold to Henry Fero. The next to put in an appearance after Hunt was a party com¬ posed of various nationalities: Robert Speer, a native of New York state, Thomas R. Morgan and Thomas Ellis, natives of "Wales, who came from Wisconsin, where they had been for a few years, and accomplished the journey with ox teams by camping on the way. They arrived here on the first of June, 1855. It should be chronicled to the credit of the parties, as it is unusual to such journeys, that they did not travel on Sunday, and made the trip in one month. Mr. Speer took a claim in section 22. where he pitched a tent, in which he lived for some time. Mr. Morgan drove his stakes upon a place in section 28. Mr. Ellis also took a tract of land in section 28, where he lived in comfortable circum¬ stances up to the time of his death, which occurrred in 1874. James Bush, John G. and James Dunning soon after arrived, all being natives of New York state, having stopped for a time in A\ isconsin and secured homes. Bush took his farm in section 27, where he erected a log house covered with bark, but he soon built a better one. James Dunning settled in section 27, where he lived until 1876, and then removed to Kansas. John G. Dunning took a claim in sections 22 and 27, where he resided until 1872, when he removed to Oregon. Evan Morgan was another of the fiftyfivers. He was a native of Wales, having become Americanized in A isconsin, and after his arrival in Moscow tarried a while in section 21, but soon sold that place and removed to section 22. Seymour Saxon and Hanibal Bickford were here a short time.

In 1856 there were many arrivals. Stephen N. Frisbie, a native of Connecticut, came from Wisconsin early this year and secured a farm in section 35. Nathan S. Hardy, a school teacher from the Empire state, arrived and located on section 35. William Pace, an Englishman, who had been naturalized in Wisconsin, joined this little settlement by taking a place in section 34, where he remained until the time of his death in September, 1882. Henry Fero, a native of New York, came and located in section 26. George W. Dearmin and Benjamin Martin originally from North Carolina, extended the neighborhood above treated westward by securing and subduing claims in sections 28 and 29. Aslrabel Barnhart, from the Buckeye state, pushed the neighborhood north¬ ward and selected his territory in section 21, wdiere he remained until his death in 1872. Israel Pace and William Pace also came this year. Rufus K. Crum, a native of Pennsylvania, came from Indiana and took a claim in section 28. He remained for a num¬ bers of years, laid out a townsite and finally removed to Iowa. With Crum came George W. Davis, of the Buckeye state, who took land in section 28. A. A. Webster, of the Empire state, came and settled in section 23, lived there awhile and then sold and removed to section 14, where he remained until 1879. About the same time David Gates, of the same descent, made his appear¬ ance, coming direct from Wisconsin, and located upon a place in section 33, but in 1875 he removed to Austin. Hiram C. Porter, a native of Vermont, came from Iowa this year and settled just north of Gates in section 28, and lived here up to the time of his death, which occurrred in 1868. Another of the arrivals this year was George Watson, a native of Pennsylvania, who selected his portion of government land in section 30. He was a member of the State Constitutional Convention, was elected a senator to the first Minnesota legislature, was the first postmaster of the Sumner postoffice, and in 1863 received a government appoint¬ ment at St. Paul. Soon after his arrival to Minnesota he was joined by Josiah W. Hardy, a native of New York state, who came from Iowa and located on a farm in section 25. He lived here about one year, when he returned to Iowa, and in May, 1864, gave up his life in St. Louis in defense of his country. The Vanderwurkers, father and son, natives of Michigan, arrived and com¬ menced pioneer life upon claims in Moscow, but both have re¬ moved. Robert A. Dearmin located in section 28. Four Eng¬ lishmen came in about this time, in the persons of Messrs. Bridle, Prey, Hallenback and Galpin, who all took claims. A. B. Lizer, George Balton and Leonard Webster were also among the arrivals of 1856 and took farms. Lizer came from Wisconsin and located in section 35, remaining until 1879, when he went to Kansas; Balton established himself in section 33. Webster first settled upon a farm in section 23 and remained in the town until 1880, when he went to Dakota. Tollef Oleson and Ole Tollefson arrived late in this year and squatted in section 12, where they lived for a number of years. Michael Murphy, an Irishman, also arrived that year and took a place in section 25. John Stage also came this year.

In 1857 we note the arrival of several pioneers. Among them were Francis Hardy, father of N. S. and J. W. Hardy, Hiram Rice, Daniel S. Ingraham, Samuel Degood, Samuel G. Lowry, and soon after, his son, Theophus Lowry, David M. Farr and Leonard Ware.

Among other early settlers were: J. T. Harris and William Bliss, who came in 1859; Michael McCourt, in 1868; John Guy, in 1869 ; Edward Lugg, in 1874.

Early Events. On December 26, 1855, the first birth in the township occurred, being that of Sophia Matilda, daughter of Evan and Sarah Morgan. The little girl grew to womanhood, and May 12, 1879, married A. M. Lee. The next birth was that of Eva Maria, daughter of Robert and Mary Speer. She was mar¬ ried in 1875 to DeForest Lincoln, and in 1881 died at Alexandria, leaving one. child. Alfred Silas, a son of Henry and Mary A. Fero, was also among the early births in Moscow, dating October 29, 1856. The first marriage in the township was that of George Bridle and Miss Galpin, which took place in October, 1856, Rev. Stephen Cook, of Austin, officiating. Another of the early mar¬ riages was that of George W. Dearmin and Lucia Campbell, May 17, 1859, Rev. Theopholis Lowry officiating. Nathan S. Hardy and Amanda A. Pace were married August 10, 1859, by the Rev. Stephen Cook. A child of an Englishman, named Gilpin, died in 1856, this being the first death recorded in the township. Har¬ riet, wife of James Bush, died December 25, 1859. In 1856 Elbridge Gerry, of New York, opened a store in a log house in sec¬ tion 28, where he sold dry goods, boots and shoes, and groceries. After about a year Mr. Gerry returned to New York. This was the first store in the township.

Moscow is one of the towns of distinguished prominence in the settlement, organization and early political history of the county. S. N. Frisbie was one of the three first commissioners. Dr. Watson, also a citizen of this town, was not only one of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention in 1857, but enjoyed the honor of a seat in the state senate for the first three terms. The Rev. S. G. Lowry, also of this town, may be regarded as the pioneer clergyman and for years answered calls, picking his trackless way to all parts of the county. A heavy body of timber, on section 17, was long previous known as the Moscow woods, and this suggested to the early settlers the name of the town.

Early Interests. In 1857 Messrs. Lindsey & Owens put np a steam sawmill in section 21, equipping it with a circular saw and power sufficient to cut 3,500 feet per day. In 1858 a burr for the purpose of grinding feed was attached and the mill run for both a sawmill and feed grinding. Thus the industry continued until about 1866, when the machinery was removed to Wisconsin. The first blacksmith shop originated through the energy of Robert Speer, who in the fall of 1855 erected a small shanty, put in tools and during the winter following did considerable blacksmithing. In 1856 he put up a substantial log building in which to carry on his business, and the pioneers came all the way from Blue Earth county for plow-sharpening. Mr. Speer carried on the business until 1877. J. H. Mclntire in 1877 put in machinery and com¬ menced operating a sorghum mill for the manufacture of syrup.

Fair View Cemetery is situated in section 29, township 103, range 19. The first trustees were : J. S. Harris, T. R, Morgan, S. W. Pitts, N. F. Earl, W. Mann, N. B. Van House, N. N. Earl. It was surveyed by A. C. Spicer. It was filed for record March 28, 1876.

The subdivision of Freeborn county bearing this name lies in the southern tier of towns and within one of the western bound¬ ary of the county. Its contiguous surroundings are Pickerel lake on the north, Freeman on the east, Mansfield on the west and the state of Iowa on the south. It is constituted as originally sur¬ veyed, of thirty-six sections, or 23,040 acres. Nunda is, locally speaking, a prairie township, although the eastern part was for¬ merly what is called "oak opening5 7 land, and there were some fine groves of maple, butternut, bass, iron wood and occasionally walnut about the lakes. The north and west parts of the town are made up of rolling prairie, with a soil of dark loam, underlaid with a subsoil of clay. The southern and eastern part of the township is more given to soil of clayey nature and quite rocky in places. In an early day B. H. Carter burned limestone boulders to a certain extent. This town is well watered by numerous brooks, rivers and lakes, which diversify the scenery and make of Nunda a picturesque and beautiful township. Bear lake, the largest in the township, is a beautiful sheet of water, covering about 1,500 acres in the western portion of the town, while a stream known as Lime creek is its outlet, and takes a south¬ westerly course to finally empty into the Shell Rock river. Lower Twin lake is a body of water lying in the northwestern part of the town, containing several islands of a few acres each. This is connected by a stream called "The Inlet," with the Upper Twin lake, which infringes on this township to the extent of about

220 acres in section 2. It is supposed that the lakes received the names of Upper and Lower Twin lakes from the fact of their similarity in size. Goose creek constitutes the outlet of these lakes, and flows through sections 12 and 13 on its way eastward to Freeman township, eventually to help swell the Shell Rock. State Line lake, which name was suggested by the fact that the extreme southern point of the lake touches the Iowa and Minne¬ sota state lines, is the smallest in town, covering about 400 acres of land, mostly in section 33 ; from this flows a creek bearing the same name and entering Iowa. All of these lakes abound in fish of various species, among which are pickerel, suckers, bass and bullheads. Almost all of the land in the town is under a high state of cultivation, and as the soil is rich and well adapted to the crops and modes of cultivation of the day, as a natural sequence the farmers are all in comfortable circumstances.

Nunda township has two villages - Emmons and Twin Lakes. Norman is just over the line in Iowa. There is a town hall in section 15, and the township also has a number of churches and cemeteries.

Early Settlement. The early or earliest settlement of Nunda dates back to 1856, and was rapid and constant until all the vacant land was secured and occupied. Among, if not the first settlers in the township, were James Wright and Anthony Bright, who came in the winter of 1855-56 and commenced what was known as the Bear lake settlement. Wright took a claim on sec¬ tion 16 and remained until 1857, when he sold to John Y. WohL huter. Anthony Bright took a place in section 21, south of Wright, and in 1857 sold out and left. Patrick Fitzsimmons, a native of Ireland, made his appearance from Winneshiek county, Iowa, and joined this settlement in May, 1856. He took a claim in section 16, where he lived up to the time -of his death, which occurred July 18, 1866. It was he who named the township Nunda, in honor of towns of the same name in which he had lived in New l"ork and Illinois. He was a prominent man in the town¬ ship. Frederick McCall, still a resident of Nunda township, came in and settled in section 14. Nels Bergeson and Nels Nelson Valaker. natives of Norway, came to Minnesota in 1856 ; the first came direct to this town and took a place in section 28 ; the latter did not arrive here until 1859. It should have been mentioned in connection with the above that Charles Fitzsimmons and Irvin Elsworth came in the early part of 1856, and it is said by some that they were the first. Fitzsimmons placed his signet upon a quarter of section 16, where he remained until 1868, and then re¬ moved to Martin county, Minnesota. Elsworth pre-empted a place in section 14. where he lived for about one year. In the fall of this year (1856) Harry Brown arrived in the township and made a habitation in section 7, where he remained until 1858. Seneca StockdaLe was a native of Ohio, having been born March 26, 1801, and after attaining the age of fifty-five came to the township of Nunda, arriving July 14, 1856. He took a farm in section 1, where he remained for about thirteen years, and then removed to section 3, remaining here until his death, which oc¬ curred February 7, 1871. Henry G. Emmons, one of the most prominent men of the county, came in this year and established himself in the southern part of the township. Others who came in 1856 were Erick Erickson, Nels Olson, Finley Stockdale and Charles Grimm, who lived outside of the township but had land here.

The year 1857 marked a large influx in population. Nelson Boughton, a native of New York, took a farm on section 35, where he lived until 1859,- when he was murdered by Henry Kreigler. Alonzo White, of Vermont, came about the same time and settled in the same section, where he lived until 1859, after which he went back to the East. James Carle, of the same nativity, also came at the same time and took land in sections 34 and 35, where he lived until 1860. Lafayette Hall, of New York, came and set¬ tled in this vicinity ; in 1860 he went to the eastern part of the state. Michael Donahue had arrived in the spring of 1857 and settled a mile or so north in section 23. Martin Forbes also came at the same time and settled on the same section. John Honan, a native of Ireland, came in 1857 and settled on section 24. John M. Geissler, a native of Germany and one of the pioneers of Free¬ born county, came to Nunda in 1857 and selected a place in sec¬ tions 3 and 10. He was one of the most prominent men in the township in public matters and held many offices of trust and importance. John V. Wohlhuter, a native of Germany, came to America in 1847 and in the fall of 1857 to this township and pur¬ chased a farm near Bear Lake. R. A. White made his appearance in the spring of this year and settled on section 9. AA illiam AA hite and son, Frederick, came to this country at the same time. George Hall and Johnson Hall, from the Eastern states, came to Nunda in the spring of 1857 and took farms in sections 3 and 4, where the latter lived for a time and then went east. John Donahue, originally from the Emerald Isle, but later from Illinois, arrived in July, 1857, and settled with his parents on section 14. Others who came in 1857 were Soren Sorenson, John Banning, Patrick Duffy and John Roach.

In 1858 the Cunningham family settled on section 23. Narve Esleson, of Norway, secured a habitation in section 33. Knudt, Oleson in 1861 had also secured land and has since been joined by others of his countrymen. John McGuire, a native of Ireland, on the 23d of June, 1860, made his appearance and- settled on sec- tion 14. B. H. Carter, a native of the Eastern States, arrived in Nunda in 1861 and located in section 1. Narve Flaaten, Peter Larson, Tosten Nelson, Stenger Jellum, Hogan Rasmusson and others also came in 1858.

Among other early settlers in the township were : N. N. Walker and Helge Larson, who came in I860; Louis Marpe and Toston Nelson, came in 1863; Jerry Callaghan, in 1864; Iver 0. Opdal and William Pickle (to Freeman in 1859), in 1865; J. R. Jones and Christ Yost, in 1866; Ole Toraldson, in 1867; Andrew Thompson, in 1868; H. H. Edwin and Ellef Evenson, in 1874; Alexander Freemott, in 1876.

Township Organization. Politically speaking, the residents of Nunda first came together in 1857, late in the fall, for the elec¬ tion of a representative in the territorial legislature, and in the spring following, an organization of the township was effected, and later on May 11, 1858, they again assembled, and made their organization substantial by the election of town officers. Among the first officials were : Supervisors Patrick Fitzsimmons, chair¬ man; J. V. Wohlhuter, and Henry Tunell; clerk, William B. Spooner. This meeting was held in John Hoffman's house, in section 22.

Early Events. Among the early births in the township were : Louis H. Emmons, who was born December 30, 1856; John David McCall, February 24, 1858. In the fall of 1856 the first marriage took place, being that of Louis Proebstein and Elizabeth Ban¬ ning. Another early marriage was that of Isaac Kendall and Christina Clark, in April, 1858. The first death recorded in the township was that of Jacob Zimmerman, on March 23, 1858. Mrs. Patrick Fitzsimmons died in November, 1858.

Business Industries. A blacksmith shop, located in section 4, was opened in the spring of 1866, of which William Pickle was the owner. In 1876 another shop was established in the north¬ east part of section 30, and H. H. Evenson was the owner. In September, 1880, a general merchandise store was started by George Emmons, in section 32. This was continued until Decem¬ ber 6, 1881, when it was moved to Norman, Iowa. A blacksmith shop was established in the southwestern part of section 9 by John Bettner in 1876. In the spring of 1872, Mr. George Reim erected a shop and commenced blacksmithing in section 8. A sorghum mill was started in section 8 in 1873, which had a capa¬ city of about forty gallons per day.

Cemeteries - State Line Cemetery. This burial ground is located on the Iowa and Minnesota state line, in section 32, con¬ taining about one acre of land surveyed into lots. The ground was platted and laid out in 1861, on the land owned by T. Nelson. The first burial was that of Christina Emmons.

St. James Catholic Cemetery. Located in the central part of section 24, was laid out and dedicated to burial purposes August 29, 1876, land being donated by John Honan. The first burial was that of John Honan, September 9, 1876.

Bear Lake cemeterey was located in section 4, township 101. range 22. The first trustees were : R. A. White, W. P. Pickle, Foster, Wm. P. Spooner and John M. Geissler. It was sur¬ veyed by John M. Mertz. The plat was filed for record March 8, 1876.

Brush Hill cemetery was located in section 15, township 101, range 22. The first trustees were : Louis Marpe, Louis Yost and J. H. F. Leonhardi. It was surveyed by H. C. Lacy, and the plat filed for record July 2, 1878.