Merton Township

Merton Township

The town of Merton was first settled in the year 1856 by Messrs. C. W. Curtis and L. E. Thompson, in the western part of the town. About the same time Mr. Magoon and' a family of the name of Naylor, arrived and locatisd in the south-east part of the town, where they still reside. Two young men by the name of Taylor and a Mr. Kendall made claims in the north part of the town.

The first death was in the family of Mr, Oscar Searles, in February, 1862, when that dread scourge of children, diptheria, visited the place and took two of the loved ones God had given him ; little x^lice was the first to go, and soon after her sister Marion. During the months! of February and March the grim messenger made frequent visits to the neighborhood. His next call was at the happy home of Mr. Henry Maw, and a sweet child of nine summers. their darling Adelaide, and a little boy, Bertie, went away to make their home among the angels. Daniel McNitt's family was next called upon to be divided, and three of the children of their household band went to the other side of the dark river, there to await the coming of the mourning ones left on this side, and still waiting.

The first school taught in the town was in the northern part in what is now known as the Rock School House. The house deriving its name from the fact that a very large rock, and the only one for miles around, rises high above the ground near the site of the school house. There are now four school houses in the town, in which schools are taught during the school season of each year.

No church edifices have as yet been erected in the town, but the Methodists and Baptists hold service in the school houses. The Catholics are somewhat numerous and hold occasional service at the residence of some one or other of the members.

The soil is a rather light loam with clay sub-soil on the low lands, and on the higher or rolling prairie a gravel or sand sub-soil. The town is monily prairie, though there is a small patch of timber in the northern part, and in the southern portion a small amount of oak openings. Natu- ral meadows are scattered around on nearly every quarter section, though the principal part of the land u entirely suited to agriculture, and produces the best quality of crops of all kinds, and is not behind any of the other towns in the quantity produced.

In the summer of 1859, sometime in June, considerable excitement was created in the settlement by the appear ance of a large brown bear in .their midst, which had made its way from the timber in the north-west part of the town, and was probably on an exploring expedition. The settlers turned out en masse to give him a cordial reception, and in lieu of a regular band of music greeted him with pitchforks and such other implements of warfare as could most readily be found, and after a weary march in which the people undertook to keep up with his bearship, one sturdy farmer poked his rifle through a fence within a short distance of Mr. Bruin, and gave him such a pressing invitation to tarry with them that he yielded to the importunity and "caved in."

In 1856 a Mr. Colburn opened a store in the north-east "Corner of the town and christened the embryo city "Dodge City," but the country was so sparsely settled that he eoneluded to sell out at once and not wait the slow process of retailing. A man by the name of 0. T. Jones was the purchaser, but kept the store but a short time, when he found that "the thing wouldn't pay," and as that is the motive power of all westerners he concluded to close up. This -was the downfall of all the hopes of the enterprising citizens of Dodge City, some three or four families.

The town of Merton is in the north-east corner of Steele county, comprises thirty-six full sections of land, of an average quality, and is devoted especially to agricultural pursuits. There are at the present time no stores, hotels, blacksmith shops, or carpenter shops, and thus far the peo- pie have kept "wliisky shops out of their midst, and arie coilsequently contented and happy, and growing rich upon the produce of their farms.

Berlin

Berlin is the south-west town of Steele eouniy. It was first settled in July. 1856, the first settlers being William Shay, 0. V. Brown, Hiram Pitcher, Levi Chase, Thomas McCormick, Robert Reynolds. H. S. Howen, Enfin Enfinson, Joseph Gordon. D. T. Gordon, Marshall Wairen, and a Mr. Winchell, who all settled near the center of the town, and within a few weeks of each other. Berlin is considered one of the finest agricultural towns in the State, and not excelled by any for the beauty of its natural scenery. Near the center of the town is Beaver Lake, a perfect jem of beauty, with water clear as crystal and clear sand bottom. It is the favorite resort of bathers for many miles around.

The first birth in this town was that of Fred. Brown, a son of C. V. Brown, in January, 1857. In December, 1859, Mrs. Joseph Gordon died, which was the first death of a white person that occurred in the town.

The first marriage was celebrated in the spring of 1857, the parties being Mr. J. 0. Culver and Miss Jane Gordon. The ceremony was performed by Hiram Pitcher, a Justice of the Peace. This being the first time the justice had performed the ceremony he varied a little from the usual form, and the groom was laade to promise to obey the bride instead of the bride obeying the groom.

A post office, called Adamsville, was established in 1856, and Hiram Pitcher appointed postmaster. He also carried the mail from Owatonna, generally on foot, and in winter on snow shoes.

1857-8, in a deserted claim shanty, by Mr. Dwight T. Gordon. The first religious service was held at the residence of Levi Chase, in the fall of 1856, when prayer meetings and a Sabbath school was established. In the fall of 1857 Rev. Mr. Kirkpatrick and Rev. S. N. Phelps commenced preaching on alternate Sabbaths. The first ground*broken for a crop was done by Levi Chase, in the summer of 1856, and the second marriage in the town was in August, 1857, when Mr. Chase gave his daughter, Sarah A. Chase, to the keeping of Mr. Ashbel Ingerson, the Rev. Mr. Chapin ratifying the contract by performing the usual ceremony. There are now in the town three school houses, and one blacksmith shop, operated by Geo. Goodrich.