Millwood Township

Millwood Township

Millwood lies in the northern part of the county, adjoining Melrose on the east. Its area is about 26,500 acres. The soil is a dark loam with a clay subsoil. There are a large number of lakes in this town, principal among which are. Birch Bark Fort Lake, King's, Cedar, Swamp and Long lakes.

The first settler in Millwood was William Armstrong, a native of Canada, who settled on section ten in 1866; he moved away after five or six years,. Thomas Hanigan settled on section fourteen in 1868, and John J. Ahearn, in section twelve the same year. These were followed during the same summer, by Edwin Lovell, Edward Graham, Barney Barthle, and others.

The first school in the town was taught in District No. 89 in 1871 or 1872; the school building was erected in section six. District No. 94 was organized in 1874. The schoolhouse was erected in section twelve. District No. 95 was organized in 1875, and the school building placed on section twenty-nine.

Millwood was organized in 1871, and the first election held at the residence of Henry Klasen, in section twenty-two, on May 1. The first officers were: Supervisors, Andrew Barthle (chairman), William Graham, and Henry Wheaton; clerk, John Ahearn; assessor, Barney Barthle; treasurer, John Buttweiler; and justices of the peace, George I. Oldham and James Duggan (the latter did not qualify.)

North Fork township lies in the southwestern part of the county. It is bounded on the north by Raymond township, on the east by Lal^e George township, on the south by Crow Lalce township, and on the west by Bangor township, in Pope county.

The north fork of the Crow river flows through it in a southeasterly direction, entering the town in section 5 and leaving it from section 25. In section 23, this streamis fed by a rill known to the people as South creek. Another small tributary, known as Spring creek, flows across the southeastern corner and joins the Crow river in the southwestern part of township of Lake George.

Along the water courses are low meadow lands, sometimes overflowed and in seasons of less rainfall furnishing great meadow-lands. The land to the north of the river rises to the height of 40 to 45 feet above the river, with a black loam with a clay subsoil. The land to the south of the river is mostly sandy with the exception of a few sections on the northwest boundary. The surface is chiefly prairie.

Some small groves are found, the largest lying in the south-central part, known in early days as Elk Grove, but later as Big Grove. Another small grove is found along the section line of sections 11 and 12, known as the "Thicket." Sections 1 and 2 had small tracts of timber, really a continuation of School Grove in town of Raymond.

This town has some stretches of low, level and marshy lands. One of the most noticeable lies in the northeast corner of the town. It is now (1914) proposed to drain it, and Guy M. Potter is constructing a dredge ditch there. Another low level marshy tract is found in the south-central part partially surrounding Big Grove. With the exception of these low tracts mentioned the town is a gentle rolling plain.

In the spring of 1865 Nels Olson Strandemoen, Nels Nelson Slenta, Ellen Baalson, Hans P. Heieie, Ole P. Heieie and Kittil Nelson Strande journeyed from Spring Grove, Houston county, by team to Elks Grove. Nels Nelson Strandemoen was the owner of the team, a span of horses. Nels Olson Strandemoen selected the W. i/o W. Vz of section 27, and went to St. Cloud and made entry. Nels Nelson Slenta selected the N. E. 14 of section 28 and made entry. By reason of an accident the latter was unable to establish a home on the tract within the time limit and lost his right to it. Ellen Baalson, Hans Heieie, Ole P. Heieie and Kittil Nelson Strande, looked the country over and returned to Spring Grove. Ellen Baalson and Hans P. Heieie followed this up by bringing their families in "prairie schooners" drawn by a yoke of cattle. They arrived and camped July 4, 1865, on the present homestead of Ellen Baalson, the E. i^ W. 14 of section 21. Hans P. Heieie selected the W. 1/2 of W. 1/2 of section 21 and began immediately to erect a log cabin there, which is the first dwelling house built and occupied in the town. Mrs. Heieie hauled the logs while her husband hewed and placed them.

Ellen Baalson got his cabin ready shortly after. Nels Olson Strandemoen and his father and Kittil Nelson Strande arrived with their families August 5, 1865, and began to erect log cabins. Kittil Strande built his cabin on the N. W. i^ of S. E. % of section 28. In the year of 1866 he moved his cabin to his homestead, N. E. V4, of section 28; this cabin was later bought by Ole Tangen, Sr.

Nels Strandemoen built a commodious log house on his homestead. Nels engaged in the mercantile business and used the second story of his house for that purpose. He traded with the half-breeds for furs and employed a tailor and made the furs into overcoats.

Andrew Erickson, Austen Olson (Gubberud) and his parents and younger brother arrived in the summer of 1865. The Gubberud families settled across the line in Crow Lake, in the south part of Elk Grove, but Andrew Erickson located with his family on the N. Yz of S. E. 14. of section 34.. John U. Anderson with his family, consisting of his wife and five children (Geoline, Thomas, Amalia, Albert and Clara) arrived in the summer of 1865, and bought the N. W. % N. W. % of section 34. The tract named is said to be the first tract of land purchased in town of North Fork. He homesteaded the E. Vz N. E. % of section 33 and the S. V2 N. W. % of section 34.

A group of soldiers - Hans Kittilson, Hans Halvorson, Halvor Halvorson, Syvert C. Larson, Kittel Halvorson, and Hans S. Skaardahl arrived in the month of November, 1865. The early settlers called these men "the soldiers" because they were dis- . charged volunteer soldiers from the Civil War. Hans Kittilson located and built a cabin on the N. E. S. W. of section 33. These six soldiers spent the winters of 1865-66 in that cabin. Hans Halvorson selected a tract of land across the line in Crow Lake township and Halvor Halvorson filed on the S. E. i^ of section 20. Syvert C. Larson selected the S. W.. % S. W. 14 section 34, with three forties across the line into Crow Lake. Kittel Halvorson selected the S. i/^ S. W. 14 section 23 and N. V2 N. W. 14 section 26. Hans S. Skaardahl filed a contest on the claim forfeited by Nels Nelson Slenta, but later relinquished it to Kittil N. Strande. Ole O. Ruud, with his family, arrived in November, 1865, and filed on E. 1/2 N. W. 14 and N. E. S. W. % N. W. 14 S. E. 1^, section 23.

1866. - Ole Pederson Haftorn arrived in the month of April, 1866, Ellef Olson Teigen being with him. They came from Spring Grove, Houston county, Minnesota. After selecting homesteads they returned to Houston county and brought their families here the same summer. Mr. Haftorn selected the S. V2, S. V2 of Sec. 12. Reir Thostenson with his family moved here in company with Mr. Haftorn, and settled on the S. 1/2, N. E. 14 & N. 1/2 of S. E. 14, Sec. 27. Olaus Torgerson, a volunteer soldier doing duty with his company on the frontier against the Indians and stationed at Paynesville, in January, 1866, visited his sister, Mrs. Andrew Erickson, and selected and filed on 160 acres in Sec. 32. Endre Thompson (Aane) ; Peder Pederson (Mathismoen) ; Aslag Guldbrandson (Maelen), Embrick Knudson (Opheim), Hans S. Bergrud, Ole Knutson, Ole C. Benken, Ole O. Naperud, Ole Heieie, Ole H. Lee, Levor Olson, Nels Nelson Slenta, moved from Spring Grove, Houston county, in the spring of 1866. All these had families. They settled as follows: Endre Thompson, N. W. 1/4, Sec. 14; Peder Pederson, N. E. Sec. 10; Aslag Gulbrandson, S. E. %, Sec. 14; Embrick Knutson, W. V2 N. W. Sec. 23 and E. y^ N. E. Sec. 22; Hans Bergrud, S. E. 14 Sec. 19; Ole Knutson,

In addition to the above came two unmarried brothers from Spring Grove, Houston county, Syver and Erick Evenson. Syver homesteaded S. % S. W. Sec. 15 and N. 1/2 N. W. Sec. 22. Ole Stengrimson, single, came in 1866, from Houston county, and squatted on a piece of land in this township, stayed a year or so and returned to his old home. Ole Gronbu, single, came in 1866, from southeastern Minnesota and settled on a homestead in Sec. 17, which he relinquished a year or two later and went to Iowa. In the spring of 1866 several pioneers came from Winchester, Winnebago county. Wis. Torkel Hanson and wife settled on a homestead in Elk Grove, but across the line in Crow Lake township. Ole Halvorson and family settled on a homestead in sections 23 and 26. Nils Hellekson took up land and located in sections 2 and 11. Soren Halvorson settled in Crow Lake township near Torkel Hanson.

1867. - In this year the population of the township was further increased. Christian Thoen took the N. E. 14 Sec. 12; Reier Liabraaten the S. W. 14 Sec. 31, where the village of Brooten is now located. They had families. Guldbrand Guldbrandson, single, settled on N. % N. i/^ Sec. 2, but sold his claim to Anders O. Fauskee. Narve Erikson and Rasmus Bottolfson also arrived in 1867; they settled on homesteads in section 31.

Sauk Centre was a small place, where groceries and dry goods could be purchased, but the nearest market place for farm produce was St. Cloud. The nearest railroad town was Elk River. Paynesville, 20 to 25 miles away, was the nearest voting place and also the nearest postoffice the first year.

The trip to St. Cloud took from five to six days, being made exclusively with ox team. What little lumber was used by the settlers was hauled from St. Cloud. Houses are still standing (1914) containing lumber hauled from that city. A few of the settlers, especially those out from the timber, lived in "dug outs" until they got time to haul logs from the timber. The first houses were log cabins. Being far from saw mills and lumber markets the roofs were covered with rails and hay, and on top of that sod was placed in about the same way as we put shingles on now.

The mosquitoes were a great trouble; they were so bad that even in the middle of the day it was difficult to do any work, especially if it was cloudy. Smudges were used and piles of dead mosquitoes were found lying around the fire. Mrs. Hans P. Heieie relates that she had twigs tied to the tail of the oxen when she hauled the logs for this first cabin.

Houston county made the journey with ox teams, except Nels Strandemoen, who owned a span of horses. These settlers brought cattle and sheep with them.

The six men popularly called "the soldiers" were mustered out of service in Madison, Wis., in the fall of 1865. They traveled by rail and steamboat to St. Paul; from St. Paul to Birch Cooley, Renville county, by team; from there to Paynesville, also by team. The distance from Paynesville to Elk Grove was made afoot. One of the soldiers relates the following:

"At Birch Cooley a general election was .leld in the house of a half-breed, and we were invited to attend. One of the citizens approached us with tickets and asked us to vote. We protested on the ground that we were not residents, and therefore not entitled to vote. The other party insisted that this was a free country and everybody had a right to vote on election day. To please this party, who was very much in earnest, we voted." Voting regulations were very loose in those days, and it seemed to be generally understood that any adult male present at an election was entitled to cast a vote.

The first public meeting held in the township was of the nature of a council of war. In the month of January, 1866, a report having spread that the Sioux Indians had again broken out and were advancing on the settlement, a meeting was held at the house of John U. Anderson and all but one of the male inhabitants attended. Halvor Halvorson did not believe the report and stayed at home. Those who attended drew up a petition and forwarded it to the authorities asking for the protection of soldiers. No soldiers came and no Indians molested the settlement.

The first child born of white parentage was Nels K. Strande, born in 1865. The first marriage was that of Nels Helleckson and Gunhild Johnson, both residents of the township, who were married in the fall of 1866 at St. Cloud by John Zapp, a justice of the peace. The first marriage ceremony which took place within the town was in 1870, the parties being Mr. Gunnuf Evenson Vig and Randi Thompson. The marriage was performed in a dugout built by Erick Evenson, who had sold the claim to Gunnuf Evenson Vig, the Rev. L. J. Markhus officiating.

Among other early births were those of Nels Halvorson, Peder H. Heieie, Edward Baalson, Peder Pederson, Erick Levorson, Marten N. Nelson, Christine Nilson, Olava Haftorn, Ole O. Teigen, Tollef H. Olson, John H. Hellekson, Syver C. Anderson, Halvor Lee, John Erickson and Stengrim Bergrud. Among other early marriages were those of Kittel Halvorson and Geoline Anderson, Olaus Torgerson and Anna Kyllo, P. O. Heieie and Thore Halvorson, Andres N. Moen and Torbjor Vig, Ole Sather and Ragnhild Thompson, Herman Knutsob and Oline Strande, Ole Herbrandson and Helga Levorson.

The following were buried in the old cemetery located on edge of Big Grove on N. E. 14 Sec. 28, where the log chapel was started in the latter part of the sixties. Halvor Halvorson, who died from a wound received in the war; Syvert C. Larson, killed by lightning in his own house while asleep; John U. Anderson, Mrs. Reier Liabraaten, Mrs. Ole Liabraaten, Christian Nelson, Andrew Erickson's mother, two children of Reier Thostenson, two children of Ole Liabraaten, one child of Reier Liabraaten.. The bodies of Halvor Halvorson, Syvert C. Larson, John U. Anderson and Christian Nelson were later moved to the new cemetery on N. W. % E. 14 Sec. 22.

The territory forming the present town of North Fork was formerly a part of Verdale, organized in 1858. North Fork was organized in 1867. The township of North Fork is located on the north branch of Crow river, hence its name. The first officers were:

The Flood of 1867. - In the summer of 1867, about the middle of July, a cloudburst occurred which caused the greatest flood since the settlement of the township. Those settlers who happened to have journeyed to St. Cloud for supplies were unable to get home for several days, as the flood carried away the bridges. Some few started afoot and were rowed across some of the water courses in rude boats. One tells of being rowed across a tract of flooded land this side of Richmond in a trough hollowed out of a big tree, with a stick of timber across each end which was th,en again connected with another timber, this framework keeping the trough from tipping. This rude boat carried only one passenger besides the party at the oars. The charges were 25 cents for carrying one person across. The charges at Richmond were 50 cents for crossing the Sauk river. Some of the settlers had several tons of hay standing in cocks on the river bottoms. The hay that was cut was carried away and the standing grass was ruined for hay. In 1914 there was another severe flood, the most serious that has taken place since 1867.

The great snow storm of Jan. 6, 1873, is one that will long be remembered. One Rasmus Bottolfson perished in the storm. Nils N. Slenta, Levor Olson, Peder Pederson Mathismoen, Herbrand Olson, Syver C. Medboen, who had gone to Sauk Centre, had to stay there several days before the storm subsided enough to enable them to venture on their way home, the trip taking all day. Peder Thompson and son, Hans Bergrud, Ole Hanson Kaste and family were caught in the storm and reached the farm of Levor Olson, where there happened to be a straw shed where the teams were sheltered. The storm was so bad that the people were unable to carry hay to the horses for three days.

Aside from the first settlers already mentioned, there are a number of other citizens who have been prominent in the township. Edmond Nugent homesteaded the N. W. 1/4 of Sec. 18. After proving up he divided this farm between his two sons, Michael M. and John. Michael M. Nugent homesteaded the S. W. 14 of Sec. 7. Edward Meagher homesteaded the S. W. V4, of Sec. 6. He came from Sibley county. Mr. Meagher taught school; his son Samuel and his daughters, Katie, Hannah and Maggie, also taught school. Edward Meagher was the assessor for some time. He held the office of justice of the peace for several years. Robert Miller, a native of Pennsylvania but reared near Ottawa, Canada, homesteaded the N. E. 14 of Sec. 7. Edward Grady homesteaded the N. W. 14 Sec. 6. He sold this tract to J. J. How and moved to Sibley county. Frank Wilson located on the N. W. V4, of Sec. 5. Timothy Weston Wilson owned in early days the S. W. % of Sec. 6 and S. W. i/i S. W. 14 and N,. 1/2 of S. W. 14 and N. W. of S. E 14 Sec. 5, but never settled on it. These Wilsons were relatives of Mr. Wilson, the well-known pioneer of St. Cloud. Henry Sanders homesteaded the S. i/^ of N. W. % and N. 1/2 of S. W. % Sec. 2,. He came from near Ottawa, Canada. He was poisoned and died at Brainerd in the early eighties. Michael Rooney homesteaded the S. 1/2 N. W. 14 of Sec. 1 and the S. 1/2 of N. E. Sec. 2. William Martin lived on that place from the last part of the seventies to the early eighties. His wife was a sister to Rooney. Mr. Martin taught several terms of school under Supt. Gorman. Peter Flynn came to North Fork July 12, 1879. His family came in October. He rented the farm of J. J. How for 20 years. He purchased the N. W. 14 of Sec. 5, one of the Wilson places. He also purchased the land in Sec. 5, owned once by Timothy Weston Wilson.

Centennial year was duly celebrated by the pioneers. On July 41, 1876, they gathered in a grove of poplar trees where Syver Evenson some years before had built his cabin. Speeches, music, marching, horse races and other races made up the programme. Refreshments were furnished by the ladies. It is one of the memorable events of the settlement.

Like the rest of this vicinity. North Fork was ravaged by the grasshoppers in 1876. On July 16, that year swarms of grasshoppers began to settle on the ground. The air was so full of them that looking against the sun they appeared like a cloud; by evening the ground was literally covered. The grasshoppers not only fed on the crops, but gnawed the walls of the houses, giving them a spotty appearance. The crops of 1876 were badly damaged and those of 1877 were a total loss.

An old school register of District No. 83 shows Narve Erickson as first pupil registered; age 45, attendance 4 days. The second and third are Barbar Erickson and Runnug Erickson, age respectively 12 and 10. The last named are daughters of pupil No. 1. Among others named are Olaus Torgerson, aged 26 years; attendance I214 days. He became the husband of the teacher, whose name was Anna K. Kyllo. She taught school for three months in the log cabin of Ellen Baalson, who received the sum of $28.00 for furnishing the room and boarding the teacher. The teacher received $12.00 per month besides her board. The town of North Fork has a public hall located about one-half mile east of the center of the town on the N. W. % N. E. 14 Sec. 22.

The Grove Lake Academy was founded by the Rev. D. J. Cogan, who bought five acres from Michael Nugent, and established a school for young men. It was not located on Grove Lake, as its name might indicate, but on a small lake known in early days as Prairie Lake. For a short time there was a postoflice there by the name of Prairie Lake. This lake has since been drained by the Silk family, the present owners, and the lake bottom is now under cultivation. Professor Cogan moved his school to Sauk Center. The Grove Lake Academy building was sold with the farm, and was later destroyed by fire. Persons now prominent went to this academy. Among them is the Hon. Geo. R. Smith, now member of Congress from Minneapolis. Among other students were M. J. Nugent, for several years a merchant at St. Cloud, now of Milwaukee, Wis., where he is the proprietor of a Murray Institute; his brother, Ed. Nugent, a merchant of Maple Lake; and James Nugent of Murray Institute, St. Paul.

North Fork Insurance Company. - On Feb. 11, 1882, a meeting was held at the Big Grove store to consider a proposition to organize an insurance company. The constitution of the Manchester Insurance Company of Freeborn county and of Edda Vernon Insurance Company were considered as proper models for the proposed organization. After due consideration it was decided to adopt the Manchester constitution with a few changes. Among the resolutions passed at the meeting were these: "Resolved, that all persons speak- ing any of the Skandinavian languages be eligible to membership, Resolved, that the name be 'SVEA NORDEN.' " The following directors were chosen: Soren Halvorson, Narve Erickson, Frank A. Swenson, Kittel Halvorson, Peter O. Roe, John P. Quistberg, Ole O. Liabraaten, Ole Vig and Henry Hendreckson. Henry Hendreckson was president of the meeting and Peter O. Roe was secretary.

A meeting was again held on Feb. 25, 1882, the same parties, Henry Hendreckson and Peter O. Roe, were again president and secretary. It was decided to have the office of the company in the town of North Pork. The following officers were elected by ballot: K. Halvorson, president; Ole E. Vig, secretary, and Henry Hendreckson, treasurer. The treasurer's bond was placed at $500.

In the minutes of the first annual meeting held Jan. 2, 1883, in T. J. Anderson's house, the name appears as "Farmer Asurance Selskab af North Pork." The report of Jan. 8, 1884, shows 50 members. Total receipts, $124.51; expenses, $58.00; balance in treasury, $66.51. The secretary submitted to the members the question of whether a loss payable clause of one Jonas J. Smith should be endorsed. It was decided not to endorse it. The papers were all in the Norwegian language, but translated, and a copy filed with town clerk. The constitution in English was filed in North Fork in January, 1886.

Brooten Farmers' Co-Operative Creamery Association.^ - In the early nineties promoters came along and prevailed upon the farmers to take shares in a creamery proposition. An organization was perfected and a creamery was built. Several attempts were made to operate it, but all failed. After several years of litigation, the promoters dropped out and the shareholders sold the building to Soren Halvorson, who sold it to a new organization. The building was moved to a place near the south bank of Crow River, a little west of the town line road, between Lake George and North Fork. It was operated a short time by the farmers, but is now shut down. The Brooten Farmers' Co- Operative Creamery Association was organized in 1911 by Gustav Levorson, Ole H. Olson, Endre Thorson, Peter Pletchett, F. W. Silk, Math. Majerus, E. E. Baalson, Gust. Herbrandson, A. E. Baalson, H. J. Sandvig, and Nels Nelson. The first officers were: President, H. J. Sandvig; vice-president, Nels Nelson; secretary, Gustav Levorson; treasurer, A. E. Baalson. Other members of board of directors: Math. Majerus, Endre Thorson, Chas. Kittilson. The report of the year 1913 shows the following: Amount of butter fat, 136,- 517 pounds; total cash receipts, $47,635.52; butter made, 164,145 pounds.

The Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church. - The first religious services in this vicinity were held at the house of Nels Strandemoen, in the summer of 1866, by the Rev. Thomas Johnson. The families that attended were those of Nels Strandemoen, John U. Anderson, Andrew Erickson, Kittil Strande, Ole O. Ruud, Ellen Baalson, Hans P. Heieie and

Guberud. The church was organized in 1867 by the Rev. Abraham Jacobson, at the home of Reier Thortenson (Skort). The first pastor was the Rev. John Moses.

The first confirmation was held in Nels Strandemoen's house June 13, 1869. The following were members of the class: Geoline Anderson, Oline Strande, Thora Halvorson, Helga Levorson, Maria Nubson, Margit Thompson, Maret Skorta, and two girls from Douglas county, Thone and Margit, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Ole Haugan. Knud E. Knutson and his brother, H. E. Knutson, were also of this class. At these services the Rev. Nils Brant of Decorah, Iowa, was present. A log chapel was partly erected in the edge of the grove on the N. E. y4, Sec. 28. Before it was completed it was decided to change the site to the N. W. 14 N. E. 14 Sec. 22, and the chapel Avas moved to that place and completed.. This was under the pastorate of L. J. Markhus. The chapel was never dedicated. In 1880 a commodious frame church ninety feet long was built. The old chapel was sold at auction to Ole Halvorson and by him resold to Ellen Baalson who tore It down and re-erected it into a barn, which is still standing on the old homestead. The frame church was dedicated on June 28, 1894, by Rev. K. Bjorgo. This church was destroyed by a cyclone July 4, 1913. The next Sunday the congregation met at the ruins of the old church and decided to rebuild. A structure partly brick 44 feet wide and 90 feet long, full basement, now marks the place where the log chapel once stood.

This structure, when completed, cost about $20,000. The cornerstone was laid July 4, on the date of the anniversary of the destruction, and the structure was dedicated July 5, 1914. The pastors have been: Rev. J. O. Moses, 1868-1869; Rev. L. J. Markhus, 1869-1883; Rev. Nils Giere, 1883- 3899; Rev. T. O. Tolo, the present pastor, from 1899. The congregation has a resident parish school teacher who is furnished with a residence located on the church property, which consists of a fortyacre tract, of which the teacher has free use.