Morgan Township

Morgan Township

Morgan township is located in the east central part of Redwood county, and embraces Congressional township 111-34. It is bounded on the north by Sherman, on the east by Brown county, on the south by Brookville. and on the west by Three Lakes. The Sleepy Eye -Redwood Falls branch of the Chicago and Northwestern crosses it diagonally from the southeast to the northwest corner. The surface is low and rolling in some places and high level prairie in others. Its only village is Morgan. There are five school houses. The predominating nationality is German.

The original survey was made in 1858, work being begun on July 8. by James L. Nowlin, U. S. deputy surveyor, and finished July 13. He described the land as low and marshy in some places, and rolling or high level prairie in others. The soil was first rate all through with one or two exceptions. There are many marshes. He found an Indian trail in section 22. There was a small lake in parts of sections 32 and 33. The U. S. Territorial road extends northwest and southeast through the center of the township. He found the agency road between sections 3 and 4 in the northern part of the township. There was no timber, neither was there any stones or minerals worthy of note, and there were no springs.

Beginning with the organization of the county this township was considered a part of Redwood Falls township. Morgan township was created by the county commissioners May 11, 1880, and an election ordered held at the "Railroad Station House" on May 26, 1880. The History of the Minnesota Valley published in 1882 says: "Owing to insufficiency of notice, this meeting was not held. The county commissioners being notified of the fact, appointed the following officers: Thomas Butcher, chairman, L. C. Ketcham and William McGinnis, supervisors ; James Butcher, clerk; C. Christianson, treasurer; Peter Madsen and Ehud Peterson constables. The first settlement was made by the tenants on the farms of the large land-owners, who own over two-thirds of the town. They began to open up these farms about eight years ago, and built a number of houses for their tenants. Settlement by men on their own land began a couple of years later. The village of Morgan was laid out in August, 1878, and contains one general store, one blacksmith shop, one lumber yard, one elevator and one hotel. The postoffice was established the same year, and the present incumbent, George Knudsen, appointed postmaster." According to the transcript of the minutes made by F. W. Zaske, the town clerk, the first town meeting was held at Morgan Station on March 8, 1881. Ten votes were cast, and officers were elected as follows: Supervisors, C. R. Kundall (chairman), William McGinnis and G. M. Kurd ; clerk, James Butcher ; treasurer, George Knudsen ; justices, F. S. Hollan and C. Christianson ; constable, W. Behnkie.

Gales township is located in the southwest part of Redwood county, bordering the west side, and embraces Congressional township 110-39. It is bounded on the north by Westline, on the east by Johnsonville, on the south by Springdale, and on the west by Lyon county. The Cottonwood river flows in a southeasterly direction through the central part of it, and two small creeks flow in a northeasterly direction through the east part. The surface is a high rolling prairie. There are no railroads nor villages in Gales township. The trading centers are Tracy in Lyon county, Walnut Grove, Milroy and Redwood Falls in Redwood county. There are four school houses. The predominating nationality is American.

The original survey of this township was begun July 10, 1867, and finished July 15, 1867, by Richard H. L. Jewett and George G. Howe, TJ. S. deputy surveyors. The surface was described as high, rolling prairie, and the soil was not all first class, but quite light and sandy in some places. The banks of the Big Cottonwood had an occasional clump of willow and box elder trees. A small lake was found in sections 5, 8 and 9.

The History of the Minnesota Valley published in 1884 says: "This town was named for the early settlers, A. L. and S. S. Gale, who came in May, 1872 ; at about the same time C. H. and C. W. Piper located. A. J. and C. E. Porter came during the same summer. July 18, 1876, the first town meeting was held at the house of A. J. Porter; officers elected: A. J. Porter, chairman; C. J. Nelson and J. J. Kelsey, supervisors; C. E. Porter, clerk; S. S. Gale, assessor ; C. J. Nelson, treasurer ; A. L. Gale and A. P. Langnest, justices; Hans Peterson, constable. The first school was taught by Ada Thrall in the summer of 1879, using 0. "W. Ellis' granary. There are now three frame school houses in the town."

A. M. Grunden, the present town clerk, has devoted considerable time to research concerning the early days of Gales township, and has written for this history the following article.

The first settler in township 110, range 39, was a Swedish family, consisting of A. P. Lanquest, his wife and baby daughter. They came about 1871 and settled on the northeast quarter of section 24. Next came S. S. Gale and wife; A. L. Gale, a single man; A. J. Porter and wife, and Charles F. Porter and wife. These families arrived in 1872. The Porters settled on the south half of section 8, and the Gales on the east half of section 10.

The same year (1872) a number of other settlers came, among whom should be mentioned Jacob Johnson and wife ; Ch. Gulick Johnson (or Jacobson), a single man ; Lars Peterson and wife and child ; his father, Peder Pederson, a widower ; and Hans Pederson, a single man. Jacob Johnson settled on the southwest quarter of section 32; Christian Gulick Johnson (or Jacobson) on the southeast quarter of section 30; Hans Pederson on the northwest quarter of section 32 ; Pars and Peder Pederson on the northeast quarter of section 32.

Taxes were low. Property was assessed by 0. C' Martin of Redwood Falls in 1876. But there was not much to assess, Messrs. Grasshoppers did the harvesting in 1873, 1874, 1875, 1876 and 1877. and Mr. Prairie Fire did the threshing.

The first town meeting in Gales township was held at the home of A. James Porter, in the soxitheast quarter of section 8, on July 18, 1876. The meeting was called to order by C. F. Porter, who was elected clerk. A. L. Gale was made moderator, and S. S. Gale and C. J. Nelson, judsres. The judges and the clerk swore each other into service. The next town meeting was ordered held at the home of C. J. Nelson, north half of section 28.

A special meeting to consider the issuing of railroad bonds was called Aug. 8, 1876. The meeting was called to order by A. L. Gale, acting clerk. S. S. Gale was moderator, and explained the object of the meeting. The question was then put, "Shall the County of Redwood issue bonds to the amount of $50,000 to aid in the construction of a railroad between Sleepy Eye in Brown county and Redwood Falls in Redwood county." Eleven votes were cast, every one being against the proposition.

In 1915 the number of voters had increased to a considerable degree. At a special meeting held June 7, 1915, the question was put: "Shall the sale of intoxicating liquors be prohibited in Redwood county?" Of the seventy-nine votes cast, fifty-two were for prohibiting the sale, and twenty-seven for continuing the sale. A. M. Grunden and S. E. Weber were clerks of the election, while S. P. Hicks, A. P. West and J. J. Johnson were the judges. At the general town meeting held March 14, 1916, there were sixty-nine votes cast. The list now contains the names of ninety -six who are qualified to vote at the election in November, 1916.

Johnsonville township is located in the west-central part of Redwood county, and embraces Congressional township 110-38. It is bounded on the north by Granite Rock, on the east by Waterbury, on the south by North Hero, and on the west by Gales. The Cottonwood river passes its southwest corner and Sleepy Eye creek rises here and flows eastward in the northern section of it. The surface is rolling, generally, but marshy in some places. The trading centers are Walnut Grove, Revere and Lamberton, in Redwood county, and Tracy in Lyon county. There are five school houses. The predominating nationality is Germen.

The survey of this township was begun July 20, 1859, and finished July 27, 1859, by Mahlon Black, U. S. deputy surveyor. He described the land as generally rolling and marshy. The soil was first class. There was very little timber found.

Beginning Sept. 4, 1866, Johnsonville was included in Yellow Medicine township and after Yellow Medicine county was organized March 6, 1871, was considered a part of Redwood Falls township. Johnsonville was created July 16, 1878, at the home of Andrew Johnson. No meeting was held on that date.

The History of the Minnesota Valley published in 1882 says: "January 9, 1879, the county commissioners appointed officers to hold till the following election : August Larson, chairman, H.

Burmeister and Gust. Johnson, supervisors ; A. P. Johnson, clerk ; Swan Johnson, assessor; C. Noah, treasurer; C. Herder and C. P. Johnson, justices; C. Eckland and L. Johnson, constables. The first settlers were Andrew Larson, Charles Lund, Peter Halt, Henry Anderson, Gust, and Lewis Johnson, who came in 1872. The town was named for the Johnsons living in it. "

Waterbury township is located in the south-central part of Redwood county and embraces Congressional township 110-37. It is bounded on the north by Vail, on the east by Willow Lake, on the south by Lamberton, and on the west by Johnson ville. Sleepy Eye creek crosses it in the north-central part, flowing in an easterly and southeasterly direction. The surface is gently rolling, generally; but marshy along the stream. The Vesta- Sanborn branch of the Chicago and Northwestern crosses its northeast corner. The trading centers are Lamberton, Wanda and Wabasso. There are five school houses. The predominating nationality is German.

The original survey of this township was made during 1859 by M. Black, U. S. deputy surveyor. The work was started on July 13, 1859. The land was first class generally. A marshy stream entered in section 7, running through sections 8, 9, 10, 3, 2, 1 and 12 and thence into Sundown. Along this stream the land was very low and marshy. In other places the land was rolling, generally.

Beginning with March 2, 1868, the western half of Waterbury township was included in Yellow Medicine township, and after Yellow Medicine county was organized, March 6, 1871, was considered a part of Redwood Falls township, together with the eastern part, which in the meantime had been considered a part of Redwood Falls township since the organization of Redwood county. Waterbury township was created by the commissioners March 20, 1878.

The History of the Minnesota Valley published in 1882 says: "The name was derived from a town of the same name in Vermont. The first settlers were W. J. and Alfred Swoffer, and M. M. Madigan ; they came in the spring of 1872, and all located in section 3. James P. and A. Christenson came the same year. The first town meeting was held April 9, 1878, at Alfred Swoffer 's house in section 28. Officers elected : R. Clausen, chairman, Hans Hanson and John Belfany, supervisors ; W. J. Swoffer, clerk ; J. E. Kenyon, assessor ; Lewis Basel, treasurer ; Benjamin Butler, justice, and Henry Schmidt, constable. The German Methodist denomination have an organization and hold services at the houses of the members, occasionally, having no regular pastor.

The first marriage in the town was that of Alfred Swoffer and W. M. Knight, December 1, 1879. The first birth was that of Charles W. Clausen, a son of R. and Mary Clausen, May 1, 1874. The first death was that of an infant daughter of John Balfany in September, 1878."

The Minnesota Valley Division of the "Winona & St. Peter, now the Sleepy Eye-Redwood Falls branch of the Chicago & Northwestern, was built through Morgan township in 1878. At that time the trade of Redwood county centered at Redwood Falls or went south to Sleepy Eye and Springfield, thriving young towns on the main line of the Chicago & Northwestern. Midway between Sleepy Eye and Redwood Falls and in the center of the richest soil region of this part of the state the railroad established a siding, made arrangements for the shipping of farm products, etc., and called the station Morgan, after the township. The first employee of the company and the first man to settle in this new place was T. G. Holland, section boss. The first house built in Morgan was the house of "Tom" Holland, built near where the depot now stands and occupied by him as a home, a store, the postoffiee, and a boarding house. Mr. Holland soon was appointed postmaster, but his position did not carry with it many arduous duties, as the neighbors in the territory at that time were few and far between. He had no boxes to rent, and no well-to-do people to use a lock box or drawer. In the spring of 1878, Mel Tolman came to Morgan and commenced work for Holland as an assistant on the section. Then was when the Holland home became a boarding house. As the farmers began to occupy the territory around about this little village of one house and a box car Holland saw his opportunity and carried a small line of groceries, tobaccos, etc., for the occasional customer that ' ' came to town. ' ' The Holland home, repaired and enlarged, still stands near where it did, and is now occupied by Mrs. John Schwetzler. Tom Holland is dead, but his assistant, Mel Tolman, is still living, is hale and hearty at fifty-eight years of age, and ready to talk about the early days of this thriving village.

In 1881 George Knudson, of Sleepy Eye, built the first store in Morgan, and was appointed postmaster. The store occupied the present site of the new creamery. He stocked it with a general line of merchandise. In September, 1883, he sold out to Louis Gerstman, who continued the store until his death. His son, Otto, continued the business for a while as administrator. Some years later, the son, Frank, after graduating in pharmacy, put in a stock of drugs and moved the store to Vernon avenue. He is now occupying the new Arcade. The store thus has a continuous history back to 1881.

Another early store was that of a man named Rinke, who erected a building and put in a small stock of goods on the present site of the Schieffert building, opposite the State Bank of Morgan.

The Northwestern Gazetteer issued early in 1888, shows the following business activities: Dingier, Anna, dressmaker; Eischen, N. & Co., general store and postofSce ; Gerstman, L., general store; Kives, Michael, saloon; Marti, John, lumber; Miller, "Wm., blacksmith; Mire, Karle, blacksmith; Robinson & Teas, hardware ; Ryden T. F., lumber ; Van Dusen, G. W. & Co., grain ; Wegner, "Wm., saloon; Wegner & Weller, farm implements.

When the Gazetteer was issued in 1890, the village had grown considerably, and Catholic, Presbyterian and German Lutheran churches had been erected. The business activities shown in the Gazetteer of that year were : Breman, John, dressmaker ; Eischen, N. & Co., general store; Faeber, Joseph, butcher; Gerdes, Richard, postmaster, general store and notary public ; Gerstman, L., general store; Hellig, John, hotel; Hitz, Hil, saloon; Kives, Michael, saloon; Marti, John, lumber; Miller, William, blacksmith; Mire, Karle, blacksmith ; Moore, Harvey, blacksmith ; Newman, Henry, hardware ; Newman, McRea & Junger, lumber ; Robinson & Teas, hardware ; Ryden, T. F., lumber ; Tisser Bros., saloon ; Van Dusen, G. W. & Co., grain; Wegner, Wm., saloon; Wegner & Wilder, farm implements.

The Gazetteer for 1892 shows these activities: Albrecht & Grabow, general store; Benham & Austin, hardware; Dahmes, J. & Co., boots and shoes ; Eagle Mill Co., grain ; Eischen, N. & Co., general store; Faeber, Joseph, butcher; Fixsen Bros., saloon; Frank, John, saloon; Gerdes Richard, general store and notary;

Gerstman, L., general store; Goblisch & Gobliseh, blacksmiths; Heinke, R. F., farm implements; Hodges, Wm. R., proprietor Morgan Messenger; Jungers, John, hotel; Jungers & Hopp, farm implements; Lorge, Kate, dressmaker; Lorge, N. D., grocer; Marti, John lumber ; Miller, Wm., blacksmith ; Morgan Messenger, W. R. Hodges, proprietor ; Omehl, A., grocer ; Rider, Wm., railroad, telegraph and express agent; Ryden, T. F., lumber; Seifert, M., saloon ; Sleepy Eye Roller Mills Co., grain ; Van Dusen, G. W. & Co., grain ; Wilter Nic, furniture.

At first the street parallel with the railroad was used for business; but the use of this street for mercantile purposes was restricted by the fact that the south side was used by lumber yards, shipping and oil stations, elevators and the like. So, gradually, Vernon avenue, the street running north from the station, became the real business street. Extending from the corner of Front and Vernon, there is a solid line of business houses on both sides of the street, giving to the village a neat and busy appearance.

At the east end of the business district of Morgan is Vernon Park, a beautiful little breathing place for the residents of the village. Covered with trees in symmetrical formation, dotted here and there with flower beds, pleasant to look at, surrounded by cement sidewalks, walks laid out through the grounds, the whole plat covered with grass and well kept with no "Keep off the Grass" signs in sight, make Vernon Park a veritable oasis for the tired traveler.

The original plat of the town of Morgan was filed October 18, 1878. It was surveyed by Arthur Jacobi on August 14, 1878, for George B. Wright and Gustavus A. Austin. This land was in the west half of southwest quarter of section 115 and the east half of southeast quarter of section 16, town 111, range 34. It contained seven whole blocks, and Vernon Square. Blocks 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 extended to Front street, making them half a block longer than the ordinary size. Blocks 1 and 9 were only half a block wide. The streets ran in a northwest and southeast direction, and in a northeast and southwest direction. The northwest and southeast streets beginning at the south were : Front, Second and Third. The northeast and southwest streets, beginning at the east, are: Somerville, Bloomington, Vernon, Cleveland and Carlton. All the streets are 75 feet wide, except Vernon, which is 100 feet wide. The alleys are all 20 feet wide.

The plat of Schoffmann's Second Addition to Morgan was filed June 20, 1901 by Joseph and Catherine Schoffmann. The plat of H. M. Ball's rearrangement of lots 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 of block 3, Morgan, Minnesota, was filed May 10, 1902. The owners were H. M. Ball and Augusta Ball. The plat of Schoffmann's subdivision of lot 6, Auditor's subdivision No. 1 of the southwest quarter of southwest quarter of section 15, town 111, range 34 of

Morgan. This land was owned by Joseph Schoffmann. The plat of Hanson's second addition to Morgan was filed October 17, 1899. It belonged to Peter C. and Mary K. Hanson. The plat of Hanson's third addition to Morgan was filed June 22, 1900. This land belonged to Peter C. and Mary K. Hanson. The plat of Schoffmann 's addition to Morgan was filed October 4, 1900. This land belonged to Joseph and Catherine Schoffmann. The plat of the first addition to Morgan was filed November 27, 1888. The land belonged to Sarah E., Julia A., Kate M., Charles A. and Sarah M. Austin, and Carrie A. and Vernon A. Wright. The plat of the second addition to Morgan was filed on October 10, 1890. The land was owned by Julia A., Kate M., Charles A., and Sarah M. Austin, and Carrie A. and Vernon A. Wright. The plat of Gerstmann's rearrangement of block 10 of the first addition to Morgan was filed April 20, 1892. The land was owned by Louis and Anna Gerstmann. The plat of George W. Porter's addition to Morgan was filed April 21, 1893. This land belonged to George W. and Luella E. Porter. The plat of an addition to Morgan lying east of the original plat was filed July 29, 1893. This land was owned by Peter C. and Mary K. Hanson. The plat of Davidson's first addition to Morgan was filed January 25, 1909. The land was owned by F. E. Davidson.

Morgan was the first village in Redwood county to be incorporated by petition to the county commissioners. The three older villages, Redwood Falls, Lamberton and Walnut Grove were incorporated by the legislature. A petition was presented to the commissioners on January 2, 1889, setting forth that on January 1 the village had a population of 230, and asking that parts of sections 15, 21 and 22, township 111, range 34, be incorporated as the village of Morgan. Those signing the petition were: S. A. Longnecker, Morris Christensen Henry Neumann, Nicholas Eischen, Chas. Wegner, E. A. Blanchard, S. F. Porter, Geo. E. Conley, H. Porter, Micke Kives, G. B. Tretbar, A. L. Robinson, Louis Gerstmann, Nick Welter, William Hopkins, Henry Holkal, F. Wegner, H. Stitz, Frank A. Jacoby, Anson Arcker, P. F. Ryder, Jr., Peter Radidow, Wm. Kinman, Th. Bethke, Henry Welder, F. A. Wegner, Wm. Mueller, Jerry Reardon, Dennis Reardon, Thorn. Thompson, H. Moore, Jos. Heiling, Dan. McGregor, John Marti, P. F. Ryder, Sr., Geo. Leatherman, E. Leatherman, R. Gerder, Frank Billington, Ben Rodidow, Joe Fries and Geo. W. Robinson.

The petition was granted, and an election ordered held on the question, February 9, 1889, at the hotel office of Mike Kives, at "Morgan Station," in charge of S. A. Longnecker, Henry Neumann and Nick Welter. Of the fifty votes cast, only two were opposed to the incorporation.

The first meeting of this council was held on February 23, 1889, at which all members of the council were present. At this meeting the ordinances that completed the organization were drafted and enrolled in the ordinance book of the new village of Morgan. From this date on until 1902 no items of great importance came up ; just the routine business of a small village. In 1902 the voters of Morgan elected a new council, consisting of young men, some of whom had just attained to manhood legally.

The members of the council were : President, A. P. Metag ; councilmen, John Marti, J. C. Albrecht, Charles Porter; recorder, Otto Gerstman. This council started in to do things; first making arrangements with the Chicago & North Western railway for two train loads of sand and gravel. It was donated by the railway. With this they built the sidewalks on Vernon avenue of cement and of good width. Then turning their attention to other improvements they let contracts for a $6,000 sewer on Vernon avenue and a town hall to cost $3,000. The spirit and enterprise of this council will never be forgotten in Morgan. The next great improvement was in 1913, when, during the time J. C. Jackson served as president of the council, the waterworks was put in and the town electric lighted. While C. B. Root was president of the council, the "White Way" was put in place on Vernon avenue, making that street as light as other towns and cities throughout the country.

In 1893, under the direction of H. M. Ball, then chairman of the school board, the first half of the present school building was built, being sufficient at that time for the children of school age. The building was outgrown within five years and in 1899 the other half was added, making it large enough to accommodate the high school as well.

Again, in 1915, the town has been obliged to remodel, and another story was added, the basement made to accommodate the manual training and domestic science classes. The building is thoroughly modern, and its grade of work is high. The high school has been under the charge of Prof. O. A. Brandt, for a few years, and has been brought to a high state of efficiency under his care. Prof. Brandt resigned his position this year to take a pension and a much needed rest.

Morgan at the present time has three elevators, two lumber companies, two live stock companies with ample yards, one creamery, four general stores, one modern drug store, one exclusive clothing store, two banks with deposits of over $600,000 between them, two up-to-date garages with modern equipment, two agricultural implement dealers, three restaurants, one ice cream parlor, one exclusive shoe dealer, one harness store, one furniture store.

It also has five churches, first class public school, a parochial school and a number of the so-called secret societies. Each one of the churches is looking out for the social life of the church and the ladies of Morgan are not behind any of their sisters in the neighboring towns in social life.

Churches and school houses dot the landscape in every direction from Morgan village, giving the dwellers in the farming districts every opportunity to enjoy the three great things in America, "education, patriotism and religion."

The Presbyterian Church was organized in 1888. The first board of trustees were : R. C. Robinson, P. C. Hansen, D. S. Mc- Gregory, J. "W. Carlile, William Leas, F. E. Davidson and S. A. Longnecker. The society owns a neat building for worship and a "manse," where pastors can enjoy life while officiating in their clerical capacity. The church has sat under the teaching of nine pastors before the present one, William Stewart Sheilds. Harry B. West is the Sunday school superintendent. There are nearly 100 members and the church has a Ladies' Aid Society and a Y. P. S. C. E.

Zion Lutheran Church was organized December 26, 1888. It is having a vigorous growth in the last few years and the building soon will be outgrown. Professor E. R. Bliefernicht comes from New Ulm every other Sunday to officiate as pastor.

The German Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1893 with about ten members, but the members succeeded in buying a school house and remodeling it into a church in 1897. The cost was nearly $2,000. This building was destroyed by fire soon afterwards with only $1,700 insurance on the property. By the untiring efforts of the pastor, Henry Pottleoff , and the congregation another church and parsonage was erected to cost over $6,000. This building was dedicated on Sunday, December 15, 1907, and it was a proud and happy congregation that gathered to hear the dedicatory sermon. The church has an enrollment of over 150 members with G. A. Rabe as pastor and E. H. Albrecht as Sunday school superintendent. The church has a flourishing woman's missionary society and Epworth leagues.

St. Michael's Catholic Church - This parish was formed about 1890 as a mission from the Sleepy Eye Church. This old first mission was struck by lightning in 1901 and burned to the ground. Shortly afterward the parish built the present brick building, which cost $15,000. The church, since its first establishment as a mission, has enjoyed a growing membership; ninety to one hundred families now partake of its communion. The church has conducted a parish school since 1904 for nine months in each year. Rev. V. Bozja is the present pastor.

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in 1888. It then numbered seven souls. In 1889 the society erected the present church with living rooms for the pastor in the rear. Three years later a parsonage was built and occupied by Rev. W. Langholz, who still retains the pastorage. The church cost over $4,500 and the parsonage $2,000. The membership numbers nearly 100 and there is a Sunday school of over 100 members.

The Morgan Live Stock Shipping Association is a new organization of farmers in the vicinity of Morgan who have joined together to ship their own stock direct. While organized for some time, the association has never done much until its reorganization in January, 1916. The company is shipping all kinds of live stock, cattle, hogs, sheep, calves, etc., and the association now numbers 148 members. The manager, R. H. Kempton, is kept very busy during the shipping season. The first carload was shipped on January 25, 1916, and 42 cars of all kinds of live stock have since been shipped. The officials are: President, Lars Benson; vice-president, N. P. Nelson; secretary and treasurer, John Welter; and these three, with Nick Heiderscheir and Matt Seifert, constitute the present board of directors.

The Farmers' Elevator Company, recently organized, is one of Morgan's live institutions. The company has shipped some 162,000 bushels of grain and corn in the last two years, and bids fair to equal, if not exceed, that figure in the next two. Hon. C. M. Bendixen is president of the association, John Welter secretary, with T. Stevens, buyer and manager.

The Morgan Co-operative Creamery Co. On January 28, 1916, sixty farmers met at the city hall in Morgan and organized the above institution, taking over the old creamery then in operation. By February 3, 111 farmers had signed for stock and at this writing some 200 farmers are holding stock in this new enterprise. The first board of directors was Lars Benson, John Welter, C. M. Bendixen, F. W. Zaske, C. G. Sasse, Wm. Hilger and E. A. Zimmerman. From this board of directors were chosen the following officers: President, Lars Benson; vice president, F. W. Zaske; treasurer, C. M. Bendixen; secretary and manager, John Welter. The company is building a new creamery on Front street opposite the depot to cost with its sanitary, modern equipment nearly $20,000. It will have all the latest style of machinery, a cooling machine with which can be made artificial ice if needed, storing rooms and covered driveway for taking in cream at specially prepared intake rooms. The creamery now employs two men to gather cream who bring in about one-third of the cream supply, the rest being delivered by the patrons themselves.

The Morgan Milling Co. has been in existence for a number of years as a co-partnership, the mill having been built by Casper Green, a heavy land owner and farmer. Soon after the mill was started Green & Son realized that to be successful they should have an elevator to buy grain, so bought on the railroad rightof-way. They continued until January 1, 1916, when Casper Green, wishing to retire from active life in town, was instrumental in incorporating the milling business and elevator into the Morgan Milling Co., Inc. During the last two years the mill has shipped about eighty carloads of flour and feed for eastern trade, while their local trade in Morgan and state trade has been as much more. The elevator shipped during the last two years 360,000 bushels of all kinds of grain, corn, etc.

The mill makes a brand of flour, which is enjoying a good reputation and sale. It is called "Monarch." The officers of the Morgan Milling Co., are: President, Casper Green; vice president, W. J. Mattke ; secretary and treasurer, Alfred Green. The Morgan Milling Co. is but one of the many outlets for the disposing of the farm crops in Morgan township and vicinity.

The Wherland Electric Co., while organized to use the surplus electrical energy in the power at Redwood Falls, has its main office at Morgan. It is now supplying light and power at North Redwood, Morton, Franklin and Morgan. The president and general manager is Alfred Green, secretary and treasurer at the Morgan Milling Co. They have in contemplation the supplying of several more towns adjacent to Redwood Falls as soon as extra power is secured.

The vicinity of Morgan was settled in the middle seventies. In 1876 two brothers, Thomas and James Butcher in looking for a location found their way into the Indian reservation and settled upon a piece of land in the northeastern part of what is now known as Morgan township, Redwood county. Just over the line of the township in what is now known as Sherman, about the same time came the Root family and the family of John "W. Carlile. A little later Russell Robinson bought land south of the Butchers and Lars George with his family settled in the southeastern part of the township on the land now occupied by his heirs. To the northwest of these sturdy settlers was the little city of Redwood Falls, beautifully situated at the junction of the Redwood river and Ramsey creek, and just before its confluence with the Minnesota river. Southeast of this home of fertility was the quaint town of Sleepy Eye, the site of many Indian stories and traditions. Not far away were the ruins of the old Sioux Agency.

On May 11, 1880, the county commissioners granted a petition organizing the town, and called an election to be held May 26, 1880. On that date the first town meeting was held with the following result : Whole number of votes cast, fifteen ; of which the following officers each received fourteen and were declared elected: Chairman, C. R. Kimball; supervisors, W. McGinnis, G. W. Hurd ; clerk, James Butcher ; treasurer, Geo. Knudson ; as-

Thirty-six years ago, four years after the first inhabitant had commenced to till the soil in this fertile spot, but fifteen voters could be found to elect the first town officers. Out of the fifteen voters, ten were elected to office. This was certainly an army of officers, not privates.

North Redwood

The vicinity of North Redwood became the homestead of J. S. G. Honner, in the sixties. In 1876 an attempt was made to start a village called Riverside, in the same vicinity. Streets were laid out in sections 20 and 29, a warehouse erected, a store, hotel, blacksmith shop and other buildings put up, and a postoffice established. But diminishing waters of the Minnesota caused a cessation of river traffic, and the village was abandoned. Some of the buildings were moved to Redwood Falls.

The Minneapolis & St. Louis reached Morton in 1882, but was not pushed on through Redwood county until 1884. In the fall of 1884, Thomas Tradewell erected a dwelling, and E. N. Swan & Co. opened a general store. A railroad station was established, and Richard W. Sears, became station agent. It was here that Mr. Sears started the mail order business that has become famous as the Sears, Roebuck & Co.

"When the Northwestern Gazetteer was issued in 1886, Mr. Sears was still the postmaster, express agent and station agent. E. N. Swan & Co. still had their general store. George Gigerich had a saloon. C. D. Haven & Co. had a lumber yard. J. S. G. Honner was keeping a boarding house. John Weiss was also keeping a boarding house.

In 1888, the Northwestern Gazetteer showed the following business activities in North Redwood: Birum & Anderson (Eric Birum, Albert J. Anderson, proprietors North Redwood Roller Mill) ; Carleton, Guy H, railroad, express and telegraph agent Chollar, H. D., lumber; Dworshak, Frederick, hay presser Fleischer, Charles, stone quarry; Hammer, Frank F., hardware Honner, John S. G., hotel ; Johnson, W. J., lumber agent ; McGuire & Kuenzli (John M. McGuire, Emil Kuenzle), general store; Mulford, A. D. & Co., grain; North Redwood Roller Mill, Birum & Anderson, proprietors ; Pacific Elevator Co., grain ; Swan, Edward N., general store and postmaster; Tradewell, Thompson J., agent Pacific Elevator Co. ; Weiss, John, hotel.

flour mill ; Carlton, Guy H., railroad, express and telegraph agent ; Fleischer, Charles, stone quarry ; Honner, Annette, hotel ; Kuenzli & Dreyer (Emil Kuenzli, Rufus Dreyer), general store; Laird- Norton Co. (W. J. Johnson, agent), lumber; Lindeman, August A., hardware; Mulford, A. D. & Co. (T. J. Treadwell, agent), grain; Pacific Elevator Co. (A. G. Treadwell, agent), grain; Schumacher, Peter, furniture and wagonmaker ; Swan, Edward N., general store; Tradewell, Thompson J. (agent A. D. Mulford & Co.), coal and grain ; "Weiss, John, hotel.

North Redwood was surveyed by Tillson Tibbetts November 1, 1884, for John S. G. Honner and Antoinette Honner, his wife. The plat was filed August 22, 1885. This land was in the west half of northwest quarter of section 29, town 113, range 35. It contained one whole block and five fractional blocks. All the streets were 60 feet wide, except East street, which is 50 feet; Front street, which is 34 feet; and River street, parallel to the track, which is 66 feet. All the alleys were 23 feet wide. The north and south streets beginning on the west, are : Main, Center and East. The east and west streets, beginning on the north, are : Coon, Front and River, which last named is a continuation of Front street.

On June 6, 1903, a petition was presented the county board asking for the incorporation of parts of sections 29 and 30, township 113, range 35, there being at that time 143 persons in the hamlet. Those signing the petition were : Charles Fleischer, Thomas Hoskins, Allen Whitaker, E. H. Davis, J. R. Keefe, J. R. Farrell, S. J. Sampson, A. G. Tradewell, Harvey Duncan, George Starken, Philip Starken, Henry Dreyer, G. W. Yontz, B. Kuenzli, H. W. Shoemaker, A. H. Meyer, "W. B. Herman, Jno. H. Fish, Fred Swempke, Henry Timm, Lewis Peterson, James Stephens, L. C. Fleischer, A. H. Page, E. A. Stoddard, A. M. Larson, Ben H. Kuenzli, Charles Kuenzli, F. W. Hoepner, John Wueiss and P. E. Van Dusen.

The petition was granted and an election ordered held at Shoemaker's Hall, August 14, 1903, in charge of Charles Fleischer, J. R. Keefe and Thomas Hoskins. Of the twenty-three votes cast, only two were against the proposition.