Otisco Township

Otisco Township

A village of the above name wp.s laid out in July, 1857, by Warren Bundy and S. S. Goodrich, but it never amounted to very much. Although, doubtless, the proprietors indulged in golden di'eams of the prospective importance and business prosperity of the place, its history can be summed up in a few words. Where once they hoped to hear the busy whir of machinery, or the ceaseless hum of commercial activity, now I'esounds only to the low of kine or whistle of the plowboy at his work, and is covered with nodding corn or bending grain. In its infancy it was nothing, and at its prime it had but the sawmill, a store and the postoffice.

The sawmill was erected in the fall of 1857 by Daniel and Gould Grover, two sons of Silas Grover, who ran it but a short time, when it was purchased by Griggs & Obert. After a time it again passed into the hands of Gould Grover, who was killed in the mill, when it became the proi)erty of Eno & Beatty, but they becoming unpopular left it, and the dam going out, the mill fell into decay and went to pieces.

A small store, the stock consisting of groceries, clothing, etc., was started by the Goodriches, at Otisco, in the latter part of 1857. It was but a small affair and did not last any length of time.

Prominent People

resides on section 31, on the farm, part of which he purchased in 1869, and which contains 354 acres, he having sold some six acres to the railroad company. He is a native of Stormont County, Ontario, born June 1, 1842, and was reared in the country of his birth. In 1862, he came to the United States, and for two years remained in Eiga, Monroe County, N. Y. From there he removed to Oil City, Pa., where he was engaged in the blacksmith trade for some two years, when he came west and worked at his trade in Owatonna, for Philip Shuester, but only staved one month, coming to Waseca Village where he opened a blacksmith shop of his own and there lived until April 1, 1871, when he moved on his farm. December 15, 1869, he was united in marriage with Parmelia Smith, in Byron Township. She was born at Oak Grove, Dodge County, Wis., February 1, 1852, and came to Minnesota Avith her parents in 1866. The family settled in Goodhue County, but a year later came to Byron Townsiiip, this county, where the father died in February, 1881 ; the mother lives near Alma City. Mr. and Mrs. Wood have been the parents of the following children : Jessie J., born August 27, 1871 ; Benjamin W., born January 19, 1873; James A., January 13, 1875 ; John W., born October 26, 1881, died November 12, 1883 ; Roger G., born March 28, 1878 ; Edna Jennie Grace, July 1, 1883, and Robert A., December 7, 1885. Mr. Wood is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He and his wife are members of the Wesleyan Church, and are ardent prohibitionists.

Samuel Leslie, one of the leading farmers of this town, is a native of Essex County, N. Y., born September 9, 1837. He came to Minnesota in November, 1866, and helped plat the city of Waseca in the spring and summer of 1867, and lived in that beautiful city until about 1870, when he moved to Otisco Township, on section 4, where he now resides, and where he has 240 acres of ver}^ fine land. His buildings are first class, and are surrounded with a fine grove and orchard. All this jjrosperity is the result of his own industry, he having settled here on the wild prairie, and by labor and perseverance he has made a beautiful home. He was married September 23, 1860, to Mar}' E. Sisson, and the}' have been the parents of ten children, seven of whom are living : Jennie M., born December 6, 1861, married to C. G. Mosher, February 10, 1886, and has one child, Ruth F., born in December, 1886 ; Frank J., born October 6, 1863; Herbert J.. February 7, 1866; Ptalph B., Apnl 7, 1869; Mark P., June 6, 1871, and Ella, July 12, 1S75.

Joseph T. Dunn, who resides on his highly cultivated farm on section 4 in this township, is a native of Park County, Ind., born November 21, 1855. He is the son of William and Mary J. (Baird) Dunn, both natives of Ireland, the former born March 31, 1823, and died March 20, 1884; the latter born in 1819, and died in September, 1871. When Joseph was but one year old the family came to this county, settling on section 35, Woodville Township, where they were among the earliest settlers. In this county he was reared, and he remained at home with his parents until after the death of his mother, when he commenced life for himself. March 21, 1877, he and Lena Beck were united in marriage, at Owatonna. The following summer he rented a farm in Wilton Township, where he raised one crop, and then bought eighty acres of land in Woodville Township, where he lived until the spring of 1881. He then purchased 120 acres on section 24, Otisco, but five years later he bought the place where he now lives, selling the farm on section 24 to James M. Dunn. Mr. and Mrs. Dunn are the parents of three children : Joseph II.. born January 9, 1878; Anna, December 31, 1879, and Martha, November 2, 1SS3. Mr. Dunn does a general farming and stock-raising business, and owns a fine horse of the Norman Percheron breed.

sided with his parents until he was twentyone years of age, when he moved to Wisconsin, but after five years' residence there he came to Wilton, Minn., where he spent about eighteen months. From there he went to the city of Waseca, where he remained two years and a half. The next three years were spent on his father's farm on section IG, this township. He then removed to Meriden, Steele County, but two years later came back to the farm, which he is now working for his father on shares. He is doing a general farming and stock-raising business, and has a herd of some twelve head of cattle, two horses, besides other stock. He was united in marriage July 20, 1871, in Waseca with Sarah Ellis, who was born November 21, 1852. They have been the parents of three children: Oora A., born April 19, 1872; Edwin II., October 4, 1873, and Erskine A., August 14, 1882. Mr. Robbins has filled the offices of school director and clerk, and constable and road overseer, and is a Prohibitionist.

Asa Robbins, father of H. O. Robbins, was born in the State of New York in 1811. On the 5th of February, 1838, he was married to Hulda A. Chapman. She was born January 9, 1815, and died on the 10th of December, 1885.

William Kugath waS born in Germany, April 27,1857, and came to the United States in 1873. He came to Chicago on first landing, and there he remained for six years, and then came to Waseca County, and worked for different parties inOtisco Townsliip until 1883, when he purchased 160 acres of land on section 12, in this town, where he now lives. His parents came to this country in 1881, and are now keeping house for him. He was a poor man when he came here but lie now has a good farm, well improved and well stocked, and is in good shape financially. He is a Republican in politics and a Lutheran in religion.

Gustaf Johnson was born in Sweden, November 25, 1831, and lived in that country until coming to the United States. He was united in marriage with Johanna Johnson, a native of Sweden, born in 1831. They came direct from their native land to Otisco Township, where Mr. Johnson purchased eighty acres of land on section 2, where he now lives. They are the parents of six children : Christina, born July 6, 1859; Charles, born April 24, 1861; Oscar, born January 28, 1864 ; Hilda, born August 21, 1866; John, born February 5, 1871, and Edwin, born December 15, 1872. All are living in this township except Oscar, who is in Idaho. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Lutheran Church, and a Republican in politics.

Otto Hanson was born in Norway, March 16, 1850, and came to the United States with his parents in 1867. His father died here October 1, 18S5, his mother in 1869, and both are buried in Otisco cemetery. He was married in Wisconsin, March 15, 1874, to Ellen Thompson, when he moved to eighty acres of land on section 24, that he had previously bought. He lived there awhile and then sold it and purchased 360 acres on sections 14 and 23, on which he has put up a fine house and a barn 32x88 -feet in size, with a wing to it 16x24 and granary and other outbuildings. When he came here he was a poor man, having nothing and owing $35 for his passage over the water, but he went to work for a farmer and worked three weeks for $5. He then hired out to work through haying and harvest for $13 per month, and from that on up until he is now in good comfortable circumstances, brought about mainly by his own industry and thrift. He and Mrs. Hanson are the parents of five children : Martin, born July 7, 1875; Helena Sophia, born September 27, 1876; Emil, born May 19, 1878; Mena, born January 16, 1880, and Henry Oscar, born January 13, 1884. lie and his family belong to the Lutheran Church.

United States for the fii-st time, in 184-9. He worked on a farm in New Jerse\', near Haddonfield, for five years, and then returned to" Ireland, but one year Later came back, and came west to "Wisconsin, where he bought a farm of John G. Pease, at La Prairie, south of Janesville. April 31, 1860, he was married at Watertown, Wis., to Sarah Fitzpatrick, and moved to his farm, where he had built a house and sunk a well eighty-one feet deep. He lived there awhile when he sold out and purchased eighty acres of land near Watertown, where he lived for a number of years. He enlisted in the Sixteenth Illinois Infantry and went to the front. While at Chickasaw, Ala., they lost fifty-two men by the close fire of the rebels, but he escaped scot-free. He was discharged in April, 1865, and having no money Capt. Warren of his regiment took his discharge and an order on the paymaster, and let him have the money, jjromising to send liis discharge, which he has failed j'et to do. He came home, arriving there about a week before the assassination of President Lincoln. He remained on his farm in Wisconsin until 1870, when he came to this county, arriving here April IS, and purchased the northwest quarter of section 25, this town. Tliey have had five children born to them : George, born May 3, 1861; William John, born February 20, 1863 ; Mary Ann, born October 8, 1865, died July 29, 1880 ; James, born January 28, 1868, and Patrick Thomas, born March 14, 1870. These were all born in Wisconsin. The family are all members of the Catholic Church, and he is a Democrat politically.

Johnny Larson was born in Sweden, April 2, 1849, and came to the United States with his parents in 1853. They remained for a short time at West Point, Ind., and then removed to Attica, in the same State. From the latter place they moved to this county, where the father purchased some forty acres of land on section 21, this township. Here Johnny Larson lived with his father, working on the farm until he was twenty-one years of age, when he was mai'- ried to Clara Matilda Johnson, and purchased 160 acres of land Avhere he now lives. At that time the place was but little improved, but he now has nearly ninety aci-es under cultivation, with a good house, barn, granar}', etc., and the buildings are surrounded by a fine grove. Mr. and Mrs. Larson have one child, Charles Arvid, born March 14, 1871. Mr. and ]\Irs. Larson are members of the Lutheran Church. He is a Republican.

C. Bauman who has a fine farm of 200 acres on sections 19 and 20. this township, is a native of West Prussia, Germany, born August 12, 1833. He lived in the land of his nativity for many years, and there, July 2, 1860, he was united in marriage with Wilhelmina Tesch, who was born in the same part oT Europe, February 7, 1837. They immigrated to America in 1871, and came at once to Waseca County, and rented a farm for some three years, when he bought his present place. When they came over to this country, many of the passengers had cholera, and some eight3'-five of them died, three of their children, John, Anna and Mary, among them. Mrs. Bauman died June 3, 1885, leaving six children : Otto, born December 2, 1861 ; Frank, born October 4, 1863 ; Carl, born March 4, 1873; Elizabeth, born Jul}' 2, 1876 ; Clara Augusta, born August 2, 1878, and Gustave, born September 2, 1886.

Mrs. Christine Spoonburg, widow, whose maiden name was Johnson, was born in Sweden, February 4:, 1837. She came to America in 1869, with her brother and sister, tlie former of whom lives in Davenport, Iowa, and the latter in Waseca. Christine Johnson was mai-ried to John Spoonburg, in New Richland. He, also, was a native of Sweden, born October 12, 1838, and came to this country in 1869, and purchased eighty acres of land on section 34, where his widow still resides. They had born to them six children: Abbie Althie, born September 17,

John A. Tolin was born in Sweden, April 29, 1859, and came to the United States in 1881, coming directly to Waseca County, on landing on the shores of this great republic. He remained in the city of Waseca, about a week, and then went to St. Peter where he remained two years, and then came to this township and bought eighty acres of land on sections 1 and 2, and built him a house on tlie last named. Mr. Tolin was united in marriage with Hilda Johnson, and they have one child, Hannah. Mr. Tolin carries on his farm and works at the trade of carpenter, when there is a demand for that kind of labor.

Fi'ederick Lundquist was born in Sweden, July 3, 1837, where his parents died. He came to the United States in 1806, and for the first year made his residence in Illinois, after which he came to Otisco Township, this county, and purchased 125 acres of land on section 2, where he now lives. January 3, 1869, he and Sophia Maria Larson were united in marriage, and they are the parents of four children : Ida Melvina, born February 21,1870; Simon Ludwig, January 1, 1872 ; Adla Lyustina, November 3, 1876 ; Hannah Albertina, September 17, 1881. Simon Ludwig died November 4, 1882. When Mr. Lundquist came to America he was a poor man, but by industry and energy he has acquired a fine property, and is on the high road to an easy competency. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, and a Republican.

John Youngberg was born in Sweden, October 5, 1811, and -when, in 1866, he immigrated to America, he came direct to Otisco Township, Waseca County, and worked as a farm hand for different parties until 1868,

27. He has since sold eighty acres of this, but purchased the same amount, and still owns 120 acres, on which he now carries on farming operations. Mr. Youngberg was married to Mary Hanson, who was born in Norway, June 15, 1852, and came to this country with her parents. They have had a family of twelve cliildren : August John, born June 12, 1870, deceased ; Alfred, born April 1, 1871 ; Hulda Christina, born Februar}' 23, 1873 ; Agnes Josephine, born February 19, 1875 ; Carl Oscar, born May 12, 1877 ; Ludwig, born December 13, 1879, deceased ; Otto Larson, born December 19, 1880, deceased ; Lena, born December 13, 1881 ; Samuel, born February 9, 1882, deceased; Tena, born May 10, 1883, deceased ; Theodore, born July 6, 1885, and Victor, born October 9, 1886, deceased. Mr. Youngberg's parents ai'e still living in the old country. Their name is Larson, but Mr. Youngberg changed his name owing to there being so many of the name of Larson in the vicinity, and the confusion in mail and other matters. He has three brothers and one sister in America, August J., in Nebraska, the others in the Black liills, Dakota. Their names are Gabriel, Otto and Mary.

Mrs. Louisa Peterson, widow, whose maiden name was Anderson, was born in Sweden, October 16, 1827. During the year 1856 she was united in marriage with John P. Peterson, a native of that country, born in 1828. In 1857, they, in company with Mrs. Peterson's mother, came to the United States, setthng in Princeton, 111., where they lived for seven j'ears, Mr. Peterson bemg engaged in working on farms for others. They then came to this county and settled on section

28, where he bought eighty acres of land, afterward addinji' 160 acres to it. In December, 1867, their Iiouse was burned down, so they dug a hole in the ground, in which they lived some six years, then built a good house, in which she now lives with two of her children, and carries on her farm, her hus- band having been killed by the cars in Februaiy, 1883, close to his home. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson were the parents of seven children : Andrew Oscar, born in Sweden, January 27, 1857, married and lives in this county ; Mary Louisa, born in Illinois, January 6, 1859, married ; Carl, born in Illinois, October 10, 1861, died in Princetown, July, 1857 ; Frank Victor, born October 2, 1862, married, and lives in Minneapolis ; Emma Sophia, born in Minnesota, October 1, 1865 ; Charles Leander, born December 6, 1867, and Anna Charlotte, born June 10, 1871, married.

Chai'les Gustafson was born in Sweden, April 17, 1845, and came to the United States in 1868. The same year he came to Waseca County and worked for different parties at farm work, which he followed for two or three years, when he purchased 120 acres of land on section .35, in Woodville township, on wbicli he built a house, barn, etc., and where he lived for a time. He then sold part of this and purchased eighty acres in section 2, of this township, where he now lives. His father died in this town in June, 1876, but the mother is still living hei'e. Mrs. Gustafson is also a native of Sweden and they have a family of seven children : Charles Emil, born April 10, 1876 ; Emma Otilla, born April 19, 1877; Alfred Theodore, born December 2, 1878 ; Joseph F., born June 27, 1880 ; Johanna Christine, born February 4, 1882 ; Fi'ank Ludwig, born November 21, 1884, and Oscar Simon, born January 5, 18S7. Mr. Gustafson is a Eepublican in politics and is a member of the Lutheran Church.

Frederick ZeU and his brother Louis have a very fine farm of some 240 acres of land in this township, and although they were poor men when they came here, yet by perseverance and industrj" they have acquired property worth about $8,000. Frederick was born in Prussia, January 12, 1846, and with with his brother came to America in 1872. For a year they remained in New York, and then came to this county, settling in Otisco Township. The}^ are Eepublicans in politics and are members of the Lutheran Church. Louis was married in the faU of 1884, to Otilda Piatt, and they are the parents of one child, Elfrida, born September 15, 1885. The brothers carry on farming and stock-raising on an extensive scale, and they deserve to be ranked among the wealthy farmers of "Waseca County.

Lars Peterson was born in Sweden, September 28, 1S30, and lived in that country until he was some thirty-six years old. April 9, 1855, he was united in marriage with Mary Oleson, and the following children were born to them in their native land : Sophia, born January 14, 1856 ; Alfred, April 23, 1858; Hadvig, May 13, 1860; Christina, March 27, 1802, and Halga, February 7, 1865. In 1866 Mr. Peterson and his family crossed the ocean to America, and all came direct to this place and settled on section 28, where he owns 160 acres of excellent land. Since coming to this country they have been the parents of four children : August, born September 25, 1869 ; Ida, December 10, 1872 ; Leonard, August 4, 1874, and Hildur, December 18, 1875. Sophia, their eldest child, married John Melvin, April 1, 1877, and resides in Swift County, this State. Mr. Peterson is a Kepublican in politics. The family are members of the Lutheran Church, the mission church building of that denomination standing on his farm not ten rods from his dwelling-.