Pilot Grove Township

Pilot Grove Township

This is congressional township one hundred and one (101) north, of range twenty-eight (28) west. It is the southwest township of the county, and is bounded on the north by the town of Jo Daviess; east, by Elmore township; south, by the State line; west, by the Martin county line.

Physical Features

The surface of this township averages eleven hundred and eighty feet above sea level, but there is one locality, in the town, which is twelve hundred and fifty feet, being among the highest lands in the county. Moraiuic hills appear along the southern boundary of the town.

The drift here is probably considerably over one hundred feet in depth, to bed rock. The flowing artesian well, on the Winch farm, on section eight, reported to be one hundred feet in depth, did not reach bed rock. The Winch well flowed for some four years, and ceased in 1879. A well sunk on section twenty, in 1880, to a depth of seventy feet, proved, also, a flowing well. It is quite evident, from these facts, that these valuable flowing fountains may easily be obtained in this township.

The general surface of the land is rolling prairie. The heads of Badger creek, in the north part of the town, and Otter creek, in tlie south half, and a small branch of the Blue Earth, are the only run- ning waters in the town. These streams are tributaries of the west branch of the Blue Earth river. There are, however, several small slough runs, which are considerable streams during parts of the year. There are, also, several small, but beautiful, silvery lakes in the town, known as Big lake. Pilot Grove lake, Weazel lake and Farlow lake, the latter named after one L. Farlow, a trapper, who, in the early years, trapped about these lake, for furs.

The timber, of which there is but little, is confined to the margins of these lakes. The grove known as Pilot Grove is the principal body of timber. The farmers of this town, also, have done a good work, in setting out many groves of forest trees, and the landscape presents much the appearance of a wooded country, and the people are every year adding to the number of these beautiful groves. The whole township should, and doubtless some daj' will be, in fact, as well as in name, largely a grove. The lands are well divided into tillable and pasturage, and the soil is as good as any in the State. The surface is easily drained. Good well water is found anywliere at moderate depth.

The Name

The town was named Pilot Grove bj' the special commissioners in 1858, and was so named because of the fine grove of native timber on the northern boundary of the town, and this grove was named Pilot Grove, because in the early days, before roads were established, this grove was a sort of land mark, on the wide prairies, by which the immigrant was piloted on his way westward. It may be added, too, that this grove, with its fine lake of sparkling waters and rich grasses surrounding it, was, in the days of the immigrants, a sort of capacious inn, or caravansary, or camping ground. There are live post offices in the United States which bear the name of Pilot Grove.

First .Settlement

Gilbert McClure was the first settler of Pilot Grove township. He located here in June, 1856, upon the west half of the northwest quarter of section two, and lots one and two in section three. Mr. McClure was born in Scotland. He came to the United States in 1852, and settled in the state of New York. Prom thence he removed to Lake county, Indiana, and from the latter place he came to this county. Mr. McClure is by occupation a brickmaker and farmer. During the summer of 1857, he and his brother Hugh, who is also an old resident, made some thirty thousand excellent brick in the town.

On the eighteenth day of June, 1858, there came into this town a company of immigrants, all Scotch people, consisting of twentythree persons, with their ox teams, covered wagons and a small drove of cattle. These immigrants were Archibald Cardell, David Ogilvie, Andrew R. More and James Ogilvie and their respective families. They had come from the state of Wisconsin, through many tribulations of mud and high waters, to this new land to find homes. They camped on the banks of Weasel lake, and on the next day, the men went with a Mr. Hinckly to Chain Lakes, in Martin county, to inspect the country, but they returned here in three or four days and determined to locate in this town, and accordingly proceeded to select their lands. In a few days they removed their wagons and stock to the point of Tarr's Grove, near by, and here established a permanent camp.

Owing to the want of roads to the timber, the high waters of that year (that was the wet year) and the impassable sloughs, they did not get up a cabin to live in, until about September, but in the mean time, lived in their wagons and tents, as best they could. While yet living in this patriarchal way and only four days after then arrival, to-wit: June 22d, the first children were born in the town. On that day was born to David and Mary Ogilvie, a pair of twins. They were named Alexander and Mary. Alexander died, when about two years old. Mr. Ogilvie and his companions had come to a new country, the great demand of which was settlers. To multiply and replenish the earth, was one of the ways to supply the demand. It may be remarked that these people do not now live in covered wagons, or even tents, but that long since large and confortable farm houses and barns, wide spreading cultivated fields, large herds and droves of improved stock, and an abundance of all the comforts and conveniences of life are the rewards of their labor and thrift, while their descendants are numerous, and have taken up and improved much of the lands in the vicinity of the old homesteads. Having mentioned the first births in the town we may also speak of the first death, being in the order of dates. The first death occurred in October, 1858, when Mrs. McClure, the mother of Gilbert McClure died, at the advanced age of seventy-three. She had come from her native Scotland, and the home and friends of her youth to lay her bones in this new and strange land. But the promise is, that in the blessed home of the hereafter, there are no boundaries of nations, or distances of separation, and the well grounded hope is, that all the redeemed shall be united, to part no more forever. Though dying so far from her native land, it is still true, that it is no farther from the earthly home in Pilot Grove, to the gates of paradise, than it is from the lowlands, or highlands of Scotland, or any other land under the sun.

The following list presents the names of all the residents of the town in June, 1860, according to the census rolls, with the exception of two or three persons, who were absent at the time.

Organization

The township of Jo Daviess was attached to the town of Pilot Grove, for town purposes, by the special commissioners, in 1858. The first town meeting of the joint towns was held at the house of Jas. L. McCrery, on the twentieth day of October, 1858, at which time the town district was organized by the election of officers. Mr. Mc- Crery was elected chairman, and A. R. More and James Ogilvie, side supervisors, and A. Cardell, clerk. The two towns were separated by the county commissioners, on the seventh day of January. 18fi4, and each started on an independent career. The ofiicial town records of this township, covering the period from the organization to the year 1865, inclusive, are lost. It appears that the records of these earlier years were kept on separate sheets of paper, and not in a bound book, as should have been the fact, and they have now disappeared forever. This fact is much to be regretted by the historian, as these records would have, at least, given the action of the town on various subjects - military bounties, for instance, and the names of town officials.

Educational

The first school-house in the town was a small log building, erected about the year 1859, on lands of James Ogilvie, and was known as the "Ogilvie Schcolhouse." This building was used for several years, when a new and better structure was erected, known as the "More School house." There are now four substantial frame school-houses in the town. Mrs. .lennette Silliman (then Miss More), daughter of A. R. More, taught the first school in the town, in the summer of 1859.

Religious

The Presbyterians have for many years had a flourishing society here, and regular services. The society was organized in 1860 or 1861. The Free Will Baptists organized a congregation here in May, 1869. There was a Sabbath school organized in this town as early as the spring of 1859, which still continues, and is probably the oldest Sunday school in the county. It appears that there was a Sunday school instituted in Winnebago City township a little earlier than the Pilot Grove school, but did not long survive.

Sundry Interesting Facts

The people of this town, like all others residing on the frontiers, became greatly apprehensive of an attack by the Indians, at the time of the great massacre in 1862. They held a number of meetings, when plans of defense were discussed. A military company was formed, of which James Ogilvie was commissioned first lieutenant, and the company was drilled by Sergeant Shepard Young, the only old soldier in the company.

The roster of this company was made up of the following names: Henry Eversou. Archibald Cardell, David Ogilvie, James Ogilvie, Shephard Young, John Young, J. L. McCreiy, R. R. McCrery, James McCrery, Aaron McCrery, Thos. Wilson, Sr., and John Wilson, Sr., and perhaps several others. But on the fifth day of Sep tember, it was resolved to leave the country, and on the next day the Pilot Grove settlement was deserted.

The people went to Blue Earth City, where preparations were made for defense in the erection of a fort, and here they remained for about a week, when they returned to their homes. Still it was a long time before they felt much confidence in their safety.

This township has also endeavored to encourage the building of railroads, into the county, by voting of aid, in form of bonds. None of the "bonuses'" voted were of any avail, except those lasi given, in 1878.

During the war of the Rebelion, liberal bounties were granted to soldiers who should enlist and be credited to the town district - this town and Jo Daviess being then attached. , It appears, from the town records of Jo Daviess, that on the twenty-third day of December, 1863, the board of the joint towns resolved to give a bounty of §50, and that on August 17th, 1864, though the towns were then separate, the boards of the two towns had a joint meeting, and resolved to give a bounty of $500 to each soldier enlisting, as above stated. We find also that subsequent to this, but the date is not given, the joint boards resolved to levy a tax of $2,900, and on the sixth of May, 1865, they resolved to levy a tax of $3,025 to pay volunteer bounties. On September 22d, 1866, they resolved to levy a tax of $206. to pay expenses of exempts (as see general history of the year 1865), and also resolved to raise $1,912 to pay off the balance of bounty bonds, issued in 1861. A number of joint meetings were held, during the following years, in relation to the payment of the bounty bonds, but the details are of no interest at this day.

The grasshopper ravages in this town, during the years 1873 and 1874, were very serious, amounting, in the latter year, to an almost total destruction of the crops. An inspection of the statement, as to the losses from this cause, given in the sketch of Jo Daviess, will give the reader some idea of the destruction wrought in this town.

Many of the people were considerably in debt, and their situation, for some years, very distressing. Some were compelled to remove, temporarily, from the town, to procure a living, and this fact accounts for the decrease of the population, for a short period, as appears by the census.

There has. for some years, been a post-office in this town, named Pilot Grove, but no village, and the principal trading point of the town has always been at Blue Earth City, but since the building of the North and South railroad, another convenient shipping and market town, esjiecially for the people of the southern portion of this township, is found at the village of Elmore.

Prior to the close of this sketch, 187'J. this township had furnished to the jjublic service, a member of the Board of County Commissioners, A. R. More, Sr., for six years, three of which he was chairman, and a member of the State legislature, al.so Mr. More.

Hon. Andrew R. More. Sr

Mr. Moro was born on the twent.y-flrst clay of .Tune, 1813, in the town of llainilton, Lanarkshire, Scotlanrl. His father was a cambric weaver by trade Mr. More received his education in the common and Krarumar schools of his district. He learned the trade of lace printer, and worl<ed at the same for about Ufteen years.

He connected himself with the Presbyterian church at the age of eighteen, and has remained a member of that denomination all his life, and in later years, since coming to this country, lias often been one of the representatives of his conprcgation in the prcsbytrii's and synods of the church, and in 1873 attended the national assembly which was h<-ld in Baltimore, Md. He was one of thote who assisted in the organization of the church at Blue Earth City, and was chosen an elder. He also assisted in instituting the church society and Sunday .school at Pilot Grove.

Mr. Mori' was married in October, 1838, to Miss Jcanette A. Weir, of the town of Haiuilton, Scotland. Thiy have had .seven children, four sons and thri'c daughters.

He came to America in the yearl850, and located in Waukesha county, Wisconsin* where h<' remained two years, and then removed to Jefferson county, in the same state, where he remained tlve years. During his residence in Wisconsin, be was engagrd in farming, but did not buy any land. In the spring of 1858 he came to this county, and located in this town with the company abovr spoken of. His location here was with the design of getting a permanent honnfor himself and family, and lands for his children. He has always been ingaged in farming since risiding here. Among other farming opi'rations, he has always taki'n a great interest in bees, and was one of the organizers of our Bee Keepers' society. He has also been greatly interested in the planting and growth of fruit trees.

A. K. More, Sk

Mr. More, since being; a resident of this county, has been a republican in politics. He has held the office ot town cleric, was often chairman of the town board, and frequently town treasurer, and was justice of the peace five terms. He was also a member of the board of county commissioners, and of the state legislature, as above stated.

As illustrating the emoluments received by officers in the early days of the county, it may be stated that while Mr. More was justice of the peace, he married one couple, and was to receive for his fee, the services of the gentleman married, in taking a grist to the mill for Mr. More. This agreement was carried out. In another case the fee was to be a bag ot "taters," but the "titers" were never delivered. In the matter of law suits, Mr. More, instead of encouraging litigation, spent much timi' in trying to settle the disputes of his neighbors, without fee or reward, and generally succeeded.

A Page Op Figures

By the census of 1860, there were twenty-seven inhabitants in the town all told. In 1865, 175; in 1870, 390; in 1875, .329; in 1880, 324. The Scotch and Irish are the predominating nationalities.

It was estimated, but how accurately, the writer will not venture to say, that there was produced in the town in 1879, of wheat, 18,000 bushels; oats, 40,- 000 bushels; corn, 36,000 bushels; potatoes, 2,500 bushels; barley, 1,000 bu.shels; sorghum syrup, 2,800 gallons; flax seed, 190 bushels, wool, 2,100 pounds; butter, 35,000 pounds.

Town Officers

The following named citizens of the town, were the township officers for 1879. Supervisor, W. P. Strong, chairman, A. Hanson and C. Johnson; town clerlt, D. McLeod, who had held the office during four previous years; treasurer, E. Howley; assessor, J. Wilson, Jr.; justices', M. Donovan and D. Buggy.

A list of residents of the town prior to tlie closing year of this sketch, 1879, some of whom have not been named heretofore in this record of the town. All cannot now be given.