Sacred Heart City

Sacred Heart City

(By Ole O. Enestvedt.) It is a fact that the first settlements in this part of the country were started along rivers and .streams, where the pioneers, who were never of the rich class of people, could find plenty of water, timber and hay for their needs. True to this custom, the first band of settlers in this township located in the Minnesota river valley and on the prairie along the natural groves of timber.

One of the first white men out here after the 1S62 Indian outbreak was Thomas Olsen Kolien (now spelled Collin), then from Houston, in Fillmore county, this state. He went west in 1S64 with the intention of digging gold in Idaho, but only went as far as Montana. He was afterward employed by the United States government as a teamster hauling provisions from Sioux City up the Missouri river to points in the Dakotas and Montana. The Indians there were very troublesome and Mr. Kolien encountered may fights with them.

After a two years' stay he went back to Fillmore county and told his friends about the desirable land along the Minnesota river that could be had under the homestead law. So in the spring of 1S66 a caravan of five covered wagons was formed and the following persons started out for the new country: (1) Ole Kolien: wife, Joran, and six, mostly grown-up. children. Thomas. Peder, Gouleik, Sigrid. Swen and Sten. Thomas had a wagon of his own. Hellek. another son. did not come until the following year. ( 2 i Ole Halvorsen Rennevam; wife, Gunild: and four mostly grownup children, Halvor, Reier, Hellek and Turina. (3) Thor Helgeson ; wile, Helga; and one child, Birgitta. (4) Paul Petersen; wile, Guri: and one child, Petter. In all there were nineteen people. They traveled by way of Mankato. St. Peter and New Ulm. and crossed the Minnesota river to Fort Ridgely, where they left their wagons and the women and children in charge of Ole Kolien. Near Morton the men again crossed the river, going over to the Lower Agency, under the impression that the desirable homestead land was on the south side of the river. They passed through Redwood Falls, then consisting mostly of Indian tepees, and continued in a northwesterly direction to the Indian agency at Yellow Medicine, where they found that the free land was on the north side of the Minnesota river. They spent the night at the agency and found there a man named Tosten Rustgaard, who had come a little earlier that spring and taken a claim on the south side of the Minnesota river, in what was afterward section 2, township of Sioux Agency, Yellow Medicine county, and across from what was afterward the Oslie place in Hawk Creek township. With Rustgaard as their guide, the party again forded the Minnesota river and passed down the lowlands until a beautiful spot, where the bottoms widened out into a large plain. Here was an expanse of rich land, covered with waving violet blue-joint grass, and with many slightly groves along creeks running merrily into the river. Surrounded by such a prospect, the wanderers felt a homelike feeling stealing over them and decided that here they would cast their lots. Therefore on June 17. 1S66, sitting on a high rock on the river bank, from which a good view of the surrounding territory was to be obtained, they made an agreement to select claims in the order of their ages, the oldest to have the first choice. Two of the party, Helgesen and Petersen, at once started back to Fort Ridgely. There the caravan had been joined by Bernt Larson, his wife Martha and children, Anna and Maria, and by Kristian Kvern, a single man. The caravan at once set out for the selected land and arrived June 21. Each settler secured a claim on a creek, and plenty of timber for fuel and building purposes. So. though they had to live in covi ifil wagons while they were getting their shacks ready, they got along fairly well. The worst foe to fight in those days was not Indians but mosquitoes. They were thick enough to obscure sunlight on warm days and came near killing the settlers' cattle. The only relief from these pests was to make "smudges" and smoke them away. The smudges were made both in rattle yards and in the houses in iron pots. Of course the smoke was pretty hard to endure, especially for the children, but anything was preferable to the- continual Stinging and whining of these pests. The

Indians were numerous, a large group of them having their tepees in Oslie's grove and some 500 Indians lived in the timber at Hawk Creek and Minnesota Falls, but they were generally friendly. About the grtatest annoyance they caused was their continual begging for food and scaring women and children when the men folks were away.

In the fall of the first year the settlers had to go clear back to Scandia Grove settlement. Nicollet county, for their provisions. This was ninety miles distant and With oxen the journey took several days. Here they bought seed wheat for $2.75 per bushel, flour at $9 per 100 pounds or $18 per barrel. A few chickens and cats were also secured at $1 apiece. The first crop (1867) was destroyed by myriads of blackbirds, crows and gophers, so there was hardly a bushel of grain raised. One of the settlers raised a quantity of turnips, which he shared with his neighbors. They were boiled and used instead of butter on bread. Game and fish were plentiful and this helped out on the food question. That summer a great prairie lire threatened the settlement and also drove a number of cows into the river, where they were drowned. Seed wheat for the next year was bought at New Ulm at $1.25 per bushel.

The next summer I1S6S) was perhaps as tilled with privations as any, as the little money and credit the people had was gone and not much of a crop had been raised up to this time. Many men folks and several women now went east to Nicollet county to work during the summer. But that fall help came. A good crop of wheat was raised, yielding upwards of forty bushels per acre. The grain had to be threshed out by flail or trampled out by cattle and sifted out of the straw by throwing with a shovel. Thor Helgesen says lie finished his log stable late in the fall, and then poured water over the earth floor, which froze and made the nicest threshing floor one could wish for. Threshing in winter when snow was on the bundles had its serious drawbacks, because so much snow :ind ice mixed with the grain that it was almost unfit for milling purposes. Thomas n (Kolien) relates that as soon as he had threshed out his wheat he put on a good load, thinking he would stop the flour famine among the settlers. Imagine his disappointment when the miller told him that it would be next to impossible to grind his wheat on account of the ice it contained. He would try to grind some of it. which Mr. Olsen would have to come and get some other time.

The trips to the mill in Redwood Falls also had their incidents. The Minnesota river had to be forded and in spring, when water was high, the only way to get across was to unhitch the oxen and swim them across, then take as many sacks of wheat as a boat would carry and make as many trips across as necessary, taking the wagon apart and across piecemeal. In one particular case, when the rear gear of the settler's wagon had been placed across the boat so that the wheels hung down into the water, the current on the upper side caught hold of the wheel and tipped boat and all over. A few sacks were also along and these floated merrily down the river in company with wagon wheels and boat, to which the men were clinging for dear life. Drifting near enough to shore they got the boat righted and wheels fished ashore, but the sacks were nowhere to be seen. Nothing daunted by this little incident, the pioneers coupled their wagon together, loaded on the remaining sacks and started for the mill. This crossing or ford was called "Minnesota Crossing," and was located below the brown stone building. The first threshing machine brought into this township was bought in 1869 by Ole Kolien & Sons. It was a 2S-inch cylinder machine, of 8 horse power, that had no wheels but had to be hung under a wagon to be moved. Later on a larger machine, owned by Thor Helgesen, Halvor Helgesen, Ole Evenstvedt and Ole Tufts, which was run for a period of twelve years, claims the honor of covering a larger territory than usual. One particular fall this company threshed the grain of sixty-eight farmers in four different counties, keeping on until Christmas, when the snowdrifts were as high as the backs of the horses trucking around the power.

The first wheat raised in the settlement was hauled to Beaver Landing, a station lor the steamboats then plying the Minnesota river somewhere near Redwood Falls. Wheat brought only sixty cents per bushel (on account of the late war) and was shipped by boat down the river. Later on better prices were obtained, but as steamship traffic on the Minnesota river was discontinued the nearest railroad and grain market was Willmar, some forty miles away. The trips with oxen across the treeless and unsettled prairie with only scant clothing were some of the hardships o; pioneer life. Many early settlers were lost in storms and frozen to death and others were ruined in health by exposure. Added to this there was a constant fear of Indians "breaking out" again and prairie fires had to be fought while the land was being turned into the smiling settlement which it is today.

In 1S71 the grasshopper plague struck the new settlement and lasted for three years. The first season of their stay they came rather late in summer and about onethird of the crops remained after their ravages. They laid eggs in the fall and next season ate up everything, even spoiling the meadows for hay. The third year they left after spoiling the crop to some extent. Many experiments were tried to kill hoppers and save the grain, sucli as plowing deep furrows on the side of fields from which marauders were attacking it, spreading old straw along edges of fields and burning it, but it availed nothing against the millions of invaders, marching on like trained soldiers in one direction. An incident from this is told in this way. by Thomas Olsen (Kolien) :

One morning he discovered that the grasshoppers had come in the night and had started on his best piece of wheat, gnawing at the straw so that he could see them fall. He got disheartened and made a vow that if this field was spared he would hunt up the poorest man in the neighborhood and give him ten bushels of wheat. It seems that this was the last stay of the hoppers, who when their wings had grown large enough would rise in a body and tly away - nobody knows where. At noon our farmer heard a great buzzing, and looking out he discovered the air so full of grasshoppers as to obscure the sun. They went away for good, and although his field was damaged somewhat, he kept his vow and found a poor family just settled on the prairie and almost destitute, and ten bushels of wheat has hardly ever been received with more joy and gratefulness than in this case.

This settlement of sturdy Scandinavians, while the beginning of the influx of the substantial people of that nationality to the western part of Renville county, was not the first settlement in Sacred Heart. People had been here before the Massacre. 1 he famous Major Joseph R. Brown stone house had been built about 1860. In 1865, before the Scandinavian colony arrived. G. P. Greene had settled in the township. Mr. Greene was a prominent man in the township. He was the first postmaster of Minnesota Crossing, so called from the ford below his house. The mail was brought by a carrier from Vicksburg until 1876.

Mr. Greene was also the first school teacher for several years in the first school house in the township erected late in the year 1S68 in section 5 on corner of the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter. Each of the settlers hauled two logs and put the building up with their axes. At first it had only the earth floor and sod roof, but later a floor and shingle roof were adde'd improvements. Long tables with four-legged slabs on each side for benches furnished the inside. Many of the later successful citizens of the township got their first instruction in this humble building under the tutelage of Mr. Greene. Among those strapping young fellows we mention the following: P. O. Kittilsland and his brother Torbjorn. Ole Mogen. Halvor Helgesen. Kolben Knutsen, Thomas and Hellek Olsen (Kolien), Halsten and Anton Kokken. Ole Knutson, Ole Tufts. Reier and Hellek Halvorsen, Andrew and Martin Osli. Otto and Martin Sveiven. The girls were represented by Joron Enestvedt.

Gunild Teigen, Astrid Flaata, Lina and Christiana Asli, Hattie and Alice Greene. The first marriage by "squire" was also solemnized at the old Greene place and the contracting parties were Kristian Kvern and his newcomer bride who was instructed to say "yes" whenever Squire Greene spoke to her During the ceremony, when the justice looked her way, she would put in a decided "yes," to which the old man remarked afterwards, "She was almost too willing; she said yes all the time." In the evening the happy couple, having neglected to give a wedding party, were treated to a moonlight serenade from stovepipes and cowbells and frying pans, such as only the hardened muscles of the frontier boys could produce. The serenaders took their victim out in his night clothes and rode him around on a rail until he was almost exhausted. Mr. Kvern afterwards had the whole gang arrested, and it is related that they were so numerous that when given dinner at the hotel in Beaver Falls they ate up everything in the place. Most of them were fined, and those who could not pay were ordered to work out the fine by grubbing on the bridegroom's claim! Another lawsuit was that of Ole Johnson vs. Ole Halvorsen Rennevam, the case being held at the Vicksburg store. There had been a dispute between the men about some trespassing cattle, and this resulted in Ole Johnson's attempt to stab Ole Halvorsen with a knife. The latter was haying and had his pitchfork handy, holding it out so the other man ran into it enough to show marks from the prongs. Ole Johnson then proceeded to Justice Greene's (one mile distant) and swore out a warrant for assault. Fortunately for the aged Rennevam, he had had an eye* witness to the case in his son Hellek, and this turned the tale so that Ole Johnson had to pay $5 fine and costs. The lawyers on this case got into such a wrangle that they fought hand to hand, and one of them threw the other out of the store building.

In 1867 came to Sacred Heart Ole and Tollef Enestvedt, Lars Rudi, Hellek Kolien (Collin). Erik Nilsen, Ole Melsness, Gunerius Melsness, Peter Mortinsen (Mangerud), Ole B. Dahl. Ole Johnson. In 1S68 came Hermo Halvorsen. Johan Olson (Forkrud), Peder Gundersen (Trane), Anders Samuelson, Bernt and Oluf Kortgaard, P. G. Peterson (Goli) and Erik Goli, Halvor Goli, K. Trongaard, Peder Eriksen, Ole Tufto, Emil Lilleby, Peder P. Olsen, J. P. Okins. Lars P. Kottum. In 1S69 came Halvor Tufto, Sr., H. W. Olson, N. W. Brooks, S. Brooks, Lars Tufto, Johannes Hang, Henrik Oslund, Guilder Sorensen, Mikkal H. Strandjord. Ole O. Sveiven. In 1870 came Halvor and Stener Helgesen. Mathias, Samuelson, Peder Osli and others.

up to 1S76. At this town meeting the following officers were chosen: S. Brooks (chairman), Ole Johnson and P. G. Peterson, supervisors; G. P. Greene, clerk; Ole B. Dahl, assessor; Ole O. Enestvedt, treasurer; P. W. Brooks and G. P. Greene, justices; J. P. Okens, constable. On motion the name of Sacred Heart was given to the new township.

Two stories are told of the naming of Sacred Heart. One story concerns Charles Patterson, who settled in Flora township, on the Renville county side of the rapids in the Minnesota river, in 17S3, and there established a trading post. He wore a peculiar shaped hat, made of fur. and the Indians began to call him the man with the strange or mysterious or magic hat. Their word "wakan," really meaning "spirit," being applied to anything that they did not quite comprehend or that was unusual in any way. Each particular clan of Indians had some animal which they never killed and which they regarded as sacred. It has been said that the Indians then living in this locality esteemed the bear sacred and that Patterson's hat was made of the fur from a great bear which had frequented the neighborhood.

Gradually they began to refer to the man himself as "The Spirit Hat" or "The Sacred Hat." the meaning being the same as the name from which "Medicine Hat" was translated. Later the white people corrupted the name of "Sacred Hat" to Sacred Heart.

A much more pleasing story of the name was told to Ed. O'Connor, of Sacred Heart, by Louis G. Brisbois. a French pioneer of Hawk Creek township. He declared that in the early days, the mouth of the Sacred Heart creek formed in the shape of a heart and that a French missionary-priest, inspired by this, had given the name of Sacred Heart to a mission of French halfbreeds and Indians that he had established here, and that the locality gradually took the name of this early mission, still retaining it long after the mission had passed into oblivion.

Sacred Heart township embraces township 115, range 37, and a fractional part of township 114. range 37. It is bounded on the north by Ericson township, on the east 1 \ Emmet and Flora townships, on the southwest by the Minnesota river, and on the west by Hawk Creek township. The township has one thriving village of the same name. The railroad crosses it in the northern part. The township is settled by Norwegians and Swedes, with a small sprinkling of Americans, Irish and Germans.

Thor Helgeson has many interesting stories to tell of pioneer times. No one today can realize the difficulties that agricultural operations presented in the early days. In 1866 Mr. Helgeson managed to break three acres. In 1S67 he went to a place thirteen miles this side of St. Peter and purchased three or four bushels of wheat at $2.75 a bushel. This he sowed on the three acres. But the blackbirds entirely destroyed the crop and nothing whatever was realized from the three acres.

During the grasshopper plague Mr. Helgeson remembers one day. when he and others took a team and went to the field in an effort to get some straw before the grasshoppers could get it. The grasshoppers were so thick and blinding that the oxen had to be unhitched and led back to their stable.

But in 1876 there was a satisfactory crop, and the wheat exhibited by Mr. Helgeson at the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia was the best that was presented from Minnesota. The first cat. the first chicken and the first rooster in Sacred Heart township were purchased by Thor Helgeson at Swan Lake in Nicollet county in 1S67. He paid $1 each for the cat, the chicken and the rooster. In the fall of 1866 Mr. Helgeson went to West Newton and bought some flour at .$6 a hundred. This was not quite enough. In the spring of 1867 he noticed a man in the bottoms with a load of goods, having a hard time to get through. For $1 he helped the man through to Minnesota Falls and there bought some flour for $9 a hundred.

About Christmas time in 1S67, Mr. Helgeson, with two companions, Tov Rudi and Knut Berget, started on snow shoes for Redwood Falls. Tov Rudi got tired and found shelter in the edge of the timber along Rice creek, about a mile from Redwood Falls. He froze his feet and could not walk, and lay in the snow partly unconscious all night. He was found by the Indians the next morning, but died a few days later. Thor Helgeson and Knut Berget kept on their way back to Sacred Heart. When they nearly reached the ferry south of Vicksburg. they found that they could go no further. They made themselves a camp in the sheltered place between two large rocks and though Mr. Helgeson had but one match and half another, they succeeded in kindling a fire with dry cedar, which they kept burning by using pieces of wood split from a basswood log which was near the shelter. Fortunately, Mr. Helgeson had a sharp knife, and he also had an axe head, which he had purchased in Redwood Falls. But using a stick for a handle to the axe head he managed to split up quite a little of the basswood log. Thus the night was spent and the two men escaped freezing.

The nearest markets were at Willmar, some forty miles away and at New London, some twelve miles beyond Willmar. The scarcity of money and the long distance that supplies must be brought made the use of substitutes a necessity. Prairie tea was used in place of imported tea. Green coffee berries were purchased, roasted at home and then ground in the coffee mill. This hand coffee mill was useful in other ways. Wheat was ground in it and from the coarse flour thus resulting a sort of a wheat pudding was made. Corn was also ground in the same mill and corn bread made from it.

The first real estate assessment of Sac red Heart township, 114-37, was made in 1869. Those assessed were: Ole Gilbertson, sections 5, S; Peter A. Oslie, 6; Andres Samulson. 8; Halvor Olson. 13; Fred Thies. 13: John D. Rosenmeyer. 13.

By 1S72 quite a number of people had acquired property in Sacred Heart township (114-37. 115-37), the real estate assessment that year being as follows: 114-37 - Bartel Larson, section 6; Ole B. Dahl, 5; Thor Helgeson. 5, 6, 7, 8: Ole Halleckson, 6. 7: Gilbert Severtson, 6; Anders Samuelson, .8: Aslak Asmonson, 6: John D. Roseymer, 13; Daniel Ames, 24; Emile Hammel. 13; Ole Halvorson, 16; Julius Larson, 16; Ole Enestvedt, 16; Halvor Olson, 13; John O. Pain. 12, 13; H. E. Wadsworth, 24, 13; M. Duncan, 13; John Warner, 24; Thomas Olson. 5; Hallek Olson, 5; Ole Gilbertson, 5 8; Peter A. Oslie, 6. 115-37 - Ole B. Dahl, section 32.

G. P. Greene was the first settler in Sacred Heart township after the Massacre. He, his son Datus, and John O. Paine arrived here in the early part of 1866. Prom Ft. Ridgely they passed the home of Holger Jacobus, in the southeastern part of the county, and then took a northwestwardly course. After they had crossed the east branch of the Sacred Heart creek, Mr. Paine took possession of a fine piece of land in sections 12 and 13 bordering on the creek. Near here they came upon Sam Burnell. a bachelor, who with a companion was camping there. Burnell later took a claim nearby. Mr. Greene continued about four miles further west, where he came to the ruins of the Major Joseph R. Brown buildings. There he decided to locate. The Greens at once started a house, and while

Datus was completing it, G. P. went back and got his family, consisting of his wife, Adaline C. Greene, and the children, Frank C. Greene, aged 12; Alice, aged 9; Hattie, aged 6, and William, aged 3. They arrived on a bright balmy day in the early part of June. Datus L. Greene took a claim adjoining.

The Major Brown Indian agency building, the ruins of which may still be seen, was constructed of granite, and was three stories high on the lower side and two stories on the upper side, by reason of its standing on the hillside. It was about 24 by 60 feet in size.

At the time G. P. Greene settled there, the north side and the west end were standing complete, but the two upper stories of the east end had fallen and about one-third of the south side was down. The foundations of many of the houses in that locality are built of rock taken from this ruin, as it was difficult to find rock north of the river for foundation purposes.

There was also a stone stable at the entrance to the glen, with walls partly standing. Mr. Greene fixed this up and used it as long as he lived there.

There was a well of good water just east of the stone house, stoned up, and about forty feet deep. Mr. Greene cleaned out the well and used it while he lived there. Frank C. Greene remembers that in cleaning it they found a pickaxe, shovel, pitchfork and other things that the Indians had thrown in there, evidently with the intention of killing anyone who might have resorted to it for safety.

The little stone structure the ruins of which are just east of the ruin was built by Mr. Greene and used as a granary or storeroom. The large cottonwood trees now standing in front of the ruins were planted in 1866 by Mr. Greene and his son.

Troy township embraces township 115-35. Ii is bounded on the north by Wintield township, on the east by Bird Island township, on the south by Henryville township, and on the west by Emmet township. The village of Danube is in the northwestern part of the township and part of the residence portion of Olivia lies within its borders. The C, M. & St. P. crosses the township in the northern part.

August Schendel settled in the township in 1S71 and in 1873 brought his family. In 1S72 Paul Seeger, Peter Miller and Charles Waldo settled in the township. The first religious meeting was held by the Evangelical society in 1881, a church being built by them that year at a cost of $1,60(1. The first school was taught in the township by Maggie Ericson in 1S77. The first birth was that of Robert Seeger, May, 1873; the first death, Birdie Brown, 1S74, and the first marriage, Millard White and Delia Miller, in 1S7S.

Troy township was organized March 21, 1S76, and the first election held on April 8 at the house of Ira Everson: Supervisors, Henry Knauf (chairman), Ira Everson and August Schendel; clerk, J. L. White; assessor, Charles Waldo; treasurer, T. H. Risinger; justices, August Schendel and T. H. Risinger; constable. Charles Waldo. The present officers are: Supervisors, .1. A. Fritzen, Julius Manthei and C \. Stange: clerk, A. W. Black; treasurer. Ed. Grunert; assessor, William Stange; justice of the peace. George Machetedt; road overseer, F. A. Zelmer. The village of Danube furnishes the village hall for town meetings and elections.

The first real estate assessment in Troy township, 115-35, then a part of Henryvine, was made in 1874. Those assessed «ere: David R. Culver, section 22. In

Winfield township embraces township 116-35. It is bounded on the north by Kandiyohi county, on the east by Kingman township, on the south by Troy township, on the west by Crooks township.

The first claim was filed in this township on April 17. 1869, by Christian Michael in section 18. In 1S70 F. A. Atwater filed on section 18. In 1877 Friedrich Zinne filed on section 2S and Carl Helming on section 30. The iirsl school was taught in the winter of 1S76 at T. ITlrickson's house. Albert Lindquist. in August. 1S72. was the first birth in the town. The first religious meetings were held by the Norwegian Lutherans in 1S74.

Winfield was created as Liberty township April 17, 1878. and the first meeting was ordered to be held at the home of Ulrick Julson May 4, 1S7S. There was evidently some informality about this organization, as on December 3, 1S78, another petition was granted, organizing and naming the town. Three days later the same petition was again granted and an election was ordered. The town was duly organized at a meeting held December 27, 1878. The following officers were elected: Supervisors, W. A. Morgan (chairman), A. Nelson and clerk, A. D. Simpkins; treasurer, John Miller; assessor. John Erickson; justice of the peace. William Hodgdon; constables, P. Olson and Ulrick Julson. The election was held at the residence of D. John Johnson, on Long Lake. The next meeting was held on March 3, 1879, and all the officers re-elected. At the next meeting held at the clerk's office. March 26. 1S79. the name of the town by order of the county board, was changed from Liberty to Winfield, another town in the state having previously been given the name of Liberty. The present officers are: Supervisors, Henry Heinemann (chairman), Charles Cuta, Fred Schroer; clerk, George H. Billiar; treasurer. William A. Johnson: justices of the peace, Carl Laummer, Robert J. Sommerfield; constables, Joseph Havlisch, Robert Johnson; assessor, Robert J. Sommerfield. Meetings are held in the schoolhouse of district 74.

The first real estate assessment in township 116, range 35, now Winfield. was made in 1870. Those assessed that year were: Christian Michael, section IS; William J. Foster, sections 27, 28; Thomas Druder, section 34. In 1S78, there were added to this list: Frederick Zinne, sections 28, 30; Carl Henning, section 30. By 1SS2. quite a number had acquired real property in Winfield township, 116-35. Those assessed that year were: Eric Whipp, section 2: Eric Lindquist. section 2; John Ericson. section 2: Fredrick Ulriekson. section 4; J. Ulriekson, section 4; Henry Johnson, section 7; B. C. Johnson, section 7; Nels Nelson, section 7; N. A. Nelson, section 14; Ulric Julson. section 14; Samuel Peterson, sections 15, 21. 23; O. E. Helberg, section 16: Peter Hanson, section 17; John Gustofson, section 17; Christian Michael, section IS; John Snicker, section 22; D. J. Johnson, section 22; Fred Zinne, sections 2S. 30; T. Hendricks, section 30. The first personal property assessment of Winfield township. 116-35. was made in 1879. Those assessed were: John Buxton, Wm. Buethe, F. Ditman. W. John Ericson, Andrew Ericson. Christ Bsemann, John Gustafson. F. Heman, F. Hendricks, Gustaf Herman, Ole Helberg. Wm. Hodgdon. Ulric Julson. 1). Eric Johnson. D. John Johnson, Ole Julson. John Keter. Eric Lindquist. John Miller. Jr., John Miller, Wm. Morgan, N. A. Nelson, Samuel Peterson, E. Palmlund, John Snicker. C. Smith, T. Ulriekson. Jul Ulriekson, Eric Wipp, F. Zinne.

western corner of Renville county. It embraces Congressional township 116, range 38. On the north is Stoneham township, in Chippewa county, on the east is EricsoD township, in Renville county, on the south is Hawk Creek township, in Renville county, and on the west is Granite Falls township, in Chippewa county.

The surface of the township is a rolling prairie. Hawk Creek meanders for a distance almost on a level with the surrounding land, but in the southern part it cuts a sharply marked gorge which was originally heavily wooded.

The first settlers in Wang township came in 1867 and settled in the timberland along the course of Hawk creek southwest of the present location of the Vestre Sogn church. These settlers consisted of the three brothers. Christian O. Narvestad, Theodore Rongerud, and Hans Olson Grotvedt, and their two friends, Hans Gunderson and Christian Ingebretson.

The farthest up the creek was Narvestad. He was in section 28. Down the creek was Gunderson in the same section on the north side of the present road. Across the road from Gunderson was Grotvedt in section 33. Next down the creek was Ingebretson in section 33. Farthest down the creek was Rongerud. All these were on the east bank of the creek. Christian Olson came at the same time and settled just over the line in Hawk Creek township. Her claim was purchased by Torger Olson Skrukrud.

L. J. Romo. according to his own statement came in November, 1S69. and settled on section 30. With him came his wife and three oldest children. C. Wogstad and family, and L. Engebretson. There were then living in the neighborhood, according to him, C. Christopherson and H. Aasnas.

In 1S70 quite a few settlers came to Wans township. Thomas Christopherson (Lerhol) settled in section 22, with his family. Late in life he retired and moved to Granite Falls, leaving his son on the farm. His wife died in November, 1915. and since then he has given up his home in Granite Falls and returned to Wang. Anders Thomason Kjersten settled with his family in section 2S and still lives there. Thomas Kjersten came the same >ear. Andrew E. Rogen, with his family, settled in section 34, and lived there until some ten years ago, when he died. His wife died some two years ago. The family is still represented in the township. A son lives on the Helge Holeen Evanson farm. Ole Halvorson Holien (Skalberg) and George Halvorson Holien (Skalberg) settled in section 8 and are still alive. Peter lverson settled on section 8, and lived there until 1914, when he purchased school land in section 16, where he now lives. Thomas Henrikson settled in section 26, and died some four years ago. His wife and son are on the home place. Endre K. Lien settled in section 6. At the age of ninetyfour he is the oldest man in the township. He still retains much of his early vigor and even this winter is to be found chopping wood and enjoying outdoor exercise. His son. Knud Anderson, a bachelor, came at the same time, and died on the farm some fifteen years ago.

Iver Oie and lver Nystuen, cousins, accompanied by P. N. Stenberg, settled in section 26. After taking their claim they went away, came again in the fall, and in the spring of 1S71 came in with a large colony. Oie lives in Sacred Heart. Nystuen sold out and moved to Iowa. He now lives in Rice county, this state, some four miles from Northfield. Stenborg died on the farm and his widow lives in Sacred Heart. Ingeborg J. Osnes settled with her husband in section 30. He was drowned in the creek and she. after living here a short time and proving up on her land, moved away. Helge Evanson (Holien), at that time a single man, settled in section 14, and is still there. H. E41ingboe, a brother of Andrew T. Ellingboe, settled just over the line in Granite Falls township.

In the spring and summer of 1S71 quite a few settlers came in. Among them may be mentioned a large colony from Goodhue colony. Iver Oie and Iver Nystuen, with their friend P. N. Stenberg, who had been here in the spring and again in the fall of 1S70, were the leaders of this colony, and the formation of the party was the result of their glowing descriptions. The colony started with ox teams, crossed the river at St. Peter, and in time reached Wang township. The members of the colony were Iver Oie. Iver Nystuen and P. N. Stenberg. all single; Tosten Olson Harare. Siver Guttormson Strand. Ole O. Strand. Ove Strand. A. H. Weflen, Ingebret Thompson, George C. Heen and his father, Christopherson Gulbrandson Heen, all of whom were family men and Mrs. Mary Ostrom. afterwards Mrs. Mary Ostrom Boe, with her family.

Tosten Olson Hamre settled in section 14. He now lives in Sacred Heart and his son is on the farm. Sever Guttormson Strand settled in section 14, and is still there. Ole O. Strand settled in section 12 and is still there. Ove Strand settled in section 14. Andrew- (Anders) Helgeson Weflen settled in section 24, and still lives on the same place. Ingebret Thompson settled in section 8. He died many years ago. His son Nels is now on the place George C. Heen settled on section S and is still alive. His son is on the home farm. His father. Christopher Gulbrandson, settled on section S, where he lived the remainder of his life. Mrs. Mary Ostrom afterward Mrs. Mary Boe, settled in section 24. She now lives in Minneapolis. Knud Thompson settled in section 22. ana is still there. Ole Ellefson settled a the creek from Christian Ingebretson. Gullick Helgeson (Weflen) settled on section and died there. The widow lives in Granite Falls and the sons run the home place. Mathias Magnuson settled in section 32 and still lives there. John Thor settled in section 12. operated a harness shop in Sacred Heart tor a while, and died in Todd county, this state. Ole Thomasou (Grover) settled in section 22, and is still there. He was a veteran of the Civil war. John I. Johnson, later county commissioner and now treasurer of the township, settled in section 24. He came here in the spring and came here in the fall to remain. Isaac P. Olson, John P. Johnson and August Wibe settled in the same section. Mr. Olson still lives on the home place. Johnson sold out and went to the Dakotas in the early days. Wibe sold out and went to Washington in the early days.

Lars Klafsass and family settled in section 22. He died on the farm. The family is still represented in the township. Ole Nelson settled in section 10, and though he has since been away a part of the time, now lives on the same place. John Peterson (Chelgren) settled in section 10 and now lives in Cokato. Ole E. Rogen settled in section 28, but later sold out and now lives in Canada.

Trond I. Ellingboe settled on section 4 in the fall of 1871, and lived there the remainder of his life. He died at the age of S9 years. Ole Erickson (Dambroten) settled in section 2S and still lives there. Krick Erickson (Viken) settled in section 12 and died on the place some twenty years ago. Lars J. Frickland settled in section 12 and lived there until ten years ago. He was ill for a time and wandered about from place to place until his death. The distribution of his estate has caused considerable difficulty. John Brown came over the northern line into the township with Christopher Hutchins, and took a claim in section 6. He never actually lived in the township. Ole K. Williams settled in section 12. He lives in North Dakota but still owns the farm. In 1S72 he married Anna Simenson. this being the first marriage before the town was organized. Andrew and Hans Anderson settled in section 10. Andrew is still there, Hans having moved away and died in northern Minnesota. Trond Engebretson settled in section 8 and now lives in Maynard. With him came his father, Eng. Trondson. Christian Larson, Christopher Gunderson, Knute Weflen and Hans G. Berg also settled in the town this year. Johannes Gunderson settled just over the line. Hans G. Berg still lives on the homestead. Christian Larson died January 2, 1891.

Many of the settlers of 1872 came together and settled here at the same time. They started out from Goodhue county with ten yoke of oxen, household goods and supplies. Most of the party were single men, but a few had their families.

On the way they were joined by others, some bound for Renville county and some for other places. This great caravan presented a picturesque appearance as it wound its way over the intervening miles and was a sight which none who saw it will ever forget. The party crossed the Minnesota river at St. Peter, came on to Fort Ridgely and from there found its way to Wang. This party was similar to one that had arrived the previous year.

Christian Torgerson (Askerud) settled in section 28. He stayed there about thirty years and then went back to Norway where he died. Anders O. Elton settled in section 4, and now lives in North Dakota. Christopher Hutchins settled on section 6. When the family of Ole Christopherson Soine attempted to locate on that section Hutchins appeared and said that he had taken the land the previous year. The Soine family accordingly moved" to section 10 and took a claim there. Mr. Hutchins moved onto the claim in section 6, in 1S73, and became postmaster. He left a few years later. Ole O. Belsem settled in section 10 and sold out a few years ago. He is now in Ericson township. It is interesting to note that he and Andrew T. Ellingboe. who settled in section 4 where bis father had previously located, came together with the caravan, Ellingboe furnishing a yoke of oxen and Belsem the wagon. Peder J. Myra and family settled on section 26. He died on the farm and the son, J. P. Myra, is still there. Knud Knudson (Viken) settled in section 14, and still lives there. Gunder O. Gjevre settled on railroad land in section 7, and died some six years ago on his homestead in section 24. His widow still lives there. William J. Smith settled in section 6, but stayed only a few years.

Ole L. Akerland settled in section IS. but moved away at an early date. His son, Ole Olson Akerland, settled in the same section and stayed a little longer than his father, and then moved to a farm north of Maynard, where he still lives. Lars Engebretson settled in section 20 and died a fewyears ago at Granite Falls. Jens Christopherson (Holter), Isaac Abrahamson and Jacob Hanson settled in section 20. Abrahamson and Hanson soon moved to Lac qui Parle county. Holter stayed a little longer than the other two and then followed them to Lac qui Parle county. He now lives in Rosseau county. Edgar Lampman settled in section 4, and later moved to Yellow Medicine county and died two years ago. Gilbert Johnson (Rude) settled in section 34. He sold out some four years ago and removed to Granite Falls. He is now dead. Halvor A. Skjeggerud settled in section 20 and lived many years on his farm before moving to Rosseau county, this state. C. A. Evenson settled in section 34 and still lives there. Carl J. Pettersen settled in section 28, but later moved to North Dakota where he died.

Elling Johnson settled in section 14, but did not stay very long. He died a few years ago in Maynard. Ole O. Grov settled in section 4 and still lives there. Ole H. Huseby settled in section 4, and lived there until some seven years ago, when he died. Christian Johnson (Wagstad) settled in section 20. He died some six years ago and his son Martin is now on the home place. Loritz Peterson (Brevig) settled in section 20, and died many years ago. Halvor Sibilrud settled in section 20, and only lived there a short time. Mathaes Nelson settled in the southeast quarter of section 36. He has sold his farm and now lives in Granite Falls. Amund G. Hagen settled in the northeast quarter of section 36. He has sold his farm and now lives in Sacred Heart. Ole Ellefson settled across the creek from Christian Engebretson. Ole Frykholm and Xels Nelson settled in section 26. Frykholm died February 18, 1S89. Nelson sold out and went to Polk county, Minnesota. Thomas Hendrickson and Christopher Gulbrandson also settled in the town this year. Between the great influx of 1S72 and the organization of the township in the summer of 1875 a number of settlers arrived. Thomas K. Weflen originally homesteaded in Ericson township, but later settled in section 27, Wang. He now lives on school land in section 16. Knud Anderson settled in section 34. He was at that time an old man. He died in the early days and the widow of his son, Andrew K., is now on the home place. Christian Arestad settled on section IS. and moved to Dakota where he died. Lars Gunderson Klefsos settled in section 22. He died on the place and his daughter and her husband Knute Thompson now live there. Evert M. Strand settled in section 22 and died a few months ago. Hans Johnson (Bardel) settled in section 12. Later he moved to Elbow Lake, where he now lives. Sever Christopherson settled in section 6, he was killed while hauling hay and his widow still lives in the township. Some time before the organization Nils Norman settled in section 16, and now lives near Montevidio. A few early settlers came in after the organization. Jens Olson (Opdahl) settled in section 22. His son is now on the home place.

Wang was organized on July 28, 1875, and the first election was ordered to be held at the home of Elling Johnson. August 16. 1875. The first supervisors were Elling Johnson (chairman}, Ole C. Soine and O. T. Grover. Nils Norman was elected clerk, but he did not qualify, so A. T. Ellingboe was appointed. Mr. Ellingboe has since continued to hold the office, thus making a record of forty years' service that is hard to excel. The first regular town meeting was held March 14, 1876. Officers were elected as follows: Supervisors, C. A. Evenson (chairman). Erick Viken and O. T. Grover; clerk. A. T. Ellingboe; assessor, Elling Johnson; treasurer. P. L. Brevig; justice of the peace, K. K. Viken; constable, O. K. Williams. The present officers are: Supervisors, H. H. Olson (chairman). George E. Lien and L. K. Thompson; clerk. A. T. Ellingboe; treasurer, J. I. Johnson; assessor, T. T. Kjersten; constable, O. T. Haugen: road supervisor, H. A. Weflen. It is interesting that Mr. Ellingboe has not only served as town clerk since the town was organized, but has also been justice of the peace ever since ls77. and clerk of the school district No. 44 since it was organized.

The Hawk Creek Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company of Renville county, Minnesota, was organized May 25, 1881, with thirty-four members and an insurance value ot $49.1)52. It includes the towns of Hawk Creek. Sacred Heart, Ericson and Wang in Renville county, and the towns of Swede Forest and the Sioux Agency in Yellow Medicine county. The first officers were: i lie Fugleskjel. Paul Berg, C. A. Evenson, H. O. Agre and P. C. Brevig. The company now has a membership of over 700 farmers and an insurance value of about two million dollars. Its present officers are T. A. Nellermoe, president; I. C. Barnaale, secretary; A. T. Ellingboe. treasurer; J. I. Johnson, Fred Hendrikson, S. O. Skjeggeby and O. Knudson, directors.

A triple wedding in which the hearts of six young people of Wang were made happy was one of the notable events of the early days. The ceremony was performed by that beloved pioneer preacher, the Rev. John Berg, in a schoolhouse located on the land of P. C. Brevig in Hawk Creek township. The contracting parties were A. T. Ellingboe and Betsy Lien, daughter of Anders Lien; Ole Erickson Drambroten and Anna Stende. the daughter of Anders Stende, and Gullick Helgerson Weflen and Martha Johnson Tandborg, daughter of Peter Tandborg.

The New Lisbon postoffice was established in section 6, Wang, some time between 1S73 and 1875. Christopher Hutchins was the first postmaster. He was followed by A. T. Ellingboe, who kept the office at his home in section 4, being postmaster for eighteen years, when rural route No. 1 out of Maynard was established. September 3, 1907. A. T. Ellingboe was appointed carrier. He did not. however, serve, and his son. Tron A. Ellingboe, succeeded. He served several years, and was succeeded by the present carrier, Hans Huseby. son of Ole Huseby. the pioneer.

There are three Norwegian Lutheran churches in the town of Wang, one on the southwest quarter of section 34. one on the northeast quarter of section 21, and one on the northeast quarter of section 9.

The first boy born in Wang was Robert Scott Hutchens. January 4. 1876; the second, Henry O. Grove. February 15, 1876. Mr. Grove still lives in Wang and has a farm. The first girl born in Wang was Marue Elton. She died April 28, 1877.

The second girl born was Anne Marie Holien, daughter of K. K. Holien, in section 14. Miss Holien still lives in the township. The first person that died in Wang, except for the drowning already mentioned, was Bertha Johnson. April IS. 1876. She was the mother of Mrs. George H. Holien, now of section 8. The first marriages in Wang were in 1874. The first three contracting couples were: O. K. Williams and Anne Simons; Helge Evenson and Ambjor Ellingboe; George C. Heen and Martha Kattevold. The first couple married in Wang church were Lars Brecke and Margaret Dolager, July 1. 1S93; the second, Endre Holien and Bella Strand. July 3, 1S93; the third, Andrew Brecke and Molla Strand, July 14. 1893. The first child baptized in Wang church was Randi C. Hovda, in September. 1S92. The first person buried in Wang's cemetery was Sever Brecke, in October, 1891.

The first class confirmed in Wang's church consisted of Adolph Borstad, Gilbert Hougen, Knut O. Holien. Louise Dalager, Marit Soine, Susie Haugen and Bertha A. Ellingboe. This was in October, 1S94. Adolph Borstad is a farmer in Tioga, North Dakota. Gilbert Haugen is a physician in Battle Lake, Minnesota. Knute O. Holien is a farmer in Erickson township. Louise Dalager is married and lives at Granite Falls. Marit Soine married T. S. Strand, a farmer in Wang township. Bertha Ellingboe married G. T. Strand of Tioga, North Dakota. Susie Haugen married and moved away.

(Note - The above history of Wang township has been prepared with the assistance of A. T. Ellingboe and John I. Johnson, and edited by both of these gentlemen. In some cases there is a difference of opinion as to when certain families arrived, some of the representatives of various families themselves being of varying opinions about their date of arrival. It is believed, however, that the foregoing dates are approximately accurate.)

Wellington township embraces township 113-32. It is bounded on the north by Martinsburg township, on the east by Sibley county, on the south by Cairo township, and on the west by Bandon township.

The first settler in Wellington township was William Chalk, who came in 1S6S and settled in the south half of the southwest quarter of section 32. Mr. Chalk was born in Ireland, had served in the Civil war and came here from Iowa, bringing his family. Alter living here some twenty years he went to Nebraska, where he died.

The next settlers were John Garrahy and Dennis Cready. brothers-in-law, who arrived in July, lsCs. Garrahy settled in tin- north half of the southeast quarter of section 32. His family did not come until the next year. Cready brought his wife.

Garrahy and Cready were natives of Ireland. They had come to Massachusetts in 1S65, and there Garrahy left his wife and children. The two men, with Cready's wife, then came to Waseca county in this state, and while working on the railroad secured a tract of eighty acres of timber land. Coming from a country where the poor people owned no land, this seemed to them like great possessions, but after they had lived here for a while they found that they could not make a living on eighty acres of timber. So they traded their interest in the eighty acres for a yoke of oxen, and in the spring of 1S6S started for Yellow Medicine county. LTpon reaching the vicinity of Waverly in Wright county, they secured employment for a while. They soon began to realize, however, that it they were to locate on a claim for the winter, they must do so soon in order to gather winter hay for their oxen. So they started out to the westward. It is interesting to note that after reaching Renville county they camped in the timbers of what is now the village of Bird Island. They had no intention of locating in Renville county, but the pioneers whom they met pursuaded them to take up their home in Wellington township. They lived in a dugout on Cready's land, and Garrahy occupied a part of his time in constructing a dugout on his own land ready to welcome his family in the spring. Grady is now in the St. Alexander Hospital in New LJlm. Garrahy died January 13, 1905.

John Garrahy, a pioneer, was born in Ireland, and came to Massachusetts in 1S65. There he left his wife and children, and in 1867 came to Waseca county, this state. From there, with his brother-inlaw, Dennis Grady, he came to Wellington township, stopping awhile in the vicinity of Waverly in Wright county. By his wife, Bridget Kearn. whom he married in England, where as a young man he spent eight years, he had four children: Kate, is the widow of John Smith of Nicollet county: James died many years ago; Mary is Mrs. Alois Kachelmeier of Nez Perc, Idaho; and P. W. lives on the home farm.

The first birth in Wellington township was that of John Chalk, July 3, 1S70. The first death was that of Mrs. Margaret Murphy, July 3, 1S70. A daughter of John Fahey was killed by the cyclone of July 15, 1881. The first school was taught in f NTT by Solomon Demmings.

Wellington township was organized June 4. 1873. and an election held June 17, at William Carson's house. William Carson was elected Chairman and Henry J. Barton clerk. The early records are lost. The present records date back to March S, L881. The officers now are: Supervisors, Herman Schmechel. Michael Ruddy and E. A. Fritz: town clerk. Henry Globes; treasurer, Anton Garey; assessor, Ernest Ludtke. The town hall was built about 1S93. It is located in the center of the township. The town is named from the Duke of Wellington, the hero of Waterloo.

The first real estate assessment of Wellington, 113-32, was made in 1S74. Those assessed were: Dennis Cready, section 30; Wm. Chalk, section 32; Willis W. Countryman, section 32; F. J. McCanna, section 32; Gust Grams, section 36. (Danford N. Barney is given as owning about 16 or 18 sections in this township.) In 1S75, there were added to this list: Marschall Blodgett, section 2; Wm. Fahey, section IS; John Garrahy, section 32. In 1S76 there was added to this list: John Murphy, section 34. In 1S77 there were added to this list: John Hurst, section 4; Michael Murphy, section 2S; Ellen Malone, section