Sheridan Township

Sheridan Township

Sheridan township is located in the north-central part of Redwood county and embraces Congressional township 112-37. It is bounded on the north by Kintire and a half mile of Delhi, on the east by Redwood Falls, on the south by Vail, and on the west by Vesta. Redwood river flows through its central part in an easterly and north easterly direction. The surface is rolling prairie. The Vesta-Sanborn branch of the Chicago and Northwestern crosses its southwest corner. Its only village is Seaforth with a population in 1915 of 146 persons. The trading centers are Seaforth, Redwood Falls, Vesta, and Belview. There are eight school houses. The predominating nationality is German.

The original survey of this township was made during 1864 by Charles Davis and James Webb, Jr., U. S. Deputy surveyors. The work was started on August 13, 1864. The township had very few wet marshes or swamps. The land was rolling prairie and meadow. The soil was first rate. The Redwood river ran through the township, but owing to the dry season was very low. The banks were for the most part from four to six feet high and therefore were not likely to overflow. There was no timber excepting small clusters of cottonwood and willow along the Redwood river. The Sioux Indian reservation line extended through sections 12, 11, 2 and 3 of this township. A road ran nearly straight east and west in the south of the township through sections 25 and 30 inclusive.

The west part of Sheridan township was included in Yellow Medicine township by act of the county commissioners March 2, 1868, and the east part was considered a part of Redwood Falls township beginning with the organization of the county. January 4, 1870, the commissioners created Holton, with the present boundaries of Sheridan. A change of name to Sheridan was authorized by the commissioners September 8, 1870.

The History of the Minnesota Valley published in 1882 says : "The town was organized January 22, 1870, at the house of George Reiber. The names of Holton, Bath and Sheridan were voted upon as the name for the town, and the result proved in favor of Sheridan. The following officers were elected : George Reiber, chairman, Chester Fisk and George G. Sandford, supervisors; D. V. Francis, clerk; Daniel Thompson, assessor; John Holton, treasurer; Edwin Payne and Thomas Barr, justices; Adolph Leonard and Robert Thompson, constables. In May, 1868. Charles Holton came in, bringing his wife, a daughter and four sons. Mr. Holton selected a claim in section twelve. The two oldest sons, John and Laurence, took claims in section fourteen. A house was built on Mr. Holton 's claim, where they all lived during the first winter. Mr. Holton died in December, 1878. In the fall of 1868, George Reiber located on section 10, followed in 1869 by Robert Thompson. The first school was taught in the summer of 1874, in a building on section 6, erected for the purpose; there are now three school-houses. Weldon post-office was established in 1873, with Thomas Barr, postmaster; the office was discontinued after a few years. The first marriage was Adolph Leonard and

Bertha Holton, in 1872. Albert E. Clark, born September 26, 1872, was the first birth. The first death was Annie, wife of Laurence Holton, who died August 29, 1872."

Redwood Palls township is located in the northeast central part of Redwood county, and embraces Congressional township 112-36. It is bounded on the north by Delhi and half a mile of Honner, caused by the variation in the survey, on the east by Paxton, on the south by New Avon, and on the west by Sheridan. The Redwood river crosses its northern part, flowing in a northeasterly direction and passing out through section 1. The Sleepy Eye-Redwood Falls branch of the Chicago and Northwestern enters it in section 1 and stops at the city of Redwood Falls. The surface is level in the southern part and rolling in the northern part. The trading center and only city is Redwood Falls. There are six schoolhouses. The predominating nationality is American.

The original survey was made by James L. Nowlin, U. S. deputy surveyor, who started September 3, 1858, and finished September 8, of the same year. He described the surface as level or rolling. The soil was generally of the best quality. He found a little timber in this township, including oak, ash, maple and elm. A wagon road crossed in the northeast and southwest direction through the northern part of the township. An Indian trail was also found in the northern part of the township.

From the organization of the county, the whole county was considered a part of Redwood Falls township unless definitely created into another township. The township however had not been definitely created by the commissioners, and to remedy this defect, the commissioners created it on Jan. 7, 1880, and ordered an election held at the Court House, Jan. 22, 1880. Town meetings were regularly held in the township from April 3, 1866, and an act of the legislature later legalized all acts between that date and Jan. 22, 1880.

Paxton township is located in the northeast central part of Redwood county, and embraces Congressional township 112-35. It is bounded on the north by Honner, on the east by Sherman, on the south by Three Lakes, and on the west by Redwood Falls. Little Crow creek runs in a north and east direction in the northern part of this township. The surface is level in some places and rolling in others. The Sleepy Eye-Redwood Falls branch of the Chicago and Northwestern crosses it diagonally from the southeast to the northwest corner. Its only station is Gilfillan, consisting of a few houses. The extreme eastern portion of Redwood Falls is also in this township. The trading centers are Morgan and Redwood Falls, in Redwood county, and Morton in Renville county. There are five schoolhouses. The predominating nationality is American, many being of eastern and Scotch-American ancestry. The Indian agency with its school, church and colony is in this township.

The original survey of this township was made during the year 1858. It was started by James L. Nowlin, U. S. deputy surveyor, on September 9, 1858. The surface was rolling generally but level in some places. The soil was for the most part first rate. No large lakes or streams were found. Several Indian fields were found, especially in the north and east parts. The township was full of trails crossing and joining one another. Only a little timber was found, burr oak toward the east, and both red oak and linden toward the center and west.

Beginning with the organization of the county, Paxton was considered a part of Redwood Falls township. Paxton was created by the county commissioners with its present boundaries July 30, 1879, and the first meeting ordered held Sept. 13, 1879, at the school house in District 20. Before Paxton was organized, several attempts were made to organize Blackwood. On petition on May 3, 1872, the commissioners created Blackwood, consisting of township 112-35 and all of 113-35 lying in this county. But the action was reconsidered, and laid on the table until a future meeting. June 4, 1872, Blackwood was created, consisting of township 112-35 and all of township 113-35 in this county, except sections 18, 19, 20, 29, 30, 31 and 32.

The History of the Minnesota Valley published in 1884 says: "Paxton was named in honor of J. W. Paxton, who once owned the large tract of land now owned by 0. B. Turrell. The first town meeting was held September 13, 1879; officers elected: "William Perry, chairman; Z. Y. Hatch and Benjamin Wolf, supervisors ; S. F. Cale, clerk ; A. A. Wilson, treasurer ; D. R. Morrison and W. W. Byington, justices; C. E. Goodwin and Charles Tyrrell, constables. The first settlers were John McMillan, Sr., and son James, Paul Brott, Norman Webster, George Johnson and C. D. Chapman. The farm allotted to the Indian Chief, Little Crow, was in this town ; a number of buildings had been erected by the government for the Indians, and these the settlers occupied on their arrival. The first school was taught by Mary Bailey in the winter of 1866-7, supported by subscription. The next year a building was erected ; there are now two frame school houses in the town. The first religious service was held in the fall of 1870, by a Presbyterian, Rev. Lyon. The Advent denomination formed a society in 1876, under the leadership of Elders Grant and Dimmick ; the present leader is Elder C. D. Chapman. Paxton village was surveyed in 1878, on section 26 ; a small store was conducted by the Cale Brothers, a couple of years, the only improvement made. The postoffice was established in 1878 with S. F. Cale postmaster; Harvey Moore now has the office at his house near the station."

Sherman township is located in the northeast corner of Redwood county, and embraces Congressional fractional township 112-34. It is bounded on the north by the Minnesota river, on the east by Brown county, on the south by Morgan, on the west by Paxton. Wabasha river flows in a northeasterly direction through the central part of this township. It has no station nor railroad. The surface is level or gently rolling and high. The trading centers are Morton in Renville county and Morgan and Redwood Falls in Redwood county. There are four school houses. The predominating nationality is German.

The original survey was begun August 9, 1858, and finished August 13, 1858, by James A. Nowlin, U. S. deputy surveyor. He described the land as level or rolling and high. The soil was first rate in nearly every case. This township had numerous Indian farms. The timber was scarce except along the Minnesota river, which entered this township in section 6 and passed in a southeasterly direction, leaving the township in section 24. The following kinds of trees were found : oak, elm, hackberry, ash, willow, burr oak, aspen, lind, cottonwood, maple, and boxelder. The Sioux Agency road extended northwest and southeast through the center of the township.

Beginning with the organization of the county, Sherman was considered a part of Redwood Falls township. Sherman township was created by the county commissioners Sept. 7, 1869. The township was described as follows : ' ' All the territory of township 112, range 34, and all the territory of township 113, range 34, lying south of the Minnesota river." This was intended to mean all that part of both townships lying south of the river, but it was held that the words "lying south of the Minnesota river" applied only to township 113, range 34, and that as part of this area lay in Renville county, the creation of the county was illegal. Consequently, on Feb. 10, 1880, the township was recreated, consisting of that part of 112-34 lying south of the Minnesota. The boundaries have thus remained to the present day. That part of township 113-34 lying south of the Minnesota (a fractional part of a section) was included in Honner by legislative enactment.

The story of the Lower Sioux Agency established in this township in 1853 is told elsewhere in this work, as is the story of the Massacre. The old stone house erected by the government is still standing, and various markers and monuments mark historic sites in the township.

The History of the Minnesota Valley published in 1884 says: "Of the settlers who came after the Massacre J. J. Light was the first; he came in the spring of 1866. Claims were taken later by James and John Arnold, Cassius Frazier and George Cary. The first death was that of Mrs. John "Wall, in the spring of 1868. The first marriage was that of M. S. Hamblen and Clara J. Bailey. The latter taught the first school in the town in the summer of 1870, in an old log building on section 8 ; there were eight scholars. There are now two frame school houses in the town. Lower Sioux Agency postoffice was established about 1868 at the house of James Arnold. The office has had several changes and is now in charge of R. H. "Warren at his house.

"The first town meeting was ordered by the Commissioners to be held at the home of Joseph Poppet, but it was actually held at the house of A. E. Kneipple in section 8, October 4, 1869. The name was given in honor of Gen. "William T. Sherman, the famous hero. The officers for that year were : J. J. Light, chairman, A. E. McCarty and M. C. Tower, supervisors; M. S. Hamblen, clerk; James Stephens, treasurer; J. M. Little, justice; J. F. Deitzmann and 0. C. Dwyer, constables. No assessor elected until the following spring, when 0. W. Newton assumed the office."