Stanton Township

Stanton Township

This township is located in the extreme northwestern portion of the county. It is bounded on the north by Cannon River; on the east by Cannon Falls township ; south by Warsaw ; and west by Sciota, in Dakota county. In the early days the territory was called Prairie Creek, subsequently organized into the township of Lillian. It is not a full-sized government township, being only four section deep from north to south, and the usual six sections the other way. The Cannon River affords a magnificent water power, presenting a succession of falls, or more properly rapids, not excelled by any similar stream in the Northwest.

Prairie Creek flows through the ceptre of the township, and on the east the Little Cannon, and there are besides numerous springs and smaller streams.

The first settlement was made in 1855, by a party of emigrants from Dodge county, Wisconsin, consisting of Wm. Stanton, sen., John Stanton, Norman Daniels, Robert Deakin, Wm. Stanton, jr.. Samuel Daniels, George Gould and others. These men with their families located claims near the southwest corner of the township, and the settlement was called Stanton in honor of the oldest settler, Mr. Wm. Stanton, senior. This section of country is a beautiful valley, surrounded by high lands, rendering the place picturesque in the extreme, full of native beauty and marvelous scenic loveliness.

In the fall of 1855, Mr. George Gould was married to a daughter of Samuel Daniels, being the first marriage celebrated in the township. In 1856, their first child was born, being the first child born in the township. In the fall of the same year Peter Fagan, and Hugh Woden, with his father and two sisters, came to the settlement and made claims. Of the latter family, all have since died.

Late in the fall of 1854, John and George Seasons, with their families, settled on the Little Cannon. Alonzo and Jonathan Dipple and William Thomas came about the same time. The wife of George Seasons died the following winter, the first death that took place in the township.

At the house of William Stanton, the first religious service was held, Rev. J. W. Hancock officiating. William Cleveland taught the first school at the little village of Stanton.

In 1862 Robert Deakin was elected clerk of the court, re-elected in 1866 ; was elected probate judge in 1864, re-elected in 1866 and in 1868.

Subsequently the township was re-christened and now bears the title of Stanton. The appellation may be more appropriate in honor of the early settlers of that name, but " Lillian " is the more fluent and poetical term.

In the summer of 1874, the Methodists erected a very cosy and pretty church building on section 32. It is 28x44 feet and cost $2,000. Services are held quite regularly by Rev. Ezra Tucker.

Oxford Methodist Church

This church building stands on section 36. It was completed in June, 1873 ; size, 26x40 feet. The first sermon was preached in the new structure, Oct. 1873, by the Rev. Ezra Tucker, he supplying both churches. The township is liberally supplied with churches and schools, and well tilled farms and elegant farm houses greet the eye all over the township. .

Oxford Flouring Mill

This valuable enterprise is located on section 25, Little Cannon River. It was erected by the Archibalds & Wilcox in 1867, and put in operation in the fall of the same year. It is 30x70 feet and contains four run of stone. Its capacity is 70,000 bushels per annum.

mill 44x56. Much of the machinery from the old mill was substituted for the new enterprise. It was completed and put in operation in the fall of 1878, and is one among the very excellent mills of the county.

DELINE, JOHN, farmer, *sec. 34, P. 0. Cannon River Falls. Born in Montgomery county, N. Y., Jan. 25, 1818. In 1828 moved with parents to Orleans county. May, 1855, moved to this county; settled on his present farm, 186 acres, worth $35 per acre. Married Eliza A. Housel, in Somerset, Niagara county, N. Y. She was born in Lansing, Tompkins county, Nov. 6, 1824. Their children are - J. D., Cynthia* and Alma E. Lost four by death, whose names were - Lydia, Orpha A. Martha J. and John W.

DIBBLE, ALONZA, farmer, sec. 24, P. 0. Cannon River Falls. Born in Fairfield county, Conn., Dec. 12, 1826. Fall of 1832 with parents moved to Switzerland county, Ind. ; remained until 1850; crossed the plains to California; remained about sixteen months, engaged in mining; returned to Indiana; engaged as boatman on the Ohio River, running as far south as Memphis and New Orleans. In 1854 he came to this county, preempted a quarter section of land in sections 23 and 24 this township. Married Louisa Ahlers, June 11, 1855. She was born in Prussia in 1836; died March 25, 1869. Their children are - Sarah L., Alice M. and Edward A. Married again to Miss Rebecca Chapman, Aug. 28, 1871, who is a native of Northampton, N. H. The family are members of the Episcopal Church.

FERGUSON, DONALD, farmer, sec. 30, P. 0. Stanton. Born in Canada East, Feb. 17, 1825. Spring of 1861 he moved to Pierce county, Wis., engaged in farming until the fall of 1877, when he moved to his present farm 160 acres, worth $6,000. Married Mary McMillan, June 12, 1851. She was born in Canada East, Aug. 2, 1831, died, Sept. 18, 1874. Their children are - John, Duncan J., Margaret (died Sept. 10, 1859,) Margaret, Archibald A. Married again to Mrs. Jane M. Learmont, March 21, 1877. She was born in Canada, Oct. 18, 1839.

fclOUDY, FRANCIS, farmer, sec. 34, P. 0. Stanton. Born in Ireland, Aug. 15, 1838. Came to America, May 3, I860-, settled in this county, and in 1865, settled on his present estate, 160 acres. Married Bridget McAweeny, Jan., 1865. She was born in Ireland, 1849. Mr. G. has held important local offices for many years, and in 1873 was elected assessor, which position he still retains. His children are - William R., Arthur, Francis, James, Anna E., Nathaniel and Mary.

G0UDY, WILLIAM, farmer, sec. 32, P. O. Stanton. Born in Ireland, Aug. 3, 1838; came to America in 1856, settling in this township, where he married Susie Grant, Sept. 27, 1865. She was born in Scotland, July 4, 1841. Mr. G. enlisted in Co. C, 6th Minn. V. I., Aug. 12, 1862; was discharged Aug. 29, 1865. Settled on his farm in 1868, which consists of 80 acres, worth $50 per acre. He also owns 285 acres in Martin county, worth $6,000; was appointed postmaster of Stanton in 1868, which office he still

1855, then moved to this county, and settled where he now lives. Married Miss A. Daniels, Oct. 29, 1855. She was born in Vt., March 18, 1833. Enlisted in Co. I, 1st Minn, heavy artillery, Feb. 6, 1865, was discharged Sept. 27, same year, at Nashville, Tenn. Mr. Gould's parents came to this county in 1857, and have since died. Mrs. Gould's parents also came in the same year, her mother is dead, and her father resides with her. They have lost two children by death, Clara and an infant son. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

HASERICK, F. G., farmer, sec. 20, P. 0. Stanton. Born in Saxony, Germany, Dec. 20, 1824. Came to America in 1850, settled near Salem, Mass. The following year he was joined by his family, lived there until

1856, in the employ of the Lawrence Bay State Company and the Nauinkeag cotton factory, as dyer. May 28, 1856, settled on his present farm of 160 acres, worth $35 per acre. Was married in Germany to Ernstine Reichelt, Oct. 6, 1817. She was born Oct. 7, 1826. Their children are - Emil, Lucy, Anna and Alice. They have lost two children by death, Frank and Lena. Mr. H. has held local offices many years. The family are members of the Methodist Church.

HINE, WILLIAM L., farmer, sec, 27, P. O. Cannon River Falls; born in Cortland county, N. Y., April 11, 1822; 1810 moved to Michigan; remained 18 months and moved to Indiana; thence, in 1811, to Wisconsin; thence, in 1858, to Cannon Kails, this county; thence, in 1860, to his present farm, 215 acres, worth $10 per acre. Married Charity Morell, January 5, 1848. She was born in Canada West, July 3, 1817. Their children are, Daniel F., James H., Charles 0. and Martha J. They have lost three children by death, whose names were, William, John I. and Samuel.

KLEEBERGER, MRS. EUPHEMIA, relict of the late Frederick Kleeberger, P. 0. Northfield; was born in New York State, Sept. 23, 1828. Married Mr. K., July 27, 1852; he was born in Germany in 1827, and died in this place April 1, 1871. They moved to this county April, 1857; settled on this farm of 160 acres, worth $45 per acre. She is a member of the Congregational Church. Her children are - Orin W., Mary E., Frederick M., William A., Lafayette F. and Rena E. One son named George, deceased.

LEE, JOSEPH, farmer, sec. 9, P. 0. Cannon River Falls. Owns 308 acres, worth $40 per acre. Was born in England, Aug. 13, 1805, where he married Elizabeth Thompson, Sept. 21, 1832. She was born Oct. 26, 1803. Came to America in 1850, settled near Rochester, N. Y., engaged in blacksmithing until 1852, when he moved to Indianapolis, Ind. November, 1855, came to this State, settled in Cannon Falls; carried on blacksmithing one year, then moved to his present farm. Their only daughter,

Mary, was bom in England, Feb. 18, 1839, and died Sept. 18, 1846. They are the oldest couple now residing in this township, and can distinctly remember the battle of Waterloo.

McCORKELl, MRS. AGNES, relict of the late James McCorkell, whose death in 1861, was caused by jumping from a wagon, was born in Scotland, where she married Mr. McCorkell, who was also a native of Scotland. In

1857 moved to the farm on whith Mrs. M. now resides. Her children are - David, born in Philadelphia; William, born in Iowa; Eliza and James, born in this State. She is a member of the Episcopal Church. Owns 160 acres of land, worth $50 per acre.

MILLER, JONATHAN, farmer, sec. 28, P. 0. Stanton. Born in Vermont, Oct. 11, 1838; 1857 came to this county, made a claim on section 20, this township; in the spring of 1873, moved to his present farm of 750 acres, worth $50 per acre. Mr. M. raises large flocks of sheep, and now has some of the finest " Spanish Merinos" in the Northwest, which he originally brought from Vermont in 1867, and which produce annually from eight to nine pounds of wool each. Married Mattie Streeter, Dec. 22, 1871. She was born in Monroe county, Wis., April 7, 1852; they have one child, O. R., born Feb. 19, 1872.

MILLS, WILLIAM, farmer, sec. 22, P. O. Cannon River Falls. Born in Va., Feb. 27, 1835. At the age of four years, with parents, moved to Ohio; 1853 to Ills. ; 1856 came to this county, settling in Warsaw township. Enlisted in the 2d Minn. V. I., May 27, 1864, participated in many severe engagements, and was honorably discharged July 22, 1865; 1868 settled on farm, consisting of 120 acres, owned by himself and brother, and worth $45 per acre. His brother, James Mills, was born in Ohio, Aug. 24, 1842, and arrived with parents in this county in 1856. Enlisted in Co. I, 1st Minn. Heavy Artillery, Feb. 8, 1865, and was honorably discharged Oct. 8, of the same year; returned; now resides and is a partner with his brother.

MILLER, HARRISON D., farmer, sec. 20, P. 0. Stanton. Born in Vermont, Feb. 6, 1828; there he married Harriet Ellis, Jan. 3, 1854. She was born in the same State, Sept. 10, 1830; March the same year, they came west and settled in Wis., and in March, 1858, came to this county and settled where they now live; he owns 270 acres of land, worth $30 per acre. Their children are - Alvin E., Nelson J., Cora and Fred.

MURPHY, ALEXANDER, farmer, sec. 30, P. O. Stanton. Born in Canada, Dec. 10, 1838. 1858 came to this State; settled in Dakota county; remained until 1868; then moved to his present farm, 485 acres, worth $19,000. Married Betsy Knutson, June 1873. She was born in Norway, Aug. 11, 1846. Their children are - Minnie, John A. and George. His brother and partner James Murphy, was born in Canada, March, 1836. Came to this county in 1864, and entered into partnership with his brother on their present farm.

MOORHOUSE, RICHARD F., farmer, sec. 20, P. 0. Cannon River Falls. Born in Ontario, Can., June 29, 1836; in 1867, came to Minn., and settled in this township; 1872, moved to his present farm of 160 acres, worth $30 per acre. He has besides 73 acres otherwise located. Married Letitia Dack, Oct. 5, 1867. She was born in Canada, April, 1839. Their children are - Margaret J., William R., and John J.

POE, RICHARD M., farmer, sec. 36, P. 0. Cannon River Falls. Born in Kentucky, Dec. 5, 1807. 1813 moved to Indiana-, and engaged in farming until 1858; then came to this State, and settled in Rice county. 1860 came to his present farm, 159 acres, worth $35 per acre. Married Margaret Kemmer in Bracken county, Ky., April 23, 1830. She was born there, Nov. 20, 1809; died Jun. 17, 1869. His children are - Hiram B., who resides in Rice county; Mary E. in Kansas; William E. in this county; Elizabeth F. in Rice county; Jonathan S. in this county; Ann M. in Dakota county; Susan M. in Cannon Falls; Leonidas E. C. in Cannon Falls; Sabina in Dakota county; Milton H. at home and Kate C. in this county. Married Mrs. Mary A. Wail, Jan. 7, 1875, who was the widow of Beriah C. Wail, who died June 16, 1873. She was born in Clinton county, N. Y., July 29, 1823. The children by this marriage are Maria J., Florence A. and Walter B. He has lost four children by death, two by first marriage and two by the last.

P0E, WILLIAM E.. farmer, sec. 36, P. O. Cannon River Falls. Born in Bracken county, Ky., March 18, 1836. June, 1813, with parents, moved to Ind. ; remained until Aug., 1857, then settled in Rice county, Minn. March, 1861, moved to present farm 217 acres. Enlisted in Co. C, 6th Minn. V. L, Aug. 13, 1862; was assigned to duty on the plains against the Indians; was honorably discharged Aug. 14, 1864; returned and has since resided here. Married Julia Sherpy, Feb. 23, 1858. She was born in Ohio, Jan. 29, 1838. Their children are - Ida, Clara L., William F., Lulu and Mark. They are members of the M. E. Church.

POLLARD, JAMES, farmer, sec. 32, P. O. Stanton. Born in Manchester, England, Jan. 22, 1828. April, 1829, came with parents to America, settling in N. Y. State, remained until 1837, then moved to Mass. ; remained there until 1842; thence to Watertown, Wis., lived there until 1856; thence to Goodhue county, and in July, settled with his family on farm of 170 acres, worth $45 per acre. Married Margaret M. Gibson, Oct. 11, 1850. She was born in Ireland, July 4, 1832. Their children are - John, Peter J., Ella M., Francelia M., Adaline, Henrietta, Margaret, Benjamin L., William H. and George. They have lost two children. He enlisted in Co. I, 1st Minn. Heavy Artillery, Feb. 8, 1865, and was honorably discharged Oct. 8, of the same year.

SIMPSON, BENJAMIN, farmer, sec. 35, P. 0. Cannon River Falls; born in Ireland, Dec. 25, 1834; came to America, with parents, in 1838, and settled in New York; remained until 1855; came west, and in 1856 settled in Warsaw, this county, where he lived until March 1, 1870, when he moved to his present farm, 405 acres, worth $9,000. Married Helen O'Brien, Oct. 26, 1858; she was born in Armstrong county, Pa., June 10, 1835; their children are, Fred L., Mary J., Lillie B., Benjamin and Arleigh J

S LOCUM, JOHN E., farmer, sec. 14, P. O. Cannon River Falls. Born in - Luzerne county, Pa., Dec. 19, 1803; came, with his father, Isaac Slocum, to Ohio, 1824, there he resided until 1815 ; then moved to Fond du Lac, Wis., in 1855; came to St. Paul and in the fall of the same year came to Cannon Falls; built the second store in that place, and about the same time pre-empted the farm on which he now lives; erected a cabin thereon; while absent at Red Wing a fire swept over the prairie and destroyed the cabin with all his household goods; he then returned, with his family, to St. Paul, and spent the winter, and the following year returned to his claim where he resided until 1861, when he returned to Oshkosh, Wis. ; remained until 1874, when they returned to their home in this county, and have lived here since. Married Barbara E. Morrill, May 1, 1849; she was born in England, March 9, J 829. There children are Sarah E., Mary H. and Harrison M.

STANTON, LYMAN, farmer, sec. 29, P. O. Stanton. Born in Vermont, Jan. 15, 1821; 1824 with parents, moved to Lower Canada, where he resided until 1844. May 11, 1843, married Margaret M. McAllister; she was born in Canada, April 4, 1824. Spring of 1844 moved to Dodge Co.,- Wis. ; 1856 came to this Co., entered 160 acres of land, returned to Wis., remained until 1868; again returned to this Co., bought 160 acres more land, moved his family and has resided here since. Now owns 340 acres, worth $13,000. Their children are - Ellen, Mary A., Henry L., Florence J., Frances, George A. and Minnie.

WHITE, LEONARD, farmer, sec. 24, P. O. Cannon River Falls. Born in N. H., April 6, 1818. At twenty -four years of age shipped as a sailor and followed a seafaring life five years; was then engaged as teamster in the city of Boston until 1854. July of that year, moved to this Co., settling where he now lives; owns 160 acres of land; is a prominent citizen and local politician. Married Mary Hoffstater, May 31, 1856; she was born in Ohio, Dec. 29, 1834. Their children are, Frances M. and Lizzie A.

WHITS0N, ROBERT, farmer, sec. 22, P. 0. Cannon River Falls. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Oct. 24, 1827. Came to America and settled in Canada in 1835, where he married Mary A. Riddle, Jan. 7, 1848. She was born in Canada, April 19, 1828. 1863 he came to this county settling on his present estate, consisting of 200 acres, worth $45 per acre. Their children are - Jennette, Robert A., Ellen, James, Isabella V., John and Henry. They have lost one child by death, named William, who died at the age of ten years.

gany county, N. Y. 1847, went to Erie county, Pa., engaged in the milling business. Married Elizabeth A. Pike, Jan. 3, 1853. She was born in Dunkirk, Chautauqua county, N- Y., March 17, 1836. 1857, moved to Wayne county, Ind. ; thence in 1859 to Dundas, Rice county, Minn., where he engaged in the milling business until 1867, then moved to this place, and in partnership with J. S. and E. T. Archibald, erected the Oxford Mill, having since purchased his partners' interest. George H., Edwin A., Martha E., Ida M., Charles E. and Nina F., are their children.

Source changes here: from Goodhue County, Minnesota, Past and Present, by [Hancock, Joseph Woods], published 1893; 476 words in this source stream.

Stanton Township

This township was first called Lillian, but was afterward changed to Stanton, in honor of one of its oldest settlers, William Stanton, Sr. It is situated in the extreme northwest corner of the county. Cannon river separates it from Dakota county on the north. On the east it is bounded by Cannon Falls township, on the south by Warsaw, and west by Dakota county. The Cannon river affords excellent mill privileges along the northern border by a succession of rapids, for a long distance. Prairie creek runs through the town from south to north in a meandering course ; and the Little Cannon flows along the eastern border ; besides there are numerous springs with smaller sh'eanis.

Late iu the fall of 1854, John and George Seasons made claiais on the Little Cannon. Soon after Jonathan and Alonzo Dibble, and William Thomas settled near them.

A party of emigrants from Wisconsin came in 1855, and settled on Prairie creek, among whom were Norman Daniels, William Stanton, Sr., William Stanton, Jr., Robert Deakin, Samuel Daniels, and George Gould. The section along this creek is a broad and beautiful valley bordered by higher prairie lands, rendering it picturesque and charming to the viewer. The soil is of the best quality for agriculture. The pioneer settlers were nearly all from New England.

The first couple joined by marriage was George Gould and Experience Daniels, in October, 1855. The first death was that of Mrs. George Seasons. The first religious services held in the town were in the winter of 1855-6, in the house of William Stanton, Sr. Rev. J. W. Hancock, of Red Wing, officiated. William Cleveland taught the first school. The log house built by William Stanton, Sr., near the road leading to Faribault from the nearest Mississippi towns, was for several years the only place for the entertainment of travelers between Cannon Falls and further west. Mr. Stanton's latch string was always hanging out and every civil appaaring stranger was welcome to such accommodations as he had. He frequently entertained fifty persons the same night.

Not many of those who came to settle in the fifties were able to have a good sized log house. Sod houses and board shanties were more common. Thirty years and more have brought great changes. A country village, with many fine residences, a post-office, stores; with a neat church, school house and some mechanic shops, now occupy the grounds where once the lonely log cabin stood. There is now a flourishing cheese factory at Stanton village, and a railroad station.

There is on the Little Cannon a large flouring mill, where there is a cluster of nice dwellings and other buildings. This place is known as Oxford Mills. A neat M. E. church adorns this village. Stanton is well supplied with churches, school houses, elegant farm houses and well cultivated farms.

Source changes here: from History of Goodhue County, Minnesota, by Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn, published 1909; 32 words in this source stream.

Stanton Township

Stanton consists of that portion of township 112, range 18, lying in Goodhue county. It is divided into river terrace and upland, the greater portion of it being the former. There are