Vasa Township (part 2 of 2)

But the severest damage fell upon the town of Vasa. The force of the storm struck this town between eleven and twelve o'clock p. m., and though it lasted but a few minutes it did great damage. The Orphan's Home, having twenty-eight inmates, was leveled to its foundation while the children were all in their beds. Pieces oi the house and its contents were spread over the ground for miles. In the track of the storm, which was about fifty yards wide, scarcely a house or any other building escaped damage or destruction. The loss of life was fearful. A Mr. Holm and wife, G. V. Halberg, Erik Swenson, and seven of the orphan children were killed, and about thirty other persons badly wounded. Oiie of the orphan babies was asleep in its cradle at the time. The cradle was carried a short distance by the wind, when a door fell over it, and on this door there fell the ruins of a brick chimney. It took eleven men to lift the door otf the cradle, but when done the baby was found uninjured, and crowing as heartily as if the tornado was nothing but an every day occurrence. Another little one was found cowering under the lee of several large beams of timber, heavy enough to crush a house, but was unhurt. Another case of fortunate escape was that of a whole family of nine persons, who were precipitated into the cellar of their house, the walls of which fell on them, bat in some mysterious way they were all protected from injury.

Source changes here: from History of Goodhue County, Minnesota, by Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn, published 1909; 520 words in this source stream.

Vasa Township

Vasa k the center of the Swedish settlement in Goodhue county. The township comprises all of township 112, range 16, and all of that part of township 113, range 16, that lies south of the Cannon river. It is bounded on the north by the Cannon river, which separates it from the town of Welch, on the easi by Featherstone, on the south by Belle Creek and on the west by Cannon Falls. Belle creek crosses the township from south to north and flows into the Cannon river. The surface is some-

To this rich land, in 1853, came S. J. Willard, Colonel Hans Mattson, Charles Roos, Gustaf Kemp and Peter Green. They all made claims and Roos and Kemp stayed through the winter, the other returning to Red Wing to find work until the spring of 1851, when they began in earnest to build homes and to break the soil. A few accessions were made to the colony that year, and one of them, whose name is now forgotten, died soon after his arrival. This was the first death, and his mortal remains were tenderly and reverently conveyed to their last resting place in the land he had crossed the ocean to look upon but which he did not live to enjoy.

The first marriage celebrated was that of Hans Mattson and Cherstie Peterson, November 21, 1855. A school was taught here in the fall of 1856 by a Mr. Button. Another was taught in the Swedish language by James Engberg. Meetings were held on the Sabbath and Lutheran church services read by Hans Mattson until the minister arrived.

Vasa is named from Gustavus Vasa, the Christian king of Sweden, who established the Lutheran religion in his kingdom. Since the first settlement, Vasa has been famed far and near, and its reputation is nationwide as the home of Dr. E. Norelius. the venerable patriarch of the Swedish Lutheran Evangelical church. The story of the early days of Vasa is told by Dr. Norelius. Colonel Hans Mattson and S. J. Willard in another chapter of this history.

Vasa township was organized in 1858, and its area has remained unchanged since that date. The first officers were : Supervisors, Charles Himmelman (chairman), Charles Charleson, Nils Peterson ; clerk, Swante J. Willard ; assessor, Nils Swanson ; collector, John Sundell ; overseer of the poor, Matts Mattson ; constables. Nils Johnson Erick Anderson; justices of the peace, T. Granvill Person, Franklin Morrison; overseers of roads. Swan P. Peterson, Gustus Carlson and William F. Fessenden.

According to the official list of the adjutant general, the following men who enlisted in the Civil War gave Vasa as their home: Olof Anderson, John A. Anderson. Nils Ahfahamson, Charles M.

Vasa village has a population of about 300. It is the only postoffice in the county that is not situated on a railroad, its shipping points being Red Wing, Welch and Cannon Falls. Swedish Lutheran and Methodist churches supply the religious demands of the people, and a creamery, feed mill and two stores add to its industrial importance. Here is also . located the Orphan's Home.