Zumbro Township

Zumbro Township

The territory now covered by Zumbro, Mazeppa and Hyde Park is just equal to two full townships and was originally known us Mazeppa and Concord. Concord was the name of the election precinct, in which it was situated at the time of the government survey. Afterward, in May, 1858, at a town meeting, the name of Troy was adopted by a vote of the people, by which name it was known till 1861 ; there being another town of the same name in the state, the legislature declined to endorse the action of the town meeting, and consequently it became necessary to call another meeting ; this time to consider the propriety of dividing the town as well as adopting another name.

The river Zumbro entered the town of Troy from the northwest, in section 6, a quarter of a mile east of the town-line, and flowed in a southeasterly direction till it reached a point one mile south of the center of the town, where it turned and followed a northeasterly course, and finally leaving the town about on the line of sections 13 and 24, it being the center of the north and south line. This river rendered it so inconvenient for the people to meet, and especially so in the spring, that it was finally decided (the consent of the county commissioners having been obtained) at a town meeting held March 19, 1861, to divide the town, the Zumbro forming the boundary, and also to call the new town south of the river, Zumbro.

The first settlers in this town - at that time Concord - were the Baileys, Thomas, George and Andrew, who came in the. early part of 1855, and followed some time in the summer ot

1856 by the Jenkins family, father and two sons, and a Mr. Baker. The first school was taught in the late Isaac Jenkins claim shanty in the summer of 1859, by Miss Nellie "Walker,* who received twelve dollars for the term of three months, and boarded herself. This school, now known as district 49, was organized in 1861, and the first school after its organization was held in a shant}^ built expressly for that purpose by York and Jenkins, and which was used for that purpose till 1864, when the red schoolhouse was built, being located on section 31. The first teacher in the red schoolhouse was Miss Hattie Ruber. In 1S63, a postofiice, called South Troy, was established, but at the end of two years was discontinued. The present postofiice is located at Hammond, a station of the narrow-gauge railroad. Agriculture was the occupation of the people, but little if any other kind of business being carried on till 1866, when a Mr. John Ralton brought on a stock of goods and opened a store for the accommodation of the people in that section of the country.

May 11, 1858, when the following officers were elected - then known as Troy : George Fanning (chairman), George Eoberts, Edward York, supervisors ; John Kitter, clerk ; Isaac Jenkins, assessor ; Parish Dewitt, collector ; Francis W. Shaw, A. J. Jenkins, constables ; George W. Fanning, Isaac Jenkins, justices.

1864. Henry Dickman . Henry Dickman - Henry Dickman . Henry Dickman . Henrj- Dickman . Henry Dickman . A. J. Anderson . . A. J. Anderson . .

Clerk

At a town meeting held March 19, 1861, it was voted to divide the town, and all that portion l.ying south of the Zumbro to be known as the town of Zumbro, and all north of the river to be called Hyde Park, and the first election for the new town was held April 2, 1861.

The schools of Zumbro are known as district No. 47, located in section 35 ; No. 48, located in section 34 ; No. 49, located in section P>1 ; No. 52, located in section 13 ; No. 53, located in section 24.

The Wesleyan Methodist church was organized in 1856, by Elder 11. E. Walker, William Perkins, A. W. Martin, Mrs. Martin, Francis Fryer and Mrs. Fryer, and the first services were held in the South Troy schoolhouse, Elder Walker officiating and preaching the first sermon preached in the town.

In 1859 a branch of this society was organized by Elder Walker, and services were held in the Red School-house, district No. 49. On alternate Sundays, Elder Walker preached in the morning at the South Troy schoolhouse, and in the afternoon at the red schoolhouse. . At the expiration of eight or nine years he was succeeded by Elder Pegler, who officiated for two years. Elders Baldridge, Hartley and Norton were the predecessors of Elder Cox, who is now the officiating preacher.

Since the organization of the branch in the red schoolhouse, some thirty or forty members have been added to the society, rendering their present quarters too small for comfortable accommodation. Accordingly a move was set on focrt to build an edifice expressly for church purposes. By the aid of the South Troy society and that extended by the Wesleyan denomination of the State of Minnesota, they were enable to accomplish their object, having now nearly completed a church edifice to cost about fifteen hundred dollars, and to be finished in time for fall services.

The only other church in the town of Zumbro is that of the German Lutherans, who have a church located in the extreme southeastern part of the town in section 36.

Tlie only village in the township is Hammond, which is thirtythree miles west of Wabasha, on the Midland road. The village consists of about one hundred inhabitants, two general stores and one hardware store. The general stores are owned and conducted by E. N. York and Brucher Bros, respectively. The hardware store is owned by M. J. Maldoon. These stores do a very large business.

The Minnesota Elevator Company has erected a very large grain elevator at this place, and it is said this is the largest wheat market on this branch of the road. The elevator is in the charge of M. J. Maldoon.

The town dates its existence to the completion of the narrowgauge road, but the locality was known as Hammond's Ford prior to that time. The name has its origin in Joseph Hammond, an old settler, and the original owner of the site.

Some time after the division into Hyde Park and Zumbro, and for the same reasons, all of that portion of Mazeppa east of the south branch of the Zumbro river was set off and added to the town of Zumbro. This gives to the township nearly sixteen miles of waterfront, and the land bordering on the river and its branch is extremely rough and broken, hardly fit for farming, and equal in extent to nearly one quarter of the whole township.