This lies in the western tier of Freeborn county's towns, and is separated from Iowa by one town. Its contiguous surroundings are, Carlston on the north; Pickerel Lake on the east; Mansfield on the south, and Faribault county on the west. It is constituted as originally surveyed by the United States officers, of thirty-six square miles, and contains 23,040 acres, of which the greater portion is under a high state of cultivation, being one of the richest farming towns in this part of the State, and containing as much real value.
It is a prairie town, containing little if any timber of any kind within its borders. In the central and southeastern part we find some marsh land, but this is all valuable, if not for tillage purposes, for hay and grazing, while it is all most valuable meadow land. The farmers are so advanced in their modes and procedures of agriculture that those lands, formerly too wet for raising grain, has, by the use of drains and ditches, all been brought under the plow, and is now among the best of farming land. There are but few streams in the town, and no lakes.
The soil, as a rule, and in fact almost through�out the entire town, is a rich dark loam, of from three to four feet deep, which is underlaid with a subsoil of clay. It is very rich and well adapted to the crops of this latitude, such as wheat, corn, oats, barley, and all cereals. The abundant growth of indigneous grasses which covers the broad expanse of prairie, makes stock raising not only an inexpensive but very profitable business, and already many of the farmers are turning their attention from grain, and making stock their principal industry. The creameries, which are springing into existence all through this part of the State, serve to encourage and make this change more universal. It has already been demonstrat�ed, as an article published elsewhere will show, that the hopes and expectations of those who thus change from grain to stock are not unfounded; but that there is a great deal more money made with less risk of capital, and one-half the work in taking care of stock. than is required to raise grain at customary price.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The early development of this sub-division of Freeborn county commenced a little later than, the average of towns in this part of Minnesota, but the changes wrought have been equal to any and surpassed by none; for, we find the township, by a glance at the statistical returns, as productive and rich, agriculturally, as the best.
As to who the first settlers were, there is some dispute here, and the means are not easy of access with which to prove any of the statements. A short sketch, purporting to be the history of the township, was published in 1877, which we herewith present. It is as follows:
"John Hauck entered this town in the spring of 1858, and is supposed to have been the first set�tler. He also erected the first house in the summer of that year. John Tirrel was the first merchant, and commenced business in the winter of 1869-70. Mr. Miller, a blacksmith, was the first mechanic; M. W. Green, the first lawyer, and a Mr. Barber, the first doctor. The first school was taught in the Russell district, but when, or by whom, I have been unable to ascertain. The first religious service is said to have been held at the house of William Humes, but authorities differ regarding the officiating clergyman; the conflict laving between Rev. D. P. Curtis and Rev. A. P. Wolcott. The first schoolhouse was erected in 1867, and in the same year the Free Will Baptists effected the first church organization. A. G. Hall served as Chairman of the first board of Supervisors, and E. P. Clark acted as Clerk."
The above, it is said, was gathered by correspondence, and as stated, errors are liable to creep in, so we do not vouch for it, but give it just as received by us through the newspapers.
It is pretty certain that the first farm settled upon in the town was in section two, by Walter Scott Russell, in the spring of 1858. He was a young man, coming from Wisconsin with a yoke of oxen, and the same summer broke three acres of land and "erected" a dug-out in the side of a hill, in which he took up his abode. In a short time he returned to Wisconsin for his father and family, whom he had left there, and brought them back with them. He remained upon his second trip only a short time, when he sold his claim and removed to parts unknown.
John Hauek (or Houck) was the next arrival, making his appearance in the summer of the same year, and taking a farm in the northern part of the township, in section one, where, it is said, he erected the first house, and opened a farm. He remained a few years and then removed, his whereabouts at present being a mystery, to us at least. Mr. A. G. Hall purchased and still owns the farm.
With this the settlement of the town remained rather quiescent for a time, and the next pioneer to make a claim was James Rundel, in October, 1860, in section two, but we cannot find where he came from, as he died not long after his arrival. The place he took is now owned by a Mr. Dunning, of Chicago, Ill.
Elisha Davis came by team from Wisconsin, and arrived here in 1862, building a sod house on the claim which he selected in section five. He remained here until the year 1877, when he sold out and went to Valley county, Nebraska.
Joseph W. Harrington, a native of Illinois, came to Alden in 1863, and in the spring of that year took a homestead in section twelve, where he remained until 1873, when he removed to the village and remained there until the time of his death, which occurred in 1875. He was among the prominent men of this locality. .
Moses Cheesebrough, late of Wisconsin, made his appearance in this township in the fall of 1864. He came with teams, driving several head of stock, and went to the big woods, thirty miles away, to get lumber with which to erect a frame dwelling. He remained on the homestead, which he took in section seven, for a number of years, but finally went to Nebraska.
William B. Humes came to Minnesota in 1864, locating first in Pleasant Grove, where he remained for five years; then came to Alden township and homesteaded a place in section one. He was the first Justice of the Peace elected in the township.
James Whitehead was another arrival in 1864, coming from Wisconsin with a yoke of oxen and locating in section three, where, in the spring of that year he erected a sod habitation. He remained until 1866, when he left the county.
George W. Sanders also came in the spring of 1864, from Wisconsin, with a team of horses, and settling in section nine erected a house of two logs and a pile of sod. He remained here for about seventeen years, when he removed to other fields.
A. G. Hall arrived in 1865, in the spring, coming from McGregor, Iowa, to Alden, with horse teams, and being twenty-four days on the road. Shortly after his arrival he bought out the claim of John Houck, in section one, where he remained until the village of Alden was projected, and then went to that place and erected the first building there. He was the first chairman of Supervisors of the town, and is now a prominent man in public affairs.
In 1865, the Rev. O. P. Hull made his arrival from Wisconsin, and secured a home in sections eight and seventeen, where he erected a house and barn and remained a number of years, then returned to Wisconsin, where he lived until within a few years, when the grim messenger of death called him hence.
Russell Maxson, a native of New York, who had for a time been stopping in Wisconsin, came in about 1863, and secured a claim, which he held for several years, when he left.
OFFICIAL RECORD.
The records show that the first town meeting was held at the house of E. P. Clark, in section four, on the 3d of April, 1866. The meeting came to order by the selection of A. G. Hall, chairman, and proceeded to business. It was then resolved, by unanimous consent, that $100 be raised by tax to defray town expenses for the ensuing year. It was also resolved that the sum of $30 be appropriated for the purpose of building a pound, and George W. Sanders was elected poundmaster.
Balloting for town officers came next in the program, and the following officers were declared elected: Supervisors, Albert G. Hall, Chairman, Nathan L. Bassett, and Washington Sanders; Clerk, Edwin P. Clark; Assessor, Russell Maxson; Treasurer, Charles H. Clark; Justices of the Peace, Elisha B. Davis and William B. Humes; Constables, Ebenezer Brown and Henry S. Davis. The number of votes cast was twenty-two.
The official business of the township has been conducted in a frugal and business-like manner, with no jars to disturb the usual tranquility of such matters, and uo useless waste or expenditure of public funds. The officers elected and serving in 1882 are as follows: Supervisors, Thomas Dunn, chairman, S. S. Skiff, and A. H. Stevens; Clerk, J. T. Johnson; Assessor, J. W. Peck; ; Treasurer, T. W. Wilson; Justices of the Peace, H. Babbitt and A. G. Hall; Constables, O. M. Woodruff and W. A. Hart.
POPULATION.�The census taken in 1870 gives the township a population of 381. At the last census, taken in 1880, the village of Alden is reported as having a population of 235, and the town 475; total 710.
POST-OFFICES.
The first Post-office established in the township was called Buckeye. It was originally in the township of Manchester, with James E. Smith as Postmaster, and named in honor of the pet cognomen of the native State of the Postmaster, at whose house, in section thirty, in Manchester, the office was kept. In 1860, S. B. Smith was appointed Postmaster, and the mail came by way of the Mankato and Otronto, Iowa, route, under the supervision of A. L. Davis, who carried the mail by team. In 1866, the office was removed from Manchester to Alden township, and A. G. Hall was made mail handler. In 1870 the office was discontinued, having been removed to the village while Mr. Hall was awaiting the action of the department upon his resignation.
In 1867 Alden Post-office was established with E. P. Clark as Postmaster, and office upon his farm. When the village of Alden commenced building up it was removed to that point, and in 1870, A. G. Hall, who had removed from his farm to the village, was appointed to handle the mails, and continued in this capacity for about four years, when L. S. Crandall was commissioned and held it until 1877, when L. T. Walker received the appointment and is still the incumbent, with the office at "Walker's Store."
VILLAGE OF ALDEN.
This is the only village in the town, and is among the prosperous "villas" in the county. It is located in the northern part of the town whose name it bears, on the southern Minnesota branch of the C., M. & St. Paul railroad, about ten miles from Albert Lea, the county seat, and is surrounded by the most valuable farming land in the county. A small body of water covering about five acres of land lies adjoining the town, but there is no stream or, in fact, any water, near the village, as the water mentioned is merely a pond.
EAKLY SETTLEMENT.�In this line the village has not a history like the other villages in the county; no fighting or jobbery for the county seat; nor any squabbling for railway connection with the outer world, as it came into existence after the railroad had passed through.
It was laid out and platted by William Morin and H. W. Holley; the former of Albert Lea and the latter of Winnebago City. After a short time Mr. Morin purchased the interest of Mr. Holley. and still retains the greater part of the property. The first business of any kind opened on the village site was the Post-office, which A. G. Hall moved from his place in section one. This was only continued for a short time, while the Post-master was waiting for his resignation to be acted upon by the department.
The first actual business establishment was started about the time of the arrival of the railroad, in 1869, by a Mr. Terrill. who opened a stock of general merchandise, together with hot drinks, beer, etc. He shortly after took into partnership J. H. Sherwood, who, in a few months, purchased the entire establishment, and continued it until he failed, about two years later.
A. G. Hall erected the first residence in the village, just prior to the opening of this store.
The station was commenced by the railroad company, and by the first of January, 1870, the track was completed to the village.
Next came the business house of George Whit�man. Holley & Morin erected a store building, which was rented to Mr. Whitman, and he moved a stock of general merchandise in the building and placed the same in charge of Joseph Green and Victor Gilrup. This store was finally moved to Delavan and succumbed to financial difficulties.
Dell Miller fell into the line of progress, and erecting a suitable shop, commenced blowing the bellows and hammering the anvil. He ran the shop for about a year, when he was called away to the eternal shore. The shop has been used for various purposes, but is now in use as a dwelling house.
Arthur Grigg came about the same time and opened a blacksmith shop, which he continued for some time, and finally it became the property of the present manipulator of the iron, N. S. Cromett.
Soon afterward, L. T. Walker and a Mr. Kenyon started a general merchandise store under the firm name of Walker & Co. Mr. Kenyon died a few years afterward, and Mr. Walker for a time was in partnership with a Mr. Paulson, under the same firm name: but, financial difficulties, in the hard times, involved the firm, and business was finally discontinued. It was, however, afterwards re-opened, and now carries a light stock, with the Post-office in connection. .
About the time that the above establishment originated, A. G. Hall, who is mentioned as really having been the first resident of the village, erected a store building in connection with his dwelling house, and opened up a large stock of general merchandise, which he still continues, with a large and increasing trade. A few years after this establishment was started, Mr. Hall took into partnership with him, his son, and in this manner the firm continued until 1877, when the sad death of the young man occurred, and the father continues it alone.
Shortly afterward, H. N. Burnham purchased the old Whitman building and opened a general merchandise store, which he run for two years and then closed out. Later on Charles Pfeffer started a store in the same building which he still continues.
Armstrong & Wheelock opened a store here, but were finally closed out and they disappeared.
H. B. Collins was the first lawyer in the village and about one year ago opened a general merchandise store, which he still continues with a good trade add heavy stock.
At an early day a man named R. D. Barber, calling himself a doctor, located in the village and commenced "peddling pills." He remained less than a year, as he was very unpopular, and then left, locating at some point in the southwestern part of the State, where he again made himself odious by transporting an own brother, whom he insisted was crazy, to the Insane Asylum, and then charged an enormous bill for the labor of so doing. The bill was paid but gave him the reputation he deserves. His whereabouts at present is a mystery, to the satisfaction of all who knew him.
ALDEN FLOURING MILL.�This enterprise originated in 1875, having been erected that year by Wm Wilson. The building is 28x50 feet, a story and half high, containing four sets of burrs, which are driven by sufficient force, by steam power, to grind fifty-five barrels of flour per day. The mill is located near the lake and cost about $12,000. The present proprietor is William Wilson, Jr., son of the original owner.
A large grain elevator has been put up at this point by a LaCrosse firm.