The township with this name is the center of the northern tier of towns in Freeborn county. Its contiguous surroundings are as follows: Waseca county on the north; Geneva township on the east; Bancroft township on the south; and Hartland township on the west. It contains thirty-six sections or square miles, comprising the territory of Town 104, Range 21.
In early days the most of the township was covered with a growth of burr oak, much of it large and heavy, enough so to have earned the name of "forest." This was interspersed with meadows, small patches of prairie land. There is a prairie of about 2,560 acres, located in the southwestern part of the township. The timber has now, to a great extent, been removed, and the rich land been converted into valuable farms. The surface is rolling, and in places the undulation is so abrupt as to be called ridges, which are not
subject to cultivation. The soil is a dark sandy loam, underlain with a subsoil of clay.
The town is not so well watered as its neigh�bors, has no stream, and only one lake wholly within its borders. An arm of Geneva Lake ex�tends from the town bearing its name into section twenty-five of Bath, and covers a few acres of land. Lake George is the only body of water wholly within the boundaries, lying in the southern part of section twentv-two. It was named in honor of George Skinner, Jr.
The town has a large portion of its area under a high state of cultivation, and its broad rich looking fields yield a substantial income to the thrifty inhabitants, which are in majority Danes, with a scattering of Norwegians, Irish, and Americans.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The earliest infringement by settlers, upon the territory of this town, commenced in the spring of 1856. The first parties to arrive and secure per�manent homes were the Brooks brothers. The party consisted of Edward D., Dwight E., and Henry L. Brooks, with their sister Augusta, and mother. They were originally from Massachus�etts, coming by way of Pennsylvania, and arriv�ing in the spring of 1856, with teams, and all settled in and about section twenty-four, where the brothers joined interests and erected a log cabin 14x26 feet. Edward took a claim just over the line into Geneva township, and remained until 1866, when he went to Faribault county, where he yet lives. Dwight E. remained until 1868, when he followed his brother, and they were subse�quently joined by the other brother, Henry L.
These were about all that came and settled this year; of course, a few travelers passed through, and many of them staked out claims, but they were never improved or occupied.
In May of the following year, 1857, John Keily, a native of the old Emerald Isle who had stopped for a time in Iowa, came with his family, in an ox cart, and. settled in section eleven or fourteen, where he yet remains. He, soon after his arrival, erected a 14x18 foot log house, which he covered with sod and slabs.
Soon afterward. John Harty and Martin Sheehan, of the same nationality, drifted in and se�cured places. Harty became satisfied with a farm in section four, where he remained until the time of his death, which occurred in the latter part of the sixties, and his family still occupy the old homestead. Sheehan secured a farm in the north�eastern part of the town, where he remained until he died in 1875, and his family still remain on the place.
In the summer of 1857, a party of Norwegians, consisting of Hans Peterson, Ingebret Erickson, and Nels Nelson, came with teams, bringing their families, and settled upon claims. The first is still in the town. The second left in 1880 for the Red River country; and the third died during the war, in defense of his country.
About the same time Richard Fitzgerald, a na�tive of Ireland, came and first located at St. Nich�olas, where he put in a crop: but soon after made his way to Bath, and yet resides in the town.
George W. Skinner left Corning, New York, on the 24th of August, 1858. and arrived in Bath township on the 7th of September, having spent the preceding night in Geneva, where he found quite an important little settlement. On the 10th of the same month he selected the southeastern quarter of section twenty-two for his future home, and still occupies it. Mr. Skinner has been prominent in all public movements, and has done much to prevent the robbery of the public purse by rail�road corporations and political fiends, and stands high in the estimation of his fellow citizens.
Shortly after Mr. Skinner's arrival, John and George Blessing, natives of Germany, made their appearance and selected claims in section twenty-three, where they remained for several years. Joseph Blessing came with his family and located in section thirty-five, remaining four or five years.
Horace Green came about the same time from Wisconsin, and located in section fourteen. From the last advice he now lives in Moscow.
Fred. W. Calkins, a native of New York State, who had for a time sojourned in Iowa, made his appearance in June, 1857, and located in section sixteen, where he remained until he died in 1863.
Jacob Bower, a German, came in the fall of 1858 and planted his stakes in section twenty-seven: but his stay was abruptly terminated by the gov�ernment officers, as he was discovered selling whisky to the Indians, and he made himself �abundantly scarce."
Mons Grinager came in 1859 and settled. He is at present Register of the U. S. Land office at Worthington, Minnesota.
Elland Ellingson, a Norwegian, came in 1859. and still remains in Bath.
James M. Drake, a native of Massachusetts, came in 1856, and located in Geneva; but has since moved his residence over the line into Bath.
Others came in rapidly and soon all the govern�ment land was taken. A few of the most promi�nent arrivals are treated under the head of �Biographical."
EVENTS AND MATTERS OF INTEREST
The first birth in the township took place on the 1st of June. 1859, and ushered John Shoalt (or Schad), a son of Mr. and Mrs. Bernhart Schad, living in section fourteen, into existence. The second birth was a child of Mr. and Mrs. George W. Skinner, and occurred two weeks later than the above.
Triple marriage.�One of these rare events occurred in Bath on the 22d of December, 1864, at the residence of the Brooks brothers, the cere�mony being performed by George W. Skinner, Esquire. The parties most interested were joined as follows: Edward D. Brooks to Miss Mary Bliss: Dwight E. Brooks to Mrs. Savanah Calkins, widow of Edward Calkins: Lieut. Loren Meeker, of Company C, Tenth Minnesota Infantry, to Augusta T. Brooks. All of the parties are alive, in various parts of the Northwest.
First death.�This sad affair occurred late in November, 1858; and carried away Edward Calkins, son of F. W. Calkins, aged 21 years.
OFFICIAL RECORD.
When the county of Freeborn came into exist�ence, the present area of the township of Bath was merged into territory taken from Geneva and Hartland, and was known as "Porter Township."' What the name originated from, or what suggested it, we are unable to imagine; but we can simply state that all through its early settlement it was known under that caption. Therefore, the town�ship of Bath proper did not come into existence as a separate organization until some time after a majority of Freeborn county's sub-divisions.
Porter township was organized for local govern�ment at a meeting held on the l0th of April, 1859, at the residence of Frederick W. Calkins. The meet�ing came to order and James M. Drake was chosen chairman: F. W. Calkins, moderator: and Harris Green, clerk pro tem. The next matter taken up was that of the town name, and finally, a short one being desired, some one suggested ��Bath." after the name of the county seat of Steuben county, Ohio, and the name was adopted. It was next voted that the lake near the center of the township should be known as "Lake George� in honor of the oldest son of G. W. Skinner.
The matter of election next came up, and the judges of election were appointed as follows: George W. Skinner. Andrew Black, and B. Renweiler. The judges were duly sworn before F. W. Calkins. Esq., and the election of officers for the ensuing year began, resulting as follows: Supervisors, Harris Green, Chairman. Joseph Blessing, and E. Erickson: Clerk, Horace Green: Assessor, Joseph Loreman: Collector, E. Erickson; Justices of the Peace. George W. Skinner and Horace Green: Constable. Jack Bower. The elections were held in early days at the residence of John Munsen; and as time went by they were held at various places as the annual meeting directed.
The present condition of town affairs is above criticism: as public tnists have always been in honest and efficient hands, with nothing occurring out of the usual line of such business to disturb the tranquility. The present officers are as fol�lows: Supervisors, A. Erickson; Chairman, Patrick Parry, and J. P. Larson: Clerk, M. P. Peter-son: Treasurer, Hans Rasmusson; Assessor, An�drew Jensen; Constables, Mike Sheehan and E. C. Johnson; Justice of the Peace, George W. Skin�ner.
Population�The census of 1870 gave Bath a population of 404. The last census, taken in 1880, reports 919 for the town; showing an in�crease of 515.
Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Associa�tion of Bath.�This was organized at a meeting held at the Danish Baptist Church on the first of January, 1878. On the 14th of the same month it was incorporated under the State law, and seven directors were elected, as follows: H. P. Jensen, N. P. Peterson, John Henderson, Peter Johnson, J. P. Larson, C. F. Peterson, and C. Nelson. They met and elected officers of the association as fol�lows: President, H. P. Jensen; Secretary, N. P. Peterson; Treasurer, C. T. Peterson.
The association has license to do business in the townships of Riceland, Bath, Albert Lea, Ban�croft, and Geneva.
In the past the corporation has been exceeding�ly fortunate, having had but two losses, which were small, one $6.66 and the other $69.15, both of which were promptly paid. According to the report of January 1st, 1882, there was $73,150 of insurance in force in the above towns. The same executive officers are yet in the same positions as mentioned above.
BATH POST-OFFICE.
This office was established in 1876, on section thirty six, at the residence of the Postmaster. L.
P. Carlson, who was appointed and held the office for about two years when a Dane named Lingby was commissioned to handle the mails. This gentleman proved to be a defaulter, and after some trouble the matter was settled and the present Postmaster, A. H. Peterson, was appointed. Mail now arrives four times each week.