This is on the northern tier of towns in the county, the second from Mower county on the east, Newry lying between Steele county is on the north, Bath on the west, and Riceland on the south. Like all the other towns in the county, the integrity of the original government survey has been maintained. Most of the sections from twenty-five to thirty-six is what may be called slough land, and is covered by college and rail�road scrip. The remainder is rolling prairie, with a black sandy loam, which, on some of the ridges is mixed with clay and is very productive, as there is seldom a failure of crops from any cause. Nearly all the timber in town, when first entered for settlement, was on sections seventeen and thirty-six.
Geneva Lake is the only one in town. It is in the western part, and occupies parts of six sections. It has an irregular outline, with an area of perhaps three sections, and is three miles long and a little over a mile wide in its widest part. A small stream finds its way into it from the north, while an exit is obtained toward the east that is deflected to the south as it leaves the town from section thirty-six to join Turtle River. This river, was formerly noted for the abundance of fish it contained, and it is still an. eligible point for the disciples of Sir Isaak Walton. The water pond, in their season are still found. There are no streams in the northeast part of the town, but good water is obtained at no great depth.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
Milton Morey is said to be the first settler in town. He took a claim in 1855, built a cabin and did some breaking that fall. About Christ�mas his dwelling was unfortunately burned, and as he could not then put up another, he took his family in an ox team and turned his face towards civilization and spent the winter in or near where Austin now is, returning in the spring and putting in some crops. After a time he went to Dakota and now lives near Yankton. There were several settlers in 1856, and to write the truth as though it were fiction, an the 20th of April, on one of those days so characteristic of spring time in Minnesota, there might have been seen a solitary traveler, moving along the Indian trail between Austin and some point beyond this. From his appearance he was a pilgrim in quest of some shrine where he might kneel and pay homage to the home he expected to find, after he had created it. This stranger was looking for Mr. Morey's residence, which he had a confused idea was somewhere near the trail he was following. This man was Elmer Eggleston, and in one hand he carried a grip sack and in the other an umbrella. He was a native of Ohio but had come from Galena, and soon found Mr. Morey, who of course gave him the best the house afforded, and two days later assisted the young adventurer to stake out a farm in section eight which he opened up and cultivated until 1863, when he sold out, but still lives on the same section. In August following, the father reported in person and surmounted some of Uncle Sam's acres in the same section, where he wrought until gathered in by the grim reaper.
In May Robert P. Farr, a native of Missouri, came and placed his sign manual on a spot of land in section fourteen, and he has been bustling around there ever since. Along with him came Joseph W. Burdick, a native of New York, who selected his place in section ten, and there he established a home in which he dwelt until he exchanged worlds on the 24th of April 1877.
Henry King, who was born in Canada, took up his residence in section twenty-three, but he now lives on the town site.
E. C. Stacy, who had been through here in 1854, secured a place in section seven. He was one of the first three County Commissioners appointed by the Governor of the territory. He now resides in Albert Lea.
Isaac Lyon, from Illinois, took a claim in section eight which he soon disposed of to Jones & Robson. He afterwards lived in Steele county, and since that in Warren, Illinois.
Samuel Woodworth came here from the Badger State and planted his boundary stakes in section twenty-six, and there he remained until 1866, when he again set his face toward the setting sun, and sometime in 1881, he left his bones mouldering in Dakota soil.
Nathan Hunt got his real estate in sections fifteen and sixteen, went into the army, on his return marched west and halted in Faribault county, where he settled permanently.
Walter Drake, from the Nutmeg State, procured his slice of Minnesota territory in section thirty, and in 1866 he too sailed in command of a prairie schooner, and found a haven in Faribault county.
John Reed, from Kent county, England, surrounded a piece of free soil in section twenty-two, which he improved and cultivated. In February, 1862, he enlisted in the Union army and went to Fort Snelling, but in one short mouth he was mustered out, and went to join the legion of
�the biyoiiac of the dead."
His widow and daughter are residents of the town site.
Thomas Cashman. of the Ever Green Isle, came from Iowa, and cast his lot on section thirteen, and there he may still be found.
Alexander Schutt, a native of the province of Quebec, Canada, came here from Ontario, and his choice was in sections eleven and twelve. He is now in section sixteen.
Burdette and Charles, sons of Eliab Eggleston, were early settlers, but both died young.
John Hines was here a short time, but pushed on to Dakota.
O. G. Goodnature, of Canada, arrived in June, and transplanted himself in section fourteen; he still remains a resident of the town.
Late this year, two particularly enterprising men from New York State, with their minds filled with town sites, arrived and secured a beautiful spot, located a town, and soon made it one of the most populous and thriving, in their minds, in the whole Northwest. Mr. Jones still survives, but Mr. Robson, who was Sheriff of the county and a highly respected citizen, when the war broke out joined the army and lost his life.
Hans Eustrom, a native of Sweden, came here from Boston and located in section four. He is now in Kittson county holding the position of Auditor.
Those already mentioned were settlers of 1856. A large settlement came in 1857, but only a few of their names could be obtained, among them the following:
Bernhard Schad, an enterprising German from Red Wing, arrived and at once went into the blacksmith and wagon business, which he still carries on.
John Heath, Sr., took, a claim in section seven, but afterwards removed to Albert Lea, where he now lives.
Charles Henion, from New York State, came here from Wisconsin and secured a foothold in section four, which he still holds.
Some of the arrivals of 1858 were:
George Osborne, a native of Ohio, who spent a winter here and afterwards lived in Steele county. In about two years he returned to Geneva. Was in the army, and afterwards for a time Postmas�ter. He is now dead.
Thomas Hines, of Vermont, settled in section sixteen, He removed to Faribault county in 1864, and lived there until 1872, when his movements in this world were terminated. His family returned here to reside in section fourteen.
Robert Hill, a native of the Key Stone State, pre-empted a place in section ten, and afterwards lived with his son-in-law, Robert P. Farr, until in 1865 the portals of the other world opened before him.
EARLY BIRTHS.�Anna Geneva, daughter of Bernhard and Anna Schad, was born on the 8th of September, 1857. Arriving at womanhood she married James Harvey Robson on the 16th of February, 1881. They live in Owatonna. He was the son of James A. and Martha Robson, and was ushered into this world in February, 1858
Ralph Freeborn Drake was born in August, 1856.
Irvin E. Burdick, son of Joseph W. Burdick, was born on the 10th of September, 1856.
THE FIRST DEATHS.�Seymour E., son of Eliab and Esther Eggleston, was removed to the spiritual world on the 24th of December, 1857, in his 14th year.
The wife of W. S. Bacon was overtaken by the angel of immortality in the winter of 1857-58.
Burdette E., son of Eliab and Esther Eggleston, received a summons that could not be disregarded, on the 28th of November, 1857, in his 22d year.
POST-OFFICE.
In 1856, E. C. Stacy made an application through Hon. Henry M. Rice, the delegate in Congress, for a Post-office, which was secured with E. C. Stacy as Postmaster, and they had a weekly mail, to be procurred at the expense of the town, from Austin. Dorr K. Stacy, who was then
a mere lad, used to go over the twenty-two miles for it. The office was put in the store after that was opened, and still continues its good work.
POLITICAL.
The first town meeting was on that noted 11th of May, 1858, when the new constitution went into effect. The Supervisors were: E. C. Stacy, Chairman. W. S. Bacon, and John Brannan; Clerk, Hans Eustrom. The earliest records are lost so there are no particulars as to what was done, or of the names even of the other officers.
At the annual town meeting held in Chamberlain's Hall on the 14th of March. 1882. the following officers were elected: Supervisors. Michael Quinn, Chairman, B. H. Conklin, and J. M. Sawyer: Clerk, A. J. Chamberlain; Treasurer, Bernhard Schad; Assessor. M. J. Fenton: Justice of the Peace, W.. H. Twiford; Constable, Octave Goodnature.
Honesty and economy have characterized the management of town affairs from the first.
POPULATION.�The census of 1870 gave Geneva a population of 378. The last census, taken in 1880, reports 454 for this town; showing an increase of 76.
MANUFACTURING.
In 1858, a Mr. Deacon Brant started the manu�facture of shingles on section eight. The establishment was a marvel in its way, and displayed a genius that should have been handsomely reward�ed, for it was the missing link between hand labor and machinery. The blocks were cut the proper length by a cross-cut saw, and they were then boiled to soften them and then were slashed up into shingles by a knife attached to a lever worked by a man and a woman power, the latter being his wife.
SAW-MILL.�In the fall of 1856, Bacon & Eggleston put up a saw-mill on section thirty-six. and kept it vibrating until the summer of 1857, when it was transferred to section seventeen, where Bacon run it for two years, having, in 1858,
added a grist-mill, which did good business. In 1859, this mill was carried off by the western fever, which was epidemic at that time and has been ever since.
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
The following in regard to this town was published in 1877: �It was first settled by Milton Morey, in the fall of 1855, who immediately constructed a log house, which was burned down on the Christ�mas following. To him also belongs the honor of opening the first farm, which he did in the spring of 1856. E. C. Stacy, who settled in June, 1856, was the first lawyer, while his wife, who arrived in August following, was the first doctor. Robson and Jones were the first merchants, and commenced the sale of goods in July, 1857. Schad and Drommerhausen, blacksmith and wagon-makers, were the first mechanics. In the same summer of 1857, a Mrs. Clark taught the first school in a log shanty at the village. The first schoolhouse was built by district No. 3, in 1858. In the summer of 1857, Rev. Isaac McReynolds held the first religious service. In 1858 the Catholics organized the first religious society, and built the first church in 1861. The Post-office was established in the winter of 1856-7, which was supplied by special service from Austin. E. C. Stacy was the first Postmaster. The first child born was Ralph Freeborn Drake, on the 30th of July, 1856. Wil�liam Robson and Atlanta Smith were the first parties married, John Reed performing the ceremony in the summer of 189. The first death was that of Mrs. Welcome Bacon, which occurred in February, 1859. James A. Robson opened the first hotel in June, 1858, although Judge Stacy had thrown his house open to the public ever since his first settlement. The first title to land was acquired by Welcome L. Bacon, August 16th, 1858, the
selection being made on section thirty. The first board of officers was elected May 11, 1858, con�sisting of E. C. Stacy, W. S. Bacon, and John Brennan; H. Eustrom, Clerk.
GENEVA VILLAGE.
The village of Geneva was platted in the -winter of 1856-57 by James F. Jones and James Robson. on section eight, and contained about four hundred acres. This was one of the first crop of villages ever raised in the county, and was very pleasantly situated, and of course calculated and expected to become the Chicago of the new Northwest.
In the spring of 1857, Jones and Robson started business and put up a store and hotel. They soon, however, dissolved partnership, Jones retaining the store which he managed for several years, part of the time in company with C. H. Mclntire: but they afterwards sold out to Cabot & Lester, who continued the business but a short time, when they went to Martin county with their goods. The store was then occupied by Mr. Loring, and was soon consumed by fire.
Two Swedes, named Lohyed and Matison, put up a store and placed a stock of goods in it. They soon sold out and it changed hands several times: finally it was purchased by Charles Kittleson, now State Treasurer, and was burned while he owned it.
George and Warren Osborne began merchan�dising in 1865, and continued one year, when George secured his brother's interest and run it alone one year and then turned over his stock to Charles Kittleson.
The only store in town now is kept by Archibald Chamberlain, which was first opened by Dwight Brooks in 1880.
In 1857 Bernhard Schad and George Drommerhausen started a blacksmith and wagon shop. Wagons and plows, custom work and general repairing were their specialties. In about a year Schad became sole proprietor, and he is still hammering away at the old stand.
The hotel which had been built was leased to Isaac Lyons who opened it with an appropriate flourish in 1858. and managed it for a year or two and then sold to O. A. Jones, of Fillmore county. His father, H. K. Jones, kept it one winter and then his son. James F. Jones, bought and moved into it and is now the proprietor.
In 1857, in deference to a demand, Mr. Graham put up a building and opened a saloon, and as
the business increased he erected a larger building. which afterwards changed hands and a store was opened there.