The town bearing this name is one of the northern tier of townships in Freeborn county, and in the second tier from the west. It is bounded on the north by Waseca county; on the south by the township of Manchester; on the east by Bath; and on the west by Freeborn. It is constituted as originally surveyed, of thirty-six sections, but the survey correction line passing through it cuts off 278.85 acres, making it so much less than the usual congressional township, and leaving about 22,861.15 acres.
It is almost entirely a prairie town, and the expanse of undulating prairie presents- a pleasing and beautiful contrast to the usual broken and sparsely timbered sections throughout this part of Minnesota. There are yet, however, traces of timber in the town, most of it about Mule Lake, in sections thirteen, fourteen, twenty-three, and twenty-four; and in the western part, in and about sections seven and twenty, although the latter has long since been converted into fertile and valuable farms.
The entire area of the town is well adapted to the modes of agriculture and crops of the day, and the farmers are, as a rule, in moderate circumstances, with fair farm buildings and moderate conveniences. The soil is of a dark loam, from eighteen to twenty-four inches in depth, underlaid with a sub-soil of clay. Rocks or stone of any kind are scarce, and there is no limestone whatever. The soil in the burr oak region of Mule Lake is more of a sandy nature.
There are two water courses in the town and one lake. Mule Lake is situated in the four corners of sections thirteen, fourteen, twenty-three and twenty-four, and constitutes the head waters of the LeSueur River, which takes a northward course, bearing a little to the east, until it leaves the township, when it bears westwardly. Boot Creek rises in section ten and flows northwesterly to enter Waseea county.
The Minneapolis & St. Louis railroad crosses the township from north to south, and on it is located the village bearing the same name as the township.
A few words as to the lake will not be out of place. The Indians named it Le Sueur, and it went by this name through the early settlement; but
both will be perpetuated.
EARLY DAYS.
There seems to be a preponderating amount of testimony that the first settlers in this township were the Boardman brothers, who came in the spring of 1857, and located about Le Sueur or Mule Lake, one taking on the south and the other to the east of that body of water. Both had families and at once commenced the erection of houses. They remained for about one year and then left for parts unknown.
About the same time, two others, whose names have been forgotten, made their appearance and took claims on the north and west sides of Mule Lake; thus surrounding it. But little is known of the actions of any of these: as they left shortly for other scenes.
Uncle Charles Sheldon joined this settlement at about the period of its starting, coming from Rochester and taking a place just north of Mule Lake, in section thirteen, where he yet remains.
Levi Jones next put in an appearance, having come from Geneva, and jumped a claim from a Norwegian named Lund and during the sum�mer he was joined by a Mr. Montgomery, who took a place just west of Uncle Sheldon's, built a house and remained until the next spring, when he left. Jens Thorson also came early this summer, and took the place he now occupies.
In October, 1857, George McColley, of New York, accompanied by his family and brother-in-law, Charles Morehouse, came with a yoke of cattle, a cow, and his household furniture, and located in section twenty-nine. Mr. McColley still lives on his place, although his estimable wife has passed away. He is one of Freeborn county's most public-spirited men. Charles Morehouse settled in section twenty, but has since moved away.
About the same time came the Motson family, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Motson, and the five boys, Ole, Erick, Mot, John, and Andrew, who all settled about George McColley's place. They
were Norwegians, and all are yet living in the town except the old gentleman, who died several years ago, and Mot Motson, who hung himself in Hartland.
In the fall of 1858, a pair from Wisconsin, in
the personnel of John P. Duncan and John P.
Huggins drifted in and secured homes. Duncan dropped anchor in section twenty, and remained a citizen of the town until within two years, when matters became too torrid for him and he left between two days, as the saying
goes. Huggins was a true man and settling in section twenty-eight remained until the war broke out, when he enlisted and heroically died in defense of his native land.
The same year witnessed the arrival of Sandy Purdie, William C. Cram. Hat. Pierce, and Jonathan Pickard, who all took places and are yet on them, except the last named, Jonathan Pickard, who now resides in Freeborn township.
In 1859, Seth. S. Challis, of the New England States, made his arrival and commenced a sojourn in section thirty-one, which he still con�tinues.
Speculators, after this, took most of the land, and if early settlers wanted it they must pur�chase at a good round figure. At this time the town had no name, more than Town 104, Range 22.
MATTERS OF INTEREST.
The first birth in Hartland township was Mary A. McColley. on the 9th of August, 1858. She is now Mrs. Charles Doty, and yet resides in the town. Freeman Beede was another early birth.
The first marriage ceremony performed within the limits of the town, took place in May, 1859, the high contracting parties being Mr. J. Seely and Miss Frances Farris.
Death, that insatiable enemy to immortality, soon hovered over the little community, and took as its first victim. Martha, a daughter of William and Judith Wrangham, aged nine years, on the 18th of June. 1859.
The township was named Hartland by Mrs. O. Sheldon, in 1868, and she also bestowed the same name upon the Post-office, which was established at the same time, with O. Sheldon as Postmaster. What the name was in honor of, or what had suggested it, we are an able to say.
During the late war of the rebellion bonds were voted to the amount of $1,700, to secure volunteers, but it seems that it was ineffectual, for two drafts were made, notwithstanding nine volun�teers were furnished. John McCartney. John McClelland, and Perry Haugen, of this township, never returned, the second named leaving a wife and child to mourn his loss.
Bonds to the amount of $10,000 were voted to the Minneapolis & St. Louis railroad, as bonus.
RELIGIOUS.�The first sermon preached in the township was by the Rev. Mr. McReynolds, an itinerant Methodist preacher, in the fall of 1858, at B. J. Boardman's house in section twenty-four. The Methodist church was organized in 1859, at William Wrangham's house, with Rev. Mr. Corey officiating and six members. The society finally merged with other denominations.
The Congregational society was organized in 1877, at the schoolhouse of district No. 8, by Elder Cobb, with twelve members. A store building was afterward purchased in the village of Hartland and converted into a church. The present pastor is Rev. Wilbur Fisk, with a mem�bership of thirty-five.
The Presbyterian denomination first held ser�vices in the old log schoolhouse in 1869, with Rev. William Wrallson as minister, and for several years thereafter services were held regularly once in three weeks.
OFFICIAL RECORD.
The early town records of this township are a curious set of documents, and should be preserved as a curiosity, if not for official purposes. They consist of a small book made of foolscap, containing ten or fifteen pages, and from the center of the document soma one has cut about the same number of pages, for some reason best known to the cutter. The school districts, oaths of officers, roads, and all matters pertaining to the town are promiscuously thrown together, and the legal terms such as �to wit,� �whereas,� �therefore,� etc., are indiscriminately mixed in without regard to their appropriateness in connection with the subject; but calculated to inspire the sturdy pio�neer officers with the full and fearful responsibility of their positions.
The first town meeting was held at the house of O. Sheldon on the 11th of May, 1858, and the following officers were elected for the ensuing year: Supervisors, B. J. Boardman, Chairman, J. L. Reynolds, and J. C. Seeley; Clerk, E. Boardman;
Assessor, T. W. Calkins; Collector, B. J. Boardman; Constables, Alexander Spencer and James Sheehan; Justices of the Peace, T. W. Calkins and O. Sheldon; Overseer of the Poor, Jacob Heath: Overseers of Roads, E. A. Calkins and B. Cromwell.
The first meeting of Supervisors was held at the Town Clerk's office on the 14th of June, 1858, at which the town was divided into three road districts, and the following gentlemen were made overseers of them: First, E. A. Calkins; second, B. Cromwell; third, Charles Morehouse.
The officers for 1882.are: Supervisors, Olaf Lee, Chairman, Sandy Purdie, and Peter Mace; Clerk, Peter Grinager; Treasurer, C. Hendrickson; Justices of the Peace, E. Wicks and S. S. Challis; Assessor, Frank Phipps; Constable, Peter Peterson.
VILLAGE OF HARTLAND.
This is the only village in the township. It is located on a fine village site, on a high portion of the town, and at every hand lies a fine view of prairie, dotted with the modest homes of thrifty farmers and artificial groves, and to the north farm houses can be seen at a distance of seven miles. The sight is all that can be desired, except the absence of a water course or lake; as one inhabitant suggested, "it is a boss site in summer� but��in winter, as its elevation serves as an "estoppel," so to speak, of the wind. To the stranger the burg presents rather a dreary appearance, with the "butt ends" of the buildings pointed towards the railroad, and the absence of shade trees; but the last objection is fast being remedied by the citizens who are planting trees.
ITS EARLY DAYS.�The land upon which the village was started was originally the property of Torger Samuelson; but in 1877, when the rail�road was started, twenty acres in the northwestern corner of section twenty-one, were purchased by A. E. Johnson, then of Albert Lea, and it was at once platted and the sale of lots begun. At this time William Morin platted a few acres of his land east of the railroad track, and for a time con�siderable strife existed, a few buildings being erected upon both sections. But finally a settlement was arrived at and Mr. Morin platted twenty acres into lots and blocks, just north of Johnson's in the southwest corner of section sixteen, and the whole forty and the small portion east of the track became the village site. This was at the time of the arrival of the railroad.
The first business opened in the town took place in September, 1877. A small frame building was moved from the town of Manchester to this place by Andrew J. Anderson, and opened for a boarding house. In a few months he sold it to Mots Motson, who enlarged and remodeled it, carrying it on for a year or so when he committed suicide by hanging himself, and the building is now occupied as a residence by his widow.
In September of the same year, 1877, J. P. Grinager and C. K. Hovland put up a frame building 20x80, one story high, and in November put in their stock of general merchandise. About two years later Mr. Hovland retired from the firm and Mr. Grinager continues it alone.
About the same time Scarseth and Lee commenced building and opened their �4,000 stock of general merchandise to customers late in October, in a building 50x22 and two stories high. In 1879 Mr. Scarseth died and Mr. Olof Lee has since managed the business.
In a few weeks after the above advent, E. S. Dunn moved a building, 22x50 feet, from Freeborn village to Hartland, and with it brought and opened a limited stock of drugs. Mr. Dunn afterwards sold to Hovland & Nelson, and they in turn rented to the present proprietor, Dr. M. Torkelson.
The same fall, Hoff & Seim moved a small building, 18x24 feet, to the village, bringing also a stock of goods, and locating their building east of the track, opened a general merchandise store. This store was formerly located on the farm of Louis Knudson in section fifteen, where the Post-office was originally established. In July, 1878. the goods were moved to the main part of the village, where the business is still continued, now under the firm of Seim and Hufland.
Thus the growth of the village went on, and new stores and saloons, and various other shops were started, and a number of buildings erected, many of which, however, are now vacant.
In 1881 a building was erected east of the railroad track, size 50x55 feet, for a hay press, by Tunell and Harper, in which the necessary machinery was put into operation by a twelve horsepower steam engine. This is quite an enterprise, and makes a ready market for all the hay put up in the neighborhood, baling it for shipment to the
cities and distant markets. Lately W. P. Sergeant purchased Tunell's interest, and the business is continued under the new firm.
WAREHOUSES.�The first warehouse erected in the village was put up about the middle of September, 1877, by C. D. White, being a frame building, one story, size 32x40 feet. This was pretty well filled with grain by the time the railroad got here.
The next warehouse was put up by C. W. Whiton, in November, 1877, size 40x80, one story high, and was run by A. McDermid in the interest of the Millers' Association. The latter gentleman purchased it, and in 1881 it was increased in size and changed into an elevator with a capacity of about 9,000 bushels, using a ten horse-power steam engine. This elevator was entirely destroyed by fire in the winter of 1881-82.
In the winter of 1877 Grinager & Fitzgerald erected a warehouse 30x60 feet, which was operated for three years and then torn down.
P. Olson erected a warehouse. 30x50 feet, one story high, in 1878, which is still on the ground.
HARTLAND POST-OFFICE.
Before the village was thought of this Post-office was established and held in various parts of the township. In December, 1876, J. C. Hoff was appointed Postmaster, and moved the office to his store in section fifteen. In the fall of 1877 it was removed with the store to the village, and in 1879, when he sold out his interest in the store to his partner, Ole A. Seim, the latter gentleman became, and still is, Postmaster, with the office at the store. Mail now arrives daily on the railroad.
POPULATION.�The census of 1870 gave Hartland a population of 485. The last census, taken in 1880, reports 699 for this town. Showing an increase of 214.