Asseln Family |
1884 OTTER TAIL COUNTY PLATBOOK LANDOWNERS
ASSELN, Henry Section 16 Parkers Prairie Township 40 acres
PARKERS PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP CEMETERY
SECTION 21, OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA
ASSELN, Henry August 21, 1841 Jan 1, 1883
ASSELN, Catharine July 16, 1845 June 21, 1928
EAST OTTER TAIL COUNTY 1977
Page 24-26
PARKERS PRAIRIE
Early in 1868 Jacob Saunders headed out into the northwest from Stillwater to find a home for his family. He arrived at Osakis when he was told by a man that had helped with the survey of a beautiful prairie about 30 miles north towards Ottertail City. He was also informed that a party of men were on their way cutting a trail north. Mr. Saunders and his partner left to catch up with the blazing crew and helped blazer out the last few miles. They arrived June 2, 1868. Jacob found that the reports were true about the prairie. He left the party and located his homestead. His son, Frank, now lives on that site.
He returned to Washington County to bring his family back to his home site. They traveled by covered wagon. Their oldest son, Frank, who was 12 years old, walked behind the wagon driving two cows and a few sheep.
There were four other children in the family. It took the family three weeks to travel from Stillwater to Parkers Prairie. The family arrived July 17, 1868 and began to build a home. A new son, Charles was born. He was the first white child born in this territory.
Other settlers arriving about this time were: G. A. Lindquist, Henry Asseln, J. G. Nelson, Ben Pease, Ed. Livernash and Charles Swenson. Henry Asseln became the first merchant and one of the wealthiest men of the county at the time of his death. He started a trading post and the first mail was distributed from the little store. The first mail arrived July 4, 1869. It was brought from Ottertail City by a half-breed Indian en route to Osakis. He carried the mail once a week on foot, horseback or by dog sled, depending on the weather and season. The Asseln store was the hub of all roads. In 1870, a second store was located at the junction by Richard E. McMahan. It was facing Lake Adley at the top of the hill and at a point 150 feet from the Immanuel�s Church of today. The store was built of native oak logs.
The township was first organized by Jasper in 1870. It was preceded into the County by only five other townships: Clitheral, October 24, 1868: St. Olaf, March 20, 1869; Tumuli, September 8, 1869: Tordenskjold, September 8, 1869; and Aurdal, October 9, 1969. The name Jasper was changed to Parkers Prairie by a special act of the State Legislature approved March 1, 1873. One of the first supervisors was a man named Parker, and the township and village were named after him
In 1880 Richard H. and Amanda H. McMahan secured A. M. Darling to survey their land in Section 22 for the townsite, known as Parkers Prairie. The plat was recorded August 10, 1880.
On August 29, 1903, 23 years later, a petition was signed by 30 legal voters, showing a census population of 182. The first election was held in the hall above the First National Bank on November 17, 1903. The first men to hold office were: President, J. C. Jackson; Recording Secretary, Wilford Chapell; council Members, R. T. Hardy, Frank B. Saunders and J. C. Simpson. The elected board members were Allen Erkenbrack, J. C. Jackson and J. C. Simpson.
Parkers Prairie had two banks in 1903. The First National Bank with S. L. Frazer as cashier and the State Bank of Parkers Prairie with W. E. Dickson as cashier.
The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in 1871. Rev. Magni was the first pastor. It was a log church located two miles east of the village. John N. Nelson was Chairman and John A. Hankanson was secretary. In 1916 the membership was 360.
The Evangelical Lutheran Immanual Church was incorporated February 21, 1913. Henry C. Proehl was chairman and Ferdinand F. Ash was secretary.
The First Baptist Church held its incorporation meeting at the school, January 1879.
Street fairs were common in Parkers Prairie in the early days.
The Brotherhood of American Yoemen, Prairie Homestead #1148 charter was instituted on July 26, 1915.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Parkers Prairie Lodge #237, was instituted June 4, 1906 with A. Erchenbach at the first Noble Grand.
J. C. Simpson established the Parkers Prairie Independent, a newspaper on April 11, 1902.
The Parkers Prairie Telephone Co. was organized January 25, 1910. It had 32 miles of main line, which operated in three sections. In 1916, 12 miles more line was added. The rate was $3.00 per year.
The first recorded birth was Anna Hohnstrom, born February 9, 1904. She was the daughter of Olaf and Mary Hohnstrom who were both born in Sweden. The baby was delivered by Dr. O. C. Quitmeyer. She was the sixth child. Her father was a wheat buyer.
The first recorded death was Carl Thun, who was struck by lightning at 10:30 A.M. on August 26, 1908. He was born in Minnesota. The death certificate was signed by Dr. C. B. Sanborn.
Ten years later, the little village is busy growing. In addition to the Asseln and McMahan stores, there were 2 hotels, the Hutchinson House and the Prairie Hotel, erected by James Clarno. Between the two hotels was a small building occupied by a Millinery Shop, which was operated by Mrs Karns. The Post blacksmith shop was built about the same time. John A. Hawkinson occupied a store just east of the Asseln store. East of the McMahan store was Sutton�s Harness Shop and next to this shop was Alex Murry�s store and the post office. The town also had a shoe shop owned by C. A. Johnson, and a tinshop owned by Dick Thomas.