The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-06-30
DECORIA TOWNSHIP.

the 5o's.-Laid out Dukes Addtion.-Now en-
gagged in Manufacturing in Peru, Indiana.
DECORIA TOWNSHIP.
This is also one of the townships
which constituted part of the Indian
The township resolved
its name from three Indian chiefs
who lived there during the occupancy
of the reservation by the Winnebagoes.
The LIE Sueur and Big Cobb rivers
flow through the western part of the
township and along their banks was a
good deal of timber. The town con-
tains some of the best farming lands
in the county. After the removal of
the Winnebagoes the township was
rapidly settled and was organized as a
separate township in the fall of 1867
The first public school was taught
by Miss Frances Herrick in the sum-
mer of 1870, in a school building on
section 3d. The first religious services
were held by Rev. Mr.. Kidder in 1857,
at the house of S. T. Mantor The
Scandinavian Lutherans have church
on section Z, and the German Luth-
Grams one on section II. There was
postoffice at Lortz for many years. but
this was recently discontinued on
account of tie rural free delivery sys-
tenn.
LIE RAY TOWNSHIP.
This township is located in the
southern part of what was known as
| the woods. The timber was dense
and it was almost impossible for the
| traveller to get through as there were
no roads, consequently he had to fol-
low the Indian trails. A part of LIE
Ray township belonged to the Winnie
bago reservation and consequently not
settled until after their removal. 1t
was formerly part of Jamestown and
set off for separate organization by
the county board in 1860. When first
set off the townswhip was called
Lake, later it was named Tivoli, and
in 1864 was changed to LIE Ray. In
1864 the southern row of sections,
which belonged to the Indian reserva-
The settlement of LIE Ray began in
1856, when there was large immi-
grafton into the township. Many who
came first did not stay, and those
who did remain suffered many hard
ships. They were obliged to procure
much of their living by hunting and
fishing. To open up FARMS the timber
had to be cleared away, and The
ground was left full Of stumps, conse-
lquently their farming operations were
of very crude nature, in comparison
with those of today there and else
where Today the township is dotted
with fine, fertile farms and most COM
Portable homes. The first postoffice
was called Spier, named by German
resident after his home town in Ger
many. Freeman A. Cate was the first
postmaster. The name of the Office
was afterward changed to Eagle FAKE.
The first school was taught by Miss
Hannah Haslipe in log claim shanty
on section IS. The average attendance
was about fourteen. The springs
known as the "Mankato Mineral
lSprings," are located in the southern
part of the township. The water con-
tains many mineral properties The
village of Eagle Lake is located in
the western part of the township on
tie southern shore of the lake. The
IC. & N. W. road passes through 1t.
The village WAS surveyed in 1872. The
next year another site was surveyed.
The village is built on both surveys.
| MAPLETON.
The village of Mapleton was laid
out in October, 1870. Il had its start
ing point when David Smith, who
owned considerable property there
abouts, gave eighty acres of land to
| the Milwaukee road as an inducement
to secure station and start a town.
There had been previous attempts to
start town in that vicinity, but all
had been failures. AS far back as
1856, claim had been made located
partly in the township of Mapleton
and partly in that of Sterling which
was selected for the purpose Of a
lownsite Everything connected with
| it did not seem to be straight, how
ever, and the claim was jumped. In
I1S5S, James Cornell and others made
another attempt to start town, but
this too met with failure. The first
postoffice was located on section Z.
now called Old Mapleton, and is con-
tinued under the name of Hawkins.
Stephen Middlebrook was the first
postmaster. Among those interested
in the undertaking of laying out the
present village of Mapleton were Clark
w. Thomas, James B. Hubbell and
J. A. willard Mr.. Smith wanted the
village named Leeds, after his home
town in England, but Mr.. Willard
finally succeeded in having it called
Mapleton. Thomas Elliot erected the
first building used for dwelling house,
and James N. Wishart erected the first
store building. The second store was
L.. Dno-o Rroc Of ruhon T n