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

1853, and So votes were polled at the
first election.
VERNON TOWNSHIP.
Vernon Center township is one of
the finest agricultural towns in the
country, and is claimed as equal to
anything in the state The Blue Earth
river flows through the township in
northeasterly course, and the Walton
wan touches it on the northwest
corner. Both of these streams were
originally fringed with timber, but
this has largely disappeared and finely
cultivated farms have taken it's place.
The late Elnathan Kendall was one of
the early settlers of this township
and took a great deal of interest in
it's early affairs. He kept a roster of
the names of the first settlers and the
date at which they came. This shows
no settlers prior to 1865 In 1855 the
names of Israel Wing, Thomas Doak,
James McClannahan, Marcus l.. Plum,
Robert Morley, James Taylor, John
Darling, Cyrus Foote and brother,
George keenan, and Robert Hopper are
recorded as settling in the township.
During the years 1856 and 1857 many
settlers came in, and large portion
of the land was taken up. The village
of Vernon Center was plated in 1857
and became quite promising village,
containing several stores, shops, etc.
1.-TWO saw mills were built in 1857
A little later a feed mill was built
which was afterward converted. into
Touring mill The first settler in the
northwest part of the town was Chas.
Barney, who settled on section 6,
where he is now living The town
ship was organized in May. 1858, when
township officers were chosen. The
first school was taught in the summer
CT 1858, in a small frame building in
the village by Henrietta Smith. The
first school house was built in the
spring of 1859. During the Indian
massacre of 1862, raid was made in
to the southwestern part of the town
ship and one settler was killed. In
1879 the Elmore branch of the Omaha
was built through the township and
to the east of the village. The station
was at first called Edgewood, but later
Vernon Center. At first there was
some opposition to the abandonment
of the old village, but gradually this
vanished and the village crept upon
the hill near the station. In 1899 the
village was incorporated, and has be-
come point of considerable impor-
lance, is solidly built and presents a
neat appearance.
| STERLING TOWNSHIP.
| Sterling township was settled
through the efforts of the same associ-
alton which settled Mapleton town
ship known as the Minnesota Farm
ers and Village association" The
earliest settlers in the township are
said to be V. Hyland, Horace De
Wolfe and George Rost, who located
there in 1866. The members of the
association reached Mankato on May
6, 1866 The township was organized
in the spring of 1868 under the name
of Mapleton and James Cornell was
elected chairman of the first town
!, board. The first school, private
/, one, was taught in Mr.. Dobie's home,
, in the summer of 1867, by Mr.. Nor
ton. A public school was started the
!, same year at the home of James
; Little, on section 10, with Miss lsa-
bella Vannice as teacher. The first
; church services were conducted by
Rev. J. E. Conrad, Presbyterian
minister, who came with the associa-
ton, at his home In 1865 the Con-
gregationalists built church. This
organization was disbanded in 1895,
lowing to deaths and removal of mem
bers. The Sterling postoffice was es-
tabIished early in the sixties, with
VIM. Russell as postmaster. The first
Office was kept in a bushel basket for
an outfit, it is said. The name of the
township was changed to Sterling in
January, 1860.
PLEASANT MOUND.
Pleasant Mound township was
known as Otsego and was attached to
Shelby for official purposes. In Octo-
. Der, 1858, the name was changed to
|, Willow Creek by the county commits
sioners. The first settlers in the town
ship were Barnard Marble, William
Marston, j. P. Thomas and Mr.. Nc
Kenney who came in 1857. They were
anxious to have a townsite laid out,
, but had to give it up and soon left
Among the Oldest settlers now living
in the township are ]. s. Parks and
, wife. They were the first couple
married in the township. The meeting
to organize the township was held on
Sept. 26. 1866. at the home of ID. f.
Longworthy, and town officers were
chosen. The name of Pleasant Mound
was adopted in 1866, and was taken
from the range of mounds in section