Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/196

 144 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY 1872, was changed to Welch, in honor of the late Major Abram Edwards Welch, of Red Wing. BELLE CREEK TOWNSHIP. Belle Creek township lies in practically the geographical center of the county, and constitutes one entire government township, its number being 111 north, range 16 west. Its area has remained unchanged since the township was first constituted in accordance with the township act of the legislature in 1858. Belle creek waters the western part of this township, and affords fair water power. It is bordered by fine stretches of hay meadows and an occasional ledge of limestone. Near the creek are also scattering groves of oaks, white birch and poplar. The surface, which is largely a rich, undulating, high prairie, except in the vicinity of the creek, is in general about 150 feet higher than its neighboring township of Yasa. Its other neighbors are Leon, on the west ; Minneola, on the south, and Goodhue, on the east. The first influx of whites into this section was in 1853, when Charles Ross and A. G. Kempe went into the township and built a cabin on section 5, mar the creek. They spent the winter there, but soon after moved north into what is now Vasa. In the spring, or early summer, of 1851. Walter Doyle, with his five sturdy sons, Henry, Richard. Michael. Walter and John, settled on sections 2 and 4. Benoni Hill and his sons, John, Henry and Thomas, came in July and made their claims on sections 5 and 8. James O'Neill and family also came the same year; and in the fall the Rev. S. P. Chandler staked out a claim, but did not move on it until the following spring. In 1855 the influx was rapid, and the town Avas soon thickly settled. A large part of the ground was broken up, grain sowed, and cottages built in place of the original cabins. It was not long before children came to bless the homes of the pioneers. Anna O'Neill was born in March, 1855, but did not long live to enjoy the distinction of being the first white child born in the township, having passed away when still a schoolgirl. Her father was James O'Neill. May Cook was born in August of the same year, daughter of Jacob Cook. John Cavanaugh, son of Patrick Cavanaugh. was born in November. The first two deaths were by accident. In the early part of the winter of 1855-56, Dennis Cavanaugh started to go on foot to his brother's, a distance of about two and a half miles. After he started, a terrible storm came up, and he was frozen to death near Hader. having lost his way. His body, which was not located until the snow had melted in the spring, was found three miles from his home, and in an opposite direction from the one