Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/239

 HISTORY 01 GOODHUE COUNTY 187 the majority of these claimants did not locate until the follow- ing spring. Among these settlers of 1855 are said to have been Nelson Sollefson, Thomas Anderson, Camite Thomas, John Thompson, Antin Anderson, G. K. Worsing and Ole Oleson. The first settlers of the township were Norwegians, and their sturdy character has since remained the predominating influence in the township. In the early days a number of German families settled in the western part of the township, and many of their descend- ants still remain there. According to the authorities now available, the first white child born in the township was to Mr. and Mrs. T. E. Vraalstad, in September, 1855. The first marriage was that of K. K. Finseth and Bergitte llalvorson, the ceremony being performed by the Eev. II. A. Stub, at the residence of the bride's father in Rice county, September 13, 1856. The first death was that of Erik A. Elton, who died in the fall of 1855 and was buried near the north line of section :!. An old history gives some entirely different facts in regard to the first birth, marriage and death, but upon what authority is not known. According to this old history, Mr. and Mrs. Lars Nelson were blessed with twins shortly after their arrival in the township, these twins being the first births in the township. The first marriage, declares the same authority, was that of Kettle Eriekso'n and Margaretta Flom, performed by Escjuire Bowies, of Cannon Falls, and the first death that of a child of Ole Oleson. Another authority says that the first child was born to Thorbjorn Ennerson. In 1856 a state road was surveyed through the southeast part of the township, and the following year Norway postoffice was established, with Ole. Hauset as postmaster. Mr. Hauset served until his death in 1862. Some time afterward, the office was removed a short distance, across the line into AVanamingo township. About the same time Holden postoffice was estab- lished in the north part of the township, with T. E. Thompson as postmaster. Eidsvold postoifiee was established in 1875, on the daily mail route between Red Wing and Faribault, and Hans Christianson Westermo was named postmaster. In 1867 Law- rence Stagner opened a store in the western part of the town. The first two winters the township was settled were very severe and much hardship was endured. The winter of 1857 was especially long, and sleighs were in use in the latter part of April. The crops that year, however, were good, and since that time the people of Holden have enjoyed almosl uninter- rupted prosperity. In the early days the township was attached to several oiher townships for political purposes, and in 1858. after the township was organized, the citizens who met at the tirst election were