Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/242

 190 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY when another man appeared to dispute his claim to the land. This man's claim was based on the fact that he had been there and inscribed his name on a tree previous to Mr; Abler 's advent. The former claimant was backed by a mob of men armed with clubs, axes and other weapons. So there was no alternative bnt for Mr. Aiders to pay the amount of money demanded for a relinquishment of the claim, which he did, and later opened his house to the public. There are always two sides to every question, and while Mr. Aiders was given a great deal of sym- pathy, it would look in modern times as though he had intended to take another man's claim. He was but one of many who suffered much inconvenience and trouble until the half-breed matter had been settled in Washington, after which the actual settlers were left in peace. The first town meeting was held in 1858, with only six citizens present. They were William Ilayman, Henry Lorentzen. S. A. Wise, J. B. "Wakefield. Rudolph Kruger and David Bartrom. This meeting was held in a log cabin schoolhouse, near Wells' creek. The explanation given for the poor attendance is one that looks strange in these days. It seems that a camp meeting was in progress in a grove near by and the people were so inter- ested in matters pertaining to the future life that they had no time to devote to such temporal affairs as a town election. Whether the six who attended loved religion the less or politics the more than the others tradition does not relate. A log schoolhouse was built near the spot where the Wells' creek mills were afterward erected, in 1857, and a school was taught there by a young man named Graves. The first marriage was that of Ernest Schubert and a Miss Reinehart, the cere- mony being performed by William Hayman. justice of the peace. In the earliest days the German Lutherans and the Methodists held meetings and both later erected comfortable places for church worship. Near the center of the township there is a substantial town hall. In 1863 R. H. Matthews built a mill on Wells' creek, and in 1865 John Hack and G. F. Meyer built one on Hay creek. Later a third mill was built on Hay creek, but was afterward abandoned. • The chairmen of supervisors of the town from 1858 to 1869 were : Samuel A. Wise, William Hayman. John Benson, Dunning Dewey (six terms). Rudolph Kruger (two terms), George Hack- man. The town clerks during the same period were: Henry Lorentzen (two terms), John Hack (six terms), Peter J. Erbar (five terms). Hay Creek's contribution to the Civil War consisted of Joseph W. Britton. Fred Baumbeck. Henry Burgtorf, Reynolds Barton, August Buchholz, Henry W. Cady, W. F. Dewey. C. J.