Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/255

 HISTOEY OF GOODHUE COUNTY 199 Rees, Ole E. Strand, Torkel Swenson, Ole E. Strand, Lieutenant William B. Williams, David AVightman, Thomas Corcoran, Bap- t iste Cardingle, Joseph Delaney, Pierce Garvais, Baptiste Garvais, Francis A. Hamlin, Levi Label, Jr., Horace AY. Moore, John McWill- iams, William H. Nourse, Bonde Oleson, Erastus Pierce, Xavier Paul, Timothy Shearer, Charles Carter, Carl Schlenty, William Payne, Frank Stroback, Jacob Mosbrugger, Atlas Marshall, Ed- ward Trowbridge, Walter B. Boyd, Amos Eastman, Patrick Killen, Charles S. Spendley, Alfred B. Tyler, Peter Akers, August Beckard, AYilliam Plumb, Christopher L. Johnson, Lars Johnson, Martin Johnson, Barnt Thompson, AYilliam M. Farnham, Philip Sudheimer, Charles Strong. KENYON TOWNSHIP. Kenyon lies in the southeast corner of Goodhue county, and comprises township 112, range 18. It is the highest township in the county, and has an undulating surface which was originally almost wholly prairie. The north branch of the Zumbro flows through the northwestern part, and along this stream there are several groves of young trees. There are occasional small sloughs, with turf-peat, in the uplands, but in the summer seasons they are dry and furnish a coarse hay. Deep, fertile soil pre- vails generally throughout the township. As the early settlement was all in the northern and north- western part, the early history of the township and village is practically identical. In 1855 came a number of settlers, among them being L. A. Felt. Chris and Sever Halvorson, L. N. Bye, N. Hollenbeck and a man named Natice. These were soon followed by J. H. Day, Addison and E. B. Hilton. James Browley, S. A. Baker, Stephen Bullis, 0. S. Gunhus, 0. E. Erickson and AY. B. Burnham. Successive crops of untouched prairie grass had hard- ened the sward, and the early settlers had much difficulty in breaking the glebe. But they set to work' with courage, and soon the wilderness was fruitful with the crops which the rich soil yielded. In May, 1856, James H. Day and James M. LeDuc claimed the land on which the village now stands, and subsequently I wo men named Howe and Hilton became part owners <>' the land. By these four men, the village was laid out and plaited. James H. Day erected the first residence in June, 185t>. and a store building was erected the same year. This was occupied by Crowley & Baker as a general store. Stephen Bullis built the firsl hotel in March, 1857, and during the same year a steam saw mill was constructed. Town and village are named from one of ll arly settlers.