The first permanent settlers in what is now St. Ansgar Township were members of the "Norwegian Colony" described in another chapter. Clausen and family lived in a new log house built near the southwest corner of the plat, where S. V. R. Smith long lived. Gilbert Gilbertson and family settled near a fine spring in section 31 township 99, range 18. Mikkel Tollefson Rust, Jacob Asselson, Assor Knudson, Hans Olson Rust, Erick H. Espedokken and Erick O. Stovern (who joined the colony at Calmar) settled along the edge of the timber north of the village. About the same time Ole O. Sando and family and the Reierson brothers and sisters came to the township and located claims in sections 11 and 12. Sando lived in sections 1 and 2 until after the Civil war. He then sold to Nels H. Nelson and moved to Emmet County, where he was accidentally killed. In the fall of 1855 the Reiersons sold their claims to S. A. Clyde and removed from the township. In the fall of 1853 Peter Emerson (sometimes called Ammundson) came from Wisconsin and settled a short distance north of the village, John H. Johnson, now of Osage, came into the county with Ammundson. An Ohio man by the name of James L. Camp came to the township the same fall. He was a "mighty hunter," and divided his time between hunting and clerking in the village. It is claimed that he killed sixty deer that winter. Some time later he started for what is now Colorado, but fell into the hands of Indians and was killed and scalped. A Danish trader named C. G. Classen came into the village very early, and conducted a general store, as hereafter stated. In the spring of 1854 other Norwegians came into this township and settled, among whom were Helleck Benson and family, and Christopher Hanson, who made their homes just south of the village; Narve Colbjornson and family, Andrew (or Endre) Olson and family, and Assor Halstenson, who settled north of the village, and Knud Tollefson and family, who settled on the creek in section 18, township 99, range 18. About the same time Knud O. Rauk settled in section 2, and Jonathan Allen in the village. Rauk was an energetic, capable man, was a blacksmith and stone mason by trade, and did some carpenter work. With other help he built the Norwegian Lutheran Church in St. Ansgar, the stone schoolhouse in the present "Clyde District," and his own stone dwelling. He and his family removed to North Dakota in the '70s. Allen kept a tavern in a log house situated on the northwest corner of the block in which R C. Lubiens lives. He did not stay in the village very long.

     In the fall of 1855 A. G. Owen and S. V. R. Smith visited the village and bargained for a large amount of land, including much of the present town plat, and beyond. The next spring they brought their families and became permanent residents here. With them and about the same time many families came into the village and became prominent in the '50s. Among these were Levi Cornick, Samuel Sweet, A. R. Jones, D. B. Cotton, C. K. Martin, William Kelley, F. J. Starr, Andrew Starr, James Marcey, Daniel Boomhower, William Flynn, Robert Townsend, Patrick Dermody, John Fritchner, M. F. Tucker, E. G. Rice and a German named Krauser. In the fall of 1855 Samuel Clyde and family came from Jefferson County, Wisconsin. He bought the Reierson place two miles north of the village, and lived there until his death, August 4, 1868. His family consisted of the parents, two boys and two girls.

     The first school taught in the township was in 1855 by Rev. C. L. Clausen. It was held in his home. It was a private school for the benefit of the Norwegian Lutheran young people. The first white child born in what is now St. Ansgar Township was Edward F. Clausen, son of Reverend and Mrs. Clausen, born September 21, 1853.

     The first birth in an American family living here, where the child grew to maturity, was Ella Owen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Owen, born August 26, 1857.

     The first death of an American adult in the township, so far as known, was Mr. Lackey, who died in the spring of 1858.

     It is said Mikkel Tollefson Rust planted the first corn in the township. But others very soon followed his example.

     Among the incidents related by pioneers are the following:

     "Before railroad days in this county, H. Benson hired a man named Lund to haul wheat to McGregor for sale. Lund received 30 cents a bushel for drawing it and Benson sold the wheat in McGregor for 35 cents per bushel." Let the complaining farmer today consider this bit of early history.

     In 1860 Knud Tollefson hauled a load of thirty-five bushels of fine wheat to McGregor and exchanged it for a barrel of salt. It is said he had to pay "to boot."

     Quite early Gilbert Gilbertson was made to fear that the fine spring near his cabin was not on the land included in his claim. Though there was lots of snow on the ground, he called in Amos S. Faville and had his claim surveyed. The survey showed the spring was not on his claim. But this information was not made clear until late in the day of the survey. Gilbertson prepared himself, put on his skis and was at the Des Moines Land Office the next morning when the office opened. He then entered land containing the coveted spring.

     At a very early date a steam saw and lath mill was built on the west side of Turtle Creek a short distance south of the road between St. Ansgar and Newburg. For many years it was conducted by Levi Cornick and perhaps others, and did a flourishing business. The sawmill built by Clausen was just across the township line, in what is now Newburg Township. It was run by water power. The two sawmills did business during much the same period of time. During that time pine lumber had to be hauled from McGregor or Cedar Falls, and so the native timber was used for the greater part of the buildings constructed, and the sawmills did good business. About 1865 Michael Olson built a wool carding mill on Turtle Creek, nearly opposite the steam sawmill, and conducted the same for several years, and until there was no considerable demand for wool carding.

     In the spring of 1861 S.V.R. Smith owned the water power on the river southwest of St. Ansgar. He then sold it to G. W. P. Bowman, who sold a part of it to Mr. Fife. They immediately commenced the erection of a dam and a fine stone flour mill. The property soon went back to S. V. R. Smith. He gave H. D. Van Campen a bond for a deed to an undivided part of the mill and power. This bond for a deed was finally canceled by order of the court, after prolonged and bitter litigation between the parties. The mill was operated by different parties until it was sold to D. F. McCarthy about February, 1871. He operated it successfully until July, 1887, when he sold to Emily J. Haines. While Mrs. Haines owned the mill it was operated by tenants. March 14, 1894, it suffered the fate of so many of the flour mills of the county. It was burned. The tenant in possession at the time of the fire fled the country after threatening a slander suit against one of the insurance agents who had placed insurance on the grain supposed to be in the mill. In August following the fire Martin Klindt bought the dam and power and built the mill now in use upon the premises. He very soon sold to R. Helfritz, who operated the mill until March, 1914, and then sold to the Boening Brothers, who operate it at the present writing.

     The only town or village within the township is the incorporated Town of St. Ansgar. The federal census of 1910 gave it a population of 57. The state census of 1915 gives it 852. These figures make it second only to Osage in the county. It is a very important station and shipping point on the Illinois Central line of railway. It is said that C. L. Clausen had 120 cres included in the present plat surveyed and platted as early as 1855, but no such plat is on record. The site of the town is one of great beauty. Its western limit was about a mile east of the Cedar River, and where the timber and prairie joined. The present town slopes gently from east to west just sufficiently for the best of drainage. The fertile prairie, the splendid timber and the excellent water power on the Cedar were the principal elements that induced Mr. Clausen to settle in this particular place. He built his log house, as stated, a little southwest of the resent plat. It is claimed that C. G. Classen was the first actual settler on the plat. He bought of Mr. Clausen's brother, Peter Clausen, a small stock of goods kept by him for sale in the C. L. Clausen home, in the spring of 1854, built a log house on the northeast corner of the block in which T. H. Hume now lives, and conducted his store there for quite a time. He built other houses and was a prominent citizen until his death about 1861.

     Other stores operated in the village in the early days were those of C. I. Clausen and Solner, Park and Marcey, Tenure, Crowell, Marcey & Burt. All of these were on the east of and across the street from, the south portion of the public park. Two store buildings constructed there were afterward moved to the south side of the intersection of School and Fourth streets. Stubbs & Har- mon occupied one of these buildings as a general store, and John Vacha the other as a harness shop. Larsen & Irgens conducted a store for some time east of the ark. About 1859 Stephen Bates opened a small general merchandise store on the Allen corner. He was postmaster and justice of the peace, and remained in business on that corner until his death, about 1880. With the advent of the railroad in 1869 Henry Lubiens and Lars Moe opened general merchandise stores on the north side of Fourth and Mitchell streets. From this time forward nearly all the business houses were on Fourth Street, between the depot and George Street on the west. A man named McDonald was one of the earliest grain buyers. A little later George Walkup and Henry Lubiens were engaged in that business. P. A. Hjorth carried on a general store on the south side of Fourth Street for many years.

     The first hardware was sold from the C. G. Classen store, but the first exclusive hardware stock was put in by Peter Smout in 1869. He soon sold to Jorgenson & Bundy. John Smith started another hardware store in 1872, and operated it many years. Others who handled such goods were Messrs. Moody and Olsen, Asperheim and Golberg and Otto Helfritz.

     The first "village blacksmith" at St. Ansgar was a Norwegian named Olson, who set up his glowing forge in the autumn of 1855 in block No. 19, ran a few years and left the country. The next blacksmiths were Messrs. Fisher and Dailey in 1856 and 1857, respectively. The first barber shop in St. Ansgar was that conducted by Martin Hulse. The earliest regular lumber dealer was John N. Rhames, who commenced in 1869, continuing until his death in June, 1883, when he was succeeded by Julius Koch.

     The first exclusive drug store was established in 1869 by R. Helfritz. Hatton Brothers started the first exclusive furniture store at St. Ansgar in 1872. Ten years later they sold to John Olsen.

     The first hotel in St. Ansgar was started in the fall of 1854 in block No. 20, where later S. Bates lived and did business. Jonathan Allen conducted it. The Keystone House was erected in 1857 by A. G. Owen. At the time it was the largest and finest hotel in Northern Iowa. It was forty feet square, two stories high and finished throughout in black walnut. It cost about eight thousand dollars. Landlord Owen conducted the hotel until his death in 1863, and his widow as long as she lived. Then came others' including Samuel Sweet, Hanford Owen, George Walkup and T. D. Green. It was finally burned to the ground in 1883, at which time Cyrus Foreman of Osage was its owner.

     The general dealers in trade at St. Ansgar in the summer of 1883 included Henry Lubiens & Son, P. A. Hjorth, Lars Moe, August Rennebohn, F. J. Williams, T. J. O'Connor and T. C. Miller & Son.

     At that date the harness maker was John Vacha; the blacksmiths were J. Thompson, O.K. Berg and Charles Tesmann.

     The drug business was in the hands of Rudolph Helfritz and F. J. Williams. The photographers of the early '80s were J. R. Halvorson and A. J. Clausen. The newspaper was the Enterprise (see Press chapter).

     St. Ansgar was incorporated in the spring of 1876, the first election being held in March, that year. The first officers elected were as follows: Henry Lubiens, mayor; S. R. Moody, recorder, P. O. Asperheim, A. D. Bundy, T. W. Owen, L. Moe and D. F. McCarthy, trustees; L. Cole, marshal; P. A: Hjorth, treasurer, and W. Caswell, street commissioner.

     Since that date the mayors have been in the following order: C. A. Woodward, 1879; A. D. Bundy,.1881; Henry Lubiens, 1883; Martin Moe, 1887; Henry Lubiens, 1888; A. D. Bundy, 1893; O. O. Donhowe, 1895; A. N. Lund, 1896;

     C. J. Colbertson, 1897; Martin Moe, 1898; T. H. Hume, 1900; M. K. Culver, 1902; Martin Moe, 1904; C. T. Tollefson, 1905; G. C. Mather, 1910; M. R. Odegard (fall), 1910; H. A. Rosel, 1911; M. A. Klindt (spring), 1914; H. A. Rosel, 1915 to the present time. The present, or 1917, elective officers of St. Ansgar are as follows: Mayor, H. A. Rosel; clerk, T. H. Hume; treasurer, A. N. Lund; marshal, B. A. Laabs; health officer, J. C. Westenberger; councilmen, G. A. Lott, H. Mielke, F. Wilke, E. R. Tessman, J. H. Hume; street commissioner, B. A. Laabs; assessor, O. E. Olson.

     In 1903 a fine water plant was installed at a Cost Of $12,000. The supply of water is from a well about two hundred and forty feet deep. It is pumped to an elevated tank 100 feet in height. There are twenty-four street hydrants and five miles of mains. A volunteer fire company consisting of twelve men, under Chief E. R. Tessman, make the town comparatively safe from the fire fiend. The tank pressure, hose, hook and ladder company make up the apparatus. The present indebtedness of the municipality is $8,863 in water bonds-$500 due each year until paid off. A private company furnishes the place with electric lights.

     The population of St. Ansgar in the fall of 1917 was about eight hundred and fifty. It then had a newspaper, four churches and business interests as follows:

Auctioneer - Martin Moe.
Bakery - George Gutman.
Citizens State Bank. (See Banking chapter.)
City Hotel - F. Bristol.
Creamery - The Cooperative Creamery Association.
Dentists - Dr. Andrew N. Echburg, Charles A. Steusweald, D. D. S.
Dry goods - Falk Company, Sponheim & Rosel.
Furniture - Bratz & Dahl, J. H. Olsen & Co.
Farm Implements - Tessman & Simmering.
First National Bank.
Groceries - A. M. Dodge, A. F. Hartwig, Schmidt & Halvorson, Grotli Brothers.
Hardware - William Bernstein & Co., A. H. Kuehl & Co.
Harness - Syverud Brothers.
Insurance - Robert C. Lubiens, George W. Teeter.
Seeds - Gilbertson Seed & Herb Company.
Lumber and grain - C. E. Kittleson, manager for company.
Meat market - Brogmus Brothers.
Milliners - Matie Brandt, Florence Luther.
Newspaper - The Enterprise, by Rush Culver.
Physicians - G. A. Lott, Joseph C. Westenberger.
Photographer - L. M. & T. T. Rossiter.
Restaurant - R. C. Miller.
Tailoring - Joseph Hegel.
Tinsmith - Lewis Moe.
St. Ansgar Bank.
St. Ansgar Electric Light Company.
St. Ansgar Opera House Company.
St. Ansgar repair shops - George B. Carroll.
St. Ansgar Telephone Exchange.
Western Electric Telephone Company.
Real estate - Toeter & Meyer.
Mills - St. Ansgar Roller Mills.

     Stacyville civil township is the second from the eastern line of Mitchell County, is bounded on the north by Minnesota, on the east by Wayne Township, on the south by Liberty Township and on the west by Union Township. It comprises congressional township 100, range 16, except the northern tier of sections which are lacking, leaving it only thirty sections. The western portion of the territory is watered and drained by the Little Cedar River, which enters the township in section 9 and leaves it from section 32. A small creek rises in section 23, flows northwest, uniting with the Little Cedar in section 16.

     Nicholas Hemann and Adam Blake effected the first settlement in this township. It was May 3I, 1855, when they set their stakes in section 19, coming in from McHenry County, Illinois. June I, that year, Mr. Hemann broke the first furrow in the township. The only other settlers in 1855 were G. S. Johnson and H. I. Stacy. It was in December, 1855, that H. I. Stacy arrived from Bureau County, Illinois, purchasing land of the Government where Stacyville now stands. In 1856 he built his residence and store. In August that year a postoffice and sawmill were established.

     The settlers of 1856 were chiefly as follows: N. Hemann, J. P. Emery, Dr. B. F. Rolfe, Charles Rolfe, Charles Fitch, W. H. Dyer, M. McCall, Daniel Hill, E. A. Donaldson and Martin Decker. Those who found their way into the township in 1857, included these: Stephen Heimer, John Schumaker, Jacob Schumaker, Matthey Schumaker, Simon Weingert, J. C. Pelton, E. H. Donaldson, John Parlin, W. H. Dyer, M. McCall, and others.

     In 1861 Fitch B. Stacy and family located near the village and he very soon became prominent in this and neighboring counties as a breeder of fine stock. He was a pioneer in that line and made a decided success of it. He was also prominent in fairs and agricultural societies, as well as in pioneer Sunday school work. His wife was one of the most successful Sunday school teachers the county ever had.

The first white child born in the township was Lucy Dyer, in 1856.
The first marriage was that uniting Mr. Donaldson and Lucretia Merrell.
The first death was that of J. P. Emery, in 1858.
The first blacksmith shop was operated by J. T. Spearman.
The first store was opened by H. I. Stacy, in 1856.
The Illinois Central Railroad was extended to Stacyville, in 1897.

     Stacyville is situated in section 3I, on the western bank of the Little Cedar River, about twelve miles north of Osage, and five miles from the Minnesota state line. It was platted by H. I. Stacy, in June, 1856. One year later, an addition was made t6 the original platting and this is known on the plat books as "Townsley & Dyer's addition to Stacyville." The postoffice was established in August, 1856, and a sawmill commenced. Daniel Hill operated the pioneer hotel in a building erected by H. I. Stacy. Henry Schieu conducted the first drug store and Stacy Brothers & Rolfe were proprietors of the first mill. In 1882 the village had a population of about four hundred. The United States census reports give these figures: In 1890 it had 480; in 1900 it had 490; and in 1910 it was only 407. The state census for 1915 gives it 696.

     A postoffice was established at Stacyville in 1856 and the list of postmasters, in the order of serving, as near as can now be. ascertained, is as follows:

     Homer I. Stacy, Benj. Loring, Mr. Orcutt, Mrs. Orcutt, L. W. Baldwin, H. P. Schoonover, Fred Bascomb, Tilla Bascomb, Mrs. Edith Spensley, George H. Kinney, who was appointed in 1914 and is still postmaster.

     This office has one rural route extending out into the outlying country; it is 283/4 miles in length. The present carrier is Ren. Anderson.

     Stacyville was incorporated as a town in April, 1900, and the original officers were as follows: Nicholas Pitzen, mayor; Fred Bascomb, clerk; councilmen- W. H. Gardner, Michael Mower, Andrew Weber, Alfred Penney, Ed Falk and A. I. Stacy.

     The following is a list of all mayors and clerks since the place was incorporated:

1900 - N. Pitzen, mayor; Fred Bascomb, clerk.
1902 - N. Pitzen, mayor; G. M. Spensley, clerk.
1904 - W. H. Gardner, mayor; G. M. Spensley, clerk.
1906 - John Faas, mayor; G. N. Wolf, clerk.
1910 - John M. Hemann, mayor; G. N. Wolf, clerk.
1912 - Charles Woodwiss, mayor; G. N. Wolf, clerk.
1914 - John Faas, mayor; G. N. Wolf clerk.
1916 - Joe C. Kinney, mayor; G. N. Wolf, clerk.

     The officers of the town in 1917 are: Mayor, Joe C. Kinney; clerk, G. N. Wolf; treasurer, F. C. Pritchard; marshal, John P. Weber (he is also assessor and street commissioner) ; health officers are the councilmen and Dr. J. C. Smith. The present council is as follows: John Faas, George Kinney, B. F. Hartnell, George Penney, William Renz till October, Peter Mayer by appointment.

     H. I. Stacy, founder of the town, generously donated a block of ground lying along the main street for public park purposes. This ground included the lots where now stands the Veterinary Hospital, opposite the Commercial Hotel.

     The subjoined is a list of the business and professional interests of Stacyville in the autumn of 1917:

     The population is about five hundred and ninety; the churches are the Catholic and Methodist Episcopal.

Apiarist - H. G. Farley.
Banks - German Savings Bank and The Stacyville Bank.
Drugs - J. H. Huber.
Dentist - Dr. L. T. Fillenwarth.
General Stores - Joseph Falk, Ginsterblum & Mauer, H. H. Stehn, E. P. Halbach.
Grain and Coal - Speltz Grain and Coal Company; Stacyville Grain and Coal Company.
Hardware - Heimer & May, M. Morson.
Harnessmaker - Joseph Bawek.
Hotel - Commercial House, Henry Stephani.
Feed Mill - J. C. Kinney.
Furniture - Kettner & Heman.
Groceries - George H. Kinney.
Farm Implements - W. H. Gardner & Son.
Newspaper - The Monitor.
Physicians - Drs. W. G. Brown, John C. Smith.
Live Stock Dealers - J. W. Eckford, Joseph Pitzen.
Restaurants - Matt Diedrich.
Millinery - Mrs. Allen.
Stacyville Creamery.
Stacyville Lumber Company.
Stacyville Opera Hall Company
Stacyville Telephone Exchange, Peter Halbach.
Veterinary Surgeon - B. T. Hartilell.
Postmaster - George H. Kinney.

     This incorporation was effected under the general laws of the state. In court proceeding's, the boundaries of the corporation were fixed. It extends into Liberty and Wayne townships, and includes nearly seven thousand acres of land. The church and school are situated on the southeast corner of section 23, township 100, range 16.

     The following full-of-interest reminiscence is a true copy of a manuscript of Homer I. Stacy, found among his papers after his death. It is replete with interesting historic facts concerning the early settlement in and around Stacyville, hence naturally finds a place in this connection. It was undoubtedly written during the winter of 1857-58:

     "The country along the banks of the Little Cedar at the present site of Stacyville was first explored by H. I. Stacy and G. S. Johnson in November, 1855. Attracted by the extreme beauty of the country-apparent healthfulness of the climate and the delightful appearance of the groves, the rivers, springs and rivulets with which the country abounded, they, after spending several months in exploring western states and territories, decided on locating in this vicinity. They immediately proceeded to the purchase of lands and the commencement of a settlement but were soon checked by the coming on of winter, and obliged to defer operations until spring. In the month of May, 1856, the site for a town was agreed upon and a dwelling house and a store erected by H. I. Stacy. In the month of June a hotel was built by Charles Fitch. Early attention was paid to the establishment of schools. A large school district was organized, contract let for the erection of a good substantial schoolhouse, which was duly completed the coming fall. In July, Dr. B. F. and Charles G. Rolfe, joined by the original proprietors, commenced the erection of a sawmill on the river, which affords a 'good water power adjoining the village plat, which was completed and is now in successful operation. Late in July Rev. William L. Coleman, Deacon James H. Beebe and Deacon J. P. Emery, with several others, after exploring the whole western country, were attracted here by the early prospects of schools and a seminary of learning, good society and the surpassing beauty of the country, and purchased lands and made preparations for removal, which was duly accomplished the coming fall. During the following winter a Congregational Church was organized by Rev. William L. Coleman, consisting of twenty-three members, which has since been augmented by new additions. The Methodist Church is also composed of about an equal number. A most beautiful site, consisting of about forty acres adjoining the village plat, has been donated by. the proprietors, and about four thousand dollars subscribed by the citizens for building an academy. In the spring of 1857 two hotels and two stores were put in operation. Building has been steadily carried on during the summer. There ;are now over twenty frame buildings in the village, and preparations are being made for more extensive building the coming spring. There are now two clergymen-Congregational and Methodist-no lawyer, and although there is no objection to the profession, yet little encouragement could be given to the practice, for among seventy voters we have yet to hear of the first lawsuit.

     "There is one physician, whose professional ability and skill would entitle him to more business, yet he assumes to himself little credit from the fact that out of seventy or eighty families settled along the banks of the river, the prairie sod has never -vet been moved to receive a lifeless from amongst them. Sickness has hardly been known amongst us here.

     "There are two surveyors-one practical engineer, eight carpenters and joiners, and more wanted the coming season; two wheelwrights, two cabinetmakers, one blacksmith, one millwright. Two railroad routes have been surveyed to the place and favorable reports have been made. The Northwestern and the Dubuque & St. Paul companies are referred to. There is no doubt of the ultimate completion of both.

     "There are two springs forming rivulets, one running through and the other near town, from which the best of spring water could, with a light expense, be taken onto every lot in town. Arrangements are being made for an early commencement of building in the spring. A heavy emigration is expected. Over thirty families are now making preparations for removal to this settlement. Some rare chances are now offered to settlers; a tinsmith and a harnessmaker are much wanted. Also thorough energetic farmers could here find a home on beautifully situated lands, where their labor will be rewarded, their prospects fair for early advantages of an eastern home. Between two and three thousand acres of prairie were broken in this immediate vicinity last season. There are now between two and three hundred thousand acres more in this and adjoining counties, have unsurpassed fertility and beauty, awaiting the onward movements of civilization. We have now in cash subscription and lands over seven thousand dollars secured for the building of an academy and feel the utmost confidence in the ultimate success of our enterprise with our present help; but believing there are others who would like to join us in the enterprise, we cordially invite you all to come."

Transcribed by Gordon Felland, December 2001

Updated 1/6/2003