A History of Newburg Township

In the second tier of townships from the northern line of Mitchell County, and directly east of Worth County, is the civil Township of Newburg, comprising a portion of congressional township 99, range 18. It has about thirty sections of land. Otranto Township is at its north, St. Ansgar on the east, Rock Township on the south and Worth County on the west. A dark, rich loam, with a mixture of sand, is what makes this township such an exceptional farming section. The two chief water courses are the Cedar River and Deer Creek.

The Cedar passes along the eastern boundary of the township, while Deer Creek flows from section 6 in a southeastern direction, leaving the township from section 23. Along both of these streams were originally found growing large groves of excellent timber. Naturally the pioneer settlers cut off much of this native timber, yet a goodly amount still remains and is being well conserved by the present-day owners. Besides the native timber, there are to be seen today many beautiful artificial groves which are a cooling shade in summer time and a good windbreak in the winter months.

The population of this township in 1890 was 767, including the Village of Carpenter. In 1900 it was 670, and in 1910, 637. Newburg originally belonged to the territory of St. Ansgar Township, but in 1858, S. R. McKinley headed a petition for a division, and the formation of a new civil township. After much skirmishing about to secure a sufficient number of names, the County Court decided to make the new township, and the first election was held in Louis Snyder's store, at which place twenty-five votes were cast, and the officers elected were as follows: George McKinley, A. Erickson, and William Snyder, trustees; William Snyder, assessor; Aaron Snyder, clerk.

The first settlement in what is now Newburg Township was effected by a few families in 1853. These were of the Rev. C. L. Clausen Norwegian colony from Wisconsin. They entered land along the Cedar River and on Deer Creek. The names and location of many of these people will be found in the article on the Norwegian colony, elsewhere in this work.

In 1856 the Americans commenced coming into this township. Among the first of this nationality were S. R. McKinley and W. D. Fulton. These families proved to be of much value to the struggling little colony who settled in the township before the Civil war. McKinley settled in what became the Village of Newburg; Fulton a mile or more further north. About the same time the three Snyder brothers, George McKinley and brother, Hunter, settled in the village and a little later John Revell. Henry Lubiens and his brother, E. C., had a good general store in the village, and also McKinley Brothers and Kay.

Before 1859 there were located in the township: John and O.K. Lee, who came in 1854; E. and P. Gunderson, 1854; Andrew Erickson, 1856; and Hans Halvorson, H. Knudson, K. Kittleson, J. Helgerson and Ole O. Haugerud, who made settlement a few years later in various parts of what is now Newburg Township.

Men who came in the '50s and at a much later date, and who have not been mentioned above, included these: N. Severson, born in Norway, in 1832, came to Wisconsin in 1852 and located in Mitchell County in 1854. His brother, Ole Severson, built the first log house in the township, and was drowned in the township in the summer of 1854. N. Severson served in the Thirteenth Iowa infantry in the Civil war. He died only a few years ago.

George Lubiens arrived in Mitchell County in 1863, and built the first frame residence in what is Newburg Township, west of Deer Creek. He was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1840, and came with his parents to America in 1849. In 1868 he settled in this township permanently. Other members of this family were prominent in the early days of the township. David Hylden settled here in 1868. He was among the first Norwegians to locate here. M. H. Meyer, a native of Hanover, Germany, located in this township in the fall of 1869; he came here from Wisconsin.

Henry Groner came in September, 1871. He was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1840. Another settler in 1871 was William Walk, born in Germany, came to America in 1853, first located in Wisconsin but later settled in this county- The first birth in Newburg Township was a daughter of Charles and Harriet (McKinley) Ferris, born in the spring of 1857.

The first death was that of Alsen McKinley, who died January 12, 1858. The earliest marriage within the township was that uniting A. B. McKinley and Catherine Allen, July 5, 1856.

The first sawmill in Mitchell County was built in Newburg Township by Rev. C. L. Clausen, on the east side of the Cedar River, near the place later known as Newburg Village. The first wagon bridge in the county was also in this township, across the Cedar River. It was finished December 31, 1856, Captain McKinley being the first person to cross over it. The first preacher was Rev. W. P. Holbrook, who organized nearly every early Methodist class in Mitchell County and whose name is revered by every old pioneer family. The first flour mill was owned by Holmes and Keeley; it was burned down. The schools and churches will be treated in special chapters on such topics, elsewhere in this volume (see index).

This township has had two villages started in its history. The oldest was Newburg, platted and recorded in 1855 by G. W. Sowle. It was a rival of St. Ansgar and quite spirited times were had over the settlement of the two town sites, Newburg being on the west side and St. Ansgar on the east side of the Cedar River, but when the railroad was built through the county in 1869, the question was settled in favor of St. Ansgar. Newburg had at one time developed into quite a good business point. In 1856 a good hotel was erected by S. R. McKinley. Most all common branches of trade were represented, including shops and the mill. There were also schools and churches. As the years went by, one business after another was removed or went down, and many of the buildings were removed. The plat has been vacated. The unclaimed land constitutes a small part of Lyman G. McKinley's fine 500-acre farm. The schoolhouse was moved to a new site northwest of the village.

The only present village of the township is Carpenter, which is situated in sections 6 and 7 of township 99, range 18. It was the result of the building of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway in 1871. This company caused a village to spring into existence at once. Stores, hotel, grain warehouses, lumber yards, shops, etc., came as if by magic. A postoffice was soon established and the beer saloon also was in evidence for many years in the history of the village. Hosea Dow was the first man to operate a store, which was opened in the early spring of 1871. In the autumn of that year a large general stock was opened up by E. C. Lubiens, who was appointed postmaster and kept the office many years. In 1877 this office became a money-order office. In 1879 Carpenter was incorporated.

The first election was held at the schoolhouse and those elected were: J. L. Dow, mayor; W. H. Brooks, recorder; George Fiddler, Andrew Starr, Lewis West, D. H. Somers and E. C. Lubiens, councilmen. By reference to old files and historical sketches, it is learned that in 1883 Carpenter had two general stores, one by E. C. Lubiens and one by Christian Larson; a hotel by Andrew Starr, and a creamery.

In 1917 the population of the Village of Carpenter was 150, and its business and other interests are as follows:

Banking - Carpenter Savings Bank.
Coal Dealer - Durkee & Priem.
Grain Dealers - Farmers Elevator Company, Hunting & Co.
Hardware - Carl M. Golberg.
Meats - Joseph Seichter.
Livestock - S. F. McGillivray.
General Dealers - Alfred Stein, G. A. Hurd.
Hotel - Mrs. A. Thone.

The Modern Woodmen of America have a lodge at this village and the Methodist Episcopal and German Lutheran denominations worship in one church building there. The postmasters at Carpenter have been as follows: William C. Frank, Robert Jensen, Mrs. M. E. Groner, Leonard Knudson, Mrs. Sarah E. Graves and Edith O. Jensen, the latter having been commissioned in January, 1917. It is a fourth-class office, with one rural route, extending to the outlying country. Its total length is about twenty-seven miles.

In the '60s and '70s spring wheat was the most important crop raised in this county. For that reason, the milling business was very important and a good flouring mill was a paying proposition. About April, 1865, Devillo Holmes and T. W. Keeley bought an interest in the Newburg water power and erected a fine stone flour mill on the west side of the Cedar River, opposite the sawmill. They operated the mill until the spring of 1882, when it passed into the hands of Mr. Holmes' son, Henry G. Holmes, who continued its operation until it burned in October, 1892. It appeared to do a good business until the wheat crop failed in 1878. There was a small feed mill erected on the site and operated for a couple of years, until the dam went out. It was then torn down and removed.