Chapter XXI
The first settler in Baker Township was in 1871, but
during that winter following, there was hardly anyone there.
Several who had settled in Goewey in 1871, afterwards moved to
Baker, and now reside there. Among these are W.H. Lean and Adam
Batie. In 1872, a great many took claims in Baker; indeed, in
1872 and 1873, the Government land was about all taken. Among
those that came to Baker in 1871, were Philip and Peter
Ladenberger, and came from Wisconsin. Philip still resides in the
county at Sibley. Peter perished in 1873 blizzard, elsewhere
mentioned. John Kinne also came in 1871, and we believe that this
gentleman and family were the only residents in this township in
the winter 1871 and 1872. There were also Jacob Henshaw, Albert
Waldo and Ed. Melvin. Mr. Melvin is in Sioux City, and Mr.
Henshaw now resides in Dickinson County.
There was some breaking done in the township in 1871, and some
vegetables raised, but the products of the county that year
amounted to but little, and the shacks were very limited in
number. Adam Batie drove through from Wisconsin in 1871, with
Stephen Higgins, filed that year on a claim in Goewey Township,
and afterwards settled in Baker. Mt. Batie is a member of the
Board of County Supervisors. Elmore R. Hazen arrived in the
county in 1872, and settled on the southwest quarter of Section
2, in Baker. He still owns the original claim. he put up the
usual shack and did some breaking. On the Hazen place now live
the Holle family, consisting of Herman Holle, wife, one daughter
and three sons. A picture of C.W. Holle is elsewhere in the book.
They own land themselves, but at present live on the Hazen place,
and farm this along with their own.
Harmon Runyon took the northeast quarter of Section 2 in 1872,
and is still living on the same place with valuable improvements.
He came here from Winneshiek County, and along with him came Mr.
Smith and Benj. Davis. Smith and Davis soon returned. Davis
afterwards died, and Smith still lives in Winneshiek. Smith and
Runyon also had a dangerous experience with the December 1872
blizzard. They went to Sibley at that time and then drove around
to Huff's to get their papers, and while on their way home the
blizzard overtook them. They kept pushing on with the storm, and
finally brought up at Teabout's ranch, in Clay County. Runyon's
hat blowed away, and in running after that, he lost sight of the
team, and with difficulty found it again. Alto0gether it was a
narrow escape for them, as it was with a great many others in
those early blizzards.
Henry Dunkleman is still living in Baker on the same original
claim filed upon in 1872. Baker Township has one postoffice
called Gopher, of which W.H. Lean, elsewhere mentioned, is
postmaster. It is on Section 6. Henry Bremmer is an early settler
on Section 5.
Among other residents of the township, not otherwise mentioned,
are Ira Peck, who is at present the only one living on Section 3.
John Haskins, Charles Wilson, S.T. Price, Harvey Nash, Theodore
Frey, H.W. Jones, Adolph Knox, A. Hager, John Frey, Peter Wilson,
Peter Anderson, Herman Frey, Henry Verteen, A.D. Wilson. W.
Logar, George Leggett, August Buchholtz, Will Philips, Philip
Schertzer, Henry Walters, Conrad Fink, John Fink, Charles Fink,
Casper Dickman, Benj. Dickman, George Webster, H. Weigands, Clark
Howard, W. Bell, James McAnrich, Herman Lyman, Thomas Dewey,
Charles Goodman, John Price, Frank Cressap and son, Mr. Lyons,
David Logar. Mr. Logar has invented a flax cleaner and obtained a
patent on it, which is said to be a great improvement. Charles
Timmons is on Section 2, and C.M. McDougal, is on Section 15.
Still others are Dirk Frey, J.D.C. Frey, Frank Quiggle, Philip
Keller, John Benz, John Wiggenhausser, Peter Keutzer, John Jobes,
Ernest Benz, John Wiggenhausser, Peter Keutzer, John Jobes,
Ernest Benz, Fritz Rhoda, S.M. Stanford, August Gentz, O.
Dufrees, Henry Bremmer, H. Wachtel, Peter Johnson, J. Hokkoff,
Theodore Reimmers, George Reimmers. C.W. Bryan, who is School and
Township Clerk, lives on Section 21. Palmer Rumford lives on the
east side of the township.
Hans Graves, who yet lives in Baker Township, came in 1872, along
with H. Steffenhagen and one other party. Mr. Steffenhagen still
lives in the township, and both himself and Mr. Graves are
entitled to the success they have made of it, as they went
through the early hard times. They returned for the winter and
came out again in the spring of 1873. The came from Clinton
County, and when the came back the following spring, there came
with them Mr. Frank Graves, uncle to Hans, and other members of
the family, Peter, John C., Frank and Jerry Graves and Claus
Yess. These all took claims. Peter and Frank Graves are now in
Chicago in the jewelry business, and John C., with his family,
live in Ocheyedan, and is engaged in the mercantile business. The
other members of the family live on their original claims and all
are well-to-do.
As has been said with reference to other townships, some names
are no doubt omitted as we did not intend to make a complete
directory but more of a record of past events. Baker Township is
one of the best in the county.
Harrison Township, which was a part of Baker until a few years
ago, was not early settled as other townships were. We believe
about the first settler in this township was Mr. Billion, and the
place where he lived was known for several years as the Billion
Ranch, and is so called now. It was land owned by Rev. Peter
Haverman, a Catholic priest, of Try, New York, who started there
a cattle ranch, and sent Mr. Billion out from New York State to
run it. From poor management, the enterprise proved a failure.
Mr. Haverman was out several times, and is spoken of as a very
honorable and conscientious man.
In the north part of the township is quite a settlement of
Mennonites. This sect is distinguished by antique simplicity, by
their indifference to the great interests of the world, and at
the same time their industry and self-concentrations make then
well-to-do. The main interest in the sect lies not in dogma, but
in principle, and as men they are conscientious, law-abiding
citizens. They have about thirty members, and hold services every
two weeks. They came from Canada to Harrison Township. Jesse
Bauman came first in 1887, and his report concerning the country
being favorable, others soon followed. They sent out carpenters,
who erected buildings for them, and there is a sameness about all
their surroundings. Josiah Martin, one of the leaders among his
people, has all of Section 10. The Bauman's are also
prominent-Jesse, Amos and Elias. Elias is on Section 4, and Jesse
and Amos on Section 9. In this north part of the township are
also Julius Worm, Louis Clatt, Frank Gregory, John Huchn, Louis
Johannes, Daniel Weaver, Daniel Stauffer, John Dunnenworth,
George Bryer, Abraham Widmer, Jacob Brubaker, Elias Ginrich,
Henry Gregory, Elias Reist, Daniel Harley, Fred Kampene, James
Reist, Mr. Kesterling.
The May City post office is on Section 8 in this township, about
the center. This section is owned by a company, and is intended
for a town site. E.S. Robertson is postmaster, and Mr.Robertson's
father and two brothers are living there at present. Martin
Houcks and August Hess are the village blacksmiths, and John
Brendley the shoemaker. An incoming railroad, which is expected,
would make May City quite a point. Section 12 is owned by Lon,
John and Joseph Chambers. On Section 6 are the Smith brothers,
O.J. and A.W.
Among other of the residents there, George and E.L. Krukenburg
are on Section 31, Henry Krukenburg is on Section 30, Chris
Dorman and John Marsh are on Section 32 and John Isley and Henry
Schmoll are on Section 33. Among other of its residents are
Ernest Krukenburg, Henry Lager, Henry Groff, Conrad Schmoll,
Danied Tyards, W.D. Sauer, John Brochus, Peter Anker, Henry
Newkirk, T. Hemming, George Ryers, Charles Mielke; also Albert
Milke, John Sittler, Martin Fritz; also Peter Anker, David Anker,
A.F. Berdine, W.H. Breryer, L.W. Lopp, Gerritt DeBoor, Wm. Eden,
Herman Eden, R.E. Ellis, R.C. Fuller, J.C. Herlie, J.W. Wardrip,
A.B. Weidman, Daniel Shafer, W.J. Smith, Hugh Starts, Louis and
Philip Kesserling, David Steiner, Henry Heimrich, John Kimble,
E.T. Willner, Martin Hank, John Huchn. This township was named
after President Harrison, and many of its fine farms are
attractive and delight the eye. E.C. Roberts, in addition to the
post office at May City, has also a general stock of goods and his
store is well patronized. Emil Hemmig and Fred Tschudin also live
in Harrison. T. Hemmig is an old settler for Harrison, and came
here six years ago.