The township of Bristol lies in the extreme western part of the county and comprises all of congressional township 99 north, range 22 west, of the fifth principal meridian, and is bounded by Silver Lake, Brookfield and Fertile townships and Winnebago county, respectively, on the north, east, south and west. It is well watered by several streams, prominent among which is Winan's creek, which flows out of the east end of Rice lake, which lies partly on sections 18, 19 and 20, in the northwest quarter of section 20, and flowing in a general southeasterly course through sections 29, 32 and 33, passes into Fertile township in the southeast corner of the latter section. Elk creek, flowing in a general easterly course through sections 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13, provides a good supply of that necessary element for the northern part of the township. Several small affluents of both these streams intersect various other sections, and, taking it altogether, the township has no peer for the facilities for water. The soil is a rich, dark, sandy loam, containing, in a large degree, the elements of fertility. The surface is rolling, often hillocky, with swales and sloughs interspersed. Considerable timber is found in the vicinity of the water courses and the lake; the principal species seem to be jack oak and poplar. The township contains something like 23,000 acres, 20,800 of which are occupied and the greater part tilled, and a great number of desirable farms, well improved and well cultivated, are found within its borders.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The first settler in the township was Charles Johnson, who, on the 19th of May, 1855, made a claim, locating near Rice lake in the west part of the township. Here he erected his humble log cabin, the first building in the township. In the fall following, Chauncy S. Lane, Reuben Wiggins, Benjamin Bloker and John M. Bennett, the latter with his family, located claims and raised their dwellings beside the waters of the lake, on section 17. Haskell Skinner, with his family, joined this little band of pioneers shortly after their location. The winter was passed in this place, but when the snows had melted, the settlers, after conferring together, determined to remove to more comfortable quarters. This they accordingly did, raising like a covey of quail and settling down, about a mile north, in or near where the town of Bristol now stands. Of these early settlers, the later movements of Mr. Johnson who removed to Nebraska has been shrouded by the lapse of years, and he has passed from the memories of nearly all. Chauncey S. Lane was one of the first officers of the county, and at his country's call, like many another noble man throughout our land, he gallantly went forth to uphold our Nation's honor and her flag and died at New Madrid, Mo., while in the discharge of his duty. Benjamin Bloker still resides in Worth county, being one of the prominent citizens of Kensett township. John M. Bennett is now residing in Bremer county, where he owns considerable property. Hardly had the new colony been planted before they were joined by Otis and Henry Greeley and Royal and W. Tyler, All of these brought families with them except Henry Greeley. These with their predecessors formed the nucleus of the future county seat. In July Dr. James Keeler came into the district, and, after looking over matters, determined to make a settlement here. He accordingly returned to his home in Janesville, Bremer county, and packing up, brought his wife and baby with him, arriving in the township during the month of September, 1856. He has been since one of the most prominent figures, around which cluster all the history of Worth county. Alonzo Frink and A. L. Millard accompanied Dr. Keeler on his entrance into the county, and settled down with him at the little village. In the meantime, in August, J. S. Loveland, Isaac Cummings, John Sperrin and William S. Fuller, made their appearance, and added so many to the little settlement. George McPherson came in October of the same year. Thus the pioneer days of the township might be said to have been passed, as the following year the influx of settlers was so great that it were impossible to enumerate all. Among the most prominent of the arrivals of 1857 were: Rev. Mr. Forbes, a Methodist, and Rev. Mr. Strobridge, a Presbyterian minister. William J. Clark settled in Bristol township during the year 1858. He was an industrious, energetic man, one strictly temperate in all things, and was noted for his extreme generosity; the needy might be certain of his help at all times; the last crust of bread in the house he has been known to have divided with his hungry neighbor. He resided on the farm where he first located when coming to Worth county, until the day of his death, which occurred on the 31st day of December, 1878.

ORGANIC.

Bristol township was organized, coincident with the formation of the county. The first election was held on the 13th of October, 1857, at which some sixty-eight ballots were cast in the township, which then consisted of all the western half of the county.

The first officers chosen were: Alonzo Frink and Martin V. Bentley, justices; George S. McPherson, clerk; Stephen Wright and Isaac Cummings, constables; Otis Greeley, road supervisor; Frank E. Wiggins, Augustus L. Millard and Charles Johnson, trustees. It is but right to say, in this connection, that a different list of officers has been presented as the first in the township, but preference has been given to that upon the official minute book of the county judge, entered at the time. The present officers are as follows: T. L. Dennison and T. L. Lee, justices ; Joseph B. Keeler, clerk ; James Keeler, assessor; J. H. Ketterman, constable ; Daniel Phalen, John Halvorsen and Orrin H. Randall, trustees. The present road supervisors of the different districts of the township are as follows: No. 1, John Collin ; No. 2, A. Z, Porter ; No. 3, T. O. Storaasli; No. 4, E. T. Ryan ; No. 5, G. Gunderson ; No. 6, T. L. Barkee; No. 7, Engerbert O. Kaasa ; No. 8, M. A. Dahl.

FIRST THINGS.

The first marriage in the township was that of Anson M. Stewart and Helen M. Convers, June 28, 1858.

The first birth was that of Joseph B., a son of Dr. James Keeler, upon the 15th of October, 1856.

The first death in the infant colony was that of an infant child of Alonzo and J. C. Frink, who lived on section 8.

The first school was taught, in district No. 1, by Harriet Lycan, during the summer and fall of 1858.

The first store in the township was opened by Mr. Woods, of Osage, Mitchell county, at the village of Bristol, in the winter of 1856-7.

The first postoffice was established at the village, Oct. 80, 1857, but no postal route was established until the following summer. In the meantime Dr. James Keeler, who was appointed postmaster, was instructed to get mail from the most accessible points, as best he could.

The first physician to locate in Bristol township was Dr. James Keeler, who commenced practice in September, 1856.

The first frame building was erected by Johnson and Turnure, in the fall of 1857, which was used for hotel purposes.

The first blacksmith in the township was Isaac Cummings, who located and opened his shop during May, 1857.

The first carpenter shop was opened during the year 1858.

EDUCATIONAL.

The first school was taught during the summer and fall of 1858, in a log house on section 8, within the town limits, by Miss Lycan. Hers was the

" Delightful task, to rear the tender thought,
To teach the young idea how to shoot,
To pour fresh instruction o'er the mind,
To breathe the enlivening spirit, and to fire
The generous purpose in the glowing breast."

Miss Lycan was afterward married and removed to Mitchell county, and has been lost sight of entirely.

During the following summer a fine commodious two story frame school house was built for the accommodation of the scholars of the village, and is still in use.

There are now some five school districts in the township and as many school houses. These latter are all frame buildings, and, on an average, are 20x30 feet in dimension. The cost of each was about $600. These are all well furnished and fitted for the purpose, and in educational matters the township compares favorably with any in the county.

POSTOFFICE.

This was established, as has been said, at the village of Bristol, on the 30th of October, 1857, with instructions to get mail as best he could for the nonce. Dr. James Keeler was the postmaster appointed at that time, and for nine years he continued to handle the mail, notwithstanding his multifarious offices, not to say anything about his private affairs, which, as a country physician, Were not very small. He was succeeded by T. Wright in 1866. H. N. Keeler was the next to hold the office, and was succeeded by Benjamin Bloker, and he by George Platts, the present incumbent, who is also the merchant of the township.

RELIGIOUS.

There is a Roman Catholic society and congregation at and near the village, but no church has been erected, although the lots for one have been deeded them, and preparations are being made for the building of an edifice suitable for the solemnization of the rites and ceremonies of the faith. No regular, pastor has been assigned to this fold, although the Rev. Father in charge at Mason City comes up as occasion serves and ministers to the spiritual wants of the faithful. He holds Sunday services as best he may, preaching to his little flock at private dwellings and in school houses. The Methodists have also an organized society, but no church edifice. The Rev. Silas C. Platts at present provides for the spiritual wants of the little band, and by precept and example leads them on the "straight and narrow way." Services are held regularly in the school house in the village, and Sabbath is honored by the observance of a regular Church service. The first minister was Rev. Strobridge, who formed a class out of which has grown the present organization. This was formed during the fall of 1857, and has had an almost continued existence.

VILLAGE OF BRISTOL.

This lies on sections 5 and 8, near the head of Elk creek, on a high and dry prairie, within about a mile and a half of the west line of the county. When the settlers moved from near Rice lake to this vicinity hardly any one thought of building a village, but in the spring of 1857 J. S. Loveland and Chauncey S. Lane laid out and platted the present village. This plat bears date of record as May 4, 1857. Shortly after this was done Mr. Loveland must have disposed of his interest to C. S. Lane, as all the deeds bear his name alone. The first house erected on the present site of the town was built of logs by John M. Bennett, one of the pioneers of this region. The first frame building in the village, and in fact in the township, was built in the summer of 1857 by Charles D. Johnson and Lorin B. Turnure, the latter of whom opened it as a hotel. This ancient landmark still survives, a monument of its varied fortunes. The first place of holding the election was at this house.

In the winter of 1856-57 a small store was opened by Mr. Woods, of Osage, Mitchell county, Mr. James Paxton officiated as clerk. In the following spring C. S. Lane brought in a stock of goods, hauling them from the river at Dubuque by team. Several stores have sprung up since, one of which was kept by Benjamin Bloker, one of the early settlers, and one by H. N. Keeler. The present mercantile interests are represented by George Platts, who has a fine stock of general merchandise, and is also postmaster of the town. CEMETERIES.

There are four of these resting places for the bodies of our friends in the township. One, under the control of the Ro man Catholic congregation, is located upon a portion of section 6 The "Norwegian Lutherans have two-one on section 35, the other on section 1. Of the other, we are told that it was laid out and platted in September, 1871, on the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 8. This land at the time belonged to Benjamin Bloker, who had the plat recorded April 4, 1872.

COUNTY SEAT.

Bristol and Northwood, from the first agitation of the question of county organization, were rivals for the seat of county government. In 1857 the heavy influx of emigration to the western part the county gave Bristol the advantage of numbers, but it lay too far off to one side, near the west line of the county. A scheme was put afoot by Lane and his friends whereby it was proposed to alter the boundaries of Worth county so as to bring it nearer the center. By releasing the eastern half of the county to Mitchell and absorbing the eastern half of Winnebago, Bristol would occupy a nearly geographical center of the resulting county. On application to the legislature at the session of 1857-58 they consented to the change of boundary, passing a bill to that effect, and sent it to the executive for signature.

Through the influence of Mr. Bentley, a large land proprietor, who owned the site of the village of Glen Mary, and who had an eye on the county seat for his town, the governor quietly ignored the bill, and the whole scheme dropped to the ground. In the early spring Samuel Murdock, of Clayton county, then judge of the tenth judicial district, appointed O. P. Harwood, of Mitchell, Van Patten, of Cerro Gordo, and George Finney, of Winnebago, commissioners, who on the 7th of May, 1858, located the county seat at Bristol. Here the first courts were held; here the general county business was transacted, notwithstanding the repeated' attempts of Northwood to dispossess Bristol of the right. However, in 1863, the question being submitted to a vote of the people of the county, it was decided in favor of Northwood by a vote of 115 to forty, which ended the county seat controversy so far as" Bristol was concerned.

One reason assigned for the smallness of the vote in Bristol township upon this momentous occasion was that the war of the rebellion had drawn most of the active men to the front, headed by the proprietor of the village plat, C. S. Lane. This and the removal of the county seat stopped the growth of the town, and most of the prominent citizens moved away. Many buildings were removed to Lake Mills, in Winnebago county, some four miles away. One store, a hotel and one blacksmith shop are about all the industries of the village, but the beauty of its site and the really valuable farming country which surrounds it leads the thinking mind to reflect that it may be but a few short years that these quiet streets may re-echo to the busy home of commerce and Bristol assume her proper place among the flourishing villages of the State.

Transcribed by Gordon Felland, July 26, 2008