Congressional township 99 north, range 20 west, is known as the civil township of Kensett. It is bounded on the north by Northwood, on the south by Lincoln, and on the east and west by Barton and Brookfield, respectively. This is one of the most fertile and abundantly watered sections of the county, the Shell Rock river traversing it in a southeasterly course through sections 5, 9, 16, 15, 22, 27 and 35, besides touching several others on its winding way. Besides the waters of this beautiful stream, Elk creek enters on the western side of the township, and after crossing sections 19, 20, 29, 21, and adding fertility to the land on its course, and draining all superfluous moisture from the meadows, joins the Shell Rock on section 27. Several other affluents of these streams course through various parts of the township and help supply that needful element of successful husbandry-water.

EARLY SETTLEMENT

The first to settle in the township of Kensett was William Todd, an Englishman, who located on the east half of the southwest quarter of section 19. This was during the year 1860. Mr. Todd is still a resident of the county.

But few settlers came to this part of the county until a much later date.

HISTORICAL CRUMBS

The first child born is generally supposed to be William S. Todd, a son of the first settler, who first saw the light upon the 3d of June, 1867.

Gjertine Bertine Savre, a daughter of K. E. Savre, died upon the 26th of February, 1872, and was the first to pay, the debt of nature in the township.

ORGANIC

The township of Kensett was organized in 1876, the election taking place on the 14th of October, of that year. The following is a list of the officers chosen at the time : J. M. Slosson, Ira Bartlett and Iver Butler, trustees; C. W. Clausen, clerk; Perry J. Perkins, assessor; E. Cleophas and Ira Finch, justices; H. B. Cornick and Ira Bartlett, constables. The present officers of the township are as follows: G. M. Hangen, justice; Charles Locke, township clerk; C. F. Merrill, assessor; Peter Welch and P. O. Dickinson, constables Iver Butler, Charles Brebner and E. Cleophas, trustees; road supervisors, district No. 1, M. Nichols ; district No. 2, Samuel Pickle ; district No. 3, Iver Butler ; district No. 4, K. E. Savre ; district No. 5, K. Savre ; district No. 6, C. F. Merrill.

EDUCATIONAL

Prior to the organization of Kensett, the schools of the township were governed by the Northwood district. The first one within the limits of the present township was on section 10, opened during the summer of 1871, by Julia Finch. This was a small school, but well conducted. The district No. 1, was organized in 1878, and the first preceptress was Clara Wardall, in that same year.

There is in the township, at present, six sub-districts, each of which have a good frame school house, 20x28 feet in dimension, which were erected at an average cost of $500 each.

KENSETT.

The town or village of Kensett was laid out and surveyed during the year 1873. The original owners of the town plat being James Thompson, C. C. Gillman and J. L. Sherman.

The first house erected upon the site of the town had been built by James Thompson, about a year before the platting of the same.

In the early part of the year 1875 a general merchandise store was opened at this point by Cleophas Bros. This was the first and has continued to be the only store of the kind in the town. A course of liberal dealing and strict integrity have rendered it very difficult for any other party to come in and do business in competition with them.

T. Oleson opened the first blacksmith shop in 1875. This business is now represented by T. Winger, who has as fine a shop for general blacksmithing and wagon repairing as is found in this part of the county.

Smith Bros. & Co., during the year 1876, appreciating the wants of the community for a place to purchase building material, opened a lumber yard for the purpose of meeting that demand. This business is at present represented by Charles Locke, who is the Co. of the firm. A shoe store was established in the village during the year 1880 by George Gullickson. This venture did not seem to pay, for after operating for a short time it was suspended and the proprietor removed to the State of Wisconsin.

The first to introduce the hardware business in this interesting village was C. D. Mattock, who, in September, 1876, located here with a stock of that variety of merchandise. The business is represented at present by O. P. Perkins, who first started in this line in the fall of 1880. Occupying, as he does, a prominent place in the mercantile interests of Kensett, he carries a good stock of miscellaneous hardware and stoves. A good, healthy business is the result of carefully conducted business and financial integrity.

POSTOFFICE

The postoffice at Kensett was established during the month of April, 1876, and C. Cleophas appointed postmaster. The office is still in his charge, and for the convenience of all parties is located at the store of Cleophas Bros., who are the merchants of the town.

RAIN WAREHOUSES

The first of these was built at the village of Kensett, by Martin V. Bentley, in the year 1875. In 1876 S. S. Cargill erected a store hotter for the great cereal products of this vicinity. In the spring of 1883 this building burned to the ground, together with its contents, making a loss of some $7,000. With it burned a warehouse owned by Cleophas Bros., but as it was nearly empty at the time, their loss was something less than $1,000. The business as at present conducted is represented by the following firms: S. S. Cargill, G. N. Miner and Cleophas, Bros., who all have warehouses. A large portion of wheat of this county is marketed here, and more grain is handled than at any other point in the county.

Transcribed by Gordon Felland, July 29, 2008