Millerville History
Millerville Township, Douglas County, Minnesota, USA
History of Millerville Township
from
"Douglas County:
Album of the Ages"
©1979?
Printed by Taylor Publishing Co.
Pages 360-361
Millerville Township, 130 north and Range 39 west, was organized
on November 23, 1867. The township was given its name in honor of
John Miller who was the leader of a group of German settlers who
came from Pennsylvania in 1866, immediately after the ending of
the Civil War. Miller was accompanied by John Lorsung, Peter and
Joseph Lorsung (all relatives of Miller), and his widowed mother.
Mother Miller, along with the four men, filed on claims neighboring
one another. Since they were the first arrivals, they had free
choice to do so.
Within two weeks, Constant Cichy came as an immigrant from Germany.
Soon after, Prank Weber came to locate on what is now the Haiden
farm in Millerville City. Within weeks, Johhan Engler, Bernard Nuss,
Joseph Wagner,
August Wilm, Martin Faust, and Charley
Debilzan came, all were veterans of the Civil War.
The first township meeting was held in the home of John Miller on April 7, 1868 (this was the first recorded meeting). The minutes of this meeting read as follows: The meeting was called to order by the town clerk, Mr. Mathew Klein. The annual township election of Millerville Township pursuant to adjournment after meeting being called, by order of the Chairman of the town board and majority of the qualified electors being present.
A caucus was held for the purpose of nominating the required
officers of the town and voting $60 as a sum required to meet
the expenses of the township for the ensuing year. The meeting
was then called to order by Peator Bakus (moderator), W.W. Ames
(assistant), Mathew Kline (clerk), and C.J. McGibbon and John
Satchwel (judges).
The Pols (polls) were then declared open by the moderator and the
electors present proceeded to the balloting for officers duly
elected by a majority of ballot votes cast. The following were
the first officers elected for Millerville: Chairman: A.J. Ames;
Supervisors: J.A. Flesh and John A. Miller; Justices: W.W. Ames
and W. Hofhurst; Constables: Joseph Starkey and Matt Willem; Town
Clerk: Mathew Kline; and Assistant: A.J. Ames; signed by Mathew
Kline, town clerk. This is taken out of the first record which is
now in the possession of Mr. Harlan Meisner, present town clerk
of Millerville Township.
Latter first settlers with year of arrival and section in which
they located are as follows: Section 1, Nicklaus Langhausen in
1869; Section 2, August Koeplin in 1870 (brother-in-law of
Constant Cichy); Section 4, Rolden M. Finegan in 1871; Section 6,
lgnatz Kroll in 1876; Section 7, John Swartz in 1871; Section 8,
Andrew Baden in 1872; Section 9, Andrew Dewey in 1871; Section 10,
John Engeler in 1873; Section 11, Bernard Nuss in 1871; Section 17,
John F. Busse in 1875; Section 18, Hans G. Von Stack Housen in 1870;
Section 20, Olaf Landeen in 1873; Section 21 is almost all of Lake
Moses; Section 22, John Schaefer in 1868; Section 23, John Flesh
in 1873; Section 24, John N. Peck in 1871; Section 25, Joseph Goetz
in 1872; Section 26, George Wagner in 1873; Section 26, Wm. W. Arness
in 1873; Section 28, Andrew J. Arness in 1871; Section 29, Magnus
Johnson in 1871; Section 30, Edward Uhde in 1872; Section 32, Thomas
Lander in 1876; Section 33, Andrew Goodwin in 1872; Section 34, Henry
McGibbon in 1873.
Other vital statistics of the township are as follows:
The first white child born in Millerville was a daughter born to
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Weber on March 25, 1867. The Webers had the
first post office in their home, with Frank Weber as post master.
The first classes were heid in their spacious cabin, with Frank
as the first school teacher.
The first marriage in the township as well as in the Catholic
church, was that of Constant Cichy and Kathrine Peffer, the oldest
daughter of Mr and Mrs. Adam Feffer.
Paul Metz, who was one of the first settlers in Chippewa (Brandon),
came to Millerville to establish the first store.
A half-blood Indian, known as Mr. Grant, carried the mail from
Chippewa station to Millerville and to Otter Tail City in Otter
Tail County. This began in 1860, the through trip taking him three
days on foot or by dog team.
Charles DeblIzan, who came in 1867, kept an overnight stopping
place for travelers in his home. Here he served meals and drinks
until 1873 when John Stariha came from Evansville to build the
first saloon and an overnight stopping place for travelers.
The early settlers took their wheat to Pomme de Terre, now Grant
County, to be stone ground in a small grist mill there. In 1869,
E.H. Alden constructed a saw mill near Lake Miltona and by 1870,
he was grinding wheat into flour as well.
The famous Dobmeyer mill, with its water power, was established
in 1873-4. This mill supplied a large area with flour and other
grist for many years. It is now in possession of Mr. and Mrs.
Green who still grind feed grain for all who wish to call upon
them for this service.
In Millerville township as well as in at other sections of the
County and state, our early settlers tried to locate near water;
therefore, the area around lakes Moses and Aaron were soon
populated. This brought about the needs for schools and churches.
As most of the settlers were Catholics, Father Franz Pierz a
missionary, came as early as 1867 to minister to the needs of
these new settlers as well as to the non-Catholics and the Indians.
To Father Pierz, color, race, or creed, made little difference.
All were equally in need of the comforting words from this man
so well qualified to speak, listen, and comfort. Father Peirz
spoke in several languages as well as all the Indian dialects
then in use by the several tribes here and in Canada. The founding
of the first church and school has been written elsewhere.
Soon after this, the Swedish settlers built a small church for
their needs, but this was built in Ida Township.
The Lutheran settlers established a small church in 1891 by the
purchase of an unused school house which was moved to the location
of their present church and named the Trinity Lutheran Church.
This was organized in January, 1892. This church was served as
a mission station by Rev. P. Winkler from 1872 to 1874. Later,
Rev. Hertwig served the congregation until 1892.
All ministers of the gospels were required to teach, not only
religion but also to speak, read, and write the English language
to their parishioner--young and old. The very first classes were
conducted in the homes of the settlers, taught by parents or
any person who could read and write and had the material with
which to conduct a class. The material consisted of a copy of
the McGuffey reader, a slate, and pencils or pieces of birch bark
and charred coals from their huge fireplaces.
The first organized school was established on March 9, 1869, in
the northwest corner of the southwest quarter, Section 25. This
was known as District 25 or Oak Hill School. This information has
been taken out of the Commissioners' Record Book 1, page 55.
District 34 in the village of Millerville was the next to be
organized. This took place on September 7,1869. This information
was taken irom the Commissioners' Record Book 1, page 77.
The next one organized was the Lake Moses School, District 72,
in the northeast corner of the southwest quarter of the southeast
quarter, Section 29. This school was established on March 18,
1889. (Information taken from the Commissioners' Record Book 2,
page 226.)
District 43 in the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of
the southwest quarter of Section 6 in Leaf Valley Township was
organized and known as the Loeffler School. This information
was taken from the Commissioners' Record Book 1, page 138. This
school was established on March 16, 1871. When the first school
was constructed on this particular corner, it was the belief of
the good settlers who performed all the work as well as some of
the material, that the tocation was in Millerville. When the
discovery was made of this error, an argument arose about who
was to blame for this. For many years after, at each annual meeting,
the question arose about moving the building. but those who had the
most children lived nearest to the school and therefore fought any
decision to move. Strange as seerns, when the new school was
constructed after many years, the same site in Leaf Valley
Township was used again.
District 96 was the last of the rural one-room schools to be
established in the township. This was on July 14, 1903. The
district was joined to District 215 in Otter Tail County. No
date of this transaction has been found.
On this particular June evening, the quiet was shattered by the
sudden ringing of the bell in the cupola of the little white
school house n the clearing.
Children of school age were instantly alert, School starting
already when vacation had barely begun?
No! This is school meeting evening and an important meeting it
will be--so was the dialogue in nearly every home in the disttict.
Mothers and children were left home to finish the evening chores.
By the time the bell rang its second and last time, farmers in
clean starched shirts and their best bib overalls, plus the
inevitable large brimmed straw hat. were coming from all directions,
all on foot across fields and meadows and a meandering creek or two.
Roll was called and the Minutes read where upon the chairman arose,
cleared his throat, and announced, "Does anyone here have any
business to transact this evening?" "Thank you, Mr. Chairman,"
came from the secretary, as uneasily he asked for a 50 cent
increase in annual salary. Loud grunts of disapproval came from
all. Still he continued, "Last year our treasurer received a 50
cent increase, I think I do more work than he does, therefore,
I need 50 cents more." "No" was the answer, still after some more
bickerirng, it was agreed that he mi9ht have earned a 25 cent
increase. From then on, he was to receive 25 cents more annually.
With this obvious raid on the slim school treasury, the clerk
demanded a 25 cent raise. "Pencils can no longer be had for 1
cent each, now they give only three for a nickel." Twenty-five
cents was denied, but it was agreed that he could have a 10 cent
increase. From then on, the clerk was to receive $3.10 annually.
Not to be outdone, the janitor too asked for an increase of 50
cents. He declared that he had chopped and split all the wood,
kindled the fire each morning for five months, and remained there
until the fire could safely be left until the teacher came.
The answer was "No" because all this was not costing him anything.
It was finally agreed that he might have an increase of 10 cents.
From then on, the janitor was to receive $10.10 instead of only
$10 annually.
Well now, if even the janitor received an increase, then the man
who cut and delivered all the wood from his own wood lot wanted
50 cents more, too. 'File,' he said. 'now cost 15 cents and I need
a new one every year. I need 50 cents more!" "You want 50 cents
more when files cost only 15 cents? No, you are cutting your own
supply too with the same saw," came from the astonished crowd.
By now, the last rays of the setting sun were fading. It was
bedtime for these hard working farmers who had been up since
4 a.m. It was agreed at last that he may have 15 cents to pay
for the cost of the file. From then on, he was to receive $10.15
for five cords of hard wood delivered.
All were ready to close the meeting except for the man in whose
home the teacher roomed and boarded every year. He was my uncle.
Almost painfully, as my uincle was a quiet, humble man, "Mr.
Chairman," he said, "My wife and I need 50 cents per month
increase from the $5 we have been receiving."
This brought the entire house on their feet. "Five dollars cash
each month you are receiving and you ask for 50 cents more!" "No"
was echoing through the room. Uncle was not intimidated by his
belligerent neighbors, but went on calmly, "Teachers are no longer
satisfied with a bread and lard sandwich and an apple in a brown
paper. Toot, they want cake or cookies and a jar with soup or
coffee which they can heat at noon for their lunch. Coffee beans
now cost from 15 to I8 cents per pound. We have kept the teacher
every year so far. If there is anyone who will keep her, we would
be happy to be relieved of this."
This was met with total silence. Uncle's home was the only one
with a spare bedroom for the teacher. It was also nearest to the
school.
All remained on their feet while uncle sat down. He knew that he
had the upper hand. Finally, the chairman announced, "I believe
that he can have the 50 cents increase. I see from my place that
nearly every day he or his wife brings the teacher with his team
and sled and takes her home again after school is dismissed."
Although somewhat grudgingly, it was agreed that he may have the
50 cent per month increase. From then on, he was to receive $5.50
each month.
The meeting was closed and most went home satisfied, Uncle most
of all. "Well Mama," he said when he came home, "your new spring
coat is now assured. You will receive your 50 cent per month more
than ever before."
by Helen J. Cichy
E-mail: dwagner2@isd.net
©2003 DJW
Last Modified:
December 6, 2003