Jewell County

Population By Federal Census (Organized in 1870.) 1880 Census Township Population Allen Township 653 Athens Township 746 Brown’s Creek Township 666 Buffalo Township, including Jewell City 1,050 Burr Oak Township, incl. Burr Oak City 1,237 Calvin Township 503 Center Township, including Mankato City 1,017 Erving Township 565 Esbon Township 557 Grant Township 674 Harrison Township 638 Highland Township 658 Holmwood Township 698 Ionia Township 1,142 Jackson Township 496 Limestone Township 702 Montana Township 788 Prairie Township 701 Richland Township 715 Saint Clair Township 584 Vicksburg Township 725 Walnut Township 666 Washington Township 544 White Mound Township 751 Total 17,475 Jewell […]

Jewell Lodge, No. 11, A. F. & A. M., was instituted October 22, 1874. J. C. Postlethwaite, W. M.; M. F. Knappenberger, S. W.: A. M. Hogan, J. W.; N. Kreamer; F. Felker, Sec’y. Jewell Lodge, No. 116, I. O. O. F. – This society was instituted October 14, 1874. They own a $1,200 hall, well arranged and neatly furnished. Present officers: H. A. Schulenburg, N. G.; E. D. Smith, V. G.; George W. Brick, Secretary; John Fry, Treasurer. It now numbers seventy members. Ancient Order United Workmen. – A lodge of this Order was started at Jewell City June

The schools from the first have been good. Since 1873 to the present time they have been kept in a building constructed principally from the ruins of the one destroyed at that time. In October 1882, a $6,000 stone school building was completed and occupied. It is the finest school building in the county. The Jewell County Republican, a five-column quarto paper, was established at Jewell City, in the fall of 1879, by Col. W. W. Brown. It was purchased by Woodward & Musser in 1881. It is Republican in politics. The Methodists organized a society in 1872, and three

The early history of Jewell City can be found at length in the County history. The origin of this city, which is situated ten miles east of south of Mankato, was the building of a fort, in 1870, for the protection of the settlers in its vicinity. It was called Fort Jewell, and was a large sod enclosure in which the first well in the county was dug. It was a false alarm that caused its erection, and, happily for the settlers, they were never called upon to use it as a means of defense. The town is well situated

In the spring of 1862, William Harshberger and wife settled upon land adjoining the present town of White Rock, and John Furrows took a claim just west of Mr. Harshberger’s farm. A. Clark, wife and child, settled just over the western boundary of what is now Republic County. Mrs. Clark and Mrs. Harshberger were sisters, the whole of the little colony coming from Knox County, Ill. They formed the first settlement in Jewell County, built cabins and broke ground, but were soon driven away by well-grounded fears of Indian raids. A battle between the Pawnees and Sioux was fought near

Jewell County is located in the northernmost tier of counties, 150 miles from the Missouri River. The county is thirty miles square, divided into twenty-five Congressional townships, and contains 900 square miles, or 576,000 acres of land. The county is among the first in the State in agricultural resources. Its central portion is rolling, and in places somewhat broken, but contains many fine farms and much good pastureland. The valley of Marsh and Buffalo Creeks – a tract embracing the southeast quarter of the county is, next to the White Rock Valley, the finest, richest and most densely settled portion

The church and school privileges are good. The first school was taught here in 1873. The town now has an elegant and commodious school building, just completed at a cost of $3,500. There are three grades, and the departments are doing good work. There are four religious denominations in Burr Oak – the Baptist, Methodist, Dunkards and Catholics. The last was organized in 1881 by Rev. J. Perrier, of Concordia. There are fifteen families in the perish and they have an $800 church edifice. The Baptist Church was organized in September, 1879, by Rev. Mr. Howard. The society has just

Burr Oak, at present, is the largest and most prosperous town in the county. Situated at the terminus of the Central Branch, on White Rock Creek, ten miles northeast of Mankato. It is pleasantly located and surrounded by as fine a country as can be found in the county. The first settlers in the town and vicinity were A. W. Mann, F. Gilbert, A. J. and D. H. Godfrey (A. J. Godfrey built the first house on what is now State street), G. Beanblossom, L. N. Tingley, J. M. McCormick and others, who located in the spring of 1870. The

The Burr Oak Reveille was established at Burr Oak January 1, 1879, by H. E. Taylor, and purchased by W. E. Bush, in 1880. It suspended in August 1882, and was reorganized in October by a joint stock company, but continued under the same management. It is a seven column folio and enjoys a good circulation. It is independent in politics. Burr Oak Lodge, No. 178, A. F. & A. M., was instituted in the fall of 1878, by J. C. Postlethwaite. It is in good working order and has about sixty members. Officers: O. F. Roberts, W. M,; A.