I came to Height of Land in March, 1883, and took a soldier's homestead an Section 18 in the said township an the south half of the north half of said section. I filed my declaratory statement, built a cabin, cleared several acres that summer, and cut about forty tans of hay. In the winter I cut logs and built a house, brought my family here from Frazee the 2d day of April, 1884, and have resided here and an the quarter section north of it ever since. Mr. Shink settled an the quarter section where I now live with his wife and two children in October, 1883, lived there a year then sold out to D. W. Whaples and moved away. Mr. Whaples lived here about six years and sold out to Mr. Albrickson of Detroit. I bought the place twelve years ago this spring. When we came here the woods were full of deer, bear and moose, and all kinds of small game. One morning, about 1892, two large moose came within four rods of our door and stood and looked at us and the cattle far several minutes, then turned and ran away. We had a good Winchester rifle, but not a cartridge in the house.
A petition to organize the township was granted by the board of county commissioners an the 6th day of January, 1886, and the first township election was ordered to be held at the house of Joseph Abbey in Section 18, an the 26th of January, 1886. I circulated the petition, traveled all aver the township, got the proper signers and saw to it that the petition went before the cammissioners. At this election the fallowing township officers were elected to serve until the second Tuesday in March fallowing:
Chairman of board of supervisors, D. O. Jarvis; supervisors, Mathias Daubenspeck, Ludwig Bartz; town clerk, E. E. Lange.
All the settlers but two or three in the township were homesteaders. We had no roads and very little money to build roads with. A. H. Wilcox, with other help, had laid out a county road from Detroit to Shell Lake and the county had opened it. It ran from southwest to northeast through the township. This was all the road we had, with the exception of an old lumber trail that followed up the river from Frazee to the outlet of Height of Land Lake. These were all the roads we had, and we had no money to make more, being unable to levy taxes, only an what little improvements we had in the township, and our personal property taxes were small. I was elected clerk of the township in 1887, and every year for seven years afterwards, and justice of peace for ten years. John Guethling was chairman of supervisors in 1888, John Sperling second, and William Rosenow third supervisor. We worked things as carefully as possible. Every man worked a poll tax of from two to three days, and we opened out same roads to the county road, which gave us an outlet to Detroit and Frazee. After a few years we began to prove up an our homesteads and then began to realize more taxes. Then we began to lay out roads convenient to every settler. We have now good roads far a timbered township, as good as roads on the prairie. We never issued any bonds and we are out of debt, and have several hundred dollars in the treasury, and are in as good circumstances as any township in this county. This shows what economy with industry will do. A majority of the railroad land has been bought and settled, and we have a township as well off as any other township. We have a number of well-to-do farmers, and same are getting wealthy. They are out of debt and they possess everything necessary. Mr. A. H. Wilcox was a great benefit to this township in its early struggles. In his lumber business, it was just like him to employ every man that needed work who had a family, which was a great help to the people. Many of them kindly remember it, and often speak of it. Taking everything into consideration this is a grand, good township. The soil is mostly a gray loam with clay enough to make it very fertile and has a clay subsoil. Nearly all over the township there has been same heavy grain grown. In 1895, Mr. Wentz raised forty-seven bushels of wheat to the acre. I raised that same year, on twelve acres, thirty-five bushels per acre, and many more in this township did equally as well. We have an abundance of hay land to supply the entire township and some to spare. It is of excellent quality. I do not know of a more contented people than we have here, and not one has got the Canada fever as they have in other places. I consider that every man who has made money farming in Becker County aught to be called a hero.
The first settler was Robert Soper from Kansas. He settled on the northwest quarter of Section 2, overlooking the shores of Height of Land Lake about the 26th of September, 1882. He afterwards cleared thirty acres, built a house, lived there several years, sold out, moved to Wadena, afterwards went to Dakota and now resides in Canada. He also raised cattle and made farming a general business. Mrs. Robert Soper was the first white woman in the township.
The next settler in this township was John Davis from near Oshkosh, Wisconsin. He settled on the southwest quarter of Section 6 about the 25th of October, 1882, and made it a continual residence until after he proved up on his claim. He afterwards bought one hundred and fifty acres on Section 5, which Mr. M. E. Wilcox from Iowa has since purchased. John Davis cleared about ten acres and built a comfortable house. His industry, while a resident here, was raising sheep and cattle.
The same year, 1882, the third settler, D. O. Jarvis settled on the southwest quarter of Section 2, fronting on Height of Land Lake, about the 5th of October, built a house, cleared about ten acres, made farming and trapping game his business. Bear, deer, and other game were then in abundance. He lived there five years or more and sold out and went to Superior, Wisconsin.
Two of his children remained here some years. They afterwards moved to Park Rapids where they now reside. That same fall, two men from Kansas, John Soper and Benjamin Oron took claims on Section 8. Oran afterwards went to Colorado and died there.
About this time A. H. Wilcox with another man, was cruising up through this country, and when traveling over Section 8 he came across a big black bear just putting his head out of his den. Mr. Wilcox having a small shotgun loaded with fine shot, walked up as close as convenient and put the charge into bruin's head, putting an end to his career. So much for the plucky pioneer. John Soper built a house and settled on his claim, some of which was brush prairie. He soon broke up about twenty acres. Soper resided here on the northwest quarter of Section 8 until about 1898, then sold out and went to Wisconsin. He afterwards moved to Bemidji, where he now resides. While here he made his business farming in summer and lumbering in winter for A. H. Wilcox. He built a good frame house and outbuildings necessary for the place. Mr. Pinney Austin now resides on and owns the place. He keeps a store. There is an Advent church, also a cemetery on the place.
In June, 1883, the following men came, making the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth settlers. Carl Sperling, Sr.; Carl Sperling Jr., and John Sperling, sons of Carl Sperling, Sr.; also Frederick Fechner, son-in-law of Carl Sperling, Sr.; all four settled on Section 20, each getting one hundred and sixty acres. They arrived at the same time. They have made for themselves comfortable homes. John Sperling has two hundred and forty acres of land, with good improvements, a fine house and barn with out. buildings, a good stock of cattle and horses with all kinds of machinery to work with that is necessary on a farm.
Carl Sperling, Jr., owns two hundred and forty acres with a good comfortable house and barn with outbuildings, also a stock of cattle and horses and machinery to carryon a farm. Mr. Carl Sperling, Sr., lives with Carl Sperling, Jr. He is now about seventy-seven years of age, having divided his farm between his sons.
Mr. Fred Fechner lives on the southeast quarter, Section 20, which was his homestead. Has a comfortable house, barn and outbuildings. He has also bought 280 acres of land, and now owns four hundred and forty acres, some of the finest timber in the country, has a large stock of cattle and horses, and all kinds of machinery for a farm. When he came to Height of Land in 1883 he had no team, and a very few dollars in money. Continued industry has made him comfortable. He has also raised a large family of children. We state this to show what economy and industry will do even in a timbered country.
Mr. John Fichtner settled on the southeast quarter of Section 30 in the spring of 1884, and has made it his continuous residence. His boys have opened a good farm, built comfortable frame buildings, and are in good condition.
Ludwig Bartz settled on Section 30, southwest quarter, in 1885, and has opened a good farm, has comfortable buildings, and has been town clerk, also justice of the peace.
August Mews settled on Section 32 about 1885, on the northwest quarter. He owns land on Section 29 and several other places in the county; he is well-to-do, we might say rich for a farmer.
William Rosenow settled on Section 32, northeast quarter. He owns land in Section 29, and has opened a good farm, and is in comfortable circumstances.
In the year 1884, April 11th, John Chapman settled on the north half of Section 18, having been here before and built a house. He lived here continuously until three years ago when his wife died. Since that time his son, Grant Chapman, has made the home his residence.
H. G. McCart, of Detroit in 1883 filed on the south half of Section 18, built a cabin, brought his family there from time to time, in the year 1887 sold out his interests to Charles Sheldon, who has made it his continual ,residence ever since. He has a well located farm, a good meadow, and other things convenient.
In 1885 quite a number of settlers came to this township. Mr. John Guethling from Carver County, Minnesota, settled on Section 21, northeast quarter. He has opened a fine farm, erected good buildings. The soil on his farm is very fertile.
Mr. Ludwig Golke settled on the northwest quarter of Section 22 in 1884, and opened a rich farm which sold last year for about $3,000. He went back to Carver County, Minnesota, in 1905.
Michael Graboritz settled on the northeast quarter of Section 22 in 1885. He sold out and moved to Arkansas, afterwards he moved back and is now a resident of this township.
A. Wothe settled and opened up a farm on Section 16, sold out and went to Arkansas, but afterwards returned.
August Schafer lives on the southwest quarter Section 32. He settled there about 1887 and has a fine farm.
Joseph Frick settled on Section 32, southeast quarter in 1887, and died there several years ago. Mr. Ernst married his widow, a daughter of Mr. Trieglaff of Burlington Township.
Wilhelm Sunram settled on Section 28 the southwest quarter in 1885, and opened a choice farm. He died there in the spring of 1904 and left a widow in good circumstances with a family.
Gerhard Wettels settled on Section 16 in 1889 and lived there about one year. Afterwards settled on Section 30, northwest quarter, and bought eighty acres across the line in the township of Erie, and cleared up a good farm. He has everything to make a farmer comfortable.
Mathias Daubenspeck settled on Section 28 in 1885, and has made a respectable home on the southeast quarter, and is comfortably situated.
Jacob Wefers settled on the northeast quarter of Section 28 about I885. He has a choice farm, and looks as if he had plenty of this world's goods.
William Daubenspeck settled an Section 28 in I885, the northeast quarter, and has fine buildings and improvements, and everything indicates prosperity.
August Daubenspeck settled an Section 2I and has made a choice home and surroundings.
Mr. Blauert lives an Section 2I and has a splendid farm. He has grubbed the timber all out by the roots, and has a large clearing and raises over one thousand bushels of wheat per year, and other grains in equal proportions.
August Wentz lives an Section 2I, northwest quarter, and has things very comfortable. He came from Missouri.
Henry Oelfke settled an the southeast quarter of Section 26 in I886. He was the father of Fred and Carl Oelfke. Mr. Oelfke died an the I3th of Nov. 1892. Carl Oelfke came with his father and located with him an the southeast quarter of Section 26 in I886 and still resides an the same land. He is a hunter and a farmer, and has a farm with same very fine butternut trees at the back of his house. He told me last summer that they were eighteen years old. They were full of nuts and were quite as thrifty as those I have seen in Olmstead County. He is chairman of the supervisors of this township.
Mr. Carl Oelfke is a veteran hunter, and has undoubtedly killed more "big game" than any other man in Becker County. He says he has killed in the vicinity of his home, in the last twenty years, 247 deer, 52 wolves, 35 lynx, 5 bears besides a great many wildcats, foxes, minks, rabbits and other small game.
Fred. Oelfke settled an the northeast quarter of Section 34 in I886 and is now the possessor of 320 acres of fine land and is a well-to-do farmer, with fine buildings and large, well cultivated fields. He has been township clerk far years. Fred has also been something of a hunter himself, having killed about twenty deer and two bears during his residence in the township.
Mr. Brinkman is an old settler and lives on Section 34. He is well fixed and has good buildings and large improvements.
Edward Lange came to this township in 1885, took his homestead an Section 14 and has a good farm. He is a prosperous farmer.
Jacob Lange lives on Section 10. He came in 1885.
Joseph S. Milton settled on Section 8 in 1885, coming from Kentucky. He sold out and went to Louisiana.
Harris Eastman settled in the southwest quarter of Section 8, proved up and went to live with his son Willard Eastman in township of Grand Park.
These and other settlers in the township too numerous to mention are all in fair circumstances. We are all working men in this township. We have no use for any other kind of settlers, and we do not solicit any other kind.
William Winter located on the north part of Section 26 in August, 1885, and after living there about fifteen years moved to Section 35, Grand Park Township.
Julius B. Galbrecht located on the southeast quarter of Section 26 not long afterwards where he opened up a good farm.
Carl Winter has a good farm on Section 23.
The first school in Height of Land Township was taught by Jessie Herrick (now Mrs. Jessie Greenlaw) who commenced on the 11th day of February, 1889, in District No. 49. The district then included all of the east half of Height of Land Township, and the schoolhouse stood on Section 10.
The first birth in the township was that of Adelena Graboritz, who was born on the 20th of September, 1885, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Graboritz.
The first white boy born in the township was Frederick Herman Fichner, born December 26th, 1885, son of Frederick and Wilhelmine Fichner. Elizabeth Daubenspeck, four years of age, was the first person to die in the township, her death occurring on the 11th of May, 1888. The first people married in the township were Benjamin W. Oren and Maggie A. Wilson, who were married on the 22d of October, 1883, by George W. Taylor, J. P.