FARM HOME OF WM. WILLIAMSON
Topography—This township is very rolling, and in the early days there were a great many sloughs here, but the water in these has faded away, and they are now making good hay meadows. At one time Lynn Lake contained quite a body of water, but this has all disappeared and now con- siderable hay is made there. Hanson Lake in the north end of the township is a nice body of water.
Around these lakes can be found a considerable amount of native timber. This was an important item for the first settlers who filed on these native timber tracts.
This is the second oldest settlement made in the county. It is very well settled and contains many nice large homes and groves. Mr. C. A. Young, a homesteader, has the largest tree claim grove in the county, over twenty acres, with the greatest varieties of timber; cottonwood, box elder, a great deal of ash and elm, some willows, poplar, the finests evergreens that one could wish to see, and fruits and berries of all kinds. It is worth one's trip to visit this place, for an outing picnic.
The homesteaders still residing on their land are as follows: Nels Williamson, C. A. Young, P. J. Alsager, Martin Anderson, I. E. Skaar, J. K and R. K. Mork, K. T. Mork, Anton A. Norby, Ole E. Bakken, Andrew J. Lee.
The first child born here, (also in the county) was C. A. Tofley.
The first death, that of Herman Bang Amundson, September 19, 1885.
The first marriage was Chas. A. Young to Arina Aad- land, October 14, 1883.
The largest family was born to Mr. and Mrs. Ole E. Bakken, parents of nine sons and five daughters, ten still living.
The honor of naming this township was given to Miss Julia Bakke in honor of being the first woman homesteader in the township. Miss Bakke being a great admirer of Jenny Lynn the well known singer, she named the township in her honor.
Prairie Fires—The early homesteader did not realize the danger and the loss of life and property that might occur by burning off the old dead slough grass. An instance of this kind occurred in the northwest corner of Webster township. John Dodd set fire to his slough in the spring of 1886. The fire got away from him and struck into Lynn township. Mrs. Betsy Dalager and her mother living with her saw this prairie fire coming toward their homestead and, even tho they had what they considered a good fire break, which proved in this case inefficient, they started for the sod barn with the view of saving their cows. Before they even got one out the fire had reached the barn. The mother was burned to death, as well as all the cows and hogs. The barn was burned to the ground, and could not be recognized, as ever having been a barn. Mrs. Dalager saved her life by jumping into a ten foot well, the water in same being frozen over from the winter. She was so badly burned that she was an invalid during the balance of her. life, having no use of her limbs, and having little use of her arms and hands, and was obliged to move around in a wheel chair. She passed to her reward March 30, 1921. This is the only prairie fire where any life was lost in the county, however, there were many prairie fires, and much property was lost in the early eighties by prairie fires.
Dates of settlement of homesteaders:*Note—Halvor Velickson was one of the early settlers, and one of the greatest characters of the county. He was a good worker, and had a kind disposition, when himself. He was born January, 1823, died, 1923 at the home of M. M. Stavig, Grenville township. He lived and died a bachelor.1883—H. A. Harder, Anton C. Johnson, Hans Nelson, John Rasmus, Mrs. Gertrude Lockrem, Andrew and Ed. S. Lockrem, Ole M. Munson, Ole, Christ and P. B. Amundson, Peter Michelson, P. J. Davidson, John Peterson, P. L. Sommer.
Mr. Wm. Williamson came to Rochester, Minnesota, from Hallingsdal, Norway, with his parents, in July, 1869. After a year they moved to Montevideo, where his father filed a preemption, 1870. In 1881 they sold out and came to Day county. The family of six daughters and four sons, William, the eldest, came in two covered wagons, one of them drawn by an ox team and the other by horses. In June 1887, Mr. Williamson became of age and filed a preemption and tree claim. He later sold his preemption and tree claim and with the proceeds he attended Concordia college, Moorhead, Minnesota, for two years, 1892-93. He also bought his father's tree claim relinquishment and filed his present homestead.
Mr. Williamson was married to Miss Marie Sagbak, February 17, 1904. To them were born six sons and five daughters, four sons and three daughters are still living.
His present farm contains 240 acres and this he farms with only the help of his family. He has always practiced diversified farming in a thorough manner; milks an average of eighteen cows, markets about twenty-five hogs, thirty to thirty-five cattle and about one hundred and twenty-five chickens, annually. His only income has been from hard labor on his farm. "Pay cash" is his motto and he has always managed to keep his accounts from being in the "red."
Phone and R. F. D., Pierpont, S. D.
Mr. J. K. Mork came to Montevideo, Minnesota from Bergen, Norway, 1881, where he worked on his father's farm. In May, 1884, he with his father came to the township and Mr. Mork filed a homestead and tree claim.
He was married to Miss Berta Floe, June 9, 1889 and to them were born three children, only one son is still living.
After his son married, Mr. Mork deeded to him the tree claim, to which was added 80 acres. Father and son farm the entire 400 acres together. They have made a specialty of registered Herford cattle and Poland China hogs. In 1925 their sale of hogs and cattle for breeding and market amounted to $1,800.00. They retain a flock of 75 sheep, which Mr. Mork claims pays the best profit of anything on the farm. For building up the land they use sweet clover and alfalfa. Mr. Mork says that from the seventh sweet clover seed crop they sold seed amounting to $39.50 per acre.
Mr. Mork and family lived in a sod shanty from 1884 until 1897 when the home, as shown in the above picture was built. He claims that his sod shanty days were the happiest of his life. The size of the barn, shown in picture is 36 by 90.
Phone and R. F. D., Pierpont, S. D.
Mr. Rasmus K. Mork came to Montevideo, Minnesota, from Bergen, Norway, June, 1880. After a year he and his brother, who had preceeded him, rented a quarter section of land which they farmed for four years. In March, 1882, he was married to Miss Engebor Valsness and to them were born five daughters and two sons, all living. In May, 1885, he, with his wife and two children, left Montevideo in a covered wagon drawn by ox team. They landed in the township and filed a homestead and tree claim. To this farm he has since added 640 acres.
Mr. Mork is at present farming four quarters of his land, renting the remainder. He has always practiced what he calls, "Dukes Mixture farming"; milking eighteen cows, markets twenty-five hogs, twenty-five cattle, one hundred fifty chickens, twenty-five turkeys, twenty-five sheep and the wool from forty. Before the World War Mr. Mork invested all his profits in additional land, but since that time he has merely held his own.
The grove shown in above picture contains ten acres, which he claims will furnish him with an ample supply of fuel. Most all of the buildings are electrically lighted from farm plant. Buildings not shown in picture: large barn, a good sized summer house, two granaries, three chicken houses, one hog house and a wind mill.
Phone and R. F. D., Bristol, S. D.