EARLY SETTLEENT — ORGANIC — HISTORIC ITEMS — EDUCATIONAL

This township lies in the southwest corner of the county, and comprises two congressional townships - township 98, ranges 25 and 26. The surface is a beautiful undulating prairie. The soil is a deep black loam and is highly productive. For farming, stock raising, or dairying this township is the most desirable in the county. The Boone and Iowa rivers both rise in this township near its center. The south branch of Buffalo Fork flows through the northwest corner of the township.

EARLY SETTLEENT.

The first settlers were George Johnson, Hans Mattison, Christian Larson and L. Mikkelson.

These parties all came in June, 1871, and have been residents of the township ever since. George Johnson located on the northwest quarter of section 16, township 98, range 25. He still lives on the same place.

George Johnson, one of the first settlers of Linden township, was born in Norway, Dec. 7, 1847. When a young man he emigrated to America, and located in Winneshiek county, where he was employed as a laborer. He remained here six years, and in 1869 came to Winnebago county where he purchased land in Linden township, on section 16, and at this time being the farthest western settler in the county. He was married in 1872 to Anna Austinson, and by whom he had four children, two sons and two daughters - Susan, Lena, John and Albert. Mr. Johnson came to this country a poor man, but by industry and hard work has accumulated a very comfortable property. He has 160 acres of land, valued at $20 per acre. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members of the Lutheran church and are very devout Christians.

Hans Mattison with his family settled on the southeast quarter of section 9, township 98, of range 25. He still makes that his home.

Christian Larson located on the northeast quarter of section 9, township 98, range 25, and still makes that his home.

In the fall of 1871, Christian Hanson came to the township and settled on the northwest quarter of section 16, near where George Johnson located. He has been a resident of the township ever since.

Martin Lund came some time during the latter part of 1871, or early in 1872. He located on the northeast quarter of section 16, and remained several years. In about 1875 he sold his land to Andrew Austin and removed to Minnesota.

ORGANIC.

Linden township was created by act of the board of county supervisors, Oct. 3, 1881. The first officers elected were as follows: Trustees, Christian Larson, Stener Stenerson and I.J. Kessey; clerk, H.H. Mattison; justice, Robert Olson; constable, J.M. Anderson; assessor, A.A. Peterson. The officers in 1883 were Trustees, C. Larson, Stener Stenerson and C.C. Myra; clerk, Iver O. Syse; justices, Jerome Chilson and Alex Anderson; constables, J.M. Anderson and G.O. Hanna; assessor, Alex Anderson; road supervisors, Jerome Chilson, C.J. Anderson, Ole O. Rusley and John Connor.

HISTORIC ITEMS.

The first breaking in the township was done by George Johnson.

The first justice of the peace was Robert Olson.

The first school was taught by H. Mattison.

The first sermon was preached at the house of Hans Mattison by Rev. P. Lasness, a Lutheran minister.

The first birth was that of Christiana Larson, daughter of Christian and Ellen Larson. She was born in the summer of 1871, and died in January, 1872. This was the first death in the township.

EDUCATIONAL.

In 1883 there were three school districts in Linden township, with three school houses, valued at $1,200.

District No. 1 has a good, substantial school house, valued at $565. During the year 1883 there were seven months of school taught in this district; number of pupils enrolled eight, four males and four females; cost of tuition per month for each scholar, $4.

In district No. 2 there were, in 1883, eight months of school taught; number of persons between the ages of five and twenty-one, twenty-one; average cost of tuition permonths for each pupil, $2.25. The school property in this district is valued at $565.

District No. 3 has a good-sized, comfortable school house, which, including apparatus and fixtures, is valued at about $575. During the school year ending September, 1883, there were seven months of school taught in the township; number of persons of school age, twenty-one; average cost of tuition per month for each pupil, $5.50.

Christian Martinson, a farmer of section 16, was born in Laaland, Denmark, Feb. 3, 1838. On Dec. 16, 1860, he was married to Maren C. Peterson. by this union there are eight children - Anna and Johanna, twins, born April 24, 1862; John H., born Dec. 8, 1866; Henry C., born April 21, 1872; Mary C., born June 18, 1874; Julia M., born may 21, 1876; Minnie C., born April 1, 1878; and Ferdinand R., born April 22, 1881. In 1869 they left Denmark and emigrated to America, locating in Dane Co., Wis., for a time, then removing to Mount Valley township, Winnebago county. In 1873 he settled on his present home. He has a farm of eighty acres under cultivation, and is valued at $20 per acre.

¹History of Kossuth, Hancock and Winnebago Counties, Iowa. Springfield, Illinois: Union Publishing Company, 1884. 903-04.