Sharon Township
Location
Third tier down from Sherman County
Last township on east edge of the
county, next to Hall county line
Pole Line Road on the north, 115th
Road on the south
Pawnee Road on the west, Wiseman Road
on the east
Organization
after 1880, probably 1883 when township plan was adopted.
Part of Shelton Precinct before that.
No record found so far as to how it
got its name
Features
Mostly tilled agricultural land
Wood River comes from about 1ฝ miles
south of Sharon twp and cuts se corner sec. 36
West side of the valley is in Sharon
Towns
None, Shelton is just across 115th Road in Shelton Township.
Schools
had as many as 5 country schools back in the early 1900s
- Dist. 10 in ne corner sec 14
- Dist. 17 in ne corner sec. 28
- Dist. 18 in sw corner sec. 29
- Dist. 30 on west edge ผ mile from south edge sec 7
- Dist. 56 on nw corner sec. 10
Being on corners of sections, they were at intersections of county roads
Grange halls
Two in the southern part of the township
Vocal Populist following in the
1890s
Church
Rural Sharon Methodist Church
Two miles east and two and one half
miles north of Gibbon or 4 miles west of Shelton
Organized in 1885.
Ministers drove out from Shelton on
Sunday afternoons to conduct services
If baptism was desired by immersion,
it was done in the Wood River a mile or so south.
Their church was sold to the United
Evangelicals in 1898 and is disbanded.
Pattern of Settlement
Number of Homesteads Filed:
187123
187221
18738
18748
18753
18763
18772
187810
18793
Incidents
What was happening in Sharon township in the 1890s?
Prohibition carried by a small majority in the Nov. 1890 vote
Property assessment
1893 Personal property assessment -
$21,754
real estate - $60,225
Both numbers higher than Grant or
Schneider townships.
Roads
1894 road controversy between Shelton
and Sharon townships that had been dragging in county board for some time
was settled by the supervisors.
The road was allowed,
Meisner got $100 damages and the two Olivers and Joe Owens got $25 each.
A notice of appeal on the part of Meisner was given.
Frequent news about applications made
by Sharon Township to county for road funds.
Usual amount was $300 for the year, they would get $100 if any.
1897 No money in the county road fund
to appropriate to various townships, including Sharon, who had applied.
Residents
As usual, the people are the most
interesting aspect of the area
Meisner, George
Born in Germany in 1842(or 45), came to
US in 1845(or 48)
Lived in Troy, New York and then Tama, Iowa.
Tried several times to enlist during the Civil War
Turned down because he was blind in
one eye. Or a good farmer
Father and brother fought, he stayed
home, farmed
Accumulated land, eventually some 400
acres.
1871 bought a section of land two miles north of Shelton
Sold out in Iowa.
Worked hard at farming and ranching,
and bought more land.
Built barn/granary on his property.
1877 - Married Rachel Fieldgrove,
Lived in a barn/granary until their home, the "Elms", could be built.
Known throughout the county and
beyond as a country mansion.
16 rooms, 80 inside doors, 6 outside
doors, 90 windows.
Ornate carving found on the staircase
and the woodwork throughout the house
Special designs were created for each
room.
Now on
National Register of Historic Places
Had 4 daughters, Elnora, Cora, Dora, and Lulu.
Rachel died in 1889.
[Stone/monument company in Kearney
made her tombstone, the tallest monument in Shelton Cemetery.]
Fieldgrove Henry - Soldiers Free
Homestead Colony.
Homesteaded a mile north of Shelton in
1871
Expanded to 400 acres in the Wood
River valley.
Also acquired 240 acres nine miles
north in Schneider Township
Public offices 1871 - Road supervisor of his district 9 years
Deputy sheriff for eastern part of
county
School board
Board of supervisors a number of
years, Chairman 2 years
Buffalo countys representative in
state legislature, 1888
Justice of the peace
Died in March 1904.
Eldest daughter, Dorothy, married Ephriam
Oliver, raised a family of 10 boys and 1 girl.
#2 daughter, Rachel, married George
Miesner
Behavior
Hub, Nov. 28, 1903
Dennis Swigert, who was sent up from
Sharon township by Justice Fieldgrove, to lay out a ten dollar fine for
contempt of court was released by Sheriff Simmons Saturday morning his time
having expired
Hub, June 13, 1894
W. O. Weaver, one of Buffalo countys
grand, but poor honest farmers, a man whose only fault is that he is a pop
which is bad enough the Lord knows, and who, when at home, lives in Sharon
township, which township he represents on the county board was in the city
yesterday and last night attended the band concert. He was accompanied by
his whiskers.
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