(By Crystal I. C. Shoemaker.)

Flora township embraces the greater part of Congressional township 114, range 36, and a fraction part of township 113-36. It is bounded on the north by Emmet township, on the east by Henryville and Beaver Falls townships, on the southwest by the Minnesota river, and on the west by Sacred Heart township. Across the river is Redwood county. It is included in the reservation strip which remained in the possession of the Indians until 1858, shortly after which the settlement of the bottom lands in the township was started.

The soil is black sandy loam with clay subsoil and is very fertile. The northern portion consists of rolling prairie, while the southern portion consists of the beautiful Minnesota Valley and a range of hills or bluffs extending back of the river from one-fourth of a mile to one mile in width. The river and creeks are bounded by natural forests. At present there are no villages in the township. The settlements are composed almost entirely of German people.

There are three churches. The German Evangelical church is situated in section 35, township 114, range 36. A new edifice was built in 1911 at a cost of $8,000. The German Lutheran church is located in section 27, township 114, range 36. This church accommodates a large congregation. And the German Methodist Episcopal church, located in section 22, township 114, range 36. This church at one time accommodated a flourishing congregation, but at present it has a very small one and the church is not used to any extent. All three churches have well kept cemeteries in connection. There is also a Catholic cemetery situated in section 5, township 114, range 36, but there is no church in connection.

There are five large public schools. School district No. 8 is located in section 35; school district No. 18 is located in section 20; school district No. 22 is located in section 14; school district No. 80 is located in section 11; and school district No. 97 is located in section 8.

The first settler in Flora township was Charles Patterson, a trader from the north of Ireland, who about 1783 established a trading post at the rapids in section 29, at the bend of the river. On all the early maps this locality appears as Patterson's Rapids. It is now known as the Falls, and is a widely-favored picnic spot. It was from the hat worn by Patterson that Sacred Heart is believed to have received its name.

In 1859, a number of white people settled upon unsurveyed territory in this township. Their story is told elsewhere. These people experienced the terrible Indian massacre of August 18, 1862, and only a few survived. Among them may be mentioned Gottlieb Mannweiler, Louis Thiele, John Lettow, John and Michael Boelter, Gottlieb Buce, John Kochendorfer, John Schwandt, William Schmidt, — Rossler, — Lummis, and their families.

In 1865, Francis Shoemaker, in company with four or five others from LeSueur county, took claims in the town of Flora. Mr. Shoemaker being the only one of the company who settled on his claim in section 1, township 113, range 36, moving here with his family in January, 1866. John Schlueter and F. M. Shoemaker were members of this family and the only members now residing in Flora.

Late in November, 1865, James Gaffney, moving westward, settled for the winter in an old log house on the banks of the Sacred Heart creek. The next spring they located in section 3, township 113, range 36, this farm now being owned by Edmund F. Gaffney.

John Schlueter, F. M. Shoemaker and Edmund F. Gaffney are the three oldest settlers in the township, often being referred to as the three Patriarchs of Flora.

In April, 1866, Louis Thiele moved his family back to this township on section 12, township 113, range 36, he being the only one of the former settlers who returned to reside in his old home. In the spring of 1866 John Smith settled in section 2. Two years later he moved to section 12.

In October, 1866, Henry Dreyer and family moved into the town and settled on section 35-114-36.

In the summer of 1867 several other families moved in, among them being Henry Timms on section 33, Albert Nichols, section 34; Christian Sperber, section 34; John Schafer, section 1; James Stewart, section 19; R. W. Davis, section 19; Samuel Brown, section 18; Philip Williams, section 18; Conrad Becker, section 18.

The following year (1868), Ancen Bradburn on section 2, Bartlett Quigley on section 34, William Sperber on section 34, Christian Schafer on section 28, Joseph Fischer on section 28, Louis Schafer on section 28, Leopold Wohlman on section 28, John Miller on section 28, Peter Binger on section 20, Simon Burch on section 19, John Larkin, Sr., on section 18, Griffeth Williams on section 28, Harry Thompson on section 19, John and Charles Beckendorf on section 19, Carl Kordt on section 22, Charles Heinikie on section 22, Herman Hackman on section 22, Fred Steinkamp on section 22, Thaddeus Hathway on section 22, August Uhlig on section 22, Theo. Shoening on section 23, John Arndt on section 24, Joseph Arndt on section 24, James Christie on section 26, N. S. Satterlie on section 26, H. S. Braly on section 26, and Jacob Fitz on section 26.

The township was organized in 1867. The election being held in the house of James Gaffney, that venerable gentleman's cap serving as a ballot box. The judges of election were James Gaffney, James Graves and H. Ames. The first officers elected were Henry Dreyer (chairman), John Schafer and Henry Timms, supervisors; Francis Shoemaker, clerk and justice of the peace; Louis Thiele, constable. No other officers qualified. The town was named Flora, deriving its name from the first horse brought here after the massacre by Francis Shoemaker.

The present officers are: William Johnson (chairman), Herman Breitkreutz and F. M. Shoemaker, supervisors; Gust. A. Schafer, clerk; Bernhardt Binger, treasurer. For fifteen years there has been no constable or justice of the peace.

F. M. Shoemaker tells an interesting story of how he learned, as the slang phrase is, how "not to butt in." The first wheat crop raised in the town was scattered about on the different farms and the threshing proposition presented many difficulties. Finally Judge Henry Ahrens and Diedrich Wichmann consented to thresh the grain, providing it should be brought to one place. Francis Shoemaker's place was centrally located. To this place Henry Dreyer hauled his grain, and Louis Thiele was also to bring in his. F. M. Shoemaker was then about ten years old. He was sent to help Mr. Thiele. The snow being deep, they several times upset the load, and at each accident Mr. Thiele in disgust would exclaim: "If I had a match I would burn it." About the third time, young Shoemaker, innocently, after a diligent search in his clothes, found a match and offered it to the erratic Mr. Thiele, whereupon the youngster was seized by the nape of the neck and given a severe spanking with a fork handle wielded by the indignant man.

Mr. Shoemaker tells another story of early days. In 1867, still a young lad, he started out on the back of the horse, "Flora," from which the township received its name, with the purpose of going to New Ulm to get a plow-share sharpened. He stopped a while at Fort Ridgely, and there the kind-hearted military blacksmith offered to do the work for him, so the boy reached home the same day instead of having to make a two-day trip.

The first real estate assessment of Flora township (113-36 and 114-36) was made in 1868. Those assessed that year were: (113-36) John Blair, section 11; Catherine Folkel, 2; John A. Haack, 13; Charles Klemer, 2, 3; Bernhard Kenzel, 11, 12; Jacob Krell, 4; Robert Nicholson, 4; James O'Neil, 4; Adam Putter, 1, 12; Wenzel Swoboda, 4; John Swoboda, 4; Carl Simondet, 13; Henry Smith, 2; John Shafer, 1; Louis Thiele, 4; Ulrich Van Walt, 3; Conrad Becker, 18; Simon Burch, 19; Henry Dreyer, 35; Wm. H. Ingalls, 22; John Larkin, 7, 18; Christian Shafer and C. Detloff, 83; Fred Stoltz, 35; Norman Satterlee, 33; Abner Tibbets, 18.

First personal property assessment of Flora township (113-36 and 114-36) was made in 1869. Those assessed were; John Ahrens, Joachim Ahrens, John Beckendorf, Chas. Beckendorf, Peter Binger, S. Burch, David Brown, Henry Braley, Andrew Brandon, F. M. Crawford, R. W. Davis, M. Dunnigan, Henry Dreyer, Henry Engeman, Jacob Fritz, John H. Frieke, Henry Frieke, James Gaffney, Chas. Heineck, Christ Heineck, Herman Hackman, Henry Kuck, John Larkin, Bert Nichols, Jamea O'Brien, John O'Brien, Bartlett Quigley, James Stewart, John Smitz, John Shafer, Francis Shoemaker, N. S. Satterlee, Christian Sperber, Wm. Sperber, Fred Strukman, Henry Shafer, Frederick Schmidt, Louis Shafer, Christian Shafer, Henry Timms, E. T. Tillotson, G. S. Williams, Philip Williams, Hannah Williams.

On August 18, 1915, a monument was erected on section 33 in memory of the Schwandt family, who were killed by the Indians on August 18, 1862. This monument was erected by the state and is the only monument of the kind of Flora. Following is the inscription on the monument: "Erected by the State of Minnesota, 1915, In Memory of Martyrs for Civilization, Johan Schwandt, Christina Schwandt, and their children, Frederick and Christena; John Walz, Karolina Schwandt Walz; John Frass; Murdered by Sioux Indians, Aug. 18,1862."

Vicksburg village in section 19, was one of the earliest villages in the township, and for a time was quite important, William T. Baade located there in the fall of 1870, and much of the village lore is associated with his name. He was born in Brandburg, Germany, February 15, 1841, and after coming to this country lived for a while in Winona, this state, before locating at Vicksburg. He moved from Vicksburg to Renville after the railroad came through. Peter Pacquett, also called Peter Perqueth, but better known as Peter Peck, had a blacksmith shop at Vicksburg. He moved it nearer to Renville, about half way between the sites of the two villages. Muller Hummell kept a wagon shop at Vicksburg. He moved his shop to Beaver Falls. George A. Reed operated a sawmill. This he continued.

Robert W. Davis lived south of Vicksburg and operated the ferry where the bridge is now located. North of the village at the top of the hill was the Disciples of Christ church, the cemetery, and the public school.

The village of Vicksburg was first assessed in 1871. Those owning lots there at that time were: George A. Read, J. D. Levi, Peter Perqueth, Wm. T. Baade, Muller Hummel, John Tramm. In 1874, the following were added: Frank Bowman, Wm. C. Worden, — Earl. The village of Vicksburg disappeared from the assessment books after 1877.

At one time there was a store and creamery at Florita.