YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

Bought with the income
of the
ALFRED E. PERKINS FUND

'// '/ u//

FIFTY YEARS

IN THE

NORTHWEST.

WITH AN INTRODUCTION AND APPENDIX

CONTAINING

REMINISCENCES, INCIDENTS AND NOTES.

BY W. H. C. FOLSOM.

EDITED BY E. E. EDWARDS.

PIONEER PRESS COMPANY. I °3°t • Yon. -t- .7)°! wv'i '- .
1888. L

TO THE OLD SETTLERS
OF
"WISCONSIN AND MINNESOTA,
WHO, AS PIONEERS, AMIDST PRIVATIONS AND TOIL NOT KNOWN TO THOSE OF
A LATER GENERATION, LAID HERE THE FOUNDATIONS OF TWO GREAT
STATES, AND HAVE LIVED TO SEE THE RESULT OF THEIR AR
DUOUS LABORS IN THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE WIL
DERNESS — DURING FIFTY YEARS — INTO A FRUIT
FUL COUNTRY, IN THE BUILDING OF GREAT
CITIES, IN THE ESTABLISHING OF ARTS
AND MANUFACTURES, IN THE
CREATION OF COMMERCE
AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
THIS WORK IS RESPECTFULLY
DEDICATED
BY THE AUTHOR, "W. H. C. FOLSOM.

PKEFACE,

At the age of nineteen years, I landed on the banks of the
Upper Mississippi, pitching my tent at Prairie du Ohien, then
(1836) a military post known as Fort Crawford. I kept memo
randa of my various changes, and of many of the events
transpiring. Subsequently, not, however, with any intention
of publishing them in book form until 1876, when, reflecting
that fifty years spent amidst the early and first white settlements,
and continuing till the period of civilization and prosperity,
itemized by an observer and . participant in the stirring scenes
and incidents depicted, might furnish material for an interest
ing volume, valuable to those who should come after me, I con
cluded to gather up the items and compile them in a convenient
form. As a*matter of interest to personal friends, and as also tending
to throw additional light upon my relation to the events here
narrated, I have prefixed an account of my own early life for
the nineteen years preceding my removal to the "West, thus
giving to the work a somewhat autobiographical form. It may
be claimed that a work thus written in the form of a life history
of a single individual, with observations from his own personal
standpoint, will be more connected, clear and systematic in its
narration of events than if it were written impersonally.
The period included in these sketches is one of remarkable
transitions, and, reaching backward, in the liberty accorded to
the historian, to the time of the first explorations by the Jesuits,
the first English, French and American traders, is a period of
transformation and progress that has been paralleled only on the
shores of the New World. We have the transition from barba
rism to civilization; we have the subjugation of the wilderness
by the first settlers; the organization of territorial and state

governments; an era of progress from the rude habits of the
pioneer and trapper, to the culture and refinement of civilized
states; from the wilderness, yet unmapped, and traversed only by
the hardy pioneer in birch barks or dog sledges, to the cultivated
fields, cobwebbed by railways and streams furrowed by steamers.
It is something to have witnessed a part, even, of this wonderful
transformation, and it is a privilege and a pleasure to record,
even in part, its history.
I have quoted from the most correct histories within my reach,
but the greater part of my work, or of that pertaining to the fifty
years just passed, has been written from personal observation
and from information obtained directly by interview with, or
by written communications from, persons identified in some way
with the history of the country. To those persons who have
so freely and generously assisted me in the collection of ma
terial for this work, I hereby express my thanks. I have relied
sparingly on traditions, and, where I have used them, have
referred to them as such.

LNTKQDUCTIOSr.

While genealogical tables are of interest chiefly to the families
and individuals whose names are therein preserved, I still deem
it not amiss to insert here a brief account of my ancestry. Among
the emigrants from England to the New World in 1638, came John
Foulsham, then twenty-three or twenty-four years of age, and
his wife, to whom he had been married about a year and a half.
They came from Hingham, England, to Hingham, Mass., with
a colony that probably named the settlement in loving remem
brance of the town they had left. They came on account of cer
tain ecclesiastical troubles; their rector, with whom they sympa
thized, having torn down the altar rails and leveled the altar, an
act of irreverence that called down upon them the wrath of their
superior, Bishop Wren, and resulted in rector and people sell
ing out their real estate at half its value and emigrating to
America. John received a grant of land consisting of four acres
and built himself a house, the frame being constructed of sawed
oak timber. This house, built in 1640, stood until 1875, two hun
dred and thirty-five years, when it was taken down and manufac
tured into canes and chairs; which were distributed as relics to
the American descendants of the family. The family, however,
had increased so greatly that the supply was not equal to the
demand. The wife of John Foulsham was Mary Gilman. From this
couple the American Folsoms and their allies from marriages
with the female descendants of the family have sprung. The
ancestors of John Foulsham may be traced backward a period
of near six hundred years, and many of the family have honor
able mention in English history. The earliest mention is con
cerning John Foulsham of Foulsham, prior of a Carmelite
monastery in Norwich, and "prseses provincialis" of all Eng-

viii INTRODUCTION.
land This Foulsham is spoken of in Bayle's catalogue of emi
nent worthies as "no mean proficient in controversial theology,
knowing how, by means of syllogystic tricks, to turn white into
black and men into donkeys. He died in the great plague at
Norwich in 1348.
A certain John de Foulsham is spoken of m Blomeheld's His
tory of Norfolk as an "eloquent, unflinching opponent of the
corruptions of the times." It is possible that this may be the
Carmelite prior above mentioned, though the prefix de leaves
the matter somewhat in doubt.
As to the original derivation of the family name, Hon.
George Folsom, of Philadelphia, in one of the manuscripts left
by him, says: "It arose upon the adoption of surnames in
England, from the town of Foulsham, a village in the county of
Norfolk, six or eight miles north of Hingham, in which county
the family was seated for many centuries, possessing estates in
fifteen different places. Thus John de, or John of Foulsham, be
came John Foulsham.
The orthography and pronunciation of the name have varied
in the family itself, as well as among those writing and pronounc
ing it. The first Anglo-American bearing the name spelled it
"Foulsham." His son, Deacon John, spelled it "Fullsam" in
1709, and it is signed "Foullsam" in his last will — 1715. In
one instance, in the Hingham town records, it is spelled "Ful-
sham," but always afterward, "Foulsham." In the Exeter
records it is written uniformly ' ' Folsom ' ' with but one exception,
when it is written by the town clerk "Foulshame." In the rec
ords of the first parish, Haverhill, Massachusetts, it is written
"Foulsham," "Foulsam," "Folsham" and "Fulsom." Origi
nally it was doubtless spelled "Foulshame," its etymological sig
nificance being the fowls' home, a breeding place or mart. It
was probably at first written with a hyphen, as Fouls-hame, but
the final syllable was eventually shortened. Everywhere it is
now written Folsom by those having the name, and is pronounced
like wholesome.
The characteristics of the family have been quite uniform.
Far as known they were a religious family, and prominent
as such in both Catholic and Protestant circles, with a strong
disposition toward dissent from the established order of things.
Thus John de Foulsham wrote a treatise quite at variance with

INTRODUCTION. ix
the doctrines of the church, advocating the marriage of priests.
John Foulsham, the Anglo-American, left England on account
of his dissent, preferring a home in the wilderness with freedom
to worship God, to dwelling under the rule of a haughty and
tyrannical bishop. Many of the family espoused the doctrines of
Whitfield. Many of them became Baptists, becoming such at a
time when the Baptists were most unpopular, and afterward
becoming Free Will Baptists, in which communion more of the
family may to-day be found than in any other.
The occupations of the family were mostly, in the early days,
mechanical. Many were joiners and millwrights. The children
and grandchildren were farmers, landholders and lumbermen.
Of the many who removed to Maine, after the Eevolution, most
engaged in lumbering, but turned their attention, also to milling
and storekfieping.
The family have also shown a military tendency, and during
the various wars visited upon the country since the early colo
nial times, this family has borne its full share of the dangers, toils
and expense.
My father, Jeremiah Folsom, was born in Tarn worth, New
Hampshire, Sept. 16, 1780, and was married to Octavia Howe,
April 5, 1805. My mother was born in Machias, Maine, Oct. 12,
1786. My father was a prominent business man, and was en
gaged in shipping and mercantile pursuits, he owning vessels
that plied from St. Johns to Machias and other American ports.
To facilitate his business, St. Johns was his home four years, dur
ing which time he was associated with William Henry Carman.
This temporary residence and business association account for
my being born on British soil, and for the names by which I was
christened. According to the record in the old family Bible, I
was born at St. Johns, New Brunswick, June 22, 1817. When I
was six months old my parents moved to Bangor, Maine, thence
to Foxcroft, Maine, thence to Ascot, Lower Canada.
When I was five years old my parents moved to Tamworth,
New Hampshire. Young as I was, I am still able to recall events
that occurred while I lived in Canada. I remember falling into a
well and being badly bruised. I remember also an adventure
with a bear. My parents had gone to church, leaving me at
home, greatly against my will. I attempted to follow, but missed
the road and wandered off into a wood, perhaps three miles

x INTRODUCTION.
away. \Vh3r1 my parents returned they were much alarmed,
and parties immediately went in pursuit. When I knew I was
lost I set up a vigorous screaming, which had the effect of at
tracting attention from two very different parties. The first was
a huge bear in quest of food, and doubtless delighted at the pros
pect before him. The second was one of the rescuing parties
in quest of the lost boy. Both simultaneously approached the
screaming youngster and Bruin fought stubbornly for his prey,
but was vanquished by the clubs of my rescuers, and I was car
ried home in triumph. I do not clearly recall all the incidents
of this scene, and, strangely enough, do not remember seeing ~
the bear. Perhaps the terror of being lost drove out every
other impression. An excuse for the narration of this appar
ently trifling ^incident may be found in the fact that but for the
prompt arrival of the rescuing party, this history would never
have been written.
When I was ten years of age my parents removed to Bloom-
field, Maine. While in Tamworth I had excellent opportunities
of attending school, which I improved to the utmost. After
leaving Tamworth my school privileges were well nigh ended,
as I never received from that time more than six months'.
schooling. My father followed lumbering on the Kennebec
river. During the first winter in Maine, he took me to the
logging camp as camp boy. During the second winter he hired
me to Matthew and Lewis Dunbar as a cook for their wood
camp. I cooked for six men and received five dollars a month.
I was used very kindly by the Dunbars, but that winter in the
woods seemed a long, long winter. The only book in camp was ,
the Bible. There were, however, newspapers and playing cards.
In the spring my father used the fifteen dollars received for my
three months' work to purchase a cow. I served the Dunbars
the third winter, as cook, for six dollars a month, and worked
the ensuing summer on farms at about" twenty-five cents per
day. During the fourth winter I worked for the Dunbars and
Timothy Snow at seven dollars per month, and the summer
following worked on a farm for Benjamin Cayfbrd at seven dol
lars. Cayford was a merciless tyrant, and sometimes compelled
his men to work in the field till nine o' clock at night. These details
of wages paid and work done, uninteresting in themselves, serve
to show the value of a boy's work (I was not yet fifteen) and

INTRODUCTION. XI
wha\ was expected of the average boy, for mine was no excepr
tional case nor was my father more exacting than others in his
station in life. He was in poor health, and had a large family of
boys. We were eight in number, and of these I was one of the
most robust and able to assist in the support of the family.
This year I persuaded my father to sell me my time, which
amounted to five years, which he reluctantly did, accepting two
hundred and fifty dollars as an equivalent. It was my ambition
to go West. Horace Greeley had not uttered the talismanic
words* "Go West, young man," but I believed that by going
West I would be better able to advance my own interests
and assist my parents. My father signed the necessary pa
per relinquishing my time, which was printed in the Skow-
hegan, Clarion. From this time until I was nineteen years
old I worked on the river and on farms, worked continu
ously and beyond my strength. I worked another summer
for Cayford, but have no pleasant recollections of him, for
on his farm I was sadly overworked, being often called to work
before sunrise and kept at work after sunset. I worked two
"winters cooking in the woods for Capt. Asa Steward, of Bloom-
field, one of the best men I ever served, a kind hearted, honest
Christian. He gave me good counsel and good wages besides.
In the fall of 1835 I went into the woods to work for Capt. Eb.
Snow, of Madison. Like Cayford, he was a merciless tyrant and
abusive to his men. I left his camp before my engagement
closed, not being able to endure his abuse longer. This is the
only time in which I failed to keep a labor engagement. I fin
ished the winter with Capt. Asa Steward, but my eyes became
so inflamed from the smoke of the camp that I was obliged to
abandon cooking.
During this winter occurred an incident that came near hav-
. ing a serious and even fatal termination. There were three of
us, Simeon Goodrich, Jimmie Able and myself, who went down
the Kennebec to the Forks, a distance of twelve miles from camp.
A deep, damp snow had fallen the night previous, and through
this snow, reaching above our knees, we trudged wearily till
Able gave out. We carried him a short distance, but becoming
exhausted ourselves, laid him down in the snow. To remain
with him would be to imperil the lives of all; by 'hurrying on
we might be able to send a party to bring him in. We carefully

xji INTRODUCTION.
made for him a bed of fir boughs and placed loose garments over
him and under him, and as he was sick, weak and faint, gave
him a draught of liquid opodeldoc, and leaving the bottle with
him, hurried on. We traveled the last mile through an open
ing. Snow drifted deeply. We dragged our bodies through the
drifts in the direction of a glimmering light, which proved to be
Sturgis' hotel, which we reached at 11 o' clock p. m. A team
was sent back immediately for the lost Able by a road of which
we knew nothing. The rescuing party met him trudging along
with all his baggage. The opodeldoc had revived him, and he
had traveled a full mile when he met the rescuing party. At
two o'clock the team returned bringing the lost wayfarer.
Another adventure terminated more disastrously than this.
In the spring of 1835 I was employed in taking logs across '
Moosehead lake. The logs were in booms, and were moved by
a capstan and rope. This was before the days of steamboats,
and the moving of the booms was no light task. On this occasion
a gale of wind struck us and drifted us across the lake. We
threw out an anchor, hoping to check the course of the boom
and swing it into Cowan's bay. In one of our throws the anchor
tripped, or caught fast, and suddenly tightened the line. Oar
whole crew were in an instant hurled headlong. Some were
thrown into the water. One man (Butler) had his ribs broken.
All were more or less injured. The capstan went overboard.
The old boom swung on and on, and, passing Spencer's bay,
broke and went to pieces on the shore. The logs were with
great difficulty regathered, but were finally brought to the out
let of the lake July 4th, the last raft of the season.
After river driving in the spring of 1835, I went to the Pe
nobscot river and found employment at twenty dollars a month at
East Great Works, building a dam. John Mills, our superin
tendent, was a good man. There was a lyceum here, the first I
ever attended. In December I returned to the Kennebec, and
in the spring of 1836 went to Dead river to drive, but an attack
of the measles and general ill health, with symptoms of pulmon
ary derangement, compelled me to abandon the work. I had
lived nine years on the Kennebec, years of hard labor and
exertion beyond my strength, and in that time had earned
enough to pay my father two hundred and fifty dollars. I had
been able to purchase a small library, and had two hundred dol
lars in cash to defray my expenses to the West.

INTRODUCTION.

Xlll

Reminiscences. — He that leaves the home of his youth for
a strange land carries with him memories, pleasant to recall, of
scenes and incidents, the influence of wihich he feels to the latest
hour of life. There are some things he can not forget. They
may not be an essential part of his o\?n life history, but still
they have found a place in his mind and, seem a part of himself,
and he recurs to them^tgain^and ag^in witfh eve,r increasing
delight. There are (4^gr tihings, may be, not so pleasant to
dwell upon, which^sfill ha^e a place in hisNmemory and may be
profitably reca^ied^^-Noone who has ever lived in Maine can
forget its da^-pine forests, its ruggpd hills, its rtfshing streams,
cold and clear as crystal, its broadylakes, the abundant game of
its forests and the fish in its waters. The Minnesota and Wis
consin pioneers, who with the^uthor of this book claim Maine
as an early home, will not^Eyect to the insertion in this chapter
of a few of these reminiscences. \
Moosehead Lake*'— My first visit to Moosehead lake was inx
the early winter of lp34. At that time it was still in the wilder
ness, only two settlers having found their way to its shores.
We were going with k six bx team to a camp on the Brasua and
our road led us across che frozen lake. Emerging from a beech
and maple grove on the Margin near Haskell's, our sled plunged
downward, and in a momen\we found ourselves on the gray ice
of the lake, with a wonderfuP^norama spread out before us.
The distant islands and the shore^hilly and mountainous, stood
out plainly between the winter sky^nd the ice covered lake.
The mirage added its finishing touches ^the picture, increasing
the brightness and apparent size of distih»t objects, or lending
them brilliant hues, the whole scene sparklink in the frosty sun
lit air, making a vision of beauty that could not fade. On we
trudged over the ice, the sled creaking, the ice emitting a roar
ing sound, not unlike the discharge of a park of artillery, sounds
produced by the expansion of the ice. We trudged on past/
islands and craggy, rock-bound shores, passed Bi rnt Jacket
Squaw and Moxey mountains in the east,' Lily and Spencer bays
at the southeast, Misery and other mountains in the west/while
far away to the north of east towered white old KAtahimi. Be
fore us loomed up the flint rock Kinneo, its perpfeijmcular face
fronting west, on the lake; at the base a beautifiM maple inter
val extending toward Spencer bay.

xjv • INTRODUCTION.
The following spring our boom lay wind-bound at the base of
Kinneo, and we seized the opportunity of climbing the vast pile
of flinty rocks composing it, and obtained thence a view of un
paralleled beauty, including the broad, bright lake, fairy islands,
mountains and hills and vast stretches of pine forests. The tour
ist might seek far and wide, vainly, for a landscape rivaling this.
Moose Huntin&. — The lake and surrounding country offer
unrivaled attractions to the sportsman. The lake abounds in fish, ,
of which the lake trout is the most abundant in number and
delicious in flavor. Specimens are frequently taken weighing
from ten to fifteen pounds. The forests at that time abounded
in wild animals, chief of which was the moose, the largest and
the homeliest of the deer family. With his long, narrow head,
small eyes, donkey -like ears, pendant lips, the upper one curling
like a small proboscis, with his high shoulders and giraffe-like
hips, with his short, round body, long and clumsy legs, he is as
distinguished for his want of grace and comeliness as the red
deer is for its presence. No animal is better adapted for its
own home and mode of life. Their "heavy coat of hair adapts
them to high latitudes. With their curved upper lip they take
hold of the branches of the trees, and with their strong teeth and
paws they are able to peel off the tender bark of saplings and
small trees. The moose, when attacked, is fierce, resolute, defi
ant, and defends himself in a masterly manner, striking with his
fore legs with such precision that the hunter is obliged to keep
at a respectful distance. The male moose wears a remarkable
pair of horns of annual growth, to which each year a prong is
added. The home of the moose is the northern part of the North
Temperate Zone.
Moose hunting is a healthy though laborious pastime. The
hunter must be an expert, and it requires years of practice to
become skillful. He must build his camp in the wilderness,
packing thither his food, blankets, camp utensils and gun.
With his pack of dogs he starts out in search of a moose yard.
This is generally in some well timbered district. The snow in
winter is generally from three to six feet deep, but the moose has
broken paths through this to facilitate his movements through
the forest, and here he roams about in fancied security, browsing
on the young shrubs, but the hunter find§ his hiding place. In
such case he conceals himself in the snow near one of these

INTRODUCTION. XV
paths and waits patiently till the moose passes, when he fires
upon him. If the moose is killed at once the hunter waits
patiently in his hiding place till another and another comes up
to share a like fate. If the moose is only wounded he starts off
as rapidly through the snow as his long legs will carry him,
pursued by the hunter and his dogs. The hunter has all the
advantages of the position, being mounted on snowshoes, thus
being able to move with comparative swiftness, while the moose
plunges heavily through the snow, and at last, weakened by loss
of blood, he is overtaken and easily killed.
Mount Bigelow. — This is a noble, grand, historical moun
tain, situated on the south side of Dead river, in Franklin county.
For years it had been my strong desire to make the ascent, and
in May, 1833, the desire was gratified. With six others, I left
camp, and by evening reached Green's hotel, where we obtained
lodgings for the evening. At early dawn, having supplied our
selves with lunch, tin cup and hatchet, we began the ascent on
the northeast side. We soon passed the thrifty timber and
aided our ascent of the craggy sides of the mountain by clinging
to the shrubs that found roothold in the crevices of the rocks.
It may not be amiss to say that we rested, that we rested fre
quently, for mountain climbing is no light work for those un
accustomed to it. While toiling wearily upward we found
ourselves enveloped in mist, or a cloud, from which we soon
emerged to find the heavens above us clear and bright, while
leaden clouds shut out the landscape below. At twelve o'clock,
noon, we were on the summit. By this time the clouds had been
dispersed. The air was clear and cold and beneath us lay, as in
a beautiful panorama, the lands and lakes of Maine. There are
two peaks about half a mile apart, between which is a valley
and a small lake. From the highest of these peaks the view
was magnificent. In the far north we imagined we saw Canada.
The vast, northern expanse was all unoccupied save by a few
farms at the foot of the mountain, and by a few camps of lumber
men, hunters and trappers. Looking to the, northeast, we saw
in the blue distance, glittering with snow drifts, Mount Katah-
din. A little north of the divide line to Katahdin lay Moose
head lake, the largest, most beautiful lake in Maine.
At this season of the year the snow had disappeared from the
valleys and hills, but the summits of the mountains were still

xvi INTRODUCTION.
white. In all directions the scene was grand and inspiring. We
could trace the Kennebec river in its windings to the sea and fan
cied we could see in the dim distance the blue Atlantic. To the
southwest mountains seemed piled on mountains, while here and
there in intermediate vales bright lakes reflected the blue of the
upper deep. In this direction there were farms, but they looked
like mere dots on the face of the earth. Lake Umbagog lay
coiled in the shade of distant mountains in the southwest. We
fancied that we could see the rugged crest of the white moun
tain still further beyond. The scene had also its historical asso
ciations. Along the base of this mountain, on the northwestern
side, ere his name had been sullied by the foulest treason in our
country's history, Benedict Arnold bravely led the Colonial
troops in the campaign against Canada. With him, as an aid,
was Col. Bigelow, whose name is given to the mountain. The
gallant little army halted on the banks of Dead river at the base
of the mountain, and made their camp. While the army was
resting at this camp Lieut. Col. Bigelow ascended the mountain
and planted his country's flag upon the highest peak, doubtless
the first white man who made the ascent, and the mountain is
his monument to-day. Around the site of the camp was planted
the colony of Flagstaff.
While we were gazing on the magnificent scene, musing upon
its varied beauties and recalling its historical associations, the
sun set, and reluctantly we set out on our return, a descent the
more perilous because it was growing dark. Extreme caution
was necessary; nevertheless we made good headway, as we found
ourselves sometimes sliding and even rolling down the path that
we had ascended with so 'much difficulty in the forenoon. It
was long after nightfall that, tired and hungry, we reached Wy-
man's hotel on the banks of Dead river.
Lumbering in Maine. — The practical lumberman did not
usually start his teams for the pineries until snowfall and the
freezing of the lakes and rivers. The first thing was to select a
place for operations. This was done in the open season. When
the winter had fairly set in the lumberman, with his ox teams,
generally six oxen to a sled, the sleds laden with camp plunder,
would start for the pineries. The slow ox teams would consume
many days making the journey. The crew of men employed for
the winter generally met the teams in camp. The snow would

INTRODUCTION. xvii
be cleared away for the camp, and a fire built. The cook would
prepare a supper of fried pork, fritters or pancakes, tea, syrup
and New England apple sauce, the crew meanwhile cutting
boughs, wood, etc., and preparing for permanent camp. Supper
over, the cattle were tied to trees and fed. Water was secured
for evening use only. A glowing fire would be kept up, around
which the crew would gather to spend the evening in talking
over the adventures of the day, discussing plans for the mpj?yow
or singing camp songs. Thus the evening wouldirpa°ssmer'rily
and swiftly. At the hour for retiring parties of two would spread
their blankets on a couch of fir or cedar boughs, and lie down to
rest. Next morning the cook would rise at four o'clock to
prepare breakfast, which over, as soon as it was light enough
the crew would commence the work of the day. Every man
goes to his assigned duties, the boss in charge having the gen
eral oversight.
The life of a lumberman is. one of exposure to the elements,
yet it is not necessarily unfriendly to the development of char
acter. With a well ordered camp and gentlemanly crew the
winter may pass away pleasantly, and the young man engaged
in the comparatively hard toil of the camp, may, with books
and papers and cheerful converse with the more thoughtful of
his elders, improve the long evenings spent around the camp fire.
Many a Maine boy has received here the greater part of his
training for the duties of after life.
Sunday was usually occupied in reading, singing, and doing
some of the lighter work of camp, such as repairing sleds, shoe
ing oxen and making axe helves or visiting neighboring camps.
It was a day of rest only so far as the heavier work of the camp
was suspended. Sanctuary privileges there were none. The
work would often close in the sunny days of March. The men
would mostly depart for home. A few would remain to drive
the logs with the first water from the melting of the snows late
in April.
Driving logs in the rapid waters of Maine is hazardous work.
Scarcely a day passes without imminent risk to life and limb of
the hardy and venturesome men engaged in the work of break
ing log landings and jams, and running boats. Men are exposed
to wet and cold from dawn till dark. This work requires active
and vigorous men, constitutionally fitted and carefully trained
(b)

XV111 INTRODUCTION.
to the work. They are usually sociable, lively and wide awake,
these qualities enabling them to endure, and e^ten to enjoy, the
life of hardship which they lead, and to which they become so
accustomed that they are unwilling to leave it until worn out by
its inevitable hardship.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

"W. H. C. Folsom  Frontispiece
James S. Anderson  opp 55
Martin Mower  60
John McKusick  opp 68
Edward White Dnrant  74
William M. Blanding  114
Reuben F. Little  °.  121
Oliver Wendell Holmes Hospital  157
John Comstock  opp 170
Hans B. Warner  opp 207
Rev. Wm. T. Boutwell  273
Devil's Chair  301
Frank N. Peterson  _  320
Rev. E. E. Edwards  348
Smith Ellison  351
Isaac Staples  opp 413
Jacob Bean  416
Louis Hospes  418
Fort Snelling  498
William D. Washburn  opp 517
John S. Pillsbury  opp 528
St. Anthony Falls  531
Birdseye View of St. Paul  opp 536
Henry H. Sibley  opp 553
Alex. Ramsey  opp 555
Henry M. Rice  opp 558
Edmund Rice  opp 560
Wm. Rainey Marshall  opp 568
Wm. H. Fisher  :  571
JohnB. Sanborn  opp 577
H. P. Hall  589
Hon. G. W. Le Due  594
Lucius F. Hubbard  -opp 597
Home of the Author  614
State Seal  658
Seal of Old Settlers Association  732

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.

Biographical. Genealogy of the American
Folsoms  VII
Autobiographical. Parentage  IX
Time and Place of Birth  IX
Earliest Recollections.  IX
Removal to Bloomfield, Maine X
First Essay at Logging  X
Commencing Life  XI

Lost in the Snow  XI
Adventure on Moosehead Lake XII
On the Penobscot  XII
Reminiscences of Maine  XIII
Moosehead Lake  XIII
Ascent of Kinneo Mountain. . .XIV
Moose Hunting  XIV
Mount Bigelow  XV-
Lumbering in Maine  XVI

CHAPTER I.

Going West  1
Lakes Huron and Michigan... 3
Chicago and Milwaukee  5
On Foot to Galena  6
The Northwestern Territory... 7
Arrival at Dubuque  7
Reminiscences of Dubuque  8
Arrival at Prairie du Chien... 9
Early History of Prairie du
Chien  9
Ancient Document  10
Forts Shelby — McKay — Craw
ford  11
First Commissioners at Prai
rie du Chien  11
Organization of Crawford
County  12
Indian Troubles  12
Running the Gauntlet  13
Fort Crawford Robbed  13
Early Justice  14
A Southward Journey  15

New Orleans, Vicksburg  15
Return to Prairie du Chien.... 16'
Privations  16
A Perilous Journey  17
Return to Maine — Mountains
of New1 Hampshire  17
Marriage  18
Prairie du Chien in 1837  18
American Residents  19
Biographies. James Duane Doty  19
James H. Lockwood  20
Indian Troubles  21
John S.Lockwood  22
Samuel Gilbert  23
Michael Brisbois  23
Pierre La Point  24
Joseph Rolette  24
Hercules Dousman  24
Rev. David Lowry  25
Chief Justice Charles Dunn... 25
Rev. Alfred Brunson  26

XX11

CONTENTS.

Ira Brunson  27
John H. Folsom  28
Ezekiel Tainter  28
Judge Wyram Kno wlton  29
Robert Lester  29

Thomas Pendleton Burnett. ... 30
General Henry Dodge  30
General George W. Jones  31
S. G. and S. L. Tainter, John
Thomas  31

CHAPTER II.

STILLWATER AND ST. CROIX COUNTY.

From Prairie du Chien to Still
water  32
Stillwater in 1845  33
St. Croix County  33
First Settlement in 1838  34
Dismemberment of St. Croix
Valley from CrawfordCounty 34
Judge Irwin's Court in 1840 .. 35
Events in 1840, First Commis
sioners' Meeting  35
Election Precincts inl841  36
Early History of Stillwater  37
The First Saw Mill  37
Copy of Agreement of Mill
Company  38
Agreement of Land Claims... 40
Bateau Voyage up the St.
Croix  41
Indian Drunks  42
Skiff Voyage to Prairie du
Chien  42
Mail Carrying  43

Claim and Mill at Areola  43
Stillwater in 1846, Events  44
Overland Trip to Prairie du
Chien  44
Return, Adventure  45
A Pioneer Cat  45
Stillwater in 1847  46
Territorial Election  46
Arrest of Nodin and Ne-she-
ke-o-ge-ma  46
Visit to Sunrise, Connor's
Camp  47
Murder of Henry Rust  47
Funeral, Indignation Meeting 48
First District Court in Still
water  48
Nodin and Ne-she-ke-o-ge-ma
Acquitted  49
Steamer War Eagle and Raft.. 49
Society Ball in Stillwater  49
Stillwater in 1848  50

CHAPTER III.

BIOGRAPHIES.

Joseph Renshaw Brown  52
Paul Carli  53
Dr. Christopher Carli  53
Lydia Ann Carli  54
Phineas Lawrence  54
Jacob Fisher  55
James S. Anderson  55
Emanuel D. Farmer  56
Col. John Greely  56

Mrs. Hannah Greely  57
Elam Greely  57
Himan Greely  57
Aquilla Greely  58
EliasMcKean  58
Calvin F. Leach  58
Socrates Nelson  58
Mrs. Socrates Nelson  59
Edward Blake  59

CONTENTS.

XX111

Walter R. Vail  59
John E. Mower  60
Martin Mower  61
William Willim  61
• Albert Harris  61
Cornelius Lyman  62
David B. Loomis  62
William E. Cove  63
John Smith  63
John Morgan  63
Anson Northrup  63
Robert Kennedy  64
Harvey Wilson  65
Andrew Jackson Short  65
James D. McComb  65
William Rutherford  66
Albion Masterman  66
Joseph N. Masterman  66
Mahlon Black  66
Morton S. Wilkinson  67
William Stanchfield  67
Thomas Ramsdell  68
Charles Macey  68
Jonathan E. McKusick  68
John McKusick  68
William McKusick  69
Noah McKusick  69
Royal McKusick  69
Ivory E. McKusick  69
Charles E. Leonard  69
Daniel McLean  70
Robert Simpson  70
William H. Hooper  70
James H. Spencer  71
John T. Blackburn  71
Joseph T. Blackburn  71
Horace McKinstry  71
SethM. Sawyer  71
Henry Sawyer  72
AlvahD. Heaton  72

John McKenzie  72
George McKenzie  72
Henry Kattenberg  72
Julius F. Brunswick  73
Henry McLean  73
Hugh Burns  73
Sylvanus Trask  73
Ariel Eldridge  73
Edward White Durant  74
Oliver Parsons  75
Albert Stimson  75
Abraham Van Voorhees  75
Michael E. Owens  76
Joseph Bonin  77
Marcel Gagnon  77
Sebastian Marty  77
John Marty  77
Adam Marty  77
Michael McHale  77
George Watson  78,
Rev. Eleazer A. Greenleaf..... 78
J. B. Covey  78
JohnShaesby  78
John S. Proctor  78
Barron Proctor  79
Henry Westing  79
Thomas Dunn  79
Charles J. Gardiner  79
Samuel Staples  79
Josiah Staples  80
Joel M. Darling  80
Early River Pilots  80
JoePerro  80
James McPhail  80
John Connack  81
John Hanford  81
John Leach  81
Stephen B. Hanks  81
SamuelS. Hanks  -81

CHAPTER IV.
POLK COUNTY.

Description and History  82
Franklin Steele, the First Pio
neer  82
His Account of the Settlement. 83

The St. Croix Falls Lumber
ing Company  83
Organization and History  83
St. Croix River, Origin of Name 84

XXIV

CONTENTS.

Treaty and Purchase of 1838.. 85
History of Polk County  .85
County Seat located at St.
Croix Falls  86
First Election County Officers.. 86
First Happenings  87
The Liquor Traffic  87
Melancholy Results  88
Death of Hall and Livingston 88
Indian "Jamboree."  88
Frontier Justice  89
Balsam Lake Murders  89
Execution of an Indian  89
Population of St. Croix Falls
in 1848  90
Natural Language  90
Drowning of H. H. Perkins.... 90

A Quailtown Murder  90
Mineral Permits  91
Marriage under Difficulties ... 91
An Indian Scare  92
The First Fire Canoe  92
Mill Building  92
More Indian Murders  93
Indian Battle of Stillwater. ... 96
The First Loggers  96
The First Rafting  97
An Indian Payment  98
Indian Dancing and Theft  99
Other Thefts  99
Hard Times  100
Puzzled Indians, "Ugh! Ugh!" 101
Mrs. Worth and Muckatice.... 101

CHAPTER V.
POLK COUNTY — CONTINUED.

Biographies.
Gov. William Holcombe  103
William S. Hungerford  104
Caleb Cushing  104
Judge Henry D. Barron  105
George W. Brownell  107
Col. Robert C. Murphy  108
Edward Worth  109
Mrs. MaryC. Worth  109
Maurice M. Samuels  109
Joseph B. Churchill  110
John McLean  110
Gilman Jewell  110
Elisha Creech  110
James W. McGlothlin  110
Andrew L. Tuttle  110
John Weymouth  Ill
B. W. Reynolds  Ill
Augustus Gaylord  Ill
James D. Reymert  Ill
William J. Vincent  112
Thompson Brothers  112
William Amery  112
Lewis Barlow  113
LeviW. Stratton  113

Elma M. Blanding  113
Blanding Family  113
Frederick K. Bartlett  114
Michael Field  115
Alden  115
Rev. A. B. Peabody  115
V. M. Babcock  117
Apple River  117
Balsam Lake  117
Beaver  118
Black Brook  118
Clam Falls  ].. 119
Daniel F. Smith  119
Clayton  120
Reuben F. Little  120
Clear Lake  122
Pineville  123
Frank M.Nye  123
Eureka  123
Charles Nevers  123
Farmington  124
Harmon Crandall  125
Samuel Wall  125
William Ramsey  125
Hiram R. Nason  126

CONTENTS.

JoelF. Nason  126
John McAdams  126
Charles Tea  126
Garfield  126
Georgetown  127
A Double Murder  127
George P. Anderson  128
Laketown  128
Lincoln  128
William Wilson  129
Loraine  129
William W. Gallespie  130
Luck  130
William H. Foster  130
Milltown  130
Patrick Lillis  131
Osceola  131
Scenery  <  132
First Happenings  132
Change of Name  133
Osceola Village  134
Daniel Mears  134
Nelson McCarty  134
William O. Mahony  135
Richard Arnold  135
William Kent, Sr  135
Robert Kent  135

Andrew Kent  135
William, James, Thomas, and
John Kent  136
Samuel Close  136
Ebenezer Ayres  136
Dr. CarmiP. Garlick  137
JohnS. Godfrey  137
William A. Talboys  137
Charles H. Staples  138
J. W. Peake  138
George Wilson  138
Samuel B. Dresser  138
Frederic A. Dresser  139
Oscar A. Clark  139
Oscar F. Knapp  139
Mrs. Elisabeth B. Hayes  140
Cyrus G. Bradley  140
W. Hale  141
Edgar C. Treadwell  141
St. Croix Falls  .'  141
St. Croix Falls Village  141
West Sweden  142
Sterling  142
Dr. Samuel Deneen  143
William W. Trimmer  143
Arnold Densmore  143

CHAPTER VI.

ST. CROIX COUNTY.

Organization, 1840  144
Division, 1848  144
County Seat Located at Buena
Vista  145
First Election  145
Division of the County, 1853.. 146
Present Limits  146
General Description  146
Monument Rock  147
Towns and Date of Organiza
tion  148
St. Croix County Agricultural
Society  148

Pomona Grange  148
Agricultural Statistics  148
Manufactures  149
St. Croix Poor Farm  149
First Tax Roll' of County,
1848  149
Hudson City  152
Original Claimants  153
First Survey, etc  153
First Deed Recorded  154
City Government  155
Mayors of the City  155
City Schools  155

XXVI

CONTENTS.

Military Institute  156
Mills and Manufactories  156
Banks  156
Oliver Wendell Holmes Hos
pital  157
Water Works  158
Hotels, the Great Fire, 1866... 158
Social and Benevolent Organi
zations  159
Biographies. Louis Massey  159
Peter Bouchea  160
William Steets  160
Capt. JohnB. Page  160
Dr. Philip Aldrich  160
The Nobles Family  161
James Purinton  161
Ammah Andrews  162
James Walstow  162
James Sanders  162
J. W. Stone  162
Joseph Bowron  163
Moses Perin  163
John 0. Henning  163
Moses S. Gibson  164
Col. James Hughes  164
Daniel Anderson  165
Alfred Day  165
Dr. Otis Hoyt  165
S. S. N. Fuller  166
Miles H. Van Meter  166
Philip B. Jewell  166
John Tobin  166
Horace A. Taylor  167
Jeremiah Whaley  167
Simon Hunt  167
JohnS. Moffatt  167
James H. Childs  168
William Dwelley  168
James M. Fulton  168
Marcus A. Fulton  168
David C. Fulton  168
N. S. Holden  168
William H. Semmes  169
Sterling Jones  169
D. R.Bailey  169
Henry C. Baker  169

Mert Herrick  169
D. A. Baldwin  170
John Comstock  170
Lucius P. Wetherby  170
John C. Spooner  170
Thomas Porter  171
Herman L. Humphrey  171
Theodore Cogswell  172
Frank P. Catlin  172
Charles Y. Denniston  173
A. E. Jefferson  173
Samuel C. Symonds  173
John E. Glover  173
Lemuel North  173
Edgar Nye  173
William T. Price  113
E. B. Bundy  174
Towns and Biographies.
Baldwin  174
Baldwin Village  174
Woodville Village  175
Cady  175
Cylon  175
Eau Galle  176
Emerald  176
Erin Prairie  176
Forest  177
Glenwood  177
Hammond  177
Hammond Village  178
John Thayer  178
Rev. William Egbert  178
Hudson  178
James Kelly  178
Daniel Coit  179
James Virtue  179
Theodore M. Bradley  179
William Dailey  179
Robert and Wm. McDiarmid.. 179
William Martin  179
Paschal Aldrich  180
Kinnikinic  180
Duncan McGregor  180
W. B. and James A. Mapes... 181
Pleasant Valley  182
Richmond  182
Boardman Village  183

CONTENTS.

XXV11

Gridley Village  183
New Richmond Village  183
New Richmond City  183
Bank, High School  184
Benjamin B. C. Foster  184
Robert Philbrick  185
Linden Coombs  185
Eben Quinby  185
Lewis Oaks  185
Henry Russell  185
Joseph D. Johnson  185
Joel Bartlett  '.  185
Francis W. Bartlett  186
George C. Hough  186
Silas Staples  186
Dr. Henry Murdock  187
Steven N. Hawkins  187
Rush River  188
Somerset  188

Somerset Village  189
Gen. Samuel Harriman  189
St. Joseph  190
Houlton Village  191
Burkhardt Village  191
Springfield  191
Hersey Village  191
Wilson Village  192
Stanton  192
Star Prairie  192
Huntington Village....  192
Star Prairie Village  192
Hon. R. K. Fay  192
Troy  193
James Chinnock  193
William L.Perrin  193
Warren  194
James Hill  194
Village Plats  195

CHAPTER VII.

PIERCE COUNTY.

Descriptive  196
History, First Events  197
County Seat Changed to Ells
worth  198
Railroads  199
Miscellaneous Statistics  199
Village Plats  199
Organization of Towns  200
Clifton  200
George W. McMurphy  201
Osborne Strahl  201
Charles B. Cox  201
Ephraim Harnsberger  201
Diamond Bluff.  202
Capt. John Paine  202
John Day  202
Sarah A. Vance  203
Allen R. Wilson  203
E. S. Coulter  203
James Bamber  203
Jacob Mead  203

Charles Walbridge  203
Charles F. Hoyt  203
Enoch Quinby  203
The FirstSettler  203
El Paso  204
Ellsworth  205
Ellsworth Village  205
Anthony Huddleston  206
Perry D. Pierce  206
HansB. Warner  207
Gilman  207
Hartland  208
Isabelle  208
Maiden Rock  209
Christopher L. Taylor  209
Martell  209
OakGrove  210
Lewis M. Harnsberger  210
Prescott City  210
History  211
Platted in 1857  212

XXV111

CONTENTS.

First Official Board  212
Statistics, First Events  212
Churches  212
Fair Grounds  213
Cemetery  213
Destructive Fires  213
Philander Prescott  214
George Schaser  .•••• 214
William S. Lockwood  215
James Monroe Bailey  215
Adolph Werkman  215
Joseph Manese  215
Hilton Doe  215
Lute A. Taylor  ,  215
JohnHuitt  216
John M. Rice  216
An Indian Battle  216
River Falls  217
First Happenings  217
Water Powers  217
Schools at River Falls  218
River Falls Academy  218
Churches  219
Associations  219
Bank, Railroad  220
Fires  220

River Falls City, Organization... 220
Falls of Kinnikinic  220
The Cave Cabin  221
The Fourth State Normal
School  221
Joel Foster  224
Jesse B. Thayer  224
A. D. Andrews  224
Joseph A. Short  225
Prof. Allen H. Weld  225
Allen P.Weld  225
George W. Nichols  225
W. D. Parker  226
William Powell  226
Lyman Powell  256
Nathaniel N. Powell  226*
Oliver S. Powell  226
Nils P. 'Haugen  227
H. L. Wadsworth  227
Rock Elm  227
Salem  227
Spring Lake  228
Trenton  228
Trimbelle  229
M. B. Williams  229
Union  292

CHAPTER VIII.

BURNETT, WASHBURN, SAWYER AND BARRON COUNTIES.

Burnett County.
Location and Description  230
Organization  231
Pine Barrens  231
Murders  232
Old Geezhic  233
The First Mission  234
The Chippewas of Wood Lake... 236
Grantsburg  237
Canute Anderson  237
The Hickerson Family  238
The Anderson Family  '238
Robert A. Doty  238
The Cranberry Marshes  239

Washburn County.
Description, Town Organization. 240
First Events  240
Shell Lake, Summit Lake  241
First Board of County Officers. 241
Shell Lake Lumber Company.... 241
Sawyer Creek  242
Spooner Station  242
Veazie Village  242
Sawyer County.
Organization, Description  242
County Indebtedness  243
Town of Hayward  243
Village of Hayward  243

CONTENTS.

XXIX

First Events, Schools, Churches,
etc  244
Bank, Lumber Company  244
Malcomb Dobie  245
Milton V. Stratton  245
Barron County.
Description, Organization  245

Turtle Lake, Town and Viljage. 245
Barron, Perley Village  246
Cumberland Village  246
Sprague  246
Comstock and Barronett Villages 247
Charles Simeon Taylor  247

CHAPTER IX.

ASHLAND, BAYFIELD AND DOUGLAS COUNTIES.

Ashland County.
History, Location, '.Description . . 248
Mes of the Apostles  248
Claude Allouez at Madeline
Island  249
Early History of La Pointe  249
Remarkable Epitaph  249
La Pointe County Election  249
JohnW. Bell  250
Ashland  250
History, First Events  250
Asaph Whittlesey  251
J. P. T. Haskell  251
G. S. Vaughn  251
Dr. Edwin Ellis  252
Martin Beaser  252
Hon. SamS. Fifield  252

Bayfield County.
Location and History  253
Bayfield Village  253
Washburn, Drummond, etc  254
Douglas County.
Description and History  254
First Election  254
Superior City  255
History  255
Early Speculation  256
Period of Depression  257
West Superior  258
The Bardon Brothers  258
William H. Newton  258
Judge Solon H. Clough  258
Vincent Roy  259
D. George Morrison  259
August Zachau  '.  259

CHAPTER X.
PINE COUNTY.

History  260
Description  260
First Events  261
Finances, Railroads  261
Losses by Fire  262
Pokegama Lake and Mission  262
Thomas Conner's Trading Post... 262
Presbyterian Mission  263
Mushk-de-winini  263
Battle of Pokegama  264

Cannibalism  265
A Noble Chief.  267
Frank Confessions  267
A Cowardly Deed  268
An Unjust Accusation  268
Indian 'Magnanimity  269
Rev. Frederic Ayer  269
Rev. William T. Boutwell  272
Discovery of Itasca  274
Mrs. Hester C. Boutwell  276

XXX

CONTENTS.

Chengwatana  276
First Settlers  276
Chengwatana Village Platted.... 277
Ghengwatana Town Organized.. 277
Louis Ayd  277
Duane Porter  277
S. A. Hutchinson  277
Hinckley, Town of  278
Hinckley, Villageof.  278
James Morrison  278
Sandstone Village and Quarries. 279
Wm. H Grant, Sr  279
Kettle River, Town of.  275
JohnC. Hanley  280
Mission Creek  280
Pine City, Town of.  280
Pine City, Village of.  281
Richard G. Robinson  281

Hiram Brackett  281
Randall K. Burrows  281
JohnS. Ferson  282
Samuel Millet  282
Rock Creek  282
Enoch Horton  282
Royalton  282
Windermere  283
Neshodana, Fortuna, St. John's 283
A Rock Creek Murder  283
Burning of a Jail  283
A Disfigured Family  284
Indian Faith Cure  284
Indian Graves  284
Indian Stoicism  285
Old Batice  285
An IndianDance  285

CHAPTER XL

KANABEC, ISANTI, AND MILLE LACS COUNTIES.

Kanabec County.
History, Boundaries, etc  286
Description  286
First Settlers, First Election  287
First Events  287
Arthur  288
Mora, Villageof.  288
Stephen L. Danforth  288
N. H. Danforth  288
Alvah J. Conger  288
Ira Conger  288
Bronson, Villageof.  288
Brunswick, Town of.  289
Brunswick, Village of  289
Ground House City  289
James Pennington  289
George L. Staples  289
Daniel Gordon  290
Grass Lake, Town of.  290
Isanti County.
Organization  290

Cambridge  291
North Branch, Town of  291
Oxford, Town of  291
Stephen Hewson  291
George W. Nesbit  292
Rensselaer Grant  292
Mille Lacs County.
Description  292
Mille Lacs Reservation  293
County Organization in 1860  293
First Election and Officers  293
Milacca, Village of.  294
Bridgman, Village of.  294
Princeton, Village of.  294
Samuel Ross  296
Joseph L. Cater  296
M. V. B.'Cater  296
Edwin Allen  296
JohnH. Allen  296
A. B. Damon  296
C. H. Chadbourne  296

CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XII.

XXXI

CHISAGO COUNTY.

Location, Surface, Scenery  298
Chisago Lake  298
Dalles of the St. Croix  299
Origin of the Formation  300
The Devil's Chair  300
The Wells  301
Settlement and Organization  302
Joe R. Brown to the Front  303
Prehistoric Remains  303
Robinet rn Possession  303
Robinet Bought Off, First Im
provements  304
Death of B. F. Baker  304
The First Log House Built  305
First Crops Raised  305
First Election  305
Chisago County Named  306
First Commissioners  307
County Seat Located at Taylor's
Falls  307
Removed to Centre City  307
Amador  307
First Supervisors  308
Thornton Bishop  308
William Holmes  308
James M. Martin  309
Branch  309
North Branch Station  309
Henry L. IngaUs  310
Mrs. Lavina L. Ingalls  310
Chisago Lake, First Settlers  310
First Crops  311
Swedish Lutheran Church  311
Centre City  312
Andrew Swenson  312
John S. Van Rensselaer  312
Axel Dahliam  313
Nels Nord  313
Join A. Hallberg  314
Charles A. Bush  313
Lars Johan Stark  313
Frank Mobeck  313
Robert Currie  314

Andrew N. Holm  313
Cemetery and other Associations 334
Incorporation  334
Indian Dance  335
Lindstrom Village  314
Daniel Lindstrom  315
Magnus S. Shaleen  315
Chisago City  315
Otto Wallmark  316
Andrew Wallmark  316
Fish Lake  316
Peter Berg  317
Benjamin Franklin  317
Franconia  317
Franconia Village  318
Ansel Smith  318
Henry F. and Leonard P. Day 318
Henry Wills  318
The ClarkBrothers  319
David Smith  319
Jonas Lindall  319
William Peaslee  319
Charles Vitalis  319
August J. Anderson  320
Frank N. Peterson  320
Harris  321
Harris Village  321
Lent  322
Nessell  322
Robert Nessell  323
Stephen B. Clark  323
RushSeba  323
Rush City  323
Thomas Flynn  324
Patrick Flynn  324
' Rufus Crocker  324
Frank H Pratt  324
Voloro D. Eddy  325
F. S. Christlanson  326
Shafer  326
Jacob Shafer  326
Peter Wickland  327
Tuver Walmarson  327

XXX11

CONTENTS.

Andros Anderson  327
EricByland  327
Jacob Peterson  327
Ambrose C. Seavey  327
Sunrise  328
Sunrise Village  328
Kost Village  329
Chippewa  329
Dronthiem  329
Nashua  330
Washington  330
John A. Brown  330
Patten W. Davis  330
James F. Harvey  330

Floyd S. Bates  330
Isaac H. Warner  331
Charles F. Lowe  331
Wells Farr  331
John G. Mold  331
George L. Blood  331
JoelG. Ryder  332
John Dean  232
Taylor's Falls  332
First Post Office and Mail Service 332
Mills, First Events  333
Religious Organizations  333
Bridge Company  334
Banks, Mining Companies  334

CHAPTER XIII.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

Jesse Taylor  336
Joshua L. Taylor  336
Nathan C. D. Taylor  337
Thomas F. Morton  337
Henry N. Setzer  337
Patrick Fox  338
William F. Colby  339
Oscar Roos  339
Samuel Thomson  339
Susan Thomson Mears  339
George De Attly  340
Jacob Markley  340
John Dobney  340
William Dobney  340
Henry H. Newbury  340
Emil Munch  340
A. M. Wilmarth  341
Lucius K. Stannard  341
James W. Mullen  342
David Caneday  ^ 342
George B. Folsom  343
Aaron M. Chase  343
Peter Abear  343
Levi W. Folsom  344
Eddington Knowles  344
Dr. Lucius B. Smith  344

William Comer  354
E. Whiting and Brothers  345
Frederic Tang, Sr  346
Ward W. Folsom  346
George W. Seymour  346
James A. Woolley  346
Patrick Carroll  347
Joseph Carroll  347
E. E. Edwards  347
Stephen J. Merrill  348
Noah Marcus Humphrey  348
Royal C. Gray  349
John P. Owens  349
Andrew Clendenning  350
Smith Ellison  350
Wyoming — Settlement and Or
ganization  350
Wyoming Village  352
Deer Garden  352
L. O. Tombler  352
Dr. John Woolman Comfort... 353
Isaac Markley  353
Joel Wright  353
Randall Wright  353
Frederic Tepel  353
Charles Henry Sauer  354

CONTENTS.

XXX111

CHAPTER XIV.

WASHINGTON COUNTY.

Organization in 1849  355
First Board of Officers  355
Afton  356
Afton Village  357
'South Afton  357
Valley Creek  357
St. Mary Village  357
Joseph Haskell  358
Lemuel Bolles  358
Taylor F. Randolph  358
Elijah Bissell  358
Andrew Mackey  358
Bay to wn Settlement  359
Baytown Village  359
Bangor  360
Middletown  360
South Stillwater  360
Mills, etc  360
Docks, Factories, Cemeteries.. 360
Cottage Grove  361
Cottage Grove Village  361
Langdon  362
Joseph W. Furber  362
Samuel W. Furber  362
Theodore Furber  363
James S. Norris  363
Lewis Hill  363
Jacob Moshier  363
William Ferguson  363
John Atkinson  363
Denmark  364
Point Douglas  364
Levi Hertzell  365
Oscar Burris  365
David Hone  365
William B. Dibble  366
George Harris  366
HarleyD. White  367
Thomas Hetherington  367
James Shearer  367
Simon Shingledecker  367
Caleb Truax  367
Abraham Truax  368
George W. Campbell  368
(c)

Forest Lake, History of  368
Captain Michael Marsh  369
Forest Lake Village  366
Grant, History of.  369
Dellwood  370
Eagle City  370
Mahtomedi  370
Wildwood  370
William Elliott  371
Frederick Lamb  371
James Rutherford  371
Jesse H. Soule  371
Lakeland, Description and His
tory of.  372
Lakeland Village  372
Henry W. Crosby  373
Reuben H. Sanderson  373
Newton McKusick  373
Captain John Oliver  373
Captain Asa Barlow Green  374
L. A. Huntoon  374
Marine, Origin of Settlement. ... 374
FirstSettlers  375
The Mill Completed  375
Marine Mills Village  376
First Lawsuit  376
Churches, Improvements  377
Losses by Fire  378
Vasa Village  378
Orange Walker  378
Lewis Walker  379
Samuel Burkelo  379
AsaS. Parker  379
Hiram Berkey  380
George B. Judd  380
James Hale  380
John Holt  380
George Holt  381
William Town  381
Matthias Welshance  381
Benj. T. Otis  382
William Clark  382
James R. Meredith  382
John D. and Thomas E. Ward 382

XXXIV

CONTENTS.

Samuel Judd  382
Frederic W. Lammers  382
James R. M. Gaskill  382
Newport, Town of.  383
Isle Pelee  383
Red Rock  383
Mission at Red Rock  384
Gray Cloud City  385
Newport Village  385
John Holton  385
John A. Ford  385
Daniel Hopkins, Sr  385
William R. Brown  386
William Fowler  386
Oakdale, Town of.  386
Lake Elmo Village  387
E. C. Gray  387
Arthur Stephens  388

Oneka, Town of.  388
Oneka Station  389
Shady Side Village  389
Daniel Hopkins, Jr  389
Stillwater, Town of.  389
Oak Park  390
David P. Lyman  390
Henry A. Jackman  390
Frederic J. Curtis  391
David Cover  391
John Parker  391
Woodbury, Town of.  391
Jacob Folstrom  392
Alexander McHattie  393
John McHattie  393
The Middleton Family  393
Newington Gilbert  394
Ebenezer Ayers  394

CHAPTER XV.

WASHINGTON COUNTY — CONTINUED.

City of Stillwater.
Stillwater in 1850  396
The Freshet of 1850  397
A Real Estate Movement  397
Incorporation of Stillwater... 398
List of Marshals  398
Post Office, Mail Routes  398
Statistics  399
Hotels  399
CityB.anks  400
Board of Trade, Water Com
pany  402
Fire Department  402
Gas Light, Telegraph, Tele
phone  403
Elevator, Express Companies,
Bridge  403
Lumbering Interests, Flour
Mills  404
Manufactories.  404
Building Association  405
Churches, etc  406
Public Buildings  408
Societies, etc  409

Cemeteries  410
Agricultural Society  410
State Prison  410
Fires, Bonds, Indebtedness.... 412
Biographies. Isaac Staples  413
Samuel F. Hersey & Sons  415
Jacob Bean  416
Charles Bean  416
Rudolph Lehmicke  417
Hollis R.'Murdock  417
George M. Seymour  417
Frank A. Seymour  410
Louis Hospes  418
David Tozer  419
David Bronson  420
John Maloy  420
Mrs. Susannah Tepass  420
William E. Thorne  420
Edmund J. Butts  420
A. B. Easton  421
Edwin A. Folsom  421
John B. H. Mitchell  421
Joseph Sehupp  '.. 422

CONTENTS.

XXXV

Clifford A. Bennett  422
Samuel Mathews  422
John and James Mathews  423
Peter Jourdain  423
James Rooney  423
James N. Castle  423
Abraham L. Gallespie  423
John C. Gardiner  423
V. C. Seward  424
Ralph Wheeler  424
Edward S. Brown  ).... 424
William Lowell  424
Albert Lowell  425
Nelson H. VanVoorhes  425
Andrew J. Van Voorhes  425

Henry C. Van Voorhes  452
C. A. Bromley  :. 426
Charles J. Butler  426
Levi E. Thompson  427
George Davis  427
William M. McCluer  427
JohnN. Ahl  427
Samuel M. Register  428
J. A. Johnson  428
GoldT. Curtis  429
Harley D. Curtis  429
Francis R. Delano  429
Henry W. Cannon  430
DwightM. Sabin  430

CHAPTER XVI.

STEARNS, ANOKA AND SHERBURNE COUNTIES.

Stearns County.
Organization and History of.  432
St. Cloud  434
Newspapers and Post Office... 435
Village and City Organization 435
Land Office, Expenditures  435
The St. Cloud Dam, Improve
ments  ,.  436
Banks, Public Buildings  436
St. John's University  437
La, Sauk, Town of.  438
Peter Schaeler  438
John L. Wilson  438
Charles T. Stearns  438
Henry G. Fillmore  438
Nathaniel Getchell  438
James Keough  438
Loren W. Collins  438
Henry C. Waite  439
Gen. S. B. Lowry  439
A. and Joseph Edelbrock  439
John Rengel  440
Louis A. Evans  440
Ambrose Freeman  440
Nathan F. Barnes  440
Nehemiah P.Clark  441
Oscar E. Garrison  441

Charles A. Gilman  441
Other Citizens  442
Anoka County.
Organization  442
First Settlers, Commissioners... 443
Anoka, Town of  443
Anoka, City of  443
Incorporation  444
Fires, Public Buildings  445
Manufactures, Banks  445
Bethel, Town of  446
Blaine, Town of  446
Burns, Town of  446
Centreville, Town of  446
Centreville Village  446
Columbus, Town of  447
Fridley, Town of  447
John Banfil  448
Grow, Town of  448
Ham Lake, Town of.  448
Linwood, Town of  448
L. S. Arnold  449
S. Ridge  449
J. G. Green  449
S. W. Haskell  449
M. M. Ryan  449
Hurley Family  449

XXXVI

CONTENTS.

Oak Grove, Town of.  449
Ramsey, Town of  449
St. Francis, Town of  450
An Indian Riot  450
Jared Benson  451
James C.Frost  451
A. J. McKenney  451
John Henry Batzle  452
JohnR. Bean  452
A. McC. Fridley  452
William Staples  452
Capt. James Starkey  453
Sherburne County.
Description  453
Organization  453
Towns of Sherburne County  454
Villages of Sherburne County... 455
Orono, Elk River  455
East St. Cloud  456
Clear Lake  456
Becker  456
Big Lake  456

J. Q. A. Nickerson  456
Henry Bittner  456
Francis DeLille  457
Mrs. F. De Lille  457
Howard M. Atkins  457
B. F. Hildreth  458
Samuel Hayden  458
Joseph Jerome  458
Joshua O. Cater  458
J. F. Bean  458
J. H. Felch  458
James Brady  458
Joshua Briggs  458
Robert Orroek  458
John G. Jamieson  458
A. B. Heath  458
Dr. B. R. Palmer  459
Judge Moses Sherburne  459
Charles F. George  459
Royal George  459
W. L. Babcock  459

CHAPTER XVII.

BENTON, MORRISON AND CROW WING COUNTIES.

Benton County.
Description  460
First Settlers, Organization  461
Towns of Benton County  461
Villages  461
Sauk Rapids, Incorporation  461
Dam and Public Buildings  462
The Cyclone of 1886  462
Watab Village  462
Philip Beaupre  462
David Gilman  463
James Beatty  463
Ellis Kling  463
George W. Benedict  464
J. Q. A. Wood  464
William H.Wood  464
Mrs. Wm. H. Wood  465
A. DeLacy Wood  465
P. H. Wood  465
Rev. Sherman Hall  465

Jeremiah Russell  466
Edgar O. Hamlin  467
Morrison County.
Description  468
History  468
Indian Feuds  469
Organization  469
Winnebago Indians  470
Towns of Morrison County  471
Little Falls Village  471
Little Falls Water Power  472
Incorporation  473
Schools and Churches  473
Royalton Village  473
Incorporation, First Officers... 473
Peter Roy  473
William Sturgis  474
James Fergus  474
Nathan Richardson  475
Moses La Fond  475

CONTENTS.

XXXV11

0. A. Churchill  475
John M. Kidder  476
Warren Kobe  476
Ola K. Black  476
IraW. Bouch  476
Robert Russell  476
Peter A. Green  476
Rodolphus D. Kinney  476
John D. Logan  476
Crow Wing County.
Description  477

First Settlers  477
Organization  478
Reorganization  478
Murderers Lynched  478
Brainerd  478
First Settlers  479
Northern Pacific Sanitarium... 480
The Kindred Dam  480
L. P. White  480
Allen Morrison  480
Charles F. Kindred  481

CHAPTER XVIII.
AITKIN, CARLTON, ST. LOUIS, LAKE AND COOK COUNTIES.

Aitkin County.
Description  482
Organization, Officers  482
Aitkin Village  483
William A. Aitkin  483
Alfred Aitkin  483
NathanielTibbett  484
Carlton County.
History and Organization  484
Towns of Carlton County  485
Thomson Village  485
Cloquet Village  485
Moose Lake Station  485
Barnum Station  486
Mahtowa Station  486
North Pacific Junction  486
Francis A. Watkins  486
St. Louis County.
Description  486
Picturesque Scenery  487
Commissioners' Meetings  487
List of Commissioners  488
Duluth, Early History  488
Growth, Population  489

Mills, Warehouses, Shipments 489
Duluth Harbor  ;  490
Fish Commission  490
Fond du Lac Village  491
Oneota Village  492
Clifton Village  492
Portland Village  492
Endion Village  492
Middleton Village  492
Montezuma Village  492
Buchanan Village  492
St. Louis Falls Village  492
Fremont Island  493
Tower  493
GeorgeR. Stuntz  494
George E. Stone  494
Charles H. Graves  494
Ozro P. Stearns  494
Lake County.
Description  495
Two Harbors  496
Cook County.
History and Organization  496

CHAPTER XIX.
HENNEPIN COUNTY.

Organization and History, Towns 497
FortSnelling...:  497
Treaty of 1837  499
First Land Claims, 1838  499

Cheever's Tower  500
St. Anthony Village Platted  500
First Marriage in the Territory.. 500
First Courts, School, Post Office. . 501

xxxvm

CONTENTS.

Church Organizations  501
The Suspension Bridge Built  502
St. Anthony Incorporated 1855... 502
Annexation to Minneapolis,
1872  502
St. Anthony Falls  502
La Salle's Description  502
Minneapolis, Early Settlers  503
Early Land Claims  504
Business Enterprises  505
Mills Erected  505
St. Anthony Water Power
Company  506
Minneapolis Named, Land Office 506
Incorporation as a City, 1867.. 506
Annexation of St. Anthony... 506
List of Mayors  507
Water vs. Steam  507
Terrific Explosion at the Flour
Mills  508
Suburban Resorts  508
List of Public Buildings  509
Post Office Statistics  510
Lumber Manufactured  511
Bonded Debt, Taxes, Expenses 511
West Minneapolis  511
Biographies. Calvin A. Tuttle  512
Cyrus Aldrich  512
Dr. Alfred E. Ames  514
Dr. Albert A. Ames  514
Jesse Ames  515
Cadwallader C. Washburn  515
William D. Washburn  517
Joseph C. Whitney  517
Charles Hoag  518
Franklin Steele  518
Roswell P. Russell  519
Horatio P. Van Cleve  520
Charlotte O. Van Cleve  520
Ard Godfrey  520

Richard Chute  521
Lucius N. Parker  521
Captain John Rollins  521
John G. Lennon  521
JohnH. Stevens  522
Caleb D. Dorr  522
Rev. Edward D. Neill  522
John Wensignor  523
Robert H. Hasty  524
Stephen Pratt  524
Capt. John Tapper  524
R. W. Cummings  524
EliasH. Conner  524
C. F. Stimson  524
William Dugas  524
David Gorham  525
Edwin Hedderly.....  525
Louis Neudeck...  525
Andrew J. Foster  525
A. D. Foster  525
Charles E. Vanderburgh  525
Dorillius Morrison  526
H. G. O. Morrison  526
F. R. E. Cornell  526
Gen. A. B. Nettleton  527
Isaac Atwater  527
Rev. David Brooks  527
Prof. Jabez Brooks  527
JohnS. Pillsbury  528
Henry T. Welles  528
David Blakely  528
William Lochren  528
Eugene M. Wilson  528
R. B. Langdon  529
William M. Bracket  529
Thos. B. and Piatt B. Walker 529
Austin H. Young  530
Henry G. Hicks  530
John P. Rea  530
John Martin  530
John Dudley  531

CHAPTER XX.
RAMSEY COUNTY.

Organization, First Officers  532
St. Paul in 1840, Known as Pig's
Eye  532
First Settlers  532

Father Ravoux, 1841  533
Henry Jackson Established a
Trading Post  533
Accessions of 1843  533

CONTENTS.

XXXIX

Accessions of 1844  534
First Deed  534
Accessions of 1845  534
First School  535
Second Deed, Phalen's Tract... 535
Accessions of 1846  535
Reminiscences  536
Accessions in 1847  536
St. Paul Platted  537
Miss Bishop's School  537
First Steamboat Line  537
Accessions of 1848  538
Progress in 1849  539
St. Paul Made the Capital of
the State  539
The First Newspapers  539
Early Items and Advertisements 540
Pioneers of 1849  540

Some Comparisons  541
Statistics of Population, Schools,
Buildings  542
List of Mayors  543
West St. Paul  544
Towns of Ramsey County  544
White Bear  545
First Settlers  „. 545
Indian Battle Ground  546
Town Organization  547
White Bear Lake Village  548
Hotels and Cottages  548
Daniel Getty  549
South St. Paul  549
North St. Paul  550
Population of St Paul  550
Post Office History  551

CHAPTER XXI.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

Henry Hastings Sibley  553
Alexander Ramsey  555
William H.Forbes  557
Henry M. Rice  558
Edmund Rice  560
Louis Robert  561
Auguste L. Larpenteur  562
William H. Nobles  562
Simeon P. Folsom  563
Jacob W. Bass  563
Benjamin W. Brunson  564
Abram S. and Chas. D. Elfelt 564
D. A. J. Baker  565
Benjamin F. Hoyt  565
John Fletcher Williams  566
Dr. John H Murphy  566
William H. Tinker  567
George P. Jacobs  567
Lyman Dayton  567
Henry L. Moss  567
William Rainey Marshall  568
David Cooper  569
BushrodW. Lott  570

W. F. Davidson  570
Wm. H. Fisher  571
Charles H. Oakes  572
C. W. W. Borup  572
Capt. Russell Blakely  573
Rensselaer R. Nelson  573
George L. Becker  574
Aaron Goodrich  575
Nathan Myrick  575
John Melvin Gilman  576
Charles E. Flandrau  576
John B. Sanborn  577
John R. Irvine  579
Horace R. Bigelow  580
Cushman K. Davis  580
S. J. R. McMillan  581
Willis A. Gorman  581
John D. Ludden  582
EliasF. Drake  582
Norman W. Kittson  583
Hascal R. Brill  583
WardW. Folsom  584
Gordon E. Cole  584

xl

CONTENTS.

James Smith, Jr  584
William P. Murray  585
Henry Hale  585
James Gilfillan  585
Charles Duncan Gilfillan  586
Alexander Wilkin  586

Westcott Wilkin  587
S. C. Whitcher  587
T. M. Newson  587
Alvaren Allen  588
Harlan P. Hall  589
Stephen Miller  589

CHAPTER XXII.

DAKOTA, GOODHUE, WABASHA AND WINONA COUNTIES.

Dakota County.
Description  591
Hastings  591
Farmington  591
Ignatius Donnelly  591
Francis M. Crosby  592
G. W. Le Due  593
Goodhue County.
Red Wing, Barn Bluff...  595
Cannon Falls  595
Indian Burying Ground  596
Hans Mattson  596
Lucius F. Hubbard  597
William Colville  599
MartinS. Chandler  599
Charles McClure  600

Horace B. Wilson.

600

Wabasha Cocnty.
Wabasha Village  601
Bailey and Sons  602
Nathaniels. Tefft  602
James Wells  602
Winona County.
Scenery  602
Winona City  603
DanielS. Norton  603
William Windom  603
Charles H. Berry  604
Thomas Wilson  604
Thomas Simpson  605
Wm. H. Yale  605

CHAPTER XXIII.

miscellaneous biographies.

Pierre Bottineau  606
Andrew G. Chatfield  606
Hazen Mooers  607
John McDonough Berry  607
Mark H. Dunnell  608
James H. Baker  608
Horace B. Strait  609
Judson Wade Bishop  610
John L. McDonald  610
Thomas H. Armstrong  611

Augustus Armstrong  611
Moses K. Armstrong  611
James B. Wakefield  611
William Wallace Braden  611
Reuben Butters  612
Michael Doran  612
Andrew McCrea  613
JohnW. Blake  613
Knute Nelson  613
William R. Denny  613

APPENDIX

MISCELLANEOUS INCIDENTS, INDIAN TREATIES, ETC.

Brief History of the North
west Territory  616
Spanish Claims  616
French Claims  617
Louisiana in 1711  618
Settlement of Marietta, Ohio  618
Ohio Territory  619
Statistics  619
Boundary Question  625
Wisconsin Constitutional Con
vention, 1846  625
Wisconsin Constitutional Con
vention, 1847  626
Some Resolutions  627
Under What Government ?  628
H. H. Sibley Elected Congres
sional Delegate  628
Queries  629
Minnesota Territory Created  629
Land Office at Stillwater  629
Indian Treaties  629
Treaty with the Sioux (Mendota)
1805  629
Treaty with the Chippewas (Men
dota) 1837  630
Treaty with the Sioux (Wash
ington) 1837  630
Treaty with the Winnebagoes
(Washington) 1837  631
Treaty with the Chippewas(Fond
du Lac) 1847  631
Treaty with the Pillager Band
(Leech Lake) 1847  632
Treaty with the Sioux (Traverse
des Sioux) 1851  632
Treaty with the Sioux (Mendota)
1851  632
(d)

Treaty with the Chippewas (La
Pointe) 1854  634
Treaty with the Pillagers (Wash
ington) 1855  634
Treaty with the Chippewas (Red
Lake River) 1863  634
Gen. Pike and the Indians... 635
Treaty of 1805  636
Pike's Address to the Council 636
Details of Treaty  636
_ Pike Hospitably Entertained.. 637
United States Surveys in the
Northwest  637
Establishment of Land Offices... 638
Establishment of the Present
System of Surveys  638
The First Surveyor General's
Office at Marietta, 0  638
United States Land Offices
in the Northwest  639
List of Registers and Receivers,
Wisconsin  639
First Entries  640
First Auction Sale of Land  641
List of Registers and Receivers,
Minnesota  641
List of Wisconsin Territorial and
State Officers, Governors, Sen
ators, and Representatives
from St. Croix Valley  641
Legislative Representation  642
First and Second Constitutional
Conventions  643
Governors of Wisconsin  643
United States Senators  643
United States Representatives... 644
District Judges  644

xlii

CONTENTS.

State Legislature  ••• 644
List of Minnesota Territorial
and State Officers  647
Census of the Territory in 1849. 647
First Territorial Legislature  648
First Prohibition Law  649
Constitutional Convention  649
List of State Officers and Judicial 649
Senators and Representatives.... 650
Minnesota State Legislatures.... 651
Constitutional Convention of
1857  654
Division of Convention  655
Union of Conventions on a Con
stitution  656
Have We a Constitution  656
First Minnesota State Legisla
ture  657
Protests Against Legislation  657
Five Million BUI Passed and
Adopted  657
State Seal Adopted  658
State Seal Design  659
Adjourned Session of Legislature 660
Protests Against Recognizing
Gov. Medary  660
Reports on Protests  661
Land Grants — Railroad Surveys
and Construction  665
Northern Pacific Railroad  665
Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis
& Omaha Railroad  667
St. Paul & Duluth Railroad  668
Minnesota & Manitoba Railroad 669
Stillwater, White Bear & St.
Paul Railroad  670
St. Paul, Stillwater & Taylor's
Falls Railroad  671
Wisconsin Central Railroad  671
Taylor's Falls & Lake Superior
Railroad  672
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul
Railroad  672
A Memorial for " Soo " Railroad 673
Organization of Minneapolis,
Sault Ste. Marie & Atlantic

Railroad  674
Mileage of Railroads Centring
in St. Paul and Minneapolis... 675
Chicago, Burlington & Northern
Railroad  675
Congressional Appropriations. ... 675
Inland Navigation  676
George R. Stuntz on Lake Su
perior and St. Croix Canal  680
Waterways Convention, 1885.... 682
E. W. Durant's Valuable Statis
tics  683
Resolution for St. Croix and Su
perior Canal  685
Early Steamboat Navigation.... 686
Steamboat Accommodations  687
First Mississippi Steamboat Of
ficers  689
First Mississippi Steamboat Or
ganizations  689
List of Steamboats  690
Later Navigation on Northwest
Rivers  691
Steamboating on the St. Croix.... 692
Ice Boats  693
James W. Mullen's Reminis
cences, 1846  694
St. Croix Boom Company  696
Surveyors General of Logs  696
Organization  696
Conflict over State Boundary  697
Language of Logs  698
Logs Cut from 1837 to 1888  700
Chartered Dams  701
Lumbering and Lumbermen in
1845  702
Lumbering and Lumbermen in
1887  705
St. Croix Dalles Log Jams  706
Population of Northwest Terri
tory in 1790  709
Population of Wisconsin Terri
tory in 1836  709
Subsequent Census  709
Population of Minnesota in 1849 709
Minnesota State Capitol  710

CONTENTS.

xliii

Burning of State House  711
Selkirk Visitors  712
Cyclones  713
Isanti and Chisago Cyclone  713
Cottage Grove and Lake Elmo
Cyclone  715
Washington County and Wiscon
sin Cyclone  717
St. Cloud and Sauk Rapids Cy
clone  718
Curious Lightning Freaks  721
Asiatic Cholera on the Royal Arch 721
First Decree of Minnesota Citi
zenship  722
International Hotel, St. Paul,
Burned  723
Grasshoppers  723
Ancient Mounds  724
Lake Itasca, Schoolcraft and
Boutwell Form the Name
Itasca. Description of Itasca... 726
Elk and Boutwell Lakes  727
Capt. Glazier's False Claim  727
Copper Mining on St. Croix  728

Rev. Julius S. Webber; Reminis
cences  729
Judge'Hamlin — Amusing Inci
dent  730
Minnesota Old Settlers Associa
tion  731
St. Croix Valley Old Settlers
Association  740
Newspaper History  741
Gen. Scott, Maj. Anderson, and
Jeff. Davis  752
Jeff. Davis' Marriage at Fort
Crawford  753
Dred Scott at Fort Snelling  754
Incidents in DredScott'sHistory 755
Old Betz and Descendants  757
Addenda.
Military History of the Rebel
lion, 1861 to 1865  759
Gov. Alex. Ramsey's Address to
Loyal Legion  759
Thirty-eighth and Thirty-ninth
Legislative Sessions of Wis
consin  762

ERRATA.

Chapter II, page 32, read Stillwater and St. Croix County,
instead of Counties.
Page 140, read Cyrus G-. Bradley, instead of Cyrus Q.
Page 166, read Philip B. Jewell, instead of Philip P.
Page 422, read Clifford A. Bennett, instead of Clifton.
Page 432, read Stearns, Anoka and Sherburne Counties, in
stead of Stearns, Anoka and Morrison Counties.
Page 420, read Edmund J. Butts, instead of Edward J. Butts.

CHAPTER I.

Going West. — In June, 1836, 1 again visited the Penobscot in
quest of employment, in which I was unsuccessful. At Still
water; above Bangor, I met my kind friend Simeon Goodrich,
also out of employment. After mature deliberation we con
cluded to go "West. Returning to Bloomfield, I collected the
money held for me by Capt. Euel "Weston and was soon in
readiness for the journey. But a few days before the time agreed
upon for leaving, I received a letter from Simeon Goodrich,
which contained the unpleasant information that he could not
collect the amount due him and could not go with me. Truly
this was a disappointment. I was obliged to set out alone, no
light undertaking at that early day, for as yet there were no
long lines of railroad between Maine and the Mississippi river.
The day at last arrived for me to start. My companions and
acquaintances chaffed me as to the perils of the journey before
me. My mother gave me her parting words, " "William, always
respect yourself in order to be respected." These words, ac
companied with her farewell kiss, were long remembered, and,
I doubt not, often kept me from evil associations.
The stage took us directly to the steamboat at Gardiner. The
steam was up and the boat was soon under way. It was
the New England, the first boat of the kind I had ever seen.
I felt strangely unfamiliar with the ways of the traveling
world, but observed what others did, and asked no questions,
and so fancied that my ignorance of traveling customs would not
be exposed. It was sunset as we floated out into the wide ex
panse of the Atlantic. The western horizon was tinged with
fiery hues, the shores grew fainter and receded from view and
the eye could rest at last only upon the watery expanse. All

2 FIFTY YEARS
things seemed Hew and strange. Next morning a heavy fog
hung over the scene. The vessel was at anchor in Boston harbor
and we were soon on shore and threading the crooked streets of
the capital of Massachusetts. I was not lost in the wilderness
maze of "Streets, as I had feared I should be, but ou leaving Bos
ton on the .evening train I took the wrong car and found myself
uncomfortably situated in a second or third class car, crowded
and reeking with vile odors, from which the conductor rescued
me, taking me to the pleasant and elegant c* to which my first
class ticket entitled me. On arriving at Providence I followed
the crowd to the landing and embarked on the steamer Presi
dent for New York, in which city we remained a day, stopping
at the City Hotel on Broadway. I was greatly impressed with
the beauty of part of the city, and the desolate appearance of the
Burnt District, concerning the burning of which we had read in
our winter camp. I was not a little puzzled with the arrange
ment of the hotel tables and the printed bills of fare, but closely
watched the deportment of others and came through without
any serious or mortifying blunder. Next morning I left New
York on the steamer Bobert L. Stevens for Albany, and on the
evening of the same day went to Schenectady by railroad.
Some of the way cars were hauled by horses up hills and inclined
planes. There were then only three short lines of railroad in
" the United States, and I had traveled on two .of them. At Sche
nectady I took passage on a canal boat to Buffalo. I had read
about "De Witt Clinton's Ditch," and now greatly enjoyed the
slow but safe passage it afforded, and the rich prospect of cities,
villages and cultivated fields through which we passed. At
Buffalo we remained but one day. We there exchanged eastern
paper for western, the former not being current in localities
further west. At Buffalo I caught my first glimpse of Lake Erie.
I stood upon a projecting pier and recalled, in imagination, the
brave Commodore Perry, gallantly defending his country's flag
in one of the most brilliant engagements of the war, the fame
whereof had long been familiar to the whole country and the
thrilling incidents of which were the. theme of story and song
even in the wilderness camps of Maine.
The steamer Oliver Newberry bore me from Buffalo to Detroit.
Prom Detroit to Mt. Clemens, Michigan, I went by stage and
stopped at the last named place until October 14th, when, being

IN THE NORTHWEST. 3
satisfied that the climate was unhealthy, fever and ague being
very prevalent, I returned to Detroit, and on the fifteenth of the
Same month took passage on the brig Indiana, as steamers had
quit running for the season. The brig was aground two days
and nights on the St. Clair flats. A south wind gave us a splen
did sail up the Detroit river into Lake Huron. We landed for
a short time at Port Gratiot, at the outlet of the lake, just as the
sun was setting. The fort was built of stone, and presented an
impressive appearance. The gaily uniformed officers, the blue-
coated soldiers, moving with the precision of machines, the
whole scene — the fort, the waving flags, the moyement of the
troops seen in the mellow sunset light — was impressive to one
who had never looked upon the like before. A favorable breeze
springing up, we sped gaily out into the blue Lake Huron. At
Saginaw bay the pleasant part of the voyage ended. The weather
became rough. A strong gale blew from the bay outward, and
baffled all the captain's skill in making the proper direction.
Profane beyond degree was Capt. McKenzie, but his free-flow
ing curses availed him nothing. The brig at one time was so
nearly capsized that her deck load had rolled to one side and
held her in an inclined position. The captain ordered most of
the deck load, which consisted chiefly of Chicago liquors, thrown
overboard. Unfortunately, several barrels were saved, two of
which stood on deck, with open heads. This liquor was free to
all. The vessel, lightened of a great part of her load, no longer
careened, but stood steady against the waves and before the
wind. It is a pity that the same could not be said of captain,
crew and passengers, who henceforth did the careening. They
dipped the liquor up in pails and drank it out of handled dip
pers. They got inglorjously drunk; they rolled unsteadily across
the deck; they quarreled, they fought, they behaved like Bed
lamites, and how near shipwreck was the goodly brig from that
day's drunken debauch on Chicago free liquor will never be
known. The vessel toiled, the men were incapacitated for work,
but notwithstanding the tempest of profanity and the high
winds, the wrangling of crew and captain, we at last passed
Saginaw bay. The winds were more favorable. Thence to Macki
naw the sky was clear and bright, the air cold. The night be
fore reaching Mackinaw an unusual disturbance occurred above
resulting from the abundance of free liquor. The cook, being

4. FTFTY TEAKS
drunk, had not provided the usual midnight supper for the sail
ors. The key of the caboose was lost; the caboose was broken
open, and the mate in the morning was emulating the captain in
the use of profane words. The negro cook answered in the same
style, being as drunk as his superior. This cook was a stout,
well built man, with a forbidding countenance and, at his best,
when sober, was a saucy, ill-natured and impertinent fellow.
When threat after threat had been hurled back and forth, the
negro jumped at the mate and knocked him down. The sailors,
as by a common impetus, seized the negro, bound him tightly
and lashed him to a capstan. On searching him they found two
loaded pistols. These the mate placed close to each ear of the
bound man, and fired them off. They next whipped him on the
naked back with a rope. His trunk was then examined and
several parcels of poison were found. Another whipping was
administered, and this time the shrieks and groans of the victim
were piteous. Before he had not even winced. The monster
had prepared himself to deal death alike to crew and passengers,
and we all felt a great sense of relief when Capt. McKenzie de
livered him to the authorities at Mackinaw.
Antique Mackinaw was a French and half-breed town. The
houses were built of logs and had steep roofs. Trading posts
and whisky shops were well barred. The government fort,
neatly built and trim, towered up above the lake on a. rocky
cliff and overlooked the town, the whole forming a picturesque
scene. We remained but a few hours at Mackinaw. There
were ten cabin passengers, and these, with two exceptions, had
imbibed freely of the Chicago free liquor. They were also con:
tinually gambling. Capt. McKenzie had fought a fist fight with
a deadhead passenger, Capt. Pox, bruising him badly. What
with his violence and profanity, the brutality of the mate and
the drunken reveling of crew and- passengers, the two sober
passengers had but a sorry time, but the safe old brig, badly
officered, badly managed, held steadily on its course, and Oc
tober 30th, fifteen days from Detroit, safely landed us in Chicago.
After being so long on the deck of a tossing vessel, I experi- ¦
enced a strange sensation when first on shore. I had become
accustomed to the motion of the vessel, and had managed to
hold myself steady. On shore the pitching and tossing move
ment seemed to continue, only it seemed transferred to my head,

IN THE NORTHWEST. 5
which grew dizzy, and so produced the illusion that I was still
trying' to balance myself on the unsteady deck of the ship.
Chicago, since become a great city, had at that time the ap
pearance of an active, growing village. Thence I proceeded,
November 1st and 2d, by stage to Milwaukee, which appeared
also as a village, but somewhat overgrown. Idle men were
numerous, hundreds not being able to obtain employment. Here
I remained a couple of weeks, stopping at the Belleview House.
After which I chopped wood a few days for Daniel Wells. Not
finding suitable employment, I started west with a Mr. Rogers,
December 2d. There being no other means of conveyance, we
traveled on foot. On the evening of the second we stopped at
Prairie Village, now known as Waukesha. On the evening of
the third we stopped at Meacham's Prairie, and on the fifth
reached Rock River, where I stopped with a Mr. St. John. The
evening following we stopped at an Irish house, where the sur
roundings did not conduce to comfort or to a feeling of security.
Several drunken men kept up a continuous row. We hid our
money in a haystack, and took our turn sleeping and keeping
watch. We ate an early breakfast, and were glad to get away
before the men who had created such a disturbance during the
night were up. We moved onward on the seventh to Blue
Mound, where we found a cheerful resting place at Brigham's.
The eighth brought us to Dodgeville, where we stopped at Mor
rison's, On the ninth we reached Mineral Point, the locality
of the lead mines, where I afterward lost much time in pros
pecting. Mineral Point was then a rude mining town. The
night of, our arrival was one of excitement and hilarity in the
place. The first legislature of the territory of Wisconsin had
been in session at Belmont, near Mineral Point, had organized
the new government and closed its session on that day. To cele
brate this event and their emancipation from the government of
Michigan and the location of the capital at Madison, the people
from the Point, and all the region round about, had met and
prepared a banquet for the retiring members of the legislature.
Madison was at that time a paper town, in the wilderness, but
beautifully located on Cat Fish lake, and at the head of Rock
river. The location had been accomplished by legislative tact,
and a compromise between the extremes. In view of the almost
certain division of the Territory, with the Mississippi river as a

6 FIFTY YEARS
boundary, at no very distant day, it was agreed that Madison
should be the permanent capital, while Burlington, now in Iowa,
should be used temporarily. Milwaukee and Green Bay had
both aspired to the honor of being chosen as the seat of govern
ment. Mineral Point, with her rich mines, had also aspirations,
as had Cassville, which latter named village had even built a
great hotel for the accommodation of the members of the as
sembly. Dubuque put in a claim, but all in vain. Madison
was chosen, and wisely, and she has ever since succeeded in
maintaining the supremacy then thrust upon her.
In my boyhood, at school, I had read of the great Northwest
Territory. It seemed to me then far away, at the world's end,
but I had positively told my comrades that I should one day go
there. I found myself at last on the soil, and at a period or crisis
important in its history. The great Northwest Territory, ceded
by Virginia to the United States in 1787, was no more. The im
mense territory had been carved and sliced into states and ter
ritories, and now the last remaining fragment, under the name
of Wisconsin, had assumed territorial prerogatives, organized its
government, and, with direct reference to a future division of
territory, had selected its future capital, for as yet, except in
name, Madison was not. In assuming territorial powers, the
boundaries had been enlarged so as to include part of New Louisi
ana, and the first legislature had virtually bartered away this
part of her domain, of which Burlington, temporary capital of
Wisconsin, was to be the future capital.
Two more days of foot plodding brought us to Galena, the city
of lead. The greeting on our entering the city was the ringing
of bells, the clattering of tin pans, the tooting of ox horns,
sounds earthly and unearthly, — sounds no man can describe.
What could it be ?. Was it for the benefit of two humble, footsore
pedestrians that all this uproar was produced? We gave it up for
the time, but learned subsequently that it was what is known as
a charivari, an unmusical and disorderly serenade, generally
gotten up for the benefit of some newly married couple, whose
nuptials had not met with popular approval.
At Galena I parted with Mr. Rogers, my traveling companion,
who went south. On the fifteenth of- December* I traveled to
Dubuque on foot. When I came to the Mississippi river I sat
down on its banks and recalled the humorous description of old

IN THE NORTHWEST. 7
Mr. Carson, my neighbor, to which I had listened wonderingly
when a small boy. "It was," he said, "a river so wide you
could scarcely see across it. The turtles in it were big as barn
doors, and their shells would make good ferryboats if they could
only be kept above wai er." Sure enough, here was the big river,
but covered with ice, scarcely safe to venture on. Several per
sons desiring to cross, we made a portable bridge of boards,
sliding them along with us till we were safe on the opposite
bank. I was now at the end of my journey, on the west bank of
the Mississippi, beyond which stretched a vast and but little
known region, inhabited by Indians and wild beasts.
As I review the incidents of my journey in 1836, 1 can not but
contrast the conditions of that era and the present. How great
the change in half a century! The journey then required thirty
days. It now requires but three. I had passed over but two
short lines of railroad, and' had made the journey by canal boat,
by steamer, by stage, and a large portion of it on foot. There
• were few regularly established lines of travel. From Michigan
to the Mississippi there were no stages nor were there any regu
lar southern routes. Travelers to the centre of the continent, in
those days, came either by the water route, via New Orleans or
the Fox and Wisconsin river route, or followed Indian trails or
blazed lines from one settlement to another. The homes of the
settlers were rude — were built principally of logs. In forest
regions the farms consisted of clearings or square patches of open
ground, well dotted with stumps and surrounded by a dense
growth of timber. The prairies, except around the margins or
along certain belts of timber following the course of streams,
were without inhabitants. Hotels were few and far between, and,
when found, not much superior to the cabins of the settlers; but
the traveler was always and at all places hospitably entertained.
DUBUQUE.
Dubuque was a town of about three hundred inhabitants, at
tracted thither by the lead mines. The people were principally
of the mining class. The prevailing elements amongst them
were Catholic and Orange Irish. These two parties were antago
nistic and would quarrel on the streets or wherever brought in
contact. Sundays were especially days of strife, and Main

8 . FIFTY YEARS
street was generally the field of combat. Women even partici
pated. There was no law, there were no police to enforce order.
The fight went on, the participants pulling hair, gouging, biting,
pummeling with fists or pounding with sticks, till one or the
other party was victorious. These combats were also accom
panied with volleys of profanity, and unlimited supplies of bad
whisky served as fuel to the flame of discord. Dabuque was
certainly the worst town in the West, and, in a small way, the
worst in the whole country. The entire country west of the
Mississippi was without law, the government of Wisconsin Ter
ritory not yet being extended to it. Justice, such as it was,
was administered by Judge Lynch and the mob.
My first employment was working a hand furnace for smelting
lead ore for a man named Kelly, a miner and a miser. He lived
alone in a miserable hovel, and on the scantiest fare. In Janu
ary I contracted to deliver fifty cords of wood at Price's brick
yard. I cut the wood from the island in front of the present
city of Dubuque, and hired a team to deliver it.
While in Dubuque I received my first letter from home in
seven months. What a relief it was, after a period of long sus
pense, spent in tediously traveling over an almost wilderness
country,— amidst unpleasant surroundings, amongst strangers,
many of them of the baser sort, drinking, card playing, gambling
and quarreling,— what a relief it was to receive a letter from
home with assurances of affectionate regard from those I most
esteemed. Truly the lines had not fallen to me in pleasant places, and I
was sometimes exposed to perils from the lawless characters by
whom I was surrounded. On one occasion a dissolute and des
perate miner, named Gilbert, came to Cannon's hotel, which was
my boarding house while in Dubuque. Be usually came over
from the east side of the rirer once a week for a spree. On this
occasion, being very drunk, he was more than usually offensive
and commenced abusing Cannon, the landlord, applying to him
some contemptuous epithet. I thoughtlessly remarked to Can
non, "You have a new name," upon which Gilbert cocked his
pistol and aiming at me was about to fire when Cannon, quick
as thought, struck at his arm and so destroyed his aim that the
bullet went over my head. The report of the pistol brought
others to the room and a general melee ensued in which the bar

IN THE NORTHWEST. 9
was demolished, the stove broken and Gilbert unmercifully
whipped. Gilbert was afterward shot in a drunken brawl.
I formed some genial acquaintances in Dubuque, amongst
them Gen. Booth, Messrs. Brownell, Wilson and others, since
well known in the history of the country. Price, the wood con
tractor, never paid me for my work. I invested what money I
had left for lots in Madison, all of which I lost, and had, in ad
dition, to pay a note I had given on the lots. '
' On February 11th I went to Cassville, journeying thither on
the ice. This village had flourished greatly, iu the expectation of
becoming the territorial and state capital, expectations doomed,
as we have seen, to disappointment. It is romantically situated
amidst picturesque bluffs, some of which tower aloft like the walls
and turrets of an ancient castle, a characteristic that attaches
to much of the bluff scenery along this point.
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN.
I reached this 6ld French town on the twelfth of February.'
The town and settlement adjacent extended over a prairie nine
miles long, and from one to two miles broad, a beautiful rilateau
of land, somewhat sandy, but for many years abundantly pro
ductive, furnishing supplies to traders and to the military post
established there. It also furnished two cargoes of grain to be
used as seed by the starving settlement at Selkirk, which were
conveyed thither by way of the Mississippi, St. Peter and Red
rivers. The earliest authentic mention of the place refers to the
establishment of a post called St. Nicholas, on the east bank
of the Mississippi, at the mouth of the Wisconsin, by Gov. De
La Barre, who, in 1683, sent Nicholas Perrot with a garrison of
twenty men to hold the post. The first official document laying
claim to the country on the Upper Mississippi, issued in 1689,
has mention of the fort. This document we transcribe entire:
"Nicholas Perrot, commanding for the king, at the post of
the Nadouessioux, commissioned by the Marquis Denonville,
governor and 'lieutenant governor of all New France, to man
age -the interests of commerce amongst the Indian tribes and
people of the Bay des Puants (Green Bay), Nadouessioux (Da-
kotahs), Maseontins, and other western nations of the Upper
Mississippi, and to take possession in the king's name of all the
places where he has heretofore been, and whither he will go.

10 EIFTY YEARS
" We, this day, the eighth of May, one thousand six hundred
and eighty-nine, do, in the presence of the Reverend Father
Marest, of the Society of Jesus, missionary among the Na
douessioux; of Monsieur de Borieguillot (or Boisguillot), com
manding the French in the neighborhood of the Ouiskonche .
(Wisconsin), on the Mississippi; Augustin Le' Gardeur, Esq.,
Sieur de Caurnont, and of Messeurs Le Sueur, Hibert, Lemire 'i
and Blein:
"Declare to all whom it may concern, that, being come from
the Bay des Puants, and to the lake of the Ouiskonches, and to
river Mississippi, we did transport ourselves to the country of
the Nadouessioux, on tbe border of the river St. Croix, and at
the mouth of the river St. Pierre (Minnesota), on the bank of
which were the Mantantans; and further up to the interior to- s
the northeast of the Mississippi, as far as the Menchokatoux,'.:|
with whom dwell the majority of the Songeskitens, and other .
Nadouessioux, who are to the northeast of the Mississippi, to
take possession for, and in the name of, the king of the countries
and rivers inhabited by the said tribes, and of which they are
proprietors. The present act done in our presence, signed with
our hand and subscribed."
Then follow the names of the persons mentioned. The docu
ment was drawn up at Green Bay.
There is little doubt that this post was held continuously by
the French as a military post until 1696, when the French
authorities at Quebec withdrew all their troops from Wisconsin,
and as a trader's post or settlement, until the surrender in 1763
to the British of all French claims east of the Mississippi. It
was probably garrisoned near the close of the latter period. It
remained in the possession of the French some time, as the Eng
lish, thinking it impossible to compete for the commerce of the
Indian tribes with the French traders who had intermarried
with them, and so acquired great influence, did not take actual
possession until many years later.
The post is occasionally mentioned by the early voyageurs,
and the prairie which it commanded was known as the "Prairie
du Chien," or praire of the dog, as early as 1763, and is so men
tioned by Carver. It was not formally taken possession of by
the United States until 1814, when Gov. Clarke with two hundred
men came up from St. Louis to Prairie du Chien, then under

IN THE NORTHWEST. 11
English rule, to build a fort and protect American interests at
the village. At that time there were about fifty families,
descended chiefly from the old French settlers. These were en
gaged chiefly in farming, owning a common field four miles long
by a half mile wide. They had outside of this three separate
farms and twelve horse mills to manufacture their produce; The
fort, held by a few British troops under Capt. Deace, surrendered
without resistance, but soon after the British traders at Macki
naw sent an expedition under Joe Rolette, Sr., to recapture the
post, which they did after a siege of three days, the defenders
being allowed to withdraw with their private property on
parole. They -were followed by the Indians as Jar as Rock Is
land. Meanwhile, Lieut. Campbell, with reinforcements on his
way from St. Louis, was attacked, part were captured and the
remainder of his troops driven back to St. Louis. Late in 1814
Maj. Zachary Taylor proceeded with gunboats to chastize the
Indians for their attack on Campbell, but was himself met and
driven back. The following year, on the declaration of peace be
tween Great Britain and America, the post at Prairie du Chien
was evacuated. The garrison fired the fort as they withdrew
from it.
The fort erected by the Americans under Gen. Clarke in 1814
was called Fort Shelby. The British, on capturing it, changed
the name to Fort McKay. The Americans, on assuming posses
sion and rebuilding it, named it Fort Crawford. It stood on the
bank of the river at the north end of St. Friole,, the old French
village occupied in 1876 by the Dousmans. In 1833 the new
Fort Crawford was built on an elevated site about midway in the
prairie. It was a strong military post and was commanded at
this time by Gen. Zachary Taylor. Many officers, who subse
quently won distinction in the Florida Indian, Mexican, and
late Civil War, were stationed here from time to time. Within a
time included in my own recollections of the post, Jefferson
Dayis spirited away the daughter of his commanding officer,
Gen. Taylor, and married her, the "rough and ready" general
being averse to the match.
Prairie du Chien derived its name from a French family
known as du Chien, in English "The Dog." By this name the
Prairie was known long prior to the establishment of the French
stockade and post. By that name it has been known and recog-

12 FIFTY YEARS
nized ever since. It has been successively under the French,
English and United States governments, and lying originally in.
the great Northwestern Territory, in the subsequent divisions of
that immense domain, it has been included within the bounds of
the territories of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wiscomi
:sin. Gov. Wm. H. Harrison, of Indiana Territory, recognized '
Prairie du Chien by issuing commission's to Henry M. Fisher and
 Campbell as justices of the peace, the first civil commis
sions issued for the American government in the entire district
of country including West Wisconsin and Minnesota east of the
Mississippi. Prior to this time, about 1819, the inhabitants had .
been chiefly under military rule. In 1819 the county of Craw-1
ford was organized as a part of Michigan Territory, and blank
commissions were issued to Nicholas Boilvin, Esq., with author
ity to appoint and install the officers of the new county govern- '
ment. Gov. Lewis Cass established by proclamation the county ;
«eat at Prairie du Chien, and John W. Johnson was installed as
chief justice of the county court. The entire corps of officers
were qualified. In January, 1823, Congress passed an act pro--.;
viding for circuit courts in the counties west and north of Lake j
Michigan, and Jaines Duane Doty was appointed judge for the
district composed of Brown, Mackinaw and Crawford counties, |
and a May term was held in Prairie du Chien the same year. I
Indian Troubles. — There were some Indian troubles, an ac
count of which is given in the biographical sketch of J. H. Lock- :
wood. There were other incidents which may be worthy of
separate mention. Jn 1827 an entire family, named Methode, '\
were murdered, as is supposed, by the Indians, though the mur- "'
derers were never identified. The great incentive to violence and
rapine with the Indians was whisky. An intelligent Winn& „*
bago, aged about sixty years, told me that "paganini," "fire-1;
water" (whisky), was killing the great majority of his people,^
and making fools and cripples of those that were left; that before*
the pale faces came to the big river his people were good hunt- ;
ers and had plenty to eat; that now they were drunken, lazy and
hungry; that they once wore elk or deer skins, that now they '[
were clad in blankets or went naked. This Indian I had- never
seen drunk. The American Fur Company had huts or open •
houses where the Indians might drink and revel.
At an Indian payment a young, smart looking Indian got

IN THE NORTHWEST. 13.
drunk and in a quarrel killed his antagonist. The friends of the
murdered Indian held a council and determined that the mur
derer should have an opportunity of running for his life. The
friends of the murdered Indian formed in a line, at the head
of which was stationed the brother of the dead man, who was to*
lead in the pursuit. At a signal the bands of the prisoner were
cut, and with a demoniacal yell he bounded forward, the entire
line in swift and furious pursuit. Should he outrun his pur
suers, he would be free; should they overtake and capture him,
they were to determine the mode of his death. He ran nearly a
mile when he tripped and fell. The brother of the dead Indian,
heading the pursuit, pounced upon him and instantly killed him
with a knife.
Considering the fact that the Indians were gathered together
under the guns of a United States fort, and under the pro
tection of a law expressly forbidding the sale of intoxicating
liquors to them, the people of the United States were certainly
justified in expecting better results, not only in regard to the^
protection of the frontier settlers but for that of the Indians
themselves. All came to naught because of the non-enforcement
of law. Liquors were shamelessly sold to the Indians and they
were encouraged to drunken revelry and orgies by the very men
who should have protected and restrained them.
The prosperity of Prairie du Chien depended upon the Indian
trade, and upon government contracts which the presence of a
military force rendered necessary. The Indiafls gathered here
in great numbers.
Here the Winnebagoes, part of the Menomonies and some
Chippewas received their annuities, and here centred also an
immense trade from the American Fur Company, the depot
being a large stone building on the banks of the Mississippi,.
under the charge of Hercules Dousman.
FORT CRAWFORD ROBBED.
Two discharged soldiers (Thompson and Evans) living afc
Patch Grove, thirteen miles away, visited the fort dften. On a
morning after one of*their visits a soldier on guard noticed a
heap of fresh earth near the magazine. An alarm was given, an
examination made, and it was found that the magazine had been
burst open with bars and sledge hammers, entrance having beea

14 FIFTY YEARS
obtained by digging under the corner picket. Three kegs of
silver, each containing $5,000, were missing. The kegs had
been passed through the excavation underneath the picket.
One keg had burst open near the picket, and the silver was '
found buried in the sand. The second keg burst on the bank of
the Mississippi, and all the money was found buried there ex
cept about six hundred dollars. The third keg was found months
after by John Brinkman, in the bottom of the river, two miles
below the fort. He was spearing fish by torchlight, when he
chanced to find the keg. The keg he delivered at the fort and
received a small reward. On opening the keg it was found to
contain coin of a different kind from that advertised as stolen.
Brinkman, however, made no claims on account of errors.
Thompson, Evans, and a man named Shields were arrested by
the civil authorities on suspicion; their trial was continued from
term to term and they were at last dismissed. One man, who
had seen the silver in the sand during the day and gone back at
night to fill his pockets, was seized by a soldier on guard, im
prisoned for a year, and discharged.
EARLY JUSTICE.
A Frenchman shot and killed a couple of tame geese Belonging
to a neighbor, supposing them to be wild. Discovering his mis
take, he brought the geese to the owner, a Dutchman, who flew
into a great rage, but took the geese and used them for his own'
-table, in addition to which he had the goose-killer arrested and
tried before Martin Savall, a justice of the peace. The defend
ant' admitted the killing of the geese, the plaintiff admitted re
ceiving them and using them for food, nevertheless the justice
gave judgment in favor of plaintiff by the novel ruling that these
geese, if not killed, would have laid eggs and hatched about eight
goslings. The defendant was therefore fined three dollars for the
geese killed, and eight dollars for the goslings that, might have,
been hatched if the geese had been permitted to live, and costs
besides. Plaintiff appealed to the district court which reversed .'
the decision on the ground that plaintiff had, eaten his geese, and
the goslings, not being hatched, did not exist. Plaintiff paid the
costs of the suit, forty-nine dollars, remarking that a Dutchman
had no chance in this country { that he would go back to Germany.
The judge remarked that it would be the best thing he could do.

IN THE NORTHWEST,. 15
A SOUTHWARD JOURNEY.
My original plan on leaving Maine was to make a prospect
ing tour through the West and South. I had been in Prairie
du Chien for a season, and as soon as my contract to cut hay-
for the fort and my harvesting work was done, I started, with
two of my comrades, in a birch bark canoe for New Orleans.
This mode of traveling proving slow and tedious, after two
days, on our arrival at Dubuque, we sold our canoe and took
passage on the steamer Smelter for St. Louis, which place we
reached on the seventeenth of October. We remained five days,
-stopping at the Union Hotel. St. Louis was by far the finest
and largest city I had yet seen in the West. Its levee was
crowded, with drays and other vehicles and lined with steamers
and barges. Its general appearance betokened prosperity. On
the twenty-second, I left on the steamer George Collier for New
Orleans, but the yellow fever being reported in that city, I re
mained several days at Baton Rouge. On the second of Novem
ber I re-embarked for New Orleans, where I found a lodging at
the Conti Street Hotel. New Orleans was even then a large and
beautiful city. Its levee and streets were remarkable for their
cleanness, but seemed almost deserted. Owing to a recent visi
tation of the yellow fever and the financial crisis of 1837, busir
ness was almost suspended. These were hard times in New
Orleans. Hundreds of men were seeking employment, and many
of them were without money or friends. It was soon very evi
dent to me that I had come to a poor place to better my fortunes.
After a thorough canvass, I'found but one situation vacant, and
that was in a drinking saloon, and was not thought of for an
instant. I remained fifteen days, my money gradually diminish
ing, when I concluded to try the interior. I took steamer for
Vicksburg, and thence passed up the Yazoo to Manchester,
where I spent two days in the vain search for employment,
offering to do any kind of work. I was in the South, where the
labor was chiefly done by negroes. I was friendless and without
letters of recommendation, and for a man under such circum-
stances to be asking for employment was in itself a suspicious
circumstance. I encountered everywhere coldness and distrust.
I returned to Vicksburg, and, fortunately, had still enough money
left to secure a deck passage to the North, but was obliged to

16

FIFTY YEARS

live sparingly, and sleep without bedding. I kept myself some
what aloof from the crew and passengers. The captain and
clerk commented on my appearance, and were, as I learned from
a conversation that I could not help but overhear, keeping, a
close eye upon me for being so quiet and restrained. It was
true that the western rivers were infested with desperate char-
acters, gamblers and thieves such as the Murrell gang. Might
I not be one of them. I was truly glad when, on the fifth of
December, we landed at St. Louis. It seemed nearer my own
country but finding no employment there, I embarked on the
steamer Motto for Hennepin, Illinois, where I found occasional
employment cutting timber. There was much talk here of the
Murrell gang, then terrorizing the country; and I have good
reason to believe that some of them at that time were in Henne
pin. After remaining about two months, I left, on foot, valise
in hand or strapped upon my back, with J. Simpson, for Galena,
which place we reached in four days. Finding here Mr. Put
nam, with a team, I went up with him on the ice to Prairie du
Chien, where, after an absence of five months of anxiety, sus
pense and positive hardships, I was glad to find myself once
more among friends.
During the summer of 1838 I cultivated a farm. I had also a
hay contract for the fort. My partner was James C. Bunker. I
had worked hard and succeeded in raising a good crop, but found
myself in the fall the victim of bilious fever and ague. I contin
ued farming in 1839 and furnishing hay to the fort, but continued
to suffer with chills and fever. Myself and partner were both ,
affected, and at times could scarcely take care of ourselves. Help
could not be obtained, but ague comes so regularly to torture its
victims that, knowing the exact hour of its approach, we could
prepare in advance for it, and have our water, gruel, boneset and
quinine readj and within reach. We knew when we would shake,
but not the degree of fever which would follow. The delirium
of the fever would fill our minds with strange fancies. On one
occasion I came home with the ague fit upon me, hitched my
horses with wagon attached to a post and went into the house.
Bunker had passed the shaking stage, and was delirious. I
threw myself on the bed, and the fever soon following. I knew
nothing till morning, when I found the team still hitched to the
post, and, in their hunger, eating it.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 17
In November of this year I made a somewhat perilous trip
with team to Fort Winnebago, at the -portage of the Fox and
Wisconsin rivers. The weather was cold and the military road,
much of the distance, covered with snow. There was scarcely a
trail over the rolling prairie to guide me. Exposure brought
on the chills as I was returning. Fatigued, sick and suffering, I
coiled myself on the top of the load. The second day, as the sun
was setting, I came in sight of Parish's Grove, but the horses
were unwilling to obey my guidance. Coming to a fork in the
road they insisted on going to the right. I pulled them to the
left. Had I been guided by their "horse sense" they would
have brought me in a few moments to the door of Parish's hotel.
As it was, I dpove on until far in the night, when we came to a
steep hill, two steep for descent in the wagon. I unhitched the
team, loaded them with the portablevthings in the wagon to keep
them from the wolves that were howling around, mounted one
of the horses and descended the hill and found myself at Parish's
door, the very place. I had been trying to find for a day and a
night. Lieut. Caldwell, quartermaster at Fort Crawford, re
ceived the load, and learning something of the perils of the jour
ney, gave me eighty dollars instead of the forty he had promised.
RETURN TO MAINE.
• During the spring and summer of 1840, I fulfilled heavy hay
and wood contracts for the fort, and in the autumn of that
year concluded to revisit my early home in Maine. I set
out September 23d, and reached Chicago in seven days, trav
eling with a team. I traveled thence by steamer to Buffalo, by
canal boat to Rochester, by railroad and stage to Albany and
Boston, by railroad to Lowell, and by stage to Tamworth, New
Hampshire. After spending four years amidst tire prairies of
the West it was indeed a pleasure to look again upon the grand
ranges of mountains in this part of New England. When eleven
years of age I had lived where I could look upon these mountains,
and now to their grandeur was added the charm of old associ
ation. I looked with pleasure once more upon "Old Ossipee,"
Coroway Peak, and White Face. Time had written no changes
upon these rugged mountains. There were cottages and farms
on the mountain side. Sparkling rivulets gleamed in the sun-
2

1§ FIFTY YEARS
light, as they found their way, leaping from rock to rock, to the
valleys beneath. Tamworth is situated on beautiful ridges
amongst these mountain ranges. Near this place is the old
family burying ground containing the graves of my grand par
ents and other near relatives. These mountain peaks seemed
to stand as sentinels over their last resting place. I remained
at Tamworth a short time, visited the graves of my kindred, and
on October 20th pursued my journey to Bloomfield, Maine, my old
home. I found great changes. Some kind friends remained, but
others were gone. The old home was changed and I felt that I
could not make my future home here. The great West seemed
more than ever attractive. There would I build my home, and
seek my fortune. I found here one who was willing to share
that home and whatever fortune awaited me in the West. On
January 1st I was married to Mary J. Wyman, by Rev. Arthur
Drinkwater, who gave us good counsel on the eve of our depar
ture to a new and still wilderness .country. On February 16th
we bade adieu to our friends in Maine, visited awhile at Tam
worth, and March 20th reached Prairie du Chien, having trav
eled by private conveyance, stage and steamer, passing through
New Haven, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Frederick
City, Maryland, over the National road to Wheeling, Virginia,
by steamer down the Ohio and up the Mississippi to our destina
tion. Here we made our home until the autumn of 1845, I con
tinuing in the business in which I had been previously engaged.
At this time a failure in my wife's health rendered a change of
climate necessary. PRAIRIE DU CHIEN IN 1836-37.
Our history of Fifty Years in the Northwest commences
properly at Prairie du Chien in the years 1836-37. The entire
country west and north was at that time but little better than a
wilderness. Prairie, du Chien was an outpost of civilization.
A few adventurous traders and missionaries had penetrated the
country above, planting a few stations here and there, and some
little effort had been made at settlement, but the country, for
the most part, was the home of roving tribes of Indians, and he
who adventured among them at any distance from posts or settle
ments did so at considerable peril. Prairie du Chien, as we have

IN THE NORTHWEST. 19
shown, had been for an indefinite period under various govern
ments, at first a French, and later an American settlement,
generally under the protection of a military force. It was a
primitive looking village. The houses were built for the most
part of upright timber posts and puncheons, and were sur
rounded by pickets. There was no effort at display. Every
- thing was arranged for comfort and protection.
AMERICAN RESIDENTS.
There were living at Prairie du Chien in 1837 the following
Americans with their families: Alfred Brunson, Thomas P.
Burnett, Joseph M. and Thomas P. Street, Ezekiel Tainter, John
Thomas, Milo Richards, John H. Fonday, Samuel Gilbert, and
William Wilson. The following were unmarried: James B.
Dallam, Ira B. Brunson, William S. Lockwood, and Hercules
Dousman. In addition to these were perhaps near a hundred
French families, old residents. Among the more noted were
the Brisbois, La Chapelle, Rolette and Bruno families.
We include in the following biographical sketches some names
of non-residents, prominent in the early territorial history, and
others who came to Prairie du Chien later than 1837.
BIOGRAPHIES.
James Duane Doty. — The life of this eminent citizen is so
interwoven with the history of Wisconsin that it might well
claim more space than is here allotted to it. The plan of this
work forbids more than a brief mention, and we therefore give
only the principal events in his life. Mr. Doty was born in
Salem, Washington county, New York, where he spent his early
days. After receiving a thorough literary education he studied
law, and in 1818 located at Detroit, Michigan. In 1820, in com
pany with Gov. Cass, he made a canoe voyage of exploration
through Lakes Huron and Michigan. On this voyage they nego
tiated treaties with the Indians, and returning made a report
on the comparatively unexplored region which they had trav
ersed. Under his appointment as judge for the counties of
Michigan west of the lake, which appointment he held for nine
years, he first made his home at Prairie du Chien, where he re
sided one year, thence removing to Green Bay for the remainder

2Q FIFTY YEARS
of his term of office, at which place he continued to reside for a
period of twenty years. In 1830 he was appointed one of the
commissioners to locate military routes from Green Bay to Chi
cago and Prairie du Chien. In 1834 he represented the coun
ties west of the lake in the Michigan legislative council at De- °
troit, at which council the first legislative action was taken affect
ing these counties. At that session he introduced a bill to create '
the state of Michigan, which was adopted. The result of this
action was the creation of the territory of Wisconsin in 1836. In
1838 Mr. Doty was chosen territorial delegate to Congress from
Wisconsin, in which capacity he served four years, when he was
appointed governor. He served as governor three years. He
acted as commissioner in negotiating Indian treaties. In 1846
he was a member of the first constitutional convention. In 1848
he was elected member of Congress, and was re-elected in 1851.
Somewhere in the '50s he built a log house on an island in Fox
river, just above Butte des Mortes, and lived there with his
family many years. There he gathered ancient curiosities, con
sisting of Indian implements, and relics of the mound builders.
'This log house still stands and is kept intact with the curiosities ..;
gathered there by the present owner, John Roberts, to whom
they were presented by Mrs. Fitzgerald, a daughter of Gov.
Doty, in 1877. The cabin overlooks the cities of Menasha and
Neenah, and the old council ground at the outlet of Lake Winne
bago, where the Fox and Sioux Indians held annual councils,
also the old battle ground where the Fox Indians routed the
Sioux in one of the hardest fought battles on record.
In 1861 Judge Doty was appointed superintendent of Indian
affairs, and subsequently was appointed governor of Utah Terri
tory, which place he held until his death in 1865. Wisconsin had
no truer friend nor more faithful and efficient servant. His aims ,
were exalted, and he deservedly held a high place in the affec
tions of his fellow citizens.
James H. Looewood. — Mr. Lockwood was the only practic- '
ing lawyer at the organization of Judge Doty's court. He was
the pioneer lawyer in Prairie du Chien, and the first lawyer ad
mitted to the bar in what is now Wisconsin. He practiced in
Crawford, Brown and Mackinaw counties. He was born in
Peru, Clinton county, New York, Dec. 7, 1793. He married
Julia Warren in 1822. She died at Prairie du Chien in 1827.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 21
He married his second wife, Sarah A. Wright, in St. Louis, Mis
souri, in 1834. She died at Prairie du Chien in 1877, much
esteemed as one of the pioneer women of the Upper Missis
sippi, and respected as a devout Christian, whose faith was
proven by her works. The early years of Mr. Lockwood were
spent on a farm. He had not the privileges of a classical educa
tion, and he may be said to be self educated. In 1810 he com
menced the study of law. In 1814 he was sutler in the United
States army, and in 1815 at the post at Mackinaw. From 1816
to 1819 he was an Indian trader, his home being at Prairie' du
Chien. In 1826 orders came to abandon the fort at Prairie du
Chien. The soldiers were transferred to Fort Snelling, but arms
and ammunition were left in charge of John Marsh, sub-Indian
agent. Mr. Lockwood's family was the only American family
at the post. On June 25th of the ensuing year he left for New
York by the Wisconsin River route, Mrs. Lockwood remaining
at home. The Winnebagoes were a little troublesome at this
time, the more so as the soldiers were removed from the post,
but no serious disturbance was anticipated. The first night
after leaving Prairie du Chien Mr. L. met some Winnebagoes,
and all camped together for the night; but the Indians, under
their chief, Red Bird, left the camp stealthily before morning,
and, proceeding to Prairie du Chien, entered the house of Mr.
Lockwood with loaded rifles. Mrs. L., greatly frightened, fled
to the store, then in charge of Duncan Graham, an old" English
trader. The Indians followed Mrs. L. into the store. Graham
counseled with them and they left. As they were acting sus
piciously a messenger was sent after Mr. Lockwood in haste. He
returned on tbe twenty-seventh and found the inhabitants as
sembled, but without ammunition or means of defense. The In
dians told the people not to go into the fort, as they would
destroy it. As the day passed pickets and embankments were
built around an old tavern. About sundown a keelboat came
down the river and landed, bearing three dead bodies and sev
eral wounded. The sides of the boat had been riddled by bul
lets. This ghastly arrival increased the panic. Mr. Lockwood
urged organization for defense. He was selected as captain but
declined, and Thomas McNair was chosen, who ordered an im
mediate removal to the fort. Repairs were made and prepara
tions for successful defense. On the day the fighting commenced

22 FIFTY YEARS
Red Bird and his companions shot and killed Gagner and Lip-
cap. Mrs Gagner, with rifle in hand, held Red Bird at bay till
she escaped with one child into the rushes, whence she was res
cued by a soldier on patrol duty. The soldier went to the house,
where he found Gagner and Lipcap lying dead upon the floor,
and an infant child, scalped and with its throat cut, lying under
the bed. Gov. Cass, of Michigan, arrived on the fourth of July,
greatly to the relief of the besieged' garrison, which he mustered
into the service of the United States, appointing Mr. Lockwood
quartermaster. Another company, under Capt. Abner Field,
was sent from Galena to their relief. Mr. Lockwood sent a
messenger to Col. Snelling at Fort Snelling, who promptly sent
down a company in a keelboat. The force thus concentrated at
the fort was sufficient to overcome the Indians, who were in no
plight to engage in a war with the United States. As the result
of a council held by the Winnebagoes in the presence of the
officers of the garrison, the Indians agreed to surrender Red
Bird and Kee-Waw to Maj. Whistler, the Indians asking that
the prisoners should not be ironed or harshly treated. Maj.
Whistler promised that they should be treated with considera-'
tion, and Red Bird, rising from the ground, said, "I am ready,"
and was marched off with his accomplice, Kee-Waw, to a tent in
the rear and placed under guard'. The prisoners were handed
over to Gen. Atkinson, and given into the hands of the civil
authorities. They were chained and imprisoned, which so
chafed the proud spirit of Red Bird that he drooped and soon
died of a broken heart. Kee-Waw was afterward pardoned by
the president of the 'United States. For this and other out
rages perpetrated upon the settlers, not a single Indian suffered
the penalty of death, excepting Red Bird, whose pride may be
said to have been his executioner.
Mr. Lockwood continued in mercantile business at Prairie du
Chien many years. He held many positions of honor and trust,
acquitting himself with credit. He built the first saw mill north
of the Wisconsin river, on the Menomonie river. The famous
Menomonie mills now occupy the same site. A small mill had .
been commenced prior to this on Black river, but the Indians
had burned this mill before it was completed. Mr. Lockwood
died at his home, Aug. 24, 1867.
John S. Lockwood.— John S., the brother of James H. Lock-

IN THE NORTHWEST. 23
wood, was born in 1796 in New York; came to Prairie du Chien
in 1838, and thereafter engaged in merchandising. He was a man
of exemplary habits and a member of the Presbyterian church
most of his life. He raised an interesting family. He died at his
home at Prairie du Chien in 1858.
Samuel Gilbert settled at Prairie du Chien in 1830. He was
of Kentucky birth, a blacksmith by trade, and a model man in
habits. Mr. Gilbert, in 1842, became one of the proprietors
of the Chippewa Falls mill. He afterward lived at Albany.
He followed Mississippi river piloting, removed to Burlington,
Iowa, and died in 1878. Mr. Gilbert left four sons, Oliver, lum
berman in Dunn county, Wisconsin, John and I. Dallam, lum
ber merchants at Burlington, Iowa, and Samuel.
Michael Brisbois. — We find the names of Brisbois and
some others mentioned in the proceedings of the commission
held by Col. Isaac Lee in 1820, to adjust claims to land in Prairie
du Chien and vicinity. Michael Brisbois testified that he had
been a resident of the Prairie thirty-nine years, which would
date his settlement as far back as 1781. Mr. Brisbois lived a
stirring and eventful life. He died in 1837, leaving several
children. Joseph, the oldest, became a man of prominence" and
held many offices in state and church. Charles, the second son,
while yet a boy went to McKenzie river, British possessions, in the
employ of the Northwestern Fur Company, where he lived thirty
years beyond the Arctic circle, and raised a large family. In
1842 he returned to Prairie du Chien, but his children, reared in
the cold climate of the frozen zone, soon after his return sick
ened, and most of them died, unable to endure the change to a
climate so much milder. Bernard W., a third son, was born at
Prairie du Chien, Oct. 4, 1808. He was well educated and grew
up a leading and influential citizen. As a child he had witnessed
the taking of Fort Shelby by the British in 1814, and its recap
ture as Fort McKay by the United States troops in 1815. Dur
ing the Red Bird Indian war he served as second lieutenant, and
for several years was stationed at Fort Crawford. He was also
a prominent agent or confidential adviser in the fur company
which had its headquarters at Prairie du Chien. He was sheriff
of Crawford county and held the office of county treasurer and
other positions of trust. In 1872 President Grant appointed him
consul to Vernier, Belgium, but ill health compelled an early

24 FIFTY YEARS
return. Mr. Brisbois married into the La Chapelle family. He
died in 1885, leaving an interesting family.
Pierre Lapoint was also before the commission of Col. Lee
as an early resident, having lived at the Prairie since 1782. The
testimony of these early citizens served to establish the ancient
tenure of the lands by French settlers, a tenure so ancient that
no one could definitely give a date for its commencement. Mr.
Lapoint was a farmer. He reared a large family of children,
and died about 1845.
Joseph Rolette.— Joseph Rolette was at one time chief jus
tice of the county court of Crawford county. He was of French
descent and was born in Quebec, L. C, in 1787. He was edu
cated for the Catholic priesthood. In 1804 he came to Prairie
du Chien. In the early part of his mature life he was an active
and successful trader with the Indians on the Upper Mississippi.
He was a man of keen perceptions and considerable ambition.
He joined the British at the siege of Detroit, and was an officer
at the capture of Mackinaw. He was in command of a company
in the campaign of the British from Mackinaw to Prairie du
Chien, and aided in taking the American stockade. "His early
education and associations inclined him to espouse the British
cause during the war of 1812, which he did with all the ardor
and enthusiasm of his nature. To his family he was kind and
indulgent, giving his children the best education possible. One
daughter, married to Capt. Hoe, of the United States army,
was a very superior woman. One son, Joseph, received all the
aid that money could give, and might have risen to distinction,
but he early contracted intemperate habits which became in later
life tenaciously fixed. This son was at one time a member of the
Minnesota legislature. Joseph Rolette, Sr., died at Prairie du
Chien in 1842.
Hercules Dousman.— The leading Indian trader of the- Up
per Mississippi, the prominent adviser at Indian treaties and
payments and the trusted agent of the American Fur Company,
was Hercules Dousman, a keen, shrewd man, and universally
influential with the Indians, with whom it might be said his
word was law. He understood all the intricacies involved in
the Indian treaty and the half-breed annuities and payments.
His extended favors and credits to the Indians, properly proven,
of course, would be recognized and paid at the regular payments.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 25
He accumulated through these agencies great wealth, which he
retained to his dying day. He came to Prairie du Chien, in
the employ of Joseph Rolette, in 1828. He afterward married
the widow of Rolette. He died in Prairie du Chien in 1878.
Rev. David Lowry. — A noble, big hearted Kentuckian, a
minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, he was located
by the government as farmer and teacher of the Indians on Yel
low river, near Prairie du Chien, in 1833. For years this good
man labored with unquestioned zeal for the welfare of the un
tutored Indian. Mr. Lowry informed me, while at his post, that
he was fearful that all his labor was labor lost, or worse than
useless. The Indian pupil learned just enough to fit him for the
worst vices. The introduction of whisky was a corrupting
agency, in itself capable of neutralizing every effort for the
moral and intellectual advancement of the Indian, with whom
intoxication produces insanity. He felt quite disheartened as
to the prospect of accomplishing any good. He died at St.
Cloud some time in the '50s.
Chief Justice Charles Dunn. — When Wisconsin Territory
was organized in 1836, Charles Dunn was appointed chief jus
tice. He served as judge until Wisconsin became a state in
1848. He was of Irish descent and was born in Kentucky in
1799. He studied law in Kentucky and Illinois, and was admit
ted to practice in 1820 at Jonesboro, Illinois. He was chief clerk
of the Illinois house of representatives five years. He was one of
the commissioners of the Illinois and Michigan canal. In 1829 he
was one of a party which surveyed and platted the first town of
Chicago, and superintended the first sale of town lots there. He
was captain of a company during the Black Hawk War in 1832,
and was severely wounded through mistake by a sentinel on
duty. In 1835 he was a member of the Illinois house of repre
sentatives. In 1837, as judge, he held his first court in Crawford
county. In this court, in 1838, indictments were found against
certain individuals for selling liquor to whites and Indians con
trary to law, when, by evasions, continuances and technicalities,
the suits would go by the board. In one case the charge given
to the jury by this dignified and courteous Judge Dunn was as fol
lows: "Gentlemen of the Jury: Unless you are satisfied that the
defendants in this case did deal out, in clear, unadulterated quanti
ties, intoxicating drinks, it is your imperative duty to discharge

26

FIFTY years

them." The jury, of course, discharged the defendants. Aside
from his drinking habits, which interfered much with his useful
ness he was a genial gentleman and regarded by his associates
as an eminent jurist. He sometimes kept the court waiting till
he should become sober, and on one occasion came near losing his
life in a drunken spree. He jumped through an upper window
of Tainter' s hotel, and escaped with only a broken leg. Judge
Dunn was a member of the second Wisconsin constitutional
convention. He was state senator in 1853-4-5 and 6. He died
at Mineral Point, April 7, 1872.
Ret. Alfred Brunson, a distinguished pioneer preacher in
the West, was born in- Connecticut, 1793, and received there a
common school education. His father died while he was yet a
minor, and with commendable zeal and filial love he devoted
himself to providing for his mother and her bereaved family,
working at the trade of a shoemaker till he was seventeen years
of age, when he enlisted as a soldier under Gen. Harrison and
served under him until the peace of 1815, when he entered the
Methodist ministry, in which, by industry and close application, ¦
he became quite learned and eminent as a divine. His active
ministry extended to the long period of sixty-seven years. He
was the first Methodist minister north of the Wisconsin river.
In 1837 he established a mission at Kaposia and thence removed
to Red Rock (Newport), in Washington county, Minnesota. In
1840 he was a member of the Wisconsin legislature. In 1842 he
was Indian agent at Lapointe, on Lake Superior. Mr. Brunson
was very prominent in the councils of his own church, having
represented his conference several times in the general con
ference of that body. He is also the author of many essays and
other publications, among them "The Western Pioneer," in
two volumes, a most entertaining and instructive account of life
in the West.
Mr. Brunson was married to Eunice Burr, a relative of the
famous Aaron Burr. She was a woman of great intelligence and
of excellent qualities of heart as well as mind. Her heart over
flowed with sympathy for the sick and distressed, and she won
by her care for them the affectionate title of " Mother Brunson."
She died in 1847.
Rev. Alfred Brunson, though an itinerant, was so favored in
his various fields of labor that he was able to have his perma-

IN THE NORTHWEST. 27
nent home at Prairie du Chien, where he lived from 1835 until
the time of his death in 1882.
Many incidents in Mr. Brunson' s career are worthy of per
manent record. He was among the most hardy and daring of
the pioneers. He came down the Ohio and up the Mississippi
in a barge to Prairie du Chien in 1835, the barge laden with
household furniture and the material for a frame building which,
on landing, he proceeded immediately to erect. This house,
which he and his family occupied till his death, is still standing.
When he established his mission at Kaposia he was greatly in
need of an interpreter. An officer at Fort Snelling owned a
negro slave who had been a Methodist before going into the
army in the service of his master. ' Afterward he had married a
Dakota woman and by associating with the Indians had learned
their language. This young negro, James Thompson, was a
slave, and Mr. Brunson could only secure his services by pur
chasing him outright, which he did, paying the price of $1,200,
the money for which was raised by subscription in Ohio. " Jim" ,
was presented with his "free papers," and was soon interpreting
the Gospel to the Indians at Kaposia. This is the only instance
on record of a slave being sold on Minnesota soil. It will be
remembered, however, that the historical "Deed Scott" was
also the property of an officer at the Fort, Surgeon Emerson.
James Thompson resided in St. Paul in the later years of his
life, and died there in 1884.
Ira Brunson. — Ira, the eldest son of Rev. A. Brunson, was
born in Ohio in 1815, and came to Prairie du Chien in 1836. He
was a member of the legislature during the years 1837-38-39
and 40. He was also postmaster many years. He was con
tinuously in office in Crawford county until his death in 1884.
In 1840 he was appointed special deputy United States marshal
for the purpose of removing the settlers from the Fort Snelling
reservation. These settlers were mostly from Selkirk, Mani
toba. They had been driven out by the grasshoppers and, fleeing
southward, had settled about Fort Snelling to be under the pro
tection of the Fort. The government, however, considered them
intruders and ordered Mr. Brunson to remove them outside the
reservation, and to destroy all their dwellings and farm improve
ments, which disagreeable duty he performed as well, perhaps,
as it could be performed; he, as he afterward told me, being

28 FIFTY YEARS
satisfied in his own mind that the removal would be for their
ultimate good, the influences of the Fort and of the associations
of the motley crowd of hangers on around it being somewhat
demoralizing. At any rate the eviction of these western Acadi-
ans has never aroused the sympathies of the poet and sentimen
talist as did that of the Acadians of the East.
John H. Folsom, brother of W. H. C. Folsom, was born in
Machias, Maine, Dec. 27, 1813. He was engaged during his
youth in clerking. In 1835 he made a voyage as supercargo of
a vessel to the Congo coast. In 1836 he came to Michigan, and
in 1837 to Prairie du Chien, where he has since continuously re
sided. He was married in 1839 to Angelica Pion, who died in
1878, leaving no children. He has a very retentive memory,
and is quoted as an authority in the local history of Prairie du
Chien. The writer is indebted to him for many particulars re
ferring to the early history of that city.
Ezekiel Tainter. — Mr. Tainter came to Prairie du Chien in
1 833 from Vermont. He had at first fort contracts, but after-
ward engaged in merchandising, farming and hotel keeping. He
also served as sheriff. He was eccentric and original in his meth
ods, and some amusing stories are told of his prowess in arresting
criminals. On one occasion he was about to arrest a criminal.
Having summoned his posse, he followed the man until he took
refuge in a cabin with one door and two windows. Stationing
his men before the door, he thus addressed them: "Brave boys,
I am about to go through this door. If I fall, as I undoubtedly
will, you must rush over, my dead body and seize the ruffian."
Giving the word of command, he plunged through the door and
captured the criminal, apparently much astonished at finding
himself still alive. At his tavern, one morning, a boarder an
nounced that he had been robbed. Uncle Zeke quieted him, and,
quickly examining his rooms, found one boarder missing. It was
gray twilight. He ordered all to retire but the man who had
been robbed. The two sat quietly down as they saw a man ap
proaching the house from the bluffs. To their surprise it was
the absentee approaching. As he stepped on the piazza, Uncle
Zeke dexterously tripped him up with his stiff leg, and seizing
him by the throat, shouted to the astonished miscreant: "Where
is the money you stole? Tell me at once, or you will never get
up." The prostrate culprit, thoroughly frightened, tremblingly

IN THE NORTHWEST. 29
answered, "I hid it in the bluff." They marched him to the
spot, recovered the money and generously allowed the thief his
freedom on the condition of his leaving the country. Uncle
Zeke lived to a good old age, and died at the residence of his
son Andrew, in Menomonie, Wisconsin.
Wyram Knowlton.— Mr. Knowlton was born in Chenango
county, New York, in 1816, came to Wisconsin in 1837, and com
menced the Study of law. He was admitted to practice in Platte-
ville, and in 1840 came to Prairie du Chien an<| opened a law of
fice. In 1846 he enlisted and served in the Mexican War, after
which he resumed practice. In 1850 he was appointed judge of
the Sixth Judicial district of Wisconsin, and served six years.
He held the first court in Pierce county in 1854. He was a man
of fine ability. He died in the north part of the State in 1873.
Robert Lester. — A melancholy interest attaches to the
memory of this man on account of his early tragical death. He
had come to Prairie du Chien in 1840, and in 1842 had been
elected sheriff. Next year his official duties called him to the
Menomonie and Chippewa valleys. On his return he had left
Lockwood' s mills on the Menomonie, and had passed through
Trempealeau and was coasting along the west shore, when an In
dian hailed him, calling for bread. Lester passed on without
responding. As he reached a point of land the Indian ran
across the point and, awaiting his approach, shot him through
the heart. Lester rose as the ball struck him, and fell over
board. Mr. Jean Bruno, .proprietor of the Chippewa mills,
was on his way up river in a canoe, and witnessed the whole
transaction. Mr. Bruno described the whole tragic scene. Popu
lar excitement ran high at Prairie du Chien. A party of men
volunteered to search for Lester's body, which was found at the
place of the murder and brought back for interment at Prairie
du Chien. The Indian, a Sioux, was arrested and kept in jail a
long time, and although he had acknowledged to some of his
Indian friends that he had killed Lester, he was acquitted. It
was a cold blooded and atrocious murder, and the proof of the
Indian's guilt was overwhelming, as he was, by his own confes
sion, the murderer; still he was not punished. In this case the
prisoner did not languish and die in jail of a broken heart as
did Red Bird, the murderer of Gagner and Lipcap. As a rule
the courts dealt very leniently with Indian crimirTals.

30

FIFTY YEARS

Thomas Pendleton Burnett was born in Virginia in 1800.
He studied law and was admitted to the bar in Paris, Kentucky. ,
He was appointed sub-Indian agent under J. M. Street, in 1829.
He came to Prairie du Chien in 1830 and entered upon the duties
of the agency. He also practiced law. In 1835 he was a mem
ber of the Michigan territorial council and its president. In
1836, after his term of office expired, he married a daughter of
Alfred Brunson and, continuing the practice of law, became
quite eminent for his skill, and acquired an extensive practice.
He was a fluent speaker, well skilled in the management of the
cases intrusted to his care. In 1840 he removed to a farm at
Patch Grove, Grant county. He was a member of the Wiscon
sin constitutional convention which met in 1846. He served
but a few weeks when he was called home by the death of his
mother and the sickness of his wife. The fatigue of a twenty-
four hours' ride of eighty-five miles in a rude lumber wagon
was too much for his not very rugged constitution, and four days
after his mother's death he followed her to the world of spirits.
His devoted wife survived him but three hours. Under circum
stances of such unusual sadness did this brilliant and promising
lawyer and citizen take his departure from earth. His death
created a profound sensation throughout the entire Northwest,
where he was so well and favorably known.
Henry Dodge, the first governor of Wisconsin Territory, was
born in Vincennes, Indiana, Oct. 12, 1782. He came to the lead
mines of Wisconsin in 1828. In 1832 he took part in the Black
Hawk War, an uprising of the Sac and Fox Indians against the
United States government. Mr. Dodge participated as a general
at the battle of Bad Axe, his regiment occupying the front rank in
that battle. April 30, 1836, he was appointed governor of Wiscon
sin by President Andrew Jackson, re-appointed in 1839 by Presi
dent Van Buren, and by President Polk in 1845, serving three
terms. From 1841 to 1845, during the presidency of Harrison and
his successor (Tyler), he served as terrritorial delegate to Con
gress. In 1848 he was elected United States senator for the short
term, and re-elected in 1851, Senator Walker being his colleague.
On the occasion of the motion to admit California, the Wisconsin
senators were instructed by the legislature to vote against the
measure. Senator Walker disregarded the instruction and voted
for the measure. Senator Dodge, although extremely ill at the

IN THE NORTHWEST. 31
time, had himself carried to the senate chamber that he might
record his vote adversely to the bill. Gov. Dodge rose to the
highest position in his State, and chiefly by his own unaided
efforts. As a soldier he was brave and efficient, as a governor,
congressional delegate and senator he was clear headed, cautious
and wise, and altogether a citizen of whom the State might justly
be proud. He died in Burlington, Iowa, June 19, 1867.
George W. Jones was born in Vincennes, Indiana. He
graduated at Transylvania University, Kentucky, in 1825. He
was educated for the law, but ill health prevented him from
practicing. He, however, served as clerk of the United States
district court in Missouri in 1826, and during the Black Hawk
War served as aid-de-camp to Gen. Dodge. In 1832 he was ap
pointed colonel of militia, and was promoted to a major gener
alship. After the war he served as judge of a county court. In
1835 he was elected delegate to Congress from the territory of
Michigan, or from that part of it lying west of Lake Michigan,
and remained a delegate until the formation of Wisconsin Terri
tory, in 1836, when he was elected delegate from the new terri
tory. In 1839 he was appointed surveyor general for Wisconsin.
He was removed in 1841, but reappointed by President Polk,
and continued in office until elected senator from the state of
Iowa, which position he held for six years, and was then ap
pointed by President Bnchanan minister to New Granada. Dur
ing the Civil War his sympathies were with the South and he
was imprisoned for awhile at Fort Warren under a charge of
disloyalty. He has resided in Dubuque, Iowa, since the forma
tion of Iowa Territory. He still lives, a hale and hearty old
gentleman, and served as a delegate to the waterways conven
tion held in St. Paul, September, 1880.
S. G. and S. L. Tainter and John Thomas (father of Hon.
Ormsby Thomas, representative from Wisconsin in the Congress
of 1887-88) with their families came to Prairie du Chien in 1837. •
The Messrs. Tainter and Thomas died many years ago.

32

FIFTY YEARS

CHAPTER II.
STILLWATER AND ST. CROIX COUNTIES.
In September, 1844, reluctantly I bade adieu to Prairie du
Chien with its picturesque bluffs and historic associations, and
embarked on the steamer Highland Mary, Capt. Atchison, to
seek a home and more salubrious climate further north. The
voyage was without incident worthy of note, till we reached
St. Croix lake, in the midst of a crashing thunder storm and a
deluge of rain, which did not prevent us from eagerly scanning
the scenery of the lake. The shores were as yet almost without
inhabitants. The home of Paul Carli, a two story house at the
mouth of Bolles creek, was the first dwelling above Prescott,
on the west side of the lake. A few French residences were to
be seen above on the west side. On the east bank, below the
mouth of Willow river, where Hudson is now situated, were
three log houses owned by Peter Bouchea, Joseph Manesse, and
Louis Massey. On the high hill west, nearly opposite Willow
river, stood the farm house of Elam Greely, and on the same
side, on the point, in full view of Stillwater, stood the farm house
of John Allen. With the exception of these few dwellings, the
shores of the lake were untouched by the hand of man, and spread ,
before us in all their primitive beauty. There were gently
rounded hills sloping to the water's edge, and crowned with
groves of shrubby oak, amidst which, especially at the outlet of
streams into the lake, the darker pines stood out boldly against
the sky. We passed on over the clear, blue expanse of water
on which was no floating thing save our boat and the wild fowl
which were scared and flew away at our approach, till we reached
the head of the lake at Stillwater, the end of our journey. No
vember 30th my family arrived on the steamer Cecilia, Capt.
Throckmorton.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 33

STILLWATER IN 1845.

We landed just in front of the store of Nelson & Co. Just
below the landing was a clear, cold spring, bubbling out of the
earth, or the rock rather. It was walled in and pretty well
filled with speckled trout. On the opposite side of the street
Walter R. Vail had a house and store; north of Vail's store
the house and store of Socrates Nelson. Up Main street, west
side, stood Anson Northrup's hotel and Greely & Blake's
post office and store. One street back was the residence of John
E. Mower, and north of this the mill boarding house, and in
the rear the shanty store of the mill company, where the Saw
yer House now stands. Up a ravine stood the shanty residence
of John Smith. In a ravine next to Nelson & Co.'s store was
the residence of Wm. Cove. On Main street, opposite Greely
& Blake's store, was the residence of Albert Harris. On the
shore of the lake, north of Chestnut street, was John McKusick' s
saw mill. Sylvester Stateler's blacksmith shop stood just south
of the mill. In Brown's Dakotah, now Schulenberg's addition,
near the old log court house, was a log hotel, kept by Robert
Kennedy. This was Stillwater in 1845.
ST. CROIX COUNTY.
From 1819 to 1836 this valley was under the jurisdiction of
Crawford county, Michigan, there being no white inhabitants
save Indian traders. There was no law dispensed in this region,
excepting the law that might makes right. In 1836 the terri
tory of Wisconsin, comprising all of Michigan west of the great
lakes; also all that portion of Missouri Territory out of which
was formed the state of Iowa, which was organized as a territory
in 1838, and admitted as a state in 1846; also that portion of
Minnesota which lies west of the present state — yet unorganized
— known as Dakota, was organized.
The year 1837 forms a new era in our history. Gov. Henry
Dodge, of Wisconsin, on the part of the national government,
was appointed to negotiate with the Ojibways. They met at
Fort Snelling. A treaty was made, the Indians ceding to the
United States all their lands east of the Mississippi, to near the
headwaters of the St. Croix and Chippewa rivers.
3

34 FIFTY YEARS
A deputation of Dakotas at Washington, the same year, ceded
all their lands east of the Mississippi to the parent government,
thus opening to Settlement all this portion of Minnesota and
Wisconsin. But few adventurers made their way into this far off
region, however, for many years. A steamer once in two months
was the only mode of travel, excepting by birch canoe.
In October, 1837, at Prairie du Chien, I met a party who had
ascended the Mississippi and the St. Croix as far as St. Croix
Falls. According to their account they had found the place
where creation ended, where a large river, capable of bearing a
steamer, burst out of a rock like that which Moses smote. They
had seen "the elephant with his quills erect," and were return
ing satisfied to their New England home. They had entered the
since famous Dalles of the St. Croix, located at the head of
navigation on that river.
In the year 1838, being the year succeeding the purchase of
the lands bordering on the St. Croix river and a portion of her
tributaries, may be dated the commencement of the settlement
of the St. Croix valley; but with the exception of the Hon. Jos
eph R. Brown, the parties that I shall enumerate as opening busi
ness, came here for the purpose of lumbering, and in no instance
as permanent settlers. The valley was considered too far north
and the soil too sterile for cultivation, but many of those who
came here in 1838 found out their mistake and made choice of the
valley for their permanent homes. They were afterward abun-'
dantly satisfied with the healthfulness of the climate and the fer
tility of the soil. Several companies were formed this year for
the ostensible purpose of lumbering, many members of which
became permanent settlers.
The first dismemberment of the St. Croix valley from Craw
ford county was by the organization of the county of St. Croix.
Joseph R. Brown was elected representative to the legislature,
from the north part of Crawford county. His residence at that
time was Gray Cloud, now in Washington county. Mr. Brown
introduced the bill for the organization of St. Croix county,
which passed and was approved by the governor of Wisconsiu,
Jan. 9, 1840. The writer of these sketches was employed by
Messrs. Brown and Brunson (the representatives from this dis
tricts, in December, 1S39, to take them with a team from Prairie
du Chien to Madison. One of the indispensable requirements

IN THE NORTHWEST. 35
for traveling in those days was a large "Black Betty," which
was the butt of much wit and humor. Mr. Brown said the con
tents of Old Betty must establish a new county away up in the
Northwest. The deed was done — the act did pass. I don't know
whether Old Betty came back to assist in organizing the county
or not. It is well to say Mr. Brown acquitted himself with honor
to his constituents, and was successful in the one great object for
which he sought the election. This was the precursc^ to coming
events — a shadow cast before. For it was under this organiza
tion that Northwest Wisconsin and Minnesota first obeyed the
mandates of law and order.
Under the provision of the act of organization, Hazen Mooers,
of Gray Cloud, Samuel Burkelo, of Marine, and Joseph R. Brown,
of Dakotah, were constituted a board of county commissioners
with county seat located at Dakotah.
This town was located at the head of Lake St. Croix, on the
west side, on unsurveyed government lands, known as "Joe
Brown's Claim." When the Wisconsin legislature of 1840 made
this the county seat of St. Croix county it was named Dakotah.
JUDGE IRWIN'S COURT IN 1840.
The first district court north of Prairie du Chien was called
at Dakotah, St. Croix county. This county had been assigned
to Judge Irwin's district (Green Bay). The time assigned for
the court was June, 1840. Judge Irwin wended his way up Fox
river to the portage, down the Wisconsin to Prairie du Chien,
up the Mississippi to St. Paul, and across from St. Paul to Da
kotah with guides. At Dakotah the regular officers were all
absent, but he found at the court house two young men named
Brown and six Frenchmen from St. Paul and Little Canada,
summoned as jurors by Sheriff Lawrence. Judge Irwin re
mained one night, slept in deer skins in the county building,
subsisting meanwhile on venison and bear steak. No calendar
was to be found and the judge and jurors left for home.
The first commissioners' meeting was held Oct. 5, 1840. At
this meeting much important work was done. An acre of ground
at the county seat was selected for county buildings. A con
tract to erect a court house according to specifications was let to
J. R. Brown, he to receive for the same eight hundred dollars.

36

FIFTY YEARS

The parties agreed upon a deed or conveyance of ground, a syn
opsis of which we append. The conveyance cites and reiterates
a Wisconsin legislative law establishing St. Croix county, giving
to the people the right to locate the county seat by vote and to the
county commissioners power to erect county buildings, the se
lected location to be the permanent seat of justice of said county.
It further provides that the county commissioners shall carry
into effect the law of Congress of the United States, entitled "An
act granting to counties or parishes, in which public lands are
situate, the right of pre-emption to one-fourth section of land,
for seats of justice within the same." Approved May 20, 1824.
It then cites the vote taken Aug. 5, 1840, locating the county
seat at "Brown's warehouse, at the head of Lake St. Croix."
Further conditions are set forth in compliance with the law, con
firming the location on Joseph R. Brown's land claim. This is
the first recorded deed in St. Croix county.
Thirty dollars was allowed to J. R. Brown and W. B. Dibble,
each, for carrying election returns to Prairie du Chien. The first
abstract of votes polled in St. Croix county was for delegate to
Congress and for county officers. For delegate to Congress the
following vote was cast: Henry Dodge, seventeen; Jonathan E.
Arnold, ten. Samuel Burkelo, Hazen Mooers and W. B. Dibble
were elected county commissioners; William Holcombe, county
treasurer and register of deeds; Phineas Lawrence, sheriff; J. E.
Brown, county clerk and clerk of court, and Philander Prescott,
assessor. The first recorded deed of property in Stillwater was from Wal
ter R. Vail to Rufus S. King, transferring for a consideration of
§1,550 a tract bounded east by Lake St. Croix and south and
north by lands owned by Churchill and Nelson.
Three election precincts had been established in this portion
of Crawford county prior to the organization of St. Croix
county: Caw-caw-baw-kank, embracing the county adjacent to
St. Croix Falls; Dakotah, the county at the head of. Lake St.
Croix, and Chan-wak-an the Gray Cloud settlement, on the
Mississippi. On July 5, 1841, the commissioners held a meeting and estab
lished voting precincts as follows:
Gray Cloud — Judges of election, Hazen Mooers, David Howe*
Joseph Haskell.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 37
Mouth of St. Croix Lake— Judges of election, P. Prescott, Oscar
P. Burris, John Burke.
Marine Mills— Judges of election, Asa Parker, Samuel Burk
elo, T. Harrington.
Falls of St. Croix— Judges of election, Joseph W. Furber,
Joshua L. Taylor, Jesse Taylor.
Pokegama— Judges of election, Jeremiah Russell, E. Myers,
E. L. Ely.
Feb. 2, 1844, St. Paul and Stillwater were made election
precincts by the Wisconsin legislature, and Stillwater was made
the county seat. The constituted authorities were not success
ful in making out assessments and collecting county revenues.
The first estimate of expenditures for the county was for 1842,
and amounted to $482. This included the estimate for holding
one term of court. Up to the time of changing the county seat
to Stillwater much dissatisfaction existed as to the manner in
which the county finances had been managed, and there was a
general revolt, a refusal to pay taxes. In consequence, the
county building at Dakotah remained unfinished and was finally
abandoned by the county authorities. J. R. Brown lost on his
contract on account of this failure and abandonment. The first
successful collection of taxes in St. Croix county, considered
legal, was in 1845. Capt. Wm. Holcombe acted during this
period as clerk of the commissioners, and register of deeds. In
1846 he deputized W. H. C. Folsom as deputy clerk and regis
ter of deeds, and transmitted the records from St. Croix Falls to
Stillwater.

* EARLY HISTORY OF STILLWATER.
In the spring of 1843 Jacob Fisher made a claim on unsurveyed
lands at the head of Lake St. Croix, immediately south of Da
kotah, spotting and blazing the trees to mark the limits of his
claim. Mr. Fisher thought it a good site for a saw mill, and
made an offer to Eli as McKean and Calvin F. Leach of the entire
claim on condition that they would build a mill. McKusick and
Greely were looking for a mill site; Mr. Fisher referred them to
McKean and Leach. It was agreed that the four should take the
*For the facts in this history I am indebted to John McKusick, Jacob Fisher, Elias McKean,
and Kl.au i Greely.

38 FIFTY YEARS
claim and erect the mill. Greely improved and held the claim,
while McKusick went to St. Louis and procured mill irons and
supplies. McKean and Leach operated in the pinery. By April
1, 1844, the mill was finished and in operation. This was the '
first frame building erected in Stillwater. It stood on the lake
shore, east of Main street, lot 8, block 18. The second frame
huilding was McKusick's boarding house, west of Main street,
on block 18. John Allen's family was the first to locate in Still
water. Mr. Allen came in the spring of 1844, and subsequently
removed to California. The second family was that of Anson
Northrup coming soon after. Mr. Northrup built a public house
on the west side of Main street, just north of Nelson's alley.
Soon afterward came widow Edwards and family from Ohio,
relatives of the Northrups; Mrs. Northrup being a daughter of
widow Edwards. Socrates Nelson came about this time and
built the first store in Stillwater. His family joined him soon
afterward. The first marriage was that of Jesse Taylor and Ab-
bie Edwards, J. W. Furber, Esq., officiating justice. The second
marriage was that of William Cove to Nancy Edwards in May,
1S45. The first white child born was Willie Taylor, son of Jesse
Taylor, in 1845. A daughter, Maud Maria, was born to Mr. and
Mrs. Paul Carli in Dakotah (Schulenburg's addition to Still
water), in 1843.
Stillwater derives its name from its appropriate location on
the banks of the still waters of Lake St. Croix. A post office
was established in 1845, and Elam Greely was appointed post
master. The first business partnership was that of the saw mill
company, already noted. We give here in full the articles of
agreement as the first written and the oldest on record in Wash
ington county. This document is important not only as fixing
a date for the origin or founding of Stillwater, but as an impor
tant event, as it thus early laid the foundation of the future
prosperity of the city, and indicated the direction in which its
energies should be chiefly turned:
[Copy of Agreement]
This agreement, made and entered into this twenty-sixth day
of October, Anno Domini eighteen hundred and forty-three, by
the following named individuals, viz.: John McKusick, Elias
McKean, Elam Greely, and Calvin F. Leach, for the purpose of

IN THE NORTHWEST. 39
building a saw mill near the head of Lake St. Croix, Wisconsin
Territory, and for carrying on the lumbering business in all its
various branches.
Article first — It is understood by this agreement, that the
heretofore named individuals form themselves into a company
to continue and exist by the name of the Stillwater Lumber
Company. Article second — It is agreed to by the heretofore named in
dividuals, that the whole amount of property owned and business
done by the aforesaid company shall be included in fifteen shares,
and to be divided and owned by each individual of the aforesaid
company as follows, viz.: John McKusick. five-fifteenths; Elias
McKean, three-fifteenths; Elam Greely, four- fifteenths; and Cal
vin F. Leach, three-fifteenths.
Article third — It is furthermore understood, that each proprie
tor of the aforesaid company shall pay his proportion of all the
expenses arising from all the business done or transacted by the
aforesaid company, and to continue the same ratio, so long a
time as said company shall exist and continue to do business
under the present form, and likewise any gain or loss, arising or
accruing from any or all of the business done by the aforesaid
company, shall be shared or sustained by each proprietor of the
aforesaid company, in the same ratio as above named, in propor
tion to each above named proprietor's share of stock owned in
the aforesaid company.
Article fourth — It is furthermore agreed to, that the whole
amount of money or property that each or either of the proprie
tors of the aforesaid company shall invest, advance, or pay for
the benefit or use of the aforesaid company, the same amount
shall be credited to the separate credit of the proprietor or
either of the proprietors of the aforesaid company making such
investments, on the books of accounts kept by the aforesaid com
pany. Article fifth — It is furthermore understood, that for the amount
of money or property that any one of the proprietors of the afore
said company shall invest, advance, or pay for the Tbenefit or
use of the aforesaid company, more than his proportional share
of the whole amount of money or property invested by the afore
said company, the same amount of money, with interest, shall
be paid or refunded back to said proprietor by the aforesaid

40 FIFTY YEARS
company, out of the first proceeds arising from the business done
by the company aforesaid.
Article sixth — It is furthermore understood, that in case any
one of the aforesaid proprietors should at any time hereafter be
disposed to sell, transfer or dispose of his share of stock owned
in the aforesaid company, he shall first pay to said company all
the liabilities or indebtedness of said share of stock, and then
give said company the preference of purchasing and owning said
share of stock, at the same rates by which said proprietor may
have an opportunity to sell said shares of stock.
Article seventh — It is furthermore understood that the proprie
tors of the aforesaid company, individually, shall have no right,
or power, to sign any obligation or due bill, make any contract,
or transact any business of importance in the name of, or bind
ing on, the aforesaid company, except some one proprietor of the
aforesaid company should hereafter be fully authorized by the
aforesaid company to act and transact business as agent for the
aforesaid company.
In testimony whereof, we hereunto set our hands and seals
this twenty-sixth day of October, Anno Domini eighteen hun
dred and forty-three. John McKusick,
Elam Greely,
Elias McKean,
C. F. Leach.
Attest: C. Simonds.
This agreement and dates are taken from the original book of
records in the possession of John McKusick.
After this agreement was signed, until Mr. McKusick became
the sole owner, the business was conducted by mutual agreement,
there being no constituted agent, except in case of an emer
gency. The mill boarding house, a two story building, erected in
1845, was burned in 1846, and immediately rebuilt. In 1846
J. H. Brewster built a small store. McKusick' s store was built
the same year, on the southwest corner of Main and Myrtle streets.
Some smaller buildings were erected this year.
In 1845 a verbal agreement was made with regard to land
claims, by which Brown's claim was recognized as extending
along the lake shore north of Battle Hollow, where the Min-

IN THE NORTHWEST. 41
nesota state prison now stands. South of Battle Hollow, along
the lake shore to Nelson, extending three-fourths of a mile west,
was the claim of the mill company, originally held by Fisher.
South of Nelson's alley, one-half mile down the lake, three-fourths
of a mile west, was S. Nelson's claim. When the government
survey was made these claims and lines were amicably adjusted
and confirmed. A congressional law was in existence making pro -
visions for villages and cities built on unsurveyed lands, that
such lands should be equitably divided and surveyed into lots,
and the actual settler or occupant should be protected in his
rights. In May, 1846, a desire was expressed by citizens of St. Paul
and Stillwater for the opening of new roads between these cities.
The traveled road up to that time was by Haskell's and Bis-
sell's Mounds, Louis Roberts and the writer examined a route
by White Bear lake. A road was established south of this route
in June.
In July I started up the St. Croix river with Joseph Brewster, in
a batteau, to put up hay for Elam Greely on Kanabec river. We
poled our batteau with outfit and camped where now stands the
village of Franconia. The next morning early we entered the
picturesque Dalles of the St. Croix, then cordelled our boat
over Baker's falls, and landed at the village of St. Croix Falls.
This village, the first American settlement on the St. Croix, had
one large mill with six saws. The water power was utilized by
means of a permanent dam with massive piers. A warehouse
was perched in a romantic situation amidst the cliffs of the Dalles
and furnished with a tramway or wooden railway extending to
the summit of the cliffs, for the transportation of goods. A board
ing house dubbed the "Barlow House," another the "Soap Grease
Exchange," and a few small tenement houses, constituted the
village. The leading business men were James Purinton, Wm.
Holcombe, Joseph Bowron and Lewis Barlow. We spent half a
day in making a portage around the St. Croix falls. The wind
being fair, on the third day we sailed as far as Sunrise island.
At Wolf creek we passed an Indian trading post. In front of
Sunrise island and on the west side of the St. Croix river, a lit
tle below the mouth of Sunrise river, stood the trading post of
Maurice M. Samuels, long*known as one of the most remarkable
and notorious men on the frontier. He was a Jew, but had

42

FIFTY YEARS

marri

ried a Chippewa woman, claiming that he had married one
ofhis own people, the Indians being, according to his theory, de
scendants of the Lost Tribes of Israel.
On the sixth day we came to the farm of Jeremiah Russell,
on Pokegama lake. We found him a pleasant gentleman, en
gaged as an Indian farmer. We paddled across the lake to the
Presbyterian mission. Mr. Boutwell, the superintendent, was
absent. The mission was pleasantly located, the management
was excellent, the crops were in fair condition, and well culti
vated. Everything about the mission betokened good manage
ment. Next day we went to a hay meadow opposite the mouth
¦of Ground House creek, where we put up on this and adjacent
meadows sixty tons of hay. We left on the twenty-fourth, camp
ing the first night at Chengwatana. On the morning of the
twenty-fifth, while passing down Kanabec river, our ears were
greeted with some most horrible and unearthly noises. On turn
ing a bend in the river we saw a large body of Indians cutting
indescribable antics, in the river and on the shore, chasing each
other, reeling and staggering to and fro, yelling and firing guns.
They seemed a lot of Bedlamites turned out as if to dispute our
passage down the river. Pass them now we must. It was too
late to retreat. Our batteau was light. I was in the bow, Brews
ter was in the stern. The yelling and uproar grew each moment
more horrible. Brewster said : ' ' Keep the bow in the best
water and pass them in a hurry." He was of great strength;
every set of his pole would almost lift the boat from the water.
While we were passing several guns were leveled at us, but such
was the noise that if any were fired we did not hear them. We
were glad when we passed out of range and hearing. While
passing we caught a glimpse of the cause of the unusual dis
turbance, some whisky barrels, and drunken savages around
them, staggering, fighting or lying on the ground in drunken
stupor. Landing at Samuels' camp, we learned of him that one
Myers had hidden a couple of barrels of whisky on Kanabec
river, that the Indians had found them, and the jollification we
had witnessed would last till the whisky was all gone. We
arrived at Stillwater without further adventure.
In July I made another visit to Brairie du Chien. The mail
packet for Fort Snelling, on which I expected to return, broke
her shaft and returned to St. Louis for repairs. The postmaster

IN THE NORTHWEST. 43
at Prairie du Chien offered me seventy dollars to carry the mail
to the Fort, which offer I accepted. I bought a skiff, blankets
and provisions, hired one man and started. We poled, paddled
and rowed against a strong current, the low water compelling us
to keep near the centre of the river. We arrived at Bully Wells'
on Lake Pepin on the fifth evening and politely asked the privi
lege of stopping with him and were promptly refused. It was
raining very hard at the time. We drew our skiff up on the'
shore, turned it over for a shelter, and crawled beneath it with
the mail. As it was a cold, wet night, we suffered severely. As
we were passing an island above Red Wing, the day following,
we saw some Sioux Indian wigwams, and, as we had no fire
water and no food to spare we kept close to the opposite shore.
We were, however, observed. An Indian appeared on the shore
near the wigwams and beckoned to us to cross over. We made
no reply but kept steadily on our course, observing, meanwhile,
that the Indian, with his gun, was skulking along through the
brush, apparently bent on overtaking and waylaying us. We
kept a respectful distance, and fortunately were able to increase
it, but not till we were beyond rifle shot did we dare to pause
for rest. That night we camped without striking a light, and
next day arrived at Point Douglas. I went no further. The
hardship and exposure of this trip brought on a severe illness.
Mr. David Hone, at whose house I remained for two weeks, un
der the care of Dr. Carli, of Stillwater, took the mail to Fort
Snelling. Soon as able I returned to Stillwater.
In May of this year I had made a claim of government un-
surveyed land, covering springs sufficient for a water power.
While I was sick at Point Douglas, Joseph Brewster, Martin
Mower and David B. Loomis formed a company to build a mill
and carry on a logging business. They had agreed upon me as a
fourth partner and to build on my claim; Mower and Loomis to
attend to getting logs, Brewster and Folsom to build the mill.
We moved to our claim Oct. 6, 1846, and went to work in
earnest. We agreed upon the name of Areola for the new
settlement. The mill was not finished until April 3, 1847, at
which time Brewster and Folsom sold out their interest and
returned to Stillwater.

44 FIFTY YEARS

STILLWATER IN 1846.
Living in Stillwater, Jan. 1, 1846, were the following married
men: Cornelius Lyman, Socrates Nelson, Walter R. Vail, Rob
ert Kennedy, Anson Northrup, Albert Harris, John E. Mower,
William E. Cove, John Smith, and W. H. C. Folsom. Among
the unmarried men were: John McKusick, C. Carli, Jacob
Fisher, Elam Greely, Edward Blake, Elias McKean, Calvin F.
Leach, Martin Mower, David B. Loomis, Albion Masterman,
John Morgan, Phineas Lawrence, Joseph Brewster, John Carl
ton, Thomas Ramsdell, William Rutherford, William Willim,
Charles Macey, and Lemuel Bolles.
Here follows a list of the pioneers of the St. Croix valley, in
1846, not mentioned elsewhere: Nelson Goodenough, who be
came a river pilot and settled at Montrose, Iowa; James Patten,
Hugh McFadden, Edwin Phillips, a millwright, an ingenious, ec
centric man, who left the valley in 1848; Joseph Brewster, who
left in 1848, and settled in Earlville, Illinois; Sylvester State-
ler, blacksmith, who removed to Crow Wing county, Minnesota,
and O. H. Blair, who followed lumbering, a man of talent, but
eccentric. He died in 1878. The first school was taught in 1846,
by Mrs. Ariel Eldridge, formerly Sarah Louisa Judd. The second
school was taught in 1847, by Mrs. Greenleaf; the third in 1848,
by Wm. McKusick. A school house was built in 1848. Rev.
W. T. Boutwell, a Presbyterian minister, preached occasionally
in the reception room of Northrup' s hotel. Rev. Eleazer Green-
leaf, an Episcopalian, came the next summer and established
regular services. Prior to the organization of Stillwater, Rev.
J. Hurlbut, a Methodist minister, had preached in Dakotah, St.
Croix Falls and Marine, but organized no societies.
The winter of 1845-46 was very open. All teaming business
was done on wheels, except for a few days in December, in which
there was snow enough for sledding. A new feature in the trade
of the. valley this year was the rafting and running of logs to
St. Louis.
In December, 1845, Dr. Borup. of La Pointe, and others went
by ice and overland with teams to Prairie du Chien, I accom
panying them. The first day we came to Point Douglas, at the
confluence of the St. Croix and the Mississippi. Between Still-

IN THE NORTHWEST. 45
water and Point Douglas, on the route we followed, some dis
tance west of the lake, we found but one settler, Joseph Haskell.
At Point Douglas there were David Hone, a hotel keeper;
Hertzell & Burris, merchants, and Wm. B. Dibble, farmer. We
reached Red Wing the second day. At this place lived the
famous Jack Frazier, a Sioux half-breed and Indian trader, one
Presbyterian missionary, Rev.  Denton, and a man named
Bush. James Wells, more familiarly known as "Bully Wells,"
lived with an Indian squaw on the west shore of Lake Pepin,
where stands the town of Frontenac. On the third day we went
as far as Wabasha, on the west side, three miles below Lake
Pepin, where we found several French families. We stopped at
Cratt's hotel. On the fourth day we reached Holmes' Landing,
now Fountain City. There were then but two houses, both un
occupied. About noon we passed Wabasha prairie, now the
site of Winona. It was then covered with Indian tepees. At
Trempealeau, in the evening of the fifth day, we found two
French families. On the next day we reached La Crosse and
found there two American families. Two days more brought us
to Prairie du Chien. On the way we passed a few French fami
lies, and these, with those previously named, constituted the en
tire white population between Stillwater and Prairie du Chien.
We started on our return with four two horse teams. We
took the river road, passing over the ice. In our company was
one Tibbetts, from Fort Crawford, and Jonathan E. McKusick,
emigrating from Maine to St. Croix valley. They were a social,
jovial pair. At Capilaux bluff, Dibble's team was ahead, and
my team second. At this place all halted to allow the thirsty
an opportunity of liquoring up, which was done at the rear
team. Dibble, in going back, left his team unfastened, and
while he was "smiling" with his jovial companions the team
ran away. The horses soon broke loose from the sled. One
horse made for the shore, the other plunged into an air hole in
the ice. The entire company rushed to the rescue, and with
ropes and poles managed, at last, to float the horse upon the ice
in an unconscious condition. All the whisky left by the "smil
ing" throng was poured down the hdrse' s throat, but in vain. The
animal was dead. No other event of interest occurred except
some difficulties experienced in the transportation of the first
cat ever brought to Stillwater. "Tom" was caged in a narrow

46 FIFTY YEARS
box, and the confinement so chafed his proud spirit that he
sickened and at one time was reported dead. At the inquest
held over his remains by Capt. McKusick, signs of life were dis
covered, and by liberal blood-letting the cat was restored to
consciousness and lived several years afterward, a terror to the
rats in Stillwater. STILLWATER IN 1847.
For about a year the writer had been officiating as justice of
the peace with but little official business, but now and then a
marriage to celebrate. On one occasion I walked to Marine to
marry W. C. Penny to Jane McCauslin. The marriage was cele
brated at Burkelo's boarding house. The wedding supper con
sisted of cold water and cold pork and beans. The following
morning I did not wait for breakfast but returned to Stillwater
as I had come, on foot. Another day I rode to Bissell's Mounds
and united in marriage John Kenny and a mulatto woman.
Friend Kennedy threatened to disown me for thus aiding misce
genation. "Such things are intolerable," he said, but from
aught I have ever known to the contrary the couple were well
assorted. TERRITORIAL ELECTION.
On the sixth day of April an election was held for the ratifica
tion or rejection of the constitution adopted by the late terri
torial convention for the anticipated state government; also a
resolution relative to negro suffrage, and an election was or
dered for sheriff. The vote resulted as follows:
For the constitution, 65; against, 61. For equal suffrage to
colored persons, 1; against, 126. For sheriff, Walter R. Vail, 58;
W. H. C. Folsom, 72.
There were five precincts that held elections — Stillwater, St.
Paul, Gray Cloud, Marine, and St. Croix Falls.
I immediately gave bonds and qualified as sheriff, and the
same day took charge of two criminals, Chippewa Indians, who
had been committed by me for murder, while acting as justice.
I had previously deputized Ham Gates to take care of them.
While in Stillwater they were confined in the basement of the
post office building. Their names were Nodin and Ne-she-ke-

IN THE NORTHWEST. 47
o-ge-ma. The latter was the son-in-law of Nodin. They were
very obedient and tractable, and , I treated them kindly, for
which Nodin repeatedly told me he would show me a copper
mine on Kanabec river. Nodin died not long after his trial,
and before he could redeem his promise. The copper mine is
yet undiscovered. Fort Snelling was, at that time, the recepta
cle for criminals in this region, and to the Fort I carried these
prisoners with a team, — Ham Gates being driver,— unshackled,
unbound, my only weapon a pistol without a lock. In May I
summoned jurors and visited Kanabec river to procure wit
nesses in the case against Nodin and Ne-she-ke- o-ge-ma for the
murder of Henry Rust. The first night I stopped with B. F.
Otis, on the St. Croix, where Taylors Falls is now situated. On
the second day I crossed the river and proceeded up the east
side to Wolf creek, thence crossing to the west side, up as far
as Sunrise river. There was no inhabitant, Samuels having
vacated his shanty. I crossed the river with great difficulty.
The water was high, the current was strong and swift, and I
could not swim. I found a fallen tree, partly under water, cut
a pole, waded out as far as I could into the current, and then by
the aid of the pole floated down some distance, until by pawing
and splashing I was able to reach the other shore. That night I
stopped with an old Indian trader, Mr. Connor, who, with his
Indian wife, welcomed me to his bark shanty, divided into rooms
by handsome mats, and made me quite comfortable. He had
plenty of good food, and entertained me besides by a fund
of anecdotes, incidents in Indian history, and adventures of
traders, trappers and missionaries in the Lake Superior and
St. Croix region. He was a very intelligent and genial man.
Next day I went to Russell's farm, paddled a canoe to Ground
House river, and traveled thence on foot to Ann river, where I
found the parties of whom I was in quest, Greely, Colby, Otis and
others, a jolly log driving crew, with whom I spent a very pleas
ant evening. On the return journey, about two miles above the
mouth of Ground House river, I saw the ruins of the trading
house in which Henry Rust was killed. Rust, at the time of his
murder, was selling whisky for Jack Drake. Rev. W. T. Bout
well gives the following account of the murder: "In the winter of
146 and '47 I visited the camps of Kent & True and Greely
.& Blake. On one occasion I met Rust, and asked him to come

48 FIFTY YEARS
and hear me preach. He did not attend. On this day I preached
at three camps. On the following night, at Greely's camp, came a
midnight visitor with word that Rust had been shot. Seventy-
five men armed themselves with all kinds of weapons, proceeded
to the scene of the tragedy, removed the body of Rust and all
valuables from the house, knocked out the heads of two whisky
barrels and fired the house, the whisky greatly aiding the com
bustion. I removed the body to Pokegama and buried it there.
Forty men attended the funeral. They held a meeting and
resolved to clear the country of whisky. They commenced by
destroying two barrels of it for Jar vis. He begged hard for his
whisky, saying he was a poor man, and in debt to Frank Steele at
Fort Snelling. The response was, 'Out with your whisky,' and
it was destroyed before his eyes. The whisky of two other trad
ing stations followed. For a brief period there was peace, but
the whisky soon put in an appearance again."
The first term of district court held in Minnesota, then Wis
consin, was convened in Stillwater, the county seat of St. Croix
county, June 1st. It was held in the upper story of John Mc
Kusick' s store southwest corner of Maine and Myrtle streets,
Hon. Charles Dunn presiding. The session lasted one week.
The bounds of St. Croix county then included Crawford county,
Wisconsin, on the south, Brown county, Wisconsin, and the
Lake Superior country on the east, the region as far as the Brit
ish possessions on the north, and to the Mississippi river on the
west. The jurors were found within a circuit of a hundred
miles. The grand jury was composed of the following gentlemen:
Jonathan McKusick, J. W. Furber, J. L. Taylor, W. R. Brown,
Chas. Cavalier, J. A. Ford, Hazen Mooers, C. Lyman, C. A.
Tuttle, Hilton Doe, Elam Greely, Martin Mower, Jr., Edward
Blake, W. B. Dibble, Harmon Crandall, Jerry Ross, James
Saunders, Joseph Brown, J. R. Irving, J. W. Simpson, John
Holton, Pascal Aldrich, and Albert Harris.
Joseph R. Brown acted as clerk of court, Jonathan E. McKu
sick as foreman of the grand jury, and Morton S. Wilkinson as
prosecuting attorney.
The attorneys present were: M. S. Wilkinson, of Stillwater;
A. Brunson, of Prairie du Chien; Ben C Eastman, of Platte-
ville, Crawford and Frank Dunn, of Mineral Point. There were

IN THE NORTHWEST. 49
but few civil cases. Nodin and Ne-she-ke-o-ge-ma were indicted
for murder, tried and acquitted on the ground that the killing
was the result of a drunken brawl.
This season, in addition to attending to my duties as sheriff, I
went to St. Louis with a raft of logs. The steamer War Eagle,
Capt. Smith Harris, towed through the two lakes, St. Croix
and Pepin, a fleet containing ten acres of logs. During the
winter of 1S47-8, I was engaged in logging. It was difficult to
get supplies to the pineries before the swamps were frozen over.
This seasou my goods were taken by batteaus from Stillwater to
Clam lake. AMUSEMENTS. — SOCIETY BALL IN STILLWATER.
A writer in the Stillwater Lumberman, April 23, 1S77, gives a
sketchy account of an old time ball, from which we select a few
items: Anson Northrup kept what we called a first class hotel. If a
man had blankets he could spread them upon the floor and sleep
till the bell rang. If he had none he spread himself on the floor
and paid for his lodging by tending stove and keeping the dogs
from fighting. It was one of the. aristocratic rules of the house
that a man who slept in blankets was not to be disturbed by
dogs. At one time our popular landlord got up a ball. He sent
round a copper colored card, — a half-breed Indian boy, — to tell
all the folks to come. Everybody was invited. At the appointed
hour they began to assemble. Soon all in town arrived except
one Smith. Frequent inquiries were made for Smith, and at
last a deputation was sent to inquire the cause of his absence;
when it transpired that he had broken his leg. He said he was
helping the landlord roll a barrel of whisky from the landing
when the barrel slipped, and, rolling back on his leg, broke it.
Northrup said that he had bet him one gallon of whisky that he
could not lift the barrel to his lips aud drink from the bung.
In attempting to do this the barrel had slipped from his grasp
with the result before mentioned. The wife regretted the acci
dent very much, and. said that if it had not been for that barrel
of whisky, or some other whisky, they might have both attended
the dance. She could have put out the fire, locked up the house..

50

FIFTY YEARS

tied up the dog and taken her nine days' old baby with her.
"There would be younger babies at the dance," slie said.
Everything was ready. The ball opened with three "French
fours " or two over. They danced a French two, the music con
sisting of one old violin with three strings, played by a half-
breed from St. Croix Falls. He played but one tune and called
it, ''Off she goes to Miramachee." This carried a "French
four" well enough, but when we danced a cotillion or hornpipe
there was a great deal of rolling around instead of dancing.
We often called for a new tune. "Oh, yes, gentlemen, you shall .
have him," but when we got him it was the same old "Off she
goes." He worked hard to please the company and the sweat
rolled down his manly cheeks like the droppings from the eaves
of a saw mill; but all this would not do; it _ was the same old
"Off she goes." There were twenty-four couples at the ball.
The ladies brought with them their babies, fourteen in number,
and ranging from six weeks to six months old. The night passed
merrily, uproariously, but without tfagic incident. The fiddler
became at last so tipsy that he could no longer play "Off she
goes to Miramachee," and staggered off to that locality himself.
The only thing direful occurred at the breaking up, about five
o'clock in the morning. The fourteen babies had been laid to
sleep on a bed, but some malevolent genius during the dance
mixed them up and changed their wraps, so that the mothers, in
the hurry of their departure, gathered and took home with them
each one some other mother's darling, and this deponent saith
not that the snarl has ever been untangled and the babies re
stored to their rightful mothers.
With the year 1S4S a new era dawned upon Stillwater and the •
valley of the St. Croix. Great changes had taken place in the
little town. There were many new citizens, new buildings had
been erected and the streets were much improved. Slubs had
been placed over the quagmires on Main street. A stage route
had been established to St. Paul, on which stages ran regularly.
This was the first stage route in Minnesota.
The correction lines of the government survey had been run
in 1846-7, chiefly in the latter year. Townshi p, range and section
lines were run in 1S47, and in the early part of 1848. Prior to
this claims had been made and were held subject to the limita
tions of the first legal survey. The creation of the new stat*1 of

IN THE NORTHWEST. 51
Wisconsin and the prospective organization of Minnesota Ter
ritory, the development of the lumbering business and the
formal opening of the government lands to entry, gave an im
petus to immigration. Stillwater profited largely by this im
migration, it being an objective point. Population increased.
The village was regularly surveyed and platted in the fall of
1848, Harvey Wilson, surveyor. Stillwater, although it never
aspired to be the future capital of the Territory, became a head
quarters for political characters and a place for public meetings
for the discussions of territorial and other public questions'. It
was convenient of access, and contained up to that time a greater
population than was to be found in St. Paul, and it seemed
likely to become the commercial metropolis of the Territory.

52 FIFTY YEARS

CHAPTER III.

BIOGRAPHIES.
Joseph Renshaw Brown, one of the best known of the pio
neers, came to Dakotah, Schulenberg's addition, in 1839. For
items in his history I am personally indebted to him. He was
born in 1805, and, when old enough, apprenticed to a printer.
On account of ill treatment he ran away and enlisted in the
United States army at the , age of fourteen years, serving as a
drummer boy. He came with the army to the Northwest Terri
tory in 1819. After enlistment he made his first home at Gray
Cloud on the Mississippi, where he married a half-breed woman.
Wisconsin history says she was the daughter of Robert Dickson,
Indian trader and friend of the English in 1812. He learned
and spoke the Chippewa and Sioux languages fluently. In 1839
he founded the town of Dakotah, at the head of Lake St. Croix,
and erected some log buildings. Through his influence, in part,.
St. Croix county was organized, and the county seat located in
Dakotah. He built here a two story log court house, which, the county
failing to pay for, was left upon his hands. He kept a trading
station, was clerk of the county court and county commissioner.
He filled several offices of trust and was by far the most impor
tant and universally serviceable man in the new county of St.
Croix. In 1843 he left Dakotah, and returning to Gray Cloud,
continued his Indian trade at that point and further west by
means of branch houses. He was a member of the territorial
Wisconsin legislature two sessions at Madison. He returned to
Stillwater in 1848, left again in 1849, and in 1850 removed to St.
Paul, where, in 1852, he purchased of Mr. Goodhue the Pio
neer, then the leading Democratic paper of the Territory. Mr.

' . ,- IN THE NORTHWEST. 53
Brown was chief clerk in the Minnesota territorial legislature
during the sessions of 1849, 1850 and 1851. In 1854 and 1855 he
was a member of the territorial council. In 1857 he was a member
of the Democratic wing of the constitutional convention. Dur
ing his residence in St. Paul he was interested in building up
the town of Henderson, to which place he ran a stage line from
St. Paul. About this time, also, he busied himself with the in
vention of a steam wagon, calculated to traverse the western
plains and drag after it trains of cars. Financial and other dif
ficulties prevented the completion of his design, which, however,
he never entirely abandoned during the remainder of his life.
In fact he went East in 1870 expressly to get his invention per-
' fected, but from this journey he never returned. He died some
what suddenly in New York in that year.
Mr. Brown was a man of iron will and muscular frame. He
owed but little to schools, but was a close observer of men and
of the times in which he lived. He was a genial companion and
true friend,, and a man of honorable principles. His was a rug
ged but generous nature. He was public spirited, far seeing and
far reaching in his plans. He believed in the great Northwest.
He predicted its future greatness as a wheat growing and agri
cultural country, and, as far back as 1839, predicted that a great
city would rise at the head of Lake St. Croix or at the Falls of
St. Anthony. Tet so little schooled was he in the wisdom of the
speculator that he sold the property in St. Paul now known as
Kittson's addition, and worth several millions of dollars, for
one hundred and fifty dollars, and a lot on Third street, now
valued at $25,000, for a box of cigars.
Paul Carli. — Mr. Carli was of German and Italian descent.
He was born in Italy, July 25, 1805. His father was a merchant.
He was married in Chicago, in 1834, to a sister of Joseph R.
Brown, and moved in 1841 to the outlet of Bolles creek, on the
west side of Lake St. Croix, to a place near the site of Afton.
In 1846 he was accidentally drowned in the lake, within sight of
his dwelling. His children, Joseph R. and Maria, are residents
of Stillwater.
Christopher Carli, brother of Paul, was born at Frank-
fort-on-the-Main, Germany, Dec. 7, 1811. The youth of Chris
topher was devoted to study. He was educated at Heidelberg
University, and studied medicine. He came to America in

54 FIFTY YEARS
February, 1832. The March following he located in Buffalo,
where he practiced medicine three years, and returned to Europe
where he remained two years. Returning to America, he prac
ticed a year in Chicago, a year in New Orleans and another year
in Chicago. He came to Dakotah, St. Croix valley, May 24r
1841. March 12, 1847, he was married to the widow of Paul
Carli, Joseph R. Brown officiating as magistrate. He was the
first practicing physician north of Prairie du Chien. His home
was at Dakotah until the organization of Stillwater. He opened
his first office on the west side of Lower Main street, block 28.
His practice extended, from Lake Pepin to Lake Superior and
from Menomonie Mills, Wisconsin, to the Mississippi river.
His mode of travel was by birch canoe, on horseback, on skates '
and on foot. He was a member of the first city council in Still
water and has been city and county physician. He opened the
first bank in Stillwater when fractional currency was in demand.
His floating scrip was all redeemed. Two children, Christopher
and Socrates N. , are married and residents of Stillwater. Dr.
Carli died Nov. 6, 1887.
Lydia Ann Carli. — Mrs. Carli has passed through many
stirring scenes, and is one of the first female settlers in the St.
Croix valley. A fluent and interesting talker, her recitals of
early incidents and adventures are heart eulivening. Lydia Ann
Brown was born in Lancaster, Penn., March 18, 1818. In 1834
she came with friends to Chicago, where in 1839 she was married
to Paul Carli. She came to Dakotah in 1841, and lived there until
1844. The village was surrounded by Indians and there was no
white woman nearer than Marine, twelve miles distant. In 1844
the Carlis removed to the mouth of Bolles creek, near Afton, on
Lake St. Croix, where they built themselves a two story house
commanding a picturesque view of the lake and the adjacent
prairies and hills. It was a lone tenement, midway between
Prescott and Stillwater. Mrs. Carli having lost her husband as
before narrated, in 1847 was married to his brother, Dr. Chris
topher Carli.
Phineas Lawrence. — But little is known of the early life of
Mr. Lawrence. He had been a river pilot. He was the first
sheriff elected in the St. Croix valley, or northwest of Prairie
du Chien. He was elected and qualified in 1S41. On serving
the first and only summons he was ever called upon to serve, he

££^M^>

IN THE NORTHWEST. 55
approached the party summoned, holding up to view the docu
ments, and- exclaimed: "I, Phineas Lawrence, high sheriff of
St. Croix county, in the name of the United States and of the
Immaculate God, command you to surrender." He was a robust,
fleshy, cheerful man, and felt in all their force the responsibili
ties of the position in which he was placed. His name has been
given to a creek in Chisago county, where he once logged. He
died in Stillwater in 1847.
Jacob Fisher. — Jacob Fisher, a millwright, came to St.
Croix Falls in 1842, and being a skilled mechanic found employ
ment at once on the old mill at the Falls. He made the first
land claim and framed the first building in Stillwater. The
building framed was the mill of which mention has been made.
This establishes his claim to priority as the first white man who
made a movement toward the settlement of Stillwater. Others
were before him in the settlement of Dakotah or Schulenberg's
addition. Mr. Fisher is a plaiu, (rank, outspoken man, who has
no trouble in making his hearers understand exactly what he
means. He was born in Canada in 1813, and still resides in
Stillwater. He has a wife and one son in California.
James S. Anderson was born at Marshalltown, West Vir
ginia, on the fourth of February, 1826. When he was twelve
years old his parents removed with him to Burlington, Iowa,
where he lived for eight years. He came to Stillwater in 1846,
where he has since resided. In 1852 he was married to Miss
Harriet T. McDonald, at St. Louis, by whom he has had four
children, three of whom are now living — Robert M. Anderson,
prominently known 'in lumber circles, and Misses Sibella'S. and
Ella P. Anderson. Upon Mr. Anderson's arrival at Stillwater,
he engaged in the employ of Elias McKean, then a prominent
lumberman, now a resident of Washington county. In 1S69
Mr. Anderson formed a partnership with William McKusick,
John A. Nelson and Alexander Johnson, under the firm name of
McKusick, Anderson & Co., which firm built and operated the
large saw mill opposite Stillwater. Four years ago Mr. McKusick
retired from the firm, since which time the firm has been J. S.
Anderson & Co. In 1874 Mr. Anderson became the senior mem
ber of a heavy logging firm known as Anderson & O'Brien, of
which the other members were the well known lumbermen J. S.
and John O'Brien. In connection with his other business inter-

56 fifty years
ests Mr. Anderson was a heavy owner of pine lands, and a stock
holder and director in the Lumberman's National Bank. There
were two other well known lumber firms of ancient date with
which he was connected, and these were McComb, Simpson &
Co., organized in 1S50, and also Delano, McKusick & Co., organ
ized in 1857. Prom 1857 to 1869 he was also a heavy logger
alone. Mr. Anderson died May 8, 1885. His death resulted
from a mill accident, his rubber coat having caught in the belt
ing of a shaft revolving at a rapid rate. His body was fright
fully mangled, but he survived two days, exhibiting, under the
circumstances, the most remarkable composure, dictating his
will and arranging his business matters as calmly as he might
have done on an ordinary occasion.
Emanuel Dixon Farmer was born in Tennessee in 1828,
and came to Stillwater in 1845, where he has resided ever since,
engaged in the lumbering and saloon business. He was married
to Parmelia A. Collier, in Stillwater, 1848.
Col. John Greely. — Col. Greely was sixty years of age
when he came to the West, and although a strong, active and
enterprising man in the earlier part of his life, owing to advanc
ing years and ill health was rather a spectator than an active
participant in the stirring scenes of his new home. He was born
at Southampton, Massachusetts, April, 1777. He was married to
Hannah Greely, a second cousin, at Hopkinton, New Hampshire,
Oct. 5, 1801. He followed the lumbering business on the Merrimac
river in early life. He furnished the timber used in erecting the
first factory in Lowell, Massachusetts, «cut on the mountains of
North New Hampshire. In after life he moved to the west end
of Sebec lake, Maine, where he founded the town at first named
Greely, but afterward Willimantic, now the site of extensive
manufactories where the famous Willimantic thread is made.
Col. Greely came to Stillwater in 1847.
Born during the Revolutionary struggle, he lived to witness
the marvelous growth and prosperity of his country and died
during the first year of the war of the Rebellion. Aged as he
was, having entered upon his eighty-fifth year, he was intensely
interested in the issue of that struggle, and ardently desired to
live long enough to witness the triumph of his country's cause.
It was not to be. He sank peacefully to rest, Oct. 30, 1861,
dying as he had lived, an honest man, his memory revered by

in the northwest. 57
all who knew him, and cherished by three generations of de
scendants. His children were three sons and five daughters —
•Sarah, Mrs. Blake, Mrs Greenleaf, and Phebe and Servia, wives
of John McKusick. Miss Sarah alone survives.
Mrs. Hannah Greely. — Mrs Greely, the wife of Col. John
Greely, was born in Hopkintou, New Hampshire, October, 1787,
came to Stillwater in 1847 and died May, 1878, at the advanced
age of ninety years. For sixty years she and her husband
walked side by side. She survived him seventeen years, and,
after a life well spent, resignedly folded her hands and sank to
her last repose.
Elam Greely'. — Elam, sou of Col. John Greely, was born in
Salisbury, New Hampshire, Aug. 13, 1818, and, with his parents,
moved to Maine, where they made their home on Sebec lake.
In 1840 Mr. Greely came to St. Croix Falls, where he was em
ployed by the St. Croix Falls Company the greater part of the
time until 1843, when he became a settler at the head of Lake
St. Croix. He was one of the original owners of the first mill at
Stillwater. In 1844 he sold his interest to John McKusick. The
same year he was appointed postmaster at Stillwater. The office
was located at the southwest corner cf Main and Chestnut streets.
Mr. Greely filled many offices of honor and trust meritoriously.
He was a member of the third arid 1 ourth Minnesota territorial
councils. ' In 1845, in company with Edward Blake, he did an
extensive pine log business, running the logs to St. Louis, in
which business he continued until the death of Mr. Blake in
1848. Mr. Greely early identified himself with the interests of Still
water, of which he was one of the founders, and which owes
much of its prosperity to his efforts. He was married in Ke
nosha, Wisconsin, in 1850, to Hannah P. Hinman, who, with
three children, a son and two daughters, survives him. His old
est son died Oct. 21, 1876. Mr. Greely had many severe re
verses in business, but by indomitable energy recovered from
them, and was able not only to care for his aged parents, to bring
them from Maine and keep them with him until separated by
death, but to leave his family well provided for. He died sud
denly away from home, Sept. 14, 1883. His body was brought
to Stillwater for burial.
Hhian Greely.— Himan, son of Col. John Greely, was born

58 fifty years
in Franklin, New Hampshire, October, 1828. He came to Still
water in 1846, where he followed the business of lumbering. In
1850 he was married to Lucia Darling. After a brief resilience
in Stillwater, he removed to Beauford, Blue Earth county, where
he remained until his death in 1882. His wife survived him but
a few months. The bodies of both were removed aud buried
in Fairview cemetery, Stillwater. Mr. Greely applied himself
closely to business, and was an honest, upright and intelligent
man. His education was derived chiefly from reading and ob
servation. He left two sons.
Aquilla Greely. — Aquilla, the youngest son of Col. Greely,
was born in Greely, Maine, June, 1831. During his youth he-
spent several years with friends in Canada, where he learned the
art of surveying. He came to Minnesota in 1849, aud followed
surveying and lumbering. He died in Stillwater, April 25,
1857. Elias McKean. — A thorough business man, an eccentric
man, notably so, an apt man, ready in reply, somewhat harsh, if
irritated, but kind in heart and forgiving in spirit, is Elias Mc
Kean. He was born in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, June 30,
1817, and received a practical education. His father was a man
of some note, and for twenty eight years a circuit judge in Penn
sylvania. Elias McKean came to St. Croix Falls in 1841, and
for a year was in the employ of the Falls Company, but after
ward engaged successfully in business for himself. He was one
of the original proprietors of the Stillwater mill, and one of the
founders of Stillwater, In 1850 he settled on a farm on the west
side of Lake St. Croix. In 1855 he was married to the widow
of Calvin F. Leach, and a family of six sons has grown up around
them. Calvin F. Leach.— We are not able to give date or place of
birth. Mr. Leach came to St. Croix Falls in 1842 and soon after
came to the head of Lake St. Croix, and became one of the or
iginal owners of the mill, and a founder of the city of Stillwater.
In 1850 he was married to Miss — Smith, of St. Anthony. He
died in St. Louis in 1853. He was modest aud retiring in his
demeanor, correct in his deportment and respected by all his ac
quaintances. Socrates Nelson. — Mr. Nelson was born in Conway, Massa
chusetts, Jan. 11, 1814, received an academic education, was mar-

in the northwest. 59
ried to Mrs.' Bertha D. Bartlett in 1844, at Hennepin, 111., and the
same year came to Stillwater, and engaged in selling goods.
Previous to his removal to Stillwater he engaged in merchandis
ing in Illinois, in 1839, and in St. Louis from 1840 to 1844, where
he established a trading post on the Mississippi nearly opposite
Reed'^ Lauding, at a place since known as Nelson's Landing.
Mr. Nelson was the first merchant in Stillwater. His store
stood on Main street. He built a substantial dwelling and lived
in it until his death, May 6, 1867. He filled many public posi
tions, was territorial auditor from 1853 to 1857, and was a senator
in the second state legislature. As a merchant he was very suc
cessful, being fitted by nature for commercial pursuits. In 1853, he,
with others, built a saw mill in South Stillwater and engaged in
lumbering. He was of a free and generous disposition in all his
relations of life. He conveyed, as a donation to Washington
county, a half interest in the block of land on which the court
house stands. His liberality and public spirit did much for the
prosperity of Stillwater. His wife and one daughter, Mrs, Fa
yette Marsh, survived him, but Mrs. Marsh died in 1880. She
was a woman of great sweetness of disposition, and beloved by
all who knew her. His widow died in 1885.
Mrs. Socrates Nelson. — Bertha D. was born at Conway,
Franklin county, Massachusetts, Sept. 6, 1813. She was married
to Geo. A. Bartlett, of Conway, in 183S, and removed with him
to Knoxville, Illinois, where he died. She returned to her
parents in Massachusetts, and removed with them to Hennepin,
Illinois. In the fall of 1844 she was married to Socrates Nelson,
and came with him to Stillwater. She died Oct. 8, 1885. She was
the last of her family, husband and daughter having preceded
her to the world of spirits. The large attendance of old settlers
from Washington county and elsewhere at her funeral, and the
beautiful floral tributes contributed by her friends, attested but
partially the respect a'nd veneration in which she was held.
Edward Blake.— Of Mr. Blake's early history we have no
data. He came to the St. Croix valley in company with Elam
Greely in 1840, engaged in lumbering, and died in 1849.
Walter R. Vail. — Mr. Vail, the second merchant in Still-

60

FIFTY YEARS

water, came West in 1844. He built a store, with dwelling at
tached, just south of Socrates Nelson's store, which buildings
are still standing and occupied (1886). Mr. Vail was not suc
cessful in business and moved away in 1848.
John E. Mower.— Mr. Mower was born in Bangor, Maine, Sept.
15, 1815. He was married to Gratia Remick, in Keokuk, Iowa, in
1842, and removed to St. Croix Falls, where he entered the em
ploy of the Falls Lumbering Company. Two years later he re-

MARTIN MOWER.
A PRACTICAL AND SUCCESSFUL LUMBERMAN OF STILLWATER.

moved to Stillwater, where he built the second frame dwelling,
still standing. Mr. Mower was a millwright and carpenter, but
was engaged in lumbering most of his time. He purchased an
interest in the mill property at Areola, in 1847, which place he
made his home until his death, which occurred June 11, 1879.
He left a widow and three daughters, Helen, wife of the late
Louis Torinus; Emily, wife of Henry Van Voorhees; and Mary,

IN THE NORTHWEST. 61
wife of — Richardson. One son died after arriving at manhood.
Mr. Mower was a pleasant, reliable man, a kind husband and
loving father. He was honored by his fellow citizens with an
election to the.flfth and sixth territorial councils, and to the
seventeenth state legislature (house). The territorial legisla
ture affixed his name to a county.
Martin Mower. — Martin, brother of John E., Mower, came
to St. Croix Falls in 1842, and worked in the employ of the
Falls Company. Afterward he engaged in lumbering and be
came one of the original proprietors of the Areola mill. He was
also engaged in manufacturing and merchandising in Stillwater.
He built a fine block of buildings on Chestnut street, recently
burned down and rebuilt on a larger scale. He has been
one of the managing owners of the St. Croix Boom Company
from its origin. His business interests have been divided be
tween Stillwater and Areola, but he has made the latter place
his home since 1846. As a business man he is capable arid
shrewd, giving close attention to his business; in his manner
somewhat eccentric. He has done much to improve the farming
and other interests of the country.
William Willim. — A firm, consistent, worthy citizen and
true friend of his adopted country is William Willim. He'was
born in the parish of Woolhope, Herefordshire, England, June
26, 1821; came to America in 1S38, and to Stillwater in 1844. He
was married in 1847 to Clara G. Haskell, and, after her death in
1850, to Joanna W. Hinman. Mr. Willim is a stonemason,
plasterer and contractor. He was a member of the sixth Minne
sota territorial legislature, and has filled many responsible po
sitions in Stillwater. Mr. Willim's was the first naturalization
that occurred in the limits of Minnesota. The oath of allegiance,
a somewhat unique and original document of its kind, bears
date of June 18, 1847, Stillwater, St. Croix county, Wisconsin
Territory, and is signed by Joseph R. Brown.
Albert Harris. — Mr. Harris was a native of Maine. He
was born in 1815 and married to Miss Greenleaf in 1841, who
died in 1853. He came to Stillwater in 1S45, where he died in
1856, leaving one daughter, wife of the late Levi Thompson,
attorney at law in Stillwater, and one son in California. Mr.
Harris was a house carpenter and much respected by his neigh
bors.

<32 FIFTY YEARS
Cornelius Lyman.— Mr. Lyman is of the seventh generation
of the Lyman family that came over from England in 1631. He
was born in Brookfield, Vermont, Aug. 11, 1792. He was mar
ried in Brookfield to Betsey Cushman and came to Illinois at an
early date, whence he removed to Marine Mills, in 1842, where
he kept a boarding house until 1844, when he removed to Still
water, where he kept a boaiding house until 1848. He then re
moved to his farm three miles above Stillwater, where, by in
dustry and economy, aided by his faithful wife, he was able to
build a comfortable home, in which they continued to live until
at a good old age they were removed by death, which claimed
them in the same year, the husband dying January, 1864, and
the wife in April. They were members of the Presbyterian
church from early life, and respected as citizens, honored as
Christians. Mrs. Lyman was one of the excellent of the earth.
Mr. Lyman had an inexhaustible fund of humor, aud was rather
fond of practical joking. Many of his jokes were of the rarest
description. They left two sons, Cornelius Storrs and David
Pride. David B. Loomis. — Few men have been more active in busi
ness ,and public life than David B. Loomis. He was born in
Wilmington, Connecticut, April 17, 1817. In 1S30 he came with
his parents to Alton, Illinois, where, at the age of fifteen, he en
gaged as clerk in a store' and served in that capacity five years.
Mr. Loomis was in the building in Alton in which Lovejoy was
shot and killed for. the expression of sentiments which the nation
has since been compelled to adopt. In 1S43 he came to the St:
Croix valley and engaged in lumbering. In 1846 he was one of
the four original owners of the Areola mill, but iu 1849 sold his in
terest to Mr. Mower, and for four succeeding years was in charge
of the St. Croix boom. Iu 1847 he was surveyor general of logs
and lumber. In 1851 he was a member of the Minnesota terri
torial council, and was re-elected in 1S53, serving in all four
years, during one of which he was president of the council. In
1853 he was one of a company that built a mill in South Still
water. He sold out in 1859. Iu 1861 he entered the army as
lieutenant, Company F, Second Minnesota Volunteers, and was
promoted to a captaincy. He served three and a half years.
Stillwater has been his home since the war. In 1873 he repre
sented Washington county in the legislature.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 03
William E. Cove. — The year of Mr. Cove's birth is not
known. He came to Stillwater in 1844. His marriage to Nancy
Edwards, elsewhere noted, was the second marriage in the vil
lage. He was by trade a house carpenter. He removed to Minne
apolis in 1864.
John Smith. — Of the eight first families, that of John Smith
was one. Of this particular "John Smith" little is known, ex
cept that he was sober and industrious, and, in 1848, moved to
parts unknown.
John Morgan. — We have no account of the early days of
Mr. Morgan, except that he was a native of Pennsylvania. He
was living iu Stillwater iu 1845, in the employ of Churchill &
Nelson. In 1848 he was elected sheriff of St. Croix county, Wis
consin. In the same year he was married to Hannah Harnish.
He settled on a farm and kept a "half way house" on the road
from Stillwater to St. Paul, when the pioneer stages of Wil-
loughby & Power were placed on this route. In 1848 he ob
tained a charter from the Wisconsin legislature for a ferry across
Lake St. Croix at Stillwater. This ferry changed ownership re
peatedly and was discontinued when the bridge was built.
Anson Northrup. — This gentleman, whose name was borne
by the first steamboat ever launched on the Red River of the
North, and who brought the first drove of cattle through from -
Illinois to St. Croix Falls, deserves a conspicuous place in the
annals of the Northwest. He was born in Conewango, Catarau-
gus county, New York, Jan. 4, 1817. His education was limited,
but he was a man of more than ordinary native ability and
energy. He lived in Ohio some years, and came West in 1838. In
1839 he drove the first herd of cattle through a wilderness
country from the Wisconsin river to the St. Croix. In 1841 he
removed his family from Ohio to St. Croix Falls. He came by
way of St. Louis, from that point embarking on the steamer
Indian Queen for the Falls. The steamer was three weeks
.making the trip. Above Prairie du Chien crew and passengers
were obliged to cut wood to run \ the boat. Mr. Northrup
had married Betsey Edwards, daughter of widow Edwards, one
•of the pioneers of Stillwater. Charles H., their eldest son, was
the first white child born at St. Croix Falls. In the spring of
1844 he moved to Stillwater, where he built and kept the first
hotel in that place. From 1847 to 1848 he was part owner of the

64 FIFTY YEARS
Osceola saw mill along with Mahony and Kent. In 1849 he re
moved to St. Paul, and built the American Hotel on Third
street, east from Seven Corners. In 1851 he removed to St.
Anthony Falls and built there the J3t. Charles Hotel. In 1853
he removed to Minneapolis, and built the Bushnell House,
the first brick building in the city. Subsequently he became a
resident at Long Prairie, Swan River and Duluth. Although
Mr. Northrup' s genius tended chiefly in the direction of hotel
building, his abilites in other directions were beyond question.
With equal facility he turned his hand to lumbering, steamboat
ing and statesmanship. His great steamboat enterprise was the
attempted transfer of the steamer North Star by water from the
Mississippi to the Red River of the North. The boat was one
hundred feet long by twenty wide, and of light draught. Start
ing from St. Cloud in the spring of 1S59 he performed the
wonderful feat of ascending the Mississipx^i as far as Pokegama
Falls, hoping to ascend further, and during a high stage of
water to float the boat over the height of land into some of the
tributaries of the Red river. The water was not sufficiently
high. The winter following he took the boat to pieces, and
removed it by land to Red river, opposite the mouth of the
Cheyenne, where it was reconstructed and launched, taken to
Port Garry and afterward sold to Mr. Burbank. This boat, its
irtme beiug changed to Anson Northrup, was the first steam
boat on the waters of Red river.
Mr. Northrup's political career commenced and closed with
the first Minnesota legislature, 1857-58, he rt-preseuting the
counties of Morrison, Crow Wing and Mille Lacs in the senate.
During the Rebellion he served as wagon master. He lived iu
Texas three years, returned to St. Paul, where he lived in 1S74-
75-76, and now lives in Bismarck, Dakota.
Robert Kennedy.— Mr. Kennedy, in 1839, located at Holmes'
Landing, now Fountain City, on the banks of the Mississippi,
above Winona. In 1S44 he removed to Dakotah, where he kept
a hotel in the old tamarack court house, built by Joseph R.
Brown. In 1840 he kept a hotel in the Northrup House, Still
water; in 1S4S he kept the American Hotel, Shakopee. Subse
quently he returned to St. Paul aud kept a boarding house, and
for three years the hotel known as "Moffett's Castle." After
ward he kept the Snelling House, and last the Bernard House

in the northwest. 65
From 1853 to 1856 he was collector of customs for the port of St.
Paul, and during that time the fees amounted to the enormous
sum of forty six dollars and forty -two cents. Mr. Kennedy spent
about thirty years as a landlord, in which capacity he was very
popular. Harvey Wilson.— Mr. Wilson was born in Corinth, Saratoga
eou-jty, New York, December, 1815. He resided in his native
county twenty-five years, then removed to St. Louis, where, for
three years, he engaged in surveying. He came to St. Croix
Falls in 1843 and to Stillwater in 1847. He acted as J. R. Brown's
deputy clerk of court, June term, 1847. He was appointed clerk
of the first Minnesota territorial term of court, Aug. 13, 1849, ini
which office he continued until his death, Nov. 3, 1876. Mr.
Wilson was married in 1851 to widow Mary Stanchfield.
Andrew Jackson Short. — Mr. Short was born in St. Clair
county, Illinois, in 1818. He came thence to the St. Croix valley
and located at Marine in 1843, and commenced running rafts '
with W. B. Dibble. In 1857 and 1858 he gathered logs as
'agent in Lake St. Croix, rafted and run them below, but lost
heavily and was in fact financially wrecked. He afterward en
gaged in the logging and hardware business in Stillwater. In 1868
he built the famous Dudley mills at Point Douglas, at a cost of
$35,000. Mr. Short made Stillwater his home until 1862, when
he removed to Hastings. Much credit is due him for what
he has accomplished. When he came to the St. Croix valley he
could neither read nor write, but by energy, industry and native
force of character, notwithstanding a few reverses, he has done
far more than many other men in his position could have done.
As a man he is genial and social.
James D. McComb. — Mr. McComb was born in Washington
county, Pennsylvania, Feb: 13, 1827, came to Stillwater June 10,
1846, and engaged in mercantile business with John H. Brewster
three years, when he entered the firm of Anderson, McComb &
Co., Robert Simpson being the third member. They did an ex
tensive business for years. They built the large stone store on the
corner of Main and Myrtle streets. Mr. McComb in 1860 became
clerk in the surveyor general's office, which positibn he held ten
years. He was surveyor general of logs and lumber four years, his
accurate knowledge of the various marks used admirably fitting
him for the position. He served as deputy sheriff in 1846. under

66 fifty years
James Fisher, of Prairie du Chien, and in 1S47 under W. H. C.
Folsom, of Stillwater. Mr. McComb has passed all the degrees
in Odd Fellowship. He was married to Eliza T. McKusick in
Stillwater, March 4, 1851. Mrs. McComb died in Stillwater Sept.
17, 1885.
William Rutherford. — Mr. Rutherford was born in 1823,
in Stanton county, New York, and came to Stillwater in 1844.
He married Christina J. Holcombe, at Jackson, Mississippi, in
1849. In 1848 he removed to his farm near Stillwater, where he
has since lived. He has been quite successful as a farmer. Mr.
Rutherford died March 15, 1888. His name will be remembered
with honor.
Albion Masterman. — Mr. Masterman has also prospered as
a farmer. He was born in Franklin county, Maine, in 1823;
received a common school education; was married to Eliza Mid-
dleton in 1848; came to Stillwater in 1844, and in 1850 removed
thence to his farm, where he died, Aug. 8, 1886. Mr. Master-
man's life has been an industrious and exemplary one.
Joseph N. Masterman. — Mr. Masterman came to Stillwater,
September, 1848. He engaged in lumbering aud scaling continu
ously. He was born in Franklin county, Maine, in 1814, and
spent his youth at home, but his education was somewhat lim
ited. At the age of sixteen years he moved to Schoodic, lived
there fourteen years, when he married Alice M. Prescott, and
four years later came to Stillwater. His two sons, Wellington
and Joseph P., reside in Stillwater. Wellington is auditor of
Washington county.
Mahlon Black. — Mr. Black is of Scotch descent. His grand
father was a naval officer during the war of the Revolution, and
a soldier in the war of 1812. Mahlon Black was born in Hamil
ton county, Ohio, Oct. 4, 1S20. He spent his youth on his
father's farm, and received a common school and academic edu
cation. When seventeen years of age he began the study of
medicine in Cincinnati Medical College, but did not complete
the course. In 1842 he came to Menomonie Mills, Wisconsin,
and engaged in lumbering until 1846. In 1847 he was connected
with government surveys, and the same year located in Still
water. He was a representative in the first, third, and last ter
ritorial legislature, also a member of the extra session in 1857.
He was mayor of Stillwater in 1S!J0-6L Iu 1862 he enlisted in

IN THE NORTHWEST. 67
a company of sharpshooters, which was assigned to the Army of
the Potomac. He was promoted to be captain, and provost mar
shal in the second division of the Second Army Corps, and one
of Gen. Gibbon's staff officers. He was in fifty-four battles and
skirmishes, in some of which over 100,000 men were engaged on
each side. He was wounded four times, once severely, by a
bayonet thrust received in a charge at the battle of Peters-
burgh. He served until the close of the war, and received a
special and honorable discharge from his commander, Gen.
.Smyth, on the face of which are recorded the names of the bat
tles in which he participated. In 1867 he removed from Still
water to Minneapolis, where he has held the positions of land ex
aminer and auditor of Hennepin county. He has the distinction
of being the first Odd Fellow initiated in Minnesota. Sept. 21,
1850, he was married to Jane M. Stough, of Pennsylvania.
Morton S. Wilkinson. — The record of Mr. Wilkinson, though
brief, is brilliant. He was born in Skaneateles, Onondaga coun
ty, New York, June 22, 1819; received an academic education
in his native town; read law; was admitted to the bar at Syra
cuse, New York, in 1842; commenced practice in Eaton Rapids,
Michigan, and in 1847 came to Stillwater. Mr. Wilkinson was
the first practicing lawyer northwest of Prairie du Chien, was the
prosecuting attorney at Judge Dunn's court in Stillwater, June,
1847, and was a member from Washington county of the first
territorial legislature in 1849. He removed to St. Paul in 1850,
to Mankato in 1857, and in 1859 was elected United States sena
tor. In 1860 he was one of the commissioners to compile the
state statutes. In 1868 he was elected representative to Congress
and at the close of the term was re-elected. From 1874 to 1877,
inclusive, he served as state senator from Blue Earth county.
Mr. Wilkinson is an eloquent and forcible speaker, and a man of
unusual ability, a sound and logical reasoner, and withal fluent.
He has been twice married. His first wife was a daughter of
Rev. Lemuel Nobles, of Michigan. Mrs. Wilkinson died in Michi
gan. He married a second wife before coming West. They
reside in Wells, Minnesota.
William Stanchfield. — Mr. Stanchfield was a native of
Maine, born in the year 1820, was married to Mary Jackins, in
Bangor, Maine, in 1840, and came to Stillwater in 1846, where he
engaged in keeping a hotel on Main street, which was burned

68 FIFTY YEARS
while he was in charge. Mr. Stanchfield died in 1850, leaving
a widow who subsequently married Harvey Wilson, and an in
fant daughter, who became, years after, the wife of George Davis.
Thomas Ramsdell. — Mr. Ramsdell was born at Falmouth,
England, Dec. 28, 1820. He married in England and came to
this country with his wife in 1843. He settled in Stillwater in
1844, and removed to his farm in 1846, where he has been suc
cessful in raising apples and smaller fruits. His wife died in
1851. His second wife was Jane Willey. Mr. Ramsdell has been
a quiet, good citizen, reliable and trustworthy.
Charles Macy. — An orphan at thirteen years of age, Mr.
Macy's early life was full of changes, adventures and vicissitudes.
He was born in Canada East in 1821. He lived a somewhat
wandering life until 1845, when he came to Fort Snelling, and
shortly after to Stillwater, where, in 1846, he made a claim
which became his permanent home. He was married in 1854.
Jonathan E. McKusick. — There was no more genial, pleas
ant, off-hand man than Jonathan E. McKusick. He was the life
of public gatherings. His remarks, full of wit and sentiment,
would keep his audience in a pleasant frame of mind. At old
settlers' meetings his fund of anecdotes, historical incidents and
reminiscences were in the highest degree interesting and enter
taining. Mr. McKusick was born in Cornish, Maine, in 1812;
was married to Minerva King in 1836, and came up the Missis
sippi on the ice, in December, 1845, to Stillwater, which he made
his home until his death, which occurred Aug. 21, 1876. He
took an active interest in the welfare^of the city and held many
offices of trust. He served his country during the war of the
Rebellion, and in 1863 was appointed quartermaster with the
rank of captain, which position he held until mustered out at
the close of the war.
John McKusick. — Prominent amongst the pioneers of the
St. Croix valley, and deserving of special mention for his enter
prise and public spirit, is the subject of this sketch. He was
born in Cornish, Maine, in 1815; received a common school edu
cation; came to Illinois in 1839, and to St. Croix Falls in 1840,
where he engaged in the lumbering business, getting logs to the
Falls mill, and sawing them. Through industry and economy
he saved enough to enable him to become part owner and builder
of the first mill in Stillwater. He has held many positions of

^4^^ ^ o/tc^^* £

IN THE NORTHWEST. 69
trust. He served as state senator in 1863-64-65 and 66. He was
active in aiding to secure the land grant to build railroads into
Stillwater, in the welfare of which city he has ever manifested
the deepest interest. He has been one of the largest proprietors,
and most liberal in improving^nd adorning the city, has encour
aged a sound system of finances, and has steadily opposed the
bonding system. Mr. McKusick was married to Phebe Greely
in 1847, who soon afterward died. He married his second wife,
Servia Greely, in November, 1849. He has three children living,
Newton, Chester and Ella. Mrs. McKusick died Feb. 18, 1887.
William McKusick, a younger brother of Jonathan E. and
John McKusick, came to Stillwater in 1847, and engaged in lum
bering. He was a member of the fifth territorial house, and a
senator in the second, sixteenth and seventeenth state legislatures.
In 1870, with the firm of McKusick, Anderson & Co., he built
the large saw mill at Houlton, opposite Stillwater. In 1882 he
made his home upon a farm at Big Stone Lake.
Noah McKusick, another brother, came to Stillwater in 1847,
followed lumbering some years, removed to Oregon, and died
there in 1886.
Royal McKusick came to the valley in 1848, and died a few
years later, leaving a large and respectable family.
Ivory E. McKusick. — Ivory E., brother of John and J. E.
McKusick, was, born in Maine, July 2, 1827. In 1847 he came
to Stillwater, with which city he has since been permanently
identified. He spent two years working in the old mill, the first
built at Stillwater, and then engaged in lumbering until 1859.
In 1862 he was appointed prison guard, and served two years.
In 1864 he was in the service of the government, and helped
build Fort Wadsworth, Dakota. He served as surveyor general
several years, and later has engaged in the forwarding and com
mission business. He was married to Sophia A. Jewell, Feb.
•9, 1854. He is a man of probity and merit.
Charles E. Leonard. — The subject of this sketch was born
Feb. 25, 1810, at Worthington, Massachusetts. His father died
when he was four years old. In his early life he experienced
some vicissitudes. He tried farming and hotel keeping, but
owing to poor health was obliged to give up these employments.
He started West in 1846, remained awhile in Hancock county,
Illinois, and in 1847 came to Stillwater, where he engaged in

70 FIFTY YEARS
mercantile pursuits. He removed to St. Anthony in 1850, to St.
Paul in 1855, to Point Douglas in 1866, to Sioux City in 1880,
and to Princeton, Mille Lacs county, in 1881. Mr. Leonard has
held several official positions. In 1852 he was appointed ter
ritorial treasurer, and in 1857, serwng four years; was a member
of the Democratic wing of the constitutional convention. He
did some military service during the Indian outbreak in 1862.
He was married to Catherine Yendes, of Rodman, New York
January, 1835.
Daniel McLean. — Mr. McLean was born in the north of
Ireland in 1800 and came to America in his youth with his
brothers. He lived successively in Philadelphia, Indianapolis
and St. Louis, whence he embarked for St. Croix Falls in 1839,
in the employ of the Falls Manufacturing Company. He came
to Stillwater in 1848. Through industry and economy he accu
mulated a handsome fortune, which, at his death, he left to his
heirs in Stillwater. He was an upright christian man. He
died in Stillwater in 1873.
Robert Simpson. — Mr. Simpson was born in Sussex, England,
in 1815. He married Mary Ann Shelley in 1840 and came the
same year to the United States. After spending two years in
New York and other places, he came to St. Croix Falls in 1842,
where he followed lumbering until 1850, when he came to Still
water. He belonged to the firm of Simpson, Anderson & Mc
Comb, lumbering and merchandising, and engaged in other
branches of business. He was a member from Stillwater of the
first state legislature. He is a quiet, unobtrusive gentleman,
greatly esteemed by those who know him. Mrs. Simpson and
an only child died in Stillwater in 1856.
William H. Hooper. — This gentleman attained considerable
notoriety in later life as an influential Mormon and a delegate to
Congress from Utah from 1859 to 1868. He was a man of un
questioned ability and an eloquent speaker. His plea for "re
ligious liberty," made against the Cullom bill, is said to have
been one of the most eloquent speeches ever delivered in Con
gress. Mr. Hooper was born in Warwick Manor, Maryland, Dec.
25, 1813. In 1835 he moved to Galena and engaged in mercantile
business. In the panic of 1838 Mr. Hooper and his partner
failed to the amount of $200,000, but, after years of struggling,
the debt was entirely paid. In 1843 Mr. Hooper' engaged in

IN THE NORTHWEST. 71
steamboating as clerk on the steamer Otter, on the Upper Missis
sippi and its tributaries, and was well known at Stillwater. His
boat in 1843 landed the mill irons for McKusick & Co.'s mill.
In 1844 he built the steamer Lynx and several other boats, the
last being known as the Alex. Hamilton, of which he was part
owner. This was burned at St. Louis in 1849, which left him
again penniless. In 1850 he emigrated to Salt Lake and there
in his business enterprises greatly prospered. Although he es
poused Mormonism and became one of its leaders, he was opposed
to polygamy. He died in Salt Lake City.
James H. Spencer. — James H. Spencer came to Stillwater
in 1845, a boy of sixteen. His educational privileges had been
limited, but he was ambitious and studious, and by his own
unaided exertions acquired a practical business education. He
followed lumbering and exploring, and was employed as state
timber agent for fifteen years. He was born in Boone county,
Missouri, in 1829, and was married to Rose M. Winters, in Still
water, in 1869.
John T. Blackburn.— The brothers Blackburn were born in
Cincinnati, Ohio, John, the elder, in 1823. He came to Stillwa
ter in 1844, and has since been actively engaged in lumbering.
His home has been at Stillwater, Marine, Taylor's Falls, and
Shell Lake, where he now resides.
Joseph T. Blackburn. — Joseph, the younger brother, was
born in 1834, and in 1847 came to Stillwater. He has followed
lumbering and Indian trading. He has made his home at Still
water, at Taylor's Falls, and, since 1860, on Totogatic river, in
Douglas county, Wisconsin, ten miles from Gordqn. Mr. Black
burn enjoys wilderness life, is eccentrie in manner, and attends
strictly to his own business.
Horace K. McKinstry.— We have no data of Mr. McKins-
try's early life. He came to Stillwater in 1846. His family con
sisted of his wife, three daughters, and son, John, who after
ward married the eldest daughter of Anson Northrup. Mr.
McKinstry was a justice of the peace in 1847 and 1848, and was
engaged in mercantile business the two succeeding years. He
removed to Maiden Rock, Wisconsin, a year or two after and
died there March 12, 1884.
Seth M. Sawyer.— Mr. Sawyer was born in Skowhegan,
Maine, in 1822. He came to Stillwater in 1846, followed lum-

72 fifty years
bering, and afterward engaged in building a saw mill in the
firm name of Sawyer & Heaton.'- In 1850 he was married to Eliza
McKinstry. Mr. Sawyer left Minnesota in 1866 for an extended
sojourn in the Southern States, and engaged in business there,
but nothing is known positively of his present whereabouts.
Henry Sawyer. — Henry, the younger brother of Seth, came
from Skowhegan to Stillwater in 1849, and engaged in mercan
tile pursuits for two years in partnership with Horace McKinstry.
In 1856 he built the first stone block in Stillwater, on lot 2,
block 27. In 1857 he built thejBawyer House, a four story hotel.
Mr. Sawyer married Lucy Noyes. He died iu Stillwater, Dec.
27, 1865, and his remains were buried in the Kah-ba-kong
cemetery, at Taylor's Falls.
Alvah D. Heaton. — Mr. Heaton was the partner of Seth
Sawyer in building the second saw mill in Stillwater. He came
to St. Croix in 1847 and worked at the Osceola mills some time.
He was a partner in logging with O. H. Blair and afterward
with Wm. Kent. He was a brother-in-law to Hon. Cyrus Aid-
rich, representative in Congress from Minnesota. In after years
he removed to Idaho.
John McKinzie. — Mr. McKinzie was born at Inverness, Scot
land, in 1818, and came to America in 1S41. He located in Still
water in 1846, and followed lumbering until 1856, when he
removed to a farm in the Lyman settlement. He married Rose
Carlton in 1872 and removed to Miles City, Montana, in 1879.
George McKinzie, a younger brother of John, came to Still
water in 1851, and engaged in lumbering and exploring. In
1885 he was adjudged insane and sent to the St. Peter's hospital,
from which he was soon .released. He afterward visited Cali
fornia, where he was drowned in San Francisco bay. He was
unmarried. Henry Kattenberg. — Mr. Kattenberg was born in Prussia
in 1821, and married to Arnebia C. Silova, at Kemper, on-the
banks of the Rhine, in 1844. He came to America in June, 1847,
and to Stillwater in 1848. Mr. Kattenberg opened a shop and
engaged in the tailoring business. By industry and close appli
cation to business, he prospered and secured a pleasant home.
By liberality and kindness in extending credits, and an unfortu
nate venture in lumbering, he lost $14,000, which effectually
closed his business operations. With characteristic honesty, he

IN THE NORTHWEST. 73
turned over to his creditors his homestead and all he had to
meet his liabilities. In 1880 he removed to Taylor's Falls and
commenced keeping hotel at the Falls House, on Bench street.
In October, 1886, he purchased the Dalles House of Mrs. C. B.
Whiting. Julius F. Brunswick. — Mr. Brunswick was born in Switzer
land in 1826; came to this country in 1846, remained a year in Illi
nois, and came to Stillwater in 1848, where he engaged in lumber
ing, farming, merchandising, and dealing in pine lands. Mr.
Brunswick applied himself closely to business and was success
ful. Feb. 29, 1859, he married Margaret Darms, of Stillwater.
He died at his home in Stillwater in 1874, leaving a widow and
seven children.
Henry McLean.— Mr. McLean was born in Washington
county, Maine, in 1828, and in 1848 came to Stillwater, which
has since been his home. He is engaged in lumbering. In 1851
he married Caroline Cover.
Hugh Burns. — Hugh Burns came from Ireland to America
in 1830, when he was but eight years of age, lived in the province
of New Brunswick until 1848, when he came to Stillwater, where
he has since been engaged in lumbering and farming. In 1850
he removed to St. Anthony, in 1855 to St. Paul, and in 1856 to
Stillwater. Sylvanus Trask. — Mr. Trask was born in Otsego county,
New York, Nov. 16, 1811. He secured a liberal educatiou, and
taught school several years in the state of New York. He came
to Stillwater in 1848, and in 1852 was married to Euphenia
Turner, of St. Paul. He represented the Stillwater district in
the first and second territorial legislatures, 1849-51. I' or many
years he has been a surveyor and scaler of logs.
Ariel Eldridge. — Mr. Eldridge was born in Hartford, Ver
mont, June 10, 1815. He was reared during his minority by an
uncle, at Cambridge, New York. In 1844 he came to the Wis-
•consin lead mines, at Platteville, and in 1848 to Stillwater,
where he worked afterward at his trade of house carpenter
until 1862, when he opened a book and stationery store. He
has held several city and county offices. In 1849 he was married

74

FIFTY YEARS

to Sarah L. Judd. Mrs. Eldridge died in Stillwater, Oct. 12r
1886, aged eighty-four years. Mrs. Eldridge taught the first
school in Stillwater.
Edward White Durant. — Mr. Durant is of Huguenot de
scent. During the eighteenth century his ancestors lived in
Massachusetts and were active participants in the agitation
against English oppression. Edward Durant, Jr., an ancestor
five generations from the present, was a delegate to the Provin-

T. W. DUItANT.
A PROMINENT HINNESOTIAN OF RENOWNED REPUTATION.

cial Congress of 1774 and 1775, and chairman of the committee
on commercial correspondence. He died in 1782. Others of
the family filled prominent places, and were noted for their
whole-souled patriotism.
Mr. Durant was born at Roxbury, Massachusetts, April 8,
1829. He received a common ^school education, and a year in
the academy. He came to Cincinnati in 1838, and in 1844 we

IN THE NORTHWEST. 75
find him with his parents in Albany, Illinois. In 1848 he left
his parents and came to Stillwater, where he worked three sea
sons on the river, running logs. He then became a pilot onthe
St. Croix and Mississippi rivers and continued in this business
about sixteen years. He acted as salesman for Hersey, Staples
& Co. some years. He has been since then engaged in lum
bering and a portion of the time as a member of the firm of
Durant, Wheeler & Co. The annual sales of this firm amount
to over half a million dollars. In 1874 he was a candidate on
the Democratic ticket for lieutenant governor and in 1876 was
president of the state Democratic convention. He represented
his district in the fifteenth, seventeenth and twenty-fourth state
legislatures. He was several years grand master of the Masons
of Minnesota. He has served as mayor of Stillwater, and often
as a member of the council. Mr. Durant, as his record shows
him, is one of the most industrious men of the time, and pos
sessed of good executive and business abilities. Mr. Durant was
married Dec. 29, 1853, to Henrietta Pease, of Albany, Illinois.
Oliver Parsons. — Mr. Parsons was born in South Paris,
Maine, and is also descended from Revolutionary stock. He came
to Stillwater in 1848, where he engaged in merchandising and
farming. He removed to Minneapolis in 1876, where he is at
present engaged in selling goods. He was married to C. Jewell,
April, 1855. Mr. Parsons has ever been an exemplary man.
Albert Stimson. — A native of York county, Maine, Mr.
Stimson spent there his early life, and, after a few years in New
Brunswick, came to Stillwater in 1849. He followed lumbering
in his native state and on the St. Croix. He served as surveyor
general of the First district, Minnesota, three years. He was
a member of the Minnesota territorial councils of 1854 and 1855
and a member of the house in 1853. He was mayor of Stillwater
one year, alderman two years, and was also a supervisor of
Washington county. From 1870 to 1872 Mr. Stimson was a
citizen of Kanabec county, which county he helped organize,
ind of which he was one of the first commissioners. His present
residence is Anoka.
Abraham Van Voorhees. — Mr. Van Voorhees' ancestors-
were patriots during the Revolution, and lived in New York and
New Jersey. He was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania)
Dec. 2, 1793. He was reared as a farmer. His school privileges

76 FIFTY YEARS
were limited. "The Major," as he was familiarly styled, once
told me that the educational advantages he had received in youth
wereVery few, and that his desires and ambitions were far beyond
his means to satisfy and fulfill, and he remarked with justifiable
pride: "And what I am now, if I amount to anything, I owe
to strong nerves and will power; God has always sustained me,
and I have always acknowledged allegiance to Him." The major
had an ingenious and inventive mind. Being studious and in
dustrious, he accomplished much without scholastic training,
and became well versed in the sciences, and an acute reasoner.
In 1832 he removed to Athens county, Ohio, where for five years
he devoted himself to mechanical pursuits and the study of the
sciences. In 1837 he removed to Athens, and became editor aud
proprietor of the Hocking Valley Gazette, and retained the editor
ship six years. While living in Ohio, he served as county treas
urer, county surveyor, member of the legislature, and state sena
tor. In the latter position he served four years. In 1849 he was
appointed by President Taylor register of the United States land
' office at Stillwater, which place he held until 1853. In 1852 Gov.
Ramsey appointed him territorial auditor. He was a representa
tive in the territorial legislature of 1856 and of the state legisla
ture of 1859-60. He was one of the commissioners for locating the
capitol and university lands. He was postmaster in Stillwater
many years, and when he was eighty years of age acted as surveyor
of Washington county. Such is a brief record of an unusually
active and useful life. Maj. Van Voorhees was a thoroughly
good citizen and christian gentleman. In politics he was Whig
and'Republican. His church membership was in the Presbyterian
•church, of which he became a member in 1832. In 1817 he was
married to Mary Workman Voorhees. He died at his home in
Stillwater, Jan. 24, 1879, aged eighty-six years, and was buried
with christian and masonic honors.
Michael E. Ames, an attorney from Boston, came to Stillwa
ter in 1849, and became one of the leading lawyers of the Terri
tory. He was urbane and dignified, both in society and at the
bar. He was a charming conversationalist, and such a ready
and fluent speaker that it was a pleasure to listen to him. Many
•of his witty sayings will long be remembered. He was twice
married, but his domestic life was by no means a happy one.
He died in St. Paul in 1861, his life, no doubt, "shortened by

IN THE NORTHWEST. 77
intemperate habits, but he was polite and genial and witty to
the last.
Joseph Bonin is of French descent. He was born in Mon
treal, Canada, Aug. 26, 1820. He was married to Mirgaret
Bruce in 1851. The writer first met Mr. Bonin in Stillwater in
1845. He was then in the employ of John McKusick. He had
spent much of his life on the frontier as an employe of the fur
companies, and could relate many stirring incidents and peril
ous adventures. Mr. Bonin located at Baytown at an early day.
During the Rebellion he was a member of Company B, First
Minnesota Heavy Artillery.
Marcel Gagnon.— Mr. Gagnon was born in Lower Canada,
Aug. 17, 1825. On arriving at manhood he came to the United
States, and was an employe of the American Fur Company sev
eral years. He removed to Stillwater in 1845, engaging in lum
bering; In 1863 he enlisted in the Minnesota Volunteer Inde
pendent Battalion, and served three years. Mr. Gagnon is a
polite, pleasant, hard working and independent man.
Sebastian Marty was born in Switzerland in 1809, came to
America in 1836, to Stillwater in 1845, and located on a farm in
section 32, town of Stillwater, now known as the Jackman
homestead. In 1850 he made his home in section 30, town of
Lakeland, where he resided until his death, Nov. 3, 1885. His
widow was formerly Christine Mamsche. He was a quiet, un
obtrusive, thoroughly honest and reliable man.
John Marty was born in . Switzerland in 1823. He learned
the art of manufacturing straw goods in France. He came to
America in 1846, to Stillwater in 1848 and not long after settled
on his farm in Baytown. He was married to Anna M. Henry,
in St. Paul, 1852.
Adam Marty. — Mr. Marty was born in Switzerland in 1839.
In 1846 he came with his grandparents to America and located
at St. Louis. In 1849 he came to Stillwater and learned the
printer's trade. He was employed one year by John McKusick.
He enlisted April 29, 1861, in Company B, First Minnesota Vol
unteers, was severely wounded at the battle of Gettysburg, and
honorably discharged. He resides in Stillwater, where he has held
responsible positions, and has taken a deep interest in the Grand
Army of the Republic, of which he has been post commander.
Michael McHale. — Mr. McHale came from Ireland in 1836;

78 FIFTY YEARS
located first in Quincy, Illinois; then, 1840, in Galena; in 1842
in Potosi, Wisconsin, and in 1849 at Stillwater. He was inter
ested in a saw mill (McHale & Johnson's), and operated also
as a contractor in prison work. He was married to Rosanna Mc-
Dermott in Wisconsin, 1847. She died in 1856.
George Watson. — Mr. Watson is, in common parlance, a
self-made man. Left alone in the world and dependent entirely
on his own exertions for a livelihood, he learned the carpenter's
trade, learned it well, and followed it industriously through life.
Mr. Watson was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, Sept.
13, 1823, and came to the St. Croix valley in 1849. He lived a
few years in Hudson, and then removed to Stillwater, where he
has the credit of building many fine structures. He was married
in 1860 to Frances Lyman, of Stillwater.
Rev. Eleazer A. Greenleaf was educated at Bangor Theo
logical Seminary. He came to Stillwater in 1846, and became
pastor of the first Protestant Episcopal church organized north
of Prairie du Chien, excepting at Port Snelling and some Indian
mission charges. Mr. Greenleaf was married to Susan P.
Greely, of Williamsburg, Maine, in 1838. He became a great
sufferer in the later years of his life. He died in Stillwater in
1878. Mrs. Greenleaf died in Minneapolis in 1881.
J. B. Covey. — Dr. J. B. Covey came to Stillwater in 1844.
He was born in Duchess county, New York, in 1784. He prac
ticed medicine many years in Missouri. He died in Stillwater '
in 1851.
John Shaesby was born in Warwick, England, in 1811; came
to America in 1836, to Stillwater in 1848; removed to St. Croix
county in 1850, thence to St. Joseph, to Rush River and to Bald
win in 1874, where he died in 1880, leaving two children and his
widow in comfortable circumstances. His eldest daughter was
the wife of Capt. Isaac Gray.
John S. Proctor. — Mr. Proctor is of English descent, and
was born in Cavendish, Windsor county, Vermont, Feb. 26, 1826.
He was favored with a common school education. In 1846 he
came to St. Louis, Missouri, and served as mercantile clerk
until 1849, when he came to Stillwater and engaged in lumber
ing and mercantile pursuits. He was a member of the firm
of Short, Proctor & Co., hardware merchants. In 1860 he was
appointed warden of the Minnesota state prison, which office he

IN THE NORTHWEST. 79
held until 1868. In 1860 he was also appointed secretary and
treasurer of the St. Croix Boom Company. He performed the
duties of both positions', but continued to serve the boom com
pany twenty years. His experience and reliability made him
almost the umpire of this company. He was appointed surveyor
general for the years 1881 to 1884, inclusive. Mr. Proctor was
married to Caroline Lockwood, daughter of John Lockwood, of
Prairie du Chien, in 1854. They have one son, Levi.
Barron Proctor, brother of John S. Proctor, came to Still
water when a young man, but after a few years removed to New
Orleans, whence he returned to Stillwater, and in 1873 engaged
in flour manufacturing as one of the firm of Cahill, Townshend
& Co. He disposed of his interest in 1880. Mr. Proctor was
married to Hettie Carson, adopted daughter of Socrates Nelson
and widow of John A. Hanford. He lives in St. Paul.
Henry Westing is a native of Hanover. He emigrated to
America in 1840 and came to Stillwater in 1848. He commenced
his business career as a day laborer and by industry, persever
ance and tact, rose to a position of wealth and influence. He
died in Stillwater, Feb. 26, 1885, much esteemed by his associ
ates for his sterling qualities of character.
' Thomas Dunn was born in 1823, in Queens county, Ireland.
He emigrated to America in 1826, locating at Miramachi, on the
northeast coast of New Brunswick. He came thence to Maine,
where he spent two years. He came to the St. Croix valley in
1846, located in Stillwater, where he has since lived and been
engaged in lumbering. He is the owner of a valuable land
property at Yellow Lake, Burnett county, Wisconsin. He has
been a member of the Catholic church since infancy.
Charles J. Gardiner was born at Charlotte, Maine, in 1826,
and came to Stillwater in 1849, where he followed lumbering and
farming. He served as surveyor of the First Minnesota district
five years. He was married in 1853 to Pamela Jackman. They
Tiave five children.
Samuel Staples was born in Topsham, Maine, September,
1805. He came west from Brunswick, Maine, in 1854, and
located in Stillwater, where he died, Dec. 26, 1887. He is the
elder brother of Isaac, Silas and Winslow Staples. He leaves a
widow (his second wife), two daughters, Mrs. E. A. Folsom and
Mrs. G. M. Stickney, and two sons, Josiah and Winslow, besides
a step-son, William Langly.

80 FIFTY YEARS
Josiah Staples, son of Samuel, was born in Brunswick, Maine,.
June 20, 1826. He received a good common school education.
At the age of thirteen his family removed to Penobscot county,
and later to the province of New Brunswick, but returned to
Maine in 1840. Iu 1848 he came to Stillwater, and has since
been continuously engaged in milling and lumbering operations,.
and, latterly, in steamboating.. He was married to Lydia Mc-
Glaughlin in 1853. His children are six sons and one daughter.
Joel M. Darling was born in Madison county, New York,
in 1842. He came to Galena, Illinois, in 1840, and to Stillwater
in 1848, where he engaged in farming. He served three years
during the Civil War in Company F, Seventh Minnesota, and
has since been pensioned for disabilities incurred in the service.
He is unmarried. He lives in South Stillwater.
EARLY RIVER PILOTS.
Joe Perro. — "Big Joe" as he was familiarly called, was
large of frame and big-hearted as well, honest, manly, of good
report for courage and honesty. He was fearless and prompt in
taking the part of the weak and oppressed. We were once pass
ing together up Broadway, St. Louis, when we passed a peanut,
stand. A small negro boy was crying piteously and begging the
peanut vender to give him back his money, to which appeal the
peanut vender was obdurate. We halted. Joe Perro organized
a court, heard the testimony of man and boy, and satisfied him
self that in making change the man had wrongfully withheld a
dime due the boy. Joe decided in favor of the boy and ordered
the vender of peanuts to pay him the ten cents. He replied in
solently: "It is none of your d  d business." That was
enough to kindle the magazine of Joe's wrath. A sudden blow
of his fist, and the man was prostrate on the sidewalk and his
peanuts and apples scattered. The last seen of the discomfited
street merchant he was on his hands and knees scrambling with
the boys for the possession of his scattered fruits, and casting an
occasional vengeful glance at the towering form of "Big Joe"
departing slowly from the scene of conflict. Mr. Perro is of
French parentage, and a native of Kaskaskia, Illinois. He has
been a resident of Stillwater since 1844.
James McPhail.— Mr. McPhail, as his name indicates, is of
Scotch parentage. He was born in Inverness, Scotland, in

IN the northwest. 81
1824, and came to America in early life. He was one of the first
log pilots on the waters of the Mississippi and St. Croix. He
settled in Stillwater in 1848, was married to Eliza Purinton in
1849, and died in St. Louis in 1857. Mrs. McPhail died in Still
water in 1885. They left no children.
John Cormack. — Mr. Cormack commenced piloting on the
St. Croix in 1845. He was married in 1860 to Miss Jackins.
He made his home in Stillwater continuously for thirty years,
during which time he served as pilot. He died at Princeton,
Mille Lacs county, in 1885;,
John Hanford. — Mr. Hanford was a St. Croix river pilot in
the '40s. He married an adopted daughter of Socrates Nel
son, of Stillwater. He died at Stillwater. Mrs. Hanford subse
quently married Barron Proctor.
John, Leach. — Mr. Leach made his home at Marine many
years, during which time he engaged in piloting on the St.
Croix; subsequently he removed to Stillwater. In the later
years of his life he has been blind.
Stephen B. Hanks. — Mr. Stephen B. Hanks, formerly of
Albany, Illinois, piloted the first raft from St. Croix Falls to St.
Louis in 1842. He followed piloting rafts and steamboats'until
1885. SamuelS. Hanks. — Samuel, a brother of Stephen B., com
menced piloting in the '40s, and is still active.
Among the early pilots on the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers were Antoine Lapoint.
Augustas Barlow, Richard Whiting, James Hickman, George M. Penny, and Daniel McLean.

82 FIFTY YEARS

OHAPTEE IT.

POLK COUNTY — DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY.
Polk county contains 700,000 acres of land, well diversified with
timber and prairie, uplands- and valleys, rivers and lakes, and
fertile enough to sustain a large population. The county was
established by the Wisconsin legislature iu 1853, and originally
included much more territory than it now contains, new counties
having been formed north and east of its present domain. In
dian traders had visited it at an earlier period, but the first per
manent white settlement was made in 1837, and the first pioneer
who came with the serious intention of making permanent im
provements was Franklin Steele. As Mr. Steele's history is in a
great part the history of the early settlement, we insert it here,
and very nearly in the language of Mr. Steele himself, as he com
municated it to the writer some years since:
"I came to the Northwest in 1837, a young man, healthy and
ambitious, to dare the perils of an almost unexplored region, in
habited by savages. I sought Fort Snelling (which was at that
time an active United States fort) as a point from which to start.
In September, 1837, immediately after the treaty was made ced
ing the St. Croix valley to the government, accompanied by Dr.
Fitch, of Bloomington, Iowa, we started from Fort Snelling in a
bark canoe, also a scow loaded with tools, supplies and laborers,
descended the Mississippi river and ascended the St. Croix to
the Dalles. We clambered over the rocks to the Falls, where we
made two land claims, covering the Falls on the east side and the
approach to it in the Dalles. We built a log cabin at the Falls,
where the Upper Copper trap range crosses the river and where
the old mill was afterward erected. A second log house we

IN THE NORTHWEST. 83
built in the ravine at the head of navigation. Whilst building,
four other parties arrived to make, claim to this power. I found
the veritable Joe Brown on the west side of the St. Croix, trad
ing with the Indians, a few rods from where Baker & Taylor
built their mill (near the end of the present toll bridge). Brown
had also cut pine logs, part of which, in 1838, were used by Baker
& Taylor, but most of them were burned by forest fires on the
ground where they were felled. , In February, 1838, I made a
trip to the Falls with a dog team for the relief of one Boyce,
who was cutting logs at the mouth of Snake river, and had
had some trouble with the Indians. I helped him until he left
the country. Peshick, a chief of the Chippewas, said, ' We have
no money for logs; we have no money for land. Logs can not
go.' He said he could not control his young men and wodld
not be responsible for their acts.
' ¦ In the spring of 1838, from Fort Snelling we descended the Mis
sissippi river to Prairie du Chien in bark canoes, thence by
steamer to St. Louis, Missouri, where a co-partnership was formed
by Messrs. Fitch, of Muscatine, Iowa, Libbey, of Alton, Illinois,
Hungerford and Livingston, of St. Louis, Hill and Holcombe, of
Quincy, Illinois, and myself. We chartered the steamer Pal
myra, loaded her with all the materials with which to build a
saw mill, including mechanics to do the work, and started for the
scene of operations. Plans for procedure, rules and by-laws
were discussed and adopted during the journey on the steamer,
and the new organization was christened the St. Croix Falls
Lumbering Company. Calvin A. Tuttle was the millwright."
The trip was made in safety, our immediate plans executed,
and the Palmyra was the first steamboat that ever sailed the
St. Croix river and lake. Mr. Steele made an estimate for the
construction of the mill and dam at $20,000, which he submitted
to the company. It was accepted, and Calvin A. Tuttle, a mill
wright, was placed in charge of the work, but Mr. Steele sold
his interest to the company before the mill was completed. On
examination of the records we find that W. Libbey was the first
agent of the company. We find also from the same record that
Libbey knew little or nothing of the business he had undertaken.
With, a few barrels of whisky and one of beads he busied himself
trading with the Indians. This was the first whisky sold in the
valley, and it was sold in defiance oi' government law.

84 FIFTY YEARS
Much could be written about this old pioneer company of the
Northwest, and its history, could it be truly written, would con
tain many thrilling incidents and scenes worthy of remembrance^
but much is already forgotten and many of the most prominent
actors have passed away, leaving no record of their lives. The
company, as a corporation, passed through many changes of name
and ownership. Its history would be a history of litigations, of
wranglings and feuds, of losses and gains, of mistakes, of blun
ders and of wrongs. In the first place, the mill was planned by-
men practically unfitted for such work, inexperienced in lum
bering and unacquainted with the vast expenditures requisite
for the opening up of a new country, hundreds of miles from
labor and the supplies needed for manufacturing.. There were
three requisites present, a splendid water power, abundance of
timber at convenient distances and a healthful climate; but these
alone did not and could not make the enterprise a success. Had
practical, experienced lumbermen been employed the result
might have been different, but impractical methods, enormous
expenses, with no profits or dividends, caused most of the com
pany to withdraw, forfeiting their stock in preference to continu
ing with the prospect of total bankruptcy. Goods were brought
annually, at great expense, from St. Louis by the large steamers
which then controlled the trade of the Mississippi and the St.
Croix. The navigation of the St. Croix grew annually more diffi
cult, the immense number of logs floated down since 1838 wear
ing away the banks and increasing the number and area of sand
bars and not infrequently obstructing the channel with jams.
It is not known exactly how or when the name of St. Croix
came to be applied to the beautiful river bearing it, but La
Harpe, in his "Louisiana," gives the most plausible account of
its origin: "This name is not ecclesiastical in its associations,
but named after Monsieur St. Croix, who was drowned at its
mouth." Le Sueur, who explored the Upper Mississippi in 1683,
says he left a large river on the east side, named St. Croix,
because a Frenchman of that name was drowned at its mouth.
As Duluth was the first white man to embark in the waters of
the St. Croix, descending it in canoes, from near Lake Superior,
which he did in 1680; and as Hennepin and LaSaUe ascended
the Mississippi the same year, the name could not have had an
earlier origin, but may be fixed as given sometime between 1680

IN THE NORTHWEST. 85
#nd 1683. An old map in my possession, one hundred and
twenty-five years old, gives the present name of the river and
lake. The St. Croix valley embraces an area of territory from
20 to 90 miles in width, and about 120 miles in length. Its north
ern water, Upper Lake St.. Croix, is about 20 miles from Lake
Superior. The southern portion is a rich prairie country, inter
spersed with groves of hardwood timber. The more northern
portion is interspersed with groves of pine, tamarack, cedar, bal
sam and hardwoods. The whole district, with a small exception,
is a cereal country. It abounds in wild meadows, and much qf
the swampy portion will ultimately be utilized by ditching,
which will transform it all into a good stock raising country.
About eight-tenths of this entire valley is fitted by nature for
agriculture. Wheat, the leading cereal, averages ten to thirty bushels per
acre; the growth of tame grasses can not be excelled; vegetables
grow to wonderful size; native wild fruits abound; cultivated
fruits are being successfully introduced; cranberries are being
eultivated in the northern part. Wheat, stock, and pine lum
ber are the principal articles of export. The southern portion
is well watered by the St. Croix and its tributaries— KinnikiT
nic, Willow, Apple, Sunrise, and smaller streams, lakes and
springs. The northern portion is abundantly watered by the
St. Croix and tributaries — Wolf, Trade, Wood, Clam, Yellow,
Namakagan, Rush, Kanabec and Kettle rivers. Small streams
and lakes are numerous, of which only the largest are named on
the maps. The valley is abundantly supplied with water power,
capable of running enough manufactories to work up all the
products of the country. The soil is, as a general thing, dry
and arable. April and May are the seeding months. Crops
mature, and are seldom injured by frosts. The whole country
adjacent to this valley will answer to this general description.
On the twenty-ninth day of July, 1837, our government pur
chased the valley of the St. Croix of the Indians at a treaty
held at Fort Snelling, Gov. Henry Dodge and Gen. Wm. R.
Smith acting as commissioners. The purchase was ratified in
Oongress in the spring of 1838. Polk county, originally a part
of Crawford, in 1840 became a part of St. Croix, and in 1853 re
ceived its present organization and name, the latter in honor of
James K. Polk, eleventh president of the United States. This

86 FIFTY YEARS
country occupies the eastern part of the valley of the St. Croi*
lying between Burnett and St. Croix counties on the north and
south, and Barron on the east, the St. Croix river forming its
western boundary. The surface is agreeably diversified with
forest and prairie land, and is supplied with excellent springs,
rivers and lakes. Most of the underlying rock is sandstone.
This rock crops out along the banks of the St. Croix and is ex
tensively used for building purposes. Lime rock is also found
along the river banks, some of which is of a superior grade,
notably that below Osceola, which is manufactured into lime
and exported. The natural scenery can scarcely be surpassed
in the West. The towering, precipitous -bluffs along the St.
Croix, the picturesque trap rocks of the Dalles, and the bright
clear lakes of the interior have long been an attraction to the
tourist. The lakes and smaller streams abound in fish, and the
latter are famous for their abundance of brook trout.
The county seat at the organization of the county was located
at St. Croix Falls. The first election held in the limits of the
present county of Polk, prior to its organization, was at St.
Croix Falls, then a voting precinct, known as Caw-caw-baw-
kang, a Chippewa name, meaning waterfall. The returns of
this election were made to Prairie du Chien. I was present at
the canvassing of these returns. They were found to be accu
rate. Annually since then elections were held at this point and
returns made, first to Prairie du Chien, Crawford county, then
to Stillwater, St. Croix county, to Hudson, St. Croix county,
and to Osceola Mills, Polk county. By an election held in
Polk county just after its organization the county seat was re
moved to Osceola Mills, by a unanimous vote. The records of
the first elections can not be found, they having been stolen
from the safe in 1864. The following county officers were elected
in 1853: Isaac Freeland, clerk of court and register of deeds;
E. C. Tread well, sheriff; Oscar A. Clark, surveyor; Wm. Kent,
county treasurer; Harmon Crandall, coroner; Nelson McCarty,
district attorney; J. Freeland, clerk of board of supervisors.
The first meeting of the board of supervisors was held in Osceola
in Isaac Freeland's building, where the offices were located for
many years. The first court was held in the school house, Wyram
Knowlton presiding. Both petit and grand juries were in at
tendance, Isaac Freeland was the first attorney admitted to

IN THE NORTHWEST. 87
practice. Isaac W. Hale was the first county judge. The first
marriage was that of Lewis Barlow to  , at St. Croix
Falls. The first birth in the county was that of Charles North
rup, son of Anson Northrup, at St. Croix Falls (1844). The
first death was that of John Kelly, by drowning (1839), at St.
Croix Falls. The first school in the county was established at
St. Croix Falls by Miss Tainter, from Prairie du Chien, in 1848.
The first school house was built in Osceola in 1852, the second at
St, Croix Falls in 1861. The first mail, established in 1840, was
carried up the St. Croix river by batteaus in summer and by
sleds over the ice in winter. The mail was weekly; the carrier
was Dr. Philip Aldrich. The first land mail route was in 1847,
from Willow River to St. Croix Falls. The mail was carried by
Dr. Aldrich through the woods. The first stage route was estab
lished in 1855. The first deed we find of Polk county property is
recorded at Prairie du Chien Sept. 2, 1845, from James Purinton
to John Witherell, of St. Louis, Missouri, for $4,933, — a deed of
trust covering a saw mill at St. Croix Falls. The second deed is
from Benj. T. Otis to Edmond Johnson, conveying an undivided
interest in a pre-emption claim, known as the Northrup or Jeru
salem claim, about one mile east of St. Croix Falls, for $200.
The first deed recorded in the county of old St. Croix was Sept.
29, 1845, from James Purinton, of St. Croix Falls, to John H.
Ferguson, of the city of St. Louis, Missouri, — consideration
$1,552, — of 'St. Croix Falls water power property. The first
store was built in St. Croix Falls in 1839 and stocked with goods
by the St. Croix Falls Company. The first blacksmith shop and,
the first hotel were built at St. Croix Falls. The first grist mill
was built at Osceola in 1853. The first crops were raised at
"Jerusalem," the first farm in the county, in 1839. "Jerusa
lem" was the farm now owned by Wm. Blanding, and was early
noted as a resort for pleasure seekers, as a place for picnics and
base ball games. The first pre-emption and entry of land was
made in 1848, by Harmon Crandall, of Farmington. Settlers
came into the county slowly until about 1866, since which time
the population has more rapidly increased.
THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.
Undoubtedly the greatest curse to the pioneers of a new
settlement, and to the aborigines as well, is the liquor traffic.

88 FIFTY YEARS
The Indians, under the influence of whisky, became infuriated
and were capable of committing any atrocity; the effects upon
the whites were not so violent but just as surely demoralizing,
and in time as fatal. Among dealers in the vile fluid there was
no one more persistent and unscrupulous than Capt. M. M.
Samuels. During the summers of 1848 and 1849 there was no
other whisky selling house at the Falls. The character of the
whisky sold was vile beyond description. Mrs. H  and son
informed me that they were employed by Samuels during the
summer in compounding various roots with tobacco and boiling
them, for the manufacture of a strong drink that was sold for
whisky. Many, both whites and Indians, were poisoned by this
compound. As an emphatic evidence against the vileness of
the liquor, I append some of the blighting results:
A talented young lawyer, Hall byname, from Philadelphia, be
came infatuated with the peculiar whisky furnished by Samuels,
and when insane from its effects ran from Barlow's boarding
house to a high rock overhanging the St. Croix river, just below
the falls, plunged in and was drowned.
Another, named Douglas, under the same influence, tried re
peatedly to drown himself, when his friends bound him securely '
with cords. He then managed to stab himself.
Alexander Livingston, a man who in youth had had excellent
advantages, became himself a dealer in whisky, at the mouth of
Wolf creek, in a drunken melee in his own store, was shot and
killed by Robido, a half-breed. Robido was arrested but man- v
aged to escape justice.
Livingston, once, when on his way from Wolf creek to Clam
falls, sought refuge in my camp, having with him two kegs of
whisky. The Indians soon collected at the camp in fighting trim
and sung and danced madly about the door of the cabin, and clam
ored for scoot-a-wa-bo (whisky). I refused to allow any whisky
to be issued. The Indians were furious. Livingston cowered
with fear. Foreseeing trouble I ordered Nat Tibbetts^ and Jon
athan Brawn to take the kegs and follow me. The Indians
stopped their gymnastic performances and gazed intently. With
an axe and with a single blow on each keg I knocked in the heads,
and the whisky was soon swallowed up in the snow. The In
dians sprang forward with demoniac yells and commenced lick
ing up the saturated snow, after which they danced around me,

IN THE NORTHWEST. 89
calling me "Oge-ma" (captain). I gave them food and they went
away sober and apparently satisfied.
FRONTIER JUSTICE.
In the spring of 1848 there were two rival whisky sellers at
or near Balsam lake. Miles Tornell, a Norwegian, was located
midway'between the lake and the Falls. Miller, a German", had
his post at the lake. Miller was an older trader, and claimed ex
clusive rights. A bitter feeling sprang up between them, which
resulted, as the testimony afterward proved, in the murder of
Tornell. His house was burned, and his body found concealed
in a coal pit. One McLaughlin, who was stopping with Tornell,
was also murdered. An investigation was set on foot. Samuels
and Fields acted as detectives, and fixed the crime upon an In
dian, whom they arrested on an island in Blake's lake, and
brought to the Falls for trial. H. H. Perkins acted as judge, a
jury of good men was impaneled, and the trial was held in
Daniel Mears' store. A prosecuting attorney and counsel for the
accused were appointed. The Indian frankly confessed the kill
ing, and said that he had been hired to do the bloody work by
Miller. Another Indian testified to being present on the occasion
of the murder. After brief remarks by the lawyers, the jury
brought in a verdict of guilty. There was no formal sentence.
The Indian was kept under guard till next morning, when, by
the unanimous consent of all present, he was hanged to a tree,
since blighted, that stood near the old burying ground (later
Louisiana street), and was hanged, Samuels officiating as sheriff.
The Indians present were permitted to take the body, which they
buried with Indian rites. Toward Miller, who ought to have
been held as principal, the crowd were unexpectedly lenient. In
stead of being hanged upon the same tree, he was merely lashed
to it, and flogged, Pat Collins administering fifteen strokes on
the bare back with a beech withe. He was then placed on a
steamboat and ordered to leave the country, never to return.
Of the more active participants in the hanging, Pat Collins, who
officiated as hangman, and who flogged Miller, was undeniably
a hard citizen. He had a bitter grudge against Miller, and ad
ministered the strokes with a will. He was himself hanged some
years later in California for highway robbery. Chas. F. Rowley,
who assisted in the hanging, lived for some years on a farm at

90 FIFTY YEARS
Wolf creek, enlisted in 1861 in the Union army, and was killed
in battle. POPULATION OF ST. CROIX FALLS IN 1848.
The following heads of families resided in St. Croix Falls in
1848: H. H. Perkins, Edward Worth, G. W. Brownell, Otis
Hoyt, J. Saunders, R. Arnold, L. Barlow, A. L. Tuttle, M. M.
Samuels, Geo. De Attley, Moses Perin, and W. H. C. Folsom.
The following single men claimed this as their home: D. Mears,
J. L. and N. C. D. Taylor, P. Kelly, A. Romain, J. and W. E.
Marshall W. F. Colby, Dr. De Witt, W. J. Vincent, C. Dexter,
A. Youle; H. H. Newberry, J. and O. Weymouth, Geo. Field, W.
W. Folsom, J. H. Tuller, J. Dobney, J. Paine, and some others
whose names I can not readily recall.
NATURAL LANGUAGE.
The Indians, when unable to talk English, nevertheless man
aged to express themselves intelligibly by gestures, picture writ
ing, and vocal utterances, imitating the sounds which they wished
to describe. A kind old Chippewa occasionally visited my camp.
He would sit by the camp fire and mark out in the ashes the out
lines of lakes and streams. In tracing South Clam river, at a
certain point he drew a line across the stream, and blew his
breath between his teeth and lips in such a way as to perfectly
imitate the sound of falling water. Sometime afterward, in
exploring Clam river, on rounding a curve I heard the sound of
falling water, and found the fall just as he had located it.
THE DROWNING OF HAMLET H. PERKINS.
Mr. Perkins had been in the village since 1847, acting as agent
for the Falls company until the winter of 1850-51, when he was
accidentally drowned while attending to his duties. He was
engaged in repairing the dam, and was standing on a block of
ice. In an unguarded moment he lost his foothold and was car
ried by the swift current under the ice. It was two days before
his body was recovered. His family left the valley, taking the
body with them. A QUAILTOWN MURDER.
Sylvester Partridge, a Vermont man, in the year 1846-47, es
tablished an Indian trading post three-fourths of a mile above

IN THE NORTHWEST. 91
St. Croix Falls. The buildings consisted of a dwelling house,
whisky shop, bowling alley, Indian house and stable, the whole
inappropriately styled Quailtown, as the hame was a gross slan
der upon the innocent birds. The quails in this "Partridge"
nest were evil birds. The resort was noted for its riotous dis
order. The worst classes met there for revelry and midnight
orgies. In the summer of 1849 Alfred Romain and Patrick Kelly
met at Quailtown, disputed, fought, were parted, and the next
day met "by agreement to continue the fight with pistols. They
were to meet at sunrise in front of Daniel Mears' store. An
attempt was made to pacify them, but in vain. Only Romain
appeared at the appointed place, and not finding Kelly, hunted
through the village for him. About 9 o' clock A. M. he found
him at the house of Kimball, a mulatto man. Romain shot him at
sight, fatally. At the inquest, held by Dr. Hoyt, it was proven
that Romain fired four shots into the body of Kelly, each taking
effect, and then crushed his skull with the pistol, and that Kelly
fired one shot at Romain. Romain was held for murder, but
was never brought to trial. After two years' confinement he
escaped from the jail at Prairie du Chien.
Romain afterward removed to St. Louis, reformed his mode
of life and became a steady and respectable man. Kelly was a
native of Ireland, and at the time of his death was engaged to be
married to an estimable lady, one of the corps of teachers sent
out by Gov. Slade. MINERAL PERMITS.
In 1846 a party of speculators, composed of Caleb Cushing,
Rufus Choate, Robert Rantoul, and others, located a mineral
permit, one mile square, covering part of the site of the two
towns of St. Croix and Taylor's Falls, with the water power1 as
the centre. Their permit was filed in the general land office at
Washington. They located another permit at or near the mouth
of Kettle river. As no money was ever expended in improving
them, these permits were never respected. Subsequently the
government resurveyed the lands and sold them. The present
title to these lands is perfectly good.
MARRIAGE UNDER DIFFICULTIES.
In the olden time officers could not always readily be found to
execute the laws. Parties desiring to be married, being unable

¦92 FIFTY YEARS
to secure the services of a minister or justice of the peace, would
seek for an officer on the other side of the river, get on a raft or
boat, cast off the fastenings and under the concurrent jurisdiction
of the state and territorial authorities, would be pronounced
"man and wife." Parties have. had the same rite performed in
the winter season while standing on the ice of the St. Croix mid
way between the two shores. AN INDIAN SCARE.
During the excitement following the Indian outbreak, there
was a general feeling of insecurity and alarm. The half-breeds
were especially apprehensive of some kind of violence. One
bright moonlight evening, at St. Croix, a surveyor was taking
some observations, and as his instrument glittered brightly in
the moonlight, the half-breeds saw it and fled, badly frightened,
fancying a Sioux behind every bush. The whites seeing them
running, as if for their lives, caught the panic, and fled over to
the Minnesota side. The Taylor' s Falls people were aroused from
their peaceful slumbers to find, soon after, that it was a false
alarm. Some of the fugitives hid underneath the bridge and
clung to the trestle work till morning.
THE FIRST FIRE CANOE.
I am indebted to Calvin A. Tuttle for the following reminis
cence: In July, 1838, the steamer Palmyra, Capt. Middleton,
of Hannibal, Missouri, in command, the first steamer on St. Croix
waters, brought me to St. Croix Falls, landing in the Dalles, east
side, opposite Angle Rock. The snorting of the Palmyra brought
many curiosity seeking Indians to the Dalles. They gathered on
the pinnacles of the trap rock, peered curiously over and jumped
back, trembling with fright at the "Scota Cheman" or "fire
canoe," the first that had ever floated on the placid waters of the
St. Croix. I had been employed as millwright to erect mills in
the new, and, as yet, almost unknown settlement. On the Pal
myra came the proprietors, Steele, Fitch, Hungerford; Libbey,
Livingston,' Hill, and Russell, with mill irons, tools and provi
sions for the enterprise. MILL BUILDING.
After climbing over the cragged rocks we came to an Indian
trail which led to the Falls, where we found two men, Lagoo and

IN THE NORTHWEST. 93
Denire holding the claim for Steele. The fanciful scheme of
building a mill up in the wild land looked now like a reality.
The men lived in a log cabin just below the Falls, in a small
clearing in the timber, near a copper rock range. Boyce and
his men had been driven in by Indians from above. Andrew
Mackey and others of Boyce's men went to work with us. Thirty-
six men had come from St. Louis on the steamer Palmyra. We
moved our machinery from the Dalles to the Falls by water and
commenced work immediately. Steele's men had been hindered
by the Indians from procuring timber for the building of the
mill. We obtained a supply from Kanabec river, which arrived
September 15th. Building the mill and blasting the rock occu
pied our attention during the winter. The mill was soon com
pleted and running. During this period the work was often inter
rupted and the men were greatly demoralized by the threatening
behavior of the Indians. Many of them were frightened into
leaving the settlement, but their places were supplied by the
company whenever practicable. During 1840 we received some
reliable accessions, among them J. L. Taylor, John McKusick
Joseph Haskell, Elam Greely, J. W. Furber and A. McHattie.
Some frame houses were built near the mill. Washington Libbey
was our first agent, Darnes our second (1839), Capt. W. Frazer
our third (1840), Capt. Wm. Holcombe our fourth (1841). The
first death was of a man drowned in 1840. The first white
woman who visited the Falls was Mrs. David Hone. Rev.
Boutwell preached here in 1839. A. Northrup and family came
in 1840. INDIAN MURDERS.
In 1840 Jeremiah Russell, the Indian farmer at Pokegama, Pine
county, Minnesota, sent two Chippewa Indians to St. Croix Falls
for supplies, who arrived in safety. A band of fifty Sioux Indians
were concealed at this (St. Croix Falls) settlement for some days.
Within an hour after the arrival of the two Chippewas, the set
tlement was surrounded by these Sioux. The whites, seeing that
trouble was brewing, secreted the Chippewas for two days, the
Sioux closely watching. The white men were restless, and afraid
to go to work. Capt. Frazer, Rev. Ayers and myself held a
council and explained the situation to the Chippewas, who re
plied that they would not expose the whites to trouble. They
resolved on leaving and started in open day north over the trap

94 FIFTY YEARS
rock ridge, thence through the bushes, where they discovered-
two Sioux. The Chippewas were armed and fired on the Sioux,
killing them instantly. The Chippewas then started to run. The
report of the guns brought squads of Sioux immediately in pur
suit, who, firing on the Chippewas, killed one. The two dead
Sioux were sons of Little Crow. They were placed by the Sioux
in a sitting posture, with backs to a tree, facing the enemy's
country, on the second bench near where the mill dam was sub- ,
sequently built, a double barreled gun standing on the ground
between them. They decorated the corpses with war paint,
ribbons and mosses. The two Chippewas who killed Little Crow's
sons bore the titles Julius and Wezhaymah. The Sioux in pur
suit killed Julius, and his head was hung up in a kettle before
those he had slain. His body was chopped in pieces and scat
tered to the four winds.
From an historical letter, written by Mrs. E. T. Ayer, who
lives at Belle Prairie, Minnesota, and whom we have elsewhere
mentioned, we have the following description of the death of the
sons of Little Crow:
"Julius was of medium height, stout build, very neat, and
when in full dress very few Indians would favorably compare
with him. Being a good hunter he had the means of gratifying
his taste. His hair was long and abundant, and was kept clean
and shining by the frequent use of comb and brush, with the
help of a little marrow or bear's oil. Three or four of his numer
ous long braids, studded with silver brooches, hung gracefully
on both sides of his face and over his arms — the rest of his dress
in a manner corresponding. His hair, like Absalom's, did not
save him from his enemies. The Dakotas may dance around it
for generations and never see its equal.
"Wezhaymah made his appearance at Pokegama. As he drew
near the houses he gave asalute from his double barreled gun.
The Ojibways were much frightened. They believed the Sioux
had returned to make another trial for scalps and plunder. The
first impulse of the women was to hide. The chief's wife and
oldest daughter being at the mission hoUse, went through a trap
door into a dark cellar. But when the supposed dead' stood
before them, alive and well, there was great rejoicing.
"Wezhaymah said that Julius killed both of Little Crow's
sons; that the Sioux followed him but a short distance, then all

IN THE NORTHWEST. 95
turned after Julius. He took a circuitous route home, traveling
in the night and hiding in the day. Julius' parents, Joseph and
Eunice, and other members of their family, were members of the
mission church. He and his wife made no profession, though
they sometimes attended religious worship."
About twenty days after, about one hundred Sioux came from
Little Crow's band at Red Rock for the bodies of their dead
comrades and the gun, having first, by means of spies, satisfied
themselves that there were no Chippewas in the vicinity. One
morning, as the whites were going to work, they were surprised
by the sudden appearance of these Indians, who rushed suddenly
down upon them from different trails, gorgeously painted and
without blankets. Their movements were so sudden that the
whites were completely surprised, and at the mercy of the In
dians, who, however, satisfied themselves with searching the camp
and appropriating all the victuals they could find, ostensibly
searching for the gun which was not to be found where they had
left it. Complaining bitterly of its loss, they withdrew to a trap
rock ledge near by, where they formed a circle, danced, sung
and fired several guns into the air. They then asked to see
"Oge-ma, " the agent, and formally demanded the gun. Every
one in camp denied any knowledge whatever of the missing
article. The Indians were at first much dissatisfied, but finally
Little Crow advanced, smoked a pipe and offered it to Capt.
Frazer, shook hands and withdrew, apparently in peace.
As it is not the custom for Indians to molest the dead, they
firmly believed a white man had taken the gun. Little Crow
applied to Maj. Plymptorf at Fort Snelling, charging the theft
upon the whites. The major in turn wrote to Capt. Frazer at
the Falls to make an investigation, as a "result of which the gun
was found in a tool chest belonging to Lewis Barlow, concealed
under a false bottom. Barlow professed entire innocence and
ignorance of the matter, suggesting that his brother must
have placed the gun there. Capt. Frazer severely reprimanded
him for imperiling the lives of all the whites in the settlement
by his foolish and thievish act. The gun was sent to Maj.
Plympton, who wrote to Capt. Frazer cautioning him to be on
his guard, as the Indians were much irritated. Barlow had
earned the contempt and dislike of his fellow workmen.

96 FIFTY YEARS
INDIAN BATTLE OF STILLWATER
Mr. Tuttle was at the Falls at the time of the famous battle
between the Sioux and Chippewas, which was fought in the
ravine where the Minnesota state prison now stands, July 3,
1839, and has given me the following account:
The Chippewas of the St. Croix had been invited by the officer
in command at Fort Snelling to a council, the object of which ,
was to effect a treaty of peace. Two hundred and fifty or three
hundred Chippewas, including their women and children, passed
downihe St. Croix in canoes, rested in fancied security in the
ravine near the present site of Stillwater, and made a portage
thence to Fort Snelling, where, under protection of government-
soldiers, the council was held. The pipe of peace had been smoked
and the Chippewas were quietly returning home, and had en
camped a second time in the ravine, expecting to re-embark the
next morning on the waters of the St. Croix. Just at the dawn
of the ensuing day, and while they were still asleep, a large body
of Sioux, who had stealthily followed them, fell upon them sud
denly, and with wild yells commenced an indiscriminate slaugh
ter. The Chippewas rallying, drove the Sioux from the ground,
thereby retaining possession of their dead, to the number of
about thirty. After the smoke of peace at Fort Snelling it was
reported that a Sioux had been killed. This incensed them so
that they followed in two parties, one party pursuing the St.
Croix band and another the Mille Lacs band up Rum river. The
latter party overtook the Chippewas at the point where Prince
ton is now located, and slew sisty of their number. It was after
ward ascertained that the Sioux killed near Fort Snelling. was
killed by a Pillager of the Upper Mississippi, an Indian of a
band that was not in the counpil. The Sioux and Chippewas,
it is true, are bitter, relentless, hereditary foes, but this slaugh
ter occurred through a grievous mistake. The Chippewas, on
their return, rested at the Falls. Capt. Frazer gave them medi
cine, dressed their wounds and fed them. The Indians gave way
to the wildest grief at their losses, and when they heard of the
sixty killed of the Mille Lacs'ftand, their mourning cries and
moans baffled description. THE FIRST LOGGERS.
The first logs were cut by J. R. Brown on the Taylor's Falls
flat in the winter of 1836-37, but the first regular outfit and

IN THE NORTHWEST. 97
camp was that of John Boyce, who came up in a mackinaw boat
from St. Louis with eleven men and six oxen, landing at St.
Croix Falls late in the faU of 1837. Mr. Andrew Mackey, who
was in his party, has furnished me with some items regarding
this adventure. The boat was cordelled over the rapids, and,
with poles and lines, taken as far as the mouth of Kanabec river,
where a camp was established. Boyce had considerable trouble
with the Indians. Little Six, a Chippewa chief, came to the
camp with two hundred warriors in a defiant, blustering manner,
telling him to "go away," to "go back where they came from."
Boyce proceeded to the Indian mission at Lake Pokegama and
invoked the aid of Rev. Mr. Boutwell, Ely, Ayers and Seymour ,
who came back with him to the camp and had a "talk" with
Little Six, who claimed that the whites had paid no money.
Mr. Seymour explained to them the provisions of the treaty, of
which they would soon hear; that under its provisions the whites
had a right to the timber; that they were not usurpers, that they
would live peaceably and not disturb their game. The Indians
grunted assentj but refused to allow the whites to remove any of
their chingwack (pine). Mr. Seymour, apprehending trouble,
advised Mr. Boyce to leave. He determined to remain. The
Indians being still troublesome, Mr. Boyce descended the river
to the falls, the Indians following. On going over the falls the
boat filled and Mr. Boyce lost nearly all he had. The Palmyra
shortly after broke the silence of the Dalles with its shrill whistle
and brought the news of the ratification of the treaty by Con
gress. Boyce sent his boat down the river, built small boats and
made haste to return to his camp on Kanabec river, where he re
mained through the fall and winter cutting logs.
THE FIRST RAFTING.
In April and May of 1839, Boyce rafted his logs with poles and
ropes made of basswood strings. The high water swept them
away. He gathered from the broken rafts enough for one raft,
made it as strong as possible, and continued the descent. The
raft struck upon the first island and went to pieces. Boyce saved
the canoe and a part of the provisions. Boyce was by this time
in a furious rage at his want of success, but tried a third time to
make a raft. The crew, tiredand hungry, refused to work. A
new contract was made and written on a slate, there being no
7

98 FIFTY YEARS
paper. The logs were left in the river. Some of them floated
down and were sold to the Falls company and to the company at
Marine. Boyce lost all his labor and investment; the men got
but little for their work. Frank Steele had assisted in supply
ing provisions and clothing for the men, the value of which
he never received. Boyce was disgusted and left the country.
AN INDIAN PAYMENT.
Levi W. Stratton, who came up on the Palmyra, July, 1838,
gives a few reminiscences from which we select an account of a
payment made to the Chippewa Indians the year of his arrival.
The crew and passengers of the Palmyra had been greatly an
noyed by the Indians, who expected their first payment in July,
and besieged the boat in great numbers, demanding it at the
hands of the first whites who had come up the river, unable to
understand the difference between the regularly constituted au
thorities and those immigrants who had nothing to do with the
payments. It was not until the first week of November that
their goods came for payment. The place where Stillwater now
stands was selected as the place where they should assemble.
The old stern wheel Gipsey brought the goods and landed them
on the beach. The Chippewas came there to the number of
1,100 in their canoes, nearly starved by waiting for their pay
ment. While there receiving it the river and lake froze up, and
a deep snow came on; thus all their supplies, including one
hundred barrels of flour, twenty -five of pork, kegs of tobacco,
bales of blankets, guns and ammunition, casks of Mexican dol
lars, etc., all were sacrificed except what they could carry off on
their backs through the snow hundreds of miles away. Their
fleet of birch canoes they destroyed before leaving, lest the Sioux
might have the satisfaction of doing the same after they left.
Many of the old as well as the young died from overeating,
they being nearly starved. Thus their first payment became a
curse rather than a blessing to them, for their supplies soon gave
out, the season for hunting was past, they were away from home
and had no means of getting there, except by wading through
deep snow. Many perished in the attempt. As is usual in such
cases, I suppose, no one was to blame, but the poor Indians had
to suffer the consequences of somebody's neglect. The old Gyp-
sey had scarcely time to get through tie lake before the ice
formed.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 99

INDIAN DANCING AND THEFT.

In the rough log cabin at St. Croix Falls were three females,
the wives of Messrs. Orr and Sackett, employes of the company,
and Miss Young, daughter of a widower of that name, Life in that
cabin was by no means a dream of bliss, for in consequence of
the mosquitoes, more relentless persecutors than the Indians, ia
smudge had to be kept burning night and day, or at least by
day when the sun was not shining. The old cabin served, for a
kitchen, while an arbor was improvised outside for a dining
room. Shortly after the arrival of the immigrants, and before
they had learned all the peculiarities of Indian character, they
were visited by a party of fifteen or twenty braves, who set about
adorning themselves, and spent the forenoon in painting and get
ting themselves up in gorgeous rig, regardless of expense, pre
paratory to giving a free entertainment. Just before dinner was
called, they arranged themselves near the table and gave a dance,
which was very much applauded, after which they were given
presents of bread and meat, and dismissed, apparently highly
, pleased with the success of their exhibition. The household
gathered about the table to enjoy their repast, but to their con
sternation, not a knife, fork or spoon could be found. While the
majority of the Indians were riveting the attention of the new
comers by their extaordinary antics, the remainder were quietly
abstracting the tableware. They were afterward charged with
the theft, but protested innocence. The missing articles were
never heard of again. A pig of lead, left outside, disappeared
at the same time. The poor Indians denied ever having seen
the lead. Mr. Stratton remarked, however, that all their war
-clubs, pipes and gun stocks had been lately and elaborately or
namented with molten lead. OTHER THEFTS. *
At another time, shortly before payment, when the Indians
were unusually hungry and troublesome, two barrels of pork
and one of butter mysteriously disappeared. The pork barrels
were found empty in the river, and also the butter barrel with
one-third of the contents missing. The Indians lay all day in
camp sick, but protested their innocence. Nevertheless, at
payment day a claim of two hundred dollars for the pork and
one hundred and fifty for the butter was allowed and kept back.

100 FIFTY YEARS
They made no objections to paying for the pork, but protested
against paying for the butter, as it did them no good and made
them all sick.
In September, an old Indian came to the cabin, begging for
something to eat. The agent went to the pork barrel and held
up a fine piece of pork weighing about twelve pounds, to which
the tail was still attached. At sight of this his countenance fell
and he went away silently and sullenly.
Shortly afterward a yoke of oxen was missing. They had
been driven off over some bare ledges of trap to break the trail.
An Indian was hired to hunt for them. He found that this
same beggar who had been so disgusted with the offer of a piece
of pork with the tail attached had driven them off and slaugh
tered them. Payment day made all right, and the Indians were
compelled to pay a good price for rather poor beef.
HARD TIMES.
Mrs. Mary C. Worth communicated to the writer the follow
ing incidents, illustrating some of the vicissitudes of the early
settlers: It was in the fall of 1842. There were about two hundred
people in the village, most of them in the employ of James Pur
inton, company agent. They were already short of provisions
and the winter was rapidly coming on, and the expected boat,
with its cargo of provisions for the winter supply, was long
delayed. September passed, October came and nearly passed,
and still no boat. Snow covered the ground, and thin ice the
river. The ice, in finely broken pieces, floated down the rapids
and was beginning to gorge in the Dalles, and still no boat. Pro
visions were allotted to the resident families, and the gloomi
est anticipations filled all minds at the prospect of the long,
dreary winter without food; when, on the twenty-eighth of Octo
ber, the long expected whistle was heard from the coming
steamer. The people rushed frantically down to the old ware
house, but the ice was so gorged in the Dalles that no boat could
make the landing. No boat was in sight, nor was the whistle
heard again. Had it all been an illusion1? The eager throng
were again in despair. Another night of cold would blockade
the river. Just then the voices of white men were heard from
the rocks of the Dalles, and to their great joy they perceived

IN THE NORTHWEST. 101
the boats, officers and passengers clambering down from the
rocks, with the glad tidings that the boat had reached the land
ing, half a mile below, and was then unloading her cargo. The
boat, as soon as unloaded, hurriedly departed to avoid being
frozen in. The winter passed merrily enough, but clouds and
darkness gathered in the spring. Provisions were again short,
and had to be apportioned sparingly and equally. Occasionally
a deer or a fish eked out the supply, but starvation was again
imminent. On this occasion they were relieved by the recep
tion of condemned pork from Fort Snelling. The St. Louis pro
prietors sent up another boat load of supplies after the opening
ef navigation, and all seemed well, when, during the prevalence
•of high water, the boom and mill race gave way and the logs,
their main dependence, were swept down the river and beyond
their control. This important occurrence, as it then seemed to
be, opened up for the company and people a new trade from the
Yalley below, which has been a source of immense profit. It sug
gested the idea of booming and rafting their logs for points down
the river, and led to the building of the first saw mill at Still
water.
ugh! ugh!
Mr. Purinton at one time invited a few noted Indians who
were begging for food to be seated at his table. He politely
asked them if they would have tea or coffee. "Ugh! Ugh!
(equivalent to yes, yes) replied the whole party. So Mr. Pur
inton mixed their tea and coffee.
MRS. WORTH AND MUCKATICE.
Muckatice, a Chippewa chief, heard that a barrel of whisky
had been stored for safe keeping in the cellar of Mrs. Worth, at
Balsam Lake. Muckatice forced himself into the house and at-
temped to raise the cellar trap door. Mrs. Worth forbade him
and placed herself upon the door. Muckatice roughly pushed
her aside. He raised the trap door, and, whiledn the act of de
scending, fell. While falling Mrs. Worth suddenly shut the
trap door upon him, by which one of his legs was caught. Mrs.
Worth held the door tightly down. When at last Muckatice was
released, gathering a crowd of Indians he returned and demanded
the whisky. Thayer, with ropes, managed to get the barrel out

102 FIFTY YEARS
of the cellar and out upon the ground, and seeing the peril of
giving so much whisky to the Indians, knocked. in both heads of
the barrel with an axe, and the earth drank the poisonous fluid.
Muckatice then shook hands with Mrs. Worth, called her very
brave, and departed.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 103

OHAPTEE V.

BIOGRAPHIES.
The biographical histories of the early settlers of Polk county
considerably antedate the organization of the towns to which
they would be referred as at present belonging, and we therefore
group together those earliest identified with the history of the
valley, and its first settlement at St. Croix Falls, referring also
some, such as Joseph R. Brown, Gov. W. R. Marshall and Frank
Steele, to localities in which they had been more intimately con
nected. Gov. Wm. Holcombe was one of the active < resident pro
prietors and agent of the St. Croix Falls Lumber Company
from 1838 to 1845. He was born at Lambertville, New Jersey,
in 1804; left home when a Doy; went to Utica, New York, where
he learned the wheelwright trade. He married Martha Wilson,
of Utica; moved to Columbus, Ohio, and was successful in busi
ness, but lost all by fire, when he moved to Cincinnati, and from
thence to Galena. While in Galena he embarked in steamboat
ing on the Mississippi. Mrs. Holcombe died in Galena. From
Galena he came to St. Croix Falls, where.he devoted his time as
agent to selling lumber and keeping books. Mr. Holcombe took
a deep interest in opening the valley to public notice and im
provement. He traveled over the wilderness country from
Prairie du Chien to St. Croix Falls before there was a blazed path,
driving horses and cattle. He helped locate the two first roads
in the valley from the mouth of St. Croix lake, via Marine, to St.
Croix Falls and from St. Croix Falls, via Sunrise and Rush lakes,
to Russell' s farm, on Pokegama lake. He supervised the cultiva
tion of the first crops raised in Polk county, at Jerusalem. He

104 FIFTY YEARS
settled in Stillwater in 1846, where he became an active worker
in behalf of education, and did much to establish the present ex
cellent system of schools. In 1846 he was a member of the first
constitutional convention of Wisconsin Territory, representing
this valley and all the country north of Crawford county. He
was a faithful worker on the boundary question, and effected a
change from the St. Croix.to a point fifteen miles due east, from
the most easterly point on Lake St. Croix, from thence south to
the Mississippi river and north to the waters of Lake Superior.
His course was approved by his constituents. In 1848 he took
an active part in the formation of Minnesota Territoiy, and was
secretary of the first convention called for that purpose in Still
water. He was receiver of the United States land office at Still
water four years. He was a member of the Democratic wing of
the constitutional convention for Minnesota in 1857, and was
honored by being elected first lieutenant governor of Minnesota
in 1857. The name of Gov. Holcombe will long be remem
bered in the valley of the St. Croix. He died in Stillwater, Sept.
5, 1870, and was buried with masonic honors. He left two sons,
William W. and Edward Van Buren, by his first wife. He mar
ried a second wife in Galena, in 1847, who died in 1880.
William S. Hungerford was born in Connecticut, Aug. 12,
1805. He was married to Lucinda Hart, at Farmington, Connec
ticut, in 1827. He came to St. Louis, Missouri, at an early age
and engaged in mercantile pursuits in the firm of Hungerford &
Livingston. In 1838 he became one of the original proprietors
•of the St. Croix Falls Lumbering Company, and gave his time
and talents to its welfare. He was of a hopeful temperament,
and even in the darkest hour of the enterprise in which he had
embarked, cherished a most cheerful faith in its ultimate suc
cess. Hon. Caleb Cushing, whose name was to be associated inti
mately with that of Mr. Hungerford in the future history and
litigation of the company, recognizing St. Croix Falls as a point
promising unrivaled attractions to the manufacturer, in 1846
purchased an interest in the company, which was at once reor
ganized with Cushing and Hungerford as principal stockholders.
The acute mind of Gen. Cushing recognized not only the pros
pective advantages of the water power, but the probability of
the division of Wisconsin Territory, which might result in mak-

IN THE NORTHWEST. 105
ing St. Croix Falls the capital of the new territory, and formed
plans for the development of the company enterprise, which
might haVe resulted advantageously had not he been called away
to take part in the Mexican War and thence to go on a political
mission to China. During his absence there was a complete neg
lect of his American inland projects and the enterprise at St.
Croix suffered greatly; the new company accomplished but little
that, was agreed upon in the consolidation. Cushing had inex
perienced agents, unfitted to attend to his interest. He furnished
money sufficient, if judiciously handled, to have made a perma
nent, useful property here. Conflicting questions arose between
Hungerford and Cushing' s agents, which terminated in lawsuits.
The first suit was in 1848, Hungerford, plaintiff. Different suits
followed, one after another, for over twenty years, which cursed
the property more than a mildew or blight. During this time
the parties alternated in use and possession, by order of court.
Hungerford, during these trials, pre-empted the land when it
came in market. For this he was arrested on complaint of per
jury. Hungerford, by order of court, was, on his arrest, taken
away in chains. He was soon after released. Hungerford was
an indefatigable worker. The labor of his life was invested in
the improvements of the company. Cushing, being a nian of
talent and influence, could fight the battle at a distance. He em.
ployed the best legal talent in the land; he met Hungerford at
every turn, and Hungerford became a foe worthy of his steel.
They unitedly accomplished the ruin of their town. Mr. Hunger
ford had an excellent family, making their home at the Falls, dur
ing all their perplexities. On the occasion of his arrest he was
manacled in presence of his family, who bore it with a fortitude
worthy the name and reputation of the father and husband.
The litigation ended only with the death of the principal actors.
The perishable part of the property, mills and other buildings,
has gone to ruin. The whole history is a sad comment on the
folly of attempting to manage great enterprises without har
mony of action and purpose. Mr. Hungerford died in Monti-
cello, Illinois, in 1874. Mrs. Hungerford died in Connecticut in
1880. Mr. Cushing died in 1876.
Hon. Henry D. Barron. — Henry Danforth Barron was born
in Saratoga county, New York, April 10, 1832. He received a
common school education, studied law, and graduated from the

106 fifty years
law school at Ballston Spa, New York. He came to Wisconsin
in 1851; learned the printer's trade, and was afterward editor of
the Waukesha Democrat. In" 1857 he removed to Pepin, Wis
consin, and in 1860 received the appointment of circuit judge
of the Eighth district.
In September, 1861, he came to St. Croix Falls, as agent for
Caleb Cushing and the St. Croix Manufacturing and Improve
ment Company.
He was elected to the lower house of the Wisconsin legislature
in 1862, and served as assemblyman continuously from 1862 to
1869, and for the years 1872 and 1873.. During the sessions of
1866 and 1873 he was speaker of the assembly. A portion of
this time he held the responsible position of regent of the State
University, and was also a special agent of the treasury depart
ment. In 1869 President Grant appointed him chief justice of
Dakota, which honor was declined. The same year he was ap
pointed fifth auditor in the treasury department, which office
he resigned in 1872 to take a more active part in advancing the
interests of his State. He was chosen a presidential elector in
1868, and again in 1872, and served as state senator during the
sessions of 1874, 1875 and 1876, and was at one time president
pro tern, of the senate. In 1876 he was elected judge of the
Eleventh Judicial circuit. During his service as judge he was
highly gratified that so few appeals were taken from his decis
ions, and that his decisions were seldom reversed in higher
courts. He had also held the offices of postmaster, county attor
ney, county judge, and county superintendent of schools.
Although formerly a Democrat, at the outbreak of the Rebel
lion he became a Republican. Of late years he was a pro
nounced stalwart. Throughout his life he never received any
profit, pecuniarily, from the prominent positions in which he
was placed, his only endeavor seeming to be to advance the
interests, influence, worth and ability of the younger men with
whom he was associated, and hundreds who to-day hold posi
tions of prominence and responsibility, owe their success and ad
vancement to his teachings and advice. Of a disposition kind,
courteous and generous, he was possessed of a remarkably reten
tive memory, which, with his intimate associations with leading
men, and familiarity with public life, legislative and judicial,
afforded a fund of personal sketches, anecdotes and biographies,
at once entertaining, amusing and instructive.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 107
The judge was twice married, his first wife having died at
Waukesha, leaving him an only son, Henry H. Barron, who was
with him at the time of his death. His second marriage was to
Ellen K. Kellogg, at Pepin, in 1860. For some time she has
made her home with her mother in California, on account of ill
health. At the time of his death, which occurred at St. Croix
Falls, Jan. 22, 1882, he was judge of the Eleventh Judicial cir
cuit. His remains were buried at Waukesha.
George W. Brownell. — Mr. Brownell, though not among
the earliest of the pioneers of St. Croix valley, yet deserves
special mention on account of his scientific attainments, his high
character as a man, and the fact that he was an influential mem
ber, from the St. Croix district, of the Wisconsin territorial con
stitutional convention, he having been elected over Bowron on
the question of establishing the new state line east of the St.
Croix. Mr. Brownell was born in Onondago, New York, and when a
youth lived in Syracuse, where he learned the trade of a carriage
maker. He was a resident of Galena, Illinois, over thirty years,
where he engaged in mining and geological pursuits. He spent
two years in the lead mines of Wisconsin. He was connected
with the Galena Gazette some years. In 1846 he visited the
Superior copper mining region for a Boston company.. He formed
the acquaintance of Caleb Cushing, Rufus Choate, Horace Ran-
toul, and others, and located for them mineral permits at St.
Croix Falls and Kettle river, and became, this year, a resident
of St. Croix Falls. In 1847 he was married to Mrs. Duncan, of
Galena. He was elected this year to the constitutional conven
tion. In 1851 he returned to Galena and engaged in the grain
trade and cotton planting near Vicksburg, Mississippi, in which
he was not successful. In 1865 he visited Colorado and made
investments there. When on a trip to Colorado, in 1866, the
stage was attacked by Indians. Brownell and another passen
ger alighted to resist the attack. He was armed with a rifle,.
and, if properly supported, would probably have been saved; but
most of the passengers remained in the stage. The driver, get
ting scared, whipped his horses and drove rapidly away, leaving
Brownell and companion, who were overpowered and killed.
Their bodies were recovered, shockingly mutilated. His re
mains were forwarded to Galena, for burial. Mr. Brownell had

108 FIFTY YEARS
a scientific mind, and passed much of his life in scientific stud
ies and practical experiments. He attained a good knowledge
of geology, mineralogy and chemistry. The foresight of Mr.
Brownell on the Wisconsin boundary, and in other public mat
ters, has been, in time, generally recognized. He was a good
neighbor and kind friend.
Col. Robert C. Murphy. — Col. Murphy, a man of fine ad
dress and admirable social qualities, made his home at St. Croix
Falls in 1860-61 and 62, during which time he was in charge
of the Cushing interest and property, which position he left to
accept the colonelcy of the Eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry.
His military career was not fortunate and its abrupt termination
was a sad disappointment to himself and friends. An article in
the Milwaukee Weekly Telegraph, from the pen of one who knew
Col. Murphy well, thus sums up some of the salient points in his
character and career. We make a few extracts:
"Col. Murphy was educated and accomplished. He had been
instructed in the Patridge Military School, and was possessed of
some experience in Indian fights on the plains with Buraside,
bearing scars of that experience, and a recommendation of skill
and courage from Gen. Burnside to Gov. Randall. His great in-
tuitiveness, his ready manner, his cultivation of mind, gained
for him the respect and charity of his superiors, and brought
him the respect and confidence of his regiment. His father, a
native of Ireland, was a successful practicing lawyer and poli
tician in Ohio, without much education; a man of strong natural
talent and integrity. Upon his son he showered all his earnings,
in the form of that which the father lacked the most — books,
schooling and polish. Judge Murphy (the father) was the bearer
of important dispatches to Texas from the Tyler and Polk ad
ministrations in connection with the annexation of that republic
to this country, and is referred to in Benton's 'Thirty Years'
as Tyler's 'midnight messenger.' Young Murphy was ap
pointed by President Pierce American consul in China, while
Gen. Caleb Cushing was minister to that country, and he dis
charged important consular and judicial duties there with credit
to himself and his government. Upon his return Gen. Cushing
selected him to take charge of the Cushing interest and property
at St. Croix Falls, in this State. From there he went 'to the
front,' and his military career was cut short by his failure at

IN THE NORTHWEST. 109
Iuka and Holly Springs. Gen. Grant dismissed him in brief,
terse words, but was willing afterward that he should be heard
by a board of army officers detailed for that purpose. Stanton
was inexorable and refused."
After his dismissal from the army he removed to Washington
and accepted a clerkship in the post office department where
he still remains. It is due to him to say that his own version of
his military troubles is ingenious and plausible, and would, if
sustained, quite exonerate him from the charges that have
pressed so heavily upon him.
Edward Worth. — Mr. Worth came to St. Croix Falls from
New York State in 1842, where he continued to reside the
remainder of his life, experiencing the vicissitudes of pioneer life
to their fullest extent. He died in 1863, leaving a widow, an
only son (Henry) and two daughters, Myra, wife of W. T. Vin
cent, and Sarah, wife of John Blanding,
Mrs. Mary C. Worth. — Mrs. Worth was born Oct. 14, 1812,
was married to Edward Worth, Dec. 24, 1835, and came to St.
Croix Falls in 1842, where she lived till Jan. 12, 1886, when she
peacefully passed away: She was a woman of rare mental abil
ity, untiring industry and skill in managing her household
affairs, and unquestioned courage, as many incidents in her St.
Croix experience will evidence. She was a member of the
Episcopal church and went to her grave with the respect and
admiration of all who knew her.
Maurice Mordecai Samuels, better known as Capt. Samuels,
was born in London, of Jewish parentage. It is not known exactly
when he came to this country. I first met him in 1844, at Prai
rie du Chien, at which time he was a traveling peddler. In 1846
I found him in the Chippewa country, living with an Indian
woman and trading with the Indians at the mouth of Sunrise
river. In 1847 he established a ball alley and trading post at St.
Croix Falls, where he lived until 1861, when he raised a company
(the St. Croix Rifles) for the United States service, received a
commission and served till the close of the war. After the war
he became a citizen of New Orleans, and in 1880 changed his resi
dence to Winfield, Kansas. While in St. Croix he reared a family
of half-breed children. He was a shrewd man and an inveter
ate dealer in Indian whisky. Capt. Samuels was sent as a gov
ernment agent to the Chippewas of St. Croix valley and the

110 FIFTY YEARS
southern shore of Lake Superior, in 1862, to ascertain and re
port their sentiment in regard to the Sioux war. It may be said
of Capt. Samuels that, however unprincipled he may have
been, he was no dissembler, but outspoken in his sentiments,
however repel lant they may have been to the moral sense of the
community. He died at Winfield, Kansas, in 1884.
Joseph B. Churchill was born in New York in 1820; was
married in New York to Eliza Turnbull, and came to St. Croix
Falls in 1854. He has filled various offices creditably, and has
the respect and confidence of his acquaintances. His oldest
daughter is the wife of Phineas G. Lacy, of Hudson. His second
daughter is the wife of Joseph Rogers. He has one son living.
John McLean. — Mr. McLean was born 1819, in Vermont;
was married in 1844 to Sarah Turnbull and settled on his farm
near St. Croix Falls in 1850. Through untiring industry and
honorable dealing he has secured a sufficiency for life, a hand
some farm and good buildings. A large family has grown up
around him, and have settled in the county.
Gilman Jewell came from New Hampshire; was married in
New Hampshire and came to the West in 1847. He settled on
a farm near St. Croix Falls. He died in 1869. Mrs. Jewell died
January, 1888. One son, Philip, resides on the homestead.
Ezra, another son, resides at the Falls. The other members of
the family have moved elsewhere.
Elisha Creech was born in West Virginia, 1831. He came
to St. Croix Falls in 1849, and was married to Mary M. Seeds in
1863. They have four children. Mr. Creech has been engaged
much of his life in lumbering. Through industry and temperate
habits he has made a good farm and a pleasant home.
James W. McGlothlin was born in Kentucky; came to St.
Croix Falls in 1846, and engaged successfully in sawing lumber
at the St. Croix mill in 1846 and 1847, but in 184S rented the mill,
being sustained by Waples & Co., of Dubuque, Iowa, but by
reason of bad management, he failed and left the valley in 1849.
He afterward went to California, where he met a tragic fate,
having beep murdered by his teamster.
Andrew L. Tuttle.— Mr. Tuttle came to St. Croix Falls in
1849, and was engaged many years as a lumberman and as keeper
of a boarding house. He settled on his farm at Big Rock in 1856,
where he made himself a comfortable home. He went to Montana

IN THE NORTHWEST. Ill
in 1865, and died there in 1873. Mrs. Tuttle still resides at the
homestead, an amiable woman, who has acted well her part in
life. One of her daughters is married to Wm. M. Blanding.
One son, Eli, died in 1883, another son, -Henry, died in Montana.
Perly, John and Warren are settled near the homestead.
John Weymouth was born at Clinton, Maine, in 1815, and
came to St. Croix Falls in 1846, where he followed lumbering and
made himself a beautiful home on the high hill overlooking the
two villages of St. Croix Falls and Taylor's Falls. By frugality
and industry Mr. Weymouth has accumulated a competence.
He was married in St. .Croix Falls in 1850, to Mary McHugh.
One son, John, is married to Miss Ramsey, of Osceola, and a
daughter, Mary J., is married to Samuel Harvey, of St. Croix
Falls. B. W. Reynolds, a tall, thin, stoop -shouldered man of
•eecentric manners, was receiver at the St. Croix land office from
1861 to 1864. He was a native of South Carolina, and a gradu
ate of Middlebury College, Vermont. He had studied for the
ministry, and, if we> mistake not, had devoted some years of his
life to pastoral work, but devoted later years to secular pursuits.
' At the close of the war he returned to South Carolina as a recon-
¦structionist, but in two or three years came North, and located
at La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he edited the La Crosse Star.
He died at La' Crosse Aug. 17, 1877.
Augustus Gaylord. — Mr. Gaylord was a merchant in St.
Croix Falls prior to the Rebellion. In 1861 Go v . Harvey appointed
him adjutant general of the State. In this office he acquitted
himself well. He was an efficient public officer and in private
life a high minded, honorable gentleman.
James D. Reymert. — Mr. Reymert was born in Norway in
1821, and came to America and settled in Racine in 1845. He
was a practical printer, and editor of the first Norwegian paper
west of the lakes, if not the first in America, and was a man of
recognized literary ability. He was a member of the second
Wisconsin constitutional convention, ,1847, from Racine. In 1849
he was a member of the Wisconsin assembly. He came to St.
Croix Falls in 1859, and served two years as agent of the St.
Croix Falls Company. He was the organizer of a company in
New York City, known as "The Great European -American
Land Company," in which Count Taub, of Norway, took an

112 FIFTY YEARS
active part. This noted company claimed to have purchased
the Cushing property, a claim true only so far as the prelimin
ary steps of a purchase were concerned. For a time there was
considerable activity. The town of St. Croix Falls was resur-
veved, new streets were opened, and magnificent" improve
ments planned, but failing to consummate the purchase, the
company failed, leaving a beggarly account of unpaid debts.
William J. Vincent. — Mr. Vincent is of Irish descent. He
was born June 10, 1830, and came West when a youth. In 1846,
at the age of sixteen, he enlisted in Company H, Mounted
Rifles, and served through the Mexican War. In 1848 he came
to St. Croix Falls, where he followed lumbering and clerking.
He was married to Myra Worth in 1855. In 1861 he enlisted in
Company F, First Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, of which com
pany he was appointed second lieutenant. He resigned in 1862.
He has held the office of county commissioner eleven years, that
of county clerk seven years, that of state timber agent four
years. In 1879 he served as representative in the Wisconsin as
sembly. In 1880 he commenced selling goods with his son-in-
law, under the firm name of Vincent & Stevenson. He erected
the first brick store building in St. Croix Falls in 1884.
Thompson Brothers. — Thomas Thompson was born in Lower
Canada, Nov. 11, 1833, and was married to Eliza Clendenning
in 1861. James Thompson was born in Lower Canada, Nov. 11,
1840, and was married to Mary A. Gray in 1871. The brothers
came to the Falls in 1856 and engaged in lumbering about ten
years, and then in merchandising, jointly, but in 1868 formed
separate firms. Thomas built the first brick dwelling house in
St. Croix in 1882. Mrs. Thomas Thompson died in 1886. James
erected a large flour mill in 1879.
William Amery was born in London, England, in 1831. He
learned the carpenter's trade in London and came to America in
1851, locating at first in Stillwater, but the ensuing year remov
ing to St. Croix Falls. He pre-empted the southeast quarter of
the southwest quarter of section 31, township 34, range 18, and
adjoining lands in 1853, and this has been his continuous home
since. He has served as county treasurer four years and held
many town offices. He was married to Sarah Hackett in 1855.
The town of Amery is named in honor of this respected man.
Mr. Amery died Sept. 4, 1887, leaving a widow, two sons and
three daughters.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 113
Lewis Barlow. — Among the first immigrants to St. Croix
Falls was Lewis Barlow, an eccentric, sensitive man. He was a
millwright, and, being of an unhappy disposition, led a troubled
life. He was the first man married at the Falls. In 1847 he
moyed to the Minnesota side, where he owned considerable land.
He lived here until 1852 when his family left him. He sold his
interests and followed and reunited them at Rock Island,. Illi
nois. Here he suffered much and became blind. He traveled
with a panorama and so earned a scanty livelihood. In later
life he revisited his old home at the Falls, but broken and de
jected in spirit. He died at Rock Island in 1872.
Levi W. Stratton. — Mr. Stratton was one of the passengers
of the Palmyra in 1838. He worked for the St. Croix Company
two years. After leaving the Falls, he changed his residence
several times, and finally settled at Excelsior, Hennepin county,
Minnesota, where he died in 1*884. Mr. Stratton wrote for the
Minneapolis papers many interesting reminiscences of pioneer
life on the St. Croix.
Elma M. Blanding. — Mr. Blanding was born in Harford,
Susquehanna county, New York, Feb. 14, 1800. He was mar
ried to Eliza Tuttle in 1826. He settled on a farm near St. Croix
Falls in 1856, where he died, Sept. 16,* 1871. Father Blanding,
as he was affectionately called in the later years of his life, was
a man of exemplary habits, of strong religious convictions,
and a consistent member of the Presbyterian church. He left
a widow, five sons and three daughters. Mrs. Eliza Blanding
died Jan. 18, 1887. Wm. M. Blanding, the oldest son, owns a
fine farm near the Falls, formerly known as "Jerusalem." He
is a surveyor, lumberman and farmer, and a prominent citizen.
He was married to Eliza Tuttle. A family of thirteen children
has grown up around him. In 1887 he was appointed receiver
in the St. Croix land office. John, the second son, is also a
farmer in St. Croix Falls. He was married to Sarah, daughter
of Edward and Mary C. Worth. Eugene E. is engaged in the
drug business at Taylors Falls, and is also surveyor and express
agent. He married Joanna Ring, of Taylors Falls, in 1871.
Fred, the fourth son, was married in 1885 to Emma Sly. He was
appointed United States land receiver at St. Croix Falls in 1887.
He died in California, Jan. 30, 1888. Frank, the youngest son,
was married to Annie McCourt, and lives on the homestead.

114

FIFTY YEARS

Josephine, the oldest daughter, is the wife of Wm. Longfellow,
and resides in Machias, Maine. Flavilla, the widow of Charles
B.' Whiting, lives at St. Paul, Minnesota. Her husband died
in 1868. Mrs. Whiting was executrix of the will of Dr. E. D.
Whiting, and successfully controlled a property valued at about
$80,000. Mary, wife of Wm. McCourt, died in 1880.

WILLIAM M. BLANDING.

Frederick K. Bartlett was a native of New England. He
came to St. Croix Falls in 1849, as attorney and land agent for
Caleb Cushing. He was candidate for judge of the district court
in 1850, but was defeated. He subsequently settled in Still
water, and later in Hudson, where he died in 1857, leaving a
wife and one son, who became a civil engineer and died in St.
Paul in 1885, and one daughter, Helen, who achieved some repu
tation as a writer for periodicals.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 115
Michael Field was born June 8, 1806. He came from a
New England family, his father and mother having resided in
Connecticut. In early life he removed to New York and resided
awhile at Rochester. He engaged principally in transportation
business. The earliest work he ever did was on the Erie canal.
He was married in 1833 to Miss Reynolds, who died in 1874. His
children are Capt. Silas Wright Field (mortally wounded at
Shiloh), Norton, a resident of Racine, Wisconsin, Mrs. Fanny
Nason, wife of Hon. Joel F. Nason, Phebe and Mary, unmarried
and resident in Brooklyn. Mr. Field was married to his second
wife, Mrs. Harriet Lee Bracken, in 1882. He was appointed
register of the land office at St. Croix Falls by President Lincoln
in 1861, and served twenty-six years. Though over eighty years
of age he retains his faculties and general health, and his mind
is a store house of the early history of the country.
ALDEN.
The town of Alden embraces township 32, range 17, and
twenty-four sections of range 18. It has both prairie and tim
ber land, and is abundantly supplied with water. Apple river
traverses it from northeast to southwest. There are many
tributary small streams, and a large number of small lakes, of
which Cedar lake is the largest. This* lies only partially in
Alden. The surface is gently undulating.
The town of Alden was organized in 1857. The first board of ,
supervisors were Stephen Williams, William Folsom and H.
Sawyer. The first post office was established at Wagon Landing
in 1862, V. M. Babcock, postmaster. The first settlers were
Wm. Folsom, V. M. Babcock, V. B. Kittel, I. L. Bridgman,
Charles Vassau, Jr. , and Humphrey Sawyer, in 1856. Mr. Bridg
man raised the first crops in 1857. The first marriage was C.
Vassau to Alma Kittel, in 1858, by Rev. A. Burton Peabody.
The first white child born in Alden was P. B. Peabody, July
28, 1856. The first death was that of a child, Nicholas W. Gor
don, June 10, 1857. Alden has two post towns, Little Falls and
Alden. Rev. A. Burton Peabody was born May 22, 1823, in Ando-
ver, Windsor county, Vermont. He was the youngest of four
minor children, and was left fatherless at eight years of age, and
motherless at fifteen. He obtained a good English education

116 FIFTY YEARS
in the common schools, and at Chester and Black River acade
mies. The winter terms he spent in teaching. In 1844 he came
to Janesville, Wisconsin, where he spent two years, partly on a
farm and partly in a law office, as a student and clerk. In 1847
he went to Iowa county, and taught school through the winter
at Mineral Point. The next year he went to Clarence, Green
county, Wisconsin, where he spent four years in teaching. In
1852 he entered the Nashotah Theological Seminary, where he
completed the course, and was ordained deacon in the Protestant
Episcopal church, June 3, 1855, by the Rev. Bishop Kemper,
and took temporary charge of Grace church, Sheboygan. He
was married to Charity Esther Kittel, Sept. 22, 1855, at Clarence,
by the Rev. Wm. Ruger. In November of the same year he
removed to Mississippi, spending the winter at Jackson. In
February he went to Middleton, Mississippi, to take charge of
a mission work, including several appointments. He came, the
June following, to Polk county, Wisconsin, and spent the sum
mer at Wagon Landing, on Apple river, where his wife's friends
had made a settlement, but in the winter returned to his mission
work in the South, and there remained until 1857. Owing to the
troubled political condition of the South, he did not deem it ad
visable to remove his family thither, and so returned to Wagon
Landing and obtained, mission work, visiting at intervals Fos
ter's Mills, now New Richmond, Huntington, Cedar Valley, and
St. Croix Falls. The intervening country was, much of it, an
unbroken wilderness, and he was obliged to make his journeys
not infrequently on foot, to cross the swollen streams and dare
all the perils of the winter storm. In 1859 Mr. Peabody accepted
a call to the rectorship of St. Paul's church, Plymouth, Sheboy
gan county, but in 1862 returned to the valley of the St. Croix,
and settled on a farm, undertaking meanwhile ministerial work
at Prescott and other points, in a line extending as far north as
St. Croix Falls. Three years later Prescott and River Falls were
made independent, another man taking charge. In 1879 Mr. Pea
body undertook additional work on the North Wisconsin railroad,
including a large number of places, to be visited monthly. In
1882 his railroad work was limited to Clayton, Cumberland and
Hayward. He still has charge, as rector, of Star Prairie and
Wagon Landing. Few men have led more laborious lives or
been more useful in their calling. He has witnessed the erection

IN THE NORTHWEST. 117.
of eight churches on the field in which he labored, though con
cerned directly in the building of only four. Mr. Peabody' s
family consists of seven sons and seven daughters. One of the
latter died in infancy.
V. M. Babcock settled at Wagon Landing, town of Alden, in
1856. He was born in Rensselaer county, New York; married
his first wife in New York and his second wife at Somerset, St.
Croix county, Wisconsin. They have four children. He has
held town offices ever since the organization of the town. He
has been sheriff, and was county superintendent of schools for
seven years. APPLE RIVER.
The town of Apple River includes township 34, range 16, and
derives its name from its principal river. The town is well
watered by Apple river and its tributaries, and it also has numer
ous lakes, the most considerable of which is White Ash lake. The
surface of the town is gently undulating, and was orignally cov
ered with pine, interspersed with hardwood groves. There is
good wheat soil, and natural meadows are found in some parts.
The town was organized Jan. 22, 1876, having been set off from
Balsam Lake. There are two post offices, Apple River on the
west, and Shiloh on the east town line.
BALSAM LAKE.
The town of Balsam Lake embraces township 34, range 17, and
takes its name from a lake within its bounds. It has an undu
lating surface, covered with heavy oak, pine, and maple timber
principally. Balsam creek, the outlet of Balsam lake, flows
through it in a southerly direction, affording fine water powers.
About one-sixth of the surface is covered with lakes. The larg
est of these, Balsam lake, in the Indian language An-in-on-duc-
a-gon, or evergreen place, gives name to the town. Deer, Long,
Wild Goose, and Mud lakes are fine bodies of water with bold, .
timbered shores, and abundance of fish. The town is near the
geographical centre of the county. The first white man, prior to
the organization of the town, to locate within its present bounds
was a disreputable trader named Miller, who in 1848 built a
shanty on Balsam lake, from which he dispensed whisky to the
Indians. This- man was not long afterward driven out of the
country. (See history of St. Croix Falls.) The town was organ-

118 , FIFTY YEARS
ized in 1869. The first board of supervisors consisted of Geo.
P. Anderson, Wright Haskins, and Joseph Loveless. The clerk
was H. J, Fall; the treasurer, F. R. Loveless. The first school
was taught by Jane Husband. Aaron M. Chase built a shingle
mill at the outlet of Balsam lake in 1850, and he seems to have
been the first actual settler or the first man to make improve
ments. As he had neither oxen nor horses, the timbers for the
mill were hauled by man power with the aid of yokes and ropes.
Other persons came to the mill and lived there awhile, but the
first permanent settlers came in in 1856. They were J. Shep-
- herd, Joseph Loveless, Joseph Ravett, and John M. Rogers.
Mr. Rogers raised the first crops in the town; Joseph Ravett was
the first postmaster. The first marriage was that of J. K. Adams
to Miss L. A. Millerman, by W. H. Skinner. The first white
child born was a daughter to R. S. Haskins. The first death, that
of a child, occurred in 1870. A first class flouring mill has been
erected at the outlet of Balsam lake. It is owned by Herman
Corning; a saw mill is also in operation at this point. A Metho
dist church, 30x40 feet ground plan, was erected at Balsam Lake
by the Methodist society in 1886. BEAVER.
The town of Beaver includes township 34, range 15. It was
set off from Apple River and organized Nov. 15, 1885. The
name was suggested as being appropriate from the work of the
beaver in past ages. Beaver dams are numerous on all the
creeks. These ancient works will mostly disappear with the
progress of agriculture. The town is drained by streams flow
ing into Apple river. Horseshoe lake, in the northeast corner,
is three miles in length. BLACK BROOK.
The town of Black Brook includes township 32, range 16.
Apple river, with its tributaries, supplies it with abundant water
privileges. Black Brook, the principal tributary, gives the
town its name, and drains the southern portion. THiere are many
small lakes. The surface is undulating and most of the soil
good. The post office of Black Brook is in section 32. The
North Wisconsin railroad passes through sections 25, 35 and 36.
This town was originally a part of Alden, but was organized and

IN THE NORTHWEST. 119
set off as a new town Aug. 5, 1867. J. C. Nelson and G. H.
Goodrich were the first supervisors. The first settlers (1863) were
John Gorsuch, John Reed and Jacob Polwer; the first post
master was  Gates; the first school teacher, Tina Stark
weather; the first marriage that of S. D. Starkweather and Mary
Danforth; the first death that of Mrs. Ben Gilman.
CLAM FALLS.
Clam Falls comprises township 37, range 16> and derives its
name from the falls on Clam river. The surface is rolling and
timbered with hardwood and pine. It is well watered by South
Clam creek and its tributaries. Somers' lake, in section 27, is
the only lake. An upheaval of trap rock on Clam creek has
caused the ^waterfall from which the town has taken its name.
It is a fine water power. A dam for collecting tolls on saw logs
has been placed just above the Falls. Good specimens of copper
ore are found in the trap. The town was set off from Luck and
organized Nov. 15, 1876. The first town meeting was held
April, 1877. The first supervisors were Daniel F. Smithy John
Almquist and John Bjornson. D. F. Smith was the first settler,
built the first saw mill, and raised the first crops.
Daniel F. Smith, a peculiar and eccentric" man, was born in
Chautauqua county, New York, in 1813; emigrated to Michigan
in 1834, where he married Eliza Green the following year, and
moved to Racine county, Wisconsin. In 1842 he engaged in
lumbering on the Wisconsin river, his home being at Stevens
Point. He was of the firms of Smith & Bloomer and Smith &
Fellows. Mr. Bloomer was accidentally killed, on which account
the business of these firms was closed, Mr. Smith removing to
Galena to facilitate the settlement of their affairs. In 1852 he
removed to St. Louis; in 1853 to Memphis, Tennessee, where he
engaged in the wholesale grocery business, losing heavily, in fact
all the accumulations of his life. In the spring of 1855 he leased
the St. Croix Falls saw mill, and operated it for two years, when
trouble arose and litigation ensued, in which Smith obtained a
judgment against Cushing for $1,000. In 1860 he removed to
Clinton, Iowa, and thence in the same year to California. He
traveled much, visiting mines. He spent some time in mining,
and also manufactured shingles. In 1862 he returned to St. Croix
Falls and engaged in lumbering for three years. In 1868 he built

120 FIFTY YEARS
a sawmill at Butternut Lake, Wisconsin. He did much to open
that country to settlement. He was the founder of a town which
he called ' ' Luck. " In 1872 he was the first settler at Clam Falls,
where he built a saw mill with but one man to assist, and around
that mill has sprung up a flourishing settlement. Dan Smith,
with undaunted perseverance, has battled his way through life,
and has come out victorious over difficulties and opposition that
would have discouraged and turned back other men. Mr. Smith
is a plain, direct, outspoken man; a man of energy and ability.
He has ably and satisfactorily filled many places of trust. For
many years he has been a commissioner of Polk county.
CLAYTON.
Clayton includes township 33, range 15. The town was set off
from Black Brook. The surface of a great part of the town is level
and was originally marshy, but these marshes have been gradu
ally drained, and fine farms and hay meadows have taken their
place. The town was organized Nov. 10, 1875. The first super
visors were Morris De'Golier, Worthy Prentice and H. D. West
The first homestead entries were made in 1865 by Peter Bouchea
and John McKay, a Frenchman, both Indian traders, who estab
lished a post at Marsh lake, but in six months abandoned it
and never returned. The next settlers were Vandyke, Morehouse
and Tanner, near the west line of the town, about 1870. The first
improvements were made by Elam Greely in 1862, who dug a
oanal into Marsh lake to get water to float logs out of Beaver
brook, thereby draining great tracts of swamp land. The laying
of the North Wisconsin railroad track gave a fresh impetus to
business, and conduced greatly to the building of the village of
Clayton in section 24. The first sermon in the town of Clayton
was preached by Rev. W. W. Ames, a Baptist; the first school
was taught by S. M. De'Golier; the first store was opened by A.
M. Wilcox, 1874. D. A. Humbird was the first postmaster. The
North Wisconsin railway passes through the southeast part and
the Minneapolis, Soo & Atlantic passes from the west side to the
northeast corner of the town, and has a station, Gregory, in the
west part.
Reuben F. Little was born June 13, 1839, in Topsham,
Devonshire county, England. At ten years of age he began to
care for himself, working for sixpence per week, carrying pot-

IN THE NORTHWEST.

121

tery in a moulding house. Before leaving England his wages
had increased to three shillings per week. In the spring of 1853
he had saved three pounds sterling, and his grandfather gave
him two pounds sterling. This five pounds paid his passage to
Quebec and Montreal, where he got four dollars per month.
Soon after he apprenticed himself, for five years to learn the
baker's and confectioner's trade at London, Upper Canada. Sub
sequently he took a homestead from the British government at
Trading Lake, Upper Canada.
In the spring of 1861, at Detroit, Michigan, he enlisted in the
United States infantry, regular army, and was promoted suc-

KEUBEN P. LITTLE.

cessively to first sergeant, to sergeant major, to second lieuten
ant, to first lieutenant. He resigned in September, 1865. During
the war he served continuously in Gen. George H. Thomas' divi
sion, and took part in all the engagements under him, from Miles
Springs, Kentucky, to Nashville, Tennessee. On the twenty-
second of September, 1863, Mr. Little had the honor of being the
last man to leave the Rossville Gap in front of Chattanooga
after the disastrous fight of Chickamauga. He was wounded in
the battle of Hoover's Gap and Smyrna, andvat the siege of
Corinth. Mr. Little was married in 1865, and divorced in 1869, and re
married in St. Paul in 1 878. He lost his Canada homestead, and

122 FIFTY YEARS
took another homestead in Lincoln, Polk county, Wisconsin, in
1866. Afterward he went to St. Paul and became one of the
firm of Little & Berrisford in the wholesale confectionery
business. In 1879 he returned to Clayton, formerly part of
Lincoln, and reclaimed a swamp of over six hundred acres,
making it a productive meadow and tillage farm. Mr. Little
has served several years as Clayton's town supervisor.
CLEAR LAKE.
Clear Lake embraces township 32, range 15. It derives its name
from a beautiful clear lake on the western boundary near Clear
Lake village. The west part of the town is timbered principally
with hardwood, and is good farming land. The eastern part is
more diversified, and there are some large groves of pine. Willow
river runs through the town. The North Wisconsin railroad trav
erses the town diagonally from northeast to southwest. The town
was organized June 20, 1877; S. D. Mann, J. C. Gates, and W. B.
Ingalls, supervisors. The first settlers were John Hale, L. P.
Nash, S. D. Starkweather, and Perry Clark. Lawrence O'Connor
was first postmaster; Mr. Starkweather carried the mail on foot.
Israel Graves, in 1875, built the first saw mill in Clear Lake vil
lage and the first house. There is now at the village a stave mill
owned by Symme & Co. Jewett Bros, own a saw mill on Willow
river, three miles from the village, which has a capacity of
8,000,000 feet. The lumber is delivered to the railway at the
village by a wooden tramway. The lots for the village were pur
chased from the government by A. Boody and A. Coventry, in
1856. The plat was made by Symme, Glover & Co. The survey was
made by G. W. Cooley. Thomas T. McGee was the first settler
(1875), and Stephen H. Whitcomb the second. The first school
house was built in 1875, and the first school was taught by Clara
Davis in the same year. The village has now a good graded
school with three departments, Charles Irle, principal. Its two
church buildings, Congregational and Methodist, were destroyed
by the cyclone of 1884, but are being rebuilt. The Swedish
Lutherans have a church a mile from the village. Chas. Decker
was the first postmaster; A. Symme & Co. were the first mer*
chants; P. Gates, M.D., the first practicing physician; F. M.
Nye the first lawyer. The first marriage was that of John C.
Gates and Ella Scovill. The first birth was Chas. W. Whitcomb,
and the first death that of a child of Hans Johnson.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 123
PINEVILLE.
The town of Pineville, a railroad station and village in sec
tion 9, is a lumbering centre. The Pineville Lumbering Com
pany have here a saw mill with a capacity of 7,000,000 feet.
The logs are brought on wooden railways three to ten miles. P.
B. Lacy & Co., of Hudson, are the proprietors.
'Frank M. Nye was librn in Shirley, Piscataquis county,
Maine, in 1852. His parents removed to Wisconsin in 1854. He
was educated at the common schools and at River Falls Academy.
He came to Clear Lake in 1879, and was elected district attor
ney for Polk county in 1880, and representative in the Wiscon
sin assembly in 1885. He removed to Minneapolis in 1887.
EUREKA.
Eureka embraces township 35, range 18 and a fractional part of
range 19. The west part is somewhat broken by the St. Croix
bluffs; the remainder is undulating and capable of agricultural
improvement. There are many good farms in this town. There
are a few small lakes in the eastern part. Eureka was set off from
St. Croix Falls, and organized Dec. 16, 1877. The first supervisors
were Lucius A. Harper, Jens Welling and William Booth. The
first settlers were L. A. Harper, John C. Beede, Henry Cole and
others. There are three post offices in the town, — Harper,
Cushing and North Valley. At the mouth of Wolf creek, in the
extreme northwestern section of this town, J. R. Brown had a
trading house in the '30s, and Louis Roberts in the '40s. At
this place Alex. Livingston, another trader, was killed by In
dians in 1849. Livingston had built him a comfortable home,
which he made a stopping place for the weary traveler, whom
he fed on wild rice, maple sugar, venison, bear meat, muskrats,
wild fowl and flour bread, all decently prepared by his Indian
wife. Mr. Livingston was killed by an Indian in 1849.
In 1855 Carma P. Garlick surveyed a quarter section here
and laid it off into town lots, and had lithograph maps published,
calling the prospective village Sebatanna, an Indian town sig
nifying "Water Village."
Charles Nevers settled here about 1860, and has now a
fine farm and good buildings.

124 FIFTY YEARS
FARMINGTON.
Farmington was organized as a town in 1858. It contains
forty-two sections of land, in township 32, ranges 18 and 19, with
some fractions of sections on the St. Croix. It is a rich agri
cultural town, well diversified with prairie and timber land.
Its western portion, along the St. Croix, has the picturesque
bluffs common to that river, with so-^e unusually beautiful cas
cades and hillside springs, of which the most notable are the
well known mineral spring and the springs at the lime kiln.
The mineral spring is situated on the St. Croix river, at the
base of the bluff, and about one mile and a half below Osceola
Mills. A beautiful hotel was built in 1876 on the cliff above,
at a cost of about $20,000, which became quite a popular place
of resort until 1885, when it was burned. It has not been re
built. The property was improved by Currant & Stevens, but
afterward sold.
The following analysis shows the chemical constituents of a
gallon of the water of the spring: GEAINS.
Chloride of sodium  053
Sulphate of soda  534
Bi-carbonate of soda  799
Bicarbonate of lime  11.193
Bicarbonate of magnesia  .  7.248
Iron and alumina  492
Silica  265
Organic matter  a trace
Total  20,565
South Farmington Corners has a prosperous cheese factory,
owned and operated by Koch Brothers, erected in 1883, turning
out in 1884 sixteen tons of cheese and in 1885 over twenty tons.
South Farmington has a Catholic church building.
The first crops in Farmington were raised by Wm. Kent on a
farm near Osceola in 1846, and the same year Harmon Crandall
and Richard Arnold improved land and raised crops not far
from the present village of Farmington. Here, owing to the
sandy nature of the soil, well digging proved rather perilous to
the two farmers. Mr. Arnold attempted to dig a well in a
depression, a sinkhole, in the prairie. As he dug deeper
the sides of the well caved in, almost burying him. He managed

IN THE NORTHWEST. 125
by" his own utmost exertions and those of his friend Crandall to
escape, but left his boots deeply imbedded in prairie soil.
In 1887 the Soo Railroad Company bridged the St. Croix, at
the cedar bend at the south point of the leaning cedars, and
extended their grade along the base of the precipice overlooking
the river above, and commanding an extensive view of bold,
picturesque and beautiful scenery.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Harmon Crandall. — The Crandall family were the first to
settle in Osceola Prairie, in the town of Farmington. Mr. Cran
dall moved to his farm in 1846, and lived there many years; sold
out and removed to Hudson, where, in later life, he became blind.
He had three sons born in Farmington. In 1882 he moved to
Shell Lake, Washburn county, where he died, Aug. 8, 1886.
Mrs. Crandall died May 11, 1888.
Samuel Wall. — Mr Wall was born in 1824, in Shropshire,
England; went as a British soldier to the West Indies in 1840; two
years later came to New York City; one year later to St. Louis;
in 1844 to St. Paul and in 1846 to the St. Croix valley, where he
made a permanent home at the lime kiln, which he bought of
William Willim. He was married to Anna Maria Moore in
1857. They had been educated as Episcopalians, but are now
¦Catholics and have educated their children in that faith in the
schools at St. Paul. Mr. Wall served five years in the British
army for thirteen pence a day, but West India rum was. cheap,
only ten pence per gallon, and this, Mr. Wall pathetically re
marked, "was an unfortunate element for the lime- kiln man."
After twenty-six years of struggle Mr. Wall came out victorious
and now strongly advises all young men to "touch not, taste not,
handle not," anything that can intoxicate. The writer trusts
he may stand firm.
William Ramsey was born in Ireland in 1814, and came to
America with his parents in his youth, first settling in Nova
Scotia. In 1834 he came to Washington county, Maine. In 1839
he was married to Sarah Stevens, at Crawford, Maine. In 1849
he went to California. In 1850 he returned, and located on his
farm in Farmington, Polk county, where he still resides, an effi
cient citizen, who has borne his full part in the organization of
town and county, and filled various offices.

126 FIFTY YEARS
Hiram W. Nason. — Mr. Nason was born in Waterville, Maine,
in 1792. When of age he settled in Crawford, Maine. In 1852 he
was married. He came to Polk county, and settled in Farming-
ton in 1853. Mr. Nason died in 1859. Mrs. Nason died some
years later. They were members of the Baptist church. Their
children are Joel F., Levi, Merrill, Crocker, Albert, James,
Maria, wife of Thos. Ford, of Farmington, and Frances, wife of
Moses Peaselee, of Farmington. Mr. Ford died in 1880. He was
a well to do farmer. Mr. Peaselee, also a farmer, has served as
sheriff of Polk county.
Joel F. Nason. — Mr. Nason was born Aug. 31, 1828, in
Washington county, Maine. He was married to Bertha Hans-
comb, of Crawford, Maine, in July, 1851. Their children are
Everett, Fred, Louisa, wife of Albert Thompson, and Bertha.
Mrs. Nason died in 1862. Mr. Nason was married to Mary Ann
Godfrey, of Osceola, in 1867. Mrs. Nason died February, 1885.
He was married to Miss Fanny Field, of St. Croix Falls, in 1887.
Mr. Nason settled in JFarmington in 1852. He engaged in lumber
ing many years, and was called by his fellow citizens to fill several
important offices. He served eight years as county clerk. He
was appointed receiver of the United States land office at St.
Croix Falls in 1871, which office he resigned in 1884, when he
was elected state senator.
John McAdams was born in Tennessee in 1808. He was em
ployed for many years on the Louisville (Ky.) canal. He was
married to Eliza Robinson in 1840. Mrs. McAdams died in 1844,
leaving one son, Melville, born 1842, who came with his father
to the St. Croix valley in 1849. He first located at Osceola, but
in 1854 removed to Farmington, where he died in 1883. Mr.
McAdams was a mineralogist of some ability. .
Charles Tea was bprn in Pennsylvania in 1817; came into
the St. Croix valley in 1849; was married in 1850 to Mary Mc
Adams, sister of John McAdams, and in the same year settled
on a farm in Farmington. In 1880 he removed to Southern
Iowa. GARFIELD.
Garfield includes thirty sections of range 17, and six sections
of range 18, township 33. It is well watered and has many small
lakes, while Sucker lake, a lake of considerable size, is about
equally divided between its own territory and that of Lincoln.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 127
Garfield was organized in 1886. The first supervisors were Abra
ham Sylvester, James T. Montgomery and Martin Hanson. In
1887 the Minneapolis, Soo & Atlantic railway built through the
town from west to southeast and established one station, Der-
onda, in the southeast corner of the town. The post office of
El Salem is in Garfield. GEORGETOWN.
Georgetown comprises township 35, ranges 15 and 16. This town
is abundantly supplied with water by Apple river and its tribu
taries, and numerous lakes, some of them of considerable size.
The largest are Bone, Blake, Powder and Pipe. The timber is
hardwood and pine intermingled. Immense quantities of pine
have been taken from this town, and still much remains. Wild
meadows are plentiful. Georgetown was set off from Milltown
and organized Nov. 15, 1879. The first supervisors were David
H. Smith, Elisha E. Drake and August Larbell. George P.
Anderson was the first settler (1873), and his christian name was
affixed to the town. The first school was taught in 1874 by John
Burns. A post office was established in 1881 at Bunyan, G. P.
Anderson, postmaster. The first sermon was preached by Rev.
C. D. Scott, a Methodist. The first birth was that of, Lucy Ander
son; the first marriage that of Henry King to Etta Clark. The
first death was that of August Larbell.
TWO MEN- MURDERED.
Oliver Grover and Harry Knight, two prominent lumbermen
of Stillwater, on July 2, 1864, were exploring for timber and hay
on Pipe lake, section 10, in Georgetown. Not returning to their
camp, two miles distant, the watchman at the camp, after wait
ing two days, went to St. Croix: Falls and gave the alarm. Many
parties went in pursuit of the lost men. Some traces of their
presence were discovered on the shore of this lake, but the search
was finally abandoned. After some months the Indians con
fessed that two of their young men shot the two men, disem-
bowled them, burned the entrails and sunk the bodies in the
lake. Their bodies were never found. We append the follow
ing newspaper clipping:
"Finale.— The friends of the two Indians that shot Grover
and Knight, last Tuesday delivered to P. B. Lacy, of St. Croix

128 FIFTY YEARS
Falls, the valuables that were taken from the bodies of the mur
dered men. They consisted of $113 in gold, $282.05 in green
backs, $160 in silver, one silver watch, one wallet and one
pocket knife. This is probably the closing act of the bloody
tragedy which cost two innocent men their lives at the hands of
Indians steeped in liquor, and who, fearing the vengeance of the
white man, committed suicide."
The two murderers had confessed the crime and shot themselves.
George P. Anderson. — Mr. Anderson was born in Fulvana
county, Virginia, 1825; was educated in the common schools;
lived in Ohio eighteen and in Indiana fifteen years, and came to
Balsam Lake in 1866. Few men have been more active in the
opening up of a new settlement. Mr. Anderson has been several
times elected to office in the new county, and was a principal
actor in the establishment of the Polk County Agricultural So
ciety in 1886. He has a family of fifteen children living.
LAKETOWN.
Laketown includes township 36, range 18. It is named from the
lakes that dot almost every section in the town. Trade lake, with
its tributary from Butternut lake, are the principal streams. The
town was set off from Sterling and organized April 6, 1875.
The first supervisors were L. Bell, S. P. Heard and N. Fornell.
The town was settled largely by Swedes, Norwegians, Danes and
Alabamians. The latter settled in the northwestern part of the
town. In 1869 Caleb Cushing bought the agricultural college
lands in the town to the amount of 7,200 acres. The first school
house was built in 1870, in section 8. P. Tierney taught the first
school. Lindsey McKee was the first settler. He was also the
first to sell out and leave. Daniel Swensbarger, a German, bought
him out, and a number of his countrymen settled near him.
Jacob Swensbarger started a store. N. Grondund built the first
blacksmith shop. Peter Olsen built the first saw mill, at the foot
of Long lake, in 1875. The first marriage was that of L. McKee
and Mary Addington, by L. Bell, Esq.
LINCOLN.
Lincoln includes township 33, range 16, and the eastern tier
of sections of township 33, range 17. It is abundantly watered
by Apple river and its tributaries, and has numerous lakes of

IN THE NORTHWEST. 129
which Sucker lake is the largest. The soil is well adapted to
the culture of wheat. There are many fine farms in this town
ship. The surface, originally covered with timber, is undu
lating. The town was organized in 1860, being set off from Os
ceola. The first town meeting was held April, 1861. A. A. Heald,
M. C. Lan§ and John Hurness were the first supervisors. The
post town is at Lincoln Centre. The Polk county poor farm is
pleasantly situated on a lake in Lincoln, and has been well
managed for a series of years by Capt. Wilkie.
Amery village is located on Apple river, at the crossing of
the "Soo Line " railway. It has two saw mills and a stave fac
tory. The Minneapolis, Soo & Atlantic railway passes through
Lincoln from southwest to east, and has a station at Apple River
crossing, named Amery, in honor of William Amery, one of
Polk county's best citizens.
Wm. Wilson was born in 1828, at Armagh county, Ireland.
At four years of age he came to America with his parents, who lo
cated at Canada West, where he learned the baker's trade. In
1849 he came to Osceola and followed lumbering eight years. He
was married at Osceola to Leah Moody and located on his home
stead in Lincoln in 1870. He has three sons. Mr. Wilson has
been a useful citizen and has done his full share of pioneer work.
loraine.
Loraine includes townships 36 and 37, range 15. It is a heavily
timbered district, with hardwood and pine interspersed. The
surface is undulating and the soil is much of it good. It is well
watered by South Clam creek and tributaries, and has a multi
tude of small lakes. There are some fine farms in the northern
part of the township. Loraine was organized Nov. 14, 1872. The
first town meeting was held April, 1873. The first supervisors
were, Frank J. Williams, George Phelps and John Klinch. Wm.
Gallespie built the first hotel and opened it in 1873. The first
school was taught by Georgia Lacy. The first marriage was that
of James Lago and Almeda Johnson. The first white child was
George Phillips; the first death that of a child of J. L. Ellis.
The first settler was C. Loraine Ruggles. He was somewhat
eccentric. He published a book embodying his own adventures
during the Rebellion, which he called "The Great American
Spy.'' The town was named after him. N. B. Bull and Chas.
Anderson were the next settlers.
9

130 FIFTY YEARS
Wm. Wallace Gallespie was born in Louisville, Kentucky;
lived in his youth in Illinois and came to Marine Mills in 1844.
In 1851 he married Cecilia M. Ring, widow of Charles Turner,
of Taylor's Falls. In 1878 he moved to his homestead in Lor
aine, where he has a good farm and hotel. He has two sons and
one daughter. LUCK.
Luck includes township 36, ranges 16 and 17. It is a good
agricultural region and contains already many valuable farms.
The eastern half of the town was originally a rich pine wood
region. Much of the timber is yet standing. The town is well
watered by Upper Trade and Straight rivers and has many beau
tiful lakes, the principal of which are Butternut and North.
Luck was organized as a town Nov. 9, 1869. The first supervis
ors were Wm. H. Foster, M. C. Pederson and J. J. Bille. The
first settlers were Wm. W. Gallespie, W. H. Foster and D. P.
Smith (1857). The first marriage was that of W. H. Foster,
and his oldest child was the first white child born in Luck.
Wm. Gallespie raised the first crops. D. F. Smith built the first
saw mill. W. H. Foster was first postmaster. At present there
are two post offices, one at the village of Luck, the other at
West Denmark. Laura Jones taught the first school in Luck.
The town has been settled chiefly by Danes, mostly direct from
Denmark. A Danish high school was established in 1884, K.
Noregaad, principal, at which different languages are taught.
The building cost $3,000. It is beautifully located ou Butternut
lake. The Lutherans have three flourishing church organiza
tions in this town.
William H. Foster was born in Bangor, Maine, in 1828;
came to St. Croix valley in 1844; settled in Luck in 1857 and
engaged in farming and lumbering. He served in the army
during the Rebellion, and was postmaster at Luck for eighteen
years. His father, Daniel Foster, came with him to the St. Croix
valley in 1844 and died in 1876. His native place was New
Hampshire. MILLTOWN.
Milltown includes township 35, range 17. It is a good agri
cultural and stock growing town. It is watered by the small
streams flowing into Balsam, Half Moon and other lakes. The

IN THE NORTHWEST. 131
timber is mostly hardwood. There is pine in the eastern part.
The Patterson post office is located in section 7, Milltown in
section 36. Milltown was set off from St. Croix Falls Dec. 20,
1869. The first town meeting was held Jan. 8, 1870. The first
supervisors were John Lynch, M. Fitzgerald, Sr., and John
Hurley. The Roman Catholic church was organized here in
1864. Their new house of worship was built in 1870. The first
settlers were James and John Rogers. The first school (1865)
was taught by Maggie Crawford. The first school house was
built in 1866. A grange was organized in 1884. The town has
now a good brick school house and a saw and flour mill.
Patrick Lillis was born in Ireland in 1807. He came to
Polk county in 1856, and, with his amiable wife and enterprising
sons, made a claim on what was afterward styled Milltown, an
inappropriate name, but given by Mr. Lillis himself, as he
humorously remarked, "because there was not a stream large
enough for a mill site in the town," and Milltown it remains to>
this day. Mr. Lillis prospered and made himself a good home.
He died Feb. 26, 1886. Mrs. Lillis died December, 1885. They
left six sons. John C. is in Greene county, Texas, Simon C. is
in Southern California, and Richard is in Memphis, Tennessee.
Henry, the youngest, aged twenty-nine years, has for the past
six years been a resident of Tacoma, Washington Territory.
The residence of Martin and James is not known.
OSCEOLA.
Osceola contains all of township 33, range 18, except the eastern
tier of sections, and ten whole sections and some fractions of range
19, made somewhat irregular by the St. Croix river boundary,
and the obtrusion of three sections of Farmington in the south
western part. It is a rich agricultural town, consisting chiefly
of prairie, the whole forming a tableland, terminating westward
on the precipitous bluffs of the St. Croix It has a good steam
boat landing and two good water powers, Osceola and Close's
creeks. These are both fine trout brooks. The bluffs overlook
ing the St. Croix are bold and high, and, for a great part, pre
cipitous. Most conspicuous of these bluffs is the promontory
known as Eagle Point, situated just below the Osceola laud
ing. An escarpment of limestone, about two hundred feet above
the river, projects over its base, not much unlike the celebrated

132 FIFTY YEARS
table rock at Niagara Falls. A tall and solitary pine tree stands
upon the extreme verge of this rock, the whole forming a con
spicuous landmark, visible to a distance of several miles down
the river. The cascade on Osceola creek, a few rods above its
mouth, has scarcely a rival amongst the waterfalls of the West,
It has sometimes been called the Minnehaha of Wisconsin,
but while it resembles somewhat in the lower part of its descent
that celebrated cascade, the scenery around it is much wilder,
perpendicular rocks towering over it to a great height, while
the upper part of the fall is over an inclined plain, broken into
steps. It is a favorite haunt for artists and photographers.
There are several minor waterfalls of great beauty in the vicinity.
The trap rock formation crops out in the eastern and northern
parts of the town, rich in specimens of copper and silver. Silver
is also found in ledges at East Lake.
The first land claim in the town, made May 14, 1844, by Mil
ton V. Nobles and Lucius N. S. Parker, included the cascade and
the present site of the village. The claim was made with the
intention of building a saw mill at the outlet of Osceola creek.
The mill company, organized in 1844, consisted of M. V. and
W. H. Nobles, Wm. Kent, Wm. O. Mahony and Harvey Walker.
Mr. Nobles sold his interest and removed to Willow Eiver;
Wm. Parker removed to St. Anthony. ,The mill commenced
•cutting timber in 1845. It was run at first with a small flutter
wheel, which was replaced by a an overshot wheel, 30 feet;
that by another, 45 feet, and that by one 50 feet in diameter. In
1845 the company built a two story boarding house, also a shop
and office, near the mill. After the completion of the mill
Walker withdrew from the firm and Anson Northrup was for a
short time a member. Kent & Mahony for a number of years
operated the mill, selling lumber in Galena and St. Louis.
Mahony left for California in 1852. Around this mill, as a
nucleus, the settlement of Osceola and the village were built up.
The mill, with its immense water wheel, for so many years a
conspicuous object on the river, has long since disappeared.
Osceola has had many enterprising business men engaged in
merchandising and manufacturing. The first flouring mill was
built by Kent Brothers in 1853, just above the cascade. This
mill changed owners several times, and was burned in 1880. It
was rebuilt by Lovejoy & Sutton in 1883. Its present capacity

IN THE NORTHWEST. 133
is one hundred barrels per day. The second flouring mill was
built by Dresser.& Wilson in 1867. It is situated on the same
stream, a few rods above the first. It has also changed owners
several times. Its capacity is fifty barrels per day. The first
merchants were Wyckoff and Stevenson, in 1856. These have
been succeeded by Rice, Webb, Clark Brothers, Armstrong &
Co., Talboys & Staples, Dresser & Wilson, Lacy & Johnson, W.
A. Talboys, Gridley & Co., Heald & Thing, Dresser Brothers,
and others. Dr. Gray was the first practicing physician. After
him, at different periods, came Drs. Hilton, Brooks, Gaskill,
Garlick, Marshall, Searles, Cornbacker and Clark. The first
deed recorded of Osceola property was a quitclaim from Wm. H.
Nobles to Anson Northrup, consideration $3,250, in 1847. The
first lawyer settled here was I. P. Freeland. His successors
were Button, Dowling, Dyke, McDill, and others. The first
sermon preached in Osceola was by Rev. Lemuel Nobles, a Metho
dist minister, in 1851. There are two church organizations;
each has respectable church buildings. The first Baptist preacher
was Rev. S. T. C^tlin, in 1854. The Baptists built the first church
in the county in Osceola, 1856. The first log house in the town
was built by Richard Arnold in the locality of the famous Drake
Troutmere springs. This house was built in 1848. Mr. Arnold
raised the first crops in the town of Osceola. The first school
house was built in 1852. A high school building was erected in
1868. W. A. Talboys taught the first public school in 1852.
Until 1S61 the schools were under the town system. In 1875
a free high school was established. The first post office was
established in 1854, and W. C. Guild was postmaster for twenty
years. The first town election was held April 5, 1853, when the
following supervisory were elected: Wm. Ramsey, chairman;
Nelson McCarty and W. C. Guild. At this meeting the town
voted a tax of thirty dollars for school and fifty dollars for town
expenses. The first Sunday-school was organized by W. A.
Talboys in 1852.
The first marriage, that of John Buckley to Elizabeth Godfrey,
was in 1853. The first white child born was John- Francis, in
1847. The first death was that of Leroy Hubble, by accident.'in
1845. CHANGE OF NAME.
The name of the town was originally Leroy, in honor of Mr.
Hubble above mentioned. It is to be regretted that this name

134 FIFTY YEARS
was not retained, inasmuch as Osceola, though the name of one
of the most celebrated Indians in American history, is shared
by a post town in the eastern part of the State. It was therefore
necessary to call this post town Osceola Mills, a distinction that
correspondents and postmasters are not always careful to note.
Osceola village remained unorganized until Aug. 10, 1887. The
first officers were: President, H. B. Dyke; trustees, W. C.
Reilly, R. S. Sutton, G. W. De Long, H. E. Cornbacker, Paul
Filzen, S. C. Benjamin; clerk, S. Rowcliff; treasurer, C. W.
Staples; supervisor, G. D. McDill; justice of the peace, George
Wilson; police justice, T. Post. The village has a splendid situ
ation upon the bluffs overlooking the river, and communicates
with points on the river by boat, and with overland points by
the Minneapolis, Soo & Atlantic railway, completed to this place
Aug. 21, 1887. There is also a branch road from Dresser's
station to St. Croix Falls. The village was visited by destruc
tive fires at various times. Most prominent of these was the
burning of the Freeland Hotel in 1857, the Western Hotel in
1878, and the first flouring mill in 1880.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Daniel Mears. — Mr. Mears was born in Lynn, Massachusetts,
in 1819. His first wife, Emeline Mendon, died in 1850, leaving
three sons, Charles, David, and Daniel. In 1852 he was married
to Susan Thompson. They have one daughter, Lulu, now Mrs.
Wheeler, of Stillwater. Mr. Mears came West in 1848, and sold
goods one year at Taylor's Place (since Taylor's Falls). In 1849
he removed his store to St. Croix Falls, where he continued mer
chandising and lumbering until 1852, when he went to Willow
River as agent in building the first saw mill in what is now Hud
son. In 1860 he made himself a permanent'home on a farm near
Osceola. He served as state senator from the Twenty-eighth dis
trict in 1858-59, and as state timber agent in 1874-75. As an
officer Mr. Mears acquitted himself well. In politics he is a
Democrat, and while in the senate took an active part in debates.
The oldest son, Charles, is editor and proprietor of the Polk
County Press. The three sons are married.
Nelson McCarty.— Mr. McCarty was born July 4, 1819, in
Pike county, Pennsylvania; in 1834 was married to Mary Mc-
Kune, and came to St. Croix valley in 1846, where he engaged in

IN the northwest. 135
piloting and lumbering. In 1847 he made him a farm on Osceola
prairie. He died in 1856. His brother Philip came to Osceola
in 1850, and settled on Osceola prairie.
William O. Mahony, a native of Ireland, born about 1810,
came to America while he was yet a minor, and to St. Croix
Falls in 1843. He had learned the trade of a baker, but in 1844
became one of the proprietors of the saw mill at Osceola, and
sold his interest in 1860. He was a man of original and eccen
tric mind. He went to California in 1862, and died there in
1866. Richard Arnold is of Illinois birth. He came to Osceola in
1845, and moved to his farm near the village in 1848. In 1852
he removed to Taylor's Falls and built the Cascade House. In
1855 he was the first farmer in the towu of Amador, Chisago
county. In 1859 he left the valley for Pike's Peak. Colorado.
Wm. Kent, Sr., was born in Scotland sometime in 1790.
He was married in Scotland, and, with his wife and two eldest
children, came to America in 1823. He seems to have lived
awhile in New Brunswick, probably till 1829 or 30, when he re
moved to Eddington, Maine, whence he removed to the West
and made his home at Osceola in 1852, where he and his wife
died at an advanced age, honored by all who knew them. His
family of six sons and five daughters all grew to mature age, and,
except Andrew, who located in Farmington, had homes in Os
ceola. The daughters are Anna, wife of Curtis Guild; Agnes
(deceased), wife of I. W. Freeland; Jane, wife of Jerry Mudget;
Mary (deceased), Wife of Chapin Kimball; and Eva, wife of
Henry C. Goodwin.
Robert Kent, oldest son of Wm. Kent, Sr., was born in
Scotland in 1819; came to Galena, Illinois, in 1840, and to Osceola
in 1848, where he has filled many responsible public positions.
His first wife, to whom he was married in Galena in 1841, died
in 1847, leaving four children. In 1859 Mr. Kent was married
to Susan Babb, of Osceola.
Andrew Kent was born in Scotland in 1821. He was mar
ried in New Brunswick in 1838, but his wife died soon after.
He came to Osceola in 1852 and was married to Esther Hill, of
Osceola, in 1855. Mr. Kent foilowed lumbering for many years
but finally settled on a beautiful farm in Farmington, where he
still resides, an industrious, thrifty farmer.

136 FIFTY YEARS
William Kent, Jr., was born in New Brunswick in 1824;
came to Galena in 1843 and to St. Croix Falls in 1844. He was
one of the original owners and builders of the first mill at Os
ceola. From time to time he purchased the interests of other
partners until he became sole owner of mill and town site. In
1853 he sold the mill to B. H. Campbell, of Galena. Mr. Kent
engaged iu steamboating for many years and was a popular com
mander. He built the Nellie Kent, the Helen Mar and Maggie.
Reany. Of late years he has been engaged in mercantile pur
suits. He was married to Nellie Kidder in 1855. Tljey have
no children. Mr. Kent is an influential member of the masonic
order, and has filled many positions of public trust.
James Kent was born in Frederickton, New Brunswick, in
1826; came to Wisconsin in 1850, and was married to Mary Jane
Wilson at Osceola in 1858. In 1874 he removed to Ashland,
Wisconsin, whejce he died in 1878, leaving a wife and five chil
dren. Thomas Kent was born in Richmond, New Brunswick, in
1828. He came to Osceola in 1849 and was married in 1856 to
Achsah Hale. He was a practical lumberman and a very active
man. He was accidentally killed in 1847, while breaking a jam
of logs in Clam river. He left a wife and one child.
John Kent was born in Eddington, Maine, in 1831. He came
to Wisconsin with his parents in 1852. He was married to Jen
nie Kidder in 1866. He was a house carpenter. Lived in Du
luth some years but returned and settled in Osceola.
Samuel Close in 1845 made a land claim for a mill at the falls
of Close creek. Shortly after he abandoned the claim and left
the country, leaving his name to the creek and slough.
Ebenezer Ayres came from Maine to the St. Croix valley in
1850, and settled on a farm in Osecola, where he made his home
during the remainder of his active life. During his last years
he became very feeble and partially insane, and his friends placed
him in the asylum at Madison, where he died, Aug. 20, 1876.
His wife, familiarly known in later years as "Mother Ayres,"
and greatly esteemed for her excellence of character, died two
years later. They reared a family of four sons and seven
daughters. The sons Charles, Seth and Andrew are farmers on
Osecola prairie. Warren, a fourth son, died in Iowa. The
daughters were married — Elizabeth to Ambrose Sevey, Ruth to

IN THE NORTHWEST. 137
Walter Carrier, Mary (deceased) to Frank S. Eddy, Sarah to
E. R. St. Clair, and to a second husband, H. H. Newberry, all of
Taylor's Falls; Abigail to Wm. E. Doe, and to a second hus
band, the distinguished phrenologist, O. S. Fowler, of New York;
Almenato  Clough, of Osceola prairie, and, after his decease,
to Wallace, of Osceola; and Emma to Charles P. Fenlason, of
Pipestone, Minnesota.
Carmi P. Garlick was born in Erie county, Pennsyvania,
in 1818; was married in 1842 to Elizabeth Thompson, of Ohio, and
come to Amador, Chisago county, Minnesota, in 1854, where he
built a saw mill. Not succeeding as he had expected, he betook
himself to farming and to the practice of medicine while in
Amador, In 1858 he removed to Osceola, where he practiced
medicine until he entered the United States service as surgeou
during the war of the Rebellion. He died at Milwaukee, Jan.
12, 1864, while in the United States service. He was educated
in Columbus (Ohio) Medical College. He left a wife, one son
(Louis), and one daughter, wife of Henry Jones, of Osceola.
John S. Godfrey was born in Sackville, Halifax county,
Nova Scotia, Dec. 18, 1809; was married to Sarah Wright, in
Stonnich, Nova Scotia, in 1832; came to Easton, Wisconsin, in
1849, to Taylor's Falls in 1851, and to their beautiful homestead
in Osceola in 1852, where he still lives, respected and honored
by all his neighbors as an honest, worthy and industrious man.
He has sometimes engaged in lumbering, but his chief success
has been as a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Godfrey are members of
the Baptist church. They have four sons and five daughters.
Of his sons, George died in 1872. Of his daughters, Mary Ann,
wife of Joel F. Nason, died in 1885. John, the youngest son,
was married to Mamie Maxwell, and died January, 1888. The
daughters are married— Elizabeth to John Buckley, Charlotte to
S. B. Dresser, Eunice to George Clark, and Sarah to Joseph A.
Brown. The two oldest sons are married— James to M. Fenla
son, Arthur to Mary J. Daniel.
William A. Talboys was born in Bristol, England; was mar
ried to Mary Rowcliff, in London, in 1845; came to America in
1848, and to Osceola in 1851, where for some years he clerked
for Kent Brothers. He taught the first school in Osceola and
served four years as county treasurer. He has held many
positions of trust. For many years he has been engaged in

138 fifty years
lumbering and merchandising. In 1874 he built an elevator for
handling wheat. Mr. Talboys and his wife are members of the
Methodist church. They have three children living. The° oldest,
W. E., is editor of the Grantsburg Sentinel, Burnett county.
Frederic C. is in St. Paul. Adelaide E. was married to Benj.
Knapp, captain of the steamboat Cleon. Her busband died in
1887. Charles H. Staples. — Mr. Staples was born in Portsmouth,
New Hampshire, in 1824. In 1848 he came to Bunker Hill, Illi
nois, and in the same year was married to Hannah Garland. He
was engaged seven years in the milling business, and in 1856
came to Osceola, where he engaged in lumbering, selling goods
and medicines. He has filled several county offices. Of their
four children, Charles W. was married to May Foster, of Osce
ola, in 187S, Eva is married to H. B. Dyke, and Frank to Ella
Fiske. J. W. Peake was born Dec. 2, 1822, in Schoharie county,
New York. At the age of twenty-one he settled near La Salle,
Illinois, and kept a hotel. He came to Osceola in 1854, and
settled on a farm. On July 15, 1862, he enlisted in the Tenth
Wisconsin Battery, and served till the close of the war. He
served several years as town supervisor and assessor. He died
at his home, March 13, 1886.
George Wilson was born in Susquehanna county, Pennsyl
vania, in 1836. His privileges for education were good. He
taught school in Pennsylvania; came to Osceola in 1857; followed
clerking and teaching school; was nine years in flouring mill and
merchandising; was two years register of deeds, and has filled
minor offices. He was married to Emma R. Fiske in 1854, at
Osceola. They have two sons and two daughters, one the wife
of Capt. George Knapp.
Samuel B. Dresser. — Mr. Dresser was born in Buxton,
Maine, in 1832. During his youth he lived with his parents,
chiefly at Bangor, where he received the rudiments of a good
education in the common schools, and in Kent Seminary at
Readfield. He came to Taylor's Falls in 1851, and followed lum
bering" and merchandising until 1862, when he settled on his
farm homestead on Osceola prairie. Mr. Dresser was a member
of the Twenty-third Wisconsin assembly. He was married to
Charlotte M. Godfrey, June 23, 1859. They have one daughter,

IN THE NORTHWEST. 139
Helen A., and six sons, Elma T., William A., Lester B., Wy-
man H., Mark S., and Frank E.
Frederic A. Dresser, brother of Samuel B., was born at Mos
cow, Maine, Nov. 2, 1841, came to Taylor's Falls, Minnesota, in
1858, and remained some years, when he removed to Osceola. He
served three years during the Civil War in the Thirtieth Wiscon
sin Infantry, and left the service with the rank of quartermaster.
After the war he was married to Mary E. Thorns, of Biddeford,
Maine. During his subsequent residence in Osceola he engaged
in mercantile pursuits, served as county treasurer four years and
as register of deeds five years, which office he held at the time
of his death which occurred Qct. 23, 1886.
Oscar A. Clark came to Taylor's Falls in 1881, settled on a
farm in Osceola in 1852, and brought hither his parents from
Vermont, both of whom have since died. Oscar was a surveyor.
He engaged also in the lumbering and commercial business. He
was of the firm of Clark Brothers. He enlisted in a Wisconsin
regiment during the Rebellion, and served till mustered out, but
never returned to his home, and as nothing has since been heard
from him, his friends have concluded that he must have been
murdered after his discharge, possibly on the way home. Cor
nelius, a brother, lives at the Clark homestead; George, a
brother, married a daughter of John S. Godfrey. He died in
1873. The widow was subsequently married to Cornelius. Le-
man, a brother, settled on a farm in Osceola, and died in 1879,
leaving a large family. Andrew, another brother, of the firm of
Clark Brothers;" died in Osceola.
Oscar F. Knapp. — Capt. Knapp has been conspicuous as a
steamboat maker, owner and captain for the last thirty years.
He was born in Clinton county, New York, in 1831. At the age
of fifteen years he came West and located in Delavan, Wisconsin.
In 1852 he removed to Osceola, Wisconsin, where he engaged in
lumbering for about four years. In 1856 he was married to Miss
Angeline Hayes, of Osceola. In the same year he engaged in
the business of steamboating, with which he has been since
identified more or less. His first steamboat was the H. S. Allen,
which, in company with E. B. Strong, he bought of H. S. Allen,
of Chippewa Falls, in 1856, for $5,000. In 1862 he built the En
terprise, a small, but serviceable boat of light draft and fair
speed. In 1864 Capt. Knapp built the Viola, owned by a stock

140 FIFTY YEARS
company. In 1866 he built the G. B. Knapp, in 1879 the Jennie
Hayes, and ran these two boats fourteen years. In 1877 he en
tered the employment of the United States government, improv
ing the navigation of the St. Croix river, in which work he is
still engaged. His two sons, Ben and George, succeeded him in
the steamboat business. Ben, the oldest son, was born in Osceola
in 1857; George, the second son, in 1859. These two boys spent
their childhood and youth on the river, and have grown up to
be expert pilots and captains, and inherit their father's popu
larity as river men. Ben was married to Addie Talboys, June,
1880; George to Claribel Wilson, in 1883. Capt. Knapp has
two other children, Viola, now Mrs. Arthur Johnson, and Guy,
still a minor. Mrs. Angeline Knapp died at her home in Osceola,
March 6, 1883, respected and lamented by all who knew her.
Capt. Ben Knapp died Oct. 5, 1887, leaving a wife and two chil
dren. Mrs. Elisabeth B. Hates. — Mrs. Hayes was born in 1811,
in Dundee, Yates county, New York. Iu 1854 she removed with
her husband to Missouri. After his death, in the fall of the
same year, she came with her children to Osceola, where she
built the Osceola House, which she kept a number of years. The
daughters were Angeline B. (Mrs. O. F. Knapp), Mrs. Hubbell
and Mrs. Milroy, of New York, and Mrs. Truman Foster, widow,
since the wife of Capt. C. G. Bradley. Her sons were George,
Frank and David. Capt. George Hayes followed piloting and
steamboating, excepting during the Rebellion, when he served
as a soldier in the Fourth Wisconsin Volunteers. In the latter
part of the war he served as a scout for Gen. Canby. At the
present time he has the appointment of steamboat inspector,
with office in St. Paul. David has been prominent as a steam
boat captain. He now resides in Iowa.
Cyrus Q. Bradley was born in Kaskaskia, Illinois, in 1825.
In 1845 he came to the lead mines in Wisconsin and to Osceola
in 1848. He was married in 1846 to the widow of Truman
Foster, of Osceola. Mr. Bradley engaged in lumbering, became
a river pilot, running rafts to St. Louis, with stems and blades,
called oars and sweeps, before steamboat towing was in vogue.
When steamboats became useful in running rafts, he built
two steamers especially for raft towing. He had much to do in
introducing the steamboat towing business. Mr. Bradley moved
to his farm near Osceola in 1874. where he still resides.

in the nqrthwest. 141
W. Hale. — Judge Hale' s early life was spent on a farm. He
commenced lumbering in 1822, and followed that business and
piloting on the Ohio and Alleghany rivers until 1851, when he
came to Osceola prairie and opened a farm. Mr. Hale was the
first county judge of Polk county, and held the position eight
years. He has also served as county superintendent of schools.
He was born in Harmony, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania,
in 1802; was married to Nancy McKeene, of Orange county,
New York, in 1826. They have four sons, John, Isaac, Silas F.,
aud Reuben W., and three daughters, Esther (Mrs. Tread well),
Malvina (Mrs. Merrick), and Achsah (Mrs. Thomas Kent).
Edgar C. Tread well was born March 29, 1832, in Susque
hanna county, Pennsylvania. He came with a team from
Pennsylvania to Osceola in 1846, where he engaged in lumbering
and piloting until 1863, when he enlisted in Company D, Second
Wisconsin Cavalry. He was wounded at Yazoo river. He
returned to Osceola in 1865 and was married to Esther Hale in
1866. Mr. Treadwell was the first sheriff of Polk county, and
has filled other places of trust. Since the war he has resided
on his farm. ST. CROIX FALLS.
Extended mention has already been made of the village of St.
Croix Falls in the general history of the first settlement of the
county. The town includes township 34, range 18, and two partial
sections of range 19. It was organized in 1854, but unfortunately
no records of its organization can be obtained. The surface is
agreeably diversified by hill and plain, and is supplied with many
species of timber, including maple, elm, and several varie
ties of oak. The St. Groix river forms its western boundary,
and presents here some of its wildest and most beautiful scenery,
including the trap rock ledges of the Dalles.
ST. CROIX FALLS VILLAGE.
The buildings of the Falls company formed the nucleus of a
village which took the name of the Falls. Its history has been
given somewhat at length in the history of the settlement, and
in " Remi niscences. " It is situated on the east bank of the river,
between the upper and lower falls. It contains one first class
flouring mill, owned by James Thompson, one wagon and plow
factory, owned by Comer Brothers, one agricultural warehouse,

142 FIFTY YEARS
two livery stables (Harvey & Co., and Lillis & Co.), two excellent
hotels (J. W. Mullen, and C. C. Fiske), one United States land
office, one church building (Presbyterian), costing about $2,500,
one graded school building, costing $6,000, one town hall and
several commodious stores and dwellings. The village was plat
ted in 1857, by Marion T. Chandler. The post office was estab
lished in 1844. Harvey Wilson was the first postmaster. The
Minneapolis, Soo & Atlantic Railway Company have a branch
road extending to this place from Dresser's station, a distance
of three miles. The village was incorporated Feb. 21, 1888,
with the following board of officers: President, J. H. McCourt;
trustees, John Comer, Jacob Berger, George Thompson, Charles
Amery, Barney O'Neal, Sidney Wall; clerk, Thomas Peck; treas
urer, A. Hoagland; assessor, P. B. Jewell; supervisor, S. W.
Blanding; constable, Hoover Christopher; justice of the peace,
W. B. Bull; police justice, Thomas Peck. St. Croix village has
suffered from fires. The heaviest losses were without insurance.
The flouring mill was burned April 30, 1863; loss, $8,000. The
company's hotel was burned May, 1880; loss, $3,000. Fiske's
hotel was burned Sept. 16, 1885; loss, $6,000.
WEST SWEDEN.
West Sweden embraces township 37, range 17. This is almost
exclusively a hardwood timbered district, with some pine in the
north. The soil is rich and well watered with Spirit creek and
Upper Wood river. The surface is undulating. The north part
has numerous lakes and meadows. There is an upheaval of
trap rock in section 2 and copper specimens abound. The prin
cipal settlers are Swedes. The town was organized Nov. 10, 1875.
The first supervisors were N. C. Johnson, A. Larson and A.
Dolberg. STERLING.
The town of Sterling is composed of township 36, ranges 19 and
20. The east part is heavy hardwood timber land, with rich soil
suitable for wheat; the west portion is very sandy and covered
with a few scattering oaks and black pines. The whole town is
well supplied with hay meadows, which afford great advantages to
the stock raiser. The first actual settlers were Samuel Deneen
and William Trimmer, who came in the fall of 1855. The year
following William Lowell, from Stillwater, entered three hun-

IN THE NORTHWEST. 143
dred and twenty acres in sections 14 and 15, range 19, and made
extensive improvements. Daniel F. Smith took up the same
amount of land in section 9, same town and range, and made im
provements. The first white child born was the son of James
Cragin, August, 1858. The first white couple married was John
Berry and Emily Stout, in 1859. The first death was that of Mrs.
Dunlap, sister of William Trimmer, in 1859.
The town was organized in 1855. The first town meeting was
held at the residence of William Lowell, and Samuel Deneen
was the first chairman of the town. The town was called Mos*
cow, which name was changed one year after to that of Sterling.
It was the largest town in the county then. It was organized
into two school districts, but District No. 1 not being able to
build a good school house, an old log shanty was fixed up for
school purposes, and in this Miss Fanny Trimmer taught the
first school. The first saw and grist mill was built by Dr. De
neen. Olaf Strandburg established the first blacksmith shop and
with it a gun shop. In 1849 Charles F. Rowley built a "stop
ping place," so called in those days, on the banks of Wolf creek,
at the old crossing, half a mile west of Deneen's, and cultivated
a few acres of land. This house was burned one night by a lot
of teamsters in a drunken orgie.
De. Samuel Deneen, the first white settler in Sterling, was
born Dec. 27, 1801, in Youngstown, Ohio. He was married in
1825 to Margaret Conly. He studied medicine in Michigan, and
came to Wisconsin in 1854, and to Sterling in 1855. Dr. Deneen
practiced his profession, made him a farm, built a saw and grist
mill on Wolf creek, established a post office and took an active
part in the interests of the new settlement. He and his wife still
live on the homestead which they have held for the past thirty
years. Mrs. Deneen was born in 1800.
William W. Trimmer came to Sterling in 1855 and made a
home, building and occupying what was for many years known
as "Trimmer's Hotel." Mr. Trimmer died in St. Croix Falls
in 1874.
Arnold Densmore was born in Nova Scotia, in 1822; was
married to Matilda Wallace in 1845, and came to Sterling in
1867, where he died, Jan. 20, 1886, much respected as a neigh
bor, citizen and Christian.

144 FIFTY YEARS

CHAPTER VI.

ST. CROIX COUNTY.
Jan. 9, 1840, the Wisconsin legislature created a new county
out of Crawford county, including territory west of the Chip
pewa river, extending northward to the British possessions, and
named it St. Croix. By the same act, a day was designated for
an election, at which a county seat was to be chosen and county
officers elected. "Mouth of St. Croix," now Prescott, and Caw-
caw-baw-kang, now St. Croix Falls, were designated as voting
places. Two places only were voted for, "Mouth of St. Croix,"
and Dakotah, Brown's claim, now Schulenberg's addition to Still
water. Dakotah was chosen by a vote of forty-five to thirteen.
The returns were made to Prairie du Chien, county seat of Craw
ford county, and certificates issued to the county officers elected
by C. J. Leonard, clerk of Crawford county. The legislature had
at the time of creating the new county made it a probate district,
Philip Aldrich being appointed judge.
The history of the county until 1848 has been given elsewhere,
as connected with the early history of Stillwater.
The admission of Wisconsin Territory as a state in 1848 di
vided the county, giving it the St. Croix river and state line as
its western boundary. The Wisconsin portion of the old county
was consequently left without a county seat, while the portion
west of the St. Croix had a county seat, but was without state
or territorial jurisdiction. Congress, however, declared Wiscon-
consin territorial laws to be still in force in the excluded terri
tory, and they so remained until the organization of Minnesota
Territory. Soon after the admission of Wisconsin, that part of
St. Croix couuty within its limits was reorganized for county and
judicial purposes, and a new county seat chosen, located in sec-

IN THE NORTHWEST. 145
tion 24, township 29, range 19, at the mouth of Willow river.
This county seat was at first called Buena Vista. On Sept. 9, 1848,
the county commissioners, under the law creating the county,
held their first meeting at the county seat, in the house of Philip
Aldrich. The commissioners present were Ammah Andrews,
chairman; W. H. Morse, and W. R. Anderson, clerk. Philip
Aldrich was appointed treasurer. Four voting precincts were
established, Mouth of St. Croix, Willow River or Buena Vista,
Osceola, and Falls of St. Croix. These early commissioners per
formed duties of the most varied character incident to the gov
ernment of a new county. There was as yet no county seal,
and they were required to draw with the pen upon legal docu
ments a scroll representing a seal, and to use other forms, appli
ances and devices without legal precedent.
At the second meeting of the county commissioners Osceola
was represented by Harmon Crandall, he having been absent at
the first meeting of the board. Moses Perin was appointed col
lector. License for selling intoxicating liquors was fixed at
twenty dollars per annum. The rate of taxation was fixed at
seven mills on the dollar. The first state election in the county
was held at Buena Vista, Nov. 7, 1848. One hundred and fifteen.
votes were the whole number cast in the county. The follow
ing officers were elected: Senator, James Fisher, of Crawford
county; representative, Joseph Bowron, Buena Vista; county
commissioners, Wm. H. Morse, Ammah Andrews, Harmon
Crandall, Buena Vista; county clerk, W. Richardson, Buena
Vista; register of deeds, W. R. Anderson, Buena Vista; judge
of probate court, Alvah D. Heaton, Osceola; county treasurer,
Philip Aldrich, Buena Vista; coroner, Wm. O. Mahony, Osceola;
surveyor, Alex. S. Youle, St. Croix Falls.
At the commissioners' meeting, Feb. 28, 1849, the county was
divided into the following towns: St. Croix Falls, Buena Vista,
and Elisabeth. At an election held Sept. 3, 1849, Hamlet H.
Perkins received forty-nine votes for judge, and Joel Foster
forty-one. Mr. Perkins was drowned at St. Croix Falls soon
after, and the governor appointed Mr. Foster to fill the vacancy.
Judge Foster held his first court at Buena Vista. Daniel Noble
Johnson was appointed prosecuting attorney in 1849. James
Hughes was appointed in 1850. The first district court was held
in August, 1850.
10

146 FIFTY YEARS
At a special meeting of the commissioners in 1849, James
Hughes and J. M. Bailey were appointed a building committee
to make estimates for the erection of a court house and jail. At
the special meeting of the commissioners, Jan. 15, 1851, the
town of Kinnikinic was organized. They had also under
consideration the erection of county buildings, and appointed
Ammah Andrews to erect the same. Otis Hoyt, for non-attend
ance at this meeting of the board, was fined fifty dollars, but
the fine was subsequently remitted. The legislature of 1851
changed the name of the town of Buena Vista to Willow Biver,
also of the town of Elisabeth to Prescott. At a subsequent
meeting the contract with Ammah Andrews to erect public
buildings was rescinded, and Daniel Mears was made special
agent to build a jail, and three hundred and fifty dollars was
appropriated for that purpose. The town of Rush River was
organized Nov. 13, 1851. At the request of petitioners, the
town of Leroy (now Osceola) was organized Nov. 9, 1852. A
day was fixed in 1852 to vote on the change of name, Willow
River to Hudson. The name Hudson was adopted by a two-
thirds majority. The legislature of 1853 created from the terri
tory of St. Croix county the counties of Polk, St. Croix and
Pierce, Polk being located on the north, Pierce on the south, and
.St. Croix occupying the central portion of the original St. Croix
county, and retaining the county seat.
St. Croix county, as at present constituted, lies on the east
bank of the river and Lake St. Croix, forming, but for slight
irregularities on the western line, a parallelogram. It includes
townships 28 to 31, and ranges 15 to 19, with fractions of range
20 on the west. The surface varies from gently undulating to
hilly. The bluffs along the lake are not precipitous, as on the Up
per St. Croix, but are even and continuous, with gently rounded
slopes. From the river, eastward, the country is broken and
somewhat hilly; the central portions are rolling prairies on which
are fine farms, and the eastern portions are level and originally
heavily timbered. The eastern tier of townships is covered by
a heavy growth of timber known as the Big Woods. The tim
ber is composed of basswood, maple, butternut, several species of
-oak, and a sprinkling of white pine. The soil is a rich clayey loam
and well adapted for grass, grain and root crops. Good build
ing and limestone crop out in places. The county is well drained

IN THE NORTHWEST. 147
by the St. Croix and its tributaries, Apple, Willow and Kin
nikinic on the west and Rush river on the east. Of these tribu
taries Apple river is the largest. It rises in Polk county, where
it is supplied by numerous lakes, enters St. Croix county and
passes diagonally across the northwest corner and empties into
the St. Croix river a few miles above Stillwater. Willow river
rises in Cylon township and empties into St. Croix lake, just
above Hudson. This river passes through a deep gorge in the
limestone rock, a few miles above lis mouth, falling in its pas
sage over several ledges of rock, producing falls famed far and
near for their wildness and grandeur. Kinnikinic river in the
south part of the county is famed also for the beauty of its
scenery and for its waterfalls. It passes into Pierce county and
then, uniting with its southern branch, flows into Lake St.
Croix. Rush river rises in Eau Galle, and turns and flows
thence to Lake Pepin. These streams have unfailing supplies
from springs and small lakes. There is a remarkable formation
in the Kinnikinic valley about seven miles above River Falls,
called the Monument. It is a ledge of pure white sandstone rock,
nearly circular, and rising to a height of sixty feet. It stands
on a natural elevation far above the level of the valley and so
forms a very conspicuous and curious object. The base is forty
or fifty feet wide, and the summit is" a turret-shaped mass of rock
about fifteen feet wide and as many high. The part upon which
the turret rests is dome-shaped, its sides worn by the rains into
deep furrows. Years ago a tree grew upon the summit. The
soft sandstone is being gradually worn away by the winds and
rains. HOW THE SCHOOL LANDS WERE SELECTED.
Philip Aldrich was appointed commissioner in 1848 to locate
the state school lands in St. Croix county, at that time including
Polk and Pierce counties. It is said that Dr. Aldrich would
climb to the summits of the highest mounds, and, casting his
eyes east, west, north or south, would proclaim such and such
numbers or sections as school lands. Where all were so arable
and fertile there was no use in discriminating. At the division
of the county in 1853 the part designated as St. Croix county
was subdivided into three towns, Buena Vista or Hudson, Willow
River and Kinnikinic or Troy. As the population increased
these towns were divided and subdivided until they numbered

148 FIFTY YEARS
twenty-three. We append their names and dates of organiza
tion. Where more than one name is given the last is the pres
ent name:

Buena Vista, Willow River, Hud
son  1849
Malone, Troy  1851
Rush River  1851
Pleasant Valley  1851
Somerset  1856
Hammond  1856
Star Prairie  1856
Dayton, Malone, Kinnikinic  1857
Cold Spring, Richmond  18.57
Erin Prairie  1858

Brook ville, Eau Galle  1858
St. Joseph  1858
Cylon  1859
Warren  1860
Springfield  1860
Emerald  1861
Stanton  1870
Cady  1870
Baldwin  1872
Forest  1881
Glenwood  1885

Some changes were also made in the boundaries of the towns.
No progress was made in the erection of county buildings until
1856, when a contract was made by the commissioners with
Ammah Andrews to build a court house for $14,300 on the
ground originally purchased of Moses Perin. The final cost
was $20,045. ST. CROIX AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
An important event to the county was the organization of the
St. Croix Agricultural Society, in 1857. Beautiful grounds
were chosen on the bluffs one-half mile south of the city of Hud
son. The annual fairs of this association, formerly held in
rotation at various points in the county, now limited to the
grounds south of the city, have always been well patronized and
successful. POMONA GRANGE.
The Pomona Grange of St. Croix county holds quarterly
meetings at various points, alternately. There are subordinate
granges at Hudson, Richmond, Hammond, and Warren. There
is a co-operative store in the city of Hudson which is well sus
tained. These granges are in a flourishing condition.
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.
At the taking of the last census there were 2,289 farms in St.
Croix county, containing 202,588 acres of improved land, valued
at $7,015,198. The farm implements were then placed at a valua
tion of $346,374; live stock, at $810,525; and all soil products at

IN THE NORTHWEST.

149

$1,815,266. The stock numbered 6,272 horses, 319 mules, 442
oxen, 5,624 cows, and 6,149 other cattle.
The average yield of products throughout the county can be
fairly placed at these figures: Wheat, 1,375,000 bushels; oats,
800,000 bushels; rye and barley, 35,000 bushels; corn, 200,000
bushels; potatoes, 150,000 bushels; hay, 20,000 tons; cheese, 180,-
000 pounds; butter, 350,000 pounds.
During the past few years agriculture has steadily increased
while rapid strides have been made in manufactures, so that the
totals would be quite materially enlarged now over those of 1885.
MANUFACTURES.
In manufactures the statisticians have the county down for 112
establishments with a capital of $740,197, utilizing materials to
the amount of $1,105,203, evolving products to the sum of
$1,488,192, and paying $107,469 in wages per annum.
As to manufactures, in round numbers there is produced in the
county: Lumber, 50,000,000 feet; shingles, 18,000,000; laths,
7,000,000; furniture, $120,000; barrels, 125,000; flour, 160,000
barrels. ST. CROIX POOR FARM
Is located in the northwest part of Kinnikinic, section 11, on
each side of the Kinnikinic river. It was purchased in 1870
for $1,000, and the probable present value is $10,000.
FIRST TAX ROLL OF ST. CROIX COUNTY, 1848.
ST. CROIX FALLS.

John McKusick 
Leach& McKean 
Edward Johnson 
Falls of St. Croix Company
Dexter & Harrington 
A. W. Russell 
Edward Worth 
Peter Lombair 
Serno Jonava 
J. McLanglin 
Wm. Town 

AMT. PEOPEETY.

51,500.00 5,400.00 1,115.00
59,700.00 2,585.00 405.00 199.00 40.0075.00
2,204.00 144.00

TOTAL TAX.

$10.50 37.80 .81
417.90 18.09 2.83 1.39 .28.52
15.43 1.01

150 FIFTY YEARS
FIRST TAX ROLL OP ST. CROIX COUNTY — Continued.

NAME.

J. Cornelison 
George De Attley 
S. Partridge 
Dan Foster 
A. Livingston & Kelly
John Powers 
Thos. Foster 
George Field 
Adam Sebert 
Weymouth & Brother.
S. S. Crowell 
Lewis Barlow 
I. S. Kimball 
Philip B. Jewell 
Kent & Mahoney 
H. Crandall 
Daniel Coite 
M. M. Samuels 
W. H. C. Folsom 
W. W. Folsom  ,
J. Sanders 
G. W. Brownell 
Richard Arnold 
Wm. R. Marshall 
Dr. Palmer 
Joseph Lagroo 
J. Bascan 
B. Cheever 
H. H. Perkins 
Levi Lagoo 
M. Shults 
Total 

AMT. PEOPEETY.

75.00

.52

50.00

.35

418.00

3.37

30.00

.21

185.00

1.29

21.00

.14

10.00

.08

45.00

31

240.00

1.68

130.00

.91

150.00

1.05

103.00

.72

30.00

.21

7,235.00

50.64

3,631.00

25.42

219.00

1.53

85.00

.57

375.00

2.62

800.00

5.60

210.00

1.47

207.00

1.45

1,755.00

12.28

205.00

1.45

15.00

.10

10. 0Q

.07

25.00

.17

25.00

.17

1,100.00

7.70

2,000.00

14.00

50.00

.35

2,000.00

14.00

§94,801.00

TOTAL AMT.

$1,642.72

IN THE NORTHWEST.
WILLOW RIVER.

151

NAMES.

James Purinton.. .
Wm. R. Anderson
Samuel Clift 
Joseph Kelner 
P. D. Aldrich 
Moses Perin 
Ammah Andrews.
John B. Page 
Lewis Massey 
Joseph Lagrew....
Wm. H. Nobles....
Lemuel Nobles....
Milton E. Nobles.
John Collier 
Philip Aldrich 
Peter F. Bouchea.
A. Smith.....' 
McKnight 
Wm. Steets 
Joseph Abear 
Total 

AMT. PEOPEETY.

TOTAL TAX.

S800.00

85.60

75.00

.52

15.00

.10

15.00

.10

195.00

1.36

240.00

1.68

409.00

2.86

1,128.00

7.89

185.00

1.29

190.00

1.33

299.00

2.10

40.00

.28

339.00

2.37

125.00

.87

361.00

2.52

136.00

.96

105.00

.73

149.00

1.03

143.00

.79

38.00

.24 *

$4,949.00

$38.71

152

FIFTY YEARS
MOUTH OF LAKE ST. CROIX.

NAMES.

Thomas M. Finch 
Mrs. Lockwood 
Freeman, Larpenteur & Co
Frank Trudell 
Louis Barlow 
Fox & Cro wnenbald 
I. L. Minox 
J. R. Rice 
G. W. McMurphy 
H. Doe 
Wm. Kimbrough 
W. H. Morse 
Wilson Thing 
W. C. Copley 
Willard Thing 
George Shagor 
George Barron 
Joseph Monjon 
Joseph Mon j on, Jr 
Henry Thaxter 
Aaron Cornelison 
James Cornelison 
Lewis Harnsberger 
Totals 

AMT. PEOPEETY.

§176.00
1,181.00 300.00 50.00
600.00
2,625.00 183.00 °
545.00425.00 340.00 60.00
135.00385.00 50.00
164.00
1,000.00 180.00
235.00 60.0075.00
325.00
265.00 75. 0 0

$9,434.00

TOTAL TAX.

$1.23 8.27
2.10 .35
4.20
18.39 1.262.812.97 2.38 .42 .61
2.69 .35
1.15
7.00 1.261.64
42.00 .52
2.27 1.85 .52

$68.91

The above roll was published in pamphlet form, certified to by
Wm. R. Anderson, clerk of board of county commissioners,
and an order issued to Moses Perin to collect such taxes, and
pay over to the treasurer of St. Croix county. The amounts
were duly collected. HUDSON CITY.
The first settlement in St. Croix county was made on the
present site of Hudson city in 1838 by Peter Bouchea, Louis
Massey, Wm. Steets and Joseph Lagroo, Frenchmen, who sub
sisted chiefly by hunting and fishing, but who also raised garden
crops of corn, beans and other vegetables. These people were
contented and jovial, fond of dancing and social enjoyment.
Beyond the mere pleasure of living they seemed to have but

IN THE NORTHWEST. 153
little care and were without enterprise or ambition. More en
terprising and industrious people followed them to the new set
tlement, and as the public lands were not open for entry until
1848, settled upon the lands and made some improvements,
awaiting patiently the time when they could acquire a legal
title. The original claimants of the town of Buena Vista in
1848 were Peter Bouchea, Louis Massey, Wm. Steets, Joseph
Lagroo, Joseph Lenavil,  Revere, Ammah Andrews, W. H.
and M. V. Nobles, John B. Page, Philip Aldrich, and W. R.
Anderson. These parties, after the survey and prior to the
entry of the land, made an equitable division of their claims.
Peter Bouchea and Louis Massey were then delegated to pur
chase the lands, which they did, Bouchea purchasing the south
west quarter of southeast quarter of section 24, township 29, range
20, and Massey, the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter
of section 24, township 29, range 20. ' Deeds were then made to
the various claimants according to the original agreement. The
first individual survey of lots was made on Massey' s entry, Har
vey Wilson, of Stillwater, being the surveyor. The village thus
platted was at first called Buena Vista, but, some confusion aris
ing as to the title of lots in 1851, the legislature changed the name
of the town and village to Willow River, which, by vote of the
people in 1852, was changed to Hudson. The original proprietors
of the village of Buena Vista were Paschal Aldrich, James San
ders, Moses Perin, James R. Patten and Joseph Abear. Addi
tions were surveyed in 1849 and 1850 by Gibson, Henning and
others. To avoid confusion we shall discard the earlier names
applied to what has since become the city of Hudson and speak
of it solely by its later and better known name.
In 1840 the locality, as seen from a passing steamer, seemed a
wilderness of orchard oaks and maples, filling the valley of Wil
low river, and clothing the slopes of the hills. A closer view
might have revealed an occasional shanty, a cabin of the first
French settlers, with small gardens, the whole inclosed by high
picket fences as a protection against strolling Indians. Seven
years later loggers were at work on Willow river under Capt. J.
B. Page. The same year a couple of frame houses appeared in
the oak openings. The first was built by W. H. Nobles, which
is still standing and is occupied by Mrs. Col. James Hughes.
The second was built by Ammah Andrews and is now occupied

154 FIFTY YEARS
by Horace Champlin. In 1848 James Purinton commenced a
saw mill and dam at the mouth of Willow river, which were not
completed until 1850. In 1848 Wm. H. Nobles started a ferry
over the lake. James Purinton opened a store and Moses Perin
built a hotel and boarding house, which stood opposite Cham-
plin's present livery stable. In 1849 Miss Richards, from Prairie
du Chien, taught the first school. Mrs. A. M. Richardson, the
wife of the Methodist minister, the second. A school house was
not built until 1855. John G. Putman built the Buckeye House,
corner of First and Buckeye streets. Horace Barlow built a
residence. Mr. Stone also put up a store building. The first
attorneys, Daniel Noble Johnson and Col. James Hughes, com
menced practice in Hudson in 1849. The first public building
stood on the lot now occupied by the Methodist church. It
burned down in the spring of 1851, and an account of the fire,
as published at that time, stated that the "court house, Metho
dist, Baptist, Congregational and Episcopal churches, together
with the high school buildings, were all consumed." It is but
fair to say that there were no regular church organizations at
this time, but occasional services by local and transient minis
ters. Rev. Lemuel Nobles, a Methodist minister, preached the
first sermon in 1847. The first society organization was that<of
the Baptists, Rev. S. T. Catlin, pastor, in 1852. In the same year
Rev. A. M. Richardson was regularly appointed as pastor of the
Methodist Episcopal church. In 1855 the First Presbyterian
church was organized under the pastorate of Rev. Chas. Thayer,
and Rev. Wilcoxson became the first rector of the Episcopal
church. In 1856 Rev. Father McGee took charge of the Catholic
church. In 1857 Rev. C. H. Marshall was called to the pastorate
of the Congregational church. A Norwegian Lutheran church
was organized in 1876. All of these church organizations have
good church buildings, and the Catholic church has a flourishing
school connected with it. School interests were not neglected
by the early settlers. A good school house was built in 1855'
and graded. The first deed recorded covering Hudson property
was by Louis Massey and Frances, his wife, to Wm. H. Nobles;:
warranty; consideration, $67.18; situate in east half of south
west quarter of section 24, township 29, range 20.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 155
CITY GOVERNMENT.
Hudson was incorporated as a city in 1857, and the first mu
nicipal election was held in April of that year. The city was
divided into three wards. A. D. Gay was the first mayor. The
following were the first aldermen: First ward, James B. Gray,
Milton V. Nobles, J. M. Fulton; Second ward, Alfred Day, R.
A. Gridley, Chas. E. Dexter; Third ward, Chas. Thayer, N. P.
Lester, N. Perry. The remaining city officers were: City clerk,
O. Bell; city attorney, Cyrus L. Hall; surveyor, Michael Lynch.
At the first meeting of the city council, after the appointment
of committees on by-laws, bond sales, salaries, etc., license for
selling intoxicating liquors was fixed at fifty dollars per annum
for hotel keepers, two hundred dollars for wholesale dealers, with
various grades for retail saloons. The first license issued was to
John Cyphers, for keeping saloon and billiard hall.
MAYORS OF HUDSON CITY.

1.

A. D. Gray,

11.

Lemuel North,

2.

Alfred Day,

12.

C. H. Lewis,

3.

Silas Staples,

13.

H. A. Wilson,

4.

John Comstock,

14.

A. J. Goss,

5.

S. N. Clough,

15.

P. Q. Boyden,

6.

A. D. Richardson,

16.

D. C. Fulton,

7.

C. R. Coon,

17.

M. A. Fulton,

8.

H. L. Humphrey,

18.

Samuel Hyslop,

9.

J. H. Brown,

19.

Sam. C. Johnson, M. D.

10.

Simon Hunt,

20.

Wm. H. Phipps.

CITY

SCHOOLS.

Graded schools were established in 1859. They have ever
maintained an excellent reputation. In 1860 Charlotte Mann
was chosen principal, and taught the eight ensuing years. A
new school building was completed in 1887 at a cost of $25,000.
This building is devoted to high school purposes. The schools
of the city are graded. There are eleven departments and twelve
teachers. Each ward of the city has a separate building. The
school fund amounts to about $5,000 per annum. The schools
are under the control of six commissioners.

156 FIFTY YEARS
A MILITARY INSTITUTE
Was organized at River Falls by Prof. J. R. Hinckley, and shortly
afterward removed to Hudson, and a building worth $7,000
erected for its accommodation. In 1880 it was purchased by the
Catholics, and it is now known as St. Marys Academy.
MILLS AND MANUFACTORIES.
The first saw mill, as already noted, was completed in 1850.
It was known as Purinton' s saw mill. Other saw mills were
built, but destroyed by fire. We have no record of ownership
and losses, but estimate the aggregate of the latter as near $100,-
000. The Willow River mills, built in 1867, consist of two flour
ing mills, with a capacity of four hundred barrels per day. Con
nected with these are a large elevator and cooper shop. The
present proprietors are Cooper, Clark & Co. The invested
capital is $150,000. The Hudson Lumber Company, in 1883,
built a saw mill, below the steamboat landing. This mill has a
capacity of 18,000,000 feet per annum, and has a planing mill
attached. It is complete in all its departments, manufacturing
all classes of lumber, from timber to mouldings. The capital
stock amounts to $100,000. The officers are H. A. Taylor, presi
dent; C. R. Coon, vice president; M. Herrick, secretary; F. D.
Harding, treasurer; S. W. Pierce, superintendent. The Hudson
Foundry and Machine Shop was established in 1870. The North
Hudson Foundry and Car Shops are doing a fine business. The
Hudson Carriage Works were established in 1885, and the Hud
son' Furniture Manufactory in 1883. The amount invested in
this enterprise is $180,000, and it furnishes employment to one
hundred men. C. R. Coon is president of the company. There
are two breweries — Moctreman's, established in 1857, andYoerg's
in 1870. BANKS.
The St. Croix Valley Bank was organized in 1855. It was a bank
of issue, payable at Gordon, Wisconsin. It closed in 1857. The
Hudson City Bank, organized Sept. 10, 1856, went into operation
under the general law of Wisconsin, capital stock $25,000,
secured by Michigan and Missouri state stocks. J. O. Henning
was president and M. S. Gibson, cashier. It soon closed. The
Farmers and Mechanics Bank, a state bank, went into operation

IN THE NORTHWEST.

157

in 1857. and closed the following year. The Hudson First Na
tional Bank was organized in 1863, with a capital of '$50,000.
The first officers were John Comstock, president; Alfred J.
Goss, cashier. The officers in 1888 are John Comstock, presi
dent; A. E. Jefferson, cashier. The surplus fund is $53,000.
The directors' are H. A. Taylor, H. L. Humphrey, John C.
Spooner, A. L. Clark, F. D. Harding, A. T. Goss, and W. H.
Crowe. The Hudson. Savings Bank was organized in 1870, with
a capital stock of $50,000. Alfred Goss, president; A. J. Goss,
cashier. Alfred Goss died in 187 — , but the bank is in suc
cessful operation, the son still retaining his father's name as
head of the firm.

THE OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES HOSPITAL.
The beautiful private hospital which takes the name of Ameri
ca's popular poet, Oliver Wendell Holmes, was opened June
7, 1887. The credit of this hospital scheme is entirely due to

SMIfcJWl OLIVER WEHDELL HOLMES HOSPITAL.

Dr. Irving D. Wiltrout, of Hudson, who for some years has been
assiduously at work maturing the plans. The owners are Dr.
Wiltrout and the Johnston Brothers, of Boardman. The site is

158 FIFTY YEARS
upon a beautiful wooded slope of Willow river, about a mile
from its' mouth, overlooking Lake Mallalieu, an expanse of the
river, and a broad sweep of the St. Croix with its undulating
banks, commanding the most delightful and extensive views.
The building is lighted by the Mather self regulating, incan
descent system of electricity. The dynamo, engine and boilers
are located in a fireproof brick structure, some distance from
the building proper, communicating with the hospital by an
underground passage way. The hospital is under the direction of
the following board: President, A. J. Goss; first vice president,
John Comstock; second vice president, John E. Glover; secre
tary, Thomas Hughes; treasurer, Rev. M. Benson.
WATER WORKS.
The Hudson water works, supplied from Lake St. Croix, are
situated upon Liberty Hill, in the rear of the southern part of
the city. They are owned by W. S. Evans. The hill is two hun
dred and seventeen feet above the lake, and commands a magnifi
cent view of the surrounding country. The summit is easily
accessible. The city is also well supplied with water from arte
sian wells, which were sunk to a depth of five hundred feet, and
afford a flow of two hundred gallons per minute.
HOTELS.
The principal hotels are the Chapin House, first built in 1867,
but twice destroyed by fire. The last structure was erected in
1879, by H. A. Taylor. The Tracy House was built in 1867, the
Seely House in 1873, the Commercial Hotel in 1875, and the Cen
tral House in 1876. THE GREAT FIRE.
May 19, 1866, Hudson city was visited with a destructive con
flagration. Sixty-four business houses and twenty-five resi
dences were destroyed. It was probably the result of accident
or carelessness. It commenced in the rear of H. A. Taylor's fur
niture rooms and printing office, and spread with such rapidity
that it was with the greatest difficulty that merchants and others
were able to save their valuable papers. The wind blew a gale
and the flames spread and caught in every direction. The fire
occurred fortunately in the daytime or it might have been at
tended with a frightful loss of life. As it was, there were many

IN THE NORTHWEST. 159
narrow escapes. The total losses from this fire were $325,000,
on which there was but $75,000 insurance. A destructive fire
occurred in 1872, destroying the Chapin Hall House, valued at
$50,000, and other property to the value of $35,000, on which
there was but $15,000 insurance. During the same year another
fire occurred, destroying 30,000 bushels of wheat and the furni
ture of the Chapin Hall House, which had been saved from the
previous fire. The loss was estimated at $60,000 with $16,355
insurance. SOCIAL AND BENEVOLENT ORGANIZATIONS.
St. Croix Lodge, A. F. and A. M., founded 1855; Colfax Lodge,
No. 85, I. O. O. F., founded 1856; Hudson City Lodge, No. 486,
I. O. G. T., founded 1867; Ladies' Library Association, founded
1868; St. Croix R. A. Chapter, founded 1874; Y. M. C. A., founded
1875; Nash Lodge, I. O. G. T., founded 1877; Temple of Honor,
founded 1877; St. Croix Commandery, founded 1879; St. Croix
Lodge, A. O. TJ. W., founded 1880; Equitable Hnion, founded
1880. In addition to the foregoing there is a volunteer fire
company, a boat club, an old settlers' club, a bible society, a
building and loan association, and a cemetery association.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Louis Massey came of a long-lived French-Canadian family.
His father lived to the age of one hundred and seven and his
mother to one hundred and five and he himself lived to the age of
ninety-nine years. He was born in Canada, near Montreal, in
1788. In 1805 he left home to enter the service of the British fur
traders at Detroit. In his eventful life he had many adventures
and passed through many perils. He was once arrested with
his employer by the American authorities aud once made pris
oner by the Indians. In 1812 he entered the employ of the no
torious Col. Dickson, and, while with him, made a trip from
Detroit by way of Mackinaw, Green Bay, Fox and Wisconsin
rivers to Prairie du Chien in a birch canoe. He made two trips
in mackinaw boats from Prairie du Chien to New Orleans and
return. In one trip he was four months making his way from
New Orleans to St. Louis. He made one voyage in a birch
canoe from Montreal via Ottawa river, Georgian bay, Lake,
Huron, St. Marie's river and Lake Superior to Fond du Lac,
at the mouth of St. Louis river, via Sandy lake and the Missis-

160 FIFTY YEARS
sippi river to Lake Winnibagoshish, and another from Fond du
Lac to Brule river, across to St. Croix river, thence to the
Mississippi, and by way of St. Peter's river to Lake Traverse by
canoe. In 1818 he entered the service of the American Fur
Company, and lived at Fond du Lac, the headquarters of the
company, for ten years. There he was married to a sister of
Peter Bouchea. In 1828 he settled on the reservation near Fort
Snelling, where he was held in such estimation that, on the ex-
pulson of the settlers, the officers of the Fort assisted him in his
removal to Willow River, whither he came in 1838 with Peter
Bouchea. Wm. Steets and Joseph Lagroo soon followed them.
These four were the first settlers in Hudson. Mr. Massey lived
at his old home with a son-in-law, Richard Picard, until his
death, Oct. 14, 1887. His only child living is Mrs. Picard.
Peter Bouchea was born at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, about
1815. He spent his early life in the neighborhood of Lake Su
perior, was married to a daughter of  Bruce, and came to
the mouth of Willow river in 1838. Mr. Bouchea had been edu
cated for the Catholic priesthood. He was a truthful, intelli
gent, reliable man and filled some positions of responsibility.
He had many stirring adventures and was once wounded by In
dians and cared for by Gov. Cass, of Michigan, at Detroit and
Fort Gratiot. He died in 1875, at Fort Edward, on the north
shore of Lake Superior.
William Steets came to Willow River in 1838, a refugee
from the Fort Snelling reservation. He was frozen to death in
the winter of 1851.
Capt. John B. Page came from Piscataquis county, Maine, to
the St. Croix valley in 1844, and engaged for awhile in cutting
pine logs on Willow river. While rafting on the Mississippi he
met, and after a brief courtship married, a woman who returned
with him to his home on Willow river and who survives him.
Mrs. Page had some reputation as a (Thomsonian) physician.
They made their home in Hudson in 1847. Their daughter
Abigail was the first white child of American descent born in
Hudson. Abigail married George Bailey, and their sons, George
W. and David, were for a long time residents of Hudson, and
have but lately deceased. Mr. Page died Feb. 11, 1865.
Dr. Philip Aldrich, although not a permanent settler till
1847, was an occasional or transient visitor, and had made a

IN THE NORTHWEST. 161
land claim in section 24. He took a deep interest in the affairs
of the pioneer settlement, and at his house many of the public
gatherings, political and social, were held. He was the first
postmaster, and, in the exigencies of the service, sometimes
carried the mail on foot. While a resident of St. Croix Falls in
1844, he was appointed probate judge. In 1848 he was appointed
treasurer of the county of St. Croix, and at the election in No
vember of the same year, elected to that office. Dr. Aldrich
was born in New York in 1792, and died at his home in Hudson,
March 16, 1858.
The Nobles Family settled in Hudson in 1847. Rev. Lem
uel Nobles, the father, was a Methodist local minister, and in
1847 preached the first sermon at the mouth of Willow river.
He came originally from New York, lived a few years in the
valley and removed to Michigan, where he died. His children
were William H., Milton V., John, Mrs. Battles and Mrs. Mor
ton S. Wilkinson, deceased. Wm. H. became a resident of Min
nesota and a noted man. His biography is given elsewhere.
Milton V. Nobles was born in New York in 1818; removed
to Michigan; was married to Matilda Edwards, Sept. 2, 1846, in
Stillwater, and came to Hudson in 1847, where he followed lum
bering until 1860, when he returned to New York and located
at Elmira, where he resided- until his death. While at Elmira
he became an inventor and took out several valuable patents.
His fortunes varied, and as is frequently the case with inven
tors, at one time he was wretchedly poor. In the midst of his
galling poverty he sold one of his patents for a beautiful home
stead in Elmira. Mrs. Nobles had not been informed of the
transaction, but with her husband had visited the occupants of
the homestead. Mrs. Nobles could not but contrast this pleas
ant home with her own poverty stricken surroundings, and in
inviting her entertainers to return the call, told them plainly
that she lived in a very humble home, and feared she could not
make a visit pleasant to them. At this point the host stepped
forward, and, by a preconcerted arrangement, presented her a
deed to the mansion and grounds — a joyful surprise.
John Nobles, the youngest son, returned to Michigan and
New York, where he became a Methodist minister. Some time
subsequently he removed to Colorado, where he died.
James Purinton was born in 1797, in Tamworth, New Hamp-
11

162 FIFTY YEARS
shire. He was married to Mary Mann, in Sandwich, New Hamp
shire. He afterward removed to Maine. He came to St. Croix
Falls in 1842, and leased the St. Croix mills, and some time after
became part owner. This venture not being successful, he re
moved to Willow River in 1847, where he built a large dam
across the river, and with others erected a saw mill on the point
of land between the lake and river. This venture was not suc-
sessful and the mill property passed into other hands. Mr.
Purinton was an experienced lumberman and an active, ener
getic man. The north side of Willow River, in which he was
so much interested, became afterward quite valuable on account
of the centralization of shops, depots and business of the West
Wisconsin and North Wisconsin railroads. Mr. Purinton died
in Hudson in 1849, leaving two married daughters — Mrs. 
Graves and Mrs. James McPhail.
Ammah Andrews was born in Herkimer county, New York,
in 1801, and passed his early life in that place. In 1829 he was
married to Laura Andrews, and in the same year moved to
Michigan. He came to Hudson in 1847. Mr. Andrews was a
-carpenter and took some important building contracts. He was
one of the first commissioners of St. Croix county under the
state government, and also one of the first school directors. He
has been an active and influential member of the Methodist
Episcopal church the greater part of his life. He has three
sons, now living iu Nebraska, and one daughter, the wife of P.
D. Harding, of Hudson, Wisconsin. Mr. Andrews died" Jan. 5,
1888. James Walstow. — Mr. Walstow was born in Nottingham,
England, in 1815; was married there, and came to Hudson in ,
1849. He removed to Nebraska in 1863.
James Sanders was born in Devonshire, England, in 1818;
came to America in 1841, and lived for years in New York. In
1844 he married Mary Walstow, removed to St. Croix Falls in
1835 and to Hudson in 1850, where he opened and improved the
flrst farm in the present St. Croix county. Mrs. Sanders died
in 1873. She left two sons, William and Walstow. Mr. Sanders
removed to Osceola in 1880.
J. W. Stone was born in Connecticut in 1800. He came to
Hudson in 1849 and opened the first store the same year. He
died in 1860.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 163
Joseph Bowron was born Aug. 1, 1809, in Essex county,
New York. His parents were from Newcastle on the Tyne,
England. His mother was a member of the Society of Friends.
She. died when Joseph was five years old, and he was reared by
his aunt until nineteen years of age, when he engaged in busi
ness for himself in Lower Canada. Some time afterward he
removed to the United States and obtained work on the Illinois
canal. He next removed to St. Louis, and from thence, in 1841,
to St. Croix Falls, where he acted as clerk, scaler of logs and
mill superintendent. He was a member of the first state legis
lature of Wisconsin, in 1848. W. R. Marshall had received the
certificate of election, but Mr. Bowron successfully contested
the election. Mr. Bowron removed in 1848 to Hudson, where
he attended to general collections, and served as justice of the
peace. In 1849 Mr. Bowron was married to Celia Partridge, of
Columbia county, Wisconsin, *vho died three years later. In
1854 he was married to Rosanna Partridge, who died in 1863.
Mr. Bowron died April 10, 1868, leaving two children, who now
reside in Kansas.
Moses Perin was born in 1815; came to St. Croix Falls in
1847 and to Hudson in 1849. He was the first collector of St.
Croix county. In 1853 he built a warehouse and saw mill at
Lakeland, Minnesota. The warehouse was burned, and the saw
mill removed. .In 1847 Mr. Perin removed to San Diego, Cali
fornia. John O. Henning was born at Bellefonte, Centre county,
Pennsylvania, in 1819. His great grandfather was the first set
tler in that county. In 1825 his father removed to Ithaca, New
York, and there the youthful Henning received his education
at the academy. During the excitement of the Jackson admin
istration he became an ardent Democrat, and, that he might enter
more fully into the political strife of the day, learned the prin
ter's trade and devoted himself more or less to newspaper work.
He visited the Mississippi valley in 1838, remained some time at
St. Louis, Missouri, Springfield, Illinois, Burlington, Iowa, and
some other places. In 1846 he established the Journal at Fond
du Lac, Wisconsin, and in 1849 removed to Hudson, Wisconsin,
where he still resides. He served eight years as register of the
United States land office at that place. He represented St. Croix
county in the assembly of the Fourth Wisconsin legislature and

164 FIFTY YEARS
has held many other positions of trust. Mr. Henning was mar
ried, Jan. 29, 1840, to Fidelia Bennet. Mrs. Henning died June
27, 1886, aged sixty-six years.
Moses S. Gibson was born in 1816, in Livingston county, New
York. He received the rudiments of a commou school educa
tion. He was engaged in mercantile pursuits a large portion of
his life. He settled at Sheboygan, Wisconsin, in 1844, but after
ward moved to Fond du Lac. He represented Fond du Lac
county in the constitutional convention in 1847. He was ap
pointed receiver of the United States land office at Hudson in
1849. In 1856 he was married to Carrie F. Gilman. During the
Rebellion he acted as paymaster, United States army, and was
assigned to the department of Missouri, with headquarters at
St. Louis. In 1878 he was appointed assistant in the sixth au
ditor's office, Washington, District of Columbia. Mr. Gibson
has led a busy and useful life and has acquitted himself well in
the various positions of responsibility to which he has been
called. Col. James Hughes. — Col. Hughes was born in Prince Ed
wards county, Virginia, Oct. 12, 1805. He received a classical
education at Hampdon-Sydney College, Virginia, studied law,
and was admitted to practice in Virginia. He came to Ohio in
1835, and was elected to the legislature in 1838 and 1839. He
was married in 1839 to Elisabeth Mather, in Jackson county.
He remained in Ohio until 1849, publishing successively the
Jackson Standard and the Meigs County Telegraph, both Whig
papers. In 1849 he came to St. Paul and brought with him the
first printing press and outfit in that city, and established the
Minnesota Chronicle, which subsequently united with the Register.
The first number bears the date June 1, 1849. In November of
the same year he sold his interest in the Chronicle and Register
and removed to Hudson, where he established the St. Croix Ban
ner, the first paper printed and issued in the St. Croix valley.
Mrs. Hughes was associated with him in its management. They
subsequently published the Hudson Republican. Mr. Hughes died
at Hudson in 1873, leaving a widow and eleven children, seven
sons and four daughters. Of the sons, Eleazer is a farmer in St.
Croix county; Geo. R. is engaged in the real estate business in
St. Paul; Edward P. is a lawyer in Anoka; James S., a surveyor;
Chas. V. is manager of the Western Telegraph Company; and
Lucius A. is a telegraph operator in St. Paul.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 165
Daniel Anderson was born in 1806, in New York; received
a common school education, and removed with his parents to
Macoupin county, Illinois, in 1820; was married in 1831 to Eliza
Hoxsey; lived in Dubuque in 1847 and 1848, and moved to Hud
son in 1849, where he followed merchandising until 1876. He
was county treasurer in 1877 and part of the year following.
He died July 1, 1878. Mrs. Anderson died in September of the
same year, leaving a daughter, Medora, wife of Alfred Day, of
Hudson, and one son, Jarret, now a resident in Montana.
Alfred Day was born in 1824, in Vermont, and came to Hud
son in 1849, where he engaged in the real estate, farming and
livery business. Mr. Day was married in Hudson, to a daughter
of Daniel Anderson. He died in St. Paul, Nov. 18, 1880, leav
ing a widow, three sons and two daughters.
Dr. Otis Hoyt. — Dr. Hoyt was born in Sandwich, New
Hampshire, Dec. 3, 1812. His parents were George and Mary
Hoyt. Both grandfathers were soldiers in the war of the Revo
lution. He received a common school education; prepared for
college in the academy at Fry burg, Maine; graduated at Dart
mouth in 1833, and from Jefferson Medical College, at Philadel
phia, in 1836. He practiced his profession at Mason, New
Hampshire, and Framingham, Massachusetts, until 1846, when
he entered the service as surgeon in the United States army
during the Mexican War. In 1849 he came to St. Croix Falls,
and practiced medicine. In 1852 he removed to Hudson. The
same year he was elected to the Fifth Wisconsin legislature, as
assemblyman. In 1862 he entered the United States service as
surgeon of the Thirtieth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, but was
on detached service most of the time. For awhile he had charge
of the hospital at Camp Randall, Madison, Wisconsin. He was
examining surgeon of 11,000 recruits, and was medical director
at Bowling Green and Louisville, Kentucky. He was eminent in
his profession, yet public spirited, and engaged at times, success
fully, in real estate and railroad enterprises. As a physician, it is
said, to his credit, that he was impartial to the last degree, and
as prompt and punctilious in visiting the log cabin of the poor
man as the parlor of a state or government official. He was
married in 1837 to Mary King. Two children were born to
them, Charles and Mary (Mrs. H. A. Wilson, deceased). Mrs.
Hoyt died at Framingham. In 1843 Dr. Hoyt was married to

166 FIFTY YEARS
Eliza B. King, sister of his first wife. Their children are Ella
Frances, married to Dr. Chas. F. King, Hudson; Annie, mar
ried to Dr. Eppley, of New Richmond; Hattie, married to 
Wyard, Crookston, Minnesota; Ida, a teacher at Stillwater, and
Lizzie, married to Rev. W. R. Reynolds, of Hudson. Dr. Hoyt
died at his home in Hudson, Nov. 12, 1885. Mrs. Hoyt died
Oct. 1, 1886, in Boston, Massachusetts. Her remains were
brought to Hudson for burial.
S. S. N. Fuller. — Mr. Fuller was born in Attleboro, Massa
chusetts, in 1814. He removed to Harford, Pennsylvania, with
his parents when six years of age. He was educated at Harford.
He studied law and was admitted to practice at Montrose. He
practiced at Great Bend, Pennsylvania. He came to Fond du
Lac county, Wisconsin, in 1844, where he was seven years dis
trict attorney. He came to Hudson in 1857, removed to Iowa
in 1865 and died at Logan, Harrison county, Iowa, in 1851. He
was married to Clarissa A. Day in 1841, who with one son and
four daughters, all married and resident in Iowa, survives him.
He was district judge some years for the St. Croix Valley dis
trict. Miles H. Van Meter was born in Kentucky in 1810. He
received a common school education and learned the trade of a
builder. He was married to Mary P. Litsey, in Kentucky, in
1830, moved to Illinois in 1836 and to Hudson in 1850. He has
six sons and two daughters. Abe C. is editor of the St. Croix
Republican at New Richmond. Two of his sons are in Illinois,
three in Dakota. Mrs. Van Meter died in 1875.
Philip P. Jewell was born in Hopkinton, New Hampshire,
Oct. 25, 1816; was raised on a farm; obtained a common school
education; in 1841 was married to Hannah J. Fuller, and in 1847
came to St. Croix Falls, where he lived until 1851, when he re
moved to Hudson. He engaged in lumbering and piloting on
the St. Croix. At the beginning of the late war he enlisted in
the Twelfth Wisconsin Infantry and served during the war. In
1874 he was appointed inspector of logs and lumber of the Fourth
district. Mrs. Jewell died in 1875. He married, as his second
wife, Ellen Restiaux.
John Tobin.— Mr. Tobin was -born in Ireland in 1818. His
father died in 1830, and he came with an uncle to this country.
He settled at Marine in 1842, and in 1,853 came to St. Joseph's

IN THE NORTHWEST. 167
township, where he resided until his death, Jan. 22, 1880. He
was married in Illinois in 1848 and his widow still lives at the
old homestead. Of twelve children seven are now living.
Horace A. Taylor, son of Rev. Adolphus Taylor, of Nor
folk, New York, was born in 1837. His father died in 1842.
At the age of ten years Horace was earning his living on a farm.
At thirteen he came to River Falls. Some time after he re
turned East and spent four years on a farm. Returning to Wis
consin he established a stage line between Prescott and Hudson.
In 1857, with his brother Lute A., he established the River Falls
Journal, and, in 1860, purchased the Hudson Chronicle and changed
its name to the Hudson Times. Four years later the Times and
the North Star were consolidated under the title of the Star and.
Times. Mr. Taylor is a man of energy and enterprise and has
engaged in real estate transactions on a large scale. He is a
man of quick perceptions and of ready wit and has been hon
ored with some important public positions. He was for some
time state agent of railroad lands. He was appointed consul to
Marseilles by President Garfield in 1881, but resigned the posi
tion in 1884. In 1860 he was married to Lizzie Madden, of
Chicago. Jeremiah Whaley was born in 1818, in Castile, New York.
His father dying he aided in caring for his widowed mother.
He was married in Pike county, New York, in 1839, and came to
Hudson in 1851, where he engaged in the mercantile and real
estate business and acted as postmaster. Mr. Whaley died in
Hudson in 1884, leaving a widow, two sons in Michigan, one in
Pipestone, Minnesota, and four daughters.
Simon Hunt was born in Camden, Maine, in 1826. He lived
at home until seventeen years old; acquired a common school
and academic education; served an apprenticeship of five years
at boot and shoe making in Georgetown, Massachusetts, and
came to Hudson in 1851. He was married to Jane C. Arcy in
Maine in 1854. Mr. Hunt has served as mayor of Hudson and
was for several years superintendent of schools. Mrs. Hunt died
in 1880.
John S. Moffatt was born in Tompkins county, New York,
in 1814. He received a common school and academic education.
In 1844 he was married to Nancy Bennett. He removed to Hud
son in 1854, and was in the land office several years. He is a

168 fifty years
lawyer by profession; has' served thirteen years as police justice,
and eight years as county judge.
James H. Childs was born in Montear county, Pennsylvania,
in 1825; came to Wisconsin in 1848; settled in Hudson in 1849,
and engaged in the real estate and lumbering business. He
was married to Elisabeth McCartney, in Hudson, 1 S60.
William Dwelley was born in Foxcroft, Maine, in 1816;
came to the St. Croix valley in 1850, and settled in Hudson in
1854. Mr. Dwelley was an explorer, scaler of logs, and surveyor.
He died April 8, 1885.
James M. Fulton. — The ancestors of Mr.- Fulton came from
Scotland and settled in New York about 1770. His father served
in the army during the war of 1812 and died while in the service,
James M. Fulton with his family came to Hudson in 1854, where
he died, March 30, 1858, aged about forty-six. Mrs. Fulton still
lives in Hudson.
Marcus A. Fulton, oldest son of James M. Fulton, was born
in Bethel, Sullivan county, New York, in 1826. He came with
his parents to Hudson in 1854, and engaged with his brother iu the
mercantile and real estate business. He was elected to the state
senate in 1866 and 1S67. In 1878 he was elected mayor of Hud
son. He has also served on the board of education, and as
alderman. He was married in 1863 to Augusta Ainsley, who
died in 1876. In 1877 he was married to Adelia Frances Ainsley.
David C. Fulton, second son of James M. Fulton, was born
in New York, February, 1838. He came to Hudson with his
parents, and, after completing a common school and academic
education, engaged in mercantile and real estate business. Mr.
Fulton has been elected to various important positions. He was
mayor of Hudson one term, supervisor of St. Croix county three
years, member of the board of education, alderman, and mem
ber of the state assembly (1873). He served three years during
the Civil War as captain iu the Thirtieth Wisconsin Infantry,
and was promoted to position of major. Since the war, he served
six years as one of the board of managers of the National Home
for Disabled Soldiers, and is now serving, by appointment of
President Cleveland, as United States marshal for Western Wis
consin. Mr. Fulton was married in 1866 to Minnie Champlin.
N. S. Holden was born in 1822; was one of the early settlers
of the St. Croix valley, and for many years a citizen of Hudson.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 169
He followed surveying and scaling. He died suddenly, July 4,
1882. He left a widow, two sons and four daughters.
William H. Semmes was born in Alexandria, Virginia. He
came to Hudson in 1851, and practiced law, as a partner of Judge
McMillan, in Stillwater. He was a young man of great promise,
but died early and much lamented, Sept. 13, 1854.
Sterling Jones was born in Steuben county, New York, in
1812. He removed to Indiana in 1833, and. in 1835 was married
to Elisabeth Sines. They removed to Beloit, Wisconsin, in 1847,
and to Hudson in 1850. Mr. Jones died in 1874. Mrs. Jones,
five sons and two daughters are still living. Edwin B. married
a daughter of Rev. W. T. Boutwell. Jerome B. married a daugh
ter of Rev. Wm. Egbert, of Hammond, and resides in Hudson.
He has been sheriff and treasurer of St. Croix county and has
held town and city offices. The remaining sons, George R., Henry
B. and Harvey J., and the daughters, Eunice M. and Sarah E.,
are married and reside in Hudson.
D. R. Bailey was born April 27, 1833, in Vermont. He at
tended Oberlin College, Ohio, and graduated in law at Albany
Law School, in 1859. He was collector of customs at Highgate,
Vermont, from 1860 to 1864. He practiced law at St. Albans,
Vermont, ten years, and was state representative in 1866 and 1867.
He was a delegate to the Republican National convention in
1878, and a member of the Vermont senate from 1870 to 1872.
He made his residence in St. Croix county in 1877, where he re
sided till 1883, when he removed to Sioux Falls, Dakota. While
in St. Croix county he engaged in farming, lumbering and manu
facturing. Henry C. Baker was born in 1831, in Genesee county, New
York; graduated at Albany University, New York, in 1854, and
was admitted to the bar in 1858, and came to Hudson in 1859.
He has practiced law continuously since; has also held many
town and county offices; has been attorney of the various rail
roads centring in Hudson, and is now attorney of the Minne
apolis, Soo St. Marie & Atlantic railroad. He was married in
1860 to Ellen M. Brewster.
Meet Herrick: was born in Orleans county, New York, in
1834. He received a common school education. He came to
St. Croix in 1857; was married in 1859 to Lois P. Willard; en
listed at the beginning of the Civil War in the Thirtieth and later

170 FIFTY YEARS
in the Fortieth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served during
the war. He has held the office of treasurer of St. Croix county
for six years. He is at present a member of the Hudson Lumber
Company. D. A. Baldwin, president of the West Wisconsin railroad,
built a fine residence on the shore of the lake, north of Willow
river, in the latter part of the '50s, and did much to promote
the interests of North Hudson, which he surveyed into village
lots in 1873. D. A. and H. A. Baldwin erected a commodious
hotel in North Hudson in 1873. The hotel was subsequently
sold to H. A. Taylor and removed to Hudson, where it was
known as the Chapin Hall House. Mr. Baldwin removed from
Hudson when the West Wisconsin railroad passed into other
hands. John Comstock was born in Cayuga county, New York, in
1813. When he was twelve years old his parents removed to
Pontiac, Michigan. He here served ah apprenticeship of three
years to a millwright, and afterward engaged in business at
Pontiac until 1851. He came to Hudson in 1856, and was city
contractor six years. In 1863 he founded the First National
Bank of Hudson, in which he has ever since been a director.
Mr. Comstock has been engaged in many public enterprises and
has been uniformly successful. He is one of the most reliable
and substantial of the business men of Hudson. He was mar
ried in 1844.
Lucius P. Wetherby was born in Onondago county, New
York, October, 1827. At eighteen years of age, he went to Wes
ton, New York, where he studied law with Martin Grover and
W. J. Angell. He was married in 1849 to Sophia Antremont,
and in 1856 removed to Hudson. In 1860 he was elected judge
of the Eighth district, Wisconsin, and served six years.
John C. Spooner. — Mr. Spooner was born in Lawrenceburg,
Indiana, Jan. 6, 1843. He was educated at the district schools
until 1859, when his father, Judge Spooner, removed to Madison,
Wisconsin. This removal afforded the son an opportunity of
entering upon a course of classical instruction in the State Uni
versity, which he would have completed but for the Civil War.
In 1864 he enlisted as a private in the Fortieth Wisconsin
Infantry. He did honorable duty at the front until compelled
by sickness to retire from the army. After having served a short

^^^Z^d^C^l

IN THE NORTHWEST. 171
time as assistant state librarian, and having been restored to
health, he raised a company which was attached to the Fiftieth
Wisconsin Regiment, and became its captain. His regiment was
sent to the Missouri river to do service among the Indians, and
was stationed at Fort Rice, Dakota. In July, 1866, it was mus
tered out of the service. He then returned to Madison and com
menced the study of law.
When Gen. Lucius Fairchild was elected governor, Mr. Spooner
• was chosen as his private and military secretary. He held this
position for eighteen months, when he resigned and entered the
office of the attorney general of the State as assistant. In 1870
he removed to Hudson and began a general law practice. The
following year he was elected a member of the state legislature.
While a member of this body he vigorously championed the State
University, which institution was at that time in sore trouble.
His service in this matter was afterward recognized by the gover
nor, who appointed him a member of the board of regents of the
university, which position he still retains. He was for twelve years
general solicitor of the West Wisconsin Railroad Company and
the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Company. In May,
1884, he resigned. Mr. Spooner stands deservedly high in his
profession, and has acquired eminence also as a political speaker.
The Wisconsin legislature elected him to the United States Sen
ate, January, 1885, and he at once took rank among the most elo
quent and able members of that body. He is of small physique,
not weighing over one hundred and twenty-five or one hundred
and thirty pounds, has a dark complexion and a smoothly shaven
face, and is possessed of great bodily as well as mental energy.
Thomas Porter. — Mr. Porter was born in Tyrone, Ireland,
in 1830; received a common school education, and learned the
trade of wagonmaker. He came to America in 1855; served
three years during the Civil War as a private in Company A.,
Thirtieth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers; moved to Hudson
in 1871, and represented St. Croix county in the assembly in
1885. Herman L. Humphrey was born at Candor, Tioga county,
New York, March 14, 1830; received a public school education,
with the addition of one year in Cortland Academy; became a
merchant's clerk at the age of sixteen, in Ithaca, New York,
and remained there for several years; studied law in the office of

172 FIFTY YEARS
Walbridge & Finch, was admitted to the bar in July, 1854, and
removed to Hudson, Wisconsin, where he commenced practice
in January, 1855; was soon after appointed district attorney of St.
Croix county, to fill a vacancy; was appointed by the governor
county judge of St. Croix county, to fill a vacancy, in the fall of
1860, and in the spring of 1861 was elected for the full term of
four years from the following January; was elected to the state
senate for two years, and in February, 1862, resigned the office
of county judge; was elected mayor of Hudson for one year; was
elected in the spring of 1866 judge of the Eighth Judicial circuit,
and was re-elected in 1872, serving from January, 1867, until
March, 1877. He was elected a representative from Wisconsin
in the Forty-fifth Congress as a Republican, and was re-elected to
the Forty-sixth Congress. During the pastthree years he has de
voted himself to his .profession in Hudson. Mr. Humphrey has
been twice married. In June, 1855, he was married to Jennie
A. Cross, in Dixon, Illinois. Mrs. Humphrey died in January,
1880, leaving two sons, Herman L., Jr., and William H, and
three daughters, Fanny S., Mary A., and Grace J. Mr. Humph
rey was married to Mrs. Elvira Dove, at Oswego, New York,
October 1881. In 1887 he served again as a member of the as
sembly. Theodore Cogswell was born in 1819, at Whitehall, New
York. He received a common school education and learned the
trade of a painter. He removed to Stillwater in 1848 andtd
Hudson in 1861 and to St. Paul in 1882. He was married to
Augusta B. Kelly in 1855. His son was for many years editor
of the Hudson Republican.
Frank P. Catlin is of Revolutionary and Connecticut stock.
His father entered the war of the Revolution at eleven years of
age as a musician. He served seven years. His discharge is
signed by George Washington. Mr. Frank P. Catlin is the
youngest of fourteen children. He was born in Susquehanna
county, Pennsylvania, ' in 1815. He was married in 1840 to
Elizabeth Dubois, who died in 1852, leaving three sons, Charles
L., Frank E. and Fred. Mr. Catlin was married to his second
wife in 1857, who died in 1872, leaving one son, William W.
Mr. Catlin moved to Green Bay in 1840, to Green Lake in 1844,
and to Hudson in 1849, having been commissioned by President
Taylor as register of the Willow River land office. This position

IN THE NORTHWEST. 173
he held four years. Mr. Catlin spent some time traveling in
foreign lands. In 1868 he removed to Ripon, Wisconsin, but re
turned in 1870 to Hudson, where he still lives.
Charles Y. Denniston was born in Orange county, New
York, in 1832; graduated at University of Vermont in 1852;
studied law in Iowa in 1853-54, and came to Hudson in 1855,
where he engaged in real estate and insurance business, in which
he has been quite successful. He was married in 1856 to Maria
A. Coit, of Hudson. Mrs. Denniston died Aug. 31, 1886.
A. E. Jefferson. — Mr. Jefferson came from Genesee county,
New York, to Hudson in 1859. For the past fifteen years he has
officiated as cashier of the Hudson First National Bank.
Samuel C. Symonds was born in 1831, in Hooksett, New
Hampshire. He graduated at the University of Vermont in
1852 and the ensuing year came to Hudson, where he taught
school and studied law for three years and afterward engaged
in the real estate business and subsequently officiated as county
judge four years. He was married in 1860 to Mary C. Bloomer.
In 1886 he was commissioned postmaster of the city of Hudson
by President Cleveland.
John E. Glover, an old citizen and successful lawyer of Hud
son, has gained a prominent position amongst the solid business
men of the city by his untiring industry, combined with rare
judgment and knowledge of men. In addition to his law busi
ness he is an extensive operator in real estate, flouring and lum
ber mills.
Lemuel North, a reliable merchant of Hudson, a public
spirited citizen and a kind hearted man, merits the respect which
his townsmen accord him. He has been successful in business.
Edgar Nye, much better known under his nom deplume "Bill
Nye," was born in 1846. When a boy he came West with his
parents to the Kinnikinic valley. Mr. Nye studied law and prac
ticed some years in Laramie City, Wyoming Territory, where he
obtained a national reputation as a wit from his connection with
the Laramie newspaper known as the Boomerang, Mr. Nye's
mirth-provoking sketches have been published in book form.
His parents still live at River Falls.
William Thompson Price.— Mr. Price was born in Barre,
Huntington county, Pennsylvania, June 17, 1824. After receiv
ing a fair education, he came West, and in 1845 settled in Black

174 fifty years
River Falls, Wisconsin, where he at once entered upon the
occupation of a lumberman. In 1851 he was elected to the
assembly as a Democrat, but on the organization of the Eepubli-
can party in 1854, he united with the organization, with which
he remained during the balance of his life. In 1853 and 1854 he
was judge of Jackson county; in 1855 he was under sheriff. He
was a member of the state senate in 1858, 1870, 1878, 1879, 1880,
and 1881; a member of the assembly in 1882; was collector of
internal reveuue from 1863 to 1865, and held many local offices
in his county. For many years ,he was president of the Jack
son County Bank. In 1882 he was elected to the Forty-eighth
Congress; was re-elected in 1884 to the Forty-ninth, and in 1886
to the Fiftieth. He died at his home at Black River Falls, Dec.
6, 1886. He was a man of immense energy and endurance; and was
ever ready to do his full share of labor in all places. As a pub
lic man he acquitted himself well. In addition to business tact
and energy, and practical common sense, he was a public speaker
of unusual readiness and ability. In private life he was a gener
ous hearted man, strongly attached to his friends, and greatly
respected for his sterling qualities of character:
E. B. Bundy. — Judge Bundy was born in Broome county,
New York, in 1833. He received a common school and academic
education and attended one year at Hamilton College. He
came to Dunn county, Wisconsin, where he practiced law until
1877, when he was elected judge of the Eighth Judicial circuit, to
which position he was re-elected and is still serving. He stands
high in the estimation of his associates and the people as a judge,
and not less high in social life. BALDWIN.
This town is coextensive with township 29, range 16. It was
set off from the township of Springfield and organized Dec. 3,
1872. Wm. Whewell was chairman of the first board of super
visors. BALDWIN VILLAGE,
Located on the West Wisconsin railroad, on the west bound-
, ary of the township, has a population of eight hundred, about
evenly divided between the Norwegian and American elements,
the latter being principally from Vermont. The Bulletin, a lively
weekly paper, established in 1873, is published by B. Peachman.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 175
The graded school has three departments, with two hundred and
twenty-five scholars, under the control of Prof. J. E. Brain-
ard. The school building cost $4,000. A state bank, organized
in 1883, has a capital stock of $25,000, and a surplus of $12,500.
F. A. Decker is cashier. Baldwin has one elevator, of 750,000
bushels capacity, two flour mills — one with a capacity of two
hundred and fifty barrels per day, built at a cost of $55,000; the
other of one hundred and twenty-five barrels, at a cost of $20,-
000; one creamery, one cheese factory, one tannery, a good town
hall, capable of seating six hundred persons, four good church
buildings — Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopal and Congrega
tional — and over thirty stores or shops. The water supply is
ample, the village being furnished with public cisterns and wells,
and having an excellent fire department, with hook and ladder
company. The. village is surrounded by a rich agricultural
country. WOODVILLE VILLAGE
Is situated four miles east of Baldwin, on the West Wisconsin
railroad, at the junction of a branch road extending into Pierce
county. It is the centre of heavy lumbering operations, and is
a flourishing village. It has one church.
CADY.
Cady is the southeastern township in St. Croix county, and,
occupies township 29, range 15. It is drained by Eau Galle
waters. Amongst the first settlers were Irving Gray, Charles,
John, and Brazer Bailey. A post office was established near
the centre of the town in 1860. D. C. Davis was first postmaster.
A branch railroad traverses the town from northwest to south
east. There are two lumber mills. The town was organized in
1870. The supervisors were William Holman, Charles Palmer
and Mead Bailey. The village of Brookville is on the west line
of the town. CYLON,
Including township 31, range 16, lies on Willow river. It is
a rich and populous township, consisting originally of mixed
prairie and timber lands. The first settlement in this town was
made in 1855. The early settlers were Otto Natges, J. Smith,
H. Fouks, E. Johnson, George Goodrich, S. W. Beel, and J.

176 FIFTY "YEARS
Tomlinson. The town was organized in 1859. The supervisors
were C. A. Hall, chairman; John Sweet and John Gibson. A
post office was established in 1861, Mrs. John B. Gibson, post
mistress. The Wisconsin Central railroad passes through the
southwest, and the North Wisconsin through the northwest part
of the township. There are four church buildings, one on sec
tion 18, one near Cylon post office, and two in Deer Park village.
This village, a station located on the North Wisconsin railroad,
is a wheat buying centre of considerable importance, and has
several business houses. The school house is one of the best
buildings in the county outside of Hudson. The Catholics and
Methodists have churches here.

Township 28, range 16, is drained by the Eau Galle and Rush
rivers. We have not the date of the first settlement, but it was
amongst the earliest in the county. The first settlers were Wil
liam Holman, Andrew Dickey, Joseph Barnish, and Uriah
Briggs. The town was organized in 1858, with the following as
supervisors: Wm. Holman,  Babcock, and  McCartney.
A post office was established in 1853, of which W. Holman was
postmaster. Mr. Holman built a saw mill the same year, the first
in the region. There are now six, mostly lumber mills. The
township is traversed from north to south by a branch of the
West Wisconsin railroad. , Wildwood, a thriving station on this
road is the headquarters of the St. Croix Land and Lumber
Company, a stock company with a capital of $300,000. The town
of Eau Galle has one church building belonging to the evangel
ical society. EMERALD
Includes township 30, range 16. It is drained by the waters of
Willow and Menomonie rivers, and was originally covered with
pine and hardwood timber. It was organized in 1861. The
Wisconsin Central railroad passes through the northeast part of
the township and has oue station, Emerald. A high mound is a
conspicuous object near the centre of the township.
ERIN PRAIRIE.
Erin Prairie, township 30, range 17, lies on Willow river.
John Casey entered the first land in 1854. The first house was

IN THE NORTHWEST. 177
built on section 17, in May, 1855, by John Ring. Among the
settlers of 1855, of whom there were about twenty families, we
have the names of Michael Hughes, Peter Queenan and James,
Michael and Thomas McNamara. The town was organized in
1858, with the following board of supervisors: Richard Joyce,
chairman; Alexander Stevens and Peter Queenan, and Wm.
McNally, clerk. Richard Joyce was first school teacher and first
postmaster. There are now two post offices, one at Erin Centre village,
and the other at Jewett's Mills, two and a half miles apart. There
are at Erin Centre one store, one wagon shop, one blacksmith
shop, and a Catholic church; at Jewett's Mills a store, a saw, a
planing and a flour mill, all run by water. There are six good
school houses in the township. It is traversed by the Wisconsin
Central railroad. FOREST,
Embracing township 31, range 15, occupies the northeast corner
of the county. It is heavily timbered with pine and hardwoods,
is a new town and is fast being converted into an agricultural
district. Willow river has its sources in this town. It was
organized Dec. 10, 1881, with S. D. Love as chairman of the first
board of supervisors. GLENWOOD,
Set off from the town of Emerald at its organization in 1885,.
embraces township 30, range 15. It was originally a pine and
hardwood region. Its waters flow eastward into the Menomo
nie. The Wisconsin Central railroad crosses the township from
east to west. Its only station is Glenwood. It is being rapidly
settled and has already some good farms and several saw mills.
H. J. Baldwin was the chairman of the first board of supervis
ors. HAMMOND
Includes- township 29, range 17. It is drained by tributaries of
the Rush river. Of the first settlers were the Peabodys, James
R. Ismon, Rev. Wm. Egbert, Rev. George Spalding, Mert Her-
rick, John Thayer, Mrs. Adams, John Nelson, and Thomas
Byrnes. The town was organized Sept. 16, 1856, with A. G.
Peabody as chairman of supervisors and John G. Peabody, clerk.
It is now a prosperous farming town. The West Wisconsin
railroad passes through the south part of the township.
12

178 FIFTY YEARS
HAMMOND VILLAGE,
Located on the line of this road, in sections 27 and 28, has seven
hundred inhabitants. It is situated on a commanding elevation,
giving an extended view of the rich farming country surround
ing it. It has a school house, built at a cost of $2,500, with
rooms for three grades, and one hundred and seventy-five scholars,
one elevator of 20,000 bushels capacity, one first class hotel, the
Gardiner House, Odd Fellows', Good Templars' and Grangers'
halls, and three church buildings, with parsonages — the Catholic,
Congregational and Methodist. The village contains about twenty-
five stores and shops. The water supply, on account of the ele
vation, is from wells and cisterns. Rev. George Spalding preached
the first sermon and was the first merchant in the village. Ham
mond was incorporated Sept. 20, 1880, with J. B. Fithian as
president of supervisors and John W. Owen, clerk.
John Thayer was born in 1809, in Worcester county, Massa
chusetts, from which place he moved to Ohio, and, after residing
there fifteen years, came to Wisconsin and settled at Hammond
village. He has been twice married, his second wife still living,
and has one son, Andrew P. The father and son are engaged in
merchandising in Hammond.
Rev. Wm. Egbert was born in 1815, in Oneida county, New
York. He obtained a common school and academic education.
He spent his early life in New York City; came to Indiana in
1837 and to Hammond, Wisconsin, in 1856.- The first trial in
Hammond was before Mr. Egbert, as justice of the peace, in
1856. He has been for forty-one years a local minister in the
Methodist Episcopal church. He has been twice married, his
second wife still living. He has four children.
HUDSON.
Hudson includes sections 7 to 36, inclusive, of township
29, range 19. Willow river flows through the northwest part.
The North Wisconsin and West Wisconsin railroads pass through
the township. It is one of the handsomest and richest farming
townships in the State. It was organized as a town in 1849. Its
history is given in that of the county of St. Croix and in the
biographies of its early inhabitants.
James Kelly was born at Osnabruck, Ireland, where he
grew to manhood. In 1850 he came to Hudson and located

IN THE NORTHWEST. 179
on a farm, where he prospered, and became an honored citizen.
In 1857 he married Catherine, daughter of Wm. Dailey. He died
at Turtle Lake, Barron county, Wisconsin, of injuries received
from a rolling log, Feb. 19, 1888, leaving a widow, three sons
and one daughter.
Daniel Coit was born in Vermont in 1801. He learned the
trade of a house carpenter; came West as far as Galena, Illinois,
in 1845, to St. Croix Valley in 1848, and to Hudson in 1850. He
died in Baldwin in 1884. He was a man of eccentric manners,
but upright life.
James Virtue came to Willow River Mill in 1849, settled in
the town of Hudson, and died in 1874.
Theodore M. Bradley was born in 1831, in Jackson county,
Illinois. He lived three years in Lafayette county, Wisconsin;
came to Osceola Mills in 1850, and to Hudson in 1867. He has
engaged chiefly in farming. In 1857 he was married to Margaret
Wilson. They have two sons and three daughters. Mr. Brad
ley died in 1887.
William Dailey was born in Cork, Ireland, in 1800; came to
America in 1819, and settled in Hudson in 1849, where he lived,
a successful farmer, until his death in 1867. He left five sons
— William, Guy W., Jacob, Edward, and Asa, all farmers, indus
trious and prosperous, all good citizens, and church members,
all married and settled in St. Croix county. Guy W. repre
sented St. Croix county in the state assembly of 1877. In 1866
he was president of the St. Croix Agricultural Society.
Robert and William McDiarmid, brothers, came from St.
Stevens, New Brunswick, and settled in Hudson in 1851, on a
farm in sections 10 and 14. By industry and perseverance they
have become independent, and own fine farms, with blooded,
stock, improved agricultural implements, and all the appliances
for successful farming. Robert married in 1857, and has three
sons and three daughters. William married Laura Rabold, in
I860, and has three sons and four daughters. William has been
chairman of the county board of supervisors several years.
William Martin was born in Vermont, in 1800. In 1846 he
moved to Janesville, Wisconsin, and in 1851 to Hudson, where
he engaged in farming. He was an exemplary christian man,
and a member of the Baptist church. His son, Geo. W. Martin,
succeeds him on the farm. He died in 1885.

180 FIFTY YEARS
Paschal Aldrich was born in the state of New York, in
1820; came to Illinois with his parents in 1826; was married in
Illinois, to Martha Harnsberger, in 1841, and came to Marine in
.the same year. He returned, for a short time, to Illinois, and
again moved to the valley of the St. Croix, settling at Hudson
in 1846, where he died in 1860, leaving three sons and five
daughters. KINNIKINIC
Originally included nine towns of townships 27 and 28, from St.
Croix lake east. By the setting off of Pierce county from St.
Croix, the towns in township 27 were stricken off, and the terri
tory has since been reduced until comprised in township 28,
range 18. It is a wealthy argicultural township. Its surface is
agreeably diversified with undulating prairies and high hills.
The Kinnikinic, a beautiful and clear winding stream, drains it
from the northeast. The famous Monument Rock, an outlying
sandstone formation, is in the centre of this township. From the
summit a magnificent view may be obtained of this fine farming
region. The farmers have fine dwellings and barns, and the
town has numerous school houses; one church is located on sec
tion 15. The history of the town, as far as we were able to ob
tain it, may be found in the biographies of the Mapes brothers.
Duncan McGregor was born in Perth, Scotland, in 1821.
His educational advantages were limited. He emigrated to
Canada while yet a youth, served seven years in the British
Army, and was one year in Canada during the Papineau Rebel
lion. He was married to Jane Morse, in Canada, Jan. 31, 1848,
and in 1849 removed to the United States and settled at River
Falls, where he still lives on the homestead which he pre-empted.
Mrs. McGregor was the first resident white woman, and Mr. Mc
Gregor the second person who settled at the Falls.
His mother, an aged lady living with him at the Falls, at one
time found the house surrounded by over a hundred Sioux
Indians, who commenced plundering the garden of everything
eatable. Mrs. McGregor bravely confronted and drove them
away. The only crops in the valley at the time were those of
Messrs. Foster and McGregor.
Mr. Gregor learned in early life the trade of a mason. While
a resident of River Falls he followed farming except during a
few years in which he kept a hardware store. He was three

IN THE NORTHWEST. 181
years county commissioner of St. Croix county. He has three
children living, Roderick, Malcolm and Neville.
W. B. and Jas. A. Mapes, brothers, from Elmira, New York,
landed at Willow River Sept. 7, 1849. They proceeded at once
with an ox team and cart, on which last was placed all their
worldly goods, to the valley of the Kinnikinic. Having selected
a claim and erected a temporary shanty, William B. returned
by river as far as Galena, for a breaking team, wagon and plow,
and other farm furniture and provisions, while James remained
to make hay. After the brother's return, a substantial winter
cabin was built. The ensuing spring they broke ground and
raised a fair crop, consisting of 80 bushels of oats, 200 of buck
wheat, 100 of corn and 100 of potatoes. The winter of their
arrival, Duncan McGregor came to the settlement and spent the
winter with Judge Foster. In the fall of 1850 came Ira. Parks
and family, and settled on lands adjoining the Mapes farm. This
family and others were entertained by the Mapes brothers, with
genuine frontier hospitality. Among the families coming in at
this time were those of Dr. Whipple, Mrs. Sprague, Lorenzo
Daggett, and the widow of Josephus Medley, of Stillwater. This
year came also the Pomeroy brothers, Luke and Frank, from
New York State, and J. G. Crowns, James Penn, and. William
Tozer, from Illinois. During 1851 several families settled in the
valley, among them James Chinnoch and Elisha Walden, from
Ohio; Alanson Day and John Scott, from Pennsylvania; the
brothers W. L. and J. E. Perrin, single men, from New York
State, and Mrs. Lynch, from Illinois. Previous to the settle
ment of these families there were no young ladies in the town.
The arrival of fifteen young ladies, mostly marriageable, pro
duced a flutter of excitement among the lonesome bachelors of
the colony, and the services of Rev. S. T. Catlin were soon called
into requisition. The first couple married was James A. Mapes
and Eunice E. Walden, in 1852. The next year W. B. Mapes and
Catherine Scott were married. In 1852 J. W. Mapes, a younger
brother, joined the colony. In 1857 G. W. Mapes located a
Mexican War land warrant on adjoining land. W. B., J. A.
and C. W. Mapes had also Mexican War land warrants.
In 1860 J. W. Mapes sold his farm and returned to New York,
enlisted in the One Hundred and First Pennsylvania Volunteers,
and served through the Peninsular Campaign under McClellan,

182 FIFTY YEARS
and afterward in North Carolina, where he was captured at Ply
mouth, April 23, 1864, and taken to AndersonviUe, where he
died, June 30, 1864. W. B. Mapes sold his farm to Chas. Davies
and removed to Macon county, Mississippi, in 1866, at which
place he died in 1877. His widow and five children still reside
there. C. W. Mapes sold his farm to G. I. Ap Roberts, and kept
store for awhile in the village, and in 1879 removed to Sussex
county, Virginia, where he still resides. He has four children
living. Jas. A. Mapes still resides on the old homestead. Mr.
Mapes was honored with an election to the office of treasurer for
St. Croix county in 1883 and 1884.
pleasant valley.
Pleasant Valley includes the west half of township 28, range
17. It is drained by the headwaters of the Kinnikinic. The
first settlement was made Sept. 19, 1856. Among the first
settlers were Sheldon Gray, Asa Gray, S. W. Mattison, and Allen
Webster. The town was organized March 30, 1857, with Peleg
Burdick as chairman of supervisors. The first school was
taught in 1857, by Miss Mary Munson. A post office was estab
lished in 1866 with Peter Hawkins as postmaster.
RICHMOND.
Richmond is a rich agricultural township, consisting chiefly
of undulating prairie land. It is included in township 30, range
18. Willow river flows diagonally through it from northeast to
southwest. The following persons settled within the present
limits of the town prior to 1855: Eben Quinby, Lewis Oaks,
James Taylor, Harvey Law, Norman Hooper, J. J. Smith, A.
S. Kinnie, W. R. Anderson, Francis Kelly, Clinton Boardman,
S. L. Beebe, the Beal brothers, E. P. Jacobs and E. W. Darnley.
The town of Richmond was organized in 1857, with the follow
ing officers: Supervisors, Robert Philbrick, chairman; C. A.
Boardman and Harvey Law; clerk, W. M. Densmore; assessor,
W. R. Anderson; treasurer, G. W. Law. The first post office
was established at the house of Joel Bartlett, who served as
postmaster. This post office was known as the Richmond post
office. It was a small affair. The first mail, brought on a
mule's back from Maiden Rock, contained but one letter. The
first quarter's commission amounted to but one dollar and fifty-

IN THE NORTHWEST. 183
nine cents. The post office case contained but four boxes, five by
six inches in size. This case is preserved at the Republican office,
as an interesting relic. Small as was the office, aud meagre as
were the receipts, the postmaster was able to employ a deputy,
F. W. Bartlett. By way of agreeable contrast we give the com
mission for the first quarter of 1886 as $674.89.
BOARDMAN VILLAGE
Is located on the east bank of Willow river and near the west
ern boundary of Richmond. It is a flourishing village. Its public
buildings are a Methodist church and a large school house.
Boardman has a good flour mill. Everything in the village
bespeaks enterprise and thrift.
GRIDLEY VILLAGE
Was platted by Gridley & Day in 1857, and, together with Fre
mont village, platted by Henry Russell, was incorporated in the
village of NEW RICHMOND
in 1878. The first officers of the new village were: President,
F. W. Bartlett; trustees, B. C. B. Foster, Wellington Pierce,
Thos. Porter, Peter Schore, S. M. Bixby, Geo. C. Hough.
NEW RICHMOND CITY
Was incorporated in 18S4. It includes the northwest quarter of
section 2 and the northeast quarter of section 3 of township 30,
range 18, and the south half of section 36, township 31, range
18. This latter half section originally belonged to Star Prairie,
but is now attached to New Richmond. The first election was
held April 8, 1884, at which the following officers were elected:
President, Ward S. Williams; aldermen, First ward, F. W. Bart
lett, Geo. A. Gault, Th. Gaskell; Second ward, A. L. Greaton,
A. H. Stevens, J. C. Sabine; Third ward, John Halversen, D.
H. Dodge, H. F. Fall; treasurer, L. Taft; clerk, W. F. McNally;
assessor, D. A. Kennedy.
The city is beautifully located on a level prairie. The streets
are from eighty to one hundred feet wide and bordered with
maple, elm and boxwood trees. The city lots aud grounds at
tached to the residences are beautifully adorned with shrubbery
and flowers and are without fences. The commons and unoccu-

184 FIFTY YEARS
pied spaces in the city are covered with a luxuriant growth of
white and red clover, filling the air with its pleasant odor, and
suggesting the title of --Clover City." It has many fine busi
ness buildings and tasteful residences. It is in the midst of a
fine farming country, on the banks of a beautiful stream, Wil
low river, and two railroads, the North Wisconsin and Wiscon
sin Central, furnish abundant means of communication with the
outer world. It has one steam saw mill with a capacity of 60,-
000 feet per day, and a water power flour mill with a capacity of
one hundred barrels per day.
The Bank of New Richmond was organized in 1878, with a
paid up capital of $35,000. In 1885 the bank did a business of
about $8,000,000. The bank had a surplus in 1886 of $9,000.
It has an extensive agency in flour, wheat and other agricultural
products, also in lumber and real estate. The officers are:
President, F. W. Bartlett; vice president, Mathias Frisk; cash
ier, John W. McCoy. The annual business of the city amounts
to $12,000,000.
The city has a high school, established in 1884. with six de
partments. The building cost $12,000. The Baptists, Catho
lics, Congregationalists, Episcopalians, and Methodists have
church buildings.
There are several fraternities here, including the Masonic, the
Odd Fellows, Good Templars, Women's Christian Temperance
Union and Catholic Knights of St. John. There are also a hook
and ladder company and a library association. There are two
cemeteries, one belonging to the masonic order.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Benjamin B. C. Foster was born in New Portland, Maine,
in 1816. When seventeen years of age he bought his time of his
father and commenced life for himself. He lived eight years in
Atkinson, Maine, where he taught school and engaged in farm
ing. In 1842 he was married to Charlotte S. Gilman. In 1852
he went to California where he remained three years. He came
to New Richmond in 1855 and built a saw mill and dam, and a
board shanty in which he lived with his wife and two children.
Around the mill has since grown up the beautiful city of New
Richmond. The first school taught in New Richmond was taught
at the house of Mr. Foster by Amanda Dayton. In his house

IN THE NORTHWEST. 185
was organized the first Sunday-school, the first sermon was
preached in it and the first school meeting was held there.
Robert Philbrick was born in Old To-v|n, Maine, in 1814.
He learned the trade of a millwright, and in 1847 moved to North
Hudson. He was married in 1851 to Frances Cook, They stood
on a raft, afloat in the St. Croix river, just below the Falls, while
Ansel Smith, of Taylor's Falls, performed the ceremony. Mr.
Philbrick removed to New Richmond and built a frame house
in 1855. The house is still standing. One daughter of Mr. Phil
brick is the wife of D. L. Nye. Amaziah, a son by his first wife,
is a stonemason. Alice M., daughter by his first wife, is mar
ried to John McGregor. Mr. Philbrick died prior to 1865.
Linden Coombs came to New Richmond in 1855, built the
first hotel in 1856, and some years later moved away.
Eben Quinby was born in Lisbon, New Hampshire, in 1809,
and came to New Richmond in 1849, where he has since continu
ously been engaged in farming. In 1865 he was married to
Mrs. Philbrick, widow of Robert Philbrick.
Lewis Oaks was born in Sangerville, Maine, in 1826 ; came
West in 1846 and to New Richmond in 1854. He is a farmer.
Henry Russell was born in Vermont in 1801. His ancestors
took part in the Revolution. He was married in Vermont, lived
seventeen years in New York, came to Hudson in 1853, and to
New Richmond in 1857, where he bought the pre-emption made
by Robert Philbrick, and had it surveyed and platted as the vil
lage of Fremont. He died in 1878. Mrs. Russell survives him
and is now (1886) eighty-five years of age. Their sons Alexan
der and Austin are prominent citizens of New Richmond.
Joseph D. Johnson was born in Huron county, Ohio, May
12, 1829. From eight years of age he was thrown upon his own
resources. The greater part of his youth was spent in Michigan.
In 1848 he removed to Winnebago, Illinois, where he married
Marcella L. Russell. He settled at New Richmond in 1853. One
son, Ezra O., is editor of the Northwestern News, at Hayward,
Wisconsin, and one daughter is married to Frank F. Bigelow.
Joel Bartlett was born in Hebron, Maine, in 1804. He re
ceived an academic education and became a teacher. He was
principal of a high school in Bath, Maine, before he was twenty-
one years of age. In 1825 he went to Harmony, Maine, where
he was engaged in lumbering until 1848. In 1830 he was a mem-

186 FIFTY YEARS
her of the Maine legislature; in 1849 and 1850 he followed lum
bering in Fairfield, Maine, and then removed to New York
where he lived six»years. In 1858 he came to New Richmond,.
where he has since led an active business life. Mr. Bartlett was
married in Maine in 1826. One of his sons, J. A., is a Presby
terian clergyman in Centreville, Iowa. He graduated at Water -
ville College, Maine, and practiced law three years in New York
City before entering the ministry.
Francis W. Bartlett, the second son of Joel Bartlett. was
born in Maine in 1837. He received an academic education,
and has been an active and successful business man. He came-
to New Richmond in 1858, and served as register of the land
office at Bayfield from 1861 to 1867. He was married in 1867 to-
Mary J. Stewart, of Pennsylvania. He was engaged in the coal
trade in Milwaukee three years, and two years at Detroit and
Toledo, but returned to New Richmond and is now president'
of the New Richmond Bank, and dealer in furniture, hardware,.
etc. George C. Hough was born in Fairfax county, Virginia, in
 . He has led a somewhat adventurous life. He served
awhile as a soldier in the Black Hawk War under Gen. Dodge.
Afterward he went to Missouri, graduated at the State Univer
sity, and engaged in lead mining and prospecting. He went to '
California in 1862, where he practiced law. He returned in
1876, and located in Richmond where he still resides.
Silas Staples was born in Lisbon, Maine, Sept. 18, 1814. He
came to Hudson, Wisconsin, in 1854, took charge of the Willow
River mills, buying a quarter interest at $20,000, including 5,000°
acres of land on Willow river. In 1856 he sold his interest to
Jewell and Bodie, of Maine, for $55,000, and for three years car
ried on a banking business in Hudson. In the winter of 1859-
60 he removed to New Richmond. In 1861 he returned to Hudson
and put up a shingle and lath addition to his saw mill. He built
a flouring mill at New Richmond in 1864. He built large dams
on Willow river for driving logs, and carried on lumbering
operations until 1868, when he removed to Canada and carried
on milling and lumbering enterprises four years, at Collins'1
Inlet, Georgian bay. In 1872 he returned to Hudson and to a
farm, and was also engaged with Mr. Gibson in mercantile busi
ness. In 1873 he returned to New Richmond, and, buying a

IN THE NORTHWEST. 187
half interest in the mill, took charge of it for one year, then
removed to Stillwater and took charge of his brother's (Isaac
Staples) saw mill.
In 1875 he removed to Elk River, Minnesota, and took charge
of a farm. The next year he returned to New Richmond, where
he settled his family and bought a half interest in a saw and
grist mill at Jeweltown. He also built an elevator there with a
capacity of 20,000 bushels.
Mr. Staples was married in 1837 to Hannah Williams, of
Bowdoinham, .Maine, who died in 1838. He was married in
1841 to Abigail Ann Rogers of Oldtown, Maine, who died in
the spring of 1845. He was married in the fall of 1846 to Nancy
D. Gilman, who died in 1873. He was married to Mrs. Nancy
B. Jamison in the fall of 1874. He has six children, Charles A.,
Silas G., Nellie B., Nettie, Edward P, and Lizzie G.
Henry M. Murdock. — Dr. Murdock was born at Antwerp,
New York, in October, 1823. His father, Dr. Hiram Murdock,
moved to Gunning, at which place the son attended school till
he was fifteen years of age. The father moved to Pulaski, New
York. Henry studied medicine with his father until he was nine
teen years of age, then attended medical lectures at Castleton, Vir
ginia, where he graduated at the age of twenty-one. After prac
ticing three years at Dexter, and after a co-partnership of seven
years with his father in a drug store at Pulaski, he came West
and settled in Stillwater, where he bought the drug store and
business of Dr. Carli. In 1858 he went to Taylor's Falls and
practiced medicine until the spring of 1860, when he removed
to Hudson and formed a partnership with Dr. Hoyt. In the fall
of 1861 he accepted the position of assistant surgeon of the
Eighth Wisconsin, and served during the war, having been pro
moted meanwhile to the position of brigade surgeon. In 1866
he removed to New Richmond, where he has since resided, hav
ing now retired from business. He was twice married, in 1845
to Cornelia A. Sandford, who died childless, and in 1865 to
Sarah J. Allan. His children are Cornelia A. and Henry A.
Steven N. Hawkins was born in Galway, Ireland, Dec. 26,
1846, but while he was a mere child his parents emigrated to
America; remained a few years in Connecticut; came West in
1855, and made their home in Pleasant Valley, St. Croix county.
His early life was marked by the usual vicissitudes of life in a

188 FIFTY YEARS
new country. He tried for a time various occupations — farm
work, rafting, sawing lumber, teaching, and, during the later
months of the war, was a volunteer soldier. He managed to
secure a good education in the common schools and at the River
Falls Academy. He studied medicine and surgery a few months,
but devoted himself chiefly to teaching until 1872, when he
engaged in a mercantile enterprise at which he continued four
years, but at the close of that period found himself obliged to
suspend, with an aggregate of $5,000 against him. This he
afterward paid, but he concluded, perhaps wisely, to change his
occupation. He studied law, and was admitted to the bar, July,
1876. In this profession he has achieved an enviable success.
In 1872 he was married to Margaret Early, of Alleghany county,
New York. They have had four children, the first Of which
died in infancy. RUSH RIVER
Occupies the east half of township 28, range 17. The first settle
ment was made in 1850. The following came in 1850-51: Daniel
McCartney, Amos Babcock, Joseph King, Stephen Claggitt and
Z. Travis. The town was set off from Kinnikinic and organized
in 1851, with Daniel McCartney as chairman of the board of su
pervisors. At his house was held the first election.
Woodside has one church and several buildings, is near the
centre of the town, and New Centreville in the southern part.
The date of settlement is second to that of Hudson. It was
traversed by the old Hudson and Prairie du Chien stage route.
It was originally a mixed timber and prairie district.
SOMERSET
Occupies sections 1 to 18, inclusive, of township 30, range 19,
two sections of township 30, range 20, and all of township 31,
range 19, lying east of the St. Croix river. The surface is gener
ally undulating, but along the St. Croix and Apple rivers abrupt
and hilly. The first settlers were French colonists at Apple
River Falls in 1851. They built a school house and Catholic
church upon the bluffs below the falls. The latter is a con
spicuous object as seen from the St. Croix river. The falls of
Apple river, about one and a half miles above its junction with
the St. Croix, is one of the finest of the Wisconsin waterfalls.
Apple river traverses the county from northeast to southwest;

IN THE NORTHWEST. 189
The Wisconsin Central railroad crosses the southern part. The
town of Somerset was organized Sept. 19, 1856, with Thomas J.
Chappell as chairman of supervisors. Mr. Chappell was also
appointed postmaster in 1854 at Apple River Falls.

Located about three miles above the Falls, has a good improved
water power, a flour mill with a capacity of one hundred and
fifty barrels per day, and a saw mill, built and owned by Gen.
Sam Harriman, the founder of the village. In 1856 a church
and school house were erected at a cost of about $12,000.
Samuel Harriman. — Gen. Harriman was born in Orland,
Maine. He spent four years in California, engaged in mining
and lumbering, and dug the second canal in the State for sluicing
purposes. He came to Somerset in 1859, and has ever since made
it his residence. He is one of the founders and platters of the
village, and built most of the houses, including the hotel and
two stores on the east side of Apple river, and all the dwelling
houses on the west side. He has been remarkably successful in
the various pursuits to which he has turned his attention, and
may weU be considered a man of remarkable executive ability.
He has a farm of five hundred and fifty-five acres, and his agri
cultural and stock products are second to none. As a lumber
man he has cut 3,000,000 feet per year. He has a rotary saw mill
with a planing, lath and shingle mill attached, and under the
same roof he has a flouring mill and six run of stone; he has a
large store in which he keeps a general stock of merchandise;
he has also a cooper shop, where he makes his own barrels, a
warehouse and a blacksmith shop. He has also an excellent
stone quarry on his premises.
We look in vain for his name in the Wisconsin blue book, or
among the list of office holders. He has been too busy to turn
aside in quest of political preferment. We believe, however,
that he was commissioned as notary public by Govs. Taylor and
Smith. When men were needed for the defense of the country
he left his interests to enlist as a private. His military record
is brilliant. He enlisted in Company A, Thirtieth Wisconsin
Volunteer Infantry, June 10, 1862, was made captain on the
organization of the company, which position he held till Feb.
16, 1864, when he was commissioned colonel of the Thirty -seventh

190 FIFTY YEARS
Wisconsin Infantry. This regiment was recruited by Col. Harri
man, he having been commissioned for that purpose. Its services
on many a hard fought field, and especially about Petersburg, is
a matter of well known history. Its most memorable action
occurred on the thirtieth of July, just after the explosion of
the mine under the enemy's fort. Col. Harriman, with the
Thirty-seventh Wisconsin, was ordered to occupy the dismantled
fort, which he did under a heavy fire, and the walls had been
so leveled as to afford but slight protection from the enemy's
batteries. While in possession they repelled all attempts to dis
lodge them until four o'clock the next morning, when, receiving
no support, the Thirty -seventh Regiment,
"All that was left of them,"
fell back to the line. At roll call that evening, of two hundred
and fifty men that answered to their names before the action,
only ninety-five responded. The remnant of the regiment was
attached to a new brigade, of which Col. Harriman was com
missioned commander. On the tenth of September, the war
having ended, the tattered flag of the Thirty-seventh was returned
to. the governor of the State and Brig. Gen. Harriman returned
to private life and his business enterprises.
The general is a genial, kind hearted man, fond of a good joke
and story, even though they are at his own expense. He nar
rates of himself, that when mustered out of the service at Wash
ington he was addressed as General Harriman; on his way home
he was saluted as colonel; when nearing Wisconsin, he was hailed
as major; in the State, as captain; in St. Croix county and at
home as Mr. Harriman; when met by the boys, they greeted him
with "Hello, Sam." ST. JOSEPH
Includes the three lower tiers of sections of township 30, range
19, fractions of range 20, and the six upper sections of township
29, range 19. Willow river traverses the southeast corner. The
surface varies from undulating to hilly. In the eastern part of
the town is Balsam lake, a picturesque body of water two miles
in length. There are also two high elevations of land, or ridgeS, j
that serve as conspicuous landmarks. The earliest settlers came
in 1850, and located on farms in different parts of the town. St.
Joseph was organized in 1858. The North Wisconsin railroad ,
passes through the southeast corner of the town.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 191
HOULTON.
Opposite Stillwater, on the shore of the lake, is a platted vil
lage known as Houlton, which has improved much during the
last few years. J. S. Anderson & Co. built a large saw mill at
this place, which has changed ownership several times. The
residences of the village are on the high bluffs overlooking the
lake, and commanding from a point two hundred feet above the
level of the water a most magnificent view, including Stillwater,
Hudson and Lakeland. burkhardt village
Is situated upon Willow river, just above the Falls. Joseph
Bowron and others built a mill here in 1851. The mill property
changed hands many times, and finally passed into the hands of
Burkhardt. In March, 1887, the mill was consumed, with a loss
to Mr. Burkhardt of $100,000, an immense loss, representing the
. earnings of a lifetime; but with tireless energy Mr. Burkhardt
went to work rebuilding, and, it is to be hoped, will soon re
establish his thriving business. There is one church near Burk
hardt. SPRINGFIELD,
At its organization in 1860, embraced its own territory and that
of Baldwin, set off in 1872. It now includes township 29, range
15. It was originally covered with pine and hardwood timber.
Within the last few years it has been improved and much of
the timber land is used for farming. It is drained by the head
waters and tributaries of Rush and Menomonie rivers. The West
Wisconsin railroad passes through the southern tier of sections,
and a branch road, leading southward into a pine district, has a
junction at Hersey. Most of the early settlers were Union sol
diers. Among them were S. T. Adams, Thomas Ross, Isaac Bur-
gitt and Capt. Rogers. Springfield was organized Nov. 15, 1860,
with J. R. Ismon as chairman, and Perrin and Hall as supervisors.
HERSEY.
The village of Hersey, located on section 28, is a station on
the West Wisconsin and branch railroad, has a lumber mill,
and is a flourishing village.

192 FIFTY YEARS
WILSON VILLAGE,
Section 35, is also a station on the West Wisconsin road, and an
important manufacturing place. The village is owned and con
trolled by the Wilson Manufacturing Company, which has a
capital stock of $150,000. There is one church in the village.
STANTON
Was set off from Star Prairie and organized Dec. 30, 1870, with
Trueworthy Jewell as chairman of supervisors. It is a rich
prairie town, well drained by the waters of Apple and Willow
rivers, and well cultivated. The North Wisconsin railroad
passes southwest to northeast through this town. Star Prairie
village lies partly in this town and partly in the town of Star
Prairie. There are two church buildings in the town of Stanton.
STAR PRAIRIE,
Township 31, range 18, was organized Jan. 28, 1856. At its or
ganization itincluded township 31,rangesl7 and 18,andnorth half
of township 30, ranges 17 and 18. The flrst election was held at
the house of B. C. B. Foster, in New Richmond. Apple river
flows through the town from northeast to southwest. Cedar
lake, in the northeast part, furnishes at its outlet a good water
power. Among the first settlers were the Jewell brothers, Bidder
and sons. HUNTINGTON VILLAGE
Is located near the outlet of Cedar lake and on the stream by
which the waters of the lake are borne to Apple river. It has a
large flouring mill. STAR PRAIRIE VILLAGE,
Lying partially in sections 1 and 12 and partially in Stanton, has
a saw and flouring mill, a hotel, a school house and two churches,
with some fine residences.
Hon. R. K. Fay, born in 1822, came from New York to Wis
consin in 1849, locating at Princeton, where he resided for nine
years, most of the time engaged as the principal of the high
school at that place. He was a man of sterling character, who
is remembered as an able teacher and public spirited citizen.
He has been assemblyman from Adams and St. Croix counties,
and a county superintendent of schools, and has taught school

IN THE NORTHWEST. 193
forty-nine terms. When a member from St. Croix county, he
introduced the bill requiring the constitutions of the United
States and of Wisconsin to be taught in the common schools.
He died at his home in Star Prairie, Jan 5, 1888. Five sons and
five daughters survive him. His wife died about three years ago.

Township 28, range 19, and fractional township 28, range 19,
^ consisting of about three sections, lying along the shore of Lake
St. Croix, has a fine frontage of bluffs overlooking the lake, with
rich, level prairie lands stretching away eastward. The Kinni
kinic river flows through the southeast corner of the township.
It was organized in 1851 as Malone, the name having been chosen
by the Perrin brothers, who came from Malone, New York, in
1851. The name, some years later, was changed to Troy. The
Hudson & Ellsworth railroad passes diagonally through the
township from northwest to southeast.
The village of Glenmont, section 25, township 28, range 20,
lies on the shore of Lake St. Croix. It contains a large saw mill,
built by the Lord brothers. It has since changed hands.
The village of East Troy, in section 36, has recently been an
nexed by legislative enactment to the city of River Falls.
James Chinnock, the first settlerin Troy, was born in Somer
setshire, England, in 1810. He officiated twelve years at Bristol
Harbor, England, as superintendent of docks and vessels. He
was married in England to Harriet Owens; came to America in
1841, lived in Ohio until 1850, when he came to Hudson and
immediately located a claim within the present limits of Troy.
He raised the first crop in the town, and built the first house, of
stone, for greater protection from the Indians. Mr. Chinnock
made his home upon this farm until his death in 1870. He left
a widow and four sons, three of them farmers in Troy. One
son, James T., has been register of deeds for St. Croix county
from 1885 to 1888. •
William Lewis Perrin was born in 1825, and with his
brother came to Troy in 1851, where he has since lived. He has
been a successful farmer and public spirited citizen, and has
filled offices in the town organization. He was married in 1855
to Julia F. Loring. They have three sons and one daughter.
13

194 FIFTY YEARS

WARREN,

Township 29, range 18, is a rich prairie town, drained by the
tributaries of Kinnikinic and Willow river. George Longworth
and family, of Waukegan, Illinois, settled here in October, 1855.
In the year following, Lyman and David Sanford, brothers,
came from Ohio, and made their home here. Mr. Longworth, in
1856, broke the first ground on land now within the limits of
Hudson. Henry M. Sanford came in the spring of 1857.
Warren was organized as a town in 1860, with the following
supervisors: Beach Sanford, George Frissell and Seth Colbeth;
L. J. Sanford, clerk. A post office was established in 1860, and
Mrs. Beach Sanford was appointed postmistress, at Warren vil
lage, now Roberts. The village of Roberts is located on the
West Wisconsin railroad, wliich traverses sections 19 to 24,
inclusive, of this town. It contains one elevator, one storage
house, one feed mill, one cheese factory, one machine shop, one
syrup mill, several stores and shops, one hotel, one school house,
one public hall, and one church building belonging to the Con-
gregationalists. No intoxicants are sold in the village. The flrst school was
taught in 1859, by Jane Sanford.
James Hill was born in Hillsborough, New Hampshire, Feb.
15, 1825, and settled in Warren, St. Croix county, in 1863, where
he engaged in farming and dealing in grain. He represented
St. Croix county in the Wisconsin assembly of 1878-79-80.

IN THE NORTHWEST.
TOWN PLATS LOCATED IN ST. CROIX COUNTY.

195

NAME Of VILLAGE.

Buena Vista 
New Centrevilre
Hammond 
DeSoto 
Somerset 
Glenmont 
Huntington 
Gridley, New ¦>
Richmond and >
Fremont >
Troy 
Boardman 
Star Prairie 
Baldwin 
Roberts 
Deer Park 
New Saratoga 1
Springs  J
Hersey 
Cylon 
Emerald 
Glenwood 
Wilson 
Woodville 
Wild wood 
Brookville 
Houlton 

TOWN LOCATION.

Hudson 
Rush River..
Hammond ..
Hudson 
Somerset....Troy 
Star Prairie..
Richmond...Troy 
Richmond. . .
Star Prairie..
Baldwin 
Warren 
Cylon 
Stanton 
Springfield..Cylon 
Emerald 
Glenwood.... Springfield..Baldwin 
Eau Galle....
Eau Galle....
St. Joseph...

DATE OF PLAT.

In 1849 
Mch. 26, 1856
July 15, 1856
Aug. 15, 1857
Aug. 28, 1857
Jan. 5, 185S
Sept. 24, 1858

1857.

Dec. 29, 1859
July 5, 1866
June 15, 1870
Mch. 14, 1873
Jan. 4, 1875
Jan. 25, 1879
Sept. 17, 1878
Dec. 24, 1880
Sept. 16, 1884
July 13, 1885
Jan. % 1886
1886 
1886  .*
1886 
1886 
Not recorded

SURVEYOR.

Harvey Wilson.
Geo. Strong 
A. W. Miller....

Geo. Strong 
C. N. Bates 
E. W. McCiure.

J. A. Short 
W. R. Anderson 
John McCiure 
H. J. Baldwin 
Geo. Strong 
J. W. Remmington

John McCiure..

Geo. Strong 
Alfred Pierce 
Alfred Pierce....
H. J. Baldwin.,

PROPRIETORS.

Louis Massey & Co.
Daniel McCartney.
Hammond&Spaulding.
Aptemards Burkhart.
Harriman & Reed.
M. Bank, Lake St. Cx.
John Brown.
Gridley & Day.
Cox & Powell.
Beehe & Boardman.
Simonds & Millard.
D. R. Bailey.
Comstock, Piatt & Co.
J. A. Humbird.
A. P. Muggey.
L. T. Adams.
Beebe & McNarama.
Hurd Brothers.
Glenwood Manf. Co.
West Wis. Manf. Co.
Woodville Lumber Co.
St. Cx. L. & Manf. Co.
Wood & Decker.

196 FIFTY YEARS

CHAPTER VII.

PIERCE COUNTY.
This county, named in honor of President Pierce, was sepa
rated from St. Croix county in 1853, and organized by the same
act that created Polk county, and gave to St. Croix its present
limits. It contains about six hundred square miles of territory,
lying east of the Mississippi river and Lake St. Croix. It is
somewhat triangular in shape, the river and lake forming the
hypotenuse, and St. Croix, Dunn and Pepin bounding it by
right lines on the north and east, Pepin also forming a small
part of its southern boundary.
The scenery is picturesque and varied. Along the river and
lake is a series of limestone bluffs, broken at intervals by ra
vines and valleys, and leaving the impression upon the mind of
the traveler on the Mississippi of a rough, broken and inhospi
table country, than which nothing could be further from the
truth. Beyond these rugged escarpments of limestone and out
of sight of the traveler, the country stretches away toward the
interior as an undulating prairie, with meadows and rich pas
ture lands, with occasional forests, the whole watered and drained
by an intricate network of streams tributary to the lake and
river, and the three larger streams, the Kinnikinic, which
empties into the St. Croix and Big rivers, Trimbelle and Rush,
that empty into the Mississippi. Some branches of the Chip
pewa also take their rise in this county. These streams uni
formly have their source in springs and their waters are conse
quently pure, cold and invigorating, flowing over beds of white
sand or pebbles, and in their downward course forming many
ripples, rapids, cascades and some beautiful waterfalls. Their

IN THE NORTHWEST. 197
total descent to the bed of the Mississippi is about four hundred
feet, Pierce county has no inland lakes within its limits, nor
any indications of their previous existence. The soil is formed
chiefly from decomposed rocks or ledges worn down by the
abrading forces of water and wind, of frost and heat. The
rivers in their downward course have excavated broad valleys,
having originally precipitous bluffs on either side, and even
bluffs once islands in the midst of the streams. These, by later
agencies, have been smoothed to gentle slopes and rounded into
graceful mounds, towering sometimes as much as eighty feet
above the valley or plains. In some places mere outlines of
sandstone or limestone rock are left, turret-like, on the summit of
a mound, as monuments on which the geologist may read the
record of ages gone. As the character of the soil of a country
depends upon the composition of the rocks underlying it, and
those removed from the surface, reduced to soil and widely dis
tributed, we give what may be considered as the section of any
one of the mounds near Prescott in the order of the superposition
of strata:
At the base — Lower magnesian limestone  250 feet.
Above the plain — Upper sandstone  50 feet.
On the summit — Trenton, or shell limestone  30 feet.
Over a great part of the county the Trenton and limestone are
worn almost entirely away, and their former existence is attested
only by a few mounds, bluffs and outlines. Drift is not often
met with. The soil may be considered as formed out of drift,
now removed from its original position, and out of the sandstone
and limestone. It is, therefore, soil of the richest quality.
By the same act that created the county of Pierce, passed
March 14, 1853. Prescott was declared the county seat. The
town board of Prescott was constituted the county board. The
commissioners were Osborn Strahl, chairman; Silas Wright and
Sylvester Moore. At the first county election, Nov. 15, 1853,
one hundred and ten votes were cast. The following were the
officers elected: County judge, W. J. Copp; sheriff, N. S. Dun
bar; treasurer, J. R. Freeman; clerk of court, S. R. Gunn; clerk
of board, Henry Teachout; coroner, J. Olive; district attorney,
P. V. Wise; surveyor, J. True; register of deeds, J. M. Whip
ple. Mr. Whipple was authorized to transcribe the records of
St. Croix county up to date of the organization of Pierce.

198 FIFTY YEARS
The first assessment in the county, in 1853, amounted to $24.
452. At the meeting of the supervisors, Jan. 18, 1854, the dis
trict attorney was allowed forty dollars per annum as salary,
Courts were held wherever suitable buildings could be obtained
During this year Judge Wyram Knowlton, of Prairie du Chien
held the first district court at Prescott. The first records of the
court were kept on sheets of foolscap paper, and fastened together
with wafers. The first case before the court was that of "The
State of Wisconsin, Pierce County, Wm. Woodruff vs. Chas. D.
Stevens, August Lochmen, and Chas. Peschke, in Court of said
County. In Equity." On reading and filing the bill in complaint,
in this case, on motion of S. J. R. McMillan and H. M. Lewis,
solicitors for counsel, J. S. Foster, it was ordered that a writ of in
junction be issued in the case, pursuant to the prayer of said bill,
upon said complainant. Some one, in his behalf, filed with the
clerk of said court, a bond for damages and costs in the sum of
$1,700, with surety to be approved by the clerk or judge of said
court. The first document recorded in the county is an agreement
between Philander Prescott and Philip Aldrich, wherein Aldrich
agrees to occupy lands adjoining Prescott's, at the mouth of St.
Croix lake on the west, and David Hone on the east. The
second document is a deed, conveying a tract of three hundred
and twenty acres of land from Francis Chevalier to Joseph E.
Brown, the land lying near the mouth of Lake St. Croix, and
marked by stakes planted in the ground, and adjoining Francis
.Gamelle's claim, dated July 20, 1840.
In 1857 County Treasurer Avers became a defaulter to the
county in the sum of $2,287.76, and to the Prescott Bank, $4,000.
In 1861, by act of the legislature, the question of changing the
county seat from Prescott to Ellsworth was submitted to the
people. The vote as declared was six hundred for removal and
three hundred and seventy-three against it. Technical objec
tions having been raised as to the legality of the vote, the sub
ject was submitted to the people a second time in 1862. The vote
for removal was confirmed. In 1863 the district system was
adopted and three districts were established by legislative enact
ment, but in 1870 the county returned to the original system by
which the board of supervisors was made to consist of a chair
man from each one of the town boards. A poor farm was estab
lished near Ellsworth in 1869, at a cost of $3,600. The county

IN THE NORTHWEST. 199
board also appropriated $31,000 for county buildings at Ells
worth. The finances of the county have been admirably managed. In
1885 there was no indebtedness, and a surplus in the treasury of
$5,000. The educational interests are well cared for. There are
over one hundred school districts in the county, with well con
ducted schools, and generally with goo.d substantial buildings.
The school lands of St. Croix, then including Pierce county,
were appraised in 1852 by Dr. Otis Hoyt, — Denniston and James
Bailey, and the lands at once offered for sale. Settlers' rights
were respected. The county issued $5,000 in bonds to aid in es
tablishing the normal school at River Falls.
t RAILROADS.
River Falls has direct communication with Hudson by a
branch of the Chicago & St. Paul railroad. In 1885 the Burling
ton & Northern railroad route was surveyed and established,
entering the county on the shore of Lake Pepin, and running
nearly parallel with lake and river to Prescott, where it crosses
Lake St. Croix near its mouth, on a bridge, the total length of
which is 520.5 feet, with one draw span 367.5 feet in length, and
one piled span of 153 feet. This bridge was completed, and the
first train entered Prescott, May 31, 1886. The grade of this
road does not exceed fifteen feet to the mile.
MISCELLANEOUS STATISTICS.
The Grand Army of the Republic have posts at the following
places:
No. 72, A. W. Howard Post  RockElm.
No. 117, I. M. Nichols "Post  River Falls.
No. 118, Ellsworth Post  .'  Ellsworth.
No. 189, R. P. Converse Post  Prescott.
No. 204, U. S. Grant Post  Maiden Rock.
No. 209, Plum City Post  Plum City.
The following are the village plats of Pierce county, with date
of survey and location:
Prescott, town of Prescott  I853
Kinnikinic, town of River Falls  1854
Monte Diamond (Diamond Bluff), town of Diamond Bluff.  1854
Saratoga, town of Isabelle  I855
River Falls (Greenwood and Fremont), town of River Falls  1856

200 FIFTY YEARS
Maiden Rock, town of Maiden Rock  1856
Warren, town of Maiden Rock  1856
Trimbelle, town of Trimbelle  1856
Franklin, town of Trimbelle  1856
Martell (Rising Sun), town of Martell  1856
Beldenville, town of Trimbelle  1857
Trenton, town of Trenton  1857
Plum City, town of Union ....,  1858
El Paso, town of El Paso  1858
Esdaile, town of Hartland  '.  1870
Rock Elm, town of Rock Elm Centre  1876
Hogan, town of Trenton  1886
Bay City, town of Isabelle  1887
ORGANIZATION OF TOWNS.
The following is the chronological order in which the towns of
Pierce county were organized:
Prescott*  1853 Spring Valley (Maiden Rock)  1857
Grenwood (now River Falls)  1854 Trenton  1857
Martell  1854 El Paso  1858
Isabelle  1855 Hartland  1859
Trimbelle  1855 Union  1861
Diamond Bluff.  1855 Salem  1862
Clifton  1855 Rock Elm  1862
Oak Grove  1856 Deerfield (Gilman)  1868
Perry (Ellsworth)  1856 Spring Lake  1868
CLIFTON,
Situated in the northwestern part of the county, contains a
little over thirty full sections of land, those on the St. Croix
having a somewhat irregular boundary. The surface is some
what broken where traversed by the Kinnikinic and its tribu
taries. It includes twenty-four sections on the west side of town
ship 27, range 19, and fractional township 27, range 20. It was
established in 1855. Its first board of officers were: Supervis
ors — Geo. W. McMurphy, chairman; Osborne Strahland G. W.
Teachout. C. B. Cox was the first postmaster, in 1852, at a
place called Clifton Mills, from which the town afterward de
rived its name. This post town is situated on the Kinnikinic,

* In 1849 the town of Elisabeth was organized by St. Croix county, and included what is now
Pierce county. The first board of supervisors were William Thing, chairman ; Aaron Cornelius,
and L. M. Harnsberger ; clerk, Hilton Doe; treasurer, Geo. W. McMurphy. In 1851, by legislative
enactment, the name Elisabeth was changed to Prescott.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 201
in section 18, township 27, range 18 west. It has one grist mill
and two saw mills, belonging to Cox, King&Goodsall. No intox
icants are sold here. The Glenwood saw mills, having a capacity
of 3,000,000 feet, are located on the lake shore. In 1868 a lime
stone quarry was opened on the lake shore, by Oakley & Nichols.
In 1881 the firm became Oakley & Hall. They have a patent
kiln and good machinery, and some seasons have manufactured
as much as 5,000 barrels of lime.
George W. McMurphy was born at Newcastle, Delaware, in
1821. In 1845 he came to St. Croix Falls, and in 1848 to Clifton,
where he pre-empted the beautiful homestead which he still
holds, and where he has successfully followed the business of
farming. He has been repeatedly elected to town and county
offices. In 1848 he was married to Maria A. Rice. Their chil
dren are Augustus (resident of St. Paul), George (a physician
living in Ortonville, Minnesota), James A., Robert, Albert and
Edward, and two married daughters. Mr. McMurphy is a mem
ber of the Congregational church.
Osborne Strahl was born in Belmont county, Ohio, in 1818;
came to Galena, Illinois, in 1838, in 1845 to Mauston and Stevens
Point, Wisconsin, and to Chippewa Falls in 1847. During these
years he followed lumbering. In 1850 he came to the town of
Elisabeth, St. Croix county, which on subsequent division of
towns and counties left Mr. Strahl in Clifton, where he has been
engaged in farming. He was married in 1860 to Rebecca Mc
Donald. They have two sons, Wm. Day, living in Dakota,
Howard P., in River Falls; three daughters, Mabel, wife of
Joseph M. Smith, banker at River Falls, and two daughters
unmarried. Mr. Strahl filled various town and county offices.
Charles B. Cos was born June 25, 1810, in Chenango county,
New York. He learned the trade of a miller, lived in Ohio
seventeen years and came to Clifton in 1849. He built at Clifton
the first saw and grist mill in the Kinnikinic valley, in 1850.
He changed his residence to River Falls in 1854, where he lived
till 1874, when he removed to California. During the year 1851
he ground three hundred bushels of wheat, the sole product of
the valley.
Ephraim Harnsberger was born in Kentucky, Nov. 21, 1824,
moved with his parents to Illinois in 1832, and to Prescott in
1847, where he pre-empted a homestead of one hundred and
sixty acres. He was married at Alton, Illinois, in 1858, to Lizzie
Johnson. Their children are Charles, Sarah Etta, and Jennie.

202 FIFTY YEARS
DIAMOND BLUFF
Is a triangular shaped town, the hypotenuse being formed by the
Mississippi river. It contains ten sections and three fractional
sections in town 25, range 18, and five sections and five fractional
sections in town 25, range 19. It is traversed in the eastern part
by Trimbelle river. The town was established in 1857, and the
first town meeting was held that year at the home of David Com
stock. The town board consisted of: Supervisors — James Akers,
chairman; Wilson Thing and C. F. Hoyt; justice, S. Hunter.
Susan Rogers taught the first school. This town has the honor
of claiming the first white settler, aside from traders, in the
Upper Mississippi valley. He came to the site of the present
village of Diamond Bluff in 1800, and named it Monte Diamond.
We give elsewhere a somewhat extended account of this ancient
pioneer, with some speculations concerning him and his descend
ants that are plausible enough to warrant their insertion. In
historic times a post office was established here in 1854, called
at the time, Hoytstown, from C. F. Hoyt, the first postmaster.
On the organization of the town the name was changed to
Diamond Bluff. Quite a village has since grown up around it.
The first frame house was built in 1855, by Enoch Quinby. The
first sermon was preached by Rev. J. W. Hancock, a Presby
terian minister, for some years a missionary among the Indians.
The first birth was that of Mary Day, in 1851, and the first death
that of Daniel Crappers, in 1854.
Capt. John Paine. — Jack Paine, as he is familiarly called,
was born in England, and for the greater part of his life has been
a seafaring man. For the past thirty years he has been a steam
boat man on the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers. He
has been married three times: first in Rhode Island, second to
Mrs. La Blond, of St. Louis, and last to Miss Ressue, of Diamond
Bluff. He came to Diamond Bluff in 1848, with four children of
his first wife, his second wife having died childless. He is now
living with his third wife in La Crosse. They have three children.
John Day was born in Martinsburg, Virginia. In 1850 he
and his wife and three children, with Allen B. Wilson and his
wife, came to Diamond Bluff. Mr. Day is well known as a fear
less and enthusiastic hunter. In 1852 he had a close encounter
with a large black bear, which, after a desperate struggle, he
killed with an axe. The Indians considered Mr. Day as "wau-

IN THE NORTHWEST. 203
kon," supernatural, averring that their bravest warriors would
not have attacked singly so large an animal.
Sarah A. Vance, the wife of Mr. Day, was born in Kentucky.
The Vance family were famous pioneers, and some of them were
noted Methodist preachers. Miss Vance's first marriage was to
John R. Shores, by whom she had two children, one of whom,
Isabella, became the wife of A. R. Wilson.
Allen R. Wilson.— Mr. Wilson was born in Kentucky; spent
his early boyhood in Shawneetown, Illinois; was married to Miss
' Shores at Potosi, Wisconsin, April 16, 1848, and in 1850 came
to Diamond Bluff. Mr. Wilson took great interest in politics,
was an ardent Republican, and was among the first to volunteer
his services for the suppression of the Rebellion in 1861. He
enlisted in Company B, Sixth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers,
and fell in battle, Sept. 14, 1862, at South Mountain. Mr. Wil
son was well informed, a close observer of political events at
home and abroad, and was a brave and efficient soldier. He left
five children.
E. S. Coulter. — Mr. Coulter is a Virginian by birth. In early
manhood he traveled extensively as a book agent, and finally '
settled at Diamond Bluff, where he successfully engaged in farm
ing and dealing in wheat and merchandise.
James Bamber, ex-musician in the British and United States
armies. Jacob Mead, ex-shoemaker, ex-soldier and miner, a man of
superior natural and acquired talent.
Charles Walbridge came to Diamond Bluff in 1852.
Jacob Mead died in 1884, leaving a large property.
Charles F. Hoyt, with his wife and one child, came to Dia
mond Bluff from Illinois, in 1853.
Enoch Quinby was born at Sandwich, New Hampshire; was
married to Matilda Leighton, originally from Athens, Maine.
Mr. Quinby and his wife came from Pittsfield, Illinois, to Dia
mond Bluff in 1854. THE FIRST SETTLER.
There is a pretty well grounded tradition that the first white
man who found his way to Diamond Bluff was a French Ven-
dean loyalist of the army of Jacques Cathelineau; that he fled
from France in 1793 or 1794, landed at Quebec, and was traced
by his enemies to Mackinaw and Chicago, where they lost his

204 FIFTY YEARS
trail. He came to Diamond Bluff in 1800, and named it "Monte
Diamond." He had for his housekeeper the daughter of an
Indian chief. He died here about 1824. After his death the
Indians always called the place the "Old White Man's Prairie.!'
E. Quinby, of Diamond Bluff, to whom we are indebted for this
account, adds: "All the additional evidence I can give in regard
to this pioneer is that prior to 1793 his wife died, leaving him
one daughter, who was deformed. A former friend of his had a
beautiful daughter of about the same age of his own. After the
uprising and defeat of the Vendeans, they became enemies, and
he, to save his life, took his former friend's daughter, instead of
his own, and fled to this country. The father pursued them as
far as Chicago, where he saw his daughter in company with some
Indian girls, and having on her person some ornaments once
worn by her mother. He at once seized her and carried her
back with him to France, and the old Frenchman found his way
to Diamond Bluff." Faribault's son,* now living somewhere
in Minnesota, wrote me a few years since, inquiring about the
old Frenchman, saying that his grandmother claimed that her
*husband was a French nobleman, and that he lived near Lake
Pepin. He believed the old Frenchman was his grandfather.
The above statements were communicated to the late Capt. Orin
Smith, of Galena, Illinois, Allen B. Wilson and myself, in 1854,
or in 1855, by an old Frenchman then residing at Potosi, Wis
consin, who claimed to have seen and gathered these facts from
the old man himself. Capt. Smith was well acquainted with the
Frenchman at Potosi, and gave the fullest credence to his
account. EL PASO
Occupies township 26, range 16. It is drained chiefly by Rush
river and its tributary, Lost creek, on the west. The two post
villages in this town are, El Paso, located in section 5, and Lost
Creek, in section 3. George P. Walker was the first settler. He
built the first house and raised the first crop; Thomas T. Magee
came in 1855. In 1860 the town was organized, Thomas Hurley
and Geo. P. Walker being supervisors. In 1862 Mr. Magee
built a saw and flour mill in section 5, and platted the village of
El Paso. In 1875 he removed to Clear Lake, Polk county, of

* A member o f the well known Faribault family, after whom the town of Faribault has been
named.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 205
which town he was the first settler. Clara Green taught the
first school in El Paso, in 1861. There is one Catholic and
one Lutheran church in the village. The name El Paso signify
ing a crossing, is of somewhat obscure derivation.
ELLSWORTH
Was organized under the name of Perry, March 3, 1857, but in
1862 it received its present name. It occupies a central position
in the county and includes township 26, range 17. This is a
rich farming town, originally timbered with hardwood. The
surface is elevated and gently undulating. It is drained on the
east by the tributaries of Rush river, but has no large or impor
tant streams. The first supervisors were: P. M. Simons, chair
man; Caleb Bruce and Wilson Kinnie. The first settler was
Anthony Huddleston, who came April 23, 1856, and pre-empted
the southeast quarter of section 20. On November 26th, of the
same year, came Caleb, Elihu W. and Eli T. Bruce, who pre
empted farms on sections 18 and 19. During the same year Wil
son and Norris Kinnie and David Klingensmith pre-empted
farms in sections 18 and 19. Lilly, Miscen, Russ, aud Campbell
eame also in 1855. The first log house in the town was built by
Anthony Huddleston in 1855. Norris Kinnie built the first in
what was afterward the village of Ellsworth. The first school
house, a log building, built was in 1857, and Mary Filkins, now
Mrs. G. H. Sargeant, of Minnesota, taught the first school. The,
first marriage was that of Charles Stannard and Mary Leonard,
in 1855. The first birth, that of the twin children of Wilson.
Both died. The first death of an adult was that of Mrs. Jacob
Youngman in the winter of 1855. The post office was opened in
1860, with Seely Strickland as postmaster.
ELLSWORTH VILLAGE.
The original owners of the southern half of section 18, and the
northern half of 19, Norris Kinnie, Eli T. Bruce, Henry P.
Ames, and Wm. Crippin laid out and platted the village of Ells
worth in 1862. Wm. Crippin, built a frame hotel there in 1860.
C. S. Dunbar opened a store in 1861. The prospect of Ellsworth
becoming the county seat gave a great impetus to business enter
prises. This was decided by a popular vote in 1861, but owing
to some technical defects was resubmitted to the people of the

206 FIFTY YEARS
county in 1862, and then definitely decided. In the year 1862 the
citizens of Ellsworth built a log house in which the first terms of
court were held; meanwhile the county officers had their offices
in the basement of Crippin' s hotel. The permanent county
buildings were not erected until 1869. They are built of stone
and cost $60,000. In 1863 a frame school house took the place of
the old log structure, and in 1874 a commodious brick building
was erected, at a cost of $5,000.
The Methodists, Lutherans and Catholics have church build
ings. There is one newspaper, the Pierce County Herald, edited
by E. F. Case and E. S. Doolittle. The Barnes saw mill built in
1867, burned down and rebuilt, has a capacity of about 5, 000 feet
per day. A branch railroad, built from Hudson to River Falls,
was extended to Ellsworth in 1885. The depot is one mile from
the village. The Pierce County Central fair grounds, containing
seventeen acres, are located near the village. The grounds are
inclosed and are covered with a fine maple grove, in the midst
of which is a large flowing spring. D. W. Woodworth was first
president of the fair association. Ellsworth has two handsome
cemeteries, Maplewood and the Catholic.
The village itself is beautifully situated on an elevated plateau
originally covered with hardwood timber. The streets are taste
fully adorned with maple trees.
Anthony Huddleston. — Mr. Huddleston is of Irish descent.
He was born in West Virginia in 1804; had but limited educa
tional privileges; liyed for a part of his life in Ohio and Indiana,
and settled in Ellsworth in 1855, being the first settler in the
town. He was a house carpenter for over sixty years. He was a
member of the Dunkard church sixty-two years. He was mar
ried in 1826, in Ripley, Indiana, to Susannah Whetstone. They
have three sons and six daughters living.
Perry D. Pierce was born- in Harpersfield, Delaware county,
New York. He traces his lineage to ancestors who came across
in the Mayflower and landed at Plymouth Rock. He received
an academic education, studied law with A. Reckor, Oswego,
New York, and was admitted to practice at Cooperstown in
1843, practiced in Albany three years, and in 1854 came to the
St. Croix valley, locating first at Prescott, where he served as
district attorney for four years, and county judge eight years.
He was married in 1860, to Lua E. Searsdall. He is now a resi
dent of Ellsworth.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 207
Hans B. Warner, of Ellsworth, Pierce county, was born at
Gulbrandsdalen, Norway, July 12, 1844; received a common
school education; is by occupation a. farmer; emigrated and
settled in Dodge county, Wisconsin, in 1853, and thence removed
to Pierce county in 1855, where he has since resided. He enlisted
in March, 1864, as a private, in Company G, Thirty-seventh Regi
ment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry; was wounded and captured
in front of Petersburg, Virginia, July 30, 1864, and was held a
prisoner of war in Danville and Libby prisons until paroled, Sep
tember, 1864; was discharged from service on account of wounds
received in battle July 18, 1865. He has held various local
offices, and the position of county clerk of Pierce county from
January, 1869, to Dec. 21, 1877, when he resigned, to assume
the duties of secretary of state, to which office he was elected
in 1877, and was re-elected in 1879, serving in all four years.
He was elected to the state senate in 1882 and served until
1886. His home business is farming and real estate. He was
married in 1866, to Julia E. Hudson.
GILMAN.
The town of Gilman includes township 27, range 16. The
postal villages are Gilman, section 10, and Olivet, section 36.
Gilman was organized as the town of Deerfield, in 1868, but
in 1869 the name was changed to Gilman. The first supervi
sors were Oliver Purdy, Caleb Coon, Bardon Jensen. The
first school was taught in 1870, by M. L. Maxgood. A Nor
wegian Lutheran church was built in 1883, at a cost of $1,500.
There are six school houses with an aggregate cost of $2,000.
The first marriage was that of Caleb Coon and Cenith Preston,
in 1867. The first birth was a child of this married couple. The
first death was that of Mrs. Rufus Preston. The first post office
was at Gilman, U. F. Hals, postmaster. The first settlers were
B. F. Gilman, in 1859, still a resident; N. B. Lawrence, soon
after, now removed; Rufus Preston and family; Joseph and
Caleb Coon and families, in 1865, still resident. J. R. Maxgood,
B. Jensen and son, E. B. Jensen, the Matthieson brothers, Z.
Sigursen, H. Bredahl, S. J. Goodell, Nels Gulikson, M. O.
Grinde, Albert Martin, P. Vanosse, and T. B. Forgenbakke
are among the oldest citizens.

208 FIFTY YEARS
HARTLAND.
Hartland occupies township 25, range 17. It has one post vil
lage, Esdaile. It has one saw mill and a factory for the manu
facture of hubs and bent wood work, operated by Charles
Betcher, of Red Wing, Minnesota, which gives employment to
seventy-five men and ten teams the year round. The village of
Esdaile has also two general merchandise stores and a hotel.
Hartland was organized in 1859. The first supervisors were A.
Harris, chairman; Joseph Sleeper and R. M. Sproul. Amongst
the first settlers were Augustus E. Hodgman, section 24, 1854;
James Buckingham, section 28, 1854; Lewis Buckmaster, section
1, 1853. The first school was taught in 1858, by Mary Ann
Stonio. The first post office was at Esdaile, Hiram Patch, post
master. There are three church organizations, Presbyterian,
Methodist and Lutheran (Norwegian), with buildings valued at
from $700 to $1,000. There are nine school houses, ranging in
cost from $500 to $1,400. The Good Templars have an organi
zation. ISABELLE.
Isabelle consists of the two upper tiers of section 7, township
24, range 17, the lower tier being much broken in outline by
Lake Pepin on the south. It^ contains also fractions of sections
in the third tier. Bay City, on the shore of the lake, is the
postal town. It was organized in 1855. In 1869 it was annexed
to Hartland, but in 1871 it was re-established. The first chair
man of supervisors was John Buckingham. The election was
held at the house of Abner Brown. Charles R. Tyler and Lo
renzo D. Philips settled here in 1854, and built a saw mill where
now stands the thriving village of Bay City. Saratoga plat was
laid out upon this ground in 1856, by A. C. Morton. A. J. Dexter
was the original claimant of the land. Mr. Morton purchased
the land which covered a part of Bay City from the government.
A surveyor named Markle was employed by Morton to run the
lines, which Mr. Dexter considered an intrusion upon his rights,
and he shot Markle. Dexter was tried before Judge S. S. N.
Fuller, in 1855, was convicted, and sentenced to prison for life.
After a few years he was pardoned by Gov. Barstow.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 209
MAIDEN ROCK.
Maiden Rock occupies the four upper tiers of sections of
township 24, ranges 15 and 16, except such portions on the
southwestern corner as are cut off by Lake Pepin. It contains
about forty sections. The town was organized under the name
of Spring Valley, in 1857. Its postal villages are Maiden Rock,
on the lake shore, section 15, range 15, and Warren, also on the
lake shore, section 7, range 15. The site of Maiden Rock village
was purchased from the government in 1853, by Albert Harris
and J. D. Trumbull. In 1855 they erected the first house, and
in 1856 built a saw and shingle mill. J. D. Trumbull platted
the village in 1857, and christened it Maiden Rock, from the
celebrated rock of that name a few miles further down the lake.
Among the first settlers in the village were J. H. Steel, J. D.
Brown, John Foster, and Joseph B. Hull.
The first hotel was run by G. R. Barton, in a house built by
J. D. Trumbull. This hotel has since been enlarged and is now
the Lake View House. The first marriage was that of A. J.
Smith and Corinda Eatinger, in 1857; the first birth was that of
Ida Trumbull, in 1858, and the first deatty that of William
Trumbull, in 1858. The first school was taught by Lottie Isabel,
of Batavia, Illinois. The first sermon was preached by Rev.
James Gurley, a Methodist preacher from North Pepin.
A post office was established in 1856, of which J. D. Trumbull
. was postmaster. The receipts the first year were eleven dollars,
the expenses, fifty dollars, paid by the postmaster. The town of
Maiden Rock has six school houses, one saw and one grist mill.
Christopher L. Taylor was born in Oneida county, New
York, in 1829; came to Chicago at an early day, and to Maiden
Rock in 1868, where he engaged in manufacturing. He served
as county supervisor for eight years, and as member of the
Wisconsin legislature in 1876. He removed to St. Paul in
1880, where he still resides. He is a dealer in real estate.
MARTELL.
Martell occupies township 27, range 17. Joseph Martell, John
Dee, Louis Lepau and Xerxes Jock, Frenchmen, were the first
settlers. They located here in 1847, and remained till 1860, when
they moved further west, allured by the attractions of frontier
14

210 fifty years
life. -Martell was organized in 1854, with the following super
visors: Amos Bonesteel, chairman; M. Statten and R. J. Thomp
son. The first school was taught in 1857, by W. Bewel.
Martell is the postal village. The first postmaster was O.
Rasmunson. There are two evangelical Lutheran churches in
the town, built at a cost of $3,500 and $5,000. There is also a
good town hall, valued at $600. The Martell Mutual Insur
ance Company is in successful operation.
oak grove.
Oak Grove includes township 26, range 19 (with the exception
of section 31 and parts of 30 and 32), and six sections of range
20, in all about forty sections. It is drained 'by Big river. It
was set off from Clifton in 1856. Hart Broughton was the first
chairman of supervisors. It contains a flouring mill on Big
river; . Catholic, Lutheran, and Methodist church buildings;
that of the Catholic cost $4,000, and has a school attached.
There are seven school houses. Big River is the postal village.
John Berry was first postmaster. The first settlers were (1848)
the Thing brothers, the Harnsberger brothers, the Cornelius ,
brothers, Rice, Schaser, McMurphy, Rissue, and the Miner
brothers. Lewis M. Harnsberger was born in Kentucky, April 18,
1822, and moved with his parents to Illinois, where he lived
nine years. He came to Prescott in 1846, and pre-empted a farm
in Oak Grove, where he has since continuously resided. He has
filled many public positions creditably. He was married to
Annie Jeffreys, of Illinois, in I860. Their sons are Ephraim,
Lewis and John. prescott city
Is beautifully located at the junction of the St. Croix and Mis
sissippi livers. The business portion of the city is on a terrace
at the base of the bluff, and between it and the river and lake.
The public buildings, churches, school house and residences are
chiefly on the upper terrace, or bluff, and command an extensive
view of the valley of the two rivers, the whole forming a land
scape of unrivaled beauty. The advantages of the position are
by no means limited to its picturesque surroundings. Prescott,.
from its position at the junction of the two rivers, was early rec
ognized as an important point for the reshipping of freight and

in the northwest. 211
re-embarkation of passengers. The St. Croix, which comes in
from the north, rises within a few miles of Lake Superior, and
after running a course of two hundred miles, empties its waters
into Lake St. Croix, twenty-four miles above its outlet. The lake
is navigable at all times to Stillwater and to Taylor's Falls at the
Dalles. The Mississippi comes in from the northwest, and is navi
gable to St. Paul, a distance of thirty miles. The two channels
at the junction are each about 1,000 feet wide, with an average
depth of fifteen feet, and the banks slope to the water's edge, or
stand in some places in vertical ledges, thus forming a natural
quay along the entire front of the city. The quay, or landing,
is semicircular in shape, the upper terrace, or bench, about one
hundred feet in height, is likewise semicircular, the convexity
being toward the river and lake. The crest of the terrace is
worn down by the rains into ravines, leaving rounded points,
or promontories, on the summit of which the ancient mound
builders have left traces of their peculiar art. The first settle
ment of Prescott was made by Philander Prescott, Col. Thompson,
Dr. Emerson, and Capt. Scott, the three last named being army
officers at Fort Snelling. Mr. Prescott, acting as agent for the
others, made the claim in 1836, remaining three years to hold it,
when it was left in the care of Joseph Mosier until 1851.
In 1837 seven acres were broken and fenced, constituting the
entire landed improvements within the present bounds of Pierce
county. In 1849 one hundred and fifty acres were improved.
Geo. Schaser and H. Doe were the first resident farmers. From
1838 to 1849 a trading post for Indian supplies was kept by per
sons holding the claim. W. S. Lockwood opened a store in 1842,
and other improvements were made. As the army officers were
called to other fields of labor, Mr. Prescott soon found himself in
sole possession of the original claim, he purchasing their interests,
and in 1849, when the lands had been surveyed by the govern
ment, he entered sixty-one acres. In 1853 Dr. O. T. Maxon and
W. J. Copp purchased a greater part of the town site and sur
veyed and platted it as the city of Prescott. A charter was
obtained in 1857. A post office had been established here in 1840,
called the "Mouth of St. Croix," but it was removed across the
lake and named Point Douglas. The post office was re-estab
lished at Prescott in 1852. Dr. O. T. Maxon was first post
master. The number of persons who came that year to Prescott

212 FIFTY YEARS
is estimated at about one hundred and fifty.* Mr. Schaser platted
an addition to the city of sixty-one acres in 1855. When the
city received its charter the following officers were elected:
Mayor, J. R. Freeman; aldermen, First ward, N. S. Dunbar,
Thomas Dickerson and Seth Ticknor; Second ward, Hilton
Doe, George W. Oakley, N. A. Miller; president of the council,
Seth Ticknor; justices of the peace, I. T. Foster, O. Edwards;
city attorney, P. V. Wise; city surveyor, Wm. Howes; superin
tendent of schools, Thomas Dickerson.
Wm. Schaser built the first frame house, and Mrs. Wm. Schaser
was the first white woman. Their daughter Eliza was the first
white child born in the new settlement. The first marriage was
that of G. W. McMurphy to a daughter of Mr. Rice, April 24,
1848. The first death was that of W. S. Lockwood, in 1847.
When the county of Pierce was organized Prescott was desig
nated as the county seal;, and so remained until 1862, when; by
popular election, Ellsworth was chosen.
In 1856 Messrs. Silverthorn & Dudley started a saw mill,
which they operated until 1861, when Mr. Dudley purchased
his partner's interest, and erected a flouring and saw mill.
A wagon and carriage manufactory was established by F.
Menicke, in 1862, the Prescott brewery in 1866, by N. P. Husting,
and the Prescott machine shops in 1876, by H. B. Failing. The
City Bank of Prescott was organized in 1858, Charles Miller,
president; W. P. Westfall, cashier; capital stock, $50,000. It
. closed in 1862. The Nation il Bank was established in 1877, by
W. S. Miller. The first school in Pierce county was taught by a
missionary named Denton, at Prescott, in 1843. In 1851 Miss
Oliver taught a private school. In 1853 the first district school
was established. The school board were: Directors, M. Craig,
George W. McMurphy; treasurer, N. S. Dunbar; clerk, Dr. O.
T. Maxon; teacher, Miss Matthews. The first school house was
built in 1854. A building for a graded school was erected in
1859. A high school building was erected in 1847, at a cost of
$20,000. The first religious society was that of the Methodists, organ
ized in 1853, under the labors of Rev. Norris Hobart. Their
*Note. — When I touched at Prescett in 1845, it was generally known as the "Mouth of St,
Croix," though by some called " Prescott's Landing." The residents were Hilton Doe, a farmer;
Geo. Schaser, boarding house keeper ; W. S. Lockwood, merchant ; Joseph Mosier, an Indian
trader or storekeeper. The principal trade was with Indians.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 213
first building was erected in 1856. Its dimensions were 20x32
feet, ground plan. In 1868 they erected a building 40x70 feet,
ground plan, at a cost of $4,000.
In 1854 the Baptist church was organized by Rev. E. W.
Cressy. In 1854 the Congregationalists organized, with Rev. P. Hall
as pastor, and in 1855 built a brick church, 40x50 feet, ground
plan. In 1855 the Presbyterians organized, and in 1866 built a
church. The Lutheran church was organized in 1865, by Rev. C. Thayer.
Under the preaching of Rev. M. Guild the Episcopal church
was organized in 1872. Previous to this date Revs. Breck,
Wilcoxson and Peabody had labored from time to time. The
Catholic chureh was organized by Rev. Father Vervais in 1860.
In 1868 a church edifice was built.
The following social and benevolent orders have organizations
in Prescott:
Northwestern Lodge, A. F. and A. M  organized 1856

Prescott Lodge, I. O. O. F 
Lodge No. 319, I. O. G. T 
Prescott Juvenile Temple, No. 1Q8 
Prescott Temple of Honor  
Converse Post, G. A. R 
Pierce County Agricultural Society, O. T. Maxon, president.,

18681876 18771878
1884
1859

The Agricultural Society has fair grounds just east of the city,
well arranged, with a half mile race track, and buildings in
good condition. Fairs are held annually. Pine Glen cemetery
is situated on the bluff half a mile below the city. It was estab
lished in 1856. Nature has done much for the site. The view
of the Mississippi valley is unobstructed for a distance of from
twelve to twenty miles on the south, and to the bend of the river
bluffs above Hastings. The grounds are handsomely laid out
and adorned with shrubbery. DESTUCTIVE FIRES."
Prescott has suffered severely from fires. The following is a
partial list of losses:
Lowry & Co., sawmill  loss $3,500
Todd & Horton's mill  '  " 2,000
Stevens, Lechner & Co.. (1854)  " 3,000

214 FIFTY YEARS
Fire on Main street (1871)  loss $22,000
Fire.on Main street (1872)  " 12,000
Fire on Main street (1874)  " 12,000
-Redman, Cross & Co., flour mills (1877)  " 40,000
The latter was insured for $20,000. Total loss, nearly $75,000.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Philander Prescott was born in 1801, at Phelpstown,
Ontario county, New York. Late in the year 1819 he came to
Fort Snelling and remained there, or in the vicinity, the greater
part of his life. From his constant association with the Indians,
especially with the Sioux, he learned to speak their language.
He was also related to them by his marriage with a Sioux
woman. This fact, added to his influence among them, and be
ing a man not only of a high character for integrity, but well edu
cated and intelligent, he was able to render the officers of the
Fort much service. He made a translation into the Sioux dia
lect of a number of English and French hymns for the use of the
mission schools near Prescott. He gave his children an English
education. In 1835, while acting as Indian interpreter, he came
to the present site of Prescott, and in conjunction with several
officers of the Fort, he acting as their agent, laid claim to con
siderable territory, and made some improvements in the shape of
log buildings. When the army officers were sent to other posts,
Mr. Prescott purchased their interests and held the claim. In
1849, after the government survey, he pre-empted sixty-one
acres and laid out what he called the city of Prescott. He re
sided here and at the Fort alternately until his death, which
occurred in 1862. He had been sent by the government on a
peace mission to the Indians in rebellion, met them at a point
near Mankato, and was cruelly assassinated by those to whom he
had ever proven a true friend, and whom he had every reason
to suppose friendly to him.
George Schaser is a native of Austria, and came to the
mouth of the St. Croix, in 1841. In 1842 he returned to St. Louis
and married Christine Bucher. Mrs. Schaser was the first white
woman resident in Prescott. Mr. Schaser built the first frame
house in the settlement, in 1844. This house was regarded for
many years as the finest house between Prairie du Chien and St.
Paul. In 1855 Mr. Schaser surveyed an addition to Prescott on

in the northwest. 215
land he had pre-empted in 1849. In 1858 he built the brick hotel
known as the St. Nicholas. Mr. Schaser died May 3, 1884, leav
ing a widow, three sons and one daughter. His sons are Henry,
Edward and George A. His daughter Emma was married to
Capt. John E. Ball (deceased 1881). An older daughter, Eliza,
the first child born in Pierce county, was married to E. W. Havi-
land, and died in 1880, near New Orleans.
William S. Lockwood, a native of New York State, came to
Prairie du Chien in 1833, and to Prescott in 1842. The year
following his family followed. Mr. Lockwood died in 1847. His
widow, Georgiana Barton, was married to Orange B. Walker,
of Marine Mills, and died at Marine, Oct. 9, 1885.
James Monroe Bailey was born in 1824, in Sullivan county,
New York, where his youthful days were passed. He came to
Prescott in 1849, where he has since been engaged in farming,
mercantile and real estate business. ¦ He was married in 1856, in
Prescott, to Nettie Crippin. They have one son, Victor, and
two daughters, Myrtle, wife of E. L. Meacham, of Prescott, and
Jessamine. Mr. Bailey l^as a very pleasant home in Prescott. He
has filled various offices, among them that of treasurer and
clerk of St. Croix county, prior to the organization of Pierce.
Adolph Werkman was born in Germany in 1826; came to
America in 1847, and to Prescott in 1848. He was married at
Prescott in 1856.
Joseph Manese (alias Joseph Abear) was of French extrac
tion and a native of Lower Canada. While yet a youth he, came
into the Lake Superior region, where he was employed most of
his time in hunting and trapping by the fur companies. His
history, if written in full, would abound in stirring incidents
and adventures. He was a man of unusual strength and activity,
and in disposition light hearted, vivacious and gay even to hi
larity. He died in Prescott in 1884.
Hilton Doe was a native of New York State, and came to Red
Wing, as Indian farmer, about 1840. He settled in Prescott in
1844, in sections 9 and 10, pre-emptions subsequently surveyed
into town lots. Mr. Doe married Miss Daily, in Illinois, in 1844.
Mrs. Doe died in 1860, Mr. Doe in 1884.
Lute A. Taylor, a young man of decided talent, a good classi
cal scholar, a brilliant writer and humorist, came to River Falls
in 1856, and in 1857, with his brother Horace, established the

216 FIFTY YEARS
River Falls Journal, which they continued to publish jointly for
three years, when Horace rembyed to Hudson and established
the Times. Lute A. removed to Prescott, taking with him the
material of the Journal office, and established the Prescott Jour
nal, which he edited and published until 1869, when he removed
to La Crosse and published the La Crosse Leader until his death,
which occurred in 1872.
Mr. Taylor was a correspondent of various papers and an
entertaining lecturer. As a conversationalist and wit, he was
without a rival. A slight impediment in his speech, if any
thing, added to the humorous effect of his pithy sayings.. He is
well remembered in the valley of the St. Croix. A volume
containing his biography and some characteristic sketches has
been published since his death.
John Huitt, a Canadian, came to Prescott in 1847, and
erected the first blacksmith shop in the village. He was mar
ried in Prescott to a daughter of Joseph Mosier, and subse
quently pre-empted a quarter section of land on Prescott prairie.
He built a saw and planing mill on Trimbelle river. He died
at Trimbelle in 1873.
John M. Rice was born in Sudbury, Massachusetts, in 1805;
was married in 1828, in Massachusetts, to Mary A. Goodenough;
came in 1837 to Marine, Illinois, and in 1847 to Prescott.
Mr. Rice was a house carpenter, but followed also the business
of, farming. He was an upright man and a member of the Con
gregational church. He died in 1878, leaving one son, David
O., living in Prescott; a daughter, Maria A., wife of G. W. Mc
Murphy, of Prescott, and a daughter in Illinois.
AN INDIAN BATTLE.
The feud between the Sioux and Chippewas originated in
prehistoric times and from causes not now known. It has been
a tribal vendetta, continuous and relentless, with the advantages
in favor of the Chippewas, who, in the course of time, have stead
ily forced the Sioux westward from the Sault Ste. Marie to the
Mississippi at Prescott. We give the following account of one
of their battles, being an Indian version, translated and written
out by Philander Prescott. This fight occurred in 1711, on the
site of the city of Prescott. As the Indians had been supplied
by the French with firearms as early as 1700, there is nothing

IN THE NORTHWEST. 217
improbable in their alleged use on this occasion. But for the
story: ' ' The Chippewas, a thousand strong, attacked a camp of eighteen
Sioux lodges by night and killed most of the warriors. The wo
men and children fled to the canoes, and, jumping in, pushed
from the shore, but, in their hurry, without* paddles. A large
eddy in the river carried the canoes round and round, and, as
they swept near the shore, the Chippewas seized them, pulled
them to the shore and butchered the women and children. A
few Sioux warriors had fled up the bank of the lake, where they
hid in crevices and caves of the rocks. The Chippewas discov
ered their hiding places and killed all but one, who rushed from
his retreat, and, diving again and again in the lake, swam for
the opposite shore. As often as his head appeared above the
water the Chippewas fired a volley of bullets, which fell around
like hail, but harmlessly. The bold swimmer finally reached
the opposite shore unharmed, when he gave a whoop of joy and
disappeared in the thicket. The Chippewas, filled with admira
tion at his daring exploit, returned his farewell whoop with in
terest." RIVER FALLS
Occupies township 27, range 18, and a tier of two sections from
range 19. Trimbelle river drains the eastern portion and the
Kinnikinic the northwest. Its early history is identified with
the history of River Falls city, its first settlement. It was
organized in 1854, as Greenwood, but in 1858 the name was
changed to River Falls. As River Falls city was not incorpo
rated until 1885, we shall give its early history in connection with
that of the town.
The first settler was Joel Foster, in the fall of 1848. In 1849
came D. McGregor, James and Walter Mapes; in 1850, Messrs.
Hayes, Tozer, Penn and Parks, and not long after the Powells
and Clark Green. These early settlers chose locations at, or
near, the present site of River Falls city, and along the banks
of the Kinnikinic, which here, owing to its numerous water
falls, offered unusual facilities for milling and manufacturing.
The first crop was raised by Joel Foster, in 1849. The first saw
mill was built in 1851 by the brothers N. N. and O. S. Powell,
just below the site of the present Greenwood mill. This was
burned in 1876. In 1854 the Powell brothers platted the village

218 FIFTY YEARS
of River Falls, called at first, Kinnikinic, setting apart for that
purpose two hundred acres of land. This plat included the up
per waterfalls within the present city limits. The largest water
power they donated to C. B. Cox as a mill site, to encourage
settlement in the village. The brothers co-operated in building
up the village, amongst other things building a frame store and
stocking it with goods. This was the first store in the Kinni
kinic valley. They dealt also in real estate and lumber. The
name of River Falls, as applied to the village, dates from the
establishment of the first post office, in 1854. Charles Hutchinson
was the first postmaster, and the office was held in this pioneer
store. J. S. Rounce, in 1870, built the first foundry in Pierce
county. The water powers of River Falls have been extensively util
ized, many saw and flouring mills having been erected at various
times on the Kinnikinic. Of these, in 1886, the more notable
are, the Junction mills, owned by Freeman, Rhyder & Co., with
a capacity of 400 barrels daily, and a barrel manufactory
attached, which gives employment to 40 men and turns off from
300 to 400 barrels daily. • The Greenwood mills, owned by Geo.
Fortune & Co., capacity 50 barrels; the Cascade mills, owned
by the Baker estate, capacity 50 barrels; the Prairie mill, built
by C. B. Cox in 1858, and now owned Jay J. D. Putnam, capac
ity 150 barrels.
In educational matters River Falls has taken and maintained
an advanced position. The first school house was built in 1854,
by seven men, at a cost of five hundred dollars. Helen Flint
taught the first school. In 1856 a joint stock association was
incorporated as "The River Falls Academy." A building was
erected, 36x66 feet, ground plan, and two stories in height.
Prof. Wilcox was the first principal. This school was maintained
as an academy until 1860, at which time it was superseded by
the free schools. In the fall of 1879 the building was destroyed ,
by fire. Subsequently a commodious brick structure was erected
in its place at a cost of $15,000. Excellent private schools
were maintained by Hinckley, Cody and Baker, for five years
during the '60s. The State Normal School, of which a more
extended account is given elsewhere, was established here, and
a building erected in 1874, at a cost of about $65,000, the people
of River Falls and other towns contributing to this fund $25,000,

IN THE NORTHWEST. 219
with private subscriptions to the amout of $12,000, and a dona
tion of ten acres of land. Of the $25,000 River Falls gave
$10,000, Troy $4,000, Clifton $3,000, while Pierce county con
tributed $5,000, and Kinnikinic, St. Croix county, gave $3,000
The building, a handsome brick, four stories high, including
the basement, stands on an elevated plat of ground in the south
eastern part of the city. The first board of instruction consisted
of W. D. Parker, president, with the following assistants: J. B.
Thayer, conductor of teachers' institute; A. Earthman, history,
geography, music; Lucy E. Foot, English literature, reading,
spelling; Julia A. McFarlan, mathematics; Margaret Hosford,
Latin and English literature. Model department, Ellen C.
Jones, teacher, grammar grade; Mary A. Kelley, teacher, inter
mediate grade; Lizzie J. Curtis, teacher, primary grade.
The following are the churches of River Falls, with date of
establishment and name of first pastor when known: Congre
gational, 1855, Rev. James Stirratt; Baptist, 1857, Rev. A. Gib
son; Methodist, 1858; Episcopal, 1871, Rev. Chas. Thorpe; Cath
olic, 1875, Rev. Father Connelly; Seventh Day Adventist, 1881.
With the exception of the last named, these church organiza
tions have good buildings. The Congregational church building
erected in 1857 was superseded by a building in 1867 that cost
$10,000. This was destroyed by a tornado in 1868, but has since
been rebuilt at the cost of the building destroyed, and a parson
age has been added at a cost of $2,000.
A Sunday-school was established in River Falls in 1853, and
the first sermon was preached, in 1850 or 1851, by Rev. Julius S.
Webber, a Baptist missionary. Rev. John Wilcoxson, an Epis
copalian, held occasional services as early as 1859.
ASSOCIATIONS.
The following are the social and benevolent associations of
River Falls, with dates of organization: Masonic Lodge, June,
1859; I/O. O. F., 1872; I. O. G. T., March 15, 1877; Juvenile
Temple of Honor, March 15, 1877; Temple of Honor, March 31,
1878- A. O. U. W., 1878. The hall, fixtures and charter of the
Odd Fellows Lodge was destroyed in the 'fire of 1876, but the
lodge was rechartef ed the same year.

220 FIFTY YEARS
THE BANK OF RIVER FALLS
Was organized Jan. 1, 1874.  Bartlett, president; Joseph
M. Smith, cashier. Capital, $15,000. It was reorganized in
1883, under state law, R. S. Burhyte, president; W. D. Parker,
vice president; J. M. Smith, cashier. Capital stock, $35,000.
Total business in 1885, $5,770,733.98.
HUDSON & RIVER FALLS RAILROAD.
This road was built in 1878, the people of River Falls contrib
uting $60,000 to its construction. The road is ten miles in
length. In 1885 it was extended to Ellsworth, a distance of
twelve miles. RIVER FALLS BOARD OF TRADE
Was established in 1884. A. D. Andrews, president; C. H. Keys,
secretary. FIRES.
Inl875 the Metropolitan Hotel, costing $15,000, and other build
ings were burned; loss $30,000. The insurance was light. In 1876
a large portion of the town was destroyed by fire.
RIVER FALLS CITY.
River Falls was incorporated as a city in 1885. At the first
election for city officers, held April 7th, three hundred and
nineteen votes were cast, and the following persons were declared
duly elected to the positions named: Mayor, A. A. Andrews;
treasurer, G. E. Pratt; assessor, E. H. Daniel; aldermen, First
ward, W. W. Wadsworth; Second ward, L. M. Rosenquist; Third
ward, R. N. Jenson; Fourth ward, L. Styles; marshal, R. N. Bev-
ens; city clerk, Allen H. Weld. The license for the sale of
intoxicants was fixed at $200. The population of River Falls in
1886 was 1,700. It is a lively, prosperous city, planned on a lib
eral scale, with wide streets, well shaded with ornamental trees.
The mills, have reservations by which they are separated from
the business part of the city. The beauty of the original water
falls is somewhat marred by the mills and their debris. Origin
ally they were very beautiful and picturesque, and were widely
celebrated, and much visited by the lovers of Nature. Of these
falls there are four, two on the south branch, one on the north

IN THE NORTHWEST. 221
branch, and one some rods below the junction of the two.streams.
The falls were not noted for their grandeur, but rather for their
quiet beauty, the water falling over ledges but a few feet in height,
and so broken in two of them as to present the general appear
ance of a succession of stairs, or steps, of unequal elevation, over
which the water falls. An interesting feature at the j unction of the
two rivers is the cave in which the pioneer settler, Judge Joel'
Foster, with his negro boy, spent the winter of 1848-49. From
his cave cabin he had full view of the falls on the two streams,
no less beautiful in their winter dress of gleaming icicles, with
the frost-whitened boughs of the willow and alder drooping over
them, than in their summer brightness. The judge has told me
that he loved, almost worshiped, this spot. The cave cabin stood
about one hundred feet from the sparkling stream.- There, in
the early morning, he could cast his line, and have for his regal
breakfast the speckled trout. Above him towered a precipice
erowned with evergreen trees, and around him, on the borders
of the streams, were the elm and maple, and an undergrowth of
alder and birch. There certainly could have been no fairer scene
in the West. To-day no traces remain of the old cave cabin. The
Junction mills have effaced the more beautiful and poetic fea
tures of thescene. The judge has passed away, and found a graye
on an elevation overlooking his old horn^ and the scenes he loved
so well. The judge, although a friend to progress, and active
in advancing the material interests of the locality in which he
lived, was unalterably opposed to the movement to incorporate
River Falls, and did all he could to defeat the measure. When
the incorporative act had been passed, he moved outside of the
city limits, declaring that he would neither live nor die within
them; but having been fatally injured by an accident, he was
brought back to his old home, and died within the city.
THE FOURTH STATE NORMAL SCHOOL AT RIVER FALLS — HIS
TORY.
The constitution of the State, adopted in 1848, provides "that
the revenue of the school fund shall be exclusively applied to the
following objects:
, "First — To the support and maintenance of common schools
in each school district, and the purchase of suitable libraries
and appurtenances therefor.

222 FIFTY YEARS
"Second — That the residue of the income of the school fund
shall be appropriated to the support of academies and normal
schools, and suitable libraries and appurtenances therefor."
No effort was made to take advantage of this provision of the
constitution for the endowment of normal schools until 1857,
when an act was passed providing "that the income of twenty-
five per cent of the proceeds arising from the sale of swamp and
overflowed lands should be appropriated to normal institutes and
academies, under the supervision and direction of a 'board of
regents of normal schools,' " who were to be appointed in pursu
ance of the provisions of that act. Under this law, the income
placed at the disposal of the regents was distributed for several
years to such colleges, academies and high schools as maintained
a normal class, and in proportion to the number of pupils in the
class who passed satisfactory examinations, conducted by an
agent of the board.
The law under which these schools are organized provides that
"the exclusive purpose of each normal school shall be the in
struction and training of persons, both male and female, in the
theory and art of teaching, and in all the various branches that
pertain to a good common school education, and in all subjects
needful to qualify for teaching in the public schools; also to give
instruction in the fundamental laws of the United States and of
this State, and in what regards the rights and duties of citizens."
REGULATIONS FOR ADMISSION TO THE NORMAL SCHOOLS.
Tuition is free to all students who are admitted to these normal
schools under the following regulations of the board of regents:
First — Each assembly district in the State shall be entitled to
eight representatives in the normal schools, and in case vacan
cies exist in the representation to which any assembly district is
entitled, such vacancies may be filled by the president and sec
retary of the board of regents.
Second — Candidates for admission shall be nominated by the
superintendent of the county (or if the county superintendent
has not jurisdiction, then the nomination shall be made by the
city superintendent) in which such candidate may reside, and
shall be at least sixteen years of age, of sound bodily health and
good moral character. Each person so nominated shall receive
a certificate setting forth his name, age, health and character.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 223
Third — Upon the presentation of such certificate to the presi
dent of a normal school, the candidate shall be examined, under
the direction of said president, in the branches required by law
for a third grade certificate, except history, theory and practice
of teaching, and if found qualified to enter the normal school in
respect to learning, he may be admitted after furnishing such
evidence as the president may require of good health and good
moral character, and after subscribing to the following declara
tion: I,  , do hereby declare that my purpose in entering
this State Normal School is to fit myself for the profession of
teaching, and that it is my intention to engage in teaching in the
schbols of the State.
Fourth — No person shall be entitled tb a diploma who has not
been a member of the school in which such diploma is granted,
at least one year, nor who is less than nineteen years of age; a
certificate of attendance may be granted by the president of a
normal school to any person who shall have been a member of
such school for one term; provided, that in his judgment such
certificate is deserved.
As an addition to the work of the normal schools, the board
of regents are authorized to expend a sum not exceeding $5,000
annually, to sustain teachers' institutes, and may employ an
agent for that purpose. Institutes are regarded as important
auxiliaries and feeders to the normal schools. At present one
professor from each normal school is employed conducting insti
tutes every spring and fall.
The normal school fund now amounts to over $1,250,000, and
yields an annual income of about $100,000. It will be increased
by the further sale of swamp lands, and will prove ample for the
objects for which it is set apart.
In 1865 the legislature divided the swamp lands and swamp
land fund into two equal parts, one for drainage purposes, the
other to constitute a normal school fund. The income of the
latter was to be applied to establishing, supporting and main
taining normal schools, under the direction and management of
the board of regents of normal schools, with a proviso that
one-fourth of such income should be transferred to the common
school fund, until the annual income of that fund should reach
$200,000. During the same year, proposals were invited for ex-

224 FIFTY YEARS
tending aid in establishment of a normal school, and proposi
tions were received from various places."
In 1866 the board of regents was incorporated by the legis
lature. Joel Foster. — Judge Foster was born at Meriden, Connecti
cut, Dec. 15, 1814, He was liberally educated. He came to Ed-
wardsville, Illinois, in 1830, and to Hudson, then known as
Buena Vista, in 1848. After a careful exploration of the coun
try he made choice of the valley of the Kinnikinic, and made
him a home in the fall of 1848, at the junction of the two
branches of that stream, and within sound of its beautiful cas
cades. He was the pioneer settler of the River Falls of to-day.
He built the first dwelling house, raised the first crops, and ever
proved himself a worthy citizen, first in every good work and
enterprise. He was a man of far more than ordinary intelligence
and moral worth, was temperate, industrious, public spirited,
sagacious and independent. He has filled many positions of
responsibility, amongst them that of judge of St. Croix county,
During the Mexican War he served as a quartermaster in Col.
Bissell's Second Illinois Regiment. Judge Foster was married at
Chicago in 1856 to Charlotte Porch. He died at his home in
River Falls, Aug. 9, 1885.
Jesse B. Thayer was born Oct. 11, 1845, in Janesville, Wis
consin; was educated at Milton College in 1870, and is by pro
fession a teacher. During the Rebellion he served in the
Fortieth and Forty-ninth Wisconsin Volunteers as a private. He
served five years as principal of the public schools in Menonlo-
nie, and since 1875 has been connected with the State Normal
School at River Falls as conductor of institutes. In 1885 he was
elected to represent Pierce county in the state assembly.
A. D. Andrews. — Dr. A. D. Andrews was born in Lowell,
Maine, Sept. 21, 1830. He graduated at the Chicago Medical
College in 1860, and in 1861 was commissioned assistant surgeon
of the Sixth Wisconsin Infantry, of the famous Iron Brigade,
with which he served up to the battle of Gettysburg. After
retiring from the army he came to River Falls and engaged
in milling, in which business he successfully continued until
1880, when he retired. He was elected state senator in 1878.
He was appointed a regent of the Fourth State Normal School
in 1877. He died at his home in River Falls, after a short illness,

IN THE NORTHWEST. 225
July 23, 1885. He was mayor of the city at the time of his
death. Joseph A. Short. — Mr. Short was born in Madison county,
New York, April 16, 1806. He learned the trade of a millwright.
He visited the East and West Indies. He came to Milwaukee in
1842. In 1849 he went to California, but returned in 1854, and
settled in River Falls, where he built a saw and planing mill,
laid out an addition to the village and in various ways promoted
the interests of the settlement. Mr. Short was a member of the
Methodist church sixty years, and of the Masonic fraternity fifty
years. He was married Aug. 25, 1831, in New York, to Olive
Prossen. He died at his home, May 6, 1886, aged eighty years,
leaving a son and three daughters.
Allen H. Weld. — Prof. A. H. Weld, widely known as a
pioneer educator, and as the author of an excellent grammar,
was born in Vermont in 1810. He graduated at Yale College.
He came to River Falls in 1858 and taught the first graded
school in the village. For two years he was principal of the high
school at Hudson, and for six years was superintendent of
schools in St. Croix county. He was a member of the state
' board of regents nine years, and was prime mover in securing
the location of the State Normal School at River Falls. The
excellent character of the schools in St. Croix county, and the
high educational position of River Falls, are due to his untiring
effort and wise direction. Mr. Weld was a member of the Con
gregational church and a consistent Christian as well as a pro
gressive, public spirited man. He died in 1882, at his home in
River Falls, leaving a widow and one son, Allen P.
Allen P. Weld was born in North Yarmouth, Maine, in
1839. In 1859 he graduated at Dartmouth College. He studied
law and was admitted to practice in 1867. at Albany, New York.
He taught school at Albany three years, and came to River Falls
in 1859, where he is a dealer in real estate. He was married in
1872 to Alice Powell, daughter of Lyman Powell.
George W. Nichols was born in 1795, atBraintree, Vermont.
His father was a soldier in the Revolution. At the age of seven
teen he enlisted and served in the war of 1812. , He lived in
Vermont fifty years, in Massachusetts ten years, and in 1855 came
to River Falis, where he engaged in farming until he was eighty
years of age. He was married in Vermont to Deborah Hoba'rt,
15 •

226 FIFTY YEARS
who died in 1874. His sons George H. and William H. reside
in River Falls. They were soldiers during the war of the Re
bellion. His son Isaac N. was a member of Capt. Samuels'
company, and was killed at Perrysville, Kentucky. The Grand
Army of the Republic post at River Falls has his name. He
died in 1887.
W. D. Parker. — Prof. Parker was born in Bradford, Orange
county, Vermont, in 1839. He received a common school and
academic education. At the age of sixteen years he entered the
Janesville High School, and four years later graduated. He
taught two years in Janesville, four years at Delavan, and one
year in Monroe, Green county, Wisconsin. In 1867 he visited .
Europe, after which he taught two years at Lake Geneva, Wis
consin. He was superintendent of schools five years at Janes
ville. In 1875 he was elected to the presidency of the Fourth
State Normal School at River Falls. In 1886 he was elected
state superintendent of public instruction. Prof. Parker was
married to Justine B. Hewes, of Chicago, in 1869.
The Powell Family. — William Powell, the father, came to
River Falls in 1849, where he lived with his sons until his death,
Nov. 30, 1865. His second wife was the widow of  Taylor,
and the mother of Horace and Lute Taylor, the well known jour
nalists. Mrs. Powell died in July, 1884.
Lyman Powell came to River Falls with his family in 1855.
He was married to Lucinda Taylor, sister of Horace and Lute
Taylor. Mr. Powell died at River Falls, Nov. 9, 1872, leaving a
wife, two sons and five daughters.
Nathaniel N. Powell, the second son, born May 11, 1827,
in St. Lawrence county, New York, came to River Falls in 1849,
and pre-empted the northeast quarter of section 1, now a part ,
of the site of River Falls city. He was married to Martha Ann
Hart, Sept. 28, 1842, at Hudson. He died at River Falls, Sept.
28, 1862, leaving one son and one daughter.
Oliver S. Powell, the youngest son, was born June 19, 1831,
and came to Hancock county, Illinois, in 1843, where he lived -
eight years. He had no great opportunities for gaining an edu
cation. He came to Stillwater in 1849, bringing with him the
first threshiDg machine north of Prairie du Chien. He threshed
the first grain threshed in the county in the fall of that year,
for Fiske, on a farm three miles below Stillwater. In Novem-

IN THE NORTHWEST. ,227
ber, 1849, he located in River Falls, pre-empting the south half
of the southeast quarter of section 36, town 28, range 19, lands
lying just north of those claimed by his brother, and which after
ward became a part of River Falls. Mr. Powell was a represen
tative in the state assembly in 1870-71-72, and was a county
commissioner many years. He was married in 1860 to Elmira
Nichols. They have three sons, Harvey C, Newell N. and Lyman
T., and four daughters, Lucy M., Sarah H, Amy E., and
Miriam. Nils P. Haugen was born iu Norway in 1849; came to America
in 1853 and to River Falls in 1854. He graduated in the law de
partment of Michigan State University in 1874. Mr. Haugen
was phonographic reporter of the Eighth and Eleventh Judicial
circuits for several years, and a member of the assembly from
Pierce county in 1879 and 80. He was elected railroad commis
sioner for Wisconsin in 1881, and re-elected in 1884. In 1886 he
was elected representative to Congress.
H. L. Wadsworth was born July 10, 1821, in Erie county,
New York. He learned the trade of a shoemaker, came West
in 1846, and "settled at River Falls some time in the '50s, and
engaged in farming. He has filled many positions of trust in the
St. Croix valley, and in 1867 represented St. Croix county in
the assembly. In 1841 he was married to Miss A. R. Baldwin.
Eight children have been born to them.
ROCK ELM
Includes township 26, range 15. It was organized as a town
Nov. 16, 1866. The first town meeting was held at the house of
J. Prickett. The first commissioner was Sylvester Fox, chair
man. The post offices are at Rock Elm, on the western line
of the town, section 19, and Rock Elm Centre, sections 16
and 17. At the latter place is located Rock Elm Institute, a
school of high grade, founded in 1880. Harrison Lowater is the
principal. The town is well supplied with schools, there being
as many as nine within its limits. Among its first settlers were
Loomis Kellogg, Charles A. Hawn and Sylvester Fox.
SALEM.
Salem occupies township 25, range 16. It is drained by
Rush river. It was organized as a town Jan. 13, 1862. First

228 FIFTY YEARS
board of supervisors, C. C. Carpenter, Eben White and J. H.
Shults. The first school was taught in 1857, by Thompson Mc
Cleary. The first marriage was that of Harvey Seeley and Kate
McKinstry. The first child born was Sarah Fuller. The first
death was that of John McCleary, Sept. 2, 1863. The first post
office was established at Rush River, May 1860, Joseph Seeley,
postmaster. The first settlers were Jeremiah Fuller, from
Ohio, and W. Wells, 1846; Harvey Seeley, 1848; Thomas Boyle
and James White, 1854; JohnF. Davis from Ireland, 1856 (town
'clerk twenty years); John H. Brasington, from Pennsylvania
(town treasurer fifteen years) ; Eben White, James Walsingham,
John Strong, H. M. Hicks, from Pennsylvania, 1858; John Foley
and brothers, from Ireland, 1856 ; James H. Shults, Joseph
Seeley, H. C. Brown, John McCiure, from Ireland; C. C. and
Ira W. Carpenter, from Connecticut, 1858.
Mrs. Fuller, the wife of the pioneer, was here over six months,
during which time she did not see a white woman.
SPRING LAKE
Is the extreme northeastern town of the county, occupying town
ship 27, range 15. The post offices are Oak Ridge and Spring
Valley. The town was organized Nov. 10, 1868. The first town
meeting was held at the house of A. M. Wilcox. The first super
visors were:, W. D. Akers, chairman; Jonas Nebb; Levi Hess,
•clerk. The first school was taught in 1866, by Agnes Harriman.
The Methodist and Baptist churches have organizations, and the
Methodists have a building worth five hundred dollars. The
first marriage was that of H. M. Wilcox to Mrs. Kate Rice, of
Lake City, by W. D. Akers, justice of the peace. The first child
born was a daughter of Ole P. Gardner. The first death was
that of Leota Wilcox, in 1864. The first postmaster was B. H.
Preston, 1871. The first settlers in the order of their coming
were James Gilmore, O. P. Gardner, George Wilcox, John Fran
cisco and W. D. Akers. TRENTON.
Trenton contains about twenty-eight sections, those on the
Mississippi having very irregular boundaries. ' Twenty-four
whole sections lie in township 25, range 18, and the remainder
in township 24, range 18. Trenton, iu section 33, township 25,
is its post village. Trenton was organized in 1S57; James Akers,

IN THE NORTHWEST. ' 229
chairman of supervisors-. Wilson Thing, the pioneer settler,
came in 1848. TRIMBELLE.
Trimbelle includes township 26, range 18. Its post villages
are Trimbelle and Beldenville. It was organized March 2, 1855.
Its supervisors were F. Otis, chairman, and Aaron Cornelison.
Among its earliest settlers were the Cornelisons, F. Otis and M.
B. Williams. It has four saw mills and one flouring mill, five
school houses and one church (Methodist).
Martin B. Williams was born in New York in 1812. He re
ceived a common school education, and at the age of sixteen years
was thrown upon his own resources. He learned the trade of
blacksmith. He was married in New York, and has four sons,
Clark M., Frank T., G. Glen and A. Judd. Mr. Williams is one
of the pioneer settlers of Trimbelle, and has held many public
town and county positions. He served as treasurer of Pierce
county four years. He has been a local preacher in the Metho
dist Episcopal church for over thirty years.
UNION.
Union consists of township 25, range 15. It is drained by
Plum creek. It has two post offices, Plum Creek, in section 24,
and Ono, section 6. It was organized Aug. 15, 1863. Among its
first settlers were Eleazer Holt, Hiram N. Wood, and Capt. Horst,
who made their homes here in the early '50s.

230 FIFTY YEARS

CHAPTER VIII.
BURNETT, WASHBURN, SAWYER AND BARRON COUNTIES.

BURNETT COUNTY.
Burnett county was named in honor of a genial, kind hearted
and eccentric lawyer, Thomas Pendleton Burnett, of Prairie du
Chien. It is somewhat irregular in outline, and is bounded on
the north by Douglas, on the east by Barron, on the south by
Polk and Barron counties, and on the west by the St. Croix river.
It includes townships 37 to 42, range 14; from 38 to 42, range. 15;
from 38 to 41, ranges 16 and 17; from 37 to 40, ranges 18 and 19;
from 37 to 38, range 20. Seven of these townships bordering on
the St. Croix are fractional. Much of the soil of the county
is a sandy loam admirably suited to cereals and yegetables.
Some townships in the southeast are first class wheat lands. The
timber is mostly a thicket-like growth of small pines, constitut
ing what is called pine barrens. The southeast portion of the
county is timbered with hardwoods. It is drained by the St.
Croix, Trade, Wood, Clam, Yellow, and Namakagon rivers,
with their tributaries, and with the Woo'd lakes (Big and Little),
Mud Hen, Trade, Yellow, Spirit, and numerous other lakes.
There are besides many thousand acres of marsh land. These
marsh lands are by no means valueless, as they have given rise
to a very important industry — the growing of cranberries. There
are fine deposits of iron. Large tracts of bog ore are found in
townships 38 to 41, ranges 16 to 19. There is an abundance of
wild meadow land, easily drained and profitable to stock growers.
The settlers of this county are, for the greater part, Swedish
and Norwegian emigrants, an intelligent, moral and religious
class of people who, while they cherish the traditions, manners,

IN THE NORTHWEST. 231
customs and language of their native country, still readily adapt
themselves to American institutions, taking kindly to our com
mon school system and to other distinctive features of their
adopted country. A liberal spirit has characterized these people
in building roads, bridges, school houses, churches, and making
other public improvements. They have succeeded well also in
their private enterprises, the cultivation of farms and the build
ing of homes. ORGANIZATION.
The county, originally a part of Polk, was set off March 1,
1856, and included also at that time, and till the year 1877, the
present county of Washburn. It was organized in 1865. The
first county officers, appointed by the governor, were: Judge,
Nimrod H. Hickerson; clerk of court, Canute Anderson; register
of deeds, Peter Anderson; treasurer, S. Thompson; sheriff, Mar
tin B. Johnson; district attorney, Jacob Larson. Grantsburg
was selected as the county seat. The first county supervisors,
consisting of Michael Jenson, chairman, Thore Ingebritson and
Peter Anderson, met Jan. 24, 1865. The first election was held
at the house of Nimrod H. Hickerson, Nov. 7, 1865. The first
frame house in the county was built at Grantsburg in 1865, by
W. H. Feck. The first crops were raised in township 39, range
18, by Charles Ayer. The finances of the county have been man
aged discreetly. The state drainage fund was judiciously ex
pended. The first deed recorded in Burnett county was a tax deed
from Polk county to Simon Estonson, of the southeast quarter
of the southwest quarter of section 35, township 38, range 19. It
bears date Jan. 20, 1866. THE PINE BARRENS,
So prominent a feature in Burnett and other counties in North
west Wisconsin, consist of sandy stretches of undulating, though
sometimes of level lands, ' sparsely covered with a growth of
young pines, generally of the Black Prince variety. In some
places, where the trees are crowded thickly together, they are
not unlike immense cane-brakes. The trees, from their prox
imity, have grown very tall and slender. The lateral branches,
crowded together and deprived of sunshine, have perished early
and the growth of the young trees is chiefly vertical. The lower
dead limbs remaining attached to the trunks give the young

232 FIFTY YEARS
forest a peculiarly ragged and tangled appearance. There is
abundant evidence to prove the existence of ancient pine forests
where these pine barrens are now the only growth. In fact some
of the larger trees are still standing, and the charred trunks and
decaying remnants of others. The gradations from the younger
to the older growth may be very plainly seen. Fire is undoubt
edly the efficient cause of the stunted and irregular growth of
the pine barrens. The matured forests are destroyed by fii'e,
and are succeeded by the young, pines which are further reduced
and injured by annual fires. It is a mistake to suppose that the
soil of these barrens is necessarily poor. Many of them have a
black, sandy soil, capable of producing fine crops. In most of
them there is a dense undergrowth of blueberry bushes, produc
ing annually millions and millions of bushels of their small but
luscious fruit. MURDERS.
Burnett county is not without the traditions of lawlessness
and murder that tarnish so many frontier settlements, and here,
as elsewhere, the primal cause of most of such crimes is whisky.
Whisky maddens the brain and nerves the arm of the assassin.
Whisky hardens the heart and blinds the eyes to what is right,
and the sale of whisky on the frontier, authorized or unauthor
ized, in nearly all cases the latter, is the bartering of the human
life for gold. The money received for it is the price of blood,
although in some instances the seller himself may be the victim.
It is whisky that does the work.
Jack Drake, a whisky seller at Wood Lake,, whose outfit was
supplied by Samuels & Partridge, naturally of a quarrelsome
disposition, was especially so when under the influence of liquor.
On one of these occasions he was killed by a half-breed known
as Robideau, and his body was buried on the shores of Little
Wood lake. Robideau was imprisoned a short time at St. Croix
Falls, but being carelessly guarded, easily made his escape and
was not heard of afterward. What did it matter? It was only
the result of a drunken row.
The body of a murdered stranger was found by a crew of men
working on Little Wood river, in the spring of 1843. He had
left Superior City with an Indian guide for St. Paul, and was not
afterward seen alive. His land warrants and watch, which had
been taken from him, were afterward recovered, and the Indian

IN THE NORTHWEST. 233-
who had been his guide was himself mysteriously assassinated
the following spring.
Geezhic — At Wood Lake, Burnett county, Wisconsin, lived
in 1874 an aged and blind Indian woman who calculated her
pilgrimage on earth by moons. All traces of her traditional
beauty as an Indian maiden had long since departed. Shriveled,
decrepit, bent, she was the impersonation of afl that is unlovely
and repulsive in age. Taciturn and sullen, her mind lethargic
and dull, she seemed but little more than half alive, and could
not easily be aroused to the comprehension of passing events, or
to the recognition of those around her. She must have been.
very old. When aroused to consciousness, which was but sel
dom, she would talk of things long past. A light would come
into her sightless eyes as she recounted the traditions, or de
scribed the manners and customs of her people, and spoke with
evident pride of their ancient power and prowess when her peo
ple planted their tepees on the shores of the "Shining Big Sea
Water" (Lake Superior) and drove their enemies, the Dakotahs,
before them. Her people wore blankets made from the skins of
the moose, elk and buffalo, with caps from the skins of the otter
and beaver. There was then an abundance of "kego" (fish)
and "wash-kish" (deer). There were no pale faces then in all
the land to drive them from their tepees and take their hunting
grounds. Of course there had been occasional whites, hunters,
trappers and missionaries, but the formidable movements of the
now dominant race had not fairly commenced. Counting the
years of her life on her fingers, so many moons representing a
year, she must have numbered a score beyond a century, -and she
had consequently witnessed, before her eyes were dimmed, the
complete spoliation of her people's ancestral domain.
The physical features of the country have undergone a change..
The towering pines have decayed or been leveled by the wood
man's axe. Some of the small lakes have receded, and tall
grasses wave and willows grow where once the "kego" sported
in the clear blue waters. "The sun drew the waters up into the
heavens," but the old shores may still be traced, by the fresh
water shells that are crushed by the foot of the explorer, and by
the ineffaceable mark of the water breaking upon the beach and
undermining the rocky le.dges.
A few Indians still linger on the old hunting grounds and

234 FIFTY YEARS
about the graves of their fathers, but as a race they are doomed,
and the time is not far distant when their only memorials will be
the printed or striped rocks that are found along the streams
and lakes, and here and there the sunken graves of the van
quished race. THE FIRST MISSION.
In the autumn of the year 1833 the first mission was estab
lished in the St. Croix valley, at the outlet of Yellow lake, in
Rurnett county. This may be considered the first actual move
ment in opening the way for white settlements in the St. Croix
valley. The good and indefatigable laborers, who came away
into these western wilds, spent many years in this valley endeav
oring to improve the benighted aborigines. Their labors were
successful, until the bane of the human family — alcoholic drinks
— was introduced by the corrupt border traders. Rev. Fred
Ayer (since a resident of Belle Prairie, Minnesota, and a mem
ber of the convention that framed our constitution), Mrs. Ayer,
with Miss Crooks (afterward Mrs. Boutwell) as teacher, arrived
at Yellpw Lake Sept. 16, 1833. Miss Crooks opend her school on
the twenty-fourth, with eight scholars. This was evidently the
•first school in the St. Croix valley. This mission was under the
patronage of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign
Missions. Thirty or forty Indians came to the trading house, a
mile from the mission, for the purpose of obtaining ammunition
and moccasins for making what is called the fall hunt. During
their visit at the traders', Mr. Ayer had the opportunity of ex
plaining the object of his mission — schooling their children,
and aiding them in agriculture, planting their gardens, and fur
nishing them with seeds. To the objects of the mission all lis
tened with interest, but, as the chiefs were not present, no reply
was made to Mr. Ayer. After obtaining their supplies from the
traders, they dispersed for their fall hunt. The school in the
meantime progressed, and frequent opportunities occurred for
giving religious instructions to adults during the winter. In
April some twenty-five families encamped near the misskm;
many were interested in the objects which the mission proposed.
In the spring of 1834 four families made gardens by the mission
and schooled their children; three of the families belonged to
the influential in the band. One of these, the chief who visited
Washington during the administration of Adams, was Gis-kil-a-
way, or "Cat Ear."

IN THE NORTHWEST. 235
The Indian mind is suspicious of the white man. Waiingas,
"The Wolf," another chief of considerable note, was prejudic
ing the minds of his friends against the whites. He openly
declared that if the Indians would join him, he would burn the
mission house and drive the teachers from his country. On one
occasion a party of Indians, including this hostile chief, passed
the evening at Mr. Ayer's. The chief closed his speech at mid
night with these words : " The Indians are troubled i n mind about
your staying here, and you must go — you shall go; not only I
say so, but all here present say so !" The next morning all the
Indians assembled. The trader, the late Dr. Borup, and his
wife were present. Tlie Wolf and his party were determiued to
expel all the whites. The friend cf the white man, Cat Ear, took
the floor and shaking hands with Dr. Borup and Mr. Ayer, began
a speech of half an hour's length. Pointing to The Wolf and to
two other chiefs sitting side by side, he says: "I speak for them.
Look at them. To them belong this land. Since last evening
we have considered this subject. We have changed our minds.
The Great Spirit made us all — made us red — you white. He
gave you your religion, manners and customs — he gave us ours.
Before we saw white man we dressed in skins and cooked with
stones. You found our land on the map and come — since then
you have clothed and provided for us. Why should we send
you away? We only sliould be the sufferers — all of us tell you
to stay — again we say, stay. We do not wish you to go; no, no
— we say to you all, stay; you may plant and build, but the land
is ours. Our Great Father has sent you here — we are glad —
we will tell you why we fear the whites — we fear you will get
our land away. If this room were full of goods we would not
exchange our lands for them. This land is ours and our chil
dren's; it is all we have. "
The mission at Yellow Lake had been in progress two years.
Several families had listened with glowing interest to religious
instruction, schooled their children, and cultivated gardens near
the mission, when Mr. Ayer visited the band of Indians at Poke
gama. Here were some thirty-five or forty families in the year
1835. The chief and two or three families expressed to him a
desire to settle down and school their children. They requested
him to come and bring all with him who wished to come from
Yellow Lake. The reasons that induced him to Pokegama were,

236 FIFTY YEARS
first, the means of subsistence were more abundant, both for the
Indians and the mission family — wild rice and fish in particu
lar; this being the case the Indians could be more stationary and
send their children to school. Second, the soil for agricultural
purposes was superior to that of Yellow Lake. As one of the
leading objects of the mission was to induce the Indians to settle
down and adopt habits of civilization, this object could be better
attained at this place than at Yellow Lake, where it was com
paratively sterile and sandy. A third object gained would be
to locate in the midst of a larger number of Indians, with whom
we could come in more frequent contact, and last, but not least,
put the mission in a nearer point of communication with St.
Peter, from whence all the family necessaries were obtained at
that day. These reasons, together with the solicitation of one
of the chiefs, and his permission to build on his land, and use
his wood, water and fish, led Mr. Ayer, in the fall of 1835, to
remove to Pokegama.
For the continued history of this mission the reader is referred
to the history of Pine county.
Chippewas of Wood La.ke. — A small band of Chippewas, as
late as 1870, lingered about Big Wood lake, unwilling to leave
their old hunting grounds. Though brought directly in contact
with civilization, they adopted its vices, otherwise remaining
savages, taking no part in cultivating the soil or educating their
children, contented to live and die in the old fashion of their
race. They subsist, as far as possible, by hunting and fishing,
and are by no means above begging when occasion may offer.
They retain their annual dances and festivals, at the occurrence
of which other bands join them from a distnmce. A dance with
its accompanying feasts occupies generally about ten days, and
is conducted according to rigid formulas. These dances are
intended as representations of hunting, fishing or fighting, and
are honored accordingly. They are accompanied with music
upon rude instruments, and a weird chant in guttural and nasal
tones, which may be understood as a poetic recital of their deeds
or expression of their feelings. Their dead are buried in con
spicuous places. The graves are decorated with splints of timber.
A pole with rags and trinkets is planted near the graves.
There is nothing that can long mark their resting places or keep
them from being desecrated by the share of the plowman.

IN THE NORTHWEST. • 237

GRANTSBURG

Was founded by Canute Anderson, in 1865, in section 14, town
38, range 19. He built a flour and saw mill, the first in the
county, a good hotel, and opened a store. It became the centre
of trade for the county, prospered continuously, and now (in 1886)
contains a good court house, built at a cost of $7,000 (burned
December, 1887), a school house, four churches, two hotels, five
stores and numerous shops and dwellings. There are two resi
dent lawyers and one physician. Grantsburg is the terminus of
the St. Paul & Duluth (branch) railroad, completed in 1884. The
scheme of building a branch road to connect with the St. Paul &
Duluth railroad at Rush City was long cherished by Canute
Anderson, and through his efforts the road was finally built.
The county voted $20,000 bonds, at seven per cent interest,
which bonds the state of Wisconsin cashed. The road was
graded from Grantsburg to the St. Croix river in 1878, from
Rush City to St. Croix in 1882. The St. Paul & Duluth Railroad
Gompany built the railroad and assumed the bonded indebted
ness, payable in fifteen annual installments. Cars ran to the St.
Groix river in 1883. The bridge over the St. Croix, completed
in 1883, cost $20,000. The road was opened to Grantsburg Jan.
22, 1884. At this opening over a thousand persons were pres
ent, five hundred of whom came in on the train. .Canute Ander
son made an address of welcome, followed by James Smith, presi
dent of the road. Congratulatory letters were read from Hons.
S. S. Fifield, Henry M. Rice, and W. H. C. Folsom, the tenor of
which was highly complimentary to Mr. Anderson,' and full of
hope for the future of the railroad and its terminus.
Canute Anderson was born in Norway, 1830. He came to
America in 1851, and three years later settled in the northeast
quarter of section 2, township 37, range 19, making a large stock
farm, part of it being a fine natural meadow, with running
stream. In 1858 the first post office in the county (called Ander
son) was established at his house, and he was appointed post
master. In 1878 he represented Ashland, Barron, Bayfield,
Burnett, Douglas, and Polk counties in the legislature. He is
and ever has been a master spirit in his county, using all his
influence to further the interests of his adopted home. Many of
the early settlers were poor, —strangers in a strange land, —and
for them Mr. Anderson's house was ever" a resort. It was also

238 « FIFTY YEARS
an intelligence office, where the inquiring immigrant could ob
tain reliable information as to the country and its resources,
and facilities to the settler. In 1860 Mr. Anderson was mar
ried to Catharine Nelson, daughter of Magnus Nelson, one of
Burnett county's first settlers.
The Hickerson Family came from Ohio to Wisconsin. Nim
rod H. , the oldest brother, settled on Wood river in 1859, built
a saw mill, kept a hotel and established a post office on the St.
Paul and Bayfield stage route in 1S60. Mr. Hickerson went to
California in 1875, and died there. Joel, the second brother, is
a merchant at Grantsburg. He served during the later years of
the Civil War as a soldier, Company C, Seventh Minnesota Vol
unteers, and was pensioned for disabilities. He was married in
1868 to Mary Anderson. Perry D., the third brother, keeps a
hotel in Grantsburg. He was also a member of Company C,
Seventh Minnesota Volunteers, and with his brother was mus
tered out at the close of the war, and has received a pension
for disabilities. He was married to Ellen M. Anderson, daughter
of Peter Anderson. They have eleven children. Newton, the
fourth son, lives in Grantsburg. He was a soldier in Company
D, Twenty-first Ohio, during the war. Was wounded and totally
disabled. He has no pension. He is unmarried.
The Anderson Family. — The four brothers, Peter, George,
Hans and Martin, with their aged parents, came from Norway
and settled in Grantsburg in 1883. The father but recently died.
The mother is still living, having reached the extreme age of
ninety-seven years. During the last six years she has been
blind. Peter Anderson was married in Norway in 1846. His
wife died in 1877, leaving three sons and four daughters. He
was married to his second wife in 1878. Peter has served as
county supervisor, and filled other offices. The brothers have
been active in promoting the interests of their town and county.
Robert A. Doty was born in Niagara county, New York;
lived some years in Genesee county, Michigan, and settled in
Sterling, Polk county, in 1865. He subsequently became the
first settler in the town of Marshfield, Burnett county. He was
accidentally killed in 1879 by being thrown from his wagon. His
widow and two sons live ia Grantsburg. John H., the oldest
son, resides on the old homestead in Sterling.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 239>
THE CRANBERRY MARSHES.
The cultivation of the cranberry is an important industry in
Burnett county. The berry is raised chiefly in townships 38 and
39, ranges 17 and 18. The writer of these sketches visited the
localities named in 1873, and although there have been many
changes and improvements since then, the description quoted
from an essay read before the Horticultural Society will still be
generally applicable:
"The scene on approaching these marshes, where the native
cranberry was found, before the white man had commenced to im
prove them, was picturesque in the extreme to those who have a
taste for Nature's handiwork. There are extensive tracts of land
covering thousands of acres, dotted here and there with islands
of young pine and points of highland projecting in various shapes
into the marshes. It reminded me of an ocean bay, in a calm, only
changing the ocean water color to endless green. There are in these
marshes somewhere from one to two townships of land, on which
cranberries were then growing, or susceptible of being improved
so that cranberries can be raised thereon. One township con
tains 23,040 acres. The parties operating on the marshes I visited
already have sd°me 30 or 40 miles of ditch made, averaging 5 feet
at the top, 3 feet at the bottom, with an average depth of 4 feet,
at a cost of about 75 cents per rod. These ditches are to drain the
water from the marshes when desired. They have dams across
these ditches, to flood the marshes when desired. The flooding
of the marshes aids in subduing the wild grasses and other in
cumbrances, also is essential to the growth of the berries. On
these marshes, wherever the flowage is killing the grass, the vine
is rapidly spreading, without transplanting. Undoubtedly they
would yield a quicker return by transplanting. Large tracts of
these lands, which, at this time have no vines, are bought by
companies, mostly from the cranberry lands in Eastern Wiscon
sin,, who are experienced in this business, and know what they
are doing. They openly declare that vines can be grown on these
marshes, where sufficient water can be obtained and controlled
to flow the lands. Mr. Irvine informed me that this flooding
process, and the manner in which it was controlled, was the key
to success. I examined the effect which one year alone had ac
complished, as these companies commenced operations in 1872.
It surprised me when I saw the mode, and heard it explained,

240 FIFTY YEARS
that so little was generally known of this business. After the
marshes are subdued, dams and ditches built, there is compara
tively small cost in raising the fruit until the harvest, when men,
women and children flock in from the farming countries to pick,
to pack, to store, to dry, to box, and convey to market. An
expert will pick from five to ten bushels per day by hand, no
rakes being allowed. In 1873 these marshes had an abundant
yield. These companies paid to outsiders one dollar and fifty cents
per bushel. There are several companies operating in Burnett
county. They have made and are making substantial improve
ments, in building roads, dry houses, dwelling houses, etc. The
past year a saw mill was erected for sawing staves for barrels,
lumber for boxes, etc. These marshes are about twenty miles
east of the Superior railroad." WASHBURN COUNTY.
Washburn county was organized in 1883, and embraces town
ships 37 to 42, inclusive, and ranges 10 to 13, inclusive, a total of
24 townships. It is drained by St. Croix waters with the excep
tion of the southeast corner, which is drained by a branch of the
Chippewa river. It has been a rich timbered region and large
forests of pine still remain. The greater part of the county is
adapted to agriculture, and is settling rapidly. Two lines of
railway traverse the county, one from south to north, and the
other from southwest to northeast, giving the county excellent
facilities for transportation and marketing of products. The
eounty is divided into two towns, Bashaw in the south and Veasie
in the north. These towns were organized in 1877, while Wash
burn was a part of Burnett county. The first supervisors of
"Bashaw were: L. E. Thomas, chairman; John Arbuckle and
John McMullen. The town of Bashaw was the first settled.
John McMullen settled in township 38, range 13, in 1872, in
Bashaw valley. He married a member of the Hart family, old
settlers of the town. He died in 1878. L. E. Thomas was the
second settler in Bashaw and in Washburn county, and has been
officially connected with the town and county organization. He
is a native of Michigan, and has followed lumbering and farm
ing. L. E. Thomas built the first house. Nellie Raberge taught
the first school in Bashaw, in 1881. Miss Raberge has since be
come the wife of Milton Stratton. The first post office was

IN THE NORTHWEST. , - 241
established in 1880, Mrs. Malcolm Dobie, postmistress. The first
sermon was preached by Rev. Ellingwood. G. P. Pearly was
the first physician; A. L. Bugbee, the first lawyer. Messrs.
Hart, Baker, Gardner and others have large farms in Bashaiv
valley. By the act organizing the county,
SHELL LAKE
was made the county seat. It is beautifully located on the
shores of Summit lake. It has a court house, built at a cost of
$11,000, in 1885, one of the most tasteful buildings of the kind
in the St. Croix valley. The town is built on railroad lands,
purchased by the Shell Lake Lumber Company, and by them
surveyed into lots. The streets are from sixty-six to eighty feet
wide. A restriction in the deeds to the lots and lands against-
the sale of alcoholic drinks has been continuously violated. In
1883 the town board fixed license at five hundred dollars, a
plain violation of the original agreement.
A fine school building with four apartments was built in 1885,.
at a cost of $5,000. Prof. Halphyde is principal of the schools-
The Episcopalians and Catholics have church buildings. The
Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans and Presbyterians have church
organizations. The Masons, Good Templars and Knights of
Labor have organizations.
Summit lake, on the west bank of which the town is situated,
is about two and a half miles broad by three and a half long. It,
has bold, gravelly shores. The water is deep, clear and pure.
The slopes surrounding it are covered with evergreen, and hard
wood timber. One small steamer floats upon its waters.
The first board of county officers was as follows: Treasurer,
Leander E. Thomas; clerk, Frank B. Nelson; sheriff, James-
Wynne; attorney, Frank Gudette; register of deeds, Albert L.
Bugbee; judge, L. H. Mead; clerk of court, A. Gibson; superin
tendent of schools, Clara Stratton; surveyor, Patrick Kelly..
The first circuit court was held in June, 1883, Hon. S. S. Clough,
presiding. The county has two court terms for the year, in
June and December.
The Shell Lake Lumber Company was organized in 1880, under
Iowa laws. It is composed of C. Lamb and David Joice and.
sons, of Clinton, Iowa; Laird, Norton & Co., of Winona; Wey-
erhauser & Dinkeman, of Rock Island, Illinois; S. T. McKnight,
16

242 FIFTY YEARS
of Hannibal, Missouri; D. R. Moore, Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Their
mills are located on the northwest side of Summit lake. They
have a capacity of 50,000,000 feet per year. The capital stock
amounts to $500,000. Employment is furnished to 250 men. In
1880 the hour system of labor was adopted. A narrow gauge
railroad, twelve miles long, supplied with two locomotives and
fifty cars, is used for bringing logs to mill. This road has a steel
track and 3,000 feet of piling. The refuse burner of the mill is
20 feet in diameter and 102 in height. There are 63 tenement
houses to accommodate the laborers. A. H. Earle superintends
this vast concern.
Sawyer creek obtained its name from Seth M. Sawyer, of Still
water. This stream flows into Yellow river, five miles from Sum
mit lake. It rises from springs three hundred feet from the lake,
and one hundred feet lower down, and may be considered its
subterranean outlet, as visible outlet there is none. The lake,
literally a summit lake, the receding and descending slopes, the
springs uniting to form a larger stream, form a peculiar land
scape, quite park-like in some of its features, and worthy of be
ing converted into a park. SPOONER,
In the township of Veazie, on the north branch of the Yellow
river, township 39, range 12, is a dinner station on the North
Wisconsin railroad. The railroad company have fitted up an
elegant eating house, and a few neat buildings, the nucleus of a
much larger village, cluster around it.
VEAZIE VILLAGE
Is in township 41, range 10, and has a post office. The town of
Veazie, occupying the northern part o'f the county, was organized
in 1877. Millions of feet of pine timber have been gathered
and marketed from this town, and it is estimated that 150,000,-
600 feet still remain. Ames and Sinnot station are in the town
ship of Veazie. SAWYER COUNTY.
Sawyer county was organized March 9, 1883. It is comprised
of townships 37 to 42, and ranges 5 to 9, inclusive. Of these
townships twenty-five are drained by Chippewa waters and
five by Namakagon river. The county is heavily timbered

IN THE NORTHWEST. 243
with pine, though vast quantities have been taken and marketed.
The county seat was located at Hayward in the bill organizing
the county. The county officers, appointed by Gov. Rusk, were:
.Sheriff, A. Blaisdell; clerk, C. H. Clapperton; register of deeds,
H. E. Ticknor; treasurer, R. L. McCormack; county judge, H.
W. Hart; attorney, N. E. Ticknor; superintendent of schools,
Miss M. Mears; surveyor, W. J. Moulton; coroner, E. G. Gregg.
The court house was built in 1885, at a cost of $18,000. The
¦county at its organization assumed the following indebtedness:
To Ashland county  '  $25,000
To town of Ashland, Ashland county  1,870
'To town of Butternut, Ashland county  2,050
To Chippewa county  ,  1,900
To town of Flambeau, Chippewa county (disputed claim)  5,000
To town of Big Bend, Chippewa county  3,000
To town of Sigel, Chippewa county  2,000
Outside indebtedness, total  $40,820
All this indebtedness, with the exception of the unsettled
claim of Flambeau, Chippewa county, has been paid. Since its
-organization the county has expended $30,000 on roads to Chip
pewa waters. This, added to the cost of the court house, $18,000,
a school house for the tjpwn of Hayward, $6,500, town hall for
Hayward $5,000, makes a total of expenditures for the county
within the past three years of $106,420, a remarkable sum for a
new county with so sparse a population to pay, but not so re
markable when we take into account the immense value of its
lumber products and standing timber.
Hayward is the only town in the county. Its first board of
.supervisors were: A. J. Hayward, chairman; Thos. Manwarin
and Michael Jordan. A. L. McCormack was first treasurer, and
-C. C. Claghorn, clerk. The village is situated in sections 21 and
22, township 41, range 9, upon a level pine plateau on the north
side of Namakagon river, a tributary of the St. Croix. The village
was platted in 1883, but a post office had been established the year
before, C. H. Clapperton being the first postmaster. The first
marriage in the town of Hayward and county of Sawyer was
that of Fred Emmons and Mary Lindmark, in 1883. The first
birth was that of a daughter to Al. Blaisdell. The first death
was that of Nels J. Eggin. Rev. A. Safford preached the first
.sermon. Anna Shafer taught the first school. E. G. Gregg

244 FIFTY YEARS
opened the first store. H. E. Ticknor was the first lawyer and J.
B. Trowbridge the first physician.
The first school house, built at a cost of $5,000, was burned.
There was an insurance of $4,500. A new building was erected
at a cost of $6,000, with three departments, and with steam heat-
ng apparatus. Prof. F. A. Nichols was the principal.
The Congregational church at Hayward is one of the finest
church buildings in the Northwest. It is built in the Queen
Anne style, with circular seats, the whole finished in exquisite
taste. Senator Sawyer, after whom the county was named, con
tributed a town clock and bell worth $1,000. The Catholics
have a church here, and the Lutherans an organization. The
Odd Fellows and Knights of Labor have organizations.
The Sawyer County Bank was organized March 9, 1884, with
a capital stock of $200,000, divided equally between three stock
holders, R. L. McCormack, A. J. Hayward and E. H. Halbert,
the latter being general manager and cashier. The bank deals
in real estate, abstracts, insurance and general monetary busi
ness. The business transacted for the year ending June 6, 1886,
amounted to $3,000,000. The bank building is a substantial
brick. The Hayward Lumber Company has a mill on the
Namakagon river. The water power has a fall of eighteen feet
and a flowage of about three miles. A sixty foot channel has
been left through the flowage for slucing logs. The saw mill has
a capacity of 35,000,000 feet per annum. It has a planing mill
attached. The company is composed of T. F. Robinson, Weyer-
hauser & Dinkeman and R. L. McCormack. Mr. Weyerhauser
is president of the company. Mr. Weyerhauser is also president
of the Rock Island Lumber Company and of Weyerhauser,
Dinkeman & Co., of Rock Island, and is a stockholder in Ren-
wick, Crosset & Co., Cloquet, Minnesota, Shell Lake, Barronett,
Masons, White River, and Chippewa Falls Lumber companies,
and is president of the Beef Slough Boom and Chippewa and
Mississippi Logging companies. Mr. Weyerhauser is the most
extensive holder and owner of unoperated pine- lands in the
West, or probably on the continent. The stockholders of the
Hayward Lumber Company are all men of wealth accumulated
by their own industry. Mr. R. L. McCormack, the resident
stockholder and manager, is admirably adapted for the position
he holds. Mr. McCormack was a citizen of Minnesota for four-

IN THE NORTHWEST. 245
teen years, and a member of the Minnesota legislature in 1881.
He was born in Pennsylvania in 1847.
Dobie & Stratton, contractors for pine stumpage on the Lac
Oreilles Indian reservation, reside in Hayward. They cut 28, -
000,000 feet of logs in the winter of 1885-86.
Malcomb Dobie, of this firm, is a native of Canada. He came
to the St. Croix valley in 1864, and was married to Harriet Strat
ton, at St. Croix Falls, in 1874.
Milton V. Stratton, brother of Mrs. Dobie, was raised at
St. Croix Falls, and engaged in business with Mr. Dobie. In
1886, his health failing, he removed to California.
BARRON COUNTY.
Barron county was formerly a heavily timbered tract of coun
try, but is now being rapidly cleared and settled. It is well
watered by the Red Cedar and its tributaries, and has many
beautiful lakes, among them Turtle, Beaver, Chetek, Red Cedar,
Rice, Bear, and Long lakes. The county was first established,
as Dallas county, in 1859, and attached to Polk for judicial
purposes. In 1868 it was organized for county and judicial
purposes, and the county seat was changed from Manhattan to
Barron, section 26, township 34, range 12. By act of legislature
in 1869, the name of the county was changed to Barron, and the
county seat was called by the same name, in honor of Hon. Henry
D. Barron, then judge of the Eleventh circuit. It comprises
townships 32 to 36, inclusive, and ranges 10 to 14, in all 25
townships. Barron county has three railroads, on the lines
cf which thriving settlements have sprung up. The railroads
are three, the North Wisconsin, a branch line of the Omaha, and
the Minneapolis, Soo Ste. Marie & Atlantic. The North Wis
consin railroad passes through the northwestern part of the
county. The Chippewa Falls & Superior City branch of the
Omaha enters the southeast corner, and traverses the county
in a direction west <5f north. The Minneapolis, Soo Ste. Marie
.& Atlantic passes through the middle of the county in a direc
tion from east to west. TURTLE LAKE TOWN
Was organized in 1879. The village of Turtle Lake is situated
in sections 30 and 31, township 34, range 14. It contains a large

246 FIFTY YEARS
saw mill with a capacity of 40,000,000 feet per annum; a union;
depot, used by the North Wisconsin, and Minneapolis, Soo Ste,
Marie & Atlantic railroads, and stores, shops and dwellings, all
new. The Minneapolis, Soo Ste. Marie & Atlantic railroad was-
built through the county in 1885, and completed in 1887.
BARRON,
The county seat, is a growing lumber town, with farming lands
to the south. It has a population of over 1,000. The "Soo-
Line" railway has a station here.
PERLEY VILLAGE
Is located also in Turtle Lake town, in section 8, township 34,.
range 14, and on the line of the North Wisconsin railroad. It
has a large saw mill with a capacity of 16,000,000 feet per
annum. The village is beautifully located on Horse Shoe lake.
CUMBERLAND VILLAGE
Is situated in the town of Cumberland, section 7, township 35,
range 15, on Beaver Dam lake. It is pleasantly situated, and is
the largest village on the line of the Northwestern railroad. Its
appearance gives evidence of enterprise and thrift on the part
of its citizens. The Beaver Dam Lumber Company have here a
saw mill with a capacity of 24,000,000 feet per annum. Cook &
Co. have a saw mill (burned and rebuilt) with a capacity of
6,000,000 feet. The village has a bank and one newspaper, the
Cumberland Advocate, first issued in 1880 as the Herald.
Cumberland was organized as a village in 1881, and organized
under a city charter in 1885. The population is now about
1,700. The mercantile business will aggregate about $500,000'
annually. The aggregate output of lumber is 30,000,000 feet,
while other industries aggregate $200,000 per annum. There
are four churches, one graded school of five departments in
which students are prepared to enter college. There is here one
banking house. SPRAGUE
Is a village in Cumberland, on the Northwestern railroad. It-
has a saw mill with a capacity of about 15,000,000 feet per an
num.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 247

In Cumberland, on the Northwestern railroad, has a shingle mill
and saw mill, the latter having a capacity of about 5,000,000
feet. BARRONETT,
In Cumberland, is located in township 36, range 13, in the midst
of a well timbered region. Its saw mill, directly on the county
line, has a capacity of 25,000,000 feet. M. Bowron has a farm
adjoining the village of 250 acres, improved and yielding tame
grass. DeGraw and Granite Lake Mills are also located on the North
western railroad.
Turtle Lake, Scott's Siding, Cosgrove, Barron, the county
seat, Cameron and Canton, are on the Minneapolis, Soo Ste. Marie
& Atlantic railroad.
Chetek, Cameron Junction, Rice Lake and Bear Creek are lo -
cated on the Omaha branch.
Charles Simeon Taylor. — Mr. Taylor was born in Geneva,
Wisconsin, October, 1851; graduated at the Wisconsin State
University; studied law and settled at Barron, Barron county, in
1876, where he practices his profession and edits the Barron
County Shield. He was elected member of the Thirty- seventh
Wisconsin assembly in 1885-86 and represented the counties
of Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, and Washburn.

248 FIFTY YEARS

OHAPTEE IX.
ASHLAND, BAYFIELD AND DOUGLAS COUNTIES.

ASHLAND COUNTY.
Ashland was originally a part of Crawford county, afterward
of St. Croix and La Pointe, and was set off from the latter
March 27, 1860. It is bounded on the north by Lake Superior
and Montreal river, on the east by Oneida, on the south by Price
and Chippewa, and on the west by Bayfield and Chippewa coun
ties. It includes townships 41 to 47, ranges 1, 2, and 3 east of
the fourth principal meridian, and townships 41 to 48 west of the
same; the northern towns bordering on Montreal river and Lake
Superior are fractional. The group of Apostle islands belongs
to this county. The surface is generally level except where
broken by the iron and copper ranges in the middle and southern
part of the county. The Gogebic range, southeast of Ashland,
is especially rich in iron. A railroad along this range connects
Ashland with the Michigan roads. The soil is somewhat varied,
ranging from sandy loam in the interior, to red clay on the lake
shore. The county is drained by Bad, White and Montreal
rivers and their tributaries, and the headwaters of the Chippewa.
The timber is pine, fir, birch, etc.
The Apostle islands, situated in Lake Superior at the mouth of
Chequamegon bay, form a fine natural harbor. The group con
sists of twenty-two islands, the most considerable of which are
Madeline, Oatez, Oak, Hemlock, Rice, Basswood, Presque,- Bear,
Sand, and Michigan. The islands range in area from a very
few acres up to 14,804. They are heavily timbered with hard
wood, have fertile soil, and are well adapted to farm and garden

IN THE NORTHWEST. 249
culture. The largest of these islands is Madeline, situated
directly at the entrance to Chequamegon bay, and noted as
containing the oldest settlement on the lake. Claude Allouez,
a Jesuit missionary, landed at Madeline island Oct. 1, 1665, and
erected a bark chapel at the place now known as La Pointe, and
commenced instructing the Indians of the Algonquin and Huron
tribes. Since that time the island has been held by missionaries
and trading companies, with some pretty long intervals of
abandoment. In 1800, M. Cadot, a French trader, came to
La Pointe, erected fortified dwellings and lived here till his
death, in 1837. At the commencement of the present century
the American Fur Company made its headquarters on the south
ern part of the island, and occupied a post there until 1835, when
they removed to La Pointe. Rev. Sherman Hall, of the Pres
byterian church, established a mission here in 1830. In 1835
Rev. Father Baraga, a Catholic missionary, arrived, and built a
church which he occupied until 1841, when he built a better
one, which still stands in the inclosure of an ancient burying
ground. This church contains a painting said to be over two
hundred years old. Some of the graves are quite ancient, and
have quaint inscriptions upon their tombstones. One that has
often been copied and commented on by' tourists is as follows:
"erected
to the memory of abraham beaulieau
who was accidentally shot
as a mark of affection
by his brother."
These islands are becoming a fashionable resort for tourists,
and many of them have been utilized as pleasant summer resi
dences. Some of them are occupied by lighthouses of which
there are five in all. The islands abound in brown stone, which
is being quarried extensively for building purposes. The stone
for the Milwaukee court house was taken from the quarries on
Basswood island.
La Pointe County Election. — In 1848 La Pointe county was
set off from St. Croix county, and at an election held Nov. 10,
1848, John H. Wells and Leonard Wheeler were elected justices
of the peace, and J. F. Hughes was elected clerk of the board
of county commissioners. Returns of their election and that of

250 FIFTY YEARS
members of the legislature were made to Hudson, county seat of
St. Croix county.
Hon. John W. Bell, born in New York City in 1805, in his
eighth year went to Canada with his parents, learned to be a
watchmaker, a ship builder and a cooper, and came to La Poi nte
in 1835, where he has since resided. He carried on the coopering
business first, for the American Fur Company, and then for him
self established a trading post, became interested in mining
stocks, and filled various county offices, having served as county
judge and register of deeds a great many years. In later life. he
was postmaster at La Pointe. He was married in 1837 to Miss
Margaret Brahant, in the Catholic ehapel, by Bishop Baraga.
He died in 1888. ASHLAND
Is situated on a plateau of about thirty feet elevation, on the
south shore and near the head of Chequamegon bay. The first
house, a cabin, was built in 1854. Other cabins were added the
same year. In the cabin erected by Mr. Asaph Whittlesey, in
the winter of 1854-55, was preached the first sermon in Ashland
by Rev. L. H. Wheeler, of the Odanah mission. A post office
was established in March, 1855, Mr. Whittlesey, postmaster. The
first American child born was the second daughter of Asaph
Whittlesey. The name of Ashland was conferred upon the town
by Martin Beaser, an ardent admirer of Henry Clay, it being
the name of Mr. Clay's homestead. The village and post office
was first known as Whittlesey, but on the organization of the
county in 1860, the name of Ashland was applied to both. The
new town was not destined to immediate and continuous pros
perity, and at one time, in 1863, had decreased so much in popu
lation that its post office was discontinued for a period of nine
years. After that date it entered upon an era of prosperity.
Julia Wheeler taught the first school in 1859. The Metho
dists organized the first Protestant society in 1872. The Catho
lics commenced a church building in 1873. In 1872 the first
newspaper in Ashland, the Press, was established by Sam S.
and Hank O. Fifield, under whose charge it remained until
1874, when S. S. Fifield bought his brother's interest in the
paper and has since published it continuously, and in 1888 es
tablished a daily.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 251
In 1872 the Wisconsin Central railroad commenced work at
the bay, and the outlay for improvements that year amounted
to $244,800. The Wisconsin Central railroad built the Hotel
Chequamegon in 1877. It is built in the form of an L, 120 feet
front and 80 feet deep with 400 feet of veranda, and accommo
dations for 100 guests. There are numerous other hotels in the
city, and several boarding houses receive guests during the
summer season. Ashland has vast lumber interests. The Ash
land Lumber Company built the first mill, in 1872, which had a
capacity of about 15,000,000 feet per annum. The Union mill,
built in 1878, has a capacity of about 18,000,000 feet. Mueller
& Richie's mill, built in 1881, has a capacity of about 20,000,000'
feet. There is also a planing mill belonging to Geo. White.
Ashland has become a railroad centre. The Wisconsin Central,
St. Paul & Omaha, Milwaukee & Lake Shore and Northern Pa
cific concentrate a heavy freight for their elevators and lake
docks. The largest dock, in the world was built in Ashland
in 1887. It was built almost expressly for iron ore shipments
from Penoka and Gogebic ranges.
Asaph Whittlesey selected the site of Ashland in 1854, and
in conjunction with George Kilborn built the first dwelling. He
was the first postmaster. He was appointed in 1855. He repre
sented Ashland, Burnett, Douglas, La Pointe, Polk, and St.
Croix in the Wisconsin assembly in 1860.
J. P. T. Haskell was the second settler in Ashland. He came
with his wife, Nov. 2, 1854, but did not long remain.
S. S. Vaughn was born in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, Sept. 2,
1830. He came with his brother to La Pointe in 1852, and en
gaged in the fishing and fur trade until 1855, when he returned
to Ohio. After taking a course in a commercial college, he re
turned to Wisconsin in 1856, took a claim of one hundred and
sixty acres at Ashland and opened a store at Bayfield. In 1856
he surveyed and platted what is known as Vaughn's addition to
Ashland. In 1871 he represented Ashland, Barron, Bayfield,
Burnett, Douglas, and Polk counties in the Wisconsin assembly.
At Ashland he built docks, warehouses and a store, and in later-
years dealt largely in iron mines and in lumber. He was married
to Miss E. Patrick, of Ohio, in 1864. He died at Ashland, Feb
ruary, 1886. He induced the Wisconsin Central Railroad Com
pany to make Ashland their lake terminus. He did more for
that city than any other man.

252 FIFTY YEARS
Edwin Ellis, M.D., was born in Oxford county, Maine; was
educated in Farmington Academy, Colby University and Bow-
¦doin College, where he graduated and afterward completed a
medical course at the University of New York. He came West
in 1854, and located first at St. Paul, but in 1855 removed to
Ashland where he made a claim, which, in part, became in 1873
Ellis' addition to Ashland. He practiced his profession at Ash
land and Ontonagon, Michigan. He was married in 1850 to
Martha B. Baker, of Sharon, Maine.
Martin Beaser, one of the pre-emptors of the site of Ash
land, was born in Erie county, New York, Oct. 22, 1822. For
many years he was a seafaring man. He spent seven years in
whaling, at the close of which time he came to Ontonagon in a
sailing vessel, and thence with three companions in a dog sledge
to Ashland, arriving February, 1856. Here he pre-empted land,
and assisted in laying out the village. He engaged in the mer
cantile business. He was drowned in November, 1866, while try
ing to cross Chequamegon bay in an open boat during a storm.
Mr. Beaser was a public spirited man and freely used his wealth
in attempting to build up Ashland. He never lost faith in the
¦ultimate prosperity of his adopted home.
Hon. Sam S. Fifield was born inCorinna, Penobscot county,
Maine, June 24, 1839. His early days were spent in Bangor,
and he had but limited school privileges. He was early thrown
npon his own resources and learned lessons in the rough school
of life. He spent his time variously, as errand boy, hotel
clerk, night watch on a steamboat, toll keeper; but finally, hav
ing served a brief apprenticeship in a printing office, he became
the proprietor of the Polk County Press in 1862. In 1872 he and
his brother Hank O. established the Ashland Press, of which he
is now sole editor and publisher. Mr. Fifield entered the political
arena as a Republican and has been remarkably successful. His
record from the Wisconsin blue book is as follows:
1868-69 — Assembly proof-reader and assistant sergeant-at-
arms. 1871-72 — Assembly sergeant-at-arnis.
1874-75-76 — Member of assembly from Ashland, Barron,
Burnett, Douglas, and Pplk counties.
1876 — Speaker of the assembly.
1877 — Member of the senate.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 253-
1880-81 — Member of the senate.
1882-86- — Lieutenant governor.
Mr. Fifield was married to Stella Grimes, at Prescott, 1863.
Considering the disadvantageous circumstances of his youth,
Mr. Fifield' s career has been a notable one.
BAYFIELD COUNTY.
Bayfield county includes townships 43 to 52, except as affected
by the irregular outline of its lake boundary on the north, and
ranges 5 to 9. It has seventy-five miles of lake shore, with some
fine harbors, the finest of which are those in the shelter of the
Apostle islands, on the northeast. The country is covered with
dense growths of evergreen and hardwood timber. Numerous
streams flow into the lake on the north, and into the tributaries
of the St. Croix on the south. The Chippewa Indians formerly
occupied the country. The Red Cliff Indian reservation is lo
cated at Buffalo Bay, a short distance north of Bayfield City.
The territory of Bayfield county has been successively in the
bounds of Crawford, St. Croix and La Pointe. By subsequent
subdivisions Douglas and Ashland counties were set off from La
Pointe, and the Apostle islands given to Ashland, and the re
maining part of La Pointe was organized as Bayfield county,
with the county seat at Bayfield, in 1868. Aside from traders
and adventurers and the occasional advent of a missionary, the
first settler was Elisha Pike, who came with his family in 1855,
and settled in section 21, township 50, range 4, not far from Bay
field.. Bayfield was -named in honor of Admiral Bayfield of the
British Navy, who made a survey of Lake Superior in 1822-23.
BAYFIELD.
The village of Bayfield was platted in 1856, by H. M. Rice. It
has since been incorporated. It is beautifully situated. The site
slopes gently from high timbered regions to the shores of the bay.
The waters of the bay are deep, clear, and, from the shelter af
forded by the Apostle islands, almost unruffled. The harbor thus
afforded is among the best on the lake. Bayfield was made a
port of entry in 1858. The city is well supplied with stores, mills,
hotels, school houses, and churches. There are many pleasant
homes, with fountains playing in front, lawns, shade trees and
ornamental shrubs. The landscape, especially to those residing

254 FIFTY YEARS
in the rear of the city on the higher grounds, is exquisitely
beautiful. There are many beautiful trout brooks and ponds in
the suburbs. As a summer resort Bayfield is becoming every
year better appreciated. The Bayfield Press, established in 1874, is
the local newspaper. It is edited and published by Currie C.
Bell. WASHBURN
Is a new town on the west side of Chequamegon bay. It is the
lake terminus of the Omaha railroad. It has a fine harbor, large
mills and other enterprises that mark it as a growing town.
DRUMMOND, PRATT AND MASON
Are prosperous manufacturing villages, with large saw mills,
located on White river, on the line of the North Wisconsin rail
road. CABLE STATION,
On the railroad, in township 43, range 7, contains about a dozen
buildings. Mathews, Olson & Co. are working a silver mine near
Cable which yields twenty-three dollars per ton. There are
.several other villages and stations on the line of the two rail
roads passing through this county.
DOUGLAS COUNTY.
This county occupies the extreme northwestern corner of the
State, having a frontage of six townships on the lake by six on
. the Minnesota state line, making a total .of thirty-six whole
townships and five fractional, the latter lying along the lake.
The northern part of the county is drained by the tributaries of
,St. Louis river and Lake Superior, the principal streams being
the Nemadji, Middle and Brule rivers. The southern part is
drained by the St. Croix and tributaries. The Omaha railroad
intersects the county from south to north, having its northern
terminus at West Superior. The Northern Pacific crosses the
upper tier of towns, having its principal station at Superior.
Thriving villages are growing up along these lines of railroad,
and the county is being rapidly settled. It was organized as a
county in February, 1854, from territory originally belonging
.successively to Crawford, St. Croix and La Pointe counties.
The first election was held Nov. 7, 1854. The following offi-

IN THE NORTHWEST. 255
cers were elected: County judge, J. A. Markland; sheriff, Asa A.
Parker; district attorney, R. R. Nelson; register of deeds, F. A.
Whitaker; county treasurer, Bradley Salter; supervisors, Frank
Perfect, Chas. H. Kimball and Alexander Paul; supervisors'
¦clerk, C. H. Kingsbury; superintendent of schools, J. J. Post;
coroner, R. H. Barrett. Judge J. A. Markland held the first
term of court, June 4, 1854. The first deed filed in the county
was from William Herbert to Geo. L. Becker, being a warranty
in section 14, township 47, range 14. Consideration, $250. The
deed was recorded February, 1854. At the organization of the
county, Superior was made the county seat.
SUPERIOR CITY.
The site is on a beautiful plateau originally covered with pine,
lying on the southern shore of Lake Superior, separated, how
ever, from it by the waters of Superior bay, a fine natural har
bor shut in from the lake by tongues of land called Minnesota
and Wisconsin Points. These approach within a half mile of
each other, the space thus left being the original outlet of the
bay. Between Wisconsin Point and the main land lie the waters
cf Allouez bay, extending in length a distance of three miles,
and in width in its widest part about one mile. The Nemadji
fiver flows into Superior bay near its outlet. The bay of St.
Louis finds an outlet into Superior bay between Rice's Point and
a tongue of land a mile or more in length, projecting from the
Wisconsin main land. Minnesota Point, which separates Su
perior bay from Superior lake, is a strip of land seven miles in
length, with an average width of seven hundred feet, beautifully
fringed with pines. At the outlet of Superior bay two piers
have been constructed, extending into the lake three-fourths of
a mile. On one of these piers is a forty-day lighthouse, con
structed by the government. The bay forms one of the finest
harbors in the world.
The plateau on which Superior City is located is about thirty-
five feet above the waters of the bay. The site occupies the
triangular space lying between St. Louis bay and the bays of
Allouez and Superior, and has at least eleven miles of frontage
o'n these bays, along which numerous docks and piers have been
built and projected, some of them costing as much as $200,000.
The government surveys were made in 1853, by George R. Stuntz.

256 FIFTY YEARS
In July of the same year J. Addison Bulmer made a location on
Allouez Point. In August, John T. Morgan settled at the mouth
of the Nemadji river. They were followed by Wm. H. Newton,
George E. Nettleton, Benjamin Thompson, Col. D. A. Robertson,
R. R. Nelson, and D. A. J. Baker, of St. Paul. In September
the Roy brothers and — Cadott came. The same autumn Frank
Roy, Abraham Emmuit and Louis Souvenard made pre-emptions
of frontage on Superior bay. Several buildings were erected.
Mr. Roy and others give to Col. Robertson the honor of building
the first house in Superior. It is still standing.
In the fall of 1853 mineral explorations were made, and mines
were worked during the ensuing winter. An Indian trail was
widened and a road opened into the St. Croix valley by which
supplies were brought from St. Paul. This road was not wide
enough for wagons, but was traveled during the winter in dog
sledges and on snow-shoes. The winter following the opening
of the road, Messrs. Robertson, Nelson and Baker went over it to
St. Paul on foot. In the spring of 1854 Newton and others made
additional surveys of the town site of Superior City, and the
same was recorded Nov. 6, 1854. Settlers came in rapidly. O.
K. Hall built a hotel. At the organization of Douglas county,
in 1854, Superior was made the county seat, the proprietors do
nating twelve acres of land for county buildings. Two lots for*
every eight blocks were donated for schools, twenty lots for
churches, and a square for a park. A weekly mail to and from
St. Paul was established in July of that year. A saw mill was
erected. A land office was established at Superior that year.
Rev. David Brooks, a pioneer Methodist minister, preached the
first sermon, using a carpenter's shop as an audience room.
An old settlers' association was organized September, 1855,
known as the Fond du Lac Historical Society. Its officers were:
R. B. Carlton, president; W. H. Norton and E. F. Ely, vice presi
dents; E. W. Perry, secretary. The Superior Chronicle issued
its first number June 12, 1855. It was the first newspaper pub
lished at the head of Lake Superior. Ashton & Wise were the
publishers. The second number contained the announcement of
the opening of the Ste. Marie canal and the passage through it of
the first boat, the steamer Illinois. It contained also the aston
ishing announcement, from the St. Anthony Express, that a salt
lake had been discovered by W. H. Ingersoll, one hundred and

IN THE NORTHWEST. 257
fifty miles west of St. Cloud. The salt was said to be of good
quality, and in such quantity that it could be gathered by the
bushel. Large beds of coal had also been discovered near the
lake. The Chronicle was discontinued in 1863 and succeeded by
the Superior Gazette in 1864. The Gazette has been succeeded
by the Superior Times, now edited by J. Lute, Thomas Bardon,
proprietor. Superior City has passed through periods of depression as
well as of advancement. At an early period speculators were
lured to the spot by the manifest advantages it presented for the
building of a great city. The favorable site attracted attention
throughout the Union. Wealthy men and men prominent in
the political history of the country invested largely. Amongst
these we find the names of W. W. Corcoran, of Washington;
Robert J.Walker, of New York; G. W. Cass, of Pittsburgh, Penn
sylvania; Horace S. Walbridge, of Toledo, Ohio; the Brecken-
ridges of Kentucky; the Rice brothers, of St. Paul; and James
Stinson, of Chicago. With the influence of these names, and the
means furnished, the new city had a rapid, if not healthy growth.
The prosperity was short lived. The adjacent country was not
sufficiently developed, the shipping interests languished, and
those who had been attracted hither by dreams of becoming sud
denly rich, were discouraged and moved away, till, in 1858, the
city was half deserted. The period of depression continued
through the Civil War, and for years afterward, until, by the
building of railroads and the consequent development of the
country, the claims of Superior as a centre of trade were again
acknowledged, and the tide of emigration was turned back.
With Allouez, Superior and Duluth bays for its harbor, with its
railroads already built, building or projected, its enterprising
people are ready to contest with Duluth for the sovereignty of
the Unsalted Seas.
Superior, being a combination of Old Superior and West
Superior under one municipality, was organized as a village
Aug. 27, 1887, and held her first village election Sept. 24, 1887,
with a population of 6,000 people. It was organized with the
following officers: President, L. F. Johnston; trustees, Wm.
Munro, Neil Smith, L. G. Moran, A. Lederman, A. A. Cross,
and Howard Thomas.
17

258 FIFTY YEARS

WEST SUPERIOR

Was platted in 1884. The first buildings were erected in October
of the same year. The city has now a population of 3,000. It
has excellent graded schools, under the supervision of Prof. G.
Glen Williams. The Catholics, Presbyterians and Congregation-
alists have church buildings, and the Methodists are about to
build. A hotel is in process of building that will cost when
completed $100,000. West Superior is supplied with water
works, the electric light, extensive coal docks and elevators, and
has three newspapers, the Superior Inter- Ocean, established June
3, 1886; the West Superior News, established June 24, 1886; and
the Sunday Morning Call, established July, 1887.
The Bardon Brothers. — James, Thomas and John A. Bar-
don came early to Superior City and upheld her doubtful for
tunes in the days of trial, never losing faith in her prospective
greatness. They have not toiled and watched and waited in
vain. The expected railways have been built; the improved
harbor, with dredge boats, well built piers and lighthouse, has
been completed. Surveys and terminal approaches of other
roads insure the commercial prosperity of the city. Thomas
has for some years been a resident of Ashland, Wisconsin.
Wm. H. Newton, an early citizen of Superior City, is among
those who have never lost faith in its future prosperity, believ
ing the head of the lake to be the natural terminus of European
trade and a centre of American commerce. He is an engineer,
surveyor, real estate dealer, and is interested in some of the
converging lines of railroad at Superior City.
Solon H. Clough. — Mr. Clough was born in Madison county,
New York, Aug. 31, 1828; was educated at Fulton Academy*,
since known as Falley Seminary, Oswego county, New York.
He attended for a short time Hamilton College, New York, stud
ied law, and was admitted to the bar at Syracuse in 1851. He
came to Hudson, Wisconsin, in the fall of 1857; in 1861 was
elected mayor of Hudson; in 1864, judge of the Eleventh circuit,
and removed to Osceola. In 1869 he removed to Superior City;
in 1876 returned to Hudson, but removed again to Superior in
1881, where he still resides. He was re-elected circuit judge in
1870, and in 1882 was appointed by Gov. Rusk to fill the vacancy
caused by the death of Judge Barron. At the conclusion of his
term he was re-elected for the ensuing term. Judge Clough was
married in 1851 to Kate Taylor, of New York.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 259
Vincent Roy, a brother of Peter Roy, well known among the
pioneers of the Northwest, was born in Fort Francis in 1825;
came to La Pointe in 1839; attended school a few terms, and en
gaged in the fur trade. In 1854 he came to Superior, where he
still resides, and is an active, enterprising merchant.
D. George Morrison, a son of William Morrison, the dis
coverer of the source of the Mississippi, resides at Superior City,
where he has served as register of deeds for Douglas county
since 1856, a period of thirty-one years. He came to Superior
in 1854.
August Zachau came to Superior in 1852, from Chicago,
where he had been for three years, working at the carpenter's
trade. He was then twenty -seven years of age, and a Prussian
by birth. He was engaged by the Superior Town Site Company
to superintend the building improvements going on at what is
now the East End. When he came up, no Ste. Marie canal had
been dug, and a portage was necessary between Lakes Superior
and Huron, involving a change in the line of vessels. He built
the first hotel in Superior, the old Pioneer House, which burned
in 1857, and also the present Nicollet House, which was built of
logs, cut on what is now Tower Slip. He also built the Quebec
pier, the first dock ever built at the head of Lake Superior. He
also assisted in cutting the old government trail through to the
St. Croix river. He was an active participant in the defense of
the town site people in their battles with the claim jumping pre-
emptioners, who had settled on the lands adjoining, and who filed
contests on much of the town site as soon as the plats were re
turned to the land office at Willow River, now known as Hudson.
In cutting the sixty miles of trail to the St. Croix, every able-
bodied man turned out, except enough to guard the homes and
cut kindling wood. The axemen ground their axes at Fond du.
Lac, the only trading station of importance at that time on the
St. Louis river. He pre-empted, in the interest of his fellow suf
ferers on the town site, eighty' acres of land, now part of Supe
rior. He has always led a quiet, laborious life; now runs a small
general store at the East End, and dops a little general con
tracting for ties and bridge timbers and dock piling. He has a
family of five boys and one girl now living, all in Superior.
Among the first settlers were Judge Hiram Hayes,  Ritchie
and  Gates.

260 FIFTY YEARS

CHAPTER X.

PINE COUNTY.
Prior to the organization of Minnesota Territory, in 1849, Pine
county was included within the limits of St. Croix county, Wis
consin. Until the organization of Chisago county, in 1852, it was
within the limits of Ramsey, and from thence until 1854, within
the limits of Chisago, when it was organized under its present
name. Until 1858 it included the territory of the present coun
ties of Kanabec and Carlton. It is. bounded on the north by
Carlton county, on the east by the St. Croix river and the state
line, and on the west by Aitkin and Kanabec counties. It is well
watered by the St. Croix, Kettle and Kanabec rivers with their
numerous tributaries. There are many fine lakes within its
borders. The finest of these are Cross, Pokegama, Pine and
Sturgeon lakes. This county was originally heavily timbered
with pine, from which fact it derived its name. Though immense
quantities have been removed, the supply is still great enough to
make this region a lumberman's paradise for years to come.
The facilities for floating logs to the St. Croix are scarce
equaled elsewhere. Since 1837 the Kanabec river has been
a principal feeder to the lumber trade of the St. Croix valley.
In some of the forests a new growth has succeeded the old, and
should the land be not otherwise used, the lumberman may yet
reap successive harvests in periods ranging from|eight to fifteen
years. Much of the land in this county is well adapted for
agriculture. The soil is chiefly a sandy loam with clay subsoil.
Much of the county will eventually become a good grazing and
cereal growing region. The southern townships are heavily
timbered with hardwood and are rapidly being converted into
good wheat farms. A large quantity of cordwood, piles and

IN THE NORTHWEST. 261
ties is annually marketed by means of the railroad. Kanabec
river is navigable from Chengwatana and Pine City to Bruns
wick, in Kanabec county. The same steamboat that since 1881
has navigated the Kanabec, also makes trips, six miles up the
Rice and Pokegama rivers. The first crops raised in the county,
except those raised by traders and missionaries, were raised on
the Greeley farm, Kanabec river, near the western limits of the
county, by Royal C. Gray.
At the organization of the county, Herman Trott, George W.
Staples and Royal C. Gray were appointed commissioners. The
county was attached for judicial purposes to Chisago until 1872,
at which date the' county seat, located at Chengwatana by legis
lative enactment, was changed by a popular vote to Pine City.
The first district court was held in October, 1872, Judge Crosby,
presiding; John D. Wilcox, clerk; Edward Jackson, sheriff.
The first marriage license, issued in 1872, was to John Kelsey
and Mary Hoffman. The first board of county officers, after the
removal of the county seat, were: Commissioners, Hiram Brack-
ett, George Goodwin and Edward Jackson; auditor, Adolph
Munch; register of deeds, Don Willard; county attorney, treas
urer and superintendent of schools, John D. Wilcox. The first
article recorded by the register of Pine county was a military
land warrant, No. 12702, in the name of Prudence Rockwell,
located by William Orrin Baker upon the southeast quarter of
section 32, township 38, range 20, subject to forty days' pre-emp
tion, dated Stillwater, June 19, 1855; T. M. Fullerton, register.
Assigned, June 14, 1856, to Enos Jones. The second record is
of a warranty deed from John F. Bradford to W. A. Van Slyke,
of Ramsey county, of the west half of the northwest quarter of
section 30, township 39, range 19, and the west half of the
northwest quarter of the same section.
The finances of the county were in good condition until 1872,
from which time, owing to heavy expenditures for new roads,
with possibly injudicious management, and two defalcations of
county auditors, considerable embarrassment ensued. In 1876
the state legislature bonded the county indebtedness of $10,000,
in ten year bonds, at ten per cent interest. These bonds were
readily received by the creditors, and the county is now free
from debt. During the last year a bridge 800 feet long was
built across theKanabec river near Pine City, at a cost of $3,350,
for which the State appropriated $1,500 and the county $1,850.

262 FIFTY YEARS
The Lake Superior & Mississippi railroad was completed to
Kanabec river in 1868, and in 1869 extended northwest to the
county line. The building of this road was speedily followed by
the erection of numerous mills along its line, a list of which is
appended, with the very remarkable statistics of the losses by
fire, from which but four of these mills were exempt:
North Branch, Swenson & Co., flour mill; burned; loss, $8,000.
Rush City, Taylor & Co., capacity 1,000,000 feet yearly; burned; loss, $3,000.
Rock Creek, Edgerton & Co., capacity 2,000,000 feet yearly; burned; loss,
$8,000; rebuilt.
Rock Creek, Strong & Co., capacity 1,000,000 feet yearly; burned; loss, $1,500;
rebuilt. Rock Creek, Long & Co., capacity 1,000,000 feet yearly; removed.
Pine City, Ferson & Co., capacity 10,000,000 feet yearly; burned; loss, $50,-
000; rebuilt.
Pine City, Ferson & Co., capacity 10,000,000 feet yearly; burned; loss, $25,-
000; rebuilt.
Pine City^ Munch & Burrows, stave mill; burned; loss, $10,000.
Pine City, Brack ett & Co., capacity 3,000,000 feet yearly.
Mission Creek, Taylor & Co., capacity 3,000,000 feet yearly; burned; loss,
$12,500; rebuilt.
Mission Creek, Taylor & Co., capacity 3,000,000 feet yearly; burned; loss,
$12,500. Hinckley, Grant & Co., capacity 1,000,000 feet yearly; burned; loss, $3,000.
Hinckley, McKean & Butler, capacity 3,000,000 feet yearly; burned; loss,
$7,000; rebuilt.
Miller Station, Robie & Co., shingle mill; burned; loss, $3,000.
Kettle River, S. S. Griggs & Co., capacity 3,000,000 feet yearly; never oper
ated; loss, $5,000.
Moose Lake, McArthur & Co., capacity 2,000,000 feet yearly; burned; loss,
$30,000. Barnum, Cooley & Co., capacity 1,000,000 feet yearly; burned; loss, $5,000.
Barnum, Bliss & Co., capacity 10,000,000 feet yearly.
Northern Pacific Junction, Payne & Co., two mills burned; loss, $50,000;
rebuilt the third time. POKEGAMA LAKE.
This beautiful lake lies in township 39, range 22. It is about
five miles in length by one in breadth and finds an outlet in
Kanabec river. It is celebrated for its historical associations.
Thomas Conner, an old trader, informed the writer of these
sketches, in 1847, that he had had a trading post on the banks of
this lake thirty years before, or about the year 1816. This was
before Fort Snelling was built. Mr. Conner said that there was

IN- THE NORTHWEST. 263
a French trading post at Pokegama long before he went there. It
was in the spring of 1847, after a wearisome day's tramp, that I
made his acquaintance and shared his unstinted hospitality.
His post, at that time, was located at the mouth of Goose creek,
Chisago county, on the banks of the St. Croix. His rude, port
able house was built of bark, subdivided with mats and skins
into different apartments. Although at an advanced period in
life, his mind "was clear and he conversed with a degree of
intelligence which caused me to ask him why he lived thus
secluded, away from all the privileges of a civilized life. His
reasons, some of them, were forcible; he liked the quiet of the
wilderness, away from the turmoils of the envious white race.
I learned from him many interesting facts connected with travel
ers, traders and explorers of our St. Croix valley. This was the
last season he spent on the river.
In 1847, when I visited Pokegama, Jeremiah Russell, an In
dian farmer, had a very pretty farm on a point of land on the
southwest side of the lake, and between the lake and the river. A
Frenchman, Jarvis, lived a short distance from Russell. Across
the lake from Russell's were the neat and tasteful log buildings
and gardens of the Presbyterian mission. The mission was es
tablished in the spring of 1836, by Rev. Frederic Ayer and his
associates, under the auspicies of the American Board of Foreign
Missions. Mr. Ayer had been laboring at Yellow Lake mission,
but, owing to the growing unfriendliness of the Indians, had been
removed to Pokegama. Much pertaining to the mission work,
both at Pokegama and elsewhere, will be found in the biographies
of the principal missionaries. We mention here only such inci
dents as may be of more general interest. For many of these
incidents we are indebted to Mrs. Elisabeth J. Ayer, of Belle
Prairie, the widow of Rev. Frederic Ayer, for a long time mission
ary to the Ojibways. This estimable lady has passed her eighty-
fifth year, but her mind is still clear and her hand steady, her
manuscript having the appearance of the work of a precise young
schoolmistress. She mentions an old Canadian, who had been in
the country sixty years, and for seven or eight years had been
entirely blind. He was known as Mushk-de-winini (The-old-
blind-prairie-man), also the old trader, Thomas Conner, the re
mains of whose mud chimney and foundation of the old trading
house may still be seen on the southern shore of the lake.

264 FIFTY YEARS
Franklin Steele was the first white man to visit the mission.
In the spring of 1837 the mission aided three or four families in
building. February, 1837, Rev. Mr. Hall, of the La Pointe
mission, visited Pokegama, and organized a church of seven mem
bers, — three of whom were natives, — administered the ordinance
of baptism to eight persons, and solemnized two marriages,
probably the first in the valley of the St. Croix. Revs. Bout
well and Ely came to the mission in 1837. A school had been.
opened, some Indian houses built, and gardens enlarged, and
the future of the mission seemed assured. Mrs. Ayer relates the
following account of the BATTLE OF POKEGAMA.
In 1841 the Sioux selected this settlement as the place to
avenge the wrongs of the Ojibways — some of recent date; the
principal of which was the killing of two sons of Little Crow (done
in self defense) between Pokegama and the falls of the St. Croix.
The Sioux arrived at Pokegama in the night, and stopped on the
opposite side of the lake, two miles from the mission. The main
body went to the main settlement, and, after examining the
ground where they intended to operate, hid among the trees and
brush back of the Indian gardens, with orders that all keep
quiet on both sides of the lake till a given signal, when the
Indians were busy in their gardens, and then make quick work.
But their plans failed. Most of the Ojibways of the settlement
had, from fear of the Sioux, slept on an island half a mile out in
the lake (I mean the women and children), and were late to their
gardens. In the meantime a loaded canoe was nearing the oppo
site shore and the few Sioux who had remained thereto dispatch
any who, in time of battle, might attempt to escape by crossing
over, fired prematurely. This gave the alarm, and saved the
Ojibways. The chief ran to Mr. Ayer's door and said, express
ively: "The Sioux are upon us," and was off. The Indians
seemed at once to understand that the main body of the enemy
was at hand. The missionaries stepped out of the door and had
just time to see a great splashing of water across the lake when
bullets came whizzing about their ears, and they went in. The
Sioux had left their hiding place and the battle commenced in
earnest. Most of the women and children of the settlement
were yet ou the island. The house of the chief was well barri-

IN THE NORTHWEST. 265
caded and most of the men gathered in there. The remainder
took refuge in a house more exposed, at the other end of the
village. The enemy drew up very near and fired in at the win
dow. One gun was made useless, being indented by a ball. The
owner retired to a corner and spent the time in prayer. The
mother of the house, with her small'children, was on her way to
the island under a shower of bullets, calling aloud on God for
help. The missionaries seeing from their windows quantities of
bloody flesh upon stumps in the battle field, thought surely that
several of their friends had fallen. It proved to be a cow and
calf of an Ojibway. The mission children were much frightened
and asked many questions, and for apparent safety went up
stairs and were put behind some well filled barrels. In the heat
of battle two Ojibways came from the island and landed in front
of Mr. Ayer's house. They drew their canoe ashore and se
creted themselves as well as the surroundings would permit. Not
long after three Sioux ran down the hill and toward the can6e.
They were fired upon and one fell dead. The other two ran for
help but before they could return the Ojibways were on the way
back to the island. Not having time to take the scalp of their
enemy, they hastily cut the powder horn strap from his breast,
dripping with blood, as a trophy of victory. The Sioux drew
the dead body up the hill and back to the place of fighting. The
noise ceased. The battle was over. The missionaries soon heard
the joyful words, quietly spoken: "We still live." Not a war
rior had fallen. The two school girls who were in the canoe at
the first firing in the morning were the only ones killed, though
half the men and boys in the fight were wounded. The Sioux
women and boys who had come with their warriors to carry
away the spoils had the chagrin of returning as empty as they
came. The Ojibways were careful that no canoe should be left within
reach of the Sioux. From necessity they took a canoe, made by
Mr. Ely, and removed their dead two miles up the river, dressed
them (seemingly) in the best the party could furnish, with each
a double barreled gun, a tomahawk and scalping knife, set them
up against some large trees and went on their way. Some of
these' articles, including their head-dresses, were sent to the
museum of the American board, in Boston.

266 FIFTY YEARS
In the closing scene the missionaries had the opportunity of
seeing the difference between those Indians who had listened to
instruction and those who had not. The second day after the
battle the pagan party brought back to the island the dead
bodies of their enemies, cut in pieces, and distributed parts to
such Ojibways as had at any" time lost friends by the hands of the
Sioux. One woman, whose daughter was killed and mutilated
on that memorable morning, when she saw the canoes coming,.
with a head raised high in the air on a long pole, waded out into
the water, grabbed it like a hungry dog and dashed it repeat
edly on the stones with savage fierceness. Others of the pagans-
conducted themselves in a similar manner. They even cooked
some of the flesh that night in their kettles of rice. Eunice (as
she was named at her baptism) was offered an arm. At first she
hesitated; but for reasons, sufficient in her own mind, thought
best to take it. Her daughter-in-law, widow of her son who had
recently been killed and chopped into pieces by the Sioux, took
another, and they went into their lodge. Eunice said: "My
daughter, we must not do as some of our friends are doing. We
have been taught better," and taking some white cloths from.
her sack they wrapped the arms in them, offered a prayer, and
gave them a decent burial. About this time a Mr. Kirkland was
sent from Quincy, Illinois, by a party who wished to plant a
colony not far from the mission station. He arrived at Poke
gama very soon after the battle. Notwithstanding what had
happened he selected a location on Cross lake, just where a rail
road has now been in operation for some years. He worked vig
orously for two or three weeks, and then went to consult the
Indian agent and the military at Fort Snelling. They gave him
no encouragement that the two tribes would ever live in peace;
and he went home. The Ojibways lived in constant fear,
and the place was soon deserted. This was a great trial to the
missionaries; but they did not urge them to stay. They sepa
rated into small parties and went where they could get a living
for the present and be out of danger. The teachers remained at
their post, occasionally visiting the Indians in their retreat,
hoping they might soon think it safe to return to their homes. In
this they were disappointed. These visits were not always very
safe. On one of these trips Mr. Ayer was lost, and from cold and
hunger came near perishing. Not finding the party he sought,

IN THE NORTHWEST. - 267
he wandered about for a day or two. In the meantime the
weather became much colder. Not expecting to camp out he
took only one blanket and food enough for one meal. In cross
ing Kettle river on a self-made conveyance, and there being ice
on the opposite shore, he got wet. The Indians, anticipating his
visit, had sent a young man to the mission station to guide him to
their new locality. He returned in haste, fell on Mr. Ayer's
track, and a light sprinkle of snow enabled him to follow it un
til he was found.
Mrs. Ayer relates several incidents illustrative of Indian char
acter. As her husband had been stationed at Yellow Lake, and
afterward at Red Lake, these incidents are not necessarily located
at Pokegama: A NOBLE CHIEF.
The Red Lake Indians- were a noble band — they had a noble
chief. In civilization he led the way, in religion he did not op
pose. He shouldered a heavy axe, and could be seen chopping
on one side of a large tree, in perspiration, while his wife was on
the other side, helping all she could with her hatchet. This
chief was also an advocate of temperance. Not that he didn't
love whisky, but he hated the effect of it on his band. He dic
tated a letter to the' president, begging him not to let the white
faces bring any more firewater to his people, giving as onereason
that they had teachers among them who must be protected, and if
they had whisky he did not know what might happen.
FRANK CONFESSIONS.
In the church there was much childish simplicity. Once when
Mr. Ayer was lecturing on the eighth commandment, he paused,
and without expecting an answer, said: "Now who is there
among you who has not stolen!" One woman began to con
fess — another followed, then another. One thought she had
stolen about seven times. Another entered more into particulars,
mentioning the things she had stolen, till the scene was quite
amusing. Another rose to confess, but was cut short by her hus
band, who said: "Who knows how many times he has stolen?
We are a nation of thieves." And with a few remarks the meet
ing closed.

268 FIFTY YEARS
A COWARDLY DEED.
After a medicine dance, according to Indian custom, they pro
posed a feast, but there was nothing on which to feast. There
was a large company and all were hungry. Mr. Ayer's cow was
in the barnyard near. Three daring fellows sitting by themselves
began to taunt each other in regard to their comparative prowess.
After an excitement was created, one of them, to show his brav
ery, shot the cow. Mr. Ayer was in his garden and witnessed the
performance. Two or three of the leading men in this pagan
party came immediately to Mr. Ayer to learn whether he would
take the cow for his own use. While they were talking (perhaps
twenty minutes) the cow was cut in pieces, and in the Indians'
kettles preparatory to a good time. After the Indians had sold
their land they paid for the cow.
AN UNJUST ACCUSATION.
Indians are said to be revengeful. They are. So are white
men. They fight for their rights. So do white men. They are
thieves and liars. So are white men. Quarrelsome, envious,
jealous. So are white men. Experience teaches that according
to their knowledge they compare favorably with Anglo-Saxons.
Sin is none the better, nor less mischievous, for being civilized.
A missionary, a good man, too. he was, accused an innocent
woman of stealing his shirts that were laid out on the snow to
whiten. His wife, not remembering that she had brought them
in early in the morning, asked him to go out and get them. But
they were not to be found! " Who has been here this morning?"
was asked. " Ekwazans; I don't remember any other." " Well,
she shan't have those shirts. I'll overtake her before she gets
home." He followed her four miles, determined to have his
.shirts. The woman declared her innocence, and told him to
search the wigwam. He did so, but said himself that it was dpne
rather roughly. In the meantime the wife espied the shirts just
where she had put them. This affair was ever after a source of
regret to them.
Some of the Indians laughed heartily; others made remarks
rather sarcastic. The woman herself felt disgraced by the accu
sation, but never manifested signs of wanting to " pay back," or
n a way to avenge the wrong.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 269
INDIAN MAGNANIMITY.
An employe of the American Fur Company, a "green hand,"
was crossing a portage. The load on his back was topped off
with a bag of flour. The hill was steep and long. Steps were
cut in it like a flight of stairs. As he reached the top a mis
chievous Indian touched the bag, and it went tumbling to the
foot of the hill. The Frenchman immediately sent the Indian
tumbling after it. Some of the company advised the French
man to run away, for the Indian might kill him. He told them
boldly that he would not run away. The Indian gathered him
self up, came to the top of the hill, told the Frenchman he had
done just right, offered his hand and they were firm friends^
Magnanimous had it been a white man.
Rev. Frederic Ayer was born in Stockbridge, Massachu
setts, in 1803. When he was two years old the family moved
to Central New York. His father was a Presbyterian minister,
and they intended that their son should follow the same profes
sion; but before he was prepared his health failed and he turned
his attention to other business.
He commenced his labors for the Indians in 1829, by teaching
the mission school at Mackinaw, under the superintendency of
Rev. M. Ferry. The pupils of this school were not all Ojibways
but were from many different tribes, and spoke different lan
guages. Mackinaw was then a general depot of the North
American fur traders. They brought not only their own
children to the school but such others as parents among whom
they were trading wished to send. They were gathered from
Lake Winnipeg, British America north, to Prairie du Chien and
the head of Lake Michigan south. They were taught in Eng
lish only.
In the summer of 1830 Mr. Ayer went to La Pointe, Lake
Superior, with Mr. Warren, opened a school and commenced
the study of the Ojibway language. In 1831 he met at Mackinaw,
Revs. Hall and Boutwell, who were Sent out by the American
Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions to the Indians,
and he returned with Mr. and Mrs. Hall and their interpreter
to spend another winter at La Pointe.
The next year, 1832, Mr. Ayer wintered with another trader at
Sandy Lake. He opened a school there and completed a little

¦270 FIFTY YEARS
Ojibway spelliug book which was commenced at La Pointe. In
the spring of 1833 he left Sandy Lake for Utica, New York, to
get the book printed. Mr. Aitkin, with whom he had wintered,
gave him eighty dollars, and with a pack on his back and an
experienced guide, he started on his journey. Before they
reached Sault Ste. Marie the ice on Lake Superior was so weak
that Mr. Ayer broke through and was saved only by carrying
horizontally in his hands a long pole to prevent his sinking.
Mr. Ayer hastened on to complete the object of his journey,
that he might return to Mackinaw in time to go up Lake Supe
rior with the traders. Mr. Ayer, hitherto an independent worker,
now put himself under the direction of the "American Board,"
and was sent to Yellow Lake, within the present bounds of Bur
nett county, Wisconsin. Miss Delia Cooke, whose name should
never be forgotten among the early missionaries of the American
board to the Indians, and Miss Hester Crooks, a girl educated at
Mackinaw, and who had some experience in teaching, were
among the number who coasted up Lake Superior in a Mackinaw
boat; the former to La Pointe mission, the latter to Yellow Lake
with Mr. and Mrs. Ayer. They wintered in Dr. Borup's family.
Mrs. Borup also had, for some years, been a pupil at Mackinaw.
The next year Miss Crooks married Rev. Mr. Boutwell and
went to Leech lake, and J. L. Seymour and Miss Sabrian
Stevens, also Henry Blatchford, an interpreter from Mackinaw,
were added to Yellow Lake mission. When Mr. Ayer told the
Indians his object in coming among them, they gave him a wel
come. But six months later, seeing two or three log houses in
process of building, they were much troubled, and met in a body
to request him to go away. A Menomonie from the region of
Green Bay had stirred them up, not against the missionaries, but
against the general government.
The speaker said: " It makes the Indians sad to seethe white
man's house go up on their land. We don't want you to stay;
you must go." Further on he said: " You shall go! " Mr. Ayer
answered him. The party left at midnight, and the missionaries
went to bed with heavy hearts, thinking they might be thurst
out almost immediately. But before sunrise the next morning
about two-thirds of the same party returned, and said they had
come to take back what they said the night before. The war
chief was speaker, but his words were mild. " Why," said he,

IN THE NORTHWEST. 271
-"should we turn these teachers away before they have done us
any harm?" They would like to have us stay, he said, but added
that they did not want any more to come, for the result might be
the loss of their lands. We might use whatever their country
afforded, but they would not give us any land, or sell us any.
"For." said the speaker, "if we should sell our land where
would our children play?"
Mr. Aj'er finished his school house, and went on with his work
as though nothing had happened. But evidently things were
not as they should be. The chief seemed to "sit on the fence,"
ready to jump either way. The war chief was always friendly,
but he had not so much control over what concerned us. He did
what he could without giving offense, and was anxious that his
daughter of fourteen years should be taken into the mission
family. Mr. Ayer remained two years longer at Yellow Lake.
In the meantime the chief of the Snake River band sent messages
inviting the teachers to come and live among them. Accord
ingly in the spring of 1836 the mission was removed to Pokegama
lake, eighteen miles up the river. The chief did all he had
promised, and showed himself a man. Nothing was said here to
remind the missionaries that they were using the Indians' wood,
water and fish. On the contrary, when they sold their land, it
was urged that the teachers' children should be enrolled for an
nual payment, the same as their own. The chief said that as
they were born on the land it was no more than right, and he
wished it might be done.
In 1842 Mr. Ayer went with his family to the States; and in
Oberlin was ordained preacher to the Ojibways. He soon returned
to the Indian country, and David Brainard Spencer, an Oberlin
student, with him. They spent the winter of 1842-3 in traveling
from one trading post to another, selecting locations for mission
ary labor. For their own field they chose Red Lake. When
Mrs. Ayer, with her two little boys, six and eight years old, went
to join her husband at the new station, Alonzo Barnard and
wife and S. G. Wright, all of Oberlin College, went with her.
Other missionaries soon followed, and that station was for many
years supplied with efficient laborers. More recently the work
there was assigned to Bishop Whipple, and is still carried on.
Mr. and Mrs. Ayer, in 1865, offered their services to the freed-
men of the South and were employed at Atlanta, Georgia.

272 FIFTY YEARS
Mr. Ayer organized a Congregational church and a baptistry
connected with the house of worship, that he might baptise by
immersion or otherwise, according to the wishes of the candi
date. He also formed a temperance society, which some months
before his death numbered more than six hundred members.
There was great grief at his death amongst all classes. An
aged man, who had lost a small fortune in his devotion to the
Confederacy, embraced the corpse, and said: "If he had not
holpen me, I should have before gone him." Many others, in
word or action, expressed a similar feeling. All classes of people
were represented at his funeral. His remains were buried in
the Atlanta cemetery, Oct. 1, 1867. Thus passed away one who
had spent a life for the benefit of others.
Mr. and Mrs. Ayer in some instances taught three generations
of Ojibway blood, and North and South, they were, in the course
of their labors, associated for a longer or shorter time, with more
than eighty different missionaries, — -anobleband, — withfewex-
ceptions worthy the name they bore. Most of them have passed
away, and their graves are scattered here and there from British
America to Georgia.
Rev. William T. Boutwell, who figures so prominently in
the history of the early missions in the St. Croix valley, was
born in Hillsborough county, New Hampshire, Feb. 4, 1803.
He was educated at Dartmouth and Andover colleges, and in
1831, the year of his graduation at Andover, he came to the
Northwest as a Presbyterian missionary. He spent one year at
Mackinaw, learning the Chippewa language, under the instruc
tion of Rev. W. M. Ferry, father of Senator Ferry, of Michigan.
In 1832 our government sent an embassy of thirty men, under
the control of the Indian agent at Ste. Marie, Henry R. School
craft, to trahquilize the tribes and effect some advantageous
treaties. The embassy was accompanied by an outfit of soldiers
under the command of Lieut. Allen, Dr. Houghton, physician,
George Johnson, interpreter, and Mr. Boutwell. The em
bassy had a liberal outfit of provisions, equipages and trinkets
for the Indians, and .was conveyed in a large bateau of several
tons capacity, and some birch canoes, the largest of which was
thirty feet long, and capable of containing nine persons. On
arriving at Fond du Lac, the head of navigation on the St.
Louis river, Mr. Boutwell wrote as follows to the missionary
board:

IN THE NORTHWEST.

273

"On arriving here I was not a little surprised to find four
hundred souls, half-breeds and white men. The scene at our
landing was such as I never before witnessed, and enough to fill
one, unaccustomed to the like as myself, with wonder, if not with
fear. The yelling of Indians, barking of dogs, crying of chil
dren, running of the multitude, discharge of musketry, and
flourish of flags, was noise in the extreme. At ten o'clock I
preached to about forty in English, the first sermon ever preached
here, and at 4 p. M. I addressed, through Mr. Johnson, more

WILLIAM T. BOUTWELL,

than, twice that number of French, half-breeds and Indians; many
of the latter of whom for the first time listened to the word of
Life. AH listened "with attention and interest. My interpreter
sat on my right, while a chief occupied a seat at my left. Around
and below me, on the floor, sat his men, women and children,
in a state of almost entire nudity, many of whom had no more
than a cloth about the loins, and a blanket, but some of the
children not even a blanket, — all with their pipes and tobacco
pouches, painted with all the variety of figures that can be
imagined." 18

274 FIFTY YEARS
From Fond du Lac he proceeded with the expedition up the
St. Louis river, crossing the falls by a portage, and ascending
to the point nearest Sandy lake, which was reached by a portage.
The expedition proceeded up the Mississippi to Leech lake.
Learning from the Indians at this point that Cass lake, the re
puted source of the Mississippi, was not the real source, the ex
pedition proceeded, under the guidance of a chief and a number
of his tribe, to ascend the river further. When they reached the
lake, now known as Itasca, five of the party, Lieut. Allen,
Schoolcraft, Houghton, Johnson, and Boutwell, were sent in
canoes with Indian guides to explore the shores of the lake.
No inlet being found the party came to the conclusion that
this was, as the Indians claimed, the true source of the Mis
sissippi river. Mr. Schoolcraft being satisfied as to the correct
ness of the observations, landed his party on an island near the
middle of the lake.
He was puzzled to know what name to give the lake, and
asked Mr. Boutwell if he knew of any word that would express
the term "true head of the river." Mr. Boutwell said he could
think of no single word that would express it, but there were
two Latin words that would answer the purpose, and those were
Veritas — true, and caput — head. Mr. Schoolcraft immediately
wrote on a piece of paper the two words, and then erasing the
first syllable of the first word and the last syllable of the latter,
joined the remaining syllables. He then planted the stars and
stripes on a little eminence, and formally christened the lake
" Itasca." They then proceeded to descend the Mississippi. "As
we were passing through the outlet of the lake," said Mr. Bout
well, " I stopped my canoe on the shore and jumped across the
Mississippi. I considered that a great thing to relate in after
years." The party with their own boats descended the Mississippi, dis
tributing tobacco, medals and flags to Indians on their way.*
" When I seethe great cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul now,"
said Mr. Boutwell, "I have to reflect that when we made our
memorable trip down the river in 1832 we stopped at St. An
thony falls, and I stood on the east bank and looked across the

* Several years prior to this William Morrison had a trading station upon the shores ot this
lake, and is probably the first white man who visited it, but it does not appear that he identified
it as the source of the Mississippi. '

IN THE NORTHWEST. 275
river in profound admiration of the most beautiful landscape I
had ever seen, with only a few head of government cattle be
longing at Fort Snelling grazing upon it. The whole country on
both sides of the river was as God had made it. When we passed
the locality of St. Paul there was not even an Indian tepee to be
seen

V

The party halted at a Sioux Indian village at Kaposia, a few
miles below St. Paul, and after a short consultation proceeded to
the mouth of the St. Croix, and ascending the St. Croix to its
source, made a portage of two miles to the source of the Burnt
Wood river, which they descended to Lake Superior, and thence
returned to their starting place. In the following year Mr.
Boutwell established a mission at Leech lake. In giving an ac
count of his reception by the Indians, he says: " When I ar
rived the men, with a few exceptions, were making their fall
hunts, while their families remained at the lake and its vicinity
to gather their corn and make rice. A few lodges were encamped
quite near. These I began to visit, for the purpose of reading,
singing, etc., in order to interest the children and awaken in
them the desire for instruction. I told them about the children
at Mackinaw, the Sault, and at La Pointe, who could read, write
and sing. To this they would listen attentively, while the mother
would often reply: ' My children are poor and ignorant.' To a
person unaccustomed to Indian manners and Indian wildness it
would have been amusing to have seen the little ones, as I ap
proached their lodge, running and screaming, more terrified, if
possible, than if they had met a bear robbed of her whelps. It
was not long, however, before most of them overcametheir fears;
and in a few days my dwelling, a dodge which I occupied for
three or four weeks, was frequented from morning till evening
by an interesting group of boys, all desirous to learn to read, sing,
etc. To have seen them hanging, some on one knee, others
¦on my shoulder, reading and singing, while others, whether from
shame or fear I know not, who dared not venture within, were
peeping" in through the sides of the cottage, or lying flat upon
the ground and looking under the bottom, might have provoked
a smile; especially to have seen them as they caught a glance of
my eye, springing upon their feet and running like so many wild
asses colts. The rain, cold and snow were alike to them, in
which they would come, day after day, many of them clad merely

276 FIFTY YEARS
with a blanket and a narrow strip of cloth about the loins. The
men at length returned, and an opportunity was presented me
for reading to them. The greater part listened attentively. Some
would come back and ask me to read more. Others laughed, and
aimed to make sport of both me and my mission."
He continued to labor here until 1837, when the Indians be
coming troublesome, and having murdered Aitkin, an agent of
the fur company, he deemed it advisable to remove the mission
to Pokegama lake. He labored here faithfully, much respected
by the Indians for his firmness and christian devotion. In 1847
he removed to Stillwater and settled on a farm near the city,
where he is spending the remainder of his days, cared for by
his affectionate daughter Kate and her kind husband,  —
Jones. Though infirm in body on account of advanced age his
mind is clear and his memory retentive. He enjoys the respect
accorded to venerable age, and that which pertains to an early
and middle life spent in unusual toils and hardships in the
noblest work intrusted to the hands of man.
Mrs. Hester Crooks Boutwell deserves honorable mention
as the early companion of the devoted missionary. She was the
daughter of Ramsey Crooks, of New York, an Indian trader.
Her mother was a half-breed Ojibway woman. Hester Crooks
was born on Drummond island, Lake Huron, May 30, 1817. Her
father gave her a superior education at Mackinaw mission. She
was a woman of tall and commanding figure, her black hair and
eyes indicating her Indian origin. She was a fluent conver
sationalist, and careful and tidy in her personal appearance.
She died in Stillwater in 1853, leaving a family of seven children.
CHENGWATANA.
This town derived its name from the Chippewa words, "cheng-
wa" (pine) and "tana" (city), applied to an Indian village which
from time immemorial had been located near the mouth of Cross
lake. This locality had long been a rallying point for Indians and
traders. When the writer visited it, in 1846, it had the appear
ance of an ancient place of resort. Half-breeds and whites with
Indian wives settled here, and in 1852 there were several log
houses, and a hotel kept by one Ebenezer Ayer. There was also
a dam built for sluicing logs. Among the early settlers were
Duane Porter, George Goodwin, Herman Trott, John G. Randall,

IN THE NORTHWEST. 277
Emil, Gustave and Adolph Munch. Mr. Trott built a fine resi
dence on the shore of Cross lake, afterward the home of S. A.
Hutchinson. The Munch brothers built a store and made other
improvements. John G. Randall, in 1856-7-8, manufactured lum
ber, ran it down the Kanabec and St. Croix rivers to Rush Seba,
Sunrise and Taylor's Falls. In 1852, and soon after the building
of the government road to Superior City, a post office and a stage
route from St. Paul to Superior City were established. The dam,
to which reference has been made, was built in 1848, by Elam
Greely. It is at the outlet of Cross lake and has ten feet head.
The flowage covers many thousands of acres. The ownership
has changed several times. The tolls levied amount to from ten
to fifteen cents per thousand feet. The chartered operators con
trol the flowage completely, opening and shutting gates at their
pleasure. Many of the first settlers removed to other localities.
Mr. Trott and the Munch brothers to St. Paul, J. G. Randall to
Golorado, and Louis Ayd to Taylor's Falls.
In 1856 an effort was made to found a village on the site of the
old Indian town of Chengwatana. Judd, Walker & Co. and
Daniel A. Robertson surveyed and platted the village of Alham-
bra, but the name was not generally accepted, and the old Indian
name of Chengwatana superseded it. The town of Chengwatana
was organized in 1874. The first supervisors were Duane Por
ter, Resin Denman and Ferdinand Blank.
Louis Ayd was born in Germany in 1840; came to America in
1852 and settled in Chengwatana. He served three and a half
years as a soldier during the Rebellion, and was seriously injured
in the service. On his return he settled in Taylor's Falls. He
is a well-to-do farmer and dealer in live stock for the meat mar
ket. He has been a member of the Roman Catholic church
from childhood. He was married to Rosabella Hoffman, of Hud
son, Wisconsin, in 1871.
Duane Porter, the son of a surgeon in the United States
Army in the war of 1812, was born in Washington county, New
York, in 1825; came West as far as Illinois in 1852, and to St.
Croix Falls in 1844. He was married in 1848 to Mary Lapraire,
and in the same year located at Chengwatana. His occupation
is that of an explorer and lumberman. He has ten children
living. S. A. Hutchinson. — Mr. Hutchinson was a native of Maine,

278 FIFTY YEARS
• and while yet a youth came to the valley of the St. Croix, and
located at Chengwatana, where he married a Chippewa woman,
and raised a family of half-breed children. ' ' Gus " Hutchinson^
as he was familiarly called, had many noble traits of character,
and was very popular with his associates. He had a well trained
mind; was skilled as a lumberman and explorer, and was of a
genial disposition, honest in heart and true in his friendships.
He was elected sheriff of Pine county, and served four years-
On the night of Aug. 16, 1880. he was found in a sitting posture
on his bed, lifeless, a rifle ball having pierced his heart. It
appeared, on investigation, that his oldest son wanted to marry
an Indian girl, to which his father objected. On the night after
the murder the marriage took place in Indian style. Suspicion
pointing strongly toward mother and son, they were arrested, and
an indictment found by the grand jury against the son. He was
tried and acquitted. HINCKLEY.
The township of Hinckley was organized in 1872. It includes
a large area of land, heavily timbered with pine and hardwood.
The soil is varied, consisting of black and yellow sand loam with
clay subsoil. It abounds in meadows, marshes, tamarack swamps,
pine and hardwood ridges, and is capable of cultivation.
THE VILLAGE OF HINCKLEY
Lies midway betwen St. Paul and Duluth, on the St. Paul & Du
luth railroad. It was founded soon after the completion of the
road. The Manitoba railroad passes through the village, run
ning from St. Cloud to Superior. It was incorporated in 1885.
The following were the first officers: President, James J. Bren-
nan; recorder, S. W. Anderson; trustees, James Morrison, Nels
Parson, John Perry; treasurer, John Burke; justices of the
peace, John Brennan, A. B. Clinch; constable, Andrew Stone.
Prior to this incorporation, Hinckley had suffered considerably
from the lawlessness of its occasional or transient residents and
visitors, and the large majority of the vote in favor of incorpo
ration is justly considered as a triumph of law and order. The
village has a saw mill doing a large business, a good depot,
round house, four hotels, several stores, shops, and fine resi
dences, a commodious school house, and two churches — a Lu
theran and Catholic. The Minneapolis & Manitoba railroad con-

IN THE NORTHWEST. 279
nects here with the St. Paul & Duluth railroad, and is being ex
tended to Superior.
JamEs Morrison was born on Cape Breton island in 1840.
Mr. Morrison was one of the first settlers of Hinckley, having
come to the settlement in 1869, in the employ of the St. Paul &
Duluth railroad. He has followed farming and hotel keeping.
He is an active and industrious man, the proprietor of a large
hotel, and a member of the Presbyterian church.
SANDSTONE VILLAGE
Is located in the northwest quarter of section 15, township 42,
range 20. It contains about forty dwellings, three large board
ing houses, two stores, one hotel and a stone saw mill with dia
mond-toothed saw, built by Ring & Tobin, at a cost of $30,000.
The stone quarries of the Kettle River & Sandstone Company
are located on sections 3, 10 and 15, in township 42, range 20,
and extend two and three-quarters miles on each side of Kettle
river. The first work in opening the quarries was done Aug. 22,
1885.. The village plat was surveyed in June, 1887, and a post
office established there the February preceding, W. H. Grant,
Jr., being the first postmaster. The saw mill and the quarries
give employment to about four hundred men. Sandstone is lo
cated on the old site of Fortuna. The Kettle River railroad was
built to the quarries in 1886, from the St. Paul & Duluth rail
road, a distance of five miles. The Manitoba railroad, running
to Superior, passes through the village.
William H. Gkant, Sr., one of the founders of Hinckley, and
the proprietor and founder of the Sandstone enterprise, was born
Dec. 23, 1829, at Lyndborough, New Hampshire. He received
his education at Hancock Academy, New Hampshire, and Yates
Academy, Orleans county, New York. He studied law and was
admitted to practice in 1854 at Hillsborough, New Hampshire.
He came to St. Paul in 1859, where he still resides, his prop
erty interests at Sandstone being immediately under the super
vision of his son, W. H. Grant, Jr. He sold his interest in May,
1888, for $100,000. He was married to Martha McKean in New
Hampshire, January, 1855. KETTLE RIVER.
The town of Kettle River, including townships 43 and 44, lying
on the west line of the county, was organized in 1874. S. S.

280 FIFTY YEARS
Griggs was chairman of the first board of supervisors. The town
contains but one school district. The first settler was S. S.
Griggs, who, in company with John S. Prince, of St. Paul, built
a saw mill at the St. Paul & Duluth railroad crossing on Kettle
river, in 1871-72. This was not a successful venture. A post
office was established at the mill, and S. S. Griggs was appointed
postmaster. The Manitoba and St. Paul & Duluth railroads
pass through the town from south to north. The township now
has no settlement except about twenty-four families at the station
and village. It is heavily timbered with pine and hardwood.
There are meadows, marshes and tamarack swamps, fine streams
and beautiful lakes, and much excellent farming land besides.
The Pine lakes in township 43, range 21, are beautiful sheets of
water. There are no good roads or public improvements.
John C. Hanley was born in Covington, Kentucky, and was
educated at Oxford College, Ohio. He came to St. Paul in 1849,
as a machinist and millwright. He was married in 1853, at St.
Anthony, to Sophia Ramsdale. In 1862 he enlisted in Company
M, Minnesota Mounted Cavalry, a company recruited principally
at Sunrise, Chisago county, by Capt. James Stark ey. He was
commissioned second lieutenant and was with Gen. Sibley's ex
pedition against the Sioux. Subsequently he received a cap
tain's commission, and recruited Company M, Second Minnesota
Cavalry, stationed on the frontier. He was mustered out in 1865.
He resides at Kettle River. MISSION creek
Was organized as a town in 1880. The first supervisors were
M. Thomas, T. Johnson, Wm. McKean; Messrs. H. A. Taylor
and Philip Riley & Co., of St. Paul, were the first operators
here. They built a saw mill with a capacity of 3,000,000 feet
per annum. This property has changed owners, and is now
held by the John Martin Lumber Company, of St. Paul. It was
burned down in 1885, but was immediately rebuilt.
PINE CITY.
The town of Pine City was organized in 1874. The first super
visors were Hiram Brackett, H. B. Hoffman and James Griffith.
The village of Pine City was platted in 1869. The original propri
etors were James and Stephen H. Petrie, Catherine Sloan and

IN THE NORTHWEST. 281
Luther Mendenhall. .The survey was made by B. W. Brunson.
Wm. Branch acted as attorney and the acknowledgment was made
by J. J. Egan, notary public, of St. Louis county. The village
was organized in 1881, but the officers did not qualify until the
fallowing year.
The oldest settler was probably a Mr. Kirkland, of Quincy,
Illinois, who worked for some time on the banks of Cross lake,
on the present site of Pine City, hoping to be able to plant a
colony there, but, according to the testimony of Mrs. E. T. Ayer,
the missionary became disheartened by the Indian troubles, and
left in 1841, abandoning his scheme. The completion of the
railroad which crosses the Kanabec river at this point gave a
great impetus to the prosperity of the village and neighbor
hood. It now contains a fine court house, built at a cost of
$8,000, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian and Lutheran churches,
good buildings for graded and common schools, and three hotels.
Pine City has besides a pleasant park, the gift of Capt. Richard
G. Robinson, which has been adorned and embellished and
named after the donor, "Robinson Park."
Richard G. Robinson was born in Jackson county, Iowa,,
in 1829; he moved thence with his parents to Illinois, and to St.
Groix Falls in 1848, where he followed lumbering, scaling, survey
ing and exploring. He lived at St. Croix and Taylor's Falls
until 1872, when he received the appointment of land examiner
for the Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad Company. He was
in the employ of the company twelve years, making his home at
Pine City, where he still lives, engaged in lumbering and real
estate. He was married to Catharine A. Fullenwider, of Iowa.
Mrs. Robinson died at Pine City in 1885.
Hiram Brackett was born in 1817, in China, Maine, and
came to Pine City in 1868 from Aroostook county, Maine. He
was among the first to make improvements. He built a hotel
and was the first postmaster in the town. He died in 1883, leav
ing an estimable widow, three sons, John, Albert and Frank, and
two daughters, Emily, married to Henry A. Linn, of Milwau
kee, and Louise, married to Henry D. Crohurst, of Pine City.
Randall K. Burrows, a native of Connecticut, came to Pine
Gity in 1869, and, with Adolph Munch, built a large stave mill
on the shores of Cross lake. This proved an unfortunate invest
ment, resulting in litigation, during the progress of which the

282 FIFTY YEARS
mill was destroyed by fire, in 1878. Mr. Burrows was an active,
enthusiastic man, and worked hard for the interests of Pine
City, filling many positions of trust. He was elected to the state
senate from the Twenty-eighth district, in 1874. His seat was
contested by John Hallburg, of Centre City. The senate referred
the question to the people, but in the election that followed
(1875) he was defeated. In 1879 he removed to Dakota, where
he died three years later.
John S. Ferson came from Michigan to Pine City in 1869.
During that and the succeeding year he was principal in build
ing a first class steam saw mill. It was located on a bay in the
western part of the city. This mill was burned in 1872, rebuilt
and burned again. Mr. Ferson has since removed to Dakota.
Samuel Millet settled in Pine City in 1869, and in 1870
erected the Bay View House, on an elevated plateau command
ing a fine view of Cross lake and Kanabec river. Mr. Millet
died in 1879, leaving a widow, two sons and three daughters.
rock creek
Was organized March, 1874. The first supervisors were Enoch
Horton, Frank England, and S. M. Hewson. Obadiah Hew-
son was town clerk. Enoch Horton and C. W. Gill were justices
of the peace. Mr. Horton was the first settler, he having come
to the county in 1872. The year following he raised the first
crop. Mr. Horton was from Colchester, New York. Hf was
born in 1811, and came to Minnesota in 1862. He was the first
postmaster at Rock Creek. Other settlers came in slowly. Edger-
ton, Gill & Co. built a saw mill in 1873, with a capacity of
3,000,000 feet. This property has changed hands several times.
Capt. Enoch Horton commenced official life at the age of
twenty-two years, in New York, where he served twenty-eight
years as justice of the peace and county judge. He served dur
ing the Rebellion as captain of a company of sharpshooters.
ROYALTON
Was organized in 1880. ' The first supervisors were Edward
Peterson, Alexis Kain and Joseph Heiniger. It is a good farm
ing township with many good farms. The first settlement was
made by Elam Greely, in 1849, who made a farm and built a
large barn, hauling the lumber from Marine Mills, a distance of

IN THE NORTHWEST. 283
seventy miles. The town was named in honor of Royal C. Gray,
who located on the Greely farm in 1854, in the northwest quarter
of section 15, township 38, range 22, on the banks of the Kana
bec river. WINDERMERE '
Was organized as a town Jan. 3, 1882. The first supervisors
were August Schog, Williant Champlain and Frank Bloom-
quist. The towns of Kettle River, Hinckley and Pine City were or
ganized, and Chengwatana reorganized by special act of the
legislature in 1874, and at that time embraced all the territory
in the county. Since 1874, Mission Creek,. Rock Creek and
Royalton have been set off from Pine City and Windermere from
Kettle River.
The following villages were platted at the dates named:
Neshodana, by Clark, Cowell & Foster, in townships 41 and 42r
ranges 15 and 16, in 1856; Fortuna, by W. A. Porter, surveyor,
at the crossing of Kettle river and the military road, January,
1857; St. John's, by M. L. Benson, surveyor, in section 26, town
ship 41, range 17, October, 1857; Midway, by Frank B. and Julia
L. Lewis, proprietors, in the northwest quarter of section 34,
township 40, range 21, September, 1855.
,A ROCK CREEK MURDER.
A man passing under the name of Harris had been arrested
for stealing horses. George Hathaway started with the prisoner
to Sunrise. Five days afterward Hathaway' s dead body was
found, and the inquest decided that he probably met his death
by stabbing or shooting at the hands of his prisoner, who made
his escape, and was never again heard from. Hathaway was a
native of Passadumkeag, Maine.
THE BURNING OF A JAIL.
March 22, 1884, a couple of young men, John Cope and Wil
liam Leonard, were arrested for drunkenness and disorderly
conduct, and confined in the Pine City jail, a wooden structure.
About three o'clock the next morning the jail was found to be
on fire. All efforts to extinguish the flames or rescue the un
happy prisoners were unavailing. The fire originated from
within, in all probability from the careless action of the

284 FIFTY YEARS
prisoners themselves in striking matches, either for the purpose
of smoking or of exploring their cells.
A DISFIGURED FAMILY.
Mr. Redman, the agent at the Kettle River railroad station,
called my attention to the fact that old Batice is singularly dis
figured. He was born without thumbs or big toes. The fingers
and remaining toes resemble birds' claws. Two of the fingers of
each hand and two of the toes on each foot are united to the tips
but have distinct nails. Of his four children three are disfig
ured like the father. His grandchildren are many of them worse
than himself, one having but one finger.
INDIAN FAITH CURE.
A woman at Pokegama was badly burned by the explosion of
gunpowder while she was putting it in a flask. Her face be
came terribly swollen and black. The missionaries did what
they could for her. but thought she must die. After two clays
the Indian doctors held a medicine dance for her benefit. After
they had gone through with their magic arts the woman arose, and,
without any assistance, walked around distributing presents to
the performers of the ceremony. It was truly wonderful. She
recovered rapidly. INDIAN GRAVES.
The Chippewas bury their dead much as the whites do. The
body is deposited in a grave and covered with earth. A low
wooden covering, somewhat like the roof of a house, is reared
above it, the gables resting on the ground. The roof is covered
with white or bleached muslin, and surmounted by a board cross.
Au aperture about six inches square is left in each end of the
structure. The head of the grave is toward the west, and here
are deposited offerings of fruits and trinkets of various kinds.
We found at one grave a broken saucer, an oyster can filled with
blueberries, a large red apple, and a pair of old shoes. Friends
of the deceased visit the graves for one or two years, renewing
their tributes of affection, and bringing offerings of fruit accor
ding to the season, and various foods,- from acorns to dried veni
son, but in time these visits are discontinued and the graves are
neglected and forgotten.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 285

STOICISM OF THE INDIAN.

On the banks of the Kettle river a five-year-old boy burned
his hand badly. The mother, after examining the wound, de
cided that it was incurable, ordered the boy to place his hand
upon a block, and by a single blow from a common hatchet sev
ered it from the wrist. The boy endured the suffering without
flinching. Old Batice, alias "Kettle," lived on Kettle river in 1880.
Counting by moons he claims to have lived there ninety-nine
years. He is certainly very old. He says that he has always
been a friend to the whites, and that in the Sioux outbreak of
1862 he counseled his people to remain quiet; that he was the
enemy of the Sioux, three of whom he had killed and scalped.
To commemorate his warlike deeds in slaughtering his enemies,
he wore three large eagle feathers in his gray hair. He claims
to be half French. AN INDIAN DANCE.
In June, 1880, the Indians were practicing a new dance near
the Kettle River railroad station, part of which it was my privi
lege to witness. The dance house was a rudely constructed pole
frame covered with birch bark, fastened down with willow twigs.
About thirty dancers, male and female, and of all ages, were
crowded in the dance house, sweating, grunting, hopping and
bounding at the tap of a deer skin drumhead, and the " chi-yi-
chi-yi-chi-hoo" of a quartette of boys and girls, squatted in a
corner of the bark house. The din was incessant, the chant of
the singers, or howlers, monotonous and wearisome, yet the
dancers stepped and bounded to their rude music as readily as
do civilized dancers to the more exquisite music of stringed in
struments. This dance was the same that so frightened the Bur
nett county people, and required at least ten days for its complete
performance. A few minutes' observation amply satisfied us,
and we gladly withdrew.

286 FIFTY YEARS

CHAPTER XI.

KANABEC COUNTY.
Kanabec county, prior to 1849, was included in St. Croix
•county, Wisconsin; thence until 1852 it was a part of Ramsey
county, Minnesota; until 1854 apart of Chisago county; and thence
until its organization in 1859, a part of Pine county. It was at
tached for judicial purposes at various times to Chisago, Isanti
"and Pine counties. In 1882 it was organized for judicial pur
poses, Judge Crosby holding the first term of court at Brunswick.
The second term was held at Mora in 1884, in the new court
iouse. The writer, when a member of the Minnesota senate in 1858,
selected the name and introduced the bill for the formation of the
county. Its boundaries are Aitkin county on the north, Pine on
the east, Isanti on the south, and Mille Lacs on the west. It is
well watered and drained by the Kanabec and its tributaries.
This river is navigable to Brunswick, and one of its tributaries,
Rice river, is navigable six miles from its mouth to Rice lake.
The soil is a rich, sandy loam, deep, strong and productive.
One-fifth of the entire surface was originally covered with pines.
About 25,000 acres are natural meadows, while much of the re
mainder is covered with hardwood, and a small portion is
brush prairie, which can be easily rendered fit for cultivation.
The best crops are wheat, oats and potatoes, but Indian corn can
be grown profitably as compared with other localities in Minne
sota. Small fruits, wild and cultivated, grow luxuriantly. Cran
berries have been shipped in considerable quantities. Redtop,
clover, and timothy grow rank, and are profitably cultivated.
Upward of 5,000 tons of hay are cured annually. The lumber
ing interests are still important, about 75,000,000 feet of logs

IN THE NORTHWEST. 287
being annually driven to the Stillwater boom. This county is
spotted with lakes and abounds in streams capable of being util
ized as water powers. Good building granite is found on the
Kanabec river above Mora, which will eventually be quarried
and exported.
The first permanent settlers were George L. Staples and James
Pennington, who came in 1855. They were followed by Stephen
W. Tolman, Alvin De Wolf, John L. Spence and others. Gov.
Sibley appointed the following as the first board of officers, June
10, 1859: County commissioners, Geo. L. Staples, chairman;
Daniel Gordon, Benj. L. Gifford; clerk and register of deeds,
James C. Morrison; treasurer, Alvah Lougee; sheriff, Benj. L.
Gifford. The first election was held in October, 1859. The fol
lowing were elected county officers: County commissioners, Geo.
L. Staples, chairman; James Pennington, Geo. Morrison ; audi
tor, Benj. Bill.
In the bill organizing the county, Brunswick was designated
as the county seat, and so remained until 1882, when by popular
vote Mora was selected. In 1883 the county built a court house
at a cost of $5,000, and a jail costing $2,000. In 1874 the county
built a bridge across the Kanabec at Brunswick, the bridge and
its approaches being 1,300 feet in length, at a cost of $5,000. In
1879 the county built a bridge across the Kanabec at Grass Lake
at a cost of $4,000. As this bridge obstructed navigation in 1884,
the county, at a cost of $4,000, rebuilt it in such a way that
steamers could pass underneath. In 1883 another bridge was
built across the Kanabec in the town of Arthur at a cost of
$4,000. The first post office was established at Brunswick in 1859, Geo.
L. Staples, postmaster. The first mail was from Anoka via
Cambridge to Brunswick. In 1847 Rev. W. S. Boutwell preached
the first sermon within the present limits of the county. The
first deed recorded was a warranty deed from Ralph Potter to
John A^Snyder, both of Illinois, in June, 1857, conveying lands
in sections 3 and 10, township 38, range 25. The second deed
recorded was from David Bagley to Hersey, Hall, Whitney and
Fenno, of Boston, and Isaac Staples of Stillwater, conveying the
northeast quarter of section 1, township 38, range 24, and other
lands.

288 FIFTY YEAKS
ARTHUR.
The town of Arthur includes township 39, ranges 23, 24 and 25.
It was organized in 1883. The first supervisors were: Ira A.
Conger, Andrew E. Westling aud Charles A. Staples; clerk,
Stanton D. Seavey. The village of Mora was the first settle
ment. Anna C. Larson was the first child born in the town.
The first marriage was that of Frederick G. Turner and Edith
Perkins. The first death was that of Henry Rust, in 1847, killed
by Indians. There is one house of worship, at what is known
as the Swedish mission. MORA,
A village, platted in 1882, is located in section 11, township-39,
range 24, on the Hinckley branch of the Manitoba railroad.
Myron R. Kent, owner of the town plat, made the first improve
ments, building a hotel and post office, of which he became post
master. Alvah J. Conger opened the first store in 1882. The
village now contains a court house, school house, two hotels,
five stores, three saloons, and many fine residences. Lake Mora,
a lovely sheet of deep, blue water, about one hundred and fifty
acres in extent, is located within the village limits. The village
is beautifully situated on a plateau on the east side of Kanabec
river. Stephen L. Danforth lived in the county of Kanabec during
the ' 70s. His occupation was that of a farmer or lumberman.
He died in Stillwater in 1884.
N. H. Danforth, brother of S. L., also settled here in the
'70s, and still resides here, an active business man.
Alvah J. and Ira Conger are cousins. They came from
Maine to Minnesota in 1850. Alvah J. kept the Tombler House
in Wyoming. Subsequently he removed to Cambridge, where
he kept a hotel and store, and thence removed to Pine City,
where he, kept a store until 1882, when he moved to Mora.
He was married to Charlotte Pennington. They have no chil
dren. Ira Conger has been actively engaged in business at Cam
bridge and other places, and moved to Mora in 1883, where he is
proprietor of a hotel and store. His oldest son, John, has charge
of his business interests. BRONSON.
This village is yet unplatted. It is located in section 21, range
24, on the line of the Manitoba railroad. A post office was estab-

' IN THE NORTHWEST. 289
lished here in 1884, of which Frank P. Burleigh is postmaster.
Adjoining and including this village is the large farm of Isaac
Staples, including 2,000 acres, of which six hundred and fifty
acres are under cultivation. The improvements on the farm are
two large barns, one store, one blacksmith shop, one wood work
ing shop, and commodious dwellings for employes. This farm
is headquarters for the lumbering interests of Mr. Staples in
Kanabec county. BRUNSWICK
Includes township 38, ranges 24 and 25. The town was organ
ized in 1883. The first supervisors were Eric Hokansen, John
Rines and Haquin Ekman. The first school was taught by Char
lotte Pennington, in 1856. The first death was that of  Cowan,
killed accidentally, in 1857. There are two church organizations,"
Swedish Baptist and Swedish Lutheran. Stephen E. Tallman
built a saw mill in 1870, and a flour mill in 1879. The village
of Brunswick is located in the southwest quarter of section 1,
township 38, range 24. It was platted in 1856, by Isaac and
George Staples. It was originally designated as the county seat.
GROUND HOUSE CITY
Was platted by Isaac Staples for Hersey, Staples & Co., Jan 17,
1857, in section 7, township 38, range 24.
James Pennington was born in Queensborough, New Bruns
wick, in 1799. He lived in Houlton, Maine, fifteen years, and
came to Kanabec county in 1854 with his family, who were the
first permanent settlers in the county. Mr. Pennington farmed
and lumbered. He died in December, i887. Mrs. Pennington
died in 1878. Six sons and three daughters are living. The
sons are residents of Minnesota. The daughters are married as
follows: Elisabeth to  Grant, of Detroit, Minnesota; Char
lotte to A: J. Conger, of Mora, Minnesota; Augusta to B. C.
Newport, of Pipestone, Minnesota.
George L. Staples settled in section 1, township 38, range
24, in 1855. He lived there eight years and filled various re
sponsible offices. He was an upright, conscientious man, much
respected by all who knew him. In 1863 he removed to Monti-
cello, Minnesota, and died in 1877, leaving a widow, five sons
and a daughter. Mr. Staples raised the first crop in the county,
19

290 FIFTY YEARS
opened the first store, and gave the name of Brunswick to the
town. Isaac Edwin Staples, son of George, was the first white
child born in the county. He was clerk of court in Morrison
county in 1887.
Daniel Gordon was born in Readfield, Maine, in 1809. In
1856 he settled in the southeast quarter of section 1, township
38, range 24. He was, married to widow Tallman in Brunswick.
This was the first marriage in the town. Mrs. Gordon died in
June, 1885. GRASS LAKE
Includes township 38, range 23. It was organized in 1883. It is
thickly settled, mostly by Swedes. They have good farms,
roads and schools. The first settler was Solomon Anderson; the
second, Benjamin Norton; both were farmers. There are in
this town three houses of worship, two belonging to the Swedish
mission, and one to the Baptists. There are five school houses.
The remainder of the county, consisting mostly of pine lands,
and including nine townships, is without organization or town
ship government. It is divided into three assessment districts
over which the county exercises jurisdiction, making levies and
collecting taxes. ISANTI COUNTY.
Isanti county lies directly west of Chisago and south of Kana
bec. It is bounded on the west and south by Sherburne, Mille
Lacs and Anoka counties, and contains about fourteen towns.
The soil is well adapted for agriculture. The county has no
large lakes, but is well watered by tributaries of Rum and Sun
rise rivers. It is well timbered in the north with sugar maple.
The settlers are chiefly Scandinavians, who, by their industry,
have made the plains and oak ridges to blossom with clover and
the cereals. The county was organized Feb. 13, 1857. It took
its name from a tribe of Indians who some time ago occupied the
country about Mille Lacs. The first board of county commis
sioners consisted of Oscar Smith, Hugh Wylie and Elbridge G.
Clough. The first county officers were: William Tubbs, auditor;
F. H. Moon, treasurer; G. G. Griswold, register of deeds; Ste
phen Hewson, judge of probate; H. M. Davis, clerk; George L.
Henderson, sheriff. The first court was held by Judge C. E.
Vanderburgh in October, 1871. Prior to this time Isanti had
been attached to Anoka county for judicial purposes.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 291

CAMBRIDGE,

The county seat of Isanti, was incorporated as a village in 1876.
It is pleasantly located on the west side of Rum river. It has
one flouring mill, a newspaper office, and several stores, shops,
dwellings and churches. The county buildings are neat and con
venient. The new court house cost $7,000. It is worthy of
mention that B. A. Latta, as county treasurer, paid the first
money into the hands of the state treasurer for war purposes.
The first postmasters in the county were Van Vliet Ainsley,
of Spencer Brook, and G. G. Griswold, in 1858.
NORTH BRANCH TOWN
Lies on the headwaters of the Sunrise river. It was settled, as
early as 1855, by John P. Owens, W. A. Hobbs, B. T. Huntley,
and John Schinler. It was organized as a town in 1858, John P.
Owens being chairman of the first board of supervisors. John
Schinler raised the first crop, in 1857. Schools were established
in 1860. OXFORD.
Rensselaer Grant, M. Hurley and Stephen Hewson settled
within the present limits of this town in 1855. At that time the
town was not organized. In 1865 it was included within the
limits of North Branch, but in 1878 the town of Oxford was set
off as now defined. The first supervisors were John Bachelor,
P. Lillygrin and P. Berg. Stephen Hewson was town clerk, and
has retained the office ever since. A post office was established
in 1863. Stephen Hewson was postmaster, and has held the office
continuously ever since. The town is well settled by farmers. In
1870 a cyclone passed through the town, destroying everything
in its track, which Was about twenty rods wide. Not a building
was left on the homestead of Mr. Hewson. His fine large barn
was torn to pieces and the fragments scattered for the distance
of a mile.
Stephen Hewson is a native of England, which he left in
1844. He resided in Canada a few years, then came to Chicago,
and later to Minnesota. He was for awhile a partner in the
publishing firm of E. S. Goodrich & Co., then proprietors of the
St. Paul Pioneer. He made his present home in Oxford in 1855,
and has since that time been intimately identified with its his-

292 fifty years
tory and that of the county of Isanti. He was a representative
from the Fourth district in the legislature of 1865. He has filled
the offices of county auditor, county commissioner and judge of
probate court. As an ordained minister of the Methodist church
he takes an active interest in religious matters, serving as super
intendent of the Sunday-school, and occasionally filling the pul
pit. Five of his daughters are school teachers, one of whom,
Mary, in 1870, taught the first school in Oxford. He remains
hale and hearty in his seventy-seventh year.
George W. Nesbit was born in 1828, in Delaware county, New
York. He received an academic education. He came in 1856
to St. Francis, Anoka county, Minnesota, and in 1863 to Isanti
county. He has been engaged in farming and selling goods, and
is an energetic, busy man. He made the first pre-emption tim
ber claim on the Mille Lacs reservation, which was rejected. Mr.
Nesbit was married in New York and has a family of six chil
dren. Rensselaer Grant was born in New York in 1816. His
father was a native of Scotland but emigrated to the United
States and took' part in the war of 1812. Mr. Grant was mar
ried in Saratoga county, New York, in 1837, to Libiah Mitchell.
The Grants moved to Illinois in 1S50, and to Isanti county in
1856. Mr. and Mrs. Grant died at North Branch, in 1886,
leaving three married sons, two living in Isanti county, and one
at Rush City, and three daughters, the eldest married to J. W.
Delamater. the second to W. H. Hobbs, the third living in St.
Paul. MILLE LACS COUNTY.
This county is bounded on the north by Mille Lacs lake
and Aitkin county, on the east by Isanti, Kanabec and Aitkin,
on the south by Sherburne and on the west by Morrison and
Benton counties, and includes about 17 townships extending
from south to north a distance of 48 miles, and having a
breadth of 12 miles, excepting the two upper series of towns,
which have a width of 18 miles. It is, excepting two agricul
tural towns in the south, heavily timbered, chiefly with pine.
It is well watered by Rum river and its tributaries, and by the
body of water known as Mille Lacs, a large picturesque lake,
which covers over one hundred and five sections of Aitkin,
Crow Wing and Mille Lacs counties. The tributaries of the

IN THE NORTHWEST. 293
St. Croix also drain the northeastern part of the county. The
southern townships consist of prairies and oak openings, the
northern and central parts being covered with hardwood and
pine. Immense quantities have been already marketed. The
hardwood ridges and flats offer good farming lands, and the wild
meadows, scattered over the county, excellent hay and pastur
age. Mille Lacs lake, the largest inland lake in Minnesota, is a
beautiful and picturesque sheet of water, with receding wooded
shores, with but little low land adjoining. The waters are deep
and clear and abundantly supplied with fish. This lake, when
reached by railways, will be one of the most pleasant summer re
sorts in the Northwest. It already attracts the attention of the
tourist. A steamer built in 1885 floats upon its waters. The
lake is about eighteen miles long by from twelve to fifteen wide,
and covers about six townships. Three small islands gem its
surface, one of which, from its columnar appearance, seems to be
of volcanic or igneous formation.
The Mille Lacs reservation covers about four fractional towns,
bordering the southern shore of the lake. Since the treaty these
lands have been covered by pre-emptions, soldiers' warrants and
half-breed scrip, but are held by a doubtful tenure owing to the
uncertain and various rulings of the land department. Under
the provisions of the treaty, the Indians, a band of Chippewas,
were allowed to retain possession until ordered to remove. In
anticipation of this order settlements have been made at various
periods, and patents have been issued to the pre emptors in a few
cases, but in many cases refused. Half-breed scrip has been
laid upon thousands of acres under one administration at Wash
ington, the permission to be countermanded by another. Mean
while the Indians, not having received the order for removal,
claim to be the owners of the land, and with some show of justice.
In 1882 the Manitoba Railroad Company built a road through
the county from east to west, through township 40, ranges 26
and 27.
In the early divisions of Minnesota into counties, the territory
of Mille Lacs was included in Ramsey and Benton counties.
Prior to its present organization, a county called Monroe, cover
ing the territory of Mille Lacs, was established but never organ
ized. By legislative enactment in 1857 Mille Lacs county was

294 FIFTY YEARS
established and organized by the people in 1860, the counties of
which its territory was originally a part concurring, and Prince
ton was made the county seat. In 1859 there had been effected
the organization of one town in the county, known as Princeton.
This has since been subdivided into Princeton Greenbush, and
Milo. The officers of the town organization in 1859 were:
Supervisors, C. W. Houston, Charles Pratt, Joseph L. Cater. The
first county election, held April, 1860, resulted in the election of
the following officers: County commissioners, Joseph L. Cater,
chairman; Samuel Orton, C. S. Moses; auditor and register of
deeds, W. W. Payne; clerk of court, S. M. Byers; treasurer,
E. J. Whitney; sheriff, Wm. McCauley; probate judge, Samuel
Ross. The first term of court was held June 3, 1861, E. C.
Vanderburgh, presiding judge. The first recorded deed was from
E. J. Whitney to Isaac Staples, and bears date Aug. 4, 1854.
MILACCA
Has a pleasant site on the Manitoba railroad, on the banks of
Rum river at the crossing of the Manitoba & Superior and
the junction of the Elk River & Princeton railroad. The Mani
toba Company have a good saw mill here, with a capacity of
125,000 feet per day, built at a cost of $50,000. A planing mill is
attached. There is a good three story hotel, well kept, here.
The village was surveyed and platted March 24, 1886; Chas.
Keith, surveyor; James J. Hill, president of the Mille Lacs Lum
ber Company, proprietor. It is located in the town of Greenbush.
BRIDGMAN VILLAGE,
Located in the town of Milo, has a steam saw mill, spoke and hub
factory, around which are several residences.
PRINCETON.
The village of Princeton is located at the junction of the two
branches of the Rum river, on a beautiful prairie, surrounded by
rich prairie and timber lands. The first log house was built in
1849, and kept as a stopping place by a mulatto known as
"Banjo Bill." This house is still standing. The first perma
nent settlers were A. B. Damon, O. E. Garrison, C. H. Chad-
bourne, Edwin Allen, John W. Allen, Chas. Whitcomb, Joseph
L. Cater, W. F. Dunham, and Samuel Ross. They were also

IN THE NORTHWEST. 295
the first settlers in the county, and came in 1853-7. In 1855
Messrs. Damon and Allen farmed on the present site of the vil
lage. The village was surveyed and platted Feb. 11, 1859, by
S. Ross & Co. S. Ross also built a hotel where the North Star
Hotel now stands. This year the first frame building was erected
and used as a store. W. F. Dunham built a steam saw mill. The
first school house was built, although school organization was not
effected until 1858. James M. Dayton taught the first school.
A post office was established with O. E. Garrison as postmaster.
Samuel Ross brought the mail once a week from Anoka. A Con
gregational church was established, of which Rev. Royal Twichell
was chosen as pastor. The Methodists organized a society the
following year.
The village was incorporated March 13, 1877, by legislative
enactment. The commissioners appointed under the organic act
were E. C. Giles, H. B. Cowles, C. H. Rines, B. F. Whiting, and
Charles Keith. At the election ordered by them the following
officers were chosen: President, C. H. Rines; trustees, F. M.
Campbell, Isaiah S. Mudgett, Thomas F. Caly; recorder, Silas
L. Staples; treasurer, D. H. Murray; justices of the peace, Scott
M. Justice, Charles Keith. The Princeton Appeal was estab
lished by Rev. John Quigley in 1873, but discontinued in 1875.
In December, 1876, Robert C. Dunn started the Princeton Union,
which he still publishes.
The Manitoba branch railroad from Elk River to Milacca
village passes through Princeton. The first train arrived Nov.
30, 1880. The county contributed $47,000 in bonds at five per
cent interest for twenty years, to aid in building the road. The
St. Paul, Mille Lacs, Brainerd, Leech Lake & Crookston rail
road will, when completed, pass through Princeton. An excel
lent school building was erected in 1885, at a cost of about $7,000.
Guy Ewing is principal of the school, which is graded. The
Grand Army of the Republic have a post here known as the
Wallace Rines post. The Masons have an organization, with
a splendid hall. A three story hotel, built by Samuel Ross, is
kept by his only daughter, Mrs. Barker. A two story brick
hotel, the Commercial House, Henry Newbert, proprietor, a
handsome structure, was built in 1887. The Mille Lacs County
Bank, located here, has a paid up capital of $20,000. Charles
Erickson is president; L. P. Hyberg, vice president; Frank

296 FIFTY YEARS
Hewse, clerk. Princeton has one steam saw mill, two flouring
mills, one feed mill, two elevators with a capacity of 60,000
bushels, and one brewery. A court house and jail are in process
of erection at an estimated cost of $10,000.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Samuel Ross was born Aug. 22, 1812. He attended Western
Reserve College, but through ill health did not graduate. He
came to Iowa in 1839, where he was married to Mary Vaughn
in 1841. He came to Princeton in 1855, where he took an active
part in building up the town and county, filled many prominent
and responsible positions in the village and county, and served
as representative of the first state legislature. Mrs. Ross died
in 1851; Mr. Ross died in 1881, leaving an only daughter, Olive
R., widow of A. P. Barker, who was a prominent lawyer of
Princeton. Mrs. Barker was elected superintendent of schools
in 1880, to which position she has been re-elected and is at pres
ent filling the office efficiently. She was the first female super
intendent elected in Minnesota.
Joseph L. Cater was born in Strafford county, New Hamp
shire, in 1828. He came to Princeton in 1855 and engaged in
farming. His name appears in all the original organizations of
town and county. M. V. B. Cater and sons have also been ac
tive and prominent citizens of Princeton. M. V. B. Cater died
some years since.
Edwin Allen, originally from Welton, Maine, came to
Princeton in 1855 and engaged in farming.
John H. Allen came from Maine to Princeton in 1854, en
gaged in farming and became prominent as a public spirited
citizen. - He held various positions of trust in the county and
was appointed receiver of the land office at Fergus Falls by
President Hayes, and resides there.
A. B. Damon came from Maine to Princeton in 1853 and
made the first claim on the town site.
C. H. Chadbourne was born at Lexington, Massachusetts.
At the age of sixteen he embarked in a seafaring life in which
he continued nine years. Mr. Chadbourne, wishing to abandon
his seafaring ways, and to put himself beyond danger of resum
ing them, came to the centre of the continent and located on a
farm near Princeton in 1856. He has since followed farming

IN THE NORTHWEST. 297
continuously. His farm consists of 900 acres under cultivation,
500 of which is devoted to tame grass and pasturage, on which
he feeds 150 head of blooded stock. He has a large dairy which
nets him $1,200 annually. He was a member of the state legis
latures of 1874-5 and was seven years' county commissioner of
Sherburne county. Mr. Chadbourne was married in 1852 to
Deborah Crowell. They have three sons and two daughters.

298 FIFTY YEARS-

CHAPTER XII.

CHISAGO COUNTY.

LOCATION — SURFACE — SCENERY.
Chisago county, located on the west bank of the St. Croix
river, between the counties of Pine on the north and Washing
ton on the south, the St. Croix river on the east and the counties
of Isanti and Anoka on the west, presents an agreeable variety
of surface, upland and generally undulating, covered with hard
and soft wood timber, well watered by lakes and streams. Its
principal streams are the St. Croix and its tributaries, Rush and
Sunrise rivers and Goose creek, and its principal lakes are
Chisago, Sunrise, Green, Rush, and Goose lakes. Its lake
scenery is unsurpassed in beauty. The county takes the name
of its largest and most beautiful lake. In its original, or rather
aboriginal, form it was Ki-chi-sago, from two Chippewa words
meaning "kichi," large, and "saga," fair or lovely. For eu
phonic considerations the first syllable was dropped.
CHISAGO LAKE.
This lake is conspicuous for its size, the clearness of its waters,
its winding shore and islands, its bays, peninsulas, capes, and
promontories. It has fully fifty miles of meandering shore line.
Its shores and islands are well timbered with maple and other
hard woods. It has no waste swamps, or marsh borders. When
the writer first came to Taylor's Falls, this beautiful lake was
unknown to fame. No one had seen it or could point out its
location. Indians brought fish aud maple sugar from a lake
which they called Ki-chi sago Sagi-a-gan, or "large and lovely
lake." This lake, they said, abounded with "kego," fish.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 299°
In 1851 the writer, with Bart Emery, made a visit to this
beautiful sheet of water. We found it what its Indian name
imports, "fair and lovely water." The government had, the
year before, completed a survey of the lake, and it was high
time that it should be given a name by which it should be des
ignated on the map and recognized by civilized visitors. What
name more beautiful and appropriate than that which the In
dians had already given it. That name we at once recognized
and used all our influence to perpetuate under somewhat adverse
influences; for Swedish emigrants having settled in its neigh
borhood, a strong effort was made to christen it "Swede Lake,"
but the lake is to-day known as Chisago, and Chisago it is likely
to remain. We believe in the policy of retaining the old Indian
names whenever possible. As a rule they are far more musical
and appropriate than any we can apply. The Indians have left
us their lands, their lakes, their streams; let us accept with
them the names by which they were known. Some have been
translated into English and appear on the maps as Goose, Elk,
Beaver and Snake. By all means let us retranslate them in
memory of the race that once owned them.
DALLES OF ST. CROIX.
Chisago county shares with Polk county in the ownership of
the wildest and most peculiar scenery in the valley of the St.
Croix. At Taylor's Falls, the head of navigation, the river
flows between ledges of trap rock, varying in height from fifty
to two hundred and fifty feet, for the most part perpendicular,
but wildly irregular, as is common in trap rock formations.
These ledges are crowned with pine trees and a dense under
growth of bushes and vines. The prevailing color of the rock
is a cold or bluish gray, but broken occasionally by brilliant
patches of coloring, red, yellow or green, as they may be stained
by oxides of the metals, or covered with lichens and mosses.
This formation is known as "The Dalles," sometime^ improperly
styled "Dells." The rocks composing it are porphyritic trap,
an igneous rock forced upward from the interior of the earth
through crevices in the crust while still in a liquid state and
then solidifying in masses, sometimes prismatic but oftener in
irregular polygons, and broken by parallel lines of cleavage.
Some geological experts claim that these rocks are "in place"

300 FIFTY YEARS
as forming a part of the original crust of the earth, but the
balance of evidence seems to be in favor of their having been
erupted at a comparatively modern period. This is evidenced
by the presence of water-worn boulders and pebbles, imbedded
in •the trap, somewhat like plums in a pudding, while it was
yet plastic; and now forming a species of conglomerate as hard
and compact as the trap itself. These rocks are supposed to be
"rich in copper and silver, and miners have spent much time in
prospecting for these metals.
Whatever the origin of the rocks, it is conceded that they were
once plastic, at which time this region could not have been a safe
or pleasant dwelling place for such beings as now inhabit the
world. The theory of a comparatively recent eruption of these
rocks is not a pleasant one, for the suggestion forces itself upon
the mind that that which has been, at least in recent times, may
occur again. The occasional recurrence of earthquakes on our
western coast, and the recent severe disturbances in South Caro
lina and Georgia, raise the query whether this region may not
again be visited with an outburst and overflow of trap, terrible
and destructive as the first. The foundations, however, seem firm
enough to last forever. The rocks are of unusual hardness, and
the crust of the earth is probably as solid and thick here as else
where. The Dalles proper are about one mile in length. The
river, in its passage through them, varies in width from one
hundred and fifty to three hundred feet. It was formerly re
ported unfathomable, but in recent years, owing to a filling up
process caused by the debris of the log drivers, it is found to be
not more than a hundred feet in its deepest place. The river makes
an abrupt bend about a bold promontory of trap known as Angle
or Elbow Rock. To the first voyageurs this seemed to be the end
of the river, and gave rise to the story that at this point the
river burst out of the rocks. Much of the frontage of the rocks
upon the river is smooth and perpendicular, and stained with
oxides of iron and copper. In places it is broken. The upper
rocks are disintegrated by the action of rain and frost, and, where
far enough from the river, have fallen so as to form a talus or
slope of angular fragments to the water's edge.
THE DEVIL'S CHAIR.
There are some instances in whichj by the breaking away and
falling of smaller rocks, larger rocks have been left standing in

IN THE NORTHWEST.

301

the form of columns. Most notable of these are the "Devil's
Pulpit," and the "Devil's Chair." The former, owing to sur
rounding shrubbery, is not easily seen. The latter is a conspic
uous object on the western shore of the river a few rods below
the lower landing. It stands on the slope formed by the debris
of a precipice that rises here about 120 feet above the river.
Its base is about 40 feet above low water mark; the column it-

THE DEVIL'S CHAIR.
self reaches 45 feet higher. It is composed of many angular
pieces of trap, the upper portion bearing a rude resemblance to
a chair. It is considered quite a feat to climb to the summit.
The face of the rocks is disfigured by the names of ambitious
and undeserving persons. The nuisance of names and adver
tisements painted upon the most prominent rocks in the. Dalles
is one that every lover of Nature will wish to have abated. To
spend an hour climbing amongst these precipices to find in some
conspicuous place the advertisement of a quack medicine, illus-

302 ' FIFTY YEARS
trates the adage: "There is but one step from the sublime to
the ridiculous." THE WELLS.
A more remarkable curiosity may be found on that bench or
middle plateau of the Dalles, lying between the upper and the
lower Taylor's Falls landings, in what has been not inaptly styled
"The Wells." These are openings, or pits, not much unlike
wells, in places where the trap is not more than 50 feet above
water level, varying in width from a few inches to 30 or 40
feet, the deepest being from 20 to 25 feet. These seem to have
been formed by the action of water upon pebbles or boulders,
much as "potholes" are now being formed in the rocky bot
toms of running streams. The water falls upon the pebbles
or boulders in such a way as to cause them to revolve and
act as a drill, boring holes in the rock proportioned to the
force of the agencies employed. Some of these boulders and
pebbles, worn to a spherical shape, were originally found at the
bottoms of these wells, but have been mostly carried away by
the curious. Some of the wells are cut through solid pieces of
trap. The walls of others are seamed and jointed; in some cases
fragments have fallen out, and in others the entire side of the
wells has been violently disrupted and partly filled with debris.
The extreme hardness of the trap rock militates somewhat
against the theory of formation above given. It is, however,
not improbable that this hardness was acquired after long ex
posure to the air. SETTLEMENT AND ORGANIZATION.
In the history of St. Croix Falls mention has been made of
some of the pioneers of Chisago county. St. Croix Falls and
Taylor's Falls, the pioneer settlement of Chisago county, though
a river divides them which is also the boundary line of two
states, have much that is common in their early history. The
inhabitants were always greatly interested in what was going on
over the river. We may add, that although they now stand in
the attitude of rival cities, their interests are still identical, and
we believe that, but for the unwise policy of making St. Croix
river a state line, they might be to-day under one city govern
ment, and -as compact and harmonious as though no St. Croix
river rolled between them. The fiver is their joint property;

IN THE NORTHWEST. 303
Doth have the same heritage of trap rocks and pines, the same
milling privileges, the same lumbering interests, and, it must be
confessed, they remain up to the present time about equally
mated. J. R. Brown was unquestionably the pioneer of the set
tlement. Frank Steele says he found J. R. Brown trading, in
1837, on the spot now the site of Taylor's Falls.
He was not, however, the first white man upon the soil. There
is some documentary evidence of the establishment by the
French of a fort forty leagues up the St. Croix some time between
the years 1700 and 1703. This fort was in all probability erected
on the plateau below the Dalles, the distance given, forty
leagues, being exaggerated after the fashion of the early voya-
geurs. It was called Fort St. Croix. There was also a pre
historic settlement, the ruins of which the writer noted as early
as 1851, on the school land addition to Taylor's Falls, These
were the foundations of nine houses, plainly visible. Over some
of them trees two feet in diameter were growing. The rock
foundations ranged in size from twenty to thirty feet, with the
hearth containing ashes underlying the debris of ages, on smooth
hearthstones showing years of service, being apparently a cent-
nry old. These were the homes, undoubtedly, of a civilized
people, and we may claim for Taylor's Falls, Chisago county,
cne of the first improvements made by whites in the limits of
Minnesota. During the last half of the last century a prominent trading
post was established and maintained for many years on the St.
Croix river, which was founded by Pierre Grinow, and during the
close of the last century it was in the charge of one James Perlier,
who afterward became one of the most useful citizens of Green
Bay, Wisconsin. Lawrence Barth was also here in 1793. The
evidence of the existence of this trading post rests upon tra
ditions and the ruins referred to. Recurring to the pioneer
Brown, the most irrepressible of all the advance guard of civili
zation, we find him only a transient inhabitant. He stayed lbng
enough to cut 200,000 feet of pine logs from the present site of
Taylor's Falls, when the neighborhood lost its attractions. These
were the first pine saw logs cut in the St. Croix valley.
In 1838 a French trader, Robinet, was located at the same
place, but in the summer of the same year came Mr. Jesse Tay
lor from Fort Snelling where he had been following the business

304 FIFTY YEARS
of a stonemason. He had heard of the ratification of the Indian
treaty by Congress, and he greatly coveted some of the rich lands
brought into market by that treaty. Mr. Taylor, with an Indian
guide, came to the Dalles of the St. Croix. As Mr. Steele had
already claimed the east side, Mr. Taylor concluded that he
would claim the west side. Returning to Fort Snelling he re
ported to an associate, Benjamin F. Baker, formed a partner
ship and returned with men, boats, provisions and building
material, but on his return to the falls he found Robinet, the
trader, in a bark shanty (at the present junction of Bridge and
River streets). Robinet was in actual possession of the coveted
acres. Robinet having no other function than that of a trader,
and consequently having no serious designs on the lands was
easily bought off, and Baker & Taylor, in August, 1838, com
menced improvements, building a log house, a blacksmith shop,
a mill, and commencing a mill race which had to be blasted.
They also built piers and a wing dam just above the present
location of the bridge. The mill was located at what has since
become the upper steamboat landing. Mr. Taylor named the
lower falls Baker's falls, and the settlement, Taylor's Place.
When the town was platted, in 1850, it was called Taylor's
Falls. The name came also to be applied to the lower falls.
The mill enterprise was a melancholy failure. The builders
were not practical mill men. The improvements were expensive.
The work of blasting rock and building made slow progress.
There was no income as long as the mill was in process of build
ing. In the midst of these embarrassments, in 1840, Mr. Baker
died. Mr Taylor took entire possession with no other right than
that of a squatter sovereign. In 1843 Mr. Taylor sold the unfin
ished mill to parties in Osceola, and in 1844 everything movable
was transferred to that place. The double log cabin remained,
and there Mr. Taylor lived for eight years on the proceeds of the
sale, performing in all that time no work more worthy of the
historian's notice than fixing his name upon the settlement and
falls. Many of the later residents query as to why it was ever
called Taylor's Falls. It takes a keen eye to discover any fall in
the river at the point named. The falls indeed were once far
more conspicuous than they are now, owing to the fact that a
large rock rose above the water at the ordinary stage, around
which the crowded waters roared and swirled. That rock, never

IN THE NORTHWEST. 305
visible in later days, was called Death Rock, because three hap
less mariners in a skiff were hurled against it by the swift cur
rent and drowned.
The old log house, the sole remnant of the Baker and Taylor
project, if we may except some holes in the rock made by blast
ing, and some submerged ruins of the wing dam and pier, has
passed through various changes. It has been used as a store, as
a boarding house, as a warehouse, as a church, as a school house,
and as a stable. Part of it still remains and is habitable. It is
located on lot 18, block 15. In 1846 Jesse Taylor sold his claim
to Joshua L. Taylor for two hundred dollars. This claim, like
most of the claims made prior to the survey of government lands,
was not accurately defined. It included, however, all the lands
on the west side of the river, extending northward to the St.
Croix Company's claim, at the upper falls, and including the
present site of Taylor's Falls.
Aside from mill building, nothing was done in the way of
improvements until 1846, when Jerry Ross and Benjamin F. Otis
commenced farming on what was subsequently known as the
Morton and Colby farms. Both raised potatoes and garden vege
tables and built houses. This was the first cultivation of the
soil in Chisago county. In 1847 Mr. Otis sold his improvements
to Wm. F. Colby, who, in that year, raised the first corn grown by
white men in the county. In 1846 Thornton Bishop commenced
improvements on a farm at the head of the rapids, six miles
above Taylor's Falls. J. L. Taylor, in 1848, built a pre-emption,
shanty midway between the upper and lower falls. In 1849 he
proved up his pre-emption to lots 5, 6 and 7, section 30, town
ship 34, range 18. N. C. D. Taylor pre-empted the northeast
quarter of the southeast quarter of section 25, and the west half
of the same quarter section; also lot 1, section 36, township 34,
range 19.'
In 1849 Lewis Barlow and Wm. E. Bush became citizens. An
abstract of the canvassed returns of an election held November
26th shows but six votes in the settlement. In 1850 W. F. Colby
pre-empted the northeast quarter of section 25, township 34,
range 19, and W. H. C. • Folsom the southeast quarter of the
southeast quarter of the same.
At a regular meeting of the St. Croix county board, held at
Stillwater, April 2, 1850, the following judges of election were
20

306 FIFTY YEARS
appointed within the present limits of Chisago county: St. Croix
Falls precinct, Wm. F. Colby, Wm. Holmes, N. C. D. Taylor;
Rush Lake precinct, Levi Clark, Walter Carrier and Richard
Arnold. At a meeting, held Oct. 7, 1850, the petition of Lewis
Barlow and ten others, of St. Croix Falls precinct, was pre
sented, asking for a special election, to elect two justices of the
peace. Their petition was granted. The poll was: Wm. E. Bush,
one vote; John H. Reid, six votes; Ansel Smith, five votes.
Reid and Smith were declared elected. The first survey of town
lots was made in 1851, by Theodore E. Parker, of Stillwater, and
under this survey the village was legally established as Taylor's
Falls. The first deeds recorded in Chisago county were transcripts
from Washington county of lands consisting of town site prop
erty, dated 1851, conveyed to W. H. C. Folsom by J. L. and
N. C. D. Taylor.
The movement for the organization of a new county from the
northern part of Washington commenced in the winter of
1851-52. A formidable petition to the legislature to make such
organization, drawn up and circulated by Hon. Ansel Smith, of
Franconia, and the writer, was duly forwarded, presented and ac
quiesced in by that body. The writer had been selected to visit
the capital in the interest of the petitioners. Some difficulty
arose as to the name. The writer had proposed "Chi-sa-ga."
This Indian name was ridiculed, and Hamilton, Jackson, Frank
lin and Jefferson were in turn proposed. The committee of the
whole finally reported in favor of the name, Chisaga, but the
legislature, in passing the bill for our county organization, by
clerical or typographical error changed the last "a" in "saga"
to "o," which, having become the law, has not been changed.
The eastern boundary of the county was fixed as the St. Croix
river; the southern boundary, the line between townships 32
and 33 ; the western, the line between ranges 21 and 22, for
three townships south, and the line between ranges 22 and 23
for the remaining townships north. To show how little was
known of the geography of the section we refer to the record of
the county commissioners of Washington county, dated Dec.
15, 1848, at which St. Croix district, the present Chisago
county, was established as "bounded on the north by Sunrise
river and on the west byline between ranges 21 and 22 — an
utter impossibility, as the Sunrise river flows in a northerly di-

IN THE NORTHWEST. 307
rection entirely through the county and at its nearest point does
not come within three miles of the range line mentioned.
The election for the first board of county officers was held at
the Chisago House, Oct. 14, 1851. Twenty-three votes were
polled at this election. The following officers were elected :
Commissioners, Samuel Thomson, chairman ; N. C. D. Taylor,
Thomas F. Morton ; clerk of board and register of deeds, F. W.
Abbott ; treasurer, W. H. C. Folsom. The bill establishing the
county provided that "the seat of justi ce of the county of Chisago
shall beat such point in said county as the first board of commis
sioners elected in said county shall determine." In accordance
with this law, at the first meeting of the commissioners, held at the
office of N. C. D. Taylor in Taylor's Falls, Jan. 5, 1852, the
town of Taylor's Falls was chosen as the county seat, "agreeable
to the Revised Statutes, chapter 1st, section 14th."
As the population of the county increased the project of mov
ing the county seat to a more nearly central position was agitated.
In 1858 a vote was taken which resulted in favor of its removal
to Centre City. The matter of the legality of the vote was
referred to the court, and decided by Judge Welch adversely, on
the ground that a majority of the voters of the county had not
voted. The county seat consequently remained at Taylor's Falls.
In 1861 another vote was taken by which the county seat was
removed to Chisago City, and there it remained under somewhat
adverse circumstances. Chisago City having but a small popu
lation and no conveniences for such a purpose, and being for
several years without even a post office, repeated efforts were
made for another removal, until in 1875 a vote to remove it to
Centre City carried. In January, 1876, the records were removed.
The county authorities issued $5,000 bonds for a court house
which was erected on a point of land extending into Chisago
lake, a beautiful situation. The bonds have been paid and the
county is without indebtedness, and has a surplus of about
$10,000. The town of Amador comprises two eastern tiers of sections
of township 35, range 20, and two fractional sections of town
ship 36, range 20, fractional township 35, range 19, and one
fractional section of township 36, range 19. The St. Croix river
forms its boundary on the north and east. The surface is undu
lating. The western and southern part is covered with hard-

308 FIFTY YEARS
wood timber and has rich soil. The northern part has oak
openings and prairie, with soil somewhat varied, in some places
more or less sandy. It is well watered and drained. Thornton
Bishop, the first settler, came in 1846, and located a farm on the
banks of the St. Croix, at the head of the rapids, in section 34.
Richard Arnold settled on Amador prairie in 1854, and was
followed by James P. Martin, Carmi P. Garlick and others.
Garlick was a practicing physician, but engaged in other work.
He built a steam saw mill and made many other improvements,
among them laying out the village of Amador in section 9, town
ship 35, range 20. H. N. Newbury, surveyor, not succeeding in
his undertaking, issued the prospectus of a paper to be called
the St. Croix Eagle and to be published at Taylor's Falls. This
failing he removed to Osceola.
Amador was organized in 1858. The first supervisors were
C. P. Garlick, R. Arnold and James Martin. A post office was
established in 1857; Henry Bush, postmaster. Mr. Bush had a
small farm at the mouth of Deer creek, where he built a large
public house, two stories high.. This house burned down. He
established a ferry across the St. Croix. He had a large family
of boys who roamed the woods freely until one of their number
was lost. The other boys came home as usual but of one they
could give no account. Parties were organized for the search,
which at last was given up as unsuccessful. A year afterward
the bones of the missing boy were found some miles away, by
the side of a log, where the little wanderer had doubtless per
ished of starvation and exposure. Mr. Bishop raised the first
crops of the town. The first marriage was that of Charles S.
Nevers and Mary Snell, by John Winans, Esq., Feb. 23, 1860.
Thornton Bishop was a native of Indiana. He came to St.
Croix Falls in 1841 and was married to Delia Wolf in 1842, by
Rev. W. D. Boutwell, at the Pokegama mission. This wife was
a well educated half-breed. They raised a large family of chil
dren. He came to Amador in 1846 and farmed for some time
at the head of the rapids, when he sold his farm and moved to
Sunrise. In 1880 he removed to Kettle River station. In
1883-84-85-86 he served as commissioner for Pine county.
William Holmes came to Amador and settled on a farm at
the head of the rapids in 1848. The farm is now held by John
Dabney. Mr. Holmes married a sister of Mrs. Thornton

IN THE NORTHWEST. 309
Bishop. She was educated at Pokegama mission. They raised
a large family of children. In 1852 Mr. Holmes removed to
Sunrise and thence to Trade River, Wisconsin, in 1875, where
he sickened. His brother-in-law. Bishop, came to his relief, re
moved him to his own home and cared for him till he died, May,
1876. James M. Martin was one of the first settlers in Amador.
He came originally from Missouri, where he was married. He
died July 17, 1887 ; Mrs. Martin dying some years prior. Their
sons are James M., Harvey, Charles, Isaac, and Theodore. Their
daughters are Mrs. Cowan, Mrs. Wilkes, Mrs. Nordine and Mrs.
Lanon. BRANCH.
The town of Branch, occupying township 35, range 21, was set
off from Sunrise, and organized in 1872. The first supervisors
were William Winston, Peter Delamater and Frank Knight. A
post office was established in 1869; Geo. W. Flanders, postmas
ter. The surface is mostly undulating, and the soil a sandy loam.
There are oak openings, and along the course of the north branch
of the Sunrise river, which flows through the town from west to
east, there are many excellent wild meadows. The north part
originally contained pine forests; about 5, 000, 000 feet have been
•cut away. Branch contains some pretty and well cultivated farms.
The St. Paul & Duluth railroad traverses the town from south to
north. NORTH BRANCH STATION.
The only village in the town of Branch was platted in Janu
ary, 1870, the proprietors being the Western Land Association,
L. Mendenhall, agent. The plat includes the north half of the
northwest quarter of section 21, and the northeast quarter of
section 20, township 35, range 21. The first settler was G. M.
Flanders, who opened a store hepe in 1868, which was burned in
1869. Henry L. Ingalls erected a good hotel and other buildings.
In 1870 Gurley & Bros, established a store; B. F. Wilkes built
a hotel; Winston, Long & Co. established a store. In 1874 J. F.
F. Swanson built a flouring mill, which was burned in 1878. The
loss was about $6,000, with but little insurance. The village now
contains two elevators, three hotels, six stores and the usual pro
portion of dwellings. There are two churches, the Episcopalian

310 FIFTY YEARS
building, erected in 1883, and the Congregational, in 1884. There
is also a good school house. The village was incorporated in 1882.
In December, 1884, the store of. Singleton & Bonnafon was
burned; loss estimated at $15,000, with but little insurance.
Henry L. Ingalls was born in Abingdon, Connecticut, in
1804. In 1832 he was married to Lavina L. Child, of Wood
stock, Connecticut, and with his wife and younger brother emi
grated to Illinois, settling at Chandler, Cass county. There he
remained seventeen years, when, his impaired health necessitat
ing a change, with his son Henry he went to California. In 1 853
he returned and settled on Sunrise prairie, then an unbroken
wilderness. For seventeen years he lived on his farm and kept
a popular country hotel. In 1870 he removed to North Branch
and built a large frame residence, where he lived until his death,
which occurred Sept. 2, 1876. Mr. Ingalls left three sons, Eph-
raim, Henry and Van Rensselaer.
Mrs. Lavina L. Ingalls, whose maiden name was Childs,
was born in Connecticut in 1806; was married as above stated in
1832, from which time she cheerfully and uncomplainingly shared
the fortunes of her husband in the West, undergoing the usual
toils and privations of the pioneer. While at Sunrise, during
part of the time she had no neighbors nearer than Taylor's Falls.
The first post office in Chisago county north of Taylor's Falls
was at her house, and was known as Muscotink. She and her
husband, during the later years of their lives, were Spiritualists,
and derived great comfort from their peculiar phase of belief.
Mrs. Ingalls was a talented and kind hearted woman, charitable
in act and beloved by her associates. She died Dec. 29, 1879.
CHISAGO LAKE.
The town of Chisago Lake includes the four western tiers of
sections of township 33, range 20, and township 34, range 20.
A permanent characteristic of this town is its unrivaled lake
scenery, rendering it not only attractive for residences but a
favorite resort of visitors. Its principal lake has already been
described. The first settler was John S. Van Rensselaer, who
located on an island opposite the present site of Centre City in
the spring of 1851, and raised a crop of corn and vegetables.
He built him a cabin and lived there three years. Eric Nor-
berg, a prominent Swede, came to the lake from Bishop's Hill,

IN THE NORTHWEST. 311
Illinois, in April, 1851, and being pleased with the locality,
came back with a colony of Swedes, including Peter Berg, An
drew Swenson, Peter Anderson, Peter Shaline, Daniel Rattick,
and others. They came by steamboat, landed at Taylor's Falls
June 24, 1851, cut a road to Chisago lake and took undisputed
possession of its shores, finding no trace of human occupancy
save some deserted Indian tepees and the claim cabin of Mr.
Van Rensselaer on the island. Mr. Berg settled on the west part
of lot 3, section 35, and southwest quarter of southwest quarter
of section 26, township 34, range 20. Peter Anderson on the
east part of lot 3, and northwest quarter of northeast quarter of
section 35, township 34, range 20. Andrew Swenson on lot 5,
section 27, township 34, range 20. Mr. Norberg had come first
to the country at the invitation of Miles Tornell, who was mur
dered in 1848, near St. Croix Falls, by some Indian assassins,
hired to commit the deed by one Miller, a whisky seller. Mr.
Norberg originally intended to make his home at Chisago Lake,
but died at Bishop's Hill, Illinois, while on a visit in 1853.
The colony in 1852 raised the first rye, barley and flax in the
county. They also raised potatoes, green corn and vegetables,
cut out roads, cleared timber, and made other improvements.
Peter Berg raised flax and made linen thread in 1852, the first
made in Minnesota. Settlers came in rapidly. Among the
arrivals in 1852 and soon after were the Petersons, Strands,
Johnsons, Frank Mobeck, Dahliam, Porter, and others. A post
office was established in 1858; A. Nelson, postmaster. The town
was organized in 1858. The first supervisors were: Eprhraim
C. Ingalls, chairman; Frank Mobeck and Daniel Lindstrom.
The first church organization in the county was that of the
Swedish Evangelical Lutheran, in 1854. Here1 was built the
first church edifice in 1855, a frame structure subsequently en
larged, but in 1882 superseded by a fine brick building, costing
$30,000. Its dimensions are 116x66 feet, ground plan, and the
spire is 135 feet in height. A fine organ was purchased at a cost
of $1,500. This church building is an ornament to the town and
the State, and would be creditable even to our great cities. The
first pastor was Rev. P. A. Cedarstam. His successors are Revs.
C. A. Hedengrand and John J. Frodeen, the present incumbent.
The communicants number about 1,300.
In 1880 the St. Paul & Duluth railroad extended a branch

312 FIFTY YEARS
road from Wyoming to Taylor's Falls. This passes through the
town of Chisago Lake, from west to east, crossing three arms of
the lake. To secure this road the town gave $10,000 in twenty
year bonds. It obtains in exchange an outlet for the products of
its farms and forests. The bridge across Chisago lake was built
in 1857, at a cost of $1,500. It has since been made an embank
ment bridge at an additional cost of $1,600. Of this the State
furnished $1,000 and the county $600.
CENTRE CITY,
The county seat of Chisago county, was platted May, 1857, on
lot 5, section 27, township 34, range 20; Andrew Swenson, pro
prietor; Alex. Cairns, surveyor. It is located on a peninsula
midway on the east shore of Chisago lake. Few villages are
more beautifully situated. It contains two hotels, three stores,
a saw and feed mill, two church buildings, a Swedish Lutheran
and Swedish Methodist, a school house and many pleasant resi
dences. The court house was built in 1876, at a cost of $5,000, on
a promontory commanding a fine view of the lake. The depot of
the branch of the St. Paul & Duluth railroad is located half a
mile south of the village. Summer excursionists assemble here
in goodly numbers, and the location bids fair to become very at
tractive as a summer resort. During the Indian outbreak in
1862, and the period of uncertainty as to the probable attitude of
the Chippewa Indians, the people of Chisago Lake built breast
works for protection, on the isthmus connecting Centre City with
the mainland, and planted cannon upon them for defense. The
remains of these old fortifications may still be seen.
Andrew Swenson. -j- Mr. Swenson, the founder of Centre
City, came to the shores of the lake in 1851, and made his home
on the present site of the city. He was born in Sweden in 1817;
came to America in 1850, and remained a short time in New Or
leans before coming to Minnesota. He was a farmer and a mem
ber of the Methodist church. He was married to Catharine
Peterson in 1838. He died in July, 1887, leaving two sons and
two daughters.
John S. Van Rensselaer came to Chisago Lake in the spring
of 1851, and settled on an island, where he lived three years in
hermit-like seclusion, raising corn and vegetables. His cabin,
always neat and tasteful, was furnished with a choice library.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 313
In 1854 he removed to Sunrise Lake, where he lived fifteen
years, engaged in farming. He removed thence to Sunrise City.
Mr. Van Rensselaer was the founder of the first cheese factories
in the county, at Sunrise City and Centre City. He is an honor
able and upright man, whose high aim is to exemplify the golden
rule in his life and deportment.
Axel Dahliam settled on the west shore of East Chisago lake
in 1852. Mr. Dahliam had been an officer in the Swedish Army.
He was a cultivated gentleman. He died in 1869.
Nels Nord was born in Lindhopsing, Sweden, in 1819. In
his eighteenth year he enlisted in the Swedish Army and served
twelve years. He came to America in 1855 and located on Chi
sago lake, in the northeast quarter of section 32, township 34, range
20. He was married in Sweden to Lisa Anderson. They have
one son, John P., who has been for seven years the popular and
efficient auditor of Chisago county. He was married in 1878 to
Hildah, daughter of Rev. 0. A. Hedengrand. They have one
daughter. John A. Hallberg was born at Smolland, Sweden, in 1830.
He came to America in 1853 and to Centra rCity in 1854. In
1872 he purchased a saw and feed mill of Shogren Brothers. In
1876 he built a hotel. He has held the office of justice of the
peace many years and has served four years as county commis
sioner. He was married to Matilda E. Carlson in 1870.
Chas. A. Bush is of German descent. His father, Wm. H.
Bush, lived in Wyoming. His great grandfather came to this
country in 1765 and fought on the side of the colonies. Chas.
A. came to Minnesota in 1869 from Pennsylvania. He has
served as treasurer of Chisago county four years.
Lars Johan Stark was born in Sweden in 1826; came to
America in 1850, and settled at Chisago Lake in 1852. He was
married in 1865, and again in 1870. He has eleven children liv
ing. In Sweden he served as clerk ten years. In his American
home he has followed farming chiefly. He has served as justice
of the peace and county commissioner, and has filled some town
offices. He was engrossing clerk of the house of representatives
in 1864. He was a member of the house in the sessions of 1865
and 1875. In 1868 he moved to the town of Fish Lake, and in
1877 to Harris.
Frank Mobeck. was born in Sweden in 1814. He came to

314 FIFTY YEARS
America in 1851, and in 1853 to Chisago Lake, where he settled
on lot 5, section 34, township 34, range 20. His home is on a
beautiful elevation, on a point of land projecting into the lake.
Mr. Mobeck served in the Swedish Army seventeen years. He
has raised a large family of children, all of whom are good citi
zens. Robert Currie was born in Ayrshire, Scotland. After
reaching manhood he was employed many years as superintend
ent of a fancy manufacturing company. He was married in
Scotland. In 1854, after the death of his wife, he came to
America, and in 1855 selected a place for a home on the north
shore of west Chisago lake, where he lived till his death by
* drowning in 1883. The site of his home was well chosen.
It commanded a beautiful view of the lake, and in the sum
mer months was luxuriantly adorned with flowers. Mr. Cur
rie was a man of fine intellect, well cultivated, and an ardent
admirer of his countryman Burns, from whom, and from Shake
speare and other masters of English literature he could quote
for hours. Mr. Currie' s occupation was farming, but he filled
several offices acceptably. He was superintendent of schools,
judge of probate and clerk of district court. Though somewhat
eccentric, he was a social, kind hearted man.
Andrew N. Holm, formerly Andrew Nelson, his name hav
ing been changed by legislative enactment in 1867, was born in
Sweden in 1829. He learned the trade of carpenter, came to
America in 1855 and located in Centre City in 1857, of which
city he was first postmaster. He served as a soldier during the
Civil War and at its close removed his family to Taylor's Falls,
which is still his home. LINDSTROM VILLAGE,
Located on the line of the Taylor's Falls branch of the St. Paul
& Duluth railroad, on lot 4, section 33, town 34, range 20, was
platted in 1880 by G. W. Sewall, surveyor. The proprietors are
James and Elisabeth Smith. It is situated on high ground and
almost surrounded by the waters of Lake Chisago. It would be
difficult to find a lovelier site. Maurice Tombler built the first
store and elevator here, in 1881. There are now three stores,"
one hotel, one railroad station and several shops and dwellings.
A post office was established at Lindstrom in 1880; Charles H.
Bush, postmaster.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 315
Daniel Lindstrom was born in 1825, in Helsingland, Swe-
'den. He had no early advantages for obtaining an education, and
spent most of his youth herding goats amongst the mountains
in the north part of Sweden. In 1854 he came to America and
located on Chisago lake, choosing a beautiful location, which has
since been laid out as a village, and bids fair to become a place
of popular resort. Mr. Lindstrom was married first in Sweden,
and now lives with his second wife, the first having died in 1864.
He has a family of three children. He has filled official posi
tions in his town acceptably.
Magnus S. Shaleen was born in Sweden in 1796; came to
America in 1855, and made a homestead near Lindstrom in sec
tion 29, town 34, range 20, where he died in 1869. Mrs. Shaleen
died in 1873. John, the oldest son, resides on the family home
stead. He has served as sheriff of Chisago county six years, and
state senator eight years. Peter, the second son, has served as
postmaster of Centre City fourteen years, and clerk of the dis
trict court five years. Sarah, the eldest daughter, married John
Swenson. They have three sons, John H., Henry A. and Oscar,
industrious, reliable young men, all in the employ of the St. Paul
& Duluth Railroad Company. Mary married Andrew Wallmark
at Chisago Lake, in 1856. One daughter is unmarried.
CHISAGO city.
The village of Chisago City is located on a hardwood ridge,
between Chisago and Green lakes, in sections 6 and 7, township
34, range 20. It was platted by Isaac Bernheimer&Co., of Phila
delphia, on lot 4, section 7, township . 34, range 20, in 1855.
They built a hotel, several dwellings, and a saw and grist mill
on the banks of Chisago lake, at an expense of about $7,000.
These mills were burned in 1872. A stave factory was built on
the site of the burned mills, which was operated successfuly for
many years under the management of George Nathan, Otto
Wallmark, W. D. Webb and others. This stave mill gave a new
impetus to the prosperity of the village, under the influence of
which the county seat was transferred to it. Its subsequent
, growth, however, did not justify expectations. It was for many
years without even a post office. In 1875 the county seat was
removed to Centre City. The Lutherans have here one of the
finest church buildings in the county. The branch railroad

316 FIFTY YEARS
depot is located one mile north, and quite a village has grown
up around it.
Otto Wallmark was born Dec. 7, 1830, in the province of
Halland, Sweden. In his minority he was nine years clerk in a
store. He received a common school education. In 1854 he came
to America and directly to Chisago City, where he lived many
years, making a homestead, which has since been his permanent
home. He served eighteen years as Chisago county auditor. He
served several years as postmaster at Chisago City, and in 1886
was elected state senator for four years. His first wife was Mary
Helene, his second wife, Eva Palmgreen. They have one son
and one daughter.
Andrew Wallmark, brother of Otto, was born in Sweden
in 1826; received a liberal education, and came to Chisago Lake
from Sweden in 1854. He has filled several town offices; has
been register of deeds for Chisago county nine'teen years; was
married to Mary Shaleen in 1856. They have two sons and three
daughters. FISH LAKE.
The town of Fish Lake includes township 36, range 22. It
was originally well timbered, chiefly with hardwood, but 25,-
000,000 feet of pine timber has been cut from it and mostly
manufactured in the town. There are some fine lakes in the
town, of which the largest and finest are Horseshoe and Cedar.
The soil is black clay loam with subsoil of clay. The town was
cut off from the town of Sunrise and organized in 1868. The
first supervisors were Chas. F. Stark, Benjamin Franklin and
John A. Hokanson. A post office was established in 1868;
Benjamin Franklin, postmaster. The first settlers were Peter
Olaf and Peter Bergland, in section 25. The first school was
taught by Miss Mattison. The first marriage was that of John
Hokanson and Matilda Samuelson. The first death was that of
John Erickson. The population is mostly from Sweden. There
is a good Swedish Lutheran church built near the centre of the
town. There are also a Swedish Methodist and a Swedish Bap
tist society. The people are a well-to-do, independent class.
Fish Lake has a saw mill with a capacity of about 1,000,000
feet. In 1877 Hosburg, the watchman of this mill, was killed
by Priestly, an Englishman. Hosburg, in accordance with the

IN THE NORTHWEST. 317
rules, had ordered him not to smoke on the premises. The
Englishman was arrested, tried for murder and acquitted.
Peter Berg was born in Sweden in 1801; came to America
in 1850, and settled at Chisago Lake in 1851. Some time subse
quently he settled on the north shore of Fish lake. In 1886, at
the age of eighty-five years, he is still a vigorous, active man. Mr.
Berg was married in Sweden. He has one daughter, Katharine,
who married Sam Hamilton, of Taylor's Falls. Mr. Hamilton
died in 1871. She married as her second husband Swain G. Yon-
gren. Benjamin Franklin, though he bears the name of America's
most illustrious philosopher, is a native of Sweden, whence he
came with a Swedish colony in 1852, settled at Taylor's Falls, and
subsequently removed to the northern shore of Fish lake. By
way of explaining how he came by his American name we add
that soon after his arrival he came to the writer somewhat puz
zled as to how he should write his Swedish name in English. He
gave it as "Ben Franz Norel," but pronounced it in such a way
that it sounded rather like Benjamin Franklin. We suggested
that name as a happy solution of the difficulty, telling him some
thing about the illustrious man who had made it honorable. He
adopted it at once, and has never disgraced it. He is still a
worthy, industrious and honorable citizen of Fish Lake.
FRANCONIA
Includes the two eastern tiers of sections of township 33, range 20,
and fractional township 33, range 19, including about fifteen whole
sections, and four fractional. The soil is good, and originally
supported a growth of hardwood. The surface is undulating. It
is well watered by Lawrence and several other small creeks
tributary to the St. Croix, and has several small but clear lakes.
Ansel Smith was the first settler of the town and village, which
he named after Franconia in the White mountains. He came
here in' 1852. and located a claim on the present site of the vil
lage, on the St. Croix river, section 10, township 33, range 19. He
did much for the prosperity of the village and town. He raised
the first crops and was the first postmaster (1854). The town
was organized in 1858. The first supervisors were Ansel Smith,
Leonard P. Day and A. J. Adams. The town is now well set
tled and has many excellent farms. The branch St. Paul & Du
luth railroad has a depot three-fourths of a mile from the village

318 FIFTY YEARS
of Franconia. A German Methodist church is located near the
centre of the town. FRANCONIA VILLAGE
Was platted in 1858, by Ansel Smith. It was incorporated in
1884. Paul Munch, in 1860, erected a first class, three storied
flouring mill on Lawrence creek. A saw mill, erected in 1854
by the Clark brothers and Ansel Smith, has passed through many
changes of ownership. It is now the property of Matthews &
Jourdain. Henry F. and Leonard P. Day built the first good
dwelling in the village, on the banks of the St. Croix, just above
the steamboat landing. Margaret Smith taught the first school.
The first death in the village was that of Neil Monroe.
Ansel Smith came from Vermont to St. Croix Falls in 1850
and engaged in teaching. In 1851 he helped erect the Chisago
House in Taylor's Falls. In 1852 he made a claim on the St.
Croix river, in section 10, township 33, range 19, and there
platted the village of Franconia, clearing away the worst of the
timber with his own hands. , He was an energetic, actiye busi
ness man, and took an interest not only in the affairs of his town
and neighborhood, but in the country at large. He represented
his district in the fifth, sixth and seventh legislatures. He was
appointed register of the United States land office at Duluth in
1870 and served till 1872. Mr. Smith died at his residence in
Duluth in 1878, leaving a wife and three promising sons, two
of them practicing attorneys in Duluth; one cashier of a bank
in Duluth.
Henry F. and Leonard P. Day. —The Day brothers came
from St. Lawrence, New York, to the St. Croix valley in 1849,
and settled in Franconia in 1852. Henry married Margaret Smith,
daughter of David Smith. During the Rebellion he served in
Company C, Seventh Minnesota Volunteers. He moved to
Florida in 1886. Leonard P. was married to Mary Mitchell in
1856. He died in 1874, leaving a widow, two sons and two
daughters. His widow (in 1886) is the wife of Henry Wills, of
Osceola. Henry Wills was born in 1829, in Illinois, anP married his
first wife in Missouri in 1856, who died in 1878, leaving nine
children. Mr. Wills was one of the first farmers in Franconia,
and has been active in promoting improvements in his town and
county. He moved to Osceola in 1886.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 319
The Clark Brothers came from Maine and located in Fran
conia in 1854, where they built the first mill in the village.
Subsequently they became citizens of Taylor's Falls, engaging
in the mercantile, livery, saw and stave mill business. James, the
oldest, married' Carrie Jellison in 1863, and moved to Windom,
Minnesota. Rufus, the next in age, married Kate Strand in
.1860, and died May, 1880, leaving a widow, three sons and one
. daughter. Charles, the youngest, was married to Martha J.
Gray in 1868, and removed to Fergus Falls.
David Smith was born in Scotland. He came to Franconia
in 1855, where he has now one of the best farms in Chisago
county. His youngest son, James, lives on the old homestead
with him. His second son, John, has made his home in Rush
City. Andrew, his oldest, served during the Rebellion in com
pany C, Seventh Minnesota. His oldest daughter, Margaret, is
the wife of H. F. Day. His daughter Nancy is the wife of N. H.
Hickerson and resides in California. Barbary, the third daugh
ter, is the wife of John Grove of Burnett county.
Jonas Lindall was for many years an enterprising and pros
perous business man in Franconia. He opened up an extensive
wood trade with St. Paul, in which C. J. Vitalis is his successor.
Mr. Lindall represented his county in the senate of the fif
teenth and sixteenth state legislatures. He was accidentally
drowned from a barge of wood at Hastings in May, 1872. His
widow is married to Chas. J. Vitalis.
Wm. Peaslee came from Maine to the St. Croix valley and
settled in Franconia in 1857, and followed mercantile pursuits
at that place and at Taylor's Falls. He died at the latter place
in 1876. Mr. Peaslee was married at Palmyra, Maine, to
Sophia E. Harriman, who, with Clarence, an only son, survives,
him. His widow resides in Taylor's Falls and superintends a
millinery and fancy store. Clarence succeeds his father in the
grocery and dry goods business at Taylor's Falls. He married
Rosa, a daughter of Patrick Fox.
Charles Vitalis was born in Smolland, Sweden, in 1843; came
to America in 1868 and settled in Franconia village. He was for
five years employed as clerk. In 1873 he embarked in the mer
cantile and wood business. In one year he shipped 13,000 cords
of wood, and. has averaged for the last 14 years 7,000 cords,
making a total of 100,000 cords. He was married to Josephine

320

FIFTY YEARS

Nelson, widow of Jonas Lindall, in 1873. They have three
children. Elof, John, Elias and Hans are brothers of Charles
Vitalis, residing in the town of Franconia.
August J. Anderson was born near Wexico, Sweden, in 1860;
came to America with his parents in 1869, and to Franconia. At
thirteen years of age he commenced clerking for C. Vitalis, with
whom he continued until 1873, when he associated himself with
him in the mercantile business. He visited Europe in 1883.
Frank N. Peterson. — Mr. Peterson came to America in 1865,
and in 1866 settled in the valley of the St. Croix. He attended
school at Carver, Minnesota, one year, when he became a trav
eling salesman for Leopold & Co., of Chicago, and in 1881
settled in Franconia. He organized the lumbering firm of Borens
Brothers & Peterson, which continued until 1886, when a new

FRANK K. PETEKSON.

organization was formed, called the Franconia Lumber Company,
consisting of P. Jordan, Sam Mathews, of Stillwater, and the
subject of our sketch.
Mr. Peterson has been the president of Franconia since its in
corporation. In 1869 he married Miss Ingur Johnson, daughter
of Eric Johnson, a pioneer of St. Peter, Minnesota, and is the
father of two children, Axel, a promising son, who died in Feb-

IN THE NORTHWEST. 321
ruary, 1885, at fourteen years of age, and Maria, now a student
in the Ladies' Seminary at Faribault, who is developing marked
ability as a pencil artist. Mr. Peterson owns one of the finest
houses in the valley, romantically situated, which is supplied
with pure spring water. It is a pride to the village and attracts
general attention. He is also the inventor and patentee of the
Lindholm & Peterson adding machine.
HARRIS.
The town of Harris contains twenty-four sections of township
36, range 21, the four western tiers of sections. The soil is
a sandy loam with clay subsoil. The town is well watered and
drained by Goose creek, which entering the town from the north
west, and bending at first southward, then eastward, leaves the
town near its southeastern line in section 22. The timber con
sisted originally of oak openings and pine; 10,000,000 feet of the
latter have been removed from the southeastern portion. Lux
uriant wild meadows are found along Goose creek. The first
improvement was a farm, made by W. H. C. Folsom in sections
21 and 22 in 1854. The first permanent settler was Henry H.
Sevy, who located on this farm in 1856. The town of Harris
was organized in 1884. HARRIS VILLAGE.
A charter organizing Harris village was granted by the dis
trict court, under the general law, in 1882. A question arose
as to the legality of the act. A subsequent legislature, by leg
islative act, confirmed all similarly organized villages in the
State. The supreme court decided the organization of such vil
lages illegal and the legislative act sanctioning it unconstitu
tional. It was subsequently organized legally. The village
was surveyed by A. D. Miller and platted in May, 1873, in the
south half of section 21, township 36, range 21, Philip S. Har
ris and N. D. Miller, proprietors. It derived its name from
Philip S. Harris, a prominent officer of the St. Paul & Duluth
railroad. Fred Wolf was the first settler, in 1870, and first mer
chant and first railroad agent, in 1873. He acted as postmaster
subsequently and filled other offices of trust. His interests are
intimately blended with those of the village. Isaac Savage was
the second settler and merchant. He was the first postmaster,
21

322 FIFTY YEARS
in 1873. The first school was taught by Mary Gwinn, in 1873.
The first marriage was that of M. P. Smith and Charlotte Swen
son. The first child born was Brague, son of W. D. Sayers.
The first death was that of Isaac Morrill. A good school house
was built in 1877.- The village is rapidly growing. It has an ex
tensive trade in hay, wood, ties and piles. Wheat shipments
are large. It has four stores, two hotels, three elevators, three
hay presses, two wagon and smith shops, one agricultural ware
house, one skating rink, one livery stable, two saloons, one meat
shop and a railroad depot. LENT.
This town includes the whole of township 34, range 21. It is
well watered and drained by Sunrise river, but has no lakes.
The soil is a sandy loam; the timber chiefly oak openings. The
early settlers were Harvey Lent, from whom the town derived its
name, William Robinson, James Buchanan, who raised the first
crops in 1855, Joshua Oawson, Jesse Moore and others. The
town was organized in 1872. The first supervisors were Dawson,
Moore and Robinson. The first post , office was established in
1875, at Stacy, a railroad station on the St. Paul & Duluth rail
road, which traverses this town from south to north. Frank
Dawson was the first postmaster. NESSELL.
Nessell includes township 37, range 22. The surface was origin
ally covered with a growth of hardwood, with some pine. Of
the latter, about 10,000,000 feet has been cut. The soil is adapted
to wheat culture. It is well watered. Rush lake occupies a
nearly central position, and is a beautiful sheet of water with
about fourteen miles of meandering shore line, crystal clear, and
deep, well stocked with fish, and bordered with groves of maple,
oak and linden. The town was set off from Rush Lake and organ
ized in 1870. The first supervisors were Wm. H. McCray, John
H. Breit and Matts Colleen. The town is settled by a class of
industrious, upright people. There are three churches, with
prosperous societies, the Swedish Baptist, the Swedish Lutheran
and German Lutheran. Martin Linnellwas the first child born.
The first marriage was that of Wm. Vanetta and Anna Johnson,
in 1861. Alice Draper taught the first school. Rev. Cedarstam
preached the first sermon.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 323
• Robert Nessell was the oldest settler. The town was named
for him. He was born in Germany in 1834; came to America
in 1847, and to Minnesota in 1854. He was married at Sunrise
to Kate Torbert, of Shafer, in 1856, and the same year located
his present home. Other early settlers are John H. Breit, John
Lindsey, P. Kelley, and the Jarchow brothers.
Stephen B. Clark made Nessell his home in 1867. Mr.
Clark was born in Vermont in 1830; came to Marine in 1851. He
served three years during the Rebellion in the Second Wiscon
sin Cavalry. He removed to Rush City in 1856.
RUSH SEBA.
Rush Seba comprises township 37, range 21, and fractional
part of township 37, range 20, consisting of about ten sections,
irregularly bounded by the St. Croix river. It is timbered with
hardwood, has good soil, chiefly a black clay loam, with clay
subsoil, and is well watered by Rush river and Rock creek and
tributaries. Wild meadows and marshes are intermingled with
the timber. The town was organized in 1858, with George B.
Folsom, Robert Newell and Timothy Ward as supervisors. A
post office was established in 1859, in section 14, George B. Fol
som, postmaster. George B. Folsom was the first settler, raising
the first crops in the town in 1855. The St. Paul & Duluth rail
road traverses the town from south to north. It was built in
1868, and a branch road to Grantsburg, Wisconsin, was built in
1884. Josephine Blanding taught the first school, in 1856. The
first death was that of James Ward, who died from accidental
poisoning. RUSH CITY.
In 1868, at the completion of the St. Paul & Duluth railroad,
a depot was built and a station established at the cro'ssing of
Rush river, around which rapidly grew up the village of Rush
City. It was surveyed and platted by Benjamin W. Brunson, sur
veyor, in January, 1870, in the northeast quarter of section 21,
township 37, range 26. The Western Land Association, L.
Mendenhall, agent, was proprietor. Thomas Flynn was the first
settler, he having in 1857 pre-empted the land which afterward
became the site of the village. Among the improvements in
1869 was a steam saw mill, built by Taylor & Co. This mill was
burned in 1879, at a loss of $13,000. Rush City was incorpo-

324 FIFTY YEARS
rated in 1874. Frank H. Pratt was president of the first village
council. Rush City has now a commodious town hall, an ex
change bank, one elevator, one foundry, a good school house,
built at a cost of $3,000; a good graded school, under the super
vision of Prof. V. D. Eddy; a lodge of Ancient Order United
Workmen (No. 42), a board of trade, a Woman's Christian
Temperance Union Association, a Sons of Temperance lodge, a
post of the Grand Army of the Republic (Ellsworth Post, No.
58), and a masonic organization (Jasper Lodge). The following
denominations have churches and societies: Catholic, Episco
palian, German Lutheran, Swedish Lutheran, and Swedish Evan
gelical. The Catholics are building a church at a cost of $10,000.
Thomas Flynn was born in county Mayo, Ireland, 1828. He
came to America in 1831, and lived in Canada East until 1857,
when he located in Minnesota, pre-empting the northeast quarter
of section 21, township 37, range 21. His farm became the site
of the village of Rush City in 1868, and in 1869 he built the first
frame house in its limits. Mr. Flynn has been married three
times, losing each of his wives by death. He has two sons liv
ing, James H. and Frank A.
Patrick H. Flynn was born in county Mayo, Ireland, in
1829; came to America in 1831; lived in Canada East until 1857,
and coming to Minnesota pre-empted the northwest quarter of
section 21. He was married in 1857 to Margaret Kelly, of Illi
nois. They have two sons and two daughters living. Mr.
Flynn, in 1880, erected the Globe Hotel in Rush City, where he
now resides.
Rufus Crocker was the second settler in Rush Seba. He
was the first justice of the peace and held other offices. Mr.
Crocker was married to Miss Mercy Hewson, of Isanti county.
He is now a citizen of Rock Creek.
Frank H. Pratt was born in Skowhegan, Maine, in 1836. His
father, Henry P. Pratt, a veteran editor, who had served
twenty years on the Kennebec Journal, and later was con
nected with the Somerset Journal and Skowhegan People's Press,
came to St. Paulin 1854 with his family, and was associated
with John P. Owens as assistant editor of the St. Paul Minneso-
tian. On Sunday, May 6, 1855, Mr. Pratt went on board the
steamer Royal Arch, which had landed at the St. Paul levee that
morning with a cargo of passengers, sick, dying and dead of

in the northwest. 325
cholera. Thirteen had already died on the boat. Mr. Pratt, Sr.,
went on board to alleviate the sufferings of the sick and dying,
and in consequence, within two days, himself sickened and died.
The writer and his family were passengers on the Royal Arch,
and witnesses to these scenes of suffering and death and Mr.
Pratt's heroic self-devotion. After his father's death Frank con
tinued in the office of the Minnesotian as printer. He worked
also in the offices of the St. Paul and St. Peter Tribune and the
Prescott Transcript. In 1858-59 he served as local editor and
foreman in the Transcript office. In 1860 he removed to Taylor's
Falls, and established the Taylor's Falls Reporter, the first news
paper published in Chisago county. In 1862 he enlisted in Com
pany C. of the Seventh Minnesota Volunteer Infantry; was
commissioned second lieutenant, and served until he resigned
his office in the latter part of 1864, having been promoted to
the captaincy of Company C. After the war he located in Sun
rise City, and engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 1872 he re
moved to Rush City, continued in mercantile business, and took
an active part in all enterprises looking to the welfare of the
city. He built;, a store, elevator and a fine residence, which was
burned in 1881. Mr. Pratt represented his district in the six
teenth legislature. He was married to Helen A. Bossout, at St.
Paul, in 1858. They have one son, Fred, and three daughters.
Mr. Pratt moved to St. Paul in 1882, where he died, March 25,
1884. Fred, his son, succeeds him in business in Rush City.
He is married to a daughter of Jonathan Chase, of East Min
neapolis. Voloro D. Eddy was born in Java, Wyoming county, New
York, Sept. 7, 1840; received a common school education supple
mented by two years' attendance at Griffith Institute, Springfield,
New York; gave up his school to enlist in his country's service,
as a member of the "Ellsworth Avengers" (the Forty-fourth
New York Volunteers). The regiment was mustered into service
at Albany, New York, Aug. 8, 1861. He served in this regi
ment until June 5, 1864, when he was taken prisoner at Old
Church, Virginia. He endured the horrors of prison life until
Feb. 26, 1865, and was discharged from service May 20, 1865.
In 1868 he came to Taylor's Falls and engaged in. teaching,
which he has made his profession, having taught continuously
since 1869. He has been county superintendent of schools for

326 FIFTY YEARS
twelve years, during which time he has resided at Rush City.
Mr. Eddy was married to Frances Cowley, at Taylor's Falls,
Sept. 30, 1868. Mrs. Eddy died June, 1881. He was married
to Anna R. Olmstead, July 25, 1883, at Arcadia, New York.
Ferdinand Sweedorff Christianson was born in Copen
hagen, Denmark, April 18, 1837; came to the United States in
1866, to Minnesota in 1868, and to Chisago county in 1870. He
was married to Selma A. Willard, at Red Wing, Minnesota, Dec.
12, 1869. He represented Chisago county in the legislature of
1878. He was assistant secretary of state from 1880 to 1882. In
1882 he established the Rush City Bank. In 1883 he was ap
pointed member of the state board of equalization, and in 1885
was one of the committee for selecting a location for the Third
Hospital for the Insane. SHAFER
Comprises all of the territory of township 34, range 19, except
ing the plat of Taylor's Falls, and fractional sections in the
northeast corner of the township. It was at first heavily tim
bered with hardwood, interspersed with marshes and meadows.
The soil is good. Lawrence and Dry creeks drain the greater
part of the township. It is now well settled, and has many fine
farms. A Swedish colony settled here in 1853, consisting of
Peter Wyckland, Andros Anderson, Eric Byland, Tuver Wal-
marson, and others. The town organized first as Taylor's Falls,
but the name was changed to Shafer in 1873. John G. Peterson,
John Nelson and John Carlson were the first supervisors. The
first school was taught by Ella Wyckoff, in the Marshall district,
in 1859. The first marriage was that of Peter Abear to Kittie
Wickland. The branch St. Paul & Duluth railroad passes
through the southern part of this township. The township con
tributed to this road $3,000 in bonds. A railroad station in the
southwest quarter of section 32 bears the name of Shafer, de
rived, together with the name of the township, from
Jacob Shafer, who, as early as 1847, cut hay in sections 4
and 5. He seems to have been in no sense worthy of the honor
conferred upon him, as he was but a transient inhabitant, and
disappeared in 1849. No one knows of his subsequent career.
The honor ought to have been given to some of the hardy
Swedes, who were the first real pioneers, and the first to make
substantial improvements.

in the northwest. 327
Peter Wickland came from Sweden in 1853, and settled in
the northeast quarter of section 26. He moved to Anoka in 1860,
and was drowned in Rum river in 1880. His son Peter is a
prominent merchant in Anoka.
Tuver Walmarson was born in Sweden in 1812. He was a
member of the Swedish colony of 1853, settled in the northwest
quarter of section 26. Mr. and Mrs. Walmarson reared a fine
, family of children. Nelson Tuver Walmarson, the eldest son,
inherits the industry and frugality of both parents. By hard
work and close attention to business the family has prospered
abundantly. Andros Anderson came also from Sweden in 1853 and set
tled in the east half of the northeast quarter of section 34. Mr.
Anderson moved to Taylor's Falls in 1859 and died there in 1873.
He left but one child, the wife of Daniel Fredine, of Shafer.
Mr. Anderson was a born humorist and fond of practical jokes.
On one occasion his ready wit was exercised at the expense of a
man to Whom he had mortgaged his farm. Deeming the house
in which he lived his own, in the absence of the mortga
gee he removed it to Taylor's Falls. The mortgagee, E. W.
Holman, told him that he had stolen the house and must replace
it. Anderson told Holman to take the house and replace it
himself, but if he took his (Anderson's) family along with it
he would have him sent to the penitentiary. Mr. Holman did
not see his way clear and the house was not disturbed.
Eric Byland, another of the Swedish colony, settled in the
west half of the southeast quarter of section 23. In 1860 he sold
out and moved further west. The farm he left is now owned by
John Nelson and is one of the finest farms in Chisago county.
Jacob Peterson was born in 1847 and came with his parents
to Chisago county in 1854. They located on a beautiful spot in
Franconia, on the shore of a small lake, where they made a
farm and where Jacob passed his boyhood and youth. In 1881
he commenced business at Shafer station as a merchant and
dealer in wood. He was the first postmaster at Shafer. He
was married in 1881 to Mary Heline.
Ambrose C. Seavey was born in Machias, Maine, in 1824;
was married to Elizabeth Ayers, in Crawford, Maine, in 1846,
•and came to St. Croix Falls in 1848. In 1852 he removed to Tay
lor's Falls, and opened the first blacksmith shop. He was absent

328 FIFTY YEARS
two years in Colorado, and when he returned settled on a farm
in the town of Shafer. He has a family of four sons and six
daughters. SUNRISE.
The town of Sunrise includes the two eastern tiers of sections
of township 36, range 21, one whole and eight fractional sections
of township 36, range 20, and all of township 35, range 20, ex
cept the two eastern tiers of sections. It is well watered by the
St. Croix and Sunrise rivers and their tributaries. The latter river
rises in Washington county, having for its principal source For
est lake, and flows through the town in a northerly direction into
the St. Croix. It has three considerable tributaries from the
west known as North, Middle and South branches. St. Croix river
has, as tributary, Goose creek, which flows through the northern
part of the town. The soil varies from a rich sandy loam to a
sandy soil. The town contains many fine farms. The old gov
ernment road from Point Douglas to Superior passes through
the town.
Sunrise was incorporated as a town Oct. 26, 1858 ;¦ Isaac A.
Parmenter, David Lovejoy and A. C. Mattison, supervisors. A
post office was established in 1856; George S. Frost, postmaster.
The first marriage was that of Robert Nessell and Kate Torbert,
by J. D. Wilcox, Esq. The first child born was Joshua Taylor
Gallaspie. The first death was of an unknown man who died from
the kick of a horse. Wm. Holmes, the first settler, located on
Sunrise prairie in 1853, and raised crops on fifteen acres that
year. John A. Brown and Patten W. Davis cultivated thirty-
five acres the same year on Sunrise prairie. Messrs. Brown, Davis
and Ingalls made a wagon road from Sunrise to St. Paul in 1853.
John A. Brown, in the same year, built a hotel and opened a
store. The hotel was built of logs, the store was a frame, the
first erected in Sunrise. In 1855 he built a saw mill. His hotel
was burned in 1856. These buildings were the nucleus of Sun
rise village. SUNRISE VILLAGE
Was platted July, 1857, in the north half of the northeast
quarter of section 8, and the west half of the southwest quarter
and the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section*
4, and the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of sec-

IN THE NORTHWEST. 329
tion 9, all of township 3, range 20. The proprietors were
John A. Brown, J. S. Caldwell and C. L. Willis; surveyor, W.
F. Duffy. It contains a first class roller flour mill, a saw mill,
both owned by Caspar Spivac, two stores, a school house and
several shops and dwellings. In 1857 a colony from Western
New York settled in and around Sunrise village. The Wilcoxes,
Wilkes, Collins, Gwynne, Smith, and others were of this colony.
The village has suffered greatly from fires. The buildings lost
at various times were one flouring mill, valued at $10,000
four hotels and several private dwellings. The flouring mill
was the property of Mrs. J. G. Mold. Two lives were lost at
the burning of the mill.
In the fall of 1862, immediately after the Sioux outbreak, and
while considerable apprehension was felt as to the attitude of the
Chippewas toward the white settlers, a company of volunteers
under Capt. Anderson was stationed at Sunrise. This company
built temporary quarters of logs, and were very comfortably
fixed during the winter. They had presumably a very good
time, but repelled no savage foes.
KOST VILLAGE
Is located in the west half of section 32, township 35, range 20.
It has a first class roller flouring mill, owned by Ferdinand A.
Kost, erected in 1883 at a cost of $13,000, and a saw mill, also
owned by F. A. Kost, erected the same year. It has two stores,
a number of shops and dwellings and a post office, established
in 1884, of which F. A. Kost is postmaster.
CHIPPEWA
Was platted March, 1856, by Benj. Dinsmore, surveyor, in the
northwest quarter of section 2, and the west half of the north
east quarter of section 2, township 36, range 21. The proprie
tors were James Starkey, Charles S. Patteys, Michael E. Ames,
Isaac Van Etten, and Moses Sherburne. It makes a fair farm.
DRONTHEIM
Was platted in 1856, in the southeast quarter of the northeast
quarter and the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of
section 1, township 36, range 20; C. C. P. Myer, proprietor. It
is still a brush and swamp plat.

330 FIFTY YEARS
NASHUA
Was platted July, 1857, H. H. Newbury, surveyor, on lots 6 and
7 of section 33, and lot 5 in section 34, township 34, range 20.
Proprietors, N. F. Taylor, W. H. C. Folsom, L. K. Stannard
and N. C. D. Taylor. It has made two fair farms.
WASHINGTON
Was platted August, 1856, W. F. Duffy, surveyor, in the south
half of section 35, township 35, range 21. Proprietors, James
Y. Caldwell and L. C. Kinney. On this site the Starkey Indian
battle was fought.
John A. Brown. — Mr. Brown, a native of Pennsylvania,
came to Sunrise in 1853, and was for awhile quite prominent,
building a store, hotel and other buildings. In 1855 he was mar
ried to Emeline Hartwell. He prospered in business, but owing
to some domestic difficulties, in 1857 left suddenly for parts un
known. His property was sacrificed to meet obligations, and
his wife left helpless. Mrs. Brown died in Minneapolis in 1880.
Patten W. Davis was a native of Virginia. He came to
Stillwater in 1848, and soon after removed to Osceola Mills,
where he lived two years. In 1853 he removed to Sunrise, and
was associated in business for two years with John A. Brown.
He has held the positions of postmaster, town clerk, treasurer,
county commissioner, supervisor, and assessor. In 1876 he mar
ried a Virginia lady, and returned to his native state.
James F. Harvey was born in 1820, in Penobscot county,
Maine. He came West in 1847 and settled at Marine Mills. In
1854 he removed to Sunrise and located in the northeast quarter
of section 14, township 36, range 21, at what was known as Goose
Creek crossing. His first wife, whom he had married in Maine,
died shortly after their arrival at Sunrise, leaving one daughter,
Maria, wife of Leonard Clark, of Stillwater. Mr. Harvey was
married in 1856 to widow Patience Knight, the mother of Mrs.
Floyd S. Bates, Albert S. and Frank E., of Taylor's Falls, and
Ella Medora Harvey, wife of J. A. Shores, of Minneapolis. Mr.
Harvey died at his home in 1864. Mrs. Harvey died at Taylor's
Falls in 1871.
Floyd .S. Bates, originally from Maine, has been since 1854
a prominent lumberman on the St. Croix, living first at Sunrise,

in the northwest. 331
and in later years at Taylor's Falls. He owns an extensive farm
in Cass county, Dakota. Of his three brothers, E. Hines resides
in Taylor's Falls, and J. Herrick and Charles in Dakota Terri
tory. Isaac H. Warner was born in New York in 1830, was mar
ried in 1852 and came to Sunrise in 1854, where he followed
farming and selling goods. He has served as.postmaster, justice
of the peace and held other positions. He has three children.
His eldest, a daughter, wife of Samuel McCiure, a lumberman
of Sunrise, died February, 1885. Mr. Warner removed to Da
kota in 1883.
Charles F. Lowe was born in 1815 in Concord, New Hamp
shire, received a collegiate education and came to Sunrise in
1855. He interested himself in real estate but devoted about
one-half of his time to travel, of which he was passionately
fond. He made one trip around the globe, writing back inter
esting letters descriptive of what he had seen. He made his
last annual tour in 1873, and, while sailing in a small boat in
some of the waters of Florida, the boat was struck by a squall,
capsized and Mr. Lowe was drowned. Mr. Lowe was a member
of the Minnesota constitutional convention.
Wells Farr came from New York State to Sunrise prairie in
1854, where he has since lived in a comfortable home, a success
ful farmer. He has a family of four sons and two daughters.
His oldest daughter is the wife of Ephraim C. Ingalls. His sec
ond daughter is the wife of Frank Dawson, of Lent. Mr. Farr
died in March, 1888.
John G. Mold came to Sunrise in 1854, where he engaged in
milling, hotel keeping and mercantile business. He was the
proprietor of the Sunrise City mills, since burned. He died in
1873, aged fifty years, leaving a widow, two sons and two daugh
ters. George L. Blood, during his early life, was a seafaring man,
spending many years upon the ocean, and visiting during this
time many foreign ports, keeping a daily record of his jour-
neyings. Mr. Blood had learned the trade of house joiner, but
coming to Sunrise in 1854, attempted farming, at which he was
not successful. In 1864 he removed to Taylor's Falls, where he
died in 1869. His life was an exemplary one, and his death
that of a Christian. His family returned to their old home in
Connecticut. His two sons reside in St. Paul.

332 FIFTY YEARS
Joel G. Ryder came from New York to the St. Croix and set
tled in the town of Sunrise, near the village, about the year 1855.
He was energetic and able, and was called to fill many town and
county offices. He was a representative in the fifteenth state
legislature. In 1860 he was married to Lizzie Perkins.
John Dean was born in 1 8 — ; was married to Mar.y Draper in
1860; came to Minnesota in 18 — ; served some time as river pilot,
and settled on his farm near Sunrise City in 1860. Mr. Dean rep
resented his district in the house of the twenty-first and twenty-
second legislatures. TAYLOR'S FALLS.
The village of Taylor's Falls was platted in 1851, a survey of
lots having been made at that time by Theodore S. Parker, of
Stillwater. Additions were made from time to time as the in
creasing population demanded. A year before the survey a
frame building was erected on what was subsequently the north
west corner of River and First streets. In 1851 and 1852 some
streets were opened, but with considerable difficulty, on account
of the trap rock, which to be removed required blasting. Bowl
ders that could not be removed were buried. The work of cutting
a street to the upper steamboat landing was specially difficult.
There were no roads to the village, and the only means of travel
was by steamboat, bateaux, or birch bark canoes, until the gov
ernment road was opened some time in 1856. A post office was
established in March, 1851, and a weekly mail was ordered from
Stillwater. Prior to this' time a semi-monthly mail had been car
ried between the points named. Of the office established in 1851,
N. C. D. Taylor was first postmaster. The office was in W. H. C.
Folsom's store, Folsom acting as deputy postmaster. The suc
cessors of Mr. Taylor have been, Porter E. Walker, Edward P.
Wyman, Thomas Holmes, Oscar Roos, George W. Seymour, and
N. M. Humphrey ; not a long list for thirty-five years. The location
of the office was changed with each successve incumbent. The mail
carrier in 1851 was the Hon. Warren Bristol, since then four times
a representative and senator from Goodhue county in the state
legislature, and United States judge in Arizona. The mail ser
vice has passed through all the gradations from a semi-monthly
to a semi-daily mail. The mail has been carried in canoes or
bateaux, on foot, on horseback, on steamboat and rail car.
It is now carried by rail. Of the Baker & Taylor mill an ac-

IN THE NORTHWEST. 333
count has been given elsewhere. The next mill, a grist mill, was
built by N. C. D. Taylor, W. H. C. Folsom and the Day broth
ers, in 1852. It was several years later remodeled and changed into
a carding mill, and is now the property of Jonas Gray. King
man Brothers built a saw mill in 1857, with a capacity of 12,000
feet per day. Several parties succeeded to the ownership and
control of the mill, but, after doing good service for many years,
it was abandoned. Clark Brothers built a lumber and stave mill
in 1868. After ten years this mill was removed.
The first merchant was Daniel Mears, who sold goods as early
as 1848. W. H. C. Folsom opened a store in 1850 ; Taylor &
Fox in 1852. The Chisago House was built by Thomson &
Smith in 1852, on the corner of Bench and First streets. In
1870 the name was changed to Dalles House. It has changed
landlords many times, the last being Henry Kattenberg. The
Cascade House was built in 1853, on the corner of Walnut
and Bench streets, by Richard Arnold. It is no longer used'.
The Falls House was built in 1870, on Bench street near Walnut,
by Erastus Guard, and converted into a hotel in 1880, with
Henry Kattenberg as proprietor, by whom it, was conducted as
a temperance house. It is now in charge of Eugene Fitzgerald.
The first physician was Lucius B. Smith. Susan Thomson
taught the first school. The first marriage was that of Charles
D. Turney and Cecilia Ring, Ansel Smith, justice of the peace,
tying the knot. Wm. Colby was the first white child born in
the village. The first death was that of a three-year-old daugh1-
tar of Ansel Smith, in 1852. Rev. W. T. Boutwell preached
the first sermon, in 1851. In 1852 three young Episcopal minis
ters, Revs. Breck, Myrick and Wilcoxson, alternated in holding
services, but did not organize a society. Rev. Julius S. Webber,
Baptist, preached occasionally in 1852 and 1853 ; Rev. W. Miner,
Congregationalist, in 1856 and 1857 became the first resident min
ister. In April, 1859, Rev. Silas Bolles, a Methodist, organized
a society, the first in the village. In June, 1859, Rev. A. M.
Torbet organized a Baptist society and served as pastor four
years. The society built a church in 1861 at a cost of $3,000.
In 1860 the Swedish Evangelical Lutherans built a church on the
corner of Mulberry and Government streets, at a cost of $1,500.
Rev. C. A. Cedarstam was pastor in 1871-72-73, Rev. — Tornell
the three succeeding years, and three other pastors have served

334 FIFTY YEARS «
since. In 1866 Rev. John G. Hall organized a Presbyterian
society, and built a church in 186S, on the corner of River and
Chisago streets, at a cost of $1,500. Mr. Hall served as pastor
four years. The Roman Catholics erected a church on the cor
ner of Walnut and Centre streets in 1873, at a cost of $1,000.
They have as yet no settled priest or parish school.
The St. Croix Bridge Company was organized in 1854. The
incorporators were W. H. C. Folsom, Patrick Fox, Joshua L.
Taylor, W. S. Hungerford, Wm. Kent, Nelson McCarty, John
Dobney, W. F. Colby, Orange Walker, Fred W. Lammers, and
N. C. D. Taylor. The bridge was built in 1856; W. S. Sewall,
St. Paul, was the engineer. The capital stock amounted to
$4,925, and was divided into 197 shares at $25 each. The bridge
was rebuilt in 1870, on the same plan, and in 1884 was replaced
by an iron bridge, at a cost of $6,253. The bridge has a span
of 150 feet and is a light and graceful structure. It was the first
bridge that spanned the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers.
The Chisago County Bank was organized in 1858, under the
state banking law; capital stock, $25,000; Levi W. Folsom,
president; S. C. Gould, cashier. It was closed in 1859.
The Taylor's Falls Copper Mining Company was organized
Dec. 15, 1874; W. H. C. Folsom, president; George W. Seymour,
secretary; L. W. Folsom, treasurer; D. A. Caneday, mining agent.
The operations of this company extended to sinking a shaft to
a depth of one hundred and thirty feet.
The Kahbakong Cemetery Association was organized in 1S53.
The first board of officers were W. H. C. Folsom, president ;
Joshua L. Taylor, secretary. The cemetery is located a mile
and a half from the village and contains fifteen acres of ground
beautifully located.
Zion Lodge, No. 55, A. F. &. A. M., was organized March 3,
1866. Sherman Post, No. 6, G. A. R., was organized in July,
1882, Caspar Hauser, commander. Taylor's Falls Library As
sociation was organized Oct. 8, 1871, E. D. Whiting, president ;
J. A. McGowan, secretary. Within two years the library num
bered 1,000 volumes and since that time the number has been
increased to 1,500.
In 1858 the village of Taylor's Falls was regularly incorpo
rated with the following board of officers: Trustees, Patrick
Fox, president ; W. H. C Folsom, E. D. Whiting, L. W. Fol
som; recorder, H. H. Newbury; treasurer, Wm. Comer.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 335
AN INDIAN DANCE.
The last Indian dance in Taylor's Falls was given by a party
of Chippewas in 1856. They had come down the St. Croix in
birch canoes with furs and cranberries to exchange with Sam
uels in St. Croix village for "scootawabo," or whisky. They re
mained about a week, drinking and carousing in their peculiar
style. One Sabbath, and when, for a wonder, they were quite
sober, they visited Taylor's Falls and gave a series of grotesque
and laughable dances in the street, opposite Folsom's store, af
ter which they called for presents as tokens of friendship and
appreciation, kindly and gravely shook hands and recrossed the
river. "Thus departed Hiawatha."

336 FIFTY YEARS

OHAPTEE XIII.

BIOGRAPHICAL.
Jesse Taylor, the first permanent settler of Taylor's Falls,'
came to the Falls in 1838, as narrated in the general history of
the village. Nothing is known of his life before coming to the
Falls, except that he was originally from Kentucky, and lived
at Fort Snelling, where he was employed as a stonemason. By
the death of his associate, B. F. Baker, he came into posses
sion of the mill property and its belongings. This he sold to
Joshua L. Taylor in 1846, and removed to Stillwater, where he
took a contract for stone work on the prison walls. His name
appears as a member of the house from Stillwater in the terri
torial legislature for 1851 and 1852. He was married in 1844 to
Abigail, daughter of widow Edwards, of Stillwater. He left
Stillwater in 1853.
Joshua L. Taylor was born in Sanbornton, New Hampshire,
in 1816. In 1836 he removed to Alton, Illinois, where he lived
until 1840, when he came to Taylor's Falls in the employ of the
St. Croix Falls Lumber Company. In 1846 he purchased the
property of Jesse Taylor. He engaged in logging until 1849,
meanwhile pre-empting portions of the site of Taylor's Falls.
In the fall of 1849 he went to California, and was fairly success
ful in his mining ventures. He returned to Taylpr's Falls in
1852, where he has since resided. He was married in October,
1856, at Skowhegan, Maine, to Clarinda Wyman. Mrs. Taylor
died May 4, 1860, leaving no children. Mr. Taylor built a fine
residence in 1856, on block 1, River street, Taylor's Falls, com
manding a beautiful view of the river. Mrs. Gilmore, a sister
of Mr. Taylor, and her daughter Mary, lived with him many

IN THE NORTHWEST. 337
years. Mrs. Gilmore died in 1868. Mary Gilmore was married
to D. G. Sampson in 1881 and now lives in Ashland. Mr. Taylor
had many opportunities of entering public life, but, with a
solitary exception, declined them. At the organization of the
territory of Minnesota, in 1849, he was appointed United States
marshal, but declined. He was afterward appointed warden of
the penitentiary at Stillwater, and served two years.
Nathan C. D. Taylor, elder brother of Joshua, was born in
Sanbornton, New Hampshire, in 1810; removed to Alton, Illinois,
in 1832 and was for several years in the employ of Godfrey, Gil
man & Co., merchants of Alton. Mr. Taylor came to St. Croix
Falls in 1846. He was one of the original pre-emptors of the site
of Taylor's Falls. In 1852 he engaged with Patrick Fox in the
mercantile business. They carried on an extensive trade in
goods and logs until 1858. The firm of Taylor & Fox erected a
good store building on lot 16, block 15. He was a member of
the house in the fifth and seventh territorial legislatures, and
speaker of the fifth. In 1866 he was elected county treasurer
of Chisago county, and thereafter to the same office continuously
for ten years. Mr. Taylor never married. He died at Taylor's
Falls, March 20, 1887.
Thomas F. Morton was born in South Carolina. He came to
St. Croix Falls in 1840. In 1850 he settled on a farm adjoining
Taylor's Falls, known as the Jerry Ross claim. He pre-empted
the southwest quarter of section 25. In 1852 he was married to
Mrs. Margaret Boyce, his second wife, mother of Silas Boyce, of
Amador. He followed farming successfully a few years, and in
1862 enlisted in his country's service, as a private in Company
C, Seventh Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and along with A\is
friends Colby and Guard did noble service, participating in
several battles, in one of which, the battle of Nashville, he was
wounded by the bursting of a shell. He remained with the
regiment, however, until, disabled by his wound and by sick
ness at the siege of Spanish Fort, he was compelled to return
home. He never recovered his health, but in 1867 peacefully
passed away. He was a good man, a brave soldier, and an ex
emplary Christian.
Henry N. Setzer. — Mr. Setzer is a descendant of a North
German family. He was born in Montgomery county, Missouri,
Oct. 6, 1825, and received his education at home, which he ,
22

338 fifty years
left at the age of fourteen years, and afterward at St. Charles
College, Missouri. In 1843 Mr. Setzer came to the St. Croix val
ley, where he engaged in lumbering for himself and otlfers, and
devoted some time to public affairs. From 1843 to 1854 he re
sided alternately at Stillwater, Marine, Taylor's Falls and
Chengwatana. Mr. Setzer represented the Fourth district, in
cluding Marine, Rush Lake, Rice River and Snake River pre
cincts, in the house of the first territorial legislature, and the
First district, including the counties of Washington, Itasca,
Chisago, Superior and' Doty, in the council of the seventh and
eighth territorial legislatures. He was a member of the Demo
cratic wing of the constitutional convention in 1857. In 1857 he
was appointed warden of the state prison at Stillwater, which po
sition he held until 1860, when he was appointed register of the
land office at Cambridge, Isanti county. He held this position
until April, 1861. Having devoted his leisure time to the study of
law, and having been admitted to practice in the supreme court
of Minnesota, he concluded to devote himself entirely to prac
tice. He established a law office in Taylor's Falls with L. K.
Stannard. He removed to Superior City in 1869, to Duluth in
1874, and returned to Taylor's Falls in 1877. He has served as
town and county attorney in Chisago county for many years, and
has an extensive practice in the higher courts.
Patrick Fox was born in Tipperary county, Ireland, in 1819;
came with his parents to America in 1823, and to Davenport,
Iowa, in 1836. In 1841 he came to St. Croix Falls, where he
lived three years, moving thence to Stillwater, where he engaged
in logging until 1851, when he removed to Taylor's Falls and en
gaged in lumbering for a year, then entered into a mercantile
partnership with N. C. D. Taylor. The firm closed business in
1858. Mr. Fox has been a public spirited citizen, contributing
freely of his means for the improvement of the village, aiding in
opening roads, building levees and bridges, and school, houses,
before such enterprises could be paid for out of tax revenues.
Mr. Fox represented Chisago county in the second legislature,
1860. Mr. Fox is a good neighbor, industrious and temperate.
He was married at Davenport, Iowa, to Elisabeth Riley. They
have three sons and two daughters. The eldest daughter is the
wife of Clarence Peaslee; the second daughter became the wife
of Winfield P. Larcy, of Dakota, in 1886.

in the northwest. 339
W. F- Colby was born in Whitefield, Maine, June 12, 1818.
In his early life he was a sailor. He came to St. Croix Falls in
1843. He was married to Salina De Attly in 1849, and removed
to the west side of the river, where he located on the Otis farm
which he had previously bought. . He followed lumbeMng and
farming and kept a lodging house for travelers. He built a good
house, and the first frame barn in Chisago county. He sold his
property, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres and improve
ments, for $8,000. In 1862 Mr. Colby enlisted in Company C,
Seventh Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close
of the war as sergeant. Mr. Colby is a bluff, square, outspoken
man, hearty in his manner, and somewhat sailor -like in his
expressions though almost a lifetime has passed since he trod
the deck of a vessel.
Oscar Roos was born in West Gothland, Sweden, in 1827.
He came to America in 1850, and located in Taylor's Falls,
where he has since resided continuously, taking an active part
in public affairs, and a deep interest in everything pertaining to
the growth of the village and county. Mr. Roos was postmaster
at Taylor's Falls 8 years, register of deeds 8 years, register of
the land office 5 years, and county treasurer 8 years. He is en
gaged in exchange, loaning money, etc., and has a branch
office in Centre City. He was married to Hannah Swanstrom
in 1870.
Samuel Thomson, a Pennsylvanian by birth, came to Taylor's
Falls in 1851, and in company with Ansel Smith built the Chisago
House, a notable enterprise at that time, as neither the resources
of the village or surrounding country had been developed in such
a way as to give any assurance of success. Mr. Thomson re
moved in 1854 to Polk county, and settled on a farm in Osceola,
where he made himself an attractive and pleasant home. His
farm has long been celebrated for its trout pond. Mr. Thomson
has given much attention and been quite successful in fish cul
ture. The farm was sold in 1885, and Mr. Thompson removed
to Arkansas, where he died Nov. 5, 1886.
Susan Thomson, sister of Samuel Thomson, taught the first
school in Taylor's Falls, in 1852. She had just come from Penn
sylvania, and had traveled on horseback from Stillwater, there
being no carriage roads above Marine. She was married to
Daniel Mears, of Osceola, in 1852.

340 fifty years
George De Attly, a native of Virginia, came to St. Croix
Falls with his family in 1847, and removed to Taylor's Falls in
1851, locating in section 25, and making a pre-emption. He was
a carpenter. He raised a large and respected family. One son
is in the Black Hills, Dakota Territory. His oldest daughter is
the wife of Wm. F. Colby, of Taylor's Falls. His second daugh
ter was the widow of Jacob Markley. His third daughter is
the wife of Alvah Brown. One son, George, resides in Taylor's
Falls. Mr. De Attly died in Nebraska.
Jacob Markley came from Virginia to the St. Croix valley
in 1847, settling first at St. Croix Falls, and in 1851 locating at
Taylor's Falls, where he pre-empted the northeast quarter of the
northeast quarter of section 24. He went to Montana in 1869,
where he died a tragic death. His widow and two children re
side in the Black Hills, Dakota. >
John Dobney was born in England in 1820; came to America
when a child, to Stillwater in 1845, and to Taylor's Falls in 1852.
He followed logging for many years, and made himself a perma
nent home on a farm in Amador, on the banks of the St. Croix
river, in 1858. He was married to Eveline Page, in Michigan, in
1859. .
William Dobney, younger brother of John, came to Taylor's
Falls from Michigan in 1852, and engaged, with characteristic en
ergy, in lumbering and selling goods until his death, which was
the result of an accident, he having been thrown violently from
a wagon which he was driving, in the spring of 1871. He was
married in 1855 to Fanny M. Gray, who with two children sur
vives him. The oldest, a son, is married and resides in Minne-
apolis. The daughter is the wife of .Dr. Greely Murdock, of
Taylor's Falls.
Henry H. Newbury came to St. Croix Falls in 1849, and to
Taylor's Falls in 1852. Mr. Newbury is a practical surveyor
and explorer. He served as county surveyor and commissioner
many years. He was married first to Sarah Ayers, widow of E'
R. St. Clair, who died in 1874. In 1880 he was married to Fanny
M. Gray, widow of Wm. Dobney.
Emil Munch was born in Prussia in 1831; came to America
in 1849, and to Taylor's Falls in 1852, where, until 1857, he
worked at the carpenter's trade, when he removed to Cheng
watana, Pine county, and engaged in lumbering and dealing in

in the northwest. 341
pine lands. He served as register of deeds in Pine county, and
xepresented Washington, Chisago, Pine and Kanabec counties
in the house of the third legislature in 1861. He enlisted at
Fort Snelling, Minnesota, Oct. 16, 1861, as a private in the First
Minnesota Battery, and was chosen captain on the following
month; was wounded at Shiloh, April 5, 1862; returned to his
battery in September of the same year, took part in the battle of
Corinth, October 4th and 5th, and in the after campaign was
appointed chief of artillery, in October, 1862, and from effects
of exposure on the march was forced to resign in the December
following, but again entered the service to fight the Sioux
Indians on the Minnesota frontier in May, June and July, 1863.
He entered the Veteran Reserve Corps in August, 1863. At the
close of the war, in 1865, he settled in St. Paul and acted as
deputy state treasurer. In 1868 he was elected state treasurer
and held the office until 1872. Mr. Munch lost most of his prop
erty in a long litigation, in consequence of some unfortunate
ventures in buying pine lands. Subsequent to his term of office
as state treasurer he removed to Lakeland and engaged in the
lumber business. In 1875 he removed to Afton where he took
charge of a flouring mill. He was married in 1865 to Bertha
Segar. He died Aug. 30, 1887.
Alvin Mason Wilmarth. — Mr. Wilmarth came from Massa
chusetts to the valley of the St. Croix in 1849, and to Taylor's
Falls in 1852. He has followed lumbering and farming. Mr.
Wilmarth is a steady, temperate man.
Lucius Kingsbury Stannard was born in Franklin county,
Vermont, July 6, 1825. He had good educational advantages and
improved them. He completed his literary course at Barkers-
field Academic Institute, Vermont, afterward studied law at
St. Albans, and was admitted to the bar in 1850. In 1852 he
came West and located at Taylor's Falls, where for some years
he had charge of the business of Taylor & Fox. In 1857 he
was a member of the territorial legislature, representing in the
house the counties of Washington, Itasca, Chisago, Superior,
and Doty. He was a member of the Republican wing of the
constitutional convention of 1857. He represented Chisago,
Pine and Isanti counties in the state senate of 1859-60. He was
a member of the house of the thirteenth legislature, 1871, rep
resenting Washington, Chisago, Pine and Kanabec counties.

342 fifty years
He held the position of receiver in the United States land office
at Taylor's Falls from 1861 to 1870. He was the first lawyer
admitted to practice in the courts of Chisago county. He was
associated in his law practice for several years with H. N. Set
zer. He has served as prosecuting attorney and probate judge.
He served several years as county surveyor. He has, in later
years, been engaged in the lumbering and mercantile business, in
the firm of Ellison & Stannard. In October, 1884, he was ap
pointed register in the land office, which position he now holds.
Mr. Stannard has a very pleasant home within the village lim
its, but some distance beyond the settled portion. He is a man
of sound judgment, of grave and almost severe demeanor, out
spoken and positive in his views, but withal a reliable citizen
and kind neighbor. He was married in 1858 to Harriet Ste
venson, in St. Louis. They have one son, Luke.
James W. Mullen was born in Nova Scotia in 1830. He
came to Davenport, Iowa, in 1843. He commenced life on a
steamboat at the age of fourteen years. JSe was employed on
the steamer Boreas, plying between St. Louis and Keokuk, and
followed river life most of the time until 1878. In L885 he built
the Vincent House, St. Croix. Taylor's Falls has been his home at
different times since his marriage in 1854. He was married to
Margaret Riley, of Davenport, Iowa. Their children are Wil
liam, Edward and Elsa.
David Caneday was born in Vermont in 1830, and settled
in Taylor's Falls in 1853. Mr. Caneday has devoted much of his
time to prospecting as a mineralogist. During the years 1861-
62 he edited the St. Croix Monitor, and from 1881-84 the St. Croix
Dalles. In 1862 he enlisted in Company C, Seventh Minnesota
Infantry, and served till the close of the war. His record as a
soldier was good. After the battle of Tupelo he volunteered to
remain with the wounded, of whom there were about sixty, in
the hands of the enemy. Two of these wounded were comrades and
friends in Company C, Andrew J. Colby and John S. Swenson.
The former died. Mr. Caneday remained at great personal risk,
and saw the inside of several prisons before being exchanged!
After his return Mr. Caneday engaged in mining and prospect
ing, except such time as he edited the St. Croix Dalles. He is now
mining on Kettle river, in Pine county, Minnesota, and in Bur
nett county, Wisconsin. He was married in 1865 to Laura,
daughter, of Judge N. M. Humphrey.

in the northwest. 343
George B. Folsom was born in St. Johns, New Brunswick,
April 9, 1815. He was married to Deborah Sawyer, October,
1842, and came to Taylor's Falls in 1853, where he engaged in
lumbering. In 1855 he removed to Rush Seba, locating in sec
tion 14. He was the first settler in the town and raised the first
crops; built the first log and the first frame house, and was
prominent in advancing the educational and other interests of
the town. He was appointed postmaster in 1856, and held the
office fourteen years. He held the office of county commissioner
ten years. In 1875 he was appointed receiver of the land office'
at Taylor's Falls, which office he held for ten years, since which
time he has resided in the village.
Aaron M. Chase was born in Machias, Maine, April 7, 1813.
He received a home and common school education. In the fall
of 1848 he came to St. Anthony and engaged in lumbering. He
and Sumner Farnham ran the first logs down the Mississippi
from Rabbit river to Fort Ripley and St. Anthony, in 1849. In
the spring of 1849, in company with Pat Morin, he built a tow
boat, clearing for that purpose a tow path on the eastern side of
the river a distance of eighty miles. He carried freight for the
American Fur Company, but the introduction of steamboats
put an end to this enterprise. In the fall of 1849 he went to
St. Louis and remained there till August, 1850, when he returned
North, locating at the outlet of Balsam lake, Polk county, Wis
consin, where he built a saw mill. He built a dam and mill,
bringing the materials together without other team than himself
and five men. After completing the mill he engaged for some
years in lumbering. He located at Taylor's Falls in 1853. In 1869
he supervised the building of a series of dams on streams tribu
tary to the Upper St. Croix, the water collected by them to be
used at low stages to float logs to the St. Croix and down that
stream to Stillwater. These dams are operated under a charter
from the state of Wisconsin, and have proved a great benefit to
the lumbermen. _ Mr. Chase is president of the company. He
is a man of strong, clear mind, deliberate in action, positive in
his opinions and pointed in his expressions, and withal a kind
hearted, generous and true man. Mr. Chase is unmarried.
Peter Abear was born in Canada East in 1830; came to
Stillwater in 1850, but subsequently removed to Taylor's Falls
where, in 1855, he was married to Kitty Wiekland, who died in

344 fifty years
1860, leaving a son, Franklin E., merchant at Anoka. Mr. Abear
married again. His second wife died in 1868, leaving a daughter,
Mary. Mr. Abear married a third wife, who died in 1874, leav
ing no children. Mr. Abear is a machinist but has given much
of his attention to farming. '
Levi W. Folsom was born in Tamworth, Carroll county, New
Hampshire, Sept. 25, 1821. He was fitted for college at Gilman-
ton, entered Penn College at Gettsyburg, Pennsylvania, and
graduated in 1848. Returning to New England, he studied law
at Cornish, Maine, with Caleb R. Ayer, and was admitted to
practice in the county of Carroll, New Hampshire. He came to
Taylor's Falls in 1854, and was admitted to practice in the su
preme court of Minnesota, and practiced law for a period of fif
teen years, when he engaged in real estate and other business.
He is a pleasant and agreeable speaker, stands high in the
masonic fraternity, is an ardent and uncompromising Democrat,
a positive man with strong home and social feelings. He has
been vice president of the Taylor's Falls branch of the St. Paul
& Duluth railroad since its organization. He was married in
1859 to Abbie Shaw, in St. Paul.
Eddington Knowles was born in Kentucky in 1821; came to
St. Croix Falls in 1844, and followed lumbering. He was mar
ried to Ann Carroll at Taylor's Falls in 1854, and made his resi
dence at Taylor's Falls. He enlisted for service during the Re
bellion in the Third Minnesota Volunteers, but was discharged
for disability before the close of the war. He died at Hayward,
Wisconsin, in 1883, leaving a widow and three children. His old
est daughter is the wife of Douglas Greely, of Stillwater. His
body was brought to the Taylor's Falls cemetery for interment.
Dr. Lucius B. Smith. — Dr. Smith was the first regular phy
sician in Taylor's Falls, having located here in 1854. He was
born in Berlin, Erie county, Ohio, in the year 1824. He was mar
ried in 1849, and after some years' practice of medicine in his na
tive town he came West and located in Taylor's Falls, where he
resided until 1862, when he was appointed surgeon of the Sev
enth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, in which regiment were
many of his friends and associates. He performed well his duties
in that position, but was killed on the day preceding the battle
of Tupelo, the division to which he belonged having been ambus
caded by Forrest's troops. His remains were carried to the field

IN THE NORTHWEST. 3451
of Tupelo and there buried, but have since been removed to Kah-
bakong cemetery, at Taylor's Falls. Dr. Smith was a tall man,
of fine presence, with the air of an officer, for which reason, doubt
less, some sharpshooter, singled him out for destruction. Dr.
Smith left a widow, one son, Charles, and one daughter, Mary,
the wife of J. W. Passmore. His widow was married to E. D.
Whiting. Both are deceased.
William Comer was born in Cheshire county, England, in
1812; was married to Elisabeth Davis; came to America in. 1846
and located in St. Louis, where he remained until 1852, when he
removed to Pike county, Illinois. In 1854 he removed to St.
Croix Falls and in 1855 to Taylor's Falls, where he has since re
sided. He has been treasurer of Chisago county two terms, and
four years register of the United States land office. For a num
ber of years he has held the position of town and bridge treas
urer. He and his two sons, George and William, are engaged in
the mercantile business. His daughter, Eleanor, is the wife of
Benj. Thaxter, of Minneapolis.
Dr. Erastus D. Whiting. — The Whiting family, consisting
of three brothers, Erastus D., Selah and Charles B., came to
Taylor's Falls in 1855, and for many years were prominent Mer
chants and business men in the village. Erastus D. Whiting
was born in Vernon Centre, Massachusetts, in 1811. He was edu
cated in the common schools and at Westfield Academy. At the
age of sixteen he commenced reading medicine and graduated
at the Ohio Medical College in 1832. He practiced three years
in Ashtabula, Ohio, and twenty years in Pike county, Illinois.
When he came to Taylor's Falls he retired from practice and en
gaged in the mercantile and lumbering business until 1867. Dur
ing this time he served in two sessions of the Minnesota legisla
ture as representative, 1860-61. In 1869 he visited Europe. He
died in Taylor's Falls in 1880. He was twice married; first in
1837, to Emily Bradley, who died in 1866; and second in  ,
to Mrs. Smith (widow of Dr. L. B. Smith), who died in 1872.
Selah Whiting was born in Connecticut; came West to Pike
county, Illinois, in 1836, and to Taylor's Falls in 1855. He en
gaged in the mercantile business. His wife died in 1867. He
died in 1868.
Charles B. Whiting was born in Litchfield county, Con
necticut; came to Pike county, Illinois, in 1836, and to Taylor's

346 FIFTY YEARS
Falls in 1855. He was associated with his brothers in the mercan
tile business. He was register of the land office four years and
served as United States marshal during the war. His first wife
died in Taylor's Falls. He was married to Flavilla Blanding in
18—. Mr. Whiting died in 1873.
Frederic Tang was born in Prussia in 1819. He learned
the trade of house carpenter and served in the Prussian Army
one year. He was married in Germany, in 1850; came to Amer
ica in 1852 and to Taylor's Falls in 1856. He served three years
in Company C, Seventh Minnesota,, during the Rebellion. One
son, Frederic, resides at Taylor's Falls, engaged in lumbering.
His oldest daughter, Pena, is the wife of Ernest Leske, of Tay
lor's Falls. His second daughter, Bertha, is the wife of David
Bowsher, of Dakota. Mr. Tang died in November, 1887.
Ward W. Folsom was born in 1822, in Tamworth, New
Hampshire; was married to Matilda Stedman in 1844; came to
Taylor's Falls in 1856, where he kept a boarding house for several
years. He died at his home, Sept. 28, 1884. His eldest son,
Charles W., was editor of the Taylor's Falls Reporter for several
years. He was married to Luella Gray in 1865. He died in
1872. Edward H, his second son, for some years has edited the
Taylor's Falls Journal. He started and conducted for some
years the Stillwater Lumberman. He was married to Susie Way,
in September, 1868.
George W. Seymour was born in Susquehanna county,
Pennsylvania, in 1828, and came to Taylor's Falls in 1857, where
he has since resided, following the occupation of druggist, but
occasionally holding a town office. Mr. Seymour held the posi
tions of postmaster and justice of the peace for several years, and
has been secretary of the Taylor's Falls & Lake Superior rail
road since its organization. Mr. Seymour is an active member
of the masonic fraternity, an ardent Democrat and thoroughly
trustworthy and reliable as a man and friend. He is unmar
ried. James A. Woolley, a native of England, came to Taylor's
Falls in 1857. He was an engineer and in my employ as engi
neer and foreman in the pinery for fourteen years, during which
period our association was quite intimate, and I learned to know
him and esteem him as a true friend, and faithful to all his obli
gations as a man. He was a true Christian and died in full hope

IN THE NORTHWEST. 347
of immortality. He promised, when ne knew himself to be dying,
to return to earth and revisit me if possible, but so far has not
returned. He died in 1874. His family removed to Dakota.
His oldest son, John Alley, was killed in Washington Territory
by a premature explosion of a blast in a mine, by which nine
teen others were killed at the same time. Alida married Wil
liam McKenzie and resides at Grand Forks, Dakota. Frank W.
F., the youngest son, also lives in Dakota.
Patrick Carroll was of Irish birth. His wife is a sister of
Patrick Fox. He is about ninety years of age. They have had
two sons, Joseph and one drowned, and three daughters, one the
wife of E. Knowles, deceased, the other two becoming respec
tively the first and second wife of John O'Brien. Mr. O'Brien
has two daughters, Minnie and Lizzie, and three sons, William,
Joseph and Daniel.
Joseph Carroll was born at Davenport, Iowa, in 1840; came
to St. Croix wiaen a boy, early in the 50' s, and worked for his
uncle, Tatrick Fox, in the pinery; was married to Mary Cotter at
Davenport, Iowa, in 1858. He resided at Taylor's Falls until
1861, when he enlisted in a Kansas regiment. He was severely
wounded at Springfield, Missouri. He was subsequently trans
ferred to a heavy artillery company of colored troops from Ten-.
nessee, and commissioned a lieutenant. He was at Fort Pillow
during the massacre, was taken prisoner and confined at Ander
sonviUe eighteen months. After his dismissal he went to Mem
phis and was employed in the police service until 1867, when he
and his wife died of yellow fever, leaving two daughters, one the
wife of Edward St. John, of Marine, the other of Geo. W. Booth,'
of Taylor's Falls.
Rev. E. E. Edwards was born in Delaware, Ohio, Jan. 26,
1831; was educated at Indiana Asbury University, and has been
employed most of his life in educational work, serving as presi
dent of Whitewater College, Indiana, professor of Latin in Ham-
line University, professor of natural sciences at St. Charles and
McKendre colleges, and president of the Colorado State Agri
cultural College. .Mr. Edwards came to Taylor's Falls in the
winter of 1860, and remained two years as pastor of the Metho
dist Episcopal church, and teacher in the Chisago Seminary.
During the last year of the war he was chaplain of the Seventh
Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. In the winter of 1885 he again

348

FIFTY YEARS

became pastor of the Taylor's Falls Methodist Episcopal church.
He was married in 1854 to Alice L. Eddy, of Cincinnati, Ohio.
His family consists, of four sons and one daughter.
Stephen J. Merrill was born in Schoharie county, New
York, in 1827; came to the St. Croix valley in 1848, and to
Taylor's Falls in 1861. He was married to Caroline Nelson in
1861. They have six sons and one daughter. He has a beautiful
and well improved homestead within the town limits, adjoin
ing the cemetery.

REV. E. E. EDWARDS.

Noah Marcus Humphrey was born in 1809, at Goshen, Smith-
field county, Connecticut. He removed to Ohio in 1833, served
in the Ohio legislature in 1852 and 1853, and was for six years
judge of probate court in Summit county. He was married
twice, the second time to Mrs. Young, in 1840. His first wife left
two children, Mark, for some time a resident of Taylor's Falls,
now deceased, and Laura, wife of David Caneday. Judge
Humphrey has been justice of the peace in Taylor's Falls for
twenty years, and postmaster for as many more. He was judge

-[N THE NORTHWEST. 349
of probate court for ten years, and has recently been re-elected
to that position.
Royal C. Gray was born in Bakersfield, Vermont, October,
1832. He spent his early life in Vermont and Massachusetts.
He came West in 1850, and located in Kanabec county, where he
farmed and kept a public house at Greely station, on Kanabec
river, until 1860, when he returned to Massachusetts. In 1864
he returned to the St. Croix valley and located in Taylor's Falls,
where he still resides. He has been employed by the St. Paul &
Duluth Railroad Company for ten years as surveyor and explorer,
and holds some valuable pine lands. In 1861 Mr. Gray was mar
ried to Ann Eliza Johnson, in Massachusetts. They have one
son, Orin.
John Philip Owens. — William Owens, the father of John
Philip, came to America from North Wales, and served as a sol
dier in the war of 1812. John Philip was born Jan. 6, 1818. His
father died seven years later, and the son was brought up on a
farm by a stepfather. He received an academic education at
Cincinnati, Ohio. At the age of seventeen he commenced learn
ing the printer's trade, served as an apprentice four years, and
graduated on his twenty-first birthday. Having some means in
herited from his father, he commenced a newspaper enterprise
at Cincinnati, invested and lost all his money. For several
years he was engaged as a reporter and assistant editor on various
papers in Cincinnati, Louisville, Vicksburg and New Orleans.
In 1849 he formed a business partnership with Nat. McLean, of
Cincinnati, to establish a paper at St. Paul. He arrived at St.
Paul May 27th of that year. The first number of the Minnesota
Register was printed in Cincinnati and brought to St. Paul for
distribution in July. In October the paper was united with the
Minnesota Chronicle, and so published until July, 1850, when it
was discontinued. In 1851 Mr. Owens and G. W. Moore started
the Weekly Mimnesotian, adding in 1854 a daily and tri-weekly
edition. The Minnesotian was ably edited, and was Republican in
politics. Owing to poor health, Mr. Owens sold his interest in
the Minnesotian. In 1862 he was appointed quartermaster of the
Ninth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. This regiment did service
in the State during the Sioux War, but in 1864 was ordered
South and attached to the Sixteenth Army Corps. Mr. Owens
served as regimental and brigade quartermaster until the close

350, fifty years
of the war. In April, 1868, he was appointed register of the
United States land office, which position he held until his death,
Sept. 11, 1884. He was first Grand Master of the I. O. O. F. in
Minnesota;, He left at his death an unpublished manuscript,
"The Political History of the State of Minnesota." His first
wife was Helen McAllister, whom he married in Ohio in 1848.
She left an only daughter, Mary Helen. Mr. Owens' second
wife was Frances M. Hobbs, whom he married Oct. 26, 1853, in
New York City.
Andrew Clendenning was born in 1798, in the north of Ire
land. He was a Protestant, united with the Methodist church
when a young man and proved ever after a consistent Christian,
strong in his religious convictions and a faithful worker. He
crossed the ocean in 1835, locating first at New Brunswick. In
1855 he came to Michigan, in 1859 to St. Croix Falls, in 1870 to
Taylor's Falls, where he resided until his death, in 1875. He left
three sons in Taylor's Falls, Andrew, James and George, and one
son in Oregon. One son, Joseph, died in the service of his
adopted country, having enlisted in Company C, Seventh Minne
sota. One daughter, the wife of Thomas Thompson, of St. Croix
Falls, died in 1886.
Smith Ellison was born in Marine, Madison county, Illinois,
March 15, 1823. He came to Marine Mills in 1844. For two
years he was in the employ of Judd, Walker & Co. The next
three years he spent at Osceola, Wisconsin. In 1849 he engaged
in logging and continued in that business for many years. In
1856 he settled on and improved a farm in Sunrise. In 1868 he
removed to Taylor's Falls and formed a partnership with L. K.
Stannard in the mercantile and lumbering business. Mr. Ellison
was a representative in the eighth legislature, and served as
county commissioner eight years. In late years he has been in
terested in a saw, planing and flour mill at Stillwater. He is a
stockholder and director in the First National Bank at Stillwater
and owns large tracts of pine lands. He has applied himself
closely to business, is energetic, cautious and thoroughly reli
able. Mr. Ellison is unmarried. WYOMING
Includes township 33, range 21. The eastern half is well tim
bered, the west has oak openings. Sunrise river flows in a

IN THE NORTHWEST.

351

northerly direction through the township, and with its tribu
taries and numerous lakes supplies it abundantly with water.
There are some wild meadows and tamarack swamps. Green
lake, in the eastern part jjf the township, is a picturesque sheet
of water, five miles in length by one and a half broad, with sloping
timbered shores and cedar points projecting into the lake, in one

SMITH ELLISON.

place forming a natural roadway nearly across, which is con
nected with the mainland opposite by a bridge.
A colony from Eastern Pennsylvania settled the western part
of the township in 1855. The colony was composed of L. O.
Tombler, Dr. John W. Comfort, E. K. Benton, and some others,
in all ten families. The eastern part had been previously set
tled by Swedes. The township was organized in 1858. The

352 FIFTY YEARS
supervisors were J. W. Comfort, L. O. Tombler and Fred Tepel.
A post office was established at Wyoming with J. Engle as post
master. ' The Catholics and Methodists erected churches in 1864.
The St. Paul & Duluth railroad was completed in 1868, and in
1879 the branch road to Taylor's Falls. The township was set
tled rapidly after the completion of the railroad. At the junc
tion of the two roads there is a good depot, two stores and a fine
hotel, the latter kept by L. O. Tombler.
WYOMING VILLAGE
Was surveyed and platted by Ben. W. Brunson in 1869, in por
tions of sections 17, 19 and 20, township 33, range 21; proprie
tors, Western Land Association, L. Mendenhall, agent.
DEER GARDEN VILLAGE
Was surveyed and platted by Alex. Cairns, October, 1856, in
sections 1 and 12, township 33, range 21; proprietor, Erastus S.
Edgerton. Lucius O. Tombler was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania,
in 1823. His ancestors were Moravians, who, driven from Ger
many in the eighteenth century, came to America, and founded
the colony of Bethlehem, a colony famed for its thrift, advance
ment in educational matters, and high morality. Mr. Tombler
and his wife, Christiana Brown, to whom he was married in 1845,
were educated in the Moravian schools. They came with the col-
¦ ony from Bethlehem to Wyoming in 1855, and built a two story
log hotel on the St. Paul and Lake Superior stage road, which
was long noted as a rest for the weary traveler and a home for
the invalid. Mr. Tombler was an energetic, worthy man, genial
in his manners, a good farmer, a good landlord, and an accom
plished musician besides. Mrs. Tombler possessed superior en
dowments as a landlady, and the house soon gained widespread
popularity with the traveling public. The first hotel was burned
in 1876, but the year following a more commodious building was
erected on the grounds, which, with its modern improvements
within, and its park-like surroundings, is more popular with the
traveling public than its predecessor. The Tombler family con
sists of Charles A., the father of Lucius O., born in 1800, but
still hale and vigorous, in the possession of all his faculties, two
sons, Maurice and Milton, and one daughter, Laura. Charles A.,

IN THE NORTHWEST. 353
the grandfather, has received the thirty-third degree Scottish
Masonic rite.
Dr. John Woolman Comfort was born in Bucks county,
Pennsylvania, in 1804. He graduated at Jefferson Medical Col
lege, Philadelphia, in 1836, and practiced medicine continuously,
and, although an accomplished graduate of an allopathic school,
was a zealous advocate and exponent of the Thompsonian system,
in favor of which he published several works. He was also for some
years editor of the Thompsonian Medical Journal. As a physician
he was untiring, and impartial in the performance of his duties,
never refusing a medical call on account of the poverty of the
patient. He was especially kind to the poor. He came to Wyo
ming with the colony in 1855, and died there Feb. 9, 1881, leav
ing a widow, since deceased, one son in Philadelphia, and two
daughters, Mrs. Markley, of Wyoming, and Mrs. Carter, of Mel
bourne, Australia.
Isaac Markley was born in Montgomery county, Pennsyl
vania, April 2, 1822. In the spring of 1849 he came westward,
and engaged in steamboating. He commanded the Uncle Toby,
and in October, 1850, ran his steamboat from St. Louis to Taylor's
Falls for the writer of this work. He engaged in mercantile pur
suits for some time in St. Paul, and in 1871 came to Wyoming and
located on a farm. He was married to Frances, a daughter of Dr.
Comfort. He died at his home, February, 1$83.
Joel Wright was born in Pennsylvania in 1800, and came to
Wyoming with the Bethlehem colony in 1855. He is a black
smith by trade, but has also devoted himself to hunting and trap
ping. Mr. Wright has been married three times, and has three
children. Randall Wright, second son of the foregoing, was born in
Pennsylvania in 1828; was married to Anna Montgomery in 1850,
and came to Wyoming in 1855. He is a house carpenter by
trade. Frederic Tepel was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1824;
received a fair education and learned the trade of blacksmithing.
He came to America in 1843, lived in New Orleans one year, in
St. Louis ten years, in St. Paul one year, and settled in Wyo
ming in 1855. In 1847 he was married to Fredrica Wilmina, of .
St. Louis. They have seven children. Mr. Tepel has held many
town offices to the satisfaction of his townsmen. He has been for
forty years a member of the Methodist church.
23

354 FIFTY YEARS
Charles Henry Sauer was born in Germany in 1824; served
as a soldier in the German Army three years, and in the twenty-
fourth year of his age came to America. The year following he
returned to Europe and was married. In 1851 he took up his
residence in Chicago, and in 1855 came to Wyoming, and engaged
in farming. He has three sons, Fred, Henry and Harvey, and a
daughter married to a Lutheran minister.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 355

OHAPTEE X1Y.

WASHINGTON COUNTY.
The early history of Washington county is to be found in the
history of St. Croix county, Wisconsin, of which it was a part
until the organization of Minnesota Territory in 1849. At the
first session of the territorial legislature Washington county was
established in full for county and judicial purposes. It included
all that part of the Territory lying east of the range line be
tween ranges 21 and 22 and north of the Mississippi as far as
the British possessions and fractional parts of townships 29
and 30, range 22.
The courts held prior to this organization are referred to else
where. The first territorial court in Washington county was
held Aug. 13, 1849, Judge Aaron Goodrich, presiding; Judge
David Cooper, associate. It continued in session six days.
There were sixty cases on the calendar. Harvey Wilson was
clerk of court; A. M. Mitchell, of St. Paul, United States mar
shal; Henry L. Moss, district attorney; John Morgan, sheriff.
The lawyers present were H. L. Moss, M. S. Wilkinson, M. E.
Ames, A. M. Mitchell, L. Babcock, and David Lambert. The
second court house (the first under the new organization) was
built in Stillwater, corner of Fourth and Chestnut streets, in
1849, at a cost of $3,600. This was the first court house in the
territory of Minnesota. The lot was donated by John McKusick.
In this building were held all the courts from 1849 to 1867. In
that year Churchill & Nelson donated a city block on Nelson
Hill, a fine location overlooking the city and lake, and the
county erected upon it a fine stone structure costing $60,000, in
cluding jail and ground improvements.

356 FIFTY YEARS
The first election was held Nov. 26, 1849. The following board
of county officers was elected: Commissioners, John McKusick,
Hiram Berkey, Joseph Haskell; treasurer, Socrates Nelson;
register of deeds, John S. Proctor; judge of probate, Harvey
Wilson; sheriff, Jesse Taylor. At the same election the follow
ing persons were elected justices of the peace in their various
precincts: St. Croix Falls, Jerry Ross; Point Douglas, Martin
Leavitt; Stillwater, Albert Harris and H. K. McKinstry; Ma
rine, James Moore and W. H. Johnson.
The territory of the county has been from time to time divided
and subdivided for the organization of new counties. Wash
ington county, however, was divided but once. In 1852 the
county of Chisago was set off in the north, since which time its
boundaries have been, Chisago on the north, the St. Croix river
and lake on the east, the Mississippi river on the south, Anoka
and Ramsey counties and the Mississippi river on the west. It
includes the following townships: From 27 to 32 inclusive,
ranges 20 and 21, and fractional parts of townships 31 and 32,
range 19, and fractional part of township 26, range 20.
AFTON
Was organized as a town in 1858. Joseph Haskell, G. W. Cutler
and H. L. Thomas were the first supervisors; Minor H. Thomas,
clerk. It includes a fractional part of township 28, range 20. It
is well watered by Bolles and Valley creeks, streams tributary to
the St. Croix. The southwestern part of the township is rolling
prairie, the remainder somewhat broken. The soil is all pro
ductive and the streams afford good water powers. The township
had French settlers as early as 1837, — Baptist Fornier and others.
Joseph Haskell commenced his farm in 1839. Prior to 1850 A.
Mackey, L. Bolles, P. J. Carli, T. F. Randolph, E. Bissell, N. H.
Johnson, James Getchell, and A. McHattie located in the town.
The first crops were raised by the French" settlers. The first
marriage was that of Andrew Mackey to Mrs. Hamilton, in 1844.
The first child born was Helen M. Haskell, daughter of Joseph
Haskell. The first death was that of Paul J. Carli, in 1844,
accidentally drowned in the lake. The first road was located
between Stillwater and Point Douglas, in 1847. A military road
was surveyed from Point Douglas to Superior through this
town in 1850. Lemuel Bolles erected a flouring mill on Bolles

IN THE NORTHWEST. 357
creek, in the winter of 1845-46, the first to grind wheat north of
Prairie_&a- Chiemv The old mill was long since replaced by a
new one, and the mill property has changed owners many times,
Emil Munch being the last owner. The present mill is a fine
structure with a capacity of fifty barrels per day. The first
post office was at the old mill; L. Bolles, postmaster. The
first organized school was in the Haskell district, in 1855. The
Scandinavian Methodists have a church in section 18, built in
1885. The German Lutherans have a church in section 6, and
a parochial school. AFTON VILLAGE.
In May, 1855, Afton village was surveyed and platted by Has
kell, Getchell & Thomas, in section 23; Emerson & Case were
the surveyors. The village is beautifully located on the shore
,of the lake and contains one hotel, one church (Congregational),
one school house, ah academy building, and several stores, shops
and dwellings. The academy, known as the St. Croix Academy,
, was established in 1868, and the building, a handsome three
story brick structure, erected the same year. Mr. Gorrie was
the first principal. Simon Putnam was the first pastor of the
Congregational church. SOUTH AFTON
Is located one mile south of Afton, on the shores of the lake.
It has an elevator, store, warehouses and other buildings. A
saw mill was built by Lowry & Co., between Afton and South
Afton, in 1854, and rebuilt in 1855 by Thomas & Sons. The
Getchell Brothers built a mill in 1861, which was burned.
VALLEY CREEK
Is a small village on Bolles creek, in sections 9 and 10. Erastus
Bolles located here in 1857, and improved the water power, built
a machine shop and manufactured edge tools. He sold out to
his son, C. E. Bolles, who further improved the property by
building a corn and feed mill. In 1860 Gilbert & Buswell erected
a flour mill with three run of stone. The post office in this
village was established in 1874, with Erastus Bolles as post
master. ST. MARY VILLAGE
Was platted in 1855, on lots 1, 2 and 3, section 14. Thomas W.
Coleman, proprietor; James A. Carr, surveyor.

358 FIFTY YEARS
Joseph Haskell was born Jan. 9, 1805, in Kennebec county,
Maine. During his minority, he worked with his father on a
farm at Skowhegan, Maine. In 1837 he came West, stopping
two years in Indiana. July 24, 1839, he arrived at Fort Snell
ing on the steamer Ariel, obtained employment of Frank Steele
for whom he, with others, rowed a mackinaw boat from Fort
Snelling to St. Croix Falls. While at the falls he worked on
the dam and mill, then in process of building. In the fall of
1839 he made a trip to Fort Snelling and returned to the Falls,
carrying the mail in a birch canoe to Catfish bar, and then
across by Indian trail to the Fort. While on this trip he made
the claim for his homestead in Afton. In 1840 he put three acres
under cultivation, raising corn and potatoes. This was the first
attempt at farming, except by the French pioneers, who raised
only garden crops, north of Prairie du Chien. September, 1844,
he made a trip to Maine, and returned bringing three sisters
with him. They kept house for him until he married. Mr. Has
kell was married to Olive Furber, sister of J. W Furber, in
1849. They have four children, Helen M., Mary E., Henry Pitt
and Hiram A. Mr. Haskell was a representative in the state
legislatures of 1869 and 1871. He was of most exemplary habits.
He died at his home Jan. 23, 1885.
Lemuel Bolles was born in New York. He came to St. Croix
Falls in 1840. In 1843 he opened a grindstone quarry in the soft,
coarse sandstones, a short distance below the Dalles. In 1844-45
his grindstones were much used. He made Stillwater his home
in 1844-55, when he removed to Afton. He was industrious, in
genious and eccentric. He died in Stillwater in 1875.
Taylor F. Randolph was the first school teacher in Wash
ington county. He and his wife taught at Red Rock in 1837-38
-39-^0, under the supervision of the Methodist mission at that
place. In 1842 he settled on a farm in a valley near Bissell's
Mounds, Afton, where he and his wife died in 1846.
Elijah Bissell, in 1842, located a farm near the three mounds
in section 8, which now bear his name. He left the county in
1850. Andrew Mackey. — :Mr. Mackey, of whom some mention is
made in the chapter concerning the early history, is one of the
first pioneers, having come in 1837 with John Boyce to the val
ley of the St. Croix in a mackinaw boat, towed from St. Louis

IN THE NORTHWEST. 359
to the mouth of Lake St. Croix by a steamer, from which point
they poled their boat up to the St. Croix falls, where they landed
on the west side. From this point they madea portage and cor-
delled their boat, and with poles and lines ascended to Snake
river. He engaged for some time in lumbering, and worked at the
falls until 1841, when he settled on a beautiful farm, on a part
of which Afton is now situated. Mr. Mackey was born in Kil
kenny, Ireland, in 1804, and (in 1888) is still living. His wife
died in 1873. BAYTOWN
Comprises the north half of fractional township 28, range 20.
The surface is somewhat uneven and broken, owing to the lake
bluff formation, but there is much good farming land. Origin
ally it was covered with oaks or oak openings. It derives its
name from a bay indenting the western shore of Lake St. Croix.
At South Stillwater village a considerable stream, known as
Spring creek, flows from some large springs and forms a good
water power in its descent to the lake. Two flour mills are lo
cated on this stream. In 1842 Francis Bruce built a house on
the present site of the office of the St. Croix Lumber Company.
In the same year Norman Kittson built a trading post at what has
been since known as Kittson's Point. Both of these parties left
in 1844 and John Allen built a house and cultivated a field on
the east side of Kittson's Point. Allen sold the place in 1846
and removed to California. He raised the first crops in the
town. In 1847 Joseph Pero became a prominent settler and
made him a good home on Spring creek. Other parties made
claims and abandoned or sold them. Fiske & Marty located here
in 1848. In 1850 came Ambrose Secrest and some others. In
1852 Nelson, Loomis & Co. built a steam saw mill on the bay.
In 1854 Secrest & Booth built a flour mill on Spring creek.
In 1858 Baytown was organized as a town. The first super
visors were Ambrose Secrest, John Parker and W. H. Crosby;
John J. Hale, clerk. BAYTOWN VILLAGE.
Socrates Nelson, D. B. Loomis, Levi Churchill, Daniel Mears,
and James W. Hinton, in February, 1856, platted the village of
Baytown. Harvey Wilson was the surveyor. The location was
on the lake shore, lots 3 and 4, section 11, and lot .7, section 2.

360 FIFTY YEARS
In 1872 a post office was established called South Stillwater;
William Graves, postmaster. BANGOR VILLAGE
Was platted May. 1857, by C. I. and J. E. Whitney, Albert and
Edwin Caldwell, Wm. Hollinshead, Isaac Staples, and A. J.
Short; J. J. Carleton, surveyor. It was situated on the shore
of the lake south of Baytown.
MIDDLETOWN VILLAGE
Was platted in July, 1857, in parts of sections 2 and 3, by Wil
liam Holcomb; Myron B. Shepard, surveyor.
SOUTH STILLWATER
Was platted in January, 1873, by the St. Croix Railway Improve
ment Company; Peter Berkey, president; A. B. Stickney, secre
tary; J. S. Sewall, surveyor. South Stillwater was made to in
clude the platted villages of Baytown, Bangor and Middletown.
It has prospered greatly as a manufacturing village. In 1854
Torinus, Staples & Co. built a steam saw mill, to which from
time to time they added various manufacturing establishments.
Subsequently the firm became the St. Croix Lumber Company.
In the spring of 1876 this company sustained a loss by fire on
their mill and appurtenances to the value of $70,000, which was
not insured. With indomitable energy they rebuilt, and pros
pered. The two leading business men in this firm were Louis
Torinus and William Chalmers. Turnbull' s steam saw mill, on
the lake shore, has a capacity of 100, 000 feet per day . The property
is valued at $70,000. The South Stillwater Lumber Company
has a mill with a capacity of 90,000 feet per day, with planer
and other machinery attached, in which they have invested $70, -
000. The firm consists of D. Tozer, A. T. Jenks, H. McGlinn, E.
W. Durant, and R. Wheeler. The mills of the Herschey Lum
ber Company, valued at $70,000, have a capacity of 100,000 feet
per day. The proprietor,  Herschey, lives in Muscatine,
Iowa. The Stillwater Dock Company was organized in 1877. The
company consists of Durant, Wheeler & Co., St. Croix Lumber
Company and Jonah Bachelder. They have built many fine
steamers and barges. Their repairing docks are a great con-

IN THE NORTHWEST. 361
venience to steamboat lumbermen. The Seuth Stillwater Soap
Factory, owned by McKenzie & Co., deserves honorable mention.
The construction of the branch railroad from Stillwater in
1872, and the St. Paul & Milwaukee railroad, built in 1883, have
greatly increased the prosperity of the village. Aside from
mills and manufactories there are many private residences* one
hotel, stores, shops, a Lutheran church, and a school house.
There are three cemeteries in the village limits known as Hazle-
wood, St. Michael's, and the potter's field. The block for the
former was contributed by Secrest & Pero, in 1858. St. Michael's
was established by the Catholics in 1873. The potter's field
was established by the city of Stillwater in 1873. The first
death in the limits of South Stillwater was that of Sylvester,
son of Joseph Pero. South Stillwater was organized in 1881.
First board of officers were: President, B. E. Meigs; clerk, Ed
ward Ivison; councilmen, Richard Burns, C. M. Anderson,
Charles Kregor; justice of the peace, Ambrose Secrest. South
Stillwater has a graded school with four departments.
COTTAGE GROVE
Includes township 27 and a fractional part of township 26, range
21. It was organized as a town in October, 1858; James S. Nor
ris, moderator; William Watson, clerk; John Atkinson, Jacob
Moshier, Joel Munger, judges of election; William Watson,
John Atkinson, B. Winant, supervisors. Wm. Ferguson, Lewis
Hill, James S. Davis, Jonathan Brown, and Jacob Moshier were,
the first settlers, locating here in 1844. The first marriage was
that of Henry W. Crosby to Hannah Waterman, in 1854. The
first child born was Nathan, son of John Atkinson, in 1846; the
first death was that of Mehitable, wife of P. P. Furber, in 1851.
A post office was established at Cottage Grove village in 1850;
J. W. Furber was postmaster. The Chicago, Milwaukee & St.
Paul railroad was completed through the town in 1871. With
its fine natural advantages of soil, and its convenient access to
markets, Cottage Grove is well settled and prosperous.
COTTAGE GROVE VILLAGE
Is situated in section 12. It is a pleasant inland village, well
supplied with stores, shops and dwellings. It has one hotel, one
school house and three churches, Congregational, Evangelical

362 FIFTY YEARS
German Lutheran and Methodist. The Congregational society
was organized in 1858, Rev. B. Hall, pastor; the Evangelical in
1874; the Methodist some years later. The Universalists also
have an organization. The village was platted in April, 1871,
tby John P. and S. W, Furber, James A. McClusky, Margaret
M. Ellwell and Clarence Smith, in the southwest quarter of the
northwest quarter of section 12; J. W. Furber, surveyor.
LANGDON VILLAGE
Was platted in December, 1871, in the southwest quarter of sec
tion 21, on the line of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul rail
road. It contains an elevator, hotel, three stores, a school house,
Catholic church and other buildings. The Catholic church was
erected in 1873. Father Huxley is the officiating clergyman.
The village was platted by Joseph J. Dodge; C. B. Lowell, sur
veyor. Joseph W. Furber was born in New Hampshire in 1813. His
ancestors came to this country with the early colonists of New
England. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812. During
his minority he worked at farming, obtaining, meanwhile, an
education in the common schools and at Foxcroft Academy,
Maine. He emigrated to the valley of the Mississippi in 1838,
locating at Alton, Illinois, where he remained fortwo years. In
1840 he came to St. Croix Falls and engaged in lumbering until
1844, when he located in Cottage Grove. In 1846 Mr. Furber
represented Crawford county in the Wisconsin legislature as
representative. He traveled on foot as far as Prairie du Chien
on his way to the capital of the Territory. He represented the
First district in the first Minnesota territorial legislature and
was elected speaker of the house; was again a representative in
the eighth territorial legislature in 1857; was a member of the
tenth and seventeenth state legislatures. In 1857 he was com
missioned major general of Minnesota militia. He was also ap
pointed United States marshal of Minnesota by President Fill
more. He died at his residence in Cottage Grove in 1883. He
was a man of strong intellect, sound judgment and high moral
character. His widow, Sarah Wimples, to whom he was mar
ried in 1843, one son, William W., and two daughters survive
him. Samuel W. Furber was born in Stafford county, New

IN THE NORTHWEST. 363
Hampshire, in 1819. He removed with his parents to Milo,
Maine, and came to Cottage Grove in 1860.
Theodore Furber was born in 1817, in Farmington, New
Hampshire; came West in 1845 and located at St. Croix Falls.
In the following year he moved to Cottage Grove. Mr. Furber
was married to Sarah J. Hale in 1843, in Skowhegan, Maine.
Mr. and Mrs. Furber visited California in 1867. In 1885 they
removed to California.
James S. Norris.— James S. Norris was born in Monmouth,
Kennebec county, Maine, in 1810. He was married at Newport
in 1845 toJttiss Haskell, _Mr. Norris came to St. Croix Falls in
1839, removed to Washington county in 1842, where Jie set-
tied on a farm at Cottage Grove, and lived continuously till his
death, March 5, 1874. He raised the first crops in Cottage Grove,
and though he made farming his chief business, his abilities were
such that his fellow citizens intrusted him with many official
positions, in all of which he acquitted himself with honor. He
acted as county commissioner, was a member of the first territo
rial council, member of the sixth and seventh territorial house
of representatives, and speaker of the sixth, a member of the
Democratic wing of the constitutional convention, and of the
twelfth state legislature (house).
Lewis Hill was born at Hollis, Maine, in 1822. In 1843 he
came to the valley of the St. Croix and located at St. Croix Falls.
In 1844 he came to Cottage Grove and engaged in farming, and,
excepting a few years spent in Dakota county, has resided there
Since. He was married to Abbie Welch in 1854. Their living
children are Emma C, Jessie L. and Frederick E. G.
Jacob Moshier was born in Nova Scotia in 1820. He re
moved with his parents in 1829 to Canada West. In 1839 he re
moved to Illinois, in 1843 to St. Croix Falls, and in 1845 to
Cottage Grove, where he still resides. He is a house carpenter,
and has also been engaged in farming. He was married in 1854
to Maria Shatto. Their children are Annie F., Mahala, Wil
liam, Addie, Grant, Laura, and George.
William Ferguson came to Cottage Grove in 1844, and
made a claim in section 26.
John Atkinson was born in Lewiston, Maine, April 4, 1805.
He remained in his native town until 1833, resided in Pitts-
field until 1844, when he came West and located in Cottage

364 FIFTY YEARS
Grove. He pre-empted eighty acres of land, purchased additions
to it from time to time, and made for himself a very attractive
home, where he resided thirty years. Mr. Atkinson was twice
married, first to Hannah Moore, at Lewiston, Maine, who died in
1874, then to Mrs. A. B. Fiske, of Baytown, at which place he
now resides, an aged, much respected citizen. His first wife left
four sons and two daughters. DENMARK.
This town is located on the point of land between the Missis
sippi river and Lake St. Croix, and includes the territory lying
south of Afton, and between Cottage Grove and Lake St. Croix,
fractional townships 26 and 27, range 20. The surface is elevated,
somewhat rolling, without lakes or streams, and the soil rich and
well adapted to agricultural purposes. The early history of the
town is substantially that of its earliest settlement, Point Doug
las. It was organized in 1858. Supervisors, John Shearer,
Thomas Wright and David Hone.
POINT DOUGLAS.
Levi Hertzell and Oscar Burris, young men, located in 1839 on
the extreme point of the delta between the Mississippi and St.
Croix lake, where they cut wood and sold it to the steamboats.
They built a log cabin and store, under one roof, and traded
with Indians, discharged soldiers and French settlers. They
were diligent and industrious, and prospered. In 1846 they
built aframe store building. Their trade increased and they grew
wealthy. Messrs. Levi Hertzell, Oscar Burris and David Hone,
in 1849, platted the village of Point Douglas, Harvey Wilson
acting as surveyor. It was named in honor of Stephen A. Doug
las. The following settlers came to Point Douglas prior to 1850:
Wm. B. Dibble, the Truaxes, Harley D. White, David Barber,
E. H. Whittaker, James Shearer, Martin Leavitt, Simon Shin-
gledecker, H. A. Carter, Thomas Hetherington, Geo. W. Camp
bell, John Allibone, Mark Wright, John ,H. Craig, John O.
Henry, and George Harris. The first post office north of Prairie
du Chien was established in 1840, on the site of Prescott, at that
time known as "Mouth of St. Croix." This office was removed
to the opposite side of the lake in 1841, and Levi Hertzell was

IN THE NORTHWEST. 365
appointed postmaster. The first school was taught in 1850,
by John Craig. Rev. Joseph Hurlbut, a Methodist minister,
preached here in 1843. In 1856 Rev. T. Wilc'oxson, Episcopalian,
established "St. Paul's Parish." Mr. Woodruff erected a saw
mill in 1851. The enterprise was not successful. A. J. Short
built a saw mill in 1858, which eventually passed info the hands
of John Dudley. The first road to Point Douglas was the Still
water county road, located in 1847. The Point Douglas and
Lake Superior military road was built in 1849. A ferry was es
tablished in 1851 from Point Douglas to Prescott, which was
chartered in 1856, and controlled by W. B. Dibble, who also
established a ferry from Point Douglas to Hastings in 1857.
The first marriage was that of Oscar Burris to Amanda M.
Henry, Nov. 14, 1847. The first birth was that of Emmet M.
Hone, born in 1845, son of David and Mary G. Hone.
Levi Hertzell came to Point Douglas in 1839, and was quite
successful in business. In 1846 he was married to Rhoda C. Pond,
an adopted daughter of Cornelius Lyman, of Stillwater. In 1849,
in company with Burris and Hone, he platted the village of Point
Douglas. In the spring of 1856, while in New York, whither
he had gone to purchase goods, he mysteriously disappeared,
and nothing has since been heard from him. Mrs. Hertzell and her
three children were left in a dependent condition, she being able
to realize but little from the property held in Point Douglas.
She soon after married again. Of her subsequent history nothing
is known.
Oscar Burris, associated with Levi Hertzell as one of the first
settlers of Point Douglas and pioneer merchants and traders,
left in 1849 for California.
David Hone. — The following statement was given me, on re
quest, by Mr. Hone himself: "I was born in Cherry Valley,
Otsego county, New York, April 5, 1808, and was married to
Mary Henry in 1835. We came by stage over the mountains of
Pennsylvania to Pittsburgh and by steamboat from there to
Cairo, Illinois, and stopped at the Marine settlement until Sept.
10,1838. At that time I embarked on the steamboat Ariel, at
St. Louis, and in twenty-five days reached the head of Lake St.
Croix, from which point I proceeded on a flatboat, propelled by '
poles, to St. Croix Falls, the trip occupying two days. I made
a pine timber claim on an island opposite the mouth of Kettle

366 FIFTY YEARS
river. On my return, which was made with eight companions
in birch canoes, I stopped at Marine and made a claim where
the Marine mill now-stands, intending to build a saw mill. We
then proceeded in our canoes to Galena, where we took passage
on the Ariel for St. Louis, landing there November 10th, after an
absence of two months, more than half of which had been spent
on the water. We reported favorably, and, organizing a com
pany of thirteen at Marine settlement, Illinois, with a capital of
$26,000, got our material together at St. Louis during the win
ter, and embarked on the Fayette, May 4, 1839, for the point
afterward known as Marine Mills, Minnesota. We arrived May
13th and commenced at once to work upon the projected mill,
which was completed Sept. 1, 1839. I remained at the mill un
til March, 1841, when I removed to Gray Cloud. I made a claim
at Point Douglas in 1843, and moved upon it in April of that
year. In 1844 I built the Union House, the first frame house
built in the territory now embraced in Minnesota. At Gray
Cloud I acted as justice of the peace. I was appointed deputy
sheriff by Sheriff R. D. Lester of Crawford county, and held the
office until Minnesota Territory was organized. My first wife
died in November, 1864, leaving three sons, Edwin A., John H.
and Emmet M. In 1865 I was married to Electa Barnes, of St.
Paul. In 1872 I removed to Hastings, my present home." Mr.
Hone died at Hastings, July 11, 1887.
William B. Dibble was born in the state of New York in 1815.
He spent part of his early life in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Ala
bama and Illinois. He came to the St. Croix valley in 1839, and
was one of the founders of Marine, Minnesota, from whence he
removed to Point Douglas in 1844, and established ferries across
Lake St. Croix to Prescott, and across the 'Mississippi river to
Hastings. He also engaged in farming. He was twice married,
first in 1844, to Eliza McCauslin, who died in 1847, then to
Mary Wright, who, with nine children, survives him. Mr.
Dibble died in 1884.
George Harris was born in Pennsylvania in 1824. In 1827
his father removed to Illinois and was killed during the Black
Hawk War while acting as sentry. At the age of eight years
George commenced working on a farm, and continued nine years.
He then removed to Missouri and remained until 1845, when he
came to Stillwater and engaged in lumbering. Soon afterward

in the northwest. 367
he settled on a farm near Point Douglas, where he still resides.
His family consists of a wife (formerly Alice White) and seven
children. Harley D. White was born in Orange county, Vermont, in
1812; came to Prairie du Chien in 1840 and engaged in selling
goods; removed to Red Rock in 1844 where he sold goods in
partnership with Daniel Hopkins, and settled on a farm at Point
Douglas in 1847. Some years later he removed to Beattie, Kan
sas. He was married to Mrs. E. Tainter, of St. Croix Falls, in
1849. She died in 1850, leaving a daughter, who was adopted
into the family of W. H. Tinker, of St. Paul. This daughter
became a teacher and taught in the public schools of St. Paul
for a period of eighteen years, and with her earnings purchased
a home for her foster parents. Mr. White married a second time
and reared two sons, one an editor, now residing in Alameda,
California. The other is engaged in farming in Kansas. Mr.
White died in April, 1888.
Thomas Hetherington was born in Northumberland, Eng
land, in 1818; came to Canada at the age of sixteen years and to
Point Douglas in 1849 and settled on a farm at Basswood Grove,
where he died in 1885, leaving his family in good circumstances.
He was held in great esteem as an upright man by those who
knew him.
James Shearer was born at Palmer, Massachusetts, Oct. 30,
1815. He was engaged in the mercantile business from 1837 to
1843, when he sold out and went to Canada. He came to Point
Douglas May 8, 1849, and engaged in farming. He held vari
ous offices of trust in the county and town. He served as
county commissioner for 6 years, postmaster 2 years, chairman
of town board of Denmark for 4 years, and town treasurer 12
years. Mr. Shearer was married to Minerva J. Taylor, March
6, 1866. Their children are Marcus, Martha and Irvin.
Simon Shingledecker was born in Germany in 1815; came
to America in 1831 and located in Ohio, where he worked nine
years as a farmer. He removed thence to Illinois, then to St.
Louis, and in 1845 came to Hudson, Wisconsin, where he en
gaged in lumbering. In 1848 he located on a farm near Point
Douglas, which is still his home. In 1850 he was married to
Margaret Truax. They have eight children.
Caleb Truax was born in Mohawk valley in 1810. He be-

368 FJFTY YEARS
came a citizen of Montreal and was there married to Elisabeth
Morehouse. He removed to Point Douglas in 1849, where he
followed the business of farmer and house carpenter. He was a
representative in the fourth territorial legislature. He died at
his home in 1878, leaving seven sons and three daughters.
Abraham Truax was born in Brooklynn, Canada West. He
came to Point Douglas in 1848; removed to Hastings in 1850.
While there he was elected sheriff of Dakota county. He re
turned to Point Douglas in 1859, where he still resides. He
was married to Mary Lahey in 1859. Mrs. Truax died in 1867,
leaving five children.
George W. Campbell was born in Canton, New York, April
8, 1810. He received a common school and academic education.
His father died in 1826, leaving to George W. the care of the
family and the management of the estate. He was married in
1832, at Cornwell, Canada West, to Margaret Harriet Robinson.
He came to Point Douglas in 1848, where he has lived since, en
gaged in farming and lumbering. He was a representative in
the first state legislature, 1857-58. Mrs. Campbell died at her
home in Point Douglas in 1886, aged seventy-four years. She
had been a member of the Episcopal church for sixty years. Six
of her seven surviving children with the aged husband and father
attended the funeral. Mr. Campbell died in 1887.
FOREST LAKE/
This town includes township 32, range 21. The surface was
originally covered with hardwood timber, interspersed with wild
meadows; the western part with oak, maple, poplar and tam
arack. The first settlers were Louis Schiel, Wilson, Rice and
Cyrus Gray. Later came Simmons, Posten, Marsh, York, and
Banty. The first marriage was that of Francis Cartwright to
Mary Long, in 1865. The first child born was Rebecca Simmons.
The first death was that of Frederic Veith, in 1867. In 1873 the
first school district was organized. A Methodist church was or
ganized in 1876 by Rev. Adam Ringer. The Forest Lake
Lodge, I. O. G. T., was organized in 1879. A post office was
established in 1868; Michael Marsh, postmaster. The town of
Forest Lake was organized in 1874; W. D. Benedict, A. C. York
and George Simmons, supervisors; Louis Schiel, clerk.

IN THE NORTHWEST, 369
FOREST LAKE VILLAGE
Was platted May, 1869, in the northwest part of the town, by
Luther Mendenhall, agent of the Western Land Company, and
surveyed by B. W. Brunson. It is beautifully located on the'
shore of Forest lake and is rapidly becoming a popular place
of resort for summer tourists and pleasure parties. The lake is
almost separated into three distinct parts by points or capes. It
is five miles from the northwest to the southeast extremity and
is nearly two miles wide at the widest point. Its shores are well
timbered and approach the water's edge in gravelly slopes.
The indications are that the lake was once much larger. In the=
south lakes the water is deepest, averaging twenty feet. The
south lakes have also higher banks. The lake covers terri
tory in sections 8 to 15, inclusive, of township 32, range 21.
Capt. Michael Marsh is a native of Wesemburg, Germany,.
and has resided at this lake nineteen years. He has done
much to make it attractive as a place of resort. He has built a
hotel with seventy-five rooms for the accommodation of summer
visitors, and has placed a steamer, the Germania, upon the
lake. 'Capt. Marsh was married in Germany and has a fam
ily of two sons and three daughters. GRANT.
This town Was organized in 1858, under the name of Green
field. In 1864 the name was changed to Grant. It comprises
township 30, range 21. The soil is a sand and clay loam, with
clay gravel subsoil. The surface varies from undulating to roll
ing, and was originally well timbered with white, black and burr
oak. White Bear lake lies partly within the township, occupy
ing about 1,200 acres. Other and smaller lakes are Pine, Stone
Quarry, Deep, Ben's, and Long.
The first officers of the town were: Moderator, Joseph Crane;.
clerk, Jesse H. Soule; supervisors, Albion Masterman, James-
Rutherford and Joseph Crane. The first settlers were Albion-
Masterman and William Rutherford, in 1849. Soon after came
James Rutherford, Thomas Ramsdell and George Bennett. Albion
Masterman built the first house, and his wife, formerly Eliza
Middleton, was the first woman in the settlement. The first pub
lic highway through^the town was the Rum river road. The
24

370 FIFTY YEARS
first child born was Castinea O. Rutherford. The first death was
that of James, son of James Rutherford. The first school house
was built in section 1, in 1856. Joseph Crane taught the first
sphool. The first sermon was preached by. Rev.  Hamlin, a
Free Will Baptist, but the first religious organization was that of
the German Protestant Lutheran. Rev. Siegrist was the first
pastor. The church building is in section 2, and was built in
1872. The Spiritualists had au organization in 1868, of which
Jesse H. Soule was president, and George Walker secretary.
Summer meetings were held, and lecturers from abroad invited
to address them. DELLWOOD VILLAGE
Was platted in September, 1882, on the line of the Stillwater &
White Bear railroad, on the shore of White Bear lake; Augustus
K. and Carrie Barnum, proprietors; Simon & Morton,, survey
ors. EAGLE CITY
Was platted in 1854; proprietors, K. Starkey and Chas. G. Pettys;
surveyor, Daniel S. Turpen. It is located in the southwest
quarter of section 27. MAHTOMEDI
Was platted in July, 1883; proprietors, Mahtomedi Assembly;
surveyors, Hone & Holland. White Bear lake has become a
noted resort for tourists and pleasure parties. A steamboat plies
regularly upon its waters during the open months, and the Still
water & White Bear, the St. Paul & Duluth and the Wisconsin
Central railroads render it easy of access. It is made attractive
by the beauty of its scenery, the clearness and brightness of its
waters and its convenient distance from St. Paul,, Minneapolis
and Stillwater. The Mahtomedi Association have erected here
a fine hotel, assembly houses and numerous cottages for the ac
commodation of summer visitors. Summer schools are held here
under the auspices of the Chautauqua Association. The grounds
are also adapted to camp meetings, conventions and military
parades. WILDWOOD PARK
I
Was platted in 1883, by the Park Association; Elmer & Newell,
surveyors. It is located on White Bear lake, on the line of the
Stillwater & White Bear railroad.

IN THE NORTHWEST 371
William Elliott was born in Ireland in 1825. His parents
removed to New Brunswick in 1830, whence he came to Minne
sota in 1850, and located in Grant in 1862, devoting himself to
farming. He had been a pilot and a lumberman. His second
wife was Mary Crawford. They have eight children.
Frederick Lamb was born in Prussia in 1825; served three
years in the Prussian Army, traveled some time for a manufac
turing firm in Germany through Switzerland," France, England,
.and Italy; came to America in 1848, and to Stillwater in 1849.
For some time he was unsettled as to his location, .but in 1852
made his home in Stillwater, where he remained until 1866,
when he located in Grant. He was married in 1851 to Lena
Laroche. A son and a daughter lost their lives by accident.
Three daughters are living.
JaMes Rutherford was born in the parish of Elsdon, North
umberland county, England, in 1812. In 1818 he came with his
parents to America. In 1849 he came to the valley of the St.
Groix and located in what is now the town of Grant. He built a
flour mill on Brown's creek. He engaged in farming and also
in lumbering for many years. He was married to Elisabeth
Smith in 1836. He died at his residence Sept. 14, 1874. Four
children survive him.
Jesse H. Soule has been a prominent and enterprising citi
zen of Grant since 1854. He was born at Avon, Franklin county,
Maine, in 1823. Mr. Soule came to Grant when there were but
six families in the town, and pre-empted one hundred and fifty
acres of land, where he made him a pleasant and attractive
home. He has held many, positions of trust, having been elected
town clerk, which 6ffice he held twenty-two years, justice of the
peace, assessor, superintendent of schools and county commis
sioner. He represented his district in the house of the sixth state
legislature in 1864. Mr. Soule has been married three times.
His first wife left one daughter, his second wife two sons, twins,
Osmar and Winfield ; his third wife, who still lives, Rachel
Michener, to whom he was married in 1871, has three children,
Alice, Olive and Reuel.
Albion Masterman and William Rutherford, the first settlers
of Grant township, are mentioned among the biographies of the
chapter on Stillwater.

372 FIFTY YEARS

LAKELAND.

This town includes the south half of fractional township 29,
range 20, and comprises about 65,920 acres. The surface is quite
diversified, ranging from undulating prairie land to hills. Be
fore settlement there were prairies and oak^openings. The soil
is productive and is well cultivated.
The first settlers were French, who located along the lake
shore in 1838-39. These early settlers raised the first crops, but
were gardeners rather than farmers, and were transient. The
first American settler was Henry W. Crosby, who came in 1842,
and located on the site of the present village of Lakeland.
George Clark, a young man, came with him and made a claim
near the ferry, but was drowned not long afterward. This was
the first death in the town of which we have any mention. The
first marriage was that of Wm. Oliver and Mrs. Mary Davis, a-
sister of Joseph Haskell, in 1848; the next was that of A. B.
Green to Eliza M. Oliver, Oct. 1, 1851.
A ferry was established in 1848. Moses Perrin built a hotel
and saw mill the ensuing year, and platted the village of Lake
land. Another mill was built by Ballard & Reynolds. In 1857
Stearns, Watson & Co. built an extensive saw mill at a cost of
$45, 000. This mill changed hands many times, finally passing into
the hands of C. N. Nelson, who enlarged it to a capacity of 20, 000, -
000 feet per annum, a $50,000 investment. The St. Paul & Mil
waukee railroad traverses this town near and parallel to the
lake shore. The town contributed $5,000 in ten per cent bonds
to the building of the road, for which they received an equal
amount of railroad stock. The St. Paul & Omaha railroad
crosses the lake and a part of the northeastern part of the town
ship of Lakeland. The railroad bridge has its western terminus
in Lakeland, a short distance above the village. Lakeland was
organized as a town Oct. 20, 1858. The first board of super
visors consisted of Charles A. Oliver, Elias McKean and A. D.
Kingsley. LAKELAND VILLAGE,
Situated on the lake shore, nearly opposite Hudson, Wisconsin,
was platted in 1849 by Moses Perrin. A school was taught in
1852 by Harriet E. Newell. A post office was established in 1854 j •
Freeman C. Tyler was the first postmaster. Lakeland has the

IN THE NORTHWEST. 373
^following benevolent and social societies: Masons, Golden Rule
Lodge, No. 65, organized in 1867; Temple of Honor, organized
1877; the Independent Order of Good Templars, No. 200, organ
ized in 1876. It has a Baptist and Congregational church.
Henry W. Crosby was born in Albany, New York, in 1819.
He spent his youth in Buffalo. In 1840 he came to St. Croix
Falls, and in 1842 to the banks of Lake St. Croix, and located
on the site of the village of Lakeland where he resided ten years.
During the ensuing thirteen years he followed his trade as
machinist at various iplaces, besides serving three years as a
volunteer in the Eighth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. He was
married in Cottage Grove in 1845, to Hannah Waterhouse. He
has four sons.
Reuben H. Sanderson. — Mr. Sanderson was born in Gene
see county, New York, in 1831. He received a common school
education and studied one year in Brockport Collegiate Insti
tute. He came to Lakeland in 1855, and followed the business
of a house carpenter. Mr. Sanderson has filled many town
offices, and was a member of the Democratic wing of the state
constitutional convention in 1857.
Newton McKusick, the oldest son of John McKusick, was
borh'in Stillwater in 1850. He received a good education in the
city schools, completed at the Minnesota State University, and
located on a farm in Lakeland in 1871. He was married to
Jennie L. Green, of Stillwater, June 6, 1872. His home and
farm display taste and thrift worthy of commendation.
Capt. John Oliver. — John Oliver was born March 9, 1796,
at Land's End, England. He was bred to a seafaring life, and
the early part of his life was well spiced with adventure. He
escaped from the British service to enter the American, but was
twice captured, and after the second capture suffered a rigor
ous imprisonment at Dartmoor, England. At the close of the
war he came to the United States and became a Boston harbor
pilot, a responsible calling which he followed for thirty -three
years. He came to the West in 1848, -and settled in Lakeland.
In 1819 he was married to Sarah Spear, whose father was one of
the celebrated Boston Tea Party in 1774. Capt. Oliver, after his
removal to Lakeland, busied himself in farming. He died on
-the homestead in 1869, leaving a widow who survived until 1883,
and five sons, two having died prior to 1869. Of his seven sons,

374 FIFTY YEARS
six were in the Union Army in Minnesota regiments during the-
Rebellion: Wm. H., Thomas E., Charles A., George A.. Walter
J., and Howard F. Walter J. died in the army.
Asa Barlow Green. — The name of Capt. Green was once
familiar on the St. Croix. He was a man of varied talents and
striking characteristics, who, in a public life extending over a
period of many years, figured as a lawyer, sheriff, probate judge,
steamboat captain, minister, chaplain, and missionary. He was-
born at Warren, Vermont, 1826, and during his minority lived
at home. He had a common school education, and by his own
efforts attained a knowledge of the law and was admitted to prac
tice in Minnesota and Wisconsin in 1858. He served as sheriff
in Washington county, held the office of probate judge, and some
minor offices. He commanded the steamer Equator in 1859, when
that boat was wrecked on Lake St. Croix. He was part owner of
the boat. In 1860 he was ordained as a minister of the Calvinist
Baptist church. In 1862 he entered the United States service-
as chaplain of the Third Wisconsin Volunteers, and served three-
years, after which he devoted himself to ministerial and mission
ary labors. He died in Whitewater, Wisconsin.
L. A. Huntoon located in Lakeland in 1857, and engaged in
mercantile pursuits. He served as town clerk and postmaster,.
filling the latter position fifteen years. He represented his dis
trict in , the house of the seventh and nineteenth legislatures.
He died suddenly at his home in 1879, leaving a wife and three
children. His oldest son, Samuel, a promising young man,
principal of the Hammond high school, and fitting himself for
the medical college, was drowned Oct. 9, 1872, in Cutter's lake,.
at the age of twenty-one. He was much esteemed and lamented.
MARINE.
The town of Marine includes townships 31 and 32, range 20,
and fractional townships 31 and 32, range 19. The surface is
somewhat rolling, and before settlement was timbered chiefly
with hardwood. It is dotted with beautiful lakes, some of which
have abrupt and hilly shores. The more noted of these lakes are
Big, Carnelian, Square, Bony, Terrapin, Long, Fish, and Hay.
Next to St. Croix Falls, Marine contains the earliest settlement-,
in the valley. In September, 1838, Lewis Judd and David Hone-
were deputized by a company of men residing in Marine, Illinois,.

IN THE NOKTHWEST. i 375
to visit the Northwest and examine the region recently secured
by treaty from the Chippewas, and to return the same year and
report upon its advantages of climate, soil and other resources.
They were authorized also to locate a claim for a future settlement,
if they found one entirely suitable. They embarked on the
steamer Ariel at St. Louis, September 10th, and were twenty-
five days reaching the head of Lake St. Croix, whence they pro
ceeded in a flatboat propelled by poles up the St. Croix as far
as the falls, and thence to the mouth of Kettle river. Returning
by birch canoes, they stopped at the site of the present village of
Marine, and there made a mill claim. They then returned to
Marine, Illinois, where they arrived November 10th, and reported
favorably on the location chosen.
During the following winter a verbal agreement was made by
thirteen persons, all of Marine settlement, to start in the spring
and build a saw mill on the distant St. Croix. On April 27th
this company left St. Louis on the steamer Fayette for the
new settlement, which they reached on the thirteenth of May.
The Fayette was chartered expressly for this voyage. They took
with them mill irons, farming tools, household goods, three yoke
of oxen, and cows.
The members of the party were Lewis, George and Albert
Judd, David Hone, Orange Walker, Asa S. and Madison Par
ker, Samuel Burkelo, Wm. B. Dibble, Dr. Lucius Green, Joseph
Cottrell, and Hiram Berkey. When they landed they found
Jeremiah Russell and Levi W. Stratton in possession of the
claim, they having taken possession during the preceding win
ter. These men demanded and received three hundred dollars
for relinquishing the claim to its rightful owners.
The colonists set to work immediately to build a log cabin as
a temporary shelter, which being completed, they commenced
the mill, and worked with such energy that it was finished in
ninety days. The first wheel used was a flutter wheel, which, not
proving satisfactory, was replaced by an overshot with buckets.
This mill sawed the first lumber in the St. Croix valley.
Orange Walker was the first clerk and chieftain of the con
cern, and when anything was wanted a call of the company
would be made, and the members assembled. No article of
agreement existed. Only one book was kept for a series of years
— a unique affair, no doubt. The first installment was $200;

376 FIFTY YEARS
second, $75 ; third, $50 ; all within two years, after which the
company became self sustaining. No partner forfeited his stock.
One by one the partners sold out their interest, until Orange
Walker and G. B. Judd were the owners. The company was
first known as the Marine Lumber Company. In 1850 the name
was changed to Judd, Walker & Co., the firm consisting then of
the Judd brothers, Orange Walker, Samuel Burkelo, Asa Parker,
and H. Berkey. In 1863, when Orange Walker was sole owner,
he associated with him Samuel Judd and W. H. Veazie, and the
firm name has since been Walker, Judd & Veazie.
The colonists raised, during the first year, corn, potatoes aud
garden vegetables. They found the Indians peaceably inclined
toward the settlers, though the Chippewas and Sioux kept up a
constant warfare with each other. During the winter of 1839-40
four members of the company, Parker, Berkey, Green and Dib
ble, were sent to the mouth of Kettle river to cut logs. Marine
was organized as a town in 1858, with the following supervisors:
J. R. M. Gaskell, John E. Mower and B. F. Allen.
MARINE MILLS VILLAGE.
The settlement gradually grew into the village of Marine Mills,
which was not platted, however, until 1853, nor incorporated un
til 1875. The following was the first board of officers: President,
Orange Walker; councilmen, J. R. M. Gaskell, Ola Westergreen
and Asa S. Parker. Until 1842 the mail was received from Ft.
Snelling by private conveyance, when a monthly mail service
was established from Point Douglas, and Samuel Burkelo was
appointed postmaster.
The first jury trial in the St. Croix valley was held at Marine,
in 1840, before Joseph R. Brown, justice of the peace. The case
was that of Philander Prescott against Chas. D. Foote, plaintiff
charging defendant with jumping a claim. The jury consisted
of Samuel Burkelo, Orange Walker, H. Berkey, David Hone. J.
Haskell, J. S. Norris, A. McHattie, A. Mackey, H. Sweezy, Fran
cis Nason, and two others. The claim in dispute was located
near Prescott. The court adjourned to allow the jury to visit
Prescott to ascertain if the claim had been made in accordance
with custom. On viewing the premises the jury failed to agree,
and the matter was compromised by Prescott allowing Foote
eighty acres of the claim.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 377
The first white child born in Marine was Sarah Anna Water
man, in 1844. Dr. Wright, the first physician, located in Ma
rine in 1849. The first marriage was that of Wm. B. Dibble to
¦ Eliza McCauslin, in 1842. The first death was that of a child
of W. H. Nobles, in 1843. The first sermon preached was by
Rev. J. Hurlburt, a Methodist missionary, Jan. 1, 1844. The
first school was taught by Sarah Judd, in 1849. The Swedish
Evangelical Lutherans built the first church in the jjown of Ma
rine, in section 27, in 1856, a log structure afterward used as a
school, its place being supplied by a new structure in section 14
in 1858. In 1874 a large church 50x80 feet, ground plan, and
, with steeple 80 feet high, succeeded the second structure. A fine
parsonage was attached. This church was blown down by a cy
clone in 1884, but was rebuilt.
The Swedish Methodists built a church on the south side of
Long lake in 1856; C. P. Agrelius, pastor. The Congregation.
alists commenced the first church and perfected the first organi
zation in Marine village, in 1857. The church was completed
anddedicated in 1859. Rev Geo. Spaulding was the first pastor.
The second Congregational church was erected in 1878, in sec
tion 21. The Swedish Lutherans have a church and congrega
tion in the village of Marine. The church was built in 1875.
Rey. L. O. Lindh was the first pastor. Oakland Cemetery As
sociation was organized in 1872 and the cemetery located near
Marine village. IMPROVEMENTS.
A passable road was opened from Still water to Marine in 1841..
The government road from Point Douglas to Superior was built
through Marine in 1852-3. The company built the first frame
dwelling, on a point above the mill, in 1848. The mill company
built a frame store in the same year. This building was burned
in 1863; loss, $4,000. The only hotel until 1850 was a log build-
jng, when the Marine store was built. The Lightner House
was built in 185J, the St. Croix House in 1858. The Marine
flour mill was built in 1856 by Gaskell & Co. The first flour
was manufactured in 1857. The mill is four stories high and is
furnished with a turbine wheel. The water, is brought a dis
tance of 1,000 feet by an elevated race. The Areola saw mills
were built in the winter of 1846-7, by Martin Mower, David B.
Loomis, Joseph Brewster and W. H. C. Folsom. They were lo-

378 FIFTY YEARS
cated on the river shore three miles below Marine Mills. The
motive power is an overshot wheel, propelled by water from two
large springs. The mill is now the property of Martin Mower.
The losses by fire in Marine have been:
The Marine saw mill, Sept. 16, 1863, loss $6,000; Judd & GaskelL's store,
Jan. 9, 1864, loss $4,000; Samuel B. Judd's dwelling, April, 1884, loss $12,000;
W. H. Veazie's dwelling, April, 1885, loss $6,000.
A heavy^flnancial failure occurred in the winter of 1885-6.
The firm of Walker, Judd & Veazie were compelled to make an
assignment; indebtedness, $250,000. In the ensuing May, by
order of the court, the mill property with its assets passed into
the hands of a newly constituted organization, styled the Ma
rine Lumber Company. This company was composed of the
creditors of Judd, Walker & Veazie; B. C. Keater, president;
Ed. St. John, superintendent; capital stock, $750,000. In 1888
the property passed into the hands of Anderson & O'Brien.
. VASA VILLAGE
Was platted in 1856, in section 30, township 32, range 19, by B.
F. and Mary Jane Otis and John Columbus; W. P. Payte, sur
veyor. James Russell, James Cilley and Frank Register in 1857
built a steam saw mill. James Russell built a three story hotel.
A saloon and other buildings were erected, but the village did
not prosper, and the site is now abandoned. There are several
ancient mounds in the town site which have been utilized to some
extent as burial mounds. One in the rear of the school house
contains the remaius of Caroline Reid, a sister of Mrs. B. F. Otis,
and Hiram Otis, a son of the latter. A mound on the farm of
John Copas contains the remains of John Columbus, buried.
there at his own request with the body of his favorite dog. A
post office was established at Scandia, in the northern part of
Marine, in 1878; John M. Johnson, postmaster. The upper part
of the town of Marine was at one time organized as a town called
Vasa, but has since been merged in Marine.
Orange Walker was born at St. Albans, Vermont, Sept. 1,
1801. His ancestors were of English stock and Revolutionary
fame. He received a good common school education, and at the
age of sixteen entered as an apprentice in a tanner and currier's
establishment in St. Albans. After learning the trade he worked
at it some time in Milton, Vermont. In 1834 he came West,

IN THE NORTHWEST. 379"
and located at Jacksonville, Illinois, where he worked at his
trade and also engaged in farming until 1839, when he became a
member of the Marine Lumber Company, and came with them
to Marine, where he resided a period of forty-eight years. Dur
ing that time he has been the most active and influential man in
the company, having been in almost constant service as its presi
dent or principal agent. Mr. Walker was well known to the
earlier dwellers in the St. Croix valley as a hale, hearty, well
informed man, prompt in fulfilling his engagements, and liberal
in everything that pertains to the general good. Mr. Walker
filled many public positions. He was county commissioner ten
years, postmaster twenty-five years, and represented his district
in the house of the Second Minnesota legislature in 1859-60. He
was married Sept. 16, 1848, to Mrs. Georgiina Lockwood, of
Prescott, formerly Miss Barton, a native of Wilkesbarre, Penn
sylvania. Mrs. Walker died Oct. 9, 1885. Mr, Walker died
Aug. 17, 1887.
Lewis Walker, brother of Orange Walker, was born in St.
Albans, Vermont, in 1811; in early life removed to Marine, Illi
nois, and in 1853 came to Marine Mills, Minnesota. He spent'
many years at the St. Croix upper boom, and the last fifteen
years of his life he lived in Osceola. He was a quiet, peaceable
citizen, exemplary in his habits and respected by all his ac
quaintances. He died in Osceola in 1882. Mr. Walker was
married in 1853 to Calphrunia White, who, with two daughters,
survives him. The oldest daughter, Ella, has been for many
years a teacher in the Minneapolis and St. Paul and other
schools. Emma is the wife of Henry Fifield, a printer and jour-
alist of Northern Michigan.
Samuel Burkelo was born in Kent county, Delaware, March
31, 1800. He came to Marine in 1839, being one of the thirteen
constituting the Marine Lumber Company. He remained with
the company ten years, removed to Stillwater and engaged in
the mercantile business. In 1858 he removed to a farm in Lake
land, where he died in 1874. He was one of the commissioners
appointed in 1840 to organize St. Croix county, and represented
his district in the council of the first and second territorial legis
latures. He was married Dec. 7, 1844, to Susan McCauslin, at
Point Douglas. Four children survive him.
Asa S. Parker was born in Windsor county, Vermont, July

380 FIFTY YEARS
11, 1812. His youth was spent in Vermont, New York and Illi
nois. He was by trade a brickmaker. He joined the Marine
Company and came to Marine in 1839. He continued a member
of the company until 1858, since which time he has been engaged
in farming and selling goods at Marine. Mr. Parker is a quiet,
unobtrusive gentleman, well posted in general matters. He was
a very useful member of the company. He was eight years
county commissioner, and has filled responsible town and county
positions. He was married in 1859 to Isabella Thompson. Archie
I., an only son, living with his parents, was married to Lena
Smith in 1883.
Hiram Berkey was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania,
Oct. 22, 1813. He came to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1819, but made
Gollinsville, Illinois, his home, and engaged in farming. He
came to Marine Mills in 1839, and was one of the original
company that founded Marine. He sold his interest in 1860,
since which time he has been engaged in hotel keeping and farm
ing. He served as county commissioner four years, and filled
local offices. He was married to Jennie McCarty, of Pennsyl
vania, Oct. 23, 1860. They have one son, John R.
Geo. B. Judd was born in Farmington, Connecticut, Oct. 19,
1799. In 1832 he came to Illinois and engaged in farming and
merchandising. In 1839 he became a member of the Marine
Company, and came up on the Fayette, but did not make his
residence there until 1862. He retained his interest in the com
pany until about 1863. He removed to St. Louis in 1844, and
became a member of the enterprising commission firm of Judd
& Hammond. After his removal to Marine he engaged in the
mercantile and lumbering business. Mr. Judd died at his home
in Marine in 1872.
JamEs Hale was born in 1822, in Putnam county, Indiana;
lived five years in Illinois, and came to Marine Mills in 1844,
where he engaged in farming. He was married to Mary Finne-
gan in 1855. Mr. Hale died Feb. 9, 1888.
John Holt was born in Jefferson county, Kentucky, in 1818.
He came to Marine in 1846. In 1852 he was married to Mary
Jane Ward, and removed to Stillwater, where for two years he
kept the Minnesota House, at the southwest corner of Main and
Chestnut streets. Returning to Marine in 1853 he followed
lumbering and farming many years. During the latter portion

IN THE NORTHWEST. 381
of his life he was afflicted with partial blindness. He died Jan.
12, 1874, leaving two children.
George Holt, brother to John Holt, was born in Kentucky
in 1822, where he spent his early life. After spending a year
at Prairie du Chien, i n 1846 he came to Marine and obtained em
ployment with the Marine Company. In 1850 /he removed to
Stillwater, and engaged in the livery stable and hotel business
until 1853, when he returned with his brother to Marine. He
claims to have carried, in 1851, the first leathern mail pouch from
Stillwater to Taylor's Falls. During the Rebellidn he served
one year in Company G, Fourth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry.
While residing in Marine he has been engaged chiefly in farm
ing, rafting and lumbering. In 1851 he w,as married to Melinda
Ward. They have five children.
William Town was born in Rome, N. Y., 1814. In 1836 he
removed to Warren county, Illinois, and in 1838 he was mar
ried to Louisa Robinson. He came to Marine in 1846; removed
to St. Croix Falls in 1847, to Osceola Prairie in 1852, and to
Taylor's Falls in 1860, where he died in 1870. His first wife
died at Osceola in 1855, leaving three daughters, one the wife of
W. J. Seavey, of Taylor's Falls, one the first wife of Henry Mal-
len, of Farmington, Wisconsin, and one the wife of E. Hines
Bates, of Taylor's Falls. Mr. Town was married in 1857 to Mrs.
Mary Collins, formerly Mary Talboys. A daughter of Mrs.
Town, by her first husband, is the wife of N. P. Bailey, of Tay
lor's Falls. Mr. Town's aged mother came to Osceola Prairie in
1856; and died in June, 1886, aged ninety-seven years. Mrs.
Abbott, of Moorhead, and • Mrs. Richmond, of Farmington, are
her daughters.
Matthias Welshance was born in 1818, in Pennsylvania,
where he lived during his minority and learned the carpenter's
trade. In 1843 he removed to Galena, Illinois, in 1847 to St.
Croix Falls and in 1848 to Marine Mills, where he worked at his
trade until 1856. From that time until his death, May 19, 1886,
he was engaged in hotel keeping. He was for nine years keeper
of the Marine Hotel and has since been proprietor of the St.
Croix House. He was married Nov. 12, 1848, to Mary J.
Hooper. They have five children living. One daughter, Mrs.
Tolan, met a tragic death at the hands of an insane husband, in
1881. Mr. Welshance died in 1886.

.382 FIFTY YEARS
Benjamin T. Otis was born in Fairfield, Maine, in 1816. He
came to St. Croix Falls in 1841, and engaged in lumbering. In
1846 he located on what is known as Colby Flat, on the site of
Taylor's Falls, and improved a farm. In 1849 he removed to
Marine. His first wife died suddenly at Marine. He was mar
ried to Mrs. Church, of Stillwater, in 1859. Henry F., a son by
lis first wife, enlisted in 1862, in the Seventh Minnesota Volun
teers, .was wounded in 1864, and honorably discharged.
William Clark was born in New Brunswick, July, 1815. He
came to Marine Mills in 1848, and since has followed lumbering.
He married Elisa Jane Nelson in 1861. Mrs. Clark died in 1879,
leaving two daughters.
James R. Meredith was born Aug. 22, 1812, in White county,
Illinois, where he lived until eighteen years of age, when he re
moved to Galena, where he spent five years in mining. He went
thence to Burlington, Iowa, and in 1849 located in Marine, and
was employed by the Marine Company several years. In 1860 he
located upon his present farm. In 1 847 he was married" to Elea-
;nor Freeman. They have three children living.
John D. and Thomas E. Ward. The Ward brothers are na
tives of Massachusetts. They came to the St. Croix valley with
their brothers-in-law, John and George Holt. They have engaged
•chiefly in steamboating and.river business.
Samuel Judd, son of Lewis Judd, was born in Illinois in 1840.
He graduated at McKendrie College, Lebanon, Illinois, and came
to Marine in 1863, and became a member of the firm of Walker,
Judd & Veazie. In 1874 he was married to Amelia D. Flaherty,
at St. Louis. Their children are Orange W. and Lucille M. In
1886 he changed his residence to St. Paul.
Frederic W. Lammers was born in Germany in 1829. He
came to America in 1843, locating first at St. Louis, where he
remained two years. In 1845 he removed to the St. Croix val
ley, and for several years engaged in lumbering. In 1852 he
settled on a farm in Taylor's Falls, and was married to Helen C.
Nelson, of Marine. In 1865 he sold his farm and removed to Big
Lake Marine. Mr. Lammers has been a public spirited and ex
cellent citizen. His family consisted of fifteen children; of these
thirteen are living.
James R. M. Gaskill was born in Madison county, Illinois, in
1820; graduated from McKendrie College iu 1843; graduated from

IN the northwest. 383
the medical department of the Missouri State University iu 1854;
practiced medicine a short time at Centralia, Illinois, and came
to Marine in 1855, where he practiced medicine and interested
himself in milling, lumbering and merchandise. He represented
his district in the house of the first legislature of Minnesota,
1857-58, and of the fourteenth and fifteenth, 1872-73. He served
during the Rebellion as surgeon of the Forty-fifth Illinois Volun
teers. He was for many years a trustee of the Minnesota State
Prison. In 1861 he was married to Clara E, Hughes. They have
one son and one daughter. NEWPORT.
The town of Newport includes fractional townships 27 and 28,
range 22, and part of sections 34, 35 and 36, in township 29,
range 22. It was organized as a town Oct. 20, 1858. The first
supervisors were William Fowler, E. B. Schofield and John
Willoughby. The surface is mostly prairie. This town has some
points of great historic interest. Gray Cloud island, in the
southern part, in the Mississippi river, separated from the main
land by a slough, is the place where, according to some histo
rians, Le Sueur planted a French fort in 1695. It was styled the
"Isle Pelee," and was described as a beautiful "Prairie Island."
The description of the island tallies precisely with that of
Gray Cloud, and is applicable to none of the other conjectured
localities. It is mentioned by many antiquarian writers as a
place of rendezvous for French traders during the French domi
nation In this part of the continent. Gray Cloud has been known
as a trading post for the last hundred years, and has the credit of
being the first white settlement in Washington county, and prob
ably in Minnesota. Here came Joseph R. Brown in 1838, and here
he married the daughter of Dickson, the trader. Hazen Mooers,
one of the commissioners of St. Croix county in 1840, Joseph
Boucher and others were living at Gray Cloud when the Metho
dist mission was established at Kaposia in 1836. Gray Cloud is
the translation of the Indian name of the island. It was also
borne by an Indian maiden, who became the wife of Hazen
Mooers, who seems to have been a man of excellent repute and
considerable influence. The Browns cherished for him a very
warm feeling of regard.
Red Rock, another historic locality, derives its naihe from a
painted rock which seems to have been held in great reverence

384 FIFTY YEARS
by the Sioux Indians. According to Rev. Chauncey Hobart, a
veteran pioneer and preacher still living in Minnesota, it was the
. custom among the Sioux to worship the boulders that lie scat
tered along the hills and valleys. When a Dakotah was in dan
ger, it was his custom to clear a spot from grass and brush, roll
a boulder upon it, paint it, deck it with feathers and flowers,
and pray to it for needed help.
The peculiarity of the painted boulder from which Red Rock
took its name is that it was a shrine, to which from generation
to generation pilgrimages were made, and offerings and sacrifices
presented. Its Indian name was "Eyah Shah," or "Red Rock."
The stone is not naturally red, but painted with vermillion, or,
as some say, with the, blood of slaughtered victims. The Indians
call the stone also "Waukan," or "mystery." It lies on a
weathered stratum of limestone, and seems to be a fragment from
some distant granite ledge. The Dakotahs say it walked or rolled
to its present position, and they point to the path over which it
traveled. They visited it occasionally every year until 1862,
each time painting it and bringing offerings. It is painted in
stripes, twelve in number, two inches wide and from two to six
inches apart. The north end has a rudely drawn picture of the
sun, and a rude face with fifteen rays.
Red Rock is noted as the site of a mission planted here in
1837 by the Methodist Episcopal church, by Alfred Brunson, a
distinguished pioneer preacher and missionary. The mission was
originally established at Kaposia, on the western bank of the
river, in 1837, but removed by Alfred Brunson in the same year
to Red Rock. Rev. B. T. Kavanaugh, of this mission, and after
ward a bishop of the Methodist Episcopal church South, super
intended the erection of the first buildings. Taylor F. Randolph
and wife were teachers here, as assistants in the Indian school,
and also in a school of mixed bloods and whites. B. T. Kava
naugh was postmaster in 1841. John Holton was mission farmer
in 1841, under a commission from Maj. Taliaferro, of Fort
Snelling. The mission was discontinued in 1842. Mr. Ran
dolph and wife made them a home in the town of Afton, where
both died in 1844.
The first marriage was that of John A. Ford to Mary Holton,
daughter of John Holton, in 1843. The first birth was that of
Franklin C. Ford, September, 1844. The first death was that of a

IN THE NORTHWEST. 385
child of Rev. B. T. Kavanaugh. The village of Newport was
platted in 1857. W. R. Brown's addition was platted in 1874.
A steam saw mill was built in 1857 by E. M. Shelton & Brothers.
The mill was destroyed by fire in 1874. A flour mill was built
in its place by Joseph Irish. The first Baptist church was organ
ized Jan. 18, 1858. The first commodious house of worship was
built in 1878. The Red Rock Camp Meeting Association was
organized in 1869. A plat of ten acres, beautifully situated in a
natural grove near the village, and on the line of the Chicago,
Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad, was donated to the association
by John Holton. These grounds have been improved, and
adorned with tasteful cottages. The camp meetings held during
the summer are largely attended.
GRAY CLOUD CITY
Was platted in June, 1856, by J. R. Brown and Truman W.
Smith, and surveyed by J. Donald McCullom.
NEWPORT VILLAGE
Was platted May 2, 1857, by Joseph H. Huganin, R. C. Knox,
Wm. and James Fowler, and surveyed by B. Densmore.
John Holton came to Red Rock in 1831, with the Methodist
missionaries; served some years as Indian farmer under Maj.
Taliaferro, Indian agent, and afterward settled on a farm just
above the mission ground. He donated ten acres of this farm
to the Methodists for camp meeting grounds. Mr. Holton died
in 1884, leaving two children, Mrs. Ford and Mrs. Winters.
John A. Ford was born in Utica, New York, in 1811. He
learned the trade of edge tool and rifle making, and in 1834
came West with his father, locating a land claim where Chicago
now stands. In 1841 the son came to Red Rock and erected a
store building in which he sold goods for twelve years. Subse
quently he engaged in farming. With the exception of the
traders Mr. Ford was the first merchant in Washington county.
Mr. Ford was a representative in the second territorial legis
lature. He was married to May Holton in 1843. Their children
are Franklin and Willis. Franklin, the eldest son, was married
to Addie Witherspoon in 1870, and resides in Newport.
Daniel Hopkins, a native of New Hampshire, came West
at an early age. He was a gunsmith by trade. He located in
25

386 FIFTY YEARS
Green Bay in 1836, and removed to Prairie du Chien in 1838,
where he built a stone shop with a large double window over
his workbench and overlooking a spot where he kept his money
buried. A large mullein growing over it sufficiently indicated
that his treasure was still undisturbed. Growing somewhat
doubtful of the security of his hoard, he removed and placed a
thousand dollars in a stone quarry as a safer place of deposit.
Unexpectedly to him, the quarry was reopened and a well placed
blast scattered the old gentleman's treasure to the four winds.
He recovered but a portion of it. In 1844 he left Prairie du
Chien and came to Red Rock. He was three years associated
with John A. Ford in selrinf goods, after which, in 1848, he re
moved to St.* Paul, where he opened a store. He died in 1852,
aged sixty-five years.
William R. Brown was born in Urbana, Ohio, in 1816. He
spent his boyhood at home on a farm and served as an appren
tice to a carpenter in Mt. Carmel, Illinois. In April, 1848, he
came to Red Rock mission in company with Rev. B. T. Kava
naugh, Charles Cavalier and Julia Bosnell. He lived upon a farm
until 1854, when he sold out and removed to St. Paul, where he
dealt in real estate. During the Rebellion he served three years
in Company C, Sixth Minnesota Volunteers. He was married
in 1841 to Martha Neuman. He died Nov. 25, 1874.
William Fowler settled in Newport in 1852 and has become
a prominent farmer and successful stockman. His farm, which
originally cost him $2,500, he sold in 1887 for $80,000. He was
for two years president of the Minnesota Agricultural Society r
and five years of the Dairymen's Association. He was a member
of the house of representatives in 1872. During the war he ¦
served as lieutenant in the Eighth Minnesota Volunteers.
OAKDALE.
Oakdale includes township 29, range 21. Originally it was
covered with white, black and burr oak timber; the surface is
rolling, and the soil well adapted to the cultivation of wheat. It
is well watered and has numerous lakes, among which Lake Elmo
is favorably known as a summer resort.
Oakdale was organized as a town November, 1858. The first
supervisors were E. C. Gray, John Bershen and E. L. Morse.
The clerk was W. Armstrong.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 387
The first settler was B. B. Cyphers, who kept a hotel or stop
ping place on Sun Fish lake in 1848. The year following John
Morgan built a more commodious house a mile and a half west
on the stage road, and this was afterward known as the "Half
way House," it being nearly midway between St. Baul and Still
water. At this well known station the pioneer stages of Wil-
loughby & Powers changed horses at noon, and the passengers
took dinner. In 1855 the property passed into the hands of E.
C. Gray. The Malones, Lohmans, Grays, Day, Stevens, and Gar
diner located here in the '50s.
The first post office established was in 1857, in the south part
of the town, in section 35. Arthur Stephens was for ten years
postmaster. The office was called Oakdale, and was discontin
ued and another established at the Half-way House, and called
Lohmanville post office. In 1873 it was transferred to the Oak
dale station on the railroad. It was discontinued in 1876, and
re-established at Bass Lake station, where it has since remained
but is now known, as the Lake Elmo post office.
The St. Paul & Stillwater railroad passes through this town
from east to west. It has three stations, Lake Elmo, Oakdale
and Midvale. .
The churches of Oakdale are the St. John's Lutheran and the
Church of the Holy Angels. These churches have fine buildings
and good congregations. The buildings are located on the line
of the old stage road, and have spacious burial grounds attached.
Lake Elmo is the only village in the town. It is handsomely
located on Lake Elmo. The company that platted the village
has expended over $65,00'0 on improvements. The hotel is an
elegant and spacious building, and a favorite resort for summer
tourists. The lake was originally known as Bass lake, and the
station was known as Bass Lake station. In 1879 the lake and
station were rechristened Elmo, a name certainly more musical
and charming than the original, and inferior only to the aborigi
nal name, which ought to have been retained.
E. C. Gray came originally from Pennsylvania, and located in
Oakdale in 1855, having purchased the Half-way House of John
Morgan. He died in 1874, leaving a large family of children.
Two of his sons, M. P. and W. H, remain on the family home
stead. Others are in St. Paul. All are known as men of good
business ability.

388 FIFTY YEARS
Arthur Stephens was born in Scotland in 1830. He came to
America in 1839, lived awhile in -Illinois, learned the trade of a
mason and plasterer, came to St. Paul in 1849, worked at his
trade until 1854, when he removed to Oakdale, where, with the
exception of six years' residence at Stillwater, he has since lived.
Mr. Stephens served as postmaster ten years, as county commis
sioner three years, and has filled town offices. He was married
to Marie Payden in 1852. Their children are Harris S., Arthur;
Elizabeth and Emma. ONEKA.
The town comprises township 31, range 21. It was organized
as a town in 1880. A. J. Soule was the first moderator, George
Walker the first clerk and treasurer. The eastern and southern
portions are diversified, being quite rugged and uneven. The
western part is quite level, and was originally timbered with
burr oak and poplars. The town abounds with lakes. Bald
Eagle lies partly in the town;. Oneka, Rice, Egg, Eagle, Horse
shoe, and others are within the town. Small springs and
rivulets abound. A tamarack.swamp, varying in width from a
few rods to a half mile, traverses the town from north to south,
forming a natural barrier between the eastern andv western divi
sions. The principal lake is Oneka, located in sections 9 and
16. Rice lake has been celebrated as. the resort of Indians from
Mendota, who camped here annually to gather wild rice for the
St. Paul and Minneapolis markets.
The first settlers were Fayette Tainter and John Chester,
young men who came together in 1850 for the purpose of locat
ing claims and baling hay. They carried on a stock farm for
five years. The next settlers, Lewis Sempler and his son-in-law,
Joseph Freeman, came in 1855. They were followed by Dunn,
Barnum, Hatch and Beecroft.
The St. Paul & Duluth railroad passes through the western
part of the town, entering in section 31, and leaving in section
5. There is but one station upon the road, Centreville, a thriv
ing little village, having a hotel, store, school house, etc. Its
post office was established in 1874.
The first school district was organized in 1867. Ruth Miller
taught the first school. The first marriage was that of Joseph
Lambert and Mary Courtone. The first child born was Hoyt E.,
son of O. L. Kinyon, Dec. 27, 1863. The first death was that of
Herbert, son of O. L. Kinyon, May 30, 1869.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 389
ONEKA,
Located in the northeast quarter of section 8, was platted May,
1847, by Franklin Jones; Chas. B. Lowell, surveyor.
SHADY SIDE VILLAGE,
Located on Bald Eagle lake, was platted in 1880, by Chas. P.
Hill; Brinckerhoff & Phillips, surveyors.
Daniel Hopkins, Sr., son of Daniel Hopkins, of whom bio
graphical mention is made in the history of Newport, was born
in New Hampshire. He came to St. Paul in 1850, and engaged in
the mercantile business on Third street until 1852, when he re
moved to a farm between St. Anthony and St. Paul, and dealt
extensively in blooded stock until about 1855-56, when he pur
chased the farms of Austin and Tainter, on Rice creek near the
railroad. His farm consists of about 600 acres. The railroad
has a flag station at the farm known as Hopkins station.
STILLWATER.
Stillwater comprises fractional township 30, range 20, except
ing the site of the city of Stillwater. The surface is rolling
and the soil good. It is well watered with rivulets and small
lakes. The first settlers in the town outside the city limits were
the Lymans, consisting of the father (Cornelius) and two sons,
C. Storrs and D. P., Charles Macy, W. T. Boutwell, Sebastian
Marty, Wm. Rutherford, J. J. McKenzie, Albion Masterinan,
and Dr. James Carey. The first white child born in the town
was Emily S., daughter of C. S. Lyman, in 1846. The first
death was that of Betsey, daughter of C. S. Lyman, in 1846. The
first marriage was that of Abraham Click and Jane Sample, in
1853. The first school was taught by Cynthia Pond, in 1852.
The first road through the town was from Dakota village via
Carnelian lake and Marine to St. Croix Falls. Messrs. Ruther
ford & Booth in 1857 built a flour mill on Brown's creek, which
empties into the St. Croix near the head of the lake. The mill
was located above McKusick' s lake, and has been for some years
abandoned. Brown's creek originally passed through sections
18, 19, 20 and 21 to the river, but was turned in 1843 from its
natural course, and made to connect McKusick' s lake with the
St. Croix by a new channel cut through sections 28 and 29, thus

390 FIFTY YEARS
giving to Stillwater its initial advantages as a manufacturing
centre. The Washington county poor farm, consisting of 207
' acres of improved land with good buildings and other conven
iences, was located in this town in 1858.
oak park
Was platted May 27, 1857. It is situated between the city of
'¦ Stillwater and South Stillwater, with frontage on the lake. The
proprietors were John Parker, Wm. Dorr, Gold T. Curtis,
Mary Curtis, Olive A. B. Anderson, and Wm. M. McCluer. The
surveyor was A. Van Voorhes.
The township of Stillwater was organized April 3, 1860, with
the following board of officers: Moderator, Cornelius Lyman;
judges of election, H. Packard, W. T. Boutwell, D. P. Lyman;
supervisors, C. Storrs Lyman, H. Packard, Henry A. Jackman ;
clerk, Sylvanus Trask.
David P. Lyman was born in St. Lawrence county, New
York, in 1822. In 1844 he came with his parents to Marine. In
1846 he removed to his present residence in the town of Still
water. He was married to Anna J. Hannah, at Farmingdale,
Illinois, in 1850. They have five children. Mr. Lyman is an
upright, reliable citizen, and a consistent member of the Presby
terian church.
Henry A. Jackman, a native of Robbinstown, Maine, was
born July 30, 1819. He was married to Sarah Blanchard in
1848. Mr. Jackman, with his family, his father and his wife's
parents, came West in 1849 and located in Stillwater. In 1851 he
removed to his farm. He has since engaged in farming and
lumbering, and has filled several important positions. He served
as school trustee for 30 years, as county commissioner 8 years, as
warden of state prison 4 years, as state prison inspector 20
years, and was a representative in the territorial legislature of
1856, and the state legislature of 1867. Mr. Jackman's father, a
native of Brunswick, Maine, died at his son's residence in Still
water, April, 1867, aged seventy-four years. He was a man
honored for his kindness and sterling integrity. His wife, the
mother of Henry A., died in Maine in 1844. Three sons and
four daughters survive them. The children of Henry A. Jack-
man are Mary E. (Mrs. Russell Pease), James, E. and Alice
(Mrs. Wm. A, Boxwell).

in the northwest. 391
Frederic J. Curtis, a native of Ireland, was born in 1818.
Before coming to America he learned the trade of boot and shoe
making. He came to America in 1843, and spent two years in
New York City working at his trade. He also spent two years
in St. Louis and New Orleans. He came to Stillwater in 1848
and settled on his farm in section 9, where he has since lived. He
held the office of sheriff two years. He was one of the first police
of the city of Stillwater and has been town treasurer and* school
director. He was married to Bridget Fenton in 1849. Their
children are Daniel, Thomas, James, Elisabeth, Mary, Maggie,
and Ellen B.
David Cover was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylva
nia, May 22, 1826. In 1844 he came with his parents to St. Louis,
Missouri, where he became a river pilot, and engaged in lumber
ing for eight years, when he came to Stillwater, and for some
years gave his attention largely to selling logs and lumber be
tween Stillwater and St. Louis. During the years between 1860
and 1870 his business transactions were heavy, involving hun
dreds of thousands of dollars annually, and from some injudi
cious movements, due to lack of experience, resulted in dis
astrous failure. After his failure he devoted himself to farming
and fire insurance business. He was married in 1850 to Elisabeth
Harrold. They are the parents of three sons. Mr. Cover was
accidentally drowned in Lake St. Croix Sept. 14, 1884. His life
was insured for $17,000.
John Parker came from Vermont to the valley of the St.
Croix in 1848, located for a couple of years at St. Croix Falls,
and came to Oak Park, town of Stillwater, about 1850. In 1848
Mr. Parker was married to Susan, daughter of David Cpver, who
bore him three children: Edwin E., the oldest, killed by the explo
sion of the boilers of the steamer Penn Wright, near Winona;
John E., living at home with his mother, and Ella, wife of Henry
Pevey, of Stillwater. Mr. Parker was a kind hearted, genial
man. He was one of the early river pilots, and came to his
death in June, 1867, while in the performance of his duties as a
pilot. In handling a line to "snub" a raft, he was caught in its
coils and so bruised that he died.
WOODBURY,
As at present organized, includes township 28, range 21. At the
date of its organization, in 1858, it was named Red Rock, and

392 FIFTY YEARS
made to include a little over two sections of fractional township
28, range 22. This fragment eontains the famous painted rock,
now included in the town of Newport, and from this rock, famil
iarly called Red Rock, the town received its first name. The first
board of town officers consisted of John Colby, moderator; David
Little and C. Schmeiding, judges of election; John Colby, John
A. Ford, J. J. Miller, supervisors; Ebenezer Ayers, clerk.
The town held the name of Red Rock until 1859, when, by noti
fication from the legislature that another town bore the same
name, the board changed the name to Woodbury, a name given
in honor of Judge Woodbury, of New Hampshire, a particular
friend of Mr. Colby, at that time chairman of the board. The
fraction containing the painted rock was set off by order of the
board of county commissioners, meeting at Stillwater in 1861,
and added to Newport. It is said that this act did not meet with
the hearty approval of the citizens of the town.
The town was originally timbered with various species of oak.
The surface is undulating, and in the western part there are ab
rupt hills or bluffs. It is a fine agricultural town, well watered
with creeks, springs and small lakes.
The first settlers were the McHatties, Middletons, Robert Cum-
mings, John Towner, and Joseph Cooper. The first marriage
was that of John McHattie and Jane Middleton, Jan. 15, 1847.
The first child born was Sarah Middleton, afterward the wife of
Anthony Fritz, of Newport. The first death was that of Sarah
Middleton, May 4, 1849. The first traveled road in the town was
from Stillwater to St. Paul via Bissell's Mound. The first post
office was established in 1850, at Oakdale, in the northern part of
the town; G. Hartoung, postmaster. The first school was taught
in 1855 by Miss A. F. Colby. The German Methodist church
was organized in 1855; Rev. Jacob Young, pastor. The church
and parsonage are built of stone. The Salem Evangelical Lu
theran church was organized in 1865; Rev. J. W. Huffman, pas
tor. Jacob Folstrom. — The history of Jacob Folstrom reads like
a romance: He was born in Sweden June 25, 1793, and when
he was nine years of age left home as cabin boy on a steamer
commanded by his uncle. The steamer was wrecked on the coast
of England. He escaped with his Uncle to Loudon, and there
lost sight of him. What was his uncle's fate he never knew. He

IN THE NORTHWEST. 393
understood nothing of the English language, and applied to Jue
Swedish consul for aid. Lord Selkirk was then raising a com
pany of men to go to his settlement on Red river, British Amer
ica, and Selkirk, who could speak Swedish, spoke kindly to the
friendless lad, and offered to take him with him to the New World.
(He, not knowing what else to do, consented to go. After his ar
rival he found employment with the Hudson Bay Company for
a time, and subsequently came down to the Fort Snelling reser
vation. When the settlers were driven from the reservation in
1839, he made a farm in what is now Woodbury, Washington
county. At Lake Superior, in 1823, he had been married to Mar
garet Burgo, a woman of fine mind. With her limited educa
tional privileges, very few of any age or race can be found her
equal. Mr. and Mrs. Folstrom were both consistent Christians,
and members of the Methodist church for many years. He lived
a stirring, adventurous life, and, during his service as mail carrier
between Prairie du Chien and Fort Snelling, he had many hair
breadth escapes from hostile Indians. He died in July, 1859. His
wife survived him till Feb. 6, 1880.
Alexander McHattie. — At the age of sixteen Mr. McHattie
left his home and worked as a teamster and farmer for about
five years, and in 1833 came from Scotland, his native country,
to America. He lived a couple of years in Vermont, a short
time in New York, Ohio and Indiana. In 1839 he came to Ga
lena, Illinois, and migrated thence in the same year to St. Croix
Falls. He also made a short stay at Gray Cloud island; was in
Prescott in 1840; in 1841 made a home in Afton, and in 1845 at
Woodbury. He married Margaret Middleton in 1848.
John McHattie. — John, the oldest brother of Alexander
McHattie, came from Scotland to this country in 1833, and
settled in Woodbury in 1841. He was married in 1846 to Jane
Middleton. The Middleton Family. — James Middleton, Sr., with his
wife, three sons, William, Samuel, and James, and five daugh
ters, came to this country from Ireland. William, the oldest,
inspired by filial duty, came first, it being his ambition to
secure for his parents a home on American soil. He was not of
age when, in 1838, he left Ireland, full of hope and enthusiasm
for his project.. He found his way to St. Louis in 1842, and
came thence with Hungerford & Livingston to St. Croix Falls.

394 FIFTY YEARS
He remained with them two years and then, removing further
south, made a claim on unsurveyed government land in what is
now the town of Woodbury. During the succeeding year, 1845,
he and his brother Samuel worked for John McKusick, and
by diligence and self denial succeeded in earning enough to pay
' the passage of his father and his family to the United States, and
to bring them to their claim on the prairie. It was a joyful day
when the parents arrived, and since then the united family have
their home at and near the selected homestead, a model family
in their unity of purpose and affectionate regard for each other.
William visited California. He died at his home in 1855. Samuel
enlisted and did gallant service in the Union Ariffy during the
late Civil War as a member of Company E, Tenth Minnesota
Volunteers, and died in the hospital at Memphis, Feb. 29, 1865.
James, a younger brother, was born in 1833. He made a claim
near that of his brother, and is prominent in the community in
which he lives. He was sergeant-at-arms in the legislature, a
member of the house in 1876, and seryed five years in Washing
ton county as county commissioner. Mr. Middleton removed
to St. Paul in 1880, where he now resides. The father died in
1854, the mother in 1876.
Newington Gilbert was born in Onondaga county, New York,
Feb. 17, 1815. Mr. Gilbert settled in Woodbury in 1851. In
company with Mr. Buswell he built the North Star flouring
mill in 1860. He operated this mill eleven years. Mr. Gilbert
was a member of the Democratic wing of the constitutional con
vention in 1857. He was married toCelestia Bangs in 1860. They
have two children.
Ebenezer Ayers was born in Herkimer county, New York.
His early life was devoted to hard labor, still such was his zeal
for study and the acquisition of general knowledge, that he man
aged to acquire a very respectable and thorough education. In
1856 he came with his parents to Fort Wayne. He commenced
teaching school soon after and taught eight years. In 1844 he
removed to Shelby county, Kentucky. He was married in 1846
to Lucy Connelly, of Shelby county. He removed to Buffalo,
New York, in 1850, and sold goods until the spring of 1854,
when he located in Woodbury and engaged in farming. He was
a man of energy, and possessed of great will power. He took a
deep interest in town and county affairs, and served as town

IN THE NORTHWEST. 395
clerk in Woodbury eleven years. He was a representative in
the Minnesota state legislature in 1867 and 1872, and while in
that capacity proved himself a ready debater. He had natural
ability as an organizer. He was an active member of the Green
back party, and was rigidly opposed to monopolies. He died in
1883. ?

396 FIFTY YEARS

OHAPTEE XV.

WASHINGTON COUNTY — CONTDNUED.

CITY OF STILLWATER.
The organization of the territory of Minnesota in 1849 natur
ally gave a new impetus to settlement, and marked an era in the
progress of the settlements already made. None profited more by
the new order of things than did Stillwater. The future metropolis
of the St. Croix valley, though yet unorganized even as a village,
and governed by town and county law, in 1850 presented a scene
of unwonted activity. Out of nearly a hundred arrivals we find
the names of John C. Gardiner, Samuel M. Register, H. C. Van
Voorhees, John N. Ahl, Ralph Wheeler, Dr. E. G. Pugsley, Dr.
Morey, dentist, and Theodore E. Parker, a lawyer. t This year
was rendered notable by the establishment of a livery stable, by
Holcomb & Johnson, a new store by Burkelo & Mower, a bakery
by R. Hersey, by the building of the second saw mill by Sawyer
& Heaton, by the commencement of Remmick's brewery, by the
advent of Antonio Brothers' circus, and the occurrence of a re
markable freshet, on which occasion the steamer Lamartine,
taking advantage of the high water, made a pleasure excursion .
up the river, and over the shallows at the mouth of Apple river
and a short distance up that stream. Morton Wilkinson and
Michael Ames were amongst the excursionists, and, looking out
from the steamboat upon the broad, deep expanse of the swollen
river, congratulated their fellow passengers upon the discovery
of a hitherto unknown navigable stream, tributary to the majes
tic St. Croix. The Swiss Bell Ringers were on board, and added
greatly to the pleasure of the occasion by their weird and pecu
liar music. The Lamartine, on returning to Stillwater, found

IN THE NORTHWEST. 397
the shores and levees "submerged, and passing over them landed
her passengers directly from the boat upon the floor of the Min
nesota House, on the southwest corner of Chestnut and Main.
The water was four or five feet deep in the street before the
hotel. The streets in the lower part of the city have since been
raised several feet, so that a flood of the same dimensions would
not overflow them as it did then. There has, however, in the
memory of the oldest inhabitant, been no other flood equal to
that of 1850.
Allusion has been made in the history of Stillwater town to
the diversion of the waters of McKusick' s lake by a new outlet
to the river. This device, so beneficial to the city of Stillwater
in other respects, came near resulting in disaster. The old out
let of the lake had been obstructed by a dam, while the waters
were conducted by a new outlet down a deep ravine and con
fined to their channel by dikes consisting of a mixture of clay,
sand and gravel. This extended to within six hundred feet of
the mill on the lake shore. On May 14, 1852, during a terrible
storm, the dam at the new outlet gave way and a tremendous
body of water, carrying with it the debris of dikes and dams;
rushed tumultuously down the ravine, covering the low shores
of the lake beneath, and depositing a new geological stratum of
drift over a surface of at least six acres to an average depth of
about ten feet. It was wittily said at the time that suph an ex
traordinary movement in real estate had never before been
inown; but, although a downward movement, that seemed very
much like ruin to all concerned, especially to the mill, the ma
chinery of which was completely buried, it nevertheless heralded
-a rise in prices. Quagmires were filled, unsightly obstructions
buried or swept away and a fine plateau for buildings was formed
along the lake.
The dam was replaced and greatly strengthened, and the water
was conducted through pipes and hydrants to the city. Occa
sionally, for years afterward, the diggers of cellars or cisterns in
the buried region would unearth interesting antediluvian relics.
Three barrels of pork were exhumed from the cellar of Mc-
Kusick's store, and found in a good state p/ preservation. Some
years later remains of a far more ancient character were also
unearthed near the corner of Third and Myrtle streets. The tusk
of a mastodon was brought up from a depth of thirty-six feet
below the surface.

398 FIFTY YEARS

CITY GOVERNMENT.

Stillwater was incorporated as a city in 1854. The following
officers were elected on the first Monday in April of that year:
Mayor, John McKusick; recorder, C. D. Gilfillan; treasurer, W.
H. Mower; Councilmen, J. C. York, J. N. Masterman, C. Carli.
We append a list of mayors from 185«4 to the present time: John
McKusick, 1854; John Fisher, 1855; Wm. Willim, 1856-66^7;
Albert Stinson, 1857; A. B. Gorgas, 1858; T. M. Fullerton, 1859;
Mahlon Black, 1860-61; F. R. Delano, 1862; David Bronson, 1863
-64; Wm. Grover, 1865; C. J. Butler, 1868; Wm. Holcombe,
1869-70; Wm. McKusick, 1871-72; A. K. Doe, 1873; Wm. G.
Bronson, 1874-75-76; E. W. Durant, 1877; John S. Proctor, 1878
-79-80; Samuel Mathews, 1881-82-83-84; Hollis R. Murdock,
1885; Isaac Staples, 1886; George M. Seymour, 1887-88,
CITY MARSHALS.
The following is a complete list of city marshals since 1854:
Jonathan E. McKusick, 1854; John Parker, 1855; John Cilly,
1856; Dennis Sullivan, 1857; Robert Hasty, 1858; Thomas Sin
clair, 1859; Duncan Chisholm, 1860-61-62-63; John Shortall,
1864-65; John May, 1866, six months; P. E. Keefe, 1867;
John May, 1868, six months; John Shortall, 1869; H. Mclntyre,
1870; Duncan Chisholm, 1871; John Lyons, 1872-3, eighteen
months; Mathew Shortall, 1873, and continuously to the present
time. Mr. Shortall' s long term of office proves him an effective
and popular officer. F. L. McKusick is police court officer. He
is a veteran of the police force and has acquitted himself to the
satisfaction of the people of Stillwater.
THE POST OFFICE,
Established in 1845, was located first at the corner of Main
and Chestnut streets. The first postmaster was Elam Greely.
His successors were John McKusick, John S. Proctor, Hariey D.
Curtis, Mahlon Black, Abraham Van Voorhes, H. D. Cutler, E.
J. Butts, and — McCarthy. During 1845 a citizens' mail was
brought from Point Douglas. Its regularity depended some
what on the season. During the winter it was brought some
times as infrequently as once a month. In 1846 a government
line was established from Point Douglas, and the mail was
brought with greater regularity. In 1848 a mail coach line was
established between Stillwater and St. Paul. The year follow-

IN THE NORTHWEST. 399
ing a weekly mail was established. The rapid increase of settle
ments on the Upper Mississippi created a demand for more
frequent mails; consequently from 1850 to the completion of the
railroad leading into Stillwater, a daily mail was brought into
Stillwater during the summer by steamboats, and by the Wis
consin overland route during the winter.
$ RAPID GROWTH.
As an evidence of the growth of the city we append post office
statistics of salaries, expenses and income for the year 1885:
RECEIPTS.
Sales of postage stamps, envelopes, newspaper wrap
pers, postal cards, etc  $12,693' 34
Box rent received  2 166 25
Total  $14,859 59
EXPENSES.
Postmaster's salary  $2,400 00
Expenses for rent, fuel, lights, clerk hire, etc  3,300 00 $5,700 00
Net income  $9,159 59
MONEY ORDER BUSINESS.
Received for domestic orders  $30,305 62
Received for fees on same  131 50
Received for international orders  1,518 81
Received for fees on same  :  24 95
$31,980 88
Money orders paid  $24,140 88
Certificates of deposit  7,840 00 $31,980 88
REGISTRY BUSINESS. •
Domestic and foreign letters and packages registered  1,621
Registered matter in transit  2,327
Total pieces handled  3,948
Number of pouches dispatched daily  24
Number of pouches dispatched semi-weekly  2
Number of pouches received daily...  ,  24
Number of pouches received semi-weekly  2
HOTELS.
The following hotels were built in Stillwater prior to 1850:
Northrup House, built by Anson Northrup, northwest corner Main street
and Nelson alley, 1844.

400 » FIFTY YEARS
Stillwater House, built by Anson Northrup, lot 2, Main street, 1845.
Minnesota House, built by Elam Greeley, southwest corner Main and
Myrtle, 1846.
Lake House, built by John W. Brewster, east side of Main street between
Nelson and Chestnut, 1849.
Of the hotels built subsequently to 1850, the most popular and
well known is the Sawyer House, on the northwest corner of
Ghestnut and Third streets. It was built in 1857, by Henry Sa
yer, opened by G. E. B. Whitcher, and kept in succession by"
and A. Lowell, Isaac Staples, A. Lowell and A. K. Doe. The
other hotels built during this period were the Liberty House, by
J6hn N. Ahl, 1856; Farmers Home, 1867; Williams House,
1870; Wexio Hotel, 1870; the Keystone House. 1872; the Man
sion House, 1872; Central House, 1879; Elliott's Hotel, 1883.
CITY BANKS.
To Christopher Carli is due the honor of conducting the first
banking operations in Stillwater. In 1855 he issued and re
deemed fractional currency. Darling, Caswell & Scheffer, Jan.
27, 1857, opened a private banking house, and from 1859 to 1865
operated it as a state bank, when it was changed into the
FIRST NATIONAL BANK
of Stillwater. The capital stock was $50,000. The first officers
were: Charles Scheffer, president; O. R. Ellis, cashier. The of
ficers in 1886 were: Louis Hospes, president; C. N. Nelson, vice
president; F. M. Prince, cashier. The capital stock is $250,000.
The gross amount of debits and credits during the year closing
June 3, 1886, were $20,000,000. We append the annual i report
of 1886: RESOURCES.
Loans and discounts  $727,286 70
Overdrafts  1,745 82
United States bonds to secure circulation  50, 000 00
Dae from approved reserve agents  $30,999 72
Due from other national banks  4,266 85
Due from state banks and bankers  3,491 48 38,758 05
Real estate, furniture and fixtures  12, 000 00
Current expenses and taxes paid  11,108 56
Premiums paid  9,000 00
Checks and other cash items  ;  1,662 91
Bills of other banks  1,295 00

IN THE NORTHWEST. , 401
Fractional paper currency, nickels and pennies  77 07
Specie  33,392 00
Legal tender notes  17,440 00 53,866 98
Redemption fund with United States treasurer (five
per cent of circulation)  2,250 00
Total  $906,016 11
LIABILITIES.
Capital stock paid in  $250,000 00
Surplus fund  60,000 00
Undivided profits  . 25,617 60
National'bank notes outstanding  ,„  45,000 00
Dividends unpaid  20 00
Individual deposits subject to check  $236,095 72
Demand certificates of deposit  6,305 93
Time certificates of deposit  224,223 41
Cashier's checks outstanding  679 95
, Due to other national banks  3,507 67
Due to state banks and bankers  '  5,266 78 476"',079 46
Notes and bills rediscounted  49,299 05
Total  $906,016 11
LUMBERMAN'S NATIO->-#.L BANK,
Organized Jan. 10, 1871. Capital stock, $150,000. First of
ficers: Isaac Staples, president; H. W. Cannon, cashier. In 1886
the bank had in capital stock $250,000 and a surplus of $50,000.
The present officers are: President, Isaac Staples; vice presi-
, dent, R. F. Hersey; board of directors, Isaac Staples, R. F. Her-
sey, E. S. Edgerton, David Tozer, E. W. Durant, David Bronson,
J. McKusick, Matt Clark, Wm. G. Bronson, E. L. Hersey, R. S.
Davis. . STILLWATER SAVINGS BANK,
Organized Jan. 10, 1873, under an act of the legislature of
1867, with the following board of trustees: Isaac Staple's, presi
dent; David Bronson, D wight M. Sabin, Lewis E. Torinus,
Wm. Willim, I. E. Staples, and H. W. Cannon.
ST. CROIX LUMBERMEN'S BOARD OF TRADE
Was incorporated March 8, 1867. The first officers were: Presi
dent, David Cover; vice president, Louis Hospes; secretary, E.
W. Durant; treasurer, David Bronson, Jr. ; surveyor, Ivory E.
McKusick. 26

402 FIFTY YEARS
STILLWATER BOARD OF TRADE.
The board was organized in January, 1871. The first officers
were: President, David Bronson; vice president, C. J. Butler;
secretary, D. W. Armstrong; treasurer, C. N. Nelson; board of
directors, John McKusick, Isaac Staples, J. E. Schlenk, J.
O'Shaughnessy, M. Moffatt, E. W. Durant, J. N. Castle, B. G.
Merry, G. M. Seymour, L. E. Torinus.
STILLWATER WATER COMPANY.
The site of the city abounds in beautiful springs. Charles
Hathaway, while excavating on his lot near Third street, struck
a large vein capable of supplying 1,000 barrels per day. He con
structed a reservoir with an elevation of about fifty feet above
the street, and from this source supplies the city with water for
sprinkling streets and other purposes.
The Stillwater Water Company was organized April 15, 1880,
with a capital stock of $100,000, and commenced at once the
work of improvement. This company has never yet declared a
dividend, having applied all its surplus earnings upon improve
ments. They have now 8 J niiles of water mains, 88 hydrants and
about 260 taps. The water supply is obtained from Lake Mc
Kusick, which is supplied from Brown's creek. The lake is 155
feet above the business portion of the city and is about a mile
distant from the same. The water is pumped into a reservoir
on the highest spot of ground in the city, which is 110 feet above
the lake. The system is similar to that of St. Paul, the city
being supplied in part by gravitation, and in part by direct
pressure. The elevation of the reservoir results in a saving to
the city in the matter of fire engines, etc. Any fire in the busi
ness part of the city can be extinguished with the use of hose
alone. One fire engine answers the purposes of the city. The
first board Of officers were: President, Edward Durant; vice
president, R. F. Hersey; secretary and treasurer, H. W. Cannon.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Futile efforts had been made as early as 1859 for the organiza
tion of a fire department. In 1872 a fire company of sixty was
organized and an engine worth $7,500 was purchased. The first
officers of the company were: Chief engineer, David Bronson;
first assistant, B. G. Merry; second assistant, H. P. West; ea

IN THE NORTHWEST. 403
gineer, C. C. Johnson; secretary, N. T. Lee; treasurer, Fayette
Marsh. THE ST. CROIX HOOK AND LADDER COMPANY
Was organized in 1872, by the election of the following officers:
Foreman, Charles McMillan; assistant, D. B. Loomis; secretary
and treasurer, A. K. Doe. The company has received awards of
honor for meritorious performance of duty.
STILLWATER GASLIGHT COMPANY.
This company was organized May 12, 1874, with a capital stock
of $25,000 and the exclusive right to the sale and manufacture
of gas for a period of forty years. Their buildings are located
on Third street. The first officers were: President, Isaac Staples;
manager, H. W. Camion; board of directors, John McKusick,
t). M. Sabin, Isaac Staples, David Bronson, L. E. Torinus, H.
W. Cannon, C. H. Nasb. TELEGRAPH OFFICE.
In 1863 a telegraph office was located in Stillwater by a A.
C. Lull, and a line extended to St. Paul. The office is on Main
street between Chestnut and Myrtle.
THE NATIONAL BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY
Established a line from Stillwater to St. Paul in January, 1880.
It has a branch to Marine.
UNION ELEVATOR COMPANY
Built an elevator near the Stillwater & White Bear depot in
1870-71. It has a capacity of 300,000 bushels. The officers are:
President, Louis Hospes; secretary and treasurer, H. W. Cannon.
EXPRESS COMPANIES.
The first office was established by the Northwestern Express
Company, in 1855; Short, Proctor & Co. were agents. This com*
pany was succeeded in 1858 by the American, and in 1869 the
United States also established an office here.
THE STILLWATER BRIDGE.
A charter was obtained from the legislature in 1875 to build a
bridge across Lake St. Croix, from Stillwater to Houlton. The

404 FIFTY YEARS
bridge was completed the ensuing year at a cost of $24,000. It
is 1,500 feet long, and is furnished with a pontoon draw 300 feet
in length, operated by an engine.
LUMBERING INTERSTS.
Stillwater is the metropolis of the lumbering interests of the
St. Croix valley, and is indebted to them chiefly for its welfare.
These are considered separately in other parts of this history.
The local interests are centred chiefly in mills and manufactories,
of themselves an important element iu the prosperity of the city.
The principal proprietors of the saw mills since the first settle
ment of Stillwater have been McKusick <^Co., Sawyer & Heaton,
McHale & Co., Schulenberg & Co., Hersey, Staples & Co., Her
sey, Bean & Brown, Isaac Staples, Seymour, Sabin & Co., Her
schey Lumbering Company and Turnbull Lumbering Company.
FLOURING MILLS.
In 1872 J. H. Townshend and W. F. Cahill erected a flouring
mill on Third street. It was run by water brought from Mc
Kusick creek, the motive power being an overshot wheel forty-
five feet in diameter. In 1880 D. M. Sabin became interested in
the firm. The capacity of the mill was increased from fifty to
three hundred barrels per clay. A Corliss engine and other im
provements were added, and the mill was run on the Hungarian
roller system. The firm name was changed to Townshend & Co.
The St. Croix flouring mill was built in 1877, on Upper Main
street, near the lake, by Isaac Staples. Its dimensions were 40x50
feet. Its capacty was two hundred and fifty barrels per day. It
was removed to make way for the buildings of the Car Company.
The Stillwater Flour Mill Company was organized under state
laws in 1878, and mills were erected on the lower levee, 50x70
feet, ground plan, and five stories high. These mills were run on
the Hungarian roller system. The cost was $100,000. Their ca
pacity is four hundred barrels p^r day. The- motive power is a
Corliss engine of one hundred and seventy-five horse power.
The principal owners are R. F. Hersey, Smith Ellison, D. M.
Sabin and L. Hospes. MANUFACTORIES
Swain's machine shop, D. M. Swain, proprietor, was estab
lished in 1873, on Third street between Myrtle and Chestnut. Geo.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 405
Swain established a foundry on Third street in 1874. His
manufactures consist chiefly of engines, mill machinery and
farm utensils. The St. Croix Iron Works, Door, Sash and Blind
Factory, established originally as a machine shop in 1865, on
the river bank, near the Chicago & Omaha round house, has
been owned by various parties. A foundry was added in 1874,
and in 1878 Isaac Staples added a sash and blind factory.
CARRIAGE MANUFACTORIES.
Richard Daw established the Novelty Carriage Works in
1875, one door east of the Sawyer House.
D. J. Sullivan established the Stillwater Carriage Works in
1878, one door east of the Sawyer House, but afterward removed
to a better location on Second street.
Wm. Miller erected the Pioneer Carriage Manufactory in
1866, on Main street.
Albeit Saeker in 1872 established a wagon shop on Secpud
street between Myrtle and Chestnut.
Frederick Steinacker commenced the manufacture of brick in
1859, in a yard located in Ramsey & Carter's addition, but after
ward removed to the lower end of Sunfish lake.
It is claimed that Herman Tepass' brewery is the outgrowth of
the first in the county, if not in the State, a still having been
located at the corner of Third and Chestnut streets in 1851. The
present site is on Lower Main street. Joseph Wolff's brewery is
located on the corner of Main and Nelson streets, and was estab
lished in 1868.
Heitman & Becker established a bakery in J 879. Messrs.
Muller Brothers established a boat factory in 1873. A vinegar
factory was commenced by Ciopac & Tuor in 1875, and is con
tinued by the latter. Of the several livery stables in Stillwater
the first was established by C. A. Bromley in 1853.
The Stillwater Building Association, organized under the
laws of the State, March 23, 1887, has done much for the pros
perity of the city, affording as it does to persons of limited capi
tal an opportunity of building suitable homes and business
houses. Private enterprise has done much in the erection of
substantial blocks for business purposes. Henry Sawyer, in 1856,
built the first stone block in the city. It is located on Main
street. Other fine blocks were built by McComb, Eldridge,

406 FIFTY YEARS
Bernheimer, Elam Greely, Wm. Holcombe. Schlenk, L. E. To
rinus, Hersey & Staples, McKusick, and others. Many of these
blocks are fireproof and built of stone, and are fine specimens of
architecture, convenient and commodious.
CHURCH SOCIETIES AND BUILDINGS.
Stillwater has sixteen church organizations and fifteen build:
ings, the latter having a total valuation of $315,000.
The Ascension church (Episcopal) originated in the labors of
Rev. E. A. Greenleaf, in 1846; The corner stone of the first
building was laid iu 1851. Rev. Joseph A. Russell was the first
rector. In 1873 the corner stone of the present edifice was laid
by Bishop Welles of Wisconsin. This building cost $10,000, and
was burned in 1886 and rebuilt in 1887.
The First Presbyterian church grew out of the missionary la
bors of Rev. W. T. Boutwell, in 1S47 and 1848. The church was
organized in 1849 ; Rev. J. S. Whitney, pastor. The first build
ing was erected iu 1851, and the second, the armory, in 1857.
The present edifice, located on the corner of Myrtle and Third,
was built in 1884, at a cost of $22,000, and the total value of
building and ground is $30,000.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Dates its beginning from a sbciety formed by Rev. James Har
rington in 1850. It was organized regularly in 1853 by Rev. T.
M. Fullerton. The first house of worship was a small frame on
Myrtle street, between Second and Third streets. It was enlarged
and improved in 1862. The present edifice ou Third street near
Myrtle, with the parsonage adjoining, cost about $4,200. The
church has a membership of two hundred.
ST. MICHAEL'S (CATHOLIC) CHURCH
Was organized in 1853, the first services being held by Rev.
Father Peyragrosse, a missionary. The first edifice was built
on Fourth and Mulberry streets, and Rev. Father Fisher was
the first clergyman in charge. The building was enlarged and
improved in 1857. The present commodious edifice was com
menced in 1872 and dedicated in 1875. The church property,
including the school parish buildings and cemetery of twelve
acres in South Stillwater, is worth $130,000. There are now two
resident clergymen, Revs. Murphy and Gaughan.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 407
ST. MARY'S (CATHOLIC) CHURCH,
Rev. P. Alphonse Krusle, pastor, was organized in 1865, and
owns a church building on Fifth street, near Pine, valued at
$25,000. The total value of church and parish buildings, and of
the six lots on which they are located, amounts to $55,000.
THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH
Society was incorporated June 6, 1868, and the first preaching
was by Rev. E. A. Hodsdon, of St. Anthony. The edifice is on
Third street South; cost about $15,000.
SWEDISH LUTHERAN.
The society was organized in 1871; the church building was
erected in 1882-83, at a cost of $15,000. The pastor is Rev. A.
F. Tornell. . THE FIRST GERMAN LUTHERAN
Church was organized in 1871. The church building and parson
age are on Third street, near Olive, and are valued at $4,500.
The pastor is Rev. J. J. Weiss.
THE NORWEGIAN LUTHERAN
, Society uses the German Lutheran church buildings, corner of
Olive and Fourth streets. THE GERMAN METHODIST
Congregation worships in a frame building, corner of Linden and
Everett streets. THE SALEM GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH
Was formed by the withdrawal of a part of the members of the
First German Lutheran church for separate worship. The
Swedish church and school, on the corner of Olive and Fourth
streets, were purchased for $2,150. To this a parsonage was
added at a cost of $2, 150. Rev. L. F. Frey is the pastor.
THE DANISH LUTHERAN CHURCH
Has a cosy frame edifice on Laurel, between Williams and
Owen, but is not holding services at present. The edifice cost
#7,000 and the membership is one hundred and fifty.

408 FIFTY YEARS
SWEDISH CONGREGATIONAL.
The Swedish Congregational church occupies a frame building
on Fourth street, between Hickory and Elm streets, which cost
$2,000 and has sixty members.
THE ST. JOSEPH'S (CATHOLIC) CHURCH
Was organized by the present pastor, Rev. Father E. Roe, in
1882, with seventeen members, which has since been increased
to eighty families. A frame edifice was erected in 1884, with a
seating capacity of four hundred, costing ab»ut $8,000, corner
of Olive and Greely streets. The church property consists of
the edifice and the priest's house, and cost $11,000.
THE SWEDISH METHODIST CHURCH
Was organized in 1880 by Rev. C. S. Carlander. The church
building is located on Myrtle and Fourth streets, and cost $2,000.
THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
Has a membership of seventy-five and a frame building erected
in 1872 at a cost of $1,200. PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The court house and other public buildings of the city are
creditable specimens of architecture, rooms convenient and well
adapted to the purposes of their construction. The present
court house building is the third erected. Its cost, including
that of the jail buildings, the wall around them and other im
provements, has been something over $75,000. The city hall, at
the corner of Myrtle and Third streets, is a substantial and con
venient building. It contains also room for the city officers.
The public school buildings have kept pace with the growth of
the city. In the summer of 18S7 the city erected a high school
building at a cost of $60,000. The engine house is a good build
ing, centrally located. An elegant union depot was built in
1887, of brown stone from the Apostle islands, at a cost of
$30,000.
¦ The Opera House. — The opera house occupies the site of
the old Lake House, on Main street between Nelson and Chest
nut streets. It was commenced in 1880 and finished in 1881, un-

IN THE NORTHWEST. 409
der the supervision of L. W. Eldred, architect. Its size is 90
xl20 feet, ground plan, and four stories in height, or seventy-
one feet from lower floor to cornice. The style of architecture
is a blending of the Queen Anne, Victoria and Gothic. The en
trance to the upper part of the building is by a stairway twelve
feet wide, iu a lofty, ornamental turret. The auditorium is 64
xl20 feet, and beautifully and elaborately finished and fur
nished, and is capable of seating over 1,200 persons. It is well
lighted, being supplied with 130 gas jets, warmed by steam, and
well ventilated. The stage is 39x61 feet, complete in all its
appointments, and supplied with all the necessary stage scenery,
wings, border bridge, balcony, interior and other decorations.
The ceiling of the auditorium is superbly frescoed and the cor
nice is adorned with medallions of Shakespeare, Haydn, Schiller,
Goethe, Dickens, Handel, Scott, Longfellow, Mozart, Tennyson,
and Beethoven. The parts of the building not occupied for stage
purposes are appropriated to halls, offices and stores.
SOCIETIES AND ASSOCIATIONS.
I. O. O. F.— Lodge No. 1, 'organized June, 1849; Stillwater
Lodge, No. 51, organized January, 1876.
Masonic.; — St. John's Lodge No. 1, organized 1849 ; Washing
ton, Royal Arch Chapter, No. 17, organized March, 1868; Bay
ard Commandery, K. T., No. 11, organized March, 1878.
Knights of Pythias. — Stillwater Lodge, No. 7, organized No
vember, 1872.
A. O. U. W.— St. Croix Lodge, No. 11, organized July, 1876.
Sons of Herman.— Stillwater Lodge, No. 3, organized Janu
ary, 1876; Concordia Lodge, No. 19, organized January, 1881.
Temperance Societies. — I. O. G. T. Lodge of Stillwater, or
ganized in 1859; L'Etoile du Nord Lodge, No. 57, organized
May, 1866; Temple of Honor, No. 10, organized September,
1876; Father Matthew Temperance Society, organized November,
1872. Miscellaneous. — St. Ann's Society, organized November, 1866;
St. Vincent de Paul Conference, organized October, J 870; St.
Joseph Benevolent Society, organized November, 1879; Y. M. C.
A., organized in 1878; Washington Counry Bible Society, or
ganized in 1851; Northwestern Benefit Soci-ty, No. 1, organized
in 1879; Subordinate Union Penn Equitable Association, No.

410 FIFTY YEARS
165, organized in 1880; Stillwater City Hospital, organized
March, 1880; Stillwater Mannerchoir, organized in 1S75; the
Stillwater Turnverein, organized in 1859; G. A. R., Stillwater
Post, No. 13, organized March, 1868.
CEMETERIES.
The first burial ground was selected in 1846. Ten years
later, by a survey of the city, these grounds were included in
what is now known as block 3. These grounds were used until
the organization of the Fairview Cemetery Association in
1867, when the bodies were removed to the new cemetery
in the burial ground in South Stillwater. Fairview cemetery is
beautifully located on undulating or hilly ground and is adorned
with shrubbery and made attractive by the hand of art. Its lo-
. cation is within the city limits, near the corner of Orleans and
Fourth streets. WASHINGTON COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
An attempt was made at organization in 1856, but it proved
premature. The present society was organized in February,
1871, at Cottage Grove, and incorporated the same year. The
first board of officers consisted of J. W. Furber, president; J.
S. Norris, vice president; T. Elwell, secretary, and James Mid
dleton, treasurer. In 1873 the fair grounds were established
near Stillwater, under the joint control of the Agricultural
Society and the Driving Park Association. In 1875 the fair
grounds were established at Lake Elmo. But one fair had been
held there when a cyclone struck the grounds and swept away all
the improvements. The society again effected an arrangement
by which their fairs were held on the grounds near Stillwater.
MINNESOTA STATE PRISON.
At the organization of Minnesota Territory Congress appro
priated $5,000 for a territorial prison. The legislature expended
the money thus appropriated in building a prison at Stillwater.
The site was located by a commission appointed by the legis
lature in 1849, consisting of John McKusick, E. A. C. Hatch
and Lewis Robert. The commission was also authorized to lo
cate the Territorial University and select a site in St. Paul for
the capitol. Their task was not completed until the ensuing

IN THE NORTHWEST. 411
year. Their selection of a location for the university and of
a site for the capitol were satisfactory, but it was generally con
ceded that the site for the prison was badly chosen. The ground,
nine acres, was mostly quagmire, and was, moreover, crowded
in a ravine between high bluffs. However, it was convenient to
the lake and steamboat landing, and was well watered with pure
spring water.
In 1851 Jesse Taylor, F. R. Delano, Martin Mower, J. E. Mc
Kusick, and Jacob Fisher entered into contract with the com
missioners, under the firm name of Jesse. Taylor & Co., to
build one stone wing of the prison building, to be inclosed with
a stone wall. The dimensions of the wing were 30x40 feet and
three stories high. In 1853 an addition was built, and Francis
R. Delano was appointed warden. Until 1858 the expenditure
of the public money used in building and other expenses was
under the control of the warden. Under state rule the warden
was relieved of this burden of responsibility. The legislature
had provided that prisoners might be received in the peniten
tiary not yet convicted of crime, on condition that their board
should be defrayed by the counties from which they were sent. '
When this expense was not promptly met by the counties the
prisoners thus held were set at liberty. The Washington county
grand jury investigated the matter and memorialized the ensu
ing legislature, which effected a change in the laws regarding
such commitments. Wings were added to the prison, walls were
built, shops and other accessories added from year to year, and
appropriations were made from time to time. In 1870 an appro
priation of $74,000 was made for extending the building. Out
side companies were permitted to build shops and manufactories
within the prison limits that they might avail themselves of con
vict labor.
The following are the wardens who have served since the prison
was built: Territorial, F. R Delano; state government: Francis
O. J. Smith, appointed March 4, 1858; Henry N. Setzer, Aug. 4,
1858; John S. Proctor, Jan. 1, 1860; Joshua L. Taylor, Feb. 16,
1868; A. C. Webber, March 16, 1870; Henry A. Jackman, Oct.
10, 1870; John A. Reid, Aug. 3, 1874; H. G. Stordock, 1887.

412

FIFTY YEARS

The following table shows the number of convicts each year
up to the present time:

1853 

.... 0

1862 

.... 7

1871 

 60

1879 

254

1854 

.... 2

1863 

.... 8

1872 

 59

1880 

254-

1855 

.... 8

1864 

.... 7

1873 

 64

1881 

247'

1856 

1

1865 
1866
1867 

.... 11
.... 29
.... 36

1874 
1875 

... 93
 96

1882 
1883 
1S84 

97q.

1857 

0
.... 2

S01

1858 

1876 

 90

356

1859 

.... 5

1868 

.... 31

1877 

 ]'45

1885 

395-

1860 

.... 16

1869 

.... 47

1878 

 218

1886, Mar. 31

416

1861

12

1870

..,. 39

The prison on the whole has been well and humanely managed.
There have been occasional outbreaks, easily suppressed, or cases
-of individual insubordination, two or three with fatal results to
the insubordinates.
The prison buildings have been several times visited by dam
aging and disastrous fires. The most serious were in 1884. The
first occurred January 8th, by which the large workshop and
machinery owned by the State and the Northwestern Car Com
pany were destroyed. The second occurred January 26th, and
destroyed the main prison buildings, including the cells, from
which the prisoners were rescued with the greatest difficulty.
One perished of suffocation. On this occasion guards, prison
officials and some of the convicts displayed heroism worthy of
the highest commendation. The convicts on the whole behaved
well. Mr. Reid, the warden of the prison, behaved with great
coolness and decision, and so averted what might have been a
fearful disaster. FIRES.
Stillwater has suffered occasionally from fires. The first house
burned was the McKusick boarding house, in 1846. The North
rup Hotel was burned in 1847. In 1866 a fire occurred on the
west side of Main street, between Myrtle and Chestnut, in which
twelve buildings were burned, principally frame structures. In
1872 the Lake House and four adjacent buildings were burned.
The Schulenburg mill was burned in 1878. Two great fires
O-CL-

IN THE NORTHWEST. 413
¦occurred in the penitentiary in 1884. The Episcopal church
building and the mills of Hersey & Bean were burned in 1887.
Numerous smaller fires occurred at intervals, but owing to the
efficiency of the fire companies they were easily suppressed.
BONDS AND INDEBTEDNESS. \
Up to 1886 the bonded indebtedness df the city has aggregated
the sum of $345,000. The bonds were issued at various times
for railway and levee improvements, city bridge, city buildings,
water works and current funds. The interest on these bonds has
always been promptly met, and the expenditures for improve
ments have been more than repaid to the taxpayers by the in
creased valuation of property within the eity limits.
Isaac Staples, son of Rev. Winslow Staples, was born in
Topsham, Maine, Sept. 25, 1816. At eighteen years of age he
bought his time of his father for three hundred and sixty dol
lars. He found employment on the Penobscot river at lumber
ing for two years, when he engaged in selling goods at Old
Town, but soon after went into the lumbering business with S.
F. Hersey. In 1849 Mr. Staples was appointed agent for the
Penobscot Indians living at Old Town, twelve miles above
Bangor, on the Penobscot. , In October, 1853, Mr. Staples came
to Minnesota for the purpose of purchasing pine lands, and
located at Stillwater, moving his family here in 1854. Mr.
Staphs represented a wealthy company, composed of himself,
S. F. Hersey and some Massachusetts men, who furnished all
the money needed to buy pine land or make any other invest
ments deemed advisable. They, through the agency of Mr.
Staples, purchased immense quantities of pine timber. They
built a large saw mill in Stillwater, and dealt in any and all
branches of business considered remunerative. The advent of
Isaac Staples in Stillwater gave to the city new life. Mr. Staples
was indefatigable in his labors, full of vigor and in prime health.
His ambition was unlimited, his judgment good. Backed up
by a successful lumbering experience in Maine, and with money
sufficient to meet all necessary calls, he was financially progress
ive and prosperous. In after years Messrs. Staples & Hersey
purchased the entire interest of the firm of Hersey, Staples &
Go. Subsequently the firm changed to Hersey & Staples and Her
sey, Staples & Bean, and finally a division of property was agreed

414 FIFTY YEARS
upon. Since the divisou Mr. Staples has been just as extensive
ly engaged in the name of Isaac Staples in doing business as at
any period in his p;ist life.
, In 1887 Mr. Staples purchased the property of the Cushing
Company, located at St.' Croix and Taylor's Falls, for $50,000.
This property has long been in litigation and consequently has
been unimproved. The advent of Mr. Staples, as proprietor,
opens a new era in the history of the two villages at the head of
navigation on the St. Croix.
In addition to his lumbering and real estate interests, Mr.
Staples has also engaged in farming and stock raising on an ex
tensive scale. He owns one farm of six hundred and forty acres
within the limits of Stillwater. This farm is well stocked and
supplied with stores, barns, shops and other buildings. It is
used as a stock farm, and as a headquarters for supplying his
lumbering camps.
Mr. Staples has another farm located on the line of the Minne
apolis, Soo & Atlantic railway, eleven miles northwest of Still
water, known as the Maple Island farm, which contains 1,400
acres of land, inclosed and supplied with barns, farm houses and
other buildings. There are fine wells and lakes and some well
stocked fish ponds. He owns a flouring mill on this farm.
Mr. Staples has a third farm at Bronson, Kanabec county,1
containing 2,000 acres of land, well under cultivation. Ann
river flows through this farm, and is supplied with a dam to
facilitate the driving of logs into Fish lake. The farm is also
made a fitting-out place for the lumbering camps. These three
farms are valued at $250,000.
Mr. Staples has lived an unusually busy life, and has been
unusually successful. Though past the ordinary limit of human
life, he is still active, and will probably continue to plan and work
as long as he lives. He is happiest when most busily employed.
His mind is of the active type. He is restless, alert, far-seeing,
systematic, and persistent. Without these qualities he never
could have achieved the success that has crowned his career.
He has been twice married; first in 1839, to Miss Caroline B.
Rogers, of Old Town, Maine, by whom he had one child, who is
still living. Mrs. Staples died in 1840. He was again married,
Jan, 31, 1841, to Miss Olivia J. Pettengill, of Old Town, Maine,
by whom he has had eight children, — four sons and four daughters,
— , four of whom are living.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 415
•
Samuel F. Hersey, of the late firm of Hersey, Staples & Co.,
was born in Sumner, Maine, in 1812. At an early day he became
a citizen of Bangor, Maine, and wisely invested in pine timber
lands on the Penobscot waters, when lands were cheap. Their
true value was not appreciated by many. The business interests
of the county had not been developed and lumber dealing was
not profitable. The increase in value on his investments made
him a wealthy man. He was a banker, merchant and lumber
man. His investments always yielded a rich return. His
associates and townsmen often elected him to posts of honor
and trust. In 4842-57-65-67 and 69 he was in the Maine state
legislature. When he died, Feb. 3, 1875, he was serving his
second term (four years) as representative in Congress, from the
Bangor or Fourth district of Maine. He died at his home in
Bangor. Both houses of Congress paid fitting tributes to his
high business, social and christian standing, and his worth as a
legislator and statesman.
Mr. Hersey was not a citizen of Minnesota, but as early as
1851 became a member of the firm of Hersey, Staples & Co., of
Stillwater, and interested himself greatly in Minnesota and Still
water enterprises. Amongst other things he aided . in building
two railroads, and gave liberally for the erection of the Uni
versalis! church and to its library. He was thrice married, and
left a family of four sons, the children of his second wife.
Roscoe F. Hersey, the oldest son, was born July 18, 1841, in
Milford, Maine; was educated at the graded school in Bangor,
and clerked in his father's store until 1862, when he volunteered
as a soldier in Company A, Eighteenth Maine Infantry. He
was appointed second lieutenant and rose to the rank of captain
in 1863, but on May 19, 1864, was seyerely wounded at the battle
of Spottslyvania Court House, was confined in the hospital nine
months, and discharged with the brevet rank of colonel.
Col. Hersey spent two years in New Orleans, engaged in the
shipping and commission business, and in the spring of 1867
came to Stillwater and thence to Lake City, where he had charge
of the lumber and mercantile business of Hersey, Staples & Co.
in that city for five years. In 1872 he returned to Stillwater,
entered the firm of Hersey, Brown & Bean, dealers in lands,
lumber and merchandise. In 1877 he was elected state senator
and served one term. He has held many responsible positions.

416

FIFTY YEARS

He married Eva C. Wardwell, of Bangor, Maine, Jan. 4, 1864.
They have one son, Clinton, an enterprising, public spirited
man, inheriting much of his father's will power.
Dudley H. Hersey, the second son, was born in Bangor,
Dec. 25, 1847. He was educated at Westbrook Seminary, Maine,
and came to Stillwater at an early age in the employ of his fa
ther. In 1872 he became one of the firm of Hersey, Bean &
Brown. Mr. Hersey was married to Estella Wardwell, of Ban
gor, Maine, in 1870. They have one son, Samuel F.
Eugene M. Hersey, the third son, was born in Bangor,
Maine, May 6, 1850. He was educated at the high school in
Bangor. With his brother he has been interested in milling
and lumbering operations. He was married in 1876.
Edward L. Hersey, the youngest son, was born in Bangor,
Maine, April 29, 1852; graduated at Westbrook Seminary in
1871, and was married to Mary L. Merrill, of Chicago, in 1§77.

JACOB BEAN.

Jacob Bean was born in Upper Stillwater, Maine, in 1837.
In that centre of the lumbering interests he early and easily
took to lumbering, and pursued the business continuously until
1863, when he came to Stillwater, where he became an active
member of the firm of Hersey, Staples & Bean, and of Hersey,
Bean & Brown.
Charles Bean was born in Sandwich, New Hampshire, in
1827; removed toOrono, Maine, in 1835; followed lumbering on

IN THE NORTHWEST 417
the Penobscot river for a few years. He came to Stillwater in
1863, and some years later sent for his aged parents, giving
them a home until their death. In 1865 he became one of the
firm of Hersey, Staples & Bean, dealers in pine land. He is at
present with his oldest son in California, where both are inter
ested in real estate and irrigation enterprises. Mr. Bean has
been twice married and has a family of eight children. The
oldest daughter married Jerry Brown, now deceased. Mr. Bean
moved to California in 1887.
Rudolph Lehmicke was born in Prussia in 1822. He learned
the trade of cabinet and organ making; came to America in
1849, and to Stillwater in 1854, working at his trade until 1858.
He served one year as justice of the peace, and having studied
law was admitted to practice in 1859. In the fall of 1859 he was
elected county auditor and served until 1874. He was elected
judge of the probate court, in which position he continued until
1881. He has served as inspector of the prison, superintendent
of public schools, and member of the board of education. Judge
Lehmicke was married in 1853, in Coldwater, Michigan, to Jane
Tackeberry. They have a family of five sons and two daughters.
Hollis R. Murdock was born in Governeur, New York,
Aug. 15, 1832. He graduated- at Williams College, Massachu
setts, in 1854, came to Stillwater in 1855, and was admitted
to the practice of law in 1856, since which time he has been in
continuous practice. , He has held many offices of trust. Has
been judge of the probate court and member of the legislature
from Washington county, and director of a bank and railroad
company. Mr. Murdock was married to Sarah A. Rice, Nov. 3,
1857. George M. Seymour was born in Onondaga county, New
York, March 26, 1829. Part of his early life he spent on a farm,
but later he learned the carpenter's trade and became a builder
and contractor. While in Syracuse he engaged for some years
in the manufacture of lumber and staves, and later, of salt. He
was married to Anna B. Kingsley in 1851. In 1858 he came to
Stillwater, and in 1861 was awarded the prison contract, and en
gaged in making cooperage. He was one of the founders of the
firms of Seymour, Webster & Co. and Seymour, Sabin & Co.
(the Northwestern Car Company). He was sheriff of Washing
ton county for two years.
27 .

418

FIFTY YEARS

Frank A. Si'YMuuk, only son of George M., was cashier of
the First National Bank of Stillwater f..r four years, and subse
quently cashier of the Merchants Bank. St. Paul. <
Marion O., only daughter of George M. Seymour, graduated
from Mount Holyoke Seminary in 1880.

LOUIS HOSPES.

Louis Hospes, for many years identified with the Schulen-
berg-Boeckeler Lumber Company, and father of A. C. Hospes,
surveyor general of logs and lumber, E. L. Hospes of the Schu-
leuberg-Boeckeler Company, and Otto G. Hospes of the hard
ware firm of A. C. Hospes & Co., died April 9, 1888. The de-

IN THE NORTHWEST. 419
¦ceased was born in the landgravate of Hesse-Cassel, Germany,
Feb. 8, 1809, and attended school in the city of Witzenhausen
until he was sixteen years old. He then became a farmer, which
avocation he followed for four years. He then entered the Uni
versity of Gottingen, where he made a special study of the
theory and practice of agriculture afod of veterinary medicine
and surgery. Retiring from the university, for two years he
took charge of the farms on some large' estates. In 1832 he
sailed from Bremen for America, arriving at New York on Sep
tember 4th of that year. Leaving that city on the eleventh of
the same month, he arrived in St. Louis on October 18th. From
that city he went to St. Charles county, where he engaged in
agriculture and other pursuits until 1840. * During his residence
there he married Elvira Wurdeman, who survives him. In 1840
he removed to Green county, Southwest Missouri, where he made
his home for the next six years among the Ozark mountains,
where he and two brothers engaged in the distilling business. In
1848 Mr. Hospes went to St. Louis and entered the employ of
Schulenberg & Boeckeler, where he remained until Oct. 21,
1854, when he came to Stillwater tb take charge of the business
of his employers here. In 1856 he became a partner in the con
cern, and continued so until 1874, when the firm reorganized
as the Schulenberg -Boeckeler Lumber Company. When he re
tired, his son, E. L. Hospes, succeeded to his interest, which he
now holds. In 1871 Mr. Hospes visited Europe with his family,
spending a year abroad. In 1862, with his associates, he organ
ized the First National Bank of Stillwater, of which he has been
president for twenty years. His life in this city has been that
•of an active, energetic and generally successful business man,
and though conservative in his business operations has always
been ready to lend a helping hand to any deserving or practical
business enterprise. He was marked for that fixed and reliable
¦character which made his name a tower of strength to any enter
prise with which he was connected, and his integrity, extending
to little things, became proverbial. Besides the sons named he
left two daughters, Mrs. H. E. Mann, of Milwaukee, and Mrs.,
J. Schlenk, of St. Paul.
David Tozer was born in Miramachi, New Brunswick, in
1823., His early opportunities for obtaining an education were
somewhat limited, and he obtained only three months' schooling.

420 FIFTY YEARS
He came to Stillwater in 1856 and engaged in lumbering, work
ing by the month for five years, and afterward independently or
in partnership with his brother Albert, and in the firm of Saun-
try & Tozer, cuttting and rafting lumber. He was married in
Canada, in 1867, to Margaret McKay. Mr. Tozer has been an
industrious and successful man.
David Bronson was born in Anson, Maine, in 1834. He
clerked in Boston from 1850 to 1855, when he came to Stillwater,
where he has since been engaged in selling goods, lumbering and
manufacturing. He was married in 1861 to Ianthe Davis.
John Maloy is of Irish descent. He was born in Ireland, and
emigrated to New Brunswick. He came to Stillwater with his
family in 1853, and engaged in lumbering. His family consisted
of nine sons and three daughters. The daughters are married.
Four of the sons are living; two of them, Patrick and William,
in Oregon, and the others, James and Robert, in Stillwater.
Mrs. Susannah Tepass, nee Burkhart, was born in Germany,
Aug. 10, 1824. Her parents emigrated to America in 1847 and
settled in Freeport, Illinois, where she was married, in 1849,'to
N. Kimmick, and the same year came to Stillwater. Mr. Kim-
miek died in 1857. In 1860 she was married to Frank Aiple.
Mr. Aiple died Nov. 10, 1868. Dec. 9, 1869, she was married
to her present husband, Herman Tepass. Her children are
Mary, Herman and Frank Aiple.
William E. Thorne came to Stillwater in 1853. He has
been an attentive and successful merchant, a polite and honor
able gentleman, and a good citizen.
Edward J. Butts was born in Delaware county, New York,
in 1832; graduated at the Albany Normal School in 1853, and
taught school awhile during his minority, and some years after
studied law (in 1861), and was admitted to practice in Broome
county, New York. In 1862 he enlisted in a New York regiment
and served his full time of enlistment. In 1864 he was appointed
clerk in the third auditor's office, Washington, which position,
he resigned in 1865 and came to Stillwater to practice his pro
fession. He served some time as justice of the peace, and for
ten years as judge of probate in Washington county. He was
collector of internal revenue one year, and was eight years post
master in Stillwater, completing his term of service in' 1886.
Mr. Butts was married to Augusta Miller in 1856. Mrs. Butts

IN THE NORTHWEST. 421
died in 1869, leaving one son and one daughter. Mr. Butts mar
ried Ida Ellsworth in 1878. They have one son and two daugh
ters. His oldest son is in the military school at West Point.
A. B. Easton was born at Mesopotamia, Trumbull county,
Ohio, March 1, 1828. His parents were natives of Massachu
setts, tracing their lineage to the Pilgrim Fathers. At the age
of fourteen years he was clerk in a store, but at the wish of his
parents, left the store and attended school, finishing his studies
by a course at the high school. Soon after he again assumed the
position of clerk, in which he continued two years, when, in
1855, he took charge of his father's hotel. Two years subse- '
quently he came to Stillwater, beginning work as a compositor
for the Stillwater Messenger, A. J. Van Voorhes, proprietor. Dur
ing the absence of the proprietor Mr. Easton was manager.
Finally, in 1863, he and A. B. Stickney rented the paper, which
they operated one year, then carried it on alone until 1865. Dur
ing this time Mr. Van Voorhes had been filling the position of
quartermaster, and on his return made Mr. Easton foreman,
where he continued until 1868. The St. Paul Dispatch had just
been established, and he was connected with the interests of this
paper until his return to Stillwater in 1869. Aug. 6, 1870, he
issued the first number of the Stillwater Gazette. His son Wil
liam E. was taken as a partner in 1876. Mr. Easton and son
have through their ability and industry made the Gazette a read
able, reliable and popular paper. Mr. Easton, was married t°
Julia Burke, Oct. 14, 1849. They have four sons and three
daughters. Edwin A. Folsom was born in Exeter, New Hampshire, June
30, 1833. He spent most of his youth with his parents in Bangor,
Maine, where he was educated in the common schools. In 1856
he came to Stillwater and for six years was book-keeper for
Hersey, Staples & Co. In 1862 he enlisted in Company C, Eighth
Minnesota Volunteers, and was commissioned as captain. He
left the service at the close of the war with the rank of brevet
colonel. Returning to Stillwater, he served six years as county
treasurer, and has since been engaged in lumbering and selling
goods under the firm name of Bronson & Folsom. He was mar
ried Oct. 12, 1872, to Frances E. Staples.
' John B. H. Mitchell. — The ancestors of Mr. Mitchell were
Revolutionary patriots, originally Scotch covenanters, , who set-

422 fifty years
tied in North Carolina, but who in after years freed their slaves
and came to the Northern States. Mr. Mitchell was born Nov.
26, 1820, in Monroe county, Kentucky. His education was ob
tained chiefly in the printing office of H. H. Houghton, of Galena,
Illinois. He came to St. Paul in 1852, and was employed two
years in the Pioneer printing office. In 1854, in company with
T. M. Newson and others, he published the St. Paul Daily Times.
In 1855 he located on a farm near South Stillwater. During the
early part of the Civil War he was in Nashville, Tennessee, and
. reported proceedings of secession conventions to northern pa
pers. In 1863 he was elected a member of the Minnesota legisla
ture. Mr. Mitchell has filled other offices of trust. He was
married in 1850 to Mariana B. Fiske, a daughter of David Fiske,
of Baytown.
Joseph Schupp was born in Baden, Germany, in 1831 ; received
a college and general business education and came to America
in 1852, locating first at Buffalo, New York, and thence at Toledo,
Ohio, whence he removed to Stillwater in 1858, and engaged in
the mercantile business. Commencing moderately, he extended
his operations and now owns several buildings and blocks, and
conducts a heavy wholesale trade. He was married in 1855 to
Mary Fuller, of Toledo, Ohio. They have three sons living,.
Joseph A., Thomas O. A. and Frank.
Clifton A. Bennett was born in Portage county, Ohio, Sept.
7, 1841. He received a common school and collegiate education.
He attended Hiram College during the time that President James
A. Garfield presided over it. April 24, 1861, he enlisted in
Company D, Twenty-third Ohio Volunteers. He was subse
quently promoted to the staff of Gen. W. D. Hazen and served
until mustered out at the close of the war. He came to Illinois
in 1865, read law and was admitted to practice in 1867; came to
Stillwater in 1868, and for ten years was in the office of the
surveyor general. In 1878 he was elected clerk of court.
Samuel Mathews was born in New Brunswick, July 7, 1832.
His opportunities for schooling were limited, and he is practi
cally self educated. He came to Stillwater in October, 1856,
since which time he has been engaged in lumbering, dealing in
pine lands and in the mercantile business. He is a member of
the firm of Mathews & Jourdain, and has been quite successful
in his business undertakings. Mr. Mathews has been called upon

IN THE NORTHWEST. 423
to fill many positions of trust. He has served over twenty-five
years as manager, receiving and disbursing agent of the Still
water fire department. He served four years as mayor of Still
water, was county commissioner for twelve years, and for many
years director in the First National Bank of Stillwater. He was
married to Elisabeth Foley in 1867. Their children are Samuel,
Thomas, James, Mollie, Adie, Stella, and May.
John and James Mathews, brothers of Samuel, came to
Stillwater in 1856, and are active, enterprising business men and
good citize*ns. Their business is farming and lumbering.
Peter Jourdain is a native of Canada. He came to Still
water about the year 1856, and successfully engaged in lumbering.
He is a member of the firm of Mathews & Jourdain, a firm
engaged in dealing in logs and in manufacturing them into
lumber. Mr. Jourdain has a family.
James Rooney was born in New Richmond, Canada East, in
1829. He remained in Canada until 1850, when he removed to
Maine, coming ' thence to Stillwater in 1854. He engaged in
lumbering, working at first by the month, and gradually acquir
ing means and* influence for independent work. He is well
situated, has a happy home and prosperous business. He was
married to Elisabeth McGuire, of Stillwater, in 1863. They have
five children.
James N. Castle is a native of Sheffield, Sheffield county,
province of- Quebec. He received a common school education;
read law four years and was admitted to practice. He came to
Minnesota in 1862, and taught school part of the time at Afton
until 1865, when he was elected county attorney of Washington
county. Mr. Castle served as state senator in the eleventh, twelfth,
twenty-first, twenty-second, twenty-third and twenty-fourth leg
islatures of Minnesota. He settled in Stillwater in 1866.
Abraham L. Gallespie was born at Shiloh, Randolph county,
Illinois, in 1836. He came to Osceola, Polk county, Wisconsin,
in 1850. In 1859 he moved to Stillwater, since which time, with
the exception of a'year spent in Colorado, and two years in the
army as a member of Company D, Second Wisconsin Cavalry,
he has followed the business of lumbering and dealing in logs.
He has filled the position of alderman in Stillwater. He was
married to Adelia F. Wilson, of Osceola, in 1860.
John C. Gardiner came to Stillwater in 1850, from Washing
ton county, Maine. He was born Jan. 5, 1822. On coming to

424 FIFTY YEARS
Stillwater he located on a homestead near the city, and followed
farming and lumbering for some years. In 1873 he was appoint
ed prison guard, which position he held until a recent date.
In 1845 he was married to Mary R. Jackman, in Maine. They
have two sons living, Frederic and Albert L. Mrs. Gardiner
died in August, 1887.
V. C. Seward was born July 10, 1845, at Laketon, Wabash
county, Indiana. He came to Mankato at the age of ten, served an
apprenticeship at printing in the office of the Mankato Independ
ent, subsequently attended the Western Reserve College, Ohio;
and then became editor of the Cleveland (Ohio) Leader. He re
turned to Minnesota in 1869, and founded the Redwood Falls Mail.
In 1872 he came to Stillwater and purchased the Stillwater Mes
senger in company with S. S. Taylor. He has had entire control
continuously since, and has been successful in its management.
He was married to Lily M. Lumbard, at Shakopee, Minnesota, in
1873. Ralph Wheeler, one of Stillwater' s early citizens, commenced
piloting on the St. Croix in 1850, and has been continuously en
gaged in the piloting, steamboating, log and dumber business
since. He is one of the original proprietors, of the opera house.
He was born in Chautauqua county, New York, in 1829. W. H.
H. Wheeler, brother of Ralph, has long been a prominent citizen
of Stillwater. He married Lura, daughter of Daniel Mears, of
Osceola. Edward Scott Brown, of the firm of Hersey, Bean & Brown,
was born Feb. 9, 1830, at Orono, Maine. He received a good
education in the common schools and at Foxcroft Academy. He
learned the trade of millwright, and in 1852 went to Puget
Sound, Washington Territory, via Panama and San Francisco,
and was employed two years iu building mills. He returned to
Orono in 1854, and in 1855 came to St. Anthony, Minnesota, and
engaged in the manufacturing and millwright business. He came
to Stillwater in 1873, entered the firm of Hersey, Bean & Brown,
and in 1883 was appointed receiver of the Northwestern Car
Works. Mr. Brown represented his district in the state senate
of 1876.
William Lqwell was born in Concord, Maine, April 26,
1807. Mr. Lowell was raised on a farm, but followed lumbering
after he was twenty-one years old, with the Coburns on the
Kennebec river, and afterward took a vessel around Cape Horn

IN THE NORTHWEST. 425
to San Francisco, California, with a cargo of manufactured lum
ber, consisting of ready made houses. He returned in 1850 by
the overland route. Two years later he came to Taylor's Falls,
but in 1853 settled in Stillwater, where he engaged in lumbering
as a partner of S. M. Sawyer. He made a fine farm in Sterling,
Polk county, Wisconsin, and lived upon it three years. He was
interested in locating pine lands in company with the Colburns
of Maine, on the St. Croix waters. He was a member of the
Minnesota legislature in 1870. He was married in Concord,
Maine, in 1836, to Rhoda Heald. She died in 1842, leaving two
daughters. In 1856 he was married to Mrs. Elisabeth Rich, sis
ter of Isaac Staples. Mr. Lowell died in Stillwater, July 15,
1873, leaving a widow and four children.
Albert Lowell was born at Concord, Maine, July 10, 1819.
He was married Feb. 5, 1850, to Miss Abby Reed, at Kendall's
Mills, Maine. From this union there were four children, of whom
three are living, Elmore, Charles G. and Ernest. Mr. Lowell
' spent his early days in farming on the banks of the KenUebec
river. In 1854 he came to Stillwater and settled on a farm near
Lily lake, a portion of which farm is now used as a driving
park. May 19, 1863, he took charge of the noted Sawyer House
in Stillwater, which he afterward purchased. Himself, Mrs,
Lowell and their son Elmore have by their invariable courtesy
and close attention to business made this hotel one of the most
popular in the State. They sold and left the hotel, December,
1887. Nelson Holmes Van Voorhes, eldest son of Abraham Van
Voorhes, settled in Ohio and became a respected and useful citi
zen, at one time representing his district in Congress.
Andrew Jackson Van Voorhes, the second son, born June
30, 1824, came to Stillwater in 1855, and in 1856 founded the
Stillwater Messenger and conducted it until 1868, excepting two
years which he spent in the army during the Civil War. He'
was a member of the Minnesota legislature in 1859-60, and
served as clerk of the Minnesota supreme court for one year. ,
From 1863 to 1865 he served as quartermaster in the army, with
the rank of captain. He died in Stillwater in 1873.
Henry Clay Van Voorhes, the youngest s,on, was born in
Athens, Ohio, in 1839, and came with his father to Stillwater in
1850. During the war he was a member of Company B, First

426 FIFTY YEARS
Minnesota Volunteers, for about eighteen months, when he was
discharged for disabilities. He afterward returned to the field
with his brother, Capt. A. J. Van Voorhes, but was not on ac
tive duty. At the close of the war he returned to Stillwater,
which has since been his home. He was married at Areola,
Feb. 9, 1868, to Emily Mower, daughter of John E. and Gracia
Mower. In 1887 he went to Alaska.
Louisa, eldest daughter of Abraham Van Voorhes, was mar
ried to C. A. Bromley. She died in 18—. Maria, the youngest
daughter, was married to D. H. Cutler, of Stillwater.
C. A. Bromley was born in Plattsburg, New York, Oct. 31,
1829. He came to Minnesota in ±851. He erected a fine livery
and sale stable on Chestnut street in 1863. Mr. Bromley served
in the war of the Rebellion as captain of Company B, First Min
nesota, and afterward of Company I, Sixth Minnesota Volun
teers. He was married to Louisa Van Voorhes, who died some
years ago. He was married a second time, to a Miss King.
Charles J. ButleR was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
March 6, 1822. He was educated at the Western University of
Pennsylvania. He removed to St. Louis in 1839, where he re
mained for ten years. He was married to Margaret E. Lansing,
of Madison, Wisconsin, in May, 1846. The following July he
went as paymaster's clerk, under his father, Maj. John B.
Butler, to Mexico, in the Chihuahua expedition, commamded
by Gen. John E. Wool. Returning to St. Louis, he engaged in
the wholesale grocery business until the spring of 1849, when
he disposed of his stock and went to California, where he en
gaged in mining operations. In August, 1851, he came to Ma
rine as book-keeper for Judd, Walker & Co., remaining with
them until he was appointed secretary of the St. Croix Boom
Company, which position he held until 1875. In 1856 he re
moved to Stillwater. In 1857 he was elected delegate to the con
stitutional convention. He served one term as mayor of Still
water. In 1862 he served as first lieutenant under David Bron
son as captain, and with S. J. R. McMillan as second lieutenant,
in the Chengwatana expedition sent from Stillwater to prevent
the Chippewas from rising and joining in the Sioux insurrec
tion. He purchased the Nelson warehouse, and, with Capt.
Isaac Gray as partner, engaged in the towboat business until
1878. Of late years Mr. Butler has been engaged in business

in the northwest. 427
ventures in Western Minnesota, but he still retains his residence
at Stillwater. Mr. Butler has always been a lover of field
sports and his prowess as a sportsman is well remembered by
his old friends. He has four children — two sons and two daugh
ters. Levi E. Thompson was born in ; St. Lawrence county, New
York, May 5, 1829; educated at Troy Wesleyan Seminary, New
York; commenced studying law at the age of fourteen; was ad
mitted to practice by the supreme court at the age of twenty,
and, coming to Stillwater in 1852, commenced practice, having
associated with him at various times T. E. Parker, Allen Daw
son and John Vanderburgh. He was married, October, 1856,
to Martha G. Harris, daughter of Albert Harris, an early settler
of Stillwater. Mr. Thompson died Nov. 8, 1887.
George Davis was born in Lancaster, Massachusetts, Sept.
22, 1832. He received a good school and academic educa
tion. He removed to St. Louis in 1852, and to Stillwater in
1853, where he served some years as a mercantile clerk, then as
deputy sheriff, then ten years as sheriff of Washington county.
He also served as clerk of the district court, and in 1876 as county
auditor. In 1865 he was married to Georgiana Stanchfield, of
Stillwater. Mr. Davis died in 1879 and Mrs. Davis in 1882, leav
ing five children.
Wm. Monroe McCluer was born Sept. 6, 1831, in Franklin-
ville, New York. He graduated from Temple Hill Academy,
Geneseo, New York, in 1850; studied law in Moscow, New
York; graduated at the State and National Law School at Pough-
keepsie in 1854, and, removing to Stillwater the same year, en
gaged in the practice of his profession, in which he has been
eminently successful. In November, 1881, he was appointed ad
ditional judge for the First district, an office created by the leg
islature at its special session. Judge McCluer served one term
in the house of representatives. He was married to Helen A.
Jencks, of Waterford, Saratoga county, New York, Sept. 27,
1858. They have one son, Charles M., practicing law in Still
water. John Nicholas Ahl was born at Strasburg on the Rhine,
Oct. 7, 1807. After seven years' study he was graduated as a
physician at Strasburg Medical College in 1839. He emi
grated to America and located in Galena, Illinois, in 1843, where

428 FIFTY YEARS
he practiced medicine some years. He was married in 1846 to
Lucretia Hartman. In 1850 he removed to Stillwater. In 1852
he built the Washington Hotel (afterward changed to Liberty
House), on south Main street. He practiced medicine and fol
lowed lumbering and hotel keeping in Stillwater until his death,
which occurred in 1878.
Samuel M. Register is a native of Dover, Delaware. He is
of French descent, and some of his ancestors took part in the Rev
olutionary War. He was born in 1827, and came to Stillwater
in 1850, where he engaged actively in business, dealing in lum
ber and pine lands, piloting, steamboating and farming. He
was at one time a member of the city council, and a representa
tive in the territorial legislature of 1854-5. He was married to
Minerva Causlin in 1856.
J. A. Johnson was born near the city of Wexio, Sweden,
April 24, 1842. In 1854 he emigrated with his parents to the
United States, arriving at Marine Mills, Washington county,
Minnesota, late in the fall of that year. He remained at Marine
and Stillwater till 1858, attending school a large portion of the
time. In the fall of that year he went to school at Dubuque,
Iowa. After completing the course of study he learned the
trade of locomotive, engineer, which occupation he followed till
1866, being in the employ of the United States government the
last years of the war, in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee.
After the close of the war, in 1865, he returned north as far as
St. Louis, Missouri, where he married Miss Agnes A. Coler, of
that city. He has 5 children, 3 boys and 2 girls. His health
having been impaired in the government service, he returned to
Marine in 1866, where he remained till Jan. 1, 1874. In the fall
of 1873 he was elected to the office of sheriff of Washington
county, which position he held for six years, and has been twice
re-elected without opposition. Retiring from the sheriff's office
in 1880, he removed to Fargo, Dakota, and engaged in the sale
of agricultural implements, in which business he has remained
np to the present time.
During his residence in the city of Fargo he has held various
offices, such as alderman, member of the board of education, etc.
In the fall of 1884 he was nominated for the territorial senate
and received a majority of 1,133 votes in Cass county, and 835
out of a total of 1,669 in the city of Fargo. In the spring of 1885

IN THE NORTHWEST. 429
he was elected mayor of Fargo by over 300 majority, after one of
the most hotly contested campaigns in the political history of the
city. In 1886 he declined a re-election. While sheriff of Wash
ington county he devoted his leisure moments to the study of
law, and was admitted to practice in all the courts of Minne
sota. Although not in active practice his knowledge of law has
been of great value to him in the business in which he has been
engaged since that time.
Gold T. Curtis was born in Morrisville, New York, Aug.
16, 1821. At the age of eighteen he graduated at Hamilton Col
lege, New York, and entered upon the study of law with Judge
Morrill, Chenango county, New York. He commenced practic
ing law at Belleville, New York, in 1850. During the same year
he was married to Abigail Anderson, a descendant of Gen.
John Stark, of Revolutionary fame, and of the Protestant
branch of the royal house of the Stuarts, some of whom came
from Scotland to America in 1742. Mrs. Curtis is a lineal de
scendant of the unfortunate Mary, Queen of Scots. Mr. Curtis
removed to Stillwater in 1854 and entered upon a lucrative law
practice. He was elected a member of the Minnesota constitu
tional convention. In 1857 he was also nominated for the posi
tion of district judge, but was defeated by S. J. R. McMillan.
He was "much respected and held some offices of trust in the city
and county. At the breaking out of the Rebellion he enlisted
in Company I, Fifth Minnesota, and was promoted to the cap
taincy of the company, but his health failed and he died in St.
Louis July 24, 1862. His remains were brought to Stillwater
and interred with military and masonic honors, Aug. -2, 1862.
Harley D. Curtis, a native of New York and a brother of
Gold T. Curtis, came to Stillwater in 1851. He held the posi
tions of postmaster and justice of the peace.
Francis Roach Delano. — The ancestors of Mr. Delano came
to America in 1621, and were active participants in the stirring
scenes and controversies preceding the Revolution. Francis
Roach, after whom Mr. Delano was named, was the owner of the
ship Dartmouth, one of the vessels out of which the tea was
cast into Boston harbor, on the memorable occasion of the Tea
Party of 1774. Notwithstanding the affair of fche tea, the family,
who were ardent patriots, have preserved as a precious relic some
of the tea rescued from the general destruction.

430 FIFTY YEARS
Mr. Delano is one of sixteen children in his father's family.
He was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, Nov. 20, 1823; received
a common school and academic education, and was employed in
a machine shop some years. At the age of twenty he was
employed in an engineering corps and served two years. He
was for two years superintendent of the Boston & Worcester
railroad. In 1844 he came to St. Louis, Missouri, and was
variously employed until 1848, when he removed to Minnesota
and was engaged for a year in St. Anthony (now Minneapolis);
in running the government mill. The mill had been leased for
five years. Mr. Smith fulfilled the contract, and Mr. Delano,
being released from it, came to Stillwater in 1851 and entered
into contract with Jesse Taylor, Martin Mower, Jonathan E.
McKusick, and Jacob Fisher, under. the firm name of Jesse
Taylor & Co. , to build the territorial prison. Mr. Delano was
appointed first warden, March, 1853, and served until 1858. He
was intrusted with the expenditure of public moneys from
territorial authorities, in caring for and improving the prison.
When the state government was organized he was released. He
was afterward a member of the firm of Delano, McKusick &
Go., sawing and selling lumber. J. E. McKusick and Robert
Simpson were members of this firm. Mr. Delano moved to St.
Paul in 1862, and was afterward engaged in railroad employ
ment. In 1862 he was commissioned colonel to take command
of five companies during the Indian outbreak. The command
was stationed at Chengwatana, Pine county. He died February,
1887. He was married Oct. 11, 1846, to Calista Ann Cavander,
who, with two sons, survives him.
Henry W. Cannon was born in Delhi, New York, Sept. 25,
1852. He was educated at Delaware Literary Institute. He
came to St. Paul in 1870, and in 1871 to Stillwater, where he ac
cepted the position of cashier of the Stillwater Lumberman's
Bank. In 1882 he was. appointed by President Arthur United
States bank comptroller. He was removed by President Cleve
land. He is now a resident of New York City, and is engaged in
banking. Dwight M. Sabin was born at Marseilles, La Salle county,
Illinois, April 25,„1843. The ill health of the father, who was an
extensive land owner and stock raiser, necessitated a removal
to the seaside in Connecticut in 1856. In consequence of the

IN THE NORTHWEST. 431
¦continued ill health of the father and his death in 1864, young
Dwight was deprived of the thorough education to which he as
pired, and, being the oldest son, found the cares and responsibili
ties of managing his father's business thrown upon his shoulders
while he was yet a boy. In 1867 he removed with his mother
and younger brother to Minnesota, the year following to Still
water, where he engaged in business with the firm of Seymour,
Sabin & Co. This firm contracted for the convict labor in the
state prison, and engaged in the manufacture of doors, sash,
blinds and cooperage. The business in 1874 was extended and
made to include the manufacture of agricultural implements,
including also a machine, boiler shop and foundry, until it is
now one of the most extensive establishments in the country.
Mr. Sabin is also interested in other manufactures, among
them the C. N. Nelson Lumber Company and the Duluth Iron
Gompany. In 1882 Mr. Sabin was the prime organizer of the
Northwestern Car Company, with a capital of $5,000,000. The
company was to receive a bonus from the city of Stillwater of
$100,000 in bonds, on certain conditions. The company pur
chased the interests of Seymour, Sabin & Co., thereby coming
into possession of their immense manufactories, including those
managed under the prison contracts, and elected Mr. Sabin
president, and was making rapid progress toward the comple
tion of its plans, when, owing to the stringency of the financial
world, it was compelled to make an assignment.
While Mr. Sabin has been busy with the management of his
vast manufacturing establishments, he has been no less active
and conspicuous as a public spirited citizen, ever taking a great,
interest in the affairs of his adopted city, of the State and coun
try at large, aud his talents and efficiency have been recognized
by his fellow citizens, who elected him to the state senate in
1871-72-73, and to the house of representatives in 1878 and
1881. He has several times been a delegate to the National Re
publican convention, and was chairman of the convention at
which James G. Blaine was nominated for the presidency. He
was elected to the United States senate in 1883 as the successor
of Hon. Wm. Windom. '

432 FIFTY YEARS

CHAPTER XVI.
STEARNS, ANOKA AND MORRISON COUNTIES. '

STEARNS COUNTY.
Stearns county derived its name from Hon. Charles T. Stearns,
a prominent citizen of St. Cloud, a representative of the precinct
of St. Anthony Falls in the fifth and sixth territorial councils.
It is bounded on the north by Todd and Morrison counties, on
the east by Benton, Sherburne and Wright counties, the Missis
sippi forming the dividing line against Benton and Sherburne,
and Clearwater against Wright county, on the south by Kandi
yohi and Meeker, and on the west by Pope county. It contains
an area equal to thirty-six townships. It is a fine agricultural
county and is well watered by the tributaries of the Mississippi,
the principal of which is Sauk river. It has also an abundance
of small lakes. Its oldest settlement and principal city is St.
Cloud, and among its most flourishing villages are Sauk Centre,
Fair Haven, Clearwater, Melrose, St. Joseph, Albany, Paynas-
ville, Richmond, and Cold Springs.
The county was organized in 1855, under the legislative act of
that year. Gov. Willis A. Gorman appointed the following
commissioners: David T. Wood, John Ferschniller and John L.
Wilson. They held their first meeting at the house of John L.
Wilson, April 9, 1855. J. L. Wilson acted as chairman. The
board appointed the following county officers: Charles Ketchum,
clerk; Robert B. Blake, treasurer; L. B. Hammond, sheriff; N. N.
Smith, judge of probate; R. B. Blake, surveyor; and John Harry
Weltshimer, assessor. The board established three precincts, viz. :
St. Augusta, St. Cloud and Tamarack. The judges of election
for St. Augusta were John M. Feble, John G. Lodenbeck and

IN THE NORTHWEST. 433
Anton Emholt; for St. Cloud, Joseph Demil, L. B. Hammond
and Battise Arsenan; for Tamarack, Henry Foster, Louis Amel
and John Smith. License was granted to Joseph P. Wilson,
George F. Brott, L. B. Hammond, and O. Carter to run a ferry
across the Mississippi river. April 30, 1855, Farmington pre
cinct was established. John M. Lindeman, Jacob C. Staples
and D. T. Wood were judges of election. July 5, 1855, the first
rate of taxation was fixed for the county at one per cent.
The first license to sell spirituous liquors was granted to Anton
Edelbrock. The first order issued was to pay for county books,
$31.86, to John L. Wilson. Ordered that Washington avenue
and St. Augusta street be adopted as county roads. Aug. 27,
1855, it was ordered that Chippewa Agency precinct (now in
Crow Wing county) be and remain as it was when a part of Ben
ton county, and J. D. Crittenden, Truman Warren and D. B.
Herriman were appointed judges of election. It was ordered
that Long Prairie precinct (now in Todd county) remain as it
was when a part of Benton county, and Anson Northrup, Lewis
Stone and Harman Becker were appointed judges of election.
On Jan. 6, 1856, a new board of commissioners qualified, consist
ing of Anton Edelbrock, chairman, Reuben M. Richardson, and
M. J. Orth. H. C. Waite was appointed prosecuting attorney.
The county was organized for judicial purposes in 1855, and the
counties of Crow Wing and Todd were attached. The first term
of court was held June 25, 1855; Hon. Moses Sherburne, presiding,
Taylor Dudley, clerk, and Joseph Edelbrock, sheriff. The writer
is indebted to the efficient clerk of court of 1887, A. L. Cramb,
for collecting data, as the old records are quite, unintelligible.
Judge E. O. Hamlin held the first term of court under the
state organization. At the session of the commissioners in
July, 1856, the first > bonds of the county were ordered for
building a court house, amounting to $7,000, at twelve per cent
interest for eight years. The bonds were offered in New York
City by an agent. These bonds were lost, and only two of them
were recovered. At the session of the commissioners for August,
the donation of John L. Wilson of four blocks of ground, contain
ing eight acres, for court house purposes, was accepted. Three-
fourths of the ground was sold by the county, and the funds re
ceived from the sale, together with $6,000 in bonds issued in
28

434 FIFTY YEARS
1857, and other bonds issued later, were used in erecting the
court house. ST. CLOUD.
The eastern side of the Mississippi river was the first settled.
As early as 1848 David Gilman had located at a point now called
Watab. During the ensuing year, Jeremiah Russell, Philip
Beaupre and James Beatty were keeping trading posts at Sauk
Rapids. In 1849 J. Q. A. and W. H. Wood, brothers, located
there. In 1854 the Rapids had become quite a point with its
Indian trading posts, its stores and its United States land office.
Among the early residents were many subsequently identified
with the interests of St. Cloud. In the spring of 1854 John L.
Wilson crossed the river at the point now known as the upper
landing, then covered with a dense growth of trees and under
brush. On the adjoining prairie, a Norwegian, Ole Burgerson
by name, had staked out a claim and put up a shanty. Mr.
Wilson purchased his interest and in June of the same year
erected a frame dwelling (still standing) near the railroad
bridge. Nicholas Lake put up a blacksmith shop near by.
During this year James Hitchins put up a small log dwelling for
Gen. S. B. Lowry, who platted the township of Acadia, now
Lowry' s addition to St. Cloud. A post office was established
here through his influence. The same year Brott & Co. laid
out St. Cloud city. The earliest claimants of the town site, own
ing claims fronting on the river, were S. B. Lowry, Ole Burger-
son, Martin Woolley, and Michael Zoms. John L. Wilson hav
ing purchased the claim of Ole Burgerson, platted the village
of St. Cloud, and this was the first recorded of any of the St.
Cloud plats. The village of St. Cloud made but little progress
until 1856, when a hotel known as the Stearns House, now used
in connection with the normal school, was built, a ferry estab
lished and other improvements made. A notable incident
connected with this ferry is the fact that the Rev. Abbot Alexius
Edelbrock, now president of St. John's University, then a lad of
thirteen years of age, was ferryman, he being the son of the
proprietor of the ferry. The craft was swung back and forth
like a pendulum, by the current acting against its keel, being
fastened by a long rope some distance up the river. It was not
therefore beyond the ability of so youthful a ferryman to manage

IN THE NORTHWEST. 435
The post office, established first at Acadia, became the St.
Oloud post office and Joseph Edelbrock was appointed post
master. He was reappointed by President Cleveland to the
same position in 1886. The first newspaper in St. Cloud was
the Visitor, established in 1857, by the gifted and somewhat
erratic journalist and reformer, Jane Grey Swisshelm. This
paper had but a brief and troubled career — the advanced views
and dictatorial style of its publisher and editor proving somewhat
distasteful to the community at large. Mrs. Swisshelm, who had
already won a national reputation, went to Washington, became
a contributor to the New York Tribune, and had thereafter a
somewhat variable, and upon the whole brilliant, career as a
lecturer, editor and reformer. She was amongst the strongest,
though not the most radical, of the advocates of woman's rights.
She was not a woman suffragist, but directed her efforts chiefly
toward establishing the legal identity of married women. She
was also very pronounced in her anti-slavery views.
The first records of the organization of St. Cloud as a village
have been lost. It was reorganized by legislative enactment in
1862, and the following were the first officers: Mayor, Judge L.
A. Evans; councilmen, H. C. Burbank, John W. Tenvoorde,
Joseph Broker and Barney Overbeck; clerk, A. B. Curry.
St. Cloud was organized as a city in 1868, under the following
officers: Mayor, Judge E. O. Hamlin; aldermen, L. A. Evans,
president; Peter Smith, Thomas Smith, T. C. Alden, Leander
Gorton, T. R. Bennett, O. Tenny, C. Bridgman,. Andrew Fritz,
L. R. Roberts, Lewis Clarke, H. C. Burbank; clerk, N. F. Barnes. ,
The city government has been judiciously managed. The United
States land office, established first at Sauk Rapids in 1853, was
removed to St. Cloud in May, 1858. The first receiver was W.
H. Wood. His successors have been S. B. Hayes, C. A. Gilman,
W. B. Mitchell, H. C. Burbank, Ole Peterson, and C. F. McDon
ald, the present incumbent. The first register was George W.
Sweet. His successors have been W. A. Caruthers, T. C.Mc-
Glure, H. C. Waite, H. L. Gordon, J. A. Brower, and D.' H.
Freeman. The city has paid for various improvements as follows: , City
water works on the Holly system, $25,000; city bridge over the
Mississippi, 500 feet in length, $42,000; to the Manitoba railroad
in real estate and bonds, $100,000; in cash, $27,000; gas works,

436 FIFTY YEARS
$10,000. The fire department is well equipped. An electric
light plant has been established. Considerable money and work
have been expended in dredging Lake George, a beautiful lake
about fifty -five acres in extent, lying in the heart of the city,
and surrounding it with parks. Street cars have been intro
duced and altogether the city has made most commendable ad
vancement in all those things that pertain to beauty and com
fort. Not less rapid and substantial are its advance's in commerce
and manufactures. Before the completion of the railway it had
regular communication by water with all river points, and since
its facilities for transportation have made it the peer of any in
land city of its size in the State. The railroads of St. Cloud are
the Manitoba with its various branches and the Northern Pacific,
the latter passing through East St.. Cloud. Among the improve
ments of which its citizens are justly proud we may mention the
St. Cloud dam, -constructed in 1886, at a cost of $200,000. The
city gave $100,000 for this improvement. The dam has for its
foundation the underlying granite of this section. It is intended
as a permanent structure and must conduce largely to the
growth and prosperity of the city. The dam has 10 feet head
of water and furnishes 1,500 horse power. A flour mill with
a capacity of 300 barrels per day is run by the water power.
The Phoenix Iron Works, established at a cost of $175,000, give
employment to 100 men. Bridgman's steam saw mill has a ca
pacity of about 40,000 feet of lumber per day.
St. Cloud is backed by a rich agricultural and timbered dis
trict. In the vicinity are valuable quarries of jasper, and of
gray and red granite. Two granite polishing works, operated
by steam, are located near the city. These quarries stretch
away to the northeast, through the counties of Benton, Mor
rison, Mille Lacs and Kanabec. They give employment to
1,000 men. The Manitoba Railroad Company has purchased re
cently about 400 acres of land, on which to build extensive shops
and stock yards, calculated to give employment, when com
pleted, to 1,000 men. The principal hotels are the Grand Central
and the West House!
The first bank in St. Cloud was established by Waite & Mc
Ciure in 1859. This bank, a private institution, was the beginning
of the banking system in St. Cloud. It is now operated by N.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 437
P. Clarke.' The First National Bank was organized as a private
bank in 1867, with a capital stock of $25,000; James A. Bell,
president; Joseph G. Smith, cashier. It was reorganized as a state
bank in 1879, with a capital stock of $50,000. In 1886 it was reor
ganized as a national bank. The first board of officers have served
continuously to date. The business of the bank amounts to over
$300,000. The German American National Bank was organized in
1883; Chas. A. Hull, president; Edgar Hull, cashier; capital stock
$50,000. The business (in 1886) amounts to $250,000. The present
board of officers are: F. E. Searle, president; John Cooper, vice
president; F. M. Morgan, cashier.
St. Cloud has many fine buildings. The court house cost $40,-
000, and four school buildings an aggregate of $75,000. The
bishop's cathedral cost $40,000, and the Catholic church $30,000.
The Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, Congre-
gationalists, and Lutherans have organizations and good church
buildings. The normal school buildings located here cost $100,-
000. St. Cloud University is a flourishing institution. St. John's
University, although located in the adjoining town of St. Joseph,
has been identified more or less with the interests of St. Cloud,
and deserves mention in its history. It was ' originally located
two miles south of St. Cloud, but was subsequently removed to
a point northwest, a mile distant from the thriving village of
Collegeville. The university owes its existence to the zeal, energy and self
devotion of the Benedictine Fathers, a colony of whom came to
America in 1846. This colony settled first in Westmoreland,
Pennsylvania, but in 1856, at the invitation of Bishop Cretin,
came to Minnesota, where, the year following, they commenced.
their educational work on the banks of the Mississippi near St.
Cloud. The school was commenced as a seminary, but in 1869
the state legislature granted authority to confer degrees, and in
1883 formally changed the name from St. John's Seminary to St.
John's University. The buildings are ample and commodious,
and located pleasantly on the banks of a beautiful lake. The
faculty consists of Rt. .Rev. Alexius Edelbrock and twenty-two
professors. In 1885 St. Benedict's Hospital was erected at a
cost of about $15,000. It is under the supervision of the Bene
dictine Nuns. The state reformatory was located at East St. Cloud
in 1887.

438 FIFTY YEARS

LA SAUK,

Formerly St. Joe, adjoining St. Cloud on the north, had a saw
and flour mill erected in 1855. These mills were burned in 1886,
and rebuilt in 1887. Amongst the early settlers were J. H.
Lineman in 1854, J. A. Upham and George Rieder in 1855.
Peter Schaeler, a farmer, a native of Germany, came to
America in 1850, and to St. Joseph in 1856. John, his only son.
retains the old homestead, and was in 1883 engaged in the insur
ance business in St. Cloud.
John L. Wilson was born in Columbia, Washington county,
Maine, in 1820. He came to Minnesota in 1851, locating at St.
Anthony, but in the following year removed to Sauk Rapids and
in 1854 to St. Cloud. The first deed on record in Stearns county
was from John L. Wilson to L. C. Kenna, and bears date of 1855.
In 1855 he was married to Harriet N. Corbett. They have three
children living.
Charles T. Stearns, from whom the county took its name,
has been for many years a resident of Louisiana, and is a
wealthy planter.
Henry G. Fillmore, a nephew of President Fillmore, was
born in the state of New York in the '20s, and came to Watab in
1848. He has lived in St. Cloud many years.
Nathaniel Getchell was born in Washington county,
Maine, in 1828. He came to St. Anthony in 1852, and to Stearns
county in 1855.
James Keough came from Ireland to America in 1850, and
directly to Watab. He settled in St. Cloud in 1854, was mar
ried in 1855, and has a large family.
Loren W. Collins was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, Aug.
22, 1839. He received a common school education; came to
Hastings, Minnesota, some time prior to the Rebellion, studied
law with Smith & Crosby and was admitted to practice, but in
August, 1862, entered the service of his country in Company F,
Seventh Minnesota Volunteers, of which company he was com
missioned second lieutenant, and a year later first lieutenant.
He was discharged with his regiment at the close of the war, and
returned to his law practice. In 1866 he removed to St. Cloud
and practiced law. He served as county attorney a number of
years; was a member of the Minnesota house of representatives

in the northwest. 439
in 1881-83; was appointed judge of the Seventh Judicial district
April 8, 1883, and elected to that office in 1884. Nov. 12, 1887,
he was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death of
Judge Berry, an appointment that gives general satisfaction,
Judge Collins having won an enviable reputation as a jurist and
as a man.
Henry C. Waite was born in Albany county, New York, in
1830; graduated at Union College, Schenectady, New York;
was admitted to practice law in 1852, and the same year came to
Iowa. A year later he removed to Wisconsin, and located at
Madison, where he practiced law two years. In May, 1855, he
came to St. Cloud, where he has since continuously resided. The
first ten years of his residence in St. Cloud he devoted to the
practice of his profession, after which he devoted his time to
farming and milling.
Mr. Waite was a member of the constitutional convention in
1857. He also served several terms in the senate and house.
During President Lincoln's administration he served as register
of the land office. He was married to Maria D. Clark in 1860.
He has two sons.
Gen. S. B. Lowry was the son of the devoted and zealous
missionary, Rev. David Lowry, who labored among the Winne
bagoes in Northern Iowa in the '30s and '40s. He located first
at Brockway, ten miles above St. Cloud, and established a trad
ing post, but in 1853 removed to St. Cloud, where he surveyed
and platted the village of Acadia, afterward known as " Lowry's
addition." He made St. Cloud his home until his death, which
occurred in 1861.
Anthony Edelbrock was the first resident of St. Cloud.
His oldest son was the first Child born there. This son died in
infancy. His seconcL,son became the abbot of St. John's Uni
versity. Mr. Edelbrock is now a resident of Missouri.
Joseph Edelbrock was born in Westphalia, Prussia, in
1826. He learned the trade of a carpenter, came to America
in 1847, and lived in Chicago until 1855, when he came to St.
Cloud and engaged in mercantile pursuits. He is the oldest
merchant continuously in business in the city. He served as
sheriff two years and as register of deeds four years. He was
married in Chicago in 1852, and has six children living. A
daughter, the second child born in St. Cloud, is the wife of
Peter E. Kaiser.

440 ,FIFTY YEARS
John Rengel made a claim here in 1855. He has been and
still is a prosperous citizen. He has a family of ten children.
Louis A. Evans was born near Philadelphia, Nov. 2, 1822.
His forefathers came to America with William Penn and bought
of him a township of land, on which still reside many of his de
scendants. His father served as a soldier in the war of 1812.
Louis was educated at the graded schools in Philadelphia; was
apprenticed to a piano maker, and worked at his trade at Cin
cinnati, Ohio, Clinton, Mississippi, and New Orleans until 1856,
when he came to St. Cloud, where he still resides. During his
residence he has served as postmaster, judge of probate, clerk of
the district court, editor of the St. Cloud Times, mayor of St.
Cloud, and president of the council and member of the house
and senate of the state legislature. He was married t6 Elisabeth
W. Libby in 1871.
Ambrose Freeman. — We have no datum as to when Mr. Free
man came to St. Cloud, but it was probably prior to 1860. He
was a stonemason, and while working on a cellar wall heard the
report of the Sioux uprising and massacre (in 1862), and, drop
ping his tools, hurried off to satisfy himself as to the truth of
the reports, called a meeting of citizens, and organized a company
of twenty-five volunteers to assist in caring for the wounded
and burying the. dead. On his return he was commissioned cap
tain of the Northern Rangers and marched with his command
to the relief of Forest City and Fort Abercrombie. He was
with Gen. Sibley's command in 1863, and while riding over the
prairie was shot with an arrow by an Indian, and expired in
stantly. Nathan F. Barnes has lived a somewhat eventful life. He
was born at Portland, Maine, June 26, 1817; received an aca
demic education; served as a midshipman in the navy from 1834
to 1839, visiting many parts of the globe. In 1840 he commenced
the study of laAv, was admitted to practice in 1843 and practiced
awhile at Conway, New Hampshire, where in 1844 he was mar
ried. In 1850 he was appointed mail agent on the Isthmus route
to California, served six years, and then located in California.
Two years later, in 1858, he removed to Alexandria, Minnesota.
During the Sioux massacre he and Andreas Darling were the
only persons remaining in the neighborhood who escaped being
killed. In 1865 he came to St. Cloud, where he has been an
active and prominent citizen. He served many years as city

IN THE NORTHWEST. 441
clerk and city justice and was elected to the house of the state
legislature in 1875. He was influential in securing the location
of the normal school in St. Cloud. One son, Percival S., died
in the Saulsbury prison during the Civil War. He has one son
and one daughter living.
Nehemiah P. Clark was born in Worcester county, Massa
chusetts, • April 8, 1836. In his youth he attended school in Ken
tucky and at seventeen years of age was clerking in a store at
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. In 185,6 he came to St. Cloud and en
gaged actively in business, selling goods, farming, staging, lum
bering, and dealing in pine lands. He has a farm in Le Sauk of
2,000 acres,' a creamery, a cheese factory, and one of the largest
and best herds of cattle, horses, hogs and sheep in the State.
For office and official honors he has no taste. He served, how
ever, as president of the State Agricultural Society in 1886.
Oscar E. Garrison was born at Fort Ann, New York, in
1825, and was early thrown upon his own resources. He came
to Minnesota in 1850, and built the first house on the shores of
Lake Minnetonka where Wayzata is now located. In 1850 he
surveyed and platted the village of Wayzata. In 1860 he came
to St. Cloud. He made a land claim in Polk county in 1862 and
narrowly escaped being murdered by the Sioux at their uprising.
His house and property were destroyed. While hiding with
his wife and four-year-old son, Indians passed within twenty
feet of him. . After a perilous night journey, during which he
came almost within touching distance of sleeping jPndians, he ar
rived safely at Sauk Centre.
The Gilman Family. — The Gilman family of which Charles
A. is a descendant came to America from Hingham, England,
with the Folsoms, in 1638, and are the founders of the town of
Hingham, Massachusetts. The Gilmans were renowned for their
loyalty to«fche colonies, and later to the state and national gov
ernment. Charles A. Gilman was born in Gilmanton, New Hamp
shire, Feb. 9, 1833. His youth was spent at home, where he re
ceived a common school and academic education, the latter at
Gilmanton Academy. He taught school during the winters. In
1855 he came to Sauk Rapids, Benton county, where he engaged
in farming and real estate business; he also filled the offices of
auditor and register of deeds. In 1861 he removed to St. Cloud,

442 FIFTY YEARS
having been appointed register of the United States land office
for that place. He served seven years as register and receiver.
He studied law, and was admitted to practice in 1876. Mr. Gil
man has lived a busy life, and besides his real estate, law, survey
ing and exploring business, he has taken a conspicuous position
in the politics of his" State, having served as state senator in the
years 1868-69, and as representative from 1875 to 1879. In 1878-79
he served as speaker of the house. From 1881 to 1884 he was lieu
tenant governor of the State. He was elected to the legislature
several times as a Republican, when the district was strongly
Democratic, a high compliment to his ability and integrity. He
was married to Hester Cronk, at Sauk Rapids, Jan. 1, 1857.
They have six children living. He has lived at St. Cloud since
1861, where he has a delightful home.
Of St. Cloud citizens not elsewhere mentioned in this work,
and who have been prominent in advancing its interests, are
Charles Bridgman, Henry G. Mitchell and son, C. F. McDonald,
Lewis Clark, Alonzo F. Cramb, C. F. Davis, Levi S. Geer, Josiah
G. Hayward, David L. Kiehle, A. Montgomery, Overbeck broth
ers, John H. Owen, and John Cooper. St. Cloud has furnished
three able jurists for the supreme bench in this district, E. O.
Hamlin, J. M. McKelvy and L. W. Collins.
ANOKA COUNTY.
Anoka county was organized in 1857, the nucleus or first set
tlement being' a small village on the Mississippi, at the mouth of
Rum river, named Anoka, from a Chippewa word meaning work
or labor. The county has a fine location on the east bank of the
Mississippi. Its boundaries on the north are Isanti county, on
the east Chisago and Washington counties, on the south Ram
sey county, and on the west Sherburne county and the Missis
sippi river. Rum river flows in a southeasterly* direction
through the county, and by this river, its tributaries and those
of the Mississippi and St. Croix, the county is well watered and
drained. The valleys of these streams furnish many fine nat
ural meadows. The soil is a black sandy loam with clay sub
soil. Townships 31, 32 and 33, range 22, are drained "by the
tributaries of the St. Croix. Originally consisting of oak open
ings, natural meadows and tamarack swamps, interspersed with
small lakes, with excellent roads, school houses, churches and

IN THE NORTHWEST. 443=
town organizations, the county is well settled and has many
fine farms under a high state of cultivation. Its proximity to
the pineries of Rum river and to the markets of Minneapolis-
and St. Paul makes it a desirable location for the lumbermen
and farmers.
The county is subdivided into the following townships: An
oka, Bethel, Blaine, Burns, Centreville, Columbus, Fridley,
Grow, Ham Lake, Linwood, Oak Grove, Ramsey, and St. Fran
cis. The Northern Pacific and St. Paul, Minneapolis & Mani
toba railroads traverse this county near its western boundary,.
following the course of the Mississippi river. Outside of Anoka.
the first settlement in the county was within the bounds of the-
present town of Ramsey. Nathan Shumway, Cornelius Pitman
and Daniel Hawthorne settled there in 1850.
The first county commissioners were appointed by the gover
nor. They were E. C. H. Davis, J. P. Austin and Silas O.
Lum. They met June 30, 1857, and appointed the following
officers: Sheriff, James C. Frost; treasurer, James M. Mc-
Glauflin; coroner, Joseph C. Varney; assessors, Daniel Robbinsr
S. L. Guice, Francis Peeler. The first deed on record in the
county bears date of June 30, 1857. It conveys the northwest
quarter of section 26, township 33, range 24, from Nathaniel S.
Davis to Mary S. Small, for a consideration of five hundred dol
lars. There is, however, a transcript of a deed from Ramsey
county bearing original date of Sept. 11, 1849, conveying the
north half of the northwest quarter of section 35, township 31,
range 24, from Abel Bloodgood, of Minnesota Territory, to
Henry M. Rice, for a consideration of two hundred dollars. The;
first town plat, that of Anoka, bears date of July 5, 1854.
ANOKA.
This town lies on the east shore of the Mississippi and includes-
part of fractional township 31, range 24. It is watered by Rum
river, which traverses the northwestern part, and by Coon creek
in the eastern part. The town originally was chiefly prairie.
Its early history is included in that of Anoka county.
ANOKA CITY.
The county seat of Anoka county is located on the Mississippi
at the mouth of Rum river and dates its settlement to the year

444 FIFTY YEARS
1847, when Thomas Holmes located on the east bank of the river,
and built the. first log house for a trading post. Aaron Betts, in
the employ of Holmes, brought his family with him, the first
family in the town. In the winter of 1847-48 Holmes sold out
to Simeon P. Folsom, whose family was the second in the town.
Mr. Folsom raised the first crop in the township. In September,
1848, Mr. Folsom removed to Sherburne county, selling out his
elaim to Louis Roberts. In the winter of the same year Wm. Dahl
took possession for Mr. Roberts. In the spring of 1849 Antoine
Roberts, brother of Louis, came from Prairie du Chien, took
possession of the home, and lived there some years, when he was
killed by an Indian. When the land on which the improvements
were made was brought into market Louis Roberts entered it.
In 1851 Anton Guion entered a quarter section of land on the
west side. He immediately sold his claim to Henry M. Rice, who
bought it with the intention of platting it as a town site. His
brother, Orrin Rice, occupied it and made improvements. Rum
river has a fall of five feet, which is fully utilized at Anoka.
In 1851 Geo. W. Branch took up a claim on the west side, and
built a house near what is now the corner of Main and Ferry
streets. This was the first frame house in Anoka, which, from
this time forward, grew almost imperceptibly into a village, till
in 1855 the census showed nearly 300 inhabitants. In 1860 the
population was 602, and in 1886, 5,000. Anoka was incorporated
as a city in 1878, with the following board of officers: Mayor, G.
W. Church; aldermen, D. C. Dunham, D. H. Lane, L. G. Brown
ing, A. Davis, H. N. Seelye, and J. H. Pierce; treasurer, H. E.
Lepper; justices of the peace, W. W. Fitch and E. S. Teller;
constables, George Geddes and Norman McLean. At that
time the city was divided into two wards, the First includ
ing the east side, and the Second the west side, of Rum river.
In 1881 the west side was changed to the First ward, and the
east side became the Second and Third wards.
In 1853 Ed. I. Shaw built and opened the first store. It was
on the west side, and the building still stands, and is known as
the Schuler building. It is now the hospital. Caleb and W. H.
Woodbury erected a saw mill on the east side. It was subse
quently owned by Woodbury, Shaw & Farnham. During the
same year a bridge was built across Rum- river by the govern
ment; Orrin Rice, contractor. The first flour mill was finished

IN THE NORTHWEST. 445
in 1855. It was burned ten days after with $5,000 worth of
wheat and corn a total loss, as there was no insurance. It was
owned by A. P. Lane, Caleb and Henry Woodbury. The mill
was rebuilt by Caleb Woodbury and Wm. L. Barnes. In 1855
H. L. Ticknor erected and opened the first store on the east side.
Rev. Royal Twitchell preached the first sermon and taught the
first school. The first mill was utilized on Sundays as a church.
The Congregationalists organized the first church in Anoka in
1855, and erected a church building in 1857. The Baptists and
Catholics organized in 1856, the Methodists and Episcopalians
in 1860, the Universalists in 1867, the Swedish Lutherans in
1870, the Adventists in 1880, and the Free Methodists in 1882.
The Masons organized a lodge in 1866, the Knights of Pythias
in 1872, the United Workmen in 1877, the Patrons of Husban-
bandry in 1874, and the Odd Fellows in 1882.
Anoka has suffered from time to time by fires. A flour mill,
two saw mills, half a dozen hotels, and a large number of stores
have been burned at different times, and twice the business part
of the city has been destroyed. Aug. 16, 1884, the entire busi
ness portion of the city, including 60 business blocks and the
Washburn mills, was consumed. The loss amounted to $750,000,
on which there was an insurance of $316,000. The burnt district
has since been handsomely rebuilt, and the Washburn flour mill
has been replaced with a superior building, five stories high,
60x180, ground plan, and rising to the height of 112 feet. This
is one of the finest mills in the State.
The court house is valued at $35,000, the city hall at $12,000,
and four school buildings at $75,000. The bridge across the
Mississippi, a fine structure, 700 feet long, was built at a
cost of $100,000. Street cars have been introduced on some
of the streets. The principal manufactories are the Lincoln
flouring mill, with a capacity of seven hundred bushels per day,
owned by the Washburn Mill Company; four saw mills belong
ing to the Washburn Mill Company, with a capacity of 50,000,-
000 feet per year; the Anoka Sash and Door Factory, one of the
most thriving industries in the city, Jonas Morell, manager; a
starch factory, a boot and shoe company, with a capital of $30,-
000, recently organized. Other industries are well represented;
the whole giving employment to over 1,000 men.
The^Tirst National Bank of Anoka was organized as a private

446 FIFTY YEARS
banking institution in 1872. It became a state bank in 1882,
with a capital stock of $25,000, and a national bank in 1883,
with a paid up capital of $50,000. The officers are: President,
H. L. Ticknor; cashier, B. F. Pratt. The Anoka National Bank
was organized in 1883, with a paid up capital of $100,000. The
officers are: President, W. D. Washburn; vice president, C. C.
Grane; cashier, C. S. Guderian. BETHEL
Includes township 33 and the twelve south sections of township
34, range 23. Its surface is partially prairie land, and is dotted
with small lakes. The first settlers were Quakers, with the ex
ception of Rice, Price, O. Evans and Robert Minard, who came
in 1855. Bethel post office is located at what is known as Bethel
Corners. The town was organized in 1858. The first supervis
ors were O. Evans, W. Dickens and R. Price.
BLAINE,
Named in honor of James G. Blaine, embraces township 31,
range 23. It was originally included in Anoka, but was set off
and organized in 1877. The first supervisors were Moses Ripley,
George Tisdale and Richard de Long. The records have not been
kept with sufficient accuracy to enable us to determine who were
the first settlers. It appears, however, that the first comers
abandoned their claims. Green Chambers is the first settler re
corded. He came in 1865. BURNS
Includes township 33, range 25, and is in the northwestern part
.of the county. The soil is clay loam, and in the western part are
many lakes. Of these Twin lakes are ninety feet in depth. The
first settler was John Derigan, who was also one of the first set
tlers of Elk River township, in Sherburne county. The town
was organized in 1869. The supervisors were John D. Keen,
John A. Mussey and W. D. Le Clair. A German Lutheran
church was built in 1878. CENTREVILLE
Includes township 31, range 22. It is the oldest settlement in
the county, Alphonse Jarvis having located here in 1840. Frank
Lamott settled here in 1849. The first considerable settlement

IN THE NORTHWEST. 447
was made on Rice lake, in 1850, by F. W. Traverse and other
German families. A Ffcnch colony settled in the eastern part
of the town in 1852. Prominent among these colonists were
Francis X. Levalle and brother, Oliver and Frank Dupre, Fran-
eis Lamott and Oliver Peltier. The town was organized in 1857,
with the following commissioners: Oliver Peltier, chairman;
Francis Lamott, treasurer, and Stephen Ward. The town was
originally a timbered and meadow district. ¦ It has a good black
loam soil, and is well watered by Rice lake and numerous small
streams. It contains a number of ancient mounds. Its nearest
railroad station is Centreville, on the St. Paul & Duluth road,
in Washington county. CENTRETILLE VILLAGE
Was platted in 1853, by Peltier, Lavalle & Lamott. It contains
a substantial brick church known as the Church of St. Gene
vieve of Paris, built in 1859. The congregation numbers about
four hundred. ,
COLUMBUS,
Township 32, range 22, was settled in 1855 by James Starkey,
Isaac Conway, John Kleiner and Henry Batzle. Mr. Conway be
came a dealer in real estate, and removed to California where he
died. James Starkey figured prominently in the early history of the
Territory and State, but may be mentioned here as the founder
of the village of Columbus, in 1855 and 1856. He expended $60, -
000 in building a hotel and other improvements, not a vestige of
which now remains. FRIDLEY.
This town, including fractional township 30, range 24, was
organized as Manomin county in 1857, and held that organiza
tion, with A. M. Fridley as chairman of county commissioners,
until 1870, when it was disorganized and attached to Anoka
county, retaining Manomin as its town name until 1879, when it
was changed to Fridley by legislative enactment. John Sulli
van, G. W. Thurber and Thomas Casey were the first supervisors.
The town contains about thirteen sections of land in the eastern
part of township 30, range 24, pleasantly located on the east
bank of the Mississippi. It is traversed by Rice creek.

448 FIFTY YEARS
John Banfil settled here in 1848 and was the first postmaster
of the village of Manomin, of which he, was proprietor. He
represented the Twenty-fourth district as senator iu the first state
legislature. He removed to Bayfield, Wisconsin, and died there
in 1886. It has been improved by the introduction of large
manufacturing establishments. A flouring mill was built in
1871. In 1887 $100,000 was expended in manufactories, and real
estate to the amount of $400,000 changed hands. It has one
church building (Episcopal), erected in 1858.
grow
Includes township 32, range 24. It is watered by Rum river and
Coon creek. George Branch settled here in 1853, and about the
same period, J. C. Frost, Joseph McKinney, Andrew J. Smith
and Walter D. Gary. The town was organized in 1857 as Round
Lake, but changed to Grow in 1860, in honor of Senator Grow
of Pennsylvania. The first supervisors were Silas O. Lum, W.
W. Hank and Wm. Staples. The town records were burned in
1856. In 187;3 the Catholics erected a church building.
HAM LAKE,
Formerly a part of Grow, was set off and organized in 1871. It
includes township 32, range 23. It was settled chiefly by Swedes
and Norwegians, of whom Matts Gilbertson, of Norway, was
first to locate here. There were riiany transient persons among
the first comers, but the first permanent settler of any nation
ality was Josiah Hart, from Vermont, who came in 1857. He
died in 1876. John Scully came in 1858. The first supervisors
were John Rowe, A. B. Lingard and C. Olsen. The Swedes and
Norwegians have each a house of worship.
LINWOOD.
This town, consisting of township 33, and twelve sections of
township 34, range 22, lies in the northeastern part of the
county. It is well watered and traversed by a chain of lakes.
The first settlement was by Joseph Sanson, a German, who lo
cated here in 1 855. W. Dickens, an Englishman, came in 1857.
Linwood was set off from Bethel and Columbus, and organized
September,, 1871. The first town officers were J. G. Green, F.
McGregor and Michael Hurley. There is a post office in the

IN THE NORTHWEST. 449
village of Linwood. A Methodist church was built in 1873, and
a saw and feed mill, by Shan ton & Haskell, in 1875.
L. S. Arnold, a .native of Montreal, Canada, born in 1820,
came to Minnesota in 1847. He seems to have made his home
at Linwood, which he left, but after living some years in Michi
gan and Missouri, he again returned in 1866.
Samuel Ridge came to Linwood in 1860.
J. G. Green, born in 1819, located here 'in 1863, and since
1867 has served as postmaster in Linwood village. He has
served several years as county commissioner. The Green broth
ers are descendants of the Plymouth Pilgrims.
G. W. Haskell was an early settler. He originally came
from Skowhegan, Maine. He died in 1885.
Michael M. Ryan was born in Ireland in 1845. He came to
America in 1858 and settled in Linwood with his father's family.
Two brothers enlisted as volunteers during the Civil War, and
died in the service.
The Hurley Family come to Linwood some time in the '50s.
The sons are prominent business men at North Branch, Pine
City and Hinckley. The father moved to North Branch in 1887.
OAK GROVE
Includes township 33, range 24. It abounds in small lakes and
the Rum river drains the western portion. The first settlers
were David Rogers, Moses Seeley and James Nutter, in 1855.
Dennis Mahoney, of Ireland, born in 1813, came to Oak Grove
in 1856, held the office of supervisor fourteen years, and that of
justice of the peace continuously to the present. The town was
organized in 1857, with the following supervisors: A.W. Norris,
Dennis E. Mahoney and Peter Brennan. Rose, daughter of Wil
liam Smith, was the first child born.
RAMSEY,
Named in honor of the first territorial governor, occupies frac
tional township 32, range 25, in the western part of the county,
on the Mississippi river. It was organized in 1857 as Water-
town, which name was changed to Dover, and then to Ram
sey, in 1885. In 1849 an Indian trading house was opened in
section 19, by T. A. Holmes and Thomas Beatty. The first
permanent settlement was made by a New England colony
29

450 FIFTY YEARS
in 1850, amongst whom were P. Shumway and sons (John and
Peter), Nathan and Benjamin Shumway, and Cornelius Pitman.
In 1852 the town plat of Itasca was surveyed in sections 19 and
30. William Vincent, Thomas Miller and J. C. Bowers came to
Ramsey in 1852. Mr.' Bowers was postmaster for twenty -five
years at Itasca, and died Oct. 4, 1879. The first supervisors
were Jared Benson, Isaac Varney and Cornelius Pitman.
ST. FRANCIS
Includes the two southern tiers of sections of township 34, ranges
24 and 25. The first settlers were George Armsby and E. Fowler,
in 1855. The town was organized in 1857, but the records have
been lost. Dwight Woodbury, who has been prominent in the
history of the county, located a water power flour and saw mill
and built a hotel on Rum river where the village of St. Francis
has since been built, and surveyed the village plat. The mills
were destroyed by fire in 1869, but were immediately rebuilt.
In 1880 a bridge across Rum river was built at an expense of
$7,000. Mr. Woodbury's investments have been over $25,000.
Mr. Streetly opened the first store and was first postmaster at
St. Francis. AN INDIAN RIOT.
In the fall of 1847 a German baron, a single man, and Wm.
Noot and wife settled on Big island, in the Mississippi, about
two miles above the mouth of Rum river. They were traders.
In March, 1848, in consequence of the revolution in Germany,
the baron returned to his native land. Noot remained until
June, when the Winnebago Indians were removed by Gen.
Fletcher. Pending their removal the Winnebagoes made a raid
on the trading post, confiscated the whisky and provisions and
fastened Noot in a stable and his wife and child in a small cabin,
where they were found by S. P. Folsom the same day, sur
rounded by drunken Indians and in imminent peril. Noot
appealed to Folsom for aid. The Indians, however, were furious
and threatened Folsom' s life. The chief, "Whistling Thunder,"
used his influence in a novel way to quiet the turbulent, by
placing before them all that remained of the barrel of whisky,
which they eagerly drank. Folsom then released Noot. The
wife, who had been previously released, ran with her child,
frightened out of her wits, no one knew whither. After a long

IN THE NORTHWEST. 451
search the captain found her, and at great risk took her across a
slough to the mainland in a canoe, which nearly sank before the
shore was reached. Noot afterward went to St. Paul and pur
chased eighty acres of land, now in the heart of the city. He
was a member of the house, Fourth and Fifth Minnesota legis
latures. At present he resides at Big Lake, Sherburne county.
Jared Benson. — Mr. Benson was the son of Jared and Sal-
lie Taft Benson, and was born in Blackstone, Massachusetts,
Nov. 8, 1821. The farm on which he was born was purchased
of the Indians by his great, great grandfather. His paternal
grandfather, Benoni Benson, and his maternal grandfather,
Ebeaezer Taft, served in the Revolutionary War, the former as
a lieutenant. Jared Benson, his father, served in the war of
1812. Mr. Benson had a fair common school education and occupied
himself in farming until 1844, when he joined the corps of engi
neers who were locating the Providence & Worcester railroad.
He was afterward agent for the company and superintendent of
transportation. In 1856 he came to Minnesota, locating at Anoka
and engaging chiefly in farming and stock raising. He has
served his townsmen as justice of the peace and county commis
sioner. For some years he has been a director of the St. Paul
& Pacific railroad. He served as clerk of the house of repre
sentatives in 1859-60, and was afterward member and speaker
of the house for three years, including the extra session of 1862.
He was revenue collector for his district in 1870-72, and was
again elected to the legislature in 1878. He was married to
'Martha Taft, of Mendon, Massachusetts, Feb. 5, 1857. They
have five children.
James C. Frost was born in Rumford, Oxford county, Maine,
in 1816. He was raised on a farm. On reaching his majority
he came to Jefferson county, Wisconsin, where he lived four
teen years. In 1852 he came to St. Anthony and in 1853 to
Anoka. He held the office of postmaster several years and was
again reappointed in 1888; served fifteen years as sheriff and as
a member of the legislature in 1857-58. He was in the employ
of the St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Company for nine years. He
was married in 1840 and has a family of eight daughters.
A. J. McKenney, born in Lowell, Maine, Feb. 20, 1829, came
to St. Anthony in 1850 and followed lumbering until 1854, when

452 FIFTY YEARS
he came to Ramsey, Anoka county, and located in section 2 as a
farmer. He has been a prominent citizen.
John Henry Batzle was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, in
1830; came to America in 1837; lived in New York until 1855,
when he came to Minnesota and located in what is now the town
of Columbus, Anoka county, where he engaged in farming. He
has been a member of the Methodist church for twenty-five
years. He is in every way much esteemed as a citizen. He
was married in 1854, but has no children.
John R. Bean was born at Salmon Falls, New Hampshire,
April 25, 1831; came to St. Anthony in 1849 and to Ramsey,
Anoka county, in 1850, where he made a farm in section 33. He
says this was the first farming done in Anoka county. From
1850 to 1859 he lived alternately at his home in St. Anthony
and his farm in Ramsey. In 1870 he removed to Anoka city,
where he is engaged in lumbering.
William Staples was born in 1815, in York county, Maine,
where he was married in 1840. He came to St. Anthony in
1850. He has lived in the town of Grow, of which he was one
of the founders, for many years. He is a farmer and brick-
mason. Abraham McCormack Fridley was born May 21, 1818, at
Corning, Steuben county, New York. His parents were Penn-
sylvanians, of German descent. He received a common school
education. At the age of twenty-one years he was appointed
deputy sheriff of Steuben county, and was afterward collector
of canal tolls at Corning . In April, 1851, he was appointed by
President Fillmore agent for the Winnebago Indians then at
Long Prairie, Todd county. In that year he was also admitted
to practice law. In 1853 he removed to St. Paul and was elected
sheriff of Ramsey county. The next year he removed to St.
Anthony Falls and was elected to the house of the territorial
legislature. A little later he removed to Manomin, now Frid
ley. He was elected a representative in the legislatures of 1869-
70-71 and 79. For many years he cultivated a large farm at
Becker. For ten years he has been in the employ of the Mani
toba railroad as land agent. He is a Democrat, and in I860 was
delegate to the conventions at Charleston and Baltimore. Mr.
Fridley died March 26, 1S88, leaving a widow and three sons,
Henry C, Frank and David H.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 453
Capt. James Starkey was born in England in 1818. He came
to America in 1849 and located in St. Paul in 1850. He removed
to the town of Columbus, Anoka county, in 1855, and was active
in promoting its interests. His first enterprise, the building up
'of the village of Columbus, was not successful. In 1857, by
order of Gov. Medary, he. commanded a military expedition
against the Chippewas at Sunrise Prairie, the object being to
compel them to return to their reservation, an expedition
attended with some tragical results, as elsewhere narrated.
Capt. Starkey took part in the Civil War as captain of a cavalry
company. He was the first to survey a road through the country
lying between St. Paul and Lake Superior. He was a repre
sentative of the first state legislature. Since 1865 Capt. Starkey
has resided at St. Paul,, and is at present prominent as-a citizen
and as an official in West St. Paul.
SHERBURNE COUNTY.
Prior to its organization, Sherburne was part of Benton county.
It was named in honor of Judge Moses Sherburne, an appointee
, to the bench of the supreme court of Minnesota Territory. The
county is bounded on the north by Benton, on the east by Anoka
and Isanti counties, and on the south by the Mississippi river. It is
somewhat irregularly timbered with pine and hardwood, inter
spersed with oak openings, rolling prairie lands and natural
meadows. The surface is. generally undulating. A prominent
ridge of high land, from three to five miles wide, extends from
Elk river in a northeasterly direction into Anoka county. The
county is well watered by tributaries of the Mississippi, Elk and
St. Louis rivers, and has besides many clear and sparkling
lakes. The soil is mostly sandy loam with clay subsoil, and val
uable granite quarries are found in the northern tier of towns.
David Faribault was the first settler or trader, he having es
tablished a post on the Elk river in 1846, where he made a gar
den and raised potatoes. In September, 1848, H. M. Rice ana
S. P. Folsom bought Faribault's improvements, and Folsom
moved his family to the place and built a log cabin on what is
now Auditor's addition to Elk River village. He was succeeded
in the ownership by Pierre Bottineau.
The county was organized in 1856, under territorial law. The
governor, Willis A. Gorman, appointed J. H. Stevenson, Eph-

454 FIFTY YEARS
riam Nickerson and Eli J. Cutter commissioners (Stevenson being
chairman); Eli Houghton, treasurer; H. j. Putnam, register of
deeds; Andrew Boyington, judge of probate; John G. Jamieson,
county attorney; Orlando Bailey, sheriff. The first commission
ers' meeting was held at the house of Joseph Brown, at the village
of Humboldt, which was made the county seat and so remained
until 1867, when it was removed to Elk River village. The
county was attached to Benton for judicial purposes until 1862.
Prior to this Mr. Brown's house was used for county commission
ers' meetings and for court rooms until burned down some years
later, when the commissioners met at the house of John E.
Putnam. A court house was built at Elk River on lots donated by J. Q.
A. Nickerson, the village donating $1,000 and the county the
remainder necessary for the building.
Prior to the formation of the state government, the county
was divided into election precincts. The first term of district
court was held at Humboldt in December, 1862; Judge C. E.
Vanderburgh, presiding; J. E. Putnam acting as clerk. The
first commissioners who held their meeting at Elk River were
H. Houlton, chairman; A. Boyington and O. Bailey. The first
meetings were held at the house of J. Q. A. Nickerson.
In 1867 the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba railroad was
completed through the county on a line parallel with the gen
eral course of the Mississppi river. The North Pacific railroad,
since built, runs parallel on the same grade. The depots were
built upon the same plan and placed on opposite sides of the two
tracks. The stations are Elk River, Big Lake, Becker, Clear
Lake, and East St. Cloud. The Manitoba has a branch line from
Elk River to Princeton and Milacca, built in 1884.
The first deed recorded was transcribed from the Benton
county records, transfers of property from James Beatty to Rich
ard Chute and David Olmstead, and bears date of July 28, 1851.
TOWNS.
The towns in Sherburne are: Baldwin, deriving its name from
F. Eugene Baldwin, an old citizen; Big Lake, from the lake on
which located; Becker, from Hon. G. L. Becker, of St. Paul;
Blue Hill, from a high hill in the town; Clear Lake, from a lake
of that name; Elk River, from the river on the shore of which it

IN THE NORTHWEST. 455
is located; Haven, from Hon. John Ormsby Haven, who repre
sented his district in the state senate in 1872-73; Livonia, from
the christian name of the wife of an old citizen; Orrock, from
Reuben Orrock, a pioneer, originally from Scotland; and Pal
mer, from Dr. Palmer, of Sauk Centre.
Elk River was the first town organized, and included the
whole county. The first election was held Sept. 30, 1858, at
which the following board of officers was elected: Moderator,
Alden B. Heath; supervisors, J. G. Jamieson, Alden B. Heath,
J. Q. A. Nickerson; clerk, George H. Davis.
VILLAGES OF SHERBURNE COUNTY.
Orono, a post office, was established at Orono in 1850. The
office was merged into the Elk River post office in 1853. This
post office, with the mills erected in 1851, became the nucleus of
the Elk River settlement, which some years later became Elk
River village, within the corporate limits of which Orono is now
situated. Orono was surveyed and platted May, 1855; Ard
Godfrey, proprietor. ELK RIVER,
Located originally about a mile below Orono, was not platted
as a village until 1865. J. Q. A. and Julia Nickerson were
the proprietors. It is on the east bank of the Mississippi,
at its junction with Elk river, above which it now extends
a distance of two miles. It has a pleasant location. It was
incorporated in 1881, with C. S. Wheaton, president; W. T.
Struble, recorder; N. K. Whittemore, H. P. Burrell and L. Pol
lard, commissioners. Elk river affords a fine water power with
ten feet head. Mills were erected here in 1851. A great fire
in May, 1887, destroyed mill property valued at $50,000. Since
the fire a flour mill with a capacity of 250 barrels a day has
been completed at a cost of $25,000. A saw mill is also in pro
cess of construction. The village has an elevator with a capac
ity of 10,000 bushels, 2 town halls, 3 churches, Episcopal, Free
Will Baptist and Congregational; a first class school building,
with rooms for four departments; a school building at Orono,
with two departments; and two- railroad depots, built at a cost
of $9,000.
In June, 1885, a private bank was. incorporated as the Bank
of Elk River.

456 FIFTY YEARS
EAST ST. CLOUD,
In the town of Haven, is a thriving village. It has one of the
best granite quarries in the State. The State, in 1887, located
here its reformatory school, receiving a donation of two hundred
acres of land, covered with gray and variegated granite. The
village was surveyed aud platted in August, 1853; Geo. F. Brott
& Co., proprietors. CLEAR LAKE
Was surveyed and platted March 24, 1882; Alanson Pott er and
wife, proprietors. BECKER
Was surveyed and platted Dec. 5, 1870; J. Freeman and H. C.
Fridley, proprietors. Mr. Vadnais was the first settler, in 1855.
BIG LAKE,
Originally Humboldt village, is located on Elk river, ten miles
above its junction with the Mississippi. Its first settler was
Joseph Brown, a veteran pioneer, but not to be confounded with
the invincible Joe R. Brown, elsewhere referred to. Mr. Brown
came here in 1848, and made substantial improvements. He
died in 1886. His family still reside here. James Ely and Newell
Houghton also settled here in 1884. Mr. Houghton was killed at
the New Ulm massacre in 1862.
John Quincy/ Adams Nickerson was born in New Salem,
Franklin county, Maine, March 30, 1825. He received an aca
demic education; taught school aud followed farming in Maine.
In 1849 he came to St. Anthony Falls, and in 1853 settled at
Elk River, which then contained but one house, a hewed log
structure, which he, in company with B. F. Hildreth, purchased
for a hotel. The house has been enlarged from time to time,
and has been continuously under the charge of Mr. Nickerson.
He has besides employed much of his time in farming and
lumbering, and has dealt in village lots. He was appointed post
master at an early day. He has filled various responsible offices,
among them that of county treasurer and town and county super
visor. He was married to Julia A. Farnham, of St. Anthony
Falls, Oct. 2, 1852. They have five children.
Henry Bittner was born in Bavaria in 1799; came to Amer
ica in his boyhood; enlisted in the United States Army in 1835;

IN THE NORTHWEST. 457
served in the Mexican War; was present at the battle of Buena
Vista, and when the American forces were surrounded performed
a daring feat, carrying a dispatch from Gen. Taylor through the
Mexican lines to an American fort. He was a target for the bul
lets of the Mexican Army, but arrived at his destination severely
wounded. He was discharged on account of his wounds. In
1855 he came to Clear Lake and made him a home. He offered
himself as a volunteer during the late Civil War, but was not
received on account of age and disability. He died at his home
at Clear Lake in 1885.
Francis De Lille, of French descent, was born in Canada in
1782. He came with his family to St. Anthony in 1848, and in
1852 to Elk River, where he occupied the first house built in the
lower, town. He settled on a farm, where he lived the remainder
of his life. He died April 18, 1874, under peculiar circum
stances. He was a devout Catholic, and died suddenly in the
church while kneeling during a part of the service. His widow
and youngest son reside at the old homestead.
Mrs. De Lille, formerly Catharine Queenan, of Ireland, is
one of the oldest settlers of Sherburne county. She has eight
children living, Mary F., married and living in Dakota; Frank,
Agnes; Elisabeth, married to Peter Trump of Taylor's Falls;
Harriet, wife of Joseph Holt, of Taylor's Falls; Joseph F., Ro-
sanna and Sarah, all married.
Howard M. Atkins was born in New Sharon, Franklin
county, Maine, May 11, 1838. His father was stricken down by
lightning, leaving him at the age of thirteen to assist in taking
care of the family. Howard was near his father and was struck
senseless by the same flash that deprived him of a father. Re
covering, he set himself earnestly and seriously to the duties of
life, performed his allotted tasks about the household, and suc
ceeded in obtaining a good high school education. He came to
Princeton, Mille Lacs county, in 1856, studied law and was ad
mitted to practice in Mille Lacs county in 1863. Subsequently
he practiced law five years in St. Cloud. He came to Elk River
in 1876. He has held official positions in Mille Lacs, Stearns
and Sherburne counties. Mr. Atkins has acquired an honorable
position through his own exertions and richly deserves the re
spect of his fellow citizens. He was married in 1862 to Virginia
Sinclair, of Illinois. They have two sons and four daughters.

458 FIFTY YEARS
B. F. Hildreth was born in Milford, Maine, March, 1822. He
learned the trade of a blacksmith and came to St. Anthony in.
1849, and the year following did part of the crew work of the
first steamer lauuched on the Mississippi above the falls. Since
then he has engaged chiefly in lumbering and farming. In 1850
he was married to M. E. Farnham, of St. Anthony. He removed
to Elk River in 1873.
Samuel Hayden was born Oct. 12, 1806, at Madison, Maine.
He came to Livonia, Sherburne county, in 1856. He has a family
of four sons and three daughters, residents of Minnesota. His
brother, the Hon. Wentworth Hayden, was a member of the
constitutional convention of 1857.
The writer of these sketches had known Mr. Samuel Hayden
in early life, and distinctly remembered seeing him the winter
of 1827, driving an ox team in the pineries on Dead river,
Maine. He was then a young man of twenty- one, and the writer
t was a boy of ten. Sixty years later they met in Sherburne county,
and the writer recognized in the aged man of eighty-one years
the young man of twenty-one, though for the moment unable to
call his name. It is seldom that memory bridges so wide a
chasm. Joseph Jerome settled in the town of Haven in 1846, and is
therefore among the first of the pioneers. In 1848 he sold his
property to Samuel Sturgis and removed to Michigan.
Joshua O. Cater came from Stafford county, New Hamp
shire, and was one of the earliest settlers of the town of Haven,
where he still lives.
J. F. Bean also came from New Hampshire to Sherburne
county, and is now a resident of Livonia, and postmaster at Lake
Fremont. J. H. Felch, of Maine, an early settler of Livonia, is now liv
ing at Elk River.
James Brady came to Palmer in 1855. He died about 1868.
Joshua Briggs settled in Palmer in 1855, and died there in
1881. Robert Orrock, for whom the town of Orrock was named,
died at his home, at a good old age, January, 1885.
John G. Jamieson died at Elk River in 1869.
A. B. Heath removed to Oregon in 1873, where he still lives.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 459
Dr. B. R. Palmer, for whom the town of Palmer was named,
was a resident of Sauk Centre and died there in 188.5.
Judge Moses Sherburne, for whom the county was named,
died at Elk River in 1869.
Chas. F. George, who settled in Santiago in 1856, is at present
chairman of the board of county commissioners.
Royal George, a pioneer of the same date, returned to Ver
mont, where he died in 1887.
W.'L. Babcock, a merchant of Santiago, still resides here.

460 FIFTY YEARS

CHAPTER XVII.

BENTON COUNTY.
At the organization of Minnesota Territory three counties
were created, of which Benton was one. Its eastern boundary
followed the course of Rum river from its mouth to its junction
with the west branch and thence a line due north to the Mis
sissippi river. The boundary line upon the west followed the
windings of the Mississippi down to its junction with Rum
river, making a county large and irregular in outline, extending
from north tb south about one hundred miles, and about forty at
its widest point from east to west. The formation of new coun
ties since that time has left it with less than eleven townships
lying east of the Mississippi river and bounded on the north by
Morrison, on the east by Mille Lacs, and on the south by Sher
burne counties. The soil is diversified. There is black sandy
loam in the plains and a black vegetable mould in the tim
ber, with clay subsoils. It is a fair agricultural district, having
groves of pine and hardwood in the east and natural meadows,
prairies and oak openings in the central and western portions.
It is well watered by the Mississippi and its tributaries, Elk,
Little Rock and Platte rivers. It has some fine lakes, of which
Mayhew, Briggs and Little Rock are the largest. A granite
formation underlies most of this county and crops out in many
places, furnishing valuable quarries. The granite is plain and
variegated and is being worked and shipped extensively. Near
the village of Watab there is a rich upheaval. The St. Paul
custom house is made of the Watab granite.
The Northern Pacific railway passes through this county par
allel with the channel of the Mississippi river. The Manitoba,
St. Cloud & Hinckley branch passes through the southern tier

IN THE NORTHWEST. 461
of towns. The organized towns are Alberta, Gilmanton, Glen-
dorado, Granite Lodge, Maywood, Minden, Sauk Rapids, St.
George, and Watab. The villages are East St. Cloud, Foley,
Oak Grove, Rice's, and Watab.
The first settlers were Philip Beaupre, in 1844; David Gil
man, in 1848; Jeremiah Russell, Wm. H. Wood, James Beatty,
Ellis Kling, Wm. Smith, and J. C. Mayhew, in 1849. Sauk Rap
ids was made the county seat, then Watab, then Sauk Rapids.
The first board of officers, qualified Jan. 7, 1850, were: Com
missioners, Wm. A. Aitkin, chairman; Joseph Brown and James
Beatty; assessors, Truman A. Warren and Reuben M. Richard
son; attorney, W. D. Phillips. The voting precincts were at
Sauk Rapids, Swan River and Crow Wing. The judges of elec
tion were: For Sauk Rapids, J. Russell, Wm. Sturgis and. Cur
tis Bellows; for Swan River, Philip Beaupre, James Green and
Duncan Stewart; for Crow Wing, Allen Morrison, Wm. Morri
son and Sylvester Stateler. The first election was held at Pierre
Bottineau's house, now in Sherburne county. George Egbert and
Thomas Holmes were judges of election.
The first court in the county was held Nov. 11, 1850; Bradley
B. Meeker, presiding. David Gilman was the first sheriff, John
C. Hawley the second. The first deed recorded was from James
Hitchins to Wm. F. Cobletts It bore date of Oct. 21, 1850.
Taylor Dudley was register of deeds. The land conveyed was a
tract lying at the foot of Sauk Rapids, being a land claim of one
hundred and sixty acres, purchased from Calvin Potter.
SAUK RAPIDS.
The site of the village of Sauk Rapids was judiciously chosen.
It slopes gently to the river's east bank, giving a pleasant front
age to the rapids. Philip Beaupre came here first in 1844. His
son, William P., was the first white child here, born May 24,
1852. Geo. O. Sweet was the second, born Aug. 22, 1852. Sev
eral Indian traders located here and at Watab. Following Mr.
Beaupre came T. A. Holmes, James Beatty, J. Russell, Calvin
Potter, James Hitchins, Curtis Bellows, and Charles Webb.
The first plat of Sauk Rapids was made and recorded in 1854.
The proprietors were J. Russell, G. M. Sweet and S. Van Nest.
The surveyor was C. B. Chapman.
The village was incorporated in 1881. The commissioners

462 FIFTY YEARS
appointed under the general act to effect the organization were
Alphonso J. Demeules, Erasmus Cross, B. K. Knowlton. A
wagon bridge built across the Mississippi at this point cost
$25,000. It was greatly damaged by a storm, and partially
destroyed by the cyclone of 1886.
The dam across the Mississippi at Sauk Rapids was built in
1870 at a cost of $140,000. The east wing is owned by the Com
modore Davidson estate; the west, by the Sauk Rapids Manu
facturing Company.
The rapids are formed by the eruption of granite ledges across
the channel of the river. A flour mill built herewith a capacity
of three hundred barrels per day was totally destroyed by the
cyclone of April 16, 1886, which was one of the most destructive
on record. The estimated loss in Sauk Rapids was $300,000, of
which $108,000 was made up by voluntary contributions from
St. Paul, Minneapolis and other portions of the State.
The public buildings, including the court house, school build
ings and several churches, were destroyed, together with many
fine stores and dwellings.
Since the cyclone the village has been handsomely rebuilt. A
new court house has replaced the old one at a cost of $6,000, a
new school house has been built at a cost of $12,000 — a model
building with rooms for five departments. There are five new
church buildings, an Episcopal, Congregational, Methodist and
two Lutheran. WATAB.
Watab appears to have been a noted Indian trading post from
1844 to 1855. Asa White, D. Gilman, C. W. Borup, N. Myrick,
Gen. Lowry, and others were located, or had stations here. Watab
was for a short time the county seat of Benton county. A bridge
was once built across the Mississippi here, but it has disappeared.
The village site was surveyed and platted, and a post office es
tablished in 1853. P. Lamfj was postmaster. A steam saw mill
was erected here, but was afterward removed. The first im
proved farm in Benton county was located in the vicinity.
David Gilman, Benjamin Bright and George Goodhue were early
settlers. Philip Beaupre was born in Lower Canada, in 1823. As his
name indicates, he is of French descent. He received a French
education. He came West in 1481 ; entered the employ of the

IN THE NORTHWEST. 463
fur company in 1843, and located at Sauk Rapids in 1844. When
he arrived there were no white inhabitants, save Indian traders,
on the Mississippi north of St. Anthony. Mr. Beaupre built a
log house in 1851, and was continuously engaged in trade until
succeeded by his sons. He assisted in forming the county, town
and village organizations, filling many offices of trust and honor.
In 1880 he served as judge of the probate court, and since as
collector of customs at Pembina. In 1851 he was married to
Teresa de Noyes, of St. Louis, and has a family of seven sons and
six daughters, all residing in Benton county.
David Gilman.— Hon. David Gilman, of Watab, was born
April 29, 1812, at Saratoga, New York. He was left fatherless
at the age of six months, and his mother subsequently placed him
in the family of a neighbor to be brought up ahd cared for until
the age of twenty-one. As he grew older he was not pleased
with this arrangement, and at the age of fourteen left his home
to adventure for himself. His opportunities for securing an ed
ucation were limited. In 1836 he came to Michigan. In 1844
he married Nancy W. Lamb, of Woodstock, Vermont. In 1848
he came to Watab, Minnesota, and made him a permanent home,
making himself a useful, influential and public spirited citizen,
filling many positions of trust in his town, county and state gov
ernments. Amongst the offices filled by him were those of deputy
United States marshal, member of the second territorial legisla
ture, and of the constitutional convention. He was postmaster
at Watab from the establishment of the office in 1849 until 1885,
when he died, greatly lamented by his friends and honored by
all who knew him. Mrs. Gilman and four children survive him.
James Beatty was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, April 27,
1816. When fourteen years of age he went to Cass county,
Michigan. He farmed for the Winnebago Indians near Fort At
kinson, Iowa, for several years, and coming to Minnesota in 1848
located at Sauk Rapids, which he made his permanent home.
He has been engaged as Indian trader, hotel keeper, merchant
and farmer. He was a member of the Minnesota territorial leg
islatures of 1851, 1853 and 1854. He was married to Eliza Fos-
cet, of New York, in 1854. They have three children living.
Ellis Kling was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania,
Oct. 15, 1824. He was brought up as a farmer, and has made
farming his occupation through life. He came to Sauk Rapids

464 FIFTY YEARS
in 1851. In 1854 he was married to Lucy Lewis, of Belle Prai
rie. They have five sons and one daughter.
George W. Benedict. — Mr. Benedict was born at Rochester,
New York, in 1827. He served an apprenticeship to a printer
in Canada for five years. In 1851 he was married to Anna Cronk,
a native of Prince Edward county, Canada. For four years he
published the Tecumseh (Mich.) Herald and in 1854, having
removed to Sauk Rapids, established the Frontiersman for Jere
miah Russell. This paper he conducted for three years. He
then conducted the New Era for one year. In 1868 he estab
lished the Sauk Rapids Sentinel, which he conducted four years,
when he started the Alexandria Post and also became a member
of a company that published the St. Cloud Press, with which he
was connected one year. In 1872 he re-established the Sauk
Rapids Sentinel, which he sold to W. L. Nieman, but repurchased
after the cyclone of 1886. Mr. Benedict was in the United States
revenue service ten years, and served as a member of the state
senate one term.
J. Q. A. Wood was born in Chichester, New Hampshire, in
1815. He graduated at Union College, New York, in 1843;
studied law with President Franklin Pierce; was admitted to
practice in 1846, and made his home at Sauk Rapids in 1854,
which has been his home ever since, with the exception of some
years spent in Kentucky as editor of the Southern Kentucky Shield.
This paper was suppressed in 1862. Returning to Sauk Rapids
in 1864, he engaged in the practice of law, in which he has since
continued. During this period he served eleven years as
county attorney, and also a term as probate judge. Mr. Wood
was seriously injured in the great cyclone, having been buried
in the debris of the court house, from which, with great difficulty,
he extricated himself. Mr. Wood is a poetical writer of some
reputation, many of his productions having been received with
great favor. Among them we may mention "Father is Growing
Old, John," "Ode to New Hampshire," and "The Wine of
Cyprus." He has one son, a resident of Dakota, and one
daughter, the wife of D. C. Roberts of West Superior.
William H. Wood was born in London, New Hampshire,
Feb. 2, 1817. When he was fourteen years of age his father re
moved to Tecumseh, Michigan. He graduated at Dartmouth
College in 1839 and afterward took a course in Union College,

in the northwest. 465
New York, graduating in 1843. He then returned to Tecumseh,
Michigan, where he studied law with Judge Stacy. In 1845 he
was admitted to the bar in Lenawee county, Michigan. During
the presidential campaign of the year following he edited a pa
per in Kentucky, the Rough and Ready, advocating the claims of
Gen. Taylor for the presidency. In 1848 he located in Greens-
burg, Kentucky, and in 1849 was married to a lady of refine
ment, known to the, literary world under the nom de plume of
"Minnie Mary Lee." In 1849 he removed to Sauk Rapids, Min
nesota. He was there editor of the pioneer paper, the Frontiers
man. He afterward owned, and with his gifted wife edited,
the New Era, in which he was an ardent supporter of Mr. Lin
coln for the presidency in 1860. Meanwhile he practiced his
profession and held the office of county attorney for many years.
When the land office was established at Sauk Rapids he was ap
pointed receiver and served a number of years. He was a
member of the first state legislature. In 1869 he was elected
president of the New Athens College, Greensburg, Kentucky,
and served a short time, when he contracted the disease that af
terward terminated his earthly career. Mr. Wood was a man
of more than ordinary ability, an eloquent speaker, a fluent and
gifted writer, whose influence will long be felt. He left a widow
and three children.
Mrs. W. H. Wood has been a liberal contributor to maga
zines and the author of several volumes, of which a list is
here appended: "The Heart of Myrrha Lake;" " Into the Light
of Catholicity:" "Hubert's Wife;" "The Brown House at Duf-
field;" "Strayed from the Fold;" "Three Times Three; or,
Basil, Beatrice, Ethel;" "Story of Annette;" "Hazel Green's
Rival." A. De Lacy Wood, son of Mrs. W. H. Wood, edits the Two
Harbor Iron Post, in Lake county.
P. H. Wood, second son of Mrs. W. H. Wood, edits the Sauk
Rapids Free Press.
Rev. Sherman Hall was born in Weathersfield, Vermont;
was educated at Exeter Academy, Dartmouth College and An
dover Theological Seminary. He was married to Betsey Parker
in 1831, and ordained the same year as a missionary to the Chip
pewa Indians at La Pointe. With them he remained until 1854,
when he transferred hisjresidence to Sauk Rapids and organized
30

466 - FIFTY YEARS
a Congregational church, of which he continued pastor until
his death, Sept. 1, 1859. Mr. Hall made a translation of parts
of the Bible into the Ojibway tongue. He was greatly beloved
amongst his people for his firm, christian demeanor and pub
licly recognized as a man of integrity and sound judgment. He
served the people of Benton county as judge of probate court
and county superintendent of schools.
Jeremiah Russell wag born in Eaton, Madison county, New
York, Feb. 2, 1809. He received a common school and academic
education, and learned to set type in the office of the Chautauqua
Gazette. He subsequently taught school and worked for awhile
in printing offices. Removing to Palmyra, he clerked in a store '
several years. In 1835 he came to Michigan, and thence to the
Lake Superior country, where he superintended a copper mine
for a couple of years, at Left Hand river, near the head of the
lake. In 1837 he came to Fort Snelling, and in 1839 accompa
nied Frank Steele and others to St. Croix Falls, and engaged" in
building a saw mill. In 1840 he went to Pokegama mission as
' government farmer and blacksmith. About 1842, at the closing up
of the Pokegama mission in consequence of Indian disturbances,
he purchased the old Connor trading post and farm. In 1843,
with Elam Greely, he went down the St. Croix and up the
Mississippi and Rum rivers in a birch canoe, exploring for pine
timber. They found Rum river blockaded at one place a dis
tance of three-quarters of a mile, with drifts or rafts of trees,
consolidated and held together by the roots of grasses and water
willows, the accumulations apparently of ages. Around this raft
they made a portage, and ascended a tributary of Rum river to
its source, thence down the Kanabec or. Snake river to Poke
gama. In 1848 Mr. Russell came to Crow Wing, Minnesota, as
agent for Borup & Oakes, Indian traders and fur dealers. In the
autumn of 1849 he established himself at a point two miles above
Sauk Rapids, and opened up a farm of one hundred and thirty
acres. At the end of four years he moved down the river and
made a land claim on the west side, including the water power
of Sauk Rapids. He owned an interest also in the water power
on the east side. In 1854 he was one of the company that sur
veyed and platted the village of Sauk Rapids. He established
the pioneer newspaper, the Sauk Rapids Frontiersman.
¦Mr, Russell for several years held the office of county auditor

IN THE NORTHWEST. 467
and treasurer, and in 1849 was elected to the territorial legis
lature. His name appears in the list of members, but he was
present only at the opening sessions, and voted for but a single
measure. He had told his constituents before his election that
he would not serve. At this time he was Democratic in poli
tics but in later life voted the Republican ticket. Mr. Rus
sell possessed a warm, generous nature, combined with integrity
of character, which gained for him the love and esteem of his
many friends. Ever ready to extend a willing hand to those in
need, and, as far as lay in his power, to assist those in distress, he
will ever be remembered with kindly feelings by all who knew
him. Though exposed to allthe temptations and vicissitudes of
an early settler's life, coming in contact with all kinds of social
conditions, he never departed from the path of christian recti
tude, and those with whom he came in contact will ever remem
ber him for his kind heartedness and gentlemanly bearing.
Sept. 20, 1843, he was united in marriage to Miss Sophia
Oakes (daughter of the late Chas. H. Oakes), who survives him.
Seven children were born unto them, but only three are now
alive. These are Mrs. W. L. Nieman, Miss Julia A. and Mr. J.
A. Russell. Mr. Russell died at his home in Sauk Rapids in 1885.
Edward Oscar Hamlin was born at Bethany, Wayne county,
Pennsylvania, June 12, 1828. He received his preparatory
education at his native place; entered Hamilton College, Clinton,
New York, in 1848, and graduated in 1858, third in his class,
and in three years received the degree of A.M. He read law
first at' Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, with Hon. Geo. W. Wood
ward (afterward one of the judges of the supreme court of
Pennsylvania); at Honesdale, Pennsylvania, later with Earl
Wheeler, Esq., and was admitted to the bar Sept. 7, 1852. After
practicing for two years at Honesdale, he decided to go West,
and in 1855 settled in Sauk Rapids. He was admitted to prac
tice in the territorial courts, and in 1856 was admitted to practice
by the supreme court. Judge Hamlin was elected the first
mayor of the city of St. Cloud. He was nominated by the Demo
cratic party for governor, and subsequently for judge of the
supreme court. He was also, in 1860, appointed by Gov. Ramsey
"a regent of the University of the State of Minnesota," and was
subsequently an efficient and zealous member of the state board
of normal instruction.

468 FIFTY YEARS
Soon after the outbreak of the Rebellion, in 1861, Gov. Ramsey
tendered him the commission of major of the Seventh Regiment,
Minnesota Volunteers, but' his eyesight being defective, he was
obliged to decline it. In 1864 Judge Hamlin was chosen by the
Democratic party as one of the delegates to the Democratic
national convention. He was appointed as one of the commit
tee on platform, and openly denounced, with three others, the
platform before it was adopted, because it declared the war for
the Union a failure. Judge Hamlin was a war. Democrat, and
hung out the stars and stripes over his residence in Sauk Rapids,
the first one in that town to do so. In 1873, being an only child
and yielding to the solicitations of his parents, Judge Hamlin
returned to his native county and opened an office in Honesdale.
After a short residence there he removed to Bethany, which has
since been his home. He continued the practice of his profes
sion in Honesdale until June, 1885, when failing health compelled
him to retire.
Judge Hamlin has been twice married. His first wife was
Mary A., daughter of Judge Eldred, who for a quarter of a
century graced the bench of Pennsylvania. She died at St.
Cloud, Sept. 27, 1868. In October, 1870, Judge Hamlin married
Ella F., daughter of E. B. Strong, Esq., for years clerk of the
dibtrict court of Stearns county.
MORRISON COUNTY.
Morrison county is somewhat irregular in outline. It is
bounded on the north by Crow Wing and Cass, on the east by
Mille Lacs, on the south by Benton and Stearns, on the west by
Stearns and Todd counties. The portion east of the Mississippi
originally belonged to Benton county, and the portion on the
weSt side to Todd county. It contains 1,139 square miles. The
eastern part is well covered with pine and hardwood forests.
The west and central portions consist of oak openings and brush
prairies. The groves are interspersed with poplar. The sur
face is generally level, but is well drained by the Mississippi
and its tributaries, mostly small streams. It has some fine lakes
in the northern and central parts. The soil is well adapted to
farming. A granite range, an extension of the range of Sauk
Rapids and St. Cloud, passes through the county.
William Nicholson was probably the first settler' in this

IN THE NORTHWEST. 469
county. He first came to Swan River in 1847, in company with
ten other men. They forded the Mississippi near the mouth of
Swan river, made a raft and floated down the river a few miles,
where they abandoned it on account of low water, and re
turned south, whence they came. The next summer Nichol
son returned with twenty-two men, crossed the river at the
same place, and cut a road through to the Winnebago agency
at Long Prairie. Returning the same year to the crossing, he
found Wm. Aiken had made a claim and was building a hotel
and store on the east bank of the river. Mr. Nicholson re
mained some years in the vicinity, but is now a resident of Lit
tle Falls. Wm. Aiken permanently located at Swan River in
1848, one year after Nicholson's arrival at that point. He died
in 1851, aged about sixty-five years. He had two Indian wives.
They quarreled and fought savagely at the funeral as to which
was entitled to the position of chief mourner, wife number one
coming off victorious. James Green made a squatter's claim in
1848, and built a saw mill on the east side of the Mississippi by
the island at the falls. Wm. Knowles located at the mouth of
, Rabbit river in 1849. John Stillwell came to Swan River in 1849.
He was a carpenter and worked at his trade until 1856, when he
went into the hotel business. He now resides at Little Falls.
He and Nicholson are the only old settlers of Swan River re
maining in the county.
At the organization of the county, in 1856, Little Falls, located
on the Mississippi a short distance above Swan River, became
the county seat. The year before and the two years following
were years of wild speculation. The chief ambition of the spec
ulators was to found a city. During these years twenty-four vil
lage or town plats were recorded in the office of the register of deeds
in Morrison. Not all, however, were located within the bounds of
the county, some being platted on unsurveyed government lands.
Of these towns, the only one remaining, or of note, is Fergus
Falls, Otte» Tail county, platted by'a company from Little Falls.
Of the towns located in Morrison county, every one yanished
except Little Falls, though Swaii, River, Belle Prairie and Gran
ite City kept up an appearance of prosperity for a time.
The early history of Morrison county is enlivened by many
thrilling incidents of Indian warfare, chiefly of contests between
the Sioux and Chippewas. The Sioux had claimed the territory

470 FIFTY YEARS
from time immemorial, but over a hundred years ag6 the Chip
pewas had driven them westward across the Mississippi and
were in possession of the soil. The tribal hostility of the two
races continued to manifest itself in predatory and retaliatory
raids, and from these the early settlers were often sufferers.
Nathan Richardson, the historian of Morrison county, an au
thority to whom we are greatly indebted, says that the country
was acknowledged to be Chippewa ground before and during the
settlement by the whites, but that the Sioux made frequent raids
through the counties in parties of from five to twenty-five, their
principal object being to possess themselves of Chippewa scalps.
The Chippewas retaliated by pursuing, the Sioux into their own
prescribed limits. Mr. Richardson avers that the Chippewas
were seldom known to treat the white settlers uncivilly, while the
Sioux would kill stock to supply their wants, for which the settlers
were left without compensation from Indians or government.
The Winnebagoes were for some years located within the
bounds of Todd and Morrison counties. In 1848 Gen. Fletcher
removed them from Fort Atkinson, Iowa, to Long Prairie, west
side of the Mississippi; but although the agency was located at
Long Prairie, the Indians occupied the Swan River valley within
the present limits of Morrison and- Todd counties for a period
of seven years, where they engaged partly in hunting and partly
in farming, having about two hundred acres under cultivation,
when they became dissatisfied and were removed to the Blue
Earth country. ,
When the Winnebago Indians were brought to Long Prairie
and the Swan River1 valley, in 1848, the government built Fort
Ripley on the west bank of the Mississippi, about twenty miles
above the mouth of Swan river. The government still owns the
fort and reservation around it, and keeps a garrison there. Fort
Ripley, however, has other associations than those connected
with the Winnebagoes. It was necessary to place a force here
during the Indian outbreak in 1862, the object being $,o overawe
and hold in check the Chippewas, who were more than suspected
of an intention to make common cause with the Sioux in their
warfare against the whites. There the Seventh Regiment, Minne
sota Volunteers, had its headquarters for a time.
Morrison county was named in honor of Hon. Allen W. Mor
rison, who came to Minnesota some time in the '20s, and was

IN THE NORTHWEST. 471
prominent in the early history of the Territory. It was organ
ized April 18, 1856, by the election of the following county offi
cers: Commissioners, Wm. Trask, Elliott J. Kidder andW. W.
Stebbins; register of deeds and clerk of board of commissioners,
Nathan Richardson; judge of probate, James Fergus; sheriff,
Jonathan Pugh; district attorney, W. B. Fairbanks; assessors,
W. B. Tuttle and John Fry.
The first term of court was held May 15, 1856; Judge Moses
Sherburne, presiding. The first deed recorded was dated June
19, 1854, conveying from William Shelafoo to Louis Robair the
northeast quarter of the southwest quarter, and lots 3, 4 and 5
of section 30, township 40, range 32.
Morrison county is subdivided into the following towns: Ag-
ram, Belle Prairie, Buckman, Bellevue, Culdrum, Elmdale, Green
Prairie, Little Falls, Morrill, Motley, Parker, Pierz^ Pike Creek,
Ripley, Swan River, and Two Rivers.
LITTLE FALLS VILLAGE,
r ,
The county seat of Morrison county, is located on the east bank
of the ^Mississippi river, in sections 7, 8, 18 and 19 of township
40, range 32. It derives its name from a rapid in the Missis
sippi river, formed by the extension across the river of the slate
stone ledges of the St. Louis. The site is a prairie, sloping
gently to the water's edge. The first survey was made in 1855,
by S. M. Putnam. The village grew rapidly from the first, and in
1857 the best lots were selling for $1,000 each. Previous to 1855
the only houses in the place were two cabins, a frame build
ing in which E. J. Kidder lived, and a school house. Two hotels
were built that year, one by Joseph Batters, the other by W. B.
Fairbanks dn& Nathan Richardson.
The first settlers were the Kidders, Fairbanks, Batters, Rich
ardson, James Green, William Sturgis, William Butler, and
O. A. Churchill. James Green came as early as 1848, and took
a squatter's claim on the east bank, including the water power,
and built a saw mill, but soon after died, and the property passed
into the hands of H. M. Rice and Capt. Todd, who in 1850 sold
their right to Wm. Sturgis. In 1852 John M. Kidder pre
empted the mill power, transferring it to the Little Falls Com
pany, consisting of Wm. Sturgis and Calvin Tuttle, organized
in 1854 for the improvement of the falls. This company purchased

472 FIFTY YEARS
about 1,000 acres of adjoining land from the government, and in
1855 merged into a stock company with a capital of $100,000, of
which the original company retained one-half, the remaining
half being converted into cash. The stock rose in value at one
time two hundred and fifty per cent.
The company built a new dam and mills, but the revenue did
not keep the property in good condition after the expenditures.
These valuable improvements, including the dam and mills,
were all swept away|by high water in 1860; the firm became bank
rupt, and the valuable power became nearly worthless and en
tirely useless, until 1887, when a new company, known as the
Little Falls Water Power Company, was formed with a paid up
capital of $600,000, which is distributed among eastern and
western capitalists. The company is now constructing very ex
tensive works, the power of which will have a head, or fall, of
twenty feet, thus making it the largest water power, next to
M inneapolis, to be found in the whole Northwest. The dam, now
about completed, has cost about $200,000.
So thoroughly convinced are the people of Morrison county of
the great future before it, that, by a majority of over 2 to 1, they
voted a subscription of $100,000 in 5 per cent bonds as a bonus
to be delivered to the company upon the completion of the work.
The village of Little Falls also entered into a contract with the
company, agreeing to pay annually a sum of money equal to the
taxes imposed upon that corporation, and also to exempt from
taxation any manufactory using the water power for a period of
, five years. The improvements under process of construction con
sist, first, of a dam across the entire river, resting, however,
against the head of Mill island; second, a canal on the west side,
starting from a point opposite the head of Mill island, and ex
tending 1,000 feet down stream. This canal is 80 feet wide and 13
feet deep, is lined with a retaining wall, and provided with head
gates at the upper end and with a waste way at the lower end;
third, a wheel house, races, and, if found desirable, a wire rope
tower for transmitting power to Mill island and' to the east shore.
Basing the rental of this power on that of the water power at
Lowell, Massachusetts, it would be worth $150,000 per annum.
The officers of the company are W. H. Breyfogle, of Louisville,
Kentucky, president; M. M. Williams, of Little Falls, secretary
and treasurer.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 473
Little Falls was incorporated as avillageinl880, Louis Houde
president of the board. The improvement of the water power
has given a strong impulse to the prosperity of the village. It
numbers now amongst its public buildings a court house, school
•house having rooms for six grades, two Catholic churches, one
Congregational, one Episcopal and one Methodist church. In
Belle Prairie, four miles distant, there is also a Catholic church,
school and a nunnery.
A bridge, built at a cost of $24,000, crosses the Mississippi at
this point. The bridge is 400 feet in length. The Little Falls &
Dakota railroad, a branch of the Northern Pacific, is finished
' from Little Falls to Morris in Stevens county, a distance of 85
miles. In addition to the mills connected with the water power
there is also a steam saw mill.
ROYALTON VILLAGE
Is located in an oak grove on the Northern Pacific railroad,
twenty miles above Sauk Rapids, and ten below Little Falls near
the south line of Morrison county. It includes some lands in
Benton county. Platte river flows through the village and fur
nishes a water power of 8 feet head, improved by a dam, supply
ing a flour mill which has a capacity of 250 barrels per day, and
a saw mill with a capacity of 40,000 feet. There is 65 feet fall on
the Platte within five miles of Royalton below, and 45 feet above
the village, yet unimproved. James Hill, of Baldwin, St. Croix
county, Wisconsin, with Putney and Nobles erected the flour mill,
John D. Logan, the proprietor, having donated the water power
and grounds for manufacturing purposes. Mr. Logan has a steam
saw mill with a capacity of 30,000 feet per day. The Platte
is spanned by an iron bridge. The village has, in addition to
its mills, a weekly newspaper, a large elevator, a good graded
school with six departments, and three churches, Episcopal,
Presbyterian and Methodist. It was surveyed and platted in
1879 by John D. Logan, and incorporated in 1887. The first
officers were: President, J. D. Logan; recorder, John Holmes;
trustees, J. C. Wakefield, J. C. Higgins, R. Lambert; treasurer,
G. E. Putney; justices, Robert Brown, Wm. Jones; constables,
Wm. Roller, C. O. Brannen.
Peter Roy, a mixed blood of French and Chippewa parent
age, was born in Rainy Lake, in 1829. He was educated- at La

474 FIFTY YEARS
Pointe, Wisconsin. At the age of twenty-one he came to the
agency at Long lake, where he served as interpreter until 1853,
when he was elected to the territorial legislature. He opened a
farm at Belle Prairie in 1855; became a member of the state leg
islatures of 1860 and 1862. In 1866 he removed to Little Falls,
where he resided until his death, in 1883. He was a man of
large frame and of generous impulses, liberal and open-handed,
even to his own pecuniary disadvantage.
Wm. Sturgis came to this county from Big Meadow, Sher
burne county, Minnesota, in 1850, and located at Little Falls,
where he put a ferry across the Mississippi. He also laid out a
town and built a saw and grist mill at the mouth of Little Elk
river. He was a member of the territorial council from Crow
Wing and Sauk Rapids precincts in 1849 and 1851; of the ter
ritorial house in 1856, and of the constitutional convention,
Democratic wing, in 1857. Some years later he removed, first to
Montana, and then to Sturgis, Michigan.
James Fergus was born in the parish of Glassford, Lanark
shire, Scotland, Oct. 8, 1813. His parents were well-to-do farm
ers, and gave him a good education along with excellent moral
and religious training. In his youth he was noted for his
thoroughness in whatever work he undertook, and his fond
ness for good books. At the age of nineteen years he came
to America to improve his fortunes, locating first in Canada,
where he spent three years, and learned the trade of a mill
wright. Becoming involved in some political troubles just before
the outbreak of the Papineau Rebellion, he left Canada for the
United States, and spent a couple of years in Green Bay and
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and at Chicago and Buffalo Grove, Illi
nois, going thence to Iowa, and thence to Moline, Illinois, where
he found employment in the machine shops and foundries of
Buford, Sears & Wheelock. In 1854 he removed to Little Falls,
and in company with C. A. Tuttle built a dam across the Missis
sippi and platted the village. He subsequently owned the site
of Fergus Falls, now a thriving city, that has done well in
assuming his name. In 1862 he drove his own team from Little
Falls to Bannock, then in Idaho, now in Montana Territory. He
became prominent in territorial affairs; was influential in the
organization of the new county of Madison, and held many
positions of trust and responsibility. He was the commis-

IN THE NORTHWEST. 475
sioner appointed for Madison county, served two terms in the
Montana legislature, and was a member of the constitutional
convention of 1887. At one time he lived in Lewis and Clark
counties; he now resides in Meagher county, near Fort Maginnis,
where he is engaged in stock raising.
His main characteristics are an aptitude for mechanical enter
prises, a sturdy independence of thought, a strict integrity of pur
pose, and an ardent love of study and good books. He is a typical
pioneer, and in the mellow light of his declining days has the
respect and love of his contemporaries to a remarkable degree.
He is the first president of the Montana Pioneer Association, a
position which he worthily fills.
Mr. Fergus was married March 16, 1845, to Pamelia Dillin, of
Jefferson county, New York. Mrs. Fergus died Oct. 6, 1887.
He has one son and three daughters, the latter married and liv
ing in Montana.
Nathan Richardson was born in Wayne county, New York,
in 1829. He was raised on a farm, educated at Romeo, Michi
gan, and came to Little Falls in 1855. He served as register of
deeds for Morrison county eight years, and was postmaster
eleven years. He also served as county surveyor and county at
torney, having been admitted to the bar in 1877. He was notary
public twenty-five years. He was a representative in the Min
nesota legislatures of 1 867, 1872 and 1878. During his first term in
the house he represented nineteen counties, nearly one-half the
territory of the State. • He served as judge of probate two terms.
Mr. Richardson has prepared, by order of the board of county
commissioners,' and published in the local papers, a complete
and valuable history of Morrison county, to which we are
greatly indebted. He was married to Mary A. Roof in 1857, and
has a family of three sons and two daughters.
Moses La Fond, a Canadian Frenchman, came to Morrison
county in 1855, and located at Little Falls, where he commenced
as a teamster for the Little Falls Manufacturing Company. He
found more lucrative employment, became a butcher, then a
- merchant, then a legislator, having been elected a representative
in the legislature of 1874.
O. A. Churchill. — Orlando A. Churchill was born in Wind
sor county, Vermont, in 1825. He came to Illinois in 1843, and
to Little Falls in 1855, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits.

476 FIFTY YEARS
He was elected to the legislature of 1858, but did not serve, as
no session of the legislature was held that year. He served sev
eral years as auditor of Morrison county. He removed to St.
Paul a few years ago, and later to California, but is now again a
resident of Little Falls.
John M. Kidder made a claim of government land on the east
side of the Mississippi, on the site of Little Falls. He died in
1855, before the land was entered, and the claim was purchased
by Wm. Sturgis, a son-in-law of Mr. Kidder, and by him sold
to the Little Falls Compamy. Elliott J., a son of John M. Kid^
der, is still a resident of Little Falls.
Warren Kobe located at Royalton in 1880 and built an ele
vator, store and first class hotel. Mr. Kobe is a public spirited
citizen and has expended much in improving the town.
Ola K. Black, of Norwegian birth, was one of the first set
tlers. Ira W. Bouch came from Buchanan county, Iowa, in 1880,
and opened the first store in Royalton.
Robert Russell, living on a farm near the village, came
from Scotland to America in 1850 and settled here in 1853. Mr.
Russell died in July, 1862; Mrs. Russell died in 1876. Three
sons and five daughters survive them.
Peter A. Green, a farmer, pre-empted one hundred and
sixty acres in 1854, a part of which is surveyed into town lots.
He built the second building on the town site. Mr. Green was
born in 1817,, in Green county, New York, where he married.
He died January, 1884. His widow and two sons survive him.
Rodolphus D. Kinney was the first settler on' the town site
of Royalton, in 1854, erected the first house and was the first post
master, in 1856. Mr. Kinney gave the name of Royalton to the
post office, the name being that of his birthplace, in the state of
Vermont. He was born in 1828; had good educational advan
tages in youth and attended Fairmount Theological Seminary in
Cincinnati; was an associate of the early Presbyterian missions
and was the first school teacher in Morrison county, in 1851 and
1852, at Belle Prairie. He was married in St. Paul in 1852. His
eldest son, Jonathan, was bom in 1853. One daughter lives in
Alabama and his youngest son is a physician at Royalton.
John D. Logan came to Minnesota from Philadelphia in
1855 and located in Hastings; served during the war in Company

IN THE NORTHWEST. 477
G, First Minnesota Regular Volunteers. In 1879 he came to
Royalton and devoted himself to the development of the water
power and the building up of the village. He has a wife and
three children. CROW WING COUNTY.
The county of Crow Wing was organized in 1857. Prior to
this period it was included in Benton and other counties. It
now includes eleven whole and eight fractional townships
in townships 43 to 47, ranges 28 to 31, inclusive. The Missis
sippi river bounds it on the west and northwest, Aitkin county
on the east and Morrison on the south. Its soil ranges from a
light sandy to a dark loam, with clay subsoil, and the timber
includes the pines and the hardwoods common to the latitude.
There are also fine meadows and burr oak openings. It is wa
tered by the tributaries of the Mississippi and its surface is
dotted with lakes. It is well adapted to stock raising and agri
culture. C. H. Beaulieu appears to have been the first white man to lo
cate within its boundaries. He< established a trading post as
early as 1837, near the mouth of Crow Wing river. His suc
cessors in trade were Allen Morrison and Donald McDonald.
Philip Beaupre was here in 1844. When Fort Ripley was built
S. B. Olmstead, with his family, built a house and improved a
farm opposite the fort on the east bank of the Mississippi.
Mr. Olmstead came from Prairie du Chien in 1849. While re
siding here he served as a member of the second, fifth and sixth
territorial legislatures, and in 1854 was elected president of the
counciL After living here several years, he removed to Texas,
and died there some years ago. Mr. Olmstead kept a hotel and
managed to secure most of the hay, beef and wood contracts for
the fort. Henry M. Rice had a trading post at one time at Crow
Wing village, about eight miles above the fort. John H. Fair
banks ran a ferry at the village. Other settlers were Wallace
Bean, Henry Whipple, F. M. Campbell, W. B. Wakefield, Ed.
Lyndes, Albert Fuller, Thomas Cathcart, Daniel S. Mooers, S.
C. Abbe, and members of the Beaulieu family. James A. Par
ish was the first justice of the peace. John McGillis, who lived at
Crow Wing in 1853, was the second and served about fifteen
years. In 1856 the first farm was opened on government land,
not far from Crow Wing village, by Wallace Bean. The second

478 FIFTY YEARS
farm was taken by David McArthur, a'Canadian, originally from
Scotland. George Van Valkenburg opened a blacksmith shop at
Crow Wing in 1856, lived there two years and was then em-'
ployed as government blacksmith by the Indian department, and
served as such for twelve years. Crow Wing county was organ
ized in 1857, with the following board of officers: County auditor,
C. H. Beaulieu; register of deeds, F. M. Campbell; county treas
urer, Robert Fairbanks; county commissioners, J. H. Fairbanks,
Allen Morrison, S. B. Olmstead; judge of probate court, Dennis
Shaft. The county organization took effect Jan. 1, 1858. The
county was attached for judicial purposes, first to Ramsey, and
then to Morrison county. F. W. Peake came to Crow Wing in
1858, and opened a trading post, and was afterward one of the
mercantile firm of Peake & Wakefield. Rev. E. S. Peake, an
Episcopal clergyman, came to Crow Wing about the same time,
built a church and remained as rector till the breaking out of
the war, when he accepted the chaplaincy of a Wisconsin regi
ment. After the war he removed to California, and carried on
a mission a few years, but later returned to Minnesota and is
now stationed at Detroit. Rev. Francis Pierz, a Catholic
priest, officiated at Crow Wing and Belle Prairie until 1870,
when he returned to his home in Austria.
The first district court was held at Crow Wing in 1871, J. M.
McKelvey officiating as judge, Chas. Beaulieu as clerk of court,
and Wm. Wood as sheriff.
Soon after the county organization was abandoned, to be re-
resumed in 1870 by legislative enactment. The county officers
at the organization were: Commissioners, Wallace Bean, Henry
Whipple and F. W. Peake; treasurer, E. B. Snyder; auditor, J.
W. Campbell; clerk of court, Chas. H. Beaulieu; sheriff, Wm.
Wood. MURDERERS LYNCHED.
In 1871, Ellen, daughter of David McArthur, living near
Crow Wing village, was murdered by Indians. The murderers
were arrested and placed in jail at Brainerd, from which they
were taken by a mob and hanged. BRAINERD
Is situated on the east bank of the Mississippi, and is a pros
perous city. The settlement commenced with the opening of the

IN THE NORTHWEST. 479
Northern Pacific railroad. This road has a branch from Brainerd
to St. Paul. The railroad company have made Brainerd head
quarters for repairing shops; have expended large amounts in
improvements, and employ in their business here nearly 1,000
men. The first through train arrived at Brainerd March 11,
1871. In 1870 several claims were made for purposes of speculation,
and afterward sold to Mrs. Hester Gilman, of St. Cloud, and
other parties, but the greater part of the city site was purchased
of the government in 1870, by Hester Gilman and Thomas H.
Campbell. The Lake Superior p& Puget Sound Company,
organized under the laws of Maine,, and duly authorized by the
laws of Minnesota, purchased Gilman' s and Campbell's claims
and made the original survey and plat of the town on Sept 25,
1871. The name, Brainerd, was given .to the new town in honor
of Mrs. Brainerd Swift, wife of the first president of the Northern
Pacific road. In 1883 a new survey was made by Heinze Broth
ers. The site was a handsome plain, originally covered with
prince pine trees, many of which were left standing as orna
mental trees.
Among the first settlers we find the names of Charles Darby,
E. H. Bly, L. P. White, W. P. Spalding, W. W. Hartley, Stuart
Seely, F. W. Peake, S. W. Taylor, E. B. Lynde, John Bishop,
T. C. Barnes, and John Martin. The first permanent dwelling,
a log house, was built by Charles Darby, the next was built by
Stuart Seely, and the third by L. P. White. E. H. Bly built
the first store. The Headquarters Hotel, subsequently de
stroyed by fire, was built in 1871. Many of the buildings of
ancient Crow Wing were moved to Brainerd. The Leland
House was built in 1871-2; the Merchants in 1879. The post
office was established in 1871, with S. W. Thayer as postmaster.
The county seat was removed to this place in 1871, and a court
house and jail built by L. P. White, at an expense of $971.60.
The first marriage, that of Joseph Gronden and Miss Darby,
occurred in 1870. A city charter was obtained Jan. 11, 1873.
The following were the first officers: Mayor, EberH. Bly; alder :
men, L. P. White, M. Tuttle, W. S. Heathcote, Wm. Murphy,
T. X. Goulett; president of the council, L. P. White.
Brainerd has a court house, built at a cost of $45,000, and
school buildings worth $45,000. The Northern Pacific depot and

480 FIFTY YEARS
shops were built at a cost of $500,000, and the Northern Pacific
sanitarium at a cost of $35,000. The sanitarium is a hospital for
the sick or disabled employes of the entire line of road, and is
supported by monthly installments from the employes'. Dr.
Beger is superintendent. Brainerd has one steam saw mill with
a capacity of 12,000,000 feet per annum, another with a capacity
of 3,000,000 feet, and many fine business blocks and tasteful resi
dences. It has also electric lights, water works, and street cars,
and is making rapid progress as a city.
In 1886 a charter was obtained by Charles F. Kindred & Co.
to build a dam across the Mississippi. The dam has been com
pleted at a cost of $125,000. It has a head of 20 feet, with
sufficient flow to secure 25,000 horse power, and a boomage
overflowing 3,000 acres, forming a reservoir 12 miles in length,
with side lakes, the whole capable of holding 1,000,000,000
feet of logs. The whole city machinery, including electric
lights, water works, street cars, and Northern Pacific railroad
shops, will be attached to this water power. Crow Wing county
contributed $50,000 in bonds to the building of this dam. Brain
erd has an opera house, and is well supplied with churches, the
Catholics, Presbyterians, Baptists, Congregationalists, Episco
palians, Lutherans, and Methodists having organizations and
buildings. L. P. White was born in Vermont in 1811. He was self edu
cated. He was married in Vermont, Came to Chicago in
1858, and engaged in railroading until arriving at Brainerd, in
1870, where he built the first frame house. His wife was the
first white woman resident of the city. Since locating at Brain
erd, Mr. White has been the acting agent of the Lake Superior
& Puget Sound Company, which has laid out all the town sites
from Northern Pacific Junction to Moorhead with the exception
of Detroit.
Allen Morrison was one of a family of twelve, seven boys
and five girls. His father was born in Scotland, but emigrated
to Canada, where he died in 1812. Two of the boys were in the
English Navy, and killed at the battle of Trafalgar, in Egypt.
William Morrison, a brother of Allen, and several years his
senior, was among the early explorers of Northern Minnesota,
having visited the Territory as early as 1800, and was one of the
party who discovered Lake Itasca, the source of the Mississippi

IN THE NORTHWEST. 481
river. Allen's first visit to this region was in 1820, when he
came to Fond du Lac, as a trader in what was then known as the
"Northern Outfit." For several years he was associated with
his brother William in the Fond du Lac department, during
which time he was stationed at Sandy Lake, Leech Lake, Red
Lake, Mille Lacs, and Crow Wing, and when the Indians were
removed to White Earth, went there also, and remained until
his death. In 1826 he was married to Miss Charlotte Chaboul-
lier, who died at Crow Wing in the fall of 1872. She was a
daughter of a member of the old Northwestern Fur Company,
who was a trader on the Saskatchewan, and died in Canada in
1812. Mr. Morrison was the father of eleven children. Caro
line, now in Brainerd, was married to Chris. Grandelmyer in
April, 1864. Rachel resides with her sister, Mrs. Grandelmyer.
John J. and Allen, at White Earth; Mary, the eldest, now Mrs.
J. R. Sloan, at St. Cloud; and Louisa, now Mrs. John Bromley, at
Northern Pacific Junction. Mr. Morrison died on the twenty-
eighth of November, 1878, and was buried at White Earth, in the
historic valley where he had passed so many eventful years. His
name, however, will not perish, nor his virtues be forgotten. In
the first territorial legislature he represented the district em
bracing the voting precincts of Sauk Rapids and Crow Wing,
and when the present county of Morrison was set off, the legis
lature named it in honor of this esteemed veteran pioneer.
Charles F. Kindred, an active, enterprising citizen of
Brainerd, is doing for his adopted city all that one man can do.
Mr. Kindred, for many years after his arrival in Minnesota, was
a trusted agent of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, and
while in their employ acquired a thorough knowledge of the
resources of North Minnesota, which he uses to the best interest
of the section in which he has made his home. He is at present
superintending the building of the Kindred dam.

31

482 FIFTY YEARS

OHAPTEE XVIII.

AITKIN COUNTY.
This county consists of an oblong section, six towns in width,
lying between Mille Lacs and Kanabec counties on the south,
and Itasca on the north. It is a heavily timbered region, upon
which the lumberman has drawn for hundreds of millions of feet
of lumber, with but little apparent diminution in the quantity
of the supply. The whole surface is dotted with lakes and vari
egated with natural meadows. The southern portion of the county
affords good farming lands. Mille Lacs, in the southern part of
the county, is the largest lake, and settlements have already been
made along its shores. Sandy lake is second in size. It lies on
the great portage route from Winnipeg, by way of St. Louis
river to Lake Superior, and has been a noted point on that route
for two hundred years. The missions of the Jesuits, and later,
of the Presbyterians and Methodists, had been located here and
abandoned. The fur trader and the Indian trader have made
their headquarters here. Sandy lake has become historic. The
county contains about one hundred and three townships, which
are drained chiefly by the Mississippi and its tributaries. The
Mississippi is navigable from Aitkin to Pokegama falls, a dis
tance of over one hundred miles.
Aitkin county was created May 23, 1857, but was not organized
until July 30, 1872. The first officers chosen were: County com
missioners, Nathaniel Tibbetts, chairman; Wm. Hallstrom, Wm.
Wade; treasurer, Geo. Clapp; register of deeds, Wm. Hallstrom;
auditor, W. E. Crowell; sheriff, James W. Tibbetts. That part
of the county including the village of Aitkin was organized into
a town in 1873; N. Tibbetts, chairman. The Northern Pacific
railroad passes through six townships of this county, namely:

IN THE NORTHWEST. 483
townships 27 and 28, range 22 to 27, inclusive. While the road
was in process of building in 1870, Nathaniel Tibbetts made a
claim where the village of Aitkin now stands, and built the first
house, a hotel known as the Ojibway House, and the next
spring built the Aitkin House. He moved his family here in
1471. He was appointed the first postmaster at the organization
of the county. The county and village of Aitkin were named
after Wm. A. Aitkin, who was a prominent trader on the
Upper Mississippi for a number of years.
AITKIN VILLAGE.
Aitkin was made the county seat at the organization of the
county. It is pleasantly situated on the west branch of Ripple
creek, near the east branch of the Mississippi. It is now a pros
perous and thriving village with heavy mercantile establishments,
two first class hotels, a good school house, and pleasant homes.
One newspaper, the Aitkiii Age, is published here. Warren
Potter, Richard Mills, William Wade and George Jenkins are
early citizens. In 1873 Capt. Houghton built a steamer, called
the Pokegama, to run from Aitkin to Pokegama Falls. This
steamer was burned in 1878. Capt. Houghton replaced it with
a new boat called the City of Aitkin, which still plies the
Mississippi river between the points named.
Pokegama Falls is a headquarters for lumbermen and a place
for general trade.
Wm. A. Aitkin. — The date and place of Mr. Aitkin's na
tivity are not positively known. He came to the Chippewa
country when a boy of fifteen, as servant to a trader named
John Drew, and in time became a successful and well known
trader. He died at Sandy Lake in 1851. His life, in common
with that of the early traders, was adventurous. He witnessed
many stirring scenes, among them the battle of Stillwater
Ravine, in 1839. Although raised among the Indians, and con
tinually on the frontier, he was noted for his urbanity and
geniality, and is well spoken of by the early explorers.
Alfred Aitkin, son of the foregoing, was killed by a Chip
pewa Indian at Cass lake in 1836. He had stolen the wife of
the Indian, and refusing to return her to the enraged husband,
was shot by him. The murderer was arrested, taken to Prairie
du Chien for trial, tried before Judge Drum's court and ac
quitted.

¦484 FIFTY YEARS
Nathaniel Tibbetts was born in New Sharon, Maine, March
'21, 1824. While a mere boy he moved to Piscataquis county,
and in 1845 came to Plover, Wisconsin, and two years later to
Stillwater, Minnesota. He engaged in lumbering until 1850,
when he moved to St. Anthony, and soon afterward made a
claim at the mouth of Elk river, then in Benton county, where
he remained until the Civil War, when he enlisted in Company
A, Eighth Minnesota, of which company he was commissioned
first lieutenant, and was afterward appointed regimental quar
termaster. He was mustered out with his regiment at the close
of the war, when he returned to his home at Elk River, and re
sumed his old business of lumbering. In 1870 he was engaged in
the preliminary survey of the Northern Pacific railroad, and lo
cated the same year at Aitkin, of which village he was the pio
neer, building the first house and barn, keeping the first hotel
and serving as the first postmaster. He served four years as
county commissioner. He has also served as register of deeds
and sheriff. Ten years after his location at Aitkin he removed
to Morrison county, where he now resides. His health is some
what impaired from the exposure and fatigue of army life.
CARLTON COUNTY.
Carlton county lies between St. Louis county on the north,
Pine on the south, Douglas county, Wisconsin, on the east and
Aitkin on the west, and contains twenty-four townships. It is
abundantly watered by the St. Louis river and its many tribu
taries on the northeast, by the tributaries of the Nemadji and Ket
tle rivers on the south. It is well timbered with pine and hard
woods. The St. Louis river affords one of the finest water powers
in the Northwest. The rapids of this stream extend from the
falls at Cloquet to Fond du Lac, a distance of twelve miles. The
channel is rocky, the rocks being of a trappean or slaty forma
tion, not easily worn by the water, and capable of furnishing
good foundations for dams and mills. The first settlers were A.
K. Lovejoy, Cephas Bradley, Joseph Meyers, Sexton Lyons, and
some others. Mr. Lovejoy died at Thomson, Feb. 11, 1888, aged
sixty-three years, leaving a wife. They had been the parents of
twenty-four children, twelve pairs of twins. The county was
named in honor of R. B. Carlton, who was a representative in
the first state legislature. Mr. Carlton died at Fond du Lac,
Sept. 10, 1863.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 485
The county was organized in 1858, and the county seat located
at Twin Lakes, but changed by act of legislature to Thomson.
It is subdivided into five towns, Knife Falls, Mahtowa, Moose
Lake, Thomson, and Twin Lakes. It has a well defined slate
stone range running from northeast to southwest. The same
range crops out at Little Falls, Morrison county.
THOMSON.
The village of Thomson, the county seat of Carlton county, is
located on the St. Louis river. The Northern Pacific railroad
crosses at this point. A. M. Miller erected a steam saw mill here
in 1873. The mill has a capacity of 100,000 feet per day, and
has been a profitable enterprise. A.. K. Lovejoy operates a saw
mill six miles northwest, which has a capacity of 35,000 feet.
The village of Thomson has a good graded school with two
departments. CLOQUET.
Located on the St. Louis river, was surveyed and platted in 1871.
In 1878 Charles D. Harwood erected a steam saw mill at this
point with a capacity of 50,000 feet. This was the beginning of
a thriving manufacturing village. In 1883 the Knife Falls Lum
ber Company rebuilt the Harwood mill, increasing its capacity
to 180,000 feet per day. In 1884 the property was transferred to
Renwick, Crossett & Co. James Paine, McNair and others built
a water power saw mill in 1880, with a capacity of 100,000 feet
per day. The C. N. Nelson Company, in 1880, built two steam saw
mills with a capacity of 350,000 feet per day. A post office was
established in 1879; C. D. Harwood, postmaster. The village
was platted and incorporated in 1882; William P. Allen was the
first president of the council. It has two newspapers, the Pine
Knot Journal, established by Ed. Gottry and J. H. Page in 1884,
and the Industrial Vidette, established in 1887. It contains three
church organizations with good buildings, the Catholic, Metho
dist and Presbyterian. MOOSE LAKE STATION,
On the St. Paul & Duluth railroad, is surrounded by a good
farming country, and is a pretty, prosperous village. It has a
post office, about sixty dwellings and a saw mill.

486 FIFTY YEARS

BARNUM STATION

On the line of the same road, contains a post office, a saw mill
with a capacity of about 50,000 feet daily, a few fine residences,
with fine farms adjoining.

MAHTOWA STATION,
On the same road, has a saw mill and about twenty dwellings.
An extensive stock farm is located here.
NORTH PACIFIC JUNCTION
Is situated on the St. Louis river, at the junction of the St. Paul
& Duluth and Northern Pacific railroads. There are about one
hundred buildings here including a large saw mill built by Paine
& Co., having a capacity of 10,000,000 feet per annum; one school
house, one church, and hotels, stores, shops and dwellings. The
village was organized in 1881; Cephas Bradley, president.
Francis Asbury Watkins is a uative of the state of New
Hampshire. He was born in 1,^53; came to Baraboo, Wisconsin,
in 1866, to North Pacific Junction in 1881; was married to Anna
Wicks, of Pine City, Minnesota, in 1882, and was admitted to
practice law in 1883. He is a graduate of Lawrence University,
Appleton, Wisconsin. He has served as auditor of Carlton
county four years. ST. LOUIS COUNTY.
St. Louis county takes its name from St. Louis river, the river
itself having been named by some of the early French travelers
or Jesuit missionaries, possibly by Duluth or Buade.
The county is bounded on the north by Rainy lake and the
British boundary, on the east by Lake county, on the south by
Lake Superior, St. Louis river and Carlton, and on the west by
Aitkin county. The surface is variegated, much of it being
broken with deep ravines. It is well watered by streams tribu
tary to Rainy lake and Superior, and by innumerable small
lakes. Portions of it are heavily timbered with pines and hard
woods, and the northern portion is traversed by a rich mineral
belt extending through the Vermillion Lake region. The settle
ments are chiefly along the shores of Lake Superior and St.
Louis river, and on the shores of Vermillion lake. The falls
and rapids of St. Louis river are noted for their wildness and
grandeur.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 487
The scenery on its northern boundary, including the Dalles of
the Rainy Lake waters, is not surpassed or even equaled at any
point east of the Rocky mountains. The geological formation
consists largely of primitive or igneous rocks, trappean, basaltic
and granite, and the scenery has a peculiarly grand and sombre
appearance. Notwithstanding the igneous character of the for
mation there is much excellent farming land on plains and inter
vales, while the more abrubt and rocky portions are rich in iron
and the precious metals. The j-egion about Vermillion lake
has become a centre of mining operations. The region is rich
in iron ores. Gold has also been discovered. A mineral region
abounding in gold, silver and iron extends from Vermillion lake
to Thunder Bay. St. Louis county was organized in 1856. The
territorial governor appointed the following officers: Clerk of
district court, J. B. Culver; sheriff, J. B. Ellis; register of
deeds, R. H. Barrett; auditor, J. E. Brown.
The first board of county commissioners elected were C. E.
Martin, Vose Palmer and Z. J. Brown. The first meeting was
held at Portland, Jan. 4, 1858. At an adjourned meeting
held Jan. 20, 1858, the commissioners drew a grand and petit
jury. The meetings were held sometimes at Portland and
sometimes at Duluth. At a meeting held April 5, 1858, the
county was divided into four towns — Duluth, Martin, Carp
River and Carlton. At an adjourned meeting three assessor's
districts, six school districts and four road districts were
formed. The records do not show any previous division into
districts or precincts, nor does the name of any clerk ap
pear until the meeting of September 14th, when A. B. Bobbins
attests as clerk. At a meeting held Sept. 23, 1858, the village
of Oneota was established. November 1st E. H. Brown was ap
pointed clerk in place of A. B. Robbins. November 14th a bill
allowing R. H. Barrett compensation for services as clerk prior
to September 1st was passed. His name does not appear prior
to this entry.
The records show that a court was held in 1850, S. J. R. Mc
Millan officiating as judge. Also that a road was made from
Oneota to Buchanan and the mouth of Knife river, through Fre
mont, Portland and Endion, following^ trail to Lester's river and
across French river to Montezuma, and another from Oneota to
Fond du Lac. The town of Milford is mentioned as accepting

488 FIFTY YEARS
the report. The assessment for St. Louis county for 1859
amounted to $96,836.76. At a special meeting of the county
commissioners held Jan. 10, 1866, a resolution was adopted ask
ing the legislature to grant authority to St. Louis county to issue
$150, 000 to aid in building the Lake Superior & Mississippi rail
road. The legislature granted the request and twenty year
bonds were issued.
We append a list of county commissioners to the year 1863 r
E. C. Martin, Vose Palmer, Zach T. Brown, 1858; E. C. Martin,
Vose Palmer, W. E. Wright, 1859; W. E. Wright, S. A. Forbes,
Sidney Luce, 1860; E. F. Ely, Joseph B. Culver (first meeting),
186'l; E. F. Ely, Harvey Fargo, Levi B. Coffrey (second meeting),
. 1861; E. F. Ely,R. B. Carlton, H. Fargo, 1862; H. Fargo, R. B.
Carlton, E. G. Swanstrom, 1863.
Names of villages that appear in the old records of the board
have entirely disappeared. Those villages nearest to Duluth
have been absorbed by that vigorous young city. We find a
record, bearing date 1859, authorizing an election to decide upon
the question of the removal of the county seat from Duluth to
Port Byron. There is no record of the result of the election,
nor is Port Byron found in a recent map.
DULUTH.
The site of Duluth was visited as long ago as 1659, by two adven
turous Frenchmen, Grosselier and Redission. This was twenty-
one years prior to the coming of Greyson Duluth, in whose honor
the city of Duluth was named two hundred years later. Capt.
Duluth visited the western end of the lake in 1680. Three or
four years later Jean Duluth, a brother of the captain, estab
lished two trading posts, one at the mouth of Pigeon river, the
other on Minnesota Point. Le Sueur followed in 1683, accom
panied by a French surveyor, Franquelin, who made a fairly
correct map of the region. The attraetion to the early voyageurs
was the rich furs to be obtained in the wild regions adjacent.
The great American Fur Company early established posts along
the northern shore of Lake Superior, and later the Astor Fur
Company made its northwestern headquarters at Fond du Lac,
a few miles above the present site of Duluth. Nothing was
done toward permanent settlement until about the year 1854,
when the tide of immigration set in toward the head of the lake,

IN THE NORTHWEST. 489'
and it became evident that here was to rise cities of no mean
importance, one upon the western shore of the lake, rising from
the base of Minnesota Point, and the other Superior City, across
the gleaming waters of St. Louis bay.
For several years the growth of Duluth was slow, and some
times its fortunes seemed on the wane, but the construction of a
railroad to St. Paul, completed in 1870, and a sudden influx of
capital consequent upon this new outlet of trade, and more than
all this, the proposed construction of the great Northern Paciflc
railroad, gave a new impetus to the growth of the city. The
three years succeeding were years of great activity and progress.
The population increased from 3,000 to 5,000, and many of the
finer older buildings of the city were constructed. The canal
was cut through Minnesota Point, thus 'giving to Duluth the
most magnificent harbor on the lake, if not in the world.
In 1873 the failure of Jay Cooke, who had largely contributed
the means for the construction of the Northern Pacific railroad,
caused a financial depression similar in its effects to that of
1857. Banks failed, merchants became bankrupt, and the popu
lation of the city was reduced to 1,300 souls. The "hard
times" lasted until some time in 1878, when the opening up of
the great wheat fields in the Red River valley, and the comple
tion of the Northern Pacific railroad, again brought prosperity
to the more than half deserted city. The population increased
in 1878 from 1,300 to 2,200. souls. Two years later the census
showed 3,470; and a year later, 7,800. In 1882 the population
had increased to 12,000; in 1883 to 14,000; in 1884 to 16,690; in
«fl885 to 18,036, and in 1886 to 26,000 souls.
Duluth has now a well organized board of trade, produce ex
change and chamber of commerce. It has four banks, the Ameri
can Exchange, Duluth National, Merchants National, and Bell
& Eyster's. These banks had, in 1886, an aggregate capital of
$300,000, with deposits of $2,034,281, amounts greatly increased
during the year 1887. The taxable valuation of property in
Duluth for the year 1886 was $11,773,720. The taxes paid in
1887 amount to $261,376.
Duluth has one immense flour mill, with a capacity of 250 bar
rels per day. It is five stories in height, and favorably situated;
having the lake upon one side aud the railroads upon the other,
so that loading and unloading can be carried on at once from
vessels and cars.

490 FIFTY YEARS
Duluth has also two large flour warehouses with a capacity of
200,000 barrels -each. Large warehouses are also being built by
the Northern Pacific and Omaha Railroad companies. The an
nual shipment of flour from Duluth has ranged from 164,000
barrels in 1871 to 1,500,000 in 1886, making an aggregate of
8,285,000 barrels in that time.
The lumber industry of Duluth is no small factor in the pros
perity of the city. The cut of the Duluth district for the past
season amounts to 160,000,000 feet of lumber, 43,000,000 shingles,
and 22,600,000 lath, of which the city mills have manufactured
one-third. Much of this lumber has been shipped to Chicago
and the East, and a new district, the Tower mining region, has
lately been opened for shipment.
We have alluded to the harbor of Duluth as one of the best on
the lake. It consists of what is known as the Bay of Superior,
a body of water about seven miles long by one mile in width,
almost entirely shut off from the lake by a narrow strip of land
known as Minnesota Point. The original entrance to this bay
was through a channel on the southeast of the Point, separating
it from Wisconsin Point, a similar tongue of land in the same
line of direction. As this entrance was inconvenient aud difficult,
a canal was cut across the point near the mainland, sufficiently
large to admit all vessels that pass through Ste. Marie's canal.
Since the construction of the canal through Minnesota Point, the
old landing in front of the city has been abandoned, and elevators
have been built on the shores of the bay. These elevators are
the best of their class, and have a total capacity of 20,000,000
bushels. They were ten in number, exclusive of several ware-'
houses; two, however, have been destroyed by fire. The walls of
the canal have been extended in the form of piers 1,000 feet into
the lake. One of these piers is supplied with a lighthouse and a
fog horn. The canal is 700 feet long and 250 feet in width. The
arrivals and clearances for the port of Duluth in 1886 were
2,180. The fish trade is no inconsiderable part of the industries of
Duluth. Two large firms have their headquarters here and the
amount of capital invested in the business amounts to $165,000.
During 1886 1,200,000 pounds offish were shipped to Duluth
for reshipment to other places, from the various fisheries of
these companies. The United States fish commissioners, realiz-

IN THE NORTHWEST. 491
ing the value of Lake Superior as a reservoir for food fish, have
projected the largest fish hatchery on the lakes, to be located at
Lester's Park. It is to be under government and state control
and will supply the lakes of Superior and Michigan with about
500,000,000 eggs yearly.
Duluth was organized and laid out as a village under the town
site law of 1844; Richard Ralf, surveyor; Geo. E. Nettleton, J.
B. Culver, O. W. Rice, Wm. Nettleton, and Robt. E. Jefferson,
proprietors. The date of this organization is not known. We
have a statement from Hon. W. G. Le Due, of Hastings, to the
effect that in the winter of 1852-53, A. Ramsey, H. M. Rice,
Maj. Watrous and himself, with two others whose names he can
not recall, organized as a company and projected a town site at
the west end of the lake, on the present site of Duluth. Maj.
Watrous, the Indian agent, was instructed to take necessary
measures to secure the land. Watrous failed to secure the prop
erty and the scheme failed. Mr. Le Due projected and intro
duced a charter in the territorial legislature, which was passed,
for a railroad to Duluth.
In 1870 the city of Duluth was first incorporated, and five
years later a portion of the same territory was incorporated as
the village of Duluth, and the two municipal corporations were
still in existence Feb. 25, 1887, when the act imposing certain
political obligations upon the then existing city of Duluth be
came a law. The second day of March another law went into
effect incorporating both the city and village of Duluth as the
present city. FOND DU LAC,
Located at the head of navigation on St. Louis river, and at
the foot of the rapids, is a point of considerable historical inter
est, it having long been in use as a trading post. It has been a
place of outfit and departure for trading expeditions for two
hundred years. The old stone trading house of the Astor Fur
Company still remains. It is surrounded by about twenty build
ings of more recent date. It is now better known as a station
on the Northern Pacific railroad. It was surveyed in 1856 by
Richard Ralf and platted into village lots. The plats were signed
by James A. Markland, attorney for the proprietors. Fond du
Lac is now a village of some magnitude.

492 FIFTY YEARS
ONEOTA
Was settled some time in the '40s, by Edmund F. Ely and oth
ers, and became a village of some note, containing a post office,
church and other evidences of prosperity. It was platted as a
village in 1856; H. W. Wheeler, surveyor; Marcus W. Mc-
Cracken, Bion W. Bacon, Edmund F. Ely, proprietors. The
first recorded deed in St. Louis county is a quitclaim deed from
B. H. Baer to E. F. Ely, of the town site of Ely; consideration,
$1,500. The deed bears date of April 20, 1856. Oneota is now
included in the plat of Duluth. CLIFTON.
This village was platted in 1858, by John S. Watrous, on the
shores of the lake north of Duluth. It is now within the Du
luth city limits. PORTLAND,
A village on the lake shore above Duluth, was platted in 1856.
The proprietors were Aaron B. Bobbins, James D. Ray, C. Mar
shall and J. J. Post. It is now within the Duluth city limits.

Located on the north shore, was surveyed Dec. 15, 1856, by Chas.
Martin; M. P. Niel and others, proprietors. It is now within
the Duluth city limits. MIDDLETON,
Located on Minnesota Point, was surveyed Aug. 1, 1856; pro
prietors, Robert Reed, T. A. Markland.
MONTEZUMA,
Located on the north shore, was surveyed in May, 1856, by Vose
Palmer; proprietor, Frederic Ottoman.
BUCHANAN,
Located on the north shore, was surveyed in October; 1856; pro
prietor, W. G. Cowell. ST. LOUIS FALLS
Was surveyed in 1857, by C. E. Clark; Thos. H. Hogan, attor
ney for proprietors.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 493
FREMONT ISLAND.
A peculiar feature of St. Louis bay has been the formation of
floating islands, possibly the result of the collection of driftwood
and other debris at the mouth of St. Louis river. The rafts thus
formed in time became consolidated by the deposition of earthy
materials, leaves, twigs and vegetable matter, and are covered
with a rank growth of vegetation, at first shrubby, but at last
arboreous. The roots of the shrubs and trees interlace, and hold
the material of the raft more tightly together. These island rafts
are sometimes loosened and float into the bay, and are driven
about by the winds from one side of the bay to the other.
One of these islands, supposed to be stationary, known as
Fremont island, was surveyed and platted in 1856, by C. P. Heu-
stis and Chas. A. Post. On the completion of the canal it broke
loose from its moorings, floated away and disappeared, in all
probability going to pieces in the rough waters of the lake.

Located on the southern shore of Vermillion lake, was surveyed
Aug. 4, 1884. The proprietors are the Minnesota Iron Com
pany, of which Charlemagne Tower is president. The iron
mines located in this vicinity are amongst the richest on the
continent. Attention was first called to the Vermillion by the
reported discovery of gold. »Machinery for crushing and smelt
ing was transported thither, but the thousands who rushed to
the reputed gold field expecting to become suddenly rich, returned
disappointed and disheartened. Attention had long before been
called to the fact that there were rich iron mines in the district,
but the circumstances were unfavorable for their development.
They were in a remote position and accessible only by a journey
of several days* through woods and swamps. These mines
could be reached and developed only by state aid, which was
given in the shape of a grant of swamp lands, to be applied to
building a railway from the lake to the mines. This grant hav
ing been obtained, Mr. Tower and other capitalists at once
invested their millions in the mines, purchasing some 8, 000 acres
of land, covering the larger portion of the iron deposits in the
district, embracing the present site of the village of Tower. A
railroad sixty-eight miles in length was constructed from Tower
to Two Harbors, a point twenty-seven miles north of Duluth.
This road was completed in the spring of 1884, and the first

494 FIFTY YEARS
shipment was made July 3d of that year, the total shipments
for the year being 62,124 tons. The shipments for 1885 were
225,484 tons, and for 1886, 304,000 tons. Over $3,000,000 was
paid to laborers in the Tower mines iu 1887.
Col. George E. Stone, of Duluth, is deserving of praise for
his foresight and energy in opening the Tower mines. Mr. Stone
labored with untiring zeal after the land grant to aid in build
ing the road was given until the road was built aud the mines
opened. George R. Stuntz is well known as the government surveyor
of the Lake Superior region, whose work covers thousands of
miles of North Wisconsin lands, lying along the southern shore
of the lake, and who has accurately mapped the meanderings of
the influent streams, the bays and shaggy projecting shores of
the great "Unsalted Sea." There is no better topographical
authority than Mr. Stuntz, and no one better posted as to the
location and value of the Northern Wisconsin areas and the Ver
million mines.
Having early made Superior City and Duluth his home, and
for nearly forty years having been identified with the interests
of the West Superior country, he is an oft-quoted authority.
Many of his published articles contain most valuable information
concerning the feasibility of connecting St. Croix and Superior
waters. His assertions concerning the mineral wealth of the
lake country, made before the development of the mines, have
since been verified. Mr. Stuntz is a typical, sensible frontiers
man, of American birth, aged about seventy years.
Charles Hinman Graves, a native of Springfield, Massa
chusetts, born in 1839, received a liberal education, and in 1861
enlisted as a private in the Fortieth Massachusetts Volunteers,
but was promoted step by step to the rank of lieutenant colonel.
He was severely wounded at the battle of Gettysburg. In 1865
he was commissioned as a colonel in the regular army, but re
signed in 1870, and located at Duluth. From 1873 to 1876 he
was a member of the state senate. He has held several pub
lic positions in Duluth, and stands deservedly high as a citizen.
He has labored zealously and efficiently for the prosperity of
Duluth. Ozro P. Stearns was born Jan. 13, 1831, at De Kalb, Law
rence county, New York. In his youth he was dependent upon
his own resources. He graduated at Michigan University in

IN THE NORTHWEST. 495
1858, after which he visited California, tried mining for a short
time, and returning graduated in the law department of Michi
gan University. In 1860 he came to Rochester, Minnesota,
and opened a law office. In 1862 he enlisted in Company F,
Ninth Minnesota Volunteers, of which he was commissioned first
lieutenant, but in 1864 was promoted to the colonelcy of the
Thirty-ninth United States Infantry (colored). He served
through many battles and campaigns, and was mustered out at
the close of the war. In January, 1866, he returned to Roches
ter; in 1867 was appointed register in bankruptcy for Southern
Minnesota; in January, 1871, he was elected to the United States
senate for a short term to fill the vacancy caused by the death of
D. S. Norton. In 1872 he removed to Duluth, and in 1874 was
apppointed judge of the Eleventh Judicial district, to which
office he was elected in the fall of the same year, which position,
by re-election, he still holds. Judge Stearns was married in
February, 1863, to Sarah Burger, of Detroit, Michigan.
LAKE COUNTY.
This county lies on the north shore of Lake Superior, between
the counties of Cook and St. Louis, extending northward to the
British line. The whole region is abrupt, broken into hills and
valleys, and rich in silver, iron and other metals.
The great Vermillion iron mines of St. Louis county find an
outlet through this county by the Duluth & Iron Range railroad,
which finds a lake station at Two Harbors. The road was built
from Two Harbors to Vermillion lake in 1885, from Two Har
bors to Duluth in 1887. The entire road and extensive mines
were sold in June, 1887, for $8,000,000, to Porter and others,
who are now extending the road from Vermillion lake eastward
to Thunder Bay and Port Arthur. It is already completed to
Ely, a distance of twenty miles.
Emigration during the years 1886-7 to this county has been
very extensive. The two counties, Lake and Cook, have many
features in common. They are similar in geological formation,
produce the same metals in the same generous abundance, and
being in the same latitude, and bordering upon the same lake,
differ in no wise in climate and but little in productions. Large
quantities of pine timber may be found in these counties, and
saw mills are located along the lake shore where an accessible

4-96 FIFTY YEARS
harbor can be found. There are several harbors between Duluth
and Thunder Bay that might be improved by the government,
.greatly to the advantage of the country.
The silver mines of Isle Royal and along the national boundary
are extensive, and yield rich returns to the companies working
them. TWO HARBORS,
A flourishing village located on the shore of Lake Superior,
takes its name from two small harbors bearing that name. The
Vermillion Iron Company have built extensive piers into the
lake to facilitate the shipping of ores. They have large shops
for railroad purposes, with an electric light plant. The company
employ about two hundred men. Two Harbors is the county
seat of Lake county. COOK COUNTY.
Grand Marais is the county seat of Cook county. . It is a
round, land-locked harbor. It has a lighthouse, and the govern
ment has built a breakwater four hundred feet long, thus mak
ing it a harbor of refuge, so that boats can lie with safety in any
storm. Grand Marais is one hundred and ten miles from Du
luth. on the north shore of Lake Superior. It is the best harbor
that Minnesota has except Duluth. It is thirty miles south of
the international boundary line, and forty-five miles northeast
of the line by Lake Superior. It is the natural outlet for the
mineral deposits north. There are large quantities of iron ore
within thirty-five miles of the harbor. A railroad line has been
run, and men are now at work on the iron deposits with a view
of shipping the ore from Grand Marais to points where it is
wanted for smelting purposes.
Grand Marais was in early days one of the Northwest Fur
Company's trading posts, but of late years has been used as a
fishing station. Streets in the town are now being laid out, and
from present indications Cook county, with its pine lands, iron
ore and other mineral resources, will be one of the most thriv
ing counties in the State, with Grand Marais as not only a har
bor of refuge, but one of the competing ports for the shipment
of iron ore.
H. Mayhew, to whom we are indebted for items of interest
concerning Cook county, is the oldest resident of Grand Marais,
and one of the town proprietors.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 497

CHAPTER XIX.

HENNEPIN COUNTY.
Hennepin county was organized March 6, 1852. Prior to the
organization of Minnesota Territory it was in Clayton county,
Iowa. At the organization of the Territory, in 1849, it was in
cluded in Dakota county, aud so remained until set off in 1852.
Hon. Bradley B. Meeker held the first court within the present
limits of the county, at the old government mill, in 1849. Taylor
Dudley was clerk of court, Franklin Steele, foreman of grand
jury. The first board of commissioners were Alex. Moore, chair
man, John Jackinsand Joseph Dean. The first election was held
Oct. 21, 1852, at the house of Col. John H. Stevens, on the west
side. The county is a rich agricultural region, abounding with
beautiful lakes, of which Minnetonka is the largest and finest.
The county is bounded on the north by the Mississippi river and
Wright county, on the east by the Mississippi river and Ramsey
county, on the south by the Minnesota river and Carver county,
on the west by Wright and Carver counties. It is subdivided
into the following towns: Bloomington, Brooklyn, Champlin,
Crystal Lake, Corcoran, Dayton, Eden Prairie, Excelsior, Green
wood, Hasson, Independence, Maple Grove, Medina, Minneapo
lis, Minnetonka, Minnetrista, Osseo, Plymouth, Richfield, and
St. Anthony. FORT SNELLING.
Fort Snelling owes its origin- to the encroachments of British
traders on our northern frontier. As early as 1805 Lieut. Zeb-
ulen Montgomery Pike, United States Army, was sent with a
detachment of troops to explore the Upper Mississippi river to ex
pel British traders who might be found encroaching upon our ter-
32

498

FIFTY YEARS

ritory, and to secure by treaty a military reservation. Sept. 21,
1805, he encamped on Pike island, at the junction of the Minne
sota and Mississippi rivers, and, being pleased with the situation,
forthwith made a treaty with chiefs of the Sioux nation to

POET SNELLING, ON LINE OF C, M. & ST. P. BY.
include all that tract of land lying from below the confluence of
the two rivers, up the Mississippi, including the falls of St.
Anthony, nine miles in width on each side of the river. The
price paid was $2,000. The reserve thus purchased was not
used for military purposes until 1819, when a detachment of the
Fifth United States Infantry, commanded by Lieut. Col. Henry

IN THE NORTHWEST. 499
Leavenworth, was sent to occupy the reservation and build a
fort. The building of the fort, with its various stone and
wooden buildings, was the work of years. The site of the fort
was selected in 1820, by Col. Josiah Snelling, who named it Fort
St. Anthony, but at the suggestion of Gen. Winfield Scott, in
1824 the name was changed to Fort Snelling as a worthy compli-
pliment to its founder and builder. Notwithstanding the treaty
made by Col. Pike in 1805, the Indian claim to the reservation
was not extinguished until the treaty of 1837, ratified by the
senate in 1838. In 1836, before the extinction of the Indian title,
many settlers located on the reservation on the left bank of the
Mississippi. These were forcibly removed by the United States
government in 1840, under the act of March 3, 1807, an act to
prevent settlements being made on ceded lands until duly au
thorized by law. The reservation was reduced from time to time,
portions being sold. In 1857 Franklin Steele purchased the en
tire reservation, with the exception of two small tracts, includ
ing the fort itself, for the sum of $90,000, to be paid in three
yearly installments. The first payments were actually made,
the troops were withdrawn, and Mr. Steele assumed possession.
Default having been made in the two remaining payments,
the government resumed possession of a small portion of the
reservation and fort in 1861. The year following, by act of Con
gress, the reservation was reduced. In 1870 it was permanently
reduced to 1,531.20 acres. A suit at law between Mr. Steele and
the United States government was compromised by releasing him
from further payments and granting him a large tract of land
lying along the right bank of the Mississippi, north of the fort,
with a portion of Pike's island.
Maj. Plympton and other officers of the fort, in company with
Franklin Steele, made the first land claim, by permit of the
government, at East St. Anthony, in 1838. They built a shanty
and hired a Frenchman to occupy it. Steele bought out the in
terests of the officers associated with him and in 1848 secured a
title from the United States. The first saw mill built on this
claim was commenced by Mr. Steele, in conjunction with Boston
parties in 1847, but was not completed until the following year.
The next land claim on the river was made further up, by
R. P. Russell and S. J. Findley. This was sold to Bottineau
and afterward passed to other parties. The land claim adjoin:

500 FIFTY YEARS
ing Steele's, below, was purchased of a Frenchman by C. A.
Tuttle in 1848. This claim is npw partially occupied by the
State University. W. Henry Cheever made a claim south of Tut-
tle's, on which, in 1849, he built a hotel and a huge wooden
tower or observatory, nearly one hundred feet in height, over
the entrance to which was a rhyming couplet:
"Pay your dime
And climb."
Franklin Steele, before completing his mill and dam, became
sole owner of the water power on the east side of the river.
During the periods following the property has often changed
owners, and sometimes the change has resulted in unprofitable
litigation. James J. Hill, in later years, has become the owner of
most of the water power of Nicollet and Hennepin islands and
of the east shore, and is making valuable improvements.
ST. ANTHONY FALLS.
St. Anthony Falls was platted as a village in 1849, and was in
cluded in Ramsey county until 1856. In 1861 the legislature estab
lished satisfactory boundaries, annexing part of town 29, range
24, to Hennepin county.
Among the first" settlers of the Falls was Ard Godfrey. The
first white child born here was a son of C. A. Tuttle, mill
wright. The Luther Patch family, consisting of four sons and
two daughters, was the first resident American family at the
Falls. Mr. Patch's sons were Edward, Wallace, Gibson, and
Lewis; the daughters, Marion, who became "the wife of R. P.
Russell, the first marriage at the Falls, Oct. 3, 1848, and Cora,
who became the wife of Joseph Marshall. An earlier marriage
was celebrated at Fort Snelling May 27, 1835, that of Lieut.
Edmund A. Ogden and Eliza Edna Loomis; Rev. Thos. S.1 Wil
liamson officiating. This was the first marriage north of Prairie
du Chien. The first store was opened by R. P. Russell in 1847,
the second, in 1849, by Joseph Marshall. We find Jacob Fisher, of
Stillwater, here in 1847, building the dam from Nicollet island
to the east shore. Among the operators of the mill who have
been prominent citizens of St. Anthony Falls are Sumner W.
Farnham, John Rollins, Caleb W. Dorr, John McDonald, and
Robert W. Cummings. Some of these men brought their fami
lies here. The building of the mill was somewhat delayed by

IN THE NORTHWEST. 501
the sinking in the Erie canal of the boats containing the ma
chinery, hardware, etc. Standing pine to be used in the mill
was purchased of Hole-in-the-Day, a Chippewa chief, cut and
floated down from Sauk Rapids to the Falls. Some timber was also
brought from Rum river, the flrst cut on that stream, except for
government use. At the land sale in 1848, Mr. Steele secured all
the land above Tuttle' s to the north limits of the city. Amongst
the settlers in 1848 were the Getchells, Smiths, Rogers' and Huse.
In 1849, at the organization of the territory of Minnesota, a num
ber of others arrived, among them Judge B. B. Meeker, Dr. John
H. Murphy, John W. North, J. P. Wilson, and John G. Lennon.
During this year the west half of sec. 14, range 29, was surveyed
and platted into town lots by W. R. Marshall, B. W. Bronson and
S. P. Folsom. Anson Northrup commenced the erection of the
first hotel, the St. Charles.
John Rollins was elected to the territorial council, W. R. Mar
shall and Wm. Dugas to the house of representatives. The dis
trict was comprised of St. Anthony Falls and Little Canada.
The first school was taught by Miss Electa Bachus, in the sum- ,
mer of 1849. A post office was established and Ard Godfrey
was appointed postmaster. There were occasional mails brought
in John Rollins' passenger wagon. In 1850 Willoughby &
Powers ran a daily stage line from St. Paul and the mail thence
forth was carried regularly. John W. North built a dwelling on
Nicollet island, which became a social centre, and was made at
tractive by a piano. In 1850 a public library was established,
the first in Minnesota. Rev. E. D. Neill, the historian of Minne
sota, delivered the first public lecture and preached the first ser
mon in 1849. The following year, the Baptists, Methodists, Con-
gregationalists and Presbyterians organized societies, and in
1851 the Episcopalians and Universalists. Amongst the acces
sions to the population were Judge Isaac Atwater, W. W. Wales,
J. B. Bassett, C. W. Christmas, and Joseph Dean. Col. Alvaren
Allen opened a livery stable. The St. Anthony Express, the
first newspaper, was established May 31, 1851; E.Tyler, proprie
tor, Judge I. Atwater, editor. Measures were taken to locate
the university in St. Anthony Falls. Citizens contributed $3,000
aid to in the erection of the building.
Facilities of communication with the surrounding country
were none of the best, yet communication was early established

502 FIFTY YEARS
with the Red River country, a dog train having arrived from
Pembina, distant four hundred miles, in sixteen days. On this
train Kittson, Rolette and Gingras came down to attend the
territorial legislature at St. Paul as representatives of Pembina
county. Franklin Steele, in 1847, established a ferry above the Falls.
In 1854 the Minnesota Bridge Company was organized, consisting
of Franklin Steele, H. T. Wells, R. P. Russell, and others. A
handsome suspension bridge was finished in 1855. This bridge
remained in the control of the company fifteen years, when by
an act of the legislature the value was assessed and Hennepin.
county purchased the bridge, and it became a free thoroughfare.
April 13, 1855, St. Anthony Falls was incorporated as a city
with the following officers: Mayor, H. T. Welles; clerk, W. F.
Brawley; aldermen, B. F. Spencer, John Orth, Daniel Stanch
field, Edward Lippincott, Caleb W. Dorr, and Robert Cummings.
In 1872 St. Anthony Falls was annexed to Minneapolis, and
placed under the same government, a movement which has re
sulted in great benefit to both cities.
ST. ANTHONY FALLS.
The earliest written descriptions of St. Anthony falls were by the
Roman Catholic missionaries, Hennepin and La Salle. The former
with Accault and Du Gay ascended the river in a canoe until
captured by a band of Sioux Indians. These Indians left the river
at a point now the present site of St. Paul and took their prison
ers to Mille Lacs. In September, when the Indians set out on
their annual hunt, the captives were left to go where they
pleased. Accault preferred remaining with the Indians. Henne
pin and Du Gay obtained a small canoe and commenced the
descent of the Rum and Mississippi rivers to the falls, then called
by the Indians Ka-ka-bi-ka Irara or "Severed Rock." They
reached the falls about the first of October, and named them
after St. Anthony of Padua. The description given by La Salle,
a second hand one, was probably derived from Hennepin, Ac
cault or Du Gay, as La Salle did not visit the falls, and these
voyageurs were his subordinates, and had been sent by him to
explore the Upper Mississippi.
He says: " In going up the Mississippi again, twenty leagues
above the St. Croix is found the falls, which those I sent named

IN THE NORTHWEST. 503
St. Anthony. They are thirty or forty feet high, and the river
is narrower here than elsewhere. There is a small island in
the midst of the chute, and the two banks of the river are bor
dered by hills which gradually diminish at this point, but the
country on each side is covered by thin woods, such as oaks and
other hardwoods, scattered wide apart."
This description corresponds very well with the earliest pic
tures of the falls, which with "the small island in the midst of
the chute" make them resemble slightly a Niagara considerably
diminished in height. The historic falls have almost entirely dis
appeared or so changed as to become unrecognizable. Spirit
island, if this be the island referred to by La Salle as in the
midst of the chute, is now so far below the falls that it can
scarcely be brought into the same picture with them. The falls
have undoubtedly receded, by a process easily explained by a
geologist, some distance up the river, and have diminished some
what in altitude. The movement of the falls up stream, caused
by the breaking off of limestone ledges, overlying sandstone,
easily washed from beneath by the falling water, threatened the
total obliteration of the cataract unless arrested by artificial
means, as the dip or inclination of the rock is such that the alti
tude of the falls diminishes with the wearing away of these
ledges. It has been found necessary to strengthen the ledges and
prevent further erosion by means of aprons, till the present ap
pearance of the falls is not unsuggestive of a series of dams. The
entire cost of these improvements has amounted to more than
$1,000,000. The shores of the islands and mainlands have been
covered with mills and manufactories, while the scene is still
further disfigured by a maze of railway and other bridges, water
ways and flumes. Scarce a vestige of the original falls remain
to recall their appearance as they were when the sandaled and
robed Franciscan, Hennepin, first gazed upon them. In the midst
of this solitude, and on the banks once covered by a sparse growth
of trees, one of the finest cities in the West has sprung up as if by
magic, and the scene, is one of busy life. This marvelous change
has occurred within a space of fifty years.
MINNEAPOLIS.
From the establishment and occupation of Fort Snelling in
1819, to the settlement of the county in 1840, numerous traders

504 FIFTY YEARS
and adventurers, generally of French or Canadian origin, and
not infrequently intermarried with Indians, and semi-Indiau in
their habits of life, occupied transient homes on or near the
military reservation; but these have exercised so little influence
upon the development of the country that they merit no recog
nition or record from the historian. As a general thing, they
disappeared before the march of civilization. A few, wiser,
stronger, more far-seeing than the rest, adapted themselves to
the new order, made claims, engaged in the enterprises of civil
ized life, and thus obtained an honorable position amongst the
> pioneers of the country.
Of these, Joseph R. Brown, by far the most distinguished, by
permission of the military authorities, located in Hennepin
county near the falls of Minnehaha, in 1829. He is the first
white settler. Maj. Taliaferro, then in command of the Fort,
• in the same year made a farm on the shores of Lake Calhoun,
and placed Philander Prescott in charge. In 1834 the Pond
brothers, missionaries, located on Lake Calhoun and erected the
first dwelling worthy of the name within the present limits of
the county of Hennepin. In 1849 Philander Prescott made a
claim on what is now Minnehaha avenue. Frank Steele obtained
permission from the secretary of war to occupy this claim,
whereupon Mr. Prescott abandoned it, and made another on
land adjoining. This he was allowed to retain. Charles Mos-
seaux, by permission of the military authorities, made a claim
on Lake Calhoun in 1856. This claim is now occupied by the
pavillion. Rev. E. G. Gear, chaplain at Fort Snelling, by per
mission of the military authorities, made a claim near Lake
Calhoun and employed Edward Brissett to live upon it. After
ward a contest arose as to the ownership. Chaplain Gear, by
the aid of Judge Black and H. M. Rice, secured a congressional
enactment allowing him to purchase the land from the govern
ment. David Gohram made a claim on the Lake of the Isles, but
subsequently sold out to R. P. Russell. John Berry, the Blais-
dells, Pierce Lowell and many others located in the vicinity of
Lakes Calhoun and Harriet, and in 1853 were followed by set
tlers on nearly all the lands lying immediately west of the
Mississippi, in the vicinity of the falls. In 1.854 there were
twelve farm houses scattered widsly from the falls to the vicinity
of the lakes. It had been evident for some time that a city of

IN THE NORTHWEST. 505
Considerable pretensions must arise somewhere in the vicinity of
the Fort and the falls. The locality of the coming city was
decided largely by advantages of situation, and these were in
favor of the locality immediately adjoining the falls, the water
power there afforded being a powerful attraction. For the first
recognition of these advantages we must go back to a period
several years anterior to the location of these claims and there
find a starting point in the history of Minneapolis.
In 1820 the military authorities at Fort Snelling had erected a
stone mill for sawing their own lumber and grinding the grain
shipped from St. Lonis. They also built a log house and culti
vated a few acres of adjacent ground. This mill, run by the
water of the falls, was located a short distance below. This was
the first utilization of the water power. The mill, which has
long since disappeared, was located on the present site of Sidle,
Fletcher & Holmes' flouring mill. In 1854 one saw mill, the
flrst in Minneapolis aside from the old government mill, was lo
cated just below the falls. It had a capacity of 1,500,000 feet
per annum and besides manufactured great quantities of shin
gles. It was under the direction of C. King. A steam saw mill
was built at the mouth of Bassett's creek, above the falls, in
1856, and another the following year, half a mile further up the
river. Thus began the great lumber business of Minneapolis,
in 1857 there being three mills with an aggregate capacity of
75,000,000 feet per annum.
The attitude of the government with regard to the lands re
served about the Fort, the act of 1839, driving off those who
had settled upon them and destroying their property, and the
uncertainty with regard to the tenure of land claims, acted as
an effectual bar to further improvement until ten years later,
when Hon. Robert Smith, member of Congress from Alton dis
trict, Illinois, and Col. John H. Stevens, the pioneer of Minne
apolis, each obtained permits from the secretary of war and
the officers of the Fort to occupy one hundred and sixty acres
of the reservation. Smith's location included the stone mill,
which he agreed to use in grinding Fort Snelling grain. Mr.
Smith engaged C. A. Tuttle to operate the mill and hold the
claim. Mr. Tuttle was to have an interest for his labor. This
interest he afterward sold to Smith, who, when the government
relinquished the reservation, transferred his claim to Anson

506 FIFTY YEARS
Northrup and others, who were organized into an association for
the entry of land. Soon as the entries were completed the land.
passed into the hands of the Minneapolis Water Power Com
pany, which proceeded at once to improve the water power.
Col. J. H. Stevens meanwhile located in person on his permit.
and in 1849 built the first frame house in Minneapolis, on the
ground now occupied by the union depot. J. B. Bassett pur
chased the fraction of land on the river above Stevens, Col..
Emanuel Case the fraction above Bassett' s, A. E. Ames the
eighty where the court house stands, and Edwin Hedderly the
fraction below the water power. Mr. Stevens made the first sur
vey of village lots in the spring of 1854; Chas. W. Christmas, sur
veyor. The Smith claim was surveyed by W. R. Marshall in the fall
of 1854. In 1856 Atwater' s addition was surveyed. Other ad
ditions were added from year to year as the growth of the city
demanded. At the release of the reservation in 1855, the entire
present site of the city was covered with claims.
The name Minneapolis, derived from an Indian wovrd minneT
meaning water, and a Greek word polis, meaning city, had been
early applied to the new village, Chas. Hoag having first sug
gested the name. In March, 1853, the commissioners of Hen
nepin county adopted the name as that of a territorial precinct.
A government land office had been established in 1854, of which
M. L. Olds was register and R. P. Russell receiver. The first
newspaper, the Minneapolis Democrat, was established in 1854.
During the same year the Masons and Odd Fellows organized
lodges, the Presbyterians, Baptists and Methodists organized
societies, and public schools were established. In 1857 the court
house, at a cost of $12,000, a school house, and several churches
were erected.
The village of Minneapolis was organized in 1858. H. T.
Welles was the first president. In 1867 Minneapolis obtained a
city charter. Minneapolis and St. Anthony Falls were united
under the same government, by act of legislature, approved Feb.
28, 1872, under the name of Minneapolis, St. Anthony Falls being
recognized in the directory as East Minneapolis. The united cities
elect in common a mayor and city council, but each is financially
responsible as to contracts existing previous to the union, and
each maintains its own schools.

IN THE NORTHWEST.

507"

We append a list of mayors of the two cities prior and subse-
sequent to the union: MAYORS OF ST. ANTHONY FALLS.

1855.

H. T. Welles.

1864.

O. C. Merriman.

1856.

Alvaren Allen.

1865.

Wm. W. Wales.

1857.

Wm. W. Wales.

1866.

O. C. Merriman.

1858.

Orrin Curtis.

1867.

0. C. Merriman.

1859.

Orrin Curtis.

1868.

Winthrop Young,

1860.

R. B. Graves.

1869.

W. W. McNair.

1861.

O. C. Merriman.

1870,

W. W. McNair.

1862.

O. C. Merriman.

1871.

Edwin S. Brown.

1863.

Edwin S. Brown.

MAYORS OF MINNEAPOLIS.

1867.

Dorillius Morrison.

187*0.

Eli B. Ames.

1868.

Hugh G. Harrison.

1871.

Eli B. Ames.

MAYORS OF MINNEAPOLIS SUBSEQUENT TO THE UNION WITH
ST. ANTHONY FALLS.

1872.

Eugene M. Wilson.

1881.

A. C. Rand.

1873.

George A. Bracket.

1882.

A. A. Ames.

1874.

Eugene M. Wilson.

1883.

A. A. Ames.

1875.

O. C. Merriman.

1884.

Geo. Pillsbury,

1876.

Albert A. Ames.

1885.

Geo. Pillsbury.

1877.

John DeLittre.

1886.

A. A. Ames.

1878.

A. C. Rand.

1887.

A. A. Ames.

1879.

A. C. Rand.

1888.

A. A. Ames.

1880.

A. C. Rand.

WATER VERSUS STEAM.
Some wonder has been expressed that in the vicinity of one of
the finest water powers on this continent there should be found
so many saw mills run by steam. The question is partly an
economical one, as owing to the heavy expenses entailed upon
mill owners to prevent the retrogression of the falls, it may be
cheaper for saw mill owners to use steam, especially as they can
feed their furnaces with but little expense from the slabs and de
bris of their own lumber; but in this case a weightier reason may
508 FIFTY YEARS
be found in the fact thatthe west side of the river has been occu
pied chiefly by flouring mills, and the saw mills are moved to
less eligible localities, and find it more convenient and economical
to use steam instead of water.
TERRIFIC EXPLOSION AT THE FLOUR MILLS.
One of the most remarkable mill disasters of modern times
occurred May 2, 1878, in the Washington A mill. About 7 P. M.
the sound of a terrific explosion was heard and the city was
shaken as by an earthquake. The mill in which it occurred was
utterly demolished, as were also the Humboldt, the Zenith and
the Palisade, while several others were badly wrecked. There
were fourteen lives lost and the property destroyed amounted in
value to over $1,000,000.
The cause of the explosion was at first not understood, but on
thorough investigation was finally attributed to a mixture of
exceedingly fine grain and flour dust with the air of the mills, in ,
such proportion as to form a combustible mixture, which was
accidentally ignited. The mills destroyed have since been
replaced by better ones. The great Pilsbury A mill, which is
perhaps beyond question the largest in the world, was begun in
the following year. A canal was cut to supply it with power,
and it was equipped with two Victor turbine water wheels of
1,450 horse power each and a 1,400 horse power engine; it was
furnished with 400 pairs of rollers, 200 middlings purifiers, 20 ,
run of stone, 200 bolting reels and other devices in keeping.
SUBURBAN RESORTS — LAKE MINNETONKA.
This magnificent lake is 10 miles southwest of Minneapolis,
and 20 miles from St. Paul. Its extreme length is about 18
miles, varying in width from 1 to 5 miles. Its water area is
about 15,000 acres, and its shore line is estimated at nearly 300
miles. A glance at the map will show what a variety of scenery
it must have, being so broken and irregular. Its banks and
islands are covered with forest trees except at a few points where
villages have been located, or where some farmer had, years ago,
cleared himself a farm.
There are three villages on Minnetonka, viz. : Excelsior, Way
zata and Mound City. Excelsior was settled in 1852, by a colony
from New York State, and named from the title adopted by

IN THE NORTHWEST. 509
the organization before leaving home. It was incorporated
about 1879. It is located on a range of hills on the south shore
of Lake Minnetonka, of which it has a commanding view. Its
present population is about 850. It has two railways, the Min
neapolis & St. Louis and the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba,
and a motor line. It is distant 18 miles from Minneapolis.
The oldest settlement on the lake is Wayzata, on the north
shore of Lake Minnetonka, 10 miles from Minneapolis, via the
St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba railway, which passes through
the village. The name Wayzata is a corruption of the Indian
word Wy-ze-a-ta, meaning North Shore, or North Side. The
village contains about 400 inhabitants, and commands consider
able trade from the surrounding country.
There are several fine hotels upon the lake, equal if not supe
rior to the famous, hotels of eastern watering places. Prominent
among these are the Hotel Lafayette, built at a cost of $200,000,
the Lake Park Hotel and Excelsior House. Railways reach
the lake at several points, and steamers make regular trips for
tourists. Minnehaha Falls, rendered famous in Longfellow's poems of
Hiawatha, is located on Minnehaha creek, midway between Fort
Snelling arid St. Anthony Falls. It is deservedly a favored resort.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS IN MINNEAPOLIS COSTING $100,000 AND UPWAED.
Courthouse (not completed)  $2,000,000
Post office  500,000
Exposition Hall  350,000
Science Hall  125,000
Library building  190,000
Soldiers' Home, near Minnehaha Falls  100,0C0
State University  150,000
Chamber of Commerce  285,000
Temple Court  250,000
Masonic Temple  200,000
City Market House  225,000
Athenaeum  250,000
Hennepin Avenue Theatre  140,000
Washburn Orphan Asylum  125,000
House of Good Shepherd  200,000
Loan and Trust Company  125,000
Guaranty Life and Trust  300,000
Lumber Exchange  150,000
Builders' Exchange  100,000

.510 FIFTY YEARS
Knights of Labor Exchange  100,000
& C. Hall Lumber Company  100,000
Bank of Commerce  200,000
Union elevator  375,000
Minneapolis & Pacific elevator  -  118,000
;St. Anthony elevator  154,000
Boston block  100,000
Nicollet House block  100,000
Albert Johnson block  100,000
Globe block  200,000
Wright block  140,000
Mutual block  100,000
Glen block  200,000
Langdon block  120,000
Central block, terrace  150,000
Syndicate block  600,000
West Hotel..  1,020,000
Gates' tenements  125,000
Lowry's residence  ,  100,000
Eastman & Cook's saw mill  100,000
Soo & St Marie shops  145,000
North Minneapolis pumping station  214,000
Tubular car works  250,000
Buel tenement block  .-.  100,000
Pillsbury A flour mill  1,100,000
"Washburn A flour mill  750,000
Washburn B flour mill  500,000
Morrison flour mill  100,000
Christian & Co.'s flour mill  100,000
High School building  100,000
¦Church of the Dominican Fathers  100,000
Aggregate value of school property  1,250,000
Aggregate value of church property  1,000,000
Aggregate value of parks and boulevards  1,000,000
POST OFFICE STATISTICS FOE 1886.
General business  $409,225
Money orders  1.215,951
Income  225,178
Expense  79,436
HISTOEY OF THE POST OFFICE AT MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. Postmasters.
Established Jan. 7, 1854  Hezekiah Fletcher.
Dec. 22, 1854  Carlos Wilcox.
April 7, 1856  Alfred E. Ames.
April 22, 1857  Samuel Hidden.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 511
Postmasters.
Aug. 30, 1858  William P. Ankeny.
April 4, 1861  David Morgan.
July 12, 1865  Daniel Bassett.
Nov. 17, 1866  William W. McNair.
March 11, 1867  Cyrus Aldrich.
April 15, 1871  Geo. H. Keith.
June 21, 1882  Orlo M. Laraway.
June 22, 1886  John J. Ankeny.
The bonded debt of the city is $3,319,000. The city can not
-create a debt nor issue bonds to a greater amount than five per
¦cent of the assessed valuation of city property, and the charter
prohibits a floating debt.
The tax assessments for 1886....  $99,591,762
Barrels.of flour manufactured  6,163,000
Value of other manufactures  '.  $62,500,000
Feet of lumber manufactured  '.  267,197,000
Elevator capacity (bushels)  11,820,000
Bushels of wheat received  34,904,260
Eight bridges span the river at Minneapolis as crossings for
the various railroads. The stone arch viaduct of the St. Paul,
Minneapolis & Manitoba cost $750,000. Municipal expenses,
$2,542,714. The following table gives the cut of lumber in Minneapolis for
the last sixteen years:
1870  118,233,100
1871  117,157,000
1872  167,918,820
1873  189,970,000
1874  191,305,680
1875  156,665,000
1876  200,371,250
1877  129,676,400
1878  130,274,400
1879  149,151,500
1880  195,452,200
1881  230,402,800
1882  312,239,800
1883  278,716,480
1884  300,724,373
1885  313,998,166
1886  267,196,519
WEST MINNEAPOLIS.
West Minneapolis is located about eight miles from the court
house, in sections 24 and 19 of township 27, range 24, and is not

512 FIFTY YEARS
included within Minneapolis' city limits. The Chicago, Mil
waukee & St. Louis, the Hastings & Dakota, and the St. Paul,
Minneapolis & Manitoba railroads have stations here. It was
surveyed in 1886, and organized shortly after. It has two thresh
ing machine and other extensive manufactories. The Hennepin
county poor farm is located near by.
Calvin A. Tuttle. — Mr. Tuttle was born in Holland, Con
necticut, in 1811. He received an academic education, and
remained with his parents until of age. He learned the trade
of millwright with his father. In 1832 he went to Bangor, Maine,
and worked at his trade until 1835, when he removed to Alton,
Illinois. He came to St. Croix in 1838, and superintended the
building of a mill. In 1841 he returned to Alton, where he
was married to Charlotte Winkler. He lived in Davenport, Iowa,
four years and one year at Chippewa Falls. In 1846 he removed
to St. Anthony Falls, where he helped build the first saw mill.
Here he worked eight years almost continuously at his trade.
He purchased two hundred acres of land here, including uni
versity lands, which he sold for $3,500. He removed to West
St. Anthony in 1852, to Robert Smith's government permit, and
then ran the old government flouring mill, grinding only for
the government. The grain, about 5,000 bushels annually,
was brought from St. Louis. For holding Smith's permit, and
grinding, he received one-eighth of the property. The govern
ment grinding was done for the privilege of making a claim on
the government reservation. This claim, eighty acres in extent,
located in what was then called West St. Anthony, now in the
heart of Minneapolis, is worth millions of dollars. Mr. Tut
tle sold his interest for $5,000. The old mill was built of stone,
30x30 feet, ground dimensions, two stories in height, with
one run of stone. The mill was built in 1822. There was a
farm near the mill, cultivated by soldiers. Mr. Tuttle returned
to East St. Anthony in 1857, and removed to Minnetonka in
1858, where he lived five years. Thence he removed to Twin
Rivers, Morrison county. He has a saw mill, farm and good home
at Twin Rivers. In 1887 he returned to Minneapolis to spend
the remainder of his days.
Cyrus Aldrich. — The subject of this memoir was born June
18, 1808, in Smithfield, Rhode Island. His father was Dexter
Aldrich, and was engaged in shipping and merchandising. His

LN THE NORTHWEST. 513
mother's maiden name was Hannah White. She was a descend
ant of Peregrine White, the first male child born after the land
ing of the Pilgrim Fathers. He received such an education as
could be obtained at the common schools until he was eighteen
years of age^ when he left home to engage for a few years in a sea
faring life. This life not proving to his taste, he abandoned it
and engaged in other pursuits. At the age of twenty-nine he
emigrated to Illinois and located at Alton, where he took a con
tract on the Michigan and Erie canal. In 1841, or about four
years later, he removed to Galena, Illinois, where he secured
employment with the firm of Galbraith & Porter, and engaged
in staging and mail contracts. In 1845 he'was elected to the Illi
nois legislature. The same year he was married to Clara Heaton,
of Indiana, who, with one son and one daughter, survives him. In
1847 he was elected register of deeds of Joe Daviess county; in
1849 was appointed receiver of the land office at Dixon, Illinois;
and in 1852 ran for Congress on the Whig ticket against Long
John Wentworth, but was defeated by a small majority. He
removed to Minnesota in 1855, locating at Minneapolis, then but
a small village. In 1857 he was elected a member of the Repub
lican wing of the constitutional convention, where his ability
for leadership soon brought him to the front. In 1858 he was
nominated and elected representative to Congress, Minnesota
having meanwhile become a state. In 1860 he was re-elected.
This was a trying time, but Mr. Aldrich acquitted himself well,
and was especially commended for his devotion to the interests
of the soldiers. In 1862 he declined a re-election, but allowed
his name to be used (though unsuccessfully) as a candidate for
the senate. He did not, however, entirely withdraw from public
affairs, but accepted an appointment from President Lincoln as a
member of the indemnity committee to adjust claims of settlers
who had suffered during the Indian outbreak of 1862. He also
' devoted much of his time and energy to the establishment of the
Northern Pacific railway.
In 1865 he was elected to the Minnesota legislature. In 1867
he was appointed postmaster of Minneapolis, which position he
held for four years. His long* and busy life has been spent chiefly
in public service. He had not quite reached the scriptural limit
. of human life, but it was evident that his iron constitution had
been overtasked and that he needed rest. The retirement and
33

514 FIFTY YEARS
rest came too late. His health gradually failed until Oct. 5,
1871, when he closed his eyes upon the scenes of earth. His
funeral, conducted from the TJniversalist church, of which he
was a member, was one of the largest ever held in the State.
Citizens of all parties and classes, the masonic and other social
and civil bodies combined in paying the last tribute of respect
to one who for fifteen years had been the most active, best known
and most respected of their number.
Alfred Elisha Ames, M.D., was born at Colchester, Ver
mont, Dec. 13, 1814. He was the oldest son of Billy and Phebe
(Baker) Ames,, whose ancestors were early colonists from Eng
land. Alfred E. commenced the study of medicine in 1832. He
occasionally taught school and worked at his trade of brickma-
son. He also varied his labors by publishing an arithmetic.
He came West in 1838, locating first at Springfield, Illinois; con
cluded his medical studies at Rush Medical College, Chicago, in
1845. Before leaving Illinois he was elected to the state senate.
In 1851 he came to St. Anthony Falls, made a claim, and entered
into partnership with Dr. J. H. Murphy. In 1852 he served as
surgeon at Fort Snelling, and in 1853 was elected to the territorial
legislature as a member of the house. In 1854 he was elected
probate judge; in 1857 member of the Democratic wing of the
constitutional convention, and in 1860 became a member of the
state normal board. During the remainder of his life he devoted
himself to the practice of medicine, but also served the public
in many positions of trust. He died Dec. 24, 1874. His wife
and five children survive him.
Albert Alonzo Ames, son of Dr. A. E. and Martha (Pratt)
Ames, was born at Garden Prairie, Illinois, Jan. 18, 1842. He
received a high school education at Minneapolis, studied medi
cine at Rush Medical College, Chicago, and graduated February,
1862. In August, 1863, he enlisted in the Ninth Minnesota Vol
unteers, but shortly after was commissioned assistant surgeon of
the Seventh Minnesota Volunteers. He served for awhile in
the Indian campaigns. In the fall of 1863 the regiment was
ordered South. In July, 1864, he was commissioned as surgeon
of the Seventh regiment in place of Dr. L. B. Smith, killed at
Tupelo. He was mustered out of service at the close of the war
with an excellent record as a physician and surgeon. After the
war he devoted himself to the practice of his profession and to'

IN THE NORTHWEST. 515
public services in Minneapolis, excepting a period of six years
spent in editorial life in California, first on the staff of the Daily
Times, andlater as managing editor of the Alta Calif ornian. At the
death of his father, in 1874, he returned to Minneapolis and re
sumed practice. He has filled the following positions of trust:
1867, member of the Minnesota legislature (house); 1875, member
of the city council; 1876, mayor of Minneapolis; 1877, Demo
cratic nominee for lieutenant governor (not elected); 1886, Demo
cratic candidate for governor (not elected); 1886-87-88, again
mayor of Minneapolis. Dr. Ames is a member of such prominent
fraternities as the Masonic, Odd Fellows, Druids, Knights of
Pythias, and Order of Elks.
Dr. Ames was married April 21, 1862, to Sarah, daughter of
Capt. Richard Strout, of Minneapolis.
Jesse Ames was born in Vinalhaven, Maine, Feb. 4, 1808.
From the age of fourteen till his retirement in 1861, Mr. Ames
devoted himself to a seafaring life. At the age of twenty -three
he was captain of a schooner, and afterward of different ships,
brigs, barks or schooners, all of them in the mercantile trade.
He made between twenty and thirty voyages to Europe, circum
navigated Cape Horn several times, and sailed twice round the
globe. Few men have seen more of the world. His last voyage
was from New Zealand to London, where he sold his ship, and,
coming to America, found him a beautiful home in the North Star
State. He is a resident of Northfield, and is, with his son John
T., the owner of the well known flouring mills at that place. He
was married Oct. 27, 1832, to Margaret Tolman, of Rockland,
Maine. They have two sons, one of whom, John T., is a resident
of Northfield. The other son, Adelbert A., won distinction
during the Civil War, leaving the service with the brevet rank
of major general. Since the war he has served as senator from
Mississippi, and as governor of that state.
Cadwallader C. Washburn. — Hon. C. C. Washburn was
a man of rare nobility of character and possessed of an acute
and powerful mind. He used his great talents for the good of
the country. He was a man of philanthropic impulses and great
generosity, as the following munificent gifts to the public will
attest: First — To the state of Wisconsin, in 1876, an astronomical
observatory, located on the university lands at Madison, in style

516 FIFTY YEARS
of architecture and apparatus to carry into execution the design
of the institution, equal, if not superior, to that of any like in
stitution in the world.
Second — The donation of his "Edgewood Home," near Madi
son, Wisconsin, for educational purposes.
Third — The generously established school located on the
shores of Lake Harriet, near Minneapolis, "The Washburn
Home for Orphans," for the poor and unfortunate children of
Minnesota. Mr. Washburn was born in Livermore, Maine, April 22, 1.818;
lived at home until 1838, and devoted some time to obtaining a
classical education. In 1838 and 1839 he taught school and clerked
in Hallowell and Wiscassett, Maine. In the spring of 1839 he
came West to Davenport, Iowa, and was employed a few months
with David Dale Owen, on geological work. In 1840 and 1841
he studied law at Rock Island, Illinois. In 1842 he settled in
Mineral Point, Wisconsin, and was admitted to practice law at
Lancaster, Grant county, in Judge Dunn's court. He continued
in practice at Mineral Point; also engaged in real estate and
dealing in land warrants, and in 1852 established the Bank
of Mineral Point. Mr. Washburn was elected representative
to the thirty-fourth, thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, and fortieth con-'
gresses. In February, 1861, the house appointed a special com
mittee of thirty-three members on the state of the Union. A
majority of the committee reported an amendment to the consti
tution of the United States, making slavery perpetual. Mr.
Washburn and others made a minority report against making
slavery perpetual. On this report we subjoin his remarks: "If
this Union must be dissolved, whether by peaceable process or
through fire and blood or civil war, we shall have the consolation
of knowing that when the conflict is over those who survive will
be what they never have been — inhabitants of a free country."
Mr. Washburn changed his residence to La Crosse in 1861. He
received a colonel's commission to recruit a cavalry regiment
that year, and subsequently was promoted to the rank of briga
dier general. He was elected governor of Wisconsin in 1872. In
1876 he erected a large flour mill at Minneapolis, which burned
in 1878. It was soon after rebuilt. In this mill he introduced the
first Hungarian patent process for making flour used in Amer
ica. Mr. Washburn died at Eureka Springs, Arkansas, May

&.&^Vii4A£u<yiM^

IN THE NORTHWEST. 517
i
14, 1882. His body was brought to Wisconsin and buried at
La Crosse.
William Drew Washburn, the youngest of the Washburn
brothers, was born at Livermore, Maine, Jan. 14, 1831. He
worked upon his father's farm until twenty years of age; pre
pared himself for college by his own unaided efforts, entered
Bowdoin College, and graduated in 1854. He studied law and
was admitted to the bar in 1857, and in the same year came to
Minneapolis as agent of the Minneapolis Mill Company, of which
he became a partner, in 1861 President Lincoln appointed him
surveyor general of Minnesota. During his term of office, wliich
continued four years, he lived in St. Paul. On his return to
Minneapolis he built a large saw mill and engaged extensively in
the lumber trade. He was the chief mover in the Minneapolis &
St. Louis and Minneapolis & Pacific railways. He has a large
lumber and flour mill at Anoka, and with others erected the
Palisade flour mill at Minneapolis. In 1878 he was elected repre
sentative to Congress from the Third district and reelected in
1880. He has also served in the state legislature. He was a
principal proprietor of the Minneapolis, Sault Ste. Marie & At
lantic railway, and was elected president of the company in 1883.
Mr. Washburn has been successful in his business ventures, has
accumulated a handsome property, and been liberal in using his
means in the interests of Minneapolis and the State. He is emi
nently practical in his business ideas and methods, and affable
and prepossessing in his manners. He married Lizzie Muzzy, of
Bangor, Maine, in 1850, and has two sons and two daughters liv
ing. Joseph Clinton Whitney was born in Springfield, Vermont,
April 14, 1818. In 1829 he removed with his parents to Lower
Canada, were he remained till he was twenty, years of age. He
went to Oberlin, Ohio, 1840; graduated from the college in 1845,
and from Union Theological Seminary in 1849. The same year
he removed to Stillwater, where he organized the First Presby
terian church, of which he served as pastor until 1853, when he
was called to the pastorate of the First Presbyterian church at
Minneapolis, where he remained four years. He removed to
Forest City, Meeker county, but returned to Minneapolis in 1860.
In 1862 he enlisted in Company D, Sixth Minnesota Volunteers,
and served three years. In 1865 President Lincoln appointed

518 * FIFTY YEARS .
him quartermaster with the rank of captain. In 1866 he
returned to Minneapolis and engaged in business. In 1867 he
was elected state senator from the Fifth district. Mr. Whitney
has been greatly interested in the cause of education. He was
a principal mover in establishing the public schools of Minne
apolis, of Bennett Seminary for Young Ladies, and of Mac-
alester College. He is president of the board of Bennett Seminary,
and is one of the members of the state normal board. He was
married July 10, 1849, to Eliza Baird. They have three sons
and two daughters.
Charles Hoag- was born in Sandwich, New Hampshire, in
1808. He received a good education and taught school fifteen
years. He came to Minneapolis in 1852, and occupied various
positions of trust, having been a member of the first town coun
cil, the second treasurer of Hennepin county, and the super
intendent of schools four years, commencing with 1870. Mr.
Hoag suggested the name of Minneapolis for the growing young
city of his adoption. He was a man of marked ability and
refinement, and although a strong partisan his many admirable
personal qualities won the esteem of those who most radically
differed from him. He was twice married, his first wife dying
in 1871. In 1873 he was married to Miss Susan F. Jewett who,
with a daughter, Mrs. C. H. Clark, and one son, Levi, survives
him. Mr. Hoag died February, 1888.
Franklin Steele. — No other pioneer has been more promi
nent in the early history of Minneapolis than Franklin Steele. A
bold, sagacious, enterprising man, he came in the very vanguard
of civilization, and promptly and fearlessly availed himself of
the splendid opportunities that this, then almost unknown, fron
tier afforded. We have not many data of his early life, but bis
history since he set foot in Fort Snelling is elsewhere given as a
part of the early history of the section in which he located, and
need not be here repeated.
Franklin Steele was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania.
He came West by the advice of President Andrew Jackson, and
arrived at Fort Snelling just after the conclusion of the treaty by
which the Indians ceded their St. Croix lands to the govern
ment;' whereupon Mr. Steele visited St. Croix Falls, made a
claim and proceeded to make further improvements, such as
building mills, as elsewhere narrated.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 519
•
When appointed sutler of the army at Fort Snelling, he sold
his St. Croix claims and identified himself thereafter with the
interests of St. Anthony Falls and the section adjacent thereto,
where he made claims and improvements. Among other enter
prises illustrative of the faith of Steele and others in the future
greatness of the prospective river cities, the fact may be men
tioned that an organized company built a wire suspension bridge
over the river just above the falls, a work projected while the
adjacent lands were still in the hands of the government, and
completed in 1855, at a time when such a structure was most
needed and advantageous.
Mr. Steele was a man of far more than ordinary ability. Col.
J. H. Stevens says of him: "He has been a good friend to Hen
nepin county, and as most of the citizens came here poor they
never had to ask Mr. Steele a second time for a favor. Fortune
has favored him, and while many a family has reason to feel
thankful for his generosity and kindness, he constantly made
money." The county of Steele was named after him. Mr. Steele
was married- to Miss Barney, a relative of the distinguished naval
officer of that name. He died in Minneapolis in 1880.
Roswell P. Russell was born in Richland, Vermont, March
15, 1820. His privileges for education were limited. He came
to Michigan in 1836 and to Fort Snelling in 1839. He came
from Prairie du Chien to the Fort in a mackinaw boat, part of
the way on foot over the ice, and suffered much for want of food,
sleep and from exposure. Mr. Russell remained at Fort Snelling
until 1845, engaged for two years in the Indian trade, made a
claim at St. Anthony Falls in 1847, and opened the first store, in a
log building, at that place. In 1854 he was appointed receiver
of the land office at Minneapolis. He has since been actively
engaged in farming, merchandising and real estate transactions.
He was the first chairman of the St. Anthony Falls town board, and
has served one term as representative in the state legislature. He
was a true and steadfast friend to his adopted city. He was
married at St. Anthony Falls, Oct. 3, 1848, to Marion Patch. They
have a family of seven sons and three daughters: Lucy C, wife
of W. C. Colbrath; Charles M., Roswell P., Mary Bell, wife of
F. M. Prince, of Stillwater; Carrie E., wife of F. L. Lovejoy, of
Fargo, Dakota; Frank and Fred, twin brothers; Geo. B. Mc  ,
died in 1881; William and Edward E.

520 FIFTY YEARS
Horatio Phillips Van Cleve was born in Princeton, New
Jersey, Nov. 22, 1809. He was educated at Princeton College
and West Point, graduating from the latter institution in 1831.
He served five years in the army, resigning in 1836. He followed
farming and engineering in Michigan until 1856, when he came
to Morrison county, Minnesota. In 1861 he enlisted as a volun
teer in the Second Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, of which
regiment he was commissioned colonel. He served during the
war and left the service with a major general's commission, and
has since served as adjutant general of the state of Minnesota.
He was the postmaster of St. Anthony Falls prior to the union of
that city With Minneapolis. He was married to Charlotte O.
Clarke, daughter of Maj. Gen. Clarke of the United States
Army. They have seven children.
Charlotte Ouisconsin Van Cleve, a daughter of Gen.
Clarke of the United States Army, was born at Fort Crawford,
Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, in 1819. Soon after her birth
her father came up the river on a flatboat to the site of Fort
Snelling. They were six weeks making the voyage. Miss
Charlotte grew up amidst military surroundings, and on a
remote frontier, and was married at Fort Winnebago, Wis
consin, to Horatio P. Van Cleve, when she had barely attained
the age of sixteen years. Her husband resigned his posi
tion in the army about the time of his marriage, and removed
to Michigan, but since 1856 her home has been in Minnesota.
Of her children six sons are living in Hennepin county. A
daughter is the wife of H. V. Hall, a missionary to the Sandwich
Islands. Besides her own family she has reared five orphans.
She is intellectually active and vigorous, takes great interest in
the reforms of the day, and is a noble specimen of the pioneer
women of the State. She is the founder of the Bethany Home
in Minneapolis. She has specially interested herself in the poor,
the downtrodden and the outcast classes of human society, and
has exercised in this direction an untold influence for good.
Ard Godfrey was born at Orono, Maine, Jan. 18, 1813. He
came to St. Anthony Falls in 1847, and was among the first to
make improvements imitilizing the water power furnished by the
falls. He built a dam and mill, and subsequently engaged in
lumbering. In 1852 he settled on a claim near Minnehaha falls,
where he built a saw and grist mill, some years later destroyed by

IN THE NORTHWEST. 521
fire. He was married in Maine, January, 1838, and has a family
of six children. He still lives at his old homestead near Minne
haha falls.
Richard Chute was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Sept. 22, 1820.
He first visited St. Anthony Falls in 1844, and built a trading
house. He was one of the firm of W. G. Ewing & Co. In 1854 he
located permanently at the Falls where he has been engaged in real
estate operations, milling and other branches of business. He
has been successful in his undertakings, and is a man of excel
lent standing in the community.
Lucius N. Parker was born in Chester, Vermont, Dec. 11,
1823. He came to Illinois in his boyhood and remained there
till eighteen years of age, when he came to Marine, Minnesota,
and engaged in lumbering. In 1846 he was one of the propri
etors of the Osceola (Polk county, Wisconsin) mills. In 1849
he sold out his interest, removed to St. Anthony Falls and carried
the mail between St. Paul and that city. He removed to the
west side of the river, known now as Minneapolis, and has since
resided there. He was married to Amanda Huse in 1849.
Capt. John Rollins was born in March, 1806, at New
Sharon, Maine. While in Maine he followed lumbering and
hotel keeping. In 1848 he came to the Falls and engaged in
lumbering, steamboating, milling and farming. He was a mem
ber of the first territorial council of Minnesota, in 1849-50. He
was married to Betsey Martin at Newport, Maine, in 1832. They
have seven children living. Capt. Rollins died in 1885.
John G. Lennon was born in Bolton, England, July 6, 1815.
He came to America in 1841 as supercargo of a vessel bound
to New Orleans. In 1843 he located at St. Croix Falls, removed
to St. Paul in 1848, and in 1850 to St. Anthony Falls, where
he entered the service of the St. Anthony Outfit. In 1856 he
engaged in the lumbering and mercantile business and in 1859
removed to a stock farm in Sibley county. During the Civil
War he served as assistant commissary, and through Gen. Sib
ley's Indian campaign. At the 'suppression of the Indian re
volt his regiment was transferred South and attached to the
Sixteenth Army Corps, under Gen. A. J. Smith and Division
Commander Gen. Joseph Mower and he served as quartermaster
until mustered out at the close of the war, when he returned to
civil life and commenced dealing in real estate. In 1873 he re-

522 FIFTY YEARS
turned to Minneapolis. He was married to Mary D. McLain in
1851. He died in August, 1887, leaving a widow and two chil
dren. John H. Stevens. — Col. Stevens traces his ancestry tQ the
Moors who, during the wars of the Alhambra were carried cap
tive to France, where they became known as Huguenots. Driven
by persecution from France to England, they emigrated thence
with the Puritans on the Mayflower to America. Col. Stevens
was born June 13, 1820, in Lower Canada, whither his parents
had emigrated from Vermont. His father gave him an excellent
education. At an early day John H. came to the lead mines of South Wis
consin. During the war with Mexico he served as a soldier, and
after the war, in 1849, came to the Northwest and located on the
west bank of the Mississippi, at St. Anthony Falls, where he
built the first frame house on the west side, on ground that after
ward became the site of the union depot. He was a member of
the lower house of the legislature of 1876, and has filled other
public positions with honor to himself. He has been influential
in municipal affairs, and always a staunch advocate of the in
terests of his city, county and State. He is the author of a book
of "Reminiscences of Pioneer Life." He was married at Rock-
ford, Illinois, in 1850, to Frances Helen Miller. They have one
son, Francis H. G., and three daughters, Orma, Sarah and Kittie
D., wife of P. B. Winston.
Caleb D. Dorr was born at East Great Works, Penobscot
county, Maine. He became a practical lumberman, and, com
ing to the Falls in 1847, bought of Hole-in-the-Day, a Chip
pewa chief at Swan River, one hundred trees at five dollars per
tree, for St. Anthony Falls improvements, the first timber floated
down the Mississippi above the mouth of Rum river.
Mr. Dorr was in the employ of the government for ten years,
locating state and school lands. He has followed the business
of scaling logs, and has also been boom master. He was married
to Celestia A. Ricker, of Maine, March 4, 1849.
Rev. Edward Duffield Neill, the well known author of
the " History of Minnesota," was born in Philadelphia Aug. 9,
1823. He was educated at the University of Pennsylvania and
Amherst College, Massachusetts, graduating from the latter in
1842. He studied theology at Andover Theological Seminary,

in the northwest. 523
Massachusetts, and in 1847 preached as a missionary amongst the
miners in and around Galena, Illinois. He was transferred to
St. Paul in April, 1849, where he organized a society and erected
the first Protestant church building in Minnesota not on mission
grounds. It was situated on Third and Market streets. He also
built for himself, on the corner of Fourth and Washington streets,
the first brick house in the city. In 1855 he organized the House
of Hope society and acted as its pastor five years. He was also
the prime mover in establishing the Baldwin School. In 1855 he
secured the building of the St. Paul College, for some years
conducted as a classical school and afterward consolidated with
the Baldwin School. He was the first territorial superintendent -
of public instruction, in 1851-2, and served as state superintendent
from 1858 to 1864. He was called to fill many educational trusts.
April 29, 1861, he was appointed chaplain of the First Minne
sota Volunteers, and served as such over two years. He was
with his regiment at the battles of Bull Run, Fair Oaks and
Malvern Hill. President Lincoln appointed him hospital chap
lain, he became, one of the president's private secretaries, and
continued in that relation during the presidency of Andrew
Johnson. In 1869 President Grant appointed him United States
consul at Dublin, where he resided two years. Returning to
Minnesota in 1871, he removed to Minneapolis and conducted
the Baldwin School and St. Paul College, under the title of Mac-
alester College, and located his school in the old Winslow House,
Minneapolis. In January, 1874, Mr. Neill connected himself
with the Reformed Episcopal church.
Mr. Neill has been a busy worker in literary, chiefly historical,
fields. Editions of his "History of Minnesota" were published
in 1858, 1873 and 1878. He has published many other valuable
historical works. He is a ready and versatile writer, and is an
authority on the subjects concerning which he treats. Mr. Neill
was married to Nancy Hill, at Snow Hill, Maryland. Their
children are Samuel Henry, Edward Duffield and John Selby.
Martin. John Wensig-nor, a native of Switzerland, was born May 22,
1825; came to America in 1833, to St. Anthony Falls in 1849, and
engaged successfully in mercantile pursuits. Mr. Wensignor
has been a generous man to the poor, and although public spirited,
has persistently declined office. Mr. Wensignor died in 1886.

524 FIFTY YEARS
Robert H. Hasty was born in York county, Maine, Dec. 12r.
1823. He came to Stillwater in 1849, and engaged in lumbering.
He was surveyor general of the First district two years. He
enlisted in Company I, Sixth Minnesota, at the organization of
the regiment in 1862, was commissioned second lieutenant, pro
moted to first lieutenant, and resigned Jan. 15, 1865. In 1881 he
removed to Crystal Lake, Minnesota.
Stephen Pratt, a native of Penobscot county, Maine, was born
in 1828; came to St. Anthony Falls in October, 1849, where he fol
lowed lumbering until 1858. He was a member of the First
Minnesota Cavalry during the Rebellion. In 1864 he removed
to a farm. He died in 1887.
Capt. John Tapper was born in Dorsetshire, England, March
25, 1820; came to America in 1840, and to Prairie du Chien and
Fort Snelling in 1844. He served as a soldier during the Mexi
can War. He was the first toll collector on the St. Anthony Falls
wire suspension bridge. He finally located on Steele's farm near
Minnehaha falls, and is now living in Clayton county, Iowa.
R. W. Cummings was born in Lycoming, Pennsylvania, June,
1825. He settled at Cottage Grove, Minnesota, in 1845, and in
1848 made a claim in St. Anthony, and improved it as a farm
until the city required it for lots, since which time he has been
engaged in the real estate business.
Elias H. Conner was born in New Sharon, Maine, in 1824.
In 1848 he came to Lakeland, Minnesota, and in 1849 to St. An
thony Falls, where he had charge of the work on the first sus
pension thrown across the Mississippi at that point. He also
built the first bridge that spanned the St. Croix at Taylor's Falls.
In 1855 he was married to Hannah Rollins.
C. F. Stimson was born in Maine, April 19, 1S22. He came
to Stillwater in June, 1848, and thence to St. Anthony Falls, where
he followed lumbering. He was treasurer of Ramsey cou nty for one
year. In 1879 he moved to his farm near Elk River. He has a
wife and two children. °
William Dugas was born in Three Rivers, Canada East, May
17, 1809. He came to New York in 1831. He spent some time
traveling, visiting Africa, New Orleans, Indian Territory, Iowa,
and Illinois, and other places more or less remote. He came to
Minnesota in 1844, and was a representative in the first territo
rial legislature. Later he removed to St. Anthony Falls. He after-

IN the northwest. 525
ward removed to Dayton, Minnesota. He was married at Prairie
du Chien in 1844.
David Gorham was born in Quebec; came to Virginia, where
he spent two years, and thence to Maine, where he lived twelve
years. In April, 1849, he came to St. Anthony Falls, and made
valuable land claims near Lake Calhoun. He followed lumber
ing for about twelve years. In 1864 he started for California, but
was driven back by the Sioux Indians. In 1867 he settled in
Plymouth, where he has been supervisor for ten years.
Edwin Hedderly was born in Philadelphia in 1814. In 1849
he came to St. Anthony Falls and in 1851 made a claim of one
hundred and sixty acres west of the river, within the present
bounds of Minneapolis. He served on various committees for
r selecting a name for the new city and its streets, and until his
death was ever active and influential in all matters pertaining
to the welfare of the city. He was married to Mary J. Ken-
nard, of Philadelphia. Eight children of this union survive
him and are residents of the city. Mr. Hedderly died in 1879.
Louis Neudeck, born December, 1821, came to St. Anthony
Falls in 1849. He subsequently lived in Missouri, Illinois and
at Stillwater, but in 1855 returned to the Falls. He died in
1864. He was supposed to have been killed by Indians while
absent in Montana, the only clue to his sad fate being the recov
ery of his revolver having his name inscribed on it, from an In
dian. He left a widow and five children.
Andrew J. Foster was born in Cooper, Maine, June, 1827,
. and came to the Falls in 1849, where he engaged in the lumber
ing, grocery, gardening, and real estate business. He married
Mrs. Mary Averill, of Stillwater. Their children are Ada,
William, Owen and Elmer.
A. D. Foster, a Pennsylvanian, born in 1801, came to St.
Anthony Falls in 1848. He assisted in building the Gov. Ramsey,
the first boat above the falls. He has engaged in fruit culture
and merchandising. He was married in Pennsylvania and has
three children; Josiah, resident in Indianapolis; Lysander, a
physician in Minneapolis; and a daughter, married.
Charles E. Vanderburgh, a native of Clifton, Parke
county, New York, born Dec. 2, 1829, graduated at Yale College
in 1852, and served for awhile as principal of Oxford Academy,
New York. He studied law and was admitted to practice in
1855. In 1856 he came to Minneapolis, which has since been his

526 FIFTY YEARS
home. In 1849 he was elected judge of the district court, which
at that time embraced all the territory west of the Mississippi
from Fort Snelling to the north boundary line. He has been
continuously re-elected, an evidence of the high estimation in
which he is regarded by his fellow citizens.
Judge Vanderburgh has been twice married. His first wife,
Julia M. Mygatt, wedded Sept. 2, 1857, died April 23, 1863,
leaving two children, William Henry and Julia M. His second
wife was Anna Culbert, married April 15, 1873. They have one
child, Isabella Mclntyre. His daughter Julia was accidentally
drowned Sept. 12, 1871.
Dorillius Morrison was born at Livermore, Oxford county,
Maine, Dec. 26, 1816. He received a common school and academic
education. He taught school awhile, and then engaged in the mer
cantile business, the last eleven years at Bangor, when in the
spring of 1853 he came to Minneapolis, where he became promi
nent as a business man, following lumbering, dealing in real estate,
milling and railway building. He is one of the projectors and
proprietors of the Minneapolis Mill Company. He is also sole
owner and proprietor of a cotton mill costing $100,000. He was
deeply interested in the Northern Pacific railroad. He was the
first mayor of Minneapolis, in 1867, and served as senator in the
sixth legislature in May, 1840. He was married to Harriet Put
nam Whitmore, a descendant of Gen. Israel Putnam. They
have three children, Clinton and George Henry, residents of
Minneapolis, and Grace E., the wife of Dr. H. H. Kimball, of
Minneapolis. H. G. O. Morrison, brother of Dorillius, was born in Liver-
more, Maine, Jan. 24, 1817. He graduated at the Bangor high
school. He worked at printing in his youth, read law and was
admitted to practice in 1838, locating afterward at Sebre, Maine.
He was a member of the Maine senate in 1841. In 1855 he came
to St. Anthony Falls. He moved to Dakota county soon after, and
represented that county in the state legislatures of 1860-61. He
resided in Dakota county for twelve years. He was assessor of
internal revenue from 1869 to 1873, during which time he lived
in St. Paul. In 1873 he removed to Minneapolis, where he has
since resided. He has been twice married. His second wife was
Rebecca Newell. They have three children, Daniel W., Samuel
B. and Stanford.
Judge F. R. E. Cornell was born in 1821, in Chenango

in *the northwest. 527
county, New York; was educated at Union College, New York;
studied law and was admitted to practice in 1846. He came to
Minneapolis in 1854. During his residence in New York he was
a member of the state senate. In January, 1875, he took his
seat as associate justice of the supreme court of Minnesota,
which office he held until his death, which occurred in 1879.
Gen. A. B. Nettleton came from Ohio, and became one of
the editors of the Minneapolis Tribune. He served during the
Civil War, participated in seventy-three battles, and was pro
moted through the various grades from private to brigadier
general. Judge Isaac Atwater was born in Homer, Cortland county,
New York. He graduated at Yale College in 1844, practiced
law in New York City until 1850, when he came to St. Anthony
Falls and practiced law with G. W. North as partner. He was
one of the first regents of the State University; edited the St.
Anthony Express from 1851 to 1857; served as district attorney
from 1853 to 1857; was elected associate justice of the supreme
bench in 1857, resigned the position in 1864, and removed to
California, where he practiced law. After an absence of three
years he returned to Minneapolis, where he has been honored
with the offices of alderman, president of the Board of Edu
cation, etc. He was married to Pamelia A. Sanborn in 1849.
Their son John B. is associated with his father in law practice.
Rev. David Brooks, a venerable pioneer clergyman of the
Methodist Episcopal church, was born in England in 1802. He
was educated there and preached ten years in the Wesleyan
connection. He came to America in 1842, and joined the Meth
odist Episcopal church, which he has served faithfully since as
pastor and presiding elder in Northern Illinois, Wisconsin and
Minnesota. He was among the pioneer preachers in the latter
state. In 1853 he was presiding elder of a district that included
all of the present Minnesota conference. In 1854 he secured the
charter for Hamline University, and was instrumental in obtain
ing a donation of $25,000 from Bishop Hamline for its endow
ment. Rev. Jabez Brooks, D.D., son of Rev. David Brooks, was
born in England, and came to America in 1842. He is a gradu
ate of Middleton Wesleyan University. For several years he
was professor of Greek, and later president, of Hamline Univer-

528 FIFTY YEARS
sity. He served also as professor of Greek in Lawrence Univer
sity, Appleton, Wisconsin. He has for many years been profes
sor of Greek in the State University.
John S. Pillsbury was born in New Hampshire, July 29,
1828. He received a New England common school education. He
came to the Falls in 1855, and by close application to business
acquired a position of wealth and influence. He has occupied
many prominent positions in Minneapolis and the State. He
served five terms as state senator, from the sixth to the tenth legis
latures. In 1863 he was appointed a regent of the State Univer
sity. He was elected governor of the State in 1875, and re-elected
in 1877. He was married in November, 1856, to Mahala Fisk,
of Warner, New Hampshire. Their children are Ada, Susie,
May, Sadie Belle, and Alfred Fisk.
Henry T. Welles was born • In Connecticut, April 3, 1821,
graduated at Trinity College, and came to St. Anthony Falls in
1853, where he engaged successfully in the lumbering, bank
ing and real estate business. He is a liberal, public spirited
citizen, contributing freely to all enterprises looking to the
growth and welfare of the city as well as to charitable objects.
David Blakely has been prominent in journalism, having been
connected at various times with papers in Minneapolis, St. Paul
and Chicago. He was one of the founders of the Minneapolis
Tribune. William Lochren, a native of Tyrone, Ireland, was born
April 3, 1832; was brought to America when he was two years
old; was educated in Vermont, admitted to the bar, and came to
the Falls in 1856, where he has since practiced law, except
ing a term of service in the army during the Rebellion as first
lieutentant of Company E, First Minnesota Volunteers. Since
the war he has served as city attorney, as state senator in 1868-
69, and as district judge from 1883 to the present time. In 1871
he was married to Mrs. Martha Demmen, who died in 1879.
Eugene M. Wilson was born in 1834, in Monongalia county,
Virginia. His ancestors were Scotch-Irish, who came to this
country at an early date. His grandfather served in the Revo
lutionary War. Mr. Wilson graduated at Jefferson College,
Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1852, read law with his father,
was admitted to practice in 1855, and came to Minneapolis in
1857. He served as United States district attorney during

A/if -tfr/IBMi -il.

.^UyJcNK

IN the northwest. 529
President Buchanan's administration. During the Rebellion
he was captain of Company A, First Minnesota Cavalry, serving
•on the frontier until 1853, when the company was discharged by
the completion of term of enlistment.
Mr. Wilson was a member of the United States house of
representatives in 1871-72 and state senator in 1879. He served
four years as mayor of Minneapolis, from 1872 to 1876. Mr.
Wilson was married Sept. 6, 1865, to Mary E. Kimball, of Min
neapolis. They have three children, Mary O., Helen K. and
Hugenia. R. B. Langdon, born in Vermont in 1826, received an aca
demic education, and at twenty-two years of age commenced rail
roading on the Rutland & Burlington road. He has since been
continuously engaged in superintending the construction of rail
roads in ten states of the Union, and in 1858 supervised the grad
ing of the St. Paul & Pacific, the first railroad enterprise in
Minnesota. He served as state senator for seven terms, com
mencing in 1873 and closing in 1881 (excepting the term of 1879).
"He has a wife and three children.
Wm. M. Bracket, the originator of the Minneapolis fire de
partment, was born in Maine in 1843. His father served six
years as consul at Halifax, Nova Scotia, during which time Wil
liam resided at that place. During the Rebellion he served two
years as a musician in the Sixth Maine Volunteers, and was then
appointed paymaster's clerk at Washington, District of Colum
bia. In 1865 he came to Minneapolis, where he has since been
continuously connected with the fire department.
Thomas B. and Platt B. Walker are natives of Ohio.
Thomas B. came to Minneapolis in 1862, and engaged in survey
ing, railroad engineering and examining lands. By close ap
plication and sound judgment he has accumulated wealth, from
which he dispenses liberally to worthy enterprises. He has con
tributed largely to the building of the athenaeum. His wife is a
prominent contributor to, and upholder of, the charitable enter
prises of the city.
Platt B., a younger brother of Thomas, is a fluent speaker,
a popular lecturer and a kind hearted, genial man. He has been
till lately editor and publisher of the Mississippi Valley Lumber
man, and has taken an active part in the improvements of the
waterways of the West.
34

530 FIFTY YEARS
Austin H. Young, a native of Fredonia, New York, born
Dec. 8, 1830, received his education at Waukegan, Illinois; re
moved to Prescott, Wisconsin, in 1854; commenced the practice
of law in 1862 and served as state senator in Wisconsin in 1863.
He came to Minneapolis in 1866 and practiced law. He was
elected judge of the Fourth Judicial district in 1877.
Henry G. Hicks was born in Wyoming, New York, in 1838.
He learned the trade of harness maker; was educated at Ober
lin, Ohio; served as a soldier during the war of the Rebellion,
and was wounded at the battle of Missionary Ridge. In 1865
he came to Minneapolis. He was admitted to the bar in 1875;
has served as sheriff, as city justice and as a representative in
the twentieth, twenty-first and twenty-second state legislatures.
He was elected district judge in 1886.
John P. Rea was born Oct. 13, 1840, in Chester county, Penn
sylvania. He received a common school education. In 1861 he
enlisted in Company B, Eleventh Ohio Volunteers, and was
breveted major for meritorious services. In 1867 he graduated
at Ohio Wesleyan College; studied law and was admitted to the
bar in 1869. In 1875 he removed to Minneapolis; edited the
Tribune one year; continued his law practice in 1877; was elected
probate judge, served four years, and in 1886 was elected district
judge without opposition.
He has been an active Grand Army man, a member of Geo.
N. Morgan Post, and has served as commander of Minnesota
state department, also as senior vice commander-in-chief of the
national department. In 1887 he was elected commander-in-
chief of the national department of the Grand Army. In 1869
he was married to Miss Emma Gould, of Ohio.
John Martin was born in Caledonia county, Vermont, in
1820. His educational advantages were limited to the common
schools. He was raised on a farm, but at eighteen years of age
bought his time of his father for sixty dollars. For twelve
years he followed steamboating, seven on the Connecticut river
and five on the Neuce river in North Carolina. In 1851 he went
to California, but returned to Vermont the following year, and
for two years engaged in farming. He came to Minneapolis
in 1854, where he engaged in lumbering and dealing in pine
lands. In the past twelve years he has been interested in rail
road enterprises. He has been vice president of the Minneapolis

IN THE NORTHWEST.

531

& St. Louis, and Minneapolis, Sault Ste. Marie & Atlantic Rail
way companies. Mr. Martin is an enterprising and sagacious
business man, and is highly esteemed for his many excellent
qualities. He was married in Vermont in 1849, to Jane Gilfillan,
and has one daughter.
John Dudley was born in Penobscot county, Maine, in 1814.
He came to Minneapolis in 1852, where he engaged in business,
dealing in logs and lumber. He built mills in Prescott in 1861.
The flour mill at Prescott has a capacity of one hundred barrels
per day, and the saw mill a capacity of 3,000,000 feet per annum.
He recently purchased the saw miUj at Point Douglas built by
A. J. Short. This mill has a capacity of 6,000,000 feet.

ST. ANTHONY FALLS IN 1886.
VIEW OF SUSPENSION BKIDGE ABOVE THE FALLS, AND ST. PAUL, MINNEAPOLIS & MANITOBA
RAILWAY BKIDGE BELOW THE FALL?.

532 FIFTY YEARS

OHAPTEK XX.

RAMSEY COUNTY.
Ramsey county, named in honor of Gov. Ramsey, includes
an area of about four whole towns lying between Anoka county
on the north, Washington on the east and the Mississippi river
on the southwest. It was organized by the first territorial legis
lature. Its surface is undulating, and somewhat abruptly hilly
along the Mississippi. Itis well watered and drained by the trib
utaries of the Mississippi, and has besides many beautiful lakes.
Its first officers were: Register of deeds, David Day; sheriff, P.
C. Lull; judge of probate, Henry A. Lambert; treasurer, James
W. Simpson; county attorney, W. D. Phillips; county surveyor,
S. P. Folsom; coroner, J. E. Fullerton; clerk of court, J. K.
Humphrey; auditor, Alexander Buchanan; court commissioner,
Oscar Malmros; district judge, E. C. Palmer; common pleas
judge, W. S. Hall; county commissioners, Ard Godfrey, Louis
Robert; senator, W. H. Forbes; representatives, B. W. Brunson,
John L. Dewey, Henry Jackson, Parsons K. Johnson.
Rev. Lucian Galtier, a Catholic priest who visited the Upper
Mississippi in the spring of 1840, has the honor of naming the
then unpromising city of St. Paul. Others had been on the site
before him. A few families had been banished from the vicinity
of Fort Snelling and had found homes a few miles further down
the river. These were not all reputable people, for amongst
them was one Pierre Parrant, who, on account of the appear
ance of one of his eyes, which was sightless, was known as
" Pig's Eye." Parrant sold whisky, and was, from all accounts,
an unscrupulous and worthless fellow. As a matter of course,
his establishment being to many the chief attraction of the place.
it was called by his nickname. The Indians would travel hun-

IN THE NORTHWEST. 533
dreds of miles to the place where they sell Minne waukan (whisky).
The location was near the once well known Fountain Cave. The
name of "Pig's Eye" might have been perpetually fastened
upon the young city but for the timely arrival of Father Galtier,
who gave to it the name of St. Paul, because, as he says in a
letter to Bishop Grace, referring to the fact that the name St.
Peter (Mendota) had already been affixed to a place some miles
above, "As the name of St. Paul is generally associated with that
of St. Peter, and the Gentiles being well represented in the new
place in the persons of the Indians, I called it 'St. Paul.' "
It does not appear that Father Galtier was ever a resident of
St. Paul, as he only came at stated times to hold services and
administer the sacraments. The name Pig's Eye was subse
quently transferred to a place several miles below, where it is
still retained. The best known of the first settlers of St. Paul
are B. Gervais, Vetal Guerinand Pierre Bottineau. The two
former gave to Father Galtier the ground necessary for a church
site and cemetery. "Accordingly," writes the good father, "in
the month of October logs were prepared and a church erected
so poor that it would well remind one of the stable at Bethlehem.
It was destined, however, to be the nucleus of a great city. On the
first day of November in the same year I blessed the new basilica
and dedicated it to St. Paul, the apostle of nations. I expressed
a wish at the same time that the settlement would be known by
the same name, and my desire was obtained." During the fall
of 1841 Father Augustin Ravoux arrived from below and be
came a resident of Minnesota and later of St. Paul. In 1841
Rev. B. T. Kavanaugh established a mission at Red Rock.
Henry Jackson came from Galena the same year, established
a trading post and did well. He was afterward a member of the
first territorial legislature and of the first town council. Jackson
street perpetuates his name. Sergt. Mortimer and Stanislaus
Bilanski also came in 1842.
The accessions of 1843 were John R. Irvine, C. C. Blanchard,
J. W. Simpson, A. B. Coy, Wm. Hartshorn, A. L. Larpenteur,
Scott Campbell, Antoine Pepin, Alexander Mege, A. R. Mc-
Leod, Alexis Clautier, Joseph Gobin, David T. Sloan, Joseph
Desmarais, Louis Larrivier and Xavier Delonais. These mostly
engaged in trade. Messrs. Irvine, Blanchard, Hartshorn and
Coy, and later, Mege, were associated together. Some of the

534 FIFTY YEARS
last named accessions of 1843 were Canadian French, half-breeds,
or allied by marriage to the Indians. There were other settlers
of whom we can find only casual mention, probably transients or
adventurers. The prominent accessions of 1844 were Capt. Louis Robert,
Charles Bazille, Wm. Dugas, Francis McCoy and Joseph Hall.
Louis Robert was a trader, Bazille was a carpenter and built this
summer for Capt. Robert the first frame house in St. Paul. This
house was built of hewn lumber, sawed lumber not being obtain
able. It was on the lower levee, and was used as a warehouse
but was moved to East Fourth street, where, as No. 58, it was
still standing a few years ago. Dugas was a millwright and built
a saw and grist mill on Phalen's creek (spelled in an old deed
Faylin's creek). The mill was a failure. Dugas was a man of
some prominence and represented the New Canada precinct in
the first territorial legislature.
McCoy and Hall were carpenters. This year the governor of
Wisconsin Territory appointed Henry Jackson a justice of the
peace. Jackson, before his commission arrived, married an eager
couple by bond, they giving bond to reappear when he should
receive his commission and be legally united. Jackson was
justice of the peace, postmaster, hotel keeper, legislator, and
clerk of court combined in one.
This fall Father Galtier was transferred to Keokuk and Father
A. Ravoux took charge of the churches at Mendota and St. Paul.
Rev. J. Hurlbut, a Methodist missionary, held the first Prot
estant service, using the house of Henry Jackson for that pur
pose. The first deed on record bears date of April 23, 1844, and
transfers from Henry Jackson, St. Croix county, Wisconsin
Territory, to William Hartshorn, of St. Louis, Missouri, for a con
sideration of $1,000, half of the following tract of land in St.
Croix county, Wisconsin Territory, being, the place where the
said Jackson now lives, situate immediately on the Mississippi
river and known as the St. Paul landing, containing three acres,
with all buildings and improvements thereon. The permanent
accessions of 1845 were Francis Chenevert, David Benoit, Leonard
H. La Roche, Francis Robert, Augustus and David B. Freeman,
W. G. Carter and Charles Cavileer. La Roche was a carpenter,
but engaged in trade. - He bought the land on which the Mer-

IN THE NORTHWEST. 535
chants Hotel now stands for $165, and the year following built a
cabin of tamarack logs, which was known as the St. Paul
House. This property he sold to S. P. Folsom. La Roche died
at Crow Wing in 1859.
W. G. Carter, better known as "Gib" Carter, was a member
of the Stillwater convention in 1848. He died in 1852. Francis
Robert was a younger brother of Louis Robert. He died in 1849,
from an injury received while running the St. Croix rapids in a
birch canoe. Chenevert clerked for Capt. Robert. He was un
married, and died in 1865. Of Benoit little or nothing is known.
The Freeman brothers were engaged in trade in connection with
Hartshorn and Randall. David died in 1850, and was buried by
the Odd Fellows, the first Odd Fellow funeral in the Territory.
Augustus Freeman died in New York. Cavileer was a saddler,
and was connected at first with the Red Rock mission. He was
territorial librarian for awhile, and is now a resident of Pem
bina. Miss Matilda Rumsey opened a school (the first in St.
Paul) and taught a short time, when she was married to Alex
ander Mege, and the school was abandoned.
Alexander R. McLeod, who came from Selkirk settlement in
1837 with Pierre Bottineau, erected in 1845 and 1846 a log house
between the Catholic church and Jackson's store. This was the
first house built in St. Paul expressly for a hotel. It was after
ward enlarged and called the Central House, and was kept by
Robert Kennedy and others. The second deed on record bears
date of May 1, 1845, and transfers, for a consideration of $500,
from William Douglass to H. H. Sibley, of Clayton county, Iowa,
lands situate on what is known as Faylin's (Phalen's) creek,
and more fully known as Faylin's falls, 100 acres, where said
Douglass now lives. This was a mortgage deed. A subsequent
deed conveys the same premises from Edward Faylin to Wm.
Douglass, for a consideration of $70. In February, 1846, a quit
claim deed conveys the same tract to Alexander McLeod.
The settlers in 1846 were William H. and William Randall, Jr.,
father and son, James McBoal, Thos. S. Odell, John Banfil, Har-
ley D. White, David Faribault, Louis Denoyer, Jo Monteur,
and Charles Roleau. Randall, Sr., engaged in trade and became
immensely rich, but was wrecked in the financial panic of 1857.
He died in 1861. Randall, Jr., is best remembered as an artist
and caricaturist of no mean ability. He died in 1851. McBoal

536 FIFTY YEARS
was also an artist, the first who pursued that calling in St. Pauh
He was a member of the territorial council in 1849-50, and was
adjutant general of the Territory during Gov. Ramsey's adminis
tration. He died in Mendota in 1862.
Odell had been a soldier, but on being mustered out at Fort.
Snelling came to St. Paul. He died in 1879. We have made
mention of White in biographical sketches. Crittenden went to
Crow Wing and represented the Twenty-first district in the first
state legislature. Denoyer married a sister of Louis Robert and
in 1850 removed to Belle Plaine. David Faribault was a son of
Jean Baptiste Faribault. He now resides in Dakota. Banfil re
moved to Manomin, and represented his district as senator in
the first state legislature.
The writer of these sketches visited St. Paul in 1846, and was
entertained at Jackson's hotel, which he well remembers as a
log building, one story high, with store and post office in the east
end, a dining room in the west end, with small, low sleeping
rooms in the rear. The hotel stood on a romantic elevation, a
precipitious bluff, and commanded a magnificent view of the river
and valley. Louis Robert's tamarack pole store was located east
of Jackson's, under the bluff, and directly on the bank of the
river, a good steamboat landing in front. West of Jackson's was
J. W. Simpson's store, and still further west the store of Fari
bault & Co. , beyond which were two small dwellings, all these
buildings fronting the river. Still further west, Alexander Mc
Leod was building a handsome hewed log house. On the next
rise of ground stood the Catholic church. On the next plateau
the store of Wm. Hartshorn, and near a small creek the dwell
ing of John R. Irvine. There were two residences on a plateau
a short distance north of Jackson's hotel. There were in all
five stores, one tavern and a few dwellings, mostly built of logs.
A few United States soldiers and Indians were lounging about the
stores, some drunk, some sober. Such was St. Paul in 1846. The
settlers of 1847 were Jacob W. Bass, Harriet E. Bishop, Benj. W.
Brunson, Dr. J. J. Dewey, G. A. Fournier, Simeon P. Folsom,
W. H. Forbes, Aaron Foster, Daniel Hopkins, Parsons K. John
son, C. P. V. Lull, and W. C. Renfro. Bass and Johnson had
been in the lumber business at Chippewa Falls. On arriving at
St. Paul Mr. Bass leased a hotel on the corner of Third and
Jackson streets, known as the St. Paul House. He was ap-

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il-:

1

u\\

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iSl

IN THE NORTHWEST. 537'
pointed postmaster in 1849, and in 1852 opened a commission
and forwarding warehouse on the levee. Mr. Brunson was a sur
veyor, and, assisted by his brother, Ira B., laid off the town plat
of St. Paul, also a plat known as Branson's addition, in the
fall of 1847. He was a member of the first and second territorial
legislatures, and justice of the peace for several years.
Miss Bishop was one of the company of teachers sent West by
Gov. Slade. She organized the first permanent day school and
the first Sunday-school in St. Paul. The school house was a
cabin on the corner of Third and St. Peter streets. Miss Bishop,
later Mrs. McConkey, was the author of a valuable book of
frontier sketches entitled "Floral Homes." She died in 1884..
Of Mr. Forbes mention is made in biographical sketches.
Aaron Foster came from Stillwater. He was a carpenter by
trade. He married Fanny Mortimer, daughter of Sergt. Morti
mer. He died in 1864. S. P. Folsom is mentioned in bio
graphical sketches. Dr. Dewey, the first practicing physician
in St. Paul, was a member of the first territorial legislature, and.
established the first drug store in Minnesota. Parsons Johnson,.
a descendant on his mother's side of Jonathan Carver, engaged
in tailoring, the first of his trade in St. Paul. He was a member
of the first territorial legislature.
Cornelius V. P. Lull was a carpenter. He served as sheriff
in 1849, and still lives in the city. Daniel Hopkins engaged in
general merchandising. He died in 1852. W. C. Renfro, a cousin
of Henry Jackson, had studied medicine, was a young man of
ability but addicted to drinking habits. The winter after his
arrival he wandered forth, suffering from maniaapotu, and froze
to death near the bend in Phalen's creek.
This year was memorable for the organization of a regular
steamboat line from Galena to Mendota and Fort Snelling. The
steamer Argo was purchased for the trade. M. W. Lodwick
was made commander and Russell Blakely, clerk. The Argo
was designed to make weekly trips, but sank before the close of
the season, and the Dr. Franklin was purchased to take her place
the ensuing year. St. Paul had not increased largely in popu
lation this year. One hotel and two dwellings had been built.
Some progress had been made in farming and gardening, and
there was much lively talk on the subject of making claims.
The prospective separation of Minnesota into a territory, and the

538 FIFTY YEARS
opening of the country for settlement gave a new impetus to
business. The Wisconsin convention for the adoption of a state
constitution was held Dec. 13, 1847. Its effects, however, were
not greatly felt until toward the middle of the ensuing year.
Among the prominent accessions in 1848 to the population
were Henry M. Rice, Henry C. Rhodes, David Olmsted, W. D.
Phillips, E. A. C. Hatch, Bushrood W. Lott, W. H. Nobles,
Nathan Myrick, A. H. Cavender, Benjamin F. Hoyt, William
Freeborn, David Lambert, W. C. Morrison, Lot Moffett, and
W. D. Brown. Of these Rice, Noble, Hoyt and Myrick are
referred to in biographical sketches. Mr. Olmsted was a
trader, and in the summer of the year 1848 established a trad
ing post at Long Prairie, whither the Winnebagoes had removed.
He was a member of the first and second territorial councils,
and the first mayor of St. Paul, in 1854. He removed to Wi
nona in 1855, and died in 1861. Olmsted county, Minnesota,
is named in his honor. W. D. Phillips, better known as
"Billy" Phillips, was a somewhat eccentric character who
passed for awhile as a lawyer in St. Paul, and in 1856 drifted
off into a clerkship at Washington, since which time noth
ing has been heard of him. E. A. C. Hatch was appointed
Indian agent to the Blackfeet Indians by President Pierce in
1856. In 1863 he was commissioned as major in the volunteer
service, and acquitted himself creditably. While stationed at
Pembina, by strategy he captured the insurgent Indians, Shako-
pee and Medicine Bottle, who were hanged at Fort Snelling in
1865. He died in 1881. H. C. Rhodes was engaged in trade
with David Olmsted. He died in California some years ago.
A. H. Cavender was a blacksmith and wagonmaker on Robert
street in 1849.
Wm. Freeborn was quite a prominent citizen and member of
the town council. He is better known as one of the founders of
Red Wing, to which place he removed in 1853. He represented .
his district in the territorial councils of 1854, 1855, 1856 and
1857. He removed to California in 1862. Freeborn county is
named for him. David Lambert, a prominent member of the
Stillwater convention, was a young man of promise, but addicted
to drink. In 1849, while suffering from a delirious paroxysm
induced by drink, he jumped from the deck of a steamer and
was drowned. W. C. Morrison originally came from New York,

IN THE NORTHWEST. 539
thence to Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, Galena, Dubuque, and
other places and lastly to St. Paul, where he is widely and favor
ably known as a business man. Lot Moffett will be remembered
as the builder and proprietor of the picturesque heap of rocks
known as " Moffett' s Castle," where he kept a temperance hotel
for several- years. He was a man of patriarchal appearance,
wearing a long, white beard. He was known as an honest, kind
hearted, benevolent man. He died in 1870. W. B. Brown came
from Wisconsin and purchased the corner on which the Warner
block now stands. He died some years ago. To enumerate the
accessions to the population in 1849 would require more space
than we are allowed. The fact that St. Paul was this year desig
nated as the territorial capital brought in a great number of
official personages, and an army of traders, boarding house
keepers, builders and adventurers. Heretofore Mendota had
seemed to be the objective point of steam navigation. It also as
pired to be the capital of the new territory. Senator Douglas,
chairman of the committee on territories, favored Mendota.
Gen. Sibley, the territorial delegate, favored St. Paul, and earn
estly solicited the senator to yield, which, along with the per
sonal appeals of H. M. Rice, finally secured his acquiescence, and
the bill to form Minnesota Territory, with St. Paul as its capital,
finally passed March 3, 1849. The news, however, did not reach
the capital until April 9th, it having been brought up on the
Dr. Franklin, No. 2, the first boat of the season.
On May 27th the newly appointed governor, Alexander Ram
sey, arrived with his wife, but not being able to obtain accomo
dations in St. Paul went for the time to Mendota, where they
were entertained by Hon. H. H. Sibley. Every succeeding
boat was crowded with emigrants. A newspaper was an im
mediate necessity. The first steps had been taken the year be
fore by Dr. A. Randall, of Owen's Geological Survey. Dr. Ran
dall was not immediately able to carry his project into effect,
and not till April 27, 1849, did the promised paper, the Minne
sota Register, appear. The first copy had, however, been printed
at Cincinnati two weeks earlier. Of this paper Maj. John P.
Owens was publisher.
The first number of the second paper in the city was issued
April 28th. This was the St. Paul Pioneer, James M. Goodhue,
publisher and editor. These papers and others established later

540 FIFTY YEARS
became faithful chroniclers of the progress of the city, and in
valuable as historical documents.
The first number of Goodhue's paper, the St. Paul Pioneer,.
bearing date of April 28, 1849, contains what we may designate-
as the earliest news. We cull a few items that may be of interest
to antiquarians :
It announces Congressman Sibley's return from Washington,.
Rev. E. D. Neill's removal to St. Paul, and that the latter would
preach the following Sabbath at the school house.
An editorial paragraph calls attention to the fact that the-
Pioneer is printed in a building situated on Third street near
Robert, and that the building has five hundred apertures through.
which the daylight is streaming.
The arrival of steamer Franklin, No. 2, bringing the tidings
of the passage of the bill organizing Minnesota Territory, is
announced. The steamer was greeted by a large crowd of eager
and excited citizens, whose shouts re-echoed amongst the adjacent.
hills. Arrival of steamers Cora and Dr. Franklin, No. 1, is an
nounced. The following advertisements will show who were the most'
enterprising of the early settlers:
H. Jackson, postmaster; D. Lambert, real estate dealer; W.
H. Nobles, wagonmaker; J. J. Dewey, M.D.; W. D. Phillips,
lawyer; J. Monteur, D. C. Taylor, blacksmiths; J. R. Irvine,
plasterer; B. L. Sellers, stonemason; Lot Moffett, Anson North
rup, hotel keepers; James Pomeroy, Francis McCoy, house
builders; McBoal & Gilbert, stock dealers; Henry Jackson, W.
H. Forbes, Daniel Hopkins, Freeman, Larpenteur & Co., J. W.
Simpson, Olmsted & Rhodes, Fuller & Brothers, R. P. Russell,
merchants. A road notice completes the list.
Among the prominent citizens who arived in 1849, David Day
became the first register of deeds in Ramsey county. He served
in the territorial house in 1852 and 1853, and was speaker dur
ing the last session. He served as postmaster from 1874 to 1887-
D. F. Brawley established the first brickyard in the Territory,
and made the brick for the first brick building north of Prairie
du Chien, which was built by Rev. E. D. Neill. Willoughby &
Powers introduced the first stage coaches, and established the

IN THE NORTHWEST. 541
first livery stable. Nathaniel McLean came as a Sioux Indian
agent and served four years. He died in 1871, aged eighty -four
years. Henry F. Masterman, a prominent lawyer, died in 1883.
J. D. Crittenden, who served in the late war and rose to the po
sition of colonel. Orlando Simmons, a useful citizen and sound
jurist, still lives in St. Paul. Wm. Hollinshead, a brother-in-
law of Edmund and H. M. Rice, died some time in the '50s. J.
W. Bond was the author of the first history of Minnesota.
Chauncey Hobart was chaplain of the first legislature. John B.
.Spencer, carpenter and contractor, built the first breakwater and
dock at Duluth.
Thomas Foster became editor of the Minnesotian, and subse
quently issued a paper at Duluth. He gave the name of "The
Zenith City of the Unsalted Sea " to Duluth. He was too much
of a critic to be popular. He died near Washington, District of
Columbia, in 1884. The first Masonic, Odd Fellows and Sons of
Temperance lodges were organized this year. The Bank of St.
¦Croix, with headquarters at St. Paul, was established this year.
Its paper was the first issued in the form of bank notes in the
city and Territory. Nevertheless it was a fraud. Its paper was
quoted in New York at one per cent. The proprietors were
Young & Sawyer.
For a few terse comparisons and statistics with regard to the
.St. Paul of the past and of the present we are indebted to a
writer in the " Soo Line edition" of the St. Croix Standard:
" Twenty-six years ago there were no railroads in St. Paul,
now there are 26 trunk lines entering the city, with over 3,000
miles of track and more than 20,000 miles of mileage, 90,000 cars
in use and 100,000 men employed. Beside this is the river trade,
which employs two lines of boats and affords a very considerable
commerce to St. Paul. In the manufacturing interests St. Paul
has shown a great increase, and in every department of trade
manufactories are springing up in all directions, and the business
has already reached the large sum of $45,000,000, with not less
than 1,200 factories and 22,000 men employed. Forty-six hotels
accommodate the traveling public. The fire department is one of
the best in the West, consisting of 8 steam fire engines, 7 chemi
cal engines, hose carts, 159 men, 78 horses, etc., and the value
-of all the property belonging to the fire department is $316,367.
'The city is abundantly supplied with good, pure water, obtained

542 FIFTY YEARS
from several lakes. One year ago there were 1,800 miles of
mains and 1,000 new water connections, so it is safe to say that
at present there are 2,000 miles of mains and 1,200 connections.
The receipts of the department for the past year were $2,109,-
026.09. The real estate sales in 1887 will reach as high as $32,-
000,000." Beyond this year we shall not follow the history of the city, ex
cept so far as a few tables of statistics and the biographies of a
few of its leading citizens may be concerned.
POPULATION OF ST. PAUL.
1849, April  200
1849, June  840
1855  4,716
1857  9,973
1860  10,279
1865  12,976
1870  20,030
1875  33,178
1880  41,498
1886  138,074
SCHOOLS IN 1886.
Number of school houses, 26; valuation, §816,650; number of teachers, 246;
number of scholars, 9,600.
STATISTICS OF BUILDINGS COSTING $100,000 AND OVER.
Capitol  $300,000
Custom house  500,000
Courthouse  1,000,000
Hotel Ryan  1,000,000
Merchants Hotel  500,000
Metropolitan Hotel  100,000
Globe building  500,000
Pioneer Press building  650,000
Chamber of Commerce  100,000
High School building  137,000
Hamline University  175,000
Macalester College  100,000
Baptist church  100,000
German Catholic church  100,000
Central Park Methodist Episcopal church  100,000
New York Life Insurance Company building  1,000,000
German Life Insurance Company building  250,000

IN THE NORTHWEST. 543
Nprthern Pacific office building  250 000
Manitoba office building  200 000
Omaha office building  160 000
Union Depot  150,000
German American Bank  250,000
GermahiaBank  200,000
First National Bank  100,000
Watson block  300,000
Hale block  150,000
McMurrin block  150,000
Willius block  150,000
Gilfillan block  125,000
Drake block  100,000
Drake block  100,000
Union block  100,000
Albion block  100,000
Gotzian block  100,000
Wilder block  100,000
Mayhall block  100,000
DeCoster & Clark block  100,000
Sherman block  100,000
Astoria block  100,000
Steele block  100,000
Shuter block....  100,000
Dawson block  100,000
J. J. Hill's residence  350,000
Kittson's residence  150,000
Wilder's residence  150,000
Stickney's residence  125,000
Griggs' residence  125,000
Merriam's residence  125,000
Opera House   ,  100,000
United States Army headquarters  100,000
Lindeke Flour mill  100,000
Elevator A  100,000
Elevator B  100,000
Bohn Manufacturing Company  120,000
MAYORS OF ST. PAUL.
1854. David Olmsted. 1872. Dr. J. H. Stewart.
1855. Alex. Ramsey. 1873. Dr. J. H. Stewart.
1856. George L. Becker. 1874. Dr. J. H. Stewart.
1857. J. B. Brisbin. 1875. J. T. Maxfield.
1858. N. W. Kittson. 1876. J. T. Maxfield.
1859. D. A. Robertson. 1877. J. T. Maxfield.

.544

FIFTY YEARS

1860. John S. Prince. 1878. William Dawson. t
1862. John S. Prince. 1879. William Dawson.
1863. J. E. Warren. 1880. William Dawson.
1864. Dr. J. H. Stewart. 1881. Edmund Rice.
1865. J. S. Prince. 1882. Edmund Rice.
1866. J. S. Prince. 1883. Edmund Rice.
1867. George L. Otis. , 1884. C. D. O'Brien.
1868. Dr. J. H. Stewart. 1885. Edmund Rice.
1869. J. T. Maxfield. 1886. Edmund Rice.
1870. William Lee.v 1887. Robert A. Smith.
1871. William Lee. 1888. Robert A. Smith.
MISCELLANEOUS STATISTICS.
Number of churches  105
"Value of school property  $1,500,000
Value of stockyards, West St. Paul  1,000,000
Value of products manufactured  40,000,000
Amount of lumber sales  5,318,000
Capital of thirteen banks  8,498,000
Aggregate post office business  4,289,102
.Bonded indebtedness  4,168,725
^Annual valuation of city property  100,000,000
WEST ST. PAUL.
The flourishing suburb of West St. Paul is rapidly approach
ing metropolitan dimensions. The original settlement took place
almost simultaneously with that of St. Paul, but its growth until
late years has not been rapid. It was originally within the
limits of Dakota county, but that portion included in its plat
has been annexed to Ramsey county, and West St. Paul has be
come a part of St. Paul and has been placed under the municipal
government of that city. The city is connected with St. Paul
by two free bridges for carriages and pedestrians and by several
railroad bridges. TOWNS OF RAMSEY COUNTY.
After the state organization in 1858, Ramsey county was sub
divided into the following towns: Little Canada, McLean, Mounds
View, Reserve, Rose, St. Paul, and White Bear. From year to
year the city of St. Paul has made encroachments upon the
towns adjacent — Little Canada, McLean, Reserve, and Rose —
Tintil they have been in part or wholly absorbed. Of the remain-

IN THE NORTHWEST. 545
ing towns we shall refer only to White Bear, which, owing to the
beauty of its lake scenery and its attractiveness as a place of
popular resort, deserves.special mention.
WHITE BEAR.
White Bear, the northeastern township of Ramsey county,
contains thirty -six sections. Its surface is agreeably diversified
with lakes. About six sections in all are occupied by these lakes,
of which there are several large and beautiful ones, among which
may be mentioned White Bear, Bald Eagle, Pleasant, Lambert's,
Vadnais, Birch, Goose, Otter, etc. The surface is undulating,
and in no place actually hilly, while there is much level and very
desirable land. Extensive meadows border some of the lakes,
and are found in most of the intervales watered by running
streams. These produce enormous crops of hay. Portions of
these marshy localities are thickly grown with tamaracks, which
were invaluable to the early settler, furnishing him with a sup
ply of logs and poles for his improvements. The timber consists
principally of red, white and black oak, sugar maple, tamarack,
poplar, elm, elder, and ash.
The township derives its name from White Bear lake. This
lake was so named, it is asserted, by the Dakota Indians, a tra
dition existing amongst them that a grizzly bear once made its
appearance on the island, with which one of their bravest hunt
ers engaged in mortal conflict, each slaying the other. The In
dians called this a grizzly, polar or white bear, and named an
adjacent locality " Mah-to-me-di or (M'de), i. e., Mahto, gray
polar bear, and M'de, lake. It is not probable, however, that
a polar bear ever reached this spot, and a visit from a grizzly
is nearly as improbable. Indian legends are very frequently made
to order by those who succeed them as owners of the soil.
Not much is known of White Bear prior to 1851. No human
habitations, save those of Indians, were to be seen. There were
no roads to this region, and none nearer than Little Canada.
The lake itself seems to have been little known to white men.
J. Fletcher Williams, in a sketch contributed to the Pioneer,
and to which we are indebted for many of our statements, says
that Hugh I. Vance, a typo employed in the Pioneer office at
that time, was probably about the first settler of White Bear;
that in the spring of 1851 he wended his way to this region in
35

546 FIFTY YEARS
search of a claim, selected a piece of land on Bald Eagle lake,
erected a cabin, resided here with his family several years, and
was probably the first man to drive a plowshare in this locality.
Mr. Vance joined the Union Army in 1861, and with his two sons
was killed in Missouri the year following. In the spring of 1851
V. B. Barnum selected a tract on the south shore of White Bear
lake, and hired Geo. C. Nichols to run out the lines. Mr. Bar
num entered one hundred and seventy-five acres. On this land
he built a cabin near the present Leip House, which burned
down in 1857. Jas. B. Clewett, one of the pioneers of St. Paul
as early as 1840, drove his stakes at White Bear in the spring of
1851. He afterward built a house on the island, where he yet
resides, a mile north of the lake. Soon after Wm. Freeborn and
B. F. Hoyt entered a tract of land in sections 13 and 14. Isaac
Banta built a cabin on it, near the point by the island, resided
there three or four years, and moved to Forest Lake. This land
was afterward bought by the Murray family. Thomas Milner
came in about the same time. Daniel Getty came and located
on the east side of the lake at a later day, becoming a resident of
the village proper, of which he is now postmaster, superintend
ent of the Sunday-school, elder in the church, school trustee,
etc. Mr. Barnum opened a hotel, which he kept till 1856, and .then
sold out to John M. Lamb. In 1855 James F. Murray, his three
sons and O. R. Stratton settled at White Bear. W. W. Webber,
John Aubery, Joseph Freeman, Ross Wilkinson, Frank Perfect,
Fred Whittaker, George Starbuck, Duncan Ross, Charlie A.
Morgan, and others came here in 1857. The early settlers were
much disturbed by roving bands of Chippewa and Sioux Indians.
White Bear being debatable ground, and sometimes a battlefield
between hostile parties. The Souix claimed the right, under
the treaty of 1851, to hunt, fish and gather berries and rice
in that region. In the fall of 1855 a party of Sioux from Ka
posia went by the lake on a hunting expedition. Near Oneka
lake, a few miles above, they fell in with some Chippewas, one
of whom they killed and scalped, but had two of their own
number mortally wounded. Returning, they camped on Goose
lake, just about where St. John's church was first built, and had
a scalp dance, lasting two days and nights. It was from time
immemorial a grand battle field for them. Hardly a foot of the

IN THE NORTHWEST. 547
soil around the lake but what has been ensanguined with the
blood of the hereditary foes. Many are the tales told of their
encounters. "Spirit Island" seems to have been the hardest
fought spot, and to this day it is honeycombed with the remains
of rifle pits, redoubts and earth works made by the contending
parties, while innumerable bodies of the slain have enriched its
soil. It is a perfect Golgotha — an island cemetery. If but a
fraction of these savage combats and sieges were truly narrated,
no romance could equal it in thrilling interest. These fierce
combats continued as late as 1855.
Miss Mary Stiles, daughter of William Stiles, was the first
white child born at White Bear. Miss Mary E. Barnum was
married to Richard McLagan — being the first wedding which
¦occurred at White Bear. 'Squire Jacob J. Noah, justice of the
peace of St. Paul, tied the knot.
The first death was that of Clara Murray, aged four years,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Murray, in July, 1856. J. G.
Riheldaffer preached at the funeral service at Mr. Murray's
house the first sermon in the settlement.
A lay Methodist named Hoffman held services on the Sabbath
several times at Barnum' s hotel.
A Baptist clergyman from Diamond Bluff, Wisconsin, named
Messer, also occasionally held services in the early days, at the
school house, a log house built in 1857.
The Episcopal church of St. John in the Wilderness was built
in 1861 and consecrated in August of the same year. It was lo
cated at the lower end of the lake, but in 1874 was moved to its
present site on Clarke avenue.
The Presbyterian church was organized May 28, 1864, with
eight members, two of whom were elected ruling elders, James
F. Murray and Daniel Getty. The corner stone of the present
•church edifice was laid Nov. 8, 187J , and the foundation laid in
the following spring. The church was completed in 1872.
A Catholic church was built in 1879, on a block between First
and Second streets and Bald Eagle avenue, in which services
are held every two weeks.
The post office of White Bear was established in November,
1859, and J. C. Murray appointed postmaster.
The township of White Bear was organized May 11, 1858, with
the following officers: Clerk, G. 'Schnabel; supervisor, J. F.

548 FIFTY YEARS
Murray; assessor, V. B. Barnum; justices of the peace, J. R.
Clewett and Alex. Pepin.
The village is easy of access, and abundantly supplied with
railroad facilities. The St. Paul & Duluth Railroad Company
has built a double track to St. Paul. This company built a road
to Stillwater known as the Stillwater & White Bear railroad.
There is in addition to this road an extension to Minneapolis
known as the Minneapolis & White Bear railroad. The Sault
Ste. Marie passes through the north part of the village.
WHITE BEAR LAKE
Is one of the most famous pleasure resorts in the vicinity of St.
Paul. Its clear waters, gently sloping wooded shores, and the
entire absence of marsh or swamp lands adjoining, render the sit
uation at once pleasant and salubrious. It has an extreme
length of 6i miles, and a width of 2f. It has, according to sur
vey meanders, a shore line of over 20 miles, and its area is 3,940
acres, or 62 square miles.
Beautiful parks surround the lake. Prominent among these
are Wildwood Park and Mahtomedi, the latter renowned as a
camp ground, and later as the site of a summer school, modeled
after that at Chautauqua, and one of a system of schools of which
the Chautauqua school is the principal and central institution.
Spirit island, connected with the mainland by a bridge, is also a
charming resort.
The lake shore is crowded with hotels and cottages for the use
of summer visitors. Among these the Leip House is especially
worthy of mention, the proprietor having beautified the grounds
and built around the hotel a small village of cottages for excur
sionists. Other houses are the Ramaley, the Williams, the Cha-
teaugay, the Dellwood, etc., with pleasant surroundings. The
appearance of this resort during the summer months is one of
great animation. Tourists and summer visitors crowd the hotel,
or gather in groups along the lake shore, while the lake is dot
ted with their sailing vessels. A small steamer makes regular
trips to points of interest about the lake.
White Bear Lake village was incorporated by the legislature in
1881, the following being chosen as the first officers under their
charter: Daniel Getty, chairman of council; James C. Murray,
Luke H. Bacon, Abel E. Leaman, and Fred W. Benson, council-

IN THE NORTHWEST. 549
men; B. E. McGurk, recorder; H. K. Getty, treasurer; Wm.
Clark, village justice; Reuben Clewett, marshal.
Daniel Getty was born in the north of Ireland in 1826. His
ancestors were Scotch-Irish. He came with his parents to Phil
adelphia in 1832; was educated in the common schools, and
learned the trade of a cabinet maker. He came to White Bear
in 1855, and opened the first store in the place. He has four sons
associated with him in business. He has done much to promote
the prosperity of White Bear, and by enterprise and close at
tention to business, both as a merchant and a dealer in real estate,
he has been successful. SOUTH ST. PAUL
Is located in the northeastern corner of Dakota county, four and
a half miles below St. Paul, the site of the Presbyterian and
Methodist missions of old Kaposia. It is situated on a plateau
considerably above high water mark, in the rear of which the
grounds rise gradually to a rich agricultural plain. It is con
nected with St. Paul by an hourly motor line of cars. It has
communication with St. Paul by the Chicago, St. Paul & Kansas
City railway, and also has communication by water.
The famous St. Paul Union Stockyards are located here, and
occupy two hundred acres of land. This great enterprise was
founded by A. B. Stickney and Ansel Oppenheim, president of
the company. W. M. Littell is general superintendent; Arnold
Kalman, secretary and treasurer. The stockyards were located
here in 1886, and now (1888) possess a capital of $1,500,000 in
grounds and necessary buildings pertaining to such an enter
prise. There are eight miles of railroad track upon the grounds.
The stock is brought from Montana, Dakota, Minnesota, Wis
consin, and Iowa by railroad.
The city was organized in 1887, with the following board of
officers; Joseph H. Lawrence, mayor; George W. Wentworth,
Philip Crowley, J. W. McGrath, and Irwin Marshall, aldermen.
A post office was established in 1888, of which H. M. Littell
is postmaster.
The city embraces South Park, and there are five churches,
English and German Methodist, a Congregational and two Bap
tist churches.
An electric motor line is being established. The city of South
St. Paul has about 6,000 inhabitants. Its progress is upward.

550

FIFTY YEARS

NORTH ST. PAUL.
This rapidly growing suburb of St. Paul is situated on the
shores of Silver lake, a lovely sheet of water lying six miles
northeast of the court house. The grounds about the lake were
converted into farms soon after the settlement of St. Paul. In
1886 the Wisconsin Central Railroad Company extended their
St. Paul branch through the neighborhood. Capt. H. A. Castle
established suburban residences near the lake. In March, 1887,
the North St. Paul Land Company was formed for the purpose
of encouraging manufactures and furnishing homes and facilities
for business. Their plant was located on the farm of Capt.
Castle. The company consists of H. A. Castle, Lane K. Stone,
Frederick Driscoll, W. S. Morton, and George A. Sexias. The
capital stock of the company was fixed at $1,000,000. Under
their enterprising management twenty miles of street has been
graded, a boulevard extended around the lake, five miles of
sidewalk completed and numerous cottages erected. A railroad
depot has been built at a cost of $8,000; two hotels and fifteen
manufacturing establishments have been erected. There are (in
May, 1888) 3,000 inhabitants, with eight church organization*
and six buildings, and a school house, built at a cost of $11,000.
The growth of this village since its commencement in 1887 has
been remarkable.
New, populous and important suburbs of St. Paul are Merriam
Park, St. Anthony Park, and St. Paul Park in Washington
county. The following table gives the population of St. Paul from
1838 to May, 1888.

Year.

Population.

Year.

Population.

1838 

 3

1873 

 27,023

1847 

 50

1875 

 33,178

1849 

 400

1880 

 41,498

1850 

 850

1881 

 50,900

1882 

 75,835

1856 

.'  5,630

1883 

 88,378

1857 

 9,973

1884 

 99,322

1860 

 10,600

1885 

 111,397

1865 

 13,100

1886 

 123,395

1870 

 20,300

1887 

 155,577

1871 

 24,200

1888 (Estimated)...

 187,759

1872 

 25,500

IN THE NORTHWEST. 551.

POST OFFICE.

The following figures will show the amount of business trans
acted at the post office, St. Paul, Minnesota, for the year ending
Dec. 31, 1887, as compared with the year 1886:
general business. 1886. 1887.
From sale of stamps, envelopes, etc  $204,565 90 $274,178 95
From sale of newspaper and periodical stamps  15,912 38 17,697 00
Fromsaleof unpaid letter stamps  1,814 80 2,119 00
Fromboxrent  1,866 50 1,772 25
From sale of waste paper, twine and packing boxes... 95 98 176 93
From other offices (deposited)  ."  87,721 65 106,858 42
Sent assistant treasurer United States, New York.... 177,412 59 268,770 70
Paid route agents, messengers, etc  93,246 16 83,130 49
Paid letter carriers  38,121 19 44,282 11
Paid letter carriers' expenses and horse hire  1,856 01 1,644 89

Total postal funds  $622,612 36 $713,620 74
MONEY ORDER BUSINESS.
No. Amount. No. Amount.
Domestic orders and postal notes is
sued  29,420 $257,572 95 35,603 $305,339 94
Fees on same  2,250 62 2,537 94
Foreign orders issued  2,632 37,356 88 2,540 57,582 03
Fees on same  466 90 699 80
Domestic orders and postal notes
paid  74,526 670,304 82 84,972 701,667 17
Foreign orders paid  1,250 30,70191 1,508 36,132 44
Surplus money order funds received
from other offices  1,743,516 42 1,773,455 99
Surplus money order funds remit
ted Chicago and New York  1,339,600 00 1,275,800 00

Total money order funds  $4,081,770 50 $4,153,215 11
Total postal funds  622,612 36 713,620 74

Grand total financial transactions $4,704,382 86 $4,867,845 85
POST OFFICE HISTORY.
The names and date of tho commission of the postmasters of
St. Paul are as follows: Henry Jackson, April 7, 1846; Jacob
W. Bass, July 5, 1849; Wm. H. Forbes, March 18, 1853; Chas. S.

552

FIFTY YEARS

$3 43
20 33
48 40
369 25
429 07
1,192 72

Cave, March 11, 1856; Wm. M. Corcoran, March 12, 1860; Chas.
Nichols, April 2, 1861; Jacob H. Stewart, March 14, 1865; Jos.
A. Wheelock, March 4, 1870; David Day, July 1, 1875.
Net yearly income, being balance on quarterly returns from
its establishment to the present time: 1867  $15,033 19
1868  16,991 76
1869  20,848 03
1870  23,437 66
1871  32,250 61
1872  36,817 17
1873  43,305 05
1874  43,284 36
1875  42,767 82
1876  41,667 92
1877  38,998 42
1878  4§,141 04
1879  64,670 59
1880  73,456 87
1881  96,197 77
1882......:.  132,702 66
1883  141,704 78
1884  127,977 90
1885  134,501 13
1886  153,009 08
1887  189,017 20

1846 
1847 
1848 
1849 
1850 
1851 
1852  1,497 73
1853  1,806 04
1854  3,042 89
1855  3,814 07
1856  5,164 67
1857  9,171 87
1858  5,577 05
1859  6,135 66
1860  «  5,254 47
1861  5,136 71
1862  6,898 99
1863  9,509 53
1864  13,140 08
1865  12,082 32
1866  12,009 03

Gross yearly income of the St. Paul post office from 1875 to 1887:

1875  $58,922 63
1876  57,092 85
1877  53,412 82
1878  63,922 49
1879  81,299 92
1880  102,450 22
1881  128,156 45

1882  $173,131 31
1883  190,907 36
1884  186,571 22
1885  200,407 94
1886  226,972 28
1887  272,181 87

BRIG. GEN". HENRY H. SIBLEY

IN THE NORTHWEST. 553

CHAPTER XXI.

BIOGRAPHICAL.
Henry Hastings Sibley. — The father of Gen. Sibley, Judge
Solomon Sibley, of Massachusetts, was a well known pioneer of
the Northwest. He settled in Ohio in 1795, but two years later re
moved to Michigan, which he represented as delegate to Con
gress in 1800. In 1799 he served as member of the first legisla
ture of the Northwest Territory. He was judge of the supreme
court from 1824 to 1836, and died in 1846, universally lamented.
The mother of Gen. Sibley was the daughter of Col. Ebenezer
Sproat, and a granddaughter of Commodore Whipple of the
American Navy. She was a„ cultured lady, of unusual personal
heauty and of rare accomplishments. She was married to Judge
Sibley in 1802, and died at Detroit Jan. 22, 1851. Henry H.
Sibley was born in Detroit, Michigan, Feb. 20, 1811. He re
ceived an academic education, and two years' tuition in the
classics. In 1828 he came to the Sault Ste. Marie and secured
employment as a clerk. In 1829. he entered the service of the
American Fur Company at Mackinaw. In 1834 he came to the
mouth of St. Peter's river, to the post afterward known as Men
dota, as the agent of the American Fur Company. He made the
journey from Prairie du Chien, a distance of nearly three hun
dred miles, on horseback. At that time there was but a single
civilized habitation on the way. In 1836 he built a stone house
at Mendota, the first in Minnesota, in which he resided twenty-
four years. This house is still standing. He continued to act as
agent for the American Fur Company until called to act as dele
gate to Congress for Wisconsin Territory west of the St. Croix,
in 1848. Mr. Sibley, when elected, was a citizen of Mendota,
Clayton county, Iowa, but the question of citizenship was not
raised. He was recognized as the ablest and best representative
that could be chosen for the difficult task of Securing the organi-

554 FIFTY YEARS
zation of Minnesota Territory. In this he was successful. In
the fall of 1849 he was re-elected as a delegate from the new ter
ritory he had been instrumental in forming, and served in that
capacity until March 4, 1853, rendering'the Territory important
services. In 1855 he was elected a member of the Minnesota ter
ritorial legislature from Dakota county, "and in 1857 was a mem
ber and president of the Democratic wing of the constitutional
convention. On the admission of Minnesota as a state he
was elected governor, taking his seat May 24, 1858. His term
expired Jan. 1, 1860. Aug. 19, 1862, his successor, Gov. Ram
sey, appointed him commander of the forces sent to quell the
Sioux outbreak. He marched with his command in pursuit of
the Indians, defeating them in several skirmishes and battles,
releasing 250 captives held by them and capturing about
2,000 prisoners, over 400 of whom were tried by court martial
and sentenced to be hanged. Of this number thirty-eight were
executed at Mankato, Dec. 26, 1862, President Lincoln having
pardoned the remainder. Col. Sibley was commissioned briga
dier general for his gallant services^ and retained in command
of the frontier. In 1863 he led another expedition into the In
dian country, driving the hostiles across the Missouri river, and.
returning to Fort Snelling in September. The years 1864 and
1865 were employed in securing the defense of the frontier.
Nov. 29, 1865, Gen. Sibley was commissioned major general for
efficient and meritorious services. He continued in the service
until August, 1866, when he was relieved of his command and
detailed as a member of the commission to negotiate treaties
with the hostile Sioux and other bands on the Upper Missouri
river. In 1871 Gen. Sibley was elected to represent the Fifth ward,
St. Paul, in the legislature. He became a resident of St. Paul in
1862, but, in company with Louis Robert and A. L. Larpenteur,
had entered land for the town site there as early as 1854.
Gen. Sibley has been for several years president of the Gas
Company, director of the First National Bank, director of the
Sioux City railway, etc. He has at different times filled other
responsible positions; has been park commissioner, president of
the Historical Society, president of the Chamber of Commerce,
and was once the candidate of his party for Congress, but un
successful. He has contributed many valuable papers to the

' 1/TOHK

IN THE NORTHWEST. 555
State Historical Society and has written much on topics relating
to the welfare of the State, of which, with the exception of his
personal friend, W. T. Boutwell, he is now the oldest resident.
Gen. Sibley, for his integrity, persistent devotion to the wel
fare of the State, for his indomitable persistence in upbuilding
its interests, has won a lasting place in the confidence and re
spect of the people. His history is inseparably interwoven with
the history of the State, and he is justly regarded as one of its
first and best citizens. The town and county of Sibley bear his
name. He was married May 2, 1843, to Sarah J., sister of Frank
Steele. Mrs. Sibley died May 21, 1869, much respected for her
many virtues and rare accomplishments.
Alexander Ramsey, the first territorial governor of Minne
sota, was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Sept. 8, 1815. His
paternal ancestors were Scotch -Irish. His mother was of German
descent. His parents were Thomas and Elisabeth (Kelker) Ram
sey. His father was an. officer in the war of 1812, and died when
the son was but ten years old. Frederic Kelker, an uncle, as
sisted in the education of the son, who in turn assisted as sales
man in the store of his uncle. At the age of eighteen he entered
Lafayette College, at Easton, Pennsylvania; attended college but
a short time, when he commenced the study of law with Hon.
Hamilton Alricks, of Harrisburg, graduating afterward in the
law school at Carlisle, and commenced the practice of law in
1839. He commenced his political life in 1840, the year of the Har
rison campaign, and was made secretary of the electoral college.
In 1841 he was appointed clerk of the Pennsylvania house of rep
resentatives. He was in the lower house of Congress from 1843 to
1846, and was renominated for a third term, but declined. In 1848
he was made chairman of the Whig state central committee, and
the following year was appointed governor of the newly formed
territory of Minnesota by President Taylor. He entered upon his
duties as governor in May, 1849. The territorial government
was organized^ in June, and the governor issued his proclama
tion establishing three judicial districts, and providing for the
election of members of the first legislature. He served as gov
ernor four years. In 1855 he was elected mayor of St. Paul. In
1857 he was candidate for governor of the State, but was not
elected. He was elected to that office in 1859, and re-elected in

556 FIFTY YEARS
1861. In 1863, before the expiration of his second term, he was
elected to the United States senate, and re-elected in 1869.
March 4, 1875, he accepted the position of secretary of war in
the cabinet of President Hayes, and for a time was acting secre
tary of the navy. In 1883 he was appointed chairman of the
Utah commission under the Edmunds bill.
In the various departments of public service to which he has
been called, Gov. Ramsey has acquitted himself well, displaying
rare qualities of statesmanship. He is remarkable for his cau
tion, which leads him sometimes almost into conservatism, but
results have generally proved the sagacity of his apparently
tardy movements. He is a master in the exercise of a wise cau
tion in the conduct of public affairs. He has, in fact, great po
litical sagacity. He has made several favorable treaties with the
Indians, being empowered during his term as governor to act
also as superintendent of Indian affairs.
During his two terms as state governor, he rendered the
country great service by his prompt response to the calls for
volunteers and his decisive and unwavering support of the gen
eral government. He also acted with great promptness and reso
lution in the suppression of the Indian outbreak. As a senator
he supported all measures for the prosecution of the war for the
preservation of the Union; advocated the abolition of the frank
ing privilege and assisted in procuring aid for the building of
the Northern Pacific railroad, favoring the project of three
trunk lines between the Mississippi and the Pacific States and
the general plan of aiding these roads by the donation of alter
nate sections of public land, and was also active in promoting
the improvement of the Upper Mississippi and navigable tribu
taries. In person Gov. Ramsey is a hale, hearty, and well preserved
gentleman, who is passing gracefully into what with many is the
season of the sere and yellow leaf. He is genial and pleasant
in his manners, and would impress the ordinary observer as one
whose "lines have fallen in pleasant places," and who is the
happy possessor of a good digestion, a serene temper and a clear
conscience. On Sept. 10, 1845, he was married to Anna Earl Jenks,
daughter of Hon. Michael H. Jenks, for many years judge of
Bucks county, Pennsylvania, a lady of rare accomplishments,

IN THE NORTHWEST. 557
and in every way fitted to shine in the society into which she was
introduced as the wife of a governor, senator and cabinet officer.
In private life she was not less noted for her kindness of heart,
amiability and christian virtues. This estimable lady died in
1883, leaving a daughter, Marion, the wife of Charles Elliott
Furness, of Philadelphia.
Maj. Wm. H. Forbes was born on Montreal island, Canada,
Nov. 3, 1815. His father was a Scotchman by birth, and was a
member of the Hudson Bay Company as early as 1785. Maj.
Forbes was educated at Montreal, where he also served an
apprenticeship at the hardware business, and afterward became
junior partner in the same establishment. At that time Mon
treal was the chief depot of supplies for the Indian trade of the
Northwest, and the reports which continually came to him of that
romantic region, together with the sight of the Indians and
voyageurs returning with their furs, so excited his love of ad
venture that he resigned his position as partner in the hardware
business and accepted a clerkship with the American Fur Com
pany. John Jacob Astor was then president. The conditions
were that the clerk should speak and write the French language,
which Mr.Forbes could do with facility. Having engaged as clerk,
his outfit was conveyed in bark canoes from Montreal, in charge
of fifty men enlisted for a three years' cruise. Their route lay by
way of the lakes to La Pointe, on Lake Superior, and up the
Brule river, from which the canoes and baggage were carried
across to the waters of the St, Croix, and descended thence to
the Mississippi. From the Sault Ste. Marie to La Pointe they
were transported on one of the company's schooners. They ar
rived at Mendota in 1837. Gen. Sibley was then in charge at
Mendota. Mr. Forbes clerked for him ten years, and in 1847
took charge of an establishment belonging to the company (called
the St. Paul Outfit), and became a resident of St. Paul until his
death, twenty-eight years later. Mr. Forbes was a member from
St. Paul of the first territorial council, and served four terms.
In March, 1853, he was appointed postmaster at St. Paul by
President Pierce, and held the office three years. In 1853 he also
formed a business partnership with Norman W. Kittson for the
general supplying of the Indian trade. In 1858 Mr. Kittson re
tired from the firm, but the business was continued by Maj.
Forbes until 1862, when the Indian outbreak put an end to the

558 FIFTY YEARS
trade. During the campaign he served as a member of Gen. Sib
ley's staff, and acted as provost marshal at the trial of the three
hundred Indians condemned to death. At the close of this cam
paign he was commissioned by President Lincoln commissary of
subsistence in the volunteer service with the rank of captain.
He was elected auditor of Ramsey county in 1863, and served
two years, though sometimes absent on military duty. In 1864
he was ordered to the district of Northern Missouri as chief com
missary, remained two years and was breveted major. In 1871
he was appointed Indian agent at Devil's Lake reservation,
which position he held at the time of his death, July 20, 1875.
Maj. Forbes was twice married; first in 1846, to Miss Agnes,
daughter of Alexander Faribault, by whom he had one daughter,
the wife of Capt. J. H. Patterson, United States Army; again
in 1854, to Miss A. B. Cory, of Cooperstown, New York, by whom
he had four children, three of whom are living.
Henry M. Rice. — .The family of Mr. Rice came originally
from Hertfordshire, England, to Sudbury, Massachusetts, in
1638. Members of the family • figured conspicuously in the
struggle for American independence. His parents were Edmund
and Ellen Durkee Rice. His grandfather Durkee was in the
French war of 1755. Mr. Rice was born in Waitsfield, Vermont.
Nov. 29, 1816; attended common school three months in the year
and a private school and academy in Burlington. He went to
Detroit, Michigan Territory, in 1835; was engaged in making
the first survey of the Sault Ste. Marie canal, made by the state
of Michigan in 1837, and went to Fort Snelling in 1839. He was
post sutler in 1840, United States Army, Fort Atkinson, Iowa
Territory, and was connected with the old fur company for
several years. He was elected delegate to Congress in 1853 for
Minnesota Territory aUd re-elected in 1855. He was elected first
United States senator for Minnesota, in 1857, admitted to his seat
May 11, 1858, and served until March 3, 1863. In 1860 he was
a member of the senate special committee of thirteen on the
condition of the country. During his term in the senate he was
a member of the following standing committees: Indian affairs,
post office and post roads, public lands, military, finance. He
was on the last four named committees at the expiration of the
term of March 3, 1863-
In 1865 he was nominated for governor but was defeated by

6Uu^ (hi yic

IN THE NORTHWEST. 559
Gen. W. R. Marshall. In 1866 he was delegate to the Philadephia
Union convention. He also served in the following various
capacities: United States commissioner in making several In
dian treaties; as a member of the board of regents of the Univer
sity of Minnesota; as president of the Minnesota State Historical
Society; as president of the St. Paul Board of Public Works;
and as treasurer of Ramsey county, Minnesota. He is the author
of the law extending the right of pre-emption over unsurveyed
lands in Minnesota. He has obtained land grants for numerous
railroads in Minnesota, and, with the assistance of Senator
Douglas, framed the act authorizing Minnesota to form a state
constitution preparatory to admission, fixing boundary, etc.
As a public man Mr. Rice has pursued a policy at once inde
pendent and outspoken, not hesitating to express his convictions
on the great national questions of the day, and to place himself
upon a national rather than a party platform. During the war
he upheld the administration in a vigorous prosecution of the
war, as the speediest and most honorable means of obtaining
peace. His letter to the St. Paul Press of Nov. 1, 1864, contains
sentiments that must commend themselves to every true lover of
his country. We quote a few extracts:
"I believe Gen. McClellan and Mr. Lincoln both desire peace
— both the restoration of the Union. The one favors the return
of the Southern States with slavery; the other wishes these states
to return without that institution. I believe that the revolted
citizens forfeited all rights they had under the constitution when
they turned traitors; that the Emancipation Proclamation legally
and rightfully set every slave free. I am as much opposed to
again legalizing that institution in the South as I would be to its
introduction in the Northern States."
* * * "I am in favor of the return of the Southern States,
and think the, day is not far distant when the same flag will float
over us all, and when that happy day shall arrive, I hope that
the rights we enjoy will be freely accorded to them, and no
more." * * * "When the Southern States return I shall be in fa
vor of their voting population being equally represented with
our own, and no further."
* * * "I think that in the long future, when all other of
Mr. Lincoln's acts shall be forgotten, his Emancipation Procla-

560 FIFTY YEARS
mation will adorn history's brightest page. I am opposed to
slavery for the reason that I am in favor of the largest human lib
erty, and I can not understand why some of our fellow citizens
who come here that they might be free can deny freedom to
others." # * # "j think it illy becomes those who took up arms to
defend their homes, their country, yea, liberty! to make over
tures to armed rebellion. L believe that by a rigorous prosecu
tion of the war peace will soon come, our liberties will be se
cured forever, and that prosperity will follow. Union with slav
ery will be only a temporary cheat, and can not last. Dissolu
tion will bring ruin, anarchy and an endless effusion of blood
and money."
He has been a liberal contributor to the various public enter
prises of the city, to churches, public institutions and private
parties. He has built warehouses, business blocks and hotels.
The park in front of the city hall was donated by him. His
name is inseparably interwoven with the history of St. Paul and
the State. Rice county bears his name. He was married to
Matilda Whitall, of Richmond, Virginia, in 1849.
Edmund Rice, brother of Hon. Henry M. Rice, was born in
Waitsfield, Vermont, Feb. 14, 1819. His father died in 1829.
He received a somewhat limited common school education and
spent most of his early life clerking. In 1838 he came to Kala
mazoo, Michigan, where he read law with Stuart & Miller, and
was admitted to the bar in 1842, making commendable progress
in his profession. While a resident of Michigan he was mas
ter in chancery, register of court of chancery and clerk of the
supreme court. In 1847 he enlisted in Company A, First Michi
gan Volunteers, of which company he was made first lieuten
ant, and served through the Mexican War until its close.
In July, 1849, he came to Minnesota Territory, locating in St.
Paul, where he became one of the firm of Rice, Hollinshead &
Becker until 1855, when he embarked in railroad enterprises.
In 1857 he was elected president of the Minnesota & Pacific
Railroad Company, and afterward of its successors, the St. Paul
& Pacific and the St. Paul & Chicago Railroad companies. He
has been long regarded as one of the most energetic and compe
tent railroad men in the State. Mr. Rice has figured largely in
the politics of the State, having served several terms in the ter-

<&L

CSL^

IN THE NORTHWEST. 561
ritorial and state legislatures. He was a representative in the
territorial legislature of 1851, a senator in the state legislatures
of 1864, 1865, 1873, 1874, and a representative in the sessions of
1872, 1877 and 1878.
In 1885 he was elected mayor of St. Paul, and in 1886 was
chosen representative in Congress. Mr. Rice is an uncompro
mising Democrat in his politics, and is so recognized by his
party, which he served as chairman of the state central commit
tee in the presidential campaign of 1872, and elector at large
in the campaign of 1876. He was married in November, 1848,
to Anna M. Acker, daughter of Hon. Henry Acker, of Kalama
zoo, Michigan, Of eleven children, the fruit of this union, all
are living but the second daughter, Jessie, who married Frank
H. Clark, of Philadelphia, in 1870, and died in October, 1874.
The eldest daughter, Ellen, is the wife of Henry A. Boardman,
of St. Paul.
Louis Robert. — Capt. Louis Robert was a descendant of the
French settlers who occupied Kaskaskia and St. Louis when
they were in the territory of Louisiana, then a French province.
He was born at Carondelet, Missouri, Jan. 21, 1811, and his early
life was spent in that region and on the Upper Missouri river.
In 1838 he went to Prairie du Chien, and in the fall of 1843
visited St. Paul and removed thither the ensuing year, identify
ing himself with the interests of that 'growing young city.
To say the least, he was a remarkable character. He possessed
all the politeness and suavity of his nationality, was impulsive,
warm hearted, generous and yet, as a business man, far-seeing
and loquacious. His broken English added a peculiar charm
and quaintness to his conversation, and he will be long remem
bered for his odd expressions and his keen but homely wit. He
was generous in aiding any worthy object, and, as a devoted
Catholic, gave liberally to the support of his church. He do
nated valuable property to church building and gave the bells
to the French Catholic church and the cathedral in St. Paul.
His private charities were also liberal.
In 1847 Capt. Robert was one of the original proprietors of
St. Paul. He took a prominent part in the Stillwater convention
of 1848. In 1849 he was appointed commissioner on territorial
buildings. In 1853 he engaged in steamboating, and at different
times owned as many as five steamers. He was also largely
36

562 FIFTY YEARS
engaged in the Indian trade until the massacre of 1862. He
died, after a painful illness, May 10, 1874, leaving an estate valued
at $400,000. He was married in 1839, at Prairie du Chien, to
Mary Turpin, who, with two daughters, survives him.
Auguste Louis Larpenteur, the son of Louis Auguste, and
Malinda (Simmons) Larpenteur, was born in Baltimore, Mary
land, May 16, 1823. His grandfather, Louis Benoist Larpen
teur, left France about the time of the banishment of Napoleon
Bonaparte to St. Helena, determined not to live under the rule of
the Bourbons. Auguste L., the grandson, was reared in the
family of his grandfather, his mother having died while he was
an infant. At the age of eighteen years, with his uncle, Eugene
N. Larpenteur, he came to St. Louis. Two years later he came
to St. Paul as clerk for Wm. Hartshorn and Henry Jackson,
Indian traders. The firm of Hartshorn & Jackson gave place to
Freeman, Larpenteur & Co. Mr. Larpenteur has been continu
ously engaged in commercial pursuits since his arrival iu St.
Paul in 1843. He has seen the city grow from a hamlet of five
cabins to its present metropolitan dimensions, and has been from
the first one of its most enterprising and reliable citizens. He
was married Dec. 7, 1845, to Mary Josephine Presley. They
have five sons and five daughters.
William H. Nobles. — William H., son of Rev. Lemuel No
bles, was born in the state* of New York in 1816. In his early life
he learned the trade of a machinist and became a skilled arti
san. In 1841 he came to Marine Mills, but soon removed to St.
Croix Falls and assisted in putting up the first mill there.
He lived successively at Osceola, at the mouth of Willow river,
and at Stillwater. He was part owner of the Osceola mills in
1846, and it is claimed that he built the first frame house in Hud
son. In 1848 he removed from Stillwater to St. Paul, and opened
the first blacksmithing and wagon shop in that city. He made
the first wagon in the Territory. He was a member of the house,
fifth territorial legislature, in 1855, from Ramsey county. In
1853 he made an overland trip to California, and discovered one
of the best passes in the mountains. 1857 he returned and sur
veyed a government wagon road through that pass. As a recog
nition of his services the pass received the name of "Noble's
Pass," and a county in Minnesota, was also named after him.
In 1857 he laid out a government road from St. Paul to the Mis-

IN THE NORTHWEST. 563
souri river. In 1862 he entered the army and was appointed
lieutenant colonel of the Seventy-ninth New York Volunteers,
better known as the "Highlanders." While on duty in South
Carolina, a personal collision with another officer led to his
resignation. He was afterward cotton collector for the govern
ment, United States revenue officer, and master of transportation
at Mobile. His health failing during his arduous service, he re
turned to St. Paul, and died at St. Luke's Hospital, on Eighth
street, aged sixty years.
Col. Nobles was a man of immense vitality and energy, with a
strqng inventive genius, by which he himself failed to profit;
restless, fond of travel, a little hasty and irritable, but possess
ing many admirable traits. Mr. Noble was married in Illinois,
prior to his location in Minnesota, to Miss Parker, who survives
him. Mrs. Nobles resides with her family in California.
Simeon P. Folsom, a younger brother of the author of this
book, was born in Lower Canada, near Quebec, Dec. 27, 1819.
His father was a native of New Hampshire, and while he was
yet young returned to that state, removing subsequently to
Maine. Mr. Folsom came West in 1839, settled in Prairie du
Ohien, and not long after engaged as clerk to Henry M. Rice at
Fort Atkinson. In 1841 he returned to Prairie du Chien and
for two years acted as deputy sheriff, one year as surveyor of
public lands, and two years as surveyor of county lands. In
1846 he volunteered as a soldier in the Mexican War, but the
company was sent instead to garrison Fort Crawford, where he
remained one year. On July 25, 1847, he landed in St. Paul,
and has been engaged most of the time since in the surveying
and real estate business. He was city surveyor of St. Paul in
1854, member of the school board»in 1858-59 and 60, and served
three years as a soldier in the Seventh Minnesota during the
Civil War. He has one son, Simeon Pearl, Jr., and one daughter,
wife of J. B. Pugsley.
Jacob W. Bass was born in Vermont in 1815; came West in
1840 and made his home at Prairie du Chien, where he kept a
hotel and ferry and engaged in general business. While a resi
dent of Prairie du Chien he was married to Martha D., daugh
ter of Rev. Alfred Brunson. In 1844 he purchased an interest
in the Chippewa Falls mills, but in 1847 sold out, and removed
to St. Paul, where he engaged in hotel keeping in a building

564 FIFTY YEARS
made of tamarack poles, on the site of the present Merchants
Hotel, and known as the St. Paul House. In July, 1849, he
was commissioned postmaster, as the successor of Henry Jack
son, the first postmaster in St. Paul. He held the office four
years. He left the hotel in 1852. He has since resided in St.
Paul, where he has been engaged at different times in the real
estate and commission business and at farming. He has two sons.
The oldest, a graduate of West Point, holds a commission in
the United States Army; the youngest is in business at St. Paul.
Benjamin W. Brunson, son of Rev. Alfred Brunson, of Prairie
du Chien, was born in Detroit, Michigan, May 6, 1823. He came
with his parents to Prairie du Chien in 1835. He purchased an
interest in the Chippewa Falls mills in 1844, and in 1847 came to
St. Paul and assisted in surveying the first town plat. He laid
out what was known as "Branson's addition." He was a repre
sentative in the first and second territorial legislatures. He
served three years during the Civil War as a member of Com
pany K, Eighth Minnesota Infantry, first as a private, then as an
orderly sergeant, and later as second lieutenant. He has followed
surveying many years, and has held several responsible positions.
He was married at St. Paul and has two sons and one daughter.
Charles D. and Abram S. Elfelt. — The parents of the
Elfelt brothers came from San Domingo to the United States
in 1801, on the establishment of a negro republic on that
island, and settled in Pennsylvania, where Abram S. was
born in 1827 and Charles D. in 1828. In 1849 the brothers re
moved to St. Paul and established the first exclusively dry goods
store in Minnesota, their building standing near the upper levee
at the foot of Eagle street. They also built the hall in which
the first theatrical performances in St. Paul were held. This
was the building now standing on Third and Exchange streets,
which was erected in 1851. At that time it was the largest
building in the city, and many of the old residents remember
the ceremonies attendant upon the raising of the frame. The
dramatic hall was in one of the upper stories, being known as
Mazourka Hall. The materials used in its construction were
brought from long distances, coming up the river by boat, and
the laborers employed on the building were paid five dollars a
day for their services. Into this building the Elfelt brothers
transferred their store, stocking it at first with both dry goods

in the northwest. 565
and groceries, but afterward limiting their trade to dry goods
exclusively. Mr. Abram Elfelt originated the first Board of Trade, in 1864,
and when that body was merged into the Chamber of Commerce
became one of its directors. The brothers were public spirited
and enterprising, and always took a great interest in the welfare
of the city. Abram S. Elfelt died in St. Paul in February, 1888.
D. A. J. Baker was born in Farmington, Maine, in 1825; at
tended school at New Hampton, New Hampshire; studied law
and was admitted to the bar in Kennebec county, Maine, in
1847; came to St. Paul in 1848, and in 1851 made his home in
the locality now known as Merriam Park. It is on record that
Judge Baker taught one of the first public schools in the terri
tory of Minnesota. He, with others, pre-empted the land and
located what is now Superior City, Wisconsin, but sold his inter
ests in that city. He was appointed to a judgeship in Douglas
county, Wisconsin, in 1854, and served three years; was county
superintendent of schools in Ramsey county for twelve years,
and was a member of the Democratic wing of the constitutional
convention in 1857. He has been a dealer in real estate. He
was married to Miss Cornelia C. Kneeland, a sister of Mrs. Dr.
T. T. Mann, and late widow of James M. Goodhue, in 1853. Mrs.
Baker died in 1875. Maj. Newson, in his " Pen Portraits," says
of her: " She was an affectionate wife and a devoted mother,
and amid all the trials and vicissitudes incident to the ups and
downs of an old settler's career, she never murmured, never
complained, never fretted, never chided; always cheerful, always
hopeful, casting sunshine into the home and weaving about all
•those she loved golden chains of unbroken affection."
B. F. Hoyt. — Rev. B. F. Hoyt, a local minister of the Metho
dist church, and a prominent pioneer of 1848, was born at Nor-
walk, Connecticut, Jan. 8, 1800. He removed to New York
State, and later to Ohio, where he married and resided until
1834, when he removed to Illinois, and in 1848 to St. Paul. He
pnrchased the property bounded now by Jackson, Broadway,
Eighth and the bluff for three hundred dollars. The following
spring he laid it out as "Hoyt's addition." He dealt largely
in real estate and at various times held property, now worth
millions. He was instrumental in the erection of the Jackson
Street Methodist church, and aided in the endowment of Ham
line University. He died Sept. 3, 1875.

566 fifty years
John Fletcher Williams, secretary of the Minnesota State
Historical Society, is of Welsh descent, John Williams, a pater
nal ancestor of the seventh remove, having come to this coun
try from Glamorganshire, Wales. He was born in Cincinnati,
Ohio, Sept. 25, 1834. He was educated at Woodward College
and Ohio Wesleyan University, graduating from the latter in
stitution in 1852. He came to St. Paul in 1855 and engaged in
journalism and reporting for about twelve years, during which
time he acquired a thorough knowledge of city and state affairs
and an acquaintance with the pioneers of the State, which
knowledge he utilized in writing biographical and historical
sketches, his principal work in this line being the "History of
St. Paul," published in 1876.
In 1867 he was elected secretary of the State Historical Soci
ety. Upon him devolved the duty of arranging its volumes and
collections and editing its publications. Most of the memoirs
and historical sketches are from his pen. He has gathered man
uscripts and material for a history of the State which will ulti
mately be of great value. He is the honorary corresponding
secretary of the Old Settlers Association, not being eligible to-
active membership in that body, which requires a residence dat
ing back to 1850. Various diplomas have been conferred upon
him by the historical societies of other cities and states.
In 1871 he was appointed by President Grant a member of the
United States Centennial commission from Minnesota, and
served as such to the close of the International Centennial Ex
position in Philadelphia in 1876.
John Henry Murphy was the first medical practitioner in St
Anthony Falls, he having made that city his home in 1849. Mr.
Murphy was born Jan. 22, 1826, at New Brunswick, New Jersey.
His father, James Murphy, a shipbuilder, was a native of Ire
land; his mother, Sarah (Allen), belonged to an old New Jersey
family. His parents removed to Quincy, Hlinois, in 1834, where
John Henry obtained a good high school education. He studied
medicine and graduated from the Rush Medical College in Chi
cago in 1850, and returned to St. Anthony Falls, which he had
made his home the year before. In this place he lived and
practiced his profession till near the close of the war, when he re
moved to St. Paul.
In the summer of 1861, when Dr. Stewart, surgeon of the First
Minnesota Infantry, was captured at Bull Run, Dr. Murphy took

IN THE NORTHWEST. 567
his place and served for six months, and afterward as surgeon of
the Fourth and Eighth Minnesota Infantry. Dr. Murphy was a
representative in the territorial legislature of 1852, and a mem
ber of the constitutional convention, Republican wing, in 1857.
As a man and a physician Dr. Murphy has an enviable reputa
tion. He was married to Mary A. Hoyt, of Fulton county, Illi
nois, June 28, 1848. They have five children.
W. H. Tinker was born at Hartford, Connecticut, in 1813; was
married to Elisabeth Barnum, at Rockford, Illinois, in 1840;
came to Prairie du Chien in 1843, and to St. Paul in 1849. He
engaged' for awhile in tailoring, then in selling groceries, then
clerked for S. P. Folsom & Co., and also in the recorder's and
marshal's offices. At one time he owned eight acres in the heart
of St. Paul, for which he paid two hundred and eighty-four dol
lars, which is now worth a quarter of a million.
George P. Jacobs was born in Virginia in 1832; was educated
at the Virginia Military Institute; came to Pierce county, Wis
consin, and engaged in lumbering, afterward in farming and •
lumbering. He has resided in St. Paul since 1870.
Lyman Dayton was born Aug. 25, 1809, in Southington, Con
necticut, and was early thrown upon his own resources. He
commenced as a clerk in a store in Providence, Rhode Island,
and by faithfulness and industry became in time a wholesale
dry goods merchant. His health failing, he sought the West in
1849, and selected for his home a high bluff, to which his name
has been affixed, near the city of St. Paul. He purchased over
5,000 acres of land in the vicinity. The bluff is now covered
with palatial residences, business, church and school buildings.
Mr. Dayton lived much of his time at a village founded by
himself at the junction of Crow river with the Mississippi. The
village bears his name. He was one of the proprietors and first
president of the Lake Superior & Mississippi Railway Company,
and gave much of his time and means to promote its interests.
He died in 1865, leaving a widow (formerly Miss Maria Bates)
and one son, Lyman C,, a heavy dealer in real estate.
Henry L. Moss. — Mr. Moss is of English descent. His ances
tors came over prior to the Revolution, in which later members
of the fondly took a prominent part in behalf of the colonies.
He was born in Augusta, New York, and graduated at Hamilton
College, New York, in 1840; studied law, .and was admitted to

568 FIFTY YEARS
practice in 1842 at Sandusky, Ohio, where he practiced until
1845, when he removed to Platteville, Wisconsin, where he be
came an associate with Benj. C. Eastman until 1848, when he re
moved to Stillwater. He was the second lawyer in this place.
In 1850 he moved to St. Paul. He served as the first United
States district attorney for Minnesota Territory, holding the
office from 1849 until 1853. He was reappointed to this office
under the state government in 1862, and served four years. Mr.
Moss is a worthy member of the Presbyterian church. His moral
character and natural abilities have commended him for the
positions he has so satisfactorily filled. Mr. Moss was married
to Amanda Hosford, Sept. 20; 1849.
William Rainey Marshall is of Scotch-Irish descent, and
of good fighting stock, both his grandfathers participating in the
Revolutionary struggle. His father, Joseph Marshall, was a
native of Bourbon county, Kentucky, and his mother, Abigail
(Shaw) Marshall, was born in Pennsylvania. William R. was
born in Boone county, Missouri, Oct. 17, 1825. He was educated
in the schools. of Quincy, Hlinois, and spent some of his early
years mining and.surveying amidst the lead regions of Wiscon
sin. In Septemher, 1847, he came to St. Croix Falls, and made
a , land and timber claim near the Falls on the Wisconsin side
(now included in the Phillip Jewell farm). While at St. Croix
Falls he sold goods, dealt in lumber was deputy receiver of the
United States land office, and took an active part in the boun
dary meetings. He was elected representative in. the Wisconsin
assembly for the St. Croix valley in 1848, but his seat was suc
cessfully contested by Joseph Bowron on the ground of non-resi
dence, he residing west of the line marking the western limit of
the new state of Wisconsin. During the latter part of the year
1847 he had made a visit to St. Anthony Falls and staked out a
claim and cut logs for a cabin, but partially abandoning the
claim, he returned to St. Croix Falls. In 1849 he returned to St.
Anthony Falls and perfected his claim. In the same year he was
elected representative to the First Minnesota territorial legis
lature. In 1851 he removed to St. Paul and engaged in mercan
tile pursuits, becoming the pioneer iron merchant in that place.
During this year he was also engaged in surveying public lands.
In 1855, with other parties, he established a banking house,
which did well till overwhelmed by the financial tornado of

IN THE NORTHWEST. 569
1857. He then engaged in dairy farming and stock raising. In
1861 he purchased the St. Paul Daily Times and the Minnesotian
and merged them in the Daily Press. In 1S62 he enlisted in the
Seventh Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and was made lieutenant
colonel of the regiment. On the promotion of Col. Stephen Mil
ler in 1863, he succeeded to the command of the regiment, and
remained connected with it to the close of the war, participat
ing in the battles of Tupelo and Nashville, and in the siege of
Spanish Fort. Gen. Marshall won for himself an enviable record
as a soldier, and was breveted brigadier general for meritorious
services. In 1865 he was elected governor of Minnesota, and re
elected in 1867. On vaoating the gubernatorial chair he re
sumed banking, and was made vice president of the Marine
National Bank, and president of the Minnesota Savings Bank.
In 1874 he was appointed a member of the board of railway
commissioners. In November, 1875, he was elected state railroad
commissioner, and re-elected in 1877. In politics he is Republi
can, in his religious views he is a Swedenborgian, being one of
the founders of that society in St. Paul. He is a liberal supporter
of religious and benevolent enterprises, and a man universally
esteemed for sterling qualities of mind and heart. He was mar
ried to Miss Abbey Langford, of Utica, New York, March 22,
1854. They have one son, George Langford.
David Cooper was born in Brooks Reserve, Frederic county,
Maryland, July 2, 1821. He enjoyed good educational advan
tages, first in the common schools and later had as a tutor Rev.
Brooks, a Methodist clergyman, an accomplished gentleman and
scholar, who gave him thorough instruction in the sciences and
classics. In 1839 he entered Penn College, where he became a
ready writer and pleasant speaker. After leaving college he
studied law with his brother, Senator Cooper, and in 1845 was
admitted to practice. He practiced in several counties, showed
rare ability, espoused with enthusiasm the politics of the Whig
party, and on the accession of Gen. Taylor to the presidency,
in 1849, was appointed by him first assistant judge of the su
preme court for the territory of Minnesota. He arrived in
Minnesota in June, 1849, and located in Stillwater; was assigned
by Gov. Ramsey to the Second Judicial district, and held his
first court at Mendota. He changed his residence to St. Paul
in 1853, and, leaving the bench, devoted himself to law practice

570 FIFTY YEARS
in St. Paul. He was a Republican candidate for Congress in
1858, at the first session of the state legislature.
He left Minnesota for Nevada in 1864, then went to Salt Lake
City, where he died in a hospital in 1875. He was twice married
but left no children.
Bushrod W. Lott was born in Pemberton, New Jersey, in
1826. He was educated at the St. Louis University, and studied
law in Quincy, Illinois, being admitted to practice in 1847. A
year later he accompanied Gen. Samuel Leech to St. Croix Falls,
and was clerk during the first land sales in that region, while
Gen. Leech was receiver. The same year he came to St. Paul,
settling down to the legal profession. He was a Democrat in
politics, and held the office of chief clerk of the house in the
legislature of 1851, being elected in 1853 and re-eleeted in 1856
as a representative. In 1853 he was beaten for the speakership
by Dr. David Day, after balloting for twenty-two days. About ten
years after this he became president of the town council for two
years, and was city clerk for a year and a half. President Lin
coln appointed him consul to Tehuantepec, Mexico, in 1862,
where he served until 1865. Mr. Lott was a charter member of
the St. Paul Lodge, I. O. O. F. He died of apoplexy in 1886.
W. F. Davidson, better known as "Commodore" Davidson,
was born in Lawrence county, Ohio, Feb. 14, 1825. He was
early associated with his father in canal boating and river life
and acquired a strong predilection for the pursuit in which he
afterward became distinguished. His father was a Baptist
preacher, and the influence of his teachings was apparent in
many acts of the son's later life. His advantages for education
were limited, as his chief training was on board the boats on
which he was employed. In 1854 he came to St. Paul. Before
coming West he was interested In boating on the Ohio river,
and was the owner of several steamers. His first work in Min
nesota was on the Minnesota river, but soon afterward he became
president of a company known as the La Crosse 8s Minnesota
Packet Company. His experience and superior ability placed
him at the head of river navigation, and for many years he had
scarce a rival, earning by this supremacy the familiar cognomen
of "Commodore," flrst applied to him, we believe, by John
Fletcher Williams,
During ten years of his river life he resided in St. Louis.

IN the northwest.

571

With the increase of railroads and the brisk competition of later
days, he gradually withdrew from the river trade and interested
himself in real estate in St. Paul, buying largely and building
many fine blocks.
Though never an aspirant for office, Commodore Davidson
was public spirited and interested greatly in public enterprises
involving the prosperity of St. Paul. He was married in Ohio
in 1856, to a daughter of Judge Benjamin Johnson. He died in
St. Paul, May 26, 1887, leaving a widow, one son and one daugh
ter. Capt. Thomas L. Davidson is a brother, and Jerry and
Robert R. are half brothers. Col. J. Ham Davidson, a cousin
and a man of considerable oratorical ability, was associated with
him in business.

WM. H. FISHER.

William H. Fisher was born in New Jersey in 1844. He
entered the railway service of the Dubuque .& Sioux City rail
road as cheek clerk at Dubuque, Iowa, in 1864, serving as such

572 FIFTY YEARS
and in other positions of responsibility until 1873, when he re
moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, entering the service of the St.
Paul & Pacific railroad as superintendent. He built the Breck-
enridge extension in 1877, and was influential in relieving the
St. Paul & Pacific railroad and branches from financial embar
rassment, which resulted in the organization of the present St.
Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba system. In June, 1884, he was
elected general superintendent, and in June, 1885, president
and general superintendent, of the St. Paul & Duluth Railroad
Company, which position he at present worthily fills.
Charles H. Oakes, the son of a Vermont merchant and
manufacturer, David Oakes, at one time sheriff of Windham
county, and judge of St. Clair county, Michigan, was born in
the town of Rockingham, Windham county, July 17, 1803. He
received a common school education, and at twelve years of age
went into a store and clerked until eighteen, when he came to
Chicago as clerk for an army sutler. In 1824 he commenced
trading with the Indians on the south shore of Lake Superior.
In 1827 he entered the service of the American Fur Company,
in whose employ he remained until 1850, his headquarters being
most of the time at La Pointe. In 1850 he located in St. Paul.
In 1853 he entered the banking firm of Borup & Oakes, the first
banking firm in St. Paul, since which time he has lived a quiet
and retired life, that contrasts strongly with the strange and ad
venturous life he led as an Indian trader. Mr. Oakes' only pub
lic life was during the Indian outbreak, when, he accepted a
positionas colonel on the staff of Gen. Sibley. He was a member of
the Protestant Episcopal church. By his first wife Mr. Oakes had
four children, two of them daughters, now living. Sophia is the
widow of the late Jeremiah Russell, and Eliza is the wife of Col.
George W. Sweet, of Minneapolis. A son, Lieut. David Oakes,
was in the Civil War, and was killed in battle. The other child
died in infancy.
Mr. Oakes was married to his second wife, Julia Beaulieu, of
Sault Ste. Marie, July 29, 1831. She has had five children, but
one of them now living, Julia Jane, widow of the late Gen. Isaac
Van Etten. One of her sons, George, Henry, was in the Civil
War, and died two years after of disease contracted in the ser
vice. Charles William Wulff Borup was born in Copenhagen,

IN THE NORTHWEST. 573
Denmark, Dec. 20, 1806. He received a thorough classical and
medical education. In 1828 he emigrated to America, and, hav
ing abandoned his original intention of becoming a physician,
entered into business, at first in the employ of John Jacob Astor.
He became chief agent of the fur company on Lake Superior,
with residence at La Pointe. In 1848 he removed to St. Paul
and entered into a partnership with Pierre Chouteau. In 1854
the banking house of Borup & Oakes, of whieh he was senior
partner, was established. Dr. Borup died of heart disease, July
6, 1859, but the banking business was continued under the firm
name many years later. He was married July 17, 1832, to Eliza
beth Beaulieu, a daughter of Basil Beaulieu, a French trader of
Mackinaw. His widow died in St. Paul several years ago. Of a
family of eleven children, nine survive.
Capt. Russell Blakely, one of the best known of the early
steamboat men, was born in North Adams, Massachusetts, April
19, 1815. He spent a part of his early life in Genesee county,
New York, where he received a common school education; emi
grated to Peoria, Illinois, in 1836, where he engaged in the real
estate business; in 1839 he removed to Galena, where he engaged
in mining and smelting; in 1844 to Southwest Virginia, return
ing to Galena in 1847, where he became one of a_steamboat
transportation company. He was clerk upon the first boat on
the line, the Argo. This boat sank and he was transferred to
the Dr. Franklin, of which he became captain. He was captain of
the Nominee in 1853, and of the Galena in 1854. This last named
boat was burned at Red Wing, July 1, 1858. In 1855 he was
appointed agent at Dunleith of the Packet Company, and soon
afterward bought a leading interest in the Northwestern Express
Company. The next year he removed to St. Paul. Tn 1867 he
retired from the company. Of late years he has interested him
self in railroad enterprises, and has contributed greatly to the
prosperity of the city and State.
Rensselaer R. Nelson, United States district judge since
Minnesota became a state, was born in Cooperstown, Otsego
county, New York, May 12, 1826. His paternal great-grand
father came from Ireland in 1764. His grandfather was born in
Ireland, but came to this country in his childhood. His father,
Samuel Nelson, was associate justice of the United States su
preme court. His father served as a soldier in the war of 1812,

574 FIFTY YEARS
and the son located the land warrant given for his services in
Minnesota. The mother of Rensselaer was Catharine Ann (Bus-
sell), a descendant of Rev. John Russell, of Hadley, Massa
chusetts, in whose house the regicides Goffe and Whalley were
concealed for years, and where they finally died.
Rensselaer R. Nelson graduated at Yale in 1846. In 1849
be was admitted to practice law. He came to St. Paul in 1850.
In 1857 President Buchanan appointed him territorial judge,
and in 1858, United States district judge, which office he still
holds. He was married to Mrs. Emma F. Wright, a daughter
of Washington Beebe, of New York State, Nov. 3, 1858 .
George Loomis Becker was born Feb. 14, 1829, in Locke,
Cayuga county, New York. His father, Hiram Becker, was a
descendant of the early Dutch settlers of the Mohawk valley. In
1841 his father removed to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where the son
entered the State University as a freshman, and graduated in
1846. He studied law with George Sedgewick until 1849, when
he emigrated to St. Paul, arriving late in October. Here he com
menced the practice of law, being associated with Edmund Rice
and E. J. Whitall. Subsequently, on the withdrawal of Mr.
Whitall, Wm. Hollinshead became a member of the firm. The
partnership continued until 1856, when Mr. Becker withdrew to
engage in other pursuits, since which time he has been engaged
in forwarding the railroad interests of the State and serving in
various positions of honor and trust. He served as a member
of the constitutional convention in 1857. In 1862 he was chosen
land commissioner of the St. Paul & Pacific railroad, and in
1864 was elected president of that corporation. In 1872 he was
the unsuccessful candidate of his party for Congress.
He is a member of the Old Settlers Association, of which he
was president in 1873, and of the Minnesota Historical Society,
over which he presided as president in 1874. He was one of the
original members of the Presbyterian church in St. Paul in 1850.
He has served in the council of St. Paul, and as mayor. He has
figured most creditably in the business, political, social and re
ligious life of his adopted city, and is an admirable type of a
public spirited citizen. Since 1885 he has served as railroad com
missioner. In 1885, at Keesville, New York, he was married to
Susannah M. Ismon, an estimable lady, who has made his home
attractive. Their family consists of four sons.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 575

Aaron Goodrich. — Hon. Aaron Goodrich, first chief justice
of the supreme court of Minnesota Territory, was born in Sempro-
nius, Cayuga county, New York, July 6, 1807. His parents were
Levi H. and Eunice (Spinner) Goodrich. He traces his ancestry
back through the Connecticut branch of the Goodrich family to
a period in English history prior to the advent of William the
Conqueror. His mother was a sister of Dr. John Skinner, who
married a daughter of Roger Sherman. In 1815 his father re
moved to Western New York, where the son was raised on a
farm and educated chiefly by his father, who was a fine scholar
and teacher. He then studied law and commenced practice in
Stewart county, Tennessee. In 1847 to 1848 he was a member of
the Tennessee legislature.
In 1849 he was appointed to the supreme bench of Minnesota
Territory. He filled the position for three years. In 1858, at the
state organization, he was appointed a member of a commission
to revise the laws and prepare a system of pleading for state
courts. In 1860 he was made chairman of a similar commission.
In March, 1861, President Lincoln appointed him secretary of
the legation at Brussels, where he served eight years. While
abroad, by his habits of study and opportunities for research,
he laid the foundation of his critical and somewhat sensational
work, "A History of the Character and Achievements of the So-
called Christopher Columbus."
In politics Judge Goodrich was originally a Whig, and was a
presidential elector in 1848. He was next a Republican, and
served as delegate to the convention of 1860. In 1872 he was a
delegate to the Liberal Republican convention which nominated
Horace Greeley for president. In later years he voted with the,
Democratic party.
Mr. Goodrich was Deputy Past Grand Master of the Grand
Lodge of Freemasons in the State, was one of the corporate
members of the State Historical Society and of the Old Settlers
Association, of which he was for many years the secretary. In
1870 he was married to Miss Alice Paris, of Bogota, New
Grenada, a descendant of the old Castilian family de Paris, an
accomplished lady, who, with a daughter, survives him. Judge
Goodrich died in St. Paul in 1886.
Nathan Myeick was born in Westford, Essex county, New

576 FIFTY YEARS
York, July 7, 1822. He came to La Crosse, Wisconsin, in 1840.
The writer first met him at Prairie du Chien in 1841. He was
one of the principal founders of the city of La Crosse, managing
a trading house in company with Scoots Miller. He also engaged
in lumbering on Black river. He came to St. Paul in 1848, and
has since made that city his home. He has been an enterpris
ing and successful trader with the Indians, principally with the
Sioux. Much of his trading stock was destroyed by the Sioux
Indians in the insurrection of 1862, but he has been recompensed
in part by the government.' In 1843 he was married to Rebecca
Ismon. They have three children.
John Mel vin Gilman, son of John and Ruth (Curtis) Gil
man, was born in Calais, Vermont, Sept. 7, 1824. His father
died in 1825. The son received a good common school and aca
demic education, graduating from the Montpelier Academy in
1843. He read law with Heaton & Reed, of Montpelier, and was
admitted to the bar in 1844. During the same year he removed
to New Lisbon, Ohio, where he practiced law eleven years and
served one term (1849-50) in the state legislature.
In 1857 Mr. Gilman came to St. Paul, and formed a partner
ship with Hon. James Smith, Jr., and later became one of the
firm of Gilman, Clough & Lane. Mr. Gilman served four terms
as a representative in the state legislature. His affiliations have
been with the Democratic party, for which he has been twice a
candidate for Congress and chairman of the state central com
mittee. He was married to Miss Anna Cornwall, of New Lis
bon, Ohio, June 25, 1857.
Charles Eugene Flandrau, son of Thomas Hunt and Elisa
beth (Macomb) Flandrau, was born July 15, 1828, in New York
City. On his father's side he is descended from Huguenots
driven into exile by the revocation of the edict of Nantes; on
his mother's side from the Macombs of Ireland. One of his un
cles was Gen. Alexander Macomb, commander-in-chief of the
United States Army immediately preceding Gen. Winfield Scott.
He was educated until thirteen years of age in the private
schools at Georgetown and Washington, after which he spent
about three years before the mast; was at New York City about
three years, when he went to Whitesboro, Oneida county, New
York, where he read law and afterward entered into partner
ship with his father, being admitted to practice in 1851. In

IN THE NORTHWEST. 577
1853 he came to St. Paul with Horace R. Bigelow and com
menced practice in the firm of Bigelow & Flandrau. In 1854
he removed to St. Peter and practiced law for several years.
This year (1854) he was appointed a notary public by Gen.
Gorman. In 1855 he was elected a member of the territorial council, and
in 1856 was appointed by President Pierce United States agent
for the Sioux Indians. In 1857 he served as a member of
the Democratic wing of the constitutional convention, and in
July of the same year was appointed by President Buchanan
associate justice of the supreme court of Minnesota Territory.
He was elected to the same office, on the admission of Minnesota
as a state, for a term of seven years. During Gov. Sibley's ad
ministration, he acted as judge advocate general of the State.
Judge Flandrau took an active part in suppressing the Sioux
outbreak, serving ascaptain, and later as a colonel, of volunteers.
In 1864 Judge Flandrau resigned his place on the supreme bench
and went to Nevada Territory for a year; spent some time in Ken
tucky and St. Louis, Missouri, and returned to Minnesota in 1867,
locating at Minneapolis, where he opened a law office with Judge
Isaac Atwater. He was elected city attorney and was president
of the first Board of Trade.
In 1870 he removed to St. Paul and engaged in law practice
with Bigelow & Clark.
In 1867 Judge Flandrau was the Democratic nominee for gov
ernor of the State, and in 1869 for the position of chief justice.
In 1868 he was chairman of the state central committee, and a
member of the national convention that nominated Horatio
Seymour for the presidency of the United States.
Judge Flandrau was married Aug. 14, 1859, to Isabella Dins-
more, of Kentucky, deceased in 1866. His second wife was Mrs.
Rebecca B. Riddle, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Feb. 28, 1871.
His family consists of two daughters by his first wife and two
sons by his second.
Gen. John B. Sanborn was born Dec. 5, 1826, in Merrimac
county, New Hampshire, on the farm which had been in the pos
session of his ancestors for four generations. After a common
school education he entered the law office of Judge Fowler, of
Concord, New Hampshire, where he remained for three years,
when he was admitted to practice by the superior court of New
37

578 . FIFTY YEARS
Hampshire, in 1854. In the following December he came to Min
nesota, where he has remained, a citizen of St. Paul, and in the
practice of his profession, except what time he has been absent
in the public service.
His public career began in 1859-60, in the house of represen
tatives. The following year he was sent to the senate, and that
had adjourned but a little over a month when he was appointed
adjutant general and acting quartermaster general of the State,
and entered upon the arduous duties of organizing the first regi
ment of volunteers in the State for the war of the Rebellion.
In the following December he was commissioned colonel of the
Fourth Minnesota, and, with headquarters at Fort Snelling, gar:
risoned all the posts and commanded all the troops along the
Minnesota frontier during the winter. Early in the spring of
1862 he left with his entire command for Pittsburgh Landing,
and was assigned to the command of a demi-brigade, which he
commanded till the evacuation of those works, and was there
upon assigned to the command of the First Brigade, Seventh Di
vision, Army of the Mississippi, afterward the Seventeenth Army
Corps. On the nineteenth of September following, with this brigade he
fought the battle of Iuka and won the victory for which he was
promoted by the president to brigadier general of Volunteers.
He participated in the battles of Port Gibson, Raymond, Jack
son, Champion Hills, and the assault on Vicksburg — a portion
of which time he was in command of a division. After the sur
render of Vicksburg he was assigned to the command of the
Southwest District of Missouri, where, after the campaign against
Price, he was promoted to brevet major general.
After the close of the war, by a few months' campaign on the
Upper Arkansas and along the Smoky Hill river, he opened to
travel the long lines across the plains to Colorado and New Mex
ico, which had been closed for nearly two years, and restored
peace to that frontier. Upon a mission to the Indian Territory,
to establish the relations which should exist between the slaves
of the Indians and their former masters, he solved the questions
and determined the relations, and established them upon a firm
foundation in the short space of ninety days.
In 1866 he was appointed, with Gens. Sherman, Harney, Terry,
and Senator Henderson, a special peace commissioner to the In-

IN THE NORTHWEST. 579
dians, and for eighteen months served upon that board. This
commission visited and made treaties with the Camanche,
Cheyenne, Arrapahoe, Apache, Navajo, Shoshone, Northern
Cheyenne, Northern Arrapahoe, and Crow tribes; and with the
Ogalalla, Brule, Minnecoujon, Sausauche, Black Feet, Umka-
papa, Santee, and Yankton bands of the Sioux nation. They
settled upon and recommended to Congress a fixed policy to be
ptrsued toward the Indians, which, while followed, resulted in
comparative safety to the frontier, and greater economy in the
service. Since these services the general has devoted himself
entirely to his profession, and with more than ordinary success.
John R. Irvine was born in Dansville, Livingston county,
New York, Nov. 3, 1812, and was brought up there till seven
teen years of age. His education when a boy was obtained at
the common schools, and was quite limited. From seventeen to
twenty years of age he lived in Carlisle and other places in
Pennsylvania, during which he learned the trade of plastering,
and was married in Carlisle in 1831, to Miss Nancy Galbreath.
Soon after his marriage he returnee! to Dansville. The follow
ing spring he went to Buffalo, New York; in the spring of 1837
emigrated to Green Bay, Wisconsin, and in the spring of 1840
removed to Prairie du Chien.
While in Prairie du Chien Mr. Irvine kept a grocery. Dur
ing that time he made two trips to St. Paul — the last one with
a team loaded with provisions, on the ice the most of the way
— and on the third of August, 1843, arrived in St. Paul with his
family. On his arrival he bought of Joseph Rondeau a claim
of 240 acres of land, afterward converted into Rice & Irvine's
addition, Irvine's enlargement and Irvine's addition to the
city of St. Paul, including most of the present city from St.
Peter street to Leech's addition, for about $300. Mr. .Irvine
entered it in 1848. The east 80 acres of a quarter included
in this claim Mr. Irvine sold to Henry M. Rice in 1848, and
in the winter they laid off Rice & Irvine's addition, and com
menced selling lots and making improvements on the property.
Since living in St. Paul Mr. Irvine has been engaged in farm
ing, milling, storekeeping, working at his trade, and managing
his estate. He was one of the earliest settlers of St. Paul,
whose life amidst its many changes has been contemporaneous
with its history from the very beginning. Mr. Irvine has had

580 FIFTY YEARS
eight children, seven of whom, namely, six daughters and one
son, are living. Mr. Irvine died in 1878.
Horace Ransom Bigelow was born in Watervliet, New York,
March 13, 1820. His father, Otis Bigelow, was a Revolutionary
patriot and soldier. He received a good education at the schools
of Sangerfield and the gymnasium at Utica. He spent part of
his early life in farming and teaching. Later he studied law and
was admitted to practice in 1847, in Utica, where he entered'in-
to partnership with E. S. Brayton until 1853, when he removed to
St. Paul, Minnesota, in company with Charles E. Flandrau. He
has since devoted himself almost exclusively to his law practice,
which includes almost every branch except criminal law. In
June, 1862, he was married to Cornelia Sherrill, of Hartford, New
York. They have four children.
Cushman K. Davis. — In the quaint little Quaker village of
Henderson, New York, in a small house built partly of logs, and
mossy and venerable with age, on June 16, 1838, Cushman Kel
logg Davis, late governor and present senator from Minnesota,
was born. His father, Horatio N. Davis, removed to Wisconsin
in August or September of the same year, and settled on the pres
ent site of Waukesha. His father was quite prominent; had
served during the Civil War, and retired from the service with
the brevet rank of major; had held various municipal offices, and
had been a member of the Wisconsin senate. Cushman, his old
est son, received as good an education as the times afforded, at
the common schools, at Carroll College, a Waukesha institution,
and at Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he graduated in 1857. He
read law with Gov. Randall, was admitted to the bar in 1859,
and practiced at Waukesha until 1862, when he enlisted in the
Twenty-eighth Wisconsin Infantry, going in as first lieutenant of
Company B, but was adjutant general under Gen. Gorman most
of the time. At the end of two years, with broken health, he
resigned his commission and settled in St. Paul in partnership
with Gen. Gorman. In 1867 he was elected a representative in
the state legislature, and served one term. He was United States
district attorney from 1868 until 1873, when he was elected gov
ernor. He served two years, and was the youngest man who has
been elected to that office. After leaving the governor's chair
he resumed his law practice until the senatorial election of 1887,
when he was chosen to succeed Senator McMillan in the United
States Senate.

in the northwest. 581
Senator Davis has devoted some time to general literature.
His lecture on "Feudalism" was delivered in 1870, and this
lecture probably secured him the nomination for governor in
1873. He has also lectured on "Hamlet" and "Madam Roland,"
and in 1884 delivered a lecture before the Army of the Tennes
see and in 1886 a lecture to the graduating class at Michigan
University. He also published a book entitled "The Law in
Shakespeare," which attracted considerable attention. He was
married to Miss Anna M. Agnew, of St. Paul, in 1880.
S. J. R. McMillan was born in Fayette county, Pennsyl-
vaniaj in 1826. He spent part of his early days in Pittsburgh;
received a collegiate education; studied law; was admitted to
practice in 1849, and came to Stillwater in 1852, where he estab
lished a law office. In 1858 he was elected judge of the First
district and served until 1864, when he was appointed to the su
preme bench. He was elected to the , position in the fall of the
same year and served until 1875, when he was elected to the
United States senate. He was re-elected in 1881, and was suc
ceeded in 1887 by Cushman K. Davis. He removed to St. Paul
in 1865.
Senator McMillan has had an honorable career and is greatly
respected as an upright, conscientious, active and thoroughly
practical man. He was married at Pittsburgh in 1852, to Harriet
E. Butler. They have three sons and three daughters.
Willis Arnold Gorman, second territorial governor of Min
nesota, was born in Fleming county, Kentucky, Jan. 12, 1816.
He received a good literary education, and his parents having
moved to Bloomington, Indiana, he graduated at the law school
connected with the State University at that place. He com
menced practice at Bloomington and was quite popular as a law
yer, but even more so as a party leader, and was elected to the
legislature six times in succession. At the breaking out of the
Mexican War, in 1846, he enlisted as a private in the Third Indi
ana Volunteers, but was appointed major. He won the reputa
tion of a gallant, dashing officer, and was promoted to be colonel
of the Fourth Indiana, which he helped recruit. He served till
the close of the war. On his return to Indiana, in 1848, he was
elected to Congress, and re-elected in 1850. In May, 1853, he
was appointed by President Pierce governor of Minnesota Ter
ritory. In 1857, at the close of his term of office as governor, he

582 . FIFTY YEARS
was elected a member of the constitutional convention, and was
also an unsuccessful candidate for the United States senatorship.
In the spring of 1861, at the breaking out of the Civil War, he
was appointed colonel of the First Minnesota Infantry. For
bravery at the first battle of Bull Run he was commissioned
brigadier general. He was mustered out in 1864. Returning
to Minnesota he formed a law partnership with Cushman K.
Davis. In 1869 he was elected city attorney and held that office
till his death, which occurred at St. Paul, May 20, 1876. He was
twice married, first to Miss Martha Stone, of Bloomington, Indi
ana, in 1836. She died in March, 1864, leaving five children.
In April, 1865, he was married to Miss Emily Newington, of St.
Paul. John D. Ludden was born in Massachusetts, April 5, 1819;
was educated at Williston Seminary, and came West to the lead
mines of Wisconsin in 1842. In 1845 he came to St. Croix Falls,
Wisconsin, remained at this point and at Taylor's Falls until
1849, when he made his residence at Marine Mills, Minnesota.
In 1857 he changed his residence to Stillwater, and in 1861 be
came a citizen of St. Paul, where he still resides. He was a
member of the second, third and fourth territorial legislatures.
From 1854 to the present time he has been engaged chiefly in
.lumbering. He is a man of pleasing address, of good business
talent and thoroughly reliable.
Elias F. Drake is a native of Ohio, in which state he lived
until 1861, when he came to St. Paul. His boyhood days were
spent on a farm; later he engaged in mercantile pursuits, and
still later studied law under the instruction of Justice Swayne
of the United States supreme court, and was admitted to prac
tice in all the courts of Ohio and in the United States court.
After a short and successful term of practice, he became cashier
of the State Bank of Ohio, and in that capacity spent ten years
of his life. During that time he served three terms in the legis
lature, being speaker one session, during which the late Gov.
Swift was clerk of the house.
In politics Mr. Drake was a Whig, and afterward a Republi
can. During his residence in Ohio he was active in promoting
the improvements of the country, successfully building several
leading turnpike roads and a few railroads.
In 1861 he came to Minnesota, and put in operation the first

IN THE NORTHWEST. 583
railroad in the State, a road between St. Paul and St. Anthony
Falls. In 1863 he was president of the Winona & St. Peter railroad
during the construction of the first ten miles. Soon after, he, with
some associates, took hold of the Minnesota Valley railroad, and
completed it to Sioux City, Iowa, in 1872. He is president and
land commissioner of this company. Mr. Drake represented
Ramsey county in the state senate in 1874-75.
Norman W. Kittson was born at Sorel, Lower Canada, March
5, 1814. In May, 1830, he engaged as an employe of the Ameri
can Fur Company, and in that capacity came to the Northwest.
From the summer of 1830 to that of 1832 he occupied the trading
post beween the Fox river and the Wisconsin. The following
year he operated on the headwaters of the Minnesota, after
which he spent a year on Red Cedar river, in Iowa. In 1834 he
came to Fort Snelling, where he was sutler's clerk till' 1838. The
winter of 1838-39 he spent with his friends in Canada. On his
return in the spring he began business on his own account in the
fur trade, at Cold Springs in the vicinity of Fort Snelling, which
he continued till 1843, when he entered the American Fur Com
pany as special partner, having charge of all the business on the
headwaters of the Minnesota, and along the line of the British
possessions, and operating in that field till 1854. During that
summer he entered into partnership with Maj. Wm. H. Forbes,
in the general Indian trade, at St. Paul, and went there to re
side in the fall of that year. The partnership continued till
1858, and Mr. Kittson continued his northern business till 1860,
when he closed out. In 1863 he accepted the position of agent
for the Hudson Bay Company at St. Paul, and went into the
steamboat and transportation business on the Red River of the
North. From 1851 to 1855 Mr. Kittson was a member of the
territorial council, and was mayor of the city of St. Paul in
1858. He was the oldest of the pioneers of Minnesota, except
Joseph Dajenais, a French Canadian, now residing at Faribault.
Mr. Kittson died May 10, 1888, on a railroad train near Chi
cago. His body was brought to St. Paul for burial.
Hascal Russell Brill was born in the county of Mississ-
quoi, Canada, Aug. 10, 1846. He was educated partly at Ham
line University, then located at Red Wing, and finished at Ann
Arbor, Michigan. He studied law and was admitted to practice
at St. Paul in December, 1869, and formed a partnership with

584 FIFTY YEARS
Stanford Newel. Three years later he was elected probate
judge and served two years. In 1875 he was appointed by Gov.
Davis to fill the vacancy in the court of common pleas caused by
the death of Judge W. S. Hall, and a few months later was elected
by the people to fill the same position. In politics Judge Brill
is Republican. He was married Aug 11, 1873, to Cora A. Gray,
of Suspension Bridge, Niagara county, New York.
Ward W. Folsom, brother of Simeon P. and W. H. C. Folsom,
was born in Tamworth, New Hampshire, Oct, 13, 1824, but in
early life removed with his parents to Skowhegan, Maine, and
in 1846 came to Areola, Minnesota. In 1848 he removed to St.
Croix Falls and in 1851 to Taylor's Falls, where he kept the
Chisago House and engaged in lumbering until 1857, when he
removed to St. Paul, which city has since been his home. He
was employed for three years during the Civil War in the quar
termaster's department at St. Louis, Missouri. In 1865, with
health greatly shattered, he returned to St. Paul. He was
married to Sydney Puget, of St. Louis, in 1852. They have two
adopted sons.
Gordon E. Cole was born in Berkshire county, Massachu
setts, June 18, 1833; received his education at Sheffield Academy,
Massachusetts, and at the Dane law school of Harvard Univer
sity, from which school he graduated in 1854. He practiced law
two years in his native town, came to Minnesota, and located in
Faribault in 1847. In 1859 he was elected attorney general and
served three consecutive terms. He served one year as state
senator, and a year in compiling state statutes. He has been a
railroad attorney and has filled many honorable positions. He
was married in August, 1855, to Stella C. Whipple, of Shafts-
bury, Vermont, who died in June, 1872, leaving three children.
Feb. 14, 1874, he was married to Kate D. Turner, of Cleveland,
Ohio. James Smith, Jr., was born in Mount Vernon, Knox county,
Ohio, Oct. 29, 1815. He obtained a good practical, common
school education, and was besides largely self taught. He read
law three years in Lancaster, Ohio, was admitted to the bar in
1839, and practiced law in his native town for seventeen years.
Iu 1856 he came to St. Paul, where he has been associated in
practice with Judge Lafayette Emmett, John M. Gilman and J. J.
Egan. Since the building of the St. Paul & Duluth railroad he
has been its attorney, general manager and president.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 585
Mr. Smith was in the state senate in 1861-62-63 and 67, and
proved a careful and able legislator. As a lawyer he stands de
servedly high. He was married to Elisabeth Martin, Jan. 18,
1848. They have four children.
William Pitt Murray is of Irish- descent. He was born
in Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio, in 1827; came to Centreville,
Indiana, in 1844; attended school there, graduated at the State
Law School at Bloomington in 1849, and the same year came to St.
Paul, where he has practiced law ever since. He has also taken
an active part in the politics of the city and State. He has
probably assisted in the passage of more laws than any other
man in the State. He was a member of the territorial house of
representatives in 1852-53 and 57, and of the territorial council
of 1854-55, acting as president in the latter year. He was
a member of the Democratic wing of the constitutional conven
tion in 1857; was a representative in the state legislatures of 1863
and 1868, and a state senator in 1866-67, 1875-76, and has be
sides served sixteen years in the city council of St. Paul. He
has been county and city attorney since 1876. He has been
honored beyond most public servants and has a county named
after him. He was married to Carolina S. Conwell, of Laurel,
Indiana, April 7, 1853. They have three children living.
Henry Hale. — Judge Hale was born in Vermont in 1816;
studied law and was admitted to practice in his native state. He
came to St. Paul in 1856 and opened a law office on Bridge
Square. He took an active part in the politics of the State and
vehemently opposed the $5,000,000 loan bill. He has since re
tired from law practice, and is now a successful dealer in real
estate. James Gilfillan, son of James and Janet (Gilmor) Gilfillan,
was born in Bannockburn, Scotland, March 9, 1829. His parents
came to America in 1830 and located at New Hartford, New
York. He was educated in the common schools, read law and
was admitted to practice in 1850. He removed to Buffalo, New
York, where he practiced law until 1857, when he removed to
St. Paul and opened a law office. In 1862 he enlisted in Com
pany H, Seventh Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, became its
captain and before the close of the war was commissioned colonel
of the Eleventh Minnesota Infantry. In 1869 he was appointed
to a vacancy on the supreme bench of the State and again in

586 FIFTY YEARS
1875. The same year he was elected to the office for seven years,
at the end of which time he was re-elected. He was married
June 4, 1867, to Miss Martha McMasters, of St. Paul. They
have six children.
Charles Duncan Gilfillan, a younger brother of James,
was born in New Hartford, New York, July 4, 1831. He was edu
cated in the common schools, Homer Academy and Hamilton
College. After leaving college, in 1850, he located in Missouri,
and a year later came to Stillwater, Minnesota, where he read
law with Michael E. Ames, was admitted to the bar in 1853 and
removed to St. Paul in 1854, where he engaged for about twelve
years in the practice of his profession. Since that period he has
been engaged in furthering various public enterprises, among
them the St. Paul Waiter Works, of which he was the founder and
for many years manager. He has occupied various public posi
tions, always with credit to himself. He was the first recorder of
Stillwater; was a member of the state' legislatures of 1864-65, and
1876, and a member of the senate from 1878 to 1881, inclusive. At
the session of 1878 he was chairman of the railroad committee
and the committees on judiciary and education. In politics he is
a Republican. Mr. Gilfillan was married to Emma C. Waage,
of Montgomery county, New York, who died in 1863, leaving no
issue. In 1865 he married Fanny S. Waage, sister of his first
wife. They have four children.
Alexander Wilkin was born in Orange county, New York,
in December, 1820. He studied law with his father, Judge Sam
uel J. Wilkin, and practiced awhile at Goshen. In 1847 he
enlisted in the Tenth New York Regulars for service in the Mexi
can War, and was commissioned captain. In the spring of 1849
he came to St. Paul; practiced law; was appointed United States
marshal in 1851 , and served until 1853. He visited Europe dur
ing the Crimean War, and studied the art of war before Sebas-
topol. At the breaking out of the Rebellion, he raised the first
company for the first regiment, acted with conspicuous bravery
at the battle of Bull Run, and was commissioned major of the
Second Minnesota, lieutenant colonel in the same regiment, and
colonel of the Ninth Minnesota, all in the same year, 1862. He
took part in the Indian campaign, but at its close returned South,
his regiment being attached to the Sixteenth Army Corps, under
Gen. A. J. Smith. He was advanced to the position of brigade

IN the northwest. 587
commander, and was killed at the battle of Tupelo, Mississippi,
July 14, 1864. Wilkin county, Minnesota, bears his name.
Westcott Wilkin, a brother of Alexander, was born at Go
shen, New York, in 1827, received a good education, graduating
at Princeton College in 1843, and studied law at New Haven Law
School in 1846. He practiced law in Sullivan county, New York,
and was county judge four years. In 1856 he came to St. Paul
and formed a partnership with I. V. D. Heard; was elected judge
of the district court in 1864, and re-elected every succeeding
term, without opposition.
S. C. Whitcher was born in Genesee county, New York, in
1821. He came to Amador, Chisago county, Minnesota, in 1853,
and to St. Paul in 1858. He was married to Helen M. Olds, in
New York, in 1840. Their two sons are Charles and Edward.
Maj. Thomas McLean Newson was born in New York City,
Feb. 22, 1827, of Scotch-Irish parentage. His paternal grand
father was paymaster in the army during the war of 1812. His
father, Capt. George Newson, commanded a military company
in New York City for seventeen years. Three uncles were in
the war of 1812. His father removed to New Haven, Connecti
cut, in 1832, and both parents died there in 1834. The son, af
ter his parents' death, was placed in a boarding school. When
he left the school he learned the printer's trade, and on arriving
at his majority entered into partnership with John B. Hotch-
kiss in the publication of the Derby Journal, in Birmingham,
Connecticut. During this period he wrote poetry, delivered
lectures, and took an active part in political affairs. He was
secretary of the first editorial association in Connecticut, and
started and conducted for a year the first daily penny paper in
the State. He was one of the originators of the reform school
and an efficient promoter of its interests.
He came to St. Paul in 1853, where he was first associated
with Joseph R. Brown in the editorial department of the Pio
neer, but the following spring, in company with others, started
the Daily Times, which he edited until 1860, when he leased the
material to W. R. Marshall. The Press was the outgrowth of
this movement. He was one of the founders of the Republican
party in the State and was sole delegate of his party in Minne
sota to the Pittsburgh national convention.
At the outbreak of the Rebellion he entered the service of his

588 FIFTY YEARS
country, was commissioned commissary of subsistence and sub
sequently appointed acting assistant quartermaster, with the
rank of captain. At one time he was chief commissary at St.
Cloud. He left the army with a splendid record for honesty and
capacity, with the brevet rank of major, conferred for merito
rious service, and the offer of a position in the regular army,
which he declined. In 1866 he was commander and president
of a company which explored the Vermillion Lake region pros
pecting for precious metals. He was the first to assay the iron
ores, now so famous, in that region. In later years we find him
prospecting amongst the Black Hills, enjoying the wild life of
the frontier and devoting some attention to literature. While
there he wrote a drama of "Life in the Hills" and delivered lec
tures at various times and places, achieving in this line an envi
able success. Since this period he has written and published an
interesting work, entitled "Thrilling Scenes Among the In
dians," drawn from his own observation and experience; also
"Pen Pictures and Biographical Sketches of Old Settlers of St.
Paul, from 1838 to 1857," a rich and racy book of seven hundred
and thirty-two pages, in which the driest biographical details
are enlivened with amusing anecdotes and witty comments, in
which naught is set down in malice, but every line glows with
the genial spirit of the author. He has in contemplation another
volume on the same subject. He has also published "Heleopa,"
"Indian Legends" and "Recollections of Eminent Men." Maj.
Newson is a man of varied and miscellaneous gifts. He is a
ready writer, a fluent and eloquent speaker, a journalist, a his
torian and the oldest editor in Minnesota. He is corresponding
secretary of the National Editorial Association, and the first
and only honorary member of the State Fire Association; he is
a geologist, mineralogist and assayer, a member of the G. A.
R., of the Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges, and of the Junior
Pioneers. He is broad-gauged and popular in his views and
positive in the expression of his opinions. He was married to
Miss Harriet D. Brower, in Albany, New York, in 1857, and has
a family of five girls and one boy, May, Hattie, Nellie, Jessie,
Grace, and T. M. Newson, Jr.
Col. Alvaren Allen was born in New York in 1822;
came to Wisconsin in 1837, and to St. Anthony Falls in 1857,
where he engaged in the livery, staging and express business.

MAJ. T. M. NEWSON, THE OLDEST EDITOR IN THE STATE.

CAPT. HENRY A. CASTLE, ONE OF MINNESOTA'S PIONEER EDITORS.

IN THE NORTHWEST.

589

In 1859 he followed railroading; in 1873 he bought Col. Shaw's
interest in the Merchants Hotel of St. Paul, for $40,000, and
Col. Potter's interest for $275,000, property now held at $500,000.
In 1887 he rented the property to Mr. Welz. Col. Allen is a genial
man, and has friends all over the continent. He was the second
mayor of St. Anthony Falls, and has held various public po
sitions in St. Paul.

Harlan P. Hall. — The writer has been unable to obtain
any sketch of the history of Mr. Hall. We have to say that he has
been an enterprising journalist in St. Paul. He was the founder
of the DaUy and Weekly St. Paul Dispatch ; also of the St. Paul
Daily and Weekly Globe. He is a fluent, versatile writer, and
a genial associate.
Stephen Miller, a native of Perry county, Pennsylvania,
was born Jan. 7, 1816. Being in straitened circumstances he
early commenced a life of toil, supported himself and to a great
extent educated himself. In 1858 he removed to St. Cloud,
Minnesota, and engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 1860 he
served as delegate to the Republican convention at Chicago that
nominated Lincoln for the presidency. In 1861 he enlisted as a
private soldier, but rose rapidly from the ranks, being commis-

590 FIFTY YEARS
sioned as a lieutentant colonel of the First Minnesota Infantry,
then as colonel of the Seventh Minnesota Infantry. He was in
command of this regiment at the execution of the thirty-eight
condemned Indian murderers at Mankato. In 1863 he was com
missioned as brigadier general but resigned to accept the position
of governor of Minnesota.' In 1871 he removed from St. Paul
to Windom. In 1873 he was in the Minnesota house of repre
sentatives. In 1876 he was presidential elector. In 1839 he was
married to Margaret Funk, of Dauphin county, Pennsylvania.
They have had three sons. One son was killed at the battle of
Gettysburg. Gov. Miller died in 1878, at Windom, Minnesota.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 591

OHAPTEE XXII.

DAKOTA COUNTY.
This county, a rich farming district, lies on the west bank of
the Mississippi between Ramsey and Goodhue counties. It was
originally well diversified with timber and prairie lands, and is
well watered by the tributaries of the Mississippi and Minne
sota rivers. Vermillion river, which flbws through this county,
has near its junction with the Mississippi a picturesque water
fall, now somewhat marred by the erection of mills and manu
factories. HASTINGS,
Lying near the mouth of the Vermillion river, is a wide-awake,
thriving city, beautifully located on the banks of the Mississippi.
It has a fine court house, good hotels, manufactories and busi
ness blocks. The Hastings & Dakota railroad has its eastern
terminus here. The St. Paul & Milwaukee, Burlington & North
ern railroads pass through the city. The river is bridged at this
place. FARMINGTON,
Near the centre of the county, on the Chicago, St. Paul & Min
neapolis railroad, is a thriving business village. West St. Paul
has encroached largely upon the north part of the county.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Ignatius Donnelly. — The parents of Ignatius Donnelly came
from the Green Isle in 1817, settling in Philadelphia, where Ig
natius was born, Nov. 3, 1831. He was educated in the graded
and high schools of his native city, graduating at the latter in
1849, and taking his degree of master of arts three years later.

592 FIFTY YEARS
He read law with Benjamin Harris Brewster, and was admitted
to the bar in Philadelphia in 1852, and pacticed there until 1856,
when he came to Minnesota and located at Ninninger, and pur
chasing from time to time nearly 1,000 acres of land, devoted
himself to farming, not so busily, however, as to prevent him from
taking a prominent part in public affairs. A captivating and flu
ent speaker, and besides a man of far more than ordinary native
ability and acquirements, he was not suffered to remain on his
Dakota farm. In 1859 he was elected lieutenant governor of the
newly admitted state, and was re-elected in 1861, serving four
years. He served his district in the thirty-seventh, thirty-eighth
and thirty-ninth congresses. During his congressional term he
advocated many important measures, taking an advanced position
in regard to popular education, and the cultivation and preserva
tion of timber on the public lands. For his advocacy of the last
named measure he was much ridiculed at the time, but has lived
to see his views generally understood, and his measures to a great
extent adopted in many of the Western States. He advocated
amending the law relating to railroad land grants, so as to re
quire their sale, within a reasonable period, at low prices.
When he entered Congress, he gave up his law practice, and
since his last term he has devoted himself chiefly to farming,
journalism and general, literature. In July, 1874, he became
editor and proprietor of the Anti-Monopolist, which he conducted
several years. Within the last decade he has published several
works that have given him both national and transatlantic fame.
His works on the fabled "Atlantis" and "Ragnarok" prove him
to be not only a thinker and scientist, but a writer, the charms of
whose style are equal to the profundity of his thought. His last
work on the authorship of the Shakespearean plays has attracted
universal attention, not only for the boldness of his speculations,
but for the consummate ingenuity he has shown in detecting the
alleged cipher by which he assumes to prove Lord Bacon to be
the author of the plays in question. The book has excited much
controversy, and, as was to be expected, much adverse criticism.
Mr. Donnelly was married in Philadelphia, Sept. 10, 1855, to Miss
Catherine McCaffrey of that city. They have three children
living. Francis M. Crosby. — The ancestors of Mr. Crosby were of
Revolutionary fame. He was born in Wilmington, Windham

IN THE NORTHWEST. 593
county, Vermont, Nov. 13, 1830. He received a common and
high school education and spent one year at Mount Caesar Semi
nary, at Swansea, New Hampshire. He studied law and was
admitted to practice at Bennington, Vermont, in 1855. He
served in the Vermont house of representatives in 1855-56. He
continued the practice of law until 1858, when he came to Has
tings and engaged in the practice of law. He served as judge of
probate court in 1860-61, acted as school commissioner several
years in Dakota county, and was elected, in 1871, judge of the
First Judicial district comprising the counties of Goodhue, Da
kota, Washington, Chisago, Pine, and Kanabec. He held the
first courts in Pine and Kanabec counties. Judge Crosby is held
in high esteem, not only by the bar, but by the people at large.
He is gentlemanly in his manners, yet prompt and decisive in
action. He was married to Helen A. Sprague, in New York, May 13,
1866. Mrs. Crosby died in 1869. He married a second wife,
Helen M. Bates, in New York, in 1872. They have two sons
and three daughters.
Hon. G. W. Le Due was born at Wilkesville, Gallia county,
Ohio, March 29, 1823. His father, Henry Savary Due, was the
son of Henri Due, an officer of the French Army, who came over
with D'Estaing to assist the colonies in the Revolutionary
struggle. The grandfather, after some stirring adventures in
Guadaloupe, where he came near being murdered in a negro in
surrection, escaped and came to Middletown, Connecticut, in
1796, where he was married to Lucy, daughter of Col. John
Sumner, of Duryea's Brigade, Continental Troops, and a mem
ber of the Sumner family which came to Massachusetts in 1637.
The father was married to Mary Stewell, of Braintree, New York,
in 1803. The family name, originally written Due, was changed
to Le Due in 1845. The grandfather removed to Ohio aud
founded the town of Wilkesville. G. W. Le Due, the grandson,
spent his early life at this place, but was educated at Lancaster
Academy, a school that numbered amongst its scholars Gen. W.
T. and Senator John Sherman, the Ewing brothers, and others
prominent in the history of the country. He entered Kenyon Col
lege in 1844, graduated in 1848, and was employed for awhile by
the firms of H. W. Derby & Co., of Cincinnati, and A. S. Barnes
& Co., of New York. Meanwhile he studied law, and in 1850 was
38

594

FIFTY YEARS

admitted to practice in the supreme court of Ohio. July 5, 1850.
he came to St. Paul and engaged in selling books, supplying the
legislature and the government officers at the Fort, but gradually
turned his attention to practice in land office courts. At the

HON. <*. W. LE DUC.

breaking out of the Rebellion he enlisted, and was assigned to
duty as captain A. Z. in the Army of the Potomac. During
his term of service he was promoted to the grades of lieutenant
colonel, colonel and brigadier general by brevet. Since the war

IN THE NORTHWEST. 595
his most important official position has been that of commis
sioner of agriculture through the administration of President
Hayes. In 1856 he removed to Hastings, and has ever since been
identified with the progress and prosperity of that city, and
is the owner of large property interests there.
GOODHUE COUNTY.
This county lies on the west bank of the Mississippi river,
between the counties of Dakota and Wabasha. It derived its
name from James M. Goodhue, pioneer editor and publisher in
St. Paul. It is a rich and populous county. The county seat
is Red Wing, a thriving city of 7,000 inhabitants, located on the
banks of the Mississippi a short distance below the mouth of
Cannon river, and at the outlet of several valleys forming a
larger valley, well adapted to become the site of a city. The
hills surrounding the city are high, bold and many of them
precipitous. Mount La Grange, commonly known as Barn Bluff,
a large isolated bluff, a half mile in length and three hundred
and twenty feet in height, stands between the lower part of
the city and the river. Part of the county lies upon the shore
of Lake Pepin, and includes the famous Point no Point, a bold
promontory extending far out into the lake, with a curve so
gradual that the eye of the person ascending or. descending the
lake is unable to define the Point, which appears to recede before
him as he approaches, till at last it disappears, when looking
backward he sees it in the part of the lake already traversed.
Cannon river, a considerable stream, passes through the county
from west to east.
Cannon Falls, on this river, once a picturesque and wild water
fall, is now surrounded by the mills, manufactories and dwell
ings of a flourishing village, named after the falls. Goodhue
county was organized under territorial law. In 1845 the prin
cipal point was Red Wing. There we found a Swiss missionary
named Galvin, an Indian farmer name Bush and the noted Jack
Frazer, a half-breed trader, all living in log buildings; Mr.
Galvin had a school of Indian children. Near by was an Indian
cemetery — burying ground it could not be called, as the bodies of
the dead were elevated upon the branches of trees and upon
stakes to be out of reach of animals. The bodies were wrapped
in blankets and ey-oosed until the flesh had decayed, when th*

596 FIFTY YEARS
bones were taken and buried. Red Wing's band of Sioux In-
dians had their encampment here. It is said that Red Wing
the chief for whom the village and city was afterward named,
chose for his burial place the summit of Barn Bluff, and that
when he died he was buried there, seated upon his horse, with
his face turned to the Happy Hunting Ground, the Indians heap
ing the earth around him till a huge mound was formed. The
legend may need confirmation, but a mound is there to this day,
on the highest part of the bluff, and the high spirited chief
could certainly have wished no nobler grave.
Red Wing city bears few traces of its humble origin. It is a
fine, compactly built city, with handsome public and private
buildings. It was for some years the seat of Hamline University,
now removed to St. Paul. BIOGRAPHICAL.
Hans Mattson. — Col. Mattson is a native of Onestad,
Sweden. He was born Dec. 23, 1832. His parents were Matts
and Ilgena (Larson) Mattson, both now residents of Vasa, Mh>
nesota. The son was educated at a high classical school in
Christianstad, and in his seventeenth year entered the military
service as a cadet and served one year. Disliking its monotony,
and having an adventurous spirit he embarked for America,
where he found himself abjectly poor, and worked as a cabin boy
on a coasting vessel, as a farm hand, and afterward with a shovel
on an Illinois railroad until 1853, when he secured a position as
an emigrant agent, whose business it was to select homes for
Swedish colonists. He, with others, came to Vasa, Goodhue
county, Minnesota, where he dealt in real estate, studying law
meanwhile with Warren Bristol. He was admitted to the bar
in 1858. He was elected county auditor the same year and
served till 1860, when he entered the army as captain of Com
pany D, Third Minnesota Infantry. At the end of four years he
left the service with the rank of colonel. After his return from
the war he formed a law partnership with C. C. Webster,
and a year later he accepted the position of editor of a Swedish
newspaper in Chicago. In 1867 Gov. Marshall appointed him
secretary of the state board of immigration, which position he
held several years, doing the State excellent service. In 1869
he was elected secretary of state, but before his term of office

Jy-ihy VJl //id/rl. ' Sffw I'J ''Way .-

IN THE NORTHWEST. 597
expired resigned to accept the appointment of land agent of
railway corporations, which enabled him to spend four years
abroad. Col. Mattson was for some time editor of the Stoats Tidning, a
Swedish paper in Minneapolis, and a large owner and general
manager of the Swedish Tribune published in Chicago. He was a
presidential elector in 1876. He was again elected secretary
of state for 1887-88. He is a versatile writer and a fluent
speaker, a frank, outspoken and honorable man. He was mar
ried Nov. 23, 1855, to Cherstin Peterson, a native of Bullings-
lof, Sweden. They have five children living.
Lucius Frederick Hubbard was born Jan. 26, 1836, at
Troy, New York. He was the oldest son of Charles F. and
Margaret (Van Valkenburg) Hubbard, his father being a de
scendant of the Hubbard family that emigrated from the mother
country and settled in New England in 1595; his mother coming
from the Holland Dutch stock that has occupied the valley of
the Hudson river since its earliest history.
The father dying early, the son found a home with an aunt at
Chester, Vermont, until he was twelve years old, when he was
sent for three years to the academy at Granville, New York.
At the age of fifteen he was apprenticed to a tinner at Poultney,
Vermont, and completed his trade at Salem, New York, in 1854,
when he removed to Chicago for three years. He then removed
to Red Wing, Minnesota, and started the Red Wing Republican.
In 1858 he was elected register of deeds of Goodhue county. In
1861 he sold out his interest in the Republican and ran for the
state senate, but was defeated by the small majority of seven
votes. In December, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Fifth
Minnesota Volunteers, and was elected captain. In March,
1862, he became lieutenant colonel; in August, colonel; and for
conspicuous gallantry at the battle of Nashville was promoted
to the position of brigadier general. He participated in the
battles of Farmington; of Corinth, where he was severely
wounded; of Iuka, the second battle of Corinth; of Jackson and
Mississippi Springs; in the siege of Vicksburg; in the battle of
Richmond, Louisiana; of Greenfield, Louisiana; of Nashville,
where he was wounded and had two horses killed under him,
an*at the siege of Spanish Fort. He was mustered out in Oc
tober, 1865, at Mobile, Alabama. He was engaged in twenty-

598 FIFTY YEARS
four battles and minor engagements and won an enviable record
for his intrepidity and coolness. He returned to Red Wing
with broken health, the result of fatigue and exposure.
In 1866 he engaged in the grain business at Red Wing, and
soon thereafter in milling operations on a large scale in Wabasha
county. In 1872 he purchased an interest in the Forest mill, at
Zumbrota, Goodhue county, and in 1875, with others, bought
the mills and water power at Mazeppa, in Wabasha county, the
mills soon after being rebuilt and enlarged.
In 1868 he raised, through his personal influence, the money
necessary for the completion of the Midland railway, a line ex
tending from Wabasha to Zumbrota.
He subsequently projected and organized the Minnesota Cen
tral railway (Cannon Valley), to run from Red Wing to Man
kato. As president of the company he secured the building of
the road from Red Wing^ to Waterville, about sixty-six miles.
In 1878 Gen. Hubbard was nominated for Congress in the Sec
ond district of Minnesota, but declined. In 1872 he was elected
to the state senate, and again in 1874, declining a re-election in
1876. In the senate he was regarded as one of the best informed,
painstaking and influential members. He was on the committee
to investigate the state treasurer's and state auditor's offices,
and was largely instrumental in recommending and shaping leg
islation that brought about the substantial and much needed re
form in the management of those offices. He was also one of the
three arbitrators selected to settle the difficulties between the
State and the prison contractors at Stillwater. He was appointed
commissioner, with John Nichols and Gen. Tourtelotte, in 1866,
to investigate the status of the state railroad bond, levied in
1858, and finally settled in 1881.
On Sept. 28, 1881, Gen. Hubbard was nominated for governor
of Minnesota, and was elected by a majority of 27,857, the larg
est majority ever received by any governor elected in the State.
In 1883 he was renominated and re-elected by a very large ma
jority. Gov. Hubbard is an affable, genial, courteous gentleman,
whose integrity has never been questioned; a man of the people,
and in sympathy with them and the best interests and general
prosperity of the State. *
Gov. Hubbard was married in May, 1868, at Red Wing, to

IN THE NORTHWEST. 599
Amelia, daughter of Charles Thomas, a merchant of that place.
He has three children, two boys, aged seventeen and eleven re
spectively, and a girl.
William Colville is of Scotch descent on his father's side.
The ancient homestead of the family at Ochiltree is mentioned
by Sir Walter Scott in his novel, "The Antiquary." On his
mother's side he is of Irish descent. His ancestors participated
in the American Revolution. He was born in Chautauqua
county, New York, April 5, 1830; was educated at the Fredonia
Academy,- taught school one winter, read law in the office of
Millard Fillmore and Solomon L. Haven, of Buffalo, and was
admitted to the bar in 1851. He practiced law at Forestville
three years, and then removed to Red Wing, Minnesota. His
first winter he spent in St. Paul as enrolling clerk of the terri
torial council, and the winter following was secretary of the coun
cil. In the spring of 1855 he established the Red Wing Sentinel,
a Democratic paper, and conducted it until the Civil War broke
out. In 1861 he entered the service as captain of Company F,
First Minnesota Infantry, and served with that regiment three
years, conducting himself with such gallantry as to win promo
tion. He was wounded at the first battle of Bull Run, at Nelson's
Farm and at Gettysburg, the last wounds received maiming him
for life, and necessitating a close of his military career. At the
end of three years he left the service with the rank of colonel,
and edited the Sentinel until January, 1865, when he took his
seat as representative in the legislature. At its adjournment he
was appointed colonel of the First Minnesota Heavy Artillery
which was stationed at Chattanooga till the close of the war.
Col. Colville was mustered out of the service with the brevet rank
of brigadier general. In the autumn of 1865 he was elected
attorney general of the State on the Union ticket and served two
years. In 1866 he ran for Congress in opposition to the Repub
lican nominee. In 1877 he was elected as a Democrat to the
lower house of the state legislature in the strongest Republican
county in the State. The same year he was appointed by President
Cleveland register of the land office at Duluth, to which place he
has removed his residence. He was married to Miss Jane E.
Morgan, of Oneida, New York, in 1867, a descendant of Elder
Brewster, who came over in the Mayflower.
Martin S. Chandler, for twenty-two years sheriff of Good-

600 FIFTY YEARS
hue county, Minnesota, was born in Jamestown, New York, Feb.
14, 1827. He came to Goodhue county in 1856 and engaged for
awhile farming at Pine Island. He was elected county commis
sioner in 1856, and served until 1858, removing meanwhile to
Red Wing, which has since been his home. In 1859 he was elected
sheriff of Goodhue county, and held the office for eleven con
secutive terms, until 1882, when he was elected to the state
senate. He was presidential elector in 1872. He was appointed
surveyor general in 1883, which office he held until 1887. He
was married to Fannie F. Caldwell, of Jamestown, New York,
in 1848. His only daughter, Florence C, is the wife of Ira S.
Kellogg, of Red Wing, one of the oldest druggists in the State.
Charles McClure was born in Virginia in 1810; was gradu
ated at Lewisburg, Virginia, in 1827; studied law and was ad
mitted to practice in 1829. He came to Minnesota and located
at Red Wing in 1856, where he opened a law office. In 1857 he
was a member of the constitutional convention, presidential
elector in 1861, state senator in 1862-63 and in 1864 judge of the
First district, filling the vacancy caused by the retirement of
Judge McMillan. At the fall election of the same year he was
elected judge of the First district and served seven years.
This district embraced Washington, Chisago, Goodhue and Da
kota counties. Judge McCiure is a man of unquestionable
ability and integrity.
Horace B. Wilson was born in Bingham, Somerset county,
Maine, March 30, 1821. His grandfather settled in Maine twenty
years prior to the Revolution. He had a fair common school
education until sixteen years old, when he attended the Maine
Wesleyan Seminary, graduating four years later. He devoted
himself chiefly to teaching, and studied law meanwhile, but
never practiced. He taught in Cincinnati, Ohio, Lawrenceburg
and New Albany, Indiana, until 1850, when he was elected city
civil engineer, which position he filled six years. In 1858 he
removed to Red Wing, Minnesota, and taught, as professor of
mathematics, natural science and civil engineering in Hamline
University four years. In 1862 he enlisted in Company F, Sixth
Minnesota Infantry, was elected captain, and mustered out at
the close of the war. His military service was quite arduous,
including campaigning against the Sioux until 1864, when the
regiment was ordered South and attached to the Sixteenth Army
Corps.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 601
In 1866 he was appointed superintendent of schools for Good
hue county. In 1870 he was appointed state superintendent of
schools, which position he held five years. He was elected repre
sentative in the state legislature in 1877, and subsequently he
served four terms as senator, and was president pro tem. of that
body during the trial of E. St. Julien Cox, and in the absence of
the lieutenant governor presided during the trial. For the past
few years he has devoted himself to civil engineering, and has had
charge of the public improvements of Red Wing. In 1844 he
was married to Mary J. Chandler, who died in 1887.
Among the prominent early settlers of Red Wing not men
tioned in our biographical notices were William Freeborn, for
whom Freeborn county was named, and who was a senator in
the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth legislatures. Judges Welch
and Wilder, W. C. Williston and Warren Bristol, lawyers, both
state senators from Goodhue, and the latter a judge in Arizona.
Rev. Chauncey Hobart, D.D., a Methodist pioneer preacher, and
author of a history of Methodism in Minnesota and an auto
biography; Rev. Peter Akers, D.D., an eminent educator;
Rev. M. Sorin, D.D., an eloquent preacher, and Rev. Samuel
Spates and J. W. Hancock, prominent as missionaries, the
latter the first pastor located in the village. Andrew S. Du
rant, first hotel keeper; Calvin F. Potter, first merchant. W. W.
Phelps and Christopher Graham were appointed to the land
office in 1855. WABASHA COUNTY.
This county, named in honor of a Sioux chief, lies on the west
shore of the Mississippi river and Lake Pepin, between Goodhue
and Winona counties. It has a majestic frontage of bold bluffs
on the lake and river. From the summit of these bluffs stretch
away broad undulating prairie lands, with occasional depres
sions, or valleys, caused by the streams tributary to the river.
Wabasha village is the county seat. The county is traversed
by the St. Paul & Milwaukee railway, and the Zumbrota Valley
Narrow Gauge railroad has its eastern terminus at Wabasha vil
lage. A railroad from Minneiska to Eyota, in Olmsted county,
through Plainview, also passes through this county. Lake City
is a thriving village on the lake shore, beautifully situated.
The Grand Encampment, located about two miles below Waba
sha village, was once a point of great interest. It was from time

, .._ ,,

602 FIFTY YEARS
immemorial a camping ground for Indians. It has an abundance
of ancient mounds. The only people in the county in 1845,
when the author first visited this section, were the Campbell,
Cratt, Bessian, and a few other French families. Bailey and
sons, Dr. Francis H. Milligan, B. S. Hurd, Samuel S. Campbell,
a prominent lawyer, and Wm. L. Lincoln came later to Waba
sha. Reed's Landing, at the foot of Lake Pepin, was early set
tled by Messrs. Reed, Fordyce, Richards, and others. This
point controls an immense trade for the Chippewa river, which
empties its waters into the Mississippi just opposite.
Nathaniel Stacy Tefft is a native of Hamilton, Madison
county, New York, where he was born July 16, 1830. He was edu
cated in the common schools and academy; in 1848 commenced
studying medicine and received his diploma the same year at
Cincinnati, after attending lectures at the medical college in
that city* In 1856 he came to Minnesota and located in Minne-
iska, where he practiced medicine, served as postmaster, justice
of the peace, and member of the legislature. In 1861 he re
moved to Plainview, where he has taken rank as a leading sur
geon and physician in that part of the State. He has also served
as member of the state senate (in 1871-72). The writer had the
pleasure of meeting him in the legislature of 1858 and found
him a strong opponent of the $5,000,000 bill. Dr. Tefft was
married to Hattie S. Gibbs, of Plainview, Nov. 10, 1866.
James Wells. — In 1845 the writer found Mr. Wells hiving
in a stone trading house on the west shore of Lake Pepin, on
the first high ground on the shore above Lake City. Mr. Wells
had a half-breed family and was very reticent in his manner.
He was a member of the first territorial house of representa
tives. When the country became more thickly settled he went
West and was killed by the Sioux Indians in the massacre of
1862. WINONA COUNTY
Was named after the daughter of the Indian chief who, accord
ing to the well known legend, precipitated herself from'the fam
ous rock on the eastern shore of Lake Pepin, which hqs ever since
been known as " Maiden's Rock." The county lies on the west
shore of the Mississippi, below Wabasha county. The frontage
of the bluffs on the river is unsurpassed for grandeur and beauty,'
the bluffs here attaining an altitude of six hundred feet above

IN THE NQRTHWEST. 603
the river. The natural castles and turrets crowning these bluffs
remind the traveler of the towns on the Rhine and Danube, and
it is difficult to realize that they are the handiwork of Nature
and not of man. The most striking of these bluffs occupies a
position in the rear of the beautiful city of Winona, overlook
ing the city and the valley, and affording from its summit pos
sibly the finest view on the river. The city of Winona lies on
a spacious plateau between the bluffs and the river. In 1845 a
solitary log cabin, the resting place of the mail carrier, marked
the site, and a large Indian village, belonging to the band of Chief
Wapashaw, occupied a portion of the present site of the city.
All traces of this village have long since disappeared, and given
place to one of the fairest and most flourishing cities on the river.
The First State Normal School is located here. The St. Paul &
Milwaukee railroad passes through, and the Winona & St. Peter
railroad has its eastern terminus in this city. It is also the west
ern terminus of the Green Bay & Mississippi. The Chicago, Bur
lington & Northern crosses the river here, and has a depot in the
city. Daniel S. Norton, at the time of his death United States
senator from Minnesota, was born in Mount Vernon, Ohio, in
April, 1829. He was educated at Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio;
enlisted In the Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry in 1846 for service
in the Mexican War; had his health seriously impaired in the
service; spent two years in California, Mexico and Central
America; returned to Ohio and read law with his father-in-law,
Judge R. C. Hurd, practiced in Mount Vernon, Ohio, with Hon.
William Windom and came with him to Minnesota in 1855, locat
ing at Winona. Mr. Norton served as senator in the first state
legislature, where the writer served with him on several com
mittees, among them the committee on the $5,000,000 bond bill,
a bill which Mr. Norton strongly and earnestly opposed, pre
dicting clearly its disastrous results. He also served as senator
in the legislatures of 1861-64 and 65, when he was elected to the
United States senate, which position he held at the time of his
death, in 1870. He was twice married, first in 1856, to Miss
Lizzie Sherman, of Mount Vernon, Ohio, who died in 1862. The
second time to Miss Laura Cantlan, of Baltimore, in 1868.
William Windom, a native of Ohio, came to Wihona in
1855. He had been admitted to practice in 1853, and formed a

604 FIFTY YEARS
partnership with D. S. Norton in Mount Vernon, Ohio, who
came with him to Winona, where they continued their law partner
ship. Mr. Windom has been quite prominent in the politics of
the State and county, having served in the United States senate
two terms, from 1871 to 1883. He was also a representative in
Congress from 1859 to 1869. He served as secretary of the
treasury to fill a vacancy. During his congressional career he
was an ardent supporter of the Union, and won the respect of
the nation for his unswerving firmness in upholding his prin
ciples. He is a man of great executive ability, and has used his
talents and his wealth, of which he has accumulated a consider
able share, in the interests of the public. He has been heavily
interested in the building of the Northern Pacific and other
railroads, and in real estate. His opportunities have been great,
he has wisely employed them, and richly deserves the success he
has achieved.
Charles H. Berry, the first attorney general of the state of
Minnesota, was born at Westerly, Rhode Island, Sept. 12, 1823.
He received an excellent school and academic education, gradu
ating at Canandaigua Academy in 1846. He afterward read
law and was admitted to practice at Rochester in 1848. He
practiced his profession at Corning, New York, until 1855, when
he removed to Winona and opened the first law office in that
city. He was associated until 1871 with C. N. Waterman.
When Minnesota became a state, in 1858, he was elected attor
ney general and served two years. He was state senator in
1874-75 and has been United States commissioner since 1873.
He takes great interest in local and state affairs, especially
in educational matters. He has been for many years connected
with the city school board and for eight years its president.
He was also largely instrumental in locating the State Normal
School at Winona. Mr. Berry is a Democrat in politics, is
prominent in Masonic circles and a leading member of the Epis
copal church. He was married to Frances E. Hubbell, of
Corning, New York, Nov. 14, 1850. They have one daughter,
Kate Louise, married to Prof. C. A. Morey, principal of the
State Normal School.
Thomas Wilson was born in Tyrone county, Ireland, May 16,
1827. He received his education in this country, graduating at
Meadville College, Pennsylvania, in 1852. He studied law,

IN THE NORTHWEST. 605
was admitted to the bar in 1855, and in the same year came to
Winona and entered the law firm of Sargent & Wilson, known a
few years later as Sargent, Wilson & Windom. He was a mem
ber of the Republican wing of the constitutional conventipn in
1857. He was elected district judge of the Fourth district, tak
ing his seat in 1858, and serving six years. In 1864 Gov. Miller
appointed him to a vacancy on the supreme bench, caused by the
resignation of Judge Flandrau, and in the fall of the same year
he was elected chief justice for a term of seven years. In 1869
he resigned this position to resume his law practice. In 1881 he
was elected as a representative, and from 1883 to 1886, inclusive,
as a senator in the state legislature. He was elected as a repre
sentative to Congress in 1887.
Thomas Simpson is of Scotch parentage, but was born in
Yorkshire, England, May 31, 1836. He came to America with
his parents when a child, to Dubuque county, Iowa. His educa
tional advantages were good, and he learned, when not in school,
to assist his father, who was a miner, smelter and farmer. He
studied engineering and surveying with E. S. Norris, of Dubuque,
and was engaged in government surveys from 1853 to 1856, when
he settled in Winona, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in
1858, when he formed a law partnership with Judge Abner Lewis
and Geo. P. Wilson. In addition to his law business he has been
a heavy dealer in real estate and money loaning. There are few
public enterprises in Winona which he has not actively pro
moted. He was a delegate to the national convention that nomi
nated Lincoln for the presidency in 1864, also to the convention
that nominated Grant in 1868. He served as state senator in
1866-67. He has been an influential member of the Methodist,
church. He was married Oct.-^O, 1860, to Maggie Holstein, of
Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. They have three sons.
Wm. H. Yale was born Nov. 12, 1831, at New Hartford, Con
necticut; was educated at Sheffield Institute; came to Winona in
1857, and practiced law. He was state senator in 1867-68, 1876- ,
77, and lieutenant governor from 1870 to 1874.
Other prominent citizens of Winona are: Dr. James Monroe
Cole, the oldest physician in the city; Royal Day Cone, one of
the first merchants; Judge Wm. Mitchell; —Norton, a lum
berman and county treasurer several years; W. W. Phelps, first
president of the State Normal School;  Hough, builder of
the first large hotel; Hodgins, Yeomans & Laird, lumbermen.

606 FIFTY YEARS

CHAPTER XXIII.

MISCELLANEOUS BIOGRAPHIES.
Pierre Bottineau was born in the Red River settlement,
now Dakota, in 1817. His early life was passed amongst the
Ojibways in the employ of various fur companies. He has
lived an eventful life and endured many hardships as a hunter,
trapper and guide. He was early noted as a pilot to and from
the Selkirk settlement. In 1843 he removed his family from
Selkirk to St. Paul. In 1845 he removed to St. Anthony Falls,
east side, where he laid out an addition to the new village.
He was also, in 1851, the first settler at Maple Grove, or "Bot
tineau's Prairie," in Hennepin county. When he came to Fort
Snelling he was employed by Gen. Sibley as a guide. In 1856
he assisted in selecting locations for. forts. In 1858, after the es
tablishment of Fort Abercrombie, he located the village of
Breckenridge, now in Wilkin county, Minnesota. In 1859 he
accompanied Geologist Skinner in his exploring expedition,
having for its object the survey and location of salt mines, and
was guide to Col. W. H. Noble's wagon road expedition to
Frazer river. In 1860 he accompanied a military expedition
with Gov. Ramsey to conclude treaties with the Northern Min
nesota Chippewas. In 1862 he accompanied Capt. Fisk's Idaho
expedition, and, in 1863, Gen. Sibley's expedition to the Mis
souri. Mr. Bottineau now resides at Red Lake Falls, Polk county,
Minnesota. Andrew G. Chatfield, a member of the Minnesota district
bench at the time of his death, was born in the town of Butter
nuts, Otsego county, New York, Jan. 27, 1810. In 1838 he was
a member of the New York assembly; in 1848 he removed to Ra
cine, Wisconsin, where he was elected county judge. In 1853

IN THE NORTHWEST. 607
he was appointed associate justice of the supreme court of Min
nesota Territory, and he made his home on a beautiful prairie
in Scott county, on which he laid out the town of Belle Plaine.
He acted as judge four years and then resumed the practice of
law. *In January, 1871, he was elected judge of the Eighth
Judicial district, which he held until his death, which occurred
Oct. 3, 1875. Judge Chatfield was married in 1836. His widow
and an only daughter, Mrs. Cecilia Irwin, reside at Belle Plaine.
Hazen Mooers. — Biographical details of Mr. Mooers are
scant and unreliable. He was probably born about the year
1796. It is said that he was in the battle of Plattsburgh, Sep
tember, 1814, when he was a youth of eighteen years of age, and
that he acted as a guard in protecting government and private
property. We find by the Minnesota historical collections that
he came to Gray Cloud island in 1835 and remained till 1843.
It is probable that he remained there till 1848. He was com
missioner of St. Croix county, Wisconsin, in 1840-41 and 1842.
When he came to Gray Cloud island he was accompanied by a
Mr. Robinson, and located in section 23. While at Gray Cloud
he was married to a daughter of Dickson, the trader, and sister
of Mrs. Joseph R. Brown. We have been unable to find men
tion of him later than 1848.
John McDonough Berry was born at Pittsfield, New Hamp
shire, Sept. 18, 1827. Mr. Berry received an excellent education
at the Pittsfield Academy, Phillips Academy and at Yale College,
from which he graduated in 1847. He was a member of the Phi
Beta Kappa Society. He was in the law office of Ira Paley, later
chief justice of New Hampshire. In 1850 he was admitted to
the bar at, Concord, New Hampshire. He commenced practice
at Alton Corners, Belknap county, 'New Hampshire. Three years
later he came West and located at Janesville, Wisconsin. In
1855 he moved to Faribault, this State, and at once came into
prominence. In 1856 he was a member of the territorial house
of representatives and chairman of the judiciary committee. In
1862 he was sent to the state senate from Rice county, and in
1864 he was elected associate justice of the state supreme court,
a position he has filled with honor to himself and the bar. He
removed to Minneapolis in 1879 and died there, greatly lamented,
Nov. 15, 1887. An obituary notice from the daily press gives a
fair estimate of his character:

608 FIFTY YEARS
" He was not a man that mingled much in society or put him
self forward on any occasion, yet he had a very social, genial
disposition, and every one that knew him valued the acquaint
ance highly. As a judge he was universally esteemed. His
decisions were always marked by a peculiarly vigorous grasp of
bottom facts. His mind was a naturally judicial one. His own
ideas were fresh and original, and his way of expressing them
unusually vigorous. He devoted himself wholly to his judicial
duties and to his family. He was a great reader and student
and a great home man. His affections were wholly centred in
his wife and children. His distaste for ostentation and publicity
is evidenced in his expressed wish for a private funeral."
He was married may 26, 1853, to Alice A. Parker, of Roscoe,
Illinois, who survives him.
Mark H. Dunnell is of Scotch descent. He was born July
2, 1823, at Buxton, Maine. He was raised on a farm, but gradu
ated at Waterville College, Maine, in 1849, and for three years
following was engaged in teaching, in 1852 he was elected to
the Maine house of representatives, and afterward served five
years as state superintendent of schools. He studied law, was
admitted to the bar in 1856, and in 1860 practiced his pro
fession in Portland. In 1861 he was appointed United States
consul to Vera Cruz, Mexico. Before going to Mexico he was
appointed colonel of the Fifth Maine Volunteers, and partici
pated in the first battle of Bull Run. He resigned his consulship
in 1862, and returned to Maine, where he aided the governor in
recruiting and organizing regiments for the military service.
In 1865 he came to Winona, Minnesota, was a member of the
Minnesota house of representatives in 1867, and afterward
served three years as state superintendent of instruction. He
resigned this office to take a seat in Congress, and represented
his district a period of ten years. He was married Nov. 20,
1850, to Sarah A. Parrington, of Goshen, Maine. They have
three children living.
James Heaton Baker, son of Rev. Henry Baker, a Metho
dist preacher, and Hannah (Heaton) Baker, was born in Mon
roe, Ohio, May 6, 1829. He graduated at Ohio Wesleyan Uni
versity in 1852. In 1853 he purchased the Sciota Gazette, at
Chillicothe, Ohio. In 1855 he was elected secretary of state on
the ticket headed by Salmon P. Chase as governor. In 1857 he

IN THE NORTHWEST. 609
removed to Minnesota, where, for two successive terms he was
elected to the same office. At the outbreak of the Civil War he
resigned, and accepted a colonel's commission in the Tenth Min
nesota Volunteers. In 1863 his command was ordered to the
South, and he was detached and made provost marshal of St.
Louis, and subsequently of the department of Missouri, in which
position he served until the close of the war, he being mean
while promoted to a brevet brigadier generalship.
At the close of the war he was appointed register of the land
office at Booneville, Missouri, but in two years resigned and re
turned to his farm in Blue Earth county, Minnesota.
In 1871 President Grant appointed him commissioner of pen
sions, a position for which he was singularly well fitted. He re
signed in 1875, and was appointed by President Grant surveyor
general of Minnesota. Gen. Baker has been prominent in Ma
sonic circles, and has contributed much to the newspaper and
periodical press. He was married Sept. 25, 1852, to Rose R.,
daughter of Reuben H. Thurston, then of Delaware, Ohio, now. of
Mankato, Minnesota. This estimable lady died at Washington
City, March 21, 1873, leaving two sons, Arthur and Harry E.
Gen. Baker, since his appointment as surveyor general, has re
sided at Mankato. He served in 1885 and 1886 as railroad com
missioner for the State.
Horace Burton Strait is of Virginia Revolutionary stock.
He was born in Potter county, Pennsylvania, Jan. 26, 1835. His
educational advantages were such only as the common schools
afforded, and he is largely self cultured. He came to Minnesota
in 1855, and engaged in farming near Shakopee, but in 1860
moved to the county seat, and engaged in mercantile business.
In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, Ninth Minnesota
Volunteers, commanded by Col. Alexander Wilkin; was com
missioned as captain, and in 1864 as major; was mustered out at
the close of the war, since which time he has been engaged in
milling, banking and farming. He was president of the First
National Bank of Shakopee. He served as mayor of Shakopee
in 1870-71-72, when he was elected to Congress, and served by
continuous re-elections until 1888, when J. L. McDonald became
his successor. He was emphatically a working member. He
has been twice married. His first wife died in 1872, leaving one
child. 39

610 FIFTY YEARS
Judson Wade Bishop was born at Evansville, New York,
June 24, 1831. He received an academic education at Fre-
donia Academy, and at Union Academy, Belleville, New York.
Leaving school at the age of sixteen, he was employed for sev
eral years as clerk and book-keeper and in teaching. Having a
taste for civil engineering he fitted himself for usefulness in that
department at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute of Troy, New
York, and in 1853 secured a position as draughtsman on the
Canadian Grand Trunk railway. At the completion of the road,
in 1857, he obtained employment in railroad surveying, making
his residence at Chatfield until 1861, where he purchased a news
paper, the Chatfield Democrat. At the first call for troops in
1861 he sold his office, volunteered as a soldier, and was mus
tered in as captain of a company in the Second Regiment, June
26, 1861. He was mustered out at the close of the war with the
brevet rank of brigadier general, and resumed railroad work, in
which he has since been active and conspicuous. For some years
he was manager of the St. Paul & Sioux City. His connection
with railroad enterprises necessitated his removal in 1864 to Le
Sueur, in 1868 to Mankato and in 1873 to St. Paul, which has
since been his home. He has also been a heavy dealer in real
estate. He was married Jan. 11, 1866, to Nellie S. Husted, of
Galena, Illinois, who died Sept. 19, 1878, leaving three sons,
Charles Husted, Edwin Judson and Robert Haven.
John Louis McDonald. — The paternal ancestors of our sub
ject were Highlanders, of the clan "McDonald of the Isle."
John Louis was born in Glasgow, Scotland, Feb. 22, 1836; came
with his parents to America in 1842, lived a few years in Nova
Scotia, then removed to Pittsburgh where he received an academic
education. He removed to Belle Plaine, Scott county, Minnesota,
in 1855, read law with Judge Chatfield, and was admitted to
practice at Shakopee in 1858, removing thither three years later,
and continuing in practice, serving as probate judge from 1859
to 1864 and publishing and editing the Belle Plaine Enquirer, and
later, the Shakopee Argus, serving two years as prosecuting attor
ney, four years as superintendent of schools, two years as state
representative (1869-70) and three years as state senator (1874-
75 and 1876). In 1877 he was elected district judge, and served
seven years. In 1888 he took his seat as representative in Con
gress. Asa judge he is thoroughly well informed, clear-sighted
and impartial.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 611
Thomas H. Armstrong was born in Milan, Ohio, Feb. 6,
1829. He graduated from Western Reserve College in 1854, com
menced the practice of law at La Crosse, Wisconsin, in 1856,
practiced at High Forest, Minnesota, until 1870, when he discon
tinued practice. Three years later he moved to Albert Lea,
Minnesota, and established the Freeborn County Bank.-
Mr. Armstrong has acted a prominent part in the legislation
of the State, having been a representative in the legislatures of
1864 and 1865, and, as lieutenant governor, president of the
senate for the four succeeding terms. He was elected speaker
of the house in the legislature of 1865. As a presiding officer
he was courteous, dignified, and fair in his rulings, and an excel
lent parliamentarian. April 1, 1868, he was married to Mrs.
Elisabeth M. Butman, daughter of John Burgess, of Cleveland,
Ohio. Augustus Armstong, a younger brother of the foregoing,
and a prominent citizen of Albert Lea, died in 1873.
Moses K. Armstrong, another brother, has represented Da
kota in Congress.
James B. Wakefield was born at Winstead, Litchfield county,
Connecticut, March 21, 1828. He graduated at Trinity College,
Hartford, in 1846; studied law, and was admitted to practice in
1851; came to Shakopee, Minnesota; practiced law two years
and removed to Blue Earth City. He has been called to fill vari
ous and responsible public positions. He was a member of the
legislature several terms, serving as representative in 1858, 63
and 66, and as senator in 1867-68-69. He served as deputy Indian
agent at the Lower Sioux agency from 1856 to the Indian out
break, and in 1869 was appointed receiver of the Winnebago
land office, which position he held six years. From 1875 to 1879
he served as lieutenant governor of Minnesota, and from 1884 to
1886 as member of Congress. He served as a delegate to the Re
publican convention which nominated President Grant in 1868,
and to the convention which nominated President Hayes in 1876.
Mr. Wakefield was married in August, 1864, to Miss Nannette
Reinhart, of Blue Earth City.
William Wallace Braden was born in Iberia, Ohio, Dec.
¦3, 1837. He was educated in the district schools and reared as
a farmer. In November he came to Fillmore county with his
father, and engaged in farming. He was a member of the legis-

612 FIFTY YEARS
lature in 1866-67, and has served three terms as county treasurer.
During the Civil War he served three years with the rank of lieu
tenant, and then of captain in Company K, Sixth Minnesota
Volunteers, and was for some time detached from his command
as provost marshal of Southern Missouri, with headquarters at
Springfield. Capt. Braden is prominent as a Mason, and as a
Republican takes an active interest in the politics of the State
and nation. He was elected state auditor in 1881, and re-elected
in 1885. He was married March 7, 1866, to Addie Griswold, of
Pennsylvania. Reuben Butters was born in Union, Lincoln county, Maine,
May 26, 1816. He received such education as could be obtained
at winter schools, and employed himself chiefly in clerking and
mercantile pursuits until 1851, when he came to Minnesota and
became the first permanent settler in the Minnesota valley above
Shakopee. He made the first claim at Le Sueur, having, in con
nection with Messrs. Thompson and Lindsey, a station at that
place, also at Kasota. He has been engaged chiefly in farming.
He has also a stone quarry and store in Kasota, and does a fair
amount of trading. Mr. Butters was a member of the first state
legislature, and has served seven or eight sessions since. He was
county commissioner many years. In politics he is a Democrat.
Mr. Butters has been twice married, first in November, 1847,
to Elizabeth Hill, of Cleveland, Ohio, and second in May, 1861,
to Mrs. Mary E. Rogers, of Maine. He died March 29, 1888.
Michael Doran, a most successful business man and promi
nent in political affairs, having served six terms in the state
senate, was born in the county of Meath, Ireland, Nov. 1, 1829.
He received but little education before coming to this country
in 1850, when, although over twenty-one years of age, he ob
tained two years' schooling. He landed in New York City, re
mained in the State about a year and removed to Norwalk, Ohio,
where he farmed and kept a grocery store. In 1856 he came
westward and located at Le Sueur, where he engaged in farm
ing. In 1860 he was elected county treasurer and served and
held the office eight years. Since 1870 he has been engaged in
banking, farming and real estate operations. He is also one of
the owners of the elevator and flouring mill at Le Sueur.
In politics he is a Democrat and was an elector on the Mc-
Clellan ticket. His senatorial terms were from 1872 to .1875 and

IN THE NORTHWEST. 613
1877 and 1879. He has been twice married. His first wife was
Ellen Brady, of Norwalk, Ohio, married in May, 1855. His second
wife was Catherine J. Grady, of Le Sueur, married Feb. 10,
1864. Andrew McCrea was born in New Brunswick in 1830, re
ceived a common school education and learned the business of
farming and lumbering. His father having died early, the sup
port of a mother and crippled brother devolved upon him. He
was married to Jane Murphy, in New Brunswick, when he was
twenty-one years of age. Mrs. McCrea died in 1878. He married
a second wife in 1880. His family consists of eight sons and one
daughter. He came to Minnesota in 1854, removed to Stearns
county in 1858, and to Otter Tail county in 1872, where he now
resides in the town of Perham. He was a member of the legis
lature of 1876-77, and of the senate of 1878 to 1882, inclu
sive. In 1885 he was appointed one of the commissioners to
locate the second state prison.
John W. Blake was born in Foxcroft, Maine, in 1839. His
parents moved to Wisconsin in 1840. He received a good edu
cation in the common schools, in Milton Academy, and Wiscon
sin State University, and became a civil engineer. He served
as a soldier during the war of the Rebellion. In 1872 he came to
Minnesota, located at Marshall, Lyon county, and the same year
was elected a representative in the legislature. He was a mem
ber of the senate during the years 1875, 1876, 1882, and 1884.
Knute Nelson, born in Norway, came to America, studied
law at Wisconsin University, and was admitted to the bar. He
came to Alexandria in 1870, where he practiced law. He was a
senator in the seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth
legislatures, and was elected representative to Congress from the
Fifth Minnesota district in 1884 and 1886. Mr. Nelson is a man
of unquestioned ability and force, a strong Republican, and an
enthusiastic advocate of a modified tariff.
W. R. Denny was born at Keene, New Hampshire, in 1839;
received an academic education, and after spending eight years
in Wisconsin, came to Carver, Minnesota, in 1867. He served in
the state legislatures of 1874, 1876, 1879, and 1881. He was ap
pointed United States marshal from 1882 to 1886. He was Grand
Master of the Masonic fraternity in 1884-5. He was married in
Wisconsin in 1863, and has a family of four children.

PEESENT HOME OP THE AUTHOE.
EBECTED BY HIM A.D. 1855.

APPENDIX.

AN ACCURATE ACCOUNT OF THE VARIOUS TREATIES
BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
AND THE INDIAN TRIBES INHABITING
THE TERRITORIES OF
WISCONSIN AND
MINNESOTA.

616 FIFTY YEARS

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY UNTIL THE
CREATION OF WISCONSIN TERRITORY IN 1836.

SPANISH CLAIMS.
The Spaniards, have made persistent claims to territory lying
along the Atlantic coast, the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, and
up the valley of the Mississippi, basing their claims on discovery
and conquest.
- In 1512 Juan Ponce de Leon, a companion of Columbus, dis
covered Florida, and planted on its shores the standard of Spain.
In 1539 Hernando de Soto visited Florida and having strength
ened the Spanish claim adventured west to the Mississippi, on
which river he died and in which he was stealthily buried by
his surviving followers, who returned to Florida broken and
dispirited with the loss of half their number. By virtue of De
Soto's discovery of the Mississippi, the Spaniards now laid claim
to the land along that river and its tributaries. They also
claimed land lying along the Atlantic coast, without limit, north
ward. This large and somewhat indefinite empire was by them
styled Florida, after the name of the peninsula on which they
gained their first foothold. Unable to defend or enforce their
claims, they gradually relinquished them, giving up tract after
tract, until the peninsula of Florida alone remained to them.
This was ceded to the United States in 1819.
The government of the Territory was vested in the discoverers.
Ponce de Leon was governor from 1512 until 1521. De Soto was
governor of Florida and Cuba until 1541. Melendez, by com
pact with King Philip, succeeded him, his commission giving
him a life tenure. The history of the Spanish possessions is by
no means interesting, and illustrates chiefly the Spanish greed
for gold.

IN THE NORTHWEST. . 617
FRENCH CLAIMS.
The French early disputed the claims of the Spaniards and
Portuguese to the possession of the New World, and accordingly
in 1524 sent a Florentine, Jean Verrazzani, who ^explored the
coast from Carolina to Nova Scotia, took possession of it, and
called it New France. Ten years later Cartea continued the
work, sailing around New Foundland and ascending the St.
Lawrence as far as the site of Montreal. In 1564 a French
colony located in Florida, but were almost immediately exter
minated by the Spaniards. During the following century the
French pushed their explorations to the regions of the Missis
sippi and the great lakes. In the year 1603 Champlain was en
gaged in the exploration of the St. Lawrence, and in 1609, he,
with two other Frenchmen, explored Lake Champlain and the
country of the Iroquois and took possession of it in the name of
Henry IV of France. In 1611 and 1612 he explored Lake Hu
ron, entered Saginaw bay, passed down Detroit river, exploring
Lake Erie, and laid the the foundation of French sovereignty in
the valley of the St. Lawrence. Champlain for many years
prosecuted the fur trade where Boston now stands, prior to the
landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock.
We have not space for a complete account of the conflicting
claims of the French and English, but will give the boundaries
of New France as defined by French and English authorities at
different times: 1609 — L' Escartot, in his "Histoire de la
Nouvelle France," defines the French boundaries as extending
"on the west to the Pacific ocean, on the south to the Spanish
West Indies, on the east to the North Atlantic, and on the north
to the Frozen Sea." 1683 — Baron La Honton says, "All the
world knows that Canada reaches from the 39th to the 65th de
grees of north latitude and from the 284th to the 336th degrees
of longitude. [More accurately from about 45 to 90 degrees
west, or from Cape Race to the Mississippi.] The French
government persistently denied the right of the English to
any territory west of the Alleghanies.- The great Northwest,
therefore, was for a long time under French rule and influ
ence. We must accord to France the credit of making the first
progress in civil government in the Northwest. They made
many permanent settlements and by a wise and pacific pol
icy so conciliating the Indian tribes that they were able to hold

618 FIFTY YEARS
their positions on the frontier at will. They were early and
persistent explorers, and, under the guidance of pious and de
voted Jesuit missionaries, planted settlements in the most desir
able jplaces. They made a cordon of posts reaching from
Louisiana to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, along the Mississippi
and Ohio rivers, and along the chain of the great lakes, com
pletely surrounded the English colonies and disputed with
them the possession of the country. The French-English War
of 1689 to 1697 failed to decide satisfactorily the question of the
interior domain.
In 1712 New France was divided into two provinces, that of
Canada and that of Louisiana, the dividing line being the Ohio,
Mississippi and Missouri rivers, the Mississippi boundary line
extending from the mouth of the Ohio to the mouth of the Mis
souri river. Mobile was made the capital of the southern prov
ince. The patent or commission of the new province was issued
to Crozat, Marquis du Chatel. The Illinois country was after
ward added, and it seems probable that the country east of the
Wabash was also included in it. All north of the boundary
named formed part of the province of Canada. Other boundaries
than these have been given by geographers, but these boundaries
are sufficiently established by official documents.
In 1763 all of the territory claimed by France lying east of the
Mississippi river was ceded to the English, the territory lying
west to Spain. Virginia, by three royal charters, given in 1606,
1607 and 1611, by the English government, held a part of the
Northwest Territory, and in 1776 established three counties north
of the Ohio river, named Ohio, Youghiogheny and Monongahela,
but in 1787 ceded this territory to the United States. Its settle
ment was somewhat impeded by the perils of the wilderness, not
the least of which was the doubtful and often unfriendly attitude
of the Indians, resulting in many cases from the changes in the
tenure of the lands, and the influence of French or English emis
saries, generally hostile to American claims. The history of
these early settlements is replete with thrilling adventures.
The first settlement made in the newly ceded territory was at
Marietta, Ohio, in 1788, under the supervision of Gen. Rufus
Putnam, nephew of Gen. Israel Putnam, and first surveyor gen
eral of the Northwest Territory. The settlement was named
Marietta, in honor of Queen Marie Antoinette, who had been a

IN THE NORTHWEST. 619
firm friend to the colonies during the Revolutionary struggle.
Gen. Arthur St. Clair was appointed governor July 15, 1788, of
the newly organized Ohio Territory.
The country claimed by Virginia under the royal charters
included the land lying between the sea shore on the east, and
the Mississippi on the west, the Ohio river on the south, and the
British possessions on the north. It will be seen, therefore, that
that part of the Northwest Territory lying immediately along the
eastern banks of the Mississippi now comprised in the state of
Wisconsin and part of Minnesota, has been successively claimed
by Spain, France, England, Virginia, and the United States, and
under the territorial governments of the Northwest — Ohio, In
diana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin territories. That part
of Minnesota lying west of the Mississippi belonged to the
French by right of discovery, but passed into the hands of
Spain, thence back again into the hands of France, by whom,
with the territory kn&wn as Louisiana, it was sold to the United
States in 1803. The original grant to Virginia included far
more than the area of the State and that of the Northwest Terri
tory, but was subsequently reduced by grants made by states ly
ing north of Virginia, and vexatious disputes arose as to titles, a
circumstance calculated to retard rapid settlement.
We append the following data concerning the early history of
the territory included in the present states of Wisconsin and
Minnesota, tabulated for more convenient reference:
1634. Jean Nicollet Yentured into Wisconsin, and explored
the c#intry from Lake Michigan for a considerable distance
down the Wisconsin river.
1658. Two fur traders penetrated to Lake Superior and. win
tered there, probably on Wisconsin soil.
1660. Rev. M. Menard with eight companions came to La
Pointe, Lake Superior.
1665. . Claude Allouez, an eminent pioneer missionary, suc
ceeded Menard, and re-established the mission at La Pointe.
1669. Father Allouez established a mission on the shores of
Green bay, locating it at Depere in 1671.
1670. Father Allouez- made a voyage of the Fox and Wiscon
sin rivers to within a short distance of the Mississippi — a near
approach to the discovery of the Father of Waters.
1671. In this year the French took formal possession of the
whole Northwest, confirmed in ife'89.

620 FIFTY YEARS
1673. Louis Joliet, accompanied by Father James Marquette,
discovered the Mississippi river.
1674. Father Marquette coasted Lake Michigan, from Green
Bay, by Milwaukee; to the site of the present city of Chicago.
1679. The Griffin, a schooner built by La Salle, and the first
to make a voyage of the lakes above Niagara, arrived at the
mouth of Green bay.
Capt. Duluth held a council, and concluded a peace with the
natives of Lake Superior.
1680. About the first of May Father Louis Hennepin arrived
at Mille Lacs, as prisoner of a Dakotah war party, who captured
him at Lake Pepin, while on his way up the Mississippi. He re
mained at Mille Lacs several months. On his return homeward,
after being released, he discovered the falls, which he named for
his patron saint, Anthony of Padua. His book, published after
his return to Europe, is the first printed account of Minnesota.
1683. Le Sueur made a voyage of the* Fox and Wisconsin
rivers to the Mississippi.
1688. Nicholas Perrot first planted the cross and arms of
France on the soil of Minnesota, and first laid formal claim to
the country for France. He built a fort on Lake Pepin, near
Lake City.
1695. Le Sueur built a fort on Isle Pelee, in the Mississippi,
below Prescott.
1700. Le Sueur established Fort L'Huillier, on the Blue Earth
river (near the mouth of the Le Sueur), and first supplied the
Sioux with firearms. #
1 716. Le Louvigny's battle with the Fox Indians at Butte des
Morts. 1719. Francis Renalt explored the Upper Mississippi with
two hundred miners.
1721. Previous to this date a French fort had been established
at Green Bay, on the present site of Fort Howard.
1727. The French established a fort on Lake Pepin, with
Sieur de Lapperriere as commandant.
A trading post, called Fort Beauharnois, was established on
the north side of Lake Pepin.
1728. There was a great flood in the Mississippi, and Fort
Beauharnois was submerged.
A French expedition, under De Lignery, from Mackinaw,
punished the Foxes.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 621
1734. A battle took place between the French, and the Sacs
and Foxes.
1751. Sieur Marin, in command at Green Bay, made a peace
with the Indians.
1761. Capt. Balfour and Lieut. Gorrell, with English troops,
took possession of Green Bay.
1763. The English, under Lieut. Gorrell, abandoned Green
Bay in consequence of the Indian War under Pontiac.
Treaty of Paris, by which all the territory of New France,
including Wisconsin, was surrendered to the English.
About this date the Canadian-French trading establishment at
Green Bay ripened into a permanent settlement, the first upon
any portion of the territory now forming the state of Wisconsin.
By the treaty of Versailles, France ceded Minnesota east of
the Mississippi to England, and west of it to Spain.
1766. Capt. Jonathan Carver visited St. Anthony falls and
Minnesota river. He pretended to have made a treaty with the
Indians the following spring, in a cave near St. Paul, known for
several years as Carver's Cave. He also reports a town of three
hundred inhabitants at Prairie du Chien.
1774. A civil government was established over Canada and
the Northwest, by the celebrated " Quebec Act."
1777. Indians from Wisconsin join the British against the
Americans. 1786. Julian Dubuque explored the lead region of the Upper
Mississippi. 1788. There was an Indian council at Green Bay. Permis
sion to work the lead mines was given to Dubuque.
1793. Lawrence Barth built a cabin at the portage of the
Fox and Wisconsin rivers, and engaged in the carrying trade.
1795. French settlement commenced at Milwaukee.
1796. The western posts were surrendered by the English to
the United States, and the ordinance of 1787 extended over the
Northwest. 1798-99. The Northwestern Fur Company established itself
in Minnesota.
1800. Indiana Territory organized, including Wisconsin.
1803. Antoine Barth settled at the portage of the Fox and
Wisconsin rivers.
1804. Indian treaty at St. Louis; Southern Wisconsin pur
chased.

622 FIFTY YEARS
1805. Michigan Territory organized.
1809. Thomas Nuttall, the botanist, explored Wisconsin.
Illinois Territory was organized, including nearly all the pres
ent state of Wisconsin.
1812. Indians assembled at Green Bay to join the English.
1814. Gov. Clark took possession of Prairie du Chien.
Prairie du Chien surrendered to the British.
1815. United States trading post established at Green Bay.
1816. Indian treaty confirming that of 1804.
United States troops took possession of Prairie du Chien, and
commenced the erection of Fort Crawford.
Col. Miller commenced the erection of Fort Howard, at Green
Bay. 1818. State of Illinois was organized; Wisconsin attached to
Michigan. Brown, Crawford and Michillimackinac counties were organ
ized by the territory of Michigan which embraced in their
boundaries, besides other territory, the whole of the present
state of Wisconsin.
1820. United States commissioners adjusted land claims at
Green Bay.
1822. The New York Indians purchase lands east of Lake
Winnebago. James Johnson obtained from the Indians the right to dig for
lead by negro slaves from Kentucky.
1823. January. Counties of Brown, Crawford and Michilli
mackinac made a separate judicial district by Congress.
First steamboat on the Upper Mississippi, with Maj. Talia-
fero and Count Beltrami.
Lieut. Bayfield, of the British Navy, makes a survey of Lake
Superior. 1824. First term of United States court held at Green Bay,
Judge Duane Doty presiding.
1825. Great flood on the Red River of the North; a part of
the colony driven to Minnesota, and settle near Fort Snelling.
1826. First steamboat on Lake Michigan.
1827. Rush of speculators to lead mines.
Treaty with Menomonies at Butte des Morts.
1828. Fort Winnebago built. Indian treaty at Green Bay.
Lead ore discovered at Mineral Point and at Dodgeville.
1832. Black Hawk War.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 623
Schoolcraft explored sources of Mississippi river. First mis
sion established at Leech Lake, by Rev. W. T. Boutwell, now of
¦Stillwater. 1834. The portion of Minnesota west of the Mississippi at
tached to Michigan. Gen. H. H. Sibley settles at Mendota.
1835. Catlin and Featherstonhaugh visit Minnesota.
1836. The territory of Wisconsin organized. Nicollet visits
Minnesota. 1837. Gov. Dodge, of Wisconsin, made a treaty at Fort Snell
ing, with the Ojibways, by which the latter ceded lands on the
'St. Croix and its tributaries; a treaty was also effected at Wash
ington with a deputation of Dakotahs for their lands east of the
Mississippi. These treaties led the way to the first actual set
tlements in the Territory.
1838. The treaty ratified by Congress. Frank Steele makes
a claim at St. Anthony Falls. Pierre Parrant makes a claim
and builds a shanty on the present site of St. Paul.
1839. Sioux and Chippewa battle fought near Stillwater.
1840. St. Croix county established.
The chapel of "St. Paul" built and consecrated, giving the
.name to the capital of the state of Minnesota.
1843. Stillwater settled.
1846. August 6th, the Wisconsin enabling act passed.
1847. The Wisconsin constitutional convention meets. The
town of St. Paul surveyed, platted and recorded in the St. Croix
county register of deeds' office. First improvement of the wa
ter power at falls of St. Anthony. Treaty with the Chippewas
at Fond du Lac, August 2d. Treaty with the Pillagers at Leech
Lake, August 21st. #
1848. May 29th, Wisconsin admitted. August 26th, the
"Stillwater Convention" held, to take measures for a separate
territorial organization. October 30th, H H. Sibley elected
delegate to Congress.
1850. Great flood on the Mississippi. Minnesota river navi
gated by steamboats. Census of Minnesota shows population of
4,780. 1851. Permanent location of the capital of Minnesota at St
Paul. Treaty of the Traverse des Sioux, opening territory west
-of the Mississippi to settlement July 23d. Treaty at Mendota
with the Sioux August 5th.

624 FIFTY YEARS
1852. President Pierce appoints Willis A. Gorman governor
of Minnesota.
1854. Real estate mania commenced. Treaty with the Chip
pewas at La Pointe, September 30th.
1855. Treaty at Washington, District of Columbia, with the
Chippewas, and cession of lands in Minnesota, February 22d.
1857. Enabling act to admit Minnesota passed Congress.
President Buchanan appoints Gen. Sam Medary governor of Min
nesota. Ink-pa-dootah massacre in April. Minnesota constitu
tional convention met in June. Constitution adopted in October.
1858. Minnesota admitted as a state. State loan of $250,000
guaranteed. The $5,000,000 loan bill adopted.
1859. Hard times. Work on the land grant road ceases.
Collapse of the $5,000,000 scheme. First export of grain this
fall. 1860. Federal census, 172,123.
1861. April 13th. President's proclamation for troops re
ceived. The First regiment recruits at once. June 22d it em
barks at Fort Snelling for the seat of war.
1862. Call for 600,000 men. August 17th, massacre at Acton;
18th, outbreak at Lower Sioux agency; 19th, New Ulm at
tacked; 20th, Fort Ridgely attacked; 25th, second attack on
New Ulm; 30th, Fort Abercrombie besieged; September 1st, the
bloody affair at Birch Coolie; 19th, first railroad in Minnesota in
operation between St. Paul and Minneapolis; 22d, battle of Wood
Lake; 26th, captives surrendered at Camp Release; military com
mission tries 321 Indians for murder, rape, etc.; 303 condemned
to die; December 26th, 38 hanged at Mankato.
1863. Gen. Sibley's expedition to the Missouri river. July
3d, Little Crow killed; 24th, battle of Big Mound; 26th, battle
of Dead Buffalo Lake; 28th, battle of Stony Lake. Treaty at
crossing of Red Lake river with Chippewas, and cession of
Dakotah lands, October 2d.
1864. Large levies for troops. Expedition to Missouri river
under Sully. Inflation of money market. Occasional Indian
raids. 1865. Peace returns. Minnesota regiments return and are
disbanded; in all 25,052 troops furnished by the State. Census
shows 250,000 inhabitants.
1866-72. Rapid railroad building everywhere, immigration
heavy, "good times" prevail, and real estate inflated.

IN THE NORTHWEST. ¦& 625
1873. January 7th, 8th and 9th, polar wave sweeps over the
State, seventy persons perish. September, the Jay Cooke fail
ure creates another panip. Grasshopper raid begins and contin
ues five seasons.
1876. September 7th, armed outlaws from Missouri attack a
Northfield bank. Three killed, three prisoners.
1877. Minnesota legislature adopts biennial sessions.
1878. May 2d, three flouring mills at Minneapolis explode;
eighteen lives lost.
1880. November 15th, hospital for the insane at St. Peter
partly destroyed by fire; twenty-five lives lost.
1881. March 1, capitol at St. Paul destroyed by fire.
1886. Cyclone destroys Sauk Rapids.
Wisconsin legislature adopts biennial sessions.
THE BOUNDARY QUESTION.
The question of the western boundary of Wisconsin had been
agitated since the Martin bill for the organization of the State
had been introduced in 1846. This bill established the present
boundary. The majority of the people residing in the valley of
the St. Croix were opposed to it on the ground that the interests
of the valley on both sides were identical, and that it was not
proper that the two sides should be separated by a state line.
The question became a political one, and at the election of dele
gates for the constitutional convention of Oct. 5, 1846, Wm.
Holcombe was elected over Joseph Bowron, as representing the
sentiments of the people of the valley as opposed to the proposed
boundary line.
In convention Mr. Holcombe advocated a boundary line com
mencing at Mount Trempeleau on the Mississippi, running due
north to Lake Superior. Failing in this, he advocated a boun
dary line to be established at a point fifteen miles due east of the
most easterly point on Lake St. Croix, said line extending from
that point due south to the Mississippi and due north to the tribu
tary waters of Lake Superior. In this he was successful, and the
constitution in which this boundary line was thus fixed went to
the people and was rejected, greatly to the disappointment of
the people of the St. Croix valley, who felt that they had been
unjustly dealt with. There seems, indeed, to be but little excuse
for the attitude of ttie majority of the citizens of Wisconsin
40

626 FIFTY YEARS
with regard to this boundary. Certainly but little attention
was shown to the interests of the people in the western section
of the Territory.
Prior to the meeting of the second constitutional convention,
Dec. 15, 1847, public meetings were held at St. Croix Falls and
in Stillwater, at which latter place enthusiastic resolutions were
passed remonstrating against this unnatural boundary, which
resolutions were signed by nearly all the citizens of the St. Croix
valley, and a few in and around St. Paul, asking the convention
to establish the western boundary on a line running due north
from the foot of Lake Pepin to Lake Superior. George W.
Brownell was elected from the St. Croix district to the second
convention, with instructions to work for this boundary. Joseph
Bowron, Brownell's opponent, was defeated by a large majority.
The following is the abstract of votes: BOWBON. BEOWNELL.
Willow River (now Hudson)  7 4
Lake St. Croix  7 14
Stillwater  9 39
St. Paul  41 40
Marine Mills  22
St. Croix Falls  26 18
dam River  6 17
Apple River  1 6
Wood Lake  2 6
Rush Lake  2 8
Osceola (no election)    :
Totals  101 174
Mr. Brownell made strong and persistent efforts to have the
boundary line adjusted in accordance with the sentiments of the
people of the valley, but in vain. Morgan L. Martin, delegate
to Congress from Wisconsin Territory, had framed the bill
establishing the present boundary, and it was urged that any
effort to change the line would tend to prevent the immediate
admission of the State, and it was thought a political necessity
fehat the State should be admitted at once, that it might take part
in the ensuing presidential election. Under such pressure the
convention made haste to adopt, and the people to accept, a con
stitution with boundary lines that should never have been made.
The State was admitted in time to cast its electoral vote for Gen.
Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore.
At a meeting held by the people of the St. Croix valley, sub-

IN THE NORTHWEST. 627
sequent to this convention and prior to its adoption by the people,
the following resolutions were passed, and we append them as
expressing very generally the sentiments of the people of the
valley: Whereas, By the establishment of the St. Croix river as a part
of the boundary line between the State and territory of Wis
consin, the inhabitants of our remote settlements are greatly
aggrieved, our local rights and privileges neglected and abridged,
our geographical, material and natural political alliance with
our neighbors of the new territory will be cut off; and
Whereas, Our oft repeated remonstrances and appeals to the
authorities of the new state have been unavailing; therefore
Resolved, That the establishment of the St. Croix river as a part
of the boundary of the state of Wisconsin, against the will of the
inhabitants of the valley of said river, is unjust, unreasonable
and contrary to the principles upon which our government is
founded. Resolved, That in establishing the present boundary, our
known and acknowledged wishes and interests are invaded by
the might of a majority; that as the boundary is now established,
so great is the distance and obstacles intervening, severing us,
together with the people of Lake Superior, from the seat of
government, that we can not enjoy a prompt and equitable share
in representation, and we would respectfully admonish our
brethren that equal representation involves a principle which is
deeply and peculiarly American.
Resolved, That the interests of the inhabitants of St. Croix,
being identical from the nature of the staple business of the
country, the river being the natural centre to which all the
business of the valley tends, a boundary severing the natural
ties in connection is uncalled for, inconvenient and vexatious.
Resolved, That the inhabitants of the territory of the whole
Northwest are deeply interested in procuring a just and wise
alteration of the present line of divisions, because from the
geography of the country, the line as now established, we are
robbed of a future star in the galaxy of the American sisterhood
of states.
Resolved, That we pledge ourselves to stand united and un
ceasingly use all honorable means in our power to procure the
establishment of a boundary east of St. Croix valley.

628 FIFTY YEARS
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to prepare
and forward a memorial to the present legislature on this subject-
The resolutions as a whole were unanimously adopted.
In accordance with the last resolution the chair appointed.
Wm. R. Marshall, G. W. Brownell and W. H. C. Folsom, Esqs.,
a committee. On motion the secretary was instructed to forward copies of
the proceedings of the meeting to the Prairie du Chien Patriotr
Galena Gazette and Wisconsin Argus, requesting their publica
tion. H. H. Perkins, Chairman.
R. V. D. Smith,
Secretary.
No attention was paid to the action of the public meeting. It
is possible that none was expected. It was some satisfaction to
the people of the valley to give such an expression of their
opinion of the wrong done them. The admission of Wisconsin
with the St. Croix as a boundary line left the country immedi
ately west of that river virtually without law. Nevertheless,
Wisconsin territorial laws were acknowledged west of the St.
Croix and were generally considered binding until a new terri
torial government should be organized. The territorial gov
ernor, Gen. Henry Dodge, had been elected United States
senator and therefore could not claim jurisdiction over this part
of the territory lying beyond state limits. John Catlin, terri
torial secretary, held that the territorial government still existed
in the part of the original territory excluded.
At a public meeting held in Stillwater, Aug. 26, 1848 (a pre
liminary meeting having been held August 24th, at which an
understanding was effected with Mr. Catlin and he invited to
exercise authority as a territorial officer), steps were taken for
the organization of a new territory, and Mr. Catlin, having re
moved to Stillwater, issued a proclamation in his official capac
ity, ordering an election to be held for the selection of a delegate
to Congress. To facilitate this movement John H. Tweedy, ter
ritorial delegate from Wisconsin, resigned. The election was
held Oct. 30, 1848, and H. H. Sibley was elected as a successor
to John H. Tweedy, his papers being certified by John Catlin,
secretary of Wisconsin Territory. Mr. Sibley proceeded to
Washington, presented his credentials and patiently awaited
recognition, which was not very speedily accorded, there being

IN THE NORTHWEST. 629
•considerable discussion as to the right of excluded territory to
continued political existence. His admission, on the fifteenth of
.January,' as a delegate, settled the question and established a
precedent that the creation of a state government does not de
prive portions of the territory not included within state limits
¦of the right to existence and representation. Mr. Sibley ably
presented the claims of his constituents and with great diffi
culty succeeded in procuring the passage of a bill organizing
the new territory of Minnesota. »
With all respect to the action of Congress in receiving Mr.
Sibley as a legally elected delegate (and, under the circumstances,
the action seems wise), the question still rises: " Had we a legal
territorial government?" If we had, what was the necessity for
a new organization? Why could not the excluded territory con
tinue under the old regime, or inherit, so to speak, the old gov
ernment machinery! If we had no legal existence, by what
authority could Mr. Sibley represent us ? The Wisconsin terri
torial government had ceased to exist. Ours had not begun to
live. The territory df Minnesota was created by act of Congress,
March 3, 1849, a little over thirty days after the introduction of
the bill creating it. There had been some discussion as to the
name. In the bill presented by Morgan L. Martin it was named
Minnesota. Senator Stephen A. Douglas, chairman of the com
mittee on territories, recommended the passage of the bill, and
that the new territory be named Itasca. When the bill was be
fore the house the names Chippewa, Jackson and Washington
were proposed, but the name in the original bill was adopted.
It is a compound word, taken from the Sioux language, and has
for its meaning "Land of sky-tinted water." The news of the
passage of the bill reached Stillwater April 9th, and was re
ceived with great rejoicing.
The United States land office which had been established at
-St. Croix Falls in 1848 was removed to Stillwater July 1, 1849.
Abraham Van Voorhes was appointed register and William
Holcombe receiver. INDIAN TREATIES.
Sept. 23, 1805, at the mouth of St. Peter's river (now Men-
¦dota) with the Sioux. (For account of this treaty see " Gen.
Pike and the Indians.")

630 FIFTY YEARS
July 29, 1837, at St. Peter (now Mendota), Wisconsin Terri
tory, the Chippewa Indians ceded to the United States the follow
ing tract of country: Beginning at the junction of the Crow
Wing and Mississippi rivers, between twenty and thirty miles
above where the Mississippi is crossed by the forty-sixth paral
lel of north latitude, and running thence to the north point of
Lake St. Croix, one of the sources of the St. Croix river; thence
to and along the dividing ridge between the waters of Lake Su
perior and those of the Mississippi, to the sources of the Ocha-
sua-sepe, a tributary of the Chippewa river; thence to a point on
the Chippewa river twenty miles below the outlet of Lake De
Flambeau; thence to the junction of the Wisconsin and Pelican
rivers; thence on an east course twenty-five miles; thence south
erly on a course parallel with that of the Wisconsin river to the
line dividing the territories of the Chippewas and the Menomo-
nies; thence to the Plover portage; thence along the southern
boundary of the Chippewa country to the commencement of the
boundary line dividing it from that of the Sioux, half a day's
march below the falls on the Chippewa river; thence with said
boundary line to the mouth of the Waw-tab* river, at its junc
tion with the Mississippi; and thence up the Mississippi to the
place of beginning.
Henry Dodge,
Commissioner.
Sept. 29, 1837, at Washington, District of Columbia, the Sioux
nation of Indians ceded to the United States all their lands
east of the Mississippi river, and all of their islands in the
said river, Joel R. Poinsett, secretary of war, commanding,
which cession embraced all their land east of the Mississippi
and west of the following lines commencing at the Chippewa
river, half a day's march below the falls, from thence to Red
Cedar river, immediately below the falls; thence to the St. Croix
river at a point called the Standing Cedar, about a day's paddle
in a canoe, above the lake at the mouth of that river; thence
passing between two lakes called by the Chippewas, "Green
Lakes," and by the Sioux, " The Lakes they Bury the Eagles in,"
thence to the Standing Cedar, that "the Sioux split;'.' thence to
Rum river, crossing at the mouth of a small creek called Chok-
*,.Note.— The Wah-tap — or Wa-tab — empties from the west into the Mississippi just above-
Sauk Rapids.— H. M. R.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 631
ing creek, a long day's march from the Mississippi; thence to a
point of woods that project into the prairie, half a day's march
from the Mississippi; thence in a straight line to the mouth of
the first river which enters the Mississippi at the east side above
the mouth of Sac river (Watab river). The above boundary
line was established between the Sioux and Chippewa Indians
at Prairie du Chien, Aug. 19, 1825.
William Clark,
Lewis Cass,
Commissioners.
St. Paul, East Minneapolis and Stillwater are embraced within
the above limits.
Nov. 1, 1837, at Washington, District of Columbia, with the
Winnebagoes. The Winnebagoes' at this treaty ceded all their lands lying east
of the Mississippi river, and received in return $200,000. Of
this amount $150,000 was reserved to satisfy the claims of Indian
traders, and the remaining $50,000 was paid to certain individuals
of the tribe. There was set apart the further sum of $100,000, to
be paid, by order of the president of the United States, to
mixed blood relatives of these Indians. Simon Cameron, of
Pennsylvania, and James Murray, of Maryland, were commis
sioned to adjust claims, pay debts and partition the amount
alloted to the mixed bloods. The Winnebagoes, including mixed
blood relatives, numbered over 4,000 souls. The payments and
adjustments were made at Prairie dn Chien, October, 1838. Soon
after complaints were made of the arbitrary and unjust distri
bution of these funds. The secretary of war, Joel R. Poinsett,
countermanded the action of the commissioners and appointed
Judge Fleming, of New York, to act as commissioner. The
parties were reassembled at Prairie du Chien in September, 1839,
and the unpleasant business was in some way adjusted and
closed up.
Aug. 2, 1847, at Fond du Lac of Lake Superior, the Chippewa
Indians of the Mississippi and Lake Superior ceded to the United
States the country beginning at the junction of the Crow Wing
and Mississippi rivers, thence up the Crow Wing river to the
junction of that river with the Long Prairie river; thence up
the Long Prairie river to the boundary line between the Sioux
and Chippewa Indians; thence southerly along said boundary

632 FIFTY YEARS
line to a lake at the head of Long Prairie river; thence in a
direct line to the sources of the (Waw tab) river; thence down
that river to its junction with the Mississippi river; thence up the
Mississippi river to the place of beginning.
Isaac A. Verplanck,
Henry M. Rice,
Commission ers.
Aug. 21, 1847, at Leech Lake, the Pillager band of Chippewa
Indians ceded to the United States the country beginning at the
south end of Otter Tail lake; thence southerly on the boundary
line between the Sioux and Chippewa Indians to Long Prairie
river; thence up said river'to Crow Wing river; thence up Crow
Wing river to Leaf river; thence up Leaf river to its head;
thence in a direct line to the place of beginning.
Isaac A. Verplanck,
Henry M. Rice,
Commissioners.
July 23, 1851, at Traverse des Sioux (now St. Peter), the
See-see-toan and Wah-pay-toan bands of Dakotah or Sioux
Indians ceded to the United States all their lands in the state
of Iowa; and the territory of Minnesota, lying east of a line begin
ning at the junction of the Buffalo river and the Red River of
the North; thence along the western bank of said river to the
mouth of the Sioux Wood river; thence along the western bank
of said Sioux Wood river to Lake Traverse; thence along the
western shore of said lake to the northern extremity thereof;
thence in a direct line to the junction of Kampeskalake with the
Tchan-kas-an-data or Sioux river; thence along the western
bank of said river to its point of intersection with the northern
line of the state of Iowa, including all the islands in said rivers
and lake. Luke Lea, Commissioner of Indian Affairs,
Alexander Ramsey, Governor and
Ex-officio Superintendent of Indian Affairs,
Commissioners.
A small reservation was set apart for said Indians, which they
forfeited by their attack upon the whites in 1862.
Aug. 5, 1851, at Mendota, the Med-ay-wa-kan-toan and Wah-
pay-koo-tay bands of Dakotah and Sioux Indians ceded to the

IN THE NORTHWEST. 633
United States all of their lands in the territory of Minnesota and
state of Iowa.
Luke Lea,
Alexander Ramsey,
Commissioners.
The two treaties made by Commissioners Lea and Ramsey in
cluded the following area:
Beginning at the junction of Buffalo river with the Red River
•of the North, in Clay county; thence along the western bank of
the Red River of the north to the. mouth of Sioux Wood river;
thence along the western bank of Sioux Wood river to Lake
'Traverse; thence along its western shore to its southern extremity;
thence to the head of Sioux river; thence alongsaid Sioux river to
"the northern line of the state of Iowa; thence alongthe southern
boundary of the state of Minnesota to the Mississippi river;
;thence up said river to the mouth of Waw-tab river (just north
of St. Cloud in Stearns county); thence up that river to its head;
thence to the place of beginning. A part of the state of Iowa
not included in the above was also ceded to the United States.
A large strip of Dakota Territory is included. This last tract
includes nearly one-half of the state of Minnesota, containing
its now richest and most populous counties.
Sept. 30, 1854, at La Pointe, Larke Superior, Wisconsin, the
•Chippewas of Lake Superior ceded to the United States all
•of their lands lying east of a line beginning at a point where
the east branch of Snake river crosses the southern boundary
line of the Chippewa country, running thence up the said branch
to its source; thence nearly north in a straight line to the
mouth of East Savannah river; thence up the St. Louis river to
the mouth of East Swan river; thence up the East Swan river to
its source; thence in a straight line to the most westerly bend of
Vermillion river, and thence down the Vermillion river to its
.mouth.
Henry C. Gilbert,
David B. Herriman,
Commissioners.
The foregoing treaty embraced all of the country bordering
-upon Lake Superior in the state of Minnesota, including the
valuable iron and other mines.
The city of Duluth is within the limits of the cession.

634 FIFTY YEARS
Owing to the efforts of Henry M. Rice, then in Congress, the
commissioners were appointed, and to his personal influence
with the Chippewas the treaty was made.
Feb. 22, 1885, at Washington, District of Columbia, the Missis
sippi, Pillager, and Lake Winnibigoshish bands of Chippewa
Indians ceded to the United Statesall the lands owned orclaimed
by them in the territory of Minnesota, and included within the
following boundaries, viz: "Beginning at a point where the east
branch of Snake river crosses the southern boundary line of the
Chippewa country, east of the Mississippi river, as established
by the treaty of July 29, 1837, running thence up the said branch
to its source; thence nearly north in a straight line to the mouth
of East Savannah river; thence up the St. Louis river to the
mouth of East Swan river; thence up said river to its source;
thence in a straight line to the most westerly bend of Vermil
lion river; thence northwestwardly in a straight line to the first
and most considerable bend in the Big Fork river; thence down
said river to its mouth; thence down Rainy Lake river to the
mouth of Black river; thence up that river to its source; thence in
a straight line to the northern extremity of Turtle Lake; thence
in a straight line to the mouth of Wild Rice river; thence up
the Red River of the North to the mouth of Buffalo river; thence
in a straight line to the southwestern extremity of Otter Tail
lake; thence through said lake to the source of Leaf river; thence
down said river to its junction with Crow Wing river; thence
down Crow Wing river to its junction with the Mississippi river;.
thence to the place of beginning."
Georg-e* W. Manypenny,
Commissioner.
All lands in Minnesota Territory east of the foregoing boun
dary line were ceded to the United, States at La Pointe, Lake
Superior, Sept. 30. 1854. Several reservations were set aside in
each purchase for the future residence of various bands of said
Chippewa and Pillager Indians.
It was by the efforts of Henry M. Rice, then in Congress, that-
the Indians were invited to Washington, and through his per
sonal influence that the treaty was made. Several treaties were
afterward made with the Chippewa and Pillager Indians, merely
changing or reducing their reservation.
Oct. 2, 1863, at the old crossing of the Red Lake river, in

IN THE NORTHWEST. 635
the state of Minnesota, the Red Lake and Pembina bands of
Chippewa Indians ceded to the United States all their right,
title and interest in and to all the lands now owned and claimed
by them in the state of Minnesota and in the territory of Da
kota within the following boundaries, to- wit: "Beginning at
the point where the international boundary between the United
States and the British possessions intersects the shore of
the Lake of the Woods; thence in a direct line southwestwardly
to the head, of Thief river; thence down the main channel
of said Thief river to its mouth on the Red Lake river; thence
in a southeasterly direction, in a direct line toward the head
of Wild Rice river, to a point where such line would inter
sect the northwesterr boundary of a tract ceded to the United
States by a treaty concluded at Washington on the twenty-second
day of February, 1855, with the Mississippi, Pillager and Lake
Winnibigoshish bands of Chippewa Indians; thence along said
boundary line of said cession to the mouth of Wild Rice river;
thence up the main channel of the Red river to the mouth of the
Sheyenne; thence up the main channel of the Sheyenne river to
Poplar Grove; thence in a direct line to the head of the main
branch of Salt river; thence in a direct line due north to the in
ternational boundary line; thence eastwardly to the place of be
ginning."
Alexander Ramsey,
Ashley C. Morrill,
Commissioners.
All the lands included in the foregoing treaty east of the Red
River of the North are within the state of Minnesota.
The heretofore mentioned treaties include all the lands within
the state of Minnesota originally owned by Indian tribes, except
the Red Lake reservation, and for its cession a treaty was nego
tiated in 1886, which to this date, April, 1888, has not been rati
fied. GEN. PIKE AND THE INDIANS.
Gen. Zebulon M. Pike, United States Army, was sent by the
government in 1805-6 on a tour of inspection, to select sites for
forts, and to treat and hold councils with the various Indian
tribes of the Upper Mississippi . He met the Sioux in council
at the junction of the St. Peter's and Mississippi rivers, Sept. 23,

636 FIFTY YEARS
1805, and informed them that he came to purchase lands for
government forts, and to tell them what the Great Father at
Washington desired them to know about his people and their
government. A part of his speech we subjoin:
"Brothers: You old men probably know that about thirty
years ago we were subject to the king of England, and governed
by his laws. But he not treating us as children we refused to
acknowledge him as father. After ten years of war, in which
he lost 100,000 men, he acknowledged us as a free and independ
ent nation. They knew that not many years since we received
Detroit, Michilmackinac, and all the ports on the lakes from the
English, and now but the other day, Louisiana from the Spanish;
so that we put one foot on the sea at the east, and the other on
the sea at the west, and if once children are now men; yet I
think that the traders who come from Canada are bad birds
amongst the Chippewas, and instigate them to make war on their
red brothers, the Sioux, iu order to prevent our traders from
going high up the Mississippi. This I shall inquire into, and so
warn those persons of their ill conduct.
"Brothers, I expect that you will give orders to all your
young warriors to respect my flag and protection, which I may
send to the Chippewa chief who may come down with me in the
spring; for was a dog to run to my lodge for safety, his enemy
must walk over me to hurt him.
' ' Brothers, I am told that the traders have made a practice of
selling rum to you. All of you in your right senses must know
that this is injurious and occasions quarrels, murders, etc.,
amongst yourselves. For this reason your father has thought
proper to prohibit the traders from selling you rum.
"Brothers, I now present you with some of your father's
tobacco, and some other trifling things, as a memorandum of
my good will, and before my departure I will give you some liquor
to clear your throats."
At this conference the Sioux granted to the United States
government a tract nine miles square at the mouth of the St.
Croix, and a similar tract at the mouth of the St. Peter's, lying on
both sides of the Mississippi and including the falls of St.
Anthony. Pike says: "They gave the land required, about
100,000 acres of land (equal to $200,000), and promised me a safe
passage for myself and any chief I might bring down. I gave

IN THE NORTHWEST. 637
them presents to the amount of about two hundred dollars, and
as soon as the council was over allowed the traders to present
them with liquor which, with what I gave, was equal to sixty
gallons." Pike in his journeying through the territory ordered
DickSon and others to haul down the British flag. It is on record
that the flags were hauled down, but also that they were hoisted
again after Pike's departure.
From Pike's own account of one of his inland tours he was
hospitably entertained by his red brothers, as the following para
graph from his journal will show:
"After making this tour we returned to the chief's lodge
and found a berth provided for each of us, of good soft bear
skins nicely spread, and on mine there was a large feather pil
low. I must not here omit to mention an anecdote which serves
to characterize more particularly their manners. This, in the
eyes of the contracted moralist, would deform my hospitable
host into a monster of libertinism; but by a liberal mind would
be considered as arising from the hearty generosity of the wild
savage. In the course of the day, observing a ring on one of
my fingers, he inquired if it was gold; he was told it was the
gift of one with whom I should be happy to be at that time; he
seemed to think seriously, and at night told my interpreter,
'that perhaps his father (as they all called me) felt much grieved
for the want of a woman; if so, he could furnish him with one.'
He was answered that with us each man had but one wife, and
that I considered it strictly my duty to remain faithful to her.
This he thought strange (he himself having, three) and replied
that 'he knew some Americans at his nation who had half a
dozen wives during the winter.' The interpreter observed that
they were men without character; but that all our great men had
each but one wife. The chief acquiesced, but said he liked bet
ter to have as many as he pleased.

The Establishment* of United States Surveys in the
Northwest — A Condensed Statement from the Rec
ords of the Books in the Surveyor General's Office.
On the twenty-sixth day of January, 1796, when the American
Congress was in session at Philadelphia, a bill was reported for
establishing land offices in the Northwestern Territory. The bill
was ably discussed and there was much variance of opinion as

638 FIFTY YEARS
to the disposition of the lands to be surveyed and brought into
the market. Some favored a proposition to give the lands to
actual settlers, and others favored selling the lands at a stipu
lated price, applying the proceeds to the payment of the national
debt. The bill, when agreed upon, bore the following title: "An
act providing for the sale of the lands of the United States in
the territories northwest of the river Ohio, and above the mouth
of the Kentucky river." The bill was approved by President
Washington May 18, 1796.
This law established the office of surveyor general with powers
specifically limited. It directed him to run lines north and
south according to the true meridian, to be known as range lines,
and others, crossing them at right angles, to be known as town
ship lines, the townships thus formed to consist of areas six miles
square, the whole to be subdivided into 36 sections, each a mile
square, each to contain 640 acres of land, as near as may be, and
to be subdivided into quarters, containing 160 acres, and these
quarters to be further subdivided into forties. Marks were to be
established at the corners of every township and section. These
surveys were not to conflict with Indian treaty and military land
warrants, or the course of navigable waters.
This admirable device for surveying the public lands grew out
of a correspondence between Gen. Rufus Putnam and President
Washington, in 1875, in which the former proposed the division
of the public lands into townships six miles square, to be marked
by township and range lines. Perhaps no more convenient and
acceptable plan of survey could have been devised. Gen. Ben
jamin Tupper was one of a company of surveyors in 1796 that
established the first lines under this new system. This survey
was made in Southeast Ohio.
The first surveyor general's office was opened at Marietta,
Ohio, soon after the approval of the bill, and Rufus Putnam was
appointed surveyor general. In 1803 he was removed by President
Jefferson and the office was located at Vincennes. A year later
it was removed to Cincinnati, in 1814 to Chillicothe, in 1829 to
Cincinnati, in 1845 to Detroit, and in 1857 to St. Paul, where it
has since remained. The act for the survey of the public lands
has since been modified and improved. In 1804 an act was ap
proved providing for the marking of quarter sections on the
section lines.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 639
By the same law under which the lands were subdivided and
opened to the public, one section, No. 16, in every township was
reserved from sale for the support of common schools. Two
townships were also set apart for the support of a university.
This was the beginning of the donations of land for school and
other purposes. THE UNITED STATES LAND OFFICE.
The first government land office in Wisconsin north of Min
eral Point was located at St. Croix Falls in 1848. Township
plats were received, lands advertised and offered for sale in
September, covering the ground where the cities of Stillwater
and St. Paul are now located, and adjacent country. The office
was removed to Stillwater in 1849, and the land district divided
by the St. Croix river. The land office for the east side was
located at Willow River in 1849, and there remained till 1860,
when it was removed to St. Croix Falls. The following are the
receivers and registers:
1848. Samuel Leach, receiver; Charles S. Whiting, register.
1849. Moses S. Gibson, receiver; T. D. Catlin, register.
1853. Otis Hoyt, receiver; John O. Henning, register.
1857. J. D. Reymert, receiver; J. B. Spencer, register.
1059. Orpheus Evarts, receiver; J. B. Spencer, register.
1861. Benj. W. Reynolds, receiver; Michael Field, register.
1864. Hiram Calkins, receiver; Michael Field, register.
1869. Fayette Allen, receiver; Michael Field, register.
1871. Joel F. Nason, receiver; Michael Field, register.
1884. Alvah A. Heald, receiver; Michael Field, register.
1887. Alvah H. Heald, receiver; Wm. M. Blanding, register.
The first entry in the new district, Aug. 17, 1849, was by W.
S. Hungerford. Lot 4, Sec. 19, and Lots 1, 2, 3, Sec. 30, T.
34, R. 18, where the villageof St. Croix now stands. The second
entry was by George Brownell, Lot 3, Sec. 20, T. 24, R. 18. The
oldest record to be found in the office is the proving up by James
Purinton of his pre-emption, July 24, 1848. The first recorded
correspondence is a letter from S. Leach, receiver, to Geo. W«
Jones, surveyor general, Dubuque, Iowa. In June, 1863, under
the receivership of Mr. Reynolds, the safe in the office was blown
open with powder and the contents stolen. Some time afterward,
in 1865, fifty land warrants and a bunch of keys from the articles

640 FIFTY YEARS
missing were thrown in at the office window. They had the ap
pearance of having been buried in the ground.
FIRST ENTRIES.
July 24, 1848. James Purinton, residence, St. Croix Falls.
Lot 1, in east fractional part Sec. 23, T. 29 north, R. 20 west,
and W. I of N. W. I and S. E. I of N. W. i, Sec. 24, T. 29, R.
20, 137 70-100 acres; price, $1.25; cost, $172 12-100, silver; pre
emption act, 1841. This pre-emption is where the dam and mills
have since been erected at North Hudson.
Aug. 12, 1848. Samuel Burkelo, Orange Walker and Hiram
Berkey. Lots 7 and 8, west of river, Sec. 6, T. 31, R. 19, 108
25-100 acres; cost $135 43-100, i gold; pre-emption act, 1840
(Marine Mills).
Aug. 16, 1848. Richard Freeborn. West \ of N. W. } and
N. E. I of N. W. ], and Lot 3, Sec. 12, T. 28, R. 23, St. Paul;
pre-emption act, 1841.
The first land offered at public auction sale was Aug. 27,
1848. 4. Albert Henry Judd, Orange Walker, Samuel Burkelo, Hi
ram Berkey, George Baldwin Judd, Asa Parker were the pur
chasers of Lots 5 and 6, Sec. 7, T. 31, R. 19, west of river; cost,
$106 46-100, gold.
5. Martin Mower, David B. Loomis; Lots 7 and 8, Sec. 29, T.
31, R. 19, west of river; cost, $54 81-100, } gold (now Areola).
6. John Allen; Lots 4 and 5, Sec. 2, T. 29, R. 20, west of
river; gold (Allen's Point, now South Stillwater).
7. Eleazer R, Steves; Lots 1 and 2, Sec, 14, T. 29, R. 20, east
of river; gold, $9.66; silver, $54.85; $64 51-100 (now Hudson).
8 and 9. Stephen Harris; N. I of S. E. i and E. \ of S. W.
\, Sec. 22, T. 29, R. 20.
10. Himan W. Greely; E. \ of N. E. }, Sec. 22, T. 29, R. 20,
gold. 11 and 12. Albert N. Judd; W. i of S. E. i and E. i of S. W.
J, Sec. 22, T. 29, R. 20, gold.
13 and 14. Louis Massey; E. I of S. W. and Lots 1 and 2, Sec.
24, T. 29, R. 20, silver; east of Lake St. Croix (now Hudson).
15 and 16. Peter F. Bouchea, Lot 1, east of river, Sec. 25, T.
::9, R, 20 and Lot 2, Sec. 25, T. 29, R 20; gold, $63 22-100; silver,
$10 — $73 22-100.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 641
17 and 18. John O'Brien; Lot 3, Sec. 26, T. 29, R. 20 and W.
i of S. W. i, Sec. 26, T. 29, R. 20, silver and gold (now Lake
land). 19 and 20. Albert H. Judd; E. i of N. E. i, and W. i of N.
W. i, Sec. 22, T. 29, R. 20, gold.
21. Himan W. Greely; W. i of N. E. i, Sec. 22, T. 29, R. 20,
gold. The above are all the purchasers at the first sale of land in the
valley at St. Croix Falls. Sale was continued from day to day
until townships 25 to 31 of ranges 19 and 20 were offered, cov
ering the settlement of St. Anthony Falls, St. Paul, Cottage Grove,
and Point Douglas.
The United States land office was moved from St. Croix Falls
to Stillwater in September, 1849. The first public sale of lands
at Stillwater was Oct. 9, 1849. The office was held in Stillwater
nine years. In October, 1858, it was moved to Cambridge, Isanti
county; November 3d the first sale of lands was held at Cam
bridge. April 7, 1860, the office was burned, many valuable pa
pers were destroyed, and many records were replaced from the
archives at Washington. July 5, 1860, the office was moved to
Sunrise, and Oct. 8, 1868, it was moved to Taylor's Falls, where
it is at the present time (1888).
list op officers.
Receivers. Appointed. Registers. Appointed.
Samuel Leech  1848 CharlesS. Whitney  ;  1848
N. Green Wilcox  1849 Abraham Van Voorhes  1849
Jonathan E. McKusick  1852 A. Pierce  1852
William Holcomb  1853 Thomas E. Fullerton  1853
Milton H. Abbott  1857 Charles G. Wagner  1857
William H. Mower  I860 Henry N. Setzer  1860
Lucas K. Stannard  1861 Granville M. Stickney  1861
Oscar Roos  1871 Charles B. Whiting  1864
' George B. Folsom..  1875 William Comer  1866
Peter H. Stolberg  1884 John P. Owens  1869
E. A. Umland.  1887 Lucas K. Stannard  1884
The records do not show the date of commission of any officer;
we gather the dates as near as possible from recorded correspond
ence. TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT OF WISCONSIN.
Governors: Henry Dodge, 1836-41; James Duane Doty, 1841-
44; N. P. Talmadge, 1844-45; Henry Dodge, 1845-48.
41

642 FIFTY YEARS
Delegates to Congress: George W. Jones, 1836-37; James D.
Doty, 1837-41; Henry Dodge, 1841-45; Morgan L. Martin, 1845-
47; John H. Tweedy, 1847-48.
Chief Justice: Charles Dunn, 1836-48.
FIRST LEGISLATURE — REPRESENTATIVES OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.
First Session, 1836— Council: Thomas P. Burnett.* (Rejected
by a ruling of Gov. Dodge, and district left without representa
tion.) House: James H. Lockwood, James B. Dallam.
Second Session, 1837— House: IraB. Brunson, Jean Brunet.f
Third Session, 1838— House: Ira B. Brunson, Jean Brunet.
SECOND LEGISLATURE.
First Session, 1838 — Council: George Wilson. House: Alex.
McGregor. J
Second Session, 1839 — Council: George Wilson. House: Alex.
McGregor, Ira B. Brunson.
Third Session, 1839-40 — Council: Joseph Brisbois. House:
Alex. McGregor, Ira B. Brunson.
Fourth Session, 1840— Council: Charles J. Learned. House:
Alex. McGregor, Ira B. Brunson.
THIRD LEGISLATURE — REPRESENTATIVES OF CRAWFORD AND
ST. CROIX COUNTIES.
First Session, 1840-41 — Council: Charles J. Learned. House:
Alfred Brunson, Joseph R. Brown.
Second Session, 1841-42 — Council: Charles J. Learned.f House:
Joseph R. Brown, Theophilus J. La Chapelle.

*The rejection of Thomas P. Burnett as a member of the council, by Gov. Dodge, created
great excitement at the time, and the governor was severely criticised for his action. In making
the apportionment the governor had made Crawford county a district, but had left it without a
representative in the council, although two had been assigned to the house, the governor claim
ing that this was equivalent to one in the senate and one in the house. His action, to say the
least, was curious and unprecedented.
¦j- Jean Brunet was of French extraction. He made the first manufacturing improvements at
Chippewa Falls.
I Alexander McGregor, a Scotchman, built a large hotel in Prairie du Chien, and located a
claim on the western side of the Mississippi river; opposite which has become the site of the city ,
of McGregor. In the third session of the territorial legislature he was elected to represent the
Dubuque district, and charges were preferred against him of accepting a bribe. Pending the in
vestigation of the charges he resigned, removed to the east side of the river and was elected to
represent the Crawford district. The ensuing session, the house, by resolution, declared hiin un
worthy of confidence.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 643
FOURTH LEGISLATURE.
First Session, 1842^3— Council: Theophilus La Chapelle.
House: John H. Manahan.
Second Session, 1843-44— Council: Theophilus La Chapelle.
House: John H. Manahan.
Third Session, 1845 — Council: Wiram Knowlton. House:
James Fisher.
Fourth Session, 1846 — Council: Wiram Knowlton. House:
James Fisher. FIFTH LEGISLATURE.
First Session, 1847 — Council: Benj. F. Manahan. House:
Joseph W. Furber.
CRAWFORD, ST. CROIX, CHIPPEWA AND LA POINTE COUNTIES.
Special Session, 1847 — Council: Benj. F. Manahan. House:
Henry Jackson.
Second Session, 1848 — Council: Benj. F. Manahan. House:
Henry Jackson.
First Constitutional Convention, Oct. 5, 1846 — Delegate from
"St. Croix county, Wm. Holcombe.
Second Constitutional Convention, Dec. 15, 1847. — Delegate
from St. Croix county, George W. Brownell.
STATE GOVERNMENT OF WISCONSIN.
Governors: Nelson Dewey, 1848-52; L. J. Farwell, 1852-54;
W. A. Barstow, 1854-56; Coles Bashford, 1856-58; Alex. W.
Randall, 1858-62; Louis P. Harvey, 1862; Edward Salomen,
1862-64; James* Q. Lewis, 1864-66; Lucius Fairchild, 1866-72;
O. C. Washburn, 1872-74; Wm. R. Taylor, 1874-76; Harrison
Luddington, 1876-78; Wm. E. Smith, 1878-82; Jeremiah Rusk,
1882-88. UNITED STATES SENATORS.
Isaac P. Walker, June 8, 1848; Henry Dodge, June 8, 1848;
•Charles Durkee, Feb. 1, 1855; James R. Doolittle, Jan. 23, 1857;
Timothy O. Howe, Jan. 23, 1861; Matt H. Carpenter, Jan. 26,
1869; Angus Cameron, Feb. 3, 1875; Philetus Sawyer, Jan. 26,
1881; JohnC. Spooner, Jan. 26, 1885.

644 FIFTY YEARS
UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVES.
From districts bordering on the St. Croix: Mason C. Darling,
1848-50; Orasmus Cole, 1850-52; Ben. C. Eastman, 1852-56; C.C
Washburn, 1856-62; Luther Hanchett, 1862-63; Walter D. Mc-
Indoe, 1863-68; C. C. Washburn, 1868-72; Jeremiah M. Rusk,
1874-78; Hiram L. Humphrey, 1878-84; Wm. T. Price, 1884-88;
Nels P. Haugan, 1888.
District judges presiding in territory originally included in
St. Croix county:
Wiram Knowlton, of Prairie du Chien, 1848-50; district —
Crawford, Chippewa, St. Croix and La Pointe counties.
S. S. Fuller, of Hudson, 1850-60; district — Pierce, St. Croix,
Polk, Douglas, and La Pointe counties.
Henry D. Barron, of North Pepin, 1860-61; district — Pierce,
St. Croix, Polk, Douglas, Ashland, and Bayfield counties.
L. P. Weatherby, of Hudson, 1861-67; district — Pepin, Pierce,
St. Croix, Polk, Burnett, Douglas, Bayfield, and Ashland coun
ties. Herman L. Humphrey, of Hudson, 1867-77; district — St. Croix,
Pierce, Pepin, Dunn, and Barron counties.
Solon S. Clough, of Hudson, 1864-76; district— Polk, Burnett,
Douglas, Ashland, and Bayfield counties.
R. P. Bundy, of Menomonie, 1876-85, re-elected until 1891;
district — Buffalo, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce, and St. Croix
counties. Henry D. Barron, of St. Croix Falls, 1876-82; district — Chip
pewa, Barron, Polk, Burnett, Douglas, Ashland, and Bayfield
counties. Solon S. Clough, of Superior, 1882-88; district — Ashland,
Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Chippewa, Douglas, Polk, and Wash
burn counties.
R. D. Marshall, of Chippewa Falls, 1888.
WISCONSIN STATE LEGISLATURE.
Representatives of territory originally included in St. Croix
county: First Session, 1848 — Senate: Daniel S. Fenton. Assembly:
W. R. Marshall. (Seat successfully contested by Joseph Bowron.)
Second Session, 1849 — Senate: James Fisher. Assembly.
Joseph Bowron.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 645
Third Session, 1850 — Senate: James Fisher. Assembly: John
8. Watrous.
Fourth Session, 1851— Senate: Henry A. Wright. Assembly:
John O. Henning.
Fifth Session, 1852 — Senate: Henry A. Wright. Assembly:
Otis Hoyt.
Sixth Session, 1853— Senate: Benj. Allen. Assembly: Orrin
T. Maxson.
Seventh Session, 1854 — Senate: Benj. Allen. Assembly: Wm.
M. Torbert.
Eighth Session, 1855 — Senate: Wm. T. Gibson. Assembly:
8mith R. Gunn.
Ninth Session, 156 — Senate: Wm. T. Gibson. Assembly:
Almon D. Gray.
Tenth Session, 1857 — Senate: Wm. Wilson. Assembly:
Orin T. Maxson.
Eleventh Session, 1858 — Senate: Daniel Mears. House: James
B. Gray, Lucius Cannon.
Twelfth Session, 1859 — Senate: Daniel Mears. House: Moses
8. Gibson. Mr. Gibson's seat successfully contested by M. W.
McCracken. Thirteenth Session, 1860 — Senate: Charles B. Cox. House:
Asaph Whittlesey.
Fourteenth Session, 1861 — Senate: Charles B. Cox. House:
John Comstock.
Fifteenth Session, 1862 — Senate: H. L. Humphrey. House:
¦George R. Stuntz, James W. Beardsley. Mr. Beardsley was
elected speaker of the house.
Sixteenth Session, 1863 — Senate: N. L. Humphrey. House:
Henry D. Barron, Charles B. Cox.
Seventeenth Session, 1864 — Senate: Austin H.Young. House:
Henry D. Barron, Joseph S. Elwell.
Eighteenth Session, 1865 — Senate: Austin H. Young. House:
Amos S. Gray (successfully contested by A. C. Stuntz). House:
Marcus A. Fulton.
Nineteenth Session, 1866 — Senate: Marcus A. Fulton. House:
Henry D. Barron, William J. Copp. Mr. Barron elected speaker
•of the assembly.
Twentieth Session, 1867 — Senate: Marcus A. Fulton. House:
Henry D. Barron, John D. Trumbull, H. L. Wadsworth.

646 FIFTY YEARS
Twenty -first Session, 1868 — Senate: Wm. J. Copp. House r
Henry D. Barron, Eleazer Holt, Marcus A. Fulton.
Twenty-second Session, 1869 — Senate: Wm. J. Copp. House:
Henry D. Barron, Edward H. Ives, Charles D. Parker.
Twenty-third Session, 1870 — Senate: Edward H. Ives. House:
Samuel B. Dressor, Oliver S. Powell, Charles D. Parker.
Twenty-fourth Session, 1871 — Senate: EdwardH. Ives. House:.
Samuel S. Vaughn, Oliver S. Powell, Ruel K. Fay.
Twenty -fifth Session, 1872 — Senate: Joseph E. Irish. House:
Henry D. Barron, Oliver S. Powell, John C. Spooner.
Twenty-sixth Session, 1873 — Senate: Joseph E. Irish. House:
Henry D. Barron, speaker; James H. Persons, David C. Fulton.
Twenty-seventh Session, 1874 — Senate: Henry D. Barron.
House: Samuel S. Fifield, James H. Persons, Harvey S. Clapp.
Twenty-eighth Session, 1875 — Senate: Henry D. Barron,
House: Samuel S. Fifield, Thomas S. Nelson, Philo Q. Boyden.
Twenty-ninth Session, 1876 — Senate: Henry D. Barron. House:
Samuel S. Fifield, speaker; Christopher L. Taylor, Philo Q.
Boyden. Thirtieth Session, 1877 — Senate: Samuel S. Fifield. House:
Woodbury S. Grover, Ellsworth Burnett, Guy W. Dailey.
Thirty -first Session, 1878 — Senate: Dana R. Bailey. House:
Canute Anderson, Charles A. Hawn, James Hill.
Thirty-second Session, 1879 — Senate: Dana R. Bailey.
House: Wm. J. Vincent, Nils P. Haugen, James Hill.
Thirty-third Session, 1880— Senate: Sam S. Fifield. House:
Nils P. Haugen, James Hill, Lars L. Gunderson.
Thirty-fourth Session, 1881— Senate: Sam S. Fifield. As
sembly: Geo. D. McDill, Franklin L. Gibson, Merton Herrick.
Thirty-fifth Session, 1882 — Senate: James Hill. Assembly:
Geo. D. McDill, Franklin L. Gibson, speaker; Olof A. Sange-
stad. Thirty-sixth Session, 1883 — Senate: James Hill. Assembly:
Canute Anderson, John D. Putnam, Geo. D. McDill, James
Johnston. Thirty-seventh Session, 1884 — Senate: JoelF. Nason. Assem
bly: HansB. Warner, Frank M. Nye, Thomas Porter, Charles S-
Taylor, J. B. Thayer.
(For thirty-eighth and thirty-ninth Sessions see Addenda.)

IN THE NORTHWEST. 647
TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT OF MINNESOTA.
Governors: Alexander Ramsey, from June 1, 1849, to May
15, 1853; Willis A. Gorman, from May 15, 1853, to April 23,
1857; Samuel Medary, from April 23, 1857, to May 24, 1858.
Delegates to Congress: Henry H. Sibley, Jan. 15, 1849, to
March 4, 1853; Henry M. Rice, Dec. 5, 1853, to March 4, 1857;
W. W. Kingsbury, Dec. 7, 1857, to May 11, 1858.
Chief Justices: Aaron Goodrich, June 1, 1849, to Nov. 13,
1851; Jerome Fuller, Nov. 13, 1851, to Dec. 16, 1852; Henry Z.
Hayner, Dec. 16; 1852, to April 7, 1853 (Judge Hayner never
presided at a single term and gave but one decision, which was
to pronounce the prohibition law unconstitutional); William H.
Welch, April 7, 1853, to May 24, 1858.
Associate Justices: David Cooper, June 1, 1849, to April 7,
1853; Bradly B. Meeker, June 1, 1849, to April 7, 1853; Andrew
G. Chatfield, April 7, 1853, to April 23, 1857; Moses G. Sher
burne, April 7, 1853, to April 13, 1857; R. R. Nelson, April 23,
1857, to May 24, 1858; Charles E. Flandrau, April 23, 1857, to
May 24, 1858. census of the territory — august, 1849.
Precincts. Males. Females. Total.
Stillwater  455 154 609
LakeSt. Croix  129 32 161
Marine Mills  142 31 173
Falls of St. Croix  15 1 16
Snake River  58 24 82
St. Paul  540 300 840
Little Canada and St. Anthony Falls  352 219 571
Crow Wing and Long Prairie  235 115 350
Osakis Rapids  92 41 133
Total  2,018 977 2,935
Upon the basis of this population the governor established the
following legislative districts:
First district: St. Croix precinct, extending on the west side
of the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers to the Iowa line; Second
district: Stillwater; Third district: St. Paul; Fourth district:
Marine Mills and the country north to the British possessions;
Fifth district: St. Anthony Falls; Sixth district: The country
east of the Mississippi not embraced in the Fourth district, and
extending north to the British possessions; Seventh district: All
the territory on the west of the Mississippi river not embraced
in the sixth and first districts.

648 FIFTY YEARS
FIRST TERRITORIAL LEGISLATURE. — HELD SEPT. 3 TO NOV. 1,
1849.
Council: David Olmsted, president; district No. 1, James S.
Norris; No. 2, Samuel Burkelo; No. 3, William H. Forbes, James
McC. Boal; No. 4, David B. Loomis; No. 5, John Rollins; No. 6,
David Olmsted, William Sturgis; No. 7, Martin McLeod.
House: Joseph W. Furber, of Cottage Grove, speaker; dis
trict No. 1, Joseph W. Furber, James Wells; No. 2, M. S. Wil
kinson, Sylvanus Trask, Mahlon Black; No. 3, Benj. W. Brunson,
Henry Jackson, John J. Dewey, Parsons K. Johnson; No. 4,
Henry N. Setzer; No. 5, William R. Marshall, William Dugas;
No. 6, Jeremiah Russell, Allan Morrison, Lorenzo A. Babcock,
Thomas A. Holmes; No. 7, Alexis Bailly, Gideon H. Pond.
The limits of this work preclude the insertion of a complete
list of the entire State, and we give, therefore, the representa
tion of the St. Croix valley. '
SECOND TERRITORIAL LEGISLATURE, 1851.
Council: James Norris, Samuel Burkelo, D. B. Loomis, presi
dent. House: John A. Ford, Michael E. Ames, speaker; Jesse
Taylor, John D. Ludden.
THIRD TERRITORIAL LEGISLATURE, 1852.
Council: Elam Greely, David B. Loomis. House: Jesse Tay
lor, Mahlon Black, Martin Leavitt, John D. Ludden.
FOURTH TERRITORIAL LEGISLATURE, 1853.
Council: Elam Greely, David B. Loomis. House: N. Green
Wilcox, Albert Stimson, Caleb Truax, John D. Ludden.
FIFTH TERRITORIAL LEGISLATURE, 1854.
Council: Albert Stimson, John E. Mower. House: John
Fisher, Wm. McKusick, Robert Watson, N. C. D. Taylor,
speaker. SIXTH TERRITORIAL LEGISLATURE, 1855.
Council: Albert Stimson, John E. Mower. House: James B.
Dixon, William Willim, James Norris, Samuel Register.
SEVENTH TERRITORIAL LEGISLATURE, 1856.
Council: John D. Ludden, Henry N. Setzer. House: James
S. Norris, JAbraham Van Voorhes, N. C. Taylor, Henry A.
Jackman.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 649
EIGHTH TERRITORIAL LEGISLATURE, 1857.
Council: John D. Ludden, Henry N. Setzer. House: Elam
Greely, Mahlon Black, Joseph W. Furber, speaker; L. K. Stan
nard. The legislature of 1852 passed a prohibition law and submitted
it to the people of the Territory, who adopted it by a vote of
853 for to 622 against. This law was declared unconstitutional
by Judge Hayner on the ground that it was unconstitutional to
submit a law to the vote of the people. After rendering this
decision he resigned his office.
At a second appointment in 1855 the counties of Washington,
Chisago, Superior, Itasca, and Doty were included in the St.
Croix district. A special session was held in May, 1857, to ac
cept and make provision to use the magnificent railway land
grant donated by Congress.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF 1857.
In accordance with the enabling act of Congress, passed March
3, 1857, delegates were elected and met in cbnYention at the
capital on the second Monday of July, 1857.
REPRESENTATIVES FROM ST. CROIX VALLEY.
Washington county: Wm. Holcombe, James S. Norris, Henry
N. Setzer, Gould T. Curtis, Charles E. Leonard, Charles J. But
ler, Newinton Gilbert, R. H. Sanderson.
Chisago county: P. A. Cedarstam, Charles F. Lowe, Lucas K.
Stannard, W. H. C. Folsom.
The convention continued in session from July 13 to Aug.
29, 1857, and although divided into two wings, accomplished
considerable work, such as preparing duplicate state constitu
tions and redistricting the State. The St. Croix valley was re-
districted as follows:
First district, Washington county: Twenty- fifth district, Chi
sago, Pine and Isanti counties.
GOVERNORS OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.
Henry H. Sibley, May 24, 1858, to Jan. 2, 1860; Alexander
Ramsey, Jan. 2, 1860, to July 10, 1863; Henry A. Swift, July
10, 1863, to Jan. 11, 1864; Stephen Miller, Jan. 11, 1864, to Jan.

650 FIFTY YEARS
8, 1866; William R. Marshall, Jan. 8, 1866, to Jan. 9, 1870;
Horace Austin, Jan. 9, 1870, to Jan. 7, 1874; Cushman K. Davis,
Jan. 7, 1874, to Jan. 7, 1876; John S. Pillsbury, Jan. 7, 1876, to
Jan. 10, 1882; Lucius F. Hubbard, Jan 10, 1882, to Jan. — , 1886,:
A. R. McGill, Jan. — , 1887, to  .
SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICES.
Lafayette Emmett, May 24, 1858, to Jan. 10, 1865; Thomas.
Wilson, Jan. 10, 1865, to July 14, 1869; James Gilfillan, July 14,
1869, to Jau. 7, 1870; Christopher G. Ripley, Jan. 7, 1870, to-
April 7, 1874; S. J. R. McMillan, April 7, 1874, to March 10„
1875; James Gilfillan, March, 10, 1875, to  .
ASSOCIATE JUSTICES.
Charles E. Flandrau, May, 24, 1858, to July 5, 1864; Isaac At
water, May 24, 1858, to July 6, 1864; S. J. R. McMillan, July 6,
1864, to April 7, 1874; Thomas Wilson, July 6, 1864, to Jan. 10,
1865; JohnM. Berry, Jan. 10, 1865, to  ; George B. Young,
April 16, 1874, to Jan. 11, 1875; F. R. E. Cornell, Jan 11, 1875,
to May 23, 1881; D. A. Dickenson, June 27, 1881, to  ;
° Greenleaf Clark, March 14, 1881, to Jan. 12, 1882; Willian Mit:
chell, March 14, 1881, to  ; C. E. Vanderburgh. Jan. 12,
1882, to  ; L. W. Collins, January, 1888, to  .
UNITED STATES SENATORS FROM MINNESOTA.
James Shields, May 11, 1858, to March 4, 1860; Henry M.
Rice, May 11, 1858, to March 4, 1863; Morton S. Wilkinson,
March 4, 1860, to March 4, 1867; Alexander Ramsey, March 4,
1863, to March 4, 1875; Daniel S. Norton, March 4, 1867, died
July 14, 1870; O. P. Stearns, January—, 1871, to March 4, 1871;
William Windom, March 4, 1871, to March 12, 1881; S. J. R. Mc
Millan, Dec. 6, 1875, to March 4, 1886; A. J. Edgerton, March
12, 1881, to Oct. 26, 1881; William Windom, Oct, 26, 1881, to
March 4, 1883; Dwight M. Sabin, March 4, 1883, to March 4,
1889; C. K. Davis, March 4, 1887, to  .
REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS.
W. W. Phelps, May 11, 1858, to March 4, 1859; J. M. Cave-
naugh, May 11, 1858, to March 4, 1858; William Windom, Dec. 5,
1859, tb March 4, 1869; Cyrus Aldrich, Dec. 5, 1859, to March 4,

IN THE NORTHWEST. 651
1863; Ignatius Donnelly, Dec. 7, 1863, to March 4, 1869; M. S.
Wilkinson, March 4, 1869, to March 4, 1871; E. M. Wilson,.
March 4, 1869, to March 4, 1871; John T. Averill, March 4,.
1871, to March 4, 1875; M. H. Dunnell, March 4, 1871, to March
4, 1883; H. B. Strait, Dec. 1, 1873, to March 4, 1879; William S.
King, Dec. 6, 1875, to March 4, 1877; J. H. Stewart, Dec. 3, 1877,
to March 4, 1879; Henry Poehler, March 4, 1879, to March 4,
1881, H. B. Strait, March 4, 1881, to March 4, 1885; W. D. Wash
burn, March 4, 1879, to March 4, 1885; Milo White, March 4,
1883, to March 4, 1887; J. B. Wakefield, March 4, 1883, to March
4, 1887; Knute Nelson, March 4, 1883, to March 4, 1889; J. B.
Gilfillan, March 4, 1885, to March 4, 1887; Thomas Wilson,
March 4, 1887, John Lind, March 4, 1887; John S. McDonald..
March 4, 1887; Edmund Rice, March 4, 1887.
FIRST STATE LEGISLATURE, 1857-8.
Richard G. Murphy, president; William Holcombe, lieu
tenant governor.
Senate: First District — Joel K. Reiner. Twenty-fifth District
— W. H. C. Folsom. House: First District— J. R. M. Gaskill,
George W. Campbell, Robert Simpson. Twenty-fifth District —
John G. Randall. SECOND STATE LEGISLATURE, 1859-60.
Senate: First District — Wm. McKusick, Socrates Nelson.
Twenty-fifth District — Lucas K. Stannard. House: First Dis
trict — E. D. Watson, Abraham Van Voorhes, Orange Walker.
Twenty-fifth District — Patrick Fox.
THIRD STATE LEGISLATURE, 1861.
Senate: Second District — Joel K. Reiner. House: Second
District — H. L. Thomas, E. D. Whiting, Emil Munch.
FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 1862.
Senate: Second District — Joel K. Reiner. House: Second
District— Wm. H. Burt, H. L. Thomas, E. D. Whitney.
FIFTH STATE LEGISLATURE, 1863.
Senate: Second District — John McKusick. House: Second
District — Samuel Furber, J. B. R. Mitchell, Ansel Smith.

€52 FIFTY YEARS
SIXTH STATE LEGISLATURE, 1864.
Senate: Second District — John McKusick. House: Second
District — Jere M. Soule, R. R. Henry, Ansel Smith.
SEVENTH STATE LEGISLATURE, 1865.
Senate: Second District — John McKusick. House: Second
District — L. A. Huntoon, Ansel Smith, Lars J. Stark.
EIGHTH STATE LEGISLATURE, 1866.
Senate: Second District — John McKusick. House: Second
District — J. B. R. Mitchell, Robert Watson, Smith Ellison.
NINTH STATE LEGISLATURE, 1867.
Senate: Second District — W. H. C. Folsom. House: Second
District — Henry Jackman, Ebenezer Ayres.
TENTH STATE LEGISLATURE, 1868.
Senate: Second District — W. H. C. Folsom. House: Second
District — J. W. Furber, William Lowell.
ELEVENTH STATE LEGISLATURE, 1869.
Senate: Second District — James N. Castle. House: Second
District — Joseph Haskell, W. H. C. Folsom.
TWELFTH STATE LEGISLATURE, 1870.
Senate: Second District — James N. Castle. House: Second
District — James S. Norris, William Lowell.
THIRTEENTH STATE LEGISLATURE, 1871.
Senate: Second District — D wight M. Sabin. House: Second
District — Joseph Haskell, Lucas K. Stannard.
FOURTEENTH STATE LEGISLATURE, 1872.
Senate: Twenty-second District — Dwight M. Sabin. Twen
ty-eighth District — Jonas Lindall. House: Twenty-second Dis
trict — Ebenezer Ayers, J. R. M. Gaskill, H. R. Murdock.
Twenty-eighth District — Adolph .Munch.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 653"
FIFTEENTH STATE LEGISLATURE, 1873.
Senate: Twenty-second District — Dwight M. Sabin. Twenty-
eighth District — Jonas Lindall. House: Twenty-second Dis
trict — E. W. Durant, J. R. M. Gaskill, James Huganin.
Twenty-eighth District — Joel G. Ryder.
SIXTEENTH STATE LEGISLATURE, 1874.
Senate: Twenty-second District — Wm. McKusick. Twenty-
eighth District — L. K. Burrows. House: Twenty-second Dis
trict — D. B. Loomis, Chas. Eckdahl, J. A. McCloskey. Twenty-
eighth District — Frank H. Pratt.
SEVENTEENTH STATE LEGISLATURE, 1875.
Senate: Twenty-second District — Wm. McKusick. Twenty-
eighth district — W. H. C. Folsom. House: Twenty-second dis
trict — J. W. lurber, E. W. Durant, J. E. Mower. Twenty-
eighth district — Lars J. Stark.
EIGHTEENTH STATE LEGISLATURE, 1876.
Senate: Twenty-second District — Ed. S. Brown. Twenty-
eighth District — W. H. C. Folsom. House: Twenty-second
District — A. Fredericks, J. S. Middleton, O. W. Eriekson.
Twenty-eighth District — W. A. Brawley.
•NINETEENTH STATE LEGISLATURE, 1877.
Senate: Twenty-second District — Ed. S. Brown. Twenty-
eighth District — W. H. C. Folsom. House: Twenty-second
District — A. Fredericks, A. Huntoon, O. W. Erickson.
TWENTIETH STATE LEGISLATURE, 1878.
Senate: Twenty-second District— Roscoe F. Hersey. Twenty-
eighth District— John Shaleen. House: Twenty-second Dis
trict— Dwight M. Sabin, Wm. Fowler, Charles Peterson.
Twenty-eighth District — F. S. Christensen.
TWENTY-FIRST STATE LEGISLATURE, 1879.
Senate: Twenty-second District — James N. Castle. Twenty-
eighth District — John Shaleen. House: Twenty-second Dis
trict—A. M. Dodd, Chas. Peterson, Andrew Peterson. Twenty-
eighth District — John Dean.

654 FIFTY YEARS
TWENTY-SECOND STATE LEGISLATURE, 1881.
Senate: Twenty-second District — J. N. Castle. Twenty-
eighth District — John Shaleen. House: Twenty-second Dis
trict — Dwight M. Sabin, Andrew Peterson, Wm. Schmidt.
Twenty -eighth District — John Dean.
TWENTY-THIRD STATE LEGISLATURE, 1883.
Senate: Twenty-fourth District — J. N. Castle. Thirty-eighth
District — John Shaleen. House: Twenty -fourth District—
Dwight M. Sabin, C. P. Gregory, A. Stegman. Thirty-eighth
District — Levi H. McKusick.
TWENTY-FOURTH STATE LEGISLATURE, 1885.
Senate: Twenty -fourth District — J.N. Castle. Thirty eighth
District — John Shaleen. House: Twenty-fourth District — E.
W. Durant, W. H. Pratt, Arthur Stephen. Thirty-eighth Dis
trict — Levi H. McKusick.
TWENTY-FIFTH STATE LEGISLATURE, 1887.
Senate: Twenty-fourth District — E. W. Durant. Thirty-
eighth District — Otto Wallmark. House: Twenty-fourth Dis
trict — F. Dornfield, R. M. Anderson, C. P. Gregory. Thirty-
eighth District — Henry Smith.
The first legislature continued in session one hundred and
forty-eight days. Its most important measure was the passage
of the $5,000,000 loan bill. At the twentieth session a law was
passed changing the sessions of the legislature from annual to bi
ennial. THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF 1857.
As a delegate to the constitutional convention of 1857, and a
member of what was styled the Republican wing, the writer con
siders it not amiss to insert a chapter concerning that somewhat
famous and farcical affair.
The Congress of 1856-57 passed an enabling act for the forma
tion of a state government in Minnesota, providing that a con
stitutional convention of delegates, chosen by the people, should
assemble at midday, July 13, 1857, at the hall of the house of
representatives at the state capitol, and adopt a constitution, sub-
. ject to the ratification of the people.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 655
The territorial governor, Samuel Medary, ordered an election
to be held on the first Monday in June, 1857, for delegates, the
number to consist of one hundred and eight. The State was
nearly equally divided between the Republicans and Democrats;
still the question of politics did not enter largely into the con
test, except as a question of party supremacy. The people were
a unit on the question of organizing a state government under
the enabling act, and in many cases there was but a single ticket
in the field. It was a matter, therefore, of some surprise that
there should be a separation among the delegates into opposing
factions, resulting practically in the formation of two conven
tions, each claiming^to represent the people, and each proposing
a constitution. The delegates, although but 108 were called,
were numbered on the rolls of the two wings as 59 Republican
and 53 Democratic, a discrepancy arising from some irregularity
of enrollment, by which certain memberships were counted twice.
The Republican members, claiming a bare majority, took possess
ion of the hall of the house at midnight, twelve hours before the
Segal time for opening the convention, the object being to obtain
control of the offices and committees of the convention, a mani
fest advantage in the matter of deciding upon contested seats.
In obedience to the call of the leaders of the party, issued the
day before, the writer with other Republicans repaired to the
house at the appointed hour, produced his credentials as a dele
gate, and was conducted into the illuminated hall by Hon. John
W. North. The delegates were dispersed variously about the hall,
some chatting together, others reading newspapers, smoking, or
snoring, as here and there one had fallen asleep in his seat.
Occasionally a delegate nervously examined his revolver as if
he anticipated some necessity for its use.
The Democratic delegates were elsewhere probably plotting in
secret conclave to capture the hall, and perhaps it might be well
enough to be prepared for the worst. Thus the remainder of the
night passed and the forenoon of July 13th. As soon as the
clock struck twelve, the Democratic delegates rushed tumult-
uously in, as if with the purpose of capturing the speaker's
stand. That, however, was already occupied by the Republican
delegates, and the storming party was obliged to content itself
with the lower steps of the stand. Both parties at the moment
.the clock ceased striking were yelling "order" vociferously, and

656 FIFTY YEARS
nominating their officers, pro tern. Both parties effected a tem
porary organization, although in the uproar and confusion it
was difficult to know what was done.
The Democratic wing adjourned at once to the senate chamber,
and there effected a permanent organization. The Republicans
being left in the undisturbed possession of the hall, perfected
their organization, and the two factions set themselves diligently
to work to frame a constitution, each claiming to be the legally
constituted convention, and expecting recognition as such by
the people of the State and by Congress. The debates in each
were acrimonious. A few of the more moderate delegates in
each recognized the absurdity and illegality of their position,
and questioned the propriety of remaining and participating in
proceedings which they could not sanction.
The conventions continued their sessions inharmoniously
enough. Each framed a constitution, at the completion of which
a joint committee was appointed to revise and harmonize the two
constitutions, but the members of the committees were as bellig
erent as the conventions they represented. Members grew angry,
abusing each other with words and even blows, blood being drawn
in an argument with bludgeons between Hon. Willis A. Gorman,
Democratic, and Hon. Thomas Wilson, Republican. An agree
ment seemed impossible, when some one whose name has not
found its way into history, made the happy suggestion that alter
nate articles of each constitution be adopted. When this was
done, and the joint production of the two conventions was in
presentable shape, another and almost fatal difficulty arose, as to
which wing should be accorded the honor of signing officially
this remarkable document. One body or the other must ac
knowledge the paternity of the hybrid. Ingenuity amounting
to genius (it is a pity that the possessor should be unknown)
found a new expedient, namely, to write out two constitutions in
full, exact duplicates except as to signatures, the one to be signed
by Democratic officers and members, and the other by Republi
cans. These two constitutions were filed in the archives of the
State and one of them, which one will probably never be known,
was adopted by the people Oct. 13, 1857.
The question arises in the writer's mind as to the legality of
the constitution of Minnesota. Have we a constitution1? If so,
which one ? The question of legality, however, has never been

IN THE NORTHWEST. 657
raised before the proper tribunals, and it is perhaps well to leave
it thus unquestioned.
FIRST MINNESOTA STATE LBGISLATURE, HELD 1857-8.
Under a provision of the constitution adopted Oct. 13, 1857,
the legislature was elected and convened December 2d of that
year, although the State had not then been admitted to the
Union, and Gen. Sam Medary was still recognized as governor,
though not at the time in the Territory, and acting through his
private secretary. The whole state, judicial and legislative
ticket had been elected in October, but none of the state officers
could qualify prior to the formal admission of the State. The le
gality of their proceedings was called in question. The Repub
licans entered a protest against legislation until after the admis
sion of the State, but the Democratic party was in the majority,
and territorial Democratic officers governed the legislature, and
the protest was unheeded.. Nothwithstanding the doubtful valid
ity of acts passed by this body, some bold and extravagant
measures were proposed and passed, among them the famous
$5,000,000 loan bill, authorizing the issue of bonds to that amount,
ostensibly to aid in the construction of railroads in Minnesota,
and to be used as a basis for banking. This bill was passed near
the close of the session, which lasted ninety days, and was an
amendment to the constitution to be voted on April 15, 1858.*
The result proved even worse than had been predicted by the
most ardent opposers of the bill, and although adopted by an
overwhelming majprity, speedily fulfilled the predictions of its
opponents: The State was flooded with worthless bank issues,
based upon these worthless bonds. Financial distress and panic
ensued. A reaction followed, and in November, 1860, the amend
ment to the constitution was expunged. Of these bonds, $2,275,-
000 had already been issued, when the section granting their is
sue was repealed. These the State subsequently redeemed.
This bill, though afterward adopted as an amendment to the
constitution by an overwhelming majority, was opposed most
vigorously in both houses of the legislature, and characterized
at the time as mischievous and infamous. Though not present
* The loan amendment was approved by Gov. Medary,' through his private secretary, March 9,
1858. The amendment was adopted by the people April 15, 1858, by a vote of 25,023 to 6,733. The
amount of bouds issued was $2,275,000. The expunging resolution was adopted Nov. 6, I860, by
a popular vote of 19,308 to 710.
42

658

FIFTY YEARS

at the time of its passage, on account of sickness, the author
fully committed himself as an opponent of the bill, and placed
himself on record in an address to his constituents dated March
19th, at the senate chamber, which address was circulated ex-
tensively at the time. The views and predictions therein ex
pressed as to the disastrous character of the bill have been
amply justified and verified by subsequent events.
Hon. Chas. F. Lowe, when a member, of the Republican wing
of the constitutional convention, had designed and prepared a
seal to be used by the incoming state government. It was
adopted by that wing of the convention, and Mr. Lowe hoped to
have it formally adopted by the first state legislature. At the
request of Mr. Lowe, it was presented by the writer, then a mem
ber of the senate, and was adopted by the senate and house with
many encomiums upon its beauty and appropriateness. The de
sign was indeed a beautiful one, and the workmanship of the seal,
by Buechner, of St. Paul, was admirable. The design of the
seal was as follows:

STATE SEAL.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 659
A waterfall (supposed to be that of Minnehaha) within a
shield; this part of the device was intended to symbolize the
idea of water for the amount and varied forms of which Minne
sota is distinguished above any other part of our country. In
addition was represented the figure of an Indian pointing
toward the setting sun, as his course of destiny runs, with his
tomahawk, bow and arrows; at his feet opposite the Indian was
the figure of a white man, with a sheaf of wheat and the imple
ments of agriculture at his feet, representing to the Indian that
he must partake of the habits of civilized life or depart toward
the setting sun. In one corner of the field appeared a distant
view of Lake Superior, with a ship in sail. In another was a
view of a river, indicating the Minnesota river, running from
the westward, with a steamboat ascending its stream. In rear
o£ the shield and waterfall were three trees, which are typical of
the three timbered regions, the oak on the left typifying the
south and southwest portion of the State, the pine in the centre
, typifying the great pine regions of Lake Superior, Upper Mis
sissippi and St. Croix, and the maple on the right typifying
the north and northwestern portion of the State. For a motto
to accompany the words state of Minnesota, A. D. 1858,. which
were placed upon the upper rim of the seal, the words placed
upon the lower rim of the seal were, " Liberty and Union, Now
and Forever One and Inseparable." The act of the legislature
went to the governor,' who returned it to the senate approved
and signed, July 14, 1858.
Some length of time elapsed before the appearance of the
great seal as appended to official documents, and when it did
appear it was very different from the one adopted, and the
credit of the design was given to Rev. E. D. Neill by the news
papers commenting upon it. However beautiful and appropri
ate the design" of the present great seal of the state of Minnesota,
there seems to be no evidence that it was ever legally adopted,
and the question may well be raised as to its validity. It lies,
however, in the eternal fitness of things that a state without a
legal constitution should also be without a seal.
At the joint convention of Dec. 19, 1857, Hon. Henry M. Rice
and Gen. James Shields, of Mexican War fame, were elected
senators. The Republicans supported David Cooper and Henry
D. Huff. During this session the presiding officer of the senate

660 FIFTY YEARS
was Richard G. Murphy, a somewhat eccentric character. His
decisions were often diverting. When perplexing questions
arose he would say gravely, "The chair can not decide more
than two questions at oncet." After passing many really impor
tant measures, the legislature adjourned March 25, to meet June
2, 1858. ADJOURNED SESSION.
The legislature met, pursuant to adjournment, June 2d, the
State having been admitted in the interim. Lieut. Gov. Hol
combe presided over the senate and proved an acceptable and
able presiding officer. The five million amendment having been ,
approved by the people, this legislature passed a banking law,
establishing banks in various parts of the State with the five
million bonds as a basis.
It can do no good at this late day to raise a question as to the
validity of the acts of the first state legislature, but it is due to
ourselves and others who with us at the time protested against
the validity of acts passed at this session, to give a few extracts
from senate and house journals tending to show that a feel
ing of distrust was quite general. The ground of this opinion
was the fact that the legislature elected as a state legislature
held its first session prior to the admission of the State, and under
the administration of the territorial governor, Medary, through
his secretary, acting in his place. The question was openly
discussed, not only in the legislature but in the public press of
the State.
As early as Dec. 8, 1887, the following protest was presented
in the senate:
Senate Chamber, St. Paul.
We, the undersigned senators of the state of Minnesota, do
hereby enter and record this, our solemn protest, against the
recognition by "this body, in any manner, directly or indirectly,
of Samuel Medary, Esquire, governor of the territory of Min- ,
nesota, as the governor of the state of Minnesota, or as being
invested with any of the rights, authority, privileges, powers or
functions of governor of said state of Minnesota.
And we do solemnly protest against the recognition by this
body, in any manner, of the claims of the said Samuel Medary,
to exercise any of the rights, authority, privileges, powers or

IN THE NORTHWEST. 661
functions of the governor of the state of Minnesota— such claim
being wholly unauthorized and unwarranted by the constitution
of the state of Minnesota; and in violation of the expressed will
of the people of the state of Minnesota, and an attempted usur
pation of office, at war with the fundamental principles of free
government, and dangerous to the liberties of the people.
D. G. Norton, Charles H. Lindsley,
Lewis McKune, E. N. Bates,
Geo. Watson, E. Hodges,
Edwin M. Somees, A. G. Hudson,
Boyd Phelps, Jonathan Chase,
J. K. Reiner, W. H. C. Folsom,
H. L. Thomas, S. S. Beman,
James Ridpath, Delano T. Smith.
Michael Cook,
On December 8th Mr. Norton offered the following resolution
to the senate:
"Whereas, By the provisions of the constitution the execu
tive officers of the State can not qualify until after the admission
of the State by Congress, and
" Whereas, There is no governor of the state of Minnesota to
whom acts may be submitted, as required by the constitution;
therefore, "Resolved, That this legislature can pass no acts which could
become a law until after the admission of the State by Congress,
and the qualification of the governor elected by the people."
The resolution was adopted and referred to the following com
mittee: Van Etten, Streeter, Jones, Norton, and Folsom.
The majority of the select committee reported December 21st,
claiming that by the enabling act the people of the Territory
were empowered to form a state government, which they did,
electing their delegates on the second Monday in July, 1857, to
form a state constitution, and take necessary steps for establish
ment of a state government; that these delegates met at the time
and place appointed, and on the twenty-ninth of August adopted
a constitution which was submitted to the people and adopted
by a majority of over 28,000 votes. That on the thirteenth of
October, in conformity with an article (section 16, article 16) of
the constitution then adopted, the people had elected representa-

662 FIFTY YEARS
tives to Congress, governor and lieutenant governor, judges and
members of both houses of the legislature, the latter to meet on
the first Wednesday in December at St. Paul.
The majority admitted that the governor elected under the act
could not qualify until after the admission of the State, but
claimed that the members of the legislature did not rest under
the same disability, but were competent to legislate because they
derived their power from the constitution itself, and had been
directed to meet for that purpose on the first Monday in Decem
ber, and that because they were thus required to meet they were
authorized to act. The people were omnipotent in the premises.
They had declared that the governor should not qualify until
after the admission of the State, and that the members of the
legislature should meet. It was absurd to suppose this body should
be called together and have no power to act. They held, moreover,
that the territorial governor was empowered to act until his suc
cessor could legally qualify; that the framers of the constitution
of Minnesota and the people had declared that he should
be continued in office until superseded by a state officer, and
that the very time had been specified when he should be thus su
perseded, namely, on the admission of the State into the Union,
and therefore that Samuel Medary was, de facto and dejure, gov
ernor of Minnesota ; that Minnesota was then a state out of the
Union, and that the acts' of the first legislature would be legal
ized when the State was admitted.
The minority report, signed by D. S. Norton and W. H. G'
Folsom, claimed that the constitution contemplated an admission
into the Union as a prerequisite to the exercise of state sover
eignty, in article 5, section 7, where it is enacted that "the term
of each of the executive officers named in this article shall com
mence upon taking the oath of office, after the State shall be ad
mitted by Congress into the Union, etc."
Section 9, same article, provides that "Laws shall be passed at
the first session of the legislature after the State is admitted into
the Union to carry out the provisions of this article.
"Section 1, article 16, schedule, provides that all process which
• may be issued under the authority of the territory of Minnesota
previous to its admission into the Union of the United States, shall
be as valid as if issued in the name of the State."
Section 8, same article, provides that if the constitution shall be

LN THE NORTHWEST. 663
adopted by a vote of the people, the governor of the Territory
shall forward a certified copy of the same to the president of the
United States, " to be by Mm laid before the Congress of the United
States." The minority claimed that under the first of the above cited
sections there can be no qualified governor (elected under, and
according to "the provisions of the constitution) to whom "bills",
must be submitted before they can become laws, until after
"admission" — nor indeed can there be any executive officers,
contemplated to perform the duties of their several offices, until
that time. ' .
In reference to the provisions of section 18, article 16, schedule,
as inconsistent" with that view, it was claimed that the territorial
government should continue, and that its officers should exercise
the sovereign powers delegated to them by the Union, until,
upon an admission by Congress, and a surrender of sovereignty
to the State, its authority should commence.
It was claimed that this section (6) of article 16, requiring the
legislature to convene on the first Wednesday of December, 1857,
was an oversight or error. After considerable debate the ma
jority repbrt was adopted by a party vote. A similar protest,
signed by all the Republican members of the house, was pre
sented to that body. In addition to these protests there was in
both branches of the legislature continuous and various protests
by the minority against the exercise of legislative functions.
In the house, on Jan. 25, 1858, Mr. Sheetz offered a resolution
with reference to the causes of the delay in the admission of
Minnesota, asking that a committee of three be appointed with
instructions to investigate the circumstances of this delay and
report to this house upon these points:
First — As to whose duty it was to forward to the president for
submission to Congress a copy of the constitution.
Second — Why an incorrect or incomplete copy of said consti
, tution was forwarded to the president.
Third — What official correspondence, if any, has passed be
tween the governor and the acting governor in regard to this
matter. On motion the resolution was adopted.
Mr. Sheetz, from the committee appointed to communicate
with the acting governor relative to the admission of the state
of Minnesota, submitted the following report:

664 FIFTY YEARS
To the Honorable House of Representatives:
Your committee appointed to inquire into the causes of the
probable delay in the admission of Minnesota into the Union,
ask leave to make the following report:
Your committee find that according to section 8 of the sched
ule to the constitution, it is made the duty of the governor of the
Territory, upon the adoption of the constitution by the people,
to forward a certified copy of the constitution to the president
of the United States, to be by him submitted to Congress.
Your committee have conferred with his excellency, Acting
Gov. Chase, and have ascertained from him that at or about
the time of the adjournment of the constitutional conventions,
there were deposited with him, as acting governor in the absence
of Gov. Medary, two copies of the constitution as adopted by the>
two branches of the constitutional convention, one copy signed
by fifty '-one members of the Democratic branch of the convention,
and the other signed by fifty-three members of the Republican
branch of the convention, that the two copies were preserved by
him in the same safe, side by side where they now are.
Your committee are further informed that a short time prior
to the departure of our senators and representatives elect for
Washington, the governor caused to be made 'a transcript of the
constitution as requested by the schedule and that instrument,
which transcript was forwarded to the president of the United
States. No record is known to your committee to exist of the time and
manner of making such transcript, and your committee, in the
absence of the governor and his private secretary, cannot ascer
tain whether said transcript contained the names of the members
of the two branches of the constitutional convention or not.
Your committee are also informed by Acting Gov. Chase
that there has been no official correspondence between the gov
ernor and himself upon this subject since the departure of the
former for Washington.
All of which is respectfully submitted and signed.
H. W. Sheetz,
G. L. Otis,
J. J. Cruttenden,
Committee.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 665
LAND GRANTS, RAILROAD SURVEYS AND CONSTRUCTION.
In May, 1857, Congress gave to Minnesota, then a territory,
a magnificent grant of about 9,000,000 acres of land, to aid
in the construction of several projected trunk roads through her
bounds. The roads specified were: From Stillwater, by way of
St. Paul and St. Anthony Falls, to a point between the foot of
Big Stone lake and the mouth of the Sioux Wood river, with a
branch via St. Cloud and Crow Wing to the navigable waters of
the Red River of the^North; from St. Paul and St. Anthony via
Minneapolis to a convenient point of junction west of the Mis
sissippi to the southern boundary of the Territory in the direc
tion of the mouth of the Big Sioux river, with a branch via Fari
bault to the north line of the state of Iowa, west of range 16;
from Winona to a point on the Big Sioux river south of the
forty-fifth parallel of north latitude; also from La Crescent via
-Target lake, up the valley of Root river, to a point of junction
with the last mentioned road, east of range 17, every al
ternate section of land designated by odd numbers, for six sec
tions in width on each side of said road and branches. It was
enacted that the lands granted were to be subject to the dis
posal of the legislature.
An extra session of the legislature was convened in June,
1857, to accept the grant and devise means to build the road.
The financial crisis of 1857 and unwise legislation in 1858,
notably the attempt to issue $5,000,000 in bonds to aid in build
ing the roads, served to delay the various enterprises projected,
and for many years but little work was done, notwithstanding
persistent effort at every state legislature to effect favorable
changes in the condition of affairs.
A few of the $5,000,000 bonds were issued, but the general
dissatisfaction, and feeling that they were not issued on a legal
or rational basis, depreciated their value, and they were sold at
a sacrifice and afterward redeemed by the State.
THE NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD.
The idea of a railroad from the Atlantic to the Pacific was
openly discussed as early as 1837, in which year Dr. Hartwell
Carver memorialized Congress on the subject and promulgated
his views through the press and by pamphlets. In 1845 Asa

666 FIFTY YEARS
Whitney evolved a plan for the northern route, and awakened
considerable popular enthusiasm, but by many the project was
considered as a swindling scheme, or at best a visionary enter
prise. Mr. Whitney made a preliminary survey from Prairie du
Chien as far as the Rocky mountains. Mr. Josiah Perham, after
ward the first president of the Northern Pacific Railroad Com
pany, in 1857 projected a road from Maine to Puget Sound, to .
be known as the People's Pacific Railway, and obtained a charter
from the Maine legislature, but on bringing his scheme to the atten
tion of Congress was prevailed upon by Thaddeus Stevens to
abandon this scheme for another, agreeing to aid him in the pas
sage of a bill for the construction of the present Northern Pacific
route. The bill passed both houses and was signed by President
Lincoln, July 2, 1864. The first permanent officers were: Josiah
Perham, president; Willard Sear, vice president; Abiel Abbott,
secretary; J. S. Withington, treasurer.
The grants of land voted by Congress were accepted, and in
the following year the states of Wisconsin and Minnesota granted
right of way. Not much was done until 1869, when Jay Cooke
& Co. became financially interested in the road, and might have
been successful in placing the bonds of the road upon the east
ern markets but for the European war, during which time the
firm of Jay Cooke & Co. went down overburdened with railroad
securities. The financial panic of 1873 which followed found
the company in possession of 555 miles of completed railroad, of
which 450 reached from Duluth to Bismarck, and 105 from Kla
math to Tacoma on Puget Sound; but embarrassed by want of
funds the enterprise made but little headway, and in 1875 Henry
Villard was appointed receiver, and a decree of sale obtained by
which the bondholders were enabled to become the preferred
stockholders. Under the new arrangement and by the powerful
aid of Henry Villard and Thomas F. Oakes, the public, and
especially the capitalists of the country, regained faith in the en
terprise, and the work was pushed steadily forward until Sep
tember, 1883, when the golden spike was driven at Gold Creek by
Henry Villard. Mr. Villard resigned the presidency of the road
in December of the same year, and Robert Harris succeeded
him. The main line of this road extends from Duluth to Tacoma,
a distance of nearly 2,000 miles, and the number of miles on the
main and branch lines aggregates 3,395.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 667
The magnitude of the w^>rk, the leagues of wilderness to be
traversed, the mountain ranges to be crossed, the streams to.be
bridged, the supposed obstructions from wintry storms to be over
come, all these were of such a nature as to make, the project
seem impossible. It was, nevertheless, through the liberality of
the government and the enthusiasm and executive ability of its
managers, accomplished in a comparatively short time.
The government contributed to this road a land grant of forty
sections to the mile. With this liberal basis, bonds for the
required amount of money were speedily furnished to build
and equip the road from Lake Superior to the Pacific coast.
This road has, however, the advantage of southern roads, in that
it traverses a rich agricultural and mineral region throughout
almost its entire extent, passing through belts of timbered land
not excelled in the quantity and quality of their production.
The mineral regions are rich in gold, silver, copper, lead and
coal. The country along the road is being rapidly settled, and the
property in its possession, and that of those who have made im
provements along its line, has increased to many hundred times
its original value.
THE CHICAGO, ST. PAUL, MINNEAPOLIS & OMAHA RAILROAD.
The Wisconsin legislature in 1854 chartered a company to
construct and operate this road, then called the St. Croix, Su
perior & Bayfield railroad. May 3, 1856, Congress granted twelve
sections of land to the mile to aid in building a railroad from
Hudson in the St. Croix valley to Bayfield on Lake Superior,
with a branch to Superior City. July 5, 1864, this grant was in
creased to twenty sections per mile, with indemnity lands to
make up deficiencies. These lands were ceded directly to the
State. A company was created by the state legislature of Wis
consin, to which were consigned the lands and franchises granted
by the government for the purpose of building the road. The
lands and franchises passed through several organized com
panies. Impediments to construction arising, extension of time
was asked and obtained from the United States and Wisconsin
governments, complications arose, delaying the construction still
further, other companies claimed part of the indemnity lands,
and litigation ensued. The state legislature upheld the char-

668 FIFTY YEARS
tered right, and appointed agents to ^atch the timber and pro
tect the interests of the company. A sum amounting to $200, -
000 was collected from trespassers and at once applied to the
building of the roads in 1879.
The St. Paul, Stillwater & Taylor's Falls Company in 1872
had built a line of railroad from Hudson to New Richmond. In
1874 the St. Croix, Superior & Bayfield Company obtained pos
session of this line of road and continued it in the direction of
Superior, completing it - in 1883 to Superior City, Bayfield,
Washburn, and Ashland. The company have built a road from
Hudson by River Falls to Ellsworth in Pierce county. The main
line to Lake Superior passes through a rich agricultural and im
mense pine region. The company have constructed at Wash
burn, on Chequamegon bay, extensive docks, elevators, ware
houses and shops. There are on the main line 20 wooden
bridges from 25 to 100 feet long, 10 from 100 to 300 feet, 10 from
300 to 500 feet, one of them on a branch of White river being
90 feet high. The amount of logs and lumber carried over this
road amounts (1888) to 1,240,000,000 feet, aud 1,500,000,000
feet remain. There are few trips more enjoyable to the tourist
than the one over this road, terminating as it does on the north,
in a region attractive for its beautiful scenery, including the
lovely bays of Ashland, Washburn and Bayfield, with their
picturesque shores, hills green with spruce pine and balsam,
and the -Apostle islands, favorite haunts of summer travelers.
The road is splendidly equipped and well officered.
THE ST. PAUL & DULUTH RAILROAD (FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE
LAKE SUPERIOR & MISSISSIPPI).
•
The first land grant for Minnesota was made in 1854, for a road
from St. Paul to Lake Superior. This bill gave twenty sections
per mile to the company building. While the bill was in the
hands of the enrolling committee, some fraudulent changes were
made in its provisions, as a consequence of which, after it had
passed both houses and was in the hands of the president, it was
recalled by the house of representatives, which had originated it,
the fraudulent passages were pointed out, and the further con
sideration of the bill was indefinitely postponed.
Railroad enterprise received a check from wjbdch it did not re-

IN TBE NORTHWEST. 669
cover in many years. May 5, 1864, Congress gave ten alternate
sections on each side of lands to aid in building the Lake Supe
rior & Mississippi railroad. This grant was increased to twenty
sections per mile, and indemnity lands were given. The state
of Minnesota has also given seven sections of swamp land per mile.
The city of St. Paul also gave a bonus of $250,000 in city bonds,
to run twenty years, and St. Louis county gave $150,000 in bonds
for a like period. From the proceeds of these lands and bonds
an excellent thoroughfare has been built and maintained. The
franchises pertaining to this road changed holders many times
before the road was completed.
The original incorporators were mostly citizens of Phila
delphia who, under the name and title of the "Nebraska &
Lake Superior Company," obtained their charter from the terri
torial legislature May 25, 1857. Their chartered rights were
amended and their name changed to that of "Lake Superior &
Mississippi Railroad Company." The times for ' building were
extended by Congress and the state legislature from time to time,
as asked for by the company. The road was commenced in 1867
and completed to Duluth in 1870, and the name changed to '"¦ St.
Paul & Duluth" in 1875. The first cost of building was $7, 700, -
000. The company have in addition built branch roads from
White Bear to Minneapolis, from White Bear to Stillwater, from
Wyoming to Taylor's Falls, from Rush City to Grantsburg, from
North Pacific Junction to Cloquet, and a branch in Pine county
to Sandstone City. The Taylor's Falls & Lake Superior branch
road received seven sections per mile of swamp lands from the
State, $10,000 in ten per cent bonds from the town of Chisago
Lake, $5,000 from the town of Shafer, and $18,600 from the town
of Taylor's Falls.
Presidents of the St. Paul & Duluth railroad: Lyman Dayton,
W. L. Banning, Frank Clark, John P. Illsley, H. H. Porter,
James Smith, Jr., and Wm. H. Fisher.
MINNESOTA & MANITOBA RAILROAD.
Under the land grant of 1857 a road was projected between
St. Paul and St. Anthony Falls, and completed in 1862, the first
railroad in Minnesota, though others had been projected at an
earlier period. This road was afterward extended to Brecken-
ridge on Red river, and branches were built to St. Cloud, and

670 FIFTY YEARS
from St. Cloud via Fergus' Falls and Crookston to the national
boundary at St. Vincent, and from Brekenridge through Dakota
to the Great Falls in Montana. Subordinate branches to various
points in Northern Minnesota, Dakota and Montana were also
built. The roads from Minneapolis to St. Cloud and Brecken-
ridge were built with German capital.
After the completion of the main lines a financial depression
occurred, the bonds were sold at a low figure and subsequently
passed into the hands of J. J. Hill and others. The aggregate
mileage of this road and its branches amount to 2,685 miles. It
traverses a wheat growing region not surpassed on the continent.
The present terminus, the Great Falls of Missouri, is a mining
centre for gold and silver. The country tributary to the road
can not fail to make it one of the most important highways of
commerce inthe great West, and thus far the energy and ability
of its managers has made it equal to the immense demands
upon it. STILLWATER, WHITE BEAR & ST. PAUL RAILROAD.
Under the grant of 1857, a road from Stillwater to St. Paul
was projected, the road to commence at Stillwater and to pro
ceed via St. Paul and Minneapolis to the western boundary of
the State. The company holding the grant, through legislative
action effected a change in the conditions of the grant allowing
them to commence at St. Paul, building west and northwest, as a
result of which the road from Stillwater to St. Paul was not
built. After ten years of inactivity upon this portion of the
road, the Stillwater people demanded, through their representa
tives in the legislature of 1867, legislation compelling the build
ing of the road as originally devised. At this session Hon.
John McKusick, not then a member of the legislature, but still
an influential man, and representing public sentiment, impor
tuned the company holding the franchises, through the president,
Hon. Edmund Rice, either to build the road or to transfer the
franchises to some, responsible company who would build it.
Hon. Henry A. Jackman and the writer, members of the ninth
legislature, after conference with the president of the company,
introduced a bill conveying the franchises from the original com
pany to a company of St. Croix valley men, to be organized
forthwith, with the conditions that they at once proceed to build

IN THE NORTHWEST. 671
the road from Stillwater to White Bear, connecting with the St.
Paul & Duluth at that point. A section was placed in the bill
locating the railroad lands near Kandiyohi lake. These lands.
were among the most valuable in the grant and were to inure to
the new company at the completion of the road. The bill 'was
passed and approved by the governor. The road was completed
to Stillwater Dec. 20, 1869.
The legislature of 1869 transferred 44,246 acres, or one-half of
the Kandiyohi lands, to the St. Paul, Stillwater & Taylor's Falls
railroad. THE ST. PAUL, STILLWATER & TAYLOR'S FALLS RAILROAD.
' Part of the lands originally granted to the Stillwater, White
Bear & St. Paul railroad were transferred by the legislature of
1869 to the St. Paul, Stillwater & Taylor's Falls railroad. The
proceeds of the sale were to be applied to the construction of the
above named road. The company was organized under the general
laws of the State and incorporated' Sept. 23, 1869. The routeof the
road defined in the articles of incorporation is between St. Paul
and Taylor's Falls by way of Stillwater, passing through or near
Marine, with a branch road to Hudson, Wisconsin. ' Length of
main line from St. Paul to Stillwater is seventeen and fifty-four
one hundredths miles. Hudson branch line from Stillwater junc
tion to Lake St. Croix, three and one-fourth. South Stillwater
branch line from Stillwater to South Stillwater, three miles.
The first train by this line reached Stillwater from St. Paul Feb.
9, 1872. The capital stock, $1,000,000, maybe increased at pleas
ure. The number of shares of capital stock is 10,000 of $100
each, limit of indebtedness, $1,500,000.
That part of the road to be built from Stillwater to Taylor's
Falls up to the present date has not been completed.
THE WISCONSIN CENTRAL (BRANCH) RAILROAD.
In 1884 the Wisconsin Central built a branch road from Chip
pewa Falls via New Richmond to St. Paul, passing into Ramsey
county east and south of White Bear. The bridge over the St.
Croix river about four miles above Stillwater, belonging to this
road, is a fine piece of workmanship, built entirely of iron and
resting on solid stone piers. The total length of the structure is

672 FIFTY YEARS
2,400 feet, there being ten spans, each 160 feet long, and a via
duct, 800 feet long, on the Wisconsin side.
The track is. 87 feet above low water mark. The entire cost of
the bridge was about $197,000. It was damaged by a cyclone in
1885 to the amount of $10,000.
TAYLOR'S FALLS & LAKE SUPERIOR RAILROAD.
The franchises and swamp land grant of the Lake Superior &
Mississippi railroad pertaining to the Taylor's Falls branch
were in 1875, by legislative enactment, transferred to the Tay
lor's Falls & Lake Superior Company. In 1879 these franchises
and lands were transferred to the Minneapolis & St. Louis Rail
road Company. In the fall of 1879 the St. Paul & Duluth Com
pany built a branch road to Centre City. In the spring of 1880
the Minneapolis & St. Louis Company built three miles of road
southward from Taylor's Falls, accomplishing in that distance as
difficult and expensive work of its kind as had been done in the
State, the grading being made through the trap rock ledges of
the Dalles, and along the face of the nearly perpendicular bluffs
overlooking the river. In the summer of 1880 they transferred *
their franchises and one-half their swamp land grant to the St.
Paul & Duluth Company, by whom the road was completed from
Centre City to the road already built at Taylor's Falls, Oct. 29,
1880.
CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE & ST. PAUL RAILROAD — RIVER DIVISION.
The river division of this road follows the west bank of the
river from Dubuque to Hastings, passing through all the river
towns. Crossing the river at Hastings it passes through
the towns of Newport, Cottage Grove and Denmark, and the
cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, terminal stations. The line
from St. Paul to Hastings was built in 1869, by the Chicago &
St. Paul Railway Company, under charter granted to the Min
nesota & Pacific Railroad Company in 1857. The present man
agement obtained control of the line in 1872. The bridge across
the Mississippi at Hastings was constructed in 1878, and was the
first iron railroad bridge in the State. In respect to cost and work
manship it ranked with the important structures of the North
west. The total length of the river bridge is 706 feet, and con
sists of an iron draw span 300 feet long, two fixed spans each of

IN THE NORTHWEST. 673"
150 feet in length, and a combination span on the north shore
106 feet in length. The cost of the structure was $200,000. In
1884 a branch line was extended from Point Douglas to Still
water. MINNEAPOLIS, SAULT STE. MARIE & ATLANTIC.
The following memorial, introduced by the writer while a-
member of the state senate of 1877, is the first public mention
or suggestion of this road as far as we are aware. It was adopted
by the legislature, forwarded to Washington, read and duly
referred to the committee on railroads:
STATE OF MINNESOTA.
NINETEENTH SESSION. S. F. NO. 36.

A MEMORIAL
Introduced by Mr. Folsom, Jan. 12, 1877.
TO CONGRESS FOR RIGHT OF WAY AND GRANT OF LAND FOR
RAILROAD PURPOSES.
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States m
Congress assembled:
Your memorialists, the legislature of the state of Minnesota,
respectfully represent that the rapidly increasing settlements of
the Northwest, the surplus agricultural products and material
developments demand greater and cheaper facilities than now
existing, and a more direct transit to the Atlantic seaboard and
European ports, and eastern products transported to the North
west. That the saving in the distance to eastern markets of three
hundred miles, by a railroad route from St. Paul and Minne
apolis to Sault Ste. Marie, will tend to more fully develop the
great wheat growing region of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Dakota,
and Montana. The surplus of wheat, which forms one of the
most reliable exports from our government, in shortening the
distance to European markets three hundred miles will give
encouragement to this great source of wealth to our whole land,
i nd deserves aid and protection.
That by reason of the facts set forth in this memorial, and
43

674 FIFTY YEARS
many other considerations, the nearest transit makes cheap
transportation and thereby develops the country and increases
prosperity. To further these objects, we ask Congress to donate land to
aid, and the right of way through government land to build, a
railroad from the cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis to the falls
of St. Marie's river.
Sept. 20, 1879, a large mass meeting was held at St. Croix
Falls, the object being to consider the feasibility of the "Soo"
route. Over five hundred persons were present, among them
delegates from Minneapolis, St. Paul, Stillwater, and Superior
City. The subject was discussed and resolutions passed favor
ing the building of the road to Sault Ste. Marie via the Dalles of
St. Croix.
Not, however;till Sept. 12, 1883, were the articles of incorpo
ration filed in Wisconsin and Minnesota by ,W. D. Washburn
and others of Minneapolis, for the Minneapolis, Sault Ste. Marie
& Atlantic Railroad Company.
The road was completed, to the "Soo" in December, 1887. At
that point it connects with a branch of the Canadian Pacific. The
St. Marie river is to be crossed on a union bridge built by the roads
centring at that point. It is now under construction, and will
eost when completed over a million dollars. The length of the
line is about 225 miles. The capital stock is $12,000,000, divided
into 80,000 shares of common stock, and 40,000 shares preferred.
The board of directors for the first year is composed of the fol
lowing persons, all residents of Minneapolis: W. D. Washburn,
president; H. T. Welles, John Martin, Thomas Lowry, George
R. Newell, Anthony Kelly, M. Loring, Clinton Morrison, J. K.
Sidle, W. W. Eastman, W. D. Hale, C. A. Pillsbury, and Chas.
J. Martin.
The following comparison of distance will be of interest to the
pedple of the Northwestern States: Miles. Miles.
St. Paul to Chicago  411
Chieago to New York< City  962
New York to Liverpool  3,040
 4,413
St. Paul (via Sault) to Montreal  ,  997
Montreal to Liverpool  2,790
 3,787
Difference in favor of Montreal route  626

IN THE NORTHWEST. 675
CHICAGO, BURLINGTON & NORTHERN RAILROAD.
The Chicago, Burlington & Northern Company constructed a
Toad from Chicago to Savannah, Illinois, and from that point up
the Mississippi, along its east bank to St. Paul, crossing the St.
¦Croix at Prescott. The road from Savannah to St. Paul is two
hundred and eighty-five miles in length, and was completed in
1886. The cost complete, including rolling stock, was $30,000
3>er mile. The road was built on a grade of nine and eight-tenths
feet to the mile, and its curvature nowhere exceeds three degrees
in one hundred feet. The St. Croix, Chippewa, Wisconsin,
Platte, Grant, and Fever rivers are crossed by iron bridges.
MILEAGE OF ROADS CENTRING IN ST. PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS
IN 1887. Miles.
Manitoba  3,200
Northern Pacific  2,200
Hastings & Dakota  344
Pacific division of the Minneapolis & St. Louis  223
Minneapolis & Pacific  230
•Omaha, Western division  627
Milwaukee, River division  100
Milwaukee, Iowa division  100
Minneapolis & St. Louis..;  100
Burlington & Northern  ;  100
.Northwestern, Omaha section  176
Minnesota & Northwestern (now Chicago, St. Paul & Kansas City)  200
Wisconsin Central  100
Soo Ste. Marie  ,  210
North Wisconsin  250
St Paul & Duluth  216
Total  8,476
-CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF
THE ST. CROIX RIVER.
As early as 1858, when the writer was a member of the Min
nesota senate, he introduced a memorial to Congress for the im-
-provement of the St. Croix river, and of the Mississippi at Beef
-Slough bar, below Lake Pepin. This was the first memorial pre
sented on this subject. Subsequent legislatures continued to
memoralize Congress, but it was twenty years of continuous
pleading before any attention was paid t.o the subject. In 1878

676 FIFTY YEARS
Thaddeus C. Pound, representing the St. Croix valley in Con
gress, secured the first appropriation. Mr. Pound also secured
the first appropriation for the Mississippi reservoirs.
The following appropriations were made from time to time:
1878, $8,000; 1879, $10,000; 1880, $8,000; 1881, $10,000; 1882,
$30,000; 1883, $7,5Q0.
This money has been expended under the supervision of Maj.
Farquier and Charles J. Allen of the United States engineering
corps, with headquarters at St. Paul. The improvements car
ried out consisted in removing snags and all impediments in the
channel or along shore, removing sandbars, thus deepening the
channel, building wing dams, and riprapping the shores. The
work has been well done, and the expenditure is a most judi
cious one. INLAND NAVIGATION.
As the prosperity of a country depends, next to its natural
resources, upon the avenues of communication with other coun
tries, the people of the Northwest naturally took a great interest
in the improvement of their waterways. The states lying along
the Mississippi and its tributaries found by these streams an ad
vantageous southern outlet for their produce. But much needed
to be done in the direction of improving navigation by clearing
away obstructions, deepening the channels, and affording facili
ties for crossing rapids. As the settlements extended toward
the great lakes, it became evident that the prosperity of the
country would be greatly enhanced by communication with the
lakes. In the absence or scarcity of navigable streams this com
munication, if obtained, must be by the improvement of naviga
tion of the upper portion of these streams having their source
near the lakes and their connection by canals with the lakes or
their tributaries. By this means it was thought a better route
to the Atlantic and to the Eastern States would be afforded for
grain and other products than that afforded by the Mississippi.
In the Minnesota state legislature of 1875 a bill was introduced
making an appropriation of $10,000 for a survey of the route
connecting the waters of Lake Superior with those of the St.
Croix. This bill met with much opposition, but was finally
passed, the amount having been reduced by amendment to $3,000.
Lucas R. Stannard and Robert B. Davis were appointed com
missioners, and with the meagre amount did all that was possi-

IN THE NORTHWEST. 677
ble to be done in surveying the route. As the author of the bill,
I insert her°e, as a matter of history, and as a sufficient explana
tion of my own views and those of the friends of the measure, a
synopsis of the arguments presented to the senate advocating the
measure: "The route from Duluth via the lakes and St. Lawrence, and
the Atlantic to England, according to correct computation, is
about six hundred miles shorter than the route via Chicago and
New York. The northern route is being made feasihle by the
improvements made by the British government on the Welland
canal and Lachine rapids, and by the improvements made by
our own government on the St. Clair flats and the Sault Ste,
Marie canal, by which a depth of water is obtained sufficient to
float vessels drawing twenty feet. This route to Europe will be
traversed in much less time than the New York route. Vessels
will be constructed for this inland American trade, and starting
from the west end of Lake Superior with a cargo of grain that
two weeks before was waving in the sunlight on northwestern
prairies, will pass direct to Europe without breaking of bulk or
reshipping, while the southern route requires reshipments at
Buffalo and New York. Figures can scarcely do justice to the
vast business that will be transacted on this open route as the
northern part of the United States and the adjacent British
possessions are settled.
"The opening of this route will tend to create new treaty
stipulations and unlooked for interpretations of the old with
the Dominion government, and establish commercial con
fidence and secure trade not realized to-day. Cheap transpor
tation is the demand of the age, and this route will afford to the
hundreds of millions of bushels of wheat and the commerce of
Central North America the desired outlet to the best markets of
the world. To many these ideas may seem chimerical, but we
believe that the progress of the country and the development
of her commerce in the not distant future will justify them, and
that predictions now regarded as fanciful will be fulfilled to the
letter. "Minnesota as a state is just in the age of development. She
is rising to power and influence. Much depends upon our legis
lature, more than depended upon the legislature of New York
when, actuated by good counsels it connected the waters of the

678 FIFTY YEARS
Hudson with those of Lake Erie by the 'Clinton Ditch,' so>
called in derision by the enemies of the measure. But the wis
dom of Dewitt Clinton, the originator of that famous water
way, advanced the settlement of the great West at least a quarter
of a century.
"Minnesota in her location holds the key that will unlock the
largest body of fresh water on the globe, and open to it one of
the most fertile and extensive wheat growing districts on the
continent} a country that will soon vie with the country around
the Black sea in the quantity and quality of its grain produc
tion. ' ' Shall we stand idly by whilst our neighboring states are mov
ing to secure cheaper communications with the seaboard states ?
Cheap transportation, the lever that moves the world, is claim
ing the favorable attention of Congress, and men and means
have been provided to ascertain the most feasible routes on
which to bestow her aid for the transferring of the surplus prod
ucts of the country to the markets of the East.
"The reports made thus far by the national committee make
no allusion to Minnesota's great gateway to the East by Lake
Superior, nor to the improvement of the Sault Ste. Marie canal.
The committee dwelt somewhat elaborately upon the project of
connecting the Mississippi with the lakes by means of a canal
between the waters of Wisconsin and Fox rivers, neither of
them good navigable streams. No authorized survey has ever
commended this as a cheap route. Only one plan can be adopted
by which a thoroughfare can be made profitable to the govern
ment and to the Northwest over this route, and that is to con
struct a ship canal along the Wisconsin river from the portage to
the mouth.
"If the government can be prevailed upon to open up this
route no one will deny that it will be of incalculable benefit to
the people of Wisconsin, and to those further up the valley of
the Mississippi. Let its friends do all they can to push forward
the great movement.
" To Minnesotians I would say, let Wisconsin have much of
our aid. I trust it will not take thirty-five years of the future
to open up what thirty-five years of the past has projected. Wis
consin alone and unassisted ought to have accomplished thia
great work years ago, if the work could have been accomplished
as cheaply as it has been represented.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 679°
"Let Minnesota look nearer home. The headwaters of the St.
Croix are nearer to Lake Superior than those of any other navi
gable stream. Large Mississippi boats, whenever occasion has
demanded, have made their way to the Dalles of the St. Croix.
The falls and rapids above this point for a distance of four miles
have a fall of but seventy-four feet, an elevation that could be over
come by means of locks. By means of wing dams at Kettle River
falls, and other improvements at no very great cost, the river
could be made navigable to the mouth of the Namakagon. This
riyer, though put down as a tributary, is in reality the main
stream, and can be navigated to Namakagon lake, which is but
thirty miles from Ashland, and can be connected by a canal with
Chequamegon bay, or with White river, a distance of only a few
miles. "If we pass up the St. Croix from the mouth of the Namaka
gon river, we shall find no serious obstructions to navigation
till we reach the great dam built by the lumbermen twenty miles
below Upper Lake St. Croix. The conformation here is of such
a character that an inexhaustible supply of water can be held
— more than three times what is held in the celebrated Summit
lake in Ohio, which feeds the canal connecting the waters of the
Ohio and Lake Erie. It is but a mile from the former lake to the
source of Brule river, an affluent of Lake Superior, but as the
waters of the Brule are rapid and the channel rocky, and its
outlet is on a bleak and unhospitable stretch of lake shore,
destitute of any harbor, we prefer the route from the Upper St.
Croix lake to the bay of Superior, a distance of about thirty
miles, a route well supplied by reservoirs of water, and with no
difficult or insurmountable hills to overcome.
1 ' Hon. H. M. Rice, who was one of the commissioners to survey
the St. Marie's canal, pronounces this the most feasible and di
rect route for our contemplated canal.
"Other routes have been proposed, as from the St. Croix to
the Nemadji and St. Louis rivers, but of the feasibility of these
¦I am not so definitely informed.
"Believing, gentlemen of the senate, that you are in full
accord with me that this great Northwest demands not only state
aid in developing our natural resources, but the assistance of
the general government, I recommend the proper presentation
of this subject before Congress by our senators and representa-

680 FIFTY YEARS
tives until our prayers are granted for the improvement of the
same." In the session of the Minnesota legislature of 1876 I again
introduced a memorial to Congress asking for an appropriation
of $10,000 to make a government survey of the St. Croix and
Lake Superior routes.
George R. Stuntz, the veteran explorer, surveyor and civil
engineer, who accompanied the United States reservoir commis
sion to the Upper St. Croix waters, and who had made previous
scientific examinations for the purpose of forming a correct idea
of the contour of the summit dividing the waters flowing north
and south, and of the practicability of constructing reservoirs,
and of the cost of connecting the Lake Superior and St. Croix
waters, makes the following report, which is valuable for the
reliable data given :
"There are evidences that in the glacial period this was the
channel through which flowed a river of ice, and that subsequently
for a long period a vast volume of water coursed through this
channel from Lake Superior to and down the Mississippi. The
valley is everywhere of great width in proportion to the present
volume of water, showing evidences of currents of great velocity
fifty feet above the high water marks of the present time. These
ancient banks of the river are composed of heavy drift gravel
and boulders bearing the marks of the glacial action and having
their origin north of Lake Superior. This valley extends across
the height of land in township 45, in range 11 west, and in the
northern part of it the Brule river rises and flows north into
Lake Superior.
"At the copper range in township 48, range 10 west, section
23, a ledge of trap rock stands in the valley. In the eddy of this
rock and extending to the southward or up the present stream
is a well defined moraine of large boulders and gravel showing
that the glacial river ran south. To the north of this point the
Brule river makes a straight cut to the lake through sandy red
clay deposits peculiar to that region.
"In this ancient valley the lowest point on the summit at the
headwaters of these two streams is about 460 feet above Lake
Superior [Lake St. Croix, at Stillwater, is 117 feet higher than
Lake Superior] and 346 feet above Lake St. Croix. Upper Lake
St. Croix is 12 feet below this summit. The St. Croix river one

IN THE NORTHWEST. 681
mile above the mouth of Moose river is 25 feet below this sum
mit. The St. Croix river discharges 15.360 cubic feet of water
per minute at the mouth of Moose creek. The Brule river dis
charges about 5.805 cubic feet of water per minute in the north
part of township 46, range 10. The distance from Taylor's Falls
to Lake Superior by the valley of the St. Croix and the valley
of the Brule river is nearly 150 miles.
"There are several exposures of trap rock along these streams
and an abundance of brown sandstone oif good quality for build
ing purposes, being easily worked.
"Can Lake St. Croix, at Stillwater, be connected with Lake
Superior by canal and slackwater navigation? Yes. This
question has been definitely settled by the recent examination of
the United States engineers, under the direction of Maj. Chas.
J. Allen, of the sources of the St Croix river, with reference to
the construction of reservoirs to improve the navigation of that
river and the Mississippi.
"By constructing a dam one mile above the mouth of Moose
creek, on the St. Croix, of sufficient height to raise the water 25
feet, cutting a canal 75 feet wide, 12 feet deep, 1£ miles long,
across the summit, and building a dam in township 46, range 10,
across the Brule river, high enough to raise the water to the
same height as the dam on the St. Croix, and you construct a
lake over thirty miles long, affording uninterrupted navigation
across the summit for that distance, and utilize the waters of the
St. Croix and its branches and the Brule, and by the capacity
before given the amount of Water is sufficient to pass vessels
through locks 75 feet wide, 300 feet long, 12J feet lift, at the rate
of 3 per hour, or 73 in 24 hours, at the dryest season of the year.
This settles the question of practicability.
"The whole improvement will cost less than $8, 000, 000, and by
placing the lowest dam and lock at Prescott so as to always hold
Lake St. Croix at the high water mark will give two hundred
miles of slackwater navigation connecting the Mississippi river
with Lake Superior, accommodating boats of large size and deep
draft, propelled by steam, at the usual rates of speed used on the
rivers. Average cost per mile, $40,000.
" It would accomplish another object. The improvement of
navigation on the Mississippi river by a system of reservoirs on
its tributaries would be most effectually accomplished by hold-

682 FIFTY YEARS
ing one or two feet of extra head upon each of the thirteen dams
proposed, thus storing up during the spring freshets vastly more
water than can be held in the small reservoirs on the tributaries
of the St. Croix. There are no very large natural reservoirs in
the Upper St. Croix valley.
' ' Hold a three foot head on the lake as a reserve from the spring
freshets and you have stored up 34,073,000 cubic yards of water
to be used in the dry season in August and September. Con
tinue this plan to the source and you have in the St. Croix val
ley a continuous reservoir one hundred and fifty miles long.
Connect the two systems as proposed above and you have a route
furnishing the cheapest transportation that can be had and at
the same time obtain a system of large reservoirs to improve the
navigation of the Mississippi river.
"This is one of the improvements that the Northwest needs
for its present, future and more perfect development.
" Th e proposition and figures are given, after a series of exami
nations extending through a period of over twenty-fiveyears, for
the purpose of calling out investigation."
THE WATERWAYS CONVENTION OF 1885.
Public discussions of the matter in the legislature and in con
ventions were not entirely in vain. Public attention was-
aroused and interest awakened in the great question of inland
navigation. In 1885 the great waterways convention convened
in St. Paul, at the call of Gov. Hubbard, of Minnesota. This
convention was attended by over 1„000 delegates from the states
of Florida, Louisiana, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Illinois,
Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, and from the territories of
Dakota and Montana. Ex-Gov. Bross, of Illinois, acted as
temporary chairman. The permanent organization elected Maj.
Wm. Warren, of Kansas City, president, Gen. G. W. Jones, of
Iowa, vice president, and Platt B. Walker, of Minnesota, secre
tary. Various schemes for internal improvement were brought be
fore the convention and ably advocated, but each in the interest
of a particular section. The members from Florida wanted a*
ship canal for that State. Illinois and Eastern Iowa advocated
the Hennepin canal scheme. Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska,
Western Iowa, Dakota, and Montana demanded the improve-

IN THE NORTHWEST, 683-
ment of the Missouri river. Wisconsin and Northern Iowa the
completion of the Fox and Wisconsin canal. Minnesota and
Wisconsin agreed with all for the improvement of the Missis
sippi from the falls of St. Anthony to the Balize, ' for the im
provement of the Sault Ste. Marie canal, and for the internal
improvements asked for generally in the states and territories
represented. The result was "the passage of a series of resolutions recom
mending a liberal policy in the distribution of improvements,
and favoring every meritorious project for the increase of facili
ties for water transportation, but recommending as a subject of
paramount importance the immediate and permanent improve
ment of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and their navigable
tributaries. It was recommended that the depth of the Missis
sippi be increased to six feet between Cario and the falls of St.
Anthony. The Hennepin canal was strongly indorsed, as wa*
also the improvement of the Sault Ste. Marie, and of the naviga
tion of Wisconsin and Fox rivers, of the Red River of the North,
and of the Chippewa, St. Croix and Minnesota rivers. The con
vention unanimously recommended as a sum proper for these
improvements the appropriation of $25,000,000.
Some of the papers presented were elaborately prepared, asna
deserve to be placed on permanent record. The memorial of Mr.
E. W. Durant, of Stillwater, contains many valuable statistics.
We quote that portion containing a statement of the resources
and commerce of the valleys of the Mississippi and St. Croix:
" The Northw«stern States have not had the recognition that
is due to the agricultural and commercial requirements of this
vast and poplous territory, whose granaries and fields not only
feed the millions of this continent, but whose annual export con
stitutes a most important factor in the food calculation of foreign
nations. During the past decade the general government has
expended $3, 000, 000 on the waterways of the Upper Mississippi.
The improvements inaugurated by the general government in
removing many of the serious impediments to navigation war
rants the belief that still more extensive improvements should
be made. It is an error to suppose that the palmy days of steam
boating on western rivers has passed. In demonstration of
this take the quantity of lumber sent down the Mississippi.
There was shipped from the St. Croix river during the year 1884

684 FIFTY YEARS
to, various distributing points along the Mississippi river 250,-
000,000 feet of lumber, 40,000,000 of lath, 37,000,000 of shingles,
2,000,000 of pickets; from the Chippewa river during the same
period, 883,000,000 feet of lumber, 223,000,000 of shingles and
102,000,000 of lath and pickets; from Black river during the
same period was shipped 250,000,000 feet of lumber, 40,000,000
shingles, and 32,000,000 lath and pickets, aggregating 1,383,000,-
000 feet of lumber, 300,000,000 of shingles and 176,000,000 of
•lath. The tonnage of this product alone foots up over 3,000,000
tons. The lumber value of raft and cargoes annually floated to '
market on the Mississippi will not vary far from $20,000,000.
The capital invested in steamboats, 100 in number, used for
towing purposes is $1,250,000; while the saw mills, timber plants
and other investments incidental to the prosecution of this
branch of industry will foot up fully $500,000; while the labor
and their dependences engaged in this pursuit alone will equal
the population of one of our largest western states. There are
sixteen bridges spanning the river between St. Paul and St.
Louis, and it is important that some additional safeguards be
thrown around these bridges to afford greater safety to river
commerce." Mr. Durant says there has been a general cry for some time
past that the days of steamboating on the Northern Mississippi
and tributaries were over; but he thinks it will be forcibly
shown in the coming convention that, if they are, the only cause
for it is the extremely short and uncertain seasons for steam
boating, resulting from the neglected and filled ^ip channels. If
the channels can be improved, so that steamers can be sure of
five months' good running each year, he thinks they will prove
to be one of the most important means of transportation in the
Upper Mississippi valley. They will then be used for the trans
portation up and down stream of all heavy and slow freights in
preference to railroads, on account of cheapness. It would
prove a new and the greatest era in upper river steamboating.
it appears from a report made at the convention, that during
the year 1884 there were 175 steamboats plying on the Missis
sippi from St. Louis to points above. Two thousand seven hundred
rafts from the St. Croix and Chippewa passed the Winona
bridge, and the total number of feet of logs and lumber floated
down the Mississippi from the St. Croix, Chippewa and Black

IN THE NORTHWEST. 685
rivers was 1,366,000,000. The total passages of steamers through
the Winona bridge for 1887 was 4,492. On the St. Croix, above
Lake, St. Croix, during the season of 1887 there were 3 steamers
and 25 barges engaged in freight and passenger traffic only.
The steamers made 141 round trips between Stillwater and Tay
lor's Falls, 75 round trips between Marine and St. Paul, and 20
round trips between Franconia and St. Paul.
The following is a showing of the lumber, logs, rafting, and
towing business on the St. Croix during 1887: There were 51
steamers engaged in towing logs and lumber out of the St. Croix
and down the Mississippi, the total number of feet handled by
them being 250,000,000, board measure. The total number of
feet of logs (board measure) which passed through the St. Croix
boom in 1887 was 325, 000, 000. The lumber manufacture of the St.
Croix during that year was valued at $2,393,323.
RESOLUTION INTRODUCED AT THE WATERWAYS CONVENTION
HELD IN ST. PAUL, SEPTEMBER, 1885.
Whereas, The North American continent is penetrated by two
great water systems both of which originate upon the tablelands
of Minnesota, one the Mississippi river and its tributaries, reach
ing southward from the British line to the Gulf of Mexico, water
ing the greatest body of fertile land on the globe, — the future seat
of empire of the human family on earth, — the other the chain of
great lakes flowing eastwardly and constituting with the St. Law
rence river a great water causeway in the direct line of the flow
of the world's commerce from the heart of the continent to the
Atlantic; and
Whereas, Between the navigable waters of these continental
dividing systems there is but a gap of ninety miles in width from
Taylor's Falls on the St. Croix, to Duluth on Lake Superior,
through a region of easily worked drift formation, with a rise
of but five hundred and sixty feet to overcome, and plentifully
supplied with water from the highest point of the water-shed;
therefore, Resolved, That we demand of Congress the construction of a
canal from Taylor's Falls to Duluth, using the Upper St. Croix
and the St. Louis rivers as far as the same can be made navi
gable, the said canal to be forever free of toll or charge, and to
remain a public highway for the interchange of the productions

¦686 FIFTY YEARS
of the Mississippi valley and the valley of the great lakes; and
should the railway interests of the country prove powerful
enough to prevent congressional action to this end, we call upon
the states of the Northwest to unite and build, at their own cost,
such a canal, believing that the increased value of the produc
tions of the country would speedily repay the entire outlay.
EARLY STEAMBOAT NAVIGATION.
The Pennsylvania was the first steamer that descended the
Mississippi. She came down the Ohio from Pittsburgh, creating
the utmost terror in the minds of the simple-hearted people who
had lately been rather rudely shaken by an earthquake, and sup
posed the noise of the coming steamer to be but the precursor of
another shake. When the Pennsylvania approached Shawnee
town, Illinois, the people crowded the river shore, and in their
alarm fell down upon their knees and prayed to be delivered
from the muttering, roaring earthquake coming down the river,
its furnaces glowing like the open portals of the nether world.
Many fled to the hills in utter dismay at "the frightful appear
ance of the hitherto unknown monster, and the dismal sounds it
emitted. It produced the same and even greater terror in the
scant settlements of the Lower Mississippi.
In 1823 Capt. Shreve commanded the Gen. Washington, the
fastest boat that had as yet traversed the western rivers. This
year the Gen. Washington made the trip from New Orleans to
Louisville, Kentucky, in twenty-five days. When at Louisville
he anchored his boat in the middle of the river and fired twenty-
five guns in honor of the event, one for each day out. The pop
ulation of Louisville feted and honored the gallant captain for
his achievement. He was crowned with flowers, and borne
through the streets by the huzzaing crowd. A rich banquet
was spread, and amidst the hilarity excited by the flowing bowl,
the captain made an eloquent speech which was vociferously ap
plauded. He declared that the time made by the Gen. Wash
ington could never be equaled by any other boat. Curiously
enough, some later in the season, the Tecumseh made the trip in
nine days. The time made by the Tecumseh was not beaten un
til 1833, when the Shepherdess carried away the laurels for
speed. We have but little definite information as to navigation on the

IN THE NORTHWEST. 687
Mississippi during the ten years subsequent to the trip of the
Pennsylvania. The solitude of the Upper Mississippi was un
broken by the advent of any steamer until the year ] 823. On
the second of May in that year the Virginia, a steamer 118
feet in length, 22 in width, with a draught of 6 feet, left her
moorings at St. Louis levee for Fort Snelling laden with stores
for the fort. She was four days passing the Rock Island rapids,
and made but slow progress throughout. It is needless to say that
the Indians were as much frightened at the appearance of the
"fire canoe" as the settlers of the Ohio valley had been, and
made quick time escaping to the hills.
Judge James H. Lockwood narrates (see Vol. II, Wisconsin
Historical Collections, page 152) that in 1824 Capt. David G.
Bates brought a small boat named the Putnam up to Prairie du
Chien, and took it thence to Fort Snelling with supplies for the
troops. The steamer Neville also made the voyage to Prairie
du Chien in 1824. The following year came the steamer Man-
dan and in 1826 the Indiana and Lawrence. Fletcher Williams,
in his history of St. Paul, says that from 1823 to 1826 as many as
fifteen steamers had arrived at Fort Snelling, and that afterward
their arrivals were more frequent.
During this primitive period, the steamboats had no regular
time for arrival and departure at ports. A time table would
have been an absurdity. "Go as you please" or "go as you
can," was the order of the day. Passengers had rare opportuni
ties for observation and discovery, and were frequently allowed
pleasure excursions on shore while the boat was being cordelled
over a rapid, was stranded on a bar, or waiting for wood to be
cut and carried on board at some wooding station. Sometimes
they were called upon to lend a helping hand at the capstan, or
to tread the gang plank to a " wood up " quickstep. When on
their pleasure excursion they strayed away too far, they were
recalled to the boat by the firing of a gun or the ringing of a
bell. It is doubtful if in later days, with all the improvements
in steamboat travel, more enjoyable voyages have been made
than these free and easy excursions in the light draught boats of
the decades between 1830 and 1850, under such genial captains
and officers as the Harrises, Atchinson, Throckmorton, Brasie,
Ward, Blakeley, Lodwick, Munford, Pirn, Orrin Smith and
others.

688 FIFTY YEARS
Before the government had improved navigation the rapids of
Rock Island and Des Moines, and snags, rocks and sandbars
elsewhere were serious obstructions. The passengers endured
the necessary delays from these causes with great good nature,
and the tedium of the voyage was frequently enlivened by boat
races with rival steamers. These passenger boats were then
liberally patronized. The cost of a trip from St. Louis to St.
Paul was frequently reduced to ten dollars, and considering the
time spent in making the trip (often as much as two or three
weeks) was cheaper than board in a good hotel, while the fare
on the boat could not be excelled. The boats were frequently
crowded with passengers, whole families were grouped about the
tables or strolling on the upper decks, with groups of travelers
representing all the professions and callings, travelers for pleasure
and for business, explorers, artists, and adventurers. At night
the brilliantly lighted cabin would resound with music, furnished
by the boat's band of sable minstrels, and trembled to the tread
of the dancers as much as to the throbbing of the engine.
The steamer, as the one means of communication with the
distant world, as the bearer of mails, of provisions and articles
of trade, was greeted at every village with eager and excited
groups of people, some perhaps expecting the arrival of friends,
while others were there to part with them. These were scenes
to be remembered long, in fact many of the associations of river
travel produced indelible impressions. In these days of rapid
transit by rail more than half the delights of traveling are lost.
Before the settlement of the country the wildness of the scene
had a peculiar charm. The majestic bluffs with their rugged
escarpments of limestone stretched away in solitary grandeur
on either side of the river. The perpendicular crags crowning
the bluffs seemed like ruined castles, some of them with rounded
turrets and battlements, some even with arched portals. Along
the slopes of the bluffs was a growth of sturdy oaks, in their
general contour and arrangement resembling fruit trees, vast,
solitary orchards in appearance, great enough to supply the
world with fruit. On the slopes of the river bank might have
been seen occasionally the bark wigwams of the Indian, and his
birch canoe gliding silently under the shadow of the elms and
willows lining the shore. Occasionally a deer would be seen
grazing on some upland glade, or bounding away in terror at
sight of the steamer.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 689
A complete history of early steamboat navigation on the Up
per Mississippi would abound with interesting narratives and
incidents, but of these, unfortunately, there is no authentic rec
ord, and we can only speak in general terms of the various com
panies that successively controlled the trade and travel of the
river, or were rivals for the patronage of the public. During
the decade of the '30s, the Harrises, of Galena, ran several small
boats from Galena to St. Louis, occasionally to Fort Snelling, or
through the difficult current of the Wisconsin to Fort Winne
bago, towing barges laden with supplies for the Wisconsin piner
ies. Capt. Scribe Harris' favorite boat from 1835 to 1838 was
the Smelter. The captain greatly delighted in her speed, deco
rated her gaily with evergreens, and rounding to at landings,
or meeting with other boats, fired a cannon from her prow to an
nounce her imperial presence.
The Smelter and other boats run by the Harris family held
the commerce of the river for many years. In 1846 the first daily .
line of steamers above St. Louis was. established. These boats
ran independently, but on stated days, from St. Louis to Galena
and Dubuque. They were the Tempest, Capt. John J. Smith;
War Eagle, Capt. Smith Harris; Prairie Bird, Capt. Niebe Wall;
Monona, Capt.  Bersie; St. Croix, Capt.  ; Fortune,
Capf;. Mark Atchinson. These boat owners, with others, subse
quently formed a consolidated company.
In 1847 a company was formed for the navigation of the Mis
sissippi above Galena. The first boat in the line, the Argo, com
manded by Russell Blakeley, was placed upon the river in 1846.
The boats in this line were the Argo, Dr. Franklin, Senator,
Nominee, Ben Campbell, War Eagle, and the Galena.
In 1854 the Galena & Minnesota Packet Company was formed
by a consolidation of various interests. The company consisted
of the following stockholders: O. Smith, the Harrises, James
Carter, H. Corwith, B. H. Campbell, D. B. Morehouse, H. M.
Rice, H. L. Dousman, H. H. Sibley, and Russell Blakeley. The
boats of the new company were the War Eagle, Galena, Dr.
Franklin, Nominee, and the West Newton. In 1857 a new com
pany was formed, and the Dubuque boats, the Itasca and Key
City, were added to the line. This line continued until 1862, and
the new boats, Dr. Franklin, No. 2, and the New St. Paul, were
44

690

FIFTY YEARS

added. The Galena had been burned at Red Wing in the fall of
1857. The following is a list of the earliest arrivals at St. Paul after
the opening of navigation between the years 1843 and 1858:
April 5, 1843, steamer Otter, Capt. Harris; April 6, 1844, steamer
Otter, Capt. Harris; April 6, 1845, steamer Otter, Capt. Harris;
March 31, 1846, steamer Lynx, Capt. Atchison; April 7, 1847,
steamer Cora, Capt. Throckmorton; April 7, 1848, steamer Sena
tor, Capt. Harris; April 9, 1849, steamer Highland Mary, Capt'.
Atchison; April 19, 1850, steamer Highland Mary, Capt. Atchi
son; April 4, 1851, steamer Nominee, Capt. Smith; April 16,
1852, steamer Nominee, Capt. Smith; April 11, 1853, steamer
West Newton, Capt. Harris; April 8,1854, steamer Nominee,
Capt. Blakeley; April 17, 1855, steamer War Eagle, Capt. Harris;
April 18, 1856, steamer Lady Franklin, Capt. Lucas; May 1,
1857, steamer Galena, Capt. Laughton; March 25, 1858, steamer
Gray Eagle, Capt. Harris.
The following list includes boats not named in the packet and
company lists with date of first appearance as far as can be as
certained:

Virginia  May 20, 1823
Rufus Putnam  April 5, 1825
Mandan  1825
Neville  
Indiana  1825
Lawrence  May 18, 1826
Versailles  May 12, 1832
Missouri  May 5, 1836
Frontier  1836
Palmyra  1836
Saint Peter's....  1836
Rolla  1838
Sciota  183-
Eclipse  183-
Josephine  1 83-
Fulton  183-
Red River  183-
Black Rover  
Burlington  1883
Ariel  1839
Gypsy  1839
Fayette  1839

Warrior  1840
Enterprise  ...1840
Volant  1840
Glancus  1840
Pennsylvania  1840
Knickerbocker  1840
Otter  1841
Highland Mary  1849
Gov. Ramsey (above the falls)  185-
Anthony Wayne  185-
Yankee  185-
BlackHawk  185-
Ben Accord  185-
Royal Arch  185-
Uncle Toby  185-
Indian Queen  ;185-
Di Vernon  185-
Osprey  185^
Lamartine  185-
Fannie Harris  185-
Asia  185-
Equator  1860

IN THE NORTHWEST. 691
The following made their appearance some time in the '40s:
Cora, Lynx, Dr. Franklin, No. 2, and St. Anthony.
The Northern Line Company organized in 1857 and placed
the following steamers upon the Mississippi, to run between St.
Louis and St. Paul: The Canada, Capt. Ward; Pembina, Capt.
Griffith; Denmark, Capt. Gray; Metropolitan, Capt. Rhodes;
Lucy May, Capt. Jenks; Wm. L. Ewing, Capt. Green; Henry
Clay, Capt. Campbell; Fred Lorenz, Capt. Parker; Northerner,
Capt. Alvord; Minnesota Belle, Capt. Hill; Northern Light and
York State, Capt.  .
Commodore W. F. Davidson commenced steamboating on the
Upper Mississippi in 1856 with the Jacob Traber. In 1857 he
added the Frank Steele, and included the Minnesota river in his
field of operations. In 1859 he added the iEolian, Favorite and "
Winona. Tn 1860 he organized the La Crosse & Minnesota
Packet Company, with the five above named steamers in the line.
In 1862 the Keokuk and Northern Belle were added.
In 1864 the La Crosse & Minnesota and the Northern Line
Packet companies were consolidated under the name of the
Northwestern Union Packet Company, with the following steam
ers: The Moses McLellan, Ocean Wave, Itasca, Key City, Mil
waukee City, Belle, War Eagle, Phil Sheridan, S. S. Merrill,
Alex. Mitchell, City of St. Paul, Tom Jasper, Belle of La Crosse,
City of Quincy, and John Kyle. This line controlled the gen
eral trade until 1874.
There' were upon the river and its tributaries during the
period named the following light draught boats: The Julia,
Mollie Mohler, Cutter, Chippewa Falls, Mankato, Albany, Ariel,
Stella Whipple, Isaac Gray, Morning Star, Antelope, Clara
Hine, Geo. S. Weeks, Dexter, Damsel, Addie Johnson, Annie
Johnson, G. H. Wilson, Flora, and Hudson.
• LATER NAVIGATION ON THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI.
The Northwestern Union Packet Company, more familiarly
known as the " White Collar Line," from the white band painted
around the upper part of the smokestacks, and the Keokuk
Packet Company, sold their steamers to the Keokuk Northern
Line Packet Company, which ^continued until 1882, when the
St. Louis & St. Paul Packet Company was organized. Its boats
were: The Minneapolis, Red Wing, Minnesota, Dubuque, Rock

692 FIFTY YEARS
Island, Lake Superior, Muscatine, Clinton, Chas. Cheever, Dan
Hine, Andy Johnson, Harry Johnson, Rob Roy, Lucy Bertram,
Steven Bayard, War Eagle, Golden Eagle, Gem City, White
Eagle, and Flying Eagle.
STEAMBOATING ON THE ST. CROIX.
The steamer Palmyra was the first boat to disturb the solitude
of the St. Croix. In June, 1838, it passed up the St. Croix lake and
river as far as the Dalles. The steamer Ariel, the second boat,
came as far as Marine in 1839. t In the fall of 1843, the steamer
Otter, Scribe Harris, commanding, landed at Stillwater. The
steamer Otter was laden with irons and machinery for the first
mill in Stillwater. Up to 1845 nearly every boat that ascended
the Mississippi also ascended the St. Croix, but in later years,
as larger boats were introduced, its navigation was restricted to
smaller craft, and eventually to steamboats built for the special
purpose of navigating the St. Croix. Quite a number of these
were built at Osceola, Franconia and Taylor's Falls. The follow
ing is a list of boats navigating the St. Croix from the year 1852
to the present time: Humboldt, 1852; Enterprise, 1853; Pioneer,
1854; Osceola, 1854; H. S. Allen, 1857; Fanny Thornton, 1862;
Viola, 1864; Dalles, 1866; Nellie Kent, 1867; G. B. Knapp, 1866;
Minnie Will, 1867; Wyman X, 1868; Mark Bradley, 1869; Helen
Mar, 1870; Maggie Reany, 1870; Jennie Hays, 1870; Cleon, 1870.
A number of raft steamers, built at South Stillwater and else
where, have plied the river within the last ten years. A number
of barges were built at South Stillwater, Osceola and Taylor's
Falls. The passenger travel on the St. Croix has decreased since the
completion of the railroad to Taylor's Falls and St. Croix Falls.
An interesting chapter of anecdotes and incidents might be
compiled, illustrating the early steamboat life on the St. Croix.
We find in "Bond's Minnesota" a notice of one of the first boats
in the regular trade, which will throw some light on the subject
of early travel on the river. It describes the Humboldt, which
made its first appearance in 1852:
"In addition, some adventurous genius on a small scale, down
about Oquaka, Illinois, last year conceived the good idea of
procuring a steamboat suitable to perform the duties of a tri
weekly packet between Stillwater and Taylor's Falls, the extreme

IN THE NORTHWEST. 693
point of steam navigation up the St. Croix. It is true he did not
appear to have a very correct idea of the kind of craft the peo
ple really wanted and would well support in that trade, but such
as he thought and planned he late last season brought forth. * *
Indeed, the little Humboldt is a great accommodation to the
people of the St. Croix. She stojjs anywhere along the river, to
do any and all kinds of business that may offer, and will give
passengers a longer ride, so far as time is concerned, for a dollar,
than any other craft we ever traveled upon. She is also, to out
ward appearances, a temperance boat, and carries no cooking or
table utensils. She stops at the ' Marine,' going and returning,
to allow the people aboard to feed upon a good, substantial din
ner; and the passengers are allowed, if they feel so disposed, to
carry ' bars' in their side pockets and ' bricks ' in their hats. A
very accommodating craft is the Humboldt, and a convenience
that is already set down 'on the St. Croix as one indispensable."
The Diamond Jo line of steamers was established in 1867. Jo
Reynolds was president of the company and has served as such
continuously to date. Under his general supervision the com
pany has been quite successful. The business has required an
average of six steamers yearly. In 1888 the line consists of
the boats the Sidney, Pittsburgh and Mary Morton.
The St. Louis & St. Paul Packet Company, successors of the
various old transportation companies, is in successful operation
in 1888, employing three steamers. There are but few transient
boats now on the river. ICE BOATS.
Several attempts have been made to navigate the river during
the winter months by means of ice boats, but the efforts have
uniformly failed. Of these attempts we mention the two most
notable: Noman Wiard, an inventor of some celebrity, made an ice
boat in 1856 and placed it on the river at Prairie du Chien, in
tending to run between that point and St. Paul. It was elabor
ately planned and elegantly finished, and resembled somewhat a
palace car mounted on steel runners. It failed on account of
the roughness of the ice, never making a single trip. It, how
ever, proved somewhat remunerative as a show, and was for
some time on exhibition within an inclosure at Prairie du Chien.
Martin Mower, of Osceola, Minnesota, invented a boat to run

694 FIFTY YEARS
on the ice between Stillwater and Taylor's Falls, in the winter of
1868-9. It made several trips, carrying passengers and freight.
The rough ice prevented regular trips and the project was
abandoned. STEAMBOAT LIFE — 1846.
James W. Mullen, of Taylor's Falls, spent much of his early
and middle life on the river, and cherishes many pleasant recol
lections of the early days. We have been favored with a few of
these, which will give the reader a vivid idea of the scenes de
picted :
"A. D. 1846 found me a cabin boy on the War Eagle at the St.
Louis levee, with sign board up for Stillwater and Fort' Snelling.
The levee was a wonder to behold. It was thronged with teams,
policemen keeping them in rank. Piles of freight were awaiting
shipment. Steamboats for three-quarters of a mile along the levee
were discharging and receiving freight; passengers were rushing
frantically to and fro; bells were ringing, and boats leaving for
the Cumberland, Tennessee, Missouri and Illinois rivers; and
New Orleans, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Keokuk, Galena, Still
water, and Fort Snelling.
"It was a delightful June day on which we pulled out from this
busy scene and commenced our voyage to the far off north land,
then known as Wisconsin Territory. Capt. Smith Harris gave
the last tap of the bell; the lines were loosened; the wheels of
the War Eagle revolved slowly at first, and we were soon on the
broad bosom of the Mississippi, heading northward in the wake
and black smoke of the steamers Ocean Wave, Tobacco Plant
and Western Belle. The Luella, the Alton packet, followed us
closely, racing with us. All was enjoyment. We pass the steam
ers Osprey and Di Vernon. At Nauvoo we note the magnificent
Mormon temple on the high ground, and also long files of Mor
mons going westward. We pass many fine farms, much beauti
ful scenery, and many growing towns, among them Rock Island
and Davenport, the latter the home of Antoine Le Clair, a half-
breed Indian trader and heavyweight, tipping the beam at three
hundred and fifty pounds avoirdupois. He lives there in sump
tuous splendor from his profits made in trade. The villages, or
tepees, of Sac and Fox Indians are seen along the shores; their
bark canoes glide silently over the waters. Further on we as
cend for seven miles the sluggish and narrow channel of Fever

IN THE NORTHWEST. 695.
river, and find ' ourselves at Galena, the home of the Harrises,
river captains.
"We find at the levee here the steamers Falcon and St. Croix,
laden with lead for St. Louis. Back through Fever river to the
Mississippi and past Dubuque, an active, rising town; past Cass-
ville, the expected but disappointed capital city of -Wisconsin
Territory, a lovely location, its castellated hills frowning above
it and its fine three story brick hotel and other buildings; past
Prairie du Chien and Fort Crawford, with soldiers drilling on
the green. Here Amable Moreau, a French Upper Mississippi
pilot, came on board. Squads of Indians were hanging around
begging for whisky and tobacco. Resuming our way, stemming
the current of the river we pass other scenes, other birch
canoes gliding over the waves, other tepees and Indian villages
along the shore. At La Crosse we find a few whites and lots of
Indians on an unimproved prairie, with a background of high
bluffs. We pass Trempeleau and then Winona prairie, on Which
we find an old Indian village, dating back to unknown time.
Opposite the mouth of the Chippewa river we pass Nelson' s Land
ing with its two log warehouses and mackinaw boats loading for
the Chippewa river. We pass into lovely Lake Pepin, Maiden's
Rock' or Lover's Leap rising into a battlement on the right,
and the famous Point -no-Point on the left. Out of the beautiful
lake again into the river, between low, forest covered islands,
till we pass Barn Bluff or Mount La Grange, a 'bold, abrupt and
isolated hill just below Red Wing. We passed more Indian
tepees, villages and burying grounds, — not that, for the dead
bodies of the Indians were not buried but fastened upon scaf
folds and the limbs of trees, according to Sioux custom. At
the mouth of St. Croix river we pass Prescott Landing^ where
lives the old pioneer trader Philander Prescott. Across the St.
Croix, opposite Prescott Landing, is Point Douglas. Some miles
above Point Douglas we pass Little Crow village, a missionary
station, where young Indian boys ran down to the landing and
greeted us with such yells as have not rung through these wilds,
perhaps, for ages past.
" We find St. Paul to be a small village. There are a few houses
on a high, almost perpendicular bluff, overlooking the river.
At the base of the bluff on the river shore stands a warehouse
with the sign ' Ghoteau & Valle.' We are soon at Mendota

696 FIFTY YEARS
and Fort Snelling. A squad of soldiers guard the freight over
night. We have ample time in the morning to visit the post
before starting down the river, and the following morning finds
the prow of the Wai" Eagle resting against the Stillwater landing.
Here Capt. Harris greets his friends and is warmly welcomed.
So far, Stillwater seemed the most active and enterprising village
on the whole route. Joe Brown's town, Dakota, lies a short
distance above at the head of the lake. Capt. Harris on his
return towed a raft comprising ten acres of logs. Big Joe was
one of the pilots on the raft."
ST. CROIX BOOM COMPANY.
Previous to the organization of the boom company, in 1857, the
logs were floated down the St. Croix and caught in side booms
by individual owners, and owners of lake booms would raft them
indiscriminately, regardless of log marks, but with the mark
side up for the convenience of scaling. The scaling was done
by some responsible party in the interest of the various owners,
and balances were settled by exchanges, or if not balanced by
cash or by note, to be paid out of the profits of the next year's
logs. Instances of fraud seldom occurred. When Minnesota be
came a territory this system was superseded by another method
of handling,, assorting or delivering. The legislature established
surveyor general districts, of which the St. Croix valley was
designated as the First. The surveyors general were elected in a
joint convention of the two houses of the legislature, and the can
didacy for this office, together with questions of salary, became a
leading feature in the politics of the district.
The surveyors general of the First district have been, Robert
Harsyj^Samuel Winship, Charles J. Gardiner, Ivory McKusick,
James D. McComb, Z. Wilder Chase, John S. Proctor, and Al.
Hospice. The law defining the duties of the surveyors general
has been awarded from time to time, and the system of scaling
improved till it has reached its present form, in which it meets
with very general approval. In 1867 a law was passed giving to
the governor the power of appointing surveyors general.
The boom company was organized by the territorial legisla
ture, Feb. 7, 1851, with a capital stock of $10,000, with privileges
of increase to $25,000. The incorporators were Orange Walker
and George B. Judd, of Marine; John McKusick, Socrates Nel

IN THE NORTHWEST. 697
son and Levi Churchill, of Stillwater; Daniel Mears and Wil
liam Kent, of Osceola; and W. H. C. Folsom, of Taylor's Falls.
Fred R. Bartlett was the first secretary, but was superseded by
David B. Loomis.
The first boom was built near an island lying opposite and
above Osceola. The surveyor general had his office at Stillwater,
an arrangement that gave great satisfaction, but as the boom was
not advantageously located, the channel of the river above being
too narrow for the annually increasing production of logs, the
company, in 1856, obtained a new charter with power to con
struct booms from the head of Lake St. Croix to Taylor's Falls.
The capital stock was increased to $25,000 with the privilege of
increasing it to $50,000. It was subsequently increased to $100,-
000. The incorporators of the new company were Martin
Mower, W. H. C: Folsom, Isaac Staples, Christopher Carli and'
Samuel Burkelo.
The company placed a second boom a mile and a half above
Stillwater. The increase of their business compelled them from
time to time to build side booms and shear booms to prevent the
logs from lodging against the banks or passing bayous or second
ary channels, and also to keep the primary channel free from ob
structions to navigation. They built firm and expensive piers,
drove piling and made canals for the use of steamboats when the
main channel was wanted for booming purposes.
Notwithstanding all this care, navigation was frequently ob
structed by the accumulation of logs. Litigation ensued, and
heavy expenses were incurred in defending the rights of the
company or paying damages. These controversies were not unat
tended with ill feeling. Public meetings were frequently held and
denunciating resolutions adopted. In one case, when navigation
had been interrupted for fiftyrseven days, the damages were esti
mated at $146,525. Some controversies also arose as to jurisdic
tion. St. Croix river being the boundary line between two states,
the Wisconsin authorities claimed concurrent jurisdiction. The
boom company was organized under Minnesota law and its
members were residents of Minnesota. The surveyor general of
the First district claimed entire jurisdiction and scaled the logs
irrespective of the state in which they were cut. The action of
the surveyor general had been accepted both by the original
owners and purchasers of the logs.

698 FIFTY YEARS
In January, 1885, Gov. Hubbard, of Minnesota, appointed A.
L. Hospes surveyor general, and the appointment creating some
dissatisfaction, a lumberman's board of exchange was organized,
and Judsou McKusick was appointed as private scaler. He
proceeded, under the direction of the exchange, to scale logs that
had already been scaled by Hospes. When the members of the
exchange proceeded to take possession of their logs and run them
out into the lake, Hospes commenced a series of injunction cases
to prevent them from so doing. The exchange brought suit
against Hospes in Wisconsin courts to prevent him from scaling
logs owned by the exchange. The exchange also declared that
McKusick was a deputy of the general surveyor of the Fourth
district, Wisconsin. Pending these suits, Hospes commenced a
quo warranto proceeding in the Minnesota supreme court to have
the articles of incorporation of the exchange annulled, but was
defeated on the ground that the exchange could employ a pri
vate scaler at will, but held that such scaler could not interfere
with the claims of Hospes, he being recognized as surveyor gen
eral. In July of the same year the claims of the conflicting
parties were settled by the parties themselves, outside the
courts, and the question of conflicting jurisdiction has therefore
never been legally determined. It is true that some courts have
passed ujjon the question, and appeals have been taken to higher
courts. The decision of Judge Nelson of the supreme court has
been given, a decision that the surveyor general of the First dis
trict of Minnesota has a right to scale all logs in his district,
yet by his own decision Wisconsin has equal rights under con
current jurisdiction. Should both state authorities under their
surveyors general claim jurisdiction at the same time, concur
rent jurisdiction would lead to a double taxation upon log own
ers. It seems, however, to be an admittted principle that when
suits between the same parties, in relation to the same matter,
are pending at the same time in different courts of jurisdiction,
a judgment in the one may act as a bar to further* proceedings in
the other. The question ought to be more definitely and satis
factorily settled. THE LANGUAGE OF THE LOGS.
It may not be amiss to explain somewhat in detail the system
of marking adopted by the lumbermen. Owners of logs must

IN THE NORTHWEST. 699
be able to identify their property or lose the reward of their
labor. A system of marking each log has, therefore, become a
feature of the lumbering business, and has been in existence ever
since lumbering has been prosecuted. When the business, was
confined to a limited number of firms it was an easy matter, and
one of mutual arrangement, to Select the property. But firms
change; from a score the number of lumber firms increased to
hundreds. A record of ownership of log marks is necessary,
and a law has been enacted protecting the ownership of a mark
as thoroughly as a tracfe mark is protected. This system of
marks in the process of time has become a language in itself
deep and intricate to the average mind, but as plain as the
alphabet to every man having to do with the manufacture of
logs. It is the aim of every lumberman originating a mark to
make it simple, containing as many straight lines as possible, so
that it can be put on the log speedily. These marks are cut on
the logs, through the bark and a few inches into the body of the
timber, soon after the tree is felled, by a skilled axeman who is
charged With the duty. The cut is made deeper than the bark
so it will be preserved after the bark comes off. The mark is
made upon the side of the log.
This system of marks is a language in itself. Every prominent
firm has a particular character, which, in a general way, is in
dicative of his ownership or interest in the log. This mark
may be varied by additional or supplementary characters,, indi
cating who cut the log, on whose land it was cut, or under what
particular contract it was put into the stream. Some idea of the
extent and variety of these marks can be formed from the state
ment that there is recorded in the St. Croix district — only a
small portion of the entire lumber region of the Northwest —
over 1,700 different and distinct characters. Many of these are
quaint and interesting, and the whole etymology curious in the
extreme. In the books in the surveyor general's office these marks ana
figures are the only characters used except in the recording of
the marks themselves and of instruments and agreements. The
identity of mark and its association of ownership necessarily
calls into play the utmost familiarity. To one not thoroughly
familiar with the method the book's are about as intelligible as
the figures on the side of a Chinese tea chest to the average

700

FIFTY YEARS

American. Once a man becomes thoroughly familiar with the
marks on a river where lumbering is so extensively carried on
as on the St. Croix, he becomes invaluable in the surveyor gen
eral's office, or in the booms, identified in some capacity with the
scaling process. The fact that some particular character runs
through the varied marks of all the leading firms is a key to the
readiest understanding, just as the twenty-six characters in the
alphabet are necessarily understood before one can read readily
or intelligently.
When the logs reach the booms th% marks serve as a guide
in their distribution by the scaler, whose business it is to meas
ure the logs, call out the number of feet in each log to the
tallyman, who records it in a book kept for the purpose, the
record, together with the mark attached, to be forwarded to the
surveyor general's office, there to be posted and footed. A small
army of men is engaged in bringing logs to the gap, a narrow
passage admitting scarcely more than one log at a time.
A catch mark is a mark representing the original mark and is
so placed as to appear always upon the upper side when the log
floats at rest. Once through the gap, experienced men gather
the logs, as they are floated downward by the current, into brills.
These are subsequently gathered together in rafts, laid, as a rule,
with the logs headed in the direction of the current. Rafts may
be transported to any distance southward by the current of the
stream, and through the waters of the lake, and not infrequently/
the whole distance by tow boats.
AMOUNT OF LOGS CUT FROM 1857 TO 1888.

The earlist statistics in the following table are from persons
operating, andthe later from record books. We have given the
figures in round numbers. The table includes logs cut and
floated down the St. Croix river and tributaries:

Year. Feet.
1837-38  300,000
1838-39  700,000
1839-40  1,500,000
1840-41  2,500,000
1841-42  3,000,000
1842-43  :  3,500,000
1843-44  8,500,000
1844-45  14,000,000

Yeae. Feet.
1845-46  25,500,000
1846-47..  26,000,000
1847-48.  37,000,000
1848-49  50,000,000
1849-50  75,000,000
1850-51  87,000,000
1851-52  90,000,000
1852-53  110,000,000

IN THE NORTHWEST.

701

Yeae. Feet.
1853-54...,  125,000,000
1854-55  165,000,000
1855-56  187,000,000
1856-57.  200,000,000
1857-58  135,000,000
1858-59  156,000,000
1859-60  175,000,000
1860-61  160,000,000
1861-62  175,000,000
1862-63  .150,000,000
1863-64  140,000,000
1864-65  144,000,000
1865-66  137,000,000
1866-67  174,000,000
1867-68  183,000,000
1868-69  194,000,000
1869-70  209,000,000
1870-71  170,000,000

Yeae. Feet.
1871-72  224,000,000
1872-73  108,000,000
1873-74  188,000,000
1874-75  178,000,000
1875-76  197,000,000
1876-77  183,000,000
1877-78  225,000,000
1878-79  242,000,000
1879-80  230,000,000
1880-81  247,000,000
1881-82  295,000,000
1882-83  302,000,000
1883-84  230,000,000
1884-85  235,000,000
1885-86  285,000,000
1886-87  350,000,000
1887-88  370,000,000

CHARTERED DAMS.
The Namakagon Totogatic Dam Company obtained a chatter
in 1869 from the Wisconsin legislature empowering them to con
struct two dams for sheering logs, one to be at the outlet of Nama
kagon lake, the other on Totogatic river, a stream tributary to
Namakagon river, entering that stream about eight mites above
its junction with the St. Croix. In 1870, by legislative act, the
charter was amended by permission to erect sixteen dams, to be
built severally on the waters of the Upper St. Croix, Moose, Eau
Claire, Namakagon, Totogatic, Yellow, and Clam rivers. The
name was changed to the "St Croix Dam Company," and the
capital stock was fixed at $50,000. The incorporators were A.
M. Chase, Joel Nason, Henry D. Barron, Wm. Kent, and S. B.
Dresser. A. M. Chase was the first president. The company had
permission under the charter to hold the water during the sea
sons when it was not necessary to navigation on the St. Croix.
These dams were usually shut down to gather a head during the
months of March and April, with the exception of the dams on
the Namakagon and Eau Claire, which have the privilege of
gathering and retaining a head of water during any part of the
year. The head of water above these dams varied from seven to
ten feet, and the average cost of construction was $4,000. The
tolls per 1,000 feet at these dams were as follows: Namakagon

702 FIFTY YEARS
and Clam, 25 and 20 cents; at Totogatic, 20 and 15 cents; St.
Croix, 20 and 15 cents; other dams, 3 to 10 cents.
A. M. Chase was the original mover in organizing the corpo
ration and forwarding its interests. He was foreman in selecting
sites and building the various dams. He was also owner and
general agent until within the last few years, when he trans
ferred his interests to other parties. The charter expires , in
1893. The dam on Clam river, built at a cost of $10,000, was, in 1886,
blown up by dynamite and destroyed by Robert Davidson, who
claimed that the flowage interfered with his meadow lands.
LUMBERING ON THE ST. CROIX IN 1845.
The progress of civilization involving the building of rail
ways, the transformation of the wilderness into cultivated fields,
the growth of villages and cities, the increased facilities for
manufacturing and the bringing the forest domain under law,
has created such changes in the business of lumbering as to jus
tify the insertion of a chapter relating to the life and surround
ings of the early lumberman. Let us go back to the year 1845.
The country, save a few sparse settlements on the navigable
streams, is as yet an unbroken wilderness, and tenanted only by
wild beatets and roving Indians. There are vast regions, densely
wooded, in which the sound of the woodman's axe has never
been heard, lying about the headwaters of the Chippewa, St.
Croix and other streams. These pineries can only be reached
by stemming the currents of the minor streams in bateaux or
birch bark canoes, or by traversing the country on foot or with
teams. Parties operating must purchase their putflt, consisting
of teams, supplies of flour, pork, etc., in Illinois or Missouri.
Sometimes they drive their teams through unsettled country,
without roads, swimming and fording streams, clearing away ob'
structions, and camping where night overtakes them. Sometimes
they ship their supplies by steamer to Stillwater or St. Croix
Falls. When landed at Stillwater the supplies are packed upon
flatboats and poled to Taylor's Falls, where they are to be port
aged to the head of the rapids, a distance of six miles, and trans
ferred to bateaux. The portage is a difficult one. The goods
are to be hoisted up over the rocks of the Dalles and placed
upon sleds calculated to run upon the bare ground. Consider-

IN THE NORTHWEST. 703
ing the inequalities of the surface from the Dalles to the head
Of the rapids, the portage is an immensely difficult one. , They
are then taken to their place of destination, the bateaux re
turning to the Falls for successive loads, the whole transfer
requiring considerable time. Sometimes, if late in the season,
part or whole of the fleet of bateaux may be caught in the ice, in
which case a bushed road must be made, and the supplies trans
ported by teams and men.
Arriving on the ground, the operators blaze trees on lines
surrounding the region which they wish to work during the
winter. These claims are generally respected by others. The
first work to be done is making a camp, building stables, clear
ing streams of obstructions, and making roads. Incidentally
the Indians, certain to be visitors at the camps, are to be pro
pitiated with presents of flour, pork and tobacco. These pacified
and out of the way, the lumberman may say with Alexander
Selkirk — "I am monarch of all I survey;
My right there is none to dispute."
Trespassing is unknown. The lumberman is not conscious
that he himself is a trespasser on the domain of Uncle Sam. Nor
is he. Has he not the best title in the world? Who is there to
dispute it? No government agent ever troubles him, or questions
his right to fell the royal trees and dispose of them as he may
choose. He is earning by his strong right, arm his title to the
trees. He endures much, accomplishes much and is the advance
courier of civilization. He spends long months away from the
common haunts of men. He is cut off from the mails and from
home pleasure. He lives an industrious life. Cold is the day
when the stroke of his axe is not heard. The snow deepens
around him, the temperature sinks lower and lower, till it would
not discredit Labrador; still he toils on unceasingly, and at
night builds high his blazing fire, wraps himself up in his buffalo
robe and' blankets, and sleeps through the night the sleep of the
tired and the just. Meanwhile his appetite is marvelous. The
cooking (done by one of the crew) may be of the rudest, and the
provisions none of the daintiest, but exercise and the cold gives
a relish to the food not often found in the fashionable restaurants.
The members of the crew have each allotted duties. To one is
intrusted the cooking department, to another the position of

704 FIFTY YEARS
teamster, to another that of sled tender; some are choppers, some
are swampers, some are sawyers. The records of the camp are
kept by the foreman or some person detailed for that purpose.
The winter over, the teams are returned to the settlements.
The log driving crew succeeds the choppers and. other workers.
The logs, having been hauled upon the ice of the driving streams,
with the melting of snow are afloat on the swollen streams, and
the drivers commence their work, following the logs in their
downward course to the mills or booms, dislodging them when
they are driven upon shore, and breaking jams when they occur.
This work is difficult and attended by considerable exposure, as
tbe driver is often obliged to go into the stream. It therefore
commands higher . wages than other work. The drivers are with
out tents, but a wangan, or small flat boat, containing bedding,
provisions and a cooking kit, is floated down the stream so as to
be convenient at night. The wangan is managed by the cook
alone, and his work, when he ties up for the night, is to take
ashore the bedding, cooking material, etc. , build a fire and pro
vide a meal for the hungry crew. His cooking utensils are of
the rudest kind, consisting of a tin reflector and a few iron pots
and pans. The savory repast is scarce finished before the ar
rival of the crew, cold, wet, tired, and hungry. They are not
particular about a table with its furniture, but are satisfied to
eat from a tin plate, sitting or lying on the ground. Hunger
satisfied, they spend their evenings by the blazing fire, drying
their clothing, jesting, story telling, or recalling the events of
the day, or scanning the open or clouded sky for indications of
weather changes. When the sky is clear they trace the constel
lations, locate the principal stars and planets, or follow the
devious windings of the milky way. Some of them have studied
astronomy, and some have learned from others, and all are intent,
though without books or teachers, on learning the wisdom that
Nature teaches, and some are found who have learned to look
"from Nature up to Nature's God."
Occasionally some rougher specimen mars the order and pleas
antness of this wild- wood converse by an oath or coarse remark,
heard, perhaps, but unheeded by the more serious and thought
ful. Such men are found everywhere, in the streets, saloons,
and even in the wilderness, men who pollute the air in which
they move with profanity and obscenity. These are not the men

IN THE NORTHWEST. 705
who succeed and build up great fortunes; these are not the true
conquerors of the wilderness. The sober, thoughtful man is the
man who succeeds. It is not necessary that he have the learning
acquired from books, or a smattering of science from the schools.
He may acquire great knowledge by close study of men, and ob
servation of the phenomena of nature, and so make himself a
peer of the bookworm and scholar of the library and schools.
The acquaintances formed in these camp scenes and toils often
result in life long friendships, and the scenes of camp, river and
forest become cherished reminiscences to the actors, who are as
fond of recalling them as veteran soldiers are of recounting the
hairbreadth escapes and stirring incidents of campaign life.
The drive ends with the delivery of the logs at the booms and
mills, the men are paid off and devote themselves for the re
mainder of the summer to other work.
LUMBERING ON THE ST. CROIX IN 1886.
The St. Croix lumberman, after the lapse of, nearly fifty years,
is still a picturesque figure, clad, as he is, in coarse, strong
¦woolen garments, these of brilliant red, yellow, blue and green,
or in some cases as variegated as Joseph's coat of many colors.
He is usually a man of stalwart frame, which is set off to advan
tage by his close fitting garments. His circumstances are, how
ever, widely different from his old time predecessor.
The rough, hard work of the wildernesss, including the build
ing of dams, the construction of reservoirs and roads, and the im
provement of the streams, has been accomplished chiefly by his
predecessors. He is abundantly supplied with food, produced
almost in the neighborhood of the scenes of his winter's work.
He travels by rail almost to his destination or drives blooded
teams over comparatively good roads, where his predecessors
tediously blazed the way and cleared it of underbrush. His
camp accommodations are far superior. He is housed in comfort
able cabins, warmed with large stoves and heaters, whereas the
cabin of the lumberman of 1845 had a fire built on the ground in
the centre of the room. The modern camp is well furnished
with tables and other conveniences. The cook has a separate
room furnished with a cooking stove and modern appliances for
cooking. He has his assistant, known as the " cookee" or second
cook. The table is spread with a variety of food, and delicacies
45

706 FIFTY YEARS
that would have astounded the lumberman of 1845. Each oper
ator is limited to his own special work. His bounds are set and
he can go no further, except at the risk of the loss of his labor.
The work goes on with' clock -like precision and is compara
tively easy. Everything is done on a larger scale and more eco
nomically. The crews are larger and the life is not near so soli
tary. The various crews employed for the spring drive combine
and thereby greatly increase their efficiency. They are supplied
with better and covered boats. The cook in the drive has in ad
dition to his "cookee" a wangan man to assist in managing the
boat. The drives are larger and yet more easily handled, the con.
vemences are greater and the expenses less. The men are more
independent, and owing to the number employed, and the near
ness of settlements and villages, more sociable, and possibly more
hilarious and less thoughtful. We shall nevertheless find among
them men of character, thoughtful, industrious and earnest men>
who would have shone in the associations of the earlier camps
and who will doubtless in the future be ranked among the suc
cessful and capable men, worthy successors of the veterans now
leaving the stage of action.
Conjecture as to the future of the lumbering industry, and con
sequently as to the character of the men engaged in it, would be
idle. Who can tell what a day or another fifty years may bring
forth ? The pine woods will not last always; already the camps are
being pushed further and further to the north and west, and where-
ever the denuded pine lands are arable the farmer is making his
home. The lumbering industry is also passing into the hands of
corporations, and with their extensive means and the armies of
men employed by them the forests are disappearing more rap
idly than ever. It is possible that the present generation of lum
bermen may be the last in the valley of the St. Croix, and that
before another fifty years have passed the last of the number
may have shouldered his axe or peavy and passed " over the di
vide." THE LOG JAMS OF THE ST. CROIX.
The St. Croix river in its passage through the Dalles is com
pressed into a comparatively narrow channel, by which means
the logs driven down the stream are crowded closely together,
so closely as to sometimes become firmly wedged or jammed to
gether. The jam. generally occurs at a point known as Angle

IN THE NORTHWEST. 707
Rock, a huge promontory of massive trap rock extending into
the middle of the channel from the Minnesota side, and opposite
to the St. Croix landing. The river makes a bend around this
rock nearly at a right angle with the channel above. At this
point jams are, under certain conditions, almost inevitable.
Sometimes they are of small dimensions and are easily broken.
Sometimes the logs gather in such quantity and become so tightly
wedged that it is a labor of weeks to break them.
The first jam worthy of note occurred in 1865, during the preva
lence of high water. It is, in fact, only during high water that
jams can occur, the current being at such time swift and strong,
and the logs apt to accumulate in greater number than in the
regular drives, from the fact that logs that have been stranded in
former seasons or at low water are floated off, and the river is
thus filled with logs from bank to bank. These are crowded into
the narrow channel of the Dalles faster than they can be dis
charged, and a jam results. , An obstruction once formed, the
logs continuing to come in from above fill the channel. The tide
cf logs arrested, crowd downward until they rest upon the bot
tom of the river, and are heaped upward sometimes to a height of
twenty or thirty feet above the surface. The river thus checked
in its course rises, wedging the logs more closely and heaping
them higher.
In the jam of 1865 the river channel was filled nearly to the
St! Croix dam, a distance of a mile and a quarter above Angle
Rock. This being the first of the great jams excited unusual at
tention. Excursionists came up daily in the boats to look upon
it. It was indeed a wonderful sight. The logs were heaped to
gether in the wildest confusion, and wedged in at all angles.
Men and horses were employed to break the jam, which at that
time, owing to the inexperience of the workers, was no light
task. The modus operandi of jam breaking is to remove logs from
the lower part of the jam till some log which serves as a key to
the jam is reached. This being removed the logs above commence
moving, and, if the haul be a long one, in a short time the move
ment is extended to the head of the jam. Perhaps the logs are
so heaped above that no water is visible. It matters not; the
tremendous current beneath sweeps downward, carrying the
logs along, and the spectator beholds a wonderful scene, a river
of logs, the current swiftest in the centre of the stream, the logs

708 FIFTY YEARS
rolling, tumbling, crashing, grinding, sometimes snapped, in
sunder like pipestems. The jam breakers are in the wildest ex
citement, cheering and hurrahing, and some may be seen out in
the current of logs, jumping from one to another, or making
their escape to the shore. Others on the lower part of. the jam
at the moment of breaking are carried down the river. Though
apparently a scene of great danger, comparatively few accidents
occur. The workers are cool, experienced men with steady
nerves and stalwart arms, a race of men not surpassed for muscu
lar development.
In 1877 another jam took place nearly as large as that of
1865. This jam came near destroying the beautiful bridge that
spanned the river at the head of the Dalles. Many of the logs
carried high in air by the pressure of the logs below struck the
bridge, and at times its destruction seemed, inevitable. This '
bridge has since been replaced by an iron structure, much
higher than the first, but even this occasionally received a blow
from some log carried along by the ourrent at a "present arms."
In 1883 another jam of considerable dimensions occurred, but
' it was removed with less labor and expense than its predecessors,
and steamboats anchored below were used to aid in breaking it.
It cost from $5,000 to $10,000 to break these jams.
By far the greatest of the jams occurred in June, 1886. The
water was high, the current strong and the river above so full of
logs that a log driver might have crossed upon them. This
abundance was owing to other causes than those mentioned in
the account of the jam of 1865. The dams at Snake, Kettle and
other rivers had been simultaneously opened, and the logs in
these streams all set free at once in the current of the St. Croix. *
On they came in long procession with but little obstruction till
they reached Angle Rock, where they were suddenly arrested,
and, owing to the force of the current, wedged more tightly and
heaped higher than on any previous occasion, and the river-
channel was filled with logs to a point two miles above the St.
Croix falls formerly known as the dam. To break -this jam,
two steamers, two engines, several teams of horses and over two
hundred men were employed, and during the six weeks that
occurred before it was broken, thousands of visitors came by
rail and steamboat to look upon it. This jam was estimated to
hold during its continuance 150,000,000 feet of logs.

IN THE NORTHWEST.

709

POPULATION OF WISCONSIN.
The first census of the Northwest Territory, taken in 1790,
does not show the population of the region now known as Wis
consin. The census of 1800 gave the following figures: Ohio,
45,363; Indiana Territory, 5,641; Green Bay, 50; Prairie du
Chien, 65. According to the census of 1880, the original North
west Territory contained a population of 12,989,571, or more than
on,e-quarter of the papulation of the United States. The popula
tion of Crawford county in 1820 was 492; in 1830, 692; in 1834,
810; in 1836, 1,220; in 1838, 850; in 1841, 1,503; in 1847, 1,409.
In 1836-, when Wisconsin Territory was organized, the popu
lation of the Territory was 11,883. The whole number of votes
cast at the election in 1836 was 2,462. The population, accord
ing to the census taken at the close of every five years, was as
follows: In 1840, 30,945; in 1845, 155,275; in 1850, 305,301; in
1855, 552,109; in 1860, 775,881; in 1865, 868,325; in 1870, 1,054,-
•670; in 1875, 1,236,729; in 1880, 1,315,480; id 1885, 1,563,423.
The official compilation of the census of Wisconsin gives the
following details: Total population, 1,563,423; white, males,
806,342; females, 748,810; negroes, in full, 5,576; Indians, 2,695.
The nativities are divided as follows: United States, 1,064,-
'943; Germany, 265,756; Scandinavia, 90,057; Ireland, 36,371;
Great Britain, 32,731; British America, 21,887; Bohemia, 15,838;
Holland, 7,357; France, 3,963; all other countries, 20,030; sub
ject to military duty, 286,289; soldiers of the late war, 29,686.
POPULATION OF ST. CROIX, PIERCE, POLK, BURNETT, AND
SAWYER COUNTIES.

1840.

1845.

1850.

1855.

1860.

1865.

1870.

1875.

1880.'

1885.

St. Croix

618

809

624

2,0401,720 547

5,392
4,672 1,400 12

6,255 6,3241,677 238

11, 039
10, 004
3,422 706

14, 957
15, 101
6,736 1,436

18, 838 *
17, 685
10, 095
2,980

22, 389
19, 760

Polk 

12, 884
4,607
2,431
POPULATION OF MINNESOTA.
In 1849 the Territory had a population of 4,680. The census
taken at periods of every five years shows the following popula-
710

FIFTY YEARS

tion: In 1850, 6,077; in 1855,  ; in 1860, 172,073; in 1865r
250,099; in 1870, 439,706; in 1875, 597,403; in 1880, 780,773; in
1885, 1,117,798.
The following table gives the population of the counties on
the St. Croix waters.

1850.

1855.

1860.

1865.

1870.

1875.

1880.

1885.

1,056

6,123 1,743 9230
281 51

6,780
2,175 64 31
453 28

11, 809
4,378 648° 93
2,035 286

9,994 6,046 795311
3,901 495

19, 562
7,982
. 1,365 505
5,063 1,230

29, 763
9,765 2,1771,1197, 032'
3,189-

MINNESOTA STATE CAPITOL.
By the organic act of Minnesota Territory, $20,000 were ap
propriated for a capitol building. At the time the. Territory
was organized, however (June 1, 1849), the permanent seat of
government had not been determined on, and the money was
therefore not available. The Central House in St. Paul, a^
log tavern weather-boarded, situated at the corner of Bench and
Minnesota streets, where the rear of the Mannheimer block
now is, was rented for the public offices and legislative assembly.
It was for some months known as "The Capitol." On the
lower floor was the secretary of state's office, and the house of
representatives chamber. On the second floor was the council
chamber and the territorial library. Neither of these legislative
halls was over sixteen or eighteen feet square. The rest of the
building was used as an inn. The Union colors, floating from, a
flag staff on the bank in front of the building, was the only mark
of its rank. During his entire term of office, Gov. Ramsey kept
the executive office in his private residence, and the supreme
court met in rented chambers here and there.
On Sept. 3, 1849, the first session of the legislature assembled
at the above temporary capitol. Gov. Ramsey delivered his
message to the two houses in joint convention assembled, in the
hotel dining room. The whole fitting of the assembly rooms was
of the plainest description.
Considerable discussion ensued during the session on this sub-
IN THE NORTHWEST. 711
ject, as to whether the Territory had a right to expend the $20,-
000 appropriated in the organic act, for a capitol building. The
question having been submitted to Hon. Wm. Meredith, secre
tary of the treasury, he replied that the "Department can not
« doubt that the public buildings in question can only be erected
at the permanent seat of government, located as described.
The second session assembled Jan. 2, 1851, in a brick building,
since burned, which occupied the site of the Third street front
of the Metropolitan Hotel: At this session the seat of govern
ment was fixed at St. Paul, as above noted. D. F. Brawley,
Jonathan McKusick, Louis Robert and E. A. C. Hatch were elected
building commissioners. Charles Bazille, a pioneer resident and
large property owner of St. Paul, donated to the government
the block of ground since known as "Capitol Square," and plans
drawn by N. C. Prentiss were adopted. The contract was let to
Joseph Daniels for $33, 000, but the building finally cost over $40,-
000. It was commenced at once, but not completed until the sum
mer of 1853. The third and fourth sessions of the legislature
were compelled, therefore, to meet in rented buildings. That of
1852 assembled in Goodrich's block on Third street below Jack
son, and that of 1853 in a two story brick row on Third street,
where the front of the Mannheimer block now is.
BURNING OF THE CAPITOL.
At nine o'clock on the evening of March 1, 1881, while both
houses of the legislature were in session, and all the halls and
departments were crowded with visitors, the dome of the build
ing was found to be on fire. The flames spread with too great
rapidity to be checked, and all that could be done was to save
the contents of the building. The most valuable records and
papers of the various offices, and of the legislature, with some of
the furniture, were carried out, but the greater part of the
contents of the.building, including the valuable law library, the
supply of state laws, documents and reports, and all the sta
tionery in the secretary of state's store rooms, etc., were a total
loss. The Historical Society's library was mostly saved. The
entire loss to the State was fully $200,000.
Fortunately the city bf St. Paul had just completed a.fine and
spacious market house, which was still unoccupied, and its use
was at once tendered the State by the city authorities, and while

712 FIFTY YEARS
the flames were still' burning the furniture and effects sayed
frorh the old capitol were removed thither. At nine o'clock
next morning the state departments and both houses of the
legislature were again at work in their new quarters. But two
days of the session yet remained. Gov. Pillsbury immediately ,
secured estimates for rebuilding the burned edifice, using the
old walls, and an act appropriating $75,000 for that purpose
was passed. Work was commenced at once. It was then found
that the old walls were too unsafe to use, and at the extra ses
sion in September, 1881, the further sum of $100,000 was appro
priated for the completion of the building: Its total cost was
about $275,000. l The dome of the building is two hundred
feet above the ground, giving a noble view to the visitdr who'
ascends it. The exterior of the edifice is neat and tasty, and it
is altogether creditable to the State, considering its compara
tively small cost. SELKIRK VISITORS.
In the early days a somewhat primitive people inhabited the
Northwest, making their homes on the banks of the Red River of
the North and on the shores of Winnipeg, in what was known
as the Selkirk settlement, now included in the province of Mani-
• toba. They were a mixed race of Scotch, French and Indian
stock, born and raised under the government of the Northwest
British Fur Company. They were a peaceable, partly pastoral
and partly nomadic, trading people. They cultivated the ground
quite successfully considering the high latitude of their home
and the absence of machinery for farm work, raising wheat,
vegetables, cattle and horses. They engaged in hunting and
trapping and yearly visited St. Paul with the surplus products
of their labor to be disposed of for money or goods. They came
usually in caravans consisting of files of carts drawn by cows,
oxen and ponies, and commanded by a captain elected to the
position who exercised over them a rigid military rule. Their
carts were rude, creaking affairs, made entirely without iron, all
the fastenings being sinews and leathern thongs. This harness
was made of raw hides, Indian tanned, and sewed with animal
sinews. Their costume was a happy cross between the civilized
and savage. Their caravans included from 100 to 600 carts,
which were laden with furs, buffalo robes, buffalo tongues, dried

IN THE NORTHWEST. 713
pemmican, etc. As they came a distance of 450 miles, the jour
ney required many days, but was made in good military order.
The raising of a flag was the signal for starting, the lowering,
for stopping, At night the carts were ranged in a circle about
the encampment, and sentinels posted.' Their encampment
within the suburbs of St. Paul attracted great crowds of the
curious. In 1857 their train consisted of 500 carts, and in 1858
of 600, but later, as railroads were built northward and steamers
were placed upon the Red River of the North, their number
gradually diminished and finally , their visits ceased altogether.
CYCLONES.
^Recorded and unrecorded, Minnesota and Wisconsin have had
their full share of those atmospheric disturbances that have
wrought so much destruction in the Western States. In the
early days, when the country was sparsely settled and villages
and towns were few and far between, they came and went un
noted, or attracting but little attention. They left no traces on
the plain, and in the forests only a belt of fallen timber, known
as a "windfall." These belts are sufficiently numerous to estab
lish the fact that these storms were probably as frequent in early,
even in prehistoric, times as at the present. Their movements
are more destructive in later times because of the improvements
of civilization, the increased number of human habitations and
the growth of towns and cities. The tornado has more to de
stroy, and as a destroying agent, its movements are better known
and more widely published.
Scientists are not agreed as to the cause of these destructive
phenomena, but enough is known to overthrow the theory so
persistently advanced that it is in consequence of the cutting
away of the forests and the substitution of farms. lufact much
of the country was already prairie land and abundant evidences
of tornadoes are found in the midst of old forests in which have
since grown up trees of considerable size, and this at a period
long before the lumberman commenced his destructive work.
We append a few sketches of cyclones that have occurred in
comparatively recent times.
THE ISANTI COUNTY CYCLONE.
This storm occurred in September, 1865, and spent its fury
chiefly in Isanti county, but extended beyond and was felt even

714 FIFTY YEARS
in Wisconsin. The tornado gathered its wrath in the south
western region of Isanti county, in what is called the "Lake
Typo settlement," some forty miles north of St. Paul. It was ,
first discovered in the shape of "two clouds," as the people
there residing expressed it, " approaching each other from differ
ent directions.'' Suddenly ¦ the mingling of these counter cur-
ents of strong winds appeared to form the blackened heavens into
a funnel-shaped mass. The direction of the whirlwind was-
from southwest to northeast, and after crossing the St. Croix
river passed through an unsettled portion of timber lands known
as "pine barrens," a growth of scattering pines interspersed
with black oaks of medium size.
On Wood river, Burnett county, Wisconsin, the trunks of pine
trees, three feet in diameter and eighty feet high, were twisted
into "broom splints " and carried high in air. The interven
ing oaks were also served the same way; and the whole track of
the tornado, from thirty rods to three-fourths of a mile in width,
had left no tree standing. Pines and oaks were all prostrate,.
and promiscuously heaped up in winrows over the ground, their
branches and trunks interlocked, and in some places piled to the
height of thirty feet.
The author of this work lost about 10,000,000 feet of pine logs
in Wood river in this cyclone. On Clam river, Wisconsin, for
four miles in length and about half a mile in width, the forest was
laid in winrows, and parties who came through soon after the ¦
tempest had to cut their way.
The tornado, traveling with the velocity of lightning to the
northeast, overtook Dr. Comfort, of Wyoming, as he was cross
ing Sunrise prairie with a mule team, accompanied by a
hired man. The doctor and man saved themselves by clinging
to some shrubs near by, but when the fury of the whirlwind had
passed, all they could find of their outfit was the poor mules,
half frightened to death, and the fore wheels and tongue of
the wagon. The hind wheels, box, and the rest of the outfit,
together with the doctor's medicine kit, which he had along,
when last seen, were bound zenithward.
Wm. A. Hobbs, late quartermaster sergeant of the Third Min
nesota Battery, Light Artillery, and Orville Grant and brother —
sons of R. Grant, Esq., a farmer living in Isanti county — were
out hunting, and happened to be caught where the storm

IN THE NORTHWEST. 715
passed through the heaviest timber. They saw it approaching,
and at first attempted to take shelter in an old school house near
by, but soon saw that was no place for them and made for an
old pine log which they got behind; soon that commenced to
move. Hobbs seized hold of an oak, some ten inches in diame
ter, which immediately commenced to be loosened at the roots
and to spin around like a top. The tree was prostrated and he
with it — he receiving very severe injuries. The Grant boys
were also injured, but none near so badly as Hobbs. The log
school house shared the fate of the surrounding forest. A resi
dent near by states that he saw one-half the roof sailing upward
at least four hundred feet above the tops of the tallest trees.
THE COTTAGE GROVE CYCLONE.
On June 15, 1877, a terrific cyclone visited" the town of Cot
tage Grove, Washington county, Minnesota. We append the
correct and vivid description taken from the "History of Wash
ington County:"
"At 9 o'clock p. M. there arose in the southwest a dark
and heavy cloud, attended with loud thunder, vivid lightning
and a strong wind. The cloud moved forward rapidly; soon the
rain began to fall in torrents, when suddenly the wind came
dashing with great violence, sweeping everything before it.
There seemed to be two currents of wind, one coming from the
west and the other from the southwest. These two currents came
together in section 22. The stronger current being from the
southwest, the storm took a northwestern direction, and did
some damage in section 27, taking away a portion of the roof of
Ethan Viall's house, and a trunk out of the chamber, no trace of
which could be found. A corn cultivator was taken up, some
portions of which were never found, while other parts were found
two miles from the place of its taking. In section 22, when the
currents met, the destruction of property beggars description.
The timber in its track, was prostrated; fences were torn up and
scattered in every direction; E. Welch's house came in the line
of desolation; Mr. and Mrs. Welch had stepped out to look after,
some chickens in which Mrs. Welch was specially interested,
and, startled by the roar of the wind, were in the act of return
ing to the house. When near the door the wind took up the
house, bearing it away, and a stick of timber struck both Mr.

716 FIFTY YEAES
and Mrs. Welch, knocking them down. When Mr. Welch re
covered he had hold of his wife, but she was dead. The stick of
timber struck her on the head and caused instant death. The
next object in the path of destruction was C. D. Tuttle' s
two story dwelling, located in the northwest corner of section
26. The main part of the house was torn to pieces and scattered
in every direction, while the wing was left unmoved. The family,
consisting of six persons, fled to the cellar and were miraculously
preserved. The large barn a few rods further on was completely
destroyed. Next in its course was Mr. J. C. Tucker's barn, the
roof of which suddenly passed along on the breeze. At this point .
the storm turned, taking a northeasterly direction, and struck
the house of Robert Williams, damaging the house and entirely
destroying the barn. A horse tied to a girder in the barn was
found, uninjured, sixty feet outside of the limits of the building,
with the girder lying across him, and the strap still tied to it.
Next in line was a small lake in the southwest corner of section
23. It was almost robbed of its treasure. The water and mud
was- carried a long distance up the bluffs, fifty feet above the
level of the lake. Next came the fine house of John Morey, giv
ing" a portion of its roof to the excited wind; then passed into
the town of Denmark, continuing its destructive course, killing
a horse for W. G. Wagner, near the town line. A man known as
Michael Schull, a farm hand, was taken up by the wind and
dashed against a pile of wood, injuring his brain, causing him to
become dangerous. He is now at St. Peter in the insane
asylum. The destruction of property was great. No accurate
account of the amount of damage done has been compiled. Mr.
Tuttle, living in section 26, suffered the most. He estimated his
loss at $7,000. His house was situated in a valley surrounded
by oak trees, and we would suppose was protected by the strong
bulwarks of Nature, and yet house, barn, farming utensils,
and machinery were scattered over the country. The next morn
ing sheets of tin two feet square, found in Mr .Tuttle's yard, were
supposed to have come from a church in Dakota county. Por
tions of Mr. Tuttle's house were found miles away.
The same cyclone visited Lake Elmo and did great damage,
blowing down the depot buildings, Lake Elmo Hotel and other
structures. The buildings and trees of the agricultural fair
grounds were destroyed. Some parts of the buildings were car
ried miles away by the storm.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 717
THE CYCLONE AT WHITE BEAR AND MARINE, MINNESOTA, AND
CLEAR LAKE, WISCONSIN.
Sept. 9, 1884, a storm arose in Hennepin county and did some
damage; continuing to White Bear lake, Oneka and Grant, in
Washington county, it gathered force and proved very destruc
tive to life and property. As it passed through Oneka and
Grant its path was about ten miles, in width. Churches, school
houses, dwellings, barns, grain stacks, and fences in its way
were either partially or wholly destroyed, and the wrecked
property was distributed for miles around. The cyclone passed
on over Marine, Big Lake and Scandia, crossed the St. Croix,
passed over the town of Somerset, Star Prairie, New Richmond,
in St. Croix county, and over Black Brook, Clear Lake, Pine
ville and Clayton in Polk county and Turtle Lake in Barron,
pursuing the usual northeasterly direction common to these
cyclones, and disappearing in terrific thunderstorms, in the
timbered lands of Barron and Chippewa counties. An eye
, witness, Mr. Ivory Hatch, of Oneka, thus describes the approach
of the storm:
"I was standing near a shed in the barnyard, when suddenly
the sky became black and threatening. In about five minutes
I saw two funnel-shaped clouds descend and approach each other.
I started for the house to warn my family, when, as quick as a
flash, I was enveloped in the cloud, and while clinging to a post
for safety my grain stacks and buildings disappeared. The storm
did mot continue over a minute and a half. I escaped almost
miraculously without a bruise." The testimony of others in the
neighborhood is substantially the same. In the town of Oneka
the destruction was worse than in any other locality.
In the track of the storm through Washington county not less
than fifty houses were demolished. The loss on each aver
aged $600, making a total of $30,000. Losses on barns, machinery
and stock raised this sum to $50,000. The loss at Marine was
computed roughly at $75,000, which made a total of $135,000,
not including hay and grain. The entire loss to Clear Lake was
estimated at $200,000. Three persons lost their lives, Mrs. P.
Burdick, Willie Kavanagh and John Saunders. The Methodist,
Congregational and Swedish churches were leveled with the
ground. The timber losses were close to $1,000,000; private prop-

718 FIFTY YEARS
erty in villages, loss near $500,000, and all other losses, such as
farm property and the like, in the hundred thousands. The
total loss in Wisconsin has been placed at six lives and $4,000,
€00 in property.
THE ST. CLOUD AND SAUK RAPIDS CYCLONE OF 1886.
The most destructive storm yet recorded occurred on the after
noon of April 14, 1886. The clouds were first seen from St. Cloud
to gather a short distance over the basin of the Masour cemetery
about three o'clock, Sunday afternoon, iu dark, overhanging
masses. Then sharp tongues of lightning darted down with
terrific force, and the storm with all its fury burst upon the
doomed cities. The south end, or beginning of the cyclone track,
was located two or three miles south and a little west of St.
Cloud and its total length was twenty-four miles. The property
destroyed amounted to over a quarter of a million of dollars,
and the loss of life at St. Cloud and Sauk Rapids was seventy-
five. If we include those who died later of injuries from wounds,
exposure and fright, we may safely say a hundred.
The first victim of the cyclone was Nicholas Junneman. The
cyclone rising, as we have said, over or near Calvary cemetery,
for a space of about three hundred yards in diameter the trees
-were uprooted or twisted off, gravestones were thrown flat, and
fences demolished. Crossing over Calvary Hill, in a path about
one hundred feet wide, it wrecked the small Catholic chapel and
badly injured the crucifix located there. Next in its course was
the farm house of Nicholas Junneman which was left a pile of
ruins, and Mr. Junneman was killed, while his wife was danger
ously injured. The first house struck within the city limits was
J. W. Tenvoorde's. Just across the street J. Schwartz's two
story brick house was almost wrecked. Here the path of the
tornado was about two hundred feet wide, and increased until by
the time it reached the Manitoba depot the width was six hun
dred feet, taking in in its fearful embrace during the length of
its course half a hundred or more buildings, which were totally
wrecked, moved from their foundations, or more or less dam
aged. In many instances there was nothing left to show where
a house had stood, and the prairie was covered far and wide
with the debris of the. demolished buildings. Over fifty houses
in St. Cloud were totally destroyed and as many more badly

IN THE NORTHWEST. 719
¦damaged. Before striking the river it swerved slightly north
ward, and thus the costly building blocks and crowded streets in
the heart of the city were spared. Had the cyclone veered in
its course more to the south, the loss of property and life in St.
¦Cloud would have been incalculable.
Striking the river the cyclone appeared to be almost motion
less for a few moments, or moved so slowly as to seem to hang
•over the face of the water, its huge black column rising toward
the zenith. Then leaving the river, this monster of the air
struck Sauk Rapids at Stanton's large flouring mill, which was
left a heap of ruins. It then took Demeules' store and the
Northern Pacific depot, and passed on through the main busi
ness part of the place, leaving but one important business house
standing, Wood's store, which was badly damaged. Court house,
church, school building, post office, newspaper offices, hotels,
dwelling houses, all went down under the relentless power of the
storm. Streets were blockaded with the wreck so as to be prac
tically impassable. The list of dead out of a village of about
1,000 population included some of the leading county officials
and prominent citizens. Amongst them were John Renard,
county auditor, and Gregg Lindley, register of deeds; also Edgar
Hull, president of the German- American National Bank; E. G.
Halbert, of the New York Insurance Company, with whom Mr.
Hull had just filed an application for a $5,000 policy, was so
, ' badly injured that he died in a few days. The destruction of
property in Sauk Rapids was far greater than in St. Cloud, as
the business portion of the city was almost entirely swept away.
, The loss of life was also proportionately greater.
After leaving Sauk Rapids the cyclone struck Rice's, a station
¦on the Northern Pacific road, about fourteen miles from the
former village. Some four miles southeast of the station, at the
house of a farmer named Schultz, a happy wedding party was
gathered, a daughter of the farmer having been married to
Henry Friday, chairman of the board of supervisors of Lan-
gola. Almost before they realized it the terrible power of the
storm encircled them, and in the twinkling of an eye nine of the
goodly company were mangled corpses, among the number being
the groom, While the bride was dangerously if not fatally in
jured. The victims also included the Rev. G. J. Schmidt, pastor
of the German Evangelical church of Sauk Rapids. The Rev. Mr.

720 FIFTY YEARS
Seeder, pastor of the Two Rivers district, was found out on the
prairie with both legs broken.
At Buckman, Morrison county, several persons were killed,
and six or seven farm houses destroyed. The suffering caused
by this most terrible of cyclones evoked the liveliest sympathy,
and large contributions of money, food and clothing were fof- ,
warded by the citizens of St. Paul, Minneapolis and other cities
throughout the State.
G. W. Benedict, of Sauk Rapids, relates his experience in the
storm as follows: "I was in the yard at my residence half a mile
north of the depot, when I heard a terrible deafening roar, and
on looking up I saw what first appeared to be a very heavy black
volume of smoke from a railroad engine, but in a moment I re
alized what it was. The volume of black cloud soon increased
to double its size, and had a funnel shape, gyrating in a peculiar
zigzag form. Untold amounts of debris of houses, fences and
everything above the surface were shooting and flying with ter
rific velocity from the cloud, which took a northerly direction.
The horrible writhing demon of destruction, with its deafening
roar, increased in volume and force, and hurled to utter destruc
tion everything in its path, a great portion of which was car
ried miles in the air out of sight as though but trifles of lightest
chaff." Thos. Van Etten was walking on the street, going home, when
the cyclone struck the town, and he was bodily lifted into the air,
carried four hundred feet up a steep hill and landed in a street,
literally plastered over with mud. A young man fishing near
the end of the bridge, on the opposite side from Sauk Rapids,
says that many of the houses were lifted high in the air, and did
not seem to be injured until they were dashed to the ground,
when they collapsed, and the pieces were scattered in all direc
tions. None of the very large number of persons who went into
a cellar for protection from the storm were badly injured. The
Fink family, the mother and four children of which were almost
instantly killed, were in a house which had an excellent cellar,
but the family forgot to utilize it. Near the ruins of the Car
penter house is a tree about ten inches in diameter, through
which a pine board was driven so that it protruded at both sides
of the tree. The property loss in Benton county was estimated
at $300,000, and in St. Cloud at $56,000.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 721
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.
Sometime in the '50s Messrs. Oaks, Rand, Witham, Carson,
and twelve other men were in a tent on the banks of Lake St.
Croix, just below the mouth of Willow river, during a severe
thunder storm. It was about 9 o'clock p. m. when lightning
struck the tent and passing down killed Witham and Carson,
1 and severely stunned Oaks and Rand. The other men were not
injured, but, heing badly frightened, ran away, and did not return
till the following morning, When they found two of the men
supposed killed still alive, but dazed and motionless. The two
killed were lying close together, while Mr. Oaks lay upon one
side and Mr. Rand upon the other. The lightning had struck
the men who were killed upon the head, and traversing the
body had passed out below the ankles. The current of elec
tricity had passed up the arm of Mr. Oaks and down his body^
burning spots the' size of a pea, and plowing lines under the
skin, the scars of which, after recovery, were raised in welts
nearly as large as' a whipcord. Mr. Oaks was nearly a year
recovering. He says that during the time he lay "motionless and
apparently stunned he was in full possession of his faculties.
Mr. Rand had one side of his body burned to a blister. Prior
to this he had been affected with weak eyes, but the electrical
treatment there received effected a complete cure.
ASIATIC CHOLERA.
Minnesota was early visited by this scourge of the eastern
world. It was brought up the river on the crowded steamers
and created the utmost consternation, and even panic. No one
on board the Royal Arch, May, 1853, can forget the dreadful
scenes upon this boat. The first case occurred at Galena, that
of a child, and the next at La Crosse, that of a woman, who was
put ashore in a dying condition twenty miles, above. From
thence to St. Paul the boat was a floating hospital, and thirteen
corpses lay under a canvas on the lower deck.
Notwithstanding the ghastly freight carried by the steamer,
and its sick and dying passengers in the cabin above, kind hearts
sympathized and kind hands were extended to help; and the
dead were buried and every thing possible was done for the sick
and suffering survivors, many of whom died after being carried*
46

722 FIFTY YEARS
ashore at St. Paul. What these good Samaritans did was at the
risk of their own lives, and more than one, among them Henry P.
Pratt, editor of the St. Paul Minnesotian, sickened and died from
infection caught by ministering to the stricken ones.
DECREE OF CITIZENSHIP.
The first naturalization papers on record in Minnesota are
somewhat unique, and for that reason worthy of preservation,
and are herewith presented et literatim:
DECREE OF CITIZENSHIP.
Territory of Wisconsin,
St. Croix County.
I, William Willim, an alien by birth, aged twenty-six years,
do hereby, upon my oath, make known that I was born in the
county of Hereford, in the kingdom of Great Britain and Ire
land, on the twenty-sixth day of June, A. D. 1821; that I emi
grated from the kingdom aforesaid, and landed in New York, in
the state of New York, on the first day of October, 1838; that I
was at that time a minor aged seventeen years, and that I have
since that time resided in the United States of America; that
it is my bona fide intention to become a citizen of the United
States, to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity which I,
in anywise, owe to any foreign power, potentate, state or sov
ereignty whatever, and more particularly all allegiance and fidel
ity which I, in anywise, owe to Victoria, queen of Great Britain,
of whom I have heretofore been a subject, and, further that I do
not possess any hereditary title, or belong to any of the order
of nobility in the kingdom from whence I came; so help me God.
William Willim.
Sworn and subscribed to before me on this eighteenth day of
June, 1847, in open court.
Joseph R. Brown,
Clerk of District Court of St. Croix County, Wisconsin Territory.
Another oath, such as is now administered, to support the
constitution of the United States, was signed and attested in
like manner.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 723
BURNING OF THE INTERNATIONAL HOTEL.
On a clear, cold night in February, 1869, the International
Hotel, located at the corner of Seventh and Jackson streets, took
fire and was speedily consumed. The alarm was sounded at two
o'clock in the morning. The hotel was crowded with boarders,
among whom were many members of the legislature, then in ses
sion, and their families. The writer occupied a room on the sec
ond floor and was among the flrst aroused. Hastily seizing my
trunk I hurried down stairs and returned to assist others, but
was stopped by the smoke at the entrance. The guests of the
house were pouring from every outlet. A group of ladies had
escaped to the sidewalk, partly clad, some with bare feet. Lad
ders were placed to the windows to save those who had failed to
escape in the hallway. Senators C. A. Gilman and Seagrave
Smith, with their wives, were rescued in this manner. Many di
verting circumstances occurred illustrative of nonchalance,
coolness and daring, as well as of bewilderment and panic.
Senator Armstrong tried in vain to throw his trunk from a
window in which it was wedged fast and was obliged to leave it
to the flames. Judge Meeker came out of the house carrying
his clothing upon his arm, having a shawl wrapped round his
head, and bewailing the loss of the maps and charts of Meeker's
dam. Seagrave Smith tarried too long searching for a senate
bill, and narrowly escaped sharing the fate of the bill. Many
of the guests escaped in their night clothing, and carrying their
clothing with them completed their toilet standing in the snow
in the light df the burning building. Considering the rapidity
of the fire, and the hour at which it occurred it seemed marvel
ous that no lives were lost. GRASSHOPPERS.
Minnesota has been visited at intervals by that scourge of
some of the Western States, grasshoppers. The first visitation
was from the Selkirk (now Manitoba) settlement, about 1838-9.
The pests are said to have accompanied some of the early immi
grants from Selkirk who came down to the reservation about
Fort Snelling. They made yearly visitations and threatened to
become a serious obstacle to the settlement of the country. Some
seasons they proved quite destructive. In 1874-5-6-7 the state

724 FIFTY YEARS
legislature made appropriations to relieve those suffering from
their ravages in the western and southwestern parts of the State.
There were also large private contributions to the relief fund.
One of the acts passed at the session of 1877 appropriated $100,-
000 for bounties to pay for the destruction of grasshoppers and
their eggs. Townships and villages were also authorized to levy
taxes for the destruction of the common enemy, and $75,000 was
appropriated to furnish seed grain for those who had lost their
crops, and $5,000 was voted for a common relief fund. Special
prayers were offered for an abatement of the scourge. In 1877,
when the grasshopper appeared in myriads again, the governor
appointed a day of fasting and prayer for riddance from the
calamity. From some unknown cause the grasshoppers disap
peared, and have not since returned in such numbers as to prove
a plague. These grasshoppers were a species known as the
Rocky Mountain locusts. ANCIENT MOUNDS.
The valley of the Mississippi and the valleys of its tributary
streams abound with mounds of various sizes and fashions, cir
cular, oval or oblong, serpentine and sometimes irregular in out
line, and all works of intelligence and design, wrought by some
ancient people for purposes now not fully known. It is probable,
however, that some were used as places of defense, others were
built for sacrificial or religious purposes, others for sepulture,
and others still may be the remains Of dwellings. Most of them
contain relics, coins or implements made of shells, of flints and
in some instances of baked earthenware, and lastly human re
mains. These relics are not necessarily of cotemporaneous date,
and many of them are comparatively modern. Such mounds
were used for burial places long after their original builders had
passed away.
That they are very ancient is unquestionable. They outdate
the traditions of the Indians who inhabited this country at the
date of its discovery, while the most ancient remains taken from
them indicate as their builders a people widely different from
the present aborigines, and possessed of arts unknown to them.
Conjecture points to a race from the South, probably the Aztecs,
as the mound builders. This race was exterminated in some
way, or driven away by some stronger tribes, who may in turn

IN THE NORTHWEST. 725
have given place to our present race of Indians. A full descrip
tion of these ancient works would require volumes; we can
therefore allude only to a few that may be considered typical
specimens of their class.
At Prairie Village, now Waukesha, Wisconsin, in 1836, the
writer saw a mound six feet high, representing a tortoise, the head,
feet and tail being still distinctly traceable. Many mounds exist
at Prairie du Chien, some quite large, and of varying shape,
some representing inclosures or fortifications, with gateways or
openings. These are located on the high bluffs east of the
Prairie. Many of these, very distinct in the early days, are now
almost obliterated by the plowshare of the farmer and the spade
. of the relic hunter.
The builders of the ancient mounds certainly exercised great
taste in their location, as they are generally found in pleas-
sant localities, on grassy plateaus or elevated lands, and by the
shores of lakes and streams. Some, originally built on plains,
have since been overgrown with trees. In some cases trees of
immense size have been found growing even on the summit of
the mounds. The most notable mounds of the St. Croix valley are
at Vasa village, in Marine township, Washington county, Minne
sota, and in the neighborhood of Osceola Mills, Polk county,
Wisconsin. We append notes of a survey of the latter, made
in 1870. They are sixteen in number and we mention only the
most remarkable.
No. 1 is of circular form, 20 feet in height and 60 in diameter.
Trees 2 feet in diameter are found on this mound. Mound No.
2 has a diameter of 90 feet, and was originally 30 feet high; at
present but 20. This .mound is also of circular formation.
Mound No. 3 is circular in form, 36 feet in diameter and 2 feet
high. Mound No. 4 is circular, 40 feet in diameter and 5 feet
high. Mound No. 5 is oblong and 40x60 feet in dimensions, and
4 feet high. The largest and finest of these mounds have been
nearly destroyed by the encroachments of the road makers.
These mounds are located two miles north of Osceola, on .Close
creek. Alanson Thompson made a homestead of the land on
which they are situated, and built his home immediately in the
rear of the two larger' mounds. His garden included many of
the mounds.
Mr. T. H. Lewis, of St. Paul, made a later survey of these

726 FIFTY YEARS
ancient mounds. In the group north of the creek and near the
school house, which he classifies as the upper group, he finds
ninety-six well developed mounds, and some of them of peculiar
shape and great interest. In the group south of the creek, which
he calls the lower group, he finds forty-nine mounds, a total of
one hundred and forty-five in the two groups; at least five times
as many as has been supposed to be there.
But one of the mounds is an effigy mound, and this is not
clearly defined, plowing iu the field having disturbed the outline
of the effigy. The most of them contain bones, as has long been
known, and Mr. Lewis finds in them shell relics, which are rarely
found in any mounds; also pottery, and beads made from shells.
Another peculiar mound not included in this description may
be found on the bluff overlooking the St. Croix, not far from the
Close creek series of mounds. It is over one hundred feet in
length and serpentine in form, one end being enlarged to repre
sent the head. There are also fine specimens of ancient mounds-
on Chisago lake, near Centre City and Chisago City.
The subject is a fascinating one to the archaeologist, but it be
hooves him to make haste with his investigations, as these mar
velous works are rapidly disappearing, being dug over by the
irresponsible and unscientific relic hunter, or worn down by the
plow, or carted away for loose earth to mend a roadway or fill a
sinkhole. . LAKE ITASCA.
The Mississippi appropriately takes its name at the outlet of
Lake Itasca, its reputed source. This lake, although known to
the fur company adventurers of the eighteenth, and the early
part of the nineteenth centuries, received the name Itasca in
1832 from Schoolcraft and Boutwell.. A complete account of the
naming of the lake will be found in the biography of Rev. W. T.
Boutwell, attached to the history of Pine county in this work.
Itasca lies in range 36, townships 133 and 134, and is about three
miles in length by one and one-half in width. Its title to the
distinction of being the true source of the Mississippi has been
frequently called in question. There are tributary lakes of
smaller size lying near it, connected with it by small streams,
barely navigable for birch canoes. Elk lake, a body of water
three-fourths of a mile in length, lying south, is connected with

IN THE NORTHWEST. 727
it by a stream 25 links wide and 30 rods in length. Elk lake
has an influent stream 2 miles in length, which drains a swamp
lying south.
Another stream from the south, two miles in length, flows into
Itasca, and has its source in a lake one-fourth of a mile long.
As this lake has not been named in any original or later town
ship map, United States Surveyor Chandler, Chief Clerk B. C.
Baldwin and the writer, in January, 1887, agreed to give it the
name of Boutwell, in honor of the devoted missionary who vis
ited Itasca in company with Schoolcraft in 1832. This lake is
really the source of the 'Mississippi, though from its small size is
not likely to receive general recognition as such. Lakes Itasca,
Elk and Boutwell lie in range 36, township 143, west of the 5th
-principal meridian, United States survey, latitude 47.10, and
longitude 95.30 west from Greenwich United States survey. The
lands bordering on and adjacent to these lakes were surveyed in
October, 1875, by Edwin Hall, and lie in Beltrami county, which
was named after an Italian traveler who visited this section in
1823. Hon. B. C. Baldwin, a member of the Minnesota constitutional
convention of 1857, told the writer that when surveying govern
ment lands in 1874, he discovered in range 37, township 143, six
miles west of Itasca, a lake two and a half miles in length, with
out inlet or outlet, the waters apparently rising, as trees were
standing in the water near the shore and submerged at least
eight feet. Small lakes of similar character were also discov
ered. Twelve miles west of Itasca the tributaries of the Red
River of the North have their source.
The latest claim made as to the discovery of the source of the
Mississippi is that of Capt. Willard Glazier, who, in 1881,
claimed to have discovered Elk lake as the source of the Missis
sippi. The Minnesota State Historical Society promptly repudi
ated his assumptions, and protested against affixing to Elk lake
the name Glazier, as the captain was in no sense a discoverer,
either of the lake or its connections with Itasca, the adjacent
lands having been surveyed in 1875, and partially covered with
claims in 1881. With far more justice we might claim for Lake
Boutwell, a more remote lake, the distinguished honor of being
the true source of the Mississippi.

728 FIFTY YEARS
COPPER MINING ON THE ST. CROIX.
As early as 1842, a company, composed of the Harris brothers
and others, of Galena, Illinois, prospected in the Upper St.
Croix valley for copper. Their superintendent, Mr. Crosby, lo
cated a mineral permit at Pine island, one mile above St. Croix
Falls, where he found rich specimens. Citizens and operatives
at St. Croix Mills gave liberally to aid the enterprise, but Mr.
Crosby's health having failed he left expecting to spend the win
ter in Cuba, but sickened and died at New Orleans, and the min-
rng enterprise of the Galena company was never resumed.
In 1847, a Boston company, composed of Caleb Cushing, Robert
Rantoul, Dexter and Harrington, and others, of Boston, and some
other capitalists, located a mineral permit one mile square at St.
Croix Falls, and another of the same dimensions on the St. Croix .
and Kettle River rapids. This proved to be a speculative scheme
of Boston and Washington capitalists and politicians.
In 1848, David Dale Owen, a prominent geologist, made an ex
ploration of the territory now included in Minnesota and Wis
consin and published a report. His work being done at the or
der of the government, he was accompanied by a corps of
scientific men, and had time and means to make thorough inves
tigations. He reported that the trap rock ranges of the St.
Croix, a continuation of the copper ranges of Superior, are rich
in specimens of copper. These ranges crop out every few miles
in a southwesterly direction from Superior. The most southerly
are those known as the Dalles of the St. Croix, including as a part
the Franconia ledge three miles below. The Kanabec river range
crops out near Chengwatana. The Kettle river, range crosses the
St. Croix further north.
In 1865 the Minnesota legislature placed the sum of $1,000 in
the hands of N. C. D. Taylor for the purpose of examining and
reporting the different mineral prospects on the St. Croix and
its tributaries. He reported the Kettle river veins as being very
promising. Mr. Taylor sunk a shaft in a locality in Taylor's
Falls to a depth of forty feet and found excellent indications of
copper, and some good specimens. He reports most of the rock
in the St. Croix valley above Taylor's Falls to be of the different
kinds of trap rock, with belts of conglomerate running through
them in a direction from northeast to southwest, the conglomer-

LN THE NORTHWEST. 729
ate being most abundant on the Kettle river. There are limited
patches of sandstone which in places contain marine shells, but
no rock in place. Prof. Hall says of the Taylor's Falls vein that
it is a very distinct vein and shows quite equal to the early
showing of many of the best paying mines of Superior. He
regards the Kettle river vein as one of the most promising yet
found in the country.
Other veins have been discovered in the vicinity of the St.
Croix Dalles. Considerable money has been spent in prospect^
ing and development, but more capital is needed than miners
have yet been able to obtain.
Taylor's Falls Copper Mining Company was organized Dec.
15, 1874, W. H. C. Folsom, president; Geo. W. Seymour, secre
tary; Levi W. Folsom, treasurer; David A. Caneday, 'mining
agent. They sunk a shaft one hundred and thirty feet deep and
found good indications. This mine was worked in 1875-76, at
an expenditure of over $5,000. Excellent specimens were found
but not in paying quantities. The rock increased in richness
as the shaft sunk in depth. The work was suspended for want
of material aid. There is but little doubt that as the valley
becomes known and populated, that as wealth increases, the
mineral resources of the country are better known, mining will
become a prominent and profitable industry.
REMINISCENCES OF REV. JULIUS S. WEBBER.*
We reached Stillwater, June 3, 1850, and moved into the Elfelt
house on North Hill. The village contained at that time about
thirty dwellings, two hotels, three stores, and a number of
saloons. Three religious denominations held services each Sab^
bath, the missionaries in charge alternating through the succes
sive Sabbaths, and supporting in addition a union prayer
meeting and Sabbath-School, of which Capt. Wm. Holcomb was
the first superintendent. The meetings were held in a school
house on Third street.
My appointments outside of Stillwater were at Willow River,
Kinnikinic and Prescott, Wisconsin, and at Cottage Grove
and Point Douglas in Minnesota. In 1852 Rev. S. T. Catlin was
appointed to that part of my field lying east of the St. Croix

* Rev Mr. Webber was bom in the state of New York in 1821 : was educated for the ministry
ordained and sent to Minnesota as a missionary by the Calvinistic Baptist church. He came »o
Stillwater in 1850. He is now a resident of Fleming, Cayuga county, New York.

730 FIFTY YEARS
river, and I formed appointments at Areola, Marine, Taylor's .
and St. Croix Falls; We organized a Baptist society at Still
water, Oct. 26, 1850, consisting of eight members; Rev. J. P.
Parsons and wife, Dean A. H. Cavender and wife of St. Paul,
J. S. Webber and wife, constituting a council of recognition.
Rev. J. P. Parsons preached the sermon of recognition, and J. S.
Webber extended the right hand of fellowship. The first baptism
by immersion in the county was administered in a large spring
just below Nelson's store," Jan. 30, 1853, the waters of the spring
being free from ice. The candidate was Margaret Towner, of
Pembina. In 1853 I made a tour of the Minnesota valley to
Mankato. On the first day, September 23d, I traveled from
Fort Snelling to Shakopee and saw not a human habitation nor a
human being on the trail. At Shakopee I found a home with
Judge Dowling. On the next day I traveled to Le Sueur. On
Sabbath morning I preached at Traverse des Sioux, and in the
afternoon I went to Mankato, and stopped at the house of Mr.
Hannah, where I preached in the evening, to a congregation that
had come together hastily from the neighborhood, the first ser
mon preached in Mankato. On the twenty-sixth I preached the
first sermon at Le Seuer, and the first sermon at Shakopee on
my return.
In 1854 I opened on the South Hill, known later as Nelson's
addition to Stillwater, a school known as Washington Seminary,
which received liberal patronage from the citizens of Stillwater
and surrounding country. In May, 1855, I sold the school to
Mr. Kent, and it passed into the hands of an Episcopal clergy
man. I returned to New York where I have since lived, pur
suing my calling, which has suffered thus far no interruption
from sickness or infirmities.
The remembrance of my association with the people of the '
St. Croix valley is pleasant. Amongst the most pleasant of my
recollections are those of the lumbermen of St. Croix, who often
made up a large portion of my congregation. They were kind
and corteous, attentive hearers and valued as friends and asso
ciates. AN AMUSING INCIDENT.
An amusing incident occurred in Carver county, in Judge E.O.
Hamlin's district (an account of which was published in "The
Drawer" of Harper's Monthly, some years after it occurred).

IN THE NORTHWEST. 731
Judge Hamlin, going to Chaska to hold his first term of court in
Carver county, found the sheriff absent, and his deputy, a for
eigner who could speak English very imperfectly, ignorant alike
of his duties and of the language in which they were to be per
formed, confessed his entire ignorance of "how to open court,"
but said he could read writing. Therefore Judge Hamlin wrote
out the form for opening court, and instructed him when the
order was given for "the sheriff to open court," to stand up and
read distinctly the form prepared for him. This was in the
v usual terms, beginning "Hear ye, hear ye, all manner of per
sons having any business," etc., etc., and ending with "come
forward and give your attendance, and you shall be heard." At
the hour fixed the court room was reasonably well filled. Par
ties, witnesses and jurors, together with the district attorney
(who at that time went with the judge over the whole district)
were in attendance. The judge was on the bench, and the dep-
uty sheriff, fully conscious of the dignity of his office, awaited
the order of the judge. Upon being told to "make proclama
tion for the opening of court," this officer arose, and holding the
written form before his eyes, roared out in stentorian tones:
" Here we are! Her ewe are!" and running through the remainder
of the form closed with "come forward and give your attendance,
and you will be sure to be here!" The air of importance with which
it was said, together with his self complacency in the discharge of
his new duties, was scarcely less amusing than the mistake he
had made. Its effect may be better imagined than described.
THE OLD SETTLERS ASSOCIATION.
By an act of the legislature approved May 33, 1857, the "Old
Settlers Association" was incorporated with the following
charter membefs: H. H.' Sibley, Socrates Nelson, Franklin
Steele, A. L. Larpenteur, Wm. Holcombe, Wm. H. Randall,
Wm. Hartshorn, Cornelius Lyman, Lorenzo A. Babcock, J. D.
Ludden, David Olmsted, H. M. Rice. Alex. Ramsey, Wm. R.
Marshall, Jos. R. Brown, Chas. W. Borup, Henry Jackson, Mar
tin McLeod, Norman W. Kittson, Vetal Guerin, J. W. Selby,
Aaron Goodrich, and Philander Prescott. These members, with
those whom they might associate with them, were duly em
powered to buy, sell, hold property, to sue or be sued, to receive
donations, to keep a common seal, and to enjoy all the franchises
incident to a corporate body.

732

FIFTY YEARS

It was provided that no person should be eligible to a mem
bership who had not been a resident of the Territory prior
to Jan. 1, 1850. The seal of the association was devised by
Aaron Goodrich. On the two sides of the seal were represented
the past and the future. In the background of the side repre
senting the past is delineated a plain; in the distance are seen
the last rays of the declining sun; nearer are seen Indian hunt-
ersj their lodges, women and children, and a herd of buffalo.
Prominent in the foreground of the side representing the fu
ture stands an aged man with silvered hair; he leans upon his
staff; he is in the midst of a cemetery; the spire of a church is
seen in the distance; as he turns from a survey of the various
monuments which mark the resting place of departed old set
tlers, his eye rests upon a new made grave. It is that of his last
associate; he is the last survivor; his companions have fallen
asleep. A group of children in the foreground represents the
, rising generation of Minnesota which shall reap the fruits of the
pioneer's toil'. <

SEAL OF THE ASSOCIATION.

ORGANIZATION.
The first meeting of the Old .Settlers Association was held, in
pursuance of public notice, at the hall of the Historical Society
of Minnesota, in the capitol, in St. Paul, on Saturday, Feb. 27,
1858. On motion of Judge Goodrich, his excellency Henry H. Sib
ley was unanimously elected president. Hon. Aaron Goodrich
and Hon. L. A. Babcock were unanimously elected vice presi
dents, A. L. Larpenteur, Esq., secretary, and J. W. Bass, Esq.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 733
treasurer. After which Gov. Sibley addressed the meeting in a
manner able, pertinent and feeling. Several other members
spoke. On motion a committee of three was appointed by the chair
to report by-laws for the government of the association. Also a
committee of three to report such measures as shall be deemed
best calculated to effectuate the objects of the charter.
The president appointed H. L. Moss, L. A. Babcock and T. R.
Potts committee on by-laws, and Aaron Goodrich, B. W. Lott
and Chas. S. Cave committee on charter.
Judge Goodrich said this occasion was one of deep andabiding
interest to the pioneers of Minnesota; that there were epochs in
our history that should be commemorated. He desired that the
first day of June be fixed upon as the day for the future meet
ings of the association; he named this day for the reason that on
the first day of June, 1849, the local organization of this Terri
tory took place.
The following resolution was adopted:
Resolved, That the annual meeting of this association be held
on the first day of June, providing that when said month shall
commence on the Sabbath, said meeting shall be held on the fol
lowing Monday. *
On motion of Judge Goodrich the following preamble and
resolution were adopted:
WhereAs, The object of this association and the individuals
composing the same are closely allied to and identified with that
of the Historical Society bf Minnesota, therefore
Resolved, That up to the period in which this association shall
possess a hall in which to meet, its place of meeting shall be the
hall of said Historical Society.
As a matter of history we record the names of the members
originally and subsequently enrolled.

Ames, Michael E.*
Ayer, Frederick.*
Abbott, G. S.f
Altenberg, William.*
Armstrong, William, f
Atkinson, John W.
Anderson, John. |
Arpin, A.*

Babcock, Lorenzo A.*
Bailly, Alexis.*
Bass, Jacob W.
Beatty, James.
Banfill; John.*
Barton, Thomas.*
Bazille, Charles.*
Becker, George L.

734

FIFTY YEARS

Berard, Antoine. f
Bevans, Henry L.* -
Black, Mahlon.
Bautien, V.f
Beaulieu, Clement H.
Bean, James, t
Bishop, Thornton.
Beaupre, Philip.
Blackburn, John T.
Burns, Hugh.
Berriwick, J.*
Blair, O. H*
Boutwell, W. T.
Blakeley, Russell.
Bolles, Lemuel.*
Borup, Chas. W. W.*
Bostwick, Lardner.*
Bradley, J.*
Brady, Patrick.*
Brawley, Daniel J.*
Brisette, Edmond.*
Bromley, C. B.
Brown, Joseph R.*
Brown, Wm. R.*
Brunson, Benj. W
/Bryant, Alden. f
Buffit, G.f
Burkelo, Samuel.*
Bottineau, Pierre.
Bettington, John C.t
Beauchier, Francis, t
Besour, A. C*
Bailly John.t
Boal, James Mc C.*
Campbell, George W.*
Cavalier, Charles.
Caye, Chas. S.
Cavender, A. H.
Chute, Richard.
Clewitt, James R.*

Colter, William.*
Conway, Chas. R.
Cooper, David.*
Cormack, John.*
Cave, William.
Culver, George.*
Culver, J. B*
Connell, William, t
Cummings, R. W.
Curtis, Harley.*
Chapman, John J.t
Cloutier, A.t
Colby, Wm. F.
Colter, Charles.
Carlie, C*
Chase, A.'M.
Comer, Elias H.
Church, Cal.t
Dana, Napoleon, J. T.
Day, David.
Day, James.*
Dayton, Lyman.*
Desmarais, Louis.
Desnoyers, Stephen.*
Dewey, John J. ,
Dibble, William B.*
Doe, William E.*
Day, Henry T.
Day, Leonard P.*
Dorr, Caleb D.
Dobney, John.
Durant, E. W.
Day, William P.t
Dudley, John.
Davis, Patten W.
Dresser. Horace.t
Elfelt, Charles D.
Ely, Edmund F.*
Ellison, Smith.
Eddy, Frank S.*

IN THE NORTHWEST.

735

'.¦$.•$'•

Eldridge, Ariel.
Eaton, Alonzo. t
Elfelt, L. C*
Faribault, J. B.*
Faribault, Alex.*
v Farrington, G. W.t
Fisher, Jacob.
Forbes, W. H.*
Ford, J. A.t
Finch, T. M.t
' Findley, S. J.*
" Foster, A. D.*
, Foster, Thomas.*
FreebOrn, William.*
French, A R.*
Folsom, S. P.
Furber, J. W.*
Furber, P. P.*
Fuller, A. G.t
Folsom, W. H. C.
Fox, Patrick.
Fairbanks, John H.
Foster, Henry, t
Furber, Theodore.
Fisk, Frank.
Folsom, Edgar.
Folsom, Ward W.
Farnham, S. W.
Fillmore, R. G.
Fisher, John.
Finn, William.
" Farnham, Rufus, Jr.
Gammel, Irenus.*
Gibbs, H. R.
Gilman, David.*
Godfrey, Ard.
..¦.Goodrich, Aaron.*
Greely,. Elam.*
Guerin, Vetal.*
Gautier, Napoleon.

Guernsey, W. H.
Glenn, Samuel.*
Getchel, W. W.
Gervais, Benjamin.
Gardner, Charles R.
Gardner, John C*
Gray, Isaac.
Guion, Joseph.
Hartshorn, W.*
Hartshorn, W. E.
Hobart, Chancey.
Holcombe, William.*
Holmes, Thomas.*
Hoyt, B. F.*
Hoyt, Lorenzo.
Hopkins, Daniel.*
Hopkins, Peter.
Humphrey, J. K.
Harris, George.
Holton, John.*
Houghton, George.
Houghton, James.
Haskell, Joseph.
Hone, David.*
Henkly, J. S.t
Hoffman, James, t
Haskill, Hiram, t
Hetherington, Thomas.*
Holcombe, W. W.
Hill, Lewis.
Irvine, J. R.*
Irvine, B. F.
Jackson, Henry.*
Jarvis, W. H.*
Johnson, P. K.
Johnson, R. W.
Jackins, John.*
Jackman, H. A.
Kellogg, M. N.
Kennedy, Robert.

736

FIFTY YEARS

Kittson, N. W.*
Keogh, James.
Knox, M. C.
Kent, William.
Kattenberg, Henry.
Lambert, H. A.*
Larpenteur, E. N.*
Larpenteur, A. L.
Lennon, J. G.*
Lennoh, J. E.
Leavitt, Martin.
Lull, C. P. V.
Lyman, Cornelius S.*
Lott, B. W.*
Ludden, J. D.
Leonard, C. E.
Loomis, D. B.
Lowry, S. B.*
Lyman, Stoers B.
Lyman, David P.
McKenny, J. H*
McKenzie, J. G.
Masterson, H. F.
McKusick, John.
McKusick, J. E. ¦
Mitchell, J. B. H.
Marshall, W. R.
McLeod, Martin,*
McCleod, Alexander.*
McLean, N.*
Murphy, Edward.*
Meeker, Bradley B.*
Murphy, Alfred C.t
McKusick, William.
McHattie, Alexander.
Manaege, Peter.
Mackey, Andrew.
McDonald, R.t
Masier, Josiah.*
Marks, Isaac*

Moreau, Charles.*
Mahoney, Wm.*
Mahoney, Jeremiah.
Morgan, John.*
Moffett, Lot.*
Morrison, W. C.
Morrison, Allen.*
Morton, T. F.*
Moss, H. L.
Murray, M. P.
Murphy, J. W.
Myrick, Nathan.
McComb, J. D.
McKean, Elias.
McMullen, James, f
McLean, Henry.t
Masterman, Joseph.
Manse, John.t
Mower, Wm.*
Mower, Martin.
Mower, JohnE.*
Mosher, Jacob.
McHale, M.t
McHattie, John.
McLery, Charles, t
Moulton, E. (Jr.)t
McCarty, A.f
Manse, Charles, t
Neill, E. D.
Nichols, G. C*
Nelson, Socrates.*
Nobles, W. H.*
Norris, VT. S.*
North, J. W.
Northrup, Anson.
Newbury, H. H.
Oakes, C. H*
Oakes, David.*
Odel, T. S.*
Olmsted, David.*

IN THE NORTHWEST.

737

Owens, J. P.*
Parker, Rodney.*
Perin, Moses.
Potts, T. R.*
Prescott, Philander.*
Presley, Bartley.*
Pomeroy, J. H.
Proctor, J. S.
Pond, G. H.
Powers, Simon.*
Potter, Colver.t
Perro, Joseph.
Parker, L. N.
Parsons, Oliver.
Quinn, W. B.
Quinn, Peter, t
Randall, B. H.
Randolph, S. R.*
Ramsey, Alexander.
Ramsey, J. C*
Ravoux, Auguste.
Reed, C. M.*
Rice, H. M.
Rice, Edmund.
Robertson, Andrew.*
Rice, C. R.*
Robert, Louis.*
Robert, Joseph.*
Richardson, R. M.
Rollins, John.*
Rose, Isaac*
Russell, R. P.
Russell, Jeremiah.*
Riggs, S. R*
Robert, Alexis, t
Roy, Peter.*
Russell, William.
Rohrer, Daniel.
Robert, Nelson.
Rogers, John.
47

Ramsden, Thomas.
Rutherford, Wm.*
Rogers, Richard, t
Rutherford, James.*
Selby, J. W.*
Simons, Orlando.
Simpson, J. W.*
Simpson, Robert.
Shaffer, C. E.t
Shearer, A. L.*
Sherman, M.
Spencer,. J. B.
Spicer, Nathan, t
Shelley, E. Y.
Steele, Franklin.*
Spencer, John H.t
Sawyer, Seth M.*
Spates, Samuel, t
Somerville, John.t
Stevens, J. H.
Stone, Lewis.*
Sturgis, W.*
Sweet, G. W.
Setzer, H. N.
Stanchfield, Sam.*
Sibley, H. H.
Stinson, C. F.t
Santel, A.t
Staples, Josiah. t
Shamley, John.t
Sanford, H. S.t
Shearer, James.
Stratton, L. W.*
Scott, C. P.t
Short, A. J.
Sheasby, John.*
.Stiles, W. L.t
Taylor, J. L.
Taylor, Jesse W.*
Taylor, N. C. D.*

738

FIFTY YEARS

Terry, J. C.
Tinker, W. H.
Thompson, James (colored). *
Trask, Sylvanus.
Trower, John.t
Thompson, G. W.*
Terry, Robert.*
Van Voorhes A.*
Villaume, Thomas.*
Von Tassel, William.*
Walker, Orange.*
Whitaker, E. H.
Whitney, J. C.
Wilkinson, M. S.
Wilkin, Alex.*
Wells, James.*

Wilson, Harvey.*
Woodbury, Warren.*
Willoughby, A.*
Wright, Thomas, t
Williamson, T. S.*
Willim, William.
Wilmarth, Alvin M.
Wallis, John.t
Worthingham, Vm.f
White, Asa.*
Westing, Henry.*
Welshance, M.*
Williams, D. D.*
Whalen. Patrick.*
Yorks, J. C.

OBJECTS AND ORGANIZATION.
The society was organized in 1849 by a few of the pioneers of
the Territory, and incorporated by an act of the first territorial
legislature, approved Oct. 20, 1849, this being the first literary
institution organized in the Territory; and its "library," then
only a few volumes, was the first ever established in Minnesota.
The original charter of the society stated its objects to be: "The
collection and preservation of a library, mineralogical and geo
logical specimens, Indian curiosities, and other matters and
things connected with, and calculated to illustrate and perpetu
ate the history and settlement of said Territory." The amended
charter of 1856 enacted: "The objects of said society, with the
enlarged powers and duties herein provided, shall be in addition
to the collection and preservation of publications, manuscripts,
antiquities, curiosities, and other things pertaining to the social,
political and natural history of Minnesota, to cultivate among
the citizens thereof a knowledge of the useful and liberal arts,
science and literature." x
The work of this society may therefore be formulated thus:
I. (1) The collection, (2) the preservation, (3) the publication
of materials for the history of Minnesota and its people.

* Deceased.
| Unknown.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 739
II. The collection and management of a library containing
useful works of reference on the most valuable departments of
knowledge. III. The diffusion among citizens of the State of useful
knowledge. ITS PROGRESS.
In the early days of the Territory, owing to its want of means,
the sparse population and its poverty, and the infancy of the com
monwealth generally, the society accomplished but little beyond
collecting some information regarding the early history of this
region, and printing the same in several pamphlet volumes. In
1864 it had only eight hundred and forty volumes in its library.
It was then reorganized, and with the aid of a small annual
appropriation from the State, since enlarged, has been able to
make very gratifying progress.
ITS PRESENT CONDITION.
It has now comfortable apartments in the state capitol, a
building believed to be fireproof; a sufficient income to pay its
current expenses, granted partly by the State and partly con
tributed by its members; one of the largest and most valuable
libraries in the State, containing 22,000 volumes of choice
works, together with a cabinet or museum of historical and arch-
aelogical curiosities, and a number of historical pictures, engrav
ings, manuscripts, etc. An endowment fund of several thousand
dollars, accumulated by gifts and membership fees; two lots,
eligibly situated, on which at no distant day, will be erected a
fireproof building. PROPOSED BUILDING FOR THE SOCIETY.
Reference was made before to the building lots of the society.
These were purchased by a subscription of the members in 1855,,
for the sum of $1,500, in hopes that the society would be en
abled to erect thereon a fireproof building for its use, but up to
this time it has not been able to do so. The lots are now valued
at $20,000 or more. Several months ago an effort was made by
the president of the society to raise enough by subscription to
insure the commencement of a building to cost, completed, $50,-
000; of this amount $14,500 was subscribed, and it is believed
that there are liberal and public spirited citizens of our State who .
will contribute the balance when called on, or provide, by will, ,

740

FIFTY YEARS

for bequests in its aid. Such an edifice would be a perpetual
monument to their generosity and public spirit, and would be
an inestimable boon to succeeding generations, who will frequent
our library in pursuit of knowledge.
PRESIDENTS OF THE OLD SETTLERS ASSOCIATION.

1858. Henry H. Sibley.
1859. Socrates Nelson.
1860. J. E. McKusick.
1861. Wm. H. Nobles.
1862. Dr. T. R. Potts.
1863. Frank Steele.
1864. R. M. Richardson.
1865. John D. Ludden.
1866. Socrates Nelson.
1867. Abram Van Voorhes.
1868. Henry H. Sibley.
1869. Nathaniel McLean.
1870. Bartlett Presley.
1871. John H. Stevens.
1872. George L. Becker.
1873. David B. Loomis.
Judge Goodrich was secretary of
from 1859 until his death, in 1887.

1874. Henry M. Rice.
1875. Alex. Ramsey.
1876. Norman W. Kittson.
1877. Charles H. Oakes.
1878. Mahlon Black.
1879. .Charles E. Leonard.
1880. Benj. H. Randall.
1881. S. P. Folsom.
1882. Jacob W. Bass.
1883. Benj. W. Brunson.
1884. Clement H. Beaulieu.
1885. Henry L. Moss.
1886. R. W. Johnson.
1887. Anson Northrup.
1888. David Day.
the Old Settlers Association

THE ST. CROIX VALLEY OLD SETTLERS ASSOCIATION.
This association was organized Nov. 5, 1875, at the office of
Durant & Wheeler, in the city of Stillwater. Charles E. Leonard
was elected president, and David B. Loomis, secretary. The lat
ter has been re-elected and served continuously to the present
time. It is a requisite that members shall have been residents
in the Northwest prior to 1850.
The following have been presidents of the association, the term
of service being limited to one year: Henry A. Jackman.
W. H. C. Folsom.
Edward W. Durant.
Albert Stimson.
Henry N. Setzer.
Morton S. Wilkinson.

1875.

D. B. Loomis.

1882.

1876.

Christopher Carli.

1883.

1877.

W. T. Boutwell.

1884.

1878.

John D. Ludden.

1885.

1879.

Henry L. Moss.

1886.

1880.

Wm. R. Marshall.

1887.

1881.

Daniel Mears.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 741
The annual meetings are held on or about the middle of Sep
tember, at Stillwater.
NEWSPAPER HISTORY IN RAMSEY COUNTY.
The St. Paul Weekly Pioneer, established by James M. Good
hue as the Minnesota Pioneer, issued its first number April 28,
1849, one day later than the St. Paul Register, but, unlike that
paper, it was printed in the place of publication. In March, 1854,
Earl S. Goodrich purchased the Pioneer, and on May 1st issued
the first number of the Daily Pioneer. On Oct. 31, 1855, the
Democrat was merged in the Pioneer, which became the Pioneer
and Democrat, which name it continued to bear for six years,
when it resumed its former name, the Pioneer. Nov. 8, 1865,
the Pioneer was sold to H. P. Hall and John X. Davidson. July
29, 1866, the Pioneer was sold to Capt. H. L. Carver, C. W. Nash
and others. April 22, 1874, the Pioneer became the property of
David Blakely. April 11, 1875, the Pioneer and Press consoli
dated, and the name was changed to St. Paul Pioneer Press, un
der the management of the Pioneer Press Company, with J. A.
Wheelock editor-in-chief. The Pioneer Press now embodies, by
consolidation, twenty-five distinct newspapers. Its daily issue
is about 18,000 copies. The stock company is now officered by
J. A. Wheelock, president; F. Driscoll, Sr., vice president and
treasurer; F. Driscoll, Jr., secretary. The management is in the
hands of J. A. Wheelock, editor-in-chief; F. A. Carle, manag
ing editor; F. Driscoll, business manager; A. W. Dunn, city
editor. The St. Paul Globe was established Jan. 15, 1878, by H. P.
Hall, and conducted as an individual enterprise until July 1,
1881, when it was made into a stock company with a capital of
$150,000. Its first officers were: President, H. H. Sibley; vice
president, P. H. Kelly; treasurer, Albert Scheffer; secretary,
Ansel Oppenheim; general manager, H. P. Hall. This company,
which was called the St. Paul Globe Printing Company, was sold
to a new company, styled the St. Paul Globe Publishing Com
pany, Feb. 1, 1885. The first officers of that company were:
President,»N. W. Kittson; vice president, P. H. Kelly; treas
urer, Albert Scheffer; secretary and general manager, Lewis
Baker. All the officers of each company were resident in St.
Paul. The Globe publishes daily and weekly editions.

742 FIFTY YEARS
The St. Paul Dispatch was founded by H. P. Hall and David
Ramaley, Feb. 29, 1868. It has passed through many owner
ships. The company publish a weekly and evening daily paper.
The St. Paul Daily Times was established in 1854, by T. M.
Newson, M. J. Clum and J. B. H. Mitchell. In 1869 it was
merged into the St. Paul Press.
The Register, Chronicle and Democrat were published in terri
torial days, and have been discontinued.
Die Volkszeitung, the first German paper of St. Paul, was estab
lished in 1857. Another German paper was subsequently estab
lished, and the two were consolidated, Sept. 6, 1877, as Die
Volkszeitung. It issues daily and weekly editions. Chas. H.
Lineau is general manager, A. Wolff, editor-in-chief; C. New-
hausen, city editor, and Louis Hern, literary editor.
The Northwest Magazine is a monthly journal, devoted to the
interests of the Northwest. It was established in 1883. E. V.
Smalley is the editor. OTHER ST. PAUL PUBLICATIONS.
A. 0. U. W. Guide, weekly Guide Publishing Company, estab
lished 1883.
Pythian Advocate, monthly, Pythian Company, established 1884.
Northwestern Chronicle, weekly (Catholic), Northwestern Pub
lishing Company, established 1866.
Herald, weekly, Chantler & Nichols, established 1883.
Der Wanderer (German), weekly, Wanderer Publishing Com
pany, established 1867.
Familien Zeitung (German), weekly, Engel-Dreis Company,
established 1885.
Le Canadien (French), weekly, E. R. Dufresne, L. N. Dixon,
established 1877.
Nordvesten (Scandinavian), weekly, C. H. Brandt, established
1880. Skaffaren (Swedish Lutheran), weekly, J. E. Osborn, estab
lished 1877.
Northwestern Lancet, semi-monthly, C. B. Witherle, established
1882. *
Northwest Reporter (legal), weekly, West Publishing Company,
established 1881.
Saturday Evening News, weekly, Lewis & Bole, established 1883.

IN THE NORTHWEST. * 743
Western Appeal, weekly, F. D. Parker, established 1885.
Home Gazette, monthly, S. Sherin, established 1883.
St. Paul Daily Evening News, established 1888.
St. Paul Labor Echo, Eric Olson, established 1884.
White Bear Lake Breeze, A. H. S. Perkins, established 1879.
HENNEPIN COUNTY.
The first paper established in Hennepin county as now bounded
was the St. Anthony Express, E. Tyler, publisher, Isaac Atwater,
editor. The first number was issued May 31, 1857. The Minne
apolis Democrat was established in 1854. Neither of these pa
pers is to be found in the directory.
PAPERS OF- MINNEAPOLIS.
Evening Journal, daily, D. B. Blakely, established 1887.
Evening Mercury, daily, E. Ferwald, established 1885.
Minneapolis Gazette,, daily, W. Bickley, established 1870.
Minneapolis Tribune, daily, Will E. Haskell, Tribune Publish
ing Company, established 1867.
Commercial Bulletin, weekly, Commercial Publishing Company,
established 1883.
Minneapolis Life, weekly, W. E. Atkins, established in 1885.
Saturday Evening Spectator, weekly, C. H. Dubois, established
1879. Temperance Review, weekly, L. Bixby, established 1865.
Budstikken (Norwegian), Johann E. Gidde, established 1873.
Folkebladt (Norwegian), weekly, Folkebladt Publishing Com
pany, established 1878.
Svenska Posten (Swedish), weekly, Svenska- American Publish
ing Company, established 1885.
Svenska Tidning (Swedish), weekly, Svenska Publishing Com
pany, established 1883.
Svenska Kistna Her olden, weekly, Svenska Herolden Publishing
Company, established 1885.
Herold (German), weekly, German Press Association, estab
lished 1884.
Freie Presse (German), weekly, F. Doerr, established 1869.
Le Progres (French), weekly, J. B. A. Paradis, established 1884.
Echo De V Ouest (French), weekly, A. F. Carrier, established
1883.

744 FIFTY YEARS
Free Baptist, weekly, A. A. Smith, established 1882.
Northwestern Standard, weekly, Ed. O'Brien, established 1885.
Northwestern Presbyterian, weekly, Edgar A. Gay, established
1884. Our Church (Unitarian), semi-monthly, Rev. L. D. Boynton,
established 1885.
Farm, Stock and Home Journal, monthly, Farm, Stock and
Home Company, established 1884.
Mississippi Valley Lumberman, weekly, Platt B. Walker, estab
lished 1876.
Northwestern Miller, weekly, C. M. Palmer, established 1873.
Northwestern Trade, bi-weekly, E. E. Haynes, established 1883.
Homestead, monthly, Homestead Publishing Company, estab
lished 1885.
Housekeeper, monthly, Buckeye Publishing Company, estab
lished 1878.
Medical Mirror, monthly, N. M. Cook, M.D., established 1881.
Northwestern Architect, monthly, Bruce & Brundage, established
1884. Pilgrim (Congregational), monthly, Pilgrim Publishing Com
pany, established 1881.
Poultry and Farm Journal, monthly, 1. 1. Bachellor, established
1877. Real Estate Review, monthly, C. H. Dubois & Co., established
1883. Temperance Educator, monthly, L. Bixby, established 1882.
To-Day (Evangelical), Geo. F. Wells, A. S. Edwards, estab
lished 1880.
Wood and Iron, monthly, Wood and Iron Publishing Com
pany, established 1880.
Methodist Herald, weekly, R. H. Young, established 1887.
EXCELSIOR.
Minnetonka Mirror, weekly, W. H. Mitchell, established 1885.
Northwestern Tourist, weekly, A. S. Dimond & Son, estab
lished 1876. WASHINGTON COUNTY.
The first newspaper published in Washington county was the
St. Croix Union, established Oct. 8, 1854, in Stillwater. It was

IN THE NORTHWEST. 745
continued under the management of Cable & Easton one year,
when F. S. Cable sold out to Milton H. Abbott. Soon after Mr.
Abbott bought out the interest of M. S. Easton. The paper went
down in the crash of 1857.
The Stillwater Messenger made its appearance under the man
agement of A. T. Van Voorhes, Sept. 11, 1856. It changed
ownership several times, and in 1871 Seward & Taylor, the pres
ent owners, came into possession.
The Stillwater Democrat succeeded the defunct Union in 1858.
L. F. Spaulding and C. P. Lane became the editors and proprie
tors. It was discontinued in 1861.
A. B. Easton and J. N. Castle established the Stillwater Ga
zette, the first number appearing Aug. 6, 1870. This paper was
successful from the first, and with but few changes in proprietor
ship is published at the present day as a daily and weekly by
Clewell & Easton.
The Stillwater Lumberman was established April 9, 1875, by
Ed. H. Folsom. It afterward passed into the hands of a stock
company, and was discontinued in 1884.
The Stillwater Post, a German paper, was established by W.P.
Shilling & Co. Aug. 26, 1876. Two years later it passed into the
hands of Wm. Schermuly, and in 1880 it was taken charge of by
Julius Duel, who is succeeded by F. C. Neumeier.
CHISAGO COUNTY.
Taylor's Falls Reporter, F. H. Pratt, established February,
1860; in 1862 the name was changed to Taylor's Falls Monitor;
in 1883 the name was again changed to Taylor's Falls Journal;
present editor, Ed. H. Folsom.
Rush City Pos , Hial P. Robie, established in 1875.
Chisago County Times, Taylor's Falls, Rowe & Walker, estab
lished April 19, 1888. PINE COUNTY — PINE CITY.
Pine County Pioneer, weekly, Ed. C. Gottry, established 1885.
CARLTON COUNTY — CLOQUET.
Pine Knot, weekly, Dr. H. B. Allen, established 1884.
Industrial Vidette, established 1887.

746 FIFTY YEARS
ST. LOUIS COUNTY — DULUTH.
Tribune, weekly and daily, R. C. Mitchell, established 1881.
Lake Superior News, weekly, Wm. S. Woodbridge, established
1878. Duluth DaUy News, established 1885.
Duluth SJcandinav, Wesenbergad Hurst, established 1887.
Paragrapher, established 1887.
Volksfreund, Dworschak & Son, established 1886.
Evening Journal, established 1887.
TOWER.
Tower Press, C. T. Bingham, established 1885.
TWO HARBORS.
Iron Post, A. De Lacy Wood, established 1887.
AITKIN COUNTY — AITKIN.
Aitkin Age, weekly, E. F. Barrett, established 1883.
CROW WING COUNTY — BRAINERD.
Brainerd Dispatch, weekly, Ingersoll & Willard, established
1881. Brainerd Journal, weekly, H. C. Stivers, established 1882.
Northwestern Tribune, weekly, Halsted & Pennell, 1872.
The News, daily, established 1887.
KANABEC COUNTY — MORA.
Mora Times, weekly, R. W. Safford, established 1882.
MILLE LACS COUNTY — PRINCETON.
Princeton Union, weekly, R. C. Dunn, established 1876.
MORRISON COUNTY — LITTLE FALLS.
Little Falls Sun, weekly, Little Falls Publishing Company,
Cyrus D. Auyer, editor, established 1882.
Little Falls Transcript, weekly, W. M. Fuller, established
1877. Morrison County Democrat, weekly, Cyrus D. Auyer, estab
lished 1886.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 747
ROYALTON.
Royalton Record, weekly, changed name to Royalton Banner,
A. W. Swanson, editor, established 1884.
The first newspaper in Morrison county was the Northern Her
ald, established in Little Falls, 1856, suspended in 1858. The
Little Falls Courier was established later, but discontinued and
the Transcript took its place.
STEARNS COUNTY — MELROSE AND SAUK CENTRE.
Herald and Record, weekly, C. F. Hendryx, established 1867.
SAUK CENTRE.
Democrat, weekly, Barnum and Henshaw, established 1885.
Tribune, weekly, W. C. Brower, established 1873.
ST. CLOUD.
Der Nordstern (German), weekly, Rosenberger & Remer, estab
lished 1874.
Journal-Press, weekly, W. Mitchell, established 1857.
Times, weekly, C. F. McDonald, established 1861.
The first paper in St. Cloud, and in Stearns county, was styled
the Minnesota Advertiser. The first number appeared Jan. 1,
1857, H. Cowles, editor, and James Mowatt, publisher. Mrs.
Jane G. Swisshelm succeeded to the proprietorship in Decem
ber, 1857, and changed the name to the St. Cloud Visitor, and
edited it till the destruction of her press and material by a mob,
March 24, 1858. The paper reappeared under new auspices and
with the name changed to the Democrat. In 1866 W. B. Mitchell
changed the name to the Journal. In 1876 he purchased the
Press and consolidated it under the name of Journal- Press.
The St. Cloud Union was established in > 1861, by C. C. An
drews, afterward a general in the Union Army and minister to
Sweden and Norway. In 1862 Mr. Wood purchased the paper,
but sold it in 1863 to Spafford & Simonton, who sold it in 1864
to R. C. Moore, who published it as the St. Cloud Times. In 1875
it was purchased by the present owner, C. F. McDonald.
The Nordstern was originally established by Peter E. Kaiser
and Peter Brieke and has now a circulation of 25,000 copies.

748 FIFTY YEARS
SHERBURNE COUNTY — ELK RIVER.
Sherburne County Star News, weekly, A. N. Dare, established
1875. A. J. Clark started the Sherburne Weekly in 1867, and pub
lished it one year, when John W. Thompson started the Elk
River News. The Sherburne County Star was established in 1875,
and consolidated with the News in 1861.
ISANTI COUNTY — CAMBRIDGE.
Isanti County Press, weekly, C. W. Van Wormer, established
1874. BENTON COUNTY.
Watab Reveille, weekly, J. W. Chasanack, editor, established
1850. Free Press, weekly, A. De Lacy Wood, established 1885.
In 1854 Jeremiah Russell and George W. Benedict started the
Sauk Rapids Frontiersman, and continued the publication three
years, when the New Era made its appearance, published by W.
H. Wood assisted by G. W. Benedict. The Era was afterward
merged in the St. Cloud Times. In 1868 G. W. Benedict estab
lished the Sauk River Sentinel which, with a few changes, has
continued to the present time.
ANOKA COUNTY — ANOKA.
Anoka County Union, weekly, Granville S. Pease, established
1865. Anoka County Herald, weekly, Alvah Eastman, established
1865. DAKOTA COUNTY — FARMINGTON.
Dakota County Tribune, weekly, C. P. Carpenter, established
1884. Hastings News, daily, D. F. Chamberlain, established 1881.
Hastings Banner, weekly, E. D. Barker, established 1865.
Hastings Gazette, weekly, Irving Todd, established 1857.
Hastings Bugle Call, monthly, Chamberlain & Smith, estab
lished 1886. GOODHUE COUNTY — CANNON RIVER FALLS.
Beacon, weekly, S. S. Lewis, established 1876.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 749
KENYON.
Leader, weekly, U. Curtis, established 1885.
PINE ISLAND.
Journal, weekly, Holmes & Ingalls, established 1882.
RED WING.
Red Wing Republican, daily, Red Wing Publishing Company,
established 1885.
Red Wing Advance Sun, weekly, Red Wing Publishing Com
pany, established 1884.
Red Wing Argus, weekly, C. L. Davis, established 1864.
ZUMBROTA.
Independent, weekly, E. A. Mitchell, established 1875.
News, weekly, Thompson & Bradford, established 1877.
WABASHA COUNTY — MAZEPPA.
Tribune, weekly, M. Schrane, established 1877.
PLAINVIEW.
News, weekly, Ed. A. Paradis, established 1874.
Wabasha County Herald, weekly, O. F. Collier & Co., estab
lished 1857.
Wabasha County Post, weekly, John P. W. Weller, established
1885. WINONA COUNTY — ST. CHARLES.
St. Charles Union, weekly, J. S. Whitten, established 1877.
Winona Republican, daily and weekly, Sinclair Publishing
Company, established 1855.
Adler, weekly, Adler Publishing Company, established 1873.
Herald, weekly, Boynton & Metcalf, established 1869.
Westlicher Herald, weekly Joseph Leicht, established 1881.
Wiarus (Polish), weekly, Wiarus Publishing Company, estab
lished 1885. NEWSPAPERS IN WISCONSIN.

PIERCE COUNTY — ELLSWORTH.

Pierce County Herald, weekly, Case & Doolittle, established 1868.
Ariel, weekly, John M. Pryse, established 1884.
Pierce County Plaindealer, weekly, E. H. Ives, established 1874.

750 FIFTY YEARS
RIVER FALLS.
Journal, weekly, S. B. Merrick. W. S. Fowler, established
1874. The first paper named in Prescott was the Paraclete, published
by C. E. Young, Feb. 14, 1854. The name was changed in 1855
to the Transcript. In 1857 the Northwestern Democrat was issued
by Lusk, Wise & Bailey. In 1861 Lute A. Taylor moved the
River Falls Journal to Prescott, changing the name to Prescott
Journal. In 1868 Flint & Webber purchased the Journal. In
1872, after the fire, the River Falls Journal was revived at River
Falls by A. Morse; the office and material were burned. In 1873
M. B. Kimball issued the Prescott Clarion and changed the name
to Pierce County Plaindealer. In 1876 E. H Ives became editor
and proprietor. ST. CROIX COUNTY — BALDWIN.
Bulletin, -weekly, Ferd. Peachman, established 1879.
HAMMOND.
Hammond Review, weekly, — — Frost, established 1886.
HUDSON.
Star and Times, weekly, Taylor & Price, established 1855.
True Republican, weekly, Cline & Cogswell, established 1871.
NEW RICHMOND.
St. Croix Republican, weekly, Abe C. Van Meter, established
1869. The Voice, weekly, E. P. Huntington, established 1886.
The St. Croix Banner, the first paper in the St. Croix valley,
was issued Jan. 20, 1850, by Col. and Mrs. James Hughes. It
was printed in the Pioneer office, St. Paul. Saxton & Johnson
in the same year commenced publishing the St. Croix Enquirer.
These papers were short-lived. In 1853 U. B. Shaver started
the Hudson Journal, afterward edited by Col. Hughes as the
Hudson Republican. The office was destroyed by fire and the
paper discontinued in 1854. The Star was established by Dr.
Otis Hoyt in 1855, and in the same year U. B. Shaver established
the Chronicle. In 1860 these two papers were purchased by
Horace A. Taylor, and consolidated as the Star and Times.

IN THE NORTHWEST. 751
In 1856 Col. Hughes issued the Shield and Banner, which was
succeeded by a campaign paper called the Pathfinder. The Hud
son Democrat was established in 1864 by E. O. Jones and discon
tinued in 1875. The True Republican was established by M. A.
Fulton in 1875, and sold to the present owners in 1886.
POLK COUNTY — CLEAR LAKE.
Clear Lake Herald, weekly, A. T. Churchill, established 1884.
North Wisconsin News, weekly, Johnson E. Russell.
OSCEOLA MILLS.
Polk County Press, weekly, Charles E. Mears, established 1860.
ST. CROIX FALLS.
St. Croix Valley Standard, weekly, George F. Ely, established
1885. The St. Croixian was first established at St. Croix in 1860 by
John D. Reymert and Junius Bartlett. S. S. Fifield bought the
paper in 1861, and removed it to Osceola, changing the name to
Polk County Press. In 1872 0. F. Mears succeeded to the own
ership. In 1874 C. C, Jordan established the New Era at Osce
ola, but soon discontinued it. The Dalles of the St. Croix was es
tablished at St. Croix Falls in 1881 by D. A. Caneday, and dis
continued in 1884. The Polk County News was established at
St. Croix Falls in 1885 by George H. Ely, who was succeeded by
L. A. Ingersoll, who changed the name to St. Croix Valley Stand
ard. BARRON COUNTY — BARRON.
Barron County Shield, weekly, Charles S. Taylor, established
1876. CHETEK.
Alert, weekly, Walter Speed, established 1882.
CUMBERLAND.
Advocate, weekly, Cumberland Publishing Company, estab
lished 1885. RICE LAKE.
Barron County Chronotype, weekly, P. H. Swift, editor, estab
lished ^1874.
Times, weekly, Times Publishing Company, established 1883.

752 FIFTY YEARS
SAWYER COUNTY — HAYWOOD.
North Wisconsin News, weekly, E. O. Johnson, established
1878. BURNETT COUNTY — GRANTSBURG.
Burnett County Sentinel, weekly, W. A. Talboy, established
1875. ASHLAND COUNTY — ASHLAND.
Ashland Press, weekly and daily, Sam S. Fifield, established
1872. ,
Ashland News, weekly, John S. Saul, established 1885.
GLIDDEN.
Glidden Pioneer, weekly, R. M. Williams, F. A. Healy, estab
lished 1884. HURLEY.
Montreal River Miner, weekly, Gowdey & Goodale, established
1885. BAYFIELD COUNTY — BAYFIELD.
Bayfield Press, weekly, Currie G. Bell, established 1868.
WASHBURN.
Washburn Bee, weekly, Allan T. Williams, established 1885.
Itemizer, weekly, Bareger Brothers, established 1884.
DOUGLAS COUNTY — SUPERIOR.
Superior Chronicle, John C. Wise, established 185-.
Superior Times, Bardon Brothers, established 1870.
Inter Ocean, weekly and daily, Street & Co., established 1881.
Superior Sentinel, M. B. Kimball, established 1888.
Sunday Morning Call, established 1887.
WASHBURN COUNTY.
Shell Lake Watchman, William Irle, established 1882.
AN ODD CHAPTER IN POLITICAL HISTORY — THE BLACK
HAWK WAR.
Gen. Winfield Scott, when a young man, was stationed at Fort
Snelling, at that day perhaps the remotest outpost of the United

IN THE NORTHWEST. 753
States. When the Black Hawk War was inaugurated some mili
tia from Illinois proffered their services to aid in conquering the
savages. With a view to mustering them into the service of the
United States two lieutenants were sent by Scott to the then
village of Dixon. One of these was a very fascinating, good-
looking, easy-mannered, affable, and fluent young gentleman.
The other equally pleasant, but an exceedingly modest young
man. On the morning when the mustering in was to take place
a tall, gawky, slab-sided, homely young man, dressed in a suit of
home-made blue jeans, presented himself to the two lieutenants
as the captain of the recruits, and was duly sworn in. This was
he who afterward became the president of the United States — ¦
the lamented Lincoln. One of the lieutenants, the modest youth,
was he who fired the first gun from Sumter, Maj. Anderson.
The other, and he who administered the oath, was in after years
president of the southern confederacy, Jefferson Davis.
AN EARLY RUNAWAY MATCH.
We have gleaned from the newspapers the particulars of a
love romance in which Jefferson Davis was the central figure.
It was down at old Fort Crawford, whose ruins are still to be
seen just south of Prairie du Chien. It was away back in 1834,
when ex-President Zachariah Taylor, then a colonel in the regu
lar army, was commandant of the post. Jeff. Davis, who was
then a young lieutenant, was assigned to duty under Col. Taylor,
and fell in love with his commander's beautiful daughter. The
love making between the young people was the most natural
thing in the world under the circumstances, but for some reason
Col. Taylor had taken the most intense dislike to the young lieu
tenant and frowned upon his suit. In order to prevent his
daughter from marrying Davis the grim old warrior sent her to
a convent at Baton Rouge.
Some months afterward the young lieutenant appeared before
Col. Taylor with a document which required his signature. It
was an order from Gen. Wayne granting a furlough to Davis.
Old Zach. understood human nature well enough to know that
when young Davis got his leave of absence he would take a bee
line for Baton Rouge, so he immediately dispatched his swiftest
messenger to bring his daughter home by the most circuitous
route, and thus thwart the young officer, who he knew would be
48

754 FIFTY YEARS
hurrying to meet her. When Davis returned to Fort Crawford the
coldness between himself and his old commander grew more frigid,
while the young woman pined away in the seclusion of a log hut,
where her father had established his headquarters, until at last
she was released from her imprisonment by her lover, who took
her from her father's roof by stealth and in the night, and tak
ing her across the river to a spot where a priest was in waiting,
they were made man and wife.
George Green, an old river man, now eighty vears old, who
still lives at Prairie du Chien, is the person who rowed them
over the river that night. He says that Davis took the young
woman from an upper window in the log cabin and by the assist
ance of the chaplain was able to get her beyond the picket lines
unobserved. Green was at the river bank in waiting with a
canoe and took them to the spot where the marriage ceremony
was performed. He says the young lady cried a good deal dur
ing the voyage across the river, but she leaned her head on the
young, lieutenant's bosom in a way that assured him that she
was not altogether unhappy. Soon after the marriage a
steamboat from St. Paul came down the river and by a precon
certed arrangement halted, took the bridal couple on board and
passed on down the Mississippi to Jeff. Davis' home in the South.
Gen. Taylor never did forgive Davis for marrying his daugh
ter. He never spoke to him from that time until the evening
after the close of the battle of Buena Vista. Jeff. Davis had
undoubtedly won the battle with his Mississippi Rifles, and as he
lay wounded in his tent that night Gen. Taylor walked in, ex
tended his hand in friendly greeting and thanked him for his
gallant services. But there was no further attempt at recon
ciliation after that. Mrs. Davis did not live long, and the lady
who now presides over Beauvoir is Mr. Davis' second wife. She
was a Miss Howell, of Georgia.
DRED SCOTT AT FORT SNELLING.
The following incident connected with the famous Dred Scott
case, taken from a St. Paul paper of 1887, may prove of interest
to the present generation of readers, few of whom are aware that
the principal personage in the case was a resident of Fort Snell
ing, or more exactly speaking, the chattel of an American officer
at that place:

IN THE NORTHWEST. 755
In the year 1839 the Fifth United States Infantry was sta
tioned on the Upper Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers, and, al -
though Fort Crawford (Prariedu Chien) was their headquarters,
Fort Snelling was the most important, it being the only military
post north of Prairie du Chien, between Lake Superior and the
Pacific ocean, and far from the frontier, as the nearest settle
ment was several hundred miles away.
During the season of open water the post was reached by
boats, and in the winter by pony or dog trains, but in the spring
before the river was free of floating ice and in the fall before it
was frozen, the inhabitants were almost cut off from civilization,
as the place was considered inaccessible by all but the hardy
voyageur and the postman, who brought the mail on his back
twice a month from Prairie du Chien. ' Fort Snelling was the
only post office in what is now Minnesota, Dakota and Montana.
It was seldom that a stranger made his appearance after the
close of navigation, for the timid did not venture so far from
the comforts of life. .During the winter the weather was severe,
the houses were not so comfortable as now, storm windows and
furnaces were unthought of, and stoves were considered luxu
ries. It happened that on a cold, dreary day in the early winter
the quartermaster was distributing stoves, but did not have more
than enough to supply the officers and the married men of the
command, and not all of the latter. The surgeon, Dr. Emerson,
a giant in body, applied for one for his slave, Dred Scott, but was
told by Lieut. McPhail, the quartermaster, who was a man under
size, that the darkey would have to wait until the others were
supplied, and it was doubtful if there were enough for all. The
doctor became very much excited and insinuated that McPhail
was lying, whereupon the latter hit the doctor between the eyes,
breaking his spectacles and bruising his nose. Emerson, very much
infuriated, rushed to his quarters, loaded a pair of huge flintlock
pistols, returned to McPhail, who was unarmed, and without cere
mony presented them to the head of the little quartermaster.
He, not liking their looks, sought safety in flight, and with a speed
that showed a good condition of body ran across the parade
ground, followed by the doctor. As they neared McPhail' s com
pany quarters a friend of his, Lieut. Whitall, and a sergeant,
seized firearms and prepared to give their assistance if it was

756 FIFTY YEARS
needed. The commanding officer, Maj Plympton, armed with a
cane, ran after the doctor, and upon overtaking him put him un-.
der arrest. By this time the occupants of all the quarters had
gathered upon the scene, too excited to feel the cold or think of
stoves, and two parties were quickly formed. The smaller party
consisted of the young men, who, anxious for a fight, insisted that
by running McPhail had brought disgrace upon himself which
could be wiped out only by blood. The other and influential
side was composed of men with families, who knew that in case
of illness no other physician could be had except from Prairie
du Chien, and the roads were such that it might be impossible
to get one at all; therefore they urged peace, and after several
days of excitement they were able to unfurl the flag of triumph.
The terms of settlement between the belligerents were not
made known, and those who had hoped for a fight felt that the
secrecy added largely to their already heavy disappointment; but
the men of peace wore an expression of relief when they realized
that if ill, their victory would enable them to obtain the immedi
ate services of the doctor, and that there would not be a repeti
tion of the duel which had been fought there many years before,
the first and last duel ever fought in Minnesota. Although peace
was declared, bitter feelings which had risen during the strife still
lingered in the heads of all but Dred Scott, the innocent cause of
the trouble, who for the first time in his life became at all con
spicuous. Shortly after, however, his name was as well known,
and oftener heard in social, military and political circles than
any other, not only in his own country, but abroad. He left Fort
Snelling with , Dr. Emerson, and was afterward in Missouri,
where he was one day whipped, as he had often been before.
But this proved to be the last time the poor fellow intended sub
mitting as a slave, for immediately after a suit was commenced
for assault and battery, claiming that as he had been in a free
territory he was a free man. His master dying, his widow and
daughter defended the suit, which was decided in their favor
two days after the inauguration of President Buchanan, and
Dred Scott was remanded to slavery. This was considered a
great victory for the South, but in reality was not, for the civil
ized world became aroused in behalf of freedom, and public
opinion, the higher law, was invoked. Civil war soon followed;
slavery was abolished, and Dred Scott made free. It was half a

IN THE NORTHWEST. 757
century ago that this simple-minded negro lived in slavery in
Hennepin, the historic county of Minnesota.
OLD BETZ AND THE ST. PAUL TRIBE OF INDIANS.
No history of the early days would be complete without men
tion of the celebrated and picturesquely homely squaw known
as Old Betz and the tribe to which she belonged. The camp of
the latter may still be seen at South St. Paul to the number of
three or four tepees. The Indians are the descendants of the
warriors of Little Crow. They live in canvas tepees of primi
tive style, but with the exception of moccasins and a few Indian
trinkets they have conformed somewhat to the costumes of the
civilized people around them.
The Indians living in this vicinity, says A. L. Larpenteur in
the Pioneer Press, represent a remnant of the Minnesota Sioux
who were not taken to the reservation after the massacre of 1861.
There may be nearly a score of families in all, including the
inhabitants of the little Indian village at South St. Paul, the
aboriginal residents at Mendota, and some red men living near
Newport. These are mostly descendants of the members of
Little Crow's band. Three or four families have descended from
the famous old squaw known as " Old Betz," who died at an ad
vanced age only two years ago. At least two of old Betz's
daughters are living. They are very large, fleshy squaws, and
are frequently seen" on the streets of St. Paul. When you catch
sight of a big squaw with a heavy pack slung over her shoul
ders, seated in some doorway down street panting for breath, you
may make up your mind that it is one of Old Betz's daughters —
either Doo-to-win (Scarlet Female) or Pa-zen-ta-win (Medicine
Woman) ; for such are their names.
They obtain a livelihood suitable to their lingering aboriginal
tastes and their condition of life, by selling moccasins, ginseng
and wild flowers in their season, and the skins of animals which
they hunt or trap. These skins are chiefly muskrat skins. They
brin°° several hundred to market in the course of the season.
Then the squaws do the begging, and the great white packs
which these dusky females carry upon their backs as they trudge
along the streets of the city are filled with specked fruit, tainted
chickens and meat, dried up cranberries and other unsalable
stuff that the commission men of the city have kindly bestowed

758 FIFTY YEARS
upon them. An Indian is not so particular about what he eats
as a white person. When meat is tainted he boils it until he
gets all the taint out. What remains serves as savory sauce for
the meat. The Indians are intelligent. They don't have much
to say to strangers, but among themselves they are quite sociable,
and sit together by the hour smoking pipes and recounting tra
ditions and incidents. They are very fond of story telling. They
also discuss topics of interest with a freedom and intelligence
worthy of a modern white man's debating society. " I have sat
with them in their lodges by the hour," says Mr. Larpenteur,
"and have been vastly entertained by their anecdotes and dis
cussions." So it appears that the Indians hereabout are not so
glum and reticent as red men in general are credited with being.
There are a great many people in St. Paul who remember Old
Betz, and the stories that were told in relation to her, quite well.
She was said to be one hundred and twenty years old when she
died, and, as there was no evidence to the contrary, and she
certainly bore the mark of great age, this estimate of her years
was generally accepted. Mr. Larpenteur has reason for think
ing that her age has been very much exaggerated. Old Betz told
him one day, a short time before her death, in a confidential way,
that when soldiers first came to Fort Snelling she was still in
her teens. That was in 1819, and, therefore, Old Betz could not
have been over eighty-eight when she died.

in the northwest. 759

ADDENDA.

A history of the Northwest that would omit any mention of
the war of the Rebellion would be an unfinished work. It was
the original intention of the author of this work to add a mili
tary history in which should be placed upon record not only
some statistics as to the number of troops contributed to the
United States service from the parts of Minnesota and Wiscon
sin lying along the Mississippi river, but some account of inci
dents connected with the war, which the citizens of the valley
would take pride in perusing. The plan was abandoned reluc
tantly on account of the want of space for such a record. We
are able to furnish a synopsis of the military history of Minne
sota taken from a recent address made by ex-Gov. Ramsey be
fore the Loyal Legion at St. Paul. It is doubly interesting, com
ing as it does from the governor of the State during the earlier
portion of the War:
Ex-Gov. Alexander Ramsey was called upon to respond to the
toast, "Minnesota and the War; For God,. Our Country and the
Right." He said:
"Amid the many evidences of harmony and prosperity in all
sections of the great republic it is difficult to realize that the
citizens of Minnesota, within the memory of many still alive,
were called upon to preserve the integrity of the United States
of America by the force of arms.
' ' There has ever been a community of interest between our own
State, in whose midst are found the sources of the Mississippi, and
the several states on its borders toward the Gulf of Mexico; the
wheat fields of Minnesota, the cotton and sugar plantations of
Mississippi and Louisiana must be inseparable, yet it can not be

760 FIFTY YEARS
disguised that a short-sighted statesmanship made a vigorous
attempt to separate those whom an all-wise Providence had
joined together.
"In the month of April, 1861, upon official business as gover
nor of Minnesota, I was called to the city of Washington. The
knots of earnest men and anxious faces in the corridors and
reading rooms of the hotels indicated a widespread belief that
there was an impending peril, a serious conspiracy upon the
part of some in the cotton producing and slave holding states to
secede from the Union, although the general government had
never infringed upon their rights under the constitution.
"On Saturday night, April 13th, the population of Washington
was deeply moved by the intelligence that Fort Sumter in the
harbor of Charleston had been attacked by insurgents, and that
the garrison had surrendered.
, "Early Sunday morning, accompanied by two citizens of Min
nesota, I visited the war department, aud found the secretary
with his hat on and papers in his hand about to leave his office. I
said ' My business is simply as governor of Minnesota to tender
a thousand men to defend the government.' 'Sit down imme
diately,' he replied, ' and write the tender you have made, as I
am now on my way to the president's mansion.'
" This was quickly done, and thus Minnesota became the first
to cheer the president by offers of assistance in the crisis which
had arrived.
"My action and the acceptance of this offer were dispatched to
St. Paul, and in a few days companies in the different towns in
Minnesota were being organized, and on the twenty-seventh of
the month Adjt. Gen. JohnB. Sanborn issued an order that more
companies had been organized than were necessary to complete
the First regiment of Minnesota, and on the third of May, hav
ing returned to St. Paul during April, I sent a telegram to the
president offering a second regiment.
"On the twenty-first of June the First regiment, under Col.
Gorman, left Fort Snelling, and in one month, on Sunday, the
twenty-first of July, distinguished itself as the advance of
Heintzleman's division in the battle of Bull Run, Virginia. The
Second" regiment, in command of Col. H. P. Van Cleve, a grad
uate of West Point, left Fort Snelling in October, and on the
nineteenth of January was in close conflict with the enemy near

IN THE NORTHWEST. 761
Mill Springs, Kentucky, Gen. Zollicoffer and other insurgent of
ficers having fallen under their fire. A third regiment, under
Col. H. C. Lester, left the State in November, 1861, and a fourth
t regiment, under Col. John B. Sanborn, was soon organized, and
not long after a fifth, under Col. Borgersrode, was formed. In
the spring of 1862, within a few weeks of each other, the last two
left for the seat of war, and were assigned to the Army of the
Mississippi, and before the close of May were, with their com
rades of the Second, in the action at Corinth.
"But while Minnesota was thus rapidly sending forth her able
bodied men, she was called upon to endure a trial greater than
any of her sister states. On the nineteenth of August there
rushed into the governor's office at the capitol a dusty and ex
hausted messenger who had been fifteen hours in the saddle with
dispatches from Galbraith, the Sioux agent, containing the start
ling intelligence that the Sioux had risen and were murdering
the settlers and plundering and burning their houses. An hour
or two later another messenger arrived from Forest City with in
formation that the Sioux had also killed many whites at Acton.
• It was evident that there was a general uprising, and that no
time was to be lost.
"I immediately proceeded to Fort Snelling and consulted as to
the best measures to protect our people. Here were only raw
recruits, without arms or clothing,. but at length four companies
of the Sixth regiment were organized, and that night sent up
the Minnesota river to Shakopee, and ex-Gov. H. H. Sibley,
who had had a long acquaintance with the Sioux, was placed in
command. ' ' From that point they were directed to proceed by land. Tele
grams were sent to President Lincoln and the governors of Wis
consin, Iowa, Illinois, and Michigan relative to the horrible out
break and asking for aid.
"When the troops reached St. Peter they were delayed in
moulding balls to fit their arms and in preparing canister shot.
By September portions of the Third regiment, which had re
turned to the State, and the Sixth and Seventh regiments, which
had been organized, were in the field, and on the twenty-third
of the month had a battle with the Indians at Wood lake, Lieut.
Col. Marshall, of the Seventh regiment, your late commander
of this legion, leading five companies of his own and two of the

762

FIFTY YEARS

Sixth in a successful charge, clearing a ravine of hostile sav
ages. "Never before in the history of the republic had so many set
tlers fallen from Indian barbarity. In ten days in August about
eight hundred white men, women and children were killed, and
at least 15,000 persons fled from the scalping knife to St. Paul
and other places of security.
"During the summer of 1862 the Eighth, Ninth and Tenth
Minnesota regiments of Volunteers were organized. In January,
1863, having been elected to represent the State in the United
States senate, Lieut. Gov. Swift on and after the tenth of July
acted as governor for the unexpired term, who was succeeded by
Gov. Stephen H. Miller, both of whom, in every way possible,
sustained the general government.
"Minnesota during the war had surely not more than 40,000
citizens able to bear arms. She furnished eleven regiments of
infantry, one of heavy artillery, three batteries of light artillery,
four cavalry organizations and two companies of sharpshooters,
and official returns show that she contributed 25,000 soldiers in
all." Mention of George H. Hazzard, of St. Paul, unintentionally
omitted from the body of the work, is appended below.

GEORGE H. HAZZARD.

George H. Hazzard is one of St. Paul's wide awake, energetic
young men. He is a native of the state of New York. He'came

IN THE NORTHWEST. 763
to the West when a youth and located in St. Paul in 1859. He
has been engaged in general agencies and real estate, and has
served as county commissioner of Ramsey county and filled other
city positions in St. Paul. He was a member of the Methodist
General Conference in New York City in 1888. He married a
daughter of Rev. Benjamin F. Hoyt, of St. Paul.
LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ST. CROIX VALLEY —
WISCONSIN SIDE.
Thirty-eighth Session, 1885 — Senators: Hans B. Warner, Joel
F. Nason. House: Thomas Porter, James Johnson, Charles S.
Thayer, Frank M. Nye.
Thirty-ninth Session, 1887 — First Biennial Session — Senate:
Joel F. Nason, William A. Rust. House: J. B. Thayer John A.
Murphy, H. L. Humphrey, James N. McCourt, Charles S.Taylor.