An illustrated history of Jackson County, Minnesota, Part 31

Author: Rose, Arthur P., 1875-1970
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Jackson, Minn. : Northern History
Number of Pages: 720

USA > Minnesota > Jackson County > An illustrated history of Jackson County, Minnesota > Part 31

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

221

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

Joseph Thomas platted a townsite on the east side of the river, which he also named Jackson. Thereafter for a year or more there was some feeling between the two communities and much speculation as to which would finally become "the town." The plat of the east side Jackson was dedi- cated in the following language :

I. Joseph Thomas. do hereby certify this May 26, 1868. that I have caused a survey and plat to be made of lands belonging to me and situated on the north half of the southeast quarter of section 24, town 102, range 35, to be called the town of Jackson.

JOSEPH THOMAS, Proprietor.

The plat was surveyed by James E. Paliner. It extended from the Des Moines river to the Wisconsin township line and consisted of eight blocks, in addition to a homestead reservation by Mr. Thomas and small unplatted areas in the names of P. Brown and C. Chamberlin. The east and west streets were named Front street and Oakland avenue: those running north and south were River, First, Second. Third. Fourth. Fifth and Sixth. The plat was filed for record May 26. 1868.

To rectify the errors of the original plat of the west side Jackson, Messrs. Ash- ley and Bailey had a new survey made on October 30, 1868, by J. A. Dean. It was practically the same as the old plat, but it complied with the law, and was filed in the office of the register of deeds Novem- ber 4. 1868. That there might be no ques- tion as to the validity of town property titles. the matter was taken before the state legislature. and on March 3, 1869, an act was approved which legalized all deeds and conveyances made. by the townsite proprietors under the old plat.14

14Section one of the act reads as follows:

"That the plat of the town of Jackson, in the county of Jackson. as offered for record by Welch Ashley and Hiram S. Bailey and re- corded in the office of the register of deeds of said county on the first day of December. 1866. and as resurveyed and corrected by a plat made hy John A. Dean on the 30th day of October. 1868, and filed for record in the office of the register of deeds of said county on the 4th day

Moses A Strong, who came to the vil- lage in January, 1869, has entertainingly described the town as he found it at that time. 13

There was then strife between east and west Jackson, and it was mixed which would come out ahead. The east side had the hotel, and the west side the postoffice. In some re- spects it looked as if the west side had the advantage and a little blue for the east siders.

After dinner we went "over the river;" they did not call it "over town" then. On the way I took in the towns. On the east side was- or, rather, had been-a store kept by one Rad- ford. then retired, played out. closed out, lock- ed out. He still lived in an old house near by, waiting for something to turn up. Charles Chamberlin, a big mugwump of the east side, had an unfinished house in the suburbs. One Arkle was a shoemaker and pegged away in a small house at the foot of the hill. Philander Brown owned a patch of land on each side and didn't care which way the cat jumped. Down at the river at the end of an old mill dam was an old saw mill, and the proprietors, Cardwell & Wiltsie, lived in an old house near by. This was about all there was to the east side [ex- cept Joseph Thomas' hotel].

We crossed the river on the ice, there being no bridges then. When there was no ice and the water was low they crossed at the ford below the pond: when it was high they didn't cross at all.

Up on the west side, toward where the bridge is now located, was a house owned by B. W. Ashley. . Next, the house of Palmer Hill; across the way, Sam Clark's residence and blacksmith shop; then a small store kept by J. A. Myers, a one-armed ex-soldier; across the street was the hardware store of W. S. Kimball. Ilis family-wife, two young daugh- ters and wife's sister-lived over the store. Then came George Chamberlin's little office and bedroom combined. It was occupied by Chamberlin and Garratt, as county auditor and register of deeds office, and when both were in there was no room for others. Mr.

Of November. 1868, be. and the same is hereby. legalized and established and declared to be of the same force and effect in the law as if the same was in strict conformity with the statutes upon the subject of the laying out of towns and the survey thereof, and of the mak- ing. certifying and recording of the plats thereof; and the said plats are herehy de- clared to be lawful and competent evidence of the contents thereof in all courts and places in the same manner and with the same force and effect as if the same had been in all respects certified, acknowledged and recorded in strict conformity with the statutes upon that subject in force at the time when said plats were re- spectively made. Provided, that whenever the said two plats differ from each other in any respect, the said plat made by the said John A. Dean for the said Welch Ashley and Hiram S. Bailey, town proprietors, shall be deemed paramount, and shall to that extent supersede the former plat."

15 Published in Jackson Republic April 25. 1889.

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

Chamberlin was then in st. Paul, a clerk in the legislature.

Jeross on the opposite corner was the store of Hunter Brother- J. W. and David. The family, then consisting of A. W., David. Agnes and their mother, lived in an addition to the store. James W. Hunter was postmaster. Elder [Edward] Savage assisted David and had a room over the store. Dr. Foster had a little drng shop across the way and he and his wife lived in one end. A little farther along was the store of Cowing & White. They lived over the store. Then came the residence and photograph gallery of T. H. White and wife. Across the way was the feed store and harness shop of Hale & Munger and wife. Down at the end of the street lived Mex Hall. who ran the Jackson & Blue Earth City stage. Down by the bayou was the 7x9 frame school house. Nearby lived Chris, a half-crazy Nor- wegian. This love-cracked old man lived alone and made furniture.

A little out of town lived Major Bailey and family in a log house, and Wilson Garratt and the Dayton families a little farther up the preek. Philander Brown and wife lived on the hench. and Nathaniel Frost and family near by.

This, if I remember correctly, was all there was to the west side.

An event of the greatest importance of- rurred in the spring of 1869; then the United States Jand office was moved from Winnebago City to Jackson upon an order issued by Commissioner Wilson.16 That event brought happiness to the hearts of the people of the litth community ; they know then that Jackson was to become a town. It also settled the matter of the supremacy of the two town- of Jackson. as the office was located in the west side village. A number of new residents were

"This office had been opened at Brownsville. on the Mississippi river, in 1854, with Messrs. McKinna and Welch in charge. In 1956 it was moved to Chattiel, and in Isel to Winnebago Chy. When the last named change was made Mr. Holley was receiver and Mr. Bullis regis- tor When the offire was moved to Jackson in 1869 E. P. Freeman went in as register and J R. Wakefield as receiver. After the colony Immigrants began to arrive and settle in the Worthington country, the bulk of the business was in the west end of the district, and in the spring of 197 the government ordered the ro- moval from Jackson to Worthington.

Soon after the removal Mr. Freeman rellfed as register. He was succeeded by Dr. Leonard. of Rochester, who hold the office for a time. The latter's appointment was not confirmed. however and Captain Mons Grinager became register in August. 1874. He resigned June 1. 1ss6. having held the office nearly twelve years. In January, 1875. J F. Moulton took the place of Mr Wakefield as receiver, and held It until June, 1881. ( 11. Smith was the next receiver,

added to the town in 1869. Among them we're Mosts .A. Strong, who opened a drug store: Dr. C. P. Morrill, the town's first doctor : Alexander Fiddes and several others.

During the year Jackson became the wading center of an immense territory. Settlers from twenty miles up the river and the sante distance down came to Jack- son for their mail and to do their trad- ing : from the numerous lakes and streams to the west and northwest, around which homesteaders were locating, came the settlers from long distances: those on Heron and Graham lakes did all their trading in Jackson : from beyond the west line of the state they came. The few people living in the Sioux Falls country came to Jackson to mill, and it is said that Philo Hawes, who then lived on the prosent site of Luverne. once made the little trip to Jackson to have a sickle re- paired. Jackson became a great market for fur, which was practically the only medium of exchange in the country and brought good prices.

W. S. Kimball was the leading business man of the town, and he carried on an enormous hardware trade. His goods were shipped to the end of the railroad, at Owatonna. Mankato or Winnebago City. in car-load lots. From those points they we're hauled to Jackson by ax or horse teams, it taking a week or more to make the trip. The freighting teams would ar- rive at their destination, looking like a

occupying the office until September 1, 1885. when August Peterson, of Albert Lea, took the office. Ile held it until after the removal from Worthington. 0. 1. Shepherd succeeded cap- tain Grinager as register in June. 1586, and hold the position while the offer was located in Worthington. The Jand office was closed February 28. 1SS9, there having been a con- solidation among the offices In Minnesota. Those at Benson, Worthington and Redwood Falls were discontinued and the papers turned over to the office at Tracy. The Tracy ofer was then moved to Marshall The land office was under democratic management from 1854 to 1×61: the republicans were in charge from 1861 10 1885. Then each party had one official in The office until 1886, when Mr. Shepherd took office; thereafter it was democratie.

223

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

eireus procession. Moses A. Strong, in a speech made at a Masonie banquet in Jackson in January, 1884. told of Mr. Kimball's business :

People wondered where he sold so many goods, but to those who knew him it was no wonder. A settler from Graham or Heron lake, or somewhere away up north or west, would hitch up a yoke of steers to an old wagon, pile in a lot of fur, and start for Jackson. Where he came in sight of town over the hill Mr. Kimball would see him and com- mence striking up a trade, and the first thing you knew he would have the wagon loaded with hardware, a stove, plow, coffee mill, jack knives, etc., take all the money he had and notes for the balance. He would embrace his customer heartily, shake his hand warmly, ask him to come again, send his love to all the neighbors, and bid him adieu.

When the first number of the Jackson Republic was issued on February 26, 1820, the following local business and profes- sional firms were represented by advertise- ments :

M. A. Strong & Co., drug store. Hunter Brothers, general store.

W. S. Kimball, hardware.

H. S. Bailey, general store.

J. W. Cowing & Co., general store.

Chamberlin & Avery, Jackson Republic.

J. W. Myers, general store.

J. W. Seager, attorney.

G. K. Tiffany, attorney.

C. P'. Morrill, doctor.

John H. Grant, notary public.

James E. Palmer, surveyor.

G. C. Chamberlin, notary public. Charles Frisbie, cabinet maker.

Joseph Thomas, Jackson House.

William C. Jackson, livery stable.

1. A. Moreaux, saloon.

In addition to this list there were in the little village a feed store, two blacksmith shops, a second eating honse, a shoe shop, a meat market, a saw mill. the United States land office, a school house and a church. Several mail and stage routes were operated to the town, as follows: The through line from Blue Earth City to Yankton, the line from Winnebago City, another from Madelia, connecting with one from Sioux City and forming a through route from Mankato to the Union Pacific railroad.

THE NEW YOPK PUBLIC LIBRARY

MITCH, LEHOX AND THIJSEN FOUNDATIONS

JACKSON SCENES

BIRDS EYE VIEW

ON DEPOT HILL

NICH SCHOOL

CHAPTER XVII.

JACKSON-1870-1910.

D URING the first six years of its history Jackson was the only town in Jackson county. Dur- ing this time it was also without a rival in many neighboring counties. Thousands of settlers were pouring into the country and locating upon the government lands. Because of this extensive settlement, be- cause of the fact that it was the only town within many long miles in all directions, and because of the progressive spirit of the founders and first business men (nearly all of whom were American born) . Jackson developed into a place of impor- tance. During the years 1865 to 1869 its growth had been slow. but beginning with 1870 it took a start, and its growth continued until the beginning of the ter- ribble grasshopper scourge.

The year 1870 was a lively one in all lines of business. Several new business houses were started and many new build- ings were erected. The improvements for the year footed up to $17,650, itemized as follows :

J. A. Myers, store $ 800

Dr. C. P. Morrill, residence 750

Miss T. M. Rice, residence. 450

Hunter Brothers, improvements 200

E. P. Freeman. improvements. 100

W. S. Kimball, store .. 1.500

J. W. Cowing & Co., improvements 200

Ashley & Co., hotel. 3.500

Ashley & Co., stable. 200

H. S. Bailey, store. 1.700

I. A. Moreaux, improvements 350

Methodist church, parsonage .. 700

S. M. Clark. improvements. . 150

Chamberlin & Avery, improvements. 150

Dr. R. R. Foster, hotel and improve- ments 2,200

D. Cardwell, improvements on saw mill 1,500

J. II. Grant, improvements. 300

Griggs & Chubb, steam mill. 1,500

St. Paul & Sioux City Ry. Co., office .. 150

1. G. Walden, improvements 50

D. Kirkpatrick, residence 200

Freeman & Wakefield, improvements .. 250

Nathaniel Frost. improvements 100

P. Brown. residence and stable 250

Welch Ashley, improvements 50

R. K. Craigue, residence. 250

Milton Mason, stable 100

Total $17,650

Business was better in 1871 than it had been the year before, and several new enterprises were put under way. We gain an idea of the size of the little town that year from the writing of a resident, who declared that in June the village con- tained a total of about fifty buildings, in- «Iding residences, shops and publie build- ings.

With the building of the St. Paul and Sioux City railroad in the fall of 1871 and the founding of the towns of Windom, Ilcron Lake and Worthington, the im- mense trade territory of Jackson was greatly reduced. This was offset. how- ever, by the rapid settlement and develop- ment of the immediate surrounding coun- try, and Jackson continued to advance

225

226

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

during the year 1872. Real estate sales had never before been so lively. Forty or fifty residence and business lots were sold during the summer. The building im- provements for the year amounted to over $23,000, many of the structures erected being superior to those of former years. The improvements of 1872 were as fol- low :

Jackson County, court house. $ 6.400

W. S. Kimball. residence. 5,000

J. W. Cowing. store and hall. 3,000

Simon Avery, residence. 1,500

1. A. Moreaux, billiard ball. . 1,500

Dr. E. L. Brownell, residence and stable 850

F. M. Smith, residence and granary. 800

S. M. Clark, blacksmith shop. 500

J. F. Ashley. residence. 500

School Dist. No. 2. furniture

450

A. B. Tompkins, residence.

400

1. 11. Grant. improvements 350

Alexander Fiddes, warehouse and stalde 325

11. Anderson, improvements 300

Clark Marshall, residence 300

Simon Avery, barn. 300

Other items

965

Total $23.440

So far the history of Jackson had been one of progress. Each year. from the date of founding. there had been additions to the population and to business enterprises. Beginning with 1823 came a complete re- versal of conditions. . From that time un- til 1828 there was not only a cessation of progress, there was retrogression. This change was brought about wholly by the terrible conditions caused by the ravages of the grasshoppers. A town depending solely upon an agricultural country for its support is left in pretty bad ciren- slances when the country has had a sue- cession of nearly total crop failures, and Jackson was no exception to the rule. The country was close to the starvation point. and Jackson soon came to the same condi- tion. Business men extended credit until they lost their own: several failed and moved away. The depression continued several years, and Jackson received a set- back which it took years to overcome.

However. Jackson suffered less severely than many of the neighboring towns. It was the center of an older settled country than were most of the towns of southwest- ern Minnesota, and many of the farmers had lived in the country long enough to make some headway toward financial in- dependence. The other towns had been founded as a result of the immigration of 1872, and not one crop had been harvested before the devastation. Therefore Jack- son withstood the awful calamity better than those towns less fortunately situated. As the story of the grasshopper times has been told in previous chapters. I shall not enter into its details in this history of Jackson.

Although the hard times had not dis- appeared, in 1828 came a revival of busi- ness in Jackson. This was caused by the building of the Southern Minnesota rail- road (now the Chicago. Milwaukee & St. Paul), which reached the county seal No- vember 21. It was a time of rejoicing. All fall times were lively in the little vil- lage, due to definite knowledge that the road was coming. The arrival of the iron horse caused the Jackson Republic ( No- vember 30, 1828) to exult as follows:

After twelve long years of waiting Jackson has a right to exult over the auspicious open- ing of so excellent a line of road. Situated on one of the grandest thoroughfares in the west. surrounded by as fine a country as was ever inhabited by men, environed by its grand old bluffs. in easy reach of a succession of he witching lakes, containing a population noted for industry. intelligence, thrift and responsi. bility, it is sure to march off in rapid strides to prosperity. In adversity, even, we have been reasonably prosperous, and now. with the brightest outlook. let everyone rejoice that his lines have fallen here and put forth re- newed efforts to make our town surpass in every feature that goes to make up a lively. moral. enterprising. cooperating. happy. benev- olent, peaceful and industrious community.

Owing to the topographical features of the town's location, difficulty was encoun- fered in getting the road built into the town, and the depot was located nearly

227

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

a mile from the business center. It was later moved still farther away. The rail- road extended from Jackson in 1879.

The coming of the road proved a great like-awakening agency. Before, the town had been scattered over a large area, with several vacant lots intervening between the business houses and residences. Many of these vacant places now be- came filled with new buildings. The sound of the saw and hammer was heard all day long : the streets were thronged with new arrivals. During the five months from September 1, 1828, to February 1, 1879, the following new buildings were erected : Sargent & Collins, store building: Lars Nelson, saloon building : Vandaworker & Seip, blacksmith shop: Brewster Bros., store building : F. T. Brayton, livery barn ; C. L. Colman, lumber office, sheds and barn ; John Pan], lumber office and sheds : A. N. Tompkins, John Paulson, F. A. Chittenden, George C. Chamberlin, E. Owens, Jesse Wood, W. J. Case, Mr. Moc, Welch Ashley and H. White, residences ; Thomas O'Neill, boarding house; M. Il. Smith, harness shop; Dr. Tidball, office building ; E. A. Hatch, ice house ; railroad company, engine honse : Bonner & Hyde and Cargil & Van, warehouses.

During the same season the following new business enterprises were started in Jackson: M. H. Smith, harness shop : Vandaworker & Seip, blacksmith shop:" Clark & Hartness, hardware store; Sar- gent & Collins, clothing store ; Olson Bros., general store ; Ole Rognas, furniture store ; Brewster Brothers, grocery store: J. A. Rhodes, photograph gallery: Thomas O'Neill, boarding house; W. E. Powers & Co., saloon : Tra Walden, butcher shop ; E. A. Hatch. saloon : A. Haskins, barber shop ; A. N. & I. D. Converse, real estate and insurance office: W. N. Brayton, meat market : O. A. Sathe, wheelwright's shop ; F. T. Brayton, livery barn; John K.

Brown. bank; C. L. Comman and John Paul, lumber vards : M. B. Odell, jewelry store ; O. L. Patch, paint shop : F. Quen- tin, F. M. Smith, F. A. Chittenden, R. Hanson, carpenter shops.

So great had been the increase in popu- lation that at the beginning of the year 1819 steps were taken to bring about the in- corporation of the village. On January 6 a mass meeting was held at the court house to take the preliminary steps. The meeting was presided over by Major H. S. Bailey, and George C. Chamberlin was the secretary. When the question was discus- sed, it was found that there was consider- able opposition to taking the important step at that time. It appeared, however, that a majority was in favor of beginning municipal government. A committee, composed to T. J. Knox, J. W. Cowing, Alexander Fiddes, P. Brown and Joseph Thomas, was selected to draft a charter. A charter was drawn up and re- ported to another meeting held January 11.

The matter was placed before the legis- lature, and on March 6, 1879, the Min- nesota law making body enacted into law a bill providing for the incorporation of Jackson, with the boundaries it now has. The act provided that before it should become operative it must be ratified by a vote of the people residing within the proposed limits of the village. For the purpose of calling and presiding over such election the aet named J. W. Hunter, B. W. Ashley. M. A. Strong. Alexander Fid- des and J. W. Cowing as commissioners.

There the matter was allowed to rest for two years. and the village of Jackson was governed by the board of county com- missioners and the Des Moines township board of supervisors until 1881. Why im- mediate action was not taken is lucidly explained by the Jackson Republic of March 20, 1880, as follows:

228

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

Why such meeting was not called

is all on account of the condition upon which our town bonds were voted for the Des Moines river bridge and in consequence of a decision of the supreme court. holding that when towns [townships] had voted bonds and subsequent - ly a municipal incorporation was created with- in such town limits, the township outside of the incorporation was compelled to pay the full amount of the bands so voted. Now, the village has no desire to shirk the obligation of its portion of the bonds voted and we make this public explanation.

The building activity continued dur- ing 1829. From early spring until late in the fall carpenters were busily engaged in erecting the new structures. Unlike the cheap structures sometimes put up in mushroom towns following the coming of the railroad. many substantial edifices. costing several thousand dollars, were add- ed to the village. The improvements for the year amounted to $37,650. itemized as follows :

John K. Brown, brick bank building.

.1. W. Cowing, house. 3,650

A. C. Whitman & Co .. brick store build-

ing 3.000

Southern Minnesota Railway Co., depot 2.500

Des Moines river bridge 2.200

Cullis & Lamont. addition to Ashley house 1,500

E. Owens, business block 1.400

Mrs. M. B. Bowditch, house 1,000

M. A. Strong. addition. . 1.000

Olson Bros, store luikling.

1,000

Ole Rognas, store building

M. I. Smith, harness shop

800 800

T. J. Knox, house

725

0. E. Olson, house.

700

C. A. Campbell, house.

700

Il. S. Bailey, improvements at brick vard

700

Jesse Wood, house

600

Mexander Fiddes, postoffice building

J. W. Hunter. improvements grist mill

0. 1. Sathe, house. .

R. W. Ashley, improvements and stable

Bonner & Hyde. warehouse

Cargill & Van, warehouse.

Fred Quentin. house

6. Gunderson. house

100

(. Seip. hon-e.

400

Brewster Bros. improvement- on store. 100 Mrs. 1. Baldwin. house 325

ES. A. Hatch. barn. . 300

1. Brown, house .... 300 250

Peter Evenson. house

Rev. J. K. Mexander, parsonage 300

W. S. Kimball, house. 300

t. D. Converse, house 275

George C. Chamberlin. improvements 250

J. F. Ashley. house. . 250

I. T. Brayton, improvement- 200

Mrs. E. B. Wilson. restaurant 200

George D. Stone, addition 200

Ashley Bros,, livery bam 200

Charles Cutting, house .. 150

A. N. Tompkins, improvements 150

I. A. Chittenden. improvement- 150

Dr. E. P. Gonkl. addition

125

Mrs. Rost, addition.

125

John Paulson. improvements. 125

Nathaniel Frost. barn. .. 125

Moore & Kummer, improvement -. 110

Other items 1,190

Total $37,050

According to the federal consus of 1880 -the first in which the population of Jackson was enumerated separately from the township-the town was found to have a population of 501. making it rank fourth among the towns of southwestern Minnesota.1

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

An illustrated history of Jackson County, Minnesota, Part 31

Author: Rose, Arthur P., 1875-1970 Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Jackson, Minn. : Northern History Number of Pages: 720

Author: Rose, Arthur P., 1875-1970
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Jackson, Minn. : Northern History
Number of Pages: 720