History of Dakota County and the City of Hastings, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 47

Author: J. Fletcher Williams
Publication date: 1881
Publisher:
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USA > Minnesota > Dakota County > History of Dakota County and the City of Hastings, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota > Part 47

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).

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of the manufacturing interests of the town, and adds that much machinery is being received at the levee, stating furthermore, that more freight is received at this point than at any other on the river between Dubuque and St. Paul.

But, the hard times continued in their effects until the breaking out of the war, when the farmers began to flourish again and business generally to improve.

From that time to the present, the growth of Hastings has been substantial rather than rapid, and it has consequently achieved a reputation as a thoroughgoing and substantially prosperous, business point.

With the year 1881, a new epoch of business im- provement seems to be dawning, and the capital gathered here appears ready to enlarge the bound- aries of its operations. The foundations of new en- terprises have been laid, new blocks have been con- tracted for, new dwellings are in process of erec- tion, and the manufacturing facilities have been increased.

The future takes earnest of the past, and will be shaped successfully, doubtless, by skillfull hands and scheming brains. actuated by a worthy purpose.

Thus an attempt has been made to give an au- thentic account, whether it may be more or less satisfactory, of the early settlement and growth of Hastings. The account has covered a period of which there is little record, and the memory of which is even now somewhat confused in the minds of the very few living, who were actors and eye witnesses in it. A few years more at the longest, and any record of it will have passed for- ever into the dull, unanswering caverns of ob- livion.

There is much that might be told, but sufficient has been preserved. From that period to the pres- ent, we have the records of the press, as well as other records, and the memories of younger and more numerous men.

The biographical sketches, in this volume also extend back to the earlier times, and have served to fix much that otherwise could not be recorded, while in the detail of the manufacturing and other topics, it is believed that all the essential facts in a complete history of Hastings will be found.

CHAPTER XLII.

CITY AND TOWN OF HASTINGS.

The city of Hastings is older than the town, but their history is of necessity much the same, and their present limits identical; or rather the city has usurped the boundaries of the town. The proprietorship of the town site has already been described in connection with the agreement of 1852.

August 7th, 1854, Alexander Faribault trans- ferred his undivided one-fourth interest to Gen. W. G. Le Duc for $4.000; but the quit-claim deed embraced some other lands as well. Alexis and H. G. Bailly, H. H. Sibley and W. G. Le Duc, like other settlers, had no other title than that which their occupancy gave them until 1855. In this year, Andrew G. Chatfield, as judge of the county courts of Dakota county, entered the following lands in trust to the use and for the benefit of the occupants thereof according to their respective interests under the provisions of the act of congress, passed May 23d, 1844, and known as the townsite act. That entry included the following described lands: Lots 1 and 2, in section 22, lot 1, and the south-east quarter of north-east quarter and east half of south-east quarter of section 28, and lots 1, 2 and 8, and the south-west quarter of north-west quarter of section 27. in township 115 north, of range 17 west; con- taining in the aggregate, 310 22-100 acres. Feb- ruary 13th, 1855, a receipt was given for this land, at the United States land office, then es- tablished at Red Wing, to the amount of $387.77.

In further execution of the trust, Judge Chat- field deeded to the above proprietors, all the lands described above, except lots 2 and 8, in section 27, those lying on Lake Isabel, at its western ex- tremity. The date of the instrument was July 5th, 1855, and the aggregate of the parcels of land was 252 15-100 acres. The lots omitted in the deed, but contained in the entry, he after- ward deeded in trust under the statute to other parties for the benefit of the town proprietors. The lands embraced by the deed of 1855, included what was known previously as the "Olive Grove Claim." They also included the

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TOWNSITE

Was originally surveyed by John Blakely in 1853. The original town was replatted at the order of the city council by L. L. L. Bassford, C. E., and certified to in February, 1867. Its limits were the Mississippi river and a short distance of the outlet of Lake Rebecca on the north, Eighth street on the south, Bailly street on the east, and the inner edge of a strip of land, two lots deep, extending beyond Forest street on the west.

These boundaries thus given for ordinary con- venience included only about 160 acres. In the second plat of the town, certified to by John Blakely, June 22, 1854, the strip of land lying north of Lake Isabel, and extending to the present western limit of Barker's addition, ap- pears as "Bailly's addition," a name of which it has since been deprived. This plat included lot 3, in section 27, which was not entered by Judge Chatfield, in trust for the town proprietors, but was entered by Bruno Paul, now a city charge, at the Red Wing land office April 27, 1855. This was doubtless done in the real interest of Alexis Bailly, since Paul sold the amount of the entry, 29 9-10 acres, to him on the following day.

In a plat of the town, made by Benjamin Densmore, and recorded July 21st, 1855, the east half of the south-east quarter of section 28, which was deeded to the proprietors by Judge Chatfield, as above, was included as a part of the town, in addition to the lands which were given a place in the previous plats.

The remaining parcels of land, which at pres- ent constitute the platted city of Hastings, were attached from time to time as "additions," bear- ing various names.

The south-west quarter of section 27 was en- tered by Alexis P. Bailly, February 15, 1855. This he subsequently sold to the town proprie- tors, and among them to H. G. Bailly, bis brother. These parties sold to others, either in whole or in part, and the following additions were laid out and recorded: H. G. Bailly's, June 21st, 1856; T. B. Tripp's, January 7th, 1857; W. C. Herndon's, April 4th, 1857. H. B. Hancock and Oliver D. Russel's sub-division of Bailly's addition, January 2, 1858.

The quarter section adjoining the above, on the south, was entered by W. H. H. Graham

March 3, 1855, and embraced the upper falls of the Vermillion. Subsequently, Graham sold to W. G. Le Duc, and Le Duc's addition was re- corded June 19, 1856. It contained not more than two-fifths of the quarter section, however, and was all on the north side of the river.

Vermillion, south of the river, was added to Hastings April 23, 1856, and Truax's addition to Vermillion May 21, 1858. Both these additions are contained in the 160 acres of land entered October 19th, 1855, by Abraham Truax, and ly- ing in the south-west quarter of section 34.

Belden and Young's addition was attached to Hastings April 30, 1857, and Young's addition May 4, 1857. They were both included in the eighty acres of the one hundred and sixty, in section 33, entered by Pliny Stowell February 13th, 1855, and which had been settled upon by him the year before.

Allison's addition was recorded February 28th, 1856, and Hancock, Thomas and Company's June 6th, 1856. These were included in eighty acres, or the west half of the south-east quarter of sec- tion 28, which, together with the eighty acres ad- joining on the west, was entered by William E. Allison, October 17th and 18th; 1855.

Addition number thirteen was recorded Febru- ary 18th, 1858. This comprised the "Farm Claim" mentioned in the agreement of 1852, but not included in the entry for, nor the deed to, the town proprietors in 1855. It was entered by Henry G. Bailly, October 31st, of the latter year, and was described as the west half of north- east quarter and east half of north-west quarter of section 28, township 115, range 17 west.

The eighty acres lying immediately west, and also included in the addition, was entered by Michael McAvoy, the first blacksmith of the town proper, and previously mentioned. Whether both of these last entries were made under any private understanding with the town proprietors or not, it appears that McAvoy sold to them, or to the "Hastings Company," as they were some- times called, August 7th, 1855, the same day that he made the entry.

Mr. Bailly likewise made a similar transfer in the following November.

Edward D. Barker's addition, at the north-east extremity of Lake Isabel, was attached to Hast- ings April 5th, 1856. The original entry was

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made May 7th, 1855, by John Barker, father of Edward D., and included lot five of section twenty-seven, containing 32 98-100 acres.

This "Barker's addition" was the scene of much "claim jumping," and the cause of much contention, and some legal difficulties, in the early days.

As early as 1850, G. W. Campbell states that he obtained a license from Governor Ramsey to trade with the Indians on this side of the river, Mr. Campbell then, as now, residing at Point Douglas. This license, he states, did not permit him to establish a regular post, but to carry on a miscellaneous trade. It was obtained, however, simply for the purpose of making a claim, which was staked out in the fall of 1850 and comprised eighty acres, including "Barker's addition," and extending beyond the "slough." - This "claim" Mr. Campbell sold to the Baillys in 1852 for $200.

E. F. Parker soon entered upon the scene, and reports that at that time the claim was in controversy between Dr. Foster and Alexis Bailly. Bruno Paul also became concerned as a champion of the Baillys, and after something of an interval of general dissension, the Barkers proved the successful claimants, and the addition was made in their name.

Mr. Campbell, in company with a Mr. Norris, afterwards interested himself again in this tract, and bought twenty-seven lots for $480, a specula- tion which, he states, resulted profitably to him- self and partner.

The lots and blocks into which the original townsite had been platted, found a ready sale, and were deeded by the proprietors, jointly to the various purchasers.

December 5th, 1855, deeds of partition were also executed between the Bailly's, Sibley and Le Duc, so that each took and owned in severalty his particular parcels as divided by said deeds. All of the town proprietors lived to see the real- ization of their plans and indeed their hopes, with regard to their early speculation. Sibley and Le Duc, it is needless to state, are still liv- ing, widely honored, and widely known. The early settlers, with one accord, express grateful remembrances of them. And the city which they founded, still bears their names.

The Bailly's, Alexis and Henry G., like all 18

men of their class, imbued with the characteris- tics of a free and roving life, were rich to-day and poor to-morrow, as chance and change might dictate. They have left honorable memories, but no wealth and did well their part toward the upbuilding and development of this great north- western empire.

There is something romantic in the career of such men. They seem appointed in their day, to be the connecting links between the white race and the red. They are instruments, operated by the keener instincts of the white, rather than actors; and in the compass and termination of their careers, there is something of that inde- scribable melancholy which attaches itself to even the remotest branches of the Indian family.

CIVIL HISTORY.

The board of county commissioners met at Kaposia, July 4th, 1853, and organized Hastings as one of the three election precincts of the county, with the following boundaries; all in the county east of a line beginning at Phillip's claim on the Mississippi, about a mile below Pine Bend, thence running due south to the county line.

The first election was ordered at the house of Henry G. Bailly, or the Buckhorn, and the judges were John Blakeley, Dr. Foster and E. F. Par- ker.

Hastings precinct was made school district number three, though other districts were formed afterward, and was divided into road districts. The county board were the principal governing officers, while one, and afterwards, two justices of the peace preserved the majesty and dignity of the law. Edward F. Parker was the first justice, appointed in 1852, and William Felton was elected for 1854-56, and John Van Hoesen, for 1856-'58.

The early justice trials were full of incident, and often ludicrous in the extreme.

The assessor was another official of the precinct and John Bassett an early settler of Nininger, was the first whose name appears in the records. The taxable property of the precinct reported July 10th, 1854, was $23,292.

April 9, 1856, other precincts being formed in the county, that of Hastings was reduced to 113 and 114, range 17 west, and all in the county of

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114 and 115, range 16 west, and 115, range 17, with two tiers of sections on the east side of townships 114 and 115, range 19 west, except sections 25, 26, 35, and 36 of township 114, range 18 west.

The election was held at the school-house in Hastings, and John Whaley, G. Thorne and H. Sprague were the judges of the same.

January 6th, 1857, the precinct was reduced to all in the county of 115, ranges 16 and 17 west; also, north half of 114, range 17 west, and all in in the county of north half of 114, range 16 west.

The last modification of the Hastings precinct, which disappeared altogether the following year, was made June 18th, 1857. It then consisted of the same district, as formed, or was bounded by, the corporate limits of the city of Hastings, viz., all of 115, 17 west, except sections 18, 19, 30, 31, 25 and 36.

INCORPORATION.

By special act of the territorial legislature, the city of Hastings was incorporated March 7, 1857, and comprised sections 20, 29, 32, 33, 34, 35, and fractional sections 16, 17, 21. 22, 23, 26, 27 and 28, all being in township 115 north, of range 17, west of the fifth principal meridian.

The city had three wards, and was endowed with the customary municipal powers.

By a special act of March 8th, 1861, the west- ern boundary of the city was changed to a line running through the centers of sections 20 and 17. There have been no other changes, except that, at the session of March 4, 1871, the city charter was amended and modified, and an addi- tional ward established. From that time there have been four wards instead of three, as pre- viously.

At the same session, also, for police purposes, the jurisdiction of the city of Hastings was ex- tended to the foot of the bluffs, in Washington county, on the other side of the river. This was made necessary from the ease with which the lawless could resort to that side for the perpetra- tion of their various iniquities.

The boundaries of the city of Hastings, as traced above, are the boundaries as they exist to- day. But the township of Hastings has passed into history and deserves a mention.

At a meeting of the board of county commis-

sioners at Hastings, April 6th, 1858, Hastings township was declared to consist of all in the county of 115, range 17, except sections 18, 19, 30 and 31; also all in the county of 115, range 16, and the following sections in 114, range 16, viz., sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 17, and 18.

This was the death blow to the old Hastings precinct. But the township history of Hastings is brief. After the township organization G. S. Winslow, J. B. Griswold and Oliver Patch, were admitted as members from Hastings to the county board, the last two gentlemen from the first and second wards of the city. Nothing of importance or interest was transacted under the township regime. June 5th, 1860, on petition to the county board, sections 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15, of township 114, range 17, were taken from Marshan and attached to Hastings, making the latter quite an extensive territory. But Sep- tember 5th, of the same year Hastings township was declared to be Ravenna, and still bears that historic name.

Allusion has already been made to the special act of March 8th, 1861, whereby the western boundary line of the city of Hastings was changed to the center of sections 17 and 20. The western halves of those sections were attached to Nininger by vote of the county board on a petition to that effect, presented September 4th, 1861. On the first vote, the measure was defeated, but passed in reconsideration, September 9th.

Thus all the territory formerly embraced in the Hastings precinct, and later in the Hastings town- ship, was reduced to the present city limits.

BONDED INDEBTEDNESS.

September 23d. 1862, by a special act of the legislature, matters pertaining to the issuance of war bonds were put into the hands of the county commissioners.

In 1865 a special act was passed over the gover- nor's veto, authorizing the city of Hastings to ap- propriate money for soldiers' bounties, and to is- sue bonds and levy a tax for that purpose. In the spirit of these acts, war bonds were issued to the aggregate amount of $68,000, but they were all paid in the space of two official years after payment had been begun. The bounties paid by the issue of 1865, were largely received by men,

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who never reached the front, but were released from duty by the sudden termination of the war. In 1868, bonds were issued to the amount of $15,000, to aid in the erection of county buildings; they bore eight per cent. per annum, and were all paid at the rate of $1,500, each year.

The outstanding bonds of the city of Hastings are as follows: February 19th, 1867, the school board was authorized, by a special act, to issue bonds to the amount of $20,000 for school build- ings and sites. But in 1879, whatever school bonds were unpaid, were taken up by a new issue of $8,000, bearing eight and three quarters per cent. interest. This last issue is still outstand- ing.

Under a special act of March 7th, 1867, the city of Hastings proceeded that year to issue bonds for $100,000, bearing seven and three- tenths per cent. interest, in aid of the Hastings, Minnesota River and Red River of the North rail- roads, under the new name of the Hastings and Dakota railway, as a bonus to insure the building of that railway from Hastings to a point of junc- tion on the Central railroad, (now the Iowa and Minnesota division), near or at Farmington, as speedily as practicable.

By authority of a special act of March 10, 1873, this railway bonded indebtedness was adjusted, and compromised at fifty cents on the dollar, so there still remain outstanding $7,500 uncomprom- ised bonds, and $46,714 compromised bonds, the latter bearing mostly seven per cent. interest.

Again, in accordance with the provisions of a special act of March 6th, 1868, in the following year the city of Hastings issued bonds to the amount of $25,000 to aid in the construction of the St. Paul and Chicago railway, (now the river division of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railway.) The object was to secure a road from St. Paul to Hastings, and thence to Red Wing and Lake City, making connections at the latter point with Milwaukee and Chicago.

These bonds bore six per cent. interest, and were payable in thirty years, and are still out- standing.

This completes the bond issues of the city, which with the matter given previously, includes everything of interest in its civil history, except what may be found hereafter, in connection with special topics.

The following is a list of the principal officers of the city, since its incorporation.

CITY OFFICERS.

At the session of the territorial legislature in 1857, an act was passed incorporating the city of Hastings, and at the election in May the follow- ing officers were elected:

Dr. A. H. Hanchett, mayor; E. D. Barker, O. T. Hayes, Thos. Hope, H. B. Plant, E. G. Free- man, Wm. Lee, aldermen; John F. Marsh, re- corder; E. North, city justice.

Dr. Hanchett resigned before his term expired and Alderman Thos Hope was elected for the re- mainder of the term. E. Parker was elected to fill Alderman Hope's place. March 1st, 1858, Alderman Plant resigned and D. F. Langley was elected to fill his position.

1858. H. H. Day, mayor; Messrs. Hope, Carll, Lee, Griswold, Boyle, Hayes, aldermen; H. J. Rogers, recorder: E. North, city justice.

On the 5th of June, 1856, a new charter took the place of the old and the following officers were elected:

H. H. Day, mayor; J. B. Griswold, S. S. Carll, W. K. Rogers, David Barker, aldermen; H. J. Rogers, clerk; E. North, justice.

1859. John F. Marsh, mayor; Mullaney, Eich- horn, Dutton, Casserly, aldermen; A. Macker- acher, city clerk; S. M. Ray, city justice; I. Smith, attorney; W. B. Leach, treasurer; A. Whitman, marshal; W. Jones, collector; C. Hert- zog, I. M. Ray, assessors.

In November of 1859, Mayor Marsh resigned, and Orrin T. Hayes was elected to fill the va- cancy. In May the office of city clerk was de- clared vacant, and L. W. Collins was elected to fill the vacancy.

1860. John L. Thorne, mayor; Marvin, Eich- horn, Dutton and Leach, aldermen; F. Kenner- son, city clerk; C. A. Baker, treasurer; James M. Kennerson, marshal and collector; P. Hartshorn, city justice; D. F. Langley, assessor. In Novem- ber, Kennerson resigned, and L. W. Collins was elected to fill the vacancy as city clerk.

1861. D. F. Langley, mayor; Barnum, Allen, White and Van Duzee, aldermen; C. A. Baker, clerk; A. M. Pell, treasurer; C. Lewis, marshal; J. R. Claggett, justice.

1862. P. Van Auken, mayor; Waldhier, Ains-

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worth, Meloy and Johnson, aldermen; L. W. Collins, clerk; O. T. Hayes, justice; F. M. Crosby, attorney; C. Lewis, marshal; D. F. Langley, as- sessor; R. J. Marvin, treasurer. In August, Col- lins, resigned the office of city clerk, and C. P. Fuller was elected his successor: shortly after he resigned and B. C. Howes was elected to fill the vacancy, he also resigned and Chas. Etheridge was elected.

1863. J. L. Thorne, mayor; Schaller, Meloy, Rehse and Taylor, aldermen; G. S. Whitman, clerk; S. Smith, attorney; R. J. Marvin, treasurer; A. G. Erdman, marshal; P. Hartshorn, justice; D. F. Langley, assessor.

1864. J. L. Thorne, mayor, Wilson, White, Simon and Lovell, aldermen; G.S. Whitman, clerk; R. J. Marvin, treasurer; L. Van Slyck, attorney; E. S. Fitch, marshal; P. Hartshorn, justice; Van Duzee, assessor.

1865. R. Lovell, mayor, Ainsworth, Eichhorn, Simon and Draper, aldermen; C. A. Baker, clerk; R. J. Marvin, treasurer; L. Van Slyck, attorney; E. S. Fitch. marshal; C. V .. Crosby, assessor; P. Hartshorn, justice.

1866. J. E. Finch, mayor; Latto; Rich, Stearns and Taylor, aldermen; J. A. Morton clerk; R. J. Marvin, treasurer; L. Van Slyck, attorney; M. Maloney, marshal; D. F. Langley, assessor.

1867. D. E. Eyre, mayor; Rehse, McHugh, Van Auken, Haas, Howes and Ainsworth, al- dermen; G. S. Whitman, clerk; R. J. Marvin, treasurer; C. Lewis. marshal; E. Parliman, jus- tice; P. T. Chamberlain, assessor.

1868. D. E. Eyre, mayor; Messrs. Peller, Perry, Baker, Rehse, Howes, Van Auken, alder- men; G. S. Whitman, clerk; R. J. Marvin, trea- surer; C. Lewis, marshal; F. M. Crosby, attor- ney; E. Parliman, justice.

1869. J. L. Thorne, mayor; Messrs. Kiel, Haas, Cook, Baker, Peller and Ferry, aldermen; G.S. Whitman, clerk; R. J. Marvin, treasurer; T. R. Huddleston, attorney; S. Smith, assessor; George Egbert, marshall; W. DeW. Pringle, justice, who afterward resigned, and S. Smith was elected to fill the vacancy.

1870. L. Van Inwegen, mayor; Messrs. Mc- Grath, Stanley. Pearson, Latto, Kranz and Kiel, aldermen; G. S, Whitman, clerk; L. S. Follett, treasurer; S. Smith, attorney; N. Martin, mar- shal; C. W. Crosby, justice.

1871. L. Van Inwegen, mayor; Messrs. Kranz, Reinhart, Smith, Miller, McGrath, Par- sons and Moore, aldermen; G. S. Whitman, clerk; S. Smith, attorney; L. S. Follett, treasurer; D. F. Langley, assessor; N. Martin, chief of po- lice; C. W. Crosby, justice.

1872. C. P. Adams, mayor; Messrs. Mullaney, Damerel, Smith, Tanner, Parsons, Woodward, White, aldermen; G. S. Whitman, clerk; L. S. Fol- lett, treas .; E. Parliman, attorney; C. W. Crosby, justice; J. F. Newton, chief.

1873. L. Van Inwegen. mayor; Messrs. Tan- ner, Ferry, Woodward, Grauss, Estergreen, Houghtaling, and J. Byers, aldermen; J. H. Heath, clerk; L. S. Follett, treasurer; E. Parli- man, attorney; G. S. Winslow, justice; C. C. M. Newton, chief; D. F. Langley, assessor.

1874. G. W. Houghtaling, mayor; Messrs. Estergreen, Barbaras, Parsons, Yanz, Howes, Mullaney, and Thompson, aldermen; J. H. Heath, clerk; L. S, Follett, treasurer; E. Parli- man, attorney; D. F. Langley, assessor; M. Mul- laney, chief; J. F. Newton, justice.

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History of Dakota County and the City of Hastings, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 47

Author: J. Fletcher Williams Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author: J. Fletcher Williams
Publication date: 1881
Publisher:
Number of Pages: