History of Dakota County and the City of Hastings, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 50

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

USA > Minnesota > Dakota County > History of Dakota County and the City of Hastings, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota > Part 50

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).

Finding it necessary to provide a cistern, the council appointed Jacob Yanz, Fred Busch and . John Estergreen a committee of three to award

the contract for sinking it. Charles Metzger se- cured the award and contracted to make it one hundred feet long, fifteen feet wide and fourteen feet deep, with capacity of two thousand barrels. It is to be arched with stone and covered by four feet of earth. It is located at the corner of Ver- million and Third streets and will cost $1,775. A water dock is also to be built at the foot of Ram- sey street, at a cost of $275. The cistern is filled from the dock, the water forced through hose by the engine.

FIRES.

The first important fire occurred on a Sunday night in November, 1856. Flames were dis- covered in a dry goods store on Ramsey street, between Third and Fourth. Spreading from the corner of Third to the alley, the fire consumed the whole block, including eight stores, on which the aggregate loss was from eight to ten thousand dollars. The origin of the fire was never found out. Sunday morning, July 26th, 1857, a fire started in Tichnor and McCauley's furniture house, and destroyed a number of business houses.

March 8th, 1864, a fire originated in the old Western hotel, and destroyed seven buildings on Second street. The loss was about $14,000. The principal losers by this fire were, Charles W. Smith, Eugene Dean, J. B. Flint, H. H. Pringle, J. L. Thorne, and P. Van Auken. A portion of the Second regiment did valuable service in check- ing the fire. On Wednesday, January 19th, 1865, fire broke out in a building known as Butturff's block, but by the energetic efforts of Hope fire company the fire was prevented from destroying the property on the alley. Butturff's loss was about $6,000.

The next extensive conflagration was on the 1st of March, 1871. Beginning in Browning and Lamonts store, the wooden row from the corner to D. E. Eyre and company's store was consumed besides five buildings across the street from the American house. The buildings were old and dry, and little was saved of the contents. The total loss amounted to about $20,000, and was the most extensive which has occurred in Hast- ings.

July 27th, 1880, fire broke out in the roof of the Foster house stable on Tyler streets opposite city park. In it were stored forty barrels of oil belonging to Frank Yanz. A heavy

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wind spread the flames and the entire wooden block, on that street, besides the building owned by Dakota lodge, on the opposite side of the street was destroyed. The loss was about $4,500. The next fire occurred August 30th, following. The livery stables of Charles Damerel, including the stock were destroyed, the loss amounting to $8,- 000. The following Wednesday, the Hayes building corner of Second and Vermillion streets took fire, and nine buildings between Vermillion street and J. H. Twichell and Company's build- ings were consumed, causing a loss of about $4,- 600.

SCHOOLS.

The city of Hastings has four public schools. The Irving, situated on Eighth, between Sibley and Ramsey streets, has 473 scholars enrolled. The Bryant, on Spring street, between Fifth and Sixth, has fifty-two scholars. The Cooper, on Vermillion street, near the residence of General Le Duc, has fifty-seven pupils. The Everett, located on Second street, in Barker's addition, enrolls sixty-seven scholars, making a total enrollment of 649 ..

The schools of Hastings were under the man- agement of the county system of districts until February, 1866, at which time the legislature passed an act making the city of Hastings an independent school district, and providing that all children between the ages of five and twenty- one, should be admitted to the schools free. The school government was vested in a board of educa- tion, elected each year by the people, at the regu- lar city election.

The first school taught in Hastings was held in one of the rooms in the "Buckhorn" botel, then kept by William Felton. The teacher was a Mr. Gibson; it was a private school. The first public school-house was built in 1854, and was located on the site of the Bryant school building. It was also used for holding religious services by the different denominations. About 1864 the building was burned. Miss Mary Nicols taught the first term of three months. The first directors were Martin Poor and James Lyons. Chauncey Lyons was enumerator for the first school census, taken in 1855.

The board of education, for the city of Hast- ings, met at the office of L. Van Slyck, on the 11th of April, 1866, and organized by the elec-

tion of P. T. Chamberlain as president and Rev.C. S. Le Duc as secretary and treasurer. G. S. Winslow and C. S. Le Duc were appointed a committee to ascertain the indebtedness of the district, which was found to be #239.13. It was voted to hold terms of school, of two and one- half months, commencing April 30th.

The committee appointed for the purpose of se- curing rooms for holding schools, reported that the Twichell house could be leased at a rental of #200 per year; the Tyrrell house at $6 per month. and a house at Vermillion for $6 per month. The committee was instructed to rent them at those figures.

The first teachers employed by the board under the present system, April 16th, 1866, were Mrs. Pride, Miss Turnbull and Miss McHugh.

August 13th, 1866, the board authorized school terms of nine months' duration, commencing October 1st of that year. The first principal of public schools was J. W. Fralick, with Miss Mc- Hugh, E. Churchill, Annie Turnbull, S. Leach, and H. Langdon as assistant teachers.

Proposals were invited, for the building of two school houses, each to be 24x36 feet. Contract was awarded to C. B. and W. M. Spencer at $1,770. This party, soon after, refused to fulfill the contract, and it was awarded C. W. Churchill, who agreed to build a school house, according to plans furnished, for $1,650. Work was com- menced in July, 1866, on the building, on School square, in Barker's addition, now known as the Everett school. August 13th, same year, P. Stowell was awarded contract to build a school- house in the Third ward, a frame building, to cost $1,600. The building was finished in October, and is now known as the Cooper school. The ward boundaries have been changed, and this is now in the Fourth ward.

The Bryant school was built in 1867, on lots 7 and 8, block 38. The building known as the Ir- ving school was built by the Minnesota State Baptist Association, and was designed for a pre- paratory department to the State University. The building was enclosed and one room finished, in which the Baptists opened a school, with Rev. Mr. Thicksten as teacher for the first two years. The school was maintained for three or four years, when the building was sold under a mort- gage, which had been given when the land was

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purchased. The property was bought by Ennis and Plant, and redeemed by the Baptist church of Hastings and P. Stowell. The latter sold his interest to the church.

The Baptists failed in their project to make the school a success, on account of the lack of funds and opposition met with in St. Paul and Minne- apolis. The property was purchased by the city school board for $6,000 in August, 1867. About $10,000 has since been expended in completing and furnishing the building. The first principal was J. W. Fralick, who was succeeded by G. H. Warren, and he, in turn, by J. H. Lewis, the present principal. There are 473 pupils enrolled at this school, which is the largest in the city.

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The board of education of the city of Hast- ings consists of two school directors for each ward, six in all, authorized by special act of the legislature passed February 28th, 1866. At the first election, April 11th, 1866, the following of- ficers were elected: P. T. Chamberlain, president; Rev. C. S. Le Duc, secretary and treasurer; re- signed in September, 1867; F. M. Crosby was ap- pointed to fill the vacancy, and resigned in March, 1868; Rev. I. M. Ray was appointed to fill the vacancy; Chamberlain and Winslow was re-elected at the annual election in 1867; I. B. Tozer was also elected. In April, 1867, F. M. Crosby re- signed and C. M. Churchill was appointed to fill the vacancy. In December, 1867, Seagrave Smith resigned, and R. I. M. Ray was appointed to fill the vacancy. At the annual election, April 21st, 1868, the following officers were elected: P. T. Chamberlain, president; J. W. Ray, secre- tary, treasurer and superintendent; G. S. Wins- low and M. McHugh, school inspectors first ward; I. B.Tozer and C. M. Churchill, second ward; P. T. Chamberlain and D. B. Truax, third ward.

1869-F. M. Crosby, president; G. S. Winslow, secretary; L. S. Follett, treasurer; Rev. J. W. Ray, superintendent; Crosby, Churchill, Dean, Fralick, McHugh and Truax, school inspectors.

1870-F. M. Crosby, president; Wm. H. De- Kay, secretary; L. S. Follett, treasurer; Rev. J. W. Ray, superintendent; Crosby, McHugh, Dean, Rich and Truax, school inspectors.

1871-J. E. Finch, president; W. H. De Kay, secretary; L. S. Follett, treasurer; J. W. Ray, su-

perintendent; Crosby, Dean, Truax, McHugh, Finch, Eyre and Atherton, school inspectors.

1872-J. E. Finch, president; W. H. DeKay, secretary; L. S. Follett, treasurer; C. S. Camp- bell, superintendent; Clagett, Truax, Dean, Howes, Van Hoesen, McHugh and Finch, school inspectors.

1873-President, J. E. Finch; secretary, J. H. Heath; treasurer, L. S. Follett; inspectors, Finch, Dean, McHugh, Clagett, Howes, Van Hoesen and Truax; superintendent C. S. Campbell.

1874-President, J. E. Finch; secretary, J. H. Heath; treasurer, L. S. Follett; superintendent, C. S. Campbell; inspectors, Finch, Smith, Clem- ent, Truax, McHugh, Hampton and Dean.

1875-President, J. E. Finch; secretary, J. H Heath; treasurer, L. S. Follett; inspectors, Messes. Hampton, Clement, Dean, McHugh, Smith, Truax and Finch; superintendent, C. S. Campbell,

1876-President, J. E. Finch; secretary, J. H. Heath; treasurer, L. S. Follett; superintendent, C. S. Campbell; inspectors, Messrs. Finch, Clem- ent, Dean, McHugh, Howes, Truax and Ennis.

1877-President, J. E. Finch; secretary, J. H. Heath: treasurer, L. S. Follett; superintendent, C. S. Campbell; inspectors, Messrs. Clement, Mc- Hugh, Chamberlain, Mrs. Ennis, Mrs. Le Grange, Finch and Metzger.

1878-President, J. E. Finch; secretary, J. H. Heath; treasurer, J. C. Norton; superintendent, J. H. Lewis; inspectors, Messrs. Chamberlan, Byers, Ficker, Netzger, Mitchell, Finch and Wilcoxson.

1879-President, J. E. Finch; secretary, J. H. Heath; treasurer, J. C. Norton; superintendent, J. H. Lewis; inspectors, Messrs. Byers, Baker, Mitchell, Dean, Wilcoxson, Finch and Ficker.

1880 -- President, J. E. Finch; secretary, E. H. Freeman; treasurer, B. C. Howes; superintend- ent, J. H. Lewis; inspectors, Messrs. Finch, Fitch, Baker, Dean, Cadwell, Tautges and Searles.

1881-President, J. E. Finch; secretary, E. H. Freeman; treasurer, B. C. Howes; superintend- ent, J. II. Lewis; inspectors, Messrs. Dean, Tautges, Fitch, Searles, Baker, Lyon and Finch.

PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS.

The parish school of the Church of the Guar- dian Angels, was established in September, 1868,

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Patrick Gegan as teacher. It continued two or three years under the instruction of lay teachers, and failed for want of funds to support it. In Sep- tember, 1879, the school was re-organized, with J. Healy as teacher. In 1880, the school was placed in charge of the Sisters of St. Boniface Convent, under the superintendence of Rev. Father Halton. The school numbers forty-five pupils.

St. Boniface Convent was founded in Septem- ber, 1872, at the request of the Catholics of Hast- ings as a boarding and day school for females. The building is a three-story frame structure, 38x50 feet. There are forty scholars attending. Sister Seraphine was the first superior, and was assisted by seven sisters, two at the School of the Guardian Angels, two at St. Boniface school, and three at the convent. Sister Aloysius is the pres- ent superior, and has six sisters as assistants.

St. Boniface school was organized in Decem- ber, 1871, by the German Catholics. It was built by the church as. a school for religious instruc- tion in both German and English. Not having a sufficient fund to carry out the design, a stock company, consisting of the principal members of the church, was formed in 1876, and under this management the school prospered. In 1880, the school was placed in charge of the parish. The building is located on the corner of Sixth and Ramsey streets, and is of brick, 30x50 feet, con- taining four rooms.

St. Luke's parish school was organized in Sep- tember, 1874. by Rev. John Williams, who taught for three years. At first school was held in pri- vate houses. In 1875, the parish erected a frame building on the corner of Tenth and Eddy streets, 28x40, with an L sixteen feet square. The school has an average attendance of thirty- three. Rev. Mr. Johnson is now in charge.

MT. MORIAH LODGE, NO. 35, A. F. & A. M.

This lodge was organized August 13th, 1860, under a dispensation granted July 14th, preceed- ing, by A. T. C. Pierson, grand master of Minne- sota. The first officers were: C. W. Nash, W.M .; S. S. Eaton, S. W .; A. B. Tyrrell, J. W .; J. B. North, treasurer; A. M. Pett, secretary; J. M. Bracken, S. D .; J. L. Powers, J. D .; S. G. Tyler, tyler. The lodge received its charter October 24th, 1860. In less than two years after the or-

ganization, this lodge ranked among the largest in the state. In 1862-3 a considerable number of its working members enlisted in the army, and for two or three years the lodge was in a state of inactivity and demoralization. At the close of the war, it was with difficulty that a number sut- ficient to open work could be brought together. A few energetic members devoted themselves to the task of re-organization and soon had the satisfaction of seeing the lodge regain its former prosperous condition, and large membership, which it has since retained.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

August, 1855, the Prescott Mission of the Wis- consin conference received Rev. James G. John- ston as its preacher of the divine word.

Hastings was near at hand, and filling rapidly with inhabitants who were in need of additional facilities for religious worship. Mr. Johnston held the first Methodist services here, in the year of his pastorate at Prescott, and preached in the school-house on Spring street.

In the early part of 1856, the services were held at the new Smith hall, which had been built, on Ramsey street, and which was then much more accessible to the "town." The Minnesota conference had been organized in the autumn of 1855, and in the fall of the succeeding year, Has- tings appears, with Rev. G. W. Richardson as the first regular appointed Methodist pastor.

The church consisted of twenty-four members, and seventeen probationers. The salary for the preceding year had been $260. Hastings was a part of the Red Wing district of the Minnesota conference, and Rev. T. M. Kirkpatrick was at that time the presiding elder.

In the fall of 1857, Rev. A. G. Perkins suc- ceeded as pastor, and found the church with sixty members. March first of this year the Union Sun- day school was dissolved, and the report for 1857 shows the M. E. Sunday school as consisting of thirty-seven members. The total receipts of the church are also reported as $500.

1858, Rev. John Pugh was pastor in charge, and reports forty-nine members in the church and one hundred and six in the school. From May of 1859 until fall Rev. W. C. Shaw officiated, and after him Rev. E. G. Tucker supplied the church until in the fall of 1860, Rev. J. D. Rich was ap-

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pointed as regular pastor. The report of 1860 shows a membership of fifty- nine.

In the fall of 1861 a church was built on Ver- million street, between Fifth and Sixth. Pre- vious to this time services had been held at the Twichell school building on Fifth street. In 1862 Rev. Thomas Gossard succeeded. The average salary in the conference was reported this year as $318.75, an average per member in the conference of the eighth district of only $3.60. Rev. J. M. Rogers was appointed in 1864. The following year one 1 .. dred and four members are reported. In 18 , .ev. G. W. T. Wright of- ficiated, and the value of the church was esti- mated this year at $2,000. In 1868 there were one hundred and twenty one members. During Mr. Wright's pastorate a parsonage was also built.

Rev.C.Hover came in 1869, and Rev. E.P. Lath- rop in 1870. This year the church was removed to its present site, and a tower and vestibule ad- ded to its architecture. Rev. J. W. Klepper, succeeded in 1871, and Rev. Norris Hobart in 1873. The membership was one hundred and fifty at the close of the latter year, and there were ninety-seven attendants, in the Sunday school.

Rev. S. T. Sterritt came in 1875, and Rev. J. O. Rich. in 1878. One hundred and fifty-four members were reported in 1875, and one hundred and nine in 1878. At the coming of Rev. Rich, the church cleared all of its indebtedness by the sale .. the parsonage.

Rev. Henry J. Crist, the present pastor, suc- ceeded Rich in 1879, and found the membership in the fall of that year, eighty-six. In the fall of 1880, one hundred and five members were re- ported, and the Sunday schools connected with the church at Hastings, Spring Lake and Rich Valley, numbered one hundred and eighty at- tendants.

The church contributions for benevolent pur- poses, were $42.00 in 1870; $65.00 in 1875, and $117.40 in 1880. During the latter year also, $178 were reported for incidental expenses, and $775 for the pastor's salary.

ST. LUKE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The first Episcopal service held in Hastings was conducted by the Rev. Timothy Wilcoxson, mis-

sionary, on the morning of January 7th, 1855, in the dining-room of the old Dakota house, on the corner of Second and Sibley streets, the site of the present post-office. Occasional services were afterwards held in the old school-house, near the site of the Bryant school. The corner stone of St. Luke's church was laid on the 6th of May, 1856, by the Right Rev. Jackson Kemper, D. D., bishop of the north-west. The church was opened for the first time November 16th, 1856, the Rev. E. P. Gray, of Winona, preaching the sermon. It was unfinished, and the clergy and and the congregation both occupied boards supported by nail kegs, as seats. The morn- ing service included the administration of the communion and the baptism of a child. In 1857 Mr. Wilcoxson held service every other Sun- day morning at this place, going in the afternoon to Point Douglas, and in the evening to Prescott. The church was consecrated October 8th, 1857, by Bishop Kemper. The first settled rector was the Rev. M. L. Olds, who remained three years. He was succeeded by the Rev. J. A. Merrick. D. D., who resigned after one year on account of failing health. Rev. Charles Rollitt then had charge of the parish for three years, followed by Rev. John Williams, who continued in charge nine years. During his rectorship the chancel, ves- try-room and organ-room were added, the east window purchased, also the organ. In 1878 Mr. Williams removed to Omaha, and the Rev. J. E. Johnson, the present incumbent, succeeded to the charge. On the evening of December 28th, 1880, during the holding of the annual Christmas tree festival, the church took fire from some of the candles used in the decorations, and had soon ob- tained such headway as to defy all efforts for the salvation of the building. The night was bitter cold, and the supply of ladders and water was scarce, so that it was soon apparent that nothing could be saved except the furniture, organ, etc. The loss was estimated at $5,000; insurance, $2,000. The foundation of a new church is now being laid.

BAPTIST CHURCH.

Early in 1857 Rev. Mr. Hyde, a Baptist clergy- man, came to Hastings, and a Baptist society was organized. For some years it flourished, and a fine church of the society's building, still stands on the hill-top. The attempts to found the Bap-

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tist university, and the varying success attend- them, are recorded elsewhere. At present, no regular Baptist pastor is in charge at Hastings, but the resumption of regular services at an early date is anticipated.

PRESBYTERIAN.

The first Presbyterian church of Hastings, was born of the unselfish efforts of Rev. Charles Summer Le Duc, and a few disciples who gath- ered about him. Le Duc, born and bred in Ohio, a graduate of Marietta College, and for a time, tutor there, a pupil of Prof. Stowe and Dr. Ly- man Beecher, at Lane Seminary, came to Hast- ings, June 15th, 1855. Just previous to his ar- rival, he had been commissioned by the American Home Missionary society, with a salary of $600, with $100 additional for an outfit, and had been married to Miss Emma R. Butler, of Utica, New York. The young clergyman on his arrival at Hastings, was compelled to provide himself with a home, and purchase a claim a little beyond the Vermillion, for $300. A temporary dwelling, called the "Lodge," was first erected here, and afterward a comfortable cottage which was christened "Peace."

On the 8th of July, 1855, Le Duc held his first service in the district school-house on Sixth and Spring streets.

It was a wet, unpleasant day, but thirteen peo- ple were present. Only two or three could be found who were members of the Presbyterian church. After six services in the school-house Mr. LeDuc secured the first hall, built by Mr. Charles Smith, on Ramsey street. A portion of the pulpit, which was the work of the preacher, still remains in the hands of an early member. The next day after the hall was occupied, $23 were received for a new church, from Miss Cole- man, secretary of the Ladies' Reading Society at Newburyport, Mass. In October a petition was sent to the Presbytery of Minnesota, N. S., re- questing the appointment of a committee to or- ganize a church at Hastings. It was granted and December 23d selected as the date, but it was bitterly cold, and so few were present that it was deferred until the following month and year. January 27th, 1856, Mr. LeDuc presented a con- cise view of the Presbyterian form of government with some reasons for adopting it. At two p. m.

the Rev. R. Hall, of Prescott, preached a sermon appropriate to communion season, after which ten certificates of membership were recognized and the following persons gave assent to a few articles of faith, viz .: Hammon Stowell, wife, and two daughters; P. T. Countryman and wife; Mrs. Foster, Matthews, Simmons and LeDuc. A communion service was then presented from ladies, and a cloth for the table from Deacon Dana, all of Newburyport, Mass., on condition that they were to be used only for sacramental purposes, and when no longer desired by their church, be presented to some other. The holy supper was then administered to the entire church and to members of other churches present.

In June, services were transferred to Mckay's hall, on the corner of Ramsey and Third streets, where they were held until the new church was occupied.

On Washington's birthday, 1856, the trustees organized, and immediately resolved to build. A subscription paper was circulated at that meeting and $1,000 were soon subscribed, and plans re- ceived from New York. August 9th, the con- tract was let to Thomas Lincoln for a church, to be built of stone and completed by the middle of November, at a cost of $2,000, which was after- wards increased $500. August 18th, work was begun, and the house was occupied December 7th. The first sermon r s from the text, " Ye are God's Building." TL church was completed in April, 1857. The audience at first sat on boards, and were not very warm out no one felt discouraged. An Indian wandered into the house one day, wrapped in his blanket, and. look- ing about him, in his own tongue, said: "Temple of God very good." A melodeon had been se- cured with great difficulty, and a choir was or- ganized, with Alonzo Day as leader. A bell ar- rived before the tower was ready, but was soon swung in its place.

The house was finished, but the workmen were not paid. A death grip was laid on the prop- erty, which was never shaken off until it was sold. It was not until yesterday, comparatively, that all debt was dispelled. Many who had promised funds repudiated their paper by reason of the griping times, which have previously been described, and are well remembered. Some of the notes of the little church bore 5 per cent. per

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month after maturity. Senior trustee of the church pressed his costly watch into the hands of a church creditor, and the ladies held fairs and festivals, and every manner of entertainment whereby they had hope of obtaining money. Mr. Le Duc gave with almost unjust liberality; a little boy in the east expressed a wish to send his $6 to the church, and after his death his father honored his request.

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History of Dakota County and the City of Hastings, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 50

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

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