History of Dakota County and the City of Hastings, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 71

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

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The German Lutheran church. The first services by this society were held at the house of Jacob Schindeldecker in the spring of 1856, by Rev. William Wier. Services were held at pri- vate houses in the vicinity until the fall of 1859, when their church was completed, and dedicated by Rev. Wier soon after. The church is on sec- tion 8. Additions have been made, and the building is now a long narrow structure without a spire. At the time of the first meetings there were nine members. This has increased to a large number scattered over this and adjoining towns. A church is now being built in Eagan to accommodate that settlement. A Sunday- school has been sustained at different times, but owing to the distance the members had to come, was irregular. For the past few years a Sunday- school of about forty scholars has been kept up, with the pastor as superintendent. A parochial school is sustained in connection with the church, and numbers about forty scholars. The school is in charge of the resident pastor. The society is contemplating the erection of a new church on the site of the present structure, which will

furnish more adequate accommodations for the large membership. A parsonage stands just south of the church, and the cemetery adjoins it on the north. The following have been pastors since Rev. Wier: Revs. G. Fachtman, A. Kuhn, Phillip Schmidt and E. N. Volgert, the present incumbent.

The Methodist society in the vicinity of Pine Bend built a church in the village in 1857. Pre- vious to that time, services had been held at pri- vate houses in what is now the town of Rose- mount. Services were held regularly every two weeks in the church until its sale to the school district. It was then removed to section 18, Rose- mount, and used as a school-house, the society retaining the privilege of using it for church services whenever needed. It was so used for a number of years, but lately, irregularly on account of the removal of many of the mem- bers. A Sunday-school has been kept up since the organization of the society and holds regular services at the Rich Valley school-house.

VILLAGES.

Early in 1852, W. A. Bissell, Albert Webster, H. P. Sweet, and D. C. Murray, located in the south-eastern part of Inver Grove and the north- eastern part of Rosemount, and started a town called Centralia. A post-office was established, with H. P. Sweet as postmaster. Early in 1857, H. G. O. Morrison, now residing in Minneapolis, came from Maine, and with W. H. Bissell and Robert Foster, had a town laid out in April and named it Pine Bend. The plat embraced the south half of the south-east quarter of section 4 and the south-west of the south-west quarter of section 35, in township 27 north, of range 22 west of the fourth principal meridian. Also the north-east of the north-west quarter of section 18, and that part of section 7 lying immediately north, in township 115 north, of range 18, west of the fifth principal meridian. Morrison in- vested a large amount of money. In company with others, he put up a flouring mill, a saw-mill, shingle mill, store, and several dwelling houses. The village had fair prospects of reaching con- siderable size. A number of settlers came in, but the financial reverses which began in 1857, crippled the resources of the proprietors to such an extent that rival towns gained the lead and

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retained it. The financial motive power being withdrawn, the village declined, and now only a few houses remain to remind one of what "might have been."

There are now three nice houses, one still owned by Mr. Morrison, one by George W. Coates, a grain buyer, and the other by M. C. Maltby; a store and post-office, and a warehouse. The place was named from the locality, known as Pine Bend on account of the existence of pine trees along the river at this great bend.

Merrimack was the name of a town laid out in the spring of 1857, on lot 8, and the north-west of the north-west quarter of section 11, and the north half of the north-east quarter of section 10, the land owned by Messrs. Mumford, Hall, Dames and Cook. A few lots were sold, but no improvements were made as a town and the plat was partially vacated in 1865. Previous to the laying out of this plat, which was in fact an addition, another tract on the south extending along the river one and a quarter miles, was laid out, but never recorded. Theophilus Cushing, of Frankfort, Maine, purchased the machinery and placed it in a mill which he had erected here. It was a gang saw-mill with a capacity for sawing twenty thousand feet per day, and was called the Merrimack mill. Operations were begun in Au- gust, 1857, and ceased when winter came. It was started again the next spring, but ran only about two months. It was afterwards sold to W. L. Ames, of St. Paul, who removed the ma- chinery and abandoned the building.

A building was erected during the summer of 1857, designed for a store, but no stock was ever brought in, and it was used as a boarding house for the mill hands. When the mill suspended op- erations, the boarding house was also abandoned. It is now occupied as a residence on land owned by C. Bohrer. A road was opened and prepara- tions for a levee commenced, but all came to naught. The land is now owned by different parties and used for farming purposes.

A steam saw-mill was operated by Dr. Barton, about a mile up the river from Merrimack, until a few years ago, but is now abandoned.

POST-OFFICES.

In 1856, a post-office was established, called Pine Bend. Jacob Whittemore was appointed

postmaster and kept the office at the house on the west side of the St. Paul and Cannon Falls road, in section 33. He kept it but a year or so when it was transferred to the village of Pine Bend, the name Centralia having been abolished. The present postmaster is Fred. Maltby, who keeps the office at his store in the village.

The town has no railroad communication, ex- cept on the west, where a curve of the Iowa and Minnesota division of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railway crosses the town line, and re-crosses into Eagan. Westcott is the station and is located in Eagan township near the line.

A store was opened by Michael Dunn and James Harkins, in the spring of 1880, on land owned by P. E. McGroarty on the west side of the St. Paul and Cannon Falls road. near the center of section 29. They carry a stock of groceries and notions, suited to the wants of the surround- ing inhabitants. On the opposite side of the road is a blacksmith shop belonging to George Clarke, which he started in October, 1879, and has since done a good business. There is another shop in section 18, run by Joseph Holtz, estab- lished by him in the fall of 1876.

The first marriage ceremony performed in In- ver Grove, was that of William Bitley and Mrs. Tucker and took place at the Kaposia mission in the fall of 1853, John Aiton officiating. Bitley was a bachelor and Mrs. Tucker a widow; both had made claims and Bitley sold his and pre- empted hers. They only lived in the town about two years after they were married, then removed to Texas. Alice J. Dresser, daughter of Horace and Elizabeth Dresser, was born January 2d, 1855. She was born at their house on section 34, and lived with her parents until her death, which occurred March 31st, 1873. She was buried in the cemetery about a half mile south of her home, in Rosemount. A child was also born to Mr. and Mrs. Bitley, shortly before their removal to Texas. These were probably the first births within the present limits of the town.

The population of Inver Grove, as shown by the census of 1880, is 791.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

Patrick Brennan was born March 17th, 1806, in Ireland, and learned boot and shoe making. In 1836, came to America; was shipwrecked off

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the coast of Newfoundland, but finally reached Quebec, and proceeded direct to the United States. He made a brief stay in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and worked at his trade three years in Cincinnati. In 1843, visited St. Louis, next year at New Orleans, then returned to the former place, making his home there eleven years, eight years of the time being in govern- ment employ, in the arsenal at that city. In 1852, came to Minnesota, and made a claim of one hundred and sixty acres in Ramsey county, then returned to St. Louis, and two years later to this state with his family. During the fall of 1854, he made a claim of one hundred and sixty acres, in Inver Grove township, where he has since lived. Married in Ireland, in 1834, to Ellen McGuire. By her he has had seventeen children, six of whom are living: Patrick J., Thomas M., Mary M., Catherine, Charles E. and Frank. Two sons were in the late war: Patrick enlisted in the Fifth Minnesota as orderly ser- geant, and served through the whole war. John, his third son, enlisted in Company K, Eighth Minnesota, and was discharged in 1865, but died in 1870 from disease contracted during the ser- vice.

George Clark was born at Rochester, New York, July 8th, 1855. He engaged as cabin boy, in 1867, on an ocean steamer, running from New York to Liverpool; this vocation he pursued three years. Removing later to Dakota he lived four years, and in the meantime learned the blacksmith's trade. In 1864 he came to Minne- sota, and settled in St. Paul, and became a resi- dent of Inver Grove, in 1877. He opened a black- smith and repair shop, and is doing a good busi- ness. Married June 4th, 1879, to Miss Ellen Hanlon; they have one son, George.

George W. Coates was born in Greene. Trum- bull county, Ohio, March 11th, 1844. When eleven rears old he removed to Wisconsin with an aunt, where he lived two years. In 1857, came to Hastings, Dakota county, Minnesota. Enlisted in Company F, Eighth Minnesota In- fantry, and was with that regiment in all its en- gagements against the Indians; went south in 1864, and was wounded in the battle of Murfrees- boro; was discharged July 4th, 1865. Returning to Hastings, he resided there until 1869, and after a residence of two years in Hampton, he engaged

mercantile pursuits in Hastings. In 1872, became a resident of Inver Grove, and opened a store at Pine Bend in company with J. C. Sanborn, whose interest he purchased in 1873. then sold all to Isaac Gibbs the next year. In 1875, purchased the ware- house he now owns, and has since been a wheat buyer, Miss Almira Thompson, a native of Maine, became his wife in 1869. George A., Nellie A., Fred H. and Edith A. are their living children.

Casper Dehrer was born in Saxony, September 17th, 1817. Came to America in 1848, and re- sided in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, seven years.

During the month of April, 1855, he came to Minnesota and lived in St. Paul seven years. Located in this township in 1862, and made a claim of eighty acres, now owned by his father. He purchased his present farm of one hundred and sixty-six acres, in 1870, for the sum of $2,500, which estate has since been his home. Married in 1845, Margaret Schilet, in Germany, by whom he had eight children, three of whom are living Henry, Edward and Eliza.

Mrs. Bridget Eagan, a native of Ireland, was born in Queen's county, June 2d, 1833. She came to America with her mother in 1854, locating first in Galena, Illinois, thence to St. Paul, and in 1856, came to Inver Grove. Here she met and was united in marriage with John Eagan, March 25th, 1856. He was a native of Ireland, born in Kings county, in April, 1826. He made a claim of one hundred and sixty acres, where his widow now resides, in 1854. He died April 15th, 1873. Mary J., John, Martin H., Michael, Nellie C., Julia and Patrick are the children born to them.

Wilhelm Franzmeier was born in Prussia, March 17th, 1834. Came across the waters to America in 1849, and settled in Indiana, where he and his brother purchased a farm. In 1856, he sold his interest to his brother and came to Minnesota. At that time he purchased a farm and has since prospered and kept adding to it, having now three hundred and eighty-eight acres, two hundred of which are under good cultivation. Married at Inver Grove, to Miss Margaret Schin- deldecker, a native of Germany, by whom he has had thirteen children. George, William, Chris- tiana, Louisa, Margaret, Frederick, Sarah, Her- man, Henry, Jacob, Amelia, Mena and Edward. Patrick Grace was born in Gowron, Kilkenny

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Ireland, in 1818. Came to the United States in 1850, and located in Massachusetts. Two years later he went to Chicago where he was employed as a stone-mason two years, then came west to the "North Star" state, and made a claim of one hundred and sixty acres in Inver Grove, on which he has since resided. March 7th. 1859, he mar- ried Miss Catherine Walsh, of Ireland. Three children have been born to them: Mary, John and William.

William Korfhage was born September 16th, 1833. When a lad of fourteen vears he came to this county and spent five years in New Jersey, and in 1852, came west to Minnesota, locating in Ramsey county. His father rented a farm be- tween Minneapolis and St. Paul, where the half- way house now stands. In 1853 his parents came to Inver Grove and made a claim of one hundred and sixty acres, where William now lives. He enlisted in March, 1865, in Company D, First Minnesota, and went south to Virginia; was at Richmond at the surrender of Lee; discharged at Jeffersonville, Indiana, July 4th, 1865. Married in 1857, to Miss Emily Kasa, a native of Prussia, who died in 1863, leaving two children, Louisa and August. His present wife was Miss Emma Rolfing, married in 1867. Their children are, Henry, Frederick W. A. and Mary A.

Michael Lynch, a native of Kilkenny county, Ireland, was born September 29th, 1832. Com- ing to America in 1852, he resided a short at West Point then removed to Illinois and en- gaged in agricultural pursuits two and one-half years. Ile came to St. Paul, Minnesota, during the spring of 1854, and made a claim of one hun- dred and sixty acres in Inver Grove township and for three years afterward he lived and labored in St. Paul; the remainder of the time has been passed on his farm. Miss Hannah Lahon, a na- tive of Ireland, became his wife in 1857. Mary, Patrick, Michael, James, Margaret, John, Joseph, Anastasia and Ellen, are their children.

Frederick C. Maltby is a native of New York state, born August 7th, 1835. While yet a little child his parents removed with him to Kentucky, where he lived until ten years old, then went to Oxford, Butler county, Ohio. Here he acquired an education, graduating from Miami university in 1853. He commencd teaching school when eighteen years old, which vocation he followed

three years in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. Coming to Minnesota in 1855, he practiced law in St. Paul, and in 1862, purchased a farm, on which he lived seven years. Returning to the city he resided there four years, and in 1873, came to In- ver Grove township and bought a farm, and four years later opened a general store, being at the same time appointed postmaster. Married at Oxford, Ohio, June 3d, 1856, to Miss Mary .C. Guy, a native of that state. Five children were born to them: Henry, Frederick, Guy, Mary and Alexandria.

Edward McDermott was born in Ireland, in 1832. He was reared on a farm and came to America in 1850. The first five years on Ameri- can soil were passed in various vocations, in Delaware, New York and Illinois, and in 1855, came to Dakota county, Minnesota. He made a claim of one hundred and sixty acres in what is now Inver Grove township, on which he has since lived. Although Mr. McDermott could not get a team to do his breaking he has by diligence and perseverance seventy-five acres under cultivation. Married in 1875, at St. Paul, Miss Bridget Daley. Six children have been born to them: James J., Hugh F., Kate A., Margaret J., Mary E. and John.

John McGroarty was born in Inver parish, Ire- land, in 1824. Came to America in 1848 and landed at New York, where he purchased a stock of Irish linen and peddled from that city to Min- nesota, which occupied his time until 1853. Dur- ing the spring of that year he arrived at St. Paul, and in August came to Inver Grove, making a claim of one hundred and sixty acres, on which he has since lived. He is is the oldest living set- tler in the township on which he betowed the name of Inver, in honor of his native place. In 1844, in Ireland, he married Miss Bridget McNel- lis, by whom he had one son, Barnard. He is working his father's farm in partnership; was married in 1879 to Miss Ellen Dalton, a native of this state; John is their only son.

Henry Mettler was born March 26th, 1823, in Germany. Came to America in 1853, and lived two years in Cincinnati, then came to Minnesota, and made a claim of forty acres in Inver Grove township, remaining on it ten years. In 1865, moved to Washington county, and two years later purchased forty acres of timber land, which he

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LAKEVILLE-DESCRIPTIVE-SETTLEMENT.

cleared, furnishing the steamers with fuel. In 1875, purchased his present farm, owning now 242 acres, 100 of which are under cultivation. Married in May, 1861, to Barbara Klutz, a native of Germany. Frederick, Joseph, Julia and Annie are their living children.

Jacob Whittemore was born in Stark. Somer- set county, Maine, June 13th, 1808. When about one year old, his parents removed to what is now Franklin county, residing there until attaining majority, in the meantime learning the carpen- ter's trade. In 1851, removed to Townsend, Massachusetts, where he lived three years in the coopering business. Coming thence to Minne- sota, he pre-empted 160 acres, in sections 32 and 33, in Inver Grove, which he still owns. Mar- ried May 8th, 1831, to Miss Betsy Dunsmore, by whom he has had three children. John D., born in Temple, Maine, in 1843, and en- listed in First Minnesota regiment, being killed in the retreat of Mcclellan's army by some of their own men, who fired on them by mistake. James A., born in Temple, Maine, November 8th, 1845.

LAKEVILLE.

CHAPTER LV.

DESCRIPTIVE-SETTLEMENT-SOCIAL WORLD- HARD TIMES -- ORGANIZATION-SCHOOLS - CHURCHES-POST-OFFICE-VILLAGE OF LAKE- VILLE-BIOGRAPHICAL.

Lakeville is bounded on the north, by Burns- ville and Lebanon, on the east, by Empire, on the south, by Eureka, and on the south and west, by Scott county. April 6th, 1858, it was enacted by the board of county commissioners, that the town should consist of township 114. range 20, and all in the county of township 114, range 21. The western boundary of the town, as first es- tablished, was a diagonal line drawn from near

the north-west corner of sections 2, 114, 21, in a south-easterly direction, crossing the town line near the south-west corner of section 36, 114, 21. This boundary was changed to the present one, and Lakeville now consists of township 114, north of range 20 west, and the two eastern tiers of sections in township 114, range 21, the latter being all of that township within the limits of Dakota county.

It contains 30,720 acres, and is six miles in ex- tent, north and south, and eight miles east and west.

The Vermillion river flows through the eastern and southern portions of the town, and is made up of several small streams, three of which have their sources here. What is known as the north branch of the river has its source partially in the township, while another small tributary flows from springs in the south-eastern part of section 16, and the western part of section 22. The third branch rises in the south-west quarter of section 25, and flows diagonally through sections 25, 33, 34, 35, and 36.

SETTLEMENT.

"On the 25th of March, 1853," says Mr. J. J. Brackett, "I left St. Paul, where I had been spending the winter, equipped with gun, ammu- nition, blanket and camp-kettle, three loaves of bread, a small piece of pork, matches and com- pass. Crossing the Mississippi on the ice, I steered southward, without road or trail. The object of the trip was to explore the valleys of the Straight and Cannon rivers, rumor telling of magnificent falls near their junction. I camped that night in the brush, about twelve miles be- low St. Paul. The next morning I struck the Indian trail leading from Black Dog village to Big Sioux river, and about noon that day, from a spot where the trail crossed what was afterward John H. Thurston's farm, I first saw the place on which I now live. I passed over where the city of Faribault now stands, and found a log build- ing there, owned by Alexander Faribault, and oc- cupied as an Indian trading-post. He was ab- sent at the time, and I continued my journey up the Straight river, nearly to where Owatonna has since been built up.

"Returning to St. Paul, I arrived on the even- ing of the 31st, having been out seven days and

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six nights without entering a dwelling or seeing a white man.

"I found the ice in the Mississippi breaking up and unsafe to cross. I accordingly remained on the west side two days, stopping with Mr. Bartlett, afterward a defaulting sheriff, in this county.

"The last of May following, I visited Lake- ville again, in company with Griffin Phelps. We looked over the country a little, and deciding to make a settlement here, 'stuck our stakes' and returned to St. Paul. During the summer we were here again with oxen, lumber and plow and did some breaking.

"In July, the surveyors and workmen on the 'Dodd' and 'Big Sioux' roads passed through the town. In October, 1854, I built a small house. sixteen by twenty-four feet in dimensions, and situated in lot 1 of section 30. Mr. Phelps and Mr. Farnham stayed all winter in my cabin. The nearest neighbor at this time was Mr. Bissell at Pine Bend."

The first ground was broken in the town by Griffin Phelps. Mr. Phelps also sowed the first seed, which consisted of one bushel of fall rye, sown very late in the fall of 1853. The crop was an entire failure. Almost every settler, who was here in 1854, broke land, the aggregate amount, however, being small. Some potatoes, turnips and sod corn were grown this year.

In the spring of 1854, immigrants began slowly to put in an appearance. Mrs. Mary Whalen and her son John were the first to come. They lived in the timber land, about a mile beyond the lake, and on the road to Spring lake. Then came George Palmer and George Fagan, who settled on section 30. Daniel F. Smith accompanied them, or came not far from the date of their ar- rival. Michael Rohan and son, Michael, also came this spring and settled in section 20. John and Michael Sheridan settled in section 17, John Finnegan in section 8, John Houts in section 29, and Jesse Hipple in section 30. The same year Samuel Dunn made a claim in section 33, Dennis Nute in section 28, a Mr. Youngblood and Willis B. Reed in section 32, Rinaldo Thomp- son in section 20, and S. P. Buker in section 29 Mr. Buker sold his claim, however, to Samuel Johnson, who in turn sold the land to Henry, his son. Roger and Patrick Casey settled on section

5, Michael Hendricks on section 21, but sold his right early to E. Woodhull. James Devitt made a claim on section 17; Anthony Cosgrove settled somewhere in the town during the year, and Michael Johnston and Charles Norling (son-in- law of Mrs. Whalen), came in during the summer or fall. Johnston settled on section 5, and Nor- ling on section 29, the latter claimed forty acres of land which he afterward sold to G. F. Ackley. In the spring of 1855, the great immigration com- menced, as well as the era of speculation. The steamers were crowded with passengers seeking homes, as well as with speculators, gamblers and others. The tables on the boats were usually set four times for each repast, and the fasting powers of the passengers were sometimes severely tried. Early in the spring of this year, a Mr. Carpenter was the first to arrive at Lakeville and increase the list of settlers. He settled in the north-west quarter of section 28, now owned by Elisha Batten. David Tougher (called Tucker) arrived April 17th, and a Mr. Parkinson settled on the south- west quarter of section 21, now owned by Ed- ward Woodhull.

The Thurston family also came in early this year, having walked around Lake Pepin, and having first proceeded to St. Paul, which place they reached April 14th. Daniel M. Thurston. the father, arrived in Lakeville, April 30th, and claimed the north-east quarter of section 28, on which Heury Johnson and Henry Perkins now live. His sons, John II. and Sumner C., came May 3d of the week following, and were accom- panied by G. F. Ackley. Sumner C. Thurs- ton took the claim east of his father's, in section 28. This estate was afterwards sold to Mr. Brennan. John HI. Thurston took the claim next, north of his father's, being the south-east quarter of section 21. At that time, there was not a house, fence or piece of plowed land to be seen, from J. H. Thurston's claim, though the view extended some thirty miles to the north and east. There were several houses not far away, but these were hidden by a ridge on the west. But before fall, the Vermillion prairie was pretty well dotted with houses, some fences were made, and considerable breaking done.

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History of Dakota County and the City of Hastings, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 71

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

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