History of Dakota County and the City of Hastings, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 77

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 77

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).

The Eagle steam saw-mill was built in 1857 by James R. Case, and contained one muley saw and two circular sash saws. The mill was operated. two or three years, then work was suspended and the machinery sold.

The Nininger City steam flouring mill, was built in 1858, by S. S. Eaton. The building was two and one-half stories. About three years after it was destroyed by fire and never rebuilt, as the enterprise was never a financial success.

NEWSPAPER.

The Emigrant Aid Journal was a weekly pub- lication, established in 1857 under the auspices of Donnelly and Nininger, with no less a jour- nalist and managing editor than A. W. McDonald of the "Scientific American." For two years the citizens of Nininger contributed a purse of $1,000 annually for its advancement and support. It flourished for something more than two years and at its death Mr. Lindergreen was manager.

CHURCHES.

Nininger city never had a building dedicated solely to religious exercises, but services were held in the council chamber, school-house, and other places. The first regularly located preacher was Rev. J. B. Hilton, of the Congregationalist society, and probably the only clergyman ever located here. Other preachers came occasionally and labored zealously, but no church was ever established.

The first, and so far as ascertained, the only practicing physician in the city was Dr. Robert Blakeley, brother of John Blakeley, and a man of rare attainments.

Charles E. Clarke was the principal real estate dealer and agent.

The first birth in Nininger city was a son of John S. Maley, born in 1856, and named Ignatius Donnelly Maley.

The post-office of Nininger was established in 1856, with Louis Favier as postmaster. In early days, it was an important office, with frequent arrivals of mail by steamboat. It is now reduced to an office of the fourth class, with semi-weekly mail from Hastings. Nearly all the inhabitants of the surrounding country receive their mail at Hastings.

Until 1859, the city of Nininger gave promise of becoming an established town of large pro- portions. Business was all that could be asked, new arrivals were constantly coming in, and a railroad was confidently looked for at an early day. But, in 1859, the dream of a railroad was dispelled, the newspaper collapsed, people began to lose confidence in the future prospects of the city, and one after another, they moved away until, in 1863, but few were left. Various causes were assigned for its decay. The buildings were all moved away, and now all that remains of this once busy town is a few farm-houses. The town plat, however, has never been vacated, and town lots are still owned by some of the original pro- prietors.

TOWN ORGANIZATION.

The first meeting for the election of town offi- cers was held at the National hotel, in the vil- lage, May 11th, 1858, with the following result: Mathew A. Miller, Charles Yeager and William J. Oliver, supervisors; Charles R. Knight, town clerk; Joseph Hawes, collector; Henry Hand, as- sessor; L. W. Gavett, overseer of roads; Daniel Purcell, justice of the peace; William Felton, overseer of poor; J. R. White, constable.

Supervisors and clerks for ensuing years:

1859-Ignatius Donnelly, Charles Yeager, J. Oliver; O. H. Corwin, clerk.

1860-A. Reed, W. J. Oliver, S. W. Truax; O. H. Corwin, clerk.

1861-Same board re-elected; Samuel Caleff, clerk.

1862-A. Reed, Fred Myers, S. W. Truax; George Wheeler, clerk.

1863-D. B. Truax. W. J. Oliver, John Calla- han; George P. Fish, clerk.

1864-A. C. Poor, John Callahan, Hugh Moore; George P. Fish, clerk.

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1865-A. Reed, Virgil Dyer, Stephen Cobb; J. A. Case, clerk.

1866-Stephen Cobb, Albert H. Truax, Wil- liam Jones; J. A. Case, clerk.

1867-Stephen Cobb, W. M. Poor, J. M. Bow- ler; J. A. Case, clerk.

1868-A. C. Poor, Edwin Poor, William Fel- ton; J. M. Bowler, clerk.

1869-S. Cobb, William Felton, Edwin Poor; J. M. Bowler, clerk.

1870-J. A. Case, Edwin Poor, William Fel- ton; J. M. Bowler, clerk.

1871-J. A. Case, P. F. Countryman, William Felton; J. M. Bowler, clerk.

1872-J. A. Case, H. D. Countryman, William Felton; P. F. Countryman, clerk.

1873-J. A. Case, William Felton, E. D. Stone; P. F. Countryman, clerk.

1874-J. A. Case, E. D. Stone, George E. Den- nis; George H. Mowry, clerk.

1875-6-Same board and clerk re-elected.

1878-J. A. Case, George E. Dennis, Edwin Poor; George H. Mowry, clerk.

1879-E. W. Felton, Jerome Hanna, R. G. Henion; George H. Mowry clerk.

1880-Robert Brownell, William Chamberlan, Austin Knapp; George H. Mowry, clerk.

1881-E. W. Felton, L. B. McCarriel, P. F. Countryman; George H. Mowry, clerk; R. G. Henion, assessor.

During the membership of Ignatius Donnelly as chairman of the town board of supervisors, in 1859, he resigned in order to accept the position of lieutenant-governor of the state. At a called meeting of the supervisors March, 9th, 1859, the town was laid off into three road districts and trustees appointed, March 22d, 1878, the pres- ent town hall, located on the north-east corner of section 24, with one acre of land, was purchased of Samuel Caleff, at a cost of $250.

Proceedings of board of supervisors during the war. March 12th, 1864, seventeen subscribers presented a petition for a special town meeting for the purpose of authorizing the supervisors to issue bonds for defraying the expense incurred in filling the quota of the town under the draft then existing. The meeting convened at the school- house, but as the citizens came forward promptly and subscribed the amount of money required, the subject of issuing bonds was not called up.

August 16th, same year, a petition was issued, calling for a special town meeting August 27th. The meeting was held, and by a vote, authorized the board of supervisors to issue bonds for eighteen and thirty month's time, bearing interest at ten per cent. in such sum as was would be required, for recruits to fill the quota of the town under the draft of September 5th. Another meeting was held March 4th, 1865, at which $2,000 bonds were authorized, to run one year at ten per cent. interest. Of this amount, only $1,334.75 was is- sued, this sum being sufficient to purchase the re- quired number of recruits.

SCHOOLS.

In conformity with a call issued by the chair- man of the board of supervisors, the citizens met at Good Templar's hall in Nininger city, October 30th, 1858, and organized school district number 44. A. Reed, A. C. Poor and George H. Mowry were elected trustees; J. H. Owen, clerk. This district included sections 18, 19, 30, 31, 13 and part of 24. Fifty dollars was voted for inciden- tal expenses; the first term was taught in the city council room by Miss Matherson. April 12th, 1859, on motion of Ignatius Donnelly, the dis- trict purchased the building known as Good Templars* hall, for a school-house, paying for it $200. October, 1860, the district was reduced in area, and changed to number 1. In October, 1862, the number was again changed to 37, the present number. The officers now are: H. Brow- nell, director; George H. Mowry, clerk; John Ahern, treasurer. This was once a large school; there are now about twenty scholars enrolled.

District number 24, school-house located on section 26, was organized October 2d, 1864, as sub-district number 3. A meeting was held at the house of Henry Sprague, and the following officers elected: Henry Sprague, William Hanna and A. Laidlow, trustees; P. F. Countryman, clerk. At an adjourned meeting held October 31st, $225, was voted to build a school-house. The same structure is still in use. Miss Rebecca Harris taught the first term of school. The present officers are: A. R. Knapp, director; L. B. McArriel. treasurer; W. H. Burt, clerk. The number of scholars enrolled is nineteen.

School district number 25, house located on the northern line of section 25, was organized in the

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fall of 1860, as sub-district number 2, under the direction of Levi N. Countryman, one of the five commissioners appointed by the authorities of the county, to examine and re-organize the public school districts of the county. As the early records of the district are lost, it is diffi- cult to ascertain with certainty who were the first officers. Mr. Countryman, however, remem- bers that Mary Wheeler, now of Northfield, was the first teacher employed. The officers serving in 1881 were: Edwin Poor, clerk; William Cham- berlain, director; Edway Cobb, treasurer. This district has a limited number of pupils.

The town of Nininger has three entire and two joint districts. Of the latter, number 32 is joint district with Marshan, the building located in that town, and number 35, joint with the town of Vermillion, school-house in the latter town.

CHURCHES.

The Spring Lake Methodist church, the only one in the town of Nininger, is located on the south-east corner of section 23, at the intersec- tion of the wagon-roads leading westward from Hastings and Nininger. The church society was organized about 1857 by Samuel W. Truax, Henry and P. F. Countryman, P. N. Fitch and a few other resident communicants of the Methodist church. The building now in use was moved in 1860 from the "city" where it had been erected for other purposes. The society held service reg- ularly until 1880, when the membership having decreased to a small number on account of re- movals, the organization was virtually aban- doned, and now only occasional services are held by itinerant evangelists. There is a small cem- etery near the place, used as a general burial ground by the community.

MILL.

The only mill now in existence in the town of Nininger, is the Spring Lake mill, located on Spring Lake creek in section 14. It was con- structed for a saw-mill by D. W. Truax and John Blakeley. They began work in the fall of 1854, and had the mill in operation the following March. The mill contained one muley saw, and was run by water-power. Logs were obtained from the booms at St. Paul. In 1856, the mill was pur- chased by Foote and Greenfield; in a short time, Foote sold his interest. The property next came

into the possession of A. R. Knapp, who con- verted it into a flouring and grist mill. Knapp sold to L. B. McCarriel, the present owner. The mill is furnished with two run of stone, and does a limited local business.

STATISTICS.

The total valuation of real and personal prop- erty in the town of Nininger in 1860, was $111, 390; in 1870, $95,961; in 1880, $134,034. The population of the township is 239, as shown by the returns of the last census.

SKETCHES OF EARLY SETTLERS.

John Nininger, for whom the town was named, was a brother-in-law of Governor Alexander Ramsey, and was born in Harrisburg, Pennsyl- vania. He came to St. Paul in 1855, and resided there a number of years. He removed to Ala- bama, after the war, and engaged in raising cotton. Died there some years ago.

Peter M. and Henry Caleff were natives of New Brunswick. Henry removed to California in the winter of 1858, and now resides at Los Angeles. Peter M. married Elizabeth Truax in 1854, removed to Los Angeles, California, about 1869, and now resides there.

Silas Poor came from Ohio, and returned to that state in 1854, where he died. He was a bachelor.

William W. Poor still resides on his original claim on section 20, engaged in farming. He is at present town treasurer.

John Bassett was born in New Hampshire, and came to Nininger in 1852. Now lives at Long Prairie, Todd county.

E. D. Stone came from Wisconsin to Nininger. Was a native of New York. In the spring of 1877, he removed to Renville county, Minnesota.

D. W. and D. B. Truax, biographical sketches elsewhere.

John Blakeley came from Canada, about 1852. He was a civil engineer and surveyor by profes- sion, and laid out the original village plat of Hastings. In company with D. W. Truax, he built the Spring Lake mill in 1853-4. Also built the steam saw-mill at Nininger city in 1856-7. While running the latter mill, he fell with his back upon a large revolving saw and was hurled some thirty feet with great violence. He escaped

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without serious injury. He removed to Stearns county, where he now resides, at Paynesville.

James A. Case, son of James R. Case, was born in Rhode Island, in 1838, and came to Nininger with his father in 1856. For many years be was chairman of the town board. In 1862, he mar- ried Mary A. Bottomly, and in 1879, removed to the western part of the state, and now resides at Montevideo.

Matthew A. Miller, the chairman of the first town board, was a native of Chambersburg, Penn- sylvania. He was a civil engineer, and among other work, surveyed and platted Donnelly, Case, Burns and Goldsmith's addition to Nininger city. In 1859, he located at Vicksburg, Missis- sippi, and was afterward prominent, as a Confed- erate engineer, in planning and constructing the defenses of that city. On the fall of that city he became a prisoner of war, and was seen by some Minnesotians at Camp Douglas, since which time nothing is known of him.

Anthony Reed, whose name was prominent in the political affairs of the township, was a native of Massachusetts, and came to Nininger in 1856. He died at Hastings in 1879.

Charles Yeager, member of the first town board, was born in Germany in 1820, and settled in Pennsylvania in 1838. Came to Nininger in 1856, and started the "Western" hotel, which he run until 1868. Is now a citizen of Hastings, where he runs the American house.

Charles E. Clarke, first recorder of Nininger city, came from the East in 1856, and opened a real estate agency. He did a thriving business during the prosperity of the city, and left about 1860.

George H. Mowry was born in Rhode Island in 1808. In 1840, moved to New Brunswick and came to Nininger in 1856. He still lives on the original village site, and is town clerk and clerk of school district No. 37. He married Miss An- nie E. Gardner in 1829, and in 1879, this couple celebrated their golden wedding.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

John Ahern was born in New York in 1856. He was raised on a farm, and has since followed agricultural pursuits. His mother now owns a farm in Nininger of 100 acres, of which he has charge.

William Bracht was born in 1837, in Germany. He lived on the farm with his parents until reaching manhood's estate, then came across the waters to America, proceeding from New York directly to Minnesota. He made his home in Nininger one year, then moved to Chop creek and took a claim of eighty acres, on which he lived, as a tiller of the soil, two years. Return- ing to Nininger, in 1862, he rented the farm where he now lives. His wife was Miss Jane Paul, whom he married in 1864. She is a native of Kentucky; has borne him seven children, three of whom are living: William A., Lizzie A. and Herman F.

H. M. Brownell, farmer and breeder of short- horn cattle from imported stock, was born at Hoosick Falls, New York, February 21st, 1851. He attended school until coming west to Dakota county, Minnesota, in 1863. For five years, he was farming with his father, then they opened a flour and feed store in Hastings, in which they continued until 1872. Going to St. Paul, they engaged in the picture-frame business, and in 1879, purchased their present farm in Nininger. Mr. Brownell was united in marriage with Miss Mary Shaft, May 8th, 1872. They have one daughter, Maud, born October 11th, 1874.

J. R. Case was born in Simsbury, Hartford county, Connecticut, October 10th, 1812. He was a farmer until going to New York city in 1835, where he engaged in mercantile trade four years. On account of declining health was again compelled to seek open air pursuits, and accord- ingly farmed in Rhode Island twelve years. Re- turning to New York city, he gave his attention to dealing in provisions, and in 1854, went to Indi- ana, where he was in the pork-packing business. Coming to Minnesota in 1856, he erected a large saw-mill, but soon after sold it, and in 1872, started his sons in the mercantile trade at Mon- tevideo. Mr. Case purchased a farm in Nininger and has added to it, now having three hundred and thirty acres, and one of the best farms in the township. Married in 1837, Elizabeth A. Wil- kinson, of Rhode Island, who has borne him eleven children, three of whom are living. The Wilkinson name dates back two hundred and fifty years; Mrs. Case's grandfather made the first wire and nails made in America, she also has

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a spoon made by her grandfather one hundred years ago.

P. F. Countryman was born in Jefferson county, New York, in 1829. When sixteen years of age, began farming and teaching school, which he continued eight years. Coming to Minnesota in 1855, he located at Hastings in the mercantile trade four years. He also made a claim of one hundred and twenty acres in Nininger, and has added to it by purchase, having at present a farm of three hundred acres. Moved to his farm in the fall of 1880. Married in 1849 to Miss E. Gleason, a native of St. Lawrence county, New York. Eleven children have been born to them, nine of whom are living. Mr. Countryman en- listed in the Second Minnesota Infantry, and was discharged on account of sickness, from the hos- pital at Alexandria, Virginia.

J. J. Sill, born in 1847, in Illinois. Was reared on a farm, and when twenty years of age moved to Waseca county, Minnesota, and engaged in the milling business seven years. He was obliged to leave the business just before completing his trade in consequence of ill-health. He came to Nininger in 1871, and purchased his present farm, and is engaged in agricultural pursuits, also in milling, occasionally. Married in 1878 to Flor- ence Cobb, a native of Maine. When living in the vicinity of the Winnebagoes they often list- ened to their yells and whoops during their scalp dances.

RANDOLPH.

CHAPTER LIX.

BOUNDARIES-SETTLEMENT- ORGANIZATION- CHURCHES -- MILL-BIOGRAPHICAL.

This town is situated in the southern part of Dakota county, and is bounded on the north by Castle Rock and Hampton, on the east by Good- hue county, and on the west by Sciota. It is

separated from Goodhue county, on the south, by the Cannon river, which flows through sections 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 18.

Chub creek also enters the town in section 7. Passing in an easterly direction, through that section and section 8. it takes a south-easterly course, and empties into the Cannon in the south- west quarter of section 9.

The surface of the town is principally rolling prairie. The soil being sandy in its nature, and with a sandy sub-soil.

The south-western portion of the town, along the banks of Chub creek, is well timbered, while in sections 2, 3 and 11, there is a range of high bluffs.

EARLY SETTLERS.

John Richmond came to this township in May, of 1854, from Rockford, Ill., where he had re- sided one year, working at his trade of stone- mason. He landed in Hastings, May 1st, having come by steamer from Dubuque, Iowa. After some land hunting, he chose the south-west quar- ter of section 9, for a permanent home. During the summer, Mr. Richmond secured a quantity of hay, and procured lumber with which to build him a house. He then went to Ohio for some stock, and returned late in the fall, with thirty cows. But a sad misfortune had visited him in his absence. The prairie fires had swept over the township and devoured his stores of hay and lumber.

Undiscouraged, and with the spirit of a genuine pioneer, he at once began to prepare a place for the reception of his family. He made an excava- tion sixteen feet square in the hill-side, and cut logs, out of which to construct a front and roof. The roof was covered with sods, and the front tightly chinked. A blanket served for a door, and a piece of cotton tacked over a hole, two feet square, constituted the only window.

Into this " home," which they called the " dug- out," Mr. Richmond moved his family the first of December. This little group consisted of one daughter, Rosetta, aged fourteen, and four sons, all younger. Miss Rosetta is said to have been the first white lady in the town. She lived in the "dug-out" six months, without seeing but one of her own sex.

Mr. Richmond's cattle subsisted through the winter, by browsing, except that eighteen of them

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were kept, a part of the season, by some one in Hastings.

The following summer a residence was built fo logs, on the hill, split logs being used for a roof. The roof leaked badly, however, and on extreme occasions an extra roof would be made of the bed, until that, too, succumbed to the watery element. The "dug-out" was occupied winters, for several years. In the fall of 1855, a door was made, and the cotton window gave place to one of glass.

It was here that the second marriage in the town was celebrated, that of Rosetta Richmond and David H. Morrill. They were married by Rev. J. R. Barnes, March 11th, 1857.

Richard Morrill settled in Randolph, in 1854, or at least located a claim here, in the fall of that year, on section 8. He came to Point Douglas in August, from Shullsburg, Wisconsin, and the following April. settled his family on the claim. The previous winter he had bought lumber at St. Paul, and erected a temporary hut, in the spring, which the family occupied until fall. A large frame house was then built, 20x32 feet.

On one occasion Mr. and Mrs. Morrill enter- tained twelve Sioux Indians for the night. They had two Chippewa scalps, over which they were rejoicing greatly; yet they were respectful and departed in due season. Mr. Morrill still lives on his original claim.

D. B. Hulbert came from Wisconsin, in May, 1855, and endeavored to locate on section 10. Finding that the land had another claimant, he made choice of the south-east quarter of section 9. Mr. Hulbert was a member of the first town board, and prominent in all the early town affairs. In 1864, he removed to California, and is now a resident of that state.

In May, 1855, Rev. Charles Curran settled on the south-east quarter of section 10. He started from Indiana with an ox team, the March previ- ous, and spent two weeks in Vermillion county, Illinois. On arriving at his claim, he built a log house 12x14 feet, using bark for a roof. Mr. Curran was identified with the religious interests of the town, having been connected with Metho- dist conferences, in Indiana. He preached the first sermon in the town, early in 1856. He lived in Randolph until 1864, when he became a resi- dent of Hampton. He died at Northfield, Sep-

tember 22d, 1868, while returning home from a journey.

George H. Brooks accompanied Rev. Mr. Cur- ran in 1855, and laid claim to the north east quarter of section 10. He held the office of town clerk for one year. In 1864, he removed to Hamp- ton, where he still lives.

Miles Patten also made a claim in the spring of 1855, embracing the south-west quarter of sec- tion 10. The following spring he sold his land to James Hassen. Mr. Patten is now a resident of Sciota.

Another settler of 1855, was Alfred Hardy, who made a claim partly on section 7, in Ran- dolph, and partly in Goodhue county. He built his house in Randolph. In the fall of 1857 he visited his old home in Merrimack county, New Hampshire, and never returned to this township except to dispose of his property. He was un- able to resist the attraction of the Granite bills, among which he had been reared.

James Jacobs, from Wisconsin, laid claim, in the spring of 1855, to the north-east quarter of section 8. In 1859 he removed to California, and died there in 1865.

Noah H. Kendall, from Hampshire county, Massachusetts, made a claim of the south-east quarter of section 11. This was also in 1855, but he resided in Cannon Falls, Goodhue county, until 1857. The Kendall family lived in Ran- dolph until July, 1878, when they returned to Cannon Falls.

In the fall of 1855, Samuel Eddy, from Ohio. settled on the north-west quarter of section 7. He was identified with the early politics of the town, and served as first assessor. After a few years be removed to his present home in Sparta, Wisconsin.

Robert Mings, from Beloit, Wisconsin, located in section 3, on land now owned by John Hurley. In 1859, he married Miss Mary, daughter of James Bell, an early settler of Marshan. Mr. Mings lived in the township several years, when he removed to Marshan. He died there, of small - pox, during the "big storm" of January, 1873.

J. S. Sheppard came from New York state and settled in the north-west quarter of section 11. He was elected to two positions at the first town election. He remained in Randolph several years.

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Joseph Daniels, of St. Paul, made a claim in section 1. He never lived here, but had 100 acres of the land broken, in the summer of 1855. He continued to hold it until 1860, when he sold it to a Mr. Armstrong, also of St. Paul.

Ara Barton came here in the fall of 1855 from New York state. Being a brother-in-law of Mr. Daniels, he took charge of his Randolph prop- erty. Mr. Barton was the first chairman of the town board. In 1863, he enlisted and was cap- tain of Company D, of Brackett's Independent Battalion. After the war, he removed to North- field, and at present is the sheriff of Rice county, with a residence at Faribault.

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History of Dakota County and the City of Hastings, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 77

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

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