USA > Minnesota > Dakota County > History of Dakota County and the City of Hastings, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota > Part 83
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A. J. Kibbe was born at Otis, Massachusetts, in 1816. When four years old, went to New York, remaining until the age of seventeen, then returned to his native state. In 1852, came west to Wisconsin, thence to Minnesota three years later. He located at that time a claim in Sciota, on which he has since resided. Mr. Kibbe has been three times married; his first wife was Miss Melinda Braymer, who died, leaving him five children: Delia, Olive, Franklin, Wallace and John. His second was Miss Lucinda Jayne, married in 1852, and four years later she passed away. Mrs. Martha Amsden, widow of G. A. Amsden, became his wife in 1857, she being the parent of four children.
Hiram F. Kleeberger was born in Illinois in 1851, and moved, with his parents, to Sciota when four years old. In 1876, he purchased his present farm. His wife was Miss Georgia Van Voras, of Red Wing, whom he married in 1878. Two children have been born to them. Olive M. and Josephine.
James Law, a native of Scotland, was born in 1836, and came across the ocean to Canada in 1843, proceeding to the states the next year. He located at Sciota, then pre-empted a farm on which his mother lives, he, however. owns one adjoining. Engaging in agricultural pursuits until 1873, he then removed to Northfield and opened a general merchandise store, where he still continues in business. Married at Sciota, in 1865, to Miss Elizabeth Mason, of Castle Rock, Dakota county. She is a native of Belle- ville, Canada, born in 1840. They have one child, George.
R. Madigan was born in Ireland in 1831, and came to America in 1844, settling in Massachu- setts. In 1861 he came to Minnesota, and pur- chased his present farm in Sciota, in 1875. His wife was Miss Mary Murphy, whom he mar- ried in 1856. Nine children have been born to them: Mary A., Margaret, Johanna, Matthew J., Edward B., Patrick Henry and Jane A. Agnes died at the age of nine years, and is buried in Minneapolis. A. C. has also passed away.
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HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY.
Alex. McCulloch was born in Scotland, in 1817. Came to Canada in 1834, and two years subse- 'quently to Wisconsin, living there six years. Thence to Iowa for five years, and came to Min- nesota in 1855. Locating in Sciota, he pre- empted the farm on which he now lives. In Wisconsin, in 1849, he married Miss Sarah A. Mc Waters. They have had nine children; the living are: John F., of Yellow Medicine county, Minnesota; James, Mary, wife of James Hunter; Sarah, wife of Alvin Miller; Isabelle, Alex. and Annie. David and Ellen have passed away.
A. W. Riddell was born in Canada, June 6th, 1837. When eighteen years old, he visited differ- ent cities in the province, then went to Chicago where he lived four years, following his trade as engineer and machinist. In April, 1857, he came to Hastings, Dakota county, and during the next winter, in company with his cousin, went to Fari- bault county, with a portable steam saw-mill, remaining until the spring of 1859. During the first three months their only food was potatoes, pork and turnips, as nothing else could be ob- tained there at that time. Returning to Canada, in 1859, he married Miss Jane Rankin of Prescott, Ontario. In 1863 he returned to Minnesota, bringing his family with him, and settled in Sci- ota on his present fine farm. Has been justice of the peace four years, chairman of board of supervisors four years, and a member of the school board ten years. His wife died at their home in Sciota, May 13th, 1878. Their children are, Laura, born in Merrickville, Canada, now wife of M. C. Black, of Waterford, and M. Ella, who lives at home. Married his present wife Miss A. M. Heard in 1880.
Ebenezer Slocum is a native of the "Empire" state, born in 1832. He lived there until 1855, then came to Sciota and pre-empted the farm on which he now lives. Married in 1854 to Miss L. Sackett, who was born in New York in 1836. Two children have been born to them, William K., now of Minneapolis and Sarah M.
E. M. Walbridge was born in 1856 in Wiscon- sin, and came to Minnesota with his parents. They lived in Sciota ten years, then went to Goodhue county. Mr. Walbridge purchased his present desirable farm in 1873. Married Miss Emma Whitson, a native of Canada, in 1873. They have two children, Vance and Leo T.
Job W. Wallace was born in Canada in 1847. Here he passed his childhood days, and in 1879, came to the United States, locating in Sciota. At that time he purchased a farm, and has since continued in agricultural pursuits. Miss Anna E. Booth, born in Canada in 1852, became his wife in 1871. Ethel E. I. and Charlotte M. W. are their children.
R. W. Whitson, a native of Canada, was born in 1850. Came to Granville, Goodhue county, Minnesota, in 1857, and was engaged with his father in the Granville mill until 1877. He then removed to Hampton, Dakota county, remaining three years, coming thence to Sciota. Married in 1873, Miss Ida Bullock, who has borne him two children, D. A. and Minnie M.
John E. Wilson was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, in 1840. Here he remained until reaching the age of eighteen, then came to Minnesota and located on his present farm in Sciota, which he bought at that time. Married August 31st, 1865, Jennie M. Daniels, daughter of George Daniels of Sciota. They have no children. Mr. Wilson enlisted in Company F, Eighth Minnesota Regiment, in 1861, serving until mustered out in 1865. He was a member of the board of supervisors two years, also jus- tice of the peace two years.
Thomas Wilson was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, in 1831, and lived there until coming to Minnesota in 1855. He first settled in Rice county, but in 1857 removed to Sciota. Remaining until 1864, he returned to Rice county and purchased a farm just across the Sciota line, where he still lives. Married in 1867, Miss Ann Couper, who was born in St. Lawrence county, New York. Five children have been born to them: Herbert C., now in the Cincinnati observa- tory; Elma Y. and Edna B., twins, now at Carle- ton college; John W. and Elizabeth MI.
I. D. Wilson was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, in 1849. In 1859, came with parents to Sciota township, and settled on section 11, where I. D. now lives. He was married in 1872, Miss Emma R. Wheeler, of Indiana. She died June 18th, 1880, and was buried in Water- ford. They had two children, Laura B. and Ida May. Mr. Wilson was a member of the town board for two years, a county commissioner three years, and is at present justice of the peace.
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VERMILLION-SETTLEMENT.
VERMILLION.
CHAPTER LXIII.
DESCRIPTION -SETTLEMENT-ORGANIZATION- SCHOOLS -CHURCHES - VILLAGE -- COUNTY POOR FARM-EMPIRE MILL-BIOGRAPHICAL.
This township is located near the center of Da- kota county, and is bounded on the north, by the towns of Rosemount and Nininger, on the east, by Marshan, on the south, by Hampton, and on the west, by Empire. Congressional township 114, north, of range 18, west of the fifth princi- pal meridian, was designated as Vermillion at the meeting of the first board of county com- missioners on April 6th, 1858. The name was given it from the Vermillion river, which flows diagonally from the west side of the township to the north-east corner. A branch called the Little Vermillion flows from the town of Castle Rock and forms a junction with the main stream in the southern part of section 20, Vermillion township.
This, like the adjoining towns, has no lakes, but the river flowing through so large a portion, drains the town sufficiently.
This is pre-eminently a prairie town, there be- ing no natural timber, with the exception of some small groves in the south part, within its limits. Enterprising farmers, have, however, set out groves around their homes, which relieves the monotonous look of prairie land, and gives the landscape a varied appearance.
The surface is gently rolling or undulat- ing. The soil is good, the best land being on or near the knolls; along the river it is sandy. The township contains thirty-six sections, and as there are no meandered lakes, there are 23,040 acres of land within its limits.
SETTLEMENT.
The first settlers in this township came in the spring of 1854. At that time, Moses Cole, his wife and three children, two of whom, Cooper A. and Mary, were born in Yorkshire, England, and John, in Detroit. Michigan, settled on the
north-west quarter of section 12. With Cole were his two brothers, John and William, who together took the south half of section 11. John Cole pre-empted his 160 acres, but William sold his in the spring of 1855, for $700, ten acres be- ing broken. The three Coles, Moses, John and William, each had a yoke of oxen, but to gain time put the oxen together in one team, and broke ten acres on each of the claims, in the sum- mer of 1854.
Samuel Brown, Robert J. Smith and Alex. Mc- Kay, settled in the eastern part of the town in 1854, and were the first settlers in that portion. Andrew Warsop came in the fall of 1854, and staked out a claim of 160 acres on section 11, then returned to Detroit, Michigan, for his family, the neighbors watching his claim in the meantime to prevent it being jumped. In the spring of 1855, he returned with his wife and three children and pre-empted his claim. He was the first settler of 1855. He had a house of one and one-half stories nearly completed, when, on June 7th, it was swept away by a hurricane, together with twenty other houses in the track of the storm. This is remembered by the "old set- tlers" as the most severe storm that ever passed over this region, during its occupancy by white men.
The first houses built in the town were those of the Cole brothers, located on the banks of the Vermillion river, in 1854. Moses Cole built a frame house 13x24 feet, and one and one-half stories high. William built a house of the same dimensions as that of his brother Moses. while John built a log house 16x20. The hurricane of June 7th unroofed the latter struc- ture, took the roof and two tiers of the logs, which were fastened together, and carried it some rods, leaving the astonished inmates at the mercy of the wind, rain and flying timbers.
Joseph Barker, son of John Barker, pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres, the south-west quarter of section 15, in 1855, and built a log house 16x20. J. HI. Roway settled on the north- west quarter of section 10, and built a house soon after. William Greig pre-empted the north-east quarter of section 14, and George Ball the, north- west quarter of the same section. Robert Bar- rington selected the south-east quarter of section
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HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY.
25. John Hetherly pre-empted the south-east quarter of section 10.
The first birth in the town was a daughter, Har- riet, to Moses Cole and wife, in the fall of 1854. The child had very fair complexion and fiery red hair. She was the cause of great wonder among the Indians, who could not understand why her hair should be red. They brought the Indian women and papooses to view the white maiden and to feel of its hair, which they sometimes washed with soap and water to see if it was painted. At the age of four years Harriet was drowned in the Vermillion river.
The first death that occurred in the town was a daughter of J. D. Searles, who died in 1857, at the age of sixteen years. This death caused a general feeling of regret throughout the whole of the small community.
On January 11th, 1859, the first marriage in the town was celebrated. The contracting parties were Martin Ennis and a daughter of Robert Bar- rington. They are now living in Nebraska.
An incident of a serious nature occurred to Moses and John Cole, who each lost by prairie fire, ten acres of wheat. This in those early days was a loss of some magnitude and one they could scarcely afford to bear.
Settlers came in slowly after 1855, for several years, then the influx was greater and Vermillion was rapidly settled. The more desirable farms were soon taken, and improvements of a substan- tial character were seen on every hand. This town now ranks among the most prosperous of this county. The population, by the census of 1880, is 819. In 1860 the assessed valuation of property in the town was $89,266; in 1870, $182,194; in 1880, $343,040. This shows shows an increase in pro- portion to the population rarely if ever equalled.
ORGANIZATION.
The first meeting for the organization of the town and the election of officers was held at John Cole's cabin, on April 5th, 1858. The officers elected were: A. H. Norris, Moses Cole and Samuel Brown, supervisors; Andrew Warsop, clerk; R. C. Dawson, assessor; Daniel Cadwell and William Greig, justices of the peace; W. E. Jones, constable. About thirteen votes were cast.
The chairmen of the board of supervisors and
the years in which they served: A. H. Norris, 1858; A. Warsop, 1859; R. C. Dawson, 1860-1; H. Pettibone, 1862; R. Densmore, 1863; O. H. Chamberlain, 1864; George Barbaras, 1865-6-7; John Mills, 1868; James Bennett, 1869; John Callaghan, 1870-1-2-7; M. Siebender, 1873-4-5-6; Louis Niedere, 1878-9-80-1. The number of legal voters in the town in 1881 was about 210.
At a meeting of the town board of supervisors 1859, three road districts were formed. At a meeting held at the town clerk's July 5th, 1859, the board voted a tax of ten cents on each one hundred dollars worth of taxable real estate, for roads.
June 22d, 1858, the Vermillion board met the supervisors of Hampton for the purpose of laying out a road, running east and west on the line be- tween the towns. The next road was laid out in 1860, and ran east and west between Vermil- lion and Nininger. In 1861, the road running east and west through the town, known as the Barker and Warsop road, was legalized. Some trouble was experienced in getting this road through, as it divided Barker's farm, leaving eighty acres on each side of the road. Every- thing moved smoothly until the road came to Barker's place, and he opposed itso violently that he would allow none to cross his land. In retal- iation, the road builders put up a fence across the road, as it then stood, so that Barker could not get to Hastings, this being the only road. Barker and Alex. Mckay broke down the barricade and were met by the party breaking the road. Dur ing the struggle ensuing, one man was knocked down with a hammer and another cut severely on the face with a spade. But to use the ex- pression of an old settler, "the road was put through all the same." In the summer of 1859, a bridge was built across the Vermillion river at the crossing of the road in section 11. It was a wooden truss, built by the people living in that locality, under the supervision of Mr. Warsop. Material for the bridge was furnished by the neighbors. This was the first bridge built in the town, and previous to its construction, people were obliged to ford the river at the most conven- ient place, which was difficult at times, on ac- count of high water. This was known for a number of years as Warsop's bridge. The next
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VERMILLION-SCHOOLS.
bridge was built in 1860, over the Vermillion, and was known as Dean's bridge.
SCHOOLS.
The first school held in the town of Vermillion, was in John Cole's log cabin, in 1856 or '57. The teacher was William Chapman, a native of New York. The officers of the district, known at that time as number 14, were: Moses Cole, William Greig and James Osterout, trustees: Andrew Warsop, clerk.
The first school-house was built in 1861, on the south-west corner of section 11. The plan was designed by Andrew Warsop. The building was a frame structure 20x30 feet, and was in use for a number of years, as a house of worship by the Episcopalians. Rev. T. Wilcoxson came out occa- sionally in the early times, and preached to the citizens. The school-house is still used for church services. District number 14 was changed to number 35, and the old school-house sold. In 1869, a new building was erected in the north- east quarter of section 10. This was a frame structure, 20x30 feet. The teacher was George A. Powell. In 1869, the district was divided and a new one, number 89, was formed, as the people on the south side of the Vermillion river had difficulty in getting their children over the river at certain seasons of the year.
District number 89 was organized with the fol- lowing officers: William Dickinson, director; W. F. Martin, clerk; G. E. Denis, treasurer. The land for the school-house was donated, on the south-west quarter of section 12, January, 1870. The school-house was built soon after. In the spring of 1879, this house was destroyed by fire, supposed to have originated from a spark from a passing locomotive. In the fall of that year, the district built a brick school-house on the south- west quarter of section 14. The board of officers for the present year are: C. P. Adams, director; John Cockbairn, treasurer; H. Potter, clerk,
District number 94, was organized in October, 1873, by the election of John Bruer, director; Thomas Redican, clerk; Nicholas Reiter, trea- surer. In the fall of that year, the district erected a school-house 24x80 feet on the south- west quarter of section 16. Miss M. McNamara taught the first term. The number of pupils average about fifty. Present board of officers:
John Therres, director; Thomas Redican, clerk; Nicholas Reiter, treasurer.
In 1858, a district was organized jointly by the people of Vermillion and Marshan. The officers were: Joseph Bell, director; William Cox, clerk; Robert Barrington, treasurer. Proceedings were instituted for procuring the material for a school-house, but the people living on the Ver- million side, decided to have a district of their own, and accordingly in 1859, called a special meeting organizing district number 34, with John Kuhn, clerk; O. H. Chamberlain, director; Robert Barrington, treasurer. They built a school-house on the south-east quarter of section 25, which was soon after moved to the south-west quarter of the same section. In 1874, this building was sold for $40, and a new one erected the same year. The present officers of the district are: P. Gretten, director; John Reuter, clerk; John N. Girgen, treasurer.
School district number 36, was organized in the spring of 1863, by the election of E. R. Ackley, director; John Finican, clerk; Edward Bennett, treasurer. The first school was held at the house of E. R. Ackley, and afterwards at other private houses in the district, with Miss Conner as teacher, until 1869, when they decided to build a school- house. It was located on the north-west quarter of section 9, and was a frame building. In De- cember, 1880, the building was moved to the south-east quarter of section 5, where it is now located. Mary Casserly and Ellen Murnane, teachers.
School district number 37 was organized in 1863, with J. J. Brown, director; H. H. Barbour, clerk; George Barbaras, treasurer. School was held in a granary belonging to George Barbaras. It was a frame building, and covered with hay; a board was taken out, the aperture serving as a window. At the start there were but three or four scholars, with Mary Hawkins as teacher the first summer. They soon after builta temporary shanty on George Hampton's farm in section 33. In 1865 the frame school-house was built on the south-west quarter of section 27, which has since been in use. The officers of the district at present are A. Longfield, director; John Zein, clerk; and Henry Dries, treasurer.
School district number 38, was organized among the first in the township, in 1858. Mr. Humes
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HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY.
was director, Randall Densmore, clerk, and Joseph Felton, treasurer. The first school occu- pied a log cabin owned by Mr. Morrison; Sarah Hawkins was teacher. In 1860 they built a small house on section 31, which was in use ten years, when the district built the school-house on the north-west quarter of section 31. The man on whose land the old building stood. claimed it, and as the deed was lost, nothing could be done but let him take it. The present officers of the district are: C. Klotz, director; C. Becker, clerk; Hans Gasman, treasurer.
CHURCHES.
The first religious services were held in John Cole's log cabin, in 1856, by a local preacher. These services were a source of great satisfaction to the early settlers, as they had been deprived of church privileges for some time. The first school-house was also used as a house of worship, the Rev. T. Wilcoxson, of Hastings, holding ser- vices for the Episcopals there. School-house in district No. 35 is now used by this society.
Catholic services were were first held in Ver- million in 1869, the Rev. Father Halton officiating priest. The congregation met in a school-house, but as it rapidly increased in numbers, they de- termined to build a church, and in accordance with this plan, a meeting was held in the school- house in 1872, at which $2,000 was raised for the prosecution of the work. In 1873, they secured two acres of land on the north-east quarter of section 8, and the contract for the building was let to James Sutliff for $2,800. As this left a de- ficit of $800. the society held a picnic in July. 1873, at which the whole of the sum required was raised, and the work was soon after pushed to completion. Six months after the parish decided to build, the church was completed, and one year later was entirely free from debt. The church is a Gothic structure, 24x56, with a height of six- teen feet inside. February 5th, 1874, the church was dedicated and placed under the patronage of St. Agatha, as on that day the feast of that saint was solemnized. Father Halton had charge of the church until 1879, since which time Rev. J. R. Hermon, of Inver Grove, has had charge.
St. Agatha cemetery. In 1875, one and one- half acres of the church property was laid out for a cemetery, by Andrew Keegan, county surveyor.
It is designed for a Catholic cemetery, and there have been about twenty-five interments.
VILLAGE OF VERMILLION.
The village of Vermillion is situated in the center of the township, on the line between sec- tions 15 and 22. In 1866, the Hastings and Da- kota railroad was completed to Farmington. This road takes a course diagonally across the town- ship from north-east to south-west. There was no station in the town, but the railroad company placed a platform for the accommodation of the people, and trains made regular stops. The first building erected was the blacksmith-shop of Peter Fishler, built in 1873, on the south-east quarter of section 15. He ran one fire; the build- ing is now used for a barn.
The same year, Nicholas Klutz built a house on the north-east quarter of section 22. Jacob Randler also put up a residence and blacksmith- shop on the north side of Main street. The third building is a dwelling and shoe-shop, occupied by Henry Weber. Next is a meat-market, kept by Caspar Geering, then a frame house in which Henry Pfeffer runs a saloon. There is also another saloon conducted by G. Krausen. The only hotel in the place is that kept by Michael Kerst, built in 1874, on section 22. The build- ing was formerly used for a general store, by Michael Heinen and Felix Gats. About six months after opening business, they moved the building on to section 15, about one hundred feet from its original location. Soon after, Gats sold his interest to Joseph Ard, and one year later Heinan sold to M. Kerst. The firm of Kerst and Ard continued one year, and in 1877, Joseph Sausen bought out Ard, and the new firm added to the original building, making it the present size, 35x45 feet, and two-stories high. It has six rooms. In 1878, Mr. Sausen re- tired from the firm and Mr. Kerst has since con- ducted the business alone. In connection with the hotel, he has a general store. The building adjoining is a blacksmith shop, run by Peter Fishler, who has his residence in the next build- ing. To the west of this is the frame building occupied by Frank Brennan, who keeps a saloon. Next is the building used by Jacob Sausen as general store and harness shop, built in 1879. On
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VERMILLION-POOR FARM-EMPIRE MILL.
the south side of the street is the residence of Nicholas Klutz and the town hall. .
Vermillion post-office was established in 1874, through the instrumentality of Major Kennedy, postmaster at Hastings, and Nicholas Klutz re- ceived the appointment of postmaster. The of- fice is in his house. Previous to the establish- ment of this office, the inhabitants of the town received their mail at Hastings, Rosemount and Hampton.
The Vermillion elevator is located on the north half of section 22, and was erected in 1875, by Mr. Stowell. It is a wood building 16x40 feet, one and one-half-stories high, and has a capacity for five thousand bushels of grain. The grain is elevated by horse-power. The same price is paid here as at Hastings, and farmers save time by bringing their wheat to this elevator from which it is shipped over the Hastings and Dakota railroad. In 1876, the elevator was sold to Adam Reiger, who run it until 1880, when it was leased by Kellogg and Lange, the present proprietors. Mr. Westfall is in charge of the business. Near the building is the platform which serves the rail- road in place of a depot.
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