History of Dakota County and the City of Hastings, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 84

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

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The village of Vermillion was incorporated by an act of the legislature approved February 27th, 1881. This act was passed through the efforts of General Adams. The plat includes the south half of section 15 and the north half of section 22. General Adams, Michael Kerst and Gilles Krausen were designated by the act of incorpo- ration to carry into effect the organization, which was done by the election of the following officers: H. Potter, P. Fishler, H. Pfeffer, trustees; Joseph Sausen, recorder; Caspar Geering, justice of the peace; Frank Brennan, marshal.

The Auburn elevator is located on the north- west quarter of section 30, near the town line, where the railroad has a platform. It is about four and one-half miles west of the Vermillion elevator, and was built by D. S. Balch in 1873. It is 20x40 feet, two stories high, with a capacity of 10,000 bushels. In the spring of 1879, it was sold to William Thompson, who still owns it, although at present it is not running.

COUNTY POOR FARM.

In 1880 the county commissioners decided to locate the county poor farm in the town of Ver-

million, and accordingly purchased of William Thompson, of Hastings, a farm of eighty acres, for which the sum of $3,377.50 was paid. This farm is in the north-west quarter of section 30, and has a substantial two-story frame building to which an addition has been made at an ex- pense of $600. The original building contained five rooms on the ground floor and the same num- ber above. The addition has three rooms below and two above. When first occupied there were but three inmates; there are now thirteen, among them an old English woman, Maria Nightingale, who has reached the age of 105 and is still able to be about.

EMPIRE MILL.

This mill was built in 1877, by John Becker, and is situated on the east bank of the Vermillion river, in the south-west quarter of section 29 The fine water-power is here used to advantage by Mr. Becker, who built a dam of wood and stone, eighty-five feet long and twelve feet high. The water set back by the dam forms a small lake about a mile in length, with an average depth of thirteen feet. The mill is a frame structure, three stories high on a basement of stone, and is in size 24x40 feet. The power is furnished by a Leffel wheel under a head of thirteen feet. In the basement is the cleaning and separating ap- paratus. On the first floor is a flour chest with a capacity of ten barrels, and two run of stone, one three and the other three and one-half feet in di- ameter. There is also a small run of buhrs, six- teen inches in diameter. The second floor con- tains a bolting chest, capable of bolting from eight to ten barrels an hour, and a middlings purifier with a capacity of 200 barrels. The third floor is used for storage and has room for 3,000 bushels of grain. This mill has an extensive pat- ronage from the farmers of the surrounding country and gives general satisfaction.

MURDER OF THOMAS CALLAGHAN.

On the evening of Saturday, August 26th, 1876. occurred a most atrocious crime, one that startled the people of Vermillion. This was the murder of Thomas Callaghan, a well known citizen and prosperous farmer. The crime was committed on the line between Vermillion and Rosemount, on what is known as the Hastings and Crystal lake road. Callaghan was engaged in running a

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thresher, and had in his employ two brothers, John and Joseph Bird; wishing to reduce his force of workmen he discharged these two. In settle- ment with them be displayed a considerable sum of money, which he carried on his person, and thus aroused their cupidity. They resolved to possess the money and accordingly lay in wait for him as he was going to his home in the even- ing. His workmen, with the horses, excepting the team he drove, preceded him some time. His family were not much concerned at his not reach- ing home, as they supposed he had gone to Rose- mount, as he frequently did. As he did not come, a search was instituted and he was found in the road, about one and one-half miles from his home, near the residence of his brother, John Callaghan, with a bullet hole in his forehead and other marks of violence. They carried him to his brother's house, where he died in the afternoon, remaining unconscious from the time he was dis- covered.

An inquest was held, and the jury returned a verdict that the deceased came to his death at the hands of parties unknown. He was buried in Inver Grove cemetery the following day, his fu- neral cortege being the largest ever known in the county. Search was at once commenced for the perpetrators of the crime, and the Bird brothers were arrested in Minneapolis and taken to Hast- ings, where one of them confessed the deed. The elder brother died in jail before the trial, and the other, pleading guilty, escaped the gallows, and was sentenced to the penitentiary for life, where he is now serving a just punishment for the atro- cious crime.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

General Charles Powell Adams, M. D., is of Scotch-English and German descent. His family can be traced back to the days of William the Con- querer. In 1643, one of his paternal ancestors came over to Virginia from England. His grandfather on his father's side served in the war of the revo- lution, under Washington, and lived till past ninety years old. General Adams' paternal grand- mother was of an old German family. On the maternal side, General Adams' grandfather was a Scotchman. The family were soon scattered after coming to America. His parents are Wil- liam and Nancy Adams, both of whom are living, he being their oldest son. The general was born

in Rainsburgh, Bedford county, Pennsylvania, March 3d, 1831. After receiving a liberal edu- cation at the public schools, and at Bedford Academy, in Coshocton county, Ohio, when eighteen years of age, he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. W. R. Waddell of West Bed- ford. After remaining with Dr. Waddell one year, he became a student of Drs. Conneley and Pierce, in Amity, Knox county, Ohio, and then took a course in the Ohio Medical college, gradu- ating in 1851. The next year, he began the prac- tice of medicine in Waymansville, Bartholomew county, Indiana. His health becoming injured from over-work and the malaria of the climate, being compelled to seek a healthier residence, he removed to Hastings, Minnesota. This city was for many years his residence, and is yet his head- quarters, though for some time past he has made his home on a fine farm in Vermillion township. In 1856. although but twenty-five years of age, General Adams was elected a member of the ter- ritorial legislature, and was appointed chairman of the committee on corporations, which, on ac- count of the rapidly increasing railroad legisla- tion and the extensive government grants of land, was made an important part of the legisla- ture. In addition to his professional duties, the doctor assumed editorship of the Hastings Demo- crat, and continued it until the firing on Fort Sumter, April 14th, 1861, when he at once en- listed as a private, but in the choice of officers was elected captain of Company H, First Regi- ment Minnesota Volunteers, which was mus- tered into service on the 29th of the same month. He was in every battle, from the first Bull Run to Gettysburg, and was an unusual sufferer from wounds. His first wound was a slight one in the left arm, was received July 21st, 1861; the next, a severe one in the left groin, at Malvern Hill, July 1st, 1862; at Antietam, September 17th, 1862, severely, in the left shoulder; at Gettys- burg, July 2d, 1863, six times, through the left cheek and left lung, in the groin, in the left thigh, breaking the femur, and one in the abdo- men. He was left for dead on the field, but found and cared for by his comrades. Was at first taken to the hospital at Littlestown, and thence to Baltimore, Maryland. For eighteen months a crutch was necessary to enable him to walk, and, as relics of the conflict, he car-

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ries in his body two bullets and one buckshot. September 26th, 1862, he was appointed major, for meritorious conduct on the 6th of May, 1863, lieutenant colonel and colonel, March 13th, "for faithful services during the war." He was again promoted to the rank of brevet-major-general, March 18th, 1865, "for meritorous ser- vices," which are recounted in the com- mission. The recommendation to Presi- dent Lincoln, is signed by every officer of the division in which General Adams served. General George G. Meade, in a personal note to the adjutant-general of the United States, called his "particular attention to the unusually high testimonials in favor of this officer." In his re- port of the battle of Gettysburg, Major-General Winfield S. Hancock gave the old Minnesota First and their gallant officers, including Lieu- tenant-Colonel Adams, great credit for their achievements. Afterwards, at Cold Harbor, Vir- ginia, June 10th, 1864, General Hancock wrote, referring to General Adams, "I desire to call the attention of the provost marshal-general, to the fact that this is a distinguished officer. He won great renown at Gettysburg, and is so referred to in my official report of that action." General Adams was in the service after the close of the war, and was placed in command of the third sub-district of Minnesota, with headquarters at Fort Abercrombie, Dakota territory. In Janu- ary, 1866, he commanded a corps of cavalry and artillery, which was sent against the hostile Sioux; a deep snow covered the ground at the time and the thermometer ranged from thirty to forty-five degrees below zero. Although the command suffered severely from frost, the expe- dition was a success, and demonstrated the prac- ticability of a winter campaign. The general was mustered out of service July 16th, 1866,and at once returned to Hastings, where he has since success- fully engaged in the practice of medicine. In April, 1872, he was elected mayor of the city, but declined re-election. In 1869-70, he was an ac- tive associate of Dr. Willey, and others in organ- izing the Minnesota State Medical Society, and he has been honored with nearly all of the offices within its gift. He was a member of the Amer- ican Medical Association, San Francisco, in 1871, and at subsequent meetings at Chicago, Buffalo, and New York city; at the latter meeting he was

secretary of the section in surgery. General Adams is also a member of the Dakota County Medical Society, and an honorary member of the Califor- nia State Medical Society, a member and ex-pres- ident of the Rocky Mountain Medical Society. In 1878, he was elected a member of the state senate from Dakota county, for a term of four years. General Adams was married in February, 1852, at Waymansville, Indiana, to Mary Flor- ence, daughter of Rev. Alvin Buxton, of that town. She died in October, 1858, leaving two children, who are yet living; Flora J. and W. H., who is now a member of the Hastings bar. In November, 1873, the general was married to to Mary S. Pettibone, of Vermillion.

Charles Barrington, father of Robert Barring- ton, was born in Catskill county, New York, in 1776. Married to Esther Davis in 1798. He died in 1881. At the good old age of one hun- dred and three years, she passed away, having retained her youthful appearance to a remarka- ble degree, as she never wore glasses neither had a decayed tooth. They had thirteen children, two of whom died.

Robert Barrington was born in 1819, in Cayuga county, New York, and was reared as a farmer. When twenty years of age, he came to Burling- ton, Calhoun county, Michigan, and there en- gaged in agricultural pursuits fifteen years. In 1854, came to Hastings and is one of the oldest settlers. He pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres in Vermillion, living one year in a log shanty 12x14 feet, which had no floor except that which mother earth afforded, and the moon shone in through the airy roof. He then bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section 11, where he now lives. Married Lydia J. Wether- ell in 1839. They have six children living: Lucy, Louisa, Myron, James, Clarissa J., Duane and William. These good people are always kind and hospitable, having many times entertained strangers. In 1858, Mr. Barrington was elected the first school treasurer.

Sarah Bennett, nee Morgan, was born in Ire- land, and came to America in 1848. Her husband, Bernard Bennett died in 1854, in Rockland county, New York. Edward Bennett, their son, is a native of Ireland. Came to America with his parents in 1848, to Falls River, Massachu- setts, and to Hastings, Minnesota, in 1856. He

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worked as a carpenter five years and located on the Bennett property in section 9,in 1861. He was town treasurer two years. Married in 1870, to Mary A. Gee, who has borne him two children: Sarah and Margaret. Thomas Bennett, also a native of Ireland, is a resident of Traverse county. Owen Bennett, born in Ireland, is a res- ident of Vermillion. Torrence Bennett was born at Fall River, Massachusetts, April 26th, 1848. Removed with his parents to Rockland county, New York, when a small child. With his broth- ers, be owns the largest farm in Dakota county. The farm consists of over one thousand five hundred acres, and is all under cultivation, and tilled by the Bennett brothers.

Joseph Bottomly was born in La Fayette county, Wisconsin, in 1843. He was engaged in the lead mines with his father for some time, then came to Minnesota in 1857. Made his home in Nininger four years, engaged in different occupa- tions. Enlisted in Company F, Seventh Minne- sota, and after serving in his country's defense three years, was discharged at Fort Snelling. He then gave his attention to lumbering for five years, finally located in Vermillion, and rented a farm in sections 10 and 15, where he has since lived. His wife was Miss Mary Fisher, married in 1870. She is a native of England, and has borne him four children: Sarah E., Mary E., Josephine A. and William E.

F. J. Brennan, a native of Ireland, was born in 1858. When a child of seven years, he came across to America, and after a short visit at Baltimore, came west to La Crosse, Wisconsin. Subsequently, he visited the Winnebago valley, then returned to Hastings, remaining five years, and afterward farmed in the Winnebago valley two years. Much of his time since he has had charge of trotting horses, and with them has visited different parts of this and other states. He made a claim of 160 acres near Morris, which he sold soon after, but took another farm of the same number of acres in Traverse county, on which he lived two years, then sold, and returned to Hastings. He now has a saloon in Vermillion, which he opened in 1880. Mr. Brennan is an un- married man.

Samuel Brown was born in 1823, and is a na- tive of New York. While quite young he moved with his parents to Steuben county. He was

early thrown upon his own resources, in conse- quence of his father's death. Engaging in agri- cultural pursuits, he removed with his employer to Genessee county, remaining four years. Com- ing to Minnesota, in 1854, he pre-empted a claim of 160 acres in Vermillion, in section 20, and built his dwelling in 1869. On arriving at Hast- ings, there was not a frame house and none to be seen in any direction when at Vermillion. The Indians were traveling about at will, though quite peacable. Married in 1862, to Miss B. Morris, who has borne him two children: Robert and Esther.

John Callaghan was born in Queen's county, Ireland, April 8th, 1887. Came to this continent with his mother in 1848, locating first in Haver- straw, New York, where was his home eight years. In 1856 he came westward to Minnesota, and settled in Nininger township. During youth he attended school and learned the trade of en- gineer, which he followed two years after coming to this state. In 1865 he moved to his present home in Vermillion, where he has a finely im- proved farm of three hundred and twelve acres. He has served as county commissioner four years, town supervisor four or five years and school treasurer several terms. Married July 30th, 1865, at Hastings. Miss Johanna Murphy. Mary E., Johanna, Kate A., Maggie, William E. and Joseph, are their children.

Thomas Callaghan, deceased, was born in Queen's county, Ireland, in June, 1841. His father died when Thomas was five years of age, and in 1848 his mother and her family immigrated to America. They located at Haverstraw. New York and there lived until 1856. The family then came to Minnesota and located in Nininger township. Thomas acquired a practical educa- tion and learned the trade of sawyer. During the war he was attached to the quartermaster's de- partment under Gen. Le Duc. Returning home at the close of hostilities he purchased a tract of unimproved land in section 6, Vermillion, which he moved to and lived on until the event of his tragic death, in 1875, an account of which is given elsewhere in this volume. Married February 7th, 1867, to Miss Rose Hughes, who now lives at the home of her late husband. Eliza, Margaret, George, John H. and Thomas, are their children. William Callaghan, deceased, was born in

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Queen's county, Ireland, and came to America with the family in 1848. He enlisted in Company F, Third Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, in 1863, and was attached to the army of the Tennessee. His bright and promising career was ended at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, November 9th, 1864, aged twenty years. He died of illness con- tracted while in service.

Mrs. Catharine Callaghan, mother of John, Thomas and William Callaghan, died at Ninin- ger in 1868, aged about sixty years. She was a most estimable lady and trained her children in the right way. She passed away mourned by many.

John Cockbain was born in Cumberland county, England, in 1830. At the age of twelve years he began working for himself, and in 1855, came to America. The same year he came to Hast- ings and assisted in building a house for Mr. Tripp, one of the oldest settlers there. He and his brother then purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Rosemount in partnership, but owing to a dispute which arose between them, John withdrew. He then took a claim near the depot at Rosemount; in consequence of sickness and straightened finances he was unable to re- tain it. Once more he commenced, and on a very small scale, having one-fourth of an acre with three acres of timber land, and in 1857, built a house 16x20. After this he worked for different parties, and finally purchased seventy-eight acres in Vermillion, to which he moved in 1864. Has prospered and added to his original farm. Mar- ried, in 1855, Miss Ann Nichollsen, a native of England. Mary A., Jane E. and Ellen N. are their children.

John Duff was born in Bartholomew county, Indiana, June 30th, 1840. His early life was passed on a farm, and in October, 1861, enlisted in the Seventh Indiana Battery, serving until honorably discharged at Indianapolis. December 7th, 1864. Returning to his native county, he remained until the spring of 1866; then came to Dakota county, Minnesota, since which time he has engaged in farming. Has been twice mar- ried; his present wife was Miss Annie E. Kirk, whom he married May 1st, 1878.

Larry Dunley, a native of Germany, was born in 1852. He was reared as a farmer, and lived with his father, who owned three hundred acres,

twenty years. In 1872 he came to America and shortly after proceeded to Hastings and worked until 1880 on the railroad. He then came to Vermillion and took a situation as section boss on the Hastings and Dakota railroad. April 9th, 1877, he married Miss Kate Yarah of Germany. Two children have been born to them, Mary and Frank.

Peter Fishler was born in Germany in 1853. He came to America and to Guttenburg, Iowa, where he remained four years as a farmer, then went to Wisconsin and learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed three years. In 1872 he went to Fergus Falls, Otter Tail county, Min- nesota, subsequently returning to his home in Wisconsin. He located in Vermillion in 1873, and has here engaged in the pursuit of his trade. Purchased his present residence in 1876. Mar- ried Miss Kate Smith in 1878, who has borne him two children, Kittie and Mary.

Thomas Fitzgerald was born in West St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1859. His father, John Fitzgerald, was born in Ireland, in 1831, and came to America in 1857. He married in 1854. to Margaret Con- ners, who bore him seven children. He has one hundred and sixty-six acres in West St. Paul, where he now is, and in 1880, bought a farm in Vermillion which Thomas now cultivates.

H. J. Gasman was born in Waukesha county, Wisconsin in 1847. He was reared as a farmer, and acquired a common school education. His home was with his grand parents until the age of twenty-two years. He then removed to Pierce county, Wisconsin, and farmed for two years. In 1869 he came to Minnesota and lived one year in Hastings, then came to Vermillion and pur- chased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, where he now lives, having a comfortable home. He married, in 1873, Miss Sarah Mckay, who was born in Walworth county, Wisconsin, in 1850. Their children are: Lillie, born October 30th, 1875; and Alice, born October 3th, 1877.

John N. Girgen was born in Prussia, in 1836. He attended the schools of his native place, and in 1852, came to America with his parents. Lo- cating at St. Paul, Minnesota, he remained three years, a portion of the time being spent in finish- ing his studies. After his father's death, in 1854, moved to Dane county, Wisconsin, where he farmed three years. Returning to St. Paul, he

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rented a farm of sixty acres, and in 1867, located in Vermillion, where he has a com- fortable home, and a farm of eighty acres. In 1870, was elected supervisor; has been assessor, and is at present school treasurer. Married Mar- garet Bolway in 1857. She is a native of Ger- many, and has borne him eight children; the liv- ing are: Peter J., John U., Rosa, Alice, Mary and Annie.

N. S. Heinen is a native of Minnesota, and was born in Ramsey county in 1857. His father, a native of Prussia, was born in 1819, and came to America in 1854, purchased a farm of two hun- dred and ten acres in Vermillion in 1862. He died May 22d, 1869, his widow now having charge of the estate. N. S. Heinen is a farmer, and came to Vermillion with his father. He rents a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, which he tills. Married Miss Mary Henkes, of Prussia, in 1869: John and Maggie, are their children.

Michael Kerst, a native of Prussia, was born in 1838. He was reared as a farmer, and in 1848, went to Belgium, where was his home six years, and was mostly engaged in agriculture. In 1858, he came to America, proceeding forthwith to St. Paul. Continued farming in the locality seven years, then passed two years in Minneapolis. Came to Vermillion in 1865, and located on his present place in 1876. He started the only hotel and now runs it, also a good store. Married in 1868, to Miss Ellen Arth, a native of Germany. Michael, Lena, Beno, Mary, Clara and John are their children.

Joseph A. S. Kirk was born in York county, Pennsylvania, February 2d, 1846. When quite young, moved with his parents to Maryland, and afterward to Delaware. Here he entered the army in October, 1862, as a private in Company C, One Hundredth and Seventy-fifth New York, and was honorably discharged in the spring of 1864, in consequence of disability at Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He returned to Wilmington, Dela- ware, then re-enlisted in 1864, in the Marine ser- vice and served four years, a portion of the time being in the Washington navy yards and on board the steamer, "De Soto." Received his discharge in 1868. Two years later he enlisted in the United States Regulars, Company E, Twentieth Infantry for five years; came immediately to Fort Snelling, and two years later to Fort Totten, Da-

kota. Was honorably discharged at expiration of term. Married Miss Christina S. Johnson, at Fort Totten in 1873. After his discharge, came to Minneapolis, and soon after settled on his farm of eighty acres in section 31, Vermillion.

Gilles Krausen was born in Germany, in 1847. He farmed with his father for some time, and in 1867, came to America. Came to Hastings, thence to New Trier, and farmed four years in Hampton township. He was clerk in the Far- mer's hotel at Hastings three years, then went to Wisconsin and clerked in a store two years. He afterward returned to Hastings and located at Vermillion in 1877. At first, he rented his pres- ent farm, then bought it; also has a saloon near the depot.

John Manners, deceased, born in England in 1783. He married Miss Ann Simpson, a native of England, born in 1786. They had nine chil- dren. Mr. Manners died January 1st. 1859, and his widow in 1864. Robert Manners, their son, was born in Durham county, England, at a place called Bishop Auckland, in 1817. He re- ceived a practical education and learned the en- gineer's trade. In 1855, he came to America, and the next year came to Nininger, where he re- mained six years. He purchased forty acres in Vermillion in 1858, and moved there, building his home in 1862. Having been prosperous as a farmer, he has added to his farm until he now has five hundred acres. Has a fine stock of Nor- man horses and short-horn cattle. Married in 1849, to Annie Burns. George B., Robert S., Annie M., Thomas, John A. and Orlando R. are their children.

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History of Dakota County and the City of Hastings, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 84

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

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