USA > Minnesota > Douglas County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume I > Part 33
USA > Minnesota > Grant County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume I > Part 33
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\V. H. Sanders, who located many of the roads in this part of the state and was later for some years superintendent of schools of Douglas county, writing from Los Angeles, California, conveyed the following interesting bit of information : "I made my first trip to Douglas county in 1867. As I passed through Alexandria, I noted that the old stockade was about all there was of the town. There was a store within the stockade and a little later T. F. Cowing built one outside the structure. I went up to what is now the town of Evansville and took up a claim about five miles south of the present town, my nearest neighbor being about five miles south of my location. Later Mr. Plummer took a claim adjoining mine and then quite a number of set- tlers came into that section. All fled several times at the report that the Sioux Indians were coming, only to return after the scare was over. Only once did we realize that it was not a false alarm. A canoe with Indians came down the lake and paddled straight across for my home, but backed by Mr. Plummer we stood our ground, shooting over the heads of the Indians, which soon caused them to retreat. There were many stirring times, hardships, even sufferings, in those pioneer days, but the settlers realized even then the great possibilities of that glorious county and remained. In 1872 or 1873,
Virginia and White-tailed Deer. A Young Fawn and Iis Foster Mother.
American Bison ( Buffalo).
Wild Cat.
WILD ANIMALS OF THE NORTHWEST.
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when I moved to Alexandria, it was still a small town, among the early set- tlers I recall having been the Cowings, Van Dykes, Hicks, Mr. Van Hoesen and many others.""
J. V. Roland, writing from Postoak, recalled to the attention of the committee that he could "date back as far as 1867, when I first arrived in Alexandria. I made my home in Douglas county for ten years and experi- enced some very hard times. In the summer of 1868, during a high-water period, the country was out of flour and none could be obtained at any price. I was working for a Mr. Platt, who lived on a farm on the south side of Lake Louise. At that time there was a company of United States soldiers camped for the night on the shore of the lake and after they had gone on their way I went down to the camp and found a box of hard-tack that had been left behind because of some mold on some of them. I hurried to the Platt cabin and told of the find. Immediately the lady of the house, Mrs. Platt, and myself hurried to the place and gathered up the fragments ; carried them to the home and Mrs. Platt prepared a most luscious dinner."
From Dyment, Ontario, Mrs. D. A. Larson wrote : "I shall ever remem- ber the pleasant circumstances which first brought me to Alexandria. I took up residence there in my bridal days-in October, 1868. Though being away for many years, yet my heart will always drift back where my cherished interest is-as my husband's resting place is in Kinkaid cemetery."
From New Bedford,, Massachusetts, the Rev. and Mrs. Anton A. Ander- son wrote: "Although it is many years since we lived in the heart of the park region of Douglas county, many sweet remembrances linger with us and we can truthfully say with the ancient Israelites: 'If we forget thee, O. Jerusalem (Alexandria ), let our right hand forget ! Let our tongue cleave to our palate, if we do not remember thee ; if we prefer not Jerusalem ( Alex- andria ) above our chief joy.' Alexandria and its beautiful surroundings will always be the dearest spot to us."
From Claremont, California, Mrs. Stella Stoneman Moles wrote: "I doubt if many are back whose entrance to Alexandria antedates my own, for I went there first as a little girl in 1874, when Mr. Norton preached in the little old church down in the hollow. He, too, is gone, and his wife, and Annabel, with whom I played dolls and whom I loved almost as a sister in those days. In those days the railroad came no farther than Melrose, and I went the rest of the way with Mr. David Mason, who also has been laid to rest. He had taught his horse to be a home missionary horse, for I remem- ber how the horse stopped at every boy, girl, man, woman and house that
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we came to, to ask if there was a Sunday school in the neighborhood, appar- ently as concerned as Mr. Mason as to their religious opportunities. But it was when, as a young woman, I visited my sister at Sylvan Home and later, when I went as a bride to Alexandria, that I spent perhaps the happiest days of my life. I can see it all now, the woods and the lakes and the country roads. It was then that I learned what beautiful puff-balls could be made from thistles. It was there I picked wild strawberries and raspberries. It was there I saw my first ski and took my first toboggan slide. I have many happy memories and I remember lovingly the kindly people I knew both as a little girl and later as a woman grown."
Writing from Urbana, Illinois, Mr. and Mrs. A. S. Mason sent "greet- ings to all our friends in the following lines from Browning :
"Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be, The last of life, for which the first was made;
Our times are in His hand Who saith, 'A whole life I planned.'
Youth shows but half ; trust God; see all, nor be afraid."
The Rev. George E. Soper wrote: "The prospect of hearing the address of Adolph, of seeing Lew Kent, in all his glory, leading the parade; of listening to all those speeches of early friends would be enough to draw me from a long distance; but when added to all this, there is the prospect of meeting many old friends and of reviving the friendships of earlier days, I find the desire to be there most enticing. It will no doubt be a glorious occasion and will do much to strengthen the chords of home joys, which after all is said, lie very near the sources of the truest happiness."
From Tacoma Miss Bessie Kasson wrote: "Alexandria spelled home for so many years that we always think and speak of it in that sense, and assure you we have never forgotten the years we spent among you, or the beauties of Alexandria and surrounding country, the many kindnesses of your citizens and the spirit of friendliness which made us feel at home among you. My father, who was eighty years old last January, looks no older than when leaving Alexandria and my mother has changed very little. I would like to suggest that you follow the example of our chivalrous west- ern men and grant your women the right of suffrage. It's a fine thing to feel that you are, indeed, a real citizen of the United States of America."
Mrs. Della Isom, of Lovell, Wyoming, wrote: "My father, Benjamin Stewart, lived near Garfield and the home now owned by Mrs. Robert
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Angus used to be my home when I first came to Douglas county forty-seven years ago. We lived mostly among the Indians, as my father often traded groceries for furs and meats, which were plentiful in those days. The Indians were not hostile then, yet when they used to gather in the house and sharpen their knives, the hearts of my sisters and mother seemed to stop beating as they used to watch me at play with my rag doll. They would laugh and talk to me in their own language and, of course, I was afraid they wanted my doll, not seeming to realize what mischief they might be planning. I also lived in Alexandria with my husband, George Dixon, and two small sons, who now are grown men in business in the city of Minneapolis."
Mary Elizabeth Whitcomb, of Minneapolis, wrote: "I would gladly do something to add to the pleasure of the occasion were it in my power, but I know there will be no lack of interesting things to fill the time, and I have perhaps done my share in recalling the old times, as in response to Mr. Bondurant's request before the dedication of the new high school building, I wrote an account of the early school days there, which is, I think, fairly accurate for the years which it covers."
From Roseburg, Oregon, N. Bevier wrote: "I often think of the old frontier days, for I enjoyed them better than later days. There are lots of Pope and Douglas people here, following being the names of a few: Mr. and Mrs. P. Brooks, Mr. Hagan, Mr. and Mrs. Hall, Mr. and Mrs. H. Boyd, Mrs. Henri Boyd and son, Vern; Mr. and Mrs. John Pennie and family and the three daughters of Mr. P. Pennie, besides whom there are quite a few Minnesota settlers, but not right from that part."
From Hazel, Minnesota, Mr. and Mrs. George Prodger wrote: "Our kindest thoughts are always with the old neighbors of Douglas county, with whom we used to have such good times. It doesn't seem like home here, as it did there where we lived so many years."
Mrs. Herbert M. Boyd wrote from Roseburg, Oregon: "Father Boyd moved with his family to Hudson township the 22nd of June, 1867, and I went to live with them, July 24, 1879, so even I have seen many changes. I well remember the first trip to Alexandria, September 4, 1879. The store of Moses & Wylie was considered quite a fine store, and I remember the L. J. Brown store, at one time where the Griebenow store has been for years, and then they were fine stores. I remember many changes in all the years of my sojourn in Hudson."
John Templeton wrote his regrets from Forest Grove, Oregon, declaring
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. that "nothing would give me more pleasure than to meet with all the old- time friends and talk over old times and renew our youth together."
F. M. Nelson, of Minneapolis, wrote: "When I go back in my memory to the 13th of June, 1887, at 2:20 o'clock, when I got off the train as an immigrant, how little did I dream, when walking up Main street seeing the signs: L. K. Aaker, John Sundblad, Moles Brothers, Baumbach & Holver- son (or Momssey, as it was then), Spaulding, drugs, and Kortsch, Hardy & Heebel, with others, what Alexandria would mean to me. Most of those signs are gone from the dear old Main street, but in my memory lingers those names of the pioneers, of which I have a fond recollection. Wherever I go I always think and speak of Alexandria as my home town."
L. T. Mathison wrote his regrets from Rush Lake, Saskatchewan, declaring that "my heart is right there, where I spent my boyhood days."
From Tacoma Caroline M. Sprague wrote: "Nothing would please me better than to make a visit to the old home town and I deeply regret not being able to do so. The longing to see the kinsfolk I have left behind, and the dear old friends, also makes my old heart ache."
From Claremont, California, Samuel D. Moles wrote, recalling that "it is over twenty years since my wife and I left Alexandria to come to Cali- fornia;" continuing, "It was in Douglas county that nearly one-half of my life was spent, and I often think of the beautiful country and clear lakes and business opportunities that your county affords."
From Kingsburg, California, Mr. and Mrs. C. O. Jern wrote: "We have always held the most ardent respect and have today a warm place in our hearts for the old town of 'Alex.' Though we are not able to be present on this occasion, personally, we are with you in kindest memory at all times. Since our departure, years ago, we have traveled to some extent, but have never found quite the same ideal conditions that exist there."
Mrs. Kate Mclellan Finkle, of Minneapolis, expressing her regret at her inability to be present at the home coming, wrote: "I would have enjoyed meeting the friends. Oh, the wonderful review that passes before the mind's eye! Alexandria deserves to have the best of everything, as the former citi- zens were of such a lovely and interesting type and as I am sure the present ones are."
THE MAN WHO STARTED ALEXANDRIA GOING.
It may very properly be said that William Everett Hicks was the man who started Alexandria going and by doing so performed a service for Douglas county that will keep his memory green in this section of Minnesota
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for generations to come. Though he died before he was forty years of age, he had shown a notable capacity for performance and his life had been full of activity. A New Yorker, he came to this section of Minnesota in the fall of 1866 and was so deeply impressed by the beauty of this charming lake region that he decided to make his permanent home at Alexandria, where, during the next eight years, or until his death in 1874, he took a very active part in local affairs, becoming the owner of the townsite and the pro- moter of various commercial and industrial enterprises, besides representing the district in the Legislature and establishing the first newspaper in this part of Minnesota.
William E. Hicks was born at Sand Point, Long Island, in 1835, and was educated in the schools of Brooklyn. In 1853 he became a reporter on the New York Tribune, Horace Greeley's paper, and in 1857 became financial editor of the New York Evening Post, holding that position until 1862, when failing health compelled his resignation. The next year he traveled extensively in Europe and returned in the following year, going into business in Wall street. In the spring of 1866 Mr. Hicks came West on a general prospecting and pleasure trip and in the fall of that year came out here from St. Paul on a hunting trip. As noted above, he became so charmed with the scenic beauties of the park region hereabout that he decided to remain. He bought the Alexandria townsite, which up to that time had not been making very great headway, and also began to develop timber lands in this section. In 1867 he built a log store building at Alexandria and stocked the same with a general stock of merchandise. He also erected a hotel building and built the two-story frame building which for some time thereafter was used as a court house, and on the second floor of which he conducted a newspaper, the Alexandria Post, which he established in 1868, the year in which he was elected to the Legislature from this district. Among Mr. Hicks's other enter- prises was a combined grist- and saw-mill, which became the leading indus- try in this section, attracting patronage for many miles in all directions and giving a real impetus to the development of this section, which before that time had been suffering for the lack of an adequate flour-mill and for a saw-mill. Mr. Hicks donated from his townsite lands the square on which the Douglas county court house stands and also donated to the Congrega- tional church the fine corner lot on which that society erected its first church and on which the present handsome Congregational church stands. In other ways Mr. Hicks contributed to the civic, commercial and industrial life of the growing community and remained active in all good works until his death at Alexandria on July 17, 1874. He left a widow and five children. One
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of his sons, Cleveland H. Hicks, for years has been private secretary to Senator Knute Nelson, whose home is in Alexandria, but whose official duties require his presence in Washington much of the time.
ALEXANDRIA'S "GRAND OLD MAN."
United States Senator Knute Nelson has been a resident of Douglas county since the year 1870, when he moved over here from Wisconsin, and has ever since been one of the most active factors in the life of the com- munity, as well as in the wider and more general life of the whole state. Senator Nelson is a native of the kingdom of Norway, born on February 2, 1843, and was but six years of age when he accompanied his parents to the United States in July, 1849, the family remaining in Chicago until the fall of the next year, 1850, when they removed to Wisconsin, where the future United States senator grew to manhood. During the Civil War Knute Nelson enlisted for service as a private in the Fourth Regiment, Wisconsin Volun- teer Infantry, and was promoted to a non-commissioned office in the same. At Port Hudson, Louisiana, June 14, 1863, he was wounded and taken pris- oner. Upon the completion of his military service he returned to Wisconsin, took up the study of law and was admitted to the bar as a practicing attorney in the spring of 1867. He was elected to the Wisconsin state. Legislature and served in the assembly during the years 1868-69, after which he sought a field farther west in which to enter upon the practice of his profession, and in 1870 came to Minnesota and located at Alexandria, which ever since has been his home. Mr. Nelson at once began to take a prominent part in the civic affairs of the new community in which he had located and it was not long until he was recognized as a potent factor in the same. He was appointed county attorney of Douglas county shortly after settling at Alexan- dria and served in that capacity until 1874. During the four years, 1875-78, he served this district in the upper house of the Minnesota General Assembly and in the campaign of 1880 was a presidential elector from this state. On February 1, 1882, he was commissioned a member of the board of regents of the Minnesota State University, a position which he retained until Janu- ary 1, 1893. Senator Nelson's larger public service began with his election as a member of the forty-eighth Congress from the fifth Minnesota district, and he was re-elected to the forty-ninth and fiftieth Congresses. In the fall of 1892 he was elected governor of Minnesota as the nominee of the Republi- can party in this state and was re-elected to that office in the fall of 1894, during which second incumbency, January 23, 1895, he was elected United
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States senator from Minnesota and has ever since represented this state in the Senate, having been re-elected by the Legislature in 1901, 1907 and 1913. Senator Nelson has a delightful farm home situated on the outskirts of Alexandria and takes much pleasure in the same during his brief respites from public service. He also maintains his old law office in Alexandria, but gives little attention to the practice of his profession, long having been prac- tically retired from active practice.
ALEXANDRIA'S FIRST VILLAGE PRESIDENT.
Francis Bennett Van Hoesen, who died at his home in Alexandria on January 27, 1907, not only was the first president of the village of Alexan- dria, but in many other ways, during his residence of forty years in the county seat of Douglas county, contributed of his talents and energies to the general upbuilding of the community at large. Born in Onandaga county, New York, he was fifteen years of age when he came with his parents, in 1854, to Minnesota, the family settling at Hastings. He later returned to his native state, where he completed the academic course in the schools and then entered the law department of the Michigan State University, from which he was graduated in 1864, after which he for a time was engaged in practice in the law office of his uncle, at Harvard, Illinois, presently return- ing to Minnesota, where he spent a year as bookkeeper in a bank at St. Cloud, after which, in 1867, he moved over to the new and ambitious village of Alexandria, where he spent the rest of his life, one of the most active factors in the development of the town. Upon settling at Alexandria Mr. Van Hoesen opened a branch land office and in 1869 joined with his uncle, George Ward, and Robert Smith in the establishment of the first bank in Alexandria, of which he was made cashier. When the bank was reorganized as the First National Bank in 1883 Mr. Van Hoesen was made president of the same and continued in that capacity continuously until his death. When the village of Alexandria was incorporated in 1877 Mr. Van Hoesen was elected first president of the same and by subsequent elections served for more than five years in that capacity. He previously had served the county in several capacities, county attorney, clerk of court and register of deeds and later for some years was a member of the board of health, while in 1872 he had been elected representative to the Legislature from this district and was re-elected in 1881, and in 1883 was elected to the Senate. From the very beginning of his residence in Alexandria Mr. Van Hoesen took an active interest in the schools and was also a prime mover in the organization of the library
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association. He was a charter member of the First Congregational church, organized in 1876, and was president of the board of trustees of the same at the time of his death. Among the legacies he left was one of one thousand dollars to the church, one of five thousand dollars to the library and one of three thousand dollars to the Kinkaid Cemetery Association. He was a charter member of Constellation Lodge No. 81, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Alexandria, organized in 1870, and served for eleven terms as worshipful master of the lodge.
FIRST COMMERCIAL ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED.
The record of incorporations in the office of the register of deeds of Douglas county reveals that the first commercial association incorporated in the county was the Norden Commercial Association, whose articles of incor- poration were filed for record on August 16, 1871, Peter O. Chilstrom, Eoen Newman, Peter Newman, Peter Hanson, William Christensen, Bernhard C. Hanson, S. P. Christensen, Magnus Olson and Soren Listoe, of the city of Minneapolis, incorporating under the above title to carry on a general trad- ing business at Herman, Grant county.
The first cemetery association incorporated was the Orange Grove Cemetery Association, organized at a meeting held at the school house in district No. 7. in the township of Orange, March 24, 1873, Robert Thomas, chairman, and M. G. Pixley, secretary, the others signing the articles of in- corporation being J. S. English, Joseph Pixley, Robert Thomas, Jacob Man- ning, John Gray, George H. Robart, R. T. Bullard, M. G. Pixley, Gustav Klatt, Harmon Dumerl, O. Kator, John Mada and John Baker.
The first farmers co-operative association to file incorporation papers was the Farmers Co-operative Company of Osakis, a general mercantile con- cern, organized on December 17, 1875, those signing the articles of incor- poration being James Chambers, A. C. Peterson, Mathew Easton, J. C. Stone, J. P. Simonson, Charles Handy and Andrew Bergsten.
The first cornet band to file articles of incorporation was the Osakis Cornet Band, incorporated on May 3, 1886, the following persons signing the articles of incorporation: H. M. Chalfant, W. A. Yales, I. P. Schei, C. Nelson, Alex. Anderson, J. R. Gallinger, D. M. Farr, George L. Fry, Paul Herman and William Cressy.
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THE CELEBRATED PAULSON CASE.
In as well ordered and quiet a neighborhood as this there naturally have been very few notable criminal cases to attract the attention of the court and a chapter devoted to crimes and misdemeanors in a work of this char- acter would be short indeed, but there is one case that for years provided a mystery for the people of Douglas county to talk over and which was not cleared for years after the commission of the crime. It was in the early days of the settlement of this region, back in the old stage-coach days, long before the coming of the railroad to this section, and the scene of the crime was at the old log inn and stage station at the stop which later became the thriving village of Evansville. Five Scandinavians, one of whom was named Paulson and who were not long from the old country, arrived at the inn one day and while renewing old acquaintances drank quite liberally of frontier whisky, served at the inn, a quarrel presently being started and some scuffling or wrestling, which was not altogether good natured in character, but which ended apparently without serious ill-feeling on the part of any and late in the evening the men started for the home of one of the party who lived near- by, where they expected to remain the rest of the night. On the shore of a small lake in the vicinity the quarrel was known to have been renewed. That evening was the last Paulson was seen alive and although the neighborhood was searched no trace of him could be found. The four men last seen in his company were arrested, but as there was no evidence against them they presently were released. Three Indians, skilled in the lore of the woods and of the lakes, were called in to assist in the search for the body, the theory of the community being that Paulson had been killed as an outcome of the quarrel and his body thrown into the lake, but the most careful search of the lake failed to reveal the body. In the meantime the county commissioners had offered a reward of five hundred dollars for the recovery of the body and not long thereafter, shortly after the Indians had made their ineffectual search, the wife of the landlord of the inn in which the initial quarrel between the Scandinavians had occurred, volunteered to find the body in the lake and pointing out a certain spot in the water told the searchers to look there, even though the ground had been gone over carefully before. The body was found, even as she had declared it would be, and she collected the reward money. The four suspects again were arrested and the one with whom Paulson had quarrelled was placed on trial for his life, but there being no direct evidence against him, he was acquitted and all four were again set at
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