History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 102

Author: Edward D. Neill
Publication date: 1882
Publisher:
Number of Pages:

USA > Minnesota > Fillmore County > History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota > Part 102

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The year 1857, dawned upon the settlers, and during the first few months subjected them to the most severe hardships yet experienced. The month of January opened with a very heavy snow-storm, which continued with renewed fury and violence for about a week, filling the ravines, crevices, and roads, and leaving the level prairie covered with a heavy bed of snow. This was fol- lowed by a slight thaw, which immediately froze very solid, making a crust that would bear the weight of a man. Most of the settlers were left without hay, as their supply was out on the prai- rie, and it was impossible to drive a team over the crust. Thus, few of the settlers who had stock es- caped loss of part of their herd, and to-day there are many settlers who tell of how they had dug for three and four days through this heavy crust and deep snow, hunting for hay. But, as the sea- son moved on, the snow disappeared, and in the fall an abundant harvest rejoiced and made hope- ful the heart of the pioneer. Among others who had arrived ere this time may be mentioned the following: George and James Stewart, Michael Lewis, Robert Crowell, James Kelly, James Bowers, H. Hall, James Sheppard, Thomas Davis, and others.

MURDER. ·

A murder occurred in this town as early as 1856, but luckily nothing has followed but the re- membrance of it as an example. A man named John Branski, living on section four, was murdered in a quarrel with a neighbor over his claim line. The murderer was arrested and tried, but finally got away. His name was Walker, and he was seen once since the crime was committed, getting on a vessel in San Francisco, to sail for a foreign port. Since that time he has been lost to justice if not to memory.

POLITICAL.

The first town meeting was held on the 11th of May, 1858, at Fillmore village. The records of the meetings and proceedings of the board in Fill- more township for the first few years have unfor-

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tunately been lost or misplaced, and therefore any statement we might make as to what they did would be mere speculation.

The first meeting was held in Decou's "Log Hotel," Geo. Decou being the Moderator. T. G. Pond was the first Chairman of the board, O. T. Blood and S. Otis the first Justices of the Peace, and Chas. W. Crain and George Fisk, Constables.

On the 26th of February, 1864, a special meet- ing was held by the board of Supervisors to see about voting a bounty to the volunteers, but the proposition was tabled, and at a subsequent meet- ing it was defeated.

The officers for 1882 are: Supervisors, A. F. Erdman, Chairman, John Mensing, and George Stewart; Clerk, C. H. Morse; Treasurer, R. Odell; Assessor, E. D. Bartlett; Justices of the Peace, John Dane and Charles W. Orain; Constables, J. R. Murrell and W. F. Hendrickson.

EDUCATIONAL.

It is claimed that the first school in the town was called to order by Mr. Wm. Sackett. The school was held at Fillmore village in a little log hut in 1857, and had in attendance six or seven scholars. The teacher, Mr. Sackett, had just arrived from New York; he afterward married Miss Catherine Splain, and is now living in Lanesboro. The following is a list and history of the several districts in the township:

DISTRICT No. 32 .- This district was organized late in the fifties, being the district embracing the locality southeast of Wykoff. Shortly after organ- izing a cheap frame structure was erected, and in 1876, the present neat building, at a cost of about $600, the size of which is 20x30 feet. The school- house is located on the southwest quarter of sec- tion twenty-three.

DISTRICT No. 92 .- This district comprises what is known as the Fillmore village district. Its or- ganization was effected in 1856, being without doubt the first organized district in the town, and the first place in which school was held. A log house was rolled together in 1856, by subscription, which lasted until 1873, when a new house was put up in the village at a cost of $900. The first school was taught by Wm. Sackett, and was attended by seven or eight scholars.

DISTRICT No. 95 .- The first teacher to call a school to order in this district was Mrs. Elias Mosher. Their present school building is a neat frame, size 26x30 feet, and is on the northeast

quarter of section thirty-three, embracing the part of the town south of Wykoff.

DISTRICT No. 96 .- Received its organization in the year 1860, and the first school was called to order in that year by Joseph Blanchard in the private log dwelling of Thomas Musteller, on sec- tion twenty, thirty-three scholars being enrolled. In 1861, a log house was rolled together by sub- scription, which lasted until about 1869, when their present house was built at a cost of about $1,000, on section twenty-nine. Miss Clara Thur- bert is the present teacher.

DISTRICT No. 104 .- This takes in the territory of Wykoff. It was organized in 1875, from the other contiguous districts. Messrs. Crain, Kilborn, and Bartlett were the first officers. The school- house was built that year and is 26x48 feet, and cost $850. The first school kept while the school- house was building was in the Baptist church, by James Goodsell. There are now sixty scholars, Mr. A. R. Burkdoll being the teacher.

DISTRICT No. 153 .- This was organized about 1870, and shortly after the stone building now in use was erected at a cost of $900. The first school was taught by Miss Amantha Stevens, in the building now occupied. This district embraces that portion of the town lying west of Fillmore village, the schoolhouse being located on the south- east quarter of section two.

DISTRICT No. 172 .- This district was organized in 1875, Thomas Pulford being the first director, and Miss Silva Long the first teacher after the district was set off. In 1876, their schoolhouse was built, size 16x28 feet, at a cost of $500. The first school was attended by twenty-seven scholars. The schoolhouse is located in the south west corner of section sixteen.

SELECT GERMAN SCHOOL .- The citizens of Wy- koff, especially those of German descent, are sup- porting a private German school, which is taught by the presiding German pastor of that place, who is engaged with the understanding that he is to teach a few months in summer and winter.

MANUFACTURING.

Fillmore township, while not being a manufac- turing town, is not devoid of manufactories.

SAW AND GRIST-MILLS. - The first saw-mill erected and put in operation in town was about 1855. It was built by E. S. Smith, and stood on the banks of Root River, in section nine, and was run by the excellent water power at that point.

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The mill was equipped with a circular saw, with a capacity of about 3,000 feet every twelve hours. It was kept busy until 1864, when Mr. H. M. Daniels purchased it, and the sawing machinery was made secondary by putting in one run of stones and commencing to grind flour. It has since passed into different hands, and the saw-mill machinery has all been removed, being now in the hands of J. S. Chandler, who operates it as a cus- tom mill. It now has two run of stones, one for flour and one for feed.

Another saw-mill was erected at an early day, probably the same year as the above mill, by T. G. Pond, about one mile west of the village of Fillmore, on section five. This was run as a 88W mill, with a circular saw, until 1870, when it passed into the hands of Cutler Thompson, the present proprietor, who, in 1872, enlarged the mill and put in several run of flour and feed buhrs for custom work. In 1880, a sorghum mill was added, the capacity of which may be seen from the fact that in 1881 it turned out 3,200 gallons of molasses.

Still another saw-mill was built in 1858, by John Mahood, on section twenty, size 30x60 feet, with a sash saw, at a cost of $3,000. This was the prin- cipal saw-mill in the township and was run by Mahood until 1877, when it was destroyed by fire.

STAVE FACTORY .- This industry is located in the eastern part of the village of Fillmore. It was established in 1874, by the firm of Sutherland & Mills, who run it for three years and then sold to W. G. Rundall, who is the present proprietor. Until within a few years it was run by steam, but this was removed to make room for horse-power. The mill manufactures baskets, staves, heading, sleigh runners, wagon felloes, etc., etc.

FILLMORE MILLS .- This institution is the pride of the town, and it well deserves it. The mill was built in 1857, by Cummings & Kimball, and stands in the western part of the village of Fill- more, on the banks of the middle branch of Root River. It is run by water-power using an Ameri- can wheel, of 14 horse-power. In 1880, the mill was remodeled, and in place of stones, four of the patent corrugated and smooth rolls were placed in the mill, making the capacity about seventy-five or eighty barrels per day. The mill is now owned by Bierbauer & Horton.

The cigar manufactory, and several other manu-

facturing industries may be found in the history of the villages.

FILLMORE VILLAGE.

While this is not a large one, it has all the con- comitants to distinguish it from a mere hamlet. A resume of what it contains in addition to the dwellings, would read something like this: One general merchandise store; one drug store; one furniture store; two blacksmith shops; one hotel; one grist-mill with a capacity of eighty-five barrels per day; one church, the Methodist Epico- pal; one stave factory; and one school, with a roll of sixty-five pupils.

The land where the village stands was pre- empted in the spring of 1854, in section three, by Doctor Jones. The year following, Isaac Decou came and built and opened the first store, and re- mained about three years. He was a prominent man and a member of the Legislature, but after a time went to Michigan, and finally to Kansas.

Robert Ray built a log cabin in the village in 1856, and opened a stock of general merchandise which he kept two or three years.

The third store was built by Lee & Kimball and this firm also built a grist-mill and had it running in 1858. William Kimball came from Decorah, and Mr. Lee from McGregor.

At the time Mr. Jones came, his wife was also along, and his son and a son-in-law, Mr. Bever- stock.

Isaac Brinker came here from Clayton county, Iowa, and remained until 1878, when he went to Dakota.

In 1856, Isaac Decou and D. J. Mosher came from New York, and thus the village was started The first hotel was built and kept by Paul Jones and Mr. Beverstock.

The Post-office was established in 1856, with Robert Ray as Postmaster. William Mosher was appointed in May, 1877, and still handles the mails.

The village is located on the banks of the middle branch of Root River, in the southwest corner of section three.

WYKOFF.

This is the railroad village of the town, and was projected simultaneously with the coming of the railroad and was platted two years later, so that it is just entering upon its teens as a village.

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The land was originally pre-empted in June, 1856, by F. H. Bartlett.

The first settler here was F. H. Bartlett, who came from Oneida county, New York, and landed at this point in June, 1856, and located on the southwest quarter of section twenty-two, within the limits of the present village, and got up a na- tive timber residence to protect himself, wife, and two children, Elsie and Elmer. Wm. Odell came at the same time, but remained only a few days and moved on to Cannon Falls; and A. Clifford pre-empted 160 acres in section twenty-one. These were the original squatter sovereigns.

The village was platted by H. W. Holley, the Chief Engineer of the railroad, who, with F. A. Bartlett, owned the land, and it was recorded in 1871, when the depot was built. In 1875, an ad- dition of twenty acres was made, and called Bart- lett & Bank's addition.

The first building was run as a boardinghouse for some time. The first store was by W. R. & C. G. Edwards and is now occupied by Morse & Rob- bins. In December, 1871, they got in the first stock of general merchandise. The Egleston brothers soon put up the store now occupied by M. Egleston, and put in a stock of goods. A. R. Brass built a warehouse now used as a blacksmith shop, and the two elevators went up at the same time.

In the spring of 1873, the first saloon came into town on the railroad from Rushford, and was opened by George Ibach.

The oldest settler is C. W. Crain.

The incorporation of the village was by virtue of a special act of the Legislature approved on the 8th of March, 1876. Frank H. Bartlett, Charles W. Crain, and L. G. Kilborn, were the provisional officers to secure an organization. The first offi- cers elected were: President, F. H. Bartlett; Trus- tees, M. J. Barrett and F. Wendorf; Treasurer, W. G. Banks; Recorder, L. G. Kilborn.

The present officers are: President, F. H. Bart- lett; Trustees, F. V. Coelln and P. R. Jorris; Treasurer, L. G. Kilborn; Recorder, J. R. Mur- rell.

BUSINESS IN WYKOFF .- There are four firms in general merchandise; two hardware; two drug stores; two saloons; one elevator; five warehouses; one contractor and builder; one cigar manufac- turer; three blacksmith and wagon shops.

The professional men are: Lawyer, E. C. Boyd;

Physicians, C. H. Robbins and J. H. Phillips. The clergymen's names appear in connection with their churches.

WYKOFF HOTEL .- This was built as the village got well under way, by F. H. Bartlett, and the proprietors have been A. Drew, F. H. Bartlett, W. G. Banks, F. Scribner, Mr. Schilling, and Charles Scribner, the present occupant of the house.

CIGAR FACTORY .- This was started in 1879, by Jorris & Gut, who employed ten hands. In 1882, a new building was erected, 14x22 feet, and they have an extensive trade, the capacity being 10,000 cigars a week.

EXCHANGE BANK OF WYKOFF .- This was insti- tuted in 1881, by L. G. Kilborn, who is the present cashier, In 1882, the proprietors of the bank were J. R. Murrell and L. G. Kilborn, the former gentle- men having purchased an interest.

POST-OFFICE .-- In 1858, a Post-office was started in this town, in section thirty-three, and was called "Free Soil." Joseph Blanchard was the Post- master, afterward M. B. Felt was appointed. In 1872, it was removed to Wykoff and the name changed. D. J. Egleston was appointed Post- master. Charles W. Crain succeeded him in 1879.

BRICK-YARD .- In the southeastern part of the town this industry was established in 1879, by W. Davis and C. W. Crain, and it turns out 100,000 brick in a season. Mr. Davis is still proprietor, and burns two kilns per annum. Another yard is in contemplation.

RELIGIOUS.

THE FREE BAPTIST CHURCH .- Rev. M. D. Reeves organized a society holding to the tenets of this faith in 1868, in the house of Mr. John Crain, with eight members. In 1872, a church edifice was erected in the village of Wykoff, 26x41 feet, the cost being $1,500. There are now twenty-five members. Following Mr. Reeves as pastor was Rev. M. B. Felt, who remained with these people for seven years, when Rev. W. C. Sweet superceded him, and now Rev. J. M. Young is the pastor of the little flock.

UNITED BRETHREN .- This society was organized in 1874, Rev. Phillips being the officiating minis- ter. In 1876, their building was erected in the southern part of town, size 35x45 feet, at a cost of $7,000. Revs. Vance, Hillis, and Beacon have been the successive pastors, the latter mentioned being the present incumbent.

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BIOGRAPHICAL.

THOMAS BURNHAM, a native of England, was born in 1849, brought up on a farm, and received an education in the high school near his home. After leaving school he was clerking in London for three years. He came to America in May, 1870, located in Lanesboro, and was engaged in buying and shipping grain. He was married in the latter place to Miss Lizzie Jacklin, who was born in England, but came with her parents to Wisconsin when young. They have been blessed with one child, Florence Lillian. Mr. Burnham moved from Lanesboro to Spring Valley, thence to Wykoff in April, 1879, and has since continued in the grain business.

J. BLANCHARD, one of the pioneers of this place, is a native of Windsor county, Vermont, born in 1833. He was reared on a farm, and received an education near his home, coming to Minnesota in 1856. He located a farm in section thirty-two, upon which he still lives, having about one hun- dred and fifty acres of choice land. Mr. Blanch- ard was married in this township to Miss Sarah A. Ham, a native of New York, born in 1843. They have seven children; Edwin J., aged seventeen years; Solon D., fifteen years; Jennette A., twelve years; Etta May. ten years; George, eight years; Florence M., four years, and Ashley, one and a half years. Mr. Blanchard taught the first school in district No. 96, after coming here. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace six years, and Assessor one term.

OSCAR BIERBAUER is a native of Erie, Pennsyl- vania, and removed with his parents to Mankato, Minnesota, when one year old. He attended the schools of that place until the age of fifteen years, when he went to Milwaukee and completed his ed- ucation. After leaving school he was employed as book-keeper from 1873 to 1879, then came to this village and bought the grist-mill which was built by L. Kimball in 1858, and which he still conducta. His parents were born in Germany and now live in Mankato, also a brother, Herman, and three sisters, Emma, Alma, and Engenia. Emma married Prof. E. Bettinger, and Ida, his oldest Bister, is the wife of Prof. J. L. Buetow, and resides in Milwaukee.

JAMES BOWERS, deceased, was born in Ireland, and there received an education and grew to man- hood. He came to America in 1843, and located in Philadelphia, where he was married in 1851, to

Miss Esther Gelkinson, who was also born in Ire- land in 1821, and came to America with her par- ents when eleven years old. The result of the union was ten children, of whom eight are living; James, Sarah, Mary, Robert, Anne, Thomas, George, and William. Mr. and Mrs. Bowers came with their family to Minnesota in 1856, and located a farm in section twelve of this township. He died on the 13th of March, 1881. The farm con- tains two hundred acres, having good buildings and a fine orchard.

A. R. BURKDOLL is a native of Iowa, born in Marion, Linn county, in 1852. He received his education at the common schools of the latter vil- lage and Waterloo, and graduated from Western College, of Iowa, in 1877, teaching school and farming during vacations until the age of twenty- one years. In January, 1876, he was married at Solon, Johnson county, Iowa, to Miss Annie P. Nickolson, who was born in the latter State in 1853. They have one child, a son of four years. In the spring of 1878, Mr. Burkdoll located in Chatfield and engaged in teaching and book-keep- ing. He removed to the village of Wykoff in the fall of 1881, and the following spring established the "Wykoff News," of which he is editor and pro- prietor. His father, Abraham Burkdoll, was a native of Indiana, and while in the army con -. tracted disease of which he died at the age of forty-five years. His mother, Elizabeth (Smith) Burkdoll, was also born in Indiana, and died in Marion, Iowa, at the age of thirty-five years.

WILLIAM G. BANKS was born in 1838, in Butler county, Pennsylvania, where he received a common school education and grew to manhood. He en- listed at Pittsburg in the Fourteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company H, and served from 1863 till the close of the war. After leaving the army he came to Minnesota, resided a short time in Fill- more county, then returned to his native State, and for six years was an oil operator. He was married in 1866, to Miss Nancy J. McDermott, who was born in that State in 1846. They came to this place in 1875, and Mr. Banks built the store in which he is now engaged in general merchan- dise. He is the father of four children; Dollie, Marcus, Charley, and Mattie.

F. H. BARTLETT was born in Orleans county, Vermont, on the 19th of June, 1818. He was reared there, and learned the shoemaker's trade, at which he was engaged in his native State many

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years. In 1843, he married Miss Sarah Kilborn, the ceremony taking place in Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Bartlett came to Minnesota in the spring of 1856, and located in this township, in section twenty-two. Mrs. Bartlett died on the 18th of December, 1881, leaving two sons; Elmer, who was born in 1846, and lives on the old homestead en- gaged in farming and buying grain, and Elma C., born in 1852. Mr. Bartlett has held a number of local offices since his residence here.

CHARLES W. CRAIN was born in Steuben county, Indiana, in 1838, and moved with his par- ents to McHenry county, Illinois, when two years old, where he received a common school educa- tion. In 1854, the family came to this township where Charles grew to manhood and was married in November, 1860, to Minerva Rundell, the Rev. M. D. Reeves, officiating. Mrs. Crain was born in Coles county, Illinois, in 1839, and is the mother of eight children, four of whom are living; E. A., Deputy Postmaster; Irvin W., Elvira R., and Ruel J. Mr. Crain was elected Constable in 1859, Justice of the Peace in 1870 and '76, and has since held the office. He was appointed No- tary Public in 1873, and Postmaster on the 24th of February, 1879. He is clerk of the Wykoff Freewill Baptist church, formerly the Freesoil Freewill Baptist church, which was organized in February, 1858; also of the Root River Freewill Baptist Quarterly meeting, organized in 1863, and of the Wykoff school district No. 104, since its or- ganization in April, 1875. Mr. Crain has been engaged in buying grain and selling farm ma- chinery since 1874.

F. V. COELLN was born in Prussia in 1835, and came to America in 1854, locating in Kenosha county, Wisconsin, where he engaged in the hard- ware business. Mr. Coelln brought his family to the village of Wykoff in 1878, and opened a hard- ware store on Gold street which he still conducts.

JOSEPH L. CHANDLER was born in Canada West, in 1827, and removed to Jackson, Michigan, at the age of Seventeen years. About a year later he came to Jackson county, Iowa, attended school and learned the miller's trade. He was married in Clayton county, Iowa, in 1862, to Miss M. C. Preston, a native of Lake county, Ohio. They moved to Spring Valley in 1863, carried on a farm nine years, then returned to Jackson county, Iowa, where Mr. Chandler was engaged in the manufacture of flour for three years. He then re-

turned to this county and bought the grist-mill owned by Harrison & Rossman, which he has since operated, his farm being in section nine. In Jan- uary, 1865, be eulisted in the First Minnesota Heavy Artillery, Company H, and served till the close of the war. Mr. and Mrs. Chandler are members of the M. E. Church. They have had five children, only one of whom is living; Elmer R., aged seventeen years. Mrs. Chandler's par- ents reside with them; her father was born in 1807, and her mother in 1815. They too are members of the M. E. Church.

JOHN D. DAIN was born in Canajoharie, Mont- gomery county, New York, in November, 1840. He attended the district schools of his native place and graduated at the Academy situated there, after which he was employed in a drug store for many years. He enlisted in Company E, of the Forty-third New York Volunteer Infantry at President Lincoln's first call for troops in August, 1861. He passed through an eventful career of three years, most of the time with the army of the Potomac; was then honorably discharged and re- turned home and again engaged in the drug busi- ness. He was joined in marriage with Miss Eliza- beth Burns, who was born in Rome, Oneida county, in 1840. The marriage ceremony oo- curred in the latter place in 1865. The issue of the union is one child, Maggie E., sixteen years old. Mr. Dain moved with his family to Fill- more, Minnesota, in 1868, and opened a store for the sale of drugs, medicines, paints, oils, etc., and has remained there doing a successful business. He has held the office of Clerk, Treasurer, and Justice of the Peace for many years, and has been elected to the latter office again, recently.

A. DREW is a native of Orleans county, Vermont, born in 1837. He was reared on a farm, and when ten years old removed with his parents to Iras- burgh, where he received his education and grew to manhood. He was married in 1856, to a daughter of F. H. Bartlett, now of this place. They moved to Ohio and subsequently to this township. Mr. Drew was engaged in farming until 1877, then came to Wykoff village and opened a hotel which his son, Charles H., now manages. His wife died in 1877. They had four childrer, two of whom are living; the youngest, Gertie, is four years old.

PETER DUNN, deceased, was born in Queens county, Ireland, 'in 1824. He attended the

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History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 102

Author: Edward D. Neill Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author: Edward D. Neill
Publication date: 1882
Publisher:
Number of Pages: