History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 106

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 106

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WILLIAM STEVENS, a native of Ireland, was born in 1840, and came to America with his parents in 1846. They remained in Onondaga county, New York, until 1853, then went to Jo Daviess county, Illinois. In 1855, William came to Minnesota and settled in Fountain. In 1866, he purchased a farm in section sixteen, where he still lives. One year later he married Miss Ann Madden. The union has been blessed with six children; Martin, Margaret, Ulich, Edward, Mary A., and Catharine.

JAMES F. WEIR was born in Syracuse, New York, on the 30th of August, 1857, and removed with his parents to Minnesota in 1866. He was reared on a farm and finished his education at

Preston High School, and established himself in business in Fountain in 1881. He has a saloon and billiard hall. His father, James Weir, was born in Ireland, and is farming in Carimona. His mother, Ann (Gallagher) Weir, is also a native of Ireland. James has five brothers and four sisters; John, Thomas, Anthony, Peter, Edward, Han- nah, Rosa, Mary, and Ella.

ROSETTA MAY was born in Henry county, In- diana, in 1833, reared on a farm and received a common school education. She was married in 1852, to John Wimmer, a native of Obio, and moved to Minnesota in the fall 1859, locating in Fountain, on section thirty, where she still re- sides. Her husband died on the 9th of December, 1875, at the age of fifty-four years, and was buried in Watson Cemetery. She has had eight children, seven of whom are living; Isabelle, Eliza- beth, Margaret, Celinda, Samuel, Cendrelia, and Andrew.

HOSMER H. WINSLOW, deceased, one of the pioneers of Fillmore county, was born in Chitten- den county, Vermont, on the 12th of February, 1807. When a young man he left home and went to Cattaraugus county, New York. On the 11th of June, 1834, Cornella Winslow became his wife. They were blessed with nine children. He bought property in the latter county, consisting of a saw- mill and two hundred acres of timber land. He subsequently sold his interest there and bought a farm with a grind-stone quarry on it. He carried on the farm and manufactured grind-stones until 1851, then sold and moved to Stephenson county, Illinois, where he lived until July, 1854, when he came to Minnesota and located in Fountain, this county, taking land on section five. He improved the land and built the second log house in this vicinity, which is still standing. In 1865, he built a frame house, where he lived until his death, on the 13th of October, 1877.

ENOCH O. WINSLOW, son of Hosmer H. Wins- low, was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, on the 2d of June, 1839. He came west with his parents and remained with them until they died. He was educated at the district school. In 1862, he married Miss Nellie J. Post. They have seven children; Reinhardt, Ada, Amos, Maria, Seba, Tena, and Bertie. In 1876, Mr. Winslow purchased a farm in section five, where he now resides.

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HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY.

FORESTVILLE.

CHAPTER LXX.

PHYSICAL FEATURES -- EARLY SETTLEMENT-MANU- FACTURING -EDUCATIONAL-RELIGIOUS -- FOREST- VILLE VILLAGE-BIOGRAPHICAL.

The town with this rustic designation is the northeast of the four southwestern towns in the county; touching it on the north is Fillmore, on the east, Carimona, on the south, York, and on the west, Bloomfield1. It is a full congressional town- ship, and in physical characteristics is not unlike the towns around it. The south branch of the Root River comes into town in section thirty, and with a meandering tortuosity that gives it a dozen or more miles in length, it leaves the town from section thirteen.

This river has several branches, most of them uniting with it from the left bank. There are sev- eral little rivulets that start out with flattering prospects of growth and prosperity above ground, which, particularly in a dry time, get lost by per- colating into the earth, and by subterranean pas- sages pursue their lonesome journey to the sea. Of course the main river, and the branches also, pass along valleys more or less depressed, and with a wider or narrower breadth, bordered with irregular bluffs, as to height and contour.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

In this township the first arrival registered on an oak tree on section twelve in 1852, and was carved as "Levi Waterman, of Pennsylvania, 1852." Mr. Waterman was a native of Pennsyl- vania, and made his way to this State by way of Iowa, where he had sojourned for a short time, ar- riving here in the fall of 1852. He brought with him his family, consisting of wife and two chil- dren, and a few head of stock. After reconnoiter- ing for a short time he selected a claim on section twelve, and put up a rude little shanty to protect his family from the violence of the elements.

He lived upon his claim about six months, and sold it to the next arrival, R. M. Foster.

Mr. Foster arrived in Decorah, Iowa, in June, 1853, and after looking about for a couple of days, rolled his wordly possessions up in a little sack, tied them to the end of a shillalah, threw it over his shoulder, and started out for "Looking Glass" prairie on foot. He finally changed his route and found his way to Fillmore county, pass- ing through where the village of Elliota now is, and found Capt. Elliott there, just putting up the little log cabin that for so many years marked the only habitation in that region, and for years was supposed to be the first building erected in the county. From there he made his way up to the place where Levi Waterman had "squatted, ' and where the village of Forestville was afterwards laid out. He bought out Waterman's interest, and for the time boarded with the family. He soon put up a substantial log building, building what at that time was considered a luxury, a stone chimney. This house he ran as a hotel, doing his own cooking, and made a reputation that was dis- counted by none at that time in the county. Mr. Foster is still a resident of the town.

This year, 1853, the town lines were run by the government surveyors. In the spring of 1854, Mr. Foster, Captain Elliott, James M. Sumner, William C. Pickett, Mr. Willis, and other resi- dents of the county went to Chatfield to assist in the organization,and it was called Fillmore in honor of Millard Fillmore, who was just retiring from the White House.

During the year there were accessions, and among those who came were Henry Fitch, Joseph Bisbee, and Joel Watkins.

A saw-mill was commenced in 1854, by Mr. Bis- bee, who soon sold his interest to Forest Henry and Mr. Renslow, who completed it and also built a grist-mill in 1855.

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FORESTVILLE TOWNSHIP.

In 1853, Mr. Foster opened a general stock of merchandise, which he thinks was the first within the present limits of the county. He did consid- erable barter with the Indians. The goods had to be hauled from Lansing, Iowa.

Most of the early settlers were from the eastern States. J. H. Bonesteel arrived here in 1855, and lost no time in getting a claim in section twenty, and in 1859, built a frame house. J. L. Michener, A. B. Rejester, Levi Rexford, John E. Haskin, Charles Hanson, and Holley Cook all lived in dis- trict No. 93, and were early comers.

VARIOUS EVENTS OF INTEREST.

In the fall of 1854, Mr. R. M. Foster was mar ried to Miss Elizabeth Renslow, by H. S. H. Hayes, Esq.

The first death of a citizen was that of Owen Riley in 1856, of a sudden case of enteric inflam- mation.

Mr. Forest Henry was the first Probate Judge in the county.

The first religious meetings were held in Mr. Bisbee's house in 1853, and in 1854, a Sunday school was started.

The first child born was Emma Renslow, in July, 1854.

The first death in town was in the fall of 1853, the child of an emigrant passing through, and the whole settlement turned out to the funeral.

POST-OFFICE.

This was established in 1855, with Forest Henry in charge. In a year or two R. M. Foster re- ceived the appointment, which he held up to the year 1869. Felix Meighen is the present Post- master, the office being kept in his store.

POLITICAL.

In 1855, an election was held, and a full set of town officers were elected, and served until the Territory was admitted to the Union. On the 11th of May, 1858, on the accession of the State gov- ernment, the regular town meeting was held, and the governmental wheels of the township were set in motion according to law.

The present officers of the town of Forestville are: Supervisors, George Barr, Chairman, H. Ubrig, and S. H. Bateman; Justices of the Peace, M. J. Foster and W. C. Sweet; Constables, J. W. Foster and J. L. Colby; Town Clerk, Alvin West, who has held the office ot Clerk and Assessor for the past twenty-two years.

EDUCATIONAL.

The township of Forestville is divided into seven school districts. They are all in good financial standing and under good management. The schoolhouses in the township, as an average, sur- pass those of any of the surrounding towns. The wages of teachers in this, as in other towns, are comparatively low. The first district organized in the town was what is now known as district No. 90. The first school was held here.

DISTRICT No. 90 .- This district embraces the village of Forestville and surrounding territory. It was undoubtedly, as is claimed, the first organ- ized school district in the county, as it was organ- ized as district No. 1, in 1854, through the influ- ence ot R. M. Foster. The first school was held in Mr. Bisbee's residence, by Mrs. Fuller, with twelve or fourteen little ones in attendance. In 1857, a brick house was built, which lasted until the present house was erected in 1878. Their schoolhouse now in use stands in the northern part of the village, and was erected at a cost of $1,800, size 24x36 feet, two stories, and a stone basement.

DISTRICT NO. 93 .- In a log house owned by Mr. Graling, the first school was called to order by Miss Annie Sanderson, and shortly afterward the district was organized. The house now occupied by the district is in the southwest corner of sec- tion twenty-nine.

DISTRICT No. 91 .- This district embraces the territory in the extreme northwestern part of the town, and extends into the adjoining towns. The schoolhouse is located in the western part of sec- tion six.

DISTRICT No. 92 .- This district was organized about 1860,and a log house rolled together by sub- scription, which answered all school purposes until 1870, when their present schoolhouse was erected at a cost of about $900, a short distance south of where the original house stood. This house is a neat brick building, and is a credit to the district. It is located on the northwest quarter of section eighteen.

DISTRICT No. 170 .- This received its organiza- tion later than the other districts in the township, in 1874, and the present neat brick schoolhouse was erected at a cost of $1,000, in the northern part of section eight. The officers of the school are as follows: Clerk, S. Yarnes; Director, H. Ubrig; Treasurer, John Bar.

DISTRICT No. 143 .- Miss Crain taught the first

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HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY.

school here in 1856 or '57, in a house in section thirteen which is the village section. The next year the school was also taught by the same lady in another dwelling. The house now in use by the district was erected about 1870, and cost be- tween $900 and $1000, being a substantial brick structure, in the eastern part of section fifteen.

DISTRICT No. 142 .- Was organized at an early day, and is now among the most prosperous schools in the township. The school has a good attendance of scholars, and employs good teach- ers. The district embraces the territory in the southeastern part of the town, the excellent stone schoolhouse being located on the southwestern quarter of section twenty-seven.

MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES,

SAW-MILL .- The first saw-mill built in this town was completed in 1854, by the firm of Henry & Renslow, and was completed and running in 1855. It was equipped with an upright saw, run by water-power, and located on section thirteen, on or near the town plat of Forestville. It was run by different parties up to the year 1880.

GRIST-MILL .- In connection with the above saw-mill the same firm erected and put into opera- tion a grist-mill, which was located adjoining the saw-mill, on the town plat. This was commenced in 1855, and completed in 1856, run by water- power, through the medium of a turbine wheel, with a nine foot head. It contained two run of stones and could grind about sixteen bushels of wheat per hour. It was operated until 1880.

OTHER SAW-MILLS .- The largest and most ex- tensive saw-mill ever erected in town was put up in 1856, in the village of Forestville by R. M. Foster and the Meighen brothers, Felix and Wil- liam. It was a steam mill, circular saw, and cost about $4,000, the size of the main building being about 20x40 feet. It was run for four or five years and then moved to Wisconsin.

A saw-mill was erected in 1857, by F. K. Bald- win in the southwestern part of the town, on Root River, and kept piling up saw dust until 1876. Mr. Baldwin put a run of stones for fecd in the mill which is occasionally run yet.

FORESTVILLE VILLAGE.

This is the only village or hamlet in this town- ship, and is among the oldest towns in the county, being almost thirty years old, and it may be said that it has not grown or improved with age. The

village is situated on the south branch of Root River, the plat extending on both the north and south banks of the same. The river at this point furnishes excellent water-power, although it is not utilized.

EARLY SETTLEMENT .- The early settlement of the village dates as far back as 1852, for it was at this point that Levi Waterman, mentioned else- where, first located. He is therefore the first set- tler of the village, and put up the first residence of logs within or near Forestville. Following Waterman, R. M. Foster came, arriving in 1853, and with his energetic management a store was soon started and run by him with a $700 stock of goods. He also opened the first tavern, in 1854, before the village of Forestville was platted.

Henry Fitch arrived late in 1853, and pre- empted a claim on section thirteen, where the south part of the village now is. Forest Henry and Wm. Renslow arrived a short time after, and bought out Fitch's claim. They then platted and recorded the southern part of the village in the latter part of 1854.

The northern part of the village was platted in 1854, by R. M. Foster, Wm. Meighen being the surveyor. This part of the village is the business portion, it being a business center, on a small scale prior to the platting of the village. R. M. Foster having established the first store and tavern on that plat in 1853. It is separated from the southern part by the Root River. In 1854, the village was on the Burbank stage line from Brownsville to Mankato.

There was a grist and saw-mill within its limits untill 1880, when they were discontinued. The Post-office at this point was established in 1855. The village now has only one store, a blacksmith and wagon-repair shop, and about forty buildings.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

REBECCA APENHURT was born in Holland in 1834, and lived there until twenty-two years old. She came to America in 1856, and located in Wisconsin, where she was married the same year to Garet Apenhurt. They lived in Wisconsin twelve years, then moved to Forestville. Mr. Apenhurt was a farmer and also a painter. He died in the latter place on the 13th of November, 1881, aged fifty years. Mrs. Apenhurt is the mother of six chil- dren, five of whom are living. She is a member of the Reform Church. Her farm of one hundred and sixty acres is mostly improved.

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FORESTVILLE TOWNSHIP.

GEORGE BAR was born in Germany in 1831. He lived with his parents, and in 1843, came to America with them, to Tioga county, New York. He attended school in Germany, and learned the tailor's trade in New York City, at which he worked while in that State. He removed to Minnesota in 1856, and settled in Forestville, sec- tion twenty-three, where he is still engaged in farming. He was married in this place in 1860, to Miss Ann West. They have six children; Edgar, twenty-one years old; John, nineteen; George, sixteen; Beucher, thirteen; Lucy, eleven; and Gruly, eight. He has been a member of the board of Supervisors several terms, and is now Chairman of the same.

J. H. BONESTEEL was born in New York in 1831, where he lived until 1855, and finished his education there, also taught school and was en- gaged in lumbering. Then came to Forestville and taught school and lumbered for two years. In 1858, he married Miss L. A. Abbott. He is the father of nine children, six of whom are living. He has been a member of the Town Board several terms, Collector two years, and Treasurer three years. In 1865, he enlisted in the army in the First Minnesota Heavy Artillery, Company K, and was mustered out at the close of the war. He resides on section twenty.

JAMES L. COLBY was born in Vermont in 1814, and remained with his parents until seventeen years old, attending the common schools. He moved to New York in 1831, and engaged in farm- ing for two years, then learned the carpenter trade and worked at it twenty-one years. Then he moved to Indiana, following the same business for one and a half years, and in 1856, came to For- estville, section thirty-three. He was married in New York to Miss Elmina A. Lewis. They have had five children, four of whom are living. He was appointed first Postmaster of Cherry Grove, in 1859, held the office thirteen years, and was re-appointed this year. He has been one of the Town Board several years.

MOSES FARNSWORTH was born in New York in 1819. He lived with his parents and attended school until sixteen years old, then engaged in farming until 1843, when he moved to Illinois and worked at the carpenter trade eighteen years. He was married in the latter State in 1844, to Miss Ann Smith. They removed to Forestville, section twenty, in 1861, and he has since been engaged

in farming and carpenter work. They have two children, one at home and one living in Idaho.

M. J. FOSTER is a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1823. He lived at home and attended school until eighteen years old, then moved to Ohio where he was mining two years, thence to Illinois, where he worked in the lead mines four years. He re- turned to Ohio in 1848, and two years later mar- ried Miss Eliza J. Riddle. In 1854, they came to this county, Forestville township, section twelve, where he kept a hotel for fifteen years, and in 1870, moved to section ten, where he now resides on a farm. In 1857, he was elected to the Legis- lature, and re-elected in 1864. He has been Jus- tice of the Peace twenty-two years, and Chairman of the board of Supervisors two terms. He is the father of six children; J. W., Catharine, Sarah E., John, Mary, and Josephine. His wife died with a cancer in 1871, forty-two years old.

R. M. FOSTER was born in Pennsylvania in 1821, in which State he lived and went to school until twenty-two years old. He removed to Ohio in 1843, and remained there ten years. He came to Forestville in 1853, and followed mercantile business until 1869, when he sold out and went to farming, at which he is still engaged. He was married in 1854, to Miss Elizabeth Renslow. They have ten children, five boys and five girls, all living. He has been Justice of the Peace sev- eral years, also a member of the board of Super- visors, and is now County Commissioner. He and his wife are members of the Catholic Church.

CHARLES GRALING was born in Germany in 1827. When twenty years old he came with his parents to America, lived in New York until 1855, then removed to Forestville and engaged in farm- ing, which he still follows. He was married in 1873, and has four children. He has been a mem- ber of the town and school boarde for several terms. He has three hundred and ninety acres of land, two hundred and seventy-five acres of which is improved, with a fine brick house and good barn.

JOHN GRABAU was born in Germany in April, 1828, and reared on a farm. He was married in 1856. The same year they came to America and located in Forestville, Minnesota. They have been blessed with eight children, seven of whom are living. Mr. Grabau owns a fine farm. There is a brick schoolhouse on his land, and his children are well educated.

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HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY.

JOHN GILL was born in Wilmington, Delaware, in 1824. He moved with his parents to Pennsyl- vania in 1825, and remained there until 1839, re- ceiving a common school education. He subsequent- ly moved to Ohio, and engaged in brickmaking. He was married in the latter State to Miss Jane Rid- dle, a native of Ohio. In 1856, he came to Min- nesota and engaged at brickmaking and farming, which employment he still follows. They have been blessed with nine children. He has been a member of the board of Supervisors two terms.

ALONZO HAMLIN was born in Vermont in 1830; lived in his native State until the age of twenty years, where he attended the common schools and finished his education at Arlington Seminary. In 1850, he moved to New York, where he was en- gaged in farming for several years, then came to Minnesota and still follows the same employment. He was married in New York in 1851, to Miss Na- omi Carpenter. This union was blessed with six children. Mrs. Hamlin died in Forestville in 1869. The maiden name of his present wife was Miss Esther A. Wooden, whom he married in 1870. Mr. Hamlin has been Assessor two years, and a member of the board of Supervisors one term.

CHARLES HANSEN was born in New Hampshire in 1828. When he was three years old his parents removed to Chenango county, New York, and thence to Erie county. He attended school and was reared as a farmer. At the age of eighteen years he was engaged at wagon-making, and in 1855, removed to Forestville, where he worked at the carpenter trade two years, then engaged in farming, which occupation he now follows. He has one hundred and sixty acres of land, all im- proved. He was united in marriage in this State with Miss L. R. Ingalls, a native of New York. The result of this union is one child, Mary A., sev- enteen years of age. He was a member of the first Republican Convention of this State, and also of the Constitutional Convention in 1857. Was Justice of the Peace six years.

GEORGE HOY was born in Canada in 1819, where he finished his education and followed the milling business until forty years old. In 1840, he married Miss Emily McCalister. He removed to Forestville in 1857, where he has since been en- gaged in farming. Mr. and Mrs. Hoy had two children, and the latter died in 1862. He served in the army three years. The maiden name of his

present wife was Miss Elizabeth Alexander, whom he married in April, 1881. She is a native of Pennsylvania.

H. B. HENSINKVELD was born in Holland in 1847, and lived with his parents in his native country until eight years old, then came with them to America and located in Wisconsin. He at- tended school and was reared on a farm. In 1868, he removed to Forestville, where he was married, in 1871, to Miss J. Mensink. This union has been blessed with five children, only one of whom is living. Edith died in April, 1873; Annie, Mark, and Elmer died of scarlet fever in April, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Hensinkveld are members of the Re- form Church.

P. H. INGALLS is a native of New York, born in 1831. He lived with his parents until twenty-one years old; attended school and finished his educa- tion at Aurora Academy, Erie county. He then worked at the carpenter trade until 1852, when he came to Wisconsin, remaining six months, and thence to Washington county, Minnesota, where ' he worked at his trade for nine years. He came to Forestville in 1861, and engaged in farming, to which employment he has since given his whole attention. In 1874, he was joined in marriage with Miss Martha Newell. They have two chil- dren; Florence B., aged seven years; and George Ross, aged four years.

G. J. MENSING was born in Holland in 1823, where he lived until twenty-three years old, then came with his parents to America and located in Saratoga county, New York. In 1847, he married Miss Henrietta Van Vleck, a native of the latter State. He was engaged in farming ten years, then came to Michigan, remaining six years in the same employment, thence to Wisconsin, which was his home two years. In 1862, he removed to Forest- ville, where he is still engaged in farming. Mr. and Mrs. Mensing have had three children; A. V., aged thirty-four years; Henry B., thirty-two years, and Asenath Maria, thirty years. His wife died in April, 1882, at the age of sixty-eight years and nine months.

H. B. MENSING was born in Saratoga county, New York, in July, 1849. His parents moved to Michigan while he was an infant. In six years they removed to Wisconsin, remaining two years, then to Forestville, where he completed his educa- tion and is now engaged in farming. In 1873, he was nnited in marriage with Miss Mary A. Nash. The union has been blessed with three children.

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History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 106

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

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