History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 74

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

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RICHLAND POST-OFFICE.

About the first Post-office in the county, in this vicinity, was at the house of Elijah Austin, just south of the village of Lenora, on the present farm of William S. Hoyt, in section eleven, with Mr. Austin as Postmaster. This was before a mail route was established, and it was usual for some settler to bring it from Decorah. When Austin's family moved away the office went to the house of B. F. Tillotson. It was called Richland, and after- wards went to Amherst.

LENORA VILLAGE.

This is an elder sister among the villages of Fillmore county. Its location is in the northeast- ern part of the town and southern part of that fer- tile region, Richland Prairie. Its advantages as a townsite are its surroundings. As a trading point with several States it bad for a time a promising existence, and would have gone on prospering had not the magnetic force of the railroads on either side drawn its vitality away.

ITS EARLY SETTLEMENT .- The projector of this townsite was Elder John L. Dyer, an enthusiastic Methodist minister, who, in 1855, took the west half of the southeast and the east half of the south-

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west quarter of section two. In the year 1856, he solemnly set off the southwest forty for a town site, and with a zeal, which was certainly laudable at that time, proposed to sell lots and appropriate the avails to the building of a large Methodist church. It was to be of stone and in the basement there was to be a school or academy, which should be de- nominational in its teachings.

Mr. Dyer devoted his energies to this object in his ponderous and energetic way, and many lots were sold, some of them realizing $60 each. In the winter of 1856 and '57, stone was hauled for the building and work was commenced. The walls were nearly up when the panic of 1857 struck the enterprise and left poor Mr. Dyer stranded on the shore of hopelessnes, and his work to crumble under the remorseless action of the ele- ments.

Mr. Dyer, it is believed, was originally from Ga- lena, Illinois. He had a daughter, who kept his house, and three sons, who were seldom at home. One of them became a Judge and was shot by a mob at a Court House, in Colorado; another was drowned in the service during the war, and the other son, Samuel, has lived in Rushford but is now in Colorado.

STORES .- Mr. Dyer, in 1856, put a small stock of goods in a cement building diagonally opposite the present hotel, and his son Joshua managed it.

In 1859, W. S. Hoyt, opened quite a stock of goods in the old hotel, worth $2,000, and he paid $300 for the building and two lots.

From that time the village has continued to have from two to four stores. At present E. D. Wash- burn has a compact stock of goods. W. F. Stevens has a large stock of general merchandise and does a good business, he also does a jewelry busi- ness and carries quite a stock of those goods.

HOTEL .- During the summer of 1859, Charles Churchill put a tavern on the present site of Wash- burn's store, which was materially remodeled for its present purpose.

Mr. A. C. Seelye is the good natured landlord of the present hotel. He is an old settler and re- members many early incidents.

BLACKSMITH .- A. S. Busse has carried on black- smithing since 1873, and hae a good shop.

PHYSICIAN .- Dr. J. M. Wheat is one of the early pioneers of the county and has lived in or near the village since 1856. He has an extensive practice. LENORA POSTOFFICE. - Charles B. Willford was

appointed Postmaster in the winter of 1856, and Joshua Dyer was his deputy, who kept the office at his store. Afterward Mrs. Bennet acted as deputy, with the office at her house in the village; Then John Hobart had the office at his store, and was followed by William Smith, and on his death his wife, received his commission. George John- son held it in his store until it was burned in 1878, when A. C. Seelye had it at his hotel for a few months, when the present Postmaster, N. J. Willsie was appointed. He keeps the office at his house, and has an original method of delivery, which is quite convenient and expeditious.

LENORA CEMETERY .- The land for a burial place was purchased of William Smith and O. F. Holmes at a very early day. Austin Eastman's remains were the first to be deposited there, in the fall of 1856. The records in regard to the early ceme- tery organization are lost, but another organization was effected on the 7th of September, 1867, with regular officers, rules, etc. The lot is elevated somewhat, and wits its fine monuments makes a beautiful appearance.

DISTRICT NO. 19, OR LENORA DISTRICT .- School is said to have been kept in the limits of this district before any other in the county, although it is impossible to tell how many others will claim a like distinction. It is certain, how- ever, that a large log schoolhouse was built in this district in the spring of 1854, just east of the present hotel. The district was then very large, and men for miles around took part in its construction. It was 20x26 feet. A school was soon opened with Miss Lucinda Miller at the teacher's desk. She is now Mrs. Caleb Onstine, of Chatfield. This building was utilized as a church and for public meetings, and during vaca- tions, James M. Graham used it as a residence while he was fitting up an abode for himself.

A large number living south of Lenora, re- quired nearer accommodations and so in 1856, it was determined to build a schoolhouse near the north line of section fourteen, which was done, and Miss Martha Streator, now Mrs. S. V. Kings- bury, presided over the first youthful gathering, and for a time the school in the village was closed. In the new house Dr. J. M. Wheat and Silas Pen- nock were among the first teachers. New district organizations have very much reduced the size of its former dimensions. In 1865, the present com- modious building was erected in the village.

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METHODIST CHURCH .- The first preaching in what is now the Lenora circuit, was by Rev. Ben- jamin Crist, an early Methodist missionary, who made trips on foot between Brownsville and Chat- field, and made an occasional detour to this place to hold meetings in some cabin. As early as 1854, he had services in the house of Mrs. J. Streator.

On the appearance of Elder Dyer he held meet- ings in the schoolhouse. The first quarterly meeting was held on the 28th of April, 1855.

As already related, Mr. Dyer began to build the church on a grand scale, but the services still con- tinued in the little schoolhouse. There was a short conference about 1860, and Rev. James Cowden and Rev. John Door were here. Rev. W. H. Soule followed them. In 1863, Rev. Charles J. Hayes was stationed here.

In 1865, Rev. Mr. Mapes was called to this charge. He was a worker and began the erection of a church, being greatly assisted by James M. Graham who gave time and money to the work. The new structure was commenced within the walls of the old building. A mason was employed and Mr. Mapes and Mr. Graham "attended" him, mix- ing the mortar and conveying it and the stone to the skilled workman who laid it up. In this way it was built, and rude seats put in, and it was dedicated in 1866, Elder Daniel Cobb presiding.

In 1866, J. Lamberson was assigned to this place and Elliota. Rev. I. H. Richardson was here in 1868, remaining two years. Rev. J. W. Stebbins was then here two years, and hewas followed by Rev. W. T. Broughton. In 1874, Rev. E. A. Terwilliger was the pastor. The next preacher was Rev. W. A. Miles, followed by Rev. W. M. Bowdish. In 1879, Rev. E. S. Bunce had charge. In 1881, Rev. T. H. Kinsman was stationed here. It is one of the strongest congregations in the vicinity.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH .- This society was or- ganized about 1857, with the following members: I. N. Smith and wife, James Lynn and wife, and John Miller, at the house of the latter, Rev. Ira Tracey, of Spring Valley, officiating. Meetings were held at the log schoolhouse. Mr. Tracy was followed by the old pioneer, Rev. W. W. Snell, now at Rushford, and this became a branch of the Rushford society. From February, 1859, to some time in 1861, Mr. Snell came regularly once in two weeks. Rev. George Bent was the next expounder of the gospel; he remained to

preach every second Sunday for nine years, and was followed by Rev. John A. Cruzen, from Iowa, who supplied the pulpit for five months. Rev. C. A. Marshall followed, remaining for about three years, having service once in two weeks. Rev. H. R. Lamb was the next supply, then Rev. James A. Mitchell. In 1876, Rev. George Sterling officiated. Rev. Charles W. Wiley preached here up to the 25th of April, 1880, having appeared in 1878. All these ministers were connected with congregations in Iowa. The meetings have been held in the Methodist church, but now there is no regular service.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH .- There is no regular organization in this form of belief, but Rev. Preston Barr, of Lanesboro, comes here once in two weeks and supplies thecongregational needs, using the Methodist church as a place of worship.

BAPTIST CHURCH .- As early as 1854, Elder Wil- liam Bly came here on a missionary tour from Elliota, and as there were no roads he blazed the trees as he came, to find his way back. He had service at the house of Mr. Austin in section eleven, which was north of the present village. In 1856, an organization was effected, with Mr. Bly as preacher. Rev. Mr. Sheldon and Rev. Mr. Morse, were afterwards here. The meetings were in the schoolhouse. So many of the members moved away that the meetings were finally discontinued.

LENORA ARCHEAN SOCIETY .- In the year 1859, a literary society was organized at Lenora, called the Archean Society, the object of which was to improve in composing and expressing their thoughts on paper. A paper was made up, com- posed of the articles written by members of the society and others, and named "The Monthly Union," and read once a month in the Lenora log schoolhouse, by some member of the society who had been chosen at some former meeting as editor. The names of some of the members of the Archean Society were, E. F. Dyer, W. W. Braden, William Willford, S. V. Kingsbury, Henry Titus, W.C. Jack- son, Mrs. Sherburne Stevens, Miss Maria Strea- tor, and Miss Mary Simms. William Willford was first editor. The society kept up its organization for about three years, and when the "Union" was read there was always a crowded house to listen to the articles written by the home talent of Le- nora. When the rebellion commenced the society was obliged to discontinue the "Union." The members of the society were profited bp the enter-

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prise, and the early days of Lenora will be long remembered from "The Monthly Union" of 1858.

ELLIOTA VILLAGE.

In the summer of 1853, when this region was first settled, Captain Elliott, whose claim proved to be on the southwest of section thirty-two, planned to have a village here, and gave away lots to all who would improve them, and as soon as the land was in the market it was platted and record- ed. A store was started, and a hotel, by the enter- prising proprietor, and in 1854, he sold his stock of goods to Harvey Marsh who managed the busi- ness up to February, 1855, when the hotel and store were both burned, but Mr. Marsh at once rebuilt.

John Boone next put up a large stone store, and it still stands, with "wholesale and retail" visible on the front. At one time there were four stores, with hotel, shops, and other village concomitants.

John Cleghorn also soon put in a good stock of goods, and it is said dug the first well. He was a member of the constitutional convention, and has since been Receiver in the land office in Sioux City, Iowa, besides holding other positions.

This was at one time a stage line center, Walk- er's Dubuque and St. Paul line being among the number. The old Territorial road was east of Elliott's claim, and there was great rivalry between this place and Syford's, who also kept a hotel, as to the travel. It was finally brought through the new village, and prosperity seemed to be a secured promise, but to-day it is more than a deserted town, for the village itself has deserted, and gone to Boomer, and its old business men are among the most successful ones in the new village.

ELLIOTA SCHOOL, DISTRICT No. 25 .-- The ini- tial school was in the winter of 1855-56, in an ad- dition to the house of C. B. Kimball, and it was presided over by Miss Sarah Allen, of Bellevue. This was east of the village, and during the fol- lowing summer it was kept at the house of Andrew Cheney. In 1856, the old stone schoolhouse was constructed. This served the purpose up to 1869, when it was burned, and after quite a bitter contest a new one was put up at a cost of about $500, on the northeast corner of section thirty-one, and the regular district school has been kept there since.

POSTOFFICE .- A Postmaster was commissioned here in 1854, Captain Elliott holding the document. He was succeeded by Mr. Dickinson, Mr. Wilcox, Mr. Manuel, and finally by Dr. Sturgeon, who sur-

rendered the pouch key in April, 1882, and closed the office.

ELLIOTA CEMETERY .- Is located on the State line south of the village plat. Captain Elliott's child was the first to find a resting place here.

RELIGIOUS .- Elder Bly preached in Mr. Kim- ball's residence and other places, which was the first here.

The Second Adventists, or Millerites, pitched a tent here and created considerable excitement at one time, the Rev. Mr. Sheldon being the Evan- gelist.

METHODIST CHURCH .- Service in this interest was first held in the old stone schoolhouse, which, some time after that, was burned. The walls were purchased, and it was repaired, and a spire now surmounts the structure. Among others who have officiated here may be mentioned: Revs. C. Hayes, J. Lamberson, I. H. Richardson, J. W. Stebbins, W. T. Broughton, E. A. Terwilliger, W. A. Miles, W. M. Bowdish, E. S. Bunce, and T. H. Kinsman. It is presumed that the meetings will be discon- tinued here as Boomer will absorb the congrega- tion.

As to the earliest history, the first class was or- ganized in 1857. The first quarterly meeting was held in November of that year, Rev. D. Cobb was the presiding Elder, with six or eight members. In the winter of 1857 and '58, there were great revivals.

REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH .- The first minister was the Rev. M. Stevenson, a missionary from Janesville, Wisconsin, about 1865. He had service in schoolhouses and in the Methodist church, and remained about two years when Rev. J. Buck was appointed by the Presbytery. He was here for two years and during that time the church, 40x60 feet, was constructed. Several others have been here since, but now there are no regular services.

BAPTIST .- In the first year of the settlement meetings were held at the house of Elder Bly. All parties, of whatever belief, turned out, as no other meetings were being held then. There is no record of any organization.

BOOMER OR CANTON VILLAGE.

This is a young village which has sprung into existence since the opening of the Narrow Gauge railroad, late in December, 1879. The Post-office is Boomer, the Post-office authorities having with great good sense refused to multiply the liability

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of mis-sending communications by adding another Canton to the confounding number already in ex- istence. As the village was "booming" when the order came to suggest a new name, in a spasm of enthusiasm the name Boomer was suggested by John Manuel and sent on. It is evident, however, that so long as there is one name for the village and another for the Post-office there will be more or less confussion, which a single name, that would at once distinguish it from all other places in the wide world would overcome. The village is located on the divide between Root River and the Iowa River system, and its growth and very fine prospering condition is due to the splendid farm- ing country around.

Previous to the advent of the railroad, the farmers, to sell their produce or make their pur- chases, had to go to Lanesboro, Prestou, or Rush- ford, each of which were striving for the trade of this vicinity, which includes some of the best farm- ing lands in the county. Since stock raising has become the staple business, the convenience of a village and railroad station right at their doors is certainly appreciated. Without question Canton village has secured much valuable trade that for- merly went to other distant villages. The statis- tics of the railroad agent show that this has be- come a most important shipping point, as stock and other farm products come from quite a dis- tance in Iowa for sale and shipment here.

Frank Adams, of Dubuque, the engineer of the railroad when building, perceiving the eligibility of the location for a village, bought thirty-two acres of land of C. Willford in section twenty-one, the same amount from John Olson in section twenty,' five acres from J. Sullivan in sec- ion twenty-eight, and five acres from G. B. Hudson in section twenty-nine. It is so situated that the water from one part of the village runs into Root River and on the other into the state of Iowa. It will thus be seen that the village occu- pies parts of four sections. This was in the fall of 1879, and Mr. Adams immediately had the site sur- veyed and platted, and duly recorded with the name of Canton. The next spring 800 shade trees were set out, and about this time Charles Willford purchased a half interest in the property. In the spring of 1882, William Willford bought out Frank Adams, and the undisposed of lots now belong to C. & W. Willford, and B. E. Edwards.

The building of the village was commenced in

a small way when it was first laid out, by John Meyers, a man with an itinerating proclivity, who put up a board shanty for a boarding house. In a few days Dr. Abraham Wiltse put up a shanty which he also dignified by calling it a boarding house.

The first store was erected by David Donald, who at once put in a fine stock of goods, and took Joseph Ernest in as a partner. The business was continued but a short time. The building still stands on the east side of Main street and is now used by Miss Annie Mclaughlin as a mil- linery store.

During the first part of the winter, John Man- uel, who had a store in Elliota, commenced mov- ing his store and goods, and by January, 1880, he had a good stock of general merchandise for sale. In a few weeks he moved up a larger build- ing, 22x60 feet, and transferred his goods into this. At present the larger of these buildings is occupied by P. H. Harsh with hardware, and the smaller by H. C. Hillickson & Co. with general merchandise.

James Young commenced his store about the same time that the moving was going on. The structure was the first substantial building erected in town, and is 24x60 feet, and in point of time it is the third store in the village.

HOTEL .- The boarding houses above mentioned, after a time gave place to the "Commercial," a large building moved up from Elliota by L. D. Fay.

RAILROAD STATION .- The depot was first located about three quarters of a mile east of the present village, on the farm of A. Woodle. This was in fulfillment of the conditions under which the bonds were voted, viz: "that the depot should be the nearest to the east line of section twenty-one" the west line of which is in the center of the vil- lage. It remained there until the fall of 1881, when it was moved to the village. It is probably true that the annual shipments of live stock here exceed those of any other station in Fillmore county.

ELEVATORS .- Coincident with the building of the railroad, the elevator built by the railroad com- pany went up. From the first it was operated by A. & T. McMichael, of McGregor, Iowa. It was opened on the 1st of December, 1879, and received about 21,000 bushels of grain the first month. It is 24x28 feet with a warehouse of like size at-

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tached. The elevator has a capacity of 11,000 bushels. It is operated by a single horse.

About the same time another elevator was erected by McCormick & Co., of Lansing, Iowa. It has a capacity of 12,000 bushels. It is 24x24 feet, aud a flat warehouse 16x24 feet is attached. A single blind horse here does the elevating. These establishments always pay well up to the Milwaukee and Chicago prices, of course after deducting the cost of transportation. And they buy whatever the producer has to sell.

BLACKSMITH .- S. G. Sands, the first winter of the village, got a shop built and started a fire in his forge. S. Boyd, who is still here, also began operations in another shop.

The village grew rapidly. and it already has a large number of business houses, which all seem to be doing well.

POST-OFFICE .- This was established in the fall of 1879, and, as already stated, called Boomer. John Manuel was the first Postmaster, and held the place with James Manuel as deputy, up to July, 1880, when James himself was appointed. It is kept in the new store.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH .- Meetings were first held in the Billiard Hall of S. A. Capron in October, 1881, and have been kept up every two weeks since that time. It is now part of the Lenora charge, and Rev. T. H. Kinsman furnisbes the supply. A contract has been made for a nice church, 26x52 teet, with a spire, aud will cost $1,700. The presumption is that when completed it will absorb the Elliota charge, and form a good substantial society.

VILLAGE SCHOOL .- When first recorded as a village the territory embraced the corners of fonr school districts, but in the fall of 1881, a new dis- trict, No. 174, was formed by taking forty acres from each of them, and thus making a new one from the 160 acres thus obtained. Arrangements are making to build a schoolhouse two stories high, with a belfry and other adornments, at a cost of about $2,000. It will be 26x50 feet, have improved seats and suitable apparatus. The first school was taught by Miss May L. Mason in the house of George Hudson, in March, 1881.

CORNET BAND .- In the spring of 1882, the young men of the village organized a band, pro- curing their own instruments at a cost of $187.77. They received instruction from Thomas Evans, of

Lanesboro, the citizens paying for the instruction by voluntary contributions.

PROSPER.

The vicinity of section thirty-six is called Pros- per, as there is a Post-office of that name located here. Soon after the close of the war of the rebellion, Mr. E. B. Clark secured a Post-office and was appointed Postmaster, keeping the office at his house in section thirty-five. In about one year it went over the State line, with Enoch Rol- lins as Postmaster. In 1880, F. R. Miles suc- ceeded to the position, and the office is now in bis store near the railroad on the farm of Peter Brode, and has a daily mail.

CEMETERY .-- An acre and a half was purchased by subscription in section twenty-five, on the pres- ent farm of M. C. Call. It is fenced and quite well kept, and is practically a free burial place, which is quite a consideration when we remember that with the prevailing fashion in obsequial ob- servances, it is much more expensive to die thau to live.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

C. ABRAHAMSON is a native of Iowa, born in Decorah on the 2d of October, 1857. At the age of ten years he went to Dane county, Wisconsin, and lived with an uncle for five years. He then returned to Decorah and learned the harnessmak- er's trade, at which he was engaged three years. In 1877, Mr. Abrahamson moved to Lanesboro, worked at his trade for a time, and subsequently opened a livery stable, which he carried on about a year, then went to Dakota and found employ- ment at different occupations. In 1880, he re- turned to Fillmore county and opened a harness shop in Canton, in which business he is still en- gaged. Miss Louisa Rognals became his wife on the 10th of December, 1879. They have one child, Robert L.

ROBERT ARMSTRONG, who come here in 1853 with the "Elliott Colony" is the only one of that number now living in the town. He is a native of England, born near London, and reared in Manchester, where he served an apprenticeship of seven years at the cabinet maker's trade. He came to America in 1847, and worked at his trade in the Middle States a few years, then in Glouces- ter, New Jersey. On the 1st of January, 1849, he was joined in wedlock with Miss Eliza Deming- ton. They resided in Philadelphia for a time, and

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in 1852, came to Rock Island, Illinois. The fol- lowing spring they joined a company coming from Moline to Fillmore county, Minnesota. Mr. Armstrong took a farm in this township the same year, which he improved, and also worked some at his trade, but now devotes his entire attention to agricultural pursuits. Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong have had nine children, eight of whom are living.

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History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 74

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

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