History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 93

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 93

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DISTRICT No. 31 .- In 1880, this district was or- ganized, and the first school called to order by Miss Alice Edmunds, in Thomas Bogan's granary. In the fall of 1881, the schoolhouse was built on section thirty, and that winter Myron Rumsey taught the first school.

DISTRICT No. 106 .- This was first organized in 1859, and was partly in the state of Iowa. The first school was in a log cabin in that State in the summer of 1859, and Christine Thompson was the teacher. In 1860, a shanty was built for a schoolhouse, near the State line on this side, and the first teacher was Miss Lucinda Tibbles. After using that a while they built a schoolhouse on the same spot, the southeast quarter of section thirty- five, and that answered the purpose up to 1872, when a good schoolhouse was constructed on sec- tion twenty-seven which cost $500. Claudia Davis

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has the honor of being the first here to demand attention of the congregated pupils.

DISTRICT No. 141 .- This was organized in 1863, and a shanty promptly put up for school purposes on section thirty-one, and here for two years mental training was going on. Then the building now occupied on section fifteen was built. Miss Rhoda Cray was the first instructor. This had been a part of No. 105.

DISTRICT No. 103 .- The voters of this district got together in the fall of 1863, and arranged the new district in the house of Henry Hook. A school was kept in Patrick Leddy's milkhouse, Miss Emma Peters presiding that winter, and Miss Kate Gra- ham the next summer, in James Smith's granary. The next winter an extemporized building was put together at a cost of $115, which has since been remodeled. Miss Emma Peters managed the first school here.

DISTRICT No. 102 .- In 1859, the outline of this district was defined, and one of those schoolhouses so fashionable at that time, made of logs, was put up on section five. This served the purpose until near the middle of the seventies, when another was built on the same section. This schoolhouse has been used as a meeting place for the Lutherans and also for the Methodists.

DISTRICT No. 105 .- The first school in this vicinity was in 1858, and the district was regularly organized about that time. A building was bor- rowed of Norman Gates and moved from the north- west to the northeast quarter of sec'ion sixteen, and here mental discipline for the rising genera- tion went on until 1861, when a schoolhouse was built on the same spot. In 1863, there was a sub- division of the district and the schoolhouse was moved to section nine. The school was kept there until 1876, when the building was replaced by a new one.

DISTRICT No. 143 .- At the house of H. O. Bryant in 1866, a meeting was held, and an or- ganization secured by the election of O. B. Bry- ant, J. C. Preston, and B. F. Holman as officers, and it included one-half of section six in the town of York. The first school was opened in a house belonging to O. A. Boynton, with Augusta Doug- lass in charge of the exercises. In 1868, a school- house was got up on section one, but in January, 1872, it was moved to section two. Miss Mary Ann Griffin was an early teacher in the district, perhaps the first. She is now Mrs. Hutchinson.

RELIGIOUS.

The Free Baptist Church was organized on the 12th af July, 1862, with twelve members, at the house of Mr. Gilman, by Elder Cyrus Young. He remained on duty for about one year, when he was succeeded by Elder Reeves. The services were at private houses and at the schoolhouse on section twenty-six. Rev. M. Young is the present pastor.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

A. H. BARNES was born in Erie county, New York, on the 10th of June, 1847. When six years old, he removed with his parents to Illinois, where his father died one year later, leaving his mother with seven children, the youngest of whom was but six months old. He remained with his mother until 1865, and enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-Seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Com- pany I, Colonel Hiram F. Sickles commanding the regiment. Was ordered south to Fort Dal- ton, Georgia, where they joined the command of General Thomas, and remained there until after the assassination of President Lincoln. He remained in the latter State during the year, and received his discharge at Savannah on the 20th of January, 1866. He came to Iowa the following March, and bought a farm in Howard county, where he lived until 1872. Then sold and moved to Chester, in the same State, and in 1877, bought the farm in Beaver township where he now lives. In 1869, he was married to Miss Emily Conklin, daughter of Lewis Conklin. They have three children; Walter, Willie, and Ida.

ASA BARRET was born in Canada on the 19th of April, 1830. He attended school while young, and later worked on a stock farm. In 1854, he came to Illinois and purchased a farm in Will county, where he engaged in raising stock. He married, in 1862, Miss Evalina Avery, a native of New York. They have three children; Lora M., Albert H., and Alta M. In 1868, he disposed of his business in Illinois, came to this county, pur- chased a farm in Beaver, and since has given his attention to stock raising and dairying. He brought with him from Illinois a stock of Perch- eron horses, to which he has since made some val- uable additions. They were the first of the kind in the county.

O. A. BOYNTON was born in Maine, on the 30th of August, 1822, his parents moving to Canada

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soon after his birth. When he was about ten years of age, they came to New York and settled in Monroe county, then to Spring Valley, Rock county, Wisconsin. He lived with his parents until he was twenty-four years old, when he went to Michigan and spent seventeen months, then re- turning to Wisconsin. While in Michigan, in September, 1848, he was joined in marriage with Miss Jane E. Shepard, a native of New York. They have had four children; Herbert, Alice, Ada, and Willis. The two oldest died while young. Mr. and Mrs. Boynton made their home in Wis- consin until 1856, when they came to Minnesota, settling in this town. He pre-empted land in sec- tion one, and built a log house in which they lived until 1859, then built the frame dwelling in which they reside at present. His daughter, Ada, married Frank Simons on the 22d of February, 1879. Willis married Rose Broadbent on the 21st of December, 1879.

HANS CHRISTIANSEN is a native of Norway, born in May, 1810. At fifteen years of age he learned the tailor's trade. When twenty-two years old he was drafted, then attended the military school one year, and afterward served in the army seven years. He was married in 1835. Engaged at his trade until 1853, when he emigrated to America, landed at Quebec, and went to Racine, Wisconsin. He worked at his trade and on a farm there four years, then came to this county and pre-empted land in Beaver, section five. He devoted his time to improving his land, and in 1862, enlisted in the Fifth Minnesota Vol- unteer Infantry, Company H, went south, and was at the battle of Corinth. He was taken sick and discharged for disability. In 1871, he sold his farm to Ole J. Hatlestad and bought another in section seventeen, where he lived until 1879, then purchased in section sixteen, where he now lives. He is the father of eight children, four of whom are now living; Christian, Ole, John, and Helen. Bertha died at Spring Valley, twenty years of age; Olive Mothal was twenty years old when her death occurred, and the other two died in infancy.

DAVID J. DAVIS was born in Wales, on the 31st of March, 1814, and reared on a farm. He first learned to read in the Sabbath school, and now is able to read six different languages. In 1844, he came to America, landed in New York on the 16th of September, went directly to Racine, Wisconsin, remained until spring, and went thence to Colum-

bia county, where he took eighty acres of land. He improved his farm and built a log house, re- maining there eight years. In 1848, he married Miss Given Roberts. They have been blessed with seven children, three of whom are living; Claudia, Hugh and Walter. Mr. Davis went to Nebraska, to the Omaha Mission, instructing the Indians in farming; was there three years when the Indians were removed to the Black Bird Hills, and he went with them, remaining four years. He returned to Columbia county and was there one year, then sold and came to this county in 1861, buying forty acres of land on section twenty-five, Beaver township. He has made other purchases, and now owns two hundred and eighty acres in sections twenty-five and thirty-six.

DAVID BRAINARD GRIFFIN, deceased, was born in Essex, Chittenden county, Vermont, on the 13th of January, 1831, and was reared on a farm. In 1852, he married Minerva Griffin. One year later they moved to Will county, Illinois, where they resided until 1856, then to Iowa, remaining one year, and thence to this county, settling in section fifteen Beaver township. He improved the land and built a cabin, in which he lived until the 23d of September, 1861, when he enlisted in the Second Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, Company F. He went south with the regiment and was killed in the bat- tle of Chicamauga, nearly two years from the day he left home. He was the first town clerk in Beaver, being elected without one dissenting vote. He was also the first to enlist from the township, and the first to give his life for the defense of his country. He left a widow and three children; Alice, Ida, and Edgar Lincoln, the latter of whom died on the 28th of April, 1870, aged nine years. Mrs. Griffin was married to Mr. W. D. Andrews in 1868, and now resides in Spring Valley.

MANUEL B. HUTCHINSON was born in Franklin county, New York, on the 7th of May, 1849. In 1855, his parents moved to Bloomfield, Minnesota, where they were among the first settlers. Manuel attended schools in winter, after schools were organized, and worked upon his father's farm until he was twenty-two years old. He then bought a farm of his father in section four, Beaver township. He remained a bachelor until 1873, when he was mar- ried to Miss Alice Griffin, the ceremony taking place on the 25th of December. His energies were devoted chiefly to raising small grain until 1878, since which time he has dealt in stock and produce

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to a considerable extent, and has demonstrated the fact that stock-raising can be made profitable in Minnesota. Mr. Hutchinson has the esteem and confidence of the community, and has served sev- eral terms as Town Clerk.

G. B. HUNGERFORD was born in Chenango county, New York, on the 8th of August, 1837. When he was eight years old, his parents removed to Rock county, Wisconsin, where his younger days were spent at school and on a farm. He made his home with them until 1856, when he married Miss Amanda Winslow. One year later they came to Fountain, Minnesota, buying land in section seven, on which he built a house and made other improvements. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the Eighth Minnesota Volunteer In- fantry, Company D, went west, up the Yellowstone River, and as far as Idaho with Gen. Sully's expe- dition. In 1864, they returned and went South, joined Scofield's division, went to the Tennessee River, and from there to Cincinnati, thence to Washington, thence to South Carolina, and from there to North Carolina, where they joined Sher- man's army and were with it until the close of the war. They were mustered out in St. Paul on the 18th of July, 1865. He returned home and in 1876, sold out and bought wild land in Beaver township, which he has improved, and still makes his residence. Mr. and Mrs. Hungerford have had four children; Viola, Judson, William, and Fannie.

RUDOLPH MILLER is a native of Switzerland, born on the 19th of May, 1825, and was reared on a farm. In 1851, he married Miss Rachel Smith. In 1855, he left his native land and emigrated to America, landed in New York and came to Lans- ing, Iowa, where he remained about a year. He then returned to Switzerland for his family, and with them settled in Leroy, Mower county, Minnesota, in section twelve. He improved the land, built a house, and lived there twelve years, when he purchased a farm of his father in the town ot Beaver, where he now lives. In 1869, he built a frame house, and in 1877, a barn, 36x64 feet. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have been blessed with eight children; Anna, Henry, who was born in Switzer- land and died in 1863, at the age of nine years lacking one day, Maggie, Mary, John, Lizzie, Louisa, and Albert.

MIAL NICHOLS, deceased, one of the early set- tlers of Beaver, was born in Herkimer county,

New York, and reared on a farm. On the 16th of December, 1840, Miss Hannah Shepard, also of New York, became his wife. In the fall of 1851, he came west to Battle Creek, Michigan, where he spent the winter, then moved to Allamakee county, Iowa, where he remained until 1858, then came to this county and settled in section nine, Beaver. He improved the land and built the frame house where his widow now lives. His death occurred in 1879, at fifty-eight years of age. Mr. Nichols was the father of thirteen children; Horace B., James G., Dwight H., Dutton D., Emma M., who died at Battle Creek, in March, 1852, three years old; George G., Charles R., Albert T., Mial J., Willis A., Cassius, Eliza, and Arthur.

HORACE NICHOLS, son of Mial Nichols, was born in Herkimer county, New York, on the 1st of Oc- tober, 1841. He attended school and worked on a farm. In 1852, he came west with his parents, with whom he made his home until 1871, when he - married Miss Emma Pillsbury, a native of Wis- consin. In 1865, he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section ten. He im- proved the land and in 1871, built the frame house in which he now lives. In 1880, he purchased more land in section ten, and is engaged in the dairy business as well as farming. Mr. and Mrs. Nichols have two children; Myrtle M. and Grace F.

MARY PETERS, daughter of Knud Christiansen, was born in Norway, in 1822. In 1847, she mar- ried Andrew Peters. In 1851, they came to America, landed at Quebec and came to Wiscon- sin, where they lived until 1855, then moved to this county and settled in section twenty-one, Beaver, where she now lives. Mr. Peters is in Canton, Dakota, at the present time. They have had seven children; Emma, Lynden, born on the ocean and died in Wisconsin when a year old; Betty El- mira, Lynden Lee, Millie Juel, Mary Anu, and Clara Alta.

THOMAS R. ROBERTS, the youngest son of Evan and Mary Roberts, was born in Machynllath, Wales, on the 15th of July, 1826. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, and emigrated to America in 1849, landing in New York on the 4th of May; remained there till the 13th of September, then moved to Scranton, Pennsylvania. In 1850, he went to Morrisville, New York, where he remained until the latter part of September, 1855, then re- turned to Wales on a visit, coming again to this country in June, 1856. He married Miss Eliza-

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beth J. Williams, a daughter of Morgan and Jane Williams, the ceremony taking place on the 10th of September, 1857. They have two children; Jay, born the 24th of April, 1859, and May, born the 24th of May, 1864. In 1878, they removed to Dane county, Wisconsin, where he remained one year, then came to Beaver, Fillmore county, and located in section twenty-five where he still resides.

HIRAM WINSLOW was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, in July, 1837. In 1854, he came west with his parents to this county, where they were among the first settlers. He made his home with them until he was twenty-two years old, then en- gaged to learn the blacksmith trade. In 1860, he

purchased a farm in Fountain, which he worked on in the summer and did blacksmithing in the win- ter. In October, 1861, he married Miss Lorinda Post. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the Eighth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, Company D, went to Fort Snelling and from there to the frontier, where he was tuken sick in October and returned home. Six months later he was discharged. In 1876, he sold his farm in Fountain and purchased one in section twenty-two, Beaver, where he now lives. The same year he built a blacksmith shop, the only one here. He is the Postmaster of Alba Post-office, which is located in his house. Mr. and Mrs. Winslow have had five children; Corne- lius, Fred, Maurice, May, and Bertha. /

CHATFIELD.

CHAPTER LXVI.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION -- EARLY SETTLEMENT-CHAT- FIELD VILLAGE-POLITICAL-RELIGIOUS -INDUS- TRIAL ENTERPRISES- SCHOOLS-BIOGRAPHICAL.

This is the third town from the western bound- ary of the county on the northern line. Olmsted county joins it on the north, Pilot Mound on the east, Fountain on the south, and Jordan on the west. It contains thirty-six sections as originally run out by the government surveyors. The north- east part of the town is prairie, while the north- west was a solid body of heavy timber, and the south half of the town was oak openings, and is a rolling section of country.

The Root River, with its numerous tributaries, flows through the central part of the town. Sugar Creek flows northeast to mingle its waters with the parent stream in section fourteen. Bear Creek comes from the west through section eighteen. The north branch comes into town in the north- west corner, and finds the Root River in section seventeen. Numerous other rivulets arise from springs and help swell the "Hokah," as the Ab- origines called the Root River.

The Root River and Sugar Creek have bluffs on either side rising from fifty to one hundred and fifty feet or more, with projecting rocks and a variety of trees. The land is considered valueless, and, it is likely, will never be cultivated, unless in .

the far distant future, a crowded population should compel Chinese methods to be adopted.

The soil is generally a clay loam with a yellow clay subsoil, with the exception of the valley of the Root River, which is of a black sandy charac- ter to a depth of about ten inches, and this is su- perimposed on a whitish sand several feet, repos- ing on a bed of white clay. The larger part of the town is admirably adapted to stock raising, and the balance for tillage purposes, and in an early day the yield of wheat was enormous. About two-thirds of the town is under cultivation, the other third being bluffs and timber.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The immigration to Chatfield commenced in 1853, along the Sugar Creek valley, and this went on increasing until all the land was taken, and of course, new comers could then only purchase of the pre-emptors. R. H. Findley built the first house on section twenty-seven in the Sugar Creek valley in 1853, it was of logs, 14x16 feet.

One of the first frame houses was put up in the spring of 1854, on section twenty-four, by J. S. Edwards, bringing the lumber from Winona, and his family came in the fall.

Another frame building was erected in the spring of 1854, by James McClellan, on section six, and stood on the present site of the village of Chatfield. McClellan placed a small stock of

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goods on the shelves and kept a tavern on a small scale.

In 1853, Hugh Paisley pre-empted a claim in section ten, and he, it is claimed, was the first set- tler in town to commence improvements on a claim, and who came there with the intention of securing a home. He put up a little log hut and spent the winter of 1853-54.

In 1854, D. W. Breese came and was the first to settle on section thirty-three, where he has re- mained ever since. On first coming here there was on Indian village or encampment near, which varied from twenty, at times, up to perhaps a hun- dred, and of course Mr. Breese and his family were the subjects of never tiring curiosity to the untutored children of the forest. They would come up in squads to the house, and sit and examine everything, and beg for food by pointing into their mouths. They were always amused to see Mrs. Breese wash and dress the children, the ablutions of course were considered a religious rite.

Col. J. R. Jones arrived in this year and soon after purchased an unfinished saw-mili, which he completed. In 1856, he opened a law office, the first in town, and has since been identified in all public enterprises.

Thomas Holmes, James Lynch, James Gardi- . ner, Thomas Goldsmith, and Ole Christianson also came and secured places in this year.

In 1855, William Bailey, H. Brown, Urbin Wright, Patrick Lynch, Patrick McGraw, George Follinsbee, Trulo Erickson, Ole Jacobson, and Nels Nelson came to procure homes here.

In 1856, there were several accessions, among them, Martin Brannan, Michael King, M. Murphy, Patrick Williams, Thomas Larvin, John Conley, D. D. Frink, and Joseph Caw.

In 1857, Michael Rice and George Goldsmith arrived.

In 1858, James Power, Patrick Doyle, and Al- fred Crosby put in an appearance. And after these the following persons dropped down in vari- ous parts of the town: Patrick Brennan, Ole Olson, D. C. Cartlich, M. W. Rooney, H. Hanson, and others have been coming, one by one, to take the place of those who have moved on.

The first man to arrive at the point where the city of Chatfield now stands was' T. B. Twiford, who passed through here in 1853, on his way from below to Winona, and the situation so attracted

his attention, that he induced a party of eleven persons to return with him, and the village was laid out, and slowly at first, buildings began to be . erected. G. W. Willis and James McClellan, with William B. and E. B. Gere, T. J. Safford, S. A. Sturgis and others were of the party.

Among the large number of arrivals which took place at this early day the best remembered will dealer in real estate and pension solicitor. On the be noticed.

Simeon Crittenden came from Ohio and arrived here on the 20th of September, 1854. He pre- empted a claim near town and went into the car- peuter and real estate business.

Dennis Jacobs came in August, 1854, located in the village, and remained here until 1880.

J. C. Easton was an early settler and went into the banking business.

Henry Wilder bought a stock of goods in 1854, which he exposed for sale in a log building.

Solomon Ashley got here in July, 1854, and put up a house and went into the hotel business.

Isaac Day and S. A. Sturgis opened a hotel in a log building.

Frank Whitney drifted around here in 1854, and took some land about a mile and a half from the village, in the south, and in two years went to Pilot Mound.

Jack Ballsinger came here from Iowa in 1854, and opened a store, and continued the business two years,

F. A. Coffin, in 1854, located north of the town, but now lives in the city.

In 1857, Chatfield was the most flourishing town in southern Minnesota. On the 1st of January of that year, a local directory reveals the following:

Four dry goods and grocery stores.

Three grocery and provision stores.

Eleven dealers in real estate.

Five lawyers.

Three doctors.

Three civil engineers.

Two hotels.

One watchmaker.

One stove and tinware shop.

One boot and shoe shop.

One livery stable.

One Masonic Lodge.

In the spring of 1858, the amount of business done at the Chatfield Post-office was as follows: Letters mailed weekly, 423; received, 434; papers

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mailed, 1,036, besides magazines and papers re- ceived.

. In 1858, J. W. Bishop, the civil engineer, got up a map of Chatfield and a historical sketch of the county.

Chatfield was laid out as a village in the spring of 1854, by T. B. Twiford and G. W. Willis. Wm. B. Gere, T. J. Safford, and Mr. Sturgis soon came in and became interested in the success of the new place.

Opposite the town nestled in a quiet valley re- poses West Chatfield, it was laid out by Mr. Crit- tenden in the spring of 1856.

Chatfield is on the left bank of Root River, fifty miles from its confluence with the Mississippi, and at the mouth of Chatfield Creek. It is on a broad and picturesque plateau, forty feet or so above the river toward which it gently inclines. It com- mands an extensive prospect in all directions, except the northwest, where abrupt bluffs inter- pose. Numerous springs gush out from the hill- side.

Looking north, the valleys of three rivers chal- lenge the admiration of the beholder; looking west the eye can feast on forest scenery, and south- easterly, as the valley expands, beautiful farms with woodland and prairie and bold headlands meet the admiring gaze, and castward, a high and fertile prairie, with groves of timber are seen in charming display.

As to water power, considerable of it has been improved, but there is much more awaiting the enterprise and energy which will some day appear for its development.

It was incorporated in 1857, the first meeting being upon the 1st of April, the following officers being elected: Council, H. B. Morse, President, John R. Jones, A. Haven, and I. Cole; Recorder, John W. Sleepier.

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History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 93

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

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