History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 94

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 94

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The officers for 1882 are: Council, I. F. O'Fer- rall, President, J. D. Ward, J. H. Waters, and Levi Bemis; Recorder, R. A. Case; Treasurer, G. H. Haven; Justice of the Peace, Joseph Underleak; Marshal, John Scott.

SOME EARLY EVENTS.

Fannie Mcclellan was the first child, as it is supposed, born in the town, outside of the village. She was a daughter of William and Mary McClel- lan, and arrived in the spring of 1854. She is now the wife of L. G. Kilborn, in the village of Wykoff.

The father, William McClellan, was one of the earliest to die, his demise occurring in the sum- mer of 1854.

On the 11th day of May, 1855, Josephus Gillett and Miss Mary Willie, at the house of the bride's parents, were united in the bonds of wedlock.

Mr. J. McClellan, commenced the erection of & store and dwelling, and a stock of goods was put in. This was on the corner of Fillmore and First Streets, and still stands as a dwelling.

Gere & Edwards started a real estate office in 1854, and this business seemed to flourish, for in 1858, there were thirteen real estate firms in town.

T. J. Safford put up a store and placed a stock of goods in it, and also lived in the same building, which is now occupied by C. M. Lovell, as a dwelling.

The first school here was in the summer of 1855, Mr. Armstrong was the teacher. The earliest graded school was in the Baptist Church, and G. L. Case and Mary C. Edwards were the teachers.

The first representative in the legislature from Chatfield was W. B. Gere.

The first clerk of the Territorial legislature was H. L. Edwards of this town.

. The first religious service in the village was in 1856, and Dr. A. H. Trow, a Baptist minister, officiated.

The first saw-mill was built in 1854, by Twiford & Co., and stood below where Cusson's mill now is.

The earliest schoolhouse was built in 1855, at a cost of $400. Its size was 20x30 feet. The build- ing is used as a dwelling by Mr. O. Foss.

A church was put up in the fall of 1856, by the' Baptists, at a cost of $1,000. It still stands oppo- site the residence of Charles Lovell. It was built by Simeon Crittenden.

The Post-office was established in 1854.

The first building put up in the town was a log tavern on the corner of Main and First Streets; G. W. Willis was the proprietor, who kept it for some time, and then Mr. Sturgis managed it, but it has long since disappeared.

POLITICAL.

CHATFIELD TOWNSHIP .- The early proceedings of the board of this town is an entire blank, the records of proceedings prior to 1871, having been burned in their large fire of that year. Since 1871, however, their records are intact, the management having been harmonious and judicious.

The officers elected for the year 1882, are as fol-

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CHATFIELD TOWNSHIP.

lows: Supervisors, Levi Ober, Chairman; Orin Thurber, and Thomas Oleson; Clerk, F. W. Shimer; Treasurer, G. H. Haven; Assessor, J. N. Wilson; Justices of the Peace, H. B. McKenny and R. W. 'Twitchell; Constables, John W. Scott and W. J. Freeman.

RELIGIOUS.

The first man, or one of the first, to expound the Word in Chatfield, was Rev. Clark, in the Chatfield "Woods," as it was called, there were fifteen in his audience. Another early preacher was Rev. A. H. Trow.

BAPTIST .- At one time late in the fifties there was an organization of Baptists. In 1858, a small one story building was erected, 20x40 feet, and for quite a time there were regular services, but after a time they were discontinued.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL .- On the 28th of May, 1859, the Methodist church at Chatfield was dedi- cated to the worship of God. A large number of people were present, and all the ministers from the neighborhood. A collection was taken up which cleared the society from debt, except to the amount of about $100. This was among the very first churches in Fillmore county, and the organizers of it have acquitted themselves with credit. There are now about one hundred members. The fol- lowing named ministers have been stationed here, the first being in 1856: Revs. John D. Rich, E. Tucker, John W. Stugdill, Nahum Tainter, N. Lathrop, Andrew J. Nelson, B. Blain, J. R. Creigh- ton, O. C. Gregg, A. M. Stevens, W. Carver, W. C. Shaw, J. L. Fasig, J. W. Yokom, H. C. Jen- nings, M. O. McNiff, G. F. Wells, C. H. Rogers, and Rev. Mr. Horn, the present pastor.

CATHOLIC, ST. MARY'S CHURCH. - This was organ- ized about 1866. The structure was built at this time, at a cost of $6,000. Father Essing was the earliest priest and remained three years. The par- sonage was built in 1868, Father William Riordan was here for twelve years. Father John Hanly took charge in July, 1881, and still remains. There are about seventy-five families depending upon the ministrations of this church.

PRESBYTERIAN .- This society was organized in 1856, by Rev. E. D. Holt, with twelve members. The church was built in 1856, at a cost of about $2,000, and has a present membership of 100. The following named ministers have been stationed here since its organization: Rev. Clark, Revs. E.

D. Holt, J. L. Howell, S. H. Murphy, and F. B. Dalrymple, the present pastor.

CHATFIELD CEMETERY ASSOCIATION .- This or- ganization was effected on the 22d of May, 1855, and six trustees were chosen; Charles G. Hawley, Nelson Allen, for three years; Wm. B. Gere, T. J. Safford, for two years; and Riley S. Nichols and James W. Willis, for one year.

CATHOLIC CEMETERY .- This was laid out in 1857, and was hurried up by the accidental drowning of Peter McConley, who was a good swimmer aud undertook to teach William Lynch, who was a novice in the art. . Swimming into the middle of the river he made his last dive, while Lynch was fished out alive. Mr. Hugo donated the land for the cemetery, which is on section ten.

INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISES.

Th first saw-mill was started in 1854, by T. B. Twiford, and before completion was purchased by Col. J. R. Jones who completed it. The mill was run by water-power, and was equipped with a sash saw. This was converted into a flouring mill, and is now run by Mr. Dickson.

CRISSEY's MILL .- A saw-mill was built by Jud. Crissey in the summer of 1855, on Simeon Crit- tenden's land and was operated by steam. After running for four or five years it was changed to a water mill, and in 1864, was transformed by Gris- wold & Crissey into a WOOLEN MILL, which was operated until 1880, by the above-mentioned firm, when N. Marsden having purchased it, he and his son, John W., began operating the establishment. It has one set of machinery and a set of custom cards, with machinery for finishing, and employs ten operatives. The power is derived from the Root River, and is delivered through a twenty- five horse-power turbine wheel.

CUSSON'S FLOURING MILL was first built in 1860, and two years ago was remodeled. It now has four run of stones, operated by water, and has a capacity of 150 barrels a day. Twiford & Edwards first built the mill. Its location is in Elmira, Olm- sted county.

NORTH BRANCH FLOURING MILL .-- This flouring mill is located on section sixteen, on the north branch of Root River, and was built in 1875, by Dickson, Easton & Johnson, at a cost of $50,000. It has six run of stones and six sets of rolls. After being in operatian one year, an addition was built at a cost of $8,000, and the capacity carried up to 100 barrels a day. But the production of hard

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HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY.

wheat having fallen off it was locked up in the spring of 1881, to await more favorable symptoms.

ELMIRA FLOURING MILL. - The location of this

. property is on Mill Creek, in Olmsted county. A saw-mill was built here in 1857, and converted into a flouring mill in 1866, by F. Levarts, who had been interested in the mill for some years. In 1870, it was bought by James C. Cussons and S. T. Dickson. In 1876, Mr. Cussons secured Mr. Dickson's interest, and since then it has been en- tirely remodeled. It has two run of stones and a set of smooth rolls, and turns out a good quality of flour.

SAW-MILL .-- In the spring of 1865, Joseph Caw and John Murphy built a saw-mill on Bear Creek, in section seventeen. The building was 20x25 feet and made of hard wood sawed in a steam mill over in Jordan, and had a thirty two inch water wheel propelled by a head of ten feet. It could cut up 1,500 feet of lumber in a day, and it kept ripping away until 1881, when the dam complied with a pressing invitation to go out, and it has never been rebuilt.

THURBER'S SAW-MILL .- A saw-mill was built in the spring of 1879, by Orrin Thurber, who still owns and operates the establishment. It has a good water-power where it is run, just west of the city limits. The cost of the mill was $2,500.

CHATFIELD DOOR SASH AND BLIND FACTORY .- This establishment was brought into existence in 1875, and is located on Fillmore street. It has a six horse- power steam engine, and is kept in con- stant operation.

CHATFIELD IRON FOUNDRY .- This was built in 1878, by a joint stock company, and shortly after- wards passed into the hands of Milo White, who managed it until 1881, when A. G. Lombard pur- chased the concern. It was at first started as an iron and steel fence manufactory, but now does all kinds of work. It is operated by a ten horse- power steam engine. The cost of the establish- ment was $3,000.

SUGAR CANE MILLS .- In 1880, Henry Young put up a large mill, 24x30 feet, with a wing 50x100 feet, and arranged for making 500 gallons of syrup a day.

In 1879, Mr. Reed built a mill with a capacity of 200 gallons a day. These mills have plenty of work during the amber season.

PUSHIFIER .- A middlings purifier, the invention

of Crittenden & Waters, is manufactured by them to supply the ever increasing demand.

SPRINGDALE CREAMERY .- This enterprise is owned by a company composed of almost all the business men in Chatfield. It started at first as a cheese factory, and is located on the railroad track a half mile out of town. It has a six horse- power steam engine, with improved butter making machinery, and can deliver 1,200 pounds of splen- did butter each day. Fifteen teams are employed in collecting cream which is over an area extend- ing ten miles. About $5,000 is invested in the business.

BROOM FACTORY .- In 1870, D. K. Lovell put up a concrete building on Third street for the manu- facture of brooms, and for eleven years the busi- ness went on in a flourishing way, but in 1881, the concern was turned into a blacksmith and re- pair shop.

BANKS.

THE ROOT RIVER BANK is one of the old sub- stantial institutions of the county, it was estab- lished in 1857, by Gilbert and Easton, but after a time it passed into the hands of the junior mem- ber of the firm, Jason C. Easton, who is still the pro- prietor of the establishment. The amount of cap- ital behind the bank is only limited by the wealth of the owner which is amply sufficient for every emergency.

THE CHATFIELD BANK .- In May, 1880, this in- stitution was organized by O. Ferrall & Frego. It occupies a corner brick block on Main and Third streets. It has ample capital for the transaction of all business that offers.

CHATFIELD IN THE WAR.

This town being the largest in the county at the time of the breaking out of the war, fur- nished a large number of recruits, and at one time there was a recruiting station here. The names on the roll of honor from this town will be found in the general article on the subject.

SCHOOLS.

THE CHATFIELD ACADEMY .- This collegiate in- stitute was incorporated on the 25th of February, 1856. The trustees were H. B. Morse, J. H. Mc- Kenny, C. B. G. Jones, C. M. Lovell, Charles Wilson, A. Haven, Wm. B. Gere, E. D. Holt, T. J. Safford, J. R. Jones, R. W. Twitchell, G. W. Willis, F. G. Raymond, Isaac Day, and C. G.

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Hawley. President, J. R. Jones; Secretary, H. B. Morse; Treasurer, G. W. Willis.

J. W. Bishop was the first principal, and Miss Knights, assistant. It was opened on the first of September, 1858.

As the academy filled up, new educational fa- cilities were offered. Rev. G. W. Fuller was In- structor in Latin and Greek. Drs. Isaac Cole and Luke Miller lectured on anatomy, physiology, and hygiene. There were within a year sixty-two stu- dents.

In March, 1869, Professor T. E. Thickston, of Pennsylvania, was appointed Principal.

This educational institution went on for some some years, but was finally superceded by the public schools of the State.

DISTRICT No. 84 .- This is reported as the first district in town to be regularly organized, outside of the village, which was in the fall of 1858, with the following named officers: Director, Joseph Caw; Clerk, Peter Johnson; Treasurer, George W. Sawyer. In the spring of 1859, a log schoolhouse was built on land donated by Sabin Woodward, in section seventeen; it was 18x22 feet and cost $200. Miss Hill, now Mrs. Hanson Woodward, was the first teacher. This house was occupied up to 1872, when a brick building was constructed on section eighteen at a cost of $1,500. Miss Dasie Rank is the present teacher.

DISTRICT No. 100 .- The next district to be organized was this one, on the 11th of September, 1859, and on the 21st of October the officers were elected as follows: Director, Daniel S. Hoit; Clerk, M. O. Camp; Treasurer, R. H. Findley. A tax of $75 was levied to build a log schoolhouse, which was erected on section twenty-seven, and Mr. O. Compton was the initial teacher. In May, 1862, the number of the district was changed to

DISTRICT NO. 84 .- In the spring of 1867, it was divided into two districts, the other being numbered 147. The old district built a new schoolhouse on section twenty-five, a frame build- ing 18x26 feet, at a cost of $600, which was com- pleted in 1868. After the sub-division the first teacher was Miss Mattie Shaw, in a house owned by John Jacobs. Miss Mary King called the first school to order in the new schoolhouse. Isaac Isakson is now teaching school there in the Norsk language.

DISTICT NO. 82 .- In 1862, this district was introduced into existence, with the following

officers: Director, Patrick McGrand; Clerk, Michael King; Treasurer, Martin Breman. In the summer of 1863, the first school was gathered into the granary of Andrew Galbreath, on section two, and Miss Lizzie Galbreath was delegated to do the "thrashing," should it be required. The next winter the school got into the house, where seventeen pupils congregated. The next spring an acre of land was procured by Thomas Parsley for $15, and a schoolhouse 18x24 feet was built on section fourteen. In 1876, an addition to this, 10x24 feet, was made. Miss Laura Barber was the first to handle the ferule in the schoolhouse, with twenty-five scholars. In 1877, a new district was formed from this and called

DISTRICT No. 128 .- The headquarters of this district are in section two, where the schoolhouse is located. The first teacher was Miss Stewart.

DISTRICT No. 85 was organized in 1863, with the following officers: Director, W. Brown; Clerk, M. W. Rooney; Treasurer, D. W. Breese. Mrs. Lucy Brown opened a school in her own house in 1860, and in 1862, the citizens rolled a few logs together, and there they laid as evidence of good intentions until 1863, when a frame building went up in section thirty-two at a cost of $600. Here Mrs. Brown also taught, to get the house in run- ning order. In 1878, the present house was built. Mr. Harry Armstrong was the first to teach in this building.

DISTRICT No. 147 was set off as above indi- cated, in 1867, and the first officers were: Di- rector, Navin Wright; Clerk, D. C. Cartlich; Treas- urer, Thomas Sawyer. The first school was got together in the house of the clerk, with D. D. Ferrall in charge. The next year a log honse was built, 16x24 feet, on section twenty-one, on land owned by George Goldsmith, and Miss Minnie Sawyer was the inspiring genius among the mixed pupils.

DISTRICT No. 173 was organized on the 19th of February, 1878. The officers were: Director, I. Fay; Clerk, George M. Farrington; Treasurer, H. F. Douchey. A frame house was built, 16x20 feet, in 1877, on land owned by A. W. Fargo, in section thirty-one. Miss Maud McFaul was the first instructor, with twenty pupils. This district comprises a part of the town of Jordan.

CHATFIELD GRADED SCHOOL was organized about 1865, and now employs six teachers. The schoolhouse was contracted for in 1864, and was

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HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY.

of two stories, 24x33 feet, and cost $3,000. The second building was erected in 1879, at a cost of about $400. Primary No. 2 was provided in 1880, at a cost of $300. The whole school com- prises 300 scholars. Prof. Davis is the principal, and Prof. Moore the assistant, with a complete corps of teachers.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

MAJOR GEORGE ANDRUS was born in Franklin county, New York, in 1842, and came to Minne- sota in 1859. He located in Blue Earth county and worked at the blacksmith trade until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted in the Third Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, Company B. He was discharged for disability the following year, but soon re-enlisted in the First Minnesota Rangers and served as Sergeant for one year, till the expiration of his term. He again re-enlisted, this time in the Second Minnesota Cavalry, was mustered in as Second Lieutenant, and soon after promoted to First Lieutenant. In February, 1865, he resigned and was afterwards commis- sioned by the Governor of Minnesota as Major of State Militia. His wife was formerly Miss Louisa Churchill. They have one son, Royce E., and a daughter died when young. Major Andrus dates his residence in Fillmore county from 1866. He is now engaged in wagon making and blacksmith- ing; has served two years in the Assembly branch of the Legislature of Minnesota, being elect :d in 1875, and again in 1880, and has filled the office of Deputy Sheriff of this county.

AMOS C. BARBER was born in Cortland county, New York, on the 12th of March, 1847. He came to Minnesota in April, 1868, and the following year bought a farm in this township, in section twenty-nine, where he lived ten years. He was married on the 6th of May, 1874, to Miss Emma G. Finks. They have one child, a son, born the 7th of March, 1878. Mr. Barber moved to his present farm in 1880, and has a fine two-story frame residence.

MARTIN BRENNAN is a native of Ireland, born on the 17th of November, 1837. He emigrated to America in 1852, resided in New York. three years, then came to Minnesota and pre-empted a farm in section fourteen of this township. He was joined in marriage, in November, 1863, with Miss Mary Ryne. They have eight children, all of whom have assisted in making their home comfortable. In 1867, Mr. Brennan sold the land which he took

when coming here, and bought his present farm in section one.

M. H. BIBBINS was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, on the 25th of January, 1829. He re- moved with his parents, Eliphaz and Laura Bib- bins, to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1833, and remained in that State ten years. His father was a millwright by trade. He brought his family from Ohio to Carroll county, Illinois, and in 1856, to Chatfield, where he died in 1875. He left a widow and six children; M. H. and Julius, living in Minnesota; Edward, in Dixon, Illinois; Mrs. Clarissa Wilmot, in Delaware county, Iowa; Mrs. Helen Cummings, in Illinois, and Mrs. Mary Kincaid, in California. Mr. Bibbins, the subject of this sketch, is superin- tendent of the farms, in this vicinity, of J. C. Easton. These farms are largely devoted to the raising of sheep, which aggregate about four thousand. Mrs. Bibbins was formerly Miss Sarah J. Hawley. They have three children; Anna, wife of W. H. Silsbee, of Chatfield; Sidney E., and Ida C., wife of A. K. Bush, a druggist in Dover, Min- nesota.

F. D. BANDLE is a son of S. B. Bandle, who was born in Connecticut, and moved to the state of Illinois, when a young man. In 1854, he came with his family to Fillmore county and settled in Sumner township, remaining until coming to this place in 1866. He engaged in blacksmithing and wagon making, afterward moved to Iowa and thence to Kansas, returning to this place in 1876. F. D. was born in Kankakee, Illinois, in 1852, and came to Fillmore county with his parents when two years old. He started in business with his father in 1873, and since the death of the latter, in 1880, has carried on the shop alone. His wife was Emma M. Brown, a daughter of Harvey Brown, an early settler of this county. He died on the 4th of July, 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Bandle have one son, Harry.

L. BAUER is a native of Baden, Germany, born in the year, 1838. He came to America in the spring of 1868, located in Chatfield the same year, and engaged in mercantile pursuits for about two years. He then began trading in hides, fur, wool, etc., and in 1873, opened his present meat market which is the largest in the place, also ships live stock and packs and ships a large amount of meat, doing an extensive business. His wife was Miss Augusta Eller. They have eight children, three sons and five daughters,

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CHATFIELD TOWNSHIP.

LEVI BEMIS was born in 1827, in Washington county, Vermont, where he was reared to farming. When a young man he was engaged in carpenter- ing, school-teaching, and also had some experience in mercantile pursuits. When he came to Minne- sota, in 1856, he took land in High Forest, Olm- sted county, but soon moved to Chatfield and has since considered it his home, although not settling here permanently until his marriage in 1858. His wife was Miss Emeline Eaton. Mr. Bemis en- gaged in the mercantile business in 1860, but ow- ing to ill health has twice retired from active la- bor. His oldest son, Victor E., is now associated with him, the firm name being L. Bemis and Son. Mrs. Bemis died in August, 1873, leaving four children; Victor E., Harry L., a student at Carle- ton College, Frank A., and Willis E. He was again married in 1876, to Miss Jennie Ing- keep, who died on the 25th of December, 1881. He has not confined himself wholly to merchan- dise, but loans money, deals in real estate, is en- gaged in agricultural and other pursuits, and is numbered with the successful business men of Chatfield.

W. L. CRAWFORD is a son of John Crawford, a native of Washington county, New York, where he lived until moving to Dodge county, Wiscon- sin, in 1844. He came to this place in 1866. W. L. was born in Oneida county, New York, and came west with his parents. He came to Chatfield first in 1858, and again in 1862, and since 1866, has been a permanent resident, engaged in farm- ing. Mr. Crawford has been twice married; he has by his present wife five children, two sons and three daughters.

JAMES M. CUSSONS, a native of England, was born in Horncastle, Lincolnshire, in 1834. His father being a miller, James, the eldest son, was reared to the trade and destined to inherit his parent's business. Hearing favorable reports of America he came over in the spring of 1852, and worked at his trade in New York, Ohio, Kentucky, Missouri, Michigan, and Illinois, when "tramping" was not as disreputable as now. He was pre- disposed to consumption, (no sign of which appears now, ) and was recommended to a change of climate. Therefore he came to Minnesota, in April, 1861, and located in Chatfield, where for six years he was a partner of S. T. Dickson in the milling business. He accumulated several thousand dollars which he invested in mill property at Hori-

con, Wisconsin, intending to flour Minnesota wheat in transit, but Milwaukee needing it to keep up her reputation for "Hard" wheat, the railroad com- pany refused to let him have it, although he offered to pay through rates to Milwaukee. The only alternative was to move the mill, which was done, to Winnebago City, Minnesota, where a stock com- pany was formed, but he found the move check- mated by grasshoppers so far as making money was concerned, and after a five year's struggle lost everything. He returned to Chatfield in the sum- mer of 1876, and bought, on long time, the "El- mira Mills," a run down trap, but his old friends rallied with grists, the toll was put into improve- ments until the mill earned sufficient to rebuild itself, and is now the neatest and best little mill in southern Minnesota, and has all the business it can do. His wife was Miss Ann Colton, a native of England. They have ten children, four sons and six daugters.

FREDERICK A, COFFIN was born on the island of Nantucket on the 20th of March, 1811. His father was master of a whaling vessel, and when a young man Frederick accompanied him on a voyage to the Pacific ocean in pursuit of whales. They fin- ally settled on a farm in Connecticut and afterward moved to Ashtabula county, Ohio, where his father died. Frederick came to Minnesota in 1853, and was one of the earliest settlers of Olmsted county where he remained until 1877, then settled in Chat- field. and has since made it his home. His wife was Miss Carolina Mack, who was born in Connecticut. They have seven children; Lydia, Mary A., Har- riet, Amelia, Edward, Eveline, and Walter.

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History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 94

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

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