History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 97

Author: Edward D. Neill
Publication date: 1882
Publisher:
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USA > Minnesota > Fillmore County > History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota > Part 97

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).

In 1857, there was an important accesssion to the village of Spring Valley, from Pennsylvania. The party came by rail to Chicago, and then drove overland to this place, and no party ever entered a new territory better equipped than this. One pair of horses owned by Dr. Gilbert was sold on their arrival to T. B. Johnson, the father of the present proprietor of the Commercial House, for $600. This coterie consisted of N. B. Smith, Thomas Scott, James Scott, Mr. Peabody, and Dr. Gilbert. They had their families along, and became promi- nent men in the development of the village.

VARIOUS EARLY EVENTS.

The first store put up in Spring Valley was lo- cated where the Commercial Hotel now stands, and was erected by I. N. Cummings, in 1856, and he carried a pretty good stock of goods. It was afterwards removed and now forms a part of Shrout's store. The second store was put up the same year by Mr. Watson.

The first hotel was a rude hewn log structure, located opposite where the Commercial Hotel now stands. erected in 1855, and was kept by Myron Conklin. The second hotel was a frame structure. built in the spring of 1857, by Hiram and George Farmer, and still stands as the Farmer's Home and Central House.

The first brick building was the schoolhouse, built in 1866.

The first blacksmith shop in town was opened by B. F. Farmer, the present banker; the build- ing has been refitted, and is now occupied by Mr. F. Kumm.

The first shingled roof was Thayer's building, the shingles being split out and shaved by hand.

An early birth was that of Flora, a daughter of Frederick and Caroline Kummer, on the 5th of January, 1854.

Mary Belle, daughter of J. B. Thayer, was born on the 11th of November, 1855.

Another of these "first births" was that of Orin A. Huntley, in the cabin of his parents, when the thermometer stood at forty degrees below zero. The mother and son are living in Mower county.

The first school in town must have been the

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select one of Miss Ann Kingsley, now the wife of John M. Smith, of Iowa. It was in Joe Watson's house, and there were fifteen pupils; two Hunt- leys, four Dellings, three Phillips, three Watson's, and three Kingsburys.

The first ox slaughtered in town was in the summer of 1855, and the beef was very promptly distributed around.

William Wilkins put up a comfortable dwelling in the fall of 1855.

To show that the early settlers were not dead to all the civilizing influences considered so potent in older communities, it should be recorded that in the autumn of 1855, there was a musical enter- tainment, which of course called together the whole community, and religious meetings were also held in the cabin of J. B. Thayer, and at other residences.

Miss Hattie H. Kingsley was taken away in the fall of 1856, and was buried on her father's farm two miles from town.

John M. Smith and Julietta Kingsley were united in marriage in the winter of 1855. Mr. Smith was the second merchant in town, but now lives in Iowa.

The first lawyer is said to be Judge Steele, who came in 1858. He is now on the bench in Mon- tana.

The first graveyard in town was a lot vacated by the village company between blocks twenty- eight and twenty-nine, but the remains at first de- posited there were, early in the sixties, removed and placed in the new cemetery.

POLITICAL.

The town commenced its career as an independ- ent municipality, with the others in the State in May, 1858, and the following were the first offi- cers elected: Supervisors, W. T. Wilkins, Chair- man, T. M. Chapman, and T. B. Johnson; Town Clerk, E. McMurtrie; Assessor, S. Phillips; Col- lector, A. B. Allen; Overseer of the Poor, W. A. Potter; Constables, A. P. Allen and S. P. Dean; Justices of the Peace, W. Allen and E. Wilkins; Overseer of Highways, C. A. Cady.

During the war the town levied several taxes to pay bounties for soldiers to fill that terrible vacuum, the quota. The amounts paid were from $300 to $400 to each.

The manner that town affairs have been man- aged is commended on all sides, and there is one noteworthy fact, that Mr. Kellogg has had the po-

sition of Town Clerk for twenty years, and, accord- ing to common law, he can now hold it against all claimants by right of possession.

The officers elected in March, 1882, are: Su- pervisors, L. M. Ashley, Chairman, Fred. Loging, and William Loucks; Treasurer, A. P. Flower; Clerk, W. L. Kellogg; Assessor, Aldis Bartlett; Constables, P. Cusick and C. O. Howard; Jus- tices of the Peace, A. R. Burleson and A. R. Holman.

SCHOOLS.

DISTRICT No. 113 .- At an early day this formed a part of the old Spring Valley district, but in 1871 or '72, a school was started at the house of Charles Beverly, in section thirty-five, and it was also kept in other houses, and in 1873, a schoolhouse was provided, of brick, where there has been regular terms taught ever since.

DISTRICT No. 114 .- School was first taught in this locality in a building put up for that purpose on section twenty-three, in 1859, and as it had a coat of white paint, it was known for miles around as the "white schoolhouse." The first school was taught by Miss Cornelia Hartshorn, from Boston, who soon married Mr. I. Freeman. The schools here had a large attendance till 1876, when a new house was erected at a cost of $1,100, near the old one, which now serves as a woodshed. The build- ing is supplied with the modern seats and other appliances, and is now called the "Pleasant Hill Schoolhouse."

DISTRICT No. 115 .- This has the appellation of "Hard Scrabble" school, and the first session was taught here in a slab shanty erected for that pur- pose in 1858, and presided over by Mrs. Little- field. After a few years it was kept in a building rented of Wilkins & Fifield, on the bank of the creek. Finally the schoolhouse now existing was constructed on section eleven.

DISTRICT No. 116 .- The first school within the limits of this district was called to order in a little log cabin on section seventeen in 1857, and the presiding genius was Miss Mary O. Hill. There the school was "takeu in" and "let out" for five or six terms, or until the structure was consumed by fire, and then another log house went up on sec- tion eight, where the rising generation was gath- ered until 1871, when a new house was built, which is also known as a "White schoolhouse."

DISTRICT NO. 117 .- Miss Susan Sharp taught a school in a little claim shanty on section thirty, in

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1863. She is now Mrs. J. Q. Farmer. Soon after a log schoolhouse was put together on the farm of W. H. Conklin, in section thirty-two. In 1873, the present structure was built on the eastern line of section thirty.

DISTRICT NO. 148 .- The first school held here was in a frame building belonging to L. G. Odell, on section four, in 1868, and Miss Nancy Rose- brook was the guiding star on that occasion. The district was soon organized, and the school was continued in the same place, and then in the blacksmith shop near there. Then a substantial log schoolhouse went up, where the school has been regularly taught since. It is known as the "Lime City" school.

DISTRICT No. 156 .- Soon after the war of the rebellion this district was set off, and a wing of a building belonging to S. Treat bought and moved to the northeast section of twenty-one, and this has been the schoolhouse ever since. It is fondly hoped that in due time the spirit will move the citizens of the district to build a new one. Wesley P. Carrol was the first to wield the rod of author- ity in this district.

DISTRICT No. 165 .- It was not until 1874, that this was created as a district, and a frame school- house erected on the town line in section thirty- two. The initial teacher was Willie Farnsworth. The cost of the building was abont $700.

SPRING VALLEY VILLAGE.

A village government was authorized for Spring Valley in the winter of 1872, by a special act of the Legislature, which was accepted, and the first election under its provisions held on the 11th of March, 1872. The following named persons were elected as officers: Council, C. E. Evans, Chair- man, S. A. Hunt, I. N. Cummings, J. F. Stevens, and L. Griswold; Treasurer, A. J. Colley; Re- corder, J. S. Lee; Justice of the Peace, W. P. Carrol; Marshal, D. Twohey.

Since the village organization there has been no eventualities of a startling character, and as Daniel Webster would say, "Law and order everywhere prevails."

The present officers are: Council, E. W. Thayer, Chairman, J. N. Graling, W. A. Potter, George E. Hibner, and F. V. Edwards; Treasurer, A. P. Flower; Recorder, W. L. Kellogg; Justice of the Peace, A. R. Holman; Village Attorney, Burdette Thayer; Marshal, P. Cusick; Superintendent of Highways, T. A. Douglass; Surveyor, A. F. Whit-

man; Board of Health, Dr. C. H. Wagner, H. S. Hart, and P. Cusick.

Under the local option law, the village has no licenses for saloons to sell spirituous or fermented liquors.

The village is very pleasantly located on Spring Creek, in the center of the southern line of the town of the same name, and occupies the most of the two lower sections and a part of the two above. It extends on both sides of the little stream, but the business portion is on the north side. In both directions it rises gently to a height that commands a view of the surrounding country that is most picturesque. The village contains about 1,500 in- habitants. The Southern Minnesota Railroad runs through the valley from east to west.

As to the character and nationality of the citi- zens of Spring Valley, we have representatives of Old and New England, from the banks of the Rhine, from the Emerald Isle, from the Scandi- navian Range, from the "Zyder Zee," from the "La Belle" France, and other remote countries, all moving along in harmony to merge their national- ity, certainly in the next generation in the great and glorious name of American.

As to the business of the place it is not desir- able, in view of the constant mutations in this regard, to give a business directory in a work like this, but it will be sufficient to say that there are lawyers, doctors, and clergymen, bankers, in- surance men, dry goods dealers, groceries, hardware stores, harness and saddlery shops, furniture dealers, boot and shoe, millinery, jewelry, drug, and other stores, hotels, meat markets and marble works, wagon and blacksmith shops, agricul- tural implement makers and dealers, churches, schools, and printing offices, sewing machines, organs, and photographers, tailors, tonsorial artists, carpenters and painters, elevators, cream- ery, wheat and cattle buyers, with lumber dealers and livery stables, and scattered all over the town, fine residences, and in summer the streets are sprinkled. There is no gas because the people are awaiting the electric light, and as to the horse cars they will wait until the question as to the best motor power is decided.

SPRING VALLEY BANK .- W. H. Strong is the president of the bank, and B. F. Farmer, cashier, and Frank Edwards, teller and assistant cashier. The first bank here was by F. & E. K. Smith, afterwards Farmer Brothers & Easton. In 1874,

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it became Farmer & Easton, B. F. taking the in- terest of his brother. In 1882, W. H. Strong bought J. C. Easton's interest. The bank has ample capital, as it is only limited by the value of the property of the proprietors, and easily does the banking business of the place.

HOTELS .- There are two public houses in town, which are well patronized, the Commercial House is well kept by J. T. Johnson.

The Valley House is also a favorite stopping place, with O. G. Belden as proprietor.

SPRING VALLEY POST-OFFICE .- The office was established in June, 1855. John M. Smith, who was expecting the appointment of Postmaster, went down to Decorah with an ox team, and brought home a breaking plow, a load of flour, and the documents from Washington, and the office was opened where the present Crawford Kellogg farm now is, at what is known as Old Spring Val- ley, at the extreme eastern boundary of the village. It was called Spring Valley. The next year it came to the new village, and on arriving here secured quarters at the Opera House corner in a frame building that stood there then, with Willard Allen as Postmaster, and here it remained for five or six years. At first the mail came from Decorah, at the respectable intervals of two weeks. The arrival of the bare-back rider, who had been dis- patched for it, was a great event. Afterwards it became a "star route" from Elliota via Forestville, and later from Chatfield, three times a week, and then, as if the government could not do enough for this thriving village, it was placed on the great La Crosse, Rushford, and Austin Stage and mail route, with a daily mail. J. M. Smith was again rotated into office with George Wilder as deputy, at his store, and in this way it was managed until 1869, when, on the 3d of July, B. F. Farmer re- ceived a commission as Postmaster, and he has proved to be a stayer as he still holds the position. Since his appointment the location of the office been changed several times, but in 1878, it swung around to the bank building, its present location. In 1869, it was designated as a money order office. The business now foots up to $4,000 a year.

DEER CREEK POST-OFFICE .- This was ushered into existence in 1856, with W. S. Hill as Post- master, and the mail was opened at his house on section seventeen. The name "Arcade" was at first sent in by Mr. Hill to the Post-office authorities, but that was rejected and Deer Creek substituted. Iu abont four years it was discontinued.

MASONIC.

SPRING VALLEY LODGE NO. 58 .- The first meet- ing was held on the 19th of October, 1866, and the following were the first officers: E. J. Kings- bury, W. M .; J. D. Farmer, S. W .; Robert McCord, J. W .; S. M. Hudson, T .; C. W. Taylor, Sec .; J. G. Peter, S. D .; Isaac Forkner, J. D .; W. Mordoff, Tyler.

After working under a dispensation for one year, on the 23d of October, 1867, a regular charter was granted. C. W. Nash was Grand Master, and W. S. Combs, Secretary. -

The officers of the Lodge for 1882 are: G. M. Warren, W. M .; Thad. Wilkins, S. W .; E. Dunlap, J. W .; S. A. Hunt, T .; W. L. Kellogg, Sec .; H. J. Anderson, S. D .; M. A. Green, J. D .; Otho Stevens, Tyler.

They have a commodious and well furnished hall in the Stone block, and a membership of sixty- eight. The meetings are on the first and third Tuesdays in each month.

ODD FELLOWS.

CENTENNIAL LODGE No. 56, was instituted on the 9th of November, 1876. The charter members were: H. S. Porter, G. W. Gregory, S. W. Harris, N. Brass, and Jacob Shoemaker.

The present officers are: E. Thomas, N. G .; J. N. Graling, V. G .; Charles N. Clark, T .; W. W. Washburn, S.

There are about sixty members. The meetings are at Masonic Hall, on Monday evenings.

GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.

BURDICK POST No. 3 .- This was organized on the 4th of December, 1880. The first officers were: A. R. Burleson, Com .; H. B. Thayer, S. V C .; C. E. Yearian, J. V. C .; C. R. Livingston, O. of D .; George C. Weed, Adjt .; T. A. Douglass, Q. M .; Otho Stevens, Chap.

This fraternal order is made up of the men who served in the army during the late war, and in some respects is not unlike the order of the "Cincinnati" which was instituted after the war of Independence.

The officers for 1882, are: A. R. Burleson, Com .; W. W. Bontecou, S. V. C .; C. E. Huntley, J. V. C .; C. R. Livingston, O. of D .; H. F. Griffin, Adjt .: Charles W. Ackley, Q. M .; Otho Stevens, Chap .; M. M. Coles, O. of G.

In addition to those already mentioned the fol-

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lowing veterans are members of the order; G. W. MoNelley, T. S. Gould, O. W. Moore, James Cramp, C. Pfremmer, Louis P. Hann, Albert Swift, O. Gould, Louis Parker, and H. H. Wallace.

In the very nature of things these names will excite more and more interest as time passes away, and it is presumed that this list embraces most of those who remain in the vicinity who served in the war of the rebellion.

SPRING VALLEY DRIVING PARK ASSOCIATION.

This institution was invoked into existence during the Centennial year, a lot of ground was leased and improvements made, a half mile track graded, and several races were put ou during the few years of the existence of the society; but the hard times dissuaded the proprietors from invest- ing any deeper after the $800, which the amuse- ment cost, was expended. It is hoped, however, that before another Centennial rolls around, this park will be revived.

SPRING VALLEY CEMETERY ASSOCIATION.

was organized in 1860, by E. McMurtrie, Asa Billings, Willard Allen, Cordello Wilkins, S. A. Hunt, and T. B. Johnson, the latter of whom was appointed undertaker and sexton, and retained the place for nineteen years, burying more than 250 people in that time. Four acres were bought for $100, and there has since been added two acres. It is fenced and well kept, and has a better monu- mental representation than any other burial place, in this section. It is well located, a short distance east of the village. It is practically a free came- tery, as the cost of burying there is only the expense of opening the grave.

FIRE DEPARTMENT.

SPRING VALLEY HOOK AND LADDER COMPANY No. 1 .- This was organized on the first of May, 1874. The first officers were: President, N. M. Lewis; Vice President, E. S. Burnstend; Treasurer, E. W. Thayer; Foreman, W. H. Lloyd; 1st Assist- ant, S. P. Steiner; 2d Assistant, P. W. Carr.

On the 12th of May, 1879, it was reorganized under the new charter. Under the new order of affairs the following were the first officers: Presi- dent, A. B. Burleson; Vice President, A. R. Hol- man; Treasurer, C. F. Kumm; Secretary, L. A .. Kingsbury; Foreman, A. E. Dickinson; 1st Assist- ant, L. W. Rossman; 2d assistant, E. W. Thayer.

This is an efficient organization and has twenty- five members.

The officers for 1882 are: Foreman, A. R. Bur- leson; 1st Assistant, E. W. Thayer; 2d Assistant, T. A. Douglass; Treasurer, C. F. Kumm; Secre- tary, A. R. Holman.

RELIGIOUS.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. - In the au- tumn of 1854, a class was organized at a school- house about a mile northeast of where Spring Val- ley now stands, John Bateman, Eliza Lowe, John Lowe and Ellen Lowe were the members. The first itinerant preacher was Rev. Benjamin Crist, who traveled on foot over all the settled portions of Southern Minnesota. Spring Valley circuit was formed in 1856. Rev. Elijah Fate was appointed preacher in charge, to be assisted by Rev. C. Kel- logg. The circuit embraced, besides Spring Val- ley, Hamilton, High Forest, Frankford, Jordan, and Pleasant Grove.

The salary of the preacher was $210.55 for the year. Mr. Kellogg was soon after expelled on certain charges. In 1857, Rev. Zara C. Norton was the circuit preacher. Rev. George C. Rich- ardson was here 'in 1858, Rev. F. A. Conwell in 1859 and 1860. Then came Rev. Boyd Phelps, Rev. Moses Mapes, Rev. James Cowden, Rev. John W. Klepper, Rev. Jolın G. Teter, Rev. William H. Soule, Rev. Reuben Washburn, Rev. B. Blain, Rev. A. C. Reynolds, Rev. Mr. Drew, Rev. H. C. Jen- nings, Rev. S. G. Gail, and Rev. T. F. Allen, the present pastor.

At first the meetings were held at convenient places, and in 1858, a building enterprise was in- augurated and seemed to make favorable prog- ress, as $2,000 was subscribed and three lots were donated for church and parsonage. The next year the whole project was abandoned, as there was a dispute, to use no harsher term, as to a gal- lery and choir singing. In 1863, the lumber which had been procured for the church was sold, and the avails retained for a parsonage. In 1864, no house could be rented for the preacher, and so one was purchased. Late in the sixties services were held in the second story of N. B. Smith's blacksmith shop, which was fitted up for the pur- pose. Afterwards meetings were held in the Con- gregational Church, and then Parson's Hall was rented for $1 a day, and a Sunday school was or- ganized. A bell was procured and hung on the rented hall, and an organ obtained at a cost of $200. In the spring of 1876, a lot was purchased | at a cost of $250, the parsonage property was

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sold for $1,000, and a house and two lots adjacent to the church lot was bought. The building com- mittee were, J. E. Whitman, M. P. Lower, A. W. | Mr, Clark, Rev. I. Devoe, Rev. P. Litz, Rev. Mr. Johnson, C. H. Wagner, C. M. Clark, W. W. Bontecou, and J. F. Broadbent. A subscription of $2,700 was secured, plans provided, and work begun in August.

On the 24th of December, the basement was completed and opened for worship, and the Pre- siding Elder. Rev. J. J. Chaffee, who was present on the occasion, succeeded in securing pledges to the amount of $2,780. In 1877, the tower with its spire was completed and a Troy bell, weigh- ing 1,200 pounds, was placed in it. In August, 1878, the church was completed and the audience room occupied. It is a fine brick structure with stone trimmings, worth $12,000, a credit to the Methodist society and an honor to the town.

A history of the rise of the Methodist church is thus given from the time when Rev. Benjamin Crist preached to a few believers in the house of H. W. Perkins, on section twenty-three, to the present flourishing condition as a permanent sta- tion. In the work which has been accomplished, the ladies are entitled to great credit. A pleasing incident connected with the building of the church was the presentation of a gold headed cane to Mr. W. Mordoff for his valuable services.

ROMAN CATHOLIC .-- The church at Spring Val- ley was commenced in August, 1878, and so far completed that services were held on the 8th of December, 1878, by Rev. Father William Riordan, of Chatfield. The auditorium has a gallery and the building is surmounted by a cupola and a cross. It has 250 members, but the services are somewhat irregular. Rev. Father James Hanly is pastor, with his residence in Chatfield. Before the erection of the church services were held in the residence of Mr. D. A. Sullivan.

THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH .- On the 24th of May, 1856, this society was organized at the house of Mr. Washington Lloyd, with fifteen members. Rev. Mr. Tracy was present. The first deacon was Washington Lloyd, and services were held in his house until in 1857. a slab shanty was put up, and services and a Sunday school main- tained. In 1867, the church was built at a cost of $2,800. The first minister to occupy the pul- pit was Rev. O. M. Hardy, of Vermont. The dedi- cation was in July, 1868, Rev. Mr. Fuller presid- ing, and since that time the following named

clergymen have officiated for longer or shorter periods: Rev. Mr. Elliott, Rev. L. S. Griggs, Rev. Fuller, Rev. C. Merrill. Rev. Mr. Ferris is the present pastor. There are 130 members.

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH .-- In 1863, an or- ganization was effected with thirteen members. The first service was by Rev. Amory Gale, of Min- neapolis, in the schoolhonse. Three or four years later the society purchased the old school build- ing and removed it to where it now stands. Among those who have been pastors here may be recorded the following Reverend gentlemen: J. G. Craven, R. H. Ketchum, M. D. Reeves, C. D. Farnsworth, James Mitchell, F. S. Wilter, and S. S. Utter, who is the present pastor. There are about eighty members.

GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH .- The-edifice is lo- cated in the south-eastern part of the town, near the line in section thirty-six. The regular or- ganization . was made on the 23d of September, 1867, by Rev. Mr. Reck, at the house of J. G. Moenchgesang, over the line in Fillmore. Pre- vious to this, in 1855, Rev. Louis Hildebrand preached in the house of Frederick Kummer, and at the houses of other settlers. In 1868, a par- sonage was got up, and in 1873, their present neat frame building was erected. Rev. Mr. Reck was the first pastor; he was followed by Rev. . J. C. Mehr, and in 1879, Rev. C. Eckhoff took charge and still remains. At first this was a circuit, em- bracing, with this charge, Forestville, Grand Meadow, Preston, and Granger; it now has only Grand Meadow and Dexter. There is a school connected with the society and taught in the par- sonage. There is a cemetery adjoining the church.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CONGREGATION OF PLEAS- ANT HILL. - - As early as 1853, the Rev. Benjamin Crist, whose foot prints are visible all through this county history, came here from La Crosse where he made his headquarters, wading the brooks and swimming the rivers, and working in the cause with true apostolic devotion, getting around here once in four weeks. On the completion of the schoolhouse for district No. 114, meetings were held in it by Elijah Fate, and a class was formed the same season. Rev. Moses Mapes was the first regular supply after this, and there was a great re- vival that affected the whole neighborhood, and since that time preaching has been here every two weeks, and weekly for two years. The local min-

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History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 97

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

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