USA > Minnesota > Freeborn County > History of Freeborn County, including explorers and pioneers of Minnesota, and outline history of the state of Minnesota > Part 64
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west and headed for the source of the Blue Earth River, Kossuth county, in Iowa.
On this marchi the trip was made through Free- born county. As near as can now be Iraced the column entered the county near the schoolhouse in district No. 30, in the town of Moscow. Pro- ceeding thence in a circuitous route across a por- tion of Moscow, the southern part of Rieeland, northwest corner of Hayward, and into Albert Lea township, striking Albert Lea Lake, which they named Fox Lake, and following up to section six, crossed iuto Pickerel Lake and halted for dinner on the banks of White's Lake. This lake was given the name of Lake Chapeau, from its resemblance to that form of a military liat. They then moved southwesterly to Alden and Mansfield, crossing the county line near the middle of section nineteen, and continned the march down the DesMoines to the place of starting, now the capital of Iowa.
In the latter part of the winter of 1835-36, Mr. Lea resigned his commission in the army, to take effect June Ist, in the mean time having obtained a leave of absence, which he improved by writing up for publication in book form, a sketch of this expedition, including a map of the country, which was published in Philadelphia by H. S. Tanner. In this book the name Iowa was first applied to the territory now composing the State of that name.
In May, 1836, the Colonel was married to Ellen Shoemaker, of Philadelphia. For a time he was located at the mouth of Pine River. below Rock Island, to survey some lands. which being com- pleted he received the appointment of Chief Engineer of the state of Tennessee, with head- quarters at Nashville, and for some time he was engaged in prosecuting internal improvements in that State. Soon afterward he was appointed by Martin VanBuren to establish the southern bound- ary of Iowa, which he did. Afterwards he was in the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad company as locating engineer. In March, 1841, he was appointed Chief Clerk in the war depart- meut, and in September of that year, upon the resignation of President Harrison's cabinet, he became Secretary of War ad interim, which he hield for six weeks.
About this time, as elsewhere recorded, Jean N. Nicollet, a French sucant, gave to Lake Chapeau the name of Albert Lea, which has since been transferred to the larger lake below the city.
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.
In 1844, he accepted the appointment of Profes- sor of Mathematics in the East TennesseeUniversity at Knoxville, which position he held until 1851.
In the meantime, having lost his wife, he mar- ried Catherine S. D. Heath. Ile then started a new enterprise, the manufacture of glass in Knox- ville, which proved a financial failure.
In railroad interests he afterwards went to Texas, and on the breaking out of the war between the two sections of the country, he offered his services to the Confederacy, and served in various capacities. His son Edward, who adhered to the Union cause, was killed at Galveston, Texas, while acting as chief officer of the steamer Harriet Lane.
After the elose of the war, Col. Lea resided for a time in Galveston, but afterwards removed to Corsicana, Texas.
In June, 1879, on a special invitation of the municipality, he visited this eity and region, and was given a right royal welcome, delivering an interesting address to the Old Settlers' Associa- tion. He was profuse in his expressions of astonishiment at the change which had been wrought.
While preparing the history a letter was sent to Col. Albert M. Lea, asking if there was anything connected with his journey across the county. or in relation to his last visit here, to which he wished to add. and his brief reply is herewith published :
"Corsicana, Texas, August 18th, 1882.
Prof. I. H. Stearns. Albert Lea, Minn.
Dear Sir: Referring to your note of the 9th instant, allow me to say that more honor has been done me by the people of Freeborn county than my transient visit at an early day would seem to merit, and that I do not wish to make my name still more conspicuous in that connection by per- sonal communieations in your proposed HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY, which you will doubtless fill with more interesting matter.
With thanks for your courteous tender. I am very truly your obedient servant,
ALBERT LEA."
George S. Ruble came here in July. 1855, to find a mill site. and after a careful reconnoissance selected a point at the foot of Lake Albert Lea. where he proposed to build a dam, and by raising the lake a few feet secure a splendid water power. While away for reinforcements, Jacob Lybrand secured that point, and so Mr. Ruble did the next
best thing: came here and planted himself and built his mill.
Mr. Lorenzo Merry, from Cedar River, the man who gave his name to Merry's Ford, in Iowa, was here living in his wagon, which he had hauled here with an ox team; and he soon got up a log cabin on block eight between Clark and Water and Broadway and Washington streets, which of course is to be remembered as the location of the first residence of a white man in Albert Lea City. He went to Walnut Lake and built a hotel, and then to the Red River country. The next honse was that of George S. Ruble, on what was called the Island. This may be described as a double log house, with magnificent proportions for those times, the size being 18x18 and 14x18 feet. This house still stands, but it has been sided up and measurably modernized.
The first mill was on the corner of the lake, sonthi of its present location, a race having been eut from that point to the river some rods below; and there it stood and did good service until the 12th of April, 1861, when it was undermined by the freshet, and settled four feet at the upper end. It was never repaired, part of the machinery go- ing to Northwood and a part into the new mill. The building of this mill, which was the nucleus of the village and eity of Albert Lea, was eom- menced on the 29th of October, 1855.
The next residence to go up was on block nine, and as an evidence of the metropolitan ideas en- tertained in those early days by these pushing pioneers, it should he recorded that the next building to go up was a printing office, built by Mr. Ruble, and presented to Swineford and Gray. the first printers to penetrate this region. The next shanty to go up was by Daniel Hfard, and Swineferd soon built an office and used the one presented by Ruble as a residence.
Mr. Merry opened the first hotel, although Mr. Ruble, having a house of two rooms, entertained people by the dozen, as his table was an extension one in a certain sense, and his beds were all elastic -that is, there were bunks on three sides of the room.
The Clark building, as it was called, was orec- ted in 1856. The first building on the spot was Mr. Merry's boading house, which was burned in 1865. It was 14x16 feet. and had a few shelves with some goods.
Squire Clark used to hohl court here. A lad-
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der extended to a room above, and a trap-door to a hole below. In this room the court would meet, and in a jury case the people would have to be turned out of doors, and would listen through the cracks to the unconfined eloquence within, and know the verdict as soon as it was agreed upon.
The old settlers relate many anecdotes as to the marriages that were performed there; one of them, which is of course told as the first ceremony of the kind in town, if not in the county, and to one who has never looked up such matters, it is aston- ishing how many of these first events will be dis- covered. Well, the story is that when the first bridal pair stood up before the 'Squire, and had joined hands, while the crowd, with feverish anxi- ety, awaited the consummation of their plighted vows, the magistrate nerved himself to the task, with the awful feeling of responsibility resting upon him, and began : "Know all men by these presents", but finding that this did not sound all right, he began again. "To whom it may con- cern"; this "splurge" created such an impression that he abruptly stopped and called for the stat- utes or any book that had a marriage form, but on being told that the form was not essential, he ended the ceremony by pronouncing them hus- band and wife.
In this building it is reported that the first ser- mon was preached; Rev. Mr. Lowry and Rev. Mr. McReynolds being the early preachers.
On one occasion, a man who lived somewhere near, who had listened to what he considered a powerful discourse, offered publicly to give the minister half a cheese, if he would come over to his house and discuss the matter with "Lncinda," his wife,in whose Biblical knowledge he had the utmost confidence. The Sabbath School Convention at first met here ; but the old building finished its own history in the fall of 1872.
The men who came here to work for Mr. Ruble were: Saxon C.Roberts, Joseph Willford, who was afterward frozn to death in Martin county, Charles F. Warren, H. V. Henderson, A. Ableman, L. C. Roberts, John B, Lenox, John Rion, Ed. Murphy, Arthur Boulton, Edward Henderson, and David Irons.
The pay roll for these men commenced on the 2d of November, 1855. Of course these men had to be boarded and lodged by Ruble, and Mr. H. Peck used to say that any one coming within forty miles of Albert Lea would swing round here and get a meal at Ruble's.
The next store in the place was opened by Col. Eaton, opposite where the Post-office now is.
Francis Hall, whom usage has transformed into Frank Hall, was the next man to come and com- mence general merchandising, and he has been a prominent and public spirited citizen ever since, being frequently mentioned in this work.
G. A. Watrous made the first brick, in 1857.
The land on the site of the city was pre-empted by Mr. Ruble on the east of Broadway, and by Mr. Merry on the west of that street. The latter secured 160 acres, 40 of which he sold to T. C. Thorn, who transferred it to William Morin, and he, being an engineer, surveyed and platted it.
At first the lots were sold fron $25 to $100 each, according to location. The fact that there was no exorbitant prices for lots was one of the elements contributing to the success of the town.
Mr. Ruble laid out 312 acres east of the town, and Thomas Smith, of Red Wing, also had an in- terest in the town site and sold town lots.
In 1857, during the fall, the hard times that prevailed in every section of the country, most seriously affected the growth and prosperity of the place, and a few of the lots east of the town were sold, and to-day that is Ruble's farm.
When Swineford and Gray, the printers, came, Mr. Ruble made arrangements to have a news- paper started at once, and endorsed their paper to Rounds, of Chicago, to secure press and material. In about a year it was sold to Gray, who finally turned it over to Botsford, but a sketch of the paper appears under the proper head.
Mr. Merry's interest was bought out by L. P. Wedge, a non-resident, who sent his relative, A. C. Wedge, to look after the property. L. P. Wedge subsequently died and his widow married Angustus Armstrong.
Charles Kittleson, a young man, came out west to obtain work, and not finding it, as he had no trade, became discouraged and was about to re- turn to Wisconsin when Ruble offered him fifty cents a day to work in the mill, and afterwards he went to work for Frank Hall in his store. Sub- sequently some one built a saloon for him, which he kept until the war broke ont, and then went in- to the army, in Captain Heath's company. On his return he was elected County Treasurer, and afterwards re-elected, serving ten years; he is now State Treasurer of Minnesota.
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.
A. B. Webber was a Republican, and among other things he did for the good of the town, was building the Webber House, a part of which is still standing unocenpied next to the Chicago fur- niture establishment on Broadway. He went into the army, was in the commissary department, and afterwards moved to Kansas, and thence to Cali- fornia.
The first dance was on that first Christmas eve, with C. C. Colby to furnish the music, and it was an enjoyable affair. Mr. Colby is now in Now York in the music business.
The first ehild born in town was a daughter of Mr. Walford and his wife Mary, in March, 1856; her name was Louisa. She is married and now lives in Vinton, Iowa.
Mr. Crowfoot started the first blacksmith shop, and in due time others eame in, and the town has always been well supplied with iron working ar- tizans.
The supplies in those times were generally brought from MeGregor. Iowa, and the transpor- tation was from two to three dollars for a hundred pounds. depending upon the weather to some ex- tent. Sometimes several weeks would be con- sumed in a trip, as the country was roadless and bridgeless, and the water in the sloughs would be too deep to ford.
Hall's tirst store was built by Wedge & Morin. When Hall went into his new store his old place was occupied by Whitten.
One of the early society events was the marri- age by Colonel Eaton, who was a Justice of the Peace, of Mr. Heath, the second Sheriff of the county, to Miss Rice. The ritual employed was a striking improvement upon Squire Clark's jerkey impromptu. The magistrate's fee was $2.50, in gold. What the Colonel could possibly do with so much gold in those days no oue conld conjec- ture.
The story is told of a devont church member who had a passion for card playing, and who spent most of his evenings in the saloons, en- gaged in his favorite game, but he was quite reg- ular at the prayer meetings, and he would take part in the exercises, not unfrequently interluding his remarks with such expressions as "at this stage of the game," "go it alone," get enehred," and "playing the best trump," which evidently conveyed quite as much meaning as he intended.
In 1857, the new-comers wore numerons; the
village of Albert Lea began to assume some pro- portions, and it is a matter of congratulation that it is still growing. the present season having wit- nessed the erection of some of the finest buildings in town, as residences and for business purposes
As to what beeame of the men who came to work for Mr. Ruble: E. W. Murphy is one of the leading merchants of Albert Lea; Roberts and his son Lars went to Kansas: the Hendersons left some years ago; Gertler, Ableman and Willford have climbed the golden stair. Mr. Willford had the general management of the gang.
Lorenzo Merry had been on the ground one month, and the only persons then known to be in the county, according to E. W. Murphy, were Theodore Lilly, Charles C. Colby and two sisters, and Charles Wilder and brother, who were all on the west side of the lake; and on the opposite side were Chris. Mickleson and family, and Charles Peterson.
Mr. Merry remained about two years, when he started for pastures new.
In 1856, a stage line commeneed running through Albert Lea, and the people began to feel that they must very soon begin to put on some style, for this brought in settlers in a rapid manner.
In the summer of 1856, the urgent and pressing necessity was felt for an establishment where, to use the characteristic vernaenlar, the ever festive "bug juice" might be dispensed, and in response to this demand, a man made his appearance on the seene and opened a saloon.
When Frank Hall arrived, he made everything lively; as one of the carly settlers remarked, "he was a buster," and at once commeneed the eree- tion of a fine store.for those times, and opened a first-class assortment of goods, embracing general merchandise in great variety. This was in 1857. A number of years afterward he built the "old brick store," which was and still is a landmark.
Mr. Wilder, at an early day, opened a small stoek of general merchandise and a large stock of whisky, in Hall's old place. At this time the inhabitants of the village were few, but as the tide of emigration in this direction was on the flood-tide, and the country was fast settling up, the streets presented a busy appearance.
Brock Woodruff opened a small store of general merchandise, and as that was the first thing usnally
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CITY OF ALBERT LE.i.
called for by the thirsty traveler, he also put in liquid refreshments.
'Squire Clark may be described as an inferior looking man, who had a chronic opthalmia. He had considerable professional pride, and when he was called down to Shell Rock to marry Mr. Andrews senior, and completely broke down, he was a good deal mortified, telling his friends when he returned that he "completely broke down, by gosh!" H. D. Brown was present at that wedding.
At one time there was a man who was on trial for some offense, and he demanded a jury, but the justice decided that he could only have a jury by paying the expenses of such luxury. This start- ling proposition was shown by the counsel for the defense to be contrary to the statutes, but 'Squire Clark stated that he had once so decided, and he did not propose to reverse his own decision, for a Justice in all things should be consistent.
Affairs were not long in assuming form and coherence in the town; men gravitated to their proper level. a subdivision of labor, the true index of civilization, resulted, and to-day there is a thriving and prosperous community.
NECROLOGICAL.
It has been deemed proper to furnish a brief sketch of some of the most prominent men and women who have drifted into that unseen Sea, which is but a step from our present existence, and ultim- ately swallows every living soul. It is not unlike- ly that some names that should appear here liave been omitted, for it is a notable thing to see how soon one is disremembered, who, having joined the endless possession, has passed from mortal vlew,
AUGUSTUS ARMSTRONG .- The thread of his life was snapped asunder on the 18th of August, 1873 at the age of 39 years. He was born in Milan, Ohio, and after the necessary preliminary educa- tion, began the study of law in a school in Cincin- nati, and after admission to the bar, began prac- tice. In 1857, he came to this county, where as a lawyer, publie officer, private citizen, and legisla- tor, he became identified with the growth and prosperity of the rising State. He was the first County Treasurer and the first district Attorney. In 1865, he was elected to the Legislature, return- ed the next year, was sent to the Senate in 1867, and again to the House in 1869. He was one of the directors of the Southern Minnesota railroad, and
was United States Marshal of Minnesota. Stricken down in the meridian of his life's journey, Min- nesota lost a son very faithful, loboring for the good of all. His friends mourned a counselor and his family lost the sun that shone o'er their pathway. He was married on the 10th of October, 1861, to Mrs Mary J. Wedge. He left two child- ren; Mary A. and Augustus.
SAMUEL BATCHELDER .- A leading citizen of Freeborn county, was born in Topsham, Orange county, Vermont, on the 28th of April 1825, and after attending the common school went to Nor- wich University, and there regularly graduated at the age of twenty years. He then studied law under Judge Underwood and was duly admitted to the bar and entered npon the practice of his profession. Symptoms of pulmonary disease ap- pearing he went to Georgia where his condition was materially improved. He had already been married to Miss Susan P. Taplin who went south with him. In 1850, he went to Kemper Springs, Mississippi, and taught and conducted anAcademy with eminent success. In 1856, he removed to Philadelphia, and leaving his wife there spent the winter of 1856-57 in Minnesota. At first he took a claim near Mr. Dill's but relinquished that and purchased a farm near Itasca, which is still known by his name. The following season he returned to Philadelphia and took charge of Attleborough Academy, about twenty miles from there. In 1861, his wife died, leaving a child six months old. This little one subsequently died as had two others, also in infancy. Two years later, in 1863, he came here for a permanent residence. In 1867, he was married to Miss Adide Sims of Albert Lea. He was elected Superintendent of Schools for Freeborn county, serving with rare ability for three years. and in 1869, was chosen County Auditor, a position he occupied with credit to himself until 1877. He built a house in this city, where his estimable widow now lives. He was one of the few early members of the Presbyterian church, and was a ripe scholar, with unusual attainments, being especially efficient in mathematics, Latin, and Greek. His character for honesty, integrity, and perfect reliability, was never questioned. It may be truly said that he was unselfish, true, and firm in his convictions of right. He was sadly missed in the secular and churchi circles.
ASHLEY M. TYRER was a native of Concord. Erie county, New York, and studied law in tl.e
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.
otlice of Judge Hazelton, at Jamestown. Chautna- qua county. Sometime after the war he came to Albert Lea. and went into the office of Augustus Armstrong, and afterwards with Judge Stacy. His death was in June, 1880. He was an honora- ble man, highly respected, a member of the Ma- sonie fraternity, and of the Presbyterian church.
N. H. ELLICKSON .- Mr. N. H. EHickson, of Albert Lea, one of the first settlers of this county, had an extensive acquaintance, and was well known as a man of ability and learning. He was the editor of the first Norwegian paper printed in thr United States, and for a number of years was coroner of this county. He died February 1st, aged 58 years, and was buried in the cemetery west of this eity, where "Life's fitful fever o'er, he sleepeth well."
MRS. MINERVA BLACKMER, widow of Dr. Frank- lin Blackmer, entered this world in Middlebury, Vermont, on the 9th of January, 1811. At the age of three years, her parents moved to Chan- tauqua county, New York, where they were the first settlers. She was left motherless at thirteen years of age, and assumed the care of the youn- ger children. At the age age of twenty she was married to Dr. Blackmer, and five years later went to Ohio and lived in the town of Amherst. In the year 1856, they removed to Minnesota and located in Albert Lea. After living here more than twenty years, the Doctor died, in 1877. Most of her life was spent on the frontier, as she removed three times to the border of civilization to help subdue the wilderness. She was remark- ably well fitted for success in such an arduous life; possessing, as she did, a strong constitution, with an earnest will she endured hardships be- yond the ability of many. She was always happy in making others comfortable. Her departure to an unknown frontier was on the 17th of May, 1882.
"After the shower, the giving son. Silver stars when the day is done. After the snow the emerald leaves, After the harvest the golden sheaves."
MRS. CHARITY FAY. -- The wife of L. W. Fay, was born in Otterville, Indiana, and came to this conuty in 1857. The dial of time struck its last hour for her on the 25th of May, 1882. A hus- band and three children were left to love and re- member a beloved wife and mother.
MRS. MARY DOW ROWELL, wife of Mr. H. Rowell, yielded up her natural life on Sunday
morning, the 11th of Jnne, 1876, at three score and eight years. She was a native of Norfolk, England; was married to Mr. Rowell in Chelsea, England, in October, 1831. The next year they came to New York, and lived there two years. Then spent eight years in New Orleans and Vicks- burg. In 1840 went up the Mississippi as far as Illinois, and lived near Springfield four years; then pushed on up to Wisconsin. In 1854 they came to Rochester, in this State, and in 1869 eame herc. where the family became well known. While in New Orleans, Mrs. Rowell had an attack of Yellow fever, from the effects of which she never recovered.
JOHN COLBY. At the age of three score and ten, on the 5th day of June, 1876, he was gathered to his fathers. His nativity dated from the 4th of December, 1806, in the Green Moun- tain State. He was married on the 21st of Janu- ary, 1829, to Miss Hannah Rowell. In 1835, he removed to Pennsylvania and remained there fif- teen years, then came west as far as Wisconsin where he lived six years; then got over on this side of the Mississippi, and pre-empted the farm now in possession of some of the family. He was an honest. upright man, held in great regard by his acquaintances. A wife, one son and seven danghters, all married, survive him. His remains were deposited in the cemetery on part of the land where he first located.
MRS. AMANDA WOODRUFF came in 1856 with her husband, and found a place in the Burr Oaks in London township, and in 1857 removed to Albert Lea. She was true to all the instincts of womanhood, and was thus an eminently useful woman. On the 28th of May, 1879, the cares of life were quietly laid down for whatever else may be in store for her.
OLE O. SIMONSON died suddenly on the 21st of February, 1881, of Cerebro-spinal Meningitis, while filling the office of Register of Deeds. He was a very conscientious, careful, painstaking, - aeenrate and reliable man, and his loss was deeply felt throughout the county. Snitable resolutions were passed by the county officers in commemor- ation of his services. He was born in Normandy, was forty years of age at the time of his death, and left a widow and four children.
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