USA > Minnesota > Freeborn County > History of Freeborn County, including explorers and pioneers of Minnesota, and outline history of the state of Minnesota > Part 93
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He also commenced improvements, and by the
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.
time the government survey was made, in 1854, he had broken seven acres of land, put in a crop. and had it fenced. This plowed and eultivated field being the only one in the county it was en- tered by the surveyors upon the government sur- vey map. In the fall of 1855, Mr. Gulbrandson and his wife, having had trouble and discourage- ments, finally separated, and it is said her father gave him, in the words of our informant, a "h- of a lickin" for treating his wife so. 'The follow- ing spring Gulbrandson sold his place and moved to Decorah, since when he has been lost trace of.
Thus the settlement of this locality remained until September, 1855, when an addition was made to it. The first was John Stanley, a native of the New England States, but came direct from California and took a claim on the corner of see- tions nineteen, twenty, twenty-nine, and thirty. He brought with him quite a herd of cattle; but as he had but little very poor hay, it is claimed that all of the stock died. The farm be settled upon is now the property of T. Porter.
Stanley remained three or four years. He then went east and brought back with him the two Smiths, John and James A., natives of Canada, who both took claims in sections twenty and twenty-one, but have since left the locality.
Then in the spring of 1856, came the next set- tler in the person of William Beighley, who had been here the year previous, accompanied by his brother Jacob, T. J. Gordon, and E. Maybee, in November, looking for a suitable location, and decided to make this place his future home. So, as stated above, in April, 1856, he again made his appearance upon the scene, and bought the claim which Gulbrandson had settled on. In May his brothers, Jacob and S. P. Beighley, came with teams, bringing William's family, and they at onee selected claims, the former in sectiona thirty- two and thirty-three, and the latter in thirty. three and twenty-eight, where they both still hold forth. William Beighley is still living in the township. and is one of the prominent old settlers of the county.
With this party eame J. B. Gordon, who selected his claim in section thirty, west of the river; but , tioned, Gardner Cottrell, stopped for a time on the when his father, T. J. Gordon, a native of l'enn- sylvania, arrived in the fall and fall made himself comfortable in section twenty-eight, the son moved over and still makes his home there.
A little later in the season-1856-James Allen
came in and settled in section thirty, on the town line, and remained for about one year when he disposed of it to Peter Beighley, and finally went to Tennessee. The latter named gentleman also took a claim in section thirty-two, where he lived until the time of his death in 1872 or '73.
Chris. Oleson, a Norwegian, late from Pennsyl- vania, made his arrival substantial by planting his stakes on a farm in sections thirty-one and thirty- two, in June, 1856. He was a blacksmith by trade and still holds the fort on his original claim.
In the spring of 1857, Warren Barber, a native of New York, pushed his way within the limits of the township, and taking his slice of the govern - ment domain in section twenty-nine, continued his sojourn there until after the war, when that insa- tiable mystery, Death, secured him, and be was ealled hence.
But, in the meantime, the northern por- tion of the township began its evolutions toward civilization, and by the time of the last mentioned arrival it counted a goodly number as a neighborhood. Early in the spring of 1855, William Rice came from Wisconsin and commenced the settlement in the northern part of the township by taking a claim in section eight. In the spring of the following year he went to St. Nicholas, in Albert Lea township, and started a hotel there under the sign of "St. Nicholas Hotel." He was mail earrier for the village, and on one of his trips, on the 3d of December, 1856, he got lost, and after wandering about for three days brought up at Plymouth; but he was so badly frozen that he died in a few days, and his remains were deposited in the Greenwood cemetery. This was the second death in Freeborn county.
Almost immediately following Rice, a little col- ony from Wisconsin made their appearance and swelled the Shell Rock settlement, arriving in June, 1855. This party consisted of Gardner Cottrell and family, George Gardner and family, Madison Rice with his mother and her family, C. T. Knapp and family, and a couple of others whose names have been forgotten. The first men- Rice place, which he soon after took for himself and remained upon it for about one year when he opened the first store in Shell Rock village. After managing the business for a number of years- he retired and has since passed to the great beyond,
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while his wife and several children still live in the village.
George Gardner located upon section six, where he remained until 1880, when he went to North- wood, where his lamp still holds out to burn.
Madison Rice, with his mother, made himself at home in section eight, and here remained until after the war when he took up his goods and chat- tels and removed to Wisconsin where he yet lives He married the daughter of C. T. Knapp.
Mr. Knapp was not behind the rest of the party and immediately after his arrival took a farm in section thirty-six, just over the line in Albert Lca township. Here he lived until 1877, when he removed to the village of Shell Rock, and in the year following opened the meat market which he still continues.
The next spring -- 1856-F. L. Cutler and John Smith came, arriving in May. Butler was an eastern man coming from lowa to this place, and bought the claim settled by Gardner. He finally, after service in the Minnesota First during the war, sold his place and went to Freeborn, and from there drifted down to Missouri. He was quite a sport and jockey, and took great delight in fast horses.
John Smith took land on both sides of the town lines of Shell Rock and Freeman.
About this time came Joseph Marvin, John Wood, and John Eddy.
In May, (1856), Mr. Anthony C. Trow, a na- tiva of New Hampshire, came from Mitchell county, Iowa, and after looking the country over on foot finaily located on section seventeen, where he still continues his sojourn. He selected a quarter of the same section for his brother, Elisha, who arrived the same month and settled, remaining a couple of years and then moved away. He now lives in Kansas.
Joseph Marvin and his son-in-law, Daniel R. Young, natives of Massachusetts, arrived on the 10th day of July, 1856, and selected claims. The former, in 1876, was called upon to cross the dark river of death, and the latter still lives in the township.
With these, or at about the same time, came Aszel Young, Uriah Grover, and Robert Bndlong. who all secured homes.
On the 11th day of July, 1856. A. H. Bart- lett made his appearance, and the village of Shell Rock, through his energy and capable manage-
ment, sprung into existence. He yet resides in the village, one of the prominent public men of Freebom county, and a man capable, trustworthy, and efficient in every respect.
E. P. Skinner and Mr. Beattie arrived in early days, and taking a good deal of land commenced speculating and continued for many years. The latter, Mr. Beattie, was for years known to the residents, and, in fact, everyone, as the "One-Leg- ged Speculator."
In 1857, A. M. Burnham drifted upon the scene and erected the first bridge thrown across the Shell Rock River, and with him came a num- ber from Albert Lea. The population grew very rapidly and the country settled with a good class of inhabitants. An idea of the ingress can be formed from the fact that in 1857, 100 votes were cast at the general election.
EARLY SETTLERS DECEASED.
REV. WALTER SCOTT was an early settler at Shell Rock, coming in the summer of 1856. In 1857, he was licensed to preach by the Methodist Episcopal church. On the 24th of November, 1877, he died, at the age of 53 years, leaving a wife and six children. He had removed to North- wood.
JOHN S. CORNING was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, in 1827, where he lived until 1855 when he came to Minnesota, and erected the first frame house in Shell Rock, and for two years did two men's work-run a saw-mill, kept a store, and managed a hotel, and afterwards kept the Webber house in Albert Lea. For twelve years before his death lie kept a hotel in Austin. When 52 years of age, on the 10th of October, 1879, the gong sounded for him to retire from this world forever.
MRS. NANCY M. BROWN, wife of Watson Brown. A singular ly noble character with an even dispo- sition. She was the oldest of ten children, and was married in 1859. New York was her native State. Her eyes were closed in death on the 10th of February, 1881, at the age of forty-eight years. She fully realized the value of early in- struction, and was particularly active in Sunday school work.
MRS. LUCRETIA WEEKS, grand-mother of Mrs. H. T. Chase, of Shell Rock, finished her earthly sojurn on the 7th of December, 1871, at her home in Pennsylvania, at the age of 93 years. Her descendants at the time of her death were, nine
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.
children, fifty-eight grand-children, and one hun- dred and four great-grand-children, and six of the next generation.
" Thou hast for many a lengthened year. Life's weary pathway trod; Seen generations disappear, Laid low beneath the sod * * * We bid thee, aged friend, adieu ; Onr friend of many a year. We laid thee here beneath the yew. And leave thee with a tear."
HOPKINS B. RIGGS was introduced into this world in the state of New York. on the 21st of May, 1820, and transferred to the next on the 9th of June, 1875, after a lapse of 55 years. At 14 years of age he went to Michigan, and lived there twenty-five years. At first he joined the Metho- dist elnreh, and then the Baptist, and was a true man, considerate of the rights of others. As be was breathing his last he said, "I am in the waters: let me go."
VARIOUS MATTERS OF INTEREST.
EARLY BIRTHS .- Early in the spring of 1854, the first child born in the county came into ex- istence at the log cabin of Ole Gulbrandson, the first actual settler, who lived in the southwestern part of the town. as treated in full elsewhere. The youngster was a girl, christened Bertha, and at last accounts was living healthy and robust.
.
Another early birth was the minor arrival of Susan, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Beighley, on the 13th of April, 1857. She is now married and living in Dakota.
A girl was born to Mr. and Mrs. James Luff, who lived in the village of Shell Rock, where they kept a taveru. The child's nativity was early in the spring of 1857, and was christened Minnie. She now lives in the West.
In November, 1855, Willie Andrews, son of Oliver and Mary Andrews, who the July previous had located in the township of Hayward, was born, being the second white child, and the first male, to commence its existence in Freeborn county.
EARLY MARRIAGES. - The first marriage in the county took place bere, early in 1857, or late in the year previous. Hannibal Bickford, or as he was generally known "Bunk," walked to the State line, where he procured a horse and brought his proposed. Miss Maria Colby, to Shell Rock. where the ceremony making them one was duly performed by William Andrews, Esquire. Mr.
Bickford still resides in Manchester, one of the solid men of the county, with two children. Mrs. B. died several years ago.
EARLY DEATHS .- We will let A. H. Bartlett, in the words nsed by him in his recent speech to the Old Settlers in their late reunion, in Albert Lea, relate the story of the first sad event of this kind.
.Mrs. Fannie Andrews, wife of William Andrews, Esq., a well known and prominent early settler of the county, and the mother of a large family of stalwart pioneers, who accompanied her and her husband and settled in the county in July, 1855, after a brief residence of nearly two months, liv- ing in their wagon while their habitation was be- ing erected, was suddenly called for by the inex- orable tyrant, death. and her immortal spirit, so lately filled with grand and hopeful expectations, winged its flight to its eternal tome above, while the entire community, as weeping mourners, fol- lowed her earthly remains to their last resting place, the grive, to be known no more on earth, forever. The sculptured marble (now to be seen in Greenwood cemetery, in the town of Shell Rock ) has for years reared up its front, proud to perpetuate her name and virtues, and rehearse to the passing traveller that on the 21st day of Decem- ber, 1858, the earthly remains of death's first vie- tim from the pioneers of Freeborn county, was here consigned to its last resting place, the tomb." And again Mr. Bartlett adds:
"On the 3d of December, A. D., 1836, William Rice, ( the second settler in Freeborn connty ) while carrying the mail aeross the broad and bleak prairie, lying between the Cedar and Shell Rock rivers, was caught in a severe snow storm, and lost his way. He wan lerel around, over the track- less prairie, without shelter or protection from the severity of the storm, until he froze to that extent. that he died of his injuries, some three or four days afterward. This calamity was followed in quick succession, on the 20th day of the same month, by Byron Packard and Charles Walker, ( a part of the company who laid out and founded Shell Rock City ) being caught in a terrflie storm, on the same broad prairie, while hauling a steam boiler to its destination at Shell Rock, and both perished from the severity of the storm and the extreme cold. Their bodies, frozen stiff and cold in death, were found four days afterwards, lying upon the frozen crust of the deep snow. Their
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bodies were carried to Shell Rock, and there bur- ied upon the town site they had so lately helped to lay out and form. No relatives were there to attend the funeral obsequies, and mourn their sad fate, yet sorrowing friends and brother pioneers, composing the entire community, assisted in per- forming the last duty to the untimely departed. No preacher of the gospel could be found in the : county to speak words of consolation to the sor- rowing and bereaved friends and associates, and our friend, Jacob Hostetter, one of Freeborn coun- ty's earliest pioneers, feelingly and eloquently ad- dressed the early pioneers there gathered, upon the sadness and suddenness of their bereavement; upon the mysterious and inscrutable ways of an overshadowing providence, in which no one can tell why, in the prime of vigorous and useful man- hood, when hope, the ministry of life is most buoy- ant, and future expectations in the com- ing life of usefulnes is most prominent, that a mysterious power should step in with its dread mandates, and the brightest and most prom- ising life should be consigned to oblivion and the grave. These sad bereavements, and others which happened in the county about that time, caused by the unparalleled severity of the winter of A. D 1856, cast a sad and sorrowing gloom over the young settlement of Freeborn county. Some few of the settlers became disheartened and discour- aged and early the following spring returned to their former eastern homes."
TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS FOR 1882 .- Supervisors, G. W. Gleason, Chairman, I. R. Flatt, and M. Mackin; Clerk, S. Messinger; Treasurer, A. C. Grow; Assessor, H. H. Gordon; Justices of the Peace, J. W. Prichard and James Abbott; Consta- ble, Jud. Randall.
SHELL ROCK GRANGE No. 310 .- This society was organized on the 9th of July, 1873, with a charter membership of thirty. The following were the first officers of the lodge: Master, O. C. C. How; Secretary, Ira A. Town; Overseer, W. G. Barnes; Stewart, G. T. Knapp; Assistant Steward, E. E. Budlong; Gate Keeper, E. T. Kelly; Ceres, Mrs. E. E. Badlong; Pomona, Miss Matilda Howe; Flora, Mrs. J. Presswell; Lady Assistant Steward, Mrs. George Hyatt. This grange has reached a membership of 135.
RELIGIOUS.
The Methodists have held services in the town- ship almost since the first settlement. About the
first gathering was held at the residence of Wil- liam Beighley in the winter of 1857-58, by the Rev. Mr. Mapes, an itinerant Methodist preacher, with a congregation consisting almost entirely of Beighleys. A class was organized about the same time with William Beighley as leader. Services were continued at various places until the school- house of district No. 50 wss erected in the north- eastern corner of section thirty-two, since which time services have been held part of the time every Sunday, and again irregularly; as a rule by the pastor from Shell Rock village.
DANE CEMETERY .- - This burial ground is loca- ted in the southeastern corner of section twelve, having been laid out in 1878, and the same year the remains of Mrs. Mary Nelson were deposited here. making the first interment. The grounds contain one acre, well fenced and neatly laid out with groves, occupying a high point of land.
HOYT WILL CEMETERY .- Is situated upon a high rise of land in the northeastern part of sec- tion twenty-four, containing something less than one acre, which was laid out in 1872. The first burial here was of Daniel S. Hoyt, in 1867, and it was on his land and by his wish that the ceme- tery is located here.
STATISTICS.
Below we present an extended list of the acre age and product, together with other items of interest compiled from the Auditor's report to the Commissioner of Statistics of Minnesota, and else- where, which will prove of interest:
THE YEAR 1881 .- Showing the acreage and yield in the township of Shell Rock for the year named :
Wheat-4,076 acres, yielding 35,362 bushels. Oats-1,388 acres, yielding 40,589 bushels.
Corn-1,162 acres, yielding 46,860 bushels. Barley-178 acres, yielding 2,026 bushels. Rye-82 acres, yielding 444 bushels.
Buckwheat-8 acres. yielding 43 bushels.
Potatoes-62 acres, yielding 7,487 bushels. Beans-1 acre, yielding 13 bushels.
Sugar cane-3012 acres, yielding 3,852 gal- lons.
Cultivated hay-245 acres, yielding 307 tons. Total acreage cultivated in 1881 -7,232. Timothy seed-37 bushels.
Apples-number of trees growing 2,456; num- ber bearing 532, yielding 251 bushels.
Grape vines bearing-28.
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.
Sheep-75 sheared, yielding 559 pounds of wool.
Dairy-302 cows, yielding 32,792 pounds of butter.
THE YEAR 1882 .- Wheat, 3.596 acres; oats, 1,503; corn, 2,337; barley, 436; rye. 39; buck- wheat. 21: potatoes, 10034 ; sugar cane, 234; cul- tivated hay, 99; fax, 3. Total acreage cultivated in 1882 -8.321.
Apple trees-growing 2,250; bearing 772; grape vines bearing. 18; milch cows, 324; sheep, 72. Whole number of farms in 1882-100.
Forest trees planted and growing-11812 acres.
POPULATION .- The census of 1870 gave Shell Rock a population of 512. The last census, taken in 1880, reports 1,013 for this town; showing an increase of 501.
SHELL ROCK VILLAGE.
Or, as it is called by the railroad company Glenville, lies in the northwestern part of the township of Shell Rock, in sections six and seven, on the river bearing the same name and on the Minneapolis & St. Louis railway. The site the village occupies is all that could be desired, the river furnishing a limited water-power, and the surrounding country is rich and productive to those who follow agricultural pursuits.
EARLY DAYS .- The settlement of the locality surrounding the village has been treated at length in another place; so it will be unnecessary to refer to it here. In Jnly, 1856, A. H. Bartlett came through this region in search for a village site and a suitable place for the construction of a mill. He was pleased with the locations of both St. Nicholas and Northwood; but money would not induce the proprietors of these prospective places to quit claim to their interests. In following the river Mr. Bartlett came to the site of Shell Rock. and commenced laying plans for the establishment of the village. John Smith and Frederick Cutler each donated 20 acres to the project, and Mr. Bartlett at once proceeded to survey and record eighty acres in lots and blocks as the village of Shell Rock. He next commenced the erection of a water saw-mill on the banks of the river, with a building 20x80, frame, equipping it with a 56-inch buzz saw. The water power did not succeed as anticipated, so a steam power of 30 horse was placed in it and the mill for two years continued piling up sawdust, when the timber became exhausted and the property was sold to William
Morin and moved to Albert Lea, from where it has since continued its journey toward the setting .מווא
Just. before the saw-mill was completed, and while Mr. Bartlett was in the East procuring ma- chinery, E. P. Skinner laid out a town under the caption of Shell Rock, a short distance north of Mr. B.'s proposed site, in the town of Hayward.
This promised to be quite a formidable rival to the present village, as a Post-office and store were established there; but on Mr. Bartlett's return negotiations were entered into which were finally completed. by which E. P. Skinner got one-fourth interest in Bartlett's site, and the Post-office, store and goods were removed to the latter place. At that time the store was run by R. A. Cornish, who was also made Postmaster. This store was continued for a number of years under the man- agement at different times of Skinner, Hall, Brown, and Smith; but finally, soon after the war, the goods were removed to Albert Lea.
George Whitman next put in a stoek of goods and kept a store for about one year, when he went ont of business. Hon. A. II. Bartlett then bought the building and got Victor Gilrup to open a store. Mr. G. still continues in the mercantile business, and now owns the entire establishment.
But little was done toward the development of the town until the railroad was built through in 1877, when the progress really took root.
W. H. Peck came with the railroad, and opened a provision store which he continued for three or four years. He is now in Jackson.
H. G. Koontz also came about the same time, and opened the business he still continues under the sign of "Variety Store."
L. B. Woodruff opened a general merchandise store, and is still in the village, although not in business.
P. F. Brown opened the first hardward store, and sold to W. H. Peck, who in turn, in 1881, turned it over to Greengo & Landis, the present proprietors.
John Haughi started a harness shop Lere which he still manages.
In the spring of 1878, C. T. Knapp opened a meat-market, and still handles the beefsteak.
The first hotel was erected in 1856, by James Luff, and consisted of logs and clay. In this Mr. Imff entertained travelers, and supplied them with bad whiskey. When the railroad was con-
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structed, E. P. Kelly remodeled it, and it is now run by H. T. Chase.
In 1877, Dr. H. H. Wilcox opened a drug store which is yet in operation.
A hotel was erected the same year by William Beatty, which is now run by his wife, as he went to bed soon after its completion, and has never since been up: although the doctors say nothing ails the man.
Hon. A. H. Bartlett is the first and only lawyer of Shell Rock.
SHELL ROCK POST-OFFICE .- This office was es- tablished in 1856. It was the intention of A. H H. Bartlett, who laid out the village of Shell Rock, to have a Post-office at once established at his embryo village: bnt while he was in the East, purchasing machinery with which to equip his mill, E. P. Skinner took time by the fore lock and played "check mate," by having an office estab- lished at a point in Hayward township, a short distance north of Shell Rock, where he proposed the commencement of a village. When Mr. Bart- lett returned from the East and discovered the state of affairs, he went to Skinner and offered him one-fourth interest in Shell Rock, provided the office should be removed to that point and the proposed opposition town site abolished. The offer was accepted and the office was removed to Shell Rock as soon as the papers from Washing- ton were received, with E. P. Skinner as Post- master and A. H. Bartlett, deputy. It was held in Bartlett's house, on the river, for one quarter. the business in the meantime amounting to $18 and a few cents, when it was removed to the store of Skinner & Cottrell. The mail was carried by William Rice, from Mitchell through to Albert Lea, and finally. in 1857, a regular mail route was established from St. Ansgar to Mankato, by way of Shell Rock and Albert Lea, carried by A. B. Da- vis of Albert Lea. Skinner held the office until the spring of 1858, when, through the influence of A. H. Bartlett, R. A. Cornish became Postmas- ter, with the office at the same place. Next came Esquire William Andrews,-who, by the way, was the first Justice of the Peace in the county and married the first couple, and he held the office for three or four years. when Edward Town re. ceived the appointment, and following him came the presnt Postmaster, Victor Gillrup.
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