History of Goodhue County, Minnesota, Part 12

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, H.C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1264

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The following resolution was passed : Resolved, To raise $600 toward the erection of county buildings next year; Provided, that the legal voters of the county, by a majority of votes con- sent to the same. The location of the court house was discussed at some length. and the subject finally laid over until the fol- lowing meeting. At the next meeting. held July 22. the following resolution was passed : Resolved, That the court house for Good- hue county be located on the block marked and known as "Court House Block" on the town plat of Red Wing, according to the survey of the same made by J. Knaner, June 23, 1853. The next meeting was held November 18, and the consideration of bills against the county was taken up. Bills were allowed to the amount of $84.60, and sheriff and justice fees to the amount of $84.60 were ordered paid. At the closing session, in December, the amount of $61 additional was allowed, making the total expenses of the county for the year $336.90.

On the second Tuesday in October, 1854, the people elected a full board of county officers: Commissioners, Rezin Spates, A. W. Post, P. S. Fish ; sheriff, Harry C. Hoffman ; treasurer, M. Sorin ; district attorney, P. Sandford: judge of probate, A. D. Shaw; county surveyor. S. A. Hart; clerk of the court, P. San- ford; register of deeds, J. W. Hancock. The first meeting of the regularly elected board of county commissioners was held Jan- uary 1, 1855. No business was transacted at this meeting. The members simply subscribed to the oath of office and elected P. S. Fish as chairman. At their second meeting, held January .8, the board examined and approved the following accounts :

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HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY

Charles Spates, for services as supervisor, $5; H. S. Simmons, burial expenses of a German panper, $6; total, $11. At this session of the board the first grand and petit juries were selected, the former consisting of fifty members and the latter of seventy- two members. The jurors were divided between Goodhue and Wabasha counties according to population, the two counties, as previously noted, being attached together for judicial purposes.

A readjustment of the assessment districts was also agreed upon. The first district included that portion of the county between Hay creek and the northwestern line of the county ; the second district included that portion between Hay creek and Potter's creek; the third district was composed of the remaining portion of the county. A vacancy was declared to exist in the second district, which was filled by the appointment of P. Van- denberg. Wacoota precinct was established. It embraced the southeastern portion of the county and was separated from Red Wing precinct by a line commencing at the mouth of Potter's creek, thence along that creek to its head, and thence on a line due south to the county line. JJ. O. Weatherby was appointed justice of the peace for Red Wing, and W. R. Culbertson and Joseph Middaugh were named as constables in the Red Wing precinct. The clerk of the court and the register of deeds were directed to procure a case for each of their offices suitable for filing papers. The register of deeds was also directed to procure blank books for the use of the county, one for his own office and one for the clerk of the court. Provisions were made to secure permanent offices for the use of the county officials. In the months of May and June P. Sandford erected a small frame building next west of his residence on Main street in the present city of Red Wing, for a law office, this being the first law office erected in the city. This building was used by Mr. Sandford himself, as clerk of the court, and by the register of deeds, the treasurer when he had official business to transact, and by the board of county commissioners when they held their meetings. The sheriff and the treasurer for the most part "carried their offices in their hats." This pioneer lawyer's office was also used as a court house for the first term of court held in the county in 1854. It was also occupied by the United States land office in the spring of 1855, and until more commodious quarters could be secured. It was in this building that the first government sale of lands was made in the county.

The next meeting of the board of eounty commissioners was held on the second day of April, when Florence precinct was established, bounded as follows: "Commencing at the mouth of Wells ereek, on Lake Pepin. and running up that creek to the main bluff; thence sonth to the county line; thenee along the

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county line to Lake Pepin; thence up the lake to the place of beginning." John Kelley was appointed justice of the peace, and Samuel Corey, R. S. Phillips and Hamilton Gudley were named as judges of election. Vermillion precinct was also estab- . lished : "Commencing where the line between sections 12 and 13 strikes the Mississippi river, and running thence west until it strikes the Dakota county line; thence along said line to the river, thence down the river to the place of beginning." Eli Preble, Silas Harper and .J. R. Niles were appointed to be judges of elections. The clerk of the district court was allowed $12 per quarter for furnishing his own office.

The establishment of schools districts was next considered. District No. 1 included that portion of the county between the valley of Ilay creek and Potter's creek, bordering on the Mis- sissippi river and extending back from the same six miles. Distriet No. 2 inchided that portion of the county within the following bounds: Commencing at the mouth of Potter's creek on the Mississippi river; thence down the river and Lake Pepin to Point No-Point; thence due south to Wells' creek: thence up the valley of the same to the mouth of Rock creek; thence west to the precinct line: thence along said line to the place of beginning. Distriet No. 3 included that portion of the county within the following bounds: Commencing at the Cannon river bridge : thence dne south three miles; thence east to Ilay creek valley: thence down said valley to the Mississippi; thence up the Mississippi to the mouth of the Camon river; thence up the Cannon river to the place of beginning. It was also resolved that the clerk of the board be instructed to obtain the opinion of Rice, Ilollingshead and Becker, of St. Paul, in relation to the legality of the jurisdiction of Goodhne county over Wabasha county, particularly in regard to taxes. The board then adjourned until May 12.

A special session was held April 14. with R. Spates and P. S. Fish in attendance, but these two seemed to have managed to transact as much business as a much larger board would be expected to.

At this session school district No. 4 was established, as fol- lows: "Commencing on the west between Sillman Harrison's and John Kelley's; thence southwest to the Sugar Loaf, includ- ing the valley south and west of the Sugar Loaf; thence west to Lake Pepin; thenee up the lake to the place of beginning. R. L. Phillips was appointed a justice of the peace, and Abner Dwelly a judge of election in Florence preeinct.

May 12 R. Spates and A. W. Post were present. The first road petition of which any record is found was considered at this session, and L. Bates and Charles Spates were appointed

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viewers or examiners. The petition was presented by Ilans Mattson and others. School district No. 5 was established, with the following boundaries: Beginning at Poplar Grove on the Cannon Falls road, about ten miles from Red Wing, and running southwest to the south fork of the Cannon, so as to include the claim of Ross and Champe: thence down the south fork to its mouth, thence down the C'annon river two miles; thence in a southeasterly direction to the place of beginning.

A special session was called June 9, with the full board in attendance. A petition signed by E. Westervelt and others was presented, asking for the erection of a new election precinct, which after some consideration was dismissed. The residents of Westervelt also presented a petition asking for a new school district. This was granted and the district established as school district No. 6. Its boundaries were given as follows: Commenc- ing at a point on Lake Pepin above Westervelt's, running in a southwesterly direction to the divide of the creek near Maham- mon Drum's claim; thence in a southeasterly direction along the range of bluffs to the district below : thence east to the lake; and thence up the river to the place of beginning. Two other districts were also established. District No. 7 was outlined as follows: Commencing at the southwest corner of Ingram's claim on Wells' creek. thence north to the top and center of the bluff dividing the valley of Wells' creek from the military road valley ; thence to the head of Rock creek; thence embracing the Rock creek settlement to Wells' creek and the Wells' creek settlement to the place of beginning. A study of these boundaries will show that a part of this district was taken from the original No. 2. District No. 8, as established, had the following boundaries : Commencing in the middle of section 10. township 113, range 15 west, and running south to the district line of district No. 5; thence along said line west three miles ; thence north to the north- west side of Brownson's claim; thence east to the place of beginning. This district was taken in part from district No. 3.

At the session of the board held June 25 Cannon Falls precinct was established. In the language of the resolution passed it "comprised the whole of township No. 112, range 17 west, and so much of township No. 112, range 18 west, as lies within the county of Goodhue, being formed out of a portion of Red Wing precinct. The voting place was established at Du- rand's hotel. The board then agreed to raise a tax of one per cent on the total valuation of property, for territorial, school and county purposes, for the year 1855. The total valuation of tax- able property was $144,521; the whole amount to be raised being $1,455.21. The increase of taxable property in one year was

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$79,216. The increase in expenses, including territorial and school tax, was $901.12.

The full board was present at the special session held August 4. A petition was presented from the citizens of the Florence precinct, asking that the boundaries of that precinct be changed. After some discussion this matter was laid on the table, and at a subsequent meeting dismissed. A new precinct, called Sackton, was established, including three townships-No. 109 in ranges 15, 16 and 17 west. Abram Pierce was appointed justice of the peace ; Simon Sackett, constable; and Joseph P. Rutherford, James Haggard and Robert T. Freeman were named as judges of elections. The resignations of J. Middaugh, constable, and F. D. Clark, justice of the peace, Red Wing, were received and accepted. The clerk of the board was directed to obtain, if possible, printed blanks for county orders and poll books. Pre- vious to this time printed blanks were not used, and all forms were written out with the pen. The county surveyor was directed to procure a proper book and to copy into the same the field notes of the United States survey of the county.

At the September meeting the precinct of Dunkirk was estab- lished, embracing townships No. 110 in ranges 17 and 18 west, and township No. 119, range 18 west. There was also established the precinet of Belle Creek, embracing townships 111 in ranges 15 and 16 west, and township No. 112, range 16 west. Anders Knutson, Ole Oleson and Gunder Oleson were appointed to be judges of election in Dunkirk precinct, and the election was ordered to be held at the home of Anders Knutson. Walter Doyle, Hans Mattson and S. P. Chandler were appointed judges of election in Belle Creek, and the election was ordered to be held at the house of Walter Doyle. Townships No. 111, in ranges 17 and 18, were added to Cannon Falls precinet. and townships 110 in ranges 15 and 16 to Sackton precinct. The consideration of road petitions, appointment of viewers and the perfecting of arrangements for the October election, together with the exam- ination of sundry accounts, occupied the remainder of the session.

A session of one day was held October 1, being devoted mainly to the examination and allowance of accounts. The Spring Creek Valley and White Rock road was declared to be established and the clerk was directed to notify the supervisors of the same. The Wacoota and Wells' Creek, and the Wells' Creek and Florence roads were also declared to be established, and a like order directed to be issued to the supervisors of the several districts through which the roads were located. The last session of the year was held December 5. when school district No. 9 was established with boundaries as follows: Commencing

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HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY

at the southwest corner of section 31, township 109, range 15 east ; thence east three miles; thence north two and a half miles; thence west three miles; thence south two and a half miles to the place of beginning. It appears that the people did not vote in favor of raising money for county buildings, and nothing further was done by the board of commissioners toward that object until 1857, except to discuss the matter.

The first session of the board in 1856 was held January 7. The time of that and the immediate subsequent session was devoted to roads, anditing accounts, revising and re-establishing the assessors' districts and doing like business. At a session commencing April 8, 1856, the following named citizens were appointed judges of elections: Red Wing-Seth Washburn, R. C. Todd, T. J. Smith; Wacoota-H. F. Simmons, George Post, Abner W. Post; Belle Creek-Hans Mattson, Walter Doyle, S. P. Chandler; Florence-Samuel Corey, Henry Phillips, J. L. Dixon; Sackton-Simon Sackett, D. F. Stevens, P. G. Wilson; Cannon Falls-Andrus Durand, E. N. Sumner, Alonzo Dibble ; Dunkirk-Ole Oleson, Samnel Knutson, Gunder Oleson. School districts numbered 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 were established, the rapid influx of immigration making the re-establishment of the districts necessary. The total valuation returned by the assessors was $630.227. Previous to this taxes had been laid on personal property alone. This year real estate became also taxable. The business transacted this year was practically the same as that of the previous year, and a detailed description would prove too lengthy for the confines of this history. Those interested in any particular detail can find the minutes of these early meetings still on record among the county archives. In the year 1857 action was taken in earnest to provide county build- ings. The county board consisted of S. P. Chandler, S. J. Hasler and A. W. Post. S. J. Hasler was elected chairman. At a meet- ing held April 10 the following action was taken: Whereas. It is the duty of the board of county commissioners to provide for the erecting and repairing of court houses, jails, and other neces- sary public buildings for the use of the county; and whereas, this county has no court house or jail; Resolved, That this board provide for the erection of suitable buildings for the use of the county.

Several resolutions followed in regard to the issue of bonds, their negotiation, etc. Then they resolved to receive plans and specifications for a court house, to be furnished on or before the first of May, at the register of deeds' office, and directed the clerk to have these resolutions printed three successive weeks in the "Red Wing Gazette." It was the opinion of this board that the court house block was too far from the river, and they

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resolved that the block now occupied by the Episcopal church should be the site of the county buildings, provided a good title could be obtained. But nothing came of the above resolves of the commissioners, probably on account of the great stringency in money matters which prevailed throughout the country that year.

The next reference to the building of the court house found in the minutes of the board is under date of February 2, 1858, when, upon motion of petition of T. J. Smith, it was voted to erect county buildings according to plans and specifications pre- sented by the Messrs. Chaffee, provided that sufficient county bonds could be negotiated at a sum not less than ninety cents on the dollar, the cost of said building not to exceed $30,000. S. P. Chandler and S. J. Hasler voted in favor of this, and M. S. Chandler voted in the negative. It will be remembered that at that time Goodhue county bonds were worth from sixty to seventy-five cents on the dollar. On the third Monday in May the bids were opened and the contract awarded to Messrs. Sim- mons. Hill and Stevens, at $24.000, that being the lowest and best offer and included the entire completion of the building. Monday, May 17. the board voted to notify the contractors that the court house and jail were to be erected on the block known and designated as "court house block" square, in the city of Red Wing. Tuesday, June 8, the board voted to accept the sureties given by Daniel (. Hill and others for the completion of the contract for building the court house and jail, and ordered that bonds be placed on file in the county clerk's office. It was also voted, to quote the minutes, "that the contract entered into by the county commissioners of said county of Goodhue county, Minn., parties of the first part. and Daniel C. Hill and others, parties of the second part. to build the county buildings, and to receive in pay therefor the bonds of the said county of Goodhue, Minn., to the amount of twenty-six thousand, six hundred and sixty-six dollars ($26,666.00) be placed on file." Old settlers interviewed are unable to account for this difference in $2,666 above the original contract price, but it may have been due to the fact that the pay was to be accepted in bonds which were not at par value.

Jesse M. Hodgman, deceased, for several years mayor of Red Wing, and one of the early merchants of the city, was born in Hartland. Windsor county, Vermont, February 17, 1818. As a boy he received his education in the district schools of his native county, in a seminary at Meriden, N. II., and in a state military school at Norwich, Vt., remaining on the farm until 1854. In the fall of that year he arrived in Red Wing for the first time. Although there was little here at that time to indicate the future

p. M. Hodgman

THE NET IN PUBLIC LISAARY

AFTHE

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HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY

prosperity of the city, he became fired with the enthusiasm of the other pioneers of those days, and returning east, he settled up his business affairs there, again coming to Red Wing in the spring of 1856. Here he remained from that date until the time of his death. with the exception of some trips he made for the benefit of his health. lle first became engaged in the mer- cantile business, which he continued for some time, working also in the store of Melntire & Sheldon. In 1860 he became a partner with T. B. Sheldon in the forwarding and commission business, in which he remained until 1867, when failing health necessi- tated his partial retirement. He became a director in the First National bank and continued in this capacity until 1880. In 1887. with B. B. Herbert and others, he started the Red Wing Building Association, of which he was secretary. First elected mayor of Red Wing in 1868, he was several times re-elected, and filled the position with dignity and ability. Aside from his other interests he was a stockholder in the local potteries. In 1880 he went to California in search of health, and three years later returned somewhat benefited. His death, April 11, 1887, at his home in Red Wing, was the occasion of the following obituary notice, which expresses the feelings of those with whom he was associated : "Until compelled by failing health to retire, he was actively employed in some department of practical busi- ness in which the prosperity of the city was more or less directly identified. Never a strong man, he had the time and the energy and the pluck to devote to the public as well as to his private interests. when that public-as on more than one occasion it did-demanded his services. As mayor of the city for successive terms, and in the discharge of other public trusts, his labors are remembered with gratitude. They were uniformly in the direc- tion of public interests. intelligently understood and appreciated. and from that line of action nothing could swerve him. In publie. as in private. those who knew him best esteemed him best. In the family and home circle he was ever the kind, con- siderate husband. father and friend. thoughtful for others to the last. A true and noble and manly man has gone from among us. The world is better for such as he." Mr. Hodgman was married May 13. 1862. at Red Wing. to Harriet Kellogg, one of the first music teachers of Red Wing. a musician of much ability and a graduate of the Young Ladies' Seminary of Music, at Coopers- town, N. Y. She was the daughter of Joseph and Harriet (Kingsley). Kellogg. natives of New York state. Her father, a harness maker by trade. died in his native state in 1850. and his widow came to St. Paul with her family in 1853. In 1856 they came to Red Wing. where she died in May. 1865. To Mr. and Mrs. Hodgman was born one son, Leonard W .. July 13. 1863, at

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Red Wing. He married Ellen Graves, of St. Paul, November 7, 1908. For many years he has been treasurer of the State Asso- ciation for the Deaf.

James Cox, a pioneer resident of this county, now many years deceased, is a native of Long Island, born April 30, 1812, son of Oliver and Zipporah Cox, natives of New England, who crossed the sound and settled on one of the productive Long Island farms in the early days. Here James was reared, living the life of the other boys of his period, and receiving such education as the schools of his neighborhood afforded. He went to Ohio as a young man. and engaged in the mercantile business, until failing health made it advisable for him to seek employment which would allow him to be out-of-doors more. At Burlington. Iowa, he conducted a real estate office, and here his health so greatly improved that he was enabled to open a hardware establishment in St. Paul. During the year 1856, when the wonderful possi- bilities of Goodhue county, then recently opened to settlement, were being discussed on every street corner in St. Paul, he be- came enthused with the prospects, and coming to Lean township, secured a farm and carried on agricultural operations for ten years. In 1865 he located in Red Wing, remaining until his death, January 6. 1888. He was a man of acute business judg- ment and staunch New England integrity, handicapped how- ever. through life. by a lack of robust health. The family still resides in the house he occupied when first locating in Red Wing. This building is one of the earlier residences of the city. and within its walls much of the early court business of the county was transacted. The old farm-house at Leon, with its surround- ing acres, also remains in the possession of the family even to the present day. Mr. Cox was married in 1842, at Piqua, Miami county. Ohio. to Anna E. Caldwell, daughter of Matthew and Harriet V. (Kemper) Caldwell, natives of Kanawha, W. Va., at that time a part of Virginia. The father was a large land owner and possessed the aeres upon which the flourishing city of Piqua, Ohio. is now located. To Mr. and Mrs. Cox were born six chil- dren : Edwin was born at Piqua, served as corporal in Company F. First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and was killed in the battle of Antietam : Oliver C .. deceased : Alice C., born at Piqua, is also deceased; Eleanor Z., also born at Piqua, married Fred- eriek (. Boynton, head miller of the Cataract mills, and fourth owner of the Goodhue mills at Cannon Falls. Mr. and Mrs. Boynton have three children : Gertrude, now Mrs. G. C. Ansley, and has one child. Jeanette : James C., married Myrle Morowitz; Bessie is deceased. Harriet, the fourth child of Mr. and Mrs. Cox. was born at Burlington, Iowa. married H. T. Eames, lives at Fergus Falls, Minn .. and has three children, Maude E. and

JAMES COX

PUBLI

ASTOR LAPLAND TILLEN TUIN 477040

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Ray T., living, and Jessie, deceased. Anna Belle, the fifth child of Mr. and Mrs. Cox, was born at St. Paul, May 14, 1856, mar- ried W. II. Brink, a St. Paul contractor, and has four children : Harry LeRoy married Mabel Wallace and has two children, Dor- othy E. and Barbara. Nellie C. married Louis Nienaber, of St. Paul. Charlotte M. married George K. Fargo, of Oregon, by whom she has one child, Stevens. Drake is the youngest son. Nina F., born in Red Wing, youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. Cox, resides at home. The family faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church.

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History of Goodhue County, Minnesota, Part 12

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Chicago, H.C. Cooper Number of Pages: 1264

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, H.C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1264