History of Goodhue County, Minnesota, Part 16

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

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Joseph W. Hancock was born in Orford, N. H., April 4, 1816. Ile attended the public schools at that place and followed this by a course at the academy located in Bradford, Vt. As a young man he taught in various places in New England, and in 1841 started out for the West. He journeyed down the Ohio river to the Mississippi, and then came north as far as Quincy. Ill. Here he taught school for a while and soon afterward had a class among the Winnebago Indians in Iowa. Later he taught a private school in Prairie du Chien, Wis. He found. however, that although he had come west for the sake of his health, the change of climate had not worked the desired change and consequently he returned to the East and spent some time at Saratoga, N. Y .. where he found the water from the springs to be of great benefit. In 1846 he was united in marriage with Martha Maria Honghton. a sister of H. O. Houghton. the noted Boston publisher. In 1848 Mr. Hancock received a commission from the American Board of Foreign Missions to become a missionary to the Sioux Indians, west of the Mississippi, and was sent to the Indian village of Red Wing, in the Northwest territory, where a band of Indians had long been located, and where missionary efforts had previously been conducted. The first white person known to have been buried within the limits of Goodhue county was the wife of Mr. Hancock. After two years of service among the Sionx her health gave away and she died March 21, 1851. To this union were born two children. William died in infancy. the other is Mrs. William Holliday. In 1852 he was married to Sarah Rankin, who died in March, 1859, leaving two children, Stella and James Otis. In October. 1860. he was united in marriage with Juliet Thompson, who died in 1897. Mr. Hancock began preaching to the early settlers in 1852, and in January, 1855. organized the First Presby- terian Church of Red Wing, of which he was pastor for seven years. During the remainder of his life he was connected with

REV. JOSEPH W. HANCOCK.

PUBLIC LIFAABY

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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

AUTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS L

Wir B. Hancock

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HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY

that church. He helped to organize the Winona presbytery in 1855, being one of the three elergymen who founded it. In addi- tion to his religions work, Mr. Hancock was in various capacities connected with the civic life of the community. He was first postmaster in Red Wing, and was appointed by Governor Ram- sey. territorial governor of Minnesota, as register of deeds in 1855. In the fall of that year he was elected to the office by the people. He was deeply interested in educational affairs and in the early history of the community had much to do in shaping the school interests. From 1862 to 1865 he was superintendent of schools in Goodhne county, and from 1870 to 1880 again served in the same capacity. His latter years were spent practically in retirement. He published a short history of the county in 1893, and to his writings the managers of the present publication are greatly indebted.

William B. Hancock, deceased, was one of those heroes who gave the best of the young manhood to the cause of their country, having come out of the nation's great civil struggle badly crippled, and doomed to suffer more or less pain for the remain- der of his natural days. He was born at Orford. N. HI., January 26, 1832, son of Joseph and Lydia (Peck) Ilancock, both natives of New England. The father was a farmer and blacksmith all his life. He went to Vermont in early manhood, but in his declin- ing years returned to New Hampshire, where he died in 1876. His wife died many years before, in 1832. William B. received his education in Vermont, and after leaving school farmed with his father. At the outbreak of the Civil War, when the Green Mountain boys were rallying to the support of the Union and the flag which the sons of that state love so well, he enlisted. in Angust, 1861. at Montpelier, Vt., serving in Company H, 6th Ver- mont Volunteer Infantry. He was wounded at Lee's Mills, in April, 1862, in both limbs, as the result of which he was left crippled for the rest of his life. In the early days he came to Featherstone township, this county, bringing with him his family, ready to establish a home-tree in this new and rich country. He first bought eighty acres, to which he added from time to time until he owned 200 acres, on which he carried on general farming with much success. In 1899 he retired and moved to Red Wing. where he died, November 24, 1907. He was a Republican in polities, and a believer in the religious doctrines set forth by the Universalist denomination. Mr. Hancock was married, December 13, 1855, at Berlin, Vt., to Laura B. Smith, a daughter of Abner and Rebecca (Carr) Smith, natives of the Green Mountain state. Her father was a carpenter and joiner, a vocation he followed until the beginning of the war. He joined the Union army. serv- ing in Company B, 1st Vermont Volunteer Infantry. At the

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battle of Cold Harbor, June 1, 1864, when the New England regi- ments were being mowed down like grass, he gave up his life in defense of his country and the principles in which he so thor- oughly believed. To Mr. and Mrs. Hancock were born four children. Eugene A. is the capable manager of the family estate at Featherstone, having taken charge of the home farm in 1899. He lives at 1208 Twelfth street, in Red Wing, with his mother, driving to and fro to attend to his duties on the farm. Fred L., the second son, died in infancy at Worcester, Vt. Arabella R. married Hiram Watson, of Red Wing. The youngest child, N. Maude, married Gustave Kunze, an insurance agent, of St. Paul.

William W. Sweney, M. D., was the second physician who set- tled in Minnesota for the purpose of practicing his profession. He located in St. Paul in April. 1850. Dr. Murphy had settled there the year before. Dr. Sweney was the son of Alexander M. and Mary M. Kehr Sweney, and was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, in the year 1818. His father was of Scotch- Irish, and his mother of Piedmontese-Huguenot descent. When William was eighteen years old he moved to Fulton county, Illinois, having previously obtained an academic education in his native town. He read medicine with Dr. Abram Hull. of Marietta. Ill .. practiced in connection with him in 1848-9, and graduated at Rush Medical College, Chicago, after settling in Minnesota. In May. 1852, he came to Red Wing, which was at that time an Indian town, on the Mississippi, having an Indian farmer. John Bush, and an Indian missionary, Rev. Joseph W. Hancock. The doctor gave his services to the Indians, whenever called upon, freely. and was highly esteemed by them. After the Indians were removed, as settlers multiplied. Dr. Swency's professional business increased, and for a quarter of a century he had as many and as long rides as any one man could reason- ably desire. He always had the confidence of the people up to the time he was unable to practice longer. He was a member of the Goodhue County and of the State Medical Society; was president of the former in 1872, and of the latter in 1873. He wrote several essays on the "Climatology and Diseases of Min- nesota." a prize essay on the "Epidemics and Endemics of Min- nesota," a prize essay on "Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis"; also on a few other subjects. He was elected to the territorial legisla- ture in 1857. serving in the last session before Minnesota became a state. He also held office several terms in the municipality of Red Wing. In politics he was a state's rights Democrat, but no disunionist ; not an active politician in his latter years. Dr. Sweney was married in Fulton county, Illinois, in 1841, to Maria Freeborn, daughter of Richard Freeborn, of that place. who emi- grated to Minnesota carly in the fifties and died in Red Wing

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about 1870, in a good old age. Dr. Sweney's favorite pastime was trout fishing, though he often indulged in the pursuit of other game in the early days. He was a good physician, cautious of giving medicine when he was convinced that none was needed, ever ready to attend the calls of the suffering, whether poor or rich. He was a quiet and unassuming man, yet always consid- ored a prominent citizen in Red Wing. His death occurred in August, 1882. His funeral was attended, at the Episcopal church, by the largest number of all classes of citizens ever assembled on a like occasion in the previous history of the place. The church was crowded and its entrances thronged. The procession which followed his remains to their final rest in Oakwood consisted of the various orders of secret societies, the firemen and all the. various benevolent associations of the city.

CHAPTER XII.

TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES.

Organization and Original Names-Belle Creek-Belvidere- Burnside-Cherry Grove-Central Point-Early Settlement.

Goodhue county received its name in honor of James M. Goodhue. the pioneer editor and printer of the state, who at the time of his early death, in 1852, had already won for himself name and fame as well as influence in the new territory. It con- sists of twenty-three townships, all of which are practically the same in area and name as when first constituted in 1858. They are : Welch, Burnside, Wacoota, Stanton, Cannon Falls, Vasa, Featherstone, Hay Creek, Florence, Central Point, Warsaw, Leon, Belle Creek, Goodhue, Belvidere, Holden, Wanamingo, Minneola, Zumbrota, Kenyon, Cherry Grove, Roscoe and Pine Island. Red Wing formerly had a township organization. Pre- vious to 1858 precincts had been established, but townships were not laid out as regularly organized political divisions until that year, when, under a new aet passed by the legislature, Martin S. Chandler, William P. Tanner and Jesse MeIntire, the three gen- tlemen selected, defined and named the townships in Goodhue county as follows. (Where no note is made of subsequent changes. the township at present remains as at that time eon- stituted.)

Belle Creek, all of township 111, range 16.

Cherry Grove, all of township 109, range 17.

Central Point, all of that part of township 112, range 12, lying in Goodhue county.

Cannon Falls, all of township 112, range 17.

Featherstone, all of township 112, range 15.

Florence, all of that part of township 112, range 13, lying in Goodhue county.

Holden, all of township 110, range 18.

Hay Creek. all of township 112, range 14.

Kenyon. all of township 112, range 18.

Leon, all of township 111. range 17.

Pine Island, all of township 109, range 15. Roseoe, all of township 109, range 16.

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Red Wing (now city), the west half of township 113, range 14, fractional, and sections 13, 24, 25 and 36, township 113, range 15. Two of the sections originally placed in Red Wing were after- ward set off and attached to Burnside.

Stanton, all of township 113, range 18, lying in Goodhue county.

Union, all of township 113, range 16, north of Cannon river. All of township 113, range 15, except sections 13, 24, 25 and 36, and all of township 114, ranges 15 and 16, fractional. This was afterward changed to Milton and then with some additions to Burnside.

Vasa. all of township 112. range 16, and all of township 113, range 16, south of the Cannon river.

Wanamingo. all of township 110, range 17.

Warsaw, all of township 111, range 18.

Wacoota. all of township 113, range 13, in Goodhue county, and the east half of township 113, range 14, fraetional.

York, all of township 111. ranges 14 and 15. This was changed first to Elmira, then to Belvidere, and a half of the latter was later set off as Lime. later known as Goodhue.

Zumbrota, all of township 110, ranges 15 and 16. This was afterward divided and a part set off as Minneola.

The board was notified that three of the names, those of Stanton. York and Union, would have to be changed. The board then changed Union to Milton, Stanton to Lillian, and York to Elmira. Stanton later assumed its original name. Later the committee was notified that the name of Elmira would have to be changed. A committee of three. Messrs. Stearns, White and Stone, to whom this matter was referred, reported in favor of substituting Belvidere for Elmira, and the change was accord- ingly made.

Goodhue organized September 13. 1859, in answer to a peti- tion, when township 111. range 15, was erected into a separate township called Lime. the latter name being changed to Goodhue in January, 1860. The township was originally a part of Belvidere.

Burnside was the name applied to Milton. at the request of the state auditor, March 25, 1862. In March, 1864, when the legislature amended the city charter of Red Wing, sections 13 and 24, township 113, range 15, were set off from Red Wing and attached to Burnside.

Welch was organized March 23, 1864. when the board of commissioners divided Burnside by setting off the cast fractional half of township 114. north. range 16, west, and all of township 113, north, range 16, west, lying north of Cannon river, into a separate township. and called it Grant, which on January 3,

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1872, was changed to Welch, in honor of the late Major Abram Edwards Welch, of Red Wing.

BELLE CREEK TOWNSHIP.

Belle Creek township lies in practically the geographical center of the county, and constitutes one entire government township. its number being 111 north, range 16 west. Its area has remained unchanged since the township was first constituted in accordance with the township act of the legislature in 1858. Belle creek waters the western part of this township, and affords fair water power. It is bordered by fine stretches of hay meadows and an occasional ledge of limestone. Near the creek are also scattering groves of oaks, white birch and poplar. The surface, which is largely a rich, undulating, high prairie, except in the vicinity of the creek, is in general about 150 feet higher than its neighboring township of Vasa. Its other neighbors are Leon, on the west : Minneola. on the south, and Goodhue, on the east.

The first influx of whites into this section was in 1853, when Charles Ross and A. G. Kempe went into the township and built a cabin on section 5. near the creek. They spent the winter there, but soon after moved north into what is now Vasa. In the spring, or early summer, of 1854, Walter Doyle, with his five sturdy sons, Henry, Richard, Michael, Walter and John, settled on sections 2 and 4. Benoni Hill and his sons, John, Henry and Thomas. came in July and made their claims on seetions 5 and 8. James O'Neill and family also came the same year; and in the fall the Rev. S. P. Chandler staked out a claim, but did not move on it until the following spring. In 1855 the influx was rapid, and the town was soon thiekly settled. A large part of the ground was broken up, grain sowed, and cottages built in place of the original cabins.

It was not long before children came to bless the homes of the pioneers. Anna O'Neill was born in March, 1855, but did not long live to enjoy the distinction of being the first white child born in the township, having passed away when still a schoolgirl. Her father was James O'Neill. May Cook was born in August of the same year. daughter of Jacob Cook. John Cavanaugh, son of Patrick Cavanaugh, was born in November. The first two deaths were by accident. In the early part of the winter of 1855-56, Dennis Cavanaugh started to go on foot to his brother's, a distance of about two and a half miles. After he started. a terrible storm came up, and he was frozen to death near Hader. having lost his way. His body, which was not located until the snow had melted in the spring. was found three miles from his home. and in an opposite direction from the one

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he should have kept to reach his brother's. Ilis wanderings through the wilderness in the raging storm, until merciful death relieved him from his sufferings, can only be imagined. In May of the following spring, James Connel attempted to cross a slough with an axe on his shoulder. In some manner he stumbled and fell, and the edge of the axe struck his head, causing a fracture of the skull which resulted in death. The first death due to natural causes was that of Mrs. S. P. Chandler, June 28, 1856.

Pioneer discomforts were no dampener to the ardor of Cupid, and in 1856. Lewis White and Emeline Hill took before the Rev. S. P. Chandler the vows which made them man and wife. Although no school houses were erected until 1859, as early as the fall of 1858 Alvin Herbert taught school in the basement of a stone house owned by a Mr. Kirkpatrick, and the school was continued in session practically every season, in some of the settlers' houses.

The rich soil of the township showed its possibilities even in the earliest days. for in 1856 Walter Doyle and others obtained fair yields of wheat, threshed it by hand with fails and carried it to the Mazeppa mill to be ground.

In 1856 James Allen laid out a village plat and christened the place Troy City. With sanguine hopes of the future. Jesse Johnson built a store and stocked it with merchandise. No other building was ever erected on the village site. The financial crash of 1857 impaired trade to such an extent that Mr. Johnson elosed his store; and all further attempts to build a city there were abandoned. A postoffice, called Burr Oak, was established in 1854, and H. M. Doyle was appointed postmaster. This was on the line of the old stage route from St. Paul to Dubuque, and the following year, when the mail route was changed, the office was discontinued. During the existence of this office Mr. Doyle's house was the last one on the road before reaching Oronoco. twenty-five miles to the south, and consequently was an all-night stopping place for the stage, and Mr. Doyle entertained such prominent men of the early days as Governor Ramsey. General Sibley, J. C. Burbank and many others. He also entertained twenty-six of the principal men and chiefs of the Chippewa tribe, including "Hole in the Day," their head chief, when they were on their way to Washington.

In 1858 another postoffice was established in the southwest part of the town and named Belle Creek. S. P. Chandler, the first postmaster, retained that position for many years. There was no hotel, and Mr. Chandler opened his house for the accom- modation of travelers, especially the farmers of the western part of the county, who had no other place to stop on their way to Red Wing with their wheat. When the Minnesota Central rail-

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road was completed to Faribault the tide was turned toward that village, and Chandler's place was closed to the general public.

At the first election, held at the residence of Walter Doyle, thirty votes were polled. Among the early supervisors were S. P. Chandler, II. M. Doyle (two terms). Michael Doyle, John Edwards, Francis Malloy, Walter Doyle and James Malloy. The early clerks were Patrick Drudy (four terms), H. M. Doyle, Michael Doyle (two terms), P. J. Sheridan and Michael Doyle.

The township did its share in the Civil War in a noble way. The official list of those enlisting from the township is as follows : Freeman J. Beers, Truman E. Beers, George Cook, James McGrath, John Manning. David Petty, William Gardiner, John Hilger, Jacob Hilger, Jacob Cook, Jr .. Timothy Cavanaugh, Wal- ter W. Doyle, Patrick Drudy. Patrick Edwards, Martin Edwards, Timothy Foley, Patrick Foley. Henry L. Gilbert, Henry M. Craig, Patrick Malloy, Daniel W. Malloy, Thomas Bolls, Cornelius K. Bylen, David Switzer, John B. Taylot, James Cassidy, George Cook, James Schweiger, Ruben Taylor, Horace Carpenter, Nelson Cannon. Elander W. Carpenter. Francis M. Irish, William J. More, Russell E. Snell, George Johnson, Amos Hanson, John Nels Johnson, Robert Smithson, Henry Kirkland, Isaac Bridell, Michael Cavanaugh, Nels Johnson.

The first religious services held in this town were at the resi- dence of Benoni Ilill, May 25. 1855, the Rev. Norris Hobart officiating.

The Catholic church was commenced in 1865. and cost over $3,000. The present beautiful edifice was erected in 1893. It is the largest congregation in the town, and has been a potent influence in the upbuilding of the community.

The Episcopal church was built in 1873 at a cost of $1,600, mainly through the exertions of the Rev. S. P. Chandler, who was pastor of the parish until his death, in 1888.

For several years there was a postoffice at Ryan, in the eastern part of the township.

BELVIDERE TOWNSHIP.

Belvidere was given the name of York by the committee which had charge of the organization of the Goodhue county townships in 1858. At the instance of the state authorities this was changed to Elmira, and after the same authorities had urged their objections to this name it was changed to Belvidere, which it has since remained. Belvidere originally ineluded what is now Goodhue. The township comprises government township No. 111 north, range 14 west. Wells creek rises in the northwestern part of the town, running north and east. It is fed by Clear and Rock

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creeks, and then crosses the northern boundary into Hay Creek township. The northern part of Belvidere is somewhat broken by these streams, and has a hilly contour. The southern half, though much higher, is simply undulating, or rolling. On the eastern border of the town is an isolated mound, reaching an elevation of something like twelve hundred feet above the sea. The soil of the township is good, and the streams afford excellent facilities for raising stock. Belvidere is bounded on the north by Hay creek, on the east and south by Wabasha county, and on the west by Goodhne.

In the spring of 1855, N. B. Gaylord and his brother, George, located on Rock creek in the northern part of the township. In August of that year, Joseph S. Thompson settled on Wells creek, and a short time afterward he was joined by N. B. Gaylord, who settled near, preferring that location to the place where he took his original elaim.

During the fall of 1855 occurred an event which was of importance to the future history of the county. Claus Holst, and a number of other German families, took up their residence near the head waters of Wells creek, and began opening up farms. The part which the German pioneers and their descendants have taken in the development of the county is related at some length in another chapter. In 1856 there came an influx of immigration to this township, and the farms were soon settled up.

Ida Thompson was the first child born in the township, June 13, 1856. The first marriage was that of George Steele and Junia Pingrey, a sister of Mrs. J. S. Thompson. at whose house the cere- mony was performed, August 14. 1855, by J. B. Smith. Etta Gay- lord, aged two years. died in 1858, the first death in the township. Rev. John Watson held religious services in the house of Nelson B. Gaylord as early as the summer of 1856. Delia Eggleston taught a school in the room of her father's house in 1857, this being the first school in that section of the country.

N. B. Gaylord, in 1858, having a good water power, put in operation a large hand coffee mill, and ground for himself and neighbors flour, meal and other articles. Having used up two coffee mills. he next procured a small burr millstone, and kept gradually improving his primitive enterprise until he launched out into a full-grown mill, with two run of stone, and a capacity of 120 bushels of wheat per day. The Belvidere mill finally took rank among the good mills of the county.

A cozy log church was built by the German Methodists near Gaylord's mill in 1862, at a cost of $300. This society now has a large frame church. In 1865 the Catholics erected a good frame church in the southern part of the town. The Norwegian Luther- ans built a large church in the western part of the town in 1867.

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A German Lutheran church in the eastern part of the town was. built in 1872. Another Methodist church was also erected.

The first town board appointed by the county board was as follows: Supervisors, Mason O. Eggleston (chairman), William Thomas, G. D. Post; town clerk. Hubert Eggleston; assessor, B. F. Chase; tax collector. J. S. Thompson : justice of the peace, Marcus Eggleston ; constables, James Lane and George Gay.

At a meeting held July 5. 1858, in the town of York. composed of township No. 111 north. of range 14 and 15, including what are now Belvidere and Goodhue, at the house of Peter Easterly, the following officers were elected: Supervisors, Cyrus Couch (chair- man), G. D. Post. Henry Danielson ; town clerk. Oliver Knutson ; assessor, B. F. Chase; justices, Peter Easterly, J. W. Finch; con- stables. James Lane, H. B. Patterson : overseer of the poor, Nelson Gaylord ; collector, J. S. Thompson. January 21, 1859. the follow- ing named were appointed to fill vacancies: Supervisors, Syl- vester Cranson (chairman), Charles M. Lee, Ezra Bennett, town clerk. John Stowe; justices, Hans H. Olson, F. Cranson.

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History of Goodhue County, Minnesota, Part 16

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