USA > Minnesota > Goodhue County > History of Goodhue county, including a sketch of the territory and state of Minnesota > Part 39
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CHRIST CHURCH-EPISCOPAL.
STRUGGLES AND TRIUMPHS-A RECORD OF GOOD WORKS.
This people were among the first to obtain a footing in Minnesota, and with that zeal, earnestness, dignity and industry that characterizes them everywhere, have kept pace with the growth and prosperity of the country.
In the summer of 1850, Rev. Messrs. Breck, Wilcoxson and Merrick were located at St. Paul as missionaries of this branch of the Christian church to the Territory. They visited every neighborhood, from Fort Ripley to Point Douglas, and thence to the Falls of St. Croix, on foot, once in three weeks, besides maintaining regular services in St. Paul. From that time to the present a faithful watch has been exercised over the growth and development of the truths and religious principles dis- seminated by these faithful missionaries in the primitive days of Minnesota.
On the 19th day of December, 1871, Right Rev. H. B. Whipple, D. D., Bishop of Minnesota, consecrated the present elegant and commodious church-building, situated on the block of ground between Third and Fourth streets and East and West avenues. On the next day (the 20th) Rev. Dr. Wells, now Bishop of Wisconsin, preached his thirteenth anniversary sermon. His text was taken from 1 Samuel, vii, 12: " Hitherto the Lord helped us."
In that discourse Dr. Wells took occasion to review the history of the
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society-its struggles and triumphs, from the date of its organization to that time, from which the following facts are collated :
The history and growth of the parish is mainly connected with a sin- gle pastorate; but the first services of the church in Red Wing were given by the faithful missionary, the Rev. Timothy Wilcoxson, on the 17th day of November, 1855. The building occupied was the law office of Col. William Colvill, at the foot of Broad street, near the present site of the Chicago and St. Paul Railway station. Occasional services by Mr. Wilcoxson extended over a period of one year from this time, mostly given in the schoolhouse on the northeast corner of Fourth street and East avenue, now occupied as a laundry by Mrs. Fogg, and at the residence of Mr. Warren Bristol, on the southwest corner of Main and Broad streets. The first administration of holy baptism in Red Wing, according to the office of the Prayer Book, was by Mr. Wilcoxson, when a child of Mr. and Mrs. Newell, now living in Pine Island, was baptized.
In the course of his visitations of the immense district which formed his missionary jurisdiction, the apostolic Kemper preached in Red Wing on the 28th day of April, 1858. Mr. Wilcoxson accompanied the bishop at this time, and baptized two children, Mary Elizabeth, daughter of P. M. and Clara Wright, and Mary Hereford, daughter of Nehemiah V. and Sarah A. Bennett.
In June, 1858, Dr. Wells made his first visit to the parish and held his first service. This service was in the Presbyterian house of worship, the use of which was kindly granted for the occasion by its pastor, the Rev. J. W. Hancock.
The record which Bishop Kemper made of his visit to Red Wing was, that he " found here a few zealous members of the church preparing to organize a parish and to build a church." The preparatory work to which the bishop referred in that record was a meeting of those friendly to the church, held in Judge Wilder's office on Christmas Day, 1857. The notice for this meeting was circulated by Judge Wilder and Dr. Hawley, and beside them there were present W. C. Williston, Dr. Sweeney, Warren Bristol, Geo. Wilkinson, H. C. Hoffman, W. W. Dekay, Judge Welch, Col. Colvill, Jas. Hamilton, Ira McClenthen, Wm. Free- born, P. M. Wright, N. V. Bennett and Isaac Green.
On the occasion of Dr. Wells' visit in June, arrangements were made for perfecting the organization of the parish, and for his return in the early autumn to be its pastor. In the course of the sermon from which we are quoting, Dr. Wells remarked: " Of those who had taken part in the Christmas meeting, there was but one communicant of the
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church ; his words and influence had turned my attention to Red Wing, and the thought that he was to be a fellow-helper in the work of this mission for the church was to me an assurance, based upon the experi- ences of an acquaintance running back to college days, that so long as our motto was ' Pro Ecclesia Dei' he would be a faithful and unflinch- ing worker. The 3d day of October, 1858, the Sunday of our first service in Philleo Hall, was one of those kingly days which always call to mind the oft quoted lines of holy George Herbert. " We thought and spoke of its brightness as propitious, and in God's good providence our hopes have been to a certain extent blessedly realized."
" The arrangements of the hall for our services were extremely simple -a melodeon was provided for our use, which we retained until the present cabinet organ was purchased by the parish, and a desk, which served as a prayer desk, lectern and pulpit, was, upon our removal to the church building, transferred to the parish school room, and is still in use as the teacher's desk.
" The salary of the rector was fixed at $700 for the first year. No missionary aid of any kind was ever given to the parish. During the winter, the matter of church building was thoroughly canvassed ; plans were examined, a church lot secured at the head of Broad street, one- half of which was the generous gift of Dr. Sweeney ; and on Wednesday, the 1st day of June, 1859, the Vestry entered into a contract with Messrs. Whitney and McClenthen, to build a church edifice for the parish.
" The first episcopal visitation of the parish, was on the 26th day of June.
" At the service that morning, the venerable Bishop Kemper preached, and confirmed ten persons; one kept by sickness from attending the public service was confirmed in private. At six o'clock, P. M., evening prayer was read, and directly after, the bishop, rector, warden, and vestrymen, and a large congregation, proceeded from the hall to the church lot.
" We have always spoken of this service as the ' laying of the corner stone.' There was no corner stone, as such, prepared for deposits ; but it was rather a service of prayer-commending our labors to God's good favor, and asking his blessing on them.
" The bishop's address was full of words of sympathy and encourage- ment ; and there is no memory of this noble missionary prelate which I retain with more pleasure than the truly apostolic presence and kindly Christian greetings of the venerated pastor; as gathered there in the golden sunlight, we listened to his words of wisdom, and felt that a
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blessing would be theirs upon whom he invoked that 'Peace of God which passeth all understanding.'
"At this time there were no services of the church in Wabasha county, and, with the exception of the Rev. Mr. Wilcoxson's services at Cannon Falls, none in Goodhue county outside of Red Wing.
" On Tuesday, the 29th of November, 1859, Bishop Whipple (who was consecrated bishop in St. James Church, Richmond, Virginia, October 13th, A. D. 1859, and the first bishop of Minnesota) made his first visitation of the parish. In his convention address in the following June, he said of this visitation : 'On November 29th, I consecrated to the worship of Almighty God the new and beautiful edifice of Christ Church, Red Wing, on which occasion I preached, confirmed twelve persons, delivered an address, and administered the holy communion. St. Andrews. November 30th : Preached both morning and afternoon, and catechized the children at the second service. In the evening I met the members of the parish at the residence of Mr. Wilkinson. On Thursday, December 31st, I confirmed one sick person in private. I gladly place on record the fact, that this free church, which now has its daily service, its parish school, its candidate for holy orders, its well ordered and beautiful parish church, was planted by its rector and his faithful parishioners without missionary aid.'
" In addition to the bishop there were present at these services, the Rev. Dr. Paterson, of St. Paul; the Revs. Fitch and Knickerbocker, of Minneapolis ; Wilcoxson, of Hastings ; Williamson, of Point Douglas ; and Gray, of Shakopee. The entire cost of the church, church lot, furnishing, etc., was $2,967. Of this amount $401 were contributed by friends at the East, for the purchase of the windows, a bell, and com munion linen. It was a very happy day for us, which witnessed the consecration of our church. The sittings in it were to be free to all."
The services in the old church, now used as a parish schoolhouse, were of more than ordinary interest on the ordination of the Rev. C. P. Dorset, in 1860; the convention services in 1861; the ordination, in 1865, of the Rev. H. G. Batterson to the priesthood, and of the Rev. S. P. Chandler to the deaconate; and the service for the first company of volunteers that enlisted in Red Wing for the war.
In the summer of 1868, it was felt that the growth of the parish, and claims of a spreading and deepening influence, made some action on the part of the congregation, in the way of enlargement or by building anew, an absolute necessity. In the autumn of that year work was commenced on the new building in accordance with plans furnished by Henry Dudley, of New York. Mr. D. C. Hill contracted to do the car-
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penter work, except the seats, the contract for which was let to Mr. E. Simmons; and Mr. George Carlson to do the stone work. The wood- work, (seats, columns, tracery, wainscotting, &c.,) is of butternut, fin- ished in oil, by Mr. George H. Davis. The windows were furnished by Mr. Sharpe, of New York. The corner stone was laid on the 24th day of June, 1869, on which occasion, in addition to Bishop Bishop and a number of the clergy of the diocese, the Right Rev. Dr. Armitage, of Wisconsin, was present and made an address, of which the "Argus" report of the ceremony said that " many of those who heard it were so won by its fitness and beauty, that they would be glad to have a full report of it."
There are many tokens of love and kindly interest in the fitting and complete appointments of the church. The beautiful altar cloth, with the cross and book rack for the altar, were the generous gifts of a kind friend in Philadelphia ; personal friends, mostly in St. Paul's Parish, Waterloo, Central New York, contributed largely for the altar fittings.
The windows in the chancel, although not memorial windows in their character, were placed in the church in memory of the departed. The only proper memorial window is the one in the nave, which through the efforts of Mr. John Wilkinson was placed there by the friends of the late Major Welch, of the "Fourth Minnesota," although originally of the First Regiment; and among all the gifts and sacrifices of the commonwealth in the hour of the nation's sorest needs, Minnesota did not send to the field of battle a youth of more peerless honor, unques- tioned courage, and long enduring fortitude, than the brave soldier whom this window commemorates. The entire cost of the church, every indebtedness thereof being paid, or provided for by pledged notes, at the time of the consecration, was about $23,000.
SABBATH SCHOOL.
The Sabbath School was organized in Philleo Hall, on Sunday, the 3d day of October, 1858, with Dr. E. Wells, the rector, as superintendent.
Present Statistics .- Scholars, 210 to 215; teachers, 23; No. of vol- umes in library, 350.
In addition to the Sabbath school library, there is a parish library consisting of over 500 volumes.
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
The Young Men's Christian Association was organized on the 23d day
25
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of April, 1868, with seventy members. The rooms of the Association are located on Bush street, in the second story of the postoffice block, and are kept in excellent order. The annual election of officers is held in October. Daily prayer meetings are held during the winter seasons, and are liberally attended. The present membership is about one hun- dred. The rooms were first opened on the first Wednesday in October, 1868.
EDUCATIONAL.
Mention of the first schools, names of the first teachers, location of school rooms, and description of the first school houses, with other school statistics, etc., is made in a general educational chapter, to be found elsewhere within these pages.
HAMLINE UNIVERSITY.
This institution of learning, originally located at Red Wing, was chartered by the Territorial Legislature of 1853-4. It originated under the patronage of the M. E. Church, and was named in honor of Rev. L. L. Hamline, D. D., one of the bishops of that church, and who, through the influence of Rev. David Brooks, made a donation of $25,000 to the institution.
The preparatory department of the university was opened by Rev. Jabez Brooks, A. M., as principal, on the 16th of November, 1854, with thirty-three students. The room occupied was in the second story of the store-building of Smith, Hoyt & Co., at the foot of Broadway.
In August, 1854, the erection of a University building was com- menced. The site selected, was on the block of ground between Fourth and Fifth streets and East and West avenues, which had been donated by the town proprietors. The building was never fully completed, but was formally opened on the 10th of January, 1855. In 1857 Jabez Brooks resigned the management, and was succeeded by Rev. B. F. Crary. In 1861 Mr. Crary resigned, and Mr. Brooks was re-elected to the presi- dency, which position he maintained until 1869. About that time it was found that the University could not be successfully maintained here, and it was determined to remove it to a point nearer the capital of the State, and thus secure the patronage and influence of St. Paul and Minneapolis. The property was sold to the city for $5,000, the transfer papers bearing date February 24, 1872. The building was torn down, and the material sold wherever purchasers could be found. The ground is still owned by the city, and dedicated to the uses of a public park.
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RED WING COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE.
This institute was organized and incorporated Aug. 28, 1870, with the following board of officers: president, Lucius F. Hubbard ; secretary, Charles C. Webster; treasurer, F. A. Cole.
Directors : James Lawther, Peter Daniels, Lucius F. Hubbard, Charles C. Webster, F. A. Cole, and W. P. Hood.
The grounds were donated by Edward Murphy, of Minneapolis, and funds raised for building purposes by issuing stock certificates to the amount of $12,500. Daniels & Simmons took the contract for a consid- eration of $14,800, and to complete it a mortgage was given to Joseph Averill, of Danvers, Massachusetts, who advanced $5,000.
The institute was successful for about three years, when, for want of funds it was sold to Joseph Averill, to satisfy the above noted mortgage. January 8, 1878, it was purchased by Hans Marcuson, in trust for the Hauges Norwegian Evangelical Synod, and afterwards deeded to a board of directors, viz. : Hans Marcuson, Gunelf Tollefson, Gnut John- son, O. H. Fames, O. E. Boyum, Ingebret Anderson, C. Krogh, N. Stangeland, and Andrew Ellingson, with the design of making it a Lutheran Theological Seminary.
TEMPERANCE MOVEMENTS.
The first temperance movement in Red Wing was made by Rev. J. W. Hancock while the place was known as "Red Wing's Indian village," and dates back to the 10th of February, 1851. The pledge was drawn up for the benefit of the Indians, and bears the names and the X's of a number of the Indian notables. The first name on the pledge is that of "Wacoota," who signed the pledge for "seven months." One of them signed it for two years, one of them for one year, and the remainder of the nineteen signed it for various periods, ranging from two to seven months.
In referring to the habits and disposition of the Indians, and the difficulties he had to battle against in trying to conquer their appetite for strong drink, Mr. Hancock relates the following :
" The Red Wing Indians were generally peaceable, but occasionally we had a row which set the whole village in commotion. Whisky could be obtained over on the Wisconsin side for money, blankets, or any- thing valuable which the Indians could spare. Moderate drinking was not their custom. They must have enough to make ' drunk come,' or
/
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none at all. Several of them would put their ' mites ' together, and go over and buy two or three gallons at a time, which, being brought home, was drunk up in a short time. This was followed by all the noise and quarreling imaginable, and usually resulted in somebody being either killed or badly wounded.
"Shortly after a row of this kind had taken place, and while there were a number of very sick children in the village, whom I was visiting at the time, I heard a woman cry out, 'Now they are com- ing with it.' ' With what?' said I. She immediately pointed to the river, and answered, ' Minni-wakun' (spirit-water, or whisky.) I saw a canoe approaching from the other shore, in which were five or six young braves, who soon landed. I placed myself where the path led up the bank, ready to meet them. The leader carried a tin pail with a cover, holding, I should think, about two gallons. I asked what he had in the pail, and he replied, ' Minne-wakan.' Snatching it from him, it was the work of a moment, and the contents of the pail were soak- ing into the ground.
" Loud talk followed on both sides. I tried hard to convince them that whisky was contraband on the Minnesota side of the river, and advised them not to bring over any more. After leaving them I under- stood that one of the braves boasted that he would bring whisky here and drink it, and defying me to spill it.
" But a few days had elapsed before he made the trial. The first intimation I had of it was when an Indian called at my house and wished me to come to the door. I looked out and saw the young braves coming single file, singing as they marched along. The first one carried a two gallon stone jug, which he was anxious that I should notice- affirming at the same time that it was whisky. I went for him; got hold of his jug, but could not wrest it from his grasp, for the reason that he had it tied to a strong cord which passed around his neck and over one shoulder, but I managed to pull out the cork and to overturn the jug, when the liquor commenced to run out. He let go the jug and clenched me by the hair with both hands, and used me rather roughly until the whisky had all run out, as it took both my hands to keep the jug inverted while he was dragging me about. Well, I had but partially conquered. There were many witnesses and he did not like to give up as entirely beaten, so he stretched himself out at full length on the ground near the door of the mission house. I entreated him to leave and go to his wigwam. He declared that he would not. After waiting for some time for him to go voluntarily, and fearing that he might stay there all night, I took a piece of rope, and slipping it around his ankles,
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tied his feet together, took the other end over my shoulder and dragged him towards his home. After being drawn five or six rods he begged me to let him get up, promising that he would not trouble me any more. He threatened some after he got out of my reach, but never did me any harm. The prohibitory law was triumphant at that time."
Reference is made elsewhere to another " whisky war," that occurred - after the whites came to occupy the favorite camping places of Red Wing and his band, so that, whatever the opinions and practices of the people in later years, the first settlers were a strictly temperate people, and determinedly opposed to the traffic in ardent spirits. A number of temperance organizations were started from time to time, such as I. O. G. T., Temples of Honor, S. of T., etc., etc., that flourished for a while and then went down.
The last movement, resulting in the organization of a Reform Club, was inaugurated in September, 1877. On the 17th of that month a club numbering one hundred members, many of whom had been pretty hard drinkers, was organized, with the following officers: president, A. J. Clark; vice president, J. Ashton ; secretary, T. Bixby; treasurer, A. J. Meacham.
The club occupies rooms in common with the Young Men's Christian Association, where meetings are held every Monday evening. The exercises are varied and diversified, consisting of vocal and instrumen- tal music, reading short addresses, etc.
OAKWOOD CEMETERY.
This beautiful repose for the dead is located on the summit of one of the numerous bluffs that encircle and overlook the city, about one and a half miles south of Main street. The plot of ground includes forty acres, belongs to the city, and was selected by Stephen A. Hart and David Hancock, a committee appointed for that purpose by the early settlers, in September, 1854. The first burial in Oakwood was a child named Charles, son of William Freeborn and wife. The death and burial occurred before the selection of the site was made ; but, by com- mon consent, the situation was recognized from the beginning of white settlements in 1852, as the most appropriate location for a cemetery. The remains of Mrs. Hancock, whose death and burial is mentioned elsewhere, were exhumed and re-buried in Oakwood Cemetery soon after the ground was selected and platted for burial purposes.
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SECRET SOCIETIES, LODGES, UNIONS, ETC.
RED WING LODGE NO. 8, A ... F ... AND A.'. M ... ,
Was organized Sept. 14th, 1855, and chartered Jan. 9th, 1856, with seven charter members.
Its first officers were: Wm. Ladd, W ... M ...; Wm. W. Phelps, S ... W ...; Wm. Lauver, J .:. W ...; Wm. Freeborn, Treas .; H. C. Hoffman, Sec .; A. F. Parker, S .:. D .:.; N. Hobart, J .:. D ...
The lodge now numbers 122 members, and the following are its present officers : L. A. Hancock, W ... M ...; S. J. Willard, S .. W ... ; W. H. Putnam, J .:. W ... ; John Hack, Treas .; Geo. P. Sjoblom, Sec. ; Chas. E. Hinds, S.c. D .:. ; C. Bruner, J ... D ...; Rev. E. R. Lathrop, Chaplain ; E. A. Levi, S ... S ... ; John McLean, J ... S ... ; J. L. Hastings, Tyler.
LA GRANGE CHAPTER NO. 4, R.'. A.'. M ... ,
Was organized Aug. 28th, 1860, and charted October 24th, 1860, with nine charter members.
The following were the first officers : H. B. Wilson, M ... E ... H ... P ... ; Wm. Bickford, E ... K ...; J. J. Richter, E .. S ...; P. Sandford, C .. H ...; W. W. Phelps, P .. S .:.; W. W. Sweney, R ... A .:. C ...; W. W. Sweney, Treas. ; Pascal Smith, Secy .; S. B. Foot, G ... M .. . 3d V ...; P. Messerole, G ... M .:. 2nd V ...; N. Brundage, G ... M ... 1st V ...; J. M. Culbertson, Sen- tinel.
The chapter now numbers 85 members.
The following are its present officers : S. B. Foot, M ... E ... H .. P ...; I. S. Kellogg, E ... K ..; S. J. Willard, E ... S ...; D. M. Baldwin, C .. H ..; F. Joss, P .. S ... ; C. L. Kellogg, R .:. A ... C ...; John Hack, Treas .; Geo. P. Sjoblom, Secy .; A. H. Allen, G ... M .. 3d V ...; E. J. Corner, G ... M ... 2nd V ... ; L. A. Hancock, G ... M ... 1st V ...; J. L. Hastings, Sentinel.
TYRIAN COUNCIL, NO. 4, R.'. & S ... M ...
Was chartered and organized Feb. 20th, 1872, with 9 charter members.
Its first officers were : F. Joss, T .. I ... M ... ; S. B. Foot, R ... I ... M .:. ; D. M. Baldwin, P .:. C .. W ..; W. E. Hawkins, C ... G ...; R. B. Kellogg, C ... C ... ; Pascal Smith, Treasurer ; W. W. Phelps, Recorder ; W. W. Sweney, Steward ; D. B. Clark, Sentinel.
The Council now numbers 50 members. The following are its present officers: F. Joss, T .. I .. M ... ; S. B. Foot, R ... I ... M ... ; E. J. Corner, P ... C .. W ...; W. O. Dodge, C .. G ...; S. J. Willard, C ... C ...; W. E. Hawkins, Treasurer ; George P. Sjoblom, Recorder; J. M. Richter, Steward ; J. L. Hastings, Sentinel.
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THE HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY.
RED WING COMMANDERY, NO. 10, K ... T ... ,
Was organized February 23d, 1874, and chartered June 24th, 1874, with twenty-five charter members.
Officers named in dispensation : Dwight M. Baldwin, John M. Richter and William E. Hawkins.
Charter members: William B. Williams, William Eisenbrand, Andrew Allen, Robert Kreiger, Charles R. Brink, A. H. Allen, Louis C. Smith, John Frederick, Lyman M. Keels, Abram Howe, Jr., S. J. Willard, A. R. Young, Morris Herschler, E. Kirkwood Sparrell, Silas B. Foot, Edward L. Baker, R. B. Kellogg, Fred. Joss, Charles Griswold, William H. Brink, O. Whitman and D. B. Clark.
The first officers elected after date of charter were :
D. M. Baldwin, E ... C ...; Andrew Allen, Rec ...; J. M. Richter, G ... ; Wm. Eisenbrand, St ... B ... ; I. S. Kellogg, C ... G ...; John Friedrich, Sw ... B .:. ; F. Joss, P ...; A. H. Allen, 1st G ...; W. B. Williams, S .. W ...; A. F. Graves, 2d G ...; H. A. Park, J ... W ...; S. J. Willard, 3d G ...; L. C. Smith, Treas ... ; P. F. Glaren, Sent ...
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