USA > Minnesota > Hennepin County > Minneapolis > History of Hennepin county and the city of Minneapolis, including the Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota > Part 36
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119
Recruits-John Donlon. en. August 15, '63, dis. with comp. James Seully. en. September 22, 63, dis. with comp. Albert C. Fletcher, en. March 30, '64, dis. with comp. William E. Roth, en. March 26, '64, dis. with comp. La Salle Roth, en. March 26, '64, dis. with comp. Isaiah Dougherty, en. March 28, '64, dis. per order, March 11, 66.
Joseph Brunett, Jr., en. September 21, '63, dis. with comp.
COMPANY C.
Daniel W. Getchell, Sergt., en. August 22, '63, dis. with comp.
Privates-Frederick II. Chilson, en. August 31, '63, dis. with comp. John Flam, en. August 24, '63, dis. with comp. Jos. Gagne, Jr., en. Sep- tember 9, '63. dis. with comp. John llollander, en. September 8, 63, dis. with comp. Peter Roshen, en. September 9, '63, dis. with comp. Ernest Smith, en. September 11. '63, dis. with comp.
Recruits-Philo S. Thayer, en. March 25, '64, dis. with comp. William Bushnel, en. March 28, 64, dis. per order, March 22, '65. Amos Hoyt, en. March 28, 64. dis. per order, March 10, '66. Fred'k. Miller, en. April 1, 264, died November 5, '65. Edward Morse, en. April 1, '64, dis. with comp. Charles Eggert, en. April 1, '64, dis. with comp. George Slater, en. April 1, 64, dis. for disabł. July 3, 65.
COMPANY D.
Prirates-Byron E. Bushnell, en. November 19, '63, dis. for disab .. March 29, 64. George God- frey, en. February 27, '64, dis. with comp. Chris- tian Keller, en. March 28, '64, dis. with comp. Frederick Biers, en. April 1, 64, dis. with eomp. Mahlon Cooper, en. April 13, 64, dis. with comp.
COMPANY E.
George Boyd, Jr., Capt., en. August 31, '64, dis. with comp., May 1, '66. Mark T. Berry, 1st Lieut., en. August 31, '64, dis. with comp. Alden M. Kimball, 2d Lieut., en. August 31, '64, dis. per order. John M. MeKeen, Q. M. Sergt., en. Au- gust 8, 64, dis. with comp. Nelson II. Miner, Com. Sergt., en. August 29, '64, dis. with comp. George II. Stetson, Sergt., en. August 4, 64. re- duced, dis. with comp. Leonard II. Dodge, Corp., en. Angust 18, '64. pro. Sergt., dis. with eomp. Francis Day, Corp .. en. August 8, 64. pro. Sergt. lis. with comp. And. MeCausland, Corp., en. August 29, '64, dis. with comp. Israel S. Parker. Corp., en. August 8, 64, dis. with comp. George . Hall, Corp., en. August 4, '64, dis with comp. Asa Gould, Corp., en. August 29, '64, dis. with comp. Gideon B. Stetson, Mus., en. August 4, '64, dis. with comp. Israel G. Stetson, Mus., en.
14
210
HISTORY OF HENNEPIN COUNTY
August 4. '64. dis. for disab. March 13, 66. Da- vid P. Palmer. Farrier. en. August 29. 64, dis. with comp.
Primates-Thomas Armstrong. en. August 4. '64. dis. with comp. Cyrus 1. Braman. en. Aug. 10, 64. dis. per order. October 26. 65. Francis Bren. en. August 22. 61. dis, with comp. John Chastek. en. August 22. 61. dis. with comp. lohn I. Crate. en. Angust 12. 64. dis, with comp. Jolm Droddy. en. August 22, 91. dis. with comp. John Gleeson, en. August 3, 64, dis. with comp. Harrison Goodale, en. August 9. 64. dis, with comp. Patrick B. Larkin. en. August 9. 04. dis. with comp. Isaac Lloyd. en. August 9. 64. dis. with comp. Cassius Il. Lobdel. en. August 4. 64. dis. with comp. Nathaniel G. Leighton. (n. August 8. 64. dis, with comp. Peter Miller. en. August 10, 64. dis. with comp. Benjamin Max- on. en. August 21. 64. dis, with comp. Peter Raymond, en. August 27. 01. dis. with comp. Lawrence Riley. en. August 1, 64. dis. with comp. Peter Rusch, on. August 4. 64. dis, with comp. John Smitana. en. August 22. 61. sent to Insane Asylum. January 23. 66. William Sturman. eu. Aug. 23, '64. dis. for disabl. Nov. 8. 65. Geo. D. Tuttle, en. August 4. '61. dis with comp. Daniel T. Thompson. en. August 25. 04. dis, with comp. Charles Wolsfield. en. August 9, 64, pro. Corp .. dis. with comp. George Young. en. August 29, 1 '61. dis, with comp.
Recruits-[Enrolled February 17, 65: dis. on exp. of term. February 17. 66.]-Samuel II. Bo- banon. Charles R. Carlton, Charles S. Phuummer. William Stanchfield, Justus 1. Wylie. Daniel L. Carlton. S. L .. Bohanon.
COMPANY F.
Prirat- Antoine Pantel. en. August 8. 61. dis. with comp.
Independent Battalion Minnesota Cavalry, or- ganized July. 83. Ordered to Pembina. D. T .. October. 03: ordered to Fort Abercrombie. D. T., May. 61; stationed at Fort Abercrombie. until mustered out. Mustered out by companies from April to June. 66.
FIRST BATTERY LIGHT ARTILLERY,
originally commanded by Capt. Emil Munch. C. C. Cogswell, Ist Sergt., en. October 28. 61. dis. for disabl. July 10. 62. Anthony Grethen. Q. M. Sergi .. en. November 11. 61. dis. for
disabl. August 5, 62. F. L. Haywood. Sergi., en. October 2s. 61. re-en. pro. 2d Lient .. dis. with battery. N. K. Hanks. Corp .. en. October 28, 61, died June 19. 62. at Corinth. Miss. C. S. Davis. Corp .. on. November 11. '61. died by wds. ree'd. in battle. April 27. 63. Henry Rippe. Bugler, en. October 9. 61. destd. January 11. 62, at St. Louis. Peter Germain, Artificer, en. October 21. '61, dis. March 1. 62, (mustered wrong). John Bofferding. Artificer. en. October 25, 61, dis. March 1. 02. (mustered wrong). C. D. Brown, AArtitieer. en. October 28. 61. dis. for disabl. July 7. 62.
Prirates-Adolph Butz. en. October 10. 81. re.en. December 1. 63. dis, with battery. Jos. Coleman. en. November 15. 61. re-en. Decem- her 1, 63. discharged with battery. James Fall. en. October 28, 61, pro. 20 Lient .. dis, with battery. Darwin Gates, en. October 28. 61, dis. for disabl. May 1. 62. Charles Hasselmann, en. October 29, 61, died JJuly 8, 62, at St. Louis. Renselaer Nevers, en. October 28, 61. re-en. January 1, 61. dis, with battery. Charles Pierce. en. October 11. 61, dis. for disabl. July 21. 62. Royal Plummer. en. October 30, 61. re-en. Jan- ary 1. 64. dis, with battery. Russell Pease. en. October 8. 61. destd. July 3. 62. apprehended April 21. 64. dis. June 30, 65. Howard Robin- son. en. October 26. 61. dis. for disabl. July 19. '62. Joseph Sparks. en. October 28, 01. dis, for disabl. 62. Tracy Wilson, en. August 16. 63, dis, with battery.
FIRST BATTERY LIGHT ARTILLERY.
organized October 61. Ordered to St. Louis, December 61. thence to Pittsburg Landing Feb- ruary 62. Engaged in the following battles. marches, sieges and skirmishes : Shiloh. April 5 and 6. 62. siege of Corinth, April 62, Corinth October 3 and 1, 62. Marched from Corinth to Oxford, Miss .. and thence to Memphis, Tem. AAssigned to 17th Army Corps. November 62. Veteranized January 61. Ordered to Cairo, Ill .. thence to Huntsville. Ala .. thence to Ackworth, Ga. Battle of Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta. July 22 and 28. Sherman's campaign through Georgia and the Carolinas. Discharged at Fort Snelling June 30. 65.
SECOND BATTERY LIGHT ARTILLERY.
W'm. A. Ilotehkiss, Capt., en. as private. com.
211
SECOND AND THIRD BATTERIES, LIGHT ARTILLERY.
Capt. pro. Brevet Major at Stone river, Veteran- ized and discharged with battery, September, '65. Henry W. Harder, Ist Sergt. en. December 7, 61, pro. 2d Lieut. July '62, Ist Lient. January, 64, dis. with battery. John McCaustand, Com. Sergi. en. December 4, 61, died January 22 '65 at Chat- tanooga, Tenn. Ilenry W. Towle, Corp. en. December 21, '61, re-en. March 21, '64, dis. with battery. Wilber Nickols, Corp. en. October 30, "6], dis. for disab. February 15, 63. Edward Rogers, Artificer,, en. February 14, 62, dis. for disab. April 2, 63. Jolm T. Arnell, Artifirer, en. March 6, '62, re-en. March 24, 64, dis. for disab. February 16, 65.
Prirates .- Nicholas Arn, en. January 6, 62, dis. for disab. October 31, 62. Melchor Blesi, en. January 17. 62. died December 6, 62, at Nash- ville, Tenn. Christopher Blake, en. February 12, '62, dis. for disab. October 3, 62. Gustav Dareachy. en. January 20, 62, died January 31. '63 in the field. John Gibson. en. January 28. 62 dis. on exp. of term March 28, 65. Martin Hosli. en. Jannary 11, 62, re-en. March 22, 64, dis. with battery. John Kennedy. en. January 4. 62 dis. for disab. April 21. 63. Jolm L. Kimball. en. January 25, 62, dis. for disab. May 22. 68. Alden C. Meed, en. December 9, 61. dis. for disab. No- vember 15. '62. Geo. F. Murphy, en. January 16. '62. died June 27, 62 at Camp Clear Creek, Miss. John Soper. en. December 12. 61, re-en. March 21, '64, dis, with battery. John C. Stock- ton, en. January 25, 62. died '62 at Tuka. Miss. Peter Streicher. en. January 28. 62. died Ang- ust 21, '64 in the field. Hilarions Schmidt, en. February 5, '62, dis. for disab. January 3, 63. John B. Talcott, en. December 12. 61. re-en. March 21, 64. pro. Corp. discharged with battery. Mathew Taisey, en. January 4, 62, dis. for disab. October 29, 63. Bethuel Then, en. February 12, 62. died July 30, '62, at Keokuk, la. David Vanderen. en. October 28, 62, dis. on exp. of term, March 28, 65. Chas. S. Waldron, en. Jan- nary 10. 62. re-en. March 22. 64, dis. with battery.
SECOND BATTERY, LIGHT ARTILLERY,
organized December 61, and commanded by Captain Hotchkiss. April '62. reported at Saint Louis, Mo., for equipment. Ordered to Corinth May '62, arriving there at close of Shiloh battle. Participated in siege of Corinth. Marched with
division commanded by Gen. Jeff. C. Davis, as re-enforcement to Buell's army in Tennessee. Battles of Buell's campaign against Bragg. Per- ryville, October 8 and 9, '62, Lancaster, October 12, 62. Knob Gap, December 20, '62. Stone River, five day's battle, commencing December 31, 62. During this battle the horses of the bat- tery were not unhitched excepting for water at night. Capt. Ilotehkiss was promoted Brevet Major by general field order, and assigned to duty as Chief of Artillery of General Davis' Division, with a command of three batteries. Battle of Tullahoma. Marched in pursuit of enemy towards Rome, Ga., via Stephen- son, Ala., crossed Tennessee river at Caperton's Ferry. marched across Sand and Racoon Moun- tains and reached Lookout Mountain at Valley Ilead. Crossed Lookout Mountain in the direc- tion of Rome, in pursuit of the enemy ; returned and descended into MeLamore's Cove. En- gaged in battle of Chickamauga Septem- ber 19 and 20, 63, Mission Ridge. subsequent marches and skirmishes to Ringgold. Marched with Sherman to relief of Knoxville September '63. Spring of '64. battles of Ringgold. Tunnel llill and Buzzard's Roost. Battery veteranized March 64. Battle of Nashville December 15 and 16, '64. Stationed at Chattanooga and Philadel- phia. East Tennessee. Discharged at Fort Snel- ling September 65.
THIRD BATTERY LIGIIT ARTILLERY.
Recruits-John E. Brawley, en. February 24, 64, dis. with battery. David X. Carr, en. March 30, 64, dis. with battery. Samuel II. Clark, en. March 31, '64, pro. Corp., dis. with battery. Wil- liam H. Garvey. en. February 29. 64, dis. with battery. Charles Pratt, en. March 31, 64, dis. with battery. George M. Wright, en. March 31, '64, dis. with battery.
Third Battery Minnesota Light Artillery, or- ganized February, 1863 ; ordered upon Indian Expedition of 1863 : participated in engagements with Indians, July 24. 26 and 28, 1863; stationed at frontier posts until May, 1864, when entered upon Indian Expedition of 1864 ; engaged with Indians, July 28 and August, 1864; upon return of expedition, stationed at frontier posts until muster out of battery, February 27, 1866.
212
HISTORY OF HENNEPIN COUNTY.
RICHFIELD.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION-EARLY SETTLEMENT- CIVIL HISTORY SCHOOLS- CHURCHES-MILL- ING-SHOPS- STORES -HOTELS- --- BIOGRAPH - CAL.
This township is situated in the south-eastern part of the county, and borders on the east on both the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers. The northern and central portions of the town are rolling. and the southwestern undulating. The central portion of the town is traversed by the sandy belt. which produces copses of small oaks and aspens. The remainder of the rolling land is well timbered with elm. bass. maple. ete .. trees of a larger growth. The south-eastern part. bordering on the Fort Snelling Reservation. and extending west as far as Wood Lake. is a beanti- ful prairie. The town contains nearly thirty lakes, many of them of great beauty. Most prominent among them. for size and scenery. are Amelia and Wood Lakes. Aside from the Mis- sissippi and Minnesota Rivers on the east. there are two beautiful streams, Minnehaha and Nine Mile creeks which flow through the town. Mine- haha Creek, taking its rise in Lake Minnetonka, flows easterly through the towns of Minnetonka. Minneapolis, and Richfield receiving the tributary waters of lakes Mother, Amelia and Rice, thence south-easterly. tumbling all its laughing waters over a precipice, forming Minnehaha Falls, and flows into the Mississippi River. above Fort Snelling. These waters. It especially Mine- haha Creek, are very beautiful. and a great attraction to tourists. Nine Mile Creek flows across the south-western part of the town into the Minnesota.
The Northern Boundary of the township was originally two miles north of the present line. running in a straight line from Minnetonka to the Mississippi. This line was altered by act of
legislature in 1867 8. A narrow strip was taken from its entire northern boundary and attached to the township of Minneapolis. It was two miles wide at the west and so continued until it inter- sected Minnehaha Creek at the outlet of Rice Lake. and followed the course of that stream to its junction with the Mississippi.
On the east, the Military Reservation, by its original boundaries, included more than half of this township. The dividing line ex- tended west of Lake Harriet. By the first re- duction, November, 1853, the lines were so con- tracted that the western line passed through Jakes Mother and Amelia. It ineludes by its present boundaries only about one thousand acres, and allows the town several miles on the great rivers.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
In consequence of its intimate relations to the fort and its onee forming part of the reservation. the history of Richfield must begin from the car- liest records of explorers, before the settlement of the state. We refer to previous chapters in the work for this part of the history. simply remind- ing the reader here. that a few of the Swiss set- flers, from the Hudson Bay territory of Lord Selkirk. under the leadership of Louis Massey. settled here in June, 1827. but were forcibly re- moved by orders from the government. No relic now indicates their occupancy. The leader of the party. Lonis Massey. is still living at Undson, Wisconsin, at an advanced age. The first claim in the town was that made on Minnehaha Creek by Hon. I. R. Brown. Louis Godfrey was the first settler after the territorial organization. He was a Frenchman and his wife a Chippewa. He lived on section five. where widow Darey now resides. During the Sioux massacre he fled to Mendota. and died there in 1878. The date of his settlement is uncertain. but it is known to have been prior to 1852. Samuel Stough made a
213
RICHFIELD-CIVIL HISTORY.
claim in 1852, and resided here until his death. in 1875. William Finch settled here in 1853. and in 1878 removed to California. He lived where Mr. Place now resides. James A. Dinsmoor settled in 1853, removed to California, and died in 1871. Philander Prescott, who has been men- lioned as arriving af Fort Snelling in 1819, and as Indian farmer in 1830, settled in Richtield, near where the Richfield Mills now are, about 1852. He was interested in the buikling of the mills, and prominent in public affairs until his death. He was killed. in the massacre of 1862, by Little Six and Medicine Bottle. lle was running his horse for life, hoping to reach Fort Ridgely. The murderers were afterwards hung.
Many other settlers arrived in 1853. C. W. Harris, who died in 1868 at Minneapolis ; Henry Townsend and his two sons. llenry and Robert ; Mr. Draper. John MeCabe, Mr. Duggan, and others. From this date on, settlers arrived very rapidly, until now it is one of the most populous and prosperous towns in the county. The pres- ent population is 1505. The town has 22,988 acres of land. The assessed valuation of the same for the year 1869, was $150,104; 1875, 8532,530 ; 1880, $702,670. Personal property, 1869, $49.336 ; 1875, $98,829 ; 1880, $119,614. Total taxes in 1869. $3,988; 1875, $8,497 : 1880. $7,818. Horses over two years old, 1869, 333 ; 1875. 491 : 1880. 493. faille over two years old, 1869, 655: 1875. 856; 1880, 790. Sheep, 1869, 493 : 1875, 851; 1880, 1816. logs, 1869. 184; 1875, 255: 1880, 646. Bushels of wheat, 1869. 49.124; 1875, 43.425 ; 1880, Acreage, 5,698.
CIVIL HISTORY.
The annual Town meetings were held at the school house, near Richfield Mills. until 1874. A. Keith was moderator at the first meeting held May 11th, '58, with Alonzo Sawtelle. Clerk. In the first call for a meeting the name of " Richland" did not seem to please the people. and the first vote taken was for the new name of Richfield. The Post Office had been called Harmony until Rich- field was adopted. The Supervisors elected were Joel Brewster Chairman, Richard Stront. and Jesse Richardson ; Town Clerk. Alonzo Sawtelle ; Assessor. George Odell ; Overseer of the Poor, James A. Dunsmoor: Justices. R. L. Rar- tholomew, Geo. W. Irwin ; Constables, Geo. W.
Townsend and Wm. R. Moffatt ; Collector, Geo. W. Townsend : Overseer of Roads, A. Keith. The first Supervisors meeting was held June 3, 1858, and the town divided into road districts. June 14th, 1858, 8400 was voted for town expenses. September 30th, 1858, Win. Finch elected county Supervisor. April 5th. 1859. voted $100 for town expenses. Supervisors elected, Geo. Odell, C. 1. W. Maynard, W. W. Woodward. April 3, 1860, voted $400 for town expenses and author- ized the building of Pounds. Supervisors, Geo. Odell, G. W. Irwin, J. N. Richardson,
April 2. 1861, voted $150 for town expenses and $600 for schools. Supervisors, Geo. Odell, R. R. Bryant, T. W. Peirce. W. W. Woodward appointed Superintendent of Schools.
April 1, 1862. levied 1} mills per dollar for town expenses. Supervisors, Geo. Odell, W. W. Wood- ward, R. Robinson.
April 7. 1863. levied 23 mills per dollar for town expenses. Supervisors. W. W. Woodward, A. H. Baston. G. W. Brown.
January 30th, 1864. call for a special meeting, which was held February 10th, and by a vote of 64 to 59 raised $8000 to pay soldiers' bounties and that each one should receive $150, but at a special meeting March 23. the amount was reduced to $125.
April 5th. 1864. Jevied 13 mills for town expenses, and 16 mills to pay interest on bounty bonds, and raised the per diem of town officers from $1,00 to $1,50. Supervisors, A. H. Baston, G. W. Townsend, W. G. Moffatt.
August 9th, measures were taken to respond to the President's call for 500,000 men.
January 28th, 1865. it was voted to take no action in response to the Presidents' call for 300- 000 men.
February 8th, voted io raise, not to exceed $8,000, for soldier's bounties, and authorized the Supervisors to issue town bonds for that purpose.
April 4, 1865, levied one mill per dollar for town expenses and three cents per dollar to apply on town bonds. Supervisors, A. H. Baston. G. W. Townsend, E. Groesbeck.
April 3, 1866. levied one mill per dollar for town expenses. and three cents for Bounty bonds, and lo remit county tax of all soldiers who did not receive a local bounty. Supervisors, G. W. Townsend, E. J. Woodward. E. Groesbeck.
211
HISTORY OF HENNEPIN COUNTY.
April 2. 1867, raised the salary of town officers 50 per cent above the sum fixed by statute. for as- certaining the names of all the sokliers credited to the town who had not received bounties and to pay them $100 each, and to pay a like sum to Wm. Garvey, W. Wilson. E. F. Hall. Richard Nein and John Dague, they having enlisted prior to any provision for bounties. One mill per dollar levied for town and road expenses. Supervisors D. W. Albaugh. J. A. Bull. A. N. Richardson.
July 11. $2,000 town bonds were issued to pay for damages on bridges, and make other repairs occasioned by a heavy freshet.
April 7. 1868. 13 per cent was levied for town and road expenses. Supervisors. J. N. Richard- son. J. A. Bull. R. Townsend.
April 6. 1869. Jevied 3 mills per dollar for town expenses : voted that Frank M. Thornton. an ex- soldier. be paid $100, he having received no local bounty. Supervisors. J. A. Bull. Aaron Hoover. Horace Wilson.
April 5. 1870. three mills per dollar was levied for town expenses. Supervisors. C. H. Clark. Aaron Hoover. E. F. Irwin.
March 14, 1871, elected (. 1. Clark, E. F. Irwin and Aaron Hoover. Supervisors. No tax for town expenses.
March 12. 1572. levied 3 mills per dollar for town expenses. A majority vote against grant- ing a liquor license. Supervisors. C. H. Clark, E. F. Irwin. B. P. Schuler.
March 11. 1573, voted 5 mills per dollar for town and road expenses. Supervisors, E. F. Irwin. J. 11. Bull, Michael Gleeson.
March 10. 1874. This, and all other meetings were held in Richardson's Hall. until 1880. Supervisors. C. H. Clark. Michael Gleeson, James 1 .. Garvey. Levied four mills for town and road expenses. It not being enough, a special meeting was called September 1st. and $725 raised for town and road fund.
March 9. 1875. Supervisors. C. II. Clark. das. 1 .. Garvey. Voted to grant liceuse. 63 to 52. Raised $2,000 for all town expenses. The statute of limitation being two mills on the assessed valuation. the amount raised did not reach that NumI.
March 11, 1876. raised the per diem of town officers to two dollars. Sixty votes cast against liquor license with none for it. Supervisors.
B. F. Hanscom. Stephen L. Witheck, John Craik. At a special meeting 59 votes were cast for, and 18 against paying the State R. R. Bonds by selling the internal improvement lands.
March 12, 1878. levied one mil per dollar for the erection of a Town Hall. Supervisors, Wm. Finch. Thos. Richardson. Chas. Hohag.
March 11. 1879, levied 23 mills for building Town Hall. care of poor and town expenses. Supervisors. E. F. Irwin, James Garvey, Chas. 1. Hohag. The Town lah was completed this year.
March 9. 1880. Jevied 23 mills for all town ex- penses. Supervisors. E. F. Irwin. las. L. Gar- vey. Chas. 1. Hohag.
SCHOOLS.
The first school in the town was taught, during the winter of 1854-5. by Miss Mary Townsend. in a log school house. It was built near Wood Lake. by tive men. R. L. Bartholomew. (. Gregory. George Gilmore, C. Conillard and William Finch. Miss Townsend afterwards mar- ried Mr. Getchell. and resides in Los Angeles. California. Miss Craik. now Mrs. Frank Hans- comb, of Minneapolis, taught, in the summer of 1855, in a school house near Richfield Mills. This school house became a residence, and is now or- enpied by Mr. Schafner.
There are now six full and one joint districts in town. with seven school houses. Distriet No. 11, honse built in 1859. on section 28 : Distriet No. 17. house moved on section 18. 1871 : District No. 16. honse built on section S in 1872 : Distriet No. 6. house built in 1875 : Distriet No. s. house built on section 14 in 1872: District No. 109. house built in section 25, in 1875. Distriet No. ss is a joint district. lying in Richfield and Bloom- ington townships: house built on section 35. in 1560.
CHURCHES.
The town has four church organizations ; Meth- odist Episcopal. Baptist. Episcopal and Catholic.
The Methodist denomination began itsexistence under the guidance of Rev. Mills, who held the first services in a granary, owned by Henry Townsend. Services were next held in the school house near Wood Lake, about a quarter of a mile south of where the Baptist church now stands. It was called " Harmony Mission " until 1861.
215
RICHFIELD CHURCHES-MILLING.
when it was included in the "Minneapolis Cir- cuit." In the fall of 1865, a change was made, and a new cirenit formed, consisting of appoint- ments at Excelsior, Eden Prairie, Chanhassen, and Harmony, or Wood Lake, as it was some- times called. In 1869. the neat wooden chureh was built on section 22. A parsonage and ceme- tery were also located on the church grounds.
The cemetery is neatly kept and beautifully or- namented with evergreen and forest trees. The following clergymen have succeeded each other in the charge : Revs. Mills. John Hooper, Elliott. George Galpin. Levi Gleason, J. D. Rich. D. W. Berlin. John Stafford. C. T. Garvin. W. D. Ben- nett, J. II. Macomber, - Farber, F. II. Tubbs. Henry Brooks, and J. M. Marsh.
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
of Richfield was organized by Rev. Amory Gale, and began its existence by meetings in the school- house near Richfield Mills, where Mr. Schafner now lives. The church, capable of seating two hundred people, was built in 1869. Rev. J. R. Manton has been pastor since. He was born in Providence. Rhode Island. September 28th, 1821, graduated at Brown University. in his native city, in 1848. and first engaged in the ministry at Glou- cester, Mass. Three years after he removed to Tennessee, and labored there until 1857. He then returned north and had charge of a church at Quincy. Illinois. until 1860, when he came to Minneapolis and was pastor of the First Baptist Church " of that city until 1864. Ile then went to St. Joseph. Missouri. and remained until 1868, when he returned to Minnesota on account of ill health, and has since been pastor of the church in Richfield. He owns a small farm and has a very pleasant home on the banks of Wood Lake.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.