USA > Minnesota > Hennepin County > Minneapolis > History of Hennepin county and the city of Minneapolis, including the Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota > Part 46
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John Pagenkopf, is a native of the State of Illinois, and was born December 23d. 1857. In July, 1861, he came with his parents to Indepen- dence, and has since resided in this town. On the 19th of March, 1878. he was married to Miss Carrie Horsch, who has borne him one child, Freddie, born January 23d, 1879.
Daniel S. Styner. was born in Pennsylvania, July 8th, 1815. Ile married Margaret Rheene, in 1843. In 1856 he came to Minnesota, and pre- empted 160 acres of land on section 26. in what is now the town of Independence. where he has since resided. Ile is one of the pioneers of this town, and was a member of the first Town Board. Ile has since held many offices of trust. The house he built, on his arrival here in 1856, was the first to have a shingle roof. The Indians, who passed back and forth at that time, gave him the title of the " Dutch Squire." Of his children. Mary L., Julia E., and Charles, eame here with their parents; Cora was born while Minnesota was a Territory, and Frank after its admission as a state.
Frank Shrewsbury was born in 1855, in In- diana. and came with his parents to Minnesota the same year. They located at what is now Maple Plain, where he grew to manhood, and in 1875 married Allie Ingerson. They have two children. Mand and Mabel. Mr. Shrewsbury is a farmer, and lives on the farm pre-empted by his father. His mother is still living.
G. W. Smith, is a native of Jefferson county, New York, born November 14th, 1816. In 1864 he came to Minnesota. locating at Saint Cloud. where he remained one year: then engaged in mercantile Imsiness in Minneapolis, until 1870. when he bought the store of J. D. Perkins, at Maple Plain. and has since resided there, con- dueting a general merchandise store. Mr. Smith received his appointment as postmaster at Maple Plain. in 1870. and has since held that office. lle is also a Justice of the Peace, which office he has tilled since his first election, in 1875. He is the oldest postmaster on this line of railroad. His children, who were born in Jefferson county. New York. are Mary Jane. wife of J. E. Bell. cashier of the Hennepin County Savings Bank. Minneapolis ; Charles II., book keeper in the same bank. and William A., who died in Minne- apolis, in 1869. lle has a son who was born in Hennepin county : Lyndon B., six years of age.
Adam Tantges was born in Prussia, in 1847. and came to America in 1868. He came directly to Minnesota. and located in Medina township, where he remained with his parents until 1876, when he bought the farm he now occupies in this town. Ile married Miss Mary Wagner, in
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HISTORY OF HENNEPIN COUNTY.
1877. They have one child. Anna. aged two years.
Peter Tantges was born in Prussia, in 1856, and came to this country with his parents. in 1868. He located on his present farm in 1879. He was married to Sophia L. Hofflin. in 1877. Their children are Mary A .. aged two years, and William 1 .. aged one year.
A. Weidenbach, also a native of Prussia, was born in 1833, and emigrated to this country in 1858. Ile came at once to Hennepin county and has cleared a good farm on section three. Ile is a teacher. and justice of the peace. In 1865. he married Miss Cacilia . Bukorwsky. Adolph. C'acilia. Harmon. John, Amelia. Mary. Lucy, and Edward. are their children. His post- office address is Rockford. Wright county.
Jolin Williams. a native of New York. was born
in 18. From that state he went to Indiana. where he remained until 1855. when he came to Independence, and pre-empted a claim of 160 arres. He was the second man who moved into this town. and has since resided here. In 1848, he enlisted. and served one year in the Mexican war. James. Allie. Harvey. Moses, George, and Imogene are children by his first marriage. His present wife was a Miss Wright, to whom he was married in 1873.
George Washington was born in Virginia. in 1843. and remained there until 1849. when he re- moved with his parents to Tennessee. and in 1863 came to Minnesota. He was married in 1879. to Phoebe Yancey, by whom he has one chikl. Willie. horn. March 21st, 1880. Mr. Washington is en- gaged in farming, and is the owner of eighty acres of land on section fifteen.
MEDINA.
CHAPTER XLIII.
SITUATION-TOPOGRAPHY-EARLY SETTLERS- EVENTS OF 1855-5-TOWN ORGANIZATION- LATER EVENTS -MISCELLANEOT'S ITEMS. 1859 -69 -BUSINESS ENTERPRISES THE PAST DE- CADE-BIOGRAPHICAL.
Towns, though tracing their settlement and origin to the same general causes, perhaps the same dates. are. nevertheless, found to possess historie data differing from their immediate neighbors, as widely as do the lives of indi- viduals. Some furnish little, save the prosaic record of settlement and growth. the current flowing smoothly on. its surface scarcely rippled by an incident or legend. In others the tide is swollen with such plenteous accumulations of fact and fancy, that the chief diffienlty encoun- tered by the historian, is the selection of such items as will be of the greatest general interest,
since the limits of space in this volume. consigns many noteworthy facts to the uncertain custody of future tradition. The latter is the case with Medina, and it is a matter of no little regret that so few of the interesting events pertaining to its early history can here be given.
SITUATION AND TOPOGRAPHY.
Medina is an interior town. embracing. in ad- dition to the original township, that portion of Excelsior lying north of Lake Minnetonka, and has an area of 26.023 acres. Its surface is uneven. and in the northwestern portion somewhat hilly. Several clear lakes dot the surface. On the west. and lying partly in the town bearing its name, is Lake Independence. This and the larger lake mentioned as forming the southern boundary. are the principal bodies of water. Long Lake, from which the only village of the town is named, is of peenliar beauty. A few small streams fur- nish outlets for nearly all the interior lakes. The
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MEDINA - EARLY EVENTS.
town is heavily timbered, excepting a small belt skirting the north-western portion.
EARLY SETTLERS.
The first permanent settlers came here in 1854. A marked character among them was Stephen Bean, who came from Maine, and settled about a mile west of Long Lake. Ile was a kind neighbor, hospitable, open-hearted, generous. and had a wonderfully fertile imagination. Karl and William Charles Kassube came in 1854. A. T. French came from Ohio and settled on the north side of Crystal Bay, a point commanding one of the finest views of the lake; he has seen all the lights and shadows of fortunes. changes.
Mr. French, Vincent Cox and the Foglemans brought the first horses into this region. New- ton French, William Carman, Evan Templin and Richard Danforth came from Ohio: Theo- dore A. Norris, Wallace Ilatter and Judson Beach from Michigan: James Dumbrack. David Lydiard, Eleazer Dickey and Daniel Thompson from Nova Scotia, and John Mattison from Illi- nois, all taking claims near Long Lake. In the same year came William Russell from New York and Fred A. Jennings from Ohio. The location selected by Mr. Russell was in section seventeen. on the west shore of one of the numerous bays now partly in Medina and Excelsior. Here he laid the foundation for a city which never came. and "Island City" waited in vain for the state cap- ital. Fred A. Jennings was a man whose daring nearly eost him his life by drowning in Lake Minnetonka, and once, lost him in the wilderness between the lake and his home.
EVENTS OF 1855.
Prominent among the arrivals this year, were Isaac A. Christlieb. R. II. and J. L. Knettle, B. C. ITaines and John Schaffer, from Pennsylvania; Vincent Cox, William and Henry Fogleman and Edward Turnham, from Indiana; Asa Kelley and Kelsey Ilinman from Ohio; E. F. Walsh, Jas. Dillman, Samuel Lydiard and Miles Bayers, from Nova Scotia; Shepherd Barnes from Maine; IIon. A. J. Underwood (now editor of the Fergus Falls Journal) from Ohio; ITenry Stubbs, Allen Grave, George. James and F. R. Maxwell from Ilinois. Mr. Grave's and Mr. Stubb's daughters were the first young ladies in the settlement, and their advent produced quite a ripple in the bachelor
element. The Maxwell brothers brought their father with them; one of Napoleon's trained veterans. who followed the fortunes of the great Captain through many of his campaigns. John Schmidt, built and owns the "Medina House," which he now rents to A. J. Rosander. This year about fifty German families, settled in the north part of the town : prominent among them were Matthias Miller, John Wolsfeld, Phillip Klein, and C. W. Burchfield. Mr. Miller was the "Peacemaker" and one of the founders of Medina, whose death in ISSO, was mourned by the entire community. Mr. Wolsfeld, while returning from Minneapolis seven years ago, was attacked by a man named Wirth, and so severely beaten that he lost his eyesight. Wirth was arrested, tried, and sentenced to seven years imprisonment. The enraged citizens wanted to save the state the expense of the trial. Miss Emma Maxwell was the first child born in Medi- na. She is now Mrs. Melvina Smith. Elkand Cox, who died at the residence of his brother, on the farm now owned by I. A. Christlieb, was the first death. The Wayzata road, from Minne- apolis to a point near the western margin of the county, where it intersects another established road, was located by O. E. Garrison. A few ad- ditional names are given of those who settled here from 1855 to 1860. Isaac Sharth, Bradford Wakefield, Perry Parrish, from Ohio; Gibson Teas, J. B. & O. B. Brown. from Indiana; E. M. Snow and B. F. Christlieb from Pennsylvania; James Johnson, W. A. Spafford, A. Kruikshanks, Val- erous Chilson and B. Gasper. In 1862 they were followed by William and Joseph Lydiard, Andrew Brown, C. Dittman. and others, all set- tling in or near the present village of Long Lake. Alonzo Coleman was an early settler and promi- nent in town affairs.
EVENTS OF 1856.
Claim jumping was one of the initial events; one Kohler, thus attempted to gain posses- sion of C. E. Dickey's claim, on section 26. He built his cabin, and took possession when the neighbors, led by Samuel Lydiard, drove the intruder away and demolished his castle ; he, however, compromised, and pur- chased the claim he would have jumped. It was again attempted on a mulatto, named Alfred, but
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HISTORY OF HENNEPIN COUNTY.
his "baekers" were too many. and the invader wisely retreated. No written contract existed between the settlers of Medina. but there was a distinct understanding that each actual settler should be protected in his rights ; this fact being known. put an end to claim jumping. The first marriage was that of Sebastian Kohler to Miss Baumeister. The first school. was taught by Charles Christlieb. in an old claim shanty on see- tion 34, owned by George Knettle. his wages being paid by subscription. A school house was built on section 4. but never used. In 1858 ano- ther was built on section 34, known as the Hursh school house, in which a school, supported by tax, was opened by Miss Jane Cowden of Ashta- bula, Ohio.
EVENTS OF 1857.
During this year. the old Territorial Road. known as the Minneapolis and Fort Ridgely road, was laid through the town. The route was sig- gested by 1. A. Christlieb, who, with the assist- ance of Samnel Lydiard. secured the survey hy R. J. Mendenhall. George Knettle built a small steam saw mill a short distance west of the pres- ent village, and also built a house and a hotel. This was the foundation for his " Cify of Cum- berland." D. A. Keyes and Frank Fleming built houses within the limits of the city, and there its growth ended. A lyceum was organized in one of the buildings, where the Solons met and disenssed the questions of those times. Another city was located on the town line between Medina and Independence. by John and Needham Per- kins, and called Perkinsville. A store, hotel and a few dwellings marked its greatest growth. It struggled for metropolitan honors, but finally went down, and now exists only in memory.
This year was one of want, occasioned by the ravages of the grasshoppers. The prices of what was left of the erop were so low that the settlers were driven to the verge of despair. They were relieved by the sudden demand for the ginseng root, which grew abundantly in the woods. All went to gathering it. and were temporarily re- lieved.
EVENTS OF ISS.
In this year wasestablished the first post-office. the first school house was built, and the town organized. Henry Stubbs secured the establish-
ment of a post office on section 23, called Tama- rae, which was continued there until 1861. when it was removed to Long Lake. and John A. Cole- man appointed postmaster. The name was changed from Tamarae to Long Lake. in 1867. The mail came from Minneapolis once a week, until the building of the railroad in 1868; since then they have had a daily mail.
TOWN ORGANIZATION.
April 10th, 185s, township 118, range 23. wasdes- ignated by the County Commissioners as Ham- burg, and the first town records appear under that name.
On the 11th of May, 1855, the first town meet- ing was held at the house of Valerous Chilson, at which thirty-seven voters were present. Mr. Chilson was called to the chair, Andrew Scherer elected Moderator. and W. F. Hillman Clerk. The following officers were then elected : Supervisors, Valerous Chilson. Chairman. C. W. Burchfield. George Reiser: Town Clerk, W. F. Hillman : Assessor. L. Lenzen : Collector, An- drew Scherer: Overseer of Poor, Jos. Lenzen ; Justices. Win. Archibald and James Crowe : Con- stables, Leo Stumpf and Adolph Buttz: Overseer of Roads. B. Gasper. Resolutions were offered to organize school districts, defining legal fences. and regulating the running at large of stork. George Reiser offered a resolution to change the name of the town to Medina, which was unani- mously adopted. The town then embraced but one regular township, and remained so until 1868, when that part of Excelsior lying north of Lake Minnetonka was added. by act of County Com- missioners, March 2d. This was proposed in 1863. but rejected by a vote of sixty to fifteen.
LATER EVENTS.
In December, 1859, Shakopee ( Little Six) and his band, including the notorious Out Nose, camped on the south shore of Long Lake, on the grounds now in use as the village cemetery. where they remained about a month, and would have remained much longer, but for a ruse adopted by Selden Coleman and John B. Wakefield. They started a rumor that the Chippewas were massing in the vicinity. The ruse had the desired effect, and the camp was quickly deserted. The same Coleman afterward recognized both Shakopee and
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MEDINA-MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.
Cut Nose in the band captured by Gen. Sibley in his raid across the plains.
The massacre of 1862 filled the community with excitement and alarm. A stockade was built where now stands the residence of John McCormick, in the village of Long Lake, and at several other points, where the people gathered nights for mutual protection. Many from farther west flocked here for safety. The dwellings of I. A. Christleib, George Knettle, and James Johnson (old Cumberland House) were converted into semi-fortresses for defence. In 1863 came another scare, from the fact that Little Crow, with a few braves, was seen skulking in the vie- inity. Whatever might have been his intentions, they were not accomplished, and on his way back to the plains he was met by a Mr. Lampson, near Hutchinson, who shot him at sight, and ended the life of this cunning leader. During all these exciting times, Mrs. Matthias Miller was the only woman who did not leave her home, but with Spartan courage remained at her post, exhibiting a coolness that would do honor to the sterner sex.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS -- 1859-1869.
The first regular preaching was in the school house at Cumberland, about 1858, by Rev. Geo. Galpin, a Methodist.
Free Thinkers' Club. This name was adopted by a small society formed in 1860; numbering al one time about thirty; at present it has about half that membership. They own a hall 28x40 feel, with basement for culinary use on social occa- sions. It was built in 1874.
In 1860 a post-office was established in the north-east part of the town through the efforts of L. Lenzen, who was the first postmaster. The office was named in honor of its founder- " Lenz." J. O. Hamel is the present postmaster.
Presbyterian Church. In 1863 Rev. James Hunter commenced preaching at Long Lake, and in 1869 a church was built. It is open to all denominations. Rev. Charles Thayer has been the principal pastor since it was opened.
St. Peter's and St. Paul's Catholic Church was organized about 1862, and a small structure built, which was replaced by the present edifice in 1867. The society is now large and sustains weekly service.
German Catholic Church. In 1863 a society was formed and a small building erected on sec- tion twenty-four, which, in 1876 gave place to the present structure, the old building being remod- eled as a residence for the priest. The society is now large, and sustains weekly services, Rev. l'. Magnus M. Mayr officiating.
Good Templars. A lodge of Good Templars was organized several years ago, which is now steadily increasing in numbers, hokling their meetings in " Free Thinkers' HIall " on Friday evening of each week.
Union Cemetery. In 1861 a cemetery associa- tion was formed, and a site selected on the south bank of Long Lake, affording a fine view of the lake and surrounding country. A portion of it is plaited and laid out into walks and carriage drives, a charming spot. The first burial was an infant child of Bradford Wakefield, in 1862.
BUSINESS ENTERPRISES.
In 1866, Mills, Cutler & Co., built a stave far- tory al Long Lake, and soll it in 1868 to Chas. May & Co., who operated it for ten years. Sinee that time it has only run at intervals, In 1867 Mills, Condit & Co., opened a general store near the west end of Long Lake ; it was the only store at that time. They sold to Low, May & Co., who sold to other parties. Its building was due to the prospect of the speedy completion of the Si. P. & P. R. R., which was surveyed in 1865. Grading was commenced in 1866, and in 1868, the cars were running, a depot built, and the village of Long Lake began to grow. In 1855, the HIon. Lewis Harrington stood at a land cor- ner on section 33, and with prophetic accuraey said : "Gentlemen, when a road is built through this region, it can not go far from where we now stand." The right of way now includes ihai iden- tical spot.
THE LAST DECADE-1870-80.
Saint Anna Church, French Catholic. This structure was commenced in 1874, and completed in 1879. The first regular service was held in May, same year. Rev. Z. G. Chandonnet was its first pastor, and remained until January 1st, 1880. He was succeeded by Rev. Peter Boucher, the present incumbent. The society numbers about five hundred.
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HISTORY OF HENNEPIN COUNTY.
MEDINA MILL COMPANY.
In January. 1875. a stock company was formed for the purpose of building a first-class flouring . mill. The incorporators were: Sammel. David and Joseph Lydiard. E. and B. Dickey, I. A. Christlieb. Robert Logan. Win. Braden. C. W.
Weeks, John Burns and E. M. Show. It was rented for a term of years to B. M. Smith, who operated it only two years. After passing through various changes of ownership, it came into the hands of its present owners, Syme & DeMoti. It is about sixty feet square. tive stories high. and run by a Corliss condensing engine. of 150 horse power. The mill has a capacity for 350 barrels per day, and furnishes employment to twenty-five workmen. They own and operate a cooper shop where they manufacture their barrels, and have a side track. for receiving and discharging freight. The quality of the flour made at this mill. with its new and improved machinery. is not excelled by any in the North- west.
LENZ GRIST MILL,
was built in 1876. by Francis Huot. It is two stories high. and has two runs of stone, driven by a twenty-five horse-power engine, and is doing a thriving business.
TOWN HOUSE.
In 1878, a Town House was built on the south- west corner of Section 22. a location selected with especial reference to the accommodation of the majority of voters. Medina now has a population of 1.162 inhabitants, with a real estate valuation of $319.633. with $21.285 in the village of Long Lake, and an assessed valuation of $47,661 in per- sonal property. its taxes for Is80 were $1.705. lis stock reports for 1880, show 370 horses, 565 cattle over two years old, 783 sheep, 495 hogs. The reports also show 2.960 aeres sown to wheat the same year. The village of Long Lake con- tains a good school building. erected in 1878. where a graded school is supported, nine months in the year. It has a seating capacity for about one hundred. The other schools of the town have houses located as follows: Joint District No. 90. (Medina and Corcoran, section 5; Dis- triet No. 63, section 11 : District No. 7, section 23; District No. 62, section 8; District No. 91, See- tion 32; all in town Ils; and District No. 91,
ection 4, Township 117, the portion formerly be- longing to Excelsior.
OFFICIAL ROSTER.
The following are the names of the Chairmen of Board of Supervisors. since the town organi- zation: 1858. Valerons Chilson : 1859 to 1863. John A. Coleman : 1864, Saml. Lydiard : 1865, 1. A. Christleib : 1866, A. Buttz: 1867, Samuel Lydiard : 1868. J. P. Meurer: 1869 to 1871. 1). 1. Keyes: 1872. C. W. Gordon : 1873, A. P. Bills ; 1871-5. N. J. Stubbs ; 1876 to 1878. Peter Miller ; 1879. Peter Maurer; 1880. Peter Miller. The other officers for 1880, were. Supervisors, Benj. Maxon and Nelson Barnes : Clerk. R. B. Dickey : Treasurer, B. F. Christlich: Assessor. J. P. Meurer : Justices. A. C. Bailey and J. P. Meurer ; Constables, J. A. Coleman and Geo. Reiser. In 1865-6, by a misapprehension of the law, the time of holding town meetings was changed from April to March. The error was discovered in the latter year, and another election held April 14th. This is called a special meeting in the old town records, but was in fact the regular meeting.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
David Archibald was born in Nova Scotia, in 1815. and moved with his parents to Hennepin county. lle enlisted in 1861, in Second United States Sharpshooters, afterwards attached to First Minnesota Regt .. and served three years; was wounded at Cold Harbor, and remained for six months in the hospital at Alexandria. He was honorably discharged at St. Paul, in 1865.
William Archibald was born in Nova Scotia. in the year ISU. He moved to Hennepin county in 1855, and made a claim where he has since resided. He is one of the founders of the Liber- al League Society, is its President and most active member. In 1834 he married Diana (. Intehin- son .. They had ten children. Mrs. Archibald died in 1863.
A. C. Bailey was born in Ohio. in 1840. He was educated at Westminster College. In 1862 he enlisted in the First Ohio Independent ; served over three years, and was honorably discharged, in 1865, at Gallipolis. The same year he moved to Minnesota, and settled in Medina, where he has since resided. He married Hattie M. Parrish in 1867. Three children have been born to them. S. Barnes was born in Maine. in 1826. Ile
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MEDINA -BIOGRAPHICAL.
settled in Medina in 1855, and lived there untit 1880, when he removed to Oregon and settted near Portland. When he came to Hennepin county he had but fifty cents. The first year he cleared three acres and planted it to corn, but was scourged with the grasshoppers, and was obliged to support his family by making ox yokes and axe handles.
E. S. Barnes. a native of Maine, was born in I845. Ile settled in llennepin county. in 1855. In 1861 he enlisted in the Second Minnesota Sharpshooters, afterwards Company L, First Minnesota Volunteers, served three years, was wounded at Vicksburg and was in thirteen engagements, under Generals Mcclellan and Burnside. Ile is part owner of a saw mill, also proprietor of a Sorghum mill, capacity one hund- red gallons per day. Ile has a farm of 184 acres and half interest in 300 more. In 1867 he mar -. ried Martha K. Reynolds. They have two child- ren.
Charles Barkow was born in Germany, in 1826, and emigrated to America in 1852. Ile worked at harness making in Cleveland, Ohio, two years, and two years in Oberlin. In 1861 he settled in Hennepin county. Enlisted in company A, Fourth Minnesota Volunteers in 1864, and was honorably discharged in 1865; the same year he married Caroline Sekoggy. They have eight children living.
J. D. Bayer was born in Nova Scotia, in 1832. IIe lived there until 1877, then moved to Boston, Massachusetts, for two years, thence to New York ; he then came to Hennepin county and settled in 1880. Worked on farm thirty years, then learned the carpenters trade. lle was sup- erintendent of the Orphan's Home, in llatifax, his wife acting as matron, having charge of it for seven years. llis marriage with Elizabeth 1. Brown, ocenrred in the year 1860.
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