USA > Minnesota > Hennepin County > Minneapolis > History of Hennepin county and the city of Minneapolis, including the Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota > Part 51
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Chaney Haviland was born in Lenawee county, Michigan in 1813. When the war broke out he enlisted in Company A. Fourth Michigan Cavalry. Was under Grant and Sherman, and was with the latter in his march to the sea. He was honora- Ily discharged at Nashville, Tennessee. in 1864, and re-enlisted in the Third Michigan Light Ar- tillery. Battery (. and served till the close of the war. He was in Washington at the Grand Re- view. and was honorably discharged at Detroit. Michigan. He went to Indianapolis, Indiana, learned the profession of railroad engineer and fol- lowed it for eight years. Came to Minnesota and settled in Champlin, where he worked as en- gineer: also in Anoka in the same Imsiness, and finally settled in Osseo. In 1861 he married Martha Powers. They have one child living: Etta.
John Hechtman. a native of Germany, was born in 1828. and came to America in 1832. He settled in Erie. Pennsylvania. and lived there until 1819. when he went to California for two years : returned to Erie. and in 1857 came to Minneapolis. When the war broke out he was in Pennsylvania looking after his oil interests ; he enlisted with the three months' men, after- wards with the three years men in the Eighty- third Pennsylvania regiment ; was wounded at the battle of the Wilderness in 1861, and honorably discharged at Harrisburgh, September 1861. He established the present general store at Osseo in 1865. Married his second wife, Angusta Schmidt in 1869, by whom he has had five children. Two sons were born to him by his first wife : both are now in Colorado.
Rev. A. Ladriere was born at Levis, near Que- bec, in 1826, and was edneated at Queber Semi- nary. He was assistant at St. Thomas Parish one year, also at Levisone year. then three years at St. Roch, and was pastor at St. Fabian fifteen
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OSSEO-BIOGRAPHICAL.
years ; then at Isle Verte five years ; He came to Osseo in 1876, and took charge of the St. Louis church at this place.
E. Lefebvre, born in the province of Quebec. in 1845, and lived there twelve years: then moved to Clinton county, New York, and learned the shoe trade, which business engaged most of his time until he came to Osseo. in 1865. In 1873. he established his present stock of general mer- chandise, having clerked here for eight years, previous to that time. He was married in 1869 to Celina Normandin. They have three children.
S. N. Pavitt was born in London, England, in 1830, and came with his parents to America in 1832. Ile went to the province of Quebec, and remained there until 1846. when he moved to New York city, and learned the harness trade. Ile came to Minnesota in 1855: located in the harness trade at Minneapolis. In 1862 he enlist- ed in Co. B, 6th Minn. Vols .. and served nearly three years, being honorably discharged at Fort Snelling in 1865. October, 1867, he came to Osseo. and started his harness shop. Ile has since re- sided here. Married in 1857, to Adeline Buck. They have three children now living.
N. J. Pinault. M. D., was born in the province of Quebec, in 1845, where he lived until 1877. Received his collegiate education at Rimouski and St. Anne; gradnated an M. D. at the I'ni- versity Laval, Quebec, receiving the first prizes from the faculty, prize Seivell and prize Morrin, of 1874. His diploma from the University Laval is also from the Royal College of Surgeons, of London. After his studies, he made an extensive tour in Europe, and while there had great oppor- tunities to perfect his education. Hle first prie- ticed medicine at Rimouski. In 1877 he cameto Osseo, and has since followed his profession here.
J. T. Pribble, a native of Maine, was born in 1830 ; moved to Hennepin county, in 1855, and set- fled in Brooklyn. He was educated at Bowdoin College. Brunswick, Maine. In 1861 he was elected County Superintendent of Schools, and held the office six years. He has been principal of Osseo graded school for eight years. In 1854 he married Elmira E. Norris. of Maine. Five children have been born to them.
Nelson Rongier was born in Montreal, in 1813. At the age of three years he removed with his parents to Kankakee, Illinois; thence to Belle
Prairie, Minnesota. in 1856. Ten years later he came to Osseo. and started a wagon shop. He was married, in 1833, to Rosa Begnoche, of Can- ada. They have five children living.
Fritz Sebmidt was born in Germany. in 1851. C'ame to America in 1867, and settled al Osseo, Hennepin county, Minnesota. He built the In- ternational Hotel, in 1874. It is two stories high. with a capacity for thirty guests. He owns and conducts it. Ile married, in 1875, Sophia Oswald.
De Witt Clinton Smith (deceased), born in Or- Jeans county, New York, in 1825. He lived there about twenty years ; then went to Adrian, Mich- igan. lle was married, at Addison, Michigan, to Melissa R. Shepard, in 1874. In 1857 he eame to Ilennepin county. and bought a farm near Osseo. Ile enlisted. in 1861. in Company D, Ist. Minnesota. and was appointed second Lieutenant. After the first Bull Run battle he was promoted Captain of the company. He was severely wounded at the battle of Antietam. Mrs. Smith. after many heroic efforts, found him at Ilagerstown, Maryland, and succeeded in bring- ing him to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. After resting a few weeks they came home. and he was honorably discharged shortly after. He was ap- pointed State Librarian by Governor Miller, and while Librarian was appointed Major of the Pay Department. He was finally killed at Fort Ran- dolph. the boat being decoyed into that point by a party of guerillas, who shot and killed him. One child was born. Eugene A., living near Benson.
David B. Thayer (deceased ) was born in Seneca county, New York, in 1822. In 1847 he moved to Lenawee county, Michigan, and married Cath- erine Warren. He came to llenepin county in 1854, and settled near Osseo, on a claim of 160 acres, which is still owned by Mrs. Thayer. Mr. Thayer died at Osseo, August 31. 1873. Four children were born to them. A. A. Thayer. their son. enlisted in 1863, in 7th Minn., as drum- mer boy, when 16 years old ; being taken sick at Montgomery. Alabama, he returned home, and was honorably discharged.
E. Wellman was born in Dayton, Hennepin county. Minnesota, in 1855. He learned the blacksmith trade with Eli Haviland at Osseo. On November 3d. 1878. he was married to Delora Haviland, who was born in Maple Grove, Min- nesota. They have one child: Lorissa.
29.5
HISTORY OF HENNEPIN COUNTY.
CHAMPLIN.
CHAPTER XLVII.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION SETTLEMENT-INDIAN MOUNDS-EARLY INCIDENTS-ORGANIZATION - SCHOOLS-CHURCHES-SOCIETIES-MILL- BIOGRAPHICAL.
This township is located in the north-eastern part of the county, on the Mississippi river, which forms its northern and eastern boundary. Its surface is varied. Along the river are heavily- timbered bottom-lands. back of which are high bluffs. The western portion of the town is cov- ered with a growth of light timber. The central and southern portions are level prairies. The soil is in all parts good and productive. This town- ship. nlike many others in the county. has no large lakes. There are two small bodies of water known as Leman's Lake and Bond Lake. the for- mer on section 25 and the latter on section 36. Hayden's Lake, which is located mainly in the town of Dayton. projects a short distance into Champlin on the west. Elm Creek flows from Hayden's Lake across the northern part of the town, and empties into the Mississippi, just below the village. This creek furnishes an excellent water-power. which is utilized.
FIRST SETTLEMENT.
The history of Champlin dates from 1552, when Charles Miles located near the junction of Elm Creek and the river, and opened a trading post for Indians. He was the first white settler in the township. The following spring, Joseph and Augustus Holt arrived, and made claims where the village is now located. During the summer of 1853. Augustus Hoh erected a frame house. the first in the village. In the summer of 1853. John Pike. Benjamin E. Messer, and a Mr. Ste- vens, built houses near the river above the village. In une of that year, Rev. Lewis Atkinson loca- ted on section 33. Ile came with teams from
Illinois. The same year, R. II. Miller, F. Thorn- dyke and John Shumway, made claims west of the village : Colby Emery settled on seetion 30. William Milhollin made a claim on section 33. March 2d. 1854. He came with his family from Ohio to St. Anthony. in July, 1853, and after re- maining in St. Anthony until the following Mareb, located in Champlin. In 1854. quite a number settled in the town. among them Rev. W. Hayden and Samuel Colburn. both of whom still reside on their original claims. In 1855, Joseph MeCan built just above Miles, and during the succeeding two years. several others located near. From this time the settlement went on rapidly. Prominent among the early settlers here, was John G. Howell. who came in 1854. His claim was in Brooklyn, but his home in Champlin. He was a young man. a general favorite. and a leader in social gatherings and church meetings. He left in 1856, and after considerable travel. located in California. where he has held several promi- nent positions.
The Winnebago Indians roamed over Champ- lin. at the time of its first settlement. Their village was located near Dayton. They were peaceable, and did not molest the settlers, except to beg. On one occasion, during a " big drunk," they stole a canoe from William Milhollin, but it was promptly returned by the women. The first settlers in Champlin had to buy their supplies in St. Anthony, and in order to reach that place, would often fasten two or three logs together, forming a raft, on which they would float down the river. This did very well. going down, but the return trip was more difficult. as it had to be made on foot, following Indian trails. This township was surveyed in 1855.
INDIAN MOUND AND GRAVE.
Near the mouth of Elm Creek was at one time a mound, called the " Indian Mound," on which
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CHAMPLIN-INCIDENTS-ORGANIZATION.
was planted a red staff, from which floated a red flag of small size. The mound has nearly disap- peared, owing to excavations made in search of relics. In the village near the hotel was a grave, surrounded by a rude fence of logs. This was supposed to be the grave of a chief, as it was or- namented by a red staff, on the top of which was a red flag, or rag.
EARLY INCIDENTS.
A ferry across the Mississippi, was put in op- eration by Joseph Holt, in 1855. MeCann's to- cating near the mouth of Elm Creek, led to a dispute between him and Miles, in regard to the ownership of the water-power.
The contest was carried to the Land Office at Washington, for final decision, and resulted in Miles holding the claim. Both men were nearly ruined by the contest, and soon after, McCann moved to Anoka, where he still resides, and Miles to Minneapolis, where he died in 1878. The first birth in the township was in 1854, a child of Mr. and Mrs. Stevens; the second birth was a daughter to J. B. Holt and wife, November. 1854.
The first death was that of a young man-a new-comer named Charles Teag, in 1856. Ile was buried in a field on Mr. Miller's land. The first marriage was in 1857, the contracting parties being Cyrus Rollin and Miss Clark,
TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION.
In 1858, the County Commissioners set apart the territory embraced in township 120, range 22, and the fractional township 120, range 21, as Mar- shall. A meeting was held at Champlin village; May 11il, 1858, and officers chosen for the town. At this meeting the question of a division of Marshall, into Dayton and Champlin arose, and finally resulted in designating the following boundaries ; Champlin, all of fractional township 120, range 21, and the eastern tier of sections of township 120. range 22. Dayton, all of township 120, range 22, excepting the eastern tier of sec- tions. The first Town Meeting for Champlin was held April 5th, 1859. At this meeting. Wentworth Hayden presided as Moderator, and J. B. Hunt acted as Clerk, pro tem. The follow- ing officers were elected. Supervisors, Went- worth Hayden, Chairman, Samuel Briggs and S. D. Leman; Town Clerk, J. B. Holt; Assessor, J.
A. Linseoft; Collector, Job Kenneston; Overseer of Poor, J. D. Hank; Justices, S. Colburn. Alvah HITills; Constables, Joseph Downs, George Hills. Officers in 1880; Supervisors, Harry Ghostly, Chairman, J. B. Hinkley and John Stewart; Town Clerk, S. Colburn; Assessor, J. B. Hinkley; Treasurer, O. S. Miller; Justices, Samuel Colburn and J. B. Hinkley; Constables, Geo. A. Ilills and William Dowlin.
The Township contains 5,310 acres of land, the assessed valnation of which, was in 1880, S77,596. The valuation of personal property was $14,348. Total amount of taxes for 1880, $1,252. The population of the town is 456.
SCHOOLS.
The first school in the town of Champlin, was held in an old shanty above the village, in 1855. Miss Emily Thorndyke (now Mrs. Lum of Min- neapolis) was teacher. A school house was built in 1860, the first teacher being Chandler B. Adams. There are now three schools sustained in the town. A graded school in the village, school distriet number 35. house located on section 30, and district number 99. joint distriet with Brooklyn, school house located on section 34. Champlin. All the school houses are good build- ings.
CHURCHES.
The Free-Will Baptist church was organized in 1854. as a branch of the Minneapolis church, by Rev. C. G. Ames. It was supplied by Rev. W. Hayden and others, until the following year. The first members of the branch organization were, Betsy Shumway, W. W. Cate, Sarah C. Cate, W. W. Woodman and wife. The first meetings were held in a school-house, and on an unfinished steamboat, which lay on the river bank at this point. In 1855 the church was organized independently, and named Elm Creek church, under which name it continued until 1858, when it was changed to Anoka and Champlin church, its present name. They have a frame building. erected in 1871 at a cost of $1,650. It is located in the village of Champlin, on an eminence over- looking the river. The first regular pastor was W. Hayden, who officiated until 1863, when owing to ill-health he was compelled to resign, and the church was without a pastor for two years, though occasional services were held. In
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HISTORY OF HENNEPIN COUNTY.
1865 Rev. S. S. Paine took the charge. and remained until 1870, when he was succeeded by Rev. C. L. Russell. the present pastor. There has been a Sabbath-school in connection with the church since its organization. and it is now in a flourishing condition.
The Methodist Episcopal Church. A class was formed in 1872. by Rev. John Stafford. The year following they erected a church. about 30 x 50 feet in size. They have no resident minister. the church being included in the circuit with Anoka. A Sabbath-school is maintained in connection with the church.
SOCIETIES.
A Literary Society and Lyceum, organized in the fall of isso. meets every Friday evening in the school-house of district No. 99. This society is well attended.
In 1879 a circulating library was established in the village, containing three hundred volumes. It is kept at the post-office, and is patronized by the citizens of the township generally.
CHAMPLIN MILL.
This mill is located on Elm Creek, near its junction with the river, below the village. The first mill at this point was built by A. P. Lane & Co .. in 1867. The township records for that year show that two town bonds. of $250 each. were is- sued in favor of this firm. to assist in building a dam and bridge. in connection with the mill. All were built. but were swept away and de- stroyed by high water. The present mill was boilt in 1571. by Clark and Smith, and after sev- eral changes came into the possession of R. M. Pratt & Co .. the present proprietors. It is in size. 30 x 10 feet. and two stories high above the basement. with an addition for offices and ware- rooms, 25x 1s fert. Its machinery consists of five runs of stone, five middlings puritiers, be- sides the necessary minor machinery. It is driv- en by an American turbine wheel, forty-two inches in diameter, of seventy-live horse-power. Its capacity is forty barrels per day.
VILLAGE OF CHAMPLIN.
Joseph Holt laid out a village on the west bank of the river, and had it surveyed and plat- ted by Hugh Spruce. This was in 1853. A hotel was created in 1855, by George Rollins, and
opened by Hugh Spence. Several changes in ownership have since taken place. it is now conducted by F. Thorndyke. The first store was opened by J. B. Holt. in 1856. The post-office was established in 1858. with J. B. Holt as post- master. George Hills now occupies that office. There are three stores, with stocks of general merchandise, three blacksmith shops, two wagon shops, one goldsmith, one millinery. and one flouring mill. The assessed valuation in 1880. of town lots and structures thereon, was $7.302. The nearest railway point for citizens of Cham- pin township. is Anoka. directly opposite the village of Champlin. and connected with it by ferry across the Mississippi river. At one time, steamboats plied on the river, landing at Cham- plin ; the river is not navigated regularly at the present time.
BIOGRAPHICAL ..
Colby Emery. one of the oldest settlers in Champlin, was born in 1822. in Oxford county. Maine, where he resided. with the exception of some time passed in the hotel business in Boston and New York. until 1853. when he came to Min- nesota. Hle at once pre-empted a claim of 160 arres, and has since resided in this town engaged in farming. Ile now owns 120 acres of fine land. He was married, July 2, 1855. to Ruth Blaisdell. of Tamworth Iron Works, Carroll county. New Hampshire. She died, January. 1875. The fam- ily record is, dames R .. born in 1856: Charles E .. 1857: Zenus B., 1563. died 1870: Anna G .. born 1869.
William Fullerton was born at Hopewell, Maryland. in 1819. His parents removed to Pen- sylvania when he was two years of age. and he remained there until 1833. when he removed to Ohio, residing in Lower Sandusky four years, and in Imneas county, until 1866. employing him- self in carpenter work and farming. In the spring of 1864. he enlisted in Company G, First Ohio Sharpshooters, and was afterwards attached to the Goth Ohio. He was wounded in the hand. losing a finger at Petersburgh. Virginia. in 1861. and was honorably discharged at Washington. D. C., in 1865. In 1866 he came to Champlin. where he has since resided. He was married in 1518. to Martha Crosby, of Ohio. They have four children.
J. B. Hinkley was born in Geanga county. Ohio. in 1818. He received his education at the Gen-
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CHAMPLIN-BIOGRAPHICAL.
esee Western Seminary, near Rochester. New York, graduating in 1839. He then began teach- ing winters, passing his summers on a farm. In 1854 he came to Hennepin county, and resided in Minneapolis one year, then removed to Dayton township where he took a claim of 160 arres near Diamond Lake, remaining there nine years. In 1857 and 1858 Mr. Hinkley was a member of the legislature, during which time, Minnesota was ad- mitted as a state. Ile held the office of County Commissioner a number of years, and had charge of the county poor farm for three years, dating from 1864. He then returned to Minneapolis where he remained until 1873, when he came to Champlin and has since resided here, engaged in farming. Mr. Hinkley has held the office of justice of the peace, excepting a short time, since he came to this county, and was census emm- erator of Dayton township in 1880. Ile was married in 1844 to Miss S. S. Moore. They have two children.
Robert II. Miller, is a native of Oxford county, Maine, where he remained until twenty-three years of age ; then removed to New Hampshire. Ile was married in Conway, New Hampshire. January, 1848, to Sarah R. HTill, and removed to Waterford, Maine, where their only living son. Orange S., was born September 6th. 1849. In 1852, Mr. Mitter came to St. Anthony. Minnesota. where he remained one year. thence to Anoka and after a few months residence there, made a claim on the west side of the river in what is now Dayton. In 1856 he came to Champlin and bought a number of town lots, also the hotel now owned by Mr. Thorndyke, which he conducted for seven years. When he first came to Minne- sota he made a squatters claim, on the west side of the river, the present site of Minneapolis. Mr. Miller learned the trade of carriage maker, in Maine, which business he engaged in for many years in Champlin. He held the office of post- master from 1860 to 1867. The son, Orange S., resides with his parents. He was married to Miss Mary E. Wiley. They have one son.
1
G. D. Miars is a native of Nova Scotia where he was born in 1816. At the age of eleven years he went to sea and followed that occupation four- teen years. Ile then resided in Canada three years, and in Maine, where he was engaged in farming. He came to Hennepin county in 1856
and purchased a claim of eighty acres in the town of Crystal Lake. In 1866 he removed to Anoka county. and three years later came to Champlin, where he has since resided. engaged in the pur- suit of farming. He was married in 1852, to Sy- rene Pratt, a native of Penobscot county. Maine. They have had nine children. eight of whom are living.
Turner Pribble was born in Kennebec county. Maine, July 4th, 1836. At the age of twenty, he came to Hennepin county, locating in the town of Brooklyn. In 1860 he purchased a farm of fifty-tive acres. which he disposed of in 1865. and the next year bought forty acres in the same town. He resided in Brooklyn until 1877, ex- cepting the time he was absent in the army. In April. 1861 be entisted for three months. and re- enlisted November, 1861 in the First Minnesota Infantry. At Petersburg, Virginia, he was ta- ken prisoner and heid ten months. Ile was hon- orably discharged July 20th, 1865. He came to Champlain in 1877 and has resided here since. en- gaged in farming. fle was married in 1870. to Leila A. Coy. who was born in Maine in 1851. They have one child. Martha Irene born in 1875.
J. W. Reeves was born in Butler county, Ohio. in 1842, and remained in his native state until 1865, when he came to Minnesota, and located in Ramsey county, near St. Paul. In 1877 he came to Champlin, purchased a farm of forty acres, and has since resided in this town. In 1863, Mr. Reeves enlisted in Company D. 20 Ohio Heavy Artillery, and served until honorably discharged, in 1865, coming west the same year,
J. II. Trussel is a native of New Hampshire, born in New London, Merrimac county, Septem- ber 26th, 1825. He resided in his native town ten years. then to Wilmot, N. II., and remained there until twenty-one years of age, when he went to Concord, and remained five years. In the fait of 1855, he came to Hennepin county, and made a claim of 160 acres iu Brooklyn. Remained on it one year : then removed to Champlin, where he has since resided. In 1871. he sold his farm in Brooklyn. He has held the office of Supervisor several times, also Assessor and Treasurer. Mar- ried, in 1857, Mary E. Hill. who was born in Car- roll county, New Hampshire, in 1831, and came with her parents to this county in 1853. They have had five children, three of whom are living.
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HISTORY OF HENNEPIN COUNTY.
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DAYTON.
CHAPTER XLVIII.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION-FIRST SETTLEMENT- TOWN ORGANIZATION-VILLAGES -- SCHOOLS- MILLS OFFICERS-BIOGRAPHICAL.
Dayton is situated in the extreme northern part of Hennepin county. It is bounded on the north by the Mississippi River, east by Champlin, south by Maple Grove, and west by Hassan and Wright county. Its surface is rolling; in some portions of the town there is a succession of rounded elevations, amounting to hills in some instances. It is well timbered, with a heavy growth of maple, oak, basswood, and elm, excepting in the northeast, where it includes a part of Long Prairie, extending west from Champlin. The soil is a deep. black loam. lying upon a mag- nesium limestone, which underlies the whole town excepting in the north-eastern part. where the St. Peter sandstone is found in a narrow belt along the river. The north-eastern boundary is formed by the Mississippi River. whose high bluffs tower a hundred feet above the majestic river that washes their base. The northern part of the western boundary is washed by the Crow River. which empties into the Mississippi at Day- ton village.
Diamond Lake, on sections 17 and Is, is the largest body of water in the town. It was named Diamond on account of the purity of its water. French Lake, the next in size, located on sections 19 and 30, took its name from a French settlement near it. in an early day. The smaller lakes are Lura, on section 2. and Powers, on section 34. 1 small creek rises in Diamond Lake and flows cast- erly across the town, and empties into Hayden's Lake, which is located on section 26.
FIRST SETTLEMENT
Paul Godine is supposed to be the oldest living settler in the town. Je is a Frenchman
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