USA > Minnesota > Hennepin County > Minneapolis > History of Hennepin county and the city of Minneapolis, including the Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota > Part 57
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
332
HISTORY OF HENNEPIN COUNTY.
nas It. Howe Secretary. Chose a committee of live to report resolutions. viz .: Jonas 11. Howe. James M. Parker. Francis Berube. Nicholas Bofferding, M. D. L. Stevens. The following res- olution was reported adopted unanimously: Re- solved. That we. the citizens of Plymouth. be" lieve it to be the duty of every man tosustain the government in her present emergency. either in men or money, and we pledge ourselves as a town to furnish our quota, if it can be done, by appeal- ing to the patriotism of her citizens, believing we are second to none in the love of our country and purity of patriotism. Resolved, That inasmuch as our interests are equal in the cause, those who may see it in their duty to enlist voluntarily, should be paid a bounty by the town, and we hereby pledge, twenty-five dollars to every volun- teer who shall enlist from the citizens of this town. Voted that the Town Clerk be hereby in- structed to call a meeting of the voters of said town. to meet at the house of Francis Day, on Saturday, the 30th day of August. 1862. Ad- journed."
"Agreeable to a call on the opposite page, the citizens met at the house of Francis Day. the 30th day of August. at 1 o'clock p. m. Ist. chose Jonas HI. Howe. Moderator. 2d. voted to pay those who have volunteered to till the call for the last 60,000, a boy of twenty-five dollars, the same to include all whose names are registered and counted from the town. 3d, voted that the town cause the daguerreotypes of all the volunteers from the said town to be taken; at the expense of the town, and that the Town Clerk is author- ized to see that they are taken. Voted that the Town Treasurer be authorized to borrow money for the town. to pay the bounty of volunteers. Voted that the Supervisors be appointed a com- mitter to act with the Treasurer, and to correct the list of volunteers. if found necessary. Voted that such of the volunteers as do not want their bounty down. shall be entitled to legal interest from the town until paid. Voted that the Super- visors are hereby authorized to act for the town without calling a special meeting. Adjourned. " JosAs I1. Howi .. Town Clerk."
\11.LA ...
The site for the village of Plymouth was lo- rated on the north and west shores of Parker's
Lake, in the fall of 1856. It was laid out by Jared and Daniel Demon and Messrs. Sherburne. Davie, Davidson and Spicer. They bought the Wayzata Mill and moved it to the north-west corner of Parker's Lake. No other improvements were made excepting the erecting of small shan- ties for the mill hands; the mill was operated that winter. In the spring the water in the lake rose and flooded the mill. The next summer the machinery was taken ont, and later to Min- neapolis. and thus ended the village of Plym- outh.
CHURCHES.
The Plymouth Methodist Church. This so- ciety was organized in 1868, and a church built on the north side of Parker's Lake. The first services were conducted by Rev. Charles Haskell. who continued as pastor about two years. 11 was dedicated by the Rev. D. Cobb, at that time Presiding Eller of the District. The sabbath school had a membership of forty or fifty scholars. Miles Dickey. Superintendent. The structure was burned in the fall of 1877. Since then no ser- vices have been held by the society.
Medicine Lake Catholic Church. When first Imiilt in Is58, it was a log structure 21x32. The first services were conducted by Father Le Dow: at that time the membership included about forty families. When the church in Crystal Lake was built a few years later. it took part of the membership. In the spring of 1877, the present church was built. The main building is 36x50 feet, with an addition Toxis, and another 12x14 feet. In its present unfinished condition, it will seat two hundred: when completed it will accom- modate four hundred. When completed will cost about $2,600. It is located on the east side of ser- tion 15. Present Pastor, Father Boucher.
German Evangelical Lutheran Church. The first meeting of this society was held at the house of Herman Sandhoff. February 27th. 1863. Services were conducted by Rev. George Fachtman. Services were held in the school- house and at Mr. Sandhoff's for several years. The present church was built in fase, and lo- cated on the west side of section 14. The pres- ent pastor is the Rev. Herman Fleer.
SOCIETIES.
Plymouth Grange No. 351. was organized in
333
PLYMOUTH-SCHOOLS-HOTELS-BIOGRAPHICAL.
September. 1874. The officers were: Master, J. M. Parker; Overseer, R. L. Braden; Secretary, R. L. Logan: Financial Secretary, Dennis Schmitz; Lecturer, I. S. Parker: Chaplain, A. H. French; Steward, R. B. Dickey; Ceres, Mrs. A. P. Parker; Pomona, Mrs. Barbara Dickey; Flora, Miss Ma- rietta Parker: L. A. S .. Miss Jane Parker. The Grange had twenty-one charter members and reached a membership of forty-two. It was well attended and in a flourishing condition until many of the members moved away, with no new ones coming in, until it finally suspended in 1878.
SCHOOLS.
Miss Lorinda Shaw taught in Distriet No. 51 in 1856, also in Distriet No. 18 in 1857. In 1859 they built a log house on the west side of sec- tion 14, which was used until 1868, when the present house was built on the same site. The second school was established in what is now Distriet 48, in the summer of 1857. The build- ing used, was a log structure 12x16 feet, and lo- cated on section 28. The number of scholars was about fifteen, the present member of scholars is about eighty-five
The third school was established in the sum- mer of 1862, and taught in a granary, on the farm of Francis Berube. Any imilding that could be obtained was used until 1867, when a school house was built, and used until 1874, when the present one was built on section 17. There are in the town, five entire and six joint districts, with five school houses, all frame and well furn- ished, excepting in Distriet 104, which is unfin- ished. All have patent seats excepting Districts 48 and 104.
POST-OFFICES.
The first post-office established in the town was at Medicine Lake, in the spring of 1859, and Francis Hnot appointed Postmaster, who held the office about three years, when he was sue- ceeded by his brother Louis. Plymouth Post- office was established in 1865, and Nathaniel Day appointed Postmaster, who removed it to his honse, on section 15. Mr. Day died in the win- ter of 1867, and was sneceeded by Amos Dick- inson, who was followed by James lough, who held the office until it was discontinued. In 1878 another office was established on section 4, and Fred. Gnesman appointed Postmaster. This of-
fice was also discontinued in the spring of 1880. Parker's Lake Post-office was established June 28th, 1871, and J. M. Parker appointed Postmas- ter. llas held the office to the present time. South Plymouth Post-office was established in 1862, and located on section 33. Mrs. Matilda Clay appointed Postmistress. When the post- office at Wayzata was re-established, in 1864, Sonth Plymouth was discontinued.
HOTELS.
The "Farmers' Home" Hotel was built by Nicholas Bofferding in 1863, and kept by him for several years. He sold it to Carl Schiebe, in the spring of 1872. It is now condneted by Carl Schiebe, Jr., and is located at the forks of the Watertown and Wayzata roads, on the west side of section 36.
OFFICIAL ROSTER.
The present board of officers for the town are: Supervisors, Jacob Roths, chairman, David Gor- ham and William Eagan; Town Clerk, J. Il. Jordan : Treasurer, Carl Schiebe, Jr .; Assessor, J. M. Parker ; Constables, J. W. Day and Timo- thy Ryan ; Justices of the Peace, J. M. Parker and l'. J. Winnen.
Population in 1880, 1,074. Number of acres in the town, 21,480. Valuation of real estate, $268,343 ; of personal property, $37,125. Taxes for 1880, $2,667.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Christopher Braesch, one of the first settlers on Bass Lake, was born in Prussia, in 1830. ITis parents died when he was nine years of age, and he was engaged in farming until he came to America, in 1854. After living in Chicago, Illi- nois, about eighteen months, he came to St. An- thony, Minnesota, where he built a small house. In 1856, he made a claim in Plymouth, where he now lives. Lived on his claim a short time, building a log house, then returned to Minne- apolis, where he engaged in mason work three years; was employed on the old Eastman and Gibson mill, and others. In 1859, came with his family to his claim in Plymouth, where he has since remained, and now has a pleasant home. lle married Sophia Peters, at Chicago, in 1854. They have six children : Emma, Albert, Henry. Mary, Minnie and Charley.
334
HISTORY OF HENNEPIN COUNTY.
Thomas Clark was born in Yorkshire. Eng- land, November 5th. 1828. and lived with his father until eleven years of age. his mother having died while he was young. At the age of thirteen. he began life for himself. and was en- gaged in farming until 1850, when he came to this country. Resided in Massachusetts, three years: New York. five years: in Canada three years, and in Huron county. Michigan. until 1×69. when he came to Plymouth. lle enlisted in the Twenty-ninth Michigan Volunteers, in 1861. and was mustered out at Nashville. Ten- nessee. in 105. He was married to Jane A. Sanderson, of England in 1848. They have had eight children. seven of whom are living.
Joseph W. Day was born in Piscataquis county. Maine. July 220. 1849, and lived with his parents, engaged in farming. until 1865. when he came with his father to Hennepin county. His father died in 1577. leaving Joseph to care for the mother and family. He has made his home in Plymonth since coming to this county. and in 1571 settled on his present farm. Married Ellen >. Hughes, in 1871. They are the parents of four children : John A .. Albert W .. Ehver L .. and Elzada B.
Benjamin Frost. a native of Maine, was born in Hancock county. March 15th, 1830. His par- ents died when he was twelve years of age. and in 18555 he came to Minneapolis, and engaged in lumbering with 1 .. Day and Sons. He worked on the foundation of the dam at the falls, and on the boom piers above the falls: also helped to run the first logs for the mill at Minneapolis. Married Ellen Cruikshank. JJune 25th. 1862. In INGS he bought the farm where he lives, eight miles west of Minneapolis. They have five children : Edwin. Ada. Orin, Benjamin, Jr .. and Elva.
David Gorham, one of the earliest settlers of Hennepin county, was born in Quebec, Canada. When he was four years of age his father died. and David went to Montreal. He was occupied in farming until 1×36, when he came to the I'nited States, and resided two years in Virginia. and twelve years in Maine, engaged in lumbering on the Pendreat. In April, 1519. he came to St. Anthony. He made a claim of 160 acres in what is now North Minneapolis, and also of the farm now owned by R. P. Russell. near Lake Cal-
houn. Ile ran the first shingle and lath mill in the place. In 1854. he made a claim in what is now Plymouth township, and after remaining on it one year. returned to Minneapolis, where he was engaged in the lumber mills for about twelve years. In 1864. he. in company with others. started for California, but on reaching the Bad Lands, were surrounded by Sioux Indians, and held seventeen days, then rescued by General Sully's Cavalry. They then returned to Minne- apolis. satisfied with their adventure. In 1867 he bought his present farm. and has since lived in Plymouth. He has held the office of Supervisor for ten years, and has done much for the cause of education. He was married, in 1850. to Miss Barber, of Maine. They have had nine children. seven of whom are living: Addelle. Thados. Edwina, David G. T .. Emma. Lizzie, and Ange- lina M. Mary 1. died the day of her birth. and Angelina died at the age of twelve years.
Jonas Il. Howe, a native of Massachusetts, was born in Worcester county, April 29th, 1821. lle attended the Academy at Deerfield and New Salem, and at the age of twenty-one, went to Boston for two years, then returned to his fath- er's farm for nine years. Ile came to Hennepin county in 1554, and made a claim where he now lives. The same year, went with a party to Crow Wing to get out timber for the first Suspension bridge. In the fall. built a cabin sixteen feet square, on his claim. This was the second house built in the township. He brought the Inmber for his house, from St. Anthony, floating it across Medicine Lake, as there was no road around. In 1855 his family joined him. In 1864 he was appointed enrolling clerk for the township, and afterwards enlisted in Company F. Eleventh In- fantry, with the rank of sergeant, and served one year. He was elected to the House of Repre- sentatives in 1865. In 1873 his dwelling was de- · stroyed by fire, and he immediately rebuilt a more substantial house. Mr. Howe has been town clerk for a number of years, justice of the peace. and was census enumerator in isso ; has always taken an active part in the affairs of the town. His wife, whom he married in Massachusetts, was Margaret Swendell, of Boston. They have had ten children, seven, now living. Cora. the eldest. was a member of the first class at the Deaf and Dumb Institute at Faribault ; was a pupil sev
335
PLYMOUTH-BIOGRAPHICAL.
en years, and taught three years, when poor health compelled her to retire from teaching.
Thomas Hughes, one of the early settlers of Plymouth, was born in England, November 25th, 1803. Ile served five years in the British Army, and in 1849, brought his family to America, and lo- cated at Burlington, Iowa, until the fall of 1853, when he removed to Minnesota. He settled on the claim in what is now Plymouth, where he has since resided. At the time he came, there were no roads, excepting the Indian trails used by Sha- kopee and his band of Sioux. Mr. Hughes has given his attention to farming, since his first set- ttement, and has built up a line home. Ile was married to Ilannah Buckell, in England, Febru- ary 6th, 1825. They have had nine children, six of whom are living in Hennepin county. Names of children : James, Mary Ann. John (deceased ) Thomas. Henry, Charles, Ellen (deceased) Ed- ward and Ellen second, (deceased.) Ilis son, Thomas, who is now living with him, enlisted in the Sixth Minnesota Infantry in 1861, served one year and was transferred to Company K, Twenty-third Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps, and served until mustered out at St. Paul in 1865. lle was engaged in the battle of Birch Coolie and Wood Lake. during the Indian outbreak.
James Hughes was born in England, January 24, 1825. He remained with his parents untit the age of twenty-one, in the meantime serving an apprenticeship of seven years at the black- smith trade. Ile then went to Wates, and was engaged in Lee's iron works for nine months ; returned to England, and established a smithing business. In 1852 he came to Burlington. Iowa. and engaged in business there untit March, 1854, when he started for Minnesota, with six yokes of oxen, two cows and one wagon. The journey was pleasant until they arrived in Minnesota Territory, where they found large bodies of snow and no roads. ITe was obliged to leave his fam- ily alone in the wagon one night, while he went in search of food and assistance. during a terrific storm. When he arrived at Red Wing he had only five oxen and one cow, the others having perished on the route. Shipped from there to St. Paul, sold his cattle, went to St. Anthony, and in May, 1854, made his claim in Plymouth, where he has since lived. Ile engaged in farming and smithing until the war of the rebellion. July,
1864, he enlisted in the Eighth Minnesota, and was detailed as post-blacksmith at Fort Snelling, where he served until mustered out, May, 1865. Ile has been active in all public affairs of the township, and has held all its offices. He was married to Elizabeth Hatcher in England, April, 1848. They have had nine children, of whom six are living : Edward, Etlen, John, Julia, Thomas and Carrie.
Henry Hughes, son of Thomas Hughes, was born in England, January 28th, 1835. He came to the United States with his parents, and was engaged in blacksmithing, at Burlington, lowa ; came with his parents to Minnesota in 1853, with two yokes of oxen, two rows, three horses and two wagons, being twenty-seven days on the road. Ile worked at blacksmithing in Minne- apolis. one year, then joined his father on the homestead in Plymouth. He was married De- cember 4th, 1862, to Mary A. Case, of Ohio, who has borne him eight children, seven of whom are living. In July, 1864, he entisted in the Eighth Minnesota Infantry, and was mustered out May, 1865. Mr. Hughes has a fine farm, and in con- nection with it, carries on the blacksmithing business.
Charles W. Hughes was born in England, May 2d. 1838. 1le came with his parents, Thomas and llannah Hughes, to America in 1849, and to Minnesota in 1853. Chartes W. remained in St. Anthony, working with Daniel Bassett, one of the first carriage-makers in the place, one and one-half years. Hle and his brother Henry made claims in Benton county, remained one year, but were obliged to abandon their claims on account of seareity of provisions. In the fall of 1859, he built a carriage shop near the suspension bridge, in Minneapolis, and remained there untit 1861, when he enlisted in Company D, First Minnesota Infantry, and served until mustered out in May, 1864. Ile participated in twenty-one engage- ments, some of them the hardest-fought battles of the war. In 1864 he joined Gen. Sully's expe- dition up the Yellowstone; returned in the fall and worked for the government at Fort Snelling, till the spring of 1865, when he came to Plymouth. bought forty acres of land, to which he has since added forty more, and has built up a good home. Married to Martha Hatcher, of Hennepin county, May 14th, 1865. They have eight children.
·
334
HISTORY OF HENNEPIN COUNTY.
Edward Hughes was born in England. October Isth. 1549. At the age of three years. his father and family came to the I'nited States. and resided at Burlington. Jowa. until 1851. when they came to Minnesota. Here Edward grew to manhood, and farmed with his father until November 28th, 1571. when he was married to Sarah Day. of this county. They settled on the present farm in March. 1873. They are the parents of four children: George, Edward. da and Edna.
Joseph samme. one of the early settlers of Hennepin county. was born east of Quebec. Can- ada. May 16th. 1s11. He lived with his parents on the farm until he reached the age of twenty- four, and in 1838, removed to the United States, residing in Maine, engaged in lumber business near Bangor. In 1853 he came to Minnesota. and spent two years lumbering at St. Anthony and on the river. In 1555 he made a claim of 160 acres. in what is now Plymouth, where he now lives. After residing on his claim one year. he returned to Minneapolis and engaged in lum- bering until 1866, since which time he has resid- ed in this town where he has a pleasant home twelve miles west of the city. He was married in Oldtown. Maine, to Miss Celeste Barber. of that place. They have had nine children. of whom six are living. Those living are: Addie F. Clara. Phobe. Joseph R., Henry C., and Ber- nard G.
Alexander G. Jardine, a native of Scotland, was born in Ayreshire. on the Sth of October. 1847. At the age of fifteen he commenced to learn the blacksmith's trade, also worked for a time with Randolph, Elder & Co .. ship builders of Govan, Scotland. In 1869. he went to Canada : stayed one year, and then removed to Massachusetts, but afterward returned to Canada, and in 1879. he came to Plymouth, Minnesota, and established a blacksmith shop, where he is doing a thriving Imsiness. October 19th, 1880. he married. in Minneapolis, Miss Sarah. daughter of William and Ellen Allen, of Scotland.
John 11. Jordan, a native of Prussia, was born Jannary 16th, 1815. When seven years of age, he came with his parents to America. They landed in New York in the fall of 1852, and went to Newark, New Jersey. for a short time. and in 153. moved to Illinois. In the spring of 15:55, they came to Minnesota, and made a claim 1
on section 18 of what is now Plymouth township, where they experienced. of course, their share of the hardships of pioneer life. In July. 1864. John H. enlisted in the Sth Minn. Regt. Vol .. served nine months, and was mustered out at Fort Snelling. May 16th, 1865. He returned to the homestead and lived, until his marriage with Anna M. Weidenbach, which occurred in Novem- ber. 1868. In 1871. he bought the farm where he now lives. Mr. Jordan has been active in all the public affairs of the town, also in promoting the canses of christianity and education. He has been assessor for six years, also justice of the peace, and school officer for a number of years. At present he fills the office of town elerk. They have had six children. only three of whom are living : Anna. John and Alexander.
Mathias Klausman was born June 12th, 1828, in Baden, Germany. He lived with his parents until twenty years of age, when he went into the German army for a time. In 1852, he emigrated to America, stayed in New York a short time. then removed to Ohio, where he was engaged in farming. and also freighting for the iron works. until September, 1864, when he enlisted in Com- pany F. One Hundred and Eighty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry. and served until the close of the war. In 1866. he came to Minnesota, and settled on a farm in Carver county, where he lived seven years. then sold out, and came to Plymouth: bought ninety-seven acres, on the east side of Medicine Lake: in 1874, he bought fifty- one acres more in section 23. He has a fleet of pleasure boats, and his place is one of the pleasantest on the lake, situated six miles west of Minneapolis. Mr. Klausman married Miss Frances Kreyer, of Germany, January 12th, 1855. They have three living children: Peter, Charles. and Frances.
Thomas Ottaway, a native of Devonshire, Eng- land. was born May 16th. 1828. When he had grown to manhood he took the superintendeney of an extensive farm near his birthplace. The most of his time was spent in this business until 1869, when he brought his family to America. He was with William King, at Lyndale farm, one year, then superintended the Wihar farm. for five years, and in 1876 he bought a farm at Par- ker's lake, but sold in 1880, and bought where he now resides, one and one-half miles east of
337
PLYMOUTHI-BIOGRAPHICAL.
Wayzata. Mr. Ottaway was married to Miss Mary E. Rowell, of England, August, 1850. They are the parents of two children: Mary and Emily.
Daniel C. Parker was born in Cumberland county, Maine, June 9th, 1823. When four years of age he went with his father's family to Ohio, and remained nine years; then returned to Maine. At the age of twenty-one he began ship-building, and was engaged in this business eleven years, helping build some of the largest sailing vessels of that time. On the 28th of May, 1831, Mr. Parker married Miss lester A., daughter of Ira and Betsey Green, of Maine. In the spring of 1855 he came to Minnesota and pre-empted the farm where he now lives. In those days lumber was hard to obtain, and he built a log cabin, 20x30 feet, using bass-wood bark for shingles; he now has a fine large barn, and about the year 1870, he built his present residence. He has taken an active part in all public affairs of the town; he was a member of the first school board, chairman of the first town board, and was also a delegate to the first convention held in the state. They have had a family of seven children; only five are living.
James M. Parker, one of the pioneers of P'ly- month, was born in Cumberland county, Maine, September 5th, 1820. lle accompanied his par- ents to Kentucky, remained there one year and left on account of hostile Indians, removing to Cincinnati, Ohio, where his father engaged in ship-building. He remained there until 1836, when they returned to Maine. James lived with his parents until 1846, when he married Anna P. Ridley, and removed to Massachusetts, remain- ing one year. Ile returned to Maine, and in 1856, brought his family to Minnesota, and made the claim in this town, where he has since resided. His father preceded him one year. There were no roads at that time, and the Indians were con- tinually passing to and fro. He has held all the offlees of the township, and has been justice of the peace twenty-one years : has been postmaster at Parker's Lake for nine years. He has also been largely interested in the cause of education. Alfred A., George M., Ella J., Marietta M., Fran- cis E., Dora A., Carrie E., Walter I., Ida A., are their children. Eugene E. died.
Jolin II. Past was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, March 230, 1849. He came with
his father to Minnesota in 1859, and remained until 1863, when they went to Delaware. In 1877, John H. returned to Minnesota, where he has since remained. Married Miss Margaret Rowan, of Pennsylvania, December 25th, 1864. They have had four children; only one of them is living.
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.