USA > Minnesota > Hennepin County > Minneapolis > History of Hennepin county and the city of Minneapolis, including the Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota > Part 58
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Henry Profil wasborn in Mecklenburg-Schwer- en, in 1827. At the age of sixteen he started in life for himself, and engaged in farming until 1858 when he came to this country, and to Minne- apolis. After living there nine years, he bought the farm where he now lives, on the south shore of Bass Lake. When he came to this country he was a poor man; now has a fine, well-stocked farm. lle was married in Minneapolis, in 1859, to Dora Went, of his native place. They have had eight children, only two of whom are living : Charles and Henry.
F. Radintz, one of the early settlers of Plym- onth, was born in Prussia, June 29th, 1828. He remained with his parents until fifteen years of age, when he began life for himself, and was en- gaged as shepherd until 1852, when he came to America. He went to Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and thence to the Lake Superior copper mines for nearly two years. In October 1854, he came to what is now Plymouth, and made a claim of the farm where he now lives. He built a small log house and shaved out shingles for the roof. After remaining one year, he removed to Saint Anthony where he was engaged in well-digging for two years. In November 1857, he was mar- ried to Christina Snahet, of Prussia, and located on this farm. which he has since improved un- til it is a fine place. 1le has been treasurer of of the school district and has done much for the cause of education. Of the fourteen children born to them, eleven reside with their parents on the farm.
Nicholas Roehl, a native of Prussia, was born February 21st, 1827. When Nicholas was. ten years old, his father died, and four years later. he began teaching, which he continued four years. His mother died, and he engaged in farming for nine years. lle was married January 22d, 1849, to Anna Mary Schneider, and in June, 1854, brought his family to America, and settled near Saint Paul. In April, 1864, he bought the farm in Plymouth, where he now lives, situated eleven
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33
HISTORY OF HENNEPIN COUNTY.
iniles west of Minneapolis, where he has built up a pleasant home. He has been supervisor and justice of the peace, and has also been assessor three years. Of the twelve children born to them eight are now living.
Jacob Roths. a native of Germany, was horn August 6th. 1537. He remained with his parents until he reached maturity. He was married (c- tober 19th, 1865, to Katherine Villes, of Ger- many. and in November started for America. Ile came directly to Minnesota and lived on Medicine Lake till JJanuary 1s66, when he bought the farm where he now lives. He has been treasurer of the township four years, also supervisor. and is chairman of the present board. He has a fam- ils of seven children : four boys and three girls.
August F. Sandhoff was born in Prussia. April 230. 1834. He lived with his parents until iwen- 13 -ohe years of age. and worked at carpenters' trade until 1số). when he came to America. He Joeated in Saint Anthony, and in 1868, bonghi the farm where he now lives. in the town of Pismonth. eight miles from Minneapolis. In 1×6" he was married to Miss Willmina Spring, of Prussia. They are the parents of five children, three of whom are living : Otto, Enuna and Mary. Mr. Sandhoff has been prominent in the growth of the town. He and his wife are members of the Evangelical Church.
Herman A. Sandhoff was born in Prussia, Jan- mary 13th. 1830. He lived with his parents un- til the age of eighteen. when he began the trade of stone mason. and in 1851. moved to Berlin. where he worked until 1851. Ile then came to America and worked at his trade in Galena, Illi- nois. a few weeks, then came to St. Anthony. where he worked seven months, on the old Island mill and the paper mill. In January 1855. he made a claim to the farm where he now lives. At that time the region around him was an in- broken wilderness, save one or two settlers. He was married to Miss Amelia Schmidt. of Henle- pn county. They have had seven children, six now living. Mr. Sandhoff has been supervisor. and has been active in promoting the affairs of the town. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran Chinch.
Val Schiebe Sr., a native of Prussia, was born on the sth of January. 1822. He lived with his
parents until twenty-one years of age, when he commeneed freighting. and was thus engaged until 1863, when he came to America ; he lived in New York three years, and in 1866. removed to Minneapolis, where he remained seven years. In 1873 he bought two liundred acres of land in Plymouth. and built a house. 18x28 feet, which he proposed to use for a hotel ; he soon found it was not large enough to accommodate the mi- merons travelers, so he built an adition 20x28 feet : the house is now well known throughout the county as the Farmer's Home. In 1879, he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 35, where he erected a large dwelling house and barns on the Minneapolis and Wayzata road. In 1844. Mr. Schiebe married Johana Genka. of Prussia.
Frederick Henry Benjamin Schmidt was born in Prussia. December 27th, 1829. Ile lived with his parents until twenty-one years of age. when he enlisted in the Prussian army, and served three years. in 1553 he came to America, and after a stay of one year near Chicago. came to St. Antho- ny. and in the spring of 1855, made a claim of 160 aeres where he now lives. He resided in St. An- thony eleven years, engaged in carpenter work and teaming. In January. 1851, he made a trip, with team. to the Red River country, and was out twenty-nine days. During this trip he expe- rienced many hardships. being several days with- ont food for himself or team. He was married December 5th. 1857, to Barbara Ortlieb, of Prussia, and in the following spring moved to his home in Plymouth, where he hassince resided. He has been school officer for a number of years.
Dennis Sebnitz was born in Coblentz Parish. west of the River Rhine. April 29th. 1527. He lived with his parents until eighteen years of age, when he entered the army, and served until 1850. In 1552 he came to America ; spent three years in the humber regions, of Michigan, and in 1555 came to Minnesota. The same year, his fa- ther and family emigrated to America, and mak- ing claims, settled in what is now Plymouth. Mr. Schmitz has been active in all public affairs of the town: was a member of the first school board, and has been chairman of the town board a mm- ber of times. He was married in St. Paul, Feb- ruary 6th, 1860. to Miss Susan Galer, of Prussia. They are the parents of seven children
MINNEAPOLIS -- GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
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MINNEAPOLIS.
CHAPTER LIV.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION-EARLY SETTLEMENT -ORGANIZATION --- SCHOOLS -- TOWN HALL- CLARK CHAPEL -- HOPKINS STATION -- SUM- MER RESORTS-LYNDALE FARM-CEMETER- IES-INDUSTRIES AND MANUFACTURES -- BIOGRAPHICAL.
The history of this township is closely identi- fied with that of the City of Minneapolis, from which it derives its name. It is situated on the right bank of the Mississippi river, and partially surrounds the city. A portion of its territory was formerly embraced in the Fort Snelling Res- ervation. The Mississippi river forms its eastern boundary, south of the city limits, and Minne- ha-ha creek separates it from Richfield for a short distance on the south-east. In the south and east, the surface is generally level, and in the north and west, rolling and lightly timbered. Previous to settlement, a growth of small brush, existed over nearly the whole surface. This has since been cleared, or allowed to develop into thrifty young timber; in the latter case, the larger growth has resulted from care, and freedom from fires.
The soil in the south and south-east, is a heavy dark loam and in the north-west it is lighter, with occasional sandy knolls. It generally pro- duces fine crops. This township is noted for the beauty of its lakes, which are found in nearly every portion of its territory. A group of lakes such as are of frequent occurrence in Minnesota, is found in the central and southern parts of the town. The largest of these is Lake Calhoun, which is nearly round and has a circumference of over three miles. Its waters are clear and in some places, of great depth. The shores are sandy and afford excellent bathing places. This lake was named in honor of Hon. John C. C'al-
' houn, at the time Fort Snelling was first occupied. It is but little more than one mile distant from the city limits, and being of easy access by tine drives and the Lyndale Motor, is a favorite resort with resident and tourist. Accommodations for the comfort and pleasure of the visitor are fur- nished, a description of which will be found fur- ther on in this chapter. Lake Harriet is located just south of Calhoun, and is very near the same in size and shape; a portion of it is in the town of Richfield. Its shores and bottom are sandy. These lakes are of historic interest, for on their shores was erected the first houses, and here was the first farming, by civilians, in Hennepin county. Cedar Lake is situated north-west of Calhoun, and is about one mile in length and half a mile in width. Its shores are sandy, and on the west, stony and gravelly. Lake of the Isles, north of Lake Calhoun and separated from it by a high gravelly beach and a narrow strip of swampy land, contains as its name indicates, a number of small islands. It covers about one hundred and sixty acres, and has generally sandy shores. Bass Lake, halt a mile west of Lake Calhoun, has an area of about eighty acres, and shores similar to those of Cedar Lake. In the south-eastern part of the town, is Rice Lake, through which flows Minnehaha creek. In the northern part. is Keegan Lake, on section 20, Sweeney and Twin lakes on sections 18 and 19. and Keller's Lake on section 32. On section 12. near the west line of the town is Lake Han- nan, and in the central part. are lakes Held and Hallaron on section 30. These and other small lakes, are more or less marshy. All the lakes mentioned, like others in the country, were well stocked with fish, when the county was first set- tled and some of them still afford good fishing. The waters of Bass Lake flow south-easterly. through a small ereek into Calhoun. The outlet of Calhoun is on the south and connects it with
340
HISTORY OF HENNEPIN COUNTY,
Lake Harriet. from whence a small creek con- veys the united waters into Minnehaha creek. near the Richtiell mills. Cedar Lake and Lake of the Isles. have no visible outlets.
The principal creeks of the township. are Bas- sett's and Minne-ha-ha. The latter rises in lake Minnetonka, and. entering the town on the west. flows across the southwest corner into the town of Richfield. and thence through Rice Lake, from which point to its junction with the Mississippi river. it forms the boundary of the township. Bassett's creek enters the township from the west, and flows in an easterly direction across it and the city. and empties into the Mississippi river just within the limits of the original military reservation.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The first person who lived within the limits of this township, is said to have been Joseph R. Brown. a discharged soldier, who. by tolerance of the commanding officer at Fort Snelling, dwelt near Minne-ha-ha Falls, within the reservation. Major Taliaferro, in 1529, opened a farm on the shores of Lake Calhoun. for the benefit of the Sioux Indians, and as Mine-ha-ha was called Brown's Falls. after General Jacob Brown. and Lake Calhoun was named after a late secretary of war, he called the settlement Eatonville. after the Hon. John Il. Eaton, of Tennessee, secretary of war under President Jackson from 1829 to 1×31. The first farmer of the establishment was Philander Prescott. In 1834, the Pond brothers arrived. and were the first civilians to ereet a dwelling in the county. Eatonville grew to quite a village, but upon the removal of the Da- kotahs to the banks of the Minnesota, in 18-13, the improvements at Lakes Calhoun and Harriet were abandoned. From that date until 1849. we can learn of no settlements on the west side of the river. In the spring of that year. Philander Prescott made a claim on the east side of what is now Minne-ha-ha avenue. This claim bring on the military reservation. he was not allowed to remain, and it was orenpied by Franklin Steele, who had permission from the secretary of war for such orenpation. Prescott then located a claim adjoining Steele on the west, but did not take possession of it until after the reservation rame into market. His home was in the town of
Richfield until his death. He was born in On- tario county, New York. in 180]. In 1819 he visited a brother at Detroit. Michigan, and while there. engaged as clerk with Mr. Devotion, a sut- tler. for a trip up the Mississippi. In the latter part of the year 1819, he arrived at the canton- ment of Fort St. Anthony, now Fort Snelling, then in command of Col. Leavenworth. In the winter of 1824-5. he was trading near the fort. The Indians stole some of his goods, part of which were restored: in settlement of his claim for those not restored, the chief gave him his daughter in marriage. For three years he was with the Columbia Fur Company, and in 1830, was appointed Indian farmer at Lake Calhoun. lle was temporarily engaged as interpreter at the Redwood ageney when the outbreak occurred. and was killed by the Indians in August. 1862. llis wife and a daughter were taken prisoners. Imit effected their eseape through the aid of friendly Indians, and returned to their home at Minne-ha-ha. These two, an adopted daughter and one son are dead. The eldest daughter. Mrs. Pettijohn, is living at Shakopee, and an- other daughter, Mrs. Hamilton, is living in Eden Prairie. There is also a son surviving.
In the winter of 1849, Charles Mousseaux, by permission of the military anthorities at Fort Snelling, made a claim on the eastern shore of Lake Calhonn. and built his shanty on the site of the old mission where the Ponds resided. now or- enpied by the Pavillion. He remained on this claim until the fall of 1857, when he moved to the city of Minneapolis, where he resided until the fall of 1880. He then removed to his present place, south of the city limits, on section 3]. Ile was born in Montreal, Canada, in 1806. Hle was employed by the American Fur Company as voy- agenr, and in that capacity arrived at Fort Snell- ing in 1829. After about a week he went to Lar qui Parle, where he remained about a year. He then returned to Fort Snelling, and thence to Prairie du Chien. He was a carpenter and house painter, and engaged in those trades for several years. In 1830 he assisted in the improvements then being made at the Fort. He also built the lemse of Col Stevens, the first in Minneapolis.
Shortly after Mousseaux, came Rev. E. G. Gear. chaplain at Fort Snelling, and made a claim east of Lake Calhoun. by permission of the mili-
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MINNEAPOLIS-EARLY SETTLEMENT.
tary anthorities. He never lived on the claim, but employed Edmond Brissett to hold it until such time as he could enter it. When that time arrived, a contest arose between them as to the ownership of the claim. Mr. Gear, with the aid of Judge Black and Hon. 11. M. Rice, got a bill through Congress, allowing him to enter the land at government price. He paid Mrs. Brissett two hundred dollars to leave the claim. Brissett and family then moved to Plymouth, where the family now reside. lle now lives in St. Paul. Mr. Gear remained at Ført Snelling until 1860, when he moved to Fort Ripley, where he remained until 1868, then returned to Minneapolis. In 1870 he sold his claim, and it is now part of the " Lyndale Farm." He died in October, 1873, and was Imiried in Lakewood Cemetery. llis wife and part of the family stilt reside in Minneapolis, One of his sons is the present governor of the state of lowa.
The next claimant was David Gorham, who lo- cated on the eastern side of Lake of the Istes. It embraced the southwest quarter of seetion 33. He sold his claim to R. P. Russell, who bought it for his brother, L. K. Russell. The latter, in 1852, placed a tenant on it for a time, and it finally be- came the property of R. P. Russell, who now owns it. Gorham is living in Plymouth.
In April, 1851, John Berry made a claim on the west side of Cedar Lake on section 31, and raised the first crop on the west side. He lived on his claim until 1867, then sold, and has since resided in the city of Minneapolis. During the winter of 1851-2 rumors of the proposed redue- tion of the Military Reservation caused consider- able excitement among the residents of Saint Anthony and the new arrivals from the East in search of locations. Early in the spring of 1852, claim-staking began, and in a short time nearly every desirable location south of the city, and within the present boundaries of the town. was claimed. Claim-shanties were erected on nearly all of them, and some had a small piece of land plowed. But the land not being subject to entry, they were trespassers, and soldiers were sent ont from the fort to drive them away. It was a common occurrence for a squatter to leave his place with everything all right, and returning, after an absence of one day, to find his shanty a wreck, and any other improvements he might have made destroyed.
"Claim jumping " was also greatly in vogue for a time, but the older settlers, who held the prior right to the claims, organized themselves into a society, known as the " Equal Right and Impar- tial Protection Claim Association of Hennepin county, M. T." The object of this association was to protect each actual settler in his right to a claim, and the " jumper " fared badly who fell in- to the bands of this league. A committee, con- sisting of members of the organization, was ap- pointed, whose duty it was to decide questions in regard to the ownership of claims, arising between members of the association. A decision once made, it was not well for the defeated party to try and gain his end by force or strategy. A few, having permission from the officers of the Fort to remain, held their claims easily : but the many were obliged to wait until the restriction to settle- ment was removed by the government. In fact, all who had claims, and were living on them, pre- vious to the release, did so by the permission of the anthorities at the Fort, or of the War Depart- ment. When the rednetion of the reservation took place, in the spring of 1853, the rush for claims was so great that it is impossible to name the settlers of that year in the order of their ar- rivat. Claims were made simultaneously, west and southwest of Minneapolis, but it was not un- til a later period that the more remore remote por- tions of the township were settled.
Among those who settled in 1852, were, T. W. Peirce, who bought his claim of a Mr. Lowett in October of that year, and has since resided in this town on the original claim. Hle effected a settlement with the government by which he was allowed to remain. His house, on section 5, west of Lake Calhoun, was the only one to be seen, at that time, between Berry's, west of him, and that of J. HI. Stevens, then located near the pres- ent suspension bridge. F. X. Cripean, made his claim at a very early date, and entered it as soon as the land came into market. This was on section 16, just west of the present limits of the city, where he has since lived. Robert Blaisdett and son Robert, made claims in 1852, where they now five. J. T. Blaisdell located on the north-east quarter of section 34. Others who located in that year were, George Parks. Gordon Jackins, Edgar Fotsom, Nathan Roberts, Simon Odeli, and Titus Pettijohn. Eli Pettijohn had a
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HISTORY OF HENNEPIN COUNTY.
claim near the Fort Snelling road, but never lived on it. Charles Brown took a claim through the aid of Captain John Rollins, in section 1. and Frank Rollins had a claim near by. Benjamin Parker Jocated where the Gilmore Furniture Factory_ now stands, and William Richardson, on sections 10 and 11. He afterward removed 10 Meeker county. where. several years ago. he shot his wife. but not fatally, and then shot him- self with fatal effeet. Sweet W. Case located a claim in 1852. and a widow lady, Mrs. Sayer, made a claim shortly after. Deacon John S. Mann. located the north-east quarter of section 9. and in 1557 sold it to John Potts Brown. It is now a part of the Lyndale Farm. Deacon Mann removed to southern Minnesota, and to lowa. shortly after selling his claim, and is now the owner of a large stock ranche near Mandan. Dakota Territory.
Chandler Hutchins made a claim on section 3. on what is now the west side of Chicago avenue. 6. (. Garvey. located his claim on section 10. and has since resided there.
In 1852. Charles Gilpatrick, who is still living on a part of the original claim. made a selection of eighty aeres in what is now section 35. Dur- ing the summer of 1853, he broke one hundred and forty aeres of land. for himself and others ; this was the first large amount of breaking by one individual. In 1853. Martin Layman bought the claim taken by Hanscom. and it is stated that he and Mr. Gilpatrick. raised. in 1851. the largest crops in the township. Ard Godfrey, who had resided in Saint Anthony since 1819. made his claim in 1853, on Minne-ha-ha creek. Dur- ing the year he built a saw-mill, the first in the township. which he operated for a number of years. It was destroyed by fire in 1863. Rev. J. Cressy made, late in the fall of 1852, a claim of the north-west quarter of section 10, south-east of lake Calhoun, and after holding it two years sold to one Perkins, and went to Hastings, near where he made another claim. He returned to Minneapolis, and resides in the city. The original claim is now the farm of Il. Van Nest.
W. G. Moffett came to Fort Snelling in IS19. and in 1852, made a claim on section 7 near Min- ne-ha-ha Falls; this is now owned by Joseph bean. His oldest son. W. R. Moffett came in 1852, and located his claim on section 7. where he still re-
sides. Judge Moffett. died about four years ago, at the house of his son-in-law. A. S. Adams, with whom the widow still lives. Ile was buried in Lakewood cemetery.
The western and northern portions of the township were not permanently settled until a later period. Although not included in the mili- tary reservation, land in that part of the town was not considered so desirable, and the rush for locations was not so great. Among the first were the Hallaron brothers. William Byrnes, Thomas Gaffney. Peter Curley. John Green. Frank and John Doyle, and John and Daniel Brackins, the latter with their parents. The Hallarons were from Cortland county. New York. and settled in the western part of the town. The first of these. was Patrick. who came in the fall of 1852. He died from injuries received by the kick of a horse, in 1877. His widow still occupies the homestead on section 29. John J .. Dennis, Michael, Engene. Thomas and Jeremiah Halloran arrived in 1854. They are all living in that portion of the town where they first settled, with the exception of Thomas, who has been in business in the city for the past five years. Of the Doyle brothers, John died about ten years ago, and Frank still resides on the farm on section 33. The south- west part of the town was settled in 1854 by II. 11. Hopkins, George M. Burns and F. H. War- neke. llopkins and Warneke still reside here. Burns died about three years ago; his family still live on the farm. John Hamman and sons, settled in the west part of the township in 1855. From the time the reservation was thrown open to settlers, the growth of the township was rapid; more substantial farm houses and their necessary adjuncts, barns and granaries, took the place of the hastily construeted "claim shanties" which had served their purpose, and were no longer needed. The proximity to Saint Anthony and later, to Minneapolis, the only markets, made locations in this township, and Richfield on the sonth. eagerly sought for, and speculation in claims was rife, fabulous sums being asked for the more desirable.
ORGANIZATION.
The first meeting for the organization of the township and the election of officers was held May 11th. 1858. The first officerselected were: Super-
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MINNEAPOLIS-ORGANIZATION-SCHOOLS.
.
visors, R. P. Russell, chairman, G. D. Richard- son, Daniel Bassett. Edward Murphy, I. I. Lewis ; Clerk, George II. Hamilton ; Assessor. L. F. Cook; Collector, L. W. Rhine ; Overseer of Poor. Wash- ington Getchell: Justices, George E. Iny and Henry Hill : Constables. C. C. Beekman and A. P. Hoover: Overseer of Roads, A. B. Kingsbury. At a special election October 20, Is58, Daniel Bassett, G. D. Richardson, Cyrus Aldrich. and M. S. Hoblitt were elected to seats on the Board of County Commissioners. Following is given a list of the chairman of the Board of Town Super- visors, in the order in which they served : For 1859, Cyrus Aldrich ; 1860, Daniel Bassett ; 1861, Collins Hamer ; 1862 to 1866, inclusive, S. I. Mat- tison : 1866 to 1873, inclusive, Benjamin Parker ; 1874 to 1876, inclusive, E. Groesbeek: 1877 to 1880, inclusive, R. P. Russell. The other officers for 1880 were : Supervisors, U. P. Wilson and C. L. Larpenteur; Clerk. A. D. Libby : Treasurer. J. T. Grimes ; Justices, A. S. Adams and E. Yost ; Constable, William Somers. The bomda- ries of the township, as established by the Board of County Commissioners, April 10th. 1858, were as follows : " Beginning at a point on the Missis- sippi River, at the south line of section 12. town- ship 118 north, of range 21 west of the fifth prin- cipal meridian ; thence west to the southwest cor- ner of section 7: thence south, lo the southwest corner of section 7. township 117 north, of range 21 west of the fifth principal meridian; thence east to the Mississippi River; thence up said river to the place of beginning." July Sth, IS58. one tier of sections, on the north. was taken to form part of the town of Farmersville. This town, however, was never organized, and the boundaries of Minneapolis remained as originally established until 1860, when two tiers of sections on the north were made a part of Crystal Lake township.
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