USA > Minnesota > Hennepin County > Minneapolis > History of Hennepin county and the city of Minneapolis, including the Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota > Part 59
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No more changes in boundaries occurred until 1867, when the two northern tiers of sections of the town of Richfield, and that portion lying north of Minne-ha-ha creek, below Rice Lake (then called Eagle Lake) were added to Mime- apolis. The legislative bill providing for this change of boundary, was approved March 7th1, 1867. An effort was made in the spring of 1868 to restore this territory to Richtield ; but at the annual town meeting in Minneapolis, only one
vote was cast in favor of the measure. A bill approved February 6th, 1867, in which was de- fined the boundaries of the city of Minneapolis, gave to the territory embraced in the township outside the city, the name of Brighton. This name did not suit the people at all, and the bill above mentioned as annexing the portion of Richfield, restored the name, Minneapolis. The following statisties from the reports of the As- sessor of the township for the years given. serve to show the rapid increase in values and in pop- ulation. In 1869, the assessed valuation of real estate was $266.285 ; in 1875, $1, 166,376 ; in 1880, $2,559,744. In addition to this valuation, there was in 1880. a valnation of $954,582, for town lots. outside of the city limits. The number of arres of land in 1880, was given at 24,602. The valuation of personal property in 1869, was, $61 .- 262; in 1875, $167,828 ; in 1880, $262.419. Num- ber of horses, over two years old. in 1869, 319 ; in 1875, 531; in 1880. 700. Number of cattle over two years old, in 1869, 719; in 1876, 1,134; in 1880, 1,292. Number of sheep, in 1869. 387 ; in 1875, 576; in 1880. 460. Number of hogs, in 1869, 154; in 1875, 211; in 1880, 549. Bushels of wheat. in 1869. 44,399; in 1875, 23,703; num- ber of aeres sown in 1880, 2,763. The amount of taxes for the township, was in 1869, $8,935; in 1875. $21,990; in 1880, $27,995. According to the census of 1880, the township has a popula- tion of 2.757.
SCHOOLS.
The first school in the township, was opened in the summer of 1853. and Miss Jemmie Leaming taught a three month's term. The building nsed, was located on section 7. near Minne-ha-ha Falls, and was erected by W. G. Moffett and son and the Blaisdells, assisted by a few of their neigli- bors. The material for the building and the ground on which it stood, were provided by Phi- lander Prescott. Although built by private par- lies. and with their own funds, it was made a public school, and all who wished. conld avail themselves of its privileges. Mr. Prescott also furnished a large part of the money to pay the teacher. This building was used for a number of years, and was twice moved for the better ae- comodation of the scholars. In 1875. the pres- ent frame building, was erected near the site of the old school-house, on the north-west quarter
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HISTORY OF HENNEPIN COUNTY.
of section 7. on the west side of Minne-ha-ha Avenue. This is now district No. 113. Another of the early school-houses, was located on what is now Chicago Avenue, just outside the city lim- its. It was built of brick. and used for some time. but on account of a division of the districts. it was abandoned and subsequently. torn down. The township now has eight entire and five joint districts, with twelve school-houses. The " Centennial School " located near the Harvester Works, is a very fine building, of brick and two- stories high. District number 9. about one mile north-west of the Centennial. has a one-story stone building. The remaining districts have good substantial frame houses, and are all sup- plied with the necessary apparatus used in the modern district school.
TOWN HALL.
since the organization of the township, the an- mal and special town meetings have been held in school-houses ; but in 1880. the increase in pop- ulation. demanding a fixed place. in a central location. the town creeted a " Town Hall," on the north-east quarter of section 4. the lot of- cupid, being one of the Lyndale Park. This is a very neat frame building, and a credit to the lown.
CLARK CHAPEL.
The only church edifier in the township, is lo- rated in the southern part on section 7. It was greeted in 1875, as a branch of Plymouth church. Minneapolis, at a total expense for building and furnishing. of about $1.100, means being sup- plied by subscription among the people of the vicinity. It is in size. 30x15 feet and is nicely furnished. The name was given in honor of E. C. Clark, who established and maintained a Sabbath-school in the school-house opposite the church. Mr. Clark died in 1871. and the Sabbath school has since been kept up, and now has an average attendance of about sixty. Mr. G. B. shepard of Minneapolis is the superintendent. There is no church organization. but services were held regularly once a month during the time Plymouth church was supplied with a pastor, and since then occasionally. The people of the neighborhood meet every sunday evening for Bible readings.
HOPKINS STATION.
This is a station on the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway, and was established in 1871. It takes its name from Il. Il. Hopkins, one of the prominent farmers. The post-office. located at the depot is ealled Hopkins, and was established in 1873. 11. Il. Hopkins has been postmaster since. This is the only post-office in the town- ship outside of the city. The Minnetonka branch of the M. & St. L. Railway leaves the main line here, and the Benton ent-off of the C. M. & St. P. Railway passes near. There are no stores or public buildings.
South Minneapolis, is a station on the C. M. & St. P. Railway located one mile sonth of the city limits. This is merely a way station and has no post-office.
SUMMER RESORTS.
The great beauty of the lakes of this township. and the facility with which they may be reached from the city, make them peculiarly attractive to the tourist. and to the business man, who with his family seeks recreation and freedom from the per- plexities of commercial or professional life. by whiling away a few hours, or days. at some of the charming spots to be found within an hour's ride of the city. Lake Calhoun. the largest of the lakes. is connected with the city by means of the Mineapolis, Lyndale and Lake Calhoun Railway. which was built in the spring of 1879. and during the following year extended to Lake Harriet. Ou the cast of Lake Calhoun is Lyndale Park, and the Pavillion. a large public building, erected by Col. W. S. King. and opened in 1877. The di- mensions of the building are 60 x 100 feet. and two stories high above basement. Two wide ver- andahs extend entirely around the structure. and furnish excellent promenades, with a fine view of the lake and the surrounding country. On the west side of this lake is Lakeside Park and hotel. The latter is 40 x 70 feet, and two stories in height. On an eminence in the grounds of Lakeside Park is located a tower, which rises to the height of sixty feet. and they who toil to its summit are amply repaid by a view of the beautiful panor- ama of nature around and below them. On the west side are also located several mineral springs. one of which has been curbed. and its surround- ings improved. and has become quite popular with
345
MINNEAPOLIS-LYNDALE FARM-CEMETERIES.
the public. A sulphur spring is located a short distance southwest of the lake, but has not yet been developed or improved. The Lake Calhoun House was built on the north shore of the lake in 1876, and was intended for a summer hotel. It was one of the finest structures on the lake, but had never been used to any extent up to the time it was destroyed by fire, in January, 1880. The Lake View Honse is located on the northeast shore of the lake. and was built in 1875. A large and elegant steamer was placed on Lake Calhoun in the summer of 1880, and is run during the sea- son in connection with the Motor railway. making a tour of the lake. The present terminus of the railway is at Lake Harriet, but the intention is to extend it to Excelsior. On the southwest shore of Cedar Lake is located the Oak Grove House, erected in 1877, by the Rev. Mr. Scott. The building is about seventy-five feet square and four stories in height, surmounted by a cupola, from which an extended view, including part of the city of Minneapolis, may be obtained. The hotels and parks above mentioned are open to the public through the summer season, and during that time are well patronized, as may be seen from the fact that, in the summer of 1880. the Lyndale Railway carried over one hundred thousand passengers.
Oswaldl's summer garden, situated on the Cedar Lake road and west of the city limits, was located and improvements begun in 1875. With its at- traetive drives, walks. and rustic derorations. it makes a pleasant place of resort. Connected with it is a green-house, 12 × 32 feet. containing four thousand plants.
THE LYNDALE FARM.
This model farm, which now embraces about one thousand two hundred acres, was opened by Col. W. S. King, who began operations by pur- chasing the farm of John Potts Brown. He ad- ded by purchase, one farm after another, until in 1870, he had acquired a title to one thousand two hundred acres of land. About seven hun- dred acres of this has been broken. and some of it seeded to tame grasses. The farm was originally half timber and half prairie land. The location is excellent, bordering on the shores of Lakes Calhoun and Harriet, and distant from the city about three miles. The farm-house, built in 1870, is a double house, having a front of ninety-
six feet, and a depth of forty feet. and is two- stories high. It contains twenty-six rooms, and is well finished through-out. The great barn is built on the most modern plan. Its main part is 52 x 76 feet. and thirty-six feet from the founda- tion to the eaves. The roof adds twenty feet to the height. and above all, is the cupola, the top of which is eighty feet from the ground. The two wings of the barn are 36x180 feet, with six- teen foot posts, and high roof, which affords im- mense storing room, the total capacity being about two hundred and fifty tons of hay. The stables furnish accommodations for two hundred horses and cattle. The farm was stocked with a large number of blooded cattle, horses, sheep and hogs. among them, some of the most noted animals of Great Britain, which had taken pre- miums at the national fairs hell there; among the horses was the celebrated stallion " Duke of Saratoga " a descendant of " Bashaw " and de- scribed by horse-men as a very fine animal. Sinee 1876, James Smith. of long experience in the management of large farms. has been in charge.
CEMETERIES.
The township has four cemeteries: the Lake- wood. Cemetery of the Immaculate Conception. the Montefiore and the Minneapolis Cemetery. Lakewood cemetery is situated on the south-east shore of Lake Calhoun, and contains about 140 acres of land. The grounds were purchased in 1871, by an association, formed for the purpose, and the improvements were begun the following year, and have been continued until this ceme- tery ranks with the more beautiful homes of the dead in the country.
The cemetery of the Immaculate Conception, is located on the south line of the township, one mile west of Rice Lake. It contains about thirty acres, and was established in 1867. This is the only cemetery of the Catholic faith in the township. and is under the immediate supervis- ion of Owen Finley.
The Montefiore cemetery located on section 10. about two and one-half miles south of the city limits. contains two acres, and was purchased by the Montefiore Cemetery Association, in 1876. The improvement of the grounds was com- menced but recently.
The Minneapolis cemetery is located south of
346
HISTORY OF HENNEPIN COUNTY.
and near the city limits. It embraces twenty acres of high. dry land, and was laid out in Is60. by Martin Layman. by whom it is still owned. The first interment, was that of a Mrs. Ward- well. since which there have been five thousand interments in this "silent city." This cemetery has received extra attention and shows care and taste in the arrangement of its ornamentations. This was the first cemetery established on the west side of the river.
INDUSTRIES AND MANUFACTURES.
The principal industry of the people of this town is agriculture. The excellent quality of the soil making it a favored locality, and the many tine tarins, with their commodious outbuildings, are evidence of a high degree of thrift and pros- perity. An important adjunet of the usual farm products is milk. for the population of the city looks to the farmer in the vicinity for its daily supply of that necessary article. There are a mim- ber of large dairies. employing a small army of men and teams in the transportation and delivery.
The Globe Mill. on Minne-ha-ha Creek, in sec- tion 20. was built in 1871. by W. P. Day and Co This is the only merchant mill in the township. It is a frame structure, with four runs of stone' and a capacity of 125 barrels per day. When first puit in operation, water power was used : this proving inadequate, a steam engine was added. which now furnishes the power. The mill is the property of the First National Bank, of Min- neapolis. A side-track extends to it from the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad, affording facilities for receiving and shipping.
On the north side of Mine-ha-ha Creek. in the south-eastern foot of the township, is located a grist-mill. which was erected in 1857. by Ard. God_ frey, near the saw-mill which Imrued in 1863. This mill was operated by Mr. Godfrey until 1870. and then sold to other parties.
There are two brick-yards in the town ; one owned and operate 1 by W. W. Woodward. abon one mile north of Hopkins Station, and one sit nated north-west of Lake Calhoun, owned In ti. 1. Erhardt. These yards employ a large force of men during the summer season and manufacture a superior quality of buck.
The Minneapolis Knitting Mills. This concern was established on Bassett's creek, in the north
part of the town. in 1875. For one year previous they had been located in the city. The factory was destroyed by fire in 1878, and they immediately relmilt on the present site. The business con- sists of knitting stockings and half-hose. in both wool and cotton : large and small scarfs. cardigan jackets, ladies vests, hoods, and all kinds of knit goods. This is the only establishment of the kind in the north-west, and their goods find a ready market. The proprietors are Girling and Company. and twenty-five persons are employed.
W. 11. Fruen. machinist. manufacturer of the Minneapolis water-wheel governor, special tools for machinists, lathes, etc. This establishment is located on Bassett's creek at the second cross- ing of Western Avenue. in the building erected by the North-Western Manufacturing Company in 1874. This company continued business four years, engaged in the manufacture of serews. their capacity being a hundred gross per day. Since then Mr. Fruen has occupied the building. which is 30x40 feet. and two and one-half stories higlı. The machinery is kept in motion by a thirty-five inch turbine wheel. of sixteen horse- power.
The Minneapolis Harvester Works, south of the city limits. are located in the township. but as the corporation was organized in the city and Iisiness offices are located there. a description of the Works, will be found in the chapter on man- nfactures.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
A. S. Adams was born July 9th. Isis, at Town- send. Middlesex county, Massachusetts. He was raised as a farmer. and lived in his native town until 1867, when he came to Minnesota with his father. and located in. Minneapolis township. where he has since resided. owning a farm of thirty-three acres. He was elected justice of the pweare in March. ISSO. Mr. Adams married Carrie Moffett, April. 1871.
William Adams, a native of Scotland, was born in 1835. He came to America in 1869. and lo- cated in Minneapolis; he lived on Washington avemme south until his present residence was built in 1875. Mr. Adams has been engaged in the carpenter's trade since a los. His wife was Miss Ellen Walker; they were married in 1861. Six children have been born to them.
347
MINNEAPOLIS-BIOGRAPHICAL.
R. M. Aitken was born in 1845. at Dunham. Canada East. He lived in his native town until eighteen years of age. when he went to Vermont and worked eight years in the car shops at Saint Albans, then removed to Mississippi and worked for a railroad company. In 1873 he went to Wisconsin, and in 1877, came to Minneapolis : in November of that year he married Lillian MI. Shorey. Mr. Aitkin is proprietor of the Cedar Avenue Dairy. which he started in 1877 with only four cows. but has gradually increased the number to supply a growing trade. nutil now he has thirty-live.
A. B. Allison. a native of Delaware county. New York, was born in 1840. He was engaged in farming until 1866. when he came to Henne- pin county, and for four years worked in the woods: he then started in the dairy business : was in partnership with Mr. Collins for a time, but since 1875 Mr. Allison has conducted the Insiness alone at his place on section 20. and has twenty-five cows. He was married May 6th, 1880. to Mrs. Broderick. of Maine.
W. Bernstein, a native of Germany. was born in 1826. Ile emigrated to America in 1848. and for three years worked in Baltimore. as machinist in the railroad shops ; then he removed to Wash- ington and worked seven years in the navy yard; thence to Illinois, and was employed in the car shops at Aurora. until 1869. when he came to this state. In 1856 he married Catharine Faul who has borne him six children. Mr. Bernstein pur- chased his present farm in 1869. and is engaged in gardening and fruit raising.
Robert Blaisdell was born in 1803. at Peacham, Vermont. lle was raised as a farmer, came to Saint Anthony in 1852. and took, by pre- emption. the farm where he now resides. Mr. Blaisdell attended the meeting at which Minea- polis was made a township, and helped to elect the first Town Board. He has never missed a meeting since that time lle also assisted in building the first school-honse in the township. Hle married Miss Mary Chandler. in Maine. They are the parents of seven children.
Robert Blaisdell. Jr., a native of Aroostook county, Maine, was born May 4th, 1832. In 1846 he went to Wisconsin. and engaged in the lumber business at the head of Green Bay. In 1852 he removed to this state, and made a claim of 160
acres, which is a part of his present farm. He also owns. with his father, 360 acres in MeLeod county. Hle too, attended the first election, and helped to build the first school-house in the town- ship. His wife was Ehnira Taunt, who has borne him six children.
William Blaisdell was born at Belfast, Maine, in 1834. In 1851 he moved to Minnesota, and five years later pre-empted the farm he now owns. From 1863 notil the fall of 1864. he was mining in California. Idaho, and Montana : then returned, and for one year was in charge of a huber inter- est in Michigan. He now owns 20,000 acres of timber land in Wisconsin. Mr. Blaisdell acted as clerk at the first annual election held on this side of the river. There were only fourteen votes cast, four of them by the Blaisdell family. It 1861 he enlisted at the first call, and served until the regiment disbanded. He was married, in 1865. to Miss Jennie Fletcher.
M. D. Brown was born in 1849, at Elmira. New York. In 1856 he came to Minneapolis, and has since resided here. with the exception of one year. passed at school in the East. Mr. Brown is en- gaged in farming on section 12. where he owns eighty acres of land. and boards horses sumner and winter.
J. R. Bowman was born April 27th. 1830. in New Brunswick. Ile learned the carpenter's trade, and worked three years in New York city. In 1857 he came here, and for twenty years fol- lowed his trade. lle worked on the Nicollet House. H. G. Harrison's residence, and others. It was he who ent the brush so a team could pass on First avenue north. from Fourth to Sixth street. Mr. Bowman has only been absent from the town one day since coming here in 1857. He was married, in 1869. to Amanda Christmas. They have three children.
William Byrnes (deceased) was a native of Ire- land. Ile emigrated to America in 1819, and lived in Homer, New York. until 1852, when he came here, and the following year made a claim of one hundred and fifty acres. In 1862 he enlist- ed in the Tenth Minnesota, and served until must- ered out in 1865. He died December 1st, 1867. At the time of his death. he was sheriff of Heu- nepin county. Catherine. his wife. was born in Ireland. March 1827. She came to mer- ira in 1848. stayed the first year in New York
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HISTORY OF HENNEPIN COUNTY.
city. and then removed to Homer. In 1850. she was married to William Byrnes, and two years later they came to Minneapolis. She has had nine children. seven of whom are living : Ellen. Anna. Mary. Teressa. William. Hugh and Lucelia.
Lewis Carlson, a native of Demnark. was born in 1545. He came to America in 1869, and set- tled in Winona. Minnesota. where for three years he was engaged in the manufacture of barrels. then he removed to Chicago and worked at the trade there, three years. In 1875. he came to Minneapolis and was in the cooper business until 1879, when he started his dairy: he now has twenty-seven cows. In 1873. he married Abline Hanson. They have two chiklren.
F. X. Cripean was born in 1828. in Canada. At the age of nineteen. he went to Rhode Island. remained only one year and returned to Canada : in 1846. he moved to Ilinois, and the following spring came to Saint Anthony, where he was en- gaged as clerk a few years for Mr. Bottinean. and then made a claim of one hundred and sixty acres, which is a part of his present place. In 1864. he enlisted in the First Minnesota Heavy Artillery and served until the close of the war, when he started in the gardening business ; he raises vegetaldes exclusively. using about twenty acres of land for this purpose. Mr. Cripean was married in 1554. to Rosalie Giard : ten children have been born to them.
Peter Curly. a native of Ireland. was born in 1×25. le came to America in 1846, and worked in the cotton factories of Lowell, Massachusetts. until 1849. when he came to Saint Anthony. and helped build the first Catholic church here. He pre-empted the farm where he still lives, one mile from the city limits. and built his present res- idence in 1856. Ile was married in 1819, 10 Catherine Cain. They have had two sons, only one is living : John J.
(. T. farentight. born in 1841. at Cincinnati, Ohio. De lived in Hlinois five years. then a short time in Indiana, and in 1863. removed to Minnesota ; he has lived in Minneapolis, or near there most of the time since. He has eighteen acres of land on section 6, and is engaged in gardening : is also a wholesale dealer in cattle, on foot and dressed.
Martin Ekes, a native of Germany, was born in 1831. He received his education in the schools
of that country, and was by occupation a farmer. In 1853. he came to America and lived four years in New York city, being engaged as coachman : while in that city. he married Miss Catherine Gerard. They are the parents of two children. Mr. Ekes came to Minneapolis in 1858, and has since resided bere : he has a vegetable garden of fifteen acres on Hennepin Avenne. where he also raises all varieties of strawberries; he was the first man to sell vegetables in this market.
Owen Finley was born in New York city, in 1845. In early lite he went with his parents to Watertown. Wisconsin, and worked at the carp- enter's trade : in 1873. he removed to Minneapolis and continued working at his trade until he was given charge of the Cemetery of the Immaculate Conception, which is now under his immediate rare. Mr. Finley enlisted in 1862, in the Twenty-eighth Wisconsin, Company G. and served over three years. Ile married Maria Magerty in 1870. They have five living children.
D. M. Foss. born in 1820. in Strafford county, New Hampshire. At the age of eighteen, he went to Lowell, Massachusetts, and learned car- pentering. In 1855, he came bere and worked at his trade until 1879: assisting in building some of the first dwellings in the city. the St. James Hotel. and some of the principal places of busi- ness. Mr. Foss is now engaged in gardening : he makes a specialty of vegetables and small fruits. In 1845. he was married, at Lowell. to Eliza Murch. who has borne him three children.
W. I. Fruen. a native of England. was born July 15th. IsJ6. At the age of seventeen. he commenced learning the machinist's trade. In June 1865. he came to America and worked at his business in Boston, until removing to Minne- apolis in 1870; he worked in a shop on Second and Cataract streets till the present factory was built in 1874. Mr. Fruen has been twice married. his present wife, to whom he was married in 1871, was Miss Henrietta Birquest, of Illinois. They have three sons and one daughter.
Thomas Gaffney. a native of ireland. was born in 1826. When two years old he came with his parents to America, and lived on a farm in Ar- oostook county. Maine. until eighteen years of age. when he commenced hubering on the Pen- obscot river. In 1851. he removed to Saint An- thony, and for eight winters worked in the pine-
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