History of Houston County, Including Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 59

Author: Edward D. Neill
Publication date: 1882
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 547

USA > Minnesota > Houston County > History of Houston County, Including Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota > Part 59

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BIOGRAPHICAL.

JULIUS BILLINGS, one of the pioneers and organizers of this town, was born at Enfield, Con- necticut, on the 31st of May, 1818. The family removed to Lamoille county, Vermont, in 1821,

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and in 1838, Julius left the old homestead, coming to Winnebago county, Illinois, where he took a claim of 160 acres, on which he farmed until 1852. Then, after disposing of his property, he spent about three years traveling through the States, and finally located in section twenty-eight, Black Hammer township. He immediately erected a a shanty of elm logs, ten by twelve, and seven feet high, in which he kept "bachelor's hall" about a year and a half. On the 26th of October, 1862, he was joined in marriage with Miss Cather- ine Brophy, a native of Kilkenny county, Ireland, her birth dating the 4th of December, 1843. The issue of this union is six children, all of whom are living and enjoying the shelter of the paternal roof. Since his residence in the town, Mr. Bill- ings has held several offices of trust and responsi- bility, and was one of the first County Commis- sioners, holding the position two terms. He has a well improved farm, with substantial improve- mente.

WILLIAM CARRIER, one of the early settlers of the town, is a native of Ohio, born in Richland county on the 24th of December, 1829. He was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Lewis on the 17th of June, 1852. She was born in Picka- way county, Ohio, on the 5th of January, 1832. In the fall of 1855, they came to Black Hammer, traveling by stage from Dubuque, Iowa. On the 11th of June, 1864, Mr. Carrier was enrolled in the Second Minnesota Regiment, Company C, taking part in several engagements, the principal of which was the capture of Atlanta, Georgia. He returned to his home in this town at the close of the war, having escaped any severe injury, although his health is now greatly impaired in consequence of the hardships and sufferings endured during his soldier life. He owns a fine farm of two hun- dred and twenty acres. Mr. and Mrs. Carrier have seven children, five of whom still live at home.

PETER C. GLASRUD, one of the prominent men of the town, is a native of Thoten, Norway, where his birth occurred on the 13th of October, 1846. In 1853, he emigrated to America with his parents, who resided in Yorkville, Wisconsin, till the fall of the same year, then removed to Winneshiek county, Iowa. In the spring of 1856, they came to Hous- ton county, locating in section sixteen, Wilming- ton township. Christian Glasrud, the father of our subject, enlisted in the war soon after its out-

break, and served until its close, during which time Peter and his brother had entire charge of the farm. Mr. Glasrud was joined in wedlock on the 7th of November, 1872, with Miss Sarah Quale, of Wilmington, the result of which union is five children. Immediately after the marriage they came to their present home, which Mr. Glasrud had previously purchased. He has, since his resi- dence here, held the office of Assessor three suc- cessive terms, refusing to qualify when re-elected a fourth time, and is at present one of the school officers of his district.

TOSTEN JOHNSON, one of the old settlers of the town, is a native of Valders, Norway, born on the 21st of July, 1834. At the age of twelve years he went to Sogndahl to live with his brother-in-law and assist him at his trade, that of blacksmith. In 1851, he came to America, remained in Dane county, Wisconsin, until the following year, and removed with his brother to Spring Grove. Tos- ten made his brother's house his home, but spent most of his time in Iowa, farming during the sum- mer months, and attending school in winter, spend- ing one year at the University at Fayette. In 1856, he took land in section twenty-seven, Black Hammer, on which he began to make improve- ments, still living with his brother. Miss Thora Jesme became his wife on the 3d of March, 1860, and they have since lived on their own farm. Mr. Johnson enlisted in Company D, of the First Min- nesota Heavy Artillery, in 1864, and served till the close of the war. Since his residence in this place he has filled a number of local offices, such as As- sessor, Town Clerk, etc .; and was elected to the State Legislature in 1869, 1871, and 1873. He was County Commissioner four years, resigning that office to fill the appointment of Mail Agent on the Chicago, Milwaukee & Western railroad, which position he has held since the establishment of the route.

CHRISTIAN LAMEN was born in Trondhjem Stift, Norway, on the 2nd of March. 1828. When eighteen years of age he commenced learning the carpenter trade, which he followed until coming to America in 1850, He resided the first summer in southern Wisconsin; thence to Michigan, where he was engaged at his trade for two years. He after- wards worked on the Chippewa River; coming to this town in 1855, and purchasing his present farm in section thirty-five. It is now in excellent condition, with a fine two-story residence, barn,

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granaries, etc., and is considered one of the best in the locality. He was married to Miss Betsey Olsen Riste on the 30th of May, 1855.

CHRISTEN P. ONSTAD, a son of one of the early settlers of the town, was born in this place on the 10th of May, 1856, his parents having come here about three years previous to his birth. His father died on the 27th of March, 1876, and Christen be- came sole manager of the homestead, and head of the family. He was joined in matrimony on the 27th of June, 1879, with Miss Sarah Oline Solberg, daughter of H. E. Solberg, also one of the pioneers of Black Hammer. They have been blessed with two children, Peter Cor- nelius, born on the 21st of June, 1880, and Henry, born on the 15th of September, 1881. Mr. Onstad is one of the Supervisors of the town, to which po- sition he was elected in 1880. They still reside on the original homestead on which is a fine house, barn, and outbuildings.

AAGE OLAUS ROSAAEN, a son of the second set- tler in the town, was born on the 16th of Novem- ber, 1861, in this place. He has always made his father's house his home, assisting him on the farm during the summer, and attending school in winter. He subsequently entered the Caledonia Academy, and continued his studies at Decorah, Iowa. Mr. Rosaaen has a great desire for learning, is possessed of fine natural ability, and, considering his limited advantages, has accumulated a thorough business education. He is a leading correspondent of one of the county newspapers, and also employed in studying telegraphy.

LARS ERICKSON SVARTAAS, a native of Sigdahl, Norway, was born on the 12th of August, 1835. He was united in marriage with Miss Gundbjor Evensdatter, in September, 1854. They came to America in 1861, and for five years resided in Spring Grove, where Mr. Svartaas was engaged in farming and other manual labor. In March, 1866, he purchased his present farm in section twenty- eight, on which no improvements had been made previous to that time, but owing to good manage- ment and industry, he has it now under good cul- tivation. Of eight children born to this union, all are living, and five still reside at the old home- stead.

OLE A. STENEHJEM is a native of Norway, born in Sogndahl on the 18th of May, 1848. The fol- lowing year the family came to America, arriving in Dane county, Wisconsin, on April 4th, making it

their home five years. They came to Minnesota in 1854, locating in section twenty-eight, Wil- mington township, and erected a temporary house of poplar poles, covered with hay, in which they lived a short time. The subject of this sketch re- mained at home until his marriage with Miss Anne Ellestad, which took place on the 7th of April, 1869, after which they moved to an adjacent por- tion of the farm, where they lived until 1872. Mr. Stenehjem then purchased his present farm in Black Hammer, on which they have since resided. After the death of his father, A. A. Stenehjem, which occurred several years ago, the family re- moved to Cass county, Dakota, where they now re- side. Mr. Stenehjem has a family of four children.

HELGE E. SOLBERG, one of the early settlers of the town, is a native of Ringerike, Norway, born on the 4th of December, 1834. In 1848, he came to America with his parents, who located in Rock county, Wisconsin, remaining eight years. In 1856, they came to this place, and the same year Mr. Solberg was married to Miss Kari Olsen Brennen, who was born in Froen, Gudbransdalen, Norway, on the 9th of March, 1835, and came to America in 1853. Of this union five children have been born, four of whom are living. Mr. Solberg owns about 275 acres of land, the greater portion of which is under cultivation, and improved with substantial buildings. He was elected County Commisioner in 1859, has subsequently been Assessor, and is now a member of the board of Supervisors.

ELIJAH F. WEST is a native of Genesee county, New York, born on the 21st of September, 1824. When he was an infant of two years, his parents moved to Michigan, Elijah residing with them until the age of twenty-three years. In 1845, he was married to Miss Cinthia Smith, who bore him three children, all of whom are living; one daugh- ter residing in California, another in Dakota, and a son in Carrol county, Iowa. His wife died in the spring of 1852, and her remains were interred in the cemetery at Battle Creek, Michigan. Mr. West was engaged at the carpenter trade until the fall of 1854, when he came to Minnesota, locating in Newburg, Fillmore county, where he entered one hundred acres of land at government price. During his residence in the latter place he held the office of County Commissioner for one term. In 1856, Miss Jane A. Sherburne became his wife. She is a native of Essex county, New York, born on the 11th of August, 1834. The issue of this

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union is nine children, eight of whom are living, and six still enjoy the comforts of the home fireside. In 1867, Mr. West disposed of his land near New- burg, and two years later, purchased and removed to his present farm in section five. For three terms he was employed as teacher in his school district; has also taken part in local politics, hav-

ing held the office of Justice of the Peace five years, and was Chairman of the board of supervisors six years. In 1865 and again in 1878, he was a mem- ber of the State Legislature. He has a well cul- tivated farm containing good improvements, a fine orchard, and a herd of stock of an excellent grade.

BROWNSVILLE.

CHAPTER LI.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION-WILD CAT BLUFF-POLIT- ICAL-MINING OPERATIONS-HACKET'S GROVE- BROWNSVILLE VILLAGE AND TOWNSHIP-MANU- FACTURING, CHURCHES, SCHOOLS ETC.

On the Mississippi River there are five towns in Houston county, and Brownsville is the center one. The river opposite the village is compact, with no intervening sloughs, affording a natural landing, and this condition first attracted Mr. Brown in his quest for a town site.

The town embraces a part of two government townships, and is several sections smaller than a full town.

Aside from the Mississippi, the principal river is Wild Cat Creek, coming from the west, and a branch from the south which comes in a mile west of the town, and uniting with the main creek, gets into the Mississippi by the way of a slough that starts opposite the lower end of the town.

Wild Cat Bluff is the highest point along the river for miles, and was a prominent landmark for the early steamboat pilots. The town itself has the valleys carrying the streams, and the precipi- tous bluffs leading to the elevated plateaus, with prairie like expansions, covered with fine farms.

The lowlands and the highlands each have their peculiarity as to soil, but are about equally sought after for agricultural purposes, and maintain an industrious and thriving population.

The landing at Wild Cat Bluff was the point of debarkation for a large number of the early set- tlers of the county, particularly those going to

Caledonia and vicinity. Those in the southern part of the county mostly came by way Lansing, unless they came straight across from Wisconsin, while those who settled in the Root River Valley, followed that river.

As to its surroundings, Hokah is on the north, the Father of Waters on the east, Crooked Creek on the south, and Union and Mayville on the west. The principal valley is Wild Cat valley, which is, perhaps, one hundred rods wide on an average, and there are several smaller valleys branching off in various directions. The soil of these valleys is of a sandy character, with a clay subsoil, making good wheat land. The bluffs are usually bare of timber on the southern declivities, although on the north sides of the hills, and on the ridges, and in the ravines, there is hard wood timber in abundance. The material of the bluffs is sandstone as a base, with limestone near the top, and some good quarries have been opened where lime is made. Either variety of stone is valuable for building purposes, and as the rock crops out at convenient points, this kind of building material can be procured at a trifling expense. Some of the land can only be used for pasturage. The hillsides are admirably adapted to the raising of grapes, and this industry has received considera- ble attention.

The bluffs along the Mississippi River, at this point, require more than a passing notice here. Ages ago, when the Mississippi was much wider than it now is, the country hereabouts was on a level with the tops of the bluffs and ridges, and all these valleys and ravines have been worn away by

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the agencies employed by the corroding hand of time. This is shown by sinking a shaft on one of these hills, when the same strata will be encoun- tered that is met on the edge of the bluff, and at corresponding depths.

The most noticeable elevation on the river is Wild Cat Bluff, which rises nearly five hundred feet from the very river's bank. And, as there was a natural landing there, so unlike the sloughs and marshy banks at most other places along the river, it is no wonder that it attracted the atten- tion of Mr. Brown, as he floated down in quest of a town site.

Wild Cat Bluff has been the theme of legend, song, and story, and an apostrophe written by one of the old settlers is here transcribed:

LINES TO WILD CAT BLUFF AHD HER KINDRED HILLS*

O, rock ribbed hills, could you rehearse Your history in simple verse, Your stories of the olden time Might furnish food for thoughts sublime. Eternal monuments of old.

Stern witnesses of ages past, How long have you stood sentinels, In summer sun and blast?

Your lofty peaks, all gray with years, Point heavenward. where hopes and fears Are set at rest. The depths below The mysteries tell of long ago. O, mighty hills, I pray you say, How many summer suns are past,

How oft the flowers have died away, Chilled by the howling autumn's blast?

How many lifeless forms at rest, With green grass growing o'er each breast, How many hundred graves grown cold, Containing secrets never told,

How many wild and thrilling scenes Upon your heights have taken place, How many sweet poetic dreams

Have found a cradle at your base ?

And Wild Cat Bluff, above the rest, I see your tall and snowy crest So far above the river side, God's record of the time and tide, I love your dreamy, silent way, I love your solitude to share,

And had life but one hopeful day, I'd climb your heights, and spend it there.

POLITICAL.

The town of Brownsville was organized on the 11th of May. 1858. At the first election, on that day, the officers were elected as follows: Super- visors, Frederick Gluck, Chairman; James Ruddy, and Mr. Lynn; Clerk, L. Holstein; Assessor,

Stephen Reynolds; Collector, Jacob Reider; Con- stables, Stephen Reynolds and Michael Brady; Overseers of the poor, Edward Bogan and L. D. Selfridge.

The board met on the 15th of May, and suc- cessfully started the town government, and it has run with little jarring up to the present wri- ting.

The present officers of the town are: Supervis- ors, Thomas Corcoran, Chairman; James Hayes, Charles Graf; Clerk, Francis Duffy; Treasurer, Walter Colleran, and Assessor, Michael Hurley. It is not unusual for magistrates chosen at town elections to refuse to qualify, as most of such busi- ness as they might get, goes to the county seat, or to the village justices.

MINING OPERATIONS.

Several shafts have been sunk, and considerable sums expended in explorations for mineral in the township of Brownsville. The immediate incen- tive to this work was the following story, which is substantially correct:

A party of United States soldiers and several practical engineers, who had previously had varied experience in the discovery of the lead near Ga- lena, Illinois, encamped near the foot of Wild Cat Bluff as early as 1832, and prospected there for lead, and, after examining many caves, and making numerous excavations without success, they eventually sunk a shaft 105 feet deep, a mile and a half directly west of the above named bluff, and discovered a large deposit of lead. After do- ing this much, those early miners were compelled to move on, but before doing so they filled the shaft with loose earth, brush and stones, macada- mizing the opening and finishing with a large key stone. It was the intention of two of the engi- neers, and practical miners, to keep their discov- eries a secret, and after the expiration of their terms of service, return to the scene of their pros- pective wealth, and thoroughly develop its re- sourses and secure the mines for their future ben- efit. Owing to a combination of circumstances, however, these miners never returned. The Mex- ican war followed; they were both wounded, one mortally, and the other lost his legs. This man who lost his legs, supposing that he was going to die, imparted to a confiden- tial friend the whereabouts, and also instructed him how to find the mines. A few years ago Mr. George Graf, the present proprietor of the land

*By. O. W. Streeter.

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where the shaft was sunk, was told by an old gen- tleman of the early discoveries of the United States engineers, and gave explicit directions where to find the concealed shaft. Mr. Graf, in order to satisfy his curiosity, if nothing more, made up his mind to investigate the matter, and upon careful investigation, he found everything as stated by the old gentleman, except the lead.

In 1875, Mr. William McCormick sunk a shaft on section twenty-two, sixty feet deep, and found about fifteen pounds of lead ore. On the 4th of March, 1877, he began another shaft and put it down 100 feet the first year, working it for the most part in the winter. At this depth he found water which impeded the progress; it is now down 200 feet. One reason for supposing mineral to be available at the particular point where he began work, was that lightning frequently struck there. About $2,000 has thus far been expended here, and the work is still going on with expert miners. A lateral drift has been run, following the crevice in an irregular dirrection, some seventy- five feet.

Mr. Bernhard Graf commenced prospecting in the winter of 1877, on section fifteen, and pene- trated the earth to a depth of sixty-five feet, when the water prevented further progress, with the means at command. In the winter of 1878, he opened another shaft, and with the aid of an old miner, got down to a depth of ninety-two feet, with good indications of success. But this, after- wards caved in, and he is now engaged on another, having got down sixty-five feet, and is sanguine as to his success in the immediate future. The presumption is that with the lead there will be a large amount of silver, as these minerals are not unfrequently found together. Should these hopes and anticipations prove to be well founded, the whole character of Brownsville will at once be changed; its former activity will return, and will be vastly improved upon. We are constantly trampling the world under foot, but no one knows what he treads upon. Let us bope, in this case that if disappointed, it will be on the agreeable side.

HACKET'S GROVE.

This was at one time a promising locality. In 1857, & Post-office was established there. Mr. Hacket himself was Postmaster until 1866, when it was withdrawn. In 1858, and again in 1859, there was a celebration of the glorious 4th of July,

at this place, attended by the people of the town, Captain Foster, Mr. Emory Hacket, Samuel Mo- Phail and other prominent citizens participated, the festivities having closed with a dance in the evening.

BROWNSVILLE VILLAGE.

This village was platted and recorded by Job and Charles Brown, immediately after the county was organized. It has since had several additions extending it up the river, on the north, and down the river, on the south, and extending well up the hill to the west of the lower end of the village. The principal street is Front Street, the second stories of the buildings on the west side are usually on a level with the ground, and the cellars are ex- cavated as tunnels into the bluff.

Spring Branch arises near a western addition to the village, and pours into Wild Cat Creek. The railroad runs along the river's edge, on a grade some feet lower than Front Street.

As to the topography of the village; it lies at the foot of a bluff 486 feet high, which rises from near the river, the village extending around the base into a ravine. The business part of the vil- lage is twenty-five feet above the river, while that part situated in the ravine is thirty or forty feet above the river. The character of the soil along the river is sandy, and super-imposed on a sand rock, while back from the river it is more muddy. The supply of water is principally from wells, and those along the base of the bluff furnish clear water, but that procured from wells in the ravine is unfit for domestic use. Springs are numerous, and furnish good water.

An account of a voyage up the Mississippi, pub- lished before this region was settled, alludes to one of the voyagers' resting places, which was at the foot of Wild Cat Bluff, as follows: "On the west as you go up the river was what we called the 'Camp of the peak,' where we lay nestled in a dense forest, overhung by one of the noblest sum- mits I have ever seen. The action of the water upon the facade of these castellated hills, plainly indicates the gradual wearing away of the chan- nel by the river in its seeking the level of the ocean."

THE VILLAGE GOVERNMENT .- The village was incorporated in 1858. The early records were maliciously destroyed some years ago, whether to cover up some transactions that would not bear in- spection, or in a spirit of mere mischief, is not

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known. The officers elected were the more promi- nent men of the village at that time, and the vil- lage government has been for the most part, of a conservative character, the exceptions being in the case of the extraordinary power conferred by a special act of the legislature upon the school board, and which they used in such a way that a heavy burden was imposed upon the village. This drove off many of the business men, and the village has not entirely recovered. In 1873, Mar- tin Luther Cooper, a representative in the State Legislature, procured the passage of a special act, authorizing the village board of education to levy a tax at its discretion for school purposes. To abbreviate a tedious story, a brick schoolhouse was built at a cost of $10,000, and a heavy debt in- curred at twelve per cent. interest, upon which more than $20,000 has already been paid, and the debt is not yet extinguished, although the end can now be seen in the not distant future.

The present village officers are: Trustees, J. M. Riley, President; M. S. Roster, Leonard Schwartz, and Michael Feeney; Recorder, Lyman Loomis; Marshal, Julius Hankee; Police Justice, Alex. McLaren; Justice of the Peace, C. E. McCan; and Constable, Henry Fostler.

THE EARLIEST SETTLEMENT .- Job and Charles Brown and James Hiner came to the present site of Brownsville in November, 1848, which ante- dates any other settlement in the county. Job Brown had previously visited the locality, and pro- nounced it an eligible spot for a Mississippi town. James Hiner remained until 1855, when he went to Caledonia to reside. Mrs. Hiner was a sister of the Browns, and arrived in May, 1949, with her little four years old daughter, who is now Mrs. James H. Williams, of Hokah. Thus Mrs. Hiner was the first white woman to reside in Houston county, and Martha, her daughter, the first white child. Mrs. Hiner was born in Ontario county, New York, in 1824; she died at Hokah at 12 o'clock, on the 17th of May, 1871, and was buried near Caledonia. Mr. Hiner is also dead.

EARLY TOWNSHIP SETTLERS.

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History of Houston County, Including Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 59

Author: Edward D. Neill Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Number of Pages: 547

Author: Edward D. Neill
Publication date: 1882
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 547