History of Houston County, Including Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 60

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 60

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George Shrof, John Whitlow, Mr. Stone, and Mr. Watson, located on the ridge north of the vil- lage, which has been known as Connaught ridge, because so many there were from that province in Ireland. Dennis Sheehan settled there and put up a claim shanty in 1853. Wm. Power came with his father in 1854,, and took a claim on the same

ridge. James Hickey appeared in April, 1854, and planted his stakes on section ten. Jonathan Hall took his claim on section four the same year, as did also John Shelley, who at first stopped a few miles above the village, but two years later moved into the village. Between this time and 1857, Thomas Gavin, John Flannery, Joseph Keefe and others dawned upon the scene.

Charles Brown built the first frame building in 1850, and this was afterward used as a schoolhouse. Mr. Brown also, with an enterprise most commend- able, built the first public building, which was called the Town Hall, and was used as a church and schoolhouse, and is now the Methodist Episcopal Church. In this building, in May, 1857, Miss. M. J. Wells began a school. The trustees of this school were, A. McLaren, Charles Brown, and J. H. Smith. This building was used for school pur- poses until the present costly edifice was put up.

THE FIRST SAW-MILL.

In the fall of 1855, Job and Charles Brown and Alexander McLaren got a saw-mill in operation. Mr. McLaren sold out the next spring to the Browns. The following spring, 1857, Job sold his interest to Charles, and a year later, Taylor and Fox, of Stillwater, took the property, and Mr. Hersheimer, of La Crosse, operated the concern during the season of 1859. John Ireland secured it in 1860, and carried it on up to about 1868, when Ed. Bell purchased a one-half interest and the firm of Bell & Ireland kept it in motion till January 28th, 1869, when the boiler exploded and John Ireland was killed. Jesse Bell pur- chased the interest of Ireland's estate, and the Bell Brothers, procuring a new boiler, resumed operations, manufacturing lumber, lath, and shingles.

The first grist-mill was built by Job Brown in 1856, although in the saw-mill there was a run of stones for grinding corn, but when Brown built the mill on Spring Branch Creek, the stones were taken from the saw-mill. But this institution has long since passed away. In 1855, there were only two houses where Main street now is, and Chris. Gerhardt and Hans Miller built a road on the present line of the street by digging into the side of the bluff and removing stumps, &c.

John Srouf, who settled in the township, had the first blacksmith shop. He died in 1865. Wil- liam Whitlow, another early settler, passed away in 1858.

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BROWNSVILL TOWNSHIP.

The "Southern Minnesota Herald" was started in June, 1855. The "Free Press" was afterwards published here, and also the "Western Progress," which was finally removed to Spring Valley, Fill- more county. A more complete account of these papers has already been given.

The very first building put up in town was by the Browns and Hiner, and was of unhewn logs, 14x12 feet with a "shaker" roof. It was about three hundred yards above the stone warehouse. The second house was just above the spring, and was afterwards sold to "Wild Cat Jack," which was the first real estate transaction in the county. This Wild Cat Jack, as he was called, was a noted character in his day, and,as has already been stated, shot himself to death in an accidental way, while flourishing a pistol in one of his revels.

SOME EARLY INCIDENTS.

At first, before things had got settled down to anything like routine, the Justices courts were the scenes, not unfrequently of the most ludicrous character. On one occasion there had been some hilarity in Houston, a lot of young men breaking into a cellar, under a Norwegian residence, where some kind of meeting was in progress, and tap- ping a barrel of whisky, had a war dance around a bucket full of the exhilirating fluid in the front yard, putting out the inmates and compelling them to join in the frantic revels, and pummeling those who refused, "sweetly and without wrath," with other festive goings on. The whole party had warrants out for their arrest, and the officer went over from Brownsville to serve the papers.

He was told that it was all right, he could ar- rest the whole crowd, but he must return alone, and if he would give notice of the day of trial, the accused would be on hand. So when the time ar- rived they were there in full force. Mr. McSpad- den, who was on the list, announced, when the case was called, that he had been retained as counsel for the defense, and he proposed that everything should be done "decently and in order," that the precedents of frontier jurisprudence should not be overruled, and he therefore respectfully suggested that the first thing in order was for the court and the complainant to go out and take a drink. To this proceeding the Justice entered a mild demur- rer, which was speedily overruled by the indomita- ble "Mack," who took the complainant, Mr. Knud- son, by the arm, and by using a sufficient amount of physical argument he was induced to yield the

point. Several other athletes, in the same persua- sive manner, induced the court to move toward the door, which, having been reached, and the room emptied of its motley throng, it was locked, and the case was thus adjourned sine-die.

A FLOGGING AFFAIR .- After Caledonia had been quite well settled, and Mr. McPhail had be- come tolerably well fixed in worldly matters, the eccentric Patrick Fitzpatrick related an incident in the career of the proprietor of the village plat that created quite an excitement, especially in the breast of the object of the story, who took the first opportunity to horsewhip its author. The case got into a Justice's court in Brownville, and the developments were rich. The partisans of Fitzpatrick, who embraced all of his nationality in the county, were on hand, and for a time there was imminent danger of personal violence, but it was finally averted, and the agitation subsided.

CHARLES BROWN AND THE INDIAN .- A short time after the first colony was planted, a hungry Indian asked Charles for a kettle in which to cook his dinner, which was given him, and he proceeded to make a soup of the biggest kind of an owl. He had just bolted the last of the savory mess when Charles finished cooking a large pot of beans. Job Brown and Wild Cat Jack came home to din- ner, and a panful was handed to the Indian, with the remark, "you watch me kill that Indian;" well, he ate three pansful and walked off with a grunt of satisfaction, leaving the rest to eat a beanless dinner. The Indian's capacity had been clearly underestimated.

PUNISHMENT OF A CRIMINAL .- At one time be- fore the stumps were dug out of the streets, a mis- erable fellow was apprehended for some petty crime; he was tried before an improvised court, and the question as to hanging him forthwith, gravely discussed. It was finally concluded that he should pay a fine and dig out a certain stump in the street, and in default thereof he was to be summarily executed. With manifest gratitude at his narrow escape from impending death, he went to work under a blazing sun and came well nigh dying from sunstroke, but he succeeded in satisfy- ing his tormentors, and made no unnecessary delay in placing himself beyond the jurisdiction of this erratic backwoods court, by getting aboard of the first steamer that touched the wharf.

THE BARBECUE .- The 4th of July, 1855, was celebrated in Brownsville in the most vehement

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manner. The arrangements were on a style com- mensurate with the ideas of the citizens as to the importance of the metropolis of the Southern Dis- trict of Minnesota. Mr. Fred. Gluck, a few days before, was dispatched to Iowa to purchase an ox, and he returned with the animal on the evening of the third, when it was slaughtered, and a trench having been dug in which a fire had been kept until a sufficient amount of fine coals, to carry on the roasting, had accumulated, when the whole carcass, with the four quarters spread out, was laid over the fiery furnace, a steamboat having been laid under contribution for iron bars to hold it up. With frequent turnings and bastings it was finally cooked, and fed to the multitude in the afternoon of the glorious fourth, after the procession, the reading of the Declaration of Independence, the oration and other exercises. Mr. L. A. Smith, who was the earliest merchant in the village, paid for the ox, and Wm. Irving and Wm. Powers dug the pit. Besides the ox there were roast pigs, bread etc. and a barrel of whisky, and the people were in- vited to help themselves. Asa Langford was the chief cook, Charles Brown the orator of the day, and the editor was the reader of the Declaration of Independence. Nothing like this has happened since. It was indeed a great occasion. The town was full, every available room and stall, to ac- commodate man and beast was filled, and many of the horses and oxen had to stand in the streets. Where the people all came from was a problem difficult to answer. There must have been no end of fun at that celebrated barbecue, which is still alluded to by the old timers, with the broadest kind of a smile, which plainly indicates that it should be recorded on a red letter page of the history of the county.

Among the prominent men in Brownsville at this time, and those who participated in the cele- bration as committees, and in other capacities were: Dr. J. G. Sheldon, Dr. G. R. Shaw, Rev. E. T. Grant, J. R. Bennett, W. F. Ross, M. G. Thompson, W. H. Crawford, Thomas Lee, D. N. Gates, James McDonald, Charles Brown, Job Brown, L. D. Selfridge, Charles Massey, P. D. Hough, L. D. Smith, Fred. Gluck, E. A. Goodell, Charles Miller, J. E. Cunningham, with others who might be named.

EARLY PLANS AND PROSPECTS .- At an early day in the history of Brownsville, various schemes were concocted to secure commercial and other advan-

tages. Among them was a plan to dam the Root River, and by a canal six miles long, turn its waters into the Mississippi River right here, thus secu- ring a water power of twelve feet fall. Indeed, if the enthusiastic pioneers had had millions of dol- lars at their disposal, they would have unhesita- tingly put it into improvements, with full confi- dence in prompt returns.

WILD CAT BLUFF .- There have been numerous stories as to the origin of the name given to the larger of the three bluffs south of Wild Cat Creek. It is related that a Frenchman, at an early day, had a desperate encounter, at the base of this bluff, with an enormous wild cat, and it thus re- ceived its name. Soon after the settlement of the Browns, they shot a very large wild cat, up the creek, brought it to their shanty, skinned and stuffed it, and elevated it near the landing, where it remained until destroyed by the moths and the elements. This pinned the place as Wild Cat Landing. Another incident connected with this wild cat affair, is vouched for as being authentic. Charles Brown was of a peculiar, eccentric turn, and desperately enamored with everything belong- ing to his adopted State. He proposed to eat specimens of all kinds of game produced here, 80 he cooked and ate a part of this wild cat.

A FRIGID CURIOSITY.

In the center of section thirty-four, some years ago (about 1861) Mr. C. Gerhardt sunk a well, and at the depth of forty feet water flowed in and froze, filling the well to within a few feet of the top with solid ice, which remained until the winter of 1878, when Messrs, Johnson & Neumeier dug in- to the bluff a few rods east of the well, lower down, which caused this ice to melt, so that now there is only a few feet in depth in the bottom of the well. The philosophy of this remarkable phe- nomenon has not been explained.

PROSPERITY IN EARLY DAYS.

In 1855, the levee was crowded with goods, and during the quarter ending on the 30th of June the land sales amounted to $74,292. The census of the county then gave 2,616 souls. There was a theater in succesful operation at that time in the village, and lots were sold at from one to eight hundred dollars each. In the fall of 1855, a Sun- day school was started in the store of Gates & Wykoff. At the beginning of this year there were only fifty inhabitants in the village, and there

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were twenty offices and stores; but during the year forty-five new buildings were erected, and the number of people increased to two hundred and twenty-eight.

EARLY STAGE ROUTES.

On the 1st of July, 1856, the following stage lines carrying the mail were put on: Brownsville to Chatfield, via Hokah, Houston, and Rushford. Brownsville to Caledonia via Elliota. Browns- ville to Travers de Sioux. D. A. J. Baker was the contractor.

AN EPIDEMIC .- In 1857, the small pox swept through the village. There were sixteen deaths.

LOCAL STEAMBOATS.

Of course, ever since there was a log hut at Wild Cat Bluff, this has been a landing point for Mississippi steamboats, and in 1863, the necess- ity of direct communication with La Crosse be- came so obvious, that early that spring the steamer "Spray" was put on. It was owned by Harvey Rumsey, and run by Capt. Whittaker for three months, when she was succeeded by the "Express," owned and run by Capt. G. L. Winslow. This continued on the line up to 1873, when, becoming unseaworthy, she was hauled off, and Capt. Wins- low built the steamer "Vigor," to perform the same work. About this time the railroad com- pany put on the steamer "Gussie Girdon," as a transfer boat. Captain Winslow, finding that it would not pay to continue in competition, pulled off and went down the river to engage in business there, but in about two years the railroad com- pany discontinued the trips of the Gussie Girdon, and Captain Winslow returned with his little craft and is still here.

The Vigor was built at La Crosse in 1872, and is a propellor of twenty-four tons register. The Ex- press was a stern wheel affair of thirty-five tons burthen. Among the steamers on the river in 1857, were the Grey Eagle, Northern Light, Key City, Milwaukee, and Itaska. As early as 1355, Job Brown owned the steamer H. M. Rice.

LEAP YEAR PARTY.

On Tuesday evening, January 4th, 1880, there was a Leap Year party at the Minne- sota House, and a list of those present will be given, although the ladies with their part- ners will not be placed vis-a-vis, because, as time rolls on, it may not be advisable to have a histor-

ical reminder of what might have been. Among those present were: Annie Rippe, Mrs. Alexander and her husband, Mrs. Holden and her husband, Maggie Rippe, Lizzie Holden, Sarah Gluck, Min- nie Bielteldt, Amelia Brenner, Nellie Winslow, Josephine McCan, Alice McCan, Lizzie Walters, Miss Walters, Albert Lowell, M. R. Cluss, George Brenner, H. W. Le Blond, George Schaller, W. Schaller, E. M. Winslow, John Brenner, Alfred Lowell, David Lee, Charles Fetzner, E. Palmer, Geo. Rippe, and Otto Cluss. It will be noticed that there are more gentlemen than ladies; this was occasioned by several ladies having invited a gentleman and his brother, where he was unpro- vided for, or some friend in a like condition. This was evidently in obedience to a literal interpreta- tion of the golden rule. Where a lady was en- cumbered with two partners, she gracefully allowed them to "draw straws" as to which should precede the other. The affair was happily conceived, and becomingly executed, and the lessons in polite- ness, although not necessarily needed, must have served as a valuable reminder, leaving an impres- sion which will certainly last until another year, that can be divided by four without a remainder, rolls around.

MANUFACTURING.

WILD CAT FLOURING MILL .- In 1866, this mill came into existence, at the instance of George Schaller. The dimensions were 40x50 feet, two and one-half stories high, and a basement. The power is derived from Wild Cat Creek, which has a fall of twenty-four feet, and is used by an over- shot wheel nineteen feet in diameter. At first it was a two-run mill, with first-class machinery. In 1875, the mill was remodeled, and purifiers and rolls introduced. The mill was transferred, in 1870, to the Schaller Brothers, J. C. & J. P., who still operate it is a merchant and a custom mill, turning out from thirty to thirty-five barrels a day. A new dam was built in 1872-73, at a cost of $3,900.

ARTESIAN WELL .- The Schaller Brothers have proved the feasibility of artesian wells through this strata. In 1878, a well was sunk near the mill to a depth of 590 feet, with a hose of six inches, which discharges about fifteen feet above the surface about 950 gallons of clear, sparkling water per minute, at a regular temperature, sum- mer and winter, of 54} degrees. The work was done by Swan Brothers, of Janesville, Wisconsin,

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in six and one-half days, at a cost of $2.00 per lineal foot. The water is turned into the flume to help supply the power to run the mill.

UITY FLOURING MILL .- This was put up in 1873, by Julius Hanke, and is 24x50 feet, a single story and a basement. It is a two run mill, with feed stones, and has a capacity of fifteeen barrels a a day. Itis driven by a turbine wheel under a six feet fall.

THR BROWNSVILLE BLUFF RREWERY .- This was constructed in 1871, 40x24 feet, and two stories, by V. and J. Fetzner. In 1871, an addition was made, 30x24 feet. In 1873, another building was erected, 38x48 feet, and added to the same enter- prise. It now does a good business.

THE OLD BREWERY .- Early in the fifties, Mr. Knoblach had a brewery in full blast, and in 1856, the papers stated that he was unable to sup- ply the demand. In 1866, the Brownsville Brew- ery was in the hands of Adolph Schwartzhoff and Frederick Gluck, and on the 15th of November it was burned, when Mr. Gluck withdrew from the firm, and it was rebuilt by Mr. Schwartzhoff as sole proprietor.

CLARK'S SAW-MILL .- This mill was constructed in 1878. It is 36x85 feet, with an addition 25x36 feet, and is operated by steam. The engine is seventy-five horse power, having a twenty-four inch stroke. The boilers are two in number, eighteen feet by forty-two inches. It is now under a course of improvement, and will have a double rotary, gang edger and gang trimmer, lath machines, etc., and be capable of turning out 40,000 feet a day.

BANK.

While the Land Office was here, Dexter & Rip- ley had a bank, but it was not one of issue. The Land Office only received coin in payment for government land, and a large part of the business of this institution was to supply the land buyers with specie to complete their government pur- chases. When the Land Office moved on to Chat- field, the bank was discontinued. Mr. Ripley was afterward appointed to the supreme bench of the State.

POST-OFFICE.

The post-office was started early in the fifties, and the following named gentlemen have handled the mail at this place: Charles Brown, Henry Rippe, Michael Brady, D. M. Osborne, A. H. Smith, C. H. Lee, H. W. LeBlond, Alcolm Post, and A.

L. Darling the present Postmaster. In 1881, the receipts of the office were about $100, a quarter.

BUSINESS FIRMS.

A. L. Darling, General Merchandise, Hardware. John H. Rippe, General Merchandise. John Cluss, Hardware, Tinware, etc. Frank P. Moore, Drugs and Medicines.

Miss T. M. Dorival, Millinery and Fancy Goods. Aug. Knautz, Custom and ready made boots, shoes, and harness.

Thomas Curry, Groceries and Shoemaker.

Leonard Schwartz, Meat Market.

Edmund Kelly, Groceries and Liquors.

Wm. Tohman, Groceries and Liquors. Wm Powers, General Merchandise.

John C. Beck, Wagon and Carriage Maker. Wm. Ideker, Blacksmith.

James Colleran, Blacksmith. Gustavus Graf, Blacksmith.

Adolph Rier, Carpenter and Cabinet Maker.

F. Brehme, Barber, Confectionery, Toys, etc. Matt Roster, Saloon.

Fred. Gluck, Saloon.

Peter Thimmersch, Saloon.

Florian Hauber, Saloon. Geo. Hoffman, Saloon.

Michael Feeney, Groceries and Meat Market.

John Rippe, agent for the Diamond Jo, Salt, Cement, and Lime.

HOTELS.

Gluck House, Fred. Gluck, Proprietor. Roster House, Matt Roster Proprietor.

The Minnesota House, and several other public houses. .

There are several others engaged in various kinds of business, but the trade of the town is now in remarkable contrast with 1870, when there were nearly fifty stores in active operation. A St. Louis firm is, in the winter of 1882, getting in ice above the town, and will secure about 10,000 tons.

PHYSICIANS .- There are two medical doctors in town, Dr. J. M. Riley and Dr. W. W. Bell.

SCHOOLS.

DISTRICT NO. 30 .- The first school taught in what is now the village of Brownsville was in the year 1853; James McCan, teacher. The next was in the winter of 1854-55, by M. G. Thompson, which was completed by Wm. Beeby. These were private schools. The territory now constituting

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the district of the village of Brownsville, and known as District No. 30, was set apart by the County Commissioners as District No. 1,on the first Monday in July, 1856.

The first school meeting of the district was on the 9th day of August, 1856. Job Brown, Alex. McLaren, and J. H. Smith became trustees, D. N. Gates, clerk. So few persons were present the meeting was adjourned to the 16th of August, at which time there were less present, and the meeting adjourned "sine die."

The first public school was in the winter of 1857-58. In 1858, the first schoolhouse was built; frame, 24x30, one story, costing about $400; S. O. Felton was the builder.

On the 1st of January, 1859, there were 67 scholars in the district.

Previous to the completion of the present build- ing, January, 1874, three separate buildings were used by the district at the same time, for school purposes, for several years, with three teachers, one male and two females.

School was first opened in the new building at the time of its completion, January 5, 1874, with four teachers, one male and three females. The principal was P. O. Phillips; salary $100 per month; female teachers, $40 per month each. The new building is a two story brick, 38 by 69 feet, with stone basement. The contract price, without seats or furnace, was $8,600. It is the most costly and complete school building in the county.

The school now has 186 pupils. The teachers are C. W. Nash, Miss A. M. McCan, and Miss R. Higgins.

DISTRICT, No. 32 .- This came into existence in 1857. and a school house was built in 1858. The earliest trustees were John Palmer, Isaac Maul, and Jonathan Cox. The first instructor was Augustus McPherson, and the term was for three months. The present trustees are John Riley, Director; Wm. M. Colleran, Clerk; Mark Zuber, Treasurer. This was at first No. 39, but after- wards changed.

DISTRICT No. 64 .- In 1857, this district was organized. John Duggan was the first teacher, the schoolhouse having been built the first year. The trustees chosen were John Hall, John Sullivan, and Patrick Long. The first school was kept three months. The number of that district at first was thirty-seven. The house first put up was on sec- tion eight, but in 1872, it was moved to section

five. The present trustees are P. Connolly, Walter Colleran, and Mr. Hurley.

DISTRICT No. 33. - Formerly, this was num- bered eleven. In January, 1856, it first saw the light as an organization, in the house of Timothy Hacket, where a school was started during the summer. In the fall there was a donation party, and logs were rolled up for a schoolhouse. The trus- tees were Harvey Fassett, Emory Hacket, and Silas Torrence. The first teacher was Miss Pound, who taught for three months. In 1880, a half acre of land was bought of James Daily, and the next year the Christian Church was purchased and moved on to the lot. The present officers are, Hugh Kelly, Michael McDonnell, and Peter Mc- Cabe.

DISTRICT No. 31 .- This school was commenced about 1857, at the house of Arthur Mullen. Miss Mary Murphy was the first instructor. Edward Bogan was one of the first trustees.

DISTRICT No. 68 .- In the autumn of 1867, ten years after the other districts described came into existence, this was organized, and the first school kept was in the old residence of Patrick Sweeney. Miss Delia Lane wielded the emblem of authority. The earliest trustees were, Patrick Sweeney, James Daily, and Jacob Sharrard. The house was erect- ed in 1868. The trustees now are, John Sweeney, Henry Toole, and Peter Welsh.

DISTRICT No. 73 .- In the year 1868, this dis- trict was got together at the house of Ira Butter- field, and Miss Hellen Butterfield presided over the exercises. It is a joint district, with part of the pupils in Hokah, as is also the school building.

DISTICT No. 61 .- In 1857, this district was set apart and a house built. The primary trustees were, James Ruddy, John Deiuch, and John Flannery, and the earliest teacher, Miss Mary Ruddy, who kept the first term three months. The present trustees are, John Flannery, Charles Graf, and John Keefe.

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History of Houston County, Including Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 60

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

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