USA > Minnesota > Houston County > History of Houston County, Including Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota > Part 61
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The people of the town have never been remiss in doing what they could for the education of their children.
DISTRICT No. 10, was started in 1853, and James A. McCan was the first teacher.
FRATENAL ORDERS.
MASONIC-BROWNSVILLE LODGE A. F. AND A. M., No. 73 .- The first regular meeting was on the 18th of March, 1867. The first officers were: C. H. Lee, W. M .; J. W. Bassford, S. W .; Wm. W.
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Wykoff, J. W .; J. M. Myer, Sec. The Past Mas- ters have been: C. H. Lee, J. B. Le Blond, T. MoMichael and J. Philip Schaller. The present officers are: J. P. Schaller, W. M .; Edwin W. Windun, S. W .; Chris. Clark, J. W .; J. M. Riley, Sec.
ODD FELLOWS-BROWNSVILLE LODGE NO. 42. -This order was instituted here on the 24th of May, 1873. Among the charter members were; John Fisher, Chris. Schaller, Adolph Ruhe, M. S. Roster, and John C. Beck. There are now thirty members.
There have been Sons of Temperance and other Fraternal orders, but they have been discon- tinued.
RELIGIOUS.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH .- This church was built in 1857. Rev. E. T. Grant was the pastor, and servi- ces were regularly kept up until about 1871. The last minister was Rev. Mr. Ghent. There is a cem- etery connected with this church, and the first in- terment was that of a child of Edward Halliday, in May, 1857.
ROMAN CATHOLIC .- In 1859, the church in the village of Brownsville was built. The first resi- dent pastor is reported as being Rev. Father Ed- ward Essing, in 1862. He was followed by Rev. Father Joseph Neubrand, in 1864, who remained one year. He was succeeded by the Rev. Father Mathew Sterenberg, who resigned the charge in 1870, and Rev. Father P. K. Ryan received the appointment. In 1871 and '72 the present fine church was constructed. The corner stone was laid under the charge of Rev. Father Ryan. The building cost about $15,000, and can com- fortably seat 250 persons. It is of brick and stone, has a bell tower, and a bell that cost $300. There are now about 750 baptized members. At first there were only straggling priests, but after awhile Father Pendergast, Father Essing, Father Neubrand and others came. The very first remem- bered service was in 1855, at the house of Mr. Burke, by Bishop Cretin, of St. Paul.
CEMETERY-The burial place connected with this church is four miles west of the village, in section thirty-two, and contains four acres, which were presented by Edward Bogan, whose monument is a most conspicuous object. The first burial was that of a child of Mr. P. Duffy. The ground was consecrated by Bishop Ireland in 1863.
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN ZION'S CHURCH .- This was built in 1863, and is about 20x40 feet, a frame building, costing about $600. It has now about forty members. It was at first a missionary point, and among the early clergymen was Rev. Lud- wig Ebert, who was here the year the church was erected. Rev. Frederick Reitz came in 1866, and remained until 1871, when John Jahn, now of Winnebago, took charge, and was here for six years when Rev. F. Koysetka assumed the pastor- ate. In 1880, Rev. Eugene Walter was called to the work, and he still continues at his post. A parochial school is held at the parsonage as a pre- paratory requirement for confirmation. The earliest service was held in 1858, at the house of Mr. C. Meinger, by the Rev. Mr. Tachtmann, In September, 1860, this society bought some land of George Schaffer for a cemetery.
PRESBYTERIAN AND CONGREGATIONAL .- Services have been held in the interest of these denomina- tions, but they were finally discontinued.
METHODIST CHURCH .- Services in the interest of this denomination had been held at various places, and in about 1864 or '65, the building erected by Charles Brown for public purposes, was bought, and afterward used as a church, with reg- ular services up to 1880, when the supply was dis- continued. The pastor, when the building was secured, was Rev. C. J. Hayes, and there were then fifteen members. The church was dedicated the first Sunday in March, 1866, the presiding Elder, Rev. . Mr. Perigrine, being present. The earliest trustees were John Tarr, Mark Percival, C. H. Lee, and Job Brown. Other prominent members were James Nichols, M. V. Nichols, Abram Ozmun, C. G. Ayers, and John Day.
THE COMMERCIAL AND MANUFACTURING ADVANTAGES OF BROWNSVILLE.
The site of Brownsville, viewed from the river, is somewhat unfavorable to the superficial observer, but back from the landing there is a large, level, and beautiful tract of land finely adapted for de- sirable residences. Here is plenty of space for any increase of population which the town may have for years, and on this beautiful plateau are sit- uated many of the fine buildings and beautiful residences of the town.
The commercial advantages of Brownsville are far in excess of those of any other town in Hous- ton county, possessed, as it is, of the benefits of both
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BROWNSVILLE TOWNSHIP.
water and rail communication. Her water powers are fair, and by an outlay of a trifle, they can be improved considerably. Like any other prosperous country, the demand for lumber in- creases in proportion to its growth, and as regards the manufacture of pine lumber, Brownsville is prepared to furnish any demand which is found necessary. Aside from being a place to which logs are rafted from the pine regions higher up the river, at the northern limits of the place there is a large bayon, capable of holding millions of logs, and around which a large number of saw-mills might be erected, which can immediately enter into a flourishing and profitable business, not only for supplying the demand at home, but also a foreign market. Good stone quarries are convenient to the place, and, in fact, all material necessary for building purposes. A town with her advantages should have made use of them at the proper time.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
JOB BROWN, the founder of Brownsville, was born in Yates county, New York, on the 7th of February, 1823. His mother died when he was seven years old. His father was a blacksmith and farmer, and after his wife's death came to Michi- gan, where he found a new home for his family, for whom he sent in a short time. Job, however, started alone for the West, was shipwrecked on the lakes, and did not reach his father's place for nearly a year after the others had arrived. Two years later he came to the Mississippi River, and operated in the lead mines at Galena until the Mexican war, when he enlisted in Company F, of the First Illinois Infantry, under Captain Crow. He attained quite a notoriety as a reckless and des- perate man, especially when under the influence of liquor, to the use of which he was moderately ad- dicted. On receiving his discharge in 1848, he returned to his old haunts, and soon came up the river and located at what was then known as "Wild Cat Bluff," but now Brownsville, a description of which has already appeared in these pages. In 1856, he went to Riceford, in the western part of this county, laid out and platted the town, built a mill, and was one of its first business men. He remained there until 1860, and during the time became converted and began to preach. He then returned to Brownsville, and two years later, went to Winona, where he was engaged in mercan- tile business and farming for a number of years. In 1868, he became a preacher in the Second Ad-
vent church, and still continues in the ministry. In 1872, he returned to Brownsville, and subse- quently lived in Clinton, Iowa, but finally settled in LaCrosse, where he now resides. Mr. Brown was in an easy financial condition when he began his ministry, but his zeal in the cause of Chris- tianity has rendered him poor, and he is now cheer- fully commencing again the battle of life. He was married at Hastings Landing, now Genoa, Wis- consin, to Mary Ann Davidson, the event taking place on the 10th of September, 1851. They have had eleven children, ten of whom are living.
JAMES O'BROPHY, a native of Ireland, was born in a part of Lismatigue, called Gaulstown, in the united parish of Balyhahill and Anghaville, Kil- kenny county, his birth occurring in September, 1818. He was reared on a farm and attended school in Lismatigue and Harristown. In May, 1850, he came to America, but returned to Ire- land the same year, and came again to this country landing in New York in August, 1854. He went immediately to Baltimore; thence to Ohio, where he married Miss Catherine Dungan, the ceremony taking place in Hamilton, Butler county, in Janu- ary, 1855. Mrs. O'Brophy was born in Glindanil, parish of Mullaunevat, Kilkenny county, in the year 1810. In 1856, they came to the then terri- tory of Minnesota, locating in Newburg, Fillmore county, but came to their present farm the same year. Since residing here he has held the offices of Supervisor, Assessor, Justice of the Peace, and has been Clerk and Treasurer in his school district for the past ten years. In 1881, he made a trip to Nebraska and Colorado, taking land in the former. Of fourteen children born to Mr. and Mrs. O'Brophy, ten are living; Michael D., Mary A., James, Ellen, Thomas, Catherine, John, Simon, Bridget, and Alice.
CHARLES BROWN. This enterprising pioneer was born in Ontario county, New York, in 1826, and came to Houston with his brother and brother- in-law in November, 1848. In 1838, he moved to Michigan, where he attended the White Pigeon Academy. On his arrival here he at once set to work in the interest of the town and county, and was really the moving spirit in most of the enterprises set on foot at that time; he was a joint proprietor of the land upon which the village was built, and was for several years the editor of the paper here. He was a man of generous impulses, and helped many a struggling traveler on the
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highway of life. He finally became insane, and paid the debt of mortality on the 26th of June, 1873, in the Insane Asylum at St. Peter.
JUDGE EDWARD BOGAN, deceased, was born in Donegal county, Ireland, on the 20th of Decem- ber, 1806. He came to America in 1831, landing in St. John, New Brunswick, where he remained one year; then in Boston, Massachusetts, two years, after which he traveled in various places in . the East, finally settling in Providence, Rhode Is- land. During his residence in the latter place he was married to Miss Ann Walter, on the 10th of May, 1838. She was born in Baltimore, Mary- land, on the 23d of December, 1817, and at the age of eighteen years moved to Providence. Mr. and Mrs. Bogan removed to Pittsfield, Massachu- setts, remained three years, and afterward resided in different places until 1855, when they came to Minnesota, settling on a farm in section thirty-two, Brownsville township. In 1874, they sold their farm and removed to the village. Mr. Bogan al- ways took an active part in county and local af- fairs; was for several years County Commissioner, served two terms as Judge of Probate, held sev- eral town and district offices, and at his death, left many friends to mourn his loss. He died on the 18th of October, 1877, in Caledonia, while attend- ing court as a juror. Mrs. Bogan still resides in Brownsville, enjoying the fruits of a careful and laborious life, having an abundance, of which she gives freely for all charitable purposes.
WILLIAM W. BELL, M. D., is a native of Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, born on the 18th of April, 1838. He received his education at Cannons- burgh, Washington county, then entered the Jef- ferson Medical College, Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in June, 1859. In 1861, he was appointed captain of Company A, in the Seventy- eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, partici- pating in the battles of Murfreesboro', Nashville, Lookout Mountain, and others; was with Sherman in his "March to the sea," and discharged in 1865. He returned to Philadelphia where he was engaged in the practice of his profession until 1880, when he came to this place. He has already an exten- sive practice.
WILLIAM COLLERAN is a native of Ireland, born in Partry, Mayo county, on the 6th of March, 1819. He was reared and attended school in that county until leaving Ireland for America, on the 9th of July 1851, arriving in New York the 21st of Au-
gust. While there he was joined in wedlock with Miss Sabina Keveny, on the 25th of March, 1852. She was also born in Mayo county, on the 8th of June, 1822. The issue of this union was one child who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Colleran re- sided on Staten Island one year; moved to Ohio and remained three years; thence to Wisconsin, liv- ing in different parts of that State until October, 1858, when they came to Hokah, Houston county. On the 24th of April, 1859, they settled on their present farm in section nineteen, Brownsville. Mr. Colleran takes an active interest in county and town affairs, and has filled several terms of office; was Supervisor four years, then Chairman of the latter board for twelve successive years, and has several times been grand and petit juror.
JAMES COLLERAN was also born in Partry, Mayo county, Ireland, in 1816. He was married to Miss Celia Hughes in 1845. They came to America in 1849; remained in New York two years and then moved to Ohio, where, for four years, Mr. Colleran was employed at the railroad depot in Sandusky. In 1855, they removed to Dunleith, Illinois, and four years later, to Allamakee county, Iowa, where they resided on a farm eight years, then in Lans- ing for ten years. In 1876, they came to Houston county and settled on their present fine farm, which contains two hundred and eighty acres. Mr. 'and Mrs. Colleran have been blessed with nine children, six of whom are living; John, born in 1847; Mary, in 1849; Ann, in 1852: Patrick H., in 1857; William, in 1859; Thomas, in 1860; James, in 1861; Michael, in Lansing, Iowa, on the 22d of June, 1863; and Margaret E., on the 15th of April, 1865.
WALTER COLLERAN was born in Mayo county, Ireland, on the 18th of June, 1838. He came to America when fourteen years old, resided on Staten Island one year, and moved to Erie county, Ohio; thence to Vinton county, and afterward to Cincin- nati, where he engaged as cabin boy on a steamer plying between that city and New Orleans. In 1856, he moved to Wisconsin, and three years later to this county. He afterwards resided in Missouri a short time, but returned to this county and set- fled in section nineteen, Brownsville. He was united in marriage with Miss Bridget Keveny on the 9th of January, 1860. In 1865, they moved to Union township, but in 1873, returned to this town and have since made it their home. Mr. Col- leran was appointed County Commissioner in
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1875, elected the following year, and re-elected in 1879, to the same office which he now holds. He has been Town Treasurer for the past eight years, takes an active interest in all county and town affairs, and is popular among his constituents and friends.
THOMAS CORCORAN Was born in Dayton, Ohio, on the 25th of January, 1856. When he was an infant his parents moved to this place, where Thomas has received his education, spending his leisure time in farm labor. Since March, 1879, he has been Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, has also been grand juror, and held other posi- tions of responsibility. He is now an active mem- ber of the Board of Health in his town.
PATRICK COLLERAN is a native of Partry, Mayo county, Ireland, born on the 5th of February, 1822. When fifteen years old he commenced learning the blacksmith trade, at which he was engaged in various places until 1852, when he left his native country and emigrated to America, landing in New York the 17th of April. During his residence there he married Miss Mary Carroll, on the 8th of November, 1852, who was also born in Mayo county, on the 18th of June, 1829. They then moved to Staten Island, and a year later to Vermillion, Ohio, remaining two years. In 1855, they came to Rock county, Wisconsin, where Mr. Colleran built the second house in Orfordville, and the first blacksmith shop in that part of the county. In October, 1865, they removed to Hous- ton county, settled in this village, and opened a blacksmith shop, which Mr. Colleran continued until coming to his present farm in section ten in 1877. He has two hundred acres of fine land, most of which is under cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Colleran are the parents of seven children; James, born on the 17th of August, 1854, William, on the 11th of September, 1857; Mary A., on the 27th of October, 1859; John J., on the 23d of September, 1861; Edward P., on the 18th of July, 1864; Wal- ter, on the 4th of February, 1870; and Hannah, on the 9th of September, 1872.
JAMES P. COLLERAN, a son of the subject of our last sketch, was born in Vermillion, Ohio, on the 17th of August, 1854, and with his parents moved to Wisconsin in 1855. He attended the public schools of Orfordville, Rock county, until 1865; then came to this town and continued his studies, after which he learned the blacksmith trade in his father's shop. When the latter moved to the farm,
James purchased the shop, which he has since conducted. He was united in marriage on the 26th of February, 1879, with Miss S. A. Luby, who was born the 5th of January, 1857, in Ga- lena, Illinois, and came to Houston county with her parents when she was quite young. The fruits of this union are two children, Patrick William and John.
C. C. CLARK, one of the early settlers of this county, emigrated from Pennsylvania to Dubuque, Iowa, in 1846. He was engaged in the latter place as clerk in a store for a number of years. In 1851, he was united in marriage with Miss Hannah W. Moore, the issue of which union is one child, a daughter. Mr. Clark came to Browns- ville in the spring of 1853, and for twenty-one years was engaged in getting out steamboat wood.
In 1873 he purchased a half interest in a shin- gle mill, and has since built and operated a saw- mill. He also carries on a general merchandise business.
JOHN CLUSS, one of the prominent business men of this town, is a native of Bavaria, Ger- many, born on the 6th of December, 1825. When young, he learned the tinner's trade, at which he was engaged in his native country until 1853, when he came to America, locating in Milwaukee. During his residence there he was united in mar- riage with Miss Mary Thoman, on the 16th of Oc- tober, 1858. For ten years he carried on a store in the latter city, coming to this place in 1866, and in company with Fred Coelln opened a hardware store. In 1879, after changing partners several times, Mr. Cluss purchased the entire stock and has since carried on the business alone. He has a family of four children.
A. L. DARLING was born in Uxbridge, Worcester county, Massachusetts, on the 10th of February, 1840. In 1848, his parents moved to Connecticut, thence, in 1853, to Green county, Wisconsin, and the following year to Minnesota, locating in Fill- more county, where they were among the early pioneers. They came to this place in 1859, and two years later the subject of our sketch enlisted in the Second Wisconsin Cavalry, Company D, serving three years and four months, at the end of which time he received an honorable discharge. He then returned to Brownsville and opened a grocery store, which he has since continued. He was married to Miss Louise Holmes on the 9th of August, 1869. The issue of the union is three
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children. Mr. Darling was appointed Postmas- ter in 1881, the office being located at his store.
SAMUEL ENOS was born in Canada, on the 25th of July, 1847. His parents were of French ori- gin, and were among the pioneers of this county, having come in June, 1850, and settled about four miles north of the present village, where they re- sided until their untimely death, a few years since by the hands of an assassin, which caused great indignation throughout the county. Since com- ing here Mr. Enos has seen the wild forest changed into the pleasant homes of thrifty farmers, and can relate many amusing pioneer incidents. On the 5th of January, 1868, he married Miss Kate Hoy, who was born in Canada and came to Houston. county in 1865. The fruits of this union were four children, three of whom are living; George, Della, and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Enos reside in section two, and own three hundred and forty aores with a comfortable home.
RALPH FORD is a native of Scotland, born in Edinburg on the 31st of December, 1820. He came to Canada when four years old, and in 1830, moved to Watertown, New York. He afterwards returned to Canada, and married Miss Lucinda Baldwin in February, 1840. She was born in Clearville, Kent county, Ontario, on the 11th of June, 1822. Mr. Ford was engaged in carrying mail from St. Thomas to Amherstburg for six years. In 1849, he moved with his family to Walworth county, Wisconsin, remaining in that State until 1875, when he came to this county and settled where he now resides. Mr. and Mrs. Ford have eight children, Laura, James, and Julius, born in Canada, and Julia, Ella, Ida, Edward, and Fred- erick, born in Wisconsin.
VALENTINE FRETZNER dates his birth on the 6th of October, 1845, in Baden, Germany. In 1853 he came to America with his parents, who located in Ohio, remained until 1861, and came to Crooked Creek, Houston county. Valentine assisted in the farm labor until 1864, when he returned to Ohio, thence to La Crosse, where he was employed in a brewery. In 1871, he came to this place, and in company with his brother built the brewery in which they have since done a successful business, the firm name being V. & J. Fretzner. The sub- ject of our sketch was united in marriage, on the 7th of October, 1873, with Miss Elizabeth Roster. They have four children.
THOMAS GAVEN, one of the earliest setters in
this place, is a native of Mayo county, Ireland, born on the 12th of June, 1814. He came to America in 1850, remained in New York eighteen months, and moved to Illinois, where for four years he was employed on the railroad. In October, 1853, he was married at Galena to Miss Mary Killtsey. They came to this place in April, 1855, and settled on their present farm in section twenty. The first ground Mr. Gaven cultivated he dug with a shovel, and was obliged to go to Lansing, Iowa, for seed to plant, but now has a comfortable home and a well improved farm. Of four chil- dren born of this union, three are living; Sarah, John, and Neal, all of whom are at home.
AUGUST GRAF was born in Baden, Germany, on the 22d of July, 1842. When he was five years old his parents came to America, locating in Indi- ana, where August assisted on the farm and at- tended school. In 1859, the family moved to Dubuque, Iowa, and three months after to this township, his parents settling on a farm, and Au- gust, in the village. He learned the blacksmith trade at which he was employed ten years, then purchased an interest in his brother's shop, and has since continued in the business, having been alone since 1880. Miss Mary Cummings became the wife of Mr. Graf on the 29th of June, 1876. She has borne him two children, both of whom are living.
FREDERICK GLUCK, one of the early settlers and enterprising business men of this village, is a na- tive of Germany, born in a village in Saxony. He received an education in the graded schools of his native town; then entered the seminary at Schliez, and after graduating, entered the civil engineer corps connected with the Saxony and Bavaria Railroad. He was afterward engaged in the topo- graphical and geological survey on the Danube River. In 1849, he came to America among the political refugees, locating on a heavy timber farm near Racine, Wisconsin. Mr. Gluck came to Brownsville on the 14th of April, 1854, settled on a farm near the village, in section twenty-three, and the following year erected a hotel, to which business he has since given the greater portion of his time. He was Justice of the Peace, while Minnesota was yet a Territory, Chairman of the board of County Commissioners in 1857, and in 1859, was Senator from this district; and from 1863 to 1865, he was in the office of the Provost Marshal at Rochester. Since then he has con-
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ducted a brewery in Brownsville. Althongh fifty- four years old Mr. Gluck still retains much of the strength and vigor of youth, and is one of the most popular landlords in the county.
JONATHAN HALL, one of the first settlers in this locality, and the first man to build a house on the ridge, emigrated from the East to Detroit, Michi- gan, at the age of sixteen years. From that place he walked to Chicago and thence to Galena, where he boarded a steamer and went to St. Louis. He soon after came up the river again, and finally re- turned to Chicago, where he enlisted in Company B, of the Sixth United States Infantry, on the 17th of July, 1848. Was sent to Jefferson Bar- racks, near St. Louis, thence to Fort Crawford, Wisconsin, and subsequently to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where he remained fighting the Indians on the plains until 1853, when he received an hon- orable discharge. He was then employed a year by the quartermaster at Fort Leavenworth. On the 10th of May, 1853, he was joined in matrimo- ny with Miss Margaret Sullivan. They came to Houston county in September, 1854, and settled where they now reside. Mr. Hall was one of the organizers of Brownsville township, and held the office of Supervisor for twelve years. Until set- tling in this place he had led a life of adventure, and possesses that energy necessary to every pio- neer. He has a fine farm, a good house, and is much respected by his friends and neighbors. Mr. and Mrs. Hall have had but one child, who died at the age of eight years.
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