History of Houston County, Including Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 69

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

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WILLIAM OXFORD, one of the oldest living set- tlers in the town, is a native of South Hampton, England, born on the 1st of April, 1825. On the 9th of April, 1849, he was joined in matrimony with Miss Mary Wakefield of his native city. They came to America the same year, remaining in Boston, Massachusetts, for a time, where Mr. Ox- ford was engaged as coachman. In 1851, they came to Allamakee county, Iowa, and the follow- ing year to Crooked Creek. Mr. Oxford, in com- pany with Mr. Powlesland started from Iowa with an ox and a horse team, lost their way and were obliged to return, but making a second attempt they finally reached the cabin of Mr. Powlesland which he had previously erected. Mr. Oxford drove the first team to Brownsville, coming on the Indian trail, in the spring of 1853. Immediately after arriving in Crooked Creek he erected a log house in which he and his family resided for some time. The first year they raised buckwheat, tur- nips, corn, etc., and as the grist-mill was about sixty miles away they ground their buckwheat in a coffee-mill, sifted it through Mrs. Oxford's veil, - and lived on the flour for a time. In 1858, Mr.

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Oxford built a saw-mill in which he sawed the lum- ber for his present fine residence, and operated the same till about four years ago. He has held several terms of office since his residence here; has been Superintendent of schools, besides filling town offices. Of nine children born of this union, five are living: Henry, now in the pineries; Mary J., now Mrs. Peter Bodwin, residing in Mayville; Charles W., in Montana; Lucy, now Mrs. Joseph Till; and Sarah, now Mrs. Humer, residing with her parents.

JOHN PALMER was born on the 23d of May, 1812, at Albridge, Norfolk county, England. He was reared in Homersfield, Suffolk county, and on the 14th of May, 1833, was married in the latter place to Miss Maria Sampson. They moved to Woolwich, remained seven years, and came to America, landing in New Orleans in 1853. After a short residence in the latter place they moved to Missouri, and in 1856, to this place, taking a claim in July of the same year, on which they have since lived. Mr. and Mrs. Palmer have had

nine children, seven of whom died in infancy. This couple have, by industry and economy, made a comfortable home, which they are enjoying in their old age, respected and beloved by all who have the pleasure of their acquaintance.

PHILLIP PALMER, who was born on the 28th of November, 1817, is a native of Homersfield, Suf- folk county, England, which was his home until the age of twenty-five years. On the 25th of Oc- tober, 1842, he was joined in marriage with Miss Phillis Huarry, of Albridge, Norfolk county. They moved to Woolwich, remaining eleven years, after which they came to America. On the 29th of January, 1855, Mrs. Palmer died, near St. Louis, Missouri, leaving five children; Elizabeth, now residing in Washington Territory; George, in Brownsville; Harriet, in Missouri; Alice, in Man- kato; Elijah and George are in Brownsville run- ning a saw-mill. Mr. Palmer came to this county in 1860, settled in Brownsville, and five years later purchased his present farm, on which he moved and has since lived.

HOKAH.

CHAPTER LV.

DESCRIPTIVE-EARLY SETTLEMENT-TOWN ORGAN- IZATION-HOKAH VILLAGE - MANUFACTURING- BUSINESS DIRECTORY - FRATERNAL ORDERS - RELIGIOUS-SCHOOLS-BIOGRAPHICAL.

This is the name of a town on the Mississppi River, and the second from the northern boundary of the county, having La Crescent on the north and Brownsville on the south, with Union and Mound Prairie on the west. Its topography is not materially unlike the other river towns; valleys, bluffs, and ridges prevail with great impartiality.

The name of the town, and the village which is located at the first eligible point up the stream, was the Indian name of Root River, and is said to · have been also the name of a powerful Indian Chief whose village, before the disturbing elements

of civilization appeared, was on the beautiful spot where now stands the village of Hokah.

This river, which was readily navigable before the mills were erected, runs the whole length of the town, dividing into two branches just outside its western line, and uniting in section twenty- eight, joins the Mississippi about two miles from the north line of the town.

The valley of Root River may be said to be on an average of two miles wide. The river is joined by other streams, the most important of which is Thompson's Creek, which, on account of its being fed by springs, furnishes a remarkably reliable water power which can be utilized by a fall of about thirty-six feet; although now but about twenty-six feet, it serves every purpose.

To describe the physical features of the town in

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detail would be to cover ground already gone over in describing other townships.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

Edward Thompson is the pioneer colonist of Hokah. Coming here in the spring of 1851, he saw the value of the water power, which a com- paratively small outlay would enable him to util- ize. His resolution to secure it was prompt, and his action energetic. He made an impromptu pre- emption without formality, except, perhaps, to drive some corner stakes, as a warning to other land-lookers not to interfere with his unwritten, but inalienable rights. How he built his mill and raised his dam will be recorded in another place.

In October, 1851, Mr. Thompson brought his wife and family to this western wild, and she was the first and only white woman here for some time.

Several persons came with Mr. Thompson, to assist in building the mill, among them John H. Steward, a blacksmith. C. W. Thompson, a brother of Edward, soon came and took a very prominent part in developing the interests of the settlement. Albert Blackinton and wife were also along about that time. Hiram Griffin was another. David House was an early comer, and located in what is now Union. Fred Hammer, William Rielur, and Jerry Jenks, were also among the first arrivals.

Poor Jenks was taken sick, and Thompson started a man for La Crosse, to procure a doctor, he was directed to go to a certain point on the river, where a man lived of whom he could get a canoe to set himself across. On arriving there he found the house deserted, and a dead Indian in the yard, so he came back terror stricken without a doctor. A messenger was then sent to the Little Iowa River settlement, and at the end of thirty-six hours he returned with a doctor, who proved to be a "hydropath," which was fashionable treat- ment at that time, and he put the man in cold water pack, which promptly broke the fever, but the man died.

Butterfield valley, which comes up to the village from the south, was first settled about 1853, on sec- tion eight, on the present farm of G. A. Graf, by Hiram Butterfield, who came here from Illinois and remained until about 1874, when he went to Oregon where he has since died.

It is supposed that the first settler on the "Ridge" was John Densch, who arrived in the

spring of 1854. His log cabin had a sail for a roof, which he brought from the East.

William James settled on section thirty-four, on what is now John Huffman's estate, as early as 1852, and two years later removed to section five, where, a few years afterwards he died.

An enterprising logger, named Will Richmond put up a shanty on section thirty-four, on the Root River, about 1849. With him was John Kreels. They culled out the best timber and rafted it down to the Mississippi, but made no improvement except to make themselves comfor- table while there. Richmond afterwards lived in Brownsville, where he kept a hotel.

When first occupied, the bottom land was heavily timbered with the finest specimens of black wal- nut, oak, maple, and other hard wood, which were cut in large quantities and rafted down the river, and later, were sawed up by local machinery.

TOWN ORGANIZATION.

The first town meeting was held on the 11th of May, 1858, the day on which many of the older towns in the county organized.

The meeting, which was at the Hokah House in the village, was called to order by Clark W. Thompson. J. G. Prentiss was called to the chair, and Mr. L. S. Keeler was chosen moderator in due form, with D. L. Clements as clerk. The result of the election was as follows: The whole number of ballots cast was seventy-two; Supervisors elected were C. W. Thompson, Chairman; R. S. Woolley, and David House; Clerk, D. L. Clements; Assessor, S. E. Sneider; Overseer of the Poor, A. H. Davison; Constables, Anthony Demo, Jr. and Henry Frank- lin; Collector, Anthony, Demo, Jr. Justices of the Peace, L. L. West and Lewis Pond.

It was voted that "all hogs found running at large after the 20th of May shall be liable to a fine of one dollar each."

It was resolved "that a fence four and a half feet high, and with not less than four rails, not over eighteen inches from the ground, shall be a legal fence."

On the 29th of May, at a meeting of the board, the following gentlemen were appointed overseers of the several road districts from one to six re- spectively : J. G. Prentiss, H. W. Hunsell, Lorenzo Hafner, Edwin Butterfield, R. D. Davis, and Frederick Hammer.

At a meeting on the 5th of April, 1864, it was voted, twenty-nine to twenty-three, that the town

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should pay a bounty of $100 to each of those who might enlist in the army before the first of Sep- tember.

TOWN OFFICERS FOR 1881.

Supervisors, George A. Graf, Chairman, Chris. Hammer, and John Tshumper; Treasurer, Jacob Becker; Assessor, Jacob Dabold; Timothy Reilly, Clerk. No other officers were elected.

HOKAH VILLAGE.

This is the head and the heart of the town, and its history, of course, will make up the foreground of this sketch, while the town, as it exists as the surrounding country, will make up the back- ground, and of necessity, the lines of demarkation may be so obscure that it will be difficult to see where the one leaves off and the other begins.

The village is most charmingly situated on a ridge, in a crescentic form, reached by a not very abrupt incline from the northeast. The principal business street is along this ridge, with a slope to the north and on to the Root River valley, and to the south into Lake Como, which, although it may not be "margined by fruits of gold and whisper- ing myrtles," nevertheless, reflects "skies as cloud- less save with rare and roseate shadows" as its patronymic counterpart in the old world.

While the village overlooks the scenery all around, there is, in not a remote distance, a series of peaks on peaks on every side, arising with almost Alpine sharpness of outline, and only want- ing in altitude the character of mountain scenery; and to one who has never been beyond the con- fines of a prairie country, a sudden transition to this spot would be a realizing of the poet's and the artist's picture.

VILLAGE ORGANIZATION.

Hokah was constituted an independent village by an act of the legislature of the State, approv- ed on the 2d of March, 1871.

The first election was in May following. S. J. Prentiss and E. H. Keeler were the election judges. The first officers chosen were: Trustees, H. H. Bowdish, John F. Russell, and William Wightman. Mr. Bowdish was president of the board. Justice of the Peace, David House; Treas- urer, W. F. Weber; Constables, Oliver P. Sprague and H. L. Dunham.

A corporate seal was procured, and the village set up for itself as an independent municipality.

Affairs have been carefully managed up to the present time.

The officers elected in the spring of 1881, were: Trustees, W., F. Weber, Chris. Brown, and Henry Brown; Recorder, J. C. Snure; Treasurer, J. G. Groat; Assessor, J. Gregory; Justice of the Peace, Mark Hargreaves; and Constable, J. J. Hohl. The leading citizens and business men have always filled the village offices.

Hokah, as a village has had more than an or- dinary share of vicissitudes; at times its business has been inadequate for the demands upon it, and again, some fortuitous circumstances, against which ordinary prudence seemed incapable of pro- viding, the supply would exceed the demand, and that hope, which is supposed to "spring eternal in the human breast," would leave its citizens on the verge of despair.

The taking away of the railway shops was a serious blow to its prosperity, from which it has been slow to recover, but neither its location, its scenery, nor its magnificent water power, can be taken from it, and it requires but little of the spirit of prophecy to foretell that its future must be of a steady, growing character, without remittent or intermittent periods of depression, beyond those common to the whole country. While there is plenty of fuel in a community, the value of water power is not fully realized, and when the land shall have been completely denuded of the primeval timber, the water power will be appreciated, and Hokah will assume its true position, and confirm the genius of Thompson in securing this site,

The original plat of Hokah village included Main Street with lots on either side, with an ex- pansion near the west end and three or four blocks south, besides a dozen or so on the north of Main Street.

There have been several additions platted since that time. Thompson, Jones & Padelford's, on tht northwest; Babcock & Thompson's, on the east of the village, across the foot of the lake; Thompson & Wilkinson's, on the northeast; James' addition across Lake Como, on the south; J. M. Thompson's, near the railroad station; Weber's addition and sub-addition, on the west, with sev- eral others in the lower part of the town. A pub- lic square was reserved in the original plat, and a cemetery is on the western border.

From a peak which rises near here, on the west- ern border of the town, a beautiful view of La

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HISTORY OF HOUSTON COUNTY.

Crosse can be had through the gap to the north- east.

Lake Como is of an irregular outline, not many rods wide, but about one mile in length, hugging the southern edge of the original village, and is a lovely sheet of water.

VARIOUS EVENTS OF LOCAL INTEREST.

The first saw-mill put up by Thompson was a portable affair, called an endless chain mill, and, although it was a creditable concern, but of course in comparison with the "gangs" and "rotaries" now used, was moderation itself, and so the stories as to its performance had to be told. One old settler says that the sawyer used to start the saw on a twelve foot log, and then go to breakfast, and when he returned the saw would be nearly through the cut, and ready to be "gigged" back for the next board.

Edward Thompson was the first Justice of the Peace, and if a wedding was on the tapis, it would be sure to attract an improvised calithumpian crowd, and the Justice used to exercise considera- ble genius, to circumvent the motley assembly, to save the newly wedded pair from the annoyance. At one time a German woman, whose sons had put the notion in her head, to secure some pecuniary advantage, applied for a divorce, and Thompson, in the interest of peace and domestic morality, summoned the parties before him, and securing an interpreter, proceeded to investigate the case, and learning wherein each party had been to blame, decided that the grounds for separation were not sufficient, that they must return and live together, and neither was in future to give. any cause for offense, under pain of severe penalties. So they returned and never had any more trouble.

In July, 1859, a bathing house was erected near the stone dam; free for ladies iu the forenoon and gentlemen in the afternoon.

Among the best remembered steamers to run up the Root River about the years 1857 and '58, were the "Transit," which plied between La Crosse and Hokah; it was 100 feet long and twenty-five feet beam, and the "Little Frank," which run up as far as Rushford and finally sunk below the ferry at Houston.

Before Thompson's grist-mill was put up, the people had to go fifty miles to mill.

The Root River was very high in 1854, and again in July, 1859. At this time a portion of the machine shop had two feet of water on the

floor, and Lynch's Hotel had a like amount. Bridges were swept away and much damage done.

In the fall of 1860, there was considerable talk about bridging the Mississippi at La Crosse.

On the 17th of February, 1860, the store of Clements & Ames, together with the Masonic Hall, were totally destroyed by fire. Some of the goods were saved, but in the hall everything went.

On Tuesday, the 10th of July, 1860, Jacob Rei- der made a deadly assault upon his wife's father's family, terribly cutting up and killing Mrs. Anna S. Hanks and her daughter Pauline. He was ap- prehended.

In August of the same year, a little child of Mr. and Mrs. Sara was lost, and not found until ten days afterwards, when it had been dead some days.

The ferry across the Mississippi was always a great source of trouble, the views of the proprie- tors and the patrons did not coincide as to fares, maximum prices were demanded on the one side and minimum on the other. In the spring of 1861, the ferry war was particularly fierce. The McRoberts was one of the boats then.

In 1862, a bridge across the Root River at Hokah was built, to take the place of a ferry boat.

In December, 1861, Herbert A. Twitchell was drowned by breaking through the ice.

On the 1st and 2d of September, 1862, was the time of the Indian scare, few, if any, left here on that occasion, but the town was full of fugitives.

In September, 1862, a new ferry boat was put on at La Crosse, to the infinite satisfaction of all parties.

TOWN HALL.

This is a fine public building, of brick, used for town and village business. The hall is large and well adapted to public meetings. In the basement are offices for police court business, committees, and other purposes, and also the lock-up. It was built in 1878, at a cost of $3,600. Its location is on the south side of Main Street, near the busi- ness center of the town.

BANK.

In 1859, a bank was located in Hokah, it was called the La Crosse and La Crescent Bank, and stood well while it remained in existence.

HOKAH WATER POWER.

. The Hokah water-power is the greatest on the river, and, except Lanesboro, the most expensive. Work was commenced on it in 1866. The railroad

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company made a division of Root River at this place, to save the construction of two bridges, and Mr. Thompson placed his head gates in the old channel at the upper crossing, using the old bed between the two railroad crossings. From thence he excavated a canal six feet deep, fifty feet wide, and 1,500 to 1,800 feet long, through the bottoms to the mouth of Thompson's Creek, which is used as a tail race to the mills. In the construction of the dam there was used 1,500 cords of timber, and 500 cords of stone for the foundation, after giving sufficient time for settling. Mr. Thompson put the dam on the top, consisting of crib work planked with three inch pine plank. In order to do this he built coffer dams around the north half of the dam, thus enabling him to work without being troubled with the current forcing the surplus water over the other half, and when that was finished, doing the other half in the same manner, using 100 cords of stone and three car loads of plank. The completion of the dam was hailed with de- light by a large portion of the neighbors as it afforded a good crossing of Root River. After making the dam tight he covered the whole with stone, making a crossing from twenty to fifty feet wide.

During the past season the mills have had plen- ty of water through the lowest stage of water ever known in Root River, and there has been enough running over the dam to drive at at least 200 horse power, thus affording a good chance for some enterprising man to come here and start some good business. It will not be leased for milling as there are already mills enough here. Agricultural works, paper-mill, woolen or cotton factory, or any other good business would be appreciated and assisted by the citizens.

RAILROADS.

The Southerm Minnesota division of the Chi- cago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad runs west through this town, giving direct communication with La Crosse on the east and Dakota on the west. The Chicago, Clinton and Dubuque divi- sion of the same road runs north and south, one or two miles from the river, so that the railroad communication leaves nothing to be desired in this regard. Mr. F. F. Powers is station agent at Hokah, and J. E. Turner, night operator. From Mr. Powers the following statistics are gathered: Freight received annually, about 4,000,000 pounds; freight forwarded 3,750,000 pounds; passenger fare,

about $150 per month. The Telegraph and Ameri- can Express offices are 'also at the station.

POST-OFFICE.

The Post-office is in the hardware store of, Weber & Snure. The sale of ;stamps and stamped en- velopes, with postal cards, amounts to about $200 each quarter.

The Post-ofice was established two years or so after the first settlement, and Edward Thompson was appointed Postmaster, J. Gregory was the deputy.

R. S. Woolley was the next Postmaster, and finally W. F. Weber was appointed, who still re- tains the place. It will thus be seen that there have been but three different Postmasters in Hokah.

EARLY MILLS AND MANUFACTURING.

Mr. Thompson and others were attracted to this locality on account, primarily, of the superb water power, and also, on account of the heavy timber, the productive character_of_the soil, and its being on a navigable stream, so convenient to the Mis- sissippi.

Such a place would naturally invite attention, and it is proposed to briefly sketch the most im- portant of the various mechanical enterprises that were instituted here at various times.

As already intimated, Mr. E. Thompson was the first to put up a saw-mill, in 1852. The dam, as first constructed, secured' "the enormous fall of thirty six feet, the pressure of which was too great for it to stand the urgent appeal to "move on," and just as the mill was ready to start, the dam being a "little lame" concluded to start first, and so it stole away. But such a little thing as that was not to suppress [the dauntless energy of Thompson, although it [was a hard blow. He modified[his plans and reconstructed the dam with a head of twenty-five feet, and in due time had his mill in motion.

In 1853, his brother, C. W. Thompson, came into the concern and put up a grist mill. These mills were near the site of the present stone mill. The saw-mill had a Muley saw, and could cut 5,000 feet of hardwood lumber in a day. At first it was a portable mill, but soon two run of stones were put in, and it is not unlikely that this was the first mill west of the Mississippi ing Minnesota.

C. W. Thompson afterwards started a furniture factory, which for a time did a good business.

A. M. Thompson and S. J. Prentiss started a

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plow factory; the plow manufactured was of steel, and a very good implement, but it was finally sold, and one of the flouring mills afterwards re- sulted.

The manufacture of brick has been carried on in the western part of the town by W. F. Weber, and some were also burned near the railroad shops.

In 1869, Wm. M. Wykoff started a foundry, which did mostly railroad work.

HARD TIMES.

Previous to the panic of 1857, which was pre- cipitated upon the country by the failure of the Ohio Loan and Trust Company, of New York, Hokah was flourishing and building up with great rapidity.

But the crisis came, and like a sirocco, every- thing withered before it; hope was supplanted by dispair, prosperity was transformed into impecu- niosity, and all the balloons, which had been so industriously blown up, were collapsed. The little frontier town of Hokah felt the recoil, and did not recover until even after the war.

BETTER TIMES.

In 1866, the Southern Minnesota railroad be- gan operations. 'The next year the splendid rail- road shops were built, Mr. Edward Thompson being the master mechanic, and the hopes which, having been so long deterred, had saddened so many hearts, again returned, the village began to revive, business reappeared on the streets, new . mills were put up and old ones remodeled, and everything seemed to conduce to the permanent growth and prosperity of the place, and thus it went on until June, 1880, when the Chicago, Milwau- kee & St. Paul Company got possession of the railroad, the car shops were broken up, and the workmen scattered. While this was a serious blow to the village, and required a readjustment of affairs by reducing the business, it was very far from destroying it. We look around and what do we see? Two of the best water powers in Southern Minnesota, a group of permanent stone shops, with the water power intact ready for any manufacturing business, we see four first- class flouring mills, with their elevators and cooper shops, giving employment to scores of men; we see the business houses still here, and finally, we see the munificent location, with its charming scenery, and the means of transportation east

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History of Houston County, Including Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 69

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

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