History of Houston County, Including Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 70

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

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and west, north and south. Hokah can certainly never be subjected to influences that will destroy the advantages it now possesses, and its future will of necessity be in contrast with the depressing circumstances of the last few years.

FLOURING MILLS.

CRESCENT ROLLER MILL .- This mill was erected in 1872, by C. A. & E. V. White. The latter soon retired and S. C. White assumed his place. It was built in a substantial way 38x46 feet, and three stories with a basement, it contained six run of stones and one purifier. The power was that of the Root River, with an available fall of six feet, and five or six turbine wheels were used to run the mill, which had a capacity of 175 barrels a day. In 1874, it became necessary to attach an elevator 30x38 feet.

Various improvements were made up to 1880, when it was remodeled and transformed into a roller mill. It now has twelve sets of rolls and two run of stones, nine purifiers and all the modern re- quirements for a first-class mill, with a daily capacity of from 200 to 250 barrels.

In 1881, the property was purchased by W. W. Cargill & Bro., who still own and operate the es- tablishment.

GRAMPIAN MILL .- This flouring mill with the Scotch name is the result of a transformation act on the part of Edward Thompson, in the year 1874. At first it was a three run mill; it had a peculiar, irregular form, and did merchant work exclusively. There was a single turbine wheel under a seven foot head. After awhile an eleva- tor was erected adjoining the mill, with a capac- ity of 20,000 bushels, and at various times con- siderable sums were spent in improvements. In 1878, it was sold to S. C. White & Co., and in 1879, it passed into the possession of Brooks, Nash & Co., who managed it for one year. In 1880. the mill was leased to the firm of Hyde & Brooks, who improved the machinery and its capacity. It now has ten sets of rolls, five purifiers, and other aux- iliaries requisite to a first-class merchant mill, with a capacity of 160 to 175 barrels a day. The elevator has been enlarged to a capacity of 30,000 bushels.

The elevator part of the business was at one time operated by outside parties, but since 1880, it has been leased to Hodges & Hyde. The mill is still run by water.

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PEMBINA FLOURING MILL .- This building was put up and at first used as a plow factory, where diamond, or silver steel plows were manufactured. In the year 1877, it was metamorphosed into a flouring mill by White & Edwards. The follow- ing year the property was bought by S. C. White & Co., who kept its stones and rolls revolving until 1881, when it was secured by S. P. & E. V. White, the former having it in charge. At first it had three run of stones and five sets of rolls, propelled by two wheels under a head of six or eight feet, and could run through 100 barrels a day. Late in 1881, it had a reformation, and became exclu- sively a Hungarian process mill, with six sets of rolls, six purifiers, ten silk and five wire reels, two bran dusters, and other adjuncts for the produc- tion of 135 barrels, a large per cent. of which is high grade flour.

These descriptions include the three merchant flouring mills of Hokah, which have a capacity of absorbing not only all the grain raised in the vicinity, but large amounts coming from the west by rail.

CITY FLOURING MILL .- This mill uses the pow- er first brought into requisition by Mr. Thompson, and is near where he placed the original mill. The spot has seen many changes. At one time there was a furniture factory here, erected to utilize the hard woods abounding near.

The present structure is of stone, 50x60 feet, and was put up by Carl Fisher, about 1873. It is two stories high, and at first had two run of stones which were taken from Thompson's old mill, but it has since been improved and its capacity in- creased. It does custom work almost exclusively, and is operated by an overshot wheel with 21 feet fall. Mr. L. Fisher, a son of the former owner, now owns and operates the mill.

COOPER SHOPS.

Closely connected with the flouring interest is the manufacture of barrels, although a large amount of flour is shipped in bags of various kinds.

Contiguous to each of the three principal mills, is a cooper shop, in which Doud, Son & Co., of Winona, make barrels. The earliest shop put up was in 1872, for the Crescent mill, and this shop now turns out about 125 barrels a day. All the shops together put up from 400 to 500 a day, and employ about 30 hands. The business is under the care of Archie Muir.

BREWERY.

The Root River Brewery is located on section twenty-eight. It was erected in 1867, by Joseph Pfeffer, Jr., at a cost of about $10,000, and it has a capacity of thirty gallons a day, of the amber colored liquid. It early began to do a very good business. In a few months it fell into the hands. of Burkhart & Laugen, and seven years later it was purchased by J. G. Striegal, who has since managed it. The property, just now, is the sub- ject of litigation. 1

BEE CULTURE.

This industry has received considerable care in and about Hokah. William Lossing is the "King Bee" man in this section. He commenced a few years ago, and last year secured about 4,000 pounds of honey, and with a good season will raise from 10,000 to 15,000 pounds next year. His bees are now almost exclusively Italian. He has the latest improved hives, managing and handling his colonies in the modern and scientific way, thus obtaining the best results by utilizing the labor of the working bees. The old methods of natural swarming, and of destroying the bees to take up the honey, and leaving them out through the winter, is entirely abandoned. A knowledge of the habits, instincts, and require- ments of these industrious and intelligent little insects, has revolutionized their treatment, and now they are comfortably housed in winter, pro- tected from their enemies, and for this they return a rich reward. Joseph Jaques, J. Baden, Andrew Quist and others also keep bees. It is a most fas- cinating industry.

BUSINESS DIRECTORY.

C. E. Joys .- General merchandise. Opened the store in 1875, with a stock of $7,500, which was soon increased to $10,000. He has carried a stock as high as $13,000.

WEBER & SNURE .- Hardware, general farm machinery and implements, country produce and grain. Has a stock of about $5,000, and perhaps $2,000 in farm machinery.

M. H. BAILY .- General merchandise. Has a stock of about $5,000.

J. J. HOHL .- Insurance agent and collector. Sewing machines, tobacco, confectionery, etc.

F. SOBEK .- Merchant Tailor and dealer in dry goods. Carries a stock of about $4,000.

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HOUSE & CALLIHAN .- Drugs, medicines, and groceries.

L. T. LYON .- General merchandise, dry goods, groceries, crockery, etc.

O. C. BELLROOD .- Custom and ready made boots and shoes.

J. G. GROAT .- Drugs, medicines, notions, and show-case goods.

JOSEPH STELZIG .- Blacksmithing and general repairing.

JOSEPH JAQUES .- Wheelwright.

L. L. KEELER .- Blacksmith.

C. L. GUENTHER .- Blacksmith.

HAYES & SNURE .- Saloon.

FRANKLIN HURLEY .- Saloon.

JULIUS BURKART .- Saloon.

FRANK DUEKE .- Harness maker.

PHYSICIANS.

DR. H. B. TRAIN .- An old and successful prac- titioner.

DR. W. W. HOLDEN .- Physician and Surgeon, Main Street.

DR. S. C. WHITE .- Not now in active practice.

The first doctor here was Charles Jenks, who began in 1856, while yet a student, and practised between his medical courses in college.

FRATERNAL ORDERS.

HOKAH LODGE, No, 17, A. F. & A. M .- Institu- ted on the 17th of January, 1857, in accordance with instructions given by the Grand Lodge on the 8th of January the same year. The number of this lodge should have been nine, as that would be its consecutive number according to priority of institution, but the delegate did not reach St. Paul until the last day of the session of the Grand Lodge.

The charter members of the lodge were: C. W. Thompson, Samuel McPhail, Ole Knudson, Oreb Parker, Wm. F. Dunbar, Edward Thompson, Wm. F. Ross, and Wm. B. Burfield.

On the 17th of February, 1860, the Masonic Hall was burned, with the charter, records, jewels, and fixtures. After this it met for a time at Mr. E. Thompson's and other private houses, until a hall was improvised in the Hokah House. The lodge now has a good hall over the Post-office, erected in 1870.

The past masters of the lodge are: Wm. Hun- ter, C. W. Thompson, Edward Thompson, B. F. Pidge, D. L. Clements, S. J. Prentiss, L. T. Lyon,

A. J. Snure, P. F. Flusher, B. J. Knapp, H. H. Covert, and Wm. Lawson.

HOKAH CHAPTER, R. A. MASONS .- The first meeting was held on the 27th of February, 1868. The first officers were S. J. Prentiss, H. P .; E. H. Kennedy, K .; J. B. Le Blond, S .; H. A. Billings, Sec.

The present officers are: E. Thompson, H. P .; H. Ealy, K .; J. P. Schaller, S .; A. J. Snure, Seo. The meetings are in the regular Masonic hall, and there is a good membership.

ODD FELLOWS.

LAKE COMO LODGE, No. 49 .- Instituted on the 11th of March, 1875. The charter members were: Frank Seastrum, Geo. Francisco, L. E. Bump, James O'Brien, Henry Curran, and N. An- derson.

The past Noble Grands are: N. Anderson, Wm. McClane, George Francisco, Godfrey Bader, Joseph Stelzig.

A Lodge of the A. O. U. W. was instituted on the 21st of October, 1876, with the following charter members: Mark Hargreaves, L. D. Towne, Smith A. Demo, and others. The meetings were held in Masonic Hall.

There have been other fraternal societies, par- ticularly in the interest of the temperance cause, when the town was on the flood-tide of prosperity, but they have gone into a decline, and can now only be remembered for the presumptive good they have done.

HOKAH BRASS BAND.

In the fall of 1879, John McCormick started a subscription to secure means to help procure a set of instruments for a band. The assistance thus rendered enabled the members, after a few dives into their own pockets, to purchase a good set. The first members of the band were: J. J. Hohl, Wm. Blake, Jacob Dibble, Harry Mellon, Hiram Callihan, Wm. Lossing, L. M. Addleman, John Lyon, J. W. Ball, Oscar Mellon.

F. E. Wood was employed as instructor, and the band was soon able to render martial and other music for festive occasions.

The personnel of the Band at present is as fol- lows: William Lossing, J. J. Hohl, Martin Deim, Hiram Callihan, Charles Thompson, J. W. Ball, A. Smarc, E. Bonworth, John Lyon, Fred Yeskee, and W. H. Blake.

These young men are entitled to great credit

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for their devotion to music in this amateur way, which has placed the Band not far behind pro- fessionals.

RELIGIOUS.

PRESBYTERIAN .- In 1858, the Rev. D. C. Lyon, Synodical missionary for Wisconsin, visited Ho- kah, and was requested by Benjamin F. Pidge to procure and send them a minister. In July, 1859, Mr. Lyon met the Rev. Sheldon Jackson, of the Presbytery of Albany, who was looking for a field of labor. He was informed of the circum- stances, and came at once. Mr. J. G. Prentiss started a subscription paper to secure a support for the new minister, and Hokah and La Crescent were joined together for this purpose.

On Tuesday, the 20th of September, 1859, an organization was effected. The Rev. Mr. Lyon and Judge Day were the active committee, and it was joined to the Presbytery of Winnebago. The list of members is here presented: Benjamin F. Pidge and Agnes his wife, J. G. Prentiss and Pau- line N. his wife, Mrs. Mary Y. Jackson, and W. F. Weber. Messrs. Pidge, Prentiss, and Weber were chosen as elders.

In 1860, many of the original congregation hav- ing moved away, the weekly meetings were changed to once in two weeks.

In 1859, a delegate was sent to Eau Claire, Wis- consin, to attend the Chippewa Presbytery.

A church was begun in 1866, under the minis- try of Rev. James Marr, and it was completed and dedicated on the 19th of May, 1867, the Rev. James Frothingham preaching the sermon. Some time after this, on account of many of the members removing from the town, the church was virtually transferred to La Crescent, but subsequently, under the the ministration of Rev. J. H. Carpenter, was reorganized at Hokah with seven members. Services were afterwards held by Mr. Carpenter and Rev. J. J. Smith and Rev. Leonard Radcliffe, who laid the foundation for a parsonage in 1874 or '75.

Mr. Carpenter returned in 1877, and remained until 1881. There is at present no settled pastor. The records show that thirty-one members have been received since its first organization.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH .- This is in the Winona District, and in the Hokah and Browns- ville circuit. At Brownsville the church was built in 1866. The meetings in Hokah, at first, were in

the schoolhouse; of late, however, they have met in the Presbyterian Church.

The first minister to preach here was the Rev. Benjamin Crist, as early as 1854. He was followed by John Hooper, and Rev. Elijah Tate was also sent here, but after his first sermon, was taken sick and did not return. Rev. Ellenwood was also here. Rev. William Mckinley, now a lead- ing member of the conference, at one time had this charge. J. C. Braden, who has since left the ministry, preached here. C. J. Hays remained two years. J. G. Tetter was another, who is still in the conference. Then came James Door, who remained three years, and after he left, A. Stephen- son, James Hilton, and J. W. Stebbins were sta- tioned here. The latter remained two years and was then at La Crescent two years, still supplying the place. Rev. J. H. Golborne, was in Hokah one year, followed by E. S. Bunce and J. Hall, the latter being the last regular pastor.

This society never had a church bulding, but met in private houses, in the schoolhouse, the Ma- sonic Hall, and other places. Deaths and re- movals have depleted the number until there are now but three active members . remaining, and this remnant of the flock has united with the Gre- man Methodist Church.

GERMAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH .- The Hokah Circuit was organized on the 2d of May, 1858, by Rev. Charles Leibrandt, with eighteen members; their names being: John Lottes, G. Koehle, J. Koehle, Eliza Knecht, Dina Koethe, Emilie Brenner, Barbara Heidel, Andrew Hartmann, M. Bertch, Anna Lottes, O. Koethe, Catherine Koehle, Christine Hammer, and J. Diedemeyer. At first meetings were held in the old schoolhouse, but the church was built in 1859. The following named ministers have had successive charge: Charles Leibrandt, Henry' Kolbe, Aug. Lambrecht, John G. Spechmann, John Brauer, E. E. Schuette, John Hansen, H. Eber- hardt, Charles Schoenheider, F. Hogrefe, W. H. Meyer, and the present pastor, Rev. F. W. Buck- holz. There are at present seventy-five members and twenty probationers.

The appointments of this circuit are Hokah, Pine Creek, Caledonia Ridge, and Crooked Creek. There is a church building and a parsonage at each of these places. In Hokah the Presbyterian Church is used for worship.

ROMAN CATHOLIC .- In 1859, a small church was

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built on the land of Mr. J. Pfeffer, near the town line, on section twenty nine. It is a small build- ing, that will seat perhaps fifty persons. It was at the time a mere outlying mission from La Crosse. Since the establishment of the convent, no mass has been said in this little chapel. The first priest to visit here was Rev. Henry Tappert, and then Father Essing.

THE CONVENT .- The name of this institution is the Academy of the Sisters of Notre Dame. Its erection was commenced in 1866, and so far com- pleted in September, 1867, that the sisters came and occupied it. There were at first three of them, with one candidate. Now there are eleven sis- ters and three candidates. There are accommoda- tions for boarders as well as day scholars, and at times there have been as many as forty regular boarding pupils, though at present there are but about a dozen.

The establishment must have cost from $6,000 to $8,000. The first priest in attendance was Rev. Father Neubrandt, and Father Mathew, as he was called, was also here. The Rev. Father C. Walker is the present priest.

Services are held in an audience room in the convent and from seventy to eighty families pro- cure spiritual consolation here.

The academy has 200 acres of land in the north- east corner of section twenty-eight. The building is a large one of stone, three stories in height, with a basement and an annex as a residence for the priest and the chapel. The church is known as St. Mary's, and superceeded St. Joseph's above alluded to. There is a small burial place for the sisters and the priests, and the remains of a single priest and two sisters, lie mouldering beneath the sod.

Another cemetery was consecrated about the year 1873, in which about twenty graves have been made, the first being for the wife of J. G. Streigel.

A NEW CATHOLIC CHURCH .- In the spring of 1881, a church was built on Main Street, in the village of Hokah. The building is a neat struc- ture, and is occupied, when meetings are held, by Father Peter Bernard, of Lrescent. The church has not yet been dedicated.

BAPTIST .- The first Baptist church of Hokah was organized in 1856, by Elder Griffiths. The first pastor was Rev. William Card, who was fol- lowed by Elder Carr. After an interval Elder

Clark officiated, and then came Elder D. M. Smith. Elder J. H. Bowker preached here some five months after this, but since that time there has not been stated preaching, the members attending the services of the other denominations.

GERMAN LUTHERAN EVANGELICAL .- This de- nomination assumed form in 1874, under the fos- tering care of Rev. Mr. Warner, and afterwards, Rev. Mr. Jahn. The church was built in the year above mentioned, and is a part of a regular cir- cuit embracing Hokah, Portland Prairie, Caledonia Ridge, Brownsville and other places.

CEMTERIES.

There is a union cemetery on section ten, which is divided by an imaginary line into two equal parts, one-half of which belongs to the Roman Catholics, and the other half to the German Luth- erans and the German Methodists, who hold the north part, which is on the farm of Jacob Semer- ling, and the other is on the farm of F. Glassert. This arrangement was made about 1870. The first burial, however, was in 1859, a son of Fred. Glas- sert, who was about twelve years of age.

HOKAH LIBRARY.

This is one of the institutions of the village to which the citizens point with more or less pride.

Just after the middle of the last decade, the idea of having a public library was started, and public entertainments were projected and carried into execution, and other means were employed to raise the requisite funds, which were successful, and a goodly number of books were procured. A small fee is charged for the use of the books, which are extensively read.

SCHOOLS.

VILLAGE SCHOOL .- In the winter of 1855 and '56, a school was started in Masonic Hall, the rod of authority being wielded by Miss Emily Pond. The next winter the sceptre was in the hands of Mrs. D. L. Clements. In 1857, a house and lot was purchased and converted into a schoolhouse, which served the purpose up to 1867, when the present house was built, which has, however, since received an addition.

DISTRICT No. 13 .- In 1857 or '58, a small log schoolhouse was put up on what is called "the Ridge," in section ten, by the German Catholics who had settled in that vicinity. This was on the farm of V. Bierden. It was a subscription school,

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and was taught one season by a Catholic priest. It was generally known as the "convent." It is now used as a granary by Mr. F. Glassert. After- wards a log house was laid up near by, as a pub- lic school building, and the school was opened by Jacob Schonhard. This was on the land of John Ahrens, and was used up to the year 1876, when the present frame building was erected on the same section. This building cost about $400.

DISTRICT NO. 73 .- This is a joint district, a part of it being in Brownsville. It came into ex- istence in about 1866, the initial school being in an old log structure belonging to Ira Butterfield, and was presided over by Miss Helen Butterfield. About the same time a schoolhouse was built, at a total outlay of $100. The settlers turned out, and bringing material, put up the building, which is on section eight, and there are about twenty pupils.

DISTRICT No. 91 .- A German subscription school was first taught by Miss Hafner, at her brother's house on section twenty-nine. This must have been about 1861. After this, perhaps about 1865, Rev. Father F. X. Neubrandt had a school a single winter. The district itself was or- ganized the latter part of the last decade, and a frame house was put up for school purposes at a cost of about $400. It is not a large school, there being not over fifteen pupils in attendance,

BIOGRAPHICAL.

JACOB BECKER is a native of Germany, born on the 25th of September, 1832. He remained on a farm in the "Old Country" until coming to Can- ada in 1852. In 1855, he came to Houston county, located a farm in Union, and for three years was employed by the farmers in that vicin- ity, then settled on the land he had previously taken. On the 23d of October, 1858, he was mar- ried to Miss Eliza James, a daughter of one of the pioneers of the county. Of nine children born to this union, six are living. In 1871, Mr. Becker purchased his present farm, upon which James' additions are located. He was Chairman of the board of Supervisors for five years, and is at present Town Treasurer, having held the office three terms.

HENRY E. BROOKS is a native of England, born in Cambridge on the 10th of February, 1852. In 1860, his parents came to Ogdensburg, New York, and thence to Saline, Michigan. Henry made the latter place his home, but attended the high

school at Detroit, and after graduating learned the trade of a miller at Saline. In 1872, he re- moved to Minneapolis, and the following year to Winnebago City, thence to Lanesboro, Fillmore county, and in 1874 to this place, where, for five years he had charge of the Crescent Mill. He was united in marriage with Miss Rodah A. Mc- Spadden, daughter of W. G. McSpadden, one of the pioneers of Houston county, the ceremony dating the 26th of March, 1875. The fruits of this union are two boys. In 1879, Mr. Brooks became a partner in the ownership of the Gram- pian Merchant Mill, which interest he still retains.

O. C. BELLROOD was born in Norway on the 13th of October, 1824. He learned the shoemaker trade in the city of Christiana, and in 1844, he came to America. After a residence of several years in Wisconsin, first in Milwaukee and then at the old Fort Winnebago, (now Portage) engaged at his trade, he went to California. Remained two years and returned to Wisconsin, opening a grocery store in Preston. In 1862, Mr. Bell- rood enlisted in the Second Wisconsin Volunteer Cavalry Company E, serving over three years, dur- ing which time he was confined five months in the Andersonville prison. On his return from the army he resided in La Crosse, Wisconsin, until 1874, when he came to this town and has since been engaged in the boot and shoe business, in which he has a good trade and carries a fine stock.

JULIUS BURKART is & native of Germany, born in Rottweil, Wurtemburg, on the 8th of April, 1847. When young he learned the furrier's trade, at which he was employed in the "Old Country" until coming to America in 1865. He resided a year in New York City, thence to Elizabeth, New Jersey, and a few months later to this place. For six years he conducted the Root River brewery, which is about two miles east of town, then came to the village and opened his present billiard hall and sample room. On the 12th of August, 1868, he was united in marriage with Miss Frances Palen. They have had five children, four of whom are living.

CHARLES L. GUENTHER dates his birth the 21st of March, 1844, in Prussia. At the age of nine- teen years he commenced learning the blacksmith trade, to which he devoted his time till coming to America. In November, 1871, he was joined in

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matrimony with Miss Augusta Flasischauer. After leaving their native land in 1873, they came directly to Houston county, locating in La Crescent, which was their home for four years, Mr. Guenther being employed at his trade. In 1877, they came to this place, and our subject opened his present blacksmith shop, to which he has since given his whole time. Six children have been born to them, four of whom are living.

MARK HARGREAVES, a native of England, was born in Stafford county, on the 24th of December, 1838. When he was eight years old his parents came to America and located in Cincinnati, Ohio, where his father superintended the stone work of the court house in that city. In 1854 they moved to Louisville, Kentucky, and the following year to Minnesota, locating at Mound Prairie, where they were among the first settlers. Mark, the subject of this sketch, enlisted in the First Wis- consin Light Artillery, served three years and three months, and participated in the battles of Cumberland Gap, Tennessee, Arkansas Post, Seige of Vicksburg, and many others. After receiving his discharge he returned to his home and assisted in the farm labor until entering the employ of the railroad company, in which occupation he re- mained till 1874. In the latter year he was elected Sheriff of this county, holding the office four years, during which time he resided in Caledonia. During his residence in Mound Prairie, he filled several of the local offices. The maiden name of his wife was Delia E. Ostrander. She has borne him five children, four of whom are living. In 1879, he came to this place and has since been en- gaged in the agency business. He is at present filling the office of Justice of the Peace of the vil- lage of Hokah.

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History of Houston County, Including Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 70

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

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