History of Houston County, Including Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 71

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

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DAVID HOUSE is a native of New York, born on the 4th of September, 1824. When he was about seven years old his parents moved to Canada, but in 1837, returned to New York, where David at- tended the public schools. In 1839, they moved to Michigan, thence, a few years later, to Stephen- son county, Illinois, where our subject was engaged in farming and carpenter work. On the 3d of July, 1862, he was united in marriage with Miss Jane. C. Shoemaker. In the spring of 1853, they came to Houston county, and were the first to lo- cate in what is now the town of Union. In 1856, his wife died leaving two children, but one of whom is now living. The maiden name of his present

wife was Weltha L. Pond. She has borne him eleven children, eight of whom are living. In 1870, Mr. House moved to this place, and the follow- ing February, opened a drug and grocery store, which business he still continues. He was a mem- ber of the first board of Supervisors, and for sev- eral years was Assessor, besides holding other lo- cal offices.

WILLIAM W. HOLDEN, M. D., a native of Sara- toga county, New York, was born on the 15th of May, 1853. He was reared to agricultural pur- suits until the age of nineteen years, when he commenced the study of medicine, entering the Medical College of Keokuk, Iowa, in 1873, and graduating two years later, during which time he was also employed in a drug store. He was united in marriage on the 30th of May, 1874, with Miss Hattie Wilcox. In 1877, he came to this place and has since established a large practice. Zella is the only child.

HENRY J. HERZOG was born in Washington county, Wisconsin, of German parentage, on the 8th of April, 1851. He resided at home on the Tarm and attended school until the age of seven- teen years. In 1868, he entered the Business College at Milwaukee, remained Rix months and returned to Washington county, where he was employed as clerk in a store. In 1870, he came to Houston county, and for about eight years was engaged in stores at Mound Prairie. He was united in marriage with Miss Celina Sheldon on the 18th of December, 1876. From 1878, until coming to this place, he was engaged in farming and school teaching, also filled the office of Town Clerk four years during his residence in Mound Prairie. In December, 1881, he came to Hokah, since which time he has been proprietor of the Union house. Mr. and Mrs. Herzog have been blessed with two children.

C. E. Jors, one of the leading business men of this town, is a native of Norway, born on the 19th of April, 1847, in the city of Christiania. His father was a merchant, which occupation our sub- ject was taught as soon as old enough. In 1867, he came to America, and located in Milwaukee, where he was engaged as clerk for a short time, then moved to Michigan, and had charge of the financial affairs of an extensive lumbering firm. Miss Clara L. Bowers became the wife of Mr. Joys in November, 1875, the fruits of which union were two boys one of whom is living. In the latter

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year he came to Hokah and opened his present mercantile establishment, in which he keeps a $7,500 stook of goods and has as good a trade as any in the county.

WILLIAM JAMES, deceased, was one of the first settlers in this town, and laid out in an early day what has since been known as "James' Addi- tion." He was a native of Germany and came to America, locating in Illinois in 1842. He remained ten years and then came to this place, taking a claim in section thirty-four. In 1854, he removed ta section five, the present residence of his son-in- law, Jacob Becker, and laid out a portion of his farm in town lots. He enlisted soon after the out- break of the war, and on his way south was acci- dentally shot. Mr. James had four daughters, three of whom are living in this county and one in Iowa.

LEVI T. LYON is a native of New York, born in Delaware county, on the 31st of January, 1832. At the age of seventeen years he went to the western part of the State and learned the carpen- ter trade, returning to Delaware county about 1852. While there he rented an iron foundry which he operated for a time, and also gave some attention to his trade. He was joined in matri- mony on the 4th of July, 1852, with Miss Mar- garet Dunn. They soon after came to Wisconsin, where Mr. Lyon was engaged as carpenter and millwright. In 1858, he moved to McGregor, Iowa, where remained nine years and then came to this town. For several years after coming here he was employed by the railroad company, but for the past few years has been engaged in the drug and grocery business. Two children have been born to him, but one of whom is living.

ARCHIE MUIR was born in Milwaukee, Wis- consin, of Scotch parentage, on the 4th of Feb- ruary, 1850. When quite young he learned the cooper trade, at which he was engaged in his native place until the age of twenty-one years. He then removed to La Crosse, and from thence to Racine, where he remained a year. On the 5th of December, 1871, he was married to Miss Zuleku Cleveland. They resided four years in Neillsville, Wisconsin, then came to Winona, where Mr. Muir entered the employ of Doud, Son & Co., of that place, in 1876. Three years later he was given the general management of their business at Hokah, having discharged his duties with much

credit and ability. Mr. and Mrs. Muir are the parents of four children.

FERDINAND SOBEK is a native of Austria, born on the 19th of April, 1846. He learned the tailor trade at which he was engaged in his native coun- try until coming to America in 1867. He came direct to Wisconsin, first locating in Milwaukee, then in Hartford, and a few months later in Prai- rie du Chien, from which place he moved to Du- buque, Iowa. In 1870, he came to this place and opened a shop with a very small capital, but by industry and economy has increased his business from year to year, until now he has a large trade and keeps a first-class merchant tailoring establish- ment. On the 9th of June, 1874, Mr. Sobek was joined in marriage with Miss Kate Boehm, the fruits of which union are two children.

H. H. SNURE, one of the active business men of this town, was born in Canada West on the 23d of December, 1841. His father died when our sub- ject was quite young, and when fourteen years of age he came with his mother to Illinois, where he remained until coming to Hokah in 1865. For a few years he resided with his brother, engaging in farm labor, then entered the employ of the railroad company, and two years later, formed a partner- ship with W. F. Weber in the hardware business, to which he has since given his attention. The maiden name of his wife was Lilla A. Weber, who has borne him four children. In 1880, Mr. Snure was elected to the State Legislature, and in Nov- ember, 1881, tendered his resignation, to accept that of County Treasurer, in which office he began his duties in March, 1882.

JOSEPH STELZIG is a native of Germany, born in Austria on the 25th of December, 1844. In 1857, he came with his parents to America, locating in La Crosse county, Wis., where he learned the black- smith trade and remained about ten years. Miss Dorothy J. Schafer became his wife on the 4th of November, 1872. In 1874, they moved to Hokah and Mr. Stelzig engaged in the blacksmith busi- ness in company with James McLaughlin. After a continuation of about three years the firm dis- solved partnership, and Mr. Stelzig, purchasing the interest of his former partner, has since con- ducted the business alone. Mr. and Mrs. Stelzig have had four children, three of whom are liv- ing.

A. J. SNURE was born in Canada West on the 25th of October, 1847. He was reared to agricul-

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tural pursuits, coming to the States when young. After a residence of a few years in Illinois he came to this village in 1863. In 1866, he joined the engineer corps of the Southern Minnesota Rail- road Company, was engaged as fireman the fol- lowing year, and three years later, as engineer, which position he retained until 1877. In the lat- ter year he settled in this town and opened his present sample room.

DR. HAMILTON B. TRAIN is a native of St. Law- rence county, New York, born on the 26th of April, 1825. During the year 1847, he studied medicine in Wisconsin, then located in Fond du Lac, where he was engaged in preaching the gos- pel. His health soon failed, and he was obliged to abandon the ministry, after which he attended the Appleton University for a short time. He then returned to Fond du Lac, where he was united in matrimony with Miss Angelina Clark, the mar- riage dating the 27th of March, 1850. In 1856, he came to Minnesota, and the following year to Hokah, since which time he has given his atten- tion to the practice of medicine. Their union has been blessed with four children, two of whom are living.

EDWARD THOMPSON, the first settler in what is now Hokah, and one of the first in the county, is a native of Canada, born only a short distance from the falls of Niagara. His parents moved to Lon- don, Middlesex county, where Edward received his education. In 1842, they removed to Winnebago county, Illinois, which was their home for several years, Edward learning the machinist trade, after which he was engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods. On the 11th of July, 1849, he was united in marriage with Miss Susan M. Jenks, who died on the 19th of September, 1862. In 1851, while looking for a mill site, he passed through Iowa into this county, just west of the present village of Caledonia, following the Indian trail until he reached the South Fork of Root River. There he and two others hewed out a wal- nut canoe, in which they came down the river to the Mississippi, reaching the present site of Brownsville at night. They stopped at a cabin owned by Job Brown, but finding no one at home, were obliged to sleep on the frosty ground. On the return of Mr. Brown, at his suggestion, Mr. Thompson staked out a claim at the mouth of what is now known as Thompson's Creek, where Hokah village now stands. He immediately

erected a shanty, built a saw-mill, and commenced the improvement of the Hokah water power, upon which he has since spent thousands of dollars. Mr. Thompson has always been identified with county as well as local interests. In 1854, he trav- eled many miles through this and adjoining counties, circulating a petition for the building of the Southern Minnesota Railroad, of which he was appointed master-mechanic in 1865, resigning the office in 1870. He was the first County Treasurer, first Postmaster at Hokah, and Justice of the Peace of the old territorial precinct, besides filling many other offices. In 1873 and '74, he was a member of the State Senate from this district. He is one of the oldest Masons in the State, and a charter member of Hokah Lodge, No. 17. His present wife was Mts. Orinda Hulburt, and they have three children. Mr. Thompson had six children by his first marriage, only four of whom are living.

SUSAN M. THOMPSON, deceased, the former wife of the subject of our last sketch, died on the 19th of September, 1862,at the age of thirty-three years. In October, 1851, she came with her little family to this then uninhabited region, to encounter the cares, burdens, privations, and roughness of pioneer life, which she endured with a cheerfulness, and bravery that won all hearts, and endeared her to every one whose good fortune it was to share her hospitality. For twelve months she was the only white woman in Hokah, but with buoyant hope- fulness she met every requirement, and when she passed to the "Sweet fields beyond the swelling flood," there were lonely and aching hearts, keenly feeling the individual and collective loss to the whole community.

S. P. WHITE, who has been identified with the milling interests of this place for the past four years, was born in Rochester, New York, on the 26th of September, 1821. When he was an infant his parents moved to what was called the "East- ern Township," in Lower Canada, just across the northern line of Vermont. In his boyhood he attended the public school in his town, and after- wards graduated at Derby Seminary, Vermont. In 1848, he came to Wisconsin, locating in Madison, where he was engaged in mercantile pursuits, real estate, money loaning, etc. In the latter place bis marriage with Miss Lydia M. Bodwell took place in 1849. In 1875 they moved to Lansing, Iowa, where Mr. White was engaged in the operation of

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a flouring mill, which he conducted until coming to this place in 1878. He has since been in com- pany with his brother, the firm name being S. P. & E. V. White.

W. F. WEBER, a business man well known throughout the county, is a native of Germany, born in Prussia on the 12th of January, 1824. His father died in the "Old Country," and in 1838, Mr. Weber and his mother came to America. They located in Dayton, Ohio, where W. F. learned the shoemaker's trade, and was afterward employed as joururneyman for six years. In 1856, he moved

to Iowa, and the following year came to Hokah and opened the first shoe shop in the place. In 1868, he sold his shoe store, and in company with D. L. Clements, opened a general mercantile house, continuing in the business several years. His present partner is A. J. Snure, with whom he is engaged in the sale of hardware, grain, and all kinds of produce. Since 1868, Mr. Weber has been Postmaster, has also been Chairman of the board of Supervisors for the past sixteen years, County Commissioner for four years and was in the State Legislature one year.

HOUSTON.

CHAPTER LVL.

DESCRIPTIVE-REMINISCENCES-EARLY SETTLEMENT EMBRYOTIO VILLAGES - TOWN ORGANIZATION- VILLAGE ORGANIZATION - MANUFACTURING - CHURCHES SCHOOLS-BIOGRAPHICAL.

This town, with a name identical with that of the county, is on the northern tier of townships, being the third from the Mississippi River, with Winona county on the north, Mound Prairie on the east, Sheldon and Yucatan on the south, and Money Creek on the west. It is made up from three government townships, but is a fraction of a section less than one of these in its aggregate amount of territory; and the arrangement is such that it takes in the valleys of the water courses consisting of the Root River and the south fork thereof, and Silver Creek, a branch coming down from the north to unite with Root River near the eastern boundary of the town.

The Root River was formerly navigable, but mills and bridges have cut off this method of transportation, and a sunken steamer, opposite the upper part of town, is the only reminder that Hous- ton was once a seaport town.

The physical features of the town are in accord- ance with the peculiarities of this whole region. There are the rivers with their valleys, the irregu-

larly formed bluffs, rising from the bottom lands to corresponding plateaus reaching back to the next valley.

The town, as now bounded, is eight miles long in the southern portion, along the Root River, and seven miles from north to south for a width of four miles on the eastern side. The river courses to the east through the longest part of the town, with its accompanying valley. Silver Creek also has its valley, which is called "Looney Valley," whether on account of the peculiar beauty of its moonlight scenes, the effect of a residence there upon the people, or in deference to an old settler, it perhaps matters little. The South Fork of Root River has also its characteristic valley, and this is called in honor of some of the early settlers "Swede Bottom."

The boundaries of the town, as will be perceived, have been so arranged that the village is easily ac- cessible by the citizens from any part by follow- ing the valleys, as along these the roads are laid, and most of the cultivated farms are on these in- terval lands, or in close proximity.

These valleys have soil of peculiar richness, and the surface is usually quite level, but sometimes inclined to be rolling. Near the head of the va- rious branches the soil is still more valuable for tillage purposes.

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The ascent to the ridge is almost uniformly abrupt, going up several hundred feet, which, un- like those in the southern part of the county, are usually too narrow for successful cultivation, although there are a few valuable ridge farms within the town limits.

THE SOIL .- As to the peculiarities of the soil, in the valleys it is a dark, clayey loam, with patches of a sandy loam. In the steep declivities the vegetable mould, as it is deposited, is washed among, so that the character of the soil cannot be commended, except in certain places where a growth of shrubs or trees have arrested this deter- gent operation. In such places there is a certain amount of fertility, and on the river bottoms, at various points, there is a large growth of good timber, such as oak, elm, walnut, etc.

CROPS .- During the first few years the colon- ists were most anxious to raise something to eat, for themselves and families, without regard to a market, except in their own cellars or lofts. But after having the most imperative personal wants supplied, attention was turned toward raising something to sell, and the first experiment in wheat more than met the reasonable expectations of the settlers. Thirty or more bushels to the acre was not uncommon. But year after year the crop grew less, and corn has now usurped its place with marked good results.

INDIANS .- When the early settlers arrived, there was a village of the Winnebagoes situated on a bend in the river near the lower village. There was a score or two of their rude habitations, and they seemed to be a discouraged band, who felt, in & sort of insensible way, the impending fate that was hanging over the race. They gave the new- comers no trouble, except by their impertinent begging, unless stimulated by "fire water," which was bartered to them for their peltries, and then sometimes night and day would become hideous with their baechanalian revels.

REMINISCENCE .- Near the ferry, in section thirty-one, is a hill formed by a point of the table land, which has been known since the early settle- ment as the "Indian mound," from the circum- stance that the remains of an Indian chief whose soul had presumably gone to the happy hunting grounds, was found sitting on this elevation, sup- ported by some stakes driven into the ground, and a log pen built over him in a thorough wolf proof manner. And there this emblem of mortality

sat for years, while the passing Indians would call, and after paying their respects, leave an of- fering of tobacco, or some other testimonial to the memory of the Big Indian, whoever he was. Decay, except as to the bones, was at last com- plete, and some enterprising ethnologist procured the skull, which is said to have indicated a good mental development. The rude tomb itself was final- ly demolished, and the chieftain's bones scattered about. During the war, at a 4th of July celebra- tion a liberty pole was planted on the spot, but that also has succumed to the ravages of time. A Mr. Butterfield, who died here at an early day, was buried there in an unmarked grave.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

Not unlike many other towns in the county, the year 1852 is the date of the first colonization of this town, and during that year the immigration thither was quite active.

There seems to be preponderating amount of evidence that the very first white man attracted to the locality, to mark out a claim, was W. G. Mc- Spadden, who had spent some time in New York State, and who had came up the Root River from La Crosse on the 14th of June, 1852, and staked out eighty acres on what afterwards was found to be section thirty-three, on the eastern part of the southeast quarter. But of course his eighty did not coincide with the government survey, for it was sadly cut up. Here, with visions of a flourishing city in the not very dim distance spread out before him, he platted a town site, and, although his en- deavors were crowned with some measure of suo- cess, he is still waiting while the shadows longer grow, for the full fruition of his plans.

The location was most admirable, just above the confluence of the South Fork of the Root River with the main stream, which was easily navigable from the Mississippi, and no one, who could not peer into the future, could have predicted at that time that this would not become one of the great western cities. As it proved, the fates decreed that a small village should grow up here, which two years thereafter had the ambition to become the county seat of the rapidly developing southeast- ern portion of Minnesota.

Finally, as the years rolled by, the Southern Minnesota railroad came through, and the influ- ence to secure the station on an addition to the west of the village prevailed, and so the village of Houston was moved, and the original town became

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"Old Houston," which may have outlived its use- fulness, but is still honored for its good deeds in the past.

Mr. McSpadden, with an untiring energy that never faltered, returned to La Crosse, where he operated a ferry, and exercised his opportunities to induce settlers to go up Root River, and he divided his time between the two points until 1854, when he settled down to remain, and he is still a resident, but not on the old claim. Mr. McSpad- den came up the river at first on foot, and on the second journey he was accompanied by Ole Knud- son, from Norway, who, in the primitive style of those times pre-empted a claim adjoining Mc- Spadden's on the east, running around 160 acres, and erecting a shanty on what afterwards came into section thirty-four. The shanty, according to an equitable arrangement, was on McS padden's land, but this building in due time, became a store, and with MoSpadden's building played a prominent part in the history of those primitive pioneer days.

Mr. Walter Webster came up the same month with McSpadden, on one of his excursions, and he took a claim to the west of the others, on the southwestern part of section thirty-three, where the village of Houston now stands. He, however, made no improvements, but lived through the winter of 1852 and '53 in McSpadden's shanty. The next season he sold all his right, title, and interest to David Johnson for $30, and it was subsequently sold to Mons Anderson, the present proprietor of part of it.

Mr. Johnson at once commenced making im- provements, and put up a block-house, which still stands between the railroad track and the river. After awhile Mr. Johnson left and went to Good- hue county, and finally to Iowa.

In the fall of 1853, Mr. Lars Johnson, a Swede, bought the 160 acres west of this, of David John- son. This is the land upon which the extreme western part of the village is now located. A Mr. Sanborn came up about the same time Mr. Web- ster came, but he did not remain long. Mr. E. K. Dyer was another of the early claim takers, who located further up the river, but he left in a few years. Mr. Case made a claim some time in 1853, and soon sold to Mr. T. H. Conniff. A few others secured locations in the valley, and the place be- came known as "The Forks."

LOONEY VALLEY .- The very first comer here

was a Mr. Hyatt, who also arrived in 1852, and was a squatter on the eastern branch of Silver . Creek. He kept his eye on a large tract of land, intending to hold it until his sons and other rela- tives could come and occupy it, but, for some reason, his expectations did not materialize, and so he quietly withdrew from the scene of his fond anticipations. While he was still here, another settler with three sons, who had staying qualities, came up the river from La Crosse and invaded this tempting valley. The head of this family with the right kind of material for pioneer life was John S. Looney, and he promptly put up a shanty on sec- tion twenty-seven, where the farm of A. B. Hunt now is. That the claims of each might be defined, and that there should be no disputed territory, the two claimants blazed a line of trees across the centre of the valley, and thus modestly divided the whole tract between them.

Mr. Looney had been to the lead mines at Ga- lena, and afterwards at La Crosse, where he worked land upon which that city is now built. He was a public spirited man, and was always at the front in every laudable enterprise. He remained for about six years when he went to Dubuque, and from there to Illinois, where it is understood he still lives. As to his sons; James took land near the old gentleman on the south, and left it about that time; Corydon and Abraham also secured land near, but spent most of their time on the Missis- sippi River. Abraham now lives in Winona and is still steamboating, while Corydon is somewhere on the Pacific coast. This family gave the name to the valley.

Charles Gainer came with the Looneys, settled on section twenty-three, and there remained until the others had left. Isaac Thompson, A. B. Hunt, and Adam Coon also came at an early day, and are still residents, and honored and leading citi- zens. Mr. McSpadden lives in Looney valley, and has a valuable water-power on Silver Creek.

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History of Houston County, Including Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 71

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

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