History of Houston County, Including Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 80

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

USA > Minnesota > Houston County > History of Houston County, Including Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota > Part 80

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have four children, three daughters and one son. Amanda, the eldest, is married and resides in Iowa; Lovina, the second, is also married and lives in Wisconsin; Jane and Henry are yet unmarried and reside with their parents.

WILLIAM A. VANCE is a son of A. Vance, who was born in Caledonia county, Vermont, on the 14th of October, 1812. He moved to Groton where he learned the shoemaker's trade, at which he was engaged in his native State until coming west. His wife was Miss Lucinda A. Tucker, a grand-daughter of Col. Robert Johnston, who served in the Revolutionary war, and was among the early settlers in Vermont. William was born in Barnet, Vermont, on the 5th of April, 1843. He came to Money Creek with his parents in 1865, but soon returned east and was engaged in different occupations, remaining in Boston two years. In March, 1872, he was united in marriage with Miss Gray, of New Brunswick, who is now deceased. The maiden name of his present wife was Abbie Symes, of Ryegate, whom he married on the 12th of Januay, 1875. She has borne him three chil- dren, Hattie B., Ethel May, and Minnie Gray. Mr. Vance has held the office of Supervisor and district Clerk, and in 1880, took the census of the town. He is also a member and Superintendent of the Sunday school of Money Creek. He has a brother, George L., now residing in Joliet, Illinois, who served for a time in the quartermaster de- partment at Washingion; another, David E., en- lieted in a Vermont regiment, served three years, was taken prisoner at Harper's Ferry, and now is engaged in the practice of law at Winona, and a sister, who is the wife of D. C. Dyer, of Houston.

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MOUND PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP.

MOUND PRAIRIE

CHAPTER LXI.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION- EARLY SETTLEMENT-PO- LITICAL ORGANIZATION- MANUFACTURING-MER- CANTILE-LORETTE HOUSE-RELIGIOUS-SCHOOLS -BIOGRAPHICAL.

The township bearing this name is the second from the Mississippi River on the northern line of Houston county. It has Winona county on the . north, La Crescent on the east, Union on the south, and Houston on the west. The name of the town was suggested by Dr. Chase, an old res- ident, in remembrance of a remarkable rounded bluff in section four, surrounded by a wide valley on all sides. This was originally a part of Union and La Crescent.

The town is eight and one-half miles from north to south, and five miles wide, and includes a part of two government townships. The Root River bisects the town a little south of the center, in an irregular course from the west, with a tendency toward the south. Several branches join it in this town, both from the north and from the south. Crystal Creek cuts across the southwestern corner, and Pine Creek, from Winona county, runs through section four.

The general topography is in harmony with the other towns in the county, and along Root River there are valleys, bluffs, and ridges, the latter in quite an extensive plateau north of the center.

The railroad runs in the valley of the Root River, and there is a station and a Post-office on section twenty-eight, which, in the case of this town, is near the geographical center. There is little unproductive land, except the sharp sides of the bluffs, and if land was scarce even these could be utilized.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

There are conflicting claims as to the personnel

and the date of the first settlement of Mound Prairie. There was a heavy growth of black wal- nut timber along the Root River, which could be cut and rafted down to the Mississippi, and sev- eral parties availed themselves of this opening. They built temporary cabins, and cutting out the best timber, laid claim to everything in sight on account of these "improvements," as this vandal- ism was called, and then selling their questionable rights to men seeking homes. This part of the county was thus captured by the supplementary land office operators, early in the fifties.

The first man to make a claim within the pres- ent limits of the township, as far as can be learned, was John Crypts, a German by birth. His first business was getting out black walnut logs, and he is said to have employed the Indians to assist in this work. It is claimed that his family was with him, and that a daughter was born soon after his coming; if so that would be the first birth in the town. But, James Carrigan, it is claimed, is en- titled to that distinction. It is certain that Mr. Crypts had a daughter, wherever she was born, and that she grew to womanhood and was mar- ried, and lived near Brownsville. Mr. Crypts' claim, or one of them, was south of the river on section thirty-four, where Mr. W. Connington now resides. He did considerable land speculation for those early days.

Thomas Van Sickle, originally from Pennsyl- vania, came, it is quite likely, in 1852, and engaged in running off black walnut timber and in the claim business. He located himself on section four, a mile or south of the river. After selling his right, title, and interest in this place he went across the river to section twenty-one, but was not long in disposing of this claim to James C. Day, when he removed to Iowa and afterwards to Brownsville in this county, where he died a few years ago.

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HISTORY OF HOUSTON COUNTY.

James C. Day was also from the Key Stone State, and cultivated the farm for a few years, then sold to the present occupant, Mr. P. Eberhard, and removed to La Crescent, where he run a ferry boat. Jacob Bush came here from Hokah in 1853 or '54, and secured a claim in what is called Bush Valley, on section twenty-six. In 1855, he began the erection of a saw-mill and a dam, and had them nearly completed when the dam was washed away by one of those remorseless floods that have so little regard for human hopes. He abandoned the enterprise, and soon afterwards went to Cali- fornia, leaving his family, but returned in a few years and took them to Oregon, after selling his property.

Henry P. Eberhard came from Prussia to Wash- ington county, Wisconsin, in 1843, and in the spring of 1854, came to this township and secured eighty acres on section twenty-one. He has one son, J. A., who resides at the station and keeps the only store in town, and is also station and ex- press agent. Another son, Philip, is on section twenty-one, on the Van Sickle claim.

Dr. J. G. Sheldon came in 1856, and located on section thirty-three.

Abraham Millhauser located on sections twenty- one, twenty-two, and twenty-seven and the next year built a dam, but subsequently moved to La Crosse and there built a steam saw-mill, which is now owned by Mr. Paul.' After a year or so he returned and joined the great majority in 1858.

His son, A. A. Millhauser, was born in Pennsyl- vania in February, 1851. He was married to Elizabeth Krohler in 1878, and soon after bought the farm where he now lives, on section eight. He is now Chairman of the town board. Philip G. Vix, a native of France, came to Wisconsin in 1845, and over here in 1854, locating where he may be still found, on section twenty-nine. He had a family of two sons and one daughter, the oldest son and daughter still living in town.

Edward S. Lore arrived in the spring of 1855. His father, Seth, afterwards came. Their place was on the north ridge. Edward S. removed to Jackson county, taking a claim on the Des Moines River, and at the time of the Sioux Massacre in. 1862, he was the only man who effected an escape from the doomed settlement. He gave the alarm and finally made his way back to Mound Prairie. He died while on a visit to friends in the east in

1877. The old gentleman, Seth Lore, was a na- tive of New Jersey, and at one time lost heavily by the wreck of a merchant vessel in which his means were invested. He was one of the founders of Ironton, Alabama, on the Chattahoochee River, where he did a large business in connection with John Forsyth, formerly Spanish Minister, and Hon. Alfred Iverson, a senator from Georgia. His daughter, Mrs. C. B. Carpenter, came soon after her father. She was the first Clerk of the district and the first woman in the State to hold that position. James Stowe came about the same time and took a claim on section eight. He was from Augusta, Maine, and died about 1864.

In 1855, the proclivity to lay out cities and vil- lages struck this locality, and Dr. Sheldon, having become impressed with the necessity, had a village surveyed and platted, ard bestowed upon it the castilian name of "San Jacinto." It was on Wm. Hunter's land, but its remains would be quite as difficult to find as some of the ancient histori- cal cities of Asia.

The initial marriage is supposed to have been that of Mr. Christian Zeigler and Miss Sophia Eb- erhard, in 1856.

The first death, as near as can be remembered, was a child of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Heffner, and the mother soon followed the little one.

The earliest birth must have been a son to Van Sickle, in the spring of 1853. As already men- tioned, it is possible that Mr. Crypt's daughter antedates this.

POLITICAL ORGANIZATION.

The town was originally taken from Union and La Crescent. The first town meeting of which there is a record, was at the house of Jesse Hewitt in April, 1860. There were sixty-two votes cast. Isaac Holmes was Moderator, and the following officers were chosen: Supervisors, George Can- non, Chairman, Jacob Bush, and George Larson; Assessor, Jacob Krohler; Town Clerk, Wm. Con- nington; Treasurer, Seth Lore, and Superintend- ent of Schools, Andrew Orr.

The affairs of the town have been faithfully cared for; it being a farming community with few expenditures, except for highways and schools, the burden of taxation for local purposes has never been excessive.

The present town officers are: Supervisors, A. A. Millhauser, Chairman, Charles Lehman, and Wm. Connington; Town Clerk, H. Herzog; Treas-

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MOUND PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP.

urer, J. A. Eberhard; Assessor, H. Niebuhr; Jus- tices of the Peace, Fred Frey and H. R. Sheldon; Constables, Wm. Eglinton and George Bailey.

POST-OFFICES.

A Post-office was secured about the year 1855, and it was named San Jacinto, in honor of the decisive battle in the struggle for Texan independ- ence, and of which Gen. Sam Houston was the hero. It was at first where Wm. Orr now lives. Mr. Cannon was the first Postmaster, and Dr. Sheldon was afterwards in office.

LORETTE POST-OFFICE .- In 1856, & Post-office was located at the Lorette House and Mr. E. S. Lore held the postal keys. Mrs. Anna M. Price, a sister of the Postmaster was appointed deputy the following spring, and had charge until it was discontinued, except a single year, when David Davis was Postmaster. In 1869 both these offices were discontinued and the Mound Prairie office established, with Mr. J. A. Eberhard in charge.

MANUFACTURING.

Mound Prairie cannot be said to be a manufac- turing town, although several more or less success- ful attempts have been made in this direction, and an account of what has been done will be here presented.

In 1853 or '54, Jacob Bush built a dam across the creek in section twenty-six, and nearly com- pleted a saw-mill 24x40 feet, of very heavy timber, 18 inches square. A wheel was ready to be placed in position, when a sudden freshet proved too much for the dam to resist and it left its proprie- tor, to accompany the mad current on its way to Gulf. A little more strength in the dam, and a little less in the mill, might have prevented this catastrophe. Mr. Bush complained that he had been deceived by others who were connected with the enterprise, and he made no effort to repair the mischief. The mill stood for years as a monument of the dismal failure, and the timbers still lie scattered about the place. .

A second attempt was made, in 1856, to build a mill to saw lumber and grind grain. Mr. Abra- ham Millhauser was the moving spirit in the en- terprise. A dam was thrown across the Dayville, or Hanson Creek, in section twenty-two, but the first rise in the stream took it along in quest of its companion somewhere below, and so this attempt to utilize the water power of the town likewise proved a contretemps.

The attempts to use water as a motive power having thus far failed, Mr. James McLaughlin has invoked a power that requires no figuring to de- termine its rate, which is four horse power, as the animals themselves do the work, with a machine not unlike that employed in running a threshing machine. He has a feed mill of his own inven- tion, so constructed that corn in the ear is ground with one operation, without preparatory crushing. The stones have a diameter of three feet four inches, are of sandstone taken from the bluff near by, and have a capacity for grinding 150 bushels of corn a day, and a larger amount of small grain.

MERCANTILE ..

At quite an early day a store was opened by Charles Chase on the Sheldon farm, and the firm afterwards became Chase & Andrew Orr. While the railroad was building, Mr. D. J. Cameron had a small stock of goods near the station. In 1868, J. A. Eberhard opened a store at the station in a small building, and the next year put up his pres- ent store. He keeps a general line of merchan- dise suitable for country trade.

THE LORETTE HOUSE.

No history of this region would be complete or satisfactory without a sketch of this noted tavern. , It was on the old territorial road from La Crosse to St. Paul, and was the first principal stopping place after leaving La Crosse. It was constructed by Seth Lore and kept by him until 1861, and since then Mrs. C. B. Carpenter, his daughter, has been the hostess. It was a log house, 18x20 feet, with three rooms on the ground floor and a cham- ber above, and an extension back of the building as a cook room. In early times this was a stop- ing place for three lines of stages, and not unfre- quently seventy persons would be accommodated with dinners. On the old register may be found the names of General Sibley, Governor Ramsey, Judge Goodrich, Major McCullom, Captain Rol- lins, Colonel Allyn, Lords Cavendish and Groes- nor, Sir William Ashley, with numerous Big In- dians, including "Hole-in-the-Day," "Bastie," and others.

The house was noted for its immense fire place, which took up one-half of a side of the building. In 1859, a frame addition was built, 20x30 feet, and two stories in height. When the railroads be- gan operations this old hostelry, around which clustered so many associations, was left stranded

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HISTORY OF HOUSTON COUNTY.

on the shores of a new era, as a solitary land mark of an age gone to return never more, and remind- ing us that: "Tempora mutantur, et nos mutamur in illis.'

RELIGIOUS.

MOUND PRAIRIE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN SO- CIETY .- This was organized by Rev. John Smith. The edifice was erected in 1874, and is 28x40 feet with a spire, and cost $1,600. Previous to this time services had been held at private residences and schoolhouses. One of the earliest ministers was Rev. Mr. Ges. Others remembered are, Pau- ling, Stagner, Charles Brill, H. Bunce, Empte, Kabel, Kuter, and Mr. Kienholz, who was here when the church was built. The present pastor is George Jahn, a native of France, who came to this country when young. He was here the year after the church was built, and after laboring in other fields came back in 1879. There is a Sun- day school connected with this church, with seventy children who attend. Mr. Burow is the Superintendent.

GERMAN REFORM CHURCH .- Zion Society was organized on the 15th of July, 1877, there hav- ing been preaching here a year or more before this time. Julius Granel was the pastor and there were eight members, but there are only six now. Peter Mades was the first elder, and the trustees were Oswald Lofi and Peter Mades. A church was built in 1877, 24x32 feet, at a cost of $950. Wm. Mades was the treasurer. The first minister who had a regular appointment after the church was constructed, was Rev. Mr. Graveland who re- mained three years. Rev B. R. Hinker was oc- casionally here. In the season of 1882, Rev. A. Kanne and Rev. Mr. Routgren preached on alter- nate Sundays. The present treasurer is George Senn. There is a Sunday school connected with the church.

CEMETERIES.

There are quite a number of burial places in town, and they will be described in the briefest way, as on account of the healthfulness of the region, no specialty is made in this direction.

LORETTE CEMETERY .-- This contains about three-fourths of an acre of land, which was deeded to the citizens of the place, where any one, except negroes, could be buried free. Ella Price was the first interment, followed by Mrs. Lorr and Ed-

ward Lorr, who were removed here. There are in all about twenty graves.

The burial place of the Reformed Church con- tains one-half an acre. Jacob Schield had his re- mains deposited here, and his is still a solitary grave.

THE KROHLER CEMETERY .- The first to be de- posited here was Jessie Hewitt, and it now con- tains ten or twelve.

THE EVANGELICAL CEMETERY .- The remains of Mrs. J. Fitch were the first; there are now several others.

The Millhauser Lot, a private place, with only members of the family interred.

The Vix burial place is on the farm in section twenty-nine. It contains the mortal remains of eight members of this family and their near relatives.

SCHOOLS.

DISTRICT NO. 11 .- The first school was in a log structure put together by Van Sickle, on section twenty-one, and was presided over by E. S. Lore, which must have been in 1856. In 1861, a school house was built of logs by subscription, the size being 16x20 feet. James Connor was the first teacher in the new building.

DISTRICT No. 14 .- The first term here was by Andrew Orr, in 1858, in a building put up by Mr. Fairbanks. That same fall a frame building was erected opposite Dr. Sheldon's house. In 1872, the house was removed to the south side of the prairie, on section nine, where it now accommo- dates a larger number of pupils.

DISTRICT No. 62 .- This was organized in 1866, and a log house put up the same year, 20x16 feet, and paid for by voluntary contributions. It is located on section twenty-six. The introductory teacher was Miss Ella Looney, of Houston, and the officers were: Director, George Senn; Treasurer, C. Lehman, and Clerk, John Smith.

DISTRICT No. 94 .- This is the "Lorette dis- trict," and was originally No. 75. The first meet- ing was held at Lorette House for organization, September 7th, 1876; one-half acre of land was donated by Mrs. Anna M. Carpenter, the northeast of the southeast of section eight. It is a neat, white frame house, 18x30 feet, with green blinds, furnished with plain desks; fine teacher's desk and chair; portable blackboard; full set of the largest size Camp's outline maps and Holbrook's 12 inch globe. The cost of house, including furniture,

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was $578. First enrollment of scholars, 59; the first term was taught by J. W. Gleason; com- menced December 18th, 1876. Anna M. Carpenter was clerk; John Frey, director, and August Trenske, treasurer. Miss Mary Keup, of La Crescent, was the first lady teacher. Three weeks from the time the first nail was driven, thirty-eight scholars were seated in this flourishing school- house. The present teacher is L. P. Rasse.

DISTRICT No. 93 .- This district has a log house, put up in 1877. The first instructor was Miss Mary Harris. The schools as a rule are not un- like other farming towns in the county.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

WALTER BEARDTSLY was born in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, on the 7th of March, 1853. When he was three years old his mother died, and two years later, his father went to Nevada. Walter was placed in charge of a family with whom he lived until sixteen years old. In 1859, the family moved to Watertown and thence to Milwaukee where Walter attended school and afterwards learned the trade of brushmaking. In 1870, he went to Chi- cago, but returned to Milwaukee, where he pur- chased a line of merchandise for which he found sale on his way to Minnesota, and has been engaged in farming pursuits ever since.

CYRUS B. CARPENTER is a native of St. Lawrence county, New York, born on the 21st of February, 1843, but at the age of fourteen years removed to Lewiston, Niagara county. During the rebellion he served in Company L, of the Eighth New York Heavy Artillery, participating in the battles of Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Ream's Station, Hatch's Run, Boydton Roads, Petersburg, Lee's Surrender, and many others of less note. He held the position of Sergeant of his company when dis- charged at the close of the war. In 1865, Mr. Carpenter came to Houston county and located on the farm formerly owned by John Hyatt. For the last few years he has lived at the Lorette House.

EDMUND EVANS was born in England in Sep- tember, 1819. On the 10th of April, 1849, he was married to Miss Ann Ayres. They came to Amer- ica the same year, and resided in New York until 1852. In the latter year Mr. Evans was placed in charge of the Agricultural department of the Spencer Academy in the Indian Territory. This academy is located in the Choctaw reservation, and is maintained by the Government, the Presbyter-

ian board of missions and the Indians themselves. Mr. and Mrs. Evans remained there until 1860, when failing health compelled them to leave their good work. They came immediately to this place and located a farm in section eleven upon which they still reside. Mr. Evans is a member of the Presbyterian church of La Crescent. His chil- dren are, Edwin F., William I., Sarah R., Henry C., Arthur, Mary Jane A., Sheldon J., Walter T., Albert E., Julia A., and Rosa L.

JOHN A. EBERHARD, a native of Prussia, was born on the 25th of October, 1838. In 1843, he came with his parents to Washington county, Wisconsin, and in 1854, to Mound Prairie. He was united in marriage with Miss Ann Jane Corlett in April, 1860. They moved to section twenty-eight where they have since resided. In March, 1865, he enlisted in Company A, of the Fifty-third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, serving as Corporal till the close of the war. Mr. Eber- hard owns the only store in the place, keeping a stock of general merchandise. He is station agent for the Southern Minnesota Railroad Com- pany at this point, also agent for the Express Company, and Postmaster. He held the office of Town Clerk two years, Supervisor three terms, and is at present Treasurer, this being his fifth term. In 1877, he was elected to the State Legislature from this district,. Eight children have been born to him; Charles C., Rosa Bell, John J., Sarah, William W., (deceased, ) Julia, Ellen, and Ren- ben R.

Many years ago he was a member of the State militia and was commissioned First Lieutenant by Governor Ramsey.

JOHN H. HARGREAVES, deceased, was born in Derby county, England, the 28th of December, 1812. When young he learned the stone-cutter's trade. He was joined in matrimony with Miss Mary Sherratt, in Wool-Starton, in 1838. She was born in Stafford county, in 1818. In 1846, they came to America and located in Cincinnati, Ohio, where Mr.Hargreaves followed his profession. While the court house was building in Cincinnati he worked on that building as foreman, for four years. From Cincinnati they moved to Louisville, Ken- tucky, in 1853, where he owned a marble and stone works. From there they moved to Minne- sota and located at Mound Prairie, Houston county. Mr. Hargreaves died the first of Decem- ber, 1864, mourned by a large circle of friends.

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He had eight children; Mark, residing in Hokah; Maria, who died in England; Abel, who died in Mound Prairie; Abraham died in England; Levi resides at home in charge of the farm; Jane died in Louisville, Kentucky; and Mary Ann and Clara live at home. Mrs. Hargreaves, with one son and two daughters, resides on the homestead taken by her husband in '1855, in Mound Prairie.

CHARLES LEHMANN, one of the largest stock raisers of this section, and an early settler, is a na- tive of Wurtemburg, Germany, born the 27th of January, 1844. He came to America in 1854; re- sided one year in New York, thence to Chicago, and in 1857, to Mound Prairie. In 1863, he en- listed in Company F, of the Tenth Minnesota Vol- unteer Infantry, participating in the battles of Nashville, Tupelo, and Mobile, serving till the close of the war. He married Miss Anna Senn in 1867. Their children are, Carl, Anna, Mary, Florence, and Josephine. For the past six years Mr. Lehmann has been a member of the board of Supervisors, besides holding other local offices.

GEORGE LARSON is a native of Norway, born on the 15th of October, 1832. His parents came to America, locating in Dane county, Wisconsin, when George was quite young. In 1852, he made a trip through this county in company with T. Halverson, and the following spring took the claim on which he now lives. In 1854, he erected a log house and his parents joined him, residing with him until the death of his father in 1868. Mr. Larson enlisted in Company F, of the Tenth Min- nesota Infantry, in August, 1862. After the In- dian massacre he helped bring about four hundred Indian prisoners to Mankato; then assisted in re- moving the Winnebagoes to their reservation on the Missouri river. In July, 1863, he returned to Fort Snelling, and in the fall was sent south, where he participated in the battles of Nashville, Fort Blakeley, and Spanish Fort, receiving an honora- ble discharge in August, 1865. He was joined in matrimony in July, 1871, with Mrs. Annie Han- son. The fruits of this union are three children; Inga Julia, Emma Helline, and Tilda Josephine. Mrs. Larson had one daughter, Belle, by her first husband.

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History of Houston County, Including Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 80

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

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