USA > Minnesota > Morrison County > History of Morrison and Todd counties, Minnesota, their people, industries and institutions, Volume I > Part 15
USA > Minnesota > Todd County > History of Morrison and Todd counties, Minnesota, their people, industries and institutions, Volume I > Part 15
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PULASKI TOWNSHIP.
Pulaski township comprises congressional township 42, range 28, and was originally a part of Ripley township, when that was a very large civil subdivision of this county. As now bounded, it is south of Crow Wing county, west of Richardson township, north of Granite township, and east of Platte township. The Platte river strikes its extreme northwestern cor- ner. There are no towns within its borders, neither railroads. It was set off from Ripley in January, 1899, and the first township meeting was held at the home of John Harmoschinski. The population of the township in 1910 was one hundred and twenty-nine. Of its early settlement but little can now be learned.
PLATTE TOWNSHIP.
Platte township was organized by act of the county commissioners in January, 1899, and comprises all of congressional township 42, range 30. On January 24. 1899, the first town meeting was held at the house of Charles Richner when township officers were elected. Platte is south fron Crow Wing county line, west from Pulaski, north from Buh and east from Ripley township, and is six miles square. Platte river runs diagonally from northeast to southwest through its territory. There are no towns or rail- roads within the township. Its population in 1910 was two hundred and nine. The territory once belonged to that of Ripley.
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GRANITE TOWNSHIP.
Granite township was formed in July, 1902, and is congressional town- ship 41. range 29. and contains thirty-six sections. It is south of Pulaski, west from Leigh, north from Hillman and Pierz and east from Buh town- ship. Its population in 1910 was four hundred and seventy-eight. It is a well-settled farming district, with many good homes and a prosperous, con- tented population. Belle Prairie township once embraced this territory.
ROSING TOWNSHIP.
Rosing township of Morrison county once belonged to the territory of what was styled Crow Wing township, which had been cut from Motley township, and organized on July 7, 1902. Its name was changed from Crow Wing to Rosing in September, 1902. Its population in 1910 was one hundred and forty-three. It is one of the smallest townships in Morri- son county and is bounded on the north by the Mississippi river and the county line. It is a part of township 132, ranges 29 and 30, and contains about nineteen sections of land, with Rails Prairie township at its south and Motley township on its west. It is fairly well settled and improved by an industrious class of agriculturists. It is without towns or villages.
IIILMAN TOWNSHIP.
Hilman township comprises congressional township 40, range 29, and is bounded on the north by Granite and Leigh townships, on the east by Mt. Morris, on the south by Morrill and on the west by Pierz township. Its population in rio was only sixty-six. but has somewhat increased at this date. The Soo railroad line touches its northwest corner, but there is no station point within its territory. Pierz township formerly embraced this territory. It was organized into a separate township on July 7. 1902. It received the name of a pioneer of the county.
LAKIN TOWNSHIP.
Lakin township was organized from part of the territory formerly embraced in Morrill township, and consists of the southeastern congres- sional township in Morrison county, township 39. range 28, and is six miles
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square. The date of its organization was July 6, 1903. Its population in 1910 was only fifty-five, and is but little greater at this date. Buckman township once included its domain.
RICHARDSON TOWNSHIP.
Richardson township was named for Pioneer Nathaniel Richardson, but was once known as Peavy township after the great grain king and ele- vator man. It was organized on January 7, 1903. In 1910 its population was sixty. It is in the extreme northeast corner of Morrison county, and comprises all of congressional township 42, range 28. It has two small streams. There are no villages within its territory. Pulaski township is at its west, Leigh at its south.
LEIGH TOWNSIIIP.
Leigh township was organized on January 29, 1908, the last of any in the county. It is situated on the east line of the county, south of Richardson, east of Granite and north of Mt. Morris and Hillman townships. The Soo railroad line runs through its southeastern part. In 1910 it had a population of fifty-four. Belle Prairie originally ran through to the east line of the county and included this domain. It comprises congressional township 41, range 28. The first township meeting was held on February 15, 1908, at Joseph Leigh's house and it derived its name from this family name. Hill- man village is within this township, in section 28, on the Soo railroad line.
MORRILL TOWNSHIP.
Prior to 1888 Morrill township was organized from territory formerly belonging to Buckman township, but later was known as a part of what was then styled Oakwood township. It was cut off as Oakwood township by act of the board of county commissioners in the spring of 1881, and the town meeting was held at the school house in section 29, on April II of that year. The following officers were duly elected for the newly-made township of Oakwood: T. D. Miller, A. T. Sandy and C. D. Hunter, supervisors; John F. Hunter, clerk; J. Miller, assessor; George Ferguson, treasurer ; Henry McNeal, justice of the peace; A. Miller, constable.
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The first settler in this township was John Roach, who came in Septem- ber, 1874, locating in section 32, and there remained until 1881, then removed to Benton county. H. Soudie, of Pennsylvania, settled in section 32 in 1876, and was still here in 1882. Other pioneers here were T. D. Miller, C. D. Hunter, J. Miller, L. and J. Soudie.
The first school district was established in 1877, and a building erected the year following in section 29. A Sabbath school was formed in Septem- ber, 1879, by J. Stewart. The first death was Maud Racliff, July 7, 1881. The first marriage was on May 22, 1881, when John Hunter married Lonella Soudie.
This civil township became known as Morrill township about 1885, and extended to the east line of the county, embracing what is now Lakin town- ship, in the southeastern corner of the county, but in 1903 it was divided again and Lakin township was cut off to the east, leaving Morrill township to constitute its present bounds-township 39, range 29. It is hence cut to six miles square and contains thirty-six sections. It is south of Hillman, east of Buckman, and west of Lakin townships.
Its population in 1910 was three hundred and fifty. It is without town, village or railroad station. In the last few years it has increased in farms and is fast coming to the front as one of the subdivisions of Morrison county.
PIKE CREEK TOWNSHIP.
In the beginning of the county's history ( 1856) what is now styled Pike Creek township, was a part of Little Falls township, running to the Mis- sissippi river from the west line of the county. In 1870 it was divided and that portion to the east of the line between ranges 30 and 31 was made into a new township known as Culdrum, and this obtained until the new town- ship of Pike Creek was formed about 1880, since which time another slight change was made when the city of Little Falls was about to be incorporated. Pike Creek now comprises township 129, range 30, and is six miles square. It is south of Darling, west of Little Falls, north of Swan River and east of. Culdrum townships. Its population in 1890 was eight hundred and nine: in 1900 it was one thousand three hundred and sixty-one and in 1910 had increased only to one thousand three hundred and ninety-five.
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BUH TOWNSHIP.
Buh township is one of the central townships of Morrison county, and is bounded on the north by Platte, on the east by Granite, on the south by Pierz and Agram and on the west by Belle Prairie townships. It comprises Congressional township 41, range 30, and is six miles square. Platte river runs through its territory from north to south, bearing to the west. A small portion of the village of Pierz is along the southern border line. Its popula- tion in 1910 was seven hundred and thirteen. It contains many beautiful and valuable farm homes. It was named in honor of a saintly old Catholic priest of former days in this county. It was organized as a separate town- ship in July, 1895, having belonged to Belle Prairie at one time.
VILLAGE OF LASTRUP.
Lastrup is a postoffice point established in 1898 in Buh township, on the line of Granite. The first postmaster was William Hoheisel. The first mail carrier was Archie Decent. The office was kept at the Henry Stroeing farm house. In 1900 Theodore Ortmann became postmaster and the office was moved to where the blacksmith shop was located. In the autumn of 1900 the Lastrup Catholic church was formed with Rev. J. J. Meyer as its first pastor. Services were held in what is now the Kingen residence. In 1901 work was begun on the present church and the outside work was com- pleted by Christmas day. In 1902 the present priest's house was erected. In 1903 Vincent Dombovy built the first blacksmith shop. In 1908 the first licensed saloon was opened by F. X. Steger, Sr. In 1909 the co-operative creamery building was built. At present the place is assuming considerable enterprise. This village is situated six miles to the northeast of the village of Pierz. The Lastrup Farmers' Creamery Company was organized in March, 1915. The first officers were Joseph Partner, president; Mike Braun, vice-president ; Joseph Schubut, Peter Weidenbach, S. D. Wood, directors; Ed. Stuckmeyer, treasurer, and Theodore Ortmann, secretary. The first general store was opened by Brinkman Brothers in 1901 ; they sold to Joseph Blake three years later, who in turn sold to Gross Brothers in 1912. The village blacksmith is now Casper Thomme.
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SWANVILLE TOWNSHIP.
The second township from the southern line of the county and on the west line is Swanville, originally a part of Swan River township. It was formed into a separate civil precinct of the county on October 12, 1892, and comprises all of congressional township 128, range 31. Its population in 1910 was eight hundred and twenty-six. It is north of Elmdale and west of Swan River townships. This township, with Elmdale and part of Culd- rum townships, constitute one of the finest agricultural sections in Morrison county. The lands have long since been taken up and utilized after modern methods in farming industries. This six-mile-square tract is indeed a garden spot in many ways. The village of Swanville is in section 7 and is a station point on the branch or division of the Northern Pacific which runs southwest from Little Falls. Swanville has a population of about four hundred and is well represented by almost all branches of town business enterprises.
VILLAGE OF SWANVILLE.
Swanville was incorporated in 1893 and now has electric lights furnished by a private corporation, giving both day and night service. The plant con- sists of a small dynamo run by a gasoline engine, and storage batteries are employed in the production of electricity.
The business interests of Swanville in the summer of 1915 are as fol- low : There are two State banks, The First State Bank and the Peoples State Bank. There are five general merchandise stores, Lee Biteman & Company, J. B. Stith & Sons, B. B. Cox, Fred Muske, and J. P. Galles ; drug store, E. L. Kaliher ; one physician. Dr. I. G. Wiltiont ; meat market, B. H. Milhath ; two restaurants, Mrs. J. Cofield, Lee Biteman & Company ; imple- ment dealers, William Trampe; garage, Albert Milke & Son; hotel. W. H. Cox; three saloons; two hardware stores. Swanville Hardware Company. F. A. Villerock; livery, Henry Hall; feed and flour-mills, also saw-mill, Koenig & Meschke; elevators, Monarch Elevator Company and Farmers' Co- operative Company; two blacksmiths, H. Kennke and Otto Kreuger; two cream stations ; one feed store, F. E. Wilmot ; two barber shops ; a shoe shop and jewelry repair shop. William Raffensparger : billiard hall. E. C. Mem- rell; two dray lines, John Kasper and Harry Hall.
CHAPTER XVIII.
CITY OF LITTLE FALLS.
Little Falls was made the seat of justice of Morrison county by the organizing act approved on February 25, 1856. It is situated on both sides of the Mississippi river in range 32 and townships 40 and 41. It is about six miles to the west of the center of the county, and is on the Northern Pacific railroad, which was completed through the city in the autumn of 1877, from St. Paul to Motley, where it intersects the main line from Duluth to the Pacific coast, which line was built as far as Motley in 1872. Another division of the system extends from the city to Brainerd; this line was com- pleted in 1880-81 ; another from Little Falls west, known as the old Little Falls & Dakota, was completed in 1880, the first dirt being thrown on June 25, 1880. Thus it will be observed that railway facilities are excellent in Little Falls.
Little Falls is known far and near as a great pine lumber manufacturing city-indeed, this is its principal industry.
The town was surveyed in 1855, by S. M. Putnam, but not incorpo- rated.
EARLY SETTLEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT.
It appears from all that can be learned by the historian of today that James Green was the first permanent settler in this township. He took a squatter's claim on the east bank of the Mississippi river, at the site of the present city, in 1848-sixty-seven years ago. He built a saw-mill and secured water-power by building a wing dan to the island above, making a "head" of something over three feet, which was sufficient to propel his mill machinery. He also constructed a boom by fastening one end to the west bank of the river, near Little Falls ferry landing, and the other at the head of the island below, and thus managed to run most of the logs into the mill pond. This was in the fall of 1849. Soon after this Green died, when H. M. Rice and Captain Todd purchased the mill. They sold to William Sturgis in 1850, or thereabouts. He ran the mill until 1854, then sold a two-thirds
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interest to James Fergus ( for whom Fergus Falls was later named), and Calvin A. Tuttle, who formed a company known as the Little Falls Com- pany.
The lands on the east side of the river were surveyed in 1852. Prior to this, John M. Kidder, father-in-law of Sturgis, had filed a pre-emption claim covering that portion of the east bank of the Mississippi river, includ- ing the water-power. The Little Falls Company purchased the land included in the said Kidder claim, of Mr. Sturgis, he having bought it from the heirs of John M. Kidder, deceased, who died before the land came into market, so that the Little Falls Company purchased the land from the government at the first land sale, in November, 1855. This purchase included the Kid- der claim and the land adjoining the village of Little Falls and that upon which it was located later, amounting in all to about two thousand acres. This company continued but a short time, then merged into a joint-stock company, in the autumn of 1855, known as the Little Falls Manufacturing Company. The newly formed corporation issued stock to the amount of one hundred thousand dollars, Fergus, Sturgis and Tuttle taking a half inter- est and the remainder readily sold for fifty thousand dollars cash. This stock rapidly advanced, until it reached two hundred and fifty per cent., at which price most of the shares changed hands. About seventy-five thousand dollars was expended in improvements of the water-power kind, and in building a dam, bridge and mills. While the manufacturing company had plenty of money they spent it freely and indiscriminately.
It is said that in constructing the dam on the east side of the island, the water was first shut off by a "horse dam," and sand and gravel were hauled in to the depth of from two to three feet, to make a level bed on which to place the frame of the principal dam. The bed of the river was rocky and uneven, well fitted to hold the foot of a substantial dam, but some of its constructors thought a smooth sand bed preferable, and hence it was so constructed. In connection with this dam, this company built a fine Howe truss bridge. It was made in the winter of 1857-58, and the main portion stood for many years. After about nine years it was found to be rotting, when the board of county commissioners had it repaired, but soon after this it was blown down and never rebuilt. It was later used in constructing the bridge at Sauk Rapids.
This company also constructed a large saw-mill and a large two-and- one-half-story cabinet shop. Mr. Fletcher built a commodious flouring-mill. which was also run by water-power. The dam was broken in 1859, and no one had the courage to rebuild it, and Mr. Fletcher removed his flouring-
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mill plant to Sauk river. The dam was, however, repaired in the winter of 1859-60, but during the following summer a sudden rise in the Mississippi destroyed dam and saw-mill, as well as the large cabinet shop, so there was nothing to show for the large investment. Hence it was that the stock once so high priced depreciated until in 1860 it was practically worthless, and the company's property was insufficient to meet their obligations and it failed. Thus the water-power and first milling industry at Little Falls com- menced its eventful history. Taking up other parts of the city's history for a time, later on the reader will see what has been accomplished by modern methods and modern minds, backed with capital.
SALE OF TOWN LOTS.
Immediately after the town was platted, in 1855, a few lots were given away, after which lots sold rapidly, some in the best locations bringing as high as one thousand dollars each, while land near town brought one hun- dred dollars an acre. But with the advent of the year 1860, and the milling company's failure, the population soon decreased, and the stock of the mill- ing company went down very low. What was known as Mill Island, at the date of the construction of the dam, was cut across by a ditch, and the annual high water and floods of the Mississippi plowed its way through, making a wide channel. With the passage of about a decade, property began looking up again, and at no time since about 1875 has there been a decline, but, on the contrary, things have kept abreast with the times, and today there is no better business and manufacturing point than Little Falls, Minnesota, with its great lumbering and paper-mill industries.
MURDER OF A GERMAN PEDDLER.
Three Indians under arrest in 1857 for the murder of an innocent Ger- man peddler, on the road near Gull Lake, were taken from the sheriff-Mr. Pugh-while en route for St. Paul, and summarily disposed of by a party under the leadership of Anson Northrup and Benjamin Brown, both of whom then resided in this section. The sheriff's party was overtaken near the site of the present Royalton, and the Indians, taken back to the southern border of the prairie south from Little Falls village and still chained together, hung to a pole supported by two trees. They had on the way back con- fessed their crime, and made no attempt to resist. Considerable alarmı was
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created among the white settlers, in fear that there might be an Indian upris- ing over the affair, but the excitement soon died away and nothing ever came of the matter.
It was this Anson Northrup who built a saw-mill at Swan river in 1856, and operated it two years.
SIOUX MASSACRE AT LITTLE FALLS.
Pioneer Nicholson, already mentioned, is the authority for the state- ment that during the first settlement of Little Falls, a small party of friendly Chippewas was camping on the island near the village, and not anticipating any evil, were enjoying their repose, when a band of Sioux noiselessly crossed the river channel under cover of darkness, stole in upon the sleepers and killed and scalped the entire party, except a young Indian girl, who swam the river and secreted herself in a stable, where she was found the next morning, pierced through with an arrow. She was well known to the villagers and a universal favorite, but refused the hospitality offered, as well as the medical attendance urged, saying she did not want to live, as her friends were all dead. She bore her pain with that silent stoicism character- istic of her race, until death sealed her passport to the happy hunting grounds of her kindred.
LITTLE FALLS WAR.
In the first years of the settlement of Little Falls and Morrison county, this section became the stopping place or retreat of a lawless set of persons -genuine renegades-who, in hard times, finding gambling unprofitable, re- sorted to robbery and other criminal acts. They finally, having become enraged at repeated arrests and severe punishments, attempted the life of R. L. Barmm, the faithful old justice of the peace, whom they had learned to dread. One night in October, 1858, a part of this outlaw band visited the old man's cabin home, dragged him out, and, after violent treatment and- abuse, left him for dead. He recovered, however, but this crowning outrage led to a general uprising among the loyal, true citizens of the county. and resulted in the banishment from the community of this much-to-be- dreaded gang. This difficulty was in later years, and even to this date, alluded to by many as "The Little Falls War."
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MUNICIPAL HISTORY.
Little Falls was incorporated by a bill approved on February 25, 1879, with the following described boundaries: "Sections 7 and 8 and the north half of sections 17 and 18, township 40, range 32, and lot 3, in section 34, township 41, range 32; and lots 1, 2 and 3, in section 17, and the east half of the northeast quarter of section 18, and the east half of section 19, town- ship 29, range 29."
The first election was held at the court house on March 18, 1879, when the following officers were elected: President, Leon Houde; trustee, Peter Medved; recorder, A. O. Churchill; treasurer, John Wetzel; justice of the peace, James McCauley. On March 21 the officers held their first meeting. several ordinances were passed, and Jerry Root was appointed marshal.
The presidents of the village of Little Falls from the date of its organization to date of its becoming a city were as follow: Leon Houde, 1879; W. T. Lambert, 1880; Leon Houde, 1881 to 1883; Peter Medvel, from 1883 to 1886; L. E. Richard, 1886; J. Simmons, 1887-1888; Fred Hoffman, 1889; Dr. G. M. A. Fortier, from March, 1889, to July, 1890, when the city was incorporated and the presiding official became known as mayor.
The mayors of Little Falls have been as follow: Nathan Richardson, 1890 to 1894; Isaac E. Staples, 1894; Andrew D. Davidson, 1895; Nathan Richardson, 1896; Alfred Tanner, 1897; Charles E. Vasaly, 1898 to 1900; J. A. Nichols, 1900; Nathan Richardson, 1901 ; C. E. Vasalay, 1902 to 1906; N. W. Chance, 1906 to 1907; George Moeglein, 1907 to 1912; Simon P. Brick, 1912: F. C. Johnson, 1913; Dr. G. M. A. Fortier, 1914 and still in office in August, 1915.
The city officers at present (1915) are as follow: Mayor, Dr. G. M. A. Fortier ; clerk, Victor Schallern; treasurer, John Vertin; assessor, Frank Ellenbecker ; municipal judge, F. W. Lyon; justices of the peace, Phil S. Randall and William C. Turner. Alderinen: First ward, F. E. Hall, presi- dent of council; MI. B. Blake, second ward; H. W. Venners and J. S. Mur- phy, third ward; George H. Johnson and Henry Peterson, fourth ward; D. J. Bell and H. J. Lafond, aldermen-at-large ; G. F. Moeglein, vice-presi- dent ; city attorney, D. M. Cameron; street commissioner, Isaac Lafond; health officer, C. F. Holst, M. D .; chief of the fire department, G. W. Emder ; chief of police, William Hang; board of public works, S. C. Vasaly, G. H. Enke and Joseph Masog.
A city building was erected in 1890, on First avenue south, and it con-
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tains all city offices and the fire department, with that of police. The police department consists of five members, including a chief, for seven months of the year, and four for five months.
The city obtains its supply of water from the Little Falls Water Power Company. They have eighty-two hydrants, costing the city for water four hundred and seventy-nine dollars per month. The city also purchases its street lights from the same company and pays at present four hundred and eighty-seven dollars for the eighty-six one-hundred-watt street lamps and ninety ornamental lighting posts, per month.
The fire department is a volunteer company and has only two paid members. They have ample hook-and-ladder and other equipments, includ- ing a modern automobile fire apparatus, all of which makes the city com- paratively secure from the fire fiend's work.
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