USA > Minnesota > Ramsey County > St Paul > History of Ramsey County and the city of St. Paul, including the Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota > Part 47
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The next largest is Snail lake, situated to the south of Turtle, on sections 23 and 24. This is a pleasant place of resort for rowing and fishing. William Athey, who resides on the east shore furnishes boats and fishing tackle. .
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HISTORY OF RAMSEY COUNTY.
Lake Johannah, though not so large as those previously mentioned, is probably the most noted of all for beauty. It is situated in the southern portion of the town, on sections 33 and 34. Its distance from St. Paul is about seven miles, and from Minneapolis five miles, making it easy of access from both cities, in consequence of which it is much frequented. Boats are kept here by Patrick Powers. Charles Perry, said to be the oldest living settler of Ramsey county, owns a farm on the north-west shore of this lake. Jo- hannah brook is the outlet, leaving the lake on the north-west and entering Long lake at its southern extremity.
Long lake is situated on sections 19 and 20, deriving its name from its shape. It is about a mile in length and only some fifty rods in width. Its outlet is Rice creek, which flows to the west. Round lake is on section 21. Pleasant lake cov- ers about one hundred acres of section 12, the main body of water lying in the town of White Bear. This lake has an extent of about one thousand one hundred acres. Among the smaller lakes in Mounds View, are Charlie's lake on sec- tion 12, named for Charlie Ferguson, an early settler. Grass lake, Island lake, Mud lake, Lit- tle Bass lake, and Silver lake. Lake Josephine touches the town on section 34. Wood lake is on section 7, lying partially in Anoka county.
These lakes are nearly all surrounded by tim- ber, principally burr and black oak, from which the inhabitants draw their supply of fuel. Large quantities of wood are also cut and taken to market in St. Paul and Minneapolis. Rice creek, the outlet of Rice lake, in Anoka county, flows through a portion of the town in the north and empties into the Mississippi in Anoka county. Along the banks of this creek are some very fine natural meadows, from which quantities of good hay are procured.
The lakes, streams and natural meadows of the town adapt it especially to stock growing and dairy business, to which branches the people of the town are turning their attention.
On sections 9, 10, 16 and 17 a range of mounds extend, from which a fine view of the surround- ing country may be obtained. From this fact the town derived its name.
SETTLEMENT.
The names of the pioneers of this town should be handed down to posterity. They deserve credit for their courage, perseverance and indus- try, for it was only by the exercise of all these · qualities that the settlement of this town was ever inaugurated and maintained. The country was covered with timber and brush, and dotted here and there by lakes and sloughs. The Sioux In- dians inhabited one side and the Chippewas the other, and as they were continually at war with each other, settlers were exposed to their depre- dations on both sides. It required courage to make the settlement, perseverance to remain in the face of danger and with the prospect of poor returns for labor, and industry to carve a home for themselves out of the wild land.
Samuel Eaton was probably the first to make a claim in the town. IIe came to St. Paul from Illinois, and for a time worked at his trade as car- penter. In March, 1850, he, in company with William Fargo, made a claim on section 13; Eaton of the north-east quarter and Fargo of the south-east quarter. A few days later, S. A. Thompson, came out and found these men occu- pying a claim shanty and the three men busied themselves in getting out logs to build dwellings. In April, Eaton completed his house, which was 18x22 feet, with a "lean-to" 12x22 feet, and was soon joined by his wife and three daughters, who were the first white women in the town. The house is still standing. In October, 1850, Eaton sold his property to Fuller S. Thompson, and went to California in company with a brother, who was a resident of that state and still resides there.
William Fargo, who came with Eaton, was from Vermont, and lived during the summer of 1850, with S. A. Thompson, with whom he erected a claim shanty. In the fall he returned to St. I'aul and through the winter worked in the piner- ies. Afterward went to Duluth, where he accu- mulated some property and lost it in speculation. He sold his claim in this town to Lyman Benson, of St. Paul, in 1853, and received for it sixteen dollars per acre. He finally jumped from a steam- boat while on a trip down the Mississippi and was drowned.
In February, 1850, Socrates A. Thompson started from St. Paul on foot, in company with
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a half-breed Indian, in search of a location for farming. They walked all day, through three feet of snow, and at night reached a point on section 13 of this town, near the shores of Pleas- ant Lake. They cleared away the snow from a small space, built a fire, and after eating of the food they were provided with, stretched out for the night, wrapped in blankets, and with feet to the fire. This was his first night in Mounds View. In the morning he returned to St. Paul, and immediately procceded to Stillwater, at which place the land office was located, with the intention of filing a claim on the north-east quar- ter of section 13, but to his surprise, found that the land was already taken. He at once returned to the site of his proposed claim, and then it was he found Eaton and Fargo. He then made a claim of the north-west quarter of section 13, and for about a year, occupied the claim shanty erected by Eaton, which was located on Thomp- son's claim, instead of Eaton's, as supposed when built. Thompson slept on a plank sixteen inches wide, until warm weather, then made a bunk and discarded the plank. He did some breaking in the spring of 1850, and raised a small crop of po- tatoes and beans on the sod. He left the town in 1851, but returned in 1857, and has since resided on his original claim, to which he has added by purchase, and now owns 400 acres. He has always been prominent in the affairs of the town, and takes a lively interest in everything pertaining to its welfare.
Charles Perry, the oldest living settler in the county, came with his parents from the Red River country in 1826. He was then ten years of age, and has since that time resided in Ramsey county. When about eighteen years old, he carried mail between Fort Snelling and Prairie du Chien, trav- eling on foot. In the spring of 1850 he purchased eighty acres of land on the north shore of Lake Johannah, on which he moved with his family, wife and one child. The first birth in the town was their daughter, Damis, born August 15th, 1851. George II., a son of Mr. Perry, born No- vember 13th, 1854, died in February, 1856, the first death in the town. In 1850 Perry broke three acres of land and planted potatoes, which yielded well, and he sold the crop in St. Paul, re- ceiving fifty cents per bushel. Perry was the only settler in the western part of the town until
the fall of 1851. IIe is now living on his original claim.
"Gipp" Carter, a native of Virginia, located a claim on Turtle lake, in 1850, the place now owned by N. W. Kittson. He built a board shanty, but left the same year, removing to St. Paul, where he died. William Bartlett located on the same claim in 1851, but like Carter re- mained only a few months, then went to St. Paul, from which place he went west. In 1853, a man named Meade, who came from St. Louis, settled on the same place, and was the first to make per- manent improvements. He erected a good house, which was replaced by a new one in 1881. Meade remained about two years, then returned to St. Louis.
Fuller S. Thompson came here from Sangamon county, Illinois, and purchased the claim pre- empted by Samuel Eaton. In the fall of 1850, he moved out his family, and they resided in the house built by Mr. Eaton, near Pleasant lake, some years. Moved to St. Paul and afterwards to Minneapolis, where he now resides. John Ledergaieber, known as "Black John," on ac- count of his dark complexion, came with Fuller Thompson from Illinois, and during the winter of 1850-51 lived with S. A. Thompson. In the spring he entered eighty acres on section 13, where he lived for three years, and opened the first hotel in the town, called the "Half-way" house, as it was half way between St. Paul and Columbus, Anoka county. In 1853, he sold to John S. Lambert and removed to Hastings, Da- kota county, where he embarked in a meat mar- ket, and after losing what little property he had secured, returned, in 1857, to Mounds View, and squatted on government land in section 2. After living there about five years, he purchased the south-west quarter of section 1, and resided there until he met his death in May, 1879, under the following circumstances. He had, for some time, been confined to his room by sickness, and one morning his barn caught fire from a straw stack they had been burning. In his anxiety to save his stock, he rushed into the burning building, and was overcome by the heat and smoke. Anson Thompson, son of S. A. Thompson, was the first of the neighbors who reached the spot,and rescued him from the building, but he was so badly burned that he died some three weeks after the
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occurrence. He left a family of eight children. The widow and some of the children still reside at the homestead.
Charles Ferguson came to the town, in company with Fuller Thompson and " Black John," from Illinois, in 1850, and spent the following winter with them. He made a claim of the south-east quarter of section 12, in the spring of 1851, and remained until fall, when he gave it up and re- turned to Illinois.
Patrick Powers arrived at St. Paul in August, 1851, from Huntington county, Pennsylvania, and filed on a claim that had been previously staked out for him by James Lawrence, who had a claim in the town of Rose. Powers' claim was located in both towns, forty acres lying on lake Johannah, and one hundred and twenty acres in the town of Rose. In company with four others, he kept "bach " about a year, then for five years lived alone in his little cabin. At that time he did not possess a team, and was obliged to dig out grubs with spade and ax, then plant potatoes in the holes thus made. He was elected a member of the first town board, and was re-elected twice. Mr. Powers is still a resident of the town.
William J. Godfrey arrived in the town in the winter of 1850-51. He came from England, and first settled on section 26, but did not file his claim. While there he met with an accident, scalding his foot, which confined him to the house three months. Until May, 1851, he resided with S. A. Thompson, then entered a claim of forty acres on section 14, to which he has since made additions by purchase, owning at the present time 116 acres on that section. He remained a resident of the town but a short time, removing to St. Paul, where he has since resided, and is now engaged in the wholesale and retail liquor trade.
The first religious service in the town was held in 1861, at the house of George Gardner, on sec- tion 3, by Dr. Patterson, of the Episcopal church. This town has never had a regularly organized church, although services have been held at inter- vals, at the houses throughout the town, since Dr. Patterson first held services. At the present time, Dr. Boyd, a local minister of the Episcopal church, visits the town on the Sabbath and holds religious services in the school-house of district number four.
It is a strange fact to record, but one none the
less true, that in the thirty years since this town was first settled, there has never been a marriage ceremony performed within its borders. This is not for the reason that none of the residents have ever married, but is due to the fact that they always go to St. Paul or some other point near at hand for the celebration of the ceremony, and also for the reason that there are no clergymen located in the town.
In 1855, Daniel Totten, a young man came into the town from Stillwater. He resided here until 1869, when, becoming tired of life, he commit- ted suicide by taking poison. Intemperate hab- its caused the rash act. During the summer of 1880, two human skulls were found in a box float- ing on Turtle lake. Where they came from and how they came there, is a mystery as yet unsolved.
ORGANIZATION.
This town was organized in the spring of 1858, and the first meeting for the election of officers was held May 11th, of that year, at the house of S. A. Thompson on section 13. The following were elected to office: John S. Lambert, chair- man; Charles Perry and Patrick Powers, super- visors; Thomas Ryan, clerk; Timothy O'Connell and H. T. Buck, justices of the peace; Henry McLean, collector; H. C. Marsden and Peter Sondermann, constables; II. C. Marsden, assessor. The first meeting of the board of supervisors was held at the house of the town clerk, June 23d, 1858. H. T. Buck having failed to qualify, Thomas Ryan was appointed to that office. H. T. Marsden was appointed collector in the place of Henry McLean, who had failed to qualify within the time prescribed by law. A resolution was then passed, to the effect that II. T. Buck and Henry McLean be fined ten dollars each for neg- lecting to qualify for the offices to which they were elected, and warrants were placed in the hands of the constable with instructions to collect the same. This resolution was rescinded at a subsequent meeting. The town was made one road district, and T. Fehan was appointed over- seer of highways. One school district designated as mimber 4, was also organized, comprising the whole of the town, and John S. Lambert, Peter Sondermann and H. C. Marsden were appointed board of directors.
An assessor was sent out from St. Paul to as-
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sess the township, which caused dissatisfac- tion among the residents. At the first meeting of the supervisors, a resolution was passed "That no assessor be recognized but the one elected by the town."
On motion five dollars was appropriated for the purchase of stationery for the town clerk. A resolution was also passed to the effect that the owners of dogs be required to keep them chained during the day and that all dogs found running at large off the premises of own- ers, be killed by the constables.
An ordinance regulating the sale of spirituous liquors was also passed, requiring the vendor to first procure a license for the same, after filing an approved bond with the town clerk that the house so licensed should be kept peacably. Also providing a fine of not less than ten or more than one hundred dollars of any person violating the ordinance.
It was resolved that town meetings be held at the house of J. S. Lambert, on section 3, until further notice.
A meeting of the town board was held July 12th, 1858, at which the following resolution was passed : "Resolved, That a resolution passed at a previous meeting, imposing a fine of ten dollars on Henry McLean and H. T. Buck, be now res- cinded. Resolved : That Henry McLean be, and is, hereby allowed to qualify for the office of col- lector," (instead of H. T. Marsden, appointed.)
At the first meeting of the town board of audi- tors the following resolutions were adopted :
"Resolved, That whereas, the county commis- sioners of Ramsey county, have appropriated two hundred dollars to the town of Mounds View for road purposes, and whereas, two of the town supervisors refuse to act as to which road in the township the money shall be expend- ed on, and whereas, there are now present twelve legal voters of said town, therefore be it resolved, that the said money ($200) be, and is, hereby ap- propriated to work and make new town road from the house of H. T. Marsden, thence by the house of Thomas Ryan to Lake Johannalı."
Bills allowed : John S. Lambert, for services as chairman, $55.50. Thomas Ryan, clerk, $56. 50. H. T. Marsden, assessor, $30.10. T. Fehan, road master, $25. Thomas Ryan, justice fee, $2.50. Timothy O'Connell, justice fees, $7.50.
Patrick Powers, supervisor, $12. Charles Perry, supervisor, $12.
List of chairmen and town clerks since the or- ganization of the town. 1859, John S. Lambert, chairman ; Thomas Ryan, clerk. 1860-'61-'62, William H. Buchanan, chairman; Thomas Ryan, clerk. During 1862, Mr. Buchanan removed from the town and H. T. Marsden was appointed to fill the vacancy. 1863, H. T. Marsden elected chairman; Thomas Ryan, clerk. 1864-5, Fred K. Vayhinger, chairman; Thomas Ryan, clerk. 1866, Richard Rooke, chairman; Thomas Ryan, clerk. 1867-8, Andrew Brennan, chairman, Thomas Ryan, clerk. 1869, W. L. Marston, chairman, Thomas Ryan, clerk. 1870, W. L. Marston, chairman; Thomas Ryan, clerk. 1871, H. C. Marsden, chairman; Thomas Ryan, clerk. 1872, H. C. Marsden, chairman; Thomas Ryan, clerk. 1873-74, H. C. Marsden, chairman; W. L. Marston, clerk. 1875, Thomas O'Neil, chair- man; Socrates A. Thompson, clerk. All offi- cers elected at the annual town meeting of this year failed to qualify within the time required by law and the appointing board met March 26th, 1875, and appointed Thomas O'Neil, chairman, and W. L. Marston, clerk. 1876, B. F. Austin, chairman ; Socrates A. Thompson, clerk. 1877, H. C. Marsden, chair- man; Thomas Ryan, clerk. 1878, H. C. Marsden, chairman; Thomas Ryan and Socrates A. Thomp- son each received the same number of votes, and the former was appointed clerk by the town board. 1879, H. C. Marsden, chairman; Thomas Ryan, clerk. 1880, Dennis O'Neil, chairman; Thomas Ryan, clerk. 1881, Thomas O'Neil, chairman; Thomas Ryan, clerk.
The total assessed valuation of real and per- sonal property in the town of Mounds View in 1860, was $71,938; in 1875, $113,481; in 1880, real estate, $152,469; personal property, $34,290; a total of $186,759. The population of the town in 1860, was 99; in 1875, 295; in 1880, 575; an in- crease that will compare favorably with any other town in the county.
SCHOOLS.
The first school district, organized in 1858 as number 4, comprised the whole of the town, and remained without division until 1866. In that year the board of county commissioners set
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HISTORY OF RAMSEY COUNTY.
apart the eastern twelve sections of the town and designated the territory as district number 16. A small log school-house was built on the north- west quarter of section 13 during the summer of 1866, and school was taught there until 1873, when, by act of county commissioners, the dis- trict was again consolidated with number 4. In February, 1868, district number 18 was organized from number 4. August 20th, 1875, section 16 was detached from district number 4 and added to district 18. December 6th, same year, the west half of section 3 was added to the district. An order of the county board of April 1st, 1879, de- tached sections 35 and 36 from district 18, to form district 24, joint with the town of Rose.
The first school-house in the town was built in the winter of 1860-61, and located on the north- east quarter of section 22. The first school was taught in the summer following, by Miss Cather- ine Bourelfier, now the wife of H. C. Marsden. This house was in use until 1873, when it was destroyed by fire. During the summer of that year bonds bearing twelve per cent. interest, and payable in three years, were issued to the amount of $600, from which $510 was realized. With this a school-house was built, located on the south-west quarter of section 14. The building when completed cost $850.
School-district number 18, was formed by the county commissioners in February, 1868. The first school-house was built in 1869, at a cost of $210, and was located on the north-east quarter of section 8. In November, 1880, it was moved to the south-east quarter of section 18 and an- other house built on the north-west quarter of section 16. Bonds to the amount of $800 were issued by the district to build the new house and to move and repair the old one. The first school in this district was taught by Mary J. Ryan, in the winter of 1869-'70. A term of five months was tanght in both houses of the district during the winter of 1880-'81.
School district number 20, was organized by the board of county commissioners in 1869, and consists of sections 3, 4 and 6, in Rose township. and sections 27, 28, 32, 33 and 34, in the town of Monnds View. The south-west quarter of section 3, Rose township, has since been taken from this district and attached to district number 24. The first school taught in district number 20, was in
the summer of 1870, by Mary J. Ryan, occupying a granary belonging to Patrick Powers, situated on the south-east quarter of section 33. After this private houses of residents of the district were used until 1872, when the present school- house was built on the south-east quarter of sec- tion 33, Mounds View. The building was erected at a cost of $250.
Section 31 of Mounds View is a part of district number 2, of Hennepin county.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
William V. Athey was born in Madison county, Ohio, March 1st, 1827. While yet an infant, he was taken by his parents to Springfield, Clark county, where his youth was passed, completing his education by attending the high school five years. Removing to Charlestown, in that county, he worked at the trade of house painting four years. During the fall of 1852, reached St. Paul, and for three years worked at his trade. He then removed to Scott county, and in August, 1862, during the busiest part of his harvest, hav- ing his grain partly cut, he enlisted in Company I, Eighth Minnesota Infantry Volunteers; was on the frontier till 1864, then went south. In Au- gust, 1865, he was discharged at Fort Snelling. After spending one year in Ohio, he returned to St. Paul and worked at his trade until 1876, then purchased one hundred and fifty-seven acres on Snail lake, ten miles from St. Paul. He has sev- eral boats which he rents to pleasure seekers. July 3d, 1866, married Miss Jane Holmes, who has borne him two children. Charles W. and Arthur E.
B. F. Austin was born in Chittenden county, Vermont, in August, 1829. He lived in his na- tive county until 1847, there receiving a com- mon school education. Removing thence to Ohio, he drove stock through that state, Pennsyl- vania, Maryland and Virginia about two years, and first visited Minnesota in 1849, when St. Paul was but a small village. The next three years he traveled through the west, then made a claim on the Mississippi, opposite the cave. In 1853, sold his interests and moved to Wisconsin, but re- turned the next year and made a claim in Hen- nepin connty. This he sold in 1857, and lived in Iowa until October, 1865. Soon after purchased a farm in Anoka county, where he lived until
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moving to his present place in Mounds View, in 1875. Married in Wisconsin to Phœbe J. Cook: Stanley M., Ethan A., John C., Russell G., Edith L. and Benjamin F. Jr., are their children.
William H. Delany, a native of Ireland, was born in 1841. When six years old, came with his parents to America, and located in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania. At an early age began working in the coal mines of that county and continued until coming to Minnesota in 1878. He then purchased his present farm of one hun- dred and fifty-seven acres on section 24, in Mounds View. November 20th, 1860, he married Mary O'Neil. Eight children have been born to them; the living are: Thomas, John, Mary A., Sarah A. and Catharine.
William Emerson was born in Ireland in 1833. He received the advantage of a common school education. January 12th, 1850, he landed in New York city ; came westward to Chicago, in 1852; thence to Madison, Wisconsin, proceeding, in 1857, to Minnesota. Two years were passed in St. Paul, a short time in St. Anthony, then he started with Captain Fisk for Montana, but was opposed by the Indians in Dakota. Returning to St. Anthony, he, in 1867, traded his property there for a portion of his present farm in Mounds View.' to which he added by purchase in 1880. Has been justice of the peace four years, and has been school clerk since 1869. Married, June 8, 1859, at St. Paul, Ann Saxton. They have nine chil- dren living : George, Martin, Henry T., John, Margaret, Ellen, Mary E., and the twins, Thomas and Edward. Hugh J., at the age of six months, William T., at the age of five years, and an infant. passed away.
Charles Mehmke was born at Hanover, Ger- many, October 2d, 1817. He grew to manhood in the land of his nativity, coming to this country in 1854, after a voyage of eight weeks. He im- mediately started for St. Paul, arriving July 18, after a three weeks' trip up the Mississippi. Worked two years on a farm on Turtle lake, in Mounds View township, then, in 1856, purchased eighty acres on section three, which he has since improved. October 2, 1854, married at St. Paul, Christina Weyhe, who died November 3, 1880, leaving two daughters, Lottie and Minnie.
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