USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice County, including explorers and pioneers of Minnesota and outline history of the state of Minnesota > Part 102
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Still another special meeting was held on the 21st of January, 1865, at which $8,000 was voted to pay bounties to volunteers, the meeting being held at Lyceum Hall in Northfield, and the report is signed by William Thorpe, D. H. Orr, and M. Wheaton, Supervisors.
EDUCATIONAL.
DISTRICT No. 28 .- The first organization that embraced the territory now comprising this num- ber was organized in 1857 as district No. 13, with a schoolhouse in the township of Bridgewater. It was subsequently set off and organized under its present number, embracing the territory in the eastern part of town, south of the city of Northfield. The present schoolhouse was erected in 1867, at a cost of $1,200, being a good and substantial stone building in section nineteen. The first school was taught the winter following by Miss Putney, with an attendance of fifty schol- ars, the district embracing at that time a great deal of territory; the attendance is now about twenty-five.
DISTRICT No. 34 .- This district effected an or- ganization in 1857, at the residence of William Thorpe. The first school was taught at the resi- dence of John Merrill soon after organization. In 1859, a schoolhouse was erected, a frame build- ing in the eastern part of section twenty-six, which still answers the purpose of a schoolhouse. This district embraces the territory in the southeastern part of the township.
DISTRICT No. 47 .- The first school taught in this district was by Mr. R. L. Clinton in 1859, at a residence erected by the teacher. This primitive structure has since rotted down and its builder passed to the great hereafter. In 1866, a neat and commodious stone school building was construct- ed in the center of section twenty-two, which is still in use.
DISTRICT No. 62. - Miss Carrie Fields was the first teacher in this educational subdivi- sion, school being held at the residence of Mr.
Hoyt Field, in section eleven, in 1861. The present owner of the place on which this building stood is Mr. Sylvanus Bunday. The district was organ- ized and a school building erected in 1862, which was afterwards burned down. It has now an ex- cellent stone edifice in the southeastern corner of section eleven, which is well filled with the neces- sary apparratus, and is one of the most healthy and ably managed districts in the township.
DISTRICTS NO. 63 AND 70 .- This is a consoli- dated district, embracing territory in the counties of both Rice and Dakota. No. 63 represents the territory belonging to Northfield township and comprises the northeastern part. It was organ- ized in 1861, and in the fall of the following year a ueat school structure was erected by both dis- tricts in the northern part of section thirty-five.
DISTRICT No. 75 .- This educational subdivision commenced its existence in 1867, and inaugurated this dignity by immediately building a school- house in the southern part of section thirty-four. The first school was taught by Miss Sarah Raw- son, now Mrs. A. P. Morris, of Northfied, with ten juveniles on the benches. The school now enrolls about twenty-five.
DISTRICT No. 78 .- Was organized in 1865, at the residence of Philip Coburn. The first school was taught the same year in a part of his house by Maretta Alexander, now Mrs. Charles Holt, for the sum of three dollars per week, sometimes there being only two or three pupils present. In 1870, the schoolhouse was erected in the northern part of section ten. The. average attendance at pres- ent is about twelve.
DISTRICT No. 94 .- The first school in this dis- trict was taught by Miss Edith Clark, now Mrs. Michael Coburn, at the residence of Solomon Clark in section seventeen, in the summer of 1868. School was afterward held in an old granary un- til the present frame building was erected in the northeast corner of section seventeen. Miss Clara Kingston taught the last term in the old granary, with an attendance of about thirty scholars.
SCANDINAVIAN SELECT SCHOOL .- This school is located on section twenty-six, in the southern part of the town; it is kept in a small building, 14x16 feet, erected for the purpose, and its object is the teaching of church catechism in the lan- guage of the nationality who sustain it.
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NORTHFIELD TOWNSHIP.
INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISES ..
PRAIRIE CREEK CHEESE FACTORY .- This is one of the principal manufacturing industries in this part of the county. It was established on the 1st of May, 1871, by David H. Orr, in the southwest- ern corner of section fourteen. Mr. Orr had some misgivings as to the success of his enterprise, so he erected a building that he could use as a barn in case the matter failed to come up to his expec- tation; but in this he was happily disappointed, as he has been very prosperous and successful in his undertaking, as will be seen by the fact that the article manufactured by this factory took the first premium at the Minneapolis fair. The premium money, $100, offered by Mr. Gilson, then proprietor of the Nicollet House, Minneapo- lis, was for some unknown reason, withheld, al- though the judges decided that it was due Mr. Orr, so he got the name and honor but not the gain. This factory also took the first premium at the American Institute in New York, and Mr. Orr now holds the diploma as an evidence of his suc- cess. Altogether the establishment is one which is justly a credit to the town and county.
JAMES' CHEESE FACTORY .- This enterprise was established in the fall of 1871, by Mr. M. D. James, who erected a suitable building in the southeastern part of section five. It was contin- ned as a cheese-making establishment until 1881, when it was sold to the Ellis Brothers, of Boston, who at once transformed the same into a creamery, or butter-making establishment. New and thorough machinery, churns, etc., have been put in, and everything equipped in first-class shape. Owing to the lateness of the season and the price asked for cream, it has not yet commenced run- ning.
GERMAN METHODIST CHURCH.
This society may be said to have effected an or- ganization when their first services were held in Mr. Drentlaw's house, in 1855, by the Rev. Mr. Soloman, with ten in the congregation. After this services were held in private houses until their church was erected in 1867 or '68, in the western part of section twenty-two, which they still use. It is a very neat and commodious structure, hav- ing cost about $1,500, and Mr. Charlas Ebel gen- erously donated three acres of land which is util- ized for a cemetery. The present pastor is Rev. Mr. Plagenhart, the membership numbering about sixteen.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
THOMAS ARTHUR was born in the seaport town, New London, Connecticut, on the 6th of Febru- ary, 1825. Since the age of twelve years he has maintained himself. In the fall of 1854, he came to this township and built a shanty on the present site of the elevator, which is supposed to be the first building erected within the present city lim- its of Northfield. He was married to Miss Eunice Brown in October, 1849. She died in October, 1867, leaving three children; Homer J. A., Thomas W., and Katy, deceased. He married his present wife, Zelia Brown, on the 29th of Janu- ary, 1870. The latter union has been blessed with three children; Cora May, and two who died. Mr. Arthur located on his present farm a few years since and now has it under good cultivation.
JOHN W. BIRCH, a native of New York, was born near Saratoga Springs on the 16th of May, 1830. His parents came to Michigan when he was four years old and located in Ann Arbor, where John received his education and grew to manhood. In 1856, he came to this county and settled in Bridgewater township, where he was among the first settlers. He came to his present farm in the spring of 1874. On the 1st of May, 1856, he was married to Miss Louisa Lockerby. They have a family of seven children, four sons and three daughters.
WILLIAM BIERMAN was born near the present city of Chicago, Illinois, on the 11th of August, 1834. When he was quite young his parents moved to the northeastern part of the State, in Will county, where he grew to manhood. He has always made farming his occupation, coming to Minnesota in 1854, and first located at Prairie Creek, Rice county, where he remained until com- ing to this township in 1865. He has a fine farm, all under improvement. His wife was for- merly Miss Gustina Prehn, a native of Germany. They have nine children; Mary E., Oscar I., Ed- ward, John L., Charles, Asa, Arthur, Martha, and Jennie. Mr. Bierman's mother came to Minne- sota with him but returned to Will county, Illinois, where she died and was buried near her husband who died several years previous.
JOHN BEYTIEN, a native of Germany, was born in Mecklenburg on the 12th of July, 1844. When fourteen years old he came with his parents to America, direct to Minnesota, and settled in Bridgewater township. In 1867, he was married
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HISTORY OF RICE COUNTY.
to Miss Sophia Sanders, who was born in his na- tive place. They have two children; Anna M., and Matilda C. They came to Northfield in 1873, and own a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, well improved. Mr. Beytien has been a member of the school board since coming here.
SYLVANUS BUNDAY was born in Orleans county, New York, on the 4th of August, 1834. In 1841, his parents came west and settled on a farm near Racine, Wisconsin, where Sylvanus was raised and received his education. He came to Northfield in 1855, but returned to Wisconsin the following year. On the 1st of November, 1857, he was joined in matrimony with Miss Ellen Spear. They have seven children; Ida E., Alice M., E. Clar- ence, Marvin I., Hattie A., Ernest S., and Tesslie W. Mr. Bunday came again to this place in 1865, and located on a farm in section eleven which is still his home.
NATHAN S. DAVENPORT is a native of Vermont, born near St. Johnsbury on the 17th of January, 1843. He was brought up to agricultural pur- suits, remaining at home until the breaking out of the war when he enlisted and served one year. He came to this place in August, 1865, and has since made it his home. His marriage took place in 1871, and his wife was Miss Alice E. Orr, of New York. They have been blessed with a fam- ily of three children, two boys and one girl.
ASA FRENCH was born in Springfield, New Hampshire, on the 21st of November, 1814. When young he was engaged in farming pursuits in Vermont, and in 1836, married Miss Louisa Coggswell of his native State. In 1850, they came west to Illinois, and in 1859, to this place. He owns a fine farm adjoining the city of North- field and displays the taste of a genuine Vermont farmer in the management of the same. Mr. and Mrs. French have had eleven children, ten of whom are living.
OTTO FULLER was born in Monkton, Addison county, Vermont, on the 25th of March, 1836. He remained at home until the age of twenty-two years when he married Miss Minerva Willoughby, who was born near his home. They came west the same year, located in Wisconsin, and in 1861, came to this place. Mrs. Fuller died in July, 1866. Mr. Fuller's present wife was formerly Mrs. Lucy Stam, a native of Maine. The result of this union is two children; Wyron and Cas- tara.
DUNCAN FERGUSON was born in Dundee, Can- ada East, on the 27th of March, 1826. He at- tended school in his native place,and when twenty- one years old went to New York but returned in 1852. In 1855, he made a trip to California and remained there, engaged in mining, for six years. He located his present farm in 1861, and the fol- lowing year commenced making improvements and has since made it his home, having two hun- dred acres under cultivation. He was married on the 1st of November, 1863, to Miss Barbara Spink, also a native of Canada, born on the 22d of No- vember, 1841. They have three children; John A., Mary E., and Nellie A. Mr. Ferguson's par- ents are both from Scotland.
W. R. GREEN, a native of New York, was born in Morristown, St. Lawrence county, on the 13th of December, 1846. Since the age of sixteen years he has earned his own living, and when eighteen came to Minnesota and was employed on farms in Dakota county until February, 1864, when he en- listed at Sciota inCompany I of the First Minneso- ta Heavy Artillery. He was under Capt. Kearney, sent south and remained in service eight months, when he was honorably discharged at Fort Snell- ing. He was married in December, 1873, to Miss Elizabeth Miller, who was born near his home in New York. They came to this place in April, 1876, and own a good farm in section three. They have two children.
ASA D. HOWE, deceased, one of the pioneers of this place, was born in Vermont on the 7th of February, 1816. He was brought up on a farm in Ohio, where his parents moved when he was quite young. In 1855, he came to Minnesota, spent a few days in Saint Anthony and then located a farm in Northfield township, upon which his widow now lives. He died on the 26th of Febru- ary, 1863, and is buried in the Northfield ceme- tery. Mrs. Howe has had ten children, only three of whom are living, two sons and one daughter.
J. S. HASELTON, a native of New York, was born near New London in Sullivan county, on the 31st of January, 1819. There he attended school and learned the cabinet maker's trade, at which he was engaged seven years. He afterwards spent some time teaching penmanship. In 1843, he married Miss Esther B. Webster, who was born near Con- cord, New Hampshire, on the 2d of October, 1820. They had three children all of whom died in their infancy. In 1855, they came to Minneso-
573
NORTHIFIELD TOWNSHIP.
ta, and until 1868, resided in Hamilton, Dakota county, then came to this township where they own a good farm. Mr. Haselton has held various local offices, and in 1878, was elected by the Re- publicans to the State Legislature.
A. P. JAMESON. a native of Maine, was born in a small village in Waldo county on the 30th of March, 1829. In 1850, he was married to Miss Aravesta U. Fuller of his native State. Two years later Mr. Jameson went to the gold mines of California, returned to Maine in 1860, and soon after came west and settled in this township, where he owns a farm of two hundred acres. In 1876, he made a trip to the mining regions in the Black Hills but returned to his farm] in August of the same year. He has a family of five children.
JOHN D. JONES, the second settler in the south- east half of this township, was born in southwest Liverpool, South Wales, in March, 1823. He came to America and landed in New York in June, 1842, from thence to Newark, Ohio, where he re- mained two years. He then followed Horace Greeley's advice and came west to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in June, 1844. The following year he purchased a valuable tract of land from the government at the land office at Milwaukee, and since that time has been engaged in the real es- tate business. Having a desire to improve his education he attended the academy at Waukesha and also the business department of the Carroll College. Mr. Jones assisted in locating the La Crosse railroad from Milwaukee to the Mississip- pi River. He came to Minnesota territory in May, 1855, and after several days' explorations located his present farm about midway between the Can- non rivers. He was married in Milwaukee in July, 1865, to Margaret Oliver, who was born in his native land. They have two sons; Burton F. and Oliver W. For eight years Mr. Jones has held the office of Justice of the Peace. In his boy- hood, previous to 1842, he visited Great Britain and since has seen the fields in many States; and it is his opinion that none is quite equal to the fertile soil of Minnesota. He has a fine farm and has been very successful as an agriculturalist.
SAMUEL F. JOHNSON was born near Brasher Falls in St. Lawrence county, New York, on the 19th of April, 1831. He was reared on a farm and learned the trade of a sawyer in the mills near his home, In 1852, he came to Little Falls, Morrison county, Minnesota, and was employed
at his trade in the mills of Ferguson and Tuttle for two years. He then returned to his native State and in 1856, in Vermont, married Miss Weltha Hall, who died on the 15th of April, 1866. The following year he married Miss Hannah Daw- son, and the same year returned to Minnesota, to this township where he owns two hundred and forty acres of land, all well improved. His wife died on the 5th of September, 1877, and is bur- ied in the Northfield cemetery. The maiden name of his present wife was Ellen Dawson. He is the father of four children, the three eldest; El- don L., Hartland C., and Herbert G., by his first wife, and Asa M. by his present. Mr. Johnson has held most of the town and school offices and in 1876, was Chairman of the board of Supervis- ors. He was President of the Rice County Fair in 1882. He devotes considerable time to stock raising.
JOHN LIVINGSTON was born near the village of Binghampton in Boone county, New York, on the 26th of March, 1837. When he was eight years old he moved with his parents to Wisconsin, lo- cated a farm in Rock county and remained until 1857, when he came to this township. In 1861, he enlisted in the army, served about fifteen months and was discharged for disability. He then returned to this place, and in the fall of 1867, purchased his present farm. Miss Matilda Hoyt became his wife in 1868, and the union has been blessed with three children; Lynn, Mary E., and Clara B.
T. H. MURRAY is a native of Pennsylvania, born near the village of Milton in Northumber- land county on the 1st of July, 1825. He was married in 1847, to Miss Mary J. Taggart, who was born in the latter State on the 11th of July, 1827. The same year they came west and lo- cated in Kalamazoo county, Michigan; remained until 1854, and came to Minnesota, settling at White Bear Lake. They came to this place in 1868, and own a fine farm in section two. Mr. Murray's parents are both dead, his father dying the 17th of March, 1869, and his mother the 21st of July, 1879, and are buried in the cemetery at White Bear. Mrs. Murray's father died in Feb- ruary, 1851, and her mother on the 11th of De- cember, 1858.
D. H. ORR, a native of Madison county, New York, was born on the 27th of August, 1825. He received an academic education at Oneida Castle,
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HISTORY OF RICE COUNTY.
after which he taught school, spending his leisure time studying. In 1857, he came through North- field to Watonwan county and pre-empted a claim, but soon after returned to this township and staked out his present land. He lived on his farm one summer then returned to New York, and in 1861, volunteered his services in the war but was not accepted on account of poor sight. He was married in 1862, to Miss Catherine Tiffany, and immediately returned to his farm in this place. They have had five children, four of whom are living.
ALVAH M. OLIN, a native of Wisconsin, was born in Waukesha, Waukesha county, on the 1st of August, 1843. At the age of twelve years he came with his parents to this State and lo- cated within the present city limits of Northfield. Alvah received his education here and afterward taught school. In 1868, he married Miss Sarah E. Jameson, who was born in Appleton, Maine, on the 19th of June, 1844. She came with her brother to Minnesota in 1860, and when sixteen years old engaged in teaching school, which she continued until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Olin have had two children, one of whom is living, Gertrude E., born on the 7th of May, 1872. Mrs. Olin's mother died on the 19th of April, 1873, and is buried in the Northfield cemetery. Her father died in the East.
JOHN RIDDELL was born near the village of Brockville, Canada, on the 23d of December, 1828. He received a good education and in 1849, moved
to New York, but soon returned to his native place. On the 7th of October, 1852, he married Miss Margaret Dodds, a native of Glasgow, Scot- land. They have had six children, five of whom are living. In the fall of 1857, they came to Minnesota, located first at Cannon Falls, then in Stanton, Goodhue county, and in 1864, came to this place. Mr. Riddell owns a good farm, part cultivated and part timber.
J. C. SOMMERS, a native of Illinois, was born in Monee, Will county, on the 28th of March, 1854. His parents located in this place when he was an infant of one year. He remained at home until his marriage on the 20th of July, 1879, with Miss Sarah M. Holmes, adopted daughter of Mr. Stall- cop. She was born in Wisconsin. Mr. Sommer's farm is three miles southwest of the claim taken by his father. He has one child, Amy Grace, horn on the 1st of October, 1880. His father, who was born in Germany, still lives in this place and his mother died on the 19th of September, 1875.
DANIEL B. SAYLOR was born in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, on the 16th of April, 1851. His parents came to Minnesota in 1861, and lo- cated in Warsaw, Goodhue county, where they still reside. Daniel was joined in wedlock in September, 1875, to Miss Janette King, who was boru in the latter place. They came to North- field and Mr. Saylor purchased a farm in section one, upon which he has since lived. Mr. and Mrs. Saylor have two children; Adaline B. and Bertha Ann.
575
SHIELDSVILLE TOWNSHIP.
SHIELDSVILLE.
CHAPTER LXVI.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION-EARLY SETTLEMENT-TOWN GOVERNMENT-SCHOOLS -- EARLY EVENTS-SHIELDS- VILLE-SHIELDSVILLE MILLS-CATHOLIC CHURCH -BIOGRAPHICAL.
Shieldsville is one of the townships in the western tier, situated just north of Morristown. On the north is Erin; on the east Wells, and on the west LeSueur county, embracing as its terri- tory thirty-six sections, or 23,040 acres, of which a greater portion is under cultivation.
There are no cataracts or water-powers, but it is abundantly supplied with lakes. The largest of these is Cedar Lake, in the southeastern part of the town, covering portions of sections twenty-five, twenty-six, twenty-eight, thirty-four, thirty-five, and thirty-six. A number of islands dot the placid surface of water. West of this lake one mile is Mud Lake, covering about 320 acres of section twenty-eight. Rice Lake floods abont the same number of acres in sections sixteen and sev- enteen, and east of this one mile a small body of water known as Hunt Lake occupies a part of sec- tion fifteen. In the northern portion of the town- ship is Tuft's Lake, and another small body of water infringes on the territory from Erin. These lakes are almost all connected by small rivulets and streams, sluggishly and lazily wending their way through the marsh lands and lakes, to even- tually mingle with the Cannon River as it rolls on to the Atlantic.
To the eye Shieldsville presents a view of un- dulating surface, with here and there a tendency to hilly, timber, marsh, and meadow land. The wild forest, the tranquil and glassy lakes, embed- ded in the midst of the hills, and the sluggish course of the lazy streams as they wind their pathway between the sister lakes, combine to make Shieldsville a pleasant and picturesque spot.
All through the township the early pioneers found beautiful groves of oak, and all sturdy va- rieties of timber, interspersed with maple and walnut; and in the shady aisles of this miniature forest, clear sparkling springs bubbled up, fur- nishing, without stint or measure, that best of beverages-pure, clear, cold water-and forming the fountain heads of many affluents to the Can - non River. A great deal of the timber has now been removed, but enough remains to furnish an idea of the delightful prospect which lured early explorers in search of this kind of land, to found homes in this locality.
The town is well adapted to agricultural pur- suits, and has a large cultivatad area, yielding, be- sides the usual cereals, all the crops common to this latitude, and in the low lands, an abundant yield of hay. Fruit culture is also attended to in a moderate and limited way, with fair results.
A sketch of this township published in 1868, by F. W. Frink, says: "Shieldsville, the town join- ing Morristown on the rorth, is another township of timber land. Its area of taxable lands, exclu- sive of town lots, comprises 17,816 acres. Abont 2,500 acres of its surface is occupied by lakes, of which there are eight, either wholly or in part within the township. It has also bewteen 1,500 and 1,600 acres of railroad lands, 434 acres still be- longing to the government, and 480 acres of un- sold school lands within its limits. Its popula- tion is made up chiefly of emigrants from Ireland, with but few adults American born within its boundaries. Non-resident lands in the township may be had for from $2.50 to $5 per acre."
Since the above was written some changes have taken place; the unsold land mentioned has long since almost all passed into the hands of actual settlers; and instead of $2.50 to $5 per acre, can- not now be purchased for less than from $10 to $25 per acre. The statement as to the inhabit- ants will apply readily to the present writing, ex-
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HISTORY OF RICE COUNTY.
cept that the American population has grown more rapidly than the foreign born. In 1860, the population of Shieldsville was 343; in 1865, 384; in 1870, 562; and in 1880, the last census gave the township 771, and village 118; total, 889.
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