USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice County, including explorers and pioneers of Minnesota and outline history of the state of Minnesota > Part 103
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As to the values in Shieldsville, the census taken in '70 reports that the real property amounts to $109,750; personal, $39,725; total, 149,425; the total assessed valuation for the same year was $68,880. In 1882, after the County Commissioners had equalized the county taxes, the assessed value of property in Shieldsville was as follows: real property, $90,159; personal, $23,010; total, 113,- 169, showing the creditable increase in assessed value since 1870, of $44,289.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
As in Erin township, the early settlement of Shieldsville was due almost entirely to the des- cendents of the Emerald Isle, and was known in early days as General Shield's colony. About the first to arrive in the township was General Shields, a native of Ireland, who laid out the village of Shieldsville and at once took steps towards col- lecting his countrymen about him. He arrived in 1855, early in the spring, and after staying long enough to lay out the village, he retraced his steps to St. Paul, returning the same year with a num- ber of Irishmeu, many of whom settled in Erin and were identified with the early growth and set- tlement of that locality. Shields then commenced a period of advertising in the papers of the East, stating that he had located here, and was desirous of being joined by his countrymen, and began raising colonies. This had a telling effect, as it was not long until they began crowding in on foot, by horse, ox, and cow teams, and taking farms, until by the fall of 1856, the town was pretty well set- tled, and the government land,of the better quality, was scarce. Most of those who were in at this time will be mentioned.
The first to be treated in this connection will be the man after whom both town and village were named.
GENERAL JAMES SHIELDS. This distinguished man was early identified with the settlement of Rice county. He was born in Atmore, Tyrone county, Ireland, on the 12th of December, 1810, came to America in 1826, and studied law until 1832, when he went to Kaskaskia, Illiniois, to prac- tice the profession. In 1836, he was in the legisla- ture of that State, and in 1843 was Judge of the
Supreme Court. In 1845, he was appointed com- missioner of the Land Office. His military career commenced as a lieutenant in the Florida war. When the Mexican war broke out, President Polk appointed him as a Brigadier General, his com- mission bearing date of the 1st of July, 1846, and for distinguished services at Cerro Gordo, where he was dangerously wounded, was breveted Major General. He was again wounded at the battle of Chepultepec. In 1848, the General was appoint- ed Governor of Oregon Territory, which he soon resigned, and in 1849 was elected United States Senator for six years. At the expiration of his term of service he came to Minnesota and started the village of Shieldsville, but was soon induced to join the proprietors of the town of Faribault, where he was agent and attorney for the townsite company.
He was elected to the United States Senate for the short term terminating in 1860, at the expira- tion of which he went to California. When the Rebellion was inaugurated he received the ap- pointment of Brigadier General by President Lin- coln, was assigned to a command and gained a victory at Winchester, where he was severely wounded. After the war he took up his residence in Missouri, where he remained in private life until 1877, when he was elected to fill a vacancy caused by the retirement of Senator Armstrong, and served to the end of that Congress, and afterwards devoted his time to lecturing until his death, which was on the 1st of June, 1879, at Ottumwa, Missouri, and rather suddenly.
General Shields was a man of ability, with a good share of ambition and a desire for public life, and the fact that he was wanting in that pop- ularity which in a Republic is so essential to suc- cess in this regard, led him to leave a handsome property in Faribault in search of pastures new. To show why he came to be looked upon with dis- favor, it is stated that when supplying deeds to citizens who had purchased lots which they had paid for at a good round stipulated price, he ex- acted $5 for each deed, when he was under obli- gation to furnish them impliedly for nothing. Such transactions, together with his want of pub- lic spirit, and utter deafness to charitable appeals, always alienated his term of office. The General was a brave man and a good soldier, and with a liberal disposition he would have had all the ele- ments for popular support.
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SHIELDSVILLE TOWNSHIP.
John Nagle, another native of the Emerald Isle, had arrived in America in 1848, and located in New York State, where he remained until 1855, when he came west and arrived in Shieldsville at the time the first settlement was made in Erin, in June, 1855. The majority of the party he came with located in the latter town, but he made his way to section eleven in Shieldsville where he still lives. Mr. Nagle has held various offices in the township, and is one of the oldest settlers now in the town. A few others came through, and some stopped for a time in Shieldsville, but the majority in this year settled in other localities.
Bernard Hunt, another Irishman, had stopped in Illinois for a time, and in June, 1856, made his appearance in Shieldsville and pre-empted a place a short distance north of where he now is. He remained for about a year and came to the southwest quarter of section fourteen where he still remains. The lake, to which his farm lies adja- cent, was named by the Indians as Eagle Lake, but it has now changed to Hunt Lake by common consent. Among others who came in '56, Michael Gavin and family were prominent and settled near Hunt Lake, where Mr. Gavin's widow still remains, he having died several years ago.
James Murphy and several sons, James Carpen- ter, J. Roach, and Mr. Gillispie, all came, took farms, erected log cabins and remained a short time; but have now all removed to other portions of the Northwest.
Michael Delaney came in the spring of 1856, and secured a habitation in section ten where he remained until called away by the "grim messen- ger," and his widow still lives on the place.
Roger Madden arrived about the same time and commenced a settlement in the eastern part of sec- tion twenty-one, and Thomas Minton took 160 acres adjoining in the same section, on which farm both still live in comfortable circumstances.
Patrick Hagarty and William Mahoney each took a farm near Cedar Lake in sections twenty- three and twenty-seven where they still live.
Thomas O'Donnell joined this settlement and took 160 acres in section twenty where he still lives. Patrick Smith located a couple of miles west of these settlers, in section twenty-nine, st the same time, and Patrick Murphy helped close up the gap by taking a farm in section twenty- two. John Fitzgerald carved a place for settle- ment, from the woods in section eight. All of
these parties still occupy their homesteads, and are in comfortable circumstances.
Thomas Roach came into section seventeen the same year, (1856), and remained a short time; the place is now owned by Mr. Davis. Daniel Savage located near Rice Lake and remained there until he paid the debt of mortality some years ago, and his sons now occupy the farm. John Buck- ley also made a claim near the same lake and has also been removed to the "other shore." His son runs the homestead now. Daniel and David Gon- sor made their appearance and took pre-emptions east of Hunt Lake, the latter of them going into Wells some years later, and the former is dead. John Kelly now owns the place originally taken by Daniel. James Murphy, deceased, located in section ten, where Mr. DuLac now resides.
NOTES AND ITEMS OF INTEREST.
About the first birth in this township took place, in 1856, in the log cabin of Bernard Hunt on section twenty-two, and on the 28th of July was ushered into existence this gentleman's son, John J., who still remains with his father. In February of the following year, a brother of John was born. He was named Thomas and still lives at his birth place.
D. F. Hagarty was born early in 1857, on sec- tion twenty-two, and still lives there. Other early births may have occurred but they have escaped . the memories of those interviewed.
EARLY MARRIAGES .- The earliest marriage of parties from this township occurred in Hastings, in 1857; the high contracting parties being Mr. Michael Gavin and Miss Mary Ann Rogers, who returned to the township and lived here until Mr. Gavin's death in 1869; and the widow still lives in the township. Another early marriage was that of James Carpenter to Ellen McCohey, of St. Paul; the ceremony taking place in that city in 1857, the groom meeting the bride there. The happy couple came back to Shieldsville and still reside here in comfortable circumstances.
HAWLEY'S DEATH .- In early days, as early as 1857, an outlaw named Hawley made this part of the county his stamping ground, and as he had committed many depredations for which he was wanted by the officers of the law, he was of course about as quiet in his movements as possible. His strategy, however, was ineffectual, as the author- ities in Faribault someway became cognizant of his whereabouts, and a party sent out in search
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HISTORY OF RICE COUNTY.
of him, finally found him near Shieldsville, and surrounding him with clubs and butcher knives, belted him over the head, and carved him up as they would butcher a hog. The only parties whose names can be remembered as in connection with this lawless execution, are Messrs Bentley and Russ, whoever they are. This was among the first deaths in the township.
Another early death was that of Miss Bridget Harrison, a 16 or 17 year old girl, who was called over the dark river in 1858.
THE INDIANS .- During the Indian outbreak, in 1862, this township had many serious and amus- ing anecdotes to divert the minds of the citizens from agricultural duties. Although up to this time there had been plenty of redskins passing to and fro through the town, yet they had not been especially troublesome, except as to their begging propensities, and General Shields had permitted them to use as a camping ground, a spot adjoin- ing the village known as the General's Island. When the actual outbreak occurred, the dusky skinned hunters were wiley enough to see that the whites were afraid, and they began to get arrogant and defiant, and finally the whites decided to have them go. So a small force, of probably 100 men, gathered together, and going to the Island told the disturbers that they must go. This they re- fused to do, at first, offering as an excuse that they had a letter from the General with a permit to occupy the same as their home. Words were bandied, and the spokesman of the pioneers in- formed them that if "General Shields was there, a gun would be put in his hands and he would be forced to fight," imply- ing that General Shields was not running that campaign. This ended the matter of words, and on a slight show of fight on the part of the Indians, the pioneers " lit" into the camp and be- gan knocking the tee-pees right and left, which set- tled the matter as far as resistance was concerned. The baggage was then taken from the squaws and placed on the backs of the bucks, and the "In- juns" grumblingly left, more enraged at having to carry the baggage than to leave the camp; they no doubt placed the baggage where they thought it belonged-on the squaws-as soon as out of sight of the "palefaces."
Another time a party of fifty armed pioneers drove a band of 1,500 Indians from the hills near Mud Lake, and forced them to leave the town-
ship, although at one time -- as one of them told us-there was not a man in the crowd but would have given a number of years of his life to have turned heels and run for the woods, and the same party says that a good deal of the valor and bravery exhibited on that memorable day was due to the strength of the whiskey they had been freely imbibing. On the way for volunteers to this raid, the party would go to a neighbor's house and tell him they wanted him; if he came willingly, well and good; if not, he would be "grabbed" and "yanked" into the ranks, where an oath was administered to all, that "the first man who turned to run was to receive a death ball by the first who could draw a bead." Well, it is unnecessary to state that no one ran.
MAZASKA LAKE. This body of water extends into four townships, Erin, Forest, Wells, and Shieldsville, being located in the four corners, and infringes on Shieldsville in the northeastern part. The old Indian chief "Eastman," claimed that the lake received its name in honor of his son, and was for years called "Mazuka," which was the name of his boy; but in after years the name be- came demoralized, so to speak, common pronun- ciation slightly altered it, and finally the map men desingated it under the name of "Ma- zaska," and it still retains that cognomen.
TOWN GOVERNMENT.
This township was created as a government within itself when the territory of Minnesota was admitted to the Union as a State, in 1858, and the first town meeting was held on the 11th of May, that year, at Shieldsville village. After the usual preliminaries the township was organized by the election of the first officers, as follows: Super- visors, Joseph Hagerty, Chairman; Patrick Cun- niff, and Patrick Smith; Constables, Michael Han- ley and Patrick McKenna; Justices of the Peace, Timothy Doyle and James Roach; Assessor, John Finley; Town Clerk, John H. Gibbons. It was voted that the town should be named Shieldsville, in honor of General James Shields, with a slight show of enthusiasm. Money was voted then to defray town expenses for the coming year.
SHIELDSVILLE DURING THE WAR .- This town- ship did its share in sustaining the government through the war of the rebellion, and in furnishing men. We find that on the 2d of March, 1864, a special town meeting was held at which the sum of $3,000 was voted for the purpose of raising
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volunteers or substitutes to fill the quota of the town. The officers at this meeting were Joseph Hagerty, Chairman; Richard Leahy, and Patrick Smith; Maurice O'Hearn was clerk.
Again, on the 25th of January, 1865, another special meeting was held at which the sum of $4,000 was voted for the same purpose. The offi- cers at this time were, Joseph Hagerty, Chair- man; Patrick Murphy, and John Healy; Patrick McKenna was clerk.
At a subsequent meeting $500 was levied to pay interest on the bonds, making iu all the sum of $7,500.
The following is a list of the volunteers who participated in the war as near as can be arrived at: J. Buckley, P. Harris, Patrick Smith, J. Ma- loney, J. Foran, P. Houlahan, J. Gilson, C. Ma- hony, M. Hanley, John Hagerty, Joseph Hagerty, and John Healy.
The financial and public government of the township has been tranquil and pleasant, good and efficient officers having had control of the in- terests of the people.
SCHOOLS.
DISTRICT No. 32 .- This was among the first to receive an organization in the township, and is generally known as the Shieldsville school, as it is the educational sub-division embracing the vil- lage and immediately surrounding country. It commenced its existence in the spring of 1858, and the following officers were elected: J. Hag- arty, Patrick Hanlin, and Tim Shields. The first school was taught in an old shanty erected by James Tuft, by James Bentley, there being about twenty-five scholars present. This build- ing was then designated as the schoolhouse, and used for school purposes until 1865, when a new log house was erected in the village. The first school in this house was taught by Mr. Wall with an attendance of 120 scholars between the ages of four and twenty, and it was used as their school building until 1881, when the present frame edifice was constructed upon land donated the district by Gen. James Shields. The size of the building is 28x40 feet, well furnished, and cost $1,000. The present school board is as fol- lows: Christ. Gibnick, Director; Thomas Lang- don, Treasurer; and William Kerrott, Clerk. Miss Hagerty was the last teacher, with seventy pupils on the register.
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DISTRICT No. 53 .- The first school in this dis-
trict was taught by Mr. O'Connor in a log shanty on Mr. Hugh Byrne's place, in 1863. The teacher of the first school is now in the Insane Asylum, his mind having become deranged. The organization was effected in 1863, and the Messrs. Patrick Smith, John Healy, and John McGancy were made first officers. In the spring of 1866, a site was purchased in the northern part of section twenty-nine, and the school building now in use was erected at a cost of about $600, being a neat and substantial frame building. The present school board is Thomas Mintrum, Director; A. Hanlin, Clerk; and P. H. Byrne, Treasurer. The school now enrolls about forty pupils.
DISTRICT No. 70 .- This district effected an or- ganization in 1860, and a log schoolhouse was erected the same year in the northeastern corner of section eight,on land belonging to Michael De- laney. The first officers were Messrs. M. Delaney, Carpenter, and James McDonnell. Miss Bridget Kelly taught the first school in the house just erected, with twenty pupils on the benches. In 1864, the schoolhouse was burned and another log structure was put up on the same site. In 1879, this house also was destroyed by fire, and the pres- ent frame house was built at a cost of four $400, size 18x24, but upon the spot occupied by the for- mer buildings. The present school officers are Messrs. James Carpenter, James McDonnell, and John Fitzgerald. The last term of school was taught by Miss Rose Tague with about forty scholars in attendance.
DISTRICT No. 71 .- This district was originally in connection with the adjoining districts, but in 1861, was set off and hss since been a government for school purposes in itself. The organiza- tion was really effected on the side of the road near the spot where the school house now is, as the citizens were selecting a site for a school building, and Richard Lahey was the first clerk; the names of the other officers have been forgot- ten, and the early records have either been lost or destroyed, at least they are not in the hands of the present clerk. The school structure was at once erected of logs with a clap board roof, at a nominal cost, and it is now in use, having been greatly repaired. The first teacher was Miss Laura Snyder, who agreed to instruct the fifteen pupils for $10 per month and board herself. Since organization the district has always had from seven to nine months school each year, and the
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scholars have steadily increased until at the last term, taught by Miss Rosa Ward, thirty pupils were enrolled, the teacher receiving the sum of $20 per month for her services. The present offi- cers are: C. Mahony, Clerk; Oscar Hearn, Direc- tor, and D. LeMieux, Treasurer. The school house is located near the center of section twen- ty-six.
DISTRICT No. 84 .- Was organized late in the sixties and the first officers were: B. Hunt, Direc- tor; T. McDowney, Treasurer, and Michael Gavin, Clerk. This district was formerly merged into the territory of district number seventy-one. When it was set off a schoolhouse was at once erected, at a cost of about $300, size 16x22 feet, which is still in use, having been improved to a considerable extent. The first school was taught by Miss Mary Ann McDowney, immediately after the school- house was built, with fourteen scholars present, and she was compensated with $25 a month. The last term, taught by Miss Judge, had an attend- ance of about twenty-six scholars. The present officers are: Messrs. B. Hunt, William Judge and Patrick Harrison. The location of the building is the northeast corner of section fifteen.
SHIELDSVILLE VILLAGE.
This is the only village in the township, or in this part of the county. It is situated in section one of Shieldsville township, between Lake Maz- aska and Tuft, and on one of the most beautiful town sites in the country. It is not a large vil- lage, in fact it is among the smallest in Rice conn- ty, but it has all the concomitants to distinguish it from a "four-corners." The population at the last census, in 1880, was 118.
The village was platted by Gen. James Shields and James Tuft, whose coming here is recordeed elsewhere, in the fall of 1855. This was General Shield's second trip to this vicinity and with him came Jerry Healy, John Burke, James Clarking, S. Smith, and others, some of whom settled in the town of Erin.
In 1856, Francis Maloney and others erected, with a saw and hatchet astheir tools, the first store building in the village, and the firm of Johnson & Hanlin, now both dead, soon after opened a gener- al merchandise store there. After running for a time it was sold to Joseph Hagerty and brother, who, after continuing for about fifteen years, went out of the business.
The first business house, if such it may be term-
ed, was started early in 1856, by Conner & Mat- thew, in a little log hut, and the principle article handled was whiskey.
In the fall of 1856, or early the year following, Mr. Francis Maloney opened a general merchan- dise store in a large 30x40 log structure, and in connection with the general requirements of life, dealt out a large amount of stimulant, etc. Dur- ing the Indian outbreak, he prepared himself for the red skins by keeping a large bottle of strych- nine for each barrel of lixuor, so as to be able to treat the expected visitors in a vengeance like way. Mr. Maloney continued in business until 1873, when he retired, although he still remains in the village, one of the oldest settlers in the town.
Mr. John Fox made his appearance, and about 1858, opened a blacksmith shop, which he ran for a time and then retired to Minneapolis, where he now is.
James Stack came early and also opened a shop which is yet conducted by his sons.
Mr. M. Cochran was another blacksmith, who hammered away for a time and then sold his shop to Thomas Casey, who still runs the establishment. James Connell runs a wagon shop, which was started some years ago.
Patrick LcKenna arrived, and opened a general saloon establishment, and still runs it at this writ- ing, in connection with a hotel he has since erec- ted.
Some time in the seventies, Thomas Coleman came and bought out John Murphy who had started a general merchandise store two years prior, and Mr. Coleman still continues the business, handling a little of the festive beverage over the bar.
Messrs Mathew and Thomas Brown, some time ago, started a general merchandise store which they still continue, carrying a large and complete stock. They have a substantial and large build- ing, a good trade, and the finest general merchan- dise establishment in this part of the country.
The village now contains the following: one excellent steam saw-mill with a capacity of sawing 6000 feet of lumber per day; a neat church; a school house ; two stores ; a Post-office; four saloons; a hotel; two blacksmith shops; one wagon shop; and a number of dwelling houses. It has a fine lo- cation on the high land between two beautiful lakes, which are surrounded by high wooded
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shores and a rich farming country. These lakes, like all others in Rice county, abound with fish of various species. It is distant about ten miles northwest from Faribault.
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF SHIELDSVILLE .- The his- tory of this parish covers a period of twenty-six years, having been organized in 1856, embracing the territory of Shieldsville and Erin townships, and a portion of Wells and Forest. In 1857, the old church building was erected at a cost of $1,200, which lasted until 1878, when their pres- ent excellent stone structure was built at a cost of about $16,000. This church was completed in 1882, and is one of the finest in the county, hav- ing a seating capacity of 620 persons, with stand- ing room for over a hundred. A parsonage was also erected at a cost of about $1,000. The pas- tors who have officiated here are Rev. Mr. Keller, Fatber McCullogn, Father Sales, Father Robert, and Rev. J. J. Slavin, the present pastor.
A cemetery ground was laid out by this society, at the time of organizing the church. It occupies ten acres just south of the village, in which there about 200 graves.
When the first church was erected it was left without seats, stove or any furniture. It remain- ed in this shape until 1867, when Catherine Dem- ing returned to the village after an absence of eight years, and with vim and energy that was commendable, she, in company with a few other ladies, got up s pic-nic and ladies fair from which was netted the snug little sum of $160, and with this the church was finished, a floor, stoves, and seats being put in. Since that time the church has grown rapidly, and now the rent of pews alone is a revenue sufficient to keep the house in repair and beantify the grounds.
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