USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice County, including explorers and pioneers of Minnesota and outline history of the state of Minnesota > Part 105
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DISTRICT No. 40 .- Effected an organization one year later than the above, in 1857, and the dis- trict shortly after erected a school building. The first officers were as follows: Director, James K. Davidson; Clerk, Lewis McKune; and Treasurer, John McKune. The first instruction was diffused by Miss Nettie Davidson. The location of the schoolhouse now in use is the eastern part of sec- tion thirty-five, the district embracing the terri- tory in the southeastern part of the town.
DISTRICT No. 54. Embraces under its educa- tional jurisdiction the territory lying just north of the village of Morristown. The organization was made substantial in 1859, the meeting being held at the residence of H. Hershey, which rc- sulted in the election of first officers, the names of whom have escaped the memories of those whom we have interviewed. The first school was taught by Miss Harriet Wood, with an attendance of twelve juveniles. The present school structure is in the northeastern corner of section fourteen.
DISTRICT No. 60 .- Was organized in 1867, bav- ing, prior to this, been merged into other districts. The first school board was: Director, Peter Ruthen; Clerk, Seth H. Kenney; and Treasurer, Samnel Donarh. The first school was taught by Mr. Eli Smith with twelve pupils on the benches. The district embraces the northwestern part of the township as its territory.
DISTRICT No. 89 .- The organization of this district took place in the year 1866, and the first officials were: Director, John Hile; Clerk, Benja- min Hershey; and Treasurer, William Haines. The location of the house now in use by this dis- trict is the northeast corner of section seventeen.
DISTRICT No. 99 .- Commenced its existence in 1872, being the youngest district in the township. The first school was taught by Miss Jane Chapin with an attendance of twelve pupils, in a building on section two, and the officers at that time were: Director, Richard Cooley; Clerk, Horace Green; and Treasurer, Richard Newell. The location of the school structure now in use by the district is the southeast corner of section three.
INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISES.
Under this head the matters pertaining thereto, in both town and village, being identical, are combined. Probably no township, away from railroad connections and its accompanying advan- tages, in the state of Minnesota, is as well sup- plied, and therefore so prosperous, with manufac- turing interests as is Morristown, and too much praise cannot be hestowed upon those who have devoted capital and energy to industries that fur- nish employment to a large number of hands and bring thousands of dollars annually to the local- ity, the most of which is expended here, mutually benefitting all classes.
MORRISTOWN MILLS .- This is the largest man- ufacturing enterprise in Morristown and one of the largest in the county. In 1876, a stock com- pany was formed for the purpose of erecting a mill, and elected the following gentlemen as offi- cers: President, A. E. Barkley; Directors, C. D. Adams, William Shaw, Tobias Ohler, and Chris- tian Ramund, and this board superintended the erection of the mill building. It is situated on the south bank of Cannon River, in the village, a four-story frame building, with a stone basement and engine house, and cost about $43,000. Its propelling power was a 120 horse-power steam en- gine, and with eight run of stones the capacity
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HISTORY OF RICE COUNTY.
was about 200 barrels per day. The mill was operated by the company, but did not prove an entire success to them, and in 1880, George W. Newell, the present proprietor, purchased the property. In 1881, he had the mill remodeled and all the modern improvements added for mak- ing the mill a first-class merchant mill, with im- proved rollers, burrs, packers, cleaners, etc., the mill having cost, as it now stands, not less than $65,000. About thirty men find employment in the mills-fifteen coopers and fifteen mill men,- and the capacity of the mill is now about 250 barrels per day. Altogether it is the pride of the township and surrounding country, and has been and will continue to be the nucleus to the pros- pering little village, and a magnet that cannot fail to draw other business interests to this point.
HERSHEY GRIST-MILL .- The foundation of this mill was commenced in 1855, when Jonathan and Waltor Morris erected a saw-mill on the same site and began active operations the same year. Owing to some flaw in the foundation the water found its way under the same, which resulted in the destruction of the mill. Mr. Walter Morris then secured the site and immediately commenced the construction of a new mill, which he completed and put in operation early in the fall of 1856, and once more the manufacture of lumber was commenced in earnest and continued until June, 1858, when the dam was washed out. Steps were taken to repair the damage, and so thoroughly was the work done that the same dam remains to this day. In the autumn of 1858, Mr. Nathan Morris purchased the property and oper- ated it for a time. In 1860, the Messrs. Hershey secured it and erected a good two and a half story building, put in one run of stones and the neces- sary flouring machinery and commenced grind- ing. It was operated in this shape until 1877, when it was partially remodeled, many improve- ments added, and a wooden re-action water wheel made the motor, increasing the capacity to 100 barrels per 24 hours. The mill is owned and op- erated by Christian Hershey, Jr.
HOPKINS' HEAD LINING FACTORY .- This, now important enterprise, was originally commenced as a sorghum mill in 1867, by Seth H. Kenney and E. Hopkins, on section six, and after being operated for two years as such they came to the conclusion that a saw-mill would be more profita- ble, into which they thereupon converted it, and
continued its operation until it was destroyed by fire in 1870. In 1872, J. B. Hopkins & Bro. pur- chased the machinery that had fortunately been saved, and moved it to the village, where they erected large buildings, and with a 45 horse- power engine kept turning out lumber until 1877, when the head lining machinery was put in for a capacity of 400,000 per day. In 1878, J. B. Hop- kins became sole proprietor and still operates it, employing fifteen hands and shipping produc- tions all over the country, forty millions of them being shipped every year to St. Louis. The tim ber north of the Cannon River furnishes material for the mills of this description, and the business is one of the most valuable elements of industrial interests in the county.
HERSHEY SAW-MILL .- This enterprise origin- ated in 1865, when Mr. Chris. Hershey erected a building 30x40 feet, put in an upright saw, a dam, and wooden re-action water-wheel, on the east side of the bend of Cannon River, near Mor- ristown, and commenced running with a capacity of about 3,000 feet per day. It was managed and operated in this condition until 1875, when the water played havoc with the river bank, and it has uot as yet been repaired. The remains of the mill still occupy the old site but the bank wash- ing away has left it almost in the middle of the river.
OSTERHOUT & Co.'s FACTORY .- In the year 1866, James Osterhout and his son Charles erected a saw-mill, 20x60 feet, equipped it with a circular saw, and with a thirty-five horse-power steam en- gine commenced ripping up lumber at the rate of 8,000 feet per day. The original firm operated it until 1870, when they sold it to Daniel Scott, who in turn, in 1876, turned the property over to Eli- jah Spaulding. In 1878, the latter gentleman remodeled the mill, and put in head lining ma- chinery, made an addition of 30x100 feet, and af- ter running a short time sold to the present firm, H. H. Osterhout & Co., who have added many im- provements and doubled the capacity. They are manufacturers principally of heading and curved head lining, furnishing employment to nine men and four teams, and the mill has the reputation of being equal to any in this region.
MORRISTOWN STAVE FACTORY .- This industrial enterprise was started in 1867, by C. D. Adams and George Smith, who erected a building 24x60 feet, and with a fifteen horse-power engine com-
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MORRISTOWN TOWNSHIP.
menced operations. An equipment of carding machinery was also put in the factory and it was run by this firm until 1870, when Mr. Adams be- came proprietor. It was burned soon afterward.
J. B. Buck, architect and builder, established himself in Morristown in 1866. In 1881, he pur- chased a building formerly used as a livery stable, and putting in the necessary machinery and a fif- teen horse-power engine, is now doing a good business in his line.
The first blacksmith shop was opened in 1857, in a little log shop 16x20 feet, by W. S. Craw- ford. In 1862, he bought a building of Mr. Adams, in which he worked until he was burned out in 1875, when he erected his present shop and is still hammering away with two assistants, hav- ing been twenty years on the same spot.
KENNEY'S SORGHUM FACTORY .- This manufac- turiug institution is located in the northwestern part of the township, on the farm of the owner in section six. It was originally established in 1860, consisting of two wooden rollers made by Mr. Stevens, father of the proprietor, and was run each season until 1862, with a yoke of oxen and a capacity of thirty-two gallons per day. In this year, seeing that it could be made a success, he purchased an iron mill, doubled the capacity, and began running it with horse-power. During the war he disposed of his sorghum at from $1.00 to $1.25 per gallon. In 1866, the establishment was enlarged and a twelve horse-power engine put in, increasing the capacity to twelve barrels per day. This was the first mill of this nature run by steam in the State, and only partial success attended the experiment. In the fall of 1868, the mill was en- tirely destroyed by fire, and in the summer of the year following two mills and two horse-powers were brought into requisition to replace it. In 1879, a fifteen horse-power steam engine was at- tached; and, as the mills now stand, it having been since refitted, they have cost $5,000. They consist of a five ton mill, a storage and granulat- ing house, 30x40 feet, three stories high, with a storage capacity of 16,580 gallons; engine house, 22×26 feet; mill house, 30x62 feet; boiling house, 16x30 feet; refinery mill, 20 feet deep, and a Cen- trifical for draining the sugar, that was purchased in Germany at a cost of $500. Thus it will be seen that the establishment is a costly one, and in fact it is the finest and best managed mill in the State. Its capacity is 700 gallons per day and
600 pounds of sugar, its productions being ship- ped all over the United States. The proprietor, Seth H. Kenney, is president of the Minnesota Amber Cane Association.
DURRIN SAW-MILL .- In 1856, two young men mamed Norton and Webster came from California, bringing with them considerable capital,and erected the second steam saw-mill in the county, in Mor- ristown, on the present site of Hopkins' factory. It was a good mill and they operated it until the spring of 1857, when they left it with a cousin, R. Norton, who ran it ror a time, but it finally became the property of the present proprietor, E. P. Dur- rin, and was moved to the timber in section three. The mill was destroyed by fire early in the seven- ties but was almost immediately replaced with a building 18x26 feet, a fifty two inch circular saw, and a thirty-two horse-power steam engine, giv- ing it a capacity of 6,000 feet per day, a majority of the work being in furniture lumber,
In 1866, Mr. C. C. Aldrich established an apiary on his farm in section twenty-seven, which has grown with each year until it is now one of the most extensive enterprises in the town, with an al- most endless number of swarms and a regular feeding or pasture ground sown in buckwheat for the bees. In connection with this, in 1877, Mr. Aldrich put in necessary machinery and a ten horse-power steam engine, and commenced oper- ating a first class sorghum factory which he still continues.
VILLAGE OF MORRISTOWN.
This is the only village in the township, and has a beautiful location on the Cannon River, in the corners of sections twenty-two, twenty-three, twenty-six, and twenty-seven. The river furnish- es excellent water-power, and it is surrounded with the best timber and prairie farming land in the county. It is the fourth place of size and im- portance in Rice county, and, when the railroads which are now being graded are in working order, it bids fair to become a formidable rival for a bigher place. The village has a population of about 600, and according to the last assessment the total value assessed in the limits is $67,546, of which $25,546 represent the personal, and $43,- 100, the real property.
To give some idea of what was thought of the village in an early day, below is a short sketch of it made by Mr. C. Williams, in 1860; it says: "Morristown is another important village on the
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HISTORY OF RICE COUNTY.
Cannon River in the extreme western part of the county, and ten miles from Faribault. It contains two stores, one steam saw-mill, one water saw and grist mill, two taverns, one cabinet shop with water- power, two blacksmith shops, one schoolhouse, ons house of public worship, and a Post-office. The village contains 100 inhabitants. The farm- country around it is very fine, combining the ad- vantages of prairie, wood and water."
In 1874, the village was incorporated, embrac- ing in its limits sections twenty-two, twenty-three, twenty-six, and twenty-seven, a square of two miles.
EARLY SETTLEMENT .- The first settlement of the village commenced shortly after that of the township, and since the beginning has been rapid and constant. About the mid- dle of April, 1855, Mr. Jonathan Morris, who had the year before settled at Faribault, star- ted up Cannon River, in company with Walter Morris, in search of a mill power. They followed the course of the river as far up as the present site of Waterville, then returned as far as Mr. Story's, where they remained over night, receiving at the hands of Mr. Story and his excellent wife, true pioneer hospitality. Finding that nature had provided a splendid water power at this point, they decided upon locating at the present site of Mor- ristown, and in a few days thereafter, erected a log cabin near where Mr. Hershey's dwelling now stands, and moved in the same.
They immediately commenced the construction of a saw-mill, which was completed and in active operation early in the fall of the same year, a history of which has already been given.
During the summer and autumn of 1855, Joseph Dixon, Isaac Hammond, Reuben Morris, Daniel Wilkins, Richard Miller, Harrison and Jackson Willis, Thomas and James Sprague, Cole- man Bloomer and brother, and several others, moved into the township and made claims, thus forming quite a little community, and Mr. Jona- than Morris decided on laying out a portion of his claim into village lots, but owing to hard work and exposure incident to the building of the mill referred to, Mr. Morris was taken sick, which re- sulted in his death, being the first death iu this part of the county. After the death of Mr. Mor- ris, his widow, Mrs. Sarah Morris filed upon the tract of land she and her husband had settled upon, aud during the winter of 1856-57, went to
Winona and pre-empted it, and in the spring fol- lowing secured the services of Mr. C. C. Perkins, who surveyed a portion of her claim into town lots. About this time Mr. Thomas Dexter moved into the place and put up a small frame house, and opened the same as a hotel, which was known as the "Delaware House," Mr. and Mrs. Dexter proved well adapted to the business, and did a flourishing trade for several years.
Early in the spring of 1857, Messrs Locke & Pope commenced the construction of a large hotel, at that time one of the largest in the country, and when completed, was known as the "Eagle Hotel." This house continued to do a good business until a road was opened up on the north side of the river, which changed the travel so much as to ma- terially effect the business, since which time the house has changed hands several times, and to-day stands without a tenant.
In the summer of 1855, Walter Morris built a small log building near where Mr. Hershey's mill now stands, which he fitted up as a store, and com- menced the sale of goods, and continued till the fall of 1856, when he sold out his entire stock to Messrs Locke & Pope. In the fall of 1856, Mr. Collins came from Hastings and opened a store on the corner where Mr. Crawford's black smith shop stands, but failing to meet his obligations, was compelled to surrender his stock to his creditors early the next spring; the store passing into the hands of Messrs Adams & Allen. Mr. Adams took charge of the store, but immediately sold out to Reuben Morris, taking in exchange for the same, Mr. Morris' claim of 160 acres lying immediately west and adjoining the original survey of the vil- lage, the consideration being estimated at $1,600 Soon after Mr. Lewis McKune purchased an in- terest in the store with Mr. Adams, whereupon Walter Morris took charge of the store, and in the winter of 1857, sold the stock to Messrs Hayden & Graves.
In the month of January, 1857, Mr. Charles D. Adams returned to Morristown bringing with him a stock of merchandise, and opened up for busi- ness in the store formerly occupied by Mr. Collins. During Mr. Adams' absence one Benjamine Dexter jumped the claim of Adams & Allen, which creat- ed quite an excitement, and on the return of Mr. Adams, several members of the "claim society" proposed to remove Dexter from the claim. In the early settlement of this country, the claim
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MORRISTOWN TOWNSHIP.
societies often resorted to violence to accomplish their object, but Mr. Adams being a man of peace desired to avoid all trouble and finally paid Dex- ter $212 to leave the claim, and Dexter found it convenient to leave the country, it not being con- sidered a very healthy locality for claim jump- ers.
In the autumn of 1857, Mr. Adams erected a large store building, and immediately moved into it. This was erected on what is known as Adams' & Allen's addition, and is still doing excellent duty as a tenement house, and is an evidence of the pluck and energy of the oldest merchant of the place.
In 1856, Messre Webster & Norton located here and put into operation the first steam saw-mill in this part of the country, which they continued to run for some time, but finally transferred it to Rufus Norton, who operated it for several years.
During the summer of 1858, Mr. Osterhout set- tled in the village and put up another steam saw- mill, making at that early day, one water and two steam mills in town. Besides these mill there was a cooper shop, cabinet shop, and two blacksmith shops.
The town having gone ahead of the country it was evident that a standstill would follow, until the surrounding country was better improved, and it was some years before any other improvements were made worthy of notice. What there has been are noted under the head of "Industrial Enter- prises."
The early settlers of this section were princi- pally young and energetic men who had left their homes in the East to endure the hardships and privations incident to settlement of new coun- tries, and during the long winters, when one and all were compelled to be more or less inactive, the want of some kind of amusement suggested the idea of organizing a mock legislature, and during the winter of 1856, a society was organized, the hall in the Eagle Hotel was secured, where, once a week, the old and young, male and female, for miles around, would attend to hear the boys dis- cuss questions usual to such societies, and listen to the reading of a paper, which purported to give the current news of the day. The local depart- ment of the paper proved of great interest to one and all, and the settlers now living look back up- on the winter of 1856-57, as the most pleasant and enjoyable one they ever experienced.
Time or space will not admit of giving a full account of every event that transpired in the early days of what is now the beautiful and flourishing village of Morristown. Where but a few years ago the wigwam of the untutored savage stood, has, by the hand of industry, been transformed into a thriving village, containing churches, schools, stores, mills, hotels, and in short, all the conveniences of civilization.
MORRISTOWN POST-OFFICE .- Was established in 1856, Walter Morris having been appointed Post- master, with power to appoint a carrier at an ex- psnse not to exceed the net proceeds of the office, whereupon, Dr. Ward took the contract and con- tinued to carry the mail from Faribault until a mail route was established, and M. O. Walker commenced running his stage from Hastings to St. Peter. Owing to the rush of immigration in 1856, Mr. Morris deemed it best to run a stage from Hastings to this place, whereupon, he pur- chased stock and commenced running a convey- auce twice a week, and continued until M. O. Walker began running his stages over the same route.
Mail now leaves Morristown for Faribault at eight o'clock in the forenoon and arrives at Fari- bault at 11 o'clock. Leaves Faribault at one o'clock P. M., and arrives at Morristown at four o'clock, daily. Charles Dolan is coutractor and driver, and Mr. Walter Morris is the Postmaster, with the office in his store.
"NOT DEAD."-A very peculiar circumstance is reported in the various papers of the county as occurring near Morristown on the 17th of Novem- ber, 1872, and we give it, unvouched for, as we get it. A lady whose name is withheld, was ex- tremely ill; she sank slowly away until it was whispered, "She is dead." Friends gathered and wept tears of sorrow over her departure; neigh- bors were called and she was shrouded for burial. Arrangements were fast being made to deposit her remains in the narrow house. The time was fixed,-but, to the joy of friends, signs of life were visible; breathing apparent; life struggled; the eyes displayed their original beauty, and she lived, while the friends joyfully dispersed.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
CYRUS C. ALDRICH, a native of New York, was born in Chenango county on the 5th of August, 1833. He was married on the 18th of February, 1854, to Amanda Chapin. The year following
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HISTORY OF RICE COUNTY.
they moved to Wisconsin, a year later to Fari- bault, and in 1859, to Morristown, locating in sec- tion seven. Mr. Aldrich enlisted in the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, Company G, on the 21st of April, 1861, served three months and then re-enlisted in the Fourth Minnesota Regiment, was wounded in the battle of Altoona and discharged for disability. After returning from the army, being unable to perform heavy manual labor, he engaged in the manufacture of sorghum and bee culture and is at present pro- prietor of the Central Apiary depot of supples, hives, and honey. Mr. and Mrs. Aldrich have had six children, five of whom are living. He was one of the Councilmen the first two years after the village was incorporated.
HEERY BLENCOE was born in Chenango county, New York, on the 1st of June, 1837. He was married on the 18th of March, 1863, to Mrs. Mary Ann France, and his native place claimed him as a resident until 1865. He came from there to Minnesota and for two years lived in Waseca county, then moved to the village of Morristown, and in 1869, to his present farm in section twenty- nine. Mr. and Mrs. Blencoe have two children both girls.
C. M. BENSON, one of the early settlers of Mor- ristown, is a native of Vermont, born on the 7th of August, 1836. In 1853, he removed to Illi- nois and the following year to this township where he took a claim, but as he was not of age it was "jumped" and soon after his twenty-first birthday he made another, in section twenty, which has since been his home. In 1861, he en- listed in the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, Company G, served three years and participated in thirty battles, in the last of which he was shot, the ball entering his left side passed through him and lodged in his knapsack. He received an honorable discharge, returned to his home, and on the 31st of May, 1866, married Miss Ann Eliza Pool. The result of the union was eight children, six of whom are living. Mr. Benson is always in- terested in all school matters.
ALONZO BURCH, a native of Michigan, was born on the 18th of December, 1844. In 1856, he came with his parents to Steele county, Minne- sota, and two years later moved to Faribault. He enlisted in the army in 1862, and served till the close of the war, then returned to Faribault and engaged in mechanical pursuits ten years. He
was joined in marriage on the 16th of November, 1867, to Ardella Hammond. They came to this township in 1875, purchased land in section five, and Mr. Burch has since devoted his time to its cultivation.
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