USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice County, including explorers and pioneers of Minnesota and outline history of the state of Minnesota > Part 71
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The improvement of the water-power by the erection of these and the steam mills, gave the town a permanent importance not experienced by any other place in the vicinity. Messrs. N. B. and T. R. Coulson built the first store, and commenced
trade in March, 1856, but in June following sold out to H. Scriver, who at once began a large trade with a capital of $10,000. Skinner & Brothers opened a store in September of that year, and at once commenced a good trade. Cole & Beach opened up their goods in August. Goods were then brought from Hastings, as the nearest point on the river. At the beginning of 1857, there were two hotels, and a third was building, two carriages, two blacksmith shops, a schoolhouse, a reading-room with a public library, and organ- ized churches, but as a newspaper correspondent boasted at the time, no 'grog shop.'"
The first store was put up before Mr. North put in an appearance. It was on the farm of Mr. Coulson, a short distance from town in a little hut, with a wheelbarrow load of goods. When the town was laid out, Coulson moved in and put up a store, 18x30 feet, of green basswood boards, and placed his goods on the shelves. This store stood on the square in front of Mr. Scriver's store. When Mr. Scriver arrived a short time af- terwards, he purchased the store, and at the re- quest of Mr. North, moved it back to enlarge the square, and received his present lot in exchange.
The next store was erected by Skinner & Brother on Main street, and a small stock of goods was put in. The building is now used as a dwelling.
About the same time, Cole & Beach constructed a building, and they put in a small stock of goods, but this is also now occupied as a residence.
The next year Harvey Allen put up a store and began trade; the same place is now occupied by J. R. Jones.
Then, in 1856, Mr. H. Jenkins erected a hotel on the corner where McNeil's drug store now is, which was an old fashioned building, 25x25 feet, . with a cotton cloth roof, and was run back to make room for the store. It is now used as a boarding house.
Philip Colburn and Mr. Pease came shortly after Coulson, and went to work by the day.
Jonathan Alexander came just before North, and filed his claim on the east of the town, and still lives there. Alexander Stewart, who may yet be found on his place, secured it in 1855.
J. A. Huut came in the spring of 1856, when there was but a single frame house in the town. He drove some claim stakes, and started a meat shop, the first in town.
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CITY OF NORTHIFIELD.
I. S. Field was an early comer, and it is not absolutely certain that his name did not suggest the final syllable of the name of the town and city, as Mr. North's certainly did the first. There is, however, very little foundation for this theory, if any. M. W. Skinner, Mr. H. Scriver, Alva Cole, George Loomis, Olson Beach, Morgan Emery, and others, were arrivals about that time, and the following winter there was quite a little town, and the people began to feel that they were becoming quite metropolitan.
Mr. Jenkins was proprietor of the first hotel, and the roof was a single thickness of cotton cloth. Soon after it was built, the upper story was occu- pied by twenty-five meu one night when a terrific thunder shower drenched the inmates in a most unpleasant way. The next morning the proprie- tor posted off to Hastings for shingles.
The second hotel went up in the summer of 1857, and was called the "Mansion House;" it was kept by Benjamin Kimball. The size was 25x60 feet, and at first was all utilized as a hotel; now the lower part is used for stores. Its location is on the West Side, and it was placed there to get out of the jurisdiction of Mr. North, who sold lots with the stipulation that no liquor should be sold on the premises under penalty of forfeiture. This hotel was on the school section, which was an addition to the town plat. Kimball opened a bar in the place and went on selling for a few weeks, when three men, George Loomis, W. W. Willis, and Warren Weed, went over and with an ax de- molished barrels and bottles; this literally broke up the establishment, and it was never reopened. Of course this breaking of the peace created con- siderable excitement, but the man was paid a small sum for his loss.
The American House was built in 1858 by J. W. North, and is now used by Carleton College.
GILSON's was the very first stopping place erected in Northfield, and was run as a boarding house, hotel, or " hash factory," as it was some- times called. It was erected by the man whose name it bore, in 1855, and consisted of a log main building about 16x20 feet, with a small addition of twelve feeet square. It stood about one-half mile out of Northfield on the stage line of early days. The shanty was roofed with split oak pieces, which did excellent service in dry weather. In the early part of 1856 this was the only place to stop, and was very much crowded, the boarders
having to sleep on the floor, and on special occa- sions they would use their wagons for a bed withi but the canopy of heaven for a cover. This was run as a stopping place for about two years, when it was made a dwelling house, and used as such for a number of years. The beautiful residence of William Giles, now crowns the site the "stop- ping place " occupied in days of yore.
Northfield can now accommodate ber guests in the following hotels: Archer's Hotel, Central House, St. Paul House, Farmer's Home, Norske Hotel, and several boarding houses.
INTERESTING EVENTS.
The first practicing physicians in the town were Drs. Schofield and Hanchet, who were both in business here in 1857 and '58. Dr. Schofield, who was the earlier of the two, is still in active prac- tice in town.
A child of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Stewart, in 1856, was an early birth, and was named James.
Fred. Bingham, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Bing- ham, was an early comer, and the young man is now in the photograph business near Winnipeg.
Another early comer in Northfield was George, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Morgan Emery, in 1856. He grew up near Northfield, and is now & prac- ticing lawyer in Le Sueur county.
Sadie Lockwood, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ephraim Lockwood, was nshered into existence at an early day in 1857, and still lives in Northfield.
Charley, a son of Alva and Lovica Cole, was also an early birth, being brought into the light of this world in Northfield in the spring of 1857. He is now a farmer near Grand Forks, Dakota Territory.
Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Hunt were blessed with a son on the 2d of January, 1858, which they named William, and he is now a practicing physician.
In 1857, Mr. Ransom Smith and Miss Mary Jenkins were joined in the bonds of wedlock by the bride's father, H. Jenkins, Esq. The couple are still living in town. At first they moved to Brush Prairie, but afterwards got into the city. This was very likely the first marriage.
Mr. Benjamin Kimball to Miss Hattie Kelley was the next event of this kind to happen, and they at once took charge of the "Mansion House." In the course of a few years they went to California.
The first person to pay the debt of mortality in
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HISTORY OF RICE COUNTY.
Northfield was a two-year old child of Ephraimn Lockwood, in November, 1856, and the remains were deposited in a spot that was already in con- templation for a cemetery, in the northeast part of the town, but were subsequently removed to the present cemetery in the south part.
Charles Loomis died in April, 1858, and bis re- mains repose in the cemetery south of town. He died of hydrophobia-a very sad and peculiar case.
Joseph Drake died in the spring of 1858, and was buried in the same place, and was perhaps the first there.
One of the first deaths was Mr. Simmons, who was drowned in the Cannon River in June, 1856, while floating logs for the construction of the mill. He left a family of a wife and three children, one of whom now lives in the township. His wife af- terwards married a Mr. Mosher, and in 1864, com- mitted suicide.
On the 5th of November, 1878, the first house built in Northfield was destroyrd by fire. It was erected by John W. North, and stood on north Division street.
On the 19th of May, 1880, the Congregational church and two barns were destroyed by fire.
A most heart-rending affair occurred in North- field on the 22d of March, 1858. A son of Mr. Finley McFee was riding a horse and leading an- other with a halter tied around his wrist, when the bad horse took fright, and pulled the lad off and ran with him dashing out his brains in his mad career.
On the 24th of October, 1872, a barn belonging to Fred. Goodsell was set on fire by some unknown person, and while attention was directed towards the fire Mr. Emery's grocery store was entered and robbed of $149.37. It was evidently what is called in the rogues vernacular "a put up job."
The brewery, one mile from towu, was burned on the 14th of December, 1872. The concern was insured for $2,000.
On Saturday the 18th of May, 1873, a runaway occurred in which a son of Mr. Leist, aged five years, lost his life.
SILVER WEDDING .- The twenty-fifth anniver- sary of the wedding of the parties named below took place in Northfield some time in 1879, but the exact date has dropped out, and there is not time
to secure it now, so it is introduced as it came from the local paper:
" Saturday last signalized an interesting occa- sion to some of our citizens. It was the twenty- fifth anniversary of the marriage of W. H. Ben- nett and wife, which was nothing less than their silver wedding. Mrs. Bennett is a ยท member of the somewhat numerous Bunday race, and they all, or nearly all, rallied and stormed the castle, the num- ber present being about fifty persons, though some were unavoidably absent. Among the pres- ents were the following: One silver-plated cake dish, one silver-plated castor, one dozen silver forks, very nice; two sets napkin rings, properly marked; two butter-knives, one pickle-fork, one silver thimble, one set each of silver table and tea spoons. These were presented by a neat speech from S. S. Dickinson, Esq., and duly acknowl- edged by the recipients, though it was so much of a surprise to them that their utterance was some- what emotional, as would be very natural under the circumstances. It was a very interesting and en- joyable occasion. We wish Mr. and Mrs. Bennett much joy on this auspicious beginning of the sec- ond quarter century of their married life, and hope they may reach their golden wedding, twenty-five years hence."
MARRIED OVER AFTER FIFTY YEARS. REBOUND IN GOLDEN BONDS .--- In the spring of 1878, a house full of old and middle-aged came together to keep in fitting style the fiftieth anniversary of the wed- ding of Mr. and Mrs. Almon Morris of this city. The scene of the festivities was at the residence of Mr. A. P. Morris, who with his wife invited the guests and provided the entertainment. The bride of a half century ago was attired in white. To flank this couple were the aged Mr. and Mrs. Con- verse, of Dundas, who six years before had enjoyed a similar occasion. A brother and sister of Mr. M. were present from Wisconsin. The first hour was occupied with giving and receiving congratu- lations. A quartette sung by Cashier Phillips, Prof. Thomas, Mrs. Rice and Emma Wheaton led to some remaks by Rev. Mr. Leonard, including the interesting story of courtship of this couple and some of the incidents of their married life. Then they arose, joined hands and convenanted over to love, serve and cherish each the other till the end of life. President Strong offered a prayer relating to the past, the present, and the future. The "Wedding March" was then rendered by Mag-
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CITY OF NORTHFIELD.
gie Dickson. President Strong read a golden wed- ding poem written for the occasion by a Vermont minister past eighty, and the former pastor of the bride and groom. C. A. Wheaton, of the Journal, sang with due pathos, "John Anderson my Jo." Prof. Pattee, in behalf of A. P. Morris, presented a gold-headed cane to both father and mother, and to the former a splendid Waltham gold watch and chain, while to the latter, from a number of friends in town, was given an easy chair. The wedding dress was sent by Mrs. A. M. Rawson, of Chicago, and an extra cane came from Wm. F. and Charles Merriam of the same city. A table was covered with other choice presents. Then followed the singing by all of "Nearer My God to Thee," and after that commenced a feast of another sort. Oceans of various good things had been prepared and were now served by the host in excellent style, and in a style of equal excellence were con- sumed. Thus hurried on the evening's close, and at a late hour the pair, for whose sake the as- semblage was held, were left to rest and to indulge in pleasant memories of that notable 10th of June, which surely will continue to the close of life. Not far from 130 guests were present, and nothing oc- curred to mar in the least the enjoyment of the happy hours.
RUBY WEDDING .- The fortieth anniversary of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Holt, was celebrated on the 20th of November, 1879. The bride's original name was Julia Cushman. Forty years is more than the life of a full generation, and represents the time spent in the wilderness by the children of Israel, but it is quite certain that this couple, although they have traveled consider- able, have not been all this time in the wilderness. This affair was well attended and was a very pleasant one.
MURDER AND ATTEMPTED ROBBERY. - In the an- nals of crime the Northfield tragedy is widely known on account of the daring atrocity of the enterprise, and the fatality of its results to the chief actors. The men engaged in the venture- some exploit were the "James brothers," and the "Younger brothers," and others whose naines will appear in the course of the narrative.
The party consisted of eight men who arrived in town between 10 and 11 o'clock on the 7th of September, 1876, and making their headquarters at a saloon, waited until 2 o'clock in the afternoon. They then made a concerted attack upon the bank,
five of them paying especial attention to the rob- bery which was contemplated, one of them sta- tioned himself on the sidewalk near the corner of Lee & Hitchcock's store, and one at the door of the First National Bank, while the other three went inside to commit the robbery. At the same time the three others came galloping across the bridge, and with frightful yells and horrible ejacu- lations, began firing their revolvers into stores and at all persons who dared to shom themselves at doors or windows, and riding up Division street patroled in front of the bank, keeping up a con- tinuous firing from their revolvers and calling with murderous imprecations upon all who came in sight to "git," displaying the most excellent horsemanship. Meantime the three men who entered the bank jumped over the counter with a single bound and presented revolvers to the heads of the three men who were there, J. L. Heywood, the acting cashier, E. E. Bunker, the teller, and J. F. Wilcox, the bookkeeper, saying that they were going to rob the bank, and asking for the cashier. On being told that he was not in, they ordered Mr. Heywood, who was seated at the cashier's desk, to open the safe; the vault door was standing open, but the safe door was closed. Mr. Heywood posi- tively refused to open the safe for them, when the villain took hold of him and drew a long knife across his throat, threatening with the most hor- rid oaths to cut his throat from ear to ear, unless he instantly complied. Mr. Heywood released himself and started for the door crying murder at the top of his voice, but he was knocked down with a navy revolver, and dragged to the door of the vault, and a shot was fired to further intimi- date him. Mr. Bunker, meantime had torn him- self away and escaped out of the back door, receiving a shot in the shoulder, which, however, did not prevent his shouting an alarm. The leader stepped into the vault and tried to open the inside door when Mr. Heywood attempted to close the door upon him, but was jerked away by one of ruffians. Further efforts were made to induce the acting cashier to open the safe door, but all with- out avail. All this time one of the scoundrels had young Wilcox on his knees with a revolver at his temple.
.
This was the condition of affairs inside when the men, who were being severely punished out- side, called out to those inside of the bank to leave it at once, as it was getting too hot for them.
26
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HISTORY OF RICE COUNTY.
Two of them immediately jumped over the counter and rushed into the street, the other one, who is supposed to have been Jesse James, as he was jumping over the counter, indignant and ex- asperated at the dismal failure of the daring scheme, turned and deliberately fired at Mr. Heywood, the second shot killing him instantly, a ball through the left temple literally blowing his brains out.
While this tragedy was being enacted in the bank, another drama loaded with tragedy had been rehearsing in a lively way outside. When the "road agents" rode up towards the bank, Mr. J. S. Allen, who kept a hardware store on the south side of Mill Square, had his suspic- ion aroused. He followed them, and reached the bank just as the robbers had entered, the gnard there at once collared him, and pointing a pistol at his head ordered him to keep quiet, but he broke loose and ran, followed by two shots. Mr. A. R. Manning, hearing the situation, seized a breecli-loading rifle and taking his station at the corner of Lee & Hitchcock's store, fired a few shots, and succeeded in killing one of the mis- creants, wounding another, and killing a horse. Of course it required a high order of courage to thus make a target of himself; as it was, he nar- rowly escaped destruction. Henry Wheeler, a young man in a drug store on the east side of the street, ran up stairs into the Dam- pier House, where he had an old carbine, and coolly fired from the window three shots, all he had, and killed one of the brigands and wounded a horse and perhaps one of the bandits also. Among others who took a hand in the skirmish were, J. B. Hyde, L. Stacy, and Rev. Mr. Phillips. who used shot guns and pistols, and they must have done some execution, as the cadavers had fine shot in their faces. Mr. George Bates also drew the fire of the assassins by presenting a pistol, and attempting to fire a gun that would not go off. As they came from inside, the sur- vivors of the fray made no unnecessary delay in starting on that perilous ride, which proved quite as disastrons as the commencement of this abor- tive robbery had thus far been. When they were mounted and about to ride off, the wounded man on the sidewalk said, "For God's sake boys, don't leave me;"so they took him up and threw him across a horse and then galloped away. As they rode up the street, a Swede came out of a shop and was
ordered to go back, but not understanding what they said failed to comply, and he was shot through the head, dying the next Monday.
Telegrams were at once started in all directions to intercept the ontlaws. Unfortunately the operator at Dundas was not in, or the whole gang might have been captured there. Parties were organized at various points, and the story of the flight with the wounded man, the pursuit, with the attending escapades and hair-breadth escapes on both sides, affords a most exciting chapter in this kind of literature; for the whole country be- tween here and Missouri, the headquarters of the gang, was excited and under arms, and the result was that three were captured and one more killed, making six left behind of the eight who started on this errand of plunder. The two who escaped were Jesse and Frank James, the latter being the one wounded in Northfield. The names of those killed in Northfield were Clell Miller and Stiles. Charley Pitts, alias George Wells, was killed at Madelia, where Cole, Robert, and James Younger were finally captured, and subsequently lodged in the Faribault jail. Rumors of a rescuing party caused a guard to be placed outside the jail, and on the 3d of October, 1876, a watchman, who was coming to report for duty, was shot and in- stantly killed by Frank Glazier, a guard at the jail, who mistook him for the advance guard of a rescuing party. This was indeed a sad and fatal mistake, making the sixth human life de- stroyed in consequence of the attempt to rob the Northfield bank.
On the 16th of November, 1876, the bandits were indicted at Faribault, and pleading guilty, were sentenced on the 20th to State prison during the term of their natural lives, and on the 22d of the same month they were taken to Stillwater. Thus ended this terrible affair.
THE INDIANS.
In the autumn of 1862, after the Sioux massa- cre, the people in and about Northfield were in a chronic state of apprehension. Indians were con- stantly passing in small bands, aud while the days were passed with feelings of security, the nights were instinct with emotions of dread, every un- usual sound was transformed into indications of the approach of the blood-thirsty savage, and very many persons who had retired for the night had the most gloomy forebodings, and felt that it
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CITY OF NORTHFIELD.
was extremely uncertain whether the light of another morning would ever dawn for them.
Scouting parties were raised to scour the country for the lurking foe, and in one of these squads was a man by the name of Hobbs, who, when a few miles out concluded to fire off an old charge in his gun, and pointing to a cornfield discharged the piece, when there arose the most ear-pierc- ing screams, and a woman made her appearance, bringing one foot in her hand and exclaiming that she had been shot, which proved to be the case, the shot having taking effect in the foot. Hobbs explained the nature of the accident, and the woman, who was just from England, was willing to forgive him, if "in another like time he would shoot in the (h)air." But this state of affairs did not continue long, and to paraphrase a monotonous army report, "all was quiet on the Cannon."
In the fall of 1857, a band of Sionx on a predatory expedition to the Chippewa region, east of the river, camped near the village. They soon moved on and crossed the river between Hastings and Red Wing and had a bloody fight with their enemies, securing several scalps. On their way back they again encamped, this time within the city limits in the northeast part of the village, and here, being so far away from the Chippewas that they had no fear of a surprise, a scalp dance was indulged in. Each scalp was put on a hoop and that attached to a pole about ten feet long, and around these with spasmodic contortions and ear-splitting yells and drummings they danced, if such gyratory jump- ings can be so called.
Another Indian affair occurred in 1863, when the Little Crow band of Indians were on the rampage about the country. A party of four left the main body west of Northfield and made their way hither on a horse stealing ex- pedition. Crossing Mr. Daniels' farm, a half mile from town, and so on to Michael Kennery's place and remaining concealed until night, took six horses and made off toward the woods, retrac- ing their steps. A force was at once organized in town and a hot pursuit started. The Indians finding themselves pursued kept dodging back and forth in the woods. At one point there is a cross road on the Dundas and Faribault road, leading into the timber and to the ford of the Cannon River, and at this point a guard was stationed, as
the red skins might cross there. About eleven o'clock they came in sight, crossed the ford and pushed along slowly to the corners. There was a farm house near the ambush, and as they passed, the farmer's wife rushed out and screamed at the top of her voice. "Here they come! Shoot 'em! Shoot 'em !! " This of course alarmed the fellows, and they turned and recrossed the river. They were pursued for several days and finally over- taken and the whole four shot to death, the whites losing a single horse.
This locality for a year or two, seemed to be on a regular thoroughfare for the Indians between the Mississippi River and some point on the Min- nesota River, as hardly a day passed without see- ing them in greater or less numbers. It was not uncommon for a woman, perhaps alone in the house, to look up and see one of their "ugly mugs" flattened against a window pane, or for a man to stumble over them asleep in the barn.
At one time, Mrs. Martin, who lived where John Ames now does, was badly freightened on seeing a large number of them, estimated at fifteen hun- dred, passing not far from her house. She was alone with a babe and two other children, and hastily wrapping up the little one put it in a drip- ping pan, and tying a string to it, started with the improvised baby carriage and the other chil- dren for John S. Way's place, a mile and a half distant.
POLITICAL.
A charter for a village government was obtained in 1871, and the first meeting under the new or- ganization held in March. The first officers were: President, S. P. Stewart; Councilmen, E. Lathrop, H. Scriver, F. A. Noble, and E. Hobbs, and on or- ganization, E. Lathrop was chosen Chairman. Lewis Goodsell was elected Recorder; Fred. Goodsell, Treasurer; Charles Wheeler, Marshal; Lewis Goodsell, Assessor; O. M. Meade, Attorney; F. O. Rice, Surveyor; and A. F. Kingman, Street Commissioner.
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