History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 82

Author: Mitchell, William Bell, 1843-
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago : H. S. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1110

USA > Minnesota > Stearns County > History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II > Part 82

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Avon village has a population of three hundred and is located fifteen miles west of St. Cloud on the Great Northern Rail- way. It has a Catholic church, a bank, a hotel, a creamery and a grain elevator.

Wm. S. Bartholomew, postmaster; Avon Hardware Co., J. P. Schneider, manager; Avon State Bank, J. H. Spieker, presi- dent, N. J. Terhaar, cashier; Wm. S. Bartholomew, wholesale wood, real estate, and insurance; Geo. Dulinger, blacksmith (St. Wendell); Mathew Grosman, pro- prietor Lake View Hotel; Inter-State Grain Co., Frank Schmidt, agent; Jacob Omann, blacksmith; Philip Philipsack, general store (St. Wendell); Rass Bros., livery; St. Wendell Creamery Association, M. J. Rooney, secretary (St. Wendell) ; Frank Schmid, general store; H. Simpson, express and telegraph agent.

BROCKWAY TOWNSHIP

Brockway is situated in the extreme northeast corner of the county, and has an area of 33,960 acres. It embraces all of township 126 north, range 29 west, the south tier of sections belonging to town- ship 127, range 29, and a portion of town- ship 126, range 28. Along the river, at the south, there is a fine piece of prairie, formerly known as Winnebago Prairie, but now called Brockway Prairie. To- wards the north, and originally separated from Brockway Prairie by a light strip of timber, is North Prairie, which extends into Morrison county. Westward from the river, the surface is somewhat hilly with occasional strips of low and swampy land. The higher land of this portion of the township was originally heavily tim- bered.

In the summer of 1855, the first perma- nent settlers arrived, and consisted of Milo Young, George Day, Winslow Getchell and his son Nathaniel, Asa and Winslow Libby, William Gordon, and a few others, all settling on Winnebago Prairie. In the fall of that year, James Y. Demeritt and William McNeal settled near the river, on North Prairie, and were followed soon after by Andrew McCrea and others. The winter of 1856-57 was an unusually hard one for the settlers. The cold was in- tense and the snow fell to a depth never since attained.

When the government survey was made,

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some time after this settlement, Mr. Dem- eritt and his neighbor McNeal found them- selves on school section thirty-six, but fortunately, they were enabled to obtain land warrants, and thus secured their claims at about government price.

Sauk Rapids was then but a trading post and there were but a few houses at St. Cloud, consequently it was several years before enough concentrated action could be had to open a road along the west side of the river. The first school was taught by Irene Carrick, of Elk River, in 1860; it was a private school, and held in the house of Winslow Getchell. The first preaching was also in the house of Mr. Getchell, in 1859, by the Rev. John Thomp- son, of Sauk Rapids. The first birth was a daughter of Asa Libby, born in 1857, and died at the age of nine months, mak- ing the first death in the town. The first marriage occurred in the fall of 1858, the contracting parties being, Edward B. Bliss and Cynthia Gray.

The town was organized in 1858, and embraced a large tract of country lying west of the river, but has been gradually reduced to its present limits by the or- ganization of new towns. The first elec- tion was held May 27, at the house of Anson Northrup .. A portion of the present town of Le Sauk was included in the new town, in which Mr. Northrup lived. The officers elected were: Supervisors, Asa Libby (chairman), J. E. Hayward, and William Gordon; clerk, W. B. Ellis; as- sessor, Reuben Gray, and collector, Na- thaniel Getchell. The town was organ- ized under the name of Winnebago, but changed to Brockway in 1860.

Brockway postoffice was established in September, 1857, and N. Getchell ap- pointed postmaster. About 1863, Mr. Get- chell moved away and the office was dis- continued, but soon re-established with Appleton Webb as postmaster. He was succeeded by James Gray, and in October, 1879, Mrs. Alma Getchell was appointed. North Prairie postoffice was formerly kept at the house of James L. Demeritt, with Mrs. Demeritt as postmistress, but some time ago it was removed north into Mor- rison county. Many years ago, regular preaching was maintained at Brockway prairie, but later it was abandoned. A Sabbath school was kept up at the school

house on section seventeen, and also one on Brockway prairie. Adjoining the Ger- man Catholic Church on section twenty- five, is a cemetery inclosing about four acres of ground. A cemetery is also lo- cated on section twenty-eight, which was formerly the property of the town, but owing to some inhormonious feeling, it was deeded to the Brockway Cemetery As- sociation about 1866.

Brockway postoffice was established in September, 1857, and N. Getchell ap- pointed postmaster. About 1863, Mr. Getchell moved away and the office was discontinued, but soon re-established with Appleton Webb as postmaster. He was succeeded by James Gray, and in October, 1879, Mrs. Alma Getchell was appointed.

North Prairie postoffice was formerly kept at the house of James Y. Demeritt, with Mrs. Demeritt as postmistress, but in the seventies moved north into Mor- rison county.

Among the early settlers of Brockway as already mentioned was James Y. Dem- eritt, who came to Minnesota in 1855, from Woodstock, New Hampshire, where he was born February 16, 1822, located temporarily on the east side of the Mis- sissippi river. In November of the same year he made a pre-emption on section 36, in the extreme north-eastern part of the township, which was then wild and unsettled. His wife and two little girls were taken across the river in a birch bark canoe borrowed from the Indians for that purpose, while the oxen and one cow were made to swim to the other side. The frame house then built still stands, al- though several additions have been made, and is the home of the widow, now 89 years of age. There are few Minnesota men or women who can say that they have lived in the same place and in the same house for sixty years. During the Indian outbreak Mr. Demerritt was compelled to go to Fort Ripley to help guard the post, as were all the men of the settlement except two who were left to protect the women and children, gathered at the Dem- erritt house, as being the largest one in the neighborhood. There they passed the anxious days, scarcely daring to cook for fear the smoke would betray them or to have a light at night lest it might attract the attention of the Indians. Many buried

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their few valuables in the fields or woods that they might be saved in case the houses were burned by the savages. For several years both before and after the war the Demerritt house was used for church services, the rooms being filled by the neighbors, some of whom came a dis- tance of six and eight miles with ox teams, bringing their entire families.

ST. STEPHEN

This village, the last to be incorporated in Stearns county and making the total number 24, is made of parts of sections 19, 30 and 31, town 126, range 28, parts of 23, 24, 25, 26 and 36, town 126, range 29, in the township of Brockway. It is prac- tically a reincarnation of the old town- site of Brockway, which was established in 1857 by Stephen Emerson and J. L. Young, almost directly opposite Watab, which was then a town of considerable importance. These promoters built a large hotel and several good houses. They also built a bridge across the river, about two miles distant, this being the first bridge over the Mississippi above St. Anthony Falls. It was a toll bridge and the man in charge slept in a small house con- veniently located. One morning when he arose to resume his daily duties the bridge was missing, a strong wind during the night having lifted it from the piers and dumped it into the river. It was not re- built and crossing afterwards was done by means of a ferry boat. For many years it had a postoffice and church services were held at stated periods, but the town has long ceased to have an existence. Among the early settlers in that vicinity were Gregor Peternell, who came in 1866, and Gregor Pogatschnick. Others who followed were Andrew Dean, John Schumer, Anton Kapus and Andrew and John Blankush. The first storekeeper was John Smerker about 1878. Following him were John Merkling, Merkling & Po- lance, McCarty, John Shebet and John P. Heim, who successively occupied the same building ..

The new village was incorporated May 2, 1914. It has a general store, owned by Vouk & Legeat, another by Jos. Thorker; there is a blacksmith shop, and a saw mill built twelve years ago by Frank Vouk, manufacturing lumber from logs brought

in by the settlers. The mail service is from Rice postoffice, R. R. No. 2.

It is understood that the Rt. Rev. James Trobec, in laying aside his duties as Bishop of St. Cloud, will make his home at St. Stephen, where he has relatives.

CROW LAKE TOWNSHIP

Crow Lake is situated in the extreme southwest corner of the county, and em- braces township 123 north, range 35 west. Its area is 23,040 acres. It is chiefly a rolling prairie, excepting along the course of Spunk river, and on the margins of some of the lakes. The principal lakes are, Crow, from which the town derives its name, Tamarack, Fish, and Grass lakes, the latter lying partly in Pope county. Spunk river is the name of a small stream which rises in Tamarack lake, and flows easterly, emptying into the North Fork of Crow river, in Crow River township. The soil is chiefly a sandy loam with a clay subsoil.

This town was uninhabited until about 1861, when two Swedes, named C. H. Johnson and John Johnson, made claims here.

Crow Lake was organized in 1868, and embraces, in addition to its present terri- tory, the west half of the township 123, range 34, but was reduced to its present limits by the organization of Crow River in 1877. The first officers were: Super- visors, W. B. Reed (chairman), Peter Knudson, and H. Anderson; clerk, F. H. Swenson; assessor, C. H. Johnson; and treasurer, Henry Hess.

The first school was taught by Julia Nelson in 1870.

CROW RIVER TOWNSHIP

Crow River is located in the southwest- ern portion of the county, and it contained in township 123 north, range 34 west. The surface is a gently rolling prairie inter- spersed with marsh land. The creek which is the outlet of Crow Lake, crosses the southwest corner of the town in a southeasterly direction. Spunk river and the North Fork of Crow river cross the northern and eastern portions of the town, the former running in an easterly, and the latter in a southerly direction. The soil is generally a sandy loam with a

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clay sub-soil, although a clay loam is found in the southwest part.

In 1860, the first settlers arrived. They consisted of Gilbert Anfinson, T. Wronson, and H. Jorgenson. They settled in the southwest part of the town, but left their claims during the Indian outbreak of 1862, and fled. In 1864, quite a settlement was formed, prominent among whom were Peter Knudson and Gilbert Anfinson, the latter being one of the first settlers in 1860.

The first child born in the township was a daughter of Gilbert Anfinson. Hers was also the first death. The first marriage was in 1871, the contracting parties being Nels Halland and R. Matiason. The first pub- lic school was held in the summer of 1870, by Emma Morgan, in the house of C. H. Johnson. The first religious services were held in the house of Peter Knudson, in 1866, by Rev. Johnson.

Crow River was organized in 1877. eighteen sections being detached from the west side of Lake Henry, and a similar number from the eastern portion of Crow Lake, for the formation of the new town. The first officers were: Supervisors, Daniel Peterson (chairman), John Henrik- son, and Nels Halland; clerk, Knut P. Knutson; assessor, Daniel Peterson; and treasurer, G. Larson.

BELGRADE VILLAGE

Belgrade village with a population of about six hundred is located on the "Soo" line, fifteen miles northwest of Paynes- ville. It has Methodist, Catholic and Ger- man Lutheran churches, a commercial club, a bank, a hotel, a creamery, a flour mill, two grain elevators and a municipal electric light and water plants. A weekly newspaper, the Tribune, is published. The shipments are wheat and live stock. Land is worth $20 to $50 an acre. W. P. Lemmer is postmaster.

Peter M. Anderson, blacksmith; T. J. Anderson & Co., general store; Anderson & Hess, restaurant; Belgrade Commercial Club, Oscar Quisberg, president; H. M. Wohlleb, secretary; Belgrade Flour Mill Co., Chris Borgerding, president, Geo. A. Kolb, secretary and manager; Belgrade Hotel, Herman Thaele, proprietor; Walter P. Lemmer, publisher of the Tribune; Chris Borgerding, insurance agent; Ole K.

Brustad, shoemaker; Mrs. Emma Chris- tianson, restaurant; Elmer Iverslie, man- ager of the City Light & Water Works; Commercial Telephone Co., Chris Borgerd- ing, president, Henry Borgerding, secre- tary; Farmers Cooperative Creamery Co., C. J. Anderson, president, Peter J. West- ergard, manager; Farmers Elevator Co., Peter O. Heilie, manager; Galander & Quisberg, general store; Jno .. W. Han- schen, railroad express and telegraph agent; Wm. S. Hitchings, physician; Hitchings & Peterson, drugs; A. J. Holt- berg, meats; Oliver Johnson, jeweler; J. A. Larson, barber; Lindquist & Linder- holm, hardware; Arthur M. Madson, tailor; A C. Manz, photographer; Medalen Bros., livery; Mickelson Bros. & Glesne, general store; Martin A. Mikkelson, general store; Morris Lumber Co., Ole Hndrickson, man- ager; Frank B. Napravnik, meats; North American State Bank, Chris Borgerding, president; J. W. Koetter, cashier; Theo. Olson, harness; Olson & Iverslie, hard- ware; Osborne-McMillan Elevator Co., Arthur Blomberg, agent; Magnus Skim- land, blacksmith; Herman Thoele, pro- prietor Belgrade Hotel; J. T. Troelstrup, harness; Wimmer & Schmitz Realty Co .; Henry M. Wohlleb, lumber.

COLLEGEVILLE TOWNSHIP

Before the year 1880 this township was a part of the township of St. Joseph and Farming, each of which comprised 54 sec- tions; but in January, 1880, the western one-third of the former and the eastern one-third of the latter were organized into a distinct township, which took its name from St. John's College in section one. Ac- cording to the government survey it is township 124, north, range 30, west, con- taining 36 sections or 23,040 acres. It is bounded on the north by the town of Avon, on the east by St. Joseph, on the south by Wakefield, and on the west by Farming. No railroad line crosses it and the station of Collegeville is not in the township bearing that name.

The soil is not the best for agricultural purposes. The surface is very uneven and hilly, largely covered with forests of maple, poplar and oak, while the lower places are marshy. Among its dozen lakes, the largest are St. John's and Watab Lakes. The latter has for its outlet the

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South fork of the Watab river, which flows northward through the western part of St. Joseph and eventually finds its way into the Mississippi about three miles north of St. Cloud; a group of small lakes in section 11 has an outlet in what is called the North fork of the Watab, which joins the South fork one mile above the vil- lage of St. Joseph. Some of the smaller lakes have been drained in recent years.

There are no villages or settlements in the town. The only church is that of St. John's Abbey, where most of the settlers attend service. The largest educational institution is St. John's University, an ac- count of which will be found elsewhere. There are three District Schools: School district No. 120 was organized August 22, 1881; it included sections 35 and 36 and one-half of section 34 in the town of Avon. At present the school house is located in section one of the town of Collegeville. District 140 is in the northwestern part of the town; its school house is in section 6. District 144 is in the southern part of the town; its school in section 27.

The first settlers were two Germans, George Scherer and Joseph Jonas, who took up claims in section 26 about 1858. About the same time John Obermiller settled on section 2. Peter Eich, the old- est surviving settler, made his home in the same section in 1866. Some of the first township officers were: Supervisors, Mathias Sauer, Peter Eich and Mathias Fandel; clerk, George Sauer. The present officials are: Supervisors, L. Hartig (chairman), B. Scherer and J. Jonas; clerk, N. J. Klein.

(Note-The above article on College- ville is contributed by the Rev. Alexius Hoffmann, O. S. B.)

EDEN LAKE TOWNSHIP

Eden Lake is situated on the south line of the county, and nearly midway between the east and west lines. It has an area of 23,040 acres, and embraces township 122 north, range 31 west. The surface is undulating, with some swamp and low land. The town contains a large number of lakes, the largest of which is Rice Lake, in the western portion of the town. Promi- nent among the smaller lakes, are: Pirz, Long, Brown's, Eden, and Vail's lakes.

Charles Holifer, who came in 1856, was

probably the first settler. He made a claim on section four. He was followed during the same year by Ferdinand Zaczkobski, who settled on section five, and B. Pirz, who took land on sections five and six. Others also settled in that portion of the town about the same time. David J. Hanscom came in 1859, and lo- cated on section twenty-five. In 1860, Haley Clark settled in section twenty-four, and in 1864, Thomas A. Allen also became a resident of the town.

The territory now included in Eden Lake, was formerly a part of Richmond township, afterwards Munson, organized in 1858, but formed into a separate organi- zation in 1867, and the first election held on February 16. The first officers were: Supervisors, W. T. Mills (chairman), T. R. McGuire, and Ernst Holifer; clerk, D. J. Hanscom; assessor, C. P. Russell; treas- urer, Thomas Allyn; justices of the peace. James Jones and B. Pirz; and constables, George Hamilton and William Marquette.

The first school taught in this town was in the German settlement, in 1864. In 1870, district number sixty-three was organized in the American settlement, a school house erected on section twenty-three, and the first school taught by Lizzie C. Allyn.

An organization of Campbellites was formed by the Rev. Isaac Cameron in 1869. The Church of God was formed in 1875. The first minister was the Rev. C. Scott.

FAIR HAVEN TOWNSHIP

Fair Haven is one of the southeastern towns of the county, and embodies a por- tion of townships 121 and 122, range 28, west. The surface of the town is some- what undulating, and a large part of it, prior to its settlement, was covered with brush and small timber, which rapidly disappeared before the march of progress. Its soil is rich and fertile, capable of pro- ducing the best crops. There are several small lakes in the township, and on the southern boundary the Clearwater river flows through a series of lakes known as Clearwater, Augusta, Caroline, Maria, Sunday and Mary. The lakes abound in fish and game fowl. The area of the town is about 21,760 acres, of which about one- half is under cultivation.

Thomas C. Partridge and a company of

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friends settled Fair Haven in 1856. This first settlement clustered around the pres- ent site of the village. Partridge, who was a Freewill Baptist preacher, had left Ohio in 1854, had settled on the present site of Minneapolis, and had opened a farm nine miles northwest of that city. In the spring of 1856, he came up the river to Clearwater and started on a tramp in- land through the woods. In time he reached a tract of land so beautiful that he exclaimed "This is a fair haven!" and this name was afterward adopted. After looking over the region, he returned to his farm, and was soon formed a party of prospective settlers consisting of Lo- vinus Abell, Sylvester Wolcutt, George W. Root, Henry Root, H. Hill, John G. Smith, and John L. Dean. all of Mecca, Ohio. The eight men came up the Mississippi river to Clearwater, and thence up the Clear- water river. On May 26, 1856, the party camped on the banks of that river, seven miles from the mouth. The next morning, Partridge, Root and Woolcutt started out on foot, came to Fair Haven prairie, and located a mill-site in the present village. The rest of the party joined them the same day. On the next day, May 28, each man took a claim. Partridge's claim in- cluded the present village site, and the others were in the same neighborhood. In July, 1856, Henry Root erected on his claim the first house in the vicinity. This house was the general stopping place of the pioneers while they were constructing their own habitations. In July, 1856, E. O. Haven surveyed the village and a plat was prepared with Thomas C. Partridge as proprietor.

Some of the men returned to the East for their families, and in October there was an influx of new settlers. Among them were: Aaron Scribner and wife; William H. Day and wife; Mrs. Lovinus Abell and children (Jane, Newton, West- ley, John, Laurie and Milton); Alanson Smith, with his wife and children (Wal- lace and Mary); and E. G. Parsons. In November there arrived Mrs. Thomas C. Partridge and children (Payson, Cecil, Florus and Valona). Other arrivals were: Mrs. Sylvester Woolcutt and two children; Joshua Kent and family; and Stephen C. Kent and wife. V. W. Olds arrived late in the fall of 1856. Mrs. Aaron Scribner

was the first white woman in the town- ship, having overtaken and passed Mrs. William H. Day who had aspirations for that honor.

While these people were settling in the neighborhood of the village, Henry Block, a native of Hanover, Germany, settled on the banks of Beaver lake in the extreme northern part of the township. A small German colony developed in that neigh- borhood.

In the spring of 1857, a dam and saw- mill were erected, part of the timbers hav- ing been hauled the previous winter. In April many new settlers arrived from Ohio. Among them were: J. W. Coats, A. J. Brockett, Miner Sperry, Newton Scoville, Charles Abell, Lucius Belden, Alfred Dean and wife, George W. Dean with wife and children; A. Montgomery and wife, and Mrs. Alanson Smith and three children (Wallace, Elvira and Mary). In May, John K. Noyes arrived with his wife and children (Josephine, Elizabeth, Mary, Bernice, George, Laura, Julia and Frank). During the summer some of the arrivals were: J. C. Winslow, D. A .. Per- kins, Josiah Noyes, A. J. Whitney, Joseph H. Lock with his wife and family, James Tucker with his wife and children (Sarah, Ambrose, Eliza, Georgianna and Nellie), Elijah Townsend with his wife and chil- dren (Perry, George W., Erwin, Jason, Leonard, Sarah Ann and Almira) ..

The grasshoppers ravaged the crops of 1857, and the privations of the following winter were severe. Early in the spring Lucius Belden went to St. Paul with his ox team to procure assistance for the Fair Haven people from the state appro- priation. He found, however, that the ap- propriation had been exhausted. The merchants of Minneapolis, with a gen- erosity which even to this day is grate- fully remembered, contributed a large amount of provisions and seeds, and much of the distress in Fair Haven was re- lieved.

In 1858 the pioneers continued to ar- rive. Among them may be mentioned: Stinson Lovejoy and wife, Frank Crane, John Metcaff, B. H. Winslow and wife and daughter (Ann S.), Michael Patten and family, Mrs. George R. Whitney and chil- dren (Mary A., Alberton, George R., Horace and F. H.), J. C. Boober and wife

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and children (Anna M., Druzilla, Lucy, Henry, Althea, George Roscoe, Charlotte, Harriet C. and Hannah W.), James Elmer, James Jenks and wife, O. D. Webb and wife and daughters (Alma, Ella and Emma.) It was in 1858 that the first Fourth of July celebration was held. A song written for this event by J. W. Coats and A. Montgomery is still remembered by the early settlers.

The first child born was Eugene Henry Day, son of William Day. The first death was that of Theron Dean, son of George W. Dean, in the spring of 1857. One authority states that the first marriage was that of Henry Root and Aurilla Dean. Another declares that the first marriage was that of Joseph Strickland and Amelia Giles in the summer of 1857. The mar- riage of John L. Dean and Sarah Tucker was also an early event. On May 24, 1866, James B. Vandervort married Va- lona M. Partridge, and R. M. Vandervort married Alma Webb.

Many of Fair Haven's men saw service during the Civil war. Several enlisted in the early days of the conflict in the First Minnesota Infantry. They were Perry C. Townsend, George W. Townsend, R. M. Eastman, John Abell, D. A. Perkins, G. Sias, and Jerome Baldwin (died at David's Island, New York harbor, Aug. 11, 1864). Charles Robinson enlisted in the Second Minnesota Infantry and Ambrose W. Tucker in the Third. Those who enlisted in Co. D, Fourth Minnesota Infantry were Thomas E. Inman (captain), B. F. Butler, A. J. Whitney, W. C. Tufts, Milo M. Sco- ville (killed at Farmington, Miss., July 5, 1862), Thadeus I. Robinson (killed at Vicksburg, Miss., July 24, 1863), H. C. Boobar (killed at Clear Creek, Miss., Aug. 18, 1862), Reuben Wheeler, Benjamin Plummer and Newton A. Abell, S. C. Kemp, Albert Kemp, and Jerome Pratt enlisted in Hatch's Battalion. John B. Inman en- listed in the First Minnesota Heavy Artil- lery. In 1863, A. Farnsworth, B. F. Butler, A. W. Tucker, James Robinson, L. H. Brown, Elder Norris and John L. Dean joined the state's scouts.

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History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 82

Author: Mitchell, William Bell, 1843- Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Chicago : H. S. Cooper Number of Pages: 1110

Author: Mitchell, William Bell, 1843-
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago : H. S. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1110