History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 84

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

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J. W. Stevenson married Emma Kent in the fall of that year. Simon Stevens, an- other pioneer, lashed two Indian canoes together and took the wedding party across the Mississippi river, and the ceremony was performed on the east bank of the stream, between sundown and dark, by John H. Stevenson, justice of the peace of Sherburne, then Benton, county. As soon as they were declared man and wife, a party of pioneers secreted in the tim- ber near by fired a salute in honor of the event frightening many of the bridal party

into the belief that the Indians were upon them.

Joseph Townsend and Harriet Ball were married in October of the same year by the same official and under similar cir- cumstances there being no clergyman or justice of the peace in this town at that time. The first ceremony performed in the town was the marriage of A. B. Darby to Jerusha Ingalls on March 19, 1858.

In 1856 the population was increased by the arrival of S. A. Clifford, W. D. Davis, Truman Parcher, L. C. Johnson, Martin Johnson, Stephen Oyster, E. G. Mathews, George E. Warner, T. Heaton, A. C. Powers and B. T. Lyons. They took claims in the eastern part of the town. The same year, Charles Dally, Joseph Pratt, and · Mc- Conney took claims in the west part of the town, near the Fair Haven line.

The first child born was a son of Peter Townsend, named Byron, in August, 1856. The first death was J. W. Stevenson, to whom reference has just been made as the principal in the first marriage ceremony. He died on September 14, 1856.

The first school was taught by J. Kings- ley, of Vermont, in the winter of 1858-59, in a shanty which had been erected for a groggery. The first school house was built in the summer following, the funds being raised by subscription, and Marietta Vorse taught the first school therein. The build- ing was later used for a town hall.

The first election was held at the house of S. A. Clifford, in October, 1857, in what was then called Clearwater precinct. S. A. Clifford, Truman Parcher and Martin Johnson were judges of election, and A. C. Powers and W. D. Davis were clerks. The town was organized on January 15, 1859, and the first election held on that day at the house of John McDonald, later owned and occupied by Abijah Whitney. A preliminary meeting had been held in 1858, and the name of Corning chosen for the new town, but at the first annual meeting the name was changed to "Lyn- don," though now written "Lynden."

The first township officers were: Su- pervisors, Seth Gibbs, chairman; Martin Johnson and Truman Parcher; clerk, W. A. Sumner; constables, T. Heaton and F. H. Thompson; justices of the peace, W. T. Rigby and John McDonald; assessor, S. A. Clifford; overseer of the poor, N. W.

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Merrill; road overseer, Jonathan Sargent; collector, T. Heaton.

During the Rebellion, the town furnished its quota of volunteers for the army, and her sons did noble work on many southern battlefields. The following are among the names of those who enlisted during the war: Carroll H. Clifford, Frank W. Clif- ford, George C. Clifford, Frank W. Lyons, William H. Lyons, James M. Lyons, E. P. Parcher, Frank M. Parcher, Benjamin Rovinson, Adam Bunt, William Dallas, Wil- ber F. Fisk, James Langdon, C. H. Vorse and George T. Campbell. There was one lacking to fill the town's quota, and Levi Gleason was drafted and afterwards pro- moted to chaplain. All of the above named volunteers lived and returned to their homes, except E. P. Parcher, who was killed at the battle of The Cedars, De- cember 7, 1864.

CLEARWATER VILLAGE

Clearwater village is situated partly in Stearns and partly in Wright counties, lying between Clearwater and Lynden townships. While its history properly be- longs in that of Wright county, it is the trading center of Lynden, and many re- tired residents of Stearns county live there. A portion of the site was claimed in 1855 by Asa White, Alonzo T. Boynton, and others, and named El Dorado. During Mr. White's absence that season the land was claimed by Simon Stevens, Horace Web- ster, and John Farwell, and platted in the spring of 1856 as Clearwater by J. H. Tal- bott and Simon Stevens. This led to dif- ficulties, but the matter was afterward adjusted in a friendly manner. The place soon became a popular center, and was thronged with pioneers looking for homes in Stearns and Wright counties.

A blacksmith shop was opened by Stev- ens, Webster & Farwell, in 1855. They soon sold to Allen, and he in 1856 to George Fuller. Dr. J. D. Wheeloch started the practice of his profession here in 1855, and continued to be the village physician for many years. The first white woman to arrive was Mrs. Abigail P. Camp, who afterward became Mrs. Thomas C. Porter. She reached here in August, 1855, as housekeeper for the townsite com- pany. Mrs. J. D. Wheeloch, who came

that fall, was the second white woman to reside in Clearwater. A postoffice was also established in 1855 and the first re- ligious services held.

The first hotel was built in 1855 by Stevens, Webster & Farwell, Mrs. A. P. Camp being the landlady. In the spring of 1856 they sold the furniture and rented the house to Allen, the blacksmith. In 1857, Frank Morrison built the Morri- son House, which was open for several decades thereafter, and was at one time the largest and best hotel in the county.

The religious services held in Decem- ber, 1855, were conducted at the residence of - Dow, near the village, by the Rev. Mr. Creighton, of Monticello. In 1857, Rev. Mr. Chamberlain, an Episcopal clergyman, conducted services in the first hotel erected. Later religious meetings were held in a two-story building, the lower story of which was used for a store, and the upper part for a school and public gatherings of various sorts. The ferry, so long in operation at this point, was first established in 1856 by Stevens, Tal- bott & Co ..

The first store was opened in 1856 by Seth Gibbs and Newell Whiting in a build- ing on the river bank near the ferry. The following spring W. T. Rigby opened an- other store. A third was opened in 1858 by S. A. Heard, and O. S. Lock soon fol- lowed with a fourth.

Samuel Whiting came to Clearwater in 1857 and started a general store in 1861. It lived to be for many years the oldest store in the county. In 1876 he put up what was then considered the best store building in the county. J. E. Fuller came to Clearwater in 1857 and started a gen- eral store in 1865. Major W. W. Webster came to Clearwater in May, 1857, and opened a general store in 1868. L. C. Johnson established a store of the same nature in 1875.

Philip Schwab, an early druggist of Rockford, went to Minneapolis in 1867 and in 1868 came to Clearwater and opened a drug and grocery store. In 1873 he eliminated the drugs. Mr. Schwab was a valuable citizen, loaned money extensive- ly, and invested in many of the village enterprises. J. H. Davis was another early druggist. In 1871 he sold out to S. M. Philips, who, with a partner, E. P. Cross-

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man, for a while and then alone, continued the business for several years.

The first school was taught by A. C. Powers in the winter of 1856-57. The old building first used as a store served as the first school house. Miss Harvey, after- ward the wife of Horatio Houlton, of Elk River, Sherburne county, was the second teacher. The first school building in the place was erected in 1860 .. It was after- ward used as a Catholic church.

From 1866 to 1882, Clear Lake, across the river from Clearwater, was the only railroad egress from the village. But when the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba came through in January, 1882, a station was established here.

A stockade was built at Clearwater vil- lage during the Indian uprising, and the settlers from the timbered region found shelter therein. Squads of soldiers were located in the town at different times, and for the most part the prairie farms were cultivated. But from the southern part of the township many settlers departed never to return.

money for the grain would be spent in the town for supplies that would be brought up by water at a rate cheaper than it could be hauled by team, as the case was at St. Cloud. Consequently, the farmers could get better prices at Clear- water for their supplies. Then, again, the immense trains of Red River carts that made annual trips to St. Cloud and St. Paul would come by way of Cold Spring to Clearwater, and as they could send their goods down on the boat and get their supplies up from St. Paul cheaper than they could to go down with their trains, this town would become the termi- nal point of these trains. This alone would be a big item. This, together with the vast fertile country to the southwest with unlimited quantities of the various kinds of hardwood for lumber and manu- facturing purposes, and together with a splendid water power, capable of running two flouring mills and a saw mill, would naturally point out this place as having all that was needed of natural advantages to make in the near future a large and flourishing city. But, the townsite owners, like many others in the early days, were short sighted, and replied to the Burbank company's proposition, that their lots were for sale, but not to give away. The re- sult was that the road to Cold Spring was never opened, and the company continued to go by way of St. Cloud.

"In 1856, the Burbank stage company were running their stages from St. Paul to the Red River of the North by way of St. Cloud, as well as hauling supplies over this route. They found that by making a road from Clearwater to Cold Spring it would save twelve to fifteen miles of travel over the sandy road from Clear- water to St. Cloud. The saving of this LE SAUK TOWNSHIP distance was a big item to the company, with their heavy traffic. They made a Le Sauk township is situated in the northeastern part of the county, having the Mississippi river for its eastern bound- ary, St. Cloud on the south, St. Wendel on the west, and Brockway on the north. proposition to the townsite owners of Clearwater, offering to make a good road from that place to Cold Spring, through the rich and fertile towns of Fair Haven, Maine Prairie and Luxemburg, providing The surface is comparatively level, un- dulating throughout the township except for a small ridge of hills in the north- western part. Originally the town was covered to a large extent with timber and light brush. Especially in the northwest- ern part there was a very good growth of oak and other hardwood, and considerable tamarack. Now the forest and brush land is rapidly giving way to fields, meadows and pastures of the best kind. that, in return, they were to have suf- ficient land for their barns, stables and warehouses. They intended to make this place a base of operations. The boats could bring up their supplies from St. Anthony during the whole season of navi- gation, whereas, it was only during the high water that the boats could reach St. Cloud. The road to Cold Spring would run through a very fertile country, now fast settling up, and soon immense quan- In the central part of the township there a mile long and a quarter of a mile wide. In the northeastern part of the town there tities of wheat, corn and oats would be . is a pretty lake, about three-quarters of hauled to Clearwater and sold to be shipped by boat to St. Anthony, and the

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is a small prairie, and one of about two thousand acres in the southern part.

This prairie in the northeastern part is of considerable historic significance. It was included in the Long Prairie Reserva- tion to which the Winnebago Indians were removed from Iowa, and until a few years ago many of the graves of the people of that band could still be seen.

The only village in the town is that of Sartell. Aside from the school in this village, the town has but two school houses, one in section 8 and one in sec- tion 29. In view of the fact that the peo- ple are of the highest class of intelligence this fact is somewhat strange, but many causes have contributed to this condition. The town is small occupying only about a half of a regular Congressional town- ship. And it has not been well settled. A large tract of rich land in the central part was owned for many years by the late N. P. Clarke. The topographical con- dition of a part of the township is not favorable to building conditions, on ac- count of its low, flat and wet condition. Therefore, the two school houses are suf- ficient. District 5 has its school house in section 8, and district 13 has its school house in section 29. The people about Sartell send their children to the school in that village, while the children in the extreme southern part of the township are educated in the school houses of dis- tricts 2 and 108 in St. Cloud and St. Joseph townships. Outside of Sartell there are no churches, public halls, cemeteries or creameries.

A grist mill with a daily capacity of 200 barrels is located in the southeastern part at the mouth of the Sauk river. It is owned by George Hine. This is a historic mill site. In the late fifties or the early sixties, a combination saw mill and grist mill was built here by Frank Arnold and a man named Sims. Later it was owned by Arnold & Stanton, and finally by Mr. Arnold, who operated it for many years. In 1876 the old mill was torn down and a new one erected by Mr. Arnold. Some twenty years ago the mill was destroyed by fire, and the present one erected.

The Indian traders were the first white residents of Le Sauk. Their story is ap- propriately told elsewhere in this work. Following them came Philip Beaupre, who

about 1850 made a claim within the limits of this township .. He spent the greater part of his time, however, at Sauk Rapids. From 1852 to 1855 he was at Pembina. Upon his return he lived for several years on his old claim. Later he located again in Sauk Rapids.

J. B. Sartell came in 1854 .. At that time a number of settlers were already living liere. A man named Stone was living on what is now the Bowing Brothers' farm; and a man named Condor was also living within the present limits of the same farm. A Mr. Fadden was living where the Sar- tell Brothers' saw mill now stands. Ap- pleton Webb came soon afterward and lived where the Bowing Brothers' resi- dence is now located. Joel Bailey and a Mr. Grant lived on different parts of what is now the S. J. Gillispie's farm, former- ly owned by the late Judge D. B. Sarle. Mr. Webb died in Brockway and is buried there. Mr. Bailey died in St. Cloud. Mr. Grant was for some time in charge of an ox team trucking between St. Paul and St. Cloud. Other early comers were Sam- uel Cox Johnson, William Connell, Adam Langer and others.

The territory comprising Le Sauk was formerly embraced in the townships of Brockway and St. Cloud, but separately organized in 1860, and the first election held at the house of Harvey Sawyer, Oc- tober 1. The first officials elected were: Supervisors, Harvey Sawyer (chairman), Joseph B. Sartell, and Joel Bailey; clerk, Joel Bailey; treasurer, Appleton Webb; and justices of the peace, S. Putnam and Philip Beaupre. Joel Bailey was also elected school superintendent of the town- ship, in accordance with the school system of that day.

The first school taught was by Elbert Hodgden, in the government blacksmith shop at the Winnebago Agency, but the exact date cannot be obtained.

There were no churches in Le Sauk un- til the village of Sartell was organized. However, religious services were held from the very earliest days. Pioneer services were held at private houses, and in the school house in the northern part of Le Sauk, and in the school house in the south- ern part of Brockway. Before the vil- lage was organized services were also held in the school house in section 21.

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Joseph B. Sartell, as already mentioned, arrived in 1854, and at once began to de- velop the community. In 1856 or 1857, he built a small mulay saw mill for Harvey Sawyer at the mouth of the Watab river. Mr. Sartell operated it for awhile, and then moved to Clearwater .. He afterward moved to Winnebago prairie, and took a homestead on what is now a part of S. J. Gillispie's farm. He was ill for a long time, became discouraged with farming, and again took up the milling business. He had many interesting experiences. At one time a war party of Chippewas bor- rowed his boat to cross the river and in- tercepted a band of Sioux, whom they surprised on Maine Prairie and murdered twelve. For a time Mr. Sartell worked for Asa Libby in a saw mill that stood on a ledge point on the east side of the river, about three and a half miles above the present site of the paper mill. After- ward he operated a small saw mill owned by Randolph Frazee, and situated on the river near the present residence of C. B. Gregory. From there he went to Two Rivers, where he built a small saw mill of his own which he operated for two years. Then he sold out and came to a point about a mile south of the present location of the Sartell mill. Here he built a small water-power saw mill, which he operated for many years. It was built and rebuilt several times and some twenty- six years ago a steam engine and planer were added. Some ten years ago, the planes were moved from the saw mill to where they now stand. The saw mill con- tinued to be operated at the same loca- tion until about five years ago, when on account of the difficulty experienced in holding the logs below the dam of the Watab Pulp & Paper Co., it was moved to a point about one mile north of the former location. In the early days the logs were rafted down the river from Ft. Ripley. Later they were driven. Now the logs are brought down from the lum- ber regions by rail, and then to the mill by gasoline launch.

SARTELL VILLAGE .

Sartell village is located on both banks of the Mississippi river, in Stearns and . of building. The saddest of all was that Benton counties, occupying about 400 acres in sections 21 and 28, Le Sauk town-

ship, and about 300 acres in the township of Sauk Rapids. It is a little south of the central part of each township, and that part of it east of the Mississippi river is bisected its full length by the line of the Northern Pacific railroad.

Divided as it is by a wide river, the need of a bridge has long been felt. Some two years ago, the matter was agitated, but there was a wide diversity of opin- ion as to whether the bridge should be located above or below the dam. In the winter of 1913-14, the matter was revived, and work was soon started. It is a beau- tiful structure and was completed in the fall of 1914, marking a new era of pros- perity for the village. It is of steel con- struction with a twenty-foot concrete road- way, and two concrete sidewalks. As the people live on the west bank of the river the advantages of this bridge are at once apparent.

The hamlet with which the village of Sartell originated consisted of a dozen or so houses occupied by the Sartells and their employes, grouped about the saw mill, which the Sartells have operated for many years.

The organization of the village was due to the fact that the Watab Pulp & Paper Mill located at this point. The mill en- countered many difficulties during the period of its location and construction. Persons who owned water-powers below the proposed site, opposed the project, and entered very serious objections, even car- rying the fight to Congress. But a peti- tion was presented to that august body signed by 984 names, including nearly all the leading business and professional men of St. Cloud, Sauk Rapids and vicinity, and the charter was granted. Work be- gan about the middle of April, 1905. The water was low in the river at that time, but soon rose rapidly, and remained high throughout the period of operations, thus entailing some ten months' extra work, and causing an additional expense of sev- eral hundred thousand dollars. It took nearly two years to build the dam, and dur- ing that time an average of about 100 men were employed.

Several lives were lost during the period

of little Carl Mathie, the bright eleven- year-old son of the manager. Carl, who

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was a general favorite with all the work- ers, was playing under a bank where the men were digging when he was caught and instantly crushed to death by a pile of hardpan which suddenly gave away. At different times five men were drowned and one or two were killed in other ways.

The mill when erected had a daily ca- pacity of from 80,000 to 100,000 pounds of print paper. This capacity has since been doubled. The mill is not numbered among the largest in the country, but it is one of the best equipped paper mills in the world.

The first store in Sartell was located here some thirty or thirty-five years ago. It then occupied only a small space in the office of the Sartell mill, where the Sartells bought supplies wholesale, and sold to a few families living in the vicin- ity. Later a building 12 by 16 feet was added for store purposes. But this was afterward burned, together with all of the mill books and accounts, and the town- ship records. Since that time the mill owners have kept a small supply of gro- ceries, dry goods and shoes.

The first building to be erected after the construction of the paper mill was started, was the Watab Hotel, which has accommodations for about thirty people. Since that time many other substantial buildings have been constructed.

The village is named from Joseph B. Sartell, the first settler. He and his seven sons continued to reside together here. Joseph B. Sartell died in January, 1913, at the age of eighty-six years. Two of his sons, Egbert P. and Winslow L., are also dead. The other five, Charles S., Linton L., William L., Fred N. and Frank A., all live here together, a most unusual cir- cumstance.

A Presbyterian church was built here some five years ago at a cost of about $3,000.

A four-roomed school house has been erected at a cost of about $8,000. Only the lower story is used for educational purposes. The village rents the upper story for a hall.

Anton Smudd was the first postmaster here, receiving his appointment November 20, 1904. He held the office until January 7, 1909, when he was succeeded by Lou E. Parish, who is still serving.

Sartell village was organized in Novem- ber, 1907, and the first council meeting was held November 15 of that year. The council consisted of Charles S. Sartell (president), Antone Smudde, F. S. Payne, Charles Mayer and Fred N. Sartell (clerk). Charles S. Sartell has continued to serve as president and Fred N. Sartell as clerk. Antone Smuddle was in the council until the March election of 1913, when he was succeeded by Robert Crignon, who is still on the board. Charles Mayer was suc- ceeded in March, 1909, by Max Alpine. In 1913 Mr. Alpine was succeeded by Ber- nard Garding, who is still serving. F. S. Payne served until March, 1910, when he was succeeded by J. J. Hinchman. Mr. Hinchiman was succeeded in 1912 by Wil- liam Moores, who in turn was succeeded by Charles F. Sartell, who is still serv- ing.

The council is now composed as fol- lows: C. S. Sartell, president; F. N. Sar- tell, recorder; Bernard Garding, Robert Crignon and C. F. Sartell.

(Note .- The above articles regarding Le Sauk and Sartell are from the pen of Wil- liam Sartell.)

The Presbyterian church at Sartell was incorporated August 10, 1909, and the building formally dedicated September 5. The elders were James Halropple, F. S. Payne, Thomas Borton and Leslie Smith. Services have been conducted by the Revs. T. M. Findley, L. C. McBride, A. H. Perpe- tuo, P. S. Landis, H. W. O'Dell and M. G. Court.

As far back as 1898 a Sunday school had held meetings in the old Sartell school- house. Ten years later, in February, 1908, the Rev. T. M. Findley preached a series of sermons in the new schoolhouse, after- wards making an engagement to preach once in every four weeks until the follow- ing January. It was on August 10, 1908, that the preliminary steps were taken for the organization of a church.

LUXEMBURG TOWNSHIP

This town lies in the southern part of the county, and has an area of 23,040 acres. There is a considerable acreage of swamp land, and a number of small lakes. The soil varies from a dark to a clayey loam with a clay subsoil.

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The first settler in this town was Nicho- las Post who come in 1861, and settled on section sixteen. He was followed during the same year by Paul Ryezck, Thomas Wirtzfeld, Cornelius Lutzen, Peter Weiler, and John Schrifels.

The town was organized in 1866, having been a part of Wakefield prior to that time. The first supervisors were: Nicho- las Post (chairman), C. Lutzen and Nicho- las Maurin. The clerk was John Loesch. The town was named by Mr. Post in honor of his pirthplace in Germany.

The first school was taught in 1867. A German Catholic church on section two was erected in 1859. A postoffice was es- tablished near the church in 1878 with John P. Schmidt as the postmaster.

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History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 84

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