History of Wabasha County, Minnesota, Part 15

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn. cn
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Winona, Minn. : H.C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1222

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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

of roofing scattered pell-mell, together with a few broken articles of furniture, were all that was left to indicate that a dwelling once stood on the gaping cellar. Mr. Bowen was alone in the house when the storm struck it. He was picked up unconscious on the road, covered with mud and sand. Further south- ward on Main street is the residence of John M. Houghton; the house was partly unroofed and badly racked, barn unroofed and outbuildings completely destroyed. On the corner of Main and Mill streets stood the store of H. G. Richardson & Co., where the postoffice was also situated. The new main part of this building was unroofed, and the back part badly racked, and the barn back of it completely demolished. Mrs. Woodward's dwelling across the way, owned by H. G. Richardson & Co., escaped as free from injuries, probably, as any house in town, as did also the blacksmith-shop south of it owned by Rich- ardson Bros., and occupied by Mercer Bros .; but the next building, which was also the property of Richardson Bros., and occupied as a wagon-shop by Alex. Scott, was unroofed and several new carriages badly damaged. The residences of Charles S. Richardson, E. O. Morton and Mrs. Seeley, then occupied by Wil- liam Baker, on Mill street, were comparatively uninjured. John Graham's house escaped very fortunately. The trees were so badly broken, that at first one had to cut his way to it with an ax, but the house was all right. George Farrar's old house, occupied by Fred. Westover, was unroofed, and the second story partly torn down, and Dr. W. T. Adams, south of this, had his barn and out- buildings completely demolished and his house slightly racked. Opposite were E. W. Westover, whose house was pushed back six or eight feet from the foun- dation, and F. A. Amsden, living in a house belonging to Richardson Bros., which was unroofed and had one corner blown off.

South street runs east and west along the southern boundary of the village plat. On the north side of the street, and just west of the railroad track, stood the large barn owned by George Bryant, which was almost entirely demolished. The residence in front of it escaped with but slight damages, as did also Mary Ann Bryant's residence; but her other house, occupied by Fred Meyers, was left half unroofed. Dorr Dickerman's new house, just enclosed, was laid flat on the ground, but the Congregational parsonage, which he occupied, received no material damage. The Methodist church, a beautiful little edifice which cost about four thousand dollars, was a total ruin, hardly a stick left standing, but the parsonage on the lot adjoining, occupied by Rev. J. W. Stebbins, escaped with partial damages. George Farrar's fine barn and sheds were unroofed and some of his outbuildings blown down, but his house weathered the storm very well. N. H. Moody's house escaped comparatively uninjured, but the hand- some and commodious schoolhouse south of it, at the head of School street, was a complete wreck. E. Ordway's residence was but little damaged, but the Eureka House, north of it on School street, owned by Thomas Mathieson and managed by M. H. Safford, was considerably racked. The southern portion of the building was shoved back twelve feet from the foundation, and the barn leveled to the earth. Farther east on South street, on the bank of the White- water, lay the wreck of Charles S. Richardson's barn and windmill, and just east of this, on the north side of the street, was a most remarkable example of the unparalleled force of the wind. Alex. Scott's residence, a strong story- and-a-half frame building, on a stone foundation, was built here on rising land overlooking the village. It was taken up bodily from its foundation by the wind, turned upside down and hurled through the air with tremendous force a distance of several rods, when it was dashed to the earth. Mr. Scott, who, with his wife and child, had sought refuge in the cellar, suddenly found them- selves exposed to the beating rain, their house having been lifted off their heads with as much ease as if it had been made of paper.

These details of the ruin in the village give but a partial view of the real devastation. Trees were mangled and twisted in all sorts of shapes and felled to the ground, window-panes shattered, shutters broken, shingles torn off and

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

scattered, the chimneys all down, fences laid low, plank walks torn up, and all along the streets and on the vacant lots the ground strewn with broken lum- ber, shingles, pillows, bed quilts, household utensils, clothing, fragments of furniture, in fact a mixed assortment of anything and everything.

The one-story house occupied by Mrs. Proctor and owned by Charles S. Richardson, east of the village, was unroofed and about half a story torn off. The house of Lucien Metcalf was half wrecked, his barn and cribs unroofed, his hay-sheds all torn to pieces and the place mangled up generally. Walter Dunn's house was racked and his barns unroofed. The hay-sheds and wind- mills of O. V. and I. W. Rollins, Joseph and H. G. Richardson were all more or less damaged, and Abner Smith's granary, sheds and corn-cribs were down flat. George Wedge's barn received some damages. H. D. Wedge lost a mile and a half of fence. J. E. Brown had his barn, granary and sheds blown over. J. R. Hunter lost his stable, and a few others suffered to a greater or less extent as far as Jacob Haessig's farm.

Half a mile west of the village was the farm of Curtis Bryant. He lost a large barn, together with corn-cribs and other buildings, while four of his horses and two colts were killed. One of the colts, a three-year-old, was taken by the wind from in front of his house and carried north about forty rods, over fences and buildings, and found dead. Col. W. H. Feller's barn was unroofed, house damaged, granary moved off the foundation, and another building down flat. Frank M. Bigelow's large barn was down to the plates and partly moved on the foundation, the house considerably damaged and windmill blown to pieces. Fred C. Hartson's house, occupied by Judson Hudson, was taken by the wind thirty feet from its foundation and utterly demolished, but Mr. Hudson, his wife, child and sister escaped from the flying debris safe and sound. A place occupied by Mrs. Amelia Drake had a stable and granary blown down, besides trees destroyed. William Tornow, tenant on William Brown's farm, suffered severely, and Mr. Brown had a barn and granary demolished, contain- ing 400 bushels of oats, 150 bushels of wheat and 15 tons of hay, which were all destroyed. The storm made terrible havoc among his trees and timber. At this point there appeared to be a succession of storms constantly forming, which spread out nearly two miles in width. H. G. Richardson & Co.'s house west of this, Gus Warner, tenant, had the barn and granary blown down, besides trees badly damaged. Charles Dobbins had his stable, swine-house and granary blown down, house partly wrecked and partly unroofed, his stock hurt and trees badly injured. A plank 2 by 6 inches, broken from a hay-rake, was carried from about 150 feet southeast of the house and crushed a hole through the west side of the house. The granary of Harrison Rice was blown down and his stable destroyed. He lost thirty tons of hay and twelve acres of corn, and his house was partly unroofed. Henry C. Woodruff had his barn blown down, which was a great loss, as he had water-works in the barn attached to his windmill, which was also blown down. His house was partly unroofed, and his loss in timber and fruit-trees was almost irreparable, as it had taken him nearly twenty years to grow them. Pursuing farther westward, the following damage was wrought by the relentless wind: William Cook, machine-shed and corn-crib injured, wagonhouse, henhouse and windmill down, roof on barn moved, and fine grove destroyed. William Searles, barn unroofed, corn-crib and stable partly un- roofed, hay and machine sheds and windmill torn down, seventy-five tons of hay destroyed, and thirty acres of timber badly damaged. August Swanke, house badly racked and shingles torn off, barn partly unroofed, granary, shed and stable destroyed. A. B. Hart, house, machine-house and sheds blown down, and fifteen acres of timber damaged. Mrs. Hart and child escaped by going down to the cellar. E. Raymond, a tool-house, 45 by 60, and a cow-shed and stable, 25 by 200, blown down. On another place he lost two houses and a barn, seventy tons of hay and a windmill, and had forty acres of timber destroyed. A. Park, barn unroofed, sheds partly unroofed, hoghouse moved, henhouse

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

destroyed. H. Southwick, barn unrooted, sheds down and five acres of timber destroyed. Mr. Patrick, stable blown down and house injured. M. Nash, house partly unroofed and the furniture damaged. Mr. Fitch's shade-trees down, and a number of cherry-trees torn out by the roots. A. Demke, granary badly broken up. James W. Finney, on Mr. Taylor's farm, house partly unroofed and moved off the foundation, and barn, granary and corn-crib wrecked. August Barrent, on Henry Dewitz' place, lost everything he had. The house, two granaries and barn were demolished, all the furniture destroyed and clothing blown away. Mr. Barrent and family were caught up by the wind and hurled skyward with the flying debris,-one of the boys being carried by the wind southeast about forty feet, then northwest about sixty feet and south twenty feet, landing him in a wood-pile; then he was seized again and carried about twenty-five feet and left in a ditch. Another boy was carried about sixty feet and dropped in a small creek. Neither was much hurt. John Twitten, hay and sheep sheds blown down, besides a hoghouse, 16 by 80, and the house partly unroofed. Thomas Brooks' farm, occupied by Joseph Hines: the house was carried from the foundation fifteen or twenty feet, where it struck a willow-tree, and was hurled about six feet beyond the tree, that keeping it from entirely falling, only a part of it being blown off. The family were in the house, and the tree keeping the building from falling doubtless saved their lives, although some were quite badly hurt. The barn, sheep-shed, 30 by 40, granary and hoghouse, 16 by 80, were destroyed. At another farm, owned by Thomas Brooks, a granary was blown down. The Fitch schoolhouse was laid perfectly flat, the bell alone remaining to show the site. Duane W. Searles' buildings were partly down, while F. Bennike lost his barn, granary and part of his house. W. H. White, barn blown down, granary injured, shingles torn off the house and the wind- mill blown down. A hired man in the barn was carried with it, being injured about the head. A horse was hurt, fences on one side of the farm carried off, and the fruit-trees nearly all destroyed. Forty tons of hay were scattered. A. B. Stacy, house racked, chimneys blown down, wagonhouse, granary and hay- sheds leveled, and buggy and machinery broken, fences and thirty tons of hay blown away. Amos Welch, windmill torn to pieces. Harry Dodge, fruit-trees injured and hay blown away. S. Snow, house partly unroofed and kitchen blown down; barn, hay-sheds and stable entirely destroyed, machinery, wagon and cutter demolished and hay blown away. The two houses, barns, sheds, granary and machine-house of D. M. and F. G. Harvey were laid flat, not a vestige of the building being left. Their hay was blown away, machinery broken and crops destroyed. Fred and James Harvey's house was swept down, Mrs. Harvey being caught and held by timbers, but fortunately but little hurt. George Harvey's windmill and three sheds were blown over. On the Dieter place, occupied by E. F. Dodge, the house was carried eighty-five feet, and the L demolished. Mrs. Dodge, with her baby and girl ten years old, ran down the cellar as soon as the doors of the house blew open, and Mr. Dodge started for the same place with another little girl, but did not reach it, being carried away with the house, luckily escaping injury. After the storm was over one of his boys crept from the debris of the L unhurt.

The stone schoolhouse on the Lake City road was almost entirely demol- ished. Then still further, the storm continued, carrying it out of Wabasha County.

A month later the "Rochester Cyclone" swept over the country, but did no damage in Elgin and the immediate vicinity.

After the Elgin Cyclone the work of reconstruction started, and a better, larger village soon arose on the ruins.

ELGIN TOWNSHIP.

Elgin Township is well situated in that part of southeastern Minnesota known as Greenwood Prairie. It is one of the two most southern townships in Wabasha County, Plainview being the other. It is bounded on the east by

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

Plainview, on the south by Viola in Olmsted County, on the west by Farming- ton in Olmsted County, and on the north by Oakwood and a very small portion of Zumbro.

The quality of the soil of this town is excellent; a rich, dark loam, with sufficient sand mixed in with it to create that degree of warmth so necessary to productiveness ; while the land, viewed from an elevation, as it gradually rises and falls in rolling prairie as far as the eye can reach, reminding the spectator of the huge billows of the far-distant ocean. Its productive soil and pleasant location, with a surface sufficiently undulating to secure excellent natural drainage, renders Elgin's agricultural advantages of the best. The north branch of the Whitewater River enters the town from Olmsted County at sec- tion 33, and flows in about a northeasterly direction through section 33, and across the northwest corner of section 34 into section 27, south of the village of Elgin, when it takes an easterly course through sections 27, 26 and 25, into the town of Plainview. This stream, together with Dry creek, which empties into the north branch of the Whitewater on section 27, drains the southern part of the town, while the streams in the northern part are tributary to the Zumbro. The town is fairly well timbered in different portions, the number of trees, since settlement has prevented the forest fires, having increased both by natural growth and by the planting of wind-breaks and shade trees. The largest grove is located near the center of the township.

The first settlers in this immediate vicinity were George Bryant, Henry H. Atherton, Curtis Bryant and George Farrar, who landed from a steamboat at Winona, came up across that county to St. Charles, and then found their way onto the borders of the marvelously rich Greenwood Prairie, arriving about April 8, 1855.

Little wonder that these hardy pioneers who, with the exception of George Farrar, who had lived a while in Beloit, came directly from Vermont, where they had been cradled by the side of gurgling brooks, and had watched the grazing cattle on the rugged hillsides, while they were lulled to sleep at night by the hum of whirring spindles, as the good wives and mothers, changed the fleecy wool into the home spun garments with which they were clothed, should see in the broad acres that stretched out before them as they entered the beau- tiful valley, the promised land which had been the burden of their thoughts and dreams, and caused them to plant their stakes, and declare this to be their future homes, where the thriving village of Elgin is now located.

It was nearly sundown when they halted by a bubbling spring that sung its merry song as its sparkling waters hurried to join the current of the nearby Whitewater, and attracted by it, decided to make this spot their first abode, and began to prepare for the night. The glorious April sunset painted the land- scape in splendor of gold and carmine, while a gentle breeze tossed the dry grass that covered the broad acres in every direction, into wavelets that reflected the silvery sheen of the last rays of sunshine that seemed reluctant to close the draperies, as the twilight deepened into night.

They gathered a few faggots from a nearby grove, and kindled the first camp fire that was destined to mark the beginning of a settlement, which in the very near future must become one of the garden spots in the almost limitless northwest. Little did our four first settlers reckon as they prepared their frugal meal, and spread out their blankets on the virgin soil of the beautiful valley of the Whitewater, what part they were playing in the history making of the great state of Minnesota, then a territory, so soon to become an important factor in shaping the destinies of our great American republic. Wearied with their long march across the trackless prairies, they sank to slumber on their new made beds under the canopy of the starry sky, with no fear of wild beasts of prowling Indians, they were lulled to sleep by the gently soughing wind, and slept through the night, to awaken as the first streaks of light heralded another day. As the aurora heralded the approaching sunrise, the air was vibrant with

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

the twittering of myriads of feathered songsters, and he deep sonorous boom, boom, boom of the prairie chicken as the haughty male bird struts back and forth near their brooding grounds, puffing his gills, and omitting the deep sonorous booming, never to be forgotten by the early settlers.

With the dawn of another day, no time was to be lost, and soon the nearby groves were made to resound with the lively tune played with the shining axes as chips flew, and the enthusiastic group under the direction of George Farrar erected a log cabin shingled with elm bark. This cabin, built on the claim of Henry H. Atherton, was located between the present eastern terminus of Elgin's principal street, and the Whitewater River. It served not only as a dwelling place for the pioneers who built it, but also as a shelter for many of the early settlers who came later.

On April 21, 1855, three of these original settlers staked filed on the claims which they had selected for their future farms. The claims of George and Curtis Bryant embraced nearly all the present village plat, the former having the northwest quarter of section 27, while the latter had the northeast quarter of section 28. Henry H. Atherton took the northwest quarter of section 34. George Farrar chose a quarter section claim, consisting of eighty acres in section 26 and eighty acres in section 27, but did not file on it. In the fall he filed on some timberland consisting of the east half of the southwest quarter of section 17. Immediately after securing his claim, George Bryant returned to his native state of Vermont for his family, and came back to Elgin in May of the same year, bringing his family, as well as Leonard Laird and family. Mrs. Bryant and Mrs. Laird were therefore the first women in the community.

The settlement was augmented in June of the same year, with the arrival of Henry H. Stanchfield and family, Carlos B. Emerson and family, E. L. Clapp and wife, Byron A. Glines and wife. In October, John Bryant and wife, parents of George and Curtis Bryant, arrived with several other members of the family and took a claim. These people named probably constituted the entire popula- tion of the little community when fall merged into winter. Additional log cabins had followed the first one, and while in some instances several families found it necessary to share a single cabin, all were at least sheltered. A few made trips back East. It is said that during the absence in Vermont of George Farrar, Leonard Laird "jumped" his claim in sections 26 and 27. When Mr. Farrar returned he brought with him his brother, Waldo, who was afterward killed at the Battle of Gettysburg.

The little settlement grew considerably in 1856. Early in March, Orvis V. Rollins and Irving W. Rollins came over from Plainview and settled on sec- tions 22 and 27. William D. Woodward came a little later and settled on a claim in section 33, that he had selected the previous year. Others also took claims, all being from the Eastern states and most of them from Vermont. These people themselves called their settlement "Paradise," happy in the wonderful opportunities of the new homes they had found. But for many miles around, the other settlers referred to this community as the "Yankee Settle- ment."

số: The year of 1856 did much to justify the high hopes entertained by these good people. The rich soil gave promise of abundant crops, and a fair acreage of land was broken and planted. More cabins were erected, shacks put up for the cattle, and even a few fences constructed.

The cabins were for the most part overcrowded, one small single-room cabin sometimes accommodating several good sized families of parents and growing children, furnishing lodging as well for a few visiting friends. It seemed imperative, therefore, that there should be a special place for the lodging of travelers and land-seekers. To supply this need, George and Waldo Farral erected on the northwest quarter of section 28, the first frame house in the township. This house, George Farrar opened as a tavern, and continued to entertain travelers until 1860.

HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY

To this little community on the banks of the Whitewater, far from native state and former friends, came the usual vicissiudes of birth, and death and love. June 30, 1856, a son Arthur D. was born to Byron A. and Zalma M. Glines. This promising youngster, who was the first white native of Elgin Township, died five years later. On August 13, 1856, the first courtship in the little community ripened into marriage, when George Farrar and Emeline Bryant, the daughter of John and Lavina Bryant, were united in wedlock at Winona. Earlier in the year, on May 27, the bride's parental home had been saddened by the death of her sister, Matilda, at the age of nearly thirty years. Her funeral marked the first public religious services in the town and were . conducted by Elder Blunt, from the Tumbleson Neighborhood, so called, in Haverhill Township. In the same year Elder Lord, a Methodist Episcopal clergyman, held services at the home of George Bryant. The next year, Rev. Jonathan Cochrane, a Congregational clergyman, held services at the same home.

The first political meeting in the township was held in August, 1856, to choose delegates to go to Winona for the purpose of nominating candidates for seats in the Territorial Legislature. One of the delegates was Irving W. Rol- lins, who attended the convention held at Winona, Sept. 1, of that year. Oct. 14, 1856, the election took place at Greenville, not far from what is now Plainview, voters attending from the present towns of Plainview, Elgin, Highland and Oakwood. County and precinct officers, as well as representatives to the Ter- ritorial Legislature were voted upon.

On May 11, 1858, a meeting was held at the house of John H. Pell for the purpose of town organization and the election of town officers. George Bryant was appointed moderator and Robert C. Stillman clerk, and William Brown and John H. Pell judges of election.

At this election the town was named, each voter placing on the back of his ticket his choice of a name. The whole number of votes cast was fifty-four, fifty being in favor of Elgin. Who suggested the name or why is in doubt.

The officers selected were: Supervisors, O. P. Crawford (chairman), Joseph Leatherman and William Cook; clerk, George Bryant; assessor, Robert C. Stillman; collector, C. W. Dodge; justices, I. W. Rollins and Morgan Cul- bertson; constables, B. H. Gould and Jasper Elliott; overseer of the poor, John H. Pell. Thirteen days after this town meeting (May 24, 1858) the first meet- ing of the board of supervisors was held at the house of the town clerk, and they proceeded to divide the town into the following road districts: the north half of the town to comprise road district No. 1. The southwest quarter of the town to comprise road district No. 2. The southeast quarter of the town to comprise road district No. 3. The board then appointed the following overseers of roads: William Town, district No. 1; William Brown, district No. 2; Gurden Town, district No. 3.

The first assessment of taxes was then made by this board, who levied a tax of one-half of one per cent on every dollar of the assessment roll of the previous year, as received from the office of the register of deeds for the county of Wabasha, and also taxed each man liable to the same two days' labor on roads.

The first election after the admission of Minnesota as a state was held in the fall of this year, October 12, 1858. Elgin participated in this election, which was to choose a senator and representatives to the legislature, a judge of probate, a county auditor and a coroner.

The first petition for a public road was made to the board of supervisors at their first meeting. The petition was dated May 22, 1858, and was signed by twelve persons. By order of the supervisors the proposed road was regularly surveyed by one J. A. Sawyer, and on June 16, 1858, he made his report. The day following the board examined the route, and, having found the same well suited for a public road, declared it opened as such, and ordered all fences or obstructions on the route removed by December 1, 1859. This road, the first

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History of Wabasha County, Minnesota, Part 15

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn. cn Publication date: 1920 Publisher: Winona, Minn. : H.C. Cooper Number of Pages: 1222

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn. cn
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Winona, Minn. : H.C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1222