History of Wabasha County, Minnesota, Part 21

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

USA > Minnesota > Wabasha County > History of Wabasha County, Minnesota > Part 21

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underbrush that once nearly covered the prairie, is now confined to the bluffs, valleys and ravines. In the northern part of the township, in the coolies, there is more timber-cak, elm, cottonwood and maple. Along the Zumbro River val- ley are river-terraces about half way up the bluffs, some of the larger of which are of sufficient size for a village.

Lyman Gregg prospected for claims here in 1855 but did not settle here. Henry Powell took a claim in 1855. The settlers of 1856 were: Mathew Kin- sella and his son Mathew, David and James Foley, Patrick and Lawrence Tracey and William Tope. About this time also came Barnard McNulty, James McPike, Michael Campbell, Patrick McQuigan, Henry Martin and Patrick Fleming. Many of these came prospecting, selected homes and built huts, then in the fall returned to their former homes to get their families. Mr. Crozier was also here, living in his wagon.

The bachelor life led by many of these in their wagon or hut was not envi- able. Patrick McGuigan brought for his winter supply seven barrels of flour; the Indians were difficult to convince that his house was not an agency. One of the heaviest snows fell that winter, about four feet on a level. The Indians, with snow-shoes, killed deer extravagantly; finding them in the valley in an open place corralled by the deep snow, they would kill them merely for the skin. About seven hundred were camping in the valley that winter. They were not troublesome, and not many months later left.

Mat. Kinsellas, Sr. and Jr., Charles and Patrick Fleming, Richard Leighart and James Perkins kept bachelor's hall for nearly three years. They had five yoke of oxen, and all worked together, each helping the other.

The first roads were across the prairie toward Plainview, the nearest way. The first bluff-road was between Millville site and P. G. Dickman's. The first surveyed road was laid out about 1859, along the south side of section 25, and south and west sides of section 26, north, entering the Long Creek ravine. It was known as the Long Creek road. The second laid out was probably that from Bremen, passing Messrs. Quisel's, Grove's and Pratt's, about 1860. On account of ravines few of the roads follow section lines. James Chapman, on northeast part of section 22, built the first sawmill of the township, about 1860, but soon sold it to Abner Tibbets, who continued it for but a few years. The first gristmill was built on Middle creek in 1868 by Samuel Irish. The first blacksmith-shop was built by Henry Powell, probably in 1856; the only one until Peter Holstein built his in Millville a number of years later. The first birth was Patrick Tracy's daughter, Elizabeth Tracy, in February, 1857. Anna Tracy, daughter of Lawrence Tracy, was born in March following. The first ' marriage ceremony was performed by Father Tissot, a Catholic missionary, when he gave Mathew Kinsella, Jr., a wife. Henry Powell was married quite early, too, and in a romantic manner. It is said he and his intended stood on one bank of Long creek, while the justice stood on the opposite shore and per- formed the ceremony. Death made his first visit in the spring of 1858, taking a babe of William Tope, and one of George Martin. The first (private) school was taught either by Mrs. Louis Evans or Mrs. J. H. Bernard, at their homes, in the winter of 1859-60. Mr. Evans also taught early school. The first school- house was in district No. 24, near Patrick McGuigan's, built about 1861. . Dr. James Chapman, the builder of the first sawmill, was the first physician, start- ing in the winter of 1858 and after. He also preached, holding services now and then at his home and at the Powell's.

The town was organized May 11, 1858, the first town meeting being held on that date. Originally it was called Pell or Pellville in honor of John H. Pell. The first chairman was Lawrence Tracy and the first clerk was Dr. James Chapman. The first records are destroyed. Prominent in the early official history of the town were James Foley, John Behrns, J. K. Smith, Claus Behrns, and J. Evans. From Pell the name of the town was changed to Sherman and in 1872 to Oakwood. In the winter of 1858-59, the several northwestern sec-

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tions of the township cut off by the Zumbro were joined to West Albany, but in 1867, the legislature at the request of the people returned the sections to their former jurisdictions, thus giving the town its present boundaries. When the Midland Railroad Co. was projected the town voted bonds of $22,000. The first town hall was built in 1875 on section 15, but was several years afterward sold, and a schoolhouse secured for town meetings.

The Oakwood Catholic Church dates back to the early days. In 1858 Father Tissot first held mass in David Foley's house. From then until 1867 it was held about five times a year at Mathew Kinsella's. During 1866 the church building, 20 by 60 feet, was erected. An addition was built in 1878. A cemetery was also started. Early priests were the Rev. Fathers Tissot, Trobec, Jeram, Reinhardt and Murray.

Keegan is a railroad station in section 3. It was named from the owner of the land, J. Keegan, was started in 1879 as a station. A saloon, blacksmith- shop and store, the last mentioned kept by J. Judge, comprised its business until 1880, when the depot and grainhouse was added. The following year Mr. Judge was made postmaster of the new postoffice. A bridge crosses the Zum- bro here, which, with the Millville bridge, includes all Zumbro bridges in the township.

HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP.

Highland Township embraces Congressional Township 109, Range 11. It is bounded on the north by Glasgow, on the east by Watopa, on the south by Winona County and Plainview Township, and on the west by Oakwood.

The soil is a black loam with a clay subsoil, heavier in the northern and central portions, and lighter on the more open prairie-like portions in the south. The surface is undulating, and in the north and east broken by bluffs and high hills that hedge in more or less narrow valleys. Along these bluff ledges grow timber, chiefly oak. The entire surface was originally covered with short, stubby oaks and other woods, and more or less undergrowth. Through these valleys flow such streams as pay tribute to the Zumbro on the north. The largest of these is known as West Indian creek; it rises in the southern central part of the township and flows down a beautiful valley, from twenty to one hundred rods in width, to the northward.

Early in 1855, Oliver Nelson and his family settled near the southern line of what is now Highland Township. Their activities were largely confined, however, to the northern part of Plainview Township. Patrick McDonough came that year and settled in the northeast corner in Cook's Valley. John Can- field came at about the same time. The first birth of a white child in the town- ship occurred some time in the spring or summer of 1855, the child being Maria Sullivan, daughter of Thomas and Mary Sullivan. The first deaths of settlers also occurred during this season, the victims being two men by the names of Pugh and Green, who had come on to build them homes in the western Eldorado. They had scarcely more than had time to rear a humble habitation when they were stricken down with cholera morbus and lived but a few hours. Fear of the disease seized the few neighbors that surrounded them, and they were buried by a few faithful friends at night in Cook's valley, near their deserted domicile, without funeral rites.

It was not until the opening of another season that the tide of immigration seemed to set in toward Highland; but in 1856 and 1857 there flocked in from the states a large number of Irish and Germans, and a fair sprinkling of Yankees.

In 1856 Daniel J. Watkins erected a sawmill on West Indian creek, on sec- tion 16, in Highland. Five years later Mr. Watkins found that the community had greater need for a gristmill than they had for a sawmill, and at once pro- ceeded to remove the latter and erect in its stead the first' gristmill of High- land. This same season Alfred Lathrop opened a store nearby, and the follow-

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ing year, 1862, Lyons postoffice was established here, with Mr. Lathrop as postmaster. The postoffice was discontinued in 1881.

In 1866 Henry Hampe erected a gristmill on Indian creek, about two miles below the Watkins mill. This mill was burned down February 19, 1881.

In 1858 the inhabitants of Highland petitioned the postal authorities for the establishment of a postoffice in southeast Highland, along the Rochester and Wabasha stage route. The petition was granted, a commission was issued to Israel Smith as postmaster, and the office was dubbed Smithfield; before the arrival of this commission Mr. Smith left the country. Soon after Thomas Smith opened a little store on section 24, and was about to be appointed to this office when his store burned down, and he also departed from the country. The third petition in the summer of 1859 resulted in James S. Felton becoming the first postmaster. This same summer the Dugans, of Wabasha, who had quite an extensive landed interest in this part of the county, erected a store and a hotel; a blacksmith-shop was also a feature of this pioneer hamlet. In 1862 the Jameses bought out the Dugans, and about three years later abandoned the store and closed up the hotel, thus terminating the business life of Smithfield, though the postoffice was continued for many years. C. G. Dawley was the postmaster for a long period.

The first teaching was done by Ursula Metcalf, afterward wife of Levi Emery, in district 39, known as the Rich district, in the southwestern portion of the township. In district 37, or the Stanfield Spring school, the first teaching was in a log house near the site of the present building, in the spring of 1860, by Aurora Albertson. In the Highland district, No. 40, Ann Robbins taught a school in the summer of 1859. The schoolhouse was an octagonal structure, provided by Wm. T. James, then a prominent man in that part of the town- ship. It was framed in Wabasha and drawn to the place of erection in sections, and for years did duty as both church and schoolhouse. The Hampe Mill dis- trict, No. 64, and the Appel's Mill district, No. 66, both located in West Indian Creek valley, were also pioneer districts. The schoolhouses in Highland are in excellent condition, and are in marked contrast with the rude log huts that only a few years ago attested the high regard which the poor but intelligent pioneers of this township had for education in early days.

The first Protestant preaching in the Highland district was done by the Rev. J. L. Dyer in the fall of 1859, at the residence of Stillman Hathaway; and the following year the Methodist and Baptist societies were organized. A Sunday school was also established about this time, with A. T. James as the first superintendent.

Of religious life in Highland in 1884 it has been said: "The remnants of the once thriving Baptist, Methodist, Congregationalist and Lutheran societies are scattered, and have been gathered into other christian folds, principally located in the neighboring village of Plainview. Preaching is occasionally held in the Highland schoolhouse, in southeast Highland, and the Methodist Epis- copal society (chiefly Norwegians) have a parsonage and sustain regular serv- ices in the southwest part of the township; while at Hampe's Mill there still stands the old log church erected by the German Reform or Evangelical con- gregation in 1866, and still supplied with a pastor, who resides in West Albany, but holds services here biweekly. The Presbyterians in an early day were also sufficiently strong to sustain preaching at the Appel Mills schoolhouse, but have not been able to keep up their organization of late years. Each society of three-Baptist, Methodist and Congregationalist-has taken its turn at con- ducting revivals in the Highland schoolhouse, and much vigorous religious work has been done within its walls."

Church of the Immaculate Conception .- Religious services were held in this parish at an early date in private houses, and so continued until 1866, when the first church, a frame structure, 12 by 20 feet, was built by Father Tissot, who had charge of the Catholics in this vicinity. This little church

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was enlarged by Father James Trobec, pastor at Wabasha, who then had charge of Conception. The first parsonage was built about 1881, in which year the first resident pastor, Rev. Peter Jeram, took charge of the parish. He served until the following year and was succeeded by Rev. Benedict Bein- hart, who remained until the spring of 1883. The next pastor, Rev. P. B. Murray, served from 1883 to the fall of 1887, and was succeeded by Rev. E. Stack, who remained in charge from 1887 to the spring of 1899. After him came Rev. Father Hartlieb, 1899 to 1900, and then Rev. A. Aufenholk, 1900 to 1901. Rev. W. E. F. Griffin was the pastor from 1901 to 1904. Father Griffin built the present church, a large brick structure, in 1903. Rev. Father Hartlieb was pastor from 1904 to 1905, being succeeded in the fall. of the latter year by Rev. J. C. Pudenz, who served until 1911. Rev. Joseph Zahner served from 1911 until his death in Febbruary, 1919. It was he who built the new house in 1918. After Father Zahner's death the parish was supplied from St. Mary's College until the winter of 1920, when the present pastor, Rev. B. A. Kramer, was appointed. The cemetery, donated by Mr. T. Ryan, is called St. Peter and Paul's. Since 1903 the pastors at Conception have also served St. Joseph's parish at Theilman.

The first town meeting in Highland was held May 13, 1858, at the residence of I. Smith, in the southeast portion of the township, near where the Smithfield postoffice was that year located. W. L. Cleaveland presided over the meeting and was elected chairman of the board of supervisors, of which C. G. Dawley and R. M. Doane were also chosen members. The other officers elected at this meeting were as follows: J. R. Cleaveland, clerk; M. Baldwin, overseer of poor; Volney Crandall, assessor; James Felton and A. C. Smith, justices of the peace; George Begg and Oliver Nelson, constables; and George Begg, collector. The township expenses for that year were, all told, fifty dollars.

In 1858 the first road in the township was laid out and worked; the same being the road that connects Appel's (then Watkins') Mill with Canfield Springs. It is now well provided with suitable highways leading out in all directions; many of them following the course of ravines.

CHAPTER XVII. THEILMAN, WEST ALBANY AND GLASGOW. WEST ALBANY TOWNSHIP.

West Albany Township occupies Congressional Township 110, Range 12. It consists of fine rolling prairie, considerably broken in the southern part by eroded valleys and gorges. The streams all lie at a depth of from one to two hundred feet below the surrounding country, affording perfect drainage, and swamps are entirely unknown. Through sections 34, 27, 26, 25 and 36 in the southeastern part, winds the picturesque Zumbro, with its limestone cliffs, wooded banks and fertile bottoms, receiving the united waters of several smaller streams, which take their rise in the central, western and southern parts. These deep valleys or canons, which are the result of ages of erosion, appear to have been at one time considerably deeper than at present. The rock strata, which consist of Potsdam limestone, lie at an undiscovered depth below the streams, overlaid by a deposit of sand, clay and loam, which is rapidly increas- ing, and which indicates a long continued reversal of the process of erosion. The drift, which on the prairies overlies the rock to a depth of from five to fifty feet, consists of clay, topped by a layer of rich clay loam, which in pioneer days nourished a thick growth of buffalo grass and grubs, now supplanted by the products of intelligent industry.

The first settler was Samuel Brink, who located on the southwest quarter of section 21, and built a two-story log hotel, in which to accommodate the traffic from Reed's Landing to Oronoco. A few weeks later John McCollom settled on section 28. He was accompanied by Dr. Spafford. Mrs. McCollom died soon after their arrival. In the summer of 1855 came also Abram Lyons, followed in the early fall by Leroy B., Eugene B., and Cornelius A. McCollom. These settlements were all made in the valley near the future site of the vil- lage of West Albany, the first comers being attracted by the supposed superior fertility of the soil and the advantages of water and wood not found on the prairie. In the spring of 1852 Abram Lyons married Jane McCollom; this first marriage of the township was blessed by the appearance of a daughter the following spring, Laura Ann Lyons, who was the first child born in West Albany.

The summer of 1856 brought several new comers among whom were: Wm. Wright, of England; Frederick Jacobs, of Hanover; Andrew Hook, of Baden; Charles Wise, of Baden; John M. Welsh, of Ireland, and Patrick Cronan, of Ireland. This summer saw the destruction of Brink's tavern by fire. At the time of its burning it was occupied by Frederick Jacobs. For some time after- ward the settlement was designated as "the Burnt Tavern."

In the spring of 1857, Lawrence Tracy, of Irish nativity, who had previously settled in what is now Oakwood, moved to West Albany. In the same year came Sylvester and William Applegarth, of Canada; Henry Schmuser, of Holstein; Wm. Funk, and some others.

In 1858 (some say as early as 1855) began the establishment of the "Scotch Settlement," in the northeastern part of the township. Among the first arrivals from Scotland were William Duffus, George and William Wilson, and Henry Glashan and wife. For some time Mrs. Glashan was the only white woman in the settlement; the Glashan children were all born here. William Wilson came about a year later than his brother George; he was accompanied by his wife. George and Willam Perry were also early arrivals. George subsequently fought

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in the Civil War and died in the service. Dan, John and James Monroe, all heads of families, came also from Scotland to this place. Almost the only exceptions to Scotch nationality were the Fick and Danckwardt families who were German. Soon after came the Gray families-Alexander and James-and the Miller family, several of whom were grown men with wives and children. Other early Scotch immigrants were Charles Forest, Alexander Thoirs, William Sterling, David Munro, William Corry, and the Chalmers, Innes, Asher, Lowe, and George Phillips families. The Thaw family came twelve years later. The first blacksmith was Peter Goihl, who conducted a shop for a number of years and also worked a farm. When he arrived,he had nothing but a few small tools in a handkerchief. He is still living, being a resident of Lake City. Preaching was begun early by the Rev. Mr. Collins, of the United Presbyterian church, the services being held in a log schoolhouse. He remained for a year, his suc- cessors being Revs. Whitley, Smith, Tate and James Rogers. A frame church was built in 1884 in section 3, and is still standing. About 1880 a number of the young people removed to Lyon County, where they started another Scotch settlement, and owing to removals and deaths, the only family of Scotch origin in the West Albany settlement is that of John Duffus.

West Albany Creek offers the advantage of good water-power to industries of this kind, and its hurrying course was first checked by a water-wheel in 1857, when the McColloms' sawmill was put in operation. As before mentioned, the sawmill built by the McCollums was purchased in 1874 by Hiram Fellows and moved farther down the stream. In 1877 it was purchased by the Brandt brothers, who removed the machinery and erected a flouring-mill. In 1859 Sylvester Applegarth built a gristmill with two run of buhrs. Three or four years after he sold it to Patrick McNamee, and after passing through different hands and experiencing several changes, it was destroyed by fire. In 1867 Wm. Applegarth built a feedmill. It was soon sold, and in 1877 it passed into the hands of its present owner, John J. Hoffman.

Like the early pioneers of every part of the country the first settlers of West Albany saw their share of hardship and privation, and here as elsewhere bitter cups were often sweetened and brooding clouds lighted by the merry meetings which varied a life of toil, and a generous spirit of equality and neighborly kindness, over the departure of which many an old settler will be seen to shake his head regretfully. Money was scarce, and settlers were some- times in actual want of food or reduced to a diet of johnnycake or potatoes. The abundance of game was often a great advantage, and the numerous flocks of prairie chicken and grouse, and the occasional deer that haunted the valleys, frequently increased an otherwise slim bill of fare. Sometimes the men would devote a day to ball or "shinny," and braking and hauling bees were quite common, often being a necessity, as teams were rather scarce. In the winter, sleigh-rides, singing-schools, lyceums, spelling-schools and donations varied the monotony and will always be remembered with pleasure by the participants.

An Indian trail from Wabasha to Blue Earth passed through this township, over which the Indians often passed, frequently stopping along West Albany creek to fish for the brook-trout that haunted its deeps. Winter sometimes saw them camped in the valleys, generally along the Zumbro, and though they often visited the settlers, to beg or bring in a little game, they gave no serious annoyance. Lawrence Tracy's cabin, which then consisted of one room, was a favorite resort, and on cold winter evenings they would invade this warm retreat, lay around on the floor, in the way, and play cards, sometimes until midnight. In 1862 the settlers were badly frightened by the rumor that the hostile Indians from the north were coming, and many wakeful nights were passed on this account. Some left temporarily, some would go to neighbors' houses to spend the night, and some talk of fortifying a retreat was indulged in, but the Indians never came and no scalps were lost.

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The first term of school in this township was probably taught by Augustus Applegarth, in the summer of 1858, in a building owned by William Haines.

The Gopher Prairie postoffice was established about 1860, on section 2, with Benjamin Dodge as postmaster. This became a favorite place of resort for the neighbors to gather in, tell stories, discuss politics, or read the newspapers of which Dodge always had a plentfiul supply. In the course of two or three years it was moved to the house of Wm. Wilson and shortly after to the town of Lake.

West Albany Lodge, No. 120, I.O.G.T., was an important organization in the early days. It was organized July 26, 1875, by F. C. Stow, G.W., secretary of I.O.G.T., with forty-one charter members. The first officers were: J. P. Owens, L.D .; A. G. Sulton, P.W.C.T .; John Munro, W.C.T .; Jennie Ritchie, W.V.T .; John Brown, secretary. Meetings were held regularly in the school- house of district No. 26; then in Glasgow township. The organization was dis- banded April, 1878.

In 1878 the Minnesota Midland railway was completed, following the course of the Zumbro river through the southeastern part of the township. Before the building of the road, agents of the company went among the farmers and got a majority of the voters to sign a petition for the road agreeing to aid the company to the extent of five thousand dollars in case the road was completed. This afterward created considerable dissatisfaction in the township, and when the road was completed they declined to grant the bonus. The case was carried to the supreme court where the law under which the petition was gotten up was declared unconstitutional, thus relieving the township of their obligation to pay the amount.

May 11, 1858, the township was organized as West Albany, though to whom the credit of naming the town is due, could not be ascertained. The election was held at William Applegarth's, resulting as follows: E. B. McCollom, chair- man of board; William Applegarth, clerk; Leroy McCollom, justice of the peace; and Cornelius McCollom, constable.

West Albany was for several years an important hamlet on the road from Read's Landing to Oronoco and Mazeppa. In the spring of 1857 the village was platted by Leroy B., Eugene B. and Cornelius A. McCollom, who bought the property of George H. Faribault and platted the west half of the northeast quarter of section 28.

William Applegarth built a store, which he stocked with a small supply of general merchandise, and the proprietors erected a sawmill. Upon the petition of the McColloms a postoffice was established, being located at Applegarth's store, with E. B. McCollom, postmaster. The store was sold, about 1866, to R. Barry, who carried on the business until within two or three years, and was postmaster until 1878, when the office passed into the hands of Thomas Smith. The mill was run a few years, when it was abandoned, and in 1874 it was sold to Hiram Fellows, who removed it to the site where Brandt's flouring-mill was afterward located. In the same spring of 1857 John McCollom platted the town of Union on the W. 1/2 of N. W. 1/4 of Sec. 27, but agriculture was the only business ever carried on within its limits.

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History of Wabasha County, Minnesota, Part 21

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