History of Wabasha County, Minnesota, Part 22

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 22

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Albany Village was laid out in the spring of 1859 by Sylvester Applegarth, on section 29, about a half-mile west of West Albany, started two years before. The plat was recorded May 3, 1859, and the place soon became the metropolis of the township. Richard Dawson erected a hotel, Sylvester Applegarth a grist- mill, S. McIntyre a store and saloon, and Jacob Fister a blacksmith-shop. About this time a small land office was run by E. Foster, who did business of various kinds for the settlers, but upon his election as auditor he left this part of the county. July 4, 1861, the blacksmith-shop was burned. Its destruction was the result of a quarrel about the possession of an anvil with which the inhabitants intended to demonstrate their patriotism. The same year saw the burning of the hotel. Both were soon rebuilt. In 1862 the hotel passed into the hands of Frank Ryan, who ran it as a hotel and saloon for a few years. This place be-

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came a favorite resort, and dances were often held under its roof, with their attendant mirth and uproar.

In the early days of the West Albany settlement the Catholics were favored with occasional visitations by Father Tissot of Wabasha. He repeated his visits until 1866, when he was succeeded by Father Trobec, also from Wabasha. In 1869 Father Herman divided his time between this charge and Lake City, and was followed by Father Quinn. In the fall of 1879 Father Jacobs took charge of the church, being the first resident priest, and remaining four years. In the spring of 1883 Father Boland began his administration.

About 1863 the congregation purchased 60 acres of land near the village of West Albany, and two years later they bought 20 additional acres, with Frank Ryan's hotel, which they used for a church several years. The new church was begun under the administration of Father Herman, and completed in 1884. A commodious parsonage was begun in 1881.

Lakey Village was originally called Tracy in honor of Lawrence Tracy. The station continued to be called Tracy for some time, but as there was another town of Tracy in the state, the postoffice was called Lakey, from one of the officials of the railroad. The Mazeppa Mill Company started buying grain here in 1878.

In the summer of 1879 P. J. McGinn built a two-story frame building and put in a stock of general merchandise. In the spring of 1863 he sold to P. J. Fox, who continues the business. In 1880 the postoffice was moved from West Albany to Tracy, McGinn assuming the duties of postmaster.

The Baptist Church was important for several years. The majority of the members of the organization were residents of West Albany; but meetings were for many years held in the schoolhouse of district 26, which, until 1878, was located in Glasgow Township. At that time a new schoolhouse was erected in West Albany, where services were afterward held. The first Baptist preacher who ministered to this community was Benjamin Wharton, a native of Virginia, and at that time a resident of Wabasha. This was in 1858. His first services were held in the log house of John Owens of this township, and until the erec- tion of the schoolhouse of district No. 26, in 1861 or 1862, he held meetings at intervals of two or three weeks, here and at the residences of William Corry and B. B. Fetzer. July 14, 1861, he organized the church at the log schoolhouse. Eight were enrolled as members, viz: Isaac Corry, William Corry and wife, Charles Forest, John Owens and wife, by letter from the Baptist church of Wabasha; B. B. Fetzer and Martha Fetzer, from Clarion county, Pennsylvania. The first officers chosen were B. B. Fetzer and Isaac Corry, deacons. Wharton was succeeded by William Sturgeon, who preached about one year, when Wharton returned, remaining several years. He was followed by Rev: Cum- mings, and one year later by Levi Ross, under whose charge the church saw its season of greatest prosperity, the membership reaching thirty-three. After a ministratiion of two and a half years he was succeeded by T. F. Babcock, who remained but a short time, and was the last to visit the church. About this time the ranks were greatly thinned by emigration westward; so much so that services were discontinued. In 1859 a sabbath school was organized, and was kept up until the breaking up of the church.

United Presbyterian .- At the request of a few persons, residents of West Albany township, they were visited in September, 1860, by Rev. James Mc- Cartney, who preached at the house of William Sterling on the evening of September 13, 1860, and in schoolhouse No. 21 on the 14th. Though preaching was earnestly desired, other engagements prevented him from returning until January, 1861. From this time until July he preached here half the time. The Caledonia congregation of the United Presbyterian church was organized March 19, 1861, with nine members. Seven of these were by letter, from York- ville, Wisconsin-William Wilson, Jeanette Wilson, Henry Glashen, , Jane., Glashen, William Sterling, Lucretia Sterling and George Perry; and two joined,.

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on profession-William Perry and Martha Perry. In the summer of 1861, Rev. J. K. Black visited them a few times, and July, 1862, A. B. Coleman was. sent by the general assembly and preached half the time for a year. He was followed by H. McHatton, James P. Rait, James M. Wallace, J. Tate, James Rogers, and others. July, 1882, A. Y. Houston took charge.

Roman Catholic Church .- In the early days of the settlement the Catholics. were favored with occasional visitations by Father Tissot, of Wabasha. He. repeated his visits until 1866, when he was succeeded by Father Trobec, also from Wabasha. In 1869 Father Herman divided his time between this charge and Lake City, and was followed by Father Quinn. In the fall of 1879 Father Jacobs took charge of the church, being the first resident priest, and remaining four years. In the spring of 1883 Father Boland began his ministration. About 1863 the congregation purchased sixty acres of land near the village of West Albany, and two years later they bought twenty additional acres, with Frank Ryan's hotel, which they used for a church several years. The new church was begun during the ministration of Father Herman, and completed in 1884. A commodius parsonage was begun in 1881.

German Methodist .- The exact date of the first preaching was not ascer- tained, though it was probably in 1861, by Rev. Grechtenmeyer at C. Fuhrman's house. The following are the names of ministers who followed him: Wm. Schreiner, Philip Funk, August Lamprecht, Adam Willer, Frederick Herms- meyer, Frederick Hogrefe, Louis Thoele, Henry Schnitker, and Frederick Hermsmeyer, of Wabasha. A frame church was built in 1866.

Lutheran .- About 1863 Prof. Moldenke, of Milwaukee, made this section a. visit and preached at the house of Henry Schmuser, on section 16. Through his influence the few adherents to the church in this neighborhood were visited in. 1864 by William Vomhof, of Olmstead county. During the fall of that year he organized a church of six members, as follows: John Dankwart, Henry Schmuser and wife, John Haase, Fritz Lange, Henry Lange and John Schmidt .. Early ministers were: F. Seifert, A. Hoffman, M. Stulpnagel, P. Rubreih, and P. Bechtel. A church, a neat frame, was erected in 1868. At the same time a. parsonage was erected.

GLASGOW TOWNSHIP.

Glasgow Township occupies Congressional Township 110, Range 11. It is. bounded on the north by Pepin and a small portion of Wabasha, on the east by Wabasha and Greenfield, on the south by Highland, and on the west by West. Albany. The physical features of this township are very striking. The Zumbro river enters the township through section 31 and runs a very roundabout way in crossing the township, passing through or touching each of the following sections : 30, 29, 20, 21, 28, 27, 22, 15, 14, 11, 12, and leaves the township through section 13. Many small streams both from the north and from the south flow into this river, the most important of which is Trout Creek from the northwest. All along the river the country is very broken, but is interspersed with beautiful valleys all along the little streams. For a greater part the Zumbro is skirted on either side with heavy forests of timber. In most of the. hills is to be found plenty of limestone of an excellent quality, which is used to a very large extent for building foundations for houses and barns. The soil of the valleys is very fertile, consisting of a blackish loam underlaid with a clay subsoil.

Wm. McCracken, in 1855, a native of Scotland, was the first to break the: sod in the township of Glasgow. Very soon after McCracken came to the town- ship Charles Foreman, Hugh McGowen, Hugh and Robert Cochrane, Fred Bern- hart, Wm. Stowman, Henry Smith, and several others, laid personal claim to a portion of this township. The next year this number was increased by John and Wm. Cochrane, Hugh McGinnis, the Ring brothers, Henry Ash, J. B. Roone, and others. Soon after establishing themselves in their new home, in the fall.

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of 1855, Mr. McGowen's wife gave birth to the first white child born in the township. But the life of this child born in the wilderness was of but short duration, it and its mother both dying in a short time after the child's birth. They both were laid to rest within the bosom of mother earth in the same grave. They were he first to die in this township. The first sermon ever preached within the boundaries was preached in the house of Robert Cochrane, in the spring of 1858, by the Rev. B. F. Wharton, a Baptist minister.

For many years the people of Glasgow township were exclusively occupied in agricultural pursuits until 1861, when Robert Cochrane and A. T. Lansing put in operation a sawmill on Trout brook, and in 1864 Herman Wing concluded to try his fortune among the people by setting up a blacksmith shop. The first postoffice in the township was at the house of Boyd Fetzer, and he was the first postmaster.

Near the center of the town, and lying along the banks of Trout brook, is a field of some fifteen acres, once known as "Indian field." The aborigines used a portion of this field for burying their dead, and the remainder was planted to corn by the squaws. It was rudely inclosed by a brush fence, portions of which were long to be seen. Other evidences of Indian occupancy remained for several decades after the settlement by the whites.

The town was organized May 11, 1858, the first chairman of supervisors was Thomas Matter, and the first town clerk was John B. Roome. The town is named from Glasgow, Scotland.

The German Methodist Church in section 5, Glasgow Township was built in 1869. The first pastor of the church was Rev. Mr. Lampbrecht.

Dumfries is a trading point on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, situated in Section 10, Glasgow Township. A postoffice was formerly located here, but has been discontinued, and Wabasha is now the postoffice and banking point. There are two elevators, a general store and other business enterprises.

McCracken is a station on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, in section 20, Glasgow Township, three miles east of Theilman, which is the bank- ing point and postoffice.

Theilman in the southwestern part of Glasgow Township, situated on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway. It has Catholic and German Lutheran churches, a bank, a hotel, a creamery, two elevators and a feed mill, also a blacksmith shop and several stores. It is a convenient trading point for the surrounding territory and considerable business is done.

Theilman, formerly called Theilmanton, was named in honor of Christian Theilman, through whose influence the station was established, and by whom the town was platted in 1877. In January, 1878, Peter Hall completed and occupied a commodious two-story frame, putting in a stock of general merchan- dise. He was the first to locate on the site of the town. In the spring of the same year he was followed by Nicholas Reil, who erected a good frame building. During the same season William Morris built a blacksmith shop, and Henry Sommerhelder a wagon shop. In the fall two saloons were started by William Colegraff and Nils P. Christianson respectively. The latter afterward sold to John Will. Upon the petition of Peter Hall a postoffice was established, Decem- ber, 1878, with the petitioner as postmaster. During 1878 a commodious grain- house was erected by Christian Theilman, who then began buying grain.

The Theilman State Bank was incorporated June 1, 1911, with a capital stock of $10,000, and opened its doors for business July 17, 1911, with the following officers: Theo. Hampe (president), Henry Theilman (vice-president), N. E. Bricher (cashier), M. Kinsella, L. Whitten, of Wabasha; J. D. Bricher and John A. Frese, of Kellogg; and William Dankwart, of Lake City. A brick bank building was erected and equipped in accordance with modern plans, and the institution has had a healthy growth. The deposits at the end of the first year were $58,000, while the bank's last statement shows deposits of $321,000, with a surplus of $11,500. The same officers are still serving.

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St. Joseph's Catholic Church at Theilman is a beautiful brick structure, built in 1903 under the direction of Rev. W. E. F. Griffin. The parish is attended from Conception. As a consequence the pastors at Conception from the year 1903 until now, were and are the pastors of Theilman.

CHAPTER XVIII.

MINNEISKA AND WEAVER.

Minneiska Township is situated in the southeastern part of Wabasha County, on the Mississippi River. It occupies fractional township 109, range 109. On the north is a portion of Greenfield Township, on the west is Watopa Township, on the south is Mount Vernon Township in Winona County, and across the Mississippi River to the eastward is Buffalo County, Wisconsin. It is crossed by one railroad, the River Division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, with stations in this township at the villages of Minneiska and Weaver.

Much of the township lies in the flood plain of the Mississippi, and the bottoms of the Zumbro and its tributaries and estuaries. The northern part is almost all a sandy prairie, broken to the eastward in sloughs and lagoons, furnishing an ideal region of numberless wild fowl. In the south and southwest there are bluffs, ridges and broken land along the Whitewater.

The Whitewater River mouths at Minneiska. In this township is also what was until recently the main mouth of the Zumbro, and also several courses of that broken river. The Zumbro and the Whitewater are connected with a small stream of water about a mile back from the Mississippi, and in high water the waters of the Mississippi back into the Zumbro, causing the waters of the Zumbro to flow into the Whitewater, and thus many of the early investigators found the two rivers mouthing together. At the present time, much of the water of the Zumbro discharges into the Mississippi, opposite a point a short distance below Alma, a dredged waterway having been established from Kellogg.

The first settlement within the limits of what is now known as the town of Minneiska was made as early as 1851, Michael Agnes coming up from St. Louis in August of that year, and building a shanty on the southeast corner, on the river side. Louis Krutely followed the same summer, settling near Agnes. During the same year Charles R. Read, of Read's Landing, purchased a claim some four miles further up the river. These men only built shanties to shelter themselves while cutting wood for the steamboats that plied up and down the river, and broke no ground for cultivation during their first year. Their main- stay for subsistence were the rod and the rifle, and very often they had nothing but fish and fowl, and considered themselves fortunate if they could occasion- ally trade their game for some flour and other necessaries with the stewards of the steamers. The total sale of their wood during the summer did not buy enough food to supply them during the winter, and they had a hard time to pull through until the following spring. Steamboats were not as plenty on the rivers in those days as now, and the advent of a steamer passing at intervals of weeks was a godsend to these hardy men. They used to climb a tree on the island opposite to where now is built the pretty village of Minneiska, com- manding a view of the river up and down for several miles, to sight a coming boat, and it was with feelings of anxiety, as their supplies would run low, that they would watch for the first sign of smoke or the pant-pant of the steamer.

In 1852, B. C. Baldwin, Abner Tibbetts, B. H. Reppe and Joseph Schurb all took claims on the river bank. In 1853 John Cook and Albert Pomeroy were among the arrivals.

Much of the early settlement centered about West Newton Village established in 1853, and Minneiska Village established in 1854.

As early as the year 1854 the first birth occurred in the town. This was a daughter of Jacob Schurb, christened Mary, born in the month of January.

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The first marriage was that of Peter Schenk to Mary Leyes. The ceremony took place on July 16, 1856. The first death was that of the wife of John Meyer, which took place in January, 1855. Religious services were held here as early as 1856 by Elder Mallinson. The first school was taught by Mary Adams, in the summer of 1858, in a building owned by C. Anderson. No regular school building was erected until the year 1866.

The town was organized May 11, 1858. The official record of the first meet- ing, so far as is known, has not been preserved. However, A. Z. Putnam was the first chairman, and as such sat on the county board that year.

The second annual meeting was held at the place of S. C. Brown, April 5, 1859. The following officers were elected: A. Z. Putnam, chairman of super- visors; G. E. Kaeding and James M. Douglass, supervisors; Linus Bascom, town clerk; Linus Bascom, assessor; Aaron Fox, collector; Peter Wurstlein, overseer of poor.

The township name is of Dakota Indian origin, "minne" meaning water, and "ska," white. The river which has its mouth near here was called by the Indians Minneiska, and is now known as the Whitewater.

West Newton village was platted in 1853 by Charles R. Read, B. C. Baldwin, Abner Tibbetts and B. H. Reppe, taking its designation from a steamboat · wrecked nearby that summer, leaving its pilot house, wih its vividly printed name, about the water line. The plat was an elaborate one, showing mag- nificent streets and boulevards, with sites for churches, hotels, business houses and residences, and reservations for parks, public buildings and the like. Lots were disposed of through New York and Chicago agents. Purchasers, however, found here in place of an improved village site, only a natural landing, a wrecked steamboat, and a few scattered cabins.

In 1853 Charles R. Read built a store and hotel, and a postoffice was established. In 1854, B. H. Reppe built a store. But the river soon began to wash the land away, the embryo village died, and the site is now almost covered with water.

MINNEISKA VILLAGE.

Minneiska Village was platted in 1854, by the two first settlers, Michael Agnes and Louis Krutely. In the same year that the town site was laid out Dr. Geo. F. Childs and a few others located here. Little improvement was made from this time until the fall of 1856, when Pliny Putnam built a hotel. S. A. Houck commenced mercantile operations the same season, and H. B. Slater opened a store in 1856. The first blacksmith shop was built and put in opera- tion by Albert Pomeroy, but he had not remained in the business long when he sold out to Peter Peterrein. The first warehouse was built by Dr. Childs in 1856, and was occupied by Timmerman & Swart in 1857. In 1856 a steam- sawmill was erected by the firm of Biglow & Son, which was continued in operation about four years, when the business was closed up and the machinery removed to Chippewa. In 1861, Bentley & Yale built a large grain warehouse.

The first school taught in Minneiska was in the summer of 1858, by a Miss Adams, but no schoolhouse was erected there until 1866. The Roman Catholics built a fine church there in 1867, and the Lutherans built one in 1871. The Methodists, also, have a small house of worship.

The older residents still tell of the great fire of January 6, 1884. The fire was discovered by Nick Rouck, a merchant, between his store on Main street, known as the Agnes building, and the large elevator of Brooks Bros., the belief being that it originated in the former building, which, besides being occupied as a store and dwelling by Nick Rouck, was also occupied as a dwelling by the Bowman and Agnes families. The night was clear and extremely cold, the thermometer registered 30 degrees below zero, with a light wind blowing from the bluffs, and both the Agnes building and the large elevator were soon envel- oped; the flames then crossed the street, and, despite every effort by the people,

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caught on the large three and a half story hotel, owned by Joseph E. Becker, of St. Charles, and managed by John W. Short, and this structure was soon reduced to ashes. Two other buildings, one a warehouse, owned by Brooks Bros., lying northeast of their elevator, and the other an icehouse, lying north of that, were also razed to the ground. Twenty-five thousand bushels of grain were destroyed in the elevator, besides all the machinery. Dr. D. F. Brooks, who, in partnership with Dr. Jas. B. Cole, had an office in the elevator building, lost a medical library, while Dr. Cole lost all his surgical instruments.

The village is picturesquely situated on the Mississippi river bank, paralle! to which the main street-the only one of any consequence-extends for over a mile. On this street, which is somewhat elevated above the bank, are a number of stores, modern as to stock and equipment, which draw a good trade from the surrounding country. Located on the River Branch of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway are an elevator and lumber yard, the former representing the Farmers' co-operative movement, while the latter is under private owner- ship. Both are doing a thriving business. The Farmers' State Bank is a sound financial institution which is rapidly gaining strength. and there is a local tele- phone exchange which well serves the village and surrounding districts. In a sharp bend of the road, at the lower end of the business part of the village, is the Grand View Hotel, which, during the summer months enjoys a good patronage from transient pleasure seekers, attracted by the excellent fishing facilities. Many of the houses at the upper end of the village are located on the side of a steep bluff, commanding a beautiful view of the river, and are reached by climbing long flights of steps leading up from the road. Three churches-Catholic, Methodist and Lutheran-furnish opportunities for re- ligious worship for people of different creeds, and include in their combined congregations most of the people of the village. Fishing is an industry pursued not only for pleasure, but also as a matter of business, and large catches are often made. Minneiska has one of the finest natural landing places on the upper Mississippi, and should the proposed plans for the revival of river traffic materialize, the village may again witness the lively and bustling scenes at- tendant upon the arrival and departure of steamers.

The Farmers' State Bank of Minneiska was organized November 30, 1917, with O. J. Linstrum, president; E. F. Fitzgerald, vice-president, and A. E. Laufenburger, cashier. The bank started with a capital of $10,000, which has since remained the same, and a surplus of $2,000, which has been increased to $5,000. A recent statement showed deposits of $200,000, and undivided profits of $671 after paying a 10 per cent dividend and increasing the surplus to $5,000. The officers are the same as at the beginning, while the directors are C. F. Mogren, John Peshon, Bert Gage, E. F. Fitzgerald, August Nelson, O. J. Lin- strum and Julius Zimmerman. The institution does a general banking business, handling insurance and farm loans.

The Catholic Church at Minneiska .- The first Catholic settlers locating in what we now call Minneiska (formerly known as Whitewater) were Michael Agnes and Louis Krutly, who arrived about 1852. They were single and enter- prising young men. The first Catholic family coming here was that of Joseph Schurb, whose wife in maidenhood was Elizabeth Traut. They took a home- stead about a mile west of the village incorporation. To this couple was born in 1854 the first white child in the neighborhood, Mary Schurb. Baptism was deferred for some years on account of not seeing a Catholic priest. In 1857 the first priest came, administered baptism to about seven children, and at the same time held a four days' mission, to preach to the lonesome and forlorn Catholic people to be steadfast in their faith, to look with confidence to the Divine Providence, who would send in due time a priest at intervals to minister to them the sacraments and instruct them in the principles of their religion. The good priests were Father Lette and Father Van.

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History of Wabasha County, Minnesota, Part 22

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