USA > Minnesota > Wabasha County > History of Wabasha County, Minnesota > Part 24
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Pauselim, another abandoned village, was laid out in 1863 by William A. Johnson and Mr. Morgan, on the northwest quarter of section 27, and covered some 40 acres. The proprietors named their village after a certain make of pottery, believing that the land contained the particular kind of clay from which it was made, which belief in the end proved fallacious. The site was originally claimed by Orrin A. Hancock, who built a hotel in section 22, in 1857. He sold out to Mr. Johnson in 1861, and in 1862 built a store there and established a post office, with himself as postmaster, platting the village the next year. Soon afterwards he sold the store to Henry Etting, who conducted it for several years. Mr. Johnson was a shrewd business man, and an acquisition to the town of Greenfield. He foresaw the building of the railroad, but mistook its route and located it too far west. A number of dwellings were erected about the "Corners," but the advent of the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Chicago railroad, in 1871, drew people further east; and at the junction of that road with the Zum- bro was laid out the village of Kellogg, which entirely superseded Pauselim, the post office being removed thither and given the new name. A Methodist church, which had been built in Pauselim in 1863-64, was moved to the newer
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village in 1882. There the merchants established their stores, and within a few years there was little left of Pauselim except three or four dwellings.
KELLOGG VILLAGE.
Kellogg Village had its beginning in 1870. The first building was erected in the fall of that year by John Huddleson. In 1871, Clement Brass built and opened a hotel, and in the fall John Mealey opened a blacksmith shop. The coming of the railroad gave a great impetus to the village, and for several years, it was the shipping point of a large territory to the southwest. Some of this business was diverted in the late seventies with the building of the rail- road up the Zumbro Valley and south from Plainview.
A destructive fire occurred at Kellogg in March, 1880. At this time Calvin Potter's store was entirely consumed in the night; nothing was saved, as the building was wrapped in flames before the fire was discovered.
Kellogg is now a lively and bustling village, situated in Greenfield Town- ship, on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, nine miles south of Wabasha, the county seat. It is surrounded by a rich and beautiful farming country, and is an important shipping point for grain, livestock and farm products. The Kellogg State Bank provides adequate financial accommodations for the village and surrounding territory, while the Enterprise newspaper is a faithful mirror of local activities and current events in the outside world. Among the other prominent business concerns are a creamery, saw mill and grain elevator, besides a number of excellent stores, representing all the more important branches of commercial enterprise. There are two churches, Cath- olic and Methodist, and several of the strong fraternal orders have lodges here. The community is essentially modern and well-to-do, and includes among its population a number of retired farmers.
This village was incorporated by a legislative act approved February 14, 1877. The railroad company had adopted the name of Kellogg, in honor of a Milwaukee gentleman who furnished the station signs, and the village took the same cognomen. The act of incorporation named J. E. Gage, Joseph Ginthner and John Schouweiler as judges of the first election, and they were elected village trustees, with Calvin Potter as president and Edward A. Tupper recorder. J. O. Junkin was elected treasurer. On July 24, C. H. Coleman was appointed recorder, to fill vacancy caused by. Tupper's removal from the town.
The Kellogg State Bank .- This institution had its origin in a private bank, known as The Bank of Kellogg, which was organized by John Costello, Linn Whitmore and Charles C. Hirschy, June 1, 1905, with a capital of $10,000. On March 28, 1908, the bank was incorporated as the Kellogg State Bank, with Joseph Graff president, Walter McNallan, vice-president, and John Costello, cashier; with C. C. Hirschy, L. Whitmore, John H. Schouweiler, Joseph C. Schierts and Peter Howe, directors. As a state bank it started with total resources of $50,046.40. In 1913 Peter Howe was elected president, John H. Schouweiler vice-president, John Costello cashier, and the latter's son, John D. Costello, who had just returned from the war, assistant cashier. In January, 1919, John Costello was elected vice-president and John D. Costello was made cashier. In 1920 John H. Hager was elected assistant cashier. The present officers are: Peter Howe, president; John H. Schouweiler and John Costello, vice-presidents; J. D. Costello, cashier, and John H. Hager, assistant cashier. L. Whitmore, C. C. Hirschy, Joseph C. Schierts, Joseph Graff and Dennis McNal- lan are directors. On January 1, 1914, the rate of interest on time deposits was raised from three per cent to four per cent. On December 31, 1919, the capital was raised from $10,000 to $25,000, with a surplus of $5,000, the undivided profits being $6,420.40, loans and discounts, $369.902.00, and deposits, $375,- 265.00. The growth of the institution is shown by its steadily increasing volume of business, in 1910 the loans and discounts being $92,456.65, and
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deposits, $99,701.46; and in 1915 the loans and discounts being $175,147.75 and deposits, $169.711.15.
Kellogg Catholic Church .- Kellogg parish was originally part of Wabasha and attended from there. The church here was built in 1900 and enlarged in 1908. The church property was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Miles McDonough. The first resident pastor was the Rev. James Culliton. There are about 100 families or 500 souls in the parish. The rectory was built in 1910. The pastor now serving is Rev. M. J. Grehan.
Kellogg Lodge, No. 122, A. F. A. M., was organized January 13, 1876. Work, under dispensation, was begun April 24, 1875, by the few Masons then resident here. The following were the first officers: M. O. Kemp, W. M .; J. E. Gage, S. W .; M. K. Wolfe, J. W .; J. O. Junkin, Treas .; Paul Miller, Sec .; John Mealey, S. D .; J. W. Moore, J. D .; G. B. Albertson, S. S .; William Albertson, J. S .; John Kins, Tyler.
Midland Junction is the point at which the Zumbrota Branch of the Chi- cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul leaves the main River Division, and starts east- ward up the Zumbro Valley.
WATOPA TOWNSHIP.
Watopa Township is rough in contour, broken by the valleys of the numer- ous creeks. Indian Creek valley extends across the town from east to west, the stream entering on section 31 and leaving on 24. North of this is Snake creek, whose head is near the west side of the town, flowing about due east, and join- ing the Zumbro on section 12. The Whitewater river crosses the southeastern portion, and thus the town is composed of alternate ridges and valleys. The ridge between the Whitewater and Indian creek is quite broad, and is known as "Hoosier Ridge." Those on either side of Snake creek are narrow. Branches of the Zumbro mouth meander in the northeastern part. The town occupies Congressional Township 109, Range 10. It is bounded on the north by Green- field Township, on the west by Highland Township, on the south by Whitewater Township and a small strip of Mt. Vernon Township, in Winona County, and on the east by Minneiska Township.
Among the earliest residents were Frank and John Gage, who settled in Whitewater Valley in 1855, John Gage making claim to a section of land in that valley, in the northeastern part of the town. He arrived in August, and in September sent for his family, and for a time they were the only white inhabitants. The Indians were quite numerous, and would often give trouble by stealing their loose property. Mr. Gage was the only settler until 1856, when his brother joined him, and soon others arrived in the neighborhood, including Garret Fitzgerald, Christ Abbott, Ole Paulson, James and Daniel Gow, John Feddelson, and George and William Christie. In 1857 John Kickey and John Keating settled on Snake Creek. In 1858 Dr. L. D. Holmes settled on Indian Creek, and J. B. Haines became his neighbor next year. These were eastern people, and a spirit of enterprise came with them.
On September 7, 1856, a son was born to John and Eleanor Gage. He was christened Burton Wallace, and died January 25, 1859. During the latter year a daughter was born to Charles Simpson, but is now deceased. These are the earliest births of which any knowledge can be found. The first residents of the town to be united in marriage were William Ryan and Margaret Hickey. This wedding was celebrated at Wabasha, February 16, 1863.
The first school in the township was taught in 1857-1858, in a house owned by John Gage. Mrs. Timothy Young planned to be the first teacher, but fell dead while scrubbing the floor in preparation for the first session. John Porter and Charles Simpson were early teachers.
The first religious services were held in 1860 at the home of J. B. Haines, . by William Welds, whose wife taught in the log schoolhouse nearby.
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Rev. D. B. Gleason, of the Read's Landing Circuit of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, preached in the home of J. B. Haines in 1860. His successor, Rev. Harvey Webb, also held services there the following year.
Many interesting stories are told of the pioneer days. As late as 1859, flour was difficult to procure in the spring and early summer, after the long winter had exhausted the supply brought by boats in the previous fall. On one occasion. J. B. Haines and Charles Jencks set out for Minnesota City to procure flour, and had nothing for lunch on the way save some green cucum- bers. At noon they turned out the oxen to feed, and sat down by a spring to eat their lunch. On reaching their destination, they succeeded in securing fifty pounds of flour, which was to feed several families in the valley. When Mr. Haines had raised a crop of wheat, he engaged men to thresh it. The dinner provided for the hungry workmen was devoid of bread or pastry. Butter and cream were plenty, and also tea and coffee. Trout, which was easily caught in Indian Creek at that time, furnished the flesh, and squash the vegetable portion. For dessert, sweetened stewed pumpkin was supplied, sugar being easily obtain- able from steamboat points.
Watopa was organized May 11, 1858. The Indian name, Watopa, was adopted, after considerable discussion of other titles. The supervisors chosen were Christ Abbott, chairman, John Gage and Henry Wagner. Charles Simp- son was made town clerk, Daniel Seymour, justice of the peace, and John Crain, constable.
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CHAPTER XX.
MOUNT PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.
Mount Pleasant occupies Congressional Township 111, Range 13, and is bounded on the north and west by Goodhue County, on the east and south by Lake and Gillford Townships. Its surface is an undulating prairie, sloping to the east and but comparatively little broken by cooleys. At a point a little south of the center begins a ridge which runs westward into the edge of Good- hue County, and in its vicinity are several natural mounds, one of these, the Lone Mound, being the highest point in the township. The name was suggested by the magnificent view presented to an observer from the tops of some of the elevations in the south central part. From the summit of Lone Mound the sight is especially impressive. For miles in all directions stretches the expanse of prairie, whose fertility is attested by the neat and commodious buildings everywhere present; while to the northeast the eye catches the river hills of the Wisconsin side, and a glimpse of the blue waters of Lake Pepin through the valley of Boodie Creek. The northern part is drained by Sugar-Loaf Creek, sometimes called Gilbert Valley Creek, and in the eastern part Boodie Creek begins its short course to the lake, amid wild and romantic surroundings. The underlying rocks here are Potsdam lime and sandstone, which appear as pic- uresque walls along the valleys, with an occasional outcrop on the prairie, and are covered with strata of till, sand, gravel, yellow and blue clay, and rich loam.
A few birch, shrub-oak and poplar grow along the cooleys, but no timber of consequence is found. Wild grapes and plums are abundant in their season.
On the prairie roads are good but in the cocleys much labor is required to keep them passable, owing to the rains which frequently work destruction by washing away or covering with debris from the hillsides. An Indian trail from Central Point formerly ran through Gilbert Valley, and one crossed the southern part of the township. The first road in the township was one from Central Point to Mazeppa, reaching the prairie at the head of Bull's Cooley. It was laid out by P. D. Martin and Robert Phillips, of Central Point, and used but a few years, the Mazeppa road, crossing the township diagonally, was early established, being the main artery through which Lake City receives its ex- tensive trade from the southwest.
In June, 1854, the settlement was begun by the location of O. A. Warren on the northwest quarter of section 1. He came with his family from Jo Daviess County, Illinois, and was a native of the Empire State. The fall of the same year saw the arrival of Isaac Horton and William Bean, who settled on sections 12 and 1, respectively. In the spring of 1855 William Walters and Alfred Hannings settled in the northeastern part, and the next summer brought Milo Bull and Joel Clark .. Mr. Clark purchased William Bean's "right of set- tlement" for $250.00. In the fall Sanford Gilbert settled here. These settle- ments were all made in the valley. In 1856 the prairie in the southeastern part was settled by William Mann, Benj. Taylor, E. P. C. Fowler, S. B. Clark, George Clark, E. H. Palmer, William Lewis, Jacob Rinus, Alfred Betterly, and per- haps others. The year 1857 saw quite an immigration, and the township rapidly filled up.
Those who came with a supply of money got along well enough, but many who lacked ready cash, experienced considerable hardship. During the "win- ter of the deep snow" (1856-57) markets were often inaccessible, provisions rather scarce, and trust was not to be had by the moneyless. Stories are told of those who lived for weeks on potatoes and salt, or a similarly scant diet,
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and one family is said to have existed four weeks on frozen rutabagas. Here, as elsewhere, the monotony of life was broken by visiting with ox teams, merry gatherings, getting lost on the prairie, hunting and fishing, and as the settle- ment grew older, and the virgin soil bestowed successive bounties on the brave pioneers, population and prosperity rapidly increased, and this little spot, but yesterday the home of the buffalo and Indian, has become one of the most desirable places in the county.
Until the building of the narrow-gauge railroad through the central part of the county the Mazeppa road was the scene of a constant stream of travel, many of the farmers coming long distances. For the accommodation of this portion of the traveling public, in the temporal matters of eating, drinking and lodging, J. Kramer, in 1858, built a small log hotel on section 26. The Boston House, about a mile down the road, was erected in the fall of 1857 by Sidney Cross. For several years after it was built it enjoyed a good patronage until 1878, when the travel was materially lessened and the Boston House was closed to the public. With the introduction of the automobile traffic, the Mazeppa road has resumed some of its former importance.
In the summer of 1856 the residents of the northeastern part hired Laura Eldred to teach a term of three months. The only shelter available for the work was a little claim shanty which stood across the road on the edge of Good- hue County. These were the first educational advantages enjoyed by residents of this township. The first term taught in the township was probably in the summer of 1857, in the northern part, by Mrs. Alexander Graham. Among the other pioneer teachers of that day were Alfred Hannings, who taught the first term in district No. 7; Mary Smith, who began the work of education in No. 12; George Sexton, of No. 10; Mrs. P. C. Tabor in No. 67, and Mary Burleigh in No. 8. The first schools were nearly all taught before the organization of the districts by private subscription, and usually in some discarded claim or log shanty. ' In some instances schools were held in private houses for several years, and the facilities enjoyed were necessarily very crude. Books from dif- ferent states, and of many kinds, was one of the difficulties presented to the teacher. In district No. 12 the third term was held in a little log house in which Sidney Cross had formerly "bached it," and he again found himself master in that shanty, this time in a different capacity. In this instance each family provided a seat for its young hopefuls, the size of the family bench being regulated by the number of children. In one district a school was held in a small granary about the time that very large hoops were the style; as the teacher dressed in fashion when she entered the temple of learning but little room was left for much else. So the hoops had to be dispensed with, making an odd and noticeable change in contrast with her usual appearance.
The first birth in this township was that of a daughter to Mrs. S. B. Clark. In the spring of 1857 death first visited the town, taking Mrs. Palmer from the little settlement. In March, 1859, the Rev. Silas Hazlett united in marriage Ephraim Selby and Adaline Clark, which was probably the first marriage in the township.
In the spring of 1858 a meeting was held at the residence of E. H. Palmer to determine the name of the township about to be organized. Several names were proposed, among them "Huntington," by Wm. Lewis, and "Greenfield," by Silas Gilbert, both seeking to honor places of former residence. After con- siderable debate the present name was adopted, as before mentioned, being suggested by the views the adjacent elevations commanded. May 11, 1858, the legal voters met at the house of Benj. Taylor, on section 32, twenty-three voters being present. The meeting was organized by choosing Stanton B. Clark, moderator; James M. Knapp, judge; and E. P. C. Fowler and Sidney Cross, clerks. The officers elected were: Supervisors, E. H. Palmer (chairman), J. W. Cross and Silliman Gilbert; clerk, E. P. C. Fowler; treasurer, O. A. Warren; assessor, Joel Clark; overseer of poor, Harvey Seymour; constables J. M. Knapp and Alfred Betterly; justices, S. B. Clark and Isaac C. Smith.
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Good Templar Lodge, No. 121, was organized July 27, 1875, by F. C. Stow, D. G. W. C. T., at the Presbyterian church, with fifty-six charter members. Soon after this meetings were begun in the grange hall, and there continued until the sale of the building, which deprived them of a place of meeting and was the main element in the death of the organization, no regular meetings being held thereafter.
In 1870, T. A. Thompson, of Plainview, then state lecturer in the interests of the grange, visited this neighborhood and stirred up an interest which re- sulted in the establishment of a grange. Mount Pleasant Grange, No. 53, was organized at the schoolhouse of district No. 10, June 21, 1870, by D. K. G. Clark. It began with thirty-one charter members and the following officers were chosen : W. J. Newton, M .; J. C. Fowler, Sec .; N. F. Randolph, Chap., and T. W. Robinson, Lect. At first meetings were held at the schoolhouse and afterward for several years at the residence of J. C. Fowler. In 1874 the old schoolhouse of district No. 10 was purchased and fitted up for a hall, which was used until the disbanding in 1878. The last meeting was held May 8, 1878.
Rev. Silas Hazlett, of Lake City, was the first to hold religious services in this township. In January, 1857, he met about a dozen persons at the log house of Stanton Clark. Two weeks later he preached at E. P. C. Fowler's, and for some time his services were held at private houses, or on the open prairie beneath an oak-tree's verdant roof. When the schoolhouse of district No. 10 was built services were there held, and the Presbyterian church was organized with about six members. In 1867 a frame church was erected.
During the war the community in the southwestern part of the township was visited by Rev. Stillwell, who preached a few times; by Rev. Hill, a Baptist, who preached occasionally for about a year; and also by Charles Hudson. In 1865 Henry Goodsell began preaching in the schoolhouse of district No. 10; he awakened considerable interest and organized a Methodist class. It was during his ministration that the church reached its period of greatest pros- perity, and a church was built and dedicated free of debt.
The first preaching in the northern part of the township was in the fall of 1865, by Rev. Birch, then a student at the Hamlin University of Red Wing. He continued his visits about two years and organized a class in the spring of 1866 at schoolhouse No. 8. He was followed by Henry Goodsell, and during his incumbency the County Line church was built. Rev. Richardson succeeded him, and during his stay this class and the one in West Florence, Goodhue County, united. Services were held in this little church for many years, until about 15 years ago, when, having fulfilled its mission, it was torn down. The English Methodist Church in the lower part of section 29, was moved to Oak Centre 13 years ago and is still flourishing. The little church building to the northeast of it in the same section, near the line of section 28, in use for a number of years by a German Methodist congregation, was torn down about 15 years ago.
In 1880 Thomas Hartley, a Wesleyan minister of Greenwood Prairie, preached regularly in the schoolhouse, and the next year was followed by R. Balbridge, of the same denomination. A revival followed his efforts and serv- ices were transferred to the County Line church. February, 1882, a church of thirteen members was organized by him, and afterward they purchased the church building of the Methodist Episcopal organization.
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CHAPTER XXI.
READ'S LANDING AND PEPIN TOWNSHIP.
Read's Landing is one of the historic spots of the upper Mississippi Region. It has been a place of much importance, and is still a most beautiful and pic- turesque spot. The location is a delightful one and most admirably adapted for the purposes of early Indian trade. Above it the river broadens out into the beautiful waters of Lake Pepin, around whose shores the natives were wont to gather, and associated with whose waters and rocks are some of the most plaintive legends of the northwestern tribes. Just across from it is the mouth of the Chippewa River, down whose current the fur-laden canoes came in early days, only to be followed in later years by the rafts of the Wisconsin lumber- men, each raft the tribute of a forest. The village occupies a narrow strip along the river, at the base of the cliffs or bluffs which here rise, quite precipi- tous, almost from the rocky shore, leaving footing, however, for the business houses and dwellings of what was the most thriving town.
Brewery Creek is a small stream fed from springs in the ravine back of the village, and emptying into the Mississippi river just west of Riverview cemetery. It forms the boundary line between Reads and the corporate limits of the city of Wabasha, and during some of the floods that have poured down the sides of the bluffs, during the excessive rainfalls of this season, has been swollen to a destructive torrent. The most disastrous rise was that of July 21, 1883, when in an hour's time it overflowed its banks, flooded Burkhadt Broth- ers' brewery to a depth of eight feet, swept out as though it were brushwood the solid stone abutments of the bridge on the main road from Reads to Wabasha, and carried the solid granite block, weighing tons, rods down the stream, leaving scarcely a stone to mark the old foundations.
Read's Landing has a traditional history dating far back into the opening years of the nineteenth century. It is said that Joseph Rocque had a trading post here in 1800 or soon afterward. Edward Hudson established a post here in 1840. He died three years later. His widow married Lewis Rocque, who, in 1847, sold to Charles R. Read.
Fordyce S. Richards came here in 1850 and established a trading post. Some five years later he built his storeroom and warehouse on the northwest corner of Water and Richards streets. This was a three-story building as seen from the levee, two stories from the street in front, and in this Mr. Richards did a very large business for years. The following season Knapp, Stout & Co., one of the heavy lumber firms of the Chippewa Valley, built their store and warerooms on the west of Richards', adjoining, and so business multiplied. Prior to this, in 1854, a hotel was built, and later the Bullard House was erected, which from 1859 to 1865 was known as the best hotel on the river. In 1863 the storage and commission house of Charles Nunn was established. Helmick & Warszawski followed, with others, until at the close of the war there were few points of its size on the Upper Mississippi River where so thriving a trade was carried on as at Read's Landing.
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