USA > Minnesota > Wabasha County > History of Wabasha County : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc. : gathered from matter furnished by interviews with old settlers, county, township, and other records, and extracts from files of papers, pamphlets, and such other sources > Part 17
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This association was composed of persons of different nationali- ties, different religious and political opinions, and of different busi- ness occupation, united for a special object. It was an emigration society, designed to aid its members in leaving the city and forming a colony on government lands in the west. The organization was but a temporary one, and never designed for any other purpose.
That the plan of colonization was practicable under favorable circumstances, in the hands of practicable men and under the man- agement of practicable leaders, there is but little doubt. That it was, to a great extent, a failure, that the results were not fully in accordance with that anticipated from its programme of operations, was evidently attributable to the incapacity and inexperience of the leaders rather than to radical detects in the plan. Justice to these pioneer settlers of the county exacts a brief sketch of the organiza- tion by which the colony was located.
William Haddock, one of the discoverers of the town site at the mouth of the Rolling Stone valley, was the founder and president of
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HISTORY OF WINONA COUNTY.
the association. In July, 1851, Mr. Haddock, then a journeyman printer living in New York city, conceived the idea, and in a public lecture at a meeting of mechanics called by him for the purpose, pre- sented the outlines of a plan whereby the mechanics of the city would be able to secure "homes in the west," to leave the city and locate on government lands, to go in a body and form a colony.
His audience manifested considerable interest in the subject of his lecture, and appointed a committee to take the matter into con- sideration and draw up a code of laws for an organization on the plan proposed. The committee made a report the following week, and a form of organization was effected, with William Haddock as presi- dent and Thomas K. Allen secretary. It was not, however, until about the middle of September that the association was considered fairly organized, although weekly meetings were held for the pur- pose of perfecting the laws and in many ways modifying the original plan proposed by Mr. Haddock.
That the plan adopted may be impartially presented, the follow- ing extracts have been copied from the "Constitution and By-Laws of the Western Farm and Village Association."
PREAMBLE.
WHEREAS, We whose names are hereunto subscribed are desirous of locat- ing ourselves advantageously on government lands in some of our western states or territories, and,
WHEREAS, We wish at the same time to avail ourselves of all the advan- tages of civilization which can be immediately secured only by emigrating in large companies and settling in close proximity, we do hereby adopt, for the more effectual attainment of our object, the following constitution and by-laws, to which each one of us subscribes and pledges himself to conform :
CONSTITUTION.
ARTICLE I. SECTION 1, This association shall be styled "The Western Farm and Village Association, No. 1, of the ( 'ity of New York."
(SEC. 2 enumerates the officers.)
ARTICLE II. Object and plan of action.
SEC. 1. The object of this association shall be the organization and settle- ment of one or more townships and villages on the public lands, in some of the western states or territories of the United States, with the view of obtaining, if possible, a free grant of the same from congress.
SEC. 2. The number of members which this association may embrace shall not exceed five hundred, and shall consist of a proportional number from each of the principal departments of industry.
SEC. 3. The condition upon which congress shall be solicited to make a free grant of land to members of this association shall be actual settlement and im-
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THE ASSOCIATION CRYSTALLIZED.
provement ; and no member shall be allowed to subscribe for more than 160 arres and a village plat of four acres.
SEC. 4. As soon as the funds of this association shall permit, an experienced and reliable member shall be commissioned to look for a site or sites for a township and village, who shall, while thus employed, act under the instruc- tions of this association, and make such reports to the same from time to time as he may deem necessary, or may be required of him.
SEC. 5. When the member thus commissioned shall have performed the labor assigned him a competent committee shall be elected to re-examine such localities as may have been reported by him, or such other places as may be authorized by the association ; which committee shall give a full and true ac- count of each locality to this body.
SEC. 6. The sight of the township and village shall be determined by a vote of this association before any choice of land shall have been made by any of its members ; such determination to be based upon the committee of examina- tion, or upon such other facts, circumstances or information as may be deemed important.
SEC. 7. When the site of the township shall have been chosen by the asso- ciation, the different kinds of land outside the village plat, such as timber, prairie and suburban land, shall be so laid off' as to render all the landed advantages growing out of this association as equally available as possible. Maps shall be drawn representing the village, suburban, farming and wood plats, accompanied by a brief description of each and every lot. When this shall have been done and approved by the association, the order of choos- ing among the members shall be settled by numbers, after which each shall make his selection of lots according to the number of his choice.
SEC. 8. The village site shall be so surveyed as to allow each member of this association, after deducting liberally for streets and parks, to have a village plat of about four acres,
SEC. 9. The time of emigration for this association shall not extend beyond the 15th of April, 1852.
ARTICLE III. (Defines the duties of officers).
ARTICLE IV. Membership.
SEC. 1. The qualifications for membership in this association shall be good moral character, industrious habits, and a willingness to conform to the consti- tution and by-laws.
SEC. 2. Applications for admission into this association may be made through any member of the same, at any regular meeting; whereupon the application shall be immediately laid before the board of directors; if, upon investigation, he or she shall be found acceptable by a majority of the board, they shall report accordingly at the next meeting, when, if the candidate re- ceive a majority of votes of the members present, he or she shall be entitled to a certificate of membership on payment of the initiation fee.
SEC. 3. Every person on being elected a member of this association, shall pay an initiation fee of one dollar. (This was afterward raised to five dollars).
SEC. 4. No member of this association shall be allowed to subscribe for, or hold more than 160 acres of land and a village plat of four acres.
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HISTORY OF WINONA COUNTY.
SEC. 5. Any member of this association may be suspended or expelled for misconduct or neglect of official duties; but no member shall be expelled without a fair trial by a committee of five members.
SEc. 6. Should any member desire to withdraw from this association, he or she may transfer his or her interest to any person not already a member, sub- ject to the approval of the association ; the said person shall pay a transfer fee. of fifty cents, which shall be an acknowledgment of his or her member- ship. But in the event of this association obtaining a free grant of the land, this section shall be rendered null and void.
SEC. 7. In the event of the death of a member of this association, all moneys paid by the deceased into the society shall, at the option of the association, be promptly restored to his or her legal representatives.
SEC. 8. Persons residing at a distance may, on being elected members of this association, remit their initiation fee and weekly dues to the financial secretary, in sums of one dollar for every eight weeks.
ARTICLE V. On the election of officers.
SEC. 1. All officers shall be elected by ballot, and shall serve until the ob- jects of this association shall be attained, unless disqualified by misconduct or incapacity.
ARTICLE VI. Dues.
SEC. 1. The weekly dues of all members of this association shall be twelve and a half cents, commencing the first day of August, 1851.
SEC. 2. No dues or initiation fees shall be refunded to members of this association in consequence of their withdrawal from the same.
SEC. 3. If any member of this association shall neglect the payment of his or her dues for a longer time than four weeks, he or she shall be subject to a fine of twelve and a half cents for each succeeding week while in arrears.
ARTICLE VII. (Relates to drawing money on deposit).
ARTICLE VIII. On disbursement of moneys.
SEC. 1. All moneys paid into this association shall be devoted to the pay- ment of such expenses as are necessary to the attainment of its object, and to no other purpose, and no moneys shall be paid out without a vote of the association.
SEC. 2. When this association shall dissolve, by its own mutual consent, the books of all officers shall be balanced, and if any funds remain on hand after settlement of all liabilities of the association, they shall be equally divided among the members that then exist.
ARTICLE IX. ( Enjoins harmony among the members).
ARTICLE X. ( Relates to altering or amending constitution ).
BY-LAWS.
ARTICLE I. (Time and place of meeting).
ARTICLE II. (Quorum for transaction of business).
ARTICLE III. ( Fines of officers for non-attendance ).
ARTICLE IV. (How discussions shall be conducted ).
ARTICLE V. Rule of Order .- As this association is organized for a specific object, its rule of action shall be distinct, and no question shall be in order or
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THE ASSOCIATION CRYSTALLIZED.
entertained, that does not apply clearly to the object specified in the constitu- tion, and the means of carrying such object into effect ; neither shall anything of a sectarian or political character be introduced into the discussions of this association.
The officers were: President, William Haddock ; vice-president, Wm. Skinner; recording secretary, Thomas K. Allen ; financial secretary, Charles E. Wheeler ; corresponding secretary, E. B. Thomas ; treasurer, John Brooks.
The board of directors were Augustus A. Gilbert, J. T. Cald- well, James Wright, James Potter, E. B. Tanner, Charles Bannan, John Hughes and D. Robertson.
As soon as the organization was effected the scheme was favor- ably advertised in the editorial columns of the New York "Tribune" and other papers. A few numbers of an official paper, called the "Western Farm and Village Advocate," was issued by the associ- ation, under the editorial management of Mr. Haddock. The asso- ciation increased in numbers, but very many of the later members were from outside the city, in New York and other states.
About the first of November Ransom Smith was commissioned to select a suitable location for the colony. After exploring some parts of the States of Wisconsin and Iowa along the Mississippi without accomplishing his object, he resigned his position about the first of January, 1852. When Mr. Smith was appointed exploring agent, he was specifically instructed as to the kind of location that he was expected to make choice of. The city members of the associ- ation apparently desired him to make discovery of another garden of Eden, with all modern commercial advantages attached. Mr. Smith failed to discover any locality that very much resembled the one pictured in the written instructions furnished for his guidance. The local members who controlled the organization were nearly all mechanics, the most of them inexperienced in matters outside of their business occupations.
The leaders of the organization were aware that, to insure sue- cess and move on the opening of navigation in the spring, prompt action would be necessary in the selection of a location for the colony. Accordingly a locating committee was appointed, consisting of Mr. Haddock of New York, Arthur Murphy of Hempstead. L. I., and A. E. Bovay, a resident of Wisconsin.
The discoveries and selection of Rolling Stone as a location for the colony have been related. This selection was made with-
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HISTORY OF WINONA COUNTY.
out proper investigation of its fitness for the purpose designed. Their examination was but superficial, and their decision prematurely made. They assumed that the village site was on the Mississippi, but it proved to be six miles from a navigable channel. This selec- tion was a serious mistake. It was not a proper location for the proposed colony. This very serious mistake was, unfortunately, the cause of its failure. It is true Rolling Stone was first settled by the members of the association, but the organization collapsed before its specific object was accomplished.
When the association was first organized it was supposed possible to secure from congress a free grant of public lands for the members to settle upon, but in case this failed the lands were to be purchased from the government by the members of the association, and each pay for the land he occupied.
Petitions numerously signed by members of the association and others were sent to congress, asking this appropriation for the benefit of the members of the colony. These petitions were presented by Hon. H. H. Sibley, the delegate from the territory of Minnesota. No action was taken, except that the petitions were received and dis- posed of by being referred to the house committee on public lands.
On the return of Mr. Murphy to New York city from Rolling Stone, the report of the locating committee was duly made to the association. It was received and approved without delay, snch was the confidence of the members in the judgment of the committee. Rolling Stone was then formally selected as the location for the pro- posed colony.
A more elaborate plat of the village site was drawn from that furnished by the committee and lithographed for the members. It was numbered preparatory for the drawing, which took place March 31, 1852.
The following circular was then issued, and sent to each of the members of the organization:
WESTERN FARM AND VILLAGE ASSOCIATION OFFICE, NEW YORK, April 3, 1852.
DEAR SIR,-The association at length have the pleasure of informing you of their location. Mr. Arthur Murphy, one of our locating committee, has just returned to this city, having in conjunction with our president selected a spot which has been unanimously adopted as our homes. It is situated in the Ter- ritory of Minnesota, on the Mississippi river, about forty miles above Root river, and six miles above a place called Wabesha prairie, on a stream of water known as Rolling Stone creek ; for a full description of which, with the report
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THE ASSOCIATION CRYSTALLIZED.
of the committee, the corresponding secretary refers you to the forthcoming Advocate. In the meantime, he has been instructed to send you the following circular, embodying so much of the report of its last meeting as is herein con- tained.
After the adoption of the report of Mr. Murphy, the association, on motion, went into the choosing of lots; all members whose dues were not paid up to the first of January being declared by vote ineligible to participate. A coni- mittee, consisting of Messrs. Cauldwell, Potter and Bannan, were appointed to choose for country members. The names of all those eligible were then placed in one hat, and numbers to the corresponding amount of members in another. Messrs. Thorp and Stradling presided over the names, and Messrs. Gilbert and Fitzgibbons superintended the numbers. A number was then taken from a hat, and a name from the other, and the number so drawn was the choice of the member whose name was drawn with it. The entire list of drawing so made is herein contained, with a map showing the position of the lot up to 132. The reason of there being none higher than this is that the committee, deeming that sufficient, surveyed no more ; and members who have drawn a choice over that number will be allowed to choose on the ground, from lots to be surveyed, or from lands forfeited by the non-settlement of mem- bers in July, in the order they run above the lots numbered. Mr. Haddock, who is now on the ground, has been telegraphed to survey 100 more ; and per- sons joining now will choose in the order as admitted members.
In addition to the above, the corresponding secretary has to state that the pioneer squad will start from here on Wednesday, the 7th, and passing over the Erie Railroad, will probably arrive at Chicago on or about the 14th; thence by rail and team to Galena, and boat np the river. This will also be the route of the main body, and all members who live near the city, or who can make New York in their route, will meet here on April 14, to start on the 15th, so as to arrive at Galena by May 1.
Should the lakes not be open on April 15 the association will not start on that day, but wait until they are.
Those of our members who may not arrive at Galena by May 1, can learn full particulars of us by inquiring of Col. James Robinson there.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, E. B. THOMAS, Cor. Sec'y, 102 Nassau street.
Accompanying this circular was a plat of the village site and a list of the names of 174 members, with the order of their choice and the number of the lot chosen by or for 32 of them.
For.
CHAPTER XXII.
EMIGRANTS COMING.
IT was designed that settlement on the' lands selected for the colony should be made simultaneously by the members of the asso- ciation, or as near so as practicable, to prevent intrusion from per- sons not belonging to the organization. As soon as the locality was formally decided npon a volunteer party already organized started west for the Rolling Stone, to hold possession of the " claim " made by Haddock and Murphy, until the arrival of the main body of the association. This advance guard, to which the name of "pioneer squad " had been given, was a party of eleven men who left New York city on April 7. On their way they were joined by three others, making the total number of this guard fourteen. All of these were young unmarried men except one. Mr. B. Mauby, of New York, was accompanied by his wife and seven children.
The pioneer squad of the Western Farm and Village Associa- tion came up the Mississippi from Galena on the steamboat Caleb Cope, and landed at Jolinson's Landing on Wabasha prairie on April 14, 1852. The Caleb Cope was under the command of Capt. Harris, who had chartered her to run as an opposition boat against the Nominee, in place of the West Newton, which was not then ready for the early spring business. The fare, on this trip, was bnt fifty cents each, for passengers from Galena to Wabasha prairie. Freight was in about the same proportion of discount from regular rates.
This party of immigrants were warmly welcomed at the landing by Mr. Haddock, who had been anxiously expecting them, and had come from Rolling Stone on purpose to meet and guide them to " the promised land."
The following names of this party were furnished by a member of the squad who yet lives in Rolling Stone, at Minnesota City. The names of some of his old comrades have faded from his memory. He is the only one of the "old guard " that is now a resident of Winona county. His name heads this list of names: Hezekiah Jones, Wm. Stevens, J. W. Viney, David Robertson, D. Hollyer,
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EMIGRANTS COMING.
R. H. Boothe, S. R. Schroeder, John Hughes, -- Talmadge. - - Randall, and D. Manby and family.
They had with them quite a large amount of supplies and camp fixtures, including a large tent, household furniture, a cook-stove, tools, etc., and also brought with them two yoke of oxen and a wagon. The cattle, wagon and household furniture were the prop- erty of Mr. Mauby. The oxen and wagon were purchased for him in Illinois, by Mr. H. Jones, who came west in the fall before, and joined this party at Cherry Valley, then the terminus of the rail-
SCENE NEAR THE FIRST SETTLEMENT OF ROLLING STONE .*
road. The team and wagon were used in transporting their baggage from Cherry Valley to Galena, where their supplies were purchased.
This party. landed at about the toot of Main street ; their freight was piled on a mound on the bank of the river and covered with the tent. It was there left in charge of one of their number, whose name is now forgotten, but who was designated as the "cigar- maker." Leaving Mr. Mauby and his family here the others has- tened on to their destination.
* The above cut is from a sketch taken and kindly furnished by Austin W. Lord.
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HISTORY OF WINONA COUNTY.
Mr. Mauby engaged Johnson's shanty, at the upper landing, as a home for his family, until he could build a cabin for them at the Rolling Stone. He remained with them until they were settled in their temporary abode.
No provision had been made for the subsistence of the cattle. No supplies had been brought along for them, as it was supposed that hay could be readily procured, but none was to be had. There was an unusual rise of water in the river for the time of year, and a strong current was running through the slough, making it difficult for strangers to ford to the upper prairie, and no wagon trail had yet been opened along the bluffs. It was decided to leave the wagon with the freight, but to take the cattle along, as they might have use for them. The oxen were taken up to the Rolling Stone. where they were turned loose to procure a living for themselves, from the old grass on the bottoms, and such browse as they were able to get from the brush along the stream.
Temporary supplies were paeked up by the party. They were ferried over the slough by the Indians in eanoes. With Mr. Had- doek as guide, they followed the trail along the bluffs to Noracong's shanty, where Mr. Haddock was living. Noracong and his party were then away rafting the black walnut logs they had cut during the winter.
Noraeong's little shanty, about 8× 12, stood about where the rail- road crossing now is-north from Elsworth's flouring-mill. It was the headquarters of the pioneer squad. Finding their accommoda- tions insufficient, some of the party constructed a kind of hut, to which the name of "Gopher house" was given. One of these "gophers " was built on the table, about fifty rods above where Troosts' flouring mill lately stood. Another one was on the table, about forty rods west from where the school building now stands. These huts were of logs, placed in the form of a house roof, and covered with dry grass from the bottoms, over which was a layer of earth covered with strips of turf arranged to shed the rain. The earth inside of the hut was excavated to the depth of a foot or more to in- crease the area inclosed. These huts were filled with dry grass and used as sleeping quarters.
This advance guard had volunteered to come on for the express purpose of keeping off trespassers. Although designated the pioneer squad, no other duties were assigned to them or expected from them. They spent their time in explorations of the immediate
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EMIGRANTS COMING.
.
vicinity of their camp, and in hunting and fishing, furnishing plenti- ful supplies of ducks and trout. They all lived in common, each contributing from his own stores for general use. A cook was ap- pointed to take charge of this department, who called for assistants when aid was required. Mr. Jones and one or two others assisted Mr. Haddock in his survey of the village plat, to which he was giving his whole attention.
In this survey, the base of operations was a straight line along the edge of the table on which Troosts' flouring-mill recently stood. It was there the first street was laid off, extending from the lower end of the table to the bluff at the upper end. The village lots and streets were laid off parallel with and at right angles to this street as a base line.
Mr. Haddock attempted to make the survey with his pocket compass, to which he affixed some sights of his own invention or construction, but was compelled to abandon this uncertain process, and rely on his guide poles and measurements. A long rope and poles superseded the tape-line and pocket compass. About two hundred acres were thus surveyed before Mr. Haddock procured a surveyor's compass and chain, with which the survey of village lots and farms were completed.
Mr. Mauby built a log shanty for his family. This stood near where the railroad station at Minnesota City now stands. It was about 12×16 feet in dimensions. The shed roof was covered with strips of elm bark, fastened to poles. This cabin was built on the village lot drawn by Mr. Mauby at the meeting of the association in New York city, March 31.
On May 1, 1852, O. M. Lord, Rev. William Sweet and Jonathan Williams landed on Wabasha prairie from the Dr. Franklin. They were left by the boat at the lower landing, at about ten o'clock in the evening. Applying for lodgings at Pentlers, they found the little cabin already full, densely crowded to overflowing. On look- ing about to discover what other chances were possible for sleeping quarters, they saw what in the darkness they supposed to be a hay- stack, apparently not far back on the prairie. As nothing more favorable presented itself, they started out from the landing with the expectation that they would be able to make a comfortable bed from the hay at the stack. After traveling a short distance they suddenly became aware that what they had imagined to be a stack was but the form of the bluffs-the outlines of which could be seen in the
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