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 29
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The following is a list of members of the Farm and Village Association who settled in the colony at Rolling Stone in 1852 with their families, and who in 1883 are yet residents of that locality: O. M. Lord and wife, James-Wright and wife, Egbert Chapman and wife, Mrs. H. B. Waterman, Mrs. Pike (widow of Robert Pike, Jr.,) and her daughter Emma, now Mrs. Frank D. Stewart, Robert Thorp and wife, E. B. Drew, S. E. Cotton and wife, Lawrence Dilworth and wife, Charles Bannon, S. D. Putnam and wife, William Sweet, D. Q. Burley and H. Jones. H. B. Waterman resides in the State of New York. Rufus Waterman is living in the city of Winona.
The settlers on Wabasha prairie, like others along the river, in the winter of 1852-3 engaged in cutting steamboat-wood, logs, timber, etc., on the island opposite. Among their social enjoy- ments was a general gathering and Christmas dinner held at the Viets House, then occupied by Edwin Hamilton. At the Christmas gathering held on the prairie twelve months before, Ed. Hamilton was the chief cook and general manager of the bachelor dinner. At this second affair he was general manager, but Mrs. Goddard had charge of the cooking department, although it is stated that Ed. Hamilton provided a roast coon of his own preparation for the table.
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INCIDENTS.
This dinner was got up by a general contribution of material from those interested. Each family provided a part ; even the furniture and dishes were furnished for the occasion. It is said by one who enjoyed it that the dinner was a good one. About half of the settlers on the prairie attended this gathering. Charles Bannon and S. E. Cotton with their wives were present from Rolling Stone.
The following is a list of the settlers living on Wabasha prairie at that date: Rev. H. S. Hamilton, wife and two sons, Charles S. and Eugene ; Rev. Edward Ely, wife and two children, "Charlie " and "Nellie"; Dr. George F. Childs and wife ; Mrs. Goddard and son Charles ; George M. Gere, wife and a large family ; Wm. B. Gere, Edwin Gere, Mary Gere, Henry C. Gere, wife and a large family ; Angelia Gere, Helen Gere, John Evans and wife, Abigal Evans, Royal B. Evans, John' Emerson, [wife and children ; S. K. Thompson and wife, E. H. Johnson, Ed. Hamilton, George W. Clark, Scott Clark, John C. Laird, Wm. H. Stevens, O. S. Holbrook, Frank Curtiss, Rufus Emerson, A. B. Smith, Allen Gilmore, Caleb Nash, Jabez MeDermott, - Roberts and Elijah Silsbee.
Of the settlers living on Wabasha prairie at the elose of the year 1852 the following are yet living in the county of Winona in 1883 : Mrs. Goddard, now known as Mrs. Catharine Smith, Elder Ely and wife, Wm. H. Stevens, John C. Laird, Royal B. Evans and George W. Clark.
Without the aid of an official census, it was estimated by M. Wheeler Sargent "that the population within the present boundaries of Winona county on the 1st day of January, 1853, was about 350, of whom a majority were or had been members of the Western Farm and Village Association."
CHAPTER XXXIII.
INCIDENTS.
AMONG the incidents of this winter at Winona, noted by Dr. Childs in his diary, was the following -"Sunday, January 30, 1853: Attended meeting ; Elder Hamilton preached. At night had the privilege of leading a prayer meeting at the house of Mr. Evans -- the first prayer meeting ever held on the prairie ; Elder Ely present."
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IIISTORY OF WINONA COUNTY.
The building of the first bridge across the Gilmore valley creek, the first bridge in this part of the county, is thus noted by Dr. Childs - " Monday, January 31, 1853 : Very mild, snow fast dis- appearing. Engaged building a bridge on the Winona creek, aided by George and Scott Clark, Royal Evans, Edwin Hamilton and Allen Gilmore. Of all the men who voted at the meeting in favor of the work, pledging their assistance, from the village and lower end of the prairie, but one was present."
The following is also copied from the diary of Dr. Childs- "Sunday, February 27, 1853 : Thawing, with rain ; Allen Gil- more immersed." At a prayer meeting held at Mr. Evans' on Sun- day, February 20, " Allen Gilmore expressed a wish to be im- mersed, which was decided to take place next Sabbath." This was the first instance of the observance of this religious ordinance in what is now the city of Winona. It is said that Rev. E. Ely offi- ciated at this baptism.
An incident which occurred about the first of March of this year (1853) will illustrate the reckless impulsiveness of Charles S. Ham- ilton, of whom mention has been made. During the winter a party of Winnebago Indians were camped over on the Trempealeau bottoms, and for the purpose of selling venison and furs and skins they frequently visited the settlement on the prairie. Aside from being inveterate beggars, they were in no way troublesome. At the time spoken of, two of these Indians, who had been up to the vil- lage, stopped at H. S. Hamilton's while on their way back to their camp. They asked permission to sharpen their knives on the grindstone which stood outside. This was readily allowed by Charlie, who, with his young brother Eugene, were the only ones at home. The Indians quietly used the grindstone and started across the river on the ice. When they were at full long range distance of his rifle from the house, Charlie, standing in the doorway, de- liberately took aim and fired at them. One fell senseless. Fearing another shot, his comrade seized and dragged him beyond the range of the gun. The wounded Indian, after lying a short time on the ice, got up and, with the help of the other, went on over to the Trempea- leau.
The Winnebagoes complained to Bunnell of the unjustifiable assault. Bunnell called at Elder Hamilton's to learn the cause of the shooting, but Charley had no excuse for the cowardly act except that he only shot at them to scare them, supposing they were
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INCIDENTS.
beyond the range of his rifle. The ball struck the Indian on the head and glanced off, inflicting a scalp-wound. The force was sufficient to knock him down and render him senseless without producing serious injuries. Bunnell warned Charley to be on his guard and take care of himself, for the Indian might attempt to retaliate if he had an opportunity. Charlie was afraid of the Winnebagoes after this occurrence, but no hostilities were ever threatened that was known.
During the winter the matter of a county organization was a general topic of discussion among the settlers along the river. The counties of Dakota and Wabashaw had remained unorganized, as they were created in 1849. The territorial legislature, during its session of 1853, divided them and made provision for several counties from these divisions. While this matter was under consideration the question of the establishment of the county seats of the new counties became an important matter ; almost every settlement pre- sented claims for the location of the county offices. Every settle- ment along the river in this part of Wabashaw county had lobby representatives in St. Paul for the purpose of securing the location of the county seat of this division. Minnesota City, Winona, Min- neowalı and Brownsville were rivals for the honor. By a general act the legislature conferred the authority on the county commis- sioners to locate the county seats.
When Wabashaw county was divided and Fillmore county was created from the southern portion, March 5, 1853, its boundaries were described as "Beginning at the southwest corner of Wabashaw county, thence southeast to the Iowa state line, thence east on said Iowa state line to the Mississippi river, thence up the middle of said river to the mouth of the Minneska or White river, thence up said river on the south line of Wabashaw county to the- place of begin- ning." The western boundary of Fillmore county was then supposed to include the present city of Rochester, in Olmsted county, and the present village of Chatfield in Fillmore county. Its northern and western boundaries were not clearly defined.
The act by which Fillmore county was created declared it to be an organized county, "invested with all and singular the rights and privileges and immunities to which all organized counties are in this territory entitled to by law," and that it was the duty of the gover- nor "at so soon a time as possible to appoint all county officers, justices of the peace and constables, as said county may be entitled
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HISTORY OF WINONA COUNTY.
to by law, who shall hold their offices until their successors shall be elected and qualified at the next general election."
Wabashaw county, before it was divided, had no county seat. The act creating Fillmore county provided as follows: "It shall be the duty of the first board of county commissioners which shall be hereafter elected in any county laid off in pursuance of this act, as soon after said board shall have been elected and qualified as provided by law, as the said board or a majority of them shall determine, to locate the county seat of the county, and the location so made as aforesaid shall be the county seat of the county, to all intents and purposes, until otherwise provided by law."
Under this act the governor appointed the following officers : Register of deeds, H. B. Stoll, of Minneowah ; treasurer, Erwin H. Johnson, of Winona ; judge of probate, Andrew Cole ; sheriff, John Iams. The justices of the peace previously appointed for Wabashaw county were continued, viz, T. K. Allen, John Burns, Geo M. Gere and H. B. Waterman. The county commissioners appointed were Henry C. Gere, of Winona, Myron Toms, of Minneowah, and William T. Luark, of Minnesota City.
The first meeting of the board of county commissioners was held at the " Winona House" on May 28. H. C. Gere was chairman and H. B. Stoll as register of deeds was clerk. The business trans- acted was the appointment of three assessors, - S. A. Houck, J. C. Laird and Jeremiah Tibbets. The approval of the bond of sheriff John Iams, with O. M. Lord and E. B. Drew as sureties.
The following names were ordered to be entered as a grand jury list for the June circuit court : H. B. Stoll, James F. Toms, Myron Toms, Nathan Brown, Willard B. Bunnell, H. Carroll, Henry C. Gere, George M. Gere, Wm. T. Luark, George H. Sanborn, Har- vey Hubbard, Isaac Hamilton, O. S. Holbrook, Wm. B. Gere, S. A. Houk, S. A. Putnam,' H. B. Waterman, E. B. Drew, O. M. Lord, T. K. Allen, Egbert Chapman, A. A. Gilbert, Robert Taylor and A. P. Hall.
The petit jurors for the same court were Edwin B. Gere, John Evans, Erastus H. Murray, Edwin Hamilton, William H. Stevens, John C. Laird, Alex. Smith, John Emerson, Erwin Johnson, John Burns, Frank Curtiss, George W. Clark, Scott Clark, Allen Gilmore, H. B. Thompson, Isaac W. Simonds, Jerry Tibbets, Asa Pierce. - Fortune, S. J. Burnet, H. J. Harrington, William E. Hewitt, Henry Herrick, Warren Rowell, James Kinkade, - Fletcher,
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INCIDENTS.
Squire Day, A. T. Pentler, James Campbell, - Thompson, Webster, Peter Gorr, O. H. Houk, J. S. Denman, Charles Bannan, S. E. Cotton, H. Stradling, Wm. H. Coryell, H. Hull, J. W. Bently, D. Q. Burly, J. Nicklin, J. Wright, P. D. Follett, R. Thorp, Louis Krutzly, Henry W. Driver, C. R. Coryell and Alex. Mcclintock.
The second meeting of the board of county commissioners was held at the house of John Burns, in the mouth of Burns valley. Mr. Toms, Mr. Luark, and the clerk, Stoll, were present, but there is no record of any business except to approve the bonds of the assessors, Mr. Toms acting as chairman.
The next meeting was July 4, at Minneowah, at which no one was present except Mr. Toms and the clerk. . "The chairman ad- journed to meet at Winona July 5."
The next meeting was held pursuant to adjournment, and the following entry afterward made on the record by Mr. Stoll, who was not present. It was evidently designed as a squib at Wabasha prairie : "Winona, July 5, 1853- H. C. Gere and Wm. T. Luark, commissioners, met pursuant to adjournment at the Winona hotel. Myron Toms, one of the absent commissioners, not being able to reach Winona on account of the high state of water and the then impassable gulf, the former commissioners adjourned to meet at the Winona Hotel July 9, 1853. Approved the bond of E. H. Johnson, county treasurer of Fillmore county. H. B. Stoll, clerk."
The office of H. B. Stoll, the register of deeds, was in the vil- lage of Minneowah. The first deed recorded was one from Isaac Van Etten to H. B. Stoll, dated Jannary 4, 1853, and filed in the office May 11, 1853. This conveyed one half of Van Etten's inter- est in Minneowah. The consideration was $300.
The first deed made in this county that was placed on record was a quit-claim from William B. Gere of part of his claim on Wabasha prairie to A. M. Fridley, of St. Panl. It is dated No- vember 1, 1852, but not filed for record until the 29th of June, 1853. The consideration was $150. . The acknowledgment was before George M. Gere, justice of the peace, November 4, 1852.
The part of William B. Gere's claim transferred by this deed was eighty acres, on which the shanty of Henry C. Gere stood. The incidents of this transaction were given to the writer by Mr. Fridley many years ago. During the latter part of the season of 1852 Mr. Fridley made the acquaintance of Henry C. Gere, while on a steamboat between La Crosse and Wabasha prairie. Gere
20
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HISTORY OF WINONA COUNTY.
then proposed to sell him a claim of eighty acres he held on Wa- basha prairie. Mr. Fridley purchased the eighty acres where H. C. Gere was then living for $150, receiving a quit-claim from William B. Gere. He also gave H. C. Gere $50 to hold the claim for him until the following spring. Gere continued to occupy the shanty until the spring of 1854, drawing upon Mr. Fridley during that time, in consideration of his services as claimkeeper, until the sum total paid H. C. Gere by A. M. Fridley for that eighty was $1,200. The claim was then placed in possession of L. D. Smith, who came here from St. Paul with his family in the spring of 1854. It is now known as Plummer's Addition to the plat of Winona.
During the season of 1852, and until the following year, the claim of Captain Smith at the lower end of the prairie-claim No. 1,- held by Smith and Johnson, had remained undisturbed, no attempt having been made to molest it. Johnson removed the shanty, using the lumber for other purposes at the upper landing.
Early in the spring, in April, 1853, the unoccupied claim was jumped by Isaac W. Simonds. As soon as this was known to E. H. Johnson, he, by direction of Captain Smith, commenced suit against Simonds in justice's court, before Squire Gere, to oust him from the possession he had assumed. The defense was under the management of a lawyer by the name of Stevens, from La Crosse. It was then learned that Simonds had taken possession of the claim for a stock company, composed of William B. Gere, Charles S. Hamilton, Isaac W. Simonds and - Stevens, the attorney in the claim suit. The suit was adjourned from time to time, from in April to about the first of June, without coming to trial. In the meantime the company had a town surveyed and platted cover- ing 141 acres of the claim. It was given the name of Wabasha City. The claim shanty stood a little in front of where the residence of Mrs. Keyes now stands. This was occupied by Simonds and Charlie Hamilton.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
A BLOODY CONFLICT.
DURING the winter and spring Johnson had made his head- quarters at the house he had built on Front street for the use of Andrew Cole, which he afterward sold to him. He, however, made his home with John Evans, whose daughter, Abigal M. Evans, he married later in the season. He usually spent his evenings at Evans' when on the prairie. Johnson became impatient at the delay in the trial of his suit against Simonds, and while at supper one evening he remarked that he would have to go down to the lower claim and "clean them out " himself if he ever expected to get possession. He soon after started for the village. This indicated another claim-fight. Johnson "cleaned them out" that night. The particulars of this fight were related to the writer by Royal B. Evans, a son of John Evans, who took part in the affray. Mr. Evans says : "It was about the middle of May or a little after that Johnson shot Simonds. I came home rather late that day and found that the rest of the family had been to supper ; they were talking about Johnson, who had just gone down to the village. Father said Johnson would get into trouble if he attempted to drive Simonds and Charlie Hamilton off from the lower claim without he had some help. My sister wanted I should find him and tell him that father wished to see him.
" After supper I went down to the landing ; a steamboat had just come up and almost everybody living on the prairie was on the levee. Simonds and Charlie Hamilton were conspicuous, but Johnson was not there. John McDermott told me he saw him going back on the prairie just after the boat landed. It was then dark. I expected I should find him at the lower claim, and went down there in search of him. As I approached the Simonds shanty Johnson hailed me and ordered me to halt. I answered him and he told me to come in. Johnson said he expected to have a fight and was ready for them. He had a Colt's rifle and an old 'pepper box' pistol. I had brought nothing with me, not even a club. He said that when he saw Simonds and Hamilton np at the village he
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HISTORY OF WINONA COUNTY.
went and got his gun and pistol and started. We sat down in front of the shanty and examined them ; they had not been used in a long time. The rifle was out of repair and would not work. Finding it was of no use, he took the barrel off and stood it beside the door, saying, 'That will do to use as a club.'
" About ten o'clock we heard some one coming down the prairie, and knew that it was Simonds by his loud voice. Johnson hailed them to stop, and threatened them if they advanced. He then snapped two caps on the pistol without a discharge. They came on to where we were standing, near the shanty, when Simonds pitched at Johnson and they two had a regular fist-fight, which lasted some time. Charlie and I looked on without doing anything. We were about the same age and size. Simonds was much the larger and stronger man, and was too much for Johnson. They clinched, and Johnson, finding that Simonds had the advantage, drew his pistol and shot him. The ball passed through the muscles of the forearm and broke the bone above the elbow. They continued clinched for awhile after, when Simonds called for Hamilton to take him off. Hamilton caught Johnson by the throat and tried to choke him. I then attacked Charlie with my fists and knocked him down."
" It was a still, clear, starlight night, and the noise made while the fight was going on was heard at Hamilton's house, where some one halloed in return. Simonds called to them to bring his shot- gun. Elder Hamilton and Jake McDermott came up just after Charlie and I had had our set-to; Johnson kept back out of sight. Simonds complained of being faint, and asked the elder to take him over to his house. I had not received any very hard blows, but Johnson, as well as the other two, had been severely pounded.
"Elder Hamilton took hold of Simonds and supported his wounded arm, while I took hold of him on the other side to help take him to Hamilton's house. Just as we started, Charlie Hamilton attacked me from behind with a club- one of the oak stakes used in surveying the plot. He hit me once before I turned, and then struck me once or twice across the face, cutting me severely before McDermott separated us. McDermott then helped the elder take Simonds home. Not hearing anything of Johnson I went over to Hamilton's to see what was going on there. A steamboat chanced to be coming down and the elder signaled them with his lantern to stop at his landing, intending to send Simonds to La Crosse. A doctor on board examined and dressed the wounded arm, and word
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A BLOODY CONFLICT.
was sent by the boat to La Crosse to have a surgeon come up from there. The elder washed the blood off from my head and face and bandaged up my wounds. The scalp-cut on the back of my head was the worst, but my face was badly cut and bruised. I then went back down the prairie in search of Johnson. While I was up at Hamilton's he had torn the shanty down, and thrown it and every- thing belonging to it into the river. We then went up home ; Johnson was living with us. The next morning we were both arrested by McDermott, the constable. After we had had our breakfast he took us down to Squire Gere's office, where we were detained some time, when the justice decided that the examination could not go on without the testimony of Simonds, and adjourned the court to H. S. Hamilton's house. Johnson refused to walk down there. Squire Gere then sent the constable to find a conveyance. We walked down toward the river, when the justice called to us not to go away, but stay around where we could be found when McDermott came back. Johnson made no reply - I told him I was not going very far away. Johnson went over to Andrew Cole's house to change his clothes. Mr. Cole was then absent. I went home, had my wounds dressed and went to bed, where I slept until the next morning. I then came down to the justice's office and was discharged from custody."
Considerable excitement was aroused over the matter by the new town site company, and when Johnson failed to make his appear- ance Sheriff Iams was sent to find him and bring him before the conrt. The sheriff got trace of him at Minnesota City, and overtook him at Hall's landing, below the mouth of the White Water, where he was waiting for a steamboat to come along. Johnson left the river and went up the bluff with the sheriff after him. Johnson could outrun and outclimb the sheriff, and when beyond reach he stopped and told Iams if he came any farther he would send some loose rocks down on him. The sheriff went back to the trail and watched for Johnson to again make his appearance. He was com- pelled to return without his prisoner. Johnson succeeded in reaching the river without being observed. The steamboats at that time would land anywhere if hailed by a passenger. Johnson went to St. Paul, where he secured counsel and returned to have the case disposed of and settled in some manner. He delivered himself up, and no one appearing against him he was discharged from custody. Simonds had been detained on the prairie to await the examination,
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HISTORY OF WINONA COUNTY.
but went to La Crosse two or three days before Johnson's return, which was on June 3.
As soon as Captain Smith learned of the shooting of Simonds by Johnson he sent his son S. J. Smith here to take charge of matters. By the advice of John Evans it was deemed necessary to put up a shanty on the lower claim to hold possession. Mr. Smith secured the services of Mr. Evans and his son Royal, and took a load of lumber down to build a cabin. He was met there by Mr. Stevens from La Crosse, one of the proprietors of the new town, who warned him not to attempt to occupy it, for they should defend their rights to the claim. Mr. Smith decided not to have any more fighting, but trust to the law for redress. He ordered the lumber taken back to the upper landing, notwithstanding the protests of Mr. Evans, who asserted that he could stand as much shooting as they could. Mr. Smith then remained quiet at the hotel where he was stopping.
As soon as Stevens returned to La Crosse he sent Asa Hedge up, who built a shanty and took possession of the claim. The next day after he was discharged from custody Johnson went down and put up a shanty about where the one stood which Augustus Pentler once occupied. This was held by John Evans and Johnson. No collisions occurred between the occupants of the two shanties.
About a week afterward Captain Smith brought up from Galena a house ready made for claim No. 1. It was put up a few rods above where the house of Mrs. Keyes now stands. The same day Mr. Hedge went to La Crosse and his shanty was torn down. It was done by the consent of Mr. Hedge, who sold the possession of the claim to Captain Smith for one or two lots on Front street, fronting on the levee.
Mr. Hedge at once built a small house on lot 1, block 11 - brought his family from La Crosse and made it his home for many years. He here opened a restaurant and saloon -the first saloon or place where intoxicating drinks were sold in the city of Winona. His liquors were bought up by the citizens and destroyed. The ladies were the movers in this transaction. He afterward opened bis saloon with a new stock, when they were again destroyed or seized by the sheriff. He afterward put up a better building and opened a grocery store, where he carried on quite a trade for two or three years. Frank D. Sloan was his clerk and salesman in the grocery business.
As an illustration of valuation of real estate and manner of
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A BLOODY CONFLICT.
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