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 37
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431
WINONA CITY.
territorial legislature, passed, and the act formally incorporating the city of Winona was approved Marchi 6 of that same year 1857, and became law immediately after its adoption.
ACT OF INCORPORATION.
By the provisions of this act the extreme southeastern limit of the city was established just where the western boundary of Winona township touches the south shore of the Misissippi river. From this point the boundary line of the corporation was run due west four miles, thence north two miles, thence east to the middle of the Mississippi river, thence in a southeasterly direction down the middle of the stream to a point due north of the place of beginning. The ground thus inclosed within the corporate limits of the city formed an irregular four-sided figure ; its south boundary a right line four miles long, its west boundary a right line two miles long, its north boundary a right line running east about one and a-half miles to the shore of the river, from which point it followed the irregular shore line southeasterly to the west line of Winona township. The city was divided into three wards. The first ward embracing all that portion of the city lying west of Washington street. The second ward extending eastward from Washington to Lafayette streets, and the third ward including all between Lafayette street and the city limits on the east. The wards thus established were each to constitute an electoral precinct, the judges of election for which (at the ensuing charter election) were to be appointed by the county commissioners, as was the case in all precinct elections. The charter election was ordered to be held on the first Monday in April, polls to open at twelve o'clock and close at four o'clock, and the officers to be chosen were, one mayor, one recorder, one justice of the peace, one marshal, one assessor, one attorney, one surveyor and two aldermen for each ward. The mayor, aldermen and recorder to form the city council.
Tuesday, April 7, 1857, the first charter election for the city of Winona was held, when the following vote was cast.
OFFICE. CANDIDATE.
VOTES POLLED.
Mayor
R. D. Cone 291
.M. Wheeler Sargent 405
Recorder
E. A. Gerdtzen 331
James White. 323
Treasurer
J. V. Smith 401
H. B. Upman 291
25
432
HISTORY OF WINONA COUNTY.
OFFICE.
CANDIDATES.
VOTES POLLED.
Marshal
E. A. Batchelder 293
213
N. Hudson 106
P. B. Palmer 142
.H. W. Lamberton. 439
246
Surveyor
.L. Pettibone.
274
. H. B. Cozzens
417
Justice
Thomas Simpson
414
. H. Day.
276
Assessor
First Ward, O. M. Lord
97
C. H. Blanchard
41
Second Ward, A. P. Foster 107
94
. Third Ward, I. Hubbard
P. P. Hubbell
291
Aldermen
First Ward, W. H. Dill.
94
I. B. Andrus
81
66
I. D. Ford, M. D.
58
P. V. Bell
43
Second Ward, Tim Kerk
124
G. W. Payne
113
66
Sam Cole
88
66
66
Geo. H. Sanborn 80
217
Jacob Mowery
205
E. H. Murray
127
G. Lautenslager
127
From these returns it appears that the maximum vote cast was for marshal, for which office 754 votes were polled ; the vote for recorder being the minimum, 654. The average vote was about 685 to 690. The third ward vote was equal to the votes of the first and second ward in the ballot for aldermen, and led those wards in the vote for assessor, 400 votes being cast in the third ward for that office and only 339 in both the others. The usual proportion of population to voters would have given Winona at this time a census of 3,770 souls, so that the estimate of 3,000 population for the city was probably not much out of the way.
The city limits were not long unchanged. The following year, 1858, the act of incorporation was so amended as to change the city boundaries on the south and east. By this change, and an imma- terial one made nine years later, the southern boundary was fixed to conform in some degree to the south shore of lake Winona, and some quarter-sections were taken off the western end of the corpo- ration as originally bounded. By these acts about one and one-half square miles were taken from the area of the city as established by act of March, 1857. By act of February 10, 1870, a further curtail- ment of a quarter of a section was made, at which time the tract in
.G. W. Horton
Attorney
D. S. Norton.
V. Simpson
109
66
Third Ward, J. Bolcom .
433
WINONA CITY.
the extreme west end of the city, known as the fair-ground, was set outside the city limits, and these are the only changes made in the boundaries of the city since its incorporation. The ward changes have not been numerous. February 15, 1865, the boundary line between the second and third wards was removed two streets east of that upon which it was originally established and Market street made the division line. When the whole act of incorporation was amended, March 1, 1867, the boundary between the first and second wards was moved one street east and Johnson street became the separating line. February 28, 1876, a radical change was made. The city was divided into four wards, and their boundaries respect- ively were, for the first ward, that portion of the city lying west- ward between the center of Washington street and the city limits ; second ward, that portion lying between Washington street on the west and Walnut street on the east ; third ward, that portion extend- ing from Walnut street on the west to Vine street on the east, and the fourth ward, that portion lying within the city limits eastward from the center of Vine street. These changes were all made by special act of Minnesota legislature and are the only ones made in the several ward boundaries to date.
Several changes, some of them quite important, have been made from time to time in the list of city officers, both as regards the nature of the office and the status of the officer. Under the original act of incorporation the elective officers of the city were : one mayor, one recorder, one treasurer, one marshal, one attorney, one surveyor, one justice of the peace, one assessor and six aldermen. Some misapprehension concerning the election of assessors must have occurred at the first charter election, as three assessors were returned, one for each ward, a thing not contemplated by the act. The term of office for aldermen and justice was fixed at two years, all other official terms one year. By the act of March 8, 1862, the number of justices was increased to two, and the recorder, though still an elective officer, was denied any vote or voice in the proceed- ings of the council, his duties being to keep a report of the council proceedings, to make an annual estimate in August of the current expenses for the year and of the revenue necessary to be raised therefor. A radical change in the list of elective officers was made by the act of March, 1865, which defined said officers to be a mayor, two aldermen from each ward, two justices of the peace and city treasurer. The offices to be filled by appointment of the council
434
HISTORY OF WINONA COUNTY.
were : recorder, marshal, assessor, attorney and surveyor, and the first regular meeting after the charter election was designated as the time and place of appointment. All terms of office, except those of aldermen, which remained unchanged, were fixed at one year, the rule to apply to offices filled either by election or appointment. By act of 1867 the original act was so amended as to virtually consti- tute a new one. By the later act the officers to be chosen by the people were: mayor, two aldermen for each ward, two justices of the peace, a treasurer and an assessor. The terms of office were as before established by act of March, 1865, with the exception of jus- tices of the peace, whose term was fixed at two years. The officers to be appointed by the council were : recorder, marshal, surveyor, attorney and street commissioner. All persons otherwise qualified
HUFF'S HOTEL.
to vote for county and state officers were made eligible to vote at any city election in the election district, of which at time of voting they had been for ten days resident, and were also qualified thereby to hold any city office to which they might be elected. All officers, elected and appointed, were required to take an oath of office, and bonds were to be given by the'marshal and treasurer. The city justices were given exclusive jurisdiction over all cases and complaints arising under the ordinances, police regulations, laws and by-laws of the city ; the powers of the council were fully set forth in extenso, and they were duly empowered to act in all matters per- taining to the peace, cleanliness and safety of the city, as also to the security and public conduct of the citizens. This "act," " vir- tually the one under which the city authorities now act," was declared to be of a public character and not contravened by any general law of the state conflicting with its provisions, unless so expressly stated
435
WINONA CITY.
in the enactment of such general law. By act of February, 1870, council was restrained from incurring an indebtedness in excess of $10,000 for any specific purpose without first submitting the same to the voters of the city and receiving the sanction of two-thirds of the votes cast, for and against the measure. By special act of April, 1876, aldermen were prohibited from receiving any compensation for their services, either directly or indirectly. A new departure in making up the official list of the city was taken in 1877, by authority of an act passed that spring. Under this amendment the officers to be elected were : a mayor, treasurer, recorder, assessor, attorney, marshal, street commissioner, surveyor, physician, two aldermen for each ward and two justices of the peace ; the council, as heretofore, having authority to appoint such additional officers as in their judgment the interests of the city required. The term of all officers elected by the people was fixed at two years, and of those appointed by the council one year. The experiment did not prove satisfactory, and in 1879 this act was repealed by an amendment, making the officers chosen by the people to consist of mayor, treas- urer, assessor, whose terms of office were for one year; and two aldermen for each ward, and two justices, whose terms, as before, remained fixed at two years. By this amendment city justices were clothed with all the rights pertaining to justices elected under the general laws of the state, as well as the exclusive jurisdiction before given them, over all actions and complaints arising under the laws, ordinances, by-laws and police regulations of the city.
THE LIST OF MAYORS, RECORDERS, ASSESSORS, TREASURERS, MARSHALS, JUSTICES OF THE PEACE AND ALDERMEN, FROM THE DATE OF THE INCORPORATION OF WINONA, TO INCLUDE THE CHARTER ELECTION OF APRIL 2, 1883, IS AS FOLLOWS:
YEARS
MAYORS.
RECORDERS.
TREASURERS.
ASSESSORS.
MARSHALS.
* JUSTICES OF PEACE.
ALDERMEN, First Ward.
ALDERMEN, Second Ward.
ALDERMEN, Third Ward.
ALDERMEN, Fourth Ward.
1857-8
M. W. Sargent ...
E. A. Gerdtzen J. V. Smith
P. P. Hubbell E. A. Batehelder
Thomas Simpson
W. H. Dill
G. W. Payue. Jacob Mourry ..
1858-9
Wm. A. Jones ....
E. A. Gerdtzen Z. H. Lake ..
John Keyes. . Lyman H. Buck . J. B. Andrews ...
? A. W. Webster. Jacob Story ..
S A. W. Webster .. Jacob Story .. C. F. Sehroth ..
1859-60 M. K. Drew ..
E. A. Gerdtzen R. A. Hurxthall W. S. Drew .. Lyman H. Buek . Warren Powers ..
A. F. Hodgins .
Wm. Mitehell D. L. Miller ... . .
1860-1
M. K. Drew
C. F. Schroth . Z. H. Lake.
H. J. Hilbert. J. P. Holtzman .. Samuel Cole ..
A. W. Webster ...
( A. F. Hodgins .
E. D. Williams ..
JE. D. Williams ...
Thomas Simpson R. Jackson .. G. Lautenslager
1863-4
A. F. Hodgins ... C. F. Schroth . A. W. Webster .. W. S. Drew .. H. B. Herrick ... Samuel Cole.
1864-5
A. F. Hodgins ... C. F. Schroth . A. W. Webster .. W. S. Drew .. H. B. Herriek.
Warren Powers ..
Thomas Simpson Wm. Mitehell Wm. Garlock ... Wm. Mitchell Wm. Garlock ..
1865-6
A. F. Hodgins ... C. F. Schroth . |V. Simpson.
W. S. Drew .. David Morrill ...
Warren Powers ..
{ J. J. Randall. W. S. Drew .. D. L. Miller ...
1866-7
R. D. Cone.
C. F. Sehroth . J. P. V. Dorslen. W. S. Drew .. |David Morrill ... C. N. Wakefield .
J. J. Randall. W. S. Drew .. Charles Horton . A. B. Youmans . |Wm. Mitehell W. H. Laird ... A. B. Youmans .. Wm. Mitchell W. H. Laird ...
1867-8
R. D. Cone.
C. F. Sehroth . J. P. V. Dorslen. John C. Laird David Morrill ... C. N. Wakefield .
- ) A. P. Foster
J. J. Randall. Charles Horton.
1868-3
Jno. A. Mathews. C. F. Schroth . H. R. Wedel ....
C. F. Schroth W. H. Dill
C. N. Wakefield - John Ball ( John Ball
H. W. Jackson ...
H. W. Jackson ...
1872-3
A. F. Hodgins ... C. F. Sehroth . I. J. Cummings. Danicl Evans Thomas Chappell |H. W. Jackson ...
1873-4
Jno. A. Mathews. C. F. Schroth . |H. E. Curtis. ....
Daniel Evans W. H. Dill H. W. Jackson ...
1874-5
A. F. Hodgins ... C. F. Schroth . W. J. Whipple .. Daniel Evans J. C. Slater.
J. M. Sheardown
1875-6
A. Hamilton
C. F. Schroth . W. J. Whipple .. Daniel Evans S. D. Van Gorder |J. M. Sbeardown
1876-7
A. Hamilton.
C. F. Schroth .[W. J. Whipple __ W. S. Drew .. S. D. Van Gorder |J. M. Sheardown
1877-8
V. Simpson
P. G. Hubbell. John Ludwig ... W. S. Drew .. G. W. Kidder ....
J. M. Sheardown
1878-9
V. Simpson.
P. G. Hubbell. John Ludwig ... W. S. Drew .. G. W. Kidder .... G. H. Mackay ...
1879-80|V. Simpson
J. H. Jones. John Ludwig ... |W. S. Drew .. Charles Butler .. G. H. Mackay ...
1880-1 A. F. Hodgins ...
P. G. Hubbell. W. H. Garlock .. W. S. Drew .. S. D. Van Gorder |Daniel Evans. ..
1881-2
H. W. Lamberton P. G. Hubbell. W. H. Garlock .. W. S. Drew .. S. D. Van Gorder |Daniel Evans ....
1882-3
H. W. Lamberton P. G. Hubbell. W. H. Garlock _. W. S. Drew .. W. W. Miller ....
1883-4
John Ludwig. ... P. G. Hubhell. E. D. Hulbert ... W. H. Dill ... W. W. Miller ..
Daniel Evans .... . Daniel Evans.
George Tallon. George Tallon W. S. Grant. W. S. Grant .. Charles Butler .. Charles Butler J. H. Jones .. /C. Deering .. SJ. H. Jones Charles Butler Charles Butler .. |C. Deering. B. J. Grimshaw .. J. S. Wilson. [ B. J. Grimshaw. . J. S. Wilson. Daniel Leary ... Daniel Leary .. E. A. Burrage .. E. A. Burrage Wm. Noonan JWm. Noonan .. II. V. Kohlman. . J. H. Jenkins H. V. Kohlman. . J. H. Jenkins Wm. Noonan . Win. Noonan. C. H. Lamberton C. H. Lamberton John Murphy ... [ John Murphy ... John Nagler. .
A. Hamilton . J. L. Brink ... A. Hamilton . Gustav Anger Gustav .Anger John Latsch. J. L. Brink __ John Latsch .. A. W. Gage .. |Wm. Garloek ... A. W. Gage . .
Wm. Garlock ... John Ludwig H. P. Boynton ..
Geo. Gregory |H. P. Boynton. Geo. F. Crise John B. Kirch ..
J. Dotterwiek J. Dotterwiek J. Milanowski J. Milanowski F. Baumann, Jr. F. Baumann, Jr. J. Milanowski
There were only three wards in the city prior to spring of 1876, as noted in statement concerning amendments to city charter.
1861-2
A. W. Webster ... C. F. Schroth . J. J. Randall ...
W. S. Drew .. J. P. Holtzman .. Samuel Cole ..
{ J. B. Andrews
Tim Kirk ....
Joseph Boleom.
5 J. B. Andrews
Tim Kirk ...
Joseph Boleom. C. F. Schroth ..
A. F. Hodgins ...
Wm. Mitehell D. L. Miller ....
1862-3
A. F. Hodgins ... C. F. Schroth. A. W. Webster .. |V. Simpson __ J. P. Holtzman .. Samuel Cole.
Thomas Simpson R. Jackson .. Daniel Evans ..
E. D. Williams ... D. L. Miller .. Jacob Smith D. L. Miller . . Jacob Smith ..
E. D. Williams. ..
E. D. Williams ...
i A. F. Hodgins
M. Ralphe ...
1870-1
Wm. S. Drew ....
C. F. Sehroth . 1. J. Cummings. |Daniel Evans W. H. Dill
1871-2 A. F. Hodgins ...
C. F. Schroth . 1. J. Cummings. Daniel Evans [W. H. Dill
Daniel Evans David Morrill ... C. N. Wakefield -
A. P. Foster .. - A. F. Hodgins
M. Ralphe .. Wm. Garloek
Wm. Garlock ... O. Wheeler .. A. Hamilton ... O. Wheeler .. R. D. Cone .. R. D. Cone ..
A. Hamilton .. Wm. Garlock ... Wm. Garlock .. Wm. Mitchell John Robson ... J. L. Brink .. Daniel Evans .. J. R. Hatcher W. H. Laird. J. L. Brink .. A. Hamilton . O. Wheeler .. Daniel Evans O. Wheeler .. Daniel Evans A. Hamilton Daniel Evans .. H. D. Morse . H. D. Morse . Wm. Garlock ... Wm. Garloek .. V. Simpson A. Hamilton . J. H. Jenkins |W. Rohweder __ F. M. Isham
Daniel Evans F. Droskowskl Daniel Evans
J. II. Jenkins |W. Rohweder .. H. Stevens. H. Stevens ...
F. M. 1sham J. Dotterwiek J. Dotterwiek P. Mink P. Mink
* Prior to 1862 there was only one justlee. Since that time Jacob Story has acted continuously as the second justice of the peace.
J. J. Randall. Charles Horton.
1869-70|Jno. A. Mathews. |C. F. Schroth . H. R. Wedel
Jacob Story .. John Lauer .... Jacob Story .. G. Lautenslager Sam'l Melvin Daniel Evans .. Sam'l Melvin Daniel Evans ..
JOSEPH BUISSON.
HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY.
CHAPTER XLIX.
ABORIGINAL.
MINNESOTA was settled by the French in 1680, and in 1763 they ceded the territory to Great Britain.
In 1766 it was explored by Capt. Jonathan Carver, of Connecti- cut, and in 1783, about one hundred years from the present time, it. became a part of the United States and was included in the North- western Territory.
Minnesota contains the summit of the central tablelands of the North American continent, where, within a few miles of each other, are the sources of rivers which find their outlets in Hudson's Bay, the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Gulf of Mexico ; and it has more than fifteen hundred miles of navigable rivers, the sources of which are one thousand six hundred and eighty feet above the level of the sea.
The first human inhabitants who occupied this land were the Mound Builders. Who and what they were, whence they came, or their ultimate fate, is wrapped in an impenetrable mystery that baffles the most industrious scrutiny of antiquarians. Many plausi- ble theories are advocated by writers, yet by what means they dis- appeared will never be known, for, beyond a doubt, they disappeared centuries ago.
Following their era, comes the Aboriginal period, or the period when the red race were in possession of this region, and probably all the American continent, when it was discovered in the eleventh century. The nation which occupied this spot and the region round about, from the period concerning which any tradition exists, was the Dahcotah, or Sioux, one of the most powerful of the Indian nations of North America.
In 1834 they consisted of seven distinct bands, known as the "M'day-wakentons," or People of the Lakes, whose summer resi-
33
562
HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY.
dence was in villages, the lodges being built of elm bark laid upon a framework of poles.
The authority of the chiefs in olden times was very great, but from the date of the first treaties negotiated with government it began to decline, until finally the chief was merely considered to be the mouthpiece of the soldiers' lodge, the members of which consti- tuted the only real power of the bands.
Old Wapashaw, long since dead, was the leading hereditary chief of the People of the Lakes, and in all intertribal affairs of importance his word was law, not only with his own particular band, but with all those belonging to the same division.
But it is not necessary to speak at length of the red race in this work, as their character, history and customs are too well known.
They seem doomed to disappear before the settlement of the white man, and there is something very sad in the way they have been dispossessed of their ancestral heritage by the palefaced intruder, however lightly they may be regarded by those who have mingled with them on the frontier.
The first settlement of this part of Minnesota is due entirely to the French. In the year 1654 two adventurous young men connected with the fur trade followed a party of Indians in their hunting excur- sions for two years, and were probably the first white men that ever penetrated the country of the Dahcotahs ; and upon their return to Quebec they gave such rapturous accounts of the lands they had seen and the nations they had become acquainted with, that both trader and ecclesiastic burned with desire to "go up and possess the land."
The discoverers of the Northwest were the very opposite of those who settled on the shores of Massachusetts bay and Connecticut ยท river. The latter were men of calm, even temperament and stern faith ; the former were men of excitable temperament, stimulated by their nation and their creed to explore new lands. The latter, looking up to heaven, acknowledged no superior but the ever-blessed Redeemer, and looked for no other conquest than that of their own evil desires, content to till the land around their immediate settle- ments, to study the divine word, and to train up their children in the admonition of the Lord. The former were taught that the con- verting the heatlien to the religion of Rome, and to conquest in behalf of the sovereign of France were particularly meritorious. Hence the colonists of Acadia, accompanied by their priests and
563
ABORIGINAL.
bound by no social ties, were ever ready to desert their families and homes to seek for lands where wealth might be obtained for their employers, or the glory of their church.
Either accompanying the missionary, devoted to a life of pov- erty, or in his immediate rear, came the trader, devoted to a life of gain, so that a chapel was hardly surmounted by a cross before a trading-house stood by its side. It was not until 1683 that a trading-post was established on this side of the Mississippi river.
Nicholas Perrot, a native of Canada, who had been familiar from childhood with the dialect and customs of the Northwestern savage, together with all the excitement of border life, in company with twenty other bold, brave spirits, in that year visited the vari- ous nations, and with great enterprise opened trade with them.
There is a tradition that the aged Mesnard started to carry the religion of Rome to the far west, and, after residing several months on the southern shore of Lake Superior, he started on a journey, accompanied by one person only, for the bay of Che-goi-me-gon, and, becoming separated from his companion, he was lost in the forest. Tradition has it that he was killed by the Dahkotahs, and that his cassock and prayerbook were kept as amulets by them for many years. This, however, did not deter others from making the same venture, and Claude Allouez, also a Jesuit, visited the shores of Lake Superior in 1665. At that early day there were rumors of a large mass of copper on the northern shore, but he did not succeed in finding it. He pushed on his explorations until he reached the island of La Pointe, the ancient residence of the Ojibways, and he has been regarded as the first white man who trod the soil of Minne- sota. While he was preaching to the Ojibways on Lake Superior he heard accounts of Jean Nicollet, who in 1639 had advanced on a mission to the Winnebagos so far that he discovered the Ouiscon- sin river, and, floating down it, he heard from the Indians of a "great water," and also accounts of a powerful nation, called by the tribe Naudowessioux, meaning "enemies" in the Ojibway, and the mighty stream was called the " Mese Seepi," signifying "great river."
De Soto discovered the Mississippi in 1541, but the discovery was well-nigh forgotten until over a century had passed, when it was again discovered from the north by Joliet.
The Sioux, or rather the Dahkotahs - the term Sioux being a nickname given them by the early voyageurs for the sake of con-
564
HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY.
venience - are the aborigines of this part of Minnesota, and Perrot being commissioned by De La Barre, then commander of Canada, "Commandant of all the West," pushed on his enterprise, until coming to or near the mouth of the Ouisconsin (Wisconsin) river he established a post which was known as Fort St. Nicholas. He was also commissioned to establish alliances with the Ioways and Dahkotahs on the west side of the Mississippi river. Proceed- ing up the river from Fort St. Nicholas in fulfillment of his commis- sion, he landed near the site of the present city of Wabasha, and erected a rude log fort, it being the first Enropean structure in all this vast region, and a generation before New Orleans was founded two thousand miles lower down the great river.
This primitive establishment within the limits of the state, upon some of the old maps is appropriately marked as Fort Perrot, so called from its founder. During the winter of 1683-4 Perrot and his party proceeded up the river to visit tribes above the lake, and were met by a large delegation coming down on the ice to meet him. Upon meeting his party they returned, and escorted the Frenchmen to their villages. Perrot opened trade and negotiations with them, and seemed to accomplish all things required according to his instruc- tions, yet it appears that for some reason he abandoned the port for several years, returning to it in 1868. With a party of forty men he returned and resumed trade with the Dahkotahs, and in 1689 formally claimed the country for France. The first official docu- ment pertaining to Minnesota was given by Perrott, and is worthy of preservation. I insert it in this work for that purpose. It reads :
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