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 42
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MIIGIILAND.
Patrick McDonough and John Canfield were the first settlers of this town. They came in the summer of 1855 and built small homes for themselves, installed their families therein, and went to work. The next year other settlers moved in, among whom were W. L. Cleveland, James S. Felton, the brothers Doane and E. G. Smith. In 1857 C. G. Dawley and Thomas Smith located. Mr. Smith built a store and stocked it with general merchandise in 1858; it was destroyed by fire in 1859, and Mr. E. J. Duganne built another in its place the same year and filled it with a general assortment of goods for the accommodation of the settlement ; but Plainview and Wabasha drew so largely on the trade that Mr. Duganne closed the store, and it has never been reopened. In 1857 D. J. Watkins built a mill near the center of the town, which furnished a large amount of hard lumber for fencing and building purposes ; he also, in 1860, built a gristmill, but finding the water-power insufficient to propel the machinery of both, the sawmill was allowed to go into disuse. This stream is called Indian creek. In 1864 Mr. Henry Hampe built a flouring-mill upon the same stream. Both of these mills add greatly to the business interests of the town. A schoolhouse was built in 1859, in what is now district No. 40, in which religious services were first held by a Methodist minister the same year.
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WHERE THEY CAME FROM.
There is but one church edifice in the town, which was built in 1866 by the Roman Catholics. A postoffice called Smithfield was estab- lished on the road from Wabasha to Plainview in 1858, and James S. Felton was appointed postmaster. Another office was established near the center of the town in 1864, called Lyons ; W. L. Cleveland, postmaster. The town was christened Smithfield in honor of one of the settlers, but when organized under the state law it was changed to that of Highland. The surface of the land is quite rolling, and in some places even hilly, particularly along the banks of the streams. Much of the surface is covered with scattering oaks, which furnish a good supply of fnel. The soil is very productive. Highland contains an even township of thirty-six sections, most of which is now under cultivation.
HYDE PARK.
This town includes all that portion of government township 109, range 13 west, lying north of the Zumbro river. At the time of the government survey the township was known as Concord, that being the name of the election precinct in which it was situated. At a town meeting in May, 1858, it was given the name of Troy, but the legislature not indorsing the action, a new christening resulted in Zumbro, to correspond with the river which runs through the town. The first settlement dates back to May, 1855, when quite a num- ber sought homes and selected claims. The town settled up rapidly, and in 1856 a schoolhouse was built, and a school taught therein the next winter by Miss Mary J. Shaw. In consequence of the inconvenience of the settlers on different sides of the river getting together for elections and public meetings, the town was divided, upon application, by the county commissioners in 1862, the Zumbro river being the dividing line ; the part north of the river was set off as another town and named Hyde Park. A postoffice was also established, Mr. Wm. Parker being postmaster. In 1866 the county purchased of John T. Rose one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 11 of this town, and located the county farm for the benefit of the poor. This was afterward changed, and a farm of eighty acres was purchased about one mile from the city proper of Wabashia and business part of the same.
MINNEISKA claims next to Wabasha to be the oldest town in the. county. One Michael Agnes came up from St. Louis and settled in the southeast corner in 1851, and Louis Krutely arrived about a month later. Some time during the same year Charles Read, of
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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY.
Read's Landing, purchased a claim four miles farther up the river, but nothing was done at either of these points except to cut wood for the boats until 1852, when Abner Tibbetts and B. C. Baldwin purchased property at the upper yard and one Joseph Schurb settled in the vicinity of the other. In 1853 several settlers arrived at each place. Messrs. Read, Baldwin, Tibbetts and Reppe laid out a portion of their claim into a town site the same year and called their place West Newton ; it was so named from the fact that the wreck of a steamboat was lying at that time in the river, but a few yards from the site, by the name of Newton. The boat liad sunk in shallow water, and the name in large letters remained on her pilot-house above the water. A postoffice was established in 1853, and West Newton might have become an important point, but the land was low, and the river kept wearing the banks away, which finally compelled the town to surrender. The village site now lies mostly in the waters of the Mississippi, and all there is left of West Newton is the name. It is now considered the finest hunting-grounds for ducks and other feathered game on the river. Mr. Agnes, however, succeeded better with his settlement, and he laid out the village of Minneiska in 1854. It was named after the river which runs through the township and enters the Mississippi near the upper part of the village. "Minneska" is the Indian name for white water. Minne is water and ska means white ; the name of the river was changed to Whitewater, and the town is called Minneiska. But little improvement was made until 1856, when Mr. Putnam went there. He built a hotel in the autumn of that year, which is still standing as the back part of the Minneiska House. A large grain warehouse was built there in 1859 by Timmerman & Swart, and Mr. A. P. Foster, of Plainview, drew the first load of wheat to that warehouse that was shipped from Wabasha county. Another large grain warehouse was built in 1861 by Messrs. Bentley & Yale. A steam sawmill was erected in 1856 by Biglow & Son, which was in operation about four years, when the machinery was removed to some other point. Minneiska has great note as a wheat market, although it has suffered somewhat since the advent of railroads. The first school taught in Minneiska was in the summer of 1858, by a Miss Adams, but no schoolhouse was erected there until 1866. The Roman Catholics built a fine church there in 1867, and the Lutherans built one in 1871. The Methodists, also, have a small house of worship. Minneiska is a fractional town, and is the only town
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DESCRIPTION.
in the county where a greater number of acres are made use of for the production of hay than of wheat, about four hundred acres being meadow-land, whole number for farming purposes under cultivation being nine hundred and twenty-five.
CHAPTER LVI.
DESCRIPTION.
AMONG the many beautiful lakes which dot the soil of Minnesota, Lake Pepin is the most conspicuous. The scenery is very fine, and it has given the lake a wide reputation for its varied beauties, which are said to be unsurpassed by any in this country so noted for scenic loveliness. When viewed from almost any direction its natural beauty is perfectly enchanting; and there are standpoints where the panorama, as you turn the gaze, is at once grand and beautiful, in fact more than beautiful, even sublime. The pen can- not do it justice, and it must be seen in order to be appreciated. Surely Lake Pepin has no rival on the continent, and from the sum- mit of the bluffs back of Lake City is obtained the most enchanting view of the ever-graceful outline of its sparkling waters and its surrounding scenery. Between us and the lake as we gaze lies a beautiful prairie covered with business blocks and many neat cottages, together with a sprinkle of more imposing dwellings. The busy hum of energetic, active life comes borne upon the air, while out upon the lake are steamboats freighted with merchandise and human life. To the pleasure-seeker Lake City has many attractions, and it has become noted as the resort of invalids, and its hotels are filled with pleasure-seekers and guests every season. In the fall of 1853 Mr. Jacob Boody made a claim on this prairie, and he was the only resident until the next June, when a brother of his and Mr. Abner Dwelle arrived and staked out claims. Mr. Dwelle made his on what is now the lower part of the town, and built his house near where he now resides. These were the only locations made until the spring of 1855, when quite a number settled upon the place. Among them were Messrs. Samnel Doughty, Abner Tibbetts, William Barry and Seth Skinner. Mr. Skinner brought with him a stock of goods, and retailed them from a board shanty belonging to
36
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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY.
Mr. Tibbetts. Messrs. Tibbetts, Dwelle and Baldwin built a store in 1856, and Mr. H. F. Williamson filled it with a stock of general merchandise. A town was plotted and surveyed that year, Messrs. Tibbetts, Dwelle and Doughty being the proprietors. The City Hotle was the first one in the place, and business increased, as did also the population. A school was opened the same year, and Rev. Silas Haslett employed as teacher. He also commenced holding religious services about the same time. The country around was still unset- tled, and the Indians often encamped near the mouth of the creek just below the city, where they stopped to fish and hunt. Wolves were common, and were frequently seen in the winter on the lake. Mr. Doughty brought with him a set of blacksmith's tools and estab- lished a shop in order to sharpen his plows while breaking, as well as to care for his horses. He built the first frame honse in the place in June, 1855. In 1856 Mr. Tibbetts built a grain warehouse, which was occupied by Mr. J. L. Armstrong and J. H. Maples, who started the forwarding and commission business. The Congregationalists built a small church in 1857, which was partly finished when it was blown down by a severe windstorm. It was, however, immediately rebuilt. The Baptists and Presbyterians each built churches in 1860. The Catholics also built a small church, which has been superseded by a magnificent brick structure. In 1866 the Episcopalians erected a handsome little church, and in 1870 the Methodists erected a brick edifice which adds much to the place. In 1862 a large, commodious schoolhouse was erected, in which is taught a graded school. A postoffice was established in 1856, Mr. H. F. Williamson being post- master. The first town meeting was held in May, 1858.
MAZEPPA.
Mazeppa was settled by pioneers I. O. Seely, Joseph Fuller, Enoch Young and C. C. Sleeper. These gentlemen made claims on sections 4 and 5. This was in the month of February, 1855. In April Mr. Joseph Ford and his son, O. D. Ford, and Mr. G. Max- well arrived, and they were soon followed by others, among whom were two other sons of Mr. Ford. The same year came John E. Hyde, Francis A. Stowell and Elijah Lout, thus making quite a colony. The west half of section 6 was laid ont in a village plot by Mr. Joseph Ford and his son, O. D. Ford. The site included a splendid water-power on the Zumbro, where the mills now stand. Arrangements were made to build up a village, and a saw and grist
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DESCRIPTION.
mill were erected that winter. Another mill has since been erected, some two and one-half miles east of the village, and the milling interest of Mazeppa today is a power in the county. John E. Hyde built the first store in Mazeppa in the fall of 1855, Mr. G. W. Judd a blacksmith-shop, and in 1856 Mr. O. D. Ford erected a small hotel.
When Mr. Seeley and his friends first arrived at Mazeppa they found a cave near the center of the town, where Trout brook empties tion the Zumbro river, which was some fifteen feet high and twelve wide at its entrance, but diminished in height as they advanced. It was abont seventy feet deep. On one side of this cave were found many curious pictures of birds and animals, some hieroglyphics also. These were rudely carved upon the rocks. They put their horses in the back part of this cave and then made themselves comfortable in the front, until they could build themselves homes to live in. The cave was considered a great blessing, and made them comfortable quarters for some time. The north branch of the Zumbro enters Mazeppa in the northwest corner, and runs down near the center of the town, and empties into the main Zumbro, which flows on through the town of Chester, entering it on its southeast quarter section. In addition to the water-power just in the village, another just below which is improved. Trout brook affords several fine powers. A flouring mill and sawmill are built upon it about two and one-half miles from Mazeppa. About one-fourth of the surface of the town is covered with timber, and the rest is rolling prairie. The first school taught in the place was in the claim shanty of J. E. Hyde, and the first church service was also held in it by Elder Jacob McManus, a Methodist minister. The first school-teacher was Mrs. Sidney Munson. In 1869 the Congregationalists built a handsome church, and the schoolhouse was built in 1858. A graded school of high standing is sustained, and the building is a commodious one. The Catholics have also a very pretentious church completed. Mazeppa had a postoffice established in 1856, and J. E. Hyde was the first postmaster. The farming lands of this town are twenty thousand one hundred and fifty-two acres. The average yield of wheat is about twenty bushels to the acre.
MOUNT PLEASANT
Is situated in southwest corner of the county, bounded on the east by Lake City, on the south by Gilford, and north and west by Good-
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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY.
hue county. It is called Mount Pleasant, the height of ground affording a commanding view of the country around. These views are among the most interesting in the interior country. It was settled by white men in 1854. A small colony of men made claims in the northeast part of the town and only a short distance from Lake Pepin and the village of Lake City. The southwestern portion of the town was settled in the spring of 1855, by a company of gentlemen, who staked out their claims and made preparations to put up houses and establish themselves in their future homes. Thus the settlement grew, and soon here and there could be seen the claim shanty of the pioneer, and the people began to think them- selves neighbors when they were within one or two miles of each other. Many were the privations that these new settlers were called upon to endure, yet they willingly took np the burden, looking to the future for the fulfillment of the promise of an abundant return for the labor bestowed. Golden harvests crowned their efforts, and all looked prosperous and encouraging. The first school in the town was taught in the summer of 1857, by Mrs. Alex. Graham, and Rev. Silas Haslett held the' first religious services in the house of Mr. E. P. C. Fowler. After the schoolhouse was erected the meetings were held in that. There is a public house about five miles from Lake City, but no stores have ever been erected, owing to its close proximity to Lake City. There is a blacksmith-shop in the town, and the Methodists and Presbyterians each had small churches erected in 1858, in which regular services are held. The surface of the land is generally rolling prairie, withi occasional groves of oak, and it is watered by springs and small streams not large enough for any extensive water-power. In 1866 Mr. N. F. Randolph repre- sented Wabasha connty in the state senate.
The first mark of civilization in the town of Watopa, was made by Mr. John Gage in 1855, who made a claim to a section of land in the valley of the Whitewater in the northeastern part of the town. Mr. Gage reached the town in August, and in September sent for his family, and for a time they were the only white inhabit- ants. 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 Mr. Garret Fitzgerald, C. Abbott, Ole Poleson and others arrived in the neighborhood. Mr. Charles Simpson taught the first school in the neighborhood, in the winter of 1857-8, in a small house belonging to
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DESCRIPTION.
Mr. Gage. There are now several schoolhouses in the town, in which schools are taught during the school terms of the year.
Watopa is somewhat hilly in some parts, as the Mississippi bluffs run through a portion of the town, which makes the soil better adapted to stock-raising and grazing than the production of cereals ; although the land in the valleys is, to a great extent, productive, and yields large quantities of hay and grain. Religions services were first held in Watopa by a Baptist clergyman, Rev. William Weld, in August, 1858.
The history of Zumbro has been given in that of Hyde Park, of which it was a part until 1861, when it was thought best to divide the town and make two. The ford of the Zumbro at these places has been spanned by a bridge three times, the last one costing the county four thousand dollars. On the night of the 15th of April, 1883, it was destroyed by the wind, or cyclonc, which traversed that part of the county.
Oakwood was first settled by white men in 1856, by William Tope, David and James Toley, Lawrence and Patrick Tracy, and Mathew Kinsley and son. These men arrived in the spring, and in the following autumn several other families came. Mrs. J. H. Bernard taught the first school in 1859-60, and a comfortable schoolhouse was built in 1861. The Roman Catholics built a small church edifice in 1865, which is the only one in town.
At the time of the organization of this town it was called Pell, but in accordance with the wishes of its inhabitants it was changed, and has since been known as Oakwood. A postoffice, called Mill- ville, was established in 1867, and Patrick Fleming was appointed postmaster. Since the building of the Minnesota Midland railroad, Millville has grown to be a place of some pretension, and there is now a store, a blacksmith-shop, hotel, and a number of good dwell- ings in the place. A fine grain elevator has been erected, and there is also a watering and wood station for the Minnesota Midland railroad.
In the winter of 1858-9 a portion north of the Zumbro was joined to West Albany, but as it did not give satisfaction, in 1867 it was set back again by legislation.
WEST ALBANY.
A man by the name of S. Brink took the first claim in this township in 1855. He erected a two-story log house and opened it as a hotel. He then made a move to get a road laid out from
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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY.
Read's Landing to Oronoco, which opened up a highway between the two towns, giving his hotel some custom, as most of the hauling of lumber and provisions from Read's Landing had to pass through to the interior. In the spring of 1856 there was quite a large emi- gration to the place, and in the spring of 1857 Messrs. L. B., E. B. and C. A. McCollum bought the west half of the northwest quar- ter of section 28, and laid it out into blocks and lots for a village, which was called West Albany. Mr. William Applegarth built and stocked a store. A postoffice was established and Mr. E. B. McCollum was the first postmaster. The plat was sent to the regis- ter's office, but remained unrecorded, and was at length withdrawn, but in 1859 the present village of Albany was platted by Mr. D. Applegarth, and a hotel was built by Mr. Dawson. A gristmill was erected by Mr. Applegarth, and a store and a blacksmith-shop were built. Another mill has been erected about a mile below the town, and it has become quite a thriving little village. The first school taught in the township was by Augustus Applegarth in the summer of 1858, and the first religious services were held in Mr. William Applegarth's house. In 1857 the Roman Catholics bought a build- ing and fitted it up for a church, and the Methodists, Lutherans and Presbyterians each liave places of worship and regular services. Presbyterians built in 1859. The aggregate of farming lands com- prise 10,102 acres.
The first settlement in the town of Chester was made in the spring of 1855 by J. M. Kimball, and about the same time Mr. R. F. Maxwell made a claim in the vicinity, in the southwestern part of the town, which comprises an even government township of thirty-six sections. Chester is bounded west and north by Goodhne county, east by Gilford and south by Mazeppa. A fine and fertile valley extends through the entire town from the southwest to the northeast. It was first named Bear Valley, and the postoffice was established under that name; but at the time of its organization under state law in 1858, by common consent it was changed to Chester. A schoolhouse was erected in 1857, and religious services were first held in the same. In 1866 a fine flouring-mill was erected by Mr. Benjamin Clark in the southeast quarter of the southeast section of the township on the Zumbro river. The town is watered by the Zumbro river and Trout brook, a small, clear stream flowing from springs. There is some timber along the Zumbro river, but
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DESCRIPTION.
the surface is mostly rolling prairie, of dark, rich loam, with clay subsoil. In 1859-60 Mr. F. M. Skillman represented the county in the state legislature.
ELGIN.
. In the southern part of Wabasha county, and bounded north by Pell, or Oakwood, east by Plainview, and Olmsted county on the south and west, lies the town of Elgin. The north branch of the White- water traverses the town from east to west and drains the southern part, while the small streams in the southern part are tributary to the Zumbro. There is a grove of oak timber in the central part which covers about six hundred acres." The soil is productive, and its agricultural advantages are second to none in the county. It was first settled in the spring of 1855, by Messrs. George and Curtis Bryant, H. H. Athurton and George Farrar, who took claims adja- cent to each other on sections 27, 28 and 34. A schoolhouse was built and a school kept in it in the summer of 1858, by Miss Gould. This schoolhouse was situated on the present site of the village of Elgin. The first church was organized in the spring of 1857, at the house of Mr. John Bryant, by Rev. J. Cochran, a congregational clergyman. Elgin postoffice was established in 1857 ; Mr. George Bryant, postmaster. Since the advent of the Eyota branch of the Northwestern railroad in Elgin, the place has improved rapidly. There are now several stores and a large grain elevator, which makes Elgin a formidable rival of Plainview ; a commodious church also, in which regular services are held ; a first-class school and school-building and several stores. Mr. Bryant held the office of postmaster ten years, when he resigned. In the northern part of the town of Elgin is another postoffice, called Forest Mound. The first colony of Elgin were all sturdy, highminded, intelligent Vermont- ers, and the town to this day bears the impress of the energy and ambition of its first settlers.
GILFORD.
Gilford was settled in 1855, by persons from Illinois. This town is also an even government township, and contains twenty-three thousand and forty acres. It is well watered by small brooks run- ning through it in various directions. The surface is mostly prairie, although there are groves of oak which supply a reasonable amount of timber for fuel and fencing. The organization of the town took place in 1858, and a postoffice was established called Lincoln.
* This grove is the only timber in the township.
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HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY.
GLASGOW.
Glasgow was settled by white people in 1855, Mr. Wm. Mc- Cracken being the first to break the soil for a crop. This was in June 1855. It was too late for wheat, and Mr. MeCracken put in corn, and in the autumn harvested a good crop ; this was the start- ing of all agricultural pursuits in the township. These settlers were mostly Scotch, and the town was named after old Glasgow, in Scotland. A schoolhouse was built in 1858, and Miss Mary Cosgrove taught the first school in it the same summer. Religious services were held in the spring of 1858, by Rev. B. F. Wharton, a Baptist clergyman, at the house of Robert Cochran. A postoffice was established in 1867. Although the early settlers were mostly of the Scotch element, quite a large portion of the present population is composed of Germans. There are relies in various parts of the town of the former occupants of the town, which remind one forcibly of the mutability of all things, and that we, too, must pass away and yield to others the labor of our hands, and the homes we love. Glasgow is also an even government township, and contains eighteen thousand and ninety-eight acres of farming lands.
The first settlement in Pepin township was made in 1841 by Edward Hudson, a soldier under command of Col. Snelling at Fort Snelling. Shortly after coming to Pepin he married the daughter of Duncan Campbell, and settled down among the Sionx, enltivating a small piece of ground, the property of his wife. He erected upon that ground the first building in the town, and occupied it as a store- house, storing therein the supplies shipped up the Mississippi for the Chippewa lumber trade. Hudson died in 1843, and was buried not far from the present steamboat landing. John Campbell arrived here in 1843, being sent ont by the English government for the pur- pose of operating among the Indians against the French. Until 1847 there was not a white resident in this part of Minnesota, except those connected with the Indians, either by blood or marriage. Mr. Charles R. Read came here during the month of April of that year, and to him is due, to a great extent, the honor of inaugurating civilization in southern Minnesota. He came over from Nelson's Landing, where he had lived for three years. He occupied, after his arrival, the land owned by Edward Hudson's widow, by lease, for a time, but finally purchased the property and became sole owner. The landing had been called Hudson's Landing. He built a house the same year, and lived under rather adverse circumstances until the
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