History of Washington County and the St. Croix Valley, including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 47

Author: Warner, George E., 1826?-1917; Foote, C. M. (Charles M.), 1849-1899; Neill, Edward D. (Edward Duffield), 1823-1893. Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota; Williams, J. Fletcher (John Fletcher), 1834-1895. Outlines of the history of Minnesota from 1858 to 1881
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Minneapolis : North Star Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 662

USA > Minnesota > Washington County > History of Washington County and the St. Croix Valley, including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota > Part 47

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The River Falls Press was established July 23d, 1874, by George B. Merrick, editor and pro- prietor, with strong republican sentiments. In 1877, Walter S. Fowler bought one-half interest,

and assumed the entire control of the mechanical department of the paper. Though much younger than the Journal it still has many warm friends and a fair list of subscribers, and is flourishing like a "green bay tree."

The St. Croix Valley Driving Park Association was organized under the statutes of the state of Wisconsin, September 13th, 1872. The amount of capital stock of said association was $5,000. The following were the members of the associa- tion at the date of its organization, viz: D. McGregor and G. P. Brackett of Troy, St. Croix county; W. Taylor, A. H. Lord, G. W. Fortune, F. J. Burhyte, J. H. Lord, Joel Foster, and T. Cleary of River Falls. The object of the associa- tion was the improvement of the stock of the val- ley and surrounding country. Beautiful grounds were fitted up by the association, on the west side of the river.

The River Falls machine shop was established July, 1872, by the Messrs. Touny Brothers. The power for the shop was furnished at the Foster mills until 1878, when the firm erected a two- story shop in the south part of the town, 24x56 feet. The firm are engaged in the manufactur- ing of brass work, turning and lathe work, with a general repair shop. The motive power is a six horse-power engine.

The River Falls lime works were first estab- lished in 1868, by Messrs. Oakley and Nichols. In 1869 Mr. Oakley purchased Mr. Nichols's interest and run the works until 1879, when Mr. Oakley put in the patent kiln. March, 1881, Mr. J. Hale purchased an interest. It now is run under the firm name of Oakley and Hale. The product of the works during the past year was 20,000 barrels. With the improvements being added, the firm ex- pect to turn out 40,000 barrels during this sea- son.

Amber cane syrup manufactory. O. S. Powell embarked in this new enterprise in the spring of 1880, erecting a building for the purpose, 42x80 feet, with what is known a steam train for oper- ating the same, with a capacity of 500 gallons per day. While last season was very unfavor- able for growing the cane, he was among the most succesful operators in the west. He manufactured 10,000 gallons. The quality, when compared with ten other states represented at St. Louis at the Cane Growers association, was pro-

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nounced as superior. Also at the Cane Grower's association at Minneapolis he received the prem- ium over all other manufacturers of syrup. He grew twenty acres of cane last year. Expects to grow forty acres this coming year.

The business blocks erected since the fire of 1867 are: The Burhyte and Wolf blocks in 1867 ; Brackett block, in 1868 ; Howard, Ap Roberts, Bradshaw and Dodge blocks, in 1877 ; Scales, Nel- son, Opera, Davis aad Jenson blocks in 1878; Fleming block in 1878 ; McGregor block in 1880.

The business interests of River Falls are rep- resented by four mercantile houses carrying stocks of general merchandise, three groceries, three drug stores, three hardware stores, two furniture, two boot and shoe stores, one harness shop, one watchmaker, one book store, three mil- lineries, three merchant tailoring establishments, two photograph galleries, four hotels, two restau- rants and two livery stables. There are seven blacksmith shops, three wagon-makers, one stave mill, one marble shop, three lumber dealers, two meat markets, three dealers in agricultural im- plements, one barber shop and one cooper shop. The professions are represented by five physicians and surgeons, six attorneys and one dentist. There are also five insurance agents.

The compiled statistics of the Hudson and River Falls railroad at River Falls station during the ten months ending December 31st, 1880. The total amount of imports was 8,356,040 pounds. Among the leading articles are wheat, lumber, general merchandise, agricultural imple- ments, etc. The total amount of exports foot up to 26,761,357 pounds, among the leading items of which we find wheat, mill stuff, flour, wool, lime, and barrel stock. The grand total for ten months was 35,117,397 pounds. Adding the same pro- portion of business for the two months not in- cluded in this statement and the business of this station during the year 1880, would amount to 40,970,266 pounds of freight, out and in, or enough to load 417 cars at 20,000 pounds each, with goods coming in, and 1,338 cars going out; a total of 1,755 carloads during the year- a good showing for a town of its size.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

G. I. Ap Roberts is a native of North Wales, born in 1836. He and his parents settled in Co-

lumbia county, Wisconsin, in 1850, and three years later he began selling goods as clerk for Townsend Brothers, at Fox Lake. He removed to Hudson in 1859, and was employed as clerk by C. E. Darling for one year; after which he came to River Falls, and here made his home until 1862. He then spent two years at Hudson, where he was married to Miss Sylvia Brownell, of Ver- mont. During the fall of 1864 he returned to River Falls, and began business for himself. The fire of 1876 destroyed his store, so the fol- lowing season his present substantial place of business was erected. Mr. and Mrs. Ap Roberts have six children: Mabel, Eleanor, Percy, Paul, Elizabeth and Robert.

William Barker was born at Wakefield, New Hampshire, in 1814. His early life was passed in Maine, moving there at the age of ten, and re- mained until 1857. He also learned the trade of mill-wright, and was engaged in milling at Brooksville. In 1857 he came to River Falls and began in the pursuit of his trade. For three years he held the office of sheriff of St. Croix county, Wisconsin, and afterward built the Cas- cade mill, which he still owns. His marriage with Eliza Walker took place in 1848; her death occurred in 1880.

Dr. R. R. Bourn is a native of Massachusetts, where he was born November 29th, 1816. At an early age, moved with his parents to Geauga county, Ohio, remaining there until 1845, when he came to Kenosha, Wisconsin. Here he made his home about four years, then returned to Ohio and began the study of medicine, and graduated from the State Medical Institute of Ohio in 1868. He afterward praticed in Columbia county until 1870, then located at River Falls, where he has since practiced homeopathy. He married Myra J. Rockafellow in 1838, who has borne him two children.

George Fortune is a native of Scotland, born in 1840. When quite small he came to America with his parents and located in Lower Canada, where he made his home until the spring of 1857. Removing to River Falls he began working in the mills, and being successful purchased the Green- wood mill in 1877. His wife was Mary J. Fra- zier, to whom he was married in 1873. Three children have been born to them, all of whom are living.

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HISTORY OF PIERCE COUNTY.

G. R. Griffin was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, April 6th, 1829. Here he learned the trade of blacksmithing, and in April, 1851, came west, landing at Hudson, Wisconsin, with forty-one others from his native town. He made that place his home until 1853, when he removed to River Falls and began blacksmithing as a journeyman, which he continued during the first winter. The spring following, he opened his shop and has since been doing a good business. Mr. Griffin has been twice married ; his first wife was Mary A. Wal- den, who died, leaving two children. He married Miss C. C. Fuller in 1862. They have one child living.

A. H. Lord was born in Greenfield, Hancock county, Maine, 1839. At the age of twelve years he moved to Stillwater, Minnesota, with his pa- rents. Two years later he removed to River Falls on a farm, where he lived with his parents until 1871. He then moved to the city and bought a livery stable, in which he has since been engaged. He was elected to the office of sheriff of Pierce county, January, 1881, also held the office of deputy sheriff four years previous. He married Miss Louisa Backus in 1861, who has borne him two children.

Lyman H. Merrick, deceased, was born in New York, 1802. He was located at Painesville, Ohio, for several years engaged in milling. In 1852 he came to Prescott, Wisconsin, and until the time of his death was a prominent citizen. He married Betsy C. Page in 1825, who died five years after. His second wife was Cornelia M. A. Whelpley, who bore him seven children, three of whom are living: Elizabeth P., George B. and Samuel W.

Abner Morse, deceased, was a son of Calvin and Elvira Morse, and was born at Randolph, Orange county, Vermont, October 31st, 1819. He was the oldest of eight children, three of whom, David M., of Galesburg, Illinois, Edwin and Betsey Woodbury, of Bethel, Vermont, survive him. When Abner was three years old his father removed to Bethel, Windsor county, Vermont, where he purchased a farm and reared his family. The sons grew to manhood as tillers of the soil, consequently Abner's opportunities for acquiring an education were somewhat limited. After having reached his eighth year, his schooling was confined to three months' attendance each year at

the district school until attaining his eigh- teenth year, when he attended a select school one term. The winter following, he taught one term and afterward attended the Royalston Academy two terms, closing his studies at the age of twenty. During the following ten consecutive winters he pursued the vocation of teaching. His sympathies were ever with the down-trodden and oppressed, and though his father was a strong democrat, he himself espoused the aboltion cause and became an active member of that political creed. Upon the organization of the republican party he entered its ranks and remained true to its principles. Mr. Morse was first married in 1843 to Miss Julia A. Smith, but this union was destined to be of short duration, the young wife dying of consumption in the autumn of 1844. He was remarried in 1846, at Braintree, Vermont, to Miss Mary Randall. He removed to the west in 1854, and located at River Falls, where he con- tinued to reside until his death, with the excep- 'tion of a brief residence in Minnesota. He was for about one year editor of the Green Mountain Herald, published at West Randolph, Vermont. For five years he maintained an active connec- tion with the River Falls Journal, and, in 1877, suffered a paralytic stroke that rendered him in- capable of further participation in the active du- ties of life, and from the effects of which he never fully recovered. He was admitted to the practice of law in 1871, and had acquired an extensive local practice at the time of his sad misfortune. Mr. Morse was ever active in the interests of any community with which he identified himself; generous, and possessed of a social and hospitable nature; always ready to relieve the distressed, and we fain would believe that his great misfor- tune, and that his death, also, is mourned by all who knew him. He leaves a wife, son and daughter, who have bestowed upon him the tenderest solicitude and care, unceasing in their efforts to lighten, as far as possible, the burden of his life, and who now mourn his departure to that undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns.

Frank Pomeroy was born in Steuben county, New York, October 25th, 1824. He remained at his native place until twenty-six years of age, en- gaging in the pursuits of lumbering and farm- ing. In 1851, he removed to River Falls and be-

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BIOGRAPHICAL.

gan working for his brother; two years later, he purchased a farm of eighty acres, and soon after added forty acres to it. He erected a saw-mill on Rush river, and operated it two years, since which time he has pursued the quiet and inde- pendent vocation of farming, at River Falls. He married in 1859, Mary Shepard, a native of Massachusetts. Six children have been born to them, five of whom are living.

Oliver S. Powell was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, June 19th, 1831. He re- moved to Hancock county, Illinois, at the age of twelve, with his father, and for the next seven years made his home with his sister in that county, attending school. In 1850, he came to St. An- thony, Minnesota, where his brother had located one year previous. During the fall of the same year, the two brothers came to the present site of River Falls, made a claim and pur- chased and kept in operation a threshing machine, the first north of Prairie du Chien. During the winter Mr. Powell attended school at his old home, and with the spring-time returned to River Falls, bringing with him a drove of cattle, which proved very profitable to him, owing to their scarcity. He was elected to the state legislature in 1869, and was instrumental in locating the normal school at River Falls. He married Miss E. Nichols in 1860. They have seven children.

John D. Putnam was born in Windham county, Connecticut, 1837. Until twenty-one years of age, he remained at home, acquiring an educa- tion, and during the time attended the state nor- mal school of Connecticut. In 1859, he came to Wisconsin and located on a farm near River Falls. Enlisting in the First Wisconsin Infantry as a private in 1861, he served until appointed regimental commissary, in which rank he re- mained one year, then received his honorable dis- charge in 1864. Returning to civil life, he re- mained on his farm until 1873, then rented the Prairie mill at River Falls, and the following year purchased an interest. His wife was Miss Catherine Lovell, whom he married in 1859. They have six children living.

E. R. Stephens was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, 1847. He began in the miller's trade when thirteen years old, in which he con- tinued, in his native place, until the age of twenty. He then removed to Iowa City, Iowa;

after a short time came to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and worked at his trade until locating at River Falls in 1877. Having purchased an interest in the Junction mill, he has since made this city his place of residence. He was married to Elma Brown in 1871, who has borne him five children.

H. L. Wadsworth was born in Erie county, New York, July 10th, 1821. At his native place he gained a knowledge of the shoemaker's trade, and in 1846 came west and made his home at Beloit, Wisconsin, where he engaged in the shoe trade six and one-half years. He then followed the independent life of farming, nineteen years, near River Falls, after which he began his trade in the city. He represented his district in the legislature of 1867, and has also held many town offices. His marriage with Miss A. R. Baldwin occurred in 1841. They have eight children

Professor Allen H. Weld was born at Braintree, Vermont, September 7th, 1809. He graduated from Yale College in 1836, and soon after- wards commenced teaching. During the first six years he was principal of the Academy of North Yarmouth, Maine, which, while under his supervision, attained a favorable reputation throughout the whole state. While at that city he published "Weld's Grammar," "Weld's Latin Lexicon," and other well-known text-books. Going south to Maryland, he taught a large school for six years, then returned and assumed charge of the Ladies' Seminary at West Lebanon, New Hampshire. In 1857 he came to River Falls, and has since been engaged chiefly in farm- ing, having a fine homestead near the city. He was county superintendent of schools several years and for nine years was a member of the board of regents of normal schools. In 1832 he married Harriet Wood, and by her had two children, one of whom, A. P. Weld, is a resident of River Falls.

Allen P. Weld was born at Nortlı Yarmouth, Maine, 1839, his father being Professor Allen H. Weld. He graduated from Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, with the degree of A. B., in 1859. The same year he came west and passed his time chiefly on his father's farm until 1864, when he determined to pursue the profession of lawyer. Graduating from the Albany Law School, in 1866, he opened an office two years later at River Falls, and has since given his almost exclusive attention to his practice.

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HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.

POLK COUNTY.

CHAPTER XLV.

DESCRIPTIVE -- EARLY SETTLEMENT --- IM- PROVEMENTS-FIRST SCHOOLS- BOUNDARIES OF TOWNS.

By an act of the legislature, approved March, 1853, all that portion of St. Croix county lying north of the line between townships 31 and 32, was set off and formed into a new county, to be known as Polk county, in honor of James K. Polk, ex-president. The county at that date included a part of Bar- ron, Chippewa and Ashland counties, and all of Polk, Bayfield, and Douglas counties. By acts of the legislature from time to time, the territory was divided into the above named counties, leav- ing the preseut Polk county, located on the west- ern boundary of the state, on the east side of Lake St. Croix. It contains twenty-seven full and three fractional townships, with about 700,- 000 acres area. About three-sevenths of this is under improvement. Throughout the western portion of the county, near the river, the land is generally high and rolling. The central and east- ern portions are quite level. The country along the streams is well wooded with pine, oak and maple. The drainage is good. On the west the St. Croix flows the entire length of the county, while the Apple, Wolf, Trade, Wood, Clam and Willow are the principal rivers, which, with their tributaries and numerous small lakes, furnish the county with abundant irrigation. Fine trout, pickerel, bass, perchi; and various other fresh- water fish are plenty. Fine water-powers are found on the larger streams, of which the one at St. Croix Falls on the St. Croix river is the most important.

The soil varies from sandy to loamy, with a clay subsoil in places, and is well adapted to wheat raising. In different portions of the county we find large deposits of lime and sand rocks,

which furnish valuable material for building pur- poses. Deposits of iron, copper and lead are found in different portions of the county. Some of the finest scenery in the northwest is found within the limits of the county-the dalles of the St. Croix, the towering 'rock, Devil's chair, with the high bluffs, the pleasant groves and fine scenery surrounding the beautiful lakes, are vis- ited by thousands of strangers during the sum- mer season.

The county agricultural society was organized in 1860, and has had many successful fairs, which have awakened an interest among the farmers for the more thorough development of the impor- tant branches of farming.

This county was originally occupied by the Chippewa Indians. By a treaty which was made at Fort Snelling July 29th, 1837, between the United States, by their commissioner, Henry Dodge, then governor of the territory of Wiscon- sin, and the Chippewas, the latter ceded to the United States the upper valley of the St. Croix. The remainder of their lands in this region were ceded to the general government in 1842, since which time no organized bands have made a per- manent settlement in the county.

The first white men that visited this region were Daniel Greysolon Du Lhut, or Du Luth, with five French Canadians, who, as early as 1681, were er gazed in trading with the Indians. The same year, Father Louis Hennepin visited this locality. A map of this portion of the country was made by Jonathan Carver in 1766.

The first permanent settlement was made in July, 1837, by Franklin Steele, George W. Fitch, Colonel Stamhangh, Emerson Maginnis and others, who made claims and squatted on land where the village of St. Croix now stands. In 1838, a company was organized to carry on a gen- eral lumber, manufacturing and trading business, composed of the following persons: Frank

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EARLY SETTLERS.

lin Steele, Dr. George W. Fitch, W. S. Hun- gerford, James Livingston, James Libbey, B. F. Titcomb and W. S. Holcombe; known as the St. Louis Lumber Company. This company built a dam and large saw-mill, with several stores and shops; also, quite a number of dwellings, and carried on an extensive business for a few years, when they failed. In 1847, another company was formed, consisting of James Perrington, from Maine, and Caleb Cushing, with a capital of $60,000, who obtained possession of the property, made many improvements, and did a fine busi- ness for a short time, when they succumbed to the hard times; we hear of Mr. Perrington, at the mouth of Willow river, building a saw- mill. Of those whose names we find on the roll of early settlers, who came between 1844 and 1848, are the following: William Kent, H. N. Setzer, Smith Ellison, J. L. Taylor, Daniel Mears, John Mower, William Nobles, Martin Mower, W. J. Vincent, Harvey Walker, W. Mahoney, Mr. Perkins, Joseph and W. R. Mar- shall, P. Jewell, J. Weymouth, W. S. Hunger- ford, Joseph Bowron, H. Schultz, Anson North- rup, Robert Kent and others. Of this number, we find that Wm. Kent erected a saw-mill at what is now Osceola Mills in 1844; he, with his brothers, were afterwards the founders of Osceola Mills. He was the first county treasurer, and has long been a prominent steamboat man on the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers. H. N. Setzer was established in the law business at Du-" luth. Daniel Mears located at St. Croix Falls in 1848, where he remained for a short time, when he removed to what was Willow River, now Hud- son. He was elected to the state senate, 1858 and 1859, and has held a prominent position among the lumber interests of the St. Croix Valley.

W. R. Marshall afterwards became governor of the state of Minnesota, Joseph Bowron founded what is known as Bowron's mills in St. Croix county. In 1849, he represented St. Croix and La Pointe counties in the assembly. William Vincent held several important civil offices, and Robert Kent was county judge for ten years.

Settlers came in slowly until 1866, when the influx of population began to set in at this point. The first hotel built in the county was by the St. Louis Lumber Company; known as the Planters'

House. The first grist mill was built in 1848, by Kent brothers at Osceola Mills. The first store, first frame house, first blacksmith shop were built by the lumber company at St. Croix Falls. The second hotel was built by the Cushing Lum- ber Company at the falls. The first bridge built across the St. Croix river in 1856, located between St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin and Taylor Falls, Min- nesota. The first mail route was opened by Dr. Aldrich, from Stillwater to St. Croix, and the mail transported in a bateau on the river in the summer, on the ice in the winter once a week. The Doctor also established an over-land mail route in 1847, from what was then Willow River to St. Croix Falls. This was carried weekly on foot through the woods until 1855, when he es- tablished a regular stage line. The first white child born at the falls was Charles H. Northrup, September 25th, 1841. Rev. Mr. Boutwell per- formed the first marriage ceremony, for Louis Barlow. Mrs. Tainter taught the first school at St. Croix Falls, in 1848.

The first school taught in Osceola, was in 1845, by W. A. Talboys. The first school-house built in Osceola, was in 1854, in St. Croix Falls, in 1861. Rev. Mr. Boutwell, a Congregational mis- sionary, located at Pokegama, held the first re- ligious services at St. Croix Falls. The Metho- dists represented by Rev.Mr. Eddyvin in 1852, or- ganized the first religious society in Osceola. Dur- ing the ministry of Rev. S. T. Catlin, the Baptist society built their first church at Osceola Mills. In all new settlements after the school and the church, comes the newspaper, the great dissemi- nator of information. The first to establish a newspaper at St. Croix Falls, was Messrs. Rey- mert and Bartlett in December, 1860, at which date they commenced the publication of the St. Croixian. One year later it assummed the title of the Polk County Press, and was removed to Osceola, by S. S. Fifield, in 1861, he having purchased the paper. Charles E. Mears afterwards became its publisher. The first to dispense powders and pills to the sick and lan- guishing at St. Croix Falls, was Dr. Carli. The first dispenser of law to the lawless at St. Croix, was Isaac Freeland. The early settlers of this, then wild, remote district, had many trials to en- dure. Selfishness was often predominant in the matter of location of lands. The poor were over-

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HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.

ridden by the rich. An instance of this kind oc- cured.in the town of Farmington. A valuable piece of land had been pre-empted by several set- tlers who had failed in making their final entry at the proper time. One Ovid Pinney, a wealthy speculator, taking advantage of this circumstance entered the lands from them.

This act so enraged the settlers that they re- solved to deal ont to the "old man" a measure of speedy justice. They held a council and decided to drown him. But better judgment prevailing, they allowed the old man to depart. Many acts of lawlessness were committed during those early times. Murders were quite frequent, both with whites and Indians. So frequently were these acts committed that a well-organized vig- ilance committee was established by the settlers. Osceola and St. Croix Falls became points of some size in 1845, and, as with other places that had the appearance of becoming even villages in size, a tract of land was platted and laid off into village lots by M. T. Chandler, for St. Croix Falls, in 1845, and by F. G. Murrey, April 26th, 1855, for Osceola Mills. Polk county has the honor of the building of the first steamboat in the St. Croix Valley, which was built at Osceola by Holmes and Cummings in the winter of 1855.

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