USA > Minnesota > Washington County > History of Washington County and the St. Croix Valley, including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota > Part 48
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The first territorial election was held at St. Croix Falls in 1844, and the first general election was held in November, 1853. The county was at that time divided into two voting precincts, Le- roy and St. Croix Falls. The county seat was located then at the latter place. At the general election, sixty-four votes were cast, and the fol- lowing officers were elected: Isaac Freeland, clerk of the county; E. C. Treadwell, sheriff; O .. A. Clark, surveyor; W. A. Talboys, register of deeds; William Kent, treasurer; Harman Cran- dall, coroner; Nelson McCarty, district attorney; Robert Kent, clerk of the court. The first meet- ing of the board of supervisors was held at the house of F. W. Abbott in Osceola. At the same house the county offices were located for several years. At the fall election of 1853 a vote was taken to remove the county seat to Osceola, re- sulting in forty-four for, and none against the re- moval; the records were consequently removed to Osceola. The subject was still agitated, and again voted on in the fall of 1854, which resulted in the records remaining at Osceola. Judge
Wiram Knowlton, of the eighth judicial district, held the first court at Osceola in a school-house. The first county judge was Isaac W. Hale.
James Livingston has the honor of giving the name "Osceola" to the village, in honor of a Seminole Indian chief of Florida.
The county has one railroad, the North Wiscon- sin, which crosses the southeast corner of the county, built in 1874. Several ancient mounds are found in different parts of the county, from many of which have been exbumed human bones large in size, which would indicate that a race of larger people had once lived in these parts.
The records of Polk county, from organization to 1863, were destroyed. The following is the affidavit of C. H. Staples then clerk of the board of supervisors: "C. H. Staples, clerk of the board of supervisors of Polk county, being duly sworn, deposes and says, that between the 19th and 24th of April, 1863, the buildings occupied by the county offices for said county, were entered by some person or persons, and there was taken from them the records of the county, containing all of the proceedings of the county board of supervisors, since the organization of the county, also a copy of the tax sales of said county, and said book has not to this date been returned. Sworn and subscribed to before me, this 18th day of May, 1863. W. M. Blonding, county judge." The first town organization was that of Leroy, in 1853, which at that time included the whole of Polk county. The next organization was that of Alden; as the books were destroyed, the dates do not appear. The boundaries were as follows : commencing at the south-east corner of the county, thence west to the south-west corner of section 33, township 32, range 18, thence north on the section line to the north-west corner of section 4, of said township and range; thence east to the eastern boundary of the county; then south to the place of beginning, to be known as Alden.
The next was Farmington, the boundaries of which are as follows: commencing at the south- east corner of section 32, township 32, range 18; thence north to the north-east corner of section 32, township 33, of range 18; thence west on section line to the north-west corner of section 35, town- ship 33, range 19; thence south on section line to the quarter post between sections 34 and 35;
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BOUNDARIES OF TOWNS.
thence west to the St. Croix river; thence south down said river to the south-west corner of the county; thence east to the place of beginning to be known as Farmington.
The boundaries of the town of Osceola were as follows: commencing on the St. Croix river, on the township line between towns 33 and 34; thence east on township line to the north-east corner of section 4, township 33, range 17; thence south on the section line to the township line between townships 32 and 33; thence west to the south-west corner of section 33, township 33, range 18; thence north to the north-west corner of section 33; thence west on the northern bound- ary line of the town of Farmington, to the St. Croix river; thence north on said river to the place of beginning.
Also the boundaries of the town of Lincoln, the date of the organization of which does not appear, were as follows: commencing at the north-east corner of section 4, township 33, range 17; thence east on township line to the eastern boundary of the county ; thence south to the town line be- tween township 32, range 33; thence west to the south-east corner of section 33, township 33, range 17; thence north on section line to the place of beginning.
The boundary of the town of "St. Croix Falls" was as follows: Commencing at the St. Croix river on the township line between townships 33 and 34. Then east on said township line to the county line, thence north to the township line be- between townships 35 and 36, then west on town- ship line to line between ranges 18 and 19, then south on range line to the southeast corner of section 1, township 34, range 19. And all that portion of Polk county north of the northern boundary of the town of St. Croix Falls to known as the town of "Sterling."
In the winter of 1862 and '63, by a vote of the people of what was then known as Dallas county, townships 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 and 37, of range 15, were set off from the county of "Dallas," now "Barron," and attached to the county of Polk. At a meeting of the board of county supervisors held May 18th, 1863, township 36 and 37, of range 15, were set off and called the town of "Sterling." At the same meeting it was voted township 34 and 35 of range 15, be atttached to the town of "St. Croix Falls." Also that township 33, range
15, be attached to the town of "Lincoln." At same meeting it was voted to attach township 32, range 15, to the town of "Alden."
The valuation of property in Polk county in 1863 in the then six towns and two villages, of which the county was comprised. In the town of Alden there were 30,843.46 acres under cultiva- . tion, valued at $55,789.48. Personal property $2,004.00. Farmington 27,171.87 acres, valued at $48,047.34; with personal property $2,311.00. Lincoln 14,305.20 acres, valued at $30,514.99 ; personal $490.00. Osceola 26,276.78 acres, valued $61,226.00 ; with village lots valued at $9,820.00 ; personal $11,610.00. St. Croix Falls 93,781.54 acres, valued at $175,107.00; with village lots valued $16,101.00 ; personal $8,569.00. Sterling 49,095.75 acres, valued $87,235.00; personal $1,- 886.00. Total acres 241,361.73, value $457,254.81 ; total value of village lots $25,921.00 ; personal $26,870.00.
The same year "Burnett" county was added to "Polk" county for judicial purposes.
No organizations of new towns were effected from this date until 1867, when at a meeting of the county board held August 15th, it was voted that all of the territory of township 32 north, of ranges 15 and 16, west, situated in the town of "Alden" in the county of Polk, be and is hereby set off from said town of Alden and made into a new town to be known as the town of "Black Brook," the first election to be held at the house of Horace Nelson, on section 34, township 32, range 16, west.
At a meeting of the county board held Novem- ber 9th, 1869, it was voted to lay off a new town to comprise the following territory, viz: All of townships 36 and 37, ranges 15, 16 and 17, be de- tached from the town of "Sterling" and formed into a new town to be known as "Luck," the first election to be held at the house of W. Foster, on section 28, township 36, range 17. At a meeting of the board held December 20th, 1869, it was voted that the following territory be set off from the town of St. Croix Falls: All of township 35, in ranges 15, 16 and 17, be and is hereby set off and formed into a new town to be known as "Milltown," the first election to be held in the school house in district number 5. At the same meeting it was voted that all of township 34, ranges 15 and 16, and sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9,
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HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36, in township 34, range 17, is hereby set off from said town of St. Croix Falls, to be known as "Balsam Lake," the first election to be held in the school house in district number four .. At a meeting of the board held November 14th, 1872, it was voted to set off township 36, and 37, of range 15, from the town of Luck to be formed into a new town to be known as "Loraine," the first election to be held at the house of N. B. Bull.
At a meeting of the board held December 16th, 1873, it was voted to lay off the following des- cribed territory, viz: Township 35, range 18 and 19 to be detached from the town of St. Croix Falls, and formed into a new town to be known as Eureka, the first election to be held in the school-house in the Hoover district. At a meet- ing of the board held November 10th, 1874, it was voted to detach from the town of Sterling township 36, range 18, and said territory to be formed into a new town to be known as Lake Town, the first election to be held in school-house in district number 3. At a meeting of the board held November 10th, 1875, it was voted to form a new town from township 33, range 15 west, said territory to be detached from the town of Lincoln, and formed into a new town known as Clayton, the first election to be held at the house of Fisher Brown, section 26. At the same meet- ing it was voted to detach sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, township 32, range 16, from Lincoln, and annex the same to Black Brook town. It was also voted to set off township 37, range 17 west, from the town of Luck, and form a new town known as West Sweden. The first election to be held at the school-house in district number 2. At a meeting of the board held June 8th, 1876, it was voted to set off from the town of Balsam Lake, township 34, range 15 and 16, and form the same into a new town to be known as Apple River. The first election to be held at the school- house in district number 5. At a meeting of the board held July 14th, 1876. it was voted to de- tach from the town of Luck, township 37, range 16, and form the same into a new town to be known as Clam Falls. The first election to be held at the village of Clam Falls.
At a meeting of the board held June 20th, 1877, it was voted to detach sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
.
6, township 32, range 16, from the town of Lin- coln and annex the same to the town of Black Brook. Also voted to form a new town from township 32, range 15, said town to be known as " Clear Lake." The first election to be held at the school-house near the lake. At a meeting of the board held November 15th, 1878, it was voted to detach township 35, ranges 15 and 16, from the town of Milltown, and form the same into a new town to be known as "Georgetown." The first election to be held at the school-house in district No. 3.
"The war record of Polk county was what they may justly be proud of. The whole number of volunteers that enlisted from the county was sixty-two, which constituted one-fifth of the whole population of the county. It is doubtful if another county in the state can produce such a record of the patriotism of its people." Some a little too old, and many too young, if the exact figures had been given, rushed to the front, fired with a noble spirit of patriotism, to defend their country, in the hour of her need, from the de- stroying arms of her foe. Her volunteers were scattered into every regiment that went from the state.
OSCEOLA.
CHAPTER XLVI.
FIRST CLAIM -- MILLS -- BUSINESS HOUSES CHURCHES-SOCIETIES-BIOGRAPHICAL.
William Kent made a claim of the land on which the village of "Osceola" now stands, in 1844, located on section 27, township 34, range 19, surveyed and platted by F. G. Murry April 26th, 1855. The honor of naming the town was given to James Livingston, after the Florida chief "Osceola." It is said that he made the offer of two sheep for the privilege, which was granted. The Osceola Lumber Com-
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MILLS AT OSCEOLA.
pany was organized in the fall of 1844, consist- ing of Colonel William Nobles and brother, H. Walker, W. O. Mahoney and W. Kent; the com- pany taking steps at once for the erection of a mill. The timber for the frame of their mill was purchased of Messrs. Taylor and Baker, of Tay- lor's Falls, who had commenced the erection of. a mill in 1839, but had relinquished the enterprise. The mill when completed was 40x60, two stories high. The power consisted of an old-fashioned flutter-wheel, which they replaced with a 28-foot overshot-wheel in 1845; receiving their supply of water from Osceola creek. The mill was equipped with two muley and one lath saws, with a capacity of 10,000 feet every twenty-four hours. In 1847, Nobles Brothers and H. Walker sold their interest to Anson Northrup, and the firm became Northrup, Mahoney and Kent. In 1848, Northrup sold his interest to Mahoney and Kent, who ran the mill until 1852 under the firm name of Kent and Mahoney, when Mahoney sold his interest to Kent Brothers. There were five brothers in the firm. In 1856 they rebuilt the mill, making it 50x80, placing a 45-foot overshot- wheel, adding two sash-saws, one circular, and one lath and shingle machine. They continued the operation of the mill until 1862, when they failed, and the property passed into the hands of B. H. Campbell of Galena, Illinois.
In 1865, Mr. Campbell removed the overshot wheel and placed instead a twenty-two-inch Lef- fel wheel, which proved to be too large for the supply of water. After a large expenditure of money, the enterprise was abandoned and the machinery sold for a nominal sum. The Cascade Flouring mills were built by Kent Brothers in 1852; size, 30x40; four stories; and propelled by an overshot wheel. It had two run of stone. In 1862, this property also passed into the hands of B. H. Campbell, who made some repairs and improvements, replacing the old wheel with a new twenty-eight-foot over shot wheel. The mill was leased to different parties until 1870, when Emil Munch purchased the mill, and made several improvements, replacing the over shot wheel with a sixteen-inch Leffel wheel, adding another run of stone, with a purifier and packer, all at an expense of some $3,000. He operated the mill until 1874, when he turned it over to the creditors. It was purchased by F. G. Mayo and
Company. In 1876, Mr. Mayo became sole pro- prietor. IIe also made some improvements, mak- ing it a mill with a capacity of thirty to forty barrels each twenty-four hours. It was op- erated until July 4th, 1880, when it was destroyed by fire, being the oldest mill in Polk county.
The City mills were built by George Wilson, S. B. Dresser and W. H. Barnes, in 1869 and 1870; size, 28x40; two and one-half stories and base- ment, using a thirty-inch turbine wheel as power. Mr. Barnes sold his interest to the other mem- bers of the firm prior to the completion of the mill. The mill was operated as a custom mill, with two run of stone. The following year they attached a ware room, 28x30 feet, one story. In 1875, the mills were purchased by the firm of Howell, Happock and R. B. Greenwood, of New York, who placed P. A. Sandberg in charge for a while, when it was transferred to the charge of Rudow and Breitner. In 1877, Wm. Rudow purchased the property and refitted the mill, putting in a new twenty-inch Leffel wheel in place of the old turbine, with other improvements, which enables them to grind from 150 to 200 bushels of grist per day.
The Osceola brewery was established in 1867 by Veit Geiger as a hand brewery. Until 1872 he occupied a small frame build- ing, 20x30 feet, when he added a stone building, 23x50 feet, two stories. He has cellars extending, one forty and the other thirty feet, into the rock in the rear of the main building. Mr. Geiger manufactures from 150 to 200 barrels each year.
The Osceola Mill company opened the first store with a stock of general merchandise in the village, which they continued until 1862. The next store opened was by Wyckoff and Stevens, in 1856, occupying the front room of Wm. Guild's house. The building is now owned by W. Ram- sey. The next was by Mr. Fisk in a room of the Wilson house. The fourth by Rice Webb, in 1857, in the front room of his house. The build- ing is now owned by W. A. Talboys.
The first store room was built by Rice Webb, in 1858, 20x40, one story. After the completion of his building he took as partner L. D. Newell, now of Prescott. In 1860, Mr. Webb purchased Mr. Newell's interest, continuing the business alone until 1865, when he disposed of his entire
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HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
interest to Messrs. Talboys and Staples. In 1872 Mr. Talboys purchased Mr. Staples' interest, and continued in trade until 1876, when he closed up his business. In 1877 F. C. Mayo opened up a trade in the same store with a stock of goods, con- tinuing in trade until the fall of 1878, when the stock and store were destroyed by fire, which ended his commercial career. In 1862 Russell Gridley erected a store, and continued in trade until 1863, when S. S. Fifield, then editor of the Polk County Press, purchased his interest, and the building was afterwards used as a printing office.
E. H. Armstrong and Company opened up trade with a stock of goods, in 1862, in a building built by W. Ayers in 1858, continued in trade until 1864, when the stock was purchased by Dresser, Wilson and Armstrong, and removed to a store built by C. P. Garlick, now Dresser Broth- ers. They continued trade until 1867, when D. W. Armstrong withdrew, and the firm of Dresser and Wilson continued until May, 1873, when P. B. Lacy and J. H. Johnson, of St. Croix, pur- chased the stock and continued trade for one year, when they returned to St. Croix. In May, 1875, A. A. Heald and B. A. Thing rented the store and with a stock of goods continued in trade until July, 1877, when they removed their stock to the Rowcliff building; improvements were made to the building, extending it in length and raising it one story, and fitting up rooms above for the Masonic hall. They continued the use of this until January 2d, 1879, when it was destroyed by fire. They at once erected a new stone build- ing 30x70 feet, two stories; the upper story was fitted up for the Masonic hall. Stephen Row- cliff opened trade with a stock of goods in the spring of 1871, closed out that stock in 1874, but in connection with the post-office he dealt in no- tions and confectionery. In 1877 he erected a small building 20x30, where he continues the trade in connection with the post-office. Dresser Brothers opened trade with a stock of goods in the Garlick store, July, 1877. The following year they erected a ware-house 25x40. William Kent, the genial captain, erected a store in May, 1878, 26x70; is still in trade.
The drug trade was first established in Osceola by S. S. Fifield and Dr. C. B. Marshall, in 1868. The year following, Mr. Marshall sold his stock to
S. S. Fifield, who continued the trade until 1870, when he closed out his stock to W. C. Guild. In 1873 the stock was purchased by C. H. Staples, who, in 1879, built a new store 24x40, and con- tinued trade until 1880, when he was succeeded by his son, C. W. Staples, who still continues the trade.
The furniture trade was first established by Robert Kent, in 1878, in a building located on the present site of the building now occupied by William Maxwell as a billiard hall, but was burned January 2nd, 1879. The following spring he rebuilt on a lot opposite the office of the Polk County Press, where he is now located with a large stock of furniture.
Among the contractors we find Robert Kent and C. W. Peaslee, who formed a co-partnership in 1877, also John Montgomery, who began in 1879.
The harness trade was first established by Fred Summerfield, about 1872; he closed out in 1876, and was followed in 1877 by Paul Filzen, over G. D. Umland's saloon. In 1878 he erected a frame building 24x45 to which he removed his stock, but was burned out. November 2nd, 1878 he returned to his old quarters. He was settled but a few days when he was burned out again. He erected a new brick building the same season, 24x45.
The millinery trade was first established in 1865, by Mrs. E. B. Garlick. In 1870 she erected a building 12x20. In 1873 she sold her interest to Miss Ella Walker. She sold to Mrs. Henry Fi- field in 1875. Mrs. Fifield was burned out Jan- uary 2nd, 1879. Mrs. Garlick opened business again in 1876. She sold out to Mrs. A. Prentice in 1880, but was compelled to resume the trade with the same stock
The first shoemaker was Joseph Bondelier, on lot one, block thirteen; he remained but a short time. In 1863 Thaddeus Prentice began. Then Lewis Jourgins. In 1872 came William Sum- merfield, followed by George H. Wilson. Then came J. Kemp, in the fall of 1876. He sold to IIenry Voegh, in 1877; he still pegs away.
The manufacture of wagons was first begun in Osceola by James Godfrey in 1860. He con- tinned until 1867. He was absent at Taylor's Falls until 1871 when he returned and continued
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OSCEOLA CHURCHES.
until 1877. John Kent followed him in the fall of 1880.
Boat building has been carried on to some ex- tent at Osceola. The first boat built in the val- ley was by Holmes and Cummings in 1855, and named Osceola. She made one trip on the river, when she was taken below to run on the Missis- sippi river, between Rock Island and Muscatine. The next was by Stover and Barnes in 1867, and named the Pioneer, placing in it a boiler once used in a mill at Amadore, Michigan. The same year the G. B. Knapp was built by Oscar F. Knapp, also a boat known as The Dalles, built by Marshall Wench in 1867. The Minnie Will was built by C. G. Bradley in 1867. The Nellie Kent, by William Kent, in 1870, since remodeled and renamed the Mary Barnes; also the Helen Marr, built by W. Kent and J. Dudley. The Maggie Raney built by the same parties in 1876. Quite a large number of barges have also been built.
The livery business was first instituted by Ben- nett and Jones in 1869, which they continued for two years. Messrs. Thing and Whiting opened a stable in 1879. They sold their interest in 1880 to S. C. Benjamin.
The first public library was instituted in about 1848, and known as the Lumberman's library, about fifty volumes were contributed by two Epis- copal clergymen from St. Anthony. It was located in the old Kent boarding house; it has however, become extinct. In 1868, what is known as the Teachers library, was organized.
The Osceola Reading Room and Library asso- ciation was instituted in April, 1874, with thirty members, each paying one dollar; W. Kent, pres- ident; Ella Walker, vice-president; Rev. S. W. Homer, secretary; Mrs. W. Kent, treasurer; and J. C. Jorden, librarian. This organization contin- ued for one year, when they organized as a stock company, each member paying five dollars as membership fee; the offices of the new company were Capt, Kent, president; H. B. Dike, secre- tary: Mrs. W. Kent treasurer; Mrs. Emma Fifield, librarian; this continued until the date of the great fire, since which time the surviving books were deposited in a damaged condition in Capt. W. Kent's store.
Among the early settlers not already mentioned, we find the names of Harman Crandall, William
Ramsey, J. F. Nason, Charles Ayers, M. Peaslee, Isaac W. Hale, Charles Lea, Joel Scott, H. B. Nason, J. B. Wright, Nelson McCarty, J. S. God- frey and others, who arrived between the years of 1848 an '52.
The first birth as reported at Osceola, was Jen- nie Guild, daughter of W. C. Guild, now the wife of Irvin Benson, of St. Paul. The first death was that of Leroy Hubbard, a mill hand who, in 1846, came to his death by a falling limb from a tree which he was chopping down. The next was that of Mrs. Close, in 1847. The first to obey the divine injunction " it is not good for man to be alone," in that new country, was Wm. Kent and Miss Ellen Kidder, May 22d, 1855. Made happy at the same time was Isaac Freeland and Agnes Kent. Rev. Mr. Fullerton, of Stillwater, was invited to perform the ceremony; but the patience of the happy ones was somewhat tried by the de- lay of the arrival of the boat containing the ofi- ciating divine, the boat resting for a while on a sand bar. The proposition to postpone the cer- emony was opposed, and the justice was called, who proceeded with the ceremony, the boat arriving just in time for the minister to make the closing prayer. The next to be joined in holy wedlock, were True Foster and Mary Hays. The first preaching at this point was in 1849, by Rev. Mr. Breck, a missionary under the auspices of the Episcopal church, of St. Paul, who was on a missionary tour from St. Paul to Lake Superior.
The first Methodist Episcopal church organiza- tion was effected in the fall of 1854, under the ministration of Rev. G. M. Hilton in what was known as the old Kent school-house. The mem- bers of the first class were W. Kent Sr. and wife W. A. Talboys and wife, Joel Scott, Freeman Fenlayson and wife.
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