History of Washington County and the St. Croix Valley, including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 49

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 49

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The Sabbath school was organized 1856. The society erected a church in 1867, size 32x50. The present pastor is Rev. E. Russell. The present membership is fifty-five. The First Baptist church of Osceola was organized in the fall of 1857 with six members, as follows: Rice Webb and wife, Herman Nason and wife, Rev. S. T. Catlin and wife ; Mr. Nason deacon and Mr. Webb first clerk. Services were held in the school until 1860, when, with the addition of new members came the desire to erect a church, which was ac- complished during the year; it was built of

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wood, 24x32 feet. In 1871 they added fourteen feet to the front, with a belfry. The church has a membership of fifty-seven at this time.

The Universalist society of Osceola was organ- ized September 28th, 1866, with eighteen members, under the ministrations of Rev. H. S. Bowen, which position he held for ten years. The church became quite flourshing, but it has greatly de- creased by the removal of its members to other points.

Osceola Lodge No. 134 of Masons, under dis- pensation April 7th, 1862, was organized June 10th, 1862. The charter members were Judge Henry T. Barron, James D. Reymert, Wm. Kent, Charles Thompson, David Tewksbury, C. P. Gar- lick and William Ward. The first officers were Henry D. Barron, W. M .; James D. Reymert, S. W .; Carmi P. Garlick, J. W .; W. A. Talboys, treasurer; Chas. II. Staples, secretary; W. Kent, S. D; David Tewksbury, J. D .; C. H. Thompson, tyler. The lodge numbers about sixty mem- bers at this date. They own a beautiful hall over the store of Messrs. Heald and Thing, which cost $1,500. The present officers are as follows, viz: H. B. Dike, W. M .; E. C. Treadwell, S. W .; S. B. Dresser, J. W .; R. Kent, treasurer; W. A. Talboys, secretary.

The Osceola Lodge of I. O. O. F., No. 278, was organized March 8th, 1879. The charter mem- bers were W. Kent, R. Kent, Chas. Ayers, G. D. McDill, F. A. Dresser, B. A. Thing, W. Rudow, and A. Kimball. The first officers were: A. Kim- ball, N. G .; Chas. Ayers, V. G .; T. A. Dresser, treasurer ; B. A. Thing, secretary; R. Kent, W .; G. D. McDill, conductor. The lodge holds its meetings in the building which was used as a court house until 1880, when in conjunction with the township officers they erected a building 26x74 at an expense of $1,500 ; the first floor is used for town purposes and the upper floor by the lodge. The membership at this time is about fifty ; pre- sent officers, W. II. Tilton, N. G .; C. II. Peaslee, V. G .; Robert Kent, treasurer; W. II. Foster, secretary.

Osceola Lodge I. O. G. T. No. 209, was organ- ized February 29th, 1877, with thirty-eight char- ter members. First officers were: II. C. Good- win, W. C. T .; Mrs. Haw, W. V. T .; Rev. J. Haw, W. C .; J. Godfrey. W. S .; Miss Philbrick, W. A. S .; Jere Mudget, W. F. S .; Kate Ileald,

W. T. The lodge is in a flourishing condition with eighty members; they have done much toward rescuing the youth of the town from the downward road of intemperance. The present officers are: E. P. Sanderson, W. C. T .; Mrs. Low, W. V. T .; Rev. E. B. Russell, W. C .; F. Staples, W. S .; Ella Fislı, W. A. S .; Rose Fish, W. F. S .; Flora Kent, W. T.

The first hotel or boarding-house erected at Osceola was built by Kent Brothers soon after their arrival at this point. In 1856, Isaac Free- land built a hotel on the present site of the Meth- odist church. It was destroyed the following year by fire, and was not rebuilt. The Osceola House was built by Mrs. Elizabeth Hayes in 1856 and opened as a hotel in 1857. The house was 22x32, one and one-half stories. In 1859 she made an addition by raising it one-half story, with addition 18x42. In 1861 she rented the house until 1863, when she re-occupied it and conducted it until 1867, when she sold it to Mrs. E. B. Garlick. She kept it until 1870, when she transferred it to J. F. Abbott, who ran it until November 1879, when he sold his interest to S. A. Fisk, who is now the popular "host." The "Northwestern Hotel." The erection of this house was commenced in 1857 by John Webb and John Irish, but was not completed until 1860 when James Kenyon purchased it. The house was somewhat angular in shape, on account of the lay of the streets which it was built to meet, being 40x60 on one side and 40x42 on the other; three stories high. The upper story was used for a public hall. Mr. Kenvon conducted the house until 1868, when it was rented to different parties until December 16th, 1875, when it was destroyed by fire. The Wilson house, a portion of which was erected in 1853 by Mr. Foster, was com- pleted by George Wilson, in 1862, and used as a private residence until the burning of the North-western hotel, December, 1875, when he (George Wilson) made many improvements to the house and opened it as the Wilson house. It is beautifully located within a short distance of the Osceola Cascade. In the spring of 1880 he rented to W. Stowell, but will resume its charge the present spring.

The building used for the first school was built by Kent Brothers in 1852, who gave the use for a school. It was also used for religious and other

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public gatherings. Said building was afterwards sold to the district. The first school was taught by Wm. A. Talhoys in the fall of 1845 hy privaté subscription. In 1860, a new school-house was erected, which is now used as the primary department. In 1869, another building was erected, in which the grammar department is taught. Under the laws of the state a high school was instituted in 1874 and operated for three years, when a change in the law, requiring a stipulated number of inhabitants within a cer- tain limit, debarred them from the privilege, and it was discontinued. The present officers of the school are: George D. McDill, director; W. Kent, treasurer, and Robert Downend, clerk.

The first post-office was established in 1854, W. C. Guild receiving the first appointment. Pre- vious to this the inhabitants had received their mail from Taylor's Falls. A mail route was es- tablished from Willow River in 1847. Mr. Guild held the office until August, 1873, when the ap- pointment was transferred to S. Rowcliff, the present-occupant. . The first blacksmith was Ole Lindberg, who opened a shop in 1850. Gus Sto- ver opened a shop in 1856, but was burned out in 1861. M. M. Nason rented his tools and opened a shop soon after. E. C. Smith opened his shop in 1868. Gus. Newman in 1879. Charles Ayers was the first local machinery agent, hut had no ware-rooms. F. C. Talboys and Staples erected large rooms in the spring of 1879. Messrs. Van Hollen and Newman erected rooms the same year. The first cemetery was established in 1855. Mrs. Jacob Sanders was the first person buried therein. Mount Hope cemetery was laid out in 1862.

Rev. T. G. Hilton, together with his ministerial duties, also ministered to the bodily ailments of the early settlers of Osceola from 1857 to 1860. Dr. Hammond spent the winter of 1858 and practiced. C. P. Garlick the next on the list of physicians, commenced in 1860; was commis- sioned assistant surgeon in the Thirty-fifth Wis- consin regiment, and contracted disease while in the army from which he died in Milwaukee in 1865. Dr. Gray practiced a short time. At the close of the war came Dr. Brooks, with Dr. J. R. M. Garlick, and remained for one year. Dr. C. B. Marshall came in 1866; he still remains; Dr. Searles, of St. Croix, joined him in 1876, and in

partnership they practiced one year. Dr. Ward practiced during the summer of 1880. Dr. Hard- wig Runge came last summer, and was joined last fall hy Henry E. Comhacker.

Isaac Freeland was the first attorney that hung out his shingle in Polk county. He came to Os- ceola in 1855, and continued until 1870. J. C. Button practiced for a short time in those early days. The "Patrick Henry" of those early days was Decatur Williams. Marcus Dowling located at this place in 1860, but only for a short time. Geo. D. McDill came in 1872, H. B. Dike in 1876, and J. Past and C. H. Oakley in the spring of 1880. The last four still "hold the fort."

The following are the present incumbents of the several county offices: Iver Michaelson, county clerk; Robert Downend, treasurer; T. F. Monty, sheriff; A. C. Granum, clerk of court; A. Kimball, register of deeds; Ole Larson, coun- ty judge; T. M. Nye, district attorney; Sam. Emery, coroner. In 1865 the county board rented, for the use of the several offices, a build- ing erected by the Methodist conference for a school-said school for some reason was never started. The population of Osceola is 1,297. There is no village organization of Osceola, but a township organization.

This had been essentially a temperance town; licenses had not been granted nor saloons opened until about 1870, when licenses were issued by the town board.

In 1874 the better class of citizens of Osceola; seeing the ruin which was being done to their community by the use and sale of intoxicating liquors, decided to take steps to check the evil. The subject was agitated, and a temperance or- ganization was effected, known as the Temper- ance League, with Captain W. Kent, president; Rev. B. K. Barber, vice-president ; Mrs. Geo. Wilson, secrecary; Miss Etta Hanscomb, treas- urer; Rev. S. W. Horner, H. C. Goodwin, W. A. Talboys, executive committee. Crusaders: Mrs. N. Kent, Mrs. W. Kent, Mrs. J. Kent, Miss E. Hanscomb, Mrs. Geo. Wilson, Mrs. A. Kent, Mrs. Lucy Rowcliff, Mrs. Dr. Marshall, Mrs. Ellis Seavey, Mrs. Goodwin. The ladies commenced work by securing a promise on the part of the town board not to grant licenses, on condition that the ladies would secure a petition signed hy a majority of the citizens of the town asking that

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no licenses be granted. When the petition was presented with the required majority of names, still the board ignored the petition, another having been circulated by one "Umland," a saloon-keeper, taking names outside of the town, and which the board knew had no right to a voice in the matter.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

Charles Ayers was born in Crawford, Wash- ington county, Maine, March 12th, 1829. In his early life, he was engaged on a farm, while ac- quiring an education, such as fell to the lot of farmer boys in those early days. As he grew older, he engaged in the lumber business. In 1850, he, with his parents came to Wisconsin and settled at St. Croix Falls; he went up the river ninty miles above the falls and engaged in cutting the first logs put in the river at that point. The same year, he pre-empted a tract of land in sec- tion 34, Farmington township; he settled on it the year following, still engaged a portion of the time at lumbering. In 1854, he erected a store at what is now known as Farmington Centre, which he carried on in connection with his farm. In 1858,he made a trip to California, returned in the spring of 1860, and carried on his different branches of business until 1862, when he estab- lished the butcher trade. In 1866, he again op- ened his store. In 1876, he was burned out. In November, 1880, he sold his farm and moved into the village of Osceola and continued in the sale of agricultural implements, which business he carried on for sometime. He was first married September 12th, 1850, to Miss S. S. Woodruff from East Machias, Maine. They had ten chil- dren, five living. She died December, 1865. IIe was married again July 4th, 1866, to Miss Mary A. Williams, from Wisconsin. They had four children. She died December 5th, 1868. He was married again June 22d, 1869, to Mrs. Amanda McCarty.

S. C. Benjamin was born in Madison county, New York, in 1842. ITis parents removed to Steuben county the following year, and settled on a farm where his early life was spent. In 1855, he, with his parents, removed to Wisconsin and settled near Marquette. In 1857, he moved to Adams county, Wisconsin, where he remained until 1861, when he enlisted in Company I,

Eleventh Wisconsin regiment. He was engaged in eleven hard fought battles, and was wounded in the first engagement at the battle of Arkansas. Returning in 1865, he settled in Adams county. In 1866, he moved to Warren, St. Croix county, where he remained until 1872, when he removed to Star Prairie and established himself in the livery business. He was married January 19th, 1867, to Miss Ella Marvin, of De Witt, Michigan. They have had four children: Ina M., born Octo- ber 22d, 1867; Lizzie R., born June 7th, 1873; Hugh R., born February 12th, 1876; Mary E., born October 8th, 1878; Lizzie R., died August 23d, 1876. Mr. B. established himself in the livery business in Osceola, little over a year ago.

Theodore M. Bradley was born in Jackson county, Illinois, July, 1831. He removed to La Fayette county, Wisconsin, in 1847, and attended school winters, working at farming summers for three years, then came to Osceola Mills. Was employed in Kent and Mahoney's saw mill two years, then engaged several years in rafting on the St. Croix river. Since 1859 he has given his time and attention to both farming and rafting, and now resides at Osceola Mills. He married Margaret Wilson in 1857, who is a native of Ire- land. They are the parents of three sons and two daughters.

Dr. Henry E. Combacker is a native of Boston, Massachusetts, born in 1853. He accompanied his parents to Somerset, Wisconsin, at the age of three years ; here he remained until eighteen years of age attending school and engaged in farming. He then began teaching, and in the fall of 1872 went to Hinkley's Academy, at IIud- son, also attending the university at Madison three years. He then attended the Medical Uni- versity of Michigan, graduating in 1879. Return- ing to his home, he removed in 1880 to Osceola Mills, where he is practicing with Dr. Runge. Dr. Combacker was appointed county physician of Polk county, in January, 1880.

Henry B. Dike is a native of Wales, born in 1847. When quite young he came with his par- ents to America, and settled in Chicago. His mother dying, he was reared by his aunt, and attended school at Dixon and Chicago. In 1858 he came to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and in 1861 enlisted in Company I, Fifth Minnesota, as a musician, serving until honorably discharged at

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St. Paul in 1865. Three years later he located at Osceola Mills and began teaching, and study- ing for the bar, and in 1876 began practicing law. He is at present superintendent of schools of Polk county. In 1871 he married Mary E. Staples, who has borne him two sons and two daughters.

Robert Downend is a native of England, born 1835. While quite young he came to America with his parents, and settled in Oneida county, New York, where he remained until coming to Osceola Mills in 1857. Here he erected a shingle mill and engaged in lumbering, which he followed until 1878, then entered upon his duties as treasurer of Polk county, and still occupies that responsible position. Enlisted in Company D, Second Wisconsin Cavalry in 1861, and served until honorably discharged at Memphis, Tennes- see, in 1865. His wife was Matilda A. Johnson, whom he married in 1877, and who has borne him one child.

F. A. Dresser was born at Moscow, Maine, in 1840. He went with his parents to Bangor, in 1843, where he attended school until 1857, com- ing thence to Taylors Falls, Minnesota. In 1862 he enlisted in Company A, Thirtieth Wisconsin, serving until honorably discharged at Louisville, Kentucky, 1865. He then passed one year in Canada, and in 1867 returned to Osceola Mills and engaged as clerk for his brother until his election as county treasurer of Polk county, in fall of 1873. He occupied the position until 1878. He is now engaged in trade with his brother at this place. His wife was Miss Mary E. Thomas, to whom he was married in 1867.

Samuel S. Fifield, a native of Carmina, Penob- scot county, Maine, was born June 24th, 1839. When the subject of this sketch was but three years of age his father removed to Bangor, where he attended the city schools until the age of ten, when the death of his mother broke up the family and turned young Fifield out to seek his own for- tunes. He entered a store as clerk and chore- boy, and remained four years. In 1853, he ac- companied liis father and uncle to Rock Island, Illinois. The next spring the party left Rock Island and removed to the St. Croix Valley, settling in Prescott. Until the spring of 1859, young Fifield was engaged as clerk in different stores and hotels of Prescott. Then being out of

work, he shipped as night watch on the steamer Equator, running between Prescott and Tay- lor's Falls. In May, the boat was wrecked and Fifield, with the rest of the crew, was trans- ferred to the Kate Castle. When that boat went into winter quarters, Fifield's career as a steam- boatman ended. In February, 1860, he engaged with Captain Frank H. Pratt as apprentice and business assistant in the publication of the Tay- lor's Falls Reporter, the first newspaper worthy of notice established in the upper St. Croix val- ley. He accompanied the material from Prescott to the Falls on the ice, arriving there February 19th. The paper was issued a few days after- wards, and Fifield was with it until January 1st, 1861, Ill health compelled him to quit, and for a number of months he was toll-keeper on the bridge between Taylor's Falls and St. Croix Falls. On the 1st of November he accepted the position of foreman of the St. Croixian, a paper in St. Croix Falls, founded by J. D. Reymert and Junius A. Bartlett. In December the paper was removed to Osceola Mills, county seat of Polk county, and the Polk County Press was issued under his management. In the spring of 1862 he purchased the paper of Mr. Reymert and became editor and proprietor. The paper thenceforth gained largely in influence and circulation and its editor became well known throughout the north- west. The St. Croixian. under Reymert's man- agement, had been democratic, but when Mr. Fifield took charge it was changed to republican. After peace the Press became the earnest advo- cate and representative of the upper St. Croix valley, and did much to attract attention to its varied resources and induce immigration and capital to come into the country. In his busy, toilsome career Mr. Fifield has found time to ac- quire a thorough, practical business education, which adverse circumstances had deprived him from gaining in the usual course of school train- ing. In the spring of 1872 he transferred his in- terest to Charles E. Mears, his partner, and re- moved to Ashland, where, in company with his brother, he started the Ashland Press. During his residence in the valley, Mr. Fifield has held many offices of honor and trust. September 20th, 1863, he married Miss Stella Grines, of Prescott.

Paul Filzen was born in Germany, 1854. He came to America in 1872, and after reaching Min-

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nesota located at New Ulm, remaining only six months, thence to Shakopee. Here he began learning the harness trade, and after a seven month's stay removed to Jordan and worked at his trade, completing it at Hastings. He after- ward worked in Stillwater and in 1877 became a resident of Osceola Mills. The following Octo- ber he married Rosa Langenberg who has borne him two children, both of whom are living.

S. A. Fish was born at Halifax, Windham county, Vermont, 1811. He remained at his na tive place until attaining majority, then went to Jefferson county, New York, where he made his home three years. After spending a number of years in Indiana, Iowa, and Wisconsin, he located at Ottawa, Illinois, residing there twelve years, then engaged in farming five years and in trade three years, in Iroquois county. Finally in 1879, he purchased the Osceola house at Osceola Mills, of which he is still the proprietor. He married in 1842, Eliza Town. Their children are Edward G., Rosa, Charles and Ella.

Dr. Carmi P. Garlick, deceased, was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, 1818. When about fifteen years of age he accompanied his mother, his father having died previously, to Union coun- ty, Ohio, where he remained until 1850. Studied medicine at Milford Centre, and attended lectures at Columbus. In 1850 went to California, re- maining two years, and in 1853 made another visit to the Pacific coast. During the fall of 1859 he located in Chisago county, Minnesota, where was his home until coming to Osceola Mills. Here he practiced his profession until 1864, when he enlisted as surgeon of the Thirty-fifth Wisconsin. He was honorably discharged on account of disability, in February, 1865, and died the next June at Milwaukee. Dr. Garlick was married to Elizabeth B. Thompson in 1842, who has horne him five children, two of whom are now living.

Veit Geiger is a native of Germany, born in 1823. Worked at the brewers' trade in his native country and in 1858 came to America, locating at Sandusky, Ohio, where he also engaged at his trade. Two years later he removed to Minneapo- lis, Minnesota, thence to Polk county, where he began farming, in which he continued until com- ing to Osceola Mills in 1867. Married Genofaver Grup in 1855. They have four children living.

Andrew C. Granum, a native of Norway, was

born in 1845. During his younger days, he at- tended school, and in 1877 came to America and settled in Rock county, Wisconsin, remained four years, attending school and farming; then located on a farm in Polk county, but afterward attended the Northwestern College at Madison, and has since taught some of the schools of this county. In 1877 was elected to the office of clerk of the district court, whichi position he now holds. Mar- ried Lena Gullickson in 1878, who has borne him one child.

A. A. Heald was born in Somerset county, Maine, in 1829, where he remained until 1849, and during the last year was in the mercantile trade at Industry. In 1852, settled in Walworth county, Wisconsin, engaged in both teaching and farming for four years, then removed to Lake- land, Minnesota. Finally, in 1859, he settled on a farm in Polk county, on which he lived six years; during the time he occupied the position of county treasurer four years. Sold his farm in 1874 and started in the mercantile trade at Osce- ola Mills the year following, with B. A. Thing as partner, who withdrew in January, 1881. Mr. Heald was married in 1852, to Miss Christiana Thing, who has borne him three children, two of whom are living.

Benjamin F. Kent was born at Galena, Illi- nois, in 1845. Removed with his parents to Osce- ola Mills in 1853. He attended school until six- teen years of age, then began lumbering, which he followed until 1872, and was then engaged in the furniture trade two years. Then operated a shingle mill at Black Brook one year, since which time he has been a painter. He married, in 1871, Miss Belle Ford. They are the parents of three children.

Robert Kent is a native of Scotland, born in 1818. When two years of age moved with his parents to New Brunswick, thence to Bangor, Maine, where he lived until reaching the age of twenty-two. Ile then returned to Europe, and in 1839 came to Galena, Illinois, where he worked at carpentering. In 1848, removed to St. Croix valley, and for about thirteen years engaged in lumbering, and has since followed carpentering and cabinet-making. Mr. Kent was the first clerk of Polk county, and has also been county superintendent of schools and county judge. At Galena, Illinois, 1842, married Miss Mary Cham-

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bers. She died in 1848, leaving four children, three of whom are now living. His present wife was Susan N. Babb. who has one child living.

Captain William Kent was born in Frederick- ton, New Brunswick, in 1824, and when quite small moved with his parents to Bangor, Maine. In 1844, came to St. Croix Falls, and soon after to Osceola Mills, being one of the first actual settlers. Here he engaged in lumbering until 1864; then gave his attention to steamboating until 1879. He was first treasurer of Polk county, which office he held two years-also the office of county judge. In politics he is a dem- ocrat. His wife was Ellen Kidder, whom he married in 1855.

Asahel Kimball was born in Erie county, Penn- sylvania, in 1827. When eighteen years of age, removed to Cattaraugus county, New York, where he engaged in lumbering seven years; then returned to his home and passed four years. In 1856, came to Osceola Mills, and in 1866 was elected register of deeds of Polk county, which office he held ten years, also that of clerk of court; has continued as recorder since 1876. His wife was Matilda Fuller, whom he married in 1852. They have one child.

Captain O. F. Knapp was born in Clinton county, New York, 1831. At the age of fifteen he came west with his parents and remained at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, until attaining his majority. IIe then came to Osceola Mills and began ium- bering. A few years later, in company with C. B. Strong, he purchased the steamer, "H. S. Allen," which he ran about three years. In 1861 he engaged as pilot on the steamer "Enterprise," which he purchased soon after and ran it three years. He, in company with others, built the "Viola," "G. B. Knapp" and Jennie Hayes." In 1878 he entered the employ of the government under Major C. J. Allen, in the improvement of the St. Croix river, Mr. Knapp having charge. IIis wife was Angeline Hayes, to whom he was married in 1855. They are the parents of three sons and two daughters.

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