USA > Minnesota > Washington County > History of Washington County and the St. Croix Valley, including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota > Part 52
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J. B. Churchill was born in Clinton county, New York, in 1820. He learned the trade of nailer, in which, milling included, he engaged until 1854. He then came to St. Croix Falls and began lumbering, which he followed until he em- barked in the ginseng trade. Enlisting in Com- pany K, Fourth Wisconsin Cavalry, in March, 1865, he served until honorably discharged in No- vember of same year. He returned to St. Croix Falls, where he has since resided, and has held the office of sheriff of Polk county two years. In 1841, he married Eliza Turnbull, who has borne him ten children, six of whom are now living.
John Comer is a native of Sweden, born in 1847. He learned the blacksmith's trade in his native country, serving an apprenticeship of six years. In 1868, he came to America. Tarrying only a brief time in Michigan, he proceeded to St. Croix Falls, where he worked at his trade until 1874. At that time he and his brother, Andrew, embarked in the wagon and blacksmith business.
Andrew Comer, a resident of St. Croix Falls, is a native of Sweden, where he was born in 1855. He came to America in 1873, having ac-
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
quired a knowledge of blacksmithing and wagon- making in his native country. He and his brother John went into that business at St. Croix Falls in 1874. His marriage with Miss Lena Berg took place in November, 1880.
Samuel Emery was born at Limerick, Maine, in 1812. When a lad of seven years, he removed with his parents to Conway, New Hampshire, and was here engaged in farming and railroading until moving to Canada, where he was employed in railroad building. In 1856, he became a resident of St. Croix Falls, and occupied the position of overseer of the St. Croix Manufacturing and Mining Company about two years, and has since been a farmer. He enlisted in 1862, in the Tenth Wisconsin Light Artillery, and served until hon- orably discharged on account of disability in 1865, then returned to his home in St. Croix Falls. He married Rosanna Hurd in 1837, and is the parent of eight children.
C. C. Fisk was born in Levant, Maine, October 6th, 1826. His early life was passed on a farm; he was then taught penmanship and received a diploma from his professor, Payson Dunton. In 1854, he became a resident of St. Croix Falls, and gave his attention to lumbering several years. He held the office of sheriff of Polk county four years, and in 1865, opened the St. Croix hotel, and has since had it in charge. He was married in 1858 to Cordelia Emery. Their children are eight in number.
W. B. Ladd was born at Hume, Allegany county, New York, December 12th, 1857. His early educational advantages were confined to the common schools. In 1871,he came to Menomonee, Wisconsin, making it his home until July, 1879, during the time having studied law in the law department of the State University at Madison. In July, 1879, he removed to St. Vincent, Minnesota, where he practiced law and was elected probate judge of Kittson county, also court commissioner. He resigned in January, 1880, and in April, be- gan the practice of law at St. Croix Falls.
Joel F. Nason is a native of Washington county, Maine, born in 1827. His early educa- tional advantages were somewhat limited, but in after years he attended the academy at Monson, Maine, then engaged as teacher until coming west in 1850. He located at St. Croix Falls, and two years later engaged in lumbering and farm-
ing, in which he continued until 1864. He then served seven years as county clerk, and since that time has been receiver of the land office at this place. His wife was Miss Bethiah Hans- combe, who has borne him seven children.
Dr. Frank W. Searles was born in Will county, Illinois, March 14th, 1852. He attended school at Englewood two years, and also at the univer- sity at Champaign, then took a three years course at the Chicago Medical College, graduating in 1877. He began his practice at Osceola Mills, and in July, 1880, located at St. Croix Falls, where he still resides. He was married in 1878 to Etta Morse, of Will county, Illinois.
James Thompson was born near Montreal, Lower Canada, November 11th, 1840. He came to St. Croix Falls in 1860, and worked as a lum- berman six years, then located at that city in the mercantile trade. In 1877 he started his flouring mill where he is still doing business. He mar- ried Mary A. Gray, in 1871, who has borne him one child.
Thomas H. Thompson was born near Montreal, Lower Canada, November 11th, 1833. He en- gaged in farming in his native land until 1856, when in July of that year, he came to St. Croix Falls, where he gave his attention chiefly to lum- bering about ten years. In 1866 he embarked in the merchandise trade, since which time he has continued. He married in 1861, Miss Eliza Clendenning, who has borne him four children.
William J. Vincent is a native of Portland, Maine, born June 10th, 1830. At the age of fifteen he went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, remain- ing a short time; thence to Galena, Illinois, where he engaged as clerk. In 1846 he enlisted in the regular army, Company H, Mounted Rifles, in the war with Mexico, and served about two years. During the fall of 1848, he came to Still- water, Minnesota, thence to St. Croix Falls, and has since made this place his home. He enlisted in Company F, First Wisconsin Volunteer In- fantry, as first lieutenant, in 1861, and served as such until he resigned in 1862. Mr. Vincent has held the office of chairman of county com- missioners eleven years, county clerk seven years and represented the north-western district of Wisconsin, in the legislature of 1879. He was married in 1855 to Myra A. Worth. Nine child- ren have been born, five of whom are living.
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HISTORY OF CHISAGO COUNTY.
CHISAGO COUNTY.
CHAPTER XLVIII.
ORGANIZATION -- FIRST CLAIMS -- ORIGIN OF NAME-FIRST COURT AND GRAND JURY-LO- CATION AND REMOVAL OF COUNTY SEAT- CENTRE CITY.
The first move toward the organization of Chi- sago county was the granting by the county com- missioners of St. Croix, at a meeting in Stillwater on the 15th of December, 1848, of a petition to establish an election precinct "to be called the Falls of St. Croix precinct, bounded on the east, by the St. Croix river; on the north, by the Sun- rise river; on the west, by range line between 21 and 22, and on the south by township line be- tween 33 and 34. William Colby, W. Holmes and Nathan Taylor are appointed judges of elec- tion, to be held at William Colby's." By this piece of primitive legislation may be seen how little the "fathers" of Chisago county at that time knew of the geography of the county, when we consider that it is a fact that the Sunrise river, which was adopted as the northern bound- ary of the precinct, is parallel to, and about twelve miles east of the "range line" dividing ranges 21 and 22.
The first claims made in what is now Chisago county were located in 1846, by Thomas F. Mor- ton, on what is now known as Morton's place, near Taylor's Falls. Near him, the same year, Benjamin F. Otis erected the house in which William Colby has since lived, having purchased it of Mr. Otis in 1847. During this year, Mr. Colby raised the first corn cultivated by a white man, within the limits of the county. Jerry Ross and Thornton Bishop were the next to settle, the latter locating and improving a farm, at the liead of the rapids, within six miles of Taylor's Falls.
The great inconvenience of attending to county business at Stillwater, early compelled the citizens to take steps towards establishing Chisago county.
There were no wagon roads, and by the river no means of transportation but by rudely constructed rafts, bateaux, or birch bark canoes. Steps were immediately taken, a petition to the legislature was drafted, an energetic canvass was made, names of citizens secured, and the application presented by Honorables D. B. Loomis, member of the council, and J. G. Ludden, of the house. A bill was framed, passed by both houses, and approved in February, 1851. The county thus created is about eighteen miles wide and thirty long, containing an area of about five hundred and forty square miles. The bill passed with but one dissenting voice, that of a member from Washington county. Ansel Smith and W. H. C. Folsom collected from the Indians, their names of various rivers and lakes within the county.
After some deliberation the name Chisago was adopted as the title of the county and the lake. This title is compounded from the Indian words chi and sago deviating somewhat from the appe- lation used by the Indians to designate the lake, which they called "Ke-chi-sago, Sa-ga-a-gau," designating large, fair or lovely. The first elec- tion of county officers was held at the Chisago house, October 14th, 1851. Twenty-three votes were cast, and on the 5th day of January, 1852, the first board of county commissioners was or- ganized at the Chisago house, kept by Samuel Thomson. At this meeting the members present were N. C. D. Taylor, Thomas F. Morton and S. Thomson. Mr. Thomson was chosen chairman, the other county officers qualified, and Chisago took its place among the counties of the new northwest. On the 5th day of April, 1852, at a regular meeting of the county board, the first petit and grand jurors were drawn. Among the first to sustain a county government were Wil- liam Colby, Stillman Sevey, N. C. D. Taylor, William Holmes, John H. Reid, B. S. Hall, John Dobney, W. H. C. Folsom, George Merrill, Ward
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FIRST COURT AND JURY.
W. Folsom, E. P. Greenleaf, T. F. Morton, F. W. Lamars, L. P. Day, H. N. Setzer, N. H. Hickson, J. S. Van Rennsellaer, J. A. Blackburn, J. A. Harkins, and John S. Campbell, who constituted the first grand jury.
The first general term of the district court of Chisago county, in the first judicial district of Minnesota, convened at the house of Samuel Thomson at Taylor's Falls, on the 7th day of June, 1852, Hon. Jerome Fuller presiding and A. Smith clerk. The roll of the grand jury named above was called and W. E. Bush, E. R. St. Clair, C. P. Fox, W. E. Doe, and M. M. Marshall were summoned and added; W. H. C. Folsom was fore- man. M. E. Ames, was by the court, appointed prosecuting attorney. Upon examination in open court, L. K. Stannard was admitted to practice in all the courts of the territory "until the next session of the United States district court of said territory." Indictments were preferred by the grand jury against H. Schultz, A. R. Hawkins, and a man named Forsyth. Forsyth was tried at this term, his being the first criminal trial in the district court for this county.
The June term, 1853, was held at the house of Richard Arnold, Judge William Welch presiding, N. C. D. Taylor, acted as clerk, and J. L. Taylor was foreman of the grand jury. At this term the grand jury preferred an indictment against an officer of the United States army, which met with considerable disapproval by the court and members of the bar. It was never prosecuted. The origin of this affair is given by Mr. Neill, in his "History of Minnesota," as fol- lows:
"On the 9th of April, 1853, a party of Ojibways killed a Dakota at the village of Shakopee. A war party from Kaposia then proceeded up the valley of the St. Croix and killed an Ojibway. On the morning of the 27th, a party of Ojibway warriors, naked, decked, and fiercely gesticulat- ing, might be seen in the busiest street of the capital, St. Paul, in search of their enemies. Just at that time a small party of women and one man, who had lost a leg in the battle of Still- water, arrived in a canoe from Kaposia, at the Jackson street landing. Perceiving the Ojibways, they retreated to the building, now known as the 'Pioneer office,' and the Ojibways discharging a volley through the windows, wounded a Dakota
woman, who soon died. For a short time the in- fant capital presented a sight similar to that wit- nessed in ancient days in Hadley and Deerfield, the then frontier towns of Massachusetts. Mes- sengers were dispatched to Fort Snelling for the dragoons and a party of the citizens mounted on horseback, and were quickly in pursuit of those who with so much boldness, had sought the streets of St. Paul as a place to avenge their wrongs. The dragoons soon followed with the Indian guides, scenting the track of the Ojibways like bloodhounds. The next day they discovered the transgressors near the falls of the St. Croix. The Ojibways manifesting what was supposed to be an insolent spirit, the order was given by the lieutenant in command to fire, and he wliose scalp was afterwards daguerrotyped in Graham's Maga- zine, wallowed in gore."
This action of the officer was severely criti- cized by the citizens of this vicinity, who in their unprotected situation, for a time greatly feared that the Ojibway Indians would avenge the death of their brother by a descent upon the settlements. This sentiment, coupled with a feeling that the kill- ing of the Indian was an act of gross injustice, and a direct violation of the guarantee of protection, by the government to the Indians, led some of the prominent citizens of the county to take steps, re- sulting in the indictment of the lieutenant in com- mand, as we have already stated.
A hunting party of about two hundred Sioux were returning the same day from Apple river. On arriving at the village, they learned of the killing of the Ojibway, and giving the war whoop, bounding over the rocks and hills, soon finding the body of the Ojibwa, gave vent to their ex- ultations, after their barbarous customs. Mang- ling the body and cutting off the feet, they hung them upon a tree. After a time, tiring of the amusement, they left, leaving many knives stick- ing into the body. The little band of hunted Ojibways, during this time were concealed among the trap rocks near by, after their enemies left, emerged from their hiding places and buried the mutilated body, preserving the knives, hoping to use them for a similar purpose, on the bodies of some of their hated foes.
The third legislative assembly of Minnesota passed a law, the provisions of which were similar to those of the famous "Maine liquor law." The
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HISTORY OF CHISAGO COUNTY.
adoption of this act was to be submitted to a popular vote on the first Monday in April, 1852, and if adopted to become operative after the 1st of May following. In Chisago county, where at this time not a drinking saloon existed, the ques- tion was thoroughly discussed, and the act rati- fied by a vote of thirteen in favor with three votes opposing it. The law was working well and was respected, when, much to the regret of many, one of the judges of the district court de- cided that it was unconstitutional.
While this law was in force, a lot of whiskey, lying at the landing at Taylor's Falls was turned out and allowed to soak into the ground. Sev- eral lots were brought to this town by steamers, but in order to avoid the law were taken by bat- teaux to the other side of the river.
In 1851, Axel Delhiam, Andrew Swanson, Peter Anderson and Peter Linberg raised the first wheat and rye cultivated in Chisago county. In the same year Mr. Linberg raised flax and manufactured it into thread, several pounds of which he sold at Taylor's Falls. This was prob- ably the first linen thread made in Minnesota.
It was during the year 1851 that the now pros- perous Swedish settlement at Chisago Lake was started. Eric Norburg, of Bishop Hills, Illinois, was the first at the lake; J. S. Van Rennsellaer was the second. The latter, in his log cabin home, with its well-stocked library, lived several years on an island in the lake.
The first church organized in Chisago county was the Swedish Evangelical, near Chisago Lake, in 1854. The first pastor, Rev. P. A. Cederstrom, was installed in 1855. While in his charge this society erected the first church edifice in the county.
When Chisago county was organized, it em- braced within its limits, until 1856, all that tract now included in the counties of Chisago, Pine, Buchanan and portions of Kanabec and Carlton. Pine county was set apart by act of the legisla- ture, passed March, 1856. However, it was still attached to Chisago for judicial purposes. Buchanan county was separated by an act of the legislature May 2d, 1857, but it was never organ- ized. Carlton was established by the same legis- lature. Kanabec was set off and organized, but for judicial purposes remained attached to Chi- sago a number of years.
The organic act establishing the county con- tains the following clause: "The seat of justice of Chisago county shall be at such point in said county as the first board of county commissioners elected in said county at their first regular meet- ing, shall designate." This clause was inserted at the request of the petitioners, to avoid the ex- pense of a special election. In accordance with this law, the commissioners, at a regular meeting held at Taylor's Falls, in the office of N. C. D. Taylor, April 5th, 1852, at which were present Commissioners J. F. Morton, N. C. D. Taylor and Samuel Thomson, located the county seat at Tay- lor's Falls. Here it remained until 1865, when it was removed to Chisago City. Again, in 1875, after the agitation incident to the history of all new counties, it was removed to Centre City, the voice of the people declaring that to be the more convenient situation.
The first winter the officers were compelled to find quarters in the store of Andrew F. Swanson. Steps were taken, and by the fall of 1876, the new court-house was completed and occupied. It is a two-story frame building, 55x65 feet, with a four-foot projection in front, and one of 7x33 feet in the rear, to which is annexed the vault, the in- side measurement of which is 6-8x7-8 feet.
The first county officials were F. W. Abbott, register of Deeds; J. H. Fulton, sheriff; W. H. C. Folsom, treasurer; W. Colby, coroner; A. Smith, judge of probate; J. Dobney, surveyor; H. F. Day, assessor; J. F. Morton, N. C. D. Taylor and S. Thomson, commissioners; W. E. Bush, Walter Carrier and W. Holmes, road supervisors. The officers in 1881 were: J. P. Nord, auditor; Andrew Wallmark, register of deeds; Oscar Roos, treasurer; Robert Currie, clerk of court; P. H. Stalberg, sheriff; N. M. Humphrey, judge of probate; E. C. Ingalls, coroner; Daniel Mc- Cormick, surveyor.
When the subject of organization was first considered, many who were opposed to the pro- ject, predicted that its existence would be short, and that it would soon be absorbed by Washing- ton county. As an illustration of the fallibility of such misgivings, we find that the total valua- tion of real and personal property of Chisago county in 1852, was $46,872.00; in 1850, only eight years later, $599,314; in 1870, $1,016,777; in
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CENTRE CITY.
1880, $1,823,123. The present population is about 9.000.
We are indebted to the researches and writings of W. H. C. Folsom, for many of the factsin the early history of Chisago county. Mr. Folsom has taken great care in the collection of data and contemplates publishing a full and complete his- tory of the county, and by his long residence here and his familiarty with the events in its history, is well qualified to perform the task.
CENTRE CITY.
The site of this pleasant village, the county seat of Chisago county, was entered by Andrew F. Swanson, about the year of 1855. Being con- vinced that the high, well drained peninsula, ex- tending a considerable distance into the lake, was the proper place for a town. He secured the ser- vices of Alexander Cairns, who, in May, 1857, surveyed and platted into village lots, a portion of lot 5, on section 27, township 34, range 19. From this point a fine view may be had of the lake, though by the irregular shores and the multiplicity of islets, this is entailed to but a part of the fine sheet of water. This irregularity rather heightens, than derogates from the attrac- tiveness of Chisago lake. Beginning at the north on section 115, township 34, range 20, the lake extends southward, separating into two branches or arms. The eastern, on which is situated Cen- tre City, occupying portions of sections 27 and 34, in township 34, and sections 2, 3, 11 and 12, in township 33; the other arm extending south- west into townships 34 and 33. On the western arm is situated Chisago City, one of the first settled points in the county.
The waters of the lake are pure and sparkling, the shores sandy, the banks high and well cov- ered with vegetation. Fish are abundant, aud many tourists are attracted by the more than or- dinary facilities for field sports, to spend their summer vacations in this vicinity.
The larger portion of the population of Centre City is composed of Swedes, many of whom came at an early day, and by enterprise, perseverance and frugality, have acquired comfortable homes and good farms. While thus engaged, however, they have not neglected the churches.
The Swedish Methodist Episcopal church was organized and an edifice 24x36 feet, built in 1859.
At first there were but six members, the present number is thirty-six. Their first pastor was Rev. C. F. Lindquist, and the present Rev. B. Borge- son. This is the only churchi in the village but just beyond the village limits are two.
The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran church which we have already mentioned as being the first organized in the county added, in 1868, to the original structure, which was 32x48, thirty- two feet. As it is not now large enough to ac- commodate the congregation, they will build a larger one soon. They have a fine pipe organ, which cost $1,500, and a bell.
The Church of Mission Friends was organized in the summer of 1880, and an edifice 24x36 feet, completed the following fall.
The Centre City school is district number thir- teen, which was organized in 1853, and the build- ing, the first in the village, erected in 1854,. In 1867 a new frame house was built, about forty rods from the old one, which was converted into a store. The first teacher was E. Wilcox.
For several years the only accommodations for travelers was the house of Andrew Swanson, built of logs, in 1857. It was run as a public house until 1876. The size is 24x30 feet and two stories high.
In 1876 the Lake Side house was erected by J. A. Hollberg. It is 24x40 feet, two stories high, and contains an office, parlor and six chambers, dining room, kitchen and closets. Attached to the house is a stable with room for fourteen horses.
The Centre City hotel was built in the fall of 1877, by A. F. Swanson, who soon afterwards sold it. It is two stories high, 24x48 feet, and con- tains ten chambers, besides parlor, offices, etc. The kitchen is in a wing 18x24 feet. In connec- tion with the house is a good stable, and for the use of pleasure seekers, row and sail boats.
The steam saw-mill now owned by J. A. Holl- berg, was built by the Shogren Brothers in 1864. In 1872 it passed into the hands of Torinus, Sta- ples and Company, of Stillwater, and in the fall was purchased by Mr. Hollberg, who has since conducted it. The mill is three stories high, and originally contained two run of stone, a "muley" saw, planing machine, two turning lathes and a shape machine. The buhrs after one year were sold and removed. At the end of four years the
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HISTORY OF CHISAGO COUNTY.
Shogren Brothers replaced the "muley" by a ro- tary saw; the capacity of the mill is about 10,000 feet per day. When Mr. IIollberg purchased it, he added, and has since run, a feed mill. The timber used was hard wood.
In 1856, A. M. Eklund opened a small store in a little log house on the site where Swanson's store now stands. He sold to A. N. Hohn, in January, 1857, who run it two years and then closed. From 1859 to 1867, there was no store in the village, though goods could be had from S. S. Hamilton and Mr. Hohn, who sold on commission at their homes outside the village, some of the ne- cessities. In 1867, Samuel Winship opened in the old log school-house, which had been used since 1854. In 1870, Winship sold it to J. E. Peter- son and J. J. Swanson; Swanson soon withdrew. In 1873, the firm of Peterson and Hollberg erected a neat two story building, and put in a general stock. In 1869, Mr. Hollberg withdrew, and Pe- terson now does business alone.
The second store was built by P. F. Swanson, but laid idle until used by the county in the win- ter'of 1875-6. In November, 1876, Charles Mob1 put in a stock of tinware, and in 1878, Mr. Swan- son opened a general stock of merchandise, and did business until the fall of 1880, when P. J. Johnson succeeded him, continuing to the present time.
In addition to these two general stores, Charles Mohl conducts a hardware shop in a building completed by him in 1877, and Miss Stella Sevey, in 1880, opened a stock of millinery in the old hotel.
Chisago county is one of the oldest settled counties in the state of Minnesota, and among its residents may be found some of her representa- tive men. The progress in population, though not so rapid as in some of the counties more favored as to the quality of the soil and adapta- tion to agricultural pursuits, has still been of a steady, solid growth, comprising a class of thrifty, industrious people, principally foreigners, who have come to remain and have made their pres- ence known by substantial improvements and a determination to win for themselves, homes out of the wilderness. The increase in the wealth of the county marks a degree of prosperity seldom seen in a country so new and it bids fair to com- pete with some of the more favored counties.
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