History of Washington County and the St. Croix Valley, including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 57

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 57

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The following was taken from the book of re- cords found in the auditor's office, and is inserted as found:

"J. W. Furber was appointed by the commis- sioners. June 7th, 1841, as commissioner to lay out and establish a territorial road from Marine Mills to Gray Cloud Island."

We have no evidence that this road was estab- lished. The earliest record we have of any regu- larly authorized public highway was by authority of the first territorial legislature of Minnesota. During the first session a number of territorial roads were directed to be constructed, the chief one crossing Washington county.

By act of the legislature B. W. Brunson, Al- bert Harris and Mahlon Black were appointed to meet on the 31st of October, 1849, and lay out a road, from Stillwater in a westerly direction to White Bear lake; thence to some point at or near the mouth of Rum river. This was the first road authorized by the legislature, and doubtless the first laid out in the territory according to law. By an act of the second legislature, John Morgan, C. S. Dorr and Joseph W. Marshall, were ap- pointed to meet February 3d, 1851, and lay out a road from the village of St. Anthony Falls by the nearest and most feasible route by John Mor- gan's tavern, on the road leading from Stillwater to St. Paul, to the lower ferry on the west side of Lake St. Croix, opposite the village of Willow River, Wisconsin.

By authority of the legislature, Joshua L. Tay- lor, John Rollins, James Meredith, Charles R. Conway and Joseph L. Benne were appointed to meet March the 1st, 1853, and lay out a road from St. Anthony Falls, by way of Chisago lake, to Taylor's Falls. By special act of March 5th, 1853, Messrs. Charles R. Conway, John A. Ford and William Altenburgh were made commission- ers to alter or change a road running from Point Douglas to St. Paul, to a more practicable route than the one then traveled.

By special act of the sixth territorial legis- lature, Mahlon Black, Isaac Staples and James H. Spencer were appointed commisioners to meet in March, 1856, and lay out a road from Stillwater, by way of Comfort's settlement, to a point on Snake river.

DIVISION INTO TOWNS.

A board of commissioners was appointed by the governor to divide the county into townships, by which the following towns were organized during the month of May, 1858. This date is taken from the book of record of county supervisors, but re- ferring to the history of the townships it appears that a large portion of them were organized Octo- ber 20th, 1858. The names of these townships at the first division were: Vasa, Marine, Stillwater, Greenfield, Baytown, Lakeland, Oakdale, Afton, Red Rock, Delhi, Cottage Grove and Newport. So far as it seemed practicable, the commissioners retained the old historic names. In the original dividing of the county into townships, it appears that township 32, ranges 19, 20 and 21, was known as Vasa; this was changed by an act of the board of county commissioners to Otis, June 7th, 1859, and by an act of the same board the year following, attached to Marine. At the annual meeting of the board of county commissioners held September 4th, 1870, the town of Oneka was was created, comprising congressional township 37, range 21. By an act of the same board, March 11th, 1874, in compliance with a petition from the citizens of congressional township 32, range 21, asking to be set off from Marine, a new town was formed called Forest Lake.

The following subscription was taken for the purpose of erecting a court house: We, the under- signed, agree to pay the amount set opposite our several names, to be invested in a court house

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COURT HOUSE BUILT.

and jail in the town of Stillwater, to be built in accordance with a plan submitted by Jacob Fish- er, provided the county of St. Croix will pay the balance of the cost of said building after deduct- ing $1,200, which amount we propose to raise by the subscription, and pay to the holder of this paper as may be required for the purpose of the building.

"Stillwater, December 18th, 1847. John McKu- sick, $400; Jacob Fisher, $50; Churchill and Nelson, $200; M. Holcombe, $50; John H. Brews- ter, $50; John Morgan, $20; William Cove, $25; A. Hanes, $25; Jesse Taylor, $25; William Wil- lim, $25; Christopher Carli, $25; Anson North- rup, $100; Nelson and McCarty, $15; M. S. Wil- kinson, $15."

The first deed of which we have any record in the county, was given by John McKusick to the village of Stillwater. bearing date December 20th, 1847, by which he deeds to the town a lot for the purpose of a court house and jail.

The commissioners convened at the above date, received the deed of Mr. McKusick, located a site for a court house and jail, and let the contract for the erection of a specified building to Jacob Fish- er. This action of the commissioners created some feeling on the part of the people during the winter and early spring. In the spring of 1848, Mr. Fisher began work on the court house ac- cording to the contract made in December previ- ous.

After the work had been prosecuted for a short time, the people presented a petition signed by 289 persons, praying the commissioners to set aside the contract of building a court house and jail, until the boundary lines of the territory of Minnesota shall be established, or till the people call up the question, which they will do, as soon as it seems to be feasible. The debate that fol- lowed the presentation of this petition, was ani- mating and exciting; citizens, not members of the board, participating in the discussion. The en- tire session, extending far into the night, was oc- cupied in the debate. At the hour of 10 o'clock, Socrates Nelson, one of the commissioners, with- drew from the contest, but another member of the board, we are not informed which of the two remaining commissioners was so tenacious, con- tinued the contest for two hours, when this reso- lution prevailed:

"Resolved, That the progress of building the court house and jail, under contract to Jacob Fisher, be suspended until July next, and a notice served on Jacob Fisher to this effect."

It seems that the work was suspended for a time, and then pushed forward to a certain stage of completion; and on the 1st of August, 1849, was accepted in an unfinished condition by the board of commissioners of St. Croix county, but Mr. Fisher did not receive compensation for said building until the first meeting of the board of commissioners of Washington county, as the following preamble and resolution clearly show:

"Whereas; The county of St. Croix on the 1st day of August, 1849, did receive from Jacob Fisher the uncompleted building of the court house in Stillwater, and whereas, the erection of said building was authorized by the commission- ers of the county of St. Croix, as per contract on file, and whereas, the said building has cost, and is estimated to be worth the sum of $2,366.66, and, therefore, showing a balance due to Jacob Fisher, on the aforesaid, from the 1st day of Aug- ust, of $116.66, it is hereby resolved, by the board of county commissioners of the county of Wash- ington, that orders on the treasury of Washing- ton county be issued, in said Jacob Fisher's fa- vor for the amount of the above sum, $116.66, to be paid out of the St. Croix county funds, in full payment of building at the time of its reception."

This building, located on the corner of Chest- nut and Fourth streets, quaint in its form of structure, having four cells in the basement, one general and two small rooms on the first and only floor, serving for court room, jury box, etc., was finally finished. This was the first court house in the territory, and was the house honored with the first court held after declaration of the terri- torial organization by Governor Ramsey. Judge Goodrich presided at this term of court, second Monday of August, 1849.

Early incidents. The first county election held in this country, embracing several counties, was for the organization of St. Croix county, August 3d, 1840. The first meeting of county commis- sioners was October 5th, 1840, at which time the board examined and approved the bond of Joseph R. Brown as treasurer of the county, when Mr. Brown was "sworn to the faithful discharge of the duties of his office, and the support of the

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.

constitution of the United States." At this same meeting, the board fixed "the price of license for selling liquor to be drank in or out of the house, shall be twenty dollars per annum for those who sell in quantities not less than one quart; and the license of taverns is fixed at five dollars per annum." The same board granted license to Philander Prescott to establish and keep a ferry across the St. Croix river, at or near its confluence with the Mississippi river, leading to Point Douglas. Commissioners' estimate of expenses, made July 4th, 1842: "For viewing and surveying road, $31; payment of county officers and expenses of county, $186; contingent expenses, $100; school-honse at Dakota, $65; re- demption of county orders for 1841, $100; total expenses, $482." "The treasurer of Wisconsin territory was notified that the property assessed in the county amounted to $63,648.75, on which a tax of five and one-half mills on the dollar has been ordered, amounting to $350.07, from which deduct for collectors' fees five per cent., leaving $332.56; from which there will be due the terri- tory for the ensuing year the sum of $16.62}, leaving for county purposes the sum of $316.93}. Signed by Joseph R. Brown, clerk; Hazen Mooers [seal], and Samnel Burkleo [seal], county com- missioners." "November 6th, 1843, William Holcombe granted license to Rev. W. S. Bontwell, of Pokeguma, to solemnize marriage." We find on record of same date, the following certificate of marriage from W. T. Boutwell, "uniting in holy wedlock John Kinney and Sally Piajig, in con- formity to the law of the land." The following is copied from the records: "Certificate of mar- riage from Rev. J. S. Hurlburt, and license to marry W. B. Dibble and Eliza McCauslin, re- ceived and on file in this office, January Ist, 1844." The next marriage recorded was that of Benja- min F. Otis and Anna Little Wolf, by Rev. W. T. Boutwell, January 6th, 1844. The following is an abstract of the votes polled in the county of St. Croix on the 6th of April, 1847, for ratifica- tion or rejection of the constitution adopted at the convention held at Madison in the fall of 1846, for the formation of a state government; also for or against eqnal suffrage of colored per- sons: For the constitution, 65 votes; against the constitution, 612 votes; for equal suffrage of colored persons, 1 vote; against, 126. Another

note of interest, dated . July 5th, 1847: "Joseph R. Brown, clerk of the district court of the United States, presented a petition for a desk for the use of his office; petition was granted, providing the same shall not exceed $10 in value." "A road from Stillwater to Marine viewed by J. B. Corey and Cornelius Lyman, and accepted by the coun- ty commissioners October 4th, 1847." "An elec- tion was held March 13th, 1848, for the ratifica- tion or rejection of the constitution adopted by the late territorial convention, for the anticipa- tion of a state government of Wisconsin. Votes cast in favor of ratification, 17; rejection, 269." The first deed made and recorded after the land sale in 1848, in the town of Stillwater, is dated September 5th, 1848, by which John McKnsick conveys and transfers a certain lot therein de- scribed, to Andrew Randall, of Cincinnati, Ohio. This is the first deed recorded after the United States survey was made, which was completed for this and several adjacent counties, December 25th, 1847.

SCHOOLS.

Schools connected with mission stations in- tended for Indians and half-breed children were the first, and, for a long time, the only schools in the county; often attended also by the child- ren of the first settlers, These schools were the vanguard of the educational movement for the north-west, and the "open sesame" to the en- lightenment that followed. These efforts were followed as soon as settlement began, by local schools, supported by the new settlers, who blazed roads with their axes, and promptly built school- honses as they advanced.

Mission schools for Washington county grew `out of those established at Kaposia, Dakota county; one, in 1837, by Rev. David King, which continued but a short time, and the boarding school of Amos Jones, in 1839, at the same place. The mission school at Red Rock, under the su- pervision of the Methodist mission, was opened about 1840, and continued to 1849. Miss J. S. Williamson taught a Dakota and English school at Kaposia during 1846-7. The attendance at these schools was small, varying from five to twenty-five. The attainment made by the pupils was as varied as the attendance. Some never learned to read, while others made good progress.

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SCHOOLS AND MISSIONS.

Some of the latter number were sent to graded schools and became rivals of the whites.

A:daughter of an unassuming gentleman of in- tegrity, and a settler of Minnesota as early as 1819, is here cited as a case in point. He had married a Dakota wife, wholly ignorant of English, who was the mother of the young girl referred to. In consequence of her receptive, mind and diligence in study, the daughter was sent at a proper age to a boarding school of some celebrity, where she completed the prescribed course, and returning to her home on the banks of the Mississippi, became the wife of an intelli- gent settler. This union has been blessed and the bride, now a mother, is training up her little ones in the fear of God, preparing them to be- come useful and industrious citizens.

Though much of the labor of missionaries in the northwest came to naught, because of the lack of appreciation and receptivity on the part of the savages, we cannot doubt that enduring results, worthy of the cost, grew out of these simple mis- sionary schools.

In the summer of 1849, Miss Judd, now the wife of A. Eldridge of the city of Stillwater, began a school in the village of Stillwater ; soon after this in the summer of 1848, Miss Hosford, now the wife of H. L. Moss of St. Paul, taught a select school in Stillwater. J. B. Craig opened a school at Point Douglas early in January, 1850, and had about thirty scholars. By referring to the town histories it will be seen that the organization of district schools began in 1850, and continued to increase from year to year, as the influx of popu- lation demanded, till every town was permanent- ly organized. Some of the first districts com- prised a whole township, and were in time divided into two districts, and then subdivided, and so on till we come to the present efficient school system.

In 1873 there were fifty-four school districts, fifty-seven teachers.

Since that date the number of district schools has not materially increased, and yet the school system is rapidly attaining a state of perfectness.

Most of the original and unsightly log cabins and rudely constructed buildings have been sup- planted by neat and well furnished school-rooms, combining beauty, comfort and an attraction for the expanding mind, showing that the " Fathers do know how to give good gifts to their children."

The interest taken in schools in the county has proved to be one deep and noble purpose. The small beginning of 1846, one teacher and nine pupils, compared with the report of 1880, shows the growth of thirty-four years; a condition of school interests and privileges no one can have imagined possible in so short a period; number of organized school districts, sixty; number of pupils in the county, 3,509; 1,100 in the city of Stillwa- ter, leaving 2,409 in the county outside of the city of Stillwater; the average wages paid to male teachers $48 per month; to females $42 per month. Value of school property in county $144,700.

MISSIONS.

Parallel with the development of the north- west, the cause of christianity was both intro- duced and advanced by earnest men, who love to do good among the destitute. The first effort to establish christianity in this county was probably made by the Roman Catholic church, and al- though names and dates cannot be given with great accuracy, yet it is a well known fact that almost the entire trade with the Indians for more fifty years was in the hands of French voyageurs. It may be douhted by some, and yet circumstan- tial evidence goes to establish the fact beyond a doubt, that Dr. Williamson began missionary movements at Kaposia sometime during the summer of 1836. The Methodist Episcopal church established a mission at that place in 1837, and sent Rev. Alfred Brunson to take charge of the work. Rev. Brunson found a congenial compan- ion and helping hand in the person of Rev. David King, who was engaged in a mission school among the Indians at this same place. After years of labor and toil in the face of almost in- surmountable difficulties, this mission was aban- doned in 1842. The name of this mission was changed to Red Rock. In many places the name Red Rock is used, and stands for the old Kapo- sia mission.

The first missionary sent to this country to preach the gospel to white settlers only, was Rev. Mr. Hurlburt of the Methodist Episcopal church. He came in the fall of 1844 and left in 1845. In 1846 Rev. J. W. Putnam, of the same church, was appointed to the St. Croix mission, which in- cluded all the settlements on the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers above Point Douglas. After

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.

continuing two years, he was succeeded in 1848 by Rev. Benjamin Close. In 1849 Rev. James Harrington was stationed at Stillwater, but died in August, 1850, when Rev. L. Nobles took charge. Rev. Nobles had been stationed at Point Douglas, and was succeeded in that field by Rev. J. W. Dow. In the autumn of 1846 the Presbyterian mission work among the Chippewa nation became more interesting. About this time Little Crow made application to Dr. Williamson, to come and live at his village of Kaposia, a few miles below St. Paul. Rev. Williamson, M. D., accepted the kind invitation, and soon moved to Kaposia. In the spring of 1847, the missionary force was in- creased by the addition of Revs. Gideon H. Pond and Robert Hopkins. These two missionaries could speak the Dakota language, and under- stood the peculiar customs of the Indians. Rev. G. H. Pond had spent, prior to this, thirteen years among the Indians in this territory.

In the summer of 1848 the strength of this mission was again increased by the addition of Rev. Joshua Potter, who was transferred from the Choctaw mission. In their account of this work we find a sentiment of this character : "Although strong in laborers, and occupying so many stations, the progress was slow and the opposition great; the gospel does not seem to take root here as it did at Lac-qui-Parle. The Dakotas desired to have a missionary reside at their village, because it brought them temporal advantages in various ways, but they sought not as yet the higher blessings which the gospel is designed to bring." These missionary move- ments led to an early move to establish churches in Washington county. Rev. W. T. Boutwell came into the country, under the direction of the Home Missionary society, in 1846, preaching at Stillwater, Marine, Cottage Grove and other points. By ordinary movement, in 1850, Rev. Mr. Whitney was sent to Stillwater. Rev. E. A. Greenleaf was appointed missionary at Still- water by the Protestant Episcopal church in April, 1846. Bishop Kemper stated that in June, 1848, that the Rev. Greenleaf was the only resi- dent minister of their denomination in the county at that date. He had built a house for his family, which also served as a school-room and as a place of worship. In the spring of 1847, he reported that he had preached at the Falls of St.

Croix, Cottage Grove, Prairie Farm and Still- water. The destruction of his house by a tornado, almost as soon as it had been finished, so dis- conraged him that he left the place in the fall of 1848.

The associate missionary for Minnesota Episco- pals, came to St. Paul, June, 1850. Washington county was a part of the field they controlled. This mission was composed of Revs, James L. Breck, John A. Merrick and Timothy Wilcoxson. They visited Stillwater, in July, 1850, walking from St. Paul. On the fourth of July two of them returned to St. Paul on foot; on the seventh of the same month Breck and Merrick officiated in Stillwater in the morning, and in Hudson, Wisconsin, in the afternoon of the same day; and on the 21st of July they held a service at Point Douglas, at the honse of an old settler by the name of Jesse Jackson. After this date services were held occasionally at Stillwater, Point Douglas, Cottage Grove, Afton and Arcola Mills. St. Panl's parish, of Point Douglas, was organized on Easter Monday, March 24th, 1856. In the year 1863, a parish was set off from St. Paul and Point Douglas, called St. Mary's, of Basswood Grove ; services were held regularly until Jnly, 1868, when a church was built. The corner stone was laid by Bishop Whipple in June, 1864; but it was not completed and consecrated until the date given above. The church at Point Douglas was begun in 1867, and is still unfinished though comfortable for a house of worship. In February, 1849, Rev. Mr. Brown was appointed by the American Baptist Home Mission society, as missionary, and stationed at Stillwater; he was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Webber, who came to Stillwater in the summer of 1850. The church has failed to establish a permanent organization in Stillwater. An effort is making at this date, (April, 1881), to effect an organization.

In the early summer of 1850, hostilities were renewed between the Dakotas and Chippewas. A famous war prophet at Red Wing, dreamed that he ought to collect together a war party. No sooner did he proclaim his convictions, than a number of his tribe expressed their willingness to join his cruel expedition. A small party from Kaposia joined the band, under the leadership of a despicable Indian, who had served a term in

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COUNTY FAIRS.

the guard house at Fort Snelling, the year previ- ous, for scalping his wife.

After preparing according to the Indian cus- tom, this band passed up the valley of the St. Croix. They were on the watch to discover any line that might lead them to their desired object. A few miles above Stillwater, the band discovered the marks of a keg and foot-prints on the snow. This led them to conclude that a couple of Chip- pewas had been to some trading place, secured some whiskey, and were returning to their camp. They followed the trail to Apple river, some twenty miles above Stillwater, when they found a small band of Chippewas, all quartered in one lodge.

Waiting till the break of day, Wednesday, April 2d, the Sioux made a sudden attack upon their unsuspecting victims, stupefied by their night debauch. The camp numbered fifteen and all were killed and scalped, except a lad of about fifteen years of age, who was made a cap- tive. After mutilating the bodies according to their custom, they started for Stillwater, which place they reached on Thursday. This band was composed of some sixty warriors. They danced tlie scalp dance in front of the Minnesota house, around the captive boy, making him beat the drum, in the excitement striking him in the face with the yet scarcely cold scalps of his relatives. A gentleman who witnessed the scene says it was terrible to look upon. The dancers stretched the scalps over hoops made from thin sticks, use- ing them as banners while they danced, thus man- ifesting the cruelty of their nature. An observer remarked, no man of humane feeling could look upon the scene without the conviction of an en- tire want of compassion on the part of the In- dians. Some of the older citizens of Stillwater, doubtless, will remember this, and almost wish they could blot it from memory, yet it must be told as one of the outbursts of an uncultured and savage life.

After the savage orgies ended the captive boy was ca ried away to Kaposia and adopted by the chief of the band. Measures were, however, promptly taken by Governor Ramsey for his re- lease. Soon after, a conference was held at the Governor's mansion and the boy delivered up. On being conducted to the kitchen, where food was offered him by a son of the governor, since

deceased, he manifested much alarm and wept bitterly, more frightened amid the kind whites than when a captive at Kaposia. He was re- turned in safety to his tribe.

The Washington County Agricultural society was organized at Cottage Grove in the winter of 1870 and '71, and incorporated the same year. The first election resulted in the choice of W. Furber, president; J. S. Norris, vice-president ; T. Elwell, secretary; and James Middleton, treas- urer. Suitable grounds were secured and fitted up, with fence, buildings, sheds, etc. The society held its first fair in the fall of 1871, with good re- sults, enabling the association to pay all expenses of fitting up the grounds, and leaving a surplus in the hands of the treasurer. Some years prior to this move an effort was made by Isaac Staples and several other gentlemen, to organize a society of similar character, and make Stillwater the place of its annual meeting, but for want of in- terest on the part of the people of Stillwater, it never came to maturity, and must be registered a failure. These same gentlemen took an interest in this organization at Cottage Grove, and at the next annual meeting, the delegates from Still- water being in the majority, moved that the next fair be held there. After some discus- sion this motion prevailed; the city of Still- water offering the society a bonus to hold the next fair in or near their place. The grounds were prepared and appropriate buildings erected on Webster field near the race track. The fair that fall, 1873, proved a success.

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