USA > Minnesota > Washington County > History of Washington County and the St. Croix Valley, including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota > Part 58
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In the spring of 1873, the driving park associa- tion was organized and secured suitable gounds. An offer was then made by them to the agricul- tural society that the two associations unite in fitting up grounds for joint accommodation. The offer was accepted and the grounds furnished with improvements accordingly, the agricultural society furnishing lumber and the driving park association providing labor. The grounds are known as the Webster grounds and are furnished with all necessary appliances.
The terms of agreement gave the driving park association control of the race course with the proceeds of sales of seats in the ampitheatre, and a portion of the entrance fees.
The next fair in the fall of 1874, proved a financial success, enabling the treasurer to meet
334
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
all expenses, and leaving a surplus in the treas- ury. In the spring of 1875, there was some dis- agreement between the two associations in regard to the amount charged by the driving park asso- ciation. After some discussion between these bodies, the driving park association decided that they could not rent their grounds to any other association, on account of rules laid down by the National Driving Park Association, by which this association was governed. This led to a di- vision of interests, and the agricultural associa- tion began to look for a new and convenient lo- cation where they could erect suitable buildings for the next fair. The St. Paul, Stillwater and Taylor's Falls Railway Company made the asso- ciation an offer of the free use of grounds, lo- cated between their tracks and the north end of Lake Elmo, with free transportation of all mate- rial for fitting up the grounds. This proposition was accepted, and the grounds properly fitted up during the summer at great expense, with race course, halls, etc. Some attractive features were added that.same fall, as rowing on the lake, ball and rifle clubs; these, with convenient access to the new location, combined to make the fair in the fall of 1875, a grand success, in attendance and display; but the expense of fitting up a race- course, erecting an entirely new set of buildings, fence, and all that pertains to a complete fair ground, was so large, that after deducting the receipts from the outlay, there still remained an indebtedness of $1,400 against the society. This did not discourage the managers, for they looked forward to the next annual fair with fond expec. tation of canceling the indebtness. But these hopes, like the summer rose nipped in early au- tumn, were doomed to sudden destruction. In the month of June, 1877, a cyclone visited this part of the country, destroying the buildings, sheds and fences. It is said the large hall was picked by the current of air, carried up about one hun- dred feet, turned over, and then dashed to the ground with great violence. a perfect wreck.
The hotel belonging to the railroad company was thrown over and nearly destroyed. The depot building was taken up, twisted in pieces, and scattered for some distance in the path of the cyclone. It is said that portions of the din- ing hall were never found, while pieces were picked up several miles from the fair-ground.
So complete was the destruction that the society could realize but $80 for what remained of a once well-furnished fair-ground. Immediately after this mishap the officers of the society effected a union with the driving park association, which during the year had changed officers. The fair was held for the two following years under this arrangement; but from unforeseen causes, proved unsuccessful, when the enterprise was abandoned. The following officers assumed the debt, paying the amount of $200 each: William Fowler, J. H. Crain, E. M. Cox, Newton McKu- sick, J. W. Wheeler, George Kern, James Mid- dleton and W. H. Getchell. The next year no fair was held in the county, and now, in the early part of 1881, an effort is making to reorganize the defunct society.
COUNTY POOR FARM.
The county poor-house is located on a farm of 207 acres, about five miles north of the city of Stillwater. It is in township 30, range 20, sections 5 and 6; eighty-seven acres being in section 5, and one hundred and twenty acres in section 6. It was purchased by the county, through Harvey Wilson, the clerk of the county court. Here the poor share the bounty, a benefi- cent hand is pleased to bestow upon the county. The county has erected a comfortable two-story frame building, affording all the necessary com- forts for those who are in any way constrained to make this their home. It has two barns fur- nishing ample convenience for stock and grain.
The stump-tail currency. During a few years before Minnesota became a state, the financial condition of the country was anything but pro- pitious. The terrible financial commotion of these years had prostrated all business, destroyed the real value of property, and undermined confi- dence in men and business pursuits, so that the am- bition which had overcome the obstacles of a new country, was well-nigh crushed. The years slowly passed, leaving sad recollections of early hopes in many a once happy home. The harvest of 1858 was good for this county, and yet a large amount or bread-stuff was imported. The year following this depression must, of necessity, be more op- pressive. A sad state of things followed. Many were not able to pay taxes, to say nothing of con- tracted debts and any desire to secure more com-
335
RAILROADS.
modious and convenient homes. The price of labor had so depreciated, that when one had been fortunate enough to obtain employment, the com- pensation was not sufficient to secure the necessi- ties for an ordinary family. To still further increase the suffering, already great, the scrip of the county and of the state was at a discount; while that of other states. especially of Illinois and Wisconsin, was almost worthless. Discounts of forty and fifty per cent. were common on all except banks secured by state laws.
During 1859 the financial condition of the county grew worse. The circulating medium of the county and state was almost unknown. Many could not avoid failure, even with a farm almost free from incumbrance, or engaged in business in the best possible form. Property had depreci- ated at least one-half, business pursuits so thwarted, that any article of merchandise must be disposed of at great sacrifice. This dark cloud began to break in 1860, by the introduction of a solar influence, affording a bounteous har- vest; but for want of a circulating medium, the heavy lines of gloom still lingered over the coun- ty. Some one has aptly said, "The severest blow the North-west has felt came through the agency of the Illinois and Wisconsin stump-tail currency. For three years it has been our circulating me- dium, driving out almost all other currency. The result is, that nearly all the money in the Northwest is of this character, and not one note out of every hundred is worth a continental. Something must be done soon, and that some- thing will be the refusal of all Illinois and Wis- consin currency. Our granaries are filled with produce, and that produce will soon be demanded in the eastern markets. If all our dealers would combine and refuse to sell our grain except for coin or eastern currency, gold would soon take the place of the miserable stuff with which the country is now flooded." This shows the true condition of the country at this peculiar crisis.
In the city of Stillwater, prompt action was taken to free the people from the dilemma, by re- fusing to accept the trash in circulation for money, and substituting something of a home character to take its place.
The city authorities and school board combined, and issued school bonds, calling for five and ten dollars each, to the amount of several thousand
dollars; these bonds circulated for some time in place of bank bills, and served a good purpose. For a time these bonds were the only circulating medium in the county. continuing up to the time that greenbacks were issued by the United States. This marks one of the darkest periods in this county, in financial movements. Many of the good people of to-day can call to mind scenes of suffering, far in excess of any picture portrayed in these pages.
RAILROADS.
The county is traversed by four railroad lines, which give it direct communication with the out- side world and transport its productions and im- portations. The era of railroad enterprise began in 1855, by the agitation of a project to construct a road to be called the St. Croix and Lake Su- perior railroad. This enterprise was never car- ried out; the survey of a route ending its exist- ence. The method in early days was to obtain a land grant from the state and then secure sub- scriptions from the population along the proposed route. This plan placed the inhabitants of a county under obligations to the corporation, which largely counteracted the benefits growing ont of the construction of a road.
The Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad Company obtained a grant of 1,202,712 acres. Charter was granted May, 1857, to this company, the line to run from St. Paul to Duluth. Work on the original route was commenced in 1864, and the line was opened for traffic, August, 1870. Total cost of the road, $7,700,000. In 1877, it passed into the control of the St. Paul and Du_ luth Railroad Company, who now operate it.
The Stillwater and St. Paul railroad, incorpo- rated July 24th, 1867, secured a land grant of 63,853 acres. This line runs from Stillwater to White Bear, where it joins the Lake Superior and Mississippi railroad. It was opened for traffic in May, 1871.
The St. Paul and Duluth Railroad Company was organized in June, 1877, and assumed con- trol of the Lake Superior and Mississippi rail- road, which it had acquired by purchase through the United States circuit court the preceding month. The line connects Stillwater and White Bear, and runs north through the towns of Oneka and Forest Lake.
The River Division of the Chicago, Millwaukee
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
and St. Paul railway passes through the towns of Newport, Cottage Grove and Denmark. The line from St. Paul to Hastings was built in 1869, by the Chicago and St. Paul Railway Company, under charter granted to the Minnesota and Pa- cific Railroad Company in 1857. The present man- agement obtained control of the line in 1872. The bridge across the Mississippi at Hastings was con- structed in 1878, and was the first iron railway bridge in the state. In respect of cost and work- manship, it ranked with the important structures of the North-west. The total length of the river bridge is 706 feet, and consists of an iron draw span 300 feet long, two fixed spans each of 150 feet in length, and a combination span on the north shore 106 feet in length. The cost of the struc- ture was $200,000.
The St. Paul, Stillwater and Taylor's Falls railroad received from the state of Minnesota 44,246 acres of land, the proceeds of the sale of which was to be applied to the construction of the above named road. The company was organ- ized under the general laws of the state, and in- corporated September 23rd, 1869. The route of the road defined in the articles of incorporation is between St. Paul and Taylor's Falls by way of Stillwater, passing through or near Marine, with a branch road to Hudson, Wisconsin. Length of main line from St. Paul to Stillwater is seven- teen and fifty-four-hundredths miles. Hudson branch line from Stillwater Junction to Lake St. Croix three and one-fourth miles. South Still- water branch line from Stillwater to South Stillwater, three miles. The first train by this line reached Stillwater from St. Paul, February 9th, 1872. The capital stock, one million dol- lars, may be increased at pleasure. The number of shares of capital stock is ten thousand, of one hundred dollars each, limit of indebtedness, one million five hundred thousand dollars. Total tonnage of this road for the year ending June 30th, 1879, was 32,123 tons. Gross earnings for freight, $38,089.31; passengers, $29,021.78; express, $1,- 012.74; rents, $42,727.56; total, $110,851.39. The tonnage of the Stillwater branch of the St. Paul and Duluth railroad, 59,400 tons. Gross earnings for 1880, was, freight, $26,742.98; passengers, $21,086.96; total, $47,829.94. During the winter of 1880 and 1881, the road passed under the con-
trol of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway Company.
STATISTICS.
Washington county need not be ashamed of her record. whatever may be said of the finan- cial condition of things in 1860. A radical change has taken place, as we learn from the following figures, showing the amount of real and personal property returned by the assessors of the various townships for 1880, giving the value of the lead- ing items.
In the township of Afton, there was returned $58,151 of personal property, including 262 horses and 517 cattle; in Baytown, $21,970 of personal property, including 115 horses and 323 cattle; Cottage Grove, $69,850 personal property, includ- ing 337 horses and 626 cattle; Denmark, $42,071 of personal property, including 287 horses and 560 cattle; Grant, $17,502 of personal property, in- cluding 116 horses and 274 cattle; Lakeland, $41,- 409 of personal property, including 171 horses and 415 cattle; Marine, $74,337 of personal prop- erty, including 200 hundred horses and 900 cat- tle; Newport, $21,245 of personal property, in- cluding 74 horses and 230 cattle; Oakdale, $34,- 714 of personal property, including 176 horses and 465 cattle; Oneka, $12,445 of personal prop- erty, including 42 horses and 160 cattle; Stillwa- ter, $32,270 of personal property; including 128 horses and 246 cattle; Woodbury, $49,992 of per- sonal property, including 291 horses and 632 cat- tle; Stillwater, (city) $519,149 of personal prop- erty, including 311 horses and 199 cattle; total value of horses in the county at $69.84 per head, $175,083; cattle at $15.60 per head, $84,539; total valuation of Stillwater, personal, $519,149, of the county outside of Stillwater, $479,891; total, 999,- 040;total amount of personal property exempt from taxation, $144,528, leaving $851,572 of taxable property; and real estate, $2,236,296 in the county, #8,087,808.
From an estimate made in February, 1876, the following figures are obtained, showing the amount of church property in the county. Baptist, $2,925; Catholic, $62,000; Congregational, $8,- 425; Episcopal, $2,500; Lutheran, $19,150; Meth- odist, $2,000; Presbyterian, $8,500; Universalist, $5,750; total, $111,125.
337
STATISTICS.
The following figures were gathered by George B. Wright, real estate dealer of Minneapolis.
"Nothing in romance equals the marvels of facts. Notice the wonderful growth in twenty- ty-five years of the wheat crop in Minnesota."
"The report shows the number of farms under cultivation, and the number of bushels produced: In 1850, 157 farms producing 1,400 bushels; in 1860, 18,081 farms, producing 2,186,373 bushels ; in 1870, 46,256 farms, producing 17,680,467 bush- els; in 1875, 60,000 farms, producing 31,475,000 bushels. From the report of state commissioner of statistics, for the year 1875, we learn there is an unoccupied wheat area sufficient for 100,000 to 150,000 new wheat farms of an average size, yet remaining to be opened and improved in the state. It is not an ill-founded supposition to say the day is not far distant when every available acre of till- able land in the state will be cultivated. When this shall have been accomplished, there will be produced 100,000,000 bushels per annum, suffi- cient to furnish bread for the world. Such a wheat crop would load one continuous train of cars 1,900 miles in length. If it were possible the locomotive would have passed New York and Boston and reached a point four hundred miles beyond, before the last car would have left the Minneapolis depot."
But startling figures do not obtain alone in farmers and bushels of wheat, nor yet in dollars, in Minnesota, but also in the number of its citi- zens. The population of the state for 1850, was 6,077 ; for 1860, 172,023 ; for 1865, 250,099; for 1870, 430,706 ; and for 1880,780,082. For Wash- ington county the population in 1850 was 1,056; for 1860, 6,123: for 1865; 6,780; for 1870, 11,809; for 1875, 9,994; and for 1880, 19,553. The number of Indians in 1860: Lower Sioux. 2,700; Upper Sioux,4,500, Chippewas 7,000; Winnebagoes, 2,800; total number, 17,000. Total population in 1860: Whites, 172,023; Indians, 17,000; total, 189,023. Since the census of 1860, in consequence of the disorderly character of the Sioux they have been wholly removed from the state. The massacre of 1862 ended their career in Minnesota.
Washington county is situated on the eastern border of the state, forming a part of the St. Croix valley. It is about thirty-eight miles long, with an average breadth of about eleven miles, con-
taining an area of 418 square miles, or 267,520 acres. The southern portion of the county is a rich rolling prairie. It is justly described as having a diversified surface; the central por- tion abounds in small prairies, and oak open- ings; and the northern portion becomes brok- en, and some parts intercepted by deep ra- vines covered with forests. All kinds of timber known along the Mississippi is found here, except beach and sycamore. In an earlier day the In- dians utilized the maple in the production of sugar, while the cottonwood and butternut were con- verted into canoes for their comfort and conven- ience. In modern times the great pineries of the St. Croix Valley, produce the chief branch of trade, and form an important source of wealth for the state. For a full description of the lum- ber industry, see chapter on the St. Croix Valley.
The climate of this country has elicited enco- niums from its frequent visitors, although errone- ous impressions have prevailed at a distance in consequence of the low range of temperature dur- ing the winter. The summer days correspond to those of Philadelphia, while the evenings are cool and refreshing. Sweltering nights from which the sleeper awakes exhausted, rather than re- freshed, are unknown.
In winter the climate is not subject to sudden and marked changes, and hence winter is no more trying to the constitution than the summer. The quantity of snow that falls from year to year varies much; cloudy days are few; and the night skies are studded with a glittering array of stars; the air is dry and bracing; so that from early morn to late evening, the weak and indisposed often find the healing balm needed to restore them to the desired state of vigor and health.
During the coldest weather, the air is remark- ably quiet; and hence the temperature is much more tolerable, and even pleasant, than could be supposed by those who live in the same latitude on the Atlantic coast, or on the level prairies of Illinois, subject to the miasmatic influences of so rich and cereal a district. These statements por- tray the candid conclusion of a majority of the people, and hence do not admit of the slightest doubt, though they may differ radically from the preconceived opinions of many who may talk learnedly of climatology.
Minnesota, as a state, stands in the dawning
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
day of a propitious future. The unfoldings of a few years predicate her future greatness. Her present status, though great, is but the incipient condition of what doubtless will be a glorious future. She has no classic grounds, no fields of Marathon, and no Valley of Idumea within her borders; nothing pre-historic, save those things to which the red man pointed as the "Golgo- tha" of his fathers. Here, on these shores for many years the smoke .of the Indian's wigwam gracefully curled upward amid nature's forest trees. On the banks of these beautiful lakes of limpid water, bordered with heavy bodies of timber and vast woodlands, which have been for centuries,
"Alike their birth and burial place, Their cradle and their grave;"
we see manufacturing interests of all kinds, and active, growing towns, educational centers, with numerous subordinate branches, so that the chil- dren of rich and poor may enjoy advantages of education; numerous elegant church edifices with spires glittering in the beams of the morning sun.
And now, standing in the aurora, forecasting a brilliant future, we are content with our progress, and, if we have no triumphal arch to which we can point with ancestral pride, no golden medals to recall self-sacrificing heroes and gallant patriots, yet we have much of interest to those who come after us. In the future of Minnesota, doubtless this county will not prove unworthy of the time- honored name it bears, as the previous record shows her to have been worthy of it in the past.
CHAPTER LII.
WAR RECORD OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
The date of the organization of the First Regi- ment of Volunteers of Minnesota, April, 1861, will indicate the enthusiasm of the state in re- sponding to the call of the country for defenders. April 12th had heard the first gun at Fort Sum- ter; April 13th had witnessed the surrender of the fort; April 14th, Abraham Lincoln had issued
his famous proclamation calling for 75,000 three months men, more than enough, we all felt sure, to wipe out every vestige of rebellion.
Minnesota, one of the youngest daughters in the family of states, comes to the front in April, and organizes her first regiment. Indeed, this regiment did not furnish places enough for men, wishing to enlist as privates, to show their patri- otism. The country was electrified by seeing this regiment of stalwart men, moving to the front in June, coming from a state of which many citi- zens had not even heard, whose record was yet to be made. This young state was not only quick to respond to the demand for men, under the en- thusiasm that pervaded the country during the earlier stages of the war, but she held out to the last with her quota, through all the dark days that followed.
When it was ascertained that 75,000 men would not accomplish it, successive calls were made- for 300,000, 300,000 500,000, etc., until, at last, a grand total of nearly 3,500,000 had been furnished to do what it was anticipated a handful of men could accomplish in a few weeks.
Minnesota followed up these successive de- mands, until the very Indians thought her terri- tory was nearly depleted of fighting men, and assailed her unprotected settlers. War was thus brought to her own doors, in forms more dreadful than at Antietam or Gettysburg. The records will show how well the state behaved under the fiery ordeal of war. It belongs to us only to transcribe to these pages the roll of honor of the county, hoping to assist in immortalizing the names of the patriotic and hrave defenders of our flag. Here they are, rank and file. Honor them all.
ABBREVIATIONS.
Adjt
Adjutant
Art. Artillery
Bat. Battle or Battalion
Col.
Colonel
Capt
. Captain
Corp
. Corporal
com . commissioned
Comsy Commisary
Cav
Cavalry
captd.
. captured
destd. deserted
disabl. .disability
339
FIRST REGIMENT INFANTRY.
dis. . discharged
inft.
infantry
M. V. I. Minnesota Volunteer Infantry
Lieut.
Lieutenant
Major Maj
musician
mus.
.promoted
pro .:
.regiment regt
re-enlisted
re-en.
.resigned
res.
sergt
.sergeant
trans
transferred
. veteran
vet.
V. R. C .. Veteran Reserve Corps
wounded wd.
FIRST REGIMENT INFANTRY.
Originally commanded by Colonel W. A. Gor- man.
Field and Staff Officers-Geo. N. Morgan, Col- onel, com. Sept. 26, 1862, pro. from Co. E, res. May 5, 1863.
John N. Chase, Adjutant, com. Oct. 22, 1861, pro. Capt. Co. H, Sept. 26, 1862, dis. with Regt. May 4, 1864.
Charles W. Le Boutillier, Asst. Surgeon, com. April 29, 1861, trans. to Minnesota Skeleton Regt.
Rev. Edward D. Neill, Chaplain, com. April 29, 1861, res. July 13, 1862.
John W. Pride, Sergt. Major, com. March 5, 1864, pro. from Co. E. dis. with regt. May 4, 1864.
Company B, First Infantry, was raised in Washington county by Captain C. A. Bromley, and under the call of President Lincoln for 75,000 volunteers for three months' service, were mus- tered in April 29th, 1861, at Fort Snelling.
The war department refusing to receive them for three months, it become necessary to re-enlist for three years; the company consisted of upwards of one hundred men. They were first ordered to Fort Ridgely, to relieve the regulars stationed at that point, and remained there till June, when they returned to Fort Snelling on the steamer Northern Belle, exciting universal admiration for their soldierly appearance. Uniting with their regiment at the fort, they left for Washington, June 22d; arriving at the latter place, they re- mained a few days, then went on to Alexandria.
Participated in the battle of Bull Run, which took place July 21st, at which they received their baptism of fire, losing several killed and wounded; they soon after returned to Washington.
In August, 1861, were ordered to Edwards' Ferry, on the upper Potomac, where they re- mained till the following March. They then took part in the Winchester expedition, under General Banks,but when within sight of Winchester, turned and marched back to Alexandria. In April, 1862, was ordered to the Peninsula, and camped at Yorktown, where they remained until its evacu- ation by the rebels, May 7th, 1862, then went up York river and took part in the battle of West Point; thence across the country to Chickahom- ing river, where the noted "Sumner's Grapevine Bridge" was built, chiefly by this company; it proved afterward the salvation of Keyes' corps, at the battle of Seven Pines, May 30th.
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