History of Washington County and the St. Croix Valley, including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 62

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 62

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Point Douglas ferry was established in 1852. Leander Felt conducted this ferry for about four years before a charter was obtained. In 1856, a charter was granted to Felt and Tickner to run a ferry from Point Douglas to Prescott, which he controled for nine years, and then sold it to Whit- comb and Atwater; they run it four years when the charter expired. Then a dispute arose be- tween the firm of Whitcomb and Atwater, and W. B. Dibble; the former having a charter from Wisconsin and the latter from Minnesota. Two ferry boats were built, but in a short time Mr. Dibble bought out Whitcomb and Atwater, and thus put an end to the strife, and conducted the business alone. In 1874, he obtained a new char- ter, and is now the sole proprietor. The Hastings ferry runs directly from Hastings across the St. Croix river to section 7, in town 26, range 20. It was inaugurated by a Mr. Fulton, who sold it to W. J. Leduc, who controlled it till 1871, since which time the city of Hastings has managed it in the interests of her own people.

SCHOOLS.

The first school of this township was known as the "Valley school," and was organized in 1850. A log school-house was built the same year, and John H. Craig was the pioneer teacher. This log house was removed in 1852, the present com- modious frame house taking its place. The rec- ords were lost, but by traditional authority, we are warranted to make this statement of first officers.

Trustees-S. Hurtsill, Wm. Campbell and D. White. The present teacher is Miss Mary J.

Leonard; present officers are, Wm. Atwater, director; J. H. Hone, treasurer and John M. McGill, clerk. Present number of pupils is twenty.

School district No. 35 was organized by the commissioners in February. 1854. In March fol- lowing, at the house of Mark Wright the first officers were elected: Wm. Allibone, clerk; trus- tees, Thomas Hetherington, Mark Wright and Samuel Shingledecker. By a vote of the house- holders of the district in 1856, the school-house was located on the southwest quarter of section fifteen. James Clark was the first teacher. at four dollars per week. A neat and ample house was built on the site of the old one in 1876, at a cost of $1,000. Present number of pupils is fifty-one.

School district No. 45 was organized Septem- ber, 1867. Lyman Shingledecker gave the dis- trict one acre of land for a site on south-east corner of section five, township twenty-seven, range twenty. First officers were: H. Gallinger, clerk; A. H. Cook, director; and E. Klinkerfuse, treasurer. Louisa Cady was the first teacher, receiving twenty dollars per month. The school- house was built in 1868; and the district enrolls twenty-eight pupils. Present officers are: Henry Gallinger, treasurer; John Bahe, clerk, and Frank Brendenmuhl, director. Teacher, J. A. Thomp- son, receiving thirty-eight dollars per month. This district enrolls fifty-eight pupils.

School district No. 49, time of organization could not be obtained. The school-house was built in 1869, on a lot located on the south-east quarter of section twenty-eight. The first officers were: Thomas Fisher, director; Alexander Ni- coll, clerk; W. B. Dibble, treasurer. The first teacher was D. B. Gallinger. This house was de- stroyed by the storm of June 14th, 1877; another was erected the same fall. The present officers are: Michael Sorg, director; William A. Page, clerk; and John Henry, treasurer.

School district No. 58, was organized in 1873. Its first officers were, Wm. Hageman, treasurer ; S. W. Dalrymple, clerk; and John Coffman, di- rector. This house was built in 1874, on a lot in section six. The first school was taught in the fall of 1877 by Mary G. Hurly. She had thirty pupils. The present officers are, Wm. Hageman, treasurer; John Cohoes, clerk; and John Conley,

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director; the present teacher is J. P. John- son, receiving $40.00 per month.

School district No. 59, was regularly organized May 13th, 1874. Its first officers were, Thomas Wright, director; Adam Olson, clerk, and Philip Hummell, treasurer. The house was built on a lot in the northeast corner of section nineteen, in 1874, and school began the same fall, taught by Emma L. McHattie ; she received $37.00 per month and had nineteen pupils that term. Pres- ent officers are, Peter Swanson, director; William Clark, clerk, and Philip Hummell, treasurer. The present teacher is Mary J. Daulton.

CHURCHES.

Rev. W.T. Boutwell preached first in this neigh- borhood in 1844, and occasionally afterwards for some years. Rev. Chauncy Hobart dispensed the gospel for a period of years about 1849.

The first preaching looking to the organization of a church was by Revs. J. L. Breck, J. A. Merrick and T. Wilcoxson, members of the asso- ciate mission. A church called St. Paul's Parish, was organized at Point Douglas, by Rev. T. Wilcoxson, March 24th, 1856, with the following members: T. Wilcoxson, G. W. Campbell, Caleb Truax, Sr., Mark Wright, Sr., John H. Craig, Thomas Wright, Thomas Hetherington, Mark Wright, Jr., and James Shearer. The officers were: wardens, George W. Campbell and Caleb Truax, Sr .; vestrymen, Thomas Hetherington, Thomas Wright, James Shearer, Mark Wright, Sr., and John H. Craig; Thomas Hetherington, treasurer, and John H. Craig, clerk. The church was built in 1868, but left in an unfinished state, and remains in that condition. It has been oc- cupied, affording regular services for the peo- ple. Its present officers are as follows: war- dens, John O. Henry and James Shearer; vestry- men, Thomas Fisher, Sr., John II. Hone, Charles Henry, Alexander Nicoll, Thomas D. Fisher and Albert Page. The rector is Timothy Wilcoxson.

St. Mary's Episcopal church was organized April 30th, 1863 by Rev. Timothy Wilcoxson, with the following officers: wardens-Mark Wright, Sr., and William Stotesbury, Jr .; vestry- men-Wm. Allibone, Thomas Wright, Thomas Paley, Alexander H. Cook and Ambrose Stotes- bury. The church secured a lot of two and one- 1:alf acres, in the south-west quarter of section

fifteen, and began building in May, 1864. The corner-stone was laid by Bishop Whipple, and the church was finished in April, 1878. This church is 36x24, with a chancel 16x12, affording a comfortable and convenient place for its parish- ioners to worship God according to their own in- clination. The present officers are as follows: wardens-Henry Gallinger and Wm. Stotesbury, Jr .; vestrymen-John Burton, Mark Wright, Ambrose Stoteshury and John Wright. Mark Wright, treasurer, and John Burton, clerk.

Point Douglas Grange, No. 490. This grange was organized March 16th, 1874, with twenty- eight charter members. Nearly all the principal citizens of the neighborhood gave their influence to this new enterprise. The first officers were: James Shearer, master; J. H. Hone, overseer; T. P. James, lecturer; Wm. Page, steward; John Burton, assistant steward; O. F. Davis, chap- lain; E. H. Whitaker, treasurer; J. R. Bell, sec- retary; Mrs. James Shearer, Ceres; Mrs. Mark Wright, Pomona; Mrs. O. F. Davis, Flora; Mrs. T. Wright, L. A. S. It enrolls twenty-five mem- bers at present, and holds three regular meetings a month at Whitaker's Hall. Officers elected January 1st, 1881, were as follows: James Shearer, master; J. H. Hone, overseer; T. P. James, lecturer; John Burton, steward; John Wright, assistant steward; Mrs. P. James, chap- lain; E. H. Whitaker, treasurer; Mrs. James Shearer, secretary; Mark Wright, G. R .; Mrs. William Page, Ceres; Mrs. J. H. Hone, Pomona; Mrs. John Wright, Flora; Mrs. E. H. Whitaker, stewardess.

The first road was laid out by the government in 1848, and is known as the Point Douglas and Superior City road. The next was laid out 1849 to St. Paul, and known as the Point Douglas and St. Paul road.

Emmet M. Hone, son of David and Mary G. Hone, was born November 30th, 1845, in the Union House, Point Douglas. It is generally agreed, that this was the first white child born in this township. Carver Dibble was born at Point Douglas, August 20th, 1846; a son of Wm. B. and Eliza J. Dibble.

Carver Dibble died January 25th, 1847; Mrs. Eliza J. Dibble died November 25th, 1847.

Levi Hurtsill and Rhoda Pond were married at Stillwater, in 1845. Oscar Burris and Almira M.

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Henry were married November 14th, 1847, in the village of Point Douglas. From this modest beginning, the queenly power of matrimony has constantly increased its domain.

State officers furnished by the township of Denmark. Denmark has done her part in furn- ishing the administration of justice in the state. G. W. Campbell, Caleb Truax, Sr., Martin Leavitt and Charles E. Leonard were representatives at different session of the state legislature.

Denmark Silver Cornet band, was organized July 10th, 1874. It's members were, John Bur- ton, John Allibone, William Hetherington, Chas. Henry, Robert Wright, Wm. J. Wright, William Fisher, Charles Page, George Holt, Elias Heth- erington, and George Wright. These gentlemen honored the people for many years with cheer- ing and inspiring musical treats.

Lime kiln. Wm. Bush legan to burn lime about 1856, after a number of years Henry Stotes- bury took his place, and continued to burn lime for a number of years, when the property passed into the possession of Simon Fetterley. It is not now continued as a business, although limestone seems to exist in abundance in that locality.

John Olsen built a store on the north-west quarter of south-west quarter of section 15. It was 24x16, and one and one-half stories high. In 1871 he sold out to Thomas Paley, who re- modeled the building, and made a dwelling house out of it. Samuel Dangerfield, in 1874, bought a small house on the same tract of land, some distance south of where Mr. Olsen's store stood, built an addition and opened a general merchan- dise store; after doing a good business for two years was burned out. Misfortune comes to men, but ere the voice of complaint has been calmed, another steps into the foreground and lifts aloft the fallen banner. Scarcely had the curling smoke ceased to rise from the ruins of the last store building, before Asa Clothier built another. 16x12, and one story high. Soon after he added an addition 34x18, for a hall. This served the two-fold purpose of furnishing a hall for public entertainments, and a place for the meetings of the I. O. G. T. This last organization dissolved in February, 1881.

Leavitt's feed mill was built in the fall of 1879. It was 22x16, built in a substantial manner. It is furnished with a patent feed mill, and obtains

its power from an eight horse-power engine. In the fall of 1880, an addition, 40x22, was added, as an engine house and store room. This mill has a capacity of twenty bushels per hour; and is located on section 6, township 24, range 20.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

William Atwater was born in New York in 1816. He remained with his parents until twenty-one years of age, during which time he learned carpentering. He continued in the busi- ness six years, then bought five-hundred acres of land and opened a farm, on which he remained nearly fourteen years. He then engaged in the mercantile business six years when he sold, and removed to Prescott, Wisconsin. In 1864 he and his brother-in-law purchased a ferry which they run between Prescott and Point Doug- las five years. He sold his interest to his brother-in-law, then bought the ferry which is plying, at the present time, between Point Doug- las and Hastings. He is the present postmaster at Point Douglas. He was married, in 1842, to Anna E. Fowler, who died in 1858, leaving two children. Mr. Atwater was remarried to Sarah P. Clark.

Henry Behrens, a native of Germany, was born in 1855. He came to America, with his parents, in 1867, and after a few months stay in New York, they proceeded to St. Paul, Minnesota. Locating on a farm, four miles from St. Paul, they re- mained there three years, then removed to Wood- bury, where they still live. Mr. Behrens at twenty-one years of age, rented a farm in Den- mark, Minnesota, where he still remains. He was married in 1878 to Miss Mary Raths, who has borne him one child, Elizabeth.

George J. Bush was born in upper Canada in 1839. At the age of fourteen he removed with his parents to Illinois, where they resided a short time, thence to Point Douglas, Minnesota. George remained at home until 1863, when he purchased a home. He resided a few years in Waseca county, and finally located at Denmark. His wife was Ann Hetherington, whom he married in 1863. They have had four children: Linden G., Alvey, Cora and William E.

J. D. Bennett was born in Pennsylvania in 1844. At eight years of age he accompanied his parents to Indiana. Three years later he w ut to

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Prescott, Wisconsin, then to Baytown, Washing- ton county, Minnesota; he remained in that lo- cality about nine years, then removed to Den- mark, where he still lives on his farm. He mar- ried in 1880, Elizabeth Oldham.

Malcom Black, a native of Scotland, was born in 1832. His parents died when he was quite young, leaving him alone. In 1849, he went to Glasgow, where he remained until coming to America in 1853. He lived in Livingston county, New York, three years, then came to Washing- ton county Minnesota. He engaged in lumbering and farming several years, and in 1865, bought a farm near Denmark, on which he has resided since 1871. He was married in 1867 to Miss Lydia Eastwood. Their children are, Jessie S., Mary E., Katherine and Elsie.

Frank Brendemuhl, a native of Germany, was born in 1839. His family came to America in 1841. In the spring of that year they located on a farm near Watertown, Wisconsin. The father died in 1854, soon after which Frank went to Kansas, thence to Princeton, Minnesota, where he made a claim. In 1862 lie enlisted in Com- pany I, Sixth Regiment Minnesota Volunteers; after serving three years he was discharged at Fort Snelling. He returned and purchased a farm on which he still lives. He holds the office of school director of district number forty-five. His family consists of wife and six children: William, Henry, Fred, Louis, Ida and Melinda.

Albert Brendemuhl was born at Watertown, Wisconsin, in 1846. At thirteen years of age he went to Kansas, thence to Princeton, Minnesota, remaining nearly six years. He sold the property he had accumulated there and came to Denmark, Washington county, where he still resides on a farm. His marriage with Louise Marshall took place in 1868. Their children are: Anna, Ed- ward, Emma, Amelia and William.

John Coffman, a native of Pennsylvania, was born in Chester county in 1825. His father's death occurred when he was only six months old, and he was taken by his grandfather, with whom he lived until seventeen years of age. IIe en- gaged in farming for others ten years, then .came to Point Douglas, Minnesota, and in 1854 entered two hundred acres of land, on the St. Croix river, near Denmark. In 1860 he ob- tained property, by trading his farm, in Prescott,

Wisconsin; soon after he returned to Denmark, where he now lives. He married Ellen Clark, who died in 1863, leaving six children. He re- married to Miss Mary Johnson, who has borne him five children, four of whom are living.

William J. Cohoes was born near Rutland, Vermont, December 25th, 1838. When about ten years of age, his father died, and in consequence, William was obliged to begin the battle of life in early years. In 1852, his mother granted him the remaining time until he should reach his ma- jority. He worked on the Champlain and Erie canals and the Hudson river on a freight boat. Coming west to Fulton, Iowa, in 1857, he tarried a brief time, thence to Point Douglas, and the following year went to Missouri, entering there . the employ of the United States and American Express Company. After continuing in the em- ploy of the government some time, he crossed the plains to the gold fields, but in 1860, re-entered the employ of the express company, and the next year returned to Point Douglas, Minnesota. Here he engaged in agriculture until enlisting in the First Minnesota Regiment in 1865, was with General Grant until the surrender of General Lee. Returning to civil life and his home, he has since resumed his agricultural pursuits. Miss Chris- tiana Truax became his wife in 1863, and has borne him eight children.

John Conley was born at Fort Snelling, Min- nesota, in 1845. At nineteen years of age he en- listed in Company F, Minnesota Independent Bat- talion; he served until 1866, when he received his discharge. In 1868, he purchased eighty acres in Denmark, Minnesota, where he still lives. He was married in 1868 to Mary McDermott: Alice, Theresa, William, Mamie, Josie, Thomas and Anna are their children.

Johanna Connelley, a native of Ireland, was born in 1817. She came to America in 1851, and made Monroe, Orange county, New York, her home. She removed to Point Douglas, Minne- sota, the next year. She and Martin Connelly were united in marriage in 1853. He was a widower and was the parent of three children: William, John and Thomas. He owned a farm at Denmark, on which they lived, and since his death, which happened in September, 1880, his widow has passed her time there. Her children

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are: Dennis, who is a cripple; Mary, Martin and Michael.

Allen Cook was born in Canada West, in 1828. He went to St. Lawrence county, New York, where he lived seven years, then went to Hudson, Wisconsin. Soon after. he became a resident of Denmark. His mother lives with him, his father having died in 1854. Mr. Cook was mar- ried in 1864 to Margaret McChesney. They have five children living: Amelia, Sarah, William H., John A. and Josiah.

Edward Delamore was born in Ireland in 1812. He came to Canada in 1832, thence to Albany, New York, where he remained only a short time. He then made his home in Ulster county, New York, until 1847, when he went to Vermont and bought a farm. Here he lived ten years, then made Hastings, Minnesota, his home seven years. His present place of residence is Point Douglas, locating there in 1864. He was married in 1837. His family consists of his wife and seven children.

William B. Dibble was born in New York in 1815. He went to Pennsylvania in 1832, and after remaining nearly two years went to Georgia and Alabama, engaged in the stage business. He bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Illinois, on which he remained some time. After traveling through different states a number of years he started for the California mines in 1849. He engaged in mining two years, then returned and located at Point Douglas, remaining eleven years, when he bought his present farm. Married in 1844 to Eliza McCauslin. His second wife was Mary Wright. Nine children have been born to them.

David Downing was born in Washington coun- ty, Maryland, in 1819. His parents moved to Pennsylvania in 1827, and the next year he was sent out to earn his living. He learned the dis- tillery business at sixteen years of age and con- tinued in it four years as a laborer, then bought one-half interest. In 1849, his partner disap- peared very suddenly, taking their funds with him. He then removed to Point Douglas, Min- nesota, and engaged in farming three years, after which he made a contract to furnish wood for that place. He then bought the farm where he now lives. He married Mary Henry in 1856.

Joseph Dugan was born in 1846, in Pennsyl- vania, and moved to Ohio when very young. His

mother died when he was seven years of age, which event compelled him to reside with an uncle in Wisconsin. He enlisted in 1864, in Company A, Third Regiment Wisconsin Volun- teers, and received his discharge at Louisville, Kentucky, in 1865. He became a resident of Point Douglas, in 1880. His marriage to Julia Coffman occurred in 1870. They have had three children: Ida B., John W. and Frank E.

Timothy Enright was born in New York in 1844. At the age of eighteen he enlisted in Com- pany "C," Fourteenth Regiment, New York Vol- unteers, in which he served two years, when he was discharged. He returned home and remained until 1865, then removed to Point Douglas, Min- nesota. He engaged as laborer until 1875, when he purchased village property and there located. He now holds the position of justice of the peace. · In 1870, he married Margaret Delamore, who has borne him five children.

Simon Fetterley was born in Canada in 1825. He engaged in farming in his native place until 1855, then came to Point Douglas and was en- gaged in farming for other parties nearly five years. He purchased a farm from Mr. Dibble, which he sold a short time after and bought again of Mr. Bushy. He purchased another farm soon after, on which he now lives. He was mar- ried to Caroline Bushy in 1847. Their children are Electa A., William S., Charles S., Melissa J., James N., Susan and Whitney.

Thomas Fisher, Sr., is a native of Yorkshire, England, born in 1819. He lived with his parents until the age of twenty-two. He engaged in farm- ing two years, and was then in the grocery busi- ness four years. He came to America in 1859, locating at Point Douglas, Minnesota. He has since then been a farmer, and since 1867, lived on his own farm. His wife was Miss Sarah E. Wright, whom he married in 1845. They have four children living.

Henry Gallinger is a native of Canada, born in 1832. He learned the trade of carpenter in his native place then came to point Douglas, Minne- sota, in 1858. He engaged in farming and lum- bering some time, then bought a farm in Den- mark, where he now lives. He enlisted in Com- pany F, Hatches' Battalion, in 1865, and received his discharge in 1866. He married Miss E. Per-

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kins in 1864, who has borne him three children: Alice, Henrietta and Adelaide.

W. G. Hageman, a native of Germany, was born in 1833. He engaged in farming in his native country until 1854, when he came to America. He worked over two . years in a nursery, and in the spring of 1857 located in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he was employed in a saw-mill four years. In 1864 he purchased eighty acres of land in Denmark, and for eight successive years purchased the same amount. He raised fourteen thousand bushels of small grain three years in succession. His family con- sists of his wife and seven children. Their names are: Louis H., William F., Lena, Emma, George, John and Albert.

George Harris was born in Pennsylvania, in 1824. He moved with his parents to Illinois, when three years of age. His father was killed in the Black Hawk war, while there. At the age of eight, George began working on a farm, in which he continued nine years, then went to Missouri, where he remained until 1845. He then made Point Douglas, Minnesota, his home, eight years. After spending a number of years in various pursuits, in various places, he located at Denmark, on a farm. His family consists of his wife, who was Miss Alice White, and seven children.

Jane Hetherington, widow of Thomas Hether- ington, was born in Scotland, in 1820. She ac- companied her parents to Canada when three years old, where she remained until her marriage in 1847. In 1850 they removed to Point Douglas, Minnesota and soon after located on a farm three miles away, where she still remains. She is the parent of eight children: Mary, John E., Wil- liam P., A. B. Jane, George R., Thomas M., and Ely B.

John H. Hone was born in Springfield, Illinois, in 1839. His parents moved to Marine, Minne- sota, when he was quite young, his father being one of the Marine Lumber company. In 1860 he embarked for himself and bought a farm, which he owned eight years then sold and bought 127 acres, where he lives. He is now treasurer of school district number thirty-four. His marriage with Mehitable Ledgard occurred in 1861. They have two children, Cornelia and Alleta.

William Keene is a native of Maine, born in |

1829. In 1851 he came to St. Paul, Minnesota, thence to St. Anthony, where he resided two years. He bought eighty acres in Denmark, in 1863, which he increased to 640 in sixteen years. For five years past his farm has yielded 8,000 bushels of wheat and oats each year. He was married in 1853. Their children are John F., Alvina G., Francis B., Sarah L., William O., Charles O., Harvey E., and Sarah A.

John F. Krueger is a native of Germany, born in 1846. He came to America in 1861, locating in Dodge county, Wisconsin. He commenced farming in that county and in 1869 rented a farm on which he remained three years. He then went to Horicon in a flour, and feed store, engaging in that business two and one-half years. Soon after, he located at Hastings, and for a time was em- ployed by Mr. Libby as lumberman. He has now control of Mr. Nash's farm, on which he lives. He was married in 1868, to Minnie Lemann. Their children are William, Lena and Fred.

Robert Jackson was born in Cheshire, England, 1819, where he lived until coming to America in 1840. Ile located in Iowa, where he remained nearly three years. He then came to Washington coun- ty, Minnesota, being attracted thither by the re- ports of its healthfulness. He first located in Denmark township, afterward taking a claim, be- fore the government survey. Mr. Jackson has been twice married.

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