USA > Minnesota > Washington County > History of Washington County and the St. Croix Valley, including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota > Part 67
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county commissioners as well as occupying other officers of trust and honor. He now owns and operates a fine large farm, and is extensively en- gaged in raising blooded stock, horses, cattle and hogs; also a stockholder in the Langdon butter and cheese factory. Mr. Parker was married to Miss Sarah E. Perkins in 1868, who has borne him two children: Jackson V. and Frankie P. Hisaged mother, who was born in 1802, is living with him and is still very active, both mentally and physi- cally.
Christopher J. Schabacker is a native of Prus- sia, born December 13th, 1833. Here he remained until the age of seventeen, when he started for America, and landed at the port of New Orleans. Coming up the river route by way of St. Louis, he proceeded to Galena, Illinois, where he settled and made his home there six years. He lived in Grant county, Wisconsin three years, and in 1860, removed to St. Paul, working at his trade, that of blacksmith, ten years. He then located at the village of Newport, and since residing there, has been the proprietor of the only blacksmith shop in the township. He has been twice married, his present wife being Mary Bailey, to whom he was married in 1857. Their children are: Charles, Louisa, Henry, Mary, Albert and Willie.
John Willoughby was born in Rutland county, Vermont, in 1819. He passed his youth and re- ceived his education in his native county, and at the age of twenty-five years went to Massachu- setts and followed the mechanic's profession nine years. In 1854, he came westward to Minnesota, finally making his home at Red Rock, where he purchased a large tract of land. The next year, he brought his family to their new home. He has been a very successful farmer, having taken much pains in improvements; also has a fine stock of horses, cattle and swine. His residence is commodious and possesses a large and well-se- lected library. Mr. Willougby was married in 1850, in Vermont, to Miss Sarah Parker, who has borne him five children: Mary, Julia, Emma, Ruth and Frank. Of these, Mary is the wife of David Hanna, of Lakeland; Julia is the wife of Charles E. Wilson, of St. Paul; Emma and Ruth remain on the homestead with their parents, and Frank, the only son, is attending school at home. Mr. Willoughby has studiously avoided politics, refusing all offices.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
WOODBURY.
CHAPTER LVI.
DESCRIPTIVE -- EARLY SETTLERS -- ORGANIZA- TION- TOWN RECORDS --- WAR RECORD- CHURCHES -- SCHOOLS -- INITIAL EVENTS- PRODUCTS-BIOGRAPHICAL. .
The township of Woodbury is located in the south-western part of Washington county, and contains thirty-six sections. It is bounded on the north by Oakdale, on the east by Afton, on the south by Cottage Grove, and on the west by Newport and Ramsey county. Excepting the south-eastern portion of the town, the surface is quite rolling; the south-western portion is some- what broken, and in places quite bluffy. In the south-eastern portion, lays what is known as rolling prairie. In its wild state a large portion of the town was covered with timber of a light growth, known as "oak openings." The town contains a central valley, extending from north to south with parallel ranges of hills. At the head of this beautiful valley is Paytons lake, lo- cated on section two. It is about three quarters of a mile long and fifty rods wide. It takes its name from an old settler who came there in an early day. To the east, lies Brookman's lake, ex_ tending from the south half of section three, to the center of section ten. It takes its name from parties owning the land around it. A little to the south-east, lies Fish lake, located on section eleven, a deep lake containing a good supply of fish, from which it takes its name. To the south- west, in section fifteen, Grass lake appears, ex- tending south into section twenty-two, and is about one mile in length. In sections twenty- seven and twenty-eight is located Peter's lake. Numerous small lakes and ponds are scattered through the length of the valley. From them heads a creek that empties into the Mississippi river north of Hastings. On section six is located Mud lake, some portions of it quite deep; a creek flows out of it and runs south-west and enters the Mississippi river in Ramsey county. The soil of
Woodbury is variable. In the eastern part the soil of the prairie is of a loamy nature, while in the western part, extending among the hills and valleys, there exists a clayey sub-soil, some por- tions of which are a little inclined to be sandy,. though but a small part. The whole town is well adapted to wheat raising; in what was the tim- bered parts of the town, the yield is large and of the finest quality, though not quite so large a yield as on the prairie. Its agricultural interests are large and varied, and in this respect, Wood- bury is second to no other town in the county. On account of the roughness of the land in the western part of the town, and the amount of land held by speculators, it was thought by the early settlers that it would be many years before the land would all be improved. In this they were disappointed. Its rich and well watered lands attracted the intelligent eye of the practiced and skillful farmer, and settlers came and filled the town in a comparatively short sime.
EARLY SETTLERS.
Among the early settlers who first came to this town, were Alexander and John McHattie, two brothers, who came in the fall of 1844, and staked out claims on sections 23, 26 and 27. In the spring of 1845, they returned and settled on them, having sold the claim which they had purchased, where Afton now stands. At the time they made their own claims, they also staked out a claim for William Middleton. The brothers built a house on that portion where John now lives, and lived together for some time. In the spring of 1845, Mr. James Middleton, Sr., the father of William Middleton, settled on the claim of his son. He having a large and industrious family, improve- ments of a substantial nature began to make their appearance. Mr. Middleton also made for him- self a claim of the land on which his son, James Middleton now lives. Mr. James Middleton is a representative man to an eminent degree. In early life he was deprived of the advantages of an education, but combining in his early strug- gles, the agricultural with the educational, he succeeded to a large extent in conquering both, as his well wrought farm will testify. In the higher work of an education, which is both practi- cal and elevating, he has been quite as successful, turning it not only to good account for himself,
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but for the town in which he lives; the county and the state all having honored him. The town with its highest office, and the county bestowing upon him an equal honor, which was shared by that portion of the state which sent him as its repre- sentative twice to the state capitol at St. Paul. Such men ensure the success of every enterprise they embark in.
In 1846 Robert Cummings and his brother Linn, settled on section 26. They remained but a few years then disposed of their land and moved to Minneapolis. In 1849, came Judge David Cooper. and made a claim on section 25; his brother, Joseph Cooper, settled on it the following year. John Tanner settled on section 6 about the year 1850. After 1850 the settlers came slow and continued so until 1854, when there came a change, the prospects of the town brightened, and the settlers came in rapidly. Among the number of those that might be called early settlers is Mr. Abenezer Ayers, who settled on section 33. Mr. Ayers connection with all the material interests of the town of his adoption, has been such as to entitle him to something more than a passing notice. Coming here at an early day, with the intention of making it his home, and readily see- ing the wants of a young town, he prepared him- self to meet them.
His wisdom has been fully appreciated by the people of the thriving town of Woodbury, who have showed their confidence in his justice and integrity, by repeatedly calling on him to fill its most responsible and important offices. The rep- resentative district in which he lives, has also ap- preciated his ability by twice electing him to the legislature, where he had an opportunity to show his legal attainments. displaying a knowledge of parliamentary rules and a wariness in getting through the bill which he had carefully prepared, that would do credit to the trained veteran in the halls of legislation. Mr. Ayers takes an active interest in the educational and agricultural de- velopment of the town. At a later date came J. H. Cram, whose intelligence and energy has contributed largely to the growth and pros- perity of the town. With Mr. Cram came many others who might be mentioned as having con- tributed largely to the improvement and wealth of the town.
ORGANIZATION.
The town was organized under the name of Red Rock, taking its name from a painted rock, lo- cated on the east bank of the Mississippi river, in the fractional part of the town which was added to Woodbury at the time of its organization. Said fraction lay west of sections 29 and 30, containing a little more than two sections. The painted rock from which it takes its name, was painted by the notorious Little Crow, whose band was lo- cated on the west side of the river. His trail ran from this point across the township to Afton. The town held the name of Red Rock until May, 1859, when the legislature notified thiem that they would have to make a change, as there was another town in the state bearing the same name. The board changed it to Woodbury, after the Hon. Judge Woodbury of New Hampshire, he being a particular friend of Mr. Colby, who at that time was chairman of the board. The frac- tion was set off from this town and added to Newport, by order of the board of county com- missioners, at a meeting held at Stillwater, March 6th, 1861, which act was brought about by S. Powers, chairman of the board for 1860, also com- missioner at the same time. Said act was against the knowledge and wishes of a majority of the legal voters of the town.
TOWNSHIP RECORDS.
Twenty-eight electors of the town of Red Rock met at the house of Henry M. Lawson, October 20th, 1858, to organize the government of said tewn, by the election of officers. David Little was called to the chair, and called the meeting to order, when John Colby was chosen moderator; David Little and Christian Schmeiding, judges of election; Ebenezer Ayers, clerk. The meeting then proceeded to the election of the following officers: John Colby, chairman of board of su- pervisors; John A. Ford and J. J. Miller, super- visors; Ebenezer Ayers, clerk; David Little, as- sessor; N. Gilbert and David Holton, justices of the peace; James Middleton, collector; Alexan- der McHattie, overseer of the poor; John Ander- son and Joseph Lawson, constables. The annual meeting was called at the house of Henry M. Lawson, April 5th, 1859. David Little moder- ated the meeting, and John Colby, Newington Gilbert and John Farmer were elected supervis-
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
ors; E. Ayers, clerk. A special meeting was called at the clerk's office, April 30th, 1859. The board voted a tax of one hundred dollars for cur- rent expenses of the town. Also at a meeting of the board held May 7th, 1859, a tax of fifty cents on each one hundred dollars was voted for road purposes.
At a meeting of the board held at the clerk's office May 28th, 1859, the clerk reported an official notice, that the name of the township must be changed, as there was another township in the state having the same name; the first named town had the precedence. The board voted to call it Minnesota, but rescinded the vote, and Mr. Colby, the chairman, was permitted to name it after his friend Judge Woodbury, of New Hamp- shire.
The next annual meeting was called at the house of Henry M. Lawson, April 18th, 1860. A tax of $125 was voted for town purposes, and the following officers elected: Simon Powers, Henry Kernkamp and John A. Ford, supervisors; E. Ayers, clerk. At a meeting of the board held April 18th, 1860, a tax of fifty cents on each one hundred dollars of real estate was voted for road purposes. Annual town meeting held at the house of Henry M. Lawson, April 2d, 1861: A tax of $150 was voted for current expenses of the town for the year, and elected Henry Kernkamp, John Mitchell and J. M. Nippoldt, supervisors. The clerk presented the following notice: that the county commissioners, at a meeting held at Stillwater, March 6th, 1861, had set off to the town of Newport, the fractional part included in township 28, range 22. On motion, the meeting appointed N. Gilbert, James Middleton and Wil- liam Rhine a committee to investigate the tran- saction and report to the meeting. They having accomplished the business assigned them, made the following report:
"Whereas, We have just been notified that the county board of commissioners of the county of Washington, at a special meeting held March 6th, 1861, did dismember our town of Woodbury, by setting off the Red Rock fraction, without the knowledge of but few of the voters of the town, or by the knowledge or consent of the voters af- fected thereby; and
"Whereas, We have heard that the chairman of the board of supervisors of our town, did,
without the advice or consent of a majority, or even a respectable minority of our voters, ad- vocate and acquiesce in such dismemberment, against the wishes of all parts of our town; there- fore be it
"Resolved, By the legal voters of the town of Woodbury in town meeting assembled, that the dismemberment of our town was without our knowledge or consent.
"Resolved, That the chairman of the board of supervisors, by giving his consent to the nefarious transaction acted in bad faith toward his constit- uents.
"Resolved, That the voters of the town, by pub- lic resolutions and also by petition, request the rescinding of the order of the county board.
"Resolved, That the clerk be requested to trans- mit the proceedings of this meeting to the board of county commissioners .??
This meeting appointed E. Ayers superintend- ent of public schools.
Annual town meeting held at the house of Mrs. H. M. Lawson, April 1st, 1862, a tax was voted of $100 for current expenses. Elected John Mitchell, Henry Kernkamp and James Middleton supervisors. At a meeting of the board held April 19th, 1862, a two days poll tax and fifty cents on every $100 of real estate was voted.
The annual town meeting was held at the house of H. M. Lawson, April 1863. A tax of $140 was voted for current expenses, also a tax of $160 for roads and bridges. Elected John An- derson, John M. Nippoldt and John Sloan, super- visors. Annual town meeting was called at the house of Earnest Wandry, April 5th, 1865. A tax of $150 was voted for current expenses and $100 for roads. The following officers were elected: John Sloan, John M. Nippoldt and James Middleton, supervisors. A special tax was voted of two days poll tax and twenty-five cents on each $100 of real estate. The annual town meeting was called at the house of Jacob Marshall, April 4th, 1865. A tax of $100 was voted for current expenses. Special tax of one- sixteenth of one per cent. per $100 was voted, and the following officers were elected: E. A. Ruther- ford, Benjamin Munson, and John M. Nippoldt, supervisors. The annual town meeting was held at the house of Earnest Wandry, April 3d, 1866, a tax of $100 was voted for current expenses, and
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WOODBURY-WAR RECORD.
twenty-five cents on every $100 valuation for roads. The following board was elected: E. A. Rutherford, Benjamin Munson, J. M. Nippoldt, supervisors; E. Ayers, clerk.
The annual town meeting was called at the house of C. W. Pierce, April 2d, 1867, a tax of one hundred dollars was voted to pay Jacob Horresberger a bounty for being a soldier; also twenty-five cents on each one hundred dollars valuation of real estate for roads. The follow- ing officers were elected; J. B. Thompson, Mar- tin Brookman and J. C. Dickhudt, supervisors. The annual town meeeing was called at the house of C. W. Pierce, April 7th, 1868; a tax of $150 was voted for town expenses. The following board was elected; James Middleton, Richard Combs and John Ortman, supervisors. The annual town meeting was called at the house of C. W. Pierce, April 6th, 1869; a tax of two hundred dol- lars was voted for town purposes; James Middle- ton, August Heidle and John Risch were elected supervisors; E. Ayers, clerk. The annual town meeting was called at the house of C. W. Pierce, April 5th, 1870, a tax of two hundred dollars was voted for current expenses; also twenty-five cents on each one hundred dollars valuation of real estate. The following board were elected; J. H. Cram, August Heidel and J. W. Risch, super- visors; A. Peterson, clerk. The annual town meeting was called at the house of Moses Cross, March 14th, 1871, a tax of two hundred dollars was voted for current expenses, and twenty-five cents on each one hundred dollars of real estate for road purposes. The following officers were elected; J. H. Cram, F. Dornfield and Charles Metzger, supervisors; A. Peterson, clerk. The town meeting was held at the house of Moses Cross, March 12th, 1872. A tax of fifty cents on each one hundred dollars valuation was voted. The following officers were elected; John H.Kern- kamp, Charles Metzger and Thomas McNaughton, supervisors; A. Peterson, clerk. The annual town meeting was called at the house of Moses Cross, March 11th, 1873. A tax of two hundred dollars was voted for current expenses. The fol- lowing officers were elected; Henry Kernkamp, M. S. Classen and Christian Mahle, supervisors; A. Peterson, clerk. The annual town meeting was held at the house of Moses Cross, March 10th, 1874. A tax of two days poll and one hundred
dollars for road purposes was voted, and the fol- lowing officers elected; J. Middleton J. C. Mahle and M. S. Classen, supervisors. The annual town meeting was held at the house of M. Cross, May 9th, 1875. On motion it was voted to build a town house not to cost over six hundred dollars, and a tax was voted for that purpose. The fol- lowing officers were elected; James Middleton, J. C. Mahle, Michael S. Classen, supervisors; A. Pe- terson, clerk. The annual town meeting was held at the new town hall, located on the north- east corner of section 21, March 14th, 1876. A tax of one and one-half mills was voted for roads, and the following officers were elected; John S. Wei- ser, John W. Risch, M. S. Classen, supervisors ; A. Peterson, clerk. The annual town meeting was held at the town hall, March 13th, 1877. A tax of three-quarters of a mill was voted for current expenses, and two and one-half mills for roads. The following officers were elected: Joel S. Weiser. E. A. Rutherford and M. S. Classen, supervisors; A. Peterson, clerk.
The annual town meeting was held at the town hall March 12th 1878. A tax of twenty-five cents on each one hundred dollars of real estate was voted for roads, and the following officers elected: W. J. Bachmann, J. C. Mahle and J. H. Cram, supervisors; A. Peterson, clerk. The annual town meeting was held at the town house March 11th, 1879. A tax of one hundred and fifty dol- lars was voted for current expenses, and two hun- dred and eighty dollars for roads and bridges. The following officers were elected: Jacob Stutz- mann, John Sloan and E. Ayers, supervisors; W. J. Bachmann, clerk. The annual town meeting was held at the town house March 9th, 1880. A tax of one hundred and fifty dollars was voted for current expenses and one hundred and fifty dol- lars for roads and bridges. The following offi- cers were elected, Jacob H. Cram, Jacob Stutz- mann and John Sloan, supervisors; W. J. Bach- mann, clerk. John Sloan, resigned, and Fredolin Marty was appointed in his place.
WAR RECORD.
The town of Woodbury was among the first to step forward and make up its quota. No draft was allowed. But promptly to the call of its country the town issued a call for a meeting of the patriotic citizens of the town to be held at
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
the school-house, near the German Methodist church, January 2d, 1864, for the purpose of de- vising ways and means to raise the quota due from their town under all calls to date. The fol- lowing resolutions were passed:
Resolved, That a committee of three be ap- pointed to examine into and report to the provost marshal at St. Paul, all cases of improper or fraudulent exemptions of persons in the town of Woodbury.
Resolved, That there be offered to volunteers from Woodbury, one hundred dollars bounty, who will enlist before the next draft.
Resolved; That the supervisors be authorized to issue bonds to the amount sufficient to pay all volunteers from the town. A tax of seven hun- dred dollars was voted to be levied on the taxable property of the town, to be used in the purchase of volunteers, also ordered town bonds of five dollars to the amount of seven hundred dollars be issued at the rate of eight per cent. interest, pay- able March 1st, 1865.
A special meeting was called at the clerk's office February 18th, 1864. The supervisors were ordered to issue bonds of the town sufficient to pay volunteers necessary to fill the quota of the town for all calls to date, said bounty to be one hundred dollars. Total amount of said bonds not to exceed twenty-three hundred dollars, in addition to the seven hundred issued Jaunary 7th, 1864.
At a meeting of the board of supervisors held at the office of the town clerk, April 23d, 1864, an order was issued instructing the county auditor to place on the tax list the amount of three thousand dollars to be levied on said town in the tax of 1865, to redeem the town bonds of January 7th, 1864, and February 1st, 1864. A special meeting of the town was called August 27th, 1864, and the following res- olution was passed. To vote a tax of twelve hundred dollars on the taxable property of the town of Woodbury to pay bounties to volunteers to fill the quota due from the town on the call made by the president for 500,000 men. The meeting also voted to issue bonds to the amount of twelve hundred dollars, payable April 1st, 1866. A special meeting was called Jamiary 25th, 1865, to determine the best means of rais- ing the funds to purchase volunteers to fill the
quota due from this town under the call for 300,000 men. A tax to the amount of thirteen hundred and forty-five dollars was voted. A special meeting was called for March 28th, 1865, and a tax of six thousand one hundred dollars was voted to pay principal and interest for all bonds issued up to date. The total amount of money appropriated by the township to purchase volunteers and pay interest on bonds, was six thousand four hundred and sixty-eight dollars.
CHURCHES.
The German Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1853, with a membership of about thirty. The first church was built in 1855 and lecated on section seventeen. Rev. Jacob Young was the first pastor, and Rev. John Plank the first presiding elder. The increase of the society and the small size of the old church made it necessary that more commodious quarters should be pro- vided. The work of building a new church was commenced in 1867, and completed the following year, and dedicated December 18th. Rev. John Horst was pastor at that time. The new house is located on a beautiful ground, and is 36x60 built of stone. A large share of the work was done by the members of the society. The cost of the new edifice, aside from the work of the members, was eight thousand three hundred dollars. A parsonage built at the back of the church cost six hundred dollars. The present pastor is the Rev. Christian Nachtrieb; the pres- ent membership is one hundred and seventy-six.
Evangelical Lutheran Salem Congregation of Woodbury, was incorporated in 1865, with a mem- bership of forty families, Rev. F. W. Huffman pastor. In 1869, Rev. A. Kuhn became their pastor. Under the ministrations of the Rev. Theodore Nordeck, the new church was built, and dedicated, September 3d, 1876. In October of the same year, the present pastor, Rev. M. H. Quecl, came to the charge. He has, in connection with his other labors, established a parochial school. The new church was built at an expense of twenty-five hundred dollars. Adjoining the church the society has a beautiful cemetery, also a parsonage.
SCHOOLS.
School district number twenty-five was the first district formed in the town and was organ-
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WOODBURY-SCHOOLS-POST-OFFICES.
ized in 1855. The boundaries of the district were the east half of Woodbury township, and one tier of sections on the west side of Afton. The first school was held in a small house owned by William Middleton, and was taught by Miss A. F. Colby. She received twelve dollars per month and boarded herself. The records were destroyed and the dates cannot be given. On account of some trouble, the district was divided for a few years. In 1860 the two districts were united. On March 10th, 1860, the voters of the two dis- tricts met at the house of James Middleton. N. Gilbert was called to the chair, with J. Mid- dleton, clerk. The following officers were elected: W. H. Guernsey, A. McHattie, and George Clymer, trustees ; James Middleton, clerk. A tax of five hundred dollars was voted to build a new house, together with the proceeds derived from the sale of an old house, enabled them to build one of the finest houses in the county. It was completed and a school held in it in the winter of 1860. John Watson was the first teacher. Many changes have been made in the boundaries, and the large size of the school required a larger house, which was made by adding to the old one, and making repairs to the amount of three hundred dollars. James Middleton has held the office of clerk since its organization.
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