USA > Minnesota > Washington County > History of Washington County and the St. Croix Valley, including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota > Part 69
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James Middleton, Jr., born in Ireland in 1833. Immigrated with his parents to America in 1845 and settled on a claim made by his brother, in
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section 26, in Woodbury, Washington, county, Minnesota, in 1844. Being employed on a farm his advantges for an education were quite limited. His perseverence in obtaining all that circum- stances would permit is deserving of commenda- tion. Mr. Middleton is, in an eminent degree, a self-made man, has filled many positions of trust in connection with the town, county and state. In 1860 was elected clerk of his school dis- trict and has held it since; served as chairman of the board of supervisors for several years; county commissioner for five years. In 1854 he received the appointment of sergeant-at-arms in the legis- lature. Elected in 1876 to represent his district in the legislature. Has been one of the officers of the academical board of Afton Academy since its organization, also an officer in the county ag- cultural society since it was founded. His father, James Middleton, made a claim of the land on which he now lives, in 1845, and which fell to him in the division of the property. In 1853 his parents came to live with him. His father died in 1854 and his mother followed him in 1866. Mr. Middleton is a model farmer, has his farm under a fine state of cultivation, with good improvements; is now paying considerable attention to sheep raising, having a choice flock of southdowns, which are his pride. Married in 1866 to Miss Eldra Masterman. They have four children liv- ing: Carrie E., Georgia E., James E. and Mar- garet J.
Benjamin Munson was born in Sweden, 1826. Emigrated to America, landing in New York; and from there to Illinois, where he remained for two years. Moved to Stillwater, Washington county, Minnesota, in 1853, and to Woodbury the same year, and purchased the farm he now lives on. Was elected supervisor in 1855. Married, in 1860, Miss Helen Anderson, by whom he has six children living.
August Neubauer was born in Germany in 1854. Emigrated to America in 1856; landed in New York and moved to Illinois, where he re- mained one year, then went to St. Paul, Minne- sota, and remained twelve years, and from there to Woodbury and settled on the land he now occupies. Married, in 1880, to Miss Matilda Rhion.
Frederick N'enan was born in Germany in 1838. Emigrated to America in 1856; landed in
New York, and went to Illinois, where he re- mained for seven years, thence to Woodbury, Washington county, Minnesota. Rented a farm for four years, and bought it in 1867, and now lives on it. Married, in 1859, Miss Julia Pohl. They have eight children living, Mary S., John F., Mellosiena J., Henry A., Albert J., Josephine E., Anna A. and Louisa.
John A. Ortman was born in Germany in 1824. Emigrated to Quebec, Canada, in 1847, moved from there to Detroit, Michigan, where he re- mained about five years; thence to St. Paul, in 1854; remained a few months, and moved to Woodhury, and settled on a farm of eighty acres, lived on it five years, sold it and bought one hun- dred and sixty acres, where he now lives. Mar- ried, in 1854, to Antonie Brahmer. They have six children living, John, Edward G., Emma L., Anna E., R. Benj. and Katherine E.
Andrew Peterson was born in Sweden in 1837. Emigrated to Denmark in 1853; lived there and in the northern part of Germany for five years. Came to America in 1858, and went to Minnesota, settling in Afton. Enlisted in 1861 in Company B, Third Regiment Minnesota Volunteers. Dis- charged in St. Paul, September 28th, 1864, and returned to his farm. Moved to Woodbury in 1867. Elected town clerk for nine years, and justice of the peace for six years. In 1878 elected member of the state legislature, and re-elected in 1880. Married November 13th, 1862, to Miss Mary C. Eherenbery. They have seven children living.
Charles W. Pierce was born in St. Johns, New Brunswick, in 1830. He went to New York city in 1846 and enlisted in Company D, First Dra- goons, and went to Mexico. Served five years, and was discharged at Fort Snelling in 1851, and went to Woodbury, bought one hundred and sixty acres, worked it several years, sold, and bought forty acres where he now lives. Married in 1868 to Mary A. Caffray, by whom he has seven child- ren.
Charles Porth was born in Germany in 1830. Emigrated to America in 1846 and went to Wheatfield, Niagara county, New York, where he remained with his parents until twenty-one years of age. Bought land in the same town and lived on it for fourteen years, when he sold and moved to Woodbury, Minnesota, and bought
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the farm he now lives on. Married in 1852 to Frederica Werth who died July 29th, 1878. He has eleven children living: Cora, August, Minna, Augusta, Matilda, Anna, William, Lena, Charles, Mary and Ida.
Charles Reichow was born in Germany in 1833. Lived with his parents for twenty-eight years, when he came to America, landing in New York in 1861. Moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, the same year, and lived there until 1869, when he came to' Woodbury and settled on section four, where he now lives. Married in 1869 to Miss Hulda .Vaber. They have four children: Albert, Otto, Rudolph and Edwald.
J. R. Reynolds was born in Westchester, New York, in 1837. Lived with his parents until 1851, when he went to Illinois and remained five years. Moved to St. Paul in 1857, went to Power's lake in Woodbury, rented a farm, and engaged in the sugar trade for seven years. To Redwood Falls in 1876; went to Afton in 1878, and in 1879 to Dakota; took a claim in Valley City, and returned to Woodbury in 1881.
John P. Rhein, was born in Germany, in 1832. Emigrated to America, in 1848, and went to Mil- waukee, Wisconsin, and back to Detroit, Michi- gan, where he remained about ten years. Moved to Woodbury, Washington county, Minnesota, worked a farm for two years, and rented a farm four years; went to St. Paul and sold milk nine years, returned to Woodbury in 1875, and bought the farm where he now lives, and holds the office of constable and road master. Married in 1854, to Doratha Metzger. They have eleven children living.
Anton Rode, was born in Germany, in 1823. Emigrated to America, in 1840, and went to In- diana; 1841, went to Fort Wayne, engaging on the canal, worked there three years and then went to Illinois, and remained there for three years; returned to Indiana, in 1848, and lived there un- til 1867, engaged in the railroad business. Sold out and went to St. Paul, Minnesota. Stopped there a short time, and then moved to Woodbury and purchased the farm he now lives on. Mar- ried in 1852, to Christina Niermann. They have nine children living.
Christian F. Schakel was born in Germany, in 1826. Lived with his parents until 1844, when he moved to America, landing in Baltimore,
thence to Indiana, where he remained until 1865, when he moved to Woodbury, Washington county, Minnesota, and purchased the farm he now lives on. Married in 1847, to Louisa Kocha, who died in 1863, by whom he had eight children. Married again in 1864, to Caroline Newbours, who bore him ten children.
Louisa Schilling was born in Germany, in 1821. Emigrated to America in 1843, landed in New Orleans, where she remained eight months, went to St. Louis, Missouri, and remained there until 1855, when she moved to Woodbury, Washington county, Minnesota, and purchased the farm she now lives on. Married in 1848, to Henry Sebil- ling. She has five children living.
Henry Schultz,born in Denmark in 1849,learn- ed the blacksmith trade in the old country, and emigrated to America in 1869, stopping in New York about two months, when he went west, stopping a short time in Michigan, Chicago, and working at his trade one year in Topeka, Kansas; thence to Washington county, Minnesota, and bought the farm he now lives on; has been post- master since 1875. Married in 1874 to Mary Bertelson. They have two children living: Liz- zie A. and Annie.
Joseph Streiff was born in Switzerland in 1825. Came to America in 1861, remained in New York city about a year, went to St. Paul, Min- nesota, in 1853, thence to Lake Superior, opened a hotel and conducted it until 1866, when he moved to Minneapolis, and the same year to Woodbury, opening a store, hotel, and keeping the post-office, which he continned to keep until 1874, when he went to farming, still retaining the post-office. Married in 1862, and now has four children: Anna, Lizzie, Paulina and Joseph.
Herman Thees was born in Germany in 1834. Emigrated to America in 1859, landed in New Y'ork, and went to Indiana; bought ten acres and lived on it six years; from there to Ramsey county, Minnesota, and remained three years, from there to Woodbury and located where he now lives. Married in 1868 to Christina Danar. They have six children.
R. B: Vollmer was born in Germany in 1818. Emigrated to America in 1851, went to St. Paul, Minnesota, thence to Lakeland, where he lived twenty-three years, and then to Woodbury and settled where he now lives. Married in 1840 to
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Catherine Shafer. They have six children living.
B. F. Wells was born on Long Island, New York, in 1856. Lived with his parents twenty years and learned the wagon making business. Went to Minnesota in 1878, and stopped at New- port, thence to Cottage Grove and worked at his trade eight months, thence to Afton, working on a farm nine months, then to Woodbury post-office and started a wagon shop, where he is now pros- ecuting his business.
Frank Zurn was born in Wisconsin in 1858. Lived with his parents until twenty-one years of age. Came to Woodbury, Washington county, Minnesota, in 1878, and worked on farms and dif- ferent places for a few years, when he bought one on section 4, where he now lives. Was married in 1881 to Miss Mary Egan.
William Zurn, born in New York in 1852. Went with his parents to Washington county, Wisconsin, and remained with them until 1874, when he went to St. Paul, Minnesota, thence to Woodbury and worked for the farmers about three years, and in 1877, rented the farm where he now lives. Married in 1877 to Elizabeth Brock- man. They have two children: Rosa and Theresa.
AFTON.
CHAPTER LVII.
DESCRIPTION-EARLY SETTLEMENT-TOWN OR- GANIZATION - WAR RECORD - VILLAGES - SCHOOLS-ST. CROIX ACADEMY-CHURCHES POST - OFFICES - MILLS - STATISTICS - BIO- GRAPHICAL.
The township of Afton is composed of twenty- four whole and five fractional sections. It is bounded on the north by Lakeland, on the east by Lake St. Croix, south by Denmark and west by Woodbury. A portion of the congressional township extends on the east side of the St.
Croix river. In the spring of 1858, when the commissioners were appointed for the organizing and naming of the towns, were adjusting the boundaries, the township of Lakeland insisted on having Bolle's creek for the southern boundary of their town. To this proposition, Afton ob- jected; but at last a compromise was effected and the difficulty adjusted by setting off to Lakeland, section two and the north half of the north half of section eleven. The surface of Afton is very broken and uneven. From the lake westward it becomes bluffy, with deep ravines extending back through the hills for two miles. To the west and south extends a beautiful rolling prairie, which is relieved by an occasional range of hills. There is considerable timber of a small growth, with here and there a venerable tree which has escaped the fires, and the pioneer's axe. The soil is of a sandy loam with a clay subsoil, excepting small localities, which are quite sandy; the eastern part is admirably adapted to gardening purposes being rich and productive. The town is well adapted to wheat growing and equals the neighboring towns, both in quality and quantity.
Bissell's mounds, on section eight, are three singular mounds of different sizes, occupying from one-balf to one-quarter of an acre, situated on high ridges. They rise abruptly to a height of from forty to fifty feet. In these mounds are found quarries of stratified magnesian limestone, which makes fine building stone. Elijah Bissell made a claim near these mounds in 1842, and from him the name is taken.
The town is watered on the east by Lake St. Croix, which bounds it from north to south, a beautiful sheet of water varying from half a mile to a mile in width, forming a curve at a point just east of the village of Afton, and Bolles' creek, with its two branches. The north branch enters Afton in section five, passes through sec- tions four, nine, ten and fifteen, and empties into the lake in the south-east of the south-west of sec- tion 14. The south branch has its source in the south-west of the south-east of section seventeen, and passes through to section sixteen, and enters the north branch on section fifteen. Both branches are fed by springs. The north branch is supposed to be an outlet to Lake Elmo, which is situated in Oakdale township, passing under the ground for some distance, coming to the sur-
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face in the south-west part of Lakeland. Being fed by springs, the creeks are always open. The coldest weather fails to congeal their rippling waters.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The first settlers in Afton were French fami- lies from the Red River of the North, who set- tled at the mouth of Bolles' creek some time in 1837. Joseph Haskell and J. S. Norris made a claim on section 21 in the fall of 1839, and settled on it in the spring of 1840. They made improve- ments, and broke the first land for farming pur- poses in the town. In 1841, came Alexander McHattie, and made a claim of the land where the village of Afton stands. In 1855 be sold a portion of his claim to the association that laid out and platted the village of Afton. Andrew Mackey made a claim on the same section, about the same time. Lemuel Bolles made a claim on section 15, in 1842, and built his mill in the spring of 1843. Baptiste Turnier made a claim on sec- tion 5, in 1841. In the summer of 1843, came Jacob Fisher, and built a house for Paul J. Carli, near Afton. In 1841 Taylor F. Randolph rented a piece of land of Mr. McHattie, and built a cabin. He afterwards made a claim further west in the town. In 1845 W. H. Johnson made a claim on section 21. In 1847 came James M. Getchell. Francis Oldham came in 1850, and W. H. Guern- sey in 1851. E. M. Cox made a claim in 1851, and settled on it in 1852. From 1845 to 1850, few settlers came to Afton. The roughness of the land and attractions in other directions, per- haps deterred many from settling here. After 1850 there seemed to be a great change, and the town began to be rapidly developed. Improve- ments were made in every part of the township. Large numbers of the settlers were from the east- ern states, men of brains, energy and pluck, Maine being well represented. The improvements were rapid and substantial; among them was the erection of a saw-mill at the village of Afton, by the Lowery Brothers, in 1854, who put in their machinery and cut about one hundred thousand feet of lumber, when for an unexplained reason they closed their mill, sold the machinery, and the enterprise was gone. In the spring of 1855, Thomas and Sons, from Indiana, erected a mill in the village, operated it three seasons, then sold the machinery to the government, and it was taken
to the Winnebago reservation. Thus, another enterprise was delayed, but not stopped. In the spring of 1857, Tilton and Newman erected a saw-mill, and operated it three years; adjoining this last mill, in the same year, C. S. and J. N. Getchell, built a steam planing and shingle mill. In 1861, they sold their engine to parties that used it for power to run a threshing machine, the first steam power used for that purpose in the state. The same year the Getchells erected a saw, plan- ing and shingle mill, a little south of the village. In 1863, J. N. Getchell sold this interest to W. S. Getchell, the firm being C. S. Getchell and Com- pany. In September, 1876, this mill was de- stroyed by fire.
TOWN ORGANIZATION.
A meeting of the legal voters of the town of Afton was called at Paterson's hotel, in the vil- age of Afton, October 20th, 1858, W, H. Getchell was chosen chairman, Joseph Haskell elected moderator, and Richard Buswell clerk. On mo- tion, the meeting was adjourned to the school- house, and elected Joseph Haskell, G. W. Cutler and H. L. Thomas, supervisors; M. H. Thomas, clerk; J. J. Rice, assessor; S. P. De Puy, collec- tor; Enos Gray, overseer of the poor; S. P. De Puy and G. W. Bolles, constables; R. Buswell, and J. J. Rice, justices.
The annual meeting was called to order at the school-house in Afton village. April 5th, 1859. Voted a tax of $150 for current expenses, thirty cents on every hundred dollars of taxable property for roads, and two days poll tax. Elected Joseph Haskell, H. L. Thomas and G. W. Getch- ell, supervisors; M. H. Thomas, clerk. Annual meeting was called at the school-house, April 3d, 1860, and elected H. L. Thomas, Thomas Per- sons and P. F. Gage, supervisors; M. H. Thomas, clerk. Voted a tax of one mill per dollar for current expenses, and twenty-five cents per hun- dred dollars for roads. Annual town meeting was called at the same place, April 2d, 1861, and voted a tax of two and one-half mills for school purposes, one mill for town and two and one-half mills for roads. Elected H. L. Thomas, G. W. Cutler and J. A. Gray, supervisors; M. H. Thomas, clerk; Simon Putnam, superintendent of schools. Annual meeting at the school-house, April 1st, 1862. Voted a tax of two and one-half
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mills for current expenses, and two mills for roads. Elected Joseph Haskell, H. L. Thomas and J. A. Gray, supervisors; S. H. Paterson, clerk. The annual town meeting was called at the school-house, April 7th, 1863. Voted a tax of one and one-fourth mills for current expenses, one-fourtli mill for military expenses, one and one-half mills for roads, and elected C. S. Getch- ell, E. M. Cox and S. Rosenquist, supervisors; S. H. Paterson, clerk. Annual town meeting was called at the school-house, April 5th, 1864. A tax of one and one-half mills was voted for roads. C. S. Getchell, E. M. Cox and S. Rosenquist were elected supervisors, and W. H. Getchell, clerk. Annual meeting of the town was called at the school-house in Afton, April 4th, 1865. A tax of one and one-half mills was voted for roads, and the old board of officers re-elected.
At the annual town meeting called at the school house, April 3d, 1866, a tax of two mills was voted for roads and bridges, and C. S. Getchell, E. M. Cox, P. T. Paterson, elected supervisors; W. H. Getchell, clerk.
Annual meeting, April 5th, 1877, at the Bolles school house, a tax of two mills was voted for roads, and a special tax of $150 was voted for the sanie purpose. Elected Joseph Haskell, A. Stege- mann, W. H. Guernsey, supervisors. The annual town meeting at the Bolles school-house, April 7th, 1868, a tax of one mill voted for roads, and one mill for town purposes; E. M. Cox, W. H. Guernsey, A. Stegemann, supervisors. The an- nual town meeting at the Bolles school-house, April 7th, 1869, a tax of one mill was voted for roads, and one mill for current expenses; elected E. M. Cox, C. Heuer, S. E. Persons, supervisors. Annual town meeting at Bolles school-house, April 5th, 1870, a tax of four mills was voted for roads and the old board elected. Annual meeting at the Bolles school-house, March 14th, 1871, a tax of one mill was voted for current expenses and four mills for roads; elected C. Heuer, S. E. Persons, Peter Landes, supervisors. Annual town meeting at Bolles school-house, March 12th, 1872, a tax of three mills voted for current expenses, and four mills for road expenses; elected the old board. Annual town meeting was held at the Bolles school-house, March 11th, 1873, a tax of four mills for roads; and two mills for current expenses was voted; elected P. T. Paterson, S. E. Persons, M. 26
Bahnemann, supervisors. A special town meet- ing was called November 9th, 1873, to discuss the question of license. On motion a vote was taken; one hundred and thirty-one votes were cast, with seventy-nine against and fifty-one for license. An- nual town meeting held at the Bolles school-house March 10th, 1874, a tax of three mills was voted for roads, and two mills for current expenses; elected E. M. Cox, P. F. Gray, P. Landes, super- visors.
The annual town meeting was held at the Bolles school-house, March 9th, 1875; a tax of two mills was voted for roads. Elected E. M. Cox, P. F. Gage, F. Stegemann, supervisors. Annual town meeting was held in the Bolles' school-house March 14th, 1876. A tax of two mills was voted for current expenses, and three mills for roads. . Elected C. Heuer, F. Dick, F. Stegemann, supervisors. The next annual town meeting was held at C. Riedel's store, March 13th, 1877. A tax of two hundred dollars for roads and bridges was voted, and one-half mill for current expenses. Elected C. Heuer, F. Dick, A. Stegemann, supervisors. The annual town meeting was called at C. Riedel's store, March 12th, 1878. A tax was voted of one mill for cur- rent expenses, and two and one-half mills for roads. Elected E. M. Cox, John Murphy, F. Fredericks, supervisors. The annual town meeting was called at the store of C. Riedel, March 11th, 1879. Voted a tax of one mill for current ex- penses, one mill for roads, and a special tax of two and one-half mills for roads. Elected E. M. Cox, John Murphy, F. Fredericks, supervisors.
Annual town meeting at the store of C. Riedel, March 9th, 1880. Voted a tax of one mill for current expenses, and two and one-half mills for roads. Elected Thomas Eastwood, M. F. Bach- mann, T. F. Jackson, supervisors. W. H. Getchell was first elected town clerk April 5th, 1864, and has held the office ever since.
WAR RECORD.
The patriotism of the citizens of Afton town- ship was manifest in the fact, that, when the call was made for men to assist in putting down the rebellion, volunteers rushed to the front leaving their shops, their ploughs, and their mills, to rescue the imperiled union. A home relief so- siety was at once formed with W. H. Getchell
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for its secretary, to look after and provide for the wives and children belonging to the families of those who nobly risked their lives in the defence of their country. No draft was allowed. No tax was needed to purchase volunteers; there was, however, a tax of eight hundred dollars voted February 23d, 1864, for the purpose of retaining the names of eight volunteers to the credit of the town, and at the close of the war, there was many years of service credited to the town in advance of its quota. As it was impossible to obtain a complete list of Afton's soldiers, the names of those learned is given. Capt. W. Thomas, N. M. Chase, J. M. Getchell, Asa Tracy, G. Hayford, F. Hayford, James Coop, James Newman, Joseph Mertz, Joseph Dernley, W. Carnithan, Colonel Miner Thomas, C. C. Cushing, Consider King, Daniel Buswell, E. Pray, Simon Persons, Simon Putnam, Myron Putnam, L. Culbertson, J. Har- risburger, Wm. Middleton, Victor Peterson, John Peterson, J. Harvey. This is a partial list of the volunteers. They enlisted and served in several different regiments.
VILLAGES.
The village of Afton is located on section 22, on the right bank of Lake St. Croix. It was laid out and platted by R. Haskell, Joseph Has- kell, H. L. Thomas and C. S. Getchell, in May, 1855. It has a main street passing from north to south, with short streets extending up the sides of the bluffs. At the head of Main street stands the St. Croix Valley Academy, while in the cen- ter of the village is a beautiful park covered with a thick growth of native oaks. In the cen- ter an auditorium has been erected, where meet- ings are held in the pleasant weather of summer. Mrs. C. S. Getchell has the honor of naming this beautiful village, Afton. The name was taken from Burns' poem "Afton Water," which gives a fine description of the "neighboring hills, and the clear winding rills." A beautiful incident is connected with this village. In the summer of 1856, the Hutchinson family were passing up the lake, on the steamer H. S. Allen, to fill an appoint- ment at Stillwater. The steamer stopping at the wharf to discharge freight, one of the troupe asked the captain the name of the place. When informed, they stepped out, and in their own inimitable way, sang "Sweet Afton."
South Afton, located one mile south of the vil- lage of Afton, is a small burg, which contains one store of general merchandise kept by B.P. Squires, a warehouse and elevator owned by J. P. Furber, 30x60 feet, capacity ninety thousand bushels. built in 1869, and operated by steam; leased by Dill and Miller January 12th, 1881. There is a ferry across the river, owned by Mr. Furber, built in September, 1879, and operated with a rope.
St. Mary's. In 1857 Messrs Cathcart, Marshall, and others laid out and platted a town site on section 14, and named it St. Mary's. Several lots were sold and houses built. In the fall of the same year, parties from Norristown, Penn- sylvania, erected a saw-mill on the point, op- erated it one year, and failed. What then bid fair to be a village of some size, has vanished in smoke, leaving only a few blackened ruins to mark the spot.
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