USA > Minnesota > Washington County > History of Washington County and the St. Croix Valley, including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota > Part 70
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Valley Creek, a small hamlet located two miles northwest of Afton, on sections 9 and 10. In the spring of 1857, Erastus Bolles came to this wild spot on the line of the Stillwater and Point Doug- las road, which passes through the valley, built a house and opened a blacksmith shop, which he carried on for two years, when he purchased a small water power, on what is known as Bolles creek, bringing the water through a race to his shop, to which he added a trip-hammer and other machinery. He then engaged in the manufactur- ing of agricultural tools, until the spring of 1875, when he turned the shop over to his son, C. E. Bolles, who bought additional power, moved the shop further down the stream, and added corn and feed grinding. The mill is called Valley Creek mill.
The North Star flour mill is located in this village or hamlet, on the north branch of Bolles creek. It was built in 1860, by Buswell and Gil- bert; size, 24x32, with three run of stone; power, thirty-two foot overshot wheel; capacity, 700 bar- rels per month, with custom and merchant work; they grind about two hundred bushels per day. In 1861, Mr. Buswell enlisted in the army, leav- ing his interest to O. . A. Pray; at the end of a year, D. C. Buswell purchased Mr. Pray's lease. Mr. Gilbert sold his interest to P. P. Persons, from Afton. In 1878, Mr. Persons sold to J. Home. The firm is now Buswell and Home.
403
AFTON-SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.
SCHOOLS.
District No. 23, was organized April 14th, 1855, at the bouse of Joseph Haskell, under the name of the Haskell district, and the following officers elected. Thomas Persons, H. F. Dayton and J Haskell, trustees; C. C. Cushing, clerk. A tax of $400 was voted to build the house on land do- nated by Jesse Jackson. It is located in a beau- tiful grove, on section 21, on the line of the Af- ton and Cottage Grove road. First school was held three months commencing July 12th, 1856. Mr. Oldham has been clerk for twenty-two years. The name was changed to its present No. 23, in 1862. School district No. 24, located in Afton village, was organized in 1856. The first board of trustees were C. S. Getchell, S. H. Paterson, and Rev. S. Putnam; M. H. Thomas, clerk. The orig- inal number was three; the first house built in 1856; the first school was taught by Rev. Simon Putnam, in the kitchen of his house; the new house was built in 1876, of brick, 26x48. The records have been mislaid, and we cannot give a full account.
School district, number 39, was organized April 7th, 1863, at the house of Erastus Bolles. O. A. Pray was called to the chair, and G. W. Bolles, clerk. Erastus Bolles, director. Voted a tax of $400 to build a school-house, 24x40 feet. First teacher, Miss C. L. Rice.
School district, number 46, located on section seven, was organized May 7th, 1868. First board elected: Peter Landes, director; Benjamin Mun- son, treasurer; E. A. Rutherford, clerk. The first school-house was built at an expense of $1,001. The site was donated by Mr. Fisher and Peter Landes. Size of the building, 24x32 feet. The first teacher was Sophia Tyler.
ST. CROIX ACADEMY.
The importance of securing better advantages for the education of the youth of the St. Croix Valley, had often been agitated in the minds of the older settlers of Afton and vicinity. A meet- ing was called December 6th, 1867, at the village of Afton, of all who were interested in the educa- tion of the youth from different parts of the county, to consider the propriety of building an academy. After due consideration it was decided to appoint a committee to solicit funds to start the enterprise, consisting of Rev. A. D. Roe
and C. S. Getchell. The canvass was prosecuted with vigor for the next sixty days. Success crowned their labor, having secured pledges to the amount of ten thousand dollars.
A meeting was called for February 25th, 1868, and the following board of trustees elected: Rev. Alva D. Roe, president; Richard Buswell, vice- president; W. W. Getchell, secretary; L. T. Olds, Hon. J. Warren Furber, P. E. Walker, J. B. Thompson. Hon. A. Huntoon, N. M. Chase, David Cove, E. M. Cox, James Middleton, R. Lehmicke, C. S. Getchell. Executive committee: R. Buswell, A. D. Roe, E. M. Cox, N. M. Chase, C. S. Getchell. The academy was erected during the spring and summer of 1868; the corner stone of the building was laid June 18th, 1868 by the Free Masons. The building was pushed forward to completion in the same spirit with which the enterprise was begun. It was dedicated in the fall of 1868. During the winter a set of philo- sophical apparatus was added, and in the fall of 1871 a library was presented to the school by the village of Afton. The building is a handsome three-story brick edifice, surmounted with tower and bell. It is finished in black walnut and oak, and is furnished with neat and convenient single desks. The music room is furnished with pianos and organs. The faculty, at the opening of the institution, were: W. Gorrie, principal, and in- structor in classics and higher English; Miss Flora A. Hammond, teacher in vocal and instru- mental music; Miss Jennie Gorrie, assistant in English branches; Miss Anna V. Wandry, assist- ant teacher in German.
CHURCHES.
The Congregational church of Afton was or- ganized June 24th, 1858, with a membership of thirteen. The first pastor was Rev. Simon Put- man. The organization of the society was ef- fected March 30th, 1860. For some time they held meetings in the school-house. In the spring of 1867, the society commenced raising funds for the erection of a house of worship, and succeeded in securing $1,800, which, with $500 received from the church erection fund, they were enabled to erect their present beautiful edifice. It was ded- icated in September, 1868, free of incumbrance. The Rev. George Hood is the present pastor.
Scandinavian Methodist Episcopal church was
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
organized in April, 1859, first pastor, Rev. C. F. Fosburg. The church located on section 18, was built in 1854 and '55, through the exertion of their presiding elder, Rev. A. Shogran. Size of house 24x36 feet. There is a fine cemetery connected with the church.
St. Peter's German Lutheran church, located in the south-east corner of section 6. The so- ciety was organized in the spring of 1863, and the church built in the fall of the same year. The first pastor was Rev. John Carven. The next pastor Rev. O. Cloeter, who came in 1868. In connection with the church is a parochial school, supported by the congregation, which was or- ganized the same time as the church.
CEMETERIES.
At the time of the platting of the village of Af- ton, the proprietors set apart and donated to the village twenty acres in section twenty-two, for a cemetery. It was dedicated in 1855.
Evergreen cemetery is owned by the Evergreen Cemetery Association. The land was deeded to the association May 28th, 1873. It is located on the north-west quarter of section twenty-two.
POST-OFFICES.
The first post-office in the town was opened at Mr. L. Bolles' mill, on section fifteen. He re- ceived his appointment in 1852 and transferred it to M. H. Thomas, who moved it to Afton village. He was succeeded by R. Buswell, who returned it to II. Thomas. He was followed by S. Barton, who transferred it to Paterson in 1867.
Valley Creek post-office. In 1874 Mr. E. Bolles opened a general stock of merchandise at Valley Creek, and was appointed postmaster the same year, holding the office until 1880, when his store was burned and the office transferred to R. Bus- well, in the North Star mill.
MILLS.
Afton Flour Mill. Lemuel Bolles made a claim on section fifteen, in the summer of 1842, and commenced building his mill in the spring of 1843. To do this he picked up slabs on the lake shore, carrying them a mile and a half on his back to the point where his mill was located, on the creek named after him. Not having nails to con- struct his building with, he used wooden pins. In the building thus constructed he placed a
small run of stone, which be purchased of Jobn McKusick of Stillwater. His dam, when construct- ed, gave him a fall of but nine feet. This primi- tive mill was the first flour mill, excepting the old government mill at St. Anthony, north of Prairie du Chien. He operated it some time then trans- ferred it to Christopher Carli, and he to Andrew Mackey, who made some improvements and run it one year, when he transferred it to F. Robecke in 1872, who rebuilt the mill on the old site, put- ting in one run, and a feed mill, with a wooden turbine wheel, under a nine foot head. In 1875, Emil Munch purchased it and put in three run of stone, one set of rollers and a feed mill, driven by a twenty-inch Leffel wheel, under a thirty-five foot head. Capacity of mill, fifty barrels per day besides his custom work. size of mill 34x40 feet. The name of the mill has since been changed to "Reliance Mill."
Saw-mill. Messrs. Olds and Lord's steam saw- mill, located at Glenmont on the east side of the lake opposite Afton, was built by L. I. Olds in 1857. Size 44x80, with boiler house 30x50. Ca- pacity, sixty thousand feet in twenty-four hours. The mill was run by Mr. Olds until 1872, when he sold a half interest to J. H. Lord. They make dimension-sawing a specialty. This mill, though not located in Afton, on account of the difficulty in obtaining title to lands at that time, . is still an Afton enterprise.
"GERMAN FARMERS' MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY OF AFTON"
was organized under the statutes, March 17tb, 1879. They had a fund of $1,714.50 under a . mutual organization which had existed for twelve years, but not under a legal form until 1879. Under the present organization the following officers were elected: C. Heuer, president; F. Fredericks, secretary; F. Dornfield, treasurer. Amount of business December 4th, 1880, $116,- 230.
INITIAL EVENTS.
The first white child born in Afton was Helen M. Haskell, daughter of Joseph and Olive K. Haskell.
The first death was that of Paul J. Carli who was drowned in St. Croix lake in 1845. A man named Merty Moore was also drowned the same year. Mrs. Tyler Randolph died in 1846. The
405
AFTON-BIOGRAPHICAL.
first road built in Afton township was the old military road, known as the Point Douglas and Fond du Lac road, surveyed and opened in 1845 by General Thorn. The next was the Stillwater and Point Douglas road in 1847. The first hotel built in the village of Afton was by S. H. Pat- erson in 1856, who run it for three years, when it was destroyed by fire. The second hotel was opened by Charles C. Cushing in 1867, who died in 1876. His wife still keeps the house open and in good style. During the summer months the house is crowded with pleasure-seekers. Mr. S. II. Paterson opened his first store in the village of Afton in 1867, and is now carrying a fine stock of general merchandise.
POPULATION, VALUATION AND PRODUCTS.
The population of Afton township, number- ing nine hundred and twenty-five, is composed of about one-half American, the other half Ger- man and Swede. Politically the republicans have the majority, though not so large as to pre- vent the contest from being close and sharp.
The valuation for 1880 was: real estate, $248,- 555 ; personal property, $71,848; wheat, acres, 4,752, bushels, 62,956 ; oats, 782 acres, 31,252 bushels; corn, 510 acres, 19,102 bushels; barley, 320 acres, 8,017 bushels; rye, one acre, 15 bushels; potatoes, acres, 50, bushels, 6,915; tame hay, acres, 855, tons of hay, 963; cows, 229, pounds of butter, 14,034; cheese, 100 pounds.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
B. F. Babcock, deceased, was born in Oneida county, New York, March 26th, 1836. His early life was spent there and in Rome, New York. Received his collegiate education in Connecticut. In the fall of 1856, went to Lake Superior, remained one year, and in the fall of 1857 came to Stillwater. Was married May 9th, 1859, to Amelia C. Van Vleck, daughter of Judge Isaac and Cornelia Curtis Van Vleek, and came imme- diately to Afton, Washington county, Minnesota, where he practiced medicine until his death, Sep- tember 9th, 1870. Four children were born to them; two are now living.
M. F. Bahnemann was born in Niagara county, New York, in 1845. When twenty years of age, he moved with his parents to Afton, Washing- ton county, Minnesota, his father buying a farm of two hundred and eight acres. Married in
October, 1868, to Miss Caroline Bruner. They have five children, all living.
David Berry was born in Manchester, England, October 29th, 1814. Came to America with his mother, when young, remaining but a short time, and returned to his native country. Returned to this country in 1837. Served for a time in the Florida war, and in 1842 returned to England, and was married in 1844 to Miss Elizabeth Holt, and in 1854 came back to America and settled at Afton, where he has since resided. His wife died in Afton May 28th, 1880. He has four child- ren now living.
Erastus Bolles was born in Madison county, New York, March 9th, 1821. Moved with his parents to Oxford and learned the trade of black- smithing and tool-making with his father. At twenty-one, went to New Boston, Connecticut, working at his trade two years; thence to South- bridge, Massachusetts, and engaged in the jew- elry business nine years, and two years making hoesin Millbury, Massachusetts. In 1856, came to Afton and built the first house, which is still a part of his present residence in Valley Creek. Soon after, started a blacksmith shop, and two years later added a water-power, and began the manufacture of farming tools. In 1873, gave up his business and started a store at Valley Creek, which burned in March, 1880. Was the first postmaster at Valley Creek. Married in 1847, Miss Sophrona Hayward, of Oxford, New York. They have three children living.
G. W. Bolles was born in Chenango county, New York, in 1836, where he learned the black- smith's trade, and remained until 1856, excepting two years in Massachusetts. In 1856, came to Afton, and one year later, started a blacksmith shop at Valley Creek, and remained one year, then farmed until 1867, when he again started a shop at Valley Creek, and remained there until he came to Afton in 1875. He has been married three times, the last time in 1879, to Mary M. McIntire.
J. W. Boxell, born in Muskingum, Ohio, Feb- ruary 6th, 1824. Received his education at the common schools, which was supplemented by a term at McIntire Academy. He remained at his native place thirty years, teaching part of the time. In 1854. came to Afton and bought a farm where he lived until the breaking out of the
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
war, when he enlisted in Company B, Third Min- nesota Volunteers, and served until honorably discharged in 1863, and returned to his home. During the winter of 1859-'60, he founded what has since been known as the Boxell school, which enjoyed a wide and favorable reputation. Mr. Boxell has always kept pace with the times, never losing sight of the fact that "man is never too old to learn." He has devoted much attention latterly to fruit culture, which he thoroughly un- derstands. Married in 1848 to Mary Shaw. They have had eleven children, nine now living.
Richard Buswell was born in Grafton county, New Hampshire, in 1829. Spent his early life on a farm. Came to Afton in 1856, and worked at carpentering four years, then took an interest in the North Star flouring mills at Valley Creek. Married in 1852 to Miss Ellen M. Thompson. One son, F. W. has been born to them, who is now in business with his father.
John G. Carlson was born in Sweden, February 21st, 1834. Came to America in 1858, and set- tled in Stillwater and worked at his trade as stone mason ten years, then moved to Afton and bought eighty acres; has now three hundred and sixty acres in his farm. Married, in 1869, Miss Nellie Nelson, born in Sweden, June 10th, 1848. They have five children.
William Carnithan was born at Washington, New York, November 10th, 1834, where he re- mained until 1857. He learned the carpenter's trade, came to Afton in 1857, and has since re_ sided here. Enlisted in Company C, Seventh Minnesota, and served until honorably discharged at Fort Snelling in 1865. Married Miss Emily Cushing. They have three children living.
Samuel D. Clymer was born at Logansport, Indiana, in 1844, where he remained until the spring of 1858, when he moved to Afton. In 1865, began life for himself on the farm his parents first settled upon. Married, in 1875, Mary Ingalls. They have one child living.
James Cooney was born in Ireland, in 1815. Spent his life in England until fourteen years of age, when he went to sea and followed it fourteen years; went on two whaling voyages in the Arctic ocean, twice doubling the cape. After leaving the sea, worked for awhile in the lead mines at Chester, England, then came to New York city, where he worked three years; thence to Taylor's
Falls, Minnesota, working a few months, and finally to Afton, and in 1864 enlisted in Company C, Seventh Minnesota; afterwards transferred to the veteran reserve corps, and served until the close of the war. He returned to Afton, where he has since lived. Married, in 1845, at Chester, England, to Mary Dunn. They have three chil- dren now living.
E. M. Cox was born in Orange county, New York, December 11th, 1822. Moved to the terri- tory of Michigan in 1832, and settled at Pontiac. Farmed there until 1851, when he started for Washington county, Minnesota, by rail to Elgin, Illinois, to Galena by Frink and Walker's stage, thence to St. Paul by steamer "Dr. Franklin No. 2." Worked on Judge Cooper's farm in Oakfield, now Woodbury, for three months; during that time, made a claim in Afton, which he now owns. In the fall of 1851 returned to Michigan and made some collections, and to Illinois and purchased an outfit of an ox team and wagon, drove to Ga- lena and shipped to Stillwater on steamer "Me- nominee," arrived at his claim in the spring of 1852, and built a log cabin. Has made this his home ever since. Mr. Cox has held the office of chairman of the town board several times and has taken a lively interest in the affairs of the town. Married October, 1855, to Eliza A. Brimhall of Worcester county, Massachusetts. They have six children living.
Francis Dick was born in Scotland in 1833. Came to America in 1855, and engaged at clerk- ing in a dry-goods store in Boston two years. In 1857, came to Minnesota and stopped in St. Paul a short time; thence to Cambridge, Isanti county, and took a claim which he abandoned in 1859. Following lumbering until 1867, when he bought a farm in Afton, where he has since resided. Married in 1871 to Miss Lydia Cummings. They have three children, all living.
Baptiste Fournier was born in Canada East, March 15th, 1814, where he remained until twenty- three years of age, then went to work for the American Fur Company, and went to Lake Su- perior, where he remained for some time. Spent one year at St. Croix Falls, and in 1841, came to Afton and made a claim of one hundred and twenty acres where he has since resided. Mar- ried in 1841 to Sarah Folstrom. They have one child: Margaret, born in 1842.
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AFTON-BIOGRAPHICAL.
Jacob Folstrom deceased, was born at Stock- holm, Sweden, June 25th, 1793. Came to Ame- rica when fourteen years of age, went to Canada, and very soon acquired a knowledge of both the French and Iriquois languages while in Canada, was engaged as a fur trader, and later employed as head trader for the American Fur Company, in their employ seven years, as traveling buyer. He was at the mouth of the St. Peter river. ten years before Fort Snelling was built After the building of the fort, he was employed there two years by the government. Went to Prai- rie du Chien and spent one year, returned to Fort Snelling and remained two years in the quarter- masters department. Was sent to Galena and remained one year, and again returned to Fort Snelling. Soon after, settled in Lakeland in 1840, then engaged in missionary work in which he remained until his death. While at Lake- land, he was employed to carry the mail from Prairie du Chien to St. Croix Falls, and during that time met with many hair-breadth escapes from the hostile tribe of Indians. Moved to Afton and settled at Valley Creek in 1850. Mar- ried in 1823 to Margaret Bungo, a Chippewa, who was born at Fond du Lac, Superior, in 1797. The eldest son, John was born at Leech Lake and married Margaret Revi, who died March 28th, 1865. Nancy was born at Sandy Lake and is still living. Sarah, born at Gull Lake, now the wife of B. Fournier. Jane, wife of J. Mc- Knight, died February 22d, 1861; James and George died when small. George, the second is now living and married to Miss Catherine H. Simondet. James second, now living. Cecilia, the wife of Chas. Villendrer.
Magaloire Fortin was born in Canada East in 1827. He remained there till twenty-one years old, then moved to Watertown, New York, and remained eleven years. In 1856, came to St. Paul and stayed one winter. In the spring of 1857, moved to Rutherford settlement, where he remained until he settled on his farm in Afton, which has been his home ever since, excepting five years spent in Wright county. Married, in 1858, Ellen Hayes, who died in 1872. Married his second wife, Adelaide Boyer, in 1874. He has one son now living, John A.
Putnam F. Gage was born at Bedford, Hills- borough county, New Hampshire, Jan. 26th, 1821,
Went to Boston, Massachusetts, and engaged in the grocery and grain trade until 1844. Went to St. Louis, Missouri, and opened a restaurant, which he continued until 1850. Went to Hudson, Wisconsin, for about two years, then to Lakeland and opened a blacksmith shop, and continued it four years; then moved to Afton and bought a farm; thence to Woodbury, engaging in farming and blacksmithing. January, 1863, went to Fort Abercrombie as post blacksmith in the quarter- master's department; removed to Fort Snelling, where he remained in the same capacity during the war. After the war, moved to the village of Afton, remained two years, then bought a farm near the south line of the town, and opened a blacksmith shop. In 1870, became almost blind ror five years; finally entirely recovered through the skill of Dr. Hagan, of St. Paul. Mr. Gage has held most of the town offices; was elected first sheriff of St. Croix county, Wisconsin, but refused to serve. Married, October 2d, 1849, Miss Esther E. Griffiths. They have five chil- dren living.
John T. George was horn in Adams county, Pennsylvania, October 24th, 1832. Moved to Mif- lin county and remained six years, then to Cass county, Indiana, where his mother died in August and father in September, 1867. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. George moved to Afton in 1863 and followed lumbering until 1870, when he settled where he has since resided.
Henry Gerke, a native of Prussia, was born January 20th, 1828. Came to America in 1843 and settled in Buffalo, New York, remained one year thence went to Chicago and worked at the wheel-wright business six years. Came to Minne- sota and remained a short time, and moved to Osceola Mills, Wisconsin, and worked as a mill- wright four years, thence to Lakeland and car- ried on a wagon shop four years. Then to Still- water and worked at his trade five years, when he bought a farm of two hundred acres in Afton and now lives on it. Married in 1861 to Mary Rengen. They have two children living.
James M. Getchell was born in Somerset coun- ty, Maine, May 18th, 1819, where he remained until twenty-five years of age. Then moved to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and engaged in lum- bering six years, and three years in Detroit, Michigan, when he came to Afton and engaged
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
in lumbering until 1862; then enlisted in Company C, Seventh Minhesota Volunteers. Wbile at Eastport, Mississippi, received internal injuries from which he never entirely recovered. Honor- ably discharged at Vicksburg at the close of the war, returned to Afton and bought a farm, and in 1874 bought his present farm. Married in 1858 to Mary Brimhall, who bore him two children and died in 1871. Married again in 1872, to Eliza Newman.
William H. Guernsey was born in Saratoga county, New York, April 8th, 1823. Moved with his parents to Rochester, where his father died, his mother still lives at that place. In 1832, went with an uncle to Niles, Michigan; remained until 1842; was in Chicago a short time, thence to Rock river, making Dixon and Sterling his home until 1847. Then engaged with a lumber- ing company and came north in their employ,
spending the winter of 1847-8 in the pineries of Minnesota. Returned to Rock river, in June, 1848, and stayed one year, when he returned to Stillwater and remained one summer, returned to Illinois and brought his family to Washington county, and located on Judge Cooper's farm, which adjoins his present location in Afton. Made his claim in 1851, of one hundred and sixty acres, and has since added eighty acres more. Mar- ried in 1845, to Miss Virginia Sampson, who was born at Doxbury, Massachusetts, July, 1827. They have three children living.
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