USA > Minnesota > Washington County > History of Washington County and the St. Croix Valley, including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota > Part 71
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Newington Gilbert was born in Onondaga county, New York, February 17th, 1815. Re- mained at home until 1851, when he removed to Washington county, and settled in Woodbury, buying a farm of Ex-Governor Ramsey; while here, in company with D. C. Buswell, he built the North Star mill, at Valley Creek, in 1860, holding his interest in it for eleven years, when he sold it to Mr. Persons. In 1864, came to Valley Creek to live; he was a member of the state constitu- tional convention, but since that time has taken no active part in politics, his business engrossing his entire attention. Married in 1850, to Celestia Bangs. They have two children living.
Joseph Haskell, son of Joseph and Mary Has- kell, was born in Kennebec county, Maine, Jan- uary 9th, 1805. Worked on his father's farm nn- til 1827, when he went to Hingham, Massachusetts, and farmed four years. In 1831 he purchased an
interest in a stage route from Hingham to Bos- ton. Held it four years; sold it, and returned to Somerset county, Maine, and commenced on a new farm he had bought. Was engaged in plowing one morning, when his plow fell to pieces. He decided at once to dispose of the whole thing and "Go west, young man." He started for Indiana in October, 1837, stopping in Orleans county, New York, and remaining during the winter. In the spring he resumed his journey by steamer up the Maumee river to Maumee City. From there he paddled his way in a boat to Fort Defiance; went on foot across the country to Fort Wayne, where he took pass- age on a canal-boat to Logansport; thence to Terre Haute. Here he found a friend, and they both worked on the canal. They both had the chills and fever, which lasted until March, 1839, when they determined to find a different climate and walked to La Fayette, where they bought a canoe and paddled their way three hundred miles down the Wabash river to its mouth, landing at Shawneetown, and there took a steamer for St. Louis. Here his friend was taken sick again. He worked in a saw-mill until July 7th, when they took the steamer "Ariel" for Fort Snelling, arriving there July 24th, 1839, where he engaged to a company that was building a saw-mill at St. Croix Falls. He helped row a boat of supplies from Fort Snelling to the falls; then worked on the mill and dam until the company failed. Wishing to hear from home, he and his friend bought a canoe and went down the river to Cat- fish bar, opposite the present village of Afton. Here they left the boat, and started on foot across the country, following the Indian trail. When they reached the prairie at the head of the ravine the land he now owns attracted his attention. They went to Red Rock; thence to Fort Snelling, the post-office for the North-west. Returning to Red Rock they again struck the trail, and came to the point, which had before attracted their attention, made a claim, and returned to St. Croix Falls and spent the winter in getting out logs for the St. Louis market. In the spring found all they had made was their board and a few old tools. March 1st, 1840, they returned to their claim, stopping on their way at Marine mills to buy 1,000 feet of lumber, for which Mr. Haskell gave his note for twenty dollars, and as a compliment to
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him, they gave him slabs enough to cover their shanty, made a raft of it and floated it down the river. They left Marine after dinner on Monday, and that was the last they had to eat until Wednesday night. They then hired an old half- breed woman, with one ox and a cart to haul their lumber to the foot of the ravine running from Bolles creek to his present farm. They then stuck up a few boards for shelter until they could get their lumber to their land and build their cabin, which was completed May 1st, 1840. June 8th, 1840, began improvements and broke the first land that was occupied as a farm north of Prairie du Chien, with four yoke of oxen and a cast-iron plow, and at the end of six days they had broken three acres, at a cost of fifteen dollars per acre! They planted it with corn and potatoes. Their claim was the only settlement above the mouth of the St. Croix to Stillwater, for two years. In the spring of 1841, his partner left him. He worked on alone, making improvements until September, 1844, when he made a trip to Maine, and returned in June, 1845. From these beginnings have sprung one of the finest farms in the St. Croix valley. Mr. Haskell has held many prominent positions in the state, county and town. Was county commissioner at the time this county was under the Wisconsin territorial legislation. Also commissioner under the Minnesota territorial leg- islature; was a member of the legislature in 1869 and 1871; held a position on the board of the Normal schools of the state two years; chairman of the first board of supervisors of Afton, held the position three times. Married in 1849, to Miss Olive K. Furber, of Maine. They have four children living, Helen M., Mary E., Henri Pitt and Hiram A.
Charles F. Holmstrom was born in Sweden, May 18th, 1826. Came to America in 1852, and settled in Austin, Texas, where he remained until 1857, when he moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, and remained nine years, then bought a farm of one hundred and fifty acres in Afton, where he has since resided. Married, at Austin, Texas, Sarah L. Peterson, who was born in Sweden in 1822, and came to Austin, Texas, in 1854. One son, Charles Victor, has been born to them.
James Jackson was born in England in 1826, came to America in May, 1848, and settled in Denmark, where he remained one year; moved to
Afton and took a claim of one hundred and sixty acres, and still lives on it. Mr. Jackson is un- married.
Preston T. Jackson, son of M. Y. and Martha Jackson, was born at Wabash, Indiana, in 1850; came with his parents to Washington county in 1854, and settled in Lakeland, where he remained until 1871. Then was engaged in the govern- ment survey in the Red River valley until 1874. Since that time has lived in Afton. Married, in 1874, Alice Gilbert. They have three children.
Michael Mackey was born in Ireland in 1824, came to America when a child with his parents, and settled in New Brunswick; lived there twen- ty-four years, engaged in logging and farming. Went to Aroostook county, Maine, and followed lumbering until 1852, then came to Washington county and worked at lumbering, until he and his brother moved to Afton and bought two hun- dred and forty acres of land. Married, in 1857, Ellen Sparrow. They have eleven children, all living.
Andrew Mackey is a native of Ireland, born about 1800. He is one of the oldest settlers in the St. Croix Valley, having arrived in June, 1838. He came to America at the age of twenty years, and began as laborer on railroads in different states, finally arriving at Galena, Illinois, where he engaged with a lumbering company for the Chippewa river, but they came to St. Croix in- stead. They landed at Prescott, June 19th, 1838, and from there came up to the Falls of St. Croix in a mackinaw boat, their three yoke of oxen be- ing driven by land. The Galena company was, Mr. Mackey claims, the first to commence opera- tions in lumbering in this region. They engaged at the mouth of the Snake river, where they found rich forests of pine. They were often interrupted by hostile Indians, who considered them invaders on their domain, as the treaty ceding these lands, had not been ratified. The Indians collected in numbers and frightened the lumbermen, who fled precipitately down the river. They did not stop to make the portage, but shot both the falls, pre- ferring death by water, rather than at the hands of the savages. The St. Croix Lumber Company had in the meantime taken possession of the Big Falls and the head-long haste of the pursued was checked when they discovered that there were other whites in the wilderness. The Indians
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
were soon brought to terms by evidence that the treaty had been ratified, and did not afterwards molest the lumbermen. Mr. Mackey and his company returned to Snake river during the winter of 1838-'9, but soon went to Kettle river. In the fall of 1840, Mr. Mackey was employed by one Tuttle, to hold a claim near Prescott, for which service he received one barrel of beef, one barrel of flour and two barrels of whisky. March 4th, 1841, he moved to the claim he had previ- ously made in Afton. It embraced the present site of the village. He was married in 1845 to Miss Hamilton, who was then living with Dr. Carli. In 1855, he sold his farm to the founders of the village of Afton. His wife died in 1873, since which time he has lived alone.
William Meyer was born in Niagara county, New York, March 15th, 1850, remained there fifteen years, then moved with parents to Wash- ington county, and settled in Afton. Married in 1877 to Miss Carrie Frederich, a native of New York, and settled where they now live. They have one son, Henry, born May 4th, 1880.
Samuel Middleton, deceased, was born in Ire- land in 1820. Came to America in 1845, and shortly after made a claim in Afton and Wood- bury where he lived until he enlisted in Company E, Tenth Minnesota, in 1864. Was taken sick, and died in the hospital at Memphis, Tennessee, February 24th, 1865. Married in 1852 to Mary Colter, who was born in Ireland, January 22d, 1830, and came to America with her mother in 1849, and settled in new Brunswick, where they remained one year, then in Chicago two years, thence to St. Paul, where her mother died in 1870. Mrs. Middleton has three children living.
Emil Munch, the subject of this sketch, was born in Prussia, in 1831. Came to America in 1849, and in 1852 settled in Taylor's Falls. Here he followed the carpenter's trade until 1857, then went to Chengwatona and engaged in the lum- ber trade, and while there held the office of register of deeds of Pine county. In 1860-1 represented that district in the house. In the spring of 1861, enlisted in the First Minnesota Battery, and was elected its captain. Wounded at the battle of Shiloh, in the right thigh in 1862. After his recovery returned to his command, and was honorably discharged at Camp Douglas in 1865, and returned to St. Paul, and was appointed
deputy state treasurer which office he held until elected to the state treasurership in 1868. Held the office until 1872. During this time he built a saw-mill at Lakeland, which he ran until 1874, then went to Franconia for a short time, and in 1875 settled at Afton, and since that time has owned the flouring mill at Afton. Married in 1865 to Bertha Seeger. They have four children living.
Francis Oldham, born in England, in 1826. In 1849 came to America and settled in St. Paul for a short time. Went to Fort Gaines, now Fort Ripley, and in 1850 came to Afton and took a claim of 160 acres; soon bought forty more. He has held the office of county commissioner and many of the town offices, and for twenty-three years clerk of school district, No. 23. Married in St. Paul to Miss Betty Jackson. They have four children living.
John Oldham, deceased, was born in Cheshire, England, January 23d, 1801. Here he was en- gaged in working in a cotton mill most of the time until he moved to America. Married in March, 1825, to Miss Ann Mosely, who was born in Tideswell, Derbyshire, England, May 14th, 1803. They started for America in January, 1854, and landed in Washington county in April, in the same year and settled in Afton, taking a claim of 120 acres. Mrs. Oldham died July 8th, 1869, and was followed by her husband September 2d, 1877, leaving Francis, Nancy and Alexander, who are . still living.
L. I. Olds was born in Windham county, Ver- mont, July 15th, 1825. When fourteen years old moved with his parents to Rock county, Wiscon- sin. In 1849 engaged in the sash. door and blind business at Beloit until 1857, then moved to Glen- mont, Wisconsin, opposite Afton. Here he has been engaged in the saw mill and lumbering busi- ness ever since, living in Afton. Married in 1849 to Rhoda A. Randall, of Lewiston, New York. They have two children living.
August Olson, born in Guttenburg, Sweden November 10th, 1827, where he remained until 1853, when he came to America and stayed in New York city two years. Returned to his na- tive country for a few months, returned to New York and remained until 1857, when he again visited his old home for two years, and again came to New York city, and soon after engaged
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AFTON-BIOGRAPHICAL.
as sailor on the vessel Gahoba, which was used as a transport vessel by the United States govern- ment. When the war broke out he was employed on a supply schooner, which was captured by the rebels, but was afterward released. During the war went to Sweden again for a short time. On returning he was engaged as a helper to the preacher on the ship "John Wesley," which was a battle ship and used as a house of worship. In In 1864 left the ship and returned for the fourth time to his native country as a missionary of the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1866 came to St. Paul in charge of the Swedish Methodist Episco- pal church; thence to Chisago Lake for one year; to Afton four years; Vasa, Goodhue county, two years, Kandiyohi county one year; then returned to his home near Afton. Married twice, the last time to Albertina Johnson, by whom he has five children, and three by his first wife.
Charles Pennington was born in Aroostook county, Maine, in 1842, remained there till the family moved to Stillwater. After a short time they moved to Kanabec county, Minnesota, where they remained till they moved to Washington county, and followed farming and lumbering un- til 1868, when he bought a farm of eighty acres in Afton, where he now lives, and has added eighty acres. Married, November 20th, 1870, to Vesta Morton. They have three children.
George H. Pennington was born in Aroostook county, Maine, in 1844, remained there eleven years, then moved to Stillwater and remained a short time, then to Kanabec county, Minnesota, where he lived five years, returning to Washing- ton county in 1875, and settled in Afton. Mar- ried, in 1877, Miss Fanny Van Slyke. They have two children living.
William Pennington was born in New Bruns- wick, January 4th, 1836. Moved to Holton, Aroostook county, Maine, remained there till he moved to Stillwater in 1854. Moved to Kanabec county, Minnesota, on Snake river, and engaged in lumbering five years. Then he moved to Afton, and bought a farm of two hundred acres which is now his home.
Simon E. Persons was born in Waterford, Ver- mont, November 19th, 1833. Came to Wisconsin when twelve years old, and removed to Washing- ton county, and made Afton his home until he enlisted in Company C, Seventh Minnesota, in
1862. While in the quartermaster's department at Memphis, Tennessee, was thrown from a mule and broke his left arm, which kept him in the hos- pital three months. Was honorably discharged in August 1865, and returned to Afton. In 1867, bought his present farm. Married May 27th, 1868, to Miss Annie Cooney. They have five children, Sarah, Marion, May, William and Ralph.
Thomas Persons was born at Littleton, New Hampshire, June 16th, 1814. Moved to Water- ford, Vermont, and remained until twenty-one years old, then to the northern part of the state for eight years, and Middlesex for three years, and soon after to Dunkirk, Dane county, Wiscon- sin, living there three years. Returned to his native state and spent three years. Again to Dane county, Wisconsin, for one season, thence to Red Cloud, Indiana, for one year, and from there to Afton and bought a farm of 120 acres, and has since added eighty acres more, and made it his home. Mr. Persons has held the of- fice of town treasurer of Afton thirteen years. Married in Waterford, Vermont, in 1834, to Miss Maria Huntley. They have four children living. Two of their sons served in the army during the late war.
Samuel H. Paterson was born in Wayne county, Indiana, in 1826. Spent his early life in St. Joseph county. In 1856, came to Afton and built a hotel, which was burned in 1861. Was then en- gaged in the quartermaster's office at Fort Ripley, and on the plains twenty-eight months. Returned to Afton in 1866, and engaged in merchandise, following the business since. Married in 1852, to Miss Francis Brown. They have one son now living. James B. now in business with his father.
William Porth was born in Wheatfield, New York, in 1845, where he learned blacksmith- ing, and remained till he enlisted in Company F, Eighth New York Volunteers, in 1862. Served till honorably discharged in 1865, then came to St. Paul, and worked six years at his trade, then bought land, where he now lives, and in the spring of 1879, started a blacksmith shop on sec- tion 8. Married in 1871, to Elizabeth Fahnstel. They have two children.
Charles Riedel was born in Prussia in 1827. Served in the war of 1848 in his native country.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
Came to America in 1854 and settled at Frank- fort, Kentucky, for a short time. Lived one year in St. Louis; then came to Stillwater, and followed gardening four miles out for ten years. Then bought a fancy store in the city, which he conducted till 1873, when he came to Valley Creek and started his nursery. Married in Prussia in 1853 to Caroline Burchardt. They have six children living.
B. F. Stanley was born in Cazenovia, New York, June 20th, 1842. Attended the seminary at that place, now known as the New York Cen- tral Seminary. Graduated in 1862, and taught in his native town until 1868; then came to Chi- cago and engaged in the real estate business four years. Engaged in teaching in different places in Illinois until 1879, when he took charge of the St. Croix Valley Academy. Married in 1865 to Miss Calista A. Stanley. They have one child, Guy R., born in 1868.
August Stegemann was born in Prussia in 1840. Came to America with his parents when six years old. Settled in Niagara county, New York, and engaged in farming till 1861, when he moved to Afton. In 1862, bought forty acres in section eight; sold it in 1864 and settled where he now lives on section six. Has held the office of super- visor a number of times, and the past three years assessor. Married in 1862 to Caroline Pagel. They have six children living.
Adam W. Willock was born in Montgomery county, New York, May 31st, 1834, where he remained until seventeen years of age. Then moved to Hampton, Oneida county, and re- mained four years. Came to St. Paul in 1853, and worked a short time in the "Merchants" hotel; thence to Washington county, and in 1862 bought a farm of forty acres. Now owns two hundred and forty acres, with one hundred and twenty under cultivation.
J. S. Hartman, a native of New York city was born June 14th, 1826. Having learned the car- penters trade, in the spring of 1856, he came to Chicago, Illinois, resided there for five years, then removed to Des Plaines, where he farmed one year. In 1861, he came to St. Paul, and in May to Lakeland. In 1863 he sold his farm and removed to his present location on section 30. Married in 1859, at Des Plaines, to Harriet N. Jefferson. They have three children living.
LAKELAND.
CHAPTER LVIII.
FORMATION OF THE TOWN -- SETTLEMENT EARLY EVENTS-SCHOOLS-CHURCH ORGAN- IZATIONS - OFFICERS AND PROCEEDINGS --- VILLAGE OF LAKELAND-BIOGRAPHICAL.
In the division of the original fractional town- ship in 1858, of which the towns of Lakeland and Baytown are composed, it was found that there were already collected two small villages on the lake shore, within the township. A large share of the population was gathered at, or near these points, either of which objected to go to the other to vote, or do their town business. A com- promise was effected through their representative, Socrates Nelson, who was on the committee for the division of towns, by a division of the ter- ritory on a section line east and west through the center of the township, which gave to Lakeland twelve full and three fractional sections. Subse- quent to this division, the people of this town endeavored to have the southern boundary line of their town changed, to have Bolles Creek as the line between Lakeland and the town of Afton. To this encroachment, the people of Afton were strongly opposed. After several hard contests over the matter, a compromise was effected by giving to Lakeland all of fractional section two and eighty rods off from the north part of sec- tion eleven. The surface of Lakeland is some- what broken. From the lake extending back toward the west for the first few miles in places, it is quite bluffy, then it becomes more level; in the south and east there are some small strips of prairie. The soil is of a loamy nature, and in places has a clay subsoil, while others are sandy. The principal drainage of the town is from the Lake St. Croix, which extends on the east line from north to south. On the line between this town and Oakdale there is a small lake called Horse Shoe lake, with a small stream passing from it through the south-west corner of the town.
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LAKELAND-SETTLEMENT-SCHOOLS.
SETTLEMENT.
As early as 1840, a small settlement of half- breeds had gathered at the point where the site of the village of Lakeland is located. Rev. Mr. Randolph, from Maine, came to this place and labored with this people, but died soon after. In 1842 a young man, George Clark, located at this point and made a claim of the land where the ferry now lands, but was drowned. William Leith with his family located at this point about a year later, but subsequently removed to Gray Cloud Island, where he now lives. Edwin Worth, from St. Croix Falls, came the following year, but remained only for a short time, when they re- turned. In 1844, Elias Mckean came to the town and made a claim on section twenty-two, and broke thirty acres; he being engaged in lum- bering, made the claim for the purpose of having pasture for his cattle, the claim being duly en- tered in 1848, when the land came into market. Jacob Fisher came to the town about this time, and aside from the cabins of the half-breeds, built the first frame house built in the town, which was 18x20, and is now a portion of the house owned by Charles Schultz. Very fe white settlers came to the town until 1848, when the arrivals became more frequent. George W. Leach and family took a claim of the land where Sarah E. Staples now lives. Other parties came soon after. Captain John Oliver with his family of sons, William, Edwin and John, came the year following. James and A. B. Green came soon after, also Jonas Newell and A. D. Kingsley. Thus the settlement of the town began to in- crease quite rapidly. In 1849 there were no buildings on what is now the site of the village, the half-breeds having removed to different parts of the country. Soon after this, Moses Perin came to this point, and securing the land where the village now stands, laid out the town plat. John Molton, Benj. Bonsell, Putnam F. Gage, Hubbell Robinson, James Green and Sheldon Gray located at this point about that time. Mr. Perin, being the leading spirit in this enterprise, exerted his utmost in trying to build the town at this point, he himself erecting several buildings both for business and resident purposes. The first proclamation of the gospel to the white set- tlers at this point was by Rev. Charles Thayer, about 1855, he being settled at Hudson, came
across the river and preached occasionally; also the Rev. Mr. Marshall and Rev. Gibson visit- ing them from time to time. Henry W., son of Edwin and Mary C. Worth, was the first white child born at this point, November, 1844. The next was Henry F., son of A. B. Green, born July 11th, 1852. The first death was George Clark, already spoken of as being drowned in 1842. The next was Rebecca F. Bonsell, Sep- tember 6th, 1854. The same year, September 12th, Mary Eliza, a daughter of A. B. Green. The first marriage was that of William Oliver to Mary Davis in 1848. Next A. B. Green to Miss Eliza M. Oliver, October 1st, 1851.
SCHOOLS.
With the advance of civilization came the de- sire to provide the means for the education of the youth of the then promising township. The first application for the formation of a school district was made by Hiram W. Greeley to the board of commissioners of Washington county, which was granted December 18th, 1851; said district to be composed of township 29, range 20. A meeting for the election of officers was called at the house of George W. Leach, December 31st, 1851, and district number 1 was organized by the election of the following officers: George W. Leach, Hi- ram W. Greeley and D. H. Fisk, trustees; and A. B. Green, clerk. The first school was held in the house of Elias McKean, and taught by Har- riet A. Newell. In 1855 a tax was voted of $300 to build a school-house in the village. The num- ber of the district was changed in 1862 from 1 to 21. The present school building was erected in 1869, on the old school site. The subject of forming an independent school district had been discussed for some time; to bring the matter be- fore the people for their decision, a meeting was called December 13th, 1867. The whole number of voters present was twenty; the vote being cast it was found that a majority of four- teen votes had been cast in favor of the new district. A meeting for the election of officers was called December 27th, 1877, with the follow- ing result: for one year, J. R. Dickinson and Joseph Shaw; for two years, J. C. Higgins and Mrs. B. K. Watson; for three years, R. H. San- derson and F. C. Tyler, were elected trustees. This board met January 7th, 1878, and organized
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