History of Washington County and the St. Croix Valley, including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 75

Author: Warner, George E., 1826?-1917; Foote, C. M. (Charles M.), 1849-1899; Neill, Edward D. (Edward Duffield), 1823-1893. Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota; Williams, J. Fletcher (John Fletcher), 1834-1895. Outlines of the history of Minnesota from 1858 to 1881
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Minneapolis : North Star Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 662

USA > Minnesota > Washington County > History of Washington County and the St. Croix Valley, including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota > Part 75

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South Stillwater soap and rendering factory was established in the spring of 1868, and located on Fairy creek, by Moore and Mckenzie. In 1880, Moore's interest was purchased by McKen- zie and brother, the capital increased to $3,000, and the works moved to South Stillwater, and new machinery for rendering, added. The com- pany now have an office in Stillwater.

POST OFFICE.

The first post-office in Baytown was established at the office of the St. Croix lumber Company, in 1872, William Graves appointed post-master the same year. In 1876 the office was moved to the store of the same company. Mr. Graves resigned, and Mr. A. Deragisch was appointed. The mail is received daily by a stage running from Cottage Grove to Stillwater and return.

The village of Oak Park is located on section three. The village plat was laid out and platted by John Parker in 1857. Is a fine location for residents. Many elegant private residences have been erected, and more, on a larger scale, con- templated.

In the north-east of section 4, another village was laid out and platted by F. O. J. Smith, in 1856, called an addition to Stillwater which is waiting for occupants.

ROADS.

The first road laid out in Baytown was the

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territorial road known as the Stillwater, Point Douglas, and St. Louis river road. It enters the town on section three on the north, and runs south, leaving the town from section 15; also the terri- torial road called the St. Paul and Stillwater, passes through the north-west corner of the town. The first road laid out by the town was in 1861, the McDonald and Stillwater road, running from the corner of section 17, due north and south. The next was the Baytown and Stillwater road, known as the town line road, laid out and surveyed in 1862 by A. Van Vorhes, county sur- veyor.

RAILROADS.

The St. Paul, Stillwater and Taylor's Falls railroad now operated by the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railroad Company, en- ters the town in the north-west quarter of section 18, running to the centre of section 9, where they have a junction. One branch running to Still- water, and the main line south-east to Hudson, with another branch from near the bridge, run- ning up the river to Stillwater.

POPULATION.

The population of Baytown is largely German and Irish. Some Swedes and Norwegians and a few Americans. The census of 1875, showed 952 inhabitants; in 1880, these were 1,254.

The valuation of real estate in 1880, was $125-, 595, of personal property, $73,297. The products for 1879 were; wheat, 2,203 acres; bushels, 29,- 760; oats, 435 acres; bushels, 16,370; corn, 294 acres; bushels, 12,225; barley, 64 acres; bushels, 1,364; potatoes, 51 acres; bushels 6,175; hay, 514 acres; tons of hay, 489.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

Frederick Albrecht, is a native of Prussia, where he was born, December 31st, 1842. Here he passed his boyhood days and settled in Ni- agara county, New York. There he grew to manhood, attended public school, and completed his education at the Union Academy, at Lock- port, New York. August 26th, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Fifty-first New York Volunteer Infantry; served in many important conflicts, he was mustered out of ser- vice June 26th, 1865. After the close of his military service, Mr. Albrecht returned to the home of his parents in New York. He engaged

as hotel clerk for three years, then in custom house at the suspension bridge three years longer. In 1871, he came to Minnesota, and one year later purchased his present farm in Baytown. His marriage with Miss Caroline Zobel took place in 1871. They have four children: William, Mary Sarah and Arthur.

Martin T. Allen was born in the town of Nor- wich, Canada, July 24th, 1839. He lived with his parents until the age of twenty, then came to the states through which he has since extensively traveled. He learned the trade of sawyer in Michigan and Minnesota, and in 1871, came to Stillwater, being employed by Hersey, Bean and Brown, and is still the leading circular sawyer of that firm. He married in 1864 to Miss Mary Pake, of Lexington, Michigan. The are the parents of three children: Charles B., Lyman B. and Frank E.

James Arthur, a native of Nova Scotia; and of Scotch descent, was born in July, 1830. Remain- ing under the parental roof until the age of twenty; he then went to Wisconsin, where he commenced learning the trade of mill-wright, which he com- pleted in California, having gone to that state in in 1865. He remained in that state until 1871, then came to Minnesota and has since resided in the valley of the St. Croix and vicinity. He made South Stillwater his home, and has since resided there in the employ of the "St. Croix Lumber Company." In 1872 he married Miss Jane Mc- Beth, of Anoka, a lady of Scotch parentage, who was reared in Canada.

John Atkinson, one of the earliest pioneers of what is now Washington county, was born at Lewiston, Maine, April 4th, 1805. He received a practical education in his native town, where he remained until 1833, when he removed to Pitts- field, Somerset county. Here he stayed twelve years, and in 1844 started for the west. The same year he crossed the St. Croix and "stuck his stakes," in what is now Cottage Grove, at that time a wilderness. Here he pre-empted eighty acres of land, and buying more, opened and im- proved a most desirable estate, on which he re- mained more than thirty years, an honored and respected citizen. At Lewiston, Maine, Mr. At- kinson was married to Miss Hannah Moore; she accompanied him to the western wilds and re- mained his beloved companion until death claimed

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her in 1874. She bore her husband seven chil- dren, six of whom still live; Warren, Charles H., Nathan W., John A. N., Cynthia A. and Sarah E., all of whom have been reared in this county. Mr. Atkinson was married to Mrs. A. B. Fiske, of Baytown. They still live happily, at the old Fiske homestead at Baytown.

Mrs. Almira Atkinson was the daughter of Captain and Mrs. Robert Bragdon, and was born in the city of Portland, Maine, March 2d, 1808, and has now passed her allotted time, three score and ten. Her father was a seaman, and like many other sailors, his grave was in the watery deep. On returning from a voyage to foreign ports, the vessel he commanded and all on board were lost in the equinoctial storm of 1815. His wife survived him only one year. Thus at the early age of seven years, the subject of this sketch was left an orphan. She grew to maturity at Boston, in her uncle's family, and while quite young was united in wedlock with David H. Fiske, a merchant of that city. They continued in that city until 1837, when they came west to the Mississippi valley, and located at Galena, Illi- nois. In 1848, they came northward and the same year settled on what is now known as the "old Fiske homestead," in Baytown. Here Mr. Fiske died in 1856, leaving his widow with seven small children. She remained on the farm and reared her children to maturity. In 1875, she was married to her present husband, Mr. John Atkinson, living most happily on the old home- stead. Though aged in years, they are youthful in feeling, he being still able to read and write without the aid of glasses.

Bennett Barker, one of the prominent men in the St. Croix Valley, was born in Prussia, July 4th, 1831. He was left an orphan at the early age of six years. When a lad of seventeen he sailed for America, and landed in New York; he pro- ceeded direct to Galena, Illinois, where he spent six years in the lead mines, During the spring of 1856, he came to Washington county, locating at Baytown, where he now has a large landed estate. In 1869 Mr. Barker, in company with Governor Holcombe and others, laid out "Fair- view," the new city cemetery of Stillwater; also in 1870, the St. Michael's cemetery, the Catholic burial place of Washington county. The next year he removed from their various resting places

about three thousand bodies to the new grave- yard. He also laid out the new county and city cemetery for the burial of the poor and unknown, and is now superintendent of all these. His marriage with Miss Teresa Laeting took place at Kenosha, Wisconsin, in 1855. Joseph B., Mary, Eliza, Henry, David and Anna are their children living.

Josiah Batchelder is a native of Wellington, Maine, born May 30th, 1833. When a child his parents removed to Bangor, thence to Exeter, where he grew to manhood, receiving in the mean- time his education, and a knowledge of the trade of ship-building. When a young man of twenty-two he came to the great North-west, the same year locating at Stillwater. He remained one year, being busily employed in building flat-boats and skiffs. He then removed to Maiden Rock, Wis- consin. Among other crafts constructed by him while there was the "Lottie Lyon," the first local packet that navigated Lake Pepin. In 1866 he crossed Lake Pepin to Frontenac, and during his four years' sojourn built many beautiful yachts, sail and row-boats. Mr. Batchelder, in 1877, finally located in South Stillwater, and began the construction of the ways and docks for the "Stillwater Dock Company," of which he is manager and part owner. He was married at Red Wing, Minnesota, in 1859, to Miss Elizabeth Bowers who has borne him four children: Jessie, Edwin J., Harry L. and Maud.

Hiram F. Benner, a native of Maine, was born at Dennysville, in 1829. He attended the pub- lic schools in his native place, and in 1849 re- moved to Hancock county, making it his home for the next twenty years, being engaged in lum- bering and mill-wrighting. He then came west- ward and remained at Somerset, Wisconsin, un- til the autumn of 1873, when he moved to South Stillwater, and has been in the employ of the "St. Croix Lumber Company" chiefly since. His wife was Miss Jennie Boynton, a lady of Englishı ancestry, to whom he was married in 1849. They have eight children: Hiram A., Mary, Hartley B., IIerbert P., Nellie, Georgia, Bertha B. and Herman.

Joseph Bonin, whose name is a familiar one all along the St. Croix river, and whose history includes in it the history of the St. Croix Valley, was born in a little French settlement near Mon-

BAYTOWN-BIOGRAPHICAL.

433

treal, Canada, August 26th, 1820. Here he re- ceived a common school education in the French language. In 1839 he contracted to enter the service of the American Fur Company, and started on his long journey to the wilds of the North-west. With a number of venturesome companions, he embarked in a birch canoe, trav- elling across the country by both land and water, enduring many hardships and privations: He accumulated large stores of furs with which he returned to the company. In 1842, as his time of service had expired, he declined to renew his contract. He immediately started with some companions for civilization, and after a long. perilous journey, during which were many acci- dents and rough experiences, they reached St. Croix Falls where they saw the first signs of the white man. After continuing as far as St. Peter, Mr. Bonin returned, remaining three years at the falls, then came to Stillwater, and was in the em- ploy of J. McKusick four years, in the old mill. He made a brief visit to his childhood home, re- turning to South Stillwater, where twenty-seven years ago he purchased and improved a residence site, and has since made it his home. During several winters he carried on a traffic with the Indians and was acquainted with Little Crow, and Hole-in-the-Day; he could also speak tlie Indian dialect fluently. Enlisting in the late war in Company B, First Minnesota Heavy Ar- tilery, he served until expiration of term of ser- vice. In 1851 he married Miss Margaret Bruce. They have five children: George E., Leon, David, Mary M., and Ellen.

George Brassar is a native of the Province of Quebec and is of French ancestry, born in 1833. Since a mere boy he has been on the water, his first experience being in sailing schooners on the St. Lawrence; he afterwards rafted between Que- bec and Montreal. Twenty-five years ago Mr. Brassar wended his way to the waters of the Mis- sissippi, and landed at Stillwater in 1855. Since then he has piloted and rafted between Stillwater and St. Louis. His first trip on a raft was made under Joseph Perro, who was familiarly known as "Big Joe." He has been engaged during late years in piloting the tow boats of the Schulenburg and Boeckeler Lumber Company, between Still- water and St. Louis. In 1860 his marriage with Miss Clotilda Chardin was celebrated at the Catho- 28

lic church, of Stillwater. Emma, George, Louis, Amelia, Adolphus, Rosa, Cora and Walter are their children.

Thomas Burns, son of Patrick and Ellen Burns, is a native of the "North Star" state, born at Still- water, March 11th, 1862. When a child his par- ents removed to Baytown, where he has since lived. His mother is a widow and one of the es- teemed residents of Baytown. Mr. Burns is still attending school, wisely determining to begin the battle of life with a good education. He has served three years in the shingle mill of the St. Croix Lumber Company, and understands his trade, being fitted to make his way up among men when he reaches maturity.

Paul Caplazi is a native of Switzerland, born March 3d, 1828, where he was reared by his pa- rents, was educated and learned the carpenter's trade. In 1854 he immigrated to America, mak- Toledo, Ohio, his home two years, then came to Stillwater, remaining twelve years, where he worked at his trade, assisting in building many of the prominent edifices of the city. He located on a farm at Baytown, where he still lives. For the past ten years he has been in the employ of the St. Croix Lumber Company and is one of the most skilled workmen in the factory. His mar- rige with Miss Catherine Tour took place in 1861. They have had thirteen children of whom eight are living: Antoine, Ludwick, Lena, Rosa, Jose- phine, Kate, Agnes and Bertha.

Mrs. Ellen Carlton nee Perro, widow of Peter Carlton, was born at the ancient French city of Kaskaskia, Illinois, where she was reared by her parents. In 1848, she came to Minnesota with her brother, Joseph Perro, with whom she lived until her marriage with Mr. Carlton in 1851. IIe was an esteemed pioneer of St. Croix Valley, and died in 1866, at the family residence in Baytown. Mrs. Carlton has four children living: George P., Matilda, Louisa and Rosa.

George P. Carlton, is a native of Washington county, born at Baytown, February 5th, 1853. He is the son of Peter and Ellen Carlton, and was reared in this town. He received a good educa- tion, and has always pursued the quiet calling of farming, now having a desirable place of one hundred and sixty acres in Baytown township.

Mrs. Rosalie Chardin, nee Perro, widow of Louis Chardin, was born at Kaskaskia, Illinois,

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.

February 15th, 1821. Here she grew to maturity and received her education at the Convent of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which was at that time, located at Kaskaskia, now at St. Louis, Missouri. At the age of twenty-three she was married to Louis Chardin, and 1857, she was left a widow, and the year following, came to Minnesota, and has since made her home at her present residence at Baytown. She has three children, the eldest is the wife of George Bras- sar: Michael and Mary L.

J. G. Clymer was born at Mount Pleasant, Henry county, Iowa, March 28th, 1850. At the age of nine years, he removed with his parents to Burlington, where he attended the graded schools till 1866, when he removed to Des Moines. He remained there one and one-half years, then re- turned to Burlington. In 1870, he came to Min- nesota and engaged in railroading until he met with the loss of his right arm in 1874. He was employed as clerk in the office of the St. Croix Lumber Company in 1879, where he still remains. He was married at Stillwater in 1872, to Miss E. E. Foss. They are the parents of four children: Everett, Blanche, Maud and Josephine.

David Cover was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, May 22d, 1826. He remained there with his parents until 1844. when he removed with them to St. Louis, Missouri. Here he engaged in the lumbering business six years, then started up the river by boat to Stillwater, reaching there after a tedious journey of one month. He gave his attention largely to logging between Still- water and St. Louis until 1868, since which time he has been employed in the more retired occupa- tion of farming, also as an agent for fire insur- ance, representing a number of leading compan- ies and doing a good business. Mr. Cover has been county commissioner five years, town treas- urer nine years, and school officer eighteen years. He has been a leading citizen, and has a fine resi- dence at Oak Park. His wife was Miss Elizabeth Herrell, whom he married in 1850. Their chil- dren are John W. who is engaged in mining in Colorado, and two younger sons who are still with their parents.

John G. Cover, a native of Pennsylvania, was born Jannary 2d, 1887. He accompanied his par- ents to St. Louis, in 1844, and after a residence of about five years, removed to Rock Island

county, Illinois. In 1854, he came to Stillwater, in company with his parents, where he remained under their guidance until he enlisted in 1862, in Company C, Eighth Minnesota Volunteer In- fantry. He served in the army of the Cumber- land, and participated in the battle of Stone River and other engagements. He was honorably dis- charged with his regiment in July, 1865, with the rank of first lieutenant. Returning home he soon · proceeded to Hasting, and engaged in lumbering two years, then returned to Stillwater, and has since been in the logging business. He married in 1862, Catherine C. Long. They have seven children living, all girls.

Joel M. Darling, one of the pioneers of the St. Croix Valley, and prominent in forwarding the interests of Stillwater and vicinity, was born in Madison county, New York. When but a child he came with his parents to Galena, Illinois; after making a home in that place several years, they removed to Wisconsin. In May, 1848, Mr. Dar- ling came to Stillwater, his present home. For some time he was in the employ of Socrates Nel- son, and was with him and others when they sur- veyed and laid out the village of Baytown, in 1852. Three years later, he opened a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Dakota county, re- maining on it until 1862, when he enlisted in Company F, Seventh Minnesota Volunteer Infan- try. He engaged in the campaign against the Indians under General H. H. Sibley, afterwards continuing to serve until the close of the war. Soon after returning, he located at South Still- water, where he has since given his attention to agriculture. Mr. Darling is a bachelor and makes his home with Antoine La Point.

Justus A. Depew was born October 10th, 1847, at Pomeroy, Ohio. Learned the trade of machin- ist in Cincinnati, where he resided until 1865, then removed to Minneapolis, Minnesota. He followed his trade in the employ of Dean and IIardenbergh; thence to St. Paul, in the St. Paul iron works three years. In 1871 he came to Still- water as a journeyman at his trade, in a branch shop for the same company; soon, however, he engaged with the St. Croix Lumber Company, and still remains. At St. Paul, April 12th, 1870, . he married Miss Annie Dwyre, who has borne him five children, three sons and two daughters. L. A. Deragisch is a native of Switzerland, born

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BAYTOWN-BIOGRAPHICAL.

in 1852. He immigrated to America with his parents, at the age of eight years, locating at Stillwater in 1861. He entered the store of L. E. Torinus as salesman in 1869, and remained until the organization of the St. Croix Lumber Company, of whose store he has had the manage- ment since. He was married to Miss Jennie Se- crest in 1874. Their children are, Edward, Charles and Clara. Residence at South Still -. water.

John Ehrig is a German by birth, born in 1845. He crossed over to America in 1866, locating in New York city, where he was in the grocery business until 1878. Then came to Stillwater and has since been in the employ of the "St. Croix Lumber Company." In New York city, 1872, he married Miss Mary Keller. Four chil- dren have been born to them, two sons and two daughters.

James Elliott was born on the "Emerald Isle," March 19th, 1823. At the age of nine years, he crossed the Atlantic to St. Johns, New Bruns- wick, with his parents. He remained in that city until the age of twenty-seven, then emi- grated to Nova Scotia and engaged in lumbering. In 1852 he came west to Minnesota and located at Stillwater in August of that year. He has re- mained thereabouts and in the pineries since, and is now living on his farm in Baytown. In 1878 he opened a farm of a half section in Swift county, Minnesota, to which he contemplates removing. He has been twice married: his first wife was Bridget McBride who died in 1856. His present wife, Sara A. Hogan, he married in 1857. They have six children, two sons and four daughters.

Daniel S. Estabrooks was born in Maine, Sep- tember 12th, 1836. Here he grew to manhood, and received a good practical education. One year before reaching his majority, he turned westward to Oshkosh, and the year following re- moved to Horicon, Wisconsin, where he acted as town marshal one year. In 1858 he came to Stillwater and engaged in business until the first call for volunteers in 1861, when he enlisted in Company F, Third Minnesota Volunteer In- fantry. Four long and weary years of danger and hardship he dedicated to the Union. He was mustered outat the close of the war with the rank of sergeant of ambulance corps. In Sep-

tember, 1865, he located in Baytown, and after being engaged in farming in Wisconsin a number of years, he again located permanently on his farm at Oak Park. In September, 1865, he married Mrs. Mary. E. Nickerson, widow of S. B. Nickerson, who was killed at the battle of Gettysburg. Mr. and Mrs. Estabrooks have four children.

Jacob Fisher, the first man to make a claim in Stillwater proper, was born near Hamilton, Can- ada, November 30th, 1813. His father was a me- chanic, and from him Jacob learned the trade of mill-wright and carpenter. In 1835, he left home and came to Chicago, where he remained a short time and built a small wooden house for a citizen. He then came to Galena, Illinois, where he re mained till the fall of 1836, working at his trade. Then went down the river, stopping at Fulton, St. Louis, Vicksburg, New Orleans, Natchez and other points in the south, where he remained three years, returning to St. Louis in May, 1839. There he remained till the spring of 1842, when the spirit of adventure again siezed him, and he came up the river to St. Croix Falls and was en- gaged during that summer as mill-wright in Hungerford and Livingston's mill of that place. When winter came, he had no more to do at the falls, so journeyed along down the river till he came to the Tamarack house at Dakota,now Still- water. There he remained all winter, using J. R. Brown's court house for a capenter's shop, when he chose to work there. In the summer of 1843, he built a house at St. Mary's for Paul Carli, who had made a claim there, and that fall began the first saw-mill ever built at Stillwater. Mr. Fisher was the pioneer mill-wright of Washington county, having built or helped to build nearly all the mills prior to 1855, and many later, and also built many private residences and other buildings. In 1861, enlisted and served three and one- half years; he was with the army of the Po- to mac in all its campaigns and actively engaged in nearly every battle. He was wounded at Spottsylvania Court House, and after the battle sent to the hospital at Fort Snelling, where he received his discharge. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Reams station in August, 1864, but discharged at Wilmington, after being six months a captive. Mr. Fisher returned to Still- water, and is now a resident of Baytown.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.

Charles E. Estabrooks was born at Holton, Maine, January 15th, 1828. At the age of one year he accompanied his parents to Milltown, where he grew to manhood and attended the pub- lic schools. When eighteen years of age he ap- prenticed as a millwright, serving two years. Soon after attaining his majority he moved to Pennsylvania, taking charge of the timber land for his brother for one year. In 1855 he started for Minnesota, locating at Stillwater the same year. He met and engaged with Isaac Staples, in whose employ he has since been, with the ex- ception of three years in the army. He enlisted in 1862 in the Eighth Minnesota Volunteer In- fantry, company C, which was first in the fight against the Indians then to Murfreesboro, where the command spent the winter. Like many others he contracted a severe cold, resulting in a severe sicknesss; he and forty-nine others were taken to Lincoln barracks, twenty-three of whom died in five days. He remained at the hospital eleven weeks and was then ordered to Fort Snell- ing, where he was honorably discharged. On re- turning to his home and family, his health soon returned and he resumed his former position, having charge of the mill-wright department. At the age of twenty-one he married Elizabeth Sim- mons. Their children are now grown and mar- ried: Mrs. Annie E. Danforth, Mrs. Mary E. Warren, and Wilmar, who lives with his parents.

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