USA > Minnesota > Washington County > History of Washington County and the St. Croix Valley, including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota > Part 77
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John Whalen was born in Queens county, Ire- land, 1817. When eight years old his parents crossed the ocean, settling in the province of New Brunswick. Here he grew to manhood and fol- lowed the calling of lumberman until 1852, when he came to Minnesota and located at his present home in Baytown. He has since been in the oc- cupations of logging and farming. His wife was Miss Mary Gowan, whom he married in 1844, and
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
who has borne him eight children: Margaret, Francis B., Annie, Katie M., William, John F., Mary J. and Libbie E.
Alonzo C. Wakefield was born in Newport, New Hampshire, August 8th, 1840. At the age of seven he accompanied his parents to Illinois, where he remained for six years and attended school. Then removed to Minnesota and at- tended the Hamline University at Red Wing. Enlisted in Company F, Sixth Infantry, and served in the Indian campaign; then through the south. Came to Stillwater in 1873 and has since worked in lumber mills. Married in 1876, wife died in 1878.
Jeremiah Whelan is a native of Ireland, born March 31st, 1822. At the age of eighteen he crossed the Atlantic and settled in the province of New Brunswick, where he engaged in his call- ing as a lumberman. In 1849 he removed to the states and came to Stillwater, at that time only a lumbering hamlet. For the succeeding fifteen years he was a prominent lumberman on the St. Croix river and tributaries. He purchased bis present valuable farm in Baytown in 1859, and located on it ten years later. Mr. Whelan was married in 1864 to Miss Annie Whalen. They are the parents of one son and six daughters.
Willis U. Wright was born at Painesville, Ohio, 1852. When a child of two years he came with his parents to Linden, Wisconsin, where he passed his childhood days and received his educa- tion. At the age of fifteen he went to Black River Falls and entered the service of the West Wisconsin Railroad and began the study of tele- graphy. After a few years he was placed in charge of Hersey Station, and after serving two years was assigned the important station of Still- water Junction, having served in that capacity seven years. He was married in 1874 to Miss Libbie Curtis. They are the parents of three children, Eugene, Elva and Maud.
Godfrey Zacher was born in Prussia, Novem- ber 8th, 1829. When a boy of ten he crossed the sea and became a resident of Buffalo, New York, where he lived thirty years. He then came west and located on his present farm in Baytown. His trade is that of carpenter and builder. At Buf- falo, New York, in 1853 he was married to Augus- ta Hoffmeister, who has borne him six children, five of whom are living.
OAKDALE.
CHAPTER LX.
DESCRIPTION-FIRST SETTLEMENT-TOWN OR- GANIZED-WAR RECORD-CHURCHES -- SCHOOLS -POST-OFFICE-VILLAGES-ROADS-PRODUCTS -BIOGRAPHICAL.
The township of Oakdale is located near the cen- ter of the western tier of towns in Washington county, and contains thirty-six sections. It is bounded on the north by the town of Grant, south by Woodbury, east by Baytown and Lake- land, and west by New Canada, Ramsey county. In its unimproved state would be called a tim- bered town with a fair growth of white, black, burr oak, or what might be called oak openings, among which may be found some elm and bass- wood; practically it is well stocked with wood. The soil varies somewhat from a light sandy to a heavy . clay. Some portions of the town are quite level, but a larger part is broken and hilly. About two-thirds of the township is under cul- tivation; there are many excellent farms with fine improvements. Showing what the industry and enterprise of man can do, when properly directed towards reducing the wilderness to a state of cultivation. The drainage of the town is excel- lent; within its boundaries are some fine lakes in such close proximity, that they might be called a chain of lakes, extending from the north-west to the south-east corners of the town. On the north is Long Lake, located in section 5, and extending into Grant town; it is about a mile in length, with high banks and deep beds of lime rock, is fed from a beautiful spring of clear water that issues from its rocky banks. A short distance to the south-east appears Lake De Monteville, occupy- ing about two-thirds of a section. It is irregular in shape, with fine banks covered with a light growth of timber. This lake is well stocked with fish, and received its name from the first settler in that locality, Dr. C. De Monteville, who opened a farm on its eastern shore in 1863. Still further on in a south-easterly
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direction we find Lake Jane, a beautiful and almost round sheet of water, with rather low beaches, except on the south, which has a fine shaded shore and a beautiful grove used as picnic grounds. It also has a good supply of fish, and is much resorted to. A little distance further on to the south-east comes Sun-fish lake, which occupies about one-quarter of a section, and a few rods to the south lays Lake Elmo-a beauti- ful lake, one and a half miles in length, with high shores. Its former name was Bass lake, but after the completion of the railroad, the company through their agent, A. B. Stickney, began to make improvements on the north shore, fitting it up for a summer resort and changing the name to Lake Elmo, in honor of Mr. Stickney's wife. Now with its large and roomy hotel, its beautiful surroundings, its fine bath-houses, and its sail- boats, it makes a splendid resort for the excur- sionist. A mile west of Elmo is located Eagle Point lake, in sections twenty-two and twenty- seven, taking its name from its peculiar shape. Other lakes of smaller size are located in differ_ ent parts of the town; all combine to furnish a supply of water and drainage not equalled by any other town in the county.
FIRST SETTLEMENT.
The first settlement made in the town was by John Morgan in December 1849. He made a claim of one hundred and sixty acres on section 20, and built his house on the St. Paul and Still- water road. The house has since been known as the half-way house, which was opened to ac- commodate the travel by stages between St. Paul and Stillwater. Mr. Morgan was one of those active and energetic men who stamp with their intelligence, everything around them. Com- ing into the wilderness as the first sheriff of Washington county, under the then territorial law, his professional duties called him from the home of his adoption, often keeping him away for days at a time. Still he found time to make improvements in his new home, which were the ·first made in the town. But such men have a magnetism about them which attracts others. And in 1850 came Maurice Malone, and located a land warrant on sections 13 and 24. The same fall his brother, Cornelius Malone, purchased fifty acres of him, and they together began to
make improvements. In 1851, came G. H. Loh- mann and his brother John, and settled on section 12. They opened the way for a large settle- ment of Lohmanns who settled in the north-east- ern part of the town. In the same year came Patrick Day and settled on section 12. In 1854 came Arthur Stephen, and the following year, W. P. Gray. From that time on the settlements were rapid, and new farms were opened up very fast. The echo of the pioneers axe was heard throughout the town, and the march of civiliza- tion began to leave its foot-prints in every quar- ter of the township.
TOWN ORGANIZATION.
The town organization was effected Novem- ber 1st, 1858, at an adjourned meeting of the voters held at the house of B. B. Cyphers, known as the Lake house. The meeting was called to order and E. G. Gray chosen chairman, and Wil- liam Armstrong, clerk. The following officers were elected: E. G. Gray, John Bershen, E. L. Morse, supervisors; W. Armstrong, clerk; Robert Aldrich, assessor and collecter; Arthur Stephen and C. Manny, justices; Robert Gray and Robert Stephens, constables. On motion the next an- nual meeting was to be held at the house of E. G. Gray. The second annual meeting was called to order at the house of E. G. Gray, April 5th, 1859, Robert Aldrich in the chair. On motion, A. Stephen was appointed clerk pro tem. On counting the votes it was found that the follow- ing officers were elected: Arthur Stephen, John Bershen and Maurice Malone, supervisors; W. Armstrong, clerk; E. G. Gray, assessor; Robert Aldrich, treasurer; P. Day and C. Manny, jus- tices. On motion it was voted to hold the annual meeting at the Lake house. First meeting of town supervisors was held at the clerk's office, A. Stepben, in the chair. On motion it was voted to divide the town into two road districts, dis- trict number one to comprise the two south tiers of sections, number two, the balance of the town. The adjourned meeting was called to order at the clerk's office April 21st, 1859. On motion a two days' poll tax was assessed, to be performed in said town during the ensuing year, also a land road tax of one-quarter of one per cent. on the real estate of the town.
Special meeting, July 5th, 1859. On motion
.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
it was voted to call a special meeting of the voters of the town to be held at the office of B. B. Cyphers, to vote a tax for the purpose of de- fraying the expenses of the current year. The first tax raised was $150. Annual town meeting for the election of officers was held at the Lake house, April 3d, 1860. The following officers were elected: Isaac L. Carpenter, Peter Heniker and Michael Classon, supervisors; W. Armstrong, clerk; E. G. Gray, assessor and treasurer; Louis Fisher, justice; H. Frank, road overseer of district number one; Louis Fisher, road over- seer of district number two.
June 26th, 1860. The board met and appointed E. G. Gray first superintendent of schools for Oakdale. July 10th, 1860. A special town meeting to vote a tax of $175 for the current ex- penses of the year. March 26th, 1861. At a special meeting of the board it was voted to divide the town into four school districts with nine sec- tions in each district.
The annual meeting was called to order at the Lake house, April 2d, 1861. Arthur Stephen in the chair. E. G. Gray, clerk pro tem. A resolu- tion was passed in favor of voting a tax of $180 for the support of public schools; at the same meeting a tax of $150 was voted for current ex- penses. Elected E. G. Gray, Michael Classon and Maurice Malone, supervisors; I. L. Car- peuter, assessor and treasurer; W. Armstrong, clerk; C. Manny, justice.
Annual town meeting was called to order at the Lake house, April 1st, 1862. I. L. Carpen- ter in the chair. After the annual report the fol- lowing officers were elected: E. G. Gray, W. C. Hempstead and A. Stephen, supervisors; W. Arm- strong, clerk; I. L. Carpenter, assessor and treasurer.
The annual town meeting was called at the Lake house, April 7th, 1863, J. P. Boyd in the chair. Elected, E. G. Gray, John Glady, James P. Boyd, supervisors; W. Armstrong, clerk; Pat- rick Day, assessor; W. C. Hempstead, treasurer. The annual town meeting was called at the Lake house, April 5th, 1864, and elected J. P. Boyd, Maurice Malone, J. C. Smith, supervisors; W. Armstrong, clerk. The annual town meeting was called to order at the Lake house, April 4th, 1865, A. Stephen in the chair. Elected, E. G. Gray, Maurice Malone, J. C. Smith, supervisors;
W. Armstrong, clerk. A tax of $150 was voted for current expenses. The annual was called to order at the Lake house, A. Stephens in the chair. Elected, E. G. Gray, Maurice Malone, John Bershen, supervisors; W. Armstrong, clerk. A tax of $200 was voted for current expenses.
The annual meeting met at the Lake house, April 2d, 1867, and elected E. G. Gray, Maurice Malone, John Bershen, supervisors; W. Arm- strong, clerk. A tax of one-half of one per cent. was voted for roads.
Annual meeting was called at the Lake house, April 11th, 1868, and elected E. G. Gray, M. Ma- lone, John D. Glady, supervisors. A tax of $200 was voted for current expenses.
The annual meeting was called at the Lake house April 6th, 1869, C. H. Mix in the chair. Elected M. Malone, P. Day, Jacob Marty, super- visors; W. Armstrong, clerk. Voted a tax of $200 for current expenses.
At a meeting of the board of supervisors held at the clerk's office April 7th, 1869, to consider a bill presented by J. N. Castle, lawyer, for $130, for services rendered the town as defendant in case of Henry Besti, plaintiff, to recover damages by reason of opening a road through his land, said Besti enters action on ground that there was no road laid out there. The town defended the case before the district court at Stillwater, June 1869. A verdict rendered in favor of defendant. The board allowed a bill of $100, and voted an additional tax of $100 on expenses.
The annual meeting was called at the Lake House, April 4th, 1870, and elected Maurice Ma- lone, Patrick Day and IIenry Frank, supervisors; W. Armstrong, clerk; a road tax of one-half per cent. was voted. The meeting adjourned to meet March 14th, 1871, in accordance with an act of the legislature requiring the towns of the county to hold their annual elections on the sec- ond Tuesday in March.
The annual election was held at the Lake ITouse, March 14th, 1871, and elected Adolph Wier, John Dersh and C. Malone, supervisors; Isaac L. Carpenter, clerk.
The annual meeting was called at the Lake House, March 12th, 1872, and elected Adolph Wier, C. Malone and W. Bershen, supervisors; Patrick Day, clerk; a tax of $200 was voted for current expenses.
44 5
OAKDALE-WAR RECORD.
The annual meeting held at the Lake House, March 11th, 1873, elected John Bershen, C. Ma- lone and Frank H. Folsom, supervisors; P. Day, clerk; voted a tax of five mills for current ex- penses.
The annual meeting was held at the Lake House, March 16th, 1874, officers elected; W. Jennings, A. Wier and Andrew Holtzheimer, su- pervisors; voted a tax of five mills for current ex- penses.
Annual meeting held at the Lake house, March 9th, 1875, officers elected; John Bershen, Maxwell P. Day and G. H. Lohmann, supervisors; Thomas Ramsden, clerk; a tax of two mills voted for expenses.
At the annual meeting March 14th, 1876, the officers elected were John Bershen, M. P. Gray and G. H. Lohmann, supervisors; voted a tax of one-quarter of one per cent. for roads.
1877. Annual meeting held at the Lake House, the officers elected were, John Bershen, G. H. Lohmann and M. P. Gray, supervisors; voted $500 for the road districts.
The annual meeting held at the Lake House, March 12th, 1878; elected, M. P. Gray, Peter Perrie and George Kern, supervisors; voted a tax of two mills for expenses.
· Annual meeting at Lake house, March 11th, 1879, elected, M. P. Gray, George Kern and Peter Perrie; supervisors; P. Day, clerk; W. Armstrong, treasurer.
Annual meeting held at Lake house, March 9th, 1880; officers elected, M. P. Gray, H. B. Volmer and George Kern, supervisors; P. Day, clerk; voted a tax of two mills for expenses.
WAR RECORD.
During the great war of the rebellion, the citi- zens of Oakdale township were not behind in their patriotism, but came forward with men and money, as the action of the town board in their subsequent meetings will show. . A special meet- ing of the board was called at the house of E. G. Gray, February 22d, 1864, to consider the means necessary to fill their quota. On motion it was voted to issue bonds of sufficient amount, pay- able in one year, at eight per cent. interest, to be negotiated to the best advantage. At the same meeting the following order was made: We do herehy order and levy a tax of $2,500, to be levied
and collected on the taxable property of the town of Oakdale, for the purpose of paying bounties of volunteers and expenses of enlistment of same. The said tax so levied to be collected the current year, and the clerk is hereby ordered to notify the county auditor of the levying of the tax so that it may be extended on the tax roll of 1864. August 6th, 1864, a special meeting was called at the Lake house, to consider the propriety of bor- rowing money on the town bonds to fill the quota due from Oakdale under the call of the presi- dent for 500,000 men. Again, January 5th, 1865, another meeting was called at the Lake house to again fill their quota. A. Stephen in the chair, W. Armstrong, clerk. The following resolution was offered:
"Whereas, A call having been made by the president for 300,000 more men, and,
"Whereas, Our quota under said call is pre- sumed to he five men.
Resolved, That we are in favor of procuring said men by paying bounties to volunteers, and do hereby authorize the board of supervisors to carry the same into effect by appointing such per- son or persons as they may deem fit to do so, and we further place at their disposal the sums suh- scribed for that purpose."
Whereupon the citizens present, stepped for- ward and subscrihed sums in cash to the amount of $1,500, on the honds. Meeting adjourned to meet Monday, January 9th, 1865. The adjourned meet- ing was called to order at the Lake house, J. P. Boyd in the chair. The various sums subscribed at the former meeting were paid in and honds is- sued for the money, due in fifteen months from date. Other honds were issued at the same meet- ing due in fifteen months, to take the place of honds issued at the previous meetings, soon due. The hoard also authorized the county treasurer to receive the "One year Oakdale war bounty bonds," in payment of town taxes to the amount of fifty per cent. on principal of said bonds.
The last chapter of the war record of Oakdale. Ata meeting held at the clerk's office, March 28th, 1865, the following order was issued: "The un- dersigned board of supervisors of Oakdale, in ac- cordance with a vote of the citizens of the town, taken on the 6th day of August, 1864, and on the 5th day of January, 1865, do hereby levy a tax of $4,000, the same to be charged to the taxahle prop-
,
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
erty of the town of Oakdale, for the year 1865, for the purpose of paying the bonds issued by the town to pay bounties to volunteers. Signed, J. B. Boyd, chairman of hoard of supervisors; Maurice Malone, and Joseph C. Smith."
CHURCHES.
The St. John's German Lutheran Church was organized August, 1855, with a membership of nineteen, under the ministry of the Rev. F. W. Wier. They held their first meetings in the house of A. Boese, on section twelve, until 1856, when they built a new house of worship on the St. Paul and Stillwater road in the edge of Bay- town. In 1862, on account of a clause in the creed of the old established church requiring pri- vate confessions, to which the pastor and a por- tion of the church strongly adhered, while another portion dissented, caused a division of the church. The pastor and a small portion of his congrega- tion came into Oakdale and erected a small church in which they worshipped until 1874, when they built their present beautiful edifice, with a tower eighty-five feet high, containing a fine toned bell, whose Sabbath morning tones call into this sacred temple one hundred and thirty-nine communicants. It is a large and prosperous society. They also have in connec- tion a parochial school, which had been in charge of the pastor, Rev. Mr. Wier, until 1868, when they employed a German and English teacher; the school now has an attendance of seventy pupils. A fine cemetery lies adjacent to the church, in which rest the loved ones of the society gone before.
Church of the Holy Angels. Under the minis- trations of Rev. Father Platt, of Stillwater, the society of the Holy Angels was organized in the winter of 1869, at the house of John Bershen, on section thirty-three, where the meetings were held until 1871, when a church was built. W. Armstrong, one of the active members of the so- ciety, did much to make it a success. In 1872, an excellent bell was added to the church, which was dedicated by the Rev. Father Sherrer. They have a beautiful cemetery connected with the church. The many marble slabs erected here and there in its sacred inclosure indicate that many loved ones connected with the society, have found a resting place. The first person buried
here was Adam Egan. The first person married in the church was Jacob Engelsburg.
SCHOOLS.
At a special meeting of the board of supervis- ors, held at the clerk's office, June 26th, 1860, the subject of making provision for the education of the children of the town, was discussed, and on motion, E. G. Gray was appointed superintend- ent of schools. At a subsequent meeting held at the clerk's office, March 26th, 1861, it was voted to sub-divide the town into four school districts of nine sections each. At the annual meeting held at the house of B. B. Cyphers, April 2d, 1861, a tax of $180, was voted for schools. At a meet- ing of the legal voters of sub-district number three, held July 29th, 1861, with E. G. Gray in the chair, and Thomas Armstrong, clerk; elected John Bershen, William Evans and Henry Frank, trustees; W. Armstrong, clerk. At the same meeting a tax of three per cent. was voted, to build and locate a house on the north-west corner of section 29. Many alterations were made in_ the boundaries of the district. By an act of the legislature of 1862, the number was changed to thirteen. In 1872, the district lost their house by fire, and rebuilt it in the fall of the same year. Among the first school districts established in the town was number thirty-seven, located on section 35, and organized with a division of terri- tory made by the county commissioner under the territorial law of 1851. The minutes of the meet- ings during the first years of its organization were mislaid and cannot be referred to. The first clerk was Arthur Stephen. It is one of the oldest districts in the county, and includes a por- tion of Woodbury. District number sixty-two is located in the south-east corner of section 6, and was organized February 5th, 1878, at the house of Frank T. Combs. First officers, M. Welter, di- rector; F. T. Combs, treasurer; E. F. Blase, clerk; A tax of nineteen mills was voted to build a house, which was completed December, 1879, at a cost of $236.78. The first school of three months was taught by Miss M. E. Condlin.
School district number twelve was organized July 29th, 1861, at the house of John Morgan. The legal voters of sub-district number one, met to organize and elect officers for the new district, and elected C. Malone, J. H. Lohmann and Lewis
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OAKDALE-POST OFFICES-ROADS.
Fisher, directors. It was voted to hold a school for three months at the Lake house, and that Mr. Morgan give the use of the room free, and that he should have two dollars per week for board- ing the teacher. At a subsequent meeting it was voted to pay Mr. Morgan one dollar and fifty cents for boarding the teacher and fifty cents per week for use of room. The number of this district was changed to number twelve by act of legislature in 1862. At a meeting of the board it was voted to change the place of holding the school to the house of H. D. Appmans, on sec- tion ten. The next change was made to the house of Jacob Sullwald. Steps were now taken to raise funds to build a school-house, and at a meeting it was voted to raise the funds by tax. The house was completed and ready January 1st, 1868. Patrick Day was hired at thirty dollars per month to teach a three months' school. The entire expense of building the house was $349.90. It is located on the north-east corner of P. Hough's farm, on section eleven.
School district number sixty-four was organ- ized in April, 1879, by a meeting of the voters in sections 22, 23, 26 and 27, which by a petition granted were set off from district number thirty- seven. The following officers were elected: John Rawleigh, director; M. Kennedy, treasurer; Corn- elius Malone, clerk. At the same meeting a tax of $275 was voted to build a school-house, which is located on Mr. Kennedy's farm. The first teacher was Mary Horriga. The present board is John Rawleigh, director; Leo. Leibish, treasurer; C. Malone, clerk.
POST OFFICES.
The first postoffice in the town of Oakdale was established at the house of Arthur Stephen, on section 35, in 1857. He was appointed post- master the same year, and held the position for ten years. The office was called Oakdale. It was subsequently moved to Woodbury, just across the line, a short distance to the east. May 15th, 1867, an office was established at the Half- way house, and E. H. Gray appointed post-master. It was called Lohmanville post-office. In 1873, it was transferred to the house of Andrew Smith at the Oakdale station, on the railroad, and Mr. Smith appointed post-master, who held the office until 1876, when it was discontinued until May
18th, 1877. It was then re-established at Bass Lake Station, still retaining its former name, until June, 1879, when A. B. Stickney, employed by the St. Paul and Taylor's Falls railroad, circu- lated a petition and had the name changed to Lake Elmo post office, christening the lake and station at the same time. John W. Lohmann was appointed post-master, May 18th, 1877.
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