History of Washington County and the St. Croix Valley, including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 83

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 83

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1878. Hugh Campbell, John Swenson and An- drew Linn, supervisors; voted two mills for town expenses, three for bonds and five for roads.

1879. Hugh Campbell, J. P. Swenson and Peter Hagman, supervisors; voted one mill for town expenses and five for roads.

1880. Hugh Campbell, J. P. Swenson and Peter Hagman, supervisors; voted one mill for town expenses and five for roads.

The charter for Marine village was drafted by Dr. J. R. M. Gaskill, Porter E. Walker and Emil Graf. The limits embrace all that part of the sonth half of section 31, township 32, and section 6, 7, and the north half of the north half of sec- tion 12, township 31, range 19, lying west of the St. Croix river, also the south half of section 36, township 31, and section 1, 12 and the north half of the north half of section 13.

The first election was held at the town house, March 31st, 1875. Orange Walker, president; J. R. M. Gaskill, Ole Westergren and Asa S. Parker, councilmen; P. E. Walker, justice and recorder; P. N. Leveen, marshal ; J. H. Simon- son, treasurer. First meeting of the council was held April Ist, 1875, at the store of Walker, Judd and Veazie.

1875. December 6th, J. R. M. Gaskill, presi- dent; Ole Westergren, Asa S. Parker and M. Welshons, councilmen.

1876. J. R. M. Gaskill, president; Asa S. Par- ker, Ole Westergren and M. Welshons, council- men.

1877. Samuel Judd, president; Ole Wester- gren, John F. Wickman, William Schmidt, coun- cilmen.

1878. M. Welshons, president; Charles Wester- gren, Gustof Carlson and Edwin St. John, coun- cilmen.

1879. William Schmidt, president; Chas. Wes- tergren, Ole Anderson and C. D. Simonson, coun- cilmen.

1880. William Schmidt, president; C. D. Si- monson, Charles Westergren and John Elmquist, conncilmen ; George F. Sabin, recorder; E. H. Walker, treasurer.

At the time of the Indian massacre of 1862, a company of about forty men was formed at Ma- rine, Robert Rich, captain. Fifty stands of arms were furnished by the government but the volun- teers preferred their own guns for fighting In- dians. The company was not called into service, but were under marching orders sixteen days.

ARCOLA MILLS.

Martin Mower; W. H. C. Folsom, John Brews- ter and D. B. Lewis formed a company in 1846, for the erection of a mill at this point, which was completed, and sawing began in July, 1847. The mill was 40x60, with one sash saw and an edger. The power was obtained by a water- wheel, thirty-four feet in diameter, enclosed in a wheel-house, and the water was brought from a spring about one hundred rods distant. Brewster and Folsom remained but one year, and Loomis withdrew after five years. This mill has a ca- pacity of 1,000,000 feet per annum.

In 1856, Martin Mower built a steam saw-mill with a capacity of 2,000,000 feet. In 1869, this was greatly enlarged and improved by the addition of a new engine and machinery, giv- ing a capacity of 5,000,000 feet. This mill has not been operated for some years. At one time a village was platted at Arcola, but no record has ever been made.

Mr. Mower had a store at this point from 1850 to 1865. He still maintains his residence here and has a spacious and beautiful house.

VASA.

This town site was laid ont within the present limits of Marine, on section 30, township 32, range 19, by B. T. Otis and John Columbus. It

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MARINE-VASA-SCHOOLS.

was revised in September of the next year, by Frank Register and James Russell.

Curious stories are current in regard to Colum- bus, who entered this land at an early day. One is that before his death he requested his friends to bury him beside a favorite dog and that his body be covered with twenty feet of earth.

A steam mill was built here in 1857, by James Russell, James Silly and Frank Register. The company. became bankrupt, Silly sold their logs and took French leave with the money, lurching his partners. and the would-be town is now among the things of the past.

Here were once stores, post-office and the inev- itable saloon. John Columbus and John Copas built a log store in September, 1854, carrying a general stock of goods, besides liquors. In 1857 they erected a house, which as remodeled is now the residence of John Copas.

Columbus died in 1859; Copas carried on the store until 1861, since which time he has attended strictly to farming.

Frank Register also kept a store at this point, in 1858, but closed it about a year after.

A post-office was established in 1856, in a little house since removed; Frank Register, post-mas- ter. After the building of his store, Mr. Register kept the office in connection with his business. N. Heavenstreet was post-master subsequently, and the office returned to its former quarters, where it remained until discontinued after the annexation of the town to Marine.

B. T. Otis kept a travelers' hotel at his house from his first settlement here in 1849 until the Vasa house was built in 1856, by James Russell. The Vasa house was torn down and rebuilt at Marine.

Still another house was opened as a hotel by Otis, but this is now the farm house of Charles Peterson.

Several Indian mounds bere are worthy of mention. Some have been removed, but two still remain. One is directly in the rear of the school- house, in which are buried Caroline Reid, a sister of Mrs. B. T. Otis, and Hiram Otis, a son of the latter. John Columbus was buried in a mound on the farm of John Copas, cleared by him just before his death with a view to preparing it for his last resting place. His last injunctions are

given above. Bones in great numbers have been exhumed from these mounds.

Townships 32, ranges 19, 20 and 21, was organ- ized abont 1858 into a town first called Vasa, but afterward Otis; the change in name was made at a meeting held June 8th, 1859, in accordance with an order from the state anditor notifying the commissioners of the existence of another town of the same name. September 7th, 1860, Otis was formally made a part of Marine, in conse- quence of a petition for re-annexation from its citizens, and an election held in October, 1859.

A post-office was established May 1st, 1878, known as Scandia, on section fourteen, near the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church; John M Jonasson, post-master.

The I. O. O. F. was organized at Marine April 5th, 1878. Its officers were installed by Jo- seph Lewis, C. P. of the state of Minnesota, as- sisted by George B. Kidder, D. D. G. M. of the state of Wisconsin. Officers: George F. Sabin, N. G .; Andrew Gunderson; V. G .; Theodore E. Ward, recording secretary; Emil Graf, treasurer; nine charter members. Meetings every Saturday evening.

SCHOOLS.

School number three. The first school was held in the summer of 1849 in the old hewed log house built in the summer of 1840, which had served for lodging, store or any convenience, as is customary in new settlements. Miss Sarah Judd, now Mrs. Eldridge of Stillwater, was teacher, and eight or ten children were gathered for her instruction. Miss Godfrey taught next.

Teachers before 1852 were paid by private indi- viduals. In 1852 the sum of $424 was raised by subscription for building a school-house.

The first annual school meeting was held Jan- nary 28th, 1853. Officers elected: M. Welshons, O. Walker and John Holt, trustees; C. J. Buth, clerk.

This was designated district number two, and was so known until 1862, when it was changed to number three by act of legislature. This first school-house was consumed by fire in 1856, and it was voted at a meeting held December 15th of the same year to build again. The new building was two stories, and cost $2,437.

School number four. A school-house was erected in this district as early as 1857 on section

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.

thirty-one, but was moved in 1869 to section thirty-two, on the lower road, and burned shortly after. The first teacher is said to have been Miss Leybold. Schools were then held in Martin Mower's store and other buildings until 1868, when the present house was built on section thirty. The earliest records found are of 1852. Martin Mower, C. Lyman and Charles Murry, trustees; J. E. Mower, clerk.

School number two was organized August 4th, 1855. Rev. C. P. Argrelius, Daniel Nelson and P. T. Peterson, trustees; W. C. Johnson, clerk.

First regular school was held at the house of W. C. Johnson on section thirty-four, township thirty-two, range twenty, taught by Mrs. Sally Johnson. Previous to this Rev. Argrelius had gratuitously taught a school one term.

The old log Lutheran church was purchased in 1860 for a school-house. In 1866 the old house was torn down and set up again on section twenty- six, and is still used.

School number one was opened in the winter of 1856 at the house of John Peterson, with about eight scholars. Jacob Sanders, teacher.

It was bandied about from house to house until 1868; when the district erected a house on section eleven, near Goose lake. Magnus Hoganson, John Peterson and Charles Ekdahl were elected trustees and A. P. Johnson, clerk.

School number thirty-eight was organized in the summer of 1862, and the first school held by Miss Emma Walker, now Mrs. Veazie, in the house of N. John Nelson in the spring of 1863, with about seven scholars. Schools were held at private houses until 1867, when a school-house was built on section five. Peter Danielson, John Olsen and Carl Carlson, trustees; N. John Nel- son, clerk.

School number forty was organized in 1864 and a school-house erected on section thirty-one. The first school was opened in the fall of 1865 with twenty-five scholars, by Miss Kate Maloy. The building was mysteriously burned in 1869, and rebuilt the same year on about the same location. First officers: William Goggin, clerk; Enos Wood, treasurer; J. L. Buckley, director.

School number fifty was organized in February, 1871, and the first school held at the house of Andrew Carlson, on section 3, township 31, range 20, with about thirteen scholars; Jennie N.

Smith, teacher. School house was built in 1876, on section 4, which was ready for use Novem- ber 1st.

School number fifty-seven was organized in the fall of 1874, and the house built in the summer of 1875. The first school numbered about twenty-five, and was taught by Andrew Holm. Andrew Stury, clerk; Erick Magnuson, treasurer; and A. W. Johnson, director.

School number sixty-one. The first school was held in the summer of 1875, at the house of John Swenson. This at that time belonged to the district east, consequently two schools were sus- tained by the same district.

In 1877 an organization was affected with Charles Lerned, clerk; John Edstrom, treasurer; and August Elmstrom, director.

CHURCHES.

The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran church was organized as early as 1856. A log church was built in 1856, on section 27, which subsequently became a school-house. Nine members composed the church at first; Daniel Nelson, John Abri- hamson, Peter Erickson, John Magnuson, S. D. Anderson, Carl Carlson Jonas Istberg, Andrew Linn and Andrew Larson; Rev. John Pearson, pastor.

Nineteen new settlers in the northern part of town soon united, and by their influence secured the erection of the church on section 14. This church, 32x48 feet in dimension, was begun in 1858, finished and dedicated in 1860. Services were held in the church June 24th, 1858, before its completion.

This became a flourishing church, and in 1874 a new and more commodious building was begun on section 23, completed in 1875, and dedicated in 1876. The new building is 50x80 with a steeple eighty feet high, and a bell weighing one thousand pounds. In the gallery is a pipe organ with nine stops and one and a half octaves ped- als; John Linwal, maker. Rev. E. Hedeen is now pastor. Connected with the church is a commodious parsonage, with forty acres of land.

The cemetery is on section 14, directly opposite the new church.

The First Congregational society of Marine was organized September 14th, 1857. "The ob- ject of this society shall be to co-operate with the

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First Congregational church of Marine, in pro- viding for and maintaining the public worship of God in accordance with the faith and order thereof."

The First Congregational church of Marine was organized in December, 1858; E. J. Burgess and P. E. Walker, deacons; Rev. Geo. Spaulding, pastor and clerk; eleven members, Mr. and Mrs. E. G. Burgess, Mr. and Mrs. P. E. Walker and daughter, Mrs. Barton, Mr. and Mrs. George Spaulding, Mrs. Lehmicke, and two others. The church was erected and dedicated in 1859, 40x60, 20 foot ceiling, with steeple and bell.

The Swedish Methodist Episcopal church was built in 1856 on section 27, south side of Long lake. C. P. Argrelius, first pastor; Magnus Eng- Innd, Adolph Seobiholm, Nels Rosengren, John Rosenquist, Monson and Carlson, members. In 1864 the first church was torn down and the church built on section 26, between Hay and Sand lakes. B. Bergosan, pastor.

The Second Congregational church took its be- ginning in a preliminary meeting held January, 1878, and was organized during the following month with the following members: Andrew Richmond and wife, James Alcorn and wife, Jonathan Huntley and wife, George Hinds and wife, Dennis Huntley and wife, Mrs. Henry Otis, Mrs. B. T. Otis, Mrs. John Alcorn, William Al- corn, Mrs. B. Wilcox, Mrs. J. McDonald, Lydia P. Huntley, Edna M. Huntley and Nellie Went- worth; F. A. Wolcott, pastor, who still continues. The church, 24x36 feet, with a vestibule in front, is located on section 24. First officers: Andrew Richmond and James Alcorn, deacons; George P. Hinds, treasurer; Jonathan Huntley, clerk.

The Swedish Lutheran church was organized March 16th, 1872, and building begun. In 1875 the church, 30x48 feet, with eighteen foot ceiling and steeple, was ready for dedication. A bell was added in 1880. First officers: Nels Falk, Ole Westergren and Andrew Carlson, deacons; F. N. Peterson and P. N. Leveen, trustees; John Lund, clerk; L. O. Lindh, first pastor; Rev. E. Hedeen, present pastor.

Oakland Cemetery was organized April 10th, 1872, and belongs to the village of Marine. April 20th, 1878, the bodies deposited in Nason Hill cemetery, which had been organized and used for burial since February 16th, 1856, were removed

here. A more convenient and desirable place of burial was thus secured.

The town of Marine is quite broken in topog- raphy. In the south-west the surface is more level, and the lands of the south, and especially the south-west, are by far the best in the town. The banks of the river are quite abrupt and ter- races are quite frequent. The modern residences of the village are situated on the bluffs, and have a commanding view of the river and picturesque Wisconsin bluffs.

The country was originally covered with a dense growth of timber, though not usually large, except in the north-west, and consisted of black and white oak, birch, poplar and small burr oak.

Several small creeks intersect the town. Silver creek, on section seven, township thirty-two, range nineteen. has within half a mile a fall of seventy-four feet, and volume enough to run a mill. The creek which furnishies the power for the mills at Marine boasts no name, but might be called "Busy" creek. Harvey creek is the outlet of Big lake.

Among the lakes the most noteworthy are Big, Bony, Square and Carnelian. Besides these are Terrapin, Fish, Long, Hay and others. These lakes are very beautiful, and abound in fish.

The population in 1875 was 1,567; in 1880 it had increased to 1,773.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

Olof Anderson, a native of Sweden, was born March 5th, 1844. He lived in his native country until reaching man's estate. In 1868 he came to America and located at Marine, Minnesota, where he has since resided. His wife was Anna Pau- line Oshell, whom he married in Sweden in 1867. They are the parents of three children.

George W. Bennett was born in Springfield, Illinois, January 7th, 1846. When only a child he came with his parents to Washington county, Minnesota, his father George Bennett being one of the pioneers of that county. He enlisted in Company G, Eleventh Minnesota Regiment, in the fall of 1864; he served until honorably dis- charged in 1865, at Gallatin, Tennessee. Two years later he was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Rogers. They have five children living. In 1875 they settled on their present farm in Ma- rine township.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.

C. M. Bergquist was born in Sweden" in 1842. He passed his childhood days in his native coun- try, where he also learned the tailor's trade. In 1869 he sailed for America, and settled in Centre City, Chisago county, Minnesota, where he re- mained ten years. He came to Vasa in 1879, where he at present resides, and gives his atten- tion to his trade. He was married in 1871 to Christine Mongree, who has borne him two chil- dren.

Capt. B. B. Borden, deceased, was a native of Massachusetts, born at Fall River, February 22d, 1812. At the age of eighteen he began the life of a sailor, which he followed until 1856, a por- tion of the time being on a whaling vessel. After retiring from the sea, he came westward and pur- chased a farm in Marine township of one hundred and sixty acres, where he resided until his death, which occurred February 14th, 1880. He was married in 1842, to Miss Nancy Spooner, of New Bedford, Massachusetts, by whom he had five children; Daniel B., Henry N., Leonard J. and Aurelia S. are living.

C. L. Boutwell, a native of Minnesota, was born at Stillwater, 1851. He is a son of Rev. W. T. and Esther Boutwell. His attention was given chiefly to umbering, until 1873, when he bought his present farm of eighty acres in Marine township, and still resides there. His wife was Maria O. Smith, a native of Steuben county, New York. They were married in April. 1871.

A. Bruilt, is a native of Lower Canada, born near Montreal, 1832. He lived in the land of his na- tivity until seventeen years of age, then moved to Essex, New York, where he worked in the rolling mills four years. He returned to his native coun- try, thence to Stillwater, Minnesota, in 1855, tar- rying only a short time, he located at Marine, and has been engaged in lumbering fourteen years. Purchasing a farm of eighty-three acres near the village in 1878, he located, and there still remains. In 1867, he married Mrs. A. Champeau, who has borne him one child, Frank.

Michael Byron was born in Ireland. 1825, where lie learned the trade of brick and stone mason. Coming to America in 1846, lie settled in St. Louis, at which place he made his home, until coming to Stillwater in 1854. After living there six years, working at his trade, he bought a farm of sixty acres in Marine, where his family have

since lived. He has since added to it, and now owns one hundred and eighty acres. Mr. Byron still continues his trade. His marriage with Miss Catherine Brady took place in 1845. They have had a family of nine children, six now living.

A. J. Carlson is a native of Sweden, born in 1824. He came to America in 1869, locating at Afton, Minnesota, and remained one year. He then purchased a farm in Marine, on which he has since resided. In 1846, he married Christine Nelson. They are the parents of seven children: three of whom are living.

John Copas was born in Italy, 1825. He immi- grated to America in 1852 and remained one year in New York, then came to St. Paul, Min- nesota, tarrying six months, locating finally in Marine township on a farm of forty acres. He has prospered, and now owns one hundred and twenty acres. In 1864, he enlisted in the Fourth Minnesota and served until the close of the war, when he was discharged at Louisville, Kentucky. He married Caroline Peterson, a na- tive of Sweden, in 1857. They have five children.

Abram Cronk is a native of New York, born in Broome county, May 14th, 1816. There be en- gaged in farming until 1861, when he came to Marine and settled on the west bank of Big lake, purchasing a farm of one hundred acres, where he has since resided. In 1839 he married Miss Martha Cole, a native of New York. They have had seven children, three now living.

Joseph Dahlquist is a native of Sweden, born November 29th, 1853. His youth was passed in his native country and in 1870 came to America, locating at Marine. He bought forty acres of land, to which he has since added forty more. His father and mother are both living with him. Mr. Dahlquist is one of a family of eight child- ren, only five of whom are living.

John Daly, a resident of Marine, was born in New Brunswick, November 28th, 1848. When twenty-two years of age he removed to Stillwater, where he engaged in lumbering five years. He then purchased a farm in Marine township and moved on it the next year, and still remains. He was married July 6th, 1875, to Clara Bennett, daughter of George Bennett, a pioneer of the county.

Charles Ekdahl is a native of Sweden, born in 1829. Coming to America in 1854, he worked the

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MARINE-BIOGRAPHICAL.

first winter in the pineries, then pre-empted a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Marine township. He has been very prosperous having now five hundred and thirteen acres. In Septem- ber, 1864, he enlisted in Company G, Fourth Min- nesota regiment, being honorably discharged in June, 1865; he was in Sherman's march to the sea. During the year 1875 he represented his district in the legislature; has also held the office town supervisor several terms. He was married in 1854, to Christiana Gustavson, a native of Sweden. Ten children were born to them.

John Elmquest, a resident of Marine, was born in Sweden, in 1842. He passed his childhood in his native land, and learned the trade of stone mason. In 1869 he emigrated to America, and located at Marine, where he has since worked at his trade, being an industrious and respected citi- zen. He was married in Sweden in 1866, to Jo- hanna Colson, who has borne him five children.

Andrew A. Falk is a native of Sweden, and was born January 4th, 1847. He passed his life in the land of his nativity until 1868, when he came to America. His first location was at Ma- rine, but he removed to Freeborn county, Minne- sota, after a brief stay. Two years later he re- turned to Marine and purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, on which he still lives. His marriage with Miss Emma C. Smith, a na- tive of Minnesota, took place in 1876. Their children are Victor, Morgan B. and John A.

Erick Falk was born in Sweden in 1833. He came to the United States at the age of twenty- three and located at Jefferson, Illinois. He made that place his home until the fall of 1860, when he came to Washington county, Minnesota, and spent four years in lumbering interests. He en- listed in Company G, Fourth Minnesota Volun- teers, in 1864, and served until the close of the war, being honorably discharged at Louisville, Kentucky. Soon after returning from the war, he purchased forty acres and has now a fine farm. He has held the offices of assessor and justice of the peace for a number of years. His family consists of wife and two children.

James R. M. Gaskill was born in Madison county, Illinois, in 1820. In 1843 he graduated from McKendree College. He also graduated from the medical department of the Missouri State University in 1854. After practicing his pro- 31

fession in Centralia, Illinois, for a short time, he came to Minnesota, locating at Marine. Here he practiced; also was interested in milling, lum- bering and general merchandise. He enlisted and served in Sherman's army as surgeon of the Forty-fifth Illinois Veteran Volunteer Infantry until the close of the war. He was a member of the first legislature of Minnesota, and again in 1872-'73. His wife was Clara E. Hughes, whom he married in 1861. They have one son and a daughter.

Jonas Grandstrand is a native of Sweden, born in 1830. He grew to manhood in his native country, and in 1852, came to America. After making his home in Illinois one year, he came to Taylor's Falls, Minnesota, working in the old saw- mill at that place one summer. He then worked in the mills at Arcola one year. He purchased his farm in Marine township from the govern- ment, on which he located with his family in 1864. He entered the war as carpenter, and worked in the quartermaster's department at Little Rock, Arkansas, until 1865. His wife was Anna C. Nelson, whom he married November 19th, 1859. They have eleven children living.

S. Hassler was born in Sweden, 1835. He came to America in 1855, locating at Marine, and began working for Rev. Boutwell on a farm. He engaged in lumbering, milling and farming until he enlisted in Company D, First Minnesota Reg- iment, in July, 1865. After receiving his dis- charge he remained over one year in Stillwater, Minnesota, then purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Marine township. His house was destroyed by fire in 1871, but he rebuilt im- mediately. He wedded Miss Emma Nelson in 1862, who has borne him eight children, seven of whom are living.

Rev. Erik Hedeen was born in Sweden, Febru -. ary 28th, 1844. He came to the United States in 1869, and located at Paxton, Illinois, where he engaged in preparing himself for the ministry at Augustana College and Seminary. He remained five years, graduating in 1874. His first charge was at New London, Kandiyohi county, Minne- sota, where he remained five years. In October, 1879, he removed to Washington county and took charge of the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Marine, also at Marine Mills. He married Ma-

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