USA > Minnesota > Washington County > History of Washington County and the St. Croix Valley, including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota > Part 88
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Mr. Boutwell frequently visited the logging camps and preached to the workmen after their days' work was over; and when these visits oc- curred on the Sabbath, preaching services were held during the day. On one of these tours, he visited the camps on Snake river. Starting from home on Saturday, he reached the first camp about dark, twelve miles from Pokegama, the mission station. Here was a trading post kept by Jack Drake and Henry Rust. These men had been in the employ of the lumber companies and had gained a limited knowledge of the Indian language, sufficient to conduct a trading post.
Mr. Boutwell preached at ten o'clock the fol- lowing morning at this camp and proceeded to another six miles further on for an afternoon ser- vice, where he preached at three in the afternoon. In the evening, he preached at a third camp six miles from the last, and remained over night with Elam Greeley.
At three o'clock next morning they were aroused by a man calling at the door: "Greeley." Mr. Greeley arose from the humble bed on the floor, shared with Mr. Boutwell, and enquired what was wanting. The messenger informed them that Rust had been shot by the In- dians, and was bleeding profusely. He entreated Mr. Greeley to come and stop the blood or the man would die. Mr. Greeley, Mr. Russell and Mr. Boutwell started at once and reached the
second camp a little after daylight. Here they got a cup of coffee, and had proceeded about three miles when they were met by a messenger who informed them that Rust was dead. After this their rapid pace was moderated. On arrival at the camp about seventy-five lumbermen were found collected, with all the muskets obtainable, determined to follow the Indians and retaliate with wholesale slaughter. The Indians were, however, not to be found, and the party reluc- tantly returned to take measures for the burial of the dead.
The company requested Mr. Boutwell to carry the body on his conveyance down to the mission, have a coffin prepared and grave dug, and all would come down the following day to attend the funeral services. After the body had been brought out and placed on his conveyance, and the house cleared of goods and furs, a couple of barrels of whiskey were rolled into position, the heads knocked out, a bunch of hay placed be- tween them, a shovel of coals thrown upon it, and the door closed. This proceeding was in accordance with the unanimous verdict that rum was the cause of the murder, and too dangerous an element to be tolerated.
Mr. Boutwell viewed with satisfaction the curling of the dense black smoke as it destroyed a little of what had undermined his missionary work. After seeing the fire well under way, and the thatched roof of the cabin in full blaze, he proceeded with his charge to the mission station.
The next day the lumbermen came down in mass to attend the funeral services. As it was late in the afternoon before the ceremonies ter- minated, Mr. Boutwell urged them to accept his hospitality for the night, as he had often shared theirs. The company was so large that they were accommodated, as well as possible, at the house of Mr. Boutwell, and Mr. Russell, the In- dian farmer.
At a meeting in Mr. Boutwell's house after tea, the temperance movement, which it is the especial purpose of this narrative to set forth, was planned. The murder, and the burning of the whisky to- gether with the solemn services just witnessed, had prepared the minds of all for a determined stand against the whisky dealers. A pen and ink was called for and resolutions drafted, in sub-
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stance as follows: That they would visit every trading post in the region and destroy all the whisky that could be found. Resolutions to this effect were signed with enthusiasm by every man. Next morning, after breakfast, they carried out their resolutions by visiting a post in sight of Mr. Boutwell's door, just across the lake. As they were about starting Mr. Boutwell said: "Gentle- men, wait a moment; permit me to accompany you and see that everything is done with due pro- priety." Accompanied by Mr. Boutwell, the company proceeded to the post. Mr. Greeley, acting as spokesman, said to the proprietor: "We have come to destroy your whisky." He protest- ed, saying it was not paid for. The answer was: "We will pay you for it at our lumber camp in flour and pork, but we are determined to have the whisky, and will have it." Seeing the wisdom of a prompt acquiescence, the proprietor opened a trap door and a couple of stout men hoisted a barrel from the cellar, rolled it out on the ground and knocked in the head, when the whisky rip- pled away among the chips.
The success here inspired them with fresh courage, and they went from post to post until they had destroyed the whisky at all the trading posts in their vicinity. As often happens after the excitement of a radical reform, a reaction took place in the spring, although the remainder of the winter was unusually free from disturb- ance. With the opening of navigation, kegs and barrels of a suspicious nature came up, addressed to some of these same men who had signed the resolutions for reform, and they were seen with kegs of whisky going to trade with the Indians who committed the murder, exhibiting as much eagerness for the prospective profits as they had in the reformatory movement.
Drake, the partner of Rust, was killed in the same way a few years later, trafficking in whisky with the Indians.
The first white woman in Stillwater was Mrs. Paul Carli, now Mrs. Christopher Carli, whose ar- rival with Joseph R. Brown has already been chronicled. Mrs. Allen came next. In 1845, what is now Stillwater, rejoiced in eight women; Mrs. Carli, Mrs. Allen, Mrs. Andrew Mackey, Mrs. Anson Northrup and her two sisters, Mrs. Jesse Taylor and Mrs. William Cove, Mrs. S. Nelson and Miss Sarah L. Judd.
First carpenters. Jacob Fisher, who came in the winter of 1842-3, has been already mentioned as a mill-wriglit. He built the Minnesota house, the only one of the early hotels now standing. Nelson Goodenough and Edwin Phillips came with the mill company in the fall of 1843. G. W. Battles landed here in the fall of 1846, and built the old St. Croix house in the summer of 1847. William M. May is said to have followed the trade longer than any one now a carpenter in Stillwater.
Early painters. Miller and Cogswell opened a paint-shop about 1849, on Main street, and Cogs- well painted about thirty-five years ago, the old sign on the Minnesota, spelled M-i-n-e-s-o-t-a. Some may beignorant of the original spelling of the name of the state. It was spelled as on this old sign, with one "n," until changed by act of congress in ac- cordance with a resolution offered by Joseph R. Brown and adopted by the convention held at Stillwater, August 14th, 1848, preceding the or- ganization of the territory of Minnesota.
H. Kattenberg opened the first clothing store in 1847, followed by Gerhart, J. E. Schlenk and others. F. C. Cutler is the oldest in the trade at present, in our city.
H. K. Mckinstry opened the first meat-market in the rear of the building which stood where Keru's shoe shop now stands, followed by Wells, Louis Bogan, Dick Sinclair and others.
William Holcombe and R. B. Johnson opened the first livery stable about 1850. They sold, in 1855, to C. A. Bromley, who in a few years took in S. S. Denton as partner. The latter sold after a time and started a stable on Second street, joined by A. J. Orff. Orff still continues, like- wise Bromley, who is the oldest livery man now engaged in the business.
The first grist-mill was a small affair, about where the engine house now stands and obtained its power from the old saw-mill. It was built in 1850 by Samuel Bolles, but was swept away in 1852 by the land slide.
About 1854 Ambrose Secrest built a grist-mill at Baytown, now South Stillwater, for custom business. He still continues.
Mr. Sublett kept a little confectionery store in 1848.
A. M. Crosby opened a gunsmith shop in 1850, in a house near where Daniel Elliott's boarding
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house now stands. He was followed by C. Feis about 1851, Major Van Vorhes and others.
Mrs. A. Eldridge made daguerreotypes first in the spring of 1848, and continued in Stillwater two years; succeeded by Truax, Everett and others.
Robert Putz opened the first tinshop in this city in the spring of 1854, on Main street. He was succeeded by Capron and Morris, and this firm by Edward Capron, who has continued al- most constantly from that date to the present.
Martin Johnson and R. C. Johnson came to Stillwater in 1854, and opened a jewelry store .. They have been succeeded by Pierson, B. Illing- worth, W. J. Stein and Joseph Taenhauser. Mr. Stein has outlived his fellow craftsmen and is still engaged in the business.
A bakery was opened by R. Hussey in 1850. His shop was on a cross street, ruuning from Third to Chesnut, near the present site of the post-office; he only remained two years, and was succeeded by Jacob Seibert in 1856, who con- tinued till the war in 1861, enlisted in the Second Minnesota, and was killed at the battle of Chicka- mauga.
William Armstrong, colored, opened a barber shop in the summer of 1866. Charles Sandretzky came to Stillwater one year later and engaged in this business for about twelve years then moved to Minneapolis. Joseph A. Tanner opened a shop about 1865, in the basement of the Minnesota house; he is the oldest barber in the city.
Henry McKenty, R. F. Slaughter and F. O. J. Smith, were among the first real estate men in this growing and active city. Thompson, Parker and Mower began in this special line in 1855 and were the prime movers in the boom of 1856-'57.
Norbert Kimmick commenced the brewery business in 1850, on the corner of Chestnut and Third streets, now occupied by W. Zuercher. His apparatus for brewing was in the kitchen where the family lived. His successors in business have been Frank Aiple, G. Knipps, J. Wolf and H. Tepass.
Bell and Carter opened a book-store as early as 1855; F. G. Brown in 1856; the first was located where Selleck now is; the second where Rohr- bach's clothing store now stands. A. Eldridge is the oldest now in this business in Stillwater.
Dr. C. Carli opened a broker's office in the old
Lake House in 1855. Darling, Carswell and Scheffer started a bank in 1856, in a little wood building located where the First National bank now stands. This firm, after a few years changed, and was known as Scheffer and Thompson's bank, and subsequently merged into the present First National bank.
Thomas Lowery started the first furniture store in the city, located where Wolf's liquor store now stands. He commenced in 1854, and sold out to M. S. Willard in 1856, who continued the business till the fall of 1880, when it passed into the hands of J. Fowler, Jr. Philip Muller has been in this business for the last twenty years and Simonet for about fifteen years.
Cutler and Cogswell started the first foundry, located at what is now South Stillwater, about 1855, the business did not prove a success, and soon closed up. This line of mechanical enter- prise under the management of Isaac Staples, D. M. Swain and Seymour, Sabin and Company is doing a prosperous business.
The Peckham brothers, opened a boot and shoe store in 1855; their place of business was on Main street between Chestnut and Myrtle; fol- lowed in a few years by Wilson and Larson, and J. Kaiser. The first shoe-maker was Conrad Brown, father of Jacob Brown, a resident of this city. Mr. Brown commenced business in 1852, and having occasion to go to St. Louis, was drowned on the way.
Governor William Holcombe was the first sur- veyor of logs and lumber; Mahlon Black and Harvey Wilson were first surveyors of land.
John Morgan opened a saloon in 1848, located in Nelson's block; he was followed by Berry and Farmer and plenty of others.
The first post-office was established January 14th, 1846, Mr. Elam Greeley, first post-master.
The first circus spread its tent in Stillwater in the summer of 1850, under the name of Antonio Brothers. Adeline Patti, when but twelve years of age, sang in Pugsley's hall, in the summer of 1854. Ole Bull accompanied her. Mr. Bull re- mained in the city a fortnight, went a fishing, and invested in town lots.
The first steamboat that attempted to land at the point where Stillwater is located, was the Otter, under Captain Harris, which brought up the company's outfit in the fall of 1843. The
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next spring a regular line was established, and during the summer, boats visited the place once every two weeks, running regularly between Still- water and Galena. The first boat of this line was the Lynx, under Captain Hooper.
Before 1848, the settlement had made a de- cided advance, and the first measures were taken in the summer of 1848 looking toward a town. The government survey had been made and soon after Harvey Wilson surveyed and platted the village of Stillwater. Previously and at this time no title to land had been given legally, nor could such title be secured until the original claims were proved up and the entries made. In the meantime claims had been divided and subdi- vided by various transfers and transactions in an- ticipation of the land sale. The sale came in 1848, and in view of the circumstances it was deemed necessary that some one be selected to bid off the tract embracing the town-site as agent for all the parties interested. The title would then rest in him, to be subsequently deeded to the vari- ous individuals interested. John McKusick was selected to perform this responsible duty, since by purchase of the interests of some of the origi- nal owners he had become the largest owner. A bond was requested of him for the faithful per- formance of the trust. This he cheerfully gave and honorably performed the duty imposed. Af- ter returning from the sale he deeded lots already sold, to citizens.
March 4th, 1854, the town was incorporated by act of legislation. The charter has three times been amended, in 1870, 1873 and 1874.
In 1852 occurred the great "landslide" which was of so important a character, both in the dis- aster it wrought at the time, and the change it produced in the topography of the town, as to entitle it to a place in the integral part of this history and dignify it above a simple incident.
The position of McKusick's lake and the canal over the bluff has been described in connection with the first mill enterprise.
This was the scene of the disaster. After years of peaceful submission on the part of the lake and little stream to the dictation of its new lords, in the direction of its discharge, a rebellion took place in the spring of 1852.
Rain had fallen almost incessantly during the month of April until the sandy soil of the bluffs
was soaked to about the consistency of children's mnd-pies, and would almost flow of itself. The lake above the bluffs was very full, and the little creek had become a boisterous stream.
This condition continued until May. On the 12th and 13th a heavy fall of rain occurred, but May 14th a terrible thunder-storm burst over the lake and bluffs in such volumes that the stream washed out the base of the high banks on each side, and the soft mass above slid down into the stream to be carried along by its violent current. One slide followed another, forming occasional dams by collections of debris, until an accumu- lated force would sweep away the barrier and carry increased power of destruction in its course.
The extent of the disaster and the changes in surface wrought may be conjectured from the summary. The banks of the stream on both sides, one hundred feet wide by fifty in height, for a distance of two hundred rods, was swept out and deposited where a portion of the business part of Stillwater now stands. The extent of ground covered was about six acres to an average depth of ten feet.
Before daylight of the memorable 14th of May, some of the citizens heard "the voice of many waters," and looking out of their windows saw rushing down the ravine, trees, gravel and mud. Nothing impeded its course as it rushed on, cover- ing barns, small tenements, shops and three small rafts of lumber, moored in the neck of the lake which bends up toward the bluffs. William Willim had the day previous brought the rafts for buildings about to be constructed.
The lower story of the mill was completely filled with dirt and the machinery buried. It was thought to be ruined, but after the flood had subsided the water from the canal was turned into the mill, and the entire deposit removed; even the large wheel entirely covered was re- lieved and made ready to run again by the wash- ing from the canal. Indeed the condition of the mill was found to be greatly improved by the banks of sand that braced up its sides, and, fur- ther, the quagmire on the low-lands was fitted for building sites, now occupied by many of the business houses of the city. The improvement extended to the shore of the lake, where the land- ing was made much more convenient by raising the banks.
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It is not to be wondered at that when John McKusick surveyed the prospect o'er on the mo- mentous morning, that his heart sank, and he imagined himself a ruined man, for mill, store and land appeared a complete wreck, and he would not at first listen to an encouraging view, which some of his neighbors attempted to point out. When the clearing up began from the cellar of the store, various articles were dug out, but three barrels of pork, not found at that time, were exhumed three years later, when further explorations were made, and were found in a per- fect state of preservation. A few years proved, what threatened financial ruin to Mr. McKusick, to be really almost a bonanza. Land rated at $1.25 per acre, soon advanced to $50 and $500. One of the editors of the day facetiously re- marked that it was a very extraordinary move- ment of real estate. The development of years has robbed the sentence of its wit and converted it into a prophecy.
A peculiar relic. In the winter of 1857-8, the workmen, engaged in excavation on Third street, near Myrtle, exhumed what is supposed to be the tusk of a mastodon. It was six feet long, curv- ing slightly and pointed. Its grayish color and brittle texture bear witness to its long burial uu- der the bluff. It was found in a horizontal po- sition thirty-six feet below the surface. A sec- tion of this curiosity is on exhibition at the his- torical society in St. Paul.
In the early days, before Stillwater became a place of importance and before railroads brought daily freight and mail, the arrival of a steamboat was an important event. From a clipping we learn that the levee, during the summer of 1856, was the scene of excitement on the arrival of each boat. Hundreds thronged the wharf, business men in expectation of freight, politicians in quest of election news, some to see the boat and others to be in the excitement.
This continued until the close of navigation. During the summer, the steamer Banjo made fre- quent excursions with a theatrical troupe, who had a stage on board and performed their plays. On a certain evening the troupe arrived and announced a performance on board the boat in the evening. Many of the young men were anxious to attend who had not received payment for services from the mills for some time, and were out of money.
Some brought bunches of shingles from the yards of their respective employers, which were ac- cepted instead of money as admission fee. Others, for the want of money or shingles, were excluded and determined to vent their spite on the boat. At at the close of the performance, after the citizens had all left the boat, the mal- contents showered it with a volley of stones, which attack the men on board returned with powder and shot, and a lively scene ensued. Both parties beat a retreat, the boys in some confusion to a safe distance and the boat in as good order as the darkness of the night would permit. The Banjo never returned and the extent of her dam- age was not known. "No one was hurt on our side."
FLOODS.
The river and lake St. Croix is subject to floods during the months of May and June. The banks are high and usually hold the spring freshets. In the spring and early summer of 1850 a general freshet occurred, caused by heavy snows on the upper St. Croix and the long continued warm rains. The streets in the lower parts of the city were not as high then as now by some feet. The whole lower part of the town was inundated. Several small buildings along the lake were re- moved from their foundations and two of them floated down the lake. In the month of June the boat "Argo" moored in front of the Minneso- ta house in Main street, and let her passengers off on the steps of the hotel. The water was about four or five feet deep in the street, so that the boat found no difficulty. Again in June, 1859, another freshet occurred, fully equal to that of 1850. The water rose some three inches higher than in 1850, but owing to the fillings caused by the land slide and the hand of man, the water did not reach Main street, though the cellars and warehouses bordering the lake were filled. No serious damage was done. The office of the Boom corporation, at the foot of Chesnut street, was raised from its foundation, but being secured by cables, was saved. The contents of cellars, stores and some warehouses along the lake were re- moved, causing some loss and inconvenience. A number of these freshets have occurred from time, but since the extensive filling no damage or se- rious inconvenience has been sustained.
Perilous position. During a severe thunder
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storm, which passed over the city on the even- ing of May 12th, 1879, Julius Duel, one of the proprietors of the St. Croix Post, a German paper of this city, published by Schermuly and Duel, started to go with Miss Emma Schermuly, a young lady about eighteen, daughter of the sen- ior proprietor, to their house in Schulenburg's addition. Going up Main street to a point op- posite the Novelty carriage works, they found the street submerged and almost impassible. They, therefore, turned and went on the railroad supposing it to be dryer and the safest way home. The track is upon a trestle work, but tightly boarded, until the span is reached through which logs are run into Staples' mill-pond. From this point a double row of plank, one upon each side, below the level of the track, extends to the end of the trestle. Pedestrians are compelled to walk on these narrow plank or on the bare ties. They chose the plank and would have passed safely, but suddenly two dazzling flashes of lightning completely blinded both. When Duel recovered, an instant after, the girl was gone, and a scream from the dark water twenty feet below, told that she had fallen into the deep water of the lake. He immediately leaped after her, and coming to the surface he saw, by another flash of lightning, the girl just sinking, probably the second time. Duel swam and seized her, and after considerable persuasion, calmed her excitement so that she released the convulsive hold with which she had nearly drowned them both. By the light of successive fiashes, he swam with his burden to a log, and from that to another directly under a rope attached at one end to the spiling, and at the other to a trail of logs.
With considerable difficulty the girl was raised on the log, with a hold on the rope, where they rested for a time, as Duel was nearly exhausted with the efforts already made. He soon at- tempted a reconnoitre by swimming away from the log, but, as often as he swam away the ex- hausted girl would be tumbled into the water by the waves. Finding these attempts futile, he resumed his position and commenced to halloa for help. Fortunately it was near at hand in the persons of Joseph Carli and another gentleman who were taking the same route our unfortunates were following on their way home.
Some delay was occasioned, after their perilous
position was ascertained. A boat was sought at Staples' mill, but none was found, and afterward at Nelson and Company's mill, where the watch- man, misunderstanding the pressing demand, re- fused the boat. A rope and lantern was finally secured at Staples' mill, and with some difficulty, owing to the continuing storm, first the girl and afterward Duel were hauled up on the trestle, completely exhausted by their exertions, and be- numbed by the cold water in which they had been for half an hour. During all this time the rain was pouring in torrents and the wind blowing al- most a hurricane. Taken as a whole, it was one of the most remarkable escapes from drowning that has ever occurred in this vicinity, and too much praise cannot be accorded to Mr. Duel for his fearless risk of life, and to the rescuers of both who by prompt action saved both.
CHAPTER LXVIII.
CITY OFFICIAL ROSTER.
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