USA > Minnesota > Wright County > History of Wright County, Minnesota > Part 15
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Three voting precinets were formed, with the following described boundaries: Big Bend precinct, bounded on the east by a line running due south from John O. Haven's northwest corner on the Mississippi river, to the south line of the county, south and west by the county lines, and north by the Mississippi river. Monticello precinct, bounded on the north by the Missis- sippi river, east by a line running dne south from the northwest corner of L. Dimmick's claim on the Mississippi river to the south line of the county, south by the south line of the county, and west by Big Bend precinet. Pleasant Grove precinct, bounded on the north by the Mississippi river, east and south by Crow river, and west by Monticello precinct. These somewhat imper- fect descriptions were due to the yet undeveloped region included, the lands remaining unsurveyed until July and August of that year.
The dwelling house of Selah Markham was designated as the place for holding elections in Big Bend precinct, and Selah Mark- ham, John C. Dow and John Oakes appointed judges of election. John C. Dow and Archie Downie were appointed justices of the peace, and Oscar Dow and John Lowell constables.
In Monticello precinct the place designated was the dwelling house of William Creighton. George Brown, William H. Van Ness and Samuel MeManus were appointed judges of election, Samuel H. MeManus and George M. Bertram justices of the peace, and Newell Houghton and J. B. Rich constables. A few months later, MeManus removed from the county and Stephen J. Mason was appointed in his place as justice and James Phillips as judge of election. Phillips removed from the county and Van Ness refused to act, so James C. Beckman and D. B. Sutton were appointed in their places.
In Pleasant Grove precinct the dwelling house of John McDon- ald, Sr., was designated, and Ezra Tubbs (soon followed by David
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MePherson), Charles Lambert and Caleb Chase appointed judges of eleetion : John McDonald, Sr., and Ezra Tubbs were appointed justiees of the peace; and William Casley and Otis S. True con- stables. Archie Downie, Jonah B. Locke and D. L. Ingersoll were appointed assessors for this district.
Each precinet constituted a school district with officers and agents as follows: No. 1, Pleasant Grove preeinet, Dudley P. Chase ; No. 2, Monticello preeinet, Nathan Fletcher; No. 3, Big Bend precinet, Selah Markham. The board of county eommis- sioners gave the elerk permission to hohl his office at his resi- denee until an office eould be seeured and fitted up for him.
The next meeting of the county commissioners was held at Monticello July 2, 1855. MeDonald and Taylor were present. A petition was received for a county road from Waterville at the mouth of the Crow river to Monticello. The petition was granted and Philip Boyden, D. L. Ingersoll and the county surveyor were appointed viewers to meet at the house of John MeDonald on July 15, 1855, to lay out the road. A petition was also received for a county road from Monticello to El Dorado City at the mouth of the Clearwater river. The petition was granted, and Selah Markham, Frederick Emory and the county surveyor were appointed viewers, to meet at the house of James Chambers in Montieello on August 8, 1855, and lay out and survey the road. A petition was received from David HIanaford, Arthur B. Ilana- ford and others for a school district bounded as follows: Begin- ning at the northwest corner of J. W. Hanaford's elaim, running thenee to the southwest corner of Ball's claim, thenee running along his line one mile and a half to a point one-quarter of a mile from the residenee of O. W. Slafter, thenee north to a point parallel to J. W. Hanaford's east line, and one mile and a half from his northwest eorner, thenee along his east line to the place of beginning.
A petition was received from Henry Heap, Henry Bradley, Philip Boyden and others for a road from MeDonald's landing aeross the county to Crow river near Bigelow's, later the location of the townsite of Hassan. The petition was granted, and Henry Heap, Henry Bradley and the county surveyor were appointed a committee to meet at MeDonald's on Monday, July 16, 1855, and survey and lay out the road.
The following appointments were then made: J. S. Mason, judge of eleetion in Montieello precinct, viee Samuel M. MeMan- us. removed from the county; Joseph C. Walker, sheriff, vice Herbert MeCrory, resigned ; David MePherson, judge of election in Pleasant Grove preeinet, viee Ezra Tubbs, who failed to qualify.
On July 23, 1855, James C. Beekman resigned the office of eounty treasurer and Row Brasie was appointed to fill the office. Ile gave bonds and was duły qualified. During this session the
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assessment roll was completed, and a tax of eleven mills to the dollar levied on all taxable property. The assessed valuation, as shown by the completed and corrected roll, was $33,863, on which a tax of $575.67 was levied, $84.66 of which was for school pur- poses. The rolls were placed in the hands of Sheriff Joseph C. Walker for collection. Grand and petit jurors were selected.
The board of county commissioners next met at Monticello, Sept. 3, 1855. A petition was received for a county road from Cedar street, Montieello, south through the prairie along the east shore of Voorhis and Bailey's lakes southwest to Big lake, now called Peliean lake. Row Brasie and E. W. Merrill were appointed viewers. Bills amounting to $126.52 were audited and allowed, $31.37 of which was for books and stationery, and the rest for viewing and surveying roads, assessing and taking the census. The taxes eolleeted in 1855, for county and sehool pur- poses, amounted to $293.52.
The commissioners of 1856 were: Dudley P. Chase, HI. W. MeCrory, and Selah Markham, the first of whom was elected chairman. Their first meeting was held January 7, 1856. At a subsequent meeting in June, $1,053.84 was levied for eounty taxes, $126.71 for territorial, and $319.28 for school purposes. The assessment by precincts was as follows: Big Bend, $23,299 ; Pleas- ant Grove, $22,255; Monticello, $82,180. The faet that about five-eighths of this amount was assessed to Monticello will serve to show the relative advancement in the preeinets at that date, a faet largely attributable to the fertile prairie extending back from the river, which first lured the early settlers to the selee- tion and improvement of future homes.
Northwood precinct was ereated June 9, 1856. The boundaries were deseribed as follows: Commeneing at a point on the Missis- sippi river where the line ends between sections 23 and 26; then running west to the corners of seetions 29 and 28, seetions 20 and 21, thenee south to a point where that line meets Crow river, thence down Crow river to its mouth, thenee up the Mississippi to the place of beginning. Polls were established at the home of John Baxter. John Baxter, Walter Butler and A. Bartlett were appointed judges of election.
At the elose of 1856 ten school districts had been ereated.
The commissioners for 1857 were Dudley P. Chase, H. W. MeCrory and Ambrose Bryant. The first meeting was held Janu- ary 5. H. W. MeCrory was elected chairman of the board. Vari- ous road petitions were received for roads running into almost every part of the county from Monticello, south, west and north. January 6 a petition was received from G. D. George and others asking to be set off into a separate precinet, eonsisting of town- ships 119 and 120, range 24. The petition was granted, and the new preeinct given the name of Rockford. The following officers
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were appointed : Justice of the peace, Cyrus C. Jenks ; constable, William O. Eldred ; road supervisor, Joel Florida. The election was to be held at the house of Cyrus C. Jenks. A petition was also received from George A. J. Overton and others to establish the precinct of Buffalo, consisting of township 120, range 25, and townships 119 and 120, range 26. The petition was granted and the following officers appointed: Judges of election, Amasa Ackley, Moses S. Calkins and S. B. Culver : justice of the peace, George A. J. Overton; constable, Amasa Ackley; overseer of roads, Moses S. Calkins. The election was to be held at the home of Amasa Ackley. The whole number of scholars in the county as reported were as follows: District 3, 22; distriet 4, 14; dis- triet 5, 51 ; distriet 6, 31 ; distriet 7, 73; district 8, 25; district 9, 22: distriet 10, 45.
The board of county commissioners met again at Monticello, April 6, 1857. Various road matters were acted upon. April 7, 1856, a lieense was granted to G. W. and A. C. Riggs to operate a ferry from the foot of Washington street, town of lower Monti- cello, aeross the Mississippi river. The assessment rolls were re- ceived, examined and corrected. The total valuation of the prop- erty in the county was as follows: Big Bend preeinet, $29,844; Monticello precinct, $135,675; Pleasant Grove precinet. $178,880; total, $344,399. Taxes assessed for the year 1857 were one and one-fourth per cent or twelve and a half mills on each dollar of valuation. The whole work of the county commissioners for the greater part of this year was the laying out of roads and the establishment of school districts.
The commissioners for 1858 were Dudley P. Chase, II. W. McCrory and Joel Florida. The first meeting was held January 4. Joel Florida was chosen chairman. At this meeting it was or- dered that a map of the county be furnished by the county sur- veyor, showing the boundaries of the county, section and town lines, roads and school districts. A settlement was made with the sheriff. The whole amount placed in his hands for collection was $1,500.03. The amount collected was $1,441. The amount returned as delinquent was $59.03.
This, the last board of commissioners elected under the terri- torial organization, again assembled April 5, 1858. Minnesota was soon to become a state, township elections had been ordered for May 11, 1858, and the board therefore performed its duty and established the following towns: Albion-Township 120, ranges 27 and 28. Buffalo-South half of township 120, range 26, and township 120, range 25, and sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, in town- ship 119, range 25. Clearwater-Townships 122 and 123, range 27, and township 121. ranges 27 and 28. Frankfort-Township 120, ranges 23 and 24. Newport (changed September 14, 1858, to Franklin)-Township 118, range 25. Monticello-West half of
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township 121, range 24, and townships 121 and 122, range 25. Middleville-Township 118, ranges 27 and 28, and township 119, ranges 27 and 28. Maple Lake-South half of township 121, range 26, and north half of township 120, range 26. Otsego- Township 121, range 23, and east half of township 121, range 24. Rockford-Township 119, range 24, and all of township 119, range 25, except that portion included in Buffalo. Silver Creek- Township 122, range 26, and north half of township 121, range 26. Woodland-Townships 118, range 26. Marysville-Town- ship 119, range 26.
Minnesota was admitted as a state May 11, 1858, and on that date the township elections were held. Under the new constitu- tion the county was to be governed by a board of supervisors consisting of the chairmen of the organized towns. This board of supervisors, or the Wright County Court, as it is sometimes called, assembled in the hall of the Academy, Monticello, Septem- ber 14, 1858, with the following representation: Albion, Robert S. Holmes; Buffalo, Jackson Taylor; Clearwater, Jared D. Wheelock ; Frankfort, John M. McAlpine ; Newport, C. A. Wright ; Monticello, Henry H. Helm ; Middleville, John L. King; Otsego, Thomas IIam ; Rockford, S. R. Workman ; Silver Creek, Jolm O. Hlaven. The towns of Maple Lake and Woodland were not rep- resented, having failed to elect officers at the required time. The board elected John O. Haven, chairman, and C. B. Jordan, clerk. Later, W. V. B. Holway, having been appointed chairman of Maple Lake, took his seat as a member of the board. October 14, 1858, N. V. Streeter appeared as a member from Woodland and was given a seat. Timothy Lowell applied for a seat as the mem- ber from Cokato, but his application was denied. January 3, 1859, E. B. McCord was seated as the member from Maple Lake.
The second board of county supervisors met at Monticello at 2 o'clock on the afternoon of May 7, 1859. Those present were : J. N. Barbour, Monticello : Thomas Ham, Otsego; G. W. Brook- ins, Silver Creek ; R. S. Holmes, Albion ; O. L. Dudley, Buffalo ; M. Jellison, Maple Lake ; C. A. Wright, Franklin ; J. F. Standish, Rockford; J. M. McAlpine. Thomas Ham was elected chairman and John O. Haven was elected anditor and clerk of the board. Dr. J. D. Wheelock, from Clearwater, took his seat July 12, 1859. On September 13, Michael Jordan, from Woodland, took his seat. A question arose as to the legality of the organization. All but one voted that they were of the opinion that the board was prop- erly organized. Robert S. Holmes expressed the negative opinion. September 14 the town of Freedom was created from the towns of Buffalo and Rockford. September 15, M. V. Cochran took his seat as supervisor from Middleville. II. S. Brookens was ad- mitted as a member from Silver Creek, February 27, 1860.
Minnesota having adopted the commission system of county
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government, the newly elected board of county commissioners assembled June 4, 1860. Samuel Bennett, chairman, of Monti- cello: Asa W. Lucas, of Rockford; John A. Mallette, of Otsego; Willis G. Butler, of Clearwater and D. S. Calkins, of Buffalo, were present. Commissioners' distriets were assigned as follows:
1. Clearwater, Silver Creek, Delhi.
2. Monticello.
3. Buffalo, Maple Lake, Albion and Middleville.
4. Roekford, Franklin and Woodland.
5. Otsego and Frankford.
November 13, 1860, the board was notified that the State Board of Equalization had added one hundred per cent to the assessed valuation of real estate in the county, making it $484,319. Mareh 5, 1861, a motion was passed by the board attaeh- ing a part of Silver Creek to Clearwater, subject to the vote of the respective townships. September 3, 1861, a resolution was passed accusing HI. L. Gordan of fraud in substituting in the files a different resolution from the one which was passed. At the same session A. P. Mooers resigned as chairman of the board and J. B. Blanchard was appointed.
The commissioners for 1861 were J. B. Blanchard, Monticello ; H. L. Gordon, Delhi ; F. S. MeDonald, Otsego ; A. P. Mooers, Mid- dleville ; G. A. Rnekholdt, Rockford. They assembled January 1, 1861, and after nine ballots, named A. P. Mooers as chairman. January 2, 1861, a petition for and remonstrance against the proposition to set off a portion of the town of Silver Creek and attach same to Clearwater were laid on the table. January 3 it was voted to allow school distriet 7 $7 for holding the district court terms of October, 1859, and March and September, 1860, in the schoolhouse. The second floor of Chambers' store building at Monticello was rented for several of the county offiees. On September 3, 1861, the boundaries of several townships were altered.
All of that part of township 119, range 25, lying north of the north fork of the Crow river was set off from Rockford and attached to Franklin.
All that part of township 119, range 26, lying on the south side of the north branch of the Crow river was set off from Buf- falo and attached to Woodland.
Townships 118 and 119, range 28, were ranged as Mooers' Prairie. An election was ordered held at the home of David Griffith, with David Griffith, Daniel Rose and Luman Putnam as judges of eleetion.
In 1862 the board consisted of Isaae Hager, A. E. Oaks, E. B. MeCord, Gerhard Ebben and D. R. Farnham. Isaae Ilager was eleeted ehairman.
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HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY
Jannary 9 it was voted to set off section and fractional see- tions 5, 6, 7, 8, 17 and 18, townships 122, range 26, from Silver Creek and attach same to Clearwater.
It was this board that on August 12, 1862, voted a bounty to such soldiers as should enlist from this county subsequent to Angust 1, 1862.
Commissioners' distriets were established September 2, 1862, as follows :
1. Clearwater, Silver Creek, Delhi, Maple Lake and Albion.
2. Monticello, Otsego and Frankfort.
3. Rockford, Buffalo, Franklin, Woodland, Middleville and Mooers Prairie.
It was voted that the town of Rockford should consist of township 119, range 25, and fractional township 119, range 24.
Woodland was to consist of township 118, range 26, and the south half of township 119, range 26.
The north half of township 119, range 26, belonged to Buffalo.
The board for 1863 consisted of Samnel Bennett, A. E. Oaks and D. R. Farnham, the number of commissioners having been redneed from five to three. The board met January 6, 1863, and named Samuel Bennett as chairman.
June 9 the town of Delhi was renamed Corinna. On the same day the county was divided into six military distriets.
In 1864 the board consisted of Samnel Bennett (chairman), A. E. Oaks and D. R. Farnham. March 2, 1864, this board author- ized the chairman to grant liquor licenses at not less than $50. April 7, 1864, the aet granting bounties to volunteers was repealed.
The board for 1865 consisted of W. W. Marvin (chairman), A. E. Oaks and D. R. Farnham. French Lake, consisting of town- ship 120, range 28, was created from a part of what had previ- onsly been the town of Albion.
In 1866 the board consisted of W. W. Marvin (chairman), A. E. Oaks and D. R. Farnham. January 4, 1866, township 118, range 27, was set off from Middleville and created as Vietor. Township 120, range 26, was set off from Maple Lake and Buffalo, January 5, 1866, and created as Chatham. A further account of this will be found under the history of Chatham. This board held office until March, 1866, when a new board eame in.
The board which went into office in March, 1866, consisted of A. E. Oaks, T. C. Shapleigh and D. R. Farnham. This board organized March 13, 1866, and elected T. C. Shapleigh chairman. March 14 township 119, range 26, was created as Marysville, the north half being taken from Buffalo and the south half from Woodland. October 5, 1865, the board granted the petition of Daniel Kreidler and others asking that Rockford be allowed to vote on the subject of granting licenses in that township. Oetober 9, 1866, township 101, range 26, was created as Maple Lake.
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HISTORY OF WRIGHIT COUNTY
Maple Lake had been ereated many years before, the 1866 peti- tion being one of the moves in the Chatham-Maple Lake difficulty.
In 1867 the board assembled. January 1 D. R. Farnham was present from the third district. A. E. Oakes appeared from the first district with a certificate of election for three years from January 1. 1867. T. C. Shapleigh appeared From the second district with a certificate of election for one year from January 1, 1867. T. C. Shapleigh was appointed chairman. In the spring various measures were taken for the relief of the destitute in the western part of the county.
The board for 1868 consisted of the same gentlemen, T. C. Shapleigh having been reelected for three years. He was chosen chairman of the board. February 19 all that portion of town- ship 121, range 28, south of Clearwater river was set off from Corinna and ereated as South Side township. This was the year when the railroad lands were taxed. H. L. Gordon was voted $400 to defend any suits which might be brought against the county by the St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Company in this connection. Mareh 23, 1868, the board met for the first time in Buffalo and the offiees were established in that village a few days later. July 17 township 119, range 28, was created as Cokato. The county seat having been removed to Buffalo and the jail property having reverted to the original owners, the commissioners made a contract with Z. M. Brown for renting the jail for a year.
In 1869 the board consisted of A. E. Oakes from the first dis- triet, T. C. Shapleigh from the second district, and N. C. Rieker- son from the third district. Mr. Shapleigh was elected chairman. March 11 the name of Mooers Prairie was changed to Union.
The board for 1870 consisted of Samuel Whiting, Jr., from the first distriet, T. C. Shapleigh from the second district, and N. C. Riekerson from the third distriet. Shapleigh was elected chair- man. Mareh 8 Thomas McLeod was appointed a member of the board from the second distriet in place of T. C. Shapleigh, resigned. Samuel Whiting, Jr., was elected chairman.
In 1871 the board consisted of Thomas MeLeod from the sec- ond distriet, N. C. Riekersou from the third distriet, and Samuel Whiting, Jr., from the first distriet. Mr. Whiting was elected chairman. January 6 the county was redistrieted as follows :
1. Clearwater, Corinna, Southside (previous to this the name appears in the records as two words-South Side), Silver Creek, and Maple Lake.
2. Monticello, Otsego aud Frankfort.
3. Roekford, Franklin and Buffalo.
4. Woodland, Marysville, Chatham, Albion and French Lake.
5. Victor, Stockholm, Cokato and Middleville.
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HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY
A vacancy was declared to exist in each of the distriets, and the appointing board issued the following certificates of appoint- ment : Distriet 1, Samuel Whiting, Jr .; 2, Thomas McLeod; 3, James Sturges ; 4, Horace J. Hill; 5, N. C. Riekerson. The new board assembled February 20, 1871, with Samuel Whiting, Jr., in the chair.
The board for 1872 was constituted as follows: Distriet 1, W. H. Phillips; 2, William Tubbs; 3, P. M. Wright; 4, M. C. O'Donohoe ; 5, K. O. Molsterteigen. William Tubbs was chosen chairman. It was this board which elearly stated that the county would not at its own expense establish any section corners. It was this board passed on the claims for damages by fire and storm during the summer and fall of 1871. The board on October 16 voted to bring action against A. F. Barker, former clerk of court, for failure to record marriage licenses while in office. It was this board that took up the matter of seeuring title to part of the present court house square and determined to go ahead with the building of a foundation for a court house.
In 1873 the board was constituted as follows: Distriet 1, W. H. Phillips ; 2, William Tubbs; 3, P. M. Wright; 4, M. C. O'Don- ohoe ; 5, K. O. Molsterteigen. William Tubbs was elected ehair- man. This board took up the court house and seeured deeds to the larger part of what is now the court house square.
The board for 1874 consisted of the following members: Dis- triet 1, William H. Phillips; 2, William Tubbs; 3, Jonas Johnson ; 4, M. C. O'Donohoe ; 5, K. O. Molsterteigen. Tubbs was chosen chairman.
In 1875 the board was the same with the exception that Will- iam Tubbs having been elected county auditor, Michael Jaeb, appointed by the auditor, judge of probate and registrar of deeds. served from the second distriet. Jonas Johnson was chairman. The state eensus having revealed a material difference in the population of the different commissioner's distriets, a reappor- tionment was made as follows:
1. Clearwater, Silver Creek, Maple Lake, Corinna, South Side and French Lake.
2. Monticello, Otsego, Frankford and Buffalo.
3. Franklin, Rockford and Woodland.
4. Marysville, Middleville, Albion and Chatham.
5. Cokato, Stockholm and Vietor.
The board for 1876 was constituted as follows: Distriet 1, Thomas C. Porter ; 2, Frank Weigel; 3, Jonas Johnson; 4, Odilion Berthiaume ; 5, K. O. Molsterteigen. Thomas C. Porter was chosen chairman. This board, startled at the increasing expense of unnee- essary litigation, notified the county attorney to correspond with the various justices of the peace in an effort to prevent the bring- ing of trivial suits in the name of the state of Minnesota. Feb-
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HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY
ruary 15, 1876, the board asked for bids on the construction of a court house according to the plans and specifications of C. N. Daniels, of Rice county, which had been accepted by the previous board. Bonds were issued, the contract let, an additional piece of land purchased and the work started.
In 1877 the board was constituted as follows: District 1, T. C. Porter (chairman) ; 2, Odilion Berthiaume; 3, Abraham Ilstrup: 4. K. O. Molsterteigen; 2, O. H. Bushnell. William Tubbs was employed to make an abstract of entries, for which he was to receive $100.
The board for 1878 was made up as follows: District 1, T. C. Porter (chairman) ; 2. O. HI. Bushnell ; 3, Abraham Alstrup; 3, Charles W. Bonniwell ; 5, Il. E. Jones. Porter and Bushnell served as a committee to beautify the court house grounds.
1879. - 1, Martin O'Laughlin ; 2. O. II. Bushnell ; 3, Abraham Ilstrup: 4, Charles W. Bonniwell; 5, HI. E. Jones. II. E. Jones was named as chairman.
1880 .- 1. Martin O'Laughlin ; 2, Stephen Schumacher; 3, W. W. Crooks; 4, Charles W. Bonniwell ; 5, H. C. Jones. H. E. Jones was chosen chairman.
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