The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated, Part 48

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago : H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co.
Number of Pages: 1246

USA > Minnesota > Mower County > The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated > Part 48

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his son, who lives in Austin, now owns the farm. A. Robertson was a native of Scotland. He settled on the northeast quarter of section 26. He improved a farm and lived there until 1880, when he closed out and removed to Stewart, Neb., where he is still living. Patrick Mealy, William Cowan and Martin O'Mal- ley were natives of Ireland. Patrick Mealy settled on the southeast quarter of section 26, where he lived until after the railroad was built, when he sold out and removed to Racine county, Wisconsin, where he now lives. Martin O'Malley located on the northeast quarter of section 6, where he made his home until the time of his death. His death occurred while he was in Illinois and was caused by a runaway accident. Martin O'Mal- ley's family are all dead except Mrs. William Meany, who lives in Windom, and Patrick O'Malley, a son, who is a railroad con- ductor in Kansas. William Cowan settled on the northeast quar- ter of section 5. Mrs. Smith settled on the southeast quarter of section 13, where she lived four years; then went to Mineral · Point, Wis., where she died three months later. Her son Thomas B. settled on the northeast quarter of section 12. Ten years later he sold out and bought the place first settled upon by his mother. He now lives in Minneapolis and his son George lives on the place. Q. A. Truesdell settled on the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 10. He stopped there but a short time, when he sold out and moved to Austin, and for some years was engaged in various lines of business, but he finally removed to Minneapolis, where he died. Michael Slaven was a native of Ohio. Ile located on the southeast quarter of section 13, where he lived until 1874, when he sold out. He now lives in Austin. Henry Fero was born in the state of Wisconsin. He settled on the southwest quarter of section 6, where he lived two or three years, then sold out and removed to Iowa. Early in the war he enlisted, and, it is said, was killed in battle. Peter MeGrath lo- cated on the southwest quarter of section 5, where he lived for several years. A. J. Clark was a native of New York state. The southwest quarter of section 17 was selected by him. He en- listed when the war broke out in the Third Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and died in the service at Helena, Ark. The family afterward moved West.

Ira W. Padden was a native of the state of New York, but came here from Canada early in 1856, and settled on the southeast quarter of section 6. During the war he served in Company C, Ninth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged with the regiment in 1865. He was eruelly murdered in the fall after his return. He was at a threshing in the neighborhood and was passing grain to the machine. It seems he passed it on to the table too fast to suit Patrick MeIntee, the man who was feeding

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the machine, and the fellow challenged him to fight, which he refused to do. The murderer then went to a house near by and borrowed a revolver, and returning again, challenged him to fight. Mr. Padden again refused, upon which the man fired upon him, and he died from the effect of the shot in a few moments. Aaron Draper claimed the northwest quarter of section 35. He was a blacksmith by trade, the first in the township. He set his forge up out of doors at first. Thomas Smith burned the char- coal for him and took his pay in work. He finally put up a log building for a shop, but never put on any roof. He had quite a large drove of cattle, but did not have sufficient food or shelter for them, and a number died during the cold winter of 1856-57. He never proved up on his claim, but left it and went away. John A. Thompson, a native of New York state, also came in 1856, and after entering land on the southeast quarter of seetion 7, he returned to New York state. In the spring of 1857 he came back and settled upon his land.

During the year 1857 the following were among the arrivals : Alonson Wright and son Alonzo, Harry, Roswell and Cook Slo- cum, William Furlong, Henry H. Vail, Stephen Sutton and son George, George W. Benton, J. A. Thompson, W. W. Benedict, Bucklin Wood, Andrew Emery, and George Emery. The Wrights were natives of New York state, but came here from Green county, Wisconsin. Alonson entered the northeast quarter of section 13, where he lived some years; then removed to Austin, where he died in January, 1878. Alonzo entered the northwest quarter of section 13. He is now dead. The Sloeums were also natives of the state of New York, but had lived for a time in Illinois. They came late in the spring. After making claims, breaking some land and erecting shanties, they returned to Illi- nois and harvested their erops. In the fall they returned and settled on their claims. Harry's claim was the southeast quarter of section 10. Roswell settled on the northeast quarter of see- tion 10. He improved a farm, which he occupied several years, then moved to Austin. Cook settled on the southeast quarter of seetion 9, where he lived for several years. He died in Austin. With the Sloeums came H. Perkins, who took a elaim in the northwest quarter of section 14. Messrs. Sutton and Furlong were both natives of Ireland. Furlong located on the northeast corner of section 8, where he made his home until the time of his death. The Suttons elaimed the southwest quarter of section 26. The father died there December 24, 1859. His son entered the land in 1860 and still owns it. Stephen Sutton and his son, George, arrived at Winona, Minnesota, May 4, 1857. They went to Chatfield, where the land office was, by stage, part of the time carrying a rail to pry the stage from the mud of the slough, in

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which it was frequently mired. They secured a plat of the town- ship of Beaver, township 101, range 13, and were told at the land office that they would have to build a house and break half an acre of land before they could file on any elaim. They there- fore went to work, cut logs, built a house, rooted a little piece of ground and prepared to make their permanent home there. But when Stephen, the father, went to Chatfield to file on the land, he found that it had been entered and paid for the day before by one William Bigen. This discouraged him, and he wanted to go back to New York. His son, however, told himn that there was more land in Minnesota, and consequently he and a man with whom they had been boarding, came to what is now Windom township, and took up a claim where the son George now lives.

George W. Benton claimed the southeast quarter of section 9. Ile died in Austin. His mother preempted the northwest quarter of section 18. H. H. Vail was a native of Vermont. He came here from Illinois and preempted the northwest quarter of sec- tion 2. J. A. Thompson was born in Chenango county, New York, in 1827. He came to Mower county in 1856 and took a pre- emption right to the southeast quarter of section 7. Then he returned to New York, was married, and the next year came to Minnesota. He settled on his homestead in May, 1857, and lived on it for thirty years. Then he and his wife moved to Austin, where they now reside. W. W. Benedict preempted the south- west quarter of section 8, in the fall of 1857. He was born in New York in 1829. After living in Mower county a time he moved to Springfield, South Dakota, where he now resides. Bueklin Wood preempted the southwest quarter of section 8 in the spring of 1856. He moved from New York the following year, and afterward moved to Springfield, South Dakota, where he still lives. Andrew and George Emery came in 1857. The former preëmpted the east half of the northeast quarter of sec- tion 14, and the latter the east half of the southwest quarter of section 16.

FIRST EVENTS.

The first marriage in the township was that of Jacob Lee to Rebecca Davis, who were married at the residence of the bride's parents, by D. B. Johnson, Jr., justice of the peace. They lived at Austin for a time then removed west. He enlisted in the army when the war broke out and was killed in battle. The first death in the township was that of Chester Fuller, who died in 1856.

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ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNSHIP.

Windom was organized May 11, 1858. At that time it was known as Brooklyn, and included the present towns of Windom and Marshall. In 1862 the name Brooklyn was changed to Can- ton, and the same year to Windom. York, now Marshall, was cut off in 1870. The minutes of the first meeting are given in the records as follows, furnished to this publication by A. W. Rankin, town clerk: "The following are the true minutes of an election held in accordance with the notice given by order of the chairman of the board of county commissioners, May 11, 1858. Names of persons voting at said election: Alfred Richardson, Elan C. Benton, Martin A. Churchill, Oliver Hiekeock, Cook Slocum, William Cowan, Harry Slocum, Stacy Bell, George W. Benton, Walter Fuller, William T. Manderville, Patrick Mealy, A. J. Clark, Henry Tearow, William Furlong, Martin O'Malley, Alanson Wright, Peter McGrath, John A. Thompson, John Depue, Horatio Marsh, M. J. Slaven, Nelson Cook, P. S. Conkey, Jere- miah Perkins, Henry Roger, George N. Conkey, Andrew Robert- son, Obadiah Smith, Thomas Smith, Hugh D. Mills, Roswell Slo- cum, E. E. Cross and Aaron Draper. The judges of election were Nelson Cook, Horatio Marsh and Thomas Smith. The meeting was held at the home of Nelson Cook. The following officers were elected: Supervisors, Alanson Wright (chairman), John A. Thompson, and A. J. Wright; town clerk, Nelson Cook; justices of the peace, Horatio Marsh and William Cowan; collector, Wal- ter Fuller; constable, Harry Slocum ; assessor, Roswell Slocum ; road supervisor, E. C. Benton; overseer of the poor, Henry Tearow. On motion it is resolved that the town lay a tax of $50 for the purpose of defraying the necessary expenses of the town for the ensuing year. Nelson Cook, clerk." The town was named in honor of Senator William W. Windom.

Among those prominent in township affairs in the early days may be mentioned: E. C. Benton, P. Mealy, G. N. Conkey, Stephen Sutton, A. Robertson, O. Smith, M. J. Slaven, A. II. Clark, J. H. Livingston, P. S. Conkey, H. Marsh, S. W. Rice, H. Erickson, A. J. French, A. Fairbanks, John Merrill, W. Bron- son, Henry Burgor, H. H. Vale, Thomas Smith, William Furlong, Alonzo Wright, Thomas If. B. Vandergrift, M. B. Slocum, G. W. Richards, Ira H. Warner, J. A. Priest, John C. Hawkins, F. B. Kline, George Sutton, F. G. Ray, A. H. Williams, II. O. Swening- son, J. J. Furlong, A. M. Baldwin, Jens A. Jensen, John Cronan, D. MeTavish, Ira Snyder, Thomas Malone and A. D. Fairbanks.

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RELIGIOUS.

Early in the history of the town ministers of different denom- inations visted Windom and preached at private houses. Among the early preachers were: John Arnold, a United Brethren; Rev. Mapes, a Methodist; Nelson and Stephen Cook, Congrega- tional, and Ash Marslı, Baptist.

Congregational. In 1857 Nelson Cook, a native of Vermont. and a Congregational preacher by profession, purchased the Davis farm and settled in this township. He was a graduate of Oberlin college. He soon afterwards organized a church there, which included members of different denominations who wished to identify themselves with some church. Among the members were : W. T. Mandeville, Alfred Richardson and wife, John Rose and wife, John Greggs and wife, Lyman St. John and wife, David Austin and Oliver Hitchcock. John Rose was elected deacon. Meetings were held at Mr. Cook's house, at the house of Lyman St. John, in Nevada township, and other private houses. The organization flourished under Mr. Cook's care for four years, when failing health compelled him to go east. He went, intend- ing to return, but his health continued to fail, and he died after a lingering illness. After this the church disbanded and the members joined different societies.

Baptist. Those of the Baptist faith living in the eastern part of the town attended services at Austin until 1868, when Elder Wharton held a series of meetings at the schoolhouse in District No. 24. A number of conversions were made and a branch of the Austin church was organized, which met at the schoolhouse for worship, services being held once in two weeks. In 1872 the members in this neighborhood called for letters of dismissal in order to establish an independent church. The following named became members: Horatio Marsh, Cynthia A. Marsh, Walter Fuller, George Van Camp, Emeline Van Camp, Mrs. Silas Miner, Alfred, Belle and John Fairbanks, John Bennett and wife, Charles, Myron and Etta Miner, Josephine Burger, David Mollison and wife, Josephine M., Alena M., George W., Thomas E., and Joseph A. Mollison, George W. Shepley and wife, Thomas Edwards and wife, Hiram Eddie and wife, Mrs. Rosella Snyder and Arminda Ruland. Horatio Marsh and Alonzo Fairbanks were elected dea- cons, and George Van Camp clerk. The pulpit was supplied from Austin, and the class flourished three or four years, when some of the members moved away, others joined other churches and the meetings were discontinued. A Sunday school was organized in connection with this church. Horatio Marsh was the first and Mrs. A. Fairbanks the last superintendent.

United Brethren. Elder Arnold organized a United Brethren

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class at the house of Alfred Richardson. The following were among the members: Alfred Richardson and wife, Isaac Peter- man and wife, and Mrs. Ira W. Padden. Mr. Richardson was the first class leader. Meetings were held at different private houses. Among the various preachers were Elder M. L. Tibbetts, John Allaman, Daniel Reed and Elder Zimmerman. The class flourished but a short time.

ROSE CREEK VILLAGE.

Rose Creek is an incorporated village in the southeastern part of Windom township on the C., M. & St. Paul road. It is a thriving place, is incorporated, has a bank, a creamery, a public school, two elevators, and Congregational and Catholic churches. It has a full complement of the business houses usually found in such places, and two fraternities, The Modern Woodmen of the World and the Catholic Order of Foresters. The population is between two and three hundred.

Among the principal business activities of Rose Creek at the present time may be mentioned the following: General mer- chandise, C. R. Varco, Weinert & Jensen, E. C. Keefe & Co .; State Bank of Rose Creek, president, Mrs. S. Dean; vice presi- dent, John Cronan ; cashier, W. H. Dean ; assistant cashier, E. O. Johnson ; William Crane & Co., lumber and coal ; John Ulwelling, meat market and restaurant ; C. A. Anderson, general hardware; Hart & Meadow, restaurant and pool room; John Cronan & Co., elevator, grain and seeds; John Cronan, dealer in furniture; G. W. Phillips, farm implements; Huntting Elevator Company, grain and coal; Merchants' hotel; John Landherr, blacksmith shop and feed mill; Henry Luz, blacksmith shop; F. G. Ray, postmaster.

The Rose Creek Cooperative Creamery Company was organ- ized March 10, 1910, and started operations June 1. The first officers were: President, S. D. Thompson ; vice president, H. P. Cronan; treasurer, Jens A. Jensen; secretary, W. HI. Dean. The present officers are the same with the exception that E. C. Keefe is secretary. The directors are Alfred Ruland, W. D. Fink, W. P. Cress and John Bloom.

This village was platted by Selah Chamberlain in 1873. It is located on the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of sec- tion 26. The original plat as recorded April 3, 1874, contained four blocks. Since that time additions have been made. It is pleasantly located, and the village is in a flourishing and grow- ing condition. The surrounding country which is tributary to this place, is an excellent farming and stock raising region, and therefore the village has a substantial trade.

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Rose Creek had its real beginning in October, 1867, when trains began running on the C., M. & St. P. road. It was for some years a flag station. In 1878 the present depot building was erected. John Cronan was the first agent. His service terminated October 1, 1889. Since then the agents have been: W. Keefe, E. E. Satterlee, R. Whitelaw, John C. Olson; Henry Gosha, Charles O'Malley, John Malek and John O'Malley, who is serving at present.

Rose Creek was incorporated February 14, 1899. The first officers elected were: Mayor, E. C. Keefe; council, G. W. Phil- lips, R. L. Tanner, James Ballweber; clerk, A. C. Shotter ; treas- urer, James Skahan; assessor, Peter O'Malley ; marshal, N. H. Garrison ; justice of the peace, F. G. Ray ; constable, A. R. Sutton. The present officers are: Mayor, Fred Gerhart; council, A. S. Wheelock, Charles Schwamm, John O'Malley ; clerk, E. C. Keefe; treasurer, John Cronan; assessor, J. B. Steines; justices, H. P. Ulwelling and T. B. O'Halloran; marshal, George Schumadrer. The streets of Rose Creek are well lighted with oil lamps and one gasoline lamp. The building now used for a town hall was first built as a schoolhouse in 1874. It was purchased by the village for a hall in 1909. The pumping station was built in 1904. The water comes from a deep well and the city has ample fire protection.

BUSINESS IN THE EARLY DAYS.

The first move toward business development at Rose Creek was the erection of a small warehouse in 1869, by William Pitcher, from Austin. Yates & Lewis rented the warehouse and bought grain for a time. In 1870 M. B. Slocum commenced buying grain, with George Sutton as a silent partner. They were asso- ciated together two years, when they dissolved, and each went into the business separately. M. B. Slocum erected two ware- houses and an elevator. In 1877 Bassett, Huntting & Co. erected a large elevator. They are now represented by Thomas O'Hal- loran. George Sutton closed out his business in 1898. John Cro- nan was an early grain buyer and the J. Cronan & Co. concern still conducts an elevator here.

Jolin A. Priest was the first merchant at Rose Creek. He commenced business in January, 1873, in an old log building, located near the village plat. IIe kept a very small stock at first. In the summer of 1873 he erected a building on lot 10, block 2, and increased his stock of goods. He remained in trade here until June, 1878, when he sold to Daniel MeTavish and George W. Williams. In 1879 Williams sold his interest to A. J. Odekirk, and two years later Stanley Warner bought out the firm. Six months later he sold to C. R. Varco, who is still in trade.

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The second store in the village plat was opened by J. C. Taskerud in 1875, in a building which he erected on lot 9, block 1. Two years later he closed out and went to Dakota, where he died. The lot still belongs to the family. The first hotel in the village was opened in 1875 by I. M. Ray. His son, F. G., now uses the place as a residence. George N. Price was the first blacksmith. He opened a shop here in 1873 on lot 6, block 1. He ran it for a few months, then sold the shop to Frank Johnson, who was a wagon maker, and he carried on that trade for a few months. Peter Johnson was associated with him as blacksmith. After Frank Johnson sold out the shop was moved away and Peter Jolinson built another small shop. In 1875 he sold to James Pierce. In 1880 Watt & Barnhart erected a shop 22x32 with 10-foot posts. They were here but a few weeks, then sold to James Pierce. In 1882 Peter Johnson returned and bought the shop. Peter Johnson sold to Mike Lux, who sold to R. L. John- son. Johnson sold to William Collins, who sold to John Landherr, the present owner. John Cronan opened the third store in the village in 1877. He had erected a building on lot 4, of block 3. He remained in trade about a year, when he sold out to Corbitt Brothers, who closed out a few months later. In 1881 Charles Lacy opened a store in this building. He closed up in the spring of 1883. Daniel MeTavish opened in May, 1883. Mr. MeTavish is now dead. His store building is owned by Mrs. Mary Hines Garrison, and is used as a skimming station, for receiving and shipping cream. D. F. Blyton opened the first harness shop in the village in 1877. He closed after running a few months. He now runs a harness store in this village for Charles R. Varco. Olburg & Sweningsen opened the fourth store in 1877, in a build- ing which they erected on lot 11, block 1, in the first addition. Two years later they sold to McTavish & Odekirk, who were in business at the time. The latter firm moved from their old place of business to the building purchased of Olburg & Sweningsen, and were in trade until 1882, when they sold out. As before related, Stanley Warner purchased the business and sold to C. R Varco, who still occupies the building, which he has greatly improved.

Rose Creek Congregational Church .- On September 15, 1872, religious service was held at the log schoolhouse about one mile north of the village of Rose Creek. After the service the feasi- bility of Christians uniting under one covenant in a Congrega- tional church was considered. On October 29, 1872, a meeting was held in the log schoolhouse for the purpose of organizing a church. Rev. R. IIall, the state superintendent of home mis- sions ; N. S. Frisby, of Guilford; A. P. Kirkland and Rev. A. Morse were present. November 9, 1872, a church meeting was held at

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the house of W. C. Watt. The first officers of the church elected were: W. M. Corbitt, clerk; N. N. Thompson, trustee; W. C. Watt, trustee; W. M. Corbitt, trustee; W. M. Corbitt, treasurer; O. Wheelock, deacon. Names of the original members: Obadiah Wheelock, W. M. Corbitt, N. N. Thompson, Mrs. Celestia Wheel- ock, Mrs. N. N. Thompson, Mrs. W. C. Watt, Miss Cordelia Wheelock. Pastors: Rev. A. Morse, December 1, 1872, until November 1, 1879; Rev. L. H. Moses, November 1, 1879, until November 18, 1883; Rev. M. W. Chunn, from May 1, 1884, until November, 1884; Rev. J. S. Rounce, September, 1885, until Sep- tember 28, 1890; Rev. W. C. Atcheson, November 23, 1890, until September, 1892; Rev. F. W. Harlow, September, 1892, until No- vember, 1893; Rev. Frank J. Brown, November, 1893, until No- vember 28, 1896; Rev. Carl Swain, May 23, 1897, until September 1, 1898; Rev. Duncan, December 18, 1898, until October 1, 1899; Rev. Paul Winter, September 6, 1900, until September 6, 1901; Rev. Benjamin Irons, October 6, 1901, until October 26, 1902; Rev. E. C. Lyons, February, 1903, until May 26, 1903; Rev. Cur- rie, May 30, 1903, until September 30, 1903; Rev. J. B. Thompson. September 9, 1906, the present pastor.

The Methodist class of Rose Creek was organized March 21, 1877, from the remnant of the Slocum class and others coming in. Rev. Mr. Kerr was the first who held charge of this class. Services were discontinued many years ago. For about ten years the Methodists met every other Sunday in the Congregational church.

Rose Creek Church of Christ was organized January 22, 1875, at the Rose Creek schoolhouse by Elder W. J. Bursell. The following were the first members: D. S. B. Mollison, Mary B. Mol- lison, Andrew Robertson, George N. Conkey, Isaac M. Ray, Eva Smith, Thomas Mollison, John Merrill, Alena M. Mollison, Wil- lard G. Thompson, Celinda Conkey, N. N. Thompson, Abby F. Thompson, L. F. Corbitt, Josephine Mollison, Timothy Bulson, Harriet Bulson, Mary Ruland, Joseph Ondriek, Ella L. Thomp- son, Armanda Ruland, Ella Merrill, Jane Robertson, Lucy Bur- gor, Harvey Burgor, Julius Thompson, William Miner, William Robertson, Sarah Robertson, Lydia Burgor, Sarah Burgor, Alfred Snyder, Pliny Conkey and Hulbert Thompson. The first officers elected were as follows: Clerk, W. M. Corbitt; elder, N. N. Thompson; deacons, John Merrill, Andrew Robertson, Eliza Con- key and Mary B. Mollison; treasurer, George N. Conkey. . The election was held at the house of N. N. Thompson, on January 28, 1875. The society met for worship at the Rose Creek school- house until 1878, when a church building was erected in the vil- lage. Elder Bursell was pastor for four years and was then suc- eceded by Elder F. A. Baker. At about the same time as the

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church was organized a Union Sabbath school was instituted, which met regularly until the fall of 1883. After Elder Baker resigned Elder Stewart from Lake Mills, Iowa, supplied the pul- pit. After a time he stopped coming. For a time the church was used as a lodge room by different societies until February, 1904, when it was burned. The town hall and pumping station now occupy the site.

Rose Creek Catholic Church. Services have been held in Rose Creek by various priests since the earliest days. The pres- ent church, a well-kept structure, was erected in 1889. The first three regular pastors were Fathers Keller, Gergan and Schneider. The present pastor is the Rev. Mathias Jostock.

First Day Adventists. This congregation flourished here for a while and attracted quite a few members.

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The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated, Part 48

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Chicago : H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co. Number of Pages: 1246

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago : H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co.
Number of Pages: 1246