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Makedie
Gc 977 H61 pt.2 1917100
M.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01715 4813
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598 . HISTORY
OF THE
UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY
CONTAINING pt. 2
THE GEOLOGY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI AND SAINT LOUIS VALLEYS, 1
BY PROF. N. H. WINCHELL.
EXPLORERS AND PIONEERS OF MINNESOTA
BY REV. EDWARD D. NEILL.
01
211141 Outlines of the History of Minnesota,
BY J. FLETCHER WILLIAMS,
CAND.
STATE EDUCATION.
BY CHARLES S. BRYANT.
.
Ac 977 H61
MINNEAPOTAS: MINNESOTA HISTORICAL COMPANY, 1881.
361
MAYWOOD TOWNSHIP.
MAYWOOD.
Maywood lies in the eastern part of the county, and has an area of 23,040 acres, of which 168 are under cultivation.
The surface is quite level and heavily timbered, mostly hardwood, with some pine in the northeast corner. The soil is a elay loam with a clay sub- soil.
There are some excellent hay meadows in the northeast part, and also, quite a large acreage of cranberry marsh.
The east and west branches of the St. Francis river flow in a southerly direction through the town, and unite near the sonthwest corner. One of the tributaries of Rum river also crosses the north- cast corner.
The first settlers in Maywood were J. W. Creath, and M. D. Campbell, who settled in the southern part in 1867. William Albright settled near them the following spring, and the same season, D. Sha- dam and F. Dunnell settled in the northern part of the town.
This township was set off from Gilmanton in 1867; what is now Glendorado, detached from St. George, and the two townships organized as May- wood. It was reduced to its present limits, how- ever, by the organization of Glendorado the fol- lowing year.
The. first officers were: Supervisors, M. D. Campbell, Chairman, J. W. Creatlı, and A. Hub- bard; Clerk, M. D. Campbell; Assessor, A. Hub- bard; and Treasurer, M. D. Campbell.
The first school was taught in the winter of : 1868-69, by Miss Mary Campbell. The first re- ligions service was held at the house of M. D. Campbell, soon after his arrival.
The first child born was Katie Wilt, in 1869. The first death was William Clark, in 1872.
The first marriage was in 1870, the happy couple being E. Shadam and Miss Victoria Din- nell.
In 1868, M. D. Campbell and a Mr. Close erected a saw mill on section thirty-one. It run till the next March, when the boiler of the engine exploded, injuring several men, some seriously, and the engineer, fatally. He died ten days after- wards. A year later, Mr. Campbell built another mill near the old site, but this time on the St. Francis river, thus securing a water power. Some time afterwards, Ed. Allen became a partner, and
three years later, purehased Mr. Campbell's inter- est, and moved the mill to its present location in Glendorado township in 1876.
Maywood has increased in population, slowly, bnt steadily, from the beginning, the population, in 1880, numbering 126 persons.
The products of 1880, according to the agricul- tural report were: wheat, 334 bushels; oats, 915 bushels; corn, 362 bushels; barley, 50 bushels; rye, 25 bushels; potatoes, 880 bushels; beans, 20 bushels; cultivated hay, 13 tons; wild hay, 341 tons; tobacco, 131 pounds; wool, 52 pounds; butter, 2,905 pounds; and honey, 50 pounds.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
JOHN W. CREATH is the oldest living settler of Maywood township; he was born in Washington connty, Maine, on the 28th of February, 1818. In the spring of 1857, he came to Minnesota, lo- cating in Clearwater, Wright county, where he remained for ten years. He then came to his pres- ent farm in section thirty-four. Being the first man to come through, he was obliged to eut roads, ford streams, and put up with all kinds of ineon- venienees. Mr. Creath was one of the organizers of this town, and has been its Supervisor and Treasurer nearly every year. He was married in December, 1849, to Miss Margaret Miars; they have had three children; two, Isora and Charlotte E., are living, and Etta died in Clearwater, at the age of three months.
1917100
MINDEN.
CHAPTER LXXXII.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION-EARLY SETTLEMENT -OR- GANIZATION - AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS - BIO- GRAPHICAL.
This township lies in the southwest portion of the county, and has an area of 23,040 acres, of which 1,597 are under cultivation. There is'a traet of prairie in the sonth part, which extends over about one-third of the town; the balance is brush land and light timber. The soil is a dark loam, and quite productive. . The eastern portion is wat- ered by Elk river, which flows in a southerly di- rection, and is joined near the south line by May- hew creek, which enters near the northwest corner of the town.
GEORGE MOINTYRE made the first claim here
362
HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
about 1853, and was joined, the following year, by William Smith and George V. Mayhew. Dur- ing that year and the next, the population was increased by the arrival of Ellis Kling, George Morehead, Garrett, Brennan, and William Hicks.
The territory embraced in this town wus form- orly a part of St. George, and when the huter town was organized, nearly all the township ofli- cers resided in what is now Minden.
Minden was organized in 1868, and the first of- ficors were: Supervisors, William Smith, Chair- man, Stanley Russell, and Ellis Kling; Clerk, and Justice of the Peace, William T. Hicks.
There is a Catholic Church organization in the town, and good schools are held during the usual terms. The population, according to the last cen- sns, was 207 persons.
The agricultural report of 1880 shows the pro- ducts of this town to be: wheat, 14,657 bushels oats, 8,674 bushels; corn, 3,970 bushels; barley, 319 bushels; rye, 560 bushels; bnekwheat, 50 bushels; potatoes, 1,712 bushels; cultivated hay, 21 tons; wild hay, 668 tons; wool, 27 pounds; butter, 21,640 ponnds; and honey, 400 pounds.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
DOMINICK BARTHELEMY, a native of France, was born in 1827. His parents died when he was young. He made his home on a farm for a few years, and then was employed in making wooden shoes. In 1854, he came to America, lived for a few months in Pennsylvania, and then came to Min- nesota, where he was employed on a farm in Clear Lake, Sherburne county, for about three years. After living in Stearns county for a short time, he came to his present farm. Mr. Barthelemy married Mrs. Mary Ann Flanigan. They have seven chil- dren.
MICHAEL BRANNELLY, u resident of Benton county for twenty-five years, is a native of Galway county, Ireland, and was born on the 29th of Sep- tomber, 1821. He was brought up in his native county where he received his early education. In 1846, he came to America, and after remaining three years in New York State, went to California and was engaged in gold-mining until coming to Minnesota. In 1854, he purchased a farm, through his brother, in Minden, Benton county, to which he removed in April, 1857, and Ims resided there ever since. Mr. Bramelly taught the first school in Minden township and has always manifested a strong interest in the welfare of Benton county.
He was one of the early supervisors, holding the otlice for ten years, and was also County Commis- sioner, nine years. He was elected Sheriff in 1868, continuing in the office two years, and has also held n mumber of township offices. Mr. Brannelly was married in June, 1854, to Elizabeth Kelly, of his native county, who died in February, 1876. Of nine children born to them, but six are living; Mary A., Margaret J., Annie, Martin H., James E., and Elizabeth.
GARRETT BRENNAN, for twenty-six years a resi- dent of Benton county, was born in Kilkenny county, Ireland, in the year 1812. He emigrated to Canada in 1826, and after staying two years, came to Rochester, New York, and learned the cooper's trade, which was his occupation until coming to Benton county. From Rochester he soon returned to Canada, where he lived six years, coming thence, to Will county, Illinois, where he resided until coming to his present home in Min- den township in 1855. By energy and industry, he accumulated two thousand one hundred aeres of land, which he divided among his sons, in 1880, r taining but three hundred and sixty ueres for himself. Mr. Brennan was married in 1840, to. Miss Mary Armstrong, of Tipperary county, Ire- land, who died in 1869. Of nine children which they had, but five are living; Margaret, John G., William G., Catharine, and Simon.
CHARES E. BELL dates his birth in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on the 11th of Angust, 1843. At the age of eleven years, he went with his parents to Rock Island, Illinois, where he was reared to mercantile pursuits. In Angust, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, of the Twelfth Illinois Vohintcer Infantry, and served until mustered ont at Spring- field, Illinois, in June, 1865. Returning to Rock Island, he was engaged in the grain business with his father for two years, then railroading until 1872, when he ugnin returned to Rock Ishund and was engaged in varions pursuits until coming to his present farm in Minden township in August, 1879. Mr. Bell was married to Sophia Bickel, of Scott county, Iowa, in 1871. They Imve one danghter, named Ida.
WILLIAM T. Hicks, one of the early settlers of Benton county, was born in Chittenden county, Vermont, on the 15th of Angust, 1828, where he was reared on his father's farm and received his early edneation. He came to Benton county in May, 1855, taking a claim which had been made by his brother the year previous, in St George township,
363
MINDEN TOWNSHIP.
now Minden. After a short stay on his farm, he went to Morrison county and worked as a carpen- ter until 1857, when he came to Sank Rapids, and the following spring, returned to his old farm, where he has since lived. He was the first Town Clerk in St. George township, and also, the first Justice of the Peace, holding the latter office contin- ously to the present time. Mr. Hieks was married in 1872, to Juliette Camp, of New York State. Miss Camp was the first to teach a district school in Sank Rapids.
ELLIS KLING, also one of the pioneers of Ben- ton county, is a native of Dauphin county, Penn- sylvania, born on the 17th of September, 1824. He was engaged in farming pursuits in his na- tive county until May, 1851, when he came to Min- nesota. After remaining a short time in St. Paul, he located where St. Cloud now stands, and soon after, engaged with the American Fur Company, remaining in their employ two years. In the fall of 1855, he located the farm on which he now re- sides, in St. George, now Minden township. He was one of the first Supervisors of St. George township, assisted in the organization of Minden, and has been Town Treasurer, three years. His farm contains four Inindred and fifty acres of fine land, one hundred and thirty of which is in a high state of cultivation. Mr. Kling was married in 1854, to Lucy Lewis, of Minnesota. Of seven children born to them, six are living; Henry C., William L., Albert F., Frank, George W., and Harriet A.
CiKORGE MOREHRAD, another old settler in Beu- fon county, was born in Manchester, England, on the 11th of Angust, 1829. He came to America with his mother in 1838, settling in New York City, where he was engaged in teaming until 1853, when he came toMinnesota, but after a few months spent in what is now Minden township, and at Little Falls, he returned to New York. In 1855, he again returned to Benton county, and pre-empted the farm on which he now lives; this farm is chiefly devoted to stock-raising.
GEORGE V. MAYHEW, for twenty-seven years a resident of Benton county, was born in St. Ilw- renee county, New York, on the 18th of Febri- ary, 1824. He was reared to farming pursuits until 1847, when he enlisted in the Tenth United States Infantry, and served eighteen months in the Mexican war. Returning to his native State, he was engaged in the transportation business on the Hudson river until the summer of 1854, when
he came to Benton county and pre-empted a farm in St. George, now Minden township. This farm now contains three hundred aeres, one hundred of which is under cultivation. Mr. Mayhew was one of the first Supervisors, continuing in office till 1862, when he was commissioned Second Lienten- ant in Company I, of the Seventh Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and served until mnstered out in May, 1865, with the rank of First Lientenant. He then returned to his farm, and with the exception of one year's absence in Mon- tana, has resided here ever since. Mr. Mayhew was also a member of the Minnesota State Legis- lature in 1861. He was married in 1858, to Me- lissa Smith, of New York State. Their children are, Susie E. and Nellie G.
W. H. H. STEVENS is a native of Albany, New York, born on the 15th of January, 1813. At an early age, he removed with his parents to Renssa- laer county, where he grew to manhood, engaged with his father in the cattle trade and brick-making. When he was twenty-one years old, he removed to Troy and was in the same business until 1839, and after that, with the exception of eight years in the Troy & Boston Railroad office, was engaged in various pursuits until coming to Minnesota in the spring of 1857. He at once settled on his present farm in Minden township, and has resided here, a prominent and worthy citizen, ever since. He was Assessor of St. George township, two years. Mr. Stevens was married in October, 1835, to Eliz- abeth Davis, of Troy, New York. Of six children, the result of this union, but four are living; Mary J., Emma L., Frances HI., and Harry D.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM SMITH, another old settler, dates his birth in Herkimer county, New York, on the 5th of October, 1817. When nine years old, he removed with his parents to Pittsfield, Massa- chusetts, where he remained three years, and thence to Montgomery county, New York, which was his home until 1837. He then commenced work on board the barges and steamers on the Hudson river, steadily advancing from one posi- tion to another; until he was made Captain, hold- ing the position many years, plying between Al- bany and New York. He came to Benton county in October, 1854, and pre-empted the farm on which he now lives. He was elected County Com- missioner in 1855, and served about seven years; was one of the first Supervisors of St. George township, and was Chairman thirteen years; has also held the offices of Assessor and Treasurer a
364
HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
number of years. He was married in 1836, to Susan M. Flansburg, of Schoharie county, New York. They have three children; Alonzo, Melissa, and Ezra.
EZRA Smurn, a son of the subject of our last sketch, was born in Herkimer county, New York, on the 29th of September, 1843. He came, with his parents to Benton county in 1854, and has re- sided here ever since. He has carried on a farm of his own for the last thirteen years. Mr. Smith was married in January, 1868, to Mary A. Shep- pard, of Cattarangus county, New York.
ST. GEORGE
CHAPTER LXXXIII.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION - EARLY SETTLEMENT
ORGANIZATION -- RELIGIOUS-SCHOOLS- MERCAN- TILE - AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS - BIOGRAPIII- CAL.
This town lies in the southern part of the county, and has an area of 23,040 acres, of which 2,217 are under cultivation.
In the southern part of the township, there is considerable prairie, which has a light sandy soil. The northwestern part is principally brush land and poplar groves, with a stronger and darker soil, and in the northeastern part, heavy timber pre- vails, and the soil is also good.
There are a few small lakes, the largest being Dunnewold's Lake, a beautiful sheet of water on section twenty-two. Stony creek flows in a south- erly direction, and leaves the town near the south- east corner.
The first settlement was made on the prairie in the southwest portion of the town, and was called the New York settlement, because the greater por- tion of the settlers were from that State.
A Mr. Russell was, undoubtedly, the first man to locate here with his family, he having made a claim on scetion twenty-nine in 1855, but only remained two years. During the same year,' Alonzo Smith, now of Minden, made some im- provements on section thirty, George Sheldon settled on section twenty-nine, and George Dickey made a claim on section twenty-eight. These were unmarried, and did not remain long. In the fall of 1856, James H. Cullen selected a claim on section thirty, to which he removed his family
the following spring. They still reside on this farm, which was the home of Mr. Cullen until his death in 1871. In the spring of 1857, John Fothergill settled on section twenty-nine, and still lives there. In the southeastern part of the town, there is a prosperous German settlement. The first settler there was Peter Abtalter, a native of Germany, who settled on section twenty-four in 1862, and lives there still. He was followed by Godfrey Attermann and Vincent Schindler, who settled on section twenty-six. The former lives on the old homestead, but the latter is a resident of Minden township.
St. George was organized in 1858, and em- braced all the territory now contained in the towns of Minden, St. George, and Glendorado, with nearly all the settlers in the first named township. Glendorado was detached in 1867, and Minden, in 1868, since when, the boundary lines have remained unchanged. The first election was held in April, 1859, and the following offieers elected: Supervisors, G. V. Mayhew, Chairman, Jolm L. Lock, and William Smith; Clerk, W. T. Hicks; Assessor, W. H. H. Stevens; Collector, William Dickinson; and Justices of the Peace, W. T. Hicks and P. Brannelly. The first officers elected, after the reduction of the town to its present limits, were: Supervisors, Anthony Carey, Chairman; J. Deirkes, and Frank Shero; Clerk, Jolm Fothergill ; Treasurer, Prosper Latterell; Assessor, Peter Abfalter ; Constables, William Hezeke and Louis Latterell; and Justiees of the Peace, John Dunn and Harvey S. Norton.
Religious services were held at the residence of Vineent Schindler, as early as 1863, by Father Pierz. This continued to be the place designated for devotional meetings for a number of years, until the erection of the present church in section thirty-four. Father Buch visited the congrega- tion occasionally, but the priest now in charge is Father Wilkins. The present name of the church is " St. Lawrence Church."
The first school taught in the town, was by Mrs. Eleanor P. Shero, about 1866. There are now three school districts in which school is kept during the regular terms.
A general store was opened by C. A. Hunek, on section thirty-four, on the Ist of January, 1877, in which a prosperous business has been conducted. The firm of Reichert & Blattner, has also recently established a general store, not far from that of Mr. Hunek.
365
ST. GEORGE TOWNSHIIP.
Through the efforts of Henry Voerding, Duelm Post-office was established at his residenee, in 1870, with Mr. Voerding as Postmaster. In 1877, C. A. Humek received the appointment, and the office was removed to his store, where it still re- mains. The name was given by Mr. Voarding, and is derived from the city of Dnelmen, in Prussia.
The agricultural products of St. George, ae- cording to the report of 1880, were: wheat, 20,- 597 bushels; oats, 11,161 bushels; corn, 6,755 bushels; barley, 65 bushels; rye, 923 bushels; potatoes, 2,004 bushels; beans, 12 bushels; wild hay, 1,312 tons; wool, 158 pounds; butter, 14,750 pounds; and honey, 150 pounds.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
PETER ABFALTER, a pioneer of Benton county, is a native of Prussia, born on the 4th of May, 1829. In 1844, he came to America, and settled in Clinton county, Michigan, where he resided sixteen years, and then came to Minnesota, locat- ing on a farm near Cold Spring City, Stearns county. In 1867, he removed to the farm, in Benton county, where he now lives. It was then in a wild stats, but is now nder good cultivation. He was married on the 1st of January, 1854, to Miss Mary King. They have ten children, six boys and four girls.
ROBERT BRENNAN was born in Carlton county, Canada West, on the 20th of March, 1845. When young, he learned the cooper's trade of his father, working at it until the year 1872, when he came to Minnesota. For a year he lived on a farm in Minden township, Benton county. Then moved to the farm on which he lives, and has devoted his whole time to its cultivation. On the 27th of April, 1869, he was married to Miss Johanna Madigan. They have five children.
PETER BLATTNER, a native of Canada, was born on the 9th of May, 1852. In 1870, he came to Minnesota, locating with his parents in St. George township. In a few years he took a farm for him- self, living on it till the spring of 1880, when he formed a partnership with Mr. Reichert. They started a general merchandise store, Mr. Blattner devoting his whole time to the business. He was married on the 4th of November, 1880, to Miss Mary Reichert.
JOSEPH BALDER was born in Peterwetz, Prussia, on the 17th of November, 1811. In 1870, his parents came to America, and the year following, to this town, where Mr. Balder took the farm on which he now lives. He married Miss Johanna
Barron on the 27th of January, 1875. They have had four children, three of whom are now living.
JOHN BRENNAN was born on the 20th of June, 1811, in Kilkenny county, Ireland. When a hoy, ho learned the cooper's trade of his father, and worked at it till the year 1826, when he came to Canada, where he lived for two years. He then went to Rochester, New York, staying bnt a few months, from there to Ohio, where he worked on a canal for four years. Returning to New York, he lived on a farm a few years, and then moved to Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, where he re- . mained until the year 1864. He then came to his present home, where he has since lived. In April, 1844, he was married to Miss Sceneth Hol- lister. They have had seventeen children, all but two are living.
PATRIAK S. CAREY was born on the ship "Rover," on the Atlantic Ocean, while his parents were coming from Ireland, to the United States, on the 16th of March, 1847. His parents went from New York to Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, and then to Iowa, where they remained till 1866, and came to Minnesota. In 1867, Mr. Carey took a home- stead in this town, but soon removed to Minneap- olis, where he was engaged in teaming summers, and lumbering winters. In 1878, he purchased the farm where he now lives. He married Margaret Noland on the 13th of July, 1874. They have had three children, two are living, and one is dead.
J. H. CULLEN, (deceased ) the first permanent settler in St. George township, was born in Ulster county, New York, in 1830. He made his home with his parents, but was employed driving team in New York nutil the year 1856, when he came to Minnesota. The following year he purchased the farm where he lived until his death, April 23, 1871. Mr. Cullen was a man greatly respected by all who knew him. Since his death, his brother- in-law, Thomas Bennahan, also an old settler, has assisted in carrying on the farm. On the 6th of October, 1852, Mr. Cullen was married to Miss Bridget Bennahan. They had nine children, seven are still living.
JOHN DUNNEWOLD was born in the village of Winterswyk, Holland, on the 13th of November, 1826. Hlo received a good education, and learned the tanner's trade. After working at his trade for four years, he started a tannery of his own, which he operated nntil 1869, when he moved with his family to America. Coming directly to St. George township, he purchased a farm on the shore of the
366
HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
lake which now bears his name. Since 1874, lie has held the office of Treasurer. He married Miss Johanna C. Willems on the 8th of February, 1861. They have five children.
MARTIN HERBST, a native of Baden, Germany, was born on the 1st of November, 1844. At the age of nine years, he came with his uncle to America. Was engaged in farming in the state of Indiana, until the year 1865, when he came to St. Cloud. Here he was employed by the Freight Company, in drawing supplies for the frontier forts, until 1871, when he came to Glendorado township, Benton county, and took a claim. The year following, he purchased the farm on which he now lives. Since 1875, he has been Town Clerk. Was married on the 28th of December, 1871, to Miss Caroline Balder. They have fonr children; Joseph C., Charles J., Albert F., and Adolphus R.
C. A. HUNCK was born in Germany, on the 30tl of September, 1846. In 1874, he came to Ameriea, locating in Washington county, Wisconsin, where he was engaged in various pursuits. In the spring of 1876, he came to St. Cloud, and in the fall, started a general merchandise store in St. George town- ship, since which time he has been doing a good business. Since 1877, he has been Postmaster. Mr. Hunek was married to Miss Dinah Selmulte, of Washington county, Wisconsin, in 1877. They have two children.
P. J. JACQUEMART, a native of Belgium, was born on the 25th of August, 1835. He resided with his parents until twenty-six years of age; then taking a farm of his own, where he remained until 1869. Coming to America, he located on a timber farm in this township. In 1878, he pur- chased the farm on which he now lives, having made valuable improvements each year. Mr. Jne- quemart married Miss C. Herman on the 12th of March, 1861. They have had seven children, four of whom are living.
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