USA > Mississippi > History of the upper Mississippi Valley, pt 1 > Part 46
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63
months, and worked for his uncle during sim- mers. In 1847, he engaged in business at White- haven, which he eontinned for several years. He eame to St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1856, and was on- gaged in mercantile pursuits a short time, but the following year, removed to Stillwater and kept a hotel one year, after which he returned to St. Paul, and resided in that eity and vicinity until 1873, when he removed to this farm, which has sinee been his home. While a resident of St. Paul, he officiated as Conductor on the first passenger train in the state of Minnesota, being employed by the St. Paul & Paeifie Railroad Company a number of years. Mr. Winder was married to Miss Sarah R. Tuttle, on the 8th of February, 1849. They have had five children, three of whom are yet living.
GEORGE WALL was born in Somersetshire, Eng- land, on the 22d of Angst, 1833, where he was reared to farming pursuits. He came to America, in 1848, with his parents, they settling in Onon- daga connty, New York, where George remained until nineteen years of age. He then engaged with C. P. Wood, of Auburn, as coachman, where he remained nine years, and afterwards filled the same position, two years, in the employ of J. I. Parsons. He then eame to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and was engaged in farming until 1870, when he came to Anoka county and pre-empted the home- stead on which he now resides. Mr. Wall was married to Miss Sarah Cronk, of Anburn, New York, on the 22d of February, 1860. They have five ehildren.
M. H. RIPLEY is a native of Franklin county, Maine, born on the 29th of August, 1840. When he was fifteen years old, the family removed to Min- nesota, and after a few months' stay in Dakota eounty, settled permanently in Minneapolis When the subject of our sketeh was nineteen years old, he left home and was employed at varions ocen- pations until the fourth of August, 1863, when he enlisted in Hatch's Independent Battalion, and served nearly three years. On returning from the army, he made Minneapolis his home until November, 1875, when he settled on his present farm. Mr. Ripley was elected Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, at the first election held in the township, and has held other important local offices since. He was married on the 2d of June, 1859, to Miss Ophelia Lightborn, a native of the West Indies. They have had eight children, seven of whom are living.
-
:
263
BURNS TOWNSHIP.
BURNS.
CHAPTER LIV.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION -EARLY SETTLEMENT -- FIRST THINGS- - ORGANIZATION . - SCHOOLS-RELIGIOUS- AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS-BIOGRAPHICAL.
Burns is situated in the northwest part of the county, and is especially adapted to agricultural purposes. It has an area of about 23,040 aeres, of which 9,548 are under cultivation. The popula- tion, according to the last census, was 522.
The surface is gently rolling, and the soil, a elay loan, with a clay sub-soil. Originally, the greater portion of the town was covered with timber and brush with occasional patches of prairie, and also some tamarack swamps and hay marshes. Most of the valuable timber has been removed from the swamps, and also a large portion from the upland.
There are a number of small lakes in the town, all quite shallow with the exception of Twin Lakes, which lie on the western line, and extend into Sherburne county; these lakes attain a depth of ninety feet, and are well stocked with fish of various kinds. Bass Lake formerly contained im- mense quantities of fish, but during the severe winter of 1864-65, nearly all perished, and the lake has not yet fully recovered the loss. Abont 1865, the town was visited by a severe dronth, and a running fire passed over it, burning the marshes in various places, down to the hard-pan bottom, and doing immense damage in the swamps.
The first settler was undoubtedly a Mr. Deri- gan, who settled on section twenty-nine, but the exact date cannot be ascertained. In 1854, Charles M. Ford made a elaim on scetion thirty- five, where Charles Noggle now resides. HIe erected a dwelling house and blacksmith shop, and remained on his place about eleven years, when he removed to Sank Rapids, thence to Wright county, and finally to Sherburne county, where he died about six years ago. The next set- tler was Charles Merrill, who occupied section thirty-four in 1855, he now resides in Ramsey township. Franklin Demarest settled near by about the same time, and is also now a resident of Ramsey. From this time until 1868, there was a steady inerease of population along the north line of the town, prominent among whom were Hugh McDonald, J. Sawyer, Houry Gamm, John Besan-
son, Gustavus Girardot, Peter Laclair, and Joseph Lafontise. Homer McAlister settled on section twenty-eight, in 1867, and still resides there.
The first birth was Robert J. Demarest, a son of Franklin Demarest, born in August, 1857. The first death was that of Mrs. Charles Markland, in the year 1859. The first marriage was Thomas Webb and Miss Edith Flint, in 1857. The first religious serviee was held at the house of M. Montfort, in the year 1858.
Burns was formerly a part of St. Francis, but a separate organization was consummated in 1869, and the first election held on the 30th of April, at which the following officers were elected: Super- visors, John D. Keen, Chairman, Jolin A. Muzzey and W. D. Laclair; Assessor, Homer MeAlister; Treasurer, James Kelsey ; and Clerk, William D. Cheever. Several names for the new town were proposed aud discussed without result, when Mr. Kelsey suggested "Burns," which was adopted.
The first school was kept by Miss Clara Wake- field, of St. Anthony, in 1863. The school-house was on seetion twenty-six, now in district number seven.
There are seven school districts in the township, with an equal number of school-houses, thongli few have more than three months' school in the year.
There is but one church building in the town, al- though serviees are frequently held in school-houses and private dwellings, by ministers of varions de- nominations. A German Lutheran Church was built in 1878; it is located on section nineteen and the society numbers about twenty-five. Services are held every Sabbath, though visited by a Cler- gyman but twice a month.
Viewed from an agricultural standpoint, Burns may be called the banner town of the county, as the last report, which wo here quote, shows its aggregate product in excess of any other. Wheat, 15,410 bushels; oats, 1,135 bushels; corn, 7,634 bushels; barley, 50 bushels; rye, 233 bushels; potatoes, 5,987 bushels; beans, 16 bushels; sugar cane, 382 gallons; cultivated hay, 38 tons; wild hay, 1,127 tons; apples, 140 bushels; wool, 251 pounds; and butter, 18,585 pounds.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
JOHN D. KEEN, whose birthplace is Niagara county, New York, was born on the 24th of Au- gust, 1850. He was reared to agricultural pur- suits, and at the age of fifteen years, came to Washington county, Minnesota, where he remained
264
HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
eight years. He then removed to this township, and selfled on section thirty, where he still lives. Mr. Keen has held the offices of Supervisor, Treas- urer, and other local positions of responsibility. He was married on the 25th of May, 1873, to Mary Meyer, of Washington county. They have had four children, three of whom are living; Wil- liam, Henry, aud Lonie; Enna, died on the 4th of July, 1880, aged two years and four months.
JAMES U. HARE is a native of Seoharie county, New York, and was born on the 18th of February, 1841. When he was yet a child, his parents re- moved to Wisconsin, and thence, in the spring of 1851, to St. Paul, Minnesota, and the following year, to Shakopee, Scott county. In 1861, he en- listed in Company A, of the Fourth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, serving till the spring of 1863. In 1864, he went to Montana and was en- gaged in mining two years, after which, he re- turned to Mimesota, but soon went back to Mon- tana nud remained five years more, part of the time being engaged in a lumber yard at Helena. Tu 1870, he came to Burns township and selected three hundred and sixty aeres of choice land in section twenty, where he has sinee lived. Mr. Hare has held the office of Town Clerk a number of years, and has been Postmaster since the estab- lishment of Burns Post-oflice, three years ago. He was married in 1876, to Matilda Johnson, of Anoka. They have two children; John Ney and Lce Wilbur.
FRANK JESMER was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, on the 15th of February, 1809. His carly lite was speut on a farm, and subsequently engaged in lumbering on the St. Lawrence River. In 1865, he came to Mimesota and settled at French Take, Wright county, but nfler n year's stay, removed lo Dayton, Hennepin county, where he remained five years, coming thenes to Burns township and taking his present homestead on section thirty-two. Mr. Jesmer was married in St. Lawrence county, New York, to Mary Sone- eis ?. They had three children, Mary, Frank, and Moses, the laller died in 1867, leaving a daughter, Susan, residing with her grandparents; her mother lives in Minneapolis.
PETER LACLAIR is a pioneer in Minnesota, and was born in Burlington, Vermout, on the 15th of Angust, 1839. Ile lived in his native town and nt Essex, unlil 1855, when he came west and resided al Dixon, Illinois, one year. He came to Mine- sota in 1856, and resided at St. Paul until the fall
of 1868, eoming thenee to Burns township, and soltling on section six. In 1875, he removed to Dayton, and became n partner with a Mr. Robin- son in a store, and also operated the saw-mill at that place, uow owned by Brimner, but in the fall of 1876, returned to his old home in Burns, where ho has sinee resided. He participated in the Sionx war, and was with the party that marched to the relief of Fort Ridgely. In November, 1872, Mr. Laclair met with a severe necident, being injured in coupling a train of passenger coaeles, at Her- man; he had seventeen bones broken, including the jaw-bone and nine ribs, two of the latter pen- etrating the right lung. His life was despaired of for some time, but he now enjoys very good health. Mr. Laclair is a man of mexceptional integrity, aud highly estcemed by his fellow- townsmen; has been Supervisor six terms, four of whiel, he was Chairman. He was married on the 29th of January, 1865, to Octavia Shurbmean, of St. Panl. Their living children are, Charles II., Peter F., George J., James L., Octavia E., Pros- per, Frederick E., and William D .; Julia died ou the 25th of April, 1879, aged three years and two mont lis.
JOSEPH LAFONTISE is a native of St. Lawrence county, New York, born in October, 1845. He came to Minnesota in November, 1866, remained iu Dayton one and a half years, and in Olsego, one year, coming thenee to Burns township, where he has since lived. He was married to Ellen Col- lins, of St. Lawrence county, New York, in Octo- ber, 1864. Their children are, Mary Jane, Ross E., Lonis A, Frank F., and Sophia.
THURMAN W. MORTON was born at Whitehall, Vermont, in July, 1834. In early life he acquired the trade of millwright and carpenter, which he followed for many years. He settled in Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, when a young man, but in 1857, came to Anoka, and was employed nt his trade there until coming to his prosent farm iu 1878. Mr. Morton resides ou section twenty-four, where he owns three hundred and twenty acres of good farming land. During the war, he enlisted in the Eighth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and served three years. Miss Rhoda Tripp, of New York, became his wife, in August, 1853, the mar- riage taking place at Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin. Their children are, Amadorns, Fred II., Edward, and Marens E.
Ilvan MoDONALD is n native of Ireland, born on the 2d of March, 1840. He came to Amerien, with
265
BIOGRAPHIICAL.
his parents abont 1853, remained three years in New York City, and came thenee to Rock conty, Wisconsin, but after one year's stay there, remov- ed to Anoka county, and settled in Oak Grove township. The subject of our sketch came to this township in 1867, and selected a farm of one Inin- dred and sixty acres in section two, where he has since lived. Mr. MeDonald was married in No- vember, 1866, to Miss Frances Clarey, of this town- ship. Their children are, Jolm Henry, Margaret, Ellen, James, Frances, Mary, and Rosie, the last two are twins.
WILLIAM G. MAXWELL was born in New York City, in January, 1842. At the age of seven years, he went to Canada with his parents, and in 1857, came west and located at Shakopce, Minnesota, and three years later, removed to Carver county. Eight years ago he came to Burns township and settled on section twenty-nine, which is liis present home. In 1861, he enlisted in the Second Minne- sota Volunteer Infantry, but after two years serv- ice, was discharged for disability. He then raised a company of militia, was elected First Lieutenant, and served nine months in defending the frontier against the Indians. Mr. Maxwell was married in 1875, to Amanda Stevens, of Burns. Their child- ren are, Aleica, Anna, and William G.
CHARLES H. MARKHAM dates his birth at Cherry Creek, New York, in September, 1851. When he was but four years old, the family removed to Grand Traverse, Michigan, and in September, 1868, the subject of our sketch came to Minnesota, lo- cating at Becker, Sherburne county. After four years spent at the latter place, and the same length of time in Minneapolis, he came to Anoka, and re- mained till the spring of 1878, thence to Ramsey township, but only remained a short time, coming to Burns and locating on section thirty-two, where he now lives. Mr. Markham was married on the 9th of May, 1869, to Martha J. Jordan, of Becker, Sherburne county. Their living children are, Flor- once M., Albert H., and Jessie V .; two are deceased, whose names were, Lonis L., and Ida May.
CHARLES L. NoGanE was born in Freeport, Illi- nois, ou the 16th of January, 1842. When about four years old, he came with his parents, to Towa connty, Wisconsin, where he remained twelve years. He then spent two years in Kansas, com- ยท ing thenee to Faribault, Minnesota, where he on- listed in the Second Minnesota Light Artillery, was ordered South and participated in my hot engagements. He was wounded three times, the
last being at the battle of Stone Ridge. This wound furnishes one of the most interesting cases known to surgery. A ball passed through his body, grazing the Esophagus, and causing a par- tial contraction of the musenlar tissues near the entrance to the stomach, from the effect of which, food and drink are often refused admission, and several efforts are required to keep down either until the stomach can receive them, yet, strange fo say, Mr. Noggle experiences no serious inconven- ience and enjoys good health. After leaving the. army, he had charge of the Omnibus line in St. Paul, ten years, and in 1874, bought the farm on which his parents and himself now live, in Burns township. Soon after, he made a trip to Montana, Colorada, Utah, and other portions of the West, returning home abont four years ago.
WILLIAM L. O'KEEFFE is a native of Newmar- ket, Cork county, Ireland, and was born in July, 1832. He came to America in April, 1854, and after spending one summer in New York, came to Minnesota and settled in Scott county, where he remained ten years. Mr. O'Keeffe relates that while living alone in his cabin, in Scott county, he was attacked by a Sionx Indian, but after a desperate struggle, succeeded in vanquishing his foe, who afterwards gave him a wide berth. His next place of residence was Minneapolis, but after two years spent there, came to his present home. His farm consists of one hundred and twenty acres, and is located on section thirty-four. Has been quite prominent in local political affairs since coming here, having held the office of Su- pervisor, three years, and also, Clerk of the school district, six years. Miss Bridget Collins, of St. Paul, became his wife, on the 11th of An- gust, 1861. Their living children are, Mary Ann, Ellen, William, Agnes, Thomas, and Lottie; James died at the age of five years.
J. SAWYER, an old settler, and one of the or- ganizers of Burns township, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on the 16th of Jannary, 1822. When he was four years old, the family removed to Fitchburg, and ten years later, returned to Boston. In 1838, the subject of this sketch went fo Skowhegan, Maine, where he learned the trade of blacksmith, and worked until 1843. Ile was then employed in Boston and Pepperell, Massa- chusetts, until 1851, when he came west, and spent the next eight years in Wisconsin and Wi- nona county, Minnesota. In 1859, he went to Isanti county, and one year later, removed to
266
HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
Burns township, where he still lives, engaged in farming. Mr. Sawyer has been Connty Commis- sioner two years, and also Town Supervisor and Clerk, a number of terms. He was married in 1850, to Eliza R. Stevens, of Maine. Of eight children born to them, but six are living; Clar- once, Phineas, Frank, Charles L., Winfield S., and Joseph H.
GEORGE M. SMALL dates his birth in St. Steph- ens, New Brunswick, in July, 1834. He came to Minnesota in 1855, and settled in Oak Grove township, Anoka county, where he lived, with the exception of one winter in the lumber woods on Yellow River, Wisconsin, until the breaking out of the war. He then enlisted in the Eighth Min- nesota Volunteer Infantry, and after serving seven- teen months, was discharged for disability. He was then employed in various capacities eonnect- ed with the manufacture of lumber, until 1872, when he settled on his present farm, on seetion twenty-thirec, Burns township. Mr. Small mar- ried Rebecca M. Hill, of Benton county, Minne- sota, who died on the 4th of October, 1872, leav- ing one ehild, Relieffa A., who is still living.
SAMUEL V. SMYTH was born in Union, Ohio, on the 30th of October, 1822. In 1847, he removed to Illinois, where he resided till the breaking ont of the Rebellion. In 1862, he enlisted in the Ninety-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, but was discharged for disability, after sixteen months' serviee. He eame to Anoka eounty in 1865, and to his present farm, in the winter of 1871-72. Mr. Smith Ins held the office of cither Supervisor or Treasurer, every year except one, since he became a resident of the town. He has been twice married; his first wife was Meleena Coulter, of Ohio, to whom he was married in 1847; she died in 1857, leaving three children; Alenon, Tilnor G., and Ilusiltine A. His present wife was Mary J. Carry, of Anoka, the marriage taking place in 1872; the children by this marriage ure, Marion W., John V., and Clifford.
CENTREVILLE.
CHAPTER T.V.
MOUNDS - GENERAL DESCRIPTION -EARLY SETTLE- MENT . ORGANIZATION -- MANUFACTURING - CEN- TREVILLE VILLAGE - RELIGIOUS - SCHOOLS -- AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS --- BIOGRAPHICAL.
Centreville was one of the first settled towns
in the county, and had an organization in Ramsey county, before Anoka was set off. It is situated in the southeast corner of the eonnty, and is gen- crally covered with timber, exeept where it has been removed for the purposes of husbandry, and except the marshes, of which there are quite a number, capable of being converted into good hay land. The soil is a black loam, quite productive, and gives evidence of great strength, especially in the castern part of the town. The western por- tion is more sandy, but yet, sustains the character of good farming land.
A chain of lakes extends nearly aeross the town, the largest of which are Clearwater, or Centre- ville, and Riee Lakes; they are connected by Riee Creek, which erosses the township in a southwest- erly direction. These lakes abound in ducks and fish, are a favorite resort for sportsmen, and offered a strong inducement to the first settlers, who lived chiefly by hunting and fishing for a number of years, but have since turned their attention to farming.
In Centreville, and in southeastern Columbus, there are many mounds, and sundry evidenecs that this region has been a place of numerons con- tests by warring tribes, and might properly be called an " Indian Battle Ground." Just back of the house of Michel Dupre, about two miles north- west of Centreville village, thereis a high and eonieal shaped mound, which has been used by Mr. Dupre as a ecllar, one side being exeavated for that pnr. pose. In making the excavation, a number of human bones, a copper gun barrel, and other curiosities were found. On the top and sides, large trees were growing at the time. A number of large mounds in the vicinity have the appear- ance of breastworks, as though erected for defence. Near the lakes, human bones have been found, and Indian arrow heads in considerable numbers. Another monnd, near Mr. Barrett's house, was opened, and found to contain human bones in great quantities.
'T'he permanent early settlers in this town were preceded by a number of half-breeds and trappers, who soon disappeared before the tide of a higher civilization.
In the eastern part of the town, the Canadian French have principally taken up their residence, having formed a settlement here as early as 1852. The first settler was Francis Lamott, in the spring of the latter year; he was followed, in the fall, by F. X. Lavallee, Peter Cardinal, and Charles Pol-
267
CENTREVILLE TOWNSHIP.
tier, all settling in seetion twenty-three. Joseph Houle resided here during the summer of that year, but was in the employ of Lamott, and did not make a claim. From this date, the population increased quite rapidly. Prominent among the next arrivals were A. Gervais, Oliver Dupre, Joseph Foreier, Paul and Oliver Peltier, Stepen Ward, and L. Burkard.
The German settlement, in the western part of the town, is older, however, than the Frenel set- tlement just mentioned. The first to settle there was F. W. Traves, a German, who settled in see- tion nineteen in 1850, and still resides on the old claimn. He was joined five years later by Henry Wenzel, also a native of Germany. This settle- ment was begun by Germans, and they still pre- dominate, giving it the name of the "German settlement," while that in the easteru part of the town is known as the "French settlement."
Centreville was organized on the 11th of An- gust, 1857. The early records are incomplete, but so far as we have been able to ascertain, the first town officers were: Supervisors, Oliver Pel- tier, Chairman, and F. Lamott, the latter was also Justice of the Peace; Treasurer, Stephen Ward; and Clerk, Charles Peltier.
In 1854, Charles Peltier built a saw-mill on Clearwater creek, near the village of Centreville. After operating it five years with varied success, he abandoned the enterprise.
Large quantities of charcoal are manufactured in different portions of the town each year, which ure marketed in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
The village was laid out and platted by Charles Peltier, F. X. Lavallee, and F. Lamott, in the spring of 1854. It is situated on the bank of Clearwater Lake, and was named Centreville be- cause of its being located about oqui-distant from Stillwater, St. Paul, and Anoka.
'The first religious service held in the town was by Father Kaller, who conducted mass at the house of F. Lamott, in 1854. He visited the place occasionally for a few years, and was succeeded by Father Robert. Since 1861, Father Goiffon has been in charge, dividing his time between this place and Little Canada, Ramsey county. Soon after the first services were held, a small frame church, sixteen by twenty-five feet, was built, which was superseded by the present brick church, creeted in 1859, The primitive wooden structure has been brought into service as a par- sonage. The congregation now numbers about
four hundred, and is named "The Church of St. Genevieve of Paris."
Centreville is divided into three school districts. The first school was held in the kitchen of F. X. Lavallee, in the winter of 1854 55, and was a six months' term. It was then held in the church until the building of the present school-house, in the village, in 1865.
Distriet number forty-six was organized in 1880, and school is kept in a log building on section eleveu.
Distriet number twenty was organized in 1868, and a school-house built the same year on section seventeen.
Centreville has an area of 23,040 aeres, of which, 1,677 are under cultivation. The population, ae- eording to the eensus of 1880, was 876, and the agricultural report for the same year, shows the following products: wheat, 13,352 bushels; oats, 12,594 bushels; corn, 2,832 bushels; rye, 26 bush- els; buekwheat, 10 bushels; potatoes, 6,198 bush- els; beans, 11 bushels; sugar-cane, 32 gallons; cultivated hay, 341 tons; wild hay, 1,979 tons; wool, 528 pounds; and butter, 3,352 pounds.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
LEOPOLD BURKARD, one of the first settlers in the village of Centreville, is a native of Ketsch, Germany, and was born in March, 1813. His father was a blacksmith, and of him, Leopold ae- quired the trade, remaining at home until twenty- one years of age, and afterwards working at his trude in different cities of Germany, for ten years. le came to America in 1850, locating at Freeport, Illinois, and remained in that State until 1853. He then came to Minnesota, and after spending a year at Stillwater, came to Centreville, arriving here on the 20th of March, 1854. He at once opened a blacksmith shop, the first one in this locality, and still continues in the business. Mr. Burkard's door has always been, open to the weary traveler, and during late years, he has pro- vided a neat and comfortable hotel. He has also opened a farm, near the town. He was married in Europe, on the 18th of June, 1844, to Miss Mary Burkard. Of five children born to them, but three are living.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.