USA > Mississippi > History of the upper Mississippi Valley, pt 1 > Part 48
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COLUMBUS.
CHAPTER LVI.
DESCRIPTIVE-EARLY SETTLEMENT -- COLUMBUS VIL- LAGE -ORGANIZATION-RELIGIOUS-SCHOOLS -- AG- RICULTURAL STATISTICS --- BIOGRAPHICAL.
This town is situated in the eastern part of the county, and adjoins Centreville on the north. It has an arca of abont 30,720 aeres, 215 of which, are under cultivation. According to the census of 1880, the population was 92, but is now steadily increasing.
Fully one third of the town is swamp or low- land, a portion of which is covered with a heavy growth of tamarack. In the southeastern part there is considerable timber, and the soil is a black loam with a clay sub-soil. The balance of the high-land is covered with a light growth of serub- oak, nud the soil is light and sandy.
'There are a number of small, but no large lakes in the town, and Rice creek runs in a southwesterly direction through the southeast corner.
There are evidences of a member of settlers hav- ing made clearings or improvements about twenty- five years ago, but all have been abandoned. One of the first settlers was John Kleiner, who came in the early part of 1855, and settled on section eleven. Henry Richards and a Mr. Matthews also came the same year, and settled on section twenty- two. All of the above now reside in St. Panl. J. H. Batzle, n native of Germany, settled on see- lion twenty-five the same year, and still lives there.
In 1856, Gen. James Starkey, now of St. Paul,
and a Mr. Pettis, commenced making improve- ments on section twenty-two, and the following year, built a large steam saw-mill. They also sur- veyed and platted a village which they called Columbus, and built a number of dwellings. A large hotel was erected, and quite a settlement formed by the stremious efforts of Starkey and Pettis, who lost a large amount of money in trying to sustain the village.
About 1860, the mill burned, and the village soon after disappeared. A portion of the ground is now being cultivated by Mr. Boehm. There was a Post-office established here in 1858, but dis- continued a few years later.
Columbus was organized in 1857, but the first town oflieers have moved away, and the early ree- ords are not to be fonnd, thus making it impossi- ble to obtain any reliable data of the carly politi- cal history.
There is one ehureh, of the Close Communion Baptist denomination; it was built in 1872, and is situated in the northern part of the town.
With the exception of a few sections in the north- ern part, the whole town is inelnded in school dis- triet minber six. The first school was held in a building erected by James Starkey, in the village of Columbus, for a church and school house. After the downfall of the village, school was kept in private dwellings for a time. During the war, a log school house was built in the northern part of the town, and rendered good service for a number of years. The present school honse is on section eleven, and was erected in 1875.
The products of this town, according to the report of 1880, were: wheat, 1,071 bushels; oats, 1,250 bushels; corn, 940 bushels; rye, 282 bush- els; potatoes, 791 bushels; beans, 13 bushels; cul- tivated hay, 13 tons; wild hay, 189 tons; npples, 32 bushels; tobacco, 40 pounds; wool, 198 pounds; and butter, 1,830 pounds.
BIOGRAPHIICAL.
J. H. BATZLE, one of the first settlers of Colnin- bns township, was born in the city of Metz, Ger- many, on the 23d of April, 1830. He was reared on his lather's farm until 1847, when the family came to America and located in Buffalo, New York. The subject of our sketch resided at home until 1855, when he came to Minnesota, and located in Columbus township, on the 17th of May, of the same year. Mr. Batzle has spent a great deal of labor in the improvement of his farm,
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
which is now one of the finest in the county. Hc has also taken quite an interest in local political affairs, having held a number of township'offices, and is at present Town Treasurer. He was mar- ried on the 23d of April, 1854, to Miss A. C. Mand- ler, who is still his worthy help-mate.
A. B. BAROTT, the pioneer settler in the south portion of the township of Columbus, is a native of Oswego county, New York, and was born on the 17th of February, 1830. He came to Dodge county, Wisconsin, in 1848, and after remaining there six years, came to Minnesota and settled at Lake Crystal, Blue Earth county, but was driven from his home by the Indians, in 1862, and re- turned to Dodge county, Wisconsin. He came to St. Paul the following spring, and in 1864, located his family in Centreville, but continued to work a portion of the time in St. Paul, at the cooper's trade. In 1872, he moved to his present farm, building a two-story log dwelling, with the back end against a high mound, with large trees grow- ing on its top and sides. From the ground floor of his honse he tunnelled into the mound, in pursu- unce of his original intention to use it for a cellar, but judge of his surprise in finding it filled with human bones, many of which still protrude from the walls of the family cellar. Miss Cynthia Graves became the wife of Mr. Barott on the 24th of September, 1852.
A. D. KINa is a native of Bracken county, Ken- tucky, born on the 14th of July, 1821. When quite young he came with his parents to Marion connty, Indiana, where he lived for six years, after which he returned to his native State and learned the blacksmith trade at Maysville. After aeqnir- ing his trade, he traveled through the South and also visited the West Indies, but eventually locat- ed, in 1843, ut New Albany, Indiana, where he re- mained until the fall of 1850. He removed to Bu- reau county, Illinois, in 1851, and after living there for fourteen years, went to Kansas, and re- sided in a number of places in that State, until 1876, when he came to Minnesota and located in Forest Lake township, Washington county, which was his home until coming to his present farm in 1879. Mr. King has been twice married; his first wife was Miss Melvina Dougherty, to whom he was married on the 4th of May, 1843. She died in December, 1849. He was married ugain on the 20th of February, 1853, to Miss A. Smith. This mion has been blessed with nine children, all are living.
W. H. PULVER was born in Columbus county, New York, on the 27th of December, 1836. When he was but a child, his father died, and he after- wards lived with his uncle until fourteen years of age, then with his grandmother two years, after which he returned to his uncle's, and attended the Transylvania Institute for some time. In 1855, he came to Iowa, and in company with his broth- er, located a farm in Chickasaw county, but visited Minnesota the following year, and soon after spent nine months in Kansas and Missouri, after which he returned to New York State. On the 12th of August, 1861, he enlisted in the Four- teenth United States Infantry, serving three years. Returning from the war, he resided in Baltimore, Maryland, five years, coming thence to Minnesota in 1869, and soon after settled on his present farm. From a small beginning, Mr. Pulver has, by energy and industry, placed himself in easy circumstances, and has one of the best improved farms in the township. He was married on the 29th of October, 1863, to Miss Catharine Gable, of Maryland. Ten children gather around the family board.
YosT YosT dates his birth in Switzerland, on the 19th of November, 1829. When a boy he learned the trade of nailmaker, at which he was employed until coming to America in 1853. He located in Monroe county, New York, and learned the blacksmith trade, but in 1856, came to Anoka county, and settled in the then village of Colum- bus, worked at his trade during the winter, and the following spring selected the farm on which he has since lived. Mr. Yost is one of the most respected citizens of the county, has u large farm, nnd takes a strong interest in the progress of his community. He has borne the responsibil- ity of nearly every office in the township, and is now Supervisor and Justice of the Peace. He was married in Rochester, New York, on the 9th of July, 1855, to Miss Agatha Gassman. They have had nine children, only seven of whom are living, five girls and two boys.
FRIDLEY.
CHAPTER LVIL.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION -EARLY SETTLEMENT -- ORGAN- IZATION --- MANUFACTURING-RELIGIOUS -SCHOOLS -- AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS -- BIOGRAPINCAL.
Fridley lies in the extreme southern portion of
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FRIDLEY TOWNSHIP.
the county. It is bounded on the cast by Ramsey county, and on the south and west, by Hennepin county.
The western portion of the town is chiefly prairie, but the eastern part is bluffy, and covered with small serub oak. Rice creek crosses in a westerly direction, forming a good water-power near its junction with the Mississippi river.
As before stated, this township was a regularly organized county, named Manomin, for a number of years. The original proprietor of Manomin was the Hon. John Banfill, who was the first State Auditor, and also the first Postmaster at Manomin. He settled on section fifteen about 1848, and is now a resident of Bayfield, Wisconsin. About the same time, T. Carrington, a native of Virginia, settled on section twenty-seven.
In 1849-50, the Hon. H. M. Rice became inter- csted in the locality; and built a residence at Cold Springs, where he resided for some time. He owned a large tract of land in the vicinity, a con- siderable portion of which; he put under cultiva- tion. Fridley township has n checkered history, but it is a good piece of land, and is now being rapidly improved.
On the 23d of May, 1857, the Territorial legis- lature of Minnesota, passed an act creating Mano- min county, and on the 12th of August, 1858, the seat of Justice was located at Manomin, and the county attached to St. Louis county for judicial purposes.
Hon. A. M. Fridley was Chairman of the board of County Commissioners during the life of the county, and still resides in the town.
On the 12th of April, 1870, a petition, signed by a majority of the voters of Manomin county, for admission as a township, was presented to the Conuty Commissioners of Anoka county. The petition was granted, and the first election held on the 26th of April, 1870, at which the following officers were elceted: Supervisors, John Sullivan, G. W. Thurber and Thomas Casey; Treasurer, John Sullivan; and Clerk, G. R. Week. Other officers were elected, but we are unable to get their names. The county name, Manomin, was adopted, but changed to Fridley, by act of the legislature in 1879, at the suggestion of A. M. Fridley, who was a member of that body.
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Manomin Fouring Mill is located near the mouth of Rice creek, and was built in 1871, by W. H. Hale, of Pennsylvania, but is now owned by Robert Paterson, of the same State, and leased by
P. H. Hughes, who is running it as a custom mill. It is 35x110 feet, and three stories high, and contains seven run of stones, one set of rolls, thir- teen middlings purifiers, fourteen bolting chests, and all other necessary machinery. The capacity is one hundred and fifty barrels per day.
The Protestant Episcopal Church is the only church organization in the town. A church was erected in 1858, by Rev. Mr. Chamberlain, who was located at St. Anthony, and held services here for a time, but there seems to have been no regular Pastor since. A few years ago, Dr. Knickerbacker, of Minneapolis, held services for some time, but those have been discontinued. The building was used as a school-house for nearly five years.
The whole town formerly comprised one school district, but about 1873, it was divided into two, as it still remains. Previous to the division, school was kept in the Episcopal Church, on see- tion fifteen. The school-house in district number twenty-three was built in the year of the division, and that in number thirty-two, in 1875, they, in the meantime, having utilized an old building, moved from the village of Manomin.
Fridley has a population of 257, according to the last census, and an area of 10,240 acres, of which 1,092 are under cultivation. The agricul- tural statistics of 1880, are as follows: wheat, 11,665 bushels; oats, 5,123 bushels; corn, 3,970 bushels; barley, 60 bushels; rye, 97 bushels; po- tatoes, 8,630 bushels; beans, 4 bushels; cultivated hay, 165 tons; wild hay, 691 tons; wool, 165 pounds; and butter, 13,700 pounds.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
WILLIAM BROWN, Postmaster at Fridley, is a native of Blakely, Pennsylvania, born on the 28th of September, 1844. His parents had removed from Massachusetts to Blakely, some time before, and his mother dying while he was yet an infant, his father returned with him to the Bay State. He lived with an unele until fifteen years of age, when he began to work on the neighboring farms during the summer, attending school in winter, and subsequently teaching school for some time. lle then spent several years in traveling, after which he was employed in a hunbor mill in Mich- igan. He came to Minneapolis in 1865, and was engaged as millwright for a number of years. In 1876, he came to his present home and established himself in the dairy business, which he still con- tinnes. Received the appointment of Postmaster
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
the following year, and has since held a number of important local offices. Mr. Brown was mar- ried on the 3d of February, 1876, to Miss Lanra Lock. They have one child.
THOMAS COLEMAN was born in Ireland, on the 8th of December, 1848. He came to America with the family in 1864, and after residing one year in Canada, eame to New York State, and thenee, in 1866, to Fridley township, then Ma- nomin eounty, the family following the next year. They purehased a farm on scetions three and four, and have lived there ever sinee. Mr. Coleman was married on the 30th of June, 1875, to Miss Johanna Sullivan, of Fridley. They have one ehild named Maggie.
JOSHUA DERMOTT, a resident of Anoka county for twenty-five years, was born in Armagh county, Ireland, in November, 1828. Hc learned the weaver's trade in his native country, which was his employment until coming to Ameriea in 1848. He was employed on a farm in Westchester county, New York, for a number of years, but in 1854, went to New York City, and after remaining about one year and a half, came to Minnesota, and settled in what is now the township of Fridley. He was first employed by Mr. Abram M. Fridley, about two years, after which he rented a farm, and worked it for several years, also working at the carpenter's trade. On leaving the farm, he went to Anoka, and lived there until 1877, when he re- turned to Fridley, and purchased the Manomin Hotel, which he conduets, and is also engaged in farming. Mr. Dermott was married in 1856, to Miss Jane Mason. They have had seven children, six of whom are living.
P. H. Huangs was born in Madison county, Ohio, on The 23d of November, 1839. While yet a child, his parents removed to Columbus, where the subject of our sketch received his early educa- eation. In 1856, he came to Owatonna, Minne- sota, and two years later, went to work in a flour- ing mill near that place. After about a year, he went to Iowa, and was engaged in mitling until 1862, when he enlisted in the Twenty-seventh Towa Infantry, and served three years. Returning north, he spent some time at Cherokee and Inde- pendenee, Towa, coming to Minneapolis in 1867. He was employed in the flouring mills in that city, and was in charge of the Diamond mill at the time of the terrible explosion, in May, 1878. He then went to Iowa, but in the fall of 1880, re-
turned and leased the flouring mill at this place, which he is now rmming,
WILLIAM A. JONES was born in Pittsburg, Pon- sylvania, but his parents went, while he was yet an infant, to Indiana, and to Michigan when he was twelve years old. At the age of thirteen years, he accompanied his father to the pineries, and until about three years ago, his ocenpation has been that of lumbering. In 1864, he left Michigan, and located near the Chippewa river, Wisconsin, and in 1866, eame to Minneapolis, and for twelve years was employed in that city, and on the Upper Mississippi and its tributaries. In 1878, he quit the lumber business, and settled in the town of Fridley, where he has since been engaged in farming. Mr. Jones was married on the 1st of August, 1878, to Miss Nellie Power. They have one daughter, Ida May,
MICHEL LUX, a resident of Minnesota for npwards of a quarter of a century, was born in Prussia on the 6th of December, 1828. His parents died when he was quite young, and Michel supported him- self by working on the neigboring farms, until coming to Ameriea in 1853. Hc resided in Chi- eago about a year, and then came to Minnesota, and for a number of years, was at work in various portions of the State. He was also employed on the Upper Mississippi steamboats for a time, run- ning on the first boat from St. Anthony to St. Cloud. In 1868, he bought the farm on which he has sinee resided. Mr. Lux was married in 1862, to Miss Susan Hannes, of Minneapolis. Of six children born to them, five danghters are living, and one son deccased.
JOHN SULLIVAN, a native of Cork county, Ire- land, is one of the oldest settlers now living in the town of Fridley. He was reared to farming pur- enits, and has followed that occupation most of the time since. On the 29th of June, 1850, he landed in Boston, from the ship Parliament, and was em- ployed in different portions of the eastern states until 1855, when he bought a piece of land in Pennsylvania, on which he resided abont a year. In 1856, he came to Minnesota, arriving at St. Anthony on the 14th of October, which was his home for abont seven years. In 1868, he bought the farm on which he now lives, removing his fam- ily here on the 26th of September of the same year. Mr. Sullivan was married on the 20th of March, 1850, lo Miss Margaret Grainy, of Ireland. The result of this union is twelve children, eight sons and four daughters, all living.
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GROW TOWNSHIP.
GROW.
CHAPTER LVIII.
DESCRIPTION- EARLY SETTLEMENT-ORGANIZATION
-- MANUFACTURING - RELIGIOUS-SCHOOLS-BIO- GRAPHICAL.
Grow township is situated in the southwest por- tion of the county, and adjoins Anoka on the north. The area is 23,040 acres, of which about 1,500 are under cultivation. The population, in 1880, was 419.
The surface is undulating, and diversified by strips of prairie and timber, and the soil is varied from a light and sandy, to a dark and heavy loam. The western portion of the town is watered by the Rum river, and Coon ereck flows through the sontheastern corner. The river and creek bottoms are fine hay-land, and the npland well adapted to wheat raising.
The majority of the population is American, with a few Skandinavians, and in the northeast a thrifty Irish settlement is located.
The town began to be settled abont 1853. George Branch is believed to have made the first claim during that year.
Prominent among the first settlers were J. C. Frost, preseut Sheriff of Anoka county; Joseph Mckinney, Andrew J. Smith, Nathaniel Small, M. D. Leeman, Silas O. Lum, William Staples, Ed- ward Stack, W. W. Hank, and Captain Peteler.
"l'his town was organized in 1857, with the name Round Lake, but in 1860, was changed to Grow, in honor of Senator Grow of Pennsylvania, on necount of his strong advocacy of the Union eauso about That time. The names of The first town officers were, Silas O. Lum, W. W. Hank, M. D. Leeman, William Staples, and Nathaniel Small, but as the town records were burned with Mr. Lapham's house, in 1866, it is impos- sible to ascertain the official capacity of each.
Kelsey Brothers carry on a briek yard on the bank of Round Lake, and mannfacture abont one million brick ammally. They are of a very fine quality, as may be seen by an examination of the Court House and High School building at Anoka, both of which are built of material from this yard.
A Catholic church is located in the Irish settle- ment, in the northeast portion of the town. It is a neat frame building and was erected in 1873.
The congregation is supplied by the Priest resid- ing at Anoka.
Grow is divided into six school districts, witlı an equal number of school-houses, in which school is kept a great portion of the year.
Distriet number ten was organized in 1857, and the first school in town tanght liere, by Miss Pom- roy. The building is on section five.
District number eleven was organized about 1861, and the first school taught by Miss Hattic Woodbury, in a house 12x16 feet. Her school consisted of three girls and one boy. The pres- ent school-house is located on section thirty-three.
District number thirty-three was organized in 1874, and the first term taught by Miss Cora Kel- logg. The school-house is situated on section seventeen.
We have been unable to obtain any reliable data regarding the other districts in this township.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
C. A. BROWN, one of the early settlers of Min- nesota, is a native of Waldo county, Maine, and resided in his native State until nineteen years of age, when he came to St. Anthony, Minnesota. In 1852, he went to Richfield township, Hennepin county, and was engaged in farming there, seven- teen years. In 1869, lie removed to Minneapolis and engaged in the mcat business for a number of years, after which, he went to live on a farm near Crystal Lake, and thence, after a few years, to his present farm in Grow township. Mr. Brown's farm, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, is located on seetion seventeen and is well adapted to wheat raising. He was married in 1856, to Miss Munson, a native of Washington county, Maine. Five children are the result of this union.
E. A. BRADEEN was born in York county, Maine, on the 4th of July, 1842. He was reared to agri- cultural pursuits and received a liberal education. At the age of nineteen years, he went to Boston, lived there six years and came to Anoka, but after remaining four years returned to Boston, and in 1878, again returned to Anoka, and has lived in this conuty ever since. During the war, Mr. Bra- deen enlisted in the Sixteenth Massachusetts Vol- unteer Infantry, Company E, and remained in the service fivo months. He was married on the 25th of December, 1865, to Miss Octavia D. Elwell. They have four children, all girls.
ISAAC BARSTOW was born in Lincoln county, Maine, and remained in his native State imtil
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
twenty-seven years of age. He received a good common school education, and after he grew up, learned the trade of ship-joiner. In 1849, he went to California and was engaged in gold-min- ing for a number of years. His health becoming impaired, in 1854, he went to Australia, and after a stay of eight months, set out for the cast again, but on the trip, was attacked with yellow fever and forced to remain one month in Pern, for med- ical treatment. He then returned to his birth- place, but did not remain long, coming to what is now Grow township in 1856. He first settled on a farm on section eight, but after eight years, rc- moved to his present residence. His farm con- tains one hundred aeres of good bottom land, pleasantly located on the left bank of Rum river, and is principally devoted to stoek raising and dairying. Mr. Barstow was married in 1855, to Miss Julia Preseott, of Monmouth, Maine, They have seven children, four sons and three danghters.
FRANK J. BRADEEN was born in York county, Maine, in the year 1832. His early years were spent in his native State, and afterwards lived five years in Boston, coming thence to Minnesota and settling in Round Lake, now Grow township, where he resided three years. He then took a trip to California and Oregon, spending several years there, but finally returned and settled on his present farm.
OLIVER CORNFORTII dates his birth in Kenne- bee county, Maine, on the 12th of September, 1820. Ile was reared in his native county, but during the gold excitement of 1849, went to Cali- fornia, spent some time in mining and prospect- ing, and then went to Portland, Oregon, and Washington Territory, spending several years in that remote region. Returned to Minnesota in 1855, and for fourteen years, was employed in the humber mills at Minneapolis. He then came to Anoka county, and settled on his present farm, which is located in scetion eight and contains one hundred and sixty aeres, besides eighty aeres in section six, on the Rum river bottom. Mr. Corn- forth was married in 1866, to Miss Ellen M. Bart- lett, who is also a native of Maine. Two danght- ers are the result of this union.
THOMAS GREEN was born in St. George, New Brunswick, on the 1st of October, 1830. Hle grew to manhood in his native provinee, and in 1856, came to St. Anthony, Minnesota, and was employed in the lumber woods and on the river for the next four years. He then settled in Oak
Grove township, Anoka county, and four years later, came to the farm on which he now lives. This farm is located on section three, and contains two hundred and sixty aeres, a considerable por- tion of which is in a good state of cultivation; he also owns eighty acres in Oak Grove township. Mr. Green was married on the 4th of November, 1860, to Miss Mary Gilagen. They have seven children, six boys and one girl.
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