USA > Mississippi > History of the upper Mississippi Valley, pt 2 > Part 17
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ROCKVILLE.
CHAPTER CX.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION - EARLY SETTLEMENT - ORGANIZATION-SCHIOOLS-AGRICULTURAL STATIS- TICS-BIOGRAPHICAL.
Roekville lies in the southeastern portion of the county, and embraces township 123 north, range 29 west. It has an area of 23,040 aeres, of which 3,256 are under eultivation.
The surface is undulating, and generally cov- ered with brush and light timber, except where removed for agricultural purposes. Sank river runs in a northeasterly direction across the north- west portion of the town, to the west of which lies a strip of prairie, interspersed with oak open- ings. Mill creek enters the township from the south, and joins Sauk river at the little village of Rockville.
In the center of the township, and along Mill creek, the primary, or granitic, formation appears in place, and from this fact, the town derives its name.
There are a large number of lakes in this town the largest of which is Grand Lake, a beautiful sheet of water, lying in the southern portion of the township. The next in size is Pleasant Lake, ly- ing in the northeast corner.
During the spring of 1855, quite a number were attracted to this locality by the beautiful lakes, cxeellent mill privileges, ete. Among others were, H. C. Waite, D. H. Spicer, William Decker, and Christ Polange, who made claims on section sev- enteen. Mr. Decker is still a resident of Rock- ville, and the others also reside in the county.
In the fall of the same year, M. Hansen and Ma- thias Ahles came from Illinois, the former settled on seetion sixteen, and the latter, on section twen- ty-one; both reside on the old homesteads. The population, according to the census of 1880, was 560.
The territory embraced in this town was a part
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449
ROCKVILLE TOWNSHIP.
of Maine Prairie until 1860, when Rockville was organized, and the first clection held at the resi- dence of M. Hansen, sen., on the 25th of June.
"The first officers elected were: Supervisors, M. Hanson, Sen,, Chairman, Nicholas Kirsch, and John Harren; Clerk, D. H. Spicer; Assessor, William Decker; and Justice of the Peace, A. Smith.
VILLAGE .- In 1856, a village site was surveyed and platted by H. C. Waite and D. H. Spicer, near the junction of Mill creek and Sauk river, and named Rockville. Mr. Waite disposed of his in- terest to Spicer, soon after, who built a saw mill, and subsequently leased the water power to N. N. Smith, who erected a gristmill. This mill was af- terwards torn down and the present one erected by Orlando Tenney, the present owner. It has three run of stones, and a daily capacity of fitty barrels.
School was kept in what is now district number ten, in the house of G. Baner, soon after the first settlement was made, but a log school house was built on section thirty-tour in 1860, which was su- perseded by the present frame building, in 1874.
District number sixteen was organized in 1867, and school hell in private dwellings until the ercetion of the present school house on section three.
District number forty-four. The first school held in this district was in a rented log house on section sixteen, about 1866. In 1868, a small frame building was erected on seetion seventeen, which was succeeded by the present building, in 1880.
The school building of distriet number ninety- one is located on seetion fifteen, and was erected in 1871.
"The agricultural report of 1880 shows the fol- lowing products: wheat, 43,636 bushels; oats, 19, 379 bushels; corn, 7,010 bushels; barley, 109 bush- els; rye, 40 bushels; potatoes, 4,812 bushels; beans, 2 bushels; sugar cane, 126 gallons; cultivated hay, 75 tons; wild hay, 1,062 tons; apples, 43 bushels; wool, 841 pounds; butter, 15,865 pounds; cheese, 50 pounds; and honey, 360 pounds.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Cunisr AHLEs was born in Prussia, on the 10th of May, 1828. He enjoyed the school advantages of his native land, working on his father's farm until twenty-one years old, then served two years in the Prussian army. In 1854, came to the United States and located in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he worked on a farm for about two years,
then spent six months in the state of Illinois. In the spring of 1856, moved to Minnesota and took a claim in Rockville township, which; he is im- proving, furnishing himself and family a good homo. He married Miss Margaret Baner. They have five living children.
MATHIAS ALLES, one of the first settlers, was born in Prussia, in September, 1832, enjoying the school privileges of his native land, and being employed on a farm until 1854, when he emigrated to the United States. He lived one year in the state of Illinois, then removed to Stearns county, Minnesota, first locating in St. Joseph, and the following spring removed to his farm in Rockville, which has been his home ever since. Married Miss Elizabeth Fischbach, on the 10th of April, 1864. They have seven children living. His mother, eighty-two years old, makes her home with him.
PETER BORMAN, a native of Prussia, was born on the 15th of May, 1828. He was raised on a farm, enjoying the advantages of a common school. In 1857, he came to the United States, and after working in a number of different locali- ties for about two years, came to Minnesota. After viewing the country, and admiring some of its advantages, he bought a farm in this town, which has been his home ever since. His farm is in a good state of cultivation. He married Miss Mary Wei- dert on the 15th of October, 1860. They have three children.
G. H. BRINKMAN, a native of Brunswick, Ger- many, was born on the 15th of January, 1829. After finishing his school days, he learned tho trade of cabinet-maker. - In 1849, he came to the United States, locating in Hunter, New York, but soon after removed to Massachusetts. Here ho remained for five years, working at his trade. In 1855, lie removed to St. Anthony, Minnesota, where he followed cabinet-making for about two years, then removed to his present farm, located in the town of Rockville, and has followed farm- ing ever since. Mr. Brinkman has served as town Treasurer for fifteen years, and filled other town offices. He married Miss Susan L. Taylor, on the 13th of April, 1855; she is a native of Hampden county, Massachusetts. They have five children, two boys and three girls. In 1864, Mr. Brinkman culisted in Company A, of the First Minnesota Heavy Artillery. After remaining about ten months, returned to St. Cloud, where his family had previously moved, but after abont one year,
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450
HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
returned to his farm, where he and his family have a comfortable home.
MICHAEL HANSEN, JR. was born in the province of Rhine, Prussia, on the 20th of Jaunary, 1844. He was engaged with his father, buying and soll- ing produce, until he came to this country in 1866. He located in Illinois for abont two years, engaging in any kind of labor that offered, then came to Rockville and worked on a farm for four years, and was afterwards in the pump business for two years, making Richmond his headquarters. In 1874, he came to his present farm iu Rockville township. He was elected Town Clerk in 1875, and has held the office since that time. Married Miss Ephrosenia Kessler, May 5th, 1874. They have four children.
PETER LOMMEL, a native of Luxemburg, Ger- many, was born on the 13th of November, 1818. He received a common school education, and learned the tailor's trade in the old country. In 1841, he eame to the United States and located in Seneca county, Ohio, living on a farm until 1856, when he came to St. Angusta, Minnesota. Here he lived for ten years, then removed to Rockville, where he has since kept a hotel besides carrying on a farm. He has been Postmaster for the past fifteen years, and Supervisor for three years.
MICHAEL HANSEN, SR., one of the first settlers of the town, and an active business man, was born in Prussia, in the province of Rhine, on the 6th of December, 1811. He attended the schools of his native country, and was employed on his father's farm till about thirty-two years of age. In 1852, le came to the United States, locating in Illinois, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits for three years. In 1855, he came to Minnesota, and took the claim on which he has since lived, and now, with his family, enjoys the comforts of a good home. Mr. Hansen was Chairman of the first town board iu Rockville, filled most of the town offices from time to time, and is now one of the County Com- missioners. He married Miss Mary Bormann on the 11th of February, 1840. They have had fonr children, two of whom are living.
PETER MOLITOR, a native of the province of Rhine, Prussia, was born on the 9th of December, 1835. As soon as he became of age, he came to the United States, remaining in Illinois, working on a farm, till 1864, when he came to Stearns county, Minnesota. The following year, he was drafted into Company G, of the Fourth Minue- sota Volunteer Infantry, and after about five
monthis, was mustered out of the service. Soou after his return, he bought his present farm in Rockville township. Married Barbara Molitor, on the 3d of January, 1869. They have six children living. His father was born in the province of Rhine, Prussia, in 1799; he was a wagon maker by trade, and came to America in 1856, stopping at Lockport, Illinois, where he was employed at his trade until he came to Minnesota in 1862, set- tling on a farm in section twenty, Rockville town- ship. He married Miss Mary Hammerding, and they celebrated their golden wedding on the 19th of January, 1880. They have had six children, four boys and two girls; all living in Stearns county, Minnesota.
JOHN PAYNE, also one of the old settlers, was born in Hartford county, Maryland, on the 22d of December, 1826. In 1846, the family moved to Daviess county, Kentucky, and the following year, Mr. Payne engaged in the manufacture of doors, saslı, blinds, ete., to which he added a foundry and mill business, and continued the same until 1855, when he, on account of declining health, came to Minnesota. He remained in Sauk Rapids the first summer, and the following winter took a claim on Sauk River, iu St. Joseph township. This was his home for ten years, when he moved to St. Cloud and engaged in manufacturing doors, sash, blinds, ete., until 1868, when he moved to his present farm in Rockville township, By his energy and good management, Mr. Payne has fitted mp one of the best farms in the town. He has been Chairman of the Board of Supervisors since his residence iu the town, and has held several other offices. He married Miss Mary E. Staples, a daughter of one of the old settlers of St. Joseph township. They have had seven children, all living.
ST. AUGUSTA.
This township lies in the southeastern portion of the county. The surface is undulating, and in places, quite broken, being mostly covered with brush and light timber. The soil is diversified; the northern part being a rich black loam, the southwest a clayey soil, and in the southeast, very liglit and sandy.
The southern aud eastern portions of the town are watered by Johnson's creek and its tributa-
451
ST. AUGUSTA TOWNSHIP.
ries, which empties into the Mississippi river on section seven.
In 1854, John L. Wilson, the proprietor of the St. Cloud town-site, formed an association with John HI. Fibbe, Anton Imholte, and J. J. and George Laudenbach, who located at the month of Johnson's ereek with a view to founding a village there. During the following summer quite a set- tlement was formed, and in 1856, the first propri- etors, Wilson, Fibbe, Imholte, and the Laudenbach brothers, surveyed and platted the town of St. Augusta, in accordance with the original inten- tion. This town company was subsequently incor- porated, and for a time, sustained an organization and favorable prospeets.
Improvements were soon commeneed, and a saw and flouring mill ereeted, but the country was too sparsely settled to sustain either of those enter- prises, and the place was gradually abandoned. An effort was made by Mr. Pinney, of St. Cloud, in 1874, to repair the old mill, brit the dam washed out, and it stands idle, the only visible reminder of the thousands of dollars and years of toil, spent in the futile attempt to build a town in an unnatural location.
Abont the same time, L. P. Johnson surveyed and platted a piece of land on section thirteen, calling it Neenah City. This town shared the same fate as its sister village, St. Augusta. Mr. Johnson and three brothers, named King, had settled there in 1855.
The first settlers in the western part of the town, were Peter Lommel and J. Schoen, who eame in 1856, the former settling on section seven, and the latter, on section eight. The town- ship lias had a steady growth, and is one of the best developed towns in the county.
The population, according to the last eensus, numbers 798 persons.
In 1859, this township was organized, and named Berlin, but afterwards changed to Neenah, and in 1863, the present name was adopted. See- tion eighteen, and the fractional sections, , six, seven, eight, and eleven were added on the latter date, they having formerly been attached to Lynden.
The first election was held at the house of L. P. Johnson, in Neenah City, on the 1st of March, 1859, at which the following officers were chosen: Supervisors, L. P. Johnson, Chairman, Henry Vonjohan, and Peter Lommel; Clerk, Henry F.
Kaestner; Justices of the Peace, Jacob Woll and H. Macavay; and Assessor, John Kopp.
The area of St. Augusta is about 24,640 aeres, of which 3,908 are under enltivation.
The first school held in the town was in 1861, in a log school house on section eight. School was kept in an old church the following year, and soon afterwards, convenient sehool buildings be- gan to be erected. There are now three district schools in the township.
It is supposed that the first mass was held by Father Pierz in 1856, in private dwellings. A small log church was ereeted the same year on seetion one, and two years later, a frame church was built on the town site of St. Augusta. In 1873, the present large stone chmureh, on seetion twelve, was commeneed. This is called "St. Mary's Chureli of Augusta."
St. Wendal Church is situated on seetion nine- teen. The first church was built here in 1859. This was a frame building and was superseded by the present stone church in 1872.
The prodnets of St. Augusta in 1880, were: wheat, 49,327 bushels; oats, 23,271 bushels; eorn, 19,485 bushels; rye, 85 bushels; potatoes, 6,589 bushels; sugar cane, 100 gallons; wild hay, 1,348 tons; apples 70 bushels; wool, 881 pounds; and butter, 25,500 pounds.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
JOSEPH LOEHRER, a native of Switzerland, was born on the 2d of February, 1825. He worked while young with his father, who was a manufac- turer of gunpowder. After attaining manhood, he and a brother engaged in the same business for several years, then worked at the carpenter trade for a time. In 1850, he emigrated to America, lo- eating in St. Clair county, Illinois, and followed building for seven years. In 1857, came to Min- nesota, and took a farm in the town of St. Angusta, on which he lived till 1875, when he made a change, and eame to his present place of busi- ness in section nineteen, where he is carrying on a general store. He has held the office of Treasurer, Supervisor, and Justice of the Peace in the town. He married Miss Franees Zeller in 1856, who died in March, 1874. He chose Miss Franees Volz for his second wife, the marriage taking place in Feb- ruary, 1875.
452
HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
ST. CLOUD.
CHAPTER CXI.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION - ORGANIZATION-AGRICUL- TURAL STATISTICS-BIOGRAPHICAL ..
St. Cloud township lies on the east side of the county, being bounded on the east by the Missis- sippi river. It has an area of about 19,000 acres, of which 4,064 are under cultivation. The soil is a rich dark loam, and very productive. The north- west portion of the town is watered by Sauk river, which flows in a northeasterly direction, and cross- ing the extreme southeast corner of Le Sank emp- ties into the Mississippi.
The history of the early settlement and subse- quent development of this township is so closely identified with that of the city of St. Cloud, and so fully presented in the chapter under that head, that a repetition is unwarranted.
The township was organized in 1858, and at that time, embraced u much larger area, but has been gradually reduced to its present limits, by the organization of new towns, formed to keep step with the march of civilization.
In 1865, Leander Gorton and O. A. Pray erected a Hlonring mill on seetion four, which was burned in the winter of 1867-68, and the water power af- terwards sold to J. E. Hayward and P. B. Thomp- son, who again erected a mill on the site. Mr. Hayward soon after purchased Mr. Thompson's interest, and carried on the mill until its destrue- tion by fire in the spring of 1881.
The products of 1880 were: wheat, 37,346 bush- els; oats, 23,646 bushels; corn, 13,636 bushels; buckwheat, 10 bushels; potatoes, 8,790 bushels; sugar cane, 194 gallons; cultivated hay, 10 tons; wild hay, 1,657 tons; apples, 21 bushels; wool, 984 pounds; butter, 15,499 pounds; and honey, 218 pounds.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
HARMAN BECKER was born at Albany, New York, in the year 1840. Whilo yet a child, his parents removed to Michigan, and in 1853, to St. Cloud, Minnesota. In 1857, Harman took a claim in the town of Le Sank, where he resided until 1879, when he came to his present home in St. Cloud township. Mr. Becker was united in marriage with Miss Helena M. Ayers, of Maine, in 1863; they have had seven children, five of whom are
living, named George A., Fred B., Charles E., Henry H. and Frank.
WESLEY CARTER, a native of Bridgetown, Cum- berland county, Maine, was born on the 7th of July, 1839. He came to Minneapolis in 1857, and was engaged in the manufacture of carriages until the spring of 1859, when he entered the employ of the Stage Company on the line from St. Cloud to Fort Abererombie; was at different posts on the route, having in charge the building and repair- ing of the stables occupied by the company. After serving for one year in this capacity, he returned to St. Cloud, and engaged in the manufacture of wagons until 1874, when he bought a farm on sections sixteen and seventeen, in the township of St. Cloud. He built a good house soon after pur- chasing his farm, and recently added a fine barn, forty by eiglity feet, with a basement story, fur- nishing excellent stable room. Mr. Carter was a short time in the Sioux war, and has held the of- fices of County Commissioner, Alderman, and Town Clerk. Was married to Miss Martha D. Johnson, in 1866. They have two children, Cora E. and Martha J.
HORATIO J. FOWLER was born in Vermont, in the year 1823. He came to St. Cloud in the sum- mer of 1855, and the following summer, took a claim on Maine Prairie, near Mr. Spaulding, who had taken a claim the year before. Mr. Fowler did not live in the township, but was engaged in various kinds of business at Lower St. Cloud. He burned the first lime in the county, in 1857, and was engaged in rnuning a saw mill for some time. He also started the first furniture mannfactory in the town, in 1858. He was an active business man till 1873, when he sold out his business, and bought a farm in section twenty-three, where he lives, spending the declining years of his life very pleasantly. Ile has been County Commissioner and Supervisor at different times. He married Miss Almeda Worlting, on the 8th of May, 1849. They have had five children, three of whom are living; Georgiana, Willard C., and George S. Mrs. Fowler died on the 28th of March, 1878.
MATHIAS GANS was born in Prussia, on the 8th of December, 1829. He came to the United States in 1856, stopping successively in Chicago, Wis- consin, St. Anthony, and Anoka. In 1857, came to St. Cloud, and for four years was engaged in a variety of avocations, and then, for abont five years, taught school in the town of Wakefield. In 1870, was elected County Treasurer of Stearns
453
ST. CLOUD TOWNSHIP.
county, which office he filled with credit to him- self and the county till 1878. He bonght his pres- ent farm, on sections five and eight, in December, 1879. He was married to Miss Maria E. Png, in June, 1863. They have nine children living; John, Herbert, Joseph, Peter, Michael, M. P. Ed- ward, Leo P., Mary B., and J. P. Nester.
LOUIS GOYETTE, a native of Canada, was born on the 8th of April, 1836. At the age of seven- teen years, he came to America, and after remain- ing a short time in New York engaged in the Imber business, went to Michigan, and thenee, after two years, to Minneapolis, being also a lum- ber dealer in the two latter places. Two years later, he removed to Wright county, and lived on a farm until April, 1861, when he enlisted in Company E, of the Eighth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, re- maining in the army three years. He received a wound in the lungs, at the battle of Murfrees- boro', from which he is still a sufferer. In 1865, he returned to St. Cloud, kept a restaurant for three years, and was afterwards in the eattle trade until 1876. In the spring of 1877, he went to the Black Hills, and was engaged in freighting until his return to St. Cloud in the spring of 1880. He soon after purchased the farm in St. Cloud town- sluip where he now lives. Mr. Goyette was mar- ried in 1868, to Miss Hattie Brown; they have had three children, but one of whom is living, named Elida M. Mrs. Goyette departed this life on the 4th of December, 1876.
FREDERICK HOLLENHORST was born in Germany in the year 1823. He came to the United States in 1847, locating in Indiana, and afterwards in Ken- tucky, working at the carpenter trade for nine years. In 1856, he came to St. Cloud, working at his trade until 1869, when he bought a farm on sections fifteen and sixteen, in the township of St. Cond, where he still resides. He married Miss Banadine Robbers in 1851. "They have three children; William, Josephine, and Banadine.
HENRY B. KENYON, a native of the state of New York, was born in the year 1821. His early life was spent in mechanical pursuits, but after 1863, he gave his attention to farming. In 1868 and 1869, he was superintendent of the farm connected with the State Reform School at Lansing, Michi- gan. After farming at different places for a few years, came to Minnesota, and has had the man- agement of George H. Smith's farm since the spring of 1877. He married Miss Marietta B. Barrows, of New York, in 1842. They have had
four children, but all have died. They have one adopted daughter, Lindie J.
JOHN KEMPER, a native of Germany, was born in the year 1846. He came with the family to the United States in 1855, and after staying one year in Wisconsin, came to Minnesota, where he has lived most of the time sinee, engaged in various pursuits. In 1876, he went to Texas, but after farming there for three years, returned to St. Clond. He is proprietor of the Half-way House, on the St. Joseph road. His wife was Miss Mary M. Bedzold, and they have three children; Joseph S., Jolm A., and William N.
JAMES H. LOVELACE, a native of Illinois, was born in the year 1848. He moved to St. Cloud, Minnesota, in 1868, working at farming and team- ing since that time. For the last twelve years he has been in the employ of Clark & McClure. He is living on a farm located in section eight, St. Cloud township. He married Miss Cora Perry, of St. Cloud, in the year 1873. They have three children; Emmet F., Lela E., and Ebenezer R.
MICHAEL LAHR was born in Germany, in the year 1825. He came to America in 1852, and after remaining two years in Illinois, eame to St. Cloud, and was employed with his brother, Nicholas Lahr, in the blacksmith business. This shop was one of the first buildings in the place. In 1856, he took a elaim on section five, where he now has several hundred acres of good farming land. Mr. Lahr was married in 1860, to Miss Mary Smith. They have six children; Peter N., Jacob B., Joseph P., Mary A., Nicholas, and Michael F.
JOHN T. MARVIN, a native of Kentucky, was born in Campbell county, in July, 1835. He came to Minnesota and located in Rockville, Stearns county, in the fall of 1858, following farming until 1863, and then moved to Maine Prairie and farmed on section thirty-two for four years, then to seetion twenty-six, in the township of St. Cloud, where he owns two hundred acres. While in Rockville, he was Town Clerk for two years, and sinee eoming to his present farm, has been Town Clerk for a number of years. He was married in June, 1856, and is the father of twelve children; Harriet E., Minnie D., William F., George L., Jennie M., Ida V., Cora and Charles, (twins) Henry S., Everett J., Mand E., and Ira E.
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
ST. JOSEPH.
CHAPTER CXTI.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION-EARLY SETTLEMENT -- OR- GANIZATION -SCHOOLS-CHURCHLES-AGRICULTU- RAL STATISTICS-BIOGRAPHICAL.
This township lies in the eastern portion of the county, adjoining St. Cloud on the west. The northern portion of the town is mostly prairie, but the southern part is more undulating, with considerable brush land. Sauk river erosses the southeastern part of the town, forming some ex- eellent hay meadows and bottom lands. The South Fork of the Watab river also runs in a northerly direction through the western part. There are a number of lakes, the largest being Kraemer Lake, in the western portion of the town.
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