USA > Mississippi > History of the upper Mississippi Valley, pt 2 > Part 23
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though ten miles intervene between Cold Spring City and the nearest railroad station, yet the ex- cellent quality of flour manufactured by this mill, and the unquestioned responsibility und honor- uble business standing of its owners, has estab- lished a wheat market here, second to none in the country, and which, to a very great extent, has been the means of making this village one of the most active in this part of the State.
This town was organized in 1858, and named Springfield, but changed to Wakefield in 1870. The territory first embraced in the town included the present township of Luxemburg, until the or- ganization of the latter in 1866, when Springfield was reduced to the present limits of Wakefield.
The first election was held on the 27th of May, 1858, at which the following officers were chosen : Supervisors, Samnel Wakefield, Chairman, G. W. Thompson, and N. Schindler; Assessor, Andrew Schuldeis; Justices of the Peace, D. B. Sutton and Jolm Schneider; Town Clerk, Joseph Gibson; Constables, V. Chevrefils and S. Turner; and Over- seer of roads, M. Brixius.
The first school in the township was held in the house of Michael Nibler, on section nine, in 1859, by Frank Kuhn. A log school honse was erected the following year, which was superseded by a frame building, in 1876.
There are now four schools in the town in whichi school is kept during the regular terms.
The first mass was held by the well known mis- sionary, Father Pierz, in the house of M. Fuchs, in 1855. A small log church was built in 1857, on secetion twelve, which burned about 1860. The present frame church was erected, near the site of the old one, a few years later. It is named St. Jacob's Church.
Father Leo erected a small frame chapel, called St. Bonafacins Church, on a little hill, about one mile cast of Cold Spring City, in 1877-78, and also commeneed the erection of a church in the village, which is yet unfinished.
The products of Wakefield in 1880, were: wheat, 52,203 bushels; oats, 28,722 bushels; corn, 7,810 bushels; barley, 193 bushels; rye, 210 bushels; potatoes, 3,433 bushels; wild hay, 1,442 tons; apples, 55 bushels; wool, 1,071 pounds; and bnt- ter, 16,600 pounds.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
JOHN FISCHBACH is a native of Luxemburg, Germany, born on the 18th of November, 1818. Ile came to America in 1855, and settled in Brown
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BIOGRAPHIICAL.
county, Wisconsin, where he was engaged in farm- ing until 1862, when he came to St. Martin, Stearns county, and continued farming until the fall of 1875. Tle then came to Cold Spring City, und built the hotel known as the Farmer's Home, of which he has since been proprietor. Mr. Fisch- bach was united in marriage with Mary Weber, of Luxemburg, in 1845; she died in 1871, leaving six children; Mary, Katie, Margaret, Lizzie, Math- ias, and John. He was again married in 1872, to Katrina Jacks, of Germany.
JOHN FISCHBACH, JR. is a son of the subject of our last sketch, and was born in Prussia, on the 9th of December, 1846. He came to America with his parents, remaining at home until. 1862, when he came to Cold Spring City. In 1864, he en- listed in Company G, of the Eleventh Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and served until the fall of 1865, when he was mustered out at Fort Snelling. He then went to St. Cloud and learned the trade of harness-maker. After acquiring his trade, by industry and economy he soon saved sufficient money to enable him to attend three terms at the University, at Fayette, Iowa. In 1871, he was in the harness business at Cold Spring City, but soon after went to Winona, where he perfected himself in carriage and ornamental painting, for which he evinced great talent, and to which his time is now exclusively devoted. He has also taught school three terms, in Stearns county. Mr. Fisch- bach was united in marriage with Julia E. Fad- den, of New York State, in 1868. Of eight chil- dren, but five are living; Mary A., Frauk J., Mat- thew L., Leo L., and Peter P.
MATHIAS FISCHBACHI, also a son of John Fisch- bach, Sr., was born in Luxemburg, on the 18th of Angust, 1851. He came to America and to Stearns county with his parents. In 1872, he commenced an apprenticeship to the harness-maker's trade, at Cold Spring City, but finished it at Winona. In 1871, he went to Wisconsin and was engaged in various pursuits in that State and elsewhere until bis return to Cold Spring City in 1879. He then began working for his brother, but since the spring of 18SO, has been in the lowness business on his own accounl.
FRED. HreniaN dates his birth in Germany, on the 26th of November, 1831. He came to America in 1851, first locating at Racine, Wisconsin. In the spring of 1853, he removed to Mankato, Min- nesota, and nine months later, to Carver county, taking a claim live miles from Chaska. After re-
maining seven years on this farm he bought the Chaska House, at Chaska, and run it for six years and also kept a meat market. In 1860, he was elected County Surveyor of Carver county, and served two years. In 1862, he was elected Sheriff', and re-elected at each succeeding election for eleven years. In 1873, he removed to Todd county, built a saw-mill and run it till 1877, when he lo- cated at Cold Spring City, and has since conducted a meat market here. Mr. Hecklin was married in 1852, to Carrie Hoelsken, of Germany. They have had eight children, six of whom are living; Fred. P., Bertha, Hugo, Ida, Gustave, and Mollie.
JOHN KRAY, proprietor of the Central House, and for twenty-eight years a resident of Minnesota, was born in Germany, on the 22d of March, 1833. He came to America in 1849, remaining in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, until 1851, when he removed to Racine, and thence, in 1853, to St. Paul, Minnesota. The following year he went to Scott county and took a claim near Shakopee, on which he resided eight years. He then rented his farm, removed to Shak- opee, and run an express between there and St. Paul until the route became unnecessary by the building of a railroad. In 1873, he came to Cold Spring City, and has been in the hotel business here ever since. Mr. Kray was united in marriage with Katrina Hartmann, of Germany, in 1855. Of nine children, the result of this union, but five are living; Mary, Philip, Kate, Valentine, and Jo- seph H.
FRANK F. KUIN was born on the 10th of Au- gust, 1829, in Bavaria, Germany. He enjoyed the school privileges of his native country, left the parental roof in 1849, and emigrated to the United States. After spending one winter in Pennsylva- nia, went to Cincinnati, Ohio, making it his home for seven years. Then removed to Minnesota, and located in this township in 1857. He taught the first school in the district of which he is now a patron, in the winter of 1859. Was married to Miss Margaret Snider, on the 4th of May, 1854. They have had eight children; five of whom are living.
MARCUS MAURIN is a milive of Austria, boru on the 22d of April, 1837. His father was a gold- smith and jeweler, doing business in nearly every part of Europe. In 1855, the subject of our sketch came to America, and remained in Chicago two years, engaged in mercantile business. In 1857, he came to St. Paul, Mimesota, and was eu- gaged there and in various parts of the Slate, as
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
traveling merchant, until 1863, when he located at Cold Spring City and engaged in mercantile and real estate business in company with his brother. He also purchased the water-power at this point, but Hold it in 1865. Mr. Maurin was married in 1863, to Mary A. Laner, of Chicago. Their chil- dren are, Mary F., Lonisa M., Annie M., Peter P., and Ros M. The firm of Manrin Brothers, is the heaviest in The Sank valley, if not on the Upper Mississippi, having branch stores at St. Joseph, Little Falls, and Elizabeth. Their store building at Cold Spring City is divided into two depart- ments; that devoted to general merchandise is 100 x25 fect, and the hardware department 100x18 feet, besides a large grain elevator. Their merchan- dise sales for 1881, amounted to $185,000, and their grain sales to $250,000.
JOSEPH MEDVED was born in Austria, on the 6tlı of January, 1850. He was engaged in mercantile business in different countries of Europe until 1870, when he entered the Austrian army and served imtil 1873. He then came to America, locating nt Cold Spring City, and was in the em- ploy of Maurin Brothers umtil July, 1879, when he embarked in the mercantile business on his own account. Although a young man, Mr. Medved, by his energy and ability is doing a very pros- perous business; his sales amounting to #35,000 anmally.
JOHN SAUER dates his birth in Iowa, on tho 2.1th of November, 1852. At an early age, he re- moved with his parents to Stillwater, Minnesota, and soon after, to St. Cloud, where he remained until 1871. He then removed to Cold Spring City, where he learned the trade of wagon-maker, which has been his business ever since. In May, 1878, he started in business on his own account und is quito an extensive mannl'aeinrer of wagons, buggies, sleds, etc .; he also deals in wagon and carriage materials, his business amounting to from $2,500 to $3,000 anunally. Mr. Sauer was mar- ried in 1879, to Elizabeth Kinzer, of Minnesota. Their children are, Joseph and Nicholas.
NICHOLAS WEBER was born in Luxemburg, Germany, on the 29th of October, 1842. He ea'me to America with his parents in 1856, and after one year's stay in Illinois, came to Rockville, Stearns county, where our subject remained, work- ing on a farm about four years. He then went to lowa, and in 1861, enlisted in the Fifth Towa Cav- alry, und served until unistered out nt Clinton, lown, in August, 1865. Ho then returned lo
Roekville, where he continued farming until 1880, since which time he has been in the employ of Manrin Brothers, of Cold Spring City.
ZION.
Zion lies in the southern part of the county and has an area of 23,040 acres, of which 7,390 are under cultivation. The surface is generally a rolling prairie, with numerous tracts of marsh, or "hay slonghs," in which appear a large mimber of boulders.
The soil is a clayey loam with a clay subsoil.
The first settler appears to have been Michael F. Plantikow, a Prussian, who settled on section thirty-two, in the summer of 1860. He was soon followed by David Moede, M. Nehiring, Gottlieb, and Weber, who settled near by. During the same season, Jolin Blonigen, H. B. Meyer, and others settled in the north part of the town.
This town was a part of Verdale until 1867, when a separate organization was effected, and the name of Zion adopted.
The first child born in tho town was Augusta Plantikow, on the 20th of October, 1860. The first death was Mrs. Hannah L. Nehring, in 1869.
The first marriage was in 1862, the contracting parties being John Schlick and Miss Veronika Ley. Tho first school was taught in 1866, by Jomm Moore, in a log school honse which is yet in use.
The first religions service was held in the win- ter of 1860-61. A German Evangelical Church was organized the fall before, and a class formed with M. F. Plantikow, leader. The congregation now numbers one hundred and twenty, and ser- vices are held every Sabbath. Their church build- ing was erected in 1871; it is well finished and commodious.
This is one of the best agricultural towns in the county, and although the first sod was turned but twenty years ago, and but sparsely settled for a number of years afterward, it now has the largest enltivated acreage of any town in Stearns county. The population, according to the last census, was 661 persons.
The agricultural report for 1880 shows the fol- lowing prodnets: wheat, 75,012 bushels; oats, 17,- 415 bushels; corn, 6,045 bushels; barley, 1,418 bushels; rye, 120 bushels; buckwhent, 3 bushels; potatoes, 2,876 bushels; beans, 3 bushels; culti-
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WRIGHIT COUNTY.
vated hay, 11 tons; wild hay, 2,148 tons; apples, 26 bushels; tobacco, 30 pounds; wool, 2,254 pounds; butter, 12,462 pounds; and honey, 5 pounds.
BIOGRAPHIICAL.
JOSEPHI M. GILLITZER, a native of Bavaria, Germany, was born on the 18th of March, 1860. He received his education, chiefly in his native land. He emigrated to America in 1876, locating
in Kansas, where he engaged in teaching school. The climate did not agree with him, and he suf- fered severely from asthma. After about one and a half years experience in that State, by the advice of his physicians he came to Minnesota and settled in Stearns county. He has regained his health, and been very successful in teaching, his large gift of earnestness and zeal having won him a prominent position as an instructor. His parents still reside in Germany.
WRIGHT COUNTY.
CHAPTER CXVII.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION - PIIYSICAL FEATURES - EARLY SETTLEMENT-ORGANIZATION-GRASSIIOP- PERS-POLITICAL CHIANGES --- THE WRIGHT COUNTY WAR-THE GINSENG TRADE- THE OLD JAIL- WAAR MATTERS- THE INDIAN SCARES.
Wright county is situated in the east central portion of the State, on the right bank of the Mis- sissippi river, by which it is separated from Sher- barne and Anoka counties on the north. Its east- ern boundary is Hennepin county, most of which line is marked by Crow river. Carver and McLeod counties south, and Mecker and Stearns west, the latter partly marked by Clearwater river, com- plete its boundary. With more than half its out- line marked by streams, its shape is irregular. Its extreme length from east to west is thirty-six miles, while its average breadth is not far from twenty miles, north and south.
Along the Mississippi and Crow rivers, as well as on the Clearwater river, are found excellent water-powers, some of which are already utilized.
The surface of the county is gently undulating, with occasional portions somewhat hilly. A few beautiful prairies, bordered by brush land, are found mostly in the northern part; the remainder being timber and meadow land.
It is dotted with numerous likes, whose clear,
lueid waters enrich the scenery and furnish unlim- ited enjoyment to sportsmen and pleasure-seekers. Some of these lakes are already becoming popn- lar, and are destined to become favorite watering places. No town in the county is destitute of lakes, while myriad streams, which, as well as the Inkes, are fed by springs, afford ample attraction to stock growers and farmers, while serving the further purpose of drainage, thereby rendering its area free from the malarions influences exist- ing in less favored localities. The soil is very fertile, and prodnees in abundance, all the varied list of cereals and vegetables grown in the North- west. Year by year the timbered area is lessen- ing, and fertile fields supplant the primeval forests, as do pleasant rural homes the late wigwam of the native, or the still more recent claim shanty of the early pioneer.
Wright county, with other territory west of the Mississippi river, was once included in the Span- ish claims; later by the French, and in 1803, with the lands embraced in the Lonisiana purchase, ceded to the United States. The early pioneers found other claimants in that once powerful tribe - the Dakotas, whose rights were relinquished by the treaty of July 23d, 1851. But back of all these were that long departed race, the Mound Builders, whose only record is the mounds still plainly marked ulong the principal streams, and on tho margins of many lakes. No county in this his-
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
torie valley furnishes moro frequent evidence of a former habitation by this mysterious people, of whose origin, history, or ultimate fate we know absolutely nothing. That they were the first Intummen dwellers here is not a maller of doubl, but whether Their disappearance is due to war, famine, disease, or other cases, is yet, and may ever re- main an impenetrable mystery. A few crumbling human bones, bits of rude pottery, and a few im- perfectly fashioned tools, are all that is left behind, and of the mounds we only know that :-
" A race that long has passed away
Built them! A disciplined and populous race, Heaped, with long toil, the earth, while yet the Greek Was hewing the Pentelicus to forms
Of symmetry, and rearing on its rock,
The glittering Parthenon. * *
*
* =
But the hands that reared these piles have long since mingled with the mother earth, leaving but meager records of their work.
"The solitude of centuries untold * All is gone- *
Has settled where they dwelt. *
All save the piles of carth that hold their bones- The platforms where they worshiped unknown gods- The barriers which they builded from the soil,
To keep the foe at bay. * * * * *
*
Thas change the forms of being. Thus arise Races of living things, glorious in strength, And perish."
EARLY SETTLEMENT .- The first white men to locate homes within the present borders of Wright county, were Jolm MeDonald, Sen., and David Me- Pherson, in July, 1852. Their claims were in the present town of Otsego, where the former still lives. He is the oldest settler in the county, and is prominently identified with its organization, as is shown by his biography elsewhere given. Mr. McPherson's residence here was brief. The reputed wealth of the Pike's Peak gold fields indneed his emigration Thither, from which loenlity he afler- wards removed to Wisconsin. During the sum- mer and autumn of 1852, several claims were taken near Monticello. Prominent among these early claimants were H. W. MeCrory and F. M. Cadwell, the former of whom was one of the first offieers of the county.
No beaten track or highway then existed be- tween these settlements-naught save the tortnous Indian trail winding along the margin of the river; and it was not unlil the spring of 1854, that n wagon rond was ent between these points by Mr. MeCrory and others. Five days were required to hew out this rough passage through the forest, which even then was a barely passable route.
About this time settlers began to locate in othe parts of the county, as will appear in the severa town histories following.
ORGANIZATION. The net providing for The or ganization of Wright contaty pussed the Territo rial Legislature, und was approved February 20th 1865. Ils prescribed boundaries were substan. tially as before given, though soubsequent changes have occurred in contiguons territory by the form- ation of new counties, and the annihilation of Davis county, which was then named as the western boundary. The name given the county was in honor of Hon. Silas Wright, a prominent New York politician of that time, and was adopted as a compromise after a somewhat animated discussion. Jolm MeDonald, Sen., Archie Downie, and J. D. Taylor, were appointed County Commissioners. Monticello was designated as the county seat, and there the Board of Commissioners held their first meeting on the 9th of April, 1855, the first-named Commissioner being chosen as Chairman. Jolm O. Haven was appointed Clerk of the board and Register of Deeds; Herbert W. MeCrory, Sheriff; William Creighton, District Attorney; James C. Beekman, County Treasurer; Israel Heard, Judge of Probate; John O. Haven, County Surveyor; Row Brasie, Coroner; Selah Markham and Joseph Brown, Assessors.
Three voting precincts were formed with the fol- lowing described boundaries: Big Bend precinct, bounded on the cast by a line running due south from John O. Haven's northwest corner on the Mis- sissippi river, to the south line of the county, sonth and west by the county lines, and north by the Mississippi river. Monticello precinct. bounded on the north by the Mississippi river, east by a line running due south from the northwest corner of L. Dimmick's claim to the south line of The county, sonth by the south line of the county, and west by Big Bend precinet. Pleasant Grove precinct, bounded on the north by the Mississippi river, east and south by Crow river, and west by Monti- cello precinct.
These somewhat imperfeet descriptions were due to the yet undeveloped region ineluded, the lands remaining unsurveyed until July and August of that year.
The dwelling honse of Selah Markham was des- ignated as the place for holding elections in Big Bend precinct, and Selah Markham, Jolm C. Dow, and John Oakes, appointed judges of election. John C. Dow and Archie Downie were appointed
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WRIGHIT COUNTY.
Justices of the Peace, and Oscar Dow and John Lowell, Constables.
In Monticello precinet the place designated was the dwelling house of William Creighton. Joseph Brown, William M. Vanness, und Samuel M. Me- Manus were appointed judges of elections; Sam- uel MeMannus and George M. Bertram, Justices of the Peace, and Newell Honllet and J. B. Riel, Constables.
In Pleasant Grove Precinct the dwelling house of Jolin MeDonald was designated, and Ezra 'Tubbs, Charles Lambert, and Caleb Chase ap- pointed Judges of Election; John MeDonald and Ezra Tubbs were appointed Justices of the Peace; and William Carsley and Otis T. True, Constables.
Archie Downie, Josiah B. Locke, and D. L. In- gersoll were appointed Assessors.
Each precinct constituted a school district, with officers or ageuts, as follows: No. 1, Pleasant Grove Precinct, Dudley P. Chase; No. 2, Monticello, Na- than Fleteher; No. 3, Big Bend, Selah Markham.
Rockford and Buffalo Precincts were organized later, in 1857.
The next meeting of the board was at Monti- cello, July 2d, 1855, at which petitious were re- ecived for a county road from Waterville, at the month of Crow river, to Monticello, and from Mon- tieello to El Dorado City, at the month of Clear- water river. Both petitions were granted, and the necessary surveys ordered. Another road was asked, from John MeDonald's Landing across the county to the Crow river, near the Bigelow place, which was also ordered surveyed.
A petition was also received from J. W. Hana- ford and others, asking the formation of a new school district. The following appointments were then made: J. S. Mason, Judge of Election in Monticello precinct, vice Samuel M. MeMans, removed from the county; Joseph C. Walker, Sheriff, vice Herbert MeCrory, resigned; David MePherson, Judge of Election in Pleasant Grove precinet, vice Ezra Tubbs, who failed to qualify; and R. Brasie, Treasurer, vice James C. Beckman, resigned.
During this session the assessment roll was completed, and a tax of eleven mills to the dollar levied on all taxable property. The assessed vahi- ation, as shown by the completed and corrected roll, was $33,863, on which a tax of $575.67 was levied, $84.66 of which was for school purposes. The rolls were placed in the hands of Sheriff Walker for collection. Grand and petit jury lists
were also selected, after which the board adjourned. Following is the first Grand Jury list:
Josiah B. Locke, C. L. Boyd,
Frederick Barker, J. W. Voorhiss,
E. W. Merrill, George M. Bertram,
Joseph Brooks, David Worthing,
Samuel Wilder, B. F. Bursley,
Frederick Emery,
William MeDouald,
Row Brasie, Jolm E. Dow,
Nathan Fletcher, Johu Oakes,
Abraham Wood, Selah Markham,
Joseph Brown,
E. Franklin Palmer,
J. C. Beekman, William Cary,
Caleb Chase,
A. Bartlett,
James Phillips, William Mann,
Samuel-Carring,
A. J. Hubbard,
S. W. Lambert, HI. Bradley,
Beriah 'T. Record,
L. S. Carpenter,
Ezra Tubbs,
William Barnard,
G. Barnes,
D. B. Snttou,
D. L. Ingersoll, Heury Chambers.
The next meeting of the board was held Sep- tember 3d, at which time a petition was received for a road running from Monticello sonth to Peli- ean Lake, then ealled Big Lake.
Bills amounting to $126.52 were audited and allowed, $31.37 of which was for books and sta- tionery.
The taxes collected in 1855, for county and school purposes, amonuted to $293.52.
The Commissioners of 1856 were: Dudley P. Chase, H. W. MeCrory, and Selah Markham, the first of whom was elected Chairman. Their first meeting was held Jannary 7th, 1856. At a sub- sequent meeting in June, $1,053.84 was levied for county taxes, $126.71 for Territorial, and $319 .- 28 for school purposes. The fact that about five- eighths of this amount was assessed to Monticello will serve to show the relative advancement in the precinets at that date, a fact largely attributable to the fertile prairie extending back from the river, which first lured the carly settlers to the se- leetion and improvement of future homes.
GRASSHOPPERS .- The 19th of August, 1856, is a date not likely to be forgotten by the early set- tlers in this county, for on that day arrived the advance gnard of that all-devouring army of winged gourmands, whose ravages spread terror and panie among the inhabitants and well nigh depopulated the young settlements. Rye and Rio Grand wheat escaped with little injury, the former from its advanced state, and the latter from the protection offorded by its bearded heads, as well as its almost completed maturity. The hope of relief occasioned by their andden disap-
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
pearanee in the fall, was blighted by their appear- ance in largely increased numbers the following spring, and several families, overeome with fear and discouragement, gathered their personal effects together, and took their final departie. Their retreat proved unwise and premature, for early in June the grasshoppers moved southward, having done immense damage it is true, but still leaving abont half an average crop. With their exit, fear soon gave place to confidence, and an era of hope- ful prosperity dawned npon the community. In 1876-77 the grasshoppers again appeared, and though, in the aggregate, the damage was greater, the communities experienced less suffering than before.
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