USA > Mississippi > History of the upper Mississippi Valley, pt 2 > Part 26
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official roster is as follows: Geo. Stephen, Pres .; R. B. Angus, Vice Pres. ; Edward Sawyer, Soc. and Treas. ; Jas. J. Hill, Gen'l Manager: Allen Manvel, Asst. Gen'l Manager; C. C. Smith, Chief Engi- neer; and S. S. Breed, Anditor.
OLD SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION .-- This society was organized in 1868, holding its first meeting Jann- ary 7th, at the residence of W. V. B. Moore, at Monticello. It was decided that the membership be confined to residents of the county prior to Jaunary 1st, 1858. The first regular meeting of the society was called to meet at Bntfalo on the 22d day of February, 1868, a constitution and by- laws then to be presented; for which purpose T. R. Briggs, J. E. Warren, and Geo. A. J. Overton were appointed a committee. The officers elected were: D. R. Farnham, Pres .; Geo. A. J. Overton, Sce .; and W. V. B. Moore, Treas. Eneh town was represented by a Vice President as follows:
Robert S. Holmes, Albion,
A. Aekley, Buffalo,
B. Ambler, Chatham,
Charles Gordon, Corinna,
T. C. Porter, Clearwater,
Jacob Bingenheimer, Frankfort,
J. P. Lyle, Franklin,
A. D. Kingsley, Marysville,
S. E. Adams, Monticello,
A. McDonald, French Lake,
J. L. King, Middleville, Sam. Allen, Mooers Prairie,
W. G. MeCrory, Maple Lake,
John McDonald, Otsego,
William Sleight, Rockford,
J. S. Locke, Silver Creek,
Edward Brewster, Victor, Ezra Stacy, Woodland.
Pursuant to call the meeting was held on the 22d of February, 1868, at the residence of Jack- son 'Taylor, when the organization was perfected, a sumptuous repast and general good cheer fol- lowing. Annual meetings have since been main- tained, usnally marked by a fair attendance, and the exercises common to such occasions. By a constitutional amendment effected at the ammal meeting in 1880, the membership privilege was extended to residents prior to 1860. Time's rest- less hand has already defaced the original mem- bership roll, and ere many years, the last of the charter members of the association will be among the things that were.
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES .- To the citizens of Rockford belongs the credit of inaugurating agri- cultural societies in Wright county, the first of which was organized in that town in July, 1860,
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ALBION TOWNSHIP.
and called the Crow River Agricultural Society. The first Fair was held at the village of Rockford in September, 1861. For a time its meetings were monthly, and came to be quite prominent gather- ings. Its President was William Sleight, and its Secretary, D. R. Farnham. It was maintained for several years with varied degrees of success.
In January, 1870, the Wright County Agricul- tural Society was formed, with the following offi- cial roster: President, William Sleight; Viee Pres- ident, J. B. Parvin; Secretary, J. M. Keeler; Treasurer, J. W. Hanaford; Executive Committee, John Knight, George Davis, Milton Bliss, and W. T. Rigby. The first fair was held at Monticello on the 21st, 22d, and 23d of September, 1870, and was well attended. Diplomas were awarded sie- cessful competitors and exhibitors, but no cash or other premiums; owing to an ill-stored treasury, the receipts but little more than covering the necessary expenditures. At the next annnal fair, also held at Monticello, $95,23 was furnished the Society by the State Auditor, under legislative provision, making, with other receipts, a total of $414.10. This enabled the Society to offer mod- erate premiums, the effect of which was to increase the interest heretofore manifest by exhibitors. In 1874, the place of holding the fair was changed to Roekford, and in 1876 to Buffalo, where it re- mained till 1880, then was again removed to Rock- ford. Temporary and inexpensive buildings have been provided at the different towns mentioned, and the meetings have usually been successful. The officers, however, experience great difficulty and annoyance in the absenec of permanent grounds and buildings, an evil that time and the future development of the county will, ere long, remove.
Despite wars, scourges, und myriad misfortunes, Wright county has kept pace with other portions of the State in general improvement and develop- ment, and with her natural advantages, excellent soil and timber, and above all, an industrions pop- ulation, it is safe to predict that few counties will ultimately rival her in wealth and advancement. The days of hopeless toil, privation, and terror have passed; comfort smiles on every hand, and the future glows with promise of ultimate triumph and happiness.
ALBION.
CHAPTER CXVIII.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION -- EARLY SETTLEMENT-OR- GANIZATION -- DISAPPEARANCE OF HENRIETTA SPEN- CER-SCHOOLS-AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS-BIO- GRAPHICAL.
Albion lies in the northwestern portion of the county, and embraces an area of about 23,040 aeres, of which 4,190 are being cultivated. The surface was, originally, chiefly covered with timber, but a large portion has been removed for agricultural purposes. The soil is a deep dark loam with a clay subsoil, and the town has a large acreage of natural meadow land. There are a number of lakes, some of which are quite large, and all abound in fish of the varieties peculiar to the locality. The largest of these lakes are, Granite, Albion, William, Swartouts, and Henshaw lakes, the total water sur- face covering an area of about 2,500 acres.
The first actual settlers were Thomas G. and Robert S. Holmes, twin brothers, who settled on sections nine and ten, on the bank of Albion Lake, and still reside there. A. J. Phillips was in this township in 1855, and three years later, made a elaim on section twenty, where he now lives. Charles Judson settled on section twenty-six in the fall of 1858, and is now a resident of the town. Thomas Dunham also came about the same time. In May, 1857, a party of well-to-do farmers came from New York, consisting of William Taylor, M. A. Taylor, G. L. Ingraham, W. R. Butterworth, and his son W. H. Butterworth. The latter was drowned while crossing the lake on the 5th of July of the same year, and was the first death in the town. His father was nearly distracted, and soon left the State never to return.
Albion was organized by the County Commis- sioners in April, 1858, and embraced, in addition to its own territory, that now contained in French Lake, and reduced to its present limits on the or- ganization of the latter town. The first election was held on the 11th of May, and the following officers chosen : Supervisors, R. S. Holmes, Chair- man, C. L. Ingraham, and W. R. Butterworth; Clerk, M. A. Taylor; and Justices of the Peace, T. G. Holmes, and W. R. Butterworth.
A townsite was surveyed and platted by the Holmes brothers soon after their arrival, but after the lapse of a quarter of a century, the site is
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HISTORY OF TIIE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
found to be worth more as farming land than for any other purpose.
The most remarkable event in the history of Albion is the disappearance, in the fall of 1879, of a little girl two and a half years old, a daughter of John F. Spencer, who re- sides on section twelve. Henrietta, or Etta, as she was familiarly called, in company with two older sisters, the eldest aged about seven years, was playing not more than five rods from their father, who was at work about twenty rods from the house. They were called by their mother, and Mr. Spencer saw the three start together for the house. When the two eldest came in, the mother enquired for Etta, and was answered that she was coming. As she did not come in a few minutes, Mrs. Spencer went to the door and not seeing the child, went to her husband in the field in search of her. In answer to the inquiry for Etta, her father replied that she had started for the house about five minutes ago. Search was at once begun, and a large party of men who were at work in the vicinity, tarned out and explored every foot of ter- ritory for miles around, but to this day, not a trace of the child has been discovered. The little girl was not out of sight of her parents more than two or three minutes until she was missed, a thor- ongh search was immediately begun, there is no lake, marsh, or bog in the vicinity, and no proba- bility that there were any wild beasts in the neigh- borhood, which facts make the disappearance a very mysterious one. Etta was a beautiful child, the pet of the family, and it was a hard blow to the parents.
There are five schools in the town. The first teacher was Henry Sears, who taught school in a private house in 1860. The first schoolhouse was built in 1866, but burned before its completion, and rebuilt the following year.
There are two steam saw-mills in the town. One is owned by A. J. Phillips, and located on the bank of Granite Lake, and the other belongs to John Buekman, and is operated in the south part of the town.
There has been an organization of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church here since 1861. Elder Robinson held the first services.
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The population, according to the census of 1880, was 786, and the agricultural report for the same year shows the following products: wheat, 33,569 bushels; oats, 7,704 bushels; corn, 14,660 bushels; barley, 90 bushels; rye, 175 bushels;
potatoes, 2,575 bushels; cultivated hay, 105 tons; wild hay, 813 tons; wool, 1,647 pounds; butter, 11,555 pounds; and honey, 975 pounds.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
MARK MATHEW BRIDGES, a native of Bangor, Maine, was born on the 26th of December, 1835. His father died when he was but ten years old. He received a common school edneation, and followed farming while living in his native State. In 1857, he came to Minneapolis, and soon after, to Anoka, where he worked in a saw-mill for one year, after which he attended the Academy at Monticello, Wright county, for two terms. He enlisted at Fort Snelling, in Company D, of the Second Min- nesota Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Payne; was at Fort Abercrombie for three years, serving in the Indian war until December, 1861. He re- sides on a farm in section eighteen, and has been Chairman of the board of Supervisors since living in the town. Married Miss Eliza Curtis in the year 1860. They have seven children, four boys and three girls.
EDMOND BONIN, a native of Montreal, Canada, was born on the 8th of August, 1834, where he lived, learning the blacksmith trade. In 1857, went to California, and after traveling through a part of Washington Territory and Oregon, re- turned to San Francisco, and soon after came back by the Isthmus of Panama, to New York, and thence to his native place. In 1863, he came to Springfield, Massachusetts, where he was employed in the United States Armory. After some time, returned to Montreal, Canada, where he kept hotel until coming to Minneapolis, Minnesota. in 1878, where he was also in the hotel business for one year. Then removed to his present farm in section six, in 1879. He was married to Miss Annu Alken, n native of Canada, in the year 1863. They have had three children, but two of whom are living.
FREDERICK M. CADWELL, a native of Madison county, New York, was born on the 26th of March, 1828. When he was six years old, the family moved to Calhoun county, Michigan, where he re- ecived a good common school education. After becoming a man, he went to Racine county, Wis- consin, and remained for two years. In Angust, 1852, located on a farm in Wright County, Mine- sota; then, in 1855, removed to Clearwater, and engaged in agricultural pursuits; and in 1861, located in section fourteen, Albion township, where he still resides. In July, 1863, removed his fam-
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BIOGRAPIIICAL.
ily to Wisconsin, and in January, 1864, enlisted in Company A, of the Twenty-Second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. Went first to Nashville; was in the Atlanta Campaign, in General Sherman's " March to the Sea," and in the campaign under Sherman from Savannah to Raleigh, being mus- tered ont at the latter place in June, 1865. Then came to Wisconsin for his family and with them returned to his home in Albion. Mr. Cadwell has been Supervisor for several terms sinee a citizen of the town. He was joined in marriage with Miss Esther E. MeCrory, a native of St. Lawrence county, New York, on the 11th of February, 1857. They have a family of four children; one boy and three girls.
GEORGE EAGY, a native of Rush county, Indi- ana, was born on the 20th of December, 1837. His mother died when he was quite yonng, after which he made his home with a Mr. Hite, till four- teen years of age, when he began to make his own living. He worked on a farm and attended common schools while a youth; then followed agrienltural pursuits until he left his native State in 1866, when he came to Minnesota. Soon after landing in the State, located in the town of Albion, remaining till 1874, when he moved to Montieello, keeping a restaurant and confectionery for a few years. In 1878, returned to this town and located on a farm in section eleven, where he still resides. He has been Supervisor and Assessor for several terms sinee his residence here. He married Miss Mary E. Phillips, a native of Indiana, on the 25th of October, 1860. They have had a family of six children, four of whom are living.
ORIN B. TRAVIS is a native of Seneea county, New York. His parents died when he was quite young. He learned the carpenter trade in youth and followed it until leaving the State in 1867. Came to Minnesota the same year, and located on a farm in Albion township, where he lived until 1870, when he retured to New York, and was em- ployed at his trade for six years. In 1876, lie returned to Minnesota, and located on his pres- out farm in section eleven. He married Miss Abby Hutchins, of New York, in the year 1860. They have eight living children; four boys and four girls.
ALEXANDER FASHANT, a native of Belgium, was born on the 4th of October, 1821, where he at- tained manhood, receiving a common sehool edn- cation. He learned the art of stone entting, which he followed for twenty years before leaving his
native country. He emigrated to America in 1852, loeating in Fond du Lae county, Wisconsin, where he followed his trade for a short time, then bought a farm, on which he lived until coming to Minne- sota in October, 1862. He first located on a farm in section seventeen, but subsequently removed to his present farm in seetion nineteen, on the sonth side of Granite Lake. He was joined in marriage to Miss Mary B. Terion, a native of Belgium, in the year 1841. They have eight living children, two boys and six girls. His youngest son, John Baptiste, was born in Wiseonsin on the 8tli of June, 1860, and by his own efforts, improving the school privileges of the neighborhood and his leisure time, has obtained a good education. He has charge of his father's farm.
ALEXANDER FASHANT, JR., a son of the subject of the last sketeh, was born in Belgium on the 5th of August, 1846, where he lived with his parents until ten years of age, then came with them to America, living in Fond dn Lae county, Wiscon- sin, till the breaking out of the Rebellion. He enlisted at the age of seventeen, in the Navy de- partment at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and went on board the gunboat " Mound City." Was in a mim- ber of engagements, and mustered out of service in the fall of 1864. He soon after re-enlisted in the Third Wisconsin Veteran Regiment, for one year or during the war. Was in the battle of Sa- vannah, under General Sherman, and on the famous "March to the Sea," and again mustered out in June, 1865. After completing his army life, eame to Minnesota and located on a larm in section five, in this town. He married Miss Catharine Morris, who is a native of Fond du Lac county, Wiscon- sin, in the year 1867. They have six children, three boys and three girls.
JOHN GUTHRIE was born in Clare county, Irc- land, in abont 1822. He was a farmer's boy, which occupation he followed in his native country till abont twenty years of age, when he emigrated to America. He was employed at railroading in Massachusetts for a member of years; then moved to the state of Ohio, and worked at farming for about ten years. In April, 1875, came to Miune- sotn, loeating on his present farm in section eighteen. He married Miss H. Murray, who was born in Ireland in the year 1847. They have five children living, two boys and three girls.
THOMAS GUILFORD and ROBERT SETH HOLMES, twin brothers, were born in the province of Ou- tario, on the 28th of February, 1836, where they
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
grew to manhood on a farm. Their father died in 1867, and their mother the following year. They came to the United States in 1854. Thomas learned the carpenter trade at Port Huron, which he followed only for a short time. In June, 1856, the brothers came to their present farms in sections nine and ten, Albion township, where they still re- side. They have kept for many years what is known as the Half-way House; have also kept the Albion Post-office, except for about two years, since its establishment in 1859. Thomas G. was Cap- tain of a scouting party during the Indian war; both taking an active part in subduing the Indians. He was married on the 27th of December, 1880, to Miss Dora Foster, who was born in La Crosse county, Wisconsin.
JAMES KNOTTS was born near the city of Balti- inore, Maryland, on the 25th of October, 1825. Soon after his birth, the family moved to Frank- lin county, Indiana, where they located on a farm near Bloomington Grove, where James grew to manhood. He followed teaming from Blooming- ton Grove to Cincinnati for a number of years. Then moved to Indianapolis, where he lived until 1867, when he moved to Minnesota, and located on his present farm in section eight, where he has since lived. He married, in the year 1850, Miss Emily Phillips, who was born near Indianapolis, Indiana. They have eight children living; seven boys and one girl.
JOHN LOVE was born in Rutland county, Eng- land, on the 26th of August, 1830, where he lived till twenty-one years of age. He emigrated to America in 1851, living in Albany, New York, un- til 1854; then went to Dyersville, Iowa, and en- gaged in farming for three years. Then went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he was engaged in farming, and in 1868, moved to Scott county, Min- nesota, where he lived one year. In 1869, he moved to his present farm in section twenty-two, Albion township. He married Miss Isabella L. Brown, in the year 1867, who was born on Jersey Island, in the English Clummmel. They have three children; two boys and one girl.
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WORAAM HENRY LORD was born ner the city of Augusta, Maine, on the 23d of July, 1835. Soon after his birth, the family moved to China- town in the same State, where William received a good common school education. His father was a millwright and carpenter, which trades he also learned. In 1858, came to Monticello, Minnesota, working in a saw mill for Blanchard & Co., until
August, 1862, when he enlisted in Company E, of the Eighth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. Was on the frontier and at Fort Ripley that fall, and the following summer, in Gen. Sully's expedition; was in a immber of skirmishes with the Indians in the Black Hills; went sonth in the fall of 1864; was in a number of important battles, and mis- tered out in August 1865. Then returned to Min- nesota, and engaged in the mercantile business at Buffalo, Wright county, where he was Sheriff for four years ; and traveling salesman for Post and Davis, of Minneapolis, for three years. He came to Albion in 1877, and located in sce- tion eighteen, where he still resides. He was twice married. His first wife, by whom he had four children, died in May, 1877. He married Miss Eugenie Jouanna, a native of France, in 1879. They have one elnild.
FREDERICK B. NAYER was born in Strassburg, in the province of Alsace, Germany, on the 24th of January, 1853. He received a good education, graduating in the scientifie department at Strass- burg in the class of 1871. He enlisted in the medical staff in the late Franco-Prussian war, and was present at several hard fought battles and the siege of Metz, in 1871. He came to Wright county in 1872, attending the State Uni- versity, at Minneapolis, in the winter of 1873, in order to more perfectly master the Eng- lish language, and has been teaching school most of the time since. Since 1878, has given some attention to the study of law, but is now farming and has a loan and collecting agency. He mar- ried Miss Sophia Coyer, in 1879. They have had two children, one of whom is living.
ROBERT LEWIS PHILLIPS was born in the town of Cambridge, Vermont, on the 22d of April, 1808, where he attained manhood, receiving a common school education. He learned the car- penter and millwright trade, and was a contractor . in his native State. In 1853, moved to Lake City, Wisconsin, and was one of the first settlers of that place. He kept a hotel for one year at Kings- ton, Meeker county, and came to Albion in 1866, taking a homestead on which he lived till 1878, when he moved to his present farm in seetion twenty-nine. He enlisted in Company M, of the First Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, in 1862, and took part in a number of severe engagements, in one of which he received a wound, resulting in a permanent injury, for which he receives a pen- sion. He has been Supervisor and Justice of the
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BUFFALO TOWNSHIP.
Peace a number of terms. He was married re- cently to Mrs. Abigail Ellsworth.
ANDREW JACKSON PHILLIPS, a native of Indian- apolis, Indiana, was born on the 16th of Novem- ber, 1832, where he rosided till sixteen years of age attending school. His father died when he was but ten years old. At the age of twenty years, he commenced to learn the machinist trade, and followed that business for about six years. In Angust, 1855, came to St. Paul, Minnesota, and worked at the carpenter trade during the winter. He took a contract from the Government to survey eight townships, during which trme he passed through Albion, and soon after made this town his home, and was among thie first to settle here. He came to his present farm, in section twenty, in 1863. Was in the State Militia several months during the Indian war. He afterwards enlisted, March 21st, 1864, in Company B, of the Fourth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry; was in several im- portant engagements in the South, and mustered out in August, 1865. Then returned to his farm in Wright county, where he has since resided. lle has held nearly all the town offices at diť- ferent times. Was married on the 1st of January 1862, to Miss Gencva Howard, of Bristol, Bel- gium. They have six children; three girls and three boys.
BUFFALO.
CHAPTER CXIX.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION-EARLY SETTLEMENT -- OR- GANIZATION -- MANUFACTURING -- SCHOOLS -- CHURCH- ES-SOCIETIES-AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS-BIO- GRAPHICAL.
Buffalo lies in the northeast center of the conn- ty, and embraces an area of about 23,040 acres, of which 4,792 are under cultivation.
The surface was originally nearly all covered with timber, interspersed with many natural meadows. The soil, like most of the timber land in the county, is a rich, dark loam, with a clay subsoil. A large portion of the surface (about 3,500 acres) is covered with lakes.
Buffalo Lake, from which the town derives ity name, lies partly in Buffalo and partly in Chat- ham; Lake Pulaski is about two miles to the north- east, and Pelican Lake extends into the northeast
corner of the town from Monticello and Frank- fort. These are the largest lakes; all are beauti- ful sheets of water and abound in fish.
Buffalo Lake was named by the Indian traders many years ago, on account of the large numbers of buffalo fish found in the lake. This locality was a famous camping ground of the Sioux, where they came in summer, to fish and gather cranberries, and in the winter, to hunt deer. It is not known that the Sioux had any permanent or established village on the shore of Buffalo Lake, but in later years, the Winnebagoes had a large village where the village of Buffalo, the county seat of Wright county, now stands.
In 1855, the houses or tepees covered the entire space between where the saw mill now is and the ravine between the American House and the Court House.
A few patches of corn were cultivated by the squaws, and the men speut their time in fishing and hunting.
Here the annual payments were made, and a trading post was established at the west end of Lake Pulaski.
In 1851, Mr. Brissette, an Indian trader living at Lake Calhoun, near Minneapolis, with several other French pioneers, cut a road through the timber from Lake Calhoun to Bntfalo, by way of the west side of Medicine Lake, Independence Lake, and Lake Sarah, crossing Crow river at Rockford, then going north of the present Rock- ford and Buffalo road, crossing the creek between the marsh and lake, near where the dwelling house of George Sook now stands. It was a crooked, narrow road, but many journeys were made to Buffalo aud the trading post at Lake Pulaski. 'The first settlers used this old traders' road as late as 1857-58.
The first man to permanently locate in this township was Augustus Prime, who settled on section uine in April, 1855. He died at Monti- cello in 1870. HIe was followed by Solomon Hatel, a native of Maine, who came here in May, of the same year, purchasing a claim that had been previously made on section five. He brought his family to their new home in October of the same year, and resided there until his death, which occurred in January, 1874. His son still resides on the old homestead. During the same fall, Amasa Ackley and G. A. J. Overton came to the shores of Buffalo Lake, and selected claims on section thirty, whither they removed in the follow-
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