USA > Mississippi > History of the upper Mississippi Valley, pt 2 > Part 3
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372
HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
occupied long before he got the contract, Brott took a particular fancy, and continued his efforts to get possession of them until he met a certain Caleb B. Smith, at Washington, who had power, and April 25, 1862, kindly needed lo Brott's do- signs. Of the three hundred and twenty acres, only seventy-five were conceded to the Rothkopfs, and through them to the Benedictine Order.
In the fall of 1856, the first school in Stearns eounty was opened at St. Cloud, in an unpreten- tious frame building, by Father Cornelius Witt- man. The school was numerously attended, but to found a college was the nim of the Benedictines. To forward this project, Hon. Jolm L. Wilson pro- cured a charter from the legislature, March 6th, 1857, and, in the fall of this year, St. John's col- lege commenced its curriculum with six pupils. An humble beginning! On February 6th, 1864, an amendment was made to the charter, enabling the Order to locate the college any where in Stearns county. The " Indian Bush" was deemed a suitable place. Thither the college was moved, and in 1867, permanently establislied on its present site. Since then it has had a yearly average attendance of about one hundred pupils pursuing either com- mercial, scientific, classical, or eeclesiastical studies.
From 1856, to 1867, the Benedictine Order in Minnesota numbered the following Fathers and Lay-brothers:
FATHERS.
Rev. Benedict Haindl, Prior.
Rev. Demetrius Morogna, Vicar General, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Rev. Clemens Staub, Rector, St. Paul Minnesota.
Rev- Othmar Wirz, Assistant, St. Paul, Minne- sota.
Rev. Cornelius Wittman, Rector, Richmond, Minnesota.
Rev. Anschar Frauendorfer, Missionary, Rich- mond, Minnesota.
Rev. George Scherer, Rector, Shakopee, Min- nesota.
Rev. Meinulph Stuckenkemper, Rector, St. Cloud, Minnesota. .
Rev. Anton Capsar, Missionary, St. Cloud, Min- nesota.
Rev. Joseph Vill, Missionary, St. Cloud, Min- nesota.
Rev. Wolfgang Northman, Reetor, St. Joseph, Minnesota.
Rev. Valentine Stimmler, Monastery, Minnesota.
LAY BROTHERS.
Bro. Wolfgang Beck.
Bro. Thaddeus Herrman.
Bro. Vincentius Hermann.
Bro. Heinrich Durr.
Bro. Manrus Westerwellhaus.
Bro. Placidus Brixius.
Bro. Clemens Wirz.
MISSIONARY WORK OF THE BENEDICTINE PRIORY FROM 1856, TO 1867.
. During this period the Benedietine order had done missionary and pioneer work in the following thirteen counties of the State, and had erected churches and parochial schools in most of the forty-one cities or towns here mentioned :
Stearns county,-St. Cloud, St. Augusta, St. Wendel, St. Joseph, St. Jacob, St. Nicholas, Richmond, St. Martin, Spring Hill, Lake Henry, Lake George, Meier's Grove, New Munich.
Benton county,-Sank Rapids, Brennan's Place. Sherburne county,-Clear Lake.
Wright county, -St. Michael, St. Walburga, Clear- water, Waverly.
Meeker county, -Forest City.
Ramsey county,-St. Paul, St. Anthony.
Hennepin county,-Crystal Lake, Medicine Lake. Winona county, -- Winona.
Scott county,-Shakopee, Jordan, Belle Plaine, St. Benedict, St. Scholastica, Cedar Lake.
Le Sneur county, -- St. Thomas, in Derrynane, St.
Henry, St. Scholastica, in Heidelberg, St. Cunegunda, in Cleveland.
Sibley county,-St. John.
Carver county,-Chaska, Waconia, Benton. MeLeod county, Glencoe.
On the 12th of December, 1866, Rev. Rupert Seidenbush, then Prior of St. Vineent's Monas- tery, Pennsylvania, was unanimously chosen Abbot by the capitularies of the new Monastery; the Bulls confirming the choice were issued on the 15th of March, 1867, and on the 30th of May following, he received at St. Vineent's, the nba- tial benediction, and the insignia of his office from the hands of Bishop Carrell, of Covington, Kentucky. Abbott Seidenbush arrived in Minne- sota, June 13th, 1867, to labor in a new fiehl. He found his monks in a stone building, 50x65, which had been completed the spring before his arrival. After a short stay, the Abbot went to Germany to collect funds, and to procure mem-
1
373
THE BENEDICTINES.
bers for the Order. He returned in tho following year and commeneed to mako improvements. Dur- ing the eight years of his administration, three brick buildings were added to the Monastery which now presents n froutage of three hundred and ten feet; and at the end of that period the Benedictines of St. Louis abbey were twenty-six priests, sixteen eleries and novices, and twenty lay brothers; the missions in charge of the Bene- dictines prospered hkewise, eleven new churches and several parsonages were erected, and the col- lege, in 1869, received power by act of the Legis- lature to confer University degrees.
In 1875, the Holy See erected Northern Minne- sota into a Vicariate Apostolic, and appointed Rt. Rev. Abbot Seidenbush, Bishop of Halya, i. p. i., and First Vicar of the Vicariate. The Bishop elect resigned his position as Abbot into the hands of the Chapter of the Abbey, which then elected Rev. Alexins Edelbrock, Vicar of the Chapter, and Rey. Cornelius Wittman, Administrator. The Bishop was consecrated on the 30th of May, 1875, and since resides in St. Cloud.
Another Chapter convened on the second of the following June, elected Rev. Alexius Edelbrock, Abbot; the election was confirmed by the Holy Ste, and the solemn benediction was conferred October 24th, 1875, by Rt. Rev. Bishop Seiden- bush.
The new Abbot entered npon the duties of his office no stranger to its diffienlties, for he had been Prior of his Monastery, and President of the College under the former administration, nor ntraid of its burdens, for he relied upon God.
The wise and energetie administration of Abbot Alexius is marked by the progress the Abbey has made . during the past six years. The Abbot's first care was to learn the spiritnal' and temporal condition of the parishes administered by Bene- dietine priests, and to put them all in good order. For this purpose, through many privations and much hardship, he visited each parish, and made watch regulalions as wisdom and prudence sng- gested. Ho next directed his efforts to acenmu- lale means to liquidate the large debt of $26,500, which the Monastery had contracted during the past years; in this undertaking he succeeded, and paid the debt. A church was a deeply felt need. The community was growing, the college was large nud increasing, a congregation was growing pronnd the Monastery, but as yet a miserable ex- ense for a Chapel was the only place set apart
for divine worship. In May, 1879, a new elinrch was begun, and in the following September, the basement being finished, the corner-stone was laid. The edifice is brick, 146x64, built in the Roman style of architecture, ornameuted with stained glass windows of artistic design, and two spires, each 150 feet high. The building is under roof, the towers complete, and the interior will be finished next year.
Many minor improvements, workshops, hydran- lic works, steam laundry, and many other useful buildings condneive to the success of the Monas- tery, and to the comforts of its occupants, we leave without mention.
The college is the objeet of the Abbot's special care. Heretains the presidency in his own hands, and spares no effort to increase the number and efficiency of the professional staff. Such has been his success that St. John's College porsnes a curriculum that is surpassed by but few colleges in the Union. The publie recognize the excel- lence of the institution, as is manifest by the number of youths attending the different depart- ments to prepare for the various avocations of life. As a mark of his approval and an incentive to further effort, the late Roman Pontiff, Pins IX, of happy memory, gave St. John's College power to confer degrees in Philosophy and in Divinity; the present Pope, Leo XIII, confirmed the grant of his predecessor.
In the interest of the Monastery, the Abbot has twice visited Europe and the Holy See. On eaeli occasion he found friends who tendered him sub- stantial assistance to execute his plans. The Mon- astery has therefore been enabled, with its other works, to accept the charge of a mission on the White Earth Indian reservation, and, since 1878, to ereet a large church and priory, as well as to provide ample school accommodations for the young Indians. The new buildings on the reser- vation are fruune, brick voneered, and resting on stone foundations. Besides the Indian mission, Neven others have been taken in charge, fourteen new churches have been built and eight parson- ages.
In 1880, the name of the Monastery, St. Louis on the Lake, was changed to correspond with the nume of the college. The institution will be known in the future ns St. John's Abbey.
The present statistics of the Monastery show 42 priests, 11 clerics, 5 novices, and 39 muy broth- ors; the Benedictine priests attend 21 rectories
374
HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
and 16 mission stations. The following catalogne exhibits the personnel of the Abbey, with the location and occupation of each:
FATHERS.
Rt. Rev. Alcxius Edelbrock, O. S. B., Abbot St. John's Abbey.
Very Rev. Norbert Hofbaner, O. S. B., Prior, St. John's Abbey.
Adm. Rev. Peter Engel, O. S. B., Ph. D., Sub- Prior, St. John's Abbey,
Rev. Benedict Haindl, O. S. B., Rector, Cold Spring, Minn.
Rev. Clemens Stanb, O. S. B., Rector, St. Joseph, Min.
Rev. Cornelius Wittmann, O. S. B., Rector, Has- tings, Minn.
Rev. Anschar Frauendorfer, O. S. B., Rector, St. Angusta, Minn.
Rev. George Scherer, O. S. B., Ass't., Richmond, Minn.
Rev. Meinulph Stuckenkemper, O. S. B., Reetor, Meier's Grove, Min.
Rev. Antony Capser, O. S. B., Prefect and Prof., St. John's College.
Rev. Joseph Vill, O. S. B., Rector, St. Nicholas, Min.
Rev. Valentine Stimmler, O. S. B., Rector, As- sumption Church, St. Paul.
Rev. Ulric Northmann, O. S. B., Vice-Pres't., St. John's College, Minn.
.Rev. Boniface Moll, O. S. B., Ass't., Hastings, Minn.
Rev. Simplieius Wimmer, O. S. B., Prof .. St. Jolm's College, Minn.
Rev. Alphonse Kuisle, O. S. B., Ass't., Assump- tion Church, St. Panl, Minn.
Rev. Vincent Schiffrer, O. S. R., Rector, St. Stephen and Krain, Min.
Rev. Bernard Locnikar, O. S. B., D. D., Ass't., Assumption Church, St. Paul, Minn.
Rev. Louis Salzeder, O. S. B., Reetor, St. Jos- eph's Church, Minneapolis, Minn.
Rev. Bartholomew Rajgelj, O. S. B., Rector, St. Boniface Church, Minneapolis, Minn.
Rev. Meinra Leuthard, O. S. B., Rector, Melrose, Min.
Rev. Francis X. Mershman, O. S. B., D. D., Prof. St. Jolm's College, Minn.
Rov. Pancratius Machren, O. S. B., Rector, Lx- emburg, Minn.
Rev. Paul Rettenmaier, O. S. B., Ass't., St. Cloud, Minn.
Rev. Aloysius Hermanutz, O. S. B., Reetor, White Earth, Minn.
Rev. Ignatius Wesseling, O. S. B., Rector, Rieh Prairie, Minn.
Rev. Manrns Bader, O. S. B., Ass't., St. Joseph's Church, Minneapolis, Minn.
Rev. Stanislaus Preisser, O. S. B., Prof. and Rector, Collegeville, Minn.
Rev. Leo Winter, O. S. B., Prefect and Prof., St. John's College, Minn.
Rev. Gregory Steil, O. S. B., St. John's Abbey.
Rev. William Eversmann, O. S. B., Ass't., St. Paul, Minn.
Rev. Willibrord Mahowald, O. S. B., Reetor, Stillwater, Min.
Rev. Severin Gross, O. S. B., Rector, St. Cloud, Minn.
Rev. Ludger Ehrens, O. S. B., Rector, St. Mar- tin, Minn.
Rev. Bede Nortlimann, O. S. B., Ass't., St. Joseph Mimi.
Rev. Othmar Erren, O. S. B., Prof. and Reetor, St. James, Minn.
Rev. Ambrose Lethert, O. S. B., Reetor, Spring Hill, Minn,
Rev. Edward Ginther, O. S. B., Rector, Bis- marck, D. T.
Rev. Anselm Sautlmer, O. S. B., Rector, Rich- mond, Min.
Rev. Ildephonse Molitor, O. S. B., Ass't., St. Joseph, Min.
Rev. Xavier White, O. S. B., Prof. St. John's College, Minn.
Rev. Augustine Brockmeyer, O. S. B., Rector, New Munich, Minn.
CLERICS.
Rev. John Katzner, O. S. B., Prof., St. John's College, Minn.
Rev. Martin Schmitt, O. S. B., Prof., St. John's College, Minn.
Rev. Alfred Mayer, O. S. B., Prof., St. John's College, Min.
Rev. Jerome Heider, O. S. B., Prof., St. John's College, Min.
Rev. Thomas Borgerding, O. S. B., Prof., St. John's College, Mimi.
Rev. Conrad Glatzmaier, O. S. B., Prof., St. John's College, Minn.
Rev. Urban Fischer, O. S. B., Prof., St. John's College, Minn.
Rev. Plncidus Wingerter, O. S. B., Prof., St. John's College, Minn.
375
CITY OF ST. CLOUD.
Rev. Wolfgang Steinkogler, O. S. B., Prof., St. Jolin's College, Minn.
Rev. Alexins Hoffmann, O. S. B., Prof., St John's College, Minn.
Rev. Chrysostom Schreiner, O. S. B., Prof., St. John's College, Minn.
CITY OF ST. CLOUD.
CHAPTER LXXXVII.
EARLY BEGINNINGS - WINNEBAGO INDIANS - RED RIVER CARTS - ORGANIZATION-MANUFACTURING
-NEWSPAPERS-CHURCHES -- SOCIETIES -- SCHOOLS -BIOGRAPHICAL.
St. Cloud, the county seat of Stearns county, lies on the west bank of the Mississippi river, on the line of the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Mani- toba railroad, and about seventy-five miles above St. Panl.
It is built on a plateau, elevated abont seventy feet above high water mark, and intersected by two ravines, known as the North and South Ravines, which run from the west to the river, about half a mile apart. At the head of the South Ravine there is a small lake, containing about fifty acres, known as Lake George. This lake lies a little back of the center of the city, and by the expenditure of a few thousand dollars, might be converted into a very pleasant resort. Since the first attempt to reclaim this spot from its pristine wildness in 1852, the growth has been steady, and the inhabitants of a thrifty and energetic elass, who have made St. Cloud one of the most impor- tant and substantial business points in this section of the State. The population, according to the census of 1880, had grown to 2,464, a large major- ity of whom are German.
EARLY BEGINNINGS .- The first white man to lay claim to the land on which the city of St. Cloud now stands, was Ole Bergeson, a native of Nor- way. He had been out with a Government sur- veying party during the summer of 1852, and after his return, in the fall, ho located a claim here, and built a log cabin.
During the winter ho prepared a large number of fence rails, preparatory to inclosing his farm. General S. B. Lowry, who had, for a number of yours, condneted an Indian trading post above
Sauk Rapids, made a elaim adjoining Bergeson on the north, also in the fall or winter of 1852. The following year, he took down the log house, which composed his dwelling and store at the post above, and floated it down the river to his new claim, where it was rebuilt as a permanent dwelling.
On the 19th of July, 1853, John L. Wilson, who is now a resident of St. Cloud, purchased Berge- son's claim, including the rails prepared by him, and at once proceeded to enclose what he sup- posed to be three hundred and twenty acres of land, a portion of which is where the business center of St. Cloud now stands. Having thus se- cured his possession, he went up the river to Lit- tle Falls, and was engaged in mill-building until the spring of 1854, when he returned to his elaim. A boundary line was then established between the claims of Wilson and Lowry, which ran east and west, and started at the river a short distance north of the North Ravine. General Lowry then engaged Mr. Wilson to survey and plat a portion of his claim, which was named, by Judge Mecker, Arcadia. This plat, however, was never recorded, and the name was soon forgotten; it is now called Lowry's addition to St. Cloud.
The same season, Mr. Wilson surveyed and platted a portion of his claim, and named it St. Cloud. This was the beginning of the present thriving and beautiful city, named at the head of this article.
Both Lowry and Wilson were troubled for some time by claim-jumpers, and in one instance, Mr. Lowry was compelled to pay a man, named Hitch- ens, the sum of fifty dollars to quietly vacate. Mr. Wilson is said to have succeeded equally well by threats of immediate extermination to all in- vaders.
General Lowry claimed his land under a eon- tract with the United States Government for car- rying the mails. This claim was, however, set aside by the Commissioner of the Land Depart- ment on some technical grounds, but afterwards restored by a decision of the Superior Court.
During the summer of 1854, J. W. Tenvoorde arrived in search of a location for a colony which proposed emigration from Evansville, Indian. He is now a resident of the city. In October, 1854, Anton Edelbrock eame and rented Mr. Wil- son's house, in which he opened a general store, and condneted it in that building for a number of years. Mr. Edelbrock brought his family with him, which was the first in the place.
376
HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
At that time all teams from the East forded the river at the foot of Sauk Rapids, about two miles below the fording place of the " Red river carts," which was at the Russell trading post, near the upper end of the present city of Sank Rapids.
In the spring of 1855, Joseph Edelbrock, a brother of Anton, came with his family and built a frame house, in which he opened a general store. He is now a prominent merchant of the city.
During that summer, Mr. Tenvoorde, mention of whom has already been made, returned and opened a general store.
In 1853, James Keough, now a resident of St. Joseph township, came over from Benton county, and settled on the Sauk river, near where Hay- ward's mill recently stood, and was the first settler in the present township of St. Cloud.
He was followed the next season by John Ren- gel, Sen. and John Rengel, Jr. and John Schwartz, who made claims adjoining Wilson on the west, also outside of the city limits.
In the spring of 1854, Martin Woolley staked ont a elaim to the south of Mr. Wilson, but made no improvements. He soon afterwards sold it to Anton Edelbrock and J. P. Wilson for three hundred dollars, and Edelbrock subsequently dis- posed of his interest to his partner for five hun- dred dollars. A stock company of twelve men was then formed, consisting of George F. Brott, J. P. Wilson, H. T. Welles, J. C. Moulton, H. C. Waite, John H. Taylor, L. Cram, Orrin Curtis, George W. Curtis, Frank Sisson, J. H. Seymour, and C. T. Stearns, the stock consisting of twelve shares of $1,000 each. This company surveyed and platted the Woolley claim, and gave it the name of St. Clond City, but it is now more commonly known as Lower Town.
A dissolution of partnership soon oeenrred, and the land was divided into twelve lots, each stock- holder drawing his own property by lot.
A company was then formed, consisting of J. P. Wilson, George F. Brott, H. T. Welles, and C. T. Stearns, for the purpose of erecting a steam saw- mill. The mill was built in 1855, and operated until 1858, when it was destroyed by fire. A coil- venient hotel, called the Stearns House, was also ereeted the same season. It served as n hostelry for a number of years, but is now used as a Home for the Normal students.
After the completion of this hotel and the saw- mill, the opinion became quite general that this would be the business center of St. Cloud, und
relying on that belief, a number of stores and other places of business were established during the following two years. Among these pioneer merchants at Lower Town were, W. & C. F. Pow- cll, now well to do merchants of this city, West & Horine, afterwards West & Mason; Mr. West is the present Post-master in the eity; Miller & Swiss- helm; Mr. Miller has sinee been Governor of Min- nesota, and died in the summer of 1881. Dr. Silas Marlatt, who now keeps a drug store in this city; General H. Z. Mitchell, who is also a prominent mer- chant in St. Cloud, Cutter & Bradley, N. N. Smith, Sisson & Seymour, and E. C. Smith. Notwith- standing this array of merchandize at Lower Town, the farmers and others seemed to have a preference for the more sightly location at St. Cloud, and patronized the few stores there very extensively. Notieing this discrimination, the merchants began moving to the more favored lo- cality, and during the years of 1859-60-61, all transferred their buildings and stock to St. Cloud, except a few who retired from business.
St. Cloud was the head of navigation, and steamboats plied regularly between here and St. Anthony, and the Red River trains to and from St. Paul also crossed the river at this place, mak- ing it quite an extensive distributing point. Ac- cording to a map which appeared in the first issne of " The St. Cloud Advertiser," in the fall of 1857, the territorial roads extended from St. Clond in all directions, as follows: On the west side of the river down to Minneapolis, and on the east side, to St. Anthony; in an easterly direction to St. Croix Falls, and in a northeasterly direction to Lake Superior; one on each side of the river to Crow Wing, one northwesterly to Breckenridge, one southwesterly to Fort Ridgely, where it inter- sected with the Government road from Minneap- olis to California, and one in a southerly direction to Traverse des Sionx, or St. Peter.
The land ocenpied by St. Cloud, and the vicinity on the west side of the river, was purchased from the Sionx Indians in a treaty made with them by the Hon. Alexander Ramsey and Luke Lea, in 1852, and ratified by the United States Senate the same year. The Sioux hnd owned the land from 1827, bnt hnd not occupied it, and it was used as a hinting ground by the Winnebagoes, whose land reached within four miles of St. Cloud, on the north. The territory of the latter was ceded to the United States by n trenty began with Com- missioner Manypenny, concluded nt Washington
377
CITY OF ST. CLOUD.
in February, 1855, and ratified by the Senate on the 3d of March following.
In May or June of the following year (1856) they removed to their reservation on the Blue Earth river, but not without a severe quarrel with the white settlers residing at St. Cloud.
Although the Indians removed from the imme- diate vicinity, yet they were frequently seen in large numbers, a few miles west of liere, for a number of years.
In May, 1860, a fight took place between the Chippeways and Sioux, near Maine Prairie; four of the Sioux were killed, and the Chippeway Chief, Hole-in-the-Day, wounded. Three of the fallen braves were sealped, but the head of the fourth was ent off and brought by the triumphant Chippeways to Sauk Rapids, where Dr. Simonton, of St. Cloud, obtained it. It was on exhibition at the Doctor's office for several days.
One day, in July, 1860, the census marshal rode into town in great haste, claiming that he had been informed that the Indians had risen at a payment on the Minnesota river, and were massa- ering the settlers. Before night, the farmers, with their wives and children, horses and cattle, came swarming into town from all directions. The St. Cloud Guards turned out, and every man in town volunteered to go and meet the Indians. But the scare was without foundation, and the next duy the settlers returned to their homes.
RED RIVER TRAINS. -- AN before stated, the Red River carts crossed the Mississippi at St. Cloud, on their way to and from St. Paul.
"The St. Cloud Visiter," in its issue of June 24, 1858, thus graphically describes one of those trains: " A Red River train, of one hundred and forty carts, camped on the St. Cloud prairie on Saturday evening Inst, and ou Sabbath afternoon, proceeded on their journey, erossing at Fowler's ferry. They were en route to St. Paul with pel- try. They had come from Pembina, and had been three weeks on the road. As St. Cloud is the first town on their route eastward, they, very naturally, lay over on the prairie half a day, to repair their toilets before passing through.
The drivers were principally half-breeds, and each one displayed more or less bead-work and bright colored sashes. There were several women in the train, each one driving her own eart, and it is remarkable that the priority, everywhere given to their sex in America, is apparent even in the arrangements of these primitive travelers.
The ourts of the women are painted and have a cover, with other appearances of greater attention to comfort, than is displayed in the carts uppro- priated to the men. One large, healthy, good- humored woman showed her maternal caution, by stopping her cart opposite our door, before com- ing to the steep bluff leading down to the river,. and taking out her little, almost white baby, to carry it in her arms, evidently for fear of accident in the descent. * * * *
They report that the Hudson Bay Company ex- pect to send down two hundred earts this summer, and to get a considerable portion of their return load in St. Cloud.
These earts are generally made without any iron, but a few of them had light hoops on the hubs, and metal boxes for the axles to turn in. Most of them are drawn by oxen, in single harness of untanned hide, joined together with thongs of the same material. They use open collars and hames, thus showing a degree of humanity to their beasts, which would be worthy of imitation by more civilized people, who compel their oxen to drag heavy loads by a small stick pressing upon the throat. They had quite a number of Indian ponies, some drawing carts, and others trotting along frec. These ponies are not pretty. Living entirely upon grass and hay, they are heavy bodied, and make one wonder whether wild horses ever can be so finely formed as the domes- tic animal, which lives principally on more con- centrated food."
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