USA > Mississippi > History of the upper Mississippi Valley, pt 2 > Part 30
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
penter trade in Clearfield county. After having beeome acquainted with the business, was em- ployed in different parts of the State, making his native county his home until 1869, when he eame to Minnesota. Some time during the same year, located on a farm in section fifteen, Corinna town- ship, where he still lives. He has devoted a large portion of his time to his trade since residing in the town. He married Miss Anna C. Foss on the 10th of February, 1853. They have six children.
OCTAVIUS LONGWORTH, one of the earliest set- tlers of this town, is a son of David Longworth, of New York City, one of the largest book pub- lishers of his day in America. Mr. Long- worth was born in New York City, on the 22d of March, 1805. He received an academie education, and was engaged with his father in business for some years. Then for a time eondueted the busi- ness alone, giving special attention to stationery, in which he continued till the financial crash in 1837. His residence was in that part of Brook- lyu, embraced in Williamsburg prior to 1854. Soon after closing ont his store he was appointed Postmaster of Williamsburg, by President Harri- son in abont 1840. In 1856, he moved to Iowa, locating near Davenport, making his home on a farm for three years. In 1859, he eame to Min- nesota, locating on the north bank of Clearwater lake, in this township. The home of his choice, on the banks of this beautiful lake, after twenty years of toil, commands the admiration of many tourists that visit this place. Mr. Longworth was the first Town Clerk, and the first Justiee of the Peace. He was united in marriage with Miss Phebe D. Wade, of New Jersey, on the 30th of December, 1830. They have had eleven children; five boys and six girls, eight of whom are living.
JOSEPH MARVIN, a native of Onondaga county, New York, was born on the 9th of December, 1803. His father was one of the pioneers of that county, and died when his son Joseph was but nine months old. He lived on the farm with his mother and slep father until Lwouly years of age, when he commenced to farm for himself in the neighborhood, which he continued about twenty' years. In 1864, he moved to Michigan, and farmed in Calhoun county for one year, then opened a hotel in Evansville, Wisconsin, and in connection with his sou, run it for a short time. In 1865, eame to his present farm in section twelve, where he lives nt this writing. He was united in marriage with Miss Marin Bently, on the 19th of
November, 1826, who died on the 6th of Novem- ber, 1862. They had six ehildren; four of whom are living.
JESSE MOATS was born in Ritchie county, West Virginia, on the 9th of May, 1821. At the age of twenty-six, he eommeneed working for himself on a farm, which he continued for seven years. Then moved to Athens county, Ohio, and lived on a farm for thirteen years. In 1867, he eame to his farm in section twenty-nine, Coriuna township, where he still resides .. He married Miss Sarah Clutter, in October, 1817. She was a native of Pennsylvania, and died on the 2d of March, 1881. They had six children, five of whom are living.
MARTIN RANSOM, a native of Baden, Germany, was born in May, 1830. When he was ten years old, his father died. Martin lived on a farm until nineteen years of age; then emigrated to the United States, located near Albany, New York, and was employed on the railroad for several years. In 1858, he came to Minnesota, and after prospeeting for some time in different parts of the State, located on a farm in section thirty, Corinna township, and the following year removed to his present farm in seetion twenty. He mar- ried Miss Wilhelmina Teatz, on the 21st of April, 1858. They have seven children.
JOHN P. SCHEYER, a native of Prussia, was born on the 7th of November, 1837. When John was about fifteen, his parents emigrated to America and located on a farm in Jefferson county, Penn- sylvania, where Mr. Scheyer supported his par- ents and family, until the death of the former. In 1870, he moved to Missouri, and in a few months, to Minnesota, locating on a farm in sec- tion fourteen, Corinna township, which has been his home since. He has been Supervisor and Assessor of the town. Was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Reiter on the 23d of August, 1860. They have ten children.
JOHN TOWNSEND, one of the old settlers of this region, was born in Luzerne connty, Pennsylvania, on the 2d of April, 1818. At the age of twenty- one, he left his father's farm and went to Illinois, working in different parts of the State at the cabinet, carpenter, and wagon-making trades. He was also for a time in the employ of John Deere, the celebrated plow manufacturer. In 1851, he came with John Stevenson, to Clear Lake, Sher- burne county, Minnesota, and were among the first settlers of that town. In 1855, he took a claim in Lynden, Stearns county, living there
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519
CLEARWATER TOWNSHIP.
short time; then moved to the present village of Clearwater, and built the first frame dwelling in the place. In a few months after this, took a elaim on the prairie in the same town, where he lived till 1866, and then removed to a timber farm in this township. He is now living with his dangh- ter, Mrs. Ponsford. Mr. Townsend was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Stevenson, of Sher- burne county, in 1850. They have two living children.
TRA WINGET was born in Green county, Penn- sylvania, on the 17th of March, 1834. When he was abont thirteen years old, the family moved to Athens eonnty, Ohio, where he attended school, and worked on his father's farm until 1855, when lie engaged in a saw-mill enterprise in the same eonnty, which he continued till 1860. He then moved to Missouri and at the commencement of the war, enlisted in Company B, in one of the Missouri State regiments, engaged in fighting the Guerrillas in the State until 1864, when he re- moved his family to Corinna township, Minnesota. Soon after arriving here, Mr. Winget enlisted in Company E, of the First Minnesota Heavy Artil- lery, and served to the elose of the war. After returning from the army, he homesteaded the farm on which he has sinec resided in seetion thirty-two. He was imited in marriage with Miss Phebe Jane Chitter, on the 13th of December, 1855. They have had seven children, tive of whom are living.
CLEARWATER.
CHAPTER OXXIII.
DESCRIPTION- CLEARWATER VILLAGE -- FIRST THINGS -CHURCHES -- SCHOOLS-SOCIETIES -- TOWN OR- GANIZATION.
Clearwater is the most northern town in Wright eonnty, and is separated from Sherburne county on the north, by the Mississippi river, while on the west the Clearwater river marks the line sepalat- ing it from Stearns county. Silver Creek forms its eastern, and part of its southern bonndary, the remaining portion being bounded by Corinna.
The surface is rolling, and in the northern part principally prairie, bordered by a murrow belt of timber skirting the river, while sonth it merges into brushland, beyond which is heavy timber land.
Numerous fine lakes are found throughout the town, and two of more considerable size make slight eneroaehments from the town of Corinna on the south. Some good meadow land is found in the sonthern portion, and along the Mississippi in the northern part. The soil in the prairie portion is a dark sandy loam with elay subsoil, and pro- duces excellent erops; in the timber portion it is elay and dark loam, and is unsurpassed for fer- tility. The cultivated area of this town is pro- portionately greater than that of any other in the eonnty.
While as yet few settlers had taken homes between here and St. Anthony, some hardy pio- neers penetrated to this point, where they selected elaims, and laid the foundation npon which has since been built an intelligent and prosperous community:
Foremost among the early settlers here was Selah Markham, a native of New York State, of whom further mention is made in the succeeding pages of this work. With him rests the honor- not only of being the first permanent settler here, but also prominently identified with the early history of the county. His claim was on section seven, where he built a cabin in the fall of 1854, which has since given place to hiis present comfortable rural home. Jolm Oakes also located a claim here the same fall, boarding with Mr. Markham during the winter, und the following spring, building on his chim in seetion eight. Mr. Oakes was a na- tive of Franklin county, Maine, born in 1798, and died in 1863. Asa White, another settler here in 1854, with others, staked ont the town site of El Dorado, now Clearwater. Mr. White wus at Clear Lake, opposite, as early as 1847, being then engaged in trading with the Indians. Thomas C. Porter enme in the following spring, and took a claim near the present village of Clearwater, which has sinee been his home. A sketch of his life ap- pears elsewhere. Among other early settlers of this year, (1855) were Dr. J. D. Wheeloek, Simon Stevens, Horace Webster, and John Farwell, the first three of whom are hereafter mentioned. Dur- ing the years 1855-56, many settlers were added, and a thriving community sprung np as if by magie.
CLEARWATER VILLAGE .- This enterprising vil- lage is pleasantly situated in the extreme northern part of Wright county, on the right bank of the Mississippi river, at the month of Clearwater river. Here Nature seems to have been in her kiudliest.
520
HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
mood, and just brushed baek the bluffs which front the river, leaving a beautiful table of dry, almost level land on which the village is chiefly built. A small portion, however, including some of the public buildings, is on the more elevated platean, back of the first level, while still another portion is on the west bank of Clearwater river, and in Stearns county. A portion of this site was claimed in 1855, by Asa White, A. Boyington, and others, and called El Dorado. During Mr. White's absenee that season, the ground was claimed by Simon Stevens, Horace Webster, and John Far- well, and platted in the spring of 1856, by J. HI. Talbott and Simon Stevens. These counter-claims led to quite a spirited contest, which, however, was amicably settled, the latter claimants retaining the land. It is now one of the leading villages of Wright county, having four general stores, two drug stores, one elothing and general miscellany, one hard- ware store, one boot and shoe store with shop, two millinery shops, one harness shop, three blacksmith and one wagon shops, one furniture factory, one flouring mill, one lumber mill, one livery stable, one hotel, a meat market, three churches-two Protestant and one Catholic-a Masonie lodge, and a graded school of three departments.
FIRST THINGS .-- The first white woman to claim a residence in Clearwater, was Mrs. Abigail P. Camp, now Mrs. T. C. Porter, who came in Angust, 1855, in the capacity of honsekeeper for the town site company. The next was Mrs. J. D. Wheeloek, the same fall. Mrs. Wheeloek died in the autumn of 1881, at the family residence in Clearwater.
The first white ehild born was Mary Whiting, a daughter of Mr. Nowel Whiting, in 1857.
"The first marriage ceremony in this vicinity wus performed on the 24 of September, 1855, miting the destinies of J. W. Stevenson and Emma Hent, who are mentioned in the town history of Lynden.
Clearwater had neither a Justice of the Peace or minister at that date. J. W. Stevenson died in August, 1856, his death being the first in the town.
The first school effort was under direction of A. C. Powers, in the winter of 1857-58; the second, by Miss Harvey, afterwards the wife of Horatio. Houlton, of Elk River, Sherburne county, the old building first used as a store serving as a school house. In 1860, a school bnikling was erected the first in the place. The building is now owned by the Catholic church, and stands on the hill, back of the village school house.
The first Physician was Dr. J. D. Wheelock, who
located in the autumn of 1855, and has since con- tinued in practice.
A Post-office was established in 1855, and Simon Stevens commissioned Postmaster. In 1858, he was succeeded by W. W. Webster, and he by J. M. Brown in 1861, and he by H. L. Gordon. About two years later it passed to J. A. Stanton, then to J. E. Firte, and in 1873, Jed F. Fuller be- came Postmaster, and has sinee retained the office.
The first hotel was built in 1855 by Stevens, Webster, and Farwell, Mrs. A. P. Camp assuming the duties of hostess. In the spring of 1856, they sold the furniture and rented the house to Mr. Allen, the blacksmith. In 1857, Frank Morrison built the large hotel still in use, and known as the Morrison House. It has been under the man- agement of different parties since its erection, and is now conducted by W. R. Blackburn.
The first representative of the legal profession was Willis G. Butler, who came in the spring of 1857. He was a delegate to the convention that placed Abraham Lincoln in nomination for his second term, and at one time took an active part in public affairs. He died here on the 13th of April, 1881.
Religions services were held as early as Decem- ber, 1855, at the residence of Mr. Dow, near the village, by the Rev. Mr. Creighton, of Monticello, and in 1857, by Rev. Mr. Chamberlain, an Episco- pal clergyman, in the hotel building first erected. Services were next held in a two-story building, the lower part of which was used as a store, and the upper part for schools, religions, and other publie meetings.
A ferry was strung across the Mississippi at this point by Stevens, Talbott & Co., in the spring of 1856, which has since been in nse. It has sev- oral times changed hands and is now owned by R. A. Lyons and Peter Lemme.
The first saw-mill was commenced in 1856, at the mouth of Clearwater river. When nearly ready to begin work, a freshet earried mill, dam, and everything away, and no further effort was made until the year following, when Herman Woodworth built a mill on the same stream, a mile above the former site, which was torn down and removed in 1876. A steam saw-mill was built on or near the site of that first mentioned, in 1858, by Frank Morrison, which in 1878 was removed to Motley, Morrison county.
A flonring mill was built in 1858, about eighty rods above the mouth of Clearwater river, by
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CLEARWATER TOWNSHIP.
Rogers and Mitchell. Ten years later it was torn down, and replaced by a larger one, under the proprietorship of Davis and Beale, who had previously purchased the mill property. Mr. Davis still retains the controlling interest in the property, the firm name being C. F. Davis & Co. . ' 'The cheery ring of the anvil was heard in the summer of 1855, in a shop opened by Stevens, Webster & Farwell, who soon after sold to Mr. Allen, and he, in 1856, to George Fuller.
The first store was opened by Seth Gibbs and Newel Whiting, in 1856, in a building on the river bank near the ferry. The following spring W. T. Rigby opened another store, and in 1858, a third establishment was opened by S. A. Heard; soon followed by a fourth, by O. S. Lock.
In 1871, a good two story frame school house was erected on the upper table of the village plat, in which two, and a portion of the year, three de- partments are maintained. The organization of an independent district was effected uot long sinee, and the schools are making commendable progress. Two other schools are maintained in the town ont- side the village, one located on section seven, and the other on section twenty-two.
CHURCHES.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH dates its existence from the 23d of January, 1858, when Rev. Levi Gleason held the first Methodist ser- vive in the village at that date, and organized a class of six members, and two probationers. James Lee was appointed Class leader, and Robert Ly- ons and Joseph Pratt, Stewards. The following named pastors Imve succeeded Mr. (deason's first ministry, in the order given: B. Blaine, S. T. Ster- rett, T. M. Berlin, L. Gleason, Moses S. Harri- man, C. T. Barkaloo, Rev. Mr. Roel, L. Gleason, C. T. Garvin, N. Lathrop, M. B. Smith, J. N. Henry, and L. P. Smith. A parsonage was pur- ehased by the society here several years ago, and a neat church edifiec was begun in the summer of 1881, which, at this writing, is still in process of construction.
THE CONGREGATIONAL. CHURCH was organized on the 20th of April, 1859, with the following membership: Mr. and Mrs. Abel Kent, L. H. Hol- man aud wife, IT. Woodworth, and Nathan Walker, the latter being elected Deacon. The pastor was O. S. Senter. In 1860, Rev. Royal Twitch- ell, then pastor, took steps leading to the erec- tion of a suitable house of worship, and work was soon after begnu. In November the build-
ing was so far completed as to be used for holding the regular serviecs, and on the 1st of May, 1861, it was completed and dedicated. Rev. William Crawford became pastor at this time, re- maining one year, and in November, Rev. William B. Dodd was called to fill the pulpit, remaining till 1867. The following year Rev. J. G. D. Stearns assumed pastoral charge, remaining until 1876, then was succeeded by Rev. Nelson Clark, who was followed a year later by Rev. P. S. Smith. Mr. Smith closed his labors in July, 1881, since which time the pulpit has been vacant.
The officers of the church are: Deacons, Sam- uel Whiting, George Campbell, A. E. Oakes, and James Abel; Clerk, F. W. Webster. The present membership is about seventy-five.
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH is represented by a partially organized membership of abont twenty, and hold frequent services during the year, being supplied by missionary preachers.
The Catholics have a small membership in the vicinity, and a few years ago bought the old school building, which has since been partially fitted for service, and in it their meetings are held at irreg- ular intervals.
SOCIETIES .--- In August, 1858, a Masonic lodge was instituted, mention of which occurs in the town history of Lynden, Stearns county.
A lodge of Good Templars was organized in March, 1881, and is still active.
The Patrons of Husbandry were also well rep- resented in times past, but are not now in ex- istence.
TOWN ORGANIZATION. - Puesnant to an act of the Legislature relating to town organizations, the present territory embraced in Clearwater, with that since organized as Corrima, was set apart by the County Commissioners, as the town of Clear- water, and a meeting held in the village of Clear- water on the 11th of May, 1858, at which the fol- lowing officers were elected: Supervisors, J. D. Wheelock, Chairman, Hiram Woodworth, and Cy- rus Smith; Clerk, Samnel Whiting; Assessor, John Townsend; Collector, J. H. Dunton; Justices of the Peace, J. D. Wheelock and Thomas Doble; Constables, A. IL. Williams, and J. II. Dunton; Overseer of the Poor, Simon Stevens. On motion of Simon Stevens, a tax of $150 was voted, to de- fray the town expenses for the ensning year.
During the Indian troubles, a stockade was built in the village, where a number of families from the timber found friendly shelter during the days
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
of suspense and fear. No town was more prompt to respond to the call for volunteers during the War of the Rebellion, about sixty responding, and serving in the carly Regiments. The present con- dition of the town is most cheering; good farms, good roads, good educational and religious priv- ileges, a railroad almost completed, a thriving vil- lage; Clearwater stands among the foremost towns in the county, both in present attainments and fu- ture prospects.
The cultivated area of Clearwater township is 2,572 acres, and the produets, according to the agri- eultural report for 1880, were: wheat, 18,544 busli- els; oats, 9,335 bushels; eorn, 22,005 bushels; barley, 18 bushels; rye, 440 bushels; potatoes, 3,890 bushels; beans, 39 bushels; sugar cane, 3,043 gallons; cultivated hay, 216 tons; wild hay, 1,689 tons; wool, 1,046 pounds; butter, 28,350 pounds; and honey, 50 pounds.
BIOGRAPIIICAL.
CHARLES H. BARRETT, a native of Franklin county, New York, was born on the 15th of June, 1854. His father was a farmer, to which business Charles gave his attention till twenty-four years of age, and then learned the harness business. He came to Clearwater in 1869, engaged in the har- ness business in 1878, and continues the same to this date. He married Miss Minnie P. Heath, of Sauk Centre, on the 21st of September, 1879. They have one child; Chester O., born June 12th, 1880.
GEORGE B. BENSON was born in Stowe, Lamoille county, Vermont, in the year 1824. He grew to manhood on the farm on which he was employed until thirty years of age. He was then engaged in the freighting business for five years, after which he came to Minnesota and resided in Minneapolis six months. In the spring of 1860, he enme to Clearwater, and has identified himself with the pro- gressive affairs of the town ever since. He owns and carries on a farm in Lynden, Stearns county, but resides in the village. Mr. Benson has been twiee married; first to Miss Elizabeth Barrows, of Canada, in 1847, who died in August, 1870, leav- ing six children; Charles S., Ida A., Walter S., Cora M., George I., and Alice. His present wife was Miss Mary A. Tewksbury.
ALONZO T. BOYINGTON dates his birth in New York State, on the 23d of February, 1833. He was reared to agrienltural pursuits in his native State, and when twenty years of age, went to Illi- nois and remained one year. He came to Clear-
water township in 1854, and selected a claim on sections one, two, eleven, and twelve. He is one of the earliest pioneers of the town, and has re- sided on the old homestead for twenty-seven years, while Minnesota has sprung from an obscure terri- tory to a wealthy and populous State. Mr. Boy- inton was married on the 22d of March, 1857, to . Miss Isabella R. Campbell, of Canada. Their children are, John E., Harriet F., Annie J., Amelia O., Ida J., Lettie E., and Mary A.
HUGH E. H. CAMPBELL is a native of Scotland, born in the year 1848. He learned the milling business in his native country, and came to Amer- iea in 1869. He came at once to Clearwater, and has been engaged in milling here ever since. He was united in marriage with Miss Helen Hudek, of Maple Lake, on the 15th of September, 1880.
EDWIN P. CROSSMAN was born in Kennebee county, Maine, in the year 1852. He was reared on a farm, receiving such edneation as the schools of the vicinity afforded. When he was twenty years old, he went to Lynn, Massachusetts, and followed the shoe business for five years. In 1878, he eame to Clearwater, and formed a partnership with S. M. Phillips, in a hardware and dry goods business. After a couple of years the partnership was dissolved and the stock divided, Mr. Cross- man taking the hardware department, which he still carries on. He was married on the 18th of December, 1879, to Miss Mary Hall, of Stillwater. They have one child, named Arie, born on the 7th of March, 1881.
EDWARD CLOCKER, a native of England, was born on the 28th of December, 1830. He learned the blacksmith trade in youth, and emigrated to Amerien in 1852, stopping for some time in Mil- wankec, Wisconsin, and Galena, Illinois. Then went to the copper mines on Lake Superior, where for five years he was engaged in mining. He then went to Green Bay, Wisconsin, for five years, and in 1868, came to Clearwater, where he now ro- sides, working at his trade. He was united in marriage with Miss Mary Davis in 1860. They have had two children, Catharine and Richard. ยท His wife died in 1864.
D. S. DoYON was born in Franklin county, Ver- mont, in the year 1853. When eleven years old he commeneed elerking in a dry goods store, which was his oeenpation until coming to Minne- sota in 1871. The first summer was spent on a farm, after which he was engaged in a limber office at Clearwater for three years, and in a flonr-
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
ing mill for the next three years. He then went to Rochester, and after a year's stay there, returned and was employed in the flouring mill of Davis & Beal at this place until January, 1880, when he purchased Mr. Beal's interest, and is still a partner.
JOHN DODDS, a native of Michigan, was born in the year 1836. He eommeneed to work in a saw mill in early life. Came to Minnesota in 1866, engaging in lumber business in Clearwater which he still continues. He married Miss Ma- tilda Connick in 1872. They have three children; Della, Edward, and an infant not named.
JED F. FULLER was born in Milton, Chitten- den county, Vermont, on the 10th of January, 1839. His father was a farmer and directed his son's early footsteps amid the routine of farming labors. At the age of sixteen, Jed F. engaged in mercantile trade, and clerked for two years. He came to Clearwater, Minnesota, on the 16th of June, 1857. His father had come the year before, with whom he lived till 1861, when he enlisted in the Third Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and served about four years. In 1865, he returned to Clearwater, and engaged in mereantile business, which he has eontinned to this date. He has served the town as Supervisor and Assessor, and has held other local offices. Has been Postmaster since 1873. He married Miss Mary J. Northrup, of the state of New York, on the 19th of March, 1864. Their children are, Edna M., Leslie G., and Lester J., who are twins, and Marion L.
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