USA > Mississippi > History of the upper Mississippi Valley, pt 2 > Part 32
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The first ehild born in the township was a boy named John-Howard.
The first death was John Kean. He died in 1862, and was buried in the cemetery at St. Michael's in Frankfort township.
The first school taught in the town was in 1867, by Peter MeCormick, now of Minneapolis. This was in district No. 64, the first organized in the town.
The first religions services were held in 1861, by a Catholic priest at the residence of Michael O'Laughlin. The St. Ignatius Church was organ- ized in 1874, and a house of worship ereeted soon after. Father Schaller held the tirst mass in the church in 1875, and it is now in charge of Father Robert, who resides in Chatham township.
French Lake was organized in 1865, and the first elcetion held at the house of M. L. O'Laugh- lin. The officers chosen were: Supervisors, Michael O'Shea, Chairman, Patrick Kennedy, and Michael O'Langlilin; Clerk, M. L. O'Langhlin; Justices of the Peace, Patrick Kennedy and M. C. O'Don- ohne; and Treasurer, Michael O'laughlin.
The agricultural report of 1880 furnishes the following as the prodnets of the town: wheat, 26,351 bushels; oats, 5,804 bushels; coru, 8,455 bushels; barley, 20 bushels; buckwheat, 30 bush- els; potatoes, 3,180 bushels; beaus, 10 bushels; sugar-cane, 1,051 gallons; cultivated hay, 41 tons; wild hay, 1,303 tons; wool, 847 pounds; butter, 12,127 pounds; and honey, 215 pounds.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
DAVID DYKEMAN, a native of Otsego county, New York, was born on the 12th of April, 1838. When nbont three years old his mother died. His father came to Wright county, Minnesota, in 1867, and soon after, died in French Lake township. David grew to manhood on a farm in his native State, where he enlisted in Company D, of the
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Third New York Volunteer Infantry, under Cup- tain Murphy; was in the battle of Goldsborongh, North Carolina, Wilmington, in front of Peters- burg for seven months; and at Reems Station, Vir- ginia, where he was wounded slightly in the leg; was mustered ont of service at Norfolk, Virginia, in March, 1865. Then returned to his native place, and soon after moved to Albion, Wright county, and located on a farm, in the fall of 1865, where he lived until 1869, when he moved to his present farm in section twenty-four, French Lake town- ship. He started a general store in the spring of 1880, which he carries on in connection with his farm. He was married an the 4th of July, 1859, to Miss Elizabeth Foster, who is a native of Eng- land. They have five children living; one girl and four boys.
A. D. KINGSLEY was born in Washington connty, New York, on the 2d of Jnly, 1830. Soon after his birth, the family removed to the western part of the State, where the subject of our sketch received a common school edneation, then attended the Aurora Academy, near Buffalo, New York, for three terms. Then taught school for three years, after which he came to Washington county, Min- nesota, and engaged in the mercantile business for three years at Lakeland, in the same county. He came to Wright county soon after, and resided near Waverly, where he built the Waverly mill in company with Frank Fowler, which he run for nine years. Then engaged in the mercantile business in Minneapolis, for some time, and afterwards run a mill near Anoka for a while. He came to French Lake in 1877, where he kept a store near the French Lake Post-office, until removing to his preseut farin in section twenty-two, in 1879. Mr. Kingsley has a saw mill on his place, and produces a large amount of lumber annually. He is one of the leading men of the township, and is now Jus- tice of the Peace. He has been twice married; first to Miss E. Dustin in 1856, who died in 1871. His present wife was Mrs. Matilda De Long, to whom he was married in 1878. Mr. Kingsley has a family of seven children, four sons and three danghters.
ANDREW MACDONALD, a native of Nova Scotia, was born on the 27th of May, 1828, where he lived on a farm, and attended school till about twenty- two years of age. Came to Massachusetts in 1851, and was in various ocenpations until 1855, when he was employed on the steamboat Bay State as third Mate, and afterwards on the steamboat Me-
tropolis. In 1856, he came to Minnesota and en- gaged in the Inmber business in Minneapolis; and in1 1858, moved to his present farm in seetion twenty-four, French Lake township. He enlisted in Company C, of the Second Minnesota Vohin- teer Infantry, on the 12th of May, 1864; was in the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, Knoxville, and Nashville, and was mustered out of service at Louisville, Kentucky, on the 18th of August, 1865, when he returned to his farm in this township. He has held the office of Supervisor several terms. He was joined in marriage with Miss Margaret Ives, also a native of Nova Scotia, in the year 1859. They have three children; William D., Charles F., and Laura E.
DANIEL MCDONALD was also born in Nova Sco- tia, on the 11th of April, 1833, where he grew to manhood, engaging in agricultural pursuits. He came to Machias, Maine, when about eighteen years of age, where he engaged in the lumber business. Came to Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1865, and was employed in the pineries and saw mills till the breaking out of the Rebellion. He enlisted at Fort Snelling on the 22d of September, 1864, in Company C, of the Second Minnesota Volunteer Infantry; was in the battle at Benton- ville, South Carolina; on Sherman's famous " March to the Sea;" and finally sent to the lios- pital at New York, on account of disability, from which place he was discharged. Then returned to his farm in French Lake, which he had procured before going to the war, and where he still re- sides. He married Miss Mary Rakier, a native of Fond du Lae county, Wisconsin, in the year 1869. They have five children, two boys and three girls.
MAPLE LAKE.
CHAPTER CXXVI.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION-EARLY SETTLEMENT-POST OFFICE-FIRST THINGS-SCHOOLS -CHURCHES- ORGANIZATION-AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS-BIO- GRAPHICAL.
Maple Lake lies a little north of the center of the county, and has an area of about 23,010 aeres, 1,769 being under enltivation. The population, according to the census of 1880, was 576 persons.
The surface is undulating and was originally well timbered, but a large portion of it has been
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
removed for purposes of improvement. The soil is a rich dark loam and very deep, except a small traet in the northeast corner which is more sandy, but yet, produces good crops.
There are a large number of lakes, the largest of which is Maple Lake, from which the town de- rives its name; it is situated in the central part. Silver creek runs in a northeasterly direction across the northwest corner of the town, and in its bottoms are found some fine hay meadows. Mill creck rises in the southern part of the town and flows south through Chatham into Buffalo Lake.
The first settlers in this town were E. B. Mc- Cord, Dr. Sargent, Joseph Rackliff, and the Ham- iltons. These came in the summer and fall of 1856, and settled near the banks of Maple Lake. Of these pioncers, Mr. Rackliff's family are the only remaining residents. Other early scttlers were the Kotilinek and Meyer families, who settled in the north part in 1857, and later, the Flaherty and Welton families in the southwest part, near Lake Ramsey.
A Post-office was established in 1858, and E. B. McCord appointed Postmaster. There was then weekly mail from Monticello to Forest City & which supplied this office. Mr. McCord was suc- cecded by Joseph Rackliff, William G. MeCrory, and A. Gardner, then Mr. Raekliff was again Post- master for a time, and in 1877, Patrick Butler assumed the duties and is the present incumbent.
The first birth was a son of Guy Hamilton, in 1856. The first death was Patrick Kline, in the fall of 1857. The first marriage was William E. Peters and Miss Mary White, in 1862.
The first school was tanght by E. B. MeCord in the house of Joseph Rackliff, in the winter of 1861 -62. The town is now divided into five school dis- tricts, with a comfortable school building in each.
Religious services were held by the Catholics just east of the town line, in Montieello, at the res- idence of P. and J. Desmond, as early as 1859. A church was built by this congregation on section thirty-five, in 1867, and a priest appointed to sup- ply this place and Chatham; but a parish honse is now being erected and a priest has been appointed to take charge of the congregation.
A Protestant Sabbath school was organized in an early day by William G. McCrory. Revs. M. Harriman and A. K. Fox were among the first to preach in the settlement, holding services as early as 1862. There are very few Protestants now re-
siding in the town and no services have been held for a number of years.
Maple Lake was organized in 1858, but the first . town records have not been preserved. A partial list of the first officers are: Supervisors, E. B. Me- Cord, Chairman, - Hawley, and William Hartford; and Clerk, Dr. Sargent.
The agricultural products of Maple Lake, ac- cording to the report of 1880, were: wheat, 26,- 351 bushels; oats, 5,804 bushels; corn, 8,485 buslı- els; potatoes, 7,330 bushels; beans, 105 bushels; sugar-cane, 2,068 gallons; cultivated hay, 72 tons; wild hay, 2,077 tons; tobaceo, 1,807 pounds; wool, 1,760 pounds; butter, 14,100 pounds; and honey, 100 pounds.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
BRYCE CONNICK, one of the carly settlers of Ma- ple Lake, was born in New Brunswick, on the 29th of March, 1831. In 1856, he came to New York, thence to Minnesota, where he was engaged in lumbering on the Mississippi, Snake, and St. Croix rivers until 1861, when he took a homestead claim on section thirty in this town. In May, 1861, he enlisted in the First Minnesota Infantry, and is well remembered by his old associates for his brav- ery. Was for a time with Anson Northrup in charge of the wagon train at Edwards Ferry, on the Potomac, and was injured by a fall, which nearly cost him his life and from which he has never wholly recovered. In 1863, he was dis- charged, and after spending some time with his father in Canada, being under medical treatment, he returned to Minnesota, and soon after, to his claim, which he found "jumped." A contest fol- lowed in which Mr. Connick was victor, and all his legal rights restored. He was married at St. Anthony, on the 28th of June, 1866, to Miss Sarah Claxton. Their children are, George, Eva, Ear- nest, Joseph, Jerry, Albert, and Ehner.
F. J. McINERNEY was born in Canada West, on the 4th of July, 1857. Received a good schooling in his native place, and in 1868, came to Minnesota locating at Lake City. He soon after removed to Davenport, Iowa, where he served as an apprentice at the carpenter's trade for a few years, then re- turned to Lake City and was employed at his trade two years. After living in Swift county about a year, he came to Monticello in 1877, and thence to this place. In 1880, he returned to Lake City, remaining till February of the following year, when lie again came to Maple Lake and has since been engaged at his trade.
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JOSEPH RACKLIFE, deceased, was born in Unity, Maine, on the 5th of December, 1822. In 1855, he came west, remained in Michigan six months and came to Minnesota, spending the summer at Monticello and coming to Maple Lake in the fall. He took a claim on section thirty-five, and for some time was engaged in the hotel business. Mr. Rackliff was one of the organizers of the town, and an active member of society, ever prominent in all matters pertaining to the publie good. His house was always open to ministers, who still cher- ish kindly memories of him and his estimable wife. In August, 1864, he enlisted in the Eleventh Min- nesota Volunteer Infantry, served ten months and was discharged on account of ill health. Was mar- ried to Miss Mary Wludden, of Maine, on the 20th of December, 1850. Their children are, Ambrose, Edwin W., Frank M., and George W. All are at home with their mother. Mr. Rackliff died after a brief and painful illness on the 12th of February, 1876, and was buried at Monticello.
MRS. MARY SHEPHERD, whose maiden name was Mary Bosworth, is a native of Bradford, Pennsyl- vania, her birth dating the 20th of November, 1833. On the 28th of December, 1848, she mar- ried S. F. Shadduck, and five children were born to them; William F., Frank, Fred., Lela, and Charles. Her husband was a dissipated and neg- ligent man and his desertion was followed by Mrs. Shaddnek obtaining a divorce. Some time after receiving it, she was married to S. J. Shepherd, one of the carly pioneers of Minnesota, with whom she lived happily and bore him one child, Iva May. For some time after the marriage, they lived in St. Cloud, and Mr. Shepherd was in the employ of the old Stage Company, after the establishment of the ronte to Fort Abercrombie. In 1869, the family removed to Maple Lake, where he had bought a farm, continning on the road, however, two years longer. Mr. Shepherd built a comfortable home to which he was greatly attached, but failing health and finally, a partial sunstroke in 1877, eansed him fits of despondeney and something like derangement. This unhappy condition enl- minated in death by his own hand on the 13th of October, 1878. He left loving messages, and charged his wife to be kind to his child, to whom he was strongly attached. He was buried near the house, in a place of his own selection, and a neat mar- ble slab marks his resting place. The widow, Iva May, and William F., live on the old homestead, which is carried on by the latter. Frank and Lela
are both married, Fred is elerk in a store at Clear- water, and Charles is sometimes at home, and at others, working elsewhere.
JOHN SCHEFCHIK was born in Bohemia, and came with his parents to America at the age of nine years. Lived at Blue Island, Illinois, for two years, then on a farm twenty-five miles from Chicago for nine years, and in the latter city the same length of time. Four years of his life in the city were spent in running an engine in a flouring mill, and the remainder, in various spec- ulations. His father died in Chicago and his mother and one sister still reside there. The sub- jeet of our sketeh eame to Minnesota and settled on section twenty-six, Maple Lake township, in 1870, and has since divided his time between farming and dealing in live stock, principally horses and eattle. He is a leading man among the Bohemians and a substantial citizen. Has been Supervisor for the last seven years, besides holding other local offices. Miss Anna Hudik became his wife in the autumn of 1860. They have nine children; Mary, Anna, George, Rose, Lizzie, Maggie, Josephine, and Emma. Albert, their first born, died at the age of two years.
WILLIAM H. WHITNEY was born in Worcester county, Massachusetts, on the 16th of January, 1840. Came with his parents to Minnesota and located in Monticello, where his father died in the spring of 1879. Our subject has owned three different farms on Monticello prairie, his parents living with him most of the time till about four years ago. Has visited his native place several times, but prefers the West for a home. His farm, which he purchased in 1877, is located on section three, Maple Lake township. Mr. Whitney innkes a specialty of amber cane, both raising and man- nfacturing the same, for which he has one of the best outfits in this region. In March, 1864, Miss Mary J. MeCurdy became his wife, the ceremony taking place at Monticello. Their children are, George, Joseph H., Frank, Sarah H., and Merrill.
MARYSVILLE.
CHAPTER CXXVII.
DESCRIPTION - EARLY SETTLEMENT -- - VILLAGE OF WAVERLY -- SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES -POST-OFFICE -WAVERLY MILLS-MONTROSE VILLAGE -- AGRI- CULTURAL STATISTICS-BIOGRAPHICAL.
Marysville is one of the interior towns of Wright
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
county, lying south of Chatham, and joining the towns of Rockford and Franklin cast, Woodland south, and Middleville west, which completes its boundary.
Its surface is rolling, and well timbered, with an average amount of meadow land, principally along its streams, or bordering its lakes. It is watered by several streams, the principal of which is the North Fork of the Crow river, which enters from the west near the northwest corner, and pur- suing an irregular course, crosses the eastern boundary near its centre. It has several tribu taries, one of which furnishes an outlet for Wa- verly and Little Waverly lakes, and one flows from Buffalo, through a chain of smaller lakes, and joins the Crow river in section thirteen.
Waverly and Little Waverly lakes are the largest bodies of water wholly within the town, and form an immense reservoir for the mills now owned by C. W. Bommiwell. In Little Waverly lake are two floating islands, one containing nearly an acre, which have interested many visitors. But- falo lake makes a slight indentation from the north, besides which several lesser bodies are found throughout the interior.
The first demonstrations here in the way of set- tlement, were made as early as 1855. Among the earliest of these were Messrs. Felt and Labo, who located in the fall of that year, on section twenty-one, near the present crossing on Crow river, where they laid out a city called Marysville, from which the town afterward took its name. Their sojourn here was brief, as was also the im- aginary city of which they were the founders. The names of Plouder and Roberts also figure in history in connection with this town site, some naming them as the first projectors of the scheme. [ The first names and dates are furnished by Mr. M. V. Cochran, now proprietor of Cochran's mill in the town of Cokato, and are withont doubt the best anthority yet furnished. | Sanmel G. Kried- ler is also named as one of the settlers of that year, who took a claim on section twenty-four. The Dustin family, A. D. Kingsley, Deacon Caldwell, and others, also came about this time. In 1860, George M. Wright settled within the present limits of Montrose village, and in the succeeding years others were added, until quite a colony ocenpied the lands so recently unvisited by white men.
The first school of which we have any record, was about 1859 or '60, near the present village of Montrose, though one may have been kept at Wu-
verly Mills before that date. None of the first settlers are now living there, and tradition is sally meager and conflicting.
WAVERLY VILLAGE .- With the completion of the railroad to this point in 1869, a station was established on section thirty-three, and formed the nucleus for the present thriving village. Trains were ruiming here as early as June, but the books show the first entry dating September 16th 1869. George Doerfler was the first agent, and held the position till November 13th, 1872, when he was succeeded by L. V. Kyte, the present genial and efficient incumbent. A telegraph office was added February 12th, 1873, since which time Mr. Kyte has had an assistant.
The first trader here was Thomas Barrett, who opened a small stock of goods upon the comple- tion of the road to this point, but soon lost all by fire. George Doetler also opened a small stock about the same time, but the first full stock was put in by Patrick Fallihee in July, 1870. Mr. Fal- lihee still continues the business, having lately ad- mitted his son J. W., forming the firm of P. and J. W. Fallihee. They have also a drug store, opened in the spring of 1881. Thomas Barrett built the first private residence here and afterward kept a small hotel. He died about two years ago, and the business is now conducted by his wife. Charles H. Morneau opened a hotel soon after the location of the village, and still continues it. He is one of the oldest settlers in the town, and has been Judge of Probate. Dr. C. L. Flannigan opened the first drug store here, which he still contimes, enjoying a liberal patronage. Two other physicians are at present located here, Drs. O'Hair and Anbin. Other business houses are kept by John Flaherty, John Giblin, Jolm O'Gorman, and J. K. Cullen, cach keeping a general stock. Of these, the principal dealers are hereafter mentioned. There are also two blacksmith shops, two elevators, one by the Elevator company in 1872, and the other, built by C. A. Patterson, in 1880, a tin shop, a first- class harness shop, and four saloons,
Waverly village was incorporated by an act of the Legislature of 1881, and organized by elect- ing the following officers: President, William Quinn; Trustees, L. V. Kyte, J. K. Cullen, and John Giblin; Recorder, C. H. Cullen; Treasurer, John O'Gorman.
A school district was formed in 1876, by a divi- sion of the old Waverly Mills district. Two de- partments are maintained in winter and one in
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summer. A Catholic church was built here in 1872, during the building of which mass was cole- brated at the residence of P. Fallihee. A small building at Waverly Mills, built abont fifteen years ago, was the first Catholic church in this region, and was in use until numerieal strength and loeal interests eansed the village church to supplant it. The German clement still favor the old church, and reluctantly submit to its non- recognition. A Catholie mission existed at the Mills as early as 1858.
Other churches in the town are: the Freneli Catholic church, on seetion ten, built in the fall of 1868, and the Swedish Lutheran church, on section sixteen, built in 1873. The former in- eludes about forty families in its membership, and formerly held monthly service, but are now withont the regular services of a priest. The lat- ter society was organized in 1872, with n member- ship of twenty-four, which has increased to sixty- nine. Service is held semi-monthly, and a parish school is maintained. Each of the churches named has its cemetery, besides which a cemetery is established on section twenty-four, deeded to the Methodist Episcopal society, by Daniel Kried- ler, in 1872, with the prescribed condition that it should be free to all. The donor was the second interred within its limits, the first being his father- in-law, John Rowe.
POST OFFICE. -- A Post-office was established at Waverly Mills on a date not ascertained, and there remained nntil the fall of 1870, when it was re- moved to the station, and T. R. Barrett became Postmaster. Soon after it was moved to its for- mer place, remaining until mail was earried by the railroad company, when it was permanently located af the village, and Mrs. Kyte appointed Postmistress, which office she still refnins. Mr. Kyte has just erected a building for a drug store, with Dr. C. 1. Finnigan, in which the office is hereafter to be kept. Its location has thus far been in the railroad station. The Post office still bears the original name, Waverly Mills, though the village is Waverly.
WAVERLY MILLS .- Among the first events in the carly history of Marysville, was the building of a dam at the outlet of Little Waverly lake, on scetion thirty-one, by " Deacon " Caldwell, and the erection of a small saw-mill. Old settlers in the vicinity tix the date as early as 1855 or '56. A few years later a new and more substantial dam and mill took the place of the old, under the pro-
prietorship of A. D. Kingsley and Frank Fowler. A grist mill was afterwards added, and in 1874 the property, including a farm, was purchased by C. W. Bonniwell, who still owns it and has, besides building up one of the finest homes in the county, made material improvements in the water power and mills, and does an extensive business in flour and hard wood lumber. The daily capacity of the flouring mill is sixty barrels, and of the lumber mill, three thousand feet. A steam en- gine furnishes motive power when low water ren- ders it necessary.
Some effort looking to the building of a grist mill at the old site of Marysville were made about four years ago, and at intervals sinee, but with no probability of success.
MONTROSE VILLAGE .- This young village is situated about three miles cast of Waverly, on the same line of railroad, and was incorporated by an net of the last Legislature. Its official roster is as follows: President, W. H. Mapes; Trustees, W. P. Holbrook, G. M. Wright, and J. C. De Noon; Reeorder, J. A. Burner.
The village was platted in 1875, in the fall of which year J. F. Miller & Co. opened a store. They are still in trade, and are the leading firm here. Mr. Miller is seldom here, but the busi- ness is ably condueted by his manager, Emil Husser, who became a member of the firm dur- ing the summer of 1880. The second store was opened about two years later by Krouse & Husser, who are still in trade, dealing principally in hard- ware. W. H. Mapes put in a small stock in March, 1880, and in the carly fall of 1881, sold to B. F. Hays, who still continues the business. A grocery store, opened in 1880 by J. C. De Noon, a millinery and dress-making establishment, and a drug store just opened, with a harness shop, a lumber mill, built by Haven Brothers in 1872, and lately inerensed by the addition of n feed mill, a Imrness shop stocked by J. F. Miller & Co. four years ngo, two blacksmith shops, n meat market, saloon, and a hotel, comprise the reminder of business places, except two grain warehouses and the station.
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