USA > Mississippi > History of the upper Mississippi Valley, pt 2 > Part 33
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The depot was built in 1875, and J. F. Miller, the founder of the village, was the first agent. After one or two changes it passed into the hands of the present popular incumbent, W. P. Hol- brook, who is further mentioned in the sneeceding pages.
The village boasts of one of the best school
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
houses in the county, and has also two ehurehes- Methodist Episcopal and German Evangelical - the former built in 1881, the latter in 1880. Both are reeent organizations, and maintain semi-monthly serviee.
The eultivated area of this town is about 2,133 acres, which produced, according to the agricul- tural report for 1880: wheat, 29,202 bushels; oats, 14,575 bushels; eorn, 20,577 bushels; barley, 137 bushels; rye, 28 bushels; potatoes, 2,434 bushels; beans, 20 bushels; sugar cane, 1,520 gallons; cul tivatod hay, 125 tony; wild hay, 890 tons; wool, 1,428 pounds; and butter, 12,045 pounds.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
CHARLES W. BONNIWELL was born in Chatham, England, on the 15th of March, 1830. His pa- rents came to America when Charles was about one year old, and after remaining about six years in New York City, eame to Wisconsin and settled about seventeen miles from Milwaukee, whero they now live in the enjoyment of one of the finest ru- rul homes in the " Badger State." From 1844 to 1866, the subject of this sketch was engaged in ship-building in Milwaukee, but eame to Hutchin- son, Minnesota, at the latter date, and in company with L. L. Pendergast and Lewis Harrington, built the first flouring mill at that place. In 1874, he disposed of his interest in the mill at Hutchinson. and purchased the mill property which he now owns and operates, at his present residenee in Ma- rysville township. Mr. Bonniwell has rebuilt and remodeled the old mill which he found here at the time of his purchase, aud now has a saw and flour- ing mill inferior to none in this section of the State. He carries on a fine farm adjoining the mill property, and has erected one of the best pri- vate residences in Wright county. On this farm ure the graves of the Dustin family, murdered by the Indians in 1863, and mentioned elsewhere in this work. Mr. Bonniwell was elected Comity Commissioner in 1877, and has always taken a deep interest in educational matters. He was married at his father's residence, on the 10th of November, 1858, to Miss Maria Coles, who is also a native of England. They have had five children, four of whom are living. The eldest, Cora, was married to A. W. Jones, of Howard Lake, on the 23d of June, 1880; the others aro, Irwin, Nellie S., and Clarence C. Arthur J., was drowned at Hutchin- son on the 1st of August, 1868, aged two years and four months.
JOSEPH BLAND, an early settler and a model
farmer of this seetion, was born in Virginia, near the Pennsylvania line, on the 14th of July, 1821. Was reared to agricultural pursuits, and in 1865, eame to this State and located on his present farm on section twenty-four. This was the first farm opened in this region, Samuel Kriedler making a few improvements twenty-three years ago, after which it passed into the hands of a Mr. Dustin, then Mr. Beadle became the owner, from whose agent our subject purchased it in April, 1865. It was then but little improved, but through Mr. Bland's industry, it is now one of the finest farms in the county. Mr. Bland has been School Treas- urer in his distriet sinee coming here, Town Treas- urer five years, and was elected County Commis- sioner in the fall of 1880. Was united in mar- riage with Miss Castilla Wyatt, of Tyler county, West Virginia, in 1842. Their children are, Thornton, Rachel, Martin, Mary, Samuel, Sampson, and Phoebe Jane. The second child died un- named.
JOHN K. CULLEN was born in Leitrim county, Ireland, on the 24th of November, 1824. He re- ceived an Academic education in his native place and graduated at the age of twenty-five years. Came to America in March, 1819, remained for a time in New York City, thenee to Philadelphia and Pittsburg, and entered a college at the latter place, remaining, however, only a short time. Was employed as clerk in a wholesale store at Browns- ville, near Pittsburg, until 1853, when he engaged, in company with another, in the boot and shoe bnsi- ness. In 1856, he came west, and was engaged as eonduetor on the railroad, after which he was mado superintendent of the road. Since 1857, his family had been in Monroe county, Wisconsin, and in 1865, he located there on a farm. In 1866, he moved to Watertown, in the same State, and was engaged in mercantile business. He came to Carver county, Minnesota, in April, 1873, and was elected School Superintendent for one term. Was then elected to the Legislature one term and after- wards refused the nomination for State Senator. In August, 1873, he came to this place, and the following September, opened a general store at Waverly Mills, but afterwards went on a farm, to which he has given his entire attention. Mr. Cullen was united in marriage with Miss Maria L. Rigden, of Brownsville, Pennsylvania, in 1851. They have three children, one son and two dangh- ters. The son, Charles Henry, was married to Miss Ellen Quimm, in 1879.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
TIMOTHY DUSTIN was born in Erie county, New York, on the 25th of July, 1844. His father died in 1852, and three years later, his mother eame with the family to this county. A full account of the terrible tragedy which befel this family is given elsewhere in these pages. After the murder of his mother by the Indians in 1863, Timothy resided with his brother-in-law, A. D. Kingsley, till July, 1864, when he enlisted in Company H, of the Fourth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and served about one year. After returning from the army he settled in this eounty, and has lived here ever sinee.
CHARLES L. FLANNIGAN, M. D., dates his birth in Syracuse, New York, on the 18th of November, 1848. He came west with his parents in 1860, who settled at Winona, Minnesota, where Charles attended the High School, and afterwards returned to his native State and took a course in the State University, graduating in the Medical Department in 1871. Again coming west, he spent some time in traveling, after which he commenced the prac- tice of his profession, in which he has been emi- nontly successful. He practiced in Fairfield and Shakopee, going thence to Watertown, Carver county, where he remained three years, being County Physician a portion of the time. In 1881, he took a post-graduate course at Rush Medical College, Chicago, and is now enrolled among the alumni of that institution. He eame to Waverly in the spring of 1878, and soon after, opened the first drug store in this place, which he still eon- tinues. Miss Frederica Straub, of Winona, bc- came his wife on the 14th of February, 1868. She died at Waverly on the 3d of February, 1880, leaving two children; David S. and Etta A.
ISME GRANGER, whose birth ocenrred in Mon- treal, Canada, in the year 1810, enme to Minnesota in 1857. He soon after went by wagon train from St. Paul to the Red River, and located in the vicin- ity of Pembina, where he remained till July, 1863, and then returned by wagon to this place, settling on section twenty-two. It was a long and tedious journey and not nnattended by danger. Mr. Granger was united in marriage with Miss Eliza- beth Anderson, in February, 1831. Instances like this are seldom met with, the " golden wedding " having been passed, and no symptoms of speedy decline on the part of either. They have had thir- teen children, eight of whom are living; Lawrence, Harmidas, Edmond, Godfroi, Theana, Philomen, Anna, and Eliza.
JOHN O'GORMAN, an enterprising merchant of Waverly, was born in the city of St. Paul, Minne- sota, on the 6th of December, 1852. ITis father arrived in St. Paul the previous May, and erected a small brick house on the corner of St. Peter and Ninth streets, where John was born. This honse still stands ou the old spot. Mr. O'Gorman, Sen., was a stone-eutter, and chiseled the first stone steps of the old Capitol; he died on the 28th of Jan- uary, 1872, and was followed by Mrs. O'Gorman to the shining shore, on the 15th of November, 1878. The subject of this sketch was engaged in the retail grocery trade in St. Paul two and a half years, and also eight years in Berrisford's Cracker Manufactory before coming here. He opened his place of business here on the 1st of September, 1880, and is enjoying a liberal patronage. Mr. O'Gorman was married in St. Paul on the 14th of September, 1876, to Miss Margaret Foley, who has borne him four children, but two of whom are liv- ing; Agnes and Julia. The first born were twins, and died in infancy.
WILLIAM P. HOLBROOK is a native of Montrose, Pennsylvania, born on the 19th of August, 1834. Came to Minnesota in 1858, and located in Al- bion, this county, where he remained two years, and then for a time was unsettled, until in 1862, he cnlisted in the First Minnesota Mounted Rangers. He was discharged in the fall of 1863, and went to the present site of the village of How- ard Lake. Miss Susan C. L. Cochran became his wife on the 14th of April, 1864. The follow- ing spring they moved to what is now Smith Lake, located on a claim and remained till 1872, when our subject entered the employ of the rail- road company and went to Maple Plain, Henne- pin Conty, as station agent. A year later he was stationed at Smith Lake, and in the spring of 1874, changed to his present station, Montrose. The same summer he bought land and built a residence at this place. Was Deputy Postmaster under G. M. Wright, and since 1880, Postmaster by appointment.
EMIL HUSSER, business manager of J. F. Miller & Co.'s store, was born in Carver County, Miume- sota, on the 25th of February, 1858. His parents eame from Germany in 1854, and to Carver County the following year. In 1861, his mother died, and several years later, his father moved to St. Paul where he still resides. The subject of this sketeh entered the employ of the above named firm ten years ago, but has been a member of Mr.
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
Miller's family for about seventeen years. In June, 1880, he was admitted to partnership in the company. Miss Ellen Green, of Montrose, be- eame his wife on the 24th of June, 1880. They have one child named Edna.
SAMUEL W. JUNKEN dates his birth in Rush- ville, Indiana, on the 13th of November, 1833. Ifis youth was spent in his native State until 1860, when he went to Illinois, but returned to Indiana in 1864. In 1868, he came to Minnesota, and was connected with a firm in Minneapolis for one year, in the sale of agricultural implements. He was then engaged in farming one year near Lake Calhoun, after which he came to Wright county and took a homestead of eighty aeres in Middleville township. In August, 1880, he en- gaged as book-keeper for P. & J. W. Fallihee, at Waverly, which position he now ocenpies. Mr. Junken was married in Indiana, on the 1st of March, 1855, to Miss Martha E. Brann, of Quincy, Illinois, who died in Middleville, in October, 1875, leaving five ehildren; Fanny, Mary, Sigel, James N., and Robert. Though not seeking public posi- tions, yet Mr. Junken was called by his townsinen to till some office of responsibility every year dur- ing his residence in Middleville.
LA VIERRE KYrg was born in Elmira, New York, on the 21st of April, 1837. He removed with his parents to Michigan when but a child, and in 1872, came to Minnesota and took charge of the railroad station at this place, which posi- tion he still fills. Mr. Kyte had held responsible positions in some of the leading railroad offices in Michigan prior to coming here. He was married at Sturgis, Michigan, on the 25th of March, 1860, to Miss Salome Pontins, a native of Ohio. They have had three children, but one of whom is liv- ing. Mrs. Kyto was appointed Postmistress in 1873, and has held the office ever since.
HENRY LAMMERS, a native of Westphalia, Prus- sia, was born on the 4th of January, 1827. In 1852, he came to America, and after remaining one year in Chicago, removed to Walworth county, Wisconsin, where he was engaged at his trade, that of carpenter and joiner, for two years. le came to Minnesota in August, 1854, and followed his trade at St. Paul until 1859, when he came to Wright connty and took a claim on section six, Franklin township. He sold his claim in 1861, and came to Waverly, where he opened the second store in the village. In 1864, he disposed of his store and enlisted in Company A, of the First
Minnesota Heavy Artillery and served till the close of the war. Returning from the army he purchased a farm on section nineteen, in this town- ship and has since devoted much of his time to ils improvement, it being one of the best. in- proved farms in the county. Mr. Lammers was married in Chicago, on the 17th of May, 1854, to Miss Ama Gardner, who died in November, 1865. She had borne him four children, two of whom are living; Henry L. and Dora L. He was again married in December, 1865, to Mrs. Dimer Kline. Four children were born of this marriage, two of whom died in infancy. Those living are named Matilda and George.
FRANKLIN D. REDFIELD was born in Princeton, Wiseonsin, on the 13th of February, 1860. Came to this State with his parents and located at Owa- tonna in 1865. A year later they removed to Hamilton, then to Howard Lake in December, 1870. In 1880, they sold their farm in the latter place and came to this village. Mr. Redfield has been engaged in school-teaching for the past few years. He was principal of the village schools at Montrose in the winter of 1880-81, but at the close of the term, entered the store of J. F. Miller & Co. as clerk. Miss Ida Ball became his wife on the 11th of March, 1879. They have two children, Adelbert and Dnard.
JOHN ROBERGE, a native of Quebee, Canada, was born on the 27th of August, 1841. He came with his parents to Minnesota at the age of seven years, and settled in St. Paul, which was then only a hamlet. In 1852, they removed to the west side ot the town, where the father still resides on a farm. The mother died in the latter place on the 15th of March, 1881, at the age of sixty-tive years. On the 14th of Angust, 1862, our subject enlisted in Company II, of the Tenth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and on the 21st of Angust, 1865, was mustered out at Fort Snelling. About three months later, he came to Marysville township, made a claim on seetion two, and brought his family here the following spring. Mr. Roberge was united in marriage with Miss Matilda Chris- tian, of Michigan, on the 29th of October, 1865. Their children are, Charles, Cordelia, Addie, and Jeanette. Willie, the youngest, died aged ten months. Mrs. Roberge's mother is also a member of the family.
GEORGE M. WRIGHT, one of the pioneers of this region, was born in Pennsylvania on the 22d of July, 1835. He came to this county in 1857, and
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took a elaim in Woodland, on which he resided till coming to his present farm in 1860. Mr. Wright has always been engaged in farming ex- cept about two years, when he was in the army. He served in the Third Battery, Minnesota Light Artillery, from March, 1864, till February, 1866. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary S. Hainer, is a native of Pennsylvania, and became his wife on the 24th of May, 1856. They have ten chil- dren; Herbert, Hudson, Ernest, Henry, Clarenee, Charles, Dwight, Grant, Anna L., and John W.
ARTHUR YOUNG, a native of Canada, came to this place on the 7th of April, 1879, and the fol- lowing year engaged in business for himself. In 1881, he built a fine building on Main street, Wav- erly, using the lower part for a first-class billiard room and dwelling, and the upper story is fitted for a Lodge room, which he rents to the Druids. His brother, Thady, who came here in 1880, is his only relative in the United States. Mr. Young was united in marriage with Miss Delma Delback, of Marysville, on the 8th of June, 1880.
MONTICELLO.
CHAPTER CXXVIII.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION -EARLY SETTLEMENT-VIL- LAGE HISTORY- MILLS - SCHOOLS ~ CHURCHES -SOCIETIES - AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS - BIO- GRAPHICAL.
Monticello, one of the northern towns of Wright county, is bounded on the north by Sherburne connty, from which it is separated by the Missis- sippi river, east by Otsego, sonth by Frankfort and Buffalo, and west by Maple Lake and Silver Creek. Its form is irregular, and two fractional townships, with a portion of a third, also frae- tional, are embraced within its borders. Its east- ern line is something over four miles in extent, its southern, nine, and its western, eight and one half; while its northern line, formed by the Mississippi river, is about twelve miles in extent. A light growth of timber skirts the river, reaching back in the eastern part of the town, where it unites with the heavier timber of the ndjoining territory. The remainder of the town, with some slight ex- ceptions, is a beautiful open prairie, gently undu- lating, merging into brush and light timber, and now inder thorough cultivation, and dotted by
pleasant farm residences, presenting one of the most delightful seenes to be found in the North- west. To the south and west of the village, here- after mentioned, are numerous lakes, some of which ure of rare bounty, and often visited both by pleasure-seckers and lovers of piscatorial diver- sion. Pelican lake, a little cast of south from the village, lies partly within this town, and partly in Buffalo and Frankfort. This is the largest body of water wholly within the limits of Wright county, and is well stocked with fish, as are also the smaller lakes referred to. A chain of lakes in the western part of the town are connected by streams of. moderate size, termmating in Mill creek, which forms the ontlet, and empties into the Mississippi just above the village limits. South of the village, a chain of lakes are con- nected in like manner, but have no visible ontlet. Most of these lakes are environed by poplar and oak groves, or fringed by lighter timber and shrubbery, and constitue a sportsman's paradise during the duek-hunting season.
EARLY SETTLEMENT .- In the summer of 1852, two young men, Herbert MeCrory and F. M. Cad- well, pushed forward along the valley of the Mis- sissippi beyond the eabins of earlier settlers, until charmed with the picturesqne scenery and fertile soil, they selected claims and commenced improve- ments. Mr. MeCrory's claim was in section three, west of the present village, and ineluded the mill site hereafter mentioned. Mr. Cadwell's claim was about two miles above, on section thirty-two of the adjoining congressional township. The next to open a farm here was Row Brasie, who came from Wiseonsin in the early part of July, 1854, and located on section nine, on the farm now owned by G. W. Herriek. Two weeks later, abont the 20th of July, the settlement was augmented by the arrival of J. B. Rich, James Marden, J. B. Marden, Robert Ford, Henry Carr, and Charles Davis, all of whom took claims within two miles of the present village. Subsequently these par- ties sold to other early comers, except Mr. Rich, who remained for some time on his claim, where he made considerable improvement. None of the others remained on their elaims a full year.
Soon after the arrivals above noted, Ashley C. Riggs laid elaim to the present site of Moritzious, now lower Monticello, and in August a young man named Proctor, a printer, From St. Anthony, built a claim shanty on the present site of Monti- cello. Late in the fall of that year S. MeManns
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
and Thomas Creighton platted the town site of Monticello, which Mr. Creighton named from the "Little Mountain," a hill of modest proportions, about two miles from the village to the southeast. Previous to this, in September, Ashley C. Riggs and Moritzions Weissberger laid ont the town of Moritzious. Mr. Riggs also established a ferry aeross the Mississippi the same season, which was the only one here for two years .. In the fall, his brother, George W., bought a half interest in the ferry, which he still retains.
Other early settlers were, Angustus Mitchell, H. H. Helm, Ira Hoar, and H. S. Brasie, who eame in 1854; Z. M. Brown, George W. Riggs, Thomas Anderson, C. S. Boyd, Ambrose Bryant, Alexan- der Mitchell, Royal Marsh, Charles Sydlinker, and John Whitcomb, in 1855, and Sam. E. Adams, C. W. Clarey, T. G. Mealey, Henry Kreis, the Wal- dens, Stokes, and others who followed soon after, and settled in different parts of the town. Of those named, the majority are still living here, as also other early settlers named hereafter.
The first store opened here was by James and Thomas Chambers, in the present residenee of Mrs. Brown, widow of Geo. Brown, who was among the early settlers here. The building is on its original site, near and back of the Advent Church.
The first church in 1856, by the Methodist Epis- eopal society, was organized under the pastoral direction of Rev. Thomos Creighton.
A lumber mill was built in 1855, by Z. M. Brown and Thomas Creighton, with a daily capacity of abont twenty-five thousand feet. The mill is yet standing, and the old boom-piers are in exist- ence, thongh unnsed for several years past. The property is now owned by Fred. Hitter, and is sit- nated on the river bank, just above the island lying between the upper and lower ferries. A second Inmber mill was built in lower town the year fol- lowing, by G. W. and A. C. Riggs, J. D. Taylor, E. Stiles, and H. H. Helm, with a capacity of twenty- five thousand fect daily. It was destroyed by fire in November, 1858, and never rebuilt. Both mills were operated by steam.
In 1857, another ferry was established by John F. Gallow, which is still in operation. Mr. Gal- low died some years ago, and the ferry was rin by his son, John E. Gallow, for a number of years prior to 1880, when it was sold to the present owner, Mr. C. Jones.
1. W. Merrill first directed the youth of the en- ergetie young colony in the paths of wisdom; a
rnde hall being devoted to that purpose in the winter of 1855-56. The following summer wit- nessed the erection of a comfortable school build- ing, which is yet in existence, though long since abandoned as an institution of learning. It is now on section eleven, near the village. The first term of sehool held in the new building was taught by O. C. Gray.
In 1856, Harvey Brookins came here from Illi- nois and started a livery stable, the first in the place, which has passed through different hands, and is now owned by P. S. Titus and J. W. Hana- ford. George Knowlton and George Libbey opened the first blacksmith shop, in 1856.
The first white child born in Monticello was Fred Anderson, whose birth ccenrred in the fall of 1855. The first within the village limits was John G., son of George W. Riggs, the birth dating De- cember 16th, 1855.
The first death was that of Mrs. Caswell, an in- valid lady who came here from Canada in 1855, in the hope of recovering her health. She came too late, however; her doom was sealed, and not even the health giving atmosphere of this enchanting region conld gainsay the "Great Destroyer." She died, and her husband soon removed to Mecker eonnty, where he is supposed now to reside.
The first marriage ceremony was performed about 1856, uniting A. S. Descent and Miranda Chandler. Another oceurred not far from this time, when one of the present merchants of Monticello, then hold- ing the office of Justice of the Peace under appoint- ment (it being in Territorial days), cemented the future destinies of F. M. Cadwell and Miss Eliza- beth MeCrory.
There is an amusing tradition still preserved in relation to this union. It is said that this officer had been engaged to perform the ceremony, but in the multiplicity of business cares had given it no further thought, until reminded of it a few mo- ments before the appointed time. His mind was not clear as to the exact nature of his duties, or the proper course of procedure, and in his per- plexity he resorted to his prayer-book. Vain hope! It yielded no guide to the footsteps of the Judi- eiary, and being then unfamiliar with our legal forms, the ease became desperate. However, he rose to the dignity of the occasion," extracted solemn promises from the bride and groom, and dechured them man and wife, "according to the how in such cases made and provided." The state- ment to the effect that the ceremony closed with
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the words "and may God have mercy on your souls," lacks confirmation, and is only mentioned as a matter of tradition.
"The first hotel was opened to the public in Oc- Lober, 1857. It was called the Cataract House, and was under the management of Mr. Cross. It was situated near the lower ferry, and was de- stroyed by fire previous to the late civil war.
Minns .- The first flouring mill was built by William Tubbs in 1870, and was situated near the month of Mill creek, just west of the village limits. It had three rnn of stones, was 30x40 feet, and two stories above the basement. In 1874, it was sold to K. G. Staples, who took J. W. Tennison as a partner, the firm doing business until January, 1879, when the mill was destroyed by fire. In 1880, the mill property was purchased by Charles Janney, who erceted a larger and better furnished mill, which he is now operating with marked Bnceess.
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