USA > Mississippi > History of the upper Mississippi Valley, pt 2 > Part 34
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Soon after Mr. Tubbs built the first mill, as above stated. An elevator was built in the cen- tral part of the village by H. Bliss and C. W. Clarey, which was soon after changed to a steam grist mill, with two run of stones, and was run until abont 1877, when it was destroyed by fire.
In the fall of 1879, John Holler built a small feed mill in the village, run by a portable engine, which was discontinued after the building of the present flouring mill. Mr. Holler also run a port- able saw mill in the village during the present summer (1881).
Soon after the war a portable saw mill was put in operation by J. B. Blanchard near the lower ferry, which was run some time and terminated in an explosion, killing the engineer, a Mr. Wood. Some distance above this mill a tannery was built by Benjamin Bradford, not long after the war, which, however, was not long continued.
A Post-office was established in 1855, which for a time glided, like a weaver's shuttle, between upper and lower town, but finally found a resting place in a central location, where it has sinee re- mained. G. W. Gerrish was Postmaster nearly twelve years prior to C. E. Kreis, the present in- cumbent, who took charge in the early summer of 1881. It is a money order office and one of the most important in the county.
Monticello was first incorporated by an act of the 'Territorial Legislature approved March 1st, 1856, the boundaries including " so much of the territory of Wright county as is contained within
the town site, not exeeeding three hundred and twenty aeres," the same to constitute " a town cor- porated by the name of Monticello." Moritzions was also incorporated by an act of the State Leg- islature approved August 13th, 1858, which act named Moritzions Weissberger as President, A. Richter as Recorder, and Row Brasie, with the two officers named, as Trustees. In after years, diffi- eulties relating to titles led to some change in the corporation of Montieello, and on the 27th of April, 1861, the present organization was eonsum- mated, and the following officers eleeted: Presi- dent, Z. M. Brown; Trustees, W. C. Williams, L. C. Pickens, and J. W. Mulvey; Reeorder, J. G. Smith. Moritzious corporation still exists, but only for the purpose of disposing of eertain vil- lage lots held in trust according to the provision of the corporate act.
TOWN ORGANIZATION .- The formation of the pre- einet of Monticello is noted in the county history, and requires no further mention. Under the or- ganization there mentioned, William Creighton was the first, and Samuel Wilder the second Jus- tice of the Peace, and J. B. Rich the first Con- stable. The present town organization was per- fected by the election of the following officers, at the first annual town meeting, held on the 11th of May, 1858: Supervisors, MI. H. Helm, Chair- man, W. C. Williams and A. Stuart; Clerk, Ly- man Case; Assessor, Horatio Houlton; Colleetor, W. S. Brookins; Justiees of the Peace, Samuel Bennett and T. G. Mealey; Constables, W. S. Brookins and J. Leming; Overseer of roads, G. W. Hamilton. The number of votes cast was one hundred and twenty-seven, from which may be judged something of the growth of the common- nity since the first settlement.
CHURCHES .- The Congregational church was organized March 8th, 1856, through the efforts of Rev. J. C. Whitney, who visited the place in Jan- uary, 1856, and held religious rervices at the house of N. Fletcher. Twenty-two members were en- rolled. John Perkins was elected Deaeon, and A. W. Wood, Clerk. A church was built during the summer, and dedieated in the fall of that year. Rev. Mr. Hicks was the first pastor, and his sne- cessors have been, Revs. W. Griswold, A. K. Fox, A. V. House, O. M. Smith, Rev. Mr. Jenks, Rev. Mr. Cutler, A. K. Fox, and in 1881, the society se- enred the services of Rev. Alva A. Hurd, under whose ministry the church is enjoying an encour- aging degree of prosperity.
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
The Baptist church was represented as early as 1856, when a society was organized by Rev. L. Alkinson, who visited the place under the anspices of the Home Missionary Society. For some fime The society was without a place of worship, but in 1874, commenced the ercetion of a church, which was completed and dedicated in 1875. The first settled pastor was Rev. R. H. Weeks, in 1860, who remained bill the fall of 1862, and was succeeded by Rev. G. B. Bills in 1866, the church being without stated preaching during the interim. In 1873, Rev. M. A. Blowers assumed pastoral charge, and has since remained. The society numbers abont forty-two, and the church editice is a neat wood structure, erected at a cost of abont $1,500.
The Methodist Episcopal church was organized under the ministration of Rev. S. T. Creighton, in 1856, through whose efforts a church was soon erected, and on Sunday, October 18th, 1857, was dedicated, Rev. John Penman, of St. Paul, offici- ating. Since Mr. Creighton's term, the ministers following were in the order here given: Nonh La- throp, William Shelly, S. T. Sterritt, - Whiting, A. Welsh, - - Perrigrim, D. Brooks, H. J. Shaffner, L. C. Collins, Shank, Thomas Day, J. G. Teter, L. Gleason, and M. B. Smith, the present pastor. The present membership is about sixty, besides which the Otsego church is connceted, the pastor located here preaching at this point each Sunday morning, and at Otsego in the afternoon. In 1880, the old church edifice was enlarged and remodeled, and is now the largest and best in the village.
The Advent Christian church was organized in the fall of 1868, and a ehmarch erected the follow- ing year. William Chandler assmed the whole expense of building, and placed the church, free of charge, af The disposal of the society so long as used by them as a house of worship, with the fur- ther requirement that weekly service be maintained. The society furnished the church, and are held re- sponsible for its preservation, repairs, etc. Rev. O. B. Fasset effected the organization of the soei- cty, and Rev. L. C. Collins was the first settled pastor. Revs. S. C., and M. Wellcome have since had charge, and at present the pulpit is supplied by Rev. C. B. Fellows.
Each of the churches named maintain Sabbath sehools, and unite monthly in a union coneert, held in the several churches in regular rotation.
In school matters Monticello has ever been fore- most among western towns. The early school of- Forls have already been noted and need no further
mention. At a time when the village was yet in its infancy, its leading citizens conceived the praise- worthy idea from which has resulted the present independent district, and Academy. This Academy wes chartered inder an ach providing for a special class of graded schools, which are practically ad junets of the State University. The school has three departments-high, intermediate, and pri- mary, in the first of which are tanght the higher branches, natural philosophy, geometry, latin, etc. The charter for this Academy was granted in 1856, and the next year the building was erected at a eost of $7,000-the money being obtained by loan from eastern capitalists. Considerable dissatisfac- tion resulted from this movement, but it has long since died away, and the public now feel a just pride in the reputation the school has won and still maintains. During the interval between the granting of the charter and the formal opening of the building for school purposes, a school of two departments was conducted by Prof. E. W. Merrill assisted by his sister, in a hall over the store then owned by Z. M. Brown, and known later as the " People's Store" in upper town. Six distriet schools are maintained in the town, which with the Academy afford educational facilities rarely met with throughout the Northwest.
SOCIETIES.
The first society here in point of date was the Wriglit County Bible Society, which was organ- ized June 26th, 1855. Only imperfeet records ean be obtained, but the partial list, furnished from memory, names C. S. Boyd as President, Nathan Fletcher as Vice-President, and James Chambers as Secretary. It is a matter of regret that full details of the society are not obtainable. The present officers are: President, Henry Kreis; Vice- President, J. R. Longfellow; Secretary, A. F. Barker; and Treasurer, George W. Carpenter. The depository is at the store of Mr. Carpenter. The annual meetings of the society ocenr in Jannary at some one of the churches in Monticello.
MONTICELLO UNION TEMPERANCE SOCIETY was organized March 21st, 1874, with the following officers: President, Rev. D Brooks; Vice-Presi- dent, George W. Carpenter; Secretary, Samuel Wilder; Treasurer, Henry Kreis; Excentive Com- mittee, Rev. O. M. Smith, T. Day, Revs. D. Brooks, M. A. Blowers, and S. C. Wellcome. Meetings are held on the last Sunday evenings of each month, at each of the churches in rotation. The present officers are: £ President, Sammel
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
Wilder; Vice-President, Henry Kreis; Secretary, Miss Emma Kreis; Treasurer, George W. Carpen- ter; Executive Committee, Revs. A. A. Hurd, M. A. Blowers, C. B. Fellows, and M. B. Smith.
MONTICELLO LODGE, No. 16, A. F. AND A. M. was organized U. D. in December, 1856, and re- ceived its charter January, 6th, 1857. The char- ter members were: S. J. Mason, Samuel E. Adams, Thomas Chambers, H. H. Helm, C. C. Burns, George M. Bertram, Tra H. Keen, J. N. Barlow, Charles King, E. W. Merrill, and Joseph Nelson. From this membership the following officers were chosen: S. J. Mason, W. M .; Sam. E. Adams, S. W .; Thomas Chambers, J. W .; C. C. Burns, Sec,; H. H. Helm, Treas .; Ira H. Keen, S. D .; and Joseph Nelson, Tyler. Of the members since added, quite a number have demitted for the pur- pose of alliliating with lodges in places to which they had removed, besides which several neighbor- ing lodges have drawn from this in charter mem- bers at the time of organization, this being the parent lodge of this region. Several of the origi- nal charter members are still here, among whom are 11. 11. Helm and Joseph Nelson, the former of whom is the only Treasurer the lodge has ever chosen. The membership. at the last aunual re- port was forty-two. The present officers are: Henry Kreis, W. M .; Frank Macdonald, S. W .; Elam S. Gibbs, J. W .; Fred. H. Brown, Sec .; H. H. HIch, Treas .; H. A. Irwin, S. D .; Daniel Mast, J. D .; Daniel Dearborn, S. S .; Don F. Ful- ler, J. S .; and W. P. Barnett, Tyler.
A lodge of Independent Order of Good Tem- plars was organized as early as 1864, but from lack of personal effort was allowed to die out, and the charter was forfeited. The present organiza- tion was effected in October, 1874, with twenty- seven members and the following officers: A. F. Barker, W. C. T .; Laura Kreis, W. V. T .; G. T. Wellcome, W. S .; Charles O. Whitney, W. C .; Annie Wilson, W. A. S .; K. G. Staples, W. F. S .; Mary Longfellow, W. T .; A. B. Burdull, W. M .; Nellie Bliss, D. M.
The interest thut led to the organization has been kept up, and weekly meetings main- tained. They meet each Friday evening in a rented hall, which is furnished by the society. Mnsie and literary exercises render the meetings both pleasant and profitable, and the attendance is usually good. The present membership roll shows fifty-three mmes, und additions are con- slantly being made.
A Cemetery Association was organized in 1857, incorporated in 1858, and a tract of grond seenred and platted in the south part of the town site, where now lie the remains of inany of the carly settlers. The once phin, grussy slope is now thickly studded with marble slabs and polished cohunns; tokens of love for the departed, and silent reminders of man's mortality.
NEWSPAPERS .- The first, and for many years the only paper published in Wright county, was in Monticello. The " Monticello Times" was pub- lished by C. M. Kenton in 1857, and con- tinued until 1859, when George Gray, now a leading merchant of Monticello, purchased the office and material, and in June began the publi- cation of the " Wright County Republican." Mr. Gray also published the "Northern Statesman," continuing his editorial labors till 1871, when he sold the office to T. A. Perrine, who changed the name to the " Wright County Times," which name it still bears. In December, 1878, Mr. Perrine was forced to abandon editorial labor, owing to failing health, and sold to Ed. A. Fisher and Orlando Kling, firm name of Fisher & Kling, which part- nership continued till September, 1879, when Mr. Kling returned to his former occupation, that of druggist, Mr. Fisher continuing the publication till September, 1880, when the present editor and proprietor, Sam E. Adams, assumed control. The original size of the "Times" was a seven-column folio, but was changed to a nine-column folio soon after the purchase from Mr. Perrine.
Monticello township has a cultivated area of over 7,000 acres, and the products, according to the agricultural report for 1880, were: wheat, 82,975 bushels; oats, 27,771 bushels; corn, 25,021 bushels; barley, 15 bushels; rye, 1,000 bushels; buckwheat, 150 bushels; potatoes, 5,214 bushels; beans, 49 bushels; sugar cane, 1,303 gallons; enl- tivated hay, 371 tons; flax seed, 25 bushels; tim- othy seed, 199 bushels; wild hay, 1,861 tons; to- bacco, 20 pounds; wool, 5,631 pounds; butter, 23,305 pounds; honey, 1,690 pounds; and cheese, 700 pounds.
IROGRAPHICAL.
SAMUEL E. ADAMS is a descendant of the old Lexington, Massachusetts, family of that name, and was born in Reading, Windsor county, Ver- mont, on the Ist of December, 1828. When Sam- uel was abont n year old, the family removed to Bellows Falls, and thence to Rutland county, where he was raised on his father's farm. Ho
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
prepared for college at Thetford and West Ran- dolph, and entered Dartmouth College in 1851, buit was obliged to leave on account of ill health. In 1853, he was appointed by President Piero, ronto agent between Boston and Burlington, but two years later, resigned that position and came to Minnesota on account of a bronchial difficulty, from which he speedily and permanently recov- ered. He settled in Monticello, then the seat of justice of Wright county, in 1856, and for two or three years was in the mercantile trade. In 1859, he was appointed special agent of the Post-office department for Iowa and Minnesota, and the next year, became Receiver at the land office in St. Cloud, but left the next year, when the republi- cans came into power. Though a demoerat in those days, he was for prosecuting the war for the Union with the ntmost energy and dispateh, and in 1862, was appointed Paymaster by President Lincoln. He was breveted Lieutenant Colonel in 1865, "for meritorions services in the field," and did not leave the servico until January, 1866, when honorably discharged by the Secretary of War. He returned to Minnesota in 1866, and en- gaged in real estate and mercantile business, con- tinuing the latter until the present time. He was elected State Senator in 1857, and re-elected in 1859, and while in that body served on the com- mittee on State affairs, publie lands, towns and counties, and engrossment. He has been a men- ber of the school board for many years, and takes a deep interest in educational matters. In Sep- tember, 1880, he assumed the editorial manage- ment of the "Wright County Times," which he still conducts. Mr. Adams was married on the 21st of July, 1859, to Miss Augusta J. Smith, of Pittsford, Vermont. They have two sons; Henry Rice and John Cain.
FRED T. ANDERSON was born in the township of Monticello, on the 3d of Angust, 1855, and was the first white child born in the town. His father is a native of New Hampshire, and his mother was porn in Maine. Fred is their only child. Mr. An- lerson owns a farm of one hundred and thirty-four teres in sections six and seven, Monticello town- ship. He married Miss A. S. Simmons on the 1st of January, 1878. They have one child, named Marion.
ALBERT F. BAKER, n native of Bethel, Maine, vas born on the 2d of June, 1839. He was farm- ng till seventeen years of age, and then followed painting, coming to Monticello in 1856. In 1862,
he enlisted in Company E, of the Eighth Minne- sota Vohmteer Infantry, serving two years ou ths' frontier, then at Fort Suelling, till mustered out in June, 1865. Bo then returned to Monticello, nud engaged in the furniture business for three years; was elected clerk of the District Court, which office he filled from 1866 to 1870. In 1870, sold his furniture establishment, and engaged in the drug business, which he still follows. He mar- ried Miss Eliza J. Brown, of Fitchburg, Massachu- setts, on the 14th of November, 1860. Their chil- dren are, Nellie I., Frederick I., Bertie M., George V., Mae, and Cnllen B.
ISAAC BAILEY, a native of Canada East, was born in the year 1822, and emigrated to the United States in 1857. After remaining a few months at Monticello, he removed to that portion of Big Lake, since set-off and named Orroek, where he resided on a farm till 1876, when he traded the farm for the Central House at Monti- cello, and moved to Big Lake township, where he owned another farm. In May, 1881, he moved to Montieello, and took charge of the Central House. While a resident of Big Lake town, he filled various positions of public trust, such as Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, and member of the School Board. Mr. Bailey has won quite a reputation as a lmunter. He killed over four hundred deer and a comparative number of bears while a resident of Orrock. He married Miss Margaret Gibson, of Quebee, in 1850. Their children are, Emma J., Gibson I., Abby H., Elizabeth A., Frederick E., and Elsa A.
Row BRASIE, a native of the State of New York, was born in the year 1806. In 1844, went to Il- linois and farmed for a few years, then to Ripon, Wiseonsin, four or five years, where he was farm- ing and keeping a hotel. In 1854, came to Monti- cello, locating on a farm about one mile from town, but after four years sold out and weut to Big Lake, Sherburne county, and farmed till 1871. Then moved to Delano and engaged in merchan- dising till 1880, when he moved to Litchfield, where he is now in the mercantile trade. He married Miss Hulda A. Bettis. Their children are Henry S., W. Worth, John A., and Charles A. Henry S. Brasie was born on the 18th of Angust, 1838. In 1864, he engaged in merchan- dising in Monticello for two years, then in the hotel business for the same length of the in Lower Town. In 1871, built the Merchants Hotel in Upper Town, operating it for eight yours;
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
then sold to Mr. Jackson. In 1879, moved on a farm in section twenty-three, where he has one hundred and sixty acres, one hundred and twenty- five being under enltivation. He married Miss Mary H. Hamilton in 1860. Their children are, Gertrude, George, Henry, Nellie, and Grace.
MILTON BLISS was born on the 24th of April, 1829, at Oswego, New York. His father was a manufacturer of woolen goods, with whom Milton. worked in the mill till twenty-one years of age. Then learned the carpenter trade and followed building for fifteen years, after which he engaged in the merchandise trade in Orleans county, New York, until he moved to Monticello in 1866. Hc bought a farm on sections five and six, where he still resides. He married Miss Harriet M. Lewis on the 1st of December, 1853. Their children are, Clement L. and Nellie M.
BARKER BAILEY, a native of Vermont, was born on the 14th of May, 1802. At the age of ten years the family moved to Canada East, where he spent boyhood on a farm and lived until 1855, when he came to Minnesota and located on sec- tions five and six, Monticello township, giving his attention to farming. He married Miss Euniee Caswell, of Vermont, on the 25th of September, 1830. Their children are, Lucy, Moody, Susan, Helen, and Direxy.
Rev. MARTIN A. BROWERS, n native of Onon- daga county, New York, was born on the 19th of February, 1836. When a small boy, the family moved to Michigan, where he received his eduea- tion. He attended the Kalamazoo College, pre- paring for the ministry in the Baptist Church. His first charge was at Rolin, Lenawee county, where he was ordained in 1869. After serving the church for two years, removed to Wheatland, the same length of time, thence to Monticello, Minne- sota, in 1873, where he is still Pastor of the Bap- tist Church. He married Miss Delilah E. Nye, of Otsego, Wright county, in March, 1866. Their children are, Frank E., Mary S., and Olive A.
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C. S. BOYD, (deceased ) a native of Ohio, was born on the 5th of May, 1811. He learnod the mason trade while young, and followed the busi- ness till 1855. Then came to Minnesota, locating on sections twenty-two and twenty-seven, Monti- cello township. He was one of the early settlers, and highly respected by his fellow-citizens. He met an untimely death by being caught under a falling tree on the 16th of February, 1880. He married Miss Elizabeth llocket, of Ohio, on the
7th of October, 1847. Their children are, Anna, + Charles W., Henry H., and Benjamin F.
AMBROSE BRYANT, a native of Kennebec county, Maine, was born on the 12th of June, 1810. He learned the blacksmith trade, and followed the business for a number of years; then was in the mercantile business for several years. In 1855, came to Monticello, locating on a farm in sections thirty-two and thirty-three, which he sold in the spring of 1881, and is now living with his son Alonzo. He married Miss Narcissa Merrill, of Windsor, Maine, on the 15th of December, 1834. Of twelve ehildren born to them, eleven are living.
AMBROSE O. BRYANT, a son of the subject of our last sketch, was born on the Gth of April, 1845, in Windsor, Maine. He married Miss Mary E. Knights, on the 1st of December, 1880, and is en- gaged in farming in this township.
HERBERT E. BRYANT, a brother of our last sub- ject, was born in Monticello township, on the 3d of May, 1859. He has worked on his father's farm most of his life.
FREMONT BRYANT, another brother, was also born in Monticello, on the 30th of October, 1857. He resides in Buffalo, engaged in the livery busi- ncss.
PETER BECKER, a native of Prussia, Germany, was born in the year 1844. He learned the tailor's trade in his native country, and emigrated to America in 1868. He remained three years in Illi- nois, one year at Vicksburg, Mississippi, then went to Wisconsin for a number of years. In 1875, he moved to Minnesota, stopping at Minneapolis for one year; then came to Buffalo, Wright county, and was engaged in farming and at the tailor busi- ness until 1880, when he moved to Monticello, and has lived here since. He married Miss Susie Ludes, in 1875. They have three children, Annie K., John A., and Maggie E.
E. K. CHAMBERLIN was born in Kennebee county, Maine, on the 10th of March, 1823. He shared the advantages of a farmer's occupation, which, with lumbering, he followed till coming to St. Anthony in 1851, where he continued in the Inn- ber business for three years. In 1854, returned to his native State, remaining two years, then re- turned to Minnesota, locating on a farm near Buf- falo, Wright county. In 1862, enlisted in the Mounted Rangers, serving one year on the front- ier, also served one year in the South during the Rebellion. Returned from the army to Buffalo, but soon located on n farm in section twenty-nine,
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
Monticello township. Five years later, he sold ont and moved to section twenty-two in the same town where he still resides. He married Miss Sarah Ward on the 21st of June, 1860, who died September, 30, 1866. He chose for a second wife, Mrs. Almeda Foster. His children are, Emil W., Erson C., and Oscar T.
CHARLES W. CLAREY, a native of Georgetown, Maine, was born on the 31st of July, 1833, par- ticipating in farm labors, together with lumber- ing, till he came to Minnesota in 1853. He spent two years as salesman in a dry goods house in St. Paul and Minneapolis; then came to Monticello in 1856, engaging in the merchandise trade for a time, then in the stock trade for four or five years, after which he was in the wheelwright business, For abont ten years. In 1876, engaged in the wheat trade and doing a general business. He lives in the village, and carries on a farm, owning about three hundred aeres of land in the town- ship. . He married Miss Margaret Sceley, of St. George, New Brunswick, on the 2d of April, 1857. Their children are, Jennie, Amanda, Charles, Iloward, Herbert, Maud, and Ernest.
GroRes W. M. DRAKE was born in Northamp- ton, Massachusetts, on the 22d of July, 1827. At the age of eighteen, he went to Boston, and learned the brick mason trade, which business he followed for ten years. In 1855, moved to Minnesota, and located on section twenty, Monticello township, and farmed for ten years, then moved into Monti- eello, and opened a blacksmith shop, which he still continues. He married Miss Jane Frith, in 1850. They have three children; Addie, Nellie, and Frank.
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