USA > Mississippi > History of the upper Mississippi Valley, pt 2 > Part 42
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LOUIS OLSON was born in Christiana, Norway, on the 14th of November, 1843. At the age of eighteen, learned the tailor trade, following that occupation till 1869, when he emigrated to the United States. After working nt his trade for a year and a half in Minneapolis, opened a mer- chaut tailoring establishment in St. Paul, which he condueted till 1881, when he moved to Howard Lake, where he now resides.
JAMES B. NELSON dates his birth in Greemp county, Kentucky, on the 9th of February, 1840. He was apprenticed to a shoemaker when quite young, and followed that ocenpation until eighteen years of age, when he came to Seioto eonnty, Ohio. He found employment in the llouring mills of that section unfil 1865, when he came to Minnesota und selected the farm on which he now lives. Mr. Nelson, although denied the privileges of an early education, has acquired a fund of information fit- ting him for almost any business in life. He was the first Treasurer of Victor township. Mary Jane Smith became his wife on the 10th of October, 1861. They have nine children.
B. F. PARKER was born in Randolph county, Indiana, on the 14th of September, 1838. His father
died when he was but ten years old, and at the age of fifteen, he took charge of the farm, managing it until twenty-two years of age. Then worked at the carpenter trade till 1863, when he moved to Union City, working at his trade and engaged in nereantile pursuits till 1869. Then came to Min- nesota and took a homestead in the town of Mid- dleville, Wright county, and commenced opening a new farm. In 1878, came to Howard Lake, being employed in a store for a time. In August, 1880, formed a partnership with Hobson, known as Parker & Hobson, in a general mercantile trade. In February, 1881, the firm name was made Par- ker, Hobson & Ball. HIo was joined in marriage withi Miss Margaret Horn, on the 9th of February, 1862. Of four children, but one is living.
JAY PEASE, a native of Monroe county, New York, was born on the 22d of November, 1834. At the age of eighteen, the family moved to Green county, Wiseonsin, where he lived till 1862, when he went to Goodhne county, Minnesota, and en- gaged in farming for several years. Then went to Dodge county and other places, engaging in various kinds of employment imlil 1873, when he went to New Uh, where he kept a hotel for one and one-half years, then after living for a time in Redwood Falls and Sleepy Eye, located in Howard Lake in 1876, and engaged in the insurance bnsi- ness. He married Amelia Jane Lytle on the 24th of December, 1861. They have three children.
A. P. PARKER was born in Androscoggin con- ty, Maine, on the 17th of October, 1825. When abont twenty years old he became engaged in the dairy business in Boston, continuing that occupa- tion for eight years. Ile then went to San Fran- cisco, and remained on the Pacific slope, engaged in mining the greater portion of the time until 1866, when he came to Minnesota. After residing in East Minneapolis about two years, he came to the farm on which he now lives. Miss Margaret Pannett became his wife on the 29th of June, 1867. 'They have had five children, four of whom are living.
A. D. PINKERTON is one of the pioneers of Min- nesota. He was born at Ovid, Seneca county, New York, on the 8th of December, 1825. When the subject of this sketeh was a lad his father died, and he went to live with his grandfather. At the age of eighteen years he went to Wiseon- sin, and thence to Illinois, where he was engaged in farming until 1853. He then came to Minne- sota, being one of the first settlers in Mower
582
HISTORY OF THIE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
connty. He built the first house on the site of the present city of Austin, which he helped to survey and plat. In 1855, he eame to Albert Lea, and the following year moved to Blue Earth county, where he condneted a farm for seven years. He came to the farm on which he now lives in 1863, and the following year enlisted in Company F, of the Eleventh Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, serving till the close of the war. Returning to this township he has taken an active part in its public affairs. He was the first Chairman of Su- pervisors, and has held a number of local offices since. Mr. Pinkerton was united in marriage with Miss C. Amelia Woodbury, on the 14th of June, 1849. They have been blessed with seven children.
J. F. PEARSON, one of the pioneers of Victor township, was born in Clinton county, Ohio, on the 10th of August, 1835. When he was an in- fant, the family removed to Indiana, and in 1857, the subject of our sketch left home and came to Minnesota, locating in Victor township in April of the same year. After residing on his farm until 1869, he eame to the village of Howard Lake where he now lives. He has been engaged in mercantile pursuits most of the time since coming to the vil- lage, but is now devoting the greater part of his time to dealing it stock. He was the first Post- master at Howard Lake, holding the office until 1877. Ho was united in marriage with Mrs. Mar- garet Buek, on the 18th of March, 1867. They have one child, Addy L. Mrs. Pearson had one son by her former marriage, named Chassias M.
N. C. RICKERSON was born in Newport, Camp- bell connty, Kentucky. When about sixteen years old, commenced traveling through the South on business, which he continued for three years. His father, in the mean time, moved to Lonisville, Kon- tncky, where Mr. Rickerson went and assisted his father in the furniture trade. He next opened a furniture store in Harrisou county, then went to Missouri for eight years, and came to Minnesota in 1855. He engaged in the furniture business in St. Paul till 1861, after which he moved on n farm near Watertown, Carver county, and in 1865, pur- chased a farm, now joining the town site of How- ard Lake, which he sold in the spring of 1881, and opened n furniture store in the village, under the name of Riekerson and Son. He was united in marriage with Miss Catharine L. Brooks. They have eight children.
C. W. RICKEnSON, a native of Harrison county,
Kentucky, was born on the 27th of December, 1847. Lived with his father in Kentucky and Missouri, and came with his parents to Minnesota in 1855. While the family lived at Watertown, at the age of sixteen he enlisted in Company B, of Hatch's Independent Battalion, serving on the western frontier for three years. After returning, located in Howard Lake, in July, 1869, taking charge of the depot, as station agent, which posi- tion he still occupies. During the summer of 1881, formed a partnership with his father in the furniture business. He married Miss Eusebia J. Gray on the 1st of January, 1870. They have two children; a boy and a girl.
ALBERT SMITH, a native of Haneoek county, Il- linois, was born in 1851. He attended the public schools of his native town and subsequently, Knox College, at Galesburg, Illinois. Then engaged in thie dry goods business with his father, William Smith, in which he continued till 1872, when he eame to Minnesota and located on a farm in Mceker eounty. In 1875, returned to Illinois, where he lived till 1878, when he came to his pres- ent home in Howard Lake, and formed a partner- ship with his brother in the hardware and agri- cultural implements business, under the name of "Smith Brothers & Hobson." The following year Mr. Alley bonght Mr. Hobson's interest, and now the firm is "Smith Brothers & Co." He was joined in marriage with Miss Hannah J. Alley on the 3d . of November, 1880.
H. A. SMITH was born in Knox county, Ohio, on the Ist of August, 1841. When quite young, he came with the family to what is now Green Lake county, Wisconsin, and resided with his father until 1864, when he enlisted in Company B, of the Forty-first Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, but served only a few months. He was then on- gaged, for about n year, in the harness business at Ripou, Wisconsin. In 1865, he came to Minne- sota, but a portion of the time between that and 1880, was spent in fowa, being in business for himself a portion of the time. In the latter year he came to Howard Lake and established himself n the harness business, which he still continues.
CHARLES SCHWALBE was born in Prussia on the 16th of August, 1835. When five years of age he came with his parents to America, settling in East Sterling, Wayne county, Pennsylvania. In 1857, Charles eame to Carver connty, Minnesota, and settled on a farm in Laketown, but in 1874, removed to this town, which has since been his
583
WOODLAND TOWNSHIP.
home. Mr. Sehwalbe has taken quite a promi- nent part in town affairs since eoming here, and is serving his fourth term as Supervisor. He was married on the 28th of Febuary, 1857, to Miss Louisa Rhoda. They have seven children, four boys and three girls.
HERBERT TANNER, editor of the " People's Ad- vocate," is a native of Devon, England, and came to America in 1866. He first settled in Carver county, Minnesota, where he was engaged for a number of years in the mercantile business. He came to Wright county in 1871, and selected his present home in section thirty-six, Middleville township. He soon after opened a store at his residenec, and conducted it until 1875, when he closed out the business and devoted his energics exclusively to farming for a few years. In Octo- ber, 1879, he assumed the editorial and business management of the "Advocate," in which he has attained a degree of suceess far in advance of his predeecssors, having largely inereased its circula- tion, and placing it upon a financial basis wholly new in its history. He was united in marriage with Miss Esther Dunn, of Carver county, in 1872.
J. E. WARREN, a native of Rhode Island, was born on the 15th of September, 1841. His father, ' William Warren, a native of England, was one of the first engravers to come to the United States, after the commencement of the manufacture of calico in this country. While Mr. Warren was an infant, the family moved to Dover, New Hamp- shire, where he attended the High School, and then Franklin Academy of the same place, gradu- ating in 1857. The following year, came to Min- neapolis, Minnesota, and engaged in teaching school in different parts of the Stato till 1865, when he opened a store in Forest City, Meeker county. While a resident of that county, was elected Superintendent of public schools. In 1867, he located in Clearwater, Wright county, and served as Deputy Revenue Collector, and during the same year was elected Register of Deeds, and resided at Buffalo. In 1874, eame to Howard Lake, taking charge of the schools for four years. Having studied law, was admitted to the Bar in October, 1876, and has since practiced in this place. In 1879, owned and edited the "People's Advocate," the only paper in the place. He was united in marriage with Miss Mary Branham ou the 11th of June, 1863. She was the daughter of Jesse V. Branham, one of the old settlers of
Meeker county, and died on the 18th of July, 1881, leaving one daughter, Jessie.
WILLIAM WATROUS, one of the pioneers of the town, was born in Wyoming county, New York, on the 8th of December, 1830. When he was seven years old his mother died, and he soon after eommeneed working on the neighboring farms, continning that employment there until 1857, when he came to Minnesota. Ile selected a claim amid the heavy timber on the west bank of Lake Mary, where, by energy and good management, he has opened up one of the best farms in the township. He was married on the 10th of March, 1852, to Miss Lanra L. Freeman, a native of Conneeti- cut. They have two children, a son and daughter.
WOODLAND.
CHAPTER CXXXVII.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION-EARLY SETTLEMENT -RE- LIGIOUS-SCHOOLS ---- AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS -BIOGRAPHICAL.
Woodland is one of the four southern towns of the county, its sonthern boundary being the eonn- ty line between Wright and Carver counties. Its area is about 23,050 aeres, of which 2,600 are in- der cultivation. Its surface is rolling, and heavily timbercd, except where the march of civilization has removed portions of the primeval forest, leav- ing well tilled farms in their stead. It is watered by Grimshaw creek and its tributaries, and has sev- eral small lakes, the principal of which are Mnd Lake in the northeastern part, Garrigan Lake in the northern, and Bnekle's, Longwood, Wolf's, Por- ter's, and Ida lakes in the southwestern part.
Nearly every nationality found in the North- west has its representatives here. The first blow struck in this forest region was by the Grimshaw brothers, who built a claim shanty in the north part of the town in the spring of 1855, and in May of that year, sold to M. V. Cochran and Ezra M. Stacy. This claim was near the present village of Montrose. John Brabec, a Bohemian, came here from Illinois, where he spent one year after leaving his native country, in the fall of 1856, and took a claim on section twenty, where he still resides. In June, 1857, Cramer Swartout, a native of Saratoga county, New York, settled on section twelve, which is his present home. In Sep-
584
HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
tember, 1857, John Lanzer, a native of Bohemia, settled in the town, and the same-year, James Me- Grath was added to the band of pioneer settlers. Mrs. Kline, a widow, now Mrs. Thomas Young, was among the carly arrivals, and is remembered by the early settlers as a woman of remarkable energy and perseverance, having once walked from the present village of Montrose to Forest City, a distance of forty miles, pre-empted her land, and returned in two days. During her first year here she was onee lost in the woods, and not found until the evening of the third day, when she was discovered about five miles from her eabin, tired, though unharmed, and in good condition to participate in a banquet.
Woodland was organized in 1858, but owing to missing reeords, the list of first offieers is wanting. Mr. Cramer Swartout states that he and Miles Me- Dermot were the first Justiees of the Peace, and that Andrew Stacy, at whose house the election was held, was the first Town Clerk. Mr. Staey was among the earliest settlers, and located in see- tion one. He is not living now. .
There is one church in the town-the Swedish Lutheran-in section thirty-one. Five schools are maintained in the town during the usual terms.
The prodnets of Woodland in 1880, according to the agricultural report, were: wheat, 40,079 busli- els; oats, 21,321 bushels; corn, 20,400 bushels; bar- ley, 201 bushels; potatoes, 4,449 bushels; beans, 35 bushels; sugar-eane, 2,348 gallons; cultivated hay, . 161 tons; wildhay, 1,622 tons; tobacco, 300 pounds; wool, 2,163 pounds; and butter, 18,095 pounds.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
RICHARD BENNETT, a native of Allegany county, New York, was born on the 17th of October, 1854, und in enrly childhood removed with the family to Michigan, settling on a farin. In 1857, the fam- ily sought a home in Minnesota, locating on their present farm in section three, where the father died October 11th, 1874. Richard has filled the office of Supervisor one year and been twice elected to the office of Assessor since attaining his majority. His mother died Mareh 25th, 1872, and was buried in the Catholic cemetery at Wav- erly. Since her death the care of the old home has devolved upon him, in which work he is assisted by his brother, John W., whose birth dates November 20th, 1862. Three sisters, Mary, Margaret, and Ellen, all born in this town, are with the brothers in the old home. Another
sister, Catharine H., is in the eonvent at Mendota.
PATRICK BUCKLEY, fifty-two years of age, dates his nativity in the county of Cork, Ireland. In 1857, he eame to America, worked nine years in the woolen mills at Little Falls, New York, then came to Minnesota, and a few years after, to Knox county, Missouri, where he remained six years. He returned to Minnesota in 1879, and has since made this town his home. In 1859, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary McDonald, whose birthplace was Ireland. Four boys and three girls have been born to them, all living at home exeept the oldest daughter, who is married.
WILLIAM W. CROOKS, a member of the board of County Commissioners of Wright eonnty, was born in Allen county, Ohio, on the 9th of October, 1836. At the age of six years, he removed with the family to Miami county, Indiana, from which place he returned to Ohio in 1857, and taught a six months term of school at Westminster, and in the spring of 1858, came again to Indiana, where his time was employed in teaching in winter, and when not otherwise engaged, at earpenter work in summer, until his marriage with Miss Margaret E. Holliday, of Fulton county, Indiana, which oc- eurred March 14th, 1861. Their nuptials were celebrated at Logansport, where Mr. Crooks Had spent two summers at school, devoting his vaca- tions to his trade. In September, 1864, he eame to this State, selected his present home in scetion twenty-eight, and in October following, brought his family here, and has since been one of the fore- most eitizens of the town. He has been Assessor three terms, Town Clerk for 1880-81, was ap- pointed to take the eensns of his town in 1880, and in 1879, was elected County Commissioner. His summers have been devoted to farming since settling in Woodland, and his winters to teaching, closing his twenty-third term of school, since that first mentioned, in the spring of 1881. Of five children born to this couple, four are living; Eliza E., Carrie I., Fanny B., and Loftus J. An infant son, Thomas R., died in 1874.
JOHN WILLIAM CRUZEN was born on the 14th of March, 1833, in Green county, Ohio, where he was reared to agricultural pursuits, and lived until thirty-five years of age. His father died in An- gust, 1873, and was buried in Illinois, whither he had removed; his mother is still living in the State, at Walnut Hill, Jefferson county. Mr. Cru- zen came to his present farm in November, 1866, and has now about one Inindred aeres inder im-
D
. 585
BIOGRAPHICAL.
provement, the whole farm embracing three hun- dred and twenty acres. In 1855, he was united in marriage with Miss Hannah Pierson, whose birth- place was in the same county as his own. Of eleven children born to them, ten are living, and all still enjoy the shelter of the parental roof ex- cept Tabitha E., who is now the wife of James Holliday, of this town.
THOMAS J. JORDAN, now about sixty years of age, is a native of Ireland, where his time was spent in farming and working at the weaver's trade, which he learned when quite young. In 1841, he came to America, and after brief periods spent in New York and Massachusetts, located in Pennsylvania, where he remained until coming to Minnesota in 1858. After spending four years in St. Panl, he was employed for a short time in Day- ton, after which he came to his present farm of two hundred acres in this town. He has held the office of Supervisor, and Treasurer of his school district. He married Miss Julia Davitt, in 1852, who also was born in Ireland, both in the county of Mayo. Her birth dates December 22d, 1835. Of twelve children born of this union, one is dead, one at Wilmar in this State, and the others at home.
JOHN LANZER is a native of Bohemia, in the eastern part of which province his birth occurred June 15th, 1830. He left the land of his birth in 1857, coming to this State soon after his arrival in New York, reaching St. Paul in September, and thence to this town, which has sinee been his home. Until 1863, lic lived with his parents in section seventeen, but is now on his own estate which lies on the southwestern shore of Longwood Lake, in section thirty. Miss Anna Brabec, also of Bohe- mian birth, became his wife in 1857, and has borne him five children, three boys and two girls. The family are, without exception, interested in liter-
ary matters, and their library is such as is seldom found in rural homes.
EWEN MCDONALD was born on Christmas Eve in Upper Canada, and grew to manhood in his untive place, being engaged in lumbering until 1862, when he went to Kansas, and for one year was a foreman on the Southern Pacific railroad. In 1864, he eame to Minneapolis, and was in the employ of D. W. Morrison, about six months. In 1866, lic secured his present farm in section twenty- eight, where he has now abont forty acres under cultivation. He has filled the office of town Super- visor five or six years, and also that of Treasurer. He married Miss Mary A. Early, a native of Rhode Island, in 1869. Six children, the result of this union, are all living, and at home.
LUDWIG SCHULTZ, whose birth at Mecklenburg, Germany, is dated November 21st, 1835, is a man of Agricultural tastes, and has been a tiller of the soil here since about the closc of the late war. He lett his native land in 1858, and coming to New York, engaged in farming. Mr. Schultz was among that elass of intelligent, patriotie foreigners who, having sought a home in this great Repub- lie, were ready to aid in maintaining the Govern- ment, whether assailed by foreign or domestic. foes, and in October, 1861, he enlisted in Com- pany C, of the Fifty-seventh New York Volun- teers, participating in the second battle of Rull Run, also the battles of Fair Oaks, Peach Orchard, James River, Antietam, Harper's Ferry, Freder- icksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and the memorable battle in front of Richmond. After three years of active service, he was mustered ont at Richmond, on the 21st of August, 1863. He was twice wounded during his term of service; once in the knee, and once in the arm. Miss Mary Belka, a native of Prussia, became the wife of Mr. Schultz in 1866, the fruit of their union being a family of nine children, five of whom are boys.
586
HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
MORRISON COUNTY.
CHAPTER CXXXVIII.
DESCRIPTIVE -- PIKE'S FORT-EARLY SETTLEMENT -- TRADING POSTS-ORGANIZATION -PAPER TOWNS INDIAN MURDERS-GRASSHOPPERS-RAILROADS- SAW MILLS.
Morrison county is in eentral Minnesota; is about forty-two miles east and west, and its western part, about forty miles north and south. It is bounded on the north by Cass and Crow Wing counties, east by Crow Wing and Mille Lacs, south by Ben- ton and Stearns, and west by Todd county. That portion lying east of the Mississippi river was orig- inally included in Benton county, and that west of the Mississippi once formed a part of 'Todd eounty. The county has an area of 1,139 square miles or 728,960 aeres, of which about 16,000 are under cultivation.
The surface is rolling, and well timbered, inter- spersed with a number of prairies, and lakes. In the eastern portion are about ten townships mostly valuable for their timber, consisting chiefly of pine and maple. In the northwestern part of the county, about five townships are of the same kind of timber land. From the pine region north on the west side of the Mississippi river, south to the county line, is an almost unbroken forest. The soil of this region is remarkably good, while for ten miles south of the pine region, extensive natural meadows are to be found.
The country east of the river, not ineluded in the pine districts, contains but little timber, some brush land, marsh and meadow land, and some . prairie. The soil is generally good.
Pike's Fort was once located on the west side of the Mississippi river, about fifty rods below the rapids. At this place the bank rises abont fifteen feet, on the summit of which the stockade was built. This stockade as shown by recent measure- ments, was about thirty-eight feet square. In Pike's account it is stated that his fleet consisted
of two long boats, one of which they put upon either side of the passage way from the stockade to the river. " The distance from the water's edge being not over sixty feet in low water, there is no inconsistency in his statement.
EARLY SETTLEMENT .- The early movements of the traders in this eounty are somewhat compli- eated. In 1826, Charles Larose and Charles Chawboile had a trading post for two winters on a small flat on the east side of the Mississippi river near the Big Bend. In 1837, when Wadena came down from the north country, he found two trading posts near together on the west side of the Mississippi river, just below the present ferry erossing at Swan river. The buildings then appeared quite old. A Mr. Broee traded at the same point after Larose and Chawboile left.
An Indian trading post was established at a very early day on the east side of the Mississippi river, now in Bellevue town. The only eredible ac- eount given is from Dunean MeDougal, who formerly lived in that town, but now resides in Beeker county. He says he was at that place in the spring of 1849, and that the logs of the build- ing were then about half deeayed. He also says the post had been run by August Bellangier and Baptist Roy, for Allen Morrison.
Previous to 1835, all goods were brought across from Lake Superior, but after this date, from points below on the Mississippi river. About 1844, a Mr. Ewing, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, in com- pany with others, started a trading post at Swan river on the east side of the Mississippi. Philip Beanpre and Lewis Merrow were employed by this company in 1846. This firm was superseded by Peter Choutean & Co.
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