USA > Mississippi > History of the upper Mississippi Valley, pt 2 > Part 45
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The first settler in this town was John McGilles, a Scotchman, who made a claim in 1852; he soon sold out to Jomm B. Dearing, and removed to Crow Wing. Duncan MeDougal and Hugh Patterson made claims on sections twenty and twenty-one about the same time, but both have moved away. Rev. R. D. Kenney was for many years a mission- ary among the Indians, and settled on section thirty-five abont 1853. He was a native of Ver- mont, but does not now live herc. P. A. Green, a native of New York, came in the fall of 1854, and took a claim in section thirty-five, on part of which the present village of Royalton is located. Mr.
Green still owns the property but resides in Benton county. Among other early settlers were, Richard Lambert, Daniel Lambert, William Trask, Stephen Hill, Mathias Roof, Sylvester Henenlotter, and Jas- per H. Hill; a further notice of some of the above, appears hereafter. These pioneers all settled near the river, but in a few years the settlement extended towards the interior, and the township is now quite well settled.
This town was organized in the spring of 1858, and at that time consisted of a strip of territory six miles wide from north to south, and extending twenty-eight miles east, to the county line. A tract eighteen miles in length was detached in 1874, and formed into Buckman township, and in 1881, eighteen sections more were taken from the east side and added to the latter town, thns reduc- ing Bellevue to its present limits. Among the first town officers were: R. Lambert, Chairman of Supervisors; D. MeDougal, Clerk; William Trask, Treasurer; J. H. Hill, Constable; John McGilles, Justice of the Peace; and John Frye, Assessor. S. Henenlotter was also one of the Supervisors.
VILLAGE OF ROYALTON. - In. 1878, P. A. Green surveyed and platted a portion of his land on sec- tion thirty-five, and named it Royalton, but did not record the plat. In 1879, J. D. Logan pur- chased a portion of the southeast quarter of sec- tion thirty-five, and had it surveyed, platted, and recorded, the plat also bearing the name of Royal- ton. Subsequently, Mr. Green recorded his plat, but, although it is the original town, yet it occu- pics the position of an addition. The village is located on the Platte river, on the line of the Northern Pacific railroad, and near the south line of the county. It contains two general stores, two blacksmith shops, one saw mill, two churches, a warehouse, elevator, Post-office, etc.
The saw mill is run by steam, and is operated by J. D. Logan & Co. It was crected in 1879, and has a daily capacity of from twelve to fifteen thousand feet. It also contains one run of stone for grinding feed.
Religious meetings were held at the house of J. B. Dearing, by Stephen Hill, of the Methodist Church, as early as 1856. That denomination ap- pointed Rev. Mr. Hoople as the first regular pas- tor, but the congregation has not been very reg- ularly supplied.
There is a Presbyterian organization, which erected a church in the village of Royalton in 1880.
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
A Protestant Episcopal church was also built in 1880. It is visited once a month by Rev. Mr. Hawley, of St. Cloud.
The pioneer missionary, Father Pierz, held mass at the house of Sylvester Henenlotter in the sum- mer of 1855, but as there are but few Catholics in the town, no organization has been effected.
The first school in the township was held at the house of Jasper Hill, on section twenty-two, in 1857. Mrs. Hill was the teacher. A small frame school house was built the following year on sec- tion twenty-one, and in 1870, the present building creeted on section twenty-seven. There are two organized distriets in the township, the other not having yet erected a schoolhouse.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
JAMES BORDEN was born in 1833, in Upper Canada. When young, he learned the carpenter's trade, and worked at it in his native place till coming to Minnesota, in 1854. He resided in St. Panl and Stillwater one year, and in 1855, came to this eounty and made Bellevue his principal home, but was employed at his trade in different parts of the State. Mr. Borden returned to Can- ada in 1857, and was engaged in shoemaking and farming until 1877, when he returned to Minne- sota and two years later, purchased his present farm which has since been his home. On the 23d of Angust, 1863, he was married to Miss Mary J. Hall. They have had eight children, and seven are living.
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JAMES CHAPMAN is a native of the county of Surrey, England, and was born in March, 1815. He resided at home until coming to America in 1855; spent one season in Iowa, and in 1856, came to Bellevue township and purchased his present farm of three hundred and twenty acres. Mr. Chapman has held the office of Justice of the Peace for several years, and Town Supervisor, also takes a prominent part in all public enterprises.
EUGENE A. BOWERS, a native of Virginia, was born on the 15th of November, 1856. He lived on the farm until thirteen years of age, then at- tended school at Mooretield, West Virginia, till 1872, when he was for a year at the Kansas State Agricultural College, at Manhattan, and the fol- lowing year attended school in Missouri. For six months, he was in the Gem City Business College, at Quiney, Illinois, and in 1875, with his brother, commenced dealing in live stock in Missouri. The following year he returned to the Gem City Busi-
ness College, and graduated. After having made . a visit to the East, he came to Morrison county in 1879, and has since devoted his time to farming and stock-raising.
ROBERT BROWN, proprietor of the Royalton Hotel, was born in Shelby county, Missouri, on the 8thi of September, 1839. Resided at home until 1861, when he enlisted in Company R, of the Second Missouri Infantry, Confederate Army, serving till the close of the war. He then re- turned to Shelby county, and was engaged in teaching school winters and on the farm during the summer. On the 23d of April, 1873, he was married to Miss Rebecca M. Bowers. In 1877, they came to Morrison county, where Mr. Brown taught sehool at different places until 1879, then eame to Bellevne township and immediately com- menced erecting his present hotel. Mr. Brown is the present Town Clerk.
IRA W. BOUCK is a native of Independence, Iowa, and was born on the 22d of February, 1855. He resided at home until seventeen years of age, then attended the Iowa State Agricultural Col- lege; graduated in 1876, and was made Principal of the High-school of Dunlap, Iowa, filling the latter position until 1880. He came to this place in October, and opened a general store, which he has since carried on. Was married on the 25th of December, 1879, to Miss Mary Lonsdale.
CHARLES A. GREEN, one of the pioneer settlers of Minnesota, is a native of Green county, New York, born on the 4th of October, 1844. He came with his parents to this State when only ten years of age. They first located in the town of Belle- vite, where our subject assisted his father in the cultivation of the farm till 1863, when he visited the East and the family removed to Langola, Benton county. On his return, Mr. Green resided with his parents till 1879, when he came to the old homestead in this place, on section thirty-five. He also owns and carries on a farm cast of Royalton, which village his father laid out some years since.
JASPAR H. HILL, one of the early settlers of this town, was born in New Brunswick, on the 23d of December, 1825. His parents moved to the state of Maine, in 1839, where our subject was engaged in farming and Imbering until 1856. Since then, he has been a resident of this place, spending the winters, however, in the pineries. Mr. Hill has filled the office of Town Treasurer for the last twenty-one years. He was united in marriage with Miss Mahala I. Hamilton, on the 1st of Oe-
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BIOGRAPHIICAL.
tober, 1848. They have had nine children, eight of whom are living.
SYLVESTER HENENLOTTER, the oldest living set- ler of this town, was born in Prussia, on the 6th of April, 1819. He attended school until fourteen years old, then commenced peddling, traveling over a large portion of Europe. In 1848, he came to America, and was engaged in the manufacture of Inmber in the state of New York until 1855. Then came to Minnesota and located on his pres- ent farm. Since his residence here, Mr. Henen- lotter has held the office of County Commissioner three years, Supervissor ten years, and is at pres- ent Chairman of the latter board. On the 7th of June, 1855, Walburga Roff became his wife. They have had five children, four of whom are living.
HENRY S. HILL, son of Stephen Hill, one of the first settlers of Bellevue, was born in New Bruns- wiek on the 30th of November, 1838. His parents came to Minnesota in 1856, locating in Bellevue, where our subject resided, being engaged in the humber business in connection with farming until 1873. He then removed to Little Falls, purchased a mill in company with his brother, Elvin G., who afterwards disposed of his interest, and M. Hill now owns it alone. He came to the old liome- stead in this place in the fall of 1881.
MARK KOBE is a native of Austria, and was born on the 6th of May, 1848. He came to Amer- ica in 1869, and was employed on farms in New York State and other places until coming to Min- nesota in 1871. He located in Stearns county, and was employed in stores in Richmond, Cold Spring City, and Melrose. In the latter place he opened a store of his own and a branch store in Benton county, both of which he carried on till 1880, then sold, and opened a general merchan- dise store in Royalton. Mr. Kobe is now erecting a large elevator at this place. He was married on the 28th of August, 1874, to Miss Mary Terevy. Five children have been born to them.
J. D. LOGAN was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, on the 2d of August, 1838. In 1855, he came to what is now known as North- field, Minnesota; remained six years, and on the 18th of April, 1861, enlisted in Company G, of the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, serving three years. He then went to Mercer county, Pennsyl- vania, and operated a saw and planing mill until the fall of 1878, when it was destroyed by fire. The following spring he came to Bellevue township and erected the saw and shingle mill,
which he still operates. Mr. Logan laid out the town site of Royalton, which he now owns. Miss Mary J. Walker became his wife on the 2d of All- gust, 1864. They have had four children, three of whom are living.
RICHARD L. LAMBERT is a native of Aroostook county, Maine, born on the 26th of April, 1846. His parents came to this place when he was but nine years of age; he made his home with them till about 1870, when he purchased the farm and now operates it. Mr. Lambert divides his time between farming and working in the pincr- ies. Was married on the 3d of June, 1869, to Miss Helen King, who has borne him one child, Ada E.
JAMES LAMBERT, one of the pioneers of this town, was born in Kennebec county, Maine, on the 17th of January, 1810. He made his home with his parents till twenty-one years old, after which time he spent the winters in the pinerics, springs on the drive, and summers on a farm. Came to Minnesota and located his present farm in 1855. His house is situated on the old Fort Ripley stage road and affords a very convenient stopping place for travelers, who always try to reach " Lambert's" about night. He was married to Ruth A. Peters, of New Brunswick, on the 23d of Octo- ber, 1833. Of thirteen children, eleven are living.
ISAAC P. LAMBERT, a son of the subject of our last sketch, was born in Maine, on the 15th of July, 1848. Came with his father to Minnesota in 1855, and when old enough, commenced work- ing in the woods in winter and on the drive each following spring. In 1872, he engaged in farm- ing for himself, and two years later, located on a farm in section seventeen; the following fall, he moved to section twenty-one, and is now carrying on both farms. On the 21st of May, 1872, he was united in marriage with Mary Stewart. They have four children.
STEPHEN H. MUNCY is a native of Maine, born on the 3d of May, 1842. He resided with his pa- rents until of age, then commeneed farming for himself and in 1865, came to Minnesota. Has since been a resident of Morrison county, engaged in lumbering and farming, coming to his present farm in 1876. Mr. Maney was united in marriage with Hannah Hill on the 17th of October, 1868. They have had four children; three of whom are living.
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600
HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. .
BUCKMAN.
CHAPTER CXLI.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION-EARLY SETTLEMENT-OR- GANIZATION -- FIRST THINGS -- RELIGIOUS --- SCHOOLS -BIOGRAPHICAL.
This town lies on the south line of the county, and has an arca of abont 34,000 acres, of which nearly 1,400 are under cultivation. The surface is undulating, and the greater portion is prairie in- terspersed with oak groves and patches of brush. There is some light timber in the eastern part. The soil varies from a light sandy to a dark loam, with a gravelly subsoil.
The first settler in the present town of Buckman was Joseph Mishkee, a Polander, who settled on section four in 1871, and still lives there. Wil- liam H. Young, a native of Maine, settled on sec- tion twenty-two the same fall, but went to Missouri in 1877. John L. Finch, a native of New York State, also settled on section twenty-two abont the same time, and is now a resident of the town. J. C. Johnson and J. H. Doeken, natives of Norway, came in 1872, and were soon followed by, Albert Morae, C. B. Buekman, Michael Sand, A. B. Skin- ner, and Edmund Geer.
Buekman was organized in 1874, and named in honor of C. B. Buckman, one of the early settlers of the town, and now a resident of Little Falls. When it was organized, three congressional town- ships were included within its boundaries, but in 1881, it was reduced to its present limits, being nine miles long, from enst to west, and six miles from north to south.
The first election was held in August, and the following ollicers chosen: Supervisors, C. B. Buckman, Chairman, A. Skinner, and William H. Young; Clerk, J. C. Johnson; Treasurer, J. H. Docken; Assessor, William H. Young; Justices of the Peace, G. W. Hurvey and E. J. Verback; and Constables, G. F. Geer and Henry Love.
The first child born was probably Charles H. Johnson, son of J. C. Johnson, born on the 28th, of November, 1872.
The first death was John Ebert, son of Barney Ebert, in Angust, 1874.
The first marriage was that of Michael Sand and Louisa Ranch, on the 28th of October, 1876.
'The first school taught in the town was by Mrs. Rundall in 1874. There are now two schools in
regularly organized districts, and the usual terms are being held.
The Catholics of the township commenced the erection of a church in 1880, and completed it the following year. It is a mission church, and sup- plied by the priest from Rich Prairie.
There is a Post-office, named Buekman, located on section twenty. It was established in 1879, and Ed. Arnold appointed Postmaster.
BIOGRAPIIICAL.
WILLIAM DALLMEIER, a native of Prussia, was born on the 3d of February, 1844. Came to America and located in Dane county, Wisconsin, where he remained, residing with his parents, till 1875. Then came to this place, and took a home- stead, on which he now lives. Married Minnie Pothoff on the 10th of October, 1871. They have three children.
G. T. GEER was born in Clinton county, New York, on the 13th of July, 1846. When a child, his parents moved to Canada, but William re- turned to the United States at the age of seven- teen years. He was engaged in the manufacture of wagons in Massachusetts till 1867. Then came to Minnesota and located in St. Cloud, where he was engaged at various occupations. Since 1875, he has been a resident of this place, living on a farm. The maiden name of his wife was Lusettie J. Monk, who is the mother of four children. Our sub- jeet's father, Edmund Geer, was born in Lower Canada on the 27th of March, 1822, and since 1878, has resided with his son in Buckman town- ship.
HARRY HEATON is a native of Vermont, born on the 10th of June, 1848. He came with his par- ents to Lynden, Stearns county, in 1856, and assisted on the farm till ubont twenty-two years of nge. Then was employed in the pineries and on the river, and in 1876, commenced teaming from Bismarek to the Black Hills. He came to his present farm in 1878, and has since given it his wholo attention. On the 5th of November, 1879, he was married to Mary E. Geer. They have one child, named Arthur.
J. C. JOHNSON, one of the pioneers of the town, was born in Norway, on the 19th of December, 1842. When thirteen years old he landed on American soil and settled with his parents in Pane county, Wiseonsin. In 1861, he left home and was employed on a form and attending school in Rock county for some time. In 1862, he enlisted
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BIOGRAPHIICAL.
in Company E, of the Thirty-third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, serving three years. In 1865, he located in Goodho county, Minnesota, and followed agricultural pursuits for a time, but sub- sequently was employed as clerk in the city of Red Wing. In 1871, he went to Lyons county, and the following year, selected the farm on which he now lives. He was elected Clerk at the first election held in the town, and discharged the duties of the office until 1879. Mr. Johnson was united in marriage with Miss Sophia M. Docken, on the 30th of Jannary, 1867. They have been blessed with six children.
AUGUST L. KIENow was born in Prussia on the 5th of July, 1838. He came to America in 1853, and settled in Wisconsin, engaging at blacksmith work, a trade which he had partially acquired in the old country. In 1862, he entered the employ of the Government as army blacksmith, and was with the army in the South until the close of the war. Returning to Wisconsin, he pursued his trade un- til 1866, when he came to Minnesota and settled on a farm in Alberta township, Benton county. In 1876, he settled on his present farm, which con- tains three hundred and twenty acres, a consider- able portion of which is under cultivation. Mr. Kienow was married on the 26th of February, 1867, to Miss D. Baumgarten. They have six children.
JULIUS KIENOW is also a native of Prussia, and was born on the 26th of April, 1846. When a child, he came with his parents to America; they settling in Wisconsin, where Julins was reared ou his father's farm until coming to Minnesota, in 1867. He settled in Benton county the following year, and was engaged in lumbering and farming until coming to his present farm, in 1877. Mr. Kienow is one of the representative men of the town, having held the office of Town Clork and Supervisor, and is now Chairman of the latter Board. He was married on the 15th of June, 1881, to Miss Mary Gazette, daughter of one of the pioneers of Alberta township, Benton county.
ANDREW MCCUTCHEN dates his birth in New Brunswick on the 12th of June, 1836. He was reared on a farm, and engaged in Iumbering until coming to Minnesota in 1871. After remaining abont a year in Minneapolis, he came to Sank Rapids, und in 1874, selected the farm on which he now lives. Mr. Mccutchen was united in mar- riage with Miss Helen S. Nelson, on the 26th of Angust, 1861. Of five children born to them, four are living.
JAMES H. MORTON was born in Franklin county, Maine, on the 13th of January, 1836. He re- mained at home until 1861, when he enlisted for three months in the First Maine Volunteer In- fantry, and after being discharged, re-enlisted in Company A, of the Eighth Infantry, serving four years and five months, participating in one hun- dred and ten battles and skirmishes. Returning to his native State, he carried on his father's farm for four years, and the next three years were spent in Aroostook county, after which, in 1873, he came to Minnesota. His first place of residence was in Pierz township, Morrison county, but in 1874, he came to the farm on which he has since lived. Miss Sarah A. Crocker became his wife on the 9th of October, 1867. They have five children.
MICHAEL SAND, one of the pioncers of this town- ship, was born in Luxemburg, Germany, on the Ist of June, 1852. When a child he came with his parents to America, they settling in Jackson county, Iowa, but removed to Le Sauk, Stearns county, three years later. In 1872, he came to this township and selected a farm on section six, but subsequently removed to section seventeen, where he now lives. He was married on the 28th of October, 1876, to Louisa Ranch. They have three children.
ABNER B. SKINNER was born in Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, on the 29th of January, 1843. He came to Illinois with the family when ten years of age, and subsequently to Wisconsin, where he was employed on his father's tarm until 1863. He then enlisted in Company H, of the Thirty-seventh Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and participated in the battles of Cold Harbor, Peters- burg, and others. He was wounded on the 18th of June, 1864, but the injury was not of a serions nature, and he served till the close of the war. In 1871, he came to Minnesota, and after remaining in Benton county for some time, located on his present farm in the spring of 1873. Mr. Skinner was a member of the first board of Supervisors, and held several other town offices. He was mar- ried on the 7th of April, 1868, to Miss Annette Joslin. They have five children.
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
CULDRUM.
CHAPTER CXLII.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION -- EARLY SETTLEMENT -- ORGANIZATION- SCHOOLS . BIOGRAPHICAL.
This township lies in the southwestern portion of the county, and embraces an area of about 46,000 acres, 483 being under cultivation. Swan river runs through this town from west to east, and is joined in its passage by a number of creeks. There is a large acreage of timber land, and mu- merous tamarack swamps, with occasionally a small patch of brush prairie.
The first settler was J. C. Stebbins, who set- tled on what is now known as the " Martin place," in 1859. About 1862, he abandoned the farm and went to Iowa, and thence to West Union, Todd county, and later, to Sauk Centre, Stearns county. The next settler was John Shanks, who first opened the farm now occupied by John Work- man, in 1860. The town was entirely deserted during the war, and after that period the first set- tler was William Rhoda, who settled on his pres- ent farm in June, 1866. He was followed during the same year by Daniel H. Campbell and others. John Workman and Wallace Bain were also early settlers after the war.
Culdrum was a part of Little Falls township until 1870, when a separate organization was ef- fected. The first election was held on the 2d of June, and the following officers elected: Super- visors, Daniel Campbell, Chairman, W. W. Bain, and William Krueger; Clerk, W. W. Bain; Treas- urer, John Workman; Assessor, William Rhoda; and Justice of the Peace, W. W. Bain.
'Tho first school was taught by Mes. Edna A. Barnard in 1868, in a little log school house, Mrs. Barnard is now a resident of Todd county.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
WILLIAM WALLACE BAIN was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on the 15th of March, 1825. His father came to America in 1833, and the family two years later. They located in Addison county, Vermont, where William received a good com- common school education. In 1850, he moved to Wisconsin, located on a farm, where he resided five years, and removed to Minnesota, being en- gaged in a hotel at Reed's Landing, and later, as n gardener in Wabasha. In Angust, 1864, he enlisted in Company I, of the Third Minnesota
Volunteer infantry, served one year, and was minstered out at Jacksonport, Arkansas. In 1868, Mr. Bain came to his present farm, which is lo- cated on section thirty-two, Culdrum township. lle was elected first Justice of the Peace and Town Clerk. Miss Jane Woodend, who is a na- tive of Ireland, became his wife in the year 1847. They have a family of five boys and three girls.
NAZAIR BLAIS was born in Canada East abont the year 1836. He resided on a farm and was engaged in the pineries until coming to the United States. In 1865, he came to Minnesota, and was employed for a time by the Government, at Brainerd and Leecli Lake, and came to his pres- ent farm in 1866. His farm of one hundred and sixty aeres is located on section eighteen, South Culdrum; he also has eighty acres in Todd coun- ty. In 1866, Mr. Blais was united in marriage with Miss Margaret St. Peter, a native of Canada. They have had eight children, seven of whom, five boys and two girls, are living.
FRED HENRY BILLINGS, a native of LaFayette county, Wisconsin, was born on the 8th of August, 1847. He lived with his parents until five years of age, after which he resided with his grand- parents, in New York, until fifteen years old, re- ceiving there his education. On the 14th of March, 1864, he enlisted at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, in Company D, of the Seventh Kansas Cavalry. Was mustered ont on the 5th of Octo- ber, 1865, returned to Wisconsin, and soon after located on a farm in Iowa, where he remained till coming to Minnesota in 1874. For four years he carried on a farm in Hennepin county, near Crys- tal Lake, then came to his present farm in see- tion twenty-two, north Culdrum. Since his rosi- dence here, Mr. Billings has hold the office of As- sessor of the town, one term. Was married to Miss Melvina Tinkham, a native of Wisconsin, in 1867. Of five children born to them, three ure living, two boys and one girl.
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