USA > Mississippi > History of the upper Mississippi Valley, pt 2 > Part 46
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DANIEL H. CAMPBELL is a native of Antrim county, Ireland, born on the 12th of February, 1835. After the age of nine years, he was depen- dent upon his own resources, and in 1854, came to America. Was for a time engaged in farming in the state of Ohio, and for three years, employed by the Little Miami Powder Company. During Morgan's raid, he served in the State Militia for a short time. Then in the spring of 1866, came to Little Falls, Minnesota, and the following fall, to his present farm. Mr. Campbell has three hun-
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CULDRUM TOWNSHIP.
dred and twenty acres of land, fifty of which is meadow, and thirty are under enltivation. He has held the office of Chairman of Supervisors for several terms since his residence here. Miss Mar- garet. Maxwell became his wife in 1858. They have had eleven children, sovon of whom ure liv- ing, three girls und four boys.
MARTIN KINNEY was born in Ireland on the 6th of November, 1815. He remained on a tarm and received his education in his native place until 1834. Then, coming to America, he located on a farm in New York, remaining for fourteen years, after which he lived on a farm in Wisconsin, till coming to his present land in 1871. Since liis residenee in this town, Mr. Kinney has been Chair- inan of Supervisors for six years, and Justice of the Peace three years. In 1836, Miss Elizabeth Cox, of Ireland, became his wife. They have had nine children, seven of whom are living, three girls and four boys. His four sons, John, Martin, Robert, and Bernard, all served in the war, and are now living in this town.
JONN KINNEY is a native of Ireland, born on. the 15th of September, 1839. When ten years of age, he came to America with his uncle, and a year later, joined his father in Wisconsin. He was em- ployed on the lakes till the 18th of May, 1861, when he enlisted in Company I, of the Fourth United States Regulars. He was in the following engagements: Cross Lanes, Spring Hill, Pilot Knob, Pittsburg Landing, Stone Ridge, Chicka- mauga, and Nashville. In May, 1866, he was mustered out at Fort McHenry, Baltimore; eame directly to Chicago and was employed on the lakes for some time. Then, for six or seven years, lie resided on a farm in Wisconsin, and in 1875, came to Todd comity, Minnesota. Two years later, he went lo the Black Hills and was engaged in the. mines a short time. In 1878, Mr. Kimey located on his present farm in Culdrum township. Miss Alice Mclaughlin, a native of New York City, became his wife in 1868.
FREDERICK MUSKEY is a native of Germany, born on the 14th of August, 1851. He received a common school education in his native village, and also learned the blacksmith trade. Came to America in 1867, locating first in Wisconsin, where he was engaged in various pursuits, and in 1869, came to Minnesota. He resides on his father's homestead, which is situated on seetion three, south Culdrum, and contains three hundred and twenty neres, one hundred of which are midler
cultivation. Since his residence here, Mr. Mus- key has held the office of Supervisor thirce terms, and other local offices. Was married to Miss Minnie Town, of Germany, in September, 1880. 'Their union has been blessed with one son.
WHAMAM RnoDA was born near the city of Berlin, Germany, on the 17th of August, 1830. He received a common school education and also took a course in the Academy of his native place. In 1856, his father came to America, and the fam- ily, the following year. Resided with his parents in Carver county, Minnesota, until March, 1862, when he enlisted at Fort Snelling, in Company D, of the Fifth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. Was in some active service on the frontier, and in De- cember, sent South, where he engaged in the battles of Richmond and Nashville, and the siege of Vicksburg. In March, 1865, he was mustered out and returned to his former home in Carver county. In June of the following year, he located his present farm of three Imudred and twenty acres; has since held the offices of Justice of the Peace and Assessor at different times, and since 1872, has been Town Clerk. Mr. Rhoda was mar- ried to Miss Paulina Newman, of Germany, in 1860. They have had five children, four of whom, two boys and two girls, are living.
JOHN WENDT was born in Germany, on the 3d of October, 1833. He received liis education in his native country. Came to America, arriving in New Orleans in 1859, and was there employed as street-car driver until he enlisted in the Thirty- first Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, on the 12th of May, 1862. During his service he was in the siege of Fort Hudson, in June, 1863, and also in the battles of Mansfield Hill and Fort Blakely. On the 12th of May, 1865, he was mus- stered ont at Mobile, Alabama, having served just three years. Returning to New Orleans he again drove street ears, and in the spring of 1868, eame to Minnesota. In 1874, he located on section thirty-four, south Culdrum, and has since made it his home. Has a farm of two hundred aeres, one-half of which is under enltivation. For three years Mr. Wendt was Chairman of Supervisors. In April, 1868, he was married to Miss Antonia Decker, of Baden, Germany. They have one adopted son, Anton Deeker, a nephew of his wife.
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
ELMDALE.
CHAPTER CXLIIT.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION -
. SCHOOLS - ORGANIZATION - BIO- GRAPHICAL. -
SETTLEMENT
Elmdale is the most southwestern town in Mor- rison county, and has an area of about 40,000 aeres. The surface is generally covered withi tim- ber, with an occasional patch ot brush prairie, and the soil is a rich dark loam. Two River meanders through this town on its way to join the Father of Waters, and furnishes some good hay meadows.
There were probably a few settlers in the south- ern part of this town before the war, but no reli- able information regarding them can be obtained. The oldest living settler is William Boyle, who made a claim on section eight in 1865; he subse- quently removed to section seventeen, where he now lives. Mr. P. Hansen came the same year and settled in section eight where he still resides.
Andrew Ferrell settled in section twenty-four in 1870, and still lives there, and the following year John Buckley and J. J. Jacobson also arrived.
This town formed a part of Two Rivers until ยท 1881, when a separate organization was effected and the first election held on the 11th of April, at which the following officers were chosen: Super- visors, Joseph Thomas, Chairman, Benedict Thom- son, and Andrew Ferrell; Clerk, J. J. Jacobson; Treasurer, J. H. Mitchell; Assessor, M. P. Hansen; and Justices of the Peace, E. F. Thornberry, and J. N. Ferrell.
There is a Lutheran Church in the town, creeted in 1875. The first services were held by Father Pantson, and the congregalion now num- numbers about fifty families.
The first school was held by Miss Amanda Roach, now Mrs. Henry Coc, of Swan River, in 1869. Two schools are now taught in the town during the regular terms.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
WILLIAM BOYLE is a native of Belfast, Ireland, and was born on the 3d of October, 1841. He remained on the farm with his parents, until four- teen years of age, and soon after, came to America. Was engaged in the butcher business in New York until the war broke out, when he enlisted at Fort Clark, Texas, in Company D, of the Third Regu- lar Infantry, under Captain Jackson. Was in the
first and second battles of Bull Run, was also at Gaines' Hill, Malvern Hill, Antietam Creek, Chan- cellorsville, Gettysburg, and with the army of the Potomac from the 26th of February, 1865, till the .1th of July of the samo your. In September, 1865, he was discharged, and returned to New York, but soon after came to Minnesota and localed on a farm in section eight, Elmdale. Mr. Boyle was united in marriage with Miss Bethia Bacon, of Canada. They have a family of three daughters.
ANDREW FERRELL was born in Russell county, Virginia, in about the year 1829. Remained in in his native county until sixteen years old, and one year later, went to Virginia, attended school one term, after which he was engaged in farming in Kentucky and Ohio. He enlisted in the army, for one hundred days, during Morgan's raid, and in October, 1870, came to Elmdale township, Min- nesota, where he has since resided. He had origi- nally a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, but has given halt to one of his sons. In Febru- ary, 1847, he was married to Miss Melissa Damrel, of Kentucky. Of cleven children born to them, seven are living; two girls and tive boys. His son, J. N. Ferrell, is at present Justice of the Peace of this town. H. G. Ferrell has a wife and five chil- dien, and resides on eighty acres of the old home- stead. John W. Ferrell is married, has six chil- dren, and lives on an adjoining farm.
KNUD HANS GUNDERSON was born in Denmark, on the 9th of February, 1841. He received a common school education in his native place, and at the age of fifteen was dependent upon his own resources. He came to America and located in Minnesota in 1867. He settled at St. Cloud, and engaged in various ocenpations before coming to this place in 1871. Ilere he purchased a Farm on section eight and has since made it his home. In 1878, he erceted a general merchandise store on his farm, it being the only store in this place. In 1879, he was married to Mrs. Caroline Christian- son, of Denmark. She had six children by her first husband, only two of whom are living.
EDWARD FRANKLIN THORNBERRY, a native of Fairfield county, Ohio, was born on the 23d of March, 1842. He received a common school edu- cation and remained at home until nineteen years of age. On the 15th of August, 1861, he enlisted at Lancaster, in Company A, of the First Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Was sent to Louisville, Ken- tneky, and participated in the following engage- ments: battles of Shiloh, Murfreesboro', Chicka-
605
GREEN PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP.
mauga, Mission Ridge, Kenesaw Mountain, and on the 9th of August, 1864, he was wounded at the battle of Big Shanty, on the Chickamauga river, and disabled until April, 1865. then re enlisted as a veteran, in the Forty- third Ohio Regiment, and served seven months in the engineer corps. Was mnstered out at Louisville, Kentucky, in August, 1865, and returned to his former home in Ohio. Then for three years he was engaged on a farm in in Indiana, and in the fall of 1870, came to Min- nesota, and located on his present farm. He has been Justice of the Peace for three years, having been elected at the first elcetion held in the town. On the 28th of November, 1865, he was married to Miss Catharine Pletch, of Lancaster, Ohio. They have had seven children, six of whom are living, three boys and three girls.
GREEN PRAIRIE.
CHAPTER CXLIV.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION-EARLY SETTLEMENT-OR- GANIZATION-FORT RIPLEY-SCHOOLS -- CHURCHES -AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS-BIOGRAPHIICAL.
This town lies in the northwestern portion of the county, and embraces three full, and two frae- tional townships. The surface is gently undnlat- ing, except in the northern part near the Missis- sippi river which forms the eastern boundary, where a number of high bluffs appear. South of these, there is a long narrow strip of prairie, on the northern part of which Charles H. Green set- tled in 1855, and it is still called Green's Prairie. There is a considerable aereago of wild meadow and swamp in various portions of the township. The soil on the prairie is a sandy loam, and else- where a clay loam with a elay subsoil.
The town of Green Prairie was named in honor of its first settler, Charles H. Green, a native of Glen's Falls, New York, who came here from Mar- . sachusetts in 1855, and settled on a farm now owned by Richard Neill, on section five. At the breaking ont of the civil war, Mr. Green enlisted in the Third Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and when the regiment surrendered at Murfreesboro', fought on after the colors were struck, killing sev- eral rebels, when he fell, pierced by sixteen bullets and a bayonet thrust. A cowardly soldier then
dispatched him with the butt of his musket, for which aet he was sharply reproved by his command- ing officer, who said, "So brave a man as that should be protected."
In June, 1855, the second settler, George Q. Kimball, a nntive of Hollis, Maine, settled near Mr. Green. He also enlisted, in October, 1861, and never returned to his claim; he is now a resi- dent of Belle Prairie township.
William Racicot settled on section thirty-two on the 9th of May, 1857. He went to the war in 1862, but returned to his old homestead in the fall of 1865, and now lives there, the oldest living settler in the town.
There were several other settlers, but all lett during the war, and their successors found their old eabins a convenient shelter for the first few years. It was not until 1865, that the era of civili- zation again dawned on this township. Oliver Dwight made a claim in April of that year, but removed to Texas abont eight years ago. During the latter part of the same month, Martin Hall and sons became residents, nearly all of whom now live in the town. Richard Neill also came about that time, located on the elann made by Mr. Green ten years before, and was followed, soon after, by John Denny, who still resides in the township. This settlement was confined to the narrow belt of prairie along the river. It was not until a few years ago that any attempt at settlement was made in the western part of the township, Ephraim Bates being the first claimant there in 1876. He settled on section ten, township 130 north, range 30 west, and still resides there. A few others have selected homes in the same locality.
The first school in the town was taught by Miss Mary Denny in the summer of 1867. It was in a rude frame house, built by subscription, on section seventeen. It served the purpose, however, mitil the erection of the present neat building in 1880.
Green Prairie was organized in the spring of 1868, and embraced all of Morrison county lying west of the Mississippi river and north of town- ship 129. It had formerly been a part of Belle Prairie township. In 1879, all that part lying north of township 131 was organized as Motley township, and in the spring of 1880, it was reduced to its present limits by the organization of Parker.
Religious services were first held here abont twelve years ago by the Rev. William Cutler, a Congregational minister.
Several years later, Rev. Mr. Miller organized a
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
Baptist Church, and meetings were held in the sehool house for a time, but Mr. Miller died about seven years ago, and the services have not sinee been renewed.
A Free Methodist society has been in existence about five years.
Green Prairie Post-office was established abont 1869, with Martin Hall as Postmaster. Mail was obtained weekly from Fort Ripley, but since the abandonment of that post, it is supplied from Little Falls semi-weekly.
FORT RIPLEY .- The name of this fort was orig- inally Fort Gaines, and is located on the Missis- sippi river, in the northeast portion of this town- ship. The reservation, on the west side of the river, embraces nearly 1,500 acres, and has over two miles of river front. It was established in 1849, and used as a military post by the United States Government until July, 1878. Just above the fort proper, a ferry was established by the Government with eight hundred feet of cable, at a cost of $2,500. When the Fort was abandoned, this was sold to D. S. Mooers, and is now being operated by him. The original barracks were built of logs and are still in existence, though in a partially dilapidated condition.
The later buildings, in use until its abandon- ment, are: three double sets of officers' quarters, one large hospital, ereeted at a cost of $4,500, barracks to accommodate two full companies, a bakery, powder magazine, three block-houses with the necessary port-holes for cannon and mus- ketry, bath-honse, carpenter and blacksmith shops, guard-house, warehouse, two sets of laundress' quarters, wagon shed and stables for thirty mules, twelve horses, four oxen, and offieers' horses. Several buildings were destroyed by fire five years ago.
Another firo occurred. with fatal results on the 17th of June, 1868. The quarters occupied by Ordnance Sergeant Charles Frantzkee were burned, und Sergeant Frantzkee with his four children perished in the flames. His wife escaped only to live a hopeless hinatic.
A cemetery was laid out at an early date, and enclosed with a high picket fence. The first in- terment was the body of Private Burns, of Com- pany A, of the Sixth United States Infantry, on the 6th of December, 1850, aged fifty-two years. There have been fifty-two interments, inehiding members of soldier's families. The remains are about to be removed to the National Cemetery at
Roek Island, Illinois, with those of other aban- doned military posts.
When the post was abandoned Ex-Sergeant Davis was given charge of the place, to prevent pillage or other destruction of property, and still remains in that capacity.
In accordance with a special act of Congress, a board of Appraisers met here in October, 1880, with a view to the ultimate disposal of the build- ings, but the act requires at least two-thirds of the appraiser's valne as the selling price, and no offer has yet been made.
In the " olden time " there were many happy gatherings at the Fort, citizens from other points joining with officers and soldiers in social danees and general merrymaking.
A library was also maintained, and a theatrical entertainment now and then whiled away the long winter evenings at the old frontier post.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
EPHRAIM BATES, the first settler on the north side of Little Elk river, was born on the 25th of May, 1835, in Livingston county, New York. He served in the Eighth New York Heavy Artillery, from the 12th of July, 1862, till the 12th of June, 1865, receiving several wounds and losing the sight of one eye. In October, 1870, Mr. Bates eame to Minnesota and located on railroad land in Green Prairie township. Five years ago he re- moved to his present home, about five miles west of his former location. He was married on the 19th of January, 1866, to Miss Lucetta M. Rob- erts, who has borne him seven children; Effie, Ben- jamin, Theodore, Cora, Eva, Sadie, and Carric. Mr. Bates has held the offices of Supervisor, Town Clerk, Justice of the Peace, and has been School Clerk every year except the first of his residence here.
JOHN DENNY, one of the carly settlers of this region, was born in Suffolk county, England, on the 19th of September, 1820. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, after which, for seven and a half years, he was a member of the Staffordshire Constabulary, part of the time acting as detec- tive, He came to America, reaching New York on the 20th of July, 1855, and located at LeRoy. In 1866, he removed to Genesee county, Michi- gan, remained for two years and came to Minne- sofa. Mr. Denny and family reached Sank Rap- ids, then the terminus of the railroad, on the 5th of September, 1868; the next day arrived at Belle
607
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Prairie, and the next, crossed the river to his pres- ent farm, where he has built a fine home. He was one of the prime movers in organizing this town, has held several terms of office, and is Treasurer this year. On the 28th of October, 1851, he was married to Miss Ella Samuel, in the old Dudley church, near the ruins of Dudley Castle. They have had eight children, six of whom are living; Mary, William, Clara, Elizabeth, Fred, and Robert.
AUGUSTUS HENRY DORMAN was born in Hanover, Germany, on the 30th of December, 1837. When he was but five years old, the family came to America and settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Augustus learned the carpenter trade. On the 16th of November, 1864, he enlisted in Com- pany F, of the Fifth Wisconsin Volunteer Infan- try, and served till the elose of the war, partici- pating in the battle of Petersburg, where he was slightly wounded. He was mustered out at Jef- fersonville, Indiana, on the 10th of June, 1865, and at once returned to Wisconsin, where he was employed at his trade until coming to Minnesota in 1878. Mr. Dorman came directly to the farm on which he has lived ever since. He was mar- ried in 1861, to Miss Betsy Lock, who is a native of New York. They have four children, all girls.
Ex-SERGEANT EDWARD DAVIS, a native of Car- diganshire, South Wales, was born on the 15th of June, 1829. When eighteen years of age, he came to America with his brother William, in search of their father, John Davis, who had left Eng- land some years before with a caravan of English merchants, and while passing through Texas, or Mexico, was robbed by Guerrillas, after which Mr. Davis entered the United States army, serving through the Seminole war, in Florida. Edward arrived in 1848, and after considerable fruitless search, enlisted in the regular army on the 13th of November, 1848. The following year, while at Fort Ontario, he learned, through his father's old Captain, then commandant at the fort, of his whereabouts, in Illinois. He wrote to his mother, and on her arrival, obtained a furlough, went with her to his father's locality and participated in the joyful reunion, returning soon to duty. His whole time of service, broken by intervals of citizen's life, was twenty years ten months and fourteen days, during which, only the first three months of his enlistment were spent as a private sol- dier. The greater portion of the time he held the rank of Sergeant, and for several years, that of Orderly-Sergeant. Mr. Davis has served in all
parts of the Union, from the Atlantic to the Pa- cific Ocean, and in the department of the Gulf; has enjoyed the personal friendship of our most distinguished military men, and has, on several occasions, declined commissions, by reason of doubt as to his ability to fully meet the require- ments. His first service at Fort Ripley was in the fall of 1870. In 1876, he was again stationed here with a commission as Orderly-Sergeant. His final discharge was on the 18th of November, 1876. The " endorsements " and " recommends " among his military papers are such as any man might be proud of, and yet, no boastful word is ever heard from the faithful old soldier.
Since the abandonment of Fort Ripley, in July, 1878, Ex-Sergeant Davis has been stationed here by the Government to attend to the buildings and prevent pillage or other damage, a duty he has performed most faithfully, and saved the Govern- ment thousands of dollars. On the 26th of De- eember, 1867, while in the service, he was married at Newport, Kentucky, to Mrs. Mary Ann Tracy, widow of Francis Tracy, who served in the United States Infantry and died at Warsaw, Kentucky, leaving two children, Patrick and Franeis, now members of Mr. Davis' family. Mrs. Davis has had by her present husband, five children, three of whom are living; John W., Sarah A. and Mary E. Francis, an infant son died in Texas, and Katie died here in March, 1881. Mrs. Davis accompa- nied the army during her husband's service, after their marriage. Mr. Davis has now taken a home- stead near Fort Ripley, on part of the original res- ervation, where he expects to spend his declining years, until the last "bugle call" shall summon him to the presence of the "Great Commander" to receive and enjoy his "well done good and faith- fl servaut."
JAMES FINNEY was born in Warren county, Ohio, on the 14th of April, 1848. His parents removed to Illinois when he was but a year old, and after living in Pike county abont six years, came to Minnesota and settled near Northfield. On the 12th of March, 1863, he enlisted in Company F', of the Eighth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and went to the frontier on Gen. Sully's expedition, after which he was ordered sonth. He took part in the battles of The Cedars, Stone River, Kings- ton, and a number of others, and was honorably discharged on the 11th of July, 1865. Returned to his former home, near Northfield, and afterwards visited various portions of the Union, finally set-
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
tling on his present farm in 1878. Mr. Finney was united in marriage with Miss Sarah A. Pen- noek, in 1879. Mrs. Finney is a native of Han- cock county, Illinois, and was born on the 15th of July, 1858.
MARTIN HALL, the oldest living settler in the central part of this town, was born in Genesee county, New York, in 1811. In 1865, he came to this State, and in April of the following year set- tled in Green Prairie. Mr. Hall was the prime mover in the organization of the town, one of its first Supervisors, and has been in office every year since. In 1869, he secured the establishment of Green Prairie Post-office, and has since been Post- master. Miss Evelina Salisbury became his wife on the 2d of January, 1832. They have had ten children, seven of whom are living; Edwin, Mary, William, Freeman, Franklin, Albert, and George. The latter resides at home and has charge of the farm.
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