USA > Mississippi > History of the upper Mississippi Valley, pt 2 > Part 47
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RUFUS HENDERSON was born in Canada on the 12th of December 1851. In 1869, he removed to Towa, and in 1872, enlisted in the Twentieth United States Regular Infantry; was one year in Dakota Territory, and then came to Fort Ripley. At the time of the Custer massacre, he went on a tour to Montana and other western points, under General Terry; they arrived after the fight, just in time to bury the unfortunate vietims. He then returned to Fort Ripley, remaining till the ex- piration of his term, in 1877. He soon after took a homestead in this township, where he still re- sides. He was married on the 20th of September, 1879, to Miss Ellen Brundrett, who has borne him one child, Florence.
MOSES MINER, a native of Detroit, Michigan, wos born on the 15th of December, 1839. He came to Minnesota in 1869, and was a regular soldier at Fort Ripley for five years, then, for over two years was Government blacksmith at the same place, after which he located in this township. He was married to Miss Eliza Brundrett, of this town, in February, 1878. They have one child, George E.
JOHN PENNOCK is a native of Bradford county, Pennsylvania, and was born on the 4th of August, 1825. His parents removed to Haneock county, Ilinois, in 1832, where John grew to manhood. On the breaking out of the civil war, he enlisted in Company G, of the Seventy-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and participated in the battles of Grand Gulf, Vicksburg, Columbus, Franklin,
Nashville, and many others. After his discharge he again enlisted, serving till the close of the war in the Thirty-third Illinois Infantry. He then re- turned to Illinois, and in 1866, came to Minne- sota, and after remaining three years in McLeod county, removed to Howard Lake, Wright county, and thence, in 1879, to Green Prairie, where he owns one of the best farms in the township. Mr. Pemock was married in 1847, to Miss Melinda J. Newingham, who is a native of Ohio. They had seven children, four of whom are living; one son and three daughters.
WILLIAM RACICOT, the oldest living settler in Green Prairie, was born in Canada, on the 24th of Jannary, 1826. He came to Green Prairie, Min- nesota, on the 9th of May, 1857, locating on his present farm. On the 16th of August, 1862, lie enlisted in Company I, of the Seventh Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, serving till the 18th of An- gust, 1865. Owing to the general alarm on ac- count of the Indians, his family returned to Can- ada during the period of his enlistment, but re- turned on the 1st of November, 1865. For eleven years, Mr. Raeicot was County Commissioner, was also Chairman of the first board of Supervisors, and nutil the last three years, was always in town offices and often holding two or three at the same time, but never by solicitation. On the 16th of February, 1852, he was married to Miss Julia A. Foisy. They have had ten children, eight of whom are living. Mr. Racicot's parents are both living in Green Prairie, his father being eighty years old and his mother one year younger. Their marriage occurred fifty-nine years ago.
GEORGE SWINDELL was born in England, on the 28th of November, 1819. In 1850, he came to America and located in Illinois, where he remained until the spring of 1865, and came to Minnesota. He first settled in Steele county, remaining until 1878, and then came to his present home in this township. In 1842, he married Miss Ann Ashton, who died seven years after, leaving three children; Lonise, George, and Alice. In 1875, he was mar- ried to Mrs. Caroline Boyse. Her son, Bert, now lives with them.
GILBERT T. SMITH was born in Seneca county, New York, on the 22d of February, 1827. When twenty-seven years old he came to Minnesota, lo- cating in St. Paul where he remained two years, and moved to Dayton, Heimepin county. In 1862, he returned to St. Paul, and five years later, went to Otsego, Wright county, remaining until 1877.
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LITTLE FALLS TOWNSHIP.
Then, after living in Dayton two years, he eame to his present farm in Green Prairie township. Mr. Smith has a fine water-power on the Little Elk river, which runs through his farm, where he is building a lumber and shingle mill. On the 15th of December, 1851, he was married to Miss Ly- dia Sluyter, of Steuben county, New York. They have had seven children, five of whom are living; Perry A., Lizzie A., William D., Hattie, and George B. The first three named have homesteads on sec- tion eighteen near their father's farm. Charles, aged eleven years, died in 1864, and Cynthia, aged two and a half, in 1860.
LITTLE FALLS.
CHAPTER CXLV.
DESCRIPTIVE-EARLY HISTORY -- VILLAGE OF LITTLE FALLS-BIOGRAPHICAL.
Much of the history of Little Falls has already been given in the county history. Its original boundaries have been materially changed and much reduced by the formation of new towns, as the territory became settled. West of the Missis- sippi the town incluidos one whole, and a small fractional township, in all about forty-one square miles. On the east, the town originally extended to the eastern limit of the county, but was reduced by the organization of the town of Pierz, to its present limits of about fifty-eight sections, extend- ing about twelve miles east from the river, with a breadth of about five miles. Its northern boun- dary is a correction line, which leaves the town- ship deficient in width. When the town of Pierz was organized, by a clerical error or omission, thirty sections in the eastern part of the county were not included, and are therefore still a part of Little Falls, though twelve miles distant from the town proper. The portion west of the river is level, timber and meadow alternating, and with a soil unsurpassed for fertility.
The oldest permanent settler on the west side in Milo Porter, who removed from the village op- posite in 1868. His residence is within the vil- lage limits, a portion of the west side having been platted in the days of mills and manufacturing ulrendy noted. His place was the first improved on this side, Mr. John Workman having built the house now constituting a part of Mr. Porter's resi-
dence some years previous, afterward selling to Mr. Hyson, from whom it was purchased by Mr. Porter. .
The principal stream on this side is Pike Creek, which flows castward through the central part, and with its tributaries drains the western and central portions of the town. Little Elk river crosses the extreme northeastern part of the town, affording a fine water-power, of which mention is made in the general history of the county.
East of the Mississippi the surface is level, or gently undulating, except along the streams east, where it is somewhat broken. The soil varies from a light sandy loam, to rich dark loam, and in some parts clay. Along the Mississippi, and near the smaller streams in the eastern part, con- siderable prairie abounds, and extensive tracts of wild meadow are found in the central part, border- ing on Platte and Rice lakes, the only lakes of note' within the town. The Platte, Rice, and Skunk rivers, all in the central and eastern part, are the principal streams.
The early settlers of this town, besides mention already made of many in the preceding pages, are further mentioned in the biographical sketches following.
The town was organized in 1858, and an elec- tion held on the 11th of May, at which the follow- ing officers were elected: Supervisors, P. B. Thomp- son, Chairman, J. R. Perkins, and Nathan Bates; Clerk, William Morse; Assessor, T. M. Smith; Treasurer, F. X. Gravel. The meeting was held at Jolin Ault's hotel, now the Vasaly House, and the total number of votes cast was eighty-two.
A ferry was started just above the village in 1857, by William Sturgis, which was in use about three years. A ferry was also established at Swan River by William Aitkin, soon after his location there in 1848, which was in use till 1863.
The suspension of these ferries was a matter of great annoyance to the settlers on either side of the Mississippi, there being no crossing within the . county limits below Fort Ripley, where a ferry was established by the Government about 1849 or 1850. For several years the principal means of crossing was by fording the stream near Swan River, which, however, was not unattended by danger, and could only be necomplished during low water. On the 1st of April, 1868, the board of County Commis- sioners passed a resolution appropriating six hun- dred dollars for the establishment of three ferries in the county, the points designated being Belle
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
Prairie, Little Falls, and Bellevue, each to receive one-third the amount named. Little Falls and Belle Prairie united their funds and seenred the establishment of a ferry at the former place, just above the village.
'The first marriage ceremony was performed in the spring of 1856, uniting C. S. K. Smith and Miss Ellen Nichols.
Miss Nichols was also the first teacher here, having conducted a school at the village the sum- mer previous to her marriage.
As yet, but a small part of the town of Little Falls, either east or west of the Mississippi, is under cultivation, but with the present projected im- provements it is probable another deeade will wit- ness material advancement in agriculture.
VILLAGE HISTORY .- The village of Little Falls, aside from the distinction of being the County seat, has a marked advantage in the matter of location. Situated abont midway between St. Clond and Brainerd, on dry, level ground, with the best of railroad facilities, and a water-power unrivalled by any above St. Anthony Falls, with a large seope of agricultural eonntry naturally tributary to this point, its future outlook is most flattering. The rise and fall of its mannfaeturing interests has already been given. Its early re- markable rise, and subsequent decline are not subjeets for wonder. The universal tendeney to immoderate and unreasonable spceulation which marks the history of the entire valley at that period, carried this place, as many others, too far in advance of their surroundings, and it was only the immutable law of canso and effect that wrought the ruin which followed. Since that time men have grown wiser, and now the im- provements in progress, as well as those in con- templation, are based upon shrewd, safe calcula- tion, and will result in snecess. The proposed improvement of the magnificent water-power is a sure harbinger of grand achievements in the near future, and it requires no prophetic vision to assure the observer that the village, will soon rank among the most prosperous towns in this valley. The Little Falls and Dakota railroad, when completed, will still further enlianee the value of property in this locality, and afford addi- tional advantages to the citizens of this distriet.
Respeeting this road we can give no elearer statement than the following extract from a letter written by Hon. Nathan Richardson, of Little Falls, under date of October 16th, 1881. " At
the last session of the Legislature a swamp land grant of six sections to the mile was given to this road, extending from Little Falls to the west line of the State, by way of Sauk Centre, Greenwood, and Morris. The road is now nearly all graded from n point five miles east of Sauk Centre to Morris, in Stevens county, and during the winter it is the intention of the Company to do the grad- ing from Little Falls to Sauk Centre, which is mostly through timber lands, so when spring opens they will commenee laying the track, and will have completed laying the traek by the 1st of November, 1882. Parties who are interested in the building of this line of road have recently bought the water-power at this place, and will commence to improve it immediately." It is snp- posed the railroad bridge will extend across the Mis sissippi river not far above Boom Island, and arrangements will doubtless be made for a wagon bridge in connection. The island just referred to is not without its local history or tradition. Wil- liam Nicholson states that in the early settlement of this place, a small party of Chippewa Indians were camping on this island, and not anticipating any evil, were unguardedly enjoying their repose, when a band of Sionx noiselessly erossed the channel, and under eover of darkness stole in npon the sleepers, and killed and scalped the entire party except a young girl, who swam the river and secreted herself in a stable, where she was fonnd next morning pierced through with an ar- row. She was well known to the villagers, and a universal favorite, but refused the hospitality of- fered, as well as the medical attendance urged, saying she did not want to live, as her friends were all dead. She bore her pain with that silent stoicism characteristic of her raee, until death scaled her passport to the happy hunting grounds of her kindred.
The village organization is among the later events in its history. The bill incorporating it was approved February 25th 1879, with the fol- lowing deseribed boundaries: Sections seven and eight, and the north half of sections seventeen and eighteen, town forty, range thirty-two, and lot three in seetion thirty-four, town forty-one, range thirty-two; and lots one, two, and three in seetion seventeen, and the east lialf of the northeast quar- ter of section eighteen, and the east half of section nineteen, town one hundred and twenty-nine, range twenty-nine.
The first election was held at the court house
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LITTLE FALLS TOWNSHIP.
on the 18th of March, 1879, and the following otli- cers elected: President, Leon Houde; Trustee, Peter Medved; Recorder, A. O. Churchill; Treas- urer, John Wetzel; Justice of the Peace, James MeCanley. On the 21st of March, the Conneil held its first meeting, at which several ordinances were passed, and Jerry Root appointed Marshal.
Little Falls, in 1856, was the only place within the present limits of Morrison county where the right of suffrage was exercised, and the number of voters present at the fall election that year was one hundred and thirty.
The first newspaper published in the county was the "Northern Herald," by Colonel French, who commeneed its publication here in the fall of 1856. Two or three months of frontier editorial life sufficed the "Colonel," and he sold the otliee to the Little Falls Manufacturing Company, and followed the summer birds in their flight south- ward, since which the only knowledge his friends have of him was obtained through "Harper's Weekly," where a cartoon represented him in the custody of a United States Marshall, having been detected in some work of treason against the Gov- ernment.
The next editorial effort was by C. E. Chureli, who bought the outfit from the company above named, and published a paper for about two years, when he yielded himself to the god Bacchus, and the " Herald" was discontinued. From that time until 1874, Morrison county was withont a news- paper; then the "Little Falls Courier" was started by A. De Lacy Wood, who continued its publica- tion about two years, then removed to Reedsburg, Wisconsin. The first man to make a success of newspaper work here was H. C. Stivers, who began the publication of " The Little Falls Transcript" after the departure of Wood, issuing the first mun- ber under date of September 7th, 1876. On the 16th of August, 1880, he also began the issue of a small duily paper, "The Daily Transcript." In May, 1881, the "Transeript" was leased by its present editor, J. F. Pearson, who discontinued the " Daily Transcript," devoting his attention to the "Weekly." .
Of the thirty-eight schools in Morrison county, the leading one is the Independent School of Lit- tle Falls. Three teachers are employed in this school, and the munber enrolled is one hundred and seventy-three, nearly one-seventh of the en- rollment of the entire county. The school prop- erty in the village is valued at $3,200.
In 1857, a Methodist Episcopal Church was or- ganized at this place, under the pastoral efforts of Rev. A. J. Nelson, and a ehmreh edifice erected the same year. The society not being able to meet the entire cost of building, the church was mort- gaged for the amount unpaid, which debt re- mained nntil 1870, when the building was sold to the Catholic society who fitted it up for their place of worship. It is hardly necessary to add that the Methodist Church has ccased its ex- istence.
The Rev. Bishop Whipple organized an Episco- pal Church here as early as 1858, and in 1870, the society ereeted a small, but neat edifice, in which services have since been held, though at somewhat irregular intervals, the society necessarily depend- ing upon pastors of other and wealthier societies for their supply.
A Congregational Church was organized at this place June 6th, 1859. The first pastor was Rev. E. Newton, and F. J. Farrand and Ezra Hicks were chosen Trustees. Rev. W. B. Dada succeeded Mr. Newton in 1860, remaining until the fall of 1862, when rumors of an Indian ontbreak cansed his sudden and final departure. The church was then without a pastor until 1870, when Rev. W. A. Cutler assumed the charge of this and the Belle Prairie church, remaining until 1875, when he was succeeded by Rev. D. W. Rosenkranz. During the first year of his ministry here, a fine elmireh building was erected. Rev. J. S. Hull, the pres- ent pastor, sueeeeded Mr. Rosenkranz in Jannary, 1881. Services are held in the church every Sun- day morning and evening, the pastor here supply- ing the church at Belle Prairie cach Sunday after- noon. The present membership is thirty-seven.
The Catholic church is the most numerous of nny of the religious denominations here, but had no house of worship until the purchase of the old Methodist church before mentioned. Several priests have held services here since the organization of the society. The present priest is Rev. Charles Augus- tus Richard, who came in 1878, and has since re- mained, except a brief absence, during which the church was supplied by Rev. Joseph Pnh.
Secret societies have not been as mmerons as is usually found in communities of this size. The Good Templars were the first to organize here, and about 1870, had a lodge which for several years was in a flourishing condition, but has since been allowed to die ont. +
A Grange was organized on the 17th of April,
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
1876, which, if not dead, is at least dormant, though it enjoyed an average degree of prosperity for n brief period after its organization.
Little Falls Lodge No. 140. A. F. and A. M. was organized U. D. in the summer of 1879, and received its charter in January, 1880. The number of charter members was cleven, and the first officers were: J. H. Rhodes, W. M .; A. Tan- ner, S. W .; L. Segnor, J. W .; L. G. Worthington, Sec .; and J. Root, Treas. The present member- ship is fifteen.
The Fire Department of Little Falls is a reeent addition to the popular institutions of the village. The North Star Hook and Ladder Company was organized in September, 1878, with the following officers: Chief Engineer, Peter Medved; Foreman, T. J. Hayes; Treasurer, C. J. Simmons; and Sec- retary, S. C. Vasaly. The organization has twen- ty-eight members, and are provided with a hook and ladder truck, accompanied by the usual equi- page, and a fire engine is soon to be added, mak- ing this one of the most efficient organizations in the valley.
The village has the usual complement of stores, hotels, and other business places; a small sash, door, and blind factory built in 1878, and a sash, door, and blind factory and planing and feed mill combined, built by White & Bullard in the spring of 1879.
A large elevator recently built by Sawyer & Davis, of Dulnth, near the depot, furnishes ample facilities for storing grain, having a capacity of 25,000 bushels.
The population and business development of Little Falls, though marked by many changes in the past, is now steadily advancing, and the future promises an era of universal prosperity.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
CLARENCE B. BUCKMAN, the founder of the town of Buekman, was born on the 1st of April, 1850, in Bneks county, Pennsylvania, where he lived till manhood. Then he came to Minnesota for his health; was in St. Panl a few weeks and came thence to St. Cloud. Late in the fall of 1872, he explored the region from which the town was carved that now bears his name, and was so well pleased with the outlook, that he purchased some land, and the following spring, moved there and began opening a farm. Was one of the first settlers in the town of Buekman, and held several local offices; was elected to the State Legislature in the fall of 1880,
representing the counties of Morrison, Crow Wing, Mille Lacs, Benton, and Sherburne. Mr. Buck- man also has an interest in two hundred acres of land in Stearns county, one hundred and fifty of which are broken. He came to the village of Little Falls in the fall of 1880, is engaged in the manufacture of railroad ties, and is also in the lumber business. On the 13th of September, 1876, he was united in marriage with Miss Emma C. Harvey, of St. Cloud. In the fall of 1876, Mr. Buckman met with an accident while engaged near a threshing machine and has sinec worn an artificial limb.
JOHN BILLINGER was born in New York in 1849. When he was young, his parents located in Wis- consin. In 1866, Mr. Billinger came to Sauk Centre, Stearns county, where he learned the black- smith trade. Four years later, he removed to St. Clond, and for ten years was employed at his trade. Then, in 1880, he came to this town, where he is conducting a shop of his own.
PHILLIP W. BIDWELL was born in Columbus, Wisconsin, on the 26th of February, 1853. In the fall of 1863, the family removed to Minnesota, lo- eating in Austin, where his father worked at the carpenter's trade. In 1867, they came to this county, remained for eight years and removed to Kansas, Phillip stopping at Sioux City, where he was engaged in steamboating on the upper Mis- souri river. In 1876, Mr. Bidwell came to Mower county, Minnesota, remaining until one year ago, when he eame to his present home. Since his resi- dence here he has been engaged as carpenter and harness-maker.
JOHN BOYLES, a native of Monmouth, Illinois, was born on the 11th of July, 1842. When he was an infant, his parents moved to Wisconsin, where John remained until coming to this county, in September, 1878. Mr. Boyles was married on the 17th of August, 1864, to Miss Melinda Curtis, daughter of S. G. Curtis, who is one of the pio- neers of Cottage Grove, Wiseonsin. They have had three children; two died in infancy, and the eldest, Theodore, is now seventeen years of age.
JAMES BROWN, n native of Ireland, came to America in 1861. For six years he lived in Ohio, devoting his time to gardening and farming. In 1867, he came to Little Falls, where he is engaged in the Hack and Livery business, also carries mail to and from the trains. Mr. Brown has held the offices of Deputy Sheriff and Constable.
EDWARD BRODER was born in Canada in 1850.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
Came to Michigan when about eighteen years of age, and was employed on steamboats and at farm- ing until his return to Canada. He then learned the blacksmith trade, at which he was engaged till 1874, after which, for abont two years, he was working at his trade in Manitoba, then was in the employ of the stage company between Bismarck and the Black Hills. In 1878, he came to Little Falls and opened a blacksmith shop, to which his partner now attends, he having charge of a branch shop at Royalton, which they opened in the spring of 1881.
DAVID T. CALHOUN is a native of Tennessee, born on the 22d of June, 1853. He is a Non of Rev. Thomas Calhoun, whose father was also a clergyman. His maternal grandfather was the Rev. David Lowry, who came to Minnesota in an carly day, and was a missionary among the Win- nebago Indians; he was also Indian agent at Long Prairie, Todd county, for a number of years. The subject of this sketch came to St. Cloud with his parents in 1857. They went to Iowa, however, in 1864, and David received his education in that State, but is now a resident of Little Falls.
ALLEN J. CRAMPTON was born on the 12th of July, 1853, in Canada. At the age of twelve years, he came to the Chippewa valley, Wisconsin, locating just below Ean Claire. In 1876, he came to this region on a hunting expedition, and was so well pleased with the country, that he decided to make it his home. Since his residence here he has been in the limber business some, but given his princi- pal attention to farming. On the 1st of January, 1881, he was married to Mrs. Philinda Briggs, who has three children by a former marriage.
THOMAS G. CocuRAN was born near Oskaloosa, lowa, on the 8th of May, 1859. Ho came to Bellevue, Morrison county, when but four years old, and in 1863, removed to Two Rivers, remained four years and then came to Little Falls village. Mr. Cochran came to his present location, in sec- tion five, at the month of Little Elk river, west of the Mississippi, in the spring of 1881. He spent one year at the Black Hills, and one in southern Towa since coming to Minnesota. Mr. Cochran's mother died when he was but four years old, since which time his two sisters, Telitha and Sadie, have resided with him.
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