USA > Mississippi > History of the upper Mississippi Valley, pt 2 > Part 52
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SAMUEL WILLARD MUNCY was born in Washi- ington eounty, Muine, on the 17th of April, 1838. When he was an infant, his parents moved to New Brunswick, where he attended sehool. Iu 1866, he eame to Minnesota, and for seven years was employed by E. C. Pratt, running an express from Minneapolis to St. Paul, after which he was en- gaged in different occupations, until eoming to his present farm in this place, in June, 1879. In 1861, he was married to Miss Maria Hanson, of St. Ste- phens, New Brunswick. They have eight chil- dren, four boys and four girls.
ALEXANDER MCLEOD, was born in February, 1839, in one of the Seottish Isles. He is a de- seendant of Lord MeLeod, who was an ancient Highland Chief of the northern part of his native isle. At the age of twelve years, he came to America with friends, and was employed on a farm near Rochester for several years. In 1855, lie removed to Minnesota, remained a few years and went to Louisiana. When the eivil war com meneed, Mr. MeLeod came to Hudson, Wiseon- sin, and enlisted in Company D, of the Second Wiseonsin Volunteer Cavalry. The Company was in a great deal of active service, without being in many heavy engagements. In February, 1865, he was mustered ont at Memphis, Tennessee, after which, he was in the construction service for
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
a few months. Then, returning to Minnesota, he located in what was then Two Rivers, but now belongs to Elindale. In 1874, he came to his pres- ent farm in this town. The same year he was married to Mrs. Hulda Wyatt, of Illinois. They have had seven children, six of whom are living; three boys and three girls.
PAUL NOE was born in Bavaria, Germany, where he received a good common school educa- tion. He came to America at the age of six- teen years, first resided with relatives, and was employed in rolling-mills, then went to Ohio, whero ho wns engaged in the same business for a number of years. He enlisted at Lima, in Com- pany C, of the Forty-first Ohio Volunteer Infan- try, was sent to Chatanooga, and afterwards par- ticipated in the battles of Spring Hill, Nashville, and Franklin. Was in the entire campaign with General Thomas through Tennessee and Alabama, and in April, 1865, the Company was stationed at Bull Gap, to prevent the retreat of some of Lee's Army. In June, 1865, Mr. Noe was mustered out . at Nashville, Tennessee, and returned to his home in Ohio. In the fall of 1866, lie eame to Minne- sota, and the following spring, to his present farm in section ten. Mr. Noe has held the office of Chairman of Supervisors for several years. Was married in 1860, to Miss Margaret Gessner, of Germany. They have had eight children, seven of whom are living; four girls and three boys.
SILAS SIMON PARMETER was born in Ontario county, New York, on the 12th of May, 1835. He learned the cooper's trade, and resided with his parents until twenty-one years of age. Then, coming to Minnesota, he worked at his trade for one year in Dakota county, and afterward moved to Wright county. In the fall of 1861, he enlist- ed at Fort Snelling in Company A, of the Second Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. He was in the engagement at Fredericksburg in April, 1862, and the following August, was discharged for disability. Returned to his native place in New York, and in 1865, re-enlisted in Company C, of the Fortieth New York Infantry; was in the battle of Petersburg in April, and was mustered out in the . following July. Mr. Parmeter then re- turned to Minnesota, and until 1876, was engaged in different ocenpations. In the latter year ho came to his farm in this township and has since made it his home. Mr. Parmeter's first wife died in Buffalo, Wright county, on the 5th of January, 1870, and in 1872, he was married to Miss Eliza
Partridge. There are ten children living, five boys and five girls, and two are deceased.
HENRY ALBERT RHODA, one of the organizers of the town of Bernhansville, Todd county, is a German by birth, his nativity dating on the 13th of Septein- ber, 1837. He received an academie education in his native land, and camo with his father to America in 1856, loeating in Carver county, Minnesota, where he resided until the war. On the 11th of March, 1862, he enlisted at Fort Snelling, in Company D, of the Fifth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. The Com- pany was sent south the following Deeember, and participated in the following engagements: battle of Jackson, siege and assault of Vicksburg, assault of Fort De Russy, battles of Richmond, Pleasant Hill, Oxford, and Spanish Fort. On the 6th of September, 1864, he was mustered out at Demop- olis, Alabama, returning to his former home in Carver county, and in 1866, eame to his present farm in the town of Bernhansville, near the line of Morrison county. Mr. Rhoda has held the offices of Chairman of Supervisors, Justice of the Peace, and County Commissioner at different times, and for five or six years, has been County Superintend- ent of Schools. Was married in 1866, to Matilda Minning. Six children have been born, three boys and three girls.
JAMES STANLEY was born near Franklinville, Iowa, in February, 1852. When he was six years of age his father was murdered by thieves, after which James resided with a Mr. Henry MeSwaine, in Wiseonsin, until eleven years old. He then learned the broom-maker's trade in Algona, Iowa. Mr. Stanley came to Minnesota only a few years ago, located in this town and has since been en- gaged in butchering and lumbering.
RICHARD LAMBERT TRASK was born in Aroostook county, Maine, on the 30th of October, 1831. He came to Minnesota about the year 1856, and located on a farm in the town of Bellevue. In 1870, he removed to his present farm in this town. Since his residence here Mr. Trask has been County Commissioner for several terms and also held the offico of Supervisor. In 1860, he was married to Miss Martha Borman, of Ohio. They had ten children, nine of whom are living; six girls and threo boys.
SAMUEL MUNCY TRASK, a native of Aroostook county, Maine, was born on the 3d of July, 1847. His father came to Bellevue, Morrison county, in 1856, and in April, 1861, to this town, being the first permanent settler, and assisting in its organ-
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
ization. Samuel resided at home until the death of his father, since which time he has lived with his brother Marcus, devoting his time to the Ium- ber business and farming.
DANIEL TRASK was born in Aroostook county, Maine, on the 31st of January, 1832. He was engaged in the lumber business with his father nntil coming to Minnesota in 1856. In 1861, he came to the farm on which he now lives. He en- listed in Company B, of the First Minnesota Vol- untecr Artillery, in 1864; was sent to Chatta- nooga, Tennesse, where he was detailed in the Quartermaster department. In June, 1865, he was mustored out, and soon after, returned to his farm in this place. Mr. Trask was married to Miss Emma Godfrey, of Maine, in 1863. They have three children; one girl and two boys.
CALVIN AUSTIN TUTTLE was born in Tolland county, Connecticut, on the 31st of December, 1811. He received his education at the Academy of Tolland, and also learned the trade of a mill- wright. For two years he lived at Alton, Illinois, and in July, 1838, came to Minnesota. He was employed for a few years by the St. Louis Com- pany, at the Falls of St. Croix; then moved to lowa, and to Illinois, and finally returned to this State, locating at St. Anthony. He was employed by Franklin Stcele & Co., in the erection of the first mill built at the Falls; also built for himself
the second mill at Minnetonka. During Mr. Tuttle's residence at Minneapolis, he was Terri- torial Treasurer for six years by appointment from Governor Ramsey. In 1867, he came to this town, located on his present farm, and has been Town Treasurer most of the time since. He was married to Miss Charlotte Minkler, of New York, in December, 1840. They have had seven chil- dren, four of whom are living.
CAPTAIN ROBERT B. YOUNG was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, in 1814. In 1856, he came to Minnesota, locating on a farm in Scott county. In September, 1861, he enlisted in the army, serv- ing as First Lieutenant. During the winter he was on the frontier, and the following spring was promoted to Captain and sent south. He partici- pated in the siege of Corinth, also in the battles of Jackson and Champion Hills. While in the latter battle, Captain Young was sunstruck, and in June, 1863, resigned, since which time he has drawn a pension. In the latter year he returned to his former home in Scott county, and after- wards became engaged in the milling business with his sons, Thomas M., James M., and Milo N. They now own a flouring-mill in this township, erected in 1875. It is 36x36 fcet, four stories high, has two run of stones and one sct of rolls, with a capacity of twenty barrels per day.
CROW WING COUNTY.
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CROW WING COUNTY.
CHAPTER CL.
DESCRIPTIVE-EARLY EXPLORATIONS AND SETTLE- MENTS -- VILLAGE OF CROW WING-ORGANIZATION -FORT RIPLEY STATION.
Crow Wing county, located in north central Minnesota, was created by an act of the Legisla- turc, approved on the 23d of May, 1857, with the following described boundaries: beginning at the southeast corner of township forty-thrce north, range twenty-eight west of the fourth principal meridian; thence north on the line between ranges twenty-seven and twenty-eight, to the center of the main channel of the Mississippi river; thence down the center of said channel to its intersection with the line between townships forty-two and forty-three; thenee east on said township line to the place of beginning. The county is bounded on the west and north by the Mississippi river, on the east by Aitkin and Mille Lacs counties, and on the south by Morrison county. The surface is generally undulating, with a slight trend to the south and west. It is drained by the Mississippi river and its tributaries, the chief of which are the Little Nokay and Noka Sebe rivers, whose general direction is south and west.
Long Lake and several smaller lakes in the een- tral and eastern part, have outlets flowing into the " Father of Waters." The soil varies from a light sandy, to a rich dark loam, with occasional tracts of clay loam, and with the abundant supply of wild meadow, renders this region well adapted to agriculture and grazing. Situated in the south- ern portion of the pine region, its surface is mostly wooded, the usual varieties of hard wood abound- ing, in addition to its forests of pine. In tho southwest is found prairie and light burr oak open- ings. At the old village site of Crow Wing a fierce encounter is said to have occurred between the Sioux and Chippewas many years ago, traces of the pits dug by the latter being still visible.
Among the early explorers of this region, the names of G. C. Beltrami and C. H. Beauleau are still preserved in tradition. The former is be- lieved to have passed through here as early as 1823, and the latter is said to have had a trading post at or near the mouth of the Crow Wing river about the year 1837. Hon. H. M. Rice is authority for the statement that William Aitkin opened a trading post at the mouth of Little Rock river, and C. H. Beaulean at Crow.Wing, in 1846, and were furnished with goods from Prairie du Chien. Philip Beaupre, now residing near Sauk Rapids, came from Fort Garry, on the Red River, to Crow Wing, in the spring of 1844. When he came to this place he found Allen Morrison and Donald MeDonald trading with the Indians. About the time Fort Ripley was established, S. B. Olmstead settled on the east side of the Mississippi river opposite the Fort, the location being, at that time, a part of Benton county, but afterwards in- cluded in Crow Wing. This farm is now the home of Danicl S. Mooers, who purchased it in the year 1868. Among other early settlers or traders who came about this date, were Clemens H. Beauleau, John Fairbanks, John MeGillis, Wallace Bean, and David MeArthur. Crow Wing was then the centre of Indian trading for all the upper coun- try, the general supply store being located at this place, under the management of Beauleau & Co., from which the trading posts in the country drew their supplies from time to time. This state of things continued for a number of years. Benja- min Brown opened a hotel here about 1860. From this date, additions were made year by year to the population and the business interests of the place. In 1866, the settlement and villago contained seven families of whites, and about twenty-three of half-breeds and Chippewas, with a large tran- sient population, which is variously estimated by parties who resided in the villago at the time. The entire population was, from reliablo estimates, about
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
six hundred. There were two hotels, a number of boarding-honses, two stores, one blacksmith shop, an Episcopal, and a Catholic elmarch, a school kept in the Episcopal church edifice, and two saloons at this date. Mrs. Beauleau, Mrs. Chap- man, and Mrs. Whipple were the only white women in the place in 1866.
Crow Wing, as a business point, has passed away, most of the buildings having been removed to Brainerd, and the remaining ones destroyed. It is stated by former residents of the village that the number of families did not exceed twenty-five, and the entire population could not have exceeded six hundred persons.
When the county was organized in 1857, it was attached to Morrison county for judicial purposes. The first District Court was held in Crow Wing about 1859, Judge J. MeKelvy presiding. Charles Beanlean was clerk of the District Court; William Wade, Sheriff; Allen Morrison, John H. Fair- banks, and C. H. Beaulean, Sen., were the first Com- missioners. The county business . was conducted . in nu irregular manner for a few years, when the organization was abandoned, and reorganized by an aet of the Legislature on the 3d of March, 1870. The first meeting of the County Commis- sioners bears the date, Jannary 19th, 1870, and was held at the hotel of Henry Whipple, at Crow Wing. Henry Whipple, Wallace Bean, and F. W. Peake were constituted the Board of Commission- ers, the first named being chairman. The old Auditor sent in the books and papers belonging to the county and in use under the former organiza- tion. F. M. Campbell was sworn as Anditor; F. Catheart was appointed Judge of Probate on the 29th of January, 1870, and on the same date II. M. Mixter and C. H. Beanlean, Son., were ap- pointed County Commissioners. John McGillis was appointed Justice of the Peace on the 21st of February, 1870. On the 8th of March, 1870, the County Commissioners passed a resolution decla- ring all official proceedings prior to that date ille- gal, and all orders drawn upon the county treas- ury, void and not subject to payment.
The officers for 1870 were: County Commis- sioners, Wallace Beau, Chairman, Henry Whipple, and F. W. Peake; Treasurer, E. B. Snyder; Sheriff, William Wood; Anditor, F. M. Campbell; Clerk of the Court, C. H. Beanleau.
Abont twenty miles south of Brainerd, and about eight from the old village of Crow Wing is Fort Ripley Station, about Imlf n mile from the
river, and opposite the old Fort from which it de- rives its name. It was established upon the com- pletion of the railroad from Sauk Rapids to Brain- erd, and F. A. Perley assigned to duty here as agent. The present agent is L. I. Baker, who is also Postmaster. The depot, a grain warehouse, water-tank, and a small store comprise the build- ings.
About four miles northeast of the station is a Inmber mill, with capacity of three thousand feet per day. It is on the Noka Sebe river, which fur- nishes the motive power. It was built in October, 1880, by J. Gorst and M. E. Coe, the latter re- tiring form the firm in March, 1881, sinee which time Mr. Gorst has conducted the business alone.
On the 3d of April, 1871, Miss Ellen MeArthur, a danghter of David McArthur, living about two miles east of Crow Wing, was murdered by two Indians, while on her way from her father's house to that of Henry Whipple. For some time it was supposed she had run away, though no reason ex- isted for sneh an act. In August, an old Indian woman whom the murderers had offended, told a young girl, Ida Whipple, the truth, and named the guilty parties. This information subsequently led to their arrest at White Earth, from whence they were brought to Brainerd and lodged in jail, from which they were taken by a party said to liave been led by Anson Northrup, and hanged without ceremony to a pine tree in the village. The old pine is yet standing, though dead, and without top or branch, except the bare arm from which the murderers were suspended.
BRAINERD.
CHAPTER CLI.
SITUATION-EARLY CLAIMANTS-SETTLEMENT AND GROWTH-FIRST NEWSPAPER-CITY GOVERNMENT -SCHOOLS-CHURCHES -SOCIETIES - NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD-BIOGRAPHICAL.
Brainerd, the county seat of Crow Wing county, is located on the east bank of the Mississippi river, on- ground sixty feet above high water mark, one hundred and thirty-six miles fram St. Panl, one Imudred and fifteen from Duluth, and one hundred und thirty-seven east of Moorhead, on the Red River. Accounts of its early settlement, though
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BRAINERD
of comparatively recent dato, are somewhat con- flicking. The following account is from one of the participants in the early movements and may be received as authentic.
The Northern Pacific Railroad was surveyed to the present site of this town, and the railroad cross- ing of the Mississippi river determined in June, 1870. A few days after the surveying party had passed Little Falls on their way north, O. W. Syl- vester, Lewis Hamlin, William H. Horn, Alfred Tanner, Robert A. Beggs, Moses Lefond, and per- haps others, formed a temporary company and sent part of their number up the river to seeure the ground for a town site, at the place where the sur- veying party should determine to cross the river. Proceeding to Crow Wing by wagon, thence in ea- noes, they reached this point about the time the surveyors were completing their work. Under pretext of hunting, they remained near by until the surveyors left, then located and marked out a claim ombracing what they deemed sufficient for a town, and railroad purposes. They then returned to Little Falls, and soon a part of the company visited the elaim and construeted two or three tem- porary residenees, and divided the ground, each member being assigned his part. Some of these were evidently sold to Mrs. Hester Gilman, who entered part of the present site of Brainerd, the patent bearing the date of reeord December 10th, 1870. The same record shows a transfer of her rights to the Lake Superior and Puget Sound Company, on the 13th of Angust, 1870. The re- maining members of the original elaimants sold Their interests to the same Company. About this time Charles Darby "jumped" a portion of the town site not included in Mrs. Gilman's claim, and built the first house of round logs, completed as i permanent dwelling, nour the ground now ocon- pied by the railroad shops, in block eighteen. Soon after, he also sold to the Lake Superior and Puget Sound Company.
The second honse was built by Stuart Seeley, and was of hewed logs, a few rods north of the railroad bridge, used as a boarding house. The third was a small, hastily constructed building ve- cupied as a saloon. The next was the residence of L. P. White, agent of the Lake Superior and Puget Sound Company, corner of Seventh and Juniper streets. This company took immediate steps for building up a town, and the sale of lots. The town was platted in the fall of 1870, and re- corded September 29, 1871. From the location of
the town, settlers began to flock to the place. S. W. Taylor, John Bishop, Edward B. Lynde, John Martin, W. W. Hartley, Fred W. Peake, Thomas Holmes, and two of his brothers, H. A. Hall, Frank Dunu, Edward Morse, nud a number of others, que during the fall of 1870, and a number of boarding houses and hotels were started. Bly & Co. started a general supply store, and others of the new comers started some of the different lines of trade and business. The Headquarters Hotel was built soon after by the Railroad Company, and the Northwestern House by Joseph Styles.
In the fall of 1870, the first marriage oceurred, the parties being Joseph Gronden and Miss Darby.
Numerous houses of various kinds, shapes and styles were erected during this summer. A large portion of the buildings, that had served a noble purpose for many years in the village of Crow Wing, were, during this summer removed to this place, and oeeupied either for residences or busi- ness houses. The crowded streets, the busy stores, the jammed hotels, the rumbling of the cars, the sound of the hammer all day and a large portion of the night, and the constant ingress of emigrants, bearing unmistakable evidence of a real life, flowed onward like a stream with great foree.
In 1871, measures were taken for the ereetion of a court house and jail, the contract being awarded to L. P. White, for the sum of $971.60. The building was 18x20 feet, and two stories high. On the first floor were four cells, 4x8 feet, and two, 8x8 feet, in front of which was a room, 8x18 feet, for a Sheriff's office. The walls of the jail were of seantling lying flat, and spiked together, nine hundred and fifty-eight pounds of large spikes being used in the construction. The second floor of the building was furnished for a court room.
During this year the first ferry across The Mis- sissippi was built by the railroad company, and after some time the title was transferred to Cass eounty.
The Post-office was established and Dr. S. W. Thayer commissioned Postmaster. He was also the first practicing physician. H. M. Mixter opened the first blacksmith shop; and church and school interests were given dne attention. During the winter of 1871-72, over two hundred lots were sold by Mr. White. In the latter year, the Le- land House was built, with eighteen rooms, which, by its addition in 1879, was increased to sixty. The Merchants Hotel was also built during this year by Mrs. Chapinon, who still owns and con-
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
trols it. H. A. Hills, who had engaged in the mercantile trade prior to this date, started the first bank during this year. Frank Dunn opened the first livery stable, but soon after sold it to S. V. R. Sherwood, who in 1874, sold to N. Mel'adden, the present owner. During the carly part of the year, the Brainerd Hook and Ladder Company was organized.
This year also witnessed the establishment of the " Brainerd Tribunc," through which medium Brainerd began to be known abroad, and to which was largely due the influx of settlers and remark- able developments following. During the latter part of the year a charter was obtained, authoriz- ing the organization of the City of Brainerd, and on the 11th of January, 1873, the Common Coun- cil was organized with the following officers: President, L. P. White; Vice President, M. 'Tuttle; Aldermen, L. P. White, M. Tuttle, W. L. Heath- cote, William Murphy, Antony Mahlum, and F. X. Goulet; City Clerk, P. H. Trudell; City Treas- urer, Robert MeNider; City Attorney, C. B. Sleeper; and City Justice, W. W. Hartley.
Under this organization several additions to the original plat were surveyed and recorded, as the rapid development of the place required.
The name first suggested for this place was "Ogamagua," in honor of Mrs. Emma Bollion, a woman of rare personal beauty, to whom the In- dians gave the name mentioned, meaning Queen, or Chief Woman. The present name was chosen in honor of the wife of J. Gregory Smith, first President of the Northern Pacific Railroad Com- pany, Mrs. Smith's family name being Brainerd.
During this year Barrows, Prescott, & Basset built a steam saw mill near the railroad bridge, capacitated to do good work. This firth run the mill one year, then sold it to George W. LeDue, who, in a short time, sold to Mr. Bly, who soon after removed it to its present site, about three- fourths of a mile south of the city, and in 1876, sold it to Jones Brothers, who operated it until 1878, when it passed into the hands of J. A. Davis & Co., the present proprietors. The mill, with its enlargements, has now a daily capacity of fifty thousand feet of lumber, eighty thousand shingles, and twenty-five thousand lath. It is operated by an engine of one hundred and twenty-five horse- power. Near this is a planing and shingle mill driven by a seventy-tive horse-power engine. This company employs about seventy-five men in and about the milles.
With the establishment of lumber manufacto- ries, substantial and even elegant dwellings sup- planted the ruder cabins, and with the exception of a temporary check growing out of Jay Cooke's failure, und the suspension of railroad construc- tion, the place has since enjoyed a steady growtti, and is now the most active town on this line of road. Its population, in 1880, as shown by the census returns, was one thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, whieli has since increased to much larger proportions, a local writer of the " Brainerd Tribune" claiming not less than four thousand in the early autumn of 1881. The number of sub- stantial business houses, representatives of the va- rious professions, churches, schools, societies, etc., mark a development rarely met with in so young a city.
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