USA > Mississippi > History of the upper Mississippi Valley, pt 2 > Part 56
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The village has now about two hundred and fifty inhabitants, and is rapidly developing.
The first school was taught in the summer of 1874, by Miss Belle Lowe, now the wife of Dr. Rosser, of Brainerd. A good school house was built in the fall of 1876, in which school is main- tained nine months in the year.
The first religions services were conducted in the old log building first erected by Nathaniel Tib-
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AITKIN COUNTY.
betts, in the winter of 1870-71, by a young the- ologieal student who was employed by the work- men of the railroad company, for three weeks, preaching evenings and Sundays. Since then, services have been maintained monthly, with slight intermissions, Rev. Mr. Hawley, of Brainerd, officiating for the last year.
The first child born here was Markie, son of Nathaniel and Susan C. Tibbetts, near the close of the year 1872. He died in February follow- ing, being the first death here.
The first marriage was that of Robert E. Cowell and Miss M. E. Tibbetts, on the 11th of Septem- ber, 1873.
Outside of the village, there is but little settle- ment in the county. A few settlers are located at the mouth of Willow river, and a few have homes at Sandy Lake.
A Post-office was established at the village in September, 1872, and mail, by trains, is supplied daily. In 1873, a steamboat, the " Po-keg-u-ma," was built to run between this point and Pokegu- ma Falls. In the fall of 1878 it was destroyed by fire, and the next season replaced by the . steamer "City of Aitkin," which is still in use, un- der command of Captain Houghton.
BIOGRAPHICAL. .
CARL H. DouaLas is a native of Lower Can- ada, born in the year 1848. In 1859, he came, with his parents, to Minneapolis, Minnesota, re- maining five years. Then, after teaming about ten years in Rockford, he came to this place in 1874, and purchased the Aitkin House, to which he made several additions and conducted till its destruction by fire in the fallof 1880. Mr. Doug- las at once set about the erection of a new hotel, and eventually opened to the traveling public, the Douglas House, which was built at a cost of $8,000, and contains fifty-six rooms for the accom- modation of guests.
EDWARD L. DOUGLAS was born in Canada in 1848. He came to the United States in 1867, and engaged in the lumber business at Rockford, Wright county. He came to Aitkin in 1876, and has since been engaged in the lumber and hotel business. He is a partner with Knox Brothers in the humber business.
DORANCE IT. DORMAN, SON of D. B. Dorman, one of the curly settlers of Minneapolis, Minnesota, was born in the latter city on the 1st of April, 1856. He grew to manhood in his native place,
being engaged with Merriman & Barrows, lumber dealers, for five years. He is a member of the firm of Knox & Dorman, having formed the part- nership in March, 1881.
CHARLES N. HowE dates his birth in the state of New York, on the 17th of May, 1835. He learned the carpenter trade when a young man, and fol- lowed that occupation in the West and South for a number of years. He was in Georgia at the break- ing out of the civil war, and, for some time, was unable to get north. Seizing the first opportunity, however, he crossed the lines and enlisted in the Northern navy, serving three years on the flag ship "Minnesota,". of the North Atlantic bloekading squadron. Mr. Howe came to Minnesota in 1870, and after remaining one year in Minneapolis, came to Aitkin and engaged in the lumber business. In the spring of 1880, he opened a blacksmith and wood shop, and does quite an extensive business in the building of bateaux.
DANIEL J. KNOX is a native of Beloit, Wiseon- sin, and was born on the 26th of August, 1849. When he was a child the family removed to Dell Prairie, Wisconsin, where David grew to man- hood on his father's farm. At the age of nineteen years, he went to Sparta and attended the Com- mercial College at that place eighteen months going thence to Eau Claire as general manager in the moreantile house of Jackson Brothers. After spending from one to three years each in Eau Claire, Elroy, and Idaho, in the mercantile busi- ness, he came to Aitkin and opened a general store in a small building 24x30 feet. His brother, G. W. Knox, afterwards became a partner, who has recently been superseded by D. HI. Dorman. Large stores have been erected, and the business has become quite extensive, amounting, in 1880, to upwards of $225,000. They have also a branch store at Grand Rapids, Itasea county, which does an annual business of $30,000. Mr. Knox, in company with his brother, G. W., and E. L. Doug- las, are constructing a saw-mill, which, when completed, will have a daily capacity of fifty thou- sand feet, besides lath, shingles, etc.
EDWIN B. LOWELL was born in Abbott, Maine, in March, 1833. He was reared in his native State, and in 1855, came to Minnesota and settled in Champlin, Hennepin county, where he was en- gaged in farming three years. He then followed lumbering until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted in the First Minnesota Volunteer In- fantry, and served three years. Returning from
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
the army he again engaged in lumbering, and still follows that occupation. His field of labor is on the Swan river, where he banks a large number of logs each winter, employing about thirty men.
SAMUEL S. LUTHER dates his birth in Pennsyl- vania in the year 1850. When a young man his time was divided between elerking in a store and the lumber business. He came to Minnesota in 1873, and was employed at lumbering for three years, after which he spent some time at the ear- penter trade, in Aitkin, For the past two and a half years he has been clerk in the store of Knox Brothers; he is also town Clerk and Register of Deeds.
LORING G. SEAVEY was born in East Machias, Maine, in 1847. He came to Minnesota in 1866, and after spending about seven years in the lum- ber mills at Minneapolis, and in the humber woods, went to Grand Rapids, Itasca county, and engag- ed in the hotel business. After spending six years at tho latter place, lie removed to a point near the mouth of Willow river, where he owns a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, and carries on a small hotel. His family reside at Aitkin.
CHARLES W. SAWYER is a native of Carlinville, Illinois, and was born in the year 1845. He learned the machinist's trade, and was employed as an engineer on the Mississippi river steamboats until 1866, when he went to Hudson, Wisconsin, and was engaged in the grain trade for three years. Then, after three years spent in farming, went to Duluth, and two years later, engaged in bridge-building on the Northern Pacific Railroad. He soon after returned to Hudson, where he was engineer in a flonring mill until July, 1881, when he came to Aitkin, and has since been employed as engineer in the Northern Pacific roller mills.
CHRISTOPHER C. SUTTON was born in Grant county, Wisconsin, in 1846. The family removed to Stevens Point in 1856, where Christopher'resided until the spring of 1881, when he came to Aitkin. He conducted a meat market several years in Ste- vens Point, and since coming here has carried on a grocery and provision store.
DAVID E. TULL, Station and Express agent for the Northern Pacific Railroad Company at this point, was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, in 1852. The family removed to Wisconsin in 1862, which was the home of our subjeet until 1873, when he engaged with his present employers and went to Perham. He has occupied his present position since the spring of 1880.
WILLIAM L. WAKEFIELD, one of the pioneers in this section of the State, was born in Cherryfield, Washington county, Maine, in the year 1833. He learned the trade of millwright in his native State, and in 1854, came to Minneapolis, and was em- ployed in the mills at that place for eighteen months. He then came to the frontier and estab- lished trading posts at Sandy Lake and Pokeg- uma Falls, and also engaged in himbering on the Swan river until 1861, when he enlisted in the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and served three years. On being diacharged he came to Crow Wing and opened a trading post, besides having a post at each of his former locations. In 1871, he went to White Earth, and two years later, engaged in lumbering, continuing that occupa- tion until 1878, when he opened a hotel and trad- ing post at Grand Rapids, Itasca county. In June, 1881, he came to Aitkin, and in company with his brother Joseph, is now keeping the Wake- field House. Joseph was born in 1835, and came west abont two years later than his brother, and has been identified with him in most of his bnsi- ness enterprises since.
MRS. NELINE WHIPPLE, nee De Reo, to whose remarkably retentive memory the authors of this work are indebted for much valuable historic data, 'was born in Ohio, on the 17th of August, 1839. Her birthplace was near the old city of Manmec, where she lived until nine years of age. Her father, Louis De Reo, died when she was about two years old, and her mother, tonr years later. In 1848, the subject of this sketch removed with relatives to what is now Green Lake county, Wis- eonsin, and soon after went to Madison, where she received a good education. In 1854, she came with friends to St. Paul, taking passage on the steamer Itasca, at La Crosse. She resided in St. Paul the next two years, during which time she visited the valley of the upper Mississippi several times. In 1856, she went to live with Mrs. Hat- tie Whipple at St. Anthony, widow of Joseph Whipple, an early pioneer whose interment was the second in the St. Anthony cemetery. Mrs. Whipple resided with her son Henry, who kept the American Honse, and to whom Nellie was united in marriage on the 5th of November, 1857. The young couple remained in the American House until 1867, when they removed to Crow Wing and opened the Northern House which they condneted till May, 1875, and removed to Aitkin, opening tho Whipple House, of which
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CASS COUNTY.
Mrs. Whipplo is now the hostess. Mr. Whipple died on the 11th of February, 1879. He had led an active life, and been honored with many publie offices, being almost constantly in some official position. He was the prime mover in the or- ganization of Crow Wing county, and the first Chairman of the board of County Commissioners. During the last fifteen years of his life, he was a great sufferer from rheumatism. He had used every means of relief in vain, including a visit to the Hot Springs in Arkansas. His body was placed beside the remains of his father in the old cemetery at St. Anthony. They had been blessed with three children, all of whom are living
NATHANIEL TIBBETTS, the first permanent settler of Aitkin county, was born in New Sharon, Maine, on the 21st of March, 1824. Leaving his native State in 1847, he came westward and located in Plover, Wisconsin, and after remaining there one year, came to the St. Croix river and was engaged in lumbering until June, 1850. He then came to Minnesota, and passing through St. Paul and St. Anthony, came to Elk River, and was among the first to make improvements at that point. He fol- lowed lumbering there until August, 1862, when he assisted in the organization of Company A, of
the Eighth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, recoiv- ing a Lieutenant's commission. After a little more than a year's service, he was commissioned Quar- termaster and retained that position until he was mustered out at St. Paul in August, 1865. Re- turning to his home at Elk River he gave his at- tention to farming and stock-raising until July, 1870, when he joined the Northern Pacific survey from Duluth westward, and when the present site of Aitkin was reached, being favorably impressed with the locality, he decided upon this as his fu- ture home, and in May, 1871, removed his family here. He built the first house at Aitkin, which was the first in the county, also, the first hotel and first store, and was the first Postmaster. He was Chairman of the first board of County Com- missioners, has been Register of Deeds, and in the fall of 1879, was elected Sheriff. Mr. Tibbetts was married on the 5th of Angust, 1855, at Elk River, to Miss Susan C. Davis, of that place, who died at Aitkin on the 10th of January, 1876. They had eight children, six of whom are living. Those deceased were named Markie and Etta; the former dying in February, 1873, and the latter on the 10th of January, 1875.
CASS COUNTY.
CHAPTER ORHIT.
DESCRIPTIVE-EARLY HISTORY-CHIPPEWA AGEN- CIES-ORGANIZATION-GULL RIVER STATION-BIO- GRAPHICAL.
Cass county occupies a large, almost level area in the northern portion of the State, portions of which are frequently mentioned in the previous chapters of this work. It contains some of the finest forests of pine in the Northwest, inter- spersed with hardwood timber and prairie. On the western margin is the true source of the Mis- ยท sissippi, from which, with myriad others lying within the county limits, the river commences its life. At one point on the river a ledge of granite crops out, over which the water falls about twenty
feet, forming a beautiful cascade known as Granite Falls.
The largest body of water is Leech lake, in the northern part, beyond which, on the extreme north- ern border, are Cass and Winnibigoshish lakes. Leech lake presents an irregular outline, forming a peninsula opening to the south and cast, on which is located the Leech Lake Agency. This is the home of a portion of the Chippewa Indians, this branch now numbering about two thousand.
Here the early missionaries established a school and farm, and the Rev. Mr. Bardwell, who for a time acted as Indian Agent, and was much respected, died. By a typographical error on page 195, he is called Boutwell, conveying the impression that he
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
was the first missionary at Leech Lake, the Rev. W. T. Boutwell, who is still living near Stillwater, in Washington county. In 1849, the Crow Wing Agency was established, near the month of Gull river, and a road ent to the Leech Lako Ageney, which was established the same year. This was the first Chippewa Ageney in Minnesota. At the first place a saw-mill was built, and at the latter a small grist-mill, both at Government expense. The saw-mill burned after about eight years, and the grist-mill perished from age and negleet. In 1867, J. B. Bassett, now of Minneapolis, took charge of these ageneies, remaining until 1870. During this time Mr. Bassett visited Washington with some of the Gull River band, and effected an exelange by which they ceded the twelve town- ships inelded in this reservation, for thirty-six seetions at White Earth and $150,000 in cash. Portions of the reservation have since been sold to settlers, and a few farms have been opened, the chief and oldest of which is that of T. H. Mooers, near the present station of Gull River. A few others have opened farms in this part of the county; and B. A. Manters, A. E. Dickinson, and others have opened farms along the Shell river. Although little advance has thus far been made in agriculture, there is a considerable amount of good farming land which will not long remain unoeenpied.
Cass eonnty, then ineluding a much larger area, was ereated in 1851, and in 1872, a county organ- ization was effected; the following officers being appointed by Governor Austin: County Commis- sioners, Charles Ahrens, Chairman, J. A. Barnd- well, and G. A. Morrison. Other officers were: Register of Deeds, A. Barnard; Anditor, A. Ruff; Sheriff, C. F. Moores; County Attorney, Thomas Keating; and Coroner, F. F. Keating. The county seat was located in the extreme southeastern part, just opposite Brainerd, where a court house was built on ground donated so long as used for county purposes. Not long after, the eounty organiza- tion was dissolved, and the land, with the build- ings, reverted to the original owners.
At the crossing of the Northern Pacific Railroad on Gull river, a village and station have sprung up, where Chase, Pillsbury & Co. have erected a large, elegant lumber mill, and are doing an ex- tensive business in the manufacture of humber, lath and shingles. They also have an interest in a sash, door, and blind factory, with Horr, Scelyo & Co. The mill has a capacity of 80,000 in len
hours, employing about one hundred and fifty men, and the factory manufactures $2,000 worth of goods monthly. Both enterprises were started in 1880, the first named company taking the initiative. They also own a large general store, a.boarding- honse, dry honse, a fine office building, and over twenty houses. They have large tracts of pine land on Gull river and lake, having a steamer on the latter for running rafts of logs through on the way to their mill. The railroad station was estab- lished here in 1880, with C. E. Woodruff, Agent, who was succeeded in December by the present Agent, W. H. MeMillen. A Post-office was also established, with Thomas J. Nary, Postmaster. In the fall of 1880, Miss Minnie Taylor taught the first school, in one of Chase, Pillsbury, & Com- pany's buildings. Since the time mentioned, Rev. R. A. Beard, of Brainerd, has held religious ser- vices semi-monthly; and a Sabbath school is main- tained. The village owes its origin and growth to the firm first mentioned.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
EZRA BUTLER, a native of Jennings eonnty, In- diana, dates his birth the 10th of March, 1850. He came to Minnesota in September, 1872, and was employed as sealer in the lumber mills at. Min- neapolis until May, 1880. Since the latter date, he has been a resident of this place, in the employ of Chase, Pillsbury & Co., first in the lumber yard, then in charge of the dry house, and since April, 1881, overseer of the Company's boarding house. Miss Frances Hollister, of Indiana, became his wife on the 1st of October, 1867. They have three children.
JONATHAN CHASE, whose birth dates the 1st of January, 1819, in Sebee, Maine, furnishes an apt illustration of that spirit of energy and persever- anee to which this valley owes its present state of development. His first business in his native State was lumbering, to which he has sinee de- voted his energies. He came to the West in 1854, and entered about sixteen thousand acres of pine land on the Chippewa, St. Croix, Minomonce, and Willow rivers in Wiseonsin. The following year he came to this State and located at the then scareely outlined city of Minneapolis, and at once formed a partnership with S. A. Jewett, engaging in the Inmber business. The firm lumbered on the Rum river four or five years, then dissolved part- nership with immense liabilities. Though legally exempt from liabilities, Mr. Chase sold his Wiscon-
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BELTRAMI COUNTY.
sin land, paid every elaim against him in full, and commeneed anew. For a time he was in company with Leavitt and Horr, the firm name being Leav- itt, Chase & Co .; but in August 1879, entered in- to the present partnership, the mino being Chase, Pillsbury & Co., and by his untiring energy has built up a flourishing business. Mr. Chase was in the lower house of the Territorial Legislature one term, a member of the State Constitutional Convention, and also in the State Senate one term. He was united in marriage with Miss Melissa Pol- lard in February, 1853. They have had seven children, five of whom are living. Our subject spends most of his time at Gull River Station, thic family ocenpying a pleasant home in East Minne- apolis Corner of 7th Street and 6th Avenne Sonth.
CHARLES E. GILL was born on the 20th of June, 1854, in Aurora, Illinois, where he received his education, and graduated from the high school in 1871. He afterwards went to Chicago, engaged in the hardware and notion business, then to Iowa, and thence to Kansas, spending abont two years in each place. Five years of his life have been devoted to book-keeping, and his present position with Chase, Pillsbury & Co. is abundant evidence of his proficiency. He went to Minneapolis in about 1879, was employed as scaler, and part of the time as book-keeper till May, 1880, when he came to this place and entered upon his present position. The marriage of Mr. Gill with Miss Ella Thompson occurred on the 22d of Septem- ber, 1875, in Aurora, Illinois. The union has been blessed with one ehild.
RENSELAER C. LEAVITT, a native of Cumber- land county, Maine, was born on the 15th of May, 1835. His father was a farmer and lumberman, und in those occupations our subject was reared. He removed to Boston soon after nttaining his majority, and was associated with his muele in bus- iness. In 1863, he came to Minnesota, locating in St. Anthony, and in company with his father and brother-in-law, engaged in lumbering. In 1873, or '74, under the the firm name of Todd, Haven, and Lenvitt, commenced the mannfaeture of Jum- ber at St. Anthony Falls, the firm name afterwards being changed to Leavitt, Chase & Co., and later the mill was sold to Captain John Martin, and the lumber yard to C. D. Haven. Mr. Leavitt then entered the firm of Chase, Pillsbury & Co., of which he is now a member. He was married in Maine, on the 31st of Angust, 1859, to Miss All- nette Barker. They had one child, who died in
infancy. Mr. Leavitt's home is in East Minne- apolis, No. 425 Fourth street, Sonth.
WILLIAM H. MCMILLAN, now Station Agent at Gull River, is a native of Danville, Vermont, where his birth ocenrred Febrimry 6th, 1860. At the age of fifteen he came to Minnesota, and after attending school about three years in Minneapolis, entered the Insurance office of his brother, P. D. McMillen, where he remained for some time, after- ward learning telegraphy. He then entered the service of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company ; first as operator at Valley City, from which place he came to Gull River, December 25th, 1880, and has since been in charge of this station.
HORATIO N. SEELYE, whose birth dates June 23d, 1828, is a native of St. George, New Bruns- wick, where his attention was given to lumbering nntil coming to this State in 1856. He first located at St. Anthony, then farmed one year about nine miles west of the city, after which he commeneed business as contractor and builder, to which he devoted his energies until coming to this place in 1880, as a member of the manufacturing firm of Horr, Secyle & Co. The firm at onee erceted, and now operate a sash, door, and blind factory, in which enterprise they have been eminently snc- cesstul. Mr. Seelye was united iu marriage with Miss Emma Broekway, of New Brunswick, the ceremony dating June 1st, 1850. Of ten children born of this union, nine are living. Two daugh- ters-the oldest-are married and living in Min- neapolis; the others still share the parental roof.
BELTRAMI COUNTY.
Beltrami county benrs the name of the Italian explorer of that name, of whom, a sketch has been given in the Thirty-fifth Chapter of this History, with extraets from his journal.
The county was created by an act of the Legis- lature of 1866, with the following boundaries: " Beginning at the point where the line between ranges thirty-eight (38) and thirty-nine (39) in- tersects the line between townships one hundred and forty-two ( 142 ) and one hundred and forty- three (143); thence northwardly on said range to the northwest corner of township one hundred and fifty-four (154) and one hundred and fifty-tive (155); thenee eastwardly to the line between runges
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IIISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
twenty-nine (29) and thirty (30), or to the nearest range line east of the mouth of Turtle River; thenco southwardty on said range line to the centre of the main eliannel of the Mississippi river; thence up the center of the main chanel of the Mis- sissippi to ils intersection with the line between townships one tmndred and forty-two (142) and one hundred and forty-three (143); thenee westwardly along said township line to the place of beginning." By the census of 1880, it contained ten inhabitants.
While as yet it contains but few permanent set- tlers, yet for years it has been frequented by In- dian traders. Within its borders is a large slieet of water known as Red Lake. Verendrye, the ex- plorer of the country by the chain of lakes west of Lake Superior, in a sketch prepared in 1737, which has never been published, and still preserved among the archives of the French Gov- ernment, marks Red Lake.
In 1843, missionaries came to benefit the In- dians of this region, of whom a notice will be found in ttie Thirty-ninth Chapter.
Dr. J. G. Norwood, an assistant of Owens, the United States Geologist, in 1847, examined this country. In his report he writes: "We reached Red Lake on the 24th of September, and were most kindly received by Mr. and Mrs. Ayer, Mr. and Mrs. Wright, and Dr. and Mrs. Lewis of the mission here.
" The lake, which is the largest of all the small lakes in the Territory, being abont thirty miles in diameter, is a double one. It is divided by two long peninsulas, which project into it from its cast- ern and western sides, dividing it into nearly equal portions, the strait connecting them being about two and a half miles in width. It contains no islands, and is represented as being very shullow in pro- portion to its size. Its general shape, and the rel- ative position of the two divisions can be better understood by consulting the map than from any description I can give. * *
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