USA > Mississippi > History of the upper Mississippi Valley, pt 2 > Part 57
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* * The eastern peninsula is represented as being the site of In- dian gardens."
The mission which was established in this place in 1843, has been of great service to the Indians. Under the instructions and example of the mission- aries, and by their assistance a large traet of land has been cleared by the Indians, in which they cultivate fields of corn and potatoes. Three thou- sand bushels of potatoes were raised by them, be- sides squashes, and other vegetables in abundance.
A number of the Indians have good log houses; and their bark lodges are larger and better ap- pointed than in the generality of Indian villages.
The strip of fine land on which the farms are sitit- uted, is about cigtit miles long, and from a quarter to three quarters of a mile in width, and is situated along the north shore of the lake. The houses of the missionaries are good and comfortable, and their farm is kept in as good order, and is as well cultivated as any farm in the States. It is really what it is intended to be, a " model farm," and the happy results of their example are scen all around them in the well cultivated fields of the Indians and the excellent cabins of many of them.
ITASCA COUNTY.
Although one of the original nine counties cre- ated by the Territorial Legislature of 1849, Itasen county is still unorganized, and atmost unsettled, the census report of 1880 showing but one hun- dred and twenty-four persons residing within its borders. Notwithstanding its reduction by the organization of new connties, it still embraces a large area, most of which is a dense forest. It ex- tends from Cass and Aitkin counties, south, to the British Possessions, north; from which it is sepa- rated by Rainy Lake and Rainy Lake river, flow- ing from the Lake of the Woods, and finally mingling its waters with Lake Superior. St. Louis county forms its eastern, and Beltrami and Pembina its western boundary. Lake Winnibi- goshish lies partly within its borders, and the Red Lako Reservation covers several thousand acres of its territory in the western part. Its limited pop- ulation is composed chiefly of trappers aud lum- bermen. Only a small portion of the territory has been surveyed, and it is destitute of recent history. The old voyageurs traversed this green- wood in bygone years, in search of furs, enconn- tering dangers and privations from which the present generation would shrink in dismay. Such of these events as are etironicled in the first chap- ters of this volume must constitute the written lristory of Itasca county, until the mareti of im- provement shall reduce the primeval forests, and transform this wilderness into a thriving and on- liglitened community- the fit abode of man.
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MILLE LACS COUNTY.
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MILLE LACS COUNTY.
CHAPTER CLIV.
DESCRIPTION-ORGANIZATION-EARLY SETTLEMENT -FIRST THINGS-BROTTSBURG.
Mille Lacs county is located in east eentral Min- nesota, and is about fifty miles in length, north and south, with an average width of fifteen iniles. It is partially covered with heavy pine timber, ex- cept a small prairie in the southeastern part. It has an area of six hundred and seventy-two square miles, including one-half of Lake Mille Lacs, which forms its northern boundary, leaving the land area about five hundred and seventy square miles. It is drained by the Rum river; the east branch being the outlet of Mille Laes Lake, which river gathers its waters and winds its course through the entire length of the county, flowing in a southern direction, leaving the county about three miles from its southeast corner; and the western branch of Rum river, rising in Benton county, entering the county from the west about twelve miles from its south line, running south- east, and joining the east branch about one mile from the south boundary of the county. Aside from Mille Lacs, there are only four lakes of note in the county; Nessawac and Onamia in the north and Silver and Rice lakes in the southern part. The agneultural efforts are confined to the south- ern part of the county. The soil is sandy, though good, producing all kinds of grain grown in this part of the State.
The exportation of timber and logs is carried on to considerable extent. The timber is cut and formed into rafts during the fall and winter months, and during the spring freshet floated down to the Mississippi, and thenee to the manu- facturing centers along its banks.
A portion of the county, comprising about two congressional townships on the south shore of Mille Laes Lake, is occupied by a band of the Chippewa Indians, known as the " Mille Laes
Band." They ceded the land to the Government in 1863, but reserved the right of possession dur- ing good behavior. This section is known as the Mille Laes Indian Reservation. The locality is well suited to their peculiar habits, affording them ample opportunity to fish and hunt. These rieh pine forests have excited the cupidity of lumber speculators, who have urged their removal to the White Earth Reservation. There are about seven hundred in the Band.
ORGANIZATION .- All that part of Mille Lacs county lying west of the west branch of Rum river was a part of Benton county, organized by the Territorial Legislature in 1849, but detached and made a part of Mille Laes on the organiza- tion of the latter. That part lying east of the above named branch was afterwards embraced in the unorganized county of Mille Lac.
In 1858, the Territory becoming a State, Hon. Joseph B. Carpenter was chosen to represent this distriet in the first State Legislature. Through his exertions, assisted by J. L. Cater and others, an act was approved on the 20th of March, 1858, for the organization of a new county, to be known as Monroe, comprising the old county of Mille Lac, and a small portion of Benton and Isanti counties, fixing the county seat at Princeton. The law of the State required each of the counties af- feeted by the change to ratify the act at the polls, which Isanti county failed to do by two votes. This effort failing, the inconvenience of going to Sank Rapids and Little Falls, for all county bus- iness, aronsed the people, and they became alive to the importance of organizing a new county. After some canvassing, another effort was made by Messrs. Samuel Ross and Joseph L. Cater, which, after u long struggle on their part at St. Paul, iu the winter of 1859 -60, resulted in an act of the legislature organizing a new county to be called Mille Laes. It became necessary to organize the
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
old county of Mille Lae, before un election could be held. For this purpose a special bill was se- eured, and Dexter C. Payne, B. F. Whitney, and George Boekhoven were appointed County Com- missioners of Mille Ine county, and they in turn appointed the other officers. All the counties af- feeted by the change, concurred in the action, and the new county of Mille Laes was organized with Princeton as the county seat.
The first eleetion was held in 1860, by which the following otlieers were elected: Joseph L. Cater, Chairman, Samnel Orton, and S. C. Moses, County Commissioners; William W. Payne, County Auditor and Register of Deeds; S. M. Byers, Clerk of Conrt; William MeCauley, Sheriff; E. J. Whitney, Connty Treasurer; Samnel Ross, Judge of Probate; and S. M. Byers, Justice of the Peace. The first term of court was held in the summer of 1860, Judge Vanderburg, of Minneapolis, presid- ing. This term was held in what was known as the "Old Quarters Building." It is said there were but two cases, and the Judge dispatched the business in half a day and left the same afternoon for Minneapolis.
EARLY SETTLEMENT .- The first white man to visit this county was Father Hennepin, in 1680, who spent several days in the valley of the Rum river, then passed up to Lake Mille Laes. No other white man, except some of the early explor- ers and missionaries, are known to have visited this comty until about the year 1848, when Dan- iel Stanchtield, of St. Anthony Falls, came up the river with others in a bateau on a pine log and humber expedition. Nichols and others followed on the same enterprise the next year. David Day, in the winter of 1855-56, brought his wife into the pineries, who was the first white woman in the conuty. The first claim ude was by A. B. Da- mon in 1854, covering the present town site of Princeton. During the same year Henry Jones with his family became residents of the vicinity. "The first frame dwrelling was built in 1856 by Hazen Weeks near the southeast corner of the county.
The first store was opened by George and John Oxnord in a building ereeted by Dr. V. Fell.
The paper town of Brottsburg was located on the southwest quarter of section one, and the north- west quarter of section twelve, town thirty-eight, range twenty-seven. It was platted by T. H. Barrett in 1857, nud recorded on the 16th of Jan- uary, 1857. No trace can be found of the town,
though a large hotel was erected there in an carly day, and visited frequently by lumbermen when in this county.
VILLAGE OF PRINCETON.
CHAPTER CLV.
DESCRIPTION-EARLY SETTLEMENT-INDIAN TROUB- LES OF 1862 - BRIDGES - MILLS -SCHOOLS - CHURCHES -- MASONIC - POST-OFFICE - FIRE DE- PARTMENT -- NEWSPAPERS.
The village of Princeton was laid out and plat- ted by Hon. Samuel Ross, James W. Gillam, Dor- ilius Morrison, John S. Prinee, and Richard Chute, in the fall or winter of 1855, and the plat recorded on the 19th of April, 1856, at the office of the Register of Deeds in Benton county. A. B. Da- mon laid ont a portion of his elaim adjoining the original plat on the south, which is known as Damon's Addition, in the summer of 1858. Sub- sequently, Cater's, Murray's, Dunham's, and High- land's Additions were added. The village con- tinued as a center of lumbering interest for many years, without any formal village organization. It was incorporated in 1877, and the first election held in the month of March of that year, at which the following officers were elected: C. H. Rines, Presi- dent; F. M. Campbell, I. S. Mudgett, and T. H. Caley, Trustees; S. L. Staples, Recorder; D. H. Murray, Treasurer; Charles Keith and S. M. Jus- tice, Justices of the Peace; and William Martin, Constable.
EARLY SETTLEMENT .- The first shanty built within the limits of Princeton was in 1849, and oc- cupied by a mulatto, known by the name of " Banjo Bill," who kept a " stopping place." "This shanty stood near the old elm tree, in the rear of the North Star Hotel. The next shanty and first real place of entertainment, was kept by Charles Whitcomb and Mr. Dunton, in 1854, who ocenpied it a short time, when it passed into the hands of A. B. Damon, who ranked as the first permanent white settler of the place. The following year, Messrs. Damon and Allen farmed the hund now occupied by the town, which was probably the first farming of any importance done in the coun- ty. Early in 1856, Hon. Samuel Ross completed his log hotel, which was immediately opened to the public. This was known as the Princeton
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PRINCETON.
House. About this time Thomas Goulding also opened the American House.
The first frame building in the village was the Oxnord store, now owned by H. B. Cowles & Co., and used us a store room. The next was the dwelling house of Dr. V. Fell, removed about 1873, from Benjamin Sonle's lot in bloek nine, and now ocenpied by John W. Dimmiek.
About this date Princeton began to assume the proportions of a business place. H. B. Cowles, B. F. Whitney, and John Rines were in the mer- eantile business. The first blacksmith shop was built in 1856, by Samnel Ross, and placed in charge of James Roundtree, the first meelanie in this line in the place, who was soon followed by Mr. Hamilton. The new North Star Hotel was built in 1868. The financial crisis of 1857, run- ning through several years; the grasshopper seourge of the same date, leaving a poor people in ahnost destitute cirenmistanees, eaused " blue times" in this county. Flour and sugar were to be used only on the most important occasions. Most of the people were glad if they could seenre even corn meal mid venison to satisfy the wants of the inner man. Notwithstanding the general scarcity, the people were not disheartened, nor would they be driven from their homes.
During the civil war a sufficient number of men volunteered to fight the battles of the Union, so that no draft was made. The entire number of inhabitants at that time did not exceed three hun- dred, and less than one hundred men were able to bear arms.
When other settlements were fleeing to St. Paul und Minneapolis in anticipation of an attack by the murderous Sioux, the inhabitants of this county organized and erected a stockade at Princeton, to which the settlers resorted and held themselves in readiness in case of a surprise. The Mille Lacs band of Chippeways remained friendly, and no depredations by the hostiles were committed in the county. Several companies of Infantry and Cav- alry were also sent at different times to guard the town.
MILLS. - In 1856, William F. Dunham and others built the first steam saw mill. It Ind n cupacity of six thousand feet in ten hours. This mill was burned about four yours after its erection. It is said Messrs. William Carmody, John Gleason, and James Dimmick sawed a portion of the lumber used in the erection of this mill with a commou whip-saw.
The next was built by Sammel Ross in 1858. This was a water mill, with a capacity of three thousand feet in ten hours. The third was built by Benjamin Soule in 1867, and has a capacity of fifteen thousand feet of lumber, und fifteen thon- sand shingles in ten hours; it is run by a forty horse-power engine.
The first flour-mill was built in 1870, by Ben- jamin Soule. It is a water mill with a capacity of twenty barrels per day. There is another mill about one and a quarter miles up the stream; built in 1868, by J. H. Allen, with a capacity of twenty bar- rels per day. B. F. Whitney built a feed mill in 1875, which is run by a twenty horse-power engine, with a daily capacity of ten tons.
SCHOOLS .- In 1856, the first school house in the county was built in the town of Princeton. The money was seenred by subscription. The first school tanglit was a three months' term in the winter of 1856, by James M. Dayton. Terms of three months were held in this building each year until 1858, when the first school district was formed. The records show that at a meeting of the eiti- zens on the 26th of November, 1858, Joseph D. Morris, Franklin Libby, and Albert B. Damon were elected Trustees; and John H. Allen, Clerk. In 1859, the school was supported by private sub- seriptions. In 1861, district number two was set off from distriet number one. In 1867, the pres- ent school house was erceted on the corner of Cen- tral Avenue and Third Street, at a cost of $3,600; but this is found to be inadequate to the demands of the present, and a more commodions build- ing is contemplated.
There are eight districts in the county, and ten schools are in operation during the regular terms. There are fifteen teachers, and four hundred and thirty-three scholars enrolled. The salaries paid for the last school year amounted to $1,709.88, and the total value of school property was $4,800.
CHURCHES .- The First Congregational Church was organized by Rev. Royal Twitchell, in August 1856, with thirteen members. The subsequent pastors were L. C. Gilbert, A. V. House, C. A. Hampton, S. Ollenshan, C. C. Reed, M. Storms, and D. Henderson. The church was erected, and ded- icated on the 16th day of March, 1873; the pres- ont membership is sixteen.
The Methodist Episcopal church was organized in the year 1857, with seven members, by Rev. Mr. Hooper, and the church was built the same year. Rev. S. S. Adams held services in private
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
houses before the ehurel was ereeted. The first serviee in the elureh was held in the fall of 1857.
MASONIC .- Fraternal Lodge No. 92, A. F. and A. M., was organized under dispensation, on the 25th of March, 1871. The first officers were: John Parker, W. M .; Silas L. Staples, S. W .; Alexander Young, J. W .; W. A. Dorr, Treas. ; H. M. Jameson, See .; J. Rollinson, S. D .; C. Morehouse, J. D .; N. M. Smith, S. S .; and James A. Prince, Tyler. The charter was granted on the 10th of January, 1872.
POST-OFFICE .- The first Post-office was estab- lished in 1856, and Mr. Ross took the contract to eonvey the mail to and from Anoka onee a week. The first Postmaster was O. E. Garrison. The subsequent Postmasters have been J. L. Cater, Jolın H. Allen, David E. Golden, Mrs. L. J. Cun- ningham, George D. Loring, and Newell A. Ross, the present incumbent. This office recieves a daily mail by stage, from Elk River.
FIRE DEPARTMENT. - The Princeton Engine Com- pany No. 1, was organized on the 28th of May, 1881, with the following officers: Ilenry Webster, Foreman; T. H. Caley, Ist Asst .; C. IT. Rines, 2d Asst .; J. 12. Brady, Sec .; and Charlos Keith, Treas. They have provided themselves with an Engine, Hose, and all the necessary equipments; the cost of the outfit being about $2,000.00.
NEWSPAPERS .- The first newspaper to eonneet Princeton with the outer world and supply the de- mands of a growing spirit in civilized life, was " The Princeton Appeal," published by William M. Quigley. The first number appeared in the month of December, 1873. Mr. Quigley was sne- ceeded by J. S. Brocklehurst in May, 1875, who discontinued the paper the following spring. R. C. Dun commenced the publication of " The Princeton Union " in December, 1876, which he still continues. It is published on Thursday of each week, and is a six colum quarto sheet.
BANK OF PRINCETON .- This place of business was established on the 1st of March, 1880, by Cochran, Clark, & Pratt, who sold it to C. H. Rines, F. M. Campbell, and G. J. Sowden, on the 1st of April, 1881. A general banking business is transacted, and the officers are: President, F. M. Campbell; Vice-President, C. I. Rines; and Cashier, G. J. Sowden.
PRINCETON TOWNSHIP.
This town comprises the whole county outside of Greenbush and Milo, and was organized in 1857, with J. L. Cater, C. W. Houston, and Elias Pratt as Supervisors; John H. Allen, Town Clerk ;
Dr. V. Fell and H. M. Atkins, Justiees of the Peace. This was on the west side of the river, and formed a part of Benton county.
The town of East Princeton, Mille Lne county, was organized by the County Commissioners on the 9th of March, 1860, bounded as follows: All that portion of township thirty-six north of range twenty-six west, that lies east of the main channel of Rum river, according to the Government sur- vey. The first annual meeting was held at the office of the Register of Deeds, on the 3d of April, 1860. The officers eleeted were: Supervisors, E. J. Whitney, Chairman, S. M. Moses, and Charles Lindeke; Clerk, W. W. Payne; Treasurer, B. F. Whitney; Assessor, George Bockhoven; Jus- tiees of the Peace, W. W. Payne and Benedict Hipler; Constables, D. C. Payne and Jacob Haber- meyer.
After the formation of Mille Laes county, the town of East Princeton, by a vote of the people in aeeordanee with an order of the board of County Commissioners, disorganized, and its ter- ritory was annexed to the town of Princeton, since which time it has been one township.
The general characteristics of the county de- seribe the township. Its soil is good, and the har- vests as certain as in any part of the State.
The timber, both pine and hardwood, is unex- celled in quality. There are some exeellent meadow lands, affording large quantities of hay, and pasturage.
As an agriculturing distriet, this town combines all that is of advantage in the county. The agri- cultural report of 1880, furnishes the following fig- ures: wheat, 6,180 bushels; oats, 4,484 bushels; corn, 10,821 bushels; barley, 36 bushels; rye, 1,107 bushels; buckwheat, 112 bushels; potatoes, 298 bushels; beans, 112 bushels; sugar-eane, 304 gal- lons; wild hay, 1,600 tons; wool, 506 pounds; butter, 16,050 pounds; and honey, 400 pounds.
The eultivated area of 1881 is 2,578 neres.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
ALMON P. BARKER, one of the leading attorneys and representative men of Mille Lacs county, was born at Naples, Cumberland county, Maine, on the 11th of August, 1846. He was reared on a farm, and provided with sneh educational facilities as were furnished by the common and high schools of the locality, with a few terms at Bridgton Acad- emy and one torm at Westbrook Seminary. In 1864, he commenced teaching school during the
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
winter months, and followed that occupation more or less until after settling in Princeton in 1873. He came to Minnesota in 1868, and was admitted to the Bar the following year, but returned to Maine in 1870, and was in business at Ellsworth for some time. In the spring of 1873, he returned to Minnesota, and after being employed as book- keeper for Farnham & Lovejoy at Minneapolis, for six months, came to Princeton and occupied the position of Principal of the graded schools during the school year. In July, 1874, he opened a law office, and has been in active practice ever since. In the same year he was appointed Superintendent of Schools for Mille Lacs county, and elected Town Clerk and Judge of Probate, holding the former office four years, and the latter, two years. In 1876, he was an independent republican eandi- date for Representative in the State Legislature, but defeated by seventeen votes. In 1877, he re- ceived the regular republican nomination for State Senator, which, however, he declined. In 1878, he was elected County Attorney, and re-elected in 1880. Mr. Barker is also largely interested in the real estate business. He was united in marriage with Miss Olive Ross, daughter of the late Samuel Ross, Esq., of Princeton, on the 13th of July, 1876.
JOSEPH L. BRADY, also a prominent lawyer of Princeton, was born at New Lebanon Springs, Columbia county, New York, on the 14th of Feb- rnary, 1849. When he was seven years old the family came to Minnesota, and settled in what is now the town of Palmer, Sherburne county. Ile attended the St. Cloud Institute, where he graduated in 1866, and subsequently pursued classical studies under a private tutor until 1868. He commenced writing for the public press in 1869, contributing valuable articles to the "Min- nesota Monthly " and " St. Paul Pioneer," besides a number of eastern and local journals; also a series of articles entitled "Sketches and Incidents of Western Life," which appeared in the "Gleaner," and were afterwards republished in pamphlet form. From 1874 to 1877, he was Principal of the graded school at Paynesville, Stearns county,-and on the 19th of September, 1878, was admitted to the Bur as an attorney, at Princeton, where he is now engaged in the active practice of his profes- sion. Mr. Brady has taken quite a prominent part in public affairs since settling here, and is now County Superintendent of Schools, and also Village Attorney of Princeton. Miss Mary J.
Kenely became his wife on the 17th of September, 1873.
SAMUEL M. BrEns, one of the pioneers of Princeton, was born on the 9th of November, 1828. le came to Princeton From New York in 1857, his family being the first to arrive after the town site was laid ont. He took a claim on seetions twen- ty-two and twenty-three, township thirty-six, runge twenty-six west; where he resided two years, having creeted a house in the village in the mean time, to which he then removed. Mr. Byers was the first Clerk of the Court in Mille Lacs county. He taught the second school, and until 1874, spent a considerable portion of his time in that oceupation. Since the latter date, he has carried on the mereantile business, his annual sales now amounting to $12,000.
ANDREW J. BULLIS was born in Knox county, Ohio, in the year 1844. The family removed to Indiana when Andrew was a child, where he grew to manhood and learned the carpenter trade. He came to Princeton in 1866, and after following his trade until 1879, opened a wagon shop, which lie now carries on, making a specialty of job work.
CHARLES L. BRAY dates his birth at Freeman, Maine, in the year 1830. When a child, the fam- ily removed to Dover, where Charles lived until 1853 and came to Minnesota. After spending tour years at lumbering in Minneapolis, he came to Baldwin, Sherburne county, and settled on a farm, wliere he remained for three or four years. He then removed to Princeton, and was engaged in lumbering two years, after which he settled on liis present Farm in section eleven. Mr. Bray Ins been twiee married; first to Miss Hannah P. Chase in 1856, who died after two years of wedded life. His present wife was Miss Mary Mudgett, chosen on the 24th of March, 1860. They have been blessed with two children.
ROBERT D. BYERS, a son of Samuel Byers, was born in New York, in March, 1850. He came to this State with his parents when seven years old, and lived at home until 1874, when he took a trip to California and was engaged in lumbering there for one year and a half. Returning thence to Princeton, he made that his residence until 1878, when he moved to his present farm on section sevenl.
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