USA > Mississippi > History of the upper Mississippi Valley, pt 2 > Part 60
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66
Miss Ellen Larkin, who has borne him eight chil- dren, seven of whom are living.
L. S. LIBBY dates his birth on the 16th of June, 1850, in Kennebec county, Maine, which was his home until eight years of age, when his parents came to Minnesota and located in Princeton. Our subject was engaged in the pineries during the winters, and in 1878, purchased a farm in this township, which has since been his home, devot- ing a portion of his time to the lumber business. He was united in marriage on the 4th of Novem- ber, 1873, to Miss Etta M. Smith.
SAMUEL MARSHALL is a native of Carrol county, Ohio, born on the 3d of April, 1830. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, and at the age of nineteen commenced learning the trade of a car- riage maker, at which he was employed three years. Then, for three years, studied medicine, and in 1859, came to Minnesota and practiced his profession seven years in Anoka county. After residing on a farm in Richland county, Wisconsin, he returned to Minnesota and to his present farm in about 1873; has sinee devoted his time to til- ling the soil and the practice of medicine.
SAMUEL M. ORTON was born on the 20th of June, 1847, in Canada, where he lived until nine years of age, and came with his parents to Min- nesota. They first located in what is now the town of Milo, remaining about four years, and came to this township where they still reside. When our subject was twenty-one years old, he purchased his present farm, and was married on the 12th of June, of the following year, his wife's maiden name being Maribe J. Dunning. Of six children, the result of this union, four are living.
LOUIS ROCHEFORD dates his birth the 11th of September, 1825, in Quebec, Canada; where he learned the carpenter trade. Came to the Lake Su- perior copper mines in 1852, and opened a hotel, which he conducted three years, and then removed to Superior City, where he was one of the early settlers. Since 1868, he has been a resident of Greenbush township, filled some of its offices; and las a fine farm. Was married to Miss Caroline Bertrand on the 224 of September, 1861. They have three children.
JOSEPH ROBIDEAUX, one of the early settlers of this town, dates his birth in Franklin county, Now York, on the 22d of Angust, 1821. He resided with his parents until 1847, when he purchased n farm in the same county, making that and St. Lawrence county his home till coming to St. Paul,
679
MILO TOWNSHIP.
Minnesota, in 1863. There he operated a saw- mill until 1866, when he located his present farm, and the following spring brought his family here. He was united in marriage with Miss Catharine Jesmer on the 1st of November, 1847. They have had twelve children, eight of whom are living.
PETER ROBIDEAUX, also a native of Franklin county, New York, was born on the 12th of No- vember, 1830. When quite young lie engaged as a sailor on the Lakes and St. Lawrence river; was soon made Captain, and finally purchased a steamer of his own, continuing in the business for about seventeen years. Then, after farming in New York for some time, he came to Minnesota in 1868, and purchased his present farm which he has since greatly improved. Married Julia Jesmer on the 2d of August, 1853. They have thirteen children.
PETER S. ROBIDEAUX, a son of the subject of onr last sketch, was born in the same county as his father, on the 27th of March, 1858, and came with him to Minnesota, residing at home until 1879. He was employed in the woods and on the river until purchasing his present farm in the latter year. He was married to Miss Sophie De Shaw, who has borne him one child, named Edmond.
GIDEON B. REVES was born in Portage county, Ohio, in the year 1826. In 1857, he came to Min- nesota and opened a farm in Hassan, Hennepin county, on which he lived three years; then, after living in Minneapolis two years engaged in paint- ing, he returned to his farm and remained until 1866. In the latter year Mr. Reves came to his present farm in Greenbush, Mille Lacs county, where he owns one hundred and sixty aeres. He served for a time as County Commissioner.
J. J. A. ROBIDEAUX dates his birth on the 15th of August, 1852, in Franklin county, New York. His parents came to Greenbush when our sub- ject was quite young, and at the age of seven- teen years, he commenced labor as a sawyer, to which he has since devoted the greater por- tion of his time; having been employed in the mills of Minneapolis, Auoka, Princeton, and San- tiago, Sherburne county.
DONALT SCOTT is a native of Canada, in which place his father died when our subject was quite young, and he was left in charge of the old home- stead. In 1872, he came to Minnesota, purchased a farm in this place and has since made it his home. Miss Margaret Orton became his wife on the 2d of February, 1857. They have four children.
REUBEN SEABY is a native of Stafford county,
New Hampshire, born on the 19th of September, 1812. He was rcared to agricultural pursuits, and resided in his native State until coming to Minne- sota in 1857. He has lived in this county ever since, but in 1862, removed to his present farm. Mr. Seaby was united in marriage, on the 21st of June, 1855, with Mrs. Eunice Moulton, who was born in the same county as himself. They have liad six children, five of whom are living.
MILO.
CHAPTER CLVII.
DESCRIPTIVE-EARLY SETTLEMENT-ORGANIZATION -FIRST THINGS -- AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS -- BIO- GRAPHICAL.
The town of Milo was carved out from the orig- inal territory embraced in Greenbuslı, as men- tioned in the history of that town. It is the sec- ond congressional township north of the county line south, and in the west tier of townships. Its area is about 23,000 acres, of whichi 185 are under cultivation. It is heavily timbered, and originally contained some fine tracts of pine, now removed. The west branch of Rum river, and Estes brook, are the principal streams, the former flowing through the town in a southeasterly direction. The surface is somewhat broken along the streams; otherwise it is gently undulating, and the soil mostly a dark loam, with extensive traets of wild meadow. Among the carly settlers in this town werc: Jolin C. Hatchi, now a resident of Princeton, and mentioned among the personnels of that place, and William Fifield, now of Sank Rapids, in 1856, both of whom were engaged in lumbering; Sam- uel Orton, now of Greenbush, and C. Pinkham, a native of Canada, who came in 1866. The earliest among the present settlers were: Sylvester Cone, of Ohio; Dauiel Alguire, of Canada, and M. E. Northway. Allen McDonald came about the time, or before those last namned, but has since removed.
The organization of Milo was the outgrowth of dissatisfaction arising at the first town meeting under the town organization of Greenbush, and the same year Milo was organized with the follow- ing officers: Supervisors, Sylvester Cone, Chair- man, C. Pinkham, and George Crooks; Clerk and Assessor, P. I. Northway; Treasurer, M. E. North-
680
HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
way; Justices of the Peace, J. H. Farnsworth, and J. W. Babcock; and Constables, D. Alguire and M. E. Northway.
The first child born in the town was Alvird, daughter of William Fifield, in 1856.
The first school was opened in the house of Caleb Pinkham, about the year 1868, under the supervision of Miss Helen Cone, and was a private school. In 1869, a school honse was completed, in which a term of school was taught that year. In district number seven, the first school was opened in 1874, by Miss Nellie Ryan.
The first religious services were held at the resi- dence of William Fifield, by Rev R. Walker, in 1857. In the new sestlement meetings were held at the school house, soon after its completion, by Rev. William Kerr, and in 1879, by Bev. H. Hunt, of Princeton.
A Post-office was established in 1874, John A. Simmons being Postmaster, with the office at his residence, where it remained until removed to Greenbush, in 1880. Mail has been supplied weekly from Sauk Rapids, when not rendered im- possible by the condition of the roads.
The agricultural report for 1880 show the fol- lowing products: Wheat, 802 bushels; oats, 962 bushels; corn, 280 bushels; barley, 114 bushels; buckwheat, 64 bushels; potatoes, 570 bushels; sugar-canc, 10 gallons; cultivated hay, 47 tons; wild hay, 444 tons; wool, 46 pounds; butter, 2,325 pounds.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
GEORGE CROOK dates his birth on the 2d of ()c- tober, 1827, in Carroll county, Indiana, where he engaged in farming until 1855. Then came to Crawford county, Wisconsin, and in 1867, to this township, where he owns a farm and has filled several local offices. Was County Commissioner for three years
SYLVESTER CONE, one of the organizers of the towns of Milo and Greenbush, is a native of Trum- bull county, Ohio, born on the 18th of March, 1810. He has always followed farming, remaining in his native State until coming to Rice county; Minnesota, in 1862. Came to this township in 1866, and pre-empted his present land. Mr. Cone
filled the office of Justice of the Peace for a time, and is at present Town Clerk.
JOHN A. EMMONS dates his birth in Greene connty, New York, on the 26th of February, 1832. He came to Minnesota in 1857, and located in Wabasha county, which was his home several years. In 1862, enlisted in the Fifth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, serving with Grant, Sherman, and Thomas, and when in Nashville, Tennessee, was wounded, but served to the close of the war. On his return, Mr. Emmons resided in St. Cloud for a time, and in the spring of 1866, came to this place and purchased a farm. Since 1874, he has been Postmaster at Estes Brook, until the removal of the office in 1880.
1
MIRON E. NORTHWAY was born on the 8th of September, 1847, in Ashtabula county, Ohio, where he was engaged in farming and driving stage until 1864, when he enlisted in Company A, of the Sixth Ohio Cavalry. After a short term of service he was discharged for disability, and in 1865, came to Rice county, Minnesota, and the fall of the following year to this township. Since his residence here Mr. Northway has filled a num- ber of local offices. Was married on the 28th of October, 1866, to Miss Lney Cone, who has borne him for children.
COMFORT PINKIIAM, a native of Canada, was born on the 20th of July, 1831. His parents re- moved to Ohio when our subject was but three years old. In 1850, he came to Wisconsin, re- sided on a farm in Greene county seven years; then moved to Crawford county, and in 1861 en- listed in Company I, of the Seventh Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He served three years and eleven months, and participated in twenty-five en- gagements, among which were the battles of Get- tysburg, Fredericksburg, second Bull Run, and Battle of the Wilderness, and on receiving his dis- charge, returned to Crawford county. In 1866, he came to this township which has since been liis home. Has been a member of the board of Su- pervisors since the organization of the town, and also filled the office of County Connnissioner one tem. He was nnited in marriage with Miss A. Norton on the 24th of July, 1853. They have had five children, four of whom are living.
·
681
SAINT LOUIS COUNTY.
SAINT LOUIS COUNTY.
CHAPTER CLVIII.
EARLY HISTORY - DESCRIPTIVE - DULUTH - CITY HISTORY-CHURCHIES- SOCIETIES -NEWSPAPERS - ST. PAUL AND DULUTH RAILROAD - BIO- GRAPHIOAL.
As early as 1640, adventurous traders had renched the extremity of Lake Superior, and brought to Quebee the news of the existence of eopper upon Isle Royale and at other points.
Groselliers, and his brother-in-law, Radisson, in 1659, were here, and the Pigeon River, now n portion of the boundary between Canada and the United States of America, upon early Freneh maps bears the name of the former, of whom a notice will be found in the First Chapter of this volume.
In the year 1662, Groselliers arrived in Montreal from a journey to Hudson's Bay. In 1665, a eom- pany of traders reached La Pointe,, and Father Allouez, a priest, accompanied them, and estab- lished there the " Mission of the Holy Spirit." During his brief residence there, he eoasted with the traders around the western and northern shores of Lake Superior as far as the tributary of Lake Nepigon, and at Fond du Lae, near the present site of the eity of Du Luth, he saw some Sioux, and on the fourth page of this history, will be fonud his description of this tribo.
Murquotto succeeded Allouez, but the mission in 1671, was abandoned, as the Hurons und Ottawas moved eastward, from fear of the Sioux.
Daniel Greysolon Du Luth in the summer of 1679, entered the Sioux country by way of the Saint Louis river. In the thirtieth chapter of this work it will be seen that in September of the same year, he held a council with the Assiniboines and other tribes, nt the extremity of Lake Superior, to induce them to make peace with the Nado- wayscioux, their common enemy.
In June, 1680, he was at or near the site of the city which preserves his name, and from thenee went eighty lengues on the south side of the Lake to the month of a river, which he ascended, und
then made a portage to the Saint Croix River which he deseended to the Mississippi.
It was not unusual for traders and explorers to compliment their friends by attaching the names of saints whose names had been given to their friends at the time of baptism, to the rivers which floated their canoes, or, of which they heard from the Indians.
Hayes river, which flows into Hudson's Bay, was ealled Saint Theresa, by Groselliers, in compli- ment to his wife, Theresa; upon the early French maps, the Assiniboine river is marked St. Charles, in compliment to Charles Beauharnois, the Gover- nor of Canada, at the time of its diseo@ry by the French, and one of its branches was named St. Pierre, in honor of Pierre Verendrye, the leader of exploration in that region. So, it is probable the name St. Louis was given to the River Fond-du- Lae of the most aneient maps, because the French who first aseended it desired to compliment Count Frontenae, Governor General of Canada at the time of Du Luth's exploration, whose family name was Louis Buade. The latter name, Buade, was given by Du Luth to the sheet of water now ealled Mille Laes.
The bay at the head of Lake Superior was ealled West Bay, and on a map engraved in Lon- don, in 1778, to illustrate Carver's Travels, the site of Du Inth is designated us Boston.
The voyageurs of Canada ealled all Englishmen Bostonnois, because Canadians traded at Boston, which two hundred years ago was one of the most populous and most important eommereial towns of the English Colonies.
Groselliers, the first white man to explore Min- nesota before the year 1670, traded with its eiti- zens, and a native of Boston eo-operated with him in developing the Hudson Bay fur trade. After the French, by the Treaty of Paris, in 1763, eeded this country to Great Britain, English traders eame to the head of Lake Superior. In 1767, to- ward the hutter end of July, Curver coasted along tho shores of West Buy on his way to the rendez-
·
م
2
682
HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
vous of English traders at Grand Portage. His companion was n trader memed Goddard, and ou one of his maps the Bois Brule is called Goddard's river. The name, Boston, was probably given to the point at the mouth of the Saint Louis river, because here was an English trading post.
It was not until the year 1820, that an expedi- tion, under the auspices of the United States of America, reached the head of Lake Superior. Gov- ernor Cass, of Michigan, on the 5th of July, ar- rived with a party on a tour to the Upper Missis- sippi. His historiographer wrote as follows: "The western termination of the Lake in the great bay of Fond du Lac denotes a double or masked shore, which appears to have been formed of pebbles and sand thrown up by the tempests, at the distance of a mile or two outside of the original shore.
" The result is shown by an elongated piece of water, resembling a lake, whiel receives at the north, the river St. Louis, and the Agoche, or Left Hand river, at its south extremity.
"About three miles above the mouth of the river, we land at a Chippewa village. While exchanging the usual salutations with them we noticed the children of an African who had intermarried with this tribe. The children were the third in de- scent from Bango, a freed man of a foriner Brit- ish commanding officer at the island of Michilli- mackinack. They possessed as black skins as the father, a fact which may be accounted for by ob- serving what I afterwards learned, that the marri- uges were in the ease of the grandfather and father with the pure Indian."
Until 1854, Saint Louis county was seldom vis- ited by any white men, except traders and mis- sionaries to the Indians.
The large area ombraced in St. Louis county was included in the lunds ceded to the- United States by the Indians, at the treaty consummated ut La Point, in 1854, at which the old Chief, Hole-in-the-Day, was an object of marked interest to all present. The peninsula known as Minne- sota Point had for years been a favorite resort for the Lake Superior Bands, and had become their - burial ground.
The surface is undulating, and in some parts quite broken. The area of the county is 6,500 square miles. Its principal streams are the St. Louis river and its tributaries, which drain the sonthern portion, flowing into Lake Superior at its western extremity. Along this stream is found some of the most picturesque scenery in the North-
west, the " Dalles of the St. Lonis " having gained the ndmiration of thousands of travelers who have been favored with a panoramic view of this charm- ing spot, in passing over the St. Paul and Dul- uth railroad, north of the Northern Pacific June- tion.
The country in the vicinity of Duluth is mainly woodland, consisting of pine, birch, maple, spruce, tamarack, oak, poplar, etc., with tracts of wild meadow. The soil near the lake is a red marly clay, intermixed with sand, which improves in quality as it reeedes from the lake. As yet, the settlement is confined to that portion adjacent to Lake Superior, and on the St. Louis river. Al- though lying in the northern part of the State, the efforts thus far made in farming have been attended with satisfactory results, and such as to justify more extensive investments in agriculture. Small grains, roots, and grass yield good returns, and it is claimed that no county in the State excels, while few equal this for clover, while in fruit raising this locality compares favorably with other portions of the State. The first attempt at farming in this region was in 1820, when the American Fur Company sent a limited amount of stock and farming utensils to Fond-du-Lae, which was then one of their trading posts. Abont fonr aeres were cultivated, and it is claimed that a good crop of potatoes and garden vegetables and a fair crop of corn was the result of the effort. The statements are furnished in Schoolcraft's journal, and if true, this was the first agrienltural effort in the territory now embraced in Minnesota, being three years before Liententant Camp's experiment at Fort Snelling. We have no information as to the length of time this miniature farm was culti- vated, or what further results were accomplished.
The county was organized in 1856, and the fol- lowing officers appointed by the Governor: Clerk of the Court, J. B. Culver; Sheriff, A. J. Ellis; Register of Deeds, R. H. Barrett; Auditor, I. E. Brown. An election was held in the fall of the same year, at the building known as the Nettleton claim shanty. Unfortunately we have no antlien- tic records of this meeting. On the 4th of Jam- ary, 1858, the first board of County Commission- ers met at the office of the Register of Deeds. The Board consisted of E. C. Martin, Chairman, Vose Palmer, and Z. J. Brown. At their second meeting, January 19th, six school districts were created; and nt their third, April 5th, the towns of Carlton, Duluth, Martin, and Carp River were
683
DULUTH.
formed. From subsequent changes, there are now ten organized school districts, and the towns are, Oncota, Fond du Lac, Rice Lake, Hermann, and Gresen.
The history of carly settlements reaches back to the missionary efforts, about the middle of the pres- ent century. Rev. Edmund F. Ely, representing the American Board of Foreign Missions, was at Oneota iu 1856, and Mr. Speucer was here at an early date, instructing the Indians in agriculture, education and religion. While these had little to do with the actual settlement, they nevertheless gave direction to the tide of immigration, and thus indirectly had their effect in shaping the future movements. Superior City was located in 1853, platted in 1854, and the plat recorded in September of that year by a company organized under the title of Proprietors of Superior. Pre- vious to this, in the winter of 1850-51, George E. Nettleton and J. B. Culver conducted a trading post at Fond du Lac, and in the spring each selected a claim of one hundred and sixty acres, under an act of Congress relating to the establish- ment of trading posts. Their claims were on Minnesota Point, where George E. Nettleton es- tablished a post, and engaged in the fur trade with the Indians. Culver and William Nettleton, feeling insecure in a region wholly given over to Indiaus, removed to St. Paul and engaged in mer- cantile life. The claims, under the supervision of Mr. Nettleton, remained undisturbed and uncov- cted until the spring of 1854, when it became evi- dent that additional measures were necessary to insure their permanent possession. During the summer the North Shore Land Company was or- ganized, composed of J. B. Cnlver, George E. Netlleton, und Orrin W. Rice, who took posses- sion of the entire water front from Minnesota Point to Grassy Point, each member of the Com- pany establishing an individual claim to a portion of the territory. Nettleton's claim was on Min- nesota Point, Culver's extended from the Point some distance up the hill, und along the shore to . Rice's Point, and Rice's claim was on the Point now bearing his name. These claims were made under provision of the act already referred to, while all subsequent elaims were under the usual Government rights.
Tu 1856, the village of Oncota, on St. Louis Bay, was platted by William MeCracken, R. H. Bacon, and Edmund F. Ely, the site being selected by The laller, who ufterward removed to Californiu.
The site selected was one of rare natural beauty, and but for the sudden rise of Duluth, would doubtless have exhibited remarkable development long ere this.
Fond-du-Lac village, on the left bank of the St. Louis river, about fifteen miles from Duluth, was platted in 1856. This place has already beeu mentioned as a trading post of the Americau Fur Company, aud the remains of some of the old buildings are yet visible, as was also traces of the old garden, until within the last few years. It is now a station on the St. Paul & Duluth Railroad, and amoug other advantages, has a fine water- power.
DULUTH.
This city is situated at the head of Lake Superior, resting upon the lake and Duluth Bay, on a gently sloping hill, with a southern expos- ure, and sheltered from the north aud west winds by the bluffs and timber back of the city.
It has a natural drainage to the lake, and viewed from the lake or bay, presents one of the most charming prospects met throughout the Northwest. Being at the head of uavigation, forming the gateway of commerce between the East and West, possessing the largest harbor on the lake, and being the terminal point of the Northern Pacific railroad, its importance as a commercial point needs no extended notice. The harbor is formed by Minnesota and Wisconsin Points, which to- gether inclose a bay several miles in lengtlı, fur- nishing harbor room for more than the entire feet of the great lakes, and so sheltered as to insure perfect safety. There are two entrances to this harbor; one being the natural passage between the extremities of the points named, which is about four hundred feet wide, and an artificial passage, two hundred and fifty feet wide, cut through Min- nesota Point, about half a mile from the main land. In this excellent land-locked harbor, vessels may lay at anchor during the severest gales that visit the lakes, and either passage may be entered with- out risk by the largest vessels,
A substantial lighthouse was constructed, at Government expense, at the extremity of Minne- sota Point, guarding thint entrance, and the people of Duluth constructed the ennal, or artificial eu-
684
HISTORY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
trance, and lighthouses, the whole costing about $210,000, inelnding u dyko across the middle of the bay, which was asked by the citizens of Sit- perior City, and ordered by a decision of the United States Court. The dyke was scarce com- pleted when the Superior City people saw their error, and sought relief by asking the build- ers to undo their work. They were relieved from their dilemma by a severe "northeaster," which sent the great waves rushing through the channel until their aceumulated foree broke down the bar- rier, affording free passage for vessels through the bay.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.