Fifty Years In The Northwest by William H. C. Folsom

CHAPTER XIX.

1392 words | Chapter 169

HENNEPIN COUNTY. Hennepin county was organized March 6, 1852. Prior to the organization of Minnesota Territory it was in Clayton county, Iowa. At the organization of the Territory, in 1849, it was included in Dakota county, and so remained until set off in 1852. Hon. Bradley B. Meeker held the first court within the present limits of the county, at the old government mill, in 1849. Taylor Dudley was clerk of court, Franklin Steele, foreman of grand jury. The first board of commissioners were Alex. Moore, chairman, John Jackins and Joseph Dean. The first election was held Oct. 21, 1852, at the house of Col. John H. Stevens, on the west side. The county is a rich agricultural region, abounding with beautiful lakes, of which Minnetonka is the largest and finest. The county is bounded on the north by the Mississippi river and Wright county, on the east by the Mississippi river and Ramsey county, on the south by the Minnesota river and Carver county, on the west by Wright and Carver counties. It is subdivided into the following towns: Bloomington, Brooklyn, Champlin, Crystal Lake, Corcoran, Dayton, Eden Prairie, Excelsior, Greenwood, Hasson, Independence, Maple Grove, Medina, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, Minnetrista, Osseo, Plymouth, Richfield, and St. Anthony. [Illustration: FORT SNELLING, ON LINE OF C., M. & ST. P. RY.] FORT SNELLING. Fort Snelling owes its origin to the encroachments of British traders on our northern frontier. As early as 1805 Lieut. Zebulen Montgomery Pike, United States Army, was sent with a detachment of troops to explore the Upper Mississippi river to expel British traders who might be found encroaching upon our territory, and to secure by treaty a military reservation. Sept. 21, 1805, he encamped on Pike island, at the junction of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers, and, being pleased with the situation, forthwith made a treaty with chiefs of the Sioux nation to include all that tract of land lying from below the confluence of the two rivers, up the Mississippi, including the falls of St. Anthony, nine miles in width on each side of the river. The price paid was $2,000. The reserve thus purchased was not used for military purposes until 1819, when a detachment of the Fifth United States Infantry, commanded by Lieut. Col. Henry Leavenworth, was sent to occupy the reservation and build a fort. The building of the fort, with its various stone and wooden buildings, was the work of years. The site of the fort was selected in 1820, by Col. Josiah Snelling, who named it Fort St. Anthony, but at the suggestion of Gen. Winfield Scott, in 1824 the name was changed to Fort Snelling as a worthy compliment to its founder and builder. Notwithstanding the treaty made by Col. Pike in 1805, the Indian claim to the reservation was not extinguished until the treaty of 1837, ratified by the senate in 1838. In 1836, before the extinction of the Indian title, many settlers located on the reservation on the left bank of the Mississippi. These were forcibly removed by the United States government in 1840, under the act of March 3, 1807, an act to prevent settlements being made on ceded lands until duly authorized by law. The reservation was reduced from time to time, portions being sold. In 1857 Franklin Steele purchased the entire reservation, with the exception of two small tracts, including the fort itself, for the sum of $90,000, to be paid in three yearly installments. The first payments were actually made, the troops were withdrawn, and Mr. Steele assumed possession. Default having been made in the two remaining payments, the government resumed possession of a small portion of the reservation and fort in 1861. The year following, by act of Congress, the reservation was reduced. In 1870 it was permanently reduced to 1,531.20 acres. A suit at law between Mr. Steele and the United States government was compromised by releasing him from further payments and granting him a large tract of land lying along the right bank of the Mississippi, north of the fort, with a portion of Pike's island. Maj. Plympton and other officers of the fort, in company with Franklin Steele, made the first land claim, by permit of the government, at East St. Anthony, in 1838. They built a shanty and hired a Frenchman to occupy it. Steele bought out the interests of the officers associated with him and in 1848 secured a title from the United States. The first saw mill built on this claim was commenced by Mr. Steele, in conjunction with Boston parties in 1847, but was not completed until the following year. The next land claim on the river was made further up, by R. P. Russell and S. J. Findley. This was sold to Bottineau and afterward passed to other parties. The land claim adjoining Steele's, below, was purchased of a Frenchman by C. A. Tuttle in 1848. This claim is now partially occupied by the State University. W. Henry Cheever made a claim south of Tuttle's, on which, in 1849, he built a hotel and a huge wooden tower or observatory, nearly one hundred feet in height, over the entrance to which was a rhyming couplet: "Pay your dime And climb." Franklin Steele, before completing his mill and dam, became sole owner of the water power on the east side of the river. During the periods following the property has often changed owners, and sometimes the change has resulted in unprofitable litigation. James J. Hill, in later years, has become the owner of most of the water power of Nicollet and Hennepin islands and of the east shore, and is making valuable improvements. ST. ANTHONY FALLS. St. Anthony Falls was platted as a village in 1849, and was included in Ramsey county until 1856. In 1861 the legislature established satisfactory boundaries, annexing part of town 29, range 24, to Hennepin county. Among the first settlers of the Falls was Ard Godfrey. The first white child born here was a son of C. A. Tuttle, millwright. The Luther Patch family, consisting of four sons and two daughters, was the first resident American family at the Falls. Mr. Patch's sons were Edward, Wallace, Gibson, and Lewis; the daughters, Marion, who became the wife of R. P. Russell, the first marriage at the Falls, Oct. 3, 1848, and Cora, who became the wife of Joseph Marshall. An earlier marriage was celebrated at Fort Snelling May 27, 1835, that of Lieut. Edmund A. Ogden and Eliza Edna Loomis; Rev. Thos. S. Williamson officiating. This was the first marriage north of Prairie du Chien. The first store was opened by R. P. Russell in 1847, the second, in 1849, by Joseph Marshall. We find Jacob Fisher, of Stillwater, here in 1847, building the dam from Nicollet island to the east shore. Among the operators of the mill who have been prominent citizens of St. Anthony Falls are Sumner W. Farnham, John Rollins, Caleb W. Dorr, John McDonald, and Robert W. Cummings. Some of these men brought their families here. The building of the mill was somewhat delayed by the sinking in the Erie canal of the boats containing the machinery, hardware, etc. Standing pine to be used in the mill was purchased of Hole-in-the-Day, a Chippewa chief, cut and floated down from Sauk Rapids to the Falls. Some timber was also brought from Rum river, the first cut on that stream, except for government use. At the land sale in 1848, Mr. Steele secured all the land above Tuttle's to the north limits of the city. Amongst the settlers in 1848 were the Getchells, Smiths, Rogers' and Huse. In 1849, at the organization of the territory of Minnesota, a number of others arrived, among them Judge B. B. Meeker, Dr. John H. Murphy, John W. North, J. P. Wilson, and John G. Lennon. During this year the west half of sec. 14, range 29, was surveyed and platted into town lots by W. R. Marshall, B. W. Bronson and S. P. Folsom. Anson Northrup commenced the erection of the first hotel, the St. Charles. John Rollins was elected to the territorial council, W. R. Marshall and Wm. Dugas to the house of representatives. The district was comprised of St. Anthony Falls and Little Canada. The first school was taught by Miss Electa Bachus, in the summer of

Chapters

1. Chapter 1 2. INTRODUCTION. 3. INTRODUCTION. 4. CHAPTER I. 5. CHAPTER II. 6. CHAPTER III. 7. CHAPTER IV 8. CHAPTER V. 9. CHAPTER VI. 10. CHAPTER VII 11. CHAPTER VIII. 12. CHAPTER IX. 13. CHAPTER X. 14. CHAPTER XI. 15. CHAPTER XII. 16. CHAPTER XIII. 17. CHAPTER XIV. 18. CHAPTER XV. 19. CHAPTER XVI. 20. CHAPTER XVII. 21. CHAPTER XVIII. 22. CHAPTER XIX. 23. CHAPTER XX. 24. CHAPTER XXI. 25. CHAPTER XXII. 26. CHAPTER XXIII. 27. Chapter II, page 32, read Stillwater and St. Croix County, instead of 28. CHAPTER I. 29. 1781. Mr. Brisbois lived a stirring and eventful life. He died in 30. CHAPTER II. 31. 1845. Capt. Wm. Holcombe acted during this period as clerk of the 32. CHAPTER III. 33. 1857. From 1857 to 1869 he was also a heavy logger alone. Mr. Anderson 34. 1777. He was married to Hannah Greely, a second cousin, at Hopkinton, 35. 1882. His wife survived him but a few months. The bodies of both were 36. 1885. She was the last of her family, husband and daughter having 37. 1846. As a business man he is capable and shrewd, giving close 38. 1838. In 1839 he drove the first herd of cattle through a wilderness 39. 1847. He was appointed clerk of the first Minnesota territorial term 40. 1848. He engaged in lumbering and scaling continuously. He was born in 41. 1820. He spent his youth on his father's farm, and received a common 42. 1843. He settled in Stillwater in 1844, and removed to his farm in 43. 1844. He came to America in June, 1847, and to Stillwater in 1848. Mr. 44. 1815. He was reared during his minority by an uncle, at Cambridge, New 45. 1853. In 1852 Gov. Ramsey appointed him territorial auditor. He was a 46. 1838. He became a great sufferer in the later years of his life. He 47. 1826. He received a good common school education. At the age of 48. 1857. Mrs. McPhail died in Stillwater in 1885. They left no children. 49. 1845. He was married in 1860 to Miss Jackins. He made his home in 50. CHAPTER IV. 51. 1838. Polk county, originally a part of Crawford, in 1840 became a 52. CHAPTER V. 53. 1857. The name of Gov. Holcombe will long be remembered in the valley 54. 1850. Through untiring industry and honorable dealing he has secured a 55. 1884. Mr. Stratton wrote for the Minneapolis papers many interesting 56. 1826. He settled on a farm near St. Croix Falls in 1856, where he 57. 24. The first sermon in the town of Clayton was preached by Rev. W. W. 58. 19. The west part is somewhat broken by the St. Croix bluffs; the 59. 1866. Few men have been more active in the opening up of a new 60. 1861. A. A. Heald, M. C. Lane and John Hurness were the first 61. 1864. Their new house of worship was built in 1870. The first settlers 62. 1867. It is situated on the same stream, a few rods above the first. 63. 1856. These have been succeeded by Rice, Webb, Clark Brothers, 64. 1853. The first white child born was John Francis, in 1847. The first 65. 1858. In 1874 he removed to Ashland, Wisconsin, where he died in 1878, 66. CHAPTER VI. 67. 1849. James Hughes was appointed in 1850. The first district court was 68. 1852. A day was fixed in 1852 to vote on the change of name, Willow 69. 20. Wm. H. Phipps. 70. 1838. Mr. Bouchea had been educated for the Catholic priesthood. He 71. 24. He took a deep interest in the affairs of the pioneer settlement, 72. 1847. Mr. Andrews was a carpenter and took some important building 73. 1847. He was appointed receiver of the United States land office at 74. 1812. His parents were George and Mary Hoyt. Both grandfathers were 75. 1814. He removed to Harford, Pennsylvania, with his parents when six 76. 1851. He was married to Clarissa A. Day in 1841, who with one son and 77. 1850. Mr. Jones died in 1874. Mrs. Jones, five sons and two daughters 78. 1827. At eighteen years of age, he went to Weston, New York, where he 79. 1881. In 1887 he served again as a member of the assembly. 80. 1833. He received a common school and academic education and attended 81. 1884. He was a man of eccentric manners, but upright life. 82. 14. By industry and perseverance they have become independent, and own 83. 1848. In 1830 he was a member of the Maine legislature; in 1849 and 84. 1867. He was married in 1867 to Mary J. Stewart, of Pennsylvania. He 85. 1858. The North Wisconsin railroad passes through the southeast corner 86. 1870. He left a widow and four sons, three of them farmers in Troy. 87. CHAPTER VII. 88. 1886. His home business is farming and real estate. He was married in 89. 1854. A building for a graded school was erected in 1859. A high 90. 19. Trimbelle river drains the eastern portion and the Kinnikinic the 91. 1854. Charles Hutchinson was the first postmaster, and the office was 92. 1814. He was liberally educated. He came to Edwardsville, Illinois, in 93. 1830. He graduated at the Chicago Medical College in 1860, and in 1861 94. 1810. He graduated at Yale College. He came to River Falls in 1858 and 95. 1866. The first town meeting was held at the house of J. Prickett. The 96. 1871. The first settlers in the order of their coming were James 97. 6. It was organized Aug. 15, 1863. Among its first settlers were 98. CHAPTER VIII. 99. 19. He built a flour and saw mill, the first in the county, a good 100. 1865. He subsequently became the first settler in the town of 101. 1877. Millions of feet of pine timber have been gathered and marketed 102. CHAPTER IX. 103. 9. It has seventy-five miles of lake shore, with some fine harbors, 104. 1855. It was the first newspaper published at the head of Lake 105. CHAPTER X. 106. 20. It contains about forty dwellings, three large boarding houses, 107. 1874. His seat was contested by John Hallburg, of Centre City. The 108. CHAPTER XI. 109. 1883. The first supervisors were Eric Hokansen, John Rines and Haquin 110. 1855. He lived there eight years and filled various responsible 111. CHAPTER XII. 112. 1703. This fort was in all probability erected on the plateau below 113. 1884. There is also a good school house. The village was incorporated 114. 1852. Henry married Margaret Smith, daughter of David Smith. During 115. 1856. He died in 1874, leaving a widow, two sons and two daughters. 116. 1873. They have three children. Elof, John, Elias and Hans are 117. 1865. In 1868 he came to Taylor's Falls and engaged in teaching, which 118. 1859. The first marriage was that of Peter Abear to Kittie Wickland. 119. 26. Mr. and Mrs. Walmarson reared a fine family of children. Nelson 120. CHAPTER XIII. 121. 1863. At the close of the war, in 1865, he settled in St. Paul and 122. 1865. He died in 1872. Edward H., his second son, for some years has 123. 1823. He came to Marine Mills in 1844. For two years he was in the 124. 1804. He graduated at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in 125. 1822. In the spring of 1849 he came westward, and engaged in 126. CHAPTER XIV. 127. 1847. A military road was surveyed from Point Douglas to Superior 128. 1840. In 1843 he opened a grindstone quarry in the soft, coarse 129. 1854. The first child born was Nathan, son of John Atkinson, in 1846; 130. 1867. In 1885 they removed to California. 131. 1874. Four children survive him. 132. 1858. In 1874 a large church 50 × 80 feet, ground plan, and with 133. 1875. Rev. L. O. Lindh was the first pastor. Oakland Cemetery 134. 1858. The Marine flour mill was built in 1856 by Gaskell & Co. The 135. 1859. Henry F., a son by his first wife, enlisted in 1862, in the 136. 1869. A plat of ten acres, beautifully situated in a natural grove 137. 1855. They were followed by Dunn, Barnum, Hatch and Beecroft. 138. 1819. He was married to Sarah Blanchard in 1848. Mr. Jackman, with his 139. 1849. Their children are Daniel, Thomas, James, Elisabeth, Mary, 140. 1826. In 1844 he came with his parents to St. Louis, Missouri, where 141. 22. This fragment contains the famous painted rock, now included in 142. 1841. He was married in 1846 to Jane Middleton. 143. 1815. Mr. Gilbert settled in Woodbury in 1851. In company with Mr. 144. CHAPTER XV. 145. 1850. It was organized regularly in 1853 by Rev. T. M. Fullerton. The 146. 1878. Two great fires occurred in the penitentiary in 1884. The 147. 1850. He was educated at the high school in Bangor. With his brother 148. 1829. Part of his early life he spent on a farm, but later he learned 149. 1851. In 1858 he came to Stillwater, and in 1861 was awarded the 150. 1824. Her parents emigrated to America in 1847 and settled in 151. 1886. Mr. Butts was married to Augusta Miller in 1856. Mrs. Butts 152. 1828. His parents were natives of Massachusetts, tracing their lineage 153. 1836. He came to Osceola, Polk county, Wisconsin, in 1850. In 1859 he 154. 1858. He was intrusted with the expenditure of public moneys from 155. CHAPTER XVI. 156. 1859. This bank, a private institution, was the beginning of the 157. 1820. He came to Minnesota in 1851, locating at St. Anthony, but in 158. 1877. The first supervisors were Moses Ripley, George Tisdale and 159. CHAPTER XVII. 160. 1854. The proprietors were J. Russell, G. M. Sweet and S. Van Nest. 161. 1855. Asa White, D. Gilman, C. W. Borup, N. Myrick, Gen. Lowry, and 162. 1827. He served an apprenticeship to a printer in Canada for five 163. 1809. He received a common school and academic education, and learned 164. 32. It derives its name from a rapid in the Mississippi river, formed 165. 1853. One daughter lives in Alabama and his youngest son is a 166. 1871. The name, Brainerd, was given to the new town in honor of Mrs. 167. CHAPTER XVIII. 168. 1884. The proprietors are the Minnesota Iron Company, of which 169. CHAPTER XIX. 170. 1849. A post office was established and Ard Godfrey was appointed 171. 1871. Edwin S. Brown. 172. 1871. Eli B. Ames. 173. 1888. A. A. Ames. 174. 1811. He received an academic education, and remained with his parents 175. 1814. He was the oldest son of Billy and Phebe (Baker) Ames, whose 176. 1818. In 1829 he removed with his parents to Lower Canada, where he 177. 1860. In 1862 he enlisted in Company D, Sixth Minnesota Volunteers, 178. 1809. He was educated at Princeton College and West Point, graduating 179. 1844. He served as a soldier during the Mexican War. He was the first 180. CHAPTER XX. 181. 1865. Of Benoit little or nothing is known. The Freeman brothers were 182. 1847. Its effects, however, were not greatly felt until toward the 183. 1888. Robert A. Smith. 184. 1857. The early settlers were much disturbed by roving bands of 185. 1886. 1887. 186. CHAPTER XXI. 187. 1861. In 1863, before the expiration of his second term, he was 188. 1806. He received a thorough classical and medical education. In 1828 189. 1822. He came to La Crosse, Wisconsin, in 1840. The writer first met 190. 1820. His father, Otis Bigelow, was a Revolutionary patriot and 191. 1842. In 1845 he came to St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, remained at this 192. 1820. He studied law with his father, Judge Samuel J. Wilkin, and 193. 1858. He was married to Helen M. Olds, in New York, in 1840. Their two 194. CHAPTER XXII. 195. 1830. He received a common and high school education and spent one 196. 1868. He served as state senator in 1866-67. He has been an 197. CHAPTER XXIII. 198. 1817. His early life was passed amongst the Ojibways in the employ of 199. 1842. When he came to Gray Cloud island he was accompanied by a Mr. 200. 1827. Mr. Berry received an excellent education at the Pittsfield 201. 1879. He has been twice married. His first wife was Ellen Brady, of 202. 1878. He married a second wife in 1880. His family consists of eight 203. 1634. Jean Nicollet ventured into Wisconsin, and explored the country 204. 1658. Two fur traders penetrated to Lake Superior and wintered there, 205. 1660. Rev. M. Menard with eight companions came to La Pointe, Lake 206. 1665. Claude Allouez, an eminent pioneer missionary, succeeded Menard, 207. 1669. Father Allouez established a mission on the shores of Green bay, 208. 1670. Father Allouez made a voyage of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers to 209. 1671. In this year the French took formal possession of the whole 210. 1673. Louis Joliet, accompanied by Father James Marquette, discovered 211. 1674. Father Marquette coasted Lake Michigan, from Green Bay, by 212. 1679. The Griffin, a schooner built by La Salle, and the first to make 213. 1680. About the first of May Father Louis Hennepin arrived at Mille 214. 1683. Le Sueur made a voyage of the Fog and Wisconsin rivers to the 215. 1688. Nicholas Perrot first planted the cross and arms of France on 216. 1695. Le Sueur built a fort on Isle Pelee, in the Mississippi, below 217. 1700. Le Sueur established Fort L'Huillier, on the Blue Earth river 218. 1719. Francis Renalt explored the Upper Mississippi with two hundred 219. 1721. Previous to this date a French fort had been established at 220. 1727. The French established a fort on Lake Pepin, with Sieur de 221. 1728. There was a great flood in the Mississippi, and Fort Beauharnois 222. 1751. Sieur Marin, in command at Green Bay, made a peace with the 223. 1761. Capt. Balfour and Lieut. Gorrell, with English troops, took 224. 1763. The English, under Lieut. Gorrell, abandoned Green Bay in 225. 1766. Capt. Jonathan Carver visited St. Anthony falls and Minnesota 226. 1774. A civil government was established over Canada and the 227. 1786. Julian Dubuque explored the lead region of the Upper 228. 1788. There was an Indian council at Green Bay. Permission to work the 229. 1793. Lawrence Barth built a cabin at the portage of the Fog and 230. 1796. The western posts were surrendered by the English to the United 231. 1803. Antoine Barth settled at the portage of the Fog and Wisconsin 232. 1809. Thomas Nuttall, the botanist, explored Wisconsin. 233. 1814. Gov. Clark took possession of Prairie du Chien. Prairie du Chien 234. 1816. Indian treaty confirming that of 1804. 235. 1818. State of Illinois was organized; Wisconsin attached to Michigan. 236. 1822. The New York Indians purchase lands east of Lake Winnebago. 237. 1823. January. Counties of Brown, Crawford and Michillimackinac made a 238. 1824. First term of United States court held at Green Bay, Judge Duane 239. 1825. Great flood on the Red River of the North; a part of the colony 240. 1827. Rush of speculators to lead mines. 241. 1828. Fort Winnebago built. Indian treaty at Green Bay. Lead ore 242. 1832. Black Hawk War. 243. 1834. The portion of Minnesota west of the Mississippi attached to 244. 1837. Gov. Dodge, of Wisconsin, made a treaty at Fort Snelling, with 245. 1838. The treaty ratified by Congress. Frank Steele makes a claim at 246. 1840. St. Croix county established. 247. 1847. The Wisconsin constitutional convention meets. The town of St. 248. 1848. May 29th, Wisconsin admitted. August 26th, the "Stillwater 249. 1850. Great flood on the Mississippi. Minnesota river navigated by 250. 1851. Permanent location of the capital of Minnesota at St Paul. 251. 1852. President Pierce appoints Willis A. Gorman governor of 252. 1854. Real estate mania commenced. Treaty with the Chippewas at La 253. 1855. Treaty at Washington, District of Columbia, with the Chippewas, 254. 1857. Enabling act to admit Minnesota passed Congress. President 255. 1858. Minnesota admitted as a state. State loan of $250,000 256. 1859. Hard times. Work on the land grant road ceases. Collapse of the 257. 1861. April 13th. President's proclamation for troops received. The 258. 1862. Call for 600,000 men. August 17th, massacre at Acton; 18th, 259. 1863. Gen. Sibley's expedition to the Missouri river. July 3d, Little 260. 1864. Large levies for troops. Expedition to Missouri river under 261. 1865. Peace returns. Minnesota regiments return and are disbanded; in 262. 1873. January 7th, 8th and 9th, polar wave sweeps over the State; 263. 1876. September 7th, armed outlaws from Missouri attack a Northfield 264. 1878. May 2d, three flouring mills at Minneapolis explode; eighteen 265. 1880. November 15th, hospital for the insane at St. Peter partly 266. 1886. Cyclone destroys Sauk Rapids. Wisconsin legislature adopts 267. 1854. Several reservations were set aside in each purchase for the 268. 1887. Alvah H. Heald, receiver; Wm. M. Blanding, register. 269. 4. Albert Henry Judd, Orange Walker, Samuel Burkelo, Hiram Berkey, 270. 5. Martin Mower, David B. Loomis; Lots 7 and 8, Sec. 29, T. 31, R. 19, 271. 6. John Allen; Lots 4 and 5, Sec. 2, T. 29, R. 20, west of river; gold 272. 7. Eleazer R. Steves; Lots 1 and 2, Sec. 14, T. 29, R. 20, east of 273. 10. Himan W. Greely; E. 1/2 of N. E. 1/4, Sec. 22, T. 29, R. 20, gold. 274. 21. Himan W. Greely; W. 1/2 of N. E. 1/4, Sec. 22, T. 29, R. 20, gold. 275. 1832. This lake is really the source of the Mississippi, though from 276. 1888. David Day. 277. 1887. Morton S. Wilkinson. 278. 1875. The _True Republican_ was established by M. A. Fulton in 1875, 279. 1850. He is now a resident of Fleming, Cayuga county, New York.

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