gass_F(^ 1 ' ..■ Book ■:P ^ Hnd^bustling towns and villages ; a State whose exports of wheat are only excelled by the State of California, has bo startled and surprised the citizens of the older States and even foreign coun- tries that each year brings many thousands of people anxious to learn the source of our wealth, growth and prosperity and to share in its benefits. Energv and perseverance of the highest order ol development are the requi'^ites most essential to the INTRODUCTION. V' pioneer who explores the forests of the new world and'^ opens lip a pathway for civilization and the arts,, builds roads and bridges that those who follow may pass safely over and possess themselves of the advan- tages their toil and hardships have developed. History has been Avont to place her heroes only among those who, " Seeking the bubble reputation, even in the cannon's^ mouth," have acquired fame and glory from feats of arms and martial prowess, forgetful of the fact that he who does his part well is as great a hero as he who wears the victor's wreath obtained on many a blood-stained field. It has been tritely said that he who makes tv/o blades of grass to grow where only one grew before, is a public benefactor, and he who aids in treasuring up the history of the past, or in developing the resources< of the present and opening up the storehouse of iuture^ prospects gathers into the garden of the mind a feast , of rich viands that shall refresh the saddened heart in. years yet to come, and cause to spring up new thoughts and activities, the results of which shall tell for good upon generations yet unborn. The pioneer is the real! hero, and the only true conqueror. His life a ceaseless. struggle of trials and hardships, and a* stern handi to hand conflict with necessity and poverty and alii their attendant ills and inconveniences. To erect some humble monument to the birth-place^ of civilization in this State and county, and to mark: upon the tablet some of the names of those who. founded and defended it, we have imdertaken thi&; labor, as well to show the superior advantages of thife ■nvi INTRODUCTtON. beautiful land on the sunset side of the " Father of Waters," over others for an industrious and enterprising people to make for themselves homes and become in- dependent. If our efforts shall prove ot interest and benefit to the country, by laying before the people the advan- tages of locating within its borders, and investing capi- tal in the development of its resources, we shall feel compensated for having undertaken the task. SKETCH OF MINNESOTA, jHE State of Minnesota lies between 43° 30' and 49° north latitude, and extends from 91° ^^R to 97° 5' west longitude, and is bounded on the ^^^ north by the British Possessions, east by Lake Superior and Wisconsin, south by Iowa, and west by Dakota Territory. One of largest States in the Union, it embraces an area nearly equal to that of the old and populous States of Ohio and Pennsylvania, and larger than the wiioie of New England. It has an .area of somewhat over 84,000 square miles, or to bring it to acres, about 54,000,000,000 acres. Entirely destitute of high mountains, its surface is rolling, giving to its streams a good current, but seldom delighting tlie eye with cascades and waterfalls. The most hilly part of the State which lias been surveyed is along the banks of the Mississippi river, where in places the hills rise several hundred feet above the waters that glide along beneath them. The general surflice of the State is about 900 feet above the level of tlie ocean, though the highest point is 1,630 feet above tlie level of the Gulf of Mexico and 2,896 miles from it, by the course of the Mississippi river. Located midway between the two great oceans of the world, the Atlantic on the east and the Pacific on •i SKETCH OF MINNESOTA. Lake Superior, and westward stretcliing in one broad plain, in a belt quite across the continent, is a country where state after state is yet to arise, and where the productions of the crowded States are yet to be brought forth." From its commanding physical position, Minnesota holds the key to the vast commercial and productive interest of all the northwestern portion of the con- tinent, and at no distant day the large and fertile dis- tricts to the north and west of us will swarm with the enterprise and industry that develop a nation's great- ness, and pour the fullness of their fatness into the lap of Minnesota, as holiday gifts to her enterpring citizens. But few countries, if any, on the lace of the globe, at so early a stage of civilization can boast of so rapid a growth in all the industrial pursuits. Agriculture manufactures and the mechanic arts, all seem to strive with each other for the ascendency, and even vieing with older states in point of productions till Minne- sota stands at the head of the column of wheat-raising States, and v^'ill soon crowd the New England States to look to their laurels in a manufacturing point. The first settlement of Minnesota other than by United States troops was made by a company of Swiss immigrants in 1826, near the site of the present capital of the State. These emigrants from the old country were the pioneers of agriculture in the new, there having been no ground broken for the production of crops except by the United States troops, who had planted corn and potatoes as early as 1823, and so SKETCH OF MINNESOTA. pleased were they with their first year's experience that the experiment was repeated each succeeding year with the most satisfactory results. The first steam navigation of the Mississippi, as far towards its source as the upper end of Lake Pepin was in 1823, when the Virginia landed at Fort Snelling, bringing glad tidings from below to the few scattered denizens of the Upper Mississippi. The steamer was laden with supplies for the garrison, and when the whistle sounded, it seemed fhe announcement of the opening up of a new era in the life of the northwest. But as the natives heard the shrill scream sending back a thousand echoes from the surrounding hills, they placed their hands over their mouths in token of aston- ishment, and as the steamer came in sight, sending forth clouds of smoke, and the scream of the whistle again pierced the air, they fled in terror from the "fire ship," which they imagined to be an avenging spirit sent by the great Manitou to punish them for their crimes. The force at the garrison w^ere animated by far different feelings, and the cannon thundered forth a joyous welcome, and all gathered upon the levee to greet the new comers. Several officers with their wives and children were among the passengers on the Virginia, who contributed largely to varying the monotony of life at the Fort. This accession swelled the number of women at the Fort to ten. ISTot much emigration to this country w\as had for a number of years. In 1836 some adventurous pioneers made claims on the east side of the river between St. Paul and St. Antlionv, and in 1837 Franklin Steele SKETCH OF MINNESOTA. and others made a claim to the land on the present site of St. Anthony, and built tlie first house in that yicinity. There were two other cabins built the same year, and in 1838 Mr. Steele opened up a farm of seven acres, and commenced agricultural operations on the most extensive scale of any person in Minnesota. The centre of his field was not far from wliere the Tremont House in St. Anthony now stands. In 1838 the Indian title to the land was extin- guished, and it was put into the market lor white settlers, though land in the vicinity of St. Anthony was not entered until 1847, at which time title was granted to the claimants who entered it. In the year 1849 a bill was passed by Congress, creating the Territory of Minnesota, which had here- tofore belonged to different territorial organizations, but having no separate government of her own, and on the first day of June of that year, Alexander Ram- sey, of Pennsylvania, who had been appointed Gov- ernor by the President, proclaimed the Territory duly organized. St. Paul was designated as the capital, while by common consent the Penitentiary was located at Stillwater and the State University at St. Anthony. The population at this time Avas not very extensive, and the government, though liable to get somewhat complicated, owing to the existing circum- stances was sometiines administered in a rather primi- tive manner, and frequently with an eye more to what was considered the equity of the case than to the forms of statute, in such case made and provided. Gen. Sibley relates of Major Joseph K. Brown, who SKETCH OF MINNESOTA. ' 7 at an early day lived at Grey Cloud Island, on tlio Mississippi, in the county of St. Croix, now Washing- ton, who was also a Justice of the Peace. On one occasion he was called upon to decide the adverse claims of two Canadian Frenchmen to the same piece of land, Brown was in a dilemma, as he was in doubt as to his authority to decide in regard to land, yet he was very unwilling to allow the dignity of his official position to be lowered in the estimation of the simple minded people around him, by averring a want of jurisdiction. He therefore listened to the evidence pro and con, and having ascertained that the claim had not been staked out, he cut the gordian knot of legal uncertainty by deciding that the land should be awarded to the one who first arrived on the ground and staked it out. The decision was accepted as being in accordance with law, and neither of the men being the owner of a horse, a foot race of more " than eight miles was the result. LeClaire being the fleetest of foot, succeeded in placing his l&nd marks in the pres- ence of witnesses before his panting competitor arrived. The latter made no further contest, and LeClaire pro- ceeded to pre-empt the land and lived there until the time of his death. This, probably, is by no means the only case in which fleetness of foot was the means of securing a valuable location, but it is believed to be the only case in the history of the Northwest where superior running was made to decide the legal title to land in obedience to the fiat of a Justice of the Peace. The name Minnesota is from the principal river in the State, which rises in Dakota Territory and runs SKETCH OF MINNESOTA. southwesterly till it reaches Mankato in tliis State, when it takes a northeast direction, and empties into the Mississippi, at For Snelling. The name is a com- bination of the two Sioux words, Minne — water, and «(?-^aA— sky-tinted. So Minnesota— in the liquid lan- guage of the Dakotahs, signifies " sky-tinted waters." Tlie tide of emigration set in full flow in 1850, and scarcely had the fires of the wigwams been extin- guished and the echoes of the Indian war-whoop died away, ere the white settler had. his cabin erected and was tu^-ning up the virgin s©il for the culture of grain. Villages and cities were planted and surveyed, and speculators grew suddenly wealthy in the ownership of and sale of corner lots, and the game of speculation was only equalled by \h^ tide ' of immigration. And the incoming current of wealth and home-seekers was so great that the lucky owner of town lots suddenly found himself of consequence as a rich man. But these golden dreams were not always realized; all could not become rich, and even some who had staked their .fortunes in the game, found that the bright pros- pect was only a will-o'-the-wisp to lure them on to ruin. Aii4 ,>vhen the great financial revolution of 1857 ocGurr<>d,. those who hajd supposed themselves ricli in the possession of valuable property found them- selves scarcely able to pay taxes . on tlio real estate they held, and that the one-half would hardly sell for enough to pay the taxes on the other half The population of the territory in 1850 was 5,330. but^ increased till 18C0 to 172,022, and in June 1865, it footed up in round numbers 258,858, showing a SKETCH OF MINJ^ESOTA. [) growth in population never equalled or even approxi- mated by any other State in the Union. In 1850 the whole number of acres of land plowed was 1,600 ; in 1854:, 15,000; in 1860, 433,276, and in 1865 it ex- ceeded 600,000 acres. These last five years it will be borne in mind was while some eleven or twelve thou- sand of the able-bodied men were engaged in using swords instead of plowshares, which will account for the smaller average increase than in previous years, while for the last three years the averao^e increase has been greater than at any period since the settlement of the State, and there are now, at a moderate estimate, one and a half million of acres under cultivation, and ready for the next year's crop. Ever memorable in the annals of the history of the N'orthwest will be the events of 1862, fraught as they were with the soul-sickening horrors of the liiost' atrocious of Indian masacres that historic pen was ever called upon to ch)-onicle, where more than a thousand of the border settlers fell victims to savage cruelty and revenge, and were sacrificed upon their own hearth- stones. Those who were fortunate enough to escape the savage knife or rifle, fled in terror from their homes, lately so full of hope and happiness, and the , golden grain that covered such broad acres and gave promise of future wealth and prosperity, was left un- reaped and ungathered to rot upon the soil made deso- late by savage treachery and thirst for human blood. Although most of the able-bodied men ot the State were already in the field, with their rifles and knap- sacks to assist in crushincr out the niost formidable re- 10 SKETCH OF MINNESOTA. bellion the world ever knew, the generous-hearted and noble-souled citizens of safer localities sprang at once to the rescue, and soon put a force in the field that drove the invaders from the State, and made it as safe to remain in a frontier town, as at the city fireside. Since that time treaties have been entered into with the remaining tribes in the State, whereby some 10,000 square miles of choice farming lands have been relin- quished to the government and the Indian title extin- guished. The lands formerly occupied by the Sioux, being some of the finest on the Minnesota and Eed- wood rivers, is open to settlement, and already vil- lages are springing up far beyond the utmost bounds of former civilization, and the increase in population is greater each succeeding year, and the oppressed of foreign countries seek the hospitable shores of America, and at once seek to establish homes on the public prairies of the JJTorthwest. THE AGRICULTURAL CAPACITIES and advantages of Minnesota can hardly be over-esti- mated, and rank second to none in the Union. Long ages of growth and decay of vegetable matter on the wide spread prairies of Minnesota, make up the organic ingredients of a soil abounding in all the most productive elements, the prevailing feature of which is a dark calcareous, sandy loam, with a strong admixture of clay. The silica which constitutes a chief part of the sand is one of the most important features in the soil for the production of the cereals, and is what makes Minnesota stand pre-eminent as a wheat grow- ing State The soil is of that soft, spongy condition, 1 SKETCH OF MINNESOTA. 11 SO mucli souglit after by experienced farmers, and only obtained in otlier soils by expensive underdrain- ing. In order to give a fair showing of the the natu- ral productiveness of the soil without manuring or other fertilizing agents, we subjoin the following table, showing the staple agricultural j^roducts of the State, and about the average yield per acre : No. of bushels Crops. per acre. Wheat 23.05 Rye 21.56 No. of bushels Crops. per acre. Sweet potatoes 150.00 Beans 15.00 Hemp lint (lbs.) 1,140.00 Flax lint " 750.00 Sorghum (gals, syrup). 100.00 Hay (tons) 2.12 Barley 33,23 Oats 42.39 Buckwheat 20.00 Corn 35.67 Potatoes 208.00 This table was compiled from the census reports of 1860, and gives the average yield for that year, and though the yield has been larger some years since, it has also been smaller other years, and taking the average of years it is, perhaps, a very correct estimate. Yet with proper cultivation, and having the land well fertilized in addition to being well cultivated, it might be made to produce a much larger crop. Under favor- able circumstances wheat is produced at the rate of as high as thirty-live bushels to the acre. In 1865 there was harvested from a field of four hundred acres, 10,000 bushels of wheat, being at a rate of twenty-five bushels to the acre, and many other fields were in proportion. Yet this was not considered as anything wonderful for Minnesota, nor was that year's crop considered as ex- traordinary. Wheat is considered the great staple of Minnesota, and has thus far b«en comparatively ex- empt from the various dangers to which it has been -^2 SKETCH OF MINNESOTA. exposed in other localities— such as rust, smut, insects, &c. This is really a fortunate circumstance for this State, as the country is yet new, and with such a rapidly increasing population, it must necessarily draw more heayily on the productive qualities of the soil than in older settled localities with a less changing population. Thus far in the agricultural experience of the farmers of Minnesota, the wheat crop has been considered a safe and sure one, and the farmer com- mits his seed to the earth with a feehng of almost cer- tainty that he will reap a rich harvest of from twenty to thirty fold in return. There is probably no State in the Union where wheat is so sure a crop as in Min- nesota, and not only is it a sure crop, but it averages a larger number of bushels per acre than the best of them. In 1850, the four States producing the largest average yield were Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, 'Texas' and" Florida; this did not exceed 15 bushels, while the other States averaged only from 5 to 12. The largest known yield of other States, as compared with the average of Minnesota, is as follows : Year. Bn. per acre. 7qaq ^''- 1 Q """'" Minnesota... .I860 23.5 1 Michigan...... 1848 19 Ohio 1850 17.3 I Massacliusetts,1849 16 . While we claim for Minnesota a pre-eminence as a wheat growing State, we must as frankly admit that it is inferior to other sections in milder climates lor raising corn. Yet the second report of the Commis- sioner of Statistics claims that Minnesota is inferior to none of the States as a corn producing region. In 1865 the wheat crop of Minnesota exceeded 12,000,000 of bushels, somewhat more than forty-six SKETCH OF MINNESOTA. 13 bushels to each man, woman and child in the State, and yet over 11,000 of the gtrongest laborers were at that time in the army, reducing the working force by more than one half. The storied land of Pharaoh in its palmiest days, could not excel the land of " sky- tinted waters," and the valley of the Nile must yield the palm to the valley of the Mississippi. By an act of the State Legislature of March, 1858, it was provided that so much of a section of land in the town of Glencoe in McLeod county (described as section 16, township 115, range 28) as the State might purchase, and all lands adjacent not less than 320 acres which might be donated, should be set apart as an experimental farm and a site for an agricultural college, to be under the control of the president and executive committee of the State Agricultural Society. The citizens of Glencoe donated 320 acres of land, but the State took no steps to carry out her ])art of the programme. At the last session of the Legislature an act was passed authorizing the uniting of the agricul- tural college lands to the State University and mak- ing agriculture one of the branches necessary to be taught in that institution. Though wheat is the staple product of Minnesota, other grains grow with luxuriance and are generally a sure crop. Barley flourishes well on the same soil that produces wheat, as the principal ingredients that compose one enter into the other. Eye and buck- wheat are generally considered a sure crop, yet very few farmers pay much attention to their cultivation„ ^4 SKETCH OF MINNESOTA. "The average yield of these grains for the years 1860 and 1862 was as follows : I860. 1862. ^YQ 21.56 bushels. 2 i. 00 bushels. Barlev 33.23 " 34.00 " BuckWheat 15.73 " 26.00 '• Potatoes, in this climate, attain their highest excel- lence, and in flavor and rich farinacious qualities are .superior to those of almost any other section, especially .those regions that are exposed to the rays of a scorch- in o- and forcing sun in more southern latitudes, where all tubers are brought to fruitification before they have had time to attain to their proper size, or receive the .essential qualities proper for nourishment. Already jare the Minnesota potatoes becoming a considerf^Lle .article of export to the States in the Mississippi valley, 'r^vhere they are held in much esteem as a table deli- ]3roduced by the poisonous exhalations from the earth, . and these are effectually destroyed by the low tempera- - 16 SKETCH OF MINNESOTA. ture of our winters that continue for a period of foui- months. But we do not propose to go into a scientific analysis of the atmosphere ©f Minnesota, though such an analysis would speak whole volumes in favor of the State, yet our limited space will only allow a mention of the fact which is supported by indubitable testimony that the climate of Minnesota is one of the healthiest in the world. It is sustained by the testimony of thousands who have received benefits from its bracing and invigorating atmosphere, and recovered from dis- eases that had baffled the skill of the best physicians in other States, as well as by the residents of the State for the past twenty years. The tables of mortality, when compared with those of other States, show a heavy balance in favor of Minnesota. As a beneficial resort for invalids it is probably not excelled by any in the Union, or any country on the globe. It used to be customary for physicians to recommend consumptive patients to go south; to some warmer climate — to Cuba, Florida, or some of the Islands of the sea, but finding these changes attended with but poor success, they have changed their tactics, and now almost uni- versally recommend a visit to Minnesota, which is generally attended with the most satisfactory results. WOOL OROWINQ has become quite an important feature in the indus- trial pursuits of the husbandman of Minnesota. In 1860 the whole number of sheep in Minnesota was only 5,941 ; in 1864 there were 92,612, while in 1868 it is estimated that there are not less than 200.000. SKETCH OF MINNESOTA. IT With wool bearing the price it has thus far, these sheep are the source of an immense revenue to the farmers and producers of this section of country. The grasses and herbage seem to be peculiarly adapted to the raising of sheep successfully. THE MANUFACTURING FACILITIES which it possesses are not excelled by the most favored locality of the known world. The im- mense water power of the Mississippi river at the Falls of St. Anthony is equal in extent to that of the whole water power of England and Scotland, and is said by experienced and competent engineers to be equal to 120,000 horse power. We give the following •extract from the second report of the Commissioner of Statistics, showing somewhat the extent and capacity of this power alone : •^'The available power created by this magnificent waterfall, is more than sufficient to drive all the 25,- 000,000 spindles and 4,000 mills of England and Scotland combined. The entire machinery of the English Manchester and the American Lowell, if they could be transplanted here, would scarcely press upon its immense hydrauHc capabiUties. But as compared with these great industrial centres, the Falls of St. Anthony possess one decisive advantage, which is to a great extent illustrative of the functions of the State as a commercial and manufacturing emporium. This splen- did cataract forms the terminus of continuous naviga- tion on the Mississippi ; and the same waters whicli lavish on tlie j^roken ledges of limestone a strength 18 SKETCH OF MINNESOTA. almost sufficient to weave the garments of the world, may gather the products of its mills almost at their very doors, and distribute them to every part of the great valley of the Mississippi." The falls of the St. Louis river, twenty-five miles from where it empties into Lake Suj)erior are only second, and scarcely inferior to the Falls of St. An- thony in power and future availability. Situated as they are in the direct route of the Superior Eailroad from St. Paul, it cannot be long before they will be made to perform their share of the labor of the enter- prising and go-ahead operatives of Minnesota. The St. Croix Falls are similarly, though somewhat less advantageously situated on one of the largest tribu- taries of the Upper Mississippi river. Besides these three great powers there are innumerable smaller rivers and streams, affording sufficient power to operate mills and factories, scattered all over the State. This is really not to be wondered at when we consider the fact which we at first mentioned, that Minnesota is the highest land on the continent of America, and from her prominent position very naturally overlooks all her sister states and the infant territories. 'Not the least of the advantages possessed by Minne- sota are the great facilities she possesses lor sending her products to market. The richness of her soil and the blandness of her climate, and her immense water power would be comparatively valueless in a commer- cial point of view, were she not connected with the great commercial emporiums of the world by accessi- ble and easy channels of trade. Lake Superior on the SKETCH OF MINNESOTA. 19 north; the great Pacific raih-oad connecting the Atlan- tic and Pacific; and the broad Mississippi sweeping downward to the Gulf of Mexico, bearing our ex- ports of the products of the earth, and lumber from our forests, and in return bringing cotton to sup- ply our factories, and the railroads to eastern cities, afford commercial facilities seldom if ever equalled. THE LINES OF TRAVEL throughout the State are always matters of much in- terest to parties visiting it either lor pleasure, or with a Yiew to settlement, and among the first will be reckoned the STEAMBOATS that ply up and down the Upper Mississippi. There are at the present time two competing lines, running boats between St. Louis and St. Paul. The North- western Packet Company or as it is more generally known ''Davidson's Line," which consists of some thirty or forty steamboats, that make up a daily line between • these cities and all intermediate points, and some run- ning on the St. Croix and Minnesota rivers, as well as a daily Hne between La Crosse in Wisconsin and Winona in this State, making connections with the railroads at each of these cities. The steamers are of the first class, and to persons who are not in too great a hurry to get to their destination, afford the pleasant- est mode of conveyance, as. the scenery along the river is varied and unsurpassed in loveliness by even the famous palisades of the Hudson, The Northern Line- has also a large number of first class boats plying he- 20 SKETCH OF MINNESOTA. tween the two cities, that are well freighted with pas- sengers and merchandise, so that travelers can have a choice of the competing lines of steamboats, or if they choose all rail route in coming to Minnesota, thej will come via Milwaukee, St. Paul & Minneapolis Kailroad, which is at present the only raih'oad in the State that has an eastern connection with other roads. THE RAILEOAD SYSTEM OF MINNESOTA is extensive for any State in so early a stage of its ex- istence. Congress made a grant to Minnesota, in 1857, of four and a half millions of land, to aid in the con- struction of railroads; and in 1864 still another grant was made. By these grants ten sections, or 6,400 acres of land was given for each ten miles of road con- structed and put in operation, and projected under the proyisions of these grants, which projected roads were designed to benefit all parts of the State. 'We give be- low a synopsis of the different land grant roads in this State : ST. PAUL & PACIFIC EAILEOAD extends from Stillwater, on the St. Croix river, via St. Paul and St. Anthony, to the Western boundary of the State, at a point near Big Stone Lake. This line runs nearly through the center of the State Irom the eastern to the western boundary, 220 miles. The road is now in operation from St. Paul to Crow Kiver, a point about twenty-five miles west of Minneapolis, and thirty- five miles from St. Paul. A branch line of this road is in operation from St. Paul, via St. Anthony and Minneapolis to St. Cloud, a distance of seventy six SKETCH OF MINNESOTA. 21 miles. A line is also laid out from some point be- tween St. Cloud and Crow Wing, on the above road to Lake Superior, a distance of about 120 miles. THE MINNESOTA VALLEY RAILROAD is a line of road from St. Paul, up the valley of the Minnesota river to Mankato, thence in a southerly di- rection to the Iowa state line, to make connections at this point with a railroad from Sioux City, the termin- us of the northwestern branch of the Union Pacific Kailroad. The road is completed and in operation from St. Paul to Mankato, a distance of about one hundred miles. THE WINONA & ST, PETER RAILROAD extends from Winona on the Mississippi to the western boundary of the State, a distance of about 250 miles, and running through one of the most fertile regions of the far-famed Minnesota. The line is completed and in operation to Waseca, 105 miles from Winona. This road runs through a country boasting of as fine scenery as one will find in a day's travel. Ascending from the lovely basin or valley where rests the beauti- ful city of Winona, by an inclined track placed on trestle work, sometimes ninety or a hundred feet above the level of the ground ; then winding around the edge of a bluff, with overhanging chffs on one hand and a yawning chasm a hundred feet below on the other ; again plunging through "deep cuts," whose precipit- ous rocks on either side exclude the rays of the sun, when all at once the iron horse, pufiing and blowing, emerges into the glorious sunlight, and rocky gorge 22 SKETCH OF MINNESOTA. and delile and pleasant valley are all left behind, and a scene of unrivalled magnificence and splendor lies spread out to the .G;aze of the enraptured beholder. Miles on miles aT7ay in the distance, in either direction? extend the broad and fertile prairies, and as far as the eye can reach, covered with fields of wheat. And here and there, dotted over the prairie, the farm houses of the pioneers nestled among the growing wheat and corn, while to the westward are thriving villages and bustling cities, filled with commerce and the busy hum of industry and active life. THE SOUTHERN MIN^s'ESOTA RAILROAD is in operation as far as Eushford, in Fillmore county, about thirty miles from La Crescent, its point of start- ing. The line of the projected road extends from La Crescent through the southern tier of counties in Min- nesota to the western boundary of the State. Its length is somewhat over 250 miles, extending as it does through the entire State. The HASTINGS & DAKOTA RAILROAD is a projected line from Hastings through the counties of Dakota, Scott, Carver and McLeod, to a point on the western boundary of the State, near Big Stone Lake. The road is in the hands of an active company, and about twenty miles is already m operation, from Hastings as far as Farmington, its point of intersection with the Milwaukee, St. Paul and Minneapolis road. The ofiicers of this road are : President, Gen. Wm. G. Le Dug ; Land Commissioner, Wm. H. Kogers ; Chief Engineer, Col. S. B. Clough; Secretary, Col. SKETCH OF MINNESOTA. 23 C. II. L. Laiige; Treasurer, L. S. Follett. It has a land grant of 6,400 acres per mile, alternate sec- tions ten miles on each side of the road. This road connects with the St. P. & M. road at Farmington, twenty miles from Hastinir?, and forty miles brings it to a connection with tlie Minnesota Yalley road, near Carver, while the termination of the road is near the Salt Springs of Minnesota and Dakota, the whole line passes through a region unsurpassed for agricultural richness.. THE LAKE SUPERIOa & MISS. KAILEOAD is a line extending Irom St. Paul, on the Missippi riv- er, to the head of Lake Superior, with authority to con- nect with a branch to Superior City, Wisconsin. The head of Lake Superior is 150 miles from St. Paul, though the distance is only 133 miles to the navigable waters of the lake. The work is in active progress and some thirty miles are already fitted and supplied with rolHng stock and fully equipped for freight and travel. The projected line of the Pacific road from St. Paul to Stillwater has been transfered to the Missis- sippi & Superior road, and will be built at an early day. THE MILWAUKEE, ST. PAUL & MINNEAPOLIS RAILWAY commences both at Minneapolis and St. Paul, with a junction at Mendota, and runs through the towns of Farmington, ISTorthfield, Faribault, Owatonna, Austin, &c., to the Iowa line, then through Iowa to McGregor, and through Wisconsin to Milwaukee. It is made up of the Minnesota Central in Minnesota, McGreiror 24: SKETCH OF MINNESOTA. "Western in Iowa, and the Milwaukee & Prairie du Chien in Wisconsin, all of which are consolidated and operated by one company under tiie name of the Mil- waukee, St. Paul & Minneapolis Railway. This is at present the only all rail route to the east from any part of Minnesota, and is a very popular line of travel. This company operates about 656 miles of road in Min- nesota, Iowa and Wisconsin. The passenger cars and rolling stock are of the most approved styles in nse, and we can feel proud that we have so fine a railway under the control ol such gentlemanly and efficient management. THE CHICAGO & ST. PAUL EAILAVAY is a line running from St. Paul to Chicago on tlie west side of the Mississippi in Minnesota, and through the towns of Hastings, Red Wing, Lake City, Wabasha, Winona, &c. No portion of the road is yet built, but it is confidently expected that the work will be comple- ted during the year 1870, giving a direct rail route from St, Paul to Chicago. In addition to the various steamboat and railroad lines, there is probably the best organized system of staging ever put in operation in the West. Stage riding in the early days of the pioneers, and martyr- dom w^ere synonymous terms, but by the present mode, and the facilities for travel offered by the Min- nesota Stage Company, the thing is reduced to a science, and is only secondary to the railroad. This company run stages over nearly all the principal routes in the State where railroads have not superseded them. SKETCH OF MINNESOTA. 25 From St. Cloud to Fort Abercrombie, and from St. Paul to Lake Superior, aud seveial other routes of summer travel, while in winter, in addition to these, two or three stages are run daily between St. Paul and La Crosse, on the river route via Hastings, Red Wing, Lake Citj, Wabasha and Winona. Altogether this company run stages over about 1,700 miles of road, and employ some 250 men and about 800 horses. The company consists of Messrs. Russell Blakely and C. W. Carpenter. Some idea of the magnitude of the business of the stage lines of Minnesota may be gathered from the fact that this company alone paid the government, in 1865, as revenue tax, the sum of $12,134.34:. I^ichols & Cotter run stages over several routes in Southern Minnesota, and various other com- panies or private individuals, in other portions of the State, so that scarcely a town or hamlet in the State but may be reached by public conveyance. LAND GEANTS. In addition to the magnificent grants of land given to aid in the construction of railroads, there has been donated to the State to aid in xjublic improvements as follows: 1 — 500,000 acres under the law giving that amount to each new State upon its admission into the Union. 2 — Sections 16 and 36 in each township to aid in sustaining public schools, being one oigliteonth of all the lands in the State. S — Seventy-two sections (46,080 acres) tor the sup- port of a State University. 26 SKETCH OF MINNESOTA. 4 — Ten sections (6,400 acres) for the erection of public buildings at the capital. 5 — Twelve salt springs with six sections of land ad- jacent to each. 6 — Five per cent, of the proceeds of all the lands sold after her admission into the Union. 7 — All the swamp lands of the State. Making a total of the diiferent grants as follows : Upon admission into the Union $500,000 For school purposes, about 2,888,000 For State University 46,080 For public buildings 6,400 Land adjoining salt springs 46,080 For railroads 4,399,141 Swamp lands, about 5,000,0C0 Making totalland grant 12,885,701 ]S"early one-fourth of all her territory. THE PROSPERITY OF MINNESOTA is perhaps as well illustrated as could be, by the fol- lowing extract from the American Reporter or British Emigrant's Guide, published in New York for circu- lation in England, Ireland and Scotland : "The world has never seen new States springing into a sudden existence, so full of vigor and prosper- ity, and so sure of steady progress and brilliant future, as the Northwestern States of the Federal Union. The names of Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, have become, and de- servedly become, for millions in the Old World, sym- bols of an inexhaustible mine of wealth and happi- ness. SKETCH OF MIXXESOTA. 27 Of course their progress during the luiir terrible years of war which has now fortunately ceased, could not be what it was in that period preceding the war. There has never been a country in whicli a war like our late rebellion did not prove a heavy drain. But if anything could conclusively prove to the people of the old world the indestructible vitality of the new States referred to, it is their progress during the years of war. Most of them took a census in tlie years 1864 and 1SG5, and the results of the censuses establish, the astounding f^ict that the increase of these States from. 1860 to 1865 lias been, in spite of the war, more rapid than that of the most flourishing States of Eu- rope. So tar as we have learned, the censuses held in iSGl: and 1865 irave the following results: States. Cer.siis of IS'iO. Cen.sus of IS^l."). Per c^ of inc. Minnesota 172,622 248,848 40 Illinois ....1,7L,951 2,163,000 27 Wisconsin 775,871 868,847 12 Iowa 674,048 754,501 ll.ll Michigan .' 749,113 805,379 7 5 This shows an average annual increase for Minne- sota of 8 per cent. ; for Illinois of 5.4 per cent. ; for Wisconsin of 2.4 per cent. ; for Iowa of 2.1 per cent. ; for Michigan of 1.0 per cent. ; a result whicli most fa- vorably compares with the progress of population in the most populous States of Europe. With the popu- lation, the increase in w^ealth and prosperity has kept pace. The messages which the Governors of these States sent to the several legislatures in January of the year 1865 unroll a picture of satisfactory progress in all 3 ^ " ^ 28 SKETCH OF MIN^■ESOTi^. departments of public life. We liave v.o space to re- view them all, but take one, that of the Governor of Minnesota, as a specimen. The receipNs of this State for the year ISGtt were $tl-80,120 and the expenditures $416,000, leaving a balance on liaiid of $72,000. The floating debt, the Governor announces, has been cancelled. Entries in the various land oflices in the year amounted to 804-,9Sl an increase of 139,232 acres over the previous year, and including railroad lands, one miUion acres were sold in 18(j5. The logs scaled reached the enormous numlier of 237,833,252 feet, an increase of 159,670 338 over 1S64:. Of school lands, 2i,131.77 acres sold for $ 143,955.05. The school fund already lacks less than seventeen thousand of reaching a million dollars,- and if tlie remainder of the lands sell at the same rate, will reach sixteen millions. The railroads are in a ilourishing condition, 210 miles being already completed, and 132 more par- tially finished. In 1860 the State had 532,315 acres ill wheat, and the number of bushels harvested was 5,101,332 ; in 1865 the number of the tormer had in- creased to 800,000, and that of the latter to 12,000,000. Now we may safely challenge Europe to show us any State equaling these statistics. And let our friends in Great Britain always bear in mind that the above figures show the development of this State during a war the like of whicli the world has rarely seen, and which in the opinion of the most famous statesmen and financiers of Europe, was infallibly to terminate in the dissolution of the Union, and the utter prostra- tion and bankruptcy of the dissf>lved ]>arts." SKETCH OF MINNESOTA. The progress in population, wealtli and prosperity during the last three years will show a much larger per cent, of increase than that already given. So great has been the tide of immigration^that it is entirely safe to set down the population in 1868 at half a million. CENSUS OF Mi:t^]^ESOT^, THE CITIES OF MINNESOTA. Sfc; Paul 13Q12 Minneapolis 4 608 St. Anthony City 3492 Winona [/,][[][ 4*439 Eochester _ _ 2 663 Mankato, city and town 2'653 Hastings .W. 2',489 Redwing 2,360 Faribault 2 339 Stillwater City 2'l4'S St. Cloud ...■.■.■;.■:.■.■.':::,■ aoes MISCELLANEOUS STATISTICS. Soldiers in actual service, June 1st 8319 Colored persons ' ^"^g Deaf and dumb '*' ^^^4 Blind 38 Insane 170 Idiotic o • t> ?,0 SKETCH OF MINKESOTA. Population in 1865, 248,818, a Gain of 77,494 in Five Tears. lYe publisli lierewiUi a complete, and wc believe, ac- curate digest of the State census of 1865: KECAPITCLATION BY COUNTIES. (-(inntv Totals. 3Iales. Females. Families. Anoka"" '■ 2,2;>4 l,m IM^ 451 BSSton::::::::;. 503 an m m Blu^Earth i>,245 5,018 4,227 1,711 -Brown'.':.^ Om 1,200 1,009 416 Carlton 28 Ih 12 10 k^;"". S,T04 4,558 4,14G 1,700 pJs^ :•;■. 87 23 15 13 ^.f't° 30 IS 12 17 f)'lJoti 12,475 0,562 5,014 2,228 -nort"e '. «.220 3,25G 2.9f)4 1,185 Pflribauit ' 4.737 2,519 2,213 92G Sno?e . 1'3',545 133 8 412 3,234 FreSora ■■■.".■.■.:. 5 679 2:986 2,592 1,111 tiodhue.; . 14,880 7,796 7,0S4 2,833 Tpnnenin : • 17,016 8,8U 8,205 3,055 liousK.:::.::: 9:792 5,039 4,703 1,755 Isanti 453 239 214 93 -lackson 333 195 188 71 r o w 154 70 78 -jO le Sueur""' 7,832 4,074 3,758 1,4G2 MaBOm'iu 11^7 fi^ 50 19 SicW 2,550 1,383 1,167 496 Meeker ".■.■;;.. 1 219 643 576 aU MmeLac 331 177 150 69 Sloriison".'.".':. 'ra8 430 356 14S NIower 5,174 2,740 2,437 1,026 NMcolie^ '. 5,023 2,616 2,407 936 of2=<'-^d 15,116 8,019 7,157 2,711 ^&:1::.::.:::. 55 34 21 10 .15,143 7,641 7,502 2,645 Ecdwood. «5 63 ii':f,fj"< ••■•■";::.;:■:::' 95 '63 '32 'is v,>p'' ." 10,977 5,859 5,11s 2,lir o3^T "Vi" 294 168 126 61 Scott. Sherburne. 8,576 4,477 4,098 1,663 819 43S 381 158 ^^w7v" 4,68;i 2,528 2,1.55 932 5JS 7,337 8,862 3,575 1.414 Stc?!?" 4,83J 2,606 2,326 9S4 S 11' *>'J 48 26 WaWha .■.■.■. v..: 10,167 5,223 4.814 ^1,614 mS":::::::::::::: • 4,164 2,129 2,035 782 ^^S^, :•;;:•••::::::::•::::::.:::::: 6JS ^)!^ s.m i^l Wut^^P 15 277 7,987 7.290 2,888 ^ghi':::::::::;:::.:: .::;::::::;:::::::::::::::: 5:^28 _2jo7 _2^i 944 ,p -,, 218,848 129,653 119,195 46,128 SKETCH OF MINNESOTA. 31 The increase in population in the cities has been, within the past three years, in many cases over 100 per cent, of actual residents and men of capital, who have added largely to the wealth and business. The present population of the cities named is estimated tr- be about as follows : St. Paul.... : 20,000 Minneapolis > -^^-^^^^ St. Anthony ^.OOlh Winona ^,000 Rochester •- f,0^0 ^lankato, -'500 Hastings 3,800 Red Win 5,000 ° 3,600 Faribault Stillwatei St.Clond. 4,000 Stillwater, 3,000 PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF THE STATE. Though comparatively in her infancy, Minnesota has taken long strides in the right direction, in the educational department, and will even at this earh stage of her existence, compare favorably with many of "the older States. Possessing as she does the most munificent endowment for educational purposes of any State in the Union; two sections of land to each town ship in the State are set apart, either for sale or lease, to aid in sustaining common schools— 128(' acres to each township in the whole State, amounting in the aggregate to over two and a half millions ol acres, just one eighteenth of all the land in the State. We give below a few figureo in relation to this de /S2 SKETCH OF MINNESOTA. partnient, which we gather from the last annual report of the Superintendent of Public instruction: Number of districts in the State in 1867 2,207 Number of children between 5 and 25 114421 Number of teachers employed in 1867 2'685 -Amount of money paid teachers $264,986.76 Number of school houses in the State '..1,406 Amount received from State school fund $167,863.50 Amount expended for school purposes 736,532.67 .Amount remaining in district treasuries 50,'556!o9 An act of the Legislature, passed August 2, 1858, provided for the establishment of three State Normal -Schools, one within five years, a second within ten, and a third within fifteen years from the date of the act. For each of these the act provided for an appro- l^riation of S5,000^whenever a like sum should be do- nated for that purpose. The citizens of Winona, in •accordance with these requirements, donated the amount, and the first of the Normal Schools w^as estab- iished in that city. The second has been located at Mankato, and the third at St. Cloud. The school at Winona is in active operation and is meeting with «iicli success as first class teachers, endowed with energy, perseverance, and a will to succeed usually attain. It ranks among the first literary institutions of the country, THE STATE UNIVERSITY ests upon the foundation of a grant by Congress ot ^46,000 acres of the public lands. The Territorial Legislature of 1851 passed "An act to incorporate the .University of Minnesota, at the Falls of St. Anthony," p roviding that the proceeds of the Congressional land 34 SKETCH OF MINNESOTA. grant shall remain a perpetual fund for its support, and vesting the administration of the fund and trust- ship of the institution in a hoard of twelve regents to be elected hy the Legislature. The site embraces a block of land, covered with a grove of native oaks, and overlooking the picturesque scenery of St. Anthony Falls, the ''Bridal Yeil," and the cities of St. Anthony and Minneapolis, with all the life and activity of their numerous mills, factories, tfec. and is capable of such embellishn'ient as to make it one of the most beautiful of any of the public institutions either East or "West. The building is not yet entirely completed. The one wing which is completed has cost somewhere between 850,000 and $60,000, and will accommodate about 120 students. For a time after the preyont edifice was built a heavy burden of debt hung over the institution, but judicious management of the present board of re- gents has removed the indebtedness and ]eil it tree from incumbrance, v/ith some 34,000 acres of land still left to aid. in the completion ot the building and sus- tain the schools, which at a moderate valuation will soon be worth, in the market, at least $340,000. A school of a high order has been established under the direction of Prof W. W. Washburn, and some eighty or ninety pupils are in attendance anrl receiving the benefits of a thorough collegiate course of instruction- B}^ an act of the Legislature, approved March 9, 1867, the sum of $15,000 was appropriated, "to be expended in repairing and furnisliing the University building, and employing a teacher or teacl.crs, for the purpose of commencing the grammar and normal (U^]xirtments. SKKTCII OF MINNESOTA. 35 This fund lias been jiidiclonsly expended under tlie direction of the board of regents, in the opening up and establishment of the school. If the State contains 54,000,000 acres, the school lands will amount to $10,888,885, a really magnificent fund for a State not yet in her teens. The State Su- perintendent of Public Instruction, in his report to the last Legislature, says : " The youth of Minnesota for the years and genera- tions to come, will owe unceasing gratitude to the fed- eral government for this munificent provision for their education. It is a cause of profound congratulation that the State, at the right time, inaugurated so wise a policy for its management. The most propitious re- sults have come from that policy, and they are largely due to the intelligence and fidelity of the present State Auditor. The time may come in the history of the State when further safeguards to the fund may be needed. I would respectfully recommend that it be made the duty of the State Auditor to make to the Superintendent of Public Instruction an annual report of the condition of the fund, sotting forth the kind and amount of all securities in which the same be invested, giving the amount of each class, cash on hand and amount of notes held lor LitkIs sold." In addition to this generous fund from the general government, the Legislature of the State has made it the duty of the county comniission(;rs to levy an ann^ual tax of one-fifth of one per cent, on all the tax- able property in the State, which sum is appropriated ■36 SKETCH OF MINNESOTA. to maintaining public schools. The amount collected from the two mill tax in 186Y, was $144,935.88. By an act of the Legislature of 1868, tlie Agricul- tural College land grant was attached to the State University, and the opening of an agricultural depart- ment in that institution becomes the (hity of the re- gents. In addition to the facilities already mentioned we must not neglect to mention the establishment in 1857 of an educational journal called the Minnesota Teacher, the design of which is to assist teachers and impress upon them the great importance of keeping thoroughly accjuainted with all the new developments in the art of teaching, and making a higher standard of educational excellence a first and essential qualification for a teacher. Mr. W. W. Payne, the publisher, is an en- thusiastic educator, and has made the people of the State feel that the publication of the Teacher is really essential to the educational interests of the State. THE DEAF, DUMB AND BLIND INSTITUTE is located at Faribault, a beautiful town in the interior of the State, and is very successfully meeting the- wants of those for whom the State has made this very liberal provision. aSo benevolent institution more un- mistakably marks the Christian character of our popu- lation than that which seeks to let the light of science into the minds of those whose physical vision is dark- ened and whose ears have never heard the sweet sounds tliat make ghad the hearts of those more favored SKETCH OF MINNESOTA. 37 children of nature. It i3 a great pleasure that we can make mention of this institute, one of the educational agencies of our young State, as being in successful operation, and that a large number of the unfortunates of this class are receiving instruction, preparing them for making themselves comparatjlvely independent in the great struggle of life. And the building shall be, so long as it shall stand, one of the State's noblest monuments of love and Christian benevolence to those who never fail to touch the sympathy or receive the iiealing word of the great Worker of Miracles. Another benevolent institution, "the Hospital for the Insane, is located at St. Peter, and is under JK- dicious management and affording relief to a large number of poor unfortunates, whose light ot reason has been darkened or utterly obscured. This is a public institution, founded and supported by the State. There are various chartered institutions of learning supported by private enterprise, and several of a de- nominational character, whicli are doing much in ad- vancing the educational interests of the States. THE MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY. The Minnesota Historical Society was instituted in 1849, shortly after the organization of the Territor}^ and incorporated by the first session of the Territorial Legislature. Its object was to collect and preserve material for the future history of the territory and State; to record the memoirs and accounts of the ad- ventures of the pioneers of this region ; collect curiosi- ties and information relative to the aborisfinal inhabi- SKETCH OF MINNESOTA. tants of Minnesota, ai:d the manners, cnstonis and re- ligion of the present Indian tribes ; a geological and mineral cabinet; and to carefully preserve a copy of every book, pamphlet and newspaper pnblished in the State, or elsewhere, relating to it. For several years the library of the Society did not increase much, as its resources and membership were small. It is now rapidly increasing, however, and comprises a very valuable collection of rare works, now over 2,000 bound volumes and 3,500 pamphlets, vrith about a hundred volumes of bound newspapers, a number of maps, engravings and manuscripts, about 1,200 articles in the cabinet, and quite a good collec- tion of portraits of the early pioneers of the State. Its rooms and the use of its library is free to all. The Society comprises about 200 members. It has commodious fire-proof rooms in tlie capital, and the State grants it a small annual appropriation to pay its incidental expenses. With more enlarged means, the Historical Society can soon collect the largest and jnost valuable library in the State. Donations of books, pamphlets, newspapers, Szc, are earnestly so- licited. They can be directed to J. Fletcher Williams, Esq., Secretary and Librarian of the Society, St. Paul. STATE GOVERNMENT. The State government is at present made up as follows : Governor — William R. Marshall, Eamsey county. Lieut. Gov. — Thos. 11. Armstrong, Olmsted county. Secretary of State — II. C. Rogers, Mower county. SKETCH Oh- MIXXKbO'iW State Treasurer — Emil Munch, Pine euuutj. Attorney General — F. R. E. Cornell, Hennepin Co. Auditor — Charles McIUrath, Eamsey county. Chief Justice — Thomas Wilson, Winona county. Associate Justices — S. J. E. McMillan, Washington county ; E. II, Berry, Rico connty. Clerk of Supreme Court — S. Hough, Ramsey county. Superintendent of Public Instruction — Mark II. Bunnell, Steele cuunty. Governor's Private Secretary — S. P. Jennison, Ramsey county.. State Librarian — Mrs. M. R. Sujith, Hennepin Co. THE SCENEKY of Minnesota is imsurpassed for beauty and loveliness by that of any country in the world. The high blufis along the banks of the Mississippi in a northwesterly direction from the south lino of the State to the Falls of St. Anthony, furnish some of the finest and most sublime spectacles that ever inspired poetic ardor or furnished theme for an artist's pencil. Here high, craggy rocks, like the ruins of an embattled tower, hanging over the waters of the Mississippi, as they go flowing downward to the gulf, there a lovely valley stretching backward to the continuous range of hills in the distance, forming a natural site for a quiet village or bustling city, while scattered about over the prairies and woodlands are innumerable lakes of various mag- nitudes, which when viewed from some hill top or cupola of some high building their waters glistening in the rays of the golden sun appear to the eyes of the 40 SKETCn OF MINJN'ESOTA. enchanted and entlinsiastic beholder like bright stars in the diadem of the queen of beautiful landscapes,, or a necklace of diamonds on filaments of silver, thrown with a graceful abandon over the bosom of our mother earth, or a diadem of pearls to crown the masterpiece of nature's clioicest handiwork. Gen. Sibley, who was one of the first white settlers west of the Mississippi river, and gazed upon the scenes in all their primitive beauty, and loveliness, speaks enthusiastically of the scenery. We have been kindly allowed the following extract from his journal : "It has been my fortune to visit at onetime or another almost every part of our widely extended State lying on the west of the Mississippi river. The area nov/ comprised in the southern counties was my hunting ground year after year. I have ascended the Minnesota Yalley to its termination, and have roamed along the shores of the magnificent lakes of the Kan- diyohi region, and those northwest towai'ds the Eed river. I have traversed the prairies between Fort Eids^ely and Mankato, south to the boundary of Iowa, and I have stood by the far off iron monuments which mark the boundary between Minnesota and the Territory of Dakota, and yet to this moment I am un- able to decide which section is the most beautiful and attractive. Like the individual who finds himself sur- rounded by a bevy of fair maidens, equal in charms but of different styles of loveliness, and adjudges the palm to the one he looks upon till his eye rests upon another, to be dazzled in turn by her attractions. So I, after gazinrj: at the scenery in different ]>aris of the SKETCH OF MINNESOTA. 41 State successively, liave asked inyselt each time the question, " Where can a more inviting region be found upon the earth ? •' Each landscape has seemed unap- proachable in its perfection, and the symmetry of its proportions, until another, its peer in all respects, haS' extracted the same measure of unqualified admira- tion." From St. Paul and Minneapolis lor a distance of many miles the points of interest are very numerous^ The great number of lakes, Calhoun, Harriet, Minne- tonka. White Bear, Como and a great many others, in connection with the various other objects ot interest, make those cities noted places of resort for pleasure and health-seekers. It really is not to be wondered at that people worn and weary in body and mind with the cares of business and the dust and noise ot eastern cities, should seek the pure and liealth-giving breezes of Minnesota, and that having once festc-d their fresh- ness and life-inspiring influences they conchide to say good-bye to the land of the pilgrims, and take up their residence in the land of sky-tinted waters. One cannot look upon the wondrous l-LMiity and sublimity of this portion of God's glorious heritage to man, without drawling nearer to and loving witli a deeper reverence the Divine Original, and still as we gaze, we look with fear and trembling through na- ture and all of nature's works to see the hand of na- ture's God. "Faraway in the west where I lie ' big waters ' ri.se, And the fan- verdant earth meets the bhie-vaulted skie.^, Where the graceful fawn gambols o'er flowery iilain. Or flies from the swift-vine-ed arrow in vain. lii mm t SKETCH OF MINNESOTA. 43 On scenes that are fairer the sun never shone — 'Tis the land of great beauty — our own chosen home, Here anthems of Nature, sonorous and clear, In the Falls of St. Anthony rise on the ear, And sweet Minne-ha-ha, with a laugh and a leap, Glides on to the river with a lullaby sweet, And bright Minnetonka, where 'big waters' play, In their silvery sheen, at the close of the day ; Lakes Calhoun, and Lake Harriet, and the Lake of the Isles, Where Nature in beauty wreathes the landscape in smiles." As long ago as 1680 Louis Hennepin, a Jesuit mis- sionary, ascended the Mississippi to the Falls of St. Anthony, and struck with awe and astonishment at the multitude of waters plunging down the Cataract which he describes as being sixty feet high, he named them after his patron saint, Anthony of Padua. Doubt- less at this time the falls w^ere much lower down the stream than at present, as Carver describes them in 17f6, nearly a century later, as much lower down the river than tkey are now. The following extract from his journal in regard to the appearance of the falls will iipt be uninteresting : *' This amazinoj body of waters, which are about two hundred and fifty yards wide, form a most pleas- ing cat-aract. They fall perpendicularly about thirty feet, and the rapids below, in the space of three huii- dred yardte more, render the descent much greater, so that when viewed at a distance they appear to be much higher than they really are. In the middle of the falls stands a small Island, about forty feet broad, and somewhat longer, on which grow a few cragged hem- lock and spruce trees. These falls vary very much froip. all the others wdiich I have seen, as you may approach close to them without meeting with any obstructions 4 44 SKETCH OF MINJSiESOTA. from any intervening hill or precipice. The country around them is very beautiful. It is not an uninter- rupted plain, Avhere'the eye finds no relief, but is com- posed of many gentle ascents, which in the summer are covered with the finest verdure, and interspersed with little groves that give a pleasing variety to the prospect. On the whole, when the falls are included, which may be seen at a distance of four miles, a more pleasing and picturesque view cannot. I believe, be found throughout the universe." Since that time the action of the w^aters has broke the rocks, so that the falls have receded several rods, and the little island spoken of as in the middle of the falls, is now some distance below. The Suspension Bridge across the main body of the river, and spanning the waters from the west bank to Nicollet Island is one of the curiosities that pleasure seekers are wont to gaze upon with wonder and ad- miration. It is a fine structure, and does credit to the enterprise and intelligence of the peoj^le of the dual city. THE FALLS OF MINNEHAHA, immortaUzed in song by Longfellow's musical jargon of alliterative, rippling words, is perhaps the most noted of all the pleasure resorts in the Northwest, and is one of the most enchanting waterfalls that ever danced to fairy music, or formed a screen of spray in the golden sunlight. The stream that furnishes the water power for this poetry of motion, and silvery rippling of music, is the outlet of the wood embowered Minnetonka. Born in the bower of beauty, it threads -y SKETCH OF MINNESOTA. 45 its way along over pleas- ant prairies, playing witli ^ its mossy banks, till it ar- ^f^T i"ives near the precipice '^'"■'''- where, like a careless, 'happy child, it glides laughingly along, and in ., one silvery sheet, floats to -^the bottom of the glen cand loses itself in a flood l^of joyous melody. We S^xlo not wonder at the '\nrime, for, according to -:^'^^^s^'^'^''^i&^-^^ ' t^iG eternal fltness of things, Minnehaha is the laughing water. "When o'er the prairie first The Indian trod, And on his vision burst This work of God, No wonder he should claim it, A lovely sight, A laughing sprite. And shouting forth should name it, With wrapt delight, Minnehaha." Come with us to the edge of the chasm, and see the laughing Jlinne, as she kisses the rock good-bye, and, like some fairy sprite, changes to a misty veil, floating, with a ha-ha, to the rocky gorge below. Half way down the defile is a fine stand point, where one may drink in the won- drous beauty of the mystic waterfall. How many a heart with sorrow laden has gazed, through moistened eyes, upon the fiilling water, and .^6 SKETCH OF MINNESOTA. sighed for the hopes and joys, the pleasures and antici- pations of days lang syne^ while memory stands tug- ging at the door of bygones, which are all faithfully mirrorred in the miniature cataract. Memory rolls backward the chariot wheels of time, and childhood with its gloved '^associations comes floating down the misty cataract, the faces of dear ones long since min- gled with^the dust ; and the eye grows dim the while xthe heart holds sweet communion with departed joys, -.and sunshine and^ happiness flow in nj^on and fill to * overflowing the heart, oowed and broken by care and •sadness. I^ot long since two romantic couples were .united in the bonds of matrimony behind the misty •'Sreil of flowing water, and the cascade has become a .bridal veil, mirroring the sunshine of happiness and perrenial joys of wedded bhss. The song of the - " laughing water " is a song of praise as well as tri- iUmph; the spontaneous outburst of nature's joy as- cending to the throne of God. And still the laughing sprite glides on, beneath the rustic bridge, and plays bo-peep among the mosses, the stones and the trees, 'till it finds its way- to the mighty Mississippi, loses iitself in the rushing tide, and is no more the ''laugh- ing water." DAKOTA county; 'ERHAPS the eye of man never rested on a? spot of land better fitted to supply his material^ wants and meet the necessities of his natnxe since shut out from the original Eden, than are some portions of Minnesota; and some parts of Dakota county cannot be excelled for fertility of soil, beauty of^ landscape, and healthfulness of climate by any country on the face of the globe. A moderate climate, exhil" erating atmosphere, and a soil whose productions are- almost boundless, added to one of the finest commer- cial locations in the State, make this county one of'- the most prominent and favored in the State. Persons who possess a reasonably active imagina- tion, and minds somewhat educated to appreciate th& beautiful in nature can picture to themselves a district of country of some six or seven hundred square miles in extent, entirely destitute of lofty mountains or evesr high hills, except along the Mississippi river, yet witt a gently undulating surface covered with rich herbage, and in summer time with the various hued flowers that abound in such profusion on the Western prairies^ - intermingled with blossoming and fruit bearing shruTw • 48 HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. groves of native oaks like some old-time orchard, .with here and there a long stretch or glade of natural meadow land, affording vast quantities of hay for the keeping of stock. Again as far as the eye can reach, until the view is lost in the blue distance beyond, lies spread out a beautiful swelling prairie, whose fruitful soil only needs the caressing care of the husbandman to make it bring forth an hundred fold of all the choice fruits of the earth, and fill his granaries with golden grain and his pockets with material wealth. There seems to be literally no exhaustion to the gen- erous soi], and as the years roll around there comes not only ^' seed time and harvest," but at harvest time a return far in advance of what the most sanguine generally anticipate, and year by year the agricultural, mechanical and commercial operations are doubled and even quadrupled, to meet the wants of the grow- ing prosperity of the country. When we reflect that the germs of the future in latent embryo are contained in the bosom of the present ; that to-day is ever giving color and character and shaping the destinies of to- morrow, we have only to examine the vast resources of wealth and material prosperity that lie hidden in the recesses of nature's great storehouse ; the raw ma- terial with which the couuty is supplied and the apti- tude of the people to lay hold of these natural advan- tages and turn them to the most profitable use, to form some conception of what tlie future of this county may realize. Looking backward for only a few short years from the present, and no signs of civilization greet the vision ; no human habitations save the HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. 49 wigwams of the red men, who have imlimited and un- disputed sway and control of all those vast prairies ; their trails as they go farther west to their hunting grounds, are the only roads that mark the tread of hu- man feet ; their bark canoes the only craft that cleave the waters of tliQ rivers and lakes ; their council fires lighting up the evening sky, and the savage war-whoop breaking the stillness of the otherwise silent prairies, and we may see a truthful picture of most of Dakota county previous to its settlement by civilized people in 1853. Some fifteen years have passed, and we look again. The magic wand of civilization has been moved over the prairies, the openings, and the timber, and behold the change. Art and science have com- bined with the spirit of modern energy and enter- prise, and covered the face of the country with culti« vated fields and flowering gardens ; has made roads and built bridges, and dotted the prairies with pleas- ant dwellings for homes, and elegant school houses for the education of the rising generation, and has reduced the wilderness to enclosed fields, thriving villages and the busy bustling city. In looking through the record of these almost present yesterdays we seem to be rev- eling in a kind of waking dream, the shifting pano- rama of succeeding days nearly dazes and blinds the comprehension, and were it not for the busy realities that everywhere surround us, we should almost deem it were a dream, for " life is oft so like a dream we know not where we are." To the dull plodders of the East, the transformation seems almost the work of a miracle, and gazing with 50 niSTOPwY OF DAKOTA COUJsTY. open-eyed wonder, tliey more than half suspect that some powerful geni with his magic wand has passed over the country, and produced these startling results; but the spirit of adventure, combined with first class Yankee ingenuity marked the 2)roblem, and "Western perseverance solved it. Men of independent mind and effort, with hearts throbbing with cheerful hope; men of nerve and muscle, "with a heart for any fate," an invincible determination to conquer all adverse circum- stances, and hands wilHng and eager to demonstrate the fact, have looked out and made their homes on the fertile prairies that lie spread out so invitingly to the eye of the beholder. Beneath the tough web of the sward lay one vast garden, pregnant with all the rich fruits and golden grains ; a mine of incomparably great- er wealth than the richest veins of golden ore. This capital has been brought into active use by the ener- jjies of the toilino- thousands who have turned the waste of wilderness into fertile fields, and the treasures of the earth into channels to contribute to the happiness of man. And yet, the present importance and wealth are but the development of an insignificant portion of its real capacity ; v/hile vast unfurrowed fields still clad in the vestments of nature's primal beauty, invite the tillers of the soil to a closer acquaintanceship, and prom- ise a rich reward for all the labor bestowed in their cultivation. At no time since the first settlement of the country have there been greater inducements to the agriculturist, the artisan, or the capitalist, to make homes within her borders, and it needs no j^rophet's tongue to tell that in the future there awaits unsurpassed HISTOET OF DAKOTA COUNTY. , 51 prosperity, and a golden harvest for those who labor assiduously for that development. If the exertions and never-ceasing activities of the people are judiciously expended, a brilliant future awaits them. The Great Proprietor has dealt out to them of the garnered treas- ures of the earth with a more than bountiful liand, in fertility of soil, springs and streams of water, the facil- ities of communication, that reach nearly every town in the county, and make it one of the most accessible in the State. The natural communication and primal one is by way of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers which bound the county on the north and east, afford- ing rare shipping facilities for all the productions of the soil, and for bringing merchandise to . their homes. The next is the Milwaukee, St. Paul & Minneapolis railroad which enters the county at the northern ex- tremity at Mendota, and runs through the entire length from north to south, having five stations within the limits of the county, viz : Mendota, Westcott, Rose- mount, Farmington, and Castle Pock. This road is at present the only one in the State having a direct east- ern communication, and is consequently the principal thoroughfare through the State. The Hastings & Da- kota Pailroad is a line running from Hastings west through the whole county, and crossing the Milwaukee, St. Paul & Minneapolis road at Farmington. Twenty miles of this road are completed and the cars running thereon. The St. Paul & Chicago Railway also runs through a portion of the county, crossing the Missis- sippi river at Hastings. The Minnesota Yalley Rail- road, starting at St. Paul, runs through the county on 52 HISTORY OF DAKATA COUNTY. the northern line, connecting with the Milwaukee, St. Paul & Minneapolis road at Mendota, and has three stations within the county. Navigable rivers bound- ing it on the north and east, and four diflerent lines ol railroad running through it, gives commercial commu- nications unsurpassed by any of equal extent of coun- try on the continent. Dakota county lies on the east side of the Mississip- pi river, directly opposite where the St. Croix river empties into it, and where the Mississippi river com- mences the task of dividing the States of Minnesota and Wisconsin, the great river having till this time passed entirely over Minnesota soil. On the north the Minnesota river divides Dakota from Hennepin coun- ty, Scott and Rice counties lying on the west, and Rice and Goodhue on the south. These are the general boundaries, though Dakota county is so irregular in form that it would be difficult to give an exact idea of its shape, without giving a map of the county, THE FIRST SETTLEMENT in the State, aside from the government troops at Fort SnelHng, was made in this county at Mendota in 1S2'6, by Jean Baptiste Faribault, an Indian trader from Canada. jSTo other settlers arrived for some years. In 1834, H. H. Sibley, afterwards the first governor of the State of Minnesota, located at Mendota, and soon had quite a colony of immigrants established at that point, and in his adventurous pioneer life saw very much of interest, and had many adventures that would of themselves form an interesting volume. We can HISTOKV OF DAKOTA COUNTY. 53 hardly find room for extended notices, but give some extracts from some ot his writings and his journal, which he has kindly permitted us to copy. In an address before the "Old Settlers' Association'' of Winona, he said : " It may seem paradoxical, but it is nevertheless true, that I was successively a citizen of Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota Territories, without changing my residence of Mendota. The jurisdiction of the first named terminated when Wisconsin was or- ganized in 1836, and in turn Iowa extended her sway in 1838 over the west of the Mississippi. When the latter was admitted as a State, with very mucli dimin- ished area, the country lying outside of the State bouu' daries was left without any government until the es« tablishment of the Minnesota territorial organization." * *'^ * " " It was my fortune to be the first to in- troduce the machinery of law into what our legal brethren would have termed a benighted region, hav- ing received a commission of Justice of the Peace from the Territorial Governor of Iowa, for the county of Clayton. This county was an empire of itself in ex- tent, reaching from a line some twenty miles below Prairie du Chien on the west of the " Father of Wa- ters" to Pembina, and across to the Missouri River. As I was the only magistrate in this region and the county seat was some three hundred miles distant, I had things pretty much under my own control ; there was little chance of appeal from my decisions. In fact some of the simple minded people firmly believed that I had the power of life and deatli. On one occasion 54: HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUXTY. I issued a warrant for a Canadian who had committed a gross oiitraeje, and then fled from justice. I dis- patched a trusty constable, and he overtook the man below Lake Pepin, and brought him back in irons. The friends of the culprit begged hard that he should not be severely punished, and after keeping him in " durance vile " for several days I agreed to release him if he would leave the country, and threatening him with dire vengeance should he ever return. He left in great haste and we never saw him afterwards.'' Mr. Sibley relates among other^ interesting incidents of the manner of meting out justice in early times, the following : "A justice, not a hundred miles from Kaposia, was called upon to decide between two adverse claimants, and after hearing the evidence the magistrate decided in favor of the plaintiff, whereupon the defendant ac- cused him of partiality and injustice, and the dignity of the court came very near being seriously compro- mised by a fisticuff between the court and the party considering himself aggrieved. An appeal was taken to the District Court, by the defendant, and when the writ was served upon the justice ordering him to pro- duce a transcript of his docket and other papers in the case, instead of complying with the mandate of the court, he committed to paper a long and elaborate ad- dress to the judge, setting forth that the appellant had abused him ; that he was a mean scamp generally, and concluded by stating to his honor that he had erred in granting an appeal, and if he wanted the papers in the case he might look for them, as he (the justice) would HISTOHV OF DAKOTA COU.N'TY. .55 have nothino^ further to do with it. It was duly dispatched to the judge and read by the clerk, but was subsequently abstracted from the files by some person, probably, in search of legal lore," Mr. Sibley was foreman of the first grand jury ever empannelled in what is now the State of Minnesota, which consisted of twenty persons, three only of whom could speak or understand English, the rest being all Frenchmen. The court was held at Mendota, Judge Cooper presiding. His Honor delivered a written charge to the jury, of considerable length, which was profoundly listened to, though not a word was under- stood by more than three of the jurors. The amount of land under caltivation in the county we have baen unable to accurately obtain. The area of cultivated fields is yearly ijiereaaing and with woii- dorful proportions, and the increase in the value of pe'rsonal property, and the nmnber of animals of do- mestic use is in equal proportion. The present total valuation of personal property in Dakota county is $1,129,2^4, NumW of animals — horses, 4,901; cattle, 3,527; mrdes ^d asseS, 106; sheep, 4,798 ; hogs, 3,986. At the late sale of school lands, 16,097 acres were purchased for $9,262.42, on which $1,542.35 principal, and $874.60 interest, were paid down, leaving $7,710.07 unpaid. We give the following statement of the amount of land broken dur- ing the year 1868, in each of the towns of the county, which we have copied from the Farmingtoii Tele- graph : 5b Hfsi rORY OF 13AK0TA COUNTY. TOWNS. ACRES. TOWNS. ACRES. Burnsville, 800 Lakeville, 2.400 Castle Eock, 2.500 Mendota, 400 Douglas, 2.000 Marslion, 1.200 Empire, 2.800 ]N"ininger, 800 Eagan, 1.400 Ravemia, 700 Eureka, 2.200 Rosemount, 1.800 Greenvale, 1.800 Handolpb, 800 Hampton, 2.500 Sciota, 1,100 Hastings, 500 Yermillion, 2.600 Inver Grove, 1.900 West St. Paul, 800 Lebanon, 1.200 Waterford, 1.000 The following shows the official record of the county as to County, State, and Federal offices : In 1847 the State of Wisconsin was admitted to the Union, or all that portion east of the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers, leaving those counties west of the rivers without any government. H. H. Sibley was chosen a delegate to Congress to represent that portion of the territory, the inhabitants claiming that the act admittino; the State did not abros^ate the territo- rial government. After some delay, Mr. Sibley was admitted to his seat, and the territory of Minnesota hav- ing been organized at the same session, Mr. Sibley was re-elected in 1849, and again in 1851 — thus serving five consecutive sessions of Congress. In 1854 he was elected to the territorial legislature, and in 1857 to the constitutional convention. The same fall hewaselect- ed as first Governor of the State of Minnesota. In 1859, Ignatius Donnelly, of Nininger, was elected, to the office of Lieut. Governor of the State, and re- elected in 1861. In 1862 he was elected as Represen- HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. 57 tative in Congress from the Second District of Minne- sota, and re-elected in 1864, and again in 1866, being the present Eepresentative. In 185Y, L. Smith was chosen as Secretary of the Territorial Council. In 1854: H. II. Sibley and D. M. Hanson repre- sented the northern part of Dakota county and a large district, now several counties, in the Territorial Legis- lature. In 1855 Henry G. Bailey was chosen Coun- cillor and M. T. MuriDhy and O. C. Gibbs, as Eep- resentatives. J. J. McYay and C. Powell Adams as Kepresentatives in 1856 — Mr. Bailey as Councillor having been elected for two years. The Delegates to the Constitutional Convention in 1857, were H. H. Sibley, Josiah Burwell, D. J. Burns, H. G. Bailey, Andrew Keegan and Thomas Foster. The members of the Legislature this year were H. G. Bailey D. W. C. Dunwell as Senators and J. C. Dow, Eobert CNeil, James Locke, E. C. Masters and M. T. Mur- phy as Eepresentatives. Mr. Dow resigned the office and Eli Eobinson was elected to fill the vacancy. For 1858 Eli Eobinson and A. H. Norris were elected to the Senate, and A. M. Hays, Moses Bixley, Henry Kaska and H. G. O. Morrison Eepresentatives. The Eepresentatives for 1859 were I. M. Eay, Michael Waldhier, Ara Barton, Charles McGrorty and M. A; Miller. But there being no session held this year, the election resulted in empty honors and no work. In 1860 A. M. Hays was elected Senator and J. C. Cooper and H. G. O. Morrison Eepresentatives. The following named persons have represented the county since that time : Ob HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. Senators. Bepreserdatives. 1861— C. W. Nash. J. C. Cooper, G. C. Chamberlain. 1862— " " 0. T. Hays, " 1863— D. F. Langley, K. N. Giteau, D. F. Ackly. 1864— 'I " " '• Henry Tew. 1865— " " R. C. Masters, J. D. Smith. 1866— N. C. Draper, S, C. Howell, J. H. Donaldson. 1867 — Seagrave Smith, Eobt. Foster, R. J. Chewning. The County offices have been filled as follows : EEGISTERS OF DEEDS. A. Robertson, A. R. McLeod, J. J. Noah, (appointed to fill vacancy of A. R. McLeod, removed); John Kennedy, 6 years ; Emanuel Eichhorn, 6 years ; N. F. W. Kranz, pres- eat incumbent. TREASUREES. Hippolite Dupuis, D. W. C. Dunwell, Eugene Dean, James Westcott, Michael Comer, elected in 1861 and pres- ent incumbent. SHERIFFS, A. R. French, F. J. Bartlett, John Devlin, '4: years, Isaac M. Ray, 4 years, Siephen N&well, 6 yeats. CLERKS OF COURT. J. J. Noah, Geo. S, Winslow, appointed in August, 1857 and elected the same fall; G. S. Whitman, elected in 1861, and re-elected. JUDGES OF PROBATE. James Locke, J. J. McVay, F. ^I. Crosby, Seagrave Smith, 6 years, P. M, Babcock, present judg6. COUNTY ATTORKEYS. James C. Dow, 0. T. Hayes, E. F. Parker, Seagrave Smith, E. F. Parker, T. R. Huddleston, Roswell Judson, T. R. Huddleston. COUXTY SURVEYORS. James Thompson, Mathew A. Miller, Magney Sampson, Andrew Keegan, C. B. Lowell, Andrew Keegan. HISTORY OF DAKOTA COITNTT** 5^ ' AUDITORS. 'A J. 0. Melt)7, 4 years, L. Smith, 4 years, John Kennedy 1866 and 1868. Thos. Odell was first Coroner. William Felton waa elected in 1857, and has held the office till the present time. i^XTjXTj^-^izr iRECOieiD. Probably no State in the Union responded more lib- erally and promptly to the call for troops to crush the rebellion than the young State of Minnesota. With, a population of only about 176,000 in 1860, at the breaking out of the war, she sent into the army over 12,000 able-bodied men, who earned a fame second to none in the whole army of the Union. The name of Minnesota troops was everywhere a synonym of vic- tory. Dakota county furnished her full quota, as will be found recorded in the following pages. We have given the rank of all the commissioned officers as far as we could obtain them, at the time of leaving the service. In the following list we have given the names and credit to the different towns just as we found them recorded in the Adjutant's General's office at St. Paul. Those who have held commissions in the army, as far as we could learn, are as follows, H. H. Sibley, commissioned as Colonel, with com- mand in the field; promoted to Brigadier General, and afterwards breveted Major General. 5 60 HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. Brevet Brigadier GeneraU — W. G. LeDuc and C. Powell Adams, of Hastings. Lieut Colonel — R. S. Donaldson, of Lakeville. Majors — Jas. S.. Donaldson, Empire; O. T. Hays, John Kennedy, Wm.B. Leach, Hastings; J. M. Bow- ler, of Nininger. Surgeons, with the rank of Major — J E. Finch, F. B. Etheridge, R. D. Traver, of Hastings; J. L. Arm- ington, of Randolph. Captains — H. G. Bailey, of Hastings, killed at the battle of Nashville ; L.W.Collins, A. P. French, J. B. Preston, Isaac P. Tichnor, H. D. Pettibone, Thos. M. Smith, Edward Oakford, C. W. I^ash, of Hastings; John King, Nininger, and Ara Barton, of Randolph. Lieutenants — R. J. Chewning, Castle Rock ; A. J. Patch, Douglas; J. J. Clague, (Reg. Army,) Green- vale; J. E. Chapman, S. H. Dickens, T. R. Hnddles- ton, Harry Hoover, Barnard McKeniia, Frank J. Mead, Frank M. Langley, Edward Danipier, of Has- tings ; E. B. Higgins, of Randolph ; John More, Yer- million; A. R. French, West St. Panl. Connelly, Michael Foley, John Melony, Patrick Monahaa, James McCay, James Aldiich, Alonzo Aldrich, Leonard Aldrich, Joseph L Ashman, John Burrou":h3, Wm A Crow, Oliver H Chewning, R J Chapelle, Albert Day, Alfred A DiiflT, James BURNSVILLE. McDonough, Thomas Nash, James Stewart, George Siberry, John McCanny, James CASTLE ROCK. Mayson, James Marsh, George Millard, Frank O Plummer, Chas. P Pryor, Henry Plummer, Bartlett Rice, M Stevens, Cushman Sacket, George W Stevens, Barney Cammon, James Ledwidge, John Shovliu, Dennis Stiff, George Walsh, William Vanvalkenburch, Noah C Hyde, Frederick, Smith, Wm H Morrill, Richard B Town, Abraham R Bluett, Edward Child, Henry D Mills, Silas Riddle, Wm Steele, Edward R mSTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. 61 Day, Levi E Davison, Jameo C Drurj% Martin L Davi8,.J ohn C Fowler, William Gaoman, Charles H Haraden, Samuel, Higgins, S II Holmes, Sames H Huggins, Thomas P. McNutt, Gilbert, Whittemore, James E Whitney, Benjamin WillsoD, Thomas Wood, Alonzo H Willman, L K Conerton, John natch, Charles M Sullivan, Jdathew Case, Wm H Case. Clark Hatch, Wm S Wheeler, Edward Mill, Joseph Cook, Joseph, Stevens, Fr«eland A Van^-hn, Hiram W Hoff; Benjamin Miksl, Nicholas Teachout, John Willion, James A Morrison, John T Depuy, S P Ford, Patrick Gould, Myron C Knowles, John F Patch, A J Twitchell, Smith S Austin, John PloJmes, Nelson M Haycock, Abner M McLaughlin, Hugh Piiul, Victor Felix, Peter Harper, Henry Noouau, Martin Sanson cy, Lewis Turpiu, Sevier Amidon, Calvin Abby, Ed^ar S Bennett, Jedediah Bunker, Steven F Cummicgs, W W Eastbrook. Daniel Everett, Wm W Fish, Theodore Feiton, Ezra V Felton, Daniel, Jr. Hughes, John Lackey, Elisha Porter, Artemus Putnam, Charles F Perry, Wesley Simonds, E B Sanderson. Benj Backhoff, John Betke, Fred Felton, Daniel Heslett, H H Kraps, John Leper, James McMuUen, Patrick Monson, Chad C Hay, F G Stowell, Albert Felton, Ezra V DOUGLAS. Pratt, Job J Rhodes. Wm H Slye, Gilbert E Seeley, Robert Graflfman, Francis Pyic, Henry M Phipps, Charles M Brink, Andrew Larson, Andrew Gee, Thomas Storer, Gardner EAGAN. Turpin, Francis Healey, William Lemay, Mathias Lemay, Napolecn O'Harmon, Themis EMPIRE CITY. Lambert, Zebina Spearin, Simon B Bacon, Abel Jones, Charles Kellogg. Geo W Mas tin, John Plummer, Wileoa Pool, James W Shadingor, Hirnm Stanley, George Pidgeon, Louis Whittier, G B Bunker, SF Dodge, Leroy Donaldson, James II Imeson, Zinzic Imeson, Jonathan Imeson, Jame? Masters, RH Mattison, Samuel W Pryor, John Pharl, James Pool, John W Pool, Benjamin Smith, Joseph A Shadinger, Wm WcBtbank, C F Samson. Magna Stam, Edward Berwick, Casper Hatch, Geo S Neafser, Edward Hamilton, Charles Fiiend, Charles Newoll, Charles Rice, Edward B Strong, Wm J Soper, Palmer O'Detts. Theofelt Dailcy, Bartholomew Ivcmay, Thomas Terreaux, Soeeph Williams, Henry Black, Thos Ilaycraft, John Ilaycraft, Samuel Studibill, Henrv Van Doren, I N Haycraft, Jotl M Battin, Solomon Burton, David Coburn, William Kaska, AL Dilley, E V R Dewey, William Griswold, Benson Ilaycraft, Calvin Jolly, J W Livingston, John It Lumsden, DJ Pool, Johnson Rhoades, Isaac C Shadinger, Howard Shadinger, Clymer Shadinger, Adnah Speck, A C Scarles. J A Scofield, Thos II Smith, Thos C Paul, Joseph m HISTOET OF DAKOTA COUNTY. EUBEKA. « rSrbar, Albert Leyde, Wm M Evengou, 01 e McMillan. Deuman Miller, Frank Severson. Edward ^tandaley, K J I^^est, Andrew Walters, C C Torgeson, Ardrew Anderson, Cornelius Beytein. Chas T Thorison, Carl Linburgh, John Eox, William Dunsmore, Irring A Brocher, August Aslakon, N Haney, William Mis-e-gaw-buck, Johnson, Brady Higgins, H B Mallory, G B Nass, Andrew Meir, Christopher Asbyscn^on Byergroff Oleson, Halvor Thompson, John Wood, E H GREENVALE. Bates, Alexander ,» Hodgson, Thos C Hendrick, Patrick Webb, John W Bates, Myron Barrett, H M Cowles, John H Hott, Charles H Beaklin, Olof Bloxom, Daniel Howell, Rowell McAndrew, Thos Bates, William A More, Robert Stewart, Charlea Boardman, Hugh Marsh, Henry McAndrews, Patrick Bogne, Zachariah Pond, Billions Phars. Thomas Carter, E B Park, D A, Jr Gustaff, Endre Clagne, J J Rice, Geo W Klasey, Thos .Dean, R B Sanderson, Halvor HAMPTON. . Ballard, Eli Scott, Louis Turner, William Ballard, Elias Stier, Fred A Wright, Sheldon Battles, Felix, Buchman, Jacob Hammon, Henry Beissell, Gottfried Haas, Nicholas Quinn, William Barton, Volney R ISIartin, Jasper W Gilford. Samuel J Darling, J M Nymier, Henry Smith, Francis Danlinger, Jacob Drure, Edward H Coleman, Henry Fuecker. Anthony Geiger, Francis W Smith, Wm T Cooper, John Bell, George Lavercrombe, John Qoergen, Peter Casick, Tiiomas Fallman, Sylvester Holden, E N Eastman, Seth W Harold, Alonzo Hammon, Henry Twilayson, William Smith, William Hakss, Richmold McCarger, Smith, Daniel. Haas, l^icholas Swanson, Anton Grimer, Henry Hell, Joseph Uaas, Michael Wing, Gorvis Borden, Daniel B Aldrich, Cyras C Clemeteon, John ^ Frothum, John Hall, A P Hanson, John M -M Jemeseon, Geo L Snyder, Theodore Perent, Felix M Hasel, Nicholas Murray, Duncan Haggard, Henry IS Martin, Jasper V Stanchfield, Wm M Van Wart, T T Nymeier, Henry Dolgner, Christian Harding, Price B Putnam, Ira Palmer, George Harding, Cyrus B Raymond, Fred Burger, Jack Richardson, William Shard, Charlca Welker, Atwcod Emerson, Nathan Glift, Walter Ilofer, Charles Elba ken, Lewis \Waite, Oliver Dickman, John Gibson. Abel Howard, Wm H Richardson. L G Wells, Charles Pelta, Anthony Khin'jhiirt. 0.- , ohn C Baldwin, Chas W Dilmore, Michael Dekay, W U Gates, Charles Hays, James Hodscn, William Hoople, Jehiel Jenkins, Isaac F Jennison, Williston Kieley, Dennis F K«nnedy. George Latte. Augustus McNiff. Johu Panchot, George Pitcher, John Reynolds, Oliver P Reslar, John 11 Roasch, Joseph Tanger, Anthony Thompson, Samuel Iv- We'ch, James S Whitney, Benj F Anderson, Charles Crow, Wm H Griswold, Frank C Pttrker, Robert Oakford, Edward Daupier. Edward Arnold, Mathew B. Akers, Gideon Aschka, Rudolph Bell, Alonzo Bowker, Walter K Bissell, Francis; M Buckraan, Chas K Bennett, Jerome E Cole, Ambrose D Eaton, W^arren L Freeman, Renben Gilien, Patrick Henry, Louis Heslet, John Jacobs. James W Johnson, John Knight, Freeman Kenherson, James M Minor, Ephraim Muhen, John Morse, Alanson 8 O'Hrien, James Schoepf, George Straswe'.l, Jots. Scott, John B Johnson, Heney F McGuire. Thos Allen. Wm H Bowers, Nicholas Garrett, Levi F '■ Pitcher, John B ^^ elley, .icin W Wolke, William . Batson, John D ' Harring. Mathias • Mang,Phiilip Saltz, Wm Si HI STORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. Henderson, William Hurron, George T Hope, Thomas Howe, P F Hecht, Henry Henrickson, L F H^ver. R'inry Harris, John Hethington, Ileniy Holmes, James H Hunnybun, Tl^omaa Hale, Eliphalet B Ingham, Samuel II Ingrahan, George Johnson. Charles Jefferg, Ormss A Johnson, Norman C Jacks, Christopher C Johc son, Henry T Keating, James Keating, Patrick Kennedy, Thomas Keating, Robert Kennedy, John Kisaenmacher, WalCen Knowles, Eddington Kingsley, Alex Lehman, Fred I^ancaster, GW Low, Henry A Leach, William B Lennon, Timothy Lahey, Michael Mernin. John Mertz, John G Hahouey, John McKenney, Patrick Morton, John H McKenna, Bernard Mangles, Deitrich Mead, Frank J Mars, John R Mathews, Adolphus Mnnson, Oliver Mathews, Adolphug McDonald, A J Meyer, John Owen. A P Paul, Brnnd Preston, John B Pride, John C, jr. Pitcher, Joseph E Pitcher, John B Pusey, Joseph F Eoyce, Geo W Rice, Benj A Karnum, Edwin Curran. Martin £ekay, Edward Mohernmern. August Powell. Robert Allen, Henry D Draper, Joel Graham, John H Heath, Harvy J Kenney. Frank E Parker, Wm L Smith, Chas E Schwartz, Christian ttanton. Stiles J otoddard, Charles S Weichselbaum, John Akers, Gideon Akers, Woodford BroT?n, William Collino, D W Hale, Eliphoid King, H W Kirky, Ed, jr Ryan, James Stout, William Thompson. Joseph Bohrman, Henry Carland. Michael Governor. Abel Henry, John Lan^ley, Frank M Lewis, Nichols Mille?, Edward Nash. Chas W Schultz. Charles Smith, Noll B Tibbetts, John Williams, John Pottle, Isaac Smith. Thos M Parliman, Edwin Barker, Edward D Itioctgomery, Richard Merville, Alex Ireland, John S Van Inwegea Henry Whits, Samuel Buswell, Martin V Odeli, Marquis L Slocum, George F Harris, Seth Jackson, A F Porter, Charles Mather, Wm R Brockman, Edward Brown, Thomas G Bush, Anthony Colby, Fredric I Coburn; Isaac Comer, Wm A Foster, Chas E Groff, William J Rice, Edmund B Torrence, Robt J Abbott. ElsaS Smith, Wm White, John Schurtz, Peter Jameson, Qeo D Carpenter, C A Ford, John Glldea, John Hewett, WLrren Johnson, Christian Costetto. Thos Lockwood, James Hallery, Joseph H Oleson, Navi Phillip, Enoch AbbatO, Tillman Breslin, Patrick Cole, John Casey. Jaices Hart, Wm F Kart, George Hetherington, Charlos , Lyon, Wm H Nichols, Albert H Sidwell, Samuel J Smith, Chas A Sall«y, John Burnham, Alox Cole, Lafayette Collins, Warren H Davis, Orrin G Haines, Hiram Murray, George Steward. Carey Gard. L B Klopfleiscli. Fred Moyer, Michael Nye, Elisha Stitch, Lewis Chaska, George W Goodhowk, James Snowbrook, Thomas . Blase, John H Cohoes. John Clark. Thomas Deidrieth, August Dnflf, Robert Grewo, Wm Rolfing, John Thole, Charles Heskett, George E Snyder, Conrad Poor, Alberto Harris, Charles Sherman. John H Wayman, Andrew Bennett, Coleman Truax, George Vf Truax, Richard A Pprague, Willard Cook, Asa B Basiherd, Wilfred Altenberg, Gerga B?.rchedin, Richard " Welchlin. John G ' Mej-er, Fred HISTORT OF DAKOTA COUNTY. 65 I Arensdorf, Henry Bisaell, F M Biasell, Hiram Breman, Patrick Boah, John Chambers. Joseph Cronkhite. Sam S Cooper, Charles D Gifford, Van R li Gross, miillip Harper, A A Hamilton, Henry Hoaford, Caleb Hurd, Michael Horeckncr, Frederick Hackett, Charles M Jarvis. Wm U Jr Kock, Henry F Korphage, Henry Korpbago, Frederick Marcott, Joseph Morrigon, John I Maloy, James Murray, Owen C O'Neil, Cornelius Patten, EdAvard Pemberton. Georjc INVER GROVE. Smith, George N Stevena. James Samdy, Thomas Watson, Francis M Shattuck, AlfB Wright, Henry C Welch, Thomas Whitteraore, John D Biggerstaff, William Carroll, Martin Cole, Benj P Cole, John F George. George, Gog, Charles Goor, Joeeph H Hidden, Geo W Hanson, Andrew Johnson. John H Leach, Alonzo D Lyons, James M McCollum, Wm M Rich, Chas H P Schaser, Henry Schaser, Sarphine Swenson. Hans Schefler, Joseph Trumbie, Joel Wines, John Wood, Joseph Ponsford, Willtam WilkinsoQ, John P Hantze, Charles Young, Charles Dellaughter, John A Bissell, Hiram H Whittemcre. James Johnson, E Peter Tome, O J Brant, Augustus Blackmer, J M Eostermen, Henry Lenzen, Leonard Schartzkoff, Julius Williamson, Jacob White, William Veraflfer, Henry Beetle, D&yld Kradler, David C Barton, Percival Kossbach, Guetave Stearns. Orange N Dubb, Henry Davis, John A Quigley, Thomas Buker, Allen Casey, James Dyer, Pascal 1 M Donaldson. R S Eaton, William Fonk, Christopher Getzman. Joseph Hame, William A Hosmer, hobart N Houck, Elijah Ives, James K Johnson, Harmony B Johnsnn, William Johnson, Edward L Keeler, George "VT Keating. Lawrence Kelley, George LAKEVILLE. Longstreet, Wm S Lawson, Wesley McMullen, Pat Partlow. David 8 Smith, Caleb Sherman, Marshall Thurston, Sancher Thurston, John H Watson, John S Weaver, Geo A Wetherell, Alonzo Wetherell, Geo W Wetherell, Russell Wixon, Wm N Willoughbv, John N Wixon, John W Longstreot, Wm S Moran, Patrick Getzman, Joseph Disher, Henry Fitzsimmons, Richard Parker, Benjamin Rhoades, Harrison Randells. Robert Haycraft, Isaac Emraons, Charles S Phillips, Edmund Record, George A Gustaff, Enders White, Joseph Dahlberg, Hans P Parks, George Young, John Shanley, Michael Conway, James Clough, Cyrus Casey. John Chase. Wesley Finnerty, Michael Oilman, James B Haines, David Haines, N D Kent, William Morse, John W- Potter, William LEBANON. Perkins. Charles M Smith, Wm H Thompson, Joseph C Thompson, Alex M Thompson, Francis Wilson, Geo L Kent, William Morse, John W Casey, John Howard. Martin Parker, James Scott, James L'oyd, James Ives, A A Haines, David E Hill, Wm H Ratey, John S Lambert, Elijah Powers, George Richmond, Robert M iriSTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. Day, AIohko E Jeanin, Charles P Panchett, George P Panchett, Peter J Panchett, David Morgan, Elizur A Hardy, Justus K Simons, John L Amsden, Albert Barry, Andrew Curen, Frank Hanson, Henry Hanson, Anthony McVay, John J McNelly, John Canfield, Henry Doolan, Peter Kooth, Augustus Armington, J L Foster, Wm H Hassan, James Leach, Albert, Parks, Alfred Richracnd, Cicero Akers, James Armstrong, Wm Ellis. Allen G Fisher, Charles Kelly, John Mpizso Edward Scherrer, Albert MARSHAN. Chanette, Louis Mason, Charles Ray, Frank Do err, Wm Miller. Charles Jenne, Chillis W Leach, Calvin S Wasson, John E Mullen, John O Moore, Samuel Panchot, A F Wilkenson, Rich Wallace. James W Tahey, Thos Case, Francis Jackson. J A Judge, Barney RANDOLPH. Richmond, Stewart? Barton, Ara Richmond, Seneca Brooks, Josiah R Brooks, Ephraiiu V RAVENNA. Brown, Wm Darkin, William Akers, A H Baker, Delos Lytle, Isaac Sherrv, James Walton, William Knight, Byron M . Knapp, Henry C Sjolie, Halvor Smith, Absalom Wreston, James Drew, George G Willey, Warner E Felton, Israel B Manning, Michael (Jadwell, Eugene Elcock, Simon Goodfellow, George H McMuller, Albert C Pethybridge, Joshua StClair, John Eger, William Saupe, Frederick Foster, George Jenkins, James E Sheppard, Ira S niggins, Kbeu B Madden, Wm Hart, Michael Daniels, George Brown, Wm Dourke, Wm Johnson, James Clark, Wm Darkom, John Atherton, Minor Baker, Chas li Barnum, Wheeler Beck, John Eaker, George IS Baker, Wyman Farquhari^ Danitl Hftuzel, Frank Harrington, Lloyd M Hardick, Robert H Knight, Emery Morgan, Daiid L McGuire, Complin* btrathan, Walter ROSEMOUNT. Akear, Treffle I'aker, Gaorge E Brawler, John JC Bayley. Thomas F Eyer, Renier Fowler, Thomas Harrington, L M Harrison, Peter M McDonald. John KalKbury, J B fciweno»r, Lonis Wcwas, Francis Brown. Joseph B Baktr, Wyaaan Morse. E A Gibbs, Isaac Liddlc,.JobnT Duffy, John S Couant, Timothy Dolhcimer, Valentine Dolheimer, Henry Vetch, Jacob Ericson, Peter Lawson, Hans Blew, J A McKnight, E V Baker, Musson Maybee, B F Atkinson, Cl»« M Bill, E 8 Bo&rdeman. Jam«« Bill, Dayid X Brigham, A A Cowell, Thomas T Clark, James WATEBPOSD. ^•▼•ll, A W Bol»b, Jeseph Uicholt, JaraeB L Porter, Geo J Kufsell, James K Sackett, Chauncey Fatkett, Dudley Helgtroon, Edward Frank, John Shepard, Philetua Truax, Oddy Volk, Peter Twigg(«, David Dion, Beuben B HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. 67 Dean, Frank J Dean, Reuben Elliot, Watson GateF, A J Glidden, C O Glidden, Sylvester Masters, Archer ArbucklP, B P Abbott, Wm 11 Beck, E 8 Brown, L D Bromley, WiKon Burck, Patrick College, John Cartwrigbt, F M Cochrane, John Derlin Michael Dibble, H J French, A R French , E R Gearing, Robt Griggs, John Hayes, John Heinricks, Fred Holman, Herman Holman, E AV Hand, Benjamin Irvine William Kerslake, J J Krach, Malhiaa Austin, Orsng" Bemer, Jeflfereon Bush, Hezekiah Chamberlain, 3Iark A Couper, John C Clutch, David P Finney, Geo W Fitz, Lorenzo FiuDey, James Gline, John Wesley Hopkins, George L Hunt, A G Jameson, HDrac» Burkoe, Patrick Caldwell, Anaos A Colby, Frank H Ennis, Martin Ells, Samuel Ellis. Howard Greig, Robert Hilmer, Jeremiah Legg, George Mowry, Frank More, John McDcwell, James Wager, John H Weeks, Roland Bill, David K Boardman, James Simpson, James Shatta. David Shavone, David WEST ST. PAUL. Lossinger, Joseph Messinger, Addis E Mooney, Archibald McLeod, Alex R McWilJiama, John North, E D Pratt, William Pemberton, Thos Pratt, William Roberg, John Ross, John Reed, Joseph H Simon, John Schmdt, Joseph Schoening, Frank Simons, Frank Wichler, Henry Wagner, Jacab Leyde, G B Lloyd, S n Loftis, Patrick Bromley, ^Filton, Oliver, R B SCOTIA. Moore, Alex Noyes, St Clair Noyes, L D Nojes, James W Parks, Geo W Sherwood, Julitia Sidwell, Aaron M Scctt, Elias Smith, Adam Stark, Adam Skate, Charlei Terry. George R Twiggs, David VERMILLION. McKay, Joha M Morris, Sidney A Pettibone, Herman Joest, Jsseph Spencer, John V Moran, Michael Lease, Nathan A Baine, W S B&thwell, S W S Cadwell, Eugene Hanson, John M Bramao, Cyrus I Bodges, John W Dixon. Geo A Glidden, Daniel E Hibbard, Culver Boath, James W Scarborough Chaa D Canfield, C Johnson, E L Weis, Mattew Koever, Aug Lemire, Theodore Silk, John Royden, Henry Phillips, G C Wright, C A Barllett, B S Rsem, James, Morin, Theodule Lawrence, James McEntre, Daniel Smith, William Spooner, Albert Breit J M Dichto, William Lutz, Ferdinand Lukem, Henry Alten, Thomas Caravan, Felix Rigiiey, John Brown, C C Willson, John E Toumans. James F Jameson, Horace _ Parks, Alfred P Amsden, Galen Daniels, George Hoople, Nelson McCreary, Henry D Bey teen, John Blaiikenbnrg, Albert Green, Wm R WillBon, James B Bird, Lemuel J Donahun, James K McGuire, Hugh Howe , James H Hall, Hollis Healy, Michael Clark, John R Bennett, Edward Mather, Sams el Weeks, Geo W Helin, John 66 HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. Bowler, J M Briggs, AlODZO Bittka, Christian Brush, E E Bottomly, Joseph Countryman, Martin Pish, Arthur J Fitch, William T Griffin, Howard Kennard, Owen Knight, George W ELing, John Lyon, Isaac Mowry, Israel C If cMulIen, Aaron O'Brien, Nicholas Purcell, Daniel Bussell, Charles Ange, James Bryant, Chandler Beyargeant, Eli Cram, C C Clonkey, Antoin© De Borzia, Baaille Essency, John H Felix, Daniel Felix, Paul Granville, David Johnson, M D Jarvis, Francis Le Clair, Eleazer Le Bland, Peter Neheley, Morris, jr Young, BAD NININGER. Stone, Eugene H Sheldon, Daniel Severy, Nathaniel Truai, R J Tompkins, John Truax, J R Wasser, E K "Wells, Leander Countryman, Willia Hutchins, Chas A Nesson, John O'Brien, Nicholas Russell, Charles Stone, Eugene H Steffers, John Truax, Johnson R Zander, George W Bong, Elias MENDOTA. Trumbull, Nathan D Trucette, Joseph [.emay, Louis Garnell, Louis Turpin, S Turpin, Francis Sansonce, Louis Joinville. Baptisto Huart, Michael Muller, Louis Sherburne, Peter Coursall, William Chrispau, Joseph Coursell, Antoine Robinette, Vanoss Young, Joseph Norelius, Lewii Griffin, Edward Spragae, Cassins Truax, Albert H Hanna, Jerome Knapp, Leonard M Russell, Sylvester Casey, Patrick Moran, Michael Countryman, John S Cagley, John W Countryman, Peter Countrvman, Levi N Hama, Walter R Knapp Austin Spaague, Cassinett Turpin, John B Campbell. Charles Auge, Joseph R Boursier,John Beauehenin, J B Labath, Bernhard Barie, Onesimus Plaisance, Phillip Oatney, Joseph Twey, Jabez Austin, John B Comer, El^a Weldon, Charles McLane, Arnold Chrispan, Annable CGUisT'riz: iAK0TA COUNTY. 69 tion follows the education and enlightenment of the pioneers, and the demands of the people f0r the cur- rent news of the day, as well as tlio march, of enter- prise in a. newly settled country. THE DAKOTA JOURNAL "Was the first to embark upon the sea of literary and newspaporial life, and was launched sometime in the snmm(^r of 1866, under the guidance of Mr. James C. Dow, and devoted to the interestG of the Democratic party. • THE HASTINGS INDEPENDENT, Under the supervision of Mr. C. Stebbins, laid claim to public favor, and made its debut on the 25th of July, 1857. The Independent was a well-conducted paper, Republican in politics, and did much towards the set- tlement and growth and improvements in the county by keeping before the people the advantages to be had by a settlement in this locality. Mr. Stebbins contin* ued the publication for somewhat over ten years, until November 6th, 1867, when the l7idej)ende?it and Con- serve)* were consolidated and the Hastings Gazette was born of the union ai^d published as at present, by Messrs. Todd & Stebbins. ■■^- ,^^cl .'>■••.■ THE HASTINGS LEDGER Next had an ephemeral existence, of a few weeks or months only, and retired from the pubhc gaze for lack of pecuniary sustcnauce. It was under the control of Mi". A. S. Dimond. •i ). ■ ■:■::. ■ . ' ..i jil 70 JII^TOllY OF DAKOTA COXi:tJTT. THE HASTINGS DEMOCEAT Made its first appearance in 1859, under the guardian- ship of C. Powell Adams, as editor and publisher. Mr. Adams subsequently sold the material to John R. Mars, who continued the publication of the paper for some two years. Dr. Adams still acting as editor. The same year Messrs. Mars and Northrop com- menced the publication of a monthly journal, as a lit- erary enterprise, but the country was too new to afford sufficient patronage to sustain it, and the Frontier Monthly was discontinued after an issue of three num- bers. THE HASTINGS CONSEBVER Was established in 1851 by Eev. C. M. Whitney, who published it for about one year, when he sold the office to Irving Todd, who continued to publish it until it was merged with the Independent into the Gazette. on the ethofJSrovember, 1867. THE NORTHWESTERN DEMOCRAT, Published by Frank J. Mead, came into public life in the spring of 1863. It was devoted, as its name indi- cates, to the interests of the Democratic party. It wa« a faithful worker and ally of the Democracy, but after an existence of about a year and a half, the enterprise was abandoned as not being a pecuniary euccess. THE DAKOTA COUNTY UWIOIT Was introduced to the public of Hastingg and of Dak(>. ta county on the 4th of April, 1866, by Alex Johns- ton. It was Democratic in faith and works. Mr. HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. Yl Johnston sold a half interest to IMr. J. W. Fralick, in April, 1867, and in the June following Mr,. James Scammon purchased the other half, and the paper is now published hj Messrs. Fralick & Scammon. It is a neatly printed seven column sheet, and devoted to the interests of the Democratic party, and building up home institutions, and the development of the resourc- es of Dakota county. At Nininger there have been two papers started, but both have fiiiled for want of material aid to keep the wheels in motion. THE EMIGRANT AID JOURNAL "Was the name of the first paper published at this place, a large eight -column sheet, published by a Mr. Mc- Donald. It was principally devoted to showing the advantages to imigrants of settling in this county. It lived only about six months. THE DAKOTA SENTINEL, Also performed a short pilgrimage of existence at Nin- inger, in 1861, under the control of Messrs. Linder- green and Hoblitt, but imitated its predecessor in re- tiring early from public life. THE FARMINGTON TELEGRAPH "Was started in the spring of 1868, by Frank J. Mead, at Farmington. It is Democratic in politics, and an earnest advocate of the local interests of the town. The Gazette, Union, and Telegraph are the only pa- pers now published in the county. 16=. ir- 2-'lumiey, £nff. CASTLE ROCK. nisTOBY OF DAKOTA COTJNTY. '7S cjLsa?LE :H,ooic. '^^ ASTLE KOCK was iirst settled in January, *'*^1854, by T. P. Brown, who made his claim on 'section one of the township, being the northeast section, and in l^ovember of the same year, Leonard Aldrich and J. B. Stevens also made claims. An old gentleman named Harris, with his sons, came in the spring of 1855, and settled near Aldrich and Stevens; at Poplar Grove in the western part of the township. There are three groves of timber in the town ; one called Virginia Grove, where Mr. Brown, who was formerly from Yirginia, settled. This grove is com- posed of oak, maple, and other hard timber. Little Poplar Grove in the northwest part of the town, and Poplar Grove on the western line, which furnish a fair supply of material for fuel and fences. The town is watered by the south branch of the Yermillion river, which runs through the town form west to east. The face of the country is 60 even that no water power is aiforded, and no mechanical pursuits arc carried on in town, i^either store, or hotel, or saloon has ever been opened, nor even a blacksmith shop, it being an emphatically farming community, and the people thinking it best to attend to legitimate business and leave other mat- 74 HI5T0ET OF DAKOTA COUNTY. ters to take care of themselves. The Milwaukee, St. Paul and Minneapolis railroad runs through the town irom north to south, with a station and depot near the centre. The first birth occurred in April, 1855, in the family of T. P. Brown, to whom was born a daughter, who was named Lucy. Two children of Mr. Harris died in the fall of the same year, who were the first white persoHS that departed on that journey whose goal is on the thither shore of the dark river of death. In the fall of 1856, Yan Hoesen, Esq., of Hastings, joined in wedlock Mr. Samuel Harrington and Miss Lucy Stevens, who were the first applicants for matri- monial honors. The town derived its name from a rock of curious construction standing about a mile east of the railroad station, and which attracts the eye of the traveler in passing. The rock is some seventy-five or eighty feet in diameter at its base, rising about twenty-five feet, where it forms an abrupt shoulder, the portion rising above this being only about eight by twelve feet in diameter, again rising about twenty feet, and again contracting its proportions to some six feet in diameter, rises still some sixteen feet higher in the air, making the whole tower some sixty feet in height, giving to the rock the appearance of some dismantled tower of an ancient castle. There are some Indian legends con- nected with this rock, but we have not been able to get any connected version of any of them. The first school in Castle Kock was taught by Ditus Day, in the winter of 1857, and the first religious ser- HISTORY OF DAJKOTA OOUKTY. 75 vice held by Rev. William Sheldon, an Adventist, at the house of Leonard Aldrich in 1856. The following named persons have served the town as Chairman of Supervisors and Town Clerk since its organization : Chairman of Supervisors. Leonard Aldrich. T. P. Brown. J. L. Thompson. Baxter Fellows. Wheeler. Wheeler. Wheeler. Alfred Day. T. C Charles. Damphier. Toiun (Jlerh. Leonard Aldrich. Ditus Day. Ditus Day. Ditus Day, Ditus Day. Ditus Day. Ditus Day. Ditus Day. Ditus Day. C. W. Watson. :etji^e:k:.a.. ?K 1853 a party of emigrants from Norway made the first settlement in this town. Among them were Peter Sampson and a Mr. Thomp- son, who located near the south part of the town, on the banks of Chub Lake, who immediately commenced farming operations. In 1854 a large col- ony of emigrants from Indiana settled in the north part of the town, among whom were R. S, Donaldson, Isaac and Jacob Yan Dorn, James B. Sayers, Charles 6 76 HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. C. Jones, J. Y. Curry, Clymer Shadinger, A. C. Sheek, T. M. Smith and William Colburn, with their famihes, which formed a nucleus around which gathered a large number of emigrants from the same State, and which is still know^n as the "Indiana Settlement." The face of the country was in such beautiful contrast to that which they had left in most of its features, and yet closely resembling it in others, that they felt that the primitive Eden for which all were looking had at last been gazed upon, and they shouted Eureka^ I have found it, and as the months and years went by bringing seed time and harvest in their course, with such abundance of iho, products of the earth, their first opinions were strengthened, and when the Territory became a State and the town was organized the name was adopted as being the most fitting to the town, as well as satisfactory to the people. The first hotel or house of ]3ublic entertainment was rather primitive in its style, being nothing but a claim shanty covered with hay. It was the home of T. M. Smith, who made his shanty after the fashion of an omnibus, so as to "hold one more," and accommodated the weary travelers with food and lodgings until more commodious hotels w^ere built in the vicinity. The first school was taught in the summer of 1856 by a Mrs. Payne in the claim shanty of L. D. Erown. The first marriage was also in 1856, the parties to the contract being Mr. A. R. Kingsley, and Miss Maria Lamsden, L. D. Brown, Esq., performing the mar- riasre ceremony. HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. IT The first religious service was held in 1854, by Elder Eaton, who held meetings at the houses of the settlers during that summer. In 1865 the Norwe- gians of the Lutheran denomination built a neat church, but owing to a division of sentiment on some of their tenets, another church was built the present jear. The Methodists also built a comfortable church edifice in the summer of 18G7, and the same year the Presby- terians erected a church edifice at a cost of about §2,200. A fine grove of poplar timber is growing in the northern part of the town, which furnishes a fair sup- ply for fuel and fencing, while a fine grove of red oak is found near Chub Lake. Rice Lake in this town is the source of Yermillion Eiver. L^rge cpian titles of rice grow along the margin of this lake. Soon after leaving the lake, the Yermillion Eiver hides itself in the earth and runs underground for at least a mile^ then emerges again into daylight somewhat increased in size and strength, and while running across the farms of C. B. Smith and son, descends enough to aflibrd a good water power, if dams were constructed. The soil is of a black sandy loam similar to that of adjoining towuF, and like them very productive. Chub Lake is a little sheet of water in the southwestern part of the town, about a half mile in diameter. The town is bounded on the north by Lakeville, east by Castle Eock, south by Green vale, and west by the town of Market in Scott county. n HISTORY OF DAXOf A COIJ|^^./ " si^n^^iPTOi^. AMPT0:N' was first settled iu 1854 by John M. Bell. In 1855 Michael Kranz, Peter Duffing, IsTicholas Du^ng, John J. Fox, Isaac 1*^. Holton, and several others came and made their claims, and commenced breaking ground prepara- tory to pntting in crops the next season. These people arrived early in S])ring, and cultivated some vegetables and such garden stufl' as they could produce. The spring was unusually early and the grass was as high in May as is generally found in June. This encouraged the settlers very much, and they really felt they had arrived in the promised land. Yet with these advan- tages and encouragements, they experienced the usual drawbacks and inconveniences of new settlers. They iiad to go some fifteen miles over the prairie to Hast- ings for flour and groceries and pay high, prices while ^ey had nothing to sell to procure these necessaries. Those of them who had money got along very well, hnt the few who were dependent upon their own daily ^exertions, sometimes experienced rather dark days. In 1856 the tide of immigration to this county set in very strong, and about forty families located in Hamp- 'lon and commenced farming operations in good earnest. I^ the fall of this year, the people feeling the need of "a school for the education of their children, erected a log school house and employed ]S[. F. ^V. Kranz, a son of Nicholas Kranz, and present Eegister of Deeds of Dakota county, to teach a term of three months, which was the first school in this town. niBTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. 7Q The first religious service in this town was in the fall of 1855. Kev. Father George Keller of Faribault officiated. The meeting was held in a board shanty. I» 1856 the Catholics commenced the erection of a chnrch, on section eleven, that being somewhat central for that portion of the community belonging to that church. This edifice was built of logs and was used as a place of worship until 1864, when they commencd the erection of a new church near the old one. This house was built of stone, neat and commodious, at an expense of about $9,000, and the old one was converted into a parsonage. Father F. X. Weninger, a Jesuit missionary, went among .the people of Hampton in 1856 and labored earnestly for the upbuilding of the church and to bring in a good class of settlers. The settlement being composed mostly of Germans, he labored somewhat effectively in getting both the popu- lation and the church largely increased. About two hundred families now worship at this church. Rev. Father Pius Bayer is the present priest of the church, who has estaolished a Sabbath school, with about sev- enty scholars. The Catholics have also established a school for the education of their children in German^ which is under the supervision of Father Bayer and taught by M. Biercheite. They built a commodious school house, in 1867, that will accommodate some seventy-five pupils. This school is supported entirely by private individuals. In addition to this school the brothers Kranz and few other families employ, during the vacation of the public schools, a private tutor for their children, who instructs them in the German lan« guage. 80 HISTORY OF DAKOTA COTINTT. In the western part of the town there are two fine public school buildings, this portion of the town be- ing mostly settled by people from Wisconsin and the New England States. The school houses are also used on Sundays as places of worsliip by the different denominations. There are also three other good school buildings, one near the centre of the town, the other two in the eastern portion, in all of which schools are kept during the school terms of the year. The German Methodists have a neat frame church situated about a mile east of the Catholic church, in which regular meetings are held every Sabbath, also a flourishing Sabbath school, with a large regular atten- dence. Sabbath schools are also held at each of the public school houses. In 1866 Peter Meis built a store near the CathoUc church, and opened a grocery and saloon, but sold to John Simmer in 18 G7, which is the only store in the town. The first hotel was opened in 1856 by James Archer in the northwestern part of the town, which is one of the best buildings for a hotel in the country. In 1864 George Sieben opened a small house called " The Farmers' Home." Charles Kranz opened a blacksmith shop in 1856, which he operated some three or four years, when he abandoned the shop and paid his entire attention to farming. In the following year John P. Thorn opened another blacksmith shop near the Catholic church, but only continued business about two years, when he re- moved to Ilastino^s. James W. Whitford now carries HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. 81 on the business near Archer's Hotel, and is also exten- sirely engaged in farming. There is a small shop near the Catholic church. A Mr. Knipperauth operates a shoe shop n6ar the Catholic church. Peter Eck was the first shoemaker in town, having commenced operations in 1856. The town is well supplied with mechanics to build houses and other buildings, so that the people are very independent. The soil a black sandy loam, very productive, well timbered, and very fairly waiered, and where it is nec- essary to dig wells w^ateris found at a depth of from twenty to thirty feet. The town was organized in 1858, and Gilbert McM. McKay was elected Chairman of Supervisors, and J. S. Hazelton Town Clerk. The following gentlemen have served as Chairman and Town Clerk since that time: Chairman. Cleric. Porter Martin. G. McM. McKay. Martin Poor. G. McM. McKay, P. Havord. G. McM. McKaV.- J. H. Whitford. ^. F. W. Kranz. Joseph Stumphf, INT. F. W. Kranz. James Brownell. Francis Gores. The Justices of the Peace have been as follows : Isaac K. Halton, A. Campfield, John Kranz, Gilbert McM. McKay, H. G. Shepardson, Eugene Thein, John Greer, Nicholas Kranz, "W. H. Wales, Mcbolas Lies, N. Keplinger. There are two Post Offices. One called New Trier, M. Berscheite, P. M., and Hampton, II. G. Shepard- son, P. M. 8:2 , HISTORY OP DAKOTA COTTSTT. ISTXlSTXHTG-JIlJEb. ^ETEK M. and Henry Caleff made claims in 'the township on the 12th of August, 1852, and in the September following moved their fami- lies. John Bassett took a claim adjoining that, of Peter M. Caleff in August, 1853. Others followed soon after and the settlement grew apace. On the 5th of February 1854, Peter M. Califf and Miss Eliza- beth Truax, of J^ininger, were joined in wedlock at Point Douglas, across the river, in Washington county. The ceremony was performed by Kev. Mr. Hall. The first death occurred in 1854, in the spring, when a Mrs. Yan Devier passed to that bourne from whence no traveler returns. The first birth was that of a child to John and Amelia Bassett, in 1855. In 1856 TVarren Carle taught a school, and about the same time a Miss Twitchell opened another school. These were the first schools taught in the town. This year Rev. E. W. Cressy held the first religious service. In August of this year Mr. L. Faiver opened a store and commenced selling dry goods and groceries, and Charles Yeager built a hotel. The population now began to increase rapidly and the hamlet to assume the proportions of a village. On the 25th of July, 1857, the Hastings Indepen^ de?it, in speaking of IS'ininger, says : "It is delightfully situated on an abrupt eminence on the west bank of the Mississippi river, four miles west of Hastings. It has a good landing, and after reaching the table land HISTORY. OF DAKOTA COUNTY. 83^ charms the eye with the scenery it commands. It is seven months old and has a population of ahout 500, several dry goods stores, groceries, &c." The vote of Nininger in 1858 was over 200. A newspaper was started and business was at high tide. But the reaction was too heavy for it and the village began to " advance backwards*" with great rapidity, and the present vote is not nearly one-half what it was ten years ago. Jn 1859 Ignatius Donnelly was elected Lieut. Gov- ernor of Minnesota, and re-elected in 1861. In 1862 he was elected to represent the Second District in Con- gress, was re-elected in 1864: and again in 1866, and is the present incumbent. The Emigrant Aid Journal was] the first^attempt at a newspaper in Kininger. It was a large eight column paper, devoted to laying before immigrants the advantages of settling in Dakota county, and the town of Nininger in particular. But the expense of publishing so large a paper largely excelled the in- come and it was discontinued after about six months. In 1861 Messrs. Lindergreon & Hobblitt tried the doubtful experiment of newspaper publishing in Nin- inger, but after a few months of trial abandoned the project as unsuccessful. The village has gradually subsided, till there is no village left, neither stores or shops in town, and nearly the only landmark of its former 2:)rosperity and great- ness is the residence of Hon. Ignatius Donnelly, which stands on an eminence overlooking the town and a large extent of country ,''as well as a long sweep of the Mississippi river. 84: HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. ILEB^IsrOTsr. ■EB ANOIS', lying directly west ofRosemount, is bounded on the north by Eagan, east by Kosemount, south by Lakeville, and west by Burnsville, and was first settled by James Eyan in 1854. And though others soon followed, his was the first claim, and to him belongs the honor of being the first and oldest settler in the town. About one half of the town is prairie and the other half about equally divided between timber lands and openings, making a diversity very pleasing to farmers, as it af- fords plenty of prairie and openings for. cultivation, and timber for building, fences, and fuel. The soil is a rich, black loam, to the depth of one and a half or two feet, resting on a clay subsoil of several feet in depth, and produces in abundance every variety of grain whose seed is committed to its care. The rites of wedlock were first performed for the benefit of Mr. Gr. Elliot and Miss Dora Morse, in 1857, when these two took upon themselves the responsibil- ity of loving and cherishing each other till death should, them part. How faithfully they performed their con- tract our informant did not tell. Mrs. Almira Potter was the first summoned to the thither shore of the dark river, in 1856. The first school was taught in 1857, and in 185G was held the first rehgious ser- vice, at which Kev. IT. Porter officiated. There is no church edifice in Lebanon, though the people of this HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. 85 town united with those of Kosemoiint and erected just across the line of that town a very neat house of wor- ship, at a cost of about $2,500, the expense being borne nearly equally by the towns. The house belongs to the Methodist Episcopal denomination, and is consid- ered a model for country churches. Services are held regularly eveiy Sabbth by Kev. J. Shaffher. The house was dedicated for worship in December, 1867. At the time of the organization of the town in 1858, Mr. Yerrill was elected Chairman of Supervisors, and T. C. Carpenter Town Clerk, and since that time the following named persons have iilled those offices : Chairman of Supervisors. Town Clerk. 1859— B. Yerrill. T. C. Carpenter. 1860 — B. M. James. James Thompson. 1861 — D. Haines. James Thompson. 1862— T. C. Carpenter. James Elhott. 1863— T. C. Carpenter. John Oilman. 1864— T. C. Carpenter. John Gilman. 1865 — T. C. Carpenter. James Thompson. 1866— T. C. Carpenter. M. II. Sullivan. 1867— J. B. Gilman. M. II. Sulliyan. 1868— J. B. Gilman. M. II. Sullivan. The town is progressing as rapidly as most of the others with an excellent soil, well watered and close to market are. Lebanon sent twenty-five men to the war and paid them $1,500 bounty. Land is held at from $25 to $35 per acre. mSTOET OF DAXOTA COUNTY. BTJI^l^rS'V^IXilLS. •"DRNSYILLE was first occupied in 1853 by . William Burns and family, coneicting of hk ' wife and five 8ono, who emigrated from Canada i tlie same year. He settled in the northwest corner of the town, near the mouth of Credit Eiver, and where is the present station of Hamilton on the I Minnesota Yalley Eailroad. A family by the name of McCoy also settled here this year. 'No other set- tlers came till 1854:, when Steven JS'ewell, his father, Francis IsTewell, and their family, from Chicago, made claims, and during the year a large number of others came and built up quite a settlement. At once enter- ing upon the practical duties of preparing permanent homes for themselves, they built dwellings for their temporal shelter, and the same year erected a com- fortable house of worship. It was built of logs, but answered all purposes for private worship. All the i settlers thus far were Catholic Irish, and consequently^) gave freely of their substance for the erection of the church. The first religious service was held at the house of William Burns, in the fall of 1853, by Father | Eavoux, parish priest of Mehdota. The first birth was that of Kate Kearney, a daugh- ter of James Kearney, in 1854:, and the first marriage ceremony was celebrated in 1856, by Father Eavoux joining in wedlock Miss Ellen Bonan and Mr. James Lynn. il HISTOEY OF DAKOTA COUNTY* 8T The first death was that of a gentleman named O'Hare, father-in-law of Mr. McCoj, in 1854, The ,, next to follow was Mr. Francis Newell, in 1855. These two were buried in a little grove, on an emi- fnence overlooking a large extent of country, known as aTeepee Kill, which had been used by the Sioux as a iburjing ground. t A large number of Sioux Indians had their camp- ■ ing ground along the banks of the Minnesota river, ; and were oftentimes very troublesome, though never s offering \aolence. • The Minnesota Yalley railroad runs through Burns- ;ville on the north, Hamilton station being just across f line in Scott county. The town is bounded on the I north by the Minnesota river, on the east by Eagan ■ jind Lebanon, south by Lakeville and west by Glen- ] dale in Scott county. In 185T a log school house was built and a schoox taught by Andrew Carberry. There are now two t large frame buildings for school purposes, in which schools have been taught during all school terms. The Catholics have also erected a fine frame church, 40x80 feet, on the site of the old log one, also a neat and •ommodious residence for the pastor, Eev. A. Oster, and have supported regular preaching for the past ten years. One of the school houses is located on the land of Thomas Hogan, a liberal and educated man, to whom is due in a great measure the high standard of educa- tion and the schools of that town. There has never been but one saloon in the town, and that was kept open but a short time, when the 88 HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. women took the matter in hand* and with the assis- tance of Mr. Steven ]N"ewell, the Sheriff of the county, the concern was at once closed up, and no one has since yentured to start the business. In 1857 T. J. Burns was elected to the (Constitu- tional Convention. In 1859 Mr. Steven l^ewell was elected to the Legislature, but his seat was contested on the ground of some illegal votes. After remaining a member for. about thirty days he gave his seat to his contestant. In 1863 Steven ISTewell was elected Sheriff of Dakota county, re-elected in 1865 and again in 186T. Thomas Hogan was elected Chairman of Supervisors in 1858, and has been re-elected each suc- ceeding year. Steven Newell was elected first Town Clerk, and held the office five years, Michael Connelly having held it the balance of the time. The northern portion of the town lies in the valley of the Minnesota river, and its rich alluvial soil is of the best cpality for meadow lands, and large amounts of hay are cut each- year for supplying the St. Paul and other markets. The balance of the town is high, rolling openings, of fair quality of soil, and produces excellent crops. There are no large streams of water, and no water power, though there is a fair supply of water for stock, &c., from springs and small rivulets. The people are of an industrious, sober, intelligent class, avoiding quarrels as they would a pestilence. Law suits are rarely known in the community, and the Sheriff in the discharge of his duties is seldom under the necessity of visiting his own town. HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. 89 s:m::pi:re. •%^^,^^^1-IE town of Empire lies nearly in the centre of Dakota county, and is bounded by Rose- mount on the north, Yermillion on the east, Castle Rock on the south, and Lakeville on the west. It embraces just an even government township of thirty -six sections of as fine hxnd as any township to be found in the country, and as a natural consequence was settled at an early day in the history of the coun- ty. In 1854, C; R. Rollins, A. Amidon, and a broth- er of Mr. Amidon, located on the Yermillion river near where is now the village of Farmington, and com- menced agricultural operations preparatory to sowing grain the next season. L. Fish, E. P. Whittier and a Mr. Laird, came into the town the same year, and made claims on the route of the present road from St. Paul to Cannon Falls. From this commencement the settlement of the county around about progressed very rapidly, audit was not long before the prairie was dot- ted all over with claim shanties, and soon some com- fortable dwellings were to bo seen along the route. The first house was built bv Mr. Thos. Laird, near the centre of the town. In 185G, ^[r. Laird built a large frame house and opened it as a hotel. This was a great improvement, as the travel through this section had become considerable, and the lack of accommoda- tions for travelers was severely felt. The first store was opened by Mr. N. Amidon, in 1857, about one mile 90 HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTT. from the present village of Farmington, in the house which is now the residence of Mr. Orcutt. The sec- ond enterprise of this nature was entered upon by James Tuttle, who opened a stock of goods in the building known as the Barkaloe House, which was al- so used as a hotel. The goods were afterwards re- moved to the house which is the present residence of Major Donaldson. In I860, Mr. Ahdon Amidon opened his house as a hotel, and for several years and until the railroad was built, this was made a station for the stages running on that route. In 1866, Mr. Ami- don sold his farm and built a large and commodious hotel at the new village of Farmington, on the railroad, where he served the public as mine host till 1868, when he sold to Mr. Wm. E. Hull, the present proprietor. In the early days of the settlement the Indians were very numerous, and hundreds would frequently make their camping ground on the farms of the settlers. In one instance a band of some 500 camped on the farm of Mr. Alidon Amidon, the chief of which carried with him, nicely packed between shingles, a copy of a treaty entered into between the government and his tribe in 1812. The first birth and death of a white person in Em- pire was that of a child of Alidon Amidon, in Septem- ber, 1856. The first marriage was celebrated between a German and Miss Laird, daughter of Thos. Laird, in 1856. In the summer of 1855 a school was taught by Mrs. Leverett Wellman. There are now four school houses in which schools are tauglit during the usual school terms of the year, HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. 91 and two neat and commodious churcli edifices. In 1858 the town was organized under the name of Em- pire City, at which time the following named persons were chosen to administer tlie town governmenit : Supervisors — George II. Moody, Chairman ; Chas. Porter and Jessee Ives, Associates. Tow7i Clerk — Charles E. KolKns. Assessor — E. P. Whittier. Collector— Gr. W. Porter. Overseer of Poor — Ephraim Fish. Justices of the Peace — A. J. Irvine, Caleb Smitli. Constahles — Daniel Felton, A. Amidon. Those who have officiated as Chairman of Supervi- sors and Town Clerk since that time, are as follows : Chairman of Supervisors. Toion Clerk. 1859— Kev. J. O. Eich, elected and resigned; C. E. Eollins, ap- pointed. C. E. Eolhns. 1860— K Amidon. J. Tuttle. 1861— W. W. Cummings. '' 1862— Caleb Adams. " " 1863— Charles Porter. " 1864— A, S. Bradford. . K E. Slack. 1865— " '' " '' 1866— A. Whittier. H. N. Hosmer. 1867— C. L. Hosmer. H. C. Wing. 1868—11. Lamb. " '' The soil varies but little from that of other towns. The YermilUon river runs through the town, and has a sufficient fall to make good power for turning ma- 7 92 HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. chinery, but it has never been improved in consequence of the necesity of flowing so much vahiable land by reason of building dams. At the time of the first settlement, seed wheat was brought from Iowa, for which 82.25 per bushel was paid Prairie wolves were close neighbors to the set- tlers, and would frequently sit on the do^r steps and make the night dreary by their bowlings. In 1865, when the Minnesota Central Kailroadwas completed through to Faribault, a station was made at Farmington, it being then only a farming community, but being very near the centre of the county, the pop- ulation rapidly increased, stores and a hotel were built and business opened up during the summer of 1866 very lively. The farmers found it an excellent thing to have a market for their wheat and other products at their own doors, and trade and barter were kept on the increase till in 1S67, the people of the town and vicinity became ambitious to have the county-seat re- moved from Hastings on the Mississippi river to this village. In accordance with these views a bill was in_ troduced into the Legislature and passed, authorizing a vote to be taken on that question at the general elec- tion. The excitement ran pretty high, but the meas- ure was lost by between 506 and 600 votes. The vil- lage has now several hundred inhabitants, and nearly all kinds of business are represented. There are of dry goods dealers, Messrs. Taylor & McLaren, IIos- mer & Judson, Joseph Knowles, H. M. & H. E. Humphrey, Jerry McCarty, J. M. Courtwright, and Dr. Torgeson. HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. V»- j^urniiure — C. K. Kollins, H. G, Winters. Harness — G. W. Chamberlain, Pluramer & Co. ^ Hotels — Occidental Hotel, "W". E. Hull proprietor. Blaclcsmiihs — David France, J. Weichselbanghmj, Geo. Cable. Drug Stores — Fluke & Thurston, Dr. Torgeson. ^ Lawyers— 'E. A. Gove, K. W. Judson. Printing — Farmington Telegraph,' F. J. Mead, Physicians — L. P. Dodge, J. G. Bemis, Dr. Tor- gerson, T. N. Berlin. Harchuare — Atz & Lower. ShoemaJcer — H. Whitaker. Insurance — R. J. Chewning, E. A. Gove. Milliner — Mrs. Hendryx. Machine Shop—R. C. Wing & Co. There are three tailor shops, one lumber yard, one feed store, two insurance agents, five saloons, one watchmaker, oae wagon shop, one restaurant, besides the buildings, depot, steam water tank and steam ele- vator, belonging to the railroad company. A lodge of Masons and one of Good Templars, the latter of whiclii. was organized on the 21st of May, 1866, with thirty- five charter members. At the close of the second' quarter the lodge numbered 171 members in good: standing, and at the end of the] first year it numbered' 237. The only object of natural curiosity in this town is Chimney Rock, a large pillar^of sandstone standing alone on the prairie — is some twenty feet high and about twelve feet in diameter at its base, and gradually diminishing in size towards the top. ^4: HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. Ill the spring of 186S, a newspaper was established ^at Farrnington, under the control of Frank J. Mead, •which still flourishes, and does its full share in build- iing up the town, and laving before the public the ad- ^ vantages and facilities for getting rich, in the country .around about. In 1866, Maj. J. II. Donaldson was elected to rep- "resent this portion of the county in the State Legisla- -ture, and in 1867 R. J. Chewning to the same posi- tion. He was also re elected in 1868. The people ot Farrnington have the present year ■built a fine school building at a cost of some $6,000 ■ or §8,000. The building is a fine structure and does :great credit to the town and its enterprising inhabi- tants. The architecture of the house was planned by J. Larmour, Esq,, of Minneapolis. The School Board . -is composed as follov/s : J. P. Fluke, L. P. Dodge, :. md C. Pv. Rollins. :E]JLG--A.isr. -•^^^TPJCK EAGAIN", Robert O'Keil, Thos. ■^^^ Fanning, James Wescott, and Edward Barry were the first settlers in what is now the town _„ ^ of Eagan. They camo in the year 1853, and selected land for farms, and located thereon. But few •settlers had yet arrived in any part of the county, and at Mendota was the nearest point of trade, and almost the nearest neighbors. In tlie spring of 1854- some 'Other families located in tlie same vicinity, and all be- HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. y5»- ing good Catholics, tliej soon had the means for hold-- ing religions se^^ices, and Rev. Father Kavoux, parisli-t priest at Mendota, held the first meeting in the hon&e :- of Edward Dowling, as also seyeral successive ones,, and mass was had at different houses in the settlement', as the population began to increase. In 1855 a school was opened in the house of Tbosi . Fanning, and taught bj Michael Dowling. Thiis- early in the existence of the settlement they took means to enlarge their ideas and cultivate their minds, taking an advance step in the cause of education. In 1855 Mr. Thomas Westcott opened his house as a tavern, which is the only one ever in the town. It was called one of the best on the route, and many a weary traveller has thanked his "lucky stars" that he arrived at Wescott's ere the night set in to expose him , to the inclemency of the weather. Iso blacksmith shop was started till 1860, when Mr. . Robert Myers bought the necessary tools, a bellows - and forge, and commenced operations. 'No other shops have been built in town. One grocery store and sa- loon w^as put in operationinl865, by Alexander Huor,.. at the crossing of the Mendota and St. Paul roads,.,., which comprises the whole of the trade both whole- sale and retail, in that line. The are three school houses in town and schools :~ taught in each the time usualty prescribed by law and^- generally more than double that number of months iiL-^ each year. The land ' is principally oak openings with a some- what rolling surface, quite sandy and not as good fozr %§ HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. raising wheat and heavy grains as in some other parts of tthe county, yet corn and oats attain the highest perfection of anywhere in this section. Kobert O'^tTeil was elected from this town as a Rep- resentative in the Territorial Legislature in 1857; has served a number of years as county commissioner, and in 1859 was chosen County Treasurer. Michael Comer was elected County Treasurer in 1861, and re-elected in 1863-1865-1867, and is the present in- cumbent. Tins is a tribute of respect and confidence rarely bestowed upon any man, especially in a new country, where the population is generally so transient and changing. The Milwaukee, St. Paul and Minneapolis railroad .runs through the town from north to south, and has a station called "Wescott, near the residence of Mr. James Wescott. ■^ElI^Ivd:Ix.ILIOI^^. ^ERMILLIOlSr was first settled in 1854, by Moses Cole, Andrew Warsop, Robert Greig, John Barber and Eugene Dean, who located in the northeast part of the town, while R. J. Smith, Samuel Brown, John McKay and Daniel Cad- well located the same year near the west line, and William Cole and Robert Barrington in the southeast. Those who could do so built houses, while the others -hastily erected claim shanties and inhabited them till ? ikev could find better. HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. 97 The first birth in Vermillion was that of Harriett Cole, a daughter of Moses and Mary Cole, in 185T. A daughter of J. D. Searles died the same year, which was the first death of a white person in town. The first marriage was consummated between Martin Ennis and Lucy Barrington, the time we have been unable to learn. Divine worship was first had in a log house belonging to Mr. John Cole. The sermon was preached by Rev. Levi Countryman. William Chapman taught the first school in the winter of 1S5T-S. When the town was organized in 1858, the name Yermilllon was chosen as the most appropriate, from the fact of the Yermillion river running through it, by which it is principally watered. The officers chosen at the first election were as fol- lows : Supervisors — A. H. ItTorriss, Chairman, Moses Cole, Samuel Brown; Justices — Robert Greig and Daniel Cadwell; Town Clerk — Andrew Warsop; Constable and Collector — William E. Jones. There are no churches in the town. Religious ser- vices are generally held in the school houses, of which there are several, in which schools are taught through all the school terms in the year. 'No stores or hotels in Yermillion have ever been put in operation. There are several small groves of poplar and oak timber in difi'erent parts of the town, which add beauty to the landscape and furnish fuel and fencing for the farmers. HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. i^^^^;^E3^3^ JL . [AYENNA was settled in 1854, by Corban Speeks, P. W. Elliott, Thos. Ells, H. C. Love- ' joj and Hngli Sherry, all of wliom made claims and located on thera. In 1855 these settlers were followed by A. J. Henry, Simon Weaver, Sam- uel Mathews and several others, and quite a colony was founded. The first birth in Ravenna township was a son to P. W. Elliott in 1854. The first death was that of Mr. Corban Speeks on the 5th day ol February, 1856. The first marriage was that of II. C. Lovejoy and Miss Harriett Elliott, in July of 1856. The boundaries of the town are as follows : !N^orth by Hastino-s and the Mississippi river, east by Good- hue county, south and west by Marshan. The town is somewhat irregular in its boundaries, a small part running up to the river east of Hastings, making the city of Hastings from a small part of the western boundary. There is no water power or mills in Ravenna, no blacksmith or other shops. Adjoining the city of Hastings in such close proximity the business is princi- pally transacted in that city. In 1856 a school district was organized which com- prised the towns of Ravenna and Marshan, and a school was opened near the south line of Ravenna, in a log house belonging to A. J. Henry, and Miss HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. 99 Mcirgaret Ellis installed as teacher. This was the first training of the young idea how to shoot, and to aim high in the attainment of knowledge. Religious service was held in the same year by Rev. Mr. Johnson, at the house of the widow of Corban Specks, and occasional services were held thereafter at the houses of the residents, until school houses were built, when those were used as places of religious wor- ship by the different denominations. The Yermillion river runs throusrh the town from north to south, nearly in the center, giving an abun- dant supply of water for the use of stock, but affording no power for driving machinery. Trudell Slough, in the northern part, also affords plenty of water for that section. About one-third of Ravenna is quite low, lying on the Mississippi river, and in times of high water is overflowed, but being covered with heavy timber or a luxuriant growth of grass, is con- sidered quite as valuable as any portion of land in the county. Ravenna comprises only about twenty-two sections of land, being only three miles in width from north to south, atid six from east to west, with an ell lying on the east of Hastings along the Mississippi river. The attention of the people has been entirely turned to agriculture, conseqiiently the history of their pro- gress is somewhat uneventful, and can be chronicled in few words. They are growing rich by cultivating the soil. ■^•'^^^- , 100 HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. IMULIS/SKCJ^l^r. EORGE EGBEET located in tlie northeast rpart of this town in August, 1854:, and a Mr. Lyon in the northwest corner, near the city of Hastings, in the spring. These two gentlemen the only settlers that year. In 1855 Messrs. Simpson, Tahey, Westbury, John Judge. John and Thomas Burke and several others made claims and located thereon. Marshan is bounded on the north by Hastings and Rayenna, on the east by Eavenna and Goodhue county, on the south by Goodhue county and the town of Douglas in Dakota county, and on the west by the town of Yermillion. The town of Marshan, though comprising the requisite number of sections for an even township, is very irregular in shape, being formed somewhat in the shape of a letter L — being nine miles from east to west on the south boundary, the eastern six miles being only three miles in width from north to south, and the western three six miles in width. In 1856 a village site was platted near the centre of the town, and a tavern house built by Curtis & Co., which was opened for accommodating travelers the same season. In 1867 the building was burned down, and rebuilt again the same season, and is now kept by Daniel Eyan. The first death occurred in the latter part of Febru- ary, 1856. A man from near Cannon Eiver,in Good- hue county, on his return from Hastings to his home, 1 HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUXTY. 101 was overcome by the extreme cold and an overdose of liquor, and was frozen to death on the highway, near the residence of Thomas Howes. A coroner was appointed to hold an inquest, but the friends of the deceased having learned of his fate had removed the body before the coroner arfived, consequently no in- quest was held. The first marriage in Marshan was that of James Sally and Miss Susan "Wick, in the year 1858, the ceremony being performed by George Egbert, Esq. The circumstances attending, made it rather a novel wedding. It seems the parties were engaged to be married in a few weeks from the time the transaction actually occuired, but one day at the dinner table the conversation turned upon the marriage ceremony and Esquire Egbert proposed they should stand up to- gether and he would see if he remembered how to perform the marriage ceremony. They complied and made the proper responses, and the justice found that he remembered perfectly well how to • solemnize a marriage, and the happy pair were made one with- out their knowledge of the fact, but with their full consent. Before intorming them of their new happiness Mr. Egbert sent word to the neighbors and friends to call at his home that evening, and when the company gathered and music and dancing were the order of exercises, they were informed that they were husband and wife according to the laws of Min- nesota, and in truth all went merry as a marriage bell. The first religious service was held at the house of George Egbert, in 1856, a Bev. Mr. Johnson from Red Winer officiatins^. 102 HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. The Catholics have a very neat church edifice near the centre of the town at a place called Bellewood, Tvhich is the only house of worship yet erected, other denominations holding serdce in the diiferent school houses, of which there are five, four frame houses and one huilt of brick. In each of these, schools are taught durino: the school season of the year. The eastern portion of Marshan is mostly covered with a fine growth of timber, and the western is made up of openings and prairie. The town is watered by the Yermillion river running through it and by nu- merous springs and small streams. The northeast corner of the town is cut ofiT from the main land by a small branch or slough from the Mississippi river. John Connor operates a brick yard in the eastern part of the town, where the clay is said to be of the best quality, and the brick are much sought after for building purposes. The average of wheat in Marshan, taking the years together, is about twenty bushels per acre. The people have chosen the following gentlemen as Chairman of Supervisors and Town Clerk : Chairman of Supervisors. Tovm Clerk. 1858— L. L. Ferry. iilonzo Mather. 1859 — Georsre Esfbert. Alonzo Mather. 1860 — George Egbert. Adrian Egbert. 1861 — Nicholas McGree. George Egbert. 1862— John L. Eedding. A. B.^ Phalon. 1863— John L. Bedding. A. B. Phalon. 1864— T. Gipson. A. B. Phalon. 1865— William Kingston. A. B. Phalon. 1866— WiUiam Kingston. A. B. Phalon. UISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. lOt :E^osElv^OTJJ:^^T. ^/-.^^HE town of Eosemount is bounded oh the- 1^ north by Eagan and Inver Grove, east by In- ver Grove south by Empire, and west by Leb- \i^^pi-anon. It contains twenty-four sections of land being oblong in form, having six sections from east to west, and four from north to south. The soil is of as good quality as can be found in any section of the country, being mostly of a dark loam, and especially adapted to raising wheat, which is the principal production of this as well as most other towns in the county, though large quantities of oats and barley are raised each year. The face of the country in this town is somewhat di- yersified, though mostly it is a rolling prairie, yet there are some portions covered with scattering native oaks, and here and there a lovely little lake serre to lighten up and beautify the landscape. Keegan's Lake, about a mile north of the railroad station is a beautiful little sheet of water, covering quite a number of acres of ground, and having a small island near the centre, gives it a quite romantic and picturesque ap- pearance. The railroad runs over one end of it, and travelers always gaze on it with delight and admira- tion. It was named Keegan's Lake from the fact of Andrew Keegan owning a farm adjoining it. The town was first settled in ISo-i. In 1855 a post office was established, and the name of Eosemount was adopted. Andrew Keegan was op- 104: HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. pointed Postmaster. In 1858 when Minnesota became a State and townships were organized under State au- thority, the name of Eosemonnt was applied to the town. The first birth in this town was that of Margaret Conniff, and occurred on election day, 1855, which was the 2d Tuesday of October, and the 13th day of the month. The first death was that of Eliza Keegan, a daughter of a brother of Andrew Keegan, of about two years of age, who died in January, 1855. The first religious service in this town was held at the house of John Murphy, by Rev. Father Tissont^ a- Eoman Catholic priest, a missionary. The first school was taught in 1858 by Miss Margaret Cannings There are now three school houses in the town, and considerable attention is given to the subject of educa- tion. In 1867 the Methodists of Rosemount and Leb- anon united and built a very neat and commodious church edifice near the southwest corner of Rosemount, where all unite on common ground to join in the wor- ship of him who united all in the universal brother- hood of man. In 1858 a Mrs. Morrison built the first hotel in the town, vvdiich she still keeps open for the accommoda- tion of " the traveling public." Harry Hines built a store in 1860. Another hotel was also opened near Mrs. Morrison's some time after, but patronage was not sufiicient to keep it in operation, and it was closed as a hotel. The store built by Mr. Haines is now kept by Messrs. Lester & Hardick. HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. 105 In 18(j6 after the establishment of a depot in this town, Neheley opened a small dry goods and grocery store, and this present year several others have com- menced the experiment. Frank Gallon and Ed. McManomy have each opened stores, James Conway a saloon, and Ole Peterson a shoe shop. Dr. C. C. Knight is the resident physician, John Foster has a blacksmith shop, Frank Gallon a wagon shop, and Daniel Underwood a butcher shop. There was received and shipped from this station during the year 1867 36,000 bushels of wheat. T. D. Yan Hoovenburg is the station agent and telegraph operator. Eosemount, hke the rest of the country in the vicin- ity, bears on its bosom and in the generous soil the elements of substantial wealth to all who earnestly work to develope and bring these elements into active exercise, and no town or country can well present a more pleasing view than that afibrded to the traveler while passing through this town, on the cars. On either side as far as the eye can reach, are cultivated fielas, and during the period of growth and harvest the scene is especially lovely and pleasant to contem- plate. The fields of golden grain w^aiting for time to prepare them for the hand of the reaper, or when the shocks of wheat cover the ground these present the elements of wealth and sustenance to mankind. The very hill tops are crowded with fatness and the earth groans with the burden of her fullness and is laboring in travail throes to be delivered of tlie abundance of her material prosperity. 106 HISTOPwY OF DAKOTA COI/NTY. Xj^:K:E-\riiLiLE. y^^^AKEYILLE was first settled in June, 1853, >ii^*t^ by J. J. Brackett, and G. Phelps, and in the ^^^ fall of the same year bv George Palmer and ^%^ a widow named Whalon and her son. Other claims were made, but none settled upon, except by T. W. Farnham, whose death occurred in the follow- ing February, from the effects of freezing his feet and legs, while on his way from St. Paul to Lakeyille. This was the first death which occurred in town. In the spring of 185-i, S. P, Buker, David France, John House, Jabez Smith, Willis B. Eeed and Samuel Dunn made claims and settled on them and went to work to make themselves homes. The most of them, of course, went to breaking up farms. David France opened a blacksmith shop and went to work to accom- modate the public with the benefits of his trade. Xo hotel was opened till 1855, when George Fagan opened his house for the accommodation of travelers and claim seekers. It was a log house near the shore of Prairie Lake, and though not large, there are many who can look back a few years and remember with grateful hearts the hospitalities meted out to them at the log cabin on the prairie. The first marriage ceremony was solemnized in 1857, the parties being John Hartig and Dorothy Hartig. !N"o change of name but merely a change of circumstances in life, or in military parlance, a ''change HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. 107 of base." upon wliicli line they proposed to fight the battle of life till death should claim one or both of them. In the winter of 1855, William Cummirigs taught the first school that was opened in Lakeville, while the first religious service was held in Aj^ril of the same year, Rev. John McMann ofiiciating, at the house of Michael Johnson. In 1854:, in the month of August, J. J. Brackett, who had entered into a contract with the government to carry the mail from St. Paul to Faribault, delivered the first mail at the post office of Lakeville. Four days were allowed by the terms of the contract, in which to convey it between these points. G. Phelps was the first postmaster and was appointed in 1854. The first birth was that of Anna Casey, daughter of Hoger and Mary Casey in the spring of 1859. The first town election, in 1858, was held at the house of J. J. Brackett, Mr. Brackett being elected Chairman of Supervisors and Justice of the Peace. In 1855 a Mr. Connelly of St. Paul opened a store of goods, and about the same time D. C. Johnson and M. Sherman also opened a store and hotel in the build- ing now occupied by Mr. Ackley. In 1856, S. P. Buker established another store in Lakeville, and for a while trade was made quite brisk by competition. About two-thirds of the town is a beautiful rollins: prairie, with a soil not excelled by any in the county or State. The balance is composed principally of oak openiugs interspersed with occasional groves of fine timber, which afibrd a fair supply for the necessities of the inhabitants. 8 lOS HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. The Yermillion river, or one branch of it, takes its rise in Lakeville, ^vhich is tlie only stream- of any size the town. There are two beautiful little Lakes, that furnish an abundant supply of excellent fish and the best of sport for the disciples of Isaak "Walton. Prairie Lake, from which the town takes its name, is about one and a half miles in diameter, with clear water, and sand bottom, with shores so gently inclining to the water, in places, that one may drive a carriage for some distance into the lake without the least danger. In other places the banks are abrupt and the water quite deep. The shores of Prairie Lake are quite noted as the resort of pleasure and picnic excursions. Crystal Lake also abounds in fine fish, and is a lovely sheet of water, adding great picturesqueness and beauty to the landscape. J. J. Brackett, the oldest settler, still has his home where he first located on the shores of Prairie Lake, and each year as he garners the pro- ducts of the soil, he blesses the Providence that cast his lot in a land of such wealth and beauty. nyEE3:srnDOT_A.. END OTA, situated on the south bank of the Minnesota, and on the east of the Mississi2)pi, ^just at their confluence, is the oldest village in the State, and the former homestead of Hon. 11. H. Sibley is the oldest private residence in Minnesota, having been commenced in 1886, and com- pleted 1837. The first settler in Mendota was Dun- illSTORY OF DAKOTxV COUJvTT. 109^' can Campbell, who established himself as en Indian trader about the year 1S20. He has a son of the same name now living in the village. Campbell was siic- cceded about the year 1825 by Jean B. Faribault, who removed thither from Pike's Island opposite, where he had resided several years and until driven by stress of weather to seek higher ground for his habitation, the Mississij^pi having overfiov\^ed its banks to such an extent that Mr, Faribault lost all his goods and possessions, except a (juantity of furs wHcii he saved in his boat. About 1828 Mendota became the the principal depot of the trade of the American Fur Company, in this region, and was placed in charge of Alexis Bailly, lately deceased. In 1834:'Mr. Bailly was succeeded by II. H. Sibley, who had a much larger district under his charge, as a partner: with Joseph Kouletle and II. L. Douseman (both now deceased) in the business of the 7\.merican Fur Com- pany, the two last named residing at Prairie du Chien^. and having charge of the trade that was tributarj to that central location. In 1819, Col. Leavenworth, in-^ command of United States troops, occupied a spot on . the south bank of the Minnesota river, and opposite . the present site of Fort Snelling^ where they remained during the winter of 1819-20. During the winter the scurvy broke out in a most malignant form, and for some days raged so violently that garrison duty was • suspended, there being only well men enough in the command to attend to the sick and the interment of the dead. The attacks were frequently so sudden that persons wlio went to bed well at night were found fcilO HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. dead in the morning. One man wlio when relieved Irom his j^ost of sentinel duty, stretched himself upon a bench in the guard room, four hours after, when called upon to resume his post, was found to be life- less. So fatal was tlie disease that nearly half the command perished. This is believed to be the only case of land scurvy making its appearance in this country. The troops continued to occupy quarters on the south side of the river till 1823, and some even as late as 1824, at which time Fort snelling was com- pleted and the whole command removed thither. .Daniel W. Hubbard was the first man to fell a tree on the camping ground, and to him is due the credit of felling the first tree to inaugurate civilization in Minnesota. All this was, however, previous to any settlement other than by government troops, except that of Duncan Campbell, the Indian trader. In 1851 Hon. Luke Lea, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and Hon. Alex. Eamsey, acting for the gov- erament, effected a treaty at this point, with the upper bands of Dakotas or Sioux, which together witli the treaty entered into the same year, at Traverse des Sioux, eeded to the United States, all that vast coun- try claimed by them west of the Mississippi river. In 1817 Wisconsin was admitted as a State, leav- ing all those counties west of the St. Croix river without any government. Hon. H. H. Sibley, of Mendota, though residing on the opposite side of the Mississippi river, was elected to represent the inhabi- tants of that ungoverned country in Congress, they claiming that the act admitting a certain portion of HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. HE the Territory as a State did not abrogate the terri- torial organization. Mr. Sibley went on to Washing- ton and boldly claimed his seat as a delegate from "Wisconsin Territory, which after some delay was granted him. The Territory of Minnesota was or- ganized the same session, and Mr. Sibley was elected . to represent the new Territory in 1849, and again re- elected in 1851, thus serving during five consecutive- sessions of Congress, and representing two different territories, though all the -time residin'g at Mendota, At the time of the organization of Minnesota Territory in 1849 Hon. Stephen A. Douglas was strongly in favor of Mendota as the Capital of the Territory, but the delegate, Mr. Sibley, represented that his constitu- ents, or a majority of them, were in favor of St. Paul, £0 Mr. Douglas yielded to his solicitations, and St- Paul was designated as the Territorial capital. The first birth in Mendota was that of George Fari- bault, on the 2Sth of September, 1826. In 1834 H. H, Sibley built a store and opened up a stock of goods, which was the first store on the west side of the Upper Mississippi, and in 1S3Y Alexander Fari- bault built a stone hotel, which is still standing, and ■ . kept as a hotel by his son, George Faribault. A Canadian by the name of Lejendre taught the first school. The first church service was held by Kev. Father Ravoux, though at what time we have been unable to ascertain. It was the first point where - the Jesuit missionaries located, in this section of coTtn- -■ try. The Catholics erected a small building for a ^,. church, and after some years built the present ston&J^- / 'M^''' HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUKTY. edifice, wliicli stands oii tlie high bluff overlooking Fort Snelling and a large ex1i«nt of country, for many- miles around. Hon. II. II. Siblej built a small stone building to l>c used as a Protestant church, and which was used for that purpose for a number of years, but is now occupied as a scliool house. The former residence of General Siblej was sold bj Mm for a merely nominal sum to the Sisters of Char- ity of the order of St. Joseph, and is now occupied by them. Mendota was for some years the county seat ol Dfir kota county, but being on the extreme edge of the county, a majority of the people elected to have the county offices and records removed to the more pre- tentious village of Hastings, where tlicy are now lo- cated. The population is mostly French and Irish. The business ol the town is now represented by two dry ^ods and grocery stores, one kept by Timothy Fee, the other by John Eoth ; two hotels, one by George Faribault, the other by Michael Lynch; two black- smith shops, by William Morrissey and Joseph Brau- dette ; two wagon shops, by Joseph Braudette and riavious Braudette. Civillo Boutillette and Edward Lemay have carpenter shops, while Michael Dupuis is the shoeinaker of the village. . Mendota furnished the first State Governor, Hon. H. H. Sibley, who was also Delegate to Con- gress for three successive terius, and member of the Constitutional Convention, and town officers as fol- lows ; I HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. 116 Chair ma ?i of Supervisors. Town. Cl^^h. 185S— Patrick Eagan. G. S. "VYliitmnn. 1859— Patrick Eac^an. G. S. Wliitinaii. I860— A. G. Shaffer. Jas. McBoal, appointed. ISCl— James McBoal. Philip Crowley. 1862— P. P. Thompson. Pliilip Crowley. 1863— P. B. Thompson. Philip Crowley. 1861 — James Thompson. Phihp Crowley. 1865— Michael Lynch. Philip Crowley. 1866 — William Morrissey. Phihp Crowley. 1867 — James Thomas. J. D. Rodgers, Jr. T. D. Smith, appointed. 1868— C. A. Slivens. Phihp Crowley. J IT. Benson, appoiated. The Milwaukee, St. Paul and Minneapolis Eaiiroad makes a junction at this point with the Minnesota Yalle}^ Railroad, passengers for St. Paul or the Min- nesota Yalley taking the Yalley road, thoiagh mak- ing no change of cars for St. Paul. The Milwaukee and Minneapolis Railway at this point presents some of the finest features of engineer- ing to he found on any road in the country. As the train from Minneapolis runs directly under the brow of Fort Snelling on the north side of the Minnesota river, the high rock on which the Fort stands having been cut down some fifty or sixty feet to a level with the road bed, which is here some twenty-five or thirty feet above the river, and presents one of the finest spectacles to be seen, the towering and perpendicular cliff on one side and the swiftly flowing river fiir below 114 HISTORY OF DAKOTA COU^'TT. on the other, while the cars glide smoothly along, hanging as it were on the verge of the hill, then pass- ing over a line of trestlework over the Minnesota river, and the lands adjacent thereto, till it reaches Mendota, where it begins its winding way to the table lands above. Passing over another line of trestle- work, and high over the track of the Yalley Eailroad it winds around the hill, and passengers looking from the car windows, see in the distance to the left the city of St. Paul, which gradually is lost to view as the train moves on, and soon, on looking from the window on the right, another city greets the vision, another and yet the same, for the train has moved around and up the hill till it is almost where it started from the depot, only highe? up and going in the opposite direction, and Port Snelling, which was passed some time since, is now standing on the right, and only across the river from where the train now stands. It is a spec- tacle worth a visit to the place to see. This wonder- ful piece of engineering, the commanding view to be had of the surrounding country from the bluifs, and the fact of its being the oldest settled town in the State, makes Mendota a place of much interest to visiters and pleasure seekers. HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. 115 HI^STin^TO-S. >E are under obligations to Dr. Tliomas '^Foster, the first settler of Hastings, now of Du Lnth, St. Louis county, for an interesting ! letter on the early settlement of the town and incidents connected therewith, which being written in the doctor's usual pleasant style, we give in his own language : W, H. Mitchell^ Esq.^ Rochester ^ Minn, : Dear Sir : — In answer to inquiries respecting early settlement and early settlers at Hastings and in Da- kota county, I would mention that on the 21st of Au- gust, 1851, the day after the signing of the treaty of Mendota, made with the Sioux Indians, by which they sold the right to rove over a vast territory on the west bank of the Mississippi, including the whole of Dakota county, I traveled with Alexis Bailly, senior, to the present town site of Hastings, and there made the claim where my family stiU live, embracing the south shore of Lake Isabel, the beautiful lakelet in^ serted into the city plat of Hastings. The first house built in Hastings is my homestead, upon this lake. It was commenced in the winter of 1851-52. The body of the house — though it was afterwards weather- boarded, plastered and gothicized— was constructed of logs. Alexis Bailly, Sr., Alexis P, Bailly, and Henry Bailly, his two sons, and old John " Blockhanti," as T^e used to call him, their man of aU work, an old dis. 116 HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. charged soldier aiid quite a cliaracter in his way, aa-' sisting in the work of putting it up. The ekler Mr. Truax, of Point Douglas, did part of the carpenter- work, and Daniel TV. Truax, his son,_now a prominent merchant of Hastings, and Edward F. Parker, after- wards County Attorney, helped on the huilding, which was finally finished by Albert H. Halsteod and Hiram Halstead, carpenters, who made claims on the Yer- million Bluff or Prairie, opposite the lower stone flouring mill, on the Vermillion, built by me, in part- nership with Gov. Pamsey, as joint owner. "When I arrived in Hastings there was ©ne log house in it, which had been built several years before under the pretext of an Indian trading license, to hold tlie town site — the proprietory interests being ©wned by the Baillys, Gen. Henry Hastings Sibley and Alexander Faribault, then ofMendota, but now oi the town of Faribault in Pice county. The latter sub- sequently sold out one-third interest to Wm. G. Le Due. The log trading house stood near the Missis- sippi, in the centre of Yermillion street, near its junction with Second street, and was long ago pulled down, but not until it had become quite famous to immi- grants for the pleasant hospitality displayed there by Mr. and Mrs. William Felton, who now live on a fiirm a little west of the town. The first house, after this, was my own, as I have stated ISTcxt the store of the Baillys was erected, and soon afterward i\\Q hotel of the town, long known as the "New England House," on Second street, was built, both by the town proprie- tors. The first white man to settle on the town site lIISTOIiY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. 117 after the treaty was made, was niyseif. Mr. Felton w^as tlie next and his good hidj was the first white woman settler. My wife, Mrs. Hannah E. Foster, w^as the next kdy settler of the town. One of the earliest houses built in the vicinity, was by Mr. Gill- son, occupied by him, his wife and two daughters. When I came down to the site of Hastings, on tlis 12th of August, 1851, Mr. Bailly took me to see the Yermillion Falls, which was then ia undisturbed natu- ral beauty. Here I found a pole shanty, occupied by a young man named Yan Rensaeller, who had baen in the "patriot" war in Canada, and was holding (under a trader's lic«nse) the Falls claim for himself, for Justus C. Eamsey (brother of the Governor) and others. Finally, aft«r being sustained a good while by his partners, he "sold" them and their claim out to Harrison Graham and Wm. G. LeDuc, and emigrated to the Pacific. We also found at this Falls shanty, Abraham Truax, who was in Yan Eensaeler's em- ploy, but who had a shanty and claim of his own on the other side of the Yermillion, just below the Falls. The way the town came to be named was, I have always understood, in this wise: Each of the original proprietors agreed to put into a hat one slip of paper with the name he preferred written thereon, and the first name drawn out should bo that of the town. Mr. Sibley put in his own middle name of Flastings, and this being drawn became the name of the new town. Before this name was bestowed upon the site, "Olive Grove" was its accepted designation. This name originated in the fact that Lieut. Oliver, of the United 118 HISTORY OF DAKOTA COrNTT. States army, coming up the river late in tlie fall, with a "Durham" boat, loaded with supplies for the garri- son at Fort Snelling, was stopped at this point by the ice, and that he camped hero in the woods all winter, guarding the stores, which were conveyed as wanted to the Fort. The spot where he wintered be- came known as the " woods or grove where Oliver camped," and, by easy transitions, was named first Oliver's Grove, and finally Olive Grove. I remem- ber that there were some who urged the retention of this smooth name for the new city, when it was laid out ; but I i^robably aided in preventing its adoption by scouting the idea of so tropical a name in so cold a climate as ours, where the growth of olives is an im- possibility. I have referred to the beautiful Lake Isabel, in the town site, on the south shore of which my house was built. It was so named by the BaiJlys, from a fe- male member of the family; but the Indians had another name for it, signifying "The Lake of the Spirit Bear." Mato is "bear" in the Dakota tongue, and Waukon supernatural or spirit, and I have som^e- times called the lake Matowaiika or Matoioauga. Their legend in regard to the Lake was this : That the woods at the lower end, near Yermillion Slough, were haunted by the ghost of a monstrous animal — a sort of grizzly bear — and that wlioerer ventured into its haunts became its prey. The origin of this legend is probably to be found in the fact that the town site of Hastings, being the extreme YQrgQ of the Sioux country, and in easy shooting distance of war parties HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. 119 of tlie Chippewas of the St. Croix river, it was a dan- gerous locality for Indians of the Sioux tribe to fre- quent, and no doubt in the course of long time many individuals had found their fate from their hereditary enemies in these -wodos ; and the real bear of the Sioux, legend was a Chippewa war party. The lake in question, when the Mississippi is in its spring flood, and backs its waters up into it^ fills with fish, which, when the water falls, are retained as in a trap; and, in the early days, in the winter time, I have as- sisted in catching them with mj hands, literally by the wagon load, as they sought, half torpid with the cold, the west side of the lake, where some springs made the water a little warmer. In the early day, after the ice had made, this lake was a natural racing track, and many a spirited contest for horse supremacy has enlivened "The Lake of the Spirit Bear." There are many incidents and points I might give, connected with the growth of the city and the county, but time and space forbid. Yours respectfully, THOMAS FOSTER. The first birth was in the family of Mr. Edward F. Parker, the 2Tth of April, 1853, and the little stranger was duly christened Cora. The first marriage was that of Miss Jeneatte Felton to Mr. Steven Graham, in 1854, the ceremony being performed by Edward F. Parker, Esq. In 1854 the first school was taught by a man named Gibson, in a claim shanty. The first school house was built the same year. 120 HISTORY OF DAKOTA COU^'TT. The Catliolics held religious services as early as 1853, ill Mr. Felton's house, the priest coming from St. Paul semi-aunuallj to perform mass for his liock. Eev. T. R. Cressy, a minister of tlic Baptist de- nomination, commenced preaching in the autumn of 1S53, holding his meetings also at the house of Mr. Felton. The town plat was laid out and suiveyed in 1853 by John Blakcly, under the direction of Alexis Bailly, senior. The proprietors of tlie town site at that time were Henry Hastings Sibley, Alexander Faribault, Alexis Bailly and Henry G. Bailly, each owning a fourth interest. The plat was roughly drawn by Mr. Blakely, from his field notes, and afterwards re-drawn by Charles L. Emerson, for the lithographer. Mr. Faribault soon transferred his interest to Wm. G. Le Due, and the claim was entered for the proprietors in the land office at Red Wing on the 20th of October, 1855, and the following winter a government patent was issued therefor. Few spots can boast of more of nature's handiwork in getting charms in perspective. From the upper terrace or table land looking northward we behold the broad Mississippi flowing onward, in its majesty, and bearing on its bosom boats freighted with the pro- ducts of the soil, or bringing from foreign shores, or the crowded cities of the East, the thousands who are seeking homes on our fertile jDrairies, and visitors w^ho come to view the beauties of Ueature and breathe the fresh and invigorating atmosphere, begotten of this northern latitude. While on tlie east lies a beauti- HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUiyTY. 121 ful little lake, its waters glancing in tlie suns rays like a pool of molten silver, while further on and lying be- tween the two rivers, tlie Mississippi and the St. Croix, is the village of Point Douglas, with its neat cottages and church spjres, and still further, the city of Prescott, in Wisconsin, and the magnificent bluffs beyond, make up the features of a picture worthy the pencil of a master artist, while back from the city is as beautiful a prairie as ever delighted the eye of the beholder and made glad the heart of the husbandman for the gener- ous returns for the seed entrusted to its keeping. Its prosperity has been continuous and increasing. In June, 1857, Mr. "Wheelock, editor of the St. Paul Press^ in speaking of the city of Hastings, says : " We recollect when Hastings wj?.s considered one of the 'paper towns" they tell us of in the eastern papers and elsewhere. It was a 'paper town' apparently, in 1854. In 1855 this paper began to be written in legi- ble characters, and before the fall of that year was already marked with the impress of a bold hand. God has made some towm. We have positive fliith in the indications of nature. I^ow Hastings we consider a foregone " conclusion •' from its very situation. It has the very look and air and animus of a town. It has one of the best landings on the Upper Mississippi. Its site is merely the terminal slope of the prairie country which stretches inimitably in its rear till it reaches the Minnesota river on one side and the mag- nificent valleys of the Cannon and Straight rivers on the other. Ko bluffs or ravines embarras its com- munication with the interior. Its roads radiate straisrht 122 HISTORY OF DAKOTA COFNTT. and level as railroads to all points of compass. The valley of the Cannon is the backbone of Hastings, and the thriving agricultural settlements which are filling up the country and appropriating every available quarter section of these valuable lands afford a seHd basis for the future commercial growth of the town." On the first of January, 1856, there were about 700 inhabitants. During the year 1856 the number of inhabitants nearly trebled, as will appear from the fol- lowing extract from the Hastings Journal of that date : "According to the census, recently taken, there are four hundred and twenty-five scholars between the ages of four and twenty-one years. There are seven hundred and ten minors. There are twelve hundred and eight persons of full age. There are seven hun- dred and eighty females, and eleven hundred and thirty-eight males. The whole number of inhabi- tants is 1918. More than two-thirds of these, 1280, came since the opening of navigation, April 18, 1856." More than three-fourths of all the buildings in town were erected that year. The following year the county seat was removed, by a vote of the people, from Men- dota to this city, on the 17th day of March (St. Pat- rick's Day), 1857, and the county records were removed to Hastings on the 2d day of June following. In 1860 a bill was passed allowing the peoj)le of the county to vote upon the proposition to remove the county seat trom Hastings to Pine Bend. At the ' election the vote stood — for removal of county seat, (j^^\ against the removal, 1125. HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUJSTY. 123 In 1868 the Legislature passed an act allowing the people to again vote upon the proposition of removal of county seat — this time from Hastings to Farming- ton, but the proposition was lost by between five and six hundred votes. Towards the last of May, 1852, Mr. Wm. Felton left Pittsburg, and came by way of St. Louis to Wa- basha, where he arrived on the 13th of June. On the 3d of July he left on an exploring expedition. There was no settlement between Wabasha and Eed Wing, and none from there to Hastings, and noth- ing at this point but the log house of II. G. Bailly, who kept a kind of trading post for the Indians, which was the only house, exce2:)t Dr. Foster's, from Red Wing to Mendota. Mr. Felton arrived at this point on the 4:th of July, and camped on the prairie on the elevated plateau back from the town. After satisfying himself in regard to the location, he returned to Waba- sha, and on the 6tli of September again started for this place, this time accompanied by his family. On his arrival he rented Mr. Bailly's trading house and opened the first boarding house and tavern in this section of country. Mr. Felton lived here four years. In 185'1 Mr. Felton built the first wharf ever built on the levee in this place. He was elected Justice of the Peace the same year, l^ein^^j the first elected in the county, though Edward F. Parker, Esq., had been acting as Justice since the spring of 1852, under a com- mission from Alex. Ilamsey, as Territorial Governor. In 1853 quite an immigration was had, though mostly of single men and explorers. In 1854 the 9 124 HISTOKT OF DAKOTA CiiUMY. tide of immigration set in strongly, and a large in-. crease was tlie result. This year Mr. Felton estauHilied a ferry iicross the Mississippi, iixing the rate of crosshig at ten cents, and sometimes at the commencement he could not clear ten cents a day, Lnt before the close of navigation the population and travel had so largely increased that his receipts were not infrerpiently from 88 to 810 per day. CITY OF HASTING.S. At the session of the Territorial Legislature in 1857, an act was passed, incorporating tlic city of Hastings, and at the election in May, tlie followiiig ofiicers were elected : Mayor— Dr. A. II. ITanchett. Aldermen— 1st Ward, E. D. Barker and Thomas Hope; 2d Ward, O. T. Hays and II. V>. Plant; 3d "Ward, E. G. Freeman, and William Lee. John F, Marsli was qnalilied as City Eeccrder, and Ethan North as City Jnstice. Dr. Hanchett resigned before his term expired, and Alderman Hope was elected Acting Mayor for the remainder of the term. Aldcrnuan Plant ah?o resigned and D. F. Langley was elected to fill thf? vacancy. 1858. Mayor — 11. H. Day; Aldermen — Messrs. Hope, Griswold, Carll, Boyle. Lee and Hays; Tlecorder — XL J. Rogers. HISTORY OV DAKOTA COUNTY. 125 A new cliai'tor taking the place of the ohl one, on the 5t]i of June, 1858. The followhig named officers were declared elected for the ensuing year : Mayor — IT. II. Day ; Aldermen — J. B. Griswold, S. S. Carll, William K. Rogers, and David Barker ; City Clerk— 11. J. Bogers. 1859. Mayor — John F. Marsh ; Aldermen — Messrs, Mullonoy, Eichhorn, Dutton, and Casserly ; City Clerk — A. Mackeracker; City Justice — T. M. Ray; City Attorney — L. Smith. Mayor Marsh resigned liis otHce in I^ovcniber of this year and Orrin T. ] lays Avas elected to fill the vacancy. In May, ISGO, the office of City Clerk was declared vacant, and L. W. Collins was elected to fill tlie vacancy. 1860. Mayor— John L. Thome; Aldermen- Messrs. Marvin, Eichhorn, Dutton and Leach ; Clerk — J. F. Kennerson ; Attorney — L. Smith. In JSTovember Mr. Kennerson resigned the office of Clerk, and L. ^Y. Collins was elected to fill the va- cancy. 1861. Mayor — D. F. Langley ; Aldermen-^Messrs. Barnum, Allen, White and Van Duzee; Clerk — C. A. Baker; Attorney— C. ^Y. Nash; Treasurer, A.M. Pell ; Marshal, Charles Lewis ; Surveyor, 11. J. Rogers ; Police Justice, J. R. Claggett. 1862. Mayor, P. Van Aiiken; Alderman, Messrs. AValdhier, Ainsworth, Meloy and Johnson ; • Clerk, L. W. Collins; Attorney, F. M. Crosby; Marshal, Charles Lewis; Treasurei*, R.J. Marvin; Police Jus- tice, O. T. ITavs. 136 HISTORY OT' DA.KOTA COUNTY. In August Mr. Collins resigned tlie office of City "Olerk, and C. P. Fuller was elected his successor, but :in December^ lie also resigned and B. C. Howes was elected to the^vacancj, who in turn resigned the same month, and Charles Etheridge was selected to supply •the place. 1863. Mayor— Col. J, L. Thorne; Aldermen- Messrs. Meloy, Rehse, Schaler and Taylor ; Clerk — 'G. S. Whitman; Attorney — Seagrave Smith, Treas- urer; R. J. Marvin; Marshal, A. G. Erdman ; P. 'Hartshorn. 1864. Mayor — Hon. John L. Thorne; Aldermen, Messrs. "Wilson, WhitejSimon and Lovell; Attorney, L. Yan Slyck; Treasurer, E. J. Marvin; Marshal, Edwin-S. Fitch. 1865. Mayor — Royal Lovel; Aldermen — Messrs. Ainsworth, Eichhorn, Simon and^Draper; Clerk — C. A.Baker; Attorney — L. Yan Slyck; Treasurer — R. -J. Marvin; Marshal — E. S. Fitch. In September Mayor Lovell resigned his office and Mark Wilson was elected to fill the vacancj^ Alder- jiian Ainsworth also resigned and John White was •elected his successor. 1866. Mayor — J. E. Finch ;]; Aldermen — Messrs. Latto, Rich Stearns and Taylor; Clerk — John A. Morton; Attorney — L. Yan Slyck; Treasurer — R. J. Marvin; Marshal — M. Maloney. 1867. Mayor — D. E. Eyre; Alcermen — Messrs. Rehse, E. A. Rich, Simon Haas, P. Yan Auken, B. C. Ilawes and W. Ainsworth; Clerk— G. S. Whitmam ; Attt^rney — F. M. Crosbv ; Treasurer — niSTOIiy OF DAKOTA COUNTY. 12T K. J. Marvin; Marshal — Charles Lewis; Police Jus- tice — David Barker. Mr. Barker resigned and E^ Parliman was elected in his stead as Police Justice. 1868. Major — D. E. Ejre; Aldermen — Messrs. J. F. Rehse, L. L. Ferry, P. Yan Auken, John Pel- ler, B. C. Howes, Charles A. Baker ;*,Clerk—G. S; Whitman ; Attorney — F. M. Crosby ;^Treasurer — E. J. Marvin ; Marshal — Charles Lewis ; Police Justice — E. Parliman. The Board of Education of the city of Hastings consists of two school inspectors for each ward, six m all, organized by special act of the Legislature, passed 1866. At the first election, April, 1866, the follow- ing gentlemen were elected: 1st Ward— Edmund Eichhorn, L. ;Yan]Slyck ; 2d Ward— G. S. Winslow and F. M. Crosby; 3d Ward— P. T. CKamberlin, Seagrave Smith. P. T. Chamberlin was elected President and is the present incumbent. Eev. C. S. LeDuc^was elected: Secretary and Treasurer, and resigned in September,.. 1867. F. M.' Crosby was appointed to fill the va-, cancy, and resigned in March, 1868. Rev. I. M. Ray> was appointed*"- to fill the vacancy and is the present incumbent. ' Messrs. Chamberlain and Winslow were re-electedl at the annual election in 1867. J. B. Tozer was also, elected at the same election. In April, 1867, F. M. Crosby resigned and C. M. Churchill was appointed! to fill the vacancy. In December, 1867, Seagrave, Smith resigned and Pev. I. M.'Ray was appointed ta fill the vacancy. 128 . lIISTOr.Y OF DAKOTA COUNTY. At tlie auuuai election, April, 1S68, M. JMcHugli was elected for tlic 1st ward, C. M. Churchill for the 2d ward, and D. B. Triiax for the 3d ward. The present Board is as follows : 1st Ward— G. S. Winslow and M. McIIugh; 2d Ward— J. B. Tozer and C. M. Chnrchill; 3d Ward— P. T. Chamberlain and D. B. Triiax. The first bank in Hastings was merely a bank of exchange, and operated by Thorne 6z FoUett, in 1856. In lSo9 Mr. Thorne made it a bank of issue, with a capital of 825,000, called Thome's Bank. On the same day that the bills were issued, Messrs. Follett 6: Eennick issued bills on the Bank of Hastings. The Bank of Hastings is now known as the First National, and Thome's Bank as the Merchants' JSTational. The Star Works Manufacturing Company went into operation in 1866, with the following officers: J. F. E-ehse President, W. F. Bacon Secretary, Charles Pearson Superintendent. They manufiicture all kinds of agricultural implements, railroad work, S:c.j and employ about fifteen men, doing an annual busi- ness of from 820,000 to 830,000. Of the settlement at the the Falls we cannot do bet- ter ])erhaap3 than to give an extract of a letter from Gen, W. G. LeDuc on that subject. Mr. LeDuc says : " Some time during the year 1S53 or 1851, I went from St. Paul, where I was then residing, practising law and in business, fishing to Trout P> rook, twelve miles below Hastings. On^my return, while fording +he Yermilion, I was met bv Harrison H. Graham, HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUJSTV. 121) for whom I had some legal busiiie.ss in hand, and who informed me that he had made a claim of the quarter section embracing the Yermilion Falls, that there was a dispute in relation to the claim, and he wished me to defend his case ; that the party holding, James Main I think the name was, did not pretend to hold the claim for himself, hut said he held for Alex. Wilkin and others in St. Paul. I took the case, and after some litigation, succeeded in obtaining the patent for my client, Graham. He was poor, unable to pay any fees and had burrowed of n;ie betyroen one and two thousand dollars, and after entry v/as com- pleted and patent issued, he of&red me one half of his claim in payment of indebtedness. Subsequently he borrowed more money, amounting to several thou- sand dollars, and became indebted to many other per- sons, and linally offered to sell me the remaining half interest if I would pay his debts, assume all joint debts on the property and give him $7,000 cash, which offer I accepted, and the property was transferred, I think, early in 185G. I"p to this time I had regarded my interest in the property in tho town site of Hast- ings, one-fourth of which I purchased of Alex. Fari- bault, as a mere specidative transaction. But aftei- buying out Graham, I examined the ])ii.)pcrty thor- oughly and found myself possessed of one of tlie most beautiful and desirable waterfalls in the world, with a little farm house of two rooms, and a clumsy back woods mill with two run of stone, the st-^'ues being- one four and a half and the other four feet in diameter and each placed on top of the water shafc which drove 130 HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. . them, said shaft being a tree cut from the woods near and rounded roughly, the foot being rounded, and standing in a cast iron dish resting upon the lever which raised the stone. The mill machinery was driven by tlie friction of a wooden wheel on this shaft rolling, on a smaller wooden wheel, which had to be renewed as fast as worn out. I don't think there was a cogged wheel in the concern. The water wheels on the foot of the driving shafts were percussion wheels of wood made roughly by Graham, and answered the purpose of grinding the grain of the farmers around. I took out this machinery and rebuilt the mill, a millwright named Bowers superintending the work, and who was unfortunately drawn into the machinery, while starting the same for the first time, and crushed so that he died tlio next day. This mill I afterwards improved and enlarged, and previous to entering the army, sold, with twenty acres of land, to Messrs. Harrison of Illinois for $20,000. One of the Harrisons died, and the other sold the property to Stephen Gardner for $27,000. Mr. Gardner immediately ])roceeded to erect the substantial stone mill which now embelishes the north bank of the Yermilion at the Falls." This mill is one of the finest in tlie country, and with an exhaustless supply of pewer, it is considered the most valuable mill property in this part of the State. Yerniilion mills flour bears an extra price in the market wherever it has become known. The Da- kota Mills, situated on the lower Falls of the Yermil- ion, about a mile l)elow, is the property of Gov. Alex- ander Kanisov. The buildino: is of stone and has an HISTORY OF DAKOTA COTIXTT. 1^1 excellent water power, but is not so easy of access as the Yermilion, neither are the mills of so great ca- pacity, yet the power is sufficient to admit of enlarging to almost any extent the proprietor may wish. _ _- ^^--'-^--^ Yermilion Falls, a view of which we give, is perhaps as beautiful a waterfall as any in this land of ''sky-tinted wa- ters." Longellow has probably not seen it, and so it has escaped the ^rythmic rhapsodies ^5^^^ he is wont to bestow upon the beauties- ^of natural scenery. IS'o dusky maiden^ sitting on its bank& has poured out her sad wail for broken icart-hopes for some- swarthy brave, and consequently no tra- vKRMiLioN FALL8. ditions or legends are connecled therewith ; yet to the admirer of nature's lavish beauties, it is one of the most enchanting scenes to be found, and new beauties arise Irom each separate stand-point. The sheer descent is about sixty iQQ\^ thougli broken for the first twenty-feet, and 132 HISTORY 01<" DAKOTA COUNTY. then the remaining forty ieet ialls in one unbroken sheet to the gorge below. The banks are precipitous on either side and to reacli the bed of the river at the foot of the falls one must go some distance below to find a place of safe descent. It only needs the pen of the poet or the pencil of the master artist to make Vermilion Falls one of the most enchanting scenes ever designed by tiie Master Architect and thrown out of nature's great storehouse for the benefit and delight of mankind. The Hastings and Dakota Railroad is so completely identified -with the history and the interests of the city of Hastings, tliat it will not be inappropriate to give something of a sketch of its inception and pro- gress. As early as 1S5G, Hon. W. G. LeDuc succeeded in getting a bill passed by tlie Territorial Legislature ojranting a charter for the building of the Hastings, Minnesota Kiver and Red River of the Xorth Rail- road. A company was organized under the provisons of tlie charter and the organization maintained up till the time of the breaking out of the war, when all local enterprises were forgotten or lai'd aside to attend to the demands of the country in its hour of peril, and railroads that had been projected but not commenced Avere all at a stand-still. Meantime the Minnesota Central, now Milwaukee, St. Paul and Minneapolis Railroad, was built through nearly the centre of the county, and consequently drew largely from the trade and business of Hastings. The business men of the city were somewhat depressed in spirit on account of HISTOKY OF DAIvOTA COUNTY. 133 the reaction and the cutting oil of the rich agricul- tural rea'ion which had heretofore been tributary thereto, and resolved to make another effort to put themselves in railroad coniniunication with the outside world, and during the session of the Legislature of 18C)G, Gen. LeDuc, who had just returned from the war, succeeded in getting a renewal of the charter for that road, as well as legislative authority for the city of Hastings to issue bonds to aid in the construction of the road. A memorial to C(r.]gres3 asking a grant of lands for this road was also V'assed by the Legisla- ture. Mr. LeDuc, immediately upon the adjournment of the Legislature, repaired to Washirgton, and with the aid of the Hon. I. Donnelly, member- of Congress from Hastings, sustained by the whole delegation from Minnesota, a grant was obtained of tQii sections per mile. A competent engineer was employed to run a preliminary survey from Big Stone Lake to Hastings. The survey was pushed forward as fast as possible. As the first snows of winter whitened the landscape the last stake was stuck on the banks of the Mississippi. Early the following spring grading was commenced, and as the city had voted to issue bonds to the amount of $100,000 to aid the enterprise, people began to have some confidence in its ultimate success, feeling as- sured that the road would at least be built as far as Farmington, to connect with the Milwaukee, St. Paul and Minneapolis Railway, and thus give them a rail- road connection with the East. AVork was pushed for- ward as rapidly as funds could 'be jn-oeured, and in 1867 nearly twenty miles of the road was graded. 134 HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY. Thus far everything had been done by tlie unaided efforts of the people of Hastings ; an unwearied search was meantime being made for capital with which to push the work to completion, which after many dis- appointments was at last crowned with success. An arrangement was entered into with Oakes Ames, of Massachusetts, to furnish $200,000 and take one half interest in the road, it being stipulated that the com- pany should finish thirty miles of the road, and he should receive one half interest for the sum above mentioned. This arrangement was finally concluded in July of 1868, and the work thereupon hurried for- ward with the utmost rapidity consistent with economy. The company have now thirty miles of the road in operation, with freight and passenger cars running thereon. The iron used in the construction of the road is the Welch rail, weighing fifty pounds to the yard. The first engine was made in Providence, E. I., and named for the trustee of the company, Hon. J. B. Alley. It is the intention of the company to complete the road to the Minnesota river in 1869, and through to the w^estern boundary of the State within -^ve years. The present officers of the company are as follows : President — Gen. "Wm. G. LeDuc. Secretary and Gen. Agent — Col. C. IT. L. Lange. Treasurer — Stephen Gardiner. Acting Su'perintendent — Col. E. A. Williams. Directors — J. B. Alley, Peter Butler, Oliver Ames, of Boston; William L. Ames, of St. Paul; Stephen Gardner, W. G. LeDuc, Peter Yan Auken, E. B. Allen, J. C. Meloy, of Hastings. HISTORY OF DAKOTA. COUNTY. 135 HASTINGS BUSINESS DIRECTORY. ATTORNEYS. •Claggett & Crosby, vSecond street. Huddleston & Babcock, Second street. Smith & Van Slyck, Second street. Eli Robinson, Second street. L. Smith, Second street. AV. DeW. Pringle, Sibley street. E. Parliman, Second street. AUCTIONEPJiiS. P. B. Cook, Second street. S. Newell, Second street. AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS. Gardiner & Meloy, Commercial street. John Rhodes, McCormick's Reapers. Baker & Truax, Vermilion street. M. Plumsted, Ramsey street. BOOKS AND STATIONERY. W. P. Stanley, Second street. L. L. Twitchell, Post Office building, Second street. BILLIARD SALOONS. Tontine, Ramsey street. Henry Constans, Ramsey street. BANKS. First National, Second street. Merchants' National, Second street. BARBERS. R. J. Burns, Second street. Burns & Overalls, Second street. A. J. Overalls, Tremont House. A. Wealthy, Ramsey street. F. D. Spring, Vermilion street. BAKERS. C. Beck, Sibley street. C. Miller, Ramsey street. 130 HISTORY OF DAKOTA COUNTY KREWEKIKS. Smitli & Latto, Fifth street, near Lake Isabel. Charles Saille, Third street. liLACKSMTTHS. Morse & Seott, Vermilion street. D. Becker, Vermilion street. John Stoudt Fuecker, Vermilion street-. J. P. Theim, Vermilion street. E. Cain, Vermillion street. J. Estarqnin, Vermilion street. M. A. Canning, Vermilion street. nooTS AX J) s^iroEs. J. F. Norrish, Second street. J. Gnigenheini & Co., Second street. George Xewman, Second street. W. J. Van Dyke, Second street. E. B. Allen, Second street. D. E. Eyre, Second street. Fisher Brothers, Second street. Howes