Fillmore County, Minnesota - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 39 of those read), 1882

Chapter with an unread heading (no. 39 of those read)

This is the northeast corner township of the county, with thirty-six sections in regular form, with Norway on the south, and its former yokefellow, Arendahl, on the west.

Southern Minnesota was settled by two separate streams of immigration, the earliest one to reach this county being through Iowa, and the other, oomiug from the east across the Mississippi, came up Boot River, and so this was the early point of settlement.

There is always more or less confusion where there are towns, villages, and cities of the same name. Early in the sixties the Legislature of Minnesota passed an act that no two towns in the State should bear the same name, but here we have the town of Rushford, the city of Rushford, and the village of South Rushford, and it is a question whether an injunction would not hold, and be perpetual, restraining the city and village from using the name belonging to the township . They are, however, so closely identified, that the lines separating them are not sharply defined in this sketch.

This is emphatically one of the broken towns of the county. The Root River flows into the town from the west, between sections thirty and thirtyone, and running eastward leaves the town and county from section thirteen. Rush Creek was so called on account of the tall rushes that grew along its banks, where cattle and ponies could obtain a subsistence all winter. This creek is a contribution from Winona county, and coming in through section four makes a confluence with the Root River at Rushford City.

The valleys are quit-e wide in some places, and afibr tillable land; the ridges are inclined to spread out and are generally under cultivation. The northwestern part of the township has an extensive table, as a part of North Prairie, which extends across the northern part of Arendahl, and is the best farming portion of the northeastern part of the county, although it was at first neglected by the older settlers, who were attracted more particulary to the valleys.

The bottom lands of Root River were found by the first comers to be a wide and level tract, bounded on either side by irregular blufls, with smaller valleys projecting into it from various distances on either side. When first settled it was was mostly timber, brush, and grub land. Along the streams and the north side of the bluffs quite large timber was found, elm, maple, and black walnut predominating in the valley, and black, white, and burr oak, with some hickory, on the bluffs. A portion of Root River bottom is particularly adapted to the raising of hay, being a natural meadow, destitute of trees, with a natural growth. There is a higher strip of land, or bench, between this and the blufi&i.

On the ridges, or table lands, there is a clay soil; in the bottoms, or valleys, it is of a dark character and sometimes sandy, mixed with gravel.

At one time in the geological history of this section the whole land was on a level with the higher points now existing. The valleys have been washed out, completely disintegrating the several strata of rocks, and leaving their rough edges protruding from the sides of the bluffs, often appearing like ruins of ancient castles, with their crumbling entablatures, pilasters, and

Early Settlers

The Root River valley was the first part of the town to be settled, which it was by Norwegians chiming directly from Wisconsin via Mc- Gregor and Decorah, Iowa, with ox teams. The first came in 1853, and were Ole Olson Tuff and Oliver Goodrich. Mr. Tuff took a claim in sections twenty-six, twenty-three, and twenty- seven. It is south of the river and ^uthwest of South Rushford. Mr. Goodrich settled east of Mr. Tuff and put up his shanty On the land now owned by Mr. Beers in section twenty-six.

These men loft their families in what is now Yucatan, Houston county, at a settler's residence, and in June came here and selected their land. About the firet day of July they returned here with their families. Mr. Gtx)drich had a fantasy, which has been entertained by many another man, that he could conquer whisky, but in most cases it conquers the individual, as it did Mr. Goodrich, who died within a few years after his arrival*

Mr. Tuff still lives on his original farm, and the little shanty built twenty-nine years ago still stands near his comfortable residenoe. When he came here twenty-nine years ago, looking from his shanty, on every bluff across the bottom, deer could be seen, the streams were filled with trout, and other game was plenty on every hand.

In the same month of July another party of Norwegians arrived from Wisconsm and located in the valley. This reinforcement consisted of Erick T. Lien, who drove in with three yoke of oxen and procured a farm in sections sixteen and twenty-one where he still lives, having given the land he first cultivated to his son-in-law, and himself retiring from active work.

Ole Berland, secured a place in sections fifteen and twenty-two, his family were si ill in Norway, and he lived in a little dug-out which was not noted for its cleanliness; a son and a daughter finally came over, but his wife remained on the other side, he made few improvements and died some time in the seventies. His son is on a farm in Norway township.

Erick Glaem took his land in section sixteen, and had no particular local habitation till two years later, when he brought his wife from Wisconsin and settled down to business. He cultivated his farm up to 1866, when he sold to H. Hendrickson who now owns the farm, while Mr. Glaem has gone to Yellow Medicine county.

The other member of the party was Peter Peterson Haslerud, who went further up the valley and took the northeast of section thirty and commenced improvements. He made the farm his home until his death on the 23d of September, 1880. He laid out the village of Peterson and had always been .an active and infiuential man in the community.

Arthur B. Bowe, a Vermonter, who had figured conspicuously in the early settlement of Spring Grove, came over here in 1853, and put up a claim shanty near the bluff, on what is now the G. B. Gates* farm, in section fifteen, and pretended to own all the bottom land that was- laying around unfenced. After flourishing around with his revolver and failing in his intimidating dodge, he left in disgust and went to Pilot Mound, where he enacted his role a little more successfully.

In August, 1853, Gilbert Edmunds came and located in the southeast of section twenty-three, where a part of South Rushford now is. He was from Norway, and a married man. He made improvements, and while loading logs on a wagon in the river bottom was killed, in 1855. His widow afterward married H. Hendrickson, and is yet living with him in section sixteen.

In 1854, several were added to the settlement in town. Swan Werlein located east of E. T. Lien, in section twenty-one, and tJiere remained while he lived.

With the second party, that came in June, 1853, was Ole Torgerson, who also came from Wisconsin and overtook the party at Stevens', in Yucatan, and joining them came on and settled on the land which finally became Roderick McLeod^s, on Rush Creek, north of the city, but he soon left for Winona, and now lives in Chippewa county.

Oliver Wilson came through at that time, a lad of seventeen years, who assisted E. T. Lden in driving his oxen. He was too young to pre-empt land, so he went to Iowa to work, and returned in 1856. He has since resided here, and is one of the largest farmers.

In June, 1854, Roderick MoLeod, a native of the north part of Scotland, came from Wisconsin, where he had stopped three years, and claimed 160 acres in sections ten and eleven. Part of this land was lost to him by being jumped, but he has since lived on the balance, and this was perhaps the first settler north of the city of Bushford. West of the town, William Johnson located land in sections fourteen and fifteen, in the fall of that same year, on which he lived until his earthly career was closed. West of this claim, in August, 1854, S. Thompson Jaroes, a Norwegian, planted a claim, and he still lives on it. Within a year or two the town was well filled up.

While these settlers were occupying land in what is now Rushford township, the nucleus of the present city of Rushford was also being formed. The first claimant here was E. K. Dyer, who had lived in Houston, Houston county, and came about April, 1854, with bis family, a wife and ikwo children, and built a log cabin near what is now the west end of Rushford Avenue. During the summer he cultivated a little patch of com; he had a yoke of oxen, a cow, and a few hogs, some of which, during the season, were destroyed by bears. The following spring Mr. Dyer went to Zumbrota and thence to La Crosse, and afterwards to La Orescent.

Hiram Walker, his wife and two children, were the next comers in Rushford, and he still lives here. He was a native of New Hampshire, and came up here from La Crosse, where he had lived since 1851. His arrival was in August, 1854, after having traveled through quite a portion of the county in quest of a good water privilege, which he found at this place. Having decided to locate here he returned to La Crosse, and securing a boat, he, with two other families, Joseph Otis and S. S. Stebbins, put aboard their household goods, and started across the Mississippi and up the Root River, which they followed in its winding way until above Houston. Here an impassable obstruction was encountered, and they were forced to abandon the boat and haul their goods the rest of the way with a team. In the meantime Mr. Stebbins had been taken sick, and his condition was such that it was deemed advisable for him to return, and accordingly Mr. Otis took him back to La Crosse in a canoe. Mr. Walker, with the assistance of two hired men, Joseph Pease and R. H. Valentine, transported the goods to their destiuation. Coming up the river, at the point where the boat was abandoned, Mr. Dyer aud wife were met completely disc(mraged, and intending to leave the place never to return. Their two chiUlren had died of some kind of fever, and with their new home thus desolated they could not bear to remain there alone. Mr. Walker and bis family reassured them, and they were prevailed upon to return, remaining through the winter. As soon as Mr. Stebbins, who was a brotherin-law, was comfortable enough to leave, Mr. Otis and family came up. Mr. Stebbins joined them later in the winter, and so there were four families in Rushford during the winter of 1854-55.

Soon after Mr. Walker arrived he began the erection of a mill on Rush Creek, which he got ready to run the following spring. The location of this mill was where the feed mill of D. J. Tew now stands.

William Johnson came up in the fall of 1854, and lived here until his death in 1881. He was a Canadian by birth, and came here from New York State.

During the firat fall the question of a name for the place was agitated, and Mr. Dyer himself, it seems, had a preference for Pomf ret, but this name was too "Vermpntish" for the rest. But it was finally settled in this way : Mr. Dyer invited the whole population to partake of a Christmas dinner at his house, and after the viands were disposed of, when the most happy feeling prevailed, the host started the question as to the town name, and various were the cognomens suggested. One lady proposed Bushville, which Mr. Walker amended by calling it Rushford. A vote was proposed, and the elective franchise freely accorded to the women. And it may be valuable to record for the benefit of Susan B. Anthony and her co- agitators, that at the first election held in Rushford every lady in town voted, and on the popular side, the result of the balloting being the present name, "Rushford."

"The undersigned having met at the house of E. K. Dyer at a Christmas supper, voted, that we will vote for the name of Rushford to be the future

Mr. Djer was soon after appointed a Justice of the Peace, and during tlie winter or early spring exercised tlie functions of his office by uniting in marriage Halvor Sennes with the lady of his choice, whoever she was, it being the first occasion of the kind in town. It is understood that the parties are yet living in Fremont, Winona county.

As an unusual fact it may be stated that Mr. Walker still lives in the primitive residence he first erected, although it has since been much improved.

The next prominent old settlor was William W. Snell, a native of North Brookfield, Massachusetts. He was the son of a Congregational minister, and was bom on the 3d of April, 1821. He arrived on the 4th of May, 1855, bought a lot of S. S. Stebbins and built an unhewn timber residence on the spot where the public schoolhouse now stands. His wife and child were left in Lawrence, Massachusetts, and as soon as his house was prepared he sent for his young family, and they arrived in October. Mr. Snell held religious services in the house of Mr. Stebbins on the Sunday following his arrival here.

On the 3d of May, 1857, Mr. and Mrs. Snell organized a Sunday school, which may have been the first in the county, as it certainly was in Rushford.

Early Births. - ^Two births occurred at a very early day, George Peterson Haslerud, the present Town Clerk, on the 10th of November, 1853, on section thirty ; he still lives on the same section. In October of the same year Jurie E. Lien was born at her father's house in section twenty-one, she remained in this wicked world but eight years, and was buried on the farm of Mr. St. T. Gj ernes.

The wife of Ole Olson passed away soon after their arrival in the summer of 1853. At the funeral no one was present but Mr. Tuff and Mr. Goodrich. The boards to make a coffin were taken from the wagon body they had brought

The First Store. - When that pioneer party was coming from La Crosse, Mr. Stebbins, who was taken sick, had a supply of merchandise that was brought along, but the * store itself was not opened until he finally reported in person, although Mr. Walker had sold from them before he arrived.

This township was organized on the 11th of May, 1858, and included Arendahl. The town meeting was held at the residence of Peter Peterson, in section thirty. The following were the first town officers elected: Supervisors, Henry Mead, Chairman, Lewis Thompson, and Ole Torgerson; Clerk G. W. Valentine; Assessor, Hiram Walker; Collector, C. G. Hulbert; Overseer of the Poor, R, H. Valentine; Constables, 0. G. Philbrick and Nels A. Gollickson; Justices of the Peace, Peter Peterson and Hiram Walker. Arendahl was separated from Rushford in 1862.

Town Officers for 1882. - Supervisors, Ed. Johnson, Chairman, Owen Mohan, and Ellof Jenson; Clerk, G. P. Haslerud; Treasurer, Oliver Wilson; Assessor, Iver Olson: Justices of the Peace, E. R. Bird and Charles W. Gore; Constables, A. H. Noyes and James St. John.

Railroad

The railroad is the Southern Minnesota, now owned by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company. It first reached this point on the first of January, 1867, and for some months it remained the western terminus of the road. It being a part of the great through line the railway service is all that can be desired, there being one express train each way daily and several accomodation trains, and a daily mail.

District No. 18. - The first school held here was in the basement of the house of Joshua Emery, in section two, in the summer of 1857, and was taught by Martha Emery, who a few months afterward was married to H. Stage. The school was continued here for several years. In

1859, an attempt was made to build a schoolhouse, and thej got out some timber and hewed it, and actually commenced work on the building, which was located where the Catholic cemetery now is, but the poverty of the settlers compelled them to abandon the work. In 1867, they succeeded in erecting their present frame building, in section two, at a cost of about $500. There are now from thirty to fifty scholars in attendance.

DiSTRiOT No. 160. - The first school here in this district was a small one of logs in section six, on the land now owned by G. Olson. In 1878, a large frame building was constructed in section seven, on the farm of B. Torsons, at a cost of between four and five hundred dollars.

District No. 146. - The first school here was held in a granary belonging to Otis Batrick, now on the farm of G. B. Gates, in section fifteen, and here the school was taught up to 1866, when the present frame house was built in the western part of the same section. Miss Eva Walker taught the first school as we are informed.

District No. 154. - It is located on section twenty-five. The first school was held in the granary of Hans Hanson, in section twenty -five, in 1880, and the same year the present frame house was built at a cost of about $300. The first term was taught by Tilda Oldhouse of Rushford.

District No. 17. - This is the Peterson district and was established in 1856. It was at first No. 42, an i took six sections from this town and six from Arendahl. The earliest history of this district is rather obscure, but a school seems to have been kept in a log building built for that purpose on the land of Peter Peterson Haslerud, where the village of Peterson now is. Here it was held until the present frame house was put up in 1870, on the land of Easton and Barton, in section twenty - nine on the west side of the river. The cost was about $500. Now there are about fifty children in this school. Those from Peterson have to be ferried across the river, and for this purpose a boat is kept, and it requires considerable management to keep the concern on the right side of the river at the right time.

District No. 144. - The first school in this district was taught in the year 1866, by Miss Nancy Willet, the district having been organized the previous year. The school was in a small shanty near where the store of GTeorge A. Hayse now is. The first board elected was composed of the following gentlemen : George A. Hayse, A. T. Benson, and W. F. Gates. In tbe year 1870, it was decided to build a new house, which was done on lot seven, South Rushford, at a cost of $1,000. Before the district was divided there were as many as 130 pupils, now there are about twenty. It is known as the South Rushford school.

Saw-mill. - ^The well known as "Gore's" was built in 1858 and *59. It has a vertical saw and could rip up from three to five thousand feet a day. It has been kept in continuous running order, but has of late been operated in the summer only. It is propelled by water from Rush Creek with a fall of seven and one-half feet. Its location is on Rush Creek and on the land of C. W. Gore, who built and has since owned it. The upper story of the mill was used for various manufactures such as horse-rakes, furniture, and the like, until timber begun to get scarce, when, in 1868, a part of the machinery was sold, and that for the manufacture af pumps substituted, which Mr. Gore began to make at the rate of about 200 a year, which is still kept up.

Rush Creek Flouring Mill. - This mill utilizes the same water power that the saw-mill does. The building is two stories and a basement, is 24x40 feet and cost 113,700. It has three run of stones, and has recently attached dryers, so that oat meal can be manufactured at the rate of 100 bushels a day. It has two turbine wheels, was built and is owned by Gore, McLeod, and Stage.

Sugar-mill. - Most of the farmers cultivate more or less amber cane, and some of them have facilities for making their own syrup, but in 1880, a mill was put up in connection with the saw-mill power, and about 400 gallons of not very good syrup was turned out. In 1881, 1,500 gallons of a superior quality was manufactured. The intention is to have granulating facilities and to make sugar.

There is another mill at Peterson. Mr. C. H.* Kelley commenced to manufacture sorghum in 1880, at this place by putting up a building 20x23, with a horse-pouer cmslier and a Cook evaporator with a capacity of from 40 to 80 gallons a day. In 1881, it was sold to E. R. Bird who still runs it. There are several other small mills in town. city of rushford.

Indian foot paths. It is the gateway to the county from the east, and is entered by a defile which widens oat into quite a valley, but again grows narrow, and running into various branches conveying streams of water, finally lose themselves upon the ridges.

Like Athens, Rushford City has its acropolis oro\vned with ruins, which, although wanting in magnificence and historic reminiscence, have a legendary interest. West of the city the bluffs rise several hundred feet with jutting crags, the tops being covered with soil and clay. On one point there are four mounds together, and another on the very summit. Early explorers ritled them of the peculiar relics usually found in such heaps.

The usual love lorn story which has named so many "Maiden's Rocks'* is told in relation to this rocky projection - "a beautiful Indian maiden - a gallant young lover - relentless old chief for a father - a gala day - the tribe assembled on the plain - the maiden in bridal array appears on the crag - sings her death song -leap^i from the rock and is transformed into a shapeless mass! This skeleton of a romance is readily filled up.

HEA.LTHFULNES8. - ^This place was early noted for its healthfulness. Mrs. Snell brought with her a case of remedies, and used to treat the sick among the women and children. Previous to June, 1860, there had been but four natural deaths in the place, and these were children of Robert Jackson and Mr. Dyer. Dr. Everts was a physician, coming here at an early day, in 1856, but it was too "miserably healthy" for him, and in a few years he sought a more promising region.

Ciry Organization. - In 1868, Rushford was incori:>orated as a city by a special act of the legislature. A single clause, however, was so ambiguous that there was considerable trouble afterwards, as it provided that the city should continue a part of the town for all purposes not specified in the act, and a second innmlnmus was secured before the rights and duties of the town and city were relatively settled. The first city election was held on Monday, the 5th of April, 1868. The town election was the next day, and the city dominated everything. In 1869, an amended charter severed the connection between the city and the town. But it was some time before the matter was satisfactorily arranged, as it was complicated by (lij bridge bond indebtedness which had been

The SupeiTisors of the town had voted a tax of $2,000 to help pay these bonds, the County Auditor exempted the city from this tax, and suit was brought to compel the latter to bear its share of the burden. When the cause was heard the authorities were required to levy the tax in city and town alike.

C. H. Conkey was the Auditor, and on his book the first extension was erased and a new spaee ruled on the margin. When Mr. A. H. Butler, the Treasurer, was in the city collecting the tax, he was asked what the erasure meant, and he replied that "that was where the mandamus had struck."

It may be well to mention here that the bonds were finally paid in 1877, and a new bridge of iron constructed in 1879, at a cost of over $5,000.

The first ofl5cers elected under the city charter were: Mayor, S. S. Stebbins; Oounoilmen, John Everson, H. D. Weed, and F. M. Smith; Treasurer, A. K. Hanson; Clerk, John Larkee; Attorney, T. A. Lebar; Justice of the Peace, Lewis Peterson; Constable, E. S. Hewitt. The first meeting of the new government was on the 16th of April, 1868. The better class of men have, as a rule, held the city offices.

The present officers are, Mayor, G. J. Oustine; Aldermen, M. J. Desmond, D. J. Tew, E. D. Hostvet, and Peter Dahl; City Attorney, C. M. Enos; Clerk, Ole Berg; Justice of the Peace, G. W. Rockwell; Assessor, T. S. Reishus.

First School. - The first school- taught here was a private one by Mrs. Mead, in her own house on the south side of Rushford Avenue, in the winter of 1857-58. The first public school was opened by Miss Waters, on Monday, the 1st day of February, 1858, in a claim shanty built by Mrs. Nims, between the residences of Mr. Weed and John McLeod, about three- fourths of a mile north of the Post-office.

RusHPOBD Gbaded School. - ^This was created by a charter in 1868, but was not organized until the 20th of February, 1869, and in March the following persons were elected as officers: Niles Carpenter, Joseph Otis, John C. Smith, John Hobart, Joseph E. Atwater, and George B. Parker. The first teacher was G. W. Kemp, a medical student, who, during the second term was taken sick and went home to die, in Indiana. In 1879, the

The schools in Bushford have always stood high, as they have been liberally provided for. J. H. Moore, Miss Jennie Willis, Miss Burdick, and Prof. E. J. Thompson were among tha early teachers.

The Library. - In the summer of 1866, the first steps were taken toward the establishment of a library. But little was done until several years later, when Mr. and Mrs. Stevens, signified their purpose to donate a lot and building for library purposes, and several others proposed to raise 81,000, to make a success of the undertaking. The library is still in existence, and while Mr. Stevens owns the property, Mrs. Stevens is the main worker, and not unfrequently gets up entertainments to replenish the treasury.

Post-office. - The first Postmaster was S. S. Stebbins, whose appointment preceded the office some time, and he had to skirmish around the country to get some mail to distribute. The nearest office was at Looneyville, twelve miles away. The mail came here from that point and was delivered from his store. Those who have had the handling of the mail since, were C. Q. Hulbert, Hiram Walker, G. M. Willis, G. W. Graham, and S. G. Iverson, the present gentlemanly Postmaster, who entered upon his duties in 1881.

Store in South Bushford. - Mr. William Bluramer came here in the spring of 1866, and opened a general merchandise store, which he continued for about one year, when he sold out to Larson & Olson, who, after managing it for nearly a year, disposed of it to Charles Davis, who in turn, in the fall of 1869, transferred it to the present owner, George A. Haysc, who is still proprietor and ciirries a fine stock of goods.

Driving Park. - The Garden Valley Agricultural and Driving Park Association was formed in June, 1874, and was organized as a joint stock company with a capital of $5,000^ in shares of $10 each. Grounds were leased of Beuben Whittemore on the south half of section twenty-three, at a rental of $50 a year, and fenced and graded at a cost of 82,000. The officers were : President, B. Whittemore; other officers, G. A. Hayse, E. French, and Hiram Adams. Not sufficient interest being manifested in the enterprise to sustain it, a failure was the result, and the property passed into the hands of a receiver.

The city contains one bank, three hotels, two flouring mills, one foundry, one woolen-mill, with the usual array of attorneys, physicians, artisans, merchants, etc., found in a city of one thousand inhabitants.

To the primitive mill already mentioned as started in the spring of 1855, Mr. Walker soon added a corn cracker, which proved a very valuable acquisition for the community, supplying as it did an imperative demand, and it was kept in motion day and night, turning out about a bushel an hour. Mr. Walker soon after built a regular grist-mill, and got it in operation in April, 1857; the saw-mill was also wholly converted into a feedmill and both were kept constantly in motion until destroyed by fire in 1874. Previous to this, however, it had been purchased by the brothers Valenentine and Tew who erected the present Bushford City mills the following year. It is a three-story stone mill, has six run of stones and four sets of rolls - two smooth and two corrugated - purifiers, brush machines, and all the necessary machinery for a first-class mill. The capacity is seventy barrels per day. Li August, 1879, D. J. Tew became sole owner.

WolijEn mlll. - Mr. Wiilker alscf built a woolen mill which was put in operation in 1863; it is still running although partially destroyed by the high water of 1875, which, however, was replaced and it has since manufactured many thousand dollars worth of 'goods.

Foundry and Machine Shop. - In 1869, E. G. ' Chase leased water-power and ground of Hiram Walker, and erected a machine shop and foundry, but a year later it was destroyed by fire. There was no insurance on the property, but the value of the enterprise was considered so important, that the village rendered him financial assistance in rebuilding the works. But there seemed to be a fatality connected with the estabhshment in Mr. Chase's hands, and fire again swept it away in the winter of 1871-72, and Mr. Chase became discouraged and made no farther attempts to rebuild. Mr. Walker, however, took hold of the work, reconstructed the shops, and the machine shop and foundry are still conducted by him.

Flouring Mill. - B. D. Sprague came to Rushford in the spring of 1866, and in company with N. M. Reed bought the water-power on Root River of Mead, Sherwood k Whittemore, constructed a dam and erected a flouring mill which was supplied with four run of stones, and was completed and set in operation in 1867. After running it about two years. Mr. Reed sold his interest to S. 0. Barton and John Paul of La Crosse, and the new firm conducted the business seven or eight years, when Mr. Sprague purchased his partner's interest and he still owns the property. After a busy life of fourteen years the old mill was discontinued in 1881.

The New Mill. - In 1874, Sprague & Co. built another mill about half a mile below the old one, and two years later, as above mentioned, Mr. Sprague bought the whole business. It was originally furnished with six run of stones, was afterwards increased to thirteen run, and in 1880, converted into a roller-mill with all the modem facilities for manufacturing added. It now has a capacity of 225 barrels per day.

During the excavations at the site of this mill a lot of ancient pottory was unearthed, and samples were deposited in the rooms of the Historical Society at St. Paul.

RusHFORD Wagon Factory. - In the year 1860, John Albertsou, after working six years at his trade in Illinois, came to Riishford, and in a small building began making and repairing wagons, and after working a year John Nelson bought an interest in the shop. They did a successful business for five years, when Nelson died. Ole Laugen then became a partner, and during the year 1868, the firm made 115 wagons, and employed fifteen men. In 1869, H. W. Holmes came to Rushford and opened a wagon factory, running it one year, when A. J. Stevens joined him, and together they run the concern for three years.

In 1872, a consolidation was eflected between the two companies, and the new firm was composed of Stevens, Albertson, Holmes & Laugen. This was the Rushford Wagon Factory Company, and the erection of a building was at once commenced, that cost $10,000. It was of stone, two and onehalf stories, 84x70 feet, and a dry-house, BOx 40 feet, all heated by steam. In 1876, the company, finding a demand for carriages, baggies, and sleighs, began their manufacture. In* 1878, they employed thirty-seven skilled mechanics, and used no timber until it was three years cut. The machinery cost 810,000, and as showing their care in every respect, when a wheel was done and ready to receive the tire it would be placed in boiling linseed oil, and then, after a season in the dry-house, the tire would be set. James Hennessey had charge of the blacksmithing; John Albertson of the wood work; G. J. Walker was the bookkeeper; and A. J. Stevens was the general business manager. On the 7th of September the whole establishment was burned at a loss of $30,000, and has not been rebuilt.

Rushford Arctic Creamery. - In the spring of 1881, this establishment was constructed, and on the 13th of May put in operation by E. A. Hostoet and C. C. Hourn. It is 28x52 feet and situated near the station. It has a four horse-power steam engine driving two large churns, with a capacity of 1,500 pounds a day. From various causes the first year's venture was not financially suooessf ul, but of its ultimate success there can be no doubt.

Rushford Brewery - On the 10th of October, 1875, Mr. J. Pfeifer purchased of Stark, Thompson & Co. the Rushford City Brewery, which is situated in Stebbins & Walker's addition. Its capacity is ten barrels a day. It is worked with horse-power, employs three men and furnishes the amber colored beverages for both divisions of the city.

Congregational Church of Rushford. - This society was organized on the 19th of May, 1860, Rev. Wm. W. Snell being the pastor, and Rev. D. Burt, of Winona, assisting in the services. The original members were Wm. W. Snell and wife, Jane E. Snell, Mrs. Lucinda Newcomb, Mrs. Emeline Ada Hitchcock, and Wm. D. Stark.

Mr. Snell has continued the pastor from the first. The meml:>ership of the church has increased from the primary number, five, to sixty. The character of the organization is in accordance with Congregational usage. A Sunday school was opened with a dozen members in 1857, and has been continuous up to the present time, and now has upwards of eighty pupils.

mainly iDstrumental in the erection of this chapel. Services had usually been held in Mr. Snell's small living room, which is now the kitchen of tliair rasidenoB. But about 1859 or '60, his father sent him the sum of $200 to use as he saw fit, suggesting at the same time that it might be properly applied to make tlieir dwelling house a little more comfortable. Many of our readers will be surprised to learn to what use this money was put, to see the self-sacrificing wife and mother counseling that this money should bo used toward building a bouse of worship, although it had been sent by a fond and thoughtful parent, with a hope of adding to the conveniences of their frontier home. So the money was thus expended, $100 being added by a friend from the East, and something over $100 raised by the citizens. It is, however, a matter of satisfaction to relate that Mrs. Snell has since been provided with the addition to her house, which at that time, with so Inuch self-abnegation, she was willing to forego for the public good, and that she now lives in the enjoyment of peace, prosperity, and plenty.

Church Bell. - The Ladies' Sewing Society, in the fall of 1861, resolved to procure a bell for the chapel, and so devoted the J^20 in the treasury to that object. Mr. Snell was going east, and took the funds alpng, and securing the additional amount from eastern friends, the bell was procured and shipped to Rushford, and on the 1st of January, 1862, its ringing peals invited the villagers to worship. It is still in service, and the onlj church bell in the place. It is claimed to be the very first church bell ever heard in the State, but that is improbable.

Norwegian Evanqeligal Lutheran Trinity Church. - This was organized in connection with the Norwegian Augustana Synod, by Rev. A. Scheie, on (he 2d of May, 1868, and as there was a Lutheran Church in town, the name **Second'' was added. The question of slavery had agitated the church, and this was the anti-slavery wing. Eighteen families joined the new organization. Mr. Scheie remained one year, when Rev. P. Asbjomsen came from Winona, and the sohoolhouse was bought and arranged as a church. In 1871, Rev. A. Wright succeeded to the pastorate, and he is still the incumbent The church was soon found to be too small, so it was xlisposed of, and a lot on Broadway secured, where a church 60x30 feet was erected, in 1873. In the comer stone was deposited a bible, a Lutheran catechism, and a "Skaudinaven," whatever that is. In the fall the house was ready for use, and the first service was the funeral of Haaken Arentsen, who had taken a leading part in its construction. The legal incorporation was not efi'eeted until 1873. In 1878, the meml>ership reached 150, but on account of the emigration it has decreased to about 120.

Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church. - This congregation was organized at the schoolhouse on tlie 14th of October, 1861, and the following trustees were appointed: Stark T. Gjernes, Ole Baardsen, and Henrik Henrikson. The first minister was N. E. Jensen, who has now gone to his reward. In 1866, a church was erected, 30x45 feet, which was used as a place of worship until 1881, when an addition, 18x28 feet, was made, with a basement the same size, to be used as a school to impart religious instruction. Rev. Kr. Magelssen succeeded Mr. Jensen, and remained from about 1869 to 1873. He is now pastor of the church in Norway township. After him came the present minister, Rev. E. Jaastad. Including the baptized children there are about four hundred members.

Presbyterian. - In the spring of 1867, a society was organized by the Rev. R. H. Cunningham, services having been previously held, and an interest manifested sufficient to warrant this step. After Mr. Cunningham came Rev. S. D. Westfall, and regular service was kept up until about 1878, and since that time the Methodist and Congregational interests hold service in alternation. The society was called "the Schoolhouse Church."

The Rushford Cemetery Association was organized in 1865. The grounds are located on section fourteen, and has an enclosure of five acres. The number of interments here up to the 20th of April, 1882, is 124; of these there are eighty Americans, eighteen Scotch, ten Germans, nine Norwegians, four English, two Swedes, and one Canadian. The decided preponderance of Americans is due to the large number of children. Among the early comers whose remains repose here is Angus Chisholm; also Duncan Cameron, wlio pre-empted the land from the government, and George W. Valentine, the first Town Clerk.

William Johnson's cemetery is located abont 100 rods north of the northwest corner of section twenty-three, and comprises a quarter of an acre. It contains what is mortal of the Jolmson family who have died, and quite a number of others, fourteen in all.

Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery. - This is located on section fifteen. Mr. S. T. Gjemes gave the land te the church early in the sixties, with the understanding that the remains at the other cemetery should be removed, but few were ever changed. There must have been upwards of two hundred burials here, among them Dr. P. E. Eirkland, a young man of great promise.

Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran. - One acre of land was given by Ed. Johnson to the church from his farm in section thirty-two in 1876. The first burial was the infant child of Mr. Olson of Peterson, in the spring, of 1876. In a few weeks the wife and child of Tom Kleppe were also interred there, and it is understood that there has been but one since that time.

Norwegian. - This is in section fifteen, and consists of two acres presented by S. T. Gjernes. The remains of Mrs. Hwan Werlein were the first te he laid here, in 1860 or '61.

Another burial place adjoining the above was set apart on the land of Olson Berland a few years ago. The land was presented under the express stipulation that burials sliould not be limited to church members.

Catholic Cemetery. - This is in section two, on the farm of Martin Timberg. It has two acres of land. The remains of Mrs. Thomas Murphy, of Bushford, are supposed to be the first to find a final resting place here. It was started in 1878, and now has seventeen occupants.

South Bushford Cemetery. - This burial place was laid out by C. D. Sherwood, in the fall of 1871, on section twenty-three. There has been no n^gular organized company, but Mr. Sherwood managed the business, selling the lots at 85.00 each. The first interment was that of an infant child of Mr. C^rge A, Hayse. This was several years before the cemetery was finally laid out. It contains the mortal remains of about twenty-five persons.

Village Of Peterson

This is a railroad village located on the northeast quarter of section thirty. Soon after the completion of the railroad to this point, Mr. P. I

Peterson-Haslerud gave the railroad company fifteen acres of land, and the other citizens subscribed to the extent of $800, to secure a station and warehouse, which were soon erected in a single building, a side track laid, and the station named Peterson was thus established. Mr. Peterson at once began a good business buying wheat for eastern pai-ties. A Post-office was established with Even A. Hjelle as Postmaster, in 1870.

In 1873, Lewis Olson erected a building, put in a stock of merchandise and kept a store for about two years. Neri Holgeson also put up a building 18x30 feet, and put in goods to the value of two or three thousand dollars.

In 1874, the whole of the quarter section was laid out in lots. During the centennial year fifteen acres were platted and recorded with Prospect, Park, and Mill Streets, east and West, and Centennial, Fillmore, and Church, in the other direction, with Myrtle and other avenues.

Mr. K. Torvilson k Son Opened a general merchandise store, which in 1878 became the firm of J. Jackson k K. Torvilson. The firm is now Jackson Brothers, and the business is in the old hardware store.

Flouring Mill. - A dam was thrown across the river in 1871, and a mill completed the next year by John Sheldrop, William Franklin, and a Mr. Nelson. Its location was about 100 rods northeast of the stetion, and it was a three run mill with nine feet fall. With a limited capital the mill was run for two years when it fell into the hands of Easton k Barton, in charge of S. C. Barton, who made many changes, increasing its capacity to six run of stones, but on the 24th of January, 1877, it was burned. L. Olson put up a feed mill on the spot, which run for some time.

Feed Mill. - ^A mill for grinding feed was started in 1881, with one set of stones, but has I been changed into an iron grinder or a diamond

Railroad Business. - There was no ticket agent here until 1874, when Neri Holgeson sold tickets in his store. In 1876, the telegraph was brought in, with G. Peterson Haslerud as agent. The present depot was put up in 1877.

Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church. - This was started as a branch of the North Prairie church at Arendahl, Rev. A. E. Boyura being the first minister, who preached every third Sunday in private houses. In 1877, a neat frame house was built. Service is now held at regular intervals, with a good attendande.

Peterson Mill Company. - A stock company was organized in 1876, by E. P. Quickstad, N. Holgeson, A. Christianson, P. Peterson Haselmd, Ole Quickstad, and others living in the vicinity. A mill was built, three and one-half stories with a basement, and furnished with steam power, eight run of stones and all first-class apparatus. When completed and stocked there was a debt of only S9,000. But for various reasons it did not pay, and in the spring of 1877, it was rented to S. C. Barton who ran it for a year, and others also operated it until 1879, when the mortgage was foreclosed and it fell into the hands of the Cream City Iron Works. It has since remained idle.

Post Office. - Even Hjelle was the first Postmaster; at the end of two years William Franklin kept it at his residence, then Lars Olson, and afterward N. Holgeson. In 1879, S. 0. Thompson was appointed and he still holds the office at his store. The mail is sent twice a week from this office to Pilot Mound via Arendahl.

In addition to the other establishments named, there is a hotel, kept by O. C. Johnson ; lumber is kept by S. 0. Thompson, and there are several other shops necessary to such a village.

Trout Ponds. - The object of greatest interest in Peterson is the Trout Hatchery belonging to the estate of the founder of the village. In 1874, this enterprising' citizen, taking advantage of the remarkable spring on his place, proceeded to carry out a plan to raise and cultivate trout, and eight ponds were excavated and arranged for the business, with hatching apartments and spring houses. After the preparations were made, 100,000 trout spawn were procured, and the enterprise has proved a success, as the water and methods of treatment seem to coincide with the habits of the fish. In 1881, 60,000 embryotic trout were sold to the State, besides other sales. There are now in these miniature lakes perhaps 150,000 trout more than a year old, in excellent condition. Those who have never seen the fish-breeding industry would be well repaid by stopping over in Peterson and viewing the domestication of this species of the finny , tribe.