Fillmore County, Minnesota - Chapter 68, 1882

Chapter 68

Now comes the town with the county name, whatever advantage that may have, although it is certain that less confusion is created than if it were the county seat, and it is possible that it had an ambition in that direction when this cognomen was decided upon. The town is the southeast of the four northwest comer townships, and its contiguous surroundings are Jordan on the north, Fountain on the east, Forestville on the south, and Spring Valley on the west. It is one of the seven towns in the county that the Southern Minnesota railroad winds through, which it does by cutting across the township in a diagonal way, between the center of the eastern boundary and the southwest corner.

Bear Creek, Deer Creek, and Spring Valley Creek, or as it is commonly known, Middle Branch of Root River, and their tributaries monopolize the northwestern part of the town, and of course none of them make any unnecessary loitering to get into Root River.

Early Settlement

The early settlement and initiatory steps which led to the founding and subsequent development of this thriving townsliip, in common with the majority of Fillmore coimty's sub- divisions, dates back well into the fifties. Its early pioneers and hardy backwoodsmen were not men who came for speculation, nor were they men who expected or even hoped to accumulate a fortune in a day; but men who knew there would l>e hardships and trials to endure, and they were not mistaken. One without the experience cannot realize the tribalations incident to such a life.

In the year 1853, Walker and Foote, the renowned stage men, were operating an extensive stage line through Fillmore county, and this township laid directly in its path. As early as 1853, the site of the village of Fillmore was one of the points made by the stages, and it is claimed by a few that as early as that time there was a little hewn log hut on that site, in which was kept a limited stock of dried meats, bacon, crackers and provisions, and an unlimited stock of poor whiskey, to cheer the weary traveler. Bat this is uncertain, as the time of its coming and the dat« its departure, is a mystery. During this year, while a few passed through the town on the stage line, there were no settlers, and none who examined the surrounding country with a view to settlement.

In the year 1854, while the autumn leaves were falling, in the month of August, a party of three pushed their way into this township with the view, of establishing a home. They were John Crain, bis son Charles W. Crain, and Jacob Ham, all having made their way from McHenry county, Illinois, via Iowa. They settled near one spot on section thirty-three in the southern part of the town, and commenced putting up rude huts. The first year was spent by them in almost entire solitude, it only being interrupted by the arrival of John K. Ells, who came in the same year and settled in section twenty-five. Of the entire party who arrived that year, only two, John and his son Charles W. Crain, remain to relate their experj iences. Ham having since moved away, and the others long since passed into that mysterious hereafter. Charles W. Crain is now a resident of Wykoff, and his father, John Crain, lives on section thirty-three. In the meantime, the northern part of the town was making evolutions toward civilization. Paul Jones and son, and son-in-law

Beverstock, had arrived early that year aod located and platted the village of Fillmore on section three. With this scanty settlement, the progress of the town remained at a standstUl until the following spring.

In 1855, many acquisitions were made to the setiblements, which began to embrace all parts of the town. P. M. Mosher and father arrived in the spring and planted their stakes in section three. Isaac Decou put in an appearance and Ideated in the northern part of the town; he remained but a few years. E. S. Smith came and located near Fillmore village and commenced the erection of a saw-mill. A number of others also put in an appearance, some to file on land for homes, but mostly transients who remained at the village.

This was a very trying period for the settlers. Their nearest market was Winona, and supplies were brought from Iowa. In getting provisions it became customary among the settlers to club together and hire a man to ride down into Iowa and obtain supplies for the entire settlement.

The year 1855 opened the era of immigration to this town; and the following are among those who came to prepare those already here for the rush of the following year. O. O. Wallace arrived and settled on section twenty-six. E. D. Kellogg from New York, put in an appearance, and located on section one, where he may yet be fpund. M. Gerry, an Irishman, brought his family, consisting of his wife and twelve children, and commenced calling section two his home.

In 1856, F. H. Bartlett, from New York, accompanied by his wife and two children, arrived and laid claim to one hundred and sixty acres in section twenty-two, where he still resides. With Bartlett came A. CliflFord and William Odell, both of Wisconsin. Clilford located in section twenty -one, and remained until late in the sixties. Odell became disheartened and returned to Wisconsin, where he died some two years since. W. H. Prosser arrived in J une and made himself at home on section thirty-three, where he still is. Thos. Pulford arrived in the summer, and now occupies a farm on section sixteen. Daniel S. Holf, a native of New York State, arrived in the fall and commenced managing a hotel in Fillmore village. J. A. Pulford arrived and located on section fifteen. George Sheppard, formerly of Germany, put in an appearance, and after drifting around a time, located on sections nine and ten. Others who arrived in this year are treated under the head of "Biographical," and as to those who arrived later, the stream of immigration which poured in makes it impossible to specifically notice them here, and we refer the reader to the department above mentioned for the most prominent arrivals.

The year 1857, dawned upon the settlers, and during the first few months subjected them to the most severe hardships yet experienced. The month of January opened with a very heavy snow-storm, which Continued with renewed fury and violence for about a week, filling the ravines, crevices, and roads, and leaving the level prairie covered with a heavy bed of snow. This was followed by a slight thaw, which immediately froze very solid, making a' crust that would bear the weight of a man. Most of the settlers were left without hay, as their supply was out on the prairie, and it was impossible to drive a team over the crust. Thus, few of the settlers who had stock escaped loss of part of their herd, and to-day there are many settlers who tell of how they had dug for three and four days through this heavy crust and deep snow, hunting for hay. But, as the season moved on, the snow disappeared, and in the fall an abundant harvest rejoiced and made hopefid the heart of the pioneer. Among others who had arrived ere this time may be mentioned the following : George and James Stewart, Michael Le^is, Robert Crowell, James Kelly, James Bowers, H. Hall, James Sheppard, Thomas Davis, and others.

A murder occurred in this town as early as 1856, but luckily nothing has followed but the remembrance of it as an example. A man named John Branski, living on section four, was murdered in a quarrel with a neighbor over his claim line. The murderer was arrested and tried, but finally got away. His name was Walker, and he was seen once since the crime was committed, getting on a vessel in San Francisco, to sail for a foreign port. Since that time he has been lost to justice if not to memory.

The first town meeting was held on the 11th of May, 1858, at Fillmore village. The records of the meetings and proceedings of the board in Fillmore township for the first few years have unfor-

The first meeting was held in Deoon's **Log Hotel," Geo. Decon being the Moderator. T. G. Pond was the first Chairman of the board, O. T. Blood and S. Otis the first Justices of the Peace, and Ghas. W. Grain and George Fisk, Gonstables.

On the 26th of February, 1864, a special meeting was held by the board of Supervisors to see about voting a bounty to the volunteers, but the proposition was tabled, and at a subsequent meeting it was defeated.

The officers for 1882 are: Supervisors, A. F, Erdman, Chairman, John Mensing, and George Stewart; Clerk, C. H. Morse; Treasurer, R. Odell; Assessor, E. D. Bartlett; Justices of the Peace, John Dane and Charles W. Grain; Constables, J. R Muri^ll and W. F. Hendrickson.

It is claimed that the first school in the town was called to order by Mr. Wm. Sackett The school was held at Fillmore village in a little log hut in 1857, and had in attendance six or seven scholars. The teacher, Mr. Sackett, had just arrived from New York; he afterward married Miss Catherine Splain, and is now living in Lanesboro. The following is a list and history of the several districts in the township:

DisTKicT No. 32. - ^This district was organized late in the fifties, being the district embracing the locality southeast of Wykoffl Shortly after organizing a cheap frame structure was erected, and in 1876, the present neat building, at a cost of about $600, the size of which is 20x30 feet. The schoolhouse is located on the southwest quarter of section twenty-three.

DiSTBiCT No. 92. - This district comprises what is known as the Fillmore village district. Its organization was effected in 1856, being without doubt the first organized district in the town,and the first place in which school was held. A log house was rolled together in 1856, by subscription, which lasted until 1873, when a new house was put up in tbe village at a cost of $900. The first school was taught by Wm. Sackett^ and was attended by seven or eight scholars.

DisTBiGT No. 95. - The first teacher to call a school to order in this district was Mrs. Elias Mosher. Their present school building is a neat frame, size 26x30 feet, and is on the northeast

DiSTBiCT No. 96. - Beoeived its organization in the year 1860, and the first school was called to order in that year by Joseph Blanohard in the private log dwelling of Thomas Musteller, on section twenty, thirty- three scholars being enrolled. In 1861, a log house was rolled together by subscription, which lasted until about 1869, when their present house was built at a cost of about 81,000, on section twenty-nine. Miss Clara Thurbert is the present teacher.

District No. i04. - ^This takes in the territory of Wykoffl It was organized in 1875, from the other contiguous districts. Messrs. Grain, Kilbom, and Bartlett were the first officers. The schoolhouse was built that year and is 26x48 feet, and cost $850. The first schoiol kept while the schoolhouse was building was in the Baptist church, by James Goodsell. There are now sixty soholars, Mr. A. B. Burkdoll being the teachftr.

District No. 153. - ^This was organized about 1870, and shortly after the stone building now in use was erected at a cost of $900. The first school was taught by Miss Amantha Stevens, in the building now occupied. This district embraces that portion of the town lying west of Fillmore village, the schoolhouse being located on the southeast quarter of section two.

District No. 172. - ^This district was organized in 1875, Thomas Pulford being the first director, - and Miss Silva Long the first teacher after the district was set bffl In 1876, their schoolhouse was built, size 16x28 feet, at a cost of $500. The first school was attended by twenty-seven scholars. The schoolhouse is located in the southwest comer of section sixt^n.

Select German Schooii. - The citizens of Wykoff*, especially those of German descent^ are supporting a private German school, which is taught by the presiding German pastor of that place, who is engaged with the understanding that he is to teach a few months in summer and winter.

Saw and Grist-Mills. - The first saw-mill erected and put in operation in town was about 1855. It was built by E. S. Smith, and stood on the banks of Boot Biver, in section nine, and was run by the excellent water power at that point.

The mill was equipped with a circular saw, with a capacity of about 3,000 feet every twelve hours. It was kept busy until 1864, when Mr. H. M. Daniels purchased it, and the sawing machinery was made secondary by putting in one run of stones and commencing to grind flour. It has since passed into different hands, and the saw-mill machinery has all been removed, being now in the l\ands of J. S. Chandler, who operates it as a custom mill. It now has two run of stones, one for flour and one for feed.

Another saw-mill was erected at an early day* probably the same year as the above mill, by T. G. Pond, about one mile west of the village of Fillmore, on section five. This was run as a saw mill, with a circular saw, until 1870, when it passed into the hands of Cutler Thompson, the present proprietor, who, in 1872, enlarged the mill and put in several run of flour and feed buhrs for custom work. In 1880, a sorghum mill was added, the capacity of which may be seen from the fact that in 1881 it turned out 3,200 gallons of molasses.

Still another saw-mill was built in 1858, by John Mahood, on section twenty, size 30x60 feet, with a sash saw, at a cost of $3,000. This was the principal saw-mill in the township and was run by Mahood until 1877, when it was destroyed by fire.

Stave Factory. - ^This industry is located in the eastern part of the village of Fillmore. It was established in 1874, by the firm of Sutherland & Mills, who ran it for three years and then sold to W. G. Bnndall, who is the present proprietor. Until within a few years it was run by steam, but this was removed to make room for horse-power. The mill manufactures baskets, staves, heading, sleigh runners, wagon felloes, etc., etc.

FiLLMOBE Mills. - This institution is the pride of the town, and it well deserves it. The mill was built in 1857, by Cummin gs & Kimball, and stands in the western part of the village of Fillmore, on the banks of the middle branch of Root River. It is run by water-power using an American wheel, of 14 horse-power. In 1880, the mill was remodeled, and in place of stones, four of the patent corrugated and smooth rolls were placed in the mill, making the capacity about seventy-five or eighty barrels per day. The mill is now owned by Bierbauer & Horton.

Fillmobe Village

While this is not a large one, it has all the concomitants to distinguish it from a mere hamlet. A resume of what it contains in addition to the dwellings, would read something like this: One general merchandise store; one drug store; one furniture store; two blacksmith shops; one hotel; one grist-mill with a capacity of eighty-fiTO barrels per day ; one church, the Methodist Epicopal; one stave factory; and one school, with a roll of sixty-five pupils.

The land where the village stands was preempted in the spring of 1854, in section three, by Doctor Jones. The year following, Isaac Deoon came and built and opened the first store, and remained about three years. He was a prominent man and a member of the Legislature, but after a time went to Michigan, and finally to Kansas.

The third store was built by Lee k Kimball and this firm also built a grist-mill and had it running in 1868. William Kimball came from Decorah, and Mr. Lee from McGregor.

The Post-office was established in 1866, with Robert Ray as Postmaster. Wilham Mosher was appointed in May, 1877, and still handles the mails.

This is the railroad village of the town, and was projected simultaneously with the coming of the railroad and was platted two years later, so that it is just entering upon its teens as a village.

The first settler here was F. H. Bartlett, who came from Oneida county, New York, and landed at this point in June, 1856, and located on the southwest quarter of section twenty-two, within the limits of the present village, and got up a native timber residence to protect himself, wife, and two children, Elsie and Elmer. Wm. Odell came at the same time, but remained only a few days and moved on to Cannon Falls; and A. Clifford pre-empted 160 acres in section twenty-one. These were the original squatter sovereigns.

The village was platted by H. W. HoUey, the Chief Engineer of the railroad, who, with F. fl. Bartlett^ owned the land, and it was recorded in 1871, when the depot was built. In 1875, an addition of twenty acres was made, and called Bartlet t k Bank's addition.

The first building was run as a boardinghouse for some time. The first store was by W. R. k C. G. Ed weirds and is now occupied by Mtjrse k Robbins. In December, 1871, they got in the first stock of general merchandise. The Eglestou brothers soon put up the store now occupied by M. Egleston, and put in a stock of goods. A. R Brass built a warehouse now used as a blacksmith phop, and the two elevators went up at the same time.

The incorporation of the village was by virtue of a special act of the Legislature approved on the 8th of March, 1876. Frank H. Bartlett, Charles W. Grain, and L. G. Kilborn, were the provisional officers to secure an organization. The first officers elected were: President, F. H. Bartlett; Trustees, M. J. Barrett and F. Wendorf : Treasurer, W. G. Banks; Recorder, L. G. Kilborn.

The present officers are : President, F. H. Bartlett; Trustees, F. V. Coelln and P. R. Jorris; Treasurer, L. G. Kilborn; Recorder, J. R. Murrell.

Business in Wykoff. - There are four firms in general merchandise; two hardware; two drug stores; two saloons; one elevator; five warehouses; one contractor and builder; one cigar manufacturer; three blacksmith and wagon shops.

Wykoff Hoteij. - This was built as the village got well under way, by F. H. Bartlett, and the proprietors have been A. Drew, F, H. Bartlett, W. G. Banks, F. Soribner, Mr. Schilling, and Charles Scribner, the present occupant of the house.

CiGAB Factory. - This was started in 1879, by Jorris k Gut, who employed ten hands. In 1882, a new building was erected, 14x22 feet, and they have an extensive trade, the capacity being 10,000 cigars a week.

Exchange Bank of Wykoff. - This was instituted in 1881, by L. G. Kilborn, who is the present cashier. In 1882, the proprietors of the bank were J. R. Murrell and L. G. Kilborn, the former gentlemen having purchased an interest.

Post-office. - In 1858, a Post-office was started in this town, in section thirty-three, and was called "Free Soil." Joseph Blanchard was the Postmaster, afterward M. B. Felt was appointed. In 1872, it was removed to Wykoff and the name changed. D. J. Egleston was appointed Postmaster. Charles W. Crain succeeded him in 1879.

Brick-yard. - In the southeastern part of the town this industry was established in 1879, by W. Davis and C. W. Grain, and it turns out 100,000 brick in a season. Mr. Davia is still proprietor, and bums two kilns per annum. Another yard is in contemplation.

The Free Baptist Church. - Rev. M. D.Reeves organized a society holding to the tenets of this faith in 1868, in the house of Mr. John Grain, with eight members. In 1872, a church edifice was erected in the village of Wykoff, 26x41 feet, the cost being $1,500. There are now twenty-five members. Following Mr. Reeves as pastor was Rev. M. B. Felt, who remained with these people for seven years, when Rev. W. C. Sweet superceded him, and now Rev. J. M. Young is the pastor of the little flock.

United Brethren. - This society was organized in 1874, Rev. Phillips being the officiating minister. In 1876, their building was erected in the southern part of town, size 35x45 feet, at a cost of S7,000. Revs. Vance, Hillis, and Beacon have been the successive pastors, the latter mentioned being the present incumbent.