Fillmore County, Minnesota - Chapter 70, 1882

Chapter 70

The town with this rustic designation is the northeast of the four southwestern towns in the county; touching it on the north is Fillmore, on the east, Carimoua, on the south, York, and on the west, Bloomfiel 1. It is a full congressional township, and in physical characteristics is not unlike the towns around it. The south branch of the Boot River comes into town in section thirty, and with a meandering tortuosity that gives it a dozen or more miles in length, it leaves the town from section thirteen.

This river has several branches, most of them uniting with it from the left bank. There are several little rivulets that start out with flattering prospects of growth and prosperity above ground, which, particularly in a dry time, get lost by percolating into the earth, and by subterranean passages pursue their lonesome journey to the' sea. Of course the main river, and the branches also, pass along valleys more or less depressed, and with a wider or narrower breadth, bordered with irregular bluffs, as to height and contour.

Early Settlement

In this township the first arrival registered on an oak tree on section twelve in 1852, and was carved as Levi Waterman, of Pennsylvania, 1852." Mr. Waterman was a native of Pennsylvania, and made his way to this State by way of Iowa, where he had sojourned for a short time, arriving here in the fall of 1852. He brought with him his family, consisting of wife and two children, and a few head of stock. After reconnoitering for a short time he selected a claim on section twelve, and put up a rude little shanty to protect his family from the violence of the elements.

Mr. Foster arrived in Decorah, Iowa, in June, 1853, and after looking about for a couple of days, rolled his wordly possessions up in a little sack, tied them t(» the end of a MUalnli^ threw it over his shoulder, and started but for "Looking Glass'' prairie on foot. He finally changed his route and found his way to Fillmore county, passing through where the village of Elliota now is, and found Capt. Elliott there, just putting up the little log cabin that for so many years marked the only habitation in that region, and for years was supposed to be the first building erected in the county. From there he made his way up to the place where Levi Waterman had "squatted, ' and where the village of Forestville was afterwards laid out. He bought out Waterman's interest, and for the time boarded with the family. He soon put up a substantial log building, building what at that time was considered a luxury, a stone chimney. This house he ran as a hotel, doing his own cooking, and made a reputation that was discounted by none at that time in the county. Mr. Foster is still a resident of the town.

This year, 1853, the town lines were run by the government surveyors. In the spring of 1854, Mr. Foster, Captain Elliott, James M. Sumner, William C. Pickett, Mr. Willis, and other residents of the county went to Chatfield to assist in the organization,and it was called Fillmore in honor of Millard Fillmore, who was just retiring from the Wliite House.

A saw-mill was commenced in 1854, by Mr. Bisbee, who soon sold his interest to Forest Henry and Mr. Renslow, who completed it and also built a grist-mill in 1855.

In 1853, Mr. Foster opened a general stock of merchandise, which he thinks was the first within the present limits of the county. He did considerable barter with the Indians. The goods had to be hauled from Lansing, Iowa.

Most of the early settlers were from the eastern States. J. H. Bonesteel arrived herein 1 855, and lost no time in getting a claim in section twenty, and in 1859, built a frame bouse. J. L. Michener, A. B. Rejester, Levi Rexford, John E. Haskiu, Charles Hanson, and HoUey Cook all lived in district No. 98, and were early comers.

Various Events Of Interest

The first death in town was in the fall of 1853, the child of an emigrant passing through, and the whole settlement turned out to the funeral.

Post-Office

This was established in 1855, with Forest Henry in charge. In a year or two R. M. Foster received the appointment, which he held up to the year 1869. Felix Meighen is the present Postmaster, the office being kept in his store.

In 1855, an election was held, and a full set of town officers were elected, and served until the Territory was admitted to the Union. On the 11th of May, 1858, on the accession of the State government, the regular town meeting was held, and the governmental wheels of the township were set in motion according to law.

The present officers of the town of Forestville are: Supervisors, George Barr, Chairman, H. Ubrig, and S. H. Bateman; Justices of the Peace, M. J. Foster and W. C. Sweet; Constables, J. W. Foster and J. L. Colby; Town Clerk, Alvin West, who has held the office ot Clerk and Assessor for the past twenty-two years.

The township of Forestville is divided into seven school districts. They are all in good financial standing and under good management. The schoolhouses in the township, as an average, surpass those of any of the surrounding towns. The wages of teachers in this, as in other towns, are comparatively low. The fir&t district organized in the town was what is now. known as district No. 90. The first school was held here.

District! No. 90. - This district embraces the village of Forestville and surrounding territory. It was undoubtedly, as is claimed, the first organized school district in the county, as it was organized as district No. 1, in 1854, through the influence ot R. M. Foster. The first school was held in Mr. Bisbee^s residence, by Mrs. Fuller, with twelve or fourteen little ones in attendance. In 1857, a brick house was built, which lasted until the present house was erected in 1878. Their scboolhouse now in use stands in the northern part of the village, and was erected at a cost of $1,800, size 24x86 feet, two stories, and a stone basement.

District No. 93. - In a log house owned by Mr. Graling, the first school was called to order by Miss Annie Sanderson, and shortly afterward the district was organized. The house now occupied by the district is in the southwest corner of section twenty-nine.

District No. 91. - This district embraces the territory in the extreme northwestern part of the town, and extends into the adjoining towns. The schoolhouse is located in the western part of section six.

District No. 92. - ^This district was organized about 1860,and a log house rolled|together by subscription, which answered all school purposes until 1870, when their present schoolhouse was erected at a cost of about $900, a short distance south of where the original house stood. This house is a neat brick building, and is a credit to the district. It is located on the northwest quarter of section eighteen.

District No. 170. - This received its organization later than the other districts in the township, in 1874, and the present neat brick schoolhouse was erected at a cost of $1,000, in the northern part of section eight. The officers of the school are as follows: Clerk, S. Yarnes; Director, H. Ubrig; Treasurer, John Bar.

sohoo] here in 1856 or '57, in a house in section thirteen which is the village section. The next year the school was also taught by the same lady in another dwelling. The house now in use by the district was erected about 1870, and cost between $900 and $1000, being a substantial brick structure, in the eastern part of section- fifteen.

District No. 142. - Was organized at an early day, and is now among the most prosperous schools in the township. The school has a good attendance of scholars, and employs good teachers. The district embraces the territory in the southeast«)m part of the town, the excellent stone schoolhouse being located on the southwestern quarter of section twenty-seven.

Manufacturing Enterprises

Saw-Mill. - The first saw-mill built in this town was completed in 1854, by the firm of Henry & lienslow, and was completed and running in 1855. It was equipped with an upright saw, run by water-power, and located on section thirteen, on or near the town plat of Forestville. It was run by different parties up to the year 1880.

GRiST-Miiiii. - In connection with the above saw-mill the same firm erected and put into operation a grist-mill, which was located adjoining the saw-mill, on the town plat. This was commenced in 1855, and completed in 1856, run by waterpower, through the medium of a turbine wheel, with a nine foot head. It contained two run of stones and could grind about sixteen bushels of wheat per hour. It was operated until 1880.

Other SAW-MiiiiiS. - ^The largest and most extensive saw-mill ever erected in town was put up in 1856, in the village of Forestville by R. M. Foster and the Meighen brothers, Felix and William. It was a steam mill, circular saw, and cost about $4,000, the size of the main building being about 20x40 feet. It was run for four or five years and then moved to Wisconsin.

A saw-mill was erected in 1857, by F. K. Baldwin in the southwestern part of the town, on Root River, and kept piling up saw dust until 1876. Mr. Baldwin put a run of stones for feed in the mill which is occasionally run yet.

Forestville Village

This is the only village or hamlet in this township, and 18 among the oldest towns in the county, being almost thirty years old, and it may be said that it has not grown or improved with age. The village is situated on the south branch of Root River, the plat extending on both the north and south banks of the same. The river at this point furnishes excellent water-power, although it is not utilized.

Early Settlement. - ^The early settlement of the village dates as far back as 1852, for it was at this point that Levi Waterman, mentioned elsewhere, first located. He is therefore the first settler of the village, and put up the first residence of logs within or near Forestville. Following Waterman, R M. Foster came, arriving in 1853, and with his energetic management a store was soon started and run by him with a $700 stock of goods. He also opened the first tavern, in 1854, before the village of Forestville was platted.

Henry Fitch arrived late in 1853, and preempted a claim on section thirteen, where the south part of the village now is. Forest Henry and Wm. Renslow arrived a short time after, and bought out Fitch's claim. They then platted and recorded the southern part of the village in the latter part of 1854.

The northern part of the village was platted in 1854, by R. M. Foster, Wm. Meighen being the surveyor. This part of the village is the business portion, it being a business center, oh a small scale prior to the platting of the village. R. M. Foster having established the first store and tavern on that plat in 1853. It is separated from the southern part by the Root River. In 1854, the village was on the Burbank stage line from Brownsville to Mankato.

There was a grist and saw-mill within its h'mits untill 1880, when they were discontinued. The Post-office at this point was established in 1855. The village now has only one store, a blacksmith and wagon-repair shop, and about forty buildings.