Fillmore County, Minnesota - Chapter 20: Lanesboro and Carrolton Township, 1912

Lanesboro - Location and Advantages - Early History - The First Hotel - Lanesboro in 1879 - Municipal History - Carrolton Township - Early Settlement - Land Office Records - Early Events - Political - Clear Grit - Isinours.

Lanesboro is a substantial village on the Root river and the southern Minnesota division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul. It is one of the most picturesque of southern Minnesota villages, with pretty expanses of water and towering bluffs whith give it a characteristic individuality. The village is possessed of many desirable features as a place of residence, being especially healthful and well situated. It has four churehes, a good school, waterworks, good fire protection, electric lights, a newspaper, two banks, two hotels, a good park, several fraternities, good telephone and telegraph service, well-kept streets, a ercamery, a canning factory, an elevator, a roller mill, several general stores, a lumber yard, and the usnal number of stores, restaurants and other business houses. There are also a number of grain and stock buyers, and several professional men.

One of the many desirable features of Lanesboro is its natural park, which can be surpassed by none in the state. Nature has been most lavish in furnishing it with all the features to make it beautiful and interesting. It is centrally located between Brooklyn and the business part of the town, contains several acres, and was donated by the Lanesboro Company some time in the seventies.

Lanesboro was laid ont, platted and recorded in the spring of 1868 by the Lanesboro Company. There are two opinions as to the true source of the village name. Many claim that the town was named after the old New England town, Lanesborough, from whence a number of the early settlers came, while others insist that the town was named in honor of F. A. Lane, one of the principal stockholders in the Lanesboro Townsite Company.

Early Settlement. The story of the earliest settlement on sections 24 and 13, where the town of Lanesboro is now located, is a most interesting one, assisted by his sons, Michacl, Daniel, Jolin, Cornelius and Thomas, of whom Michael and Thomas still survive. This cabin had a thatched roof, and was in striking contrast to the beautiful dwellings of today.

The next shack was erected in 1858 by John MeLanehlin on section 13, the location being in what is now called the '' Mill Reservation.'?' McLaughlin sold his land io C. Johnson and brother, and it was later sold to the Lanesboro Company.

The next shack was erected in 1858 by Con. Seanlan in that part of the town now called Brooklyn. Ile sold to Ed. Enright, who in turn, sold his land to the Lanesboro Company.

Lanesboro Townsite Company. In the summer of 1868, a joint stock company was formed in New York, with a capital of abont $62,500, the object being to build up the town of Lanesboro, and to be known under the above caption. The eapital of the company was divided into twenty-five shares of $2,500 each, and the following were the stockholders of the company: C. W. Thompson, 5 shares; Eliza Thompson, 1 share; Wm. Windom, 1 share; Ti. W. Holley, 1 share; C. G. Wyckoff, 1 share; F. A. Lane, 3 shares; Thomas Bard, 1 share; Townsend Bros., 3 shares; IT. C. Kingsley, + shares; A. P. Man, 4 shares; L. Meyers, 1 share.

Shortly after the organization of the company, the members were assessed an additional 4500 per share, making the paid up eapital of the company $75,000. The company at anee conimenced operations by sending their agent to the spot to purchase 500 aeres of land. Land was purchased of A. Seanlan, Con. Seanlan, Ed. Enright, Thos. Barrett and Ed. and C. Johnson.

Tt was in July, 1868, that the company commenced the ereetion of the stone hotel, making the excavation for u foundation in the middle of a field of wheat, aud paid $50 damage to Mr. Johuson, who owned the crop. While the hotel was in process of erection, the eompany completed a newspaper and company office, and a barn near the river. While the office was being built, an enterprising editor, J. Lute Christie, published his paper under the trees. The first lumber ever brought into Lanesboro was dvawn by an ox team from Rushford, early in the fall of 1868. Tom Densmore brought the first load and continued hauling until he had brought in enough to build the eompany's boarding shanty, which was the second building on the ground, and the first frame structure. This shanty was built hy the townsite company for a place of shelter for the men at work on other buildings, and was run as a hotel or boarding ranch, by an aged negro. From this fact it soon received, and was always known as "Nigger Shanty."'

In the meantime business houses and dwellings had commeneed springing up, and the town, late in the fall of 1868, could be considered fairly started. The first business house in town was built by W. H. Roberts in the fall of 1868, upon the corner of what is now known as block 17. He moved in a $25,000 stoek of goods the same fall, when, it may be said, there was hardly an ox path leading to the place. In commencing the foundation of his building, Mr. Roberts cut down the trees, just making room for his store, with a path leading to it. This store was known for years as the New York store, and Mr. Roberts' family lived in the upper story of the building. Immediately following, Greer & Greer put up a store building on the same block west of Roberts' building. This was occupied by them with a stock of general merchandise. Dan. O'Brien built a store adjoining Roherts' New York store, and moved the first stock of hardware in town into it, Seanlan & Abbott soon followed, and had a large stock of hardware on the shelves, almost as soon as O'Brien. This they ran for a number of years, but it afterward passed into the hands of Johnson & Christopherson.

The first hotel in town, not considering ''Nigger Shanty'' worthy of that important caption, was the Grant Hotel, which was opened in the fall of 1868. The hotel was discontinued some years ago. Shortly after, the Cottage House, American Hotel, and others were built. The large stone hotel was completed and opened in July, 1870. On the opening day of this hotel, a free publie dinner was given by the Lanesboro company, which is said to have eost $2,000. Messrs. Chase & White were the first landlords. The cost of the building and furniture was about $42,000.

The first car load of wheat shipped from Lanesboro, was shipped by O. G. Nash, to Chicago. The railroad company exhibited generosity hy shipping ihe load free of charge. The first agent of the Lanesboro company was George Ellis. thi 1872, B. A. Man sueceeded him, and held the position for abont six years. J.C. Easton was agent for a short time, and was followed by many others.

The First Hotel. The old Lanesboro hotel was one of the stepping stones to the prosperity of Lanesboro. A history of the county, published in 1880, in speaking of the old hotel, now destroyed, said:

"Tt was fortunate that the founders of Lanesboro were men of intelligence and enterprise; men who, after viewing the natural advantages of the locality, saw how, by utilizing the water power, wealth could be accumulated, real estate be advanced, and a village spring up among the bleak cliffs and upon the rocky bottoms that skirt the shores of the favorite stream of the Indians, Root river. True, the numerous farms that lay within a radius of six or seven miles of the present village were under cultivation, but their products had to be transported to the Mississippi by the slow propulsion of horse power. It was a grand epoch in the history of this locality when the iron horse woke the silence of the surrounding heights with the echoes of its shrill whistle. It gave the ear of progress such a forward movement that certain success and measurable prosperity could be predicted for the young and growing town. Among the material agencies which experience has found essential to the healthy prosperity of a town, are the schoolhouse, church, newspaper, and a first-class hotel. At an early period in the history of Lanesboro, all of these desirable institutions were permanently established. No longer ago than 1868, a traveler coming within the present incorporated limits would have seen no signs of a village. Two residences, occupied by Denny Gallighen and Mr. Leahy, were the only buildings in sight. But they were soon supplanted by more imposing edifices. Under the potent divection of Clark W. Thompson, F. A. Lane, A. P. Man, H. C. Kingsley, and P. M. Meyers, members of the Lanesboro company, a number of substantial buildings were soon erected, among which was the Lanesboro hotel, the best constructed hotel in southern Minnesota. This building, four stories high, 84x89, was erected and elegantly furnished with all the modern improvements in the summer of 1869, at a cost of $52,000. Its first occupants were Messrs. C. U. Chase and H. H. White, who satisfactorily catered to the publie from 1870 to 1873. J. HW. Preston was then landlord until June, 1876, when he was succeeded by John Hobart, who subsequently vacated the hotel to be succeeded by its first landlord, C. L. Chase. Mr. Chase, with that enterprise and full understanding of what kind of a building and just what kind of hotel furnishing would be necessary in order to enable him to keep a first-class hotel, immediately on taking possession of the premises, inaugurated a series of improvements, which placed the hotel in a condition superior to any like establishment in southern Minnesota. Later it passed through various hands and was finally destroyed."'

Lanesboro in 1879. A birdseye view of Lanesboro published in 1879, shows that the village was then in a thriving condition. The view shows a school; the Lanesboro mill and Carrolton mil); three churehes, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian and Methodist Episcopal; five hotels, Lanesboro Hotel, Valley House, Winona House, American House, Devey Hotel; warehouse; a park; fair grounds; four general stores, S. A. Nelson, W. I. Roberts, Hobart & Gates, Greer & Greer; two hardware stores, D. O'Brien and Johnson & Christopherson; saddlery and harness, M. V. Bean;

Municipal History. Lanesboro was incorporated as a village by the Minnesota legislature m the spring of 1869. The first election was held at Densmore's hall, April 17, 1869. The jndges of election were Robert Smalley and L. N. Butler. The clerk of election was C. C. Doss. The meeting was called to order by Luke Miller. The first president was Luke Miller. The other officers were: Trustees, W. H. Roberts, Charles J. Johnson, Qle Iverson; recorder, 8. B. Goudy; constable, Nelse Benson (refused to qualify) ; justice of the peace, W. L. Sherman.

1875 - President, W. H. Roberts; trustees, Robert Greer, P. A. Berg, George Lilliberg; recorder, A. G. Nash; treasurer, George W. Lawyer; justices, B. A. Man, J. R. Jones; constables, George Babeoek, L. L. Miller, Jr.

1883 - President, M. V. Bean; council, Thomas Thompson, E. W. Ruth, O. G. Wall, C. Schanesberg, II. J. Clauson; recorder, H. C. Schelberg; treasurer, Ole Langlie. This year the voters defeated a proposition to bond the village to the amount of $4,000 for the purpose of building a public hall and jail.

1884 - President, James Thompson; council, Thomas Thompson, M. Scanlan, Thomas Thorp, H. J. Clauson, C. O. Krogstad; elerk, Hl. C. Schelberg; treasurer, O. G. Wall; justice, W. W. Sackett; marshal, Barney Harmon. July 28, 1884, the council decided to buy a lot for the fire department, the price to be not more than $600.00. A contract was awarded to exeavate a reservoir. September 22 contract was let for piping the principal streets for the waterworks system.

1906 - President, L. T. Tollefson; council, F. A. Drake, John Skaug, A. J. Lund, Ole Habberstad, A. A. Nepstad; elerk, F. M. Bean; treasurer, O. M. Habberstacd; marshal, James Galligan.

1907 - President, L. T. Tollefson; council, A. A. Nepstad, John Skaug, A. J. Lund, F. A. Drake. Ole Habberstad; clerk, F. M. Bean; treasurer, O. M. Habberstad ; justices, J. G. French, W. W. Sackett; marshal, Charles Evans.

1908 - President, C. A. Ward; trustees, A. J. Lund, F. A. Drake, Ole Habberstad; elerk, S. A. Stromme; treasurer, P. A. Nelson; justice, Thomas Scanlan: constables, Henry O. Bearson, Charles Evans.

1909 - President, F. A. Drake; trustees, A. J. Lund, George McMaster, W. S. Henry; clerk, S. A. Stromme; treasurer, P. A. Nelson; justice, John C. Miller, Sr.; constable, Henry O. Bearson.

1910 - Mayor, I'. A. Drake; trustees, A. J. Lund, W. 8. Henry, M. K. Skaug; clerk, S. A. Stromme; treasurer, P. A. Nelson; justice, J. G. French; constables, Charles Evans, James Galligan.

1912 - President, L. T. Tollefson; trustees, M. K. Skaug, A. J. Lund, W. S. Henry; clerk, S. A. Stromme; treasurer, P. A. Nelson; justice, J. G. French; constables, Charles Evans, James Galligan.

Electric Lights and Water Works. Lanesboro owns its electrie plant and water power. The Lanesboro stone dam, constructed in the fall of 1868 by the Lanesboro Company at a cost of $15,000, on the south branch of Root river, is evidently one of the most natural places for such a structure to be found anywhere in the northwest. The dam is built of solid square stone found within 200 feet of the dam. These square stones averaged in size about two and one-half feet in thickness and were found laying loose on the surface of a rich loamy soil. Nature has been very kind towards maintaining a dam at this point, as it is built on solid rock foundation and connected scientifically at both ends with a natural rock wall from top to bottom. The front masonry wall is twenty-four fect high, and a fall where the generating power is located of thirty feet. If it ever becomes necessary, there is sufficient power to furnish an electrie illuminating curvent for a town having a population of twelve thousand. Lanesboro is also very fortunate in its water system. The supply of water for the town is pumped from a flowing spring which comes from the bowels of the earth at the foot of one of the bluffs and is elevated to a reservoir on the top of Church hill. The basin has capacity of 7,000 barrels, and from its elevated position gives a pressure of seventy pounds in the business part of town. Lanesboro has the best and the most valuable asset of any town in the state in its supply of good spring water, which is fully appreciated by its citizens. The water is constantly pumped into the basin from the flowing spring, making it most desirable and acceptable for domestic and home consumption.

Carrolton has the thirty-six sections of a government township, with the addition of sections six and seven of that on the east, and one-half cach of sections thirty-three, thirty-four, and thirty-five on the north. It is the northeast of the four central towns of the county, and has Pilot Mound on the north, Holt on the east, Preston on the south, and Fountain on the west. The south branch of the Root river enters the town in section thirtytwo, and follows its winding way to leave the town from section thirteen at Lanesboro. There are few, if any, rongher towns in the county than this. The hills are high and the blufts abrupt, and of course this gives valleys of corresponding depths, and in some places they are pinched up to form mere ravines or gorges, and in others spread out and make room for fine farms. The soil is varied from a light sandy clay to a dark rich loam. The south sides of the bluffs are nearly barren, while the north side js generally covered with timber. The Root river itself cuts across the northeast corner of the township. Watson creek comes into the town from Fountain in section nineteen, and empties into the south branch at Clear Grit, in seetion twenty-one. Trout ereek works its way from Preston through section thirty-six into the mill pond at Lanesboro. Another little stream: comes from Fountain, through section seven, and finds its way into the north branch of Root river. The other little rivulets in town are unimportant.

Early Settlement. Among the first settlers to spy out this goodly land, were K. K. Bell, T. K. Bell, BR. Knudson and R. Peterson. They came early in the spring of 1854, and secured claims in sections seven and twelve, and the presumption is that the first log house in the town was put up by them. At first they lived in a shanty made of elm bark. These pioneers were originally from Norway and had lived in Wisconsin before eoming here.

Patrick O'Shaughuessy, Joseph Mulvihill, and John Mulvihill, natives of the south of Ireland, came here from QWinois and planted themselves on section seven, in the west part of the town. Jt may be well to state here that there are two sections six and seven in the town, the two extra ones being, as already intimated, in the northeast part. A former history states that a man wanted the lucrative position of supervisor, and so engineered as to get these two sections set off from Holt, and some half seetions from Pilot Mound, and by this movement secured the object of his ambition.

G. W. Eddy, of Lllinois, came and settled in section twenty in 1855. The north and west part of the town was first settled by James Crowley, John Noonan, William Ryan, R. Fitzgerald, M. Mulholland, James Oberton and others, who, coming from Ireland, had at first located in Iowa.

Charles MeGuire secured a farm in section five in 1856; O. (. Gnlbrandson in section twenty-seven; L. L. Olson also came the same year. dames Billings come to Preston in 1856 and preempted eighty acres on the southwest quarter of scetion thirtyone, in Carrolton, and Jaid out the addition in that section.

Land Office Records. The first titles to land in Carroltou township were issued by the government in 1855. Those who obtained land that year were as follows, the date of the issuance of the warrant being given first, then the name of the owner and then the section in which the land was largely located: May 9, Hans Wood, 8; May 24, Joseph Mulvihill, 7; May 24, Patrick Shaughnessy, 7; July 7, John Ryan, 7; July 7, William Ryan, 18; July 19, James O'Connell, 7; July 17, John Noonan, 8; August 8, Nathan Austin, 21-23; August 22, Osear F. Kennedy, 33-34; September 15, Michael Mulholland, 9; October 13, Philip Rudden, 11; October 20, Hugh Mulholland, 13; October 31, David B. Seelye, 28; November 24, George W. Eddy, 20-21; December 12, John Fisk, 34; December 31, Sigund Sigulfen, 5.

Early Events. Peter Regnold, son of Regnold Knudson, was born in February, 1856. Mary Crowley was another early baby. Sheldon P. Eddy and Mary K. Eddy were united in the bonds of wedlock in July, 1855, at the house of G. W. Eddy. Mr. Ropes of Carimona tied the nuptial knot. The marriage of Ole Bendrickson to Lueretia Knudson, and Martin Bremen to Mary Ryan, should also be mentioned. In July, 1854, Mrs. P. O'Shaughnessy was killed by the falling of a tree which was struck by lightning. They had not yet got up their cabins and were camped in a grove. The men were away at work, and on their return, after a shower, found Mrs. O'Shaughnessy under the fallen trunk, dead, and Mrs. John Mulvihill prostrated by the stroke. Although she was resuseitated she never fully recovered from the shock. An early death was that of Patrick Mullony, who, in the winter of 1856, started to walk home from Carimona to Carrolton in a snow storm and losing his way, perished. His faithful dog went home and led his friends back to the spot where he lay in the snow, stark and dead. His was the first burial in Carrolton cemetery. The first saw-mill in town was built by K. O. Orton in 1857, on the north branch of Root river, in section seven, over in the eastern part of town. About eight feet of fall was secured. It had a reciprocating saw, the canal that carried the water to the mill was nearly three-fourths of a mile long, but in 1858 it was destroyed by a flood. It was rebuilt and in 1860 was again washed away and the mill demolished. The material was then used to build a barn in section twelve. Gilbert & Foster, in 1858, built a inill to saw lumber on seetion thirty-four. In the winter of 1860 it was washed away and has never been replaced. The first saloon in town was before the war, previous to the excise tax. It was opened by Tom Hasset, on section thirty-four north. The whisky was procured raw from the distillery at Troy.

Political. The town was organized May 11, 1858. The election was at the house of Michael Mulholland in section nine. There was quite a diseussion as to the name, a motion having been made to eall the town Cork. But finally it was named in honor of the bold signer of the Declaration of Independence, Richard Carrol. The board elected at that mecting was as follows: G. W. Eddy, chairman; John Mulvihill, Lawrence Connelly; town clerk, M. E. Billings; assessor, Nathan Austin; colleetor, Nic. Connelly ; justices of the peace, E. ¥. Armstrong and M. P. Enright; overseer of the poor, Patrick Wein. In 1859, M. Seanlan was elected town clerk and served for 21 years. At a special meeting held on December 9, 1864, the sum of 44,000 was voted to secure volunteers to fill the quota of the town. On April 6, 1865, the sum of $800 cach was voted to those who would volunteer. The whole amount paid by the town for volunteers and to drafied men was about $8,000. The town affairs have been economically administered by the various boards that have been elected.

Clear Grit was once a flourishing hamlet in section twentyone, but nothing now remains of it but the ruins of a mill. The nill was constructed in 1869, by Everett Neweomb. In 1871, Yendriekson & McLaughlin came in possession. In 1872, John Kaercher, of Preston, bought them out and enlarged the mill. In 1878 the mill was changed to a roller mill, the first in the county, as is stated, to make the alteration. In February, 1879, it was started with the new process, having twenty-one sets of rolls. Later it passed through various hands. The first store was opened here in 1872, by John Kaercher. It changed hands several times previous to 1875, when W. H. Roberts bought the concern and conducted it for some years. In 1877 Kelly & Mosher started a lumber yard, and the next year sold to Charles Grinder. He put up a building, 40x24 feet, as an office and hardware store, but never supplied the goods to fill it. In 1880, selling what he had on hand, he closed the establishment. In 1879 John Paul began a lumber yard. In 1874 Theabold Switzer built a hotel and conducted it about one year, when it passed into other hands. In 1881 Freeman Young built a wagon and blacksmith shop, making wagons and repairing, but the same year he discontinued his place and left.

Isinours Station. The depot building was elected by the cilizens of Preston, who, having been disappointed in securing the road at their own doors, were obliged to go to this expense, as one of the directors remarked, ''it had cost so much to get around the town that the company could not afford to build a station for them.'' The Jand was secured of George Isenhour, and a man was employed to care for the station. In a year or two the company placed an agent there, and have since managed it. Mr. Isenhour built a hote]. In 1871 a post-office was established here, with W. M. Grant as postmaster. Very soon, however, Mr. Isenhour was appointed. Mr. Isenhour was followed by Mrs. John C. Mills, who was the last postmistress. Mail is now received from Preston. While hopes were entertained that this would sometime be a village, the place still consists of a railroad station and two houses, the post-office and the hotel having been discontinued. The place is known as a junction point, and also as the residence of the Hon. and Mrs. John C. Mills.