Goodhue County, Minnesota - Chapter 11: Dr. Sweney's Narrative, 1909 (part 2 of 2)

T. B. Haggard was appointed captain. This force was soon after called together to protect the settlers, which they did so effectively that thereafter the residents were allowed to pursue their various callings in peace. The setlement in the northern part of the township was started in 1856, when Darius Johnson made a claim on section 6. He was followed hy Payington Root, and soon after by many others, mostly pioneers from Norway.

In 1857 a village was platted in the southern part of the town and called Fairpoint. The proprietors were Thomas Haggard and a man named Beekwith. In 1863 several buildings were erected in this village. A postoffice was established there in 1S58. Silas Merriam was the postmaster. Owing to the small amount of mail received, this office was discontinued in 1861. Some years later it was re-established and Herman Eastman named as postmaster. In 1867 Herman Eastman and E. B. Jewitt opened a store in the village, and a year later David Haggard was appointed postmaster.

A log cabin schoolhouse was built in 1857, at the edge of a cherry grove in the central part of the township, and the first school session was taught by E. G. Comstock that winter. In 1861 a stone schoolhouse was erected on the site of this old log structure. The first church organization was effected in 1856, when the Christian Disciples met at the home of James Haggard and listened to a sermon by David Haggard. The first service by a regularly ordained clergyman was by the Rev. J. M. Gates at his own residence in the spring of 1857. The first marriage in the township was between Elizabeth, daughter of T. B. Haggard, and John Hart, in August, 1857. The first death was that of Fliza Jane, daughter of T. B. Haggard, December 16, 1857. The first town meeting was held May 11, 1858. at which time officers were elected as follows : Supervisors, Benjamin "Woodward (chairman), Cyrus H. Burt and David Simpson ; town clerk, E. G. Comstock ; assessor, Francis A. Crebb ; constables, James Haggard and Peter Stagle; justices of the peace, John Haggard and F. A. Crebb ; road overseers, Israel T. Comstock and Reading Woodward. James Haggard was appointed collector in May, 1858. There being a tie vote, no supervisor of the poor was elected.

The official list of the men who enlisted from this township during the Civil War is as follows : F. H. Bullock, William Catlin, Jr., Ryal Catlin, Alva K. Eastman, Edward Hudson, Jesse T. Hamlin, Rufus Hart, Mc. D. Willoughby, Orville Ames, Danforth W. Cook, Theodorick Drum, William Forsyth, Thomas E. Gillett, Thomas B. Haggard. George Hanlden, Simeon Steemerr Uriah Hopkins, Francis E. Presley, Jonathan Dibble, Alvin Davis. Abram Doner. Hans Jordt, Ferris Johnson, Charles C. Lent,

Cherry Grove has four large and commodious churches - -one Catholic, one German Lutheran and one Norwegian Lutheran. There have been postoffices at Ayr, Fairpoint and Spring Creek.

Central Point

Central Point, the most easterly as well as the smallest of Goodhue county townships, lies in a bend in Lake Pepin directly above Lake City. It contains one complete section and several fractional ones and is bounded on the north and east by the lake, south by Lake City in Wabasha county, and west by Florence. Its surface is broken. An isolated bluff rises in the eastern part, and its peculiar shape has won the name of Sugar Loaf. A point of land extending some distance into the lake about midway between the head and foot of same gives the town its name.

By reason of its excellent landing place and its position midway in the lake, there were many early dreams of its future greatness as a shipping point. Charles Gould settled near here in about 1850. In 1853 a Mr. Gridley made a claim to some land. He was followed by R, L. Phillips, H. L. Barrett and Hannibal Bonnell. Soon quite a flourishing neighborhood gathered about the landing, and in 1855 a village plat was surveyed and speculation in village lots for a time became quite lively.- Silas Crop built a store and stocked it with general merchandise. Mr. Feary built a hotel, which was opened by E. S. Harrison. A postoffice was established and Perry D. Martin was appointed postmaster. In 1856 C. W. and E. Hackett built another store, which was also filled with general merchandise. Charles Moe built a steam sawmill and commenced the manufacture of lumber. At this time Central Point" was the only steamboat lauding in the vicinity, and for a period it seemed designed to become a lumbering center, where would bo sawed the logs floated down the lake in rafts from points on the Mississippi and the St. Croix. But it was soon found that Lake City afforded a much better landing, and as a result business -was drawn away from Central Point and toward Lake City. However, in 1857 Lewis & Scott built another sawmill, which was conducted for a time by Frank Sterrit and afterward bought and conducted by S. S. and G. H. Grannis. The manufacture of sorghum syrup in later years became an important industry. The first school was taught in 1858. In 1873 a very fine and commodious school building was erected. The first house built in the town was a log cabin constructed by H. L. Barrett. In this house the Rev. M. Sorin conducted the first religious service held in the township. The first death was that of an infant child of C. AY. Hackett. in 1856. Of the first marriage no record has been left. It is also impossible to learn of the first town officers, as the early records were destroyed by mice sonic years ago. before any transcription was made of the important fads.

The contribution from Central Point to the ranks of the LTnion army would seem almost impossible were it not a matter of official record. According to these records, no less than twenty-one men enlisted from this town. They were: Wesley F. Bailey. Dexter Chacldock, James AY. Delong, AYallaee AY. Delong. John R. Graham, Ambrose Gardiner, John Gardiner, George Harrison. Edward B. Hawkins, Marcus Hills. Baker Harrison, Clarence Hubbard, Charles Lathan, Adjutant Perry D. Martin, Levi M. Phillips, John L. Rice, Charles H. Sibley, George Weaver, George S. Harrison, John S. Harrison and Columbus Phillips.

John G. AYooley, the famous temperance orator, started a home for drunkards in 1891, and several substantial buildings were erected, but the enterprise was afterward abandoned.