Houston County, Minnesota - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 52 of those read), 1882

Chapter with an unread heading (no. 52 of those read)

This town, with a name identical with that of the county, is on the northern tier of townships, being the third from the Mississippi River, with Winona county on the north, Mound Prairie on the east, Sheldon and Yucatan on the south, and Money Creek on the west. It is made up from three government townships, but is a fraction of a section less than one of these in its aggregate amount of territory; and the arrangement is such that it takes in the valleys of the water courses consisting of the Root River and the south fork thereof, and Silver Creek, a branch coming down from the north to unite with Root River near the eastern boundary of the town.

The Root River was formerly navigable, but mills and bridges have cut off this method of transportation, and a sunken steamer, opposite the upper part of town, is the only reminder that Houston was once a seaport town.

The physical features of the town are in accordance with the peculiarities of this whole region. There are the rivers with their valleys, the irregularly formed bluffs, rising from the bottom lands to corresponding plateaus reaching back to the next valley.

The town, as now bounded, is eight miles long in the southern portion, along the Root River, and seven miles from north to south for a width of four miles on the eastern side. The river courses to the east through the longest part of the town, with its accompanying valley. Silver Creek also has its valley, which is called "Looney Valley," whether on account of the peculiar beauty of its moonlight scenes, the effect of a residence there upon the people, or in deference to an old settler, it perhaps matters little. The South Fork of Root River has also its characteristic valley, and this is called in honor of some of the early settlers "Swede Bottom."

The boundaries of the town, as will be perceived, have been so arranged that the village is easily accessible by the citizens from any part by following the valleys, as along these the roads are laid, and most of the cultivated farms are on these interval lands, or in close proximity.

These valleys have soil of peculiar richness, and the surface is usually quite level, but sometimes inclined to be rolling. Near the head of the various branches the soil is still more valuable for tillage purposes.

The ascent to the ridge is almost uniformly abrupt, going up several hundred feet, which, unlike those in the southern part of the county, are usually too narrow for successful cultivation, although there are a few valuable ridge farms within the town limits.

The Soil. - As to the peculiarities of the soil, in the valleys it is a dark, clayey loam, with patches of a sandy loam. In the steep declivities the vegetable mould, as it is deposited, is washed among, so that the character of the soil cannot be commended, except in certain places where a growth of shrubs or trees have arrested this detergent operation. In such places there is a certain amount of fertility, and on the river bottoms, at various points, there is a large growth of good timber, such as oak, elm, walnut, etc.

Crops. - During the first few years the colonists were most anxious to raise something to eat, for themselves and families, without regard to a market, except in their own cellars or lofts. But after having the most imperative personal wants supplied, attention was turned toward raising something to sell, and the first experiment in wheat more than met the reasonable expectations of the settlers. Thirty or more bushels to the acre was not uncommon. But year after year the crop grew less, and corn has now usurped its place with marked good results.

Indians. - When the early settlers arrived, there was a village of the Winnebagoes situated on a bend in the river near the lower village. There was a score or two of their rude habitations, and they seemed to be a discouraged band, who felt, in a sort of insensible way, the impending fate that was hanging over the race. They gave the newcomers no trouble,^ except by their impertinent begging, unless stimulated by "fire water," which was bartered to them for their peltries, and then sometimes night and day would become hideous with their baechanalian revels.

Reminiscence. - Near the ferry, in section thirty-one, is a hill formed by a point of the table land, which has been known since the early settlement as the "Indian mound," from the circumstance that the remains of an Indian chief whose soul had presumably gone to the happy hunting grounds, was found sitting on this elevation, supported by some stakes driven into the ground, and a log pen built over him in a thorough wolf proof manner. And there this emblem of mortality sat for years, while the passing Indians would call, and after paying their respects, leave an offering of tobacco, or some other testimonial to the memory of the Big Indian, whoever he was. Decay, except as to the bones, was at last complete, and some enterprising ethnologist procured the skull, which is said to have indicated a good mental development. The rude tomb itself was finally demolished, and the chieftain's bones scattered about. During the war, at a 4th of July celebration a liberty pole was planted on the spot, bat that also has succumed to the ravages of time. A Mr. Butterfield, who died here at an early day, was buried there in an unmarked grave.

Early Settlement

Not unlike many other towns in the county, the year 1852 is the date of the first colonization of this town, and during that year the immigration thither was quite active.

There seems to be preponderating amount of evidence that the very first white man attracted to the locality, to mark out a claim, was W. G. Mc- Spadden, who had spent some time in New York State, and who had came up the Boot River from La Crosse on the 14th of June, 1852, and staked out eighty acres on what afterwards was found to be section thirty-three, on the eastern part of the southeast quarter. But of course his eighty did not coincide with the government survey, for it was sadly cut up. Here, with visions of a nourishing city in the not very dim distance spread out before him, he platted a town site, and, although his endeavors were crowned with some measure of success, he is still waiting while the shadows longer grow, for the full fruition of his plans.

The location was most admirable, just above the confluence of the South Fork of the Root River with the main stream, which was easily navigable from the Mississippi, and no one, who could not peer into the future, could have predicted at that time that this would not become one of the great western cities. As it proved, the fates decreed that a small village should grow up here, which two years thereafter had the ambition to become the county seat of the rapidly developing southeastern portion of Minnesota.

Finally, as the years rolled by, the Southern Minnesota railroad came through, and the influence to secure the station on an addition to the west of the village prevailed, and so the village of Houston was moved, and the original town became

Mr. McSpadden, with an untiring energy that never faltered, returned to La Crosse, where he operated a ferry, and exercised his opportunities to induce settlers to go up Boot River, and he divided his time between the two points until 1854, when he settled down to remain, and he is still a resident, but not on the old claim. Mr. McSpadden came up the river at first on foot, and on the second journey he was accompanied by Ole Knudson, from Norway, who, in the primitive style of those times pre-empted a claim adjoining Mc- Spadden's on the east, running around 160 acres, and erecting a shanty on what afterwards came into section thirty-four. The shanty, according to an equitable arrangement, was on MoSpadden's land, but this building in due time, became a store, and with MoSpadden's building played a prominent part in the history of those primitive pioneer days.

Mr. Walter Webster came up the same month with McSpadden, on one of his excursions, and he took a claim to the west of the others, on the southwestern part of section thirty -three, where the village of Houston now stands. He, however, made no improvements, but lived through the winter of 1852 and '53 in McSpadden's shanty. The next season he sold all his right, title, and interest to David Johnson for $30, and it was subsequently sold to Mons Anderson, the present proprietor of part of it.

Mr. Johnson at once commenced making improvements, and put up a block-house, which still stands between the railroad track and the river. After awhile Mr. Johnson left and went to Goodhue county, and finally to Iowa.

In the fall of 1853, Mr. Lars Johnson, a Swede, bought the 160 acres west of this, of David Johnson. This is the land upon which the extreme western part of the village is now located. A Mr. Sanborn came up about the same time Mr. Webster came, but he did not remain long. Mr. E. K. Dyer was another of the early claim takers, who located further up the river, but he left in a few years. Mr. Case made a claim some time in 1853, and soon sold to Mr. T. H. Conniff. A few others secured locations in the valley, and the place became known as "The Forks."

was a Mr. Hyatt, who also arrived in 1852, and was a squatter on the eastern branch of Silver Creek. He kept his eye on a large tract of land, intending to hold it until his sons and other relatives could come and occupy it, but, for some reason, his expectations did not materialize, and so he quietly withdrew from the scene of his fond anticipations. While he was still here, another settler with three sons, who had staying qualities, came up the river from La Crosse and invaded this tempting valley. The head of this family with the right kind of material for pioneer life was John S. Looney, and he promptly put up a shanty on section twenty-seven, where the farm of A. B. Hunt now is. That the claims of each might be defined, and that there should be no disputed territory, the two claimants blazed a line of trees across the centre of the valley, anil thus modestly divided the whole tract between them.

Mr. Looney had been to the lead mines at Galena, and afterwards at La Crosse, where he worked land upon which that city is now built. He was a public spirited man, and was always at the front in every laudable enterprise. He remained for about six years when he went to Dubuque, and from there to Illinois, where it is understood he still lives. As to his sons; James took land near the old gentleman on the south, and left it about that time ; Cory don and Abrah am also secured land near, but spent most of their time on the Mississippi River. Abraham now lives in Winona and is still Bteamboating, while Corydon is somewhere on the Pacific coast. This family gave the name to the valley.

Charles Gainer came with the Looneys, settled on section twenty-three, and there remained until the others had left. Isaac Thompson, A. B. Hunt, and Adam Coon also came at an early day, and are still residents, and honored and leading citizens. Mr. McSpadden lives in Looney valley, and has a valuable water-power on Silver Creek.

It must have been in 1853, that a man whose name was pronounced Cushon, located on section twenty-five in the western part of the town. Near his place is a high peak standing out solitary and alone, as a huge sentry overlooking the valley be- * low and the neighboring ridges for miles around, and which used to be a- landmark for travelers when this was a vast trackless region, and was named Cushon Peak. This man is remembered as an intelligent and educated man, but from whence he came, or whither he went, as he soon did, no one knows. He sold out on leaving, in 1854, to Mr. Hendrickson, and a few years later it passed into the hands of Mr. G. O. Laugen.

The Mr. Butterfield already alluded to as haying been buried on the Indian mound, must have taken a claim on section thirty-one, as the date of his death was in July, 1854, and this was the first death in this part of the town.

During the year 1853, the settlements above described received numerous accessions, and another was formed on the east bank of the South Fork of Root River, this was the Swedish settlement which gave the name to the locality where they still live. Those who were the pioneers of this movement, were: John Anderson, who still lives on section three, and Abraham Anderson and Ole Benson, on the same section, the latter, however, is dead, but his son, C. A. Benson, runs the farm. Lars Redding settled on section thirtyfonr, but died in 1860. With the two Johnsons already mentioned, these make up six families, who, while still in Sweden, saw an account of the Root River valley in a local paper there, and at once started for the promising land, coming here and claiming these unoccupied acres, they at once began the creation of new homes and the cultivation of the soil.

During the year many located near the "Forks" in various directions. John Moore selected land south of the present village, where S. B. Mc- Intyre now lives. Moore sold to Thomas Hogarty, in 1854.

Lawrence Lynch and Harvey McAdams, with a brother, also arrived in 1853. Albert Olson, H. T. Stafford, and Morris Fannin, should be put down with the early comers. These settlements have since practically grown together, as there is now no vacant land as a demarcation between them.

The first regular store in Houston was by Ole Knudson, who opened it in 1854, bringing his goods up from La Crosse on a keel boat, which he also owned and did a transportation business.

In the fall of 1858, Isaac Abrahamson arrived with a stock of about $500 worth of goods, which had been purchased from Mons Anderson, in whose store Abrahamson had been a clerk in La Crosse, and he is still here as the senior business man in

Andrew Forsyth was the first to move from the lower to the upper village; this was in the early autumn of 1866. Mr. Abrahamson soon followed, and then Mr. Horner, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Barton, D. C. Dyer, and others, took up the line of march, leaving a scene behind them for the descriptive pen of some modern Goldsmith.

A blacksmith shop was started by Peter Erickson about 1856. A hotel was opened by Mr. Hoyt in 1857, and the following year a hotel was also started by Lawrence Lynch.

In 1857, the Post-office was established, and there should be no wonder that, with what had been so far accomplished, the most extravagant anticipations should have been entertained as to the future' of this Root River village, located, as it was, on a navigable stream in a most productive valley.

The Fibst Birth. - As near as can be ascertained, the first event of this character, was Miss Jen? tie, daughter of David and Johanna Johnson on an unknown day, in January or February, 1854. She died when ten or twelve years old, near Red Wing, in this State.

Marriage. - In the early winter of 1858, Mr. Ole Benson and Mrs. Sara Anderson were married at the house of Lars Johnson, on the western part of the present village of Houston. Neither of the parties are living now.

Deaths. - The third great event in a human life, as it happened here, was the case of Abraham Anderson, whose tottering steps had brought him, at the age of seventy-three years, to the promised land, only "to fall as the autumn leaf to enrich our mother earth." His death was in August, 1853, and instead of the old Aesthetic idea of being "gathered to Ids fathers" he was deposited where, as the ages roll by, his children will be gathered to him. His last resting place is on a mound on the southwest of the northwest of section three.

Another early death should be recorded here, that of Miss Augusta Johnson, a sister of David Johnson, some twenty years of age, who was accidentally shot in her brother's house sometime in the year 1854. Her remains were deposited near those of the venerable Nelson.

Ferry. - Since some time in 1858, a ferry had been in operation across the Boot River, on section thirty. It was first started by a Norwegian by the name of Henderson, and was a rope ferry with a t elf- propeller, so arranged that the current would carry it over in whichever way it was headed, but this lateral wing arrangement, for some reason, is no longer available, and muscle has to take the boat from side to side. The proprietorship has changed many times. Mr. Knud Oleson is the present owner.

Embryotic Villages

The early residents of Looney valley were remarkably enterprising, and strove to make their home the veiy hub of the county. Dreams of the county seat hovered over them by night, and some of their waking hours were employed in pondering over the question as to the proper spot for the oourt hotfse and jail. So, in 1857, while the speculative fever was epidemic throughout the whole county, it assumed, here in Looney valley, the mild and comparatively harmless form of making paper villages.

A town site company was organized by Messrs Looney, Hunt, and Wilson, and forty acres were solemnly set aside, surveyed and platted by Isaac Thompson, and the whole, with numerous additions, was promptly filled, in their mind, by a teeming population.

A Post-office had been established here in 1855, called Looneyville, with D. D. Wilson as Postmaster. The mail was brought up by J. S. Looney. The office was kept up until 1858, when it was discontinued.

This historic city, the conception of which was so pleasing to its projectors, and which harmed no one else, was located in the center of the west half of the northwest of section twenty-six, and the east half of the northeast of section twenty-seven, twenty acres laying north of the east and west road, and ten acres on either side of the north and south road, which intercepts the other here. The exact location is thus given, so thatwhen, in some remote period, an antiquarian shall be hunting for buried cities, there may be no doubt as to the site of this one. The ruins of this deserted village, in the form of corner lot stakes, were a cause of considerable profanity in after years when they were encountered by the knives of the mowing machine.

Oorydon Looney, who was sole proprietor and business manager, and, according to the accounts coming down to us, the whole stock could have been carried off in a wheelbarrow. But the goods, whatever they were, were soon transferred to D. D. Wilson, who added materially to the stock, and kept it in the same place until 1856, when he erected a large log building and put in more goods. He afterwards put up a frame building, which served a double purpose of store and residence. In 1858, the business was closed out, and Wilson went to Money Creek. Be was an enterprising and public spirited citizen, and served his fellow countrymen as a State Bepresentative.

In 1856, the genial and enthusiastic pioneer, W. G. McSpadden; "while high hopes of wealth and fame his bosom fired," laid out a city on his farm on the southeast of section twenty -three, near his mill. This city was named Winfield, in honor of General Scott, and with its prospective streets, avenues, squares, and parks, was to be truly metropolitan in its proportions. As no one s.iould despise the day of small things, a commencement was made by the establishment of a saloon, and a blacksmith shop which was handled by Henry Wilson. It was only when this project had obviously failed, that Looneyville was projected.

Another Village. - Soon after Looneyville had been mapped out, another town site company sprung into existence, another titular city was founded by an ambitious company, among whom were Snow, Looney, Biley, Harvey Gillett, Polleys, and perhaps others. It was situated south of Looneyville, on the southeast of section twentyseven and the northeast of thirty -four. Its founders were satisfied that the railroad, which had already been projected, would pass through it on that side of the river, but when it did finally get through they got left on the other side.

The city was duly platted and recorded, and given the canonical name of St. Lawrence, and for a long time it was regularly assessed as city property.

The elder Mr. Looney came to this place in June, 1852, and the following September brought his family, with considerable stook, including four yoke of oxen, and two horses, with cows, etc. He was born in Nashville, Tennessee, and when ten years of age was taken to Illinois, and came from there to this place. In crossing the Mississippi river he had to swim his stock.

When the village of Houston was three years old it was described as numbering thirty-five buildings, including three storehouses, two shingle factories, turning out from three to five thousand a day, two carpenter shops, chair factory and cabinet shop, one oooper shop, one blacksmith shop, a steam saw-mill, one corn mill, a turning lathe and broom factory. A school was also mentioned, and the prospect of having a brewery, a ferry, a dozen or so more buildings, with brick yard, etc. Timber was represented as being abundant, and land from $5.00 to $25.00 per acre.

Town Government

The records of the town under the original organization have not bean preserved, but the incidents connected with the first governmental move* meats, aside from the fact that they relate to the earliest history, are not of paramout interest. They are not unlike those of other places, and in the case of Houston, where our record must begin in 1861, at the time a new State law went into effect, even the personnel is not materially changed in the few intervening years.

After the act of re-organization was passed, the first town meeting was on the second day of April, 1861. O. Hempsted was moderator. At this meeting considerable attention was devoted to the building of Boot River bridge, which was then in process of construction, and an assessment of $200 was levied to complete the structure. The following officers were declared duly elected: Supervisors, Isaac Thompson, Chairman, Harvey Johnston, and Enud Solvereon ; Town Clerk, J. V. Cox; Assessor, O. Hempsted; Treasurer, M. Fannin; Justice of the Peace, T. Curtis; Constable, H. T. Stafford; Superintendent, A. Coon. The Judge at this election was Isaac Thompson, and J. B. Shoemaker was the Clerk. - April 13, 1861. The records of a meeting of the supervisors on this date, state that it was holden at Looneyville. Road business and school affairs, with appropriate action to carry out the vote of the town in relation to the bridge received attention.

May 4th, 1861. The Board met at West Houston, and in accordance with a late law of the State, making each town a school district, to be sub- divided by local authority, the districts were rearranged by making the old No. 48 to be No. 1 ;

Houston City to be No. 2; Looneyville, No. 3; and Silver Creek, which was numbered 34, to be No. 4. John Ewing was appointed Superintendent for the school district of Houston.

June 4th, 1861. At a special town meeting the question of raising a special sum by taxation to complete the bridge was decided in the negative by a vote of thirty against twenty-four. On the question of a special tax to pay the town indebtedness, forty-two votes in the affirmative and only two in the negative. On the 25th of March, 1862, at a meeting of the town board, the report of the Treasurer was received, by which it appears that the whole sum handled by the town Treasurer durinn the year, was $191.97. And, as treasurer of the school district, the sum of $52.86 were the receipts, for handling which, the sum of $1.05 was credited to him.

At the annual town meeting held on t^e 1st of April, 1862, Isaac Thompson was moderator. Mr. E. Molntire moved that a tax of $300 be levied to complete the bridge, which motion was carried; a motion also prevailed that the next annual meeting be held at Looneyville.

On the 10th of April, 1862, a petition was received by the town board, asking that a special town meeting be called, to reconsider the vote to raise money to complete the bridge. This was signed by George Stafford, and thirteen others. On the 12th inst., another petition was received, signed by E. Mclntire and fifteen others, on the same subject, and with a view of devising some plan to complete the struoture, so, on the 22d of the same month the meeting was called. It was held at the schoolhouse, and a motion to rescind the tax resolution prevailed.

The annual town meeting, on the 7th of April, 1863, was held in Looneyville. After the organization of the meeting, it was voted to hold the next town meeting in Houston city.

The Town War Record

In February, 1864, a special meeting of the board was held to devise some plan to secure credit for Houston soldiers who had enlisted in Wisconsin Regiments, and the Chairman, D. F.

Case, was designated to go to Madison and learn what could be done. In order to raise the amount necessary to defray the expense, various sums were borrowed of patriotic citizens in exchange for town orders bearing ten per cent, interest. The annual report of the Treasurer, in April, 1864, revealed the whole amount received during the year to be $236.64, and paid out, $241.98, leaving a deficiency of $5.34.

A special town meeting was held on the 9th of July, 1864, to see whether the town would pay a bounty to the recruits. It was voted that $100 be given to any one drafted, or who may be drafted within six months, or who may volunteer, if he is a married man, and $50 if he is single. On the 20th of August, 1864, another meeting was held in the quota interest, and $200 in town orders was voted to every one who should enlist and actually become a soldier under the calls of the President, payable in town orders drawing seven per cent Subscriptions were at once opened to cash these orders, which were liberally filled.

At an adjourned meeting of the town board on the 26th of August, the interest on the town orders was put up to twelve per cent, and a tax of $2,500 was assessed to pay the bounties. At another meeting held on the following day, it was reported that $475 had been handed in as a loan, and $760 on volunteer subscriptions, and on the 29th of August, it was voted that $300 be paid any drafted man who had contributed $10 or upward to the volunteer fund.

On the 11th of February, 1865, a town meeting was held to see if a special tax should be levied for bounty purposes, and fifty-two persons voted, twenty for the proposition, and thirty-two against it, so it was lost.

The question was again tested on the 11th of March, and sixty-nine votes were cast, twenty-seven for the proposition, and forty -two against it, so it was again defeated. This seems to have been the end of the trouble in filling the quota.

Other Town Affaibs

On the 11th of April, 1872, a town meeting was held to see about building a bridge at the Looneyville road, and it was resolved to build one at that place, and another at the ferry. It was also voted to issue $10,000 in bonds, to build county buildings, provided the county seat should be moved to Houston. Mr. Smith was Town Clerk at this time, and Isaac Thompson, Chairman.

Bids weie advertised for the construction of a bridge at the lowest point named, and the contract was finally concluded with Olaus Foes for the sum of $2,950.

In 1874, Alex. 8. Beid was Town Clerk. In September of this year a contract was let to build a bridge across the South Fork, to Charles Benson for $375.00. An ice breaker was constructed to protect the lower bridge, at a cost of $350, by W. G. McSpadden.

On the 14th of March, 1876, the day of the annual town meeting, the water was so high that the electors could not assemble, so a special meeting was called for the 18th of March, when the regular business was transacted.

Village Organization

The village of Houston was organized on the 7th of April, 1874, in accordance with an act of the legislature of the State, approved on the 19th of February, 1874.

The first officers elected were: H. Basmusson, President; A. P. Johnson, E. A. Brown, and P. Errikson, Trustees; D. F. Case, Clerk; O. A. Johnson, Marshal; I. Abrahamson, Treasurer; E. A. Horner, Justice of the Peace, and G. C. Turner, Assessor. At this election D. C. Dyer was Moderator; D. C. Sherman, Inspector, and P. Downing, election Clerk.

The board procured a village seal, and proceeded to administer the affairs of the village by passing appropriate ordinances. The licenses for saloons have been fixed at various times at from $75 to $125. For several years the price has been $100, and with the revenue thus derived the village expenses are usually paid without a resort to a direct tax. The officers have been selected from among the best citizens, and there has been no malfeasance or defalcation in office.

The last village officers elected were: President, L. A. Tennison; Trustees, A. S. Beid, C. Basmusson, O. Olson, and S. S. Drake; Clerk, M. A. Dieson; Treasurer, Herman Swanson; Assessor, P. Bjornson, who was elected, but died on the 22d of April, 1881, and A. S. Beid was appointed to the vacancy; Justices of the Peace, J. W. Timmonson and Thomas Byan; Marshal, Thomas Parish was elected but resigned, and L. Whitehouse was appointed in his place.

The Village Plat

is now called Lower Houston, was the east eighty of the southwest of section thirty-three, claimed by McSpadden. The west half was then "Crookston," The west half of the southwest of section thirty-four was owned by Ole Knudson, and a small strip on section thirty -three.

West of the above described property, there was 160 acres taken by David Johnson, a Swede, in 1853, and west of this, 160 acres was taken by Lars Johnson. Both of these parties subsequently sold to Mods Anderson of La Crosse. David Johnson's claim was originally taken by Mr. W. Webster, who sold it, in 1853, for $30. This tract is now the village of Houston.

It is stated that when the Southern Minnesota railroad was laid through here, that Mr. Anderson gave seventy acres of land and thus secured the station, which involved the removal of the village to where it now is.

Post-Office

As early as 1857 a Post-office was secured, Mr. A. Marsh was the first Postmaster. At Looneyville the Postmaster was Dr. Wilson, as elsewhere mentioned, and was discontinued after a few years when it was found that that village did not materialize. In 1866, the Post-office took its turn in moving to the new location, and was transferred, building and all; this was while Mr. Marsh was yet Postmaster. L. A. Tennison was the next incumbent of the office, and then D. F. Case, who was followed by the present officer, F. N. Goodrich. The receipts of the office are about $200 per quarter. While Dana F. Case was Postmaster, in 1871, it was made a money order office. The first order issued was on the 3d of August, to Lyman R Hall for the sum of $30, payable to Bradley & Metcalf, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The first month there were twenty- four orders issued. In December, 1881, the number of orders issued was one hundred and nineteen.

Manufacturing Enterprises

At an early day Mr. McSpadden, realizing the value of water-power, secured the south half of the southeast of section twenty -three which embraced a fine undeveloped power of twelve feet head, on Silver Creek, So he set himself at work in his usual vigorous way, and succeeded, in 1855, in improving his property, and by 1856, he had his saw-mill in operation. It was an old fashioned vertical frame saw, driven directly by a crank connection with a flutter wheel, and could run through a thousand feet of inch boards in a day. Mr. Eli Baker bought an interest in the mill, but soon re-sold to McSpadden who run it alone for a time. It was afterwards operated by different parties up to the close of the war, when it was finally shut down as a saw-mill. This mill was really of great value to the village of Houston and to the farmers for miles around.

Wakefield Flouring Mill. - In 1865 and '66, Mr. McSpadden put up a flouring mill at the old saw-mill dam, securing about seventeen feet fall. The mill was 30x40 feet, two stories high, with a basement, and was propelled by a turbine wheel. It did good work until 1874, when a flood swept it away.

With an enterprise which was most commendable, Mr. McSpadden at once put up another and a superior mill of the same size, and placed in it three run of stones, with an oat meal attachment It was driven by an improved turbine wheel under a tweenty feet head, and had a capacity of fifty barrels a day. This mill run with varied success until December, 1878, when it was destroyed by fire, and has not been rebuilt

The Redding Flouring and Saw-mill. - This mill is on the South Fork of Boot River in section thirty-four, about one mile east of Houston village. On this spot a saw-mill was commenced about the year 1867, and completed two years afterwards by E. W. and Charles Hoyt In 1871, this property was bought by Mr. N. A. Redding who has since run the mill, which has a circular saw with a capacity of 3,000 feet per day, and is driven by water.

In 1875, Mr. Redding commenced the erection of a flouring mill adjoining the saw-mill; it is 30x 40 feet, two stories in height, and has two run of stones and a capacity of thirty barrels a day. It has a head of six feet, and a turbine wheel transmits the power. In 1879, a run of feed stones was introduced, and the whole establishment is run as a custom mill.

Saw-mill and Machine Shop. - Sometime in 1867 or '68, a shop was put up on the farm of Charles Smith on section thirty-six, in the western part of the town. Blacksmithing utensils were put in at first, and after a while an engine and turning lathe, making quite a machine shop, which was managed by Mr. Simeon Todd. In 1872, Mr. Todd and Mr. Smith erected a saw-mill with a good sized steam engine for power, and with a reciprocating saw began operations and kept it in motion for about two years, when some of the machinery was sold, and the rest lays along the roadside as corroding emblems of departed usefulness.

* Houston Roller Fouring Mill. - In 1875, Wm. H. Gorsland commenced the erection of a flouring mill on the Root River, on the northern edge of the village of Houston, and in May, 1877, it was put in operation at a cost of about $40,000, and run through the summer as a custom mill. At that time it had six run of stones. In the fall of that year he began the manufacture of merchant flour, and some months subsequently disposed of a two-thirds undivided interest in the whole property to Williams & Fall. The new firm thus created proceeded to make additions to the mill by adding 20 feet in length to the original building, which was 36x40 feet, so that the mill is now 36x60 feet, four stories high and a basement, and a side track from the railroad to the mill was built. This enlargement made room for six more run of stones. In August, 1880, Mr. W. W. Cargill bought the working interest of Mr. Gorsland. The mill was about this time converted into a roller mill, and the machinery, as then arranged and still operated, consists of three run of stones, seven sets of corrugated and six sets of smooth rolls, one separator, one smutter, one cockle machine, nine purifiers, and other appliances requisite for the production of the finer grades of flour. It has a capacity of from 250 to 300 barrels per day, and is run continuously, except Sundays, with two sets of employes. The mill has a good water power, with eight feet head, and seven improved turbine wheels keep the machinery in motion. In connection with this mill there is a cooper shop, which employs ten or twelve men. This manufacturing establishment is, of course, by far the most important in the town, contributes largely to the prosperity of the village, and furnishes a large proportion of the freight from this station. The firm name is now Williams, Cargill & Fall. They are extensive grain dealers, Mr. Reid being their purchasing agent.

Amber Cane Syrup Manufactory. - A few years ago Mr. McSpadden, with a firm belief that 'Old things shall pass away and all things become new," resolved to utilize his water power by the establishment of a sorghum manufactory, and at once proceeded to put his plans into operation. He procured a plantation cane crusher, with a capacity of 200 gallons of syrup a day, and this was connected with an overshot water wheel, utilizing the old dam. He also procured a large Cook evaporator and other necessary machinery, and his success has been quite phenomenal. He has all the necessary appurtenances and fixtures for settling, cooling, and storing the amber sweetness. In the season of 1881, he made 4,250 gallons of syrup of very superior quality. This is evidently the best plan for the farmers, to raise the cane, and have it manufactured without loss or danger of failure, by an expert in the business.

Business Directory

D. C. Dyer, general merchandise, dry goods, groceries, hardware, tin ware, boots and shoes, hats and caps, clothing, drugs, medicines, etc. Has been in trade fifteen years, first buying out an established drug store in the lower village.

Field & Briggs, general merchandise, groceries, boots and shoes, fancy goods, drugs, medicines, and notions. Have been in business here seven years.

L. R. Hall, dry goods, clothing, boots and shoes, hats and caps, groceries, crockery and glassware, fancy goods and notions. Country produce bought Proprietor of hay scales. Has been in business eighteen years.

Isaac Abrahamson, has been been established twenty years. Dealer in dry goods, clothing, boots and shoes, hate and caps, crockery, glassware and notions.

L. A. Tennison, hardware, light and heavy grind stones, tin ware, merhant iron, agricultural implements, and tools. Hay scales. Also furniture and coffins and an undertaking business. Seven years established.

Railroad Station

The road is the Southern Minnesota division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St Paul railroad. The amount received for freight forwarded is about $2,800 a month, and for freight received about $3,000 and perhaps $300 a month for passenger fares.

Religious

The earliest religious, society organized was shortly after the settlement of Swede Bottom It was a Swedish Baptist church, and was invoked into existence on the 18th of August, 1853, with a membership of nine, under the inspiring leadership of Bev. F. O. Nelson, a sketch of whose life appears elsewhere in this volume. It seems that he drank deeply of a new found faith on coming to this country, but subsequently, not only threw this np, but all other theological teaching he had previously imbibed, even forbidding that religious services should be held at his funeral.

In 1854, the cholera was epidemic in this region, and five members of this congregation were swept away; Mrs. Ole Benson, Mrs. Lars Johnson, Mrs. Abraham Anderson, Mrs. Johannes Anderson, and a young son of Abraham Anderson. These victims of this plague were interred in section three, and the spot enclosed, but it is not now used as a burial place. This was, of course, a profound shook to the church, and indeed to the whole community. Meetings were continued at private houses at straggling intervals up to about the year 1866, when a small church was put up at the cost of about $300, which was kept in commission

As to the supply for this pulpit, Rev. D. ifask took charge in 1856, and continued one year, gathering two additional members. In October, 1858, Eev. A. Norelius assumed the place, and wrought among this people up to the 12th of June, 1859, introducing ten new members. From this time up to October 1861, Abraham Anderson was the leader, when Rev. John Anderson became the minister, and he is still in charge of the little flock.

Loonbt Valley Baptist Society. - At an early day, meetings were held for a few months at the sohoolhouse by a Mr. Hamlin, and after awhile a missionary from Money Creek, Mr. Corey, came over and held services at the lower schoolhouse, and at the residences of the settlers. This was kept up for a year or so, when, in the winter of 1857-58, an organization was effected at the house of Andrew Samuelson on section fourteen, and after the upper schoolhouse was completed, meetings were held there, but in time the society ceased to exist.

The United Brethren in Christ. - The moving spirit in an attempt to build up this church was a Mr. Miner, who began expounding the gospel, as he understood it, in 1859, using the upper schoolhouse as a meeting place, and he succeded in arousing considerable interest. His efforts were supplemented by Caleb Addleman. Afterwards Rev. Mr. Dingerman, and then Rev. Mr. Jones occupied the pulpit, but in the course of eight or nine years this organization also ceased to exist.

Methodist. - Rev. Mr. Wagner commenced holding meetings in the lower schoolhouse some time during the last of the decade of 1860, preaching through the winter and a part of the following summer. Rev. Mr. Ransom was afterwards here, then Mr. Wagner returned for a time, but there is now no organization.

Presbyterian Church.- - In the year 1860, a society was organized with but five members. The meetings were first held at the schoolhouse. The Rev. Sheldon Jackson and the Rev. Mr. Lyon, now Superintendent of missions, were sometimes here. Rev. Mr. Hendren, Rev. Mr. Frothingham, Rev. Mr. Cunningham, and others, labored in this vineyard, holding meetings in the schoolhouse until about 1869, when the society succeeded in

Lutheran Evangelical Church. - In 1874, or about that time, services in this interest were commenced, and a society was got together. In 1881, it was re-organized, and now has about ten families in the society. The supply is from La Crosse and there is service at the schoolhouse once in three weeks. Among the clergymen who have attended are Rev. P. Nelson, Rev. O. C. Schonhool, Rev. P. Ostley, and Rev. J. A. Berg. The society seems to be in a healthy condition although not large.

Episcopal Church. - The Church of Our Savior was built about 1866, at the lower part of the present village. It is a neat but not large structure.

Among the pastors who have officiated here may be named, Rev. Mr. Powell, Rev. Mr. Spor, Rev. Mr. Cowdrey, and the present pastor, Rev. Mr. Gurr, who resides in Brownsville and holds services here every third Sunday.

Houston Free ] Baptist Church. - During the fall of 1878, Rev. Daniel D. Mitchell, who was a clergyman stationed at Money Creek, had appointments at Houston, and on the 14th of February, 1879, an organization was effected at the house of John B. Gerard, with ten members. Charles Smith was chosen deacon, and J. B. Gerard, Clerk. In September of that year, the Rev. J. B. Palmer, with the pastor, Mr. Mitchell, held a series of meetings, and a large number of members were added to the church. At first the church was auxiliary to the Money Creek Society, but on the 5th of December, 1879, an independent society was instituted.

In May, 1880, Mr. Mitchell was called to a church near Minneapolis, where he remained until May, 1881, when he returned, and is now in charge of this society and that at Money Creek, with an appointment for a single service at Yucatan every alternate Sunday. On the reorganization, Charles Smith and John B. Gerard were made Deacons; George Wilson, Treasurer, and J. Johnson, Clerk. For a part of the time, while Mr. Mitchell was away, Mr. L. Gibbon was pastor. Deacon Charles Smith, an estimable man and Christian worker, died on the 5th of June, 1880. The society occupies the Presbyterian church, and has forty members.

Roman Catholic. - On the 10th of June, 1872, the Rev. Mathew Stuerenberg appointed Thomas Vernott, Michael Shields, and Michael McCan, a building committee with full power to collect money and to contract for building a church according to plans and specifications furnished. On the 27th of June, 1874, the committee arranged with Mr. O. Fobs, of Rushford, to build, according to the plana furnished by Mr. Ross, of La Crosse, a church, 24x40 feet, with sixteen feet post, to be completed by the 14th of October.

The sum of $1,360 was to be paid for completing the outside and the floor, to be paid in two installments. The church was not finally completed until 1877, and the present seats were introduced in 1880. The whole cost of the structure was about $2,000. There are about twenty-five families who attend upon the ministrations of this church.

At an early day occasional meetings were held once in four weeks or so, usually in the house of James Haley. Rev. Father Cornelius, was here for a time. Now Rev. P. Pernin, who li ves in La Crescent, is the pastor.

Masonic

Mystic Circle Lodge, No. 78. Instituted on the 23d of October, 1868. Charter granted on the 13th of January, 1869. The first officers were E. H. Kennedy, W. M.; W. S. Case, S. W.; Eugene Marshall, J. W. This lodge flourished for awhile, but on account of removals, it had such a small membership that the charter and paraphernalia were finally surrendered to the Grand Lodge. F. N. Goodrich was the last piaster of the ledge. Requiescat in pace.

Oak Ridge cemetery, southeast of the village, was laid out by Morris Fannin, and there are two others, all located on section four. There are several other burial places which are alluded to elsewhere, in other parts of the town. But thus far the people of the town have made no specialty of landscape gardening in connection with their burial places. The first interment in Oak Ridge cemetery was that of Miss E. A. Mclntire, who was sixteen years and six months of age at the time of her death.

The general history of the rise, progress, and present condition of the schools in the town of Houston, is almost, in its salient points, a duplicate of that of any other town in the county that may be mentioned.

District No. 16. - The original schoolhouse of this district was a frame building, constructed on section thirty-one. The railroad right of way passes over the old spot. It was a most important institution, being the meeting house and public hall for the time. Revivals and four days meetings were not uncommon, the Baptists taking the lead. In 1878," a new one was built a few rods south of where the old one stood.

The Village School, District No. 15. - The first school was in an old shanty formerly used by Mr. Joel Marsh in lower town, near the bank of the river, west of the present bridge, it was in about 1855. It is likely that the first school here was taught by Miss Leonard, afterwards Mrs. George Tyler. When the village was transplanted to its present location, the school, of course, followed it, and after a time a good schoolhouse was erected on the southern margin of the village, where a graded school is now maintained. It has two good rooms with a seating capacity of 160, with modern benches, fixtures, and appliances.

The school now has enrolled 145 pupils. The divisions are primary, intermediate, and g rammer, taught by two gentlemen, Mr. D. B. Jewett, the principal, who has charge of the upper department, and Mr. H. B. Russell, of the lower department Mr. S. P. Gale, a former principal, died in the fall of 1881. The school is a credit to the town.

District No. 10. - The first schoolhouse put up was in 1854 or '55. It was constructed on the co-operative plan. The neighbors got together, bringing the material and their dinners, and having a regular pic-nic. The affair was 14x20 feet, and the benches were benches indeed, long, four legged backless stools. The first school was taught by Miss Angelina Sperry, of Hamilton, now Money Creek. There was quite an attendance of scholars. It was afterwards held in the vacated store of Mr. Wilson. This was the school house until the present brick structure was laid up which cost about $800. It is located in section twenty-three.

house were hauled in the winter of 1857, and the following spring they were put together on section fourteen; Peter Brandt and Kelsy Curtis were the contractors. The school was opened in the summer of 1858, Mrs. J. Coon being the teacher, and there were about twenty-four pupils. The school was held there up to 1881, when a new building was put up on section eleven, at a cost of nearly $600.

District No. 83. - This formed a part of the Houston village school, No. 15, until about 1871, when it was organized as an independent district. At first the sessions of the school were held in the Swedish Baptist Church, but the next summer their school building was erected. While the school was in the church Miss Sheldon, of Mound Prairie, was the teacher.