Meeker County, Minnesota - Chapter 2: Early Settlement, 1888

Chapter 2: Early Settlement

reader, and of absorbing interest to the pioneer himself. For several years prior to the advent of white settlers, this portion of the State was frequently traversed by hunters and trappers. The nomadic Indian for ages had here found his hunting ground, and doubtless his battlefield, and the woods, if they could speak, could tell of dire deeds of blood that were #nacted beneath their leafy shade.

During the summer of 1855 three men in a canoe paddled and poled their way up the Crow River, through the " Big Woods," into what is now Meeker county. They were John "W. liuy, Benjamin Brown and a man named Mackenzie, and were in search of pine timber for some lumber firm. Pushing onward through the forest, they emerged upon the prairie east of where Forest City afterward stood, and were delighted with the view that burst upon their sight.

"The wondrous, beautiful prairie, billowy bays of grace ever rolling in t^iatlows and sunshine," intei-spersed with groves of timber, islands of verdure in an emerald sea. The paradise of lake and land that lay before them in its pristine loveliness charmed them, and, returning to their employers with the report of their failure to find in this direction the object of their (juest, John Iluy made up a party to come to this ideal land and settle.

In company with D. M. Hanson, Rudolph Shultz and Thomas H. Skinner, he came back the same fall, by way of Glencoe, and on their arrival at the Crow River located a town site upon the north bank, opposite the mouth of the creek, on section 13 of what is now Harvey township. To this prospective village they gave the name of Kar-i-shon, the Indian name for " crow." Erecting a claim shanty upon the shelving banks of the ripi)lingstream, Iluy and Skinner commenced housekeeping, Hanson returning to Minneapolis, where he died in April, 1856.

The two adventurers passed the winter, for the most part, in their humble cabin in the pathless wilderness, to hold their claim to the town site, but in the spring, discovering at some distance down the river, a more eligible site for a village, moved on to sections 17 and 20, of what is now Forest City township, on which thej' at once erected a claim shanty, calling the place " the village of Forest City." John Huy also, afterward, pre-empted the northeast quarter of section li).

Upon this tract arose the villnge that for about twelve years was the county seat of Meeker county, and a history of it is given elsewhere in this Album. John Huy lived here until the summer of 1862, when he left the county. He is now a resident of the State of California, quite well-to-do. Thomas H. Skinner, who was quite a prominent figure in those early days, died in Milwaukee, whither he had gone on business, August 20, 1863, and is buried at St. Albans, Me., his boyhood's home.

Rudolph Shultz made a settlement early in 1856, he having spent the previous winter in Minneapolis, on section 26, Harvey township, where he now lives.

Abijah Bemis came here in the early spring of 1856, and was appointed the first sheriff of the county, to help organize it. He re mained until tlie fall of 1857, and then left this locality.

Milton G. Moore, the first register of deeds of the county, took up his residence early in the year, 1856, before the snow was off of the ground. He remained for a year or so, and then left this part of the country.

Dr. Frederick Noah Kipley and John McClelland took up claims in Ellsworth township, on coming to this county late in the fall of 1855. They erected a cabin on the shores of Cedar Lake, where they passed the winter, but running short of provisions, on the 1st of March, 1856, they started across the country to the shanty of John Iluy and his party, near Forest City, where they knew they could replenish their stores. Although it was a beautiful morning when they started, the breeze warm and balmy, and the snow melting fast, before long a terrible blizzard sprang u]i and enveloped them. They were compelled to camp that night, and having neither food nor blankets, for they expected to travel the eighteen miles before dark, they suffered intensely. In the morning they again started on their quest. On striking the river they were lost and could not tell whether they were above or below the cabin they sought, so about two o'clock they, being discouraged, started back for their claim, as the storm had abated. The}' had no matches to build a fire, the few in their possession having become wet, and the want of food enfeebled them. As they stumbled on their course. Dr. Ripley became too weak to travel, and insisted on his companion going on and seeking safety, and leave him to his fate, telling him at tlie same time, if help could be got for him to come to his assistance. He perished in the snow near the shores of the beautiful lake that now bears his name, and his remains were found the following spring by W. S. Chapman and a party of others, and buried beneath the trees where he was found. The Masonic fraternity, of which he was a member, on the laying out of the Litchfield cemetery, exliumed his body and j^laced it in consecrated ground in the center of the circle in that beautiful " city of tlie dead." McClelland had to have both legs amputated, and barely escaped with his life. He afterward removetl to Becker county, this State, where he finally became register of deeds.

J. B. Salisbury, still a resident of the coimty , came here first in the summer of 1855, with a Government surveying party, and was enengaged in running town lines. In the fall he went back to Scott county, Iowa, but in the spring of 1856 returned here and made a settlement in Kingston. With him came Joseph Weymer, Sr., his father-in-law, and two brother-in-laws, Joseph, Jr., and Jacob. The elder Weymer settled in Forest City, as did his son Jacob. Joseph, Ji'., located in Ivingston. Jacob removed to Iowa, where he now lives. Joseph, Sr., died in Iowa, whence he had removed, but Joseph, Jr., is still a citizen of the county.

On the 20th of June, 1856, T. Carlos Jewett made his appearance in this county, and seven days later, having spent that time in looking over the country and finding the section lines, made a claim upon the southwest quarter of section 31, in Forest City township. At the time of his arrival here his entire capital consisted of $16.19, besides considerable energy and Yankee thrift. He is still among his old associates, residing in the city of Litchfield.

July 2 of the same year marked the settlement of Isaac C. Delamater. His claim was located upon the southwest quarter of section 29, Forest City township.

Josiah W. Dorman and Benjamin Dorman, Alpheus C. Maddox, Henry, Warren and Cyrus Averill, Mark Gates, Elmer Harper, William Higgins, John Fitzgerald, Patrick

Flynn, John T. Kennison and A. B. Whitnev iiiaile, settlements in the territory now enibi'iiced in the civil townshij) of Kingston. Josiah Dormandied in this county about two years ago; Benjamin Dorman remained a resident until about 1878 or 1880. John Fitzgerald died herein 1876, and John Flynn was gathered to his fathers many years ago. Alpheus C. Maddox left this county about twenty years ago, and is now living at Lake Calhoun, Kandiyohi county. Henry Averill left the county, having, when acting as sheriff, stabbed Kennison in a fight ; his brothers Warren and C\'rus left the county about 1858. Mark Gates is still a citizen of Meeker county. Elmer Harper and "William Higgins did not remain long in this locality. John T. Kennison made his residence here until about 1870, and is now a citizen of Minneapolis ; and A. B. Whitney, after about two years' residence, emigrated to California, where he now lives. S. B. Ilutchins, another settler in the same town in the year 1856, remained here until 1863, when he left, and now has his home in French Lake township, Wright county.

Nathan C. Caswell, Ziba Caswell, Christopher Davis, and Green Sykes, made a trip through this county in November, 1855, in search of a mill site and lands for farming. This part}"^ returning to Monticello, AV right county, on the 10th of December, following, N. C. and Ziba Caswell again started for the country that had jileased them so much on the first trip. They simply came to prospect, and that part of the country now embraced in the town of Manannah, pleasing them, they returned here in the spring of 1856, with Alonzo, Silas and Albert Caswell, James Nelson, Edward Brown and A. D. Pierce, and took up claims in the neigliborhood of what was afterwards known as the the town site of Manannah, which was laid out and surveyed in December, 1856. The new settlement was reinforced the same autumn Ijy the arrival of Andrew Hamilton, Charles Caswell and John Tower.

Timothy Dunn and Patrick Condon came to tiiis county in 1856. and .settled in Darwin township. Mr. Dunn is still a resident, but Condon was frozen to death in January, 1873.

A considerable number of settlers came through the Big Woods together, early in July, 1856, and found homes in this country. They were friends, countrymen and neighbors, for the most part, in Lidiana, who were on their way to California's golden shores, when, at Dubuque, Iowa, they heard of the rich lands in this new country and determined to investigate. These people were John Flynn, his wife, family, consisting of Michael J., then some sixteen years of age, Daniel and Elizabeth ; S. IMarshall, two hired men and a nephew ; John Dougherty and family; John Whalen and family, Thomas Dougherty and family, Edward Fitzgerald and family, Patrick Fitzgerakl and family, and Morris Powers and family.

After a preliminary survey of the country made by Messrs. Flynn and Whalen, they all came here and made settlements, some in Kingston, some in Forest Cit}', and some further west in Harvey. They arrived in the county on the Stli of July. Dr. Y. P. Kennedy came to what is now Meeker county, in June, 1S56, and took the same claim in Ellsworth township, in section 31, on the shores of Cedar Lake, the same place as was formerly claimed by Dr. Pipley. The Dr. is now a resident of the county seat.

Nathan Butler and M. M. Standish, two surveyors, came to this locality in the early part of 1856, and pi-ospected through the country. Butler settled on a claim of beau- tiful timber in Acton, which he owned for some time, but finally sold, and went to Minneapolis. lie is v/hat is known as a " cruiser," looking out timber land for parties engaged in tiie lumber trade, at the present time. Standish enlisted in the First Minnesota during the war, and never returned to tliis coimty.

Two men by the names of George Orcutt and Mr. Pratt, made a claim in what is now Greenleaf township, in the summer of 1856, but having had one of their oxen killed b}^ the Indians, this breaking up their team, they, in discouragment abandoned their land, and a short time afterward left the county.

William Benson, Swen and Nels Swenson, and Michael Lenhardt made settlements in what is now Litchfield township, in the year 1856, and all are still residents of the original homesteads.

C. L. Eichardson and Edwin Ayres, Avho were surveyors by profession, made their appearance in the county in 1856, and took up claims in what is now Dassel township. They made their home here until the Indian massacre times of 1862, when they left and never returned.

Judson A. Stanton made a claim on section 24, Harvey, where he remained for a time, then entered into trade at Forest City. He remained there until tlie Indian outbreak, and now lives at Sauk City.

Dudley and Samuel Taylor took up their residence in Forest City, on the 25th of June. Dudley Taylor entered the army during the late war and was hurt by the falling of the deck of the steamer "Gladiator," in the Tennessee river, and on his discharge went to New York State, where he died shortly afterwards. Samuel Taylor is living on the claim he took upon first coming here.

J. W. Walker and Reuben Davis came to this section of the State late in the fall of the same year and settled in Harvey, but only remained a short time.

John W. Patterson took up a claim on the northwest quarter of section 30, Forest City, where he took up bachelor " house-keeping " and made his home here for some time, and then left for Minneapolis, where he was when last heard from.

Peter Stearns, John Peiffer and Gottleib Reef, three Germans, made their appearance here and took claims in the town of Darwin. Peter Stearns, a veteran member of both the First and Second Cavalry during the last war, is still resident here; Peiffer also lives on his original claim, and Reef is now a wealthy farmer of Kandiyohi county, having gone there in 1865.

Frederick Cook made a trip to this count}^ from Illinois in July, of this same year, and, liking the looks of it, returned to his home, and the next month brought his brothers, Christopher, Ferdinand and William, with him and made a settlement in Litchfield township. Fred died in 1860 ; Chris, in 1858; William was killed accidentally in the army, and Ferdinand is a resident of Manannah at the present time.

Lyman Allen and Messrs. Baker iind Allen came to the county and settled in what is now Union Grove, this same year. Baker died here, and the other two, in 1860, returned to their home in the "Old Bay State."

Charles E. Cutts and Walter Bacon settled on adjoining claims in the town of Forest City, in the fall of 1856, and put up bachelor quarters, where they lived. Mr. Cutts, who has been prominently identified with the history of the county, is still a resident upon his original preemption ; Mr. Bacon, after living here some yeai-s, moved to Otter Tail county, and is a resident of Fergus Falls.

James B. Atkinson came to the site of Forest City on the 7th of February, 1857, where he found but about five people. He had with him a load of merchandise, and at once put up a store, and in April opened the first store in the county. A full account of his business afl'airs may be found in the history of the village of Forest City, and a sketch of this well-known resident of Litchfield in the biographical department of this work.

trade in the city of Litchfield, is also a settler of the same \'ear, coming to Forest City in April, where he found but seven men, who all lived in one house. Their names were Thomas II. Skinner, Walter Brown, A. Bemis, Matthew Stand ish, M. G. Moore, and two others. With him came Charles N. Shedd, and the two men took up adjoining claims in Forest City township.

About the same time that Atkinson came, there appeared Henry N. Baker, one of the original Baker family, from Waukeegan, 111., a jolly scapegrace, most widely known, who hoped to bury in the woods some of his escapades. He remained here for a few years, and then returned to his friends. He acted as judge of probate here in 1857-8-9.

Jacob Ball, carpenter, located in the village of Forest City, this county, in the spring of 1857, and erected a store building for James B. Atkinson. He followed his trade somewhat, and taking up a claim on section 4, did some farming. After a few years passed here, he returned to Canada.

Rev. John Robson, an ordained minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, came to the new settlement at Forest Cit}"^ early in the same year, and preempted 160 acres of land, the northwest quarter of section 20, and operated the saw-mill for a time. He was the first justice of the peace, and made this place his home for a few years, but left here previous to the Indian outbreak, removing to the far East, and died at Medford, Mass.

H. Walker, a carpenter, came to the rising village in May, 1857, and took up his residence. After some years' residence here he removed from the county, and, when last heard from, was keeping a hotel at Buffalo, Wright county.

James Willis, who is a resident at the present of the town of Litchfield, located in a claim south of Forest City in 1857, where he made his home for many years,

The tide of immigration having set toward this section of the State, Avest of the "Big Woods," many, being delighted with the picturesque scenery and abundant fei'tility of the land of Meeker county, settled in the county of Meeker during the years of 1857 and 1858, and the country began to assume the appearance of being the home of white people. The blue smoke curling from the chimneys of the cabins of the settlers, the ploughed ground around their little clearings and breakings, and the hum of busy industry announced the coming of civilization. Among those located in the county in 1857, not mentioned were Dennis Shields, John and A. F. Heath, John Wigle, L. F. Haines, Jacob Reef, Isjiac Perrine, James Murphy, John Kimball, S. W. Ryan, B. F. Butler, Willard Keats, Charles McPartheon, David Ralston, L. A. Henry, Richard Poole, Allen Teachout, H. M. Angier, J. P. Botham, W. W. Woodman, Jacob Knapp, Henry Bierman, Louis and Maximillian Cook and their mother, A. B. Hoyt, D. P. Delemater, A. C. Campbell, Charles Willis, N. O. Griffin, Patrick Finnegan, Mark AVarren, Messrs. Charlton and Andrews, George S. Sholes Sr., William Marble, William Cramer; Charles, William and Herman Krueger, Bengt Hanson; John. Nels, Andrew, Peter E., and Lewis Larson; Hogan Peterson, Tholson J. Cornelius, Ole Amundson, Nels Danielson, Kettle Haroldson, Henry J. Johnson, John Nelson; Jesse V. Branham Sr., and his sons, AVilliam, Jesse and Edward; Oscar

Rev. J. C. Whitney, in 1858, came to the new settlement, and bought the claim of Nathan Roberts, adjoining the town site, where he lived for some years, after Avhich he removed to the city of Minneapolis, and acted as United States ganger for a time, since which time he has grown quite wealthy in the real estate business, and makes his home in the " Flour City."

Among those who took up their residence in the county during the year 1858, there have been gathered the following names - J. D. Evans, A. C. Smith. R. W. Brown, Ursillius S. Willie, George S. Sholes Jr., J. A. Baird, Thomas E. Massey, Charles and Samuel Getchell, Daniel Campbell, Levi L. Getchell, E. K. Wright, James Merrill, F. M. Scott, Dennis Cronin, G. W. Parker, N. W. Bannister, Charles May bee, E. O. Britt, Vincent Coombs, Thomas McGannon, Iver Jackson, Bengt Nelson, Dana E. King, William n. Greenleaf, Bennett M. Brink, William H. Wilcox, Thomas Ryckman, Christian Erickson, Halver Michelson, Ole Munson and Ole Lindquist.

A full history of the settlement, location of their homes, etc., of many of the old settlers is given in detail in the annals of their respective towns, or in the biographical departments, to whicli chapters tiie reader is referred for particulars.

Histokical Items

The first birth in Meeker county was that of Sarah Jane, daughter of Thomas Douglierty, born while the family were still livingin a wagon, before getting to their claim, July 15, 1856. She is now living with her parents in Harvey township.

The first death W'as that of Dr. Frederick N. Eipley, who was frozen to death March 3, 1856, on the shores of the beautiful lake that bears his name, in Litchfield township, and commemorates this unhappy man's cruel fate. The second death was that of Frank Parsons, who died Noveinl)er 20, 1856, and was buried on the town site of Foi'est City.

The first land bi'oken was by Benjamin Dorman, in the summer of 1856, in Kingston township. Morris Powers broke the sod next the same season.

Thefirst house erected was a shanty, put .up by John Huy and his party at the junction of the creek with the Crow river, on section 13, Ilai-vey township, in the summer of 1855.

The first religious services were held at Forest City in November, 1856, at which Ilev. John Robson, a ]\rethodist clergyman, delivered the sermon and led the exercises.

On the 2-2d of :\[arch, 1858, the United States land office, under A. C. Smith, register, and John D. Evans, receiver, was opened at Forest City, and this was deemed an important era in the history of that town and of the county. There was but a small quantity of land upon which claims had been filed at that time, in this portion of the State, and consequently, with the considerable title of immigration this way, the land office was crowded nearly all the time. Old settlers state that in those davs it was no uncommon sight toseea large number of landseekers camped all around the office, awaiting their turn to enter their claim or ti-ansact other business with the officers. The building in which it was located was a small log shanty. Here the office remained until after the Indian outbreak in August, 1862, when it was removed back to Minneapolis, but some time after the cessation of hostilities and peace again reigned upon the bonier it was brought l)ack to this county and located at Greenleaf, where it remained some time.

The first homestead under the act of Congress authorizing their entry was taken and filed by Samuel Taylor in 1863; this was located upon the south half of the southeast quai'ter of section -1, in the town of Darwin, and was first claimed by Richard Poole.

The first term of the district court held in the county was in October, 1859, with lion. E. O. ILamlin upon the bench, and met in the office of A. C. Smith, in Forest City. The first case before the court was that of John Peiffert'.^. Peter Stearns, and was a singular one. They were brothers-in law, and hail erected one cabin on the line between their farms, so as to cover both with their residence. After a time they quarreled, and Peiffersliot Stearns as the latter was attem]iting to cany off his share of the lumber of the house, and to settle the shooting case Peiffer gave the other a chattel mortgage on two yoke of oxen, but on the maturity of the claim refused to give up the cattle, as the mortgage had been given to comjiouiid a felony. During this ti'ial, as to who was the owner of the cattle, was impaneled the first petit jury in tlie county, which consisted of the following named : George S. Sholes, Sr., foreman ; Azro B. Iloyt, J. C. Scribner, Alexander Lee, T. E. AVebb, Thos. Dougherty, A. C. Maddox, Samuel L. Getcliell, George "W. Baird, Edward Brown, John Black well and Charles Duffy. Tlie verdict was found for tlie plaintiff, tliree cents damages. U. S. Willie appeared for Stearns, and A.C. Smith for Peiffer. These two were tlie sole members of the bar, but at this term AVilliam Kichards was admitted to tlie bar, tlie first in the county so honored.

The first gristmill in die county was erected at Kingston. Its construction was commenced in 1856, by A. P. AVhitney, and finished the following year. This was the pioneer mill of the region lying west of the Big Woods, and was a gi-eat advantage to the earlj' settlers, as all their flour, previous to its completion, had to lie hauled here by teams from St. Paul. This mill is still in operation. Mills were built shortly after this, one at Greenleaf anil one at Porest City.

The pioneer postoffice of the county was established in the spring of 1857, at Forest City, with James B. Atkinson as postmaster. Pie had the office in his store, but there was no regular mail until the fall of the same year, when a mail route was established between that point and St. Cloud, and a man by the name of Evans became mail-carrier. He covered the thirty-five miles between the two places on foot, and frequently got into Forest City b\' 2 o'clock in the afternoon.

The first hotel in the county was a log building, where entertainment of a primitive character was dispensed in 1856 and 1857, by Mr. and Mrs. Dudley Taylor.