Rice County, Minnesota - Genebal Descrrption Early Settlement - Town, 1882

Genebal Descrrption Early Settlement - Town

Sbieltlsville is one of the townships in the western tier, situated just north of Morristown. On the north is Erin; on the east Wells, and on the west LeSueur county, embracing as its territory thirty-six sections, or 23,0-40 acres, of which a greater portion is under cultivation.

There are no cataracts or water- powers, but it is abundantly supplied with lakes. The largest of these is Cedar Lake, in the southeastern part of the town, covering portions of sections twenty-five, . twenty- six, twenty-eight, thirty-four, thirty-five, and thirty-sis. A number of islands dot the placid surface of water. West of this lake one mile is Mud Lake, covering about 320 acres of section twenty -eight. Rice Lake floods about the same number of acres in sections sixteen and seventeen, and east of this one mile a small body of water known as Hunt Lake occupies a part of section fifteen. In the northern portion of the township is Tuft's Lake, and another small body of water infringes on the territory from Erin. These lakes are almost all connected by small rivulets and streams, sluggishly and lazily wending their way through the marsh lands and lakes, to eventually mingle with the Cannon River as it rolls on to the Atlantic.

To the eye Shieldsville presents a view of undulating surface, with here and there a tendency to hilly, timber, marsh, and meadow land. The wild forest, the tranquil and glassy lakes, embedded in the midst of the hills, and the sluggish course of the lazy streams as they wind their pathway between the sister lakes, combine to make Shieldsville a pleasant and picturesque spot.

All through the township the early pioneers found beautiful groves of oak, and all sturdy varieties of timber, interspersed with maple and walnut; and in the shady aisles of this miniature forest, clear sparkling springs bubbled up, furnishing, without stint or measure, that best of beverages - pure, clear, cold water - and forming the fountain heads of many affluents to the Cannon River. A great deal of the timber has now been removed, but enough remains to furnish an idea of the delightful prospect which lured early explorers in search of this kind of laud, to found homes in this locality.

The town is well adapted to agricultural pursuits, and has a large cultivatadarea, yielding, be" sides the usual cereals, all the crops common to this latitude, and in the low lands, an alniiidant yield of hay. Fruit culture is also attended to in a moderate and limited way, with fair results.

A sketch of this township published in 18(58, by F. W. Frink, says: -'Shieldsville, the town joining Morristown on the corth, is another township of timber land. Its area of taxable lands, exclusive of town lots, comprises 17,816 acres. About 2,500 acres of its surface is occupied by lakes, of which there are eight, either wholly or in part within the township. It has also bewteen 1,500 and 1,600 acres of railroad lands, 434 acres still belonging to the government, and 480 acres of unsold school lands within its limits. Its population is made up chiefly of emigrants from Ireland, with but few adults American born within its boundaries. Non-resident lands in the township may be had for from .'$2.50 to $5 per acre."

Since the above was written some changes have taken place; the unsold land mentioned has long since almost all passed into the hands of actual Settlers; and instead of S2.50 to $5 per acre, cannot now be purchased for less than from .flO to »;25 ])er acre. The statement as to the inhabitants will ajjply readily to the present writing, ex- cept that the American jiopwlation has grown more rapidly than the foreign born. In 1860, the population of Shieklsville was 343; in 1865, 384; ill 1870, 562; and in 1880, the last census gave the township 771, and village 118; total, 889.

As to the vahies in Shieldsville, the census taken in '70"reports that the real property amounts to $109,750; personal, $39,725; total, 149,425; the total assessed valuation for the same year was .$68,880. In 1882, after the County Commissioners had equalized the county taxes, the assessed vahie of property in Shieldsville was as follows: real property, $90,159; personal, $23,010; total, 113,- 169, showing the creditable increase in assessed value since 1870, of .S44,289.

As in Erin township, the early settlement of Shieldsville was due almost entirely to the descendents of the Emerald Isle, and was known in early days as General Shield's colony. About the first to arrive in the township was General Shields, a native of Ireland, who laid out the village of Shieldsville and at once took steps towards collecting his countrymen about him. He arrived in 1855, early iu the spring, and after staying long enough to lay out the village, he retraced his stfejis to St. Paul, returning the same year with a number of Irishmen, many of whom settled in Erin and were identified with the early growth and settlement of that locality. Sliields then commenced a period of advertising in the papers of the East, stating that he had located here, and was desirous of being joined by his countrymen, and began raising colonies. This had a telling effect, as it was not long until they began crowding in on foot, by horse, ox, and cow teams, and taking farms, until by the fall of 1856, the town was pretty well settled, and the government laud,of the better quality, was scarce. Most of those who were in at this time will be mentioned.

(lENERAL James Shields. This distinguished man was early identified with the settlement of Eice county. He was born in Atmore, Tyrone county, Ireland, on the 12th of December, 1810, came to America iu 1826, and studied law until 1832, when he went to Kaskaskia, IllLniois, to practice the profession. In 1836, he was in the legislature of that State, and in 1843 was Judge of the

Sujireme Court. In 1845, he was appointed commissioner of the Laud Oflice. His military career commenced as a lieutenant in the Florida war. When the Mexican war broke out. President Polk appointed him as a Brigadier General, his commission bearing date of the 1st of July, 1846, and for distinguished services at Cerro Gordo, where he was dangerously wounded, was breveted Major General. He was again wounded at the battle of Chepultepec. In 1848, the General was appointed Governor of Oregon Territory, which he soon resigned, and in 1849 was elected United States Senator for six years. At the expiration of his term of service he came to Minnesota and started the village of Shieldsville, but was soon induced to join the proprietors of the town of Faribault, where he was agent and attorney for the townsite company.

He was elected to the United States Senate for the short term terminating in 1860, at the expiration of which he went to California. When the Kebellion was inaugurated he received the appointment of Brigadier General by President Lincoln, was assigned to a command and gained a victory at Winchester, where he was severely wounded. After the war he took ujj his 4'esidence in Missouri, where he remained in private life until 1877, when he was elected to fill a vacancy caused by the retirement of Senator Armstrong, and served to the end of that Congress, and afterwards devoted his time to lecturing until his death,which was on the 1st of June, 1879, at Ottumwa, Missouri, and rather suddenly.

General Shields was a man of ability, with a good share of ambition and a desire for public life, and the fact that he was wanting in that popularity which in a Republic is so essential to success in this regard, led him to leave a handsome projierty in Faribault in search of pastures new. To show why he oam« to be looked upon with disfavor, it is stated that when supplying deeds to citizens who had purchased lots which they had paid for at a good round stipulated price, he exacted $5 for each deed, when he was under obligation to furnish them impliedly for nothing. Such transactions, together with his want of public spirit, and utter deafness to charitable appeals, always alienated his term of oflice. The General was a brave man and a good soldier, and with a liberal disposition he would have had all the elements for popular support.

John Nagle, another native of the Emerald Isle, had arrived in America in 1848, and located in New York State, where he remained until 1855, when he came west and arrived in Shiehlsville at the time the first settlement was made in Erin, in June, 1855. The majoritj of the party he came with located in the latter town, but he made hia way to section eleven in Shieldsville where he still lives. Mr. Nagle has held various offices in the township, and is one of the oldest settlers now in the town. A few others came through, and some stopped for a time in Shieldsville, but the majority in this year settled in other localities.

Bernard Hunt, another Irishman, had stopped in Illinois for a time, and in June, 1856, made his appearance in Shieldsville and jire-empteil a j^lace a short distance north of where he now is. He remained for about a year and came to the southwest quarter of section fourteen where he still remains. The lake, to which his farm lies adjacent, was named by the Indians as Eagle Lake, but it has now changed to Hunt Lake by common consent. Among others who came in '56, Michael Gavin and family were prominent and settled near Hunt Lake, where Mr. Gavin's widow still remains, he having died several years ago.

James Murphy and several sons, James Carpenter, J. Roach, and Mr. Gillispie, all came, took farms, erected log cabins and remained a short time; but have now all removed to other portions of the Northwest.

Michael Delaney came in the spring of 1856, and secured a habitation in section ten where he remained until called away by the "grim messenger," and his widow still lives on the place.

Roger Madden arrived about the same time and commenced a settlement in the eastern part of section twenty -one, and Thomas Minton took 160 acres adjoining in the same section, on which farm . both still live in comfortable circumstances.

Thomas O'Donnell joined this settlement and took 160 acres in section twenty where he still lives. Patrick Smith located a couple of miles west of these settlers, in section twenty-nine, at the same time, and Patrick Murphy helped close up the gap by taking a farm in section twentytwo. John Fitzgerald carved a place for settlement, from the woods in section eight. All of

Thomas Roach came into section seventeen the same year, (1856), and remained a sliort time; the place is now owned by Mr. Davis. Daniel Savage located near Rice Lake and remained there until he paid the debt of mortality some years ago, and his sons now occupy the farm. John Buckley also made a claim near the same lake and has also been removed to the "other shore." His son runs the homestead now. Daniel and David Gonsor made their apjiearance and took pre-emptions east of Hunt Lake, the latter of them going into Wells some years later, and the former is dead. John Kelly now owns the place originally taken by Daniel. James Murphy, deceased, located in section ten, where Mr. DuLac now resides.

Notes And Items Of Interest

About the first birth in this township took place, in 1856, in the log cabin of Bernard Hunt on section twenty -two, and on the 28th of July was ushered into existence this gentleman's son, John J., who still remains with his father. In February of the following year, a brother of John was born. He was named Thomas and still lives at his birth place.

D. F. Hagarty was born early in 1857, on section twenty-two, and still lives there. Other early births may have occurred but they have escaped the memories of those interviewed.

E.^KLY Marriages. - The earliest marriage of parties from this township occurred in Hastings, in 1857; the high contracting parties being Mr. Michael Gavin and Miss Mary Ann Rogers, who returned to the township and lived here until Mr. Gavin's death in 1809; and the widow still lives in the township. Another early marriage was that of James Carpenter to Ellen MeOohey, of St. Paul; the ceremony taking place in that city in 1857, the groom meeting the bride there. The happy couple came back to Shieldsville and still reside here in comfortable circumstances.

Hawley's Death. - In early days, as early as 1857, an outlaw named Hawley made this part of the county his stamping ground, and as he had committed many depredations for which he was wanted bv the officers of the law, he was of course about as quiet in his movements as possible. His strategy, however, was ineffectual, as the authorities in Faribault someway became cognizant of his whereabouts, and a party sent out in search of him, iinally found him near Shieldsville, and surrounding him with clubs and butcher knives, belted him over the head, and carved him up as they would butcher a hog. The only parties whose names can be remembered as in connection with this lawless execution, are Messrs Bentley and Russ, whoever they are. This was among the first deaths in the township.

The Indians. - During the Indian outbreak, in 1802, this township had many serious and amusing anecdotes to divert the minds of the citizens from agricultural duties. Although up to this time there had been plenty of redskins passing to and fro through the town, yet they had not been especially troublesome, except as to their begging propensities, and General Shields had permitted them to use as a camping ground, a spot adjoining the vilhige known as the General's Island. When the actual outbreak occurred, the dusky skinned hunters were wiley enough to see that the whites were afraid, and they began to get arrogant and defiant, and finally the whites decided to have them go. So a small force, of probably 100 men, gathered together, and going to the Island told the disturbers that they must go. This they refused to do, at first, ofiering as an excuse that they had a letter from the General with a permit to occupy the same as their home. Words were bandied, and the spokesman of the pioneers informed them that if "General Shields was tliere, a gun would be put in his hands and ho would l)o, forced to fight," implying that General Shields was not lunning that campaign. This ended the matter of words, and on a slight show of fight on the part of the Indians, the pioneers "lit" into the camp and began knocking the tee-pees right and left, which settled the matter as far as resistance was concerned. The baggage was then taken from the squaws and placed on tlie backs of the bucks, and the "Injuns" grural)liiigly left, more enraged at having to carry the baggage than to leave the camp; they no doubt placed the baggage where they thought it belonged - on the squaws - as soon as out of sight of the "palefaces."

Anotlicr time a party of fifty armed pioneers drove a baud of 1,500 Indians from the hills near Mud Lake, and forced them to leave the township, although at one time - as one of them told us - there was not a man in the crowd but would have given a number of years of his life to have turned heels and run for the woods, and the same party says that a good deal of the valor and bravery exhibited on that memorable day was due to the strength of the whiskey they had been freely imbibing. On the way for volunteers to this raid, the party would go to a neighbor's house and tell him they wanted him ; if he came willingly, well and good; if not, he would be "grabbed" and "yanked" into the ranks, where an oath was administered to all, that "the first man who turned to run was to receive a death ball by the first who could draw a bead." Well, it is unnecessary to state that no one ran.

Mazaska Lake. - This body of water extends into four townships, Erin, Forest, Wells, and Shieldsville, being located in the four corners, and infringes on Shieldsville in the northeastern part. The old Indian chief "Eastman," claimed that the lake received its name in honor of his son, and was for years called "Mazuka," which was the name of his boy; but in after years the name became demoralized, so to speak, common pronunciation slightly altered it, and finally the map men desingated it under the name of "Mazaska," and it still retains that cognomen.

Town Govebnment

This township was created as a government within itself when the territory of Minnesota was admitted to the Union as a State, in 1858, and the first town meeting was held on the 11th of May, that year, at Shieldsville village. After the usual preliminaries the township was organized by the election of the first officers, as follows: Supervisors, Joseph Hagerty, Chairman; Patrick Gunniff, and Patrick Smith; Constables, Michael Han- Jey and Patrick McKenua; Justices of the Peace, Timothy Doyle and James Roach; Assessor, John Finley; Town Clerk, John H. Gibbons. It was voted that the town should be named Shieldsville, in honor of General James Shields, with a slight show of enthusiasm. Money was voted then to defray town expenses for the coming year.

SHiEt.D.sviLiiE DURING THE WAK. - This township did its share in sustaining the government thrcmgh the war of the rebellion, and in furnishing men. We find that on the 2d of March, 1864, a special town meeting was held at which the sum of $3,000 was voted for the purpose of raising volunteers or substitutes to fill the quota of the town. The officers at this meeting were Joseph Hagerty, Chairman; Richard Leahy, and Patrick Smith; Maurice O'Hearu was clerk.

Again, on the 25th of January, 1865, another sjjecial meeting was held at which the sum of $4,000 was voted for the same purpose. The officers at this time were, Joseph Hagerty, Chairman; Patrick Murphy, and John Healy; Patrick McKenna was clerk.

The financial and public government of the township has been tranquil and pleasant, good and efficient officers having had control of the interests of the people.

District No. 32. - This was among the first to receive an organization in the township, and is generally known as the Shieldsville school, as it is the educational sub-division embracing the village and immediately surrounding country. It commenced its existence in the spring of 1858, and the following officers were elected: J. Hagarty, Patrick Hanlin, and Tim Shields. The first school was taught in an old shanty erected by -James Tuft, by James Bentley, there being about twenty-five scholars present. This building was then designated as the schoolhouse, and used for school purposes until 1865, when a new log house was erected in the village. The first school in this house was taught by Mr. Wall with an attendance of 120 scholars between the ages of four and twenty, and it was used as their school building until 1881, when the present frame edifice was constructed upon land donated the district by Gen. James Shields. The size of the building is 28x40 feet, well furnished, and cost $1,000. The present school board is as follows: Christ. Gibnick, Director; Thomas Laiigdon. Treasurer; and William lierrott, Clerk. Miss Hagerty was the last teacher, with seventy pupils on the register.

DisTKioT No. 53. - The first school in this district was taught by Mr. O'Connor in a log shanty on Mr. Hugh Byrne's place, in 1863. The teacher of the first school is now in the Insane Asylum, his mind having become deranged. The organization was effected in 1863, and the Messrs. Patrick Smith, John Healy, and John McGancy were made first officers. In the spring of 1866, a site was purchased in the northern part of section twenty-nine, and the school building now in use was erected at a cost of about $600, being a neat and substantial frame building. The present school board is Thomas Mintrum, Director; A. Hanlin, Clerk; aid P. H. Byrne, Treasurer. The school now enrolls about forty pupils.

District No. 70. - This district effected an organization in 1860, and a log schoolhouse was erected the same year in the northeastern corner of section eight,on land belonging to Michael Delaney. The first officers were Messrs. M. Delaney, Carpenter, and James McDonnell. Miss Bridget Kelly taught the first school in the house just erected, with twenty pupils on the benches. In 1864, the schoolhouse was burned and another log structure was put up on the same site. In 1879, this house also was destroyed by fire, and the present frame house was built at a cost of four $400, size 18x24, but upon the spot occupied by the former buildiugs. The present school officers are Messrs. James Carpenter, James McDonnell, and John Fitzgerald. The last term of school was taught by Miss Eose Tague with about forty scholars in attendance.

District No. 71. - This district was originally in connection with the adjoining districts, but in 1801, was set off and has since been a government for school purposes in itself. The organization was really effected on the side of the road near the spot where the school house now is, as the citizens were selecting a site for a school building, and Richard Ijahey was the first clerk; the names of the other officers have been forgotten, and the early records have either been lost or destroyed, at least they are not in the hands of the present clerk. The school structure was at once erected of logs with a chip board roof, at a nominal cost, and it is now in use, having been greatly repaired. The first teacher was Miss Laura Snyder, who agreed to instruct the fifteen pupils for .$10 per mouth and board herself. Since organization the district has always had from seven to nine months school each year, and the scholars Lave steadily increased until at the last term, tauglit by Miss Rosa Ward, thirty pupils were enrolled, the teacher receiving the sum of S20 per month for her services. The present officers are: C. Mahony, Clerk; Oscar Hearn, Director, and D. LeMieux, Treasurer. The school house is located near the center of section twenty-six.

District No. 84. - Was organized late in the sixties and the first officers were : B. Hunt, Director; T. MoDowney, Treasurer, and Michael CTa\in, Clerk. This district was formerly merged into the territory of district number seventy -one. When it was set oli' a schoolhouse was at once erected, at a cost of about .U300, size lGx22 feet, which is still in use, having been improved to a considerable extent. The first school was taught by Miss Mary Ann McDowney, immediately after the schoolhouse was built, with fourteen scholars present, and she was compensated with $25 a month. The last term, taught by Miss Judge, had an attendance of about twenty-six scholars. The present officers are: Messrs. B. Hunt, William Judge and Patrick Harrison. The location of the building is the northeast corner of section fifteen.

Shieldsville Village

This is the only village in the township, or in this part of the county. It is situated in section (me of Shieldsville township, between Lake Mazaska and Tuft, and on one of the most beautiful town sites in the country. It is not a large village, in fact it is among the smallest in Eice county, but it has all the concomitants to distinguish it from a "four-corners." The population at the last census, in 188(1, was 118.

The village was platted by Gen. James Shields and James Tuft, who.se coming here is recordeed elsewhere, in the fall of 1855. This was General Sliield's second trip to this vicinity and with him came Jerry Healy, John Burke, James Clarking, S. Smith, and others, some of whom settled in the town of Erin.

In 1850, Francis Maloney and others erected, with a saw and hatchet astheir tools, the first store building in the village, and the firm of Johnson & Ilanlin, now both dead, soon after opened a gener- ;il merchandise store there. After running for a time it was sold to Josepli Hagerty and brother, who, after continuing for about fifteen years, went out of the business.

The first business house, if such it may be termed, was started early in 1856, by Conner & Matthew, in a little log hut, and the principle article handled was whiskey.

In the fall of 1856, or early the year following, Mr. Francis Maloney opened a general merchandise store in a large 30x40 log structure, and in connection with the general requirements of life, dealt out a large amount of stimulant, etc. During the Indian outbreak, he prepared himself for tte red skins by keejiing a large bottle of strychnine for each barrel of lisuor, so as to be able to treat the expected visitors in a vengeance like way. Mr. Maloney continued in business until 1873, when he retired, although he still remains in the village, one of the oldest settlers in the town.

Mr. John Fox made his appearance, and about 1858, opened a blacksmith shop, which he ran for a time and then retired to Minneapolis, where he now is.

Mr. M. Cochran was another blacksmith, who hammered away for a time and then sold his shop to Thomas Casey, who still runs the establishment.

Patrick LcKenna arrived, and opened a general saloon establishment, and still runs it at this writing, in connection with a hotel he has since erected.

Some time in the seventies, Thomas Coleman came and bought out John Murphy who had started a general merchandise store two years prior, and Mr. Coleman still continues the business, handling a little of the festive beverage over the bar.

Messrs Mathew and Thomas Brown, some time ago, started a general merchandise store which they still continue, carrying a large and complete stock. They have a substantial and large building, a good trade, and the finest general merchandise establishment in this part of the country.

The village now contains the following: one excellent steam saw -mill with a capacity of sawing 6000 feet of lumber per day ; a neat church ; a school house ; two stores ; a Post-office; four saloons; a hotel; two blacksmith shops; one wagon shop; and a number of dwelling houses. It has a fine location on the high land between two beautiful lakes, which are surrounded by high wooded

Bhores and a rich farming country. These lakes, Hke all others in Rice coimty, abound with iisli of various species. It is distant about ten miles northwest from Faribault.

Catholic Choeoh of ShieldsviijLE. - The history of this parish covers a jjeriod of twcnty-si.x years, having been organized in 18.5(5. embracing the territory of Shieldsville and Erin townships, and a portion of Wells and Forest. In 1857, the old church building was erected at a cost of Sl,200, which lasted until 1878, when their present excellent stone structure was built at a cost of about $16,000. This church was completed in 1882, and is one of the finest in the county, having a seating capacity of 620 persons, with standing room for over a hundred. A parsonage was also erected at a cost of about .SI, 000. The pastors who have officiated here are Rev. Mr. Keller, Father McCuUogn, Father Sales, Father Robert, and Rev. J. J. Slaviu, the present pastor.

A cemetery ground was laid out by this society, at the time of organizing the church. It occupies ten acres just south of the village, in which there about 200 graves.

When the first church was erected it was left without seats, stove or any furniture. It remained in this shape until 1867, when Catherine Deming returned to the village after an absence of eight years, and with vim and energy that was commendable, she, in company with a few other ladies, got up a pic-nic and ladies fair from which was netted the snug little sum of iJlOO, and with this the church was finished, a floor, stoves, and seats being put in. Since th.it time the church has grown rapidly, and now the rent of pews alone is a revenue sufficient to keep the house in repair and beautify the grounds.

Shieldsville mills. - -This enterprise was founded in 1856, when the Delaney Brothers erected a saw mill on the same site the present mills occupy; and putting in a moderate steam power and a circular saw commenced running with a capacity of 2,000 feet per day. It did not prove an entire success and in 1858, General James Shields and others took possession of the property; and putting in new and more modern machinery, increased its capacity to 6,000 or 7,000 feet per day. In this shape it was continued until the IGth of April, 1864, (in the meantime the firm of Russell, Tenny & Co. had purchased it) when it was destroyed by fire.

together with 25,000 feet of valuable lumber. Soon afterward the firm of Hagerty, McAvoy & O'Hearn erected the (jresent mill with a capacity of 6,000 feet per day. This firm continued the business for about two years, when Mr. Hagerty went out and the other two gentleman managed the establishment until 1877, when Dooley, Tack & McAvoy attached a two run grist and feed-mill to the concern. Since that time the mill has been managed by difi'erent^firms until 1881, when the present firm of Patrick and DanielDooloy, under the firm name of Dooley Brothers, purchased it and still continue the business.

The mill makes good fiour, with a capacity of 250 bushels per day, not as much in quantity as other mills in the county, but equal in quality. The saw-mill is equipped so as_to be able to saw 6,000 feet of lumber per day. The establishment is run by steam and is in good condition.