Steele County, Minnesota - The whole text, 1868 (part 2 of 2)

The privations that attended this new settlement were much such as attended other towns. Hardships and inconveniences in various ways were met with and overcome with such energy as is only begotten of pioneer life. At one time, soon after the arrival of Mr. Howard and his family, Mrs. Howard was taken sick, and as there was no physician near on that side of the river, Mr. Howard swam the river and went some distance and procured advice and medicine for his sick wife. At another time a man came to the usual fording place to cross, .but the river was so swollen by recent rains that it was impossible to ford it, and as the man could not swim the case seemed desperate, as there was no boat to be had. But westerners never stand idly by while any one is in need of assistance, and Smith Johnson, taking with him a rope, swam over the river and attaching the rope to the stranger swam back again to the other side, towing him alongside.

The village of Medford is located iu a beautiful little valley, through which flows the Straight river, and contains fifty- three dwelling houses, five stores, one hotel, two blacksmiths, two wagon shops, one shoe shop, one attorney and a post ofiice.

The village also^contains a fine two story Union school house, erected at an expense of about $3,000; also two churches - the Union church and the Congregational - the latter of which was built and dedicated in 1864 and immediately furnished with a bell. The church w;as organized in 1856 with fourteen members, by Rev. Ozro A. Thomas, who remained as pastor till 1863. The present membership is 47, Rev. Edward Brown, poster.

The culture of fruit trees has received considerable attention. Mr. A. A. Hubbard has a fine nursery, with choice native and imported trees and shrubs, that seem to indicate a maturity of fruitfulness.

Clinton Falls

near where is now the center of the town, and the following winter erected a house for his family, and soon had them domiciled with him, ready to try the pleasures of pioneering on the Minnesota prairies. The summer previous Dr. Wm. W. Finch, as ore of the commissioners appointed to survey and locate a road from St. Paul to the Iowa line, via the valley of the Straight river, had succeeded in getting the work so far accomplished as to have the ground explored and way-marks erected at intervals to guide the immigrants in their course. This was of vast benefit to those who were seeking homes in the interior, as they could then, by crossing the Mississippi at Prairie du Chien, proceed with teams and cattle directly through the country to their destination, where they had before been obliged to go up the river to St. Paul and from there into the interior. Soon after Mr. Adams settled Mr. David Sanborn, who had selected a claim sometime in the summer of 1854, came and took possession and brought his family with him. They were soon followed by Dr. W. W. Finch, Jas. W. Finch, Isaac Sanborn, Francis Adams, James and Sanford Hays and others, making quite a settlement in the course of the year 1855.

In 1856 Dr. Finch commenced building a dam across the Straight river, for the purpose of securing sufficient water power to operate mill machinery, but one half interest to two brothers, named Williamson, who were to build a grist mill, and Dr. Finch a saw mill ; the grist mill to be completed within a year. But the Messrs. Williamson failing to get the grist mill completed, Dr. Finch sent to Chicago and procured a run of stone, or what is called "a portable mill,'' and put it in operation in his saw mill. This mill was truly a God-sead to the settlers, who had frequently been under the necessity of resorting to their coffee mills to manufacture their meal to make bread. Wheat thus ground was very appropriately called meal, as it could not be reduced fine enough to be called flour. In 1857, Hon. G. W. Green, from Beaver Dam, in Wisconsin, purchased an interest in the grist mill and it was pushed forward to completion, under the faithful superintendence of Moses Hutchinson, the only practical millwright this section of country then afforded. D. R. Morrison was established as miller, and the housewives of the vicinity soon began to manufacture their snowy wheaten loaves out of flour of home production. In a short time Judge Green purchased the remaining interest of the Messrs. Williamson, and still owns and operates the mill. The mill has two run of stone, with a capacity of about 500 bushels per day. In 1863 the saw mill was purchased by Mr. Green who still owns it.

The first birth that occurred in Clinton Falls was that of Frank Adams, a son of Avery W. Adams, on the 6th of April, 1855. In the spring of 1856, David Morrison, an old gentleman and father of D. R, Morrison, died ; this being the first death of a white person in the town. The marriage rites were first performed for the benefit of Mr, William A. Williamson and Miss Lucretia Finch, daughter of James M. Finch. The first school was taught in the summer of 1856, in a small house owned by Dr. Finch, by Miss Mary Morrison, now Mrs. Charles Williamson, The first religious service was held by Rev. T. R. Cressy at the house of David Sanborn, in the spring of 1856. The town was organized in 1858. The number of votes cast at the first election was thirty-five ; Geo. W. Green was elected Chairman of Supervisors, and Geo. E. Rex, Clerk. The follow, ing named persons have served the town in the capacity of Chairman of Supervisors and Town Clerk since its organization :

T. B. Chase, 3 years A. C. Finch. The town has been represented in the Territorial Legislature by 0. A. Thomas and G. W. Green, The first church bell in the county was purchased by the Ladies' Sewing Society of Clinton Falls, in June, 1863. In 1867, the peo- . pie voted to build a good and substantial bridge across the Straight river, and raised by tax $2,000, and the county giving $1,000 more, a covered bridge was erected, with solid abutments and spanning the entire width of the rivei . An extensive stone quarry lies on the west bank of the river, which is said to be superior for building or burning into lime to any other found in this section of country. The business of the place now consists of one store, owned by Dr. W. W. Finch ; one hotel, one grist mill and one saw mill, owned by Judge Green ; one blacksmith shop operated by Isaac Tuttle ; one lawyer, G. W. Green ; and one physician. W. W. Finch. The Methodists have built a neat and comfortable parsonage for the pastor's residence, the present of whom is Kev. W. P. Coffin. Rev. Mr. Williams is pastor of the Baptist church. Both denominations hold service in the school hotise, there being no house of worship yet erected.

The first settler in the town of Meriden ^ w^s Mr. A. M^ Fitzsimmons, who came into the town and settled in tha south-east corner of section thirty-six, in June, 1855. The first person bom in the town was a daughter of Mr. 0. H*, Wilker, in March, 1856. The first marriage was that of Mr. W- F. Dunn, (now Colonel in U. S. Army,) to Miss Roxie Henshaw, which took place at Mr. Austin Vinton's, on the 24th of September, 1856. Rev. H, Chapin, of Owatonna, performed the ceremony. There being no horses in the neighborhood, the guests were all conveyed in farm - wagons drawn by oxen. The first death was that of a Mr, Simmons, son-in-law of Mr. Fitzsimmons, the first settler of the the town. He was killed by lightning while sitting in' his house, in the summer of 1858. The first school, was taught in the summer of 1858 by Miss Leroy, daughter of Henry Leroy, Esq. The first religious service was held at the house of Mr. Wilker, in the summer of 1857 ; the preacher was a German Methodist.

There are now five districts in the town in which schools > are taught, and several new districts which have- not yet' had a school". The only church is a German Lutheran, many of the inhabitants belonging to churches in Owatonna and Waseca.

Meriden is bounded on the north by Deerfield, east by Owatonna, south by Lemond, and west by Wilton, in Waseca county. In the western part of the town is a slough or marsh, covering nearly two sections of land, and from which flovs a small stream c^led Crane creek, running in a north-east direction, through the soutk-east corner oi Deerfield and north-west corner of Clinton Falls, emptying into Straight river at Medford. The southern portion is covered to some extent with oak openings, while the north-

The town was organized in 1858, at which time A. F. Tracy was chosen Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, and W. T. Drown, Town Clerk ; since which time those offices have been filled as follows :

The first settlement in the town of Lemond was in the spring of 1856, by Samuel Thomj^on, Sandford Kinney and Erasmus Teed, who were followed in the succeeding summer by Samuel Hastings. Kinney made his claim on section three, in the north-east part of the town ; Mr. Thompson located on section two. The settlement was not of rapid growth, but those who came were mostly permanent settlers, who had sought out this country to make a permanent home for themselves, and not to build up a home for others to occupy and enjoy.

The first birth in the town of Lemond was in the family of a Mr. Hughes. The first matrimonial alliance made and executed was contracted between Daniel Tuscan and Miss Cornelia Davis, the acknowledgement of which was taken by Sandford Kinney, Esq., in May, 1859. No deaths occurred in this town till 1860, when Mr. Wm. Hanson died in November of that year. The first school was taught by Mr. Stillman Kinney, in the winter of 1858-9. The irst religious service was held in January, 1858, Rev. Mr.

Moses was the officiating clergyman. There are no church buildings in the town, and the different denominations hold service in the school houses. Two good school houses have been built, in which schools are taught during the school terms of the year.

The soil is about the same as characterizes the other portions of the county, and produces excellent crops. The town is well waiered though it has no manufacturing facilities. Lawyers and doctors have never as yet found any inducements for settlement here.

Ghairman of Supervisors - S. M. Hastings, Supervisors - E. D. Teed, Sandford Kinney ; Town Cleric - E. Dampier ; Assessor - J. E. Hughes ; Collector - Jerome Coon ; Overseer of Poor - E. J. Coon ; Justices of the Peace - S. M. Hastings, Sandford Kinney. Since that time the following gentlemen have served as Chairman of Supervisors and Town Clerk :

Somerset

Somerset, lying directly south of Owatcnna, was first settled in the year 1856, on the 27th of May, by three brothers, Levi, E.'W. and Albert Bailey, from Penn*ylva- aia, and a Mr. Savins, who located near the center of the town, on the west side of the Owatonna or Straight river, built their shanties and commenced breaking up the soil preparatory to putting in seed for a crop. They sowed buckwheat and planted potatoes that year, as the season was too far advanced to sow wheat and oats, before they could get their breaking done. The brothers Bailey broke up a considerable tract and fenced it, ready to put into wheat the following season. Within a few days after the Baileys made their claim. Dr. Thomas Kinyon, T. J. Clark, and Orlando A. Barnes came and located in the same neighborhood. Dexter Smith, Ebenezer Lagro, David Barcfes, 0, "Fisher, Henry Catlin, John Catlin, Charles Ellison, Charles E. Knowlton, Warren Fisher, James E. Hughes, and sev- -eral others made claims the same summer. Nearly oil the of that year in Somerset were natives of New York and Pennsylvania, and as all were from that section of country where science and culture had full sway, the jneighborhood was made up of a more choice society than *where the population is gathered from many different States and foreign countries.

Nearly one half of the surface of the town is covered with timber or oak openings, furnishing a full supply for fuel and fencing. The town is considered well watered, with the Straight river running in a north-west*direction through it, and a large number of springs in various parts sending forth small streams which meander through the prairies, affording water to nearly all the farms in the -township.

The first death in the town was that of a Mr, Manna Oase, in July, 1856. The first birth was in the family of T, J. Clark, to whom was bom a daughter in the summer of 1856, who was duly christened Ellen. The first marriage was that of Miss Rachel Bill to Mr. Alexander Hisisam in July, 1858.

The northern part of the town is settled mostly by Bohemians and Germans, who are making good farms and cultivating the land, but not doing as much towards the educational progress of the town as in the central and southern portion. The low lands have a soil of black loam and sand, while the higher portion is a loam with clay subsoil. The low lands are not as subject to injury by drouth or even wet weather as the uplands, where the subsoil is of clay.

The number of school houses now is three in which schools are now taught through the usual school terms of each year, though there are seven organized districts. The first school was taught in the summer of 1856, in the attic of the residence of Dr. Thomas Kinyon, and by virtue of the elevated position of the room was denominated the "high school," Miss Phebe Kinyon officiated a^ preceptress. The walls and roof made classic by association are now used as a stable for horses, and a neat and commodious school house built at an expense of about $1,400, invites the young searcher after knowledge to mount the first rungs of the ladder of science.

The first church service was had in the autumn of 1857, at the residence of Deacon Sibley, the name of the officiating clergyman was -Harney.

The township of Somerset, according to government survey, is 106 north of range 20 west, and bounded on the north by the township of Owatonna, east by Aurora, south by Summit, and west by Lemond. The surface is slightly undulatiDg, and about one third covered with timber and openings ; the other two-thirds is an open prairie. The soil in the timber and oak openings is of a rich clay loam, which is considered by the farmers to be the best quality for raising wheat and other cereals. The prairie land is mostly composed of a deep, rich, dark loam, of almost in- exhaustible fertility, while a narrow belt of land along the banks of the Straight river is -composed of sand loara. In many places the river is bordered by natural meadows of considerable extent, making it an easy matter to secure any desirable quantity of hay for wintering stock.

The principal stream in this town is th& Straight river, which flows in a northerly course, affording in several places a fair water power, none of which are improved. Two small tributaries flow into it from the east, called Turtle Creek and Willow Run, with Wasecca Run from the west.

The town was organized on the 11th of May, 1858, and T. C. Minthorn elected Chairman of Supervisors, and W. H, Sherman, Town Clerk. The names of those who have subsequently held the office of Chairman of Supervisors are as follows : Thomas Thompson, W, H. Sherman, J. W. Doolittle, Seth Hotchkiss, Thomas Kinyon, H. M. Bill, F. B. Doolittle, Augustus Theile, and Dexter Smith. While the office of Town Clerk has been filled as follows : W. H. Sherman, Phelps Case, Manley Curtis, Charles Ellison, and John Anderson.

We are indebted for many of the items in relation to this town, to Dexter Smith, Esq., who says; "The prevailing characteristics of the inhabitants are industry, honesty and independence in thought and deed. The medical profession was at one time represented by Drs. Thomas Kinyon and W. H. Twiford, but owing to the 'alarming healthfullness' of this locality their 'pill bags' were years ago consigned to the cabinet of antedeluvian curiosities, and they have taken to farming as a more lucrative business. The legal profession has no representative, the people have too much sense to spend their substance in litigation for the benefit of that fraternity.

Opening up of a new country. For several years our wardrobes and larders seldom contained anything but the absolute necessaries of life; and I might cite you to more than one case where to 'keep the wolf from the door,' we subsisted ourselves and our little ones on forage only suited to the cattle on the hills ; but in hope and faith, and trust in the promises, and the vigorous strokes of our good right arms, we struggled on, and the seasons as they came and went never wholly failed to leave some token for the encouragement of renewed effort."

There are no special business points in Somerset. The business of the inhabitants is entirely agricultural, and a host of finely cultivated farms are the surest signs of prosperity and the best evidence that the people will not have to subsist themselves upon husks, but from their overflowing granaries and well filled cellars, will hereafter live upon the fat of the land.

In the north-west corner of Steele couny, with Rice countf on the north, and Waseca on the west, and bounded on the east by Medford and Clinton Falls, with Meriden on the south, lies the town of Deerfield. Its location is very favorable in an agricultural point of view, being ten miles from the city of Faribault and only seven from Owatonna, the real railroad center of Southern Minnesota, with the little village of Medford within three miles, which affords a market and freighting facilities for all who may desire to dispose of their wheat and other grains at this place, without carrying to a point more remote by teams. The south-west portion of the town finds an easy and convenient market at Waseca, on the Winona & St. Peter Railroad, so that in almost any direction the people may find a market for all their grain and produce at a very short distance from their doors.

The soil for the most part is a deep clay loam, rich and very fertile in the production of all the small grains, such as wheat, oats, rye, barley, &g. Grass grows more luxuriantly than on most prairie land, as the soil is heavier and "the grass is not so easily injured by close grazing.

The population of the town is made of Americans and -Germans about evenly divided as to numbers, and a few Irish, and are an industrious and temperate people, who are seeking for wealth by digging ib from the fruitful soil. There is a good supply of timber for fencing purposes and fuel, though this town, like all the others, is destitute of pine that furnishes the principal part in all buildings. In the south part of the town is a belt of timber bordering on Crane Creek, of about two miles in width, which extends along the west side of the town the whole length, with occasional small prairies intervening, while it is but a short distance to the large timber belt of the Cannon and Straight rivers on the east and north.

There are no mills in this town, yet there are those of easy access at Clinton Falls, Medford, Warsaw, Morristown, and other places, so that the facilities for having grain ground, or procuring a supply of oak, maple or basswood lumber, are sufficient for all practical purposes.

Deerfield was first settled about the 12th day of May, 1855, by Edward McCartney, from Elgin, Ills., who with his family of wife and three children and a brother of his wife, located on the north-west quarter of section eight. He remained about two years, when he sold out and return- -ed to Illinois, but soon came back to Minnesota and located at Morristown in Rice county, but becoming discontented went to California, and after spending a time in the land of gold, returned to Minnesota, sold his property and emigrated to Cass county, Nebraska, where he now resides. Other settlers followed Mr. McCartney into the town,

The first birth in town was a daughter in the family of Mr. Hobaugh, residing on section twenty-six, in September, 1856, who was duly christened Caroline Hobaugh. The first death was that of a Miss Austin, a young lady of some seventeen or eighteen years of age. The first couple to embark on the sea of matrimony from this port were Mr. William B. Evans, formerly of Doylston, Pa., and Miss Fredrica C. Williams, from Guilford, Conn., which embarkation was celebrated on the 16th of June, 1859, at the residence of the bride's mother - Washington Morse, a Justice of the Peace, tying the knot that no less a dignitary than a dis* trict judge could untie. The first school taught in town was in the summer of 1857, in what is now school district, No. 20. The teacher was Miss Elizabeth Hodgson, formerly from Taunton, Mass. The first religious service was had in the town at the funeral of a Mrs. Anderson, and was conducted by Rev. Washington Morse, a minister o^ seventh- day advent creed, who took the occasion to enlighten his audience as to the particular and distinctive tenete of his religious views. There are two church organizations - the Adventists and the German Methodists - though neither of them have a church edifice, but hold their service in the school houses.

Merton

The town of Merton was first settled in the year 1856 by Messrs. C. W. Curtis and L. E. Thompson, in the western part of the town. About the same time Mr. Magoon and' a family of the name of Naylor, arrived and locatisd in the south-east part of the town, where they still reside. Two young men by the name of Taylor and a Mr. Kendall made claims in the north part of the town.

The first death was in the family of Mr, Oscar Searles, in February, 1862, when that dread scourge of children, diptheria, visited the place and took two of the loved ones God had given him ; little x^lice was the first to go, and soon after her sister Marion. During the months! of February and March the grim messenger made frequent visits to the neighborhood. His next call was at the happy home of Mr. Henry Maw, and a sweet child of nine summers. their darling Adelaide, and a little boy, Bertie, went away to make their home among the angels. Daniel McNitt's family was next called upon to be divided, and three of the children of their household band went to the other side of the dark river, there to await the coming of the mourning ones left on this side, and still waiting.

The first school taught in the town was in the northern part in what is now known as the Rock School House. The house deriving its name from the fact that a very large rock, and the only one for miles around, rises high above the ground near the site of the school house. There are now four school houses in the town, in which schools are taught during the school season of each year.

No church edifices have as yet been erected in the town, but the Methodists and Baptists hold service in the school houses. The Catholics are somewhat numerous and hold occasional service at the residence of some one or other of the members.

The soil is a rather light loam with clay sub-soil on the low lands, and on the higher or rolling prairie a gravel or sand sub-soil. The town is monily prairie, though there is a small patch of timber in the northern part, and in the southern portion a small amount of oak openings. Natu- ral meadows are scattered around on nearly every quarter section, though the principal part of the land u entirely suited to agriculture, and produces the best quality of crops of all kinds, and is not behind any of the other towns in the quantity produced.

In the summer of 1859, sometime in June, considerable excitement was created in the settlement by the appear ance of a large brown bear in .their midst, which had made its way from the timber in the north-west part of the town, and was probably on an exploring expedition. The settlers turned out en masse to give him a cordial reception, and in lieu of a regular band of music greeted him with pitchforks and such other implements of warfare as could most readily be found, and after a weary march in which the people undertook to keep up with his bearship, one sturdy farmer poked his rifle through a fence within a short distance of Mr. Bruin, and gave him such a pressing invitation to tarry with them that he yielded to the importunity and "caved in."

In 1856 a Mr. Colburn opened a store in the north-east "Corner of the town and christened the embryo city "Dodge City," but the country was so sparsely settled that he eoneluded to sell out at once and not wait the slow process of retailing. A man by the name of 0. T. Jones was the purchaser, but kept the store but a short time, when he found that "the thing wouldn't pay," and as that is the motive power of all westerners he concluded to close up. This -was the downfall of all the hopes of the enterprising citizens of Dodge City, some three or four families.

The town of Merton is in the north-east corner of Steele county, comprises thirty-six full sections of land, of an average quality, and is devoted especially to agricultural pursuits. There are at the present time no stores, hotels, blacksmith shops, or carpenter shops, and thus far the peo- pie have kept "wliisky shops out of their midst, and arie coilsequently contented and happy, and growing rich upon the produce of their farms.

Berlin

Berlin is the south-west town of Steele eouniy. It was first settled in July. 1856, the first settlers being William Shay, 0. V. Brown, Hiram Pitcher, Levi Chase, Thomas McCormick, Robert Reynolds. H. S. Howen, Enfin Enfinson, Joseph Gordon. D. T. Gordon, Marshall Wairen, and a Mr. Winchell, who all settled near the center of the town, and within a few weeks of each other. Berlin is considered one of the finest agricultural towns in the State, and not excelled by any for the beauty of its natural scenery. Near the center of the town is Beaver Lake, a perfect jem of beauty, with water clear as crystal and clear sand bottom. It is the favorite resort of bathers for many miles around.

The first birth in this town was that of Fred. Brown, a son of C. V. Brown, in January, 1857. In December, 1859, Mrs. Joseph Gordon died, which was the first death of a white person that occurred in the town.

The first marriage was celebrated in the spring of 1857, the parties being Mr. J. 0. Culver and Miss Jane Gordon. The ceremony was performed by Hiram Pitcher, a Justice of the Peace. This being the first time the justice had performed the ceremony he varied a little from the usual form, and the groom was laade to promise to obey the bride instead of the bride obeying the groom.

A post office, called Adamsville, was established in 1856, and Hiram Pitcher appointed postmaster. He also carried the mail from Owatonna, generally on foot, and in winter on snow shoes.

1857-8, in a deserted claim shanty, by Mr. Dwight T. Gordon. The first religious service was held at the residence of Levi Chase, in the fall of 1856, when prayer meetings and a Sabbath school was established. In the fall of 1857 Rev. Mr. Kirkpatrick and Rev. S. N. Phelps commenced preaching on alternate Sabbaths. The first ground*broken for a crop was done by Levi Chase, in the summer of 1856, and the second marriage in the town was in August, 1857, when Mr. Chase gave his daughter, Sarah A. Chase, to the keeping of Mr. Ashbel Ingerson, the Rev. Mr. Chapin ratifying the contract by performing the usual ceremony. There are now in the town three school houses, and one blacksmith shop, operated by Geo. Goodrich.

In June, 1856, G. W. Knapp, with his family, located in the town of Summit, which is the center town of the southern tier, be;ng flanked on the east by Oak Glen, and on the west by Berlin, with Somerset on the north, and Freeborn county on the south. The northwest corner of the town has considerable timber ; suflScient to supply the balance of the town with all necessary fuel and fencing. A branch of the Straight river runs across the northwest corner, in a northeasterly direction, while another branch, taking its rise in a little lake lying partly in the town of Oak Glen, flows in a northwesterly course across the entire town, making an abundant supply of water for stock. The land is somewhat rolling, of a light but very productive soil, of about the same nature of that in other portions of the county. No watfer power in the town, that is available for the purpose of driving machinery.

When Mr. Knapp made his claim, he immediately pitched his tent, which he carried with him, and Mrs. Knapp went at once to "housekeeping," two straw beds occupying nearly all the tent, but by putting one on top of the other in the daytime, a little room was left for standing or sitting down. The cooking and all other work was done in the open air in front of the tent.

One stormy night, soon after their arrival, they had five guests to accommodate with lodgings, and of course only one bed for the five ; but necessity knows no law, and no bounds, and they all undertook to sleep in the tent, each pre-empting as much of the bed as would answer for a pillow, and so much more as by dint of crowding he could obtain possession of. Yet all found themselves pretty thoroughly wetted, before morning, in consequence of the numerous ejectments that each had received from under the tent-cloth.

Mr. Kndrpp lived in his tent only a few weeks, when he built a log house and removed his family to somewhat more ample accommodations. John Bennett built a house very soon after the completion of Mr. Knapp's. There were also several families moved into the southern part of the town that fall.

The first birth in the town was that of Adelbert Heath, son of Roswell Heath, in 1857. The fir^ marriage took place in December, 1858, the parties being Benjamin Wheeler and Miss Delia Fredenburgh. The first death occurred in 1860, Mrs. Delora Fredenburgh, wife of Jeremiah Fredenburgh, being the first to pass from this to the thither shore of the dark river.

Dover is one of the eastern tier of towns ; bounded on the north by Mertou, on the east by Dodge county, south by Aurora, and west by Owatonna.

The first settlement was made in 1855 by Chas. McCarty, Wm. Burns, Wm. Close, and Robert Adair, George Dennis, Newton Parker, and D. C. Tiffany came in 1856. All commenced farming operations and built tbem houses to shelter their families.

The first birth that occurred in Dover was that of John Adair, a son to Robert Adair, in 1855, the same fall of the arrival of the family in town. The first death was that of Mrs. Newton Parker, in November, 1856. The funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Wetzel, which, it is believed was the first religious service in the township. The first matrimonial venture was entered into by Mr. Frank Hickock and Miss Elizabeth McOaslin, in the fall of 1857 ; D. 0. Tiff'any, a Justice of the Peace, and took due acknowledgment of the contract. The first school was taught in the summer of 1857 by Miss Elizabeth McCaslin, now Mrs. Frank IJickock.

Little of interest transpired within the limits of the town other than the usual round of seed time and harvest, and the labors consequent thereon. Hard times came to the pioneers occasionally, but with an unflinching determina tion to succeed they persevered and grasped each opportunity till success was the result. The Winona & St. Peter railroad runs thi'ough the town from east to west, the nearest station being Claremont on the east and Owatonna on the west. It is mostly a good agricultural district, though some portions are rather wet and swampy. There are no stores or shops in the town.

Aurora

The town of Aurora lies in the eastern tier of towns, and is bounded on the north by Dover, east by Dodge county, south by Oak Glen, and west by Owatonna. The first settlement dates back to June of 1856, at which time Oapt. J.

M. Ball, now a resident of Winona, A. B. Clark, G. W. Grimsliaw, and Charles Adsit, made claims and commenced farming operations. Soon after their arrival Amos Coggsweil, Steven A. Sargent, Harvey Eastman, Oscar King and a Mr. Perham put in an appearance and laid claim to a ehare of the soil of Steele county, and commenced at once preparing to receive a return for their investments and labor, and the ever generous soil repaid them without stint of measure for their care and trouble.

About one fourth of the land in this township is marsh land which in dry seasons affords the best of hay for stock, yet is nearly unavailable in very wet seasons, as the county has not yet become so thickly settled up as to pay the expense of draining. The soil of the marshes is of a deep and very rich alluvial deposit, which, when drained, will probably prove the most productive of any of the lands in the county. The other three-fourths of the town is composed chiefly of oak openings, with here and there fine patches of prairie land, with gently undulating surface, sufficiently so to make it of easy tillage.

The Milwaukee, St. Paul & Minneapolis Railroad runs through the entire length of the town and has a depot near the centre, making it an easy and convenient point for the shipment of wheat and other products. The town contains no stores or hotels ; has two school houses and one blacksmith shop, which latter has been put into operation the present season by H. H. Richards. This shop is near the depot and at present the only building in the vicinity.

The first white child that was a native of this town was Miss Helen Coggswell, daughter of Hon. Amos Coggswell; who was born on the 6th day of March, 1857. Joseph Branning and Miss Laura Pettie were the first to start o^ a trial trip in the matrimonial life-boat. Mrs. Steven A. Sargent first passed through the dark valley and embarked upon the ever-flowing river of returnless tide, on the 1st September, 1856. The funeral services were conducted bj Rev. Harvey Chapin, which was the first religious servicein the town.

The first school was taught in the summer of 1858, in & log school house, near Mr. Coggswell's, by Miss Jane Arnold, now Mrs. W. Odell, of Owatonna. Nearly all the religious denominations are more or less represented, thougb the Lutherans are the most numerous. There are no^^ church buildings and only occasional religious services. The. people are energetic and enterprising farmers who havenever yet allowed a whisky shop to be established within the limits of the town.

The 11th day of May, 1858, it first had an existence as an organized town, when the people elected their to^VM officers to run the official machinery. Aurora has been twice represented in the Minnesota Legislature, by George W. Pettie and Amos Coggswell, the latter of whom was chosenspeaker of the House of Kepseseniatives.

Oak Olen

The organization of Oak Glen as a town did not transpire until 1867, it having previous to this time been attached to the town of Aurora for all business purposes. At the time of the organization, Cyrenus Pettit was elected Chairman of Supervisors, and A. J. Snyder Town Clerk. There has been but one election since, at which time J. C. Carey was elected Chairman of Supervisors, and Mr. A. J. Snyder re-elected Town Clerk. The soil is about the same as found in other parts of the county, though there is considerabla marshfland in some parts of the town - probably - not more than two or three sections in all.

are three of these lakes, one covering somewhat over a section of land, and each of the other two about 100 acres. About one-third of the town, in the north-west portion, is covered with scattering oak, or oak openings, while the balance is rolling prairie or marsh.

"Wheat is the staple production in this as in all the other towns, and in fact nearly all over Minnesota. Mr. Geo. M. Topliff has a hop garden of some five or six acres, on which he is trying the experiment of hop-raising. He has also discovered a valuable peat bed, some three miles west of the little village of Blooming Prairie, which is said to be of as good quality as any found in any country. Mr. Topliff has tested the quality to the depth of about eight feet, and finds it better at that depth than nearer the surface.

The town was first settled in 1857, by David Bagley, Thos. Bray, Levi Annis, J. J. Brackett, and Ira Foster, near what is called the Oak Glen station on the stage route from Owatonna to Austin. The first birth occurred in the year 1859, James Bray, a son of Thos. Bray. The first marriage was celebrated in 1860, between Mr. Ira Foster a widow lady named Scott. The first ^school was taught in 1861, by Miss Hattie Lay ton, now Mrs. Joseph Carey. In 1860, the United Brethren held religious service, which is supposed to have been the first in this town- -ship. The Methodists and Baptists have occasional services in the school houses, but no denomination has any church buildings.

In 1867, when the Milwaukee, St. Paul and Minneapolis Tlailroad was put in operation, a station was made in the southern part of Oak Glen, called Blooming Prairie, which has attracted considerable business, and there are now some fifteen or twenty dwellings, and two stores, one kept by Charles Gardiner and the other by Sprout & Knudson.

The first stock of goods brought into the place was by Capt. A. C. Hawley, who opened and exposed them for sale in a tent, but soon thereafter removed to a room in the railroad grain warehouse, and in January, 18G8, sold the entire stock to Mr. Charles Gardiner. Messrs. Sterling & Searles established a lumber yard in the fall of 1867. A blacksmith shop was also put in operation by Chas. Hartley. Mr. Jacob Noteman was established as station agent, by the Kailroad Company, and D.|Higley as telegraph operator. A meat market and general provision store is just being established by Thos. O'Neil. Christopher Baldhardt opened the first hotel in the fall of 1867.

The country about the station is being rapidly developed into farms. This year, Selah Chamberlain and D. C- Shepard are opening up an extensive farm, and having several hundred acres broken and fitted for wheat the next season. Others are breaking smaller tracts, and business is growing finely.

About the middle of May, 1854, Wm. F. Pettit, Geo. F. Pettit. A. B. Cornell, and F. Wilbur Fisk, left Sparta, in Wisconsin, for a visit to the far-famed prairies of Minnesota. Geo. F. Pettit had been at Faribault some time previous, and made such a glowing report of the country that those who had families took them along, determined to make their homes on the sunset side of the Mississippi. Seven wagon loads of people, furniture, supplies, &c., set out and were four weeks in reaching Faribault. A long journey, attended with toil, discomfort and fatigue,- and one that none but strong, brave hearts would undertake and successfully accomplish.

tlie present site of the city of Owatonna. Mr. Cornell made his claim on the east side of the river and Mr. Pettit on the west side, being the farm recently owned by Judge Donaldson. Mr. Cornell built a somewhat primitive dwelling, which was constructed of poles covered with prairie grass, but it was sufficient to protect them from the storm and the scorching rays of the sun, and they were all contented to wait patiently till a more commodious house could be erected. This was the first residence and|the first building in Owatonna. Mr. Cornell soon commenced the -erection of the log house, (now standing just north of the and had the logs raised ready to put on the roof when he sold his claim to Mr. Pettit, who had disposed of iiis own on the west side of the river to a Mr. Crehore, now Chicago. Sometime in August Mr. Pettit had contract- with Cornell to build a house for him, similar to the one iie was building for himself, but when he purchased of Cornell his claim, the contract was annulled and another made that he should finish the one already commenced. "We give the contract in full, as it is probably the first one ever made in the county, which is as follows :

''It is agreed by and between William F. Pettit and A. B. Cornell that A. B. Cornell shall, previous to the 20th day of October next, build for said Pettit a log dwelling 5iouse, on the foundation said Pettit has already commenced ; said house to be twenty-two feet long and eighteen feet wide, puncheon floor below, two doors and five windows, shingled roof, logs hewn inside up to beams and ffliudded on the outside ; also, a cellar, fourteen feet by -eighteen, dug so as to be six feet from bottom to sleepers ; isaid house to be one and a half stories high and put up -similar to said Cornell's, and the said Pettit is to furnish all nails, glass, sash, putty, and lumber for doors and the upper floor so as not to delay said job, and to pay for said r. 'building seventy-five dollars.

The first track made across the prairies is the pioneer of civilization and the fore-runner, generally, of a crowd of immigration, and this was no exception to the general rule. Others followed the lead of Messrs. Pettit and Cornell, and several houses were built that fall. Hon. G. W. Green, of Beaver Bam, in Wisconsin, built the house now occupied by- Mr. Hanks, the raising of wliich was accomplished on the 2nd of October, all the settlers in the vicinity assisting. In the winter following the log house now owned by Mr. Murray, just south of the railroad bridge, was built by Messrs. S. W. Park and S. B. Smith. Judge Green had not yet removed his family to this place and his house was occupied by John Dickering.

Immigration was rapid and quite a settlement soon sprang up in this locality. Addison Phelps, David Lindersmith, B. L. Arnold, Obed Gains, Basil Meek, John Wilcox, P. P. Carlton and Nelson Morehouse built houses, and cast their fortunes with those of the young settlement. Mr. N. Winship commenced hauling the logs for a hotel, which was soon erected and opened for the accommodation of the ''traveling public." This was the first hotel built here, and is still standing and doing good service as the kitchen of the present Winship House. The summer of 1855 made large additions to their numbers. In addition to those already mentioned there came this year Charles and John Ellison, L. B. Town, James Cole, and James Cornell, Rev. A. Town, P. Sanford and J. Wilson made claims and returned for their families. During this summer Mr. Pettit built the first frame house in the county ; the one now owned by Mr. Wm. H. Kelly, on the hill in the eastern part of the city. Mr. Pettit was obliged to haul part of the pine lumber from Red Wing with which to complete the house, which cost him $107 per thousand, and the wainy-edged roof boards, procured at Faribault, cost $60 per thousand. Such were the disadvantages under which the, pioneers had to labor. Sometimes, too, a little fear of what the Indians might do crept into their minds to disturb their tranquility, yet the Indians were at peace with the whites, and at that time considered them their best friends. But at times circumstances would occur to arouse the suspicions of the people to a high pitch. As an instance of this we give the following incident :

The first year of the settlement all the provisions and supplies of all kinds were brought from St. Paul, and at one time Mr. Cornell went with his team to that town to bring in a load "of provisions, &c., and was absent about a week, leaving Mrs. Cornell with only her children and a boy to keep her company. During his absence a party of Indians, a hundred or more, encamped for a time near Mr. Cornell's shanty. Yet they were very respectful and civil to the "white squaw," and did not venture into her house. One evening they gathered material and lighted huge bonfires a little back from the shanty, and commenced an Indian dance with all its wild accompaniments of songs and shoutfi, making night hideous with their antics and bowlings. Just at this time Mr. Cornell with his load reached the hill about two miles north of the town, and as he gained the summit he saw the flames of the fires and the dusky redskins dancing in the lurid glare of light. His wife and children ! Had they become victims to the * savage thirst for blood ? The thought came crashing through his brain with the rapidity of lightning. He did not stop long to gaze, but unhitching his team he stripped the harness from the fleetest horse and mounting him rode at the top of his speed, resolved to know the worst, and save his loved ones or perish with them. On reaching the ford his eyes were made glad at seeing his wife on the opposite bank awaiting his return, who assured him that all were well and glad to see him returned as safe as they were. Thankful that he was the only one victimized, Mr. Cornell returned and got his load of provisions.

In the summer of 1855 Mr. Pettit sold his claim to John H. Abbott, and bought soon after an undivided half of Mr. Cornell's claim lying immediately south of the one just sold. It required but little argument to get all parties interested in building up a first-class town, and as usual among western men, when they had once decided to do it, they went directly to work to accomplish the object. Roads and bridges for the purpose of communication with other sections of the country, were the first things to be attended to, and with willing hearts and stout hands they Went to work and opened up the roads, bridged the sluices and water courses, and soon had the satisfaction of knowing that at least an important thoroughfare was opened through their town. Mr» Cornell, with true western energy and perseverance, built a bridge across the Straight river, and travel was seemingly nearly constant. Not unfrequently were there from twenty to thirty or forty emigrant teams in the streets at one and the same time. Business flourished, and the high road to prosperity was opened and all seemed determined to travel therein. Every settler whose house was large enough to accommodate more than his ewn family had all the spare room ox^cupied with strangers and those seeking homes. A village was platted, streets and lots marked out and speculation in city property was very active. A newspaper was established, and it was a live, energetic paper, just suited to the occasion, and one that did its full share in developing the resources of the country. In the spring of 1^56 Mr. Ezra Abbott built a steam saw mill, which was put into operation, and the building interests were greatly accelerated by this addition to the power and material. The common lumber for most of the new buildings was manufactured at this mill. In 1857 Messrs Wm. F. Pettit, John H, Abbott and A. B. Cornell built a mill just above the town, intended for a grist mill; but the demand for lumber was so great that machinery for sawing was soon put in operation, and the building interests were materially enhanced thereby. Immigration to Minnesota that year was literally immense, and every available space was occupied for hotel room. At one time the log house of Mr. Winship accommodated, or at least contained, some fifty persons. In the fall of 1855 a postoffice was established by the name of Owatonnia, from the Indian name of the river Ouitunya^ which in the Sioux dialect signifies straight, as the general course of the river is straight, though in its meanderings one of the most serpentine to be found on the maps. The same name was given the town and the spelling corrected as now used, '"Owatonna." In the winter the mail route was extended via Austin and West Union in Iowa to Dubuque, and the mail carried by J. J. Bracket, of Lakeville. Previous to the establishment of this route Mr. Pettit had put a line of daily stages in operation between Owatonna and Faribault for the purpose of bringing in all parties who were looking for locations. In September, Mr. Cornell and Mr. John H. Abbott laid out the town site, comprising 120 acres, about sixty acres on each of their claims. In November they went to Winona and pre-empted the land, and on the 26th of December filed the town plats in the office of Charles Ellison, Register of Deeds.

In October of this year, J. W. Park and A. B. Smith built the log house now standing just north of the Winship House, on Oak street, and filled it with a stock of goods, which proved of great convenience to the settlers. A very respectable log school house was also built this fall, though a school had been taught the previous summer by Miss Helen

Holbrook, a sister-in-law of P. P. Carlton, in, or rather under, a sort of bower made of poles and boughs of trees. Here on pleasant days the youth of the embryo city gathered together to take the initiatory steps in climbing the hill of science and mount the first rung of the ladder of fame. The old log school house performed a somewhat important part in the history of the place. Schools were held in it during all school terms ; each of the denominations used it in turn as a house of worship. All the political meetings and elections were held there ; singing schools, lyceums and prayer meetings occupied the evenings, so that it was kept in almost constant use until it was removed and its place supplied by the present second ward school house. The town proprietors donated about forty lots to those who would erect substantial and useful buildings. In April 1856, Messrs. Pettit, Abbott and Cornell bought of Messrs. Park and Smith five hundred acres of land lying on the north side of the town for $8,000. This has since been known as the "Five Hundred Acre Tract," the purchasers being determined that no stone should be left unturned that would help build up the town. In the winter of 1855-6, B. L. Arnold built the Eureka House, the first frame hotel in the county, Mr. Adolphus Town built a small building on Bridge street and put in a stock of goods. In the fall of 1856 Nelson Morehouse built a saw-mill on the water power on the west bank of the river. Business really took long strides forward. In July of this year J. W. Morford and John Odell opened a store on Bridge street and somewhat later in the season. Dr. Harsha and Judge Donaldson, a drug and general provision store in the building now occupied by Harsha & Donaldson as a drug store ; A. N. Stoughton and D. Potwin on Main street. Philo Sandford built the American House, and Mr. Winship built an addition to his hotel. People became elated

The first death in the town of Owatonna was that of a Mr. Presburg, who had lived about a mile north of the village in the timber. This death occurred in 1856, and a clergyman passing through the town officiated at the funeral. Mr. Morford made a claim about three miles east of town, and adjoining that of his partner, Mr. Odell. He lived on his claim yet attended to his business in town, generally going home each night when not detained too late by business. Whenever he was detained in town, Mrs. Morford would spend the night at Mr. Odell's. On one of these occasions, the 20th of November, 1856, Mrs. Morford having waited till somewhat late for her husband's return, started for her friend's house, which was distant about half a mile. After walking, as she thought, far enough to reach the house, she began to look about her, but could perceive no signs of the shanty. She wandered about for some time searching for the house, and finally concluded that she was lost on the prairie. But she did not despond, as she knew that she had not gone so far but daylight would set her all right again, and coming to a thicket she very philosophically wrapped her shawl around her and laid down to sleep. The weather being quite mild she enjoyed a good rest and awoke in the morning very much refreshed and started for home. Seeing a shanty she approached it, thinking she would make some inquiry as to her whereabouts. No one answering her repeated knocks she raised the latch and stepped in. Things looked strangely familiar to her, and upon a closer scrutiny she found she was in her own home that she had left the night previous ; but so completely bewildered had she become on the prairie, that she did not recognize the place till she had got inside and saw the familiar furniture.

Chairman of Supervisors^ W. F. Pettit, 2 years, Geo. B. Hall, 3 years, John Odell, George W. Shaw, Gurdon Watson, 2 years, Daniel H. Bliss, J. B. Smith. For the year 1867, after the death of Daniel H. Bliss, J. B. Smith was appointed Chairman of Supervisors.

At the session of the Legislature in 1855, a city charter was granted, and at the charter election held on the 4th day of April, the following officers were elected: Mayor, Geo. B. Hall ; City Justice, A. N. Stoughton, City Recorder, A. M. Kinyon ; Assessor, James M. Dresser ; Aldermen, W, H. Wilsey, J. A. Oppligar, and "Wm. Scruby for two years, and W. R. Kinyon, J. B. Crooker, and John Donaldson for one year.

The officers appointed by the Board were : J. B. Hooker, City Treasurer ; J. B. Searles, Attorney; L. Bixby, Surveyor ; W. Wheaton, Marshal ; L. H. Kelly, Printer.

Owatonna has frequently been represented in the Legislature of the State and in other public positions. The members of the Legislature from this town have been H. M. Sheetz, Wm. F. Pettit, J. B. Crooker, and W. R. Kinyon. Wm. F. Pettit and M. A. Daily, have been elected to the State Senate. Hon. N. M. Donaldson has occupied the bench in that judicial district since its organization. Hon. M. H. Dunnell, the present State Superintendent of public schools, is also a resident of Qwatonna.

Pragtkal Bkhtisti

Br. Cole having had many years' experience in the art and practice of Dentistry, feels confident that he can safely assure the public that his work will compare favorably with the work of other firstclass dentists either east or west, and far superior to that of itenerant quacks who can only obtain business by traveling from place to place. A first claijs dentist seldom travels about the country seeking work, but remains and establishes himself where his work will speak for him.

Glassware

Are daily receiving Goods of the latest and most fashionable patterns and styles, that will please the eye of the most fastidious, and at prices to suit the times.