Wabasha County, Minnesota - Chapter 19: Greenfield, Kellogg and Watopa, 1920

Chapter 19: Greenfield, Kellogg and Watopa

Greenfield Township is the largest township in Wabasha County, occupying all but sections 4, 5 and 6 of Township 110, Range 10, and all of fractional Township 110, Range 9. It is bounded on the north by Wabasha and the Mis¬ sissippi, on the east by Glasgow Township, on the south by Watopa and Minneiska Townships, and on the east by the Mississippi River across which lies Buffalo County in Wisconsin. The River Division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul nearly bisects the town from north to south. The high lands east of the railroad are cut by the valleys of the Zumbro River and its tributaries, while east of the track lie the low lands in which the waters of the Zumbro mingle with those of the Mississippi in meandering and sluggish waterways, sloughs, swamps and lagoons. From Kellogg to the Mississippi an artificial waterway has been established. A part of the eastern part of the township is occupied by a sand prairie.

South and west of the Zumbro lies a beautiful and fertile bench, about half-way between the level of the stream and that of the prairie at the top of the bluffs. Along this bench winds the beautiful stream known as Cook's Val¬ ley Creek. Here settled, in the spring of 1854, on section 30, Messrs. Levi and Aaron Cook, and this gave rise to the name Cook's Valley, by which the locality is now known. Their location was at the mouth of Cook's valley proper, a valley tributary to that of the Zumbro, and running back southward several miles. During the same year Dr. C. C. Stauff, a native of Germany, who had settled at Wabasha in 1853, located a claim near the river on section 19, on this bench. Ephraim Wildes was another settler of 1854, having first located on the northeast quarter of section 34. The next year he moved to section 30 and built the first frame house in the township. Here he died in 1860.

In April, 1854, Isaac Cole, now a resident of Wabasha, located on section 22, on the south bank of the Zumbro. He established a ferry and hotel and was largely patronized, for travel from Wabasha westward naturally followed the valley of the Zumbro. The Indians located by hundreds on the banks of the river were at times exceedingly troublesome, especially when returning noisy and furious from drinking bouts at Wabasha. Brandishing their bowieknives they threatened to kill and exterminate the whites, from which they were prevented only by the squaws wresting the dangerous weapons from them without ceremony. On one occasion they undertook to carry off Cole's ferry¬ boat, and in fact did, but were compelled to abandon the enterprise by a posse of men who pursued and overtook them. Nearly every settler in those days kept a tavern, for land-seekers were glad to find a dry place to lie down when overtaken by night, and none were turned away hungry as long as the larder contained bacon and cornmeal. Game furnished a considerable portion of the provision against starvation and frequently furnished a meal with no accom¬ paniment save salt.

Among other pioneers of 1854 may be mentioned G. H. Amerland, H. P. Wilson, John W. Murphy and Michael W. Riley. The next year marked the arrival of Garret A. Cook, a brother of Aaron H. and Levi Cook. Garret Albert¬ son, a local Methodist elder, came this year. His brother, William, at the same time located on section 30. Patrick Holland located a claim on section 29, April 19, 1855. J. H. Wehrenberg, Henry Frye, Henry Graner and George McCaffrey settled in the valley in 1856. Daniel Metzgar located on section 30, in 1857.

The earliest birth among Caucasian residents was that of Frank, son of H. P. Wilson, and occurred June 25, 1855. August 31 of the same year a son was born to Carl and Wilhelmina Stauff, and christened Frank Henry. On November 16, Augustus, a son, was added to the family of Levi Cook. March 28, 1858, witnessed the nuptials of J. Henry Wehrenberg and Anna Frye. Some time during the same year Henry Stewart and Augusta Wildes went to Sand Prairie and were married. The first death was that of William B. T. Piers, whose demise occurred April 6, 1855, at Wabasha, and was the effect of inflam¬ mation caused by the bite of a dog inflicted here. E. Madison Wildes had two Indian dogs that were very savage, and Piers, by some means, incurred their displeasure.

A postoffice was located in Cook's Valley in the spring of 1859, and sup¬ plied by the Wabasha and Austin stages. Daniel Metzgar was appointed to take charge of it, and after keeping it a little more than three years, turned it over to G. A. Cook.

Most of the early settlers were men of family, and appreciated the need of educational facilities. At a meeting of the citizens held in G. A. Cook's house, November 8, 1857, a school district was organized. John Canfield, a resident of Glasgow Township, was made director, Garret Albertson, treasurer, and G. A. Cook, clerk. Nearly all the citizens of the town were present, and it was decided to raise fifty dollars for school purposes. By mutual contributions of labor, a log building was erected for a schoolhouse, on the site of the present one, in district No. 28, and school opened the same month. G. A. Cook's daugh¬ ter, Aurora, was employed at a salary of ten dollars per month, and presided over the instruction of fifteen pupils during the winter.

On November 9, 1868, a meeting of citizens was held to arrange for the establishment of a common burial place. A cemetery association was formed, with J. A. Cole, G. A. Cook and Henry Graner as trustees. Two acres of land were purchased from Henry Frye and Henry Graner, and the latter donated one-fourth of an acre. This constitutes Greenfield cemetery, and is located on the south side of the Zumbro, in the center of the south half of section 20.

Several of the pioneers were devout Methodists, and steps were early taken to secure preaching. The earliest religious service was held in the year 1857, at the cabin of Levi Cook, and was conducted by Rev. Crist, a Methodist clergy¬ man. Rev. John L. Dyer was soon after sent here by the conference, and he organized a class. In August, 1859, he was assisted in his labors by Garret Albertson, a local elder residing here. Sunday school here included thirtyfive pupils.

In March, 1863, a meeting was held at Cook's Valley schoolhouse to take steps toward building a house of worship. The trustees elected were: Oliver Collier, G. A. Cook, John R. Brown, Ezikiel Collins, Nelson Staples. During the same year foundations were prepared and lumber brought on the ground. In the fall, N. Staples was awarded the contract for the carpenter work at seventy-five dollars, to be completed by March 1, 1864. The latter year saw the completion and occupation of the building, on the south side of the Plainview road, on section 30, a plain frame structure, 24 by 36 feet in superficial dimensions.

A gang of outlaws led by Henry Rufus Dresser kept the township in an uproar in the early days. It was evidently the aim of this gang to establish here a criminals' retreat, by getting possession of all the land. Consequently they tried to drive out the honest settlers by intimidation and by jumping their claims. They made a business of running off the settlers' oxen and stealing any other portable property available. In 1856, E. Madison Wildes and George Hayes laid claim to adjoining eighties. These claims were jumped by Dresser and his lieutenant, Alex Baird, who built a cabin on the line between the two claims. On a certain Friday Andrew Wildes, a young brother of Madison, with the assistance of another lad, tore down the shanty in the absence of its usurping occupants. On Saturday night following Hayes started for Wabasha from the residence of Ephraim Wildes, father of the boys above named, and was met by Dresser and Beard, who had just discovered the destruction of their cabin. They told Hayes they would rebuild the shanty if they had to shoot every man in the settlement. These men were known to be desperate characters, and Hayes became frightened and returned to Wildes'. Next morn¬ ing a posse of citizens was gathered and proceeded to the scene of action, on section 29, to induce the unlawful occupants to leave. When the party ap¬ proached Dresser was on the roof and his companion inside. The former swore he would shoot the first one who touched a board of the building. Disregard¬ ing this threat, Wildes walked up and leaned against the building, whereupon Beard began firing at him with a revolver. Wildes was struck above the right groin by a bullet and sank to the ground. He was carried home by his friends and lingered in agony till the next day. A warrant was issued, by a justice from Wabasha, for their arrest, and Sheriff Hurd attempted to arrest them, but failed. A party from Wabasha met them at Tepeeotah that same night, among whom was A. A. Weston. They arrested and conveyed them to Wabasha, where hey were examined, and afterward conveyed to Stillwater, but, soon making their escape from there, they returned and boldly made their appear¬ ance at Wabasha. Beard was again arrested and confined, but escaped again and left the country. J. J. Stone was deputy sheriff at this time, and in attempt¬ ing to arrest Dresser was shot at by Dresser's wife through the door. On February 15, Mr. Weston was shot through the window of his house and died from the effect of the wound about three years after. Dresser was again arrested, but finally made his escape and left the country.

The same gang was also guilty of a death at Tepeeotah in 1856. Wishing to frighten away Dr. Timothy Enright, they set out one night for his shanty, swearing that, if they could not find him, they would shoot any man found on the premises. An inoffensive man named Polhemus chanced to be staying there that night, in the absence of its owner, and received a bullet in his head. Death was instantaneous.

Interesting stories are told of various early characters. Edward Deland lost two successive crops of small grain on the Zumbro bottoms by flood. In 1859 he planted forty acres to corn, and on the first of July it was large and looking very fine. He made the remark that morning to a passing neighbor, that he thought he had "got ahead of God Almighty this year by planting his whole farm to corn," which was now beyond damage by high water. In the morning of July 3, a Wabasha party visited him and purchased his farm, the deed to be made and money turned over that afternoon at Wabasha. While cultivating corn during the forenoon, Deland heard the roar of the approach¬ ing flood, and looked up to see a great wall of water rolling toward him. He was barely able to reach his stable and mount to its top in time to escape being swept away. The house, fortunately, was beyond the reach of the rushing waters. Finding he could not circumvent the Lord, he set about "getting ahead" of his purchaser before news of the flood reached him. Taking his wife in a skiff, he reached terra firma by rowing a fourth of a mile. They reached Wabasha, signed the deed, received the money, and returned home well satisfied with the day's events on the whole.

It is said that an unknown man died of cholera in the town immediately after coming off a Mississippi steamer in the spring of 1855. He was in search of land, and came out from Wabasha with a settler. He was stricken the same evening with the dread malady, and succumbed to it within a few hours. Two others died about the same ime, from the same cause, in the town of Glasgow, just outside this town, and were buried here.

In 1866 a man was found one morning on the western border of the town, with his head hanging out of his buggy, life being extinct. It was ascertained that he was a book agent, and had displayed a sum of money on the morning of the day previous at Wabasha. It was supposed that he had been followed during the day by some covetous person, and killed under cover of darkness for his money. No clue to the murder was ever found, and the name of the murdered man is unknown.

The terriorial election for this section was held in the spring of 1856, at the house of Ephraim Wildes. The judges appointed to conduct this election were William Albertson, Henry Dresser and Aaron Cook. The latter was made clerk. At this election Garret Albertson was chosen justice of the peace. On the organization of the town, May 11, 1858, F. J. Collier was chosen chairman of supervisors, and Seth C. Tennis town clerk.

Tepeeotah was the name of a village founded during the fall of 1856 by ;he Hon. Thomas H. Ford, ex-governor of Ohio, and Judge Casey, of Pennsyl¬ vania, who were then visiting this region. Attracted by the apparent advan¬ tages of a claim owned by Dr. Timothy Enright, they purchased it at once and laid out upon it a village site, expecting the place to develop into a commercial city. It covered a quarter section, and occupied a beautiful location on an island in the delta of the Zumbro, four miles southeast of Wabasha. The bluffs of the Mississippi are about four miles back of this point, and the surrounding country was level. The island for many years had been the favorite camping place of Wapashaw's band, and the proprietors of the village named it Tepee¬ otah, from the In'dian words, "tepee," meaning house, and "otah," many. They fully expected to see it attain greater dimensions than Wabasha, which was then improving rapidly. In 1857 Theodore Adams became a partner in the townsite, the company being known as Ford, Casey & Adams. In the same year a three-story hotel was erected, two stores and a blacksmith shop were in oper¬ ation, and the village numbered about 30 residences. The Hancock Brothers were proprietors of one of the stores, and D. Sinclair & Co. built a sawmill, which was set in operation in the spring of 1858, employing 30 men. The apparent success of the village aroused the jealousy of the Wabasha people, and bitter feelings were engendered. However, these promising symptoms of growth soon came to an end. It was found that boats could not land at Tepee¬ otah except in high water, in consequence of the Beef Slough Bar, the very bar which the people had thought would prove beneficial to them, to the detriment of Wabasha, it being difficult for boats to pass it in low water. Then the hard times of 1857-1858 came on, the proprietors became deeply involved, and the business of the village, laboring under these combined disadvantages, sank to nothing. Boats refused to land there except at rare intervals, and people began to avoid and desert the isolated locality. On a March night in 1859 an incen¬ diary torch was applied to its deserted buildings, and in a few short hours all vestiges of the former village had been swept out of existence.

Pauselim, another abandoned village, was laid out in 1863 by William A. Johnson and Mr. Morgan, on the northwest quarter of section 27, and covered some 40 acres. The proprietors named their village after a certain make of pottery, believing that the land contained the particular kind of clay from which it was made, which belief in the end proved fallacious. The site was originally claimed by Orrin A. Hancock, who built a hotel in section 22, in 1857. He sold out to Mr. Johnson in 1861, and in 1862 built a store there and established a post office, with himself as postmaster, platting the village the next year. Soon afterwards he sold the store to Henry Etting, who conducted it for several years. Mr. Johnson was a shrewd business man, and an acquisition to the town of Greenfield. He foresaw the building of the railroad, but mistook its route and located it too far west. A number of dwellings were erected about the "Corners," but the advent of the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Chicago railroad, in 1871, drew people further east; and at the junction of that road with the Zum¬ bro was laid out the village of Kellogg, which entirely superseded Pauselim, the post office being removed thither and given the new name. A Methodist church, which had been built in Pauselim in 1863-64, was moved to the newer

(village in 1882. There the merchants established their stores, and within a few years there was little left of Pauselim except three or four dwellings.

Kellogg Village

Kellogg Village had its beginning in 1870. The first building was erected m the fall of that year by John Huddleson. In 1871, Clement Brass built and opened a hotel, and in the fall John Mealey opened a blacksmith shop The coming of the railroad gave a great impetus to the village, and for several years, it was the shipping point of a large territory to the southwest. Some of this business was diverted in the late seventies with the building of the rail¬ road up the Zumbro Valley and south from Plainview.

A destructive fire occurred at Kellogg in March, 1880. At this time' Calvin Potter's store was entirely consumed in the night; nothing was saved, as the building was wrapped in flames before the fire was discovered.

Kellogg is now a lively and bustling village, situated in Greenfield Town¬ ship, on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, nine miles south of Wabasha, the county seat. It is surrounded by a rich and beautiful farming country, and is an important shipping point for grain, livestock and farm products. The Kellogg State Bank provides adequate financial accommodations for the village and surrounding territory, while the Enterprise newspaper is a faithful mirror of local activities and current events in the outside world. Among the other prominent business concerns are a creamery, saw mill and grain elevator, besides a number of excellent stores, representing all the more important branches of commercial enterprise. There are two churches, Cath¬ olic and Methodist, and several of the strong fraternal orders have lodges here. The community is essentially modern and well-to-do, and includes among its population a number of retired farmers.

This village was incorporated by a legislative act approved February 14, 1877. The railroad company had adopted the name of Kellogg, in honor of a Milwaukee gentleman who furnished the station signs, and the village took the same cognomen. The act of incorporation named J. E. Gage, Joseph Ginthner and John Schouweiler as judges of the first election, and they were elected village trustees, with Calvin Potter as president and Edward A. Tupper recorder. J. 0. Junkin was elected treasurer. On July 24, C. H. Coleman was appointed recorder, to fill vacancy caused by Tupper's removal from the towm.

The Kellogg State Bank. - This institution had its origin in a private bank, known as The Bank of Kellogg, which was organized by John Costello, Linn Whitmore and Charles C. Hirschy, June 1, 1905, with a capital of $10,000. On March 28, 1908, the bank was incorporated as the Kellogg State Bank, with Joseph Graff president, Walter McNallan, vice-president, and John Costello, cashier; with C. C. Hirschy, L. Whitmore, John H. Schouweiler, Joseph C. Schierts and Peter Howe, directors. As a state bank it started with total resources of $50,046.40. In 1913 Peter Howe was elected president, John H.

I Schouweiler vice-president, John Costello cashier, and the latter's son, John I). Costello, who had just returned from the war, assistant cashier. In January, 1919, John Costello was elected vice-president and John D. Costello was made cashier. In 1920 John H. Hager was elected assistant cashier. The present officers are: Peter Howe, president; John H. Schouweiler and John Costello, vice-presidents; J. D. Costello, cashier, and John H. Hager, assistant cashier. L. Whitmore, C. C. Hirschy, Joseph C. Schierts, Joseph Graff and Dennis McNal¬ lan are directors. On January 1, 1914, the rate of interest on time deposits was raised from three per cent to four per cent. On December 31, 1919, the capital was raised from $10,000 to $25,000, with a surplus of $5,000, the undivided profits being $6,420.40, loans and discounts, $369,902.00, and deposits, $375,- 265.00. The growth of the institution is shown by its steadily increasing volume of business, in 1910 the loans and discounts being $92,456.65, and

Kellogg Catholic Church. - Kellogg parish was originally part of Wabasha and attended from there. The church here was built in 1900 and enlarged in 1908. The church property was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Miles McDonough. The first resident pastor was the Rev. James Culliton. There are about 100 families or 500 souls in the parish. The rectory was built in 1910. The pastor now serving is Rev. M. J. Grehan.

Kellogg Lodge, No. 122, A. F. A. M., was organized January 13, 1876. Work, under dispensation, was begun April 24, 1875, by the few Masons then resident here. The following were the first officers: M. O. Kemp, W. M.; J. E. Gage, S. W. ; M. K. Wolfe, J. W. ; J. O. Junkin, Treas.; Paul Miller, Sec.; John Mealey, S. D.; J. W. Moore, J. D.; G. B. Albertson, S. S. ; William Albertson, J. S. ; John Kins, Tyler.

Midland Junction is the point at which the Zumbrota Branch of the Chi¬ cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul leaves the main River Division, and starts east¬ ward up the Zumbro Valley.

Watopa Township is rough in contour, broken by the valleys of the numer¬ ous creeks. Indian Creek valley extends across the town from east to west, the stream entering on section 31 and leaving on 24. North of this is Snake creek, whose head is near the west side of the town, flowing about due east, and join¬ ing the Zumbro on section 12. The Whitewater river crosses the southeastern portion, and thus the town is composed of alternate ridges and valleys. The ridge between the Whitewater and Indian creek is quite broad, and is known as "Hoosier Ridge." Those on either side of Snake creek are narrow. Branches of the Zumbro mouth meander in the northeastern part. The town occupies Congressional Township 109, Range 10. It is bounded on the north by Green¬ field Township, on the west by Highland Township, on the south by Whitewater Township and a small strip of Mt. Vernon Township, in Winona County, and on the east by Minneiska Township.

Among the earliest residents were Frank and John Gage, who settled in Whitewater Valley in 1855, John Gage making claim to a section of land in that valley, in the northeastern part of the town. He arrived in August, and in September sent for his family, and for a time they were the only white inhabitants. The Indians were quite numerous, and would often give trouble by stealing their loose property. Mr. Gage was the only settler until 1856, when his brother joined him, and soon others arrived in the neighborhood, including Garret Fitzgerald, Christ Abbott, Ole Paulson, James and Daniel Gow, John Feddelson, and George and William Christie. In 1857 John Kickey and John Keating settled on Snake Creek. In 1858 Dr. L. D. Holmes settled on Indian Creek, and J. B. Haines became his neighbor next year. These were eastern people, and a spirit of enterprise came with them.

On September 7, 1856, a son was born to John and Eleanor Gage. He was christened Burton Wallace, and died January 25, 1859. During the latter year a daughter was born to Charles Simpson, but is now deceased. These are the earliest births of which any knowledge can be found. The first residents of the town to be united in marriage were William Ryan and Margaret Hickey. This wedding was celebrated at Wabasha, February 16, 1863.

The first school in the township was taught in 1857-1858, in a house owned by John Gage. Mrs. Timothy Young planned to be the first teacher, but fell dead while scrubbing the floor in preparation for the first session. John Porter and Charles Simpson were early teachers.

The first religious services were held in 1860 at the home of J. B. Haines, by William Welds, whose wife taught in the log schoolhouse nearby.

Rev. D. B. Gleason, of the Read's Landing Circuit of the Methodist Epis¬ copal Church, preached in the home of J. B. Haines in 1860. His successor, Rev. Harvey Webb, also held services there the following year.

Many interesting stories are told of the pioneer days. As late as 1859, flour was difficult to procure in the spring and early summer, after the long winter had exhausted the supply brought by boats in the previous fall. On one occasion J. B. Haines and Charles Jencks set out for Minnesota City to procure flour, and had nothing for lunch on the way save some green cucum¬ bers. At noon they turned out the oxen to feed, and sat down by a spring to eat their lunch. On reaching their destination, they succeeded in securing fifty pounds of flour, which was to feed several families in the valley. When Mr. Haines had raised a crop of wheat, he engaged men to thresh it. The dinner provided for the hungry workmen was devoid of bread or pastry. Butter and cream were plenty, and also tea and coffee. Trout, which was easily caught in Indian Creek at that time, furnished the flesh, and squash the vegetable portion. For dessert, sweetened stewed pumpkin was supplied, sugar being easily obtain¬ able from steamboat points.

Watopa was organized May 11, 1858. The Indian name, Watopa, was adopted, after considerable discussion of other titles. The supervisors chosen were Christ Abbott, chairman, John Gage and Henry Wagner. Charles Simp¬ son was made town clerk, Daniel Seymour, justice of the peace, and John Crain, constable.