Waseca County, Minnesota - Chapter 17: St. Maey Township, 1887

Chapter 17: St. Maey Township

HE subdivision of the county bearing the appellation of St. Mary embraces all of congressional township 107 north of range 23 west, and contains about 33,000 acres of fine land. Some of the best arable soil in this county is found here. The surface of the country is gently undulating, some of the swells rising almost to the altitude of hills, but the long and gentle slope destroying any idea of height.

This township is well watered, the Le Sueur River entering it on the southern line of section 36, and in its westward course ti'aversing sections 26, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 and 36, and this with its affluent, a creek having its source on sections 16 and 22, afford ample drainage to this territory. The soil is a rich, black loam that is unexcelled for fertility and productiveness. Small grain, corn and vegetables bear an uncommon yield, and the native indigenous grasses on the unbroken sod affoi'ds pasturage for the many herds of cattle. The people of St. Mary are entirely agricultural, there being no village within its limits, although the north half of it is traversed by the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad.

Early Settlement

The pioneer settlers of the j^recinct of St. Mary came here in the spring and summer of 1855, and were : Abraham and Joseph Bird, John White, Gottlieb Sr., Martin and John Fred Krassin, Fred Prechel, Bernard Gregory and Fred Wubschall. Of these, Abraham Bird died here February 12, 1869 ;

Joseph removed to far away Oregon ; Martin and Gottlieb Krassin Sr., have " crossed tlie dark river to a better land beyond ; " Bernard Gregory passed away also about the year 1877, and John White is now a resident of Iosco Township. All these old settlers have been mentioned at length already in the chapter on the early settlement of the county.

John Bailey came to this precinct in 1856, and located for a time, but, with Mr. Chamberlain, purchased the town site of St. Mary, and was for some time connected with the growth of that place as well as interested in the mill. He is now a resident of Medford, Steele County, and a biographical sketch of him will be found in that department of this volume.

Christian and Gottlieb Krassin Jr. came here in the summer of 1856. Christian died here April 22, 1876 ; Gottlieb is still a resident of the township.

Johan Gottlieb Krassin is a son of Gottlieb Krassin Jr. and Augusta (Sommer) Krassin, his wife, who were among the earliest settlers in Waseca County. Johan Gottlieb Krassin was born in Marquette County, Wis., Sep. tember 6, 1855, and came to Waseca County an infant in his mother's arms. The family have been largely identified with the growth of St. Mary Township, and are extensive farmers and stock-raisei-s. Gottlieb Krassin is as yet unmarried. He owns some 480 acres of land, and cultivates a large share of it. He is engaged also in raising short-horn Durham cattle, and Norman Pei-cheron horses. His farm, of which he is justly proud, is located on section 27. In 1880 Mr. Krassin was elected to the office of scliool director, and held tiie same for three years. He is a Democrat in politics, and in religion a member of the Lutheran Church.

John Woixlen came to this precinct also in 1856, purchasing a farm, where he lived for a few years. He sold out here finally and removed to Iosco, where he bought a place and lived until death called him away. His son, Henry, is now a resident of Iosco.

Joseph Mantie was among the earliest settlers of St. Mary, coming here August 5, 1856, and settling on section 27, where he now lives. He is a native of Prussia, and came to tiie United States in the year 1853, first locating at Princeton, Wis., where he followed tiie blacksmith trade, after which he came to Waseca County, wliere he did the first work in that line within its limits. In December,

1855, he was united in marriage with Minnie Krassin, daughter of Gottlieb and Augusta Krassin, a native of Prussia, born March 29, 1841. They are the parents of nme children: Samuel, married to Matilda Buke, a native of Prussia, July i, 1 883 ; Henrj', John, William, Frank, Mena, married Frank Zickerick, June 2 1879; Melia, married Fred King, October 3, 1883 ; Emma; and Elizabeth married Amel Martin, November 16, 1886. Mr. Mantie is a Republican, has held many township and school district offices, and is one of the representative men of the township. He is a member of the Catholic Church.

1856, and located on section 16, where he has since resided. He was born in Ireland, June 4, 1835, and is the son of James and Mary (Malia) Jordan. His parents raised a family of seven children : Michael, Martin, Mary, John, Ann, Austin and Thomas, all of whom are living but one. The family came to America in 1849, landing at St. Johns, N. B., but after a short staj' there, moved to Clintonville, Mass., where they remained one year. Their next place of residence was in New York State, where they dwelt some seven years. Both of the old people are now dead. John Jordan was engaged in running a canal boat in New York for a few years, and then came to Waseca County. He is a Democrat in politics and a Catholic in religion.

Anthony Gorman was also a settler of the year 1856 in this township. He is a native of Ireland, and is the son of Charles and Mary Gorman, both of whom are now dead. They were the parents of nine children, five boys and four girls. Anthony Gorman came to the United States in 1848, landing in New York City. From there he went to Orange County, in the same State, and remained there a short time, when he went to Illinois ; but a few months later came to Minnesota, stopping a short time in Wabasha County ; from there to Hastings and then to St. Mary in 1856. He located on section 28, where he has since resided. He is a single mail, a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Catholic Church. He has held the office of chairman of tlie town board for ten years, justice of the peace for nine years, and other town offices, and is a representative man of the township.

Michael McGonagie, one of the pioneers of the year 1856, still resides on the old homestead established b}^ him in those early daj's. He is a native of Ireland, born September 10, 1825, and is the son of Neil and Mary (O'Donnell) McGonagie, who had three children : Hugh, Michael and Neil. The subject of this sketch has one of the finest places in Waseca County, on section 15, where lie follows genei-al farming and stockraising. October 10, 1855, he and Margeret Gill, the latter a native of Ireland, were united in marriage and they have been the parents of nine children : Michael, Mary Ann, Katie, Neil, Maggie, Hugh, John, William and Lizzie. Michael was married to Bridget McBride, a native of Ireland, in 1881, and they have five children ; Maggie was married in 1886 to Daniel Murray, of Iosco, and Hugh was married in April, 1887, to Katie Kelley and lives on section 16, this township. Mr. McGonagle is a Democrat in politics and has held some of the more important oflSces connected with the educational department of the town government, and is a representative man of this part of the county. He is a member of the Catholic Church.

George H. Reibeling Sr. came to this township in 1S56, and settled on section 10, where he died, aijd where the family still reside. G. H. Keibehng is a native of German}', born November 18, 1854, and is the son of George H. and Eliza (Nebhul) Eeibeling, natives of the same empire, who had a famil}' of eight children : May, Anna, George H., Caroline, Theodore, Katie, Cornelius and Laura. Caroline died June 26, 1865, and Laura May the 31st of July, 1866. The family came to this county in 1856. The elder Mr. Keibeling died and the mother was again married November 20, 1867, to William Harding, and is the mother of three more children : William, Everhardt and Isabella, all living at home on section 10, this township. George H. is a single man and own 120 acres of land on the same section. He is a Republican in politics.

Holder S. Loveland, in 1856, made a settlement on part of section 25. He afterward sold out the farm which he had taken and removed from the count}'. His son George was in the army during the late rebellion, and died September 29, 1863, at Black River bridge.

Mrs. Jane C. Johnston is the daughter of Samuel and Louisa (Clark) Scrilmer, the former a native of Washington County, N. H., and the latter of Orange County, Vt. They had a family of five children, as follows : Charles, who married Emma Horn, in 1855, living at Lowell, Mass.; George F., who married Abbie Chapman, now living in Massachusetts; Alzoa married S. D. Osterhout, living at Lowell, Mass.; Mary A. and

Jane C. The latter was born at Chelsea, Vt., February 5, 1833, and was united in marriage April 5, 1857, with Charles W. Johnston, a native of Montpelier, Vt., born March 9th, 1834. They were the parents of five children : Nellie M. L., born August 7, 1858; Alma S., May 22, 1860; Charles F., April 17, 1863 ; Willard C, June 29, 1866, and George S., May 28, 1869. Charles F. died Mai;ch 25 and George March 31, 1873, of scarlet fever and diphtheria, and are buried in Waseca cemetery. Mrs. Johnston and her family came here in 1857 and settled on the place on section 13 where she now lives. Her son Willard carries on the farm.

August Priebe was born in St. Mary Township, Waseca Count}', July 31, 1864, and is the son of John and Caroline (Vondrie) Priebe, natives of Prussia, who came to this county in an early day, being among the first settlers of St. Mary. John Priebe was a farmer and settled on section 10, where he died August 25, 1872; his wife died in 1880 ; both are buried in Iosco Township. August commenced life for himself on his farm on section 10 in the spring of 1887, he having 282 acres from his father's estate, where he carries on farming and stock-raising. June 16, 1887, he was United in marriage with Molvena Krienke, also a native of this county, Ijorn September 7, 1868, and a daughter of August and Henrietta Krienke, farmers in this town. August Priebe has a sister and a brother living ; Amelia, the sister, is the wife of Julius Mittelstadt ; married April 4, 1883; lives in losca ; the brother, WilMam, works for August. August and his wife are members of the German Lutheran Church.

(Woodruff) Phelps, the former a native of Connecticut, the latter of New Yorli. John Phelps was a farmer all his life, and died in 1877; the mother still survives. They raised a family of four children, three boys and one girl, in the spring of ISfiS S. S. Phelps came to Waseca County from Portage Count}', Wis., and purchased a farm on section 11, St. Mary Township, where his family reside, but that year spent part of the time in Owatonna and the balance in Portage County, whither he had returned. In the spring of 1866 he built a house on this place on the site of the present splendid mansion. The first house was but 12x14 feet in size, and in this the family lived, two small additions being built in the meantime, until their new residence was built. This latter was erected by Mr. Phelps during the year 1869, and is one of the finest in the county, having cost $11,000. It is a brick-veneered structure, 40x47 feet on the ground, two stories and a half with the foundation and trimmings of cut Kasota stone, and is fitted with all the modern conveniences. The same year he put up a residence on a place he owned in Blue Earth County, near Eagle Lake, at a cost of $1,400 and another near Janesville at a cost of $1,000. Mr. Phelps was a large land-holder, at one time owning some 2,200 acres of land in this and Blue Earth Counties. In 1867 when the railroad had reached Waseca, Mr. Phelps took a contract to haul all the freight from that point to St. Peter, Mankato and New Ulm, and this he held until the road had reached those points, having from four to ten teams enffat'ed. He had also a contract with the railroad company to distribute ties along the roadbed from Waseca to Janesville. In 1869 he entered into a contract with the railroad company to furnish them with 60,000 cords of wood, and purchased machinery to saw it with, which business he pursued for seven years. He fitted up seven small saws run by horse power and one large one which cost $1,200, run bv steam. These with the boarding car were arranged to move along the track and operated all the way from Madison, Wis., to St. Peter and New Ulm. After his large expense tiie company began burning coal, so that Mr. Phelps sustained heavy losses, having to sell his machinery at a great sacrifice. Mr. Phelps was one of the enterprising men that have so materially helped to build up Waseca County, and a man that united great energy of character with rare business ability. October 13, 1861, Mr. Phelps and Elspa Sutherland were united in marriage. She is a native of New Brunswick, born July 8, 1842. They were the parents of six children : Ellen E., born February 15,1864; Nancy H., born April 5, 1868: Sethie J., born December 31, 1870; George P., born January 8, 1873; Jessie E., born February 4, 1875, and Joseph D., born June 27, 1877. Sethie died October 16, 1880. Ellen married Carl S. Fitch, December 31, 1885, and is living in Dakota. All the rest of the family are at home with their mother. Mr. Phelps met his death on the evening of the 11th of March, 1884, while crossing the railroad track about a mile west of Waseca. He was driving his team home, and while on the track was struck by the engine and instantly killed. His body lies in Waseca cemetery. Thus was cut off in the prime of life one of the most active business men of this county. A portrait of Mr. Phelps will be found elsewhere in this volume.

Daniel T. Ballard Avas born in England, October 16, 1839, and is the son of Samuel and Mary (Ashb}') Ballard, who had a family of five children : Ann Eliza beth, Elizabeth, Isaac, John, and Daniel T. The last named came to the United States in 1856, with two brothers, landing in New York City, and worked in Crawford County, Pa., farming in the summer, and in the winter following, doing chores for his board, and went to school. The next summer he went to Ohio, but in that fall came to Waseca County. This was in 1858. He located at fii'st in

Iosco. In the fall of 1862, he enlisted in Company F, Eig-hth Minnesota, but was discharged the same year at Fort Snelling. He then went to Dakota Countj% this State, where he lived three years, and from there he returned to Iosco Township, Waseca County. In May, 1866, lie and D. A. Erwin started for Montana with ox teams, and joined a train going that direction, which consisted of fifty-three wagons and about three hundred persons. He returned in November, 1872, to this county, where he has since remained. June 17, 1873, he was united in marriage with Josephine Brossard, a native of Wisconsin. They are the parents of three children : Sylvester E., born February 22, 1874 ; Ida B., born April 26, 1883, and Wesley E., born February 26, 1885. Mr. Ballard is a Republican in politics.

Isaac Ballard came to Waseca County in 1856. First located in Iosco, where he remained for about ten years. Then purchased a farm on section 1, St. Mary, where he still lives. Mr. Ballard is a native of England, born December 16, 1834, where he lived until 22 years of age, and then sailed for America. His first stop was in Pennsylvania, where he remained but a short time, and then came on to Illinois, where he remained but a few weeks, and then came to Waseca County, in the fall of 1856. On October 6, 1864, was united in marriage to Carrie Erwin, daughter of P. A. and Jane Erwin, natives of New York State. She was born January 11, 1836. They are the parents of eight chilch'en : Arthur, Clifton, Carrie, Walter, Marshall, Sidney and Maud. Six are still at home, one, Arthur, in Minneapolis working for a glass firm. Mr. Ballard is a Republican in politics. He also is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Hans Paulson came to AYaseca County in the spring of 1869, and at that time purchased 160 acres of land in this township, to which he has added eighty acres, now having 240 acres on section 11. He gives his attention to genei'al farming and raising short-horn cattle and blooded horses. He is native of Norway, born January 27, 1833. His father and family came to the United States in 1868, and located in Fillmore County, this State, where he died at the age of seventy years. Hans came to this country in 1856, and for four years thereafter was a resident of Iowa. He then removed to Fillraofe County, Minn., where he lived until coming here in 1869. April 5, 1862, he was united in marriage with Osse Fingerson, a native of Norway, boi'ii February 16, 1845. Iler parents came to the United States in 1852, and settled in Wisconsin. In a few years they removed to Fillmore County, Minn., and in 1865. to Waseca County, locating in Blooming Grove, where her father remained until his death in 1873. The mother is still a resident of the same town. Mr. and Mrs. Paulson have a family of eight children : C. William, Alfred, Oliver, Austin, Eddie, Carl, Anna and Tilda. Mr. Paulson and family are members of the Lutheran Church.

William Mittelsteadt, is an enterprising farmer on section 9, where he carries on quite an extensive business in general farming and stock-raising. He came to Waseca County in 1867, settling where he now lives. He is a native of Prussia, born February 15, 1848, and is the son of Gottfried and Gustiva Mittelsteadt, who were the parents of eight children, seven boys and one girl. Gottfried died in the old country. William came to the United States in 1867, and came directly here, as already detailed, his mother, who lives with him, coming in his companj'. Mr. Mittelsteadt has been thrice married. December 26, 1872, he was united in marriage with Caroline Priebe, born in Prussia, in 1848, and who died June 19, 1880, leaving two children : Gustof, born December 12, 1876, and Emma, born December 7, 1878. January 13, 1881, he was married to Augusta Fisher, a native of Prussia, who died March 20, 1884, leaving one child, Martha, born Mav 11, 1883. He was married to Willimena

Leeck, September 12, 1884, and they are the parents of three children : Freddie, born June 12, 1885 ; Eddie, born June 8, 1886, and Herman, born August 18, 1887. Mr. Mittelsteadt is a Republican in politics, and has held the office of town supervisor for three terms.

Charles Gorman is a native of Ireland, born May 11, 1836, and lived in that country until 1852, when he came to the United States. Landing in Boston he proceeded to Dutchess County, N. Y., where he remained some three yeai'S, after which he came to Aurora, 111., and made that his home for about one year. He then came to Winona County, Minn., where he made a stay of about three years, when he went to Memphis, Tenn., and remained until 1861. He again came to Minnesota, locating in Waseca County, purchasing a farm in St. Mary Township, where he has since made his home and it is a most pleasant one. Mr. Gorman has a fine farm on section 20, with good buildings, and his land in a high state of cultivation. May 12, 186i, he was united in marriage to Bridget McNickle, also a native of Ireland, who died October 10, 1869. She was mother of three children, all of whom died in infancy. He was married again October 10, 1876, to Catherine Gallagher, a native of Ireland. She is also deceased. They had a family of eight children : Mary, Bridget, Winford, Johannah, Thomas and Anthony, and two died in infancy. Mr. Gorman is a Democrat in politics, and belongs to the Catholic Church with his famiiy.

D. A. Erwin, who resides on section 2, where he has a fine farm, was born August 4, 1839, in New York State, and is the son of P. A. and Jane Erwin, tlie former a native of Vermont, the latter of Ireland. Mr. Erwin the elder was born in 1797, and was in the service of his country during the war with Great Britain in 1812-15, and is stiU living in this county with his son, D. A. Mrs. Jane Erwin died here in September, 1867. In September 1862, D. A. Erwin enlisted in Company D, Ninety-eighth New York Infantry, and served until May, 1863, when he was discharged for disability. He then returned to New York State and engaged in farming for about a year, when he came west to Waseca County in 1864, joining his parents, who had located here about a 3'ear previous. In 1865 the gold fever seized upon Mr. Erwin and he crossed the plains to Montana, in search of the precious metal ; but fortune proving but a fickle goddess, was not propitious, and after three years' efforts there he returned to this county, where he has made his home ever since. He was united in marriage with Orrilla Ketcham, a native of Wisconsin, and they have been the parents of seven children : Sidney, born September 15, 1871, died October 11, 1873; Claude, born March 26, 1873; Stanley, born May 1, 1875; Grant, April 26, 1877 ; Eoland, January 27, 1879; Eugene, January 17, 1882, and an infant boy, born November 29, 1886, not named. In politics Mr. Erwin aflfiliates with the Republican party.

Patrick Farley, a leading farmer and stock- I'aiser, living on section 2, where he has 160 acres of fine land, is a native of Ireland, and was born March 16, 1836. He is the son of Thomas and Mary (Garrett) Farley. His mother died in 1847, leaving a family of eight children, five boys and three girls. Patrick came to America in 1855, and for the first year lived at Albany, N. Y. From there he moved to Wisconsin, where he remained until 1865, when he came to Waseca County, first locating in Alton Township. He lived there for twenty-one years, but in the spring of 1887 came to St. Mary, and bought his present place of E. Brossard. February 2, 1870, he was married to Mary Ann Hagearty, a native of Wisconsin, ])orn in November, 1848, and a daughter of Richard and Mar}^ Hagearty, the former a native of Ireland, the latter of Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Farley are the parents of eight children : Emma May, born Novem-

Julius Papke, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser, living on section 26, this township, was born in Prussia, September 1, 1838. He is a son of Michael and Ellaura (Block) Papke, who had but two children. Julius came to the United States m 1861, and for four years lived in Wisconsin, and then came to this county, locating on the section where he now lives. February 15, 1857, he and Eliza Boscho were united in marriage. She was born in Prussia, December 19, 1837. They are the parents of eleven children : Adolph, Melia, Augusta, Fred, John, Julius, Sarah, Mary, Edward, Lewis and Elia. Adolph married Maggie Criptner, December 22, 1884, and lives in Blooming Grove ; Melia married A. A. Robinson, December 1, 1884, and lives in Freel^orn County, this State, and Augusta married Lewis Priebe, February 12, 1885, and lives in Woodville. Mr. Papke was elected township assessor in 1882 and held that office for two years. Is school director for district No. 44, and has held that position since 1881, a,nd has been school treasurer and clerk of the same district.

Michael Gallagher was born in Marquette County, Wis., February 22, 1858, and is the son of Michael and Maria (Foley) Gallagher, both natives of Ireland. His parents came to America in 1847, and remained for the first seven years in New York State, and then moved to Marquette County, Wis. They remained there until 1863, when they came to Waseca County and the 1st of July located upon the northwest quarter of section 22, where the elder Mr. Gallagher followed farming until 1886, when he removed to the city of Waseca, where he now lives a retired life. He and his wife had a family of six children : Bernard, Eose Ann, John, Michael, Maria and Celia. The last named was burned to death when eleven years old, at the time her father's house was destroyed by fire ; the rest of the children are married. In 1886 Michael began life for himself, farming on the old homestead, having been married on the 20th of October, 1886, to Ellen Lynch, a native of this county, born January 16. 1861. Her family were among the first settlers of this township and county. They are both members of the Catholic Church.

Poger Geraghty, one of the prominent and representative citizens of St. Mary, is a native of Ireland, born July 4, 1833, and is the son of Peter and Mary Geraghty, both natives of Ireland. The latter raised a family of six children, named as follows : Poger, Thomas, Peter, Mary, Bridget and Julia. During the year 1849 Roger Geraghty came to America, and for two years remained in Marquette County, Wis., whither he had gone on landing. From there he went south, where he remained until 1865, when he came to Waseca County and settled upon the farm on section 32, this township, where he now lives. November 16, 1856, he was united in marriage with Catherine Madden, daughter of Thomas and Honora Madden, a native of Ireland, born August 5, 1833, and who had come to the United States in 1849, the same time Mr. Geraghty had. Their married life has been blessed with a family of five children : Peter, Thomas, Mary, Honora and Kate. Peter died March 23, 1884, and Kate, March 11, 1874 ; the rest are living at home. The family are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Geraghty is a Democrat in politics and has held the offices of town clerk, school clerk and treasurer of school district 15.

Historic Crcmbs

The first marriage in the township was at the house of Bernard Gregory on the 2d of January, 1856. when Louisa Gregory was united with Mr. Ballard, of Mankato, in the holy bonds['of matrimony.

Village Of St. Maey

In the montli of February, 1857, a village was laid out on the west half of section 33, by Chamberlarin. Bailey & Co., which at one time was quite an important point, vying with Empire and Wilton for the honor of being the county seat of AVaseca County, in 1857. Patrick McCartliy was the original proprietor of the land upon which the village was platted, but sold it in May of the above year to the firm mentioned. His house was the pioneer building of the new town.

Other settlers who were also among the first to locate at the new village may be mentioned : Amos H. Morris, W. H. Chamberlain, John Bailey, George T. White, T. C. McClure, James F. Elliott, Edward Lang, G. E. Buckman, H. B. Morrison, Harvey Bailey Mr. Clark, and Dennis McCarthy.

Amos H. Morris was a notarj^ public at this place in 1857. lie came up here to make out papers, bringing his family, but only remained three months, going to Hastings, Minn.

W. H. Chamberlain settled in this village in May, 1856. Pie was one of the proprietors of the town site. He remained in this place for some years. While here his Avife died, about 1859 or 1860, and he then sold out and moved to New York.

Capt. George T. White was connected with the official life of the county, and is noticed in that connection in the chapter entitled State and County Eepresentation.

Edward Lang came here from Lowell, Mass., and put up a house south of the village, across the river, where he lived about a year, and then returned to the "Old Bay State." He is remembei-ed bv his by-word, "By fire."

came to this place and opened a saloon. He was in the habit of freely indulging in his own whiskey, and making himself obnoxious to tiie citizens generally on such occasions. One daj' a number of the boys, led by James Plummer, took possession of the place, and finding about two barrels of " the ardent " emptied it upon the ground. The sheriif soon arrested about twent\'-five of those implicated, and they were taken to Wilton for trial. The case was adjourned from term to term, until in the end Isaac Price, acting as their attorney, got them cleared at an expense to each one of about seven ty-five cents. McCarthy some time previous to this had frozen . both his feet, while laboring under too great a load of " benzine," and was made a cripple for life.

Whitney AVheeler came to St. Mary about 1850, and was interested in the sawmill, being head sawyer. He died in Wilton about 1809. He ran a farm wiiile liere, and practiced a little as farrier. His widow is still a resident of the county.

Warren Smith was also a new comer of the year 1857. He was elected by the people, in after 3' ears, to fill the office of county treasurer, and has been already mentioned in that connection.

J. William Jolinson, now of Waseca, settled in St. Mar}' in 1857, and entered into mercantile business with Warren Smith. Later they removed to Wilton, where they remained in trade until the removal of the county-seat to Waseca, when they removed to that place. Smith afterward retired from business, and the firm now is Johnson & Claghorn.

George Johnson came to this village about the same time, with the sawmill of which he was part owner. After the establishment of Wilton, business declined at this point, and he removed to Wilton, where he entered into the mercantile business as a member of tlie firm of Johnson Brothers & Smith. He died at Waseca.

Soon after the laying out of the village, a man by the name of Grossman opened a boarding-house, the first house of entertainment in the place. He ran it but a few months, for he died before the settlement of the place. His death was caused bj^ exposure while duck-hunting.

The first frame building in the village was erected by W. H. Chamberlain, in the spring of 1857, and is now in the city of Waseca, having been removed thither about the year 1877, and is owned by J. E. Cragin.

During the fall of 1856 the proprietors of the town site started the erection of a sawmill, with which they did sawing all the following summer, but did not complete until the winter of 1857 8. This mill was of great utility to all the surrounding country, such establishments being rare in southern Minnesota at that date. It was afterward moved down to the river, and a shingle and flouring mill attached, and continued in operation until about 1862 or 1863, when it was destroyetl by fire.

The pioneer store was opened by Warren .Smith in 1857 in a building which he erected for the purpose, carrying a stock of general merchandise. Shortly after this a copartnership was formed between Smith and the Johnsons as related elsewhere. This firm carried on Imsiness here for a few years and then removed to Wilton.

A man by the name of Wright opened a drug store here in the spring of 1857. After continuing this business for a few years he closed up and removed from the county.

After the location of the seat of justice at Wilton, St. Mary ceased to grow and soon it began to decay and pass away. Like Auburn it soon became a " Deserted Village," and one by one the buildings were removed to other places, and on the 5th of October, 1873, the site was vacated by a decree of the district court and the ground reverted to its original condition of farm land.

St. Mary's Catholic Church was organized by Rev. Father Kellei-, of Faribault, in the year 1856. The first religious services of this denomination of Christians, and doubtless the first in the townshi]), were held at the dwelling of Andrew Lynch, and after that in the schoolhouse in the vicinity. The church edifice was erected in 1858, but with the lapse of years this building becoming too small for the growing congregation, they erected a large, fine church in 1880 at a total cost of $12,000. The building was 44x86 feet upon the ground and 26 feet high, and was a most beautiful edifice. On the afternoon of Sunday, December 20, 1885, the entire structure was destroyed by tire, but very little of its contents being saved. A fine statue of St. Joseph, presented to the church but two months previous by Peter Burns and Christie Heiferan, and the figure of the Blessed Virgin Mary, were taken out of the burning building comparatively unhurt. The chalices and some of the altar furniture were also saved through the instrumentality of Thomas Geraghty and James Byron. The church had an insurance upon it of $7,000, divided between the Continental and Ilekla companies. A contract for the rebuilding of the church edifice has been let the summer of this year, (1887) to J. T. Lee, and a contract for the erection of a parsonage to Thomas Flynn. Rev. Father R. Hughes is the present pastor in charge. The membership embraces about 420 individuals.