Washington County, Minnesota - Chapter 53, 1881

Chapter 53

The town of Denmark is located in the extreme southeastern part of the county, its eastern and southern boundaries being formed by the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers. To the north is the town of Afton, and on the west. Cottage Grove. The surface is ,Bomewhat diversified ; along the rivers rolling, and in the interior more level, with fine prairies. The soil is a sandy loam, well adapted to the production of grain of all kinds. From Point Douglas extending up the river, there is a belt of timber, mainly burr oak, which maintains a widtli of eighty rods for three or four miles, than gradually widens to more than a mile. There are no lakei of any size in the town. The area of Denmark ia over 18,000 acres, the greater part of which is utilized for farming purposes.

Earl V Settlement

Prominent among' those who first settled in what is now Denmark, were Oscar Burris and Levi Hurtsill, young men of energy. They lo¬ cated as early as 1840, on section 9, township 26, range 20, and began inaking improvements. In May, 1843, David Hone, one of the thirteen men who composed the Marine Mill Company, located a claim on sections four and nine, in the southern part of the town. These three men, subse¬ quently founded and laid out the village of Point Douglas. The survey was made by Harvey ,Vilson, of Stillwater, August 18th, 1849; an addition was made in 1857. The village is situated on the point formed by the junction of the St. Croix with the Mississippi, the principal portion of it lying along the bank of the latter stream. Wiliiam B. Dibble, also of Marine, came in 1845, to Point Douglas, built a house and made other improvements on sections five and eight. This property is now owned and occupied by James Shearer, who came in 1849. At the time he arrived, he located a claim which he occupied until 1864, then exchanged farms with Mr. Dib¬ ble. Simon Shingledecker came in 1847, and still resides in the house he built soon after his arrival. Martin Leavitt landed at Point Douglas the same year, opened a boarding house, and also located a claim. The following year Ephriam H. Whitaker made a claim and entered into partnership with Leavitt. He still resides on a part of the original claim, and has a ,arge family, reared in the home of Ijis adoption. Caleb Truax came in 1849, and made a claim on section eight, the land now owned by John Cohoes. The same year came G. W. Campbell and lived in the house owned by Dibble, who in that year made a trip to California. On his return in 1852, Campbell built the house in which he still re? ides. lie also made a claim, but subsequently t ransferred it to W. B. Dibble, and has since been engaged in luml>ering. Thomas Iletherington arrived in 1849, and made a claim on section 22 where he resided until a few yearn since, when he went to Dakota and there died. In the fall of the same year, Thomas, son of Mark Wright, who came to this region as early as 1882, arrived and made his claim on section 20, the property now owned by John O'Brien. Mark Wright made his home on section 22, on land purchased from Caleb Truax, Jr. II. A. Carter was among those who came in 1849; after a few years he left for Cali¬ fornia. John Allibone came, to Point Douglas in 1851, and settled on section 15. lie died some years since; his widow still occupies the homestead, on which is a small lake known as Allibone's lake. From 1850, settlers came in rapidly and Denmark was soon well populated.

Organization

The first election of officers for the town of Denmark, took place October -20th, 1858, which resulted in the election of Jas. Shearer, chairman: Thomas Wright and David Hone, supervisors; G. W. Cam plied, town clerk. Officers for the in¬ tervening years. 1859 - George W. Campbell, Caleb Truax, Sr. and Mark Wright, Sr., supervi¬ sors; Frank Keep, clerk. 1860 - Caleb Truax, Sr., Thomas Iletherington and Alexander II. Cook, supervisors; John Ilone, clerk. 1861 - James Shearer, Mark Wright, Sr., and O. F. Davis, su¬ pervisors; George W. Campbell, clerk. 1862 - David Downing, Charles E. Leonard and Caleb Truax, Sr., supervisors; George W. Campbell, clerk. 1863 - Alexander Oldham, Mark Wright and Caleb Truax Sr., supervisors; It. R. Henry, clerk. 1864 - Charles E. Leonard, Martin Leavitt and Alexander Cook, supervisors; Wm. Scofield, clerk. At a special meeting held February 11th, 1864, it was voted to pay a bounty of one hundred and fifty dollars to each soldier credited to the town of Denmark. 1866 - Charles E. Leonard, Martin Leavitt and F. W. Trager, supervisors; George W. Campbell, clerk. 1866 - James Shearer, Martin Leavitt, Alexander Cook, supervisors; G. W. Campbell, clerk. 1867 - Charles J. Aldridge, James M. Taylor and David Downing, supervi¬ sors; George W. Campbell, clerk. 1868 - John M. Van Derveer, William Keen and Alexander II. Cook, supervisors; John Burton, clerk. 1869 - I). B. Gallinger, Thomas Iletherington and Al¬ exander Cook, supervisors. 1870 - Henry Gal¬ linger, A. II. Cook and David Hone, supervisors. 1871 - D. B. Gallinger; David Downing and David Hone, supervisors. 1872 - D. B. Gallinger, Wil¬ liam Atwater and Phillip Hummel], supervisors. 1873 - D. B. Gallinger, Phillip Hummed, John II. Hone, supervisors. 1874 - John II. Hone, Phillip Hummed and Peter Swanson. 1875 - William Allibone, John Baheand A. M. Shearer. 1876 - Thomas P. James, Mark Wright and William Ilageman. 1877 - Thomas James, William Ilageman and Thomas Wright. 1878 - Thomas James, William Ilageman and William Keen. 1879- Same re-elected. 1880 - Henry Gallinger, Wil¬ liam Ilageman and George Vanalstine. George Burton has held the office of clerk since his election in 1868.

Business Of Point Douglass

Hurtsill and liurris began business in a part¬ nership arrangement in 1840 ; after continuing for nine years, when the gold fever of 1849 prevailed, Mr. Burris was led to withdraw, and wend his way to the gold regions of California. Ilurtsill continued the business alone until the spring of 1856. These men conducted the largest merchan¬ dise business in the county of Washington for several years, for Point Douglas was at that time and for a number of years the depot where all supplies were purchased for the interior.

Faribault and other points received their sup¬ plies from this place ; and hence many thought the greatness and importance of the place was a positive fixture, and in a few years it would be denominated the place of the Northwest. In the summer of 1856, an incident occurred in the his¬ tory of Levi Ilurtsill ; he, in keeping with his usual custom, started east for goods. Before leav¬ ing home he gave his wife some money and his watch and chain, as a keep-sake. She asked him if he was not coming back. He gave an evasive answer, saying that on his last trip he was very sick at St. Louis; and then the boat might blow up, or something of the kind might happen, etc. Mr. G. W. Campbell accompanied him to Galena. It is thought Mr. Ilurtsill had some twenty thous¬ and dollars, nr perhaps three times that amount of money with him. He was in the habit of se¬ curing all heavy goods at Galena and shipping them without delay. Time passed and no goods came, and no letters were received from the miss¬ ing man, although a number had been written to him. After some time had passed the family and people became anxious about him, fearing some mishap had befallen him ; and thinking an in¬ vestigation of the case ought to be made, com¬ missioned W. B. Dibble to go ahd seek him. Mr. Dibble had no trouble in tracking him from Gale¬ na to New York, where he had gotten his checks cashed.

Here Mr. Dibble learned that Ilurtsill remarked at the time of getting his checks turned into money, that he was going to Boston, but no farther traces could be found of him, and Mr. Dibble was compelled to return and report in an unsatisfactory way. Many conjectures have been offered, by friends and foes, but as he was conducting a large and prosperous business at the time, and was a successsul business man, all re¬ mains in the dark. He had established a whole¬ sale house a few years prior to this date, at Hud¬ son.

The large stock of goods was sold or rather given away. Mr. L. Lyford, of Prescott, was intrusted with the entire stock. Mr. Lyford and a Mr. Beardsley bought the major part of the stock, and in the fall opened a store in Prescott for themselves.

Charles E. Leonard and William Ames began business in the Hurtsill store-room in the spring of 1857, and continued the partnership for two years, when Ames withdrew, and Leonard con¬ tinued one year alone; then Lyford and Beards¬ ley assumed the control, and conducted the busi¬ ness for four years. In 1864 George Dill took possession and guided this line of trade for three years, after which the business leceded into the quiet shade of rest, till in 1871 Ira Van Duzee opened a general merchandise store. But alasl misfortune came in the flames and reduced all to ashes in the summer of 1873; but Van Duzee re¬ built the same senson, and continued the business until his death in September, 1879, when Mr. Atwater purchased the store and continued in the business until the present time. The buildis 40x20 feet, and one and one- half stories high.

Thoro are four ware-houses in the place. The lower one was built by Levi Hurtsill in 1850. It has a capacity of 25,000 bushels. Samuel Frick assumed control of this interest, in 1857. Mr. Dill purchased the building in 1874, and has con¬ trolled it since that period. The upper ware¬ house was built by George Dill in 1868. It has a capacity of 30,000 bushels, After managing the business for three years, he sold out to Mr. Dill, who is the present proprietor.

The middle ware-house was built by Lyford and Beardsley, in 1865. The fourth ware-house was built by A. B. More, on section 23, in 1874. Soon after he sold it to Miller and Dill, who are the present proprietors. The building has a capacity of 16,000 bushels.

In 1851, a Mr. Woodruff built a mill at Point Douglas. The people of the village gave Mr. Woodruff, as a bonus, forty-nine lots and a strip of land lying along the St. Croix river, which was deeded to him as soon as the mill was finished

After a few months Woodruff sold the mill to parties in l'rescott, who moved it away. This led to a law-suit, to determine who were the lawful owners of the lots, and land given by the people in prospect of having a mill in the place. The court gave the title to Wood niff.

The saw-mill at Point Douglas, was built by John Short, in the summer of 1867; and he sold it to Stephen Gardner in 1871; who sold it a very few days after, to John Dudley, of Minneapolis, who is its present proprietor. The building is 120x60 feet. It contains a twenty- seven saw gang, a double circular saw, a four-saw gangedger, two trimmers, and a slab saw. Its capac¬ ity is 75,000 feet of lumber, 20,000 shingles, and 14,000 lath per day. The power is obtained by a 120 horse-power "North Star engine." There are four boilers used in generating the steam. When in full operation, it gives constant employment to fifty men, and affords the central point of much of the business of Point Douglas.

Establishing a post-office. It became evident that a post-office was a necessity for the success of the business interests of the village. The proper petition being forwarded to the depart¬ ment at Washington, and favorably considered, the office was established on the 18th day of July, 1840, this being the oldest post-office in the state outside of the military domain at Fort Snelling. Levi Ilurtsill was appointed first postmaster, and held the office till his mysterious departure in 1856. He was succeeded by Robert R. Ilenry, who served until 1857, when James Shearer re¬ ceived his appointment, and served until 1860; then Charles E. Leonard served for three years, when Robert R. Ilenry was re-appointed, and continued in office until 1866; when Mrs. Emily Gillis, daughter of David Hone, received her ap¬ pointment, and held the office one year. It then passed into the hands of Charles E. Leonard, who served till 1871, when Ira Van Duzee was appointed, who served a short time, and was sucseeded by Charles Johnson; but Mr. Van Duzee was re-api»ointed and served until his death in 1879. William Atwater was appointed ami is still the postmaster of Point Douglas.

Pinney, in 1853, and he by a Mr. Hood, in 1855, and he by John Wlute, in 1857, and he by John Thrall, in 1864. John White returned in 1866, and remained for three years, when Ferdinand Stiffin took possession of the shop and continued for five years; was followed by John Nainstedt, who remained until 1875. From that date the village was without a blacksmith until the fall of 1879, when William Lange opened a shop at this point. lie has a shop 20x16 feet, and a wagon shop 24x18 feet, and is filling an important place in the business transactions of Point Doug¬ las.

Dr. Geo. Taylor came from Princeton, Illinois, in the spring of 1862 ; he remained but one year, then returned to his former home in Princeton. .

The first frame building at Point Douglas, and one of the first in the St. Croix valley, was the Union house, built by David Done in 1844. It is 40x20 feet, and two stories high, with a wing 20x24, and one story high. Mr. Hone sent to St. Louis for William Willim to do the plastering. This house contains an office, two parlors, a din¬ ing room, a kitchen and five chambers. Mr. Hone sold this house to David Barker in 1850; and Barker sold it to Twitch in 1852; and he to Ilenry D. White in 1855 ; White sold it to Robert R. Henry, who kept it as a hotel until 1866, after which it ceased to be occupied as a public house. It is now owned by David Down¬ ing, and is unoccupied on account of age.

The Northwestern house. Mr. David Iloue built a building 24x30 feet, and one and one-half stories high, and occupied it as store from 1852 to 1855. After some changes and the lapse of a few more years, Charles E. Leonard bought this building, built an addition 80x40, two stories high and a basement. In this structure, affording an office and bar, two parlors, a dining room, and nine chambers, Mr. Leonard entertahud all the weary and hungry that chanced to enter his o|K?n door. In 1805 Leonard Aldrich purchased the house and kept it as a hotel for two years, and then sold it to Charles Hopkins, who kept it as a boarding house for three years. It has since been converted into a tenement, and is now the prop¬ erty of Benjamin Campbell of Galena, Illinois.

This building afforded a dancing hall, where the gay, and pleasure seekers were wont to spend the long winter evenings of many passing years.

As the business interests of the country in¬ creased, new additions were being added to our number, new demands were presented to meet the increasing population seeking homes and em¬ ployment in our township. In 1865, a charter was granted to W. B. Dibble, to run a ferry from Prescott to Hastings. Mr. Dibble managed this business for seventeen years to the satisfaction of the people, and then sold his interest to Caleb Truax, Jr., who after controlling it for one year, sold it to William Atwater, who still owns it and holds the management of the ferry.

Point Douglas ferry was established in 1852. Leander Felt conducted this ferry for about four years before a charter was obtained. In 1860, a charter was granted to Felt and Tickner to run a ferry from Point Douglas to Prescott, which he controled for nine years, and then sold it to Whit¬ comb and Atwater; they run it four years when the charter expired. Then a dispute arose be¬ tween the firm of Whitcomb and Atwater, and W. 13. Dibble; the former having a charter from Wisconsin and the latter from Minnesota. Two ferry boats were built, but in a short time Mr. Dibble bought out Whitcomb and Atwater, and thus put an end to the strife, and conducted tho business alone. In 1874, he obtained a new char¬ ter, and is now the sole proprietor. The Hastings ferry runs directly from Hastings acrosq the St. Croix river to section 7, in town 20, range 20. It was inaugurated by a Mr. Fulton, who sold it to W. J. Led uc, who controlled it till 1871, since which time the city of Hastings has managed it in the interests of her own people.

The first school of this township was known as the "Valley school," and was organized in 1850. A log school-house was built the same year, and John II. Craig was the pioneer teacher. This log house was removed in 1852, the present com¬ modious frame house taking its place. The rec¬ ords were lost, but by traditional authority, we are warranted to make this statement of first olficera.

School district No. 35 was organized by the commissioners in February, 1854. In March fol¬ lowing, at the house of Mark Wright the first officers were elected: Wm. Allibone, clerk; trus¬ tees, Thomas Iletherington, Mark Wright and Samuel Shingledecker. By a vote of the house¬ holders of the district in 1850, the school-house was located on the southwest quarter of section fifteen. James Clark was the first teacher, at four dollars per week. A neat and ample house was built on the site of the old one in 1876, at a cost of $1,000. Present number of pupils is fifty-one.

School district No. 45 was organized Septem¬ ber, 1807. Lyman Shingledecker gave the dis¬ trict one acre of land for a site on south-east corner of section five, township twenty-seven, range twenty. First officers were: H. Gallinger, clerk; A. II. Cook, director; and E. Klinkerfuse, treasurer. Louisa Cady was the first teacher, receiving twenty dollars per month. The schoolhouse was built in 1868; and the district enrolls twenty-eight pupils. Present officers are: Henry Gallinger, treasurer; John Bahe, clerk, and Frank Brendenmuhl, director. Teacher, J. A. Thomp¬ son, receiving thirty-eight dollars per month. This district enrolls fifty-eight pupils.

School district No. 49, time of organization could not be obtained. The school-house was built in 1869, on a lot located on the south-east quarter of section twenty-eight. The first officers were: Thomas Fisher, director; Alexander Nicoll, clerk; W. B. Dibble, treasurer. The first teacher was D. B. Gallinger. This house was de¬ stroyed by the storm of June 14th, 1877; another was erected the same fall. The present officers are: Michael Sorg, director; William A. Page, clerk; and John Henry, treasurer.

School district No. 68, was organized in 1873. Its first officers were, Wm. Ilageman, treasurer; S. W. Dalrymple, clerk; and John Coffman, di¬ rector. - This house was built in 1874, on a lot in section six. The first school was taught in the fall of 1877 by Mary G. Ilurly. She had thirty pupils. The present officers are, Wm. Ilageman, treasurer; John Cohoes, clerk; and John Conley.

School district No. 59, was regularly organized May 13th, 1874. Its first officers were, Thomas Wright, director; Adam Olson, clerk, and Philip Hummed, treasurer. The house was built on a lot in the northeast corner of section nineteen, in 1874, and school began the same fall, taught by Emma L. McIIattie ; she received <37.00 per month and had nineteen pupils that term. Pres¬ ent officers are, Peter Swanson, director; William Clark, clerk, and Philip Hummed, treasurer. The present teacher is Mary J. Daulton.

Rev.W.T. Boutwell preached first in this neigh¬ borhood in 1844, and occasionally afterwards for some years. Rev. Chauncy Hobart dispensed the gospel for a period of years about 1849.

The first preaching looking to the organization of a church was by Revs. J. L. Breck, J. A. Merrick and T. Wilcoxson, members of the asso¬ ciate mission. A church called St. Paul's Parish, was organized at Point Douglas, by Rev. T. Wilcoxson, March 24th, 1856, with the following members: T. Wilcoxson, G. W. Campbell, Caleb Truax, Sr., Mark Wright, Sr., John H. Craig, Thomas Wright, Thomas Iletherington, Mark Wright, Jr., and James Shearer. The officers were: wardens, George W. Campbell and Caleb Truax, Sr.; vestrymen, Thomas Iletherington, Thomas Wright, James Shearer, Mark Wright, Sr., and John II. Craig; Thomas Iletherington, treasurer, and John II. Craig, clerk. The church was built in 1868, but left in an unfinished state, and remains in that condition. It has been oc¬ cupied, affording regular services for the peo¬ ple. Its present officers are as follows: war¬ dens, John O. Henry and James Shearer; vestry¬ men, Thomas Fisher, Sr., John II. Hone, Charles Henry, Alexander Nicoll, Thomas D. Fisher and Albert Page. The rector is Timothy Wilcoxson.

St. Mary's Episcopal church was organized April 30th, 1863 by Rev. Timothy Wilcoxson, with the following officers: wardens - Mark Wright, Sr., and William Stotesbury, Jr.; vestry¬ men - Wm. Allibone, Thomas Wright, Thomas Paley, Alexander II. Cook and Ambrose Stotes¬ bury. The church secured a lot of two and onel.nlf acres, in the south-west quarter of section fifteen, and began building in May, 1864. The corner-stone was laid by Bishop Whipple, and the church was finished in April, 1878. This ' chorch is 36x24, with a chancel 16x12, affording a comfortable and convenient place for its parish¬ ioners to worship God according to their own in¬ clination. The present officers are as follows: wardens - Henry Gallinger and Wm. Stotesbury, Jr.; vestrymen - John Burton, Mark Wright, Ambrose Stotesbury and John Wright. Mark Wright, treasurer, and John Burton, clerk.

Point Douglas Grange, No. 490. This grange was organized March 16th, 1874, with twentyeight charter members. Nearly ad the principal citizens of the neighborhood gave their influence to this new enterprise. The first officers were: James Shearer, master; J. II. Hone, overseer;

T. Wright, L. A. S. It enrolls twenty-five mem¬ bers at present, and holds three regular meetings a month at Whitaker's Had. Officers elected January 1st, 1881, were as follows: James Shearer, master; J. II. Hone, overseer; T. P. James, lecturer; John Burton, steward; John Wright, assistant steward; Mrs. P. James, chap¬ lain; E. II. Whitaker, treasurer; Mrs. James Shearer, secretary; Mark Wright, G. It.; Mrs. William Page. Ceres; Mrs. J. II. Hone, Pomona; Mrs. John Wright, Flora; Mrs. E. II. Whitaker, stewardess.

The first road was laid out by the government in 1848, and is known as the Point Douglas and Superior City road. The next was laid out 1849 to St. Paul, and known as the Point Douglas and St. Paul road.

Emmet M. Hone, son of David and Mary G. Hone, was bom November 30th, 1845, in the Union House, Point Douglas. It is generally agreed, that this was the first white child born in this township. Carver Dibble was born at Point Douglas, August 20th, 1846; a son of Wm. B. and Eliza J. Dibble.

Denmark Biographical

Henry were married November 14th, 1847, in the village of Point Douglas. From this modest beginning, the queenly power of matrimony has constantly increased its domain.

State officers furnished by the township of Denmark. Denmark has done her part in furn¬ ishing the administration of justice in the state. G. W. Campbell, Caleb Traax, Sr., Martin Leavitt and Charles E. Leonard were representatives at different session of the state legislature.

Denmark Silver Cornet band, was organized July 10th, 1874. It's members were, John Bur¬ ton, John Allibone, William Hetherington, Chas. Henry, Robert Wright, Wm. J. Wright, William Fisher, Charles Page, George Holt, Elias Heth¬ erington, and George Wright. These gentlemen honored the people for many years with cheer¬ ing and inspiring musical treats.

Lime kiln. Wm. Bush legan to bum lime about 1866, after a number of years Henry Stotesbury took his place, and continued to burn lime for a number of years, when the property passed into the possession of Simon Fetterley. It is not now continued as a business, although limestone seems to exist in abundance in that locality.

John Olsen built a store on the north-west quarter of south-west quarter of section 15. It was 24x16, and one and one-half stories high. In 1871 he sold out to Thomas l'aley, who re¬ modeled the building, and made a dwelling house out of it. Samuel Dangerfleld, in 1874, bought a small house on the same tract of land, some distance south of where Mr. Olsen's store stood, built an addition and opened a general merchan¬ dise store; after doing a good business for two years was burned out. Misfortune comes to men, but ere the voice of complaint has been calmed, another steps into the foreground and lifts aloft the fallen banner. Scarcely had the curling smoke ceased to rise from the ruins of the last store building, before Asa Clothier built another. 16x12, and one story high. Soon after he added an addition 34x18, for a hall. This served the two-fold purpose of furnishing a hall for public entertainments, and a place for the meetings of the I. O. G. T. This last organization dissolved in February, 1881.

Leavitt's feed mill was built in the fall of 1879. It was 22x16, built in a substantial manner. It is furnished with a patent feed mill, and obtains its power from an eight horse-power engine. In the fall of 1880, an addition, 40x22, was added, as an engine house and store room. This mill has a capacity of twenty bushels per hour; and is located on section 6, township 24, range 20.