Washington County, Minnesota - Ealtly Settle Us - Otto Animation - List of, 1881

Ealtly Settle Us - Otto Animation - List of

Cottage Grove, including all of township 27, range 21, and a small portion of township 26, range 21. The meandering of the Mississippi causes the south side to assume an irregular shape, and adds two small portions of town¬ ship 26, range 21, to the town of Cottage Grove. This town, like all others, has had an antehistory. Before Cottage Grove was known as a township, or before force of law or organiza¬ tion, other than that of the stronger claiming priority of right to possess hunting privileges, was known, we find white men had set foot on these beautiful prairies.

Early Settlers

Among the first prominent settlers of this township we find the names of James S. Norris and Joseph Ilaskell. These men were the first settlers in this town and among the first in the St. Croix Valley. They made claims in what is now the town of Afton in the fall of. 1880. The following spring they made improve¬ ments on their claims, such as are common in a new country.

Mr. Norris remained with Mr. Ilaskell until the spring of 1842, when he went to Gray Cloud Island and worked for Messrs. Moore and Robin¬ son, at the Indian trading post, for one year. Then in the spring of 1848 he removed to the point where Cottage Grove village now stands. Then this village did not wear the face of beauty and activity it presents now. He made a claim on sections 1 and 12, on which he built a log cabin, and immediately commenced making im¬ provements ; he broke forty acres of prairie and sowed it to wheat. This is said, to be the first wheat of any quantity sowed north of Prairie du Chien. lie had a goodly yield of wheat, but as there were no mills in the country to convert wheat into flour, this rich bounty of golden grain could not render that comfort it would under present circumstances. This year he broke fifty acres more and sowed ninety acres to wheat. The following season he enjoyed a bountiful har¬ vest, but often men are disappointed when they seem to be grasping an ideal fortune, so in this case; but small quantities could be disposed of at all, and hence a large portion of this bounteous harvest was lost. In those days shipping down the river was attended with many disadvantages. This unfortunate condition of things slowly wasted away. River advantages increased year by year, ami in the spring of 1858 Mr. Holies com¬ pleted his mill nnd began to manufacture a kind of flour, having some antique cast. It would be somewhat repulsive to our delicate tastes, to be compelled to feast on bread made from such coarse flour, while it might remove many of the causes producing dyspepsia and that class of diseases. Mr. Ilaskell had a quantity of this wheat ground, but as there was no bolting-cloth in the mill the flour proved to be quite coarse. In order to make the bread look white the baker was in the habit of sifting the flour, by means of a frame covered over the bottom with black crape. In the days of pioneer life this disadvantage did not seem to be the mountain it would be if we were called to en¬ dure the trials now. Mr. Haskell remained on the portion of his claim in section twelve until the spring of 1846, which he had sold to J. W. Furberin the fall of 1845, and then moved to his present location on section one.

William Ferguson settled on section 28, the same year. Jonathan Brown made a claim on section 1 1 . Lewis Hill took possession of sections 3 and 4. James S. Davis settled on section 14. John Atkinson made his claim on section 1. These all joined the pioneer band in 1844, '45 and '46. Thomas and J. W. Furber came in 1846. From this date there was a constant coming of new settlers, till all vacant lands were occupied, and yet they come, old citizens moving farther west and some retiring from the active duties of agriculture.

The people of Cottage Grove are Americans in the strictest sense of the term. Most of the pio¬ neer fathers were from Maine, and they have in¬ troduced many of the habits and customs so com¬ mon in that state.

Town Organization

A meeting of the legal voters of Cottage Grove was called to convene at Lyceum Hall, in the village of Cottage Grove, October 20th, 1858, for the purpose, as had been publicly announced, to form a township by the election of a board of offi¬ cers. The meeting was called to order by J. S. Norris, who was chosen moderator, and William Watson, clerk.

John Atkinson, Jacob Mosher and Joel Munger were appointed judges of the election. Joel Munger was elected overseer of the public high¬ way of the western part of the town, and John II. Swetland, overseer of the eastern part of the town. The following gentlemen. Wm. Watson, chairman; John Atkinson and 13. Winant, were elected as board of supervisors; John Rhodes, clerk; Joel Munger and John II. Braekens, justice of peace; J. B. Benson and R. Rhodes, consta¬ bles; Jacob Mosher, collector; Thomas Furber, assessor; and James S. Davis, overseer of the poor. It was determined to hold the next annual meeting at the precinct house. This closed the work of organization and the election of first offi¬ cers for the township of Cottage Grove.

1859. Theodore Furber, was moderator. A tax of $100 was levied for town purposes, to be dis¬ bursed as follows: To town clerk, $10, for plats and maps; for assessor, $20; for surveying $50; and for contingent expenses, $20. The fol¬ lowing board of supervisors were elected: J. S. Norris chairman of board; John II. Braeken and llenry Hone supervisors; John Rhodes, clerk. It was determined to hold the next annual meet¬ ing at the Waterville school-house district, num¬ ber one.

1860, and by a vote of the people adjourned at once to Lyceum hall. The following board of su¬ pervisors was chosen: A. L. Holman, chairman, John J. Connelly and N. II. Van Slyke.

At a meeting of the board of supervisors held April 23d, 1860, a two days' poll tax was levied on all voters between the ages of twenty-one and fifty years of age, and fifty cents on each hundred dollars valuation of real estate.

The fourth annual meeting was called at Ly¬ ceum hall, April 2d, 1861. A tax of $200 was levied for current expenses, and twenty-five cents on each hundred dollars worth of real estate for road purposes.

The fifth annual town meeting was called at Waterville school-house, April 1st, 1862. By vote levied a tax of twenty-five cents on each one hun¬ dred dollars worth of real estate, and two days' poll tax. The board of supervisors were Robert Watson, chairman, B. Winantand Win. Murphy; J. S. Norris, clerk.

The sixth annual town meeting was called at the house of L. Nessell, April 7th, 1853. A tax of $150 was levied for current expenses, and of $178 for road purposes. Supervisors elected: Theodore Furber, chairman of board, Joel Munger and B. -Winant; J. S. Norris, clerk.

The eighth annual meeting was called at the school-house near Atkinson's corners, April 4th, 1865. Supervisors were: A. L. Holman, chair¬ man, Robert McChesney and Joel M. Monger; J. S. Norris, clerk.

The eleventh annual town meeting was called at Nessel's school-house, April 7th, 1868. Super¬ visors were: II. A. Gould, II. A. Durant and John J. Connelley; J. S. Norris, clerk.

The twelfth annual town meeting was held at the Lyceum hall, April 6th, 1869. Elected II. A. Durant, R. Wilkins and S. M. Bailey, supervisors; J. S. Norris, clerk.

The fourteenth annual meeting was called at the school-house near Atkinson's comer, March 14th, 1871. Robert Watson, John J. Connelley and F. Meilicke, supervisors; J. S. Norris, clerk.

The fifteenth annual town meeting was called at Lyceum hall, March 12th, 1872. Supervisors, Robert Watson, John Connelley and F. S. Meil¬ icke; J. S. Norris, clerk.

Seventeenth meeting was called at precinct house, March 10th, 1874. Supervisors, J. J. Con¬ nelley, E. Clark and Ross W. Link; A. G. Gillett, clerk.

The eighteenth annual town meeting was held at Langdon hall, March 9th, 1875. Supervisors, William Fowler, Robert Wilkinson and Wallace Kelsey; A. G. Gillett, clerk.

The twentieth annual town meeting was held at Langdon hall, March 13th, 1877. Supervisors, Win. Fowler, Ethan Viall and Uriah Ladd, Jr.; T. F. Miller, clerk.

The twenty-first annual town meeting was called at Langdon hall, March 12th, 1878. Su¬ pervisors, William Fowler, Ethan Viall and G. R. Crippen; A. G. Gillett, clerk.

The twenty-second annual town meeting was called at Langdon hall, March 11th, 1879. Su¬ pervisors, W. Fowler, Ethan Viall and W. Kel¬ sey; A. G. Gilbert, clerk.

The twenty-third annual town meeting was called at Langdon hall, March 9th, 1880. The following officers were elected : Edward Clark, George Fisk and George R. Crippen, board of supervisors; A. G. Gillett, clerk.

The township is bounded on the north by Woodbury, east by Denmark, south by Missis¬ sippi river, and west by Newport. The surface of the town is generally rolling, and the soil fer¬ tile. adapted to agricultural pursuits. The sur¬ face of the south part, extending out from the river for two miles, is a level prairie; then there is a range of hills and bluffs. Some portions of this part of the town are quite broken, with deep ravines, adding to its beauty, if not to its fertility.

Then back towards the north portion of the town, are the table lands, two hundred feet above the level of the river, undulating, partly a prairie, and partially decorated with a second growth of oak. The soil of the low lands is of a sandy na¬ ture, with a small quantity of loam intermingled. The tables are loamy, with a clay sub-soil. The low lands are well adapted to stock raising, heav¬ ing many water advantages. The table lands are more especially adapted to the raising grain of all kinds, and fruits.

The drainage of this town is ample, affording every advantage necessary for the convenience of husbandry. The Mississippi river skirts the southern boundry.

A large slough leaves the Mississippi about the center of section 33, bearing north for some dis¬ tance into section 34, then inclining south through section 35 into section 36, and then abruptly turning north, enters the Mississippi, forming what is knowin as Kemp's Island. Anotherslough leaving the Mississippi in the eastern part of Newport town, enters the north-east comer of section 30, running a south-westerly course, diag¬ onally through sections 30, 31 and 32, and re-en¬ tering the Mississippi river in section 33, forming Gray Cloud Island. A few small lakes grace the surface of this town. From a small lake fn section 23. taking a zigzag course through sec¬ tions 26, 27 and 34, and enters the Mississippi in section 35.

The first road built in the town was the old Military road, called the Point Douglas and St. Paul road, surveyed by Captain Stimpson for the government in 1849. The Gray Cloud, Cottage Grove and Stillwater road was built by the county in the year 1851. The Red Rock and Afton road was opened in 1852. The first road laid out by the town board was in August, 1859, commencing at the quarter section post between sections 4 and 5, running due west to the town line. The second one commenced at the south¬ west corner of section 11, running east on the south line to a point on Furber Lake, then south¬ east to county road.

The township has two regularly platted villages. The village of Cottage Grove was located in sec¬ tion 12, in 1871, by J. P. Furber; J- W. Furber was surveyor. It is four miles from a sta¬ tion of the same name on the Chicago, Mil¬ waukee and St. Paul railway, and is fourteen miles from St. Paul. The original plat contained forty acres of land. The village has gradually grown from a small beginning to a fiourshing in¬ land town. It contains one store, dry-goods and groceries, George W. Furber, proprietor; one drug store, kept by Dr. A. II. Steen; two physi¬ cians, Win. Furber and A. II. Steen; three churches, Congregational, Methodist and German Lutherans; one hotel, the Cottage Grove house, W. II. Glenna, proprietor; a fine school-house in the centre of the town, ample for the place, sur¬ rounded by a natural grove, made more dense by the addition of a good number of shade trees and some fine ever-greens, affording shade during the snmmer, and forming a wind-break during the winter season; one black-smith and wagon-shop,

Louis Putres, proprietor, and one black-smith shop, August Aborth, proprietor. Cottage Grove is one of the oldest settled towns in the county.

The Arcadia Lodge of Masons is located in the village, and was organized in 1864; the chnrter was granted in I860. The first board of officers: O. G. Leonard, M. W.; J. S. Norris. S. W.; Thomas Furber, J. AV.; A. L. Holman, secretary; and E. Ayers, treasurer. Tlie> held their first meetings in rooms, properly furnished over John P. Furber's store. Like all other bodies, changes form an important feature of their history; so this so¬ ciety was left adrift, but soon found rooms over John P. Purler's ware-house, where the society holds its regular meetings. The membership at date of organization was eight. At this writing they have forty active members. Present officers: I)r. A. II. Steen, W. M.; Robert Wilkins, S. AV.; \A\ Kelsey, J. AV.; Peter Thompson, secretary, and James Middleton, treasurer.

The village was laid out and platted by J. T. Dodge, from Hastings, chief engineer of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad in the spring of 1871, located in section 21. The town was called Langdon after Hon. It. 13. Langdon, of Minneapolis.

The trade of the village is controlled by these firms: Woodward and Son, general stock of drygoods, groceries .and hardware; Messrs. Barrett and Co., general stock of goods; Messrs. Dill and Miller, elevator and feed-mill; Zadoc Johnson, proprietor of hotel; and F. K. Barril, a black¬ smith.

The Langdon elevator was built in [September 1874, by A. V. Brown, of St. Paul, and sold the same fall to James McClusky, and soon after rented to Messrs. Dill and Miller, and finally in the summer of 1878, purchased by this latter firm. In 1879, a feed-mill and engine-house was added, making it a profitable property, and sup¬ plying a long felt want in town and community.

Post-Offices

The first post-office established in the town was located at the house of J. AV. Furber, in the spring of 1850. This was one of the first offices established in the county. J. AV. Furber received the first ap¬ pointment, .as postmaster. The conditions, on which the request of the people in reference to establishing a post-office was granted, was that the mail should be carried from Point Douglas, once a week free from expense to the government, D. Hone of Point Douglas, entered into a con¬ tract to fulfill the requirement of the government, receiving for his pay the proceeds of the route. Mr. Furber kindly gave his commission to the carrier. This arrangement met the expectation of the people and rendered general satisfaction. The office has been removed from time to time, from place to place in the village, and a corres¬ ponding number of citizens have held the position of postmaster, during these successive changes. John P. Furber has l>een postmaster a number of years, and George M. Furber has served as depu¬ ty postmaster, and held the office in his store since 1866. This office has been supplied with a daily mail by stage from Stillwater to Langdon for the last four years.

The Langdon post-office was established No¬ vember, 1871. A. G. Gillett received his com¬ mission as postmaster November 27th, 1871, from Postmaster General Creswell. The office was kept in the station house until December, 1879, when Mr. Gillett resigned his position as agent for the railroad company. Since that time Mr. Gillett has kept the office in his residence near the depot. The office is furnished with a daily mail each way, on the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad, and by stage from Stillwater.

Prior to any organization of schools under ter¬ ritorial law. Fountain Spring school, a private school, was organized by John Atkinson, and was taught by a Miss Johnson.

After the organization, the whole town was di¬ vided into two districts. District number one oc¬ cupied the western portion of town, and number two the eastern portion. This arrangement pre¬ vailed until the final dividing of the town into school districts, which is given as accurately as the information obtained will justify.

School district number fifty-three, formerly known as number one, was organized November, 1853. The first schools were held in private houses until 1850, when a school house was built near what is known as Atkinson's corners. This house was 40x24 feet, and cost about $300. The first teacher under this arrangement was Miss

Schools And Churches

Anna Brayton. First board of officers was: Wil¬ liam Buck, W. Fowler, J. Atkinson, and W. R. Munger. In 1872 the district was divided, a por¬ tion stricken off to the Langdon district; they took the number of thirty. At that time the county commissioners changed the number of the original district from number one to number fiftythree. This district has since then received some additional territory from number thirty-one, New¬ port town.

Cottage Grove school district, No. 31, was or¬ ganized as No. 2, in 1851. The first school was held in the old log cabin built by J. S. Norris in 1843. Miss Martha Newell, from Lakeland, taught the first school. The first board of officers elected was: J. S. Norris, A. L. Holman, John Heath; and J. W. Furber, clerk. The first school-house was 22x16 feet, built in 1852, at an expense of $250. The next school-house, 57x28 feet, with a wing 20x10 feet, was built in 1868, at an expense of $3,600. They have two depart¬ ments. The school is doing a good work for the town, under the management of David L. Smith, principal, and Miss Geneva Weatherspoon, as¬ sistant.

School district, No. 32, was organized as No. 3. in 1857. The first school was kept in a house leased from Dr. Mann. The first board of officers elected was: Jacob Mosher, John Sweatland, John Morey and John Rhodes, trustees. The first school-house was built on section twenty-six, in 1859, at a cost of about $200. First teacher was Miss Kate Califf. The second school-house was built on the same site, in 1868, at a cost of $600. First teacher in new' school-house was Bartina Boceman.

Langdon school district, No. 30, was set off from what was known as the Waterville district, No. 1, or what is now No. 53. It was organized in 1872. The following board of officers was elected: Lewis Austin, director; and T. F. De Arton, clerk. The first schools were kept in private dwelling houses, and in the section house at the depot. In 1878 the board of officers levied a tax and issued t>onds to the amount of $800 to build the house, which is now serving for school purposes. It is 40x32 feet, located on lot four, block thirty, Langdon.

The Catholic Church of Langdon was built in 1873. This edifice was 60x30 feet, substantially built. This society was organized under the ministrations of Rev. Father Harley. The pres¬ ent strength of the church is twenty-five families. They have services regularly once a month.

Cottage Grove Congregational Church. Rev. B. Hall, engaged in the work of organizing churches under the auspices of the board of home missions, found at Cottage Grove a number of families willing to go into a church organization. After consulting with the people, due notice being given, a meeting was called at the house of Theodore Furber, November 26th, 1858, to take introductory steps to organize a congre¬ gational church. Rev. Mr. Hall was chosen moderator of the meeting; S. W. Furber, E. B. Strong, J. Green, and H. M. Sleeper, were ap¬ pointed a committee to prepare articles of faith and covenant. The next meeting was called at Lyceum hall, on the 5th day of December, 1858. The committee having performed the labor assigned to them, reported. It was considered, and a call for another meeting to be held on De¬ cember 21st, 1858, at Lyceum hall, to which the churches from Minneapolis, St. Paul, Stillwater, Hudson, Prescott and St. Anthony were invited, at which time and place the Congregational church o/ Cottage Grove was permanently or¬ ganized. Rev. Bordett Hall preached the ser¬ mon, and thirteen were received as members of the church at the time. The services were held in Lyceum hall, and Rev. B. Hall, from Point Douglas preached for them until 1861. Rev. G. S. Biscoe, from Grafton, Massachusetts, was called to the church and installed as pastor, May 24th, 1864. The history of this church, like many others, has had its sunshine and shade, but shade could not hinder its steady growth. In 1868, the church built an appropriate house of worship at a cost of $4,070. Its present membership is sixty, and at this date is without a pastor.

The St. Matthew's Evangelical Church, of Cot- ' tage Grove was organized August 31st, 1874, in the town of Denmark. The church building was erected on a tract of land presented to the church for that purpose, by Mr. Franklin Brendenmuht. In 1877, the church was removed to Cottage Grove, where it now occupies a pleasant

The number of members at organization was twelve, while the present number is twenty-five families. The church has invested in building about $700. The church is in a prosperous con¬ dition, and adds to the general interest of the village of Cottage Grove.

The Cottage Grove and Newport Universalist Church was organized at the Atkinson schoolhouse, January, 1867. Rev. R. J. Marvin of St. Paul officiated at its organization. The follow¬ ing became members at date of organization: John Atkinson, Ruel Parker, E. Ayers, I). II. Kemp, IV. R. Monger, Lucy F. Ayers, Roxa T. Belden, Emily Parker, Anna Atkinson, Miss II. C. Monroe, Emma Gaye, J. M. Monger, J. W. Furber, Estella Furber, Aurelia Furl>er, A. L. Stevens, P. F. Gray, J. S. Norris, Lizzie Gray, Samuel Van Alstine, J. J. Connelley, Lucretia Connelley and Lewis Ilill. Services were held at the Atkinson school-house, the church after its erection. The organization still exists, but no regular services are held at the present writing.

Lyceum Hall

This association was organized about 1852. The object of the association was for social and literary advantages. The stock of the com¬ pany was sold and funds raised to build and furnish a hall. A commodious hall, 36x24 feet, was built in 1855, at a cost of about $600, located in section 11. The hall was fur¬ nished with a suitable library, such as the in¬ terests of the community seemed to demand, and designed to lead the general mind to con¬ template better things in literary pursuits. A newspaper was published by the members of the society, and a debating society was formed in connection with the association. The thinking portion of the community for some miles around, old, middle-aged and youth, without any linesof division to hinder a free participation, engaged in these discussions, embracing most of the prac¬ tical subjects of the day. This proved to l>e a worthy center of attraction for a number of years, for the people of that neiglilK>rhood. Rut every star shines for a term of years, and then retires into the unknown. So this society began to wane, and many lost their interest in it, at¬ tracted by other and possibly better interests, until the golden day had passed away, and the hall was given to other purposes. The Congre¬ gational church held their services in it for a number of years. The annual town meetings for some years were held in this hall. Then for some years it was known as the "Precinct House," while the voting was done by precincts. This society has wasted away, till in another spirit of being, it sold the building to the highest bidder. Not every acorn that falls into the ground, and grows for a term of years with flattering pros¬ pects, attains to the stature of a stately oak, bat¬ tling with herculean strength the storms of passing ages.

The Cottage Grove Cemetery Association was organized April 5th, 1856. The members were: J. W. Furber, Robert A. Watson, J. I*. Furber, W. Watson, A. L. Holman, J.S. Norris, Thomas Furber, E. M. McCarty, J. S. Davis, A. Stevens, F. Ley eh, N. II. Van Slykeand E. Ayers.

The cemetery grounds contain four acres, laid out with lots and blocks, streets and alleys, nicely shaded with native oaks, interspersed with beau¬ tiful evergreens. Some elegant and costly mon¬ uments have been placed in this lot to mark the resting place of loved ones. In short, this ceme¬ tery shows the taste and affection of an intelli¬ gent people. The present officers are: J. P. Furl>er president; J. W. Furl>er, treasurer and secretary; A. L. Holman, actuary. The entire cost of grounds, fitting, laying out, etc., was $550.

The Atkinson Cemetery Association was in¬ corporated May 12th, 1874, with the following board of managers: W. R. Munger, Levi Railey, Lewis Hill, J. II. Stacy, Henry Helden, J. II. Crandall, J. II. Churchill, J. R. Renson, J. M. Munger, and Lewis Austin. This cemetery is lo¬ cated on the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 17. W. R. Munger, J. H. Churchill and James II. Crandall, trustees.

Cyclone

and nine o'clock p. m., there arose in the south¬ west a dark and heavy cloud, attended with loud thunder, vivid lightning and a strong wind. The cloud moved forward rapidly; soon the rain be¬ gan to fall in torrents, when suddenly the wind caine dashing with great violence, sweeping everything before it. There seemed to be two currents of wind; one coming from the west, and the other from the south-west. These two currennts came together in section 22. The stronger current being from the south-west, the storm took a north-western direction, and did some damage in section 27, taking away a portion of the roof of Ethan Viall's house; taking a trunk out of the chamber, and no trace of it could be found. A com cultivator was taken up, some portions were never found, and other parts were found two miles from the place of its taking. In section 22, when the currents met, the destruction of prop¬ erty beggars description. The timber in its track was prostated; fences tom up and scattered in every direction; E. Welch's house coming in the line of desolation; Mr. and Mrs. Welch had stepped out to look after some chickens, in which Mrs. Welch was specially interested, and startled by the roar of the wind, were in the act of re¬ turning to the house, and near the door, the wind took up the house, bearing it away, and a stick of timl>er struck both Mr. and Mrs. Welch, knocking them down. When Mr. Welch recov¬ ered, he had hold of his wife, but she was dead. The stick of timber struck her on the head and caused her instant death. The next object in the path of destruction was C. D. Tuttle's two-story dwelling, located in the north-west comer of sec¬ tion 26. The main part of the house was tom to pieces and scattered in every direction; while the wing was left unmoved. The family con¬ sisting of six persons tied to the cellar, and were miraculously preserved. The large bam a few rods further on was completely destroyed. Next in its course was Mr. J. C. Tucker's barn, the roof of which suddenly passed along on the breeze. At this point the storm turned, taking a north¬ easterly direction, and struck the house of Robert Williams, damaging the house, and destroying his bam entirely. A horse tied to a girder in the bam was found sixty feet outside of the limits of the building, with the girder lying across him, the strap still tied to the girder, the horse being un¬ injured. Next in line was a small lake in the south-west comer of section 23. It was almost robbed of its treasure. The water and mud was carried a long distance up the bluffs, fifty feet above the level of the lake. Next came the fine house of John Morey, giving a portion of its roof to the excited wind; then passed into the town of Denmark, continuing its destructive course, kill¬ ing a horse near the town line for W. G. Wagner. A man known as Michael Schull, a farm hand was taken up by the wind and dashed against a pile of wood, injuring his brain, causing him to become dangerous. He is now at St. Peter in the insane asylum. The destruction of property was great. No accurate account of the amount of damage done has been complied. Mr. Tuttle living in section 26 suffered the most. He esti¬ mated his loss at $7,000. His house was situated in a valley, surrounded by oak trees, and we would suppose was protected by the bulwarks of strong nature, and yet here, house, bam, farming utensils and machinery were scattered over the country. The next morning sheets of tin two feet square found in Mr. Tuttle's yard, were sup¬ posed to have come from a church in Dakota county. Portions of Mr. Tuttle's house were found miles away.

The Langdon butter and cheese factory, located on section 17, was built in the spring of 1876, with the following officers: W. Fowler, C. A. Par¬ ker, E. B. Scofield, George Woodward and J. H. Crandall. The building is 70x32 feet, two stories high, with a wing 33x32 feet. During the first year, the factory was supplied with milk from three hundred cows. During the summer of 1880 the factory received milk from eight hundred cows; and from one hundred and seventy-five cows at this writing, January, 1881. In the sum¬ mer of 1880 this factory produced 30,000 pounds of butter and 4 1 ,000 pounds of cheese. The pres¬ ent officers are: W. Fowler, president; T. S. Nash, secretary; George Woodward, treasurer and salesman.

Dairying forms one of the many important in¬ terests of the town. Many fine herds of cows are found on the large farms in the town. The pro¬ duct of butter and cheese is the largest of any in the county, as the statistics will show. It is esti¬ mated that eight hundred cows are kept as milch cows in the town; and that 75,000 pounds of but-

H1S10Uy Of Washington County

The war record of Washington county begins with the owning of the rel>ellion of 1861. In this war, Cottage Grove township responded to the full extent of her duty. No part of this his¬ tory will be of more interest to the coming gene¬ rations than the noble deeds of our fathers, in this struggle for self-preservation. This town stands in the front rank in doing honor for our county and state.

When treason had raised its arm to destroy the Union, and the call was made for men and means to suppress the rebellion, no township was more prompt to respond to the call than Cottage Grove.

In accordance with a call issued January 14th, 1864, a meeting of the legal voters of the town¬ ship was called at the house of Lawrence Nessell February 2d, 1864. In keeping with the general feeling of the people, the following resolutions were enthusiastically adopted:

"Resolved, That the town of Cottage Grove pay the sum of one hundred dollars, to each volunteer that has enlisted or may enlist in the service of the United States; and have been or may be accredited to this township as volun¬ teers.

Sumner Palmer, E.G. Partridge, and Orville Ruck, and that the town supervisors draw on the town treasurer to the amount of $400, in favor of said persons; and that the supervisors be authorized to obtain a sufficient number of volunteers to fill the quota of this town, under the present call, and draw orders on the town treasurer in favor of such volunteers, to an amount not to exceed $100 each." At a regular town meeting held April 5th, 1864, a tax of $900 was levied to pay orders on town treasury, drawn by the supervis¬ ors for the payment of bounties to volunteers, in accordance with a resolution adopted at a special town meeting held February 2d, 1864.

A special meeting was called at the schoolhouse, near Atkinson's Comers, August 11th, 1864, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:

"Resolved, That the board of supervisors be, and are hereby authorized to issue bonds on the town in such form and such amounts, as may be thought most available, bearing interest at the rate of 10 per cent., and payable on the 1st day of May, 1866. The principal of said bonds to be ap¬ propriated to pay bounties to volunteers to fill the quota of the town, under the recent call made by the president of the United States for troops. The whole amount of said bonds not to exceed $15,000, and not to be sold at less than par.

"Resolved, TliatS. W. Furber be, and is hereby authorized to act as agent for the town, and to negotiate the bonds, this day authorized by vote to be issued, and to procure volunteers to fill the quota of the town on the best terms possible; and he is authorized to notify the board of supervisors, as to the sum required in each bond, and to de¬ mand and receive the same from said board, and sell them, and apply the proceeds thereof accord¬ ing to the terms of the foregoing resolution. He is also authorized to act as agent for the town to procure exemption of enrolled men from the draft, and in all other matters connected with filling the quota of the town under the present call of the president for 500,000 men."

Cottage Geo Ve-Biogra Phical

Samuel Bennett, James Nichols, Gonlon Allen, 1). Mclntire, J. A. Churchill, L. S. Bringer, Wil¬ liam F. Ingham, RossW.Link, Frederick Meilicke, George N. Godfrey, John Hutchinson, William Poplan, Geo. It. Crippen, James S. Leyde, Samuel Bennet, Charles Ferris, Wesley Shellenburger, Franklin Benjamin, Charles Fay, Frederick Ham¬ mond, D. A. l'erey, Ludwig Blozing, Louis Brunnel, Paul Brunnell, Antoine Brunnell, Francis McCoy, G. Wisgatt, T. B. Galusha, John Kelly, Frank Tibbets, Andrew Arnold, James Nichols, Gordon Allen, Alvey McKee, Dugald Mclntire, Ezra B. Strong, John McCallum, C. Henning, Reuben Freeman, E. G. Patridge, Sumner Palmer, Orville Buck, William Buck, Frederick Cook, Newton Troitchel, Hanson Evison, George H. Altenburg, Alexander Glenn, W. Link, RufuB Mars, Louis Ready, Clark Shellenburger, Daniel Dibble, Robert Bailey, Henry II. Rose, Alfred C. Parsons, John Stifles, Shelton Wright, James Ford, John M. Grapes, Henry A. Durand, and Richard Brier, citizens of this town did volun¬ tarily enlist in the army of the United States, in response to such calls, and did honorably to them¬ selves, and in a manner which flatters our pride, and challenges the admiration of the world, dis¬ charge all the duties of patriotic soldiers, there¬ fore,

" Resolved, That to such of these brave men, having survived the perils of war; we do tender them our sincere and heartfelt thanks, and wel¬ come them home with an earnest assurance of our deep interest in all that pertains to their welfare and prosperity.