Washington County, Minnesota - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 51 of those read), 1881

Chapter with an unread heading (no. 51 of those read)

The township of Oneka is located in the north¬ western part of Washington county. It is bounded on the north by Forest lake, on the east by Marine, on the south by Grant, and west by Centerville, and embraces in its territory thirty-six sections. / The surface is diversified. The eastern and south-eastern portions are quite rugged and uneven, giving it a rolling appear¬ ance. In the depressions, or valleys, are many fine lakelets, some of which are supplied from living springs; this section of the town is covered with a growth of small oak, excepting where it is cleared off for farming purposes. The west¬ ern portion of the town is divided from the eastern by a tamarack swamp, and Rice creek, which takes its rise in a lake of the same name. This swamp forms a natural barrier or division between the eastern and western portions of the town. It is from one-fourth to one-half mile in width, and extends from Rice lake to Forest lake, in the town north, about ten miles. The west¬ ern portion is comparatively level; along the borders of Rice creek, extending for some dis¬ tance westward, are fine bay meadows, while still further west of these bottoms, a larger growth of timber springs up. The eastern por¬ tion is especially adapted to the growth of wheat which is raised in large quantities, and of a very flue quality. The drainage of the town is fur¬ nished by a chain of lakes passing through the center from north to south, with one in the south¬ eastern part, on section 25, and a part of Bald Eagle lake in the extreme south-western part. The principal lake is Oneka, located on section 9, and 16 near the center of the town that hikes its name from it. This is the finest and largest body of water in the chain. Skirted with high banks that support a fine growth of timber. Rice lake, located on the line of sections twentyone and twenty-two, has long been the resort of a band of Indians from Mendota, who go to it every summer, bringing with them from eight to twelve lodges; they gather rice during the sum¬ mer, which they sell in St. Paul. The lake af¬ fords them excellent fishing-ground, containing more pickerel than any other lake in the town. It is fed by springs on the east and west sides in such a quantity as to furnish a steady flow of water into Rice creek, which rises from it and flows north to section thirty-four in Forest lake, thence in a south-westerly direction, and again entering Oneka in the north-west comer of sec tion four and flowing through the north-western part of the town, finally emptying into the Miss¬ issippi at Fridley in Anoka county. To the south-east, on sections twenty-five and thirty-six, is located School Section lake, which furnishes good fishing. It was also the scene of a painful acci¬ dent which occurred about eight years ago Stephen Luts, in company with a young friend, was out one day enjoying the sport and pleasure which these lakes furnish - trolling, when mid¬ way in the lake the boat upset, precipitating both into the water. Young Luts became tangled in the line, and when taken out they found his hands completely bound up in its meshes. Eagle lake is located on section thirty-four in the south¬ ern part of the town, and Egg lake on section twenty near the St. Paul and Duluth railroad. Bald Eagle lake is located in the extreme south¬ western corner of the town, and on section four is Horse-shoe lake.

Early Settlers

The first white man who settled in the town of Oneka was Lewis Semper, who came in the fall of 1855 and located on land he had entered some two years previous. He, in company with Joseph Freeman and family, one of whose daughters he had married, started out with strong arms to hew out for themselves, homes in the wilds of this new town. lie, however, remained but one year, when he transferred his claim to Charles Morgan, of St. Paul, who rented it to Joseph Freeman, who remained on it till 1860, when it was sold to L. C. Dunn. The latter occupied it until the fall of 1866, when he transferred it to V. B. Barnum, who remained two years and sold to F. Youngbluth, who is now living on it, a. prosperous farmer and respected citizen. Following close upon Lewis Semper, came two young men by the name of Austin and Tainter, who came for the purpose of baling hay that grew in abundance upon the rich bottom lands of Rice creek. They located a tract of land now occupied by David Hopkins, who is now one of the prominent farmers and land owners of the town, and doing a large dairy business, finding a ready sale for his choice butter, etc., in the Stillwater and St. Paul markets. Just how long Austin and Tainter re¬ mained we were unable to ascertain, though they were there some years, then settling in the west¬ ern part of the town. In the eastern part came John Beecroft, and located near Horse-shoe lake in 1858. He was a butcher by trade and came for the purpose of hunting and making a home for his family, he left in 1863, entering the army and is now in Chicago. William Hatch came in 1860 and built a shanty on section thirty-six. The farm is now owned by B. F. J udkins. Joseph Lambert and father, who still reside in the town, came in 1861 and are now living on section thirtysix, in the south-east corner of the town. Oneka did not escape the mania which took possession of the people in 1856; a town site with the name of "Washington" was surveyed and platted on Oneka lake, and filed with the register of deeds, but like many of the paper towns of those days, is as though it had never been.

Organization

ber 9th, 1870. The first town meeting for the election of officers was held at the house of George Walker, September 27th, 1870. A. J. Soule moderated the meeting, with George Walker, clerk. Two road districts were formed, designated as numbers one and two, representing the east and west divisions of the town. O. L. Kinyon was appointed overseer of district num¬ ber one, and V. 13. Bamum for district number two. The officers elected were George Walker, clerk and treasurer; George II. Kannady, asses¬ sor; V. B. Bamum and Prescott Newman, jus¬ tices; Francis Briggs and Joseph Lambert, con¬ stables.

May 2d, 1871, a meeting was held at the house of George Walker, to vote for arbitration on Minnesota state railroad bonds; O. L. Kinyon, moderator. The whole number of votes cast, nine, all in the affirmative.

March 12th, 1872, annual town meeting was held at the school-house in district number fiftyone. The meeting was called to order by George Walker, and A. J. Soule chosen moderator. Elected O. L. Kinyon, B. F. Judkins, A. J. Soule, supervisors.

March lltli, 1873, annual town meeting was held at the school-house in district number fiftyone, and called to order by George Walker; B. F. Judkins chosen moderator. Elected O. L. Kin¬ yon, Michael Iloule, Joseph Luts, supervisors. Voted a tax of two hundred dollars for roads and one hundred dollars for town expenses.

March 10th, 1874, annual meeting was held at the school-house in district number fifty-one. Called to order by George Walker, and Prescott Newman chosen moderator. Elected O. L. Kin¬ yon, Joseph Luts, Michael Iloule, supervisors. Voted a tax of one bundled and fifty dollars for current expenses.

1875. Annual, town meeting was called at the school-house in district number fifty-one, March 9th. Called to order by the town clerk, and A. J. Soule chosen moderator. Elected A. J. Soule, T. J. Withrow, Michael Iloule, supervisors.

1876. Annual town meeting was held at the school-house in district number 51, and called to order by the town clerk, and A. J. Soule chosen moderator; elected A. J. Soule. T. J. Withrow and O. L. Kinyon, supervisors; voted a tax of $150 for current expenses.

1876. Annual town meeting was held at the school-house in district number 51, March 13th, called to order by the town clerk, and O. L Kinyon, chosen moderator; on motion of Thomas J. Withrow, the compensation of supervisors and town clerk was made one dollar per day; voted a tax of 1 160 for current expenses; elected Michael Iloule, David Sawyer and F. Kunde, supervisors.

1878. Annual town meeting was held at the school-house in district number 51, called to order by P. Newman, and O. L. Kinyon, chosen mod¬ erator, moved to strike out the article in the war¬ rant to issue town bonds to raise money for town purposes, and voted a tax of $160 for current expenses; elected A. J. Soule, Michael Houle and F. Kunde, supervisors.

1879. Annual town meeting was held in the school-house in district numl>er 51, on March 11th, and called to order by Prescott Newman, O. L. Kinyon, chosen moderator; voted a tax of $100 for current expenses; elected, A. J. Soule, Joseph Luts and F. Kunde, supervisors.

1880. Annual town meeting was held in the school-house in district number 63, March 9th, the meeting was called to order by George Walker and O. L. Kinyon, chosen moderator; voted a tax of $100 for current expenses; elected, A. J. Soule, E. C. Judkins and F. Kunde, supervisors.

The first school was organized at the house of V. B. Barnum, February 17th, 1867, and the fol¬ lowing officers were elected: V. B. Barnum, di¬ rector; Mathew Tucker, clerk: Albert Pluitt, treasurer; Ruth Miller was the first teacher who opened her first school May 1st, 1868, receivingas compensation, thirty dollars per month for three months. The house has since been moved to Centerville station on section 20, for the greater convenience of the district.

trict numbered fifty-one. The first officers were Joseph Luts, director; George Walker, clerk. The first teacher was Mary Withrow, who had an attendance of thirty-two scholars. This build¬ ing served the purpose of the residents of the eastern portion of the town until 1877, when a division was made and a new district organized, and numbered sixty-tlnee. The old building was sold to Soule, Briggs and Newman, and the district immediately erected anew and neat build, ing on section fourteen.

The new district erected a building about the same time, on section thirty-six. This is the largest and best school building in the town, and is said to be the most complete country schoolhouse in the county. The first officers under the new organization were Joseph Luts, director; T. J. Withrow, treasurer, and O. L. Kinyon, clerk. Miss Lida Yorks taught the first school of thirtysix pupils. There are now in attendance fiftysix scholars, with Lizzie Withrow for teacher.

The first road laid out after the organization of the town, began on section nineteen and ex¬ tended eastward until it intersected the Still¬ water road on sectiou 26. It was surveyed by J. II. Soule, October 2d, and established October 25th, 1873. A new road district was formed April 5th, 1875, comprising sections 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 22, 23 and 24, by the supervis¬ ors, who appointed George II. Kannady, over¬ seer, and called it road district number three.

The St. Paul and Duluth railroad enters the north-west corner of the town, on the line of sec¬ tions 4 and 5, passing in a south-westerly direc¬ tion through it, and leaving it a little east of the center of section 31. This road has a station at Centerville, on section 20, where there is a hotel, store and sample-room, kept by Mrs. Kuchli.

Initial Events

The first birth in the town was Susie Semper, daughter of the first settler, April 10th, 1856. She was married June 26th, 1875, to W. II. Fishleigli of Chicago. The next birth was Hoyt E. Kinyon, son of O. L. Kinyon, bom December 27th, 1863.

The first marriage was Joseph Lnmbertto Miss Mary Courtoue, of Marine, November 13th, 1865. lie brought his bride to his father's house, where they still reside.