Minnesota State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children

In the summer of 1855 Mr. Pettit sold his claim to John H. Abbott, and bought soon after an undivided half of Mr. Cornell's claim lying immediately south of the one just sold. It required but little argument to get all parties interested in building up a first-class town, and as usual among western men, when they had once decided to do it, they went directly to work to accomplish the object. Roads and bridges for the purpose of communication with other sections of the country, were the first things to be attended to, and with willing hearts and stout hands they Went to work and opened up the roads, bridged the sluices and water courses, and soon had the satisfaction of knowing that at least an important thoroughfare was opened through their town. Mr» Cornell, with true western energy and perseverance, built a bridge across the Straight river, and travel was seemingly nearly constant. Not unfrequently were there from twenty to thirty or forty emigrant teams in the streets at one and the same time. Business flourished, and the high road to prosperity was opened and all seemed determined to travel therein. Every settler whose house was large enough to accommodate more than his ewn family had all the spare room ox^cupied with strangers and those seeking homes. A village was platted, streets and lots marked out and speculation in city property was very active. A newspaper was established, and it was a live, energetic paper, just suited to the occasion, and one that did its full share in developing the resources of the country. In the spring of 1^56 Mr. Ezra Abbott built a steam saw mill, which was put into operation, and the building interests were greatly accelerated by this addition to the power and material. The common lumber for most of the new buildings was manufactured at this mill. In 1857 Messrs Wm. F. Pettit, John H, Abbott and A. B. Cornell built a mill just above the town, intended for a grist mill; but the demand for lumber was so great that machinery for sawing was soon put in operation, and the building interests were materially enhanced thereby. Immigration to Minnesota that year was literally immense, and every available space was occupied for hotel room. At one time the log house of Mr. Winship accommodated, or at least contained, some fifty persons. In the fall of 1855 a postoffice was established by the name of Owatonnia, from the Indian name of the river Ouitunya^ which in the Sioux dialect signifies straight, as the general course of the river is straight, though in its meanderings one of the most serpentine to be found on the maps. The same name was given the town and the spelling corrected as now used, '"Owatonna." In the winter the mail route was extended via Austin and West Union in Iowa to Dubuque, and the mail carried by J. J. Bracket, of Lakeville. Previous to the establishment of this route Mr. Pettit had put a line of daily stages in operation between Owatonna and Faribault for the purpose of bringing in all parties who were looking for locations. In September, Mr. Cornell and Mr. John H. Abbott laid out the town site, comprising 120 acres, about sixty acres on each of their claims. In November they went to Winona and pre-empted the land, and on the 26th of December filed the town plats in the office of Charles Ellison, Register of Deeds.

Passage source: Geographical and Statistical History of Steele County from Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time. Embracing Leading Incidents of Pioneer Life, Names of Early Settlers ... &c, published 1868.

The first death in the town of Owatonna was that of a Mr. Presburg, who had lived about a mile north of the village in the timber. This death occurred in 1856, and a clergyman passing through the town officiated at the funeral. Mr. Morford made a claim about three miles east of town, and adjoining that of his partner, Mr. Odell. He lived on his claim yet attended to his business in town, generally going home each night when not detained too late by business. Whenever he was detained in town, Mrs. Morford would spend the night at Mr. Odell's. On one of these occasions, the 20th of November, 1856, Mrs. Morford having waited till somewhat late for her husband's return, started for her friend's house, which was distant about half a mile. After walking, as she thought, far enough to reach the house, she began to look about her, but could perceive no signs of the shanty. She wandered about for some time searching for the house, and finally concluded that she was lost on the prairie. But she did not despond, as she knew that she had not gone so far but daylight would set her all right again, and coming to a thicket she very philosophically wrapped her shawl around her and laid down to sleep. The weather being quite mild she enjoyed a good rest and awoke in the morning very much refreshed and started for home. Seeing a shanty she approached it, thinking she would make some inquiry as to her whereabouts. No one answering her repeated knocks she raised the latch and stepped in. Things looked strangely familiar to her, and upon a closer scrutiny she found she was in her own home that she had left the night previous ; but so completely bewildered had she become on the prairie, that she did not recognize the place till she had got inside and saw the familiar furniture.

Passage source: Geographical and Statistical History of Steele County from Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time. Embracing Leading Incidents of Pioneer Life, Names of Early Settlers ... &c, published 1868.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Owatonna City - 2,867 words on its settlement, mills, schools and churches.