Belle Creek Township

Belle Creek Township

The first settlers in this township were two Swedes, Charles Ross and a man named Kemper, in the fall of 1853. They located on section five, built a cabin and put in the winter there. In May, 1854, Walter Doyle and five sons, Henry, Richard, Michael, Walter, jr., and John, settled sections two and four. Benom Hill and three sons, John, Henry, and Thomas, followed in July of that year, locating on sections five and eight. The next year, 1855, the township settled up rapidly, and farms and gardens and substantial habitations began to round into form.

Anna O'Neil, a daughter of James O'Neil, was the first white child born in the township, March, 1855. James Connel was the first man to die, May, 1856. He started to cross a slough with an axe on his shoulder, stumbled and fell in such a manner that the edge of the tool came in contact with his head, fracturing his skull, from the effects of which he

Lewis White and Miss Eraeline Hill were the first couple joined in wedlock. The event was celebrated in 1856, S. P. Chandler, a justice of the peace, performing the ceremony.

Alvin Herbert taught the first school in the winter of 1855-1856, in the basement of a stone house owned by Mr. Kirkpatrick. No school house was erected until 1859, although schools were in progress nearly every season up to that time, being held in some of the settlers' houses.

In 1856 James Allen laid out a village plat and christened it Troy City, and soon after Jesse Johnson put up a store and stocked it with goods. He had the entire trade of the place, as no other building was erected on the village site. The financial crash of 1857 came and all further attempts to do business or build a city were abandoned.

A post office was established in 1854, called "Burr Oak," and H. M. Doyle was appointed postmaster. This office was located on the stage route which led from St. Paul to Dubuque. In 1855 the mail route was changed, and the office was therefore discontinued. 1858 another office was established in the southwest portion of the township and named Belle Creek. S. P. Chandler was appointed postmaster.

On the 25th of May, 1855, the first religious services were held in the township at the residence of Benoni Hill, the Rev. Norris Hobart officiating.

The township is watered by Belle Creek, from which it derives its name. It flows through along the western side, and affords a fair water power, and at intervals along its borders, hay meadows, limestone ledges and fine building stone.

Belle Creek is bounded on the east by Goodhue, west by Leon, north by Vasa, and south by Minneola. The township was not organized until 1858, and the first election was held at the residence of Walter Doyle, that fall, at which thirty votes were polled. S. P. Chandler was chairman of the first board of supervisors, and Patrick Drudy, was the first clerk.

CADWELL, Ht, farmer, sec. 16, P. 0. Belle Creek. Born in Onondaga county, N. Y., Sept. 15, 1827. Married Mary Gates, Nov. 2, 1819. She was born in Buffalo, N. Y., April 2, 1832, and died April 25, 1868. Married Jane Glen, Nov. 11, 1868. She was born in Ireland in 1811. Went to Indiana in 1838, and to this county in 1855; owns 97 acres of land. Alphonzo L., Homer A., Alice L., Charles F., are children by first marriage; Earnest E., Charles F., (the latter killed by being thrown from a wagon,) and William 0., Hiram J., Joseph F., and Stephen J., are children by second marriage.

DOYLE, M., farmer, sec. 3; P. 0. Red Wing. Born in Troy, N. Y., Oct., 1825. Moved to Illinois in 1852; came to this county in 1851; married S. E. C. Gilbert in 1859; she was born in Troy, N. Y., in 1810. Lillian E., Helen M., Gilbert W., Caroline L., Charles J., Edward M., Henry St. Clare, Josephine E., John V. R., Vincent L., Ambrose A. and Raphael F., are his children. Owns 160 acres of land. Has held several prominent offices in his township.

ERICKSON, PETER E., farmer, sec. 18, P. 0. Belle Creek. Born in Sweden, Aug. 14, 1815. Maried Anna G. Olson. She was born Sept. 21, 1848. Married for second wife, Iugebor Larson. She was born in Norway, Jan. 23, 1831. Lived in Rock Island county, Ills., one year. Came to this county Sept. 1, 1855. Owns 160 acres of land. Erick, Gustave E., Erick J., Peter G., Oscar H., are children by first marriage. Charles W., Erick L., Anna W., Johnannah and John A. are children by second marriage.

FULCRUT, G. W., farmer., sec. 19, P. 0. Belle Creek. Born in Pa., April 18, 1833. Married Mary E. Bush, Oct. 20, 1853. She was born July 12, 1836. Moved from Ills., to this county in the fall of 1856. Owns 235 acres of land. Rosa L., Charles M., Frank, Clara E., Bessie E., Samuel G. and George W. are the names of their children.

GORMAN, MICHAEL, farmer, sec. 9, P. 0. Belle Creek. Born in Ireland, Oct., 1823. Came to this country in 1843, settling in the State of N. Y. Moved to Wis., in 1850. Married Mariah Falvey, who was born in Ireland, in 1825. Eliza, John, Mary, Kittie, Emeline, Thomas, Nellie and 'James, are their children.

HAMILTON, JAMES, farmer, sec. 3, P. 0. Red Wing. Born in Ireland, May 12, 1825. Came to this country in 1844, settling in Massachusetts. Came to this county in 1855, and now owns 160 of land. Married in Troy, N. Y., Leavina Burill, Oct. 12, 1854. She was born in Canada, June 22, 1834.

HIMMELMAN CHARLES, JR., farmer, sec. 2, P. 0. Red Wing. Born in Sweden, May 4, 1853. Emigrated to this county, June 29, 1865. Owns in this township 320 acres of land. Has held the office of school trustee.

JOHNSON, NELS, farmer, sec. 5, P. 0. White Rock. Born in Sweden, Oct. 12, 1829. Came to this country in 1854; to this county in the spring of 1855. Married Matte Ricka, Dec. 18, 1858; she was born in Denmark, Jan. 22, 1825. Matild E., Mary F., John, James A., are the names of their children. Mr. Johnson owns 92 acres of land. Is a member of the Lutheran Church.

O'NEIL, JAMES, farmer, sec. 4, P. 0. White Rock. Born in Ireland, March, 1821. Emigrated to the State of N. Y., in 1848; thence to Ills., in 1852. Came to this county in the summer of 1854. Married Margaret Edwards in 1845; she was born in Ireland in 1818. Nicholas, their eldest son, died in the State of N. Y., May, 1841. James, John, Charles and Henry, are their living sons. Ann, their only daughter, died in 1868. She was the first birth in this township. Mr. Q'Neil owns 160 acres of land, and belongs to the Catholic Church.

PETERSON, JOHN, farmer, sec. 29, P. 0. Belle Creek. Born in Sweden, Sept. 3, 1816. Married Louisa Graff, May 17, 1855, in Boston, Mass. She was born in January, 1825. Moved to Wis., and to this county in 1861. His land he values at $6,000. Members of Lutheran church. Charles, John, Edward, Levi, Christiana M., and Olina, are their children.

Source changes here: from Goodhue County, Minnesota, Past and Present, by [Hancock, Joseph Woods], published 1893; 1,502 words in this source stream.

Belle Creek Township

This township is numbered 111 north, range 16 west, and is situated nearly in the center of the county. The stream called Belle creek flows through the western side, affording fair water power, and is bordered by fine hay meadows, and occasionally ledges of lime stone. In the vicinity of the creek are scattering groves of oak,

A. G. Kemp and Chas. Roos, natives of Sweden, made a settlement here in the fall of 1853, but soon after moved across the line into the town of Vasa.

In July, 1854, Walter Doyle with five sons and one daughter, came and settled on sections four and five. James O'Neal and family came at the same time. In the same month Benoni Hill and family also settled in this township. In October following, Rev. S. P. Chandler made a claim here, but did not move with his family to take possession until the spring of 1855. During the spring and summer of 1855 a large number of families settled here.

The first white child born in Belle Creek was May Cook in August, 1855, daughter of Jacob Cook. The second was John Cavanaugh in November, 1855, the son of Patrick Cavanaugh.

The first death was that of Dennis Cavanaugh. In the forepart of the winter of 1855-6, he started to go on foot ever to his brother's, a distance of about two and a half miles. Early in the evening a terrible storm came up, he lost his way, and was frozen to death near the place now called Hader, being three miles from his home and in the opposite direction from the one he should have kept in order to reach his brother's house. His body Avas not found until the snow went off in the spring.

Lewis White and Emeline Hill were the first couple joined in marriage. This event occurred in 1856. Eev. S. P. Chandler performed the ceremony.

Wheat was raised by Walter Doyle and others in 1856, a fair yield, and was threshed by hand with flails. They carried it to Mazeppa mill to be ground. There has been raised iu the town, as high as fifty-six bushels per acre of wheat, threshers measure. This was on the farm of John Lawson. Michael Doyle raised forty-two bushels to the acre (of wheat) on eight acres in the year 1860, and Richard Doyle threshed thirty-five bushels to the acre from twenty-six acres the same year.

Belle Creek furnished forty-two volunteer soldiers for the war of 1861-5, and paid bounties of $300 each to fourteen others. Mr. Walter Doyle sent sons to the front during the war, viz : H. M. Doyle, Michael Doyle, Walter W. Doyle, John J. Doyle ; and Richard Doyle, the remaining son, furnished a substitute. Is there another family in the county that can furnish such a record?

-The old stage route from St. Paul to Dubuque passed through this town and the stages used to stop at Mr. Doyle's log cabin for the night. In the winter of 1854-5 there was no house in a southern direction on the road from this cabin to Oronoco, a distance of twenty- five miles. Some of the prominent men of the then territory of Minnesota, enjoyed the hospitality of Mr. Doyle, among whom were Gov. Ramsey, Gen. Sibley, J. C. Burbank, the pioneer expressman, and others. He had the privilege of entertaining twenty-six of the principal men and chiefs of the Chippewa tribe with " Hole in the Day," their head chief, who were on their way to visit the great father at Washington.

The Episcopal church was built in 1873 at a cost of $1,600, mainly through the patient exertions of Rev. S. P. Chandler, who was pastor of that parish until his death in 1888.

The Catholic congregation in this town is the most numerous, and the present year they have built a new church of larger dimensions for the accommodation of their increasing attendance on public worship.

Burnside

This town lies on the Mississippi river joining the city of Red Wing on the east, Featherstone on the south, and Welch on the west. It includes a large portion of the island called Prairie Island, on its northern border. The surface is somewhat broken by bluffs and streams of water ; the soil is nevertheless rich and fertile. Cannon river flows through from west to east, and Spring creek through the southeastern part ; both emptying into the Mississippi. Numerous springs of clear water gush forth from the base of the bluffs, affording abundance of water for stock and dairy purposes. The town was first called Spring Creek, afterward Milton, but in 1862 the name was changed to Burnside.

The first settlers were Andrew Cottar, John Leasou, Matthew Streetor, James Shaw, John Bronson, and tue widow of David Wright, with her family. Three brothers named Spates made claims the same year, 1853. The following year Joseph Eggleston, Willard Wood, Kingsley AVood, Marshall Cutler, and a few others settled here. The wife of John Bronson died in the spring of 1855, In July, the same year, Flora Cutler was born, and also John H. Spates. The first marriage ceremony performed was that of J. F. Enz to Mary F. Wright, in October, 1855.

The first sermon was preached by the Rev. Rezin Spates, at the house of John Leason, in 1854. At the first election in 1858 there were only fifteen votes cast.

A flouring mill was built in the south part of the town, on Spring creek, by Sterns & Hobart, in the year 1856. This mill was carried away by a freshet, in June, the following year. It was rebuilt soon after by the Hon. W. W. Phelps, with three run of stone and a capacity for grinding 65,000 bushels annually. Mr. Phelps operated this mill with success for a time and afterward sold it to Wm. Featherstoue. Mr. Featherstone sold to M. Herschler.

The county poor farm is located in this township, about three miles from the city of Red Wing, on the road to Hastings. It contains 183 acres of land. The buildings were erected in 1867 at a cost of about $6,000. The furnace for heating purposes and furniture together cost not far from .$4,000. A large number of indigent persons, nnstly aged people and children, from all parts of the county, are cared for here by a Superintendent appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. The main buiUling was accitleutly burned in the fall of 1889.

man life in this world. The widow of Rev. David Wright, with six children, had removed from Illinois and settled on the place which had been selected by the husband and father the year before, on Spring creek, near the claim of John L3ason. They occupied a log house which was divided into suitable rooms for sleeping and family use ; the four boys sleeping in the two rooms of the upper floor, while the two girls and the mother occupied the lower floor. They came in April, and had been there about two mouths when, on the night of the eleventh of June, 1855, a storm of lightning and rain came on with such terrific peals of thunder as to waken the family. One of the older boys was so much frightened that he left the bed and came down stairs. While he was being told that there was no more danger in one place than another, by his sister Susan, a sudden crash came which stunned every one in the house. Mrs. Wright, the mother, was the first to become conscious. She saw that the house was in flames, at least the bed surrounding where her two girls lay, both unconscious. Presently the water came down through the floor above in such profusion as to quench the fire. The roof had been torn off and such a heavy fall of rain followed that lightning's stroke that the house was saved from entire destruction by fire. Soon one of the boys came down stairs drenched with rain, bringing in his arms the youngest boy, Wilsou, dead. The same stroke of lightning had killed one of the girls, who were in the bed on the lower floor, immediately under that of the boys in the chamber. The boys in time had become conscious, and these three, William, Beverly, and James, with their mother, laid the boy Wilson by the side of his two sisters, Mary and Susan, and began chafing them in order to restore them if possible to consciousness. After some time Mary, now Mrs. Enz, of Red Wing, became conscious and was restored finally to health. Susan, a young lady of twenty-one years, and Wilson, aged six years, had been instantly summoned to the world above during that terrible storm. The whole community were plunged into the deepest gloom when informed of the sad event. The funeral services for the two children were attended by many people from Red Wing and the adjoining settlements.

Source changes here: from History of Goodhue County, Minnesota, by Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn, published 1909; 1,207 words in this source stream.

Belle Creek Township

Belle Creek township lies in practically the geographical center of the county, and constitutes one entire government township, its number being 111 north, range 16 west. Its area has remained unchanged since the township was first constituted in accordance with the township act of the legislature in 1858. Belle creek waters the western part of this township, and affords fair water power. It is bordered by fine stretches of hay meadows and an occasional ledge of limestone. Near the creek are also scattering groves of oaks, white birch and poplar. The surface, which is largely a rich, undulating, high prairie, except in the vicinity of the creek, is in general about 150 feet higher than its neighboring township of Yasa. Its other neighbors are Leon, on the west ; Minneola, on the south, and Goodhue, on the east.

The first influx of whites into this section was in 1853, when Charles Ross and A. G. Kempe went into the township and built a cabin on section 5, mar the creek. They spent the winter there, but soon after moved north into what is now Vasa. In the spring, or early summer, of 1851. Walter Doyle, with his five sturdy sons, Henry, Richard. Michael. Walter and John, settled on sections 2 and 4. Benoni Hill and his sons, John, Henry and Thomas, came in July and made their claims on sections 5 and 8. James O'Neill and family also came the same year; and in the fall the Rev. S. P. Chandler staked out a claim, but did not move on it until the following spring. In 1855 the influx was rapid, and the town Avas soon thickly settled. A large part of the ground was broken up, grain sowed, and cottages built in place of the original cabins.

It was not long before children came to bless the homes of the pioneers. Anna O'Neill was born in March, 1855, but did not long live to enjoy the distinction of being the first white child born in the township, having passed away when still a schoolgirl. Her father was James O'Neill. May Cook was born in August of the same year, daughter of Jacob Cook. John Cavanaugh, son of Patrick Cavanaugh. was born in November. The first two deaths were by accident. In the early part of the winter of 1855-56, Dennis Cavanaugh started to go on foot to his brother's, a distance of about two and a half miles. After he started, a terrible storm came up, and he was frozen to death near Hader. having lost his way. His body, which was not located until the snow had melted in the spring, was found three miles from his home, and in an opposite direction from the one lie should have kept to reach his brother's. His wanderings through the wilderness in the raging storm, until merciful death relieved him from his sufferings, can only be imagined. In May of the following spring. James Connel attempted to cross a slough with an axe on hi.s shoulder. In some manner he stumbled and fell, and the edge of the axe struck his head, causing a fracture of the skull which resulted in death. The first death due to natural causes was that of Mrs. S. P. Chandler, June 28, 1856.

Pioneer discomforts were no dampener to the ardor of Cupid, and in 1856, Lewis White and Emeline Hill took before the Rev. S. P. Chandler the vows which made them man and wife. Although no .school houses were erected until 1859, as early as the fall of 1858 Alvin Herbert taught school in the basement of a stone house owned by a Mr. Kirkpatrick, and the school was continued in session practically every season, in some of the settlers' houses.

The rich soil of tin' township showed its possibilities even in the earliest days, for in 1856 Walter Doyle and others obtained fair yields of wheat, threshed it by hand with flails and carried it to the Mazeppa mill to be ground.

In 1856 James Allen laid out a village plat and christened the place Troy City. With sanguine hopes of the future, Jesse Johnson built a store and stocked it with merchandise. No other building was ever erected on the village site. The financial crash of 1857 impaired trade to such an extent that Mr. Johnson closed his store ; and all further attempts to build a city there were abandoned. A postofnce, called Burr Oak, was established in 1854, and H. M. Doyle was appointed postmaster. This was on the line of the old stage route from St. Paul to Dubuque, and the following year, when the mail route was changed, the office was discontinued. During the existence of this office Mr. Doyle's house was the last one on the road before reaching Oronoco. twenty- five miles to the south, and consequently was an all-night stopping place for the stage, and Mr. Doyle entertained such prominent men of the early days as Governor Ramsey, General Sibley, J. C. Burbank and many others. He also entertained twenty-six of the principal men and chiefs of the Chippewa tribe, including "Hole in the Day," their head chief, when they were on their way to Washington.

In 1858 another postoffice was establisbed in the southwest part of the town and named Belle Creek. S. P. Chandler, the first postmaster, retained that position for many years. There was no hotel, and Mr. Chandler opened his bouse for the accommodation of travelers, especially the farmers of the western part of the county, who had no other place to stop on their way to Red Wing with their wheat. When the Minnesota Central rail-

At the first election, held at the residence of Walter Doyle, thirty votes were polled. Among the early supervisors were S. P. Chandler, H. M. Doyle (two terms). Michael Doyle, John Edwards, Francis Malloy, Walter Doyle and -lames Malloy. The early clerks were Patrick Drudy four terms), H. M. Doyle, Michael Doyle (two terms), P. J. Sheridan and Michael Doyle.

The township did its share in the Civil War in a noble way. The official list of those enlisting from the township is as follows : Freeman J. Beers, Truman E. Beers, George Cook, James McGrath, John Manning, David Petty, William Gardiner, John Hilger, Jacob Hilger, Jacob Cook. Jr., Timothy Cavanaugh, Walter W. Doyle, Patrick Drudy, Patrick Edwards, Martin Edwards, Timothy Foley, Patrick Foley. Henry L. Gilbert. Henry M. Craig, Patrick Malloy. Daniel AY. Malloy. Thomas Bolls. Cornelius K. Bylen, David Switzer, John B. Taylot, .lames Cassidy, George Cook, .binies Schweiger, Ruben Taylor. Horace Carpenter, Nelson Cannon. Elander W. Carpenter. Francis M. Irish. William J. More. Russell E. Snell, George Johnson, Amos Hanson, John Nels Johnson. Robert Smithson. Henry Kirkland, Isaac Bridell, Michael Cavanaugh, Xels Johnson.

The Catholic church was commence. 1 in 1865, and cost over $3,000. The present beautiful edifice was erected in 1893. It is the largest congregation in the town, and has been a potent influence in the upbuilding of the community.

The Episcopal church was built in 187.'! at a cost of $1,600, mainly through the exertions of the Rev. S. P. Chandler, who was pastor of the parish until his death, in 1888.