Dayton City

Dayton City

Dayton is situated in the extreme lunlherii part of llennejiin county. It is bounded on tlie north l)y tlie MissiHsipi>i Hiver, eastby Clianiphn, south l)y Maple Grove, and west by Hassan and Wright county. Its surface is rolHng : in some portions of tlie town there is a succession of roun<h'd elevations, amount ing to hills in some instances. It is well timbered, with a heavy growth of maple, oak, basswood, and elm, excepting in the northeast, where it includes a part of Long Prairie, extending west from Champlin. The soil is a deep, black loam, lying upon a magnesium limestone, which underlies tlie whole town excepting in the north-eastern iiarl. wliere the St. Peter sandstone is found in a narrow belt along the river. The north-eastern boundary is formed by tlie Mississippi River, whose high bluffs tower a hundred feet above the majestic river that washes their liase. Tlie northern part of the western boundary is washed by the Crow River, which cmi>lies into the Mississippi at Dayton village.

Diamond Lake, on sections 17 and is, is the largest body of water in the town. It was named DiamoiKl on account of the purity of its water. French Lake.the next in size, located on secti(Uis li) and :io. took ilsname from a Piench setllenieut near it. in an early day. The smaller lakes are Lura, on seclion 2, and Poweis. on section 34. A small creek rises in Diamond I,akeaiid Hows easterly across the town, and emiilies iiiln llavdcirs Lalic. whi<h is located on section i;i>.

by birth, and settled bcre in 1S.")1. He was a man of some notoriety among the Indians in those early days, wielding a magical kind of influence over them, whicli at times was so potent that he could chastise them with his fist or club or any other article which came first to hand, as occasion recinired, and they would quietly submit to it, and continue to traile with him. They looked upon him through the dim light of their untutored minds, as an avenging spirit, sent upon them by the "(ireat Spirit." hence their submission.

John \'eine made a claim where the village of Dayton now stands, and built a small cabin on it in 1853, which he sold to E. II. Kobiuson in 1854, who used it for a trading iiosl. trading almost entirely with the Indians who were principally Chippewas.

Marcelles Bonlee. Benj LeveilUer, and others, settled along the river in 1 853. Soon after, a few French families settled on or near the Lake named French Lake, whose names were Daniel Lavallee, Anthony (iclinas, Louis Bibeault, Moses Desjarlais. Joel Desjarlais. Fabien Desjarlais and Kilward (ireenwood. Other portions of the town were settled soon after, by the Freiuli.

A hotel was built at Dayton in 1854. liy James Ilasellon and (ieorge Mosier. situated on the bank of llie main river. It was moved at a later period, to its inesenl site on higher groun<l, and is now owneil and occupied as a hotel by (ieorge Slater, who settled here in IKoii.

Neil McNeil was one of tlie early settlers, who came to Dayton and took at once, a front rank in I shaping the business <if the infant settlement. For three years, he had the entire control of Lyman Daytons liusiness. bis intelligent brain, directed by a master hand, was felt in every thing he touched. Not only was his genius felt in civil lil'e. l>nl lii' madr it fi'lt in military tactics ;ilsn: shdwim: liiniscll iKit an unworthy descend- ent of that race whose prowess, like Brace's, has adorned and embellished the pages of Scottish history. When the Indian outbreak, in 1862, burst upon the frightened settlers, carrying rapine and butchery in its gory track, he left the peaceful pursuits of life, and aidefl by that determined look which the earnest man carries, raised a squad of men and hastened to join Captain Stroufs command. They marched to the seat of war through Forest City to Acton, where they met the " Bloody Devils,'' and gave them fight. lie there received a woinid through liis right arm, but with his spartan band of sixtyfour, fighting for their firesides, and the little prattlers around them, thought not of the eiglit hundred fiends they were fighting, all the way from Acton to Hutchinson. Before reaching Hutchinson, they were reinforced, adding more strength, but no more courage; when they made a Waterloo, scattering the Indians in every direction. Returning from the Indian war, and with a country still imperiled, he joined Gen. Thomas' command in 1863, and remained until honorably discharged, when he returned again to Dayton and engaged in the more congenial and peaceful pursuits of life, enjoying the confidence of his fellow-citizens, filling the ofiice of supervisor for ten years, and constable seven years. He was the first constable elected in the town.

In 18.55, A. C. Kimball settled near French Lake, on the north shore, and was the first American settler back from the river. He relates the fact, that the Chippewa Indians passed near his home on their way to the fight near Shakopee, in May, 1858, with their old enemies the Sioux. They came down the Mississippi River and went aljout a mile up the Crow River, took their canoes ashore, sold two or three to the settlers, and destroyed the rest.

Early Events

In 18.56, E. H. Robinson built a blacksmith shoji for his own business, doing some custom work for his few neighbors. The same year, he and his partner, John Baxter, built a steam sawmill on the banks of the ^lississippi River below the mouth of the Crow River, which was the first saw-mill built in the town.

The first death was a Mr. Twombly, who was killed hy the falling limb of a tree. Tlie second death was Job Green, an old man, who died in 1857, and was buried by the roadside, and subsequently removed to the cemetery, m the east part of the village plat, iipon its establishment in 1858.

J. B. Hinkley was the first justice of the peace. He was appointed by the territorial government. He was also the first representative from his district to the legislature elected in 1857, and took an active part in forming the state government.

The first post office was established in 1855, and J. Baxter appointed post master. He was succeeded by Mr. Hinkley, in 1856, who made R. R. Hurllnit deputy for two years. Hurlbut was then appointed post master, and remained in office several years.

The first school was taught in the summer of 1857, by Miss Cynthia Slater, on the west side of Crow River. The water, washing the bridge away, the scholars could not cross, and she moved to ]Mr. Hinkley 's, and later, to Mr. Baxter's house, where the term was finished.

The French Catholic Church was organized in 1857, and a church built the same year, on the farm of Paul Godine, section 5. Father Jennis ofliciated at the organization. In 1862, Father Nicholas supplied the church for a time. In 1865, the society commenced the erection of a larger cluirch, in the village of Dayton, and completed it in 186G. It is -50x75 feet. The society contains one hundred and twenty families. Father Morrell has officiated since 1866, and closed his labors in the fall of 1880. The society has a cemetery of about two acres, located on the northwest corner of section 8.

Town Organization

There were three town sites selected, hut not laid oul. liut claimed, and hel<l with the intention of making plats. Watcrvillc. held by Charles Aydt. was located mostly on llie west side, and included the site where tlie jn-esent saw mill is located. I'ortlanil was claimed by Robinson and Uaxler, and included the site on wliicli the i)resent village is located. Lyman payton had eighty acres south of tlie present village, and had it platted ami surveyed, but afterwards vacated. The piesent village was lirst platted in 185-3, and again in bSoii. reducing lots from one-ipiarter to one-eighlh of an acre in a lot. owing to the advance in the price of land. Tlie platting was done by Lyman Dayton wlio liad bought of Kohiiisoii and liaxter an undivided lialf of the town site. This settled the location of the village, hut tlie more dilliciilt question was yet to come, that of naming it. .Mr. Dayton and liis fricnils desire(l to call it Dayton, while tliat part nf llu' settlers wlio came from .Maine, were as anxious to call it Portland, lioth Jiarties feh Dieir aliility anil sticiiglli to call it b.\ tlieir clioseu name. wliilsl eacli doubled tlie others strenglli. and a meeting was called to settle llic vexed question by vote. Oil the day ai>)>oinled. the "liosls" were maixlialled. but justice always recedes liefore iulvaiicing force, and llie " Dayton " party proved loo strong for tlie " .Mainites."and named it Dayton, in 1868. This is the only village in the town, and includes a small plat of ground on the opposite bank ol Crow river, in Wright county, and is situated at the junction of tlie Mississippi and Crow rivers. It is a nourishing village, containiirg three stores, carrying a general stock of goods. E. O. Perkins's being the largest ; three black.smitli sliops. one furniture and carriage shop, one millinery eslablisluiienl. where the latest fashions are tastefully disjilayed. two Imot and shoe establishments, two cariienters. who -' know how to make a house," two meat markets, one lumber mill, one tannery, a brickyard and a iiost-oflice. with \V. D. P.rimmer for postmaster.

The second iiost-ollice was established in the South-west part of the town aViout bsiili, and called " Maple Grove." a .Mr. Permit being apjiointed post-master.

The lirst male teadier was Thomas .McLeod. who taught after tlie organization of the town, in the winter of l>S.59-(iO. The lirst school was taught in a vacant store-room built by E.B.Ames, of jSIinneapolis. who failed in trade, and the room was used till 1S68, when the present village school building was erected, in the village of Dayton. Besides this, there are four school buildings, all in good condition, located as follows: School No. 37, on section 14 ; 2so. 41. on section 29; No. 40, on section 7 : and Xo. :->ii. on section 28. Two joint districts are included in the above.

The Ila_\ton lloiii-niill was lirst built b> Frank Weitzel in Isuo, for a tlirce run cusloin mill. In 1874 he built a new merchant mill with t\\v runs. feet, three-stories and basiiiiiiit. lie xild a half interest to W. F. llnilluit, and in ls7s sold his remaining inlcicst to \l. \l. Ilnrlbiit. In IS7II the lirni of Ilni Mint anil son built an addition L'Ox-jO feet, with two riiusot stone for a custom mill. They have added all the late iniluovements. making it a lirsl-class .Merchant and Custom mill, with a reputation second to none. 'I'lir mill gives emploMMi-iil to iwenty-six men.

\V. 1). Brimmer, has a Saw-mill and Slave Factory, located on the Crow river, and is now using the steam machinery. |iut in by Hobiiison in 18(!(l: sujiposed to be the first in the north-west.

Official Roster

The present town officers are, Supervisors, A. C. Kimball, chairman, C. E. Evans, and M. F. Taj'lor ; Town Clerk, C. F. Dugas ; Assessor, 11. F. Taylor ; Treasurer, Henry Duhlheimer ; Justices of the Peace, C. E. Evans and Nicholas Engel; Constables, Albert Lewis and A. A. Laflin.

A Town House was built in 1873 at the crossroads in south part of section 17, size 20x30 feet. The Cemetery is located in the south-west corner of secton 8.

William Dugas, one of the pioneers of Hennepin county, was born at Three Rivers, Canada, May 17tli, 1809. He learned the trade of millwright, and at the age of twenty-two went to New York city, then started for Africa, engaging as shiji-cariienter. At New Orleans he al)andoned the trip, as his ship did not sail. He then came up the Mississippi river to Saint Louis, thence to Chicago, and after a stay there of four years, went to Council Blulfs, Iowa, via. the Missouri river, with Bourl)onais, who had charge of the Pottawattamie Indians. Then returned to Chicago, and had charge of a crew of men on the canal then being opened there. Three years later, he removed to Galena, Illinois, and then went to Prarie du Cliien, Wisconsin, where he married Sophia Stromni, who died twenty-one months later, leaving one child. Charles, who is now town clerk of Dayton. In the spring of 1844 he removed to Saint Paul, where he remained over two years, and married, in January. 1846, Miss Susanna Ilaiche. The same year he made a claim at Saint Anthony, near Cheever's claim, which he afterwards sold to Franklin Steele. He returned to Saint Paul in May, 1849, and was elected to tiie Territorial Legislature the following fall. After remaining in Saint Paul two years, engaged in the hotel business, he sold out, returned to Saint ^Uithony, and establislied a ferrs about half a mile above the present upper bridge. He, and others, procured a charter for a bridge, but it was not built. In 1857 he sold the ferry and moved to Bottineau Pi'airie, and engaged in farming until 1866, when he removed to Dayton, he has since resided. His second wife bore him three children, two of whom are living: John, aged twenty-three and Louis, aged twenty-one.

Nicholas Engel was born in Prussia, in 1820. Learned the trade of shoemaking. He was drafted mto the army at twenty, and served two years. He emigrated to America in 1852, and settled at Port Washington, Wisconsin, working at his trade. Moved to Plattsmouth, Nebraska, in 1858, and followed his trade. In 1875, went to Frankfort, Wright county, and in 1876 came to Dayton. Has held the office of Justice of the Peace for tw(j years. Married, in 1863. to Catharine Schluentz. They have had live children, four are now living.

F. Gamache, born in Canada, in 1830. Moved to Michigan in 1850, and engaged in mining, three years. He located on liis present farm in 1854. Married, in 1852, Margaret Gandrow, who died in 1864. He was married again, in 1867, to Julia Lambert. They have had eight children. He has lieen Town Supervisor and School Director. He is one of the pioneers of this town. His, was the first team In'ought to Dayton.

R. R. llurlbut, born in Vermont, in 1830. Followed railroading when young. He was married in 1852, to Mary Stebbins, and moved to Minnesota in 1855. Located in Hassan for one year; thence to Dayton, where he engaged in mercantile business for two years. Located where he now lives in 1870 - a fine location in W'right coimty, opposite Dayton. Purchased, in 1878, one-half interest in the Dayton Flour Mills, which, with his farm, occupies his entire attention. He has two children : AVilliam F. and Rodman R.

AVilliam F. Hurlbut, son of ]?. R. llurlbut, was born in Vermont, in 1853. He remained with his parents until 1870, when he entered the State I'niversity at Minneapolis, at the .same time taking a commercial course. Returned to Dayton in 1874 and purchased alialf interest in the Dayton Flour Mills, and also carried on a general merchandizing business in coiuiection with his milling. In 1880 he married Jennie E. Nixon, of Pennsylvania.

N. McXeil was bom in Scotland, in 1830. In 1831 he emigrated with his parents to America. He moved to Boston, Massachusetts, in 18-52, and worked three years in the Xavy Yard. Moved to Minnesota in 1856, and hved in St. Paul one year, when lie moved to Dayton and worked seven years for Lyman Dayton. In 1863, joined Gen. Thomas" command, was mustered out in 186.5, and returned to Dayton and engaged in the stock business. He married, in 1857, Sarah Sweeney. Tlicy have had nine children. Mr. McNeil held the ofUce of Supervisor ten years, and was Constable for seven years.

Charles Mayer was born in Geiinany, in 1818, where he taught school for twenty years. He emigrated to America in 1856, and settled in St. Bernard. Oliio, and taught school two years; then tiiughl eight years in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, four years at Utica, and three years in Jefferson City, Missouri. He is the organist at the Cath- (ilic church in Dayton, and also teaches music. Married the first time, in 1842, to Veronica Seilierlich, who died in 1856. Married again to, Kate (Jberle. He has six cliildren living.

George Slater, burn in Kngland. in 1821. Emigrated to America, and settled in (iloversville, Fulton county, New York, in 1824. Worked at glove-making for twenty years. Moved to Minnesota, and settled in Dayton, in 18-56, and commenced the man>il'acture of gloves and mittens. Enlisted in Company C, Independent Battalion, imder General Hatch, in 1864, and was ordered to the frontier. Was mustered out in 1865. Reluincd to Dayton, and opened his farm. His health failing, he purchased the hotel which he now keeps. Married, in 1 845, to Catharuie Kelly. They have four children now living. :Mr. Slater louiid many relics near tlic junction of the Crow and Mississi])iii rivers, which indicated that there had been, at some time. :\ I'n-ni'li or SpMiiish settlement at that jioinl.

Abraham 'i'woinbley was born in Canada, in 1808. Moved to Cliamplain, New York. Lived there several years. Married, at twenty-two, to Kosabel Hose. He moved to Bottineau Prairie in 1K57. and lived with his wife in a tent three montlis. Sold his lirst claim on the I'rairie, and lK>uglit one in the woods, where he has since li\ed. Mr. and Mrs. T. Celebrated their golden

E. H. Robinson, a native of Gardiner, Maine, was born in 1829. He remained with his parents on the farm, until seventeen years of age ; then learned the mason's trade. In 1849, he, with hisljrolher, moved to Wisconsin, and worked at his trade during the summer, and in the pineries through the winter. In the fall of 18-50, he returned to Maine, and the following year, his father and family moved to Wisconsin, locating in Portage county. In the spring of 18-53, E. H. came to Minneapolis, and purchased twenty-five dollars" worth of goods, which he hired a Frenchman to take up to the mouth of Crow River, in a canoe. They reached their destination in two days, and found but one white man, John ^'eine, of whom he seciu'ed the use of a log cabin for his store. He opened a trade with the Indians, whose reservation was on the west side of Crow River. In the spring of 1854, he succeeded in purchasing Veine"s claim, which included the site of the ]iresent village of Dayton. Mr. \'eine left, and Mr. Hobinson was for ten nioutlis^alone with the Indians, at whose hands he came near losing his life, on several occasions. He sold John Baxter one-half interest in his store, and in 1855. they sold ]..yman Dayton, of St. Paul, an undivided interest in a portion of their land. In 18.56, they sold Mr. Dayton an interest in the water-iiower and land adjoining. In the fall of l.s.")(;, they erected a steam saw-mill near the mouth of Crow River. Soon after, Mr. Hobinson bought his partner"s interest in the store, and in 1857, iKHight his interest in the mill, lie then sold to ^Ir. Dayton his entire interest in the water-power, and the following spi-ing, sold his stock of goods. In the tall of 18-58, he purchased another stock of goods, and in 1861. took as partnci- in the milling business, Frank Crocker, and continued thus two years, when he bought Crocker"s interest, and in 1S6H. sold the entire establishment to a lirni who tailed, and the mill was taken away. In I.s7(i. he built a new steam .sawmil! near the site of the ohl one. In IS77. he sold the mill to II. .\. liennett. and it was binned the following year. Mr. Uobinsons wife was Mrs. Sarah (Jilson of New York, whom he married in ls-56. They have had thrci' childieu ; (ieoigi- II.. Horace H. and I'raiik L.