Forest Lake City

Forest Lake City

This place was laid out by the railroad com¬ pany in 1868, the spring following the completion of the road. It is on the shore of the lake, on fractional south half of the south-east quarter of section five and fractional north-east quarter of section eight. Here the company have a depot, water tank and wood-yard.

Fir8T Store

The first mercantile establishment in the town was opened by Michael Marsh, just in advance of the railroad. He furnished supplies to the few families then living here.

First he opened at Clear Lake, in 1867, and a year later in the village. In June, 1868, the store and stock was burned, but Mr. Marsh imme¬ diately purchased a new stock, opened in his hotel just completed, and continued until 1873.

The first store built in the village, was that of John Roller and company, erected by Ole and Gustavus Aim, who carried a small stock of gro¬ ceries until 1877, then sold to John Roller, who added a general stock of merchandise. In March 1878, Roller took W. II. Sanborn into partner, ship, and the latter being appointed post-master, removed the office from the depot to the store, the 1st of January. In the fall of 1880, C. V. Smith opened a general stock of merchandise, to this he proposes to add milling in the spring of 1881. Samuel Martin, the same fall, opened the only saloon in the village. W. E. Lindstrom op¬ erated a blacksmith shop in John Roller's stable, but soon removed it to a shop 16x26 feet.

North Shore house was the first public house opened in the village. It is a large frame build¬ ing erected by Michael Marsh, in the spring of 1868. Before building, the railroad company ae 8ured Mr. Marsh that the road would come just in front of the house, but when it was completed the track was laid quite a distance away. When first built contained six chambers, dining room, kitchen and sitting room. The year following, Mr. Marsh built a wing containing a bar and office, and five chambers.

II. D. Gurney, in the spring of 1876 erected a summer hotel and four cottages on the west bank of the lake, where he cleared and fitted a commo¬ dious picnic ground, about sixty rods from the depot, just outside of the village limits. lie keeps ten row and two sail boats for the use of pleasure seekers.

The township has but one school district, the house being located in the village. This is known as number fifty-six, and was organized Septem- I ber 23d, 1873, with the following officers: Louis Scliiel, director; S. B. Howell, clerk ; Cyrus Gray, ,

Forest Lake Lodge No. 179, 1. O. G. T., was organized in June, 1879. They hold their meetr ings every two weeks in the school house. The charter members were A. C. York, Elizabeth Spickler, R. H. McGee, I. M. Banty, Estella Bush, A. W. Simmons, William Angevine, John Banty, M. A. York, Minnie York, 8. B. Howell, Sarah Angevine, Mary Poston, David Banty, Richard Poston, John Erickson.

The Methodist Episcopal church was organized in February, 1876, by Rev. Adam Ringer, pastor. Meetings are held every alternate Sunday in the school-house. The following were the early members: A. C. York, Miriam York, W. A. York, Esther Yeith, Virginia Veitli, Frederick Veith, Rebecca Simmons, Rebecca A. Simmons, Jeremiah Poston, Mary Poston, Mary E. F. Pos¬ ton, John Banty, David Banty, Isaac M. Banty. The present pastor is Rev. George Read.

Rebecca M. Simmons was the first white child born in the township, April 24th, 1864. Her parents are George and Rebecca Simmons. The next was Henry A. son of Louis and Mary Schiel, born September 2d, 1866. The first marriage was that of Francis Cartwright, to Mary Long, of Taylor's Falls, in 1866. The next was that of Allen Greenwald to A. Regan, in the fall of 1871, followed by that of Richard W. Simmons and Josephine Marsh in June, 1872. The first death was that of Frederick Veith, senior, in 1867. The next January, J. P. Veith followed.

Ole Aim, a native of Sweden, was bom in 1860, and is the son of Andrew Aim, the first Swedish settler in Forest Lake. Coming to Ame¬ rica in 1869 with bis sister, he proceeded directly to his parents, who had preceded him. In 1873, he located at Forest Lake with his father, and three years later, opened a store in company with his brother. They sold the following year and devoted their time and attention solely to farm¬ ing. Mr. Aim was married in 1876 to Gustina Erickson, a native of Sweden, who died in 1879, leaving two children.

den, born in 1840. lie received his education in his native country, and finished his course nt the gymnasium, afterward working as book-keeper. In 1869, he came to America, making his way directly to St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin; thence to Taylor's Falls. Minnesota. After visiting St. Paul, he located on a farm in 1877, in Forest Lake township, situated on the banks of the lake. Some of his time was devoted to literary pursuits, having written a history of the early Swede settlers and pioneers of the north-west, which was published in the Staats Tidning of Minneapolis, also in the Skaffaren of St. Paul, and has since been issued in book-form. Ife is now contributor to these papers and to one Chi¬ cago newspaper. He has been assessor at Forest Lake for two years past.

A. P. Halsey was born at Elizabeth, New Jersey, 1845, where he remained until twenty-two years of age. Wishing to see the west, he came to Davenport, Iowa, thence to Waterloo, which place he made his home for four years. In 1871, he went to Le Sueur, Minnesota, and carried on an extensive business in the mercantile line, hav¬ ing a large general stock. Finally disposing of his goods, he came to Minneapolis, and being at¬ tracted to Forest Lake, purchased fifty acres of land very pleasantly located on the shores-of the lake. His residence commands a beautiful view of the waters and surrounding wood-lands. He was married January 2d, 1871.

S. B. Howell was born in Suffolk county, Long Island, 1837, and on reaching maturity, embarked in business as a photographer. August 22d, 1862, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-ninth New York Volunteers, Company II; was wounded in the hand by a shell in an engage¬ ment at Bottom's Bridge, and was discharged March 8th, 1864, through sickness, from which he never fully recovered. He came with his family to Minnesota, and located at Forest Lake, where he has since resided on a farm pleasantly situated on the banks of the lake. Ilis wife was Elizabeth Kent, married in 1859. They are the parents of seven children.

John Roller, of the firm of Roller and Com¬ pany, is a native of Germany, born 1844. When a lad of seven years, he came with his parents to America, and for six years made his home at Rock Island, Illinois. In 1875 he removed to

Chisago county, Minnesota, and two years later became a citizen of Forest Lake, purchasing the stock of general merchandise from Ole Aim, which he has increased to meet the wants of all his patrons. W. H. Sanborn is the junior part¬ ner, also post-master, the post-office department being in connection with the store.

W. E. Lindstrom is a ndtive of Sweden, bom 1849. Here he received his early education, and learned the trade of blacksmith. In 1879 he im¬ migrated to America, landing in Boston, and proceeded westward to La Crosse, Wisconsin thence to North Branch, Chisago county, Minne¬ sota. Deciding to locate at Forest Lake, he pur¬ chased two lots in 1880 on which he built a dwelling and a blacksmith shop, which was the first shop of that kind in the place. Married, in 1873, to Matilda C. Geathburg, who was bom in Sweden in 1847.

Michael Marsh, one of the oldest settlers of Forest Lake, was bom in Germany, March 28th, 1828. Coming to America in 1850, he passed the first four years at Chicago and Aurora, Illinois. In 1855 he removed to Hastings, Dakota county, Minnesota, then a village of about two houses and four shanties, and here opened a store, also carried on a farm several miles away in Marshan township. Remaining at Hastings until 1866, then moving to St. Paul he established a grocery mid provision trade, and the year following located a branch store at Forest Lake. Subsequently ho purchased land and erected a hotel, and for sev¬ eral years carried on both store and post-office. In 1880 Mr. Marsh moved to St. Paul, and is ex¬ tensively engaged in wood contracting at both places. He married Mary Gekli in 1853, who did at Hastings in 1865, leaving five children liv¬ ing: Josephine, Peter, John, Katrina and Ros¬ anna.

Mary Poston is a native of Ohio, bom in 1833; when a small child moved with her parents to Adams county, Illinois, near Quincy, remaining with her parents until her marriage with Jere¬ miah Poston, April 19th, 1849. Six years sub¬ sequently they removed to Minnesota, and lo¬ cated on their pleasant farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Wyoming township, removing later to their farm adjoining in Forest Lake. For the benefit of her husband's health and her children's education, they removed to Le Sueur in 1871, remaining four years; then returned to their former home. On the 2d of December, of the following year, Mr. Poston departed this life aged fifty-eight. Ilis widow still resides on her farm, and is the parent of eleven children: Ash¬ ford C., Lurianda C., Silas M., Bell, J. Golden, Richard II., John R., Mary T. F., Wm. Grant, Emma C. and Irene.

Louis Schiel was born in 1831, and is a native of Germany, where he received his early educa¬ tion, finishing his studies at the school of forestry for the purpose of preparing for duties in civil service. He landed at the port of New Orleans in 1850, coming up the river to southern Illinois, and in the summer of 1855 proceeded to St. Paul, Minnesota. He experienced at this time a severe illness; on recovering he joined a prospecting party, passing through White Bear, thence to Forest Lake, where he made a claim of one hun¬ dred and sixty acres and built a log-cabin. The same year his family came out from St. Paul, mak¬ ing since that time their home on the farm. In '61 he enlisted in the First Minnesota Battery, and was discharged in 1863 in consequence of inju¬ ries received. Mr. Schiel has been justice of the peace, town clerk and school director since the organization of the town. In 1851 he married Mary Freund, a native of Germany. Edward, Harry, Lizzette, Emma, Fannie, Albert and Edwin are their children. The latter is an adopted child.

J. P. Simmons was bom in Ohio, 1846, and when a small boy came with his parents to Illi¬ nois. locating near Quincy, and in 1855 came to St. Paul, Minnesota, finally locating on Forest Lake the next year. Here he lived with his par¬ ents until the age of twenty then accompanied a party to Vermillion gold mines, but soon returned. In 1873 he purchased a farm in Forest Lake township, on which he located in 1879, after hav¬ ing visited California and other states. His mar¬ riage with Miss Anna Peoples took place in 1879.

R. W. Simmons is a native of Ohio, born 1850. When a mere child he moved with his patents to Illinois, thence to Minnesota, living at White Bear about two years, then located on a farm in Chisago county, later in Forest Lake. On attain¬ ing his majority he worked in St. Paul two years, then purchased land in Wyoming and Forest Lake townships, owning at present one hundred

Wm. J. Simmons was bom in Athens county, Ohio, 1851. At the age of three years became with his parents to Minnesota after a residence of some time near Quincy, Illinois. In 1856 he lo¬ cated on a farm in Wyoming township, subse¬ quently to Forest Lake, where he remained until reaching majority, then worked as a laborer two years in St. Paul. Returning to his home in 1877 he purchased his present homestead of one hund¬ red and sixty acres in Forest Lake township. Married in 1874 to Julia Rioux. Charley, Ella, and Jessie are their children.

C. V. Smith was born in Sweden, 1842, and was there connected with the mercantile trade. Coming to America in 1869, he landed at Quebec, and proceeded to Chicago, Illinois, thence the next year to St. Paul, Minnesota. He was in the employ of several firms in that city until 1880, then purchased village lots at Forest Lake and im¬ mediately erected a new store and dwelling. He carries a complete general stock of groceries, drygoods, boots and shoes, hardware, patent medi¬ cines, etc.

A. L. Stromberg, is a native of Sweden, where he received a good education, then finished his studies at the college of Skara. In 1868, he came to America, making his way to St. Paul, Minne¬ sota; the first winter was devoted to the study of the English language, also the manners and cus¬ toms of the people. In 1869, he entered the em¬ ploy of Langdon and Co., railroad contractors, and occupied responsible positions for three years, then made a short visit to his native country. Returning to St. Paul, he assumed the position of manager of the Swedish newspaper three years. Subsequently he purchased land in Forest Lake township, .and in 1877, located on it. lie is still in the employment of Langdon and Co, which often calls him to St. Paul. In 1880, he made another trip to Sweden.

Esther P. Veith, daughter of Parker West, was bom in Ohio, 1828, and remained with her parents until her marriage with William Long, in 1844, who died four years later. She accompanied her brother to Illinois some time later, and while there married, in 1854, Mr. Fred Veith. They came to Minnesota with their family and settled in Forest Lake township in 1884, purchasing the land on which formerly lived Mr. Wilson, the first settler of Forest Lake. Mr. Veith died July 81st, 1887, leaving his widow with five chil¬ dren, Franklin, Fred, Caroline V., William and Adella.