Forest Township

Chapter Lviii

The township bearing this suggestive appellatiou is in the northwestern part of Kice county, anil comprises the thirty-six sections of the congressional township. It would be known in legal and technical parlance as township HI, range 21 west, containing 23,040 acres. The contiguous surroundings are Webster on the north. Wells on the south, Bridgewater on the east, and Erin on the west. The town is made up of rolling, and in some places hilly, timber land, interspersed with spots of prairie and natural meadow. There are no bluffs, and few hills that are too abrupt for agricultural purposes. When the township was originally settled the prairie spots were, as a rule, covered with patches of hazel brush, and here and there lay acres of natural meadow, seemingly prepared and waiting for the plow. This, however, has all been trautormed into the richest and most fertile farms in the county.

The soil is mostly a blank loam with a clay subsoil; there is hardly any sand or lime stone in the town. (Tood clear water can be obtained easily within from twelve to fifteen feet.

There are a number of beautiful lakes nestling among the hills, which all abound with fish of various varieties, and beeau.se of the abundance of the finny species this locality was a favorite resort for the Indians in an early day, many hundreds of pick(!rel, ])ike, bass, etc., being secured each season by th;' rod-skius. Circle Lake is the l)ri!icipal and the largest one in the town. It is situated in the geographical center of the town, and takes its name from the fact that it makes a complete circle, leaving an island in the center, of 97 acres. Just south of this is Fox Lake embracing about 200 acres. "ITnion Lake extends into the town in the northeast corner, and infringes on section two. Lake Mazaska floods about one-half of section thirty-one; and a little lake with the cognomen of "Mud" nestles in section eleven. There are also numerous small streams in the town. In an early day the Indians, in camping in the vicinity of these lakes, made their permanent camping ground upon land now owned by J. W. Thompson, and they had opened and under a fair state of cultivation a five-acre Indian corn field. This was used to advantage by the present owner, Mr. Thompson. Originally, in sections six and seven, wild cranberries abounded, and many of the early pioneers availed themselves of this luxury, but of late years not much attention has been paid to them and they have now become comparatively scarce. In 1856, from the northeast quarter of section seven, John W. and Joseph Thompson, and Albert Fillmore took .$780 worth of the berries.

Early Settlement

When the first explorers of this township made their appearance, they found the hills and inter- S|iersed jjrairie spots covered with wild game and the wild aborigines. The timber hind was a forest in the strictest sense of the word, and was almost impenetrable, making the progress of the introducers of civilization very tedious and even dangerous. Too much cannot be said in commendation of the heroic manner in which the hills and prairies were transformed into the beautiful and fertile farms which now make up the territory of '-Circle Lake district."

The actual seftleiueut in the locality commenced in 18.54, the honor of the "first settlership" being due to William Henderson, who arrived in October of that year, originally from Maine. He made his way on foot from St. P;iul, and when he came to consider that he "was monarch of all he surveyed," he made u]) his mind to avail himself of the op- portunity and take bis "pick" of the fine farms in the township. Tliis he did by locating in the northeastern ])art of the town on section two, at the ontlet of Union Lake. He at once pnt up the fr.ame of a small log shanty, and without completing it, remained to hunt and trap until he was froze out when he "pulled up stakes" and went to St. Paul to winter. The liabitation lie put up i.s hardly deserving of the name of shanty, bi>ing moi-e after the fashion of a " pen ;" but this served as shelter so long as the elements confined themselves to "horizontal" work as he was i^rotected by the sides of the pen, - which had three or four logs for sides but no roof - when the elements resorted to "perpendicular" measures, Henderson had to make for the woods or get wet. As before stated, after spending a few months on the ground -he went to St. Paul and spent the winter, in the following spring again making his appearance, this time bringing with him a small load of furniture, his wife and her sister, au ancient maiden lady. He took the claim ihat he had .sele<'ted, and on which Dr. Swain now lives, ami commenced opening a farm. Here he remained for about five years when he left for parts unknown.

The next to cast his lot among the lakes and timber land of Forest was George Eaton, a young man of grit and enterprise, who arrived a couple of months later than Henderson and began calling the southwest quarter of section eleven, " home." He put up a small hewn log hut and commenced trying to farm, but succeeded better at trapping. This, it will be seen, commenced a settlement; Henderson on section two. at the outlet of Lake Union, and Eaton on section eleven, one mile soutli, made a neighborhood, if two neighbors will comprise one, and relived the niouDtony of the solitude and comparative heriiiitage.

The next acquisition to the settlement was made early in 18.'j5, in the persons of Mr. Hill, John Parker, and William Palmer, who all located on or near section nine, one mile west of the places settled bv Eaton and Henderson. Parker and Hill had brought their famihes with them, and they at once put up hewn log shanties. Hill brought in with him one horse, and the other two, Parker and Palmer, brought what they called "a team on snooks," or in other words, an ox team in which each owned an interest. Then began a happy time in the history of the early settlement, there being just enough to have the entire party united without bickering or hard feeling, and many social gatherings were held tliat were enjoyed by all.

And now, these pioneers being all safely housed in their hewn log huts, we will take the reader back one year while we bring the next comer across Wisconsin and into Minnesota, with some of his experience on the way to the Cannon River Valley. John W. Thompson arrived in Hastings on the 15th of June, 1854, on the famous old steam tug "Galena," and found only one little log hut 12x14 there. He at once took a claim within two miles of the present city of Hastings, and in comi)auy with his brother Joseph, who had also made his appearance', began making plans for erecting a log cabin. John had liought an old horse of the Indians for S52, and lie decided to haul logs for his residence, but there appeared two difficulties to be overcome, the logs which he had to build with were across the Vermillion River, he had no axe to cut them with, and lastly, if they had their logs cut, they had no harness with which the horse could draw them. After considerable trouble they managed to buy au axe of their only neighbor for .f5, and thus remedy that difficulty. Next came the <iuestion of harness, and John W. Thompson bethought a jjrimitive way with which he conquered this. He went to the only hous' in Hastings and succeeded in getting them to let him have their "bed cord" and use boards in its stead, whUe he took the heavy cord, and after doubling it several times made a noose large enough for the horse's neck, and slipping it over the head, and extending the one tug between the legs of the animal, his harness was complete, and he felt as jubilant over it as if it were a gold-mounted, silverplated, four-in-hand outfit. The next proceeding was to commence operations, and John "harnessed" his horse, crossed the river, and hitched on to a log; this was on the opposite side of the river to that on which he wanted to build, and he stationed his brother on the side where the horse would land. Then he started the horse into the river and had him, by swimming, tow the log to the opposite shore where Joseph was waiting to catch him. In this way they succeeded in getting over a number of logs, but before they had got enough to build, the Vermillion River rose suddenly and became so much uf a torrent that they were obliged to give it up for fear of drowning their horse, so they abandoned the log idea entirely and resorted to a shanty built of sods.

They remained iu Hastings for some time. Ijiit finally the Indians became so troublesome, and both the brothers being taken badly with the a^ne, they decided to leave and look for "pastures fresh." This they did, John W. naaking his way eventually to his jiresent home in Forest townshij), and his brother Joseph going back to his former place of residence in New York. The former arrived and permanently located in May, 1856, having been through the township twice previous to this. He brought with him some furniture and at once put up a small log shanty and commenced opening the farm he now lives on. His farm near Hastings he sold for .'!f283, and a few years later it was sold for $12,000.

We will now carry the reader back to the time of our digression, when we left a little settlement of pioneers in the northeastern part of Forest, in the Union Lake region. In the meantime the settlers had made themselves very comfortable, considering their circumstances, and all were living principally on deer meat and other wild game. In this manner they spent the summer, a few of them having pnt in a few ])otatoes, rutabagoes, etc., and a rich harvest rewarded them; there were none, however, but opened and prepared some land for crop the following year.

In the fall of that year ( 185.5) a number of arrivals were marked ou the corner stakes of claims. Leonard and Jacob Balyet, Joseph and Elijah Houck, and John Craven, came together, and all took claims near Millersburg, a little south of the settlement mentioned above. Of this party only two now remain in the town, they are Leonard and Jacob Balyet who are still on their original claims.

Zebulon Sargent and .John .Jones came shortly afterward and located in section twenty-seven, and lioth with their families remain on their original claims. They, in common with the rest of the hardy pioneers, commenced Minnesota life in log huts.

A few days after the arrival of the above parties, there appeared three Norwegian families on the scene, fresh from tlie pioneer life in Wisconsin, and in covered wagons. As the. season was getting late and they had their stock with them, they concluded to put u|) hay to last through winter liefore they erected cabins. This they did, and while they were at work iu the hay field the wife of one of the emigrants was taken sick, and there, iu the covered wagon, was delivered of a girl baby. Both mother and child lived, and the girl grew to womanhood, was married, and now lives with her husband and a large family of children on the identical spot where the wagon stood when the birth occurred. This was the first birth in the township.

This occurred in the fall of 1855, and brings the settlement up to Christmas of that year, which was oliserved in a limited way by most of the settlers.

Early in 1856, Albert Fillmore and family, and the following week, H. A. White, arrived and located near Millersburg; and crowding after them came James Fitzimmons and commenced layiifg plans for the village of Millersburg. At the same time should be chronicled the arrival of George and Milo J. Sellon, John Wood, and E. F. Taylor, who were brought in by ,T. W. Thompson, and all took claims, most of them in the neighborhood of Millersburg.

August and William Demann took places on section twenty, where August still remains. In the fall their brother Christian made his appearance and still lives there, all of the brothers being well-to-do farmers. When Christian first arrived he purchased a fifteen-acre corner of his brother's farm for $25 per acre, this being before the land came into market; he could have secured a whole ipiarter for the same amount of money, but not knowing it he paid the money for fifteen acres. This amount of laud being gone from the corner of his brother's farm "spoiled the sale of the quarter," and Christian refused to sell the fifteenacre comer at any jjrice, saying that if he was cheated at first he would come out ahead at last. The farm his fifteen acres infringes on is now without tenants.

This brings us to a period when the rush to this country became a sort of stampede, and as it will be impossible to trace them in regular order, we will only mention the arrival of a few notable personages.

The richest man that ever lived in the town made his appearance in the latter part of 1856, in the person of Frederick Fisher, from Milwaukee. He brought with him forty -one head of stock, and two large wagon loads of furniture '«nd goods. It being late in the season he decided to follow the example of the Norwegians in the fall before, and put u]> hay for his stock before he erected a cabin, and afterward put up a substantial log bouse. Here be lived for a uumber of years, but was very unfortunate iu almost all bis undertakings. His wife was burned to deatb a few years after bis arrival, by tbe explosion of a kerosene lamp - sucb a thing as a lava]) being at that time a novelty and a curiosity. He expended all of his means in a few years and removed to parts unknown. One inci dent connected with his early pioneering may prove of interest. He brought in with him a very large and fierce dog which it was said coidd "down" an ox, and intended it for protection against the wild beasts. One noon, at the time when Fisher and his family were living iu wagons and making hay, immediately after their arrival, they left the bay field, and while gone to dinner the large dog went down to the field where a pack of wolves were heard bowling and barking, and from tbe high point where the wagons were, overlooking the meadow, they saw a fierce fight going on between wolves and dog, and liy the time they got upon tbe ground all that was left of the dog was tbe shining skeleton which had been jiicked clean by the voracious pack.

The first deatb in the townsbijj was John Parker who died in the fall of 1855. He was buried in solitude under an oak tree near tlie cabin where he lived in section ten, and now, tlieroad having been changed, passes immediately over his grave.

Antoine Mosher. - -Although this personage was not, properly speakinar. an early settler in Forest, be was a very early picjueer in Minnesota, and was undoubtedly among tbe first to explore, trap, anil hunt through this region. As he subsequently settled in Forest, and ^ as for a uumber of years identified with Rice county, be deserves mora than a passing notice. A ntoiui- Mosher came from Canada in 1829, to Wisconsin and Minnesota, when these now wealthy States were without even a na.ue, and commenced to work for th-^ Hudson Bay Fur Comjiany lor §20 per month and '-fouu '' this was the contract, but Mosher said years . iward that he went to one of the jiroprieto.j not long after commencing work, and told him that he bad not received anything to eat, and that ac- 'ordiug to tbe contract the company had to "find" him. The proprietor took him in at a glance and said sarcastically, "If you get li/nt we'll gr.arautee to titid you, but if you want any meat you had better find it or sta-ve."

west, hunting and trajjping for a number of years, and was finally married to a Winnebago squaw at tbe wild spot where Hastings now is, and several children were the result of this union, all of whom disappeared except one son, Edward. The old man began to get rich, the squaw being a thrifty wife and a scheming money maker, and by making lucky bits be became tiwner of a portion of the town sites of Prescott, Minneapolis, and Red Wing, and was for years considered the richest man west of the Mississippi River, it being frankly stati>d by him that he did not know how much he was worth.

In 1862, Mosher's son, Edward, who had married a beautiful but extravagent half-breed, enlisted in Company F, of the Seventh Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and went into tbe Indian war leaving bis wife at home with his father. He was in active service all through the Indian war, after which he was sent south, and in tlie fall of 1864, returned home sick and in a short time died, leaving his wife iu the care of his father. Tbe following year, 1865, the father's wife, the Winnebago woman, died, and he married the iviihm of his dereijKed mm. In 1868, he came to Forest, and of all bis enormous fortune which be had accumulated through tbe carefulness and thrift of bis former wife, through the extravagance of his last wi^e only $600 remained. In a few years tins and his farm bad been sijuandered by tbe cruel woman, and his credit so low that be could not get tobacco. His little farm was finally taken on a mortgage and be moved to Lac Qu arle w- '.re be died a few 3'ear.-; since, his wife having ruined and deserted him.

The town of Fi.Te^ t was not behind the m ighboring towns iu organizing and starting the local goverumental wheels. The first meeting was held on that inevitable 11th of M-iy, 1858, at the residence of James Fitzimmons, now tlie Millersburg Hotel, and alter organization the following officiiils were elected : Su]>ervisor.s, Elias F. Taylor, Zebulou Sargent, and Charles I5rand; Clerk, Alexander Smith; Assess Joseph L. Houck ; Justices of the Peace, (leorg. Miller and John R. Bartlett; Constables, Milo T. Sellon and John W. Sargent; Overseer of the Poor, John .Tones. The clerk of this meeting was J. F. Donaldson, and S. A. Hen derson, moderator. Three of the first officers are still residents of the township.

Tin's convenient office was established in 1871, at the instigation of J. W. Thompson, and is situated on the southwest quarter of section eight, in the northwestern part of the town. The office is very useful to- the settlers in this vicinity and undoubtedly supplies the largest numlier of inhabitants of any country oflBce in the county. J. W. Thompson was appointed first Postmaster, and still retains the office to the satisfaction of his constituents. The business of the office amounts to about 3100 per annum. It is on mail route No. 26,148, extending from Northliekl to Lester tin Union Lake, once a week.

Forest townshi]) is well represented as to religious creed.s. and the way the professors' zeal is exhiliited is truly commendable. Service is scarcely ever held in the town without a fair attendance, and there are a couple of very good churches which are the outgrowth of this interest. Wlien the settlement of Germans first commenced there was a large majority of them who belonged to the Evangelical faith, but, strange to say, the feeling has insidiously changed, and to-day there is only one of this belief in the township.

Methodist. - This denomination organized in Forest as early as 18-57, when religious service was held by a pioneer minister from Faribault. Thev soon after erected a hewn log house of worshi]> on the south shore of Circle Lake, in section twentyseven. This log house was sold in 1877, up to which time they had service in it. Since then they have had no regular place of worship, holding service in the various sehoolhouses in the township. The pulpit is now supplied irregularly by the minister of the Dundas charge.

Baptist. - Services were held among the Germans of this society as early as 18.')8, in the schoolhouse of district No. 66 by Rev. August Stegner, with an average attendance of forty during the first year. Tlie denomination organized in 18.59, and had the most flourishing society of any similar organization in the county. In 1866, they had an average attendance of eighty. A Sunday school was also organized, wdnch has now a strong membership, there being alxmt seventy-five pupils.

Tliere is also an organization of Americans of the same faith, which was started in 1860. They hold service m the schoolhouse of district No. 19 and other parts of the town, now having a membership of about thirty.

Swedish Luther.\n. - The organization of a religious sect by this name was effected in 1877, and in 1878 they erected a neat church, size 34x60 feet, at a cost of about $1,000, on section nine. The first .service was held in the hiiuse of Christian Lundstrom by Rev. Mr. Anderson, of St. Paul, to an audience of about seven. Next came Rev. Mr. Vallien, and the present minister Rev. Mr. Anderson succeeded him. They have seventy members, and an average attendance of 170. Services are held every third Sunday.

MiLLEKiTEs.^In 1856, George- '^l. Miller, a lirother of the man who, early in the forties, seriously agitated the Christian world by announcing that he had unraveled the intricacies of prophecy and made the startling discovery that the literal world would come to an end in 1843, on the '- tenth day of the seventh month," which would be in September, came to town and began to propogate these doctrines. Of course he preached as a -' dying man to dying men," extending his circuit throughout the greater part of the State, proclaiming that he " preached without monpy and without price." Several of the brothers moved in and about Millersburg and .succeeded in increasing their force to about ten, but here it remained for a time and finally began to droop. They have at last disappeared almost entirely, there not being at the present time more than two in the town.

Educational

Tlie first move made in the town towards educating the young, took place in the spring of 1857, in a log house near the residence of Zebulon Sargent, in what is now district No. 19, with six youngsters on the benches. This was the first district organized.

The schools in the town are all in good financial condition, and thriving with a good attendance of scholars. There are six frame and one brick schoolhouse, employing one teacher iiTeach. The sjiiools average about forty-five scholars, making about 315 in the town. The total value of school property is about S5,000. In 1881, the township

District No. 19. - The first school in this educational division was called to order by Eli.sha Houcks in the spring of 1857, with six scliolars present, in the residence of Zebnlon Sargent. The first school board was composed of Zebulon Sargent, John Bartlett, and Hugh Smith. A schoolhouse was erected soon after, and was the first school building in tiie township. The present building is located m the northern j)art of section twenty-six.

District No. 20. - This is the district embracing the village of Millersburg and surrounding territory. The first school was taught by Ellen CresR. in a log house on section eleven, belonging to Mr. Eaton; this took place in 1857, and there were ten scholar.^ in attendance. The first school officers were Messrs. Taylor, Dunham, and Geo. W. Miller. A schoolhouse was erected the year after organizing, 1858, which lasted for a number of years when they erected their present house in the western part of the village.

District No. 29. - Tliis district embraces territory in the towns of both Forest and Bridgewater, and the first scoool was held in the latter town by Mrs. Crosby in the winter of '57, with an attendance of nine pupils. The district was organized soon after, and in 1859, a log schoolhouse was put up at a cost of about S150, on section twenty-four. This served the purj^ose until 1870, when it was dispensed with and the present cosy frame house erected in the northeastern part of section twenty-five. There are now about thirtyfive scholars who receive instruction here.

District No. 56. - This subdivision effected au organization in 1864, and embraces the territory in the northeastern part of the town. The first officers were: N. H. Swain, Clerk; B. Burton, Treasurer, and H. M. Humphrey, Director. The district has a neat frame building in the northeast corner of section two. The present school board is made up of: N. H. Swain, Clerk; Alex. Walters, Treasurer: and Benedict Wyman, Director. The school has an attendance of about sixteen pupils.

District No. 65. - The organization of this district was effected in tlie early part of 1862, the first meeting being held in .Alexander Smith's liouse on the 2d of April in that year, electing the following as the first ollicers: Director, Olo Hanson; Treasurer, .John .Tones; Clerk, .John K. Bartlett. The first school comme'ic(>d on the 27th of .July, 1862, and was taught liy Miss Oeorgiana Stevens, with twelve scholars registered, being held in a house rented for the i)urpose. In 1863, a house was erected at a cost of about .'ii!200, in the northern part of section thirty-four. The present officers are Ole Ellingson, Hans Hanson, and A. Frederickson ; the school enrolls thirty-seven scholars at the present time.

District No. ()6. - Was organized in March, 1857, J. W. Tohmpson being the main factor in its institution. The first meeting was held at the residence of -James Craven, on the date above mentioned, and .Jo!?eph Thompson w.is made Treasurer; J. W. Thompson, Clerk, and James Craven, Director. The clerk, .J. W. Thompson, has held the office up to the present day, being the oldest continuous school officer in the county. The first school was held in the summer of 1858, in J. W. Thompson's new frame house, by Miss Murdock, with twelve pupils in attendance; the following few years until 1861, school was lield in various places, but in this year the inhabitants of the district agreed and "voted" that each should furnish their share of material and build a schoolhouse by subscription. They then all turned out and selected a site, and while the excitement was high, J. W. Thompson mounted a log and put it to them how much each would furnish. Promi.ses were made recklessly, and when Mr. Thom2:)son said to William Demanu, "How much will you give ?" he received the reply, 'Twill give 20U feet of lumber." A brother of this liberal speaking gentleman, August, was next a.sked, and he yelled, "If he 'gives 2U0 I will rjiee bOOfert!'^ Next came another brother. Christian Demann, who said, "If he gives 500 / iPill yhi' 100(),/'((/.'" Others chipped in and told what they would give, but as usual in such cases the matter dropped and nothing was got toward a schoolhouse, so the matter stood al this point until after tlie war terminated, in 1865, when the school clerk, J. W. Thompson, got back from the war a cripj^le. He made out ]iapers for a meeting, while in bed, and the meeting thus called voted $150 to put up a log schoolhou,se, 12x24 feet. This lasted until 1879, when it was sold at auction for -'56.25, iind the present neat brick house erected in section seventeen, size, 18x26 feet.

at a cost of i^r,'25, being the best bouse in the townslii]) for school purposes. The present school board is composed of J. W. Thompson, John Evert, and Frederick Priuzing.

District No. 97. - This district was formed by the County Commissioners in March, 1869, and the first meeting was lield at tlie h(msc of Robert N. Smith, on the 27th of INIareh of that year, the district being substantially organized by the election of A. Gillander, director; Robert N. Smith, treasurer; and Simon Taylor, clerk. A schoolhouse was put up in 1870, at a cost of .S385, the size of which is 20x20 feet and twelve foot posts, in the southeastern part of section twelve. Miss Belle Van Emmons was the first teacher, with ten scholars in attendance. The attendance is now fil'teen pupils. The present school board is A. Gillander, director; J. E. Crosby, treasurer; and Gilbert Fish, clerk.

District No. 105. - This is the youngest district in the township. It was set off and made a sepai'ate organization on the 7th of September, 1878, having formerly been connected witli No. fi6. The first board was made up of H. C. Oleson, director; August Riechel, trea.surer; and J. W. Thompson, clerk. In 1879, the boai'd voted an appropriation of $350 for a school building, 16x24 feet. This house was finished in May, 1880, at a cost af .S416, and is the one now in use on the noi'theasteru part of section seven. The first school taught in this district was in C O. Persons' old log house, witli fourteen scholars present, the teacher being Catherine Deming. The district paid Mr. Persons $15 for the rent of the shanty for three months, the owner's valuation of the same being 810. The present school officeis are: Nels Larson, director; August Riechel, tre;.surer; and J. W. Thomj)sou, clerk.

This is t)ie only village in the town of Forest, and in it at one time laid ail the hopes and aspiratians, in this line, of the entire country surrounding it; but this, like many other similar enterprises shattered the fond hopes and anticipations, after a brief struggle, and was laid on tlie sli(!lf as a thing of yore. It started with fair prosjiccts, advantages of a good location, etc., but the nonarrival I'l a hoped for railway, with its accompanying !ienefits, coujiled with the op])osition of 1-u-gcr and surmunding towns, finally used the

Tlie first settlement on the village site commenced in 1855, when James Fitzimmons came and pre-emijted 160 acres where the village is, and opened it as a farm. In the spring following he sold to George W. Miller, who also took some other land.

Mr. Miller soon afterward platted the village and recorded it as Millersburg. He also put up a mill and a hotel. Next a store was started by Albert Fillmore just out of the village limits. He made uj) his mind to start an establishment, and went to the cranberry marsh on stctions six and seven and gatliered a load of berries. These he marketed, and with the proceeds thereof started the first store in MillersbiU'g. He ran this store one year and a half, when the calamity of bankruptcy overtook him, and he went to Minneapolis, but has since died.

The next store was started by Thomas Adams in the lall of 1858, who opened a building opposite the hotel and put in a stock of groceries and general merchandise. He succeeded in withstanding the pressure for about one year, when the fate of the former merchant overtook him and he removed to Dundas.

In 1857, the fii-st blacksmith shop was started by Mr. Sellon in the same building that was afterwards converted into Adams' store. It was oi.!erated as a "bellows and anvil" establishment for about one year, when Mr. Sellon retired. There have been a number of blacksmith shops started, and now there are three in operation : Elof Johnson's, James Strange' s, and Mr. Anderson's. The latter son of Vulcan still retains the good old fashioned way of shoeing horses in which each man that wants a horse shod must hold its foot up while the manipulator drives the nails.

was established in 1859, and was located in the village bearing the same name. Geo. W. Miller was the first appointed to handle the mail. He held tl;e office for a number of years, and his sou, George A. IMiller, is the present Pos'-master.

by steam with a fifteen horse-power engine, ami was e(]uip|jed with a perpendicular saw, the eapaeitv being about -i.OOO leet per day- Tlie mill was run in this shape until 18G2, when a eireular saw was substituted tor tlie perpendicular, and the mill becanie the ijropcrly ol' Ueorge W. Miller. He ran the mill ami placed one run of feed stones in it, continuing until 1S76, when it was sold to Mr. Kobbins, and in 1880 moved to Montgomery, Le Sueur county, where the latter gentleman still resides. He also owns most of tlie Millersburg village property.

The village now contains the hotel, in which is kept the Post-oflice, and the blacksmith shops. Through some illegality in recording the village plat, or some non-concurrence with some technical form, the lots and blocks of the village have reverted to, and for the last few years have l)e; n assessed as farm propeety.

WiLLi.VM An Dyke was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, in 1829, was reared as a farmer and learned the blacksmith trade. In 18.50, he removed to Dixon, Lee county, Illinois, where he engaged at his trade and farming. In 1854, he was married to Mary Jane Robinson, of Pennsylvania. They came to Minnesota the following year aud located a farm iu Cann(m City, and in 1864, removed to Forest in section twentysix, and followed his trade and farming until 1877, since which time farming has lieen his occupation. Mr. and Mrs. ku Dyke have had eight children, four of whom are living, four having died in infancy.

R. M. B.\RNETT was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, in 1828, aud at the age of two and a half years removed with his parents to Michigan; four years later to Wisconsin, and thence, in two years, to Linn county, Iowa, where they were the first settlers of tlie county. Our subject lived in Iowa seventeen years ;.nd there received his education being reared as a farmer. In 1852, he married Miss Margaret Wolmering, tlie ceremony being performed in Dnbucpie. In 1855, he removed to Cannon City, Rice county, but pre-emjjted laud in Goodhue county and imjiroved ten acres; six mouths later he came again to Cannon City, built the second frame house in the place and worked at blau'ksmithing. He remained there three years, then removed to Faribault aud engaged at the same employment two years, at the end of which time he came to Forest and bought his present farm of eighty acres, most of which is improved. He has three children; John W., twenty-nine years old; Francis B., twenty-six, and Ida May, twentyfour years old. The latter is married and lives in Douglas county. iMr. Rarnett has been a member of the school boanl several times. His father died in Nebraska and his mother in Iowa.

J. W. B.^HNETT was born iu Clayton county, Iowa, in 1853. He received a good education in the college of Faribault and graduated at Shaylor's Commercial College in Michigan. In 1861, his parents came to Rice county and located f)n a farm. In 1873, J. W. made a trip through Michigan and the eastern States returning to this county and buying land in Forest township in 1875. His par. nts and one brother live in this township and a sister lives in Alexandria in this State.

Jacxjh B.\i,i<tet was born iu Ohio in 1835, and reared on a farm, receiving a common school education. In 1854, he removed to Wisconsin and one year later came to Rice county and located in Foiest on section fourteen, where he has since been engaged in farming. In 1861, he enlisted in the Third Minnesota Regiment; was taken prisoner at Murfreesborough, Tenne.=see, and paroled, then returned home and served three months under Gen. Sibley against the Indians. He again went south; was at the siege of Vicksburg and mustered out of service in 1864. Mr. Ballyet has been Town Treasurer ten years and one of the board of Supervisors one year.

John W. Beckley was born in Clay county, Indiana, in 1849, and at the age of seven years, removed with his parents to Minnesota. The latter now live in Holden, Goodhue county. John received his education in this State and grew to mauhood on a farm. He taught school four years aud worked at the mason trade. He was married in Holden in 1876, to Miss Adelia Engel, a native of Wisconsin, aud the same year they came to Rice county, settling in this townsliip, section tn-elve, where he has since been engaged in farming. He has eighty acres of land, all of which is well improved and supplied with good buildings. Mr. and Mrs. Beckley have three children; Elmer J., fwe years of age; Wesley B., three years old, and Alfred, one year old. They arc members of the Methodist church.

and studied medicine lor a time. When twenty years of age he went to Massaclmsetts and clerked for two years in a hotel and one year in a dry goods store. He then went to buying and selling horses and studied for a yeterinary surgeon which employment he followed till 1853, when he remoyed to Wisconsin and engaged in butchering one year, then went to Michigan and engaged in mercantile jjursuits for the same length of time. In the fall of 1856, he came to Minnesota, located at Northfield and started a restaurant and was also dealing in horses for four years. He then removed to losva and engaged in buying and shipping .stock; returning to this State, he settled in Waseca and followed the same employment. In 1873, he came to Millersburg, locating on section fourteen where he has since kept a hotel and carried on a farm. Mr. Cushman has been twice married, his first wife being Miss Mary Parr, a native of Vermont, whom he married in New Hampshire in 1846. They have one child, a son, now living in the northern part of the State. His present wife was formerly Miss Luciuda Gilbert, a native of Bochester, New York. They have one child, Charlie F., fifteen years of age.

August Demann was born in Germany and came to America in 1855. He located in this township in section twenty-one, where he has a farm of two hundred acres of improved land with a brick house, barns, etc. He enlisted in tlie army in 1864, and served eight months. Mr. Demann has a wife and nine children, all of whom are living at home.

John L. Dunham was born in New Jersey in December, 1822, was educated and lived on a farm in his native State. In April, 1856, he came to Forest, and pre-empted land in section thirty. He helped to organize a colony to emigrate, in Brooklyn, New York, and is the only one of the colony now living in Minnesota. In 1858, Mr. Dunham purchased a fariu in irection fifteen where he still resides. He was married in May, 1862, to Mi.ss Sarah M. An Dyke, a native of Pennsylvania. She died at the age of fifty-one years; was a member of the Baptist church and is buried on his farm. Mr. Dunham has again married. ' He has held town ollices every year since the organization of this towns! lip, and has always taken an active part in maintaining schools. sal)bath schools, and churches.

when nine years of age removed with his parents to Wisconsin, where he received his education and was reared on a farm. He was married in 1860, to Miss Cornelia A. Dumond, a native of New Y'ork. In 1862, he enlisted in the Eighteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, serving till the close of the war, a perit)d of three years and three months; was taken prisoner twice, once at Shiloh on the 6th of April, 1862, and again at Atlanta, Georgia. He was mustered out at Milwaukee and soon removed to Bice county, locating in Forest in section twelve, where he has since been engaged in farming. Mr. Fish has been a membei- of the board of Supervisors two years, being Chairman one year and a member of the school board for several terms, being very active in all school matters. He has a family of five children ; Elmer, twenty years of age; Addie seventeen; Bertha, fourteen; George twelve, and Ida, ten.

John D. Gilbert, a native of New I'ork, was born in 1840, and came with his parents to Michigan in 1847, remaining, however, but two years, when they moved to Ohio, where J. D. grew to manhood and received a common school education. In 1859, he removed to Forest, Bice county, located in section two and has since been engaged in farming. In 1861, be enlisted at Cleveland, Ohio, in the United States Fourth Artillery, Company I, serving three years and receiving his discharge at Nashville, Tennessee. He was married in 1866, his bride being Miss Martha Craven, a native of Pennsylvania. They have six children, all living at home. Mr. Gilbert's father died in Millersburg at the ;ige of eighty-six years and his mother at the age of eighty-two. His only brother died in the army.

Samuel Hallcock was born in England in 1841, and came with his parents to America at the age of four years. They first located in Rhode Island, and also lived in New Hampsliire, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, but in ten years came to Illinois, where Samuel attended school and engaged in farming. In 1865 he enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifty- fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served till the close of the war. He was married in Illinois, in 1867, to Miss Hannah J. Hatch, of New Y'ork. They have had eight children, seven of whom are living. In June, 1876, they came to Forest, and engaged in farming, which is still his employment, Mr. Hallcock has been school Treasurer five years.

received bis education in liis uutive country and learned the trade of a cotton spinner. Ho onigrated to America in 1830, locating in Michigan^ and was engaged in farming in that State five years, then removed to Massachusetts and was employed as a spinner in a cotton factory, hut returned to Michigan in 1837, and engaged with Judge Sibblay one year. In 1838, he enlisled in the Fourth Artillery, served five years and then went to Detroit, ami from there to .Tackson, where he was watchman iu the depot. In 1854, Miss Phoebe Wooley became liis wife, and two years later they came to Eice county and located in Forest in section one. In 1862, Mr. Hamill went to Idaho and was gone eighteen months, then returned home aud has since devoted his time to agricultural pursuits. He has had tliree children, two of whom are living; William H., twenty-six years old, aud Mary K., twenty years of age. Moses died at the age of six years.

Cakl B. Hirdleu, a native of Geriuauy, was born in 1S28, aud grew to manhood in his native country. He learned the shoemaker's trade. In 1851, Miss Mary Mism became his wife, and in 18(i0, they emigrated to America, located in New York City aU'l engaged at his trade for a time; then moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and thence to Michigan, where he farmed twelve years. In 1875, he removed to .Jackson county. Minnesota, and in August, 187(5, came to Rice county, locating on a farm in Forest, section nine, where he still resides. He has one hundred aud nineteen acres of land, neai'ly all of which is improved with good buildings. Mr. and Mrs. Hirdler have had ten children, seven of whom are living, five in this county and two in St. Louis, Missouri. One child died on the ocean and two in Michigan. Mr. Hirdler has devoted some time to the practice of medicine. He has been Town Clerk aud was Justice of the Peace in Jackson county. He and his wife aud four children are members of the Second Advent Cliurch, and he is Superintendent of the Sabbath school.

Nils Larson was born in Sweden in 1834, received a common school education and was reared on a farm. He was married in 18G0 toMissMarma Andrias. In 1869, he came to America and located in Michigan, remained there part of one year, then removed to Wisconsin aud one year later to Minnesota. He engaged iu a mill in Wells, Kice county, and in 1871 purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Forest, section seven, wliere he is still conducting a farm. His family came from the "old country" in 1871. There are four children, all living in this State. Mr. Larson is Constable and also school director. Mr. and Mrs. Larson are members of the Lutheran churcli in ChristJala, where he is a deacon.

John Major was born in Canada in 1S2!), and his native place claimed him as a resident until the age of manhood, being educated there and reared as a farmer. In 1849, he came to Jefferson county. New York, and engaged in Watertown as a carpenter and joiner. He was married on the 3d of July, 1853, to Miss Lenora A. Lyman, and in four years they came to Forest and located on a farm in section fourteen, wliere he has one hundred and forty-five acres, nearly all improved. He has been a member of the town and school boards several terms. He had one ado2:)ted child, George E., who was drowned in Wolf Creek on the 16th of June, 1881, at the age of twenty-four years. Mr. Major is a member of the Second Advent church.

Jacob Meyer was born iu Germany in 1827, reared on a farm and received a common school education in his native place. He served in the German army for three years and five months. In 1853, Miss Marylina Cenen became his wife. They came to America the following year and settled on a farm in Wisconsin, remaining twelve years. Since 1869 Mr. and Mrs. Meyer have been residents of this place engaged in farming. They have had seven children, six of whom are living.

C. F. Miller was boi-n in 1831, in New York, which was his home until the age of twenty-seveu years, graduating from the Cortland Academy. He was married in 1856 to Miss Louisa Wright, a native of Massachu.setts. Mr. Miller was engaged iu wagon making in Waterloo, Iowa, for two aud a half years, then in farming three years. He came to this place in a '-prairie schooner" and located iu section twenty-five, where he now lives. In 1871, he rented his place and went to St. Jo, Michigan, where he engaged in fruit culture, but reurned to his farm after one year's al)sence. When there, his son, Orlaud D., aged twelve years, was drowned while bathing in the river, on the 5th of August, 1872. He has six children living, and all but one at home; Clarence E. is in Washington, Dakota. Mr. Miller, in company with Mr. Kinney, introduced sugar cane growing and

G. A. MiLLEK is a son of O. W. Miller, who was born in New York in 1818, and lived in his native State until 1857, wlien he came to Forest and purchased land where Millersburg now stands, giving the place liis name. He l)uilt and rim the first saw-mill in tlie county, and was an energetic man in all improvements. He died in 1876, at the age of fifty-eight years. His wife died in New York, and is buried there. Our subject, G. A., was boin in New York in 184G, and came with his father to thip f^Late. 'le was married ia 1871 to Miss Amanda Buss, and they have a family of three children. He has been Town Clerk, and a memTier of the school board.

James O'Gkady, deceased, one of the pioneers of Forest, was born in Ireland in 1800. In 1838, he brought his family to America, located first in Oswego county and then in Steuben county. New Y'ork, remained until 1851, and removed to Mc- Henry county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming four years. He then came to Minnesota and located in this township, on section twenty, giving his whole time to his farm until his death in 1875. He had a family of (^leven children. His son Timothy O'Grady was born on the 15th of June, 1837, and made his home with his father until his death. lu 1855, he came to this county and staked out a claim in section one ih Wells, then reurued to Illinois, and in 185(5, came to Forest, where he pre-empted land in section twenty-two. He afterward gave the farm to his father, and after his death rt became Timothy's. In 1860, he purchased more land in the township and carries that on in connection with the old homestead. Mr. 0'(rrady is a member of the County Board of Commissioners, and has been Chairman of the Board of Supervisors five or six years and Assessor one year. In 1881, he married Miss Mary Jane Shield, and they have one child, Mary Ann.

C. O. Peksons was born in Sweden in 1846, and his native country claimed him as a resident until he reached the age of twenty-three. He attended Common schools and was reared on a farm. Ho came to America, remaining only three years, then returned to Sweden, and in April, 1873, was married, returning to this country the following month. He located in Meeker county, Minnesota, and engaged in farming. Wliile there he was a member of the Board of Supervisors and of the School Board. In 1876, they removed' to Northfield township, and two years later to Forest, settling on section eight, where he still resides, havir ae hundred and sixty acres of land, ninety- ;l^ of which is improved. He is Assessor at present, and has held the office four years, and was census enumerator in 1880. Mr. Persons and wife are members of the Swedish Lutlieran Church, and he is Secretary aud Treasurer of the same. They have liad five children, four of whom are living.

August Eibceel, a native of Germa: y, was born in 1819, and there grew to manhood; received an education in the common schools and learned the blacksmith trade. He was married in 1855, to Miss Christine Luckert, and two years later they emigrated to America; remained a short time in New York City, then went to Newark, New Jersey, where Mr. Riechel engaged at his trade part of one year. He removed from thereto Port Amboy, and one year and a halt later to Williamsburgh, working in a cork factory in both places. In 1861, he came to Forest, and located on section eighteen, where he built a log house and remained till 1875, then removed to section seven, where they still reside, having two hundred and fifty acres of land. He has been a member of the school board, and is at present treasurer of the same. Mr. and Mrs. Riechel have had ten children, six of whom are living; Adolpb, twenty-six years of age; Annie Rachel, twenty-two years; August, twenty years; Henry, eighteen years; Willie, sixteen years; and Martha, eight years of age. Those dead are Hannah, who died in New Jersey, in infancy; Edward, who was accidentally shot in his father's house in Forest, and Albert and Emma, who died in infancy.

Z. L. Saugent was born in Maine in 1818, and grew t'l manhood on a farm. In May, 1839, he removed to Illinois, where he married his wife, also a native of Maine, and in 1844, came to Wisconsin territory and engaged in farming. In 1854, Mr. Sargent came to Cannon Falls and preempted one hundred and sixty acres of land, then returned for his family, and during his absence his claim was taken. He then located in Forest, in section twenty-seven, which is still' his home. He is the father of twelve children, ten of whom are living. He was in the Indian massacre, and was at Mankato when some of them were hung.

and afterwards enlisted in tliearmy. Three of his sous woro in tlie United States service, and tlio oldest one died in tbe army- Our subject wastlin first road supervisor in tlie towuslii|>, oi)euing the first road. At the organization of the town he was a 'aember of the Board of Sni)ervisors, an 1 has held some otlice most of the time since, being a member of the board at present.

J.iMES Str.\ngk is a native cf Kentucky, born in 182P, aud removed with his parents, at the age of one year, to Indiana, where lie lived imtil twentyone years old. He tlien came to Goodhue county, Minnesota, and in 1861, enlisted in the army, served two years aud received an liouorable discharge, after which became to Forest and established the first blacksmith shop in town aud is still engaged at the business. He owns forty acres of land and a good h<iuse and shop.

Simon Taylor was born in the province of Quebec, Canada, in 1830, reared on a farm and received a common school education. In 1848, he went to Massachusetts and worked ou a farm in the summer aud in the Bay State Mill in Lawrence during the winter. In 1849, he moved to grand River, Michigan, but being taken with the ague in a few days, as soon as he was able started for a healthier country, and after a slow and wearisome journey arrived in Appleton, Wisconsin. A year later he went south aud spent a year rambliug along and near the Mississippi river. In December, 1852r he landed in Mobile, Alab.jma, where he remained until June, 18.5.5, engaged in lumbering. He then made a short visit to Canada, and the 26th of July, 1855, found him near St. Paul, and in November following he pre-empted the quarter section ou which he now lives, the first land taken iu this township. From that time until 1805, he speut his time farming aud teaching school in Minnesota, lumbering in Alabama, teaching school in Canada, and building railroad l)ridges for Uncle Sam in Virginia aud Georgia. He was married in Canada in 1863, to Miss Maggie Sauuders. who has borne him seven children, five of whom are living ; two died in infancy. In 1865, he cams with his wife aud one child to his farm on which he has since resided. Mr. Taylor has. at different times, held the offices of .lustice of the Peace, Supervisor, Assessor, and Treasurer. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

born in 1825, and lived in his native State uutil eighteen years old, learning the trade of u spiiuier. He then removed to Illinois aud made that State his home tliirteeu years, engaged in farming most of the time, and there married, iu 1852, Melissa Sloan, of New York. In 1856, they came to Forest and pre-empted a cjuiu'ter in section ten wliere he is still following fanning. He was supervisor of roads, apjjointed by the Commissiouer.s before the orgauizatiou of the town aud was made Chairman of the first board of Supervisors. He has been Assessor for five years, one of the Supervisors several terms and was census enumerator of the county in 1875. He is the father of two children, one living in Minneapolis and one in Northfleld. Mr. aud Mrs. Taylor are members of the Methodist church.

Hon. John William Thompson was boru iu Attleliorough, near Nottingham, England, on the 27th of July, 1827. He received a common school education, aud while young his pocket money was spent for books and mechanical tools. He served an apprenticeship as engineer in his native country and one year after was appointed foreman of the locomotive and maoliiue works of the Shrewsburg and Birmingham railway. In 1852, he came to America and for two years engaged as engineer ou the New York Central and the Rome and Waterlowu railroads. In the spring of 1854, he removed to Minnesota, locating near the mounds, two aud a half miles scratli of Hastings, Dakota couuty; the city of to-day, then contained only one log shanty owned by a Mr. Felton. In Feljruary, 1855, when the land office was located at Red Wiug, our subject pre-empted his claim. His nearest neighbor to the south was a Canadian, who had married a Winnebago S(|uaw and had a large family, liaviug been a trapper iu the territory for twenty years. The Winnebago and.other bauds of Indians made their rendezvous near his place and at times were very troublesome to those who could not speak their language. His neighbors to the westward were two families twelve miles distaut. Iu the summer of 1855, Mr. Tlmmpson was Justice of the Peace in Dakota couuty and the same year made several trips prosjjectiug through Goodhue, Dodge, Waseca, and Rice counties, aud finally sold his former farm aud settled in this county in the township of Forest, which has since been his home, lieing one of the earliest settlers iu the town. He worked ou his timber farm, improving it, etc., until 1858. After tlae panic of 1857, farm products brought very low prices and after selling potatoes for fourteen cents per bushel, and wheat, after threshipg it with a flail, for fortysix cents, he collected what money he could, cash sales not being frequent, and went to St. Louis College. After two years attendance he graduated with honors, then returned to Minnesota, remaining,however,but a few weeks, then went to Napoleon, Desha county, Arkansas, and formed a partnership with Chas. Merckle, a watchmaker and manufacturing jeweler. After the presidential election of 1860 took jjlace, and as soon as it was known that Lincoln was elected, the people of that county expressed freely their sentiments for war, and held a mass meeting at the court house in Napoleon, the county seat, and then and there voted two hundred thousand dollars in bonds to buy fire arms and ammunition to carry on war against the Northern States. During the following winter, companies and regiments were raised and drilled, and in March, 18G1, to avoid being drafted into the southern army he went to Vicksburg, Mississippi, but here he was liable to be drafted, and in a few days returned to Napoleon to dispose of some private property. When the news of the fall of Fort Sumter arrived all men wpre immediately drafted into the confederate army, and Mr. Thompson among the rest. He and live other men were determined not to serve with the South and found a liidiug place until they made their escape. Although the Mississippi and other rivers had overllowed their banks, they crossed at some places on logs and in other places in skiffs, and by traveling at night and after being chased by blood hounds, four of the six men arrived at St. Louis, Missouri, the other two having been shot while on the way. The same day of their arrival the tight at the court house took place between the United States troops and the btate malitia, and our subject with two of his companions, the other one remaining in St. Louis, took the steamljoat tor Minnesota. He again commenced to clear his land and in a few weeks his health was restored after his many hardships. On the 18th of August, 1862, he enlisted in the Seventh Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, Company A, was ordered to Fort Eidgely instead of South as the massacre was just beginning. He took jjart in the battles of Birch Cooley, Wood Lake, Big Stone Hills, etc., and was in all the Indian expeditions of 1862, and '63, and in the latter part of October, 1863, was sent with his regiment to the South, and at the expiration of three years they were discharged. Mr. Thompson was Chairman of the board of Supervisors at the time of his entering the army and has held other town offices since the war. In 1871, he was appointed Notary Public and the same year Postmaster of Lester Post-office, still retaining both positions, and at present is Justice of the Peace, having held that office several years. He was mar ried on the 17th of March, 1873, to Charlotte Luudberg, who has borne him two children; John, who was born in June, 1878, and died in infancy, and Mary C, born the 27th of September, 1881, is still living. In the fall of 1877, our subject was nominated at the republican convention, and was elected by a large majority to the State Legislature, and at the county convention in 1879, was defeated by only one vote in receiving the nomination for re-election.

Benedict Wtm.\n was born iu New York in 1635, and he was a resident of that State until 1852, then came to Wisconsin and engaged iu farming. In 1862, he enlisted in the Eighteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry ; was taken prisoner at Altooua, Georgia, and confined fifty-two days in the prison at Millen, in the same State. At the close of the war he was mustered out at Milwaukee; returned to Winnecoune, Wisconsin, and iu 1866, came to this township; bought one hundred and sixty acres of laud in section twelve and still makes that his home. He was married in Forest to Miss Margaret Jane Taylor, a native of Canada, and they have four children, two sons and two daughters, all living at home.