Minneapolis City (part 13 of 80)

Everybody absolutely ignored the name, Albion, which had been chosen by the Commissioners, and no one lent sufficient dignity to it to permit it to enter into the discussion. The Com¬ missioners were wise, and did not un¬ dertake to override this clearly defined and unanimous expression of the rox populi. An accidental meeting of old settlers and leading men, at the resi¬ dence of Colonel Stevens* - the build¬ ing so intimately connected with the pioneer history of this locality - settled the affair, when it was unanimously agreed to back the name Minneapolis (dropping the h) against the field. The Commissioners registered a gentle kick by striving to fix the name Wi¬ nona to the prospective city. This failed, and Minneapolis it is to this day - a name now known around the world.

The town was not yet platted, and, hence, there were no improvements made during this year About ten or twelve buildings stood upon what afterward became the original townsite, but these were, most of them, mere claim shanties, built by the settlers as temporary homes, for the purpose of holding down their claims.

This condition of affairs existed un¬ til 1855, during which year the settlers obtained patents to their lands, and then there was a rush to get their lots on to the market. Meantime the sur¬ rounding country had been rapidly settling up with a class of sturdy farmers, as will be dwelt upon later in our account of the settlement of the various country towns and villages. The taxable valuation of all the prop¬ erty in the county, as returned by the assessors, in the February of 1853, was $43,605. The revenue, derived from a levy of thirteen mills on the dollar

*This old house, while these lines were being written - the first erected on the .site of the city of Minneapolis - has been purchased by the Park Com¬ mission, and will, hereafter, find a resting place on Riverside Park. It was originally built on the spot now occupied by the union railway station.

The first petition ever presented to the County Board for action was that of A. 15. Ames, and others, for a county road from Little Falls (Minnehaha) Creek to Crystal Lake. The petition was granted, and that road was laid out. It is now Minnehaha Avenue, a short section of Cedar Avenue, and Washington Avenue, of the city of Minneapolis, and nearly every mile of it lies in the city limits. Then it was a country cart way.

The first term of the District Court ever held in Hennepin County, after its organization, convened on Monday, April 4th, 1853, Judge Bradley B. Meeker* on the bench. The promin¬ ent men noted ps present at the oiiening of the term were as follows:

Henry L. Moss, U. S. District At¬ torney; Warren Bristol, County Attorne}^; J. W. Furber, U. S. Marshal; Isaac Brown, Sheriff; J. H. Cannay, Deputy Sheriff; Sweet W. Case, Clerk of the Court.

* Bradley B Meeker was appointed Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Territory of Minnesota, from Kentucky, in 1819, by President Fillmore. He was assigned to the Second Judicial District, whicli included the new county of Henne¬ pin He finally became a resident of Minneapolis, and one of our most active and intelligent business men. This name is perpetuated in Meeker County and Meeker Island, in tlie Mississippi Kiver, below St. Anthony Falls. He died many years ago.

John W. North was prominent among the early settlers of St. Anthony. He was a member of the early Territorial legislative bodies, and of tbe constitutional convention, and was largely inter¬ ested in securing the charter for the "Minneapolis (V Cedar V'alley Railroad" (now the Iowa and Min¬ nesota division of the C., M. & St. P, railway) , of which he was afterwards president and manager. He founded thec.ityof Northfield, which wasnamed in his honor. He was appointed to a judicial posi¬ tion in Nevada, by President Lincoln, in 1801. He died in California, in 18iK),

On the 6th day of May, 1853, Mr. Richard Rogers completed the first flouring mill ever erected at the falls (excepting the old government mill erected by the soldiers). This was the pioneer effort in the direction of that industry, which has become the lead¬ ing one of that locality. Less than forty years ago this mill was com¬ pleted. Minneapolis today grinds more wheat, and manufactures more flour, than aii}'^ other city in the world, and takes rank as the leading primary wheat market of the world.

On the 4th of March, of this year, Franklin Pierce had been inaugurated President of the United States. Soon afterward, he announced the appoint¬ ments for the Territory of Minnesota, and, among them, named Win. H. Welch, of St. Anthon}^ as Chief Jus¬ tice of the Supreme Court. Judge Welch was a pioneer attorney at the falls, and, at the time of his elevation, was Judge of Probate of Ramsey Count}'.* Being assigned to the lower district. Judge Welch removed to Red Wing, where he lived until his death, many years ago. He was the father tllon. 1. At water was one of the pioneer attorneys of St. Anthony, having settled here in 18,")(l. He has filled a large sphere in this community, having been Associate Justice of the State Supreme Court, County Attorney, and occupied other prominent positions. At this writing, he is still living, and active in the business, religious, and social life of the communitv. He is ranked among the active and most useful citizens of Minneapolis.

tllon. I). A. Secomb spent a large portion of liis active and useful life in this county, where he en¬ joyed a large and lucrative practice. He was right¬ fully regarded as the Nestor of the Hennepin County bar, ajid died March 18th, 1892.

In the distribution of the new judi¬ cial officers, appointed by President Pierce, Judge Andrew G. Chatfield was assigned to the Hennepin County district, and, for four years, dispensed justice here. He made his home at Belle Plaine, and remained there until the date of his death, many years ago.

On the 17th of June, in this year, books were opened for subscriptions to the capital stock of the Mississippi River Bridge Company. This was the inception of the scheme for the building of the old suspension bridge - the first bridge of any kind that ever spanned the Mississippi River. This bridge was built the next year, and, for more than twenty years, car¬ ried all the traffic between the eastern and western sides of the river. It was demolished, in 1876, to make way for the new suspension bridge, and that, in turn, was removed, to be re¬ placed by the magnificent steel arch bridge, which now spans the river, at the same spot.

The first newspaper had been issued at the falls {St. Anthonj^ Express) on the 31st day of May, 1851. This was the ancestor, in the direct line, of all the army of newspapers, which have, since that date, risen, thriven and perished, in this city and county.

It was in this year, 1851, too, and on the same date, that a much more im¬ portant event happened - an occur¬ rence of greater single importance and of more widely reaching influence

* Major A. E. Welch entered the U. S. service as First Lieutenant of Company F., First Minnesota Infantry. He was wounded and captured at the first Bull Eun. After being discharged, he was made Major of the Fourth Minnesota Infantry. He commanded the Third Minnesota Infantry, at Wood Lake, in the Indian War. He died, soon pfter the close of the wpr, of consumption.

than any other in the history of the development of this community - the organization of the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota.

The Legislature of that year had chartered the University, and, by an equitable arrangement, it had been located at St. Anthony. On the 31st of May, the Regents met aqd organ¬ ized. The Board consisted of the fol¬ lowing named gentlemen:

Franklin Steele, President; JohnW. North, Treasurer; Isaac Atwater, Sec¬ retary; William R. Marshall, Libra¬ rian; Henry H. Sibley, Henry M. Rice, Alex. Ramse^q B. B. Meeker, C. K. Smith and A. Van Vorhees. Probably no more representative body of men were ever associated together in the history of this State. Every name has been a household word in Minne¬ sota - and everyone of these men will, even at this late day, be recognized as a power for the widest and most per¬ manent good in the State. How for¬ tunate for the welfare of Minnesota that such men as those named above should have been active in founding our central seat of learning; and how equall}^ fortunate it has been that men of the breadth of view of Governor John S. Pillsbury, and his associates, should have been called to the task of perpetuating their work and con¬ solidating it.

On the 18th of September, the Hen¬ nepin County Bible Society was or¬ ganized, and the following officers chosen: Dr. A. E. Ames, president;

On the 7th of September, the Hen¬ nepin County Agricultural Society was organized, and the following offi¬ cers chosen: President, Rev. J. W. Dean; treasurer, E. Case; secretary,

At this meeting, preliminary steps were taken to hold a farmers' conven¬ tion at St. Paul, to organize a Territor¬ ial Agricultural Society. From this beginning dates the Minnesota State Agricultural Society.

It was during the fall of this year (1853) that the pioneer store was opened. Thomas Chambers and Ed¬ win Hedderly were the gentlemen who inaugurated the enterprise. Both of them lived to see this small beginning blossom into the great commercial emporium of the Northwest. Mr. Chambers died at his residence in Minneaj^olis in June, 1893. In his memoirs. Colonel Stevens remarks, with a sigh: "At last the citizens of the west side at the falls could buy their tea and coffee and other neces¬ sary goods at home."

The citizens of Hennepin County, outside of Minneapolis, at the close of the season, had great reason to be thankful for the progress made dur¬ ing the year. The farmers had har¬ vested a bountiful crop, and had a large breadth of land prepared for the reception of seed the next spring. Some five hundred farmers had made claims to lands since the opening of navigation. Mills for the use and con¬ venience of the farmers had been erected and completed in Minneapolis, St. Anthony, Minnetonka, at the out¬ let of Minnehaha stream, and on that water course in Kichtield.

The year 1853 had been the most prosperous of any in the history of Minnesota's development, thus far. The foundations of a future civiliza¬ tion were being broatlly and deepl}^ laid. The settlers, who were coming to cast their fortunes and their destin¬ ies with the new community, were of the most approved character. Intelli¬ gent, progressive and enterprising, no incident that could add to the right¬ eous evolution of free people was for¬ gotten or neglected. Schools, churches and colleges sprang into life beside the pioneer mills, mercantile houses and factories. Men began to build for eternity, spontaneously with provid¬ ing for time. While the transient and material wants of all were pro¬ vided for, the spiritual and the eternal were in no wise neglected.

How much the existing generation, which now resides here, and those that will, in future, people this splendid metropolis, owe to those early settlers will never he told. Nor is it necessary. They simply did their duty to poster¬ ity, thus repa3dng their obligation to their own ancestors, who, in far awa^^ countries and states, had paved their wa3^ to the higher life, which all of their race must, bv the very laws of our being, strive after,

Early Schools and Churches - Early Missionaries - First Catholic Church - Methodist and Presbyterian Societies Organized - Baptists Make a Be¬ ginning - Fir.st Religious Society in Minneapolis Proper - Other Societies - Earliest Public Schools - University Char¬ tered - Tribute to its Founders.

A WORD, just here, in relation to the early schools and churches of Minneapolis, may not be out of place. The first settlers of East Min¬ neapolis (St. Anthony) were mostly of mixed French and Indian blood. In 1849, Father Ravoux, a French Catho¬ lic priest, commenced the erection of a church, in the northern portion of the village. Protestant services were held at the homes of some of the earlier settlers, but this appears to have been the first movement toward the erection of a church building within the limits of what afterwards became the county of Hennepin.

Fet it be remembered, however, that the first movement in the county toward civilizing the Indians had been made between 1829 and 1840, by vari¬ ous Protestant sects, the pioneers having been of the Presbyterian de¬ nomination. The inception of the religious movement seems to have dated from 1829, when Rev. Alvin Coe, and J. D. Stevens, sent by the Presby¬ terian Missionary Society, made a pre¬ liminary visit to the Indians around Fort Snelling. Active operations in the spiritual field did not commence, however, until three or four years later (in 1834), upon the arrival of the Pond brothers (Samuel W. and Gideon H.), who founded the mission on the shores of Fake Harriet. This mission was afterward removed to Oak Grove (now in the township of Blooming¬ ton), and continued to be a leading missionary station for the Sioux In¬ dians down to the date of the settle¬ ment of the country by whites.

A Methodist Church was organized, in St. Anthony, in 1849, by Rev. Enos Stephens, of Wisconsin. Rev. C. A. Newcomb settled here as the first resident pastor, in 1851.

Rev. E. D. Neil, of St. Paul, a clergy¬ man of the Presbyterian denomina¬ tion, held services in St. Anthony, occasionally, during 1849-50. In July, 1850, Rev. Wm. T. Wheeler, formerly a missionary to Africa, commenced holding regular services in St. An¬ thony. He was succeded, the follow- in^ year (1851), by Rev. Charles Seconibe. This was the lirst Congre¬ gational Church established in Minne¬ sota. June 24th, 1850, Rev. J. P. Par¬ sons, a Baptist clerg^unan, formerly of Galena, organized a society of that denomination in St. Anthony. Rev. W. C. Brown was the first regular jjastor of this church, preaching there¬ in during 1857. Rev. C. G. Ames, of the Free Baptist denomination, arrived at St. Anthony, as a missionary, sent out from New England. October 25th, 1851, Mr. Ames organized a church, and long remained here doing excel¬ lent service. Dr. E. G. Gear, an Episco¬ pal clergyman, chaplain at Fort Snelling, had held occasional services at St. Anthony during 1849-50. In 1850, Rev. Timothy Wilcoxson took the field for this denomination, hut was succeeded, in 1852, b}^ Rev. J. S. Chamberlain. It will be seen that various denom¬ inations occupied the field at the falls at nearl}^ the same time.

In June, 1853, the first church with a regular pastor was established west of the river - in Minnea]K)lis proper. It was Presh3derian; and, at that time. Rev. J. C. Whitney was installed as pastor. Mr. Whitney served this con¬ gregation faithfully for many j^ears. Afterward, he retired from the minis¬ try and is still living, a respectable and honored citizen of the communit3^

Rev. C. G. Ames organized and be¬ came pastor of the first Free Baptist Church west of the river, in 1854. He remained here several 3^ears, and, later, removed to California. He after¬ wards left the Baptist denomination, and became (piite a distinguished Ihiitarian clerg3mian, in Ifiiiladelphia.

The first church edifice erected west of the river was 1)3^ the Presbyterians. It was located at the corner of Fourth Street and Fifth Avenue South, and the pastor occup3dng its pulpit was Rev. J. C. Whitne3". The Portland Avenue Presbyterian Church toda3' represents this earl3^ band of Christians.

The first public school in the count3^ was taught b3^ Miss Electa Backus, in 1850, in St. Anthon3'. Later the school board secured the services of Professor Merrill, who was one of the earliest teachers of the county, and was also prominently connected after¬ ward with the University of Minne¬ sota. He also became Territorial Superintendent of Public Institutions.

Decendier 30th, 1852, the first public school in Minneapolis was opened, in a building owned b3"Mr. Anson Northup, located near the site of the pres¬ ent storehotxse of the woolen factory, in the milling region. It was taught by Miss Mary E. Miller, a sister of Mrs. J. H. Stevens. This lad3^ is still liv¬ ing, the wife of Mr. Marshall Robin¬ son. This was the initiator3" of the present magnificent school S3"steni of Minneapolis.

In 1851, the Regents of the Universit3' of Minnesota took the initiator3" steps toward erecting a building for a preparator3" department, and getting the institxition in good working order. Citizens of St. Anthony were solicited for a site, and also for stibscriptions toward the erection of a building. Quick responses were made to these rexpxests. The site, donated 1x3' Frank¬ lin Steele (near whei'e the expositioix bxxilding now stands), was accepted, and the pioneers of the new comixixixxit3^ rexidily and cheerfxill3' contrihxxted

Such were the small beginnings of the splendid educational institu¬ tions, which now honor the State of Minnesota - here was the acorn plant¬ ed, which, in only forty years, has grown into the resplendent educa¬ tional oak, which now shelters, be¬ neath its shadow, more than twelve hundred students, of both sexes, and where they are being fitted to well perform the duties of active life. Who can guess the power for good that will be wielded by this institution, as the years of the coming generations wax and wane. When the coming histor¬ ian shall write the annals of this ben¬ eficent institution, the names of Steele, Sibley, Ramsey, Van Vorhees, Mar¬ shall, Meeker, Atwater - and last, but by no means least, John S. Pillsbury, will occupy prominent places in such history.

The University of Minnesota has been an educational evolution, but the solid¬ ity and rapidity of its growth, and its present immeasurable usefulness, are entirely attributable to the enter¬ prise, foresight, industry and generosit3^ of the men who have had its man¬ agement from the hour of its birth until today. We, of this generation, live during its early youth, and have scarcely witnessed the first fruits of the benefits it is to bestow upon the city. State, nation and the world. Let it be the task of the public men and women of all the generations, which are to come after us, to perpetuate the noble work of the pioneers, who laid, so deep and strong and lasting, the foundations of this institution of our pride, our faith and our affection.*

Remarkable Growth In 1856

A Prospekous Year - Remarkable Growth in 1856 - Swarms of Home-seekers Arrive - A Well Advertised Country - vVuspicious Opening of 1857 - Com¬ mencement OF THE Financial Panic - Money Vanishes from Human Sight - Wildcat Currency - Grasshoppers - Opening of 1858 -

''PHE year 1856 opened with unexi ampled evidences of prosperity for the new community. The finan¬ cial situation, throughout the entire country, was most excellent. Money was unusually plentiful in the east, and millions of dollars of capital were seeking the new and growing West for profitable investment. Minnesota was exceptionally well situated to derive benefit from this favorable condition. The basis for her future prosperity consisted of a virgin soil, of known fer¬ tility; millions of acres of timber lands, as yet scarcely touched; mines, of un¬ explored richness; and a climate un¬ surpassed for healthfulness. Hut, liest of all, was the character of the people, who had come here to make their homes. None hut those of native birth, and our near relations from northern and western Europe, had come here to found homes and erect a model com¬ monwealth in constructing the North Star State.

perity to the fullest degree. The im¬ mense and undeveloped power created by the Falls of St. Anthony offered special inducements to manufactur¬ ing industries of every character. Saw mills and flour mills began to grow and cluster around the falls, on both sides of the river, while kindred in¬ dustries sprang into being almost in a day. Mercantile houses, of every kind, were opened, and, from the very start, proved profitable ventures. Real estate moved upward, in sympathy, and produced that unfortunate specu¬ lation in town lots, which invariably accompanies a "boom" period in the West. Building operations kept pace with other industries. Material could scarcely he obtained fast enough to accommodate those who were calling into lieing one of the great cities of the world. The buildings, of course, were of the most temporary and ephem¬ eral character - mostl^^ frame struc¬ tures, intended only for immediate uses, erected in a day, and soon to he replaced by those of a more solid and permanent character.

Settlers were arriving in regiments and brigades. Every steamboat land¬ ing at the levee, in St. Paul, was laden with immigrants and their effects. Long lines of "prairie schooners" - the white covered wagons of new set¬ tlers - filled every roadway throughout the fertile prairies of the southern por tion of the State, and wended their toilsome way in search of new homes for their owners. This year (1856) was the ideal year for this splendid new commonwealth. It was known, far and wide, that in a very brief period Minnesota would be admitted to the sisterhood of States, and it had also come to be understood that the new communities were among the mostfavored of all the countless candidates for improvement in the far west. Poets and essayists had written of Minnesota - her clear lakes and streams, her beau¬ tiful water falls, and broad acres of fertile prairies, virgin forests and suc¬ culent meadows. Longfellow had re¬ christened Brown's Falls in the lines -

Everything conspired to advertise the Territory abroad, and to call the attention of the world to the advant¬ ages possessed by the future North Star State.

It was during this year that Henne¬ pin County received the bulk of her prominent population. Most of the desirable claims, in every section of the county, were taken and occupied, and the labor of permanent improve¬ ment - the construction of actual homes - dates from this most aus¬ picious season. The building and energetic development of the cities and villages continued late into the winter - nay, did not cease, during the entire winter of 1856-7, albeit the sea¬ son was unusually cold. The spring of 1857 found every one still actively intent on making improvements, and there was little cessation of labor, day or night, until June - when, presto ! all was changed in the twinkling of an eye.

The currency of the nation was most unstable. Ostensibly there was a coin basis behind the paper money; but, in fact, the prevalent currency was mostly issued by private banks, under state laws as widely at variance as the people which constituted the different communities. Minnesota, being a new commonwealth, had, yet, but few banks of issue within her borders. The money mostly in circu¬ lation here was issued by banks in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Kentucky and Tennessee. Certain of these bank bills were regarded as good as gold - notably the state bank bills of Ohio and Indiana; but bills of most of the private banks were more than distrusted - many of them were known to be the wildest of wild cat concerns, organized to issue, but not intended to redeem. But during the year 1856, and early in 1857, everything went in the shape of money that was decently engraved, and pretty to look at. In the summer of 1857, however, a panic was precipitated by the failure of the Ohio Loan and Trust Company - a corporation which had been regarded as financially as solid and staunch as the national government itself.

Values at once concealed themselves. Gold and silver disappeared from sight as suddenly and completely as though waved into abject nothingness by the potent wand ot some all power¬ ful wizard. Men who had counted themselves worth thousands, within a week, were bankruj)t. Every indus¬ try was stricken with paral3"sis. East¬ ern capital, instead of searching for investment in Minnesota, began to struggle to release itself and find its way back to the strong boxes of New England and New York. Mills were left half completed. Mercantile houses, opened only the day before yesterday, closed and hung out the red flag of forced sale today. Labor was no longer in demand, except the labor of opening farms, which indus¬ try postponed its promised rewards to sometime in the misty and indefinite future.

Meantime, the farmers of the State were almost wholly dependent upon a foreign supplj^ for the barest neces¬ sities of life. Minnesota, with all of her miraculous fertility, did not, as yet, produce a sufficiency of the bare necessities of life to feed and clothe the people within its borders. And, still, the volume of immigration steadily increased - pouring a torrent of poverty-stricken humanity' onto the broad prairies, to be fed and supported until they could redeem the land and make it productive. To add to the forlorn condition of the pioneer settlers, the grasshoppers took this occasion for a general raid upon the frontier, all along the line of latest settlement, throughout the Territory. In many places, these pests annihilat¬ ed everjdhing, ev'^en eating up the blankets spread over vegetables to protect the growing plants from de¬ struction. Many people, who had suf¬

The spring of 1858, after a long, cold and drear}" winter, opened late. The farmers of Hennepin County went wearil}' to work, putting in the seed, not knowing but it would be harvested by the grasshoppers, before it had ar¬ rived at maturity. There was much suffering for the necessities of life, in the county, and would have been much more had it not been for a market springing up in a most providential manner for a crop which nature had planted most generously throughout the timbered districts. Agents came from the eastern cities, with satchels filled with good mone}", purchasing the ginseng root, at large prices. As soon as the crops were in the ground - ever3"where along the timbered belt, and scouring ever}" poplar grove - whole families turned out to search for the precious gold-producing root. It was prodigiously abundant, and, during the summer of 1858, tens of thousands of dollars came to the do¬ mestic treasurers of the farmers of Minnesota through the superstitious desire of our neighbors of the antip¬ odes for this comparatively worth¬ less root. Eegiments of settlers, of the early period, might truthfully place the legend, "Saved by ginseng." above the door of their homes.

The times continued hard, during 1858-9, '(iO and '(51, however, and the towns and cities retrograded, instead of growing. It is estimated that fully one-half of the houses in St. Anthony and Minneapolis were vacant during the winter of 1858-9. The year 18(50 was but little better, although there was a slight improvement discernable. By this time the mortgages had most- ly been foreclosed, and a great deal of the city property had passed into the hands of alien owners. These men, mostly residents of the east, who had wanted their interest, and had not wanted the property, were even more discouraged than the city residents. Their agents had been instructed to sell the property, they had obtained on mortgage, at almost any price, to get rid of it, so as to save the sending of good money after bad, by the payment of taxes. During these years, many of the wonderful bargains in town lots were made, which, later on, laid the foundation for very many of the miraculous fortunes which ex¬ ist today.

A slight impetus toward a renewal of prosperity was given by the out¬ break of the war, in 1861, although it was not until after the close of the struggle, in 1865-6, that the city and county started upon that wonderful growth, which has since electrified the world.

In 1857, before the panic, there had been a start toward something like permanent improvements. J. M. Eustis* had built the northernmost wing of a first-class hotel, which he chris¬ tened "The Nicollet." This hotel still holds its own as one of the leading public houses of the city.

Other stone and brick structures had been built, and occupied, but the financial and commercial depression was so thorough and absolute, that most of these were either occupied rent free, or were left vacant, to be the abode of bats and owls. Minneapolis had claimed about five thousand pop¬ ulation, in the spring of 1857. One year from that date a correct census would, probably, not have shown more than two thousand. The infant me¬ tropolis was afflicted with whooping cough, measles, chicken pox and teeth¬ ing, all at the same time. But it did not die.

*Mr. Eustis had been an active and successful business man in Boston. He came to Minneapolis, with several thousand dollars, arid built the largest and best hotel, at that time, in the State - the Nicol¬ let. The venture swallowed up his fortune, but, during the war, he made large sums of money, which were again expended and lost in business ventures for the city's benefit. Mr. Eustis still re¬ sides here.

Military History of the County - What Was Done During the War - Lead¬ ing Men From Hennepin County - Great Patriotism and Enthusiasm - Organization of the "Old First" Regiment - Two Companies From This County - Captains Putman and Morgan - Gen¬ eral H. P. Van Cleve - Brief Accounts of Other Prominent Hennepin County Soldiers.

There are no lack of evidences of the patriotism of the people of Hennepin County, during the great war of the Rebellion, 1861-5. This community was, essentially and en¬ tirely, northern in its sympathies. It was in this county that the spirit of Puritan liberty had first manifested itself, in the determination to free the slaves of southern summer visitors - 1858 - an incident that provoked wide criticism, at the time, and sent south¬ ern slave-holders hurriedly out of the State, to save their "servants" from regaining their freedom under the laws. This county, from the date of its first permanent settlement, had partaken of the spirit of New Eng¬ land. Its earliest settlers - those who came to construct homes and build a new commonwealth in the wilderness of the far west - were chiefly from New England, or descended from New England parentage. The splendid water power, furnished by the Falls of St. Anthony, had early attracted people from New Hampshire and Massachu¬ setts, where the manufacturing in¬ stinct had been first evolv^ed. The immense pine forests of the north had drawn the shrewd and hardy lumber¬ men from the woods of Maine. The broad and fertile townships of prairie lands, of the southern portion of the State, had attracted the farmers of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana. The State belonged to the north, and the men of northern blood, and, when the tocsin of war sounded - a war between sections, a battle for free labor against slave labor - there could be, and there was, but one side to the issue, so far as Minnesota was concerned. And Hennepin County, in that contest, more than any other community, embodied and epitomized the feeling of the State at large.

Such old settlers as still dwell in the community well remember the stirring scenes of that momentous period - and no one of the potent periods remains more indelibl3' fixed in their memor}" than that pregnant day, in April, 1861, where the news was flashed across the continent that, inad with the insanity" of slaver^', the

At that time there were two com¬ munities at the falls - Minneapolis and St. Anthony - and these two vil¬ lages were rivals in development. The excitement, on both sides of the river, was immediate and intense. Henry R. Putman,* in Minneapolis (west side), and George N. Morgan,^ in St. Anthony (east side), at once swung out the stars and stripes - the war which all believed must now be fought out.

When Fort Sumpter was fired upon, Hon. Alex. Ramsey, at that time Gov¬ ernor of Minnesota, was in Washing¬ ton. Upon learning that open hostili¬ ties had been proclaimed. Governor Ramsey at once went to the War De¬ partment, and finding Hon. Simon Cameron - then Secretary of War - announced to him that he had come to tender one thousand men, from Minnesota, to assist in putting down the rebellion. Secretary Cameron asked the Governor to embody his ten¬ der in a written message to President Lincoln. This was done; the Presi¬ dent sent for Governor Ramsey and

*Mr. Putman afterward became the first Captain of Company "D," of the "Old First" Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. He distinguished himself, and was wounded at the first battle of Bull Run, and was, immediately thereafter, made a Captain in the regular army. He served faithfully, for many years, in the regular service, and died, finally, in California.

t Mr. Morgan became the first Captain of Com¬ pany "E," in the First. In the fall of ISfil, he was promoted to Major of the regiment. In 1862, became Eieutenant-Colonel and Colonel, and commanded the regiment with marked courage and ability dur¬ ing the peninsula campaign, at the battles of South Mountain, Fredricksburg and Chancellorville. In 1863, his toils and exposures fastened consumption upon him, and he became utterly incapacitated for service in the field. He was then made Colonel in the Veteran Reserve Corps, and Brevet Brigadier- General, and sent back to Minnesota, being placed in command of draft rendezvous, at Fort Snelling. He died of consumption, late in the fall of 1865, gfter the war had been brought to a close.

accepted the tender, and thus it hap¬ pened that the first volunteer troops for the suppression of the rebellion came from Minnesota, and the First Minnesota Infantry became the rank¬ ing volunteer regiment of the entire war.

The followi ng named members of Company "D" afterward filled com¬ missioned officers in the Compan}^ and Regiment: D. C. Smith, C. B. Heffelfinger. Captains; George H. Woods, Seth S. Hammon, Jacob Mooty, E. P. Perkins, First Lieutenants; Wm. Har¬ mon, Chas. H. Mason, Second Lieuten¬ ants.

Following are the names of those afterward holding commissions in Company " E," of the First: George Pomeroy, Louis Muller, C. E. Davis, Captains; James Hollister, John N. Chase, Samuel T. Raquet, David B. Demerest, Wm. Lochren,* and Jacob Marty, First Lieutenants; James H. Shipley and George Boyd, Second Lieutenants. Henry D. O'Brien, the only member of the regiment receiv¬ ing the medal for personal bravery upon the field (at Gettysburg) was also a member of this company. He after-

*Wm. Lochren enlisted as a private soldier, in Company " E," at the very first call for troops, and served with honor duringthe first Ihree yeaisof the war. He reached the rank of Captain, having passed through the intervening grades of non-comniissioned and commissioned oflBcers. After com¬ pleting his term of service, he entered upon the practice of law, and soon took a leading position at the bar of Hennepin County and upon the Supreme Court. He was first appointed, and afterward elect¬ ed, without opposition. Judge of the District Court, and held that position until made Commissioner of Pensions, by President Cleveland, in 1893. He, in connection with Major Heft'elfinger, and Matthew Marvin, were commissioned to select a design and superintend the erection of the monument to the First Regiment, on the field of Gettysburg. Judge Lochren, by appointment of his surviving com¬ rades, became the historian of the regiment, and to him posterity will be indebted for the clear, concise and eloquent resume of the doings of the First Regiment, published by the State - "Minnesota in the Civil and Indian Wars." For full sketch of William Lochren, see page 820, ward became Major of the First Min¬ nesota Hattalion of Infantry the suc¬ cessor of the First Kegiment, after its three years' time had closed.

There were few companies in the "Old First" that did not number in their ranks residents of Hennepin County. Fort Snelling, the rendez¬ vous of all Minnesota troops during the war, being within the limits of the county, men from the surrounding neighborhood were constantl}' drop¬ ping in and enlisting.

In the Second Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, we find credited to different localities in Hennepin County, men serving in Companies "B," "C," "D," "E," "F," "G," "H," "I," and "K." First Lieutenant William W. Wood¬ bury (afterward promoted to Captain in this regiment), is credited to Hen¬ nepin County. From the records in the office of the Atlj utant-General of the State, it woidd seem that fully four hundred men from this county served in the Second Regiment. Col¬ onel Horatio P. Van Cleve* was the first conimanding officer of the Second Regiment.

* Colonel Van Cleve was a resident of St. An¬ thony. He was a graduate of the West Point Mili¬ tary Academy, and had served at Fort Snelling, and other Northwestern posts, between 1830 and 1840. While stationed, as Second Lieutenant, at Fort Snelling, he formed the actiuaintance of Char¬ lotte (). Clarke, a daughter of Major Clarke, else¬ where mentioned as the first commissary of subsis¬ tence, where the post of Fort Snelling was fomided - in 1819. Later, Lieutenant \'an Cleve married Miss Clarke, and, during the '50's, settled in Minnesota - having, many years previously, resigned his com¬ mission. Tendering his services to Governor Kamsey, at the out break of the war, he was placed in command of the Second Kegiment, and continued in the service until the close of the war, reaching the distinguished rank of Major-General of Volun¬ teers. General Van Cleve afterward was Adjutant- General of the State. He died, in Mitjtieapolis, full of years and honors, in 1890, missioned as First Lieutemmt, and A. Elliott Second Lieutenant, in Com¬ pany "A." Dr. Levi Butler,* of Min¬ neapolis, was the first Surgeon of this Regiment, and remained in that posi¬ tion until September, 18(53, when he resigned, because of his ill health.

The following companies of the Fourth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry contained representativ'es frooni Hennejiin County; "A," " B," "C," "D," "F:," "F," "G," "H," "I" and "K"- every company in the regiment. Al¬ though having representatives in each company, there appears to have been no company of the Fourth organized in this county, and, hence, there tire no commissioned officers reported as residing here.

The Fifth Regiment, Minnesota Vol¬ unteer Infantry, had Hennepin Coun¬ ty representatives in the following companies: "I);'"E," "F," "G," "I" and "K." The Second Assistant Sur¬ geon of this regiment. Dr. Win. LI. Leonard, was a resident of Minneap¬ olis, and so, also, was the first Chap¬ lain, Rev. Janies F. Chaffee. The lat¬ ter gentleman resigned, on account of ill health, on the 23d of June, 18(52, and was succeeded, in that capacity, by Rev. John (now Archbishop) Ireland, of St. Paul.

The Sixth Regiment, Minnesota V'^olunteer Infantry, had more men from Hennepin County than an^^ other or¬ ganization jireceding it, except the First. This was largely owing to the po[)ularity of prominent citizens, who entered enthusiastically into, the re-

* Dr. Levi Butler returned to Minneapolis, after resigning his commission, and remained here until his death. He became one of the leading business men of the city, having (luitted the practice of medicine, and entered the lumber and pine land trade. He died more than ten years ago. One of the Grand Army posts in the city is named in his honor. Dr. Butler represented the county, several years, in the State Senate, cruiting service - especially O. C. Merriman,* who afterward became Cap¬ tain of Company "B." The following companies contained men from this county; "A," "B," "C," "D," "I" and "K." There were two companies in the Sixth Regiment almost wholly re¬ cruited in this county, viz: Compan¬ ies "B" and "D." The latter company was first commanded by Captain J. C. Whitney, f with S. H. King as First and D. W. Albaugh as Second Lieu¬ tenants. This regiment served against the Indians, and also in the south.

Of the Seventh Regiment, Volunteer Infantry, only Companies "C," and "F" appear upon the records as having been recruited from the county of Hennepin. The First Assistant Sur¬ geon of the Regiment, however, was Dr. Albert A. AmesJ who, afterwards, became one of the most widely known among the public men of Minnesota. Lieutenant-Colonel Bradley, § of this regiment, after the close of the war, made his home in Hennepin County, until his death.

*Orlando C. Merriman was in business in St. An¬ thony when, in the summer of 1862 - after the disas¬ trous peninsula campaign - the President's call for 300,000 men was issued. Leaving his business, Mr. Merriman enlisted, as a private soldier, and, through his influence, men flocked to the ranks. He was unanimously chosen Captain of the leading Hennenepin County company, with William Grant as First, and Henry A. Patridge Second Lieutenants, the company becoming" B,"of the Sixth Regiment. Captain Merriman remained in the service until compelled to resign, on account of ill health, in June, 1863. He still resides and is in business in Minneapolis. For sketch of Captain Merriman, see page 825.

tRev. J. C. Whitney was one of the pioneer Pres¬ byterian clergymen of Minnesota, having preached to the first organized Presbyterian church in Min¬ neapolis, in the early '50's. On the outbreak of the war he was very active in promoting enlistments. In 1862, he volunteered his own services, and was elected Captain of Company "D," Sixth Regiment. Previous to the enlistment of the Sixth, he had been commissioned Captain and Quartermaster of Vol¬ unteers, but left this position for the place of danger in the line. He served honorably, bravely and faith¬ fully until the close of the war, and still lives, an honored citizen of Minneapolis. Just following the close of the war, he served as State Senator from Hennepit) Copnty,

The Fighth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry enlisted men from Hennepin County in Companies "A," "E," "H," and "K." This regiment also saw service in the Indian war. It was organized on the 1st day of August, 1862, and the companies were sepa¬ rated, and stationed at frontier posts, until May, 1864, when it was called to¬ gether, to accompany General Sully's expedition to the upper Missouri River and the Yellowstone. Afterward, the organization was ordered south to Tennessee, and thence to North Caro¬ lina, where it was mustered out, at the close of the war. The first major of the Eighth Regiment was George A.

t Albert Alonzo Ames came to Minneapolis, with his father, in 1851 - a boy under ten years of age. His father was the pioneer physician of the new community. Albert grew to manhood in Minne¬ apolis, having graduated, with the first class, in the High School of this city. The outbreak of the war (1861) found him a student, at Rusk Medical College, in Chicago. In 1862, he graduated, being only twenty years of age. The following August he was commissioned First Assistant ' Surgeon of the Seventh Regiment, and entered upon his duties at once. By the resignation of the Surgeon (Dr. J. E. Finch), he was promoted to the rank of full Surgeon, in July, 1863, being the youngest full Surgeon in the army - not yet twenty-two years of age. He served with honor until the close of the war, being mus¬ tered out of service with the regiment. Returning to Minneapolis, he was, in 1867, elected to the lower house in the legislature, where he served one term. He then went to California and entered the journal¬ istic profession, becoming managing editor of the Alta California, of San Francisco. Returning to Minneapolis, he was elected Alderman, two differ¬ ent times, and Mayor of the city for three times, in quick succession. He was, in 1881, the Democratic candidate for Congress, but was defeated, and, in 1886, the Democratic candidate for Governor^being again defeated by a small majorit y. He still resides in Minneapolis, in the practice of his profession.

§ George Bradley, at the beginning of the war, was a leading lawyer of the Minnesota Valley, living at Belle Plaine. After distinguished service in the war, he returned to Minnesota and took up his resi¬ dence in Minneapolis. He first entered law practice, in this city, as partner of Hon. F. R. E. Cornell, afterwards a Justice of the Supreme Court. After¬ ward, he formed a co-partnership with A. G. O. Mor¬ rison, under the firm name of Bradley and Morrison. He was, for four years, one of fhe distinguished lawyers of the State. He died suddenly, and was universally mourned by all who had been associat¬ ed with him, as a brave and true man - an excellent soldier, a magnificent lawyer and a good citizen.

Companies "A" and "D," of the Ninth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, were almost entirel}' recruited in Hen¬ nepin County. Company "A" chose George A. Camp for Captain and Jonathan Chasef as First, and Harri¬ son Jones as Second Lieutenant. The resignation of Captain Camp, to ac¬ cept the majorate of the Eighth Regi¬ ment, promoted First Lieutenant Chase to Captain, and Second Lieu¬ tenant Jones to First Lieutenant. Orderly Sergeant Benjamin P. Schuler,J thereupon, was made Second Lieutenant, and, afterwards. Captain of Company "H," Ninth Regiment. Leonidas M. Lane, of this company, was also promoted to a Lieutenancy.

Richard A. Strout became the Cap¬ tain of Company "B," in this regi¬ ment; William Clark, First Lieuten¬ ant and Curtis McCain, Second Lieu¬ tenant.

Company "K," of the Tenth Regi¬ ment, was chiefly recruited in Henne¬ pin County, and William Byrnes made First, and Michael Hoy§ Second Lieu¬ tenants. The regiment served against

* George A. Camp was in business in this county, and, in 1862, raised, in connection with Jonathan Chase, a comijany, which became Company "A," Ninth Regiment. He was tendered a commission as Major of the Eighth, by Governor Ramsey, ac¬ cepted it, and, at once, assumed the duties of the position. He served faithfully until May, 1865, when, believing that the war was practically over, he re¬ signed, and resumed business in Minneapolis. Here he lived until his death, in 1892. See further sketch, page 833.

tCaptain Jonathan Chase was extensively en¬ gaged in lumbering, at the time of his enlistment. He was compelled, by ill health, to resign, in 1863, and returned to Minneapolis, resuming his business. He still lives here, and is actively engaged in busi¬ ness, on the east side, at this writing.

tCaptain Benjamin P. Schuler was discharged, with his regiment, and returned to Minneapolis, where he has since lived. He has been a member of the legislature from the county, and, from 1888 to 1892, was agent of the Red Lake band of Chippewa Indians, in Northern Minnesota.

the Indians, and, after these were driv'en west of the Missouri, was or¬ dered south, where it did most excel¬ lent serv^ice, until the close of the war.

In the Eleventh Minnesota Volun¬ teer Infantry, Hennepin County had representatives in only "F" and "G" companies. Of the former, John W. Plummerji was Captain and Janies Shaver, Jr , F'irst Lieutenant.

The First Battalion, Infantry, Min¬ nesota Volunteers, consisted of mem¬ bers of the "Old First" that veteran¬ ized, after the first term of enlistment had expired (1864). The whole regi¬ ment refused to veteranize, because of disaffection toward some of the field officers, and this battalion, consisting of two full companies, was received and mnstered for three years, or dur¬ ing the war. In 1865, it was recruited to a full regiment, hut the war closing, the later recruits and the last organ¬ ized companies saw little or no ser¬ vice. Comjianies " A " and "B," how¬ ever, saw much service, and gained imperishable honors during the last year of the war.

§Mr. Hoy was, for many years, before the war, a resident of Minneapolis. After the close of the great struggle, he returned here, and is still an honored member of the community. He was, for many years, connected with the police force of the city, a large proportion of the tinieeitheras Chief of Police or as a member of the Police Commission.

IlCaptain J. W. Plummer was one of the first men to enlist, from this county, after the breaking out of the war. He served with distinction in Company " D," of the " t)ld First," and, upon the muster out of that regiment, he recruited Company " F," of the Eleventh, and served as Captain thereof during the remainder of the war. His record was that of a brave and excellent soldier. He died*, of consump¬ tion, soon after the war, while Clerk of the District Court.

T Albert R. Hall returned to Minneapolis, from the war, and, for many years, occupied a prominent jrlace in the politics of the county. He was four times a member of the legislature, serving two terms as Speaker of the House of Representptivps, He still resides in this county.

Chesley B. Terriell* * was Captain of Company "A," and John W. Pride, f for a time, Second Lieutenant of Com¬ pany "A," and acted as Quartermaster.

Ellet P. PerkinsJ had been a mem¬ ber of the "Old First," and, upon vet¬ eranizing, received a commission as Captain of Company "B." Henry D. 0'Brien§ became Second Lieutenant of Company "B," and, afterward. Cap¬ tain of Company "A." James Bryant,*[[ also an original member of the regi¬ ment, became First Lieutenant. The Bryant post, "G. A. R.," of this city, is named in his honor. W. W. Holden also held commissions as First and Second Lieutenant in this company.

*Captain C. B. Terriell was one of the original " Old First," entering as a private in Company " C," and serving three years with credit. Returning, with the Battalion, he was made First Lieutenant of Company "A," and was soon promoted to Cap¬ tain. He was so seriously wounded, in front of Pet¬ ersburg, in 1864, that his life, for a time was de¬ spaired of. Recovering, partially, he found he could no longer endure the fatigues incident to active war, and resigned his commission, returning to Minneapolis. He was elected clerk of the courts of Hennepin County two successive times, and died, of consumption, in the winter of 1891-2.

tjohn W. Pride served, from the beginning, in the " Old First," and, just at the close of the war, re¬ ceived his hard earned honors of a Second Lieuten¬ ant's commission, and was Quartermaster of the Battalion. Mr. Pride now owns and operates a farm, in the northern portion of the State.

tCaptain Perkins has lived in Minneapolis since the close of the war, and was, until recently, con¬ nected with the United States Mail service, in the city.

§Captain O'Brien received a medal, by special act of Congress, for personal bravery, on the field of Gettysburg. He is now the editor of a newspaper* and engaged in the pension business, at East St. Louis, Ill.

II Major Heiielfinger was one of the most gallant soldiers of the "Old First" regiment and was mus¬ tered out of that organization on completion of his term of service. Entering the service, the next year, he was commissioned Major of the Heavy Artillery, and served, as such, until the close of the

In the First Conipan}* of Minnesota Sharpshooters, Hennepin County fur¬ nished nearly half of the enlisted men. Benedict Hipler, the first First Lieutenant, and Dudley P. Chase, the first Second Lieutenant, of this com¬ pany, were both from Hennepin County. The latter died, from wounds received in action, at Chancellorville, Va., while in command of the com¬ pany. Francis Peteler,* of Blooming¬ ton, in this county, was Captain of the company.

The Second Company of Minnesota Volunteer Sharpshooters, joined the army of the Potomac in the spring of 1862, and was, by General McClellan, assigned to and made Company "L" of the "Old First" Regiment. It served with that organization until its term of service expired, its - history' being a part of the history of the First Regiment. Captain Mahlon Black,-|- for a time in command of this comjiany, had been a resident of Minne¬ apolis since the war.

war. Since 1865, he has lived in Minneapolis, and is now the head of the North Star Boot and Shoe Company, in this city. He is one of the commis¬ sioners for erecting a monument, on the field of Gettysburg, to commemorate the unparalleled charge of the "Old First" Regiment, in that battle. See full sketch, page 822.

* Colonel Francis Peteler, of Bloomington, in this county, was Captain of the FirstCompany of Sharp¬ shooters from this State. He had served as a soldier in the Mexican war. On the 10th day of February, 1862, he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel of the First Sharpshooter Regiment. In 1862, he returned to Minnesota, to defend the frontier against the In¬ dian outbreak, and was in command of Fort Aber¬ crombie, during the winter of 1862-3. He resigned, June 23d, 1863. He resides in this city, and is actively engaged in business.

t Mahlon Black is one of the pioneers of the State. He enlisted, from Stillwater, in the Second Sharpshooters, but came to Minneapolis, at the close of the war. Soon afterwards, he was elected County Auditor of Hennepin County, and served, in that capacity, two terms (four years). He is still an honored citizen of the city.

The First Regiment of Mounted Rangers (cavalr}"), organized for one year, unless sooner discharged. It was tendered to the government for tlie special duty of guarding the fron¬ tier against the Indians, and it was tacitly, though not definitely, agreed that the regiment should not be called

Companies "A," "C," "F," "G," "K" and "M" were partially recruited in this county. The senior Captain of the regiment (of Company "A") was Eugene M. Wilson,* a leading lawj^er of the county, and a prominent man of the State. James M. Paine, also of Minneapolis, was the Second Lieuten¬ ant of this company. This organiza¬ tion served only about one year, on the average - some companies a shorter and some a longer period.

Companies "A," " B," "C" and "D," of Brat:kett's Battalion of Minnesota Volunteer Cavalr3", were all largel}' recruited in Hennepin County, but no commissioned officers, nor any jjrivate or non-commissioned officer, from this county, who arrived at special dis¬

*Eiigene M. Wilson came to Minnesota, from West Virginia, and was, soon after his arrival, ap¬ pointed United States District Attorney, for the Territory. He became one of the leading citizens of the new commonwealth, from the start. He was largely instrumental in raising and equipping the Mounted Hangers, and served as Captain of Com¬ pany "A," until mustered out. He then returned to the practice of law, and became one of the leading attorneys of the State. In 1808, he was elected to Congress, from the Second District, as a Democrat, serving one term. Later, he was twice elected Mayor of Minneapolis. In 1888, he was the Deniocratic candidate for gov'ernor, but was defeated by \V^ H. Merriam. In 1889, Mr. Wilson's health failed him. In January, 1890, he wrote the history of the Mounted Rangers to be embodied in the volume, "Minnesota in the Civil War and Indian War.'' This was his latest labor. Soon afterward, accom¬ panied by his wife, he started for Nassau, in hope that genial climate would restore his shattered health. He died at Nassau, now Providence, April loth, 1890, regretted by all who knew him. His re¬ mains were brought home, and lie at rest in Lakewood. See further sketch, page 156.

Second Regiment, Minnesota Volun¬ teer Cavalry, Conijianies "A," "D," "F," "I," and "L," were, each of them, partially recruited from this countj'. James M. Paine,* who had served under Captain Wilson, as a Lieuten¬ ant, in the Mounted Rangers, recruit¬ ed a full company, which, mion organ¬ ization, became Compaii}^ "D." Robert Wood, also of Minneapolis, became Second Lieutenant of the same com¬ pany, but died, at Fort Wadsworth, in November, 1864. Archibald McGill was promoted to the position of Second Lieutenant, to fill this vacanc^^ and to that of First Lieutenant in June, 1865.

Hatch's Independent Battalion, Min¬ nesota Volunteer Cavalr^^, was author¬ ized to be recruited and organized, for service on the frontier, earlj^ in the summer of 1863. The recruiting com¬ menced actively and energetically, and early in the fall was ready to be mus¬ tered into the service. The Battalion, as at first organized, was to consist of only four companies, and to be under the command of E. A. C. Hafch, an experienced frontiersman, with the rank of Major. All of the four original companies ("A," "B," "C," and "I),") were largeU' recruited in Hennepin CountjL George C. WhitcomhJ re¬ cruited, and was chosen Cajitain of Company "B," serving in that posi¬ tion, until the Battalion was mustered out.

Paine has continued to reside in Minne¬ apolis, since the war, being engaged extensively in the lumber business. See sketch of J. M. Paine, page 828.

tCaptain WhitcomI) was visiting on the frontier, at the time of the Indian outl)reak, the year prev¬ ious. He did valiant service, at that time, remov¬ ing soon after to fliis county. He still lives in Min¬ neapolis.

In the summer of 1864, the War De¬ partment granted authority to increase the Battalion by adding two additional Companies ("E'^ and "F,") thereto. Major Hatch resigning his commis¬ sion, General C. P. Adams, who had been Lieutenant-Colonel of the "Old First" Infantry, was placed in com¬ mand of the reorganized Battalion, with headquarters at Fort Abercrom¬ bie.

George Boyd,* who had also been an officer in the " Old First," was granted a recruiting commission, and organized Company "E," out of citi¬ zens of Hennepin County, and was chosen Captain thereof ; Mark T. Berry was commissioned First, and Alden Kimball Second Lieutenant of this company.

Company "F" was also partially re¬ cruited in the county of Hennepin, and Frank J. Meadf chosen Second Lieu¬ tenant. It will thus be seen that every company of the Independent Battalion was indebted to Hennepin County for recruits. The Battalion was not mustered out of service until 1856, being among the last volunteer organizations relieved by the War De¬ partment.

*George Boyd, after serving three years as pri¬ vate and commissioned officer, in the " Old First," recruited Company "E," and ably commanded it for nearly two years longer. Mustered out of the service, he returned to Minneapolis, where he lived several years, honored and respected by all. He was accidentally drowned, in the Mississippi River, several years ago.

tFrank J. Mead served nearly two years in the "Old First" Regiment. Discharged for disability, he enlisted, in ISfil, as a private, in the Independent Battalion, and was elected and commissioned Sec¬ ond Lieutenant. Here he served nearly two years longer. At the close of the war, he settled in Min¬ neapolis, and was a newspaper writer. In 1871, he was chosen City Clerk of Minneapolis, a position he held for four years. He then removed to North Da¬ kota, becoming one of the first settlers at Mandan. Here he was elected the first County Clerk of Morton County, and the first Mayor of the city of Mandan. In 1887, he returned to Minneapolis, where he still resides, following the journalistic profession.

William A. Hotchkiss* was elected and commissioned Captain, and re¬ mained in command of the battery from its organization until the close of the war. He was breveted Major, for gallantry at the battle of Stone River. Henry W. Harder, also of this county, served as Second Lieutenant of this compan3", for a time.

The Third Battery, Volunteer Light Artillery, numbered several Hennepin County citizens in its ranks. It was organized, in February, 1863, and served, on the frontier, until dis¬ charged, in February, 1866.

This brief sketch of the part taken by Hennepin County in the war of the Rebellion and the Indian war, gives only the barest outline of actual events, and it has simply been the effort of the writer to redeem from comparative oblivion the names of citizens who performed leading parts in the war, or whose history, since that time, has been connected, in any public manner, with county or State affairs.

Probably just here, more appro¬ priately than elsewhere, should be in¬ serted a brief account of the Indian outbreak, and the part taken, by the people of Hennepin County, in the suppression of that most barbarous and terrible of all Indian wars in the history of the development of America.

* Major Hotchkiss had been the pioneer editor of the county. He served, with great courage and ability, during the war, and, at the close, took up his residence at Preston, Fillmore County, where he lives, full of years and honors - still in active service, however, as editor of the Preston Repub¬ lican.

Military History Of The Couxty

The outbreak comnieticed at the village of Acton, by the murder of several defenseless settlers, on the 17th day of August, 1862. This was followed by a general and preconcert¬ ed massacre of settlers all along our widely extended and exposed frontier, from the Sauk Valley to the Iowa line. The center of this cyclone of butchery and assassination was at Fort Ridgely and New Ulm, upon which points there were planned general assults.

At the moment when the news of this massacre reached Minneapolis, Captain Richard Strout, who had organized and commanded a company in the Ninth Regiment, proceeded to enlist a corps of citizens, from this county, for general service against the Indians. This squad consisted of about forty men. They served in the vicinity of Glencoe, Forest City and Hutchinson, and, as evidence of their faithful service, it may be said that during the following six weeks more than one-fifth of the squad were killed and wounded by Indian bullets.

Captain Anson Northup,* of Min¬ neapolis, was one of the pioneers of this locality. At the outbreak of the war he had been appointed Wagon Master of the "Old First" Regiment. At the time of the Indian outbreak he was with his cominand, at Harrison's Landing, on the James River, in Vir¬ ginia. He at once solicited and ob¬ tained leave to return to Minnesota, as his experience in fighting Indians would make his services more valtiahle than they could he in the south. Hastening to Minneapolis, he recruit¬ ed a company of more than one hun¬

* Captain Northiip came to Minnesota in 1838, and early became a settler at the Kails of St. An¬ thony. lie has, for years, been one of the best known of our pioneers, and still lives in ohl age to recount the deeds of courage and heroism of his yonth.

As near as can be learned, at this late date, more than five hundred citi¬ zens of Hennepin County, joined the Militia of the State, and participated in the defense of the frontier against the Indians.

To conclude this necessarily brief and imperfect resume of the military historj^ of Hennepin County, it only remains to make mention of such citi¬ zens as did staff service during the war:

E. S. JoNE.s was commissioned Cap¬ tain and Commissary of Subsistence, February 19th, 1863. After the war. Major Jones remained in Minneapolis, becoming a leading business man and a very wealthy citizen. Died here during the winter of 1889-90.

Colonel William M. Kimball was first commissioned Captain and As¬ sistant Quartermaster, March 27th, 1863. During the succeeding sum¬ mer, he served with General Sully's Indian expedition, up the Missouri. Made Quartermaster of the District of Minnesota, to May, 1864. With General Sully, again, in 1864. On duty, at St. Paul, until January, 1865. On dut3L at Fort Riple^^, until mus¬ tered out, February 18th, 1866. Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel, Januarj^ 18th, 1866. Died, in Minneapolis, manj' years ago.

Major William B. Leach. First Lieutenant and Adjutant of the "Old First," Minnesota Volunteers. Aidde-Camp on staff of Brigadier-Gen¬ eral N. J. T. Dane. Captain and As¬ sistant Adjutant-General, Ma}' 16th, 1862. Inspector 13th Corps, Browns¬ ville, Tex., November, 18()3, to March,

Captain Arthur B. Mills. Assist¬ ant Quartermaster, November 9th, 1862. Quartermaster, District of Minnesota, November, 1862, to May, 1863; of General Sully's Indian ex¬ pedition, to October, 1863; at Sioux City, Iowa, to March, 1864; at Fort Abercrombie and Fort Wadsworth, to muster out, July 10th, 1866. Died, in St. Louis, March 18th, 1872.

Major Charles W. Nash. First Lieutenant and Quartermaster of Hatch's Battalion, September, 1863. Captain Assistant Quartermaster, April 5th, 1865. Chief Quartermaster, District of Minnesota, St. Paul, March 14th, 1866. Brevet Major. Major Nash still resides in Minneapolis.

Colonel George Pomeroy was the first Second Lieutenant of Company "B," First Minnesota Infantry, in 1861. Captain, October 22d, 1861. Lieuten¬ ant-Colonel of the One Hundred and Fourteenth New York Infantry, Sep¬ tember, 1862. Major and Paymaster of United States Volunteers. Major and Paymaster United States Army. Brevet Colonel, for gallantry in the field. Died, in Omaha, in 1869.

De Witte C. Smith. Captain First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. Major and Paymaster, February 23d, 1864. Died, October 28th, 1864, of wounds re¬ ceived in action with guerillas, on board steamer Belle of St. Louis, at Randolph, Tenn.

Colonel George H. Woods. First Lieutenant Company " D," First Min¬ nesota Volunteer Infantry. Captain and Commissary of Subsistence, No¬ vember 16th, 1861. Promoted to Lieu¬ tenant-Colonel and Commissar3^, Aug¬ ust 20th, 1862. Chief Commissar}^,

Such, brieflj^ told, is the record of Hennepin County in the great war of the Rebellion, and in the Indian war of 1862. It will not be forgotten that Minnesota, in 1861-5, was a frontier community, and that the extreme frontier of the State did not extend twenty miles westward from the westermost limit of this county. The set¬ tlers, in what is now the rich and re¬ fined county of Hennepin, were first beginning to make headway in im¬ provements. Few farmers had be¬ come sufficiently forehanded to be en¬ tirely self-sustaining. The now com¬ pact, beautiful and prosperous city of Minneapolis, numbering its 200,000 in¬ habitants, with its broad and beauti¬ ful streets, its electric railways, and every element of the most highly wrought civilization, was composed of two struggling villages, extending up and down the Mississippi River, on either bank, for two or three miles. The cities of St. Anthon3r and Minne¬ apolis, combined, then numbered less than 5,000 people, while the outside towns, probably, would not double that number. But the jieople of this progressive community manifested the same spirit which actuates them to¬ day, energ3^, enterprise, foresight and patriotism. The soldiers of that per¬ iod are men who conferred uu dying honor upon the city, count3'' and State, which gave them to that conflict of liberty and manly struggle for the Union. Many of them still live, to participate in the blessings which they so freely gave their blood and their health to perpetuate. Long may it be before the last of them is sum¬ moned to the final roll call of eternit3L

First Regiment, Minnesota Infantry Company

Transferred to 12th U. S. Infantry. Captain, November 28, '61, A. Q. >1. Captain, and transferred to Com pany G. Resigned for disability. Promoted 2d and 1st Lieutenant. Promoted 1st Lieutenant. Captain. Promoted 2d and 1st Lieutenant.

Other Incidents

With regiment. For disability, March 19, '65... With regiment. With regiment. With regiment. With regiment. With regiment. With regiment. By order, Aug. 3, '65 .

Company

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With regiment.. W ith regiment.. At Fort Snell¬ ing, April 22,'65 With regiment.. With regiment.. With regiment. With regiment.. With regiment.. With regiment.. With regiment.. With regiment.. With regiment.. With regiment.. With regiment..

Rank

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With regiment.. With regiment.. With regiment.. With regiment . With regiment.. With regiment.. With regiment.. With regiment.. With regiment..

With company. With company. With company. With company. With company. With company. With company. With company. With company. With company. With company. With company. With company.

With company. With company. With company. With company. With company. With company. With company. With company. With company. With company. With company. With company.

With company. With company With company. With company. With company. With company. With company. With company. With company. With company. With company.

With company. With regiment. With regiment. With company. With company. With company. With regiment. With company. With company. With company.

With company. With company. With company With company. With company. With company. With company. With company. With company. With company. For disability.

With company. With company. With company. With company. With company. With company. With company. With comiiany. With company. With company. With company. With company. With company. With company. With company.

Richfield and Bloom incton - Development of These Towns - Major Brown's Settlement - Philander Prescott - His Death - Some Incidents of His Life - Early Settlers in Bloomington - Martin McLeod- Oak Grove Missionary Station - Joseph Dean - earl}" settlement of the various X towns in the county followed rapidly upon the cession of the In¬ dian lands to the government. The people had learned that the lands were ver}^ fertile, that farming- in this high latitude could be made profitable, and, from the year 1850, there came a very general and constantly increasing de¬ mand for lands for agricultural pur¬ poses.

The town of Richfield, being nearest to Minneapolis, was the first to settle permanently. Indeed, the history of the scope of country now comprising that town, is co-incident with the his¬ tory of the city itself. Within it the old military post is located, and, grad¬ ually, as the city grows, more and more of its territory is being swal¬ lowed up within the corporate limits of Minneapolis.

made their temporary homes (in 1827), from which they were , afterwards re¬ moved, by the soldiers, under orders from the War Department. No rem¬ nant of these early settlers remains. After they were driven from the reser¬ vation, some of them removed south and settled in Missouri; others took their departure, and made permanent homes in Wisconsin, while still others chose to remain in Minnesota, settling on lands outside the military reserva¬ tion, and making new homes, where they reared families, the decendants of which are still honored residents of the State.

As mentioned elsewhere, the first actual claim for settlement in the county, and, probably, the first within the limits of the State, was made on Minnehaha Creek, within the limits of this town, by Hon. Joseph R. Brown. From Major-General Brown, of the United vStates Army, Minnehaha stream received its first name, "Brown's Creek," and our beautiful fairy-like waterfall, in sympathy there¬ with, was called indifferently.

"Brown's Falls," and "Little Falls," until after the publication of Long¬ fellow's poem of Hiawatha, since which time it has been known as "Minnehaha."

After the organization of the Terri¬ tory, the first settler in Richheki was Lonis (rodfrey, a Frenchman, with a Chippewa wife. He settled on .Section 5, and remained until 1862, in which year he removed to Mendota, where he died a few 3'ears later. His settle¬ ment, according to the memory of some of the old settlers, was made as early as 1850 or '51. A claim was made h}' Samuel Stongh, in the j'ear 18.52, upon which he continued to live until the ])eriod of his death, in 1875. William Finch settled here in 1858, and resided here continuously' until several years later, when he moved to California, where he died, in 1874. Philander Prescott came with the first troops to the cantonment, near Mendota, in 1810, was in and around the fort for years, and finally' made Indian Farmer at the fort, in 1830. He married a .Siou.x woman, and, in the early' day's, made a claim near Minnehaha Falls, where he lived, with his family, many y'ears. During the .Sioux Massacre, of 1862, Mr. Prescott was sleepless in his efforts to save the lives of settlers on our frontier. Depending upon his close relationship to the .Sionx Nation - being married into one of its many bands - he took every j)ersonal risk to save human life. While conducting a party' of whites to a place of safety, he found he wa.s l)eing closely followed by a war party. Telling his com- |)anions men and wotnen to hurry forwanl, he stoj)ped to parley with the assassins. Finding fhem as blood¬ thirsty as wild beasts, he finally ex¬ claimed: "You have eaten at my fable, and, for forty y'ears, I have been y'our friend. 1 am your brother, for have 1 not been adopted into your tribe? If you must have a victim, here is a place for y'our bullets," and the brave old man pointed to his heart. The das¬ tards raised their guns and shot hini dead. The party' being conducted to a l^lace of safety by' him, escaped with¬ out the loss of another person. The Indians seemed stricken with remorse for their cold-blooded act, and turned and retraced their steps without try¬ ing to kill more of the party.*

*PliilaiKlei' Prescott, during liis early residence at Fort Snelling, was noted as a reckless, drinking, carousing young fellow, who was perfectly wild and unmanageable when in his cups. During the prim¬ itive period, between 1820 and 1830, after the fashion of the times, he took a Sioux squaw and lived with her as his wife, but without further ceremony than the payment, to her relatives, of the specified price. By her he had one child, after which the squaw left him and returned to her band, wandering away to the plains, no one knew whither. Some years after, the missionaries made their appearance at the fort, and Prescott, with others, became a con¬ vert to the Christian religion, under their ministra¬ tions. This event entirely revolutionized his mode of life. From being one of the most careless and reckless adventurers at this frontier militarj- post, he became one of the most steady and reliable Christian men. His treatment of his Indian wife bore upon his conscience, and he consulted with one of the missionaries as to his duty in the premises. He was told that the only reparation he could make, that would be acceptable in the sight of God, was to search until he had found her, and then make her his lawfully wedded wife. This he proceeded to do. During one whole summer he searched for her, tracing her first to the upper Minnesota Valley, thence into the Red River Valley, and finally found her on the upper waters of the Missouri, where her band were hunting buffalo. Taking her and their child, he turned his face again to the fort, where he arrived after winter had set in. The missionaries were no longer there, having departed to Lac qiii Parle. The nearest Christian clergyman was at Prairie du Chien. Fitting up a dog sleigh, Prescott, took his wife and child down the Mississippi river on the ice - three hundred miles - to Prairie du Chien, where the marriage ceremony was per¬ formed, according to the Christian rite, and he re¬ turned to the fort. For years afterward, this Indian woman proved a faithful wife and helpmate to Mr. I'rescott.and there are many pioneer set tiers, still liv¬ ing, who can testify to the bounteous hospitality with which the stranger was received under the roof of this man and his S(|uaw companion. A large family was the result of the union.

meadows of the town of Richfield. C. W. Harris, who, in 1868, died in Minneapolis, settled this year in that town, taking a claim and making a home for himself and his family. Henry Townsend, accompanied by his two sens, Henry and Robert, William Draper, John McCabe, and many others. In 1854, a log school house was built. In 1858, on the 11th of May, the first town meeting was held, and the town named. Richland had at first been suggested, but the meet¬ ing finally settled upon the name Richfield. A. Keith was the Moder¬ ator of the first town meeting, and Alonzo Sawtelle, Clerk. A post office had been established in the town, some months before, and called Har¬ mony. After the township had been organized and named, the post office was rechristened "Richfield." The first Board of Supervisors were Joel Bi-ewster, Chairman; Richard Strout and Jesse Richardson. The first town officers were: Alonzo Sawtelle, Town Clerk; George Odell, Assessor; James A. Dunsmore, Overseer of the Poor; R. L. Bartholomew and George W. Irwin, Justices of the Peace; George W. Townsend and William R. Moffit, Constables; George W. Townsend, Collector; A. Keith, Overseer of the Roads. On the third day of June, 1858, the first regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors was held, at the school house, and this same school house was also used as a town house until 1874. On the 14th day of June, the Board levied the first assessment for town purposes - fixitig upon the sum of $400 as necessary to keep the civil machinery in motion for one year. On September 30th, 1858, William Finch was chosen County Supervisor. On the 5th day of April, 1859, $100 was voted for town purposes. At the elec¬

During the war period Richfield was intensely patriotic. There are records of large sums voted for the payment of bounties to soldiers - notably $8,000 in one instance. There is also recorded a vote of the board re¬ mitting all taxes on the property of soldiers who had received no bounty from the town.

The first school ever taught in the town was during the winter of 1854-5, Miss Mary Townsend being the pre¬ ceptress. Miss Townsend afterwards became the wife of Moses Gitchell, and removed, many 3^ears ago, to Cali¬ fornia. Miss Craik taught the school in 1855. She afterwards married Mr. Frank Hanscom, and, for many years, has resided with her husband in North Dakota.

The first regular religious services held in the town, after its organiza¬ tion, was by the Methodist denomina¬ tion. The services were held in a newly completed granary, owned bj' Henry Townsend. Most of the other denominations - Baptist, Episcopal¬ ian, Lutheran and Catholic, have ob¬ tained a foothold in the town, having church organizations and some of them beautiful and tasteful church edifices in the limits of the town.

In 1854, Philander Prescott, Willis G. and Eli Pettijohn built the first flouring mill in the town - known as the Richfield mills. Mr. Prescott was the owner of the mill when he was killed by the Indians, in 1862. In 1857, the Edina Mill was built. Both of these mills were furnished power b}^ dams on Minnehaha Creek.

neapolis. It lies to the south and east of the city, and presents a most lovely and enchanting prospect of grove and prairie, hill aiul valle3^, lake and stream.

The town of Bloomington is one of the most beautiful and picturesque in the county. On the southeast it is washed, its entire length, bj" the beau¬ tiful Minnesota River, and a line of hills, some distance back from tbe river, stand sentinel over the magnifi¬ cent meadows that skirt the shore. Back from the line of hills, the countr3" is beautifull3' undulating, about e(iuall3^ divided between prairie and timber, and thus becomes the ideal agricultural countr3^. The countr3^ is drained b3' Mine Mile Creek, and has a number of beautiful lakes and ponds, filled with all varieties of fish belong¬ ing to this section of countr3\

In 1843, Peter Quinn was appointed Indian Farmer, and took up his resi¬ dence on what is now section fourteen. He remained on this land until 1854, cultivating the soil, and striving to teach the Sioux Indians the art and science of agrictjlture. As well have striven to teach the untamed buffalo of the prairies to give milk, and 3'-et this experiment, which has been tried and failed for centuries, is still per¬ sisted in b3" the Indian Bureau, backed and encouraged 1)3^ the various relig¬ ious denominations. Gideon H. Pond, the earl3^ Indian Missionar3^, also settled with his Indians in this town, in 1843, where his home continued until his death, in 1878. In 1845), Mar¬ tin McLeod, one of the most noted of the pioneer settlers of the State, and in honor of whom McLeod County

*Mr. McLeod deserves more than passing men¬ tion in a work of this character. He was born and educated in Montreal, in Canada, in 1812, and came West, to the Selkerk settlement, in company with several other young men, in 1853. Becoming dissat¬ isfied in that region, he determined to seek the set¬ tlements in the western part of the United States. In connection with two other men, he employed Pierre Bottineau (a mixed blood, whose name, for more than sixty years, has been connected with the history of Minnesota) as a guide and interpreter, and started for Fort Snelling. The journey was to be made on snow shoes, and in the dead of winter. The party consisted of Captain Pays, a Frenchman, and Jack Hays, an Irishman, Mr. McLeod and the guide. The start, from Fort Garry, was made on a pleasant morning, in the latter part of February. The course of the party lay nearly due south, up the valley of the Red River, on the western or llakota side. Their progress was slow, but without any special adventure, until about three weeks after the start was made. By this time, the provisions began to run low, and it became necessary for Bottineau to hunt and secure game for their daily subsis¬ tence. One afternoon, the party found itself be¬ tween the Cheyenne and Red rivers (the timber lin¬ ing both streams being in full view), near where Fargo now stands. The weather was comparatively warm, the snow melting in exposed spots. Bottin¬ eau discovered signs of a deer, and, bidding his companions direct their steps toward a bend in the Red River, to the eastward, marked by a jutting point of heavy timber, there to pitch camps for the night, he followed the track of the deer toward a clump of box alder trees, which marked the course of the Cheyenne, two or three miles to the west¬ ward. The guide discovered, shot and killed the deer, and was engaged in dressing and cutting it up to pack for transportation, when a few flakes of snow falling attracted his attention. Glancing to¬ ward the northwest, he saw a most furious storm approaching from that direction. Hurriedly seiz¬ ing such portions of the dead animal as could be most readily carried, Restarted rapidly across the prairie in the direction taken, an hour or two before, by his companions. Before he proceeded a mile, the storm overtook him, and he was soon entirely lost and bewildered in that most frightful of North¬ ern storms, since christened " the blizzard." Strug¬ gling onward, as best he might, he did not reach the line of timber, on the Red River, until the dark¬ ness of night had added its horror to that of the tempest. Again and again he shouted and tired his gun, but could get no response. Crawling down into the thick bushes, he made himself as comfort¬ able as possible, ate a hearty supper of raw venison, and remained until the morning. The storm still continued, but, after many hours' search, he fouiul McLeod, two or three miles away, also encamped in th^bush. The storm lasted three days and nights, and, after it had subsided, Bottineau and McLeod started to search for their two companions. Cap¬ tain Pays, the Frenchman (who had been a trusted officer of Napoleon I, in his wars), was discovered alive, but with both his extremities frozen to the

Histont Of Hennepin Counte

Mr. Walter S. McLeod, a son of Mar¬ tin, still resides on this claim, which 'was located, by his father, so man3" 3^ears ago. Mr. Joseph Dean arrived in the winter of 1851-2, and located a claim in this town. A few years later, he removed to Minneapolis, going into the lumber business, and, afterward, into banking. He died, in 1890, one of the wealthiest and most respected cit¬ izens of this city. In connection with William Chambers, Mr. Dean procured a charter and established the after¬ wards celebrated Bloomington Ferry - for many 3^ears the most convenient means of intercommunication between the counties of Scott, Dakota and Hen¬ nepin. Mr. Chambers died, at the knees. Hays, the other member of the party, was never found. Leaving their frozen comijanion in a deserted Indian camp, abundantly provided with fuel, water and provisions, Bottineau and McLeod started for tlie trading post of Joseph R. Brown, located on Lake Traverse, more than one hundred miles distant. This point they reached in safety, and a rescuing party, led by Bottineau, returned at once to where the French officer had been left. His camp was found, but the man was dead. Such was the advent of Martin McLeod in Minnesota. Let us conclude the episode with a truthful little romance, which gave to the brave young Canadian a com¬ panion for life. When the spring had opened, he and the guide (Bottineau) proceeded from Brown's trading post, forty miles down the Minnesota, where there was a large village of Sioux Indians. They desired to negotiate for transportation, by canoe, to Fort Snelling. An old squaw was found, who owned two large canoes, and, after much dickering, a bargain was struck for their transportation. Their limited baggage was placed in the canoes, and the old squaw took Bottineau in the one she paddled, wh^e Martin was assigned to the other, which was placed in charge of the squaw's handsome sixteenyear-old half-breed daughter. McLeod was young; the opportunity for courtship auspicious. The at¬ traction was mutual. The Canadian won, on that trip down the Minnesota River, during a long canoe journey, under the spring sunshine, the companion of all his future career. The young squaw became his wife, on their arrival at Fort Snelling, and by her he reared a family of children, some of whom still reside in this vicinity, among our most respect¬ ed citizens. Martin McLeod became one of the most widely known and useful citizens of the State; sev¬ eral times a member of the legislature, of the cpnstitutional convention, and holding many other offices of trust. One of the most brilliant of our public men, all honors were within his reach, had he not died before reaching his prime. He passed away in 1860.

Ferr^L in 1868. S. A. and A.'L. Good¬ rich were also early settlers of Bloom¬ ington. Orville Ames and A. M. Whalon, who settled in this town in the earl3" '50's, enlisted in the war, and neither of them returned; the former dying in hospital, the latter in one of the rebel prisons. From 1853, the town settled rapidly, and, while other portions of the count3" yet remained a wilderness, Bloomington supported a settler on nearl3' every quarter section.

The civil township was organized, at the residence of R. B. Gleason, on the 11th day of Ma3L 1858, E. B. Stanle3" being Chairman; Elijah Rich, Clerk. Twent3"-five votes were cast, and the following officers were elected : Supervisors - Martin McLeod, Chair¬ man, A. P. Thompson, R. P. Gibson. The last named refusing to qualif3^, Al¬ len G. Goodrich was appointed to fill the place. Town Clerk, E. Rich; As¬ sessor, Elisha Smitli; Collector and Constable, Orville Ames; Overseer of the Poor, Joseph Kenison; Jus¬ tices of the Peace, Joseph Cook, E. B. Stanle3q Road Overseers, M.S. Whalon, T. T. Bazle3L William Chadwick.

Onl3" $100 was voted for collection and expenditure, for town purposes, the first year. Resolutions were passed, at this meeting, regulating the running at large of stock, licens¬ ing dogs, etc., and definitely fixing the height and strength of fences. The first regular meeting of the Board of Town Supervisors, was on the 23d da3'' of Ma3^, 1858, but, the Chairman being absent, an adjournment was taken to the 28th. On that date, the full Board being present, it proceeded to transact all necessary business.

Richfield Axd Hijjomixgtox

The town records are full and com¬ plete, from 1858, down to the present time. From the records, it appears that the town was liberal with boun¬ ties, to men enlisting' therefrom in the war of the rebellion; and, in 1804, we iind the following record;

Voted - to pay the wife of each sol¬ dier, wlu) had received no honnt\', serving in the war, from this town, $2.00 per month, during such service, and each minor child $1.50 jJcr month, from I nly 1st, continuing during full term of service. At a special towy meeting, held August 1st, 1864, the l)roposal to issue bonds to ])a3' boun¬ ties to the men eidisting, to fill the town's tpiota, and avoid the draft, was defeated hy a vote of twenty-three nine. Public spirited citizens, among them John La3uuan; T. Peteler, and William Chadwick, thereupon gave their personal notes to the First Na¬ tional Bank, of Minneapolis, for the necessar^^ funds, and thus filled the cpiota, and prevented the draft taking place in Bloomington.

In 1855, Rev. (4. H. Pond organized the First Presbyterian Church, in Bloomington, and this organization still survives. On January 22d, 1801. a Baptist church was organized in the town. It continued a precarious exist¬ ence until 1872, and, being unable to meet necessary expenses, it was that 3'ear disbanded.

Rev. (r. II. J^ond, while missionary' to the Indians, kept alive an Indian school, which, after settlement began to be made, was attended by such white children as lived conveniently to the mission. In 1855, on the re¬ moval of the Indians, a public school was organized, and Miss Howell was the first teacher. This school continued to be held in a |)rivate house until 1851),

Peter Quinn, one of the earliest settlers of the town of Bloomington, had a most romantic and adventurous career. He was born in Dublin, Ire¬ land, in 17S9. When a mere hoy, he either ran away with or was carried off by a party of British sailors, and carried by them to York Factory, on Hudson's Bay. Arriving there, he remained some months, when he was induced to join a party of Esquimaux Indians, with whom he lived three years. He was ransomed by a party of Hudson Bay trappers, among whom was Mr. Graham, a vScotchman, whose half-blood daughter became the wife of Alexander Faribault, the founder of the city of Faribault. Quinn was brought to Fort Garry, where he re¬ mained several years, and there mar¬ ried a .Scotch half-breed, by the name of Mary Louise Findley, who still lives in this town. In 1824, Quinn made his advent in Minnesota, at the trading post of Lac qni Parle. Here he concluded to remain, and was util¬ ized, as interpreter and general assis¬ tant, around the trading post. In 1825, Mrs. Qui nil determined to join her husband, in Minnesota, and came, on snow shoes, from Fort Garry to Crow V ing, on the upper Mississippi, and was there met by her husband, and taken to Fort Snelling. Soon after¬ ward, he was appointed agent of the .\merican Fur Company^, and opened a trading post on Leech Lake, where he remained, with his family, until 1827. In the last named year, Mr. Quinn entered the employ of the I nited States (lovernment, as inter¬ preter, mail carrier, etc., remaining a trusted euqiloye ol the military and civil authorities until the day of his death. He was one of the mail car- riers employed between Prairie du Chien and Fort Snelling, before 1830. In 1843 he took up his final residence in the town of Bloomington, where his home remained until 1862. He was employed by the authorities to use his efforts in saving the lives of settlers, during the outbreak of 1862, and, while engaged in that laudable work, was killed by the Indians, at Redwood agency, in the summer of 1862. His widow still survives, living in Bloomington with her daughter, Mrs. Margaret Brassian, on the farm opened by her father. Quite a num¬ ber of Mr. Quinn's descendants still reside in this country.

Chaptek Xlvii

Eden J^rairie and Minnetonka - Town Site Efeorts in Eden Prairie - Alex¬ ander Wilkin - Loren W. Collins - The Last Battle Between the Sioux and Chippewas - Industrial and Educational Begin¬ nings - Pioneers OF Minnetonka and Their Earliest

Eden Prairie

HIS town lies also in the southern portion of the county, and is skirt¬ ed, on the south, lij" the Minnesota River. Its first settlers date back to 1852, in the summer of which 3'ear, David Ivivingston, Samuel Mitchell, John McKenzie, Alexander and Aaron Gould, and others, took claims within its limits. Hiram Abbott, however, is conceded to have been the oldest settler, he having located his claim in 1851, immediatel3" following the ex¬ tinguishment of the Indian title to all of the lands west of the Mississippi River.

The town site fever, of the early '50's, also gained a foothold in this rural neighborhood. Mr. John Mc¬ Kenzie, in 1852, took his claim, near the Minnesota River, on sections 24 and 35. Thinking the location favor¬ able for a town site, he associated with him Hon. Alexander Wilkin,* at that

* Mr. Wilkin was formerly Secretary of the Ter¬ ritory. He lived in St. Paul, until the hreakinji out of the warof the rehellion. When Fort Sumpter was fired upon, he raised a company and olTered his ser¬ vices to Governor Ramsey, his company being "A," the senior company in the "Old First," Minnesota Volunteers - the regiment which gained undying time Secretar3' of the Territor3', and platted a portion of his claim into vil¬ lage lots, calling the embr3"o cit3'^ "Hennepin." A hotel was built, Iw the proprietors, a store established, anti, for a time, it was quite a shipping point for grain. Its proximit3^ to the larger towns of Shakopee, Chaska and Carver, however, prevented its growth, and, a few 3'ears later, the lots were vacated, and the spot converted into a farm.