Minneapolis City (part 14 of 80)

In the spring of 18.54, Charles P. Collins, who had been a member of the Excelsior . Colon3', grew dissatis¬ fied with his claim, on upper Lake Minnetonka, and determinetl to go over toward the Minnesota Yalle3" and find a more desiralile location. He found the little settlement, made the 3'ear before, all broken up over a shoot¬ ing scrape, in which a settler, named John Gorman, had badL' wounded i'lr. Samuel Mitchell. Of course Gorhonors in the Army of the Potomac. Later, Captain Wilkin was promoted to the Colonelcy of the Fourth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, a regiment which, largely through his soldierly <|ualities, became one of Ihe most efficient in the service. Colonel IVilkin was killed, at the battle of Tupelo, in Mississippi.

Accompanying Mr. Collins was his son, Loren W. Collins, at that time a boy of sixteen, since become promin¬ ent in the history of the State.*

Before the State organization, Mr. Hiram Abbott was commissioned Jus¬ tice of the Peace, and William O. Col¬ lins appointed Constable. This was in 1854.

On the 11th da}" of May, 1858, the first town meeting was held, in the old school house, and the following town¬ ship officers chosen; Supervisors - Aaron Gould, Chairman, Robert An¬ derson and William O. Collins; Clerk, William H. Rouse; Collector, A. K. Miller; Assessor, Wm. J. Jarrett; Over¬ seer of Poor, John Keeley; Justices of the Peace, William O. Collins and

* Hon. L. W. Collins is Associate Justice of the Supreme Court at this time (1891). Judge Collins removed, with his father, a year or two later, from the Eden Prairie farm, to a town site, called Lewis¬ ton, on the Cannon River, in Dakota County. Here he commenced active business, on his own account, by teaching a country school, in the town of Ran¬ dolph - salary $20 per month, and "board around. '> In 1860, he went to Hastings and commenced the study of law, with the firm of Smith, Smith & Crosby. In 1861, he enlisted as private in the Seventh Minnesota Infantry, and was chosen and commissioned Second Lieutenant. He served through the war with his regiment, being mustered out with the rank of Captain. Removing to St. Cloud, he entered upon the active practice of his profession, in which he was deservedly successful. He served as County Attorney, of Stearns County, several terms in the legislature, and was finally appointed (and afterwards elected) Judge of the District Court. In 1888, he was elected Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, for six years, upon the Republican State ticket. He polled the largest majority of any man on the ticket, reaching nearly 50,000. Judge Collins has justly been regarded one of the leading citizens of Minnesota, to which he came, from the old Bay State, in early boyhood. Self educated, to a large degree, he is yet regarded, by his profession and the public, as a profound lawyer, an able politician and statesman, and an honest man. It is seldom that the prizes of public life hunt out and alight upon men as es.sentially worthy as this boy pioneer of Hennepin County, who has filled every position to which he has been called with high ability, and perfect rectitude.

James Gamble; Constables, A. K. Mil¬ ler and Arch Anderson. For the first 3^ear of civil government, the total ex¬ pense incurred by the town was $55.04.

The first white child born within the limits of the town was in 1852 - a daughter, to Mr. and Mrs. P. Butter¬ field. It died in infanc}". The first marriage contracted was between Wil¬ liam Chambers and Martha Mitchell, sometime during the winter of 1852-3. Neither of the parties to this marriage are now living.

It was in the southern portion of this town, and across the river, on the Scott County side, that the final bat¬ tle between the Sioux and Chippewa Indians was fought. On the 27th day of May, 1858, a large band of Sioux In¬ dians encamped near Murphy's Ferry, just below Shakopee, on the south bank of the Minnesota River. A war part}" of Chippewas, looking for re¬ prisals for the murder of one of their number, by Sioux, near Crow Wing, the. year previous, concealed them¬ selves, just opposite the Sioux camp, in Bden Prairie. A small party of Sioux, unsuspicious of danger, crossed to the north side of the river, earl}^ in the morning, with the intention of fishing. The}" were fired upon, and one or two Sioux killed and wounded. This caused the utmost consternation among the Sioux braves, the lives of whose squaws and pappooses were endangered. They made hurried ar¬ rangements for such defense as could be made. The Chippewa war party numbered about one hundred war¬ riors - the Sioux about seventy. Send¬ ing their women and children to the rear, the Dakota braves took posses¬ sion of the ferry, and crossed the en¬ tire number of their fighting force be¬ fore the Chippewas knew what they were doing. The Sioux selected a

Several whites witnessed the con¬ test, and strove to prevent outrages upon the corpses, but without result. The battle raged until nearU^ noon, when the Chippewas retreated, carr3'- ing tlieir dead and wounded with them. The number killed could never be ascertained.

This was the last battle ever waged between these two savage nations. Here, on the soil of Eden Prairie, was terminated the feud of centuries. Four 3'ears afterward, occurred the terrible Sioux outbreak, against the whites, which resulted in sending the rem¬ nants of the tierce Dakota bands to the Missouri Valle3' and the plains of the far West, and the warfare of these two aboriginal clans of warriors ceased forever.

The first school house ever erected in Eden Prairie was built, in 1854, of basswood lumber and tamarack logs. The first teacher was Miss Sarah Clark, and the first term held iti this building was during the summer of 1854. The old house was used for all sorts of public juirposes, until the 3"ear 1873, when it was torn down to give place to a more modern structure.

The first religious services ever held in the town was in 1854, at the resi¬ dence of Hiram Abbott; Rev. G. H. Pond preached. Eater, a regular societ3" was organized, and Sunda3' servdces held in the log school house. Rev. Edward Eggleston, a gentleman who has since become famous as a literary man, fre(iuentl3" preached to cotigregations, in this old log school house, in the early histor3" of the town.

1861, b3" Dr. Nathan Stanton. The first store was opened at the village of Hennepin, in 1854, b3MIoweand Dunn. The post office was established, also, in 1854, and J. Starring appointed post¬ master, which position he held for fourteen 3^ears.

This town takes its name from the large and beautiful lake of the same name. The first recorded visit of white persons to this lovel3" sheet of water was in 1821, when two bo3^s - Joseph R. Brown, a drummer bo3^ of the Fifth United States Infantr3", and a son of Colonel Snelling, followed the meanderings of Minnehaha Creek to its source in Lake Minnetonka. The name was not given to it until the summer of 1852, when Governor Ramse3' and a part3" of friends made an ex¬ cursion to the lake, and it was dul3^ christened "Minnetonka," being the Sioux word for "large water."

The town of Minnetonka is located in the southern part of the count3', and was, originall3", covered with a most luxuriant growth of hardwood timber. The surface is generall3^ roll¬ ing, and the banks of the lake were evidentl3^ a favorite dwelling place of the extinct race known as the "Mound Builders" - for here are found a large number of these mounds, which were, 1)3' the Indians, loooked upon as "\Vakan," or sacred. As such, they were used 1)3' the fndians as burial places for their dead. Only Gra3''s Lake and \Va3'zata ba3', of Lake Minnetonka proper, are located in this town.

In the spring of 1852, was the ad¬ vent of the first settlers. At that time Janies vShaver, Jr., and Simon Stevens took claims, holding their homes as scpiatters, as the Indian title was not 3'et extinguished. Mr. Shaver located on the south shore of Wayzata Bay. His wife was the first white woman to make her home in the town. Later, in the same year, came James Moun¬ tain, Mrs. Mary Gordon and five sons, John McGalpin, George Andrews, John Bourgeois, and others.

In 1853, the village of Minnetonka Mills was started, and Simon Stevens, Calvin Tuttle and Horace Webster be¬ gan the erection of a saw mill at that point. This mill was completed, dur¬ ing the summer, and placed in opera¬ tion during the fall.

It was not until 1854 that settlers came in rapidly". During that, and the two succeeding years, every available claim in the township was located, and, before the organization of the civil township, 1858, there was scarcely a , government claim in the town. NearL^ all of the early settlers were of' American birth, and largeL^ from the New England states.

The first white children born in the town were twin sous, to James and Sarah C. Shaver. They saw the light in August, 1853, and are still living, respected citizens of the town. The first marriage was contracted between Mr. Newton Sperry and Mrs. Waters, a widow lady, in the spring of 1857. In the same year, W. S. Cowan was elected a member of the State legisla ture.

On the 11th da5" of May, 1858, the town was organized, at the Minne¬ tonka hotel. L. W. Eastman, was Moderator, and B. M. Vanalstine, Clerk. The following officers were chosen:

Supervisors - Frederick Bassett,Chairman, B. M. Vanalstine and J. P. Mil¬ ler; Clerk, George McKinley; Asses¬ sor, L. W. Eastman; Collector, H. R. Eddy; Overseer of the Poor, John Mc- Gann; Justices of the Peace, A. B. Robinson and J. C. Clay; Constables, M. B. Stowe, A. R. Richards; Road Overseer, John McKenzie. The first meeting of the Board was held, at the office of the Town Clerk, in the village of Minnetonka, May 28th, 1858. The first wagon road laid out and legall}^ established, was known as the "Har¬ rington Road," beginning at the resi¬ dence of John S. Harrington, travers¬ ing a northeasterly direction, and con¬ necting with the Watertown road, west of the village of Wayzata. This road was surveyed by B. F. Christeib, and established in 1860.

Earl3- in the 3^ear 1855, the first post office in the town was established at Minnetonka village; the first post¬ master being D. Pascal Spafford. The second post office was established at Wa3"zata,also in 1855, and a man named O. C. Garrison appointed postmaster. In 1862, the ofOce was discontinued, and the office of South Pl3^mouth es¬ tablished. This office was about a mile and a half east of Wa3^zata. In 1865, the office of Wa3"zata was estab¬ lished, under the name of Freeport, and the South Pl3"mouth c ffice dis¬ continued. Some dissatisfaction be¬ ing manifest at the change of name, it was afterward i-e-christened Wa3"- zata.

Excelsior axo Minxetrista - The Excelsior Colony - Arrival of the Colony AT Mlnneafolis - Excelsior Village Foundei) - EarliEvST Settlers - First Bciloings and Stores- Early Churches and Schools -

Excelsior

''PHIS town owes its first settlers, as i well as its name, to an association of colonists, known as the "Excelsior Pioneer Association," orjranized in the cit}' of New York, in the fall of 1852. This colonizing societ3' issued, in No¬ vember of that 3'ear, the following prospectus ;

\Vhe:rEx\s, We, the undersigned, hav¬ ing associated ourselves into a bod}', to remove to Minnesota Territorv, next summer, and occup}' some of the gov¬ ernment lands, now vacated hv the late treat}' with the Sioux Indians, and having been on a tour through the Western States last summer, have selected a site for a village and farm¬ ing country that, for healthfulness of climate, fertility of soil, beauty of scenery and nearness of markets, can¬ not he surpassed by any other locality in the country; being within twelve or fifteen miles of two of the most important towns in the Territory (St. Paul and St. Anthony Falls), and hav¬ ing a front on a lake navigable for steam and other boats over forty miles, its waters as clear as crystal and abounding with fish. The land around the lake is also supplied with natural meadow, the country is gently rolling, and intersjiprsed with the most beau¬ tiful growth of timber that the eye could wish to look upon, consisting of sugar maple, black walnut, butternut, white and red oak, and a variety of others; also, with wild fruit, grapes and berries of almost every kind. The whole country in fact, possessing every thing that the heart of man could wish for. Therefore, in order to avail ourselves of all the advantages of an old settled country, and secure ourselves such increase of value as must result from a concentration of numbers upon the land, together with our own efl'orts in its improvement, erection of a village and settling the farms thereupon, and all the blessings of life. We, each and all of us, who subscribe in the following constitu¬ tion, do combine ourselves, our means and our energies, in this enterprise, to support and carry into effect its laws. Officers : President, Geo. M. Bertram; Vice-President, John M. Willis; Sec¬ retary, Samuel F. Blodgett; Treasurer, Edward Bond. Any person, at a dis¬ tance, wishing to become a member of this association, or wishing informa¬ tion, can have all the information that he reiiuires by addressing the I^resident at 208 Grand Street, New York.

This colonizing scheme was the out¬ growth of a visit to Fake Minnetonka, in the summer of 1852, by George .'I. Bertram. Before leaving Minnesota, on his return to New York, he had broached the subject to Colonel John H. Stevens, then living on his claim on the western shore of the Missis¬ sippi River, above the Falls of St. Anthon}^. Colonel Stevens, alwa3^s alert for the settlement of his adopted State, consented to act as the local agent of the company. While in St. Paul, on his return to the East, Mr. Bertram met R. B. McGrath, then a resident of Dubuque, Iowa, who at once joined the Association. Accord¬ ing to an agreement made with Mr. Bertram, the year before, Mr. McGrath came to the Falls, in the earl^^ daj^s of Ma3'^, 1853, and, receiving directions from Colonel Stevens, proceeded to the site of the present village of Ex¬ celsior, for the purpose of erecting a house, for the use of Mr. Bertram. A few days later, accompanied by R. C. Wiley, and a surve3'ing part3^, Mc¬ Grath started for Minnetonka Lake, to locate a road, for the use of the new colon3^ from St. Anthon3^ Falls. This road was afterwards extended and, became the old territorial road to Fort Ridgel3^ The part3^ were saluted b3^ a heav3^ snow storm, but managed, with the aid of a pioneer settler (one Stephen Hall), to find the site, selected the season previous by Mr. Bertram. On the 1st day of June, the house - constructed of logs - was ready for occupancy. The first member of the colony to arrive was Rev. Charles Galpin, who also, at a later date, founded the first church in Excelsior. He was soon followed by Bertram, the projector of the enterprize and presi¬ dent of the Association, who arrived with a number of families. A claim of 160 acres was at once made for a town site and platted into village lots. This was the commencement of the present beautiful and flourishing vil¬ lage of Excelsior. During the sum¬ mer of 1853, quite a number of log and frame buildings were erected, and, in the winter, at a public meeting held in McGrath's carpenter shop, the name "Excelsior" was given to the village.

The earliest actual settlers of the township were Peter M. Gideon, R. B. McGrath, Geo. M. Bertram, A. P. Beeman, Rev. Charles Galpin, and some others. These macje their location in 1853. William Harve3", Silas A. Sea¬ mans, Z. D. Spaulding, William Fer¬ guson, and others, came and located in 1854. Among others who arrived and made their homes here in 1855-6, the names of the following ma3^ be mentioned: Silas Howard, W. B.

Jones, Enos Day, Rev. C. B. Sheldon, and Elijah Carson, and some others, whose names are now unattainable. Of these, William Ferguson was acci¬ dentally drowned, in 1857. Many of them are still living, and their de¬ scendants are residents of the beauti¬ ful countr3^ redeemed from the wilder¬ ness b3^ their fathers and mothers. Bertram remained only a few years with his colony. He first removed to Minneapolis, and, afterward, to Monticello, where he died, years ago.

The first store in the town was es¬ tablished by H. M. Pease, in 1855. The same year, a steam saw mill was erect¬ ed, by a stock company, in the village. In 1858 (April 26), Fred. Crosby and Henry O. Hammond established a newspaper, called the Excelsior En¬ terprise. Onl3^ one number of this sheet was issued, the enterprising young men not receiving sufficient encouragement.

Morris I. Hargin, 1856, platted the village of St. Albans, on St. Alban's Bay, and proceeded to erect a saw mill and hotel. This embryo cit3' was, like the Excelsior newspaper, ver3^ short lived. The financial crisis of

Excelsior And Minnetrista

On the 11th da}" of April, 1858, the civil township was organized, at the house of John Green. Dr. E. Snell was Moderator, and M.H. Pease, Clerk. Following is a list of the first officers chosen: Supervisors, K. B. IMcGrath, Chairman, Lewis Thompson, and E. Bennett; Town Clerk, Charles B. Shel¬ don; Assessor, Wm. B. Jones; Col¬ lector, M. H. Pease; Justices of the Peace, Stephen Hull and I. Wilcox; Constables. H. L. Beeman and Peter M. Gideon; Road Commissioner, Mor¬ ris Powers.

In the organization of the township, the Board of County Commissioners had designated the territory of the civil township as all of Township No. 117, north. Range 23, west. This con¬ tinued until 1868, when all the terri¬ tory north of the lake was detached and joined to the township of Medina. From that time, the northern bound¬ ary of Excelsior has been the centre line of the lake.

The first church organized in Excel¬ sior was of the Congregational denom¬ ination, and the date of its birth was July 17th, 1853. As stated above. Rev. Charles Galpin organized this church, and was, for man}" years, its pastor. The first services were held in the j)arlor of the hotel; afterward, the con¬ gregation occupied the school house and a public hall. In 1871, a church edifice was erected. In 1872, the Epis¬ copalian denomination erected, in the village, a neat log church.

Miss Jane Wolcott has the honor of teaching the first school in the town. It assembled in a log school house, erected by the first settlers in the vil¬ lage, in the summer of 1854. The log building was replaced, in 1857, by a two story frame structure.

Captain C. May erected a grist mill in Excelsior village, in 1876, at a cost of $8,000. He owned and run this mill until some years ago, when he re¬ moved to North Dakota.

In the year 1878, the State pur¬ chased a quarter section of land, ad¬ joining the farm of Peter M. Gideon, and established thereon a State ex¬ perimental fruit farm, placing the in¬ stitution in charge of Peter >1. Gideon, who was the earliest and most persist¬ ent resident of Minnesota in the cul¬ tivation of fruits.

Excelsior village was the first point settled in the town. Here the post office was located, and all the business of the colony and the early settlers transacted. It did not become a dis¬ tinct municipal government, however, until 1877. During the session of the legislature, that 5"ear, a special act was passed, granting a charter to Ex¬ celsior village, and since that time it has been an independent municipal cor¬ poration. The first village election was held April 16th, 1877, at which the following officers were chosen; President, M. May; Trustees, L. F. Sampson, Eli Small, Jr., and James Letson; Recorder, A. Miller; Treas¬ urer, E. H. Page. From the begin¬ ning of its histor}". Excelsior took strong grounds against the traffic in intoxicating liquors, and has always been celebrated throughoixt the county as a pronounced temperance commun¬ ity. Since Lake Minnetonka has be¬ come a famous watering place and a favored spot for summer visitors, sev¬ eral large hotels have been erected in the town. The Lake Park, St. Louis and Hotel Harrow are all located within the limits of the town. The village has many large and well pat¬ ronized hoarding houses for the ac¬ commodation of summer visitors, but no large or well ecpiipped hotel.

The first settlers of this town (which finds its location in the extreme south¬ western portion of the county), did not come until the spring of 1854. Two brothers, John and Joseph Merz, marked out and located claims in the southwestern part of the town, on Section 32, in the fall of 1853, but did not settle thereon until 1854. During the same spring, John Carman, of Ex¬ celsior, filed a claim of 141 acres, for M. S. Cook. This claim was on the shore of Lake Minnetonka, at what is now known as "Cook's Bay." Mr. Cook did not arrive until the fall of 1854, when he at once proceeded to build a cabin on his claim and occupy it for a permanent house. J. F. Buck and H. Saunders took claims the same season, and proceeded to improve them. Samuel L. Merriman made a claim on Section 6, in 1857.

Frank William Halsted was one of the earliest settlers in Minnetrista, taking, in 1855, a claim on the banks of upper Lake Minnetonka, on the shores of what is now known as "Halsted's Bay." He was the son of Chancellor Oliver Spencer Halsted, of New Jersey, and was one of the "Argonauts of 1849," to California, then being but sixteen years of age. Returning from California, in 1855, he came to Minnesota, and located as above stated. Here he lived alone, surrounded by his books, and soon became known as "The Hermit." On the breaking out of the war, he enlist¬ ed in the navy, and served throughout the war. Being an educated gentle¬ man and an able seaman, he was pro¬ moted, on examination, to the rank of Master, and, for many months, com¬ manded the steamer. General Pillow. He bore the name of a most excellent, brave and patriotic officer, and, at the close of the war, returned to Minne¬ sota, again taking up his residence at his former house, erecting on his claim a new and larger cabin, known as "The Hermitage." Here he lived, until 1876, sequestered from men, making but few acquaintances, and enjo3dng only the society of his books and his pets. One morning his cabin was found to be deserted. An empty row-boat floated idl}^ in the summer sunshine out upon the waters of the beautiful baj". It was suspected that he had committed suicide, and search was made for his remains. His body was finally drawn to the surface. He had filled a sack with stones, fastened it securel^^ around his neck, and found a water}^ grave in the waters of the ba3q the shore of which had been his only home for 21 years. Captain Hal¬ sted was one of the peculiar characters of the count3". A gentleman of marked intelligence, refined tastes, and pos¬ sessing a handsome and magnetic personalit3^, it was the constant won¬ der of his neighbors why he had left his eastern home and immured him¬ self, during early youth and manl3^ prime, in the wilds of the far West. He never gratified their curiosity, and if there was a secret motive for his unusual action he kept it sacredly, and carried it with him to his watery grave, and into the speechless be3"ond. He never held any public position, except Justiceof the Peace, although againand again solicited, by his neighbors, to allow his name to be used for other and higher official stations.

The Count3^ Commissioners desig¬ nated Town 117, Range 74, as a civil township, at their meeting on April 10th, 1858, fixing the name "German Home" thereto. This name remained until 1859, when the township was organized by the settlers. The meet- itig' was held at the residence of M. S. Cook, and the present name, "Minnetrista," agreed tipon. The name is composed of two Dakota words, and signifies "Crooked Waters."

At the same meeting giving the name to the town, the following offi¬ cers were chosen, being the first officials ever elected in the town: vSnpervisors, Peter Mitchels, ChairjTian, M. vS. Cook, Bphraim l)ndle3"; Town Clerk, K. V. Langdon. Minnetrista failed to furnish its (|uota of volunteers for the war, and, in 18(54, the following citizens were drafted into the militar}^ service of the countr}": Warren Merriman, A. Black,

C^'rus Beaman, Martin Ort, John Rei¬ ser, Henr3' Trunes, John Adelberger, Joseph Bbert, A. Ebert, Joseph Ball, A. Schneider, F. Merz, John Herschberger, William Schuler, Joseph Schmidt, James Baile}^ and Ephraim Dudle3^

In 1858, the first church society was organized - the German Baptist, on November 22d. In 18(55, tliis society' built a place of worship at a total cost, in money, of $150. The remainder of the expense was contributed, in labor,

Iw the members of the organization. St. Bonifacius Catholic Church was organized, b^' Father Shearer, in 1859, and a church edifice erected the same 3"ear. There is a parish school con¬ nected with this church.

Miss Celia St urman taught the pioneer public school in the town, in the summer of 18(50, at the house of Mr. Gribber, near where Mound Citv now is. Miss Emma Carman taught a school, at the house of Mr. Peter Mitchels, the same j^ear.

Several watering place hotels are located on the banks of the lake, in this town, notablj' Chapman's and Cook's, at the upper extremity of the lake.

The first post office was established in 185(5. It was named St. Bonifacius, and John Merz was the first postmas¬ ter. Minnetrista post office was estab¬ lished in 18(51, Norman Shook, post¬ master. In 187(5, the post office of Mound Cit}" was created, and fames Pearl appointed postmaster.

The first store was opened at St. Bonifacius, 1)3' John Merz and Anthon3' Cramer, in 1859, Mr. Merz purchasing the interest of his partner in 18(50.

Chapter Xllx

Independence anj) 'Medina - Earliest Settlements-7=-Origin of Name of Independ¬ ence- The Grasshopper Plague - Organization and First Officers - Pearly Schools and Churches - Game in Medina - Early Pioneers- David Eydiard-^ Advent of White Woman - Religious and Edcca-

Independence

AKE Independence is one of the most beautiful and charming of all the beautiful lakes which gem the count}^ of Hennepin. It was so named, b}^ Kelsey Hinman, wlio was one of a picnic party which celebrated the Fourth of July on the banks of the lake, in 1855. The town took its name from the lake.

The first settlers in the town appear to have made their advent there in the spring of 1855, although some claims had been located the fall previous. -Vmong those named as old settlers, are Wm. Fogleman, Job Moffett, E. Brandon, Irwin Shi'ewsbury, J. B. Per¬ kins, John H. McGai'ry, E. Hoisington, John M. Williams, Daniel Steiner, and others. The first white child born was a daughter to Daniel and Mar¬ garet Steiner. She is now Mrs. Lizzie Dodd, and lives in Minneapolis. The first marriage was in 1850 - Kelsey" Hinman to Miss Lydia Ann Moffat.

In 1857, John B. and Needham Per¬ kins built, each of them, a frame resi¬ dence on the southern bank of the lake, and platted a portion of their lands into village lots. These were the first frame houses erected in the town. Needham Perkins commenced and completed a saw mill and opened a countr}^ store on the site of this vil¬ lage. This village was abandoned and vacated two years later. It does not appear that it ever arrived at the dignit}" of a name, though the settlers commonly designated it as "Perkins' Corners."

The eai'L" development of the town was injured by the grasshoppers, swarms of which devoured ever}" green thing in sight, during the seasons of 1856-7. The pioneers were almost driven to starvation, but, fortunately, the timber lands in the town produced a natural crop, which brought a cash price. Ginseng saved them from suf¬ fering, as it did main- other of the early communities of the State. In

The civil townsliij) was organi/.ed on the 11th daj' of April, 1858. R. F. Stinson was Moderator, and Win. C. Hazelton, Clerk. Onl^' 18 votes were cast, and the following named officers were chosen to organize the jnoneer government of the town: vSti])ervisors, Irwin Shrewsbury, Chairman, Daniel Steiner and E. Brandon; Clerk, Norman Shook; Assessor, Win. C. Hazelton; Collector, N. E. McGarry; Justices of the Peace, Robert 1^. Stin¬ son and Henr}' Swingle}'; Constables, Wesley Hall and Earl Hoisington; Overseer of Highway's, John C. Wil¬ liams.

The first meeting of the Board of Supervisors was held Ma}' 19th, 1858, and, at this meeting, it was ordered that every quarter section of land oc¬ cupied by a settler should he valued for assessment at $500, and that the tax for road purposes should not ex¬ ceed 30 cents per $100. It was also re¬ solved that every citizen over the age of 21 years and under 50, shouki give to the town two days' work upon the roads for the year. The lirst year's expense of the town government was $98.59.

In 1868, the tirst village was estahlished- Maple Plain - on the.main line of the old St. Paul and Pacific Rail¬ way, now one branch of the Great Northern.

In 1856, the first post office was es¬ tablished, named Independence, and Irwin Shewsbury appointed postmas¬ ter. At first the mail was weekl}', atid the route terminated here. Eater, a post office was established at Watertown, Carver Count}', and the route extended from iMinneapolis through, via Independence, to that point, and.

later, to Hutchison, McLeod Countv. In vSeikember, 1868, the railroad was completed to, and the station of Maple Plain established. This village has since been the metropolis of the town, and is one of the most thriving of the smaller communities of the county.

The first school house was built in 1858. Norman .Shook taught the first school in the town, during the winter of 1857-8. It was held in the residence built by Wm. Lewis, who had died the previous summer, and whose faniih' had removed from the town.

The first church society organized was of the IMethodist Episcopal de¬ nomination. It was formed under the directions of J. J. Camp, and is still in existence, as a religious society. Rev. Charles Thayer organized a Presbvterian Church, at Maple Plain, in 1871.

Medina

This is one of the most beautiful and fertile townships in the county, and was settled by as intelligent, as hardy, and as enterprising a class of people as were ever known to form a new community. They represented ])eople born in nearly every North¬ eastern State, from Maine to Indiana, together with tpiite a sprinkling of Germans, and several families from the Eastern Provinces of Canada - Nova Scotia being especially rej)re sented by some who have since be¬ come prominent in State and comity affairs. It seems particularly difficult to designate who was exactly the first settler or pioneer of the town. Stephen Bean, a "Maineite," settled, a mile or two west of Long Lake, early in 1854, and has been usually accorded the honor and credit of being the "oldest inhabitant." Earl and William Kassube arrived about the same time, while A. J. French arrived and drove his stake on the bank of Crystal Bay, Lake Minnetonka, about the same period. In those days there had been no government surveys; there were very few roads, and these rudelj" cut through the woods. Familiar inter¬ course, even between comparatively near neighbors, was frequentl^^ diffi¬ cult, because of the numerous lakes, streams and swamps to be crossed, and the heavj^ forests intervening, which were pathless, except for an occasional deer trail. And game - how plentiful it was in these virgin forests, and fertile prairies, as 3^et un¬ touched b}" the plow. Man}' of the old timers still remain to repeat to their children and grandchildren romantic stories of contests with the wild cat; and how the3" varied the amusement of opening farms b3" an almost dail3", sometimes hourly, shot at a deer to provide food for the table.

Before the winter of 1854-5 had fairly set in, there had quite a large number of claims been located, and man3" settlers had built cabins, and were prepared to brave the rigors of a fierce Minnesota winter Iw their own hearthstone.

David L3^diard, and a part3" of bachelor friends, from Nova Scotia, were among the settlers during this fall. Mr. L3^diard still lives, now just in the prime ( f life, at Long Lake, near where he first made settlement. He has filled quite a large place in the histor3^ of the town and county, hav¬ ing befen chosen to very man3^ of the town offices, and been several times elected to represent the count3' in the State Legislature. He is a good t3'^pe of the strong men who pioneered the wild woods of this beautiful town.

Mr. Christleib, too, has filled a prom¬ inent place in the count3^'s histor3", having served the people honorably and faithfully, in many high and re¬ sponsible public positions.

Heretofore the settlement in Medina had been a "stag. part3^," to descend to the slang of the day, most of the pioneers being without wives, mothers or sisters. Earl3" in this season, Messrs. Henr3^ Graves and Allan Grave dropped into the town, bringing their families with them. Each of these had a grown daughter. Civili¬ zation was approaching, floating the flag of all nations - the petticoat. It is 3"et told what a sensation was created among the young fellows who were "holding down squatter's claims," when the news circulated over lake and stream that there were two real, live, white young ladies arrived and settled. Heretofore social events had been confined to helping one of the boys build his cabin, attended by basso profundo vocal music, a game of "old sledge," with possibly an occasional nip of old rye, smuggled out from St. Anthon3^'s Ealls. Now society began to dream of boiled shirts, framed houses, and domestic bliss.

During the summer, a colony of Germans, consisting of about 50 families, arrived and settled in a bod3^, all taking claims as near together as possible. It is only just to say that these people have been a treasure to the county and the State. Prudent, economical, industrious, they have made the best of citizens, having actu¬ ally "made the wilderness to blossom as the rose." They have, most of them, reared large families, and man3^ of their offspring are now ranked among the leading business men of the county and State. They are no longer "Dutchmen," or Germans, but

About 1856, all the claims of an}" special value had been taken, and some later comers, finding themselves left in the race, proceeded to "jump" the claims of those who had been among the earl}" arrivals. The settlers did not j^roceed to organize an associ¬ ation for mutual protection, as they did in other portions of the State, but a German, named Kohler, having taken possession of Mr. C. E. Dickey's claim, on Section 26, Samuel Lydiard, since removed to California, where he now owns a large fruit farm, and is wealthy, organized a posse coxuitatus, and ordered the man off the claim. He refused to leave. They forced him off the claim and tore down his cabin, notifying him that if he returned his life would be in jeopardy. He did not return until he had purchased Mr. Dickey's rights. One or two other in¬ cidents of this character happened with like results. Afterwards, the pioneers rested under their own vine and fig tree, with none to molest or make them afraid.

In 1857, the Minneapolis and Fort Kidgely territorial road was surveyed through this town - afterwards one of the leading highways, of the State. It was located by Isaac A. Christleib and Samuel Lydiard and surv"eyed by R. J. Mendenhall - all of them living, at this writing.

It was not until 1858 that the town had a post office or a school house. The former was located on Section 26, named Tamarac, with Henry Stubbs as postmaster. It was afterward moved, in 1861, and still remains at the village of Long Lake. The name was not changed to Long Lake, how¬ ever, until 1867. The mail remained

The civil township (town 118, range 23), was first named Hamburg, and so appears in the records. At the first town meeting, on May 11th, 1858, it was changed to Medina. The first officers were: Supervisors, Valerous Chilson, Chairman, C. W. Burchfield, George Reiser; Town Clerk, \V. F. Hillman; Assessor, L. Lenzen; Col¬ lector, Andrew Scherer; Overseer of Poor, Joseph Lenzen; Justices of the Peace, Win. Archibald and James Crowe; Constables, Leo Stunipf and Adolph Buttz; Overseer of Roads, B. Gasper. At that time the town em¬ braced but one geographical town¬ ship, 6 miles square, but, in 1858, that portion of Excelsior lying north of Lake Minnetonka was added to it, by the County Commissioners, at the re¬ quest of the people of Excelsior. This occurred on March 2d, 1858.

The Indian massacre, of 1862, creat¬ ed much terror in this town, and the people built several stockades - .one at Long Lake village, and at other points, where the settlers could take refuge, in case of need. No outrages were committed by the Indians, however.

The first preaching in the town was by Rev. George Galpin, Methodist, in 1858. The first church organized was in 1863 - Presbyterian, by Rev. James Hunter. This society built an edifice, and it is now used by all evangelical denominations in common.

The English Catholics have a church (Saints Peter and I^aul). Also the German Catholics, and French Cath¬ olics, all of which sustain services and have large congregations.

Crystal Lake and Brooklyn - Early Doings in Crystal Lake - Yankee Commun¬ ity - Ea'rly Churches and Schools - First Teacher - A Lesson to Officers - Brooklyn Pioneer Days - Sketch of Pierre Bottineau - Some OF THE Early Settlers - Early Struggles of the Townsite Fiend.

Crystal Lake

HIS town is practically a portion of Minneapolis, l3Mng just north of the metropolis, and bounded on the east by the Mississippi River. Doubt¬ less, before many 3"ears, it will be a portion of the cit3^ proper, covered over with the business marts and happy homesx of a great city. It is already the market garden of the city, while some portions of the town, as originall3^ organized, are now included in the city limits. The topography of the country is be'autiful, for city pur¬ poses, being gently undulating, in places, while in other spots it sinks into the dead level of prairie or mead¬ ow. That portion of the town adjoin¬ ing the river is high and rolling, com¬ manding a magnificent view of the stream, and is generally covered with a most charming growth of natural forest^the owners of the land having wisel3^ left the beautiful hard wood groves to grow in all their undisturbed sylvan beaut3L is considered to be the first settler, b3^ one day. He took his claim on the 26th day of March, 1852. The day fol¬ lowing, he had a neighbor in the per¬ son of John C. Bohanon. An examin¬ ation of the names of the large num¬ ber who made homes in this town, during the season of 1852, will prove that is was settled almost exclusivel3^ b3^ those of American birth - and this it practically borne out by the facts. Crystal Lake has always been largely American, its idiosyncrasies and pe¬ culiarities leaning toward those of New England. It has been a "land of stead3^ habits." Later in history, some of the early settlers sold their farms to a colony of Germans. These were chiefl3" Catholics, and, in 1863, the3^ built a church, which is still in use.

Owing to the nearness of the earl3" settlers to the new communit3'- of Min¬ neapolis, those religiously inclined formed no church organization, pre¬ ferring to cast their fortunes with those of the village at the Falls. It was not for eight 3^ears after the first settlement - or in 1860 - that the first religious organization was formed,

In Januaiy, 1853, the County Com¬ missioners constituted School Dis¬ trict No. 2 - the village of Minneapolis being No. 1, which comprised nearl}' the whole northern section of the count}'. Mr. Dow was notified of the tact by Colonel Stevens, Clerk of the Board of Count}' Commissioners, and a school was opened, that same sum¬ mer, in a claim shanty. A Miss Smith was the teacher employed, and she taught less than a dozen pupils. This was the first school taught north of Minneapolis in Hennepin County.

The history of Crystal Lake is as uneventful and prosaic as that of any new community could possibly be. The settlers simply came in and took claims and made farms, with little to annoy or trouble them, or to make them afraid, excepting the grasshopper raid of 1857. These pests did not make a total clean np in Crystal Lake, as they did in some of the other new com¬ munities, and the people, therefore, had something else besides ginseng to keep the wolf from the door, during the long and cold winter of 1857-8.

The town was not organized in 18.58, as most of the other towns had been. The northern i)ortion had been called h armersvi 1 le, and a ])ortion ol what is now Crystal Lake had been assigned, by the County Commissioners, to the town of Brookl}'!!, while still another I)ortion belonged to tbe town of MinneaiK)lis. It was not until 18()() that the town was reconstructed, named Crystal l^ake :md organized, thus commencing its civil history.

organization, and on Aj[)ril 3d, at the same place, an election was held, at which the following list of pioneer officers were chosen: .Supervisors, H. S. Plummer, Chairman, John B. John¬ son, Henry S. Warren; Treasurer, Zachariah Gillis[)ie: Assessor, Luther M. Bartlow; Justices, H. S. Camp and David W. Jones; Constables, Warren Willey and J. .S. Wales; Superintend¬ ent of Schools, N. R, Thompson. Mr. Bartlow failing to (jualify as Assessor, Josiah Dutton was apj)ointed, later, and lilled that position. A tax, for all town jmrposes, of $200, was voted by this meeting. The total number oj' votes cast at this initial election was fifty-five.

A story is told of the earliest town meeting in Crystal Lake, which exemplities a primitive political state. Kvery settler was so busy with his own affairs, that none of them desired to serve as ofiicers. As rapidly as men were nominated they would decline to serve. N. K\ Thom])son was Moder¬ ator. He examined the law, and found that an}' freeholder refusing to serve as a town oflicial could be lined $.50 and costs. Then he said, "(fentlemen, 1 have no desire to interfere with any of yonr private affairs, but the next man elected to serve as an officer of the town of Crystal Lake, and who shall refuse, shall be lined $.50." 'I'lien he read the law. The town offices were soon lilled, without further resiirnations.

Of Ihe early settlers in this toxcn, few seem to have arrived at anv par¬ ticular prominence in county or Stale allairs. We discover, however, that this same N. R. 4'homj)son, recorded as the lirsf Moderator of the first town meeting, and the first .Su i)c'ri ntendent ol Schools ol llu' town, and who pro¬ posed to line his fellow citizens, was afterward, for four years, Sheriff of the county, and served several terms in the Minneapolis City Council, between 1870 and 1880. He still lives in the city, doing a leading business in the insurance line.

This town lies north of Crystal Lake, and its eastern margin is also washed by the Mississippi River. It is mostly prairie, with intervening groves of oak, poplar, and some few other varieties of timber. There is a large quantit}'- of valuable meadow land scattered throughout the town.

The first actual "old settler" is not known. Some time during the spring of 1852, Amos Berr3^ Jacob Longfellow and Washington Getchell, the latter accompanied b^^ his son, Winslow, ar¬ rived at what is now known as Getch¬ ell Prairie, and each staked out a claim of a quarter section.

A few weeks later, or about Julj^ 1st, 1852, there settled in this town, afid gave his name to one of its localities (Bottineau Prairie), one of the most interesting historical characters in Minnesota - Pierre Bottineau. It is not the intention to give biographical sketches of any of the pioneer settlers, and yet right here would seem to be the proper place to insert a brief ac¬ count of this remarkable man - the Daniel Boone of Minnesota and the New Northwest.

Pierre Bottineau represents the blood of two races. His father was a French hois brtzie, his maternal grand¬ father was a Sioux warrior, while his maternal grandmother was a Chippe¬ wa squaw. In his person, therefore, on the maternal side, he unites the two most warlike tribes of Indians whose histor3^ was ever written in blood upon the American Continent; while upon the paternal, he represents that wonderful class of white men, who first trod the pathless wilds of Minnesota - the blood of Duluth, of LaSalle, of Hennepin and Nicollet.

Mr. Bottineau was born about the 3'ear 1810, in the valley of the Red River of the North, sixteen miles west of the point, on that stream, where the beautiful and flourishing cit3^of Grand Forks now stands. His mother had accompanied a part3'^ of Sioux, or Da¬ kota Indians on their summer hunt, for buffalo, and gave birth to an infant son during the progress of that hunt. He grew to manhood around those early settlements on the lower Red River, following the customary occu¬ pations of the half-breeds and Indians - hunting, trapping, etc., adding the profession of interpreter to his other occupations. He had learned from his father the French language, and from his mother both Dakota and Chippe¬ wa, and picked up a smattering of English from the Scotch half-breeds and English emplo3"es of the Hudson Ba3' Company. His identification with Minnesota commenced in Februar3^, 1837, when he started from Fort Garr3^ as guide to Martin McLeod, Captain J. Pays, who had been an offi¬ cer under the old Napoleon, and Rich¬ ard Hays, to conduct them to Fort Snelling. The main incidents of this terrible journey are related elsewhere.

Arriving at Fort Snelling, Bottin¬ eau determined to identif3^ himself with the country. His value as an in¬ terpreter soon came to be understood b3" the military and Indian authori¬ ties, and, from his first arrival at that post, his talents in that direction were frequently utilized. But the 3^oung and active half-breed was omnipres¬ ent. We hear of him accompan3dng alternate parties of Sioux and Chip- pewa chiefs to Wasliiiigton, in the capacity of interpreter. Again he is with a Dakota hand, on the plains west of the Red I'Jiver, hunting l)uffalo. When next heard of he is smok¬ ing the pipe of peace in a Chippewa chiefs wigwam, consiilting as to mak¬ ing peace with their deadl}^ enemies, the Dakotas. In the midst of death, he bears a charmed life. The Dakota blood of his father makes liim a son of the Sioux nation; while the tribal connections of her who bore and nursed him guards him, like a sacred calumet, from the tomahawk and scalping knife of the Chippewa. But better than all these, was the kindh' good nature, the eminent truthful¬ ness, and the innate hatred of blood¬ shed of Pierre himself. From his In¬ dian ancestors he inherited stoicism, dignit^^ of bearing, indifference to pain or fatigue; from his French forefath¬ ers a natural politeness and good fellowshi]), combined witli keeping faith, which made him reliable and popular with eveiw one. He settled first at St. Paul, where he made his home for niaii}'^ 3'ears; l)ut, when the Indian title to lands east of the river were ex¬ tinguished, he went to the northern portion of the new town of St. Anthon\' Falls, ami, [)urchasing the rights of an earlier settler, made his home there for man}" years, or until 1852, when he removed to Brookh'ii, and gave his name to Bottineau Prairie.

Until fifteen Nears ago, bis shagg}' gra}- head, his tall, erect ligore and swarth}- but kindly face were well known in Minneapolis. But the at¬ mosphere of civilization had grown too restraining, atid he wanted a closer association with nature. He, there¬ fore, took his f^iimil}' and housc'hold goods toward the North, once more.

settling at or near Red Bake Falls, in Northern Minnesota. Here he finds game in abundance; and now, at eightN"-three j-ears of age he is as erect of tigure, as alert of foot, and as tire¬ less in a moose hunt as a 3"oung man of twent}". Mr. Bottineau has been the husband of three wives, and the father of more than twent}" children.

Quite a large number of settlers came to the town during this 3'ear. Ezra Hanscom was one of those who settled here, thus early, and afterward became prominent. He served the county, main' 3'ears, on its Board of Commissioners, ami one or two terms in the legislature.

Indians were the nuisance of all earh' settlers. The pioneer residents were constant!}' kept in an extremel}' nervous condition, because the}' were on a way station of the war path be¬ tween the Dakotas and the Chipjiewas. The sound of the scalp dance of parties of first one and then the other of these tribes was their regular summer music, for a year or two.

A colony of very desirable settlers, from the vicinity of Adrian, Michigan, settled here during the summer of 1858. This colony consisted of some fourteen or fifteen familif s, and N\'ere under the leadership of Allan B. Chatter. This colony settled on Bot¬ tineau Prairie, in the immediate neighborhood of where the village and railway station of Osseo now stands, extending over into what now constitutes the town of Majile Crove.

At the residence of lilzra Hanscom, was held, on May 11th, 1858, the lirsi town meeting. One hundred and 1 wentN'-eight voters made their ap¬ pearance, and the ticket elected was as follows: Supervisors, IC. J. .\lling.

Chairman, William Stinclilield and J. P. Plummer; Town Clerk, L. T. B. Andrews; Assessor, Ezra Hanscom; Collector, James McRay; Overseer of Poor, James Morris; Justices of the Peace, H. H. Smith and A. H. Benson; Constable^, J. M. Durnham and W. D. Getchel.

la the way of cliurches, it seems that the Methodist persuasion organ¬ ized "a class" in the spring of 1855. A clergyman soon made his appear¬ ance, in the person of Rev. J. B. Mills. A church edifice was erected, at ''The Corners," and dedicated, on vSeptember 26th, 1866. Rev. J. D. Rich, long afterward a respected and useful citi¬ zen of Minneapolis, was, at that time, the pastor. Mr. Rich's oldest daugh¬ ter is now the wife of Colonel Charles W. Johnson, Chief Clerk of the United States Senate, at this writing. Mr. Rich passed to the l)eyond, in Califor¬ nia, some 3'^ears ago.

Miss Augusta McLaughlin has the honor of having taught the first school. It was held, on Long Prairie, during the summer of 1854, in a rudel^^ constructed board shanty. Miss Mc¬ Laughlin died of consumption, dnritig

During the fall of 1854, Miss Marv Huff taught an autumn and early winter term of school, on Getchell Prairie. This lady subsequentp^ mar¬ ried Joel F. Howe.

In the summer of 1855, the first pei'- manent school house was built in the town. This wns erected on Section 26, near where the village of Osseo now stands, and the first teacher to occup3^ it was Miss Sylvia Rowe. This house was destroyed bj^ fire in 1864.

Several other schools were held, in various portions of the town, during the summer of 1855, all of them in teinporar^^ buildings, one of them, nota- 1)l33 in a barn, built of rough boards, and thatched and carpeted with straw. The first settlers of Brookl3m knew the value of education too well to pre¬ fer st3de to acquire science.

"Harrisburg" and " Tndustriana " were two earh' efforts at metropolis construction in this town. Neither of them survived, and all that remains of them now is merel3^ the faint per¬ fume of a d3dn^ memor3' of the ear¬ liest Minnesota "boom" period of '56

''PIUS town is one auion^ the ver3^ 1 smallest in the count}-, geographicall}- speaking, being fractional be¬ cause of l3'iug on the shore of the Mississippi River. Opposite Chaniplin, are the cit3'and count}- of Anoka. It possesses a most fertile and j)roductive soil, and an tinusuall}- intelli¬ gent class of people; hence, notwith¬ standing the smallness of its geo¬ graphical area, it has, from the begin¬ ning of its political histor}-, exercised an influence upiui the count}- of Hen¬ nepin, entirely out of jiroportion to its size.

The first actual settlement, within the limits of the town, dates from 1852. In the summer of that year, Charles Miles located on the bank of the river, near the mouth of Ivlin Creek, and o|)ened a small Indian trading post. About the 1st of May in the year following (185.1). Joseph and Augustus Holt each located upon a claim, where the village of Champlin now stands. I luring that summer.

Augustus erected a frame house, on the site of the village, for a residence the first one built in the town. Dur¬ ing the same summer, John Pike, Rernard Tv, Messer, and a gentleman named .Stevens built houses, near the river, on claims above the location of the village. Rev. Lewis Atkinson, in the month of June, staked out and occupied a claim on Section fid. These constitute, probably, the earliest settlers, although there were many other claims taken, within the limits of the town, before the close of the season of 18.58. Refore the end of 18.55, very nearly all the available land in the town had been claimed, and much of it occupied, and farming operations were under full headway.

Heretofore only Siotix (or Dakota) and Chippewa Indians have been -mentioned in connection with the his¬ torical development of the county. The early settlers of Chamj^lin will tell of the thieving propensities of those intolerable nuisances, the Wiunebagoes. Some bands of tins tribe had been removed from Wisconsin, after the admission of that State into the Union, and had been located on a reservation in Minnesota, at Long Prairie, Todd County. The attractions of the old home were strong upon the red men, however, and each recurring summer would find hundreds of them passing, backward and forward, be¬ tween their old home and the new location. Champlin, for its full length, was on the direct line of their too frequent hegiras. The poor Indian must live. There was no game to hunt and kill. He had no time to fish. It was troublesome to beg. Therefore he stole. The Winnebago did not take scalps, but he did take chickens, and corn and garden vegetables - in short, everything that was not tied down. In Champlin, among old settlers, even unto this day, the synon3"m of thief remains Winnebago.

In 1855, Joseph Holt put in operation a feri'j, over the Mississippi River. Prior to this, he had staked off a claim, which interferred with that of another and earlier settler, named McCann, who had made settlement near the mouth of Elm Creek. A stubborn contest for the land ensued, which, after 3'ears of ruinous litigation, re¬ sulted in a victory for McCann.

In 1858, occurred tlie civil organiza¬ tion of the township. The County Commissioners had first intended Champlin and Da3Ton to be organized as one township, under the name of Marshall, in honor of William R. Mar¬ shall, afterwards Governor of the State. But the people objected. On the 11th da3^ of Ma3", the first town meeting was held, at the village of

Champlin, and officers chosen, but the same meeting also gave expression to the wish of the people to have Mar¬ shall subdivided into two political communities, and that the names "Da3don" and "Champlin" be con¬ ferred upon them. The Count3" Com¬ missioners having consented to this arrangement, the legal voters of Champlin assembled, on the 5th da3" of April, 1859, and elected the follow¬ ing list of pioneer town officials: Supervisors, Wentworth Hayden, Chairman, Samuel Briggs and S. D. Lemen; Town Clerk, J. B. Holt; Asses¬ sor, J. A. Linscott; Collector, Job Kenneston; Overseer of Poor, J. D. Hawk; Justices of the Peace, S. Colburn and Alvah Hills; Constables, Joseph Downs and Geo. Hills.

Like all the other pioneer communi¬ ties of Hennepin County, the people earl3^ began to look carefully after their earthl3" training, as well as their eternal well being. In 1855 - during the summer - a school was opened. The building first occupied was an old shanty, just above the village. The first teacher was Miss Emi^^ Thornd3dce (who afterward became Mrs. Lum). Five years after - or in 1860 - the first school house was built. Toda3^, Champlin is noted, far and wide, for the excellence of it schools.

The Minneapolis Free Will Baptist Church, as earl3^ as 1854, established a branch of its organization at the vil¬ lage of Champlin, Rev. C. G.'Ames acting as the first pastor, and giving them his personal services in that capacit3" twice in each month, until a permanent suppl3^ was secured. Rev. W. Ha3Men was the first regular pas¬ tor of t.his church. The next church organization, in the order of Champlin's religious history, was that of the Methodist. A class was formed in

1852, and tlie following' year a church edifice built. It was then placed upon the Anoka circuit, being supplied with preachers from the city just across the river.

Joseph Holt founded the village of Chaniplin, platting and naming it, in the summer of 1853. In 1855, George Rollins erected, in this village, a con¬ venient hotel. ]. B. Holt opened the first mercantile establishment, in 185d. A post office was not secured until 18.58. J. B. Holt was the first post¬ master.

This town occiipies tlie extreme northern part of the count3', its east¬ ern and northern boundaries being washed by the Mississippi River, while on its western and northwestern is the beautiful Crow or Hassan River. The surface of the town is general^' roll¬ ing, and it was originall}' covered h}' a most beautiful growth of hardwood timber. This town possesses ver}^ mau}^ of the natural elements of great wealth, most of which still remain un¬ developed. It has extensive forests of oak, hard maple, elm and basswood, and an unlimited suppl}" of limestone. The soil is unsurpassed for fertilit^'^, while no portion of the State is more plenteousl}' watered with clear streams and pellucid lakes.

'f he earliest settler was RaulGodine, a native of sunn}' France, who estab¬ lished a trading post with the Imlians, in the spring of 1851. Here he re¬ mained, pljdng his traffic alone, save for his aboriginal surroundings, until 18.53, in the spring of which 3'ear John \'eine made a claim, where the village of Da^'ton now stands. Mr. \"eine, the following 3'ear (1854), dis[)osed of his claim to E. H. Robinson, who also es¬ tablished a trading post.

Marcellas Boulee, Benjamin Leveillier, and others, made claims, .along the rivers, and on the margin of the beautiful lakes, that generousl}' water the town, during 18,53. Nearl}^ all of the pioneers of I)a3'ton were French¬ men born, or of French extraction.

The location of a village at the Crow River was earh' resolved upoii, as it was believed to be one of the few choice spots in the entire Territor}* of Minnesota, and it was confidentl}' ex¬ pected that here would grow up one of the most thrift}' inland towns of the - coming commonwealth. Therefore, in 1854, James Hazelton and George Mosher erected here a comfortable builditig for a hotel - an. edifice which still stands, and is used for that pur¬ pose. The town scarcel}' fulfilled the fond anticipations of its projectors, but came ver}' much nearer to reapinglarge and varied municipal honors than mail}' others established during the same period - where life was 3'oung and all the clouds of Minnesota were tinged with the purple and roseate hues of perfect confidence and xmstillied faith in the future.

Earl}' in the history of the town, Lyman Dayton, a wealthy capitalist of St. Paul, secured large interests in the town, and in the vicinity of the proposed village. E. H. Robinson, of \^ermont, and John Baxter, of Maine, two enterprising young men, had also secured large interests - owning, in fact, the location of the j^resent village, and, having name<l the same "Port¬ land" (in honor of the chief city of the State of Maine) before it had ever been |>latted. These gentlemen were young, energetic, and full of business - what would be called "hustlers" in these days. The3" had secured the best lo¬ cation for the town site, and the3^ pro¬ ceeded, at once, to create some neces¬ sary improvements. In 1856, the3" erected a saw mill, on the bank of the Mississippi River, just below the moTxth of the Crow RiVer - being the first manufacturing establishment in the town's history. The first plat of the village was made in 1855, the lots being of the regulation quarter acre size. This plat, however, was never filed, and wlien the unexampled boom 3^ear of 1856 opened, it was all at once discov¬ ered that the lots were altogether too large for common use, so another sur¬ vey was made, and each and ever3^ lot divided by two - made eight to the acre, instead of four. Evidently, Messrs. Robinson and Baxter thought that more mone3" could be made out of two lots than one - as a rule. And this has been the writer's experience, also.

Meantime there was war in the town site camp. Mr. Dayton was from the cit3" of St. Paul, and had plent3^ of mone3". He also owned large tracts of land in the vicinit3^, notabl3" a valu¬ able 80, just south of Robinson and Baxter's pi'oposed infantile metropolis. Mr. Da3Ton was not to be foiled. He had come into the country to make a dollar, and this object it was his pur¬ pose to' pursue under all circum¬ stances. Therefore he platted the 80, south of the Robinson and Baxter tract, and stated his determination to give lots away, unless Robinson and Baxter would compromise. A meetitig, and an interview, followed, which resulted in Mr. Da3don purchasing a one-half interest in the original site, at what he considered a fair figure. Then he vacated his opposition site, and all became peaceful and entirel3^ harmonious. Not entire^^, either.

The important matter of a name still remained to be settled upon. Robin¬ son and Baxter were from New Eng¬ land, and desired to honor the cit3" of Portland, in Maine, by christening the infant cit3^ after that bright Yankee town. Mr. Dayton desired that his own name should be immortalized, and "fill the future speaking trumpet of fame," b3" having it tied forever to this futui'e emporium of trade and finance. Again the war was liable to break into open hostilities. The camps were pretty nearl3' equall3^ divided - so near that no one could positiveE^ sa3^ which contained the greater num¬ ber. This fight did not culminate until the spring of 1858. At that time it became necessary to baptize the in¬ fant communit3^ 103^ some name, so the warring factions agreed to submit the question of a name to a popular vote, a conclusion of remarkable acuteness and apparent common sense. The Yankees were, as is cus<omar3", more pugnacious than numerous. Mr. Da3"- ton had been wise. He corralled the Frenchmen, the Irishmen, the Scotch¬ men and such Americans as had not been born in the East, and affixed his name forever to the beautiful village, and the town surrounding it. And Dayton it remains, even unto this da3" - and an exceedingl3" good name it is, too, if this historian ma3^ be permitted to express one opinion while chroni¬ cling man3^ facts.

Da3don is the only village in the township, and, as before stated, is most charmingl3" located at the junc¬ tion of the beautiful Crow River with the Mississippi. It is now, has alwa3"s been, and will continue to be, an im¬ portant point for local trade. Its people are enterprising and hospitable, and it contains many elements for future growth to a large importance.

As stated in our account of Chaniplin, the town of Dayton was united .with that town, in the beginnings, un¬ der tlie name of Marshall. At the town meeting, held in Champlin, May llth, 1S5S, both towns were (organized, and the following officers were chosen For the town of Da^don: Supervisors, A. C. Kimball, Chairman, \V. H. Ed¬ wards, J. D. J. Hervey; Towji Clerk, John Baxter; Assessor, J. M. Thomp¬ son; Collector, \V. F'. Ives; Ov'erseer of the Poor, Daniel Fife; justices of the Peace, D. 1^. flerrick and Alvah Hills; Constables, J. Downs and A. M. Kimball.

In the summer of 1855, the lirst steps toward the organization of a church occurred. Rev. Winthop Ha3'den, a home missionar}', held services at the house of J. B. Hinckle}'. Soon after¬ ward - in the same summer - Rev. David Brooks also delivered a sermon at Mr. Hinckle3''s residence. As the writer pens these lines, the bells of the various Methodist churches of the cit3' of Minneapolis toll forth the tinal musical requiem for the eternal repose of the spirit of David Brooks. One of the earliest clerg3'men of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in Min¬ nesota, he gave thirt3'-tive 3^ears of a noble life to the service of the Master, in this field. Coming here when churches were few, and laborers in Christ's vine3'ard still fewer, he lived a life so 1)US3', active, useful and noble as to leave the impress of his inaiiK' Christian character ever3'where throughoul the State that he loved.

He lived to the ri[)e age of nearlv ninety years, giving sixt3'-six of those 3'ears to the service of his God, in the lines of his chosen church. He passed to the silent bev'ond, full of 3"ears, and carried with him, to the foot of the great \\rhite throne a precious burden of the love of his fellow men as his offering to the Creator of a well spent life.

These earl3' efforts did not result in the organization of any permanent Protestant denomination. The bone and sinew of the town was Catholic, and still continues to be.

French Catholic Church was organized in 1857, and a church edifice erected the same 3'ear, its location be¬ ing on the claim of Paul Godine. The officiating clerg3'man's name, at that time, was Father Jennis. This church now has a large building in the village of Da3'ton.

There were no schools in the town until 1859, when one was opened, and taught bv Miss Slater. After the town organization, in 1859, Thomas Mclveod was the teacher, and the dis¬ trict continued to use a vacant store room until 18(58, when a large and con¬ venient school building was'erected in the village of Da3don.

J. B. Hinckle3' was, for several 3'ears, a Justice of the Peace, ap])ointed b3" the Governor, under the old Territorial governmenl, and, afterwards, a mem- ' her of the first vState Fegislature.

Hassan and Gkeenwood - Among the Patest Towns in Settlement - Hardwood Lumber r-i- Schools and Churches^ Early Settlers - The Grasshopper Scourge Beautiful Greenwood - Struggles of Pioneers - Mat¬ thew Harff- A Primitive Metropolis - Schools, Churche.s,

ASSAN contains 17,184 acres of land^ - all of township 120, range 23 and 24, Ijdng east of the Crow River. It is one of the most heavil}" timbered of all the towns in the count}^ being almost completelj^ covered forests of hardwood, even todaA^, except where settlers have opened up farms, after the fashion of the pioneers of south¬ ern Ohio and Indiana. It is drained by the Crow River, which skirts it on the west and north, and forms the boundarN' line between it and Wright County'. Where not timbered, there are vast extents of flat marshes. The town is well watered hy several small streams and lakes.

The heav3^ bodies of timber cover¬ ing the town, and the lack of easy access to market, through want of proper roads, militated against its earl}^ settlement. It was not until 1854 that the first settler arrived and made a claim in Hassan. His name was Alexander Horthwick, and it is scarce¬ ly necessary to remark that he walked in, carrAdng his provision on his back. He droA'-e his stakes and claimed 160 acres on what is now Section 6. Af¬ ter making his claim, and finishing some necessary improvements there¬ on, he returned to Dayton, and spent the first winter smoking the pipe of peace around the box stoA^e of the Rob¬ inson and Baxter hotel. Harvey Hicks came, also, in 1854, bringing a team Avith him from St. Paul. He AAms com¬ pelled to carA^e his OAvn road through the timber, on the AA^est bank of the Crow RiA^er, from Da^don, to his claim on Section 12. Two or three others came, during this A^ear, 1854, late in the fall, and drove their stakes. The next A'ear, 1855, quite a number of Irishmen learned of this location, and proceeded to take claims in the timber. The early settlements of Minnesota proA^e that the Irishman loA^es trees. WhereA^er natiA'es of the Emerald Isle lo¬ cated, in the pioneer days, they picked upon spots coA^ered Avith the heaAdest timber, and experience has proA^ed that there Avas some Avisdom in the selection, if it has taken a lifetime to create comfortable homes. The tim¬ ber land is strong, fertile and lasting, Avhile the product of these hardwood

Hass An And Greenwood

Hassaii was never bothered with the townsite fiend. One feeble, flickering effort was made toward founding a village within its limits, about 1856, when Harvey S. Norton undertook to titilize the water power on Section 13, and to found a primitiv^e city, b3' build¬ ing a saw mill. He gave his metrop¬ olis the name - Hassan - and then the scheme flickered faintl^^ and died out, not even a saw mill or a hotel mater¬ ializing, and the undisturbed forest still covers the domes, spires and min¬ arets of what might have been a mod¬ ern Babjdon.

It was not until 1857-8 that that the town was in what might be called a settled condition. Even as late as the first 3"ear of the war - 1861 - good claims, heavil^^ timbered, could still be found therein. Meantime, the sturd^^ pioneers were not idle. Clearings let the bright sunlight into dark places with great rapidity". Roads were carved through the forests primeval, and cab¬ ins, graced by health}^ matrons and rosy cheeked little ones, were discov¬ erable everywhere.

On the admission of the State to the Union - 1858 - the County Commis¬ sioners fixed the limits, and gave the existing name to this town; but the settlers were in no hurr3' to organize. The3" were too busy clearing farms and carving out roads to fool with even such politics as are necessar3^ to attend to town matters. Hence, it was not until April 3d, 1860, that the first town meeting was held. Without fooling around about such nonsen.se as levying taxes, where nobody had a dollar more than enough to pa3' fam¬ ily expenses, the meeting adjourned sine die, after naming the following list of officers; Supervisors, Cideon

Reeves, Chairman, Hawley Hicks, Richard Quinn; Town Clerk, C. J. Parslow; Assessor, A. Bothwick; Jus¬ tice of the Peace, Henry Ghostly; Con¬ stables, Patrick Hynes, John I^arslow; Superintendent of Schools, B. Wright. En passant, it may not be inappropri¬ ate to remark, right here, that Cr3'stal Lake and Hassan were the only towns in the county that appear with an or¬ iginal town Superintendent of Schools.

As earl3" as 1857, we find a school in this town, covered by a wooded wil¬ derness. And it was taught in a school house, too, not in some vacant barn, shant3^, or corn crib, but a good, comfortable log structure, erected for the purpose, and fitted up comfort abl3", if rudely. In this building. Miss Sarah Ward taught the 3"outh of Hassan, during the summer of 1858, and was succeeded, in the summer of 1859, b3' Miss Helen Tilton.

Charles Tucker and Miss Elizabeth Hawkins were the first pair to be joined in the holy bonds of wedlock within the limits of the town. This occurred in the fall of 1856, and the couple proceeded at once to their cabin home, in the woods, and set abotit conquering the wilderness in compan3".

It was in this 3^ear, 1856, too, that the territorial road, from Minneapolis to Monticello was opened to travel, and the setlers began to Ihid a more direct road to market than 1)3' fording the Crow River twice, and making the circuit via l)a3'ton for Minneapolis.

In the summer of 1856, a post office was established, named Hassan, and Septimus Parslow appointed post¬ master. The mail was carried over the new territorial road on horse back, three times each week. The arrival of the first mail was celebrated the 4th of J uly, 1856.

The first church organized was of the Episcopal persuasion. In 1855, monthly services were held, at the home of S. Parslow, Rev. J. S. Cham¬ berlain being the rector. Easter Mon¬ day, 1857, the society was organized, and in 1858 a neat church edifice was erected on 5 acres of land donated by Mr. Parslow for church and cemetery purposes. This was the pioneer Epis¬ copal church of the county, outside of the cities of Minneapolis and St. Anthon3^

The grasshopper plague, of 1857, struck the settlers of Hassan with peculiar severity, as it did those of other sections of the count}^; but these pests took their flight, after having destroyed the labors of one season, and have never since revisited these sylvan scenes. The Indian massacre, of 1862, frightened all settlers into a temporary absence from their homes. Most of the people visited Minneapo¬ lis for a season; others did not stop until they were safe behind the guns of Fort Snelling, while still others de¬ serted their claims entirely, never re¬ turning to the town even to secure their effects.

This constitutes about all of the "ancient history" of the town. Else¬ where in this volume full and com¬ plete data will be given of later events in all towns.

Greenwood

This beautiful town lies south of Hassan, and its western limit is washed by the Crow River its entire length. It was originally heavil}^ timbered, with a magnificent growth of hard wood. For beaut}^ of land¬ scape, and fertility of soil, it is sur¬ passed by none of the towns in Hen¬ nepin County. It was during the spring and early summer of 1854 that the first settlements were made. Al¬ though there is some dispute on the subject of who was first on the ground, in this town, it seems undoubted to the writer that Matthew Harff has the onlj" just right to claim that dis¬ tinguished honor.

Mr. Harff landed at St. Paul, in the spring of 1854, searching for a home to shelter his wife and aged mother, and where he might spend his life in useful labor. He was very nearly stranded, so far as money was con¬ cerned, but filled with the courage that youth and hope always give to a man of energ3>' and nerve. He paid the half of all the money remaining to him for transportation of himself, his wife and mother to Dayton. Here he expended all that remained of his worldly wealth in the purchase of one sack of flour and an old dug-out canoe. Putting his people into this boat, he proceeded to launch them on the waters of the Crow, and, before nightfall, had found a claim that promised to make him a good home. Here he camped, on Section 1, and proceeded, relying only upon his own strong arm, and such assistance as his wife could give him, to erect his cabin. His tools con¬ sisted of an axe and a grubbing hoe, all told. With these he built his house, cleared a space around the cabin, and put in the seed for his first crop, consisting of garden vegetables, corn, potatoes, etc. This, with such wild game as he could kill or trap, served to give him his first year's sup¬ plies. He has lived to be one of the most independent farmers in Henne¬ pin County, and to become a citizen respected by every one who has ever known him. By this type of men were the foundations of Hennepin County laid. Let the children of luxury today pause and dwell for a moment upon what energy, prudence, and foresight and thrift have wrought in constructing our magnificent modern civilization. For what Mat¬ thew Harff did, and we are permitted to tell of him, that and even more was accomplished and suffered by hun¬ dreds of the pioneers to whom it was given to commence laying the founda¬ tions of these splendid industrial communities. Faith and purpose accomplish all things.

Among other old settlers may be named Robert Kennedy, Martin Conzet, E. O. Newton, and Albert Taisey, who located in the southern section of the town, in 1855. During May, of the same year, there was quite a decided influx of settlers from Shakopee. These settlers, as a rule, did not come for the purpose of following the pur¬ suits of agriculture to an3^ great ex¬ tent. On the contrarA", they were after a town site, and proposed to create, in these green forests and upon the shore of this beautiful river, a metropolis of their own. Late in the fall of 1856, after thej^ had gotten un¬ disputed possession of their land, they proceeded to plat into town lots two hundred acres. The surveying and platting occupied most of the winter of 1856-7, and early in the spring the new city was fully prepared to spread its sails to the breeze, and start ujDon an independent municipal career. Tt was called Greenwood City, and the first thing the proprietors did was to count noses and learn if there were enough actual residents to fill the offices. There were. Matthew Taise3" was chosen Mayor; Samuel Allen, Robert Gustine and John F. Powers were constituted the council; A. S. Lindsey was elected Recorder, and James D. Young selected as Marshal,

"come to stay" it was determined to build a saw mill, and every dollar re¬ ceived from the sale of lots was re¬ ligiously reserved to that end. Before the mill materialized a large number of logs were hauled to the banks of the Crow, near the site of the proposed mill. The mill was never built, and some of the logs are there 3^et. The financial panic of 1857, and the grass¬ hoppers, settled forever the destinies of that prospective cit3^. Subsequent- 13^ the village of Rockford, on the Wright County side of the river, came into being, and has since been the trading j^oint for all that section of countr3^ But the city did arrive at the dignity of a hotel. The Taise3' brothers built and christened the Beaver Hotel, which afterwards, in 1862, during the Indian outbreak, served as a stockade and fortress against the wily and bloodthirst3" savages who never came - that is, the3' never came that wa3". This "fort," however, was a way station and resting place for the soldiers, who were scouring the count3" in search of the murderous red skin, so its existence was not entirely in vain.

The first school ever opened in the town was in 1856, and the first teacher was Miss Ruth A. Powers. Later, this lady married Janies 1). Y'oung, and located at Deland, Wright Count3^ Miss Powers was succeeded, as teacher, the following year, by Miss Mar3' Ball.

Rev Charles Galpin, of Excelsior, preached the first sermon in the town, in the winter of 1856-7. This meetinowas held at the home of John F. Powers. During the same winter, Rev. Mr. Camp frequentl3^ preached in the same place. The German Metho¬ dists and the German Lutherans each established churches in the town,

In 1857, the first post office was established - at the prospective vil¬ lage of Greenwood - with Albert Taisey as postmaster. In 1869, this post office was discontinued.

the following officers: Supervisors, J. R. Ames, Chairman, H. C. Furrell, William C. Hawk; Town Clerk, Thos. R. Briggs; Assessor, Benjamin Law¬ rence; Collector, R. W. Carrier; Jus¬ tices of the Peace, D. R. Farnham and Clinton Howe; Constables, John O'Mera and Volney S. Britt; Overseer of the Poor, Andrew Thompson. It cost $115 for town expenses the first year.

Corcoran, Maple Grove And Plymouth

Settlers of Corcoran - Patrick Corcoran - Early- Education and Re¬ ligious Development - Maple Grove and its Pioneers - Yankee Thrift - A. C. Austin - Plymouth and the Men who Made it - Antoine Le Count -

HE Town of Corcoran, l^'ing awa3" from all the large streams, was not settled until from one to four j-ears later than the other towns in the county. It was, originally, one of the most heavilj" timbered towns, and the difficulty of making way to market through the tangled forests, also con¬ tributed to delaj" its development.

Benjamin Pounder was the earliest settler, and entered upon his claim in the spring of 1855. But his settlement only antedates that of Patrick B. Cor¬ coran. Patrick B. Corcoran was an uncommon character. Born in Ire¬ land, in 1825, he emigrated to America when he was twenty-two years of age, and came to Minnesota in 1855. While employed in a saw mill, in the State of New York, previous to coming to Minnesota, he lost his right hand. Before this accident - in 1851 - he had married, and thus found himself with a wife and family- of small children to care for. He spent what monej- he possessed in reaching Minnesota, and entered the wilderness, where he made his future home, almost destitute. But his manlj" worth and steadfast courage soon raised up to him an arm3" of helpers. From the da3" of his set¬ tlement in the forest of "Corcoran Town," he was the leading citizen. The writer once asked him, "How did 3"ou manage to clear 3"Our farm and live, with only one arm?" He replied, "Faith, I don't know; only that God was good to me, and all m3" neighbors helped me. The loss of 1113- arm alwa3"s seemed to be a blessing instead of a curse." He built the first school house, taught the first school, was justice of the peace, supervisor, trader, farmer, merchant, the ver3" epitome and embodiment of energy, foresight and enterprise. Scarcel3" had he erect¬ ed his little cabin in the woods, before * he began to call upon the scattered settlers to build a school house, and so a place for the training of the children was among the first institu¬ tions of the town. As settlers came and located around him, the genius of the man was shown. Frenchmen, Germans, Irishmen, Americans - to all of them he became guide, counsellor, neighbor and friend. Down to the day of his death there was scarcely a movement in the town, from a law suit to a wedding, or a christening, that he was not the Fidus Achates of all parties in interest. His life was one long singular chapter of useful¬ ness and helpfulness. He died, one of the wealthiest farmers in the county, years later, beloved and re¬ spected by all. Mr. Corcoran brought with him - or, rather, through his in¬ fluence came - quite a colony of Irish¬ men and Frenchmen. Later, there came settlers of all nationalities, so that eventually "Corcoran Town" be¬ came the most cosmopolitan of all the outlying towns in the county.

The first house built in the town was that of Benjamin Pounder, in 1855, located on Section 25. Mr. Pounder lived and died upon his claim, his death occurring in 1875. He was universally respected by his neighbors and friends, and was Town Clerk from the date of the civil organization until he died.

The first birth was a son to William Corcoran and his wife, on the 22d day of February, 1856. This child lived to manhood and probably still lives, al¬ though he left the place of his birth many years ago. The first marriage was that of John McDonald to Sarah Crawford, in 1857. The first death, that of Nicholas O'Brien, in 1858. The first school house built was of logs, on the land of P. B. Corcoran, in 1857, Mr. Corcoran himself taking the duties of pedagogue in addition to his other occupations.

The first church organized was Catholic, the society erecting a build¬ ing, in 1856, near the north line of the town. St. Thomas' Catholic Church was also called into life in 1856, and is

The first post office in the town was established on Section 25, in 1857, with Mr. P. B. Corcoran as postmaster. Dupont ofBce came later, with Joseph Dupont as postmaster. The first general store in the town was also opened by Mr. Corcoran, in 1863. An¬ other was opened some years later by Mr. E. Hunt.

The organization of the town for civil purposes occurred at the regula¬ tion time - May 11th, 1858, by the elec¬ tion of the following officers: Super¬ visors, Israel Dorman, Chairman, P. B. Corcoran; Town Clerk, Pat Braw; Assessor, Thos. Riley; Collector, Michael Patnode; Overseer of the Poor, Francis Garnieen ; Justices of the Peace, Israel Dorman and Peter Patnode; Constables, J. Burrett and John Coon. At this meeting the town re¬ ceived its name in honor of P. B. Cor¬ coran, without opposition.

Maple Grove

This town was the transition coun¬ try, and consisted, originally, of mixed prairie and timber, the timber being beautifully interspersed over a wide stretch of country, in the form of groves, in which the hard, or sugar, maple largely predominated - hence its name.

Louis P. Garvais made the first settlemeiit, by squatting on land which, after the surveys, proved to be Section 12. Here this venturesome pioneer lived with his family, almost alone, for a year or two. The next perma- neiit settler was Wm. M. Ewing, who, afterwards, in 1855, assisted in survey¬ ing the lands of this and surrounding towns. Tn' 1854, Harve)' Abel made his location near the center of the town, selling it, taking another and selling that, and finally taking the one that afterwards became his'pernianent home. He was a bachelor, and lived the life of a hermit during these first 3"ears. During the same year, A. O. Angell, William E. Evans, Patrick Devenj^ and others, made settlement. Mr. Devenj' never forgot to tell that he furnished the suppl}^ of fi'esh meat for the war party of Chippewa Indians while thej^ were en route to fight their final battle with the Dakotas, at Shakopee and Eden Prairie, in 1858. The}' stole and slaughtered his only cow, on that occasion, and he never receiv'ed any quid pro quo for his commissar}' supplies.

The town of Maple Grove was large¬ ly settled by New England and other native born Americans, from the East¬ ern States. Its Yankee origin is indi¬ cated by its Yankee style and makeup. The thrift, care and neatness mani¬ fested on all the homesteads, as a stranger rides over the beautiful coun¬ try roads of the various neighbor¬ hoods, also bespeak its pioneer bap¬ tism by Yankee industry. How true it is that every community carries with it for all time the impulse given to it by its earliest settlers and pioneer inhabitants. Notwithstanding the fact that there is a large foreign born element in the town of Maple Grove, its people have, even thus early, be¬ come almost homogeneous. The later comers have adopted the ways, cus¬ toms and manners of their neighbors, and everywhere throughout the town maybe discovered comfortable homes, extensive barns and outhouses; stock carefully sheltered and provided for - indeed, all the innumerable and inde¬ scribable evidences of Yankee thrift, prudence, foresight and family com¬ fort and homelike surroundings.

The first religious services held in the town, of which there is any men¬ tion made by early settlers, was at the home of Mr. P. B. Newton, in the summer of 1855. The clergyman was Rev. L. Atkinson of the Baptist per¬ suasion. Rev. C. G. Ames, one of the first Free Will Baptist expounders of the faith in Minneapolis, after 1856, frequently came to the town and preached at various and sundry places^ About co-incident with the appearance of Mr. Ames, came Rev. John White, a Methodist preacher, who would hold Sunday services at the homes of the faithful, when invited or allowed to do so. These early Christian efforts were not abortive, but have resulted in the erection of two Methodist church edi¬ fices in the town. The Baptist breth¬ ren yielded the field to them, as did, also, the Congregationalists, who also made some missionary effort in the early days. The Catholics have also a flourishing parish and church society and edifice in the western part of the town, over 100 families receiving spir¬ itual food therefrom.

The first school ever taught in the town was during the summer of 1858, and Mr. Delos Hawkins was the teacher. He began to convey to un¬ trained minds the first lisping truths of science to twenty-two pupils, male and female, and ranging in age from 5 to 21 years.

The pioneer marriage was between John M. Eddy and Mary C. Evans, February 24th, 1857; the first deaths, Alonzo and Melissa Corey, children of j. M. Corey, in the winter of 1855-6; the first birth, a daughter, to Mr. and

There are no villages in the town of Maple Grove, and the music of the town site boomer's voice has never awakened the solitudes of this sylvan paradise. It is simplj^ a plain, com¬ fortable, old-fashioned, American country neighborhood, each member of which might proclaim with Corin in "As you like it:" "Sir, I'm a true laborer; I earn that I eat, get that I wear; owe no man hate, envy no man happiness; glad of other men's good, content with my harm; and the great¬ est of my pride is to see my ewes graze, and my lambs suck."

In other words it is one of the most quiet and delightful sequestered coun¬ try localities, filled with unaggressive intelligence and apparent thrift and contentment. Not even the whistle of the locomotive disturbs the perfect rest of the people, for no railway touches the town.

The first town meeting was held April 11th, 1858, at which the following list of pioneer officers were selected: Supervisors, A. C. Austin,^' Chairman, Jeremiah Brown, Robert Woodward; Town Clerk, J. M. Edd}^ Assessor, William R. Champlin; Collector, Chauncey Blowers; Overseer of the Poor, P. B. Newton; Justices of the Peace, William E. Evans and Moses Blowers; Constables, Charles Savage and J. M. Corey.

Plymouth

* Mr. Austin afterwards served several terms as a member of the legislature from the county. Many years ago he removed to the city of Minne¬ apolis, where he has several times served acceptably as member of the city council, on the school board, and in other public capacities. He has been, and is yet, a prominent and useful citizen.

Its surface is rolling, and originally the westernmost half of the town was covered with a heavy growth of tim¬ ber, while the eastern portion was mixed prairie meadow and brush land. The land is generally fertile, and has been thickly settled from almost the commencement of its history.

Its first settler was a Frenchman, named Antoine Le Count,* who made his claim in the fall of 1853, locating on the eastern shore of Medicine Lake.' Mr. Peter Daniels located just north of Le Count, also on the bank of the lake, almost at the same time, and in the same neighborhood Mr. Thomas Hughes made a claim, and located in the neighborhood, with his famil3'', the following spring. These constitute the pioneer settlers, al¬ though, during the season of 1854, a large number of other pioneers found

* Mr. Le Count was the sou of a French voyageur, and was born on the eastern, or Minnesota, side of the Ked River, near Pembina, in 1823. His father, from the early part of the century, had been a guide and interpreter. In connection with Franklin Steele, the elder Le Count, in 1837, took a claim on the eastern side of the Falls of St. Anthony (now covered by East Minneapolis) , and, the following year, proceeded to the Selkerk settlement, for re¬ moving his family to his new home. Just before starting, a gentleman named Thomas Simpson (vrho had been on an exploring expedition in the Red River country and through Northwestern Minnesota), offered Le Count a large sum of money to guide him to Fort Snelling, by the most direct route. The guide consented, and, giving his family and effeci s in charge of Pierre Bottineau, to proceed by the Lake Traverse route, proceeded to conduct Mr. Simpson across country to the Mississippi River. The party consisted of Mr. Simpson, Le Count, the guide, Antoine Le Count, then 17 years old, and two voyageurs. On the fourth day out, Simpson became insane, and, during one of his paroxvsms, shot and killed the elder Le Count and one of the voyageurs. Antoine and the other man escaped the maniac by hiding in the bushes, and when it became dark they proceeded in the direc¬ tion of finding the trail of the Bottineau party - which they finally discovered, after a two days' joiirney of incredible hardship. Antoine afterwards became a well known guide and interpreter, and was constantly employed by the government, and traders, in those capacities, until the year 1853, when he made this claim in the town of Plymouth, where he settled down for the remainder of his life, and made his permanent home. Mr. Le Count was a quiet, unobtrusive man, and a good citizen.