Minneapolis City (part 22 of 80)

These documents prove, beyond question, that both Jefferson Davis and Captain Lyon considered the ar¬ senal as untenable as a military posi¬ tion; that Gibson, Davis, Jackson, Cameron and Lincoln all considered that the possession of these arms was of the highest importance in the bloody contest, then just commencing, for the possession of Missouri; that President Lincoln followed the advice given by Gibson, although by so doing he revoked the order which had al- ready been made by Secretary Camer¬ on, and subsequent events soon proved that the plan adopted was the right one. These documents really inaugu¬ rated the war in Missouri.

While in Washington, Mr. Gibson strenuously exerted himself against many of the harsh and oppressive measures of the war, especially those pertaining to Missouri. Mr. Bates and himself were the only representatives of the four million border State people in the administration. They were both conservatives. When, at the Baltimore convention, in 1864, Presi¬ dent Lincoln accepted his second nomination on a radical platform, Mr. Gibson, believing it his duty, resigned his office and voted for General Mc¬ Clellan.

In 1863, he sustained President Johnson, in his contest in Congress, and also advocated the election of Governor Seymour. In 1870, he fa¬ vored the liberal Republican and Democratic coalition in Missouri, which resulted in the election of B. Gratz Brown to the Governorship, and prepared the way for the repeal of the iron-clad Drake constitution, and, in 1872, he warmly supported Horace Greeley's election, although he doubted the policy of his nomination by the Democratic national convention, to which body he was a delegate from Missouri. He supported Governor Tilden, in 1876, and, during the excit¬ ing controversies which arose subse¬ quent to the election, he was selected, by the Democratic national committee, to visit Louisiana, in connection with other eminent gentlemen, to insure a fair count. While there, he was com¬ missioned to go to Florida, on a simi¬ lar service, and he took the leading part in the proceedings, which after¬ wards became so familiar to the coun¬

In a speech delivered at Hillsboro, Indiana, October 7th, 1880, in be¬ half of General Hancock's election to the presidency, Mr. Gibson thus sum¬ marizes the Florida election frauds of 1876;

In this way, the canvass was de¬ layed until the night of the 5th of De¬ cember. By act of Congress, the vote had to be given next day. At dusk, a large force of United States regulars were marched up and surrounded the State house, built their camp fires and bivouacked for the night. I haye seen many great and gloomy sights, but nothing I ever saw made so profound an impression on me as the glare of those camp fires around the capitol. I knew that citizens had ridden through swamps and rain - in some instances forty-fiv^e miles - to deposit their bal¬ lots in those boxes. I knew those boxes contained treasures more valu¬ able to the people of the United States than all the gold of California, more precious than all the crown jewels of Europe, and I knew that those two canvassers - worse than burglars, and safe in the midst of the troops - would rob the people of Florida of their lib¬ erties and all the people of the United States of their rights. The dark deed, the darkest and foulest in the annals of American history, was done at mid¬ night. McLin and Cowgill (two of the election canvassers), in their answer in the subsequent case in the Supreme Court, confessed that the canvass was completed and ended in the early morning, to-wit; At the hour of about 1:30 o'clock, of the 6th day of Decem¬ ber, 1876. The certificates were made out and given to the electors, who cast and sealed up their votes and de¬ livered them, before breakfast time, to one of their number, a colored felon, named Pierce, whom Stearns himself had pardoned out of the penitentiary, and they were carried by this fit rep¬ resentative of the carpet-bag govern¬ ment of Florida, to Washington. Mc¬ Lin afterward became dissatisfied

In conducting affairs on the mission to Florida, he created a most favor¬ able impression as a learned and modest gentleman. He was an old personal friend of Getieral Hancock, whom he supported in 1880, and, at his request, delivered several speeches and rendered other important ser¬ vices, in Indiana, in his interests. After the loss, to the Democrats, of Indiana, in October, he took a very active and effective part in the elec¬ tion of Hon. Thomas Allen to Con¬ gress from the cit\^ of St. Louis. In 1884, he actively assisted the Demo¬ cratic party, and canvassed the State of Indiana in the interests of Grover Cleveland.

Upon returning to St. Louis he be¬ came, in a measure, disengaged from the regular practice of the law, de¬ clining regular routine law practice, but he soon regained his clients and has ever since been, for the most part, actively employed in important litiga¬ tion pertaining mostly to land titles. As a business man, Mr. Gibson has been very successful and has amassed a handsome fortune.

Mr. Gibson originated the act, and obtained its passage, creating the land court of St. Louis, and was one the principal practitioners before it.

He was the originator of the South¬ ern Hotel, and his efforts gave the en¬ terprise its success. The importance and effectiveness of his labors in the erection and rebuilding of this hotel are universally acknowledged.

He prepared both of the acts which resulted in the establishment of Forest Park. Each of these acts gave rise to a great and fiercely, contested lawsuit, in which he took an active and very important part, entirely without compensation. He was also one of the most efficient friends of Lafayette Park, and one of its com¬ missioners for twenty-five years. He superintended the erection of the Benton statute, in Lafayette Park, and took an active and leading part in procuring the erection of the colossal statute of Hon. Edward Bates, his old friend, in F^orest Park. The park board ordered the granite pedestal of this monument to be adorned with four bronze medallions, namely: H. S. Gever, United States Senator; Gov¬ ernor H. R. Gamble, J. B. Eads, and Charles Gibson.

Mr. Gibson's career, as a law^^er, has been distinguished b}^ several singu¬ larly interesting episodes. In 1849, he served, as junior counsel for the de¬ fense, in the celebrated case against Counts Gonzalve and Raymond de Montesquiou, indicted for the murder of Kerby Barnum and Albert Jones in the City Hotel of St. Louis. After two mistrials, Mr. Gibson, alone, pro¬ cured the pardon of Gonzalve (who was insane) and the "exoneration" of Ra3'mond, by the governor. The de¬ fendants belonged to the highest and oldest of the noble families of France, and were cousins of Napoleon HI. This case attracted great attention, at the time, throughout this country and France. The counts and their kins¬ man, Viscount de Cessac, expressed their regard and gratitude for Mr. Gibson's services by presenting him with a curious and valuable watch chain and a splendid diamond ring, which he still owns.

In 1851, he was retained as sole counsel, in a celebrated case brought by the King of Prussia and involving the nature and power of the govern¬ ment of that countr}'-. He obtained, from the Supreme Court of Missouri, a decision establishing the autocracy of the government in the same man¬ ner as afterward claimed in the re¬ script of the Emperor. The old Kaiser, who was then Prince Regent, was so well pleased with his conduct that he ordered two porcelain vases to be made, at the Royal Porcelain Manu¬ factory, at Berlin, embellished with enameled pictures of Sans Souci, the new palace at Potsdam, the old royal palace and the monument of Freder¬ ick the Great, in Berlin, and covered with the richest gilding and other de¬ vices, which were presented to Mr. Gibson, with ro3"al thanks, in due form, and as "evidence of the Emper¬ or's peculiar appreciation." Each vase bears the following inscription: "Preussens Regent deman wait Charles Gibson dem uneigenutzigen Verthediger des Rechtes," which, literally translated, is: "The Prince Regent of Prussia to the Counsellor Charles Gibson, the unselfish advocate of jus¬ tice." The inscription was written by Baron Alexander Von Humboldt. The vases are nearly four feet high and far surpass anything of the kind in this country.

In 1882, the same sovereign tentered Mr. Gibson, through the Im¬ perial Consul, at St. Louis, the ap¬ pointment of Mr. Gibson's son, Preston, as a cadet officer in the Imperial Army, and offered to waive, by special order, from the Emperor, himself, any disa¬ bilities to his entry into the service. The young man concluded to remain in his own country.

On December 16th, 1882, the six hundredth anniversary of the Hapsburgs, Mr. Gibson was made comman¬ der of Knights in Austria, by the Emperor Franz Joseph, being then decorated as such with the Emperor's own order, and, contrarj^ to the usual

In recognition of your services re¬ cently rendered to our government in the unfortunate case of our former Consul at St. Louis, Mr. Bechtolsheim, His Majesty, the Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary has been gra¬ ciously pleased to confer upon you the cross of commandership of his sover¬ eign Order Francis Joseph.

In transmitting to you inclosed the respective decree, together with the insignia, I congratulate you on the high distinction and have great pleas¬ ure to add that by special favor the decoration is not to be returned, as usual, but may remain in the family as a gratifying heirloom. Accept, sir, the assurances of my high considera¬ tion. The I. and R. Austro-Hungarian Minister. Schaeffer.

In 1882, upon the special and per¬ sonal request of Prince Bismarck, Mr. Gibson was decorated, bj^ the German Emperor, William I, with the second class, i. e.. The Commander's Cross, of the Ro3^al Prussian Crown Order.

In 1890, he was again decorated, by the present German Emperor, William H, also at the personal request of Prince Bismarck, with the first class, which is the Grand Cross, of the Royal Prussian Crown Order. This Order was delivered to him, in person, by Count Arco, then German Minister at Washington.

The Grand Cross of the Royal Prus¬ sian Crown Order is only given for meritorious services and its dignity can be understood from the fact that it is, on the civil side, the Order usual- 13^ given to Prime Ministers and on the military side the cross is never bestowed upon one lower in rank than

In 1890, Mr. Gibson, now Sir Charles Gibson, concluded to visit Europe. He had not been abroad for twentythree years. His tour was remark¬ able. At Paris he and his wife were feted and dined by Count von Mun¬ ster, the German ambassador. In Austro-Hungar}- they were enter¬ tained by the highest of the nobilit}-. In Berlin he was treated still more respectfully bj^ many dignitaries of the foreign offices. He was received by the Emperor at his family residence, the new palace of Pottsdam, and breakfasted in the imperial family circle, with his majesty, the empress and their children. By special invita¬ tion of Prince and Princess Bismarck, the American couple paid a visit to Varzin, the great chancellor's private home, where special friends only are admitted. They spent several days with that celebrated household. Al¬ though a simple citizen of this coun¬ try, he was not introduced by his own Ministers or an3-body else.

His greatest honor, however, is that neither ro3^al presents, imperial and royal orders, nor the high courtesies paid him by emperors, kings, princes, and noblemen, have given him the least touch of the "big head.'' In dress, manners, deportment, and in all the relations of life he is still the oldtime Virginia gentleman, nothing more and nothing less.

most highly esteemed citizens of St. Louis. Of eight children born to them, all are living except their son. Lieutenant Gibson, who was a gradu¬ ate of West Point and one of the brightest and most promising young officers in the arm3'.

The career of the Hon. Charles Gib¬ son, as herein outlined, is one that should be of value to the ambitious youth of the rising generation. He has achieved eminence in his profes¬ sion, won the respect and admiration of the leading statesmen and diplo¬ mats of the age; had honors thrust upon him by the crowned heads of Europe, who respected his great abilit3^ and honored his conscientious mode of conducting affairs of trust, and, above all, in the city of St. Louis, he has, through his unseltish devo¬ tion, so materially assisted the inter¬ ests of the people that his name is universally honored and respected.

Henry A. C. Thompson was born in the southern part of Carroll County, New Hampshire, upon the banks of Lake Winnipiseogee, in the village of Wolfboro. Here, upon the shores of this beautiful lake, the favorite resort of tourists to the White Mountains, with its extreuiel3^ irregular shore, its deep bays, bold promontories, and its numerous islands, with water as clear as cr3'stal, and the whole surrounded with hills and mountain peaks, he was reared, the son of an Advent min¬ ister and tanner, and passed some twent3" 3"ears of the brightest and hap¬ piest da3^s of his life. The date of his birth was Februarv 17th, 1838, and his parents were William and Nanc3" (Pogers) Thompson, born in that same mountainous region. His father was born December 4th, 1804, and died, in New Hampshire, Augitst, 1882. His

Mr. Thompson came to Minneapolis, April 9th, 1859, and the following year removed to Wright County, Minne¬ sota, where he was engaged in farm¬ ing, until the call for men, in 1862, which broke up his farming business, and he enlisted in Company A, Ninth Regiment, Minnesota Volunteer In¬ fantry, August 14th, 1862. He was mustered as sergeant of his company, and, in the fall of that year, was in the service against the Indians. Con¬ tinuing in this department, he crossed the plains under General Sibley, in 1863. Going South, in 1864, he passed through some of the important battles, and was taken prisoner, being con¬ fined, at Andersonville, for seven months. He entered Andersonville prison, weighing one hundred sixty pounds, and on his release weighed only eighty pounds. Returning home from the war, he engaged in the boot and shoe business, with his brother, N. R. Thompson, at the corner of Nic¬ ollet and Washington Avenues, Min¬ neapolis. In 1867, they moved their establishment, into Myer's block, and added to the business a stock of gro¬ ceries. In the winter of 1868, he pur¬ chased his brother's interest in the business, and, in the following spring, sold the entire plant. He then pur¬ chased his father's interest in a butcher shop, under the firm name of Glenn and Thompson, which business continued until 1876. During the great financial crisis, through which the firm had passed, they were unable to longer carry on the business, and went into bankruptcy. October, 1876, Mr. Thompson removed to Seattle, Washington Territor3'-, remaining there until April 1st, 1878, at which time he returned to Minneapolis. He next engaged in contracting grading, upon the Northern Pacific Railroad, under General Rosser. During 1878-9, he was Deputy Sheriff, under his brother, N. R. Thompson. During 1880-81, he managed his brother's "Cataract" meat market, on Washing¬ ton Avenue. He next engaged in grading, again, under General Rosser, chief engineer, upon the Canadian Pacific Railroad. In this business he was engaged two winters and three summers. In 1883, he was again ap¬ pointed Deputy Sheriff, under Sheriff Stoddard, and January 1st, 1885, was re-appointed, under W. M. Brackett, serving until January, 1886. He was then elected, by the Board of Coun¬ ty Commissioners, superintendent of the county poor farm, holding this position for seven years. Febru¬ ary, 1893, he moved to his present home, of twenty acres of garden land, just south of the poor farm, which land he had purchased, in 1887. After a long and varied career, Mr. Thomp¬ son has built for himself a beautiful home and settled down to gardening.

The most important step in his eventful life, was his marriage to Sarah A. Stetson, December 14th, 1869. She was born at Lincolnville, Maine, the daughter of Amasa and Sarah S. (Thorndike) Stetson, who were also natives of Maine. One child has blessed this union, William R. Thomp¬ son, of Minneapolis, born June 12th, 1875.

Petiusylvania, May 11th, 1809. He re¬ ceived a common school education, in his native State, and removed from that State, to Lancaster, Ohio, where he resided for three j'ears. He next went to Crawford Count}", where he engaged in the hotel business. In 1848, he removed to Rockford, Illinois, where he embarked in the grocery business. He was married, in 1831, to Rachel Parks, who died in 1837, leav¬ ing one child, now living. He was re¬ married, ill 1844, to Catharine Didie, who was also a native of Pennsyl¬ vania. By this marriage there are three children. They are, Charles D., Francis L., and Lucretia (Mrs. J. R. Jackson, Minnetonka Township).

In 1849, Mr. Miller came to Minne¬ sota, settling at St. Paul, where, for a time, he kept a boarding-house, and was, also, one of those who helped to fit up the first hall in which the Legis¬ lature assembled. According to the old history, Mr. Miller was the second to take a claim on the land which is now Minneapolis. This claim was on the southwest quarter of section 25, and is now known as Atwater's Addi¬ tion to Minneapolis. Here he built the second house on the west side, where he remained for some time, but, becoming dissatisfied because the land was sandy, he sold the whole claim, and residence, for $600, and, in 1856, pre-empted a farm, just west of Hopkins' Station, which he lost on a mortgage. This turned out to be a streak of good luck, although very discouraging at the time. He then purchased a farm, just across the road, where he lived until the time of his death, carring on a general farm¬ ing business, until 1887, at which time he sold nearly all the farm to a syndicate, forming the town of West Minneapolis. By the location of this town, he was enabled to sell his farm at a large figure, thus enabling bim to pass the years of his advanced age in* easy circumstances. He was always very fond of bees, and had a laVge number of swarms, at the time of his death, spending his last days among the little fellows, by being carried out to them in a chair, when he was too feeble to walk. Mr. Miller's death occurred July 16th, 1894. He was one of the oldest and most respected citi¬ zens of Hopkins, living a quiet and simple life, honored and respected by all those who knew him.

Mk.s. John P. Miller. There are few, indeed, of the present generation, who have any conception of the trials and experiences of their parents, if they chanced to be among the pioneers of any of the Western territories from 1840 to 1860. Many of the present generation, imagine that they have, or are, passing through many hard¬ ships, and that, while in their youth, time is laying its heavy hand upon their youthful locks, but had they been, as have been many of those who are now reaching toward the "eternal sunset," pioneers in the States of Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, and then in Minnesota, they would realize how bright and easy has been their voyage in the "Golden West."

One of those who has passed through the experiences of pioneer life, is Mrs. Miller. Her maiden name was Catliarine Didie, born and reared at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. She was married to John P. Miller, in 1844. About the time of their mar¬ riage, Mr. Miller embarked in the hotel business, in Crawford County, Ohio, and here Mrs. Miller began her married life, attending to the many duties of the hotel. She accompanied

Mr. Miller, with the advance of emi¬ gration, westward, in 1848, and, for a time, resided in Rockford, Illinois, where they engaged in the grocery business. But the advancing life was not destined to pause here, and, in 1849, they journeyed up the great Mississippi, only to reach a more wild and uncultivated State, and here, for a short time, they stopped, to become somewhat acquainted with the un¬ tamed aborigines of Minnesota, at the historic Falls of St. Anthony. But here, again, her life partner was not satisfied to build a future home, and they left the banks of the Mississippi, in 1856, moving west, as it were, against a great bulwark of unciviliza¬ tion, to pre-empt a home, about twelve miles from the falls, at what is now West Minneapolis. This home was subsequently lost upon a mortgage, and her husband soon after purchased another farm, just across the road from where they first pre-empted. Upon this farm, they settled down until the end of their earthly journey.

Mrs. Miller was much beloved and honored, by those who knew her, and many hearts were saddened when she had reached her journey's end. Peacefully and quietly she passed away, March 30th, 1892, and a journey, replete with trials and vicissitudes was o'er.

Michael Pearce was born in Butler County, Ohio, May 2d, 1827. His par¬ ents were John and Mary (Kerby) Pearce, and both were natives of New Jersey. His grandfather, Michael Pearce, was a soldier in the Revolu¬ tionary War; a merchant in New Jer¬ sey, and lived to be nearly one hun¬ dred years old. He removed to Butler County, Ohio, in 1802, and invested largely in real estate, but continued the mercantile business. At his death, at the age of ninety-six, he left eight children and forty grandchil¬ dren, giving to each child a nice farm, and to each grandchild, $480. He had, also, lost a large fortune, in New Jer¬ sey, before moving to Ohio.

The subject of these lines migrated west, in 1854, settling in Rochester, Minnesota. Like many of the first settlers of Minnesota, Mr. Pearce in¬ vested largely in real estate, but, owing to the Civil War, soon after followed by high taxes, and great de¬ preciation in the price of land, the in¬ vestment did not prove successful. For twenty years, Mr. Pearce made wheat growing a special business, in which there was only a living, until near the close of the war, when wheat went up to two dollars a bushel, and land in the same proportion. Just before the high prices went down, Mr. Pearce sold out to good advantage. He then engaged in the fruit and nursery business in Olmstead County.

In 1880, he removed to Hennepin County, where he purchased fifteen acres of land in Minnetonka Town¬ ship, and started anew, in the fruit and nursery business. Before going farther into the details of his new en¬ terprise and his success therein, let us consider the cause that brought Mr. Pearce to Hennepin County.

He was married, in 1856, to Mary A. Johnson, who was also a native of New Jersey. Three children have re¬ sulted from.tfiis union, as follows: Helen L., Rhoda May, and Victor A. When these children reached school age, Mr. Pearce sought better advan¬ tages by removing to Hennepin Coun¬ ty, so that his children might obtain better education, which was supplied b3^ the school system of this county.

fifteen acres of land in Minnetonka Township, and at once began the planting of a nnrser3^ In this he has been eminently successful. His aim in building up the business has been to grow trees for the northern climate, and nianj^ of his trees are now stand¬ ing, successfull3", the climate of the Red River of the North, and, also, that of Manitoba. His trees are bnilt up from the bottom, like houses, 1)3" start¬ ing the hardiest roots, then grafting thereon the hardiest stalks, and to them the fruit which he desires to grow. I'nlike other nurseries, Mr. Pearce does not sell goods through agents. His trees are so well known throughout the North, that orders are continually coming to him, and it re¬ quires his whole output to suppl3" this demand. Aside from the raising of 3mung trees, Mr. Pearce has quite an orchard, in which he raises nearl3" all kinds of fruit, including apples, peaches, cherries, Russian apricots, raspberries, strawberries and grapes. Mr. Pearce's success cannot be wholl3" contributed to himself. His frugal housewife has contributed not a little to his success and happiness. She is a lady of marked indi v"idualit3", tall and commanding in her appearance, and with that force of character and self-reliance which has manifested it¬ self in the character and lives of her children. Mrs. Pearce is a member of the Congregational church, while Mr. Pearce adheres to the Baptist faith. He is also a member of the A. F. and A. M., a Republican, in politics, and has served two 3"ears as Justice of the Peace.

William S. Chowen. He was born in Delaware Count3", New York, June 22d, 1826. His parents were Morris and Betse3" (Streeter) Chowen. His father was born in Dutches, (now Put¬ nam) Count3", New York. He followed the calling of a farmer; came to Min¬ nesota in 1858; was reared a Demo¬ crat, and was a deacon in the Baptist church. He died, in Minnetonka Township, at the age of sevent3"-seven 3"ears. Mr. Chowen's paternal grand¬ father was Scotch, and his paternal grandmother, a Hollander, and were descendants of those who settled up¬ on the Hudson River, New York. The mother of Mr. Chowen, was of English origin, and was born upon the ocean, enroute to America, from Ensfland. Her father was William Streeter and her mother, was Ann Paine, an own cousin of Thomas Paine, the most noted and influential political writer of America, during the Revolutionar3^ period.

The subi'ect of these lines, received his education at the common schools, to a small extent, and the balance was obtained, b3" the aid of the historic "pine-knot." When he was four 3"ears old, his parents removed to Luzerne (that part which is now W3'oming) Count3", Penns3dvania. From the age of nine 3"ears, he has supported him¬ self, and, also, assisted his father in clearing a hemlock farm. At the age of eighteen 3'ears, he went into the Lehigh Valle3", where he learned the millwright trade, remaining there eight 3'ears. He then went to the southeast jiart of Virginia, where he continued working at his trade, in a sawmill.

Ma3'^ 22d, 1853, he came to Minne¬ sota, and soon located a farm, in Min¬ netonka Township, which has since heen his home. Here he has been in- strumental in building up the com¬ munity in which he has lived; always prominent in public affairs and especi¬ ally so in the matter of schools. He was one of the builders of the first schoolhouse in the township; hired the first teacher; helped to organise the first Sunda3^ school, and, as early . as 1856, had collected (what was said to be, by those who have traveled through the State, in the interest of church and Sunday schools), the largest and best selected library in the vState, except one in St. Paul.

He was elected to the first Legisla¬ ture of the State, in 1857, and there, as at home, he showed his adaptabilit}^ for the office to which he had been elected, introducing the Agricultural School bill. This bill he saw passed, while he was in the house. Nor did his aim stop here. Realizing the needs for higher education, he intro¬ duced in the Legislature a memorial to Congress, which passed that body, asking for an agricultural land grant, for college purposes. He afterwards called the attention of Colonel Cj^rus Aldrich, of Minneapolis, then a mem¬ ber of Congress, to this matter, and, through his agitation in that body, the Agricultural and Mechanics' College bill, passed both houses, in 1862.

The bill above referred to, providing for a State Agricultural School, was persistently pushed forward by the Patrons of Husbandry, with Mr. Chowen as one of the leaders of that order, and most ably backed and sup¬ ported by the faculty of the State Uni¬ versity, until they saw established, in connection with the "U," the first, and most complete. Agricultural college of the United States. Mr. Chowen, in connection with the Patrons of Hus¬ bandry^, also formulated the curriculum of the above named collegfe.

He was the first organizing deputy, in Hennepin County, of the Minne¬ sota Patrons of Husbandry, organizing fourteen granges the first year. He was, also. Master of the State Grange, for six years, and, as such, was a mem¬ ber of the National Patrons of Hus¬ bandry. He was a member of Forest lodge, I. O. O. F., at White Haven, Pennsylvania, and, after coming to Minnesota, joined, by card. North Star lodge, of Minneapolis. He committed to memory the entire ritualistic work, of both the Odd Fellows and the Pa¬ trons of Husbandry.

In July^, 1864, in Company F, Elev¬ enth Minnesota Infantry, he was en¬ listed, with the rank of sergeant, and assigned to General Thomas' command. Army of the Tennessee. This regiment was stationed at Nash¬ ville and Gallatin, Tennessee. They were mustered out, July 11th, 1865, at Fort Snelling.

Mr. Chowen was married. May 25th, 1865, to Mary^ M. Frear, by whom he has six children, as follows: Ida (Mrs. W. H. Wright, of Mount Rose, Wright County^, Minnesota), Dana F., Loren, Betsey (Mrs. Charles M. Miller, Min¬ netonka), Celeste, and Walter. The latter is a civil engineer, graduated from the Minnesota University.

Mrs. Chowen was born, in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, September 27 th, 1829. Her father, Abraham Frear, was a Methodist minister. Mrs. Chowen died, in July-, 1884.

Mr. Chowen is a member of the Universalist society, at Excelsior; a Republican, in politics, and has held many town and county offices. He has served several times as chairman of the Town Board, and, also, from 1882 to 1892, as a member of the Board of County Commissioners, five years as chairman of the Board. He was.

also, elected a uieiiiber of the court house commission at the first, and continues a member of that bodj' to the present time. He has also served his township, as Justice of the Peace, and, at the present time, is Town Clerk.

The first marriage in the township of Minnetonka was that of Newton Sperry to Mrs. Waters, at the residence of Mr. Chowen, in the spring of 1857.

Harley H. Hopkins. One of the earliest, as well as one of the most prominent, men in Minnetonka Town¬ ship, was the late H. H. Hopkins. He was born in the southwest part of Providence Count3% Rhode Island, at the town of Foster Center, Julj^SOth, 1823. He was a descendant of the illustrious Stephen Hopkins, of Rhode Island, who was a signer of the Dec¬ laration of Independence. Stephen Hopkins, L. L. D., was ten times Gov¬ ernor of Rhode Island, from 1751 to 1768, and Chancellor of Brown Uni¬ versity. He was born in 1707, and died in 1785. The subject of these lines, went to California, via the isthmus, in 1849, in search of gold, where he remained two years, endur¬ ing many hardships and privations. Returning to Rhode Island, he settled at Providence, where he resided until the spring of 1854, when he removed his famil^^, consisting of a wife and two small children, to the then fron¬ tier Territor}^ of Minnesota. In a few weeks, he selected a farm, about eight miles west of the Mississippi River (a little south of west of the present city of Minneapolis), which he pre-empted and made his future home. He was ver3' much interested in the growth and prosperit^^ of the community in which he lived, holding many town and count3Miffices. He was a member of the Board of Courit3' Commission¬ ers, in 18v65-6. A station on the Min¬ neapolis and St. Louis Railway was established, in 1871, and takes the name of "Hopkins' Station," from Mr. H. H. Hopkins, a prominent farmer of close proximit3^. Mr. Hopkins spent a large portion of his time, act¬ ing as claim agent for the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway Company. The post office, located at the depot, in 1873, was also named in his honor, and he was appointed postmaster, serving un¬ til his death, in 1882.

Mr. Hopkins was a man noted for his uprightness and probit3^ of char¬ acter; his hospitalit3'^ to all his fellow men; his kind^'^ feeling towards any who might be in need or in distress, and living a life approximating that worthy maxim, "with malice toward none, and charity for all."

Before ending this chapter of a strong and useful life, it seems fitting, to give the reader an insight into the happy domestic life, which has been, with Mr. Hopkins, as with all men who have achieved success, one of the principal elements. He was married in the spring of 1845, to Eliza A. Ran¬ dall, who was born, in Rhode Island, March 4th, 1825. She was the daughter of Zephiniah and Merc3" (Tillingist) Randall, who were also natives of Rhode Island. Two chil¬ dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hop¬ kins, Chester L. and Florinda M. Hop¬ kins, both residing upon the old home¬ stead, at Hopkin's Station.

EinvARD E. Sands was born, July 26th, 1819, near Christiania, Norwa3'. His parents were Errick E. and Ingeborg (Gilbertson) Sands, who were natives of the same place. His father was a logger, while he resided in Norwa3L He came to America, in 1859, settling in Fillmore County, Minne¬ sota, where he soon afterwards pur¬ chased a farm, residing there until 1866, at which time he removed to Iowa, and purchased another farm, in Winneshiek County; residing there until 1868, when he removed to Otter Tail County, Minnesota, and took a claim, residing here until his death, in March, 1893. His wife still resides upon this claim.

Edward lived with his father until he left Iowa. He still remained in Iowa, following teaming and thresh¬ ing, until 1872. He then went to Du¬ luth, Minnesota, where he remained one year, and was married, to Julia Resvold, who was born in Norway, near Bergan. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sands, namely: Minnie, William, Etta, Bert, Emma, Arthur and Clifford, all of whom are at home. In the spring following Mr. Sands' marriage, he came to Bloomington Township, Min¬ nesota, where he engaged in selling threshing machine equalizers. This, however, he soon abandoned, and renting a farm, he remained there un¬ til 1878.

In the spring of 1879, he purchased his present farm, in Minnetonka Township, where he has one hundred thirty-three acres of the finest farm¬ ing land, under a high state of culti¬ vation, giving his attention to general farming and stock raising.

Mr. Sands was one of the men who fought for the Union, in the historic regiment from Minnesota. He en¬ listed in Company A, First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and fought in the battles of Gettysburg (three days). Cold Harbor, front of Petersburg, New Market Road, Deep Bottom and Bull Pen. His company broke the line, be¬ fore Petersburg and Richmond, and engaged in the seven day fight to Ap¬ pomattox.

Mr. Sands was wounded, June 22d, 1864, at New Market Plank Road, by being shot in the temple and jaw. He was sent to Mount Pleasant Hospital, at Washington, District of Columbia, and afterwards obtained a thirty days' furlough. He is a member of Frank Holstead Post, No. 57, at Excelsior, the Lutheran church, and affiliates with the Republican party.

The town of Brooklyn is identical in area with government township 119, range 28, west of the fifth princi¬ pal meridian. It lies in the northeast¬ erly' part of Hennepin County, and is washed, along its entire eastern boundary, by the Mississippi River. Champlin bounds it on the north. Crystal on the south, and Maple Grove on the west. It contains 29,114 acres of land. The surface of the town is level, the river flowing through banks only slightly elevated above high water line. Before it was invaded by the transforming hand of civilization, it contained four consid¬ erable prairies, with the intervening tract covered with brush and groves of oaks and poplars. The prairies, naturally, first attracted the attention of the pioneers who attached to them names from their first settlers. First came the Getchells, who gave a name to Getchell's Prairie, in the south, then the Jenkins, in the southwest, Bottineau in the northwest, while the settlers on the prairie in the northeast gave to it a name roughly indicative of its form, "Long," it being four miles in length by one and a half miles in width.

Shingle Creek, the outlet of Eagle Lake, in the town of Maple Grove, flows through the town, from the west, in a serpentine course, traversing its southern half, and widening in sec¬ tions 26 and 27 into a shallow lake, leaving the town, in a southerly course, through section 35, The soil is warm and fertile throughout, as deep and rich as that of the timbered districts. It has a mixture of sand, and in the southwest there is a strip of clay land.

Brooklyn is an exclusively agricul¬ tural town. With the exception of Osseo, which is a separate municipal¬ ity, it has no village. Brooklyn Cen¬ ter is the site of two, of the three churches, of a store and post office; but its few residences are only a gath¬ ering of farm houses. A mile north of the Center, so called, is the Town House, though its site is some distance south and west of the geographical center of the town. In the early days, farming was pursued in the ordinary way. The prairies, after being broken, were easily cultivated and yielded good crops of wheat and corn. The brush land afforded good pasturage, while the native meadows bore lux¬ uriant crops of grass, and when drained, became the richest and best of tillage land. Dairying was a favor¬ ite occupation, while raising cattle and horses was a profitable business.

When the adiacent city (Minneapo¬ lis) had grown sufficiently to furnish a market, the farms were gradually transformed into market gardens, un¬ til today the entire town is devoted to this pursuit. One traveling along one of the roads leading to the cit3', in the proper season, will frequently 2)ass wagons loaded with the various pro- ducts of the gardens, on their way to the city market, where the vegetables are quickly absorbed by the green grocers of the city. In the southern part of the town, some milk dairying is still going on, but the chief busi¬ ness is that of raising vegetables for the city market.

The first claims were made ii, the town in the spring of 1852, although no surveys had been made. The lands on the west side of the river, above the military reservation, were open to pre-emption claims, and the settlers had but to drive stakes, indicating the boundaries of their possessions, and erect cabins, or shacks, for their shelter. There were no roads; but Indian trails threaded the copses and prairies, and were trodden by the fre¬ quent feet of the wandering Chippewas, who were numerous in that part of the country. They were continu¬ ally on the war path, in search of their hereditary enemy, but seldom molest¬ ed the white settlers.

Washinton Getchell and his son, Winslow, Amos Berry and Jacob Longfellow made claims at the same time, in the spring of 1852, on the prairie, in the southern part of the township. In July, Pierre Bottineau, Joseph Potvin, Peter Raiche and Peter Garvais made claims on the north¬ western prairie, and camped for a sin¬ gle night. Ezra Hanscom made his claim, in July, near the Getchell's, commencing the erection of a house, which was completed the following year.

In the fall of 1853, a colony of four¬ teen families, from Adrian, Michigan, came out, with implements and stock, and settled within a few miles of Osseo. Among them were the well known families of Allen B. Chaffee H. H. Smith, Thomas Keeley, D. B.

About the same time, David Chase and Alonzo Bragdon located on Long Prairie. A. H. Benson took his claim in 1854 and occupied it the following year. Jonathan Estes, J. M. Durnam, N. Crocker, L. R. Palmer and J. P. Plummer came in 1853-4. Hiram Smith, Job Kenneston, Charles Miles, James H. Brown, Stephen Howe, Wil¬ liam Cate and J. D. Hervey were early settlers on Long Prairie. Of these names, familiar to the early settlers of the country, most have disappeared from the scene of their former labors. Many have passed away, and some have gone to other parts of the coun¬ try. Ezra Hanscom still occupies his pioneer farm. The names now promi¬ nent in the town are such as C. R. and Samuel Howe, W. W. Wales, Hiram C. Bohanon, Mahlon Green, Joseph Dibb, Andrew Coulter, Charles Ward, Frank Ward, Calvin Smilley, Henry Jeutch, S. Meri'ill, James Weaver, Plenry and Charles Kilmer, Andrew and George H. Smith, George Setzer, Henry Curtis. H. P. Whitney lived for twenty years in Brooklyn, filling important town offices, and now re¬ sides not far off, in an adjacent town.

The boundaries of the town were es¬ tablished in 1858, somewhat larger than they are at present. Two tiers of sections were cut off from the south, in 1860, to constitute the town of Crystal Lake. Local government was organized at a town meeting held at the house of Ezra Hanscom, May 11th, 1858. At the first town meeting, one hundred twenty-eight votes were cast. E. T. Ailing was chosen Chair¬ man, William Stanchfield and J. P. Plummer, Supervisors; L. T. B.

Andrews, Clerk; Ezra Hanscoin, As¬ sessor; James McKay, Collector; H. II. Smith and A. H. Benson, Justices of the Peace; J. M. Durnam and \V. D. Getchell, Constables. Long before this time, the town had become well settled and nearly all the lands appro¬ priated. Being thought desirable from their easj'^ cultivation and prox¬ imity to the growing cit3^ there were frequent collisions for priority of occu¬ pations, and claim jumping was not uncommon.

The Methodist church, now occup3'- ing a handsome edifice, at the Center, built in 1866, was organized, in 1855, bv the formation of a class of eight members, under the leadership of Rev. J. M. Dow. Preaching services were held at the residences of Mr. Dow and Mr. Plummer - the first a log shanty, and the latter a cabin 12x16 feet in size. A parsonage has since been built. The first pastor was Rev. J. D. Rich, well known as a pious preacher of the Methodist church. The present (1893) pastor is Rev. John W. Powell.

The Brooklyn Center Baptist Church was built in 1868. Its cost was $2,200 and the parsonage, since built, cost about $700. Rev. E. E. San¬ ders is the present pastor.

A third church has been erected, in the east part of the town. It is named Bragdon Memorial Church, in memor3^ of E. J. Bragdon, a private in Compan3' B, Sixth Regiment, Minnesota Infantr3", who died, in service, January 3d, 1865, at Jefferson Barracks, Mis¬ souri, and whose estate was devoted, b3'^ his relatives, to the erection of the church. Religious services are held in the church under the auspices of the Eree Will Baptist denomination.

hall 22x42 feet, located at the Center. Much attention is paid, by the intel¬ ligent inhabitants of the town, to edu¬ cation. In addition to the ordinary district school, there is an excellent graded school, located on section 25, but accessible to many of the larger pupi s of other districts.

Br )okl3m furnished its full quota of men for the war, some of whom won distinction and promotion, and a few sleep on southern battlefields.

She has also contributed of her 3"eomanry to legislative halls, and to the administration of county affairs, and not a few of the pioneers have, in later life, removed to Minneapolis, where they have been among the most valu¬ able and respected citizens.

Among those who came to Brookl3m Township in the first 3^ears of its set¬ tlement, maybe mentioned the follow¬ ing; James Weaver was perhaps the first to make a scjuatter's claim within the present boundaries of Brooklyn Township. He came into the town, from Fort Ripley, in 18.50, and set up a few poles to mark the claim where he resides at the present time. He then left the place and did not return for one 3ear. Ezra Hanscom settled in Brooklyn, in 18.52, as did, also, N. Crooker, and John M. Durnam. In 1853, came W. W. Wales and Jonathan Estes. In 18.54, came Samuel Howe, Asa Howe, A. H. Benson, Charles Ward, Silas Merrill, who returned East, and came back later, John R. Dunning, R. L. Bennett, and Nathan Getchell. These are about all of the earl3' settlers, who are now living in Brook 13m.

Ezra Hanscom was born July 24th, 1821, in Crawford County, Maine; son of Elkanah and Fannie (Munson) Hanscom, who were also natives of Maine. His father died there, and his mother came to Minnesota, dying in Richfield Township.

Mr. Hanscom came to Minnesota in 1852, by the shortest route of those days, and was one month on his way. Made squatter's claim on section 27, town 119, range 21, west, which land he pre-empted, when it came into mar¬ ket, in 1855, and has followed farming as long as he was able to do the work. Elected Supervisor in 1858, serving twelve years; has assessed the town thirty years, and in many other ways rendered most valuable and efficient services to the township.

Married June 26th, 1842, to Mary Dow, also a native of Maine. They have eight children now livin g, Jella (Mrs. W. H. Shaw); Carrie, teacher, Minneapolis public schools; Addie, Minneapolis; Frank, farmer, Prince¬ ton, Minnesota; P^red, farmer, Brook¬ lyn; Walter C., M. D., Minneapolis; William H., druggist, and Herman, also in Minneapolis. Mr. and Mrs. Hanscom celebrated their golden wedding, June 26th, 1892, with their children and ten grandchildren pres¬ ent. They are both enjoying good health, at this writing, two years since that event, and are looking happily forward to years yet to be passed pleasantly together.

Carolina; removed, 1830, with parents, to Wayne County, Indiana, and, eight years later, to Hancock Countj^. Came to Minnesota, October 19th, 1853; made squatter's claim, on section 34, Brooklyn, in December of that year. Pre-empted that land, and proved up, in the fall of 1860. Married May 30th,

Mr. Wales has always been a Re¬ publican, in politics, and though born in the South, of southern parents, was always in favor of freeing the slaves.

Levi L. Getchell, born in Wash¬ ington Count3L Maine, Sei^tember 25th, 1828; came to Minnesota, October, 1856; settled at Forest City, Meeker County, remaining there until 1862, Was one of those who buried the first five victims of the Indians, at the on¬ set of that terrible massacre, at the residence of Howard Baker, at Acton, Meeker County, August 18th, 1862. Returned to Minneapolis in the fall of

1862, and worked in the pineries until 1865. He then went to Maine, but re¬ turned in 1867, following lumbering, until 1868, when he purchased land in the southwest part of Brooklyn Town¬ ship. Was married, 1852, to Helen J. Sprague, born in Penobscott County, Maine. They have one adopted son, who resides with them.

Nathan H. Getchell, born in Gor¬ ham, Maine, January 31st, 1813, son of Samuel and Judith (Lenfest) Get¬ chell, also natives of Maine; came to Minnesota, November 12th, 1854, and in 1857, purchased a claim in Brook¬ lyn, where he has since resided; was married 1843, to Miss Anna Connor, of Maine. They have one child living.

Rosa (Mrs. George W. Lawrence), and live deceased. Tlieir oldest son, Alva, enlisted in the army, to go South, but was ordered West, and was killed, at Acton, Meeker County, in the fall of 1862. The next fall, Mr. Getchell had the sad misfortune to lose another son and three daughters, by diph¬ theria. Mr. Getchell has been Super¬ visor of the township, and twelve years its Treasurer. He is now well advanced in years, and has deeded a ]>art of his farm to his daughter, Mrs. Lawrence, and Mr. Lawrence carries on the entire farm.

Charles H. Ward, born Henniker Count}', New Hampshire, in 1833; son of Jesse and Sally (Nichols) Ward, natives of New Hampshire, at which place they died.

Mr. Ward removed from Concord, New Hampshire, to Brooklyn Town¬ ship, in June, 1854; made two claims, which he sold, and, at the time of his brother's death, purchased his broth¬ er's claim and married his widow, by whom he has one child. He was elected Assessor, in 1874, and County Commissioner, in 1875, serving in the latter office, for six years. He has been Treasurer of his school district for twenty-five 3'ears; also is a mem¬ ber of the A. F. and A. M.

Andrew J. Smith was born in Lenoway County, Michigan, at a town called Jackson Mills, November 28th, 1844; the son of Horace H. and Lois C. (Shepard) Smith, who were natives of Vermont. He moved, with his parents, to New York, then to Michi¬ gan, and, in May, 1854, to Brooklyn Township. His father pre-empted the one hundred sixty acres where An¬ drew now lives, and resided in Brook¬

Andrew receiv'ed his education in Michigan and in Henne[)in County, and at the age of eighteen years, was appointed assistant, in the paymas¬ ter's department, with his uncle. Major D. C. Smith, who enlisted as Second Lieutenant, in the first Minne¬ sota, and was shot at Memphis, Ten¬ nessee. After eight months' service, he returned to Minnesota, and, al¬ though he has attended to a large and highly productiv'e farm, he has also spent a large part of his time in the pineries, cutting and hauling logs, and contracting grading upon public roads.

He was married to Bsther R. Thomas, by whom he had two children; the mother dying three years after their marriage. He was again married to Georgia I. Russell, who is the mother of four girls and, two boys, five of whom are living. Mr. Smith served in tlie State Legislature, from 1877 to

1879. He owns a very large and well cultivated farm of two hundred twenty acres, in Brooklyn Township, and is one of the most progressive men in the community.

George H. Smith, a brother of An¬ drew J. (whose parents are given above), was born in New York, April 11th, 1843; came to Minnesota, with his parents, and is, at the present time, a very prosperous farmer in Brooklyn Township. He has been a contractor, in railroad grading. In

1880, he worked upon the building of the Great Northern Railroad, and, in 18S1, upon the Manitoba and Canadian Pacific. He has also spent twelve or fourteen winters in the Minnesota lumber woods.

Histort Of Hexxepix Couxty

He was married, at the age of twenty vears, April, 1863, to Frances I. Thomas, who became the mother of fcur children, three of whom are now living, and died in 1876. He was again married in 1880, to Flora John¬ son, who is now the mother of three children, all of whom are living. Xr. Smith enlisted in Xovember, 1861, in Company D, First Regiment, Minne¬ sota Volunteer Infantry, and was with the regiment through twenty-five dif¬ ferent battles, and until the battle of Fredricksburg. He is a member of the A. F. and A. >1. and Eastern Star, also the G. A. R., at Osseo.

Fraxk F. Ward, born April 1st, 1841, in Henniker County, Xew Hamp¬ shire; received his education at the academy at Concord, Xew Hampshire. During the administration of Frank¬ lin Pierce, Mr. Ward worked, under Jacob Carter, postmaster, in the Con¬ cord post office, for three years, and in May, 1857, came to Minneapolis, where he began farming, threshing and stock raising. About the j^ear 1864, he purchased a farm, in Brook¬ lyn Township; has also dealt extensiveHin blooded stock, and done some speculating.

Mr. Ward, was married, in May, 1862, to Carrie I. Curtis, daughter of Xathan and Hannah Curtis, who were of English descent. Mr. Ward has two children now living, namely: Alice C. (Mrs. Oscar Smith) and George F., who carries on his father's farm. Mrs. Ward died in the fall of 1893. Mr Ward is a member of the A. O. U. W.; has served two terms as Township Supervisor, and is, at the present time. Deputy Sheriff of Hen¬ nepin CounH.

Mr. Rathbun came to Minnesota, in the spring of 1857, and settled on his present farm, in the northeastern part of Brooklyn Township, in 1874. He was married, in June of that 3'ear, to Blanche S. Goodale, of Maine, and has two children, Xellie I. and Junie E. He has been a member of the Town Board for nine years, five of which he was chairman. He has always been a strong supporter of the Republican party; a member of the A. O. U. W., and the Free Will Baptist church, of Brooklyn.

JoHX W. Goodale is a native of the Provinces, and reared in Maine. He married Xanc3' R. Willis, and, coming to BrookB'n, in 1853, took a squatter's claim, near Brooklyn Center, which he sold, in 1857, and returned to Maine. In 1858, he again came to Minnesota, residing in Cr3'stal Lake, until 1870, at which time he again made his home in BrookBm. Some 3^ears ago, he and his faithful wife went to live with their son-in-law, E. M. Rathbun, where Mr. Goodale still resides, his wife having died April 29th, 1889.

James Weaver was born, March 25th, 1823, in the Province of Xew Brunswick. His parents were Fran¬ cis and Mar3" (Arbo) Weaver, the for¬ mer a native of Pennsylvania, of Dutch stock, and the latter a native of Xew Brunswick. James Weaver left Xew Brunswick when twenty 3'ears of age, and having learned the trade of ship carpenter, in the Provinces, went to Bangor, Maine, where he began working at his trade, and, later on.

worked one 3"ear in Portland, Maine. Following the tide of emigration, he came to Chicago, and from there walked to Dubuque, Iowa, at which place he arrived late in the fall, find¬ ing one foot of snow upon the ground, and engaged work in the lead mines, until spring. Tn 1847, he came up the Mississippi Kiver, to St.' Paul, on the steamer Franklin No. 2. Coming from St. Paul to St. Anthony, he found several had engaged teams, to go to Fort Riplej^, and joined the party, re¬ maining there three 3^ears, building the fort. Returned to what is now Brookl3m Township, and made a squatter's claim, on his present farm, b3^ cutting two trees, and marking thereon his name. After camping here one night, he left the place for one 3'ear. Returning, in 1851, he built a shant3'^, and cut cord wood for two 3^ears; then engaged in lumbering for two 3'ears. He was married, in 1854. He pre-empted his farm, in 1855, and engaged in farming and contracting.

J. B. Johnson came to Brookl3'n, in 1865, and engaged in work upon a farm, for a short time, and then en¬ gaged in gardening, for himself. Later on, he went to Osakis, Douglas Count3^, Minnesota, where he was engaged in the mercantile business, for three years. Returning to Brookl3m Town¬ ship, he engaged in the same busi¬ ness, at Warwick, and the next 3^ear was appointed postmaster, holding the office to the present time.

July 1st, 1894, his store, house and outer buildings were all burned, caus¬ ing a loss of $4,000, above insurance, but he at once rebuilt, and resumed trade. Was married, in 1877, to Mar3' P. Schie, 1)3'^ whom he has four chil¬ dren, two living and two deceased. He is a prominent and active member of the Lutheran church and the A. O. U. W.

Christian Johnson, a brother of J. B., came to Brookl3'n, from Norwa3^, in 1865. He worked, for a time, upon a farm and began gardening for him¬ self, in 1881. At this business he has been ver3^ successful, and is now the owner of twent3" acres of fine land; also rents sixt3'^ acres. He has been three times married; first, to Bessie Wald, in 1882, b3^ whom he had one child. His wife died eleven months after their marriage, and, three 3"ears later, he married Gean33^ Husb3'. One child was born, who died at the age of eighteen months. This wife died in a year and a half from their marriage, and he was again married to Jenney Johnson, in the fall of 1888. Mr. John¬ son is a prominent member of the Lutheran church.

Ole Halverson was born in the central part of Norwa3L March 20th, 1844. He was educated at his native place, and, in 1869, emigrated to Amer¬ ica, arriving at Brookl3m Township, Minnesota, July 8th, of that 3"ear. He purchased a farm in this township, in 1873, and, foi- several 3'ears, he dealt extensivel3^ in ha3L usually selling two hundred loads a year, in Minneapolis. About 1888, Mr. Halverson began gardening, and has continued that work, with good success, to the pres¬ ent time.

He was married, June 24th, 1877, to Olevia Nervik. The3' members of the Lutheran church, and Mr. Halver¬ son is a Republican in politics, hav¬ ing served his township as Supervisor for seven 3'^ears.

Christ Swanson was born in Norwa3^ Januar3^ 29th, 1839; educated there and learned the tailor's trade. Jul3'^ 26th, 1868, he came to Minneapo¬ lis, where he worked three summers, leaving his famil3' in Brookl3'-n Town- ship. In. the spring of 1871, he went to Jackson County, remaining there five years. Returning to Minneapolis, he worked several summers in a brick yard. In the spring of 1881, he pur¬ chased a farm, in Brooklyn, and, in the fall, built a house upon it, rebuild¬ ing the same in the spring of 1893, and in the winter of '93-4 he finished the house throughout, himself, and now has a large and beautiful home.

He was married, in 1864, to Kirsten Oederson; had two children, one of whom is living. His wife died in the spring of 1872, and in 1882 he was again married, to Jennie Olson.

J. J. Bidem was born in Norway, and resided there until 1866, at which time he came to America; purchased one hundred acres of fine farming land in Brooklyn, in 1877, upon which he has placed a fine lot of buildings, and where he does a general farming business.

He was married, when twenty-two years of age, to Isabell Hanson, of Norway. They have had fourteen children, nine of whom are living. He is a member of the Lutheran church, and affiliates with the Republican party.

Fort Snelling

Mati3" allusions have been made in the History of Minneapolis, and in the pages of this volume, to the ancient military post. Although it is not sub¬ ject to the civil jurisdiction of Henne¬ pin County, it is situated within its limits, and a brief account of its estab¬ lishment and historj^ is necessary, to a complete history of the countj^.

Sir; - Pursuant to instructions from the commanding officer. Fort Snell¬ ing, Minnesota, I have the honor to submit the following report, viz: In 1805, Lieutenant Zebulon Montgomery Pike, United States army, was sent out to explore the upper Mississippi River, to expel British traders who might be found violating United States laws, and to make treaties with the Indians. On the 21st of Septem¬ ber, 1805, he encamped on what is now known as Pike Island, at the junction of the Mississippi and Minnesota (then St. Peters) Rivers. Two days after, he obtained, by the treaty with the Sioux nation, a tract of land, for a military reservation, which was de¬ scribed as follows: "From below the confluence of the Mississippi and St. Peters, up the Mississippi, to include the Falls of St. Anthony, extending nine miles on each side of the river. By this treaty, as ratified by the Sen¬ ate, the United States stipulated to pay $2,000 for the lands thus ceded.

The reserve, thus purchased by Lieutenant Pike, was not used, for military purposes, until February 10th, 1819, at which time, to cause the power of the United States govern¬ ment to be fully acknowledged bj" the Indians and settlers of the Northwest, to prevent Lord Selkirk, the Hudson Bay Company, and others, from estab¬ lishing trading posts on United States territory, to better the condition of the Indians, and to develop the resources of the country, it was thought expedi¬ ent to establish a military post near the junction of the Mississippi and the St. Peters. Accordingly, part of the Fifth United States Infantry, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Leaven¬ worth, was despatched to select a site and erect a post. They arrived at the St. Peters in September (1819), and went into cantonment on the south side of it, near where the town of Mendota now stands.

The first monthly report was ren¬ dered for September, 1819. During the ensuing winter (1819-20) scurvy raged amongst the troops, referring to which. General H. H. Sibley, in his address before the Minnesota Histori¬ cal Society, says; "So sudden was the attack that soldiers apparently in good health when they retired at night, were found dead in the morn¬ ing. One man, who was relieved from his tour of continued duty, and stretched himself upon a bench, when he was called, four hours after, to re¬ sume his duties, was found lifeless."

In May, 1820, the command left their cantonment, crossed the St. I'eters, and went into summer camp at a spring, near the old Baker trading house, and about two miles above the present site of Fort Snelling. This was called "Camp Cold Water." During the summer the men were busily engaged in procuring logs and other necessary materials for the work. All preparations were being made to commence building the new post, which was called "Fort St. An¬ thony;" the site selected being that of the present military cemetery. But in August, 1820, Colonel Josiah Snelling, Fifth United States Infantry, having arrived and assumed com¬ mand, selected the site where Fort Snelling now stands. Work steadily progressed, the troops performing the labor, and on September 10th, 1820, the corner stone of Fort St. Anthony was laid, with due ceremony.

During the following winter (1820- 21), the buildings of the new post not being habitable, the troops were quar¬ tered in the cantonment of the pre¬ ceding winter.

The first measured distance between Fort St. Anthony and Fort Crawford (Prairie du Chien), was taken in Feb¬ ruary, 1822, and was given as two hun¬ dred four miles.

A sawmill was built, the first in Minnesota, by troops from the post, in 1822, and the first lumber ever sawed on the Mississippi River was for use in the construction of the fort. Min¬ neapolis now includes the mill site.

The post continued to be called Fort St. Anthony until 1824, when, upon the recommendation of General Scott, United States army, who in¬ spected the fort, it was named Fort Snelling, in honor of its founder.

In 1830, stone buildings were erec¬ ted for a four company infantry post, also a stone hospital and a stone wall, nine feet high, surrounding the post. These buildings were not actu¬ ally completed, however, until after the Mexican War.

not cease until the treaty of 1837, which was ratified b3'^ the Senate in 1838, and by which the Indian claim to all lands east of the Mississippi, in¬ cluding said reservation, ceased.

On October 21st, 1839, the President of the United States issued an order, by virtue of the act of March 3d, 1807, "An act to prevent settle'ments being made on lands ceded to the United States, until authorized by law," directing the United States Marshal to remove squatters from the Fort Snelling reserve, and, if necessary, to call on the commanding officer at Fort Snelling for troops to assist him in executing his order. Accordingly^, on the 6th of May, 1840, a few of these settlers, having received the necessary^' notice, were forcibly removed by the Marshal, assisted by United States troops from the fort.

In 1837, Mr. Faribault presented a claim for Pike Island, part of the reservation purchased by Lieutenant Pike, in 1805. This claim was based on a treaty made by him with the Da¬ kotas, in 1820.

A military reservation of seven thousand acres, at Fort Snelling, Min¬ nesota, was set aside, by the Presi¬ dent, on May 25th, 1853. In Novem¬ ber, following, the President amended his act of May 25th, and reduced the reservation to about six thousand acres.

Pursuant to the act of March 3d, 1857, which extended the provisions of the act of March 19th, 1819, authoriz¬ ing the sale of certain military sites, the Secretary of War sold the Fort Snelling reserve, excepting two small tracts, to Mr. Franklin Steele. The articles of agreement between the board, appointed for the purpose, on the part of the United States, and Mr. Steele, were dated June 6th, 1857, and were approved on the 2d day of July following. The reservation and build¬ ings thereon were sold for $90,000, onethird to be paid July 10th, 18o7, the balance in two equal j^early instal¬ ments. The first payment ($30,000) was actually made July 2oth, 1857, on which date Mr. Steele, in pursuance of military authority, took possession of said propert}". The troops were withdrawn from the post previous to Mr. Steele's occupancy thereof.

Mr. Steele having made default in the two remaining payments, the United States entered into possession and occupaTicy of the reservation and post, on April 23d, 1861.

act of August 26th, 1862, the Fort Snelling reservation was reduced and defined as follows: "Beginning at the middle of the channel of the Mississippi River, below Pike Is¬ land; thence ascending along the channel of said river in such direction as to include all the islands of the river to the mouth of Brown's Creek; thence up said creek to Rice Lake; thence through the middle of Rice Lake to the outlet of Lake Amelia; thence through said outlet and the middle of Lake Amelia to the outlet of Mother Lake; thence through said outlet and the middle of Mother Lake to the outlet of Duck Lake; thence through said outlet and the middle of Duck Lake to the southern extremity of Duck Lake; thence, in a line due south, to the middle of channel of the St. Peters River; thence down said river so as to include all the islands to the middle of the channel of the Mis¬ sissippi River; reserving further, for military purposes, a quarter section on the right bank of the St. Peters River, at the present ferry, and also a quarter section on the left bank of the Mississippi River, at the present ferrj' across that stream."

Mr. Steele presented, on February 6th, 1868, a claim against the United States government, for the possession and occupancy, by United States troops, of said post and reservation; which claim exceeded in amount the original purchase with interest.

and set apart for a permanent mili¬ tary' post, so much of the military' reservation of Fort Snelling, not less than one thousand acres, as the public interest may' require for that purpose, and to quiet the title to said reserva¬ tion, and to settle all claims in relation thereto, and for the use and occupa¬ tion thereof, upon the principles of equity." In pursuance of which act, the Secretary of War set apart, for a permanent military reservation, fif¬ teen hundred thirty-one and twenty' hundredths acres, defined as follows:

"Beginning at a point where the south line of the northeast ([uarter of section 32, township 28, north, of range 23, west of the fourth principal merid¬ ian, intersects the middle of the main channel of the Minnesota River; thence west to the southwest corner of the northwest quarter of section 32, town and range aforesaid; thence north to the northwest corner of sec¬ tion 20, town and range aforesaid; thence east to middle of the main channel of the Mississippi River; thence along the main channel of the Mississippi River and the confluence of the ]>Iississippi and Minnesota Rivers, at the head of Pike Island, and the middle of the Minnesota River, to the place of beginning, in¬ cluding the officers' quarters, bar¬ racks, etc."

A reserve of ten acres, granted by' the United States to the Catholic church, at Mendota, for a cemetery', was also reserved. Mr. Steele exe¬ cuted full release of all claims what¬ soever to this property', and for the use or occupation of all property' sold to him, per agreement dated June 6th, 1857; in consideration of which, the United States released Mr. Steele from all indebtedness on the purchase made by him and granted and con¬ veyed to him the remainder of the socalled Fort Snelling reservation (ex¬ cepting one small tract), which is described as follows:

All of sections 19, 30 and 31, and all that part of section 18 ly'ing south of Minnehaha Creek, and all tliat part of section 17 ly'ing south of Minnehaha Creek and west of the Mississippi

River, all that portion of section 20, lying east of the main channel of the Mississippi River, including the is¬ lands east of said main channel, and the southwest quarter of the north¬ west quarter, and all that portion of the southwest quarter and of the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 21 which lies east or northeast of the main channel of the Mississippi River, and all those portions of sections 21, 22 and 28 lying on Pike Island (so called), being the entire island, and all that other por¬ tion of section 28 which lies east and south of the Minnesota River, except twenty acres, being the south half of the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of said section, the same be¬ ing reserved for a Catholic church and burial ground, where the church and burial ground now are; all that por¬ tion of the south half and of the south half of the north half of section 32 which lies west or northwest of the Minnesota River; all the above de¬ scribed lands being in township 28, north, of range 23, west of the fourth principal meridian. Also all that por¬ tion of section 13 lying south of Min¬ nehaha and Rice Lake and east of the creek running between said Rice Lake and Lake Amelia, and east of said Lake Amelia, and all land in section 12 that may be included in said boun¬ daries; all of section 24 Lung east of the western boundary of said reserva¬ tion ('reserve selected') and any por¬ tion of section 23 that lies east of the creek, joining Mother Lake and Lake Amelia, and the east half of section 25, and the east half of sections 36, all in township 28, north, of range 24, west 'of the fourth meridian; also all that portion of section 5 which lies west or northwest of the Minnesota River; all of section 6; all that por¬ tion of section 7 which lies north of the Minnesota River, and all those portions of sections 8 and 18 which lie west and north of the Minnesota River; all in township 27, north, of range 23, west; also the east half of section 1, and the east half of section 12, and all that portion of the east half of section 13 which lies north and east

The action of . the Secretary of War in selecting said reservation and buildings and conveying the above specified lands to Mr. Steele, was ap¬ proved, by the President, on January 4th, 1871.

Fort Snelling is situated on a high bluff on the right bank of the Missis¬ sippi, in latitude 44 degrees, 52 min¬ utes, 46 seconds, north, and longitude 93 degrees, 4 minutes, 54 seconds, west. It is an irregular shaped bastioned redoubt.

A wagon road runs entirely around the post, and is eight feet below the parade at the gorge, but graduallj^ ar¬ rives on the same level at the shoul¬ der angle.

A new two-story barracks, for six companies of infantry and sixteen sets of officers' quarters, was built during 1878. The east tower, stone wall and old guard house, have been torn down. The commanding officer's quarters have been remodeled during the cur¬ rent 3^ear.

The water is obtained from a spring about three-quarters of a mile from the post, by means of water wagons. Water is also obtained from the Min¬ nesota River, being forced through pipes, by an engine, into a large tank, on the west side of the parade grounds, but the water thus obtained is unfit for drinking purposes. Dur¬ ing extreme cold weather the water pipes freeze up, rendering it impossi¬ ble to refill the tank except during the open weather.

The armament consists of two three inch rifled cannon, with carriages, model of 1861. The present strength of the garrison is sixteen commis¬ sioned officeis and three hundred fourteen enlisted men.

It is impossible to obtain, from the records of the post, the various ex¬ penditures for barracks and quarters, and repairs of same, for any definite period. All that I have been able to obtain is that $35,000 was appropriated for barracks and quarters in 1878.

It is presumed, however, that the required information can be obtained at the Quartermaster General's office. The work practically (with few excep¬ tions), has been performed by the labor of the troops and the cost to the government cannot be correctly esti¬ mated.

The records of the post are incom¬ plete. It seems, from all attainable evidence, that the records were re¬ moved, in 1857, when the troops were withdrawn, and have not been re¬ turned. It further appears that these records had not been received b^^ the Adjutant General of the army prior to July 18th, 1866.

The last board of officers appointed to investigate claims on the Fort Snelling reservation met pursuant to Special Orders No. 278, Adjutant General's office, dated October 17th, 1870. I have been unable to find any general order referring to the reserva¬ tion of 1853 or 1862 or referring to lands sold in 1857 and 1870.

The reservation of 1870 was an¬ nounced in General Order, No. 66, Adjutant General's office, of that year, and was first surve3'ed hy Captain

D. P. Heap, Corps of Engineers, on April 13th, 1871. A new line, for the southern boundary', was run by First Lieutenant Edward Maguire, Corps of Engineers, on May 7th, 1877.

Soon after the foregoing report was made, extensive improvements were made upon the government propertjL A baker^L a commission storehouse, and a stable were erected, upon the plateau west of the fort. A rifle range was established, where the troops are exercised in the use of their weapons, and where actual encampments, for rifle practice, are held.

In 1866, the use of the militar3- post was greatly enlarged 63^ the establish¬ ment of the Department of Dakota. It includes the States of Montana and the Dakotas, as well as Minnesota, and is under command of a Major- General of the United States arm3L The object of the department is to facilitate the movement of troops, the distribution of supplies, etc.

The grounds upon the reservation, westerly of the post, and along the high bank of the Minnesota River have been handsomel3"laid out and traversed b3' a paved botxlevard, planted with trees, and adorned with shruhber3'^ and flowers. A handsome and extensive headquarters building, of rock, has been erected. A small chapel, and more than a dozen handsome brick dwellings, for residences of officers, line the boulevard. The3' present a novel and handsome appearance.

Its lacustral feature is a marked characteristic of the topography of Hennepin County, as it is of the en¬ tire upper half of the State of Minne¬ sota. There are scattered over its surface at least forty named lakes and the lesser pools and tiny lakelets, many bearing local names, amount to hundreds. They constitute charming embellishments of the scener3^ and are of great value to the pastoral and agricultural occupations of the inhab¬ itants. From the broad expanse of Minnetonka to the emerald pool shin¬ ing like a gem in its setting of meadow or nestling in the hollow of surround¬ ing hills, each has a j^eculiar beauty; while in outline and surrounding they present an endless variety of fascinat¬ ing beauty. Many of them are sur¬ rounded b3^ forest, while nearly all have preserved a fringe of trees upon one side, even when lying in the level expanse of the prairie. The larger lakes have beaches of clean sand or rounded pebbles and are quite free from fallen timber and upturne'd roots. The smaller are often set in the midst of meadows, whose boggy and saturated soil nourish a rank growth of coarse grasses and reeds and render approach to the rippling water quite difficult. All are abundantl3^ stocked with fish, and furnish, in the season, resorts for wild fowl who sta3^, in their semi-annual migra¬ tions, to refresh themselves in the placid waters.

In the older civilization, lakes have furnished themes for many entran¬ cing descriptions of natural scenery and have inspired some of the choicest flights of the poetic muse. Who, with the slightest familiarity with the English poets, has not been thrilled by the pictures of mountain lakes springing like en¬ chantment from the word canvas of Sir Walter Scott, or been soothed by the lines of Wordsworth, as he wan¬ ders among the lakes of Westmore¬ land, or kindled into ecstacy by the ringing cantos of Byron, among the wild and cragg3^ shores of the lakes of Switzerland?

The inland waters of Minnesota have been brought to familiar knowl¬ edge too recently to have woven their picturesque scenery into our national poetry; but before the advent of civilizatxj while their waters were the sole possession of the red men, how many legends of love and faith have twined about the limpid waters and peopled them with the m3^sterious spirits of the unseen? We are left to conjecture what were the vivid impressions which attached to so many of our lakes names that will forever cleave to them.

Iroquois, the Hurotis, the Dakotas, and whatever tribe dominated the vicinit}^ the aborigines have indeli¬ bly stamped names upon the scenery of the count y, especially upon its lakes.

The origin of the lakes of the prai¬ ries has been a subject of much curious speculation and of much care¬ ful study among the geologists. Doubtless various agencies have con¬ tributed to their formation in different parts of the country. The clogging up of water courses is an obvious cause of many of the inland lakes of the Kastern States, but the frequency of their occurrence on the high pla¬ teau of the country south and west of the great lakes suggests other origins. That which has sanction of the most thorough scientific investigation makes them a product of one of the great ice inundations when the stu¬ pendous plough share of the glacier turned deep furrows in the yield¬ ing sub-soil of the uplands and sifting down its clay, sand and rocky fragments, filled the deep excavation with impervious materials and, gathering the overflow¬ ing waters, left, in permanent form, the many lakes which now mir* the landscape. It was in long past teons. Since the retreating glacier exposed the land to sunshine and shower, vegetation has flourished and decayed, sedimentation has slowly filled the furrows, converting many of the shal¬ lower lakes into marshes, and, again, into meadows. Since civilization has opened its farms, cut out the forests, ploughed and cultivated the ground and thus cut off much of the supply of surface and percolating waters, the process of conversion has been accel¬ erated. The water supply of the larger lakes has become precarious and the

Lake Minnetonka, in size one of the larger inland lakes of the State, holds the scepter of royalty amongst the lakes of Hennepin County, and is sur¬ passed, in picturesque beauty, by few, if an^^ anywhere. In primeval times it was entirely surrounded 1)3^ the broad belt called the "Big Woods," composed of deciduous trees, sweeping from the Mississippi River, south¬ west, across the State; and at the pres¬ ent time, although many farms have been opened on its shores, and vil¬ lages, villas and cottages are group)ed around its lovely bays, the sheen of the woods is the prevailing feature of its landscape. Its lines are nowhere monotonous. Gently sloping hills, carry their umbrageous covering to the farthest limit of vision, while pre¬ cipitous bluffs alternate with pebbU" beaches, and these are separated by reedy shallows or lil3^ covered ex¬ panses. The oarsman may urge his skiff for da3"s among the intricate ba3's, and through the branching arms, amidst ever var3dng scener3^ The 3^achtsnian ma3" spread his sail to the fickle breeze with little assurance of making a complete circuit during the daylight hours; while the steamboat and launch find the hours of the da3' none too man3^ to explore its principal shores.

In extreme length, from east to west, the lake extends about eleven miles and is something over six miles in width. It covers more than half of the original township of Excelsior and extends into Minnetristra and Minnetonka. Its extreme irregularity of deep ba3'S, branching arms and in¬ truding peninsulas give an outline that is accurately s3'^mbolized by no form of the anirhate or inanimate creation. Could one conceive an octopod with a better developed body and less penetrating tentacles, he might form an image of the shape of this matchless lake. Should a blotch of ink be dropped upon white paper it would scarcely sprawl into so gro¬ tesque a form. There is an upper and lower lake connected by a narrow channel which, in late years, has been improved into a navigable canal. From the main body, deep bays pene¬ trate far into the forest. Since settle¬ ments began, about forty years ago, these have taken names, chiefly from settlers in their vicinity. There is Halsted, on the extreme west, and Gra^^'s on the east. Between them, on the south, are Robinson's, St. Louis, Carson's, St. Alban's, Excelsior, and Gideon's. On the north, Wayzata, Brown's, Smith's, Cr^'stal and Holmes', and the far reaching North Arm, with its appendages of Maxwell and Stubb's Bays.

Long points of land shoot their slender fingers far out into the waters. Look-Out Point extends its hand towards Spirit Island, from the north, and almost clasps Breezy Point, which advances from the south shore, form¬ ing, within their eastern enclosure, Wayzata Bay. Farther west. Star¬ vation Point points the way to Big Island. The repulsive name has given way to Orono since George A. Brac¬ kett made it the site of one of the airy cottages that now surround the great lake. Then come Huntington's Point and Bay View, and, on the south, Bickford's, Grand View, and Stetson's Points, and, jutting far into the Upper Lake, are Pelican, Cedar, Hardscrabble, Locke's and Howard's Points. The Upper Lake has Car¬ men's, West Arm, Harrison, Cook's and Smithtown Bays. Big Is¬ land, containing about a section of land, interposes its attenuated form between Excelsior and Orono, and, close beside it, nestles, in leafy beauty, Brightwood, a little islet appropriated years ago as the summer home of H. A. Gale. In the Upper Lake, are En¬ chanted Island, Shady Isle, Dunlap, Spray, Wild Goose, Crane and Eagle Islands. These points, islands and bays are favorite sites for summer cottages, which have sprung up on every pretty spot, with their append¬ ages of boat and bath houses, wharves, and anchorages. The pioneer cottager was S. C. Gale, who built and occupied a cottage at Maplewood as early as 1869. Near each cluster of cottages one sees a bevy of small rowboats, with yachts riding idly at anchor, with their white wings folded, except when a regatta summons the Minnetonka squadron to spread its canvas, and, with shining spars and gleaming sails, cut the blue waters from buoy to buoy, in the well contested race.

The waters of Lake Nii^tietonka are well stocked with fish. The favorite of the anglers are pickerel and bass, the former sometimes reaching fifteen pounds and the latter from two to five. They take the troll, and are an eager and gamey fish. For still fishing, there are the perch, rock bass, sun fish, herring and bullhead. It is re¬ markable that notwithstanding the vast numbers taken out of the water each season, the supply does not be¬ come exhausted. In the season, the waters are a resort of water fowl, resting for a time in their migrations. A few of the smaller sorts breed upon the lake. In the Upper Lake, an island is the home of numerous heron. The loon finds in the placid waters a favor¬ ite fishing ground, and his bugle cry is heard with startling distinctness, even when his form can not be distin¬ guished.

The flora of the surrounding region is varied and often brilliant. The fragrant white water lil3^ floats over shallows, the golden rod and sun flower paint the copses with their yel¬ low tints, the sumacs flame with their brilliant scarlet, while, in the autumn, the maples, ash and poplars clothe the woods with brilliant and varied colors.

At any season, except when the waters are ice-bound, a sail across the lake, around its points and through its sheltered bav^s, or a drive around its shores, furnishes diversions rarely to be found. If the wild set¬ ting of the Trossacks, or the crags and Alpine heights of Como and Luzerne, do not cast dark shad¬ ows over the waters, the quiet and vivid scenery of wooded hills, emerald islands and intricate reaches of inter¬ locking waters, form a sight not less picturesque and enchanting. Besides the cottages that furnish so many and delightful summer homes, the tran¬ sient public is cared for in summer hotels of elegance and comfort. The Lafayette, at Minnetonka Beach, Lake Park, on the west shore, and St. Louis, on the south, are among the best of summer resort hotels, while a multi¬ tude of boarding houses of greater or less comfort furnish entertainment to thousands of less exacting guests.

The Great Northern, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroads run to the lake, and by one or the other all points are easily accessible. The lake is reached by a drive of a lit¬ tle over ten miles from Minneapolis. Several roads have been built b^^ the count^^ in addition to the old high¬ ways, running through a pleasant countr3^ To those who have the leis¬ ure and facilities, the drive is not the least pleasant mode of approach to the lake.

Minnetonka is a name bequeathed to the lake by the aborigines of the country. Its signification is said to be "large water;" some render it "strong water." Whether the magnitude of the lake, or the power of its waves when vexed by an occasional tornado, sug¬ gested the appellation, is not clear. The writer thought the latter, when, upon a visit nearly forty j^ears ago, he rowed a heavy boat from Excelsior to Wayzata. Attempting to round the point near where the Fergusons had opened a clearing, the strong waves repeatedly beat him back, and he was only able to pass it by going ashore and towing. The lake was a favorite resort of the Indians, though it is not known that they had any permanent settlements upon its shores. Numer¬ ous burial mounds are found, es¬ pecially about Gideon's Bay, covered with aged trees Since the latter part of the seventeenth century, it has been known to the couriers des hois, who, in the pursuit of peltries thread¬ ed all the water courses, and traversed the plains from Lake Superior to Hudson's Bay and the Rocky Moun¬ tains. But neither Indian nor Koyngeiir has left any written memorial of his visit. Many j^ears ago, Mr. J. S. Letford, of Carver, found in the forest some miles southwest of the lake, the remains of a loghouse of two stories, without door or windows, and near by it he cut down a maple tree, in the heart of which, encircled by a hundred fifty j'ears' growth, he found a pistol, of French man¬ ufacture, mute witness of the bold explorers of the time of Louis XIV, and his American regent, Frontenac. The early settlers learned of the lake from the Indians and vojrageiirs. Three years after the arrival of the garrison to build a fort at the mouth of the St. Peters River, in May, 1822, a party of four, two of whose names are given as John (?) Snelling and J. R. Brown, doubtless soldiers at Fort St. Anthony (now Snelling), as¬ cended the stream which forms the outlet of Lake Minnetonka, then called Brown's Creek, but now known throughout the reading world as Min¬ nehaha, and made the first authentic discovery of the lake. They penetrated to the Upper Lake and camped on one of its islands. This J. R. Brown was a soldier at Fort Snelling, who made a claim at the mouth of the creek and gave to it his name, and should not be confounded with Hon. Joseph R. Brown, who was a trader in early times, and a prominent man in the early history of Minnesota Territory.

During the next twenty-nine years no visits to the lake are recorded and the memory of it almost faded out. Its existence was known, by tradition, to the early settlers of the country. General Sibley, Martin McLeod, Franklin Steele, the missionaries, traders and officers at the fort knew of it and some of them doubtless visited it, but have left no memorial. The next recorded visit to the lake was made, in the fall of 1851, by George Davis, who still resides at Minneapo¬ lis, accompanied by two companions, whom he only remembers by the names of Dave and Henry. They passed along the south shore, camp¬ ing on the site of Excelsior. Pursu¬ ing their exploration westward, they reached the edge of the great prairie, west of the "Big Woods," where they

The following spring, 1852, Simon Stevens and Calvin Tuttle visited the lake, and, during the summer, the former took up a claim on the outlet, and, soon afterwards, settlements were made at Excelsior and Wa3^zata, as is elsewhere particularly men¬ tioned.

In the early days of settlement. Governor Ramsey visited the lake several times. Upon the first occa¬ sion, he learned the name that the In¬ dians applied to it and comfirmed it as its official name. The Governor again visited the lake, about 1859, with a number of gentlemen, of whom the writer was one. The occasion was the christening of the first steamboat launched upon the waters, which was built by Rev. Charles Galpin and named the Governor Ramsej^. It had paddle wheels, with a boiler and en¬ gine intended for a sawmill. The trial trip bore the little party around Big Island, waking the echoes with shrill blasts of its whistle, and re¬ turned in safety to the starting place, at Excelsior, where the late Judge Cornell awaited, with solicitude, its return, having been unwilling to trust himself upon the frail vessel. This was the pioneer of a large fleet of trading and pleasure steamers which have since traversed the waters.

The lake has chiefly been a resort for pleasure and recreation, yet some sad tragedies have cast momentary shadows over the scene of usual gaiety. William Lithgow, a young man of refinement, from the vicinity of Boston, made a claim, in the spring of 1853, on the site of the State fruit farm. He had a fine sailboat built.

William H. Ferguson, who settled, with his young wife and two children, in 1854, on the south shore, dropped through the treacherous ice, while crossing the Excelsior Bay, in the fall of 1857, and was drowned.

In 1855, Frank W. Halsted built a cabin at the furthermost point of the Upper Lake, where he lived in quiet seclusion, amid his books, extending generous hospitality to all comers. Joining the navy, he served with dis¬ tinction through the war, retiring with the rank of captain. Returning to his loved retreat, he built, upon the site of his cabin the "Hermitage," where he lived for ten years, enjoying the visits of friends and strangers - a genial, cultivated gentleman. In June, 1876, he disappeared from his home, and, a few days afterward, his bod}'^ was found in the lake, under such circum¬ stances as induced the jury of in¬ quest to conclude it was a case of suicide.

The saddest accident in the histor}^ of the lake occurred in 1885, when a steam yacht, carrying a pleasure party, foundered, near Breezy Point, with the loss of Ex-Ma3'or A. C. Rand, with his family and friends, number¬ ing ten persons.

A memorandum of the fatal acci¬ dents that have occurred in Minne¬ tonka, prepared by Mr. William H. Ferguson, who has resided there for forty 3'ears, is added to this sketch;