Owatonna City

Owatonna City

About the middle of May, 1854, Wm. F. Pettit, Geo. F. Pettit. A. B. Cornell, and F. Wilbur Fisk, left Sparta, in Wisconsin, for a visit to the far-famed prairies of Minnesota. Geo. F. Pettit had been at Faribault some time previous, and made such a glowing report of the country that those who had families took them along, determined to make their homes on the sunset side of the Mississippi. Seven wagon loads of people, furniture, supplies, &c., set out and were four weeks in reaching Faribault. A long journey, attended with toil, discomfort and fatigue,- and one that none but strong, brave hearts would undertake and successfully accomplish.

tlie present site of the city of Owatonna. Mr. Cornell made his claim on the east side of the river and Mr. Pettit on the west side, being the farm recently owned by Judge Donaldson. Mr. Cornell built a somewhat primitive dwelling, which was constructed of poles covered with prairie grass, but it was sufficient to protect them from the storm and the scorching rays of the sun, and they were all contented to wait patiently till a more commodious house could be erected. This was the first residence and|the first building in Owatonna. Mr. Cornell soon commenced the -erection of the log house, (now standing just north of the and had the logs raised ready to put on the roof when he sold his claim to Mr. Pettit, who had disposed of iiis own on the west side of the river to a Mr. Crehore, now Chicago. Sometime in August Mr. Pettit had contract- with Cornell to build a house for him, similar to the one iie was building for himself, but when he purchased of Cornell his claim, the contract was annulled and another made that he should finish the one already commenced. "We give the contract in full, as it is probably the first one ever made in the county, which is as follows :

''It is agreed by and between William F. Pettit and A. B. Cornell that A. B. Cornell shall, previous to the 20th day of October next, build for said Pettit a log dwelling 5iouse, on the foundation said Pettit has already commenced ; said house to be twenty-two feet long and eighteen feet wide, puncheon floor below, two doors and five windows, shingled roof, logs hewn inside up to beams and ffliudded on the outside ; also, a cellar, fourteen feet by -eighteen, dug so as to be six feet from bottom to sleepers ; isaid house to be one and a half stories high and put up -similar to said Cornell's, and the said Pettit is to furnish all nails, glass, sash, putty, and lumber for doors and the upper floor so as not to delay said job, and to pay for said r. 'building seventy-five dollars.

The first track made across the prairies is the pioneer of civilization and the fore-runner, generally, of a crowd of immigration, and this was no exception to the general rule. Others followed the lead of Messrs. Pettit and Cornell, and several houses were built that fall. Hon. G. W. Green, of Beaver Bam, in Wisconsin, built the house now occupied by- Mr. Hanks, the raising of wliich was accomplished on the 2nd of October, all the settlers in the vicinity assisting. In the winter following the log house now owned by Mr. Murray, just south of the railroad bridge, was built by Messrs. S. W. Park and S. B. Smith. Judge Green had not yet removed his family to this place and his house was occupied by John Dickering.

Immigration was rapid and quite a settlement soon sprang up in this locality. Addison Phelps, David Lindersmith, B. L. Arnold, Obed Gains, Basil Meek, John Wilcox, P. P. Carlton and Nelson Morehouse built houses, and cast their fortunes with those of the young settlement. Mr. N. Winship commenced hauling the logs for a hotel, which was soon erected and opened for the accommodation of the ''traveling public." This was the first hotel built here, and is still standing and doing good service as the kitchen of the present Winship House. The summer of 1855 made large additions to their numbers. In addition to those already mentioned there came this year Charles and John Ellison, L. B. Town, James Cole, and James Cornell, Rev. A. Town, P. Sanford and J. Wilson made claims and returned for their families. During this summer Mr. Pettit built the first frame house in the county ; the one now owned by Mr. Wm. H. Kelly, on the hill in the eastern part of the city. Mr. Pettit was obliged to haul part of the pine lumber from Red Wing with which to complete the house, which cost him $107 per thousand, and the wainy-edged roof boards, procured at Faribault, cost $60 per thousand. Such were the disadvantages under which the, pioneers had to labor. Sometimes, too, a little fear of what the Indians might do crept into their minds to disturb their tranquility, yet the Indians were at peace with the whites, and at that time considered them their best friends. But at times circumstances would occur to arouse the suspicions of the people to a high pitch. As an instance of this we give the following incident :

The first year of the settlement all the provisions and supplies of all kinds were brought from St. Paul, and at one time Mr. Cornell went with his team to that town to bring in a load "of provisions, &c., and was absent about a week, leaving Mrs. Cornell with only her children and a boy to keep her company. During his absence a party of Indians, a hundred or more, encamped for a time near Mr. Cornell's shanty. Yet they were very respectful and civil to the "white squaw," and did not venture into her house. One evening they gathered material and lighted huge bonfires a little back from the shanty, and commenced an Indian dance with all its wild accompaniments of songs and shoutfi, making night hideous with their antics and bowlings. Just at this time Mr. Cornell with his load reached the hill about two miles north of the town, and as he gained the summit he saw the flames of the fires and the dusky redskins dancing in the lurid glare of light. His wife and children ! Had they become victims to the * savage thirst for blood ? The thought came crashing through his brain with the rapidity of lightning. He did not stop long to gaze, but unhitching his team he stripped the harness from the fleetest horse and mounting him rode at the top of his speed, resolved to know the worst, and save his loved ones or perish with them. On reaching the ford his eyes were made glad at seeing his wife on the opposite bank awaiting his return, who assured him that all were well and glad to see him returned as safe as they were. Thankful that he was the only one victimized, Mr. Cornell returned and got his load of provisions.

In the summer of 1855 Mr. Pettit sold his claim to John H. Abbott, and bought soon after an undivided half of Mr. Cornell's claim lying immediately south of the one just sold. It required but little argument to get all parties interested in building up a first-class town, and as usual among western men, when they had once decided to do it, they went directly to work to accomplish the object. Roads and bridges for the purpose of communication with other sections of the country, were the first things to be attended to, and with willing hearts and stout hands they Went to work and opened up the roads, bridged the sluices and water courses, and soon had the satisfaction of knowing that at least an important thoroughfare was opened through their town. Mr» Cornell, with true western energy and perseverance, built a bridge across the Straight river, and travel was seemingly nearly constant. Not unfrequently were there from twenty to thirty or forty emigrant teams in the streets at one and the same time. Business flourished, and the high road to prosperity was opened and all seemed determined to travel therein. Every settler whose house was large enough to accommodate more than his ewn family had all the spare room ox^cupied with strangers and those seeking homes. A village was platted, streets and lots marked out and speculation in city property was very active. A newspaper was established, and it was a live, energetic paper, just suited to the occasion, and one that did its full share in developing the resources of the country. In the spring of 1^56 Mr. Ezra Abbott built a steam saw mill, which was put into operation, and the building interests were greatly accelerated by this addition to the power and material. The common lumber for most of the new buildings was manufactured at this mill. In 1857 Messrs Wm. F. Pettit, John H, Abbott and A. B. Cornell built a mill just above the town, intended for a grist mill; but the demand for lumber was so great that machinery for sawing was soon put in operation, and the building interests were materially enhanced thereby. Immigration to Minnesota that year was literally immense, and every available space was occupied for hotel room. At one time the log house of Mr. Winship accommodated, or at least contained, some fifty persons. In the fall of 1855 a postoffice was established by the name of Owatonnia, from the Indian name of the river Ouitunya^ which in the Sioux dialect signifies straight, as the general course of the river is straight, though in its meanderings one of the most serpentine to be found on the maps. The same name was given the town and the spelling corrected as now used, '"Owatonna." In the winter the mail route was extended via Austin and West Union in Iowa to Dubuque, and the mail carried by J. J. Bracket, of Lakeville. Previous to the establishment of this route Mr. Pettit had put a line of daily stages in operation between Owatonna and Faribault for the purpose of bringing in all parties who were looking for locations. In September, Mr. Cornell and Mr. John H. Abbott laid out the town site, comprising 120 acres, about sixty acres on each of their claims. In November they went to Winona and pre-empted the land, and on the 26th of December filed the town plats in the office of Charles Ellison, Register of Deeds.

In October of this year, J. W. Park and A. B. Smith built the log house now standing just north of the Winship House, on Oak street, and filled it with a stock of goods, which proved of great convenience to the settlers. A very respectable log school house was also built this fall, though a school had been taught the previous summer by Miss Helen

Holbrook, a sister-in-law of P. P. Carlton, in, or rather under, a sort of bower made of poles and boughs of trees. Here on pleasant days the youth of the embryo city gathered together to take the initiatory steps in climbing the hill of science and mount the first rung of the ladder of fame. The old log school house performed a somewhat important part in the history of the place. Schools were held in it during all school terms ; each of the denominations used it in turn as a house of worship. All the political meetings and elections were held there ; singing schools, lyceums and prayer meetings occupied the evenings, so that it was kept in almost constant use until it was removed and its place supplied by the present second ward school house. The town proprietors donated about forty lots to those who would erect substantial and useful buildings. In April 1856, Messrs. Pettit, Abbott and Cornell bought of Messrs. Park and Smith five hundred acres of land lying on the north side of the town for $8,000. This has since been known as the "Five Hundred Acre Tract," the purchasers being determined that no stone should be left unturned that would help build up the town. In the winter of 1855-6, B. L. Arnold built the Eureka House, the first frame hotel in the county, Mr. Adolphus Town built a small building on Bridge street and put in a stock of goods. In the fall of 1856 Nelson Morehouse built a saw-mill on the water power on the west bank of the river. Business really took long strides forward. In July of this year J. W. Morford and John Odell opened a store on Bridge street and somewhat later in the season. Dr. Harsha and Judge Donaldson, a drug and general provision store in the building now occupied by Harsha & Donaldson as a drug store ; A. N. Stoughton and D. Potwin on Main street. Philo Sandford built the American House, and Mr. Winship built an addition to his hotel. People became elated

The first death in the town of Owatonna was that of a Mr. Presburg, who had lived about a mile north of the village in the timber. This death occurred in 1856, and a clergyman passing through the town officiated at the funeral. Mr. Morford made a claim about three miles east of town, and adjoining that of his partner, Mr. Odell. He lived on his claim yet attended to his business in town, generally going home each night when not detained too late by business. Whenever he was detained in town, Mrs. Morford would spend the night at Mr. Odell's. On one of these occasions, the 20th of November, 1856, Mrs. Morford having waited till somewhat late for her husband's return, started for her friend's house, which was distant about half a mile. After walking, as she thought, far enough to reach the house, she began to look about her, but could perceive no signs of the shanty. She wandered about for some time searching for the house, and finally concluded that she was lost on the prairie. But she did not despond, as she knew that she had not gone so far but daylight would set her all right again, and coming to a thicket she very philosophically wrapped her shawl around her and laid down to sleep. The weather being quite mild she enjoyed a good rest and awoke in the morning very much refreshed and started for home. Seeing a shanty she approached it, thinking she would make some inquiry as to her whereabouts. No one answering her repeated knocks she raised the latch and stepped in. Things looked strangely familiar to her, and upon a closer scrutiny she found she was in her own home that she had left the night previous ; but so completely bewildered had she become on the prairie, that she did not recognize the place till she had got inside and saw the familiar furniture.

Chairman of Supervisors^ W. F. Pettit, 2 years, Geo. B. Hall, 3 years, John Odell, George W. Shaw, Gurdon Watson, 2 years, Daniel H. Bliss, J. B. Smith. For the year 1867, after the death of Daniel H. Bliss, J. B. Smith was appointed Chairman of Supervisors.

At the session of the Legislature in 1855, a city charter was granted, and at the charter election held on the 4th day of April, the following officers were elected: Mayor, Geo. B. Hall ; City Justice, A. N. Stoughton, City Recorder, A. M. Kinyon ; Assessor, James M. Dresser ; Aldermen, W, H. Wilsey, J. A. Oppligar, and "Wm. Scruby for two years, and W. R. Kinyon, J. B. Crooker, and John Donaldson for one year.

The officers appointed by the Board were : J. B. Hooker, City Treasurer ; J. B. Searles, Attorney; L. Bixby, Surveyor ; W. Wheaton, Marshal ; L. H. Kelly, Printer.

Owatonna has frequently been represented in the Legislature of the State and in other public positions. The members of the Legislature from this town have been H. M. Sheetz, Wm. F. Pettit, J. B. Crooker, and W. R. Kinyon. Wm. F. Pettit and M. A. Daily, have been elected to the State Senate. Hon. N. M. Donaldson has occupied the bench in that judicial district since its organization. Hon. M. H. Dunnell, the present State Superintendent of public schools, is also a resident of Qwatonna.

Pragtkal Bkhtisti

Br. Cole having had many years' experience in the art and practice of Dentistry, feels confident that he can safely assure the public that his work will compare favorably with the work of other firstclass dentists either east or west, and far superior to that of itenerant quacks who can only obtain business by traveling from place to place. A first claijs dentist seldom travels about the country seeking work, but remains and establishes himself where his work will speak for him.

Glassware

Are daily receiving Goods of the latest and most fashionable patterns and styles, that will please the eye of the most fastidious, and at prices to suit the times.