Rockford City

Rockford City

Rockford township is in the southeastern part of Wright county, and embraces all of township 119, ranges 24 and 25, north and west of the Crow river and its north branch. It is bounded on the north by Buffalo and Frankfort, on the east it is separated from Hennepin county by the Crow river, on the south it is separated from Franklin township by the north branch of the Crow river, while on the west is Marysville.

The town was originally all timber except for a small tract of 200 acres called Little Prairie, in sections 22 and 23, township 119, range 25. The town is well watered by the Crow river and its north branch, by tributary erecks, and by many springs. The lakes cover from 100 to S00 acres each, or abont 2,000 acres in all. Among them may be meutioned: A part of Waller's lake in section 4, Charlotte lake in sections 5 and 6, Moore's lake in section 1, Lake Martha in section 5, Mink and Tamarack lakes in section 6, and the whole of Crawford's lake in section 20, Dean's lake in sections 9 and 16, Rinker's lake in sections 18 and 14, Rice lake in section 23, a small lake in section 18, and other smaller bodies,

The vicinity of the forks of the Crow river is very rich in Indian mounds. In modern times the Winnebagoes occupied the township, and from 1850 to 1854 had quite a village near the present village. In 1856 some of their teepees were still standing near the bank of the river. The rapids in the river afforded good fishing, and the fish were caught and dried in large quantities. In May, 1851, the river was very high, and the steamboat "'Governor Ramsey,"' made a trip to the village and took on quite a large cargo of dried fish. This was the only steamboating ever done on the river. Bands of Sioux Indians as well as other Sioux camped here many winters, hunting and fishing. In 1860, alarmed at the number of deer the Indians were killmg, the settlers, headed by Sheriff Bertram, raised a posse and by force of superior numbers compelled the Indians to leave the town. The Red Skins were a sorry looking crowd as they crossed the Roekford bridge followed by the hunters and others.

Greenwood was surveyed and laid out as a townsite, in April, 1855. The first settlers and town proprietors were Mathew Taisey, E. O. Newton and Samuel Allen, During the summer of 1855, this new town at the forks of the Crow river had the name and reputation of being a prospective flourishing city, and many people began to visit the place. As originally laid out, Greenwood was on each side of the river. The first maps of the townsite showed about half in Rockford township, and the other half in Hennepin county. Gradually visitors began to come to this side of the river.

John M. Burt from Big Flats, New York, was one of the settlers in 1855. He took a claim in the southwest quarter of section 29, adjoining the townsite, his land lying between the old townsite of Greenwood and the present village of Rockford. Mathew Taisey took a claim on the southwest quarter of section 30, his claim being long known as Powers' meadow. In August, William Frazer took a claim below Burt's on the river, the northeast quarter of section 29, now the village of Rockford. In September, 1855, many people were searching for claims. Among them were A. W. Dorman and J. F. Powers. Mathew Taisey sold his claim to J. F. Powers about October 1, 1885, and took a claim on the southwest quarter of section 24. J.D. Young took the northeast quarter of section 30; A. G. Sexton the southeast quarter of seetion 19; and Thomas Shippy the southwest quarter of section 19.

George F. Ames and Joel Florida, of Boone county, Mlinois, visited Minnesota abont October 1, 1855. It is said that Mr. Ames was dissatisfied with the result of several lawsuits which he had with the Chicago & Alton railroad over the crossing of his farm by the line of that road, and becoming disgusted with the march of civilization, especially with the railroads, he decided to make his way to a country where railroads were as yet unknown. Accordingly he sold his farm and hotel at Garden Prairie, il., and with Joel Florida he started out for the Northwest. On the boat up the Mississippi river they met Guilford D. George, of Boston, a native like themselves of Vermont, and the three decided to east their lot together. Mr. George was a machinist, millwright and carpenter and Mr. Ames had considerable practical experience in the line of mills, so it was natural that their attention should have been turned to mills and waterpowers, Upon arriving at Minneapolis they heard of the unused waterpowers along the Crow river, and of the beauties of the Big Woods. They reached Greenwood, October 4, 1855. At that time it was supposed that the best place for a dam and mills would be on the elaim of John M. Burt, near the mouth of Edgar's creek and very near the edge of the townsite, as most of the rapids were at that point. But the Messrs. Ames, Florida and George found a more available millsite below Burt's, so they purchased the rights held by William Frazer, on the northeast quarter of seetion 29. This quarter Mr. Ames took as a pre-emption claim. Mr. Florida took the northwest quarter of the same section. Mr. George took the southwest quarter of section 20, and C. 0. Thomas took the southeast quarter of the same section. James Goodwin took the southeast quarter of section 29, and sold it in 1856 to Mrs. Mary H. Ames, a sister of Mrs. George F. Ames, and afterward wife of Guilford D. George. She pre-empted it. A small portion of this claim is in the village of Rockford.

Messrs. James, Florida and George formed a partnership with a capital of $4,500, each share being placed at $500. Mr, Ames took four shares and Mr. Florida and George each took two shares. Messrs. Ames and Florida returned to Dhinois, and on October 6, 1855, G. D. George became the first permanent settler in the village of Rockford. He took up his residence in the small eabin built by Mr. Frazer. It was located near where, years afterward, the liberty pole stood.

Mr. George was joined November 18, 1855, by Isaae P. Harvey and by Cyrus Redlon and his sons, Frederick and Frank Redlon. They soon built an addition to the old Frazer cabin, and made themselves comfortable for the winter. Mr. Harvey took a claim on the northwest quarter of section 20, Mr. Redlon on the northeast quarter of the same section.

About this time, James Sheridan took a claim on the east side of Lake Charlotte, in seetion 5, and David Cook on the south side of the same lake in section 6. They moved onto their claims in the spring of 1856.

August, Henry and Christian Wolff took claims on seetions 2 and 3 in the fall of 1855 and erected a house, where they all lived together. During the fall or early winter, Henry Grebling and Fred Lieder settled on seetion 16, and Fred Peikart on section 9,

In January, 1856, Thomas Shippy built a house on his claim and became a permanent settler. In February, 1856, Calvin Steward and his nephews, Washington and Jackson Steward, walked here from a farm near Fort Atkinson, Wis. They had been employed to clear land and erected a house for the members of the townsite company but they proposed also to secure claims for themselves outside of the land owned by the townsite company and their friends. They moved into the Frazer cabin and taxed its capacity to the limit. Calvin Steward took a claim on the southeast quarter of seetion 18, and Jackson Stewart on the northeast quarter of section 17.

The men residing with Mr. George in the Frazer cabin cut two or three acres of the village timber that winter and spring, and erected a large double log house at what is now the southwest corner of Bridge and Mechanic streets.

A large party arrived from [linois June 30, 1856. The town company decided to purchase a steam sawmill to saw lumber for the proposed dam and mills, and also in this way to supply the settlers with lumber until the water-power mills were completed.

Up to this time there had been no direct road from Minneapolis to Greenwood. The route taken was a very poor and erooked road by way of Wayzata. By aet of the legislature passed February 26, 1856, Thomas Hanson, George H. Fletcher and D. R. Farnham were appointed a committee to lay out and survey a territorial road from Minneapolis by way of Greenwood to Forest City. The committee met at Minneapolis, June 24, 1856, and employed J. R. Mendenhall as surveyor. He had just arrived and this was his first work. William B. Burrill, of Greenwood, was one of the chainmen. The committee acted as axmen, chainmen and in various other capacities. The present Roekford and Minneapolis road is a part of this old territorial road, and the line of the road has never been changed except to get it into the original survey.

Like all other pioneer road surveying, it was a very diffieult task - through brush, swamps and heavy timber, rain, mud and mosquitoes, with many experimental lines to run through a country of lakes, marshes and hills - a slow and tedious work.

When the surveying party was about half way to Rockford, they were overtaken by the townsite party, in charge of Messrs. Florida and Ames, who were returning after a winter spent in preparing to establish themselves in the wilderness, This townsite party consisted of about twenty men, aside from the women and many eager children. There were a dozen teams, and the steam sawmill. Working with the surveying party, they cut out the road and built bridges, and camped wherever night overtook them. They arrived at Rockford and forded the river June 30, 1856.

Among the members of this townsite party were: George PF. Ames, Joel Florida, William Sleight, Thomas Steele, Joseph Balls, William O, Eldred, Amos Denny, Thomas Prestidge, Jesse Prestidge, Joel Beebe, W. W. Burch and others. Some of the families stopped at Minneapolis for a while. Those that did bring their families lived in tents or in temporary structures until they could erect suitable cabins.

C, C, Jenks arrived in Rockford at the same time, but he did not come with the townsite party. He had formerly lived in Rockford, IHL, more recently had resided for fofir or five years at Anoka and Rive Creek. It was he who proposed the name of Roekford for the townsite, and he stuck to it until it was adopted, though Amesville and Big Rock were propesed by many of the others,

About this time, Joseph Ball, Thomas Steele, Joel Beebe, W. 0, Eldred, W. W. Burch and Amos Denny took claims in the town of Frankfort, on sections 28, 29 and 32, near Beebe lake, and though over the line, were practically members of the Rockford colony.

Rockford was rapidly filling up. William Sleight took a claim in the northwest quarter of section 17, and the southwest quarter of section 8. Thomas and Jesse Prestidge took claims on the northeast quarter of section 8. Owen Davis, who came with the Stewards, took a claim on the southeast quarter of section 8. G. A. Ruckoldt settled on section 22; A. C. Northrup on section 25: William Roberts on the southwest quarter of section 24. Henry Liederbach took a claim on section 13. A. W. Moore and H. S. Angell came the same year.

The original Rockford school district was organized by the county commissioners, April 6, 1858. Marrilla Morse, afterward Mrs. George Sook, was the first teacher.

Rockford township was established by the board of county commissioners, April 6, 1858, consisting of as much of township 119, range 24, as lies in Wright county, and all of township 119, range 25, except sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, which were attached to the town of Buffalo, The first town meeting was held at the Rockford House, in the village, May 11, 1858, and the following officers were elected: Supervisors, 8. R. Workman (chairman), William Sleight and O. F. Jackson; town clerk, G. D. George; assessor, H. A. Wallace; treasurer and collector, William Godfrey; constables, William Godfrey and John C, Jones; justices of the peace, O. F. Jackson and C. ©. Jenks; overseer of the poor, A. W. Lueas.

During the year 1858 a move was made to establish township 119, range 25, as the town of Freedom, the people living in that area being desirous of separating themselves politically from the influence of the village and its surrounding territory, A petition signed by nearly all the legal voters of the proposed township was presented at the meeting of the county commissioners held in Jannary, 1859. A remonstrance was presented by the people of the village and that part of township 119, range 24, lying in Wright county, protesting that the creation of a new town would reduce Rockford to a fractional part of a township, and that the expense of supporting two township organizations would nearly double the taxes. The member of the board from Rockford was in favor of the formation of the new town. He pointed out that the interests of the colony that had settled in the village and vicinity were different from the interests of the people in the proposed new town, and he further showed that if the boards had a smaller territory to administer, and a shorter distance to go to attend the meetings, the taxes would be lowered and not in- creased, The commissioners laid the proposition over until the April meeting. The annual town meeting for 1859 was held at Rockford, April 5. The people of the village and vicinity had held a cauens, and picked out a list of officers which included men from all parts of the town, hoping in this way to reconcile the various contending elements. But upon arriving at the polis it was found that the people of the proposed town of Freedom had held a caucus and nominated a list of officers composed exclusively of men from their own number. Therefore the people of Rockford village and vicinity at once nominated a ticket from their own number. The village ticket won by a majority of seven, and the Freedom project was thus killed. The town officers elected that year were: Supervisors, J. F. Standish (chairman), H. S. Angell and A. W. Moore; town clerk, D. R. Farnham ; treasurer, J. E. Jenks; assessor, William F. Bagley.

A party of ten men, with D. R. Farnham as guide, started northwest from the village on September 1, 1856, to lool up land and claims. No road had been built, but there was an old Indian trail, and the old crooked road which the French traders had built. There was not a claim taken between W. H. Roberts on the southeast quarter of section 24, in Rockford, and James Griffin, on the shores of Buffalo lake, in Buffalo. The party consisted of Charles Dolphus, John Ramsey, J. U. Freed, J, C, Hoagland, T. C. Staples, Jackson Steward, Washington Steward and others, They reached Buffalo the first day and spent the night there. Amasa Ackley, G. A. J. Overton and James Griffin were then the only inhabitants there. The next morning two claims were taken adjoining Griffin's, in Buffalo, and the whole of sections 4 and 5, and a part of sections 9 and 10, Rockford township. Improvements were started and clearings made, The vicinity of sections 31 and 32 in Buffalo township and sections 4 and 5 in Rockford was named Mount Airy.

Claims thus selected, the party started back to Rockford. When within about a half mile from the village they stopped for a few minutes te speak to Amos Denny, who was chopping down a large basswood tree. As the tree fell, a large limb broke off, instantly killing Washington Steward, and inflicting injuries upon John Ramsey from which he never fully recovered.

The first birth in the township was that of Minnie Peasley, born January 2, 1857, daughter of John and Mary Peasley. Her mother died when she was a week old, and she was adopted by Alfred H. Taisey, of Greenwood, and took his name. The first marriage was that of G. D. George and Mrs. Mary H. Ames, December 25, 1856, Rev. A. A. Russell, of Minneapolis, officiating. The murder of Henry A, Wallace in 1858, the trial and lynching of Osear I', Jackson, and the subsequent Wright County War, are related at length elsewhere in this work.

Rockford was the pioneer town in the ginseng business. Col. Robert Blaine, of Virginia, commenced building a drying house and buying ginseng roots about the first of June, 1859, and paid out that year about $8,000. In 1860 he did about the same, and this was nearly duplicated by representatives of Godfrey Scheitlin, of Minneapolis, so that the people of Rockford and vicinity earned from ginseng in 1860, some $15,000. Owing to the impending Civil war, Col, Blaine did not again make his appearance, but representatives of the Scheitlin firm bought the root here for several years thereafter.

Several Rockford men responded to the first call for volunteers when the Civil War broke out. From that time until near the close of the conflict, enlistments were frequent; in fact more men enlisted from Rockford than there were legal voters on the list in 1860. Following is a partial list of those who enlisted from this township: Co. A, Third Minn, Vol. Inf. - C. F. Redlon, W. H. Frederick, E. J. Varney, ©. L. Angell, J. E. Jenks, N, D. Sperry, John Klose, Fred Moreman. Co. H, Third Minn. Vol. Inf. - John Seibel, R. O. Crawford, W. B. Crawford, W. A. Cronk, 8. L. Cronk, C. L, Dstrup, Simon Istrup. Co. D, Fifth Minn. Vol. Inf. - -William Roloff, William Deutsch, Christian Wolf, Co. B, Sixth Minn. Vol. Inf. - O. H. Bushnell, M. A. Denny, C. Hl. Jenks. Co. E, Eighth Minn. Vol. Inf - G. W. Kriedler, D. W. Kriedler, 8. G, Kriedler, John Louisiana. Co. B, Ninth Minn. Vol. Inf - Austin Knight, Arthur Douglas, C. C. Wilentt. Co. B, Minn. Mounted Rangers - aA. W. Lueas, E. B. Ames, 5. B. Angell, Lanson Conkling, Carl Douglass, John M. Higgins. Co. C, Minn. Mounted Rangers - J. W. Silliman, Samuel White, W. H. Heath. Co. B, Hatch's Independent Cavalry - T. R. Briggs, W. O. Eldred, Calvin Mooers, David Cook. Co. C, Hatch's Independent Cavalry - G. A. Avery, Alvin C. Mead. These are given in the adjutant's report. Among those who served but who do not appear in that report may be mentioned: Frederick Redlon, Co. I, Second Minn, Vol. Inf.; 8. Denny, F. M. Jenks, John Jacobs and Mark Brownell, Co. B, Third Minn. Vol. Inf., and A, V. Haynes and Jackson Steward, Berdan's Sharpshooters.

The refugees who fled from their homes at the news of Indian uprising, found in Rockford, shelter and security. At the first alarm, August 20, 1862, a flood of humanity flowed into town seeking the shelter of Minneapolis, St. Paul or Ft. Snelling. But several citizens of the village took their stand at the bridge remonstrating against such mad flight, and sueceeded so well in stemming exeept the first rush that after the first hour or so, only a few people left. An organization was perfected, committees and captains appointed, and fifty Belgian rifies with a large quantity of powder and lead obtained from the state government. A log fort was built in front of the sawmill, and the refugees were given shelter in houses, barns, sheds and stables, and in fact in any place that would afford protection from the weather. A guard of twelve, changed at midnight kept watch about the village during the hours of darkness. One night about 11 o'clock, shots were heard up the river. The guards rushed in, reporting that Greenwood was attacked by a horde of Indians. It had been previously decided that no lights should be shown in the village, and old settlers declared that few people have ever participated in such events as followed the firing of those shots, Half dressed men, women and children rushed about in the darkness, yelping, erylng, talking, and believing the savages were svon to be upon them with tomahawk, gun, knife and torch. It was at this juncture that one of the women made the prayer often in after years spoken of with so much relish by the pioneers. Her husband was away in the army, her numerous children were too much frightened to get ready quickly, and she feared that they would not reach the fort before the Red Skins were upon them. So she fell on her knees and gasped out this prayer: ''O Lord, save me and my children from the tomahawk and the sealping knife of the savaves,'' and then she immediately added, ''And if I live until tomorrow morning, I will get out of this accursed town."

The shots were soon explained. A number of young people on a lark had taken the big boat and started up the river, partly, as they explained, to see how matters progressed at Greenwood. They also explained that the shots had been fired entirely by accident. There was great indignation against the members of the party when they returned, and some of the male members were threatened with violence. Soon after this a feeling of security began to assert itself, and the people returned to their homes.

After the Dustin massaere the rush was even greater than on the preceding year. This time Indians had actually been seen, and the fleeing settlers were determined that they would be satisfied with no protection except that afforded by Minneapolis, St. Paul or Ft. Snelling. But again the rush was stayed at Roelford. It was voted to build a stockade in the millyard in the village and John Knight, F. S. Boynton and G. F, Ames were appointed a committee to have the matter in charge. They immediately commeneed work on a stockade, forty feet square, with bastions at each corner. A trench was dug three or four feet deep, and into this was set in two, three and four thicknesses, all the sawed lumber found in the mill yard, together with all boards, planks and scantlings that could be found in the village.

The operator of the mill lost heavily, for some ten thousand feet of lumber was used, and it was of no use afterward except for fuel, as it was eut and split and bored full of two-inch loopholes. Part of the stockade was covered over, and several families stayed there for two or three weeks,

In about ten days, a detachment of soldiers belonging to Co. I, Tenth Minn, Vol. Inf., were stationed at Rockford, and many scouting parties patroled the western part of the county so that the settlers now felt seeure in returning to their homes.

The Rockford and Minneapolis road, as already related, was laid ont in 1856, and during the next two years the citizens of Rockford spent much time and money keeping the road clear and open and building bridges over creeks and marshes in towns in Hennepin county where the residents took too little interest to do anything themselves. In October, 1857, a county road was surveyed and laid out from Rockford to Monticello, by the way of Beebe and Pelican lakes: also a county road from Rockford to Mooers' Prairie by way of Northrope's in section 25, crossing Crow river at the point so long known as Northrope's bridge. County Surveyor Ed. P. Abbott, C. C. Jenks and Joel Florida were the committee on both roads, A county road was also laid out down the Crow river, called the Hassan road, The Minneapolis and Forest City road, of which the Rockford and Minneapolis road was a part, was cut through from Rockford to Buffalo in the winter of 1856-57. In faet most of the roads laid out from Rockford in the early days led through the timber and were cleared and opened not by taxation but by private enterprise anil individual effort.

Rockford having the Crow river on the south and east line for nearly fourteen miles, the bridges have been a heavy drain on private subscriptions and public taxations. The first bridge was built over the Crow river at the village in January and February, 1856. It was a frame bridge costing about $500, much of the cost being borne by the residents of the village, especially by the town proprietors, The bridge was repaired in 1862 at a cost of #400, Wright county paying $100. In the spying of 1866, the bridge was destroyed by high water. That year William B. Burrill erected a frame bridge which cost $1,200, Wright county paying #300, Hennepin county $300, Greenwood township $100, and Rockford the balance. In 1875 a part of it was destroyed, and in 1876 a substantial pile bridge was built by Jacob Volibrecht at a cost of $2,000, of which Hennepin county and Greenwood township paid half, Wright county $400 and Rockford the balance,

The bridge at Northrope's, on section 29, township 119, range 25, over the north branch of the Crow river was built in 1858 aft a cost of $400. It was rebuilt in 1867 at a cost of $500, the county paying $100, After its partial destruction by fire in 1869, the location was changed to section 23, and it became known as Ruckoldt's bridge, The bridge was repaired in 1873 at an expense of $150 to the town. It was rebuilt in 1879 by the towns of Franklin and Rockford, jointly, at an expense of about $1,100.

The Samsell bridge was built by private subseription in 1859, It was a frame bridge and cost about $400. It was rebuilt in 1873 at an expense of $175, paid by Rockford, and repaired in 1877 by the towns of Roekford and Franklin jointly, at a eost of about $100. A new bridge was built by the two towns and Wright county jointly in 1880 at a cost of $1,300.

In 1874, that part of township 119, range 25, lying south of the north branch of the Crow river was set off by an act of the legislature, and attached to Franklin, The river then became the boundary between the two towns, and the bridges have become a joint responsibility.

The hop growing industry flourished for a while in this vicinity. April 27, 1866, W. 8. Shultes came to Rockford from Berne, Albany county, New York, At Waterville, New York, he had purchased for $160 enough hop roots for five acres. They were set out that year, and the first erop was raised in 1867. In 1869 he had about eight acres, and raised about 6,000 pounds of hops. From Shultes' hop yard the roots were obtained to set out many acres throughout the township. Among those who interested themselves in the industry were Nathaniel Mooers, J, L. Kelderhause, W. C. Gould, John O'Mera, J. R. Cunningham, Allen Jenkins, C. L. Bugbee, Lemuel White, John Knight, John Elliott, W. P. C. Hawk, Cyrus Redlon and several others. For several years the annnal product was 20,000 pounds. In 1867, M. W. Shultes erected a hop house, 72 by 24 feet, two stories high, regarded as one of the best hop drying establishments in the state at that time. Later for various reasons, the industry gradually diminished.

The Elmwood Cemetery Association held its first meeting March 21, 1864. The first trustees were: John Woodard (president), D. R. Farnham (seeretary), Isaac P. Harvey (treasurer). The association purchased an acre of land, and had a picket fenee put up around it that year, besides clearing the land and dividing it into lots a road square and roads a rod wide. Nearly all of the lots were sold to citizens of Rockford and Greenwnod. In 1877 another acre was laid off and fenced,

Rockford Village

Much of the early history of Rockford village has already been related as a part of the township history. The first mill in Rockford was the portable, twenty-five horse power steam sawmill brought to the village June 30, 1856, by the town proprietors, the Messrs, Ames, Florida and George, It was set up in what. is now the mill yard, nearly on a line with Mechanic street, and commenced work about August 1. The lumber that had been used previous to this time had been obtained from the mill of the Perkins Brothers, at Lake Independence, The Rockford mill furnished lumber for many ¢laim cabins during that fall and winter, and quite a number of buildings were put up in the village. The mill was burned on April 2, 1858, and though it was soon rebuilt, the boiler and iron work had been nearly ruined, and very little work was thereafter done with it.

A dam and water-power mill was started in July, 1857. The dam, which was of brush and timber, seven feet ten inches high, was completed by November 1, The mill was 35 by 40 feet. A sash saw and one run of burrs for grinding corn were put in, and were operated a part of the winter. April 3, 1858, a part of the dam was washed away, and on account of the very high water was not rebuilt ready for service until the middle of November. The new dam was built by G. H. Fletcher and D. R. Farnham; the mills were operated by G. F. Ames and D. R. Farnham. In August or September, 1859, one run of burrs for wheat, and a bolting chest and smut machine were put in, and a flouring mill. Mr, Ames purchased the Florida and George interests in the mills in 1860 and 1861. In 1862, M. W. Shultes and D. R. Farnham leased the mills for three years, built an addition, and in November put in a circular saw. In 1867 another mill was erected adjoining the old one, and three run of burrs and a new bolting chest added. In 1871 another addition was put up and another run of burrs added. In November, 1878, C. F. Ames died and the property was purchased by G. W. Florida, who immediately commenced to rebuild the sawmill, and make many ehanges in the flouring mill, putting in entire new machinery except the burrs, and making it a first class flouring mill with all the then-znodern improvements. The dam was rebuilt in 1882.

When the dam was built in 1857, it caused the mill to overflow more land than the mill owners expected, and many Jaw suits resulted, but in time all claims for damages were settled.

When G. D, George transferred to G. F. Ames the mill interest and water power, he reserved the right to a small part of the water power, and built a machine shop and factory below the flouring mil. Here he did general woodworking, ineluding the manufacture of spokes, wooden bowls, hubs, plow beams and handles, cracker boxes and furniture. After Mr, George died, Miller & Thorn took up the mannfacture of cracker boxes.

The steam mill of L. HW, Rawson was established in 1877, first as astave factory, In the succeeding years it was used for getting out chair-bottoms, staves, canthook handles, and grinding corn.

The woolen mill, though erected in Greenwood, was established as a Rockville institution. The first building was ereeted in 1870 for a rake factory. It was soon afterward rented to Van Cleve & Herzog, of Minneapolis, who put in machinery and made many broom handles. In 1871 they sold out to Burrill, Heslar & Bushnel, who carried on the same business for about a year. Then the firm changed to Burrill & Wileutt. In 1875 the broom handle machinery was removed and W. W. Parker and M. Reynolds put in a carding mill. In 1877, M. G. Warren bought out Mr. Reynolds and Parker & Warren added a spinning jack, a loom, and other machinery. In 1878 a building 38 by 40 feet, two stories high was completed, and seven looms installed. Jefferson Benner bought an interest in 1880, and the firm name was changed to Parker, Warren and Benner. In the spring of 1882, Mr, Parker sold out his interest te Warren & Benner, who made many kinds of woolen goods, including mackinaws, flannels and jeans.

Tanning was an important industry in the early days. In 1862, M. Hayford and D. R. Farnham commenced tanning, and in 1863. erected a building, twenty by thirty feet, two stories high. In the fall of that year, Mr. Hayford went out of business. In 1864 and 1865, many deer skins were tanned, gloves and mittens manufactured, and a large quantity of harnesses and Jeather made. In June, 1866, J, W. Mounts came to Rockford and went to work in the tannery, In the spring of 1867 he purehased a half interest in the concern, and in the summer of the same year Miner Ball purchased the other half. They sold it to Moses Warren, who in 1869, rented it to Denny & Miller for a stave factory. It was burned in 1872.

The first store building was located on Bridge street, partly on Main street. It was started by E. B. Ames, who got out the sills and laid the foundation in the fall of 1856. He sold out to J. R. Ames and J, G. Bascom, who finished it in September. It was twenty-two by forty feet. The upper floor was used at various times as a public hall, a storage room, a school room and a place of residence. The lower floor was used as a store by Ames & Bascom, who opened the establishment in the middle of November, 1856. They started with a full stock of dry goods, groceries, hats, eaps, boots and shoes, and hardware. In the spring of 1857, they sold the store and stock to George H. Fletcher.

During the years 1856, 1857 and 1858, nearly all the goods sold at Roekford were shipped from Minneapolis or St. Anthony by steamboat to Dayton, and then brought up the Crow river by flat boats or barges, carrying from three to four tons, and manned usually by six men. The many rapids in the river made this mode of conveyance difficult, and in high water even dangerous, but the roads were so bad that in the summer time an empty wagon was about all that a team of horses or oxen could haul from Minneapolis to Rockford.

Mr. Fletcher sold the stock in the store in 1858, to Joel Florida. The next year it was closed. In the fall of 1859, James B. Howlett had quite a stock of goods, Several small stocks were put in dur- ing the ginseng trade in 1859 and 1860. In 1865, the store building was purchased by P. MeCabe, and moved to the northwest corner of Bridge and Main streets. McCabe put in a large stock of goods but in 1868 closed up his affairs and left. Later the store was occupied by P. Cary, W. W. Hull, M. G. Weidenbach and others.

Miner Ball came to Rockford in February, 1859, and opened a small store in the kitehen of the Rockford house. In June he fitted up a store on Mechanic street, later a part of the dwelling house of D, R. Farnham, and with John P. Shultes as a partner, put in a general stock of goods. In the summer of 1560, M. W. Shultes arrived in Rockville, having purchased his brother's interest in the store. In September, 1860, Ball & Shultes commenced the erection of a two story building, 22 by 40 feet. It was finished in May, 1861, and filled with a good stock of goods. The upper floor of the building was used for public purposes and was called Union Hall, In 1863, Mr. Ball sold out to Mr. Shultes. In 1864, Mr. Shultes sold to A. A. Sisam, who in turn sold to Adam Korn the following year. In August, 1866, Jefferson Berner purchased a half interest and in 1868 bought out the other half. Thereafter he conducted the business for many years.

Miner Ball came to Rockford the second time, early in January, 1867, and opened a store in a building which had recently been erected on Mechanic street, by D. R. Farnham, H. A. Ball was installed as clerk. The store was opened January 4, and burned January 7. The stock was saved but the building was a total loss. Mr, Ball then erected a building on the southwest side of Bridge street, and opened a store in March. He sold out to Phineas Carey in the fall of 1867, and erected a large sawmill in Rockford township, opposite the village of Greenwood. About two years later the mill was burned. Mr. Carey sold the store and building to J. L. Kelderhouse in 1869. In 1870, Kelderhouse sold to Samuel Heslar, who continued the business for some ten years.

N. T, Derbey opened a general store on the corner of Bridge and Mechanic streets in October, 1880. B. E. Bushnell commenced business in the Masonie block, Bridge Street, in November, 1882.

Philip Schwab purchased a refreshment business in 1866 and changed it to a drug store. In 1878, Mrs. C. B. Bennett opened a drug store in the Hesler building, and continued it for two years. Tn 1876, E. A, Raymor started a drug store in a small building on the northwest corner of Bridge and Main streets. In 1878 he sold to John H. Aker.

The Rockford House, on the corner of Bridge and Mechanie streets, was started August 1, 1856, by C. C. Jenks, The main building was 26 by 30 feet, with an ell, 16 by 20 feet. The house was finished in November. Mr, Jenks kept the hotel about two years. In the summer of 1858, it was sold to Robert Godfrey, wha conducted it until January, 1860. Then 8. R. Workman took the hotel, and in March sold it ta D. R. Farnham, who was succeeded in June, 1862, by T' R. Riggs. Christian Barth kept it from 1863 to 1865, and then Felix Logelin kept it for a year. Later it was used as a dwelling house and for other purposes, and was torn down in 1874,

A hotel was opened in 1867 by - - - - - - Hayford, on Maple street, then called Piety hill. Im 1869, C. H. Jenks became the landlord, and was succeeded in 1871 by W. H. Fredericks. The hotel was a small one. A public honse was opened on Plum street, near the river, in 1872, by W. H. Fredericks, but never did a large business. Thus for several years Rockford was without adequate hotel accommodations.

The Centennial Hotel was erected in 1876 on the southeast side of Mechanic street, by Louis Allars, who came to Rockford in 1875. The building was 90 by 30 feet, two stories high, with a public hall, 46 by 26 feet, which soon beeame one of the social centers of the town, the large balls and dancing parties held there long being a notable feature of Rockford life.

The village of Rockford was surveyed and platted in the spring of 1857 by Gorham P. Gould for Messrs. Ames, Florida & George. About 150 acres were laid out into lots in the northeast quarter of section 29, township 119, range 24; seven acres in the southeast quarter, and about twenty acres in the northwest quarter. Although this was the time of township and village lot speculation, the proprietors never put their townsite property inta the market. A few lots were presented to the first settlers, and few lots were sold exeept to people who promised to build on them. None fell into the hands of speculators and non-residents. In 1866 and 1867 the village experienced unusual prosperity, and more improvements were made and buildings put up than in any other two years. But when the railroad was built through the southern part of the county and many new villages sprang up, much of the business was taken away from this point.

Tn 1883 the village had one woolen mill (waterpower), one flouring mill, one sawmill, one box factory, one stave mill (steampower). three general stores, one grocery store, one drug store, one shoe shop, one paint shop, two blacksmith shops, one harness shop, one wagon and repair shop, one hotel, one saloon, one schoolhouse, two churches and forty-three dwelling houses.

The village was ineorporated by act of the legislature October 21, 1881, and the first election was held December 6, of that year, At the annual meeting held January 2, 1882, the following officers were elected: President, W. W. Parker; trustees, W. C. Proudlock, G. W. Florida and Joseph Thomas; recorder, J. H. Smart;

Rockford is now a tlourishing little place with good prospeets. It is incorporated and is loeated on the line of the ''Soo"' railway, ten miles southeast of Buffalo and thirty miles northwest of Minneapolis. Is beautifully located on the Crow river whieh furnishes water power. The country surrounding it is well adapted to diversified farming. Rockford has a good grain market while corn raising is increasing each year, All kinds of grain and farm products are raised with success and erop failures are unknown in this part of the county, stock raising is carried on to good advantage and the town is the shipping point for live stock of all kinds. The railroad facilities are of the best. Land can be had at a reasonable price now but is steadily increasing in value. Crow river furnishes the best of fishing while the surrounding country furnishes excellent shooting. Rockford is well provided with the usual business interests, and is a desirable place of residence.

The village has Lutheran, Episcopal, Methodist and Presbyterian churches, a creamery, a bank, a hotel and a grain elevator. Following is a brief business directory: Chapin A. Farnham, postmaster; Atlantic Elevator Co., Roass A, Conforth, agent; Z. E. Boldue, saloon; Centennial Hotel, Elmer F. Abbott, proprietor; Osear W. Crawford, grocer; W. H. Dostal, saloon; A. E. Fish, general store; Charles Fish, livery; R. E. Fish, farm implements; B.S, Haag, meats; D. D, Hill, veterinary surgeon; F. L. Hutchins, fire insurance ; E. W. Johnson, general store; I. H. Kiesling, physician; William Ladd, blacksmith; George Luther, plumbing; Midland Lumber & Coal Co., Arthur J. Jenson, manager; Parmeter & Douglas, painters; F. M. Pitt, general store; W. H. Prestidge, blacksmith; Rockford Co-operative Creamery Association, Fred Mutterer, manager; Rockford Hardware Co.; Rockford Live Stock Association, John Sieger, agent; M. D. Stanley, barber; State Bank (F. H. Johnson, president; C. M. Johnson, cashier) ; Thompson Bros., hardware; V. A. Thompson, hardware,

Ulric Valiquet was born in 1881, and in 1906 was graduated from the Laval University, Medical Department, Quebec and Montreal. He has returned to Canada.

Montrosh Ttospetal Weum Hospital

John H. Higgins was licensed by the State Board of Minnesota, June 19, 1903. He practiced in Rockford for three years and then moved to Minneapolis, where he now resides.