Silver Creek Township

Silver Creek Township

Silver Creek is in the north part of Wright county, and embraces the north half of tewnship 121, range 26; and all of fractional township 122, range 26, with the exception of sections 7, 17 and 18, and fractional sections 5, 6 and 8, which are in Clearwater, The town is bounded on the north by the Mississippi river, east by Monticello, south by Maple Lake, and west by Corinna and Clearwater.

The surface of the town is uneven and rolling, but not. hilly. The soil along the Mississippi river is sandy, but at a short distance back from the river it is a dark loam with elay subsoil. There is some prairie land along the river, as well as Thrall's

The town is watered by many small lakes. Silver Creek has three branches, one in the center of the town, one rising in the east and one in the west. They are united and empty into the Mississippi in section 15, township 122, range 26. There are fifteen lakes in the township, covering in all about 2,500 acres. The largest are: Locke's lake in section 21; Limestone lake in section 31, Millstone lake in sections 17 and 18, Lake Ida in section 12, Eagle lake in sections 14 and 15, and Lake Mary in section 4.

The first actual settler was Archie Downie, who was connected with the Winnebago agency at Long Prairie, and looked after the Indians when they insisted on oceupying Wright county. In August, 1854, he took a claim in section 15, near the mouth of Silver creek, was one of the first board of county commissioners in 1855, and in May, 1856, sold his claim to A. G. Descent, and left the country. John O. Haven was another early settler. He was clerk of the county board in 1855.

Joseph S. Locke took a claim in section 21, July 4, 1855, and was about the first permanent settler, In 1855 and 1856 came: Jonah B. Loeke, Franklin Wood, Paul Kennedy, Chester Dunklee, Samuel Earle, Henry Ferguson, Rev. Moses Goodrich, George B. Bradbury, James Shaw, W, W. Day, Ambrose Thrall and others.

The first child born in Silver Creek was Wealthy Ellen Thrall, daughter of Ambrose and Jeanette Thrall, born November 5, 1856. The first white boy borm was David A. Melrose, son of Thomas Melrose, born December 10, 1855, The first persons married were A. BE. Mulet and L, Jane Thrall, married January 7, 1856, at Monticello. The first marriage performed in town was that of Hiram D, Locke and Anna Hayes, married November 16, 1858, by W, W. Day, justice of the peace. The first death was that of John Peterson, who died March 18, 1856, The first school was opened August 1, 1856, by Jeanette Dunklee, in a dwelling house on the townsite of Fremont.

Fremont townsite was laid out at the mouth of Silver Creek in section 15, township 122, range 26, in April and May, 1836. About 100 aeres were included in the townsite. The fown praprietors were A. G. Descent, George E. H. Day, Samuel Earl and Chester Dunklee. Mr, Dunklee was born in Vermont. For many years he oceupied a part of the townsite as a farm. Samuel Earle was also from Vermont and returned to that state in 1857. George BE. H. Day lived at St. Anthony, and was a banker and lawyer. He loaned large sums of money in Wright and Hennepin counties, receiving as high as three per cent a month, Many lots were sold

A large steam mill was erected on the townsite in February, 1856, with a shingle mill, lath mill and edger. The engine was of sixty horsepower, and the mill was probably the best mill on the upper Mississippi river at that time. A store, hotel and blacksmith shop were started, and a postoffice established with A. G. Descent as postmaster. But differences arose between the proprietors, the buildings fell into disuse and decay, and in 1858, Chester Dunklee was the only one left on the place.

Silver Creek was created as a township, April 6, 1858. It then embraced the north half of township 121, range 26, and all that part of township 122, range 26, in Wright county. Im 1862, sections 7, 8, 17 and 18, township 122, range 26, were set off and became a part of Clearwater. By common consent a small area of bottoms north of sections 7 and 8 are also included in Clearwater. The first town meeting was held in Silver Creek May 11, 1858, and the following officers elected: Supervisors, John O. Haven (chairman), Moses Goodrich and James Shaw; town clerk, George B. Bradberry ; justice of the peace, W. W. Day.

After the grasshopper ravages, the northern part of the township was held for many years by the railroad and by speculators, and the southern part was settled and developed at a time when much of the northern portion still remained wild,

The outbreak of the Civil war found the men of Silver Creek well prepared for military service. In March, 1861, before there was any call for soldiers by the government, the Silver Creek Rifle Company was organized under the state laws. The officers were: Captain, W. W. Day; first lieutenant, J. N. Fox; second lieutenant, George Brookins; third lieutenant, J. I. Fisher, In April, the company offered its services to the government but was not accepted. Practically every member, however, enlisted in one company or another, during the Civil war.

During the Indian uprising of 1862, nearly all the citizens of Silver Creek left their homes, and sought refuge in Monticello, Minneapolis or elsewhere. For several days the town had no in-

Indians were actually seen in this town, in July, 1863. Col. J. S. Locke saw six one evening while looking after his cows near Sanborn Prairie. These Indians stole two horses belonging to Henry Ferguson. The Indians were followed several miles by citizens, and then by soldiers as far as Swede Grove in Meeker county, where the horses were recovered after a fight with the Indians in which Captain John S. Cady, of the Eighth Minn. Vol. Inf., was killed. Several cattle were killed by the Indians during this raid, but no people in Wright county were molested, The presence of the Red Skins, however, caused the town to be almost totally depopulated, and the crops were left to ruin. The citizens made application to the governor for help, and a detachment of Co. E, Eighth Minn, Vol, Inf., was sent here under command of Sergeant John B. Parvin. This detachment made its headquarters at the home of Col. J. 8. Locke, where they remained for some two months.

While the squad of Co. E, Highth Minn. Vol. Inf., was stationed at the home of Col. J. S. Locke, in Silver Creek towuship, Christopher Bailey was accidentally shot and killed by Andrew H. Bertram. The story is told elsewhere in this work. It is there stated that Bailey and his companions were endeavoring to frighten Bertram. J, N. Locke gave a different version of the affair. His story follows:

"Bailey was sitting on a little knoll in the bushes near the path that led to the spring. He had been home the day before, and had in his hand a tin cup full of honey and some cookies which he was eating. Bertram was helping to cook that day, and went to the spring for a bucket of water. Coming up the bank he heard a noise, and ran to the house for a gun, saying that he had seen a bear. Several others started to go with him, but Bertram outdistaneed the rest, and when within thirty feet of where he heard the noise, fired inte the bushes. Bailey gave one ery and fell dead. The bullet cut the front of his right blouse sleeve, and the back of the left, and passed through his heart. Bailey was a man of good nature and had no enemies. At the time he was killed his mouth was full of cookies and he was humming a song, making the murmuring noise which Bertram mistook for the noise of a bear.''

J. N. Locke, who related this version of the affair, saw Bailey a short time before he was killed and a short time afterward, and was one of those who helped to bury him. The town treasury was robbed of $80 in August, 1860. C. Denlinger was the town treasurer and collector. He claimed that while he was alone in his house, two unknown masked men knocked him down, bound and gagged him, and took the money. His wife and W. W. Day found

Silver Creek village, a busy little trading center and shipping point, consists of three general stores, one bank, one shoe store, one hardware store, one blacksmith shop, a creamery, a Methodist ehurech, a town hall, a garage and one pool hall and has a population of about 100 people. It is situated on the shore of Silver lake, and Silver creek runs through the village. The village is in the midst of a fine farming country and many beautiful farm homes are found in the vicinity. There are many lakes around about and fishermen from the Twin cities and other places visit here often as the lakes are noted for good fishing.

Something like thirty years ago a Mr. Chubb built a sawmill here on the creek and lake shore. It was run by water awlile but later by steam. He soon sold the mill to William Whitney. The first building burned down but was rebuilt about twenty-six years ago, J. H. Whitney bought out William Whitney and in partnership with his brother, F. Whitney, owned and operated the mill for years, grinding feed as well as sawing logs. About twenty-four years ago the first store was opened by Henry Whitney (an uncle of J, H. Whitney). Later a Farmers' Co-operative Creamery was built. The chureh was moved here from its loeation about one-half mile away. Then a new town hall was built here and gradually other buildings were added wntil there are now two dozen dwelling houses and one dozen business houses. (By Claud Johnson).

Hasty is a small village on the edge of Silver Creek township, on the Great Northern. It is twenty miles northwest of Buffalo and five southeast of Clearwater. It has three general stores, furniture store, sawmill, hotel, restaurant, lumber yard and shoemaker. The village is noted as a potato market, the shipments from this point being large.