Zumbrota Township

Zumbrota Township

Aaron Doty entered the northwest quarter and the southwest quarter of section 31, in 1856. The village was platted on this land by the Strafford Emigration Company, in September, 1856. Bailey and Thompson made an addition, which is called North Zumbrota in 1857. The west addition was made by Josiah Thompson, on section 36, Minneola township. The first house was built by C. W. Smith. It was a log structure, 14x18, and built on the south bank of the Zumbrota

.River. It is still standing at this date, October, 1878. Smith being a land speculator, he could not pre-empt the land, so he got Aaron Doty to take the claim and live in the house he had built. In 1857, Smith moved away, and was last heard of in Bay City, Michigan. The first store building was erected in October, 1856, by Thomas P. Kellett, in which he kept the first store. Miss Lizzie Shedd taught the first school, in the fall of 1857. A public school building was erected in 1865, 30x42, and was burned in 1870. The present school building was built in 1870, and is a two-story frame structure partitioned into four rooms. The following teachers are now in charge: William A. Snook, principal ; Osmar H. Parker, first assistant; Persis E. Scofield, second assistant.

Press

The "Zumbrota Independent," was established March 25, 1875, by E. A. Mitchell, the present editor and proprietor. In the beginning, it was a six column to the page folio sheet, then seven columns, eight columns, and it now speaks to the people a quarto sheet of forty columns. It is independent in politics, devoted to the interests of Goodhue county in general, and Zumbrota in particular. It has labored faithfully in behalf of the railroad interests of that section, enjoys a good circulation and is liberally supported.

Secret Societies

Received their charter Oct. 24, 1866, with William Bickford, as W. M. ; H. H. Palmer, S. W. ; and James L. Scofield, J. W. The first meetings were held in a building owned by Mr. Blanchard, on Main street. After being located in different places, in 1873 they rented a hall of S.

Mount Carmon Chapter No. 23

The present membership is 127. Meet on Main street every Friday evening. Present officers are Mrs. Cooper, W. C\ T.; Miss May Shedd, W. V. T.; George Elliott, secretary ; and Rose Buchholtz, treasurer.

Congregational Church

In August, 1856, a small number of persons held religious services every Sabbath, which was conducted by some of the members. The ensuing spring, after families of the settlers had arrived and some additions were made to their number, steps were taken to organize a church. A temporary organization was formed in April, 1857, Rev. Charles Shedd as supply. June 28, 1857, the church was properly organized, with a membership of fourteen, Rev. Shedd continuing as supply until October, 1857.

At a meeting held September 4, 1857, the following officers were elected: Alpheus Hall, clerk ; Charles Ward, treasurer; Josiah Thompson, Charles Ward, and Joseph Bailey, committee. Albert Barrett and Charles Ward, deacons.

About this time they began holding services in a public hall over the store now occupied by Thomas P. Kellett, where they remained until 1862, when a church was built, 36x56, at a cost, including bell and furniture, of $3,000. It would be proper to state in this connection that the ladies of this church raised by subscription and otherwise $602, for the bell, fixtures and hanging. All honor to the ladies of the Congregational Church at Zumbrota. The membership of the church at the present writing is 148. Average attendance at Sabbath School, 150, with J. B. Lock, superintendent ; George Sanderson and J. C. Stearnes, deacons ; Charles Ward, clerk, and Bond Olson, treasurer.

Baptist Church

held services in a little board house owned by Joseph Gate, June, 1858. July 17, 1858, the church was organized with a membership of thirteen. Samuel Person was elected deacon. Their present church edifice was built in 1864, and is 24x36.

Methodist Episcopal Church

The first services were held in Masonic Hall on Main street, in 1869, Rev. Boyd Phelps preaching, he having been sent by the Minnesota conference to preach regularly at this place. At this time the Methodists at this place only numbered about twelve. Their present church edifice was erected in the spring of 1874, at a cost of $1,200, including lots and church furniture. The building is 26x40, situated on part of lot 4, northeast qr. of sec. 36.

Zumbrota House

In October, 1856, the wing portion of this house was built and kept by Ezra Wilder. In 1864 he sold it to G. R. Slosson, and he to Fred. George, the present proprietor, in 1872; who in the spring of 1876 built a two-story front, 20x70. The wing which was built in 1856 is 20x60, two stories, and the whole house has thirty-one sleeping apartments.

Midland House

This house was built in June, 1877, by George W. Cunningham. The main building is 22x40, two stories, with wing, 18x60. He kept the house until March 1, 1878, at which time he leased it to J. R. Clark, its present proprietor.

Minnesota Midland Railroad

This road was surveyed from Wabasha to Zumbrota in October, 1877, and partially graded the same year, but was not completed until June 21, 1878. It is a narrow guage track, running sixty-two miles, the distance between the two places, in five hours. This snug, little highway is a great convenience to the interior towns and the surrounding country.

Forest Mills

This establishment was put up by Win. S. Wells and H. H. Palmer in 1867-8. It is now operated under the firm name of Hubbard, Wells & Co. The capacity of the mill is 150,000 bushels yearly.

Mazeppa Mills

Built in 1875 by Wm. S. Wells, Gen. Hubbard, C. D. Ford and W. P. Brown. The capacity of the mill is 250,000 bushels a year. Mr. Wells gives the enterprise his personal supervision.

Source changes here: from Goodhue County, Minnesota, Past and Present, by [Hancock, Joseph Woods], published 1893; 8,539 words in this source stream.

Zumbrota Township

This township consists of rolling prairie with small groves of burr oak in a few places. The soil is excellent. The north branch of the Zumbro river runs through the southwest corner, and gives name to the township and village, by the addition of a syllable.

The following history of the early settlement of this town has been kindly furnished by one who was an active participant in the events recorded:

"Zumbrota was settled by a small fragment of a large company, called the Stafford Western Emigration company. The original company was organized in the winter of 1855-6. This company contained over 150 members, most of them heads of families. Its members were mainly from Massachusetts and Connecticut. It had a paid up capital of some $30,000. The plan contemplated the purchase of at least a township of land in one body, and the laying out of a village in the center of the tract. The aim of tlie projectors was to plant a distinctively New England colony in the west. At a meeting of the company at Lowell, Massachusetts, in February, 1856, the organization was perfected and plans matured to transplant the colony in the early spring as soon'as a suitable site could be selected by the com- mittee oE three who were chosen for the purpose. This committee started for the West soon after the meeting at Lowell and took with them about $30,000 witli which to purchase laud and make the needed improvements ready for the colonists, when they should arrive. It would bo tedious to relate the details which followed the departure of the committee for the West. Suffice it to say none of the committee were practical men. They had no acquaintance with western affairs. And at least two out of the three seem to have had separate schemes of their own by which each hoped to subserve his own interest, or that of his friends and backers. The result was such as might have been expected. There soon developed dissensions and divisions in the committee. After wasting some three months of time and $3,000 of the company's funds, the company was called together again in May, at Lowell, to hear the report of the chairman of the committee. The outcome of this meeting was a dissolution of the original company and a repayment of the funds to the members, less the amount expended, or squandered, by the committee. This repayment of the funds was obtained through the unflinching integrity of Charles Ward.

" Immediately upon the breaking up of the original company, a few of its members proceeded to reorganize a new company upon a much smaller scale. Several members of this company immediately started fur Minnesota in order to find a location for their little colony. Instead of a special committee the members constituted themselves a committee of the whole, and upon their arrival in Minnesota started out in search of laud. They had agreed upon Red Wing as a place of rendezvous, where tbey should meet aud compare notes. A company of three of these explorers, who seem to have been a leading sub-committee of the company, in the latter part of July, 1856, proceeded to the southwest of that point to the southerly part of the then territory of Minnesota. This committee consisted of Joseph Bailey, Daniel B. Goddard aud Samuel Chaffee. After several days of weary search for government laud that could be had for their purpose, and finding nothing to their liking, they started on their return to Red Wing, weary, footsore and discouraged, fully resolved to return to New England.

" Let us now for a brief period leave our travelers making their melancholy journey to the Mississippi river, and give a few moments attention to what had transpired in the valley of the north branch of the Zumbro. There was a beautiful valley three miles in width and perhaps four miles in length, through the center of which the Zambro coursed like a serpentine band of silver. Oa account of this tract not being represented on the maps of the time as surveyed lands, it was supposed to be on the " Half Breed tract," so called, consequently up to midsummer, 1856, scarcely a settler had ventured into this beautiful valley. No road traversed it. The trail of the red man and the old paths left by the buffalo were the only evidence remaining that any living creature had ever traversed the valley. The old territorial road from St. Paul to Dubuque crossed the Zumbro about one and one-half miles below the lower end of this valley. In the spring of 1856, a backwoodsman, by the name of Smith, who was a born pioneer and could no more endure civilization than a Sioux Indian, who nevertheless was shrewd and scheming, in one of his hunting trips for deer, ducks, or prairie chickens, strolled over the divide from the big woods on the middle branches of the Zumbro where he had settled the year before, into the above described valley. He fou jd to his surprise that no settler had invaded its precincts. His interest was aroused. He traveled over its length and breadth, appreciated both its beauties and its advantages, though one may suppose that its beauties in his mind had more of a practical than an esthetic value. Visiting the valley several times he discovered that near the center was an ideal site for a town ; that the road from E,ed Wing to the southwest, if straightened, would cross the Zumbro in the center of his proposed townsite, and that there was a natural crossing at that point. He also discovered that by straightening the St. Paul and Dubaque road it would also cross the center of this valley. Keeping all this to himself he found a man by the name of Aaron Doty, who would preempt a quarter section in the valley and share the land with him after the title was obtained from the government. The claim was filed on and made secure. This was Smith's first move. He next visited Red Wing and found a man by the name of Gambia, a merchant, who was willing to take a quarter section adjoining, and aid him in his townsite project. Meantime he had traced out the route for the change of the Red Wing and Mantorville road, and stationed himself somewhere near the center of the present town of Roscoe, in order to intercept some of the many teams which were passing from points south towards Red Wing. He was able now and then to persuade one to try the new route over the trackless prairie. In this way after awhile there was a wagon track that could be followed in the direction he desired, straightening the former road. It was late in July or early in August of 1856, Smith and Doty had the walls of their shanty built to the height of some ten feet. It had as yet no roof. A few boards leaned against the inside wall and furnished them a rude shelter during the rain and at night. Occasionally a wayfarer would stop and share the hospitality of Smith, whose wife had come over from the woods to keep house for her husband. Doty, who was unmarried, boarded with Smith. The sun was approaching the horizon the afternoon when three weary travelers called at Smith's shanty and asked for a drink of water, and some food. They were informed by Smith, who was delighted that his new road was beginning to be traveled, that he could accommodate them. Smith's wife soon spread before them on a rough board table such viands as her larder aflforded. consisting of wheat bread, molasses and cold boiled venison; some coffee, black as ink, without milk or sugar ; and a dish of cool water from a spring near by. These three travelers were the sub-committee whom we left journeying towards Red Wing. They anxiously inquired the distance to Red Wing and also the distance to the nearest stopping place on the road. Smith having no accommodation for them over night. They concluded to go on as far as Mooer's, who had a log house where Luther Chapman's house now stands. Smith, with his shrewd inquisitiveuess, had drawn out of these men the object of their journey, and the fact ol their failure to find what they were seeking for. Learning that they were representatives of a colony and had been upon an unsuccessful search for a suitable location, Smith with his rude enthusiasm told them that he had just the spot for them ; that the place where they now were was the promised land. He expatiated upon the fact that the center of the valley was just the place for a town ; that there was an abundance of vacant land all around ; pointed out the further fact that that particular point was the natural center of travel from St. Paul to Dubuque, Wabasha to Faribault, and Red Wing to Mantorville and other points to the southwest which made Red Wing their shipping point. But our travelers were too weary and discouraged to listen to Smith's suggestions and propositions. Samuel Chaffee, one of the three, an elderly man, was not only weary but sick. It was with difficulty that he could travel at all. He reached Red Wing the next day and died a few days after. As our trio ascended the northern slope of the valley, Mr. Chaffee, in his weak condition, sat down to rest. Turning his eyes toward the river, as the sun was casting its last rays upon the landscape, the view that met his gaze was one of unequaled beauty. So impressed was he that he called out to his associates to stop and look at the landscape as he was doing. At first they chided him for delaying their progress, but at his solicitation they returned to his side. He exclaimed to them, " How beautiful ! Why, is not that the spot we have been looking for?" His companions became interested also. As the shadows of evening began to fall, the three men arose with a profound conviction that the beautiful valley before them was their Canaan. It continued to be the theme of their conversation, while picking their way along the faint wagon trucks on the prairie, and at their lodging place. During the next day, with more hope than they had felt before, they made their way to Red Wing, Goddard and Bailey weary and footsore, Chaffee sick unto death. At Red Wing they found several of their associates awaiting them. They reported what they had found in the valley of the Zumbro. It was resolved by all of them that the place should be visited the next day. The other members of the party, as the writer remembers, was Josiah Thompson, T. P. Kellett, Albert Barrett, and Dr. Ira Perry. On the following morning leaving Goddard to take care of his sick companion, Chaffee, the others chartered a conveyance and repaired to the valley of the promise. It was afternoon when they came in sight of it. The whole party were in ecstacies over the view that met their eyes, and all with one accord exclaimed, that is our land of promise.

" They soon were in conference with Smith and Doty. The 160 acres preempted by Doty was negotiated for at a low price, each retaining an interest with the company, which was denominated the (Stafford Western Emigration company. Smith, who knew every acre of land in the valley, pointed out to them the claims, very few of which had as yet been taken. Three or four parties had settled in the valley besides Smith and Doty but they were soon bought out. Each of those present selected a claim for himself and one or two for his friends, who were in some cases real, and in others, imaginary. The land office was at Winona where all those who had selected claims repaired and made the necessary filing. On their return, our party fell in with several persons who were seeking places in the west where they could settle, among them J. A. Thacher, a civil engineer and surveyor. He -was induced to go along with the company. Meantime they had found a surveyor by the name of Beckwith, whom they had en- gaged to survey their townsite. Upon the return of the party from Winona, the townsite was surveyed and platted under the auspices of Messrs. Beckwith and Thacher. The shape of the original townsite was unique. It extended from the Zumbro river, one mile in length and about seventy rods in width. It is a matter of tradition thah the reason for laying out the town in this shape was that the town would eventually grow to large dimensions and would extend across the river. The townsite was bounded on the west for its whole length by a school section which was not then available. The 160 acres east of the surveyed townsite was claimed by S. P. Gambia, of Red Wing, who had become a member of the company, and who had promised, as far as he dared do before getting the title to his land, that he would turn it in to the company and have it laid ou' into lots. One of the members had purchased of a settler a quarter section north of the school section, which some of the party alleged was to be turned in to the company and become a part of the extensive townsite, while Joseph Bailey and Ira Perry, getting possession of the adjacent land across the river, were to turn in that, in due course of time, to the company for a further addition to the townsite. Alas for human expectations! The north quarter of the original strip of laud laid out for a townsite was all and more than was needed for town purposes for ten years after the events here narrated.

" It was the second day of September, in the afternoon, a weary and footsore footman came hobbling down the southern slope of the valley of the Zumbro. His eye caught but one shanty in all the valley ; that was the new board shanty of Dr. Ira Perry, on the north side of the river, and one half mile distant from it. That was his objective point. The river was concealed from view. As he rounded a moderate sized rise of land on the school section he espied a log shanty much nearer than the one above mentioned. It seemed rather uninviting, but he concluded to call at it and make certain inquiries that were crowding his mind. As he approached this shanty he saw a large middle-aged man amusing himself by pitching quoits. Upon coming nearer the spot where this solitary individual was amusing himself -our traveler recognized T. P. Kellett, whom he had met at the meetings of the old company in Lowell, Massachusetts. Any one who has known Mr. Kellett for the last third of a century need not be told that a cordial greeting and hearty welcome was extended to this limping wayfarer.

"The individual whom we have just left in Mr. Kellett's care was the writer of this article. The above described event marks his entry into the valley of the Zumbro ; his entrance into the city of great expectations, then without a name. A few events antedating the above described occurrence may not be wholly uninteresting.

" The writer was principal of a New England academy in New Hampshire. He had caught the western fever, but was not dangerously affected till one day in the fall of 1855, he happened to read in some local paper a clipping from the Lowell Courier, giving an account of a large colony which was in process of organization, whose object was to secure a large tract of land in the west and the establishment of a New England community, with New England institutions. The writer immediately addressed a note of inquiry to the Loivell Courier.

In due time a reply was received referring him to Ward and Thompson, of Lowell. Correspondence was opened with Ward and Thompson, the writer was soon put in possession of the facts pertaining to the organization of the colony and in due time became a member and a stockholder. Upon the breaking up of the old company he declined to join the new project, but promised to keep in correspondence with the president of the new company, Josiah Thompson. It was the middle of July before the- writer could get his funds back from the old company and start for the west. On the last day of August, 1856, while negotiating a business transaction at Faribault with a view of settling there, he received a letter from Josiah Thompson, that the company had finally found a desirable location about twenty miles from Eed Wing, and that a claim and a share in the company had been reserved for him. Suspending further negotiations at Faribault, the writer started on foot and alone early Monday morning, September 1, for the promised land, not knowing where to find it. He took the road eastward from Faribault, proceeded through the big woods along East Prairie, so called, where there were a few settlers, and a little after noon, after crossing the Zumbro, here a small stream, found a small log building which was occupied as a store. No other building stood in the immediate vicinity. It was the first building on the townsite of Kenyou. The little store was in charge of a young man by the name of Barker. The writer purchased some crackers and cheese upon which he satiated his hunger. He inquired if any tidings had reached that place of a new settlement somewhere to the eastward and about twenty miles from lied Wing. The reply was, that at a place called Samners, a num- ber of persons from the east had recently settled. Concluding that it might be the place he was in pursuit of, he continued his journey. Sumners was on the present site of Concord in Dodge county. It was sunset when the first settler's hut was reached. The writer here found a spring of water, a draught from which refreshed his drooping spirits. He found that Sumners' was still three miles distant. He had already traveled twenty-five miles and was lame in every joint. Hobbling along as best he could, he reached Sumners just as the last flickering twilight was fading in the west. At Sumners he found Beckwith, who had just returned from the valley of the Zumbro, where he had surveyed the townsite for the company, who had settled there. To his dismay he learned that the townsite Beckwith had surveyed was the goal of his travels, and was fourteen miles distant. The next morning he started for the new town following Beckwith's directions as to the road. He found a tolerably good wagon road to the present site of Roscoe. Here he found a little log store, at which he made inquiries as to the way, and, stocked up with crackers and cheese, he followed the grassy wagon trail and at length found himself as described above, the guest of the genial and honest-hearted Englishman, Kellett. Smith and Doty's shanty had become a hotel. Travel had set in over the new road and many wayfarers were glad to avail themselves of mine host Smith's hospitality, which by the way, was without stint, within the compass of his means. Most of the members of the company lodged in the board shanty across the river, but took their meals at Smith's. Smith's hotel for several months was the center of interest and influence in the embryo city. A description of it may not be uninteresting. In dimensions it Avas twelve by eighteen feet on the ground, and twelve feet to the eaves. It was built of poplar logs about eight and ten inches in diameter, roughly hewn on the inside and outside. The interstices between the logs were filled with clay, according to the most primitive architecture. Tiie iioor for the upper story was about eight feet from the lower floor, and both floors were rough boards. The upper story was used exclusively as a sleeping room. There was a small window in the east gable. In this attic there were as many beds as could be placed ; some on rude bedsteads and some on the floor. These beds were made of prairie hay, and the bed clothes were mainly cheap blankets. There were also two beds in the lower room standing end to end. During the autumn the cooking and much of the housework was done in a lean-to shed at one end of the cabin.

" Soon after the location of the company, new arrivals were frequent until Smith's hotel was filled to overflowing. The table fare was abundant, if not always palatable. But in those days appetites were good and the food was eagerly disposed of. The fare consisted mainly of bread made from wheat flour, mixed with the fry of pork, and baked in large iron pans ; salt pork, occasionally boiled ; fresh beef or venison, which sometimes was allowed to remain out in the sun till it became slippery before it was cooked. Vegetables were .rare ; butter likewise, and when furnished was, in strength, about five-horse power. Molasses was a staple article. Coffee, or a decoction which went by that name, was an ever present beverage. Those who lodged at Dr. Perry's shanty over the river had comfortable beds and pure air at least. All was activity and stir. Every one was eager to secure a claim and get his shanty up before winter. Soon all the travel from Red Wing to the southward passed through th© new settlement. The amount of teaming increased daily, and in a few weeks the new road became a busy thoroughfare. The writer, upon his arrival, was met with a quasi cordiality. He was told by actions, if not in words, that he must look out for number one or get left, if he concluded to settle among them. The outlook was not as rosy as the letter, which induced him to go there, gave him reason to expect. Several of the members of the company had selected two and three claims each, ostensibly for their friends who were to follow them. Those bogus claims were respected by the members of the company and by ethers for a time. A claim had been selected for the writer, three miles away, which he never took the trouble to look up. He purchased one of the reserved claims, paying $350 for it. This transaction coming to the knowledge of the members of the company, and of Smith, created no little excitement. While the purchaser of the claim was not censured, the party selling was bitterly denounced as acting in bad faith, trying to speculate out of these extra claims instead of keeping them for friends, as was the understanding at the outset. Smith had expected to make a handsome sum out of selecting claims for settlers, but gave up his chance in this direction to those members of the company who were on the ground to choose for themselves, and those they left behind. He now threatened to place a settler on every claim not actually occupied. So great was the excitement that the party selling the before-mentioned claim bought off the writer by deeding him an undivided half of the 160 acres north of the school sec- tion, for the sura of $350. This quieted Smith, but not the members, who claimed that this tract had been purchased for the company and not on private account. Soon parties outside learned of these claims, which were held for so-called friends, and began to settle on them ; so that soon no claims were held except such as had been filed on according to law.

"The question of naming the new town was the cause of no little discussion. Zumbrota was finally decided upon. The original members of the company were not men of practical experience and broad views in the matter of town building. The trustees especially were very narrow and shortsighted. They placed an extravagant price upon their town lots, and were not liberal enough to donate any for much desired improvements. One of the most important needs of the new town was a hotel. Ezra Wilder came over from Orouoco to build one. The trustees gave him no attention and were unwilling to make any concessions to him. Doty finally sold him two lots at a moderate price, in an undesirable location. He proceeded to erect a building for hotel purposes late in the fall, which he was not able to make comfortable till midwinter, though it was actually occupied at the beginning of the winter. The frame of this building was put up and it was sided and the roof shingled by December 1. The weather was extremely cold, and a considerable depth of snow was on the ground. Perry had moved his shanty to a hillside, and made a basement for it in the ground. Into this he moved his wife and several children. Smith's cabin was full to overflowing. Another family besides Smith's occupied the lower story, while the attic was filled with lodgers. The writer had brought out from the east some bedding. He and J. A. Thacher had Wilder lay a loose floor in the second story over the cook stove, and hang up sheets around to keep the snow out. Upon this floor a bed, filled with prairie hay, was laid and these two men lodged there for some weeks, with the mercury outside at oO below zero, and but a trifle above that indoors where they slept, They took their meals below at Wilder's table. Wilder's family consisted of his wife and two interesting daughters. How these women endured the rigors of that terrible winter in the half finished building, has ever been a mystery. So cold was it, that within four feet of the cook stove where these women cooked the food for several persons, water would freeze on the beard while one was washing his face. A few families came on in the fall, but they suffered many hardships and deprivations, which can scarcely be realized at this day. There were many cases of sickness and much discouragement. Dr. Perry's wife was sick all winter and nearly insane. Others were similarly att'ected. One poor fellow was taken down with typhoid fever at Smith's. The house was full of boarders. He soon died from want of care. It could not be given him. All travel soon ceased. Occasionally some one would go to Red Wing for the mail and needed supplies. T. P. Kellett had opened a store with a small stock of goods. No post-oftice was established till the following spring. Locomotion on the prairies was made on snow shoes. Those remote from timber found it difticult to keep warm during the winter. Snow fell about November 20, and remained on the ground till May of the following spring. Notwithstanding the setting in of winter all parties were eagerly planning to advance the interests of the new town. It was determined to change the route of the St. Paul and Dubuque stage through Zumbrota, and to open a road from Wabasha, on the Mississippi river, to Faribault. With the latter end in view, the writer, in company with J. A. Thacher, proposed to examine the route to be selected from Zumbrota to Kenyon where it would connect with the existing road. They started in the latter part of November. The snow was eight inches deep, and twice that depth in the prairie grass. It took two or three days to reach Faribault. The next day after their arrival, a heavy snow storm came on which continued two or three days. The return to Zumbrota presented a most dismal aspect. The writer, not feeling able to undertake the return over the prairie on foot, with the increase of snow and a high wind prevailing, decided to take the stage for Hastings. This he did and rode some thirty-five miles in a severe snow storm, the wind blowing almost a gale. He kept from suffering by lying on the bottom of the open sleigh, and covering himself with buffalo robes. Late in the afternoon he left this conveyance and stopped at a lone shanty on the open prairie, waiting for the stage which would soon be due from St. Paul on its way to Dubuque. It was dark before the stage came along which he took and after riding some fifteen miles more arrived at Cannon Falls. The stage stopped at this place over night. The hotel accommodations were somewhat primitive. The hotel consisted of two log buildings united. After getting warm and partaking bountifully of the homely fare, the writer was shown up stairs or up the stepladder to bed. He slightly demurred at the outlook for the night's lodging, but on being told that no better accommodations could be had, he subsided and went to bed with most of his garments on. It soon became apparent that by morning he would be buried under the suow, as the wind was blowing and sifting it through every crevice. He arose and descended to the public room, where at least there was sufficient warmth from the overheated stove. Assuming an air of some dignity and giving the landlord to understand that he was one of the proprietors of the important new town of Zumbrota, he was again taken up the step-ladder and given a cozy little room with a good bed, which evidently was not allowed to ordinary guests.

' The following morning the writer again took the stage and by the middle of the afternoon reached the Zumbro river two and a half miles below Zumbrota. It took two hours to get over this distance. He had to face a piercing northeast wind. The snow was drifted so that he had to crawl on his hands and knees in order to make any progress. He finally reached Wilder's hotel, benumbed with cold and nearly exhausted.

"Thacher decided to return alone and on foot. As was expected he had not reached Zumbrota when the writer arrived there ; nor did he get there till after sunset the next day. It had become intensely cold. All parties at Zumbrota feared that Thacher might have perished. A meeting was called to organize a rescuiug party to start next morning. Late in the afternoon a dark speck was seen upon the snow some three miles to the westward in the direction of Faribault. It was observed to move. All hands became interested in this moving object. Soon it was seen to be a man moving towards the town. It was conjectured to be Thacher and so proved. He had been three days on the way. The night before he reached home he was lost on the prai- rie. Finally espying a dark object in the distance, he found it to be a clump of woods on the Zurabro bottom. He made for this patch of woods hoping to find shelter from the piercing cold. Fortunately not far away he espied a light. Approaching it he found the cabin of a settler wliere he stopped for that niglit and thus undoubtedly escaped death by freezing.

" Soon after the excursion to Faribault, the writer left Zumbrota for Winona, where he remained till February. It was the morning of December 15. The mercury stood at thirty degrees below zero. A two-horse team drove up to the door of Wilder's hotel. Every available buffalo robe and blanket and bed tj^uilt was brought into requisition. Some eight or ten persons packed into the conveyance and started for Winona. All were going to the land office to prove up their claims and pay for their land. It took two days to make the trip. The intervening night was spent at a small house between Rochester and St. Charles. The place was a sort of half-way house designed to accommodate travelei-s. There was but one sleeping room. Beds of prairie hay were laid upon the floor, which filled the entire space of one side of the room. The buffalo robes and blankets belonging to the party, constituted most of the bed clothes. When these rude beds were ready there was a rush for them. Two unfortunates, the writer was one of them, were left. These got their revenge by preventing tiie others from sleeping till long past midnight. Finally, all parties becoming exhausted, those on the fioor fell asleep, when the two unlucky ones robbed the others of a part of their bedding, and made themselves as comfortable as possible

" The writer returned to Zumbrota about the middle of February. The snow was several feet in depth. A thaw about that time had made a hard crust, so that travel, except on a few roads, was impossible. On the prairie the snow was not hard enough to bear a man's weight, and it was impossible to get round except on snow shoes.

" The few members of the company remaining all the winter in Zumbrota, were busy planning for the opening of spring, when large accessions of settlers were expected, and the parties who had gone East were expected with their families. The first important end to gain was to open the St. Paul and Dubuque stage road through Zumbrota. The stage company had promised to make the change if a passable road be made. To open this road it became necessary to break a new track from Lee's, four miles southeast of Zumbrota, to Hader, eight miles to the northwest. All the inhabitants in the settlement and along the proposed new route, turned out on an appointed day, with shovels and axes, to cut down the brush and break through the snow crust, and a few yoke of oxen to tread the open track into some semblance of a road. After several days of hard work, the road was declared passable, and to the unspeakable delight of all, the stage for the first time made a trip through the incipient town. This was a great event. The next move was to secure a post-office. This was eventually done and T. P. Kellett appointed post-master.

" The next important enterprise inaugurated was a bridge over the Zumbro at the foot of Main street. This bridge consisted of stringers of oak laid from bank to bank upon which were laid for a floor poplar poles, hewed flat on the upper and lower sides. This primitive bridge was the only one for many years. After the twentieth of March, the settlers began to return ; new ones also began to arrive. The writer was appointed agent, with very limited authority, to negotiate for the sale of lots to the newcomers. The spring was late, and cold snow laid on the ground till near May. The ice did not break up in Lake Pepin till May 1, so that many of the families of the settlers were obliged to remain at tlie foot of the lake for days and weeks. There was a rush of people to Zumbrota in the spring. Many found claims on the prairie ; a few settled in town. A large number finding no chance for employment, and no building material being at hand - the roads being almost impassable it could not be hauled from Red Wing - left for other parts.

" Those who remained exerted themselves to the utmost to boom the new town. A flouring mill was Iniilt, other enterprises inaugurated, high hopes entertained, but all these hopes were dashed by the financial crash in the fall of 1857. Zumbrota was a failure for the time and its projectors and proprietors in the dumps. Let others write its subsequent history.

" It is hoped that this meagre story may interest the descendants of the first settlers. It is not pleasant for the writer to recall it. It brings to mind so much of struggle and hardship and disappointment."

the finest agricultural regions in the world. Three railroads meet here : The Chicago & North-Western, Duluth, Ked Wing & Southern, and the Midland. A traveler will be surprised, in passing through the streets on a business day, at almost any season of the year, to see the teams of farmers, and other vehicles which line the fronts of stores and shops.

There is a graded public school of high order. The first school building, erected in 1865, was totally destroyed by fire in less than two years. Another of larger dimensions was soon built, which has since received an addition. Six teachers and a principal are now employed.

Miss Lizzie Shedd taught the first school in a hall over the first store, which was built by Thomas P. Kellett, in the fall of 1856. The same hall was for a few years used for religious exercises on the Sabbath. There are now five church edifices and a large number of beautiful homes, besides hotels, stores and mechanic shops. The churches are Congregational, Methodist, Episcopal, Lutheran and Baptist. Zumbrota has a bank, a flouring and a grist mill, and a creamery, all of which are doing a good business.

The Zumbrota Independent, a weekly newspaper established here in 1875 by E. A. Mitchell, continues to give the news of the world to the villagers and surrounding regions, under the management of the original proprietor.

The Zumbrota News, which was founded a few years later by W. W. Kinne, is also giving information to the people of the county through its weekly visits.

tensive collection of rare and choice literature. They have also a public hall for political gatherings, lectures, and amusements. The basement story of the building is devoted to the use of the tire department. The people of this village are noted for their public spirit and private enterprise.

There is another village, two miles east of the principal one, called Forest Mills, containing* extensive mills, and an enterprising population.

Appendix

lu the accouut given of the early settlement of the town of Roscoe, in this work, the names of John T. Mitchell and Josiah Lothrop were inadvertently omitted. Both came in 1856, and are among the first pioneers, now living, in the county.

Mr. Mitchell has represented the county in the State legislature, and Mr. Lothrop has been entrusted with public business in his town for the greater part of his sojourn there ; was a volunteer soldier in the Union army. Both are successful farmers on the same domain they settled thirty-six years ago.

Goodhue county contains an area of about 764 square miles. Its population, according to the census in 1890, was 28,806 ; and at the present writing, December 6, 1892, may be safely stated to be 30,000. About twothirds of the people are engaged in farming.

There are twenty-two township organizations, four incorporated villages, and one city. This county, for three successive years past, has been awarded the first premium at the State Agricultural Fair, for the best exhibit of vegetable products.

Hon. William W. Phelps

was born in Oakland county, Michigan, in the year 1822 ; graduated at the University of his native state ; practiced law several years, being partner in the law office of Gen. Stevens ; was mai'ried in 1849 to Sarah B. Mann. He was elected a member of the legislature of the State of Michigan, and while a member of that body, was appointed, by President Pierce, register of the laud office which Avas soon to be opened at Red Wing, Minnesota. This appointment was obtained through the iuliaence of Senator Stewart, a warm personal friend of Mr. Phelps', and one who gave him much encouragement at the beginning of his career.

He came to Red Wiug in the fall of 1854, and, in connection with Hon. C. C. Graham, began arrangements for opening an office here for the sale of the public lands in the Red Wing land district. The lands were then but partially surveyed, and the territory of Minnesota, with the exception of a few villages along the Mississippi, unsettled, and its natural resources undeveloped.

Arrangements were completed and the United States land office opened for business on the first of February, 1855. Mr. Phelps proved himself a faithful and efficient officer. His duties in the land office made him acquainted with the needs of early pioneers, and he was always ready to help those who came without much capital to make a home for themselves in this new country. Such was his popularity that he was elected representative to congress as soon as Minnesota was admitted to the Union ; and while a member of that body did good service for his constituency.

He was twice elected mayor of the city of Red Wing. And when in our country's greatest need a call was made upon her sons to maintain, at the peril of life, the supremacy of the Union, he was of the number of those who were ready to venture all in the cause of their country.

In all that pertained to tlie prosperity of Red Wing, from the day of his coming here till the day of his death his efforts in the extension of business relations, in opening up channels of communication, public improvements and kindred matters, the attitude and action of Mr. Phelps, as a citizen, has been that of a liberal and far-seeing man. Nor was his influence restricted to his own town or county. He was well known throughout the State as a man who could be relied upon to assist in advancing the best interests of the common-' wealth. He died August 3, 1873, and his earthly remains were deposited in Oakwood cemetery. A beautiful monument has been placed over his grave.

Philander Sandford

Avas the first lawyer who settled in Red Wing. He visited the place in the summer of 1853, and invested in a claim-right of some lots very soon after the survey of the original town plat. He was born in Ontario county, New York ; emigrated to Detroit, Michigan, with his parents while quite young, and there studied law, and was admitted to the bar of the supreme court of that state in 1853. In March, 1854, he was married to Sarah J. Lee, and soon after wrote to a lady then in Red Wing, who was expecting to be ready to take boarders that season, that he should be here as early in the spring as possible, and expect to board at her house; and intimated that there would be " two of us" when he should arrive. The boarding-house keeper made preparations accordingly and in due time the young lawyer and his bride were settled among us and both entered heartily into every enterprise that would help build up the place. Mr. Sandford first built an office for his professional work, and next a residence for his family. He was appointed district attorney by the governor of the territory that year, and was elected to the same office after the full organization of the county.

Mr. Sandford proved himself a good counsellor; was always ready to give safe legal advice in matters of litigation. He was a man of strict integrity in the transaction of business intrusted to his care. He died May 30, 1881. He made profession of his faith in Christ, and joined the Presbyterian church. He was also a member of the Masonic fraternity.

Dr. Sweney was the second physician who settled in Minuesota for the purpose of practicing his profession. He located in Saint Paul in April, 1850. Dr. Murphy had settled there the year before. Dr. Sweney was the son of Alexander M. and Mary M. Kehr Sweney, and was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, in the year 1818. His father was of Scotch-Irish, and his mother of Piedmontese-Huguenot descent. When William was eighteen years old he moved to Fulton county, Illinois, having previously obtained an academic education in his native town.

He read medicine with Dr. AbramHuIl of Marietta, Illinois, practiced in connection with him in 1848-9, and graduated at Rush Medical College, Chicago, after settling in Minnesota.

In May, 1852, he came to Red Wing, which was at the time an Indian town, on the Mississippi river, with an Indian farmer, John Bush, and an Indian missionary. Rev. Joseph W. Hancock. The doctor gave his services to the Indians, whenever called upon, freely, and was highly esteemed by them.

After the Indians were removed, as settlers multiplied, Dr. Sweney's professional business increased, and for a quarter of a century he had as many and as long rides as any one man could reasonably desire. He always had the confidence of the people up to the time he was unable to practice longer.

He was a member of the Goodhue County, and of the State Medical Society; was president of the former in 1872, and of the latter in 1873. He wrote several essays on the "Climatology and Diseases of Minnesota;" a prize essay on the "Epidemics and Endemics of Minnesota;" a prize essay on "Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis;" also on a few other subjects.

He was elected to the territorial legislature in 1857, serving in the last session before Minnesota became a state. He also held office several terms in the municipality of Red Wing. In politics he was a state rights Democrat, but no disunionist ; not an active politician in his latter years.

Dr. Sweuey was married in Faltou county, Illinois, in 1841, to Maria Freeborn, daughter of Richard Freeborn, of that place, who emigrated to Minnesota early in the fifties, and died in Red Wing about 1870, in a good old age.

Dr. Sweuey's favorite pastime was trout fishing, though he often indulged in the pursuit of other game in the early days. He was a good physician, cautious of giving medicine when he was convinced that none was needed, ever ready to attend to the calls of the suffering, whether poor or rich. He was a quiet and unassuming man, yet always considered a prominent citizen in Red Wing. His death occurred in August, 1882. His funeral was attended, at the Episcopal church, by the largest number of all classes of citizens ever assembled on a like occasion in the previous history of the place. The church was crowded and its entrances thronged. The procession which followed his remains to their final rest iu Oakwood consisted of the various orders of secret societies, the firemen and all the various benevolent associations of the city.

" Christopher C. Graham, one of the oldest and best known citizens of our city and State, died Wednesday morning at eight o'clock of old age. He was born in Augusta county, Virginia, in October, 180B, but removed with his parents when only three months old to Lincoln county, Kentucky. In 1816 he removed to Boonville, Indiana. During his boyhood he attended such schools as were provided in his neighborhood, and later went to

"Mr. Graham was elected to the lower house of the Indiana legislature in 1835, and was kept there until 1841. The following year he was elected to the senate which position he occupied until 1846. At the breaking out of the Mexican war he was appointed by President Polk commissary of subsistence for the Second Indiana Infantry, but resigned after one year's service. He was also a member of the convention which framed the constitution of Indiana.

"During the campaign preceding the election of President Pierce, Mr. Graham was a prominent candidate for nomination to congress, but gave way to another prominent candidate, and in 1854 he was appointed to the land ojffice as receiver at Red Wing, and at once removed to that place, his family following a year later, the register being W. W. Phelps, who was also well known to the old residents of this section. In 1858 the land office Avas removed to Henderson, and Mr. Graham resided in that place until 1861. With the exception of the three years at Henderson, Mr. Graham has resided in this city.

"In politics Mr. Graham was an unswerving Democrat, and yet he was liberal in his political views as in everything else. He served as mayor of this city for one year, and was elected justice of the peace in 1869, and has been almost unanimously re-elected every two years since, the last time being this spring. In 1872 he was a candidate for congress on the Democratic ticket, but was defeated by a small majority.

he declining a re-election this spring on account of increasing old age and its consequent infirmities. He was also a member of Red Wing Lodge No. 8, A. F. and A. M.; and although prevented of late years from attending its meetings his interest in that body never ceased.

" Mr. Graham was a man of the strictest integrity, a Christian in the highest sense of the term, of superior talent, and one of the best public speakers in the State. He was very domestic in all his tastes, and no father was ever happier than he when he Avas surrounded by his children. He was phenomenally quick at repartee, and no one ever enjoyed a joke better than he, or could see the ridiculous side of a proposition, and his sayings have become common property throughout this community. He did not have an enemy in the Avorld, and although a man of strong convictions yet he never interfered in the belief of any one."

Captain Willett W. Dekay

In the month of June, 1891, another of the oldest residents of Red Wing departed this life Perhaps no one in the vicinity was better known at the time of his death than W. W. DeKay. He was born in Orange county, N. Y.,in 1831; emigrated to this county in 1854, where he had been a resident for nearly forty years.

He enlisted in 1861, in Company E, Third Regiment, serving four years in the army; was promoted first to a lieutenancy, and afterwards became captain of this com-

He filled various offices in this city with a faithfulness and industry seldom equalled ; was for several years chief of police ; subsequently health officer; and served as post-master for the term of four years. He was ever ready to help the needy and sympathize with the unfortunate ; was faithful in every trust imposed upon him; a kind, true friend, a public spirited citizen has gone to his reward.

Funeral services were attended in the Episcopal church, of which he was a member, by a large concourse of citizens, and a very large number followed his remains to rest in that abode of the dead, in the ornamenting and beautifying of which he had taken so - much interest.

Source changes here: from History of Dakota and Goodhue Counties, Minnesota /, by Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn, published 1910; 50 words in this source stream.

Zumbrota Township

Zumbrota Village - Its Situation and Advantages - Modern Zumbrota - Water, Sewer and Public Halls - Fire Department - Industries - Banks ' - Hotels - Mills and Elevators - Creamery - Fraternities - Village History and Officers - T. P. Kellett 's Speech - Military Company - -Village