Fifty Years In The Northwest Part 5

Everything was ready. The ball opened with three "French fours," or two over. They danced a French two, the music consisting of one old violin with three strings, played by a half-breed from St. Croix Falls. He played but one tune and called it, "Off she goes to Miramachee." This carried a "French four" well enough, but when we danced a cotillion or hornpipe there was a great deal of rolling around instead of dancing. We often called for a new tune. "Oh, yes, gentlemen, you shall have him," but when we got him it was the same old "Off she goes." He worked hard to please the company and the sweat rolled down his manly cheeks like the droppings from the eaves of a saw mill; but all this would not do; it was the same old "Off she goes." There were twenty-four couples at the ball. The ladies brought with them their babies, fourteen in number, and ranging from six weeks to six months old. The night pa.s.sed merrily, uproariously, but without tragic incident. The fiddler became at last so tipsy that he could no longer play "Off she goes to Miramachee," and staggered off to that locality himself. The only thing direful occurred at the breaking up, about five o'clock in the morning. The fourteen babies had been laid to sleep on a bed, but some malevolent genius during the dance mixed them up and changed their wraps, so that the mothers, in the hurry of their departure, gathered and took home with them each one some other mother's darling, and this deponent saith not that the snarl has ever been untangled and the babies restored to their rightful mothers.

With the year 1848 a new era dawned upon Stillwater and the valley of the St. Croix. Great changes had taken place in the little town. There were many new citizens, new buildings had been erected and the streets were much improved. Slabs had been placed over the quagmires on Main street. A stage route had been established to St. Paul, on which stages ran regularly. This was the first stage route in Minnesota.

The correction lines of the government survey had been run in 1846-7, chiefly in the latter year. Township, range and section lines were run in 1847, and in the early part of 1848. Prior to this claims had been made and were held subject to the limitations of the first legal survey. The creation of the new state of Wisconsin and the prospective organization of Minnesota Territory, the development of the lumbering business and the formal opening of the government lands to entry, gave an impetus to immigration. Stillwater profited largely by this immigration, it being an objective point. Population increased. The village was regularly surveyed and platted in the fall of 1848, Harvey Wilson, surveyor. Stillwater, although it never aspired to be the future capital of the Territory, became a headquarters for political characters and a place for public meetings for the discussions of territorial and other public questions. It was convenient of access, and contained up to that time a greater population than was to be found in St. Paul, and it seemed likely to become the commercial metropolis of the Territory.

FOOTNOTES:

[A] For the facts in this history I am indebted to John McKusick, Jacob Fisher, Elias McKean, and Elam Greely.

CHAPTER III.

BIOGRAPHIES.

JOSEPH RENSHAW BROWN, one of the best known of the pioneers, came to Dakotah, Schulenberg's addition, in 1839. For items in his history I am personally indebted to him. He was born in 1805, and, when old enough, apprenticed to a printer. On account of ill treatment he ran away and enlisted in the United States army at the age of fourteen years, serving as a drummer boy. He came with the army to the Northwest Territory in 1819. After enlistment he made his first home at Gray Cloud on the Mississippi, where he married a half-breed woman.

Wisconsin history says she was the daughter of Robert d.i.c.kson, Indian trader and friend of the English in 1812. He learned and spoke the Chippewa and Sioux languages fluently. In 1839 he founded the town of Dakotah, at the head of Lake St. Croix, and erected some log buildings. Through his influence, in part, St. Croix county was organized, and the county seat located in Dakotah.

He built here a two story log court house, which, the county failing to pay for, was left upon his hands. He kept a trading station, was clerk of the county court and county commissioner. He filled several offices of trust and was by far the most important and universally serviceable man in the new county of St. Croix. In 1843 he left Dakotah, and returning to Gray Cloud, continued his Indian trade at that point and further west by means of branch houses. He was a member of the territorial Wisconsin legislature two sessions at Madison. He returned to Stillwater in 1848, left again in 1849, and in 1850 removed to St. Paul, where, in 1852, he purchased of Mr. Goodhue the _Pioneer_, then the leading Democratic paper of the Territory. Mr.

Brown was chief clerk in the Minnesota territorial legislature during the sessions of 1849, 1850 and 1851. In 1854 and 1855 he was a member of the territorial council. In 1857 he was a member of the Democratic wing of the const.i.tutional convention. During his residence in St.

Paul he was interested in building up the town of Henderson, to which place he ran a stage line from St. Paul. About this time, also, he busied himself with the invention of a steam wagon, calculated to traverse the western plains and drag after it trains of cars.

Financial and other difficulties prevented the completion of his design, which, however, he never entirely abandoned during the remainder of his life. In fact he went East in 1870 expressly to get his invention perfected, but from this journey he never returned. He died somewhat suddenly in New York in that year.

Mr. Brown was a man of iron will and muscular frame. He owed but little to schools, but was a close observer of men and of the times in which he lived. He was a genial companion and true friend, and a man of honorable principles. His was a rugged but generous nature. He was public spirited, far seeing and far reaching in his plans. He believed in the great Northwest. He predicted its future greatness as a wheat growing and agricultural country, and, as far back as 1839, predicted that a great city would rise at the head of Lake St. Croix or at the Falls of St. Anthony. Yet so little schooled was he in the wisdom of the speculator that he sold the property in St. Paul now known as Kittson's addition, and worth several millions of dollars, for one hundred and fifty dollars, and a lot on Third street, now valued at $25,000, for a box of cigars.

PAUL CARLI.--Mr. Carli was of German and Italian descent. He was born in Italy, July 25, 1805. His father was a merchant. He was married in Chicago, in 1834, to a sister of Joseph R. Brown, and moved in 1841 to the outlet of Bolles creek, on the west side of Lake St. Croix, to a place near the site of Afton. In 1846 he was accidentally drowned in the lake, within sight of his dwelling. His children, Joseph R. and Maria, are residents of Stillwater.

CHRISTOPHER CARLI, brother of Paul, was born at Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, Dec. 7, 1811. The youth of Christopher was devoted to study.

He was educated at Heidelberg University, and studied medicine. He came to America in February, 1832. The March following he located in Buffalo, where he practiced medicine three years, and returned to Europe where he remained two years. Returning to America, he practiced a year in Chicago, a year in New Orleans and another year in Chicago.

He came to Dakotah, St. Croix valley, May 24, 1841. March 12, 1847, he was married to the widow of Paul Carli, Joseph R. Brown officiating as magistrate. He was the first practicing physician north of Prairie du Chien. His home was at Dakotah until the organization of Stillwater.

He opened his first office on the west side of Lower Main street, block 28. His practice extended from Lake Pepin to Lake Superior and from Menomonie Mills, Wisconsin, to the Mississippi river. His mode of travel was by birch canoe, on horseback, on skates and on foot. He was a member of the first city council in Stillwater and has been city and county physician. He opened the first bank in Stillwater when fractional currency was in demand. His floating scrip was all redeemed. Two children, Christopher and Socrates N., are married and residents of Stillwater. Dr. Carli died Nov. 6, 1887.

LYDIA ANN CARLI.--Mrs. Carli has pa.s.sed through many stirring scenes, and is one of the first female settlers in the St. Croix valley. A fluent and interesting talker, her recitals of early incidents and adventures are heart enlivening. Lydia Ann Brown was born in Lancaster, Penn., March 18, 1818. In 1834 she came with friends to Chicago, where in 1839 she was married to Paul Carli. She came to Dakotah in 1841, and lived there until 1844. The village was surrounded by Indians and there was no white woman nearer than Marine, twelve miles distant. In 1844 the Carlis removed to the mouth of Bolles creek, near Afton, on Lake St. Croix, where they built themselves a two story house commanding a picturesque view of the lake and the adjacent prairies and hills. It was a lone tenement, midway between Prescott and Stillwater. Mrs. Carli having lost her husband as before narrated, in 1847 was married to his brother, Dr. Christopher Carli.

[Ill.u.s.tration: James S. Anderson]

PHINEAS LAWRENCE.--But little is known of the early life of Mr.

Lawrence. He had been a river pilot. He was the first sheriff elected in the St. Croix valley, or northwest of Prairie du Chien. He was elected and qualified in 1841. On serving the first and only summons he was ever called upon to serve, he approached the party summoned, holding up to view the doc.u.ments, and exclaimed: "I, Phineas Lawrence, high sheriff of St. Croix county, in the name of the United States and of the Immaculate G.o.d, command you to surrender." He was a robust, fleshy, cheerful man, and felt in all their force the responsibilities of the position in which he was placed. His name has been given to a creek in Chisago county, where he once logged. He died in Stillwater in 1847.

JACOB FISHER.--Jacob Fisher, a millwright, came to St. Croix Falls in 1842, and being a skilled mechanic found employment at once on the old mill at the Falls. He made the first land claim and framed the first building in Stillwater. The building framed was the mill of which mention has been made. This establishes his claim to priority as the first white man who made a movement toward the settlement of Stillwater. Others were before him in the settlement of Dakotah or Schulenberg's addition. Mr. Fisher is a plain, frank, outspoken man, who has no trouble in making his hearers understand exactly what he means. He was born in Canada in 1813, and still resides in Stillwater.

He has a wife and one son in California.

JAMES S. ANDERSON was born at Marshalltown, West Virginia, on the fourth of February, 1826. When he was twelve years old his parents removed with him to Burlington, Iowa, where he lived for eight years.

He came to Stillwater in 1846, where he has since resided. In 1852 he was married to Miss Harriet T. McDonald, at St. Louis, by whom he has had four children, three of whom are now living--Robert M. Anderson, prominently known in lumber circles, and Misses Sibella S. and Ella P.

Anderson. Upon Mr. Anderson's arrival at Stillwater, he engaged in the employ of Elias McKean, then a prominent lumberman, now a resident of Washington county. In 1869 Mr. Anderson formed a partnership with William McKusick, John A. Nelson and Alexander Johnson, under the firm name of McKusick, Anderson & Co., which firm built and operated the large saw mill opposite Stillwater. Four years ago Mr. McKusick retired from the firm, since which time the firm has been J. S.

Anderson & Co. In 1874 Mr. Anderson became the senior member of a heavy logging firm known as Anderson & O'Brien, of which the other members were the well known lumbermen J. S. and John O'Brien. In connection with his other business interests Mr. Anderson was a heavy owner of pine lands, and a stockholder and director in the Lumberman's National Bank. There were two other well known lumber firms of ancient date with which he was connected, and these were McComb, Simpson & Co., organized in 1850, and also Delano, McKusick & Co., organized in 1857. From 1857 to 1869 he was also a heavy logger alone. Mr. Anderson died May 8, 1885. His death resulted from a mill accident, his rubber coat having caught in the belting of a shaft revolving at a rapid rate. His body was frightfully mangled, but he survived two days, exhibiting, under the circ.u.mstances, the most remarkable composure, dictating his will and arranging his business matters as calmly as he might have done on an ordinary occasion.

EMANUEL DIXON FARMER was born in Tennessee in 1828, and came to Stillwater in 1845, where he has resided ever since, engaged in the lumbering and saloon business. He was married to Parmelia A. Collier, in Stillwater, 1848.

COL. JOHN GREELY.--Col. Greely was sixty years of age when he came to the West, and although a strong, active and enterprising man in the earlier part of his life, owing to advancing years and ill health was rather a spectator than an active partic.i.p.ant in the stirring scenes of his new home. He was born at Southampton, Ma.s.sachusetts, April, 1777. He was married to Hannah Greely, a second cousin, at Hopkinton, New Hampshire, Oct. 5, 1801. He followed the lumbering business on the Merrimac river in early life. He furnished the timber used in erecting the first factory in Lowell, Ma.s.sachusetts, cut on the mountains of North New Hampshire. In after life he moved to the west end of Sebec lake, Maine, where he founded the town at first named Greely, but afterward Willimantic, now the site of extensive manufactories where the famous Willimantic thread is made. Col. Greely came to Stillwater in 1847.

Born during the Revolutionary struggle, he lived to witness the marvelous growth and prosperity of his country and died during the first year of the war of the Rebellion. Aged as he was, having entered upon his eighty-fifth year, he was intensely interested in the issue of that struggle, and ardently desired to live long enough to witness the triumph of his country's cause. It was not to be. He sank peacefully to rest, Oct. 30, 1861, dying as he had lived, an honest man, his memory revered by all who knew him, and cherished by three generations of descendants. His children were three sons and five daughters--Sarah, Mrs. Blake, Mrs. Greenleaf, and Phebe and Servia, wives of John McKusick. Miss Sarah alone survives.

MRS. HANNAH GREELY.--Mrs. Greely, the wife of Col. John Greely, was born in Hopkinton, New Hampshire, October, 1787, came to Stillwater in 1847 and died May, 1878, at the advanced age of ninety years. For sixty years she and her husband walked side by side. She survived him seventeen years, and, after a life well spent, resignedly folded her hands and sank to her last repose.

ELAM GREELY.--Elam, son of Col. John Greely, was born in Salisbury, New Hampshire, Aug. 13, 1818, and, with his parents, moved to Maine, where they made their home on Sebec lake. In 1840 Mr. Greely came to St. Croix Falls, where he was employed by the St. Croix Falls Company the greater part of the time until 1843, when he became a settler at the head of Lake St. Croix. He was one of the original owners of the first mill at Stillwater. In 1844 he sold his interest to John McKusick. The same year he was appointed postmaster at Stillwater. The office was located at the southwest corner of Main and Chestnut streets.

Mr. Greely filled many offices of honor and trust meritoriously. He was a member of the third and fourth Minnesota territorial councils.

In 1845, in company with Edward Blake, he did an extensive pine log business, running the logs to St. Louis, in which business he continued until the death of Mr. Blake in 1848.

Mr. Greely early identified himself with the interests of Stillwater, of which he was one of the founders, and which owes much of its prosperity to his efforts. He was married in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in 1850, to Hannah P. Hinman, who, with three children, a son and two daughters, survives him. His oldest son died Oct. 21, 1876. Mr. Greely had many severe reverses in business, but by indomitable energy recovered from them, and was able not only to care for his aged parents, to bring them from Maine and keep them with him until separated by death, but to leave his family well provided for. He died suddenly away from home, Sept. 14, 1883. His body was brought to Stillwater for burial.

HIMAN GREELY.--Himan, son of Col. John Greely, was born in Franklin, New Hampshire, October, 1828. He came to Stillwater in 1846, where he followed the business of lumbering. In 1850 he was married to Lucia Darling. After a brief residence in Stillwater, he removed to Beauford, Blue Earth county, where he remained until his death in 1882. His wife survived him but a few months. The bodies of both were removed and buried in Fairview cemetery, Stillwater. Mr. Greely applied himself closely to business, and was an honest, upright and intelligent man. His education was derived chiefly from reading and observation. He left two sons.

AQUILLA GREELY.--Aquilla, the youngest son of Col. Greely, was born in Greely, Maine, June, 1831. During his youth he spent several years with friends in Canada, where he learned the art of surveying. He came to Minnesota in 1849, and followed surveying and lumbering. He died in Stillwater, April 25, 1857.

ELIAS MCKEAN.--A thorough business man, an eccentric man, notably so, an apt man, ready in reply, somewhat harsh, if irritated, but kind in heart and forgiving in spirit, is Elias McKean. He was born in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, June 30, 1817, and received a practical education. His father was a man of some note, and for twenty-eight years a circuit judge in Pennsylvania. Elias McKean came to St. Croix Falls in 1841, and for a year was in the employ of the Falls Company, but afterward engaged successfully in business for himself. He was one of the original proprietors of the Stillwater mill, and one of the founders of Stillwater. In 1850 he settled on a farm on the west side of Lake St. Croix. In 1855 he was married to the widow of Calvin F.

Leach, and a family of six sons has grown up around them.

CALVIN F. LEACH.--We are not able to give date or place of birth. Mr.

Leach came to St. Croix Falls in 1842 and soon after came to the head of Lake St. Croix, and became one of the original owners of the mill, and a founder of the city of Stillwater. In 1850 he was married to Miss ---- Smith, of St. Anthony. He died in St. Louis in 1853. He was modest and retiring in his demeanor, correct in his deportment and respected by all his acquaintances.

SOCRATES NELSON.--Mr. Nelson was born in Conway, Ma.s.sachusetts, Jan.

11, 1814, received an academic education, was married to Mrs. Bertha D. Bartlett in 1844, at Hennepin, Ill., and the same year came to Stillwater, and engaged in selling goods. Previous to his removal to Stillwater he engaged in merchandising in Illinois, in 1839, and in St. Louis from 1840 to 1844, where he established a trading post on the Mississippi nearly opposite Reed's Landing, at a place since known as Nelson's Landing. Mr. Nelson was the first merchant in Stillwater.

His store stood on Main street. He built a substantial dwelling and lived in it until his death, May 6, 1867. He filled many public positions, was territorial auditor from 1853 to 1857, and was a senator in the second state legislature. As a merchant he was very successful, being fitted by nature for commercial pursuits. In 1853, he, with others, built a saw mill in South Stillwater and engaged in lumbering. He was of a free and generous disposition in all his relations of life. He conveyed, as a donation to Washington county, a half interest in the block of land on which the court house stands.

His liberality and public spirit did much for the prosperity of Stillwater. His wife and one daughter, Mrs. Fayette Marsh, survived him, but Mrs. Marsh died in 1880. She was a woman of great sweetness of disposition, and beloved by all who knew her. His widow died in 1885.

MRS. SOCRATES NELSON.--Bertha D. was born at Conway, Franklin county, Ma.s.sachusetts, Sept. 6, 1813. She was married to Geo. A. Bartlett, of Conway, in 1838, and removed with him to Knoxville, Illinois, where he died. She returned to her parents in Ma.s.sachusetts, and removed with them to Hennepin, Illinois. In the fall of 1844 she was married to Socrates Nelson, and came with him to Stillwater. She died Oct. 8, 1885. She was the last of her family, husband and daughter having preceded her to the world of spirits. The large attendance of old settlers from Washington county and elsewhere at her funeral, and the beautiful floral tributes contributed by her friends, attested but partially the respect and veneration in which she was held.

EDWARD BLAKE.--Of Mr. Blake's early history we have no data. He came to the St. Croix valley in company with Elam Greely in 1840, engaged in lumbering, and died in 1849.

WALTER R. VAIL.--Mr. Vail, the second merchant in Stillwater, came West in 1844. He built a store, with dwelling attached, just south of Socrates Nelson's store, which buildings are still standing and occupied (1886). Mr. Vail was not successful in business and moved away in 1848.

[Ill.u.s.tration: MARTIN MOWER. A PRACTICAL AND SUCCESSFUL LUMBERMAN OF STILLWATER.]

JOHN E. MOWER.--Mr. Mower was born in Bangor, Maine, Sept. 15, 1815.

He was married to Gratia Remick, in Keokuk, Iowa, in 1842, and removed to St. Croix Falls, where he entered the employ of the Falls Lumbering Company. Two years later he removed to Stillwater, where he built the second frame dwelling, still standing. Mr. Mower was a millwright and carpenter, but was engaged in lumbering most of his time. He purchased an interest in the mill property at Arcola, in 1847, which place he made his home until his death, which occurred June 11, 1879. He left a widow and three daughters, Helen, wife of the late Louis Torinus; Emily, wife of Henry Van Voorhees; and Mary, wife of ---- Richardson.

One son died after arriving at manhood. Mr. Mower was a pleasant, reliable man, a kind husband and loving father. He was honored by his fellow citizens with an election to the fifth and sixth territorial councils, and to the seventeenth state legislature (house). The territorial legislature affixed his name to a county.

MARTIN MOWER.--Martin, brother of John E. Mower, came to St. Croix Falls in 1842, and worked in the employ of the Falls Company.

Afterward he engaged in lumbering and became one of the original proprietors of the Arcola mill. He was also engaged in manufacturing and merchandising in Stillwater. He built a fine block of buildings on Chestnut street, recently burned down and rebuilt on a larger scale.

He has been one of the managing owners of the St. Croix Boom Company from its origin. His business interests have been divided between Stillwater and Arcola, but he has made the latter place his home since 1846. As a business man he is capable and shrewd, giving close attention to his business; in his manner somewhat eccentric. He has done in much to improve the farming and other interests of the country.

WILLIAM WILLIM.--A firm, consistent, worthy citizen and true friend of his adopted country is William Willim. He was born in the parish of Woolhope, Herefordshire, England, June 26, 1821; came to America in 1838, and to Stillwater in 1844. He was married in 1847 to Clara G.

Haskell, and, after her death in 1850, to Joanna W. Hinman. Mr. Willim is a stonemason, plasterer and contractor. He was a member of the sixth Minnesota territorial legislature, and has filled many responsible positions in Stillwater. Mr. Willim's was the first naturalization that occurred in the limits of Minnesota. The oath of allegiance, a somewhat unique and original doc.u.ment of its kind, bears date of June 18, 1847, Stillwater, St. Croix county, Wisconsin Territory, and is signed by Joseph R. Brown.