Scott County MN Archives History - Books .....Jackson, Eagle Creek, And Other Towns 1882
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Book Title: History Of The Minnesota Valley

CHAPTER L.

JACKSON—EAGLE CREEK GLENDALE—LOUISVILLE-SAND CREEK—ST. LAWRENCE.

  The town of Jackson lies in the northern part of the county, bordering on the
Minnesota river. It is the smallest town in the county, including in its limits,
less than nine square miles. The name of the town was formerly Shakopee, which,
when formed by the county commissioners, included all in the county of
congressional township 11523. At a meeting held a few days later the town of
Louisville was formed from the southern part. The boundaries remained as last
established, until 1870, when the city of Shakopee was incorporated, thereby
changing the northern boundary.

   The first claimant in the present limits of the town was Daniel Apgar. He
came to St. Paul in the spring of 1851; stopped there a short time, then came to
Shakopee. He located his claim in the eastern part of sections 11 and 14.
Shortly after he returned east, married, and came back in the spring accompanied
by his father, Samuel Apgar and hrother, Ai G., with wives and families,
consisting in all of ten persons. They came from Tompkins county, New York, and
arrived in Shakopee May 5, 1852.

   Daniel Apgar lived on his claim a number of years, when he sold and moved to
a farm near Sauk Centre, Stearns county, where he died about ten years since. He
was the first justice of the peace and the first judge of probate in the county.

   The senior Mr. Apgar made his claim in the north-east quarter of section 12,
where he lived until the fall of 1875, when, on account of the death of his
wife, he sold his farm and moved into Shakopee, and now lives with his daughter,
Mrs. Coggswell.

   Ai G. Apgar located his claim partly in each of sections 12 and, 13. When the
county was organized he was appointed sheriff and elected the following fall. He
held the office during the years 1853, '54 and '55. In 1866 he sold his farm and
moved to Hennepin county, where he died in 1877. Others of 1852 were Arnold and
Joseph Graffenstadt, Oliver Pelthier, Baptiste Le Beau, W. H. Nobles, Matthias
Taisey and John G. Bass. Arnold Graffenstadt now lives in Alabama, where he
moved a few years since. Joseph is living in Shakopee, still owning his farm.
After about ten years Mr. Pelthier moved to Sibley county. His whereabouts are
now uncertain. Mr. Nobles located on the east side of section 15; moved to St.
Paul, where he died a few years since. He was the first county surveyor, first
register of deeds and the first member of the territorial legislature from Seott
county. Mr. Taisey also located in section 15. He only remained a short time,
when he sold to J. B. Allen, who built the first house in the town. Le Beau
located in the south-east quarter of section 14, where he lived a number of
years, then sold and moved to Sibley county, where he now resides. Mr. Bass
located his claim partly in Louisville, but built his house in what is now
Jackson, where he now lives, surrounded by the comforts of life. Edgar, a son of
Mr. and Mrs. Bass, was born September 3, 1853, in Shakopee, where Mrs. Bass had
gone for a short time, stopping with her father's family. Although born in
Shakopee, the child properly belongs to the town of Jackson.

   The first marriage in the town was that of William Weiser to Mary E.,
daughter of J. B. Allen. They were married in the spring of 1855 at the
residence of the bride's parents in section 15.

   The first meeting for organization of the town of Shakopee, was held at
Holmes' Hall in Shakopee, May 11, 1858. The following persons were elected to
fill the various offices of the town for the ensuing year: Robert Kennedy,
chairman; Daniel Apgar and Werner Coller, supervisors; D. M. Storer, clerk;
Joseph Bartholet, assessor; John Edert, collector; Valentine Reis, overseer of
the poor; Charles Plumsted and H. H. Strunk, justices of the peace; Henry
Neibergall and Thomas Condon, constables; Peter Geyerman, overseer of roads.
Until 1870, the village and town of Shakopee were under the same general
organization. When Shakopee was incorporated the town was separated from the
city and by an act of the legislature approved January 17, 1871, the name was
changed to Jackson. The first meting under the new organization was held at the
house of W. F. Weiser, in section 14. At the meeting a new list of officers was
elected throughout. The board consisted of Joseph Graffenstadt, chairman; Franz
Baumhoefer and John Thul, supervisors, and Hubert Roehl, clerk. The board,
however, did not meet under the name of Jackson until 1872.

   During the summer and fall of 1868, a frame school-house was built in what is
now district 58. The first school was taught the following winter, by Joseph
Ploumer with forty-three scholars enrolled, there being at the time seventy-six
of school age in the district. In January, 1875, the school house was burned and
another of concrete erected in its place the following fall. The first winter
there were twenty-five scholars enrolled. This is the only school-house in the
town.

   The Jackson mill was built by the Reis Bros. early in the sixties as a
water-power mill with one run of stone. It is located in section 13, about two
miles south of Shakopee. In 1873 the Reis Bros, sold to Franz Baumhoefer, the
present proprietor, who subsequently increased the capacity of the mill by
introducing improved machinery and steam power. It now contains two run of stone
and has capacity for manufacturing forty barrels of flour per day.

   A brewery was built in the spring of 1855 in the north-west of section 11, by
H. H. Strunk, who began manufacturing operations the same year. Several years
afterwards Mr. Strunk sold to Andrew Winker, and his heirs now own the property,
it being at present under the management of Hubert Nyssen. About 1860 Mr. Strunk
built a whisky distillery a short distance west of the brewery, which he
operated a couple of years, then sold to F. H. Kranz, who operated it a short
time, then failed, and the property fell back into the hands of Mr. Strunk
again. The building is now occupied as a barn and granary. The population of
Jackson was 270 by the census of 1880.

   J. B. Bass, farmer and stock raiser, was born September 12, 1823, in Orange
county, Vermont. He lived on a farm until 21 years of age, then learned the
wagon maker's trade. After residing several years in Erie county, New York, he
removed to Rock county, Wisconsin, and in 1850 came to Minnesota. The next year
he went back to Wisconsin, but soon returned to Minnesota and lived in
Washington county until 1853, then located in Scott county. He pre-empted 160
acres of land and now owns a farm of 640 acres. Mr. Bass has held the office of
justice of the peace about ten years, has several times been chairman of the
town board, and for six years has been president of the Scott County
Agricultural Society. He was first married in 1847, in New York, to Julia
Newell, who died in October, 1849, leaving one daughter. H. S. Young became his
wife September 14, 1851, at Johnstown, Wisconsin. She has borne him six
children, five are living. Their son Edgar, born September 3, 1853, is probably
the first white child born in town.

   Fr. Baumhoefer, born in Prussia in February, 1825. Worked nine years at
milling, then lived on a farm until 1855, when he came to America. He located a
claim of eighty acres in Scott county and on arriving at Shakopee with his
family, was obliged to live several days in a cellar until he could put up a
shanty. He lived near Jordan for seven years; in Jackson two years on a rented
farm and then purchased 140 acres. In 1874 he bought the Jackson grist mill,
which he has greatly improved. In 1849 he married Mary Becker, who bore him
eight children, five of whom are living. Mrs. Baumhoefer died in 1865. Louisa
Stakenkemper became his wife in 1867. They are the parents of nine children.

   J. B. Husmann (deceased) was born September, 1827, in Germany, and lived in
his native country until 23 years of age, when he came to America. Soon after
his immigration he married Anna T. Hopster, and they resided in St. Louis ten
years. In 1860 they removed to Marystown, Minnesota, and one year later to
Shakopee, where he worked at farming until 1865, then in partnership with
another, opened the Union brewery. In 1868 they enlarged it, and the year
following Mr. Husmann became entire owner and operated it until his death, March
17, 1873. Since that date the business has been conducted by Mrs. Anna Husmann,
under the supervision of her son John, who is married and lives at the brewery.
Mrs. Husmann purchased, in 1878, a farm of 130 acres in Jackson township, which
is worked by her son Henry. There are four other children: Herman, who is in
Montana; Lena, now Mrs. W. M. Johnson, Lizzie and May.

EAGLE CREEK.

   The town of Eagle Creek included at first all of township 115, range 22, and
all that part of township 116, range 22, lying in Scott county. These boundaries
remained the same until 1870, when Shakopee was incorporated, and included in
its limits most of section 6, and a part of section 7, township 115-22. The
subtraction left the boundaries as they now exist.

   Rev. Samuel W. Pond, the missionary to the Dakota Indians, elsewhere fully
mentioned, was the first settler in Eagle Creek, locating in the fall of 1857,
on section 6, where he now fives. Probably the next settler following Mr. Pond
was David Faribault, a half-breed, who located as early as 1851, about a mile
and a half below Shakopee, on the Minnesota river. He was interested in an
imaginary future town to be located upon his land, and destined as he thought to
supersede the city of Shakopee, of which Thomas Holmes was then the most
interested party. He evinced considerable spleen against the Shakopee settlers
and strenuously endeavored to iuduce all emigrants to locate upon his site.
Though he succeeded in gathering a little colony of French and half-breeds about
him he was finally obliged to abandon his scheme as useless.

   A character who went by the name of "French John" should also be mentioned as
among the early settlers. The exact date of his arrival is not known, and indeed
all particulars concerning him are rather uncertain. It is ascertained, however,
that he located in the central part of the town, and died during its early
settlement—about 1852 or 1853.   His was undoubtedly the first death in Eagle
Creek.

   T. S. Turner, the oldest settler now living in the town, with the exception
of Samuel W. Pond, came to Eagle Creek in June, 185,2, and located in the the
south-western quarter of section twenty, where he has since lived. Mr. Turner's
name is prominently connected with the earlier history of the town and county.
He was chairman of the first hoard of county commissioners in 1853, and was also
one of the first three county assessors.

   David Kinghorn came to his present location in the south-eastern quarter of
section 14 in July, 1852. He has always held a prominent position in the affairs
of the town, besides which he was a member of the first legislature, and was
sergeant-at-arms in the constitutional convention held in 1857.   The settlers
continued to arrive in large numbers during the fall of 1852 and throughout the
year 1853, the earlier of whom were as follows: Thos. Kennedy arrived in the
fall of 1852 and moved on to his present claim in spring of 1853; Edward Smith
came in spring of 1853 and located his present claim in the north-eastern
quarter of section 20 the same year; Alex. Dorward also came that year, together
with Benjamin W. Turner, John Masters, Lyman Buby, John Barclay and Horace
Fuller. These all located in different parts of the town, and most of them are
still living upon their original claims.

   The first birth in the town was that of S. W. Pond, Jr., son of Rev. Samuel
W. and Cordelia Pond. He was born April 20, 1850. In May, 1872, he married Miss
Fannie Boyden, of Minneapolis, by whom he has had two children. He still resides
upon the old homestead.

   The first religious services for the whites were held at the house of Rev.
Samuel W. Pond in the fall of 1857. Services had been held for the Indians many
years previous to this by Mr. Pond, the missionary.

   The officers elected at the first annual town meeting in 1858 were: Chas.
Lord, chairman, 
George Daly, James C. Wilson, supervisors; Jesse Markham, clerk; John Burnham,
assessor; Christopher Coulthard, collector; James Hamiliton, overseer of the
poor; Horace Fuller and Moses S. Titus, justices of peace; George B. Gardner and
William Davenport, constables; Robert Irvin, overseer of roads.

   The first school in the town was taught by Miss Nancy A. Turner in the house
of Oliver Keep in section 8 during the summer of 1855. As maybe expected, only a
few scholars attended. Many years previous to this an Indian school had been
taught in the town by Miss Cunningham, who was working in unison with Rev.
Samuel W. Pond for the good of the Dakota Indians. The town now has seven
school-houses; five are frame buildings, one is log and one brick. The town is
intersected by two railways, the St. Paul & Sioux City and the H. & D. division
of the C. M. & St. P. railway. The latter has no station in the town and the
former has but one—Bardon station, situated in the north-eastern corner of the
town. Two flour mills are in the town, one owned by J. W. Humphrey, situated in
the north-east corner of the town on Eagle creek and the other owned by Pond
Bros., situated on a small stream in the northern part of section 5. The
population of Eagle Creek township in 1880 was 759.

   Francis Beisang (deceased) was born October 11, 1829, in Alsace, France, now
a part of Germany. At the age of 2 years he came with his parents to the United
States; they soon removed to Canada, where he followed blacksmithing until 1854,
then came to Scott county. He married, January 14, 1852, Eliza Zolber, who was
born in Canada, February 9, 1833. They have had seven children; the living are,
Catherine T., and Anna M., now the wife of Mr. Guy West. Francis Beisang died
January 31, 1878.

   David Kinghorn was born in 1809 in Scotland. He learned the millers' trade
and in 1829 went to Canada where he was employed as miller four years, then
worked six years in New York. In 1839 he went to Kane county, Illinois, where he
worked at milling three years, then bought 160 acres of land which he afterwards
sold and purchased one section in Cook county where he followed farming about
ten years. In 1852 he came to Eagle Creek and pre-empted 160 acres of land; now
owns eighty acres. Mr. Kinghorn was sergeant-at-arms at the first constitutional
convention in the state, was a representative in the first legislature and for
years has held offices of trust in the town and couuty. For two and one-half
years he was teacher among the Indians at Redwood. He married Anna Pow, who was
born in Scotland in 1809. They have had ten children, four of whom are living;
nineteen grand-children and two great-grand children. They have two sons who
served in the Ninth Minnesota volunteers; one died at Memphis.

   Edward Smith, a native of Ireland, was born November 27, 1821. Went to New
York in 1846; worked at farming and stage-driving until the fall of 1852, when
he removed to St. Paul, thence up the river to Faribault's landing below
Shakopee. He pre-empted 160 acres of land and built a log shanty; now owns 200
acres. Mr. Smith enlisted in the Fourth Minnesota, August 28, 1864 and served
through the Atlanta campaign with Sherman. He married Ann Burk at North Post,
Long Island, in June, 1849. They are the parents of one child, now deceased.

   Edward Stevenson was horn in Ireland, February 1, 1814. He came to America in
1838, first located in Jersey City and for seven years worked for the Patterson
railroad company, then was employed two years in a brewery in New York. Returned
to Jersey City for a short time, and in 1855, after residing six years in
Canada, settled in Eagle Creek. He made a claim which he sold ten years after
and bought 160 acres where he now lives. Mr. Stevenson experienced many of the
hardships incident to pioneer life. His marriage with Nancy Wilson, who was born
July 29, 1818, in Ireland, took place March 10, 1841. They have two children:
Mary J. now the wife of W. H. Smith, of Plato, and Elizabeth, now Mrs. G. R.
Kinghorn, of Eagle Creek.

   G. C. W. West was born March 8, 1843, in Ontario. He moved to Scott county in
1865 and was employed on the railroad between Mendota and Shakopee, was also
contractor for Harkens & Holter in the wood business. Returned to Canada and was
proprietor of a hotel at Warchester Springs three years, then came again to
Scott county and engaged to travel as agent for Foster & Dean, of St. Paul. Mr.
West married Miss A. M. Beisang, November 2, 1869. They have three children.

   J. C. Wilson, born in 1810, is a native of Scotland; he is the son of a
Presbyterian clergyman. In 1837 he went to Nova Scotia and taught school four
years, and after about six years spent in lumbering in Canada he went in 1847 to
Lincoln county, Ohio. He served through the Mexican war; was sergeant of Company
K, Eleventh Virginia infantry. Afterward lived in New York city six years,
contracting for building. In August, 1854, he came to Eagle Creek and made a
claim; now owns 112 acres. Mr. Wilson has held the office of county commissioner
and justice of the peace. His wife was Margaret Carlin, who has borne him two
children; both are dead.

GLENDALE.

    The commissioners when forming this town labored under a misapprehension as
to the real boundary between Scott and Dakota counties, and organized the town
as including all of township 115, range 21, and also all of those sections
included in the survey from the 4th principal meridian and lying north of
township 115, range 21, and extending to the Minnesota river. The true eastern
boundary of the town at organization must be understood, however, as the same as
that established by the territorial legislature February 20, 1855, in defining
the eastern boundary of Scott county. This was finally changed by the
legislature March 6, 1871, leaving the boundary as it now is.

    The first settler in Glendale was Martin Byrnes, who, together with his
family, came in the spring of 1852, and settled at what is now Hamilton village.
Here he lived until the war, carrying on a considerable trade with the Indians.
In 1861 he went to California, where he still lives. John Dorman and wife came
in the fall of 1852, settling at Hamilton, where he lived until his death. His
wife is still living in the village.

    J. W. Woodruff arrived in Glendale in the fall of 1852, and the following
year David Nixon, Martin Berrisford and Patrick Byrne, with wives, came into the
town. In 1854 twenty other families located within the limits of the town, and
at the end of this year Hamilton, then known as Burnsville, was the most
populous settlement, next to that of Shakopee, in the county.

   The marriage of James Lynn to Ellen Ronan was the first in the town. They
were married at the house of the bride in 1860.

   The first birth occurred in the village of Hamilton, and was the advent of a
pair of twins, children of Martin and Mrs. Byrnes.

   John B. Fish put up the grist-mill now owned by Martin and Dennis Quinn in
Hamilton in 1860.

   It is about 35x45 feet, and contains two run of stone and a feeder.

    The population of the town, including the village of Hamilton Station, is 375.

    John Berrisford, son of Thomas and Ann Berrisford, was born in 1842 in
Staffordshire, England. In 1856 he settled in Credit River township, Scott
county, with his father, who was a farmer. September, 1861, he enlisted in
Company B, Third Minnesota, and served in the Indian war. He resided some time
in Chicago, and March 7, 1867, married Jennie E. Smith, of that city, who was
born in 1843 in Illinois. Immediately after marriage they came to Minnesota, and
Mr. Berrisford opened a general store in Credit River. He removed his business
to Burnsville in 1872, where he has a first-class country store, complete in
every department; is also largely engaged in the wood business and in buying
stock and farm produce. Their living children are William A., John A., Thomas A.
and George.

    Robert Myers was born in 1833 in England, and resided in his native country
until twenty-four years of age. Mr. Myers learned the blacksmith's trade during
the time he lived in England. In 1858 he came to New York; -stayed a short time,
then removed to St. Paul, where he lived until 1860. He bought 160 acres of land
in Eagan, and Hved there two years, worked at his trade and farming. In 1869 he
removed to Hamilton, bought twenty acres of land and erected a shop, where he is
engaged in blacksmithing. Mr. Myers is justice of the peace. He married, March
13, 1858, Elizabeth Fisher, and three days later they sailed for America. Mrs.
Myers died in August, 1863. They had one child. His second marriage occurred in
1865, Henrietta Kentin being his bride. She has borne him six children; four are
living.

   David Nixon, born in 1820, is a native of England, where he lived until
twenty-three years old. Mr. Nixon's mother died in England at the age of
sixty-three years. He came to the United States, landed at New York in April,
1843, and was for ten years a resident of that state. Then he removed to
Michigan, where he lived about one year, and in 1853 came to Minnesota. Mr.
Nixon resides on his farm of 160 acres in Glendale, Scott county. In 1853
Isabella Hay became his wife. They have had four children.

LOUISVILLE.

   This town lies on the Minnesota river, in the north-western part of Scott
county. It comprises the south-western part of congressional township, 115,
range twenty-three. It was first settled by Louis La Croix, a Frenchman, who
built a log cabin and established a trading post on the bank of the river in
section 20 about the year 1850.

   In 1853, H. H. Spencer, who, the year before had emigrated from Louisville,
Kentucky to Shakopee and established a grocery store at that place, bought the
claim and buildings of Louis La Croix in Louisville, and moved his family and
store to that place. Mr. La Croix then built a house on section 32.

   In the spring of 1854, Mr. Spencer built a new frame house a few rods east of
the one that he had lived in during the winter. This was a substantial two-story
frame building, well finished, and at the present day is a good house. In one of
the two front rooms he moved his goods and there conducted his business until
the spring of 1855, when he built a store on the bank of the river near by. This
was the first store in Louisville.

   The year previous to Mr. Spencer's settlement. Timothy Kanty had located and
built on section 26. He had been discharged the fall before from service in the
Mexican war and had come up from Fort Snelling to Shakopee with Thomas A. Holmes
in the flat boat "Wild Paddy." In 1853, Nicholas Morgens settled on section
twenty-six, and Barny Young took claim on sections twenty-one, twenty-two and
sixteen, where he built the next spring. Soon after this, among the many
arrivals were James A. and Joseph B. Ashley, from Scranton, Pennsylvania, who
settled near H. H. Spencer's claim. Joseph Monnie made claim on section
twenty-nine, where he still lives, and Francis Speckle settled on section
twenty-eight.

   The first birth in the town was that of Joseph L. Monnie, August 4, 1855. He
was a son of Joseph Monnie. In the fall of 1856 Christina Johnson was married at
the house of H. H. Spencer, where she had been working. She and her husband left
immediately and her husband's name has been forgotten. This was the first
marriage in the town. The first death was that of Alvan Dorward, who had settled
on section sixteen.

   In 1854 J. O. Fuller surveyed the village of Louisville on land owned chiefly
by H. II. Spencer in sections 20 and 29. Mr. Spencer named the village in honor
of Louisville, Kentucky, where he had previously lived. In the fall of 1854 a
post-office was established in the village and Mr. Spencer was appointed
postmaster. In 1861 it was abandoned.

   In 1856 Mr Spencer built the first grist-mill in the town. In the same year
Ezra Gibbs and J. W. Sencerbox each built a saw-mill. As there was no
water-power at that point the mills were run by steam. Mr. Gibbs' mill was never
used much. Mr. Sencerbox's mill was removed in 1860 and Mr. Spencer's in 1863.

   Mr. Spencer gave a town lot to any one who would build on it. He also gave
lots for a church and school-house. A frame school-house was erected on the lot
donated for that purpose in the summer of 1857, in which Miss Hattie Kingsley
immediately opened a school. The winter before, however, William Wheeler had
taught a school in the village at the house of John Stokes. From 1859 to 1863
there was no school in the place. From the spring of 1863 to the fall of 1865
three summer schools were taught. In the winter of 1865-'6 Miss Belle Spencer
conducted a school, which was the last ever held in the village.

   The first sermon in Louisville was preached by Rev. Stevens, of Excelsior, in
Mr. Spencer's house. After that, services were held nearly every week by
ministers traveling through the place or located in neighboring towns. Among
these were Rev. Lewis Bell, of Shakopee, and Rev. Charles Galpin, of Excelsior.
Rev. Edward Eggleston preached at Mr. Spencer's house sometime during the winter
of 1857-'8. He was then living at Traverse des Sioux. No church edifice was ever
built in Louisville village.

   The village of Louisville grew very rapidly for about four years, but about
1858 it began to decay as rapidly as it had grown np. At one time there were
over thirty houses in the place, but one after another closed up his place of
business and moved to some rival town. The buildings were either torn down or
moved to the village of Carver across the river. In 1859 Mr. Spencer sold his
store, which was the last in the place, and it was soon taken away. Subsequently
the town site was owned by Mr. Spencer, who held the greater part of it, and Mr.
Frank Gifford, who held the remainder. These men, by mutual consent, had the
town vacated.

   In 1854 the village of Little Rapids was surveyed on section thirty-one, at
the head of low water navigation on the Minnesota river, about thirty-five miles
from St. Paul. The land had been entered by Louis La Croix, who had sold an
interest in it to W. P. Murray, Louis Robert, S. S.  Eaton and F. Aymond. No
attempt was ever made to build up a town there.

   The village of Merriam was surveyed in the fall of 1866 on land owned by J.
S. Merriam, of St. Paul, on section sixteen, and on the line of the St. Paul &
Sioux City railroad, now the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha railway. The
only buildings ever put up on this site were the depot and the agent's house. In
1871 the depot was moved south two miles to section twenty-eight to the junction
of this road with the Minneapolis & St. Louis railroad. The Minneapolis & St.
Louis railroad built another depot about this time, but in 1878 the depot of the
Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha railroad was burned, since which time the
two roads have been using the same depot. In 1871 H. H. Spencer started a store
at Merriam Junction, which was discontinued at his death.

   In the spring of 1872 a post-office was established at Merriam Junction, and
Mr. Spencer was appointed postmaster, but he soon resigned in favor of William
Burke, who held it until the fall of 1873, when the office was discontinued. The
post-office was re-established in April, 1880, with A. D. Fowler as postmaster.

   At present there are two hotels at Merriam junction; one built in 1879, is a
two story frame building, with Gerath Franken as proprietor; the other is a two
story frame building, built in 1881. Corneilus Schmidt is the proprietor.

   In 1856 a Catholic church was built of logs on the south-east quarter of
section thirty-five, and was named St. Mary's church. This formed a nucleus
about which a settlement was begun. The first dwelling house there was built in
1857 by John H. and Peter Theis. A town was laid out, but the plat was never
recorded. The place was named Marystown from this church. In 1870 a new stone
church was built in the place of the old one. The parish school building in this
village is a two story frame, furnished with patent seats. This is also used as
a public school-house. In this the Catholic sisters of charity teach five months
public school and five mouths parish school each year.

   A post-office was established in 1871, at Marystown. Blassius Beisang was
appointed postmaster, and still holds the office.

   The village supports two hotels; one in a frame building run by Joseph
Strunk; the other is briok and run by Blassius Beisang, who also owns a general
merchandise store, saloon and merchant tailoring store. His wife has a millinery
establishment. The village has a blacksmith shop, shoe shop and feed mill.

  School number seven on section twenty-two has five months school per year. The
building is frame with plain seats. School number ten at Marystown is a two
story building with patent seats. School is held six months each year.

  Louisville was formed out of Shakopee, April 13, 1858. Shakopee had been
formed April 5, of the same year. April 24, 1858, an election was called for May
11, 1858, on which day an election was held at the house of William Bruggerman,
on section 26, and the following town officers were elected: Jarvis W.
Sencerbox, chairman; Stephen Sturm and Daniel Beer, supervisors; James A.
Ashley, town clerk; John Kauth, assessor; Joseph B. Ashley and Christian Legel,
justices of the peace. The population of Louisville by census of 1880, was 408.

  P. A. Freer was born in Ulster county, New York, November 8, 1814. He learned
the cabinet maker's trade and followed that business in his native state until
1849, when he came to Minnesota. Worked at his trade in St. Paul the first
winter, and afterward was employed as carpenter in a saw mill about four years.
In 1853 he removed to Scott county; rented a farm one year and then pre-empted
160 acres, to which he has since added by purchase. Mr. Freer has held nearly
all the town offices. In 1836 he married in New York Jane A. Garrison, who has
borne him five children. Their oldest son died at the age of 23 years; their
daughter Julia, now Mrs. Dean, of Eagle Creek, was probably the first white
child born in Sand Creek, the date of her birth is August 10, 1854. Mrs. Freer
died in March, 1881.

  Frank Gifford was born December 12, 1840, in Oneida county, New York. He
attended the common schools until 19 years of age, then went to Oneida Seminary.
In 1860 he removed with his parents to Scott county; his father located on what
was then the Louisville town plat. This he bought of his father, and exchanged
it for the rental of a farm which he afterward purchased; it contains 560 acres.
Mr. Gifford makes a specialty of fine dairy butter, which he sells to the
first-class hotels of St. Paul and Minneapolis. He has always been something of
a politician and held numerous town offices; at present is a member of the
republican county committee. He married at St. Paul, Jennie R. Holmes, formerly
of Pennsylvania. Harry W. and Frank L. are their children.

    Jacob Thorne, born in 1836, is a native of England. In 1850 he removed to
Illinois; lived several years in St. Clair county and learned brick making, then
went to Centralia and worked at his trade. From 1858 to 1861 he was in Texas,
then returned to Illinois, and in 1872 came to Minnesota. He lived on a rented
farm in Carver county until 1875, then bought 160 acres of land and has since
bought 275 acres more. Mr. Thorne keeps the short-horn stock and makes annually
between seven and eight thousand pounds of butter. Harriet Avent became his wife
in 1856. They had four children. In 1866 Mrs. Thome died. His second wife was
Delia Anderson, who has borne him four sons.

SAND CREEK.

    The town of Sand Creek occupies all of congressional township 114, range 23,
lying within the county. It is in the eastern part, bordering for a few miles on
the river. The settlement of this town began with the erection of a saw-mill by
Thomas A. Holmes. November 27, 1853, he sent a crew of men from Shakopee to
build the mill, and his brother, William Holmes, settled on the site of Jordan,
taking up land, on which the brothers laid out a town in 1854. At this time we
learn but one white man was living there; his name was John C. Smith. Comfort
Barnes, had located a claim in section 4 in the fall of 1852.

    William Holmes came from Janesville, Wisconsin, a town laid out by his
brother, Thomas A., first to Shakopee in 1853, and later in the same year to
Jordan, as the place was called by Thomas  A. Holmes, a name it has borne ever
since. Judge S. Dooley and Peter Atwood came soon after Mr. Holmes. Judge Dooley
was from Indiana. He was the first senator from this district.

    Peter Atwood, after renting the house he had built in Shakopee, located on
the north-east quarter of section 17 in this town. He came from Ashtabula
county, Ohio. Comfort Barnes built on his claim and rented to P. A. Freer; after
one year Freer moved to Louisville.

    Herman Fenewitz settled in 1853 on section 2. The settlers of 1854 were:
Peter Thul, on section 4; Serwatzus Mergens, who came from Spring Lake, on
section 1; Michael and Peter Hartman, on section 11; J. B. Grammesh, on section
2; Christ Hentges, on section 12; John Hentges, on section 13; W. and G. Budde,
on section 22; Jacob Doetzel, on section 23; M. Betz, on section 13; John
Pauley, on section 24; Henry Varner, on section 30; Frank Merrick an section 22.

   Settlers of 1855 were: John Theis and John Stang, on section 12; Michael
Klehr, on section 13; F. Fisher, on section 36; Abram Plummer, on section 10; E.
J. Palmer, on section 8; Frank Rival, B. R. Morrell, James Dows and Edward
Hil-gerson.

   The first birth was that of Julia M. Freer, August 10, 1854, daughter of P.
A. Freer, on section 14.

   The first marriage occurred in 1856, when William H. Baier and Rollin Fowler
each took a wife.

   The first death, it is said, was that of Mr. Gloss, a millwright, who died
during the same year.

   The first grist-mill was built in 1854-5 by Wm. Varner, who built the first
house after the survey, a log structure.

   The first blacksmith shop was built in 1854 by Halken Peterson.

   The first store was built in 1855 by Joseph and Barkley Varner.

   The first frame house was built in 1855 by Archibald McLean; Joseph G. Wood
kept a hotel in this building the next year.

   William Holmes and Mr. Bickner built a steam saw-mill in 1856, which burned
the following year.

   Rev. Jacob Meyer preached the first sermon at the house of John Michaels.

   B. F. Spaulding was first justice of the peace.

   When the towns of the county were formed the name Douglass was given to this
town and the election was held at the school-house in Jordan May 11, 1858; Peter
Atwood, E. J. Palmer and Samuel Dooley, judges of election; George Ballentine
and Aaron Higley, elected clerks were sworn by J. T. Bicknell, justice of the
peace.

   Officers elected: Peter Schreiner, chairman; B. F. Spaulding and Heiman
Vennewitz, supervisors; George Ballentine, town clerk; Michael Ley, assessor; E.
J. Palmer, collector; John Schnier and Stsphen F. Graham, justices of the peace.

   At a meeting of the county board held September 16, 1858, the name Douglass
was changed to St. Mary until the next council meeting when it should be
determined by a vote of the citizens. December 16th the board changed the name
again, calling the town Jordan. The name Sand Creek was adopted by vote of the
citizens at the annual town meeting held April 5, 1859; 106 votes were cast for
the name Sand Creek and thirty-four for the name Joseph.

   The name is derived from the small stream so-called from the bed of sand
through which it has cut its channel.

   July 30, 1864, and August 9th following, meetings were called to raise
bounties for volunteers to fill the quota of the town under the call of the
president for 500,000 troops. On motion of B. R. Morrell, it was voted at the
last meeting to adjourn sine die, and no action was taken.

   Jordan City was surveyed by H. B. Welsh on land owned by William Holmes on
the east side of section 19 and recorded October 5, 1855.

   Brentwood w.as surveyed in September, 1860, by C. Chamberlain on land owned
by S. A. Hooper, J. H. Gardner, and B. W. Thomas in the south-east quarter of
section 18, and on the line of the Minnesota Valley railroad, now the Chicago,
St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha railroad. By special act of legislature, approved
February 26, 1872, Brentwood and Jordan City were incorporated together under
the name of the village of Jordan, including in its limits about 640 acres. The
village has 915 inhabitants by the census of 1880, and has the advantage of two
railroads. The little stream Sind creek affords power in part for two flouring
mills.

   The business of the village embraces two flouring mills; one, a roller mill
having a capacity of 400 barrels per day; one elevator, capacity 90,000 bushels;
one, capacity 10,000 bushels; one grain warehouse, capacity 12,000 bushels; two
breweries; one stone quarry; one lumber, sash, doors and blinds; one harness
shop; one blacksmith; one gunsmith; one baker; one boot and shoe store; three
general merchandise stores; two hardware; two groceries; two millinery; two
drugs; two meat markets; two jewelers; two hotels; eight saloons. It has one
newspaper, The Scott County Advocate, with a circulation of 500 copies,
established in 1878; Frank Matchett, editor and proprietor; one attorney; one
real estate agent; one physician. The old log school-house built iu 1855 served
for spelling schools, religious services, etc. The frame school-house built in
1860, served the same purposes.

   The first church in Jordan was the St. John's Catholic built in 1858. In
1867-8 the present stone church was erected. In 1878 the brick parish school
house was built and the school is now under the charge of three of the sisters.
Father Quido is at present pastor in charge.

   The German Lutheran church was established in 1868. Rev. Philip Schmidt,
first pastor; Rev. L. F.  Fry, present pastor.

   The German Methodist church was built in 1870 by H. Singenstrue. A parsonage
was built in 1871 by George Bauer. The present pastor is Rev. Charles Boettcher.

   The Pesbyterian church is of brick, built in 1874. Present pastor, Rev.
Charles Thayer. The Swedish Lutheran church was established in 1875 and a small
frame church built. Rev. S. Anderson supplies the pulpit every third Sunday.

   The schools of Jordan are held in the two story brick building with two
departments, both on the ground floor. Rooms upstairs can be opened as the
demand for room increases. The schoolrooms are provided with patent seats and
nine months school is maintained. One hundred and forty-seven pupils are enrolled.

   Three school-houses are located in Sand Creek, outside Jordan: number 9 on
section 4, which is a two-story brick building with patent seats, built in 1880,
where seven months school is maintained; number 61, on section 31, a small frame
building with plain seats, having three months school each year; number 22, near
St. Joseph's church, is a two-story frame building with plain seats. School is
taught here by the sisters of charity.

   Jordan City cemetery was surveyed and recorded November 10, 1863, in the east
half of the south-west quarter of section 19 and embraces two and one-half acres.

   Jordan post-office was established in 1856; William Holmes, postmaster; John
H. J. Klink-kamrner, postmaster in 1881.

   Two churches are located in Sand Creek, outside the village of Jordan.

   The German Methodist was first established in Shakopee in 1857, but was taken
down and moved to section 25 in Sand Creek in 1869. Rev. John Shnell was the
first pastor in Shakopee; Rev. Henry Singenstrue, first in the new location.
Rev. Charles Boettcher is the present pastor, and services are conducted every
two weeks.

   The St. Joseph Catholic church was founded in 1858. Father Benedict, O. S.
B., first pastor. The first church was a log building 24x36 feet. In 1873 a new
church was erected of stone 32x20 feet, with a bell weighing 1,000 pounds.
Father Fabian is now in charge.

   King Hiram Lodge, A. F. and A.M., was first established at Belle Plaine in
1861, but was removed to Jordan in 1878, because so many of its members resided
here. Forty members are now enrolled. E. W. Snyder, W. M.; R. P. Wells, S. W.;
George Reed, J. W.; Frank L. Wood, S. D.; Charles Caswell, J. D.; J. Bragg,
treasurer; R. H. McClelland, secretary.

   Sons of Herman was established in January, 1878; first officers: Charles
Rodell, president; Frederick Heiland, vice-president; Henry Moore, secretary;
Christian Gran, treasurer.

   The Concordia Singing society of Jordan was established January 11,1881; Adam
Roessel, president and director; Caspar Roderick, secretary: Henry Klinkhammer,
treasurer; present membership, thirty-six; active members, fifteen.

   Population of Sand Creek, including the village of Jordan, was 2,083 by the
last census.

   William H. Baier was born in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, in 1832. In 1839 he
aocompanied his parents to Missouri; his father was the founder of the village
of Herman, that state. In 1852 he went to California, where he was for a time
very successful, but was taken ill and lost most of his hard-earned wealth. He
returned to his home in 1854 and commenced business, but sold two years later
and removed to Jordan, Scott county, Minnesota, which place has since been his
home. He engaged in general merchandise until 1860, when he sold and bought an
interest in a flouring mill. In 1866 he became sole proprietor, and afterward
sold a three-fourths interest to Strait & How. They reconstructed the mill, and
Mr. Baier remained a member of the firm two years, then sold his interest to
Frank Nicolin, since which time he has been in the conveyancing business. Since
residing in Jordan he has held the offices of recorder, chairman of the board of
supervisors, president of the village, school trustee, and for many years
justice of the peace. Mr. Baier married, in 1858, Hannah Yarner, of Jordan, who
died in 1863, leaving two children, Joseph and Julia. The latter is now the wife
of Mr. Cole, station agent at this place. Urana Atwood, of Jordan, became his
wife in 1865. Their children are Martha, Hannah, Hattie and William.

   W. B. Baudy was born in Indiana in 1822, and attended school until eighteen
years of age. When twenty-one years old he moved with his parents to Iowa, where
his father took a farm of two hundred acres. In 1863 he enlisted in the Fourth
Minnesota infantry; participated in many battles and was honorably discharged in
1865 at Keokuk, Iowa. His father died in 1874, and he returned to Indiana; after
farming there for seven years he went back to Iowa. He afterward worked in the
pineries seven months; was also employed in a brick-yard. In 1857 he came to
Scott county, bought seventy-seven acres of land on section 4, and now has a
fine farm. Mr. Baudy's marriage with Miss Springer occurred in 1859. She died,
leaving one child, Mary. His second wife was Miss Berrisford, whom he married in
1872. She has borne him one child, John.

   Albert Beer, a native of Pennsylvania, was born February 13, 1842, in Indiana
county. When he was two years of age his parents moved to St. Louis, Missouri,
and eighteen months later to Burlington, Iowa, where they resided until 1856,
then removed to Scott county, Minnesota. He was educated in the public schools
of Iowa and Minnesota, and trained to the business of farming. August 13, 1862,
he enlisted in Company I, Eighth Minnesota Volunteer infantry. He first served
on the frontier in the Indian campaign, then in 1864 went South and served until
mustered out at the close of the war at Salisbury, North Carolina, July 21,
1865. Since the close of the war Mr. Beer has been successfully engaged in the
agricultural implement business at Jordan.

   William O. Bolton was born November 10, 1844 in Dundas county, Ontario, where
he acquired his education and commenced learning the trade of miller. He moved
to Jefferson county, New York, and worked in a mill there one and one-half
years, then went to Oswego, where he was employed in the mills ten years. On the
expiration of that time he removed to the city of Auburn, where he resided until
1879, when he came here and entered the Jordan City mills as second miller,
which position he has since filled with satisfaction. Jennie Champion, of
Oswego, New York, became his wife in 1869. They are the parents of seven
children: Emma, John, Ellis, Jennie, Ella, William and James Garfield.

   Johnson Bragg is a native of Chenango county, New York, where he was born
January 20, 1843. When a boy of eleven year's his mother died, and he came to
Scott county, Minnesota, with his father in 1856. He enlisted October 3, 1861,
in Company F, Second Minnesota Volunteer infantry, and December 29, 1863,
re-enlisted in the same company. He was mustered out of service July 11, 1865,
at Louisville, Kentucky. After returning he finished his studies and graduated
from the Bryant & Stratton Commercial College at St. Paul. He was engaged in
business at Mankato until 1867, when he settled at Jordan in the insurance
business. May, 1878, he became a partner of William Klinkhammer in the drug
trade. Mr. Bragg is deputy postmaster. His wife was Edith A. Varner, of Jordan.
They were married in 1867. Clarence E. and Olive are their children.

   Homer L. Campbell was born June 22, 1847, at Victory, Cayuga county, New
York, where he lived until 1864, when he moved with his father to Beading,
Michigan. In the fall of 1864 he enlisted as drummer in Company G, Thirtieth
Michigan volunteer infantry, and served until mustered out in July, 1865. The
following December he commenced learning his trade at Rumsey's mills, Westbury,
New York. In 1875 he took charge of the mill at Prescott, Wisconsin, and fifteen
months later went to River Falls; shortly after he removed to Minneapolis and
worked in the Empire mill for a time, then had charge of Schurmeier's new mill
at St. Paul two years. Since August 11, 1879, he has occupied the position of
head miller at the Jordan City mills. At Fulton, New York, in 1869, he married
Rhoda Minerva Stearns. Grace F., Harrison A. and Mary L. are their children.

   Jacob J. Diestler, born in 1826, is a native of Bavaria, Germany. In 1842 he
moved with his parents to the United States; lived at Racine, Wisconsin three
years, and after a six years' residence at New Orleans he returned to Racine for
two years, then removed to Minnesota. Mr. Diestler made a claim of a quarter
section of land in Le Sueur county and followed fanning for ten years, then sold
and located at Jordan. He operated a cooper shop until 1875, when he bought ten
acres of land in the village and built the residence which he now occupies. Mr.
Diestler owns 120 acres of land about one and one-half miles from town, and at
present is engaged in no business except looking after his farm property. .In
April, 1858, Mary Dierks, of Le Sueur county, became his wife. They have an
adopted daughter.

   Edwin Foss was born in 1832 in Canada West, where he was educated and learned
the trades of practical machinist and mechanic. He came to Minnesota in 1857 and
has been with his brother since as junior partner in the firm of Foss, Wells &
Co. In 1863 he enlisted in Company C, Brackett's battalion of cavalry, and
served in the Indian campaign; was mustered out in the spring of 1866 at Fort
Snelling.

   James Foss, who was born in 1830 is a native of Canada. After learning the
trade of millwright and practical mechanic, he came to Minnesota in 1857:
stopped at Belle Plaine but shortly after went to the Red River country, and was
in the employ of the government as engineer and mechanic. In 1859 he purchased
the present site and water privileges of the Sand Creek mills, now owned by the
firm of which he is a member. In 1864 he enlisted in Company A, First Minnesota
heavy artillery, and in 1865 was mustered out of service.

   Christian Gran was born October 18, 1832, in Germany, and lived in his native
country until 1857 when he came to America. He resided in Jefferson county,
Wisconsin, until 1864, then removed to Minnesota and located in Jordan. He is
engaged in the hardware and tinware business in company with his son, who is a
practical tinner. Mr. Gran married Johanna Seifert, of Lake Mills, Wisconsin,
three days after his arrival in this country. They are the parents of five
children; Emma, William, Edward, Amanda and Rolando.

   Casper Hilgers, born November 15, 1815, is a native of Germany. In 1867 he
moved with his family to Dane county, Wisconsin, bought a farm and lived there
until 1879, when he sold, and in September of that year settled in Jordan where
he keeps the Merchants Hotel. Anna M. Puttchen was married to Mr. Hilgers
January 7, 1836, in Germany, and has borne him fourteen children, nine of whom
are living: Jerred, Warner, Christine, Anna J., Eva, Anna M., Catherine,
Gertrude and Peter.

   Joseph Kehrer was born June 5, 1857, in the city of Philadelphia, where he
lived until 15 years of age. Since that time he has been a resident of Jordan.
At an early age he began the study of chemistry and pharmacy; he was employed as
clerk a number of years, and May 1, 1881, established himself in the drug
business. Mr. Kehrer is a popular and energetic young man and is having a very
successful trade.

   John Henry Joseph Klinkhammer, banker and merchant, was born November 15,
1844, in Prussia. At 7 years of age he moved with his parents to Kenosha county,
Wisconsin, where they lived until 1857, then went to Shakopee, Minnesota. Iu
1868 he came to Jordan and started the drug business which he still carries on
in company with Johnson Bragg. He is also assistant cashier of the Scott County
bank, and has charge of the branch at Jordan. Mr. Klinkhammer has been
postmaster here for many years.

   Henry C. Koerner, a native of Scott county, Minnesota, was born in 1858 at
Shakopee, and was one of the first white children horn in that county. In 1872
he was sent to Saint John's College, Stearns county, where he remained until
1874, then returned to Shakopee and was employed by Kohles & Barnes as clerk
until 1880. In September of that year he engaged in the general merchandise
business at Jordan. His partner is Mr. Schote, and they are enjoying a very fine
trade. Mr. Koerner married in October, 1880, Katie Schweickert, of St. Paul.

   Frank Matchett was born September 26, 1844, in Huron county, Ohio, He
completed his course of study at the Hiram Institute, of which James A. Garfield
was then president. He learned the printer's trade in the office of the "Eagle,"
Elmira, Ohio. After being employed in a number of newspaper offices he went to
Cleveland and worked five years at type setting. In November 1872 he went to St.
Paul and worked in the office of the "Press" until the following March, when he
in company with I. Gutzwiller took the "Wright County Eagle" but in 1877 he sold
and started the "People's Advocate" at Howard Lake. One year later he came to
Jordan and started the "Scott County Advocate," of which he is editor and
proprietor. In 1879 he married Sarah Bead, of this place. They are the parents
of one child: J. Winnie.

   Robert H. McClelland, horn February 8, 1844, is a native of Holmes county,
Ohio. When 6 years of age he accompanied his parents to Wells county, Indiana,
and seven years later to Minnesota. In the public schools of those states he
acquired his education. In 1861 he returned to Indiana and enlisted in the
Thirty-fourth regiment, volunteer infantry. Mr. McClelland was on detailed duty
as clerk to General Weitzel, and mail messenger on steamers between New Orleans
and Brownsville. He was mustered out February 3, 1866. After returning from the
army he graduated from a commercial college at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and then
taught school six years in Indiana and five years at Watertown, Minnesota. He
studied law, was admitted to the har and began practice at Watertown in 1864.
After residing one year at Howard Lake he came to Jordan and opened a law and
collection office; also represents the standard eastern insurance companies.
Battie Johns, of Glencoe, became his wife in 1869.

   Frank Nicolin, born June 15, 1833, is a native of Germany, where he lived
until 1857, then came to the United States and located in Jordan. One and
one-half years later he went to Le Sueur county, made a claim of eighty acres of
land, and after living there two years returned to Jordan which has since been
his home. In 1861 he started a general store, and in 1865 built a brewery; he
sold the latter, and in 1867 built another which was sold the following year.
Mr. Nicolin bought in 1868, one-fourth interest in the Jordan City mill and in
about four years hecame the sole owner. In 1874 he erected a new mill which was
destroyed by fire February 8, 1879, but he built another on the same site; this
mill is now being reconstructed and when completed will produce four hundred
barrels of flour every twenty-four hours. Mr. Nicolin owns a good brick block of
stores and contemplates building another. His marriage with Anna Konigsfeldt, of
St. Paul, occurred in 1859. Henry, John, Frank, Joseph, Anna M. and Gerhard are
their children.

   L. G. Ochsenreiter was born February 17, .1857, at Bradford, Harrison county,
Indiana. He lived there until 1865 when with his parents he moved to Minnesota
and settled in Jordan, where his father engaged in the tin and hardware
business. In 1870 he went to Shakopee, where he was employed in a store one
year, then went to St. Paul and remained until 1875 when he returned to this
place, and has since resided here. Mr. Ochsenreiter is deputy sheriff of Scott
county.

   Eli J. Palmer, born in 1818, is a native of Syracuse, New York, and was the
first white child born in that town. From 1821 until 1836 they resided in
Saratoga county, then in Montgomery county till 1840, when the family removed to
Illinois. In 1855, Mr. Eli Palmer went as captain of a wagon train, across the
plains to California. He ran a trading post two years then returned to Illinois,
sold his property there, and removed to Minnesota, locating in the town of Sand
Creek, in 1861. That year, while working in his sugar bush, he received the news
of the outbreak of the war, and raising company A, of the Minnesota volunteers,
served three years; was honorably discharged. Since the war he has resided on
his farm in Sand Creek. When twenty-three years of age he married, in Illinois,
Clara Warren, of Massachusetts, who died in July, 1860.

   William Smail was born in 1815, in Scotland, and lived in his native country
until 1834, when he moved to England. In 1851 he came to the United States, and
resided at Detroit, Michigan, until 1855, when he came to Minnesota and bought a
quarter section of land in Scott county. He lived on the farm nineteen years,
and in 1874 moved to Jordan; since that time he has been engaged in the nursery
business. He has a fine greenhouse, and supplies the surrounding country with
fruit, shade and ornamental trees. Mr. Smail was married in 1836, to Hannah
Revson, of Northumberland, England. She has borne him seven children: three sons
and one daughter are living. One son, Thomas, was a member of the Fourth
Minnesota, and was killed at Corinth, Mississippi, at the age of twenty. John
died when twenty-eight years of age, at Sand Creek, in 1876. The daughter and
one son remain at home, while two other sons are in business at Minneapolis.

   Ezra W. Snyder was born May 5, 1836, in Tompkins county, New York, and lived
there until 1864, when he went to Syracuse and began the study of telegraphy. In
1866, he went to St. Paul and served in the telegraph office a few months, then
after nine months in Shakopee, he entered the office of the St. Paul & Sioux
City road, at Jordan, which he managed with satisfaction until 1877, when he
took charge of the Minneapolis & St. Louis office, at that place; is also agent
of the American express company. Mr. Snyder married in New York, in 1867, Mary
Hurley. They have one daughter: Jennie.

   Frank Statz, horn October 25, 1851, is a native of Prussia, in which country
he attended school eight years. In 1869 he came to America with his father, who
bought one hundred and twenty acres of land in Wisconsin. He lived at home on
the farm three years, then entered St. Francis college, near Milwaukee, from
which he graduated three years later. In 1875, he came to Sand Creek, and took
charge of St. Joseph's parish school, where he is doing excellent work as a
teacher. In 1875 he married Maggie Wolf; they have three children.

   Henry Varner was born November 13, 1825, in Clinton county, Ohio. At the age
of 10 years he moved with his parents to Warren county, where he resided fifteen
years. In 1854 he came to Jordan, and his father built the first house where the
village now stands. He took a claim and built a saw and grist mill, the second
in the county; this he sold in 1858 and built another where Nioolin's mill now
stands; it was three and one-half stories high and had two runs of stone. In the
summer of 1862 he sold it and has not been in active business since. Mr. Varner
has occupied the position of president of the city council. His marriage with
Mary Hain took place in 1875 at Jordan.

   Rufus P. Wells was born in 1833 in Canada, where he received his education
and grew to manhood. In 1853 he moved to Wisconsin, thence in 1856 to Belle
Plaine and in 1859 to Sand Creek, his present location. Mr. Wells enlisted in
1861 in company A, Fourth Minnesota volunteer infantry and served until the
close of the war, when he was mustered out with the rank of captain, to which
office he was promoted in 1863. In 1869 his marriage occurred. He is the father
of four girls and four boys.

   Frank L. Wood, a native of New York, was born November 14, 1830, in
Washington county. At the age of 11 years he moved with his parents to Joliet,
Illinois. He was engaged in farming in Minnesota from 1855 until 1862 when,
August 11th, he enlisted in company I, Eighth Minnesota volunteer infantry. He
served in the Indian campaign until ordered south, where he participated in many
marches and battles; was at the grand re view in Washington, and was mustered
out of service July 13, 1865. Mr. Wood returned to his farm for a time and is
now proprietor of the Jordan livery stable. Maria Peterson became his wife
October 12, 1865 at Jordan.

ST. LAWRENCE.

   St. Lawrence as originally formed included all of fractional township 114,
range 24 and all of section 36, township 114, range 25 in Scott county. April
21, 1858, the county commissioners detached section31, township 114, range 24
and section 36, township 114, range 25 and added the same to Belle Plaine.

   The first settlers came to this town in 1854, and among the settlers of that
year were: Philip Corbel, Warren DeCamp, Mr. Johnson, Lorin Sykes, Mr. LeGrand,
Mr. Conrad and Mr. Woodruff. Philip Corbel located on south- east quarter
section 21, where he died in the spring of 1881.

   Warren DeCamp claimed on section 22, and afterward sold to the town site
company. Mr. Johnson located on section 23; he remained until about 1862, when
he removed to Michigan. Lorin Sykes made a claim on section 23, he remained
about three years, and is now in Montana. Mr. LeGrand settled just west of the
town site, and remained until 1860, when he went to Colorado. Mr. Conrad claimed
on section 14, he sold in 1857, to S. B. Strait and W. H. Stodder and removed to
Ohio. Mr. Woodruff located on section 33, whence he removed to Iowa in 1858.

   Among the settlers of 1855 were: Benjaman Bliss, Henry Bauer, Abram Bisson,
Martin Lee, James McAffrey, Barney McCue, Joseph Coates, S. B. Strait, H. B.
Strait, Israel Haine, James Simmons, William Nicols, W. H. Stodder and Charles
Pierson.

   Benjamin Bliss located on section 32, of St. Lawrence, and 5 of Belle Plaine.
Henry Bauer settled on section 33. Abram Bisson located on section 28; the three
last named still reside on their original claims. Martin Lee settled on section
33, and returned in 1860 to Douglas county. James McAffrey made a claim on
section 33, he sold out in 1865, and removed to Belle Plaine, where he died in
1873. Barney McCue settled on sections 32 and 33, he remained but a few years
when he removed to Belle Plaine where he died.

   Joseph Coates made a claim on south-east quarter of section 23, where he died
in 1865. S. B. Strait made a claim of 130 acres in section 12 on the south side
of the Minnesota river. He obtained about nine hundred acres by hiring parties
to pre-empt for him. He now lives in Shakopee. Major H. B. Strait made a
pre-emption of north-east quarter of section 13, which he afterward exchanged
with S. B. Strait for other land near by. Israel Haine located on north-east
quarter of section 24; he remained in the neighborhood until 1859, when he went
to Memphis where he died. James Simmons made a claim on south-west quarter of
section 24, where he remained until 1870, when he removed to Anoka. William
Nicols settled on sections 12 and 13; he removed to Jordan where he died in
1878. W. H. Stodder bought part of claims in and about St. Lawrence village; he
went east in 1862 where he died.

   Charles Pierson also bought claims about the village. He returned in 1860 to
Boston, whence he came.

   Among other early settlers were W. B. Fuson, J. H. Harris, J. W. Waters,
Ransom Norton, William Hinman, Jacob Thomas, E. S. Farnham, Joseph Fergusen and
H. M. Cooly.

   First election was held on May 11, 1858. S. B. Strait chosen moderator and C.
L. Pierson, clerk. The following were elected first officers: S. B. Strait,
chairman; W. H. Stodder and Edward Bragg, supervisors; D. W. Pond, town clerk
and justice; G. W. Barnes, assessor, collector and constable: Joseph Coates,
justice of peace; D. H. Coates, constable; O. B. Walters, overseer of poor.

   Probably W. F. Strait was the first child born in the town. He is son of S.
B. Strait, and he was born in 1856.

   Frederick McCarty and Caroline Coates were married in 1856, and their's was
the first marriage in the township. She died in 1858.

   The first physician in the township was Dr. Salisbury; he came in 1859, and
remained but a short time.

   The village of St. Lawrence was surveyed in the fall of 1858, and located on
section 22, both sides of the Minnesota river. It was owned by Strait, Stodder,
Pierson and De Camp. It has all become vacated. Building began in 1857. The
first was a dwelling-house. A large four-story stone hotel was erected; one
store and one sawmill; about six dwellings. The saw-mill was built by a man
named Childs, and later S. B. Strait bought a third interest. It cost about
$6,000, and had a capacity of about 10,000 feet. It was burned in 1861. The
cause of the decline of the village was the construction of the Chicago, St.
Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha railroad, which runs a mile south of the village, and
draws trade in another direction. At present only the stone hotel building is
left, which is now used for a barn.

   First school in the township was taught by Mary Everman in a vacated log
house in the village in 1858. A school-house was built in 1859, and Dr.
Salisbury taught the first school held therein.

   Post-office at St. Lawrence was established about 1858, and W. H. Stodder
appointed postmaster. He was succeeded by John Hewitt, who held the position
until 1880, when he resigned and the office was discontinued.

   The population of St. Lawrence was 297 by the census of 1880.

   Henry F. Bauer is a native of Germany, where he was born in 1828. Until 14
years of age he attended school, then learned the tailors' trade. He was in
military service eighteen months, after which he resumed his trade. In the
spring of 1854 he came to America; worked in Chicago for a time, then removed to
Lake county, opened a tailor shop and remained in business there until November,
1855, when he came to St. Lawrence. He now owns 360 acres in this town and 360
in Belle Plaine; he has good improvements. Mr. Bauer has for some time been
school director. He married Christiana Simons in Germany in 1853. Their living
children are Henry, Lydia, Paulina and Christiana.

    Benjamin Bliss, born November 22, 1819, is a native of England, where he
worked at different employments. In 1846 he married Mary Kendall and in 1849
they came to America, landing at New York after a five weeks' voyage. In the
fall of that year they removed to Rockford, Illinois, and his principal
occupation was carpentering until 1855, when he came to St. Lawrence and
preempted 160 acres of land; now has 120 acres with good improvements. Built his
present dwelling in 1870 near the original log cabin. Mr. and Mrs. Bliss are the
parents of five children: Henry, (deceased) Richard, Elenor, now Mrs. George
Sly, William and John.

    Enos Bragg was born in Chenango county, New York, February 13, 1830. Went
with his parents to Michigan in 1844, and two years later to Indiana where he
resided until 1857, when he came to Scott county. He owns one-half section of
land in St. Lawrence and lives on his farm which is under good cultivation. Mr.
Bragg lived among the Indians and found them friendly until their outbreak in
1862, then he fought them under General Sibley until subdued. He married Delia
Norton, of Indiana, November 16, 1853. They have six children: Elcaan, Julius,
Le Roy, Ellsworth M., George and Rosette.

    Philip Corbel was born January 26, 1807, in the Isle of Jersey. Came to
America in 1850 and lived at Cincinnati, Ohio, until 1852, when he removed to
Burlington, Iowa. In the summer of 1854 he located in St. Lawrence and later
made selection of his present farm of 175 acres. About fourteen years previous
to his coming to the United States he married Nancy Laurens. Mrs. Corbel died
January 8, 1880.

    Thomas Holmes was born January 27, 1853. His father, William Holmes, was
born in Lincoln county, Ohio, and when young learned the trade of mill-wright.
He went to Janesville, Wisconsin, and was identified with the laying out and
up-building of that city. April 8, 1852 he married Susanna, daughter of Jonas
Shook, one of the pioneers of Green county. Immediately after their marriage
they went to Minnesota, but returned to Wisconsin again, and the next year
removed to Shakopee. He made a claim of 160 acres where Jordan now stands and
laid out the village, resided there until 1869, then moved to a farm about a
mile from the village. In 1866 he bought 160 acres in St. Lawrence, and lived
there until his death, September 22, 1873. He was interested in the building of
various mills in Scott and Carver counties. His children are Thomas, Catherine,
William V., Henry F., and George R. Since his death Thomas has conducted the
farm. He married Nancy A. Lough, November 16, 1876. Their children are Lanora
and Ladora (twins), and Susie.

   Thomas Knott, a native of Ireland, was born in 1826, and when a small boy,
accompanied his parents to Canada. He removed to Minnesota and pre-empted 160
acres in Carver county where he remained until 1870 then bought his present home
of 160 acres in St. Lawrence. During the rebellion he served for a time in
company I, Second Minnesota. Mr. Knott was employed by the Sioux City railroad
company about two years at their elevator in Jordan, and the same length of time
as station agent; he now resides on his farm about two miles from Jordan. In
1847 he was united in marriage with Eunice Sweat. They have eight children.

   John Laurens was born July 18, 1843, in the Isle of Jersey, and since the age
of four years has lived with his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Philip Corbel. He
went with them to Ohio in 1852, thence to Iowa and in 1854 to St. Lawrence,
Scott county, Minnesota. Mr. Laurens has made two visits to his native country
since residing here. For some time he has held the office of town clerk.
Elizabeth Goodman, a native of this town became his wife December 30, 1879. They
have one son.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from 

History of the Minnesota Valley
Minneapolis: North Star Publishing Co. (1882)


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mn/scott/history/1882/historyo/jacksone67gms.txt

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