History of Wright County Minnesota, CHAPTER XXIII TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES--Pages 677, 692-700, 708-710, 799-803 ========================================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. If you have found this file through a source other than the MNArchives Table Of Contents you can find other Minnesota related Archives at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm Please note the county and type of file at the top of this page to find the submitter information or other files for this county. Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Rebecca B Frank ========================================================================= Clearwater, Silver Creek and Corinna Excerpts from : Curtiss-Wedge, Franklin. History of Wright County Minnesota. Volume II. Chicago: H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co. 1915. Call Number:977.6C94h CHAPTER XXIII TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES Page 677 The area of Wright county is divided into twenty townships and fifteen incorporated villages. (Population of Clearwater at the time was 311) CLEARWATER TOWNSHIP Pages 692-694 Clearwater is the most northern of the political divisions of Wright county. It embraces all that part of Congressional township 122, range 27, that lies east of the Clearwater river; a small portion of sections 34 and 35, in township 123, range 27, in the triangle formed by the juncture of the Clearwater and Mississippi rivers, and section 7, 17, and 18 and fractional sections 5, 6, and 8, in township 122, range 26. Clearwater is separated from Sherburne county on the north by the Mississippi river, while on the west the Clearwater river marks the line separating it from Stearns county. Silver creek forms its eastern and part of its southern boundary, the remaining portion being bounded by Corinna. The surface is rolling, and in the northern part was originally principally prairie, bordered by a narrow belt of timber skirting the river, while south it merged into brush land, beyond which was a heavy timber land. Numerous lakes are found throughout the town, and two of more considerable size make slight encroachments from the town of Corinnaon the south. Some good natural meadow land is found in the southern portion and along the Mississippi in the northern part. The soil in the prairie portion is a dark sandy loam with clay subsoil, and produced excellent crops; in the portion originally timbered it is clay and dark loam and is unsurpassed for fertility. For many years the cultivated area of this town was proportionately greater than in any other town in the county, but with the development of modern improvements in other localities in the county, Clearwater lost this distinction. Selah Markham was the first permanent settler in Clearwater. He was born in New York, and come here from Illinois in the fall of 1854, and took a claim in section 7, township 122, range 26. He built a cabin and started a farm, the first in the township. About the same time, Alonzo T. Boynton took a claim in sections 1, 2, 11, and 12. He also built a cabin and started a farm. Hew also was a native of New York state and came here form Illinois. John Oakes spent a part of the winter with Markham. Asa White, who had traded at Clear Lake, across the Mississippi river, as early as 1847, possibly selected a claim here the same winter. Early in 1855, John Oakes and his sons took claims on sections 8 and 17, and took up their residence thereon. Asa White, Alonzo T. Boynton and others stated out a town which they named El Dorado. March 8, 1855, Thomas C. Porter arrived and took a claim in section 2, township 122, range 27. Mrs. Abigail P. Camp, who became his wife in the fall of 1856, was the first woman in the village, and had been induced to come to Whitewater as hotel housekeeper for the townsite company. Others who came in 1855 were Dr. J. D. Wheelock, from Vermont, and Simon Stevens, Horace Webster and John Farwell from Canada. Dr. Wheelock took a claim in section 2. Stevens took a claim in section 1 and Webster in section 2. Stevens, Webster and Farwell laid out the town of Clearwater. There was some trouble with those who had laid out El Dorado, but a compromise was reached, and on May 27, 1856, the village was platted with Simon Stevens, Josiah Talbot and William Fellows as proprietors. It lay on both sides of the Clearwater River, in bith Stearns and Wright counties. A revised plat of the Wright county portion was files September 11, 1883. Clearwater was one of the original towns in wright county. The first election was held May 11, 1858. Two lists of the officers elected at that meeting have been handed down tot he present time. According to one list, the officers elected were: Supervisors, J. D. Wheelock (chairman), Hiram Woodworth and Cyrus Smith; clerk, Samuel Whiting, Jr.; treasurer, HJ. J. Dunton; justice of the peace, A. W. Waldron; constable, Thomas J. Doble; overseer of the poor, Simon Stevens. According to another list the officers were: Supervisors, J. D. Wheelock (chairman), Hiram Woodworth, and Cyrus Smith; clerk, Samuel Whiting; assessor, John Wheelock and Thomas Doble; constables, A. Hl. Williams and J. H. Dunton; overseer of the poor Simon Stevens. On motion of Simon Stevens, a tax of $150 was voted to defray the town expenses for the ensuing year. At the time of the organization the present town of Corinnawas included in Clearwater. In 1856 and 1857, Clearwater was well settled up. For this reason it suffered more from the grasshopper ravages of 1856 and 185 than most of the other townships. Many of the farmers lost their entire crops, and as many had all their means invested in theses crops they were almost ruined and forced to leave the township. Except in the southern part of the township, very little ginseng was gathered, but the village was an important trading point for the root. During the Civil War, a large number of the male inhabitants enlisted, and at no time was there a possibility of a draft here. Those who are accredited to this town are: First Vol. Inv. - Co. D: Ellet B. Perkins (afterward Captain) Isaac N. Hoblitt H.L. Gordon C. D. Robinson Edwin S. Post Orange S. King George E. Fuller (musician) W. H. Lancaster (wagoner) W. H. Garry W. A. Gordon Levi B. Green Charles W. Green A. D. Hayden E. L. Hamilton John F. Hoblit Charles W. Hugh A. E. Howe Charles A. Hutchins A. H. Hyatt Charles Rynes Joseph Smithson C. W. Smith Edward Walker C. W. Woodworth Co. F.: Lemuel B. Carter Carroll H. Clifford John Clator Henry W. Crown Francis F. Carter Second Vo. Inf.-Co. C.: George C. Clifford Third Vol. Inf.--- W. W. Webster (major); Co. A: Jonathan N. Fox (sergeant) James E. Brown (Sergeant) C. P. Camp, George Davis A. C. Collins Edward Cowan Elisha Cowan O. D. Gammage Amos McDonald Samuel Smith Martin Minster W. B. Walter D. E. Woodworth Eighth Vol Inf. - Co. E.: Thomas Tollington (captain) Edwin P. Bradbury Frank W. Clifford Charles G. Ellis Charles H. Gibbes Rudolph Holding John W. Lyons Homer Markham Matthew Murphey John D. Ponsford William Ponsford William Eberman Sixth Vol. Inf. - Co. B: Frank Zimmerman William Dixon. CLEARWATER VILLAGE Page 695 - 700 Clearwater village, once the rival of places that are now Minnesota's greatest cities, is one of the prettiest little villages in the state. It is located at the junctions of the Clearwater and Mississippi rivers, in the extreme northwest part of Wright county, twenty-eight miles northwest of Buffalo and fifty-two miles northwest of Minneapolis. The Great Northern railroad furnishes its transportation facilities and the people are also connected with outside world by both telegraph and telephone. Live stock, grain, produce, and cream are its principal shipments. The village is incorporated, has all line of business represented and a farming section from which to draw its patronage second to none in the state of Minnesota. Lands are for the most part under a state of cultivation and range in price form $65 to $100 per acre. Improved property of all kinds, be it farm, business or residence, is never in want of a renter and all property is readily disposed of at a reasonable figure. The town is laid out symmetrically; the streets are uniformly wide. A bower of shade trees enhances the view on all sides. The majority of the business houses are modern, substantially built and of pleasing design; the display of stocks such as would be expected in cities several times the size of Clearwater. The residence portion furnishes conclusive evidence of the permanency of the population and of the pride taken by the people in their home and surroundings. Here are beautiful houses and well kept lawns and shade trees in abundance. The business section, with its stores, its railroad station, its flour and pulp mill, and its Methodist Episcopal church, is on the flat at the junction of the river, while the residence section with its beautiful homes and its Catholic and Congregational churches is on the sightly bluff. The village has two banks, a creamery, a hotel, a grain elevator and a number of stores. A brief business directory follows: Jennie L. Phillips, postmistress; Bert Case auctioneer; Central Lumber Company (Andrew Rasmussen, manager); Clearwater Co-operative Creamery Company (P.P. Jones, president; Oscar W. Osterberg, secretary and manager); Clearwater Ferry Compnay (G. B. Boutwell, president); Clearwater herald (John Evans, publisher); Clearwater Hotel (Frank T. Scott, proprietor); Clearwater Mercantile Company ( A. B. Maxam, president, A. J. Maxam, secretary and treasurer), general store; Clearwater State Bank (W. A. Shaw, president; E. A. Shaw, cashier); Dexter E. Collins, blacksmith; Ira L. Edmunds, physician; Farmer Co-operative Shipping Association (P.P. Jones, president; G. S. Sheldon, secretary and treasurer), live stock; First State Bank (Joseph Whittemore, president; C. D. Whittemore, cashier); Oscar C. Frederick, pool; Grain Producers Elevator Company ( A. L. Hart, manager); John Haaf, livery; Delia A. and Mary Kottleman, milliners; Luther Laughton, meats; E. H. Mezener, harness; Carl Nielson, general store; Ira Oatman, blacksmith; Edward H. Palm, restaurant; Jennie L and C. S. Phillips, drugs; William B. Pinneo, insurance agent; P. H. Quinn, saloon; A. W. Ray (Raw) and Millard Boddy, hardware; Frank T. Scott, hotel; Elmer E. Smith, barber; William H. Wescott, blacksmith; Joseph and Charles D. Whittemore, insurance gents; Gordon H. Wilcox, farm implement Clearwater was at one time noted far and wide as the home of education and culture. Probably no town in the Northwest in the early days enjoyed so high a reputation as an intellectual center. The early settlers were for the most part men and women of eastern birth, ancient lineage and splendid training, and to this wilderness they transplanted their high ideals, their religious and faith, their intellectual keenness, their lofty traditions, and broad culture. Lectures, discussions, debates, musical entertainments and social gatherings relieved the tedium of the winters of privation, and their children, though in a savage country, surrounded by hardships and want, were reared with the same tender care for their moral and intellectual being that hey would have received in the sheltered homes of comfort and civilized advantages which their parents had left. From the village these people settled in neighboring townships in Wright and Stearns county, and in time the neighborhood took on all the aspects of an eastern community. A few of these families still remain. For the most part, however, the children have found other fields of labor, and many men and women who have made a marked success of life date their aspirations from some little school in Clearwater or vicinity. A portion of the site was claimed in 1855 by Asa White, Alonzo T. Boynton and others and named El Dorado. During Mr. White's absence that season the land was claimed by Simon Stevens, Horace Webster and John Farwell and platted in the spring of 1856 as Clearwater by J. H. Talbott and Simon Stevens. This led to difficulties, but the matter was afterward adjusted in a friendly manner. The place soon became a popular center, and was thronged with pioneers looking for homes in Stearns and Wright counties. A blacksmith shop was opened by Stevens, Webster & Farwell in 1855. They soon sold to - Allen, and he in 1856 to George Fuller. Dr. J. D. Wheelock started the practice of his profession here in 1855, and continued to be the village physician for many years. The first white woman to arrive was Mrs. Abigail P. Camp, who afterwards became Mrs. Thomas C. Porter. She reached here in August, 1855, as housekeeper for the townsite company. Mrs. J. D. Wheelock, who came that fall, was the second white woman to reside in Clearwater. A postoffice was also established in 1855 and the first religious service held. The first store was opened in 1856 by Seth Gibbs and Newell Whiting in a building on the river bank near the ferry. The following spring W. T. Rigby, opened another store. A third was opened in 1858 by S. A. Heard, and O. S. Lock soon followed with a fourth. E. P. Crossman established a hardware store in 1879, and the following year the firm became Boutwell & Crossman. E. Clocker was the village blacksmith for many years. In the eighties R. L. Campbell was the harnessmaker, R. A. Lyons operated the stage line and ferry, and his wife was milliner and dressmaker. Samuel Whiting came to Clearwater in 1857 and started a general store in 1861. It lived to be many years the oldest store in the county. In 1876 he put up what was then considered the best store building in the county. J. E. Fuller came to Clearwater in 1857 and started a general store in 1865. Major W. W. Wester came to Clearwater in May, 1857, and opened a general store in 1868. L. C. Johnson established a store of the same nature in 1875. Philip Schwab, an early druggist of Rockford, went to Minneapolis in 1867 and in 1868 came to Clearwater and opened a drug and grocery store. In 1873 he eliminated the drugs. Mr. Schwab was a valuable citizen, loaned money extensively and invest in many of the village enterprises. J. H. Davis was another early druggist. In 1871, he sold out to S. M. Philips, who with a partner, E. P. Crossman, for a while and then alone, continued the business for several yars. A stockade was built at Clearwater village during the Indian uprising, and the settlers form the timbered region found shelter therein. Squads of soldiers were located in the town at different times, and for the most part the prairie farms were cultivated. But from the southern part of the township many settlers departed never to return. The first hotel was built in 1855 by Stevens, Webster & Farwell, Mrs. A. P. Camp being the landlady. In the spring of 1856 they sold the furniture and rented the house to - Allen, the blacksmith. In 1857, Frank Morrison built the Morrison House, which was open for several decades thereafter, and was at one time the largest and best hotel in the county. The religious service held in December, 1855, were conducted at the residence of - Dow, near the village, by the Rev. Mr. Creighton, of Monticello. In 1857, Rev. Mr. Chamberlaine, an Episcopal clergyman, conducted services int eh first hotel erected. Later religious meetings were held in a two story building, the lower floor of which was used for a store and the upper part for a school and public gatherings of various sorts. The first sawmill was commenced in 1856, at the mouth of the Clearwater river. When it was nearly completed a freshet carried away the mill and the dam. In 1857, Herman Woodworth built a mill on the same stream, about a mile above the former site. This was torn down and removed in 1876. Frank Morrison in 1857 or 1858 erected a steam sawmill near the mouth of the Clearwater, using some of the timbers from the demolished 1856 mill. Steven Oyester was the millwright. As the last board fell from the last log to be sawed at the end of the first season, Alvin Wilkins was thrown upon the saw and instantly killed. It happened that there was no clergyman at that time available and the funeral service was preached by Mr. Fowler, who had previously been a preacher, who at that time had the reputation of being an unbeliever. In 1858, Rogers, Mitchell & Walker built a mill on the middle falls. It passed through various hands, was rebuilt in 1867, became on of the best flouring mills in the Northwest, and was burned in January, 1877. The flouring mill at the upper fall was built by James Cambell in 1861, and burned in 1870. Two years later a new mill was built on the site. When the mill at the middle falls was burned in 1877, the mill from the upper falls was moved onto the site and became the best flouring mill in the county. AT the lower dam, near the Mississippi, Seth Gibbs, a pioneer of 1856, erected a sash, door and blind factory. Thomas Tollington became a partner in 1866, and succeeded to the business when Gibbs was killed by the machinery, October 24, 1874. John Dodds built a muley sawmill on the same dam in 1879. In 1879 the first cheese factory in the town was established. In 1856, the Burbank stage company operated their stages from St. Paul to the Red River of the North, by way of St. Cloud as well as hauling supplies over this route. They found that by making a road from Clearwater to Cold Spring it would save twelve to fifteen miles of travel over the sandy road form Clearwater to St. Cloud. The saving of this distance was a big item to the company with their heavy traffic. They made a proposition to the townsite owners of Clearwater, offering to make a good road from that place to Cold Spring, through the rich and fertile towns of Fair Have, Maine Prairie and Luxemberg, providing that , in return, they were to have sufficient land for their barns, stables, and warehouses. The intended to make their place a base of operations. The boats could bring up their supplies from St. Anthony during the whole season of navigation, whereas, it was only during the high water that the boats could reach St. Cloud. The road to Cold Spring would run through a very fertile county, now fast settling up, and soon immense quantities of wheat, corn, and oats would be hauled to Clearwater and sold to be shipped by boat to St. Anthony, and the money for the grain would be spent in the town for supplies that would be brought up by water at a rate cheaper than it could be hauled by tea, as the case was at Saint Cloud. Consequently, the farmers could get better prices at Clearwater for their supplies. The, again, the immense trains of Red River carts that made annual trips to St. Cloud and St. Paul would come by way of Cold Spring to Clearwater, and as they could send their goods down on the boat and get their supplies up from St. Paul cheaper than they could go get their supplies up from St. Paul cheaper than they could go down with their trains, this town would become the terminal point of these trains. This alone would be a big item. This, together with the vast fertile country to the southwest with unlimited quantities of the various kids of hardwood for lumber and manufacturing purposes, and together with a splendid water power, capable of running two flouring mills and a saw mill, would naturally point out this place as having all that was needed of natural advantages to make in the near future a large and flourishing city. But, the townsite owners, like many others in the early days, were short sighted, and replied to the Burbank company's proposition that their lots were for sale, but not to give away. The result was that the road to Cold Spring was never opened, and the company continued to go by way of St. Cloud. From 1866 to 1882, Clear Lake across the river form Clearwater was the only railroad egress form the village. But when the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba came through in January, 1882, a station was established here. Clearwater was incorporated in accordance with Section 10, Chapter 73, General Laws of Minnesota, approved may 5, 1853. Application was made to the district court, M. B. Korn, judge, August 28, 1883, and Samuel Whiting, S. M. Phelps and M. Gullett were selected to give notice of the election. The boundaries as given in the incorporation are most interesting, as they are described in "metes and bounds." .... Fremont Village, located near the upper dam, flourished for a while. The flour mill brought farmers to the neighborhood; there were several there and a number of residences. Nothing now remains of Fremont, and the place is now part of a farm. CORINNA TOWNSHIP page 708 - 710 Corinna embraces Congressional township 121, range, 27, and has an area of about 23,000 acres, of which about 5,000 is covered with water. It is bounded on the north by Clearwater, west by Southside, south by Albion, and east by Maple Lake and Silver Creek. Originally the land was covered with heavy timber, for the most part sugar maple. The soil is a rich, dark loam and highly productive. It has more lakes than any other township in the county. The largest Clearwater Lake is in the northwest part of the town covers 2,000 acres, and extends into Stearns county. The sugar maples and the excellent hunting and fishing made the vicinity of Clearwater lake a favorite haunt of the Sioux, and several temporary Winnebago villages were at a various times established on its borders. When Clearwater became a fully organized township, May 11, 1858, it included the present town of Corinna and Southside. In 1860, township 121, range 27 and 28, was organized as a separate township called Delhi. At the first town, meeting of Delhi, held at the home of Octavius Longworth, April 2, 1860, the following officers were elected: Supervisors, H. L. Gordon,(chairman), L. H. Dakin, and Elijah Doble; assessor, Charles M. Gordon; collector, John F. Doble; clerk, Octavius Longworth; justices of the peace, Edward Moody and Octavius Longworth; overseer of the poor, J. F. Gates; constables, Charles I. Dakin and J. F. Doble. June 9, 1864, the name of Delhi was changed to Corinna. February 19, 1868, township 121, range 28, and west half of Corinna was cut off and organized as Southside. The name is said by the late Levi M. Stuart, of Minneapolis, to have been given to the township by Elder Robinson, a Baptist preacher who was a boyhood chum of Stuart's, and like him, a native of Corinna, Maine. A town was laid out on section twenty-one, in 1857 or 1858 by George Saunders, A. McDonald, William McDonald, Charles I. Dakin and E. Doble, and named Osseo. Some improvements were made, but it did not meet the expectations of the proprietors, and the enterprise was abandoned. Religious services were held by Rev. M. S. Harriman as early as 1857. Probably the first sermon preached was over the line in Stearns county, but the congregation was composed largely of people form Corinna township. In August, 1856, Levi H. Dakin, Charles I. Dakin, John F. Doble, Elijah Doble, Sr., Elijah Doble, Jr., Ebenezer Perry, Thomas Doble and Lorenzo Doble, all form the state of Maine, visited Corinna township and took claims on the south side of Clearwater lake. Several built log cabins and claim shanties the same year, and in the spring of 1857 several families were living in the settlement. As roads had to be cut and bridges built, the task of bringing in families and household goods was somewhat delayed. In 1858, M. S. Harriman settles in section 18, and devoted this time to farming, preaching and various official duties. In the spring of 1859, H. L., S. A. and C. M. Gordon arrived form Pennsylvania. Octavious Longworth also came in 1859. He took a claim in section 8, on the banks of the Clearwater lake, erected a pleasant home, and some cottages, and established a summer resort that became famous. In 1874, Mr. Longworth encouraged by Rev. D. B. Knickerbacker, of Minneapolis, erected a neat chapel on the grounds. The Longworth resort is still a popular summer place. The people of Corinna experienced their share of pioneer hardships, and many were about to leave when the ginseng trade opened. The town was unusually rich in the root, and the settlers became prosperous by gathering it. During the Indian uprising of 1862, and agin in 1863, the families took refuge in Clearwater village, and the stock, crops and cabins suffered from neglect. During the panic of 1863 hardly a family was left in the township. But after a few days, the people gradually began to return. There are still visible on the shore of the lake near Annandale evidences of the stockade which the settler built for protection. In the latter part of July, 1863, two or three Indians passed through the township. They were followed about an hour later by five scouts from Fair Haven. These were the Indians who encountered Andrew Hart later in the day, on the shores of Lake Swartout. In passing through Corinna the Indians fired a volley of shots and arrows at the cattle of Charles I. Dakin. When the pioneer investigated, a calf was found with an arrow in its back, and a steer with a bullet in its throat. The steer was next day killed and eaten by the owner. But though the settlers suffered so little form the Indians the damage done by strolling whites and scouts was great. Houses were broken open, provisions and articles of value stolen, and chickens, ducks and geese killed and eaten. As one old settle has said: the country was deserted, many of those who had fled had no intention of returning, it was expected that the whole region was to be burned and pillaged by the Indians; and the scouts and others passing by, felt at liberty to use anything that they needed. It took the town of Corinna several years to recover from the frights of 1862 and 1863. Daniel Haberling put up a steam sawmill on section 9 at the east side of Clearwater lake in August 1865. He died May 21, 1871, and succeeded by his son. IN 1870, -Reynolds built a dam and sawmill, on section 21, at the outlet of Cedar lake, near Clearwater lake. It was later rented to the Haberlings, and was burned in 1880. The first school was opened in the home of Elijah Doble, in June, 1862; a schoolhouse of logs was built in 1868; the first frame schoolhouse was erected in 1871. The first child born in town was Emery Dakin, son of Charles I. Dakin, born September 5, 1857. The first marriage was that of Cyrus Smith and Sarah W. Longworth, in 1860. SILVER CREEK TOWNSHIP Pages 799 - 803 Silver Creek is in the north part of Wright county, and embraces the north half of township 121, range 26; and all of fractional township 122, range 26, with the exception of sections 7, 17, and 18, and fractional sections 5,6, and 8, which are in Clearwater. The town is bounded on the north by the Mississippi river, east by Monticello, south by Maple Lake, and west by Corinna and Clearwater. The surface of the town is uneven and rolling, but not hilly. The soil along the Mississippi river is sandy, but at a short distance back from the river it is dark loam with a clay subsoil. There is some prairie land along the river, as well as Thrall's prairie in section 15 and 20; township 122, and Sandborn's Prairie in section 28. Nearly all of the town was originally brush land and timber. The hurricane of August 9, 1859, prostrated a large part of the heavy timber. The town is watered by many small lakes. Silver Creek has three branches, one in the center of the town, one rising in the east and one in the west. They are united and empty into the Mississippi in section 15, township 122, range, 26. There are fifteen lakes in the township, covering in all about 2,500 acres. The largest are: Lock's lake in section 21, Limestone lake in section 31, Millstone lake in section 17 and 18, Lake Ida in section 12, Eagle lake in sections 14 and 15, and Lake Mary in section 4. The first actual settler was Archie Downie, who was connected with the Winnebago agency at Long Prairie, and looked after the Indians when they insisted on occupying Wright county. In August, 1854, he took a claim in section 15, near the mouth of silver creek, was one of the first board of county commissioners in 1855, and in May, 1856, sold his claim to A. G. Descent, and left the country. John O. Haven was another early settler. He was clerk of the county board in 1855. Joseph S. Locke took a claim in section 21, July 4, 1855, and was about the first permanent settler. In 1855 and 1856 came: Jonah B. Locke, Franklin Wood, Paul Kennedy, Chester Dunklee, Samuel Earle, Henry Ferguson, Rev. Moses Goodrich, George B. Bradbury, James Shaw, W. W. Day, Ambrose Thrall and others. The fist child born in Silver Creek was Wealthy Ellen Thrall, daughter of Ambrose and Jeanette Thrall, born November 5, 1855. The first white boy born was David A. Melrose, son of Thomas Melrose, born December 10, 1855. The first persons married here were A. E. Hulet and L. Jane Thrall, married January 7, 1856, at Monticello. The first marriage performed in town was that of Hiram D. Locke and Anna Hayes, married November 16, 1858, by W. W. Day, justice of the peace. The first death was that of John Peterson, who died March 18, 1856. The first school was opened August 1, 1856, Jeanette Dunklee, in a d welling house on the townsite of Fremont. Fremont townsite, was laid out at the mouth of Silver creek, in section 15, township 122, range 26, in April and May 1856. About 100 acres were included in the townsite. The town proprietors were A. G. Descent, George E. H. Day, Samuel Earle and Chester Dunklee. Mr. Dunklee was born in Vermont. For many years he occupied a part of the townsite as a farm. Samuel Earle was also from Vermont, and returned to that state in 1857. George E. H. Day lived in St. Anthony and was a banker and lawyer. He loaned large sums of money in Hennepin and Wright counties, receiving as high as three percent per month. Many lots were sold and for a time the village flourished, though a question was raised as to the title of the proprietors, to the land they were selling. A large steam mill was erected at the townsite in February 1856, with a shingle mill, lath and edger. The engine was sixty horse power, and the mill was probably the best mill on the upper Mississippi at that time. A store, hotel and blacksmith shop were started, a postoffice established, A. G. Descent as postmaster. But the differnces arose between the proprietors, the buildings fell into disuse and decay, and in 1858, Chester Dunklee was the only one left on the place. Silver Creek was created as a township, April 6, 1858. It then embraced the north half of township 121, range 26, and all that part of township 122, range 26, Wright county. In 1862, sections 7, 8, 17, 18, township 122, range 26, were set off and became part of the town of Clearwater. By common consent a small area of bottoms north of section 7 and 7 are also included in Clearwater. The first town meeting was held in Silver Creek, May 11, 1858, and the following named persons were elected town officers: Supervisors - John O. Haven (Chairman), Moses Goodrich, James Shaw; Town Clerk - George B. Bradbury; Justice of the Peace - W. W. Day. After the grasshopper ravages, the northern part of the township was held from many years by the railroad and by speculators, and the southern part was settled and developed at a time when much of the northern portion still remained wild. The outbreak of the Civil War found the men of Silver Creek well prepared for military service. In March 1861, before there was any call for soldiers by the government, the Silver Creek Rifle Company was organized under the state laws. The officers were: Captain, W. W. Day; first lieutenant J. N. Fox; second lieutenant George Brookins; third lieutenant, J. I. Fisher In April, the company offered its service to the government but was not accepted. Practically every member, however, enlisted in one company or another, during the Civil War. Among them may be mentioned: Co. D, First Minn. Vo. Inf. -Nathaniel Drew, Franklin Devergill Co. F, Second Minn. Vol Inf. -C. D. Moline. Co H, Second Minn. Vol. Inf. -Temple Ephraims Co I, Second Minn. Vol Inf.--- David Lewis and Mathew Wardwell Co A, Third Minn Vol Inf. -C. Mealey, W.P. Mealey, J. N. Fox, Salisbury Rowell Co. B. Seventh Minn. Vol Inf - Isaac Carter and Jonas Thomas Co. E. Eighth Minn. Vo. Inf. - Harvey S. Gookins, Asel E. Hulet, G. W. Carpenter, Dexter E. Collins, Joseph I Fisher, J. N. Locke, Elisha C. Sabin. Co. A. Ninth Minn. Vol. Inf. - John C. Allen. During the Indian uprising of 1862, nearly all the citizens of Silver Creek left their homes, and sought refuge in Monticello, Minneapolis or elsewhere. For several days the town had no inhabitants, but confidence was soon restored, and the people returned. Indian were actually seen in this town, in July, 1863. Co. J. S. Locke saw six one evening while looking after his cows near Sanborn Prairie. These Indians stole two horses belonging to Henry Ferguson. The Indians were followed several miles by citizens, and then by soldiers as far as Swede Grove in Meeker county, where the horses were recovered after a fight with the Indians in which Captain John S. Cady, of the Eighth Minn. Vol. Inf., was killed. Several cattle were killed by the Indians during this raid, but no people in Wright county were molested. The presence of the Red Skins, however, caused the town to be almost totally depopulated, and the crops were left to ruin. The citizens made application to the governor for help, and a detachment of Co. E, Eighth Minn. Vo. IN., was sent here under command of Sergeant John B. Parvin. This detachment made its eadquarters at te home of Co. J. S. Locke, where they remained for some two months. While the squad of Co. E. Eighth Minn. Vol. Inf., was stationed at the home of Co. J. S. Locke, in Silver Creek township, Christopher Bailey was accidently shot and killed by Andrew H. Bertram. The story is told elsewhere in this work. It is there stated that Bailey and his companions were endeavoring to frighten Bertram. J. N. Locke gave a different version of the affair. His story follows: "Bailey was sitting on a little knoll in the bushes near the path that led to the spring. He had been home the day before, and had in his hand a tin cup full of honey and some cookies which he was eating. Bertram was helping to cook that day, and went to the spring for a bucket of water. Coming up the bank he heard a noise, and ran to the house for a jun, saying that he had seen a bear. Several others started to go with him, but Bertram heard the noise, fired into the bushes. Bailey gave one cry, and fell dead. The bullet cut the front of his right blouse sleeve, and the back of the left, and passed through his heart. Bailey was a man of good nature and had no enemies. At the time he was killed his mouth was full of cookies and he was humming a song , making the murmuring noise which Bertram mistook for the noise of a bear." J. N. Locke, who related this version of the affair, saw Bailey a short time before he was killed and a short time afterward, and was one of those who helped to bury him. The town treasury was robbed of $80 in August, 1860. C. Denlinger was the town treasurer and collector. He claimed that while he was alone in his house, two unknown masked men knocked him down, bound and gagged him, and took the money. His wife and W. W. Day found him bound and released him. No effort was made to find the robbers, and there was much gossip about the matter for many years thereafter. A town hall was erected in 1868 at a cost of $600 and for many years caused much controversy. Silver Creek village, a busy little trading center and shipping point, consists of three general stores, one bank, one shoe store, one hardware store, one blacksmith shop, a creamery, a Methodist church, a town hall, a garage, and one pool hall and has a population of about 100 people. It is situated on the shore of Silver lake, and Silver creek runs through the village. The village is in the midst of a fine farming county and many beautiful farm homes are found in the vicinity. There are many lakes around about and fishermen from the Twin Cities and other places, visit here often as the lakes are noted for good fishing. Something like thirty years ago a Mr. Chubb built a sawmill here on the creek and lake shore. It was run by water awhile but later by steam. He soon sold the mill to William Whitney . The first building burned down but was rebuilt about twenty-six years ago. J. H. Whitney bought out William Whitney and in partnership with his brother, F. Whitney, owned and operated the mill for years, grinding feed as well as sawing logs. About twenty-four years ago the first store was opened by Henry Whitney ( an uncle of J. H. Whitney). Later a Farmer's Co-operative Creamery was built. The church was moved here form its location about one-half mile away. Then a new town hall was built here and gradually other buildings were added until there are now two dozen dwelling houses and one dozen business houses. (By Claud Johnson) Hasty is a small village on the edge of Silver Creek township, on the Great Northern. It is twenty miles northwest of Buffalo and five southeast of Clearwater. It has three general stores, furniture store, sawmill, hotel, restaurant, lumber yard and shoemaker. The village is noted as a potato market, the shipments from this point being large.