Fifty Years In The Northwest

The Winnebagoes were for some years located within the bounds of Todd and Morrison counties. In 1848 Gen. Fletcher removed them from Fort Atkinson, Iowa, to Long Prairie, west side of the Mississippi; but although the agency was located at Long Prairie, the Indians occupied the Swan River valley within the present limits of Morrison and Todd counties for a period of seven years, where they engaged partly in hunting and partly in farming, having about two hundred acres under cultivation, when they became dissatisfied and were removed to the Blue Earth country.

When the Winnebago Indians were brought to Long Prairie and the Swan River valley, in 1848, the government built Fort Ripley on the west bank of the Mississippi, about twenty miles above the mouth of Swan river. The government still owns the fort and reservation around it, and keeps a garrison there. Fort Ripley, however, has other associations than those connected with the Winnebagoes. It was necessary to place a force here during the Indian outbreak in 1862, the object being to overawe and hold in check the Chippewas, who were more than suspected of an intention to make common cause with the Sioux in their warfare against the whites. There the Seventh Regiment, Minnesota Volunteers, had its headquarters for a time.

Morrison county was named in honor of Hon. Allen W. Morrison, who came to Minnesota some time in the '20s, and was prominent in the early history of the Territory. It was organized April 18, 1856, by the election of the following county officers: Commissioners, Wm. Trask, Elliott J. Kidder and W. W. Stebbins; register of deeds and clerk of board of commissioners, Nathan Richardson; judge of probate, James Fergus; sheriff, Jonathan Pugh; district attorney, W. B. Fairbanks; assessors, W. B. Tuttle and John Fry.

The first term of court was held May 15, 1856; Judge Moses Sherburne, presiding. The first deed recorded was dated June 19, 1854, conveying from William Shelafoo to Louis Robair the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter, and lots 3, 4 and 5 of section 30, township 40, range 32.

Morrison county is subdivided into the following towns: Agram, Belle Prairie, Buckman, Bellevue, Culdrum, Elmdale, Green Prairie, Little Falls, Morrill, Motley, Parker, Pierz, Pike Creek, Ripley, Swan River, and Two Rivers.

LITTLE FALLS VILLAGE,

The county seat of Morrison county, is located on the east bank of the Mississippi river, in sections 7, 8, 18 and 19 of township 40, range 32. It derives its name from a rapid in the Mississippi river, formed by the extension across the river of the slate stone ledges of the St. Louis. The site is a prairie, sloping gently to the water's edge. The first survey was made in 1855, by S. M. Putnam. The village grew rapidly from the first, and in 1857 the best lots were selling for $1,000 each. Previous to 1855 the only houses in the place were two cabins, a frame building in which E. J. Kidder lived, and a school house. Two hotels were built that year, one by Joseph Batters, the other by W. B. Fairbanks and Nathan Richardson.

The first settlers were the Kidders, Fairbanks, Batters, Richardson, James Green, William Sturgis, William Butler, and O. A. Churchill. James Green came as early as 1848, and took a squatter's claim on the east bank, including the water power, and built a saw mill, but soon after died, and the property passed into the hands of H. M. Rice and Capt. Todd, who in 1850 sold their right to Wm. Sturgis. In 1852 John M. Kidder pre-empted the mill power, transferring it to the Little Falls Company, consisting of Wm. Sturgis and Calvin Tuttle, organized in 1854 for the improvement of the falls. This company purchased about 1,000 acres of adjoining land from the government, and in 1855 merged into a stock company with a capital of $100,000, of which the original company retained one-half, the remaining half being converted into cash. The stock rose in value at one time two hundred and fifty per cent.

The company built a new dam and mills, but the revenue did not keep the property in good condition after the expenditures. These valuable improvements, including the dam and mills, were all swept away by high water in 1860; the firm became bankrupt, and the valuable power became nearly worthless and entirely useless, until 1887, when a new company, known as the Little Falls Water Power Company, was formed with a paid up capital of $600,000, which is distributed among eastern and western capitalists. The company is now constructing very extensive works, the power of which will have a head, or fall, of twenty feet, thus making it the largest water power, next to Minneapolis, to be found in the whole Northwest. The dam, now about completed, has cost about $200,000.

So thoroughly convinced are the people of Morrison county of the great future before it, that, by a majority of over 2 to 1, they voted a subscription of $100,000 in 5 per cent bonds as a bonus to be delivered to the company upon the completion of the work. The village of Little Falls also entered into a contract with the company, agreeing to pay annually a sum of money equal to the taxes imposed upon that corporation, and also to exempt from taxation any manufactory using the water power for a period of five years. The improvements under process of construction consist, first, of a dam across the entire river, resting, however, against the head of Mill island; second, a canal on the west side, starting from a point opposite the head of Mill island, and extending 1,000 feet down stream. This canal is 80 feet wide and 13 feet deep, is lined with a retaining wall, and provided with head gates at the upper end and with a waste way at the lower end; third, a wheel house, races, and, if found desirable, a wire rope tower for transmitting power to Mill island and to the east shore. Basing the rental of this power on that of the water power at Lowell, Massachusetts, it would be worth $150,000 per annum. The officers of the company are W. H. Breyfogle, of Louisville, Kentucky, president; M. M. Williams, of Little Falls, secretary and treasurer.

Little Falls was incorporated as a village in 1880, Louis Houde president of the board. The improvement of the water power has given a strong impulse to the prosperity of the village. It numbers now amongst its public buildings a court house, school house having rooms for six grades, two Catholic churches, one Congregational, one Episcopal and one Methodist church. In Belle Prairie, four miles distant, there is also a Catholic church, school and a nunnery.

A bridge, built at a cost of $24,000, crosses the Mississippi at this point. The bridge is 400 feet in length. The Little Falls & Dakota railroad, a branch of the Northern Pacific, is finished from Little Falls to Morris in Stevens county, a distance of 85 miles. In addition to the mills connected with the water power there is also a steam saw mill.

ROYALTON VILLAGE

Is located in an oak grove on the Northern Pacific railroad, twenty miles above Sauk Rapids, and ten below Little Falls near the south line of Morrison county. It includes some lands in Benton county. Platte river flows through the village and furnishes a water power of 8 feet head, improved by a dam, supplying a flour mill which has a capacity of 250 barrels per day, and a saw mill with a capacity of 40,000 feet. There is 65 feet fall on the Platte within five miles of Royalton below, and 45 feet above the village, yet unimproved. James Hill, of Baldwin, St. Croix county, Wisconsin, with Putney and Nobles erected the flour mill, John D. Logan, the proprietor, having donated the water power and grounds for manufacturing purposes. Mr. Logan has a steam saw mill with a capacity of 30,000 feet per day. The Platte is spanned by an iron bridge. The village has, in addition to its mills, a weekly newspaper, a large elevator, a good graded school with six departments, and three churches, Episcopal, Presbyterian and Methodist. It was surveyed and platted in 1879 by John D. Logan, and incorporated in 1887. The first officers were: President, J. D. Logan; recorder, John Holmes; trustees. J. C. Wakefield, J. C. Higgins, R. Lambert; treasurer, G. E. Putney; justices, Robert Brown, Wm. Jones; constables, Wm. Roller, C. O. Brannen.

Peter Roy, a mixed blood of French and Chippewa parentage, was born in Rainy Lake, in 1829. He was educated at La Pointe, Wisconsin. At the age of twenty-one he came to the agency at Long lake, where he served as interpreter until 1853, when he was elected to the territorial legislature. He opened a farm at Belle Prairie in 1855; became a member of the state legislatures of 1860 and 1862. In 1866 he removed to Little Falls, where he resided until his death, in 1883. He was a man of large frame and of generous impulses, liberal and open-handed, even to his own pecuniary disadvantage.

Wm. Sturgis came to this county from Big Meadow, Sherburne county, Minnesota, in 1850, and located at Little Falls, where he put a ferry across the Mississippi. He also laid out a town and built a saw and grist mill at the mouth of Little Elk river. He was a member of the territorial council from Crow Wing and Sauk Rapids precincts in 1849 and 1851; of the territorial house in 1856, and of the constitutional convention, Democratic wing, in 1857. Some years later he removed, first to Montana, and then to Sturgis, Michigan.

James Fergus was born in the parish of Glassford, Lanarkshire, Scotland, Oct. 8, 1813. His parents were well-to-do farmers, and gave him a good education along with excellent moral and religious training. In his youth he was noted for his thoroughness in whatever work he undertook, and his fondness for good books. At the age of nineteen years he came to America to improve his fortunes, locating first in Canada, where he spent three years, and learned the trade of a millwright. Becoming involved in some political troubles just before the outbreak of the Papineau Rebellion, he left Canada for the United States, and spent a couple of years in Green Bay and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and at Chicago and Buffalo Grove, Illinois, going thence to Iowa, and thence to Moline, Illinois, where he found employment in the machine shops and foundries of Buford, Sears & Wheelock. In 1854 he removed to Little Falls, and in company with C. A. Tuttle built a dam across the Mississippi and platted the village. He subsequently owned the site of Fergus Falls, now a thriving city, that has done well in assuming his name. In 1862 he drove his own team from Little Falls to Bannock, then in Idaho, now in Montana Territory. He became prominent in territorial affairs; was influential in the organization of the new county of Madison, and held many positions of trust and responsibility. He was the commissioner appointed for Madison county, served two terms in the Montana legislature, and was a member of the constitutional convention of 1887. At one time he lived in Lewis and Clark counties; he now resides in Meagher county, near Fort Maginnis, where he is engaged in stock raising.

His main characteristics are an aptitude for mechanical enterprises, a sturdy independence of thought, a strict integrity of purpose, and an ardent love of study and good books. He is a typical pioneer, and in the mellow light of his declining days has the respect and love of his contemporaries to a remarkable degree. He is the first president of the Montana Pioneer Association, a position which he worthily fills.

Mr. Fergus was married March 16, 1845, to Parnelia Dillin, of Jefferson county, New York. Mrs. Fergus died Oct. 6, 1887. He has one son and three daughters, the latter married and living in Montana.

Nathan Richardson was born in Wayne county, New York, in 1829. He was raised on a farm, educated at Romeo, Michigan, and came to Little Falls in 1855. He served as register of deeds for Morrison county eight years, and was postmaster eleven years. He also served as county surveyor and county attorney, having been admitted to the bar in 1877. He was notary public twenty-five years. He was a representative in the Minnesota legislatures of 1867, 1872 and 1878. During his first term in the house he represented nineteen counties, nearly one-half the territory of the State. He served as judge of probate two terms. Mr. Richardson has prepared, by order of the board of county commissioners, and published in the local papers, a complete and valuable history of Morrison county, to which we are greatly indebted. He was married to Mary A. Roof in 1857, and has a family of three sons and two daughters.

Moses La Fond, a Canadian Frenchman, came to Morrison county in 1855, and located at Little Falls, where he commenced as a teamster for the Little Falls Manufacturing Company. He found more lucrative employment, became a butcher, then a merchant, then a legislator, having been elected a representative in the legislature of 1874.

O. A. Churchill. – Orlando A. Churchill was born in Windsor county, Vermont, in 1825. He came to Illinois in 1843, and to Little Falls in 1855, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits. He was elected to the legislature of 1858, but did not serve, as no session of the legislature was held that year. He served several years as auditor of Morrison county. He removed to St. Paul a few years ago, and later to California, but is now again a resident of Little Falls.

John M. Kidder made a claim of government land on the east side of the Mississippi, on the site of Little Falls. He died in 1855, before the land was entered, and the claim was purchased by Wm. Sturgis, a son-in-law of Mr. Kidder, and by him sold to the Little Falls Company. Elliott J., a son of John M. Kidder, is still a resident of Little Falls.

Warren Kobe located at Royalton in 1880 and built an elevator, store and first class hotel. Mr. Kobe is a public spirited citizen and has expended much in improving the town.

Ola K. Black, of Norwegian birth, was one of the first settlers.

Ira W. Bouch came from Buchanan county, Iowa, in 1880, and opened the first store in Royalton.

Robert Russell, living on a farm near the village, came from Scotland to America in 1850 and settled here in 1853. Mr. Russell died in July, 1862; Mrs. Russell died in 1876. Three sons and five daughters survive them.

Peter A. Green, a farmer, pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres in 1854, a part of which is surveyed into town lots. He built the second building on the town site. Mr. Green was born in 1817, in Green county, New York, where he married. He died January, 1884. His widow and two sons survive him.

Rodolphus D. Kinney was the first settler on the town site of Royalton, in 1854, erected the first house and was the first postmaster, in 1856. Mr. Kinney gave the name of Royalton to the post office, the name being that of his birthplace, in the state of Vermont. He was born in 1828; had good educational advantages in youth and attended Fairmount Theological Seminary in Cincinnati; was an associate of the early Presbyterian missions and was the first school teacher in Morrison county, in 1851 and 1852, at Belle Prairie. He was married in St. Paul in 1852. His eldest son, Jonathan, was born in 1853. One daughter lives in Alabama and his youngest son is a physician at Royalton.

John D. Logan came to Minnesota from Philadelphia in 1855 and located in Hastings; served during the war in Company G. First Minnesota Regular Volunteers. In 1879 he came to Royalton and devoted himself to the development of the water power and the building up of the village. He has a wife and three children.

CROW WING COUNTY

The county of Crow Wing was organized in 1857. Prior to this period it was included in Benton and other counties. It now includes eleven whole and eight fractional townships in townships 43 to 47, ranges 28 to 31, inclusive. The Mississippi river bounds it on the west and northwest, Aitkin county on the east and Morrison on the south. Its soil ranges from a light sandy to a dark loam, with clay subsoil, and the timber includes the pines and the hardwoods common to the latitude. There are also fine meadows and burr oak openings. It is watered by the tributaries of the Mississippi and its surface is dotted with lakes. It is well adapted to stock raising and agriculture.

C. H. Beaulieu appears to have been the first white man to locate within its boundaries. He established a trading post as early as 1837, near the mouth of Crow Wing river. His successors in trade were Allen Morrison and Donald McDonald. Philip Beaupre was here in 1844. When Fort Ripley was built S. B. Olmstead, with his family, built a house and improved a farm opposite the fort on the east bank of the Mississippi. Mr. Olmstead came from Prairie du Chien in 1849. While residing here he served as a member of the second, fifth and sixth territorial legislatures, and in 1854 was elected president of the council. After living here several years, he removed to Texas, and died there some years ago. Mr. Olmstead kept a hotel and managed to secure most of the hay, beef and wood contracts for the fort. Henry M. Rice had a trading post at one time at Crow Wing village, about eight miles above the fort. John H. Fairbanks ran a ferry at the village. Other settlers were Wallace Bean, Henry Whipple, F. M. Campbell, W. B. Wakefield, Ed. Lyndes, Albert Fuller, Thomas Cathcart, Daniel S. Mooers, S. C. Abbe, and members of the Beaulieu family. James A. Parish was the first justice of the peace. John McGillis, who lived at Crow Wing in 1853, was the second and served about fifteen years. In 1856 the first farm was opened on government land, not far from Crow Wing village, by Wallace Bean. The second farm was taken by David McArthur, a Canadian, originally from Scotland. George Van Valkenburg opened a blacksmith shop at Crow Wing in 1856, lived there two years and was then employed as government blacksmith by the Indian department, and served as such for twelve years. Crow Wing county was organized in 1857, with the following board of officers: County auditor, C. H. Beaulieu; register of deeds, F. M. Campbell; county treasurer, Robert Fairbanks; county commissioners, J. H. Fairbanks, Allen Morrison, S. B. Olmstead; judge of probate court, Dennis Shaff. The county organization took effect Jan. 1, 1858. The county was attached for judicial purposes, first to Ramsey, and then to Morrison county. F. W. Peake came to Crow Wing in 1858, and opened a trading post, and was afterward one of the mercantile firm of Peake & Wakefield. Rev. E. S. Peake, an Episcopal clergyman, came to Crow Wing about the same time, built a church and remained as rector till the breaking out of the war, when he accepted the chaplaincy of a Wisconsin regiment. After the war he removed to California, and carried on a mission a few years, but later returned to Minnesota and is now stationed at Detroit. Rev. Francis Pierz, a Catholic priest, officiated at Crow Wing and Belle Prairie until 1870, when he returned to his home in Austria.

The first district court was held at Crow Wing in 1871, J. M. McKelvey officiating as judge, Chas. Beaulieu as clerk of court, and Wm. Wood as sheriff.

Soon after the county organization was abandoned, to be reresumed in 1870 by legislative enactment. The county officers at the organization were: Commissioners, Wallace Bean, Henry Whipple and F. W. Peake; treasurer, E. B. Snyder; auditor, J. W. Campbell; clerk of court, Chas. H. Beaulieu; sheriff, Wm. Wood.

MURDERERS LYNCHED

In 1871, Ellen, daughter of David McArthur, living near Crow Wing village, was murdered by Indians. The murderers were arrested and placed in jail at Brainerd, from which they were taken by a mob and hanged.

BRAINERD

Is situated on the east bank of the Mississippi, and is a prosperous city. The settlement commenced with the opening of the Northern Pacific railroad. This road has a branch from Brainerd to St. Paul. The railroad company have made Brainerd headquarters for repairing shops; have expended large amounts in improvements, and employ in their business here nearly 1,000 men. The first through train arrived at Brainerd March 11, 1871.

In 1870 several claims were made for purposes of speculation, and afterward sold to Mrs. Hester Gilman, of St. Cloud, and other parties, but the greater part of the city site was purchased of the government in 1870, by Hester Gilman and Thomas H. Campbell. The Lake Superior & Puget Sound Company, organized under the laws of Maine, and duly authorized by the laws of Minnesota, purchased Gilman's and Campbell's claims and made the original survey and plat of the town on Sept 25, 1871. The name, Brainerd, was given to the new town in honor of Mrs. Brainerd Swift, wife of the first president of the Northern Pacific road. In 1883 a new survey was made by Heinze Brothers. The site was a handsome plain, originally covered with prince pine trees, many of which were left standing as ornamental trees.

Among the first settlers we find the names of Charles Darby, E. H. Bly, L. P. White, W. P. Spalding, W. W. Hartley, Stuart Seely, F. W. Peake, S. W. Taylor, E. B. Lynde, John Bishop, T. C. Barnes, and John Martin. The first permanent dwelling, a log house, was built by Charles Darby, the next was built by Stuart Seely, and the third by L. P. White. E. H. Bly built the first store. The Headquarters Hotel, subsequently destroyed by fire, was built in 1871. Many of the buildings of ancient Crow Wing were moved to Brainerd. The Leland House was built in 1871-2; the Merchants in 1879. The post office was established in 1871, with S. W. Thayer as postmaster. The county seat was removed to this place in 1871, and a court house and jail built by L. P. White, at an expense of $971.60. The first marriage, that of Joseph Gronden and Miss Darby, occurred in 1870. A city charter was obtained Jan. 11, 1873. The following were the first officers: Mayor, Eber H. Bly; aldermen, L. P. White, M. Tuttle, W. S. Heathcote, Wm. Murphy, T. X. Goulett; president of the council, L. P. White.

Brainerd has a court house, built at a cost of $45,000, and school buildings worth $45,000. The Northern Pacific depot and shops were built at a cost of $500,000, and the Northern Pacific sanitarium at a cost of $35,000. The sanitarium is a hospital for the sick or disabled employes of the entire line of road, and is supported by monthly installments from the employes. Dr. Beger is superintendent. Brainerd has one steam saw mill with a capacity of 12,000,000 feet per annum, another with a capacity of 3,000,000 feet, and many fine business blocks and tasteful residences. It has also electric lights, water works, and street cars, and is making rapid progress as a city.

In 1886 a charter was obtained by Charles F. Kindred & Co. to build a dam across the Mississippi. The dam has been completed at a cost of $125,000. It has a head of 20 feet, with sufficient flow to secure 25,000 horse power, and a boomage overflowing 3,000 acres, forming a reservoir 12 miles in length, with side lakes, the whole capable of holding 1,000,000,000 feet of logs. The whole city machinery, including electric lights, water works, street cars, and Northern Pacific railroad shops, will be attached to this water power. Crow Wing county contributed $50,000 in bonds to the building of this dam. Brainerd has an opera house, and is well supplied with churches, the Catholics, Presbyterians, Baptists, Congregationalists, Episcopalians, Lutherans, and Methodists having organizations and buildings.

L. P. White was born in Vermont in 1811. He was self educated. He was married in Vermont, came to Chicago in 1858, and engaged in railroading until arriving at Brainerd, in 1870, where he built the first frame house. His wife was the first white woman resident of the city. Since locating at Brainerd, Mr. White has been the acting agent of the Lake Superior & Puget Sound Company, which has laid out all the town sites from Northern Pacific Junction to Moorhead with the exception of Detroit.

Allen Morrison was one of a family of twelve, seven boys and five girls. His father was born in Scotland, but emigrated to Canada, where he died in 1812. Two of the boys were in the English Navy, and killed at the battle of Trafalgar, in Egypt. William Morrison, a brother of Allen, and several years his senior, was among the early explorers of Northern Minnesota, having visited the Territory as early as 1800, and was one of the party who discovered Lake Itasca, the source of the Mississippi river. Allen's first visit to this region was in 1820, when he came to Fond du Lac, as a trader in what was then known as the "Northern Outfit." For several years he was associated with his brother William in the Fond du Lac department, during which time he was stationed at Sandy Lake, Leech Lake, Red Lake, Mille Lacs, and Crow Wing, and when the Indians were removed to White Earth, went there also, and remained until his death. In 1826 he was married to Miss Charlotte Chaboullier, who died at Crow Wing in the fall of 1872. She was a daughter of a member of the old Northwestern Fur Company, who was a trader on the Saskatchewan, and died in Canada in 1812. Mr. Morrison was the father of eleven children. Caroline, now in Brainerd, was married to Chris. Grandelmyer in April, 1864. Rachel resides with her sister, Mrs. Grandelmyer. John J. and Allen, at White Earth; Mary, the eldest, now Mrs. J. R. Sloan, at St. Cloud; and Louisa, now Mrs. John Bromley, at Northern Pacific Junction. Mr. Morrison died on the twenty-eighth of November, 1878, and was buried at White Earth, in the historic valley where he had passed so many eventful years. His name, however, will not perish, nor his virtues be forgotten. In the first territorial legislature he represented the district embracing the voting precincts of Sauk Rapids and Crow Wing, and when the present county of Morrison was set off, the legislature named it in honor of this esteemed veteran pioneer.