Select pages from History of the Minnesota Valley, including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, 1882.

For more biographical histories, see Dakota-County-1881

Page 283: Hennepin and Dakota County

Page 284-289: Dakota County

Page 290: Dakota and Scott County

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Gulf of Mexico. During the Indian outbreak of 1862 Mr. Steele hurried to the scene of slaughter with the necessary supplies, riding in an open buggy, at the head of the column. In 1843 he married in Baltimore, Anna Barney, and with his bride, came to Fort Snelling when it was surrounded by Indians. During the latter years of his live he passed tho winters in Washington but always spoke of Minnesota as his home. While riding with an acquaintance on the 9th of September, 1880, Mr. Steele was suddenly siezed with dizziness, soon after lost consciousness, and at- an early hour the next morning his spirit departed to his God. It will be long before his friends and his family will forget Franklin Steele.

"To live in hearts we leave behind

Is not to die."

Colonel John H. Stevens, the pioneer of Minneapolis proper, is a Native of Lower Canada, where he was bon June 13th, 1820. His first move was to the lead mines of Illinois and Wisconsin. During the war with Mexico, he served with the army of invasion and after the war closed, he came to the territory of Minnesota, which had recently been set apart from Iowa. He located on the original townsite of Minneapolis, opposite the Falls of St. Anthony. The nearest habitation of white men was Fort Snelling. He has lived to see grow from his humble home a city of fifty thousand souls. He has frequently been honored with seats in the senate and house of representatives in the state legislature, and has also held high and responsible offices of trust and honor, both civil and military, with the greatest success and credit. He was married May 10th, 1850, in Rockford, Illinois, to Miss Francis H. Miller, of Oneida county, New York.

William Drew Washburn, was born at Livermore, Androscoggin county, Maine, January 14th, 1851. He graduated from Bowdoin College, and was admitted to the bar in 1857; the same year he came west, and was appointed agent of the Minneapolis Mill Company, in which be afterwards became a partner. In 1861 be was commissioned by President Lincoln, surveyor general of Minnesota; built a large saw-mill, and has since been actively engaged in the lumber trade. He was the chief mover in projecting the Minneapolis and St. Louis railway; he is president of the company. In 1872, he built the finest lumber mill in the state, at Anoka, and has since built a large flouring mill at the same place. In 1873, he, with

others, built the Palisade mill, here. November, 1878, he was elected representative of the third congressional district, and in 1880 re-elected. He married in 1859, Lizzie Muzzle, of Bangor, Maine.

Henry T. Welles, was born April 3d, 1821, in Hartford county, Connecticut. Belonging to one of the best families of his native state, he was favored with rare advantages, and in 1843 graduated from Trinity College, Hartford. The first ten years after leaving college were mostly spent on the farm, divided with duties of a public character, and in 1850 he was honored with a seat in the legislature of his native state. Upon his arrival at St. Anthony in 1853 he became interested in the lumber business, and also purchased considerable real estate. In 1855 he was elected mayor of that city. He removed to Minneapolis in 1856, since which time he has been closely identified with the interests of the city. Mr. Welles has held various offices of trust, but since 1864 has had neither time nor inclination to engage in political matters; he never hesitates, however, to give substantial aid in all matters that are of advantage to the city and state of his adoption.

J. C. Whitney was born in April, 1818, at Springfield, Vermont. In 1829, moved with his parents to Canada, and remained until twenty years of age. He attended college, at Oberlin, Ohio, and in 1849, graduated from Union Seminary, New York. The same year removed to Stillwater, Minnesota, where he was pastor of the First Presbyterian church until 1853; at that time he came to Minneapolis, and held the position of pastor of the First Presbyterian church here four years. In 1857 removed to Forest City, and. returned here in 1860. In 1862, enlisted and served three years; was appointed quartermaster with the rank of captain. Returned in 1865 and engaged in real estate business. Mr. Whitney married in 1849, Eliza Bayard.

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DAKOTA COUNTY

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CHAPTER XLVII.

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County CREATED-SETTLEMENT AT Hastings-SETTLEMENT OF TOWNSHIPS-BIOGRAPHICAL

Dakota was one of the nine original counties created by the first territorial legislature. The

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act was passed October 27th, 1849, which defined the boundaries and declared the existence of this county.

Those boundaries were scarcely such, however, as the boundaries of to-day. All that portion of the territory "lying south of a line running due west from the mouth of Clear Water river to the Missouri river, and north of the north boundary line of Wabasha county," was erected into a separate county, called Dakota ("allied") from the Indian tribe that inhabited it.

The north boundary line of Wabasha county, referred to above, is given in the laws of 1849 as "a line running due west from a point on the Mississippi river, opposite the mouth of St. Croix river, to the Missouri river." This immense territory included ten or twelve of the counties of to-day, but scarcely embraced the northern half of Dakota county as bounded at present.

Under the revised statutes, all the territory west of the Mississippi river, and east of a line running from Medicine Bottle's village at Pine Bend, due south to the Iowa line, was erected into a separate county known as Wabasha. This included Hastings and other valuable portions of the present Dakota county.

By the revision, also, Dakota county was made to consist of all that part of the territory west of the Mississippi river, and lying west or the county of Wabasha, and south of a line beginning at the mouth of Crow river, and up said river and the north branch thereof to its source. and thence due west to the Missouri river."

Dakota county continued with a vast extent of territory for some years. By degrees many other counties were formed out of that territory, including Hennepin county, which was formed in 1852.

An act to organize certain counties, and for other purposes, was passed March 5th, 1853. By this Dakota county was given the following boundaries: "Beginning in the Minnesota river, at the mouth of Credit river, thence in a direct line to the upper branch of Cannon river, thence down said river to its lower fork, as laid down on Nicollet's map, thence on a direct line to a point in the Mississippi river opposite the mouth of St. Croix lake, thence up the Mississippi river to the mouth of the Minnesota river, thence up the Minnesota river to the place of beginning."

As time passed on other changes were made in the county boundaries. February 20th, 1855, quite important changes were made. June 11th,

1858, the boundary between Scott and Dakota was changed. It is said that political considerations determined its final location. It seems to have been a troublesome boundary to politicians, who determined, according to hearsay, that both counties should be democratic. By skillful division of the Irish farmers who occupied the eastern part of Scott and the western part of Dakota these politicians were able to accomplish their purposes, though at the expense of a regular boundary line. Changes in this western boundary were made again in 1860 and in 1871. The present northern boundary was fixed in 1873.

The county seat was first established in 1853 at Kaposia. There were no county buildings and no county offices, other than the houses of the officers. The following year the county seat was removed to Mendota, the commissioners meeting there for the first time February 6th, 1854.

At this time Hastings being the largest town in the county, and becoming the following month an incorporated city, on St. Patrick's day, March 17th, 1857, it was voted by the people to establish the county seat in the newly-fledged city. The records were accordingly removed from Mendota on the 2d day of June following.

Hastings has continued as the permanent county seat since that date, although two attempts have been made in behalf of other locations. In 1860 a bill was passed allowing the people to decide by ballot on the claims of Pine Bend. Six hundred and eighty-six votes were cast in favor of the pro-posed removal and eleven hundred and twenty-five against it.

Farmington was the next aspirant for the honor, presenting her own more central location, to the disparagement of Hastings. In 1868 the act permitting a vote upon the issue was passed, but it "-as decided, by five or six hundred majority, to maintain the county seat at Hastings.

The first territorial legislature convened September 3d. 1849, and adjourned the first of the following November. The county was represented in the council by John Rollins, Fifth district; and Martin McLeod, Seventh district; and in the house by Wm. R Marshall, Wm. Dugas, Fifth district; and Alexis Bailly and Gideon H. Pond, Seventh district.

Michigan territory had jurisdiction over it until 1836, and Wisconsin until 1838. Iowa territory was then organized, and Dakota county, in common with other territory west of the Mississippi

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river, became subject to its legal dispensations. The first officer of justice in the county was H. H. Sibley, who was appointed a justice of the peace by Governor Porter, of Michigan, and again by Governor Chambers, of Iowa, in 1838. His jurisdiction was over the territory included in Clayton county, Iowa, "an empire in itself," extending from below Prairie du Chien to Pembina, and westward from the Mississippi to the Missouri. General Sibley was, at this time, a resident of Mendota. Several important cases were brought before him, including the trial of Phelan for the murder of Hays.

On the 11th day of June, 1849, the governor issued his second proclamation, dividing the territory into three judicial districts. The seat of justice for the third district was at Mendota, and the first court was held there on the first Monday in August. Judge David Cooper presided, and H. H. Sibley was foreman of the grand jury, the first ever impaneled west of the Mississippi river in Minnesota. Judge Cooper delivered a written charge, able and finished, "but only three of the twenty old men composing the jury," understood a word of the language he was speaking. Major Forbes served as interpreter through the term, but no indictments were found. The court was organized in the large stone warehouse belonging to the Fur Company.

Judge Cooper's term of office was from June 1st, 1819, to April 7th, 1853. He was succeeded by Judge Andrew G. Chatfield, April 7th, 1853, to April 23d, 1857. Charles E. Flandrau succeeded him from April 23d. 1857, to May 24th, 1858.

Under the schedule of the state constitution, Dakota county was included in the fifth judicial district, and the first judge of the state of Minnesota, for this district was Nicholas M. Donaldson. He was elected in the fall of 1857, and succeeded Judge Flandrau in holding courts in the county, May 24th, 1858.

The last term of court in Dakota county, as part of the fifth judicial district, was held November 21st, 1850. at which time Thomas Wilson presided as acting judge. The county now became a part of the newly constituted first district. S. J. R. McMillan held the first court in the county, for this district, March 27th, 1860, Judge McMilllan was elected associate justice of the supreme court, the term extending from July 5th, 1864.

The first settlement in "the State of the sky-tinted water" was made in Dakota county.

Lord Selkirk's famous colony or Red River settlement, established in 1812, was just outside the present boundaries of this State. Impelled by the pangs of hunger, verging on starvation, the unfortunate colonists of Kildonan hunted the buffalo on the prairies of north-western Minnesota during one or two winters, but they were in no sense settlers here. The oldest settled county in the State lies about the junction of the Minnesota with the Mississippi river.

It was the executive force and far-sighted statesmanship of John C. Calhoun that first extended the power of the Union over this remote, uncultivated region. and thereby inaugurated its permanent possession and occupation by the whites.

Under his order of February 10th, 1819, Colonel H. Leavenworth, commanding the Fifth Regiment of Infantry, left Detroit, and came by way of Prairie du Chien to the mouth of the Minnesota river. The journey up the Mississippi was performed in keel-boats, and was completed August 23d, 1819. At that date the detachment arrived at New Hope (Mendota), and established a cantonment on the south bank of the Minnesota. near the end of. the railway bridge which at present spans that stream.

While the detachment was at Prairie du Chien, a daughter was born to Lieutenant Nathan Clark, commissary of the regiment, and to Mrs. Charlotte (Seymour) Clark, his wife. This daughter, now Mrs. Charlotte O. Van Cleve of Minneapolis, was born on the first of July. Her father proceeded, in August, with Colonel Leavenworth to the Minnesota, but from all that can be ascertained his wife and daughter did not arrive there until November. It is said that owing to the unusually low stage of water, the keel-boats were frequently drawn though the sand by the wading boatmen, and Mrs. Clark and little daughter were six weeks on the tedious voyage from Prairie du Chien to Mendota.

Mrs. Clark's was the first white baby in Dakota county, and is said to have been an object of great curiosity to the Indians, who came from far and near to see it.

There were several ladies connected with the regiment, and among them Mrs. Gooding, wife of Captain Gooding, who came with her husband, as a part of the original detachment. She was probably the first white woman in the county. If others arrived at the same time their names have not been preserved.

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Only the rudest pickets and tents were ready for use in the first winter, that of 1819-20, and until these could be erected the company were obliged to occupy the flat-boats.

The troops took up summer quarters at Camp Coldwater, on the opposite side of the river, but returned to their old quarters at Mendota for the winter of 1820-'21.

During the summer of 1820, Colonel Josiah Snelling succeeded Colonel Leavenworth as commander. Mrs. Abagail Snelling came with him, and in September of that year gave birth to a daughter, the first white child ever born in Dakota county. Mrs. Snelling's sick-room at Mendota was papered, and carpeted with buffalo robes, and made as warm and comfortable as possible.

In October, 1821, Mrs. Snelling's child, Elizabeth, died at Mendota, where she was born, and was the first interment in the military graveyard at Fort Snelling.

In October of 1822, some of the buildings at Fort Snelling were ready for occupancy, and a part of the garrison occupied them. It was not until 1824 that the original cantonment, variously referred to as St. Peter's, New Hope, and Mendota was entirely broken up. Then the eventful and interesting history of Fort Snelling began, a sketch of which has been given previously.

The honor of first settlement in Dakota county belongs properly to Jean Baptiste Faribault, who was born at Berthier, Canada, in 1817, and died at Faribault, August 20th, 1860.

In 1820, at the solicitation of Colonel Leavenworth, he located at Pike's Island, where he built log cabins and had some acres of ground under cultivation. In June of 1822, that island was flooded, as it has been the present year, and Mr. Faribault was forced to remove, with heavy loss, to the east bank of the Mississippi. In 1826, the father of waters was again in wrath, and forced the Faribault's to seek still higher ground. which they barely reached with their collection of furs.

It was then that Jean Baptiste Faribauit built the first house in the county at Mendota. The excavations of the railroad company have well nigh destroyed its site, and the very dead, who reposed about it, have been driven from their resting places.

Mr Faribault's family resided at Mendota for many years.

Alexus Bailly, some account of whom is given in sketch of Hastings, was early identified with

the interests of the county, and had a residence at Mendota for some six or eight years, beginning about 1826-8.

Pierre Gervais, a Red River refugee, came to Mendota in 1836, and entered into the employ of the American Fur Company. William Beaumette, a Canadian stone-mason, who had settled at Red River about 1818 or 1819, lived at Mendota for some years after the Selkirk exodus

Vetal Guerin, who was born in 1812, at St. Remi, Canada, arrived at Mendota, late in the fall of 1832, having journeyed with a large company of voyageurs from Montreal. The whole distance was made in boats. He lived at Mendota until 1839. Antoine Le Claire came about the same time.

The year 1834 marks the coming of Henry Hastings Sibley.

He continued a staunch devotee of the interests of Dakota county for many rears. He came as superintendent of the fur company, but he remained as a citizen. In 1836 John Miller, stone-mason, built for him at Mendota, the first stone residence in the state. It is now owned by the Roman Catholic sisters, or at least, is occupied by them, after the manner of their order.

Many of the early settlers of St. Paul, came there by way of Mendota. During the early days of St. Paul, Mendota was the only place where tea, flour, pork, sugar, and the other bare necessities of life could be obtained. General Sibley's store opened soon after his arrival, marks the proper be-ginning of the now great commercial interest of the state, as well as county.

The stone hotel built by Alexander Faribault in 183S, was exceedingly early in the list of hostelries, and ready for the corners of the following year, who settled east of the great river.

Before advancing further to the period of actual, permanent possession of the whole domain of this county by the settler some mention must he made of the Indian treaties.

The treaty made by Lieutenant Pike in 1805, and previously described, included, in time lands obtained by it, a part of the territory now embraced in this county. This land, as previously stated, was ceded for the purposes of a military reservation.

The treaty of 1837, concluded by Governor Dodge of Wisconsin, by which the Chippewas ceded the pine valley of the St. Croix and its tributaries, opened the way for new progress every

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where, and filled the hearts of the settlers with hope. The following year all the country east of the Mississippi was open for settlement, and settiers increased. An eager eye was already cast on the lands west of the Mississippi. Accordingly, Governor Doty of Wisconsin, negotiated treaties for the cession of those lands in 1841. The treaty with the lower bands of Sioux was concluded at Mendota. Twenty-five million acres of land were embraced in these treaties, which for some reason failed of confirmation by the United States senate.

Any further development of Dakota county was thereby delayed until the treaty of 1851. July 29, 1851, the chiefs and principal head men of the Med-e-wa-kan-ton-wan and Wah-pe-kute bands of Sioux met the commissioners of the United States in grand council. The place of meeting was the upper room of the large warehouse at Mendota. The pipe was passed and smoked, and Governor Ramsey made a sensible speech, which was interpreted by Rev. G. H. Pond. He said that the lands were becoming destitute of game and of little value to the Indians, owing to that and to the fact that they would soon be surrounded by the whites, the upper bands having already sold their possessions. He had left his home many times and been a greater distance from it than they were asked to go. They would be paid money, furnished. supplies to a certain amount, and still live on their own lands, if they acceded to the requests of the government.

Colonel Luke Lea, Indian commissioner, also addressed the council, which was broken up, to submit the proposition of the government to the Indians. This was done by the interpreter.

The confirmation of the treaty hung long in doubt. It was solely the surpassing tact of Commissioner Lea and Governor Ramsey that brought it to a successful close. The Indians spoke many wholesome truths, but they were no match for the shrewd, white diplomats. Finally, Little Crow, first turning to the Indian soldiers' lodge, and saying "that he was not afraid of any one's killing him, though he should sign the treaty first; for a man had to die sometime, and could die but once," then took his seat and a pen and signed duplicate copies of the treaty. Wapasba next made his mark, and sixty-four chiefs, head-men and warriors, in all, signed the documents.

"By the conditions of this treaty the Med-e-wa-kan-ton-wan and Wali-pe-kute bands of Indians cede and relinquish all their lands in the territory

of Minnesota and state of Iowa. In consideration whereof, the United States reserve for them a home, of the average width of ten miles, on either side of the Minnesota river, bounded on the west by the Tehay-Tam-bay and Yellow Medicine rivers, on the east by the Little Rock river, and a line running due south from its mouth to the Little Waraja river, and agrees to pay them the following sums of money: For settling debts and to aid in removal, $220.000; for the erection of buildings, opening of farms, etc., $30,000; civilization fund, annually, $12,000; educational fund, annually, $6,000; goods and provisions, annually, $10,000; cash, $30,000.

"These annuities continue for fifty years. The introduction of spirituous liquors within the borders of the ceded territory is prohibited, until other-wise ordered by the president."

This treaty was ratified by the United States senate in 1852, and the event was signalized by a rapid staking out of claims in many desirable locations. The few first succeeding years saw Dakota county entirely transformed. From 1853 to 1857-four brief years-the change was indeed remarkable. In that period Hastings grew from the dimensions and appearance of a New England farm to those of a flourishing western town. The growth here may be taken as an index of that throughout the county. Settlement at Hastings began with the Bailly's in 1850 and the squatters of 1851, such as Van Rennsalaer and Abraham Truax. The settlers of 1852 were few in number; the year 1853 brought many new-corners. In 1854 and 1855 the rapid growth began. The growth of 1855 was rapid yet substantial. The first of January, 1856, saw a population in Hastings of quite seven hundred, most of whom had gathered at this point within a year.

But the year 1856 was the crowning one in the growth of Hastings. From the date of the opening of navigation to the 1st of the month of July there were seventy-three stone and frame houses built in the town, beside some one hundred of a temporary character, which gate way in the áutumn to durable and tasty residences. New enterprises were established. Mr. Campbell reported twelve hundred dollars as his trade for a single day. Mr. Hertzell reported twelve thousand dollars as his trade in Hastings for the month of March. Everything was thriving, active and progressive. Money flowed from one hand to an-other, cheerfulness was everywhere prevalent, and

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the citizens of Hastings hopeful and sanguine for the future of their town.

During the years of 1857 and 1858, there was an era of hard times. The financial crash that visited all parts of the country alike in the former year, and has passed into its general history, was especially severe in this new country, where rates of interest were high and money in great demand. Speculation had become almost a frenzy, previously, and it was often a most melancholy truth that men were "land poor." Five per cent. per month was paid upon notes, after their maturity, and consequently debts would double themselves in twenty mouths. Twenty thousand dollars in gold was offered for a lot that was afterwards fore-closed for a $500 mortgage, and yet Hastings grew in many ways. notwithstanding all this. "The Hastings Independent" of July 25. 1857, notes the making of several improvements and the erection of several buildings. It also speaks proudly of the manufacturing interests of the town, and adds that much machinery is being received at the levee, stating furthermore, that more freight is received at this point than at any other on the river between Dubuqne and St. Paul.

But the hard times continued in their effects until the breaking out of the war, when the farmers began to flourish again and business generally to improve.

From that time to the present, the growth of Hastings has been substantial rather than rapid, and it has consequently achieved a reputation as a thorough-going and substantially prosperous business point.

With the year 1881, a new epoch of business improvement seems to be dawning, and the capital gathered here appears ready to enlarge the boundaries of its operations. The foundations of new enterprises have been laid, new blocks have been contracted for, new dwellings are in process of erection, and the manufacturing facilities have been increased.

The future takes earnest of the past, and will be shaped successfully, doubtless, by skillful hands and scheming brains, actuated by a worthy purpose.

What is here said of the city of Hastings, can be said of the whole county of Dakota, of which Hastings is the center or heart.

Alexis Baily is well known as one of the early settlers of Minnesota. and one of those shrewd men who saw that the Sioux must soon relinquish

his title in favor of the United States, and waited in anticipation of the day when claims might be made. He was thoroughly acquainted with all the country about the upper Mississippi. and bad fixed upon Olive Grove as an inevitable place for a townsite. Accordingly, Mr. Bailly detailed his son Henry to keep a hold of the site and be ready on the spot, as the first claimant. As there could be no legal occupancy, except under the license of a trader, such a license was procured, and Henry Bailly came to Olive Grove as its first permanent settler in 1850. Mr. Alexis Baillv went, as early as 1821, to the Red River of the North with a herd of cattle, and had several narrow escapes from the savages. He was afterward engaged as agent for time American Fur Company. For some years he had charge of the trading-post at Wabasha. anti used often to make: the jouruey from there to Mendota. with his family in a canoe; sometimes hunting and fishing, they would take weeks in reaching their destination. Mr. Bailly's wife was a daughter of Jean Baptiste Faribault.

Jean Baptiste Faribault, to whom belongs the honor of making the first settlement in Dakota county, was born at Berthier, Canada, in 1774, and died at Faribault, Minnesota, August 20th, 1860. He came to the West its a trader, in 1798, and came to Little Rapids, on the Minnesota river, in 1803-4. During the war of 1812 he remained the friend of the United States, and was arrested by the British, and for some time held a prisoner. In 1820 he located on Pike Island, at the junction of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers, from which high waters in 1822 forced him to remove to the east bank of the Mississippi. There he remained until 1826, when again the water forced him to seek higher ground, which was gained with considerable loss in furs and goods. He then built at Mendota the first house in Dakota county. Mr. Faribault's family remained residents of Mendota for many years. He survived most of his large family of children. His son Alexander, born at Prairie du Chien, was the oldest of the children, and is still living near the city of Faribault, which he founded. His wife was the daughter of one Francis Kinie, by a Dakota woman. In person, Jean Baptiste Faribault was small, but his bearing is said to have been dignified. He was a worthy man and his memory is held in due respect.

William Felton, born June 15, 1802, is a native of Pennsylvania. In 1825 he married Mahala

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Dana, and in 1852 they came to Hastings, Minnesota. Mrs. Felton claims the honor of being the first white woman settler at this point. Upon their arrival they rented a log house, the first house built in the town, and opened the first boarding-house in the county. This log house was only 12x16 feet in dimension, with a kitchen 10x12 feet; in these narrow quarters Mr. and Mrs. Pelton showed a generous hospitality that will long be remembered and recounted. As many as forty-three persons have remained of a night in that little log cabin, which was long ago pulled down. As early as 1853 this house was used as a place of worship by the Catholics; services were also conducted there by Rev. T. B. Cressy, a Baptist clergyman. Mr. Felton was the first elected justice of the peace, and since 1856 has been coroner. In 1854 he built the first wharf and established the first ferry, at Hastings, across the Mississippi. Since 1856 the Feltons have resided on their claim in Nininger township.

O. T. Hayes was born in New London, Merrimack county, New Hampshire, December 2d, 1827. Early in life he embarked in mercantile pursuits. He first read law with Samuel Butterfield, of Andover, New Hampshire. Came to Hastings during the fall of 1853. Was practicing law and dealing in real estate; also appointed county attorney of Goodhue county by Governor Gorman. In 1855 was made county attorney of Dakota county, also postmaster. The latter position he resigned soon after. Was one of the first aldermen in Hastings, and mayor in 1860. In 1861 he assisted in raising Company H, First Minnesota Infantry, and went out as first lieutenant. After the battle of Bull Run, was mustered out on account of physical disability. In March, 1863, was commissioned major of the First Minnesota Cavalry, by Governor Ramsey, serving until mustered out at Fort Snelling in December, 1863.

He resumed his practice, but soon retired in consequence of declining health. He was a member of the legislature in 1863. He was admitted to the bar of supreme courts in 1854, at Hastings, and is now the oldest lawyer in Dakota county.

David Hone, one of the oldest living pioneers of Minnesota, was born in Otsego county, New York, April 5th, 1808, his father being one of the early pioneers of that county. In 1837 he removed to Madison county, Illinois. He then moved to Washington county, Minnesota, and made a claim by cutting his name on a tree where Marine Mills

now stands. Returned for his family, and came back during the spring of 1839, making the trip from St. Louis to the headwaters of the St. Croix by boat in twenty-five days. Alter a short time spent in lumbering interests, removed in 1840 to Gray Cloud Island, and for three years engaged in farming. Daring the spring of 1843 located at Point Douglas, and in July of the same year commenced building the old Union house, which was finished in 1844, it being the first all frame building in the state. This he managed fire years, then rented it. In 1871 came to Hastings. In 1875 he retired from active pursuits in consequence of failing health. Mr. Hone was formerly magistrate at Gray Cloud Island, and took a territorial census in 1849.

John Kennedy, was born September 22d, 1827, in Canada West. Here he was reared and received his education at the public and normal schools. He afterwards taught school several years. In 1853 came to Traverse des Sioux, Minnesota. The next spring he went to Mendota, Dakota county, and was book-keeper for General Sibley until January, 1856. He then resigned to take the office of register of deeds, having been elected during the fall of 1855. This position he held six years. In August, 1862, he organized company F, Seventh Minnesota Infantry, paying all the expenses of organizing, as to uniform, arms, transportation, etc., the company being mustered in at Fort Snelling, with Mr. Kennedy as captain. Served until mustered out at Fort Snelling. August 16th, 1865, with the rank of major, which he received March 13th, 1863, for gallant conduct at the battle before Nashville, Tennessee. Returning to Hastings after the war, he was elected in 1866 auditor of Dakota county, which office he held until entering upon his duties as postmaster of Hastings in 1873.

Daniel W. Truax, one of the early pioneers of this county, was born in Montreal, Canada, December 23d, 1830. Removed to St. Lawrence county, New York, with his parents, and there received his early education. In 1849, came to Point Douglas and at once engaged in farming. Was elected to the territorial legislature in 1851. Followed agricultural pursuits until 1853, then built a saw-mill in company with John Blakely in Nininger township, and in the fall of 1855, sold his interests and purchased a steam saw-mill, in which he was interested until 1861. Removing at that time to Hastings, he purchased in company with

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Mr. Knowlton, what is now known as the Libby mill. In 1863, disposed of his share, and until 1871, engaged in the grocery trade, and has since farmed and dealt in farm machinery. Married in 1853, Mary A. Truax, of St. Lawrence county, New York.

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SCOTT COUNTY.

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CHAPTER XLVIII.

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ORGANIZAT1ON-BOUNDARIES-OFFICIALS-NATURAL FEATURES-SETTLEMENT-INCIDENTS.

By act of territorial legislature at the session of 1853, the county of Scott was established and bounded as follows : beginning at the north-east corner of township 112 north, range 21 west of the fifth meridian; thence west on the township line between townships 112 and 113 to the middle of the main channel of the Minnesota river : thence down said channel to the mouth of Credit river; thence in a (direct line to the place of beginning.

By an act of legislature passed May 23, 1857, describing the corporate limits of Shakopee, that part of section one lying north of the river was detached from Carver and became part of Scott county.

A subsequent change was made March 6th, 1871, when the present boundary between this and Dakota county was established. The proposition was submitted to the people at the next annual election, and ratified by vote, and a subsequent act empowered the registers in each county to transcribe the records pertaining to land affected, from the books of the other.

The first officers of the county, appointed by Governor Ramsey, were: Thomas S. Turner, chair-man; Frank Wasson and Comfort Barnes, commissioners; Ai G. Apgar, sherill; Daniel Apgar, justice of peace. The first regular meeting of the board was held July 4th, 1853, at Holmes' store, Shakopee. The board appointed Daniel Apgar judge of probate, and William H. Nobles county surveyor. The board also constituted the entire county one election precinct, and the Wasson house, the first hotel at Shakopee, the place of election, with Alvin Dorward, Samuel Apgar and H. D. J. Koons, judges of election.

The board at their several sessions considered petitions for roads, and took earnest measures for opening the county for settlement. The first of

the numerous actions in regard to roads, was the appointing of H. H. Strunk, Henry D. J. Koons and Thomas A. Holmes road viewers, and the granting of the petition of Thomas S. Turner, asking for the laying out of a road from Shakopee to the western borders of the county. For the purpose of removing obstacles to settlement, they addressed a communication to the governor, requesting the removal of the Indians to lands provided for them by the recent treaty, urging prompt action in the matter.

The first election was held the third Monday in September, 1853, at the Wasson house: officers: Samuel Apgar, chairman; Frank Wasson and Comfort Barnes, commissioners; Al G. Apgar, sheriff; H. H. Spencer, treasurer; William H. Nobles, register of deeds and county surveyor; Daniel Apgar, judge of probate; E. A. Greenleaf, clerk of court; L. M. Brown, district attorney. Joseph B. Brown, of Henderson, was elected to council, and Wm. H. Nobles to the house, from the sixth district, to which this county belonged, for the fifth territorial legislature. The register of deeds was ex-officio auditor. Mr. Nobles was therefore register, auditor and surveyor.

October 23d, 1853, E. A. Greenleaf appears by the records as register of deeds. January 2d, 1854, Benjamin P. Davis was appointed treasurer in place of Spencer resigned. February 6th, 1854, the board passed a vote of thanks to D. L. Fuller and Thomas A. Holmes, for the gift of a site for county buildings, and February 6th following, Comfort Barnes introduced a resolution, which was adopted by the board, by which Shakopee was established as the county seat, designating block fifty-six, received from Holmes and Fuller, as the site for county buildings. On the same day, the western part of the county was created a separate election precinct, called Chatfield; E. G. Covington, Nelson Roberts and Ambrose Wolker, judges of election.

January, 1855, the county was divided into three assessors districts; assessors, David King~ horn, first district, Harrison Raynor, second, Thomas S. Turner, third.

April 7th, 1856, the election precincts were changed and the following created : Shakopee Eagle Creek, Belle Plaine, Credit River, Spring Lake, Jordan, Helena and Cedar Lake.

April 5th, 1858, at a meeting of the county board, the boundaries of the several towns were established, and July 5th, 1858, the system

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