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Album of history and biography of Meeker County, Minnesota
In the compilation of this volume, it has been the aim of the publishers to prepare a local encyclopedia dealing with the history and biography of the people of Meeker county, of the past and present, comprising in a single volume of convenient form a varied fund of information, not only of interest to the present, but for preservation for coming generations, from which future searchers for historic data may draw, without the tedium incurred in the preparation of this. We have gathered together a vast mass of historic facts, and present them with individual sketches of hundreds of those who have been identified with the development of the various localities. That our work is wholly without error, or that nothing of interest has been omitted, is more than we dare to hope, and is more than any reasonable or intelligent reader will expect, but we have spared neither pains nor expense in our efforts to have the work as nearly perfect as it is possible for such a work to be made. The manuscript of the historical portions was carefully submitted to committees of prominent old settlers, who were requested to make all changes or additions necessary for a complete and correct work. The certificates of these gentlemen will be found on page iv. As to the biographical department, equal care was bestowed. The biographical sketches, in every case, were submitted to those whom they concerned, so that all had an opportunity to correct and revise the statements and data before it was sent to press.
In closing our labors, we have the gratifying consciousness of having used our utmost endeavors in securing reliable data, and feel no hesitancy in submitting the result to an intelligent public, feeling justified in believing that the work will compare favorably with any local historical work ever published in the State.
There is always more or less difficulty, in an historical work, in selecting those things which will interest the greatest number of readers. Individual tastes differ so widely, that that which may be of absorbing interest to one has no attractions for another. Some are interested only in that which concerns themselves, and do not care to read of even the most thrilling adventures in which they were not participants. Such persons are apt to conclude that what they are not interested in is of no value, and its preservation in history a useless expense. In this, they are in error, as the most trivial reminiscence becomes more and more important, as years roll by, and the preservation of the names of the pioneer participants is regarded with a just pride by their descendants. In the .settlement of any new township or county, no one person is entitled to all the credit for what has been accomplished, but every individual is a part of the great whole, and all are directly or indirectly connected with each step of progress. For this reason, it is always a very difficult — if not impossible — task to measure and express the exact meed of praise or commendation due to the individual, and we have, therefore, stated facts, with "naught set down in malice or in praise."
In conclusion, we desire to express our sincere thanks to the citizens generally, the pioneers, the press, and the county, township and village officials, who have extended more than ordinary courtesy to our employes in their arduous duties of obtaining data.
That our efforts may prove satisfactory, and this volume receive a welcome commensurate with the care bestowed upon its preparation, is the earnest desire of the compilers.
Table of Contents
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
HISTORY OF MINNESOTA.
CHAPTER I.
Location, Topography, &c. 123
CHAPTER II
History from 1660 to 1888 125
CHAPTER III.
The Indian Massacre 133
CHAPTER IV.
Territorial and State Officers 140
CHAPTER V.
Representation in Congress and Creation of Counties 143
HISTORY OF MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA
CHAPTER I.
Location and Topography 499
CHAPTER II.
Early Settlement 500
CHAPTER III.
Official Matters 509
CHAPTER IV.
Political 519
CHAPTER V.
Journalism and Education 527
CHAPTER VI.
Meeker County During the Massacre 531
CHAPTER VIII.
Forest City Township 550
CHAPTER IX.
Manannah Township 553
CHAPTER X.
Kingston Township 556
CHAPTER XI.
Cedar Mills Township 558
CHAPTER XII.
Swede Grove Township 560
CHAPTER XIII.
Dassel Township 561
CHAPTER XIV.
Darwin Township 567
CHAPTER XV.
Harvey Township 568
CHAPTER XVI.
Danielson Township 569
CHAPTER XVII.
Litchfield Township 570
CHAPTER XVIII.
Cosmos Township 572
CHAPTER XIX.
Union Grove Township 573
CHAPTER XX.
Forest Prairie Township 574
CHAPTER XXI.
Acton Township 575
CHAPTER XXII.
Greenleaf Township 578
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Collinwood Township 579
CHAPTER XXIV.
Ellsworth Township 581
CHAPTER XXV.
History of Litchfield 584
BIOGRAPHICAL
ILLUSTRATIONS
Portraits
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GEORGE WASHINGTON, the "Father of his Country" and its first President, 1789-'97, was born February 22, 1732, in Washington Parish, Westmoreland Count y, Virginia. His father, Augustine Washington, first married Jane Butler, who bore him four children, and March 6, 1730, he married Mary Ball. Of six children by his second marriage, George was the eldest, the others being Betty, Samuel, John, Augustine, Charles and Mildred, of whom the youngest died in infancy. Little is known of the early years of Washington, beyond the fact that the house in which he was born was burned during his early child- hood, and that his father thereupon moved to another farm, inherited from his paternal ancestors, situated in Stafford County, on the north bank of the Rappahannock, where he acted as agent of the Principio Iron Works in the immediate vicinity, and died there in 1743.
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