MNGenWeb - Washington County, Minnesota - History of County

Washington County is situated on tlie eastern border of the state, and is hounded north by Chisago County, east by the St. Croix River, which separates it from Wisconsin, south by the Mississippi, which separates it from Dakota County, and west by the Mississippi and by Ramsey and Anoka Counties. It is about thirty-eight miles in length and eleven miles in average width, embracing an area of 418 square miles or 267,520 acres. The lower portion of the county is rich roiling prairie; the central portion abounds in small prairies and oak openings; while the northern part is chiefly timber. It is welt watered, having quite a number of small lakes and streams. The hlutfs along the St. Croix Lake aud River, though not very high, are often bold and precipitous, presenting beautiful scenery, and in many places broken hy narrow valleys, watercourses and deep ravines.

PRODUCTS

The products of the county in 1873 were as follows: Whole cultivated area, 58,572 acres; farms, 1,001; farms in 1870, 670, showing au increase in three years of 322 farms. Of this area 35,833 acres were in wheat; 8429 acres in oats; 6046 acres in corn; 541 acres in barley; 369 acres in rye; 66 acres in buckwheat; 7 acres in beans; 12 acres in hops; 47 acres in flax; 669 acres in potatoes; 6,103 acres in cultivated hay, and 550 acres in other crops. The apple trees growing were 26,548, bearing 4,161; horses, 2,995; colts, 2,184; cows, 3,867; fat and working cattle, 508; mules, 198; hogs, 3,467.

PROPERTY AND TAXES

The whole assessed value of property in the county iu 1873 was $8,801,838; the aggregate value of lands other than town lots, including structures thereon, $1,481,023; the aggregate value of town aud city lots, including structures thereon, $1,123.131; value of personal property, $1,197,754; acres of land taxed, 211,353; total taxes assessed, $121,259.24.

HISTORICAL

Portions of the territory now embraced in Washington County were among the earliest settled in the state. In 1889, Joseph R. R. Brown located a claim at the head of Lake St. Croix. That claim is now partly, if not wholly, included in the limits of Stillwater. Being at the head of St. Croix Lake, which is navigable by Mississippi steamers, Mr. Brown thought it would be a site for a future city; and through his influence the Territorial Legislature of Wisconsin, on the 9th of January, 1840, organized the County of St. Croix, and located the county seat on his claim. Tho county extended from a point on Lake Pepin northeast to Montreal River aud Lake Superior, embracing all the territory north to the British possessions. As there was no boundary on the west, it might have extended in that direction to the Pacific Ocean. At all events, it embraced all of northwestern Wisconsin and a considerable portion of Minnesota.

According to the provisions of the act, an election was held aud County Commissioners elected, though their constituency at that time must have been very small. The County Commissioners were Hazen Mooers, Samuel Burkleo and Joseph R. Brown. At the first meeting of the Board, October 5, 1840, Joseph R. Brown was chosen Clerk. Among the acts of the Board was the granting of thirty dollars apiece to Joseph R. Brown and William Dibble, for carrying the election returns to Prairie-du-Chien, then the capital of Wisconsin Territory. The Board of Commissioners deeded to the said Joseph R. Brown the tract of land described in his claim, in consideration of $800 paid into the county treasury, and purchased from the said Brown one-half acre for a county seat, to be selected by the County Commissioners in a central part of the town, when it should be laid out. The Board also made a contract with Joseph R. Brown to provide the necessary buildings for a court-house, jail and county offices for a term of four years.

Among the acts of that Board was the granting of a license to Philander Prescott to keep a ferry across the St. Croix River, at or near its mouth, The ferry was accordingly established, becoming the nucleus of th e present town of Prescott, Wisconsin. Philander Prescott was the first Assessor of St.. Croix County, but resigned before his term of office expired.

Ou the 5th of July, 1841, the County Commissioners erected the following precincts in St. Croix County, and appointed judges of elections therein; 1. Grey Cloud Island (Hazen Mooers, Joseph Haskell and David Hone, judges; 2. Mouth of St. Croix River (Philander Prescott's), Oscar Burress and Mr. Bush, judges; 3. Marine Mills (Samuel Burkleo's), Asa Parker aud T. Harrington, judges; 4. Falls of St. Croix (Joshua L. Taylor's), W. Furber and Jesse Taylor, judges; 5. Pokagama (Jeremiah Russell's), E. Myers and M. Ely, judges.

These facts are interesting as showing that all these points were settled as early as 1840. But in most of the places the settlement was not permanent. Joseph R. Brown's county seat, at Ihe head of Lake SI. Croix (called Dakota), was superseded by Stillwater which began to be settled iu 1843. (See section Stillwater, below.) Ou the 2d of February, 1846, the Legislature of Wisconsin passed an act declaring Stillwater and St. Paul election precincts iu the couuty of St. Croix. The second section of the act made Stillwater the county seat of St. Croix Couuty. It continued to be such till Washington County was organized by act of the first Territorial Legislature of Minnesota, in 1849, when it was made the county seat of Washington County. The following were the first officers of Washington County; Socrates Nelson, County Treasurer; Harvey Wilson, Judge of Probate; Jesse Taylor, Sheriff; John S. Proctor, Register of Deeds; Harvey Wilson, Clerk of District Court; David B. Loomis, Surveyor of Lumber; Harvey Wilson, County Surveyor: John McKusick, Hiram Burkey, and Joseph Haskell, County Commissioners; Asa Parker, Calvin F. Leach, and H. D. White, County Assessors; William H. Johnson, Mahlon Black, and B. J. Otis, Road Supervisors.

COURTS

The first District Court under the County of St. Croix was held iu Stillwater, in June, 1847; Charles Dunn, Judge; Joseph R. Brown, Clerk. This Court was held iu the upper story of John McKusick's store. Notin, a Chippewa Indian, was tried for murder, but was not convicted. The last court under the old County of St. Croix was held in the old court-house, now standing on the corner of Chestnut a n d Fourth Streets, in August, 1849; Judge Aaron Goodrich presided; Harvey Wilson was Clerk; A. M. Mitchell, United States District Attorney; H. L. Moss, District Attorney for the County; John Morgan, Sheriff. On the 2d of October, 1849, the Legislature made Washington County the Second Judicial District of Minnesota territory. The first term ot court was held by Judge David Cooper, on the 11th of February, 1850; Henry L. Tilden, Deputy United States Marshal; Henry L. Moss, United States District Attorney; M. S. Wilkinson, District Attorney for Washington County; Jesse Taylor, Sheriff; Harvey Wilson. Clerk. A young man named Isaiah McMillen was tried under au indictment for murder, for shooting an associate, and was sentenced to one year's imprisonment at Fort Snelling.

The present court-house was commenced in the Spring of 1867, amd finished im 1870, at a cost, including jail, ot $55,000. The first term of court was held in the new building June 7, 1870; Charles McClure. Judge; Isaac Van VIeck, County Attorney; Joseph R. Carli, Sheriff; Harvey Wilson, Clerk.

SCHOOLS

There are 54 school districts in the County of Washington, in all of which schools were kept in 1873; number of teachers, 57; pupils, 5,253; apportionment of school fund, $10,464.22. These do not include the schools in the City of Stillwater, nor the St. Croix Valley Academy at Afton.

COUNTY INSTITUTIONS

The County Poor-house is located about five miles north of the City of Stillwater, and has connected with it a farm of 200 acres. The building is a two-story frame structure. The Superintendent, Andrew Richmond, has under his charge six or seven inmates, aud the County furnishes aid to several families not in the poor-house.

The Washington County Agricultural Society holds its annual fairs on the grounds of the Stillwater Driving Park Association, located on the northeast quarter of section 32, town 30, range 20, near Stillwater. The officers of the Agricultural Society are, William Fowler, President; Martin Mower, Vice President; W. H. Getehell, Secretary; H. Lehemicke, Treasurer.

OFFICERS FOR 1874

J. A. Johnson, Sheriff
Rudolph Lehemicke, Auditor
Harvey Wilson, Clerk of Court
Alexander Oldham, Co. Surveyor
J. C. Rhodes, Coroner
Myron Shepard, Treasurer
A. M. Dodd, Register of Deeds
Percy B. Smith, County Attorney
E. G. Butts, Judge of Probate
Rev. A. D. Roe [or Roy], Supt. ot Schools

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

S. L. Cowen, Chairman
Fred Meilicke
James Middleton
J. C. Rhodes
J. H. Soule

STILLWATER

Stillwater, the couuty seat of Washington County, is a thriving city ot about seven thousand inhabitants. It is situated at the head of Lake St. Croix, which from the Mississippi to this point, a distance of twenty-four miles, is a widening of the Sf. Croix River, making it navigable for Mississippi steamboats to Stillwater, while above this for thirty miles, to Taylor's Falls, the river is navigable for a smaller class of boats. The location of the city gives it several important advantages, not the least of which is its water navigation. The absence ot current in the lake affords excellent facilities for collecting into booms the multitudes of logs which are annually driven down the river from the pineries above to supply the mills al this point, and to find a market below on the Mississippi. Here the surplus logs are easily rafted and towed out by small steamers which are constantly employed during the rafting season, giving the lake in front ot the city a very active appearance.

This lumbering interest has built up Stillwater. Logs arc handled and manufactured here to the amount of between two and three millions of dollars per annum. The mills are chiefly steam mills, and the sawdust and waste materials are more than sufficient to drive the machinery. The mills in Stillwater and vicinity are the following: Schulenburg, Boeckler & Co.'s Mills, Seymour, Sabin & Co.'s Mills, St. Croix Mills (owned by Isaac Staples), Mills of McKusick, Anderson & Co., Northwestern Mills of Hersey, Bean & Brown, St. Croix Lumber Company's Steam Saw and Planing Mills, the Mills of J. M. Keller, and Gaslin and Castle's Mills. These mills have an aggregate capacity for the manufacture of 800,000 feet ot lumber per day, besides enormous quantities of lath aud shingles, aud give employment to not less than 1,500 men. The active capital employed in this interest is about $3,000,000.

The scenery on the St. Croix and about Stillwater is very beautiful, the bluffs on either side of the lake being bold aud picturesque, and often cut by deep ravines and water-courses. The valley in which the principal business part of Stillwater is situated crowds the bluffs back into a sort of semi-circle, on the sides and summits of which are the more ornamental structures and private residences. This naturally beautiful spot has been taken advantage of by the enterprising citizens ami rendered still more attractive by the grading of tlie streets and by the numerous terraces and embankments which form a feature of many of the grounds. The court-house, public school buildings, and some of the best churches and residences are on North and South Hills, and the view from either of these hills is very fine, commanding the lake in front and the bluffs on the opposite side in Wisconsin.

One of the contributions to Stillwater not in the programme of its original founders and builders, was what seemed to be a freak of nature in the shape of a land-slide which occurred in 1852, just after the town began to be settled. There was an unpleasant marsh in front of about the center of the town site, where the lake came up nearer to the bluffs than at any other point, seriously interfering with a good landing; but Nature took it into her head one night that she would fill that marsh up by sliding down into it one of the bluffs iu the rear of the town. Accordingly, while the few inhabitants slept, down came the bluff with its trees and shrubs in a drift of sand and water, rolling onto the verge of the lake and depositing its bulk in the marsh where most of all it seemed to be needed, banking the few cabins in its track to the windows and filling the stable of Mr. John McKusick, so that his cow and horse, which were found in the morning lifted to the very beams, had to be gotten out over the top instead of through the door. What articles of value were buried, and what curious relics of pioneer life may yet he disinterred in this locality, no one is able to say. The skeletons of Mrs. McKusick's hen and brood of young chickens lie somewhere buried beneath that drift, aud it is gravely asserted that wagons and logs which lay floating at the water's edge are promiscuously mingled with what is now the lake shore below Main Street. Mr. McKusick had planted a young orchard which has never since borne - except the weight of sand superimposed upon it to the depth of eight or ten feet.

The cause of this fortunate land slide was the turning of the channel of a small lake back of the bluffs, which had formerly found an outlet in Brown's Creek, a mile or so above town. Mr. McKusick had bought the lake for a water-power, and by a dam and artificial channel had turned its course into Stillwater. The rain had been incessant for several days, aud part of the dam had broken away, allowing the water to undermine a portion of the bluff. The rnshing of the drift was heard, aud a motion felt like a slight earthquake, hut no one knew the cause till the next morning. Fortunately no one received any injury. The slide has been of great advantage to the city, the soil then deposited being now very valuable. It would have taken a long time to fill up tlie marsh by the ordinary process of carting dirt.

Early Settlement

Stillwater derives its name from Stillwater iu the State of Maine, and is peculiarly appropriate, having been suggested by the stillness, or absence ot current in the water of the lake. Those who gave it the name came from the State ot Maine. The town was located by the Stillwater Lumbering Company, consisting of the following persons: John McKusick, Elam Greeley, Ellas McKean, and Calvin F. Leach, in October, 1843. This Company erected the first building, and built the first mill in the place. The mill was finished in the Spring ot 1844. Among those who came as early as 1848 were Anson Northup, Socrates Nelson, Dr. C. Carli, Capt. William Holcomb, .H. H. McComb, Walter R. Vail, aud D. B. Loomis. John Allen was the first man who brought his wife to Stillwater. William Willim, John Mower, and Jacob Fisher wore among the first settlers, the latter being the principal millwright in the constmction of the Company's mill in 1843. Anson Northup built the first dwelling house in Stillwater. The first white child born in Stillwater (that is, in the village proper,) was Willie Taylor, son of Jesse Taylor, in 1845. A child ot Dr. Carli's had been born previous to this, at Dakota, a short distance above Stillwater. The first marriage was that of William Cove, now of Minneapolis, to Miss Nancy Edwards. Mr. Northup's house was the first hotel aud boarding-house in the place. The Stillwater House was built hy Mr. Northup in 1847. The Minnesota House, which was originally a dwelling built by Elam Greeley, was afterwards added to, and converted into a hotel.

Socrates Nelson aud Walter R. Vail were the first merchants, and opened the first stock of goods in Stillwater, at the lower end of Main Street. The mill company opened the second stock of goods. The first post-office in the place was established in the store of Elam Greeley, in 1845. Mr. Greeley was postmaster.

Incorporation and Officers

The Village ot Stillwater was platted and recorded in September, 1848. It was incorporated as a city by act of the Legislature, March 4, 1854. The charter was amended, and the different acts incorporated into one law, March 3, 1870; it was also amended March 4, 1873, aud March 5, 1874. The first Mayor was Hon. John McKusick.

The following are the CITY OFFICERS FOR 1874:

William G. Bronson, Mayor
Patrick Moore, David Tozer, A. Thor, aldermen, first ward
J . S. Anderson, Samuel Matthews, Theodore Jassoy, aldermen, second ward
George M. Seymour, August Hausner, Jacob Doragisch, aldermen, third ward
George M. Seymout, President of thc Cnuncil
James S. Anderson, Vice President
W. S. Conrad, City Clerk
William Oleson, City Treasurer
O. H. Comfort, City Justice
J. N. Castle, City Attorney
M. Shortall, Chief ot Police

Steamboats

The first steamboat that ever arrived at Stillwater was the Otter, Capt. Scribe Harris, which brought np the mill company's outfit in the Fall of 1843. The next Spring a regular line was established, aud during the next year boats came as often as once in two weeks, running steadily between here and Galena, Illinois. Tlie first regular boat of the Galena and Stillwater line was the Lynx, Captain Hooper. Occasionally St. Lonis boats came up, and steamboatlng increased rapidly from that time till boats were arriving every day from all points on the Mississippi. It would be needless to occupy the space here with a list of all the boats which have run to and from Stillwater during a period of thirty years. Although they have been of great importance to the city, yet the steamboatlng has somewhat declined since the establishment of railroads.

Railroads

Stillwater has at present two railroads - the Stillwater and St, Paul, which was completed in the Fall of 1870; and the St. Paul, Stillwater and Taylor's Falls road, which commenced running in the Fall of 1871. Another road is in contemplation, which is an extension of the St. Louis and Minneapolis and St. Paul and Stillwater roads, placing Stillwater on the direct line from Minneapolis to Chicago.

Business

Stillwater has a number of fine dry goods, hardware and grocery stores, and two National hanks. The usual trades aud occupations are well represented. Real estate and building have a fair share of prosperity. The amount of business done in the minor branches. It is impossible to add up with accuracy, but the following figures, taken from the report of the Board of Trade, will show what the chief business has been for the year 1873:

Total value of logs and lumber, $2,031,996
Total value of coal, 6,700
Wheat received from wagons, 122,500
Wheat shipped by railroad, 1,546,075
Flour shipped by railroad, 97,872
Total value of merchandize, 1,380,000
Hides, tallow and pelts, 15,600

$5,200,743 total

The Press of Stillwater

The first newspaper established in Stillwater was the St. Croix Union, in 1854. It was established by a stock company, consisting ot Governor Holcomb, Socrates Nelson, William H. Mower, Henry N. Setzer, Thompson Parker aud others, F. S. Cable and W. M. Easton being editors amd publishers. The first number was issued October 3, 1854. The Union was Democratic, and during its continuance was ably conducted. It was discontinued November 13, 1857.

The Stillwater Messenger was first issued by A. J. Van Vorhes, on the 17th September, 1856. It has always been a weekly paper aud Republican in politics, being the oldest paper in the state that has had a continuous existence, except the St. Paul Pioneer, and was one of the first to advocate the principles of the Republican party. It is a nine column folio in size, and is ably conducted by Seward & Taylor, its present proprietors.

The Stillwater Gazette was established on the 6th of August, 1870, by A. H. Easton, its present editor and proprietor. It is an eight-column paper, independent in polities, devoted to general and local news and miscellaneous reading matter. Mr. Easton has made it am enterprising and successful paper. It is printed in the Holcomb Block, and has an excellent job office connected with it.

The Stillwater Democrat was started by L. Spalding and C. Lane, December 11, 1858, and continued till January 12, 1861. Files of all the Stillwater papers, from the first issue, are kept in the Gazette office.

The City Schools

Few places in the state have better public schools than Stillwater, or are doing more to advance the cause of popular education. She has thirteen schools, organized as follows: one High School, three Grammar Schools, four Intermediate Schools, three Primary Schools, and two Primary and Intermediate Schools. These schools are uuder the charge of William Gorrie, Superintendent. Fourteen teachers are regularly employed at an aggregate salary of S790 per month.

In the High School provisions are made both for an English and a Classical course of study, so that students may prepare themselves for college. Candidates for promotion to this department aro required to pass a satisfactory examination in reading, writing, spelling, practical arithmetic, geography, English grammar, first lessons in composition, elementary algebra to simple equations, and history of the United States. Every facility is furnished for these and the higher studies by the excellent Board of Education, and tlie Superintendent has been able to raise the course of study in most of the departments.

A new school building is in process of completion, at a cost of about $40.000. It is nearly finished, and will be a model of architectural beauty and convenience. It is 95 feet long by 74 feet wide, three stories besides basement, surmounted by a tower, 40 feet high from the roof, and contains ten rooms, with an equal number of cloak rooms, six teachers' rooms, and a hall 40 by 45 feet. The school building on South Hill was erected in 1868, at a cost, including grounds, of $35,000. It is a fine structure, fitted up with all the modern improvements, containing eleven school rooms.

Late returns show that the number of persons in Stillwater of school age is 2,068. There is an association connected with the High School called the Philologian Society, the object of which is the promotion of literary culture.

Catholic School - The School of the Immaculate Conception, under the management of the Sisters of St. Joseph, was established in September, 1872. The average attendance is 170 pupils, the branches taught being English, and the German language. The school-house was erected by the German Catholics of Stillwater, iu 1872, and is open to all. without distinction of creed or nationality.

Religious Denominations

Stillwater has seven churches - one Episcopal, one Universalist, two Presbyterian, two Catholic, and one Methodist.

EPISCOPAL - In June, 1846, the first Episcopal service was held in Stillwater, by Rev. E. A. Greenleaf, in a rough wooden boarding-house, which had been erected by Elam Greeley. On Christmas of that year the first communion was administered. The rite of confirmation was bestowed on a small class by Bishop Kemper, in May, 1848. On Ascension Day, 1851, the cornerstone of Ascension Church was laid on a lot on Second Street, donated for that purpose by Mr. John McKusick, which was first used for service iu the winter of 1852-3. In May, 1863, when Rev. Mr. Hills took charge of the parish, it numbered twenty-six families aud eighty-five parishioners. The cornerstone of the new church edifice on Third Street was laid on the first of October, 1873. It will cost when finished about $16,000.

UNIVERSALIST - Rev. Mr. Hodgden, of the State of Maine, preached the first Universalist sermon in the place, in 1850. Regular preaching was kept up from 1860 to 1863 by Rev. H. C. Barnes, during which time tlie society was organized, and met in Mower's Block. The present church on Third Street was commenced in 1868. The basement is finished and occupied for Sunday-school, but at present there is no regular preaching.

CATHOLIC - There are two Catholic churches in the city; in one service is held in English, in the other in German. These are St. Michael's church, Rev. M. E. Murphy; and St. Mary's church (German), Rev. Father Schenck.

The first Catholic service held in town was in 1853 by Father Peyragrosse. Father Fisher was rhe first stated priest, and the old church was built under his auspices in 1854. The new church ot St. Michael, nearly completed, on South Hill, has been erected at a cost of $75,000.

PRESBYTERIAN - The first Presbyterian church was established as early as 1850. Rev. Mr. Whitney, now of Minneapolis, was the first pastor. He was succeeded hy Rev. H. M. Nichols. This church numbers about 140 members, and has a Sabbath-school of 130. Rev. Isaac N. Otis is the present pastor. The house of worship is a very commodious building on Tliird Street.

The Second Presbyterian Church is an off-shoot from the first. It has about 100 members. The church is on Pine Street. Pastor, Rev. .lames Magowan.

METHODIST - The first minister appointed to labor among the white population of what is now Minnesota, by the Methodist Episcopal Church,was Rev. Mr. Hurlburt, who commenced his labors in September, 1844, and was re-appointed iu 1855. In 1846 and '47, J. W. Putnam filled the appointments. In 1848, Rev. B. F. Chase was appointed till these preached regularly at Stillwater. In 1849, Rev. James Hoffington was appointed to Stillwater and Upper St. Croix. The first Methodist ehurch in Stillwater was organized by him in 1849, and consisted of twenty-seven members. The first house of worship was built iu 1857, under the supervision and mostly with the money of Rev. T. M. Fullerton. The present church was built in 1870. Membership at present (1874) is seventy-four. Pastor, J. H. Macomber.

MASONIC - Stillwater has the first charter lodge of Masons in the state - St. John's Lodge, No. 1. It was not the first lodge organized under a dispensation; that was St. Paul Lodge, No. 3, organized by dispensation from the Grand Lodge ot Ohio, in 1849. St. John's Lodge, No. 1, was organized by dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin, in 1850. But it was the first in the state to receive a charter, and was therefore placed the first in the list of members. This lodge still remains large and prosperous and has one ot the finest halls in the state, in Staples' Block, on Main Street.

There is also in Stillwater a flourishing lodge of Royal Arch Masons - Washington Royal Arch Chapter No. 17.

OTHER SOCIETlES - Among these arc Knights of Pythias, Lodge No. 7, and two active temperance societies. The Society of Crusaders is a large and influential temperance organization, and so also is the Father Mathew Society. Both ot these societies have done much good in the city.

There is also in Stillwater a cornet band, said to be the best in the state, except the Great Western of St. Paul.

City Library

The Library Association was formed in 1869. Hon. Wm. M. McCluer is President; Miss Frankie Rhodes, Secretary; and S. Bloomer, Libranan. There are at present about 500 volumes in the library, choice books and well patronized.

First Land Office

Abraham Van Vorhes was Register of the first Land Office in the Territory of Minnesota. Appointed at Stillwater by President Taylor, in 1849.

Prison Business

The State Prison is located in the City of Stillwater, in whai was formerly known as Battle Hollow, so called from having been the scene of a famous battle between the hostile tribes of Sioux and Chippewas. On excavating for the foundations ot the prison walls and buildings, many Indian hones were disinterred. The Prison fits into this valley, which is a natural opening between the bluffs on either hand, almost as if it had been made on purpose for such an institution, the wall in front extending almost entirely from one bluff to the other. There is room enough, however, in the rear for considerable enlargement.

The business in the prison, or the convict labor, is annually let out to Seymour Sabin & Co., lessees of prison labor and shops, who do a large amount of business The prison manufactures of Seymour, Sabin & Oo. add up as follows:

Wooden ware $55,000
Cooperage $30,000

In addition to this, their mills and lumber business outside amounts to the following figures:

Lumber $90,000
Doors, sashes and blinds $23,000

Total $198,000

Besides their state trade, the shipments of this company extend to St. Louis on the river and to Salt Lake City hy railroad.

AFTON

is a pleasant village on Lake St. Croix, about midway between the foot ot the lake and Stillwater. The village was laid out in 1855 hy C. S. Getehell, Joseph and Ratzaman Haskell, E. S. Edgerton, and others. It was located on one of the first farms opened in the territory, hy Andrew Mackey, who is still living at Afton. Mr. Mackey's house was the best erected in its day, and was a "palace" compared with tlie usual frontier dwellings.

The mills of Mr. C. S. Getehell, erected iu 1857 aud enlarged in 1860, are situated about three-fourths of a mile below the village. They turn out about 1,500.000 feet of lumber per annum.

Afton is the seat of the St. Croix Valley Academy, the oldest incorporated academy in the state. It was incorporated in 1868. This academy was founded hy the citizens of Washington County for the purpose of educating the young people of the country round about, and has, from the first, maintained a high reputation. The building is three stories, including basement, with a tower and bell, and four large recitation rooms. It is well furnished in every respect. The school was opened in 1868, and has continued its sessions without intermission. This institution has three departments - Literary, Classical, and Musical - and has a library of 400 volumes, piano, organ, and philosophical apparatus. The first principal, from 1868 to 1870 inclusive, was Prof, William Gorrie, now Superintendent of Public Schools in the City of Stillwater, since which Prof. A. J. Lyon has been Principal. This academy is held in high esteem by the people of the county, and deserves a more liberal patronage than it has hitherto received. The average attendance is fifty-five.

FIRST MILLS IN THE STATE

The first saw-mill in the Territory ot Minnesota was erected on the St. Croix, at the point known as Marine Mills, in 1841, by a company consisting ot Orange Walker, A. S. Parker, M. Dibble, David Hone, Hiram Burkey, and Samuel Berkleo. Samuel Bolls built the first flouring mills north of Prairie dn Chien, at Afton, on Bolls' Creek. The mill is still running, and is owned by Mr. F. Roddecke.