sin land, paid every claim against him in full, and commenced anew. For a time he was in company with Leavitt and Horr, the firm name being Leavitt, Chase & Co.; but in August 1879, entered into the present partnership, the name being Chase, Pillsbury & Co., and by his untiring energy has built up a flourishing business. Mr. Chase was in the lower house of the Territorial Legislature one term, a member of the State Constitutional Convention, and also in the State Senate one term. He was united in marriage with Miss Melissa Pollard in February, 1853. They have had seven children, five of whom are living. Our subject spends most of his time at Gull River Station, the family occupying a pleasant home in East Minneapolis Corner of 7th Street and 6th Avenue South. CHARLES E. GILL was born on the 20th of June, 1854, in Aurora, Illinois, where he received his education, and graduated from the high school in 1871.

He afterwards went to Chicago, engaged in the hardware and notion business, then to Iowa, and thence to Kansas, spending about two years in each place. Five years of his life have been devoted to book-keeping, and his present position with Chase, Pillsbury & Co. is abundant evidence of his proficiency. He went to Minneapolis in about 1879, was employed as scaler, and part of the time as book-keeper till May, 1880, when he came to this place and entered upon his present position. The marriage of Mr. Gill with Miss Ella Thompson occurred on the 22d of September, 1875, in Aurora, Illinois. The union has been blessed with one child.

RENSELAER C. LEAVITT, a native of Cumberland county, Maine, was born on the 15th of May, 1835. His father was a farmer and lumberman, and in these occupations our subject was reared. He removed to Boston soon after attaining his majority, and was associated with his uncle in business. In 1863, he came to Minnesota, locating in St. Anthony, and in company with his father and brother-in-law, engaged in lumbering. In 1873, or '74, under the the firm name of Todd, Haven, and Leavitt, commenced the manufacture of lumber at St. Anthony Falls, the firm name afterwards being changed to Leavitt, Chase & Co., and later the mill was sold to Captain John Martin, and the lumber yard to C. D. Haven. Mr. Leavitt then entered the firm of Chase, Pillsbury & Co., of which he is now a member. He was married in Maine, on the 31st of August, 1859, to Miss Annette Barker. They had one child, who died in

infancy. Mr. Leavitt's home is in East Minneapolis, No. 425 Fourth street, South.

WILLIAM H. MCMILLAN, now Station Agent at Gull River, is a native of Danville, Vermont, where his birth occurred February 6th, 1860. At the age of fifteen he came to Minnesota, and after attending school about three years in Minneapolis, entered the Insurance office of his brother, P. D. McMillen, where he remained for some time, afterward learning telegraphy. He then entered the service of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company; first as operator at Valley City, from which place he came to Gull River, December 25th, 1880, and has since been in charge of this station.

HORATIO N. SEELYE, whose birth dates June 23d, 1828, is a native of St. George, New Brunswick, where his attention was given to lumbering until coming to this State in 1856. He first located at St. Anthony, then farmed one year about nine miles west of the city, after which he commenced business as contractor and builder, to which he devoted his energies until coming to this place in 1880, as a member of the manufacturing firm of Horr, Seeyle & Co. The firm at once erected, and now operate a sash, door, and blind factory, in which enterprise they have been eminently successful. Mr. Seelye was united in marriage with Miss Emma Brockway, of New Brunswick, the ceremony dating June 1st, 1850. Of ten children born of this union, nine are living. Two daughters-the oldest are married and living in Minneapolis; the others still share the parental roof.

BELTRAMI COUNTY.

Beltrami county bears the name of the Italian explorer of that name, of whom, a sketch has been given in the Thirty-fifth Chapter of this History, with extracts from his journal.

The county was created by an act of the Legislature of 1866, with the following boundaries: "Beginning at the point where the line between ranges thirty-eight (38) and thirty-nine (39) intersects the line between townships one hundred and forty-two (142) and one hundred and fortythree (143); thence northwardly on said range to the northwest corner of township one hundred and fifty-four (154) and one hundred and fifty-five (155); thence eastwardly to the line between ranges

twenty-nine (29) and thirty (30), or to the nearest range line east of the mouth of Turtle River; thence southwardly on said range line to the centre of the main channel of the Mississippi river; thence up the center of the main channel of the Mississippi to its intersection with the line between townships one hundred and forty-two (142) and one hundred and forty-three (143); thence westwardly along said township line to the place of beginning." By the census of 1880, it contained ten inhabitants.

While as yet it contains but few permanent settlers, yet for years it has been frequented by Indian traders. Within its borders is a large sheet of water known as Red Lake. Verendrye, the explorer of the country by the chain of lakes west of Lake Superior, in a sketch prepared in 1737, which has never been published, and still preserved among the archives of the French Government, marks Red Lake.

In 1843, missionaries came to benefit the Indians of this region, of whom a notice will be found in the Thirty-ninth Chapter.

Dr. J. G. Norwood, an assistant of Owens, the United States Geologist, in 1847, examined this country. In his report he writes: "We reached Red Lake on the 24th of September, and were most kindly received by Mr. and Mrs. Ayer, Mr. and Mrs. Wright, and Dr. and Mrs. Lewis of the mission here.

"The lake, which is the largest of all the small lakes in the Territory, being about thirty miles in diameter, is a double one. It is divided by two long peninsulas, which project into it from its eastern and western sides, dividing it into nearly equal portions, the strait connecting them being about two and a half miles in width. It contains no islands, and is represented as being very shallow in proportion to its size. Its general shape, and the relative position of the two divisions can be better understood by consulting the map than from any description I can give. * The eastern peninsula is represented as being the site of Indian gardens."

* * *

The mission which was established in this place in 1843, has been of great service to the Indians. Under the instructions and example of the missionaries, and by their assistance a large tract of land has been cleared by the Indians, in which they cultivate fields of corn and potatoes. Three thousand bushels of potatoes were raised by them, besides squashes, and other vegetables in abundance.

A number of the Indians have good log houses; and their bark lodges are larger and better appointed than in the generality of Indian villages.

The strip of fine land on which the farms are situated, is about eight miles long, and from a quarter to three quarters of a mile in width, and is situated along the north shore of the lake. The houses of the missionaries are good and comfortable, and their farm is kept in as good order, and is as well cultivated as any farm in the States. It is really what it is intended to be, a “model farm,” and the happy results of their example are seen all around them in the well cultivated fields of the Indians and the excellent cabins of many of them.

ITASCA COUNTY.

St.

Although one of the original nine counties created by the Territorial Legislature of 1849, Itasca county is still unorganized, and almost unsettled, the census report of 1880 showing but one hundred and twenty-four persons residing within its borders. Notwithstanding its reduction by the organization of new counties, it still embraces a large area, most of which is a dense forest. It extends from Cass and Aitkin counties, south, to the British Possessions, north; from which it is separated by Rainy Lake and Rainy Lake river, flowing from the Lake of the Woods, and finally mingling its waters with Lake Superior. Louis county forms its eastern, and Beltrami and Pembina its western boundary. Lake Winnibigoshish lies partly within its borders, and the Red Lake Reservation covers several thousand acres of its territory in the western part. Its limited population is composed chiefly of trappers and lumbermen. Only a small portion of the territory has been surveyed, and it is destitute of recent history. The old voyageurs traversed this greenwood in bygone years, in search of furs, encountering dangers and privations from which the present generation would shrink in dismay. Such of these events as are chronicled in the first chapters of this volume must constitute the written history of Itasca county, until the march of improvement shall reduce the primeval forests, and transform this wilderness into a thriving and enlightened community-the fit abode of man.

Mille Lacs county is located in east central Minnesota, and is about fifty miles in length, north and south, with an average width of fifteen miles. It is partially covered with heavy pine timber, except a small prairie in the southeastern part. It has an area of six hundred and seventy-two square miles, including one-half of Lake Mille Lacs, which forms its northern boundary, leaving the land area about five hundred and seventy square miles. It is drained by the Rum river; the east branch being the outlet of Mille Lacs Lake, which river gathers its waters and winds its course through the entire length of the county, flowing in a southern direction, leaving the county about three miles from its southeast corner; and the western branch of Rum river, rising in Benton county, entering the county from the west about twelve miles from its south line, running southeast, and joining the east branch about one mile from the south boundary of the county. Aside from Mille Lacs, there are only four lakes of note in the county; Nessawae and Onamia in the north and Silver and Rice lakes in the southern part. The agricultural efforts are confined to the southern part of the county. The soil is sandy, though good, producing all kinds of grain grown in this part of the State.

The exportation of timber and logs is carried on to considerable extent. The timber is cut and formed into rafts during the fall and winter months, and during the spring freshet floated down to the Mississippi, and thence to the manufacturing centers along its banks.

A portion of the county, comprising about two congressional townships on the south shore of Mille Lacs Lake, is occupied by a band of the Chippewa Indians, known as the "Mille Lacs

Band." They ceded the land to the Government in 1863, but reserved the right of possession during good behavior. This section is known as the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation. The locality is well suited to their peculiar habits, affording them ample opportunity to fish and hunt. These rich pine forests have excited the cupidity of lumber speculators, who have urged their removal to the White Earth Reservation. There are about seven hundred in the Band.

ORGANIZATION.-All that part of Mille Lacs county lying west of the west branch of Rum river was a part of Benton county, organized by the Territorial Legislature in 1849, but detached and made a part of Mille Lacs on the organization of the latter. That part lying east of the above named branch was afterwards embraced in the unorganized county of Mille Lac.

In 1858, the Territory becoming a State, Hon. Joseph B. Carpenter was chosen to represent this district in the first State Legislature. Through his exertions, assisted by J. L. Cater and others, an act was approved on the 20th of March, 1858, for the organization of a new county, to be known as Monroe, comprising the old county of Mille Lac, and a small portion of Benton and Isanti counties, fixing the county seat at Princeton. The law of the State required each of the counties affected by the change to ratify the act at the polls, which Isanti county failed to do by two votes. This effort failing, the inconvenience of going to Sauk Rapids and Little Falls, for all county business, aroused the people, and they became alive to the importance of organizing a new county. After some canvassing, another effort was made by Messrs. Samuel Ross and Joseph L. Cater, which, after a long struggle on their part at St. Paul, in the winter of 1859-60, resulted in an act of the legislature organizing a new county to be called Mille Lacs. It became necessary to organize the

though a large hotel was erected there in an early day, and visited frequently by lumbermen when in this county.

The first election was held in 1860, by which the following officers were elected: Joseph L. Cater, Chairman, Samuel Orton, and S. C. Moses, County Commissioners; William W. Payne, County Auditor and Register of Deeds; S. M. Byers, Clerk of Court; William McCauley, Sheriff; E. J. Whitney, County Treasurer; Samuel Ross, Judge of Probate; and S. M. Byers, Justice of the Peace. The first term of court was held in the summer of 1860, Judge Vanderburg, of Minneapolis, presiding. This term was held in what was known as the "Old Quarters Building." It is said there were but two cases, and the Judge dispatched the business in half a day and left the same afternoon for Minneapolis.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.-The first white man to visit this county was Father Hennepin, in 1680, who spent several days in the valley of the Rum river, then passed up to Lake Mille Lacs. No other white man, except some of the early explorers and missionaries, are known to have visited this county until about the year 1848, when Daniel Stanchfield, of St. Anthony Falls, came up the river with others in a bateau on a pine log and lumber expedition. Nichols and others followed on the same enterprise the next year. David Day, in the winter of 1855-56, brought his wife into the pineries, who was the first white woman in the county. The first claim made was by A. B. Damon in 1854, covering the present town site of Princeton. During the same year Henry Jones with his family became residents of the vicinity. The first frame dwrelling was built in 1856 by Hazen Weeks near the southeast corner of the county.

The first store was opened by George and John Oxnord in a building erected by Dr. V. Fell.

The paper town of Brottsburg was located on the southwest quarter of section one, and the northwest quarter of section twelve, town thirty-eight, range twenty-seven. It was platted by T. H. Barrett in 1857, and recorded on the 16th of January, 1857. No trace can be found of the town,

CHAPTER CLV.

The village of Princeton was laid out and platted by Hon. Samuel Ross, James W. Gillam, Dorilius Morrison, John S. Prince, and Richard Chute, in the fall or winter of 1855, and the plat recorded on the 19th of April, 1856, at the office of the Register of Deeds in Benton county. A. B. Damon laid out a portion of his claim adjoining the original plat on the south, which is known as Damon's Addition, in the summer of 1858. Subsequently, Cater's, Murray's, Dunham's, and Highland's Additions were added. The village continued as a center of lumbering interest for many years, without any formal village organization. It was incorporated in 1877, and the first election held in the month of March of that year, at which the following officers were elected: C. H. Rines, President; F. M. Campbell, I. S. Mudgett, and T. H. Caley, Trustees; S. L. Staples, Recorder; D. H. Murray, Treasurer; Charles Keith and S. M. Justice, Justices of the Peace; and William Martin, Constable.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.-The first shanty built within the limits of Princeton was in 1849, and occupied by a mulatto, known by the name of "Banjo Bill," who kept a "stopping place." This shanty stood near the old elm tree, in the rear of the North Star Hotel. The next shanty and first real place of entertainment, was kept by Charles Whitcomb and Mr. Dunton, in 1854, who occupied it a short time, when it passed into the hands of A. B. Damon, who ranked as the first permanent white settler of the place. The following year, Messrs. Damon and Allen farmed the land now occupied by the town, which was probably the first farming of any importance done in the county. Early in 1856, Hon. Samuel Ross completed his log hotel, which was immediately opened to the public. This was known as the Princeton

House.

About this time Thomas Goulding also opened the American House.

The first frame building in the village was the Oxnord store, now owned by H. B. Cowles & Co., and used as a store room. The next was the dwelling house of Dr. V. Fell, removed about 1873, from Benjamin Soule's lot in block nine, and now occupied by John W. Dimmick.

About this date Princeton began to assume the proportions of a business place. H. B. Cowles, B. F. Whitney, and John Rines were in the mercantile business. The first blacksmith shop was built in 1856, by Samuel Ross, and placed in charge of James Roundtree, the first mechanic in this line in the place, who was soon followed by Mr. Hamilton. The new North Star Hotel was built in 1868. The financial crisis of 1857, running through several years; the grasshopper scourge of the same date, leaving a poor people in almost destitute circumstances, caused "blue times" in this county. Flour and sugar were to be used only on the most important occasions. Most of the people were glad if they could secure even corn meal and venison to satisfy the wants of the inner man. Notwithstanding the general scarcity, the people were not disheartened, nor would they be driven from their homes.

During the civil war a sufficient number of men volunteered to fight the battles of the Union, so that no draft was made. The entire number of inhabitants at that time did not exceed three hundred, and less than one hundred men were able to bear arms.

When other settlements were fleeing to St. Paul and Minneapolis in anticipation of an attack by the murderous Sioux, the inhabitants of this county organized and erected a stockade at Princeton, to which the settlers resorted and held themselves in readiness in case of a surprise. The Mille Lacs band of Chippeways remained friendly, and no depredations by the hostiles were committed in the county. Several companies of Infantry and Cavalry were also sent at different times to guard the town.

MILLS. In 1856, William F. Dunham and others built the first steam saw mill. It had a capacity of six thousand feet in ten hours. This mill was burned about four years after its erection. It is said Messrs. William Carmody, John Gleason, and James Dimmick sawed a portion of the lumber used in the erection of this mill with a common whip-saw.

The next was built by Samuel Ross in 1858. This was a water mill, with a capacity of three thousand feet in ten hours. The third was built by Benjamin Soule in 1867, and has a capacity of fifteen thousand feet of lumber, and fifteen thousand shingles in ten hours; it is run by a forty horse-power engine.

The first flour-mill was built in 1870, by Benjamin Soule. It is a water mill with a capacity of twenty barrels per day. There is another mill about one and a quarter miles up the stream; built in 1868, by J.H. Allen, with a capacity of twenty barrels per day. B. F. Whitney built a feed mill in 1875, which is run by a twenty horse-power engine, with a daily capacity of ten tons.

SCHOOLS. In 1856, the first school house in the county was built in the town of Princeton. The money was secured by subscription. The first school taught was a three months' term in the winter of 1856, by James M. Dayton. Terms of three months were held in this building each year until 1858, when the first school district was formed. The records show that at a meeting of the citizens on the 26th of November, 1858, Joseph D. Morris, Franklin Libby, and Albert B. Damon were elected Trustees; and John H. Allen, Clerk. In 1859, the school was supported by private subscriptions. In 1861, district number two was set off from district number one. In 1867, the present school house was erected on the corner of Central Avenue and Third Street, at a cost of $3,600; but this is found to be inadequate to the demands of the present, and a more commodious building is contemplated.

There are eight districts in the county, and ten schools are in operation during the regular terms. There are fifteen teachers, and four hundred and thirty-three scholars enrolled. The salaries paid for the last school year amounted to $1,709.88, and the total value of school property was $4,800.

CHURCHES.-The First Congregational Church was organized by Rev. Royal Twitchell, in August 1856, with thirteen members. The subsequent pastors were L. C. Gilbert, A. V. House, C. A. Hampton, S. Ollenshan, C. C. Reed, M. Storms, and D. Henderson. The church was erected, and dedicated on the 16th day of March, 1873; the present membership is sixteen.

The Methodist Episcopal church was organized in the year 1857, with seven members, by Rev. Mr. Hooper, and the church was built the same year. Rev. S. S. Adams held services in private