The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-06-22
June %! 1900

ever a minister visited the settlement A
public school was started in the same
place, taught by a daughter of Mr.. Hanna,
now Mrs. John Q. A. Marsh.
A lyceum was also started, which proved
great success for number of years.
Among the arrivals of 1854. at Mankato
were; Rev James Thompson, a noble
Presbyterian minister, who did much for
the religious interests of the community
also Theron Parsons Judge Lewis Bran
son, L. G. M Fletcher, S. M. Walker,
Adam Frendel, Daniel T. Bunker, George
A. Clark, Henry Shaubut, Uriah Kar-
many. John Q. A. Marsh, Francis Temp
kins, George Constance, W. P. Coffin and
others. Mr.. Coffin and Mr. Cloud had
a small store that winter in the Hanna
building on levee. This same year Chas.
Maxfield and one or two others made
claims by Rice Lake. Mr.. Van Brunt
built saw mill on the lie Sueur. Messrs.
Washburn, Root, Highland, Gilchrist and
others settled on the Watonwan and Maple
rivers. Messrs. Cummings, Mills, Thorn,
Lettuce, Hunt and Robinson on the Lake
Crystal chain of lakes. John Jones
OSHKOSH on Rush Lake and Robert
Patterson, John Goodwin, William Irving
and Tidland, in Judson Bottom.
In October of the same year, German
colony consisting of Michael Humid,
Wendell Hodapp, Peter Schultz, David
Heidwinkle, Frank Burtmeiner, Leo
Lamm and Henry Vahle reached the settle
ment from ST. Charles Mo-, ndlocated in
the timber near Mankato: Columbus
Ballard also located in the same vicinity.
May. 1855, witnessed the arrival of the
Winnebagoes, nearly 1000 strong, at their
new agency. The Welsh people began
coming to this county in numbers this
spring in South Bend. Among others.
John E. Jones. David ]. and Evan 7.
Lewis, Edward Thomas. cyan Evans,
PANT Thos. M. Pugh and Thos. Jones.
In April of this year Thomas Y. Davis,
Humphrey Jones, William jenkins,
William G. Williams and four other
Welshmen settled in the upper part of Tud-
son. While in June another colony from
Emmit, Wisconsin, comprising the family
OF Hugh Edwards, William Roberts, Evan
H. Evans, David Evans, Robert Williams,
ohm Pugh and Thomas ]. Jones, who set
tied on Minneopa Creek.
But settlers we're pouring in so thick
during 1855 and subsequent years that
time will not permit me to mention more
names.
The finishing and opening to the public
of the Mankato House, the first hall over
Kitchen Bros. store, where the Meagher
block now stands, and which was known
as the City Hall. where religious SER
vices, political conventions, district courts
and all kinds of public gatherings and en-
tertainments were held for years.
This year saw the beginning of the
Catholic church and of the two large store
buildings by General Leech and White G
Marks, which. were not completed until
1856 and 7.
Events now crowd upon me to mention
more in this paper. But "the old order has
changed, yielding place to the new" The
old buildings. which once looked so fine
now distress US with their shabbiness and
have long since been pulled down to make
room for the grander architecture of to-
day. The old faces we knew so we'll are
mostly yelled from view, indeed all the old
things once so familiar to the old settlers
are passing away and soon the last pioneer
will be gone. Butthe grand contribution
these noble men and women have left to
posterity remains--the civilization of the
northwest.