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History of Winona County, Minnesota
In presenting the history of the County of Winona to the public, the editors and publishers have had in view the preservation of certain valuable historical facts and a vast fund of information which without concentrated effort could never have been obtained, but, with the passing away of the old pioneers, the failure of memory, and the loss of public records and private diaries, would soon have been lost. This locality being comparatively new, we flatter ourselves that, with the zeal and industry displayed by our general and local historians, we have succeeded in rescuing from the fading years almost every scrap of history worthy of preservation. Doubtless the work is in some respects, imperfect; we do not present it as a model literary effort, but in that which goes to make up a valuable book of reference for the present reader and future historian, we assure our patrons that neither money nor time has been spared in the accomplishment of the work. Perhaps some errors will be found. With treacherous memories, personal, political and sectarian prejudices and preferences to contend against, it would be almost a miracle if no mistakes were made. We hope that even these defects, which may be found to exist, may be made available in so far as they may provoke discussion and call attention to corrections and additions necessary to perfect history. The main part of the work has been done by Messrs. Dr L H Bunnell, Dr. J.M. Cole, Hon. O.M. Lord, Prof C.A. Morey, Gen. C.H. Berry, Hon. W.H. Hill, P.G. Hubbell, Esq., and Rev W.S. Messmer, and we believe that no corps of writers could have been found who could have done the subject more ample justice. We are also largely indebted to Hon. Thomas Simpson for extensive criticism and correction of matter furnished by various persons, as well as to Elder E. Ely, for the use of notes covering the entire history of the county. All these gentlemen have put the citizens of Winona county under lasting obligations for rescuing this most valuable matter from oblivion, whither it was surely tending.
The biographical department contains the names and private sketches of nearly every person of importance in the county. A few persons, whose sketches we would be pleased to have presented, for various reasons refused or delayed furnishing us with the desired information, and in this matter only we feel that our work is incomplete. However, in most of such cases we have obtained, in regard to the most important persons, some items, and have woven them into the county or township sketches, so that, as we believe, we cannot be accused of negligence, partiality or prejudice.
Table of Contents
Chapter I.
Aboriginal History 17
Chapter II.
Explorations 22
Chapter III.
Among the Indians 28
Chapter IV.
Trouble with the Indians 38
Chapter V.
Personal Recollections 47
Chapter VI.
Winona City in Embryo 61
Chapter VII.
Interesting Incidents and Customs 77
Chapter VIII.
Prehistoric 89
Chapter IX.
Geographical 96
Chapter X.
Railroads 106
Chapter XI.
Navigation 117
Chapter XII.
Courts and Officers of Courts 119
Chapter XIII.
Banking in Winona County 127
Chapter XIV.
Early Settlers, Pioneers, etc. 131
Chapter XV.
Treaties with the Indians 137
Chapter XVI.
The Fur Traders 146
Chapter XVII.
Early Land Titles 157
Chapter XVIII.
The Pioneers 171
Chapter XIX.
First Improvements 180
Chapter XX.
Western Farm and Village Association 185
Chapter XXI.
The Association Crystallized 197
Chapter XXII.
Emigrants Coming 204
Chapter XXIII.
Other Settlements 215
Chapter XXIV.
First Settlements at Winona City 224
Chapter XXV.
Incidents of the Early Times 237
Chapter XXVI.
The Association at Rolling Stone 247
Chapter XXVII.
Crystallization 264
Chapter XXVIII.
Respectability 277
Chapter XXIX.
Looking Around 291
Chapter XXX.
Reflections 298
Chapter XXXI.
Personal Paragraphs 307
Chapter XXXII.
Postoffices 325
Chapter XXXIII.
Incidents 335
Chapter XXXIV.
A Bloody Conflict 343
Chapter XXXV.
A Celebration 359
Chapter XXXVI.
Chatfield Settled and Winona County Organized 366
Chapter XXXVII.
The District Schools of Winona County 370
Chapter XXXVIII.
The State Normal School 383
Chapter XXXIX.
Birds of Winona County 399
Chapter XL.
Winona Public Schools 405
Chapter XLI.
History of Winona City 423
Chapter XLII.
Roads 437
Chapter XLIII.
Societies 443
Chapter XLIV.
Churches 463
Chapter XLV.
Business Incorporations 487
Chapter XLVI.
Manufacturing Industries 499
Chapter XLVII.
St. Charles Township 528
Chapter XLVIII.
Rolling Stone Township 554
Chapter XLIX.
Dresbach Township 562
Chapter L.
New Hartford, Richmond, Homer and Pleasant Hill Townships 572
Chapter LI.
Wiscoy, Warren and Hillsdale Townships 585
Chapter LII.
Norton, Mount Vernon, Whitewater and Elba Townships 596
Chapter LIII.
Hart, Fremont and Saratoga Townships 606
Chapter LIV.
Biographical — Pioneers 616
Chapter LV.
Pioneers — Continued 656
Chapter LVI.
Utica Township 703
Chapter LVII.
Early Settlers 711
Chapter LVIII.
Early Settlers — Continued 753
Chapter LIX.
Other Prominent Citizens 790
Chapter LX.
Winona as it is 839
Chapter LXI.
Military Record 910
Chapter LXII.
Miscellaneous 932
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From 1849 to 1853 the county of Winona was a part of Wabasha county. By act of the First Territorial Legislature, October 27, 1849, "all that portion of said territory lying east of a line running due south from a point on the Mississippi river known as Medicine Bottles Village, at Pine Bend, to the Iowa line, was erected into a county to be known by the name of Wabashaw."
The extent of territory included in the boundaries of Wabasha county by that act was what is now a part of the county of Dakota and the present counties of Goodhue, Wabasha, Olmsted, Dodge, Mower, Fillmore, Houston and Winona.
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