Mr. Russell for several years held the office of county auditor and treasurer, and in 1849 was elected to the territorial legislature. His name appears in the list of members, but he was present only at the opening sessions, and voted for but a single measure. He had told his constituents before his election that he would not serve. At this time he was Democratic in politics but in later life voted the Republican ticket. Mr. Russell possessed a warm, generous nature, combined with integrity of character, which gained for him the love and esteem of his many friends. Ever ready to extend a willing hand to those in need, and, as far as lay in his power, to assist those in distress, he will ever be remembered with kindly feelings by all who knew him. Though exposed to all the temptations and vicissitudes of an early settler's life, coming in contact with all kinds of social conditions, he never departed from the path of christian rectitude, and those with whom he came in contact will ever remember him for his kind heartedness and gentlemanly bearing.
Sept. 20, 1843, he was united in marriage to Miss Sophia Oakes (daughter of the late Chas. H. Oakes), who survives him. Seven children were born unto them, but only three are now alive. These are Mrs. W. L. Nieman, Miss Julia A. and Mr. J. A. Russell. Mr. Russell died at his home in Sauk Rapids in 1885.
Edward Oscar Hamlin was born at Bethany, Wayne county, Pennsylvania, June 12, 1828. He received his preparatory education at his native place; entered Hamilton College, Clinton, New York, in 1848, and graduated in 1858, third in his class, and in three years received the degree of A.M. He read law first at Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, with Hon. Geo. W. Woodward (afterward one of the judges of the supreme court of Pennsylvania); at Honesdale, Pennsylvania, later with Earl Wheeler, Esq., and was admitted to the bar Sept. 7, 1852. After practicing for two years at Honesdale, he decided to go West, and in 1855 settled in Sauk Rapids. He was admitted to practice in the territorial courts, and in 1856 was admitted to practice by the supreme court. Judge Hamlin was elected the first mayor of the city of St. Cloud. He was nominated by the Democratic party for governor, and subsequently for judge of the supreme court. He was also, in 1860, appointed by Gov. Ramsey "a regent of the University of the State of Minnesota," and was subsequently an efficient and zealous member of the state board of normal instruction.
Soon after the outbreak of the Rebellion, in 1861, Gov. Ramsey tendered him the commission of major of the Seventh Regiment, Minnesota Volunteers, but his eyesight being defective, he was obliged to decline it. In 1864 Judge Hamlin was chosen by the Democratic party as one of the delegates to the Democratic national convention. He was appointed as one of the committee on platform, and openly denounced, with three others, the platform before it was adopted, because it declared the war for the Union a failure. Judge Hamlin was a war Democrat, and hung out the stars and stripes over his residence in Sauk Rapids, the first one in that town to do so. In 1873, being an only child and yielding to the solicitations of his parents, Judge Hamlin returned to his native county and opened an office in Honesdale. After a short residence there he removed to Bethany, which has since been his home. He continued the practice of his profession in Honesdale until June, 1885, when failing health compelled him to retire.
Judge Hamlin has been twice married. His first wife was Mary A., daughter of Judge Eldred, who for a quarter of a century graced the bench of Pennsylvania. She died at St. Cloud, Sept. 27, 1868. In October, 1870, Judge Hamlin married Ella F., daughter of E. B. Strong, Esq., for years clerk of the district court of Stearns county.
MORRISON COUNTY.
Morrison county is somewhat irregular in outline. It is bounded on the north by Crow Wing and Cass, on the east by Mille Lacs, on the south by Benton and Stearns, on the west by Stearns and Todd counties. The portion east of the Mississippi originally belonged to Benton county, and the portion on the west side to Todd county. It contains 1,139 square miles. The eastern part is well covered with pine and hardwood forests. The west and central portions consist of oak openings and brush prairies. The groves are interspersed with poplar. The surface is generally level, but is well drained by the Mississippi and its tributaries, mostly small streams. It has some fine lakes in the northern and central parts. The soil is well adapted to farming. A granite range, an extension of the range of Sauk Rapids and St. Cloud, passes through the county.
William Nicholson was probably the first settler in this county. He first came to Swan River in 1847, in company with ten other men. They forded the Mississippi near the mouth of Swan river, made a raft and floated down the river a few miles, where they abandoned it on account of low water, and returned south, whence they came. The next summer Nicholson returned with twenty-two men, crossed the river at the same place, and cut a road through to the Winnebago agency at Long Prairie. Returning the same year to the crossing, he found Wm. Aiken had made a claim and was building a hotel and store on the east bank of the river. Mr. Nicholson remained some years in the vicinity, but is now a resident of Little Falls. Wm. Aiken permanently located at Swan River in 1848, one year after Nicholson's arrival at that point. He died in 1851, aged about sixty-five years. He had two Indian wives. They quarreled and fought savagely at the funeral as to which was entitled to the position of chief mourner, wife number one coming off victorious. James Green made a squatter's claim in 1848, and built a saw mill on the east side of the Mississippi by the island at the falls. Wm. Knowles located at the mouth of Rabbit river in 1849. John Stillwell came to Swan River in 1849. He was a carpenter and worked at his trade until 1866, when he went into the hotel business. He now resides at Little Falls. He and Nicholson are the only old settlers of Swan River remaining in the county.
At the organization of the county in 1856, Little Falls, located on the Mississippi a short distance above Swan River, became the county seat. The year before and the two years following were years of wild speculation. The chief ambition of the speculators was to found a city. During these years twenty-four village or town plats were recorded in the office of the register of deeds in Morrison. Not all, however, were located within the bounds of the county, some being platted on unsurveyed government lands. Of these towns, the only one remaining, or of note, is Fergus Falls, Otter Tail county, platted by a company from Little Falls. Of the towns located in Morrison county, every one vanished except Little Falls, though Swan River, Belle Prairie and Granite City kept up an appearance of prosperity for a time.
The early history of Morrison county is enlivened by many thrilling incidents of Indian warfare, chiefly of contests between the Sioux and Chippewas. The Sioux had claimed the territory from time immemorial, but over a hundred years ago the Chippewas had driven them westward across the Mississippi and were in possession of the soil. The tribal hostility of the two races continued to manifest itself in predatory and retaliatory raids, and from these the early settlers were often sufferers.