John D. Logan came to Minnesota from Philadelphia in 1855 and located in Hastings; served during the war in Company G. First Minnesota Regular Volunteers. In 1879 he came to Royalton and devoted himself to the development of the water power and the building up of the village. He has a wife and three children.
CROW WING COUNTY.
The county of Crow Wing was organized in 1857. Prior to this period it was included in Benton and other counties. It now includes eleven whole and eight fractional townships in townships 43 to 47, ranges 28 to 31, inclusive. The Mississippi river bounds it on the west and northwest, Aitkin county on the east and Morrison on the south. Its soil ranges from a light sandy to a dark loam, with clay subsoil, and the timber includes the pines and the hardwoods common to the latitude. There are also fine meadows and burr oak openings. It is watered by the tributaries of the Mississippi and its surface is dotted with lakes. It is well adapted to stock raising and agriculture.
C. H. Beaulieu appears to have been the first white man to locate within its boundaries. He established a trading post as early as 1837, near the mouth of Crow Wing river. His successors in trade were Allen Morrison and Donald McDonald. Philip Beaupre was here in 1844. When Fort Ripley was built S. B. Olmstead, with his family, built a house and improved a farm opposite the fort on the east bank of the Mississippi. Mr. Olmstead came from Prairie du Chien in 1849. While residing here he served as a member of the second, fifth and sixth territorial legislatures, and in 1854 was elected president of the council. After living here several years, he removed to Texas, and died there some years ago. Mr. Olmstead kept a hotel and managed to secure most of the hay, beef and wood contracts for the fort. Henry M. Rice had a trading post at one time at Crow Wing village, about eight miles above the fort. John H. Fairbanks ran a ferry at the village. Other settlers were Wallace Bean, Henry Whipple, F. M. Campbell, W. B. Wakefield, Ed. Lyndes, Albert Fuller, Thomas Cathcart, Daniel S. Mooers, S. C. Abbe, and members of the Beaulieu family. James A. Parish was the first justice of the peace. John McGillis, who lived at Crow Wing in 1853, was the second and served about fifteen years. In 1856 the first farm was opened on government land, not far from Crow Wing village, by Wallace Bean. The second farm was taken by David McArthur, a Canadian, originally from Scotland. George Van Valkenburg opened a blacksmith shop at Crow Wing in 1856, lived there two years and was then employed as government blacksmith by the Indian department, and served as such for twelve years. Crow Wing county was organized in 1857, with the following board of officers: County auditor, C. H. Beaulieu; register of deeds, F. M. Campbell; county treasurer, Robert Fairbanks; county commissioners, J. H. Fairbanks, Allen Morrison, S. B. Olmstead; judge of probate court, Dennis Shaff. The county organization took effect Jan. 1, 1858. The county was attached for judicial purposes, first to Ramsey, and then to Morrison county. F. W. Peake came to Crow Wing in 1858, and opened a trading post, and was afterward one of the mercantile firm of Peake & Wakefield. Rev. E. S. Peake, an Episcopal clergyman, came to Crow Wing about the same time, built a church and remained as rector till the breaking out of the war, when he accepted the chaplaincy of a Wisconsin regiment. After the war he removed to California, and carried on a mission a few years, but later returned to Minnesota and is now stationed at Detroit. Rev. Francis Pierz, a Catholic priest, officiated at Crow Wing and Belle Prairie until 1870, when he returned to his home in Austria.
The first district court was held at Crow Wing in 1871, J. M. McKelvey officiating as judge, Chas. Beaulieu as clerk of court, and Wm. Wood as sheriff.
Soon after the county organization was abandoned, to be reresumed in 1870 by legislative enactment. The county officers at the organization were: Commissioners, Wallace Bean, Henry Whipple and F. W. Peake; treasurer, E. B. Snyder; auditor, J. W. Campbell; clerk of court, Chas. H. Beaulieu; sheriff, Wm. Wood.
MURDERERS LYNCHED.
In 1871, Ellen, daughter of David McArthur, living near Crow Wing village, was murdered by Indians. The murderers were arrested and placed in jail at Brainerd, from which they were taken by a mob and hanged.
BRAINERD
Is situated on the east bank of the Mississippi, and is a prosperous city. The settlement commenced with the opening of the Northern Pacific railroad. This road has a branch from Brainerd to St. Paul. The railroad company have made Brainerd headquarters for repairing shops; have expended large amounts in improvements, and employ in their business here nearly 1,000 men. The first through train arrived at Brainerd March 11, 1871.