This photgraph c1890 is of James O Neill and his wife Margaret, both getting up in years. Both are early first settlers of Belle Creek.
Just a Little History through the Civil War Era
The first settlers in the area were said to have been a Chas. (Charles) Roos and A.G. Kempe. THis was siad to have been in 1853 or 1854. Walter Doyle, James O'Neil Rev. S.P. Chandler settled in 1854 among others.
Henry .M. Doyle was the first postmaster at a post office called Burr Oak. The mail was services through the stage line at that time.
Anna O'Neil was the first child to be born.
It was siad that the firsts deaths were accidental deathes when Dennis Cavanaugh froze to death in a blizzard and James Connell had fell and died of head injuries.
Rev. Norris Hobart conducted the first religious service at the dewling of Benoni Hill.
James Allen liad out the villiage.
A store was erected and was conducted by Jesse Johnson. It was siad that his store was the first building on the site that was to be the village.
It was siad that in the winter, the first school was conducted by Alvin Herbert in the dewling of Mr. Kirkpatrick.
Mrs. P. Chanler died and should have been the firts if the two mentioned above would not have been taken by their accidents.
Lewis White and Emeline Hill were the first married in the township by S.P. Chandler who was a justice of the peace at that time.
There was a recession of sorts in 1857 and the store of Jesse Johnson's was closed.
The post office was said to have closed.
The first township elections were held.
Minnesota becomes the 32nd state in 1858.
The first school was erected.
The population in 1860 was 151 citizens.
A post office of Belle Creek was established and Samuel P. Chandler was the postmaster.
The Civil War Years
A Call To Arms is sent through out Goodhue County to raise a company of men.
The Boys from Belle Creek answered the call. Some make there way to Red Wing and joined in with the 1st company being formed as well as other future companies. The Goodhue Volunteers soon to become Co. F of the First Minnesota Regiment Volunteer Infantry. Once at Fort Snelling, the call is changed from 90 days to 3 years. Some men come back home not being able to leave their homes for so long a time, but would join in other future regiments that are called to be made.
During the Dakota Conflict, after the Indian attack on New Ulm in August, Companies of Civilian Soldiers were formed to protect the towns across the lands of Minnesota. On August 24,1862 a company of this type was organized in Goodhue County. The Goodhue County Rangers There were 36 men in this company. It was to act as a Home Guard for the area and served until September 22, 1862. It served as the southern defense of the frontier. Some of these companies saw action in the Indian War of 1862 and did have casualties. One other company in Red Wing was The Red Wing Cavalry.
It was said a Roman Catholic Church was built. The cost at that time was said to have been $3,000.00.
This page was last updated on: March 17, 2012
The following is a time line that starts with the first settlement and runs through the Civil War years. Certainly there is more than is mentioned here. The purpose of this is to give a person a view of what life was like in the years preceding and during the Civil War and to learn a bit about the people in the area.
All of this information is from documented accounts. Sources and credits are found on my Source page.
E-Mail me, if you have documented history of Belle Creek, or of a person in this time period from Pine Island of the Civil War Era, that you would like to share. I am always adding to this site.
Thanks for the visit Date of page February 19, 2008
Please Sign my Guest Book, I like to see who stopped in for a visit.
For more Belle Creek Civil War History, to see Rosters,
Goodhue County in the Civil War
see
What could you get for your money in Belle Creek in those days?
One Dozen Eggs- 7 Cents, One Dozen Candles- 15 cents, Edds Shirt- 75 cents, Towels- 10 cents, Drawers- 75 cents, Slippers- 50 cents, Dressing Gowns- $1.47, Pillow Cases 12 1/2 cents, Shoes $2.50, Socks- 20 cents and Postage was 10 cents a letter.
Courtesy of the Goodhue County Historical Society All Rights Reserved
1854
1855
1856
1857
1858
1859
1860
1861-1865
1861
1862
1865
Music: Do They Miss Me At Home
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Minnesota's First County Historical Society est. 1869
Belle Creek was represented in both the eastern & western theaters of the Civil Wa. In the eastern with The Goodhue Volunteers, Co. F of the 1st Regiment. The 1st Regiment was the only Minnesota regiment to fight in the eastern theater of the war in the Army of the Potomac, In the western theater where most of Minnesota's men were, There were men in the Indian uprising with such regiments as the Third Minnesota as well as others.