Settlers are finding there way toPine Island & making it their home. Minnesota is the edge of the frontier at this time.
Among some of the first setlers were H.B. Powers, Josiah Haggard, Moses Jewell, Solomon Giles, Sylvester Dickey, John Chance, C.R. White W.S. Newton, J.A. Tarbox, John Lee & others.
A Saw mill was being built by Mr. Howard. He sold it before it was complete to J.A. Tarbox who finished the construction and operated the mill. Lumber was available to the Settlers and the mill furnished some 200,000 feet of lumber from the little island of pines.
John Salmon was the first Preacher & conducted his services at the homes of the people.
Some settlers that came to town in 1856 to name a few were John Fletcher, Addison Way, Edward W. Robie John H. Gill Alvin Kinny, Daniel Stowell, Joseph Leybolb,Ole Ellingson, Knudt Clemmetson, Henry I. Momany, James Spencer, Daniel Dickey Jr., Reuben Bowles , Charles Cogswell, Alonzo Morehouse & Joseph Leybold.
In the spring, C.R. White built the first frame house in town.
On July 13, 1856 first marriage was conducted in town between A.B. Cron & Sarah C. Jewell.
A log school cabin was built & Annette Sack conducted school.
The first post office was established & John Chance was appointed Postmaster. It was said that he may have conducted the mail from his home in the district of Poplar Grove before the post office was built. It was also said that John Chance ran the post office from a hotel & that he built the first hotel on the other side of the river. The name of John Lee may also have been a previous Postmaster in Poplar Grove is found in still another source.The Burbank Stage Line ran between St. Paul and Dubuque, Iowa and was the supply line for the mail in town. When that service dicontinued, the Red Wing and Mantorville Star Route ran through until 1878.
The N. Andrew Co. built a steam mill and
operated it untill 1862 when the machinery
was moved to Leon.
Mr. E Dennison came to Pine Island &
erected the first large hotel. It was kept
by P. Hall for a year & then sold to
Truman Parker who kept and operated
it untill 1868 when he sold it. It was
known as the Parker House.
In 1857, John Smith, Samuel Smith, Benjamin C. Crandall, Orrin Dickey, William S. Haskins, Charles Ahneman, Phebe Conat, Watts Hayward, Frederick Ackerman & Orson Bump, James T. Kennedy, John O.Brown to name a few.
H.D. Moon built another hotel in town.
Drygoods & Grocery stors moved into the area.
A two story brick school house was built for about the cost of $3,000.00
Another source states a brick school was built in1864.
Minnesota becomes the 32nd State in May of 1858
H.D. Moon built another hotel in town.
The 1st Doctor arrives in town, Dr. Charles Hill.
Martin Van Decarz built still another hotel in town.
The population in 1860 was 588 citizens.
The Civil War Years
A Call To Arms is sent through out Goodhue County to raise a company of men.
Pine Island men answer the call as well as The Pine Island Rifles, a militia made up to protect the Pine Island area, They make there way to Red Wing and join in with the 1st company being formed. 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 joined in other future regiments that are called to be made. The Boys from Pine Island met the call.
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 Indain War of 1862 and did have casualties. One other company in Red Wing was The Red Wing Cavalry.
