Settling in Dayton, Minnesota, 1855 – 1860
Henry and his family left Ohio for Minnesota in
1855. According to Leonard Dahlheimer,
Henry moved because he disliked the flooding that occurred on the family’s Ohio farmland and the
Ohio winters that were plagued with rains. Additionally, Ohio was growing
economically and was becoming too industrialized, especially around Massillon and Wooster.
Henry, Mary, and baby John traveled from Ohio to what was then
known as St. Anthony in the County of Hennepin in the Minnesota Territory. Today this area is part of the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota. At that time, Minnesota was
classified as a territory and did not become a state until 1858.
The following map shows the territories of Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota between
1832 and 1858, the time when Henry arrived in Minnesota.
Source: Kellogg, Louise. Peterson, William. Blegen,
Theodore. Burpee, Lawrence. (2005).
Chapter. Rootsweb USGenWeb Archives Minnesota Digital Map Library Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota Territories 1832-1858
Following is a current map of Minnesota showing
the modern day location of Hennepin County.
Source: Minnesota Department of Transportation, State
County Map; http://www.dot.state.mn.us/mntribes/handbook/images/state-counties-map.gif
A brief history of Minnesota follows
[16a]:
From the 1680s
forward, the area to include Minneapolis was "on paper" under the European rule of the countries
of France, England, and Spain until finally becoming a part of the United States of America in 1784. France's occupation of the area came from the visit made by Father Louis
Hennepin in 1680. By the operation of the Franco-Spanish Treaty of 1762, the
area of Minnesota west of the Mississippi and south of the Hudson Bay watershed passed from the dominion of France to
that of Spain. For the next 40 years it was under the proprietorship of Louisiana. In
1803, after briefly returning to French control, these lands were purchased
from France and thereafter called the Louisiana
Purchase (this was the area west of the Mississippi
including part of the area to become Minneapolis). The
area to the east of the Mississippi passed to England at the close of the French and Indian War (1763). This area,
including parts of Minnesota (and Minneapolis), became part of the United States after the War of Independence. When the United States accepted the Virginia Colony's deed of cession (1783), the area
became the (old) Northwest Territory. Out of this area were later carved the states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, and part of Minnesota.
To demonstrate
the western reach of United
States' power and
the northern reaches of the Louisiana Territory, the U.S. military established Fort Snelling. The Fort Snelling site
was formally acquired by Lieutenant Zebulon M. Pike from some of the Dakota
chiefs in 1805. The land Fort Snelling encompassed took in nearly the complete area of present-day Minneapolis and
almost half of the present-day city of St. Paul. The
original Fort Snelling, headquartered at the junction of the Minnesota and the Mississippi Rivers, was
established in 1819 to meet the rapidly changing conditions in the Northwest Territory. The first
commanding officer was Henry Leavenworth; Josiah Snelling replaced Leavenworth in
1820.
The community of
St. Anthony on the east side of the Mississippi River near St. Anthony Falls
was surveyed and platted as a townsite in 1849, the same year the territory of
Minnesota was established.
Prior to the
arrival of the white man, two Native American Indian tribes occupied the
territory: in the north the Ojibwa (also
known as the Chippewa) and in the south the Dakota (also known as the
Sioux). In 1851, the Dakota, needing
money to survive in the new culture of the white man, sold their land west of
the Mississippi, thus opening the area to settlement the following year
In 1852,
President Millard Fillmore approved an act of Congress reducing the Fort Snelling
reservation, thereby opening the land west of the river to settlers, although
most of the settlers did not receive clear title until 1855.
Also occurring
in 1852 was the creation of Hennepin County by the Territorial Legislature. Hennepin County was
named after Father Louis Hennepin, a Catholic friar of Belgian birth and an
explorer in the service of France.
Father Hennepin named the falls of the Mississippi
"St. Anthony" after his patron saint, Anthony of Padua.
[16a] Source: A
History of Minneapolis, “Early History”, (2001): www.mpls.lib.mn.us/history/eh1.asp
Henry and his family did not have very much
when they came north from Ohio in 1855, only a little money, their clothing, a gold watch, a hoe
and an axe. Mary stayed with baby John in St. Anthony and worked in a hotel for
their board. Meanwhile, Henry traveled north up the Mississippi River, to Dayton where he
staked a claim using his watch as collateral (see map below). He built a small
log cabin about 16 feet long and 14 feet wide near Diamond Lake. He then
walked back to St. Anthony to get Mary and the baby. On their way back they
bought their first livestock, a cow. At this time Henry had no team of oxen to
work with until he raised two calves. Until then, he would carry a sack of corn
to sell to the Anoka mill through the woods because there were no roads at that time.
[16] Dahlheimer, Frank, "The
Dahlheimer Family Tree", (1941).
Source: Schuman, Claudia (2005-2006). Rootsweb USGenWeb - Minnesota – Hennepin County Communities
and Townships map 1881; www.rootsweb.com/~mnhennep/comm.htm
The area where Henry chose to live was
primarily settled by Germans. The French
lived further south near what came to be called French Lake. According to Leonard Dahlheimer, the Germans
knew how to find good land. Normally,
the best farmland was where the trees had the most space between the ground and
the first limbs. This technique helped the German farmers find good land,
regardless of the time of year.
It wasn’t long after Henry and Mary had
staked their claim that Henry’s brother, Valentine, and three of their sisters,
Margaretha, Elizabetha and Apallonia, came to Minnesota. Their father, Caspar, and his wife,
Elisabeth, with their two youngest children, Philipp and Barbara, remained in Ohio.
The area around Dayton, Minnesota, was
still mostly unsettled during the late 1850's. The Dahlheimer family and other
settlers had to be wary of the Indians in the area. In 1976, Leonard Dahlheimer told of a small
band of Ojibwa (Chippewa) Indians who, in 1855, came down the Crow River to Dayton in 17
canoes. They passed through the area near Diamond Lake on their
way south to Shakopee to fight the Dakota (Sioux), their enemy. The settlers
near Dayton were: afraid the Indians would attack. Instead, the Chippewa sold
all except three of their canoes because they knew if they defeated the Sioux
there would only be enough of the Chippewa warriors left to fill three canoes,
and if they lost they wouldn’t even need the three [17].
[17] History of
Hennepin County, "Dayton", pages 302, 303; 305.
On October 8, 1857,
Valentine and Henry's families were recorded as residents of Dayton Township, Hennepin County, in the
Territory of Minnesota:
- Valentine's family included himself (age 31?), his wife Elizabeth (age
28), and their two children, Philipp (age 3, born in Ohio), and
John (age 1, born in Minnesota).
- Henry's family included himself (age 28), his wife Mary (age
26), and their two children, John (age 3, born in Ohio) and
Henry (age 1, born in Minnesota).
A copy of the 1857 Federal US Census
follows:
Henry and Valentine's first land purchase
in Dayton Township, Hennepin County, Minnesota, occurred on September l, 1860.
Henry purchased 120 acres of land from the
U.S. Government. In 2006, over 145 years later, part of this land is now owned
by Henry's great-grandson Adrian V. Dahlheimer (son of Lawrence C. Dahlheimer,
son of Frank Dahlheimer).
Following is a copy of the land sale
document from the United States Government to Henry:
Following is the translation of the above
land sale document:
United
States
To
Henry Dahlheimer
The United States of America. To all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting: Whereas, In
pursuance of the Act of Congress approved March 3, 1855 entitled "An Act
in addition to certain Acts granting Bounty Land to certain Officers and
Soldiers who have been engaged in the Military Service of the United States
there has been deposited in the General Land Office warrant No. 89,920 for 120
acres in favor of Ann W. Barritt widow of Elijah M. Barrett, private
Captain Pettibones Company Connecticut Militia War 1812 with evidence that the
same has been duly located upon the South East quarter of the South East
quarter of Section Eight and the East half of the North East quarter of Section
Seventeen in Township one hundred and twenty of Range twenty two, in the
District of Lands, subject to sale at Forest City Minnesota, containing one
hundred and twenty acres according to the Official Plat of the Survey of the
said Land returned to the General Land Office by the Surveyor General the said
warrant having been assigned by the said Ann W. Barritt to Henry Dahlheimer
in whose favor said tract has been located.
Now know ye, that there is therefore
granted by the United States unto the said Henry Dahlheimer as assignee as
aforesaid and to this heirs the tract of land above described: To have and to
hold the said tract of land with the appurtenances thereof, unto the said Henry
Dahlheimer as assignee as aforesaid and to his heirs and assigns forever.
In Testimony Whereof, I, James Buchanan
President of the United States of America, have caused these letters to be made
Patent and the seal of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed.
Given under my hand at the City of
Washington the first day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and sixty and of the Independence of the United States the Eighty
fifth.
U.S.G.L.O. By the President: James Buchanan
Seal
B.
J.B. Leonard Sec'y.
J.N.Granger
Recorder of the General Land Office
Recorded Vol 138 Page 185
Filed 28th November 1866; 9 ¼ o’ck A.M.
Henry’s brother, Valentine, also purchased
90 acres of land from the U.S Government. In 2006, over 145 years later, this land
is owned by Louis F. Dahlheimer, great-grandson of Henry Dahlheimer
Following is a copy of the land sale
document from the United States Government to Valentine:
Following is the translation of the above
land sale document:
United
States
To
Valentine Dahlheimer
Pre-emption
Certificate No 2418
The United States of America. To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting: Whereas,
Valentine Dahlheimer of Hennepin County Minnesota has deposited in the General
Land Office of the United States, a certificate of the Register of the Land
Office at Forest City whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the
said Valentine Dahlheimer according to the provisions of the act of Congress of
the 29th of April 1820 entitled "An act making further provision for the
sale of public lands
for the
Lots numbered Three and Four of
Section Seventeen in Township One Hundred and twenty of Range Twenty two in the District of Lands subject to sale at Forest City Minnesota
containing Ninety Acres and ten hundredths of an acre, according to the
Official Plat of the Surveyors of the said lands returned to the General Land
Office by the Surveyor General which said tract has been purchased by the
said Valentine Dahlheimer.
Now know ye, That the United States of
America in consideration of the premises, and in conformity with the several
Acts of Congress in such case made and provided have given and granted, and by
these presents do give and grant unto the said Valentine Dahlheimer and to his
heirs the said Tract above described: To have and to hold the same together
with all the rights, privileges, immunities and appurtenances of whatsoever
nature, thereunto belonging unto the said Valentine Dahlheimer and to his heirs
and assigns forever.
In Testimony Whereof, I, James Buchanan
President of the United States I of America, have caused these letters to be
made Patent and the seal of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed.
Given under my hand at the City of Washington
on the first day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
sixty and of the Independence of the United States the Eighty fourth.
U.S.G.L.O. By the President: James Buchanan .
Seal
B.
J.B. Leonard Sec'y.
J.N.Granger
Recorder of the General Land Office
Filed 28th November 1866, 9 ½ . o'ck A.M.
Following is a map showing the location of
the land purchased by Henry and Valentine in 1860:
Following is a modern map showing the
approximate location of the land purchased by Henry and Valentine in 1860:
Following is a photo of Henry’s land: In 2006, over 145 years later, part of this
land is now owned by Henry's great-grandson Adrian V. Dahlheimer (son of Lawrence
C. Dahlheimer, son of Frank Dahlheimer). The current address is 16241 North Diamond Lake Road,
Dayton, Minnesota, 55327-9588.
Following are photos of Valentine’s land on
Diamond Lake. In 2006, over 145 years
later, this land is owned by Louis F. Dahlheimer, great-grandson of Henry
Dahlheimer. The current address is 13681 Zanzibar Lane North, Dayton, Minnesota 55327-9781.
On October 25, 1860,
Valentine and Henry’s families are again listed as residents of Dayton Township in Hennepin County, in the
state of Minnesota:
- Valentine Dahlheimer and family:
- Valentine Dahlhamer (father), age 36, farmer, born Germany, $600 value of real estate, $250 value of personal estate
- Isabel (wife=Elizabeth), age 25, born Ohio
- Philip (son), age 6, born Ohio
- John (son), age 4, born Minnesota
- Henry (son), age 3, born Minnesota
- Valentine (son), age 3 months, born Minnesota
- Henry Dahlheimer and family:
- Henry Dahlhamer (father), age 33, farmer, born Germany, $800 value of real estate, $260 value of personal estate
- Mary (wife), age 33, born Ohio
- John (son), age 6, born Ohio
- Henry A (son=Adam), age 4, born Minnesota
- Mary (daughter=Elizabeth), age 3, born Minnesota
- Infant (male=Joseph), age one month, born Minnesota
Following is a copy of the 1860 US Federal
Census:
