Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/204

 152 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY ently the water came down through the floor above in such profusion as to quench the fire. Soon one of the boys came down- stairs drenched with rain, bringing in his arms the youngest boy, Wilson, dead. The same stroke of lightning had killed one of the girls, who were in the bed on the lower floor, immediately under that of the boys' in the chamber. The boys in time had become conscious, and these three — William, Beverly and James — with their mother, laid the boy, Wilson, by the side of his two sisters, Mary and Susan, and began chafing them, in order to restore them, if possible, to consciousness-. After some time, Mary, who later became Mrs. Enz, of Red Wing, was restored to health, but AVilson, aged six years, and Susan, a young lady of twenty-one years, had been instantly summoned to the world above during that terrible storm." In the month of June, 1856, a terrific storm of wind passed over the town, doing great damage to the growing crops and destroying buildings. One or two lives were lost. Matthew Streetor was at Justin Chamberlain-'s when the storm came up. Mrs. Chamberlain, seeing the storm approaching, ran to the cellar, and called to Streetor to follow her, but being old and feeble, he failed to reach safety, and was taken up with the house, being so badly injured that he died a day or two after. The same storm overtook Sheriff Chandler, who was on his way home with his horse and carriage, but seeing its approach, he sprang from the carriage and threw himself flat on the ground, and the storm passed over without doing him injury. After the tornado had passed Mr. Chandler looked for his horse, but could not find him. However, after diligent search in the direction the storm had taken, the horse and carriage was found about a mile from where he left them, lodged among the tops of some small trees. A flouring mill was built in the south part of the town, on Spring creek, by Stearns & Ilobart. in the year 1856. This mill was carried away by a freshet in June, the following year. It was rebuilt soon after by the Hon. W. W. Phelps, with three run of stone and a capacity for grinding 65,000 bushels annually. Mr. Phelps operated this mill with success for a time, and after- ward sold it to William Featherstone, who in turn sold it to M. Herschler. An early history says: "The first Methodist service held in the township was by the Rev. G. W. T. Wright, at the house of his mother, Mrs. Amelia Wright, in May, 1855. The persons that formed the class at that time were Resin Spates, Margaret Spates, Justin Chamberlain, Maria Chamberlain, John Leason, Mary Leason, Amelia Wright, Mary F. Wright, James A. Wright, William H. Wright, Beverly M. Wright. Samuel F. Hardy and Mary Hardy."