The Story of the Jesmer’s moving to Greenbush- told by date and event

The following is the story of the Jesmer’s moving to Greenbush Township Minnesota in 1867. It is told in the form of dates and what was going on in the USA at that time.  It was also told  from the point of view of Joseph’s oldest son, Nelson Adulphus Jesmer, (My great grandfather). Nelson was a young teenage boy when the Jesmer family moved out west, many by train and steam ship. It is not in story form, but by year. The info was taken from geneological information and info from the internet concerning news events of the times. I extended the info back three years so people can get a sense of what was happening just prior to the move.

Link to Joseph A. Jesmer page    Outlying buildings, animals and fields

The Greenbush Catholic Church   Old Midwest farm buildings

History of Greenbush and Mille Lacs County Minnesota

Newspaper articles about Greenbush Township 1876-1879

Joseph A. Jesmer

Nelson A. Jesmer and Jenny

1864    Minnesota state legislature authorized the construction of a road from St. Cloud

to lake Superior. By the summer of 1864 this road was complete into Mille Lacs
County. (Where Greenbush Township is located.) The construction of this road

meant that supplies could be regularly shipped and delivered to the lumbering

camps and the few settlements that existed in the county. The road was an

immense improvement over the frequently impassible Federally built road which
had been constructed in the mid 1850’s. One effect of this road was to give St.

Cloud merchants a virtual monopoly on supplies for the Rum River lumbering

areas.

Nov 8, 1864 – Abraham Lincoln is re-elected president, defeating Democrat George B.

McClellan. Lincoln carries all but three states with 55 percent of the popular vote

and 212 of 233 electoral votes. “I earnestly believe that the consequences of this

day’s work will be to the lasting advantage, if not the very salvation, of the

country,” Lincoln tells supporters. http://www.historyplace.com/civilwar/index.html

Jan 31, 1865 – The U.S. Congress approves the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States

Constitution, to abolish slavery. The amendment is then submitted to the states

for ratification. http://www.historyplace.com/civilwar/index.html

March 4, 1865 – Inauguration ceremonies for President Lincoln in Washington. “With malice

toward none; with charity for all…let us strive on to finish the work we are in…to

do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace, among

ourselves, and with all nations,” Lincoln3333333 says.

http://www.historyplace.com/civilwar/index.html

April 9, 1865 – Gen. Robert E. Lee surrenders his Confederate Army to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at

the village of Appomattox Court House in Virginia.

April 15, 1865 – President Abraham Lincoln dies at 7:22 in the morning. Vice President Andrew   

                            Johnson assumes the presidency. http://www.historyplace.com/civilwar/index.html

      10/12/1865  Nelson turns 8 years old.

2/10/1866  Grandmother, Felicite “Sophie” Robideau, died.

1866  Nelson’s uncle, Joseph Robideaux, husband of Catherine Jesmer, bought land

and started to farm. Family is still in New York. (HOTUMV p, 679)

11/24/1866   First train came through Princeton MN, coming from the twin cities and going

on to Duluth.

1866    Uncle, Adulphus Jesmer, at the age of 20 left home and began to work in the

lumbering business in Franklin co. N.Y. (HOTUMV p. 678)

March 1867   Brother, Joseph lll is born.

Spring 1867    Nelson’s uncle, Joseph Robideaux, husband of Catherine Jesmer, brings his

children and his wife to Minnesota. (HOTUMV p. 678)

Neslon’s father, Joseph A. Jesmer was not the first wave of Jesmer’s to move out west, towards MN. His brother in law, Joseph Robideau was already near Princeton MN working in the logging industry. John  Baptiste Jesmer, Nelson’s great uncle was already living out towards WI. There were many factors that could have influenced the family to move, government and railway promotions to settle out west. Catholic church promotions to get Catholic pioneers in the western territories, and the good news from other family members who had gone one before them.

Despite the increase in lumbering activity, in the 1860’s and 1870’s Princeton remained the only place of permanent settlement within the county. Hotels, several stores and a steam-powered sawmill were the first buildings to be built in the 1850’s. IN 1867 Benjamin Soule built a sawmill. Three years later he also built a flour mill, powered by water with a capacity of twenty tons a day. Within several years, two other flour mills were operating within the city. Service businesses located in Princeton and bolstered its economy. Doctors such as E.C. Gile, from New York, were drawn to this previously unserved area, as were shop keepers and merchants.

1867       Old school house and log cabin school were replaced by the larger Whittier

School in Princeton. School, that served Greenbush was first built in 1862 as a

log cabin. Then it was replaced by a frame building. This burnt down and was

replaced by a building from Princeton. This replacement was on near the site of

the old school house. It was on section 25. “In district number 4 a building was

erected for school purposes.” (HOTUMV p. 676)

1868       Nelson’s uncle Peter Robideaux, husband of Julia Jesmer, came to Minnesota

with his children. (HOTUMV p. 679)

1868       “Catholic services were held in what is known as the French settlement, in 1868,

by Father Maurer, at the residence of Joseph Robideaux, in section thirty-two.

Soon after the residence of Louis Rushford became their place of worship.” (Hx

of Upper Mississippi Valley p. 676.)

9/9/1868       Uncle, Adulphus D. Jesmer marries Julia Ann Robideau, in Princeton MN.

(Adulphus will be a member of the board of county commissioners for many

years and also the Town Clerk holding the office for several terms. (HOTUMV p.

678)

8/20/1868       Nelson’s brother, Moses is born.

Spring 1869      The first school in district #5 was opened at the residence of M. Kenely, in section

28, Miss Mary Kenely being employed as the teacher.

1869      Greenbush township was organized. , “The first meeting being held at the school

house on section two.” No Jesmer family members elected to offices. (HOTUMV

(p.696)

1869      Greenbush territory was dismembered by the organization of the town of Milo,

north of which are but few settlers…” (HOTUMV p. 676)

1869      The North Star Hotel was built in Princeton. (Princeton Eagle Souvenir section

June 4,1981)

1870      School house built on section 20.

1870      Population of Princeton equals 400. (Princeton Eagle Souvenir section June

4,1981)

“In 1870, Princeton had three stores with over $40,000 annual sales, two large hotels, two steam sawmills, one flouring mill, one lawyer, two preachers, one carriage shop, four blacksmith shops, two shoe and two carpenter shops, and the only post office in the area.” From “Princeton History” brochure.

The pre-teen years of Nelson were spent working hard on the farm, interacting with his large extended family and participating in the Catholic Church that was made up of Irish and French Canadians. He had seen his relatives establish prosperous farms, engage in business and even local politics. He saw his relatives moving out west. New stories trickled in about logging camps and opportunities opening up in Minnesota. He probably heard his own parents talk about a possible move out west, for years, over the dinner table. Then finally one day it happened. They made a fateful decision and decided to make a new beginning. How exiting! There were so many changes happening for young Nelson, not only in his family but also in the nation with Civil War. But it seems that though his life was in flux and his situation always changing, Nelson was strengthened through it all.

__________________________Teenage Years____________________________________________

According to a letter written by Janet Evers the people associated with the Jesmers were either relatives or friends. “They were like a clan and didn’t like outsiders like the Minnesota Swedes”. She remembers going to her grandparent’s farm and seeing all of the French people by themselves on the lawn speaking French. She stated that the New York French stuck together for so many years, marrying back and forth. She stated that the first two generations that came to Minnesota did the same thing.

May 1870      Sister, Eunice is born.

1870     Nelson’s uncle, Nelson A. Jesmer stopped working on a farm and going to

school and went to work as a store clerk of H.B. Cowles. He worked as a clerk

for four years. (HOTUMV p. 671)

1871    Clara Soquet, sister of Genevieve (Jesmer), died. Genevieve is 12 years old.

12/30/1871     Sister, Eugenia is born.

8/22/1872    Uncle, Nelson Edward Jesmer married Sarah Goulding in Princeton MN.

6/15/1873     Jean P. Soquet, (Jenny Jesmer’s father) poisons his wife, Esperance in Greenbay

1.   Jenny Soquet is 14 years old. Jennie’s dying mother asked her to help raise

her siblings with her father.           The Tale Of A Portrait Julia Francart Englebert Her Untold

Untold Story” by John Henry Mertens 1990.

             1873     A three-day blizzard hits Minnesota in January, killing seventy Minnesotans.

1873     Jenny (Soquet) Jesmer’s father, Jean Phillippe Soquet, remarried Elvira Minsart

near Greenbay. She was suspected in the poisoning death of her husband. Soquet

had bailed her out of jail. Case dropped.

The Tale Of A Portrait Julia Francart Englebert Her Untold

Untold Story” by John Henry Mertens 1990.

11/7/1873    Nelson’s aunt, Marceline (Mina) Jesmer marries Minor Parisian in Hogansburg

NY.

12/1873     First edition of the Princeton Appeal. (Princeton Eagle Souvenir section June

4,1981)

1874    The establishment of the Greenbush Cemetery. “The ledger from which this information was copied is no longer available for people to thumb through and the ledger goes back only to1902. Since the Greenbush Cemetery was established about 1874, you can see that there are records in that span of years researchers are still attempting to locate. Researchers are told they are contained within journals which the early priests carried with them at a time when they served many missionary churches. Attempts are being made to locate these records.” (Jeane Reckinger 205 N. 13^th Avenue, Princeton, Mn 55371 (763-389-1088)

1/3/1874     Nelson’s brother, Adulphus Albert, is born.

7/1/1874     Uncle, Nelson Edward Jesmer, stops being a clerk and opens his own store in

Princeton.

10/  1874        Darwin L. Parisian, Nelson’s 1^st cousin, child of Marceline (Jesmer) & Minor

Parisian is born in NY.

2/14/1875     Grandmother, Julia Jesmer dies in Greenbush

5/6/1875     Uncle Nelson completing his “pleasant residence.”

Nelson’s uncle, Nelson E, Jesmer, must have made a big impression on the 18 year old Nelson. He saw his uncle move from working as a lumberman and a clerk, to be an independent business owner. He saw him prosper as his business grew. He saw him build a new home. This must have impressed young Nelson and inspire him to also become an entrepreneur himself.

1875     Property in Greenbush bought in 1875 from Joseph Jasmer. (General land records

office.)

7/1/1875     Uncle Peter and Aunt Julia’s (Jesmer) family, with 11 kids and Peter’s father Louis

(80), along with Mary Henry (80) widow of Samuel Henry (total 14) was the

largest family in Greenbush. Population of Greenbush = 375 with 51 families.

(Census place Greenbush: Family History Library Film 1254626)

8/11/1875    Nelson Parisian, Nelson’s 1^st cousin, child of Marceline (Jesmer)

& Minor Parisian is born in Hogansburg NY. He dies young.

11/20/1875     Sister, Ida is born.

Another local industry established about this time was brickmaking. Beginning with the Duncan (Dunton?) Brickyard in 1876, Princeton became one of the largest brick producing areas in the state. This early Princeton brick is recognizable by its distinctive reddish-orange color.

2/1876     Nelson’s father donates 10 acres for a Catholic church to be built in the future.

10/20/1876    Uncle Nelson builds a barn on his property.

12/1876    Princeton Union newspaper started. (Princeton Eagle Souvenir section June

4,1981)

1876    Uncle Peter Robideau, sold land in Greenbush, he had previously bought from

Joseph Jasmer, to brother-in-law, Nelson Grow. (General Land Records Office)

12/15/1876    Nelson’s father, Joseph is extending the area of his cultivations.

2/27/1877     Sister, Delia Alice, is born.

3/23/1877     Uncle Adulphus Jesmer wins election to Greenbush town officers.

6/22/1877     Uncle Adulphus is county commissioner.

6/1877       Lottie A. Parisian, Nelson’s 1^st cousin, child of Marceline (Jesmer) & Minor

Parisian is born in NY.

Nelson’s uncle Adulphus also left a lasting impression on 19 year old Nelson A. Nelson’s middle name was Adulphus. Was he given his middle name in honor of his uncle? Adulphus found his identity, not just as a farmer, but also as a local politician. Maybe Nelson was impressed by the respect, within the community, that his uncle received. Maybe Nelson longed for significance of life, not wanting to be a farmer, but to be a business owner in pioneering communities and a local politician.

Nelson’s teenage years were marked were foundation building years. Again, he worked hard to establish his family farm as a prosperous one. He also saw wedding after wedding. New relatives were born. There were new arrivals, to the region, from New York. There were family dances at his father’s farm and his Uncle Nelson’s Opera House. The Catholic church was adjacent to his family’s farm. He admired his Uncle Nelson’s business prowess and his Uncle Adulphus’ political life. He began to aspire to these things himself. His family was also very well respected in the community, not only in Greenbush but also in Princeton. It was a very idyllic environment for a young man to grow up in.