Mazeppa Village is the metropolis of southwestern Wabasha County. It is located in the northwestern corner of Mazeppa Township on the banks of the Zumbro River, which furnishes an excellent waterpower. Railroad service is provided by the Midland Division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company. The village is not only an important shipping point for this part of Wabasha and Goodhue Counties, but gains added importance from the fact that not far away is the great dam which furnishes the city of Rochester with its electric power. There is an adequate number of churches, the educational system is good, and the municipal improvements most satisfactory. The village is well laid out, the business section is progressive, and in the residence district are a number of fine homes. Shade trees and good walks add to the comfort and beauty of the place. There are two banks and a good newspaper. The principal business interests of the village, in addition to its excellent mercantile and general commercial establishments, are the two elevators; the mill for grist, owned by the village; the creamery, and the wood and iron working shop of M. J. Almeter & Son, manufacturers of hay racks, sleds and sleighs.

Mazeppa village was named from the poem, "Mazeppa," by Byron, that poem being a favorite of Ira O. Seeley, who was invited to name the village. The hamlet was founded by Joseph Ford and his son Orville D. Ford in 1855. Previous to this, in 1854, Ira O. Seeley had erected a crude temporary bark cabin west of the river near the mill dam, but had abandoned it for a claim in section 5.

In the early fifties the Ford family was living in New York State, where both Joseph and his son, Orville D., owned farms. There were two other younger sons, and it was with a view of affording these boys wider opportunities that the family decided to move to the Mississippi Valley. In 1854 Joseph Ford visited Illinois but was not pleased with the land he found available in the section he visited. The following year he determined to start for Minnesota. Accordingly the two farms were sold, and the whole family started on their pilgrimage. The women and younger members were left with relatives in Illinois, and Joseph and Orville D. came on to Minnesota. They arrived at Read's Landing in April and there met George Maxwell. Their hope was to get land not far from the Mississippi, but owing to the uncertainty of land the three men set out for the cabin of Ira O. Seeley. It was he who showed titles in the Half-Breed tract, they decided to settle further away. Therefore, them the beautiful valley of the Zumbro River. (Webmaster says: "I know the previous two sentences don't make any sense. I didn't write this. I'm just transcribing it!")

The two Fords took the half section of section 6, east and north of the river, and erected a comfortable cabin.

Orville D. then went back to Illinois, purchased oxen and provisions and with the whole family started for the new home. From Galena they reached Read's Landing, on the "war Eagle" (presumably a riverboat). On the trail from Read's Landing to Mazeppa but one team had been driven. The party set out with a hired horse team and wagon, the six women and three children riding. Orville D. and Orton Ford followed with the oxen, cow and supplies. At Mazeppa they found Joseph Ford and George Maxwell. The next day the cabin was furnished, the stove set up, and civilization thus inaugurated.

In June, 1855, J. E. Hyde began the erection of a log building, at the corner of Main and Walnut streets, for a store and residence. This was completed in September, and he returned to Galena for his family and a stock of goods. These arrived on October 1, and from that time supplies were kept here for the convenience of settlers. In the fall of 1855, Elijah Lont and his brother-in-law, Lewis Blunt, built a large house on the corner of Chestnut and First streets. J. W. Judd was the first iron worker. He arrived August 15, 1855, built a log shop on the river bank and started the iron work for the mill. The first hotel was a house built by N. B. Smith in the fall of 1855, on the corner now occupied by Charles Colling, corner of Cherry and First streets, lot 8, block 19, southeast. Stages passed here twice a week and the traffic was heavy.

In 1856 Orville D. Ford built the house now occupied by Adam Redding, lot 4, block 22, northwest corner of Pine and First, and opened it as a hotel. Orton Ford was the first harness maker. Henry Washburn was the first shoemaker. The first doctor was O. S. Lont, who practiced here some two decades. Frank Stowell was the first resident owner of a team of horses. Lewis, son of Francis A. Stowell, was born here in the fall of 1855, and Roxie H., daughter of Enoch Young, was born December 14 of the same year. These were doubtless the first children born to white parents within the township. Zarah Cornish, Jr., a child, passed away June 1, 1856, and thus furnished occasion for the first funeral. The first cemetery was laid out on the hill east of the village, and a few were buried there. Then Orville D. Ford gave a plot of land embracing part of the present cemetery and the bodies were moved to it. The first marriage was a contract marriage between Edward Hunt and Sarah Waskey, the papers being drawn by Orville D. Ford.

The need of postal facilities was soon felt among so large a colony, and steps were taken to secure a post office. John E. Hyde was appointed postmaster, his commission bearing date January 2, 1856, and the Dubuque and St. Paul stages were made to pass through Mazeppa and take and supply mail. Succeeding Mr. Hyde, the postmasters have been Prosper Robinson, E. L. Ford, Simon Phillips, George Maxwell, L. E. Scruby, George Squire, M. J. Rucker and N. J. Seivert. (Apparently the initials for Mr. Seivert should be N. P. as listed below. Webmaster)

The survey of the village plat of Mazeppa was begun soon after the site was located by the Fords. G. Maxwell was employed for this labor. During the summer the subdivision of the county was completed by government surveyors, and Mr. Maxwell's lines were found to vary but a trifle from the variation used by the United States survey, and they still stand.

Mazeppa, in 1877, the year before the railroad came through, was already a flourishing village. Writing for a special Mazeppa issue of the Wabasha County Sentinel of February 28, 1877, E. F. Hopkins says: "Whether you approach the town from the north, east or west, you see a valley containing about two hundred acres, and a handsomer one you might go far to find. We consider the view from the hill north of the town the best. As you round the point of the hill on the Red Wing road, a full view is offered of the main street (First), the churches and the north and west part of the village, while only the southeastern portion is hid by the rise of ground upon which the land reserved for a park is located, known as 'Schoolhouse Hill.' At your right is the mill-pond, now almost a lake, and farther down all the buildings of the Mill Company and the suspension bridge.

"In 1855, when Joseph Ford, in company with his son Orville, saw this valley from the brow of the hill east of town, he said, 'We will go no farther; this valley shall be our home.' Though nothing but oak brush could then be seen on the east side of the stream, and heavily-wooded timber land of the west for fifteen miles, yet he saw the prospect of health, wealth and happiness in the useful combination of wood, water and protection from cold and storms which the timber would give to a home here. Since that time the bulk of the timber has been removed in the immediate vicinity of town; yet still enough remains to satisfy the market.

"Not until the year 1876 did the village begin to attract attention from outside the circle of its regular trade, and for this reason no great effort had been put forth by its citizens to attract attention and trade or promote its growth. The immense water-power, which all knew to be of great value to the town, had never been used to a tenth of its capacity. The fact was apparent that much would depend upon the improvement of the Zumbro, and the success of the Mazeppa Mill Company was eagerly watched and talked of by all. During the winter of 1875-76 this was the theme of conversation by citizen and stranger, and all looked for business to revive and take a grand stride forward.

"The principal business of the village is now transacted by the following establishments: Mazeppa Mill Company, making six hundred barrels of flour per day; four general stores, where are retailed dry goods, clothing, groceries and boots and shoes; three groceries, one of them also carrying footwear; two drug stores, one complete hardware store and tin-shop, two shoe-shops, two blacksmith-shops, one wagon-shop, one tailor, one hotel, one law office, one livery stable, two warehouses and grain elevators, and five saloons. A custom flourmill is in course of construction, and will be in operation with four sets of buhrs before this reaches the eye of the reader. There is also a stone-quarry and limekiln within the village limits.

"During the year 1876 the buildings and improvements of the Mill Company cost $60,000, and those of other persons made a total of $80,850. During the same year a business of three hundred and forty-six thousand seven hundred dollars was transacted in the following lines: dry-goods stores, 3; groceries, 5; clothing, 3; boots and shoes; drugs, 2; hardware, 2; furniture, 2; confectionery, 7; shoemakers, 2; blacksmith-shops, 2; tinsmith, 1; harness-shop, 1; wagon-whop, 1 lawyer, 1; hotelkeeper, 1; physician, 1; meat market 1; livery stable, 1; millinery stores, etc."

The fire of the winter of 1890-91 wiped out several of the leading business houses of the village, and resulted in the moving of several of the business establishments to the north side of the principal business street. The first fire burned the mill, the elevator and cooper shop. In order to guard against danger from smouldering sparks, the hand engine was left in position on the river bank, with watchmen to guard it. But the watch was neglected, and when fire broke out in some grain that had been removed from the burned mill to a meat market, it was found that the engine was frozen. From the Mat Poncelot Building, in which was the market of Sands & Luskell, the fire spread to the west as far as the Taft & Munger Building, being stopped from further progress by the street. On the east it spread as far as the building occupied by Mrs. Mat Schram as a residence and millinery store. There the heroic efforts of the bucket brigade arrested the flames, and the rest of the village was saved.

The waterpower has been the vital feature in the life of Mazeppa. The Fords were attracted to this point by its possibilities in this regard, and soon after their arrival arranged for its development by offering Isaac Nichols the waterpower if he would build a mill thereon. The offer was at once accepted, and preparations were immediately made for the erection of a sawmill. This was set in operation during the winter, and timbers were at the same time prepared for a gristmill. William Amsbry became associated with Nichols in the construction of the gristmill, and subsequently bought out the latter. Ansbry & Barber completed it and began business in the fall of 1856. They were succeeded by Augustus Ambler, and the latter by the Forest Mills and Mazeppa Mill companies, and now by the village of Maxeppa.

A sawmill was built in the fall of 1856 on the main river, half a mile above the mouth of the north brankch , by Alexander Somers and Rhoderick Drinkwater, and set in operation the next spring. It was kept busy night and day cutting lumber for settlers' shanties. In December, 1857, Somers' body was found in the river. The verdict of the coroner's jury was that he came to his death otherwise than by drowning. Fowl play was suspected, but there was no evidence fastened to any one and the matter was dropped. From that time the mill was neglected, and the dam subsequently washed away.

In the spring of 1857 a sawmill was built on Trout brook by Ralph Frasier on Sleeper's claim, section 9. After the settlers began to seek for pine lumber, the dam was neglected and washed away. The mill was purchased by A. H. Bright with the land on which it stood and was used for a time by Bright's sons for the manufacture of beekeepers' supplies, steam being used to drive their machinery.

In 1858 a distillery was built about halfway between the present upper and lower bridges in the village by Loyd, Robi & Franklin, and the manufacture of whisky was carried on there till 1862. Isaac T. Nichols then built farther up the stream and removed the machinery thither, and the first distillery was town down. Nichols shortly built a mill on Trout brook. Augustus Ambler bought the distillery and tore out its machinery, which he removed to his mill. He paid eight hundred dollars for the property in order to stop the manufacture of whisky here, and refused to sell it, lest it be turned to the same use again. The Trout book mill change hands several times, and has long since been swept away by flood.

The Mazeppa Roller Mills company was organized in 1876 with a capital of $175,000, and the flowage rights and several buildings acquired. The company was composed of L. F. Hubbard (president and treasurer), O. D. Ford (secretary), W. S. Wells (general manager), and William P. Brown (resident manager). A dam of 26 feet depth was built on the sold bed rock, and a frame mill built, 56 by 72 feet and four stories high. In 1878 an addition 60 by 70 feet was made for engine and boiler rooms. In 1881 the buhrstones were removed and forty sets of rolls installed for making patent flour. In 1883 an elevator was built near the mill with a capacity of 100,000 bushels. For a time the mill consumed 3,000 bushels of wheat daily and daily turned out 600 barrels of flour. The product had a good demand throughout the New England states and in such British centers as London, Liverpool and Glasgow.

In addition to the elevator at Mazeppa, ten elevators and warehouses were established along the Zumbro river and 100 railroad cars operated to bring the grain from these establishments to Mazeppa.

When the Mazeppa elevator was built, John W. Kingsley was made the buyer, and he was also given charge of the other elevators along the line as they were built. Later he succeeded Mr. Brown as general manager of the mill.

The concern underwent several changes in ownership and finally came into the possession of Judge E. H. Johnson of St. Paul. He converted it into an oatmeal factory and it so continued until it was burned in 1891.

In the nineties the firm of Mason & Rust was operated at Forest Mills. Peter Engelhardt bought the Rust interests and the firm of Mason, Olson & Engelhardt was then formed with J. R. Mason, Peter Engelhardt and N. M. Olson, who had previously been an employee in the Mason & Rust plant at Forest Mills to the site of the old mill at Mazeppa. The dam, which had been out for several years, was rebuilt of stone and operations started. Later the stone dam went out and was replaced by a post dam. This proving inadequate, it was in turn replaced by the present dam. The plant was purchased by the village in 1915.

Prosper Robinson in 1878 built a warehouse for storing grain near the railroad track, south of the depot. This building was 60 by 30 feet on the ground. In 1883 it was raised and elevating machinery put in. Mr. Robinson and the mill company purchased all the grain brought in, making business very lively during the fall season. The elevator was later demolished and rebuilt.

A custom mill was built in 1883 at the south end of the village by Turner J. Preble and Alonzo Comstock. Ground was first broken for the dam in March, 1883, on outlot 1, of Hyde's addition to Mazeppa. The dam was seven and one-half feet high, and sufficient fall was secured in the flume to give a ten-foot head of water. The mill was operated for many years and finally burned.

Mazeppa village was incorporated by the legislature of 1877. The organic act appointed E. L. Ford and N. J. Majerus as judges of the first election and fixed March 17, 1877, as the date. On that day the voters assembled in Huntley's Hall, and cast 86 votes for the various village officers. Those elected were: President, O. D. Ford; trustees, Prosper Robinson, D. Van Fleet, and Welk B. Smith; treasurer, George Maxwell; recorder, Wesley Kinney; justice, J. S. Huntley' constable, Alvin Kinney. Since then the presidents and recorders have been as follow: Presidents 1878, O. D. Ford; 1879, 1880 and 1881, W. W. Day; 1882, N. C. Olson; 1883, R. F. Maxwell; 1884, Dr. O. S. Lont; 1885, W. P. Brown; 1886, J. W. Kingsley. The election day having been changed in 1886 from January to March, a second election was held in March at which Mr. Kingsley was re-elected. Subsequent presidents were: 1887, E. L. Ford; 1888, 1889, 1890 and 1891, W. H. Mack; 1892, 1893, and 1894, Peter Engelhardt; 1895 and 1896, J. B. Gregoire; 1897, Peter Engelhardt; 1898, J. W. Kingsley; 1899, W. H. Mack; 1900, Herman Phillips; 1901, J. J. Darcey; 1902, Peter Engelhardt; 1903, H. J. Almeter; 1904 and 1905, Theo. Maas; 1906, C. W. Collins; 1907 and 1908, Theo. Maas; 1909 and 1910, Matt Owens; 1911, 1912 and 1913, J. W. Kingsley; 1914, W. L. Duncan; 1915, 1916, W. B. Hagerty; 1917, W. B. Hagerty having been again elected, served until July 30, when he resigned, and M. J. Hart was appointed to fill out the vacancy; 1918 and 1919, M. J. Hart.

The recorders have been as follows: 1878, Wesley Kinney; 1879 and 1880, J. W. Kingsley; 1881 and 1882, D. Van Vleet; 1883, Mr. Van Vleet having been again elected, resigned April 12, and A. J. Myers filled out the term; 1884 and 1885, O. B. Munger; 1886, O. B. Munger was again elected in January, and was succeeded the same year by E. F. Hopkins, who was elected in March; 1887, H. N. Harding; 1888, D. L. Philley; 1889, Charles W. Underworth; 1890, J. H. Clear (appointed April 7); 1890, W. A. Munger (appointed July 7, 1890); 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895 and 1896, W. A. Munger; 1897, 1898, 1899 and 1900, J. S. Robertson; 1901, J. S. Robertson was again elected, but removed before the expiration of his term and Fred D. Mack was appointed to succeed him November 27, 1901. 1902 and 1903, Fred D. Mack; 1904 and 1905, O. G. Nichols; 1906, C. W. Collings; 1907 and 1908, Theo. Maas; 1909 and 1910, L. A. Phillips; 1911, 1912 and 1913, A. L. McCray; 1914, N. P. Seivert; 1915, N. P. Seivert, who was again elected, resigned and F. J. Kingsley being appointed and declining to serve (August 2), W. A. Munger was appointed August 22, and by subsequent elections served in 1917, 1918 and 1919.

March 11, 1901, by a vote of 67 to 15, the voters of the village decided to entirely separate from the township.

The municipal improvements of Mazeppa consist of a waterworks system, a sewer system, an electric light system, a village hall, a village jail and a public park.

Shortly after the village was organized, a cistern was erected at the junction of Main and Water streets, and in 1886 a hand engine was purchased. A volunteer fire department was organized under the auspices of the village with a chief appointed by the council. The cistern was filled by carting water from the river, or sometimes by pumping it through a hose from the mill. This was the only fire protection the village had until the great fire of the winter of 1890-91. In the meantime water for domestic purposes was obtained from surface wells.

After the fire a waterworks system was established with a drilled well, a wooden tank on a 90-foot tower, the water being elevated by windmill power. It was the original intention to have an artesian well, but after drilling to good water, the artesian well idea was abandoned. Mains were established covering the principal streets.

After the mill was burned in the fire of the winter of 1891-92, the dam went out and the pond was dry for several years. In order to revive the use of the important waterpower here, the village in 1898 leased the property, dam site and flowage right to Mason, Olson & Engelhart, who moved a mill here from Forest Mills.

The windmill at the waterworks was then abandoned, and an arrangement made with the mill company for the use of a well at the mill and for the pumping of the water to the tank in the park, the conditions of the lease being amended to include this provision.

But in time the old tank began to show the results of age, leaking badly, and sometimes freezing in winter. Therefore in 1908 a new system was inaugurated, a cement tank erected on Cemetery Hill and the mains extended. The mill still continued to pump the supply. The tank holds 3,000 barrels, and has an elevation of 83 feet above the main village street, giving a pressure of 40 pounds. There are 3,300 feet of 6-inch mains, 700 feet of 4-inch mains, 13 double hydrants and two dead ends.

In the early days of the village, various experiments were made with kerosene and gasoline lamps for street lighting. The real beginning of the present system was on April 12, 1909, when the council decided to appoint a committee to investigate the cost and feasibility of providing adequate street lighting. After due deliberation the matter was submitted on June 15, 1909, to the voters who authorized the issuance of bonds for the purpose.

Fairbanks, Morse & Co. were engaged to do the work, and a system was established consisting of a 10 kwt. Dynamo and equipment, with 36 street lights, the power to be furnished by water power, transmitted from the mill to the power house. The street lamps were lighted in the latter part of August. Oct. 16, 1909, it was decided to accept applications for service to business houses and residences, subject to the hours established for the street lighting system. The following year a larger dynamo was purchased. In 1913, the mill power was found insufficient and a gas engine was purchased and installed in the village hall.

November 2, 1915, a special election was held for the purpose of bonding the village to the amount of $10,000 to purchase the property, lease and rights of the Mazeppa Roller Mill Co. The proposition was passed by a vote of 88 to 48, the majority being just three more votes than were required. The purchase was accordingly made for $8,000. In 1916 a new power house was erected west of the mill. The pump and dynamo are west of the mill.

The nucleus of a sewer system has been started, the principal line extending from the High school, across the business center, to the river.

The village has a pretty well wooded park, neatly laid out and beautified with shrubbery and flowers. It has a bandstand and benches. The park was platted with the village and lies across the street from the school grounds. The village hall is the old village school, purchased, moved and remodeled in 1896.

As early as 1856, school was taught in the store of John E. Hyde by Mrs. Sidney Munson. Eliza Goodell, who later married Wallace Day, taught in a log cabin erected by Orville D. Ford on the present site of the residence of Charles Colling, and in a house erected by N. B. Smith. In 1858 a school was taught by Huldah McManus, who later became Mrs. G. W. Fowler. The building in which this school was kept was erected by the settlers in the Zumbro Valley, on the western side of the river, about a mile above the site of the Somers & Drinkwalter mill. The flood of 1859 swept this building away and it was never rebuilt. In the meantime J. A. Martin, in the fall of 1857, started getting out the lumber for a large two-story school building which was erected in the village in 1858, the expense of the structure being met by popular subscription. This building was enlarged and did good duty until 1896, when it was removed and converted into a village hall. In that year a large brick school building was erected, and a High School department inaugurated. In 1912 an addition to the school building was erected an new equipment added. The first graduate of the High School was L. A. Phillips in 1898. Since then there have been graduations every year except 1900, 1904, 1905 and 1911. The school superintendents have been: 1896, W. G. Kingsford; 1898, R. A. Lyman; 1899, W. J. Mosher; 1902, H. H. Kent; 1904, W. C. Herrmann; 1908, J. S. Burrell; 1910, Augustus Hallstone; 1911, E. B. Anderson; 1916, H. B. Goff; 1918, F. S. Ladd; 1920, G. M. Rockwood.

Telephone service was inaugurated in Mazeppa by John W. Kingsley, who connected with the Pine Island-Oronoco-Potsdam-Plainview line at Oronoco, and maintained an exchange in his store. The Mazeppa Telephone Co. was organized in 1909 by John Grimm and F. C. Marvin and took over the Kingsley interests. The exchange was moved to a building on the west side of Main street. That same year Parkin & Meyer of the Goodhue Telephone Co. built a line to the village and established an exchange across the street from the local exchange. This line and exchange were purchased by the local company. In 1914 the present sightly structure was erected. The company now consists of H. L. Lathrop and John Grimm.

The Mazeppa Farmers' Elevator and Mercantile Co. was established in 1908. In 1912 it was reorganized as the Mazeppa Farmers' Elevator Co., and in 1916 sold to the Huntting Elevator Co. The Huntting people now lease the elevator to Carl Engelhart, while they themselves operated the old Maas elevator.

Creameries and cheese factories in this vicinity date back for several decades. In 1816 (this must be 1916), E. G. Hammer, of Zumbrota, bought out the creamery then owned by the Farmers' Elevator co., and had been purchased by them from A. L. McCray. In 1920 Mr. Hammer sold to the present company the Mazeppa Farmers' Co-operative Dairy Association, which was organized early this year with Thomas Bake as president; Fred Busse, Jr., as secretary; and Paul Krinke, treasurer.

The Mazeppa Brass Band was for many years an important institution, and won many prizes at musical meets. It underwent several reorganizations, but throughout its existence the principal musicians were practically the same persons. The first organization was in November, 1880, George Westphal being the first leader and John W. Kingsbury the first business manager.

In the early days Mazeppa and vicinity were represented in correspondence appearing in various state and county papers. For some time in the middle seventies the Wabasha County Sentinel had a Mazeppa department with Mazeppa news and advertisements, and on February 28, 1877, issued a full two-page Mazeppa supplement. The editor of the department was E. F. Hopkins.

The Mazeppa Tribune was first issued November 3, 1877. There has been considerable confusion in the numbering of the issues in times past, but the date of the first issue is fairly well agreed upon. The paper was established by Schram and Clark. In a little over four months Matthias Schram became sole editor and proprietor. He was succeeded in 1886 by A. J. Myers. In 1891 Benn Houghtaling became editor and proprietor. He was followed in 1893 by the Tribune Printing Co., so called, composed of the brothers Herman H., David and Joseph Phillips. Joseph Phillips, the manager, withdrew in about two years, and the paper was continued by the other two. In 1898, W. G. Kingsford took the paper. He was succeeded in 1908 by L. A. Phillips, the present editor of the Mazeppa Journal, in which the Tribune is merged.

The Mazeppa Independent was started by F. J. Rucker and George Goetting. It was sold and taken to Zumbro Falls. November 3, 1904, it was brought back to Mazeppa by Michael Marx and established as the Mazeppa Journal. November 5, 1905, the paper was purchased by L. A. Phillips. In 1908 he purchased the Tribune and consolidated the two papers under the name of the Mazeppa Journal, retaining the volume and number of both papers. The first consolidated issue was published June 20, 1908.

Attention to religious duties has been an important factor in the lives of the people of Mazeppa. The first religious services were held in the store of John E. Hyde, in July, 1856, by Rev. Christopher McManus, a Methodist local preacher residing south of Pine Island, in Goodhue County. During the same season, Rev. A. E. Standish preached in the mill. The first church edifice was that of the Congregationalists, built in 1870-71.

A Sunday School was organized in 1856 with Francis M. Skillman as superintendent. This was held in the store of John E. Hyde, where school was also held, and where early church services were conducted.