death was that of Leroy Hubble, by accident, in 1845.
CHANGE OF NAME.
The name of the town was originally Leroy, in honor of Mr. Hubble
above mentioned. It is to be regretted that this name was not
retained, inasmuch as Osceola, though the name of one of the most
celebrated Indians in American history, is shared by a post town in
the eastern part of the State. It was therefore necessary to call this
post town Osceola Mills, a distinction that correspondents and
postmasters are not always careful to note. Osceola village remained
unorganized until Aug. 10, 1887. The first officers were: President,
H. B. Dyke; trustees, W. C. Reilly, R. S. Sutton, G. W. De Long, H. E.
Cornbacker, Paul Filzen, S. C. Benjamin; clerk, S. Rowcliff;
treasurer, C. W. Staples; supervisor, G. D. McDill; justice of the
peace, George Wilson; police justice, T. Post. The village has a
splendid situation upon the bluffs overlooking the river, and
communicates with points on the river by boat, and with overland
points by the Minneapolis, Soo & Atlantic railway, completed to this
place Aug. 21, 1887. There is also a branch road from Dresser's
station to St. Croix Falls. The village was visited by destructive
fires at various times. Most prominent of these was the burning of the
Freeland Hotel in 1857, the Western Hotel in 1878, and the first
flouring mill in 1880.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
DANIEL MEARS.--Mr. Mears was born in Lynn, Massachusetts, in 1819. His
first wife, Emeline Mendon, died in 1850, leaving three sons, Charles,
David, and Daniel. In 1852 he was married to Susan Thompson. They have
one daughter, Lulu, now Mrs. Wheeler, of Stillwater. Mr. Mears came
West in 1848, and sold goods one year at Taylor's Place (since
Taylor's Falls). In 1849 he removed his store to St. Croix Falls,
where he continued merchandising and lumbering until 1852, when he
went to Willow River as agent in building the first saw mill in what
is now Hudson. In 1860 he made himself a permanent home on a farm near
Osceola. He served as state senator from the Twenty-eighth district in
1858-59, and as state timber agent in 1874-75. As an officer Mr. Mears
acquitted himself well. In politics he is a Democrat, and while in the
senate took an active part in debates. The oldest son, Charles, is
editor and proprietor of the _Polk County Press_. The three sons are
married.
NELSON MCCARTY.--Mr. McCarty was born July 4, 1819, in Pike county,
Pennsylvania; in 1834 was married to Mary McKune, and came to St.
Croix valley in 1846, where he engaged in piloting and lumbering. In
1847 he made him a farm on Osceola prairie. He died in 1856. His
brother Philip came to Osceola in 1850, and settled on Osceola
prairie.
WILLIAM O. MAHONY, a native of Ireland, born about 1810, came to
America while he was yet a minor, and to St. Croix Falls in 1843. He
had learned the trade of a baker, but in 1844 became one of the
proprietors of the saw mill at Osceola, and sold his interest in 1860.
He was a man of original and eccentric mind. He went to California in
1862, and died there in 1866.
RICHARD ARNOLD is of Illinois birth. He came to Osceola in 1845, and
moved to his farm near the village in 1848. In 1852 he removed to
Taylor's Falls and built the Cascade House. In 1855 he was the first
farmer in the town of Amador, Chisago county. In 1859 he left the
valley for Pike's Peak, Colorado.
WM. KENT SR., was born in Scotland sometime in 1790. He was married in
Scotland, and, with his wife and two eldest children, came to America
in 1823. He seems to have lived awhile in New Brunswick, probably till
1829 or 30, when he removed to Eddington, Maine, whence he removed to
the West and made his home at Osceola in 1852, where he and his wife
died at an advanced age, honored by all who knew them. His family of
six sons and five daughters all grew to mature age, and, except
Andrew, who located in Farmington, had homes in Osceola The daughters
are Anna, wife of Curtis Guild; Agnes (deceased), wife of I. W.
Freeland; Jane, wife of Jerry Mudget; Mary (deceased), wife of Chapin
Kimball; and Eva, wife of Henry C. Goodwin.
ROBERT KENT, oldest son of Wm. Kent, Sr., was born in Scotland in
1819; came to Galena, Illinois, in 1840, and to Osceola in 1848, where
he has filled many responsible public positions. His first wife, to
whom he was married in Galena in 1841, died in 1847, leaving four
children. In 1859 Mr. Kent was married to Susan Babb, of Osceola.
ANDREW KENT was born in Scotland in 1821. He was married in New
Brunswick in 1838, but his wife died soon after. He came to Osceola in
1852 and was married to Esther Hill, of Osceola, in 1855. Mr. Kent
followed lumbering for many years but finally settled on a beautiful
farm in Farmington, where he still resides, an industrious, thrifty
farmer.
WILLIAM KENT, JR., was born in New Brunswick in 1824; came to Galena
in 1843 and to St. Croix Falls in 1844. He was one of the original
owners and builders of the first mill at Osceola. From time to time he
purchased the interests of other partners until he became sole owner
of mill and town site. In 1853 he sold the mill to B. H. Campbell, of
Galena. Mr. Kent engaged in steamboating for many years and was a
popular commander. He built the Nellie Kent, the Helen Mar and Maggie
Reany. Of late years he has been engaged in mercantile pursuits. He
was married to Nellie Kidder in 1855. They have no children. Mr. Kent
is an influential member of the masonic order, and has filled many
positions of public trust.
JAMES KENT was born in Frederickton, New Brunswick, in 1826; came to
Wisconsin in 1850; and was married to Mary Jane Wilson at Osceola in