Osseo, Minnesota - History

History

The City of Osseo is located in the northeastern part of Hennepin County, Minnesota. Originally Osseo was under the government of townships of Brooklyn Park and Maple Grove. In the Spring of 1875, by an act of the state legislature, Osseo was incorporated with a president, three councilmen, a recorder, and a treasurer constituting its officers.

"This is Paradise," Pierre Bottineau exclaimed, as he and his traveling companions, Joseph Potvin, Peter Raiche, and Peter Gervais, stepped forth from the deep woods and scanned the beautiful prairie before them. They relaxed around the campfire, took an evening meal, and slept peacefully beneath the stars. Morning found them determined to make this "spot" a settlement. This all happened in July 1852. Claims were made on "Bottineau Prairie" and it wasn't long before other brave and adventurous men came to the area.

Pierre Bottineau was born near Pembina in the Red River region, now a part of North Dakota. His ancestors were of the Huguenots who came to America to enjoy a freer religion and settled near Boston. Pierre's father, Joseph, went into the great wilderness of the Northeast in the early part of the nineteenth century. Here he married a woman of the Chippewa race, "The ClearSky Woman" her Indian name. From his hardy and, in a civilized sense, nomadic father, and from his Indian mother, Pierre inherited those characteristics that made him the most noted scout and voyageur in midAmerica.

In 1854 Warren Sampson, Isaac LaBissonniere, Clark Ellsworth, Senaca Brown, D.B. Thayer, and James McRay settled on "Bottineau Prairie." Mr. Sampson built and opened a store of general merchandise and a post office in the settlement then called Palestine. The years 1855-1856 saw much growth, and in 1856 the settlement was renamed Osseo, and platted by Mr. Sampson and Mr. LaBissonnaire. It is said that Osseo is a Native American name, "Waseia" meaning 'there is light' although more commonly known as "Son of the Evening Star." The author Henry W. Longfellow mentions Osseo in one of his Native American legends contained in his poem "The Song of Hiawatha". It is also claimed that Longfellow visited Osseo while in St. Anthony.

A.B. Chafee laid out another village, "City of Attraction'" a short time later to the southeast. This little city, with its stores, homes and post office, was later absorbed into Osseo.

Utilizing the natural resources of the neighboring Maple Grove area, namely trees, a wood market was established by Sampson in 1855. Cordwood was cut, cured for a season, and then sold to Minneapolis merchants. It was common to handle up to one hundred cords per day during the wood season. Teamsters hauled the cordwood over the rough trails to the big city. The monies received were used to purchase much-needed goods by these hardy pioneers.

Clark Ellsworth established a blacksmith shop in 1855, and Eli Haviland became his partner in business in 1857. Later, O Leferrier and P. Charest also opened blacksmith shops. In 1865 John Lechtman established a store of general merchandise dealing largely in cordwood. Emil Lefbvre opened a general merchandise and drugs store in 1873. He was also a postmaster.

As more and more people—French, Canadians, Germans, and Native American—settled here, more businesses sprang up. Among the many other businessmen who established themselves early in the development of Osseo are Z. Labrasch, groceries and notions; Nelson Rougier, wagon maker; William Krueger and Joseph Woodly, boots and shoes; Samuel Pavitt, harness maker, and Maggie Rougier and Frances Thayer, dressmakers.

Osseo has always been fortunate to have a resident physician to care for the sick. The first doctor to make his home in Osseo was Dr. A Guernon, a Canadian, who came here in 1866, a young man from Minneapolis.