Being located on a river, Chaska was similar to an artery in a human body. Every day there were numerous people going up and down the river, and later the back and forth on the railroads. Pioneers, steamboatmen, railroad men, carpenters, masons, general store owners, and many others laid the groundwork for what we see today. I have come across portions of names in many different resources, and have tracked down quite a few of them using historical newspapers and census records. Not all stayed in the area, but their stories will always remain!

Lucius Howe is credited with making the first brick in Chaska, Minnesota. Howe came to Chaska around 1857, and made the brick that were used in the Carver County Courthouse. This video gives a glimpse into the life of Lucius Howe.